Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you’d like to tap into that knowledge, send a question to halmccoy1@hotmail.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Q: Walt Jocketty made only one trade for the Cincinnati Reds before the deadline so I wonder if there is any job on the plant with less qualifications than being a baseball general manager? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A: Judging from what I’ve heard about your work as a football referee, all you needed to qualify was a Sears charge card. Jocketty was brilliant. He made a fantastic acquisition for the bullpen (Jonathan Broxton) without trading anybody out of the clubhouse and without wrecking the farm system. Sounds pretty shrewd to me.

Q: Marty Brennaman had his head shaved after losing a bet that the Reds wouldn’t win 10 games in a row. Isn’t betting against your team a violation of the Hall of Fame rules? — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.

A: It wasn’t a bet. It was an off-the-cuff comment to coach Chris Speier that Brennaman would shave his head if the Reds won 10 straight. If they hadn’t won 10 straight Speier would not have had to shave his head. So it wasn’t a bet. It was a spur-of-the-sentence comment by Brennaman, one time he wishes he hadn’t expressed an opinion. But it was worth $20,000 to the Reds Community Fund, so it became baseball’s most lucrative haircut.

Q: Could Walt Jocketty broker a truce between manager Dusty Baker and pitcher Derek Lowe, recently designated for assignment, so the Reds could sign him for starting pitching depth? — Mike, Beavercreek

A: The Reds need Derek Lowe like Baker needs headaches. Lowe was 9-17 last year with a 5.05 ERA and he was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA this year. If the Indians don’t want him, why would the Reds want him? With their combative history I think both would agree to bury the hatchet, as long as the hatchet was real sharp.

Q: Are major-league umpires required to take a vision test periodically because some of them seem to have eye problems with the strike zone? — Karen, Beavercreek Twp.

A: Of course they do. But vision isn’t the problem. Maybe some of them need to take judgment tests, if there is such a thing. How good are they at making quick and snap correct decisions? I’d love to see critical fans stand behind home plate and make ball-and-strike calls. It’s tough to do when one is ducking in fear.

Q: Why don’t the Reds open the gates earlier at Great American Ball Park so fans can watch them take batting practice? — Pat, Jonesborough, Tenn.

A: I’m asked this all the time and really don’t have an answer. Season-ticket holders are permitted into the park before the gates open to watch the Reds take batting practice. And you can buy a ticket to the Hall of Fame, then go into the park, but you’d only see about 15 minutes. It might be to save the cost of ushers and security guards going to work earlier. Traditionally, the home team takes BP first, then the visitors, when the park is open. Maybe the Reds could flip-flop it and take batting practice after the visitors. Aren’t the customers always right?

Q: Is Ryan Madson doing any physical therapy with the Reds organization and does he have any future with the team? — Steve, Urbana, Ill.

A: Madson is doing his rehab at a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim facility because it is close to his home. With the acquisition of Jonathan Broxton (if the Reds can re-sign him) and the presence of Sean Marshall (long-term contract), the soon-to-return Nick Masset, plus the success of Sam LeCure, Jose Arredondo, Alfredo Simon and Logan Ondrusek, there is neither room nor need for a guy coming off Tommy John surgery for 2013. Coco Cordero probably has a better chance to return than Madson and we all know those odds.

Q: What are your thoughts on Reds hitting coach Brook Jacoby? — Larry, Dayton

A: Judging from what the Reds have done without Joey Votto I’d say he is a miracle worker. Jacoby is the hardest-working hitting coach I’ve ever seen — or have not seen, because he is never sitting around in the clubhouse. He is either watching video with the players, working with them in the under-the-stadium cages or watching them take batting practice. He does everything but bat for them and I’m not so sure, judging from his physical appearance, that he couldn’t do that, too.

Q: I’m not a big fan of the new playoff format so I want the Reds to win the division and not have to qualify as a wild card. What is it going to take? — M.S., Ann Arbor, Mich.

A: Simple answer — win the most games in the National League Central. A one-game wild-card playoff is Russian Roulette because the worst team in baseball can beat the best team in baseball in one game. It looks to me as if MLB is tired of wild card teams winning the World Series and is trying to make it as difficult as possible. But then for one wild card team to advance by winning just one game isn’t fair, either, although that team probably would use up its best pitcher in that game. It’s a real head-knocker.