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Reds-Mets postponed

By Hal McCoy | Friday, May 9, 2008, 08:02 PM

The rain won.

It rained all day in New York and they waited for an hour at Shea Stadium before they postponed Friday’s Cincinnati Reds-New York Mets baseball game.

So now they play a day-night doubleheader Saturday, the first game at 1:10 and the second game at 7:30.

Matt Belisle pitches Game One and Bronson Arroyo will pitch Game Two, with Belisle drawing Johan Santana and Arroyo drawing Mike Pelfrey.

Foxsports Ohio will televise both games.

Manager Dusty Baker, realizing the day I spent trying to get to New York, “What a wasted day. Life owes you a day. You get another day to live. Go back to the hotel, go to bed, and pretend this day never happened.

Sound advice.

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Finding New York - Barely

By Hal McCoy | Friday, May 9, 2008, 06:30 PM

The continuation of the fantastic USAirways travelogue to New York, brought to you by one frustrated and worn-out baseball writer.

From our last episode (see previous blog), I was put on a flight through Washington D.C. at noon after my 7:11 a.m. direct flight to New York made it halfway before turning around because of fumes that overcame at least one passenger.

That flight was canceled, of course. Made it to D.C. at 1:45 to a 2 p.m. connection to New York. Ran to the gate as the door was being closed. Made it. The plane backed away from the gate. Oh, joyous wonderment.

Not so fast, airline-breath The plane stopped.

We sat on the tarmac for an hour because LaGuardia Air Traffic Control put us on hold. They gave us a glass of water. Lukewarm.

We finally landed at LaGuardia at 5 - a mere 10 hours after the scheduled departure and only 8 1/2 hours late.

You know the kicker, don’t you? Sure you do. You have to know it. My luggage didn’t make it. They put 15 of us who were canceled in Dayton on the Washington flight and only two of us didn’t get our luggage.

If they find my luggage, they’ll send it to the hotel - and it will make it before me. I took a cab directly to the ballpark, chatted with Dusty Baker, came to the pressbox and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer and I neither could get on the internet to do our work for nearly 45 minutes.

And it’s raining. Hard. They say they’ll play but the New York weather forecasters say it is going to rain until 3 a.m.

What we don’t want is what is planned if it is rained out - a day-night doubleheader Saturday at 1 and 8, probably sponsored by U.S. Airways.

Yeah, yeah. I know. Things happen. Can’t be helped.

That, though, doesn’t improve my demeanor.

Meanwhile, Ken Griffey Jr. was scratched from the lineup, not due to the soaked grounds, but because he came to the park feeling ill.

And Brandon Phillips is out of the lineup after fouling a ball off his left calf Wednesday (he left the game).

In addition, Kent Mercker was placed on the DL with lower back problems and Bill Bray was called back up.

As Baker said, “I told him when he left that it wasn’t because of anything he did or didn’t do, it was just a roster thing and that he would be back as quickly as we could get him back. This was good for him. He was gone long enough to pack some clean clothes and see his grandfather (in Norfolk, where the Louisville Bats played while he was with them.).

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Travel woes continue

By Hal McCoy | Friday, May 9, 2008, 09:39 AM

I’ve picked on American, I’ve picked on United and I’ve picked on Delta.

Now it is the turn of U.S. Airways Express — and this one is a beaut.

The flight was scheduled for 7:11 this morning. We left on time, but sat on the runway 40 minutes, a traffic hold from LaGuardia. No biggie. Happens all the time.

But as we departed there was an odor in the plane. Not me. I showered thoroughly. Halfway to New York — yes, HALFWAY — they were told to turn back to Dayton. The smell was from cleaning fluid they used on the engines the night before and they said they had to turn back because maintenance for the CRJ-200 was better in Dayton than in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or New York.

Yeah, right.

They had medical personnel awaiting our return to Dayton and one woman was treated for a severe headache and nausea. She was sitting in front of me on the plane reading the Dayton Daily News — at one point reading my column today about my five favorites parks.

Maybe that caused her headache and nausea.

So here I sit in the Dayton airport at 9:45, hoping they get us to New York soon.

Speaking of ballparks, let me know your favorites and least favorites and why. No fair saying Great American Stinks because the team stinks.

They took the plane to the maintenance shed, probably for fumigation. And here we sit. Can’t believe I got up at 4:30 this morning and had my good friend, Jeff Gordon, drop me off at the airport.

Travel on this job is becoming more and more problem-filled. I guess I now yearn for the return of the days when the writers traveled on the team charters. Deadlines and frequent-flier miles killed that years ago.

As much as I hate the Stinkhole that is Shea, I sure hope to get there on time for tonight’s game. It is in the hands of U.S. Airways — and that’s a scary thing.

Just found out our flight is canceled. HELP!

So I trudged back through security to the U.S. Airways counter to Patrick, an agent I’ve known for years. With his great help, I was booked on a noon flight to Washington, then a flight that gets me into New York around five.

That will give me no time to check into the hotel to shower, shave and change clothes. I’ll go straight to the ballpark. There is one safety net. Heavy rain is predicted and maybe the game will be rained out and postponed.

A TSA agent told me David Weathers came through Dayton security for a 9:30 New York flight that I noticed was delayed. Also full. I couldn’t get on. Hope Stormy makes it.

Me? I HATE air travel these days and I used to love it. You literally make your destinations on a wing and prayer.

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The sidewalks of New York

By Hal McCoy | Thursday, May 8, 2008, 09:51 AM

Memo to Bob Castellini: How much will you pay me to take the rest of the season off (I accept MasterCard and Visa, but not bananas, oranges or lettuce)?

Why do I ask? Because it must be me. I took Wednesday off from covering the Cincinnati Reds and they hit seven home runs (I hadn’t seen them hit seven home runs this year in any week) and beat the Cubbies, 9-0.

But, wait. That’s not all.

On my day off, I went to see my grandson, Eric, play for Centerville High School, standing most of the day under a large yellow umbrella as it rained, sometimes very hard. But kids being kids — you can’t get them out of the rain or snow, unless you want them to shovel it — they played on.

Centerville needed only to beat Wayne to win its division championship. Well, going into the last inning, C-ville was down, 5-3, and it was pouring. My son, Brian, asked me, “Do you want to go?” Oh, dumb me. I said yes.

The game was on an FM radio station, and fearing the worst we didn’t turn it on until halfway home. That’s when Brian snapped on the radio and we heard “… .And there’s another Centerville hit, their sixth straight, and another run.” Without my presence, the Elks scored six runs in the last inning and beat Wayne, 9-5.

So, I’m taking this black cloud dangling over my head and boarding an airplane for New York City, where the Reds play a three-game series — lugging a five-game road losing streak with them.

For me, it is returning to the scene of an accident. My own. Last July while we were in New York, I was walking on Times Square, a vente non-fat latte in one hand, a freshly purchased bag of cigars in the other. With my limited eyesight, I usually walk with my head down, watching every step.

One cannot do that on Times Square or you would be bouncing off person-to-person-to-person and you’d hear words you never heard before. So I was watching the hordes when a protruding step tripped me up. Down I went and man was I proud. Spilled nary a drop of latte nor bent nor broke a single cigar because I went down on my knees, my arms up in the air to prevent spillage and breakage.

A couple of citizens even rushed to my aid. And even though my hands were full, they didn’t lift my wallet. The problem, though, was my left knee. I tore the meniscus and it required surgery by Reds team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek.

Anyway, that was me scoring my “big hit” on Broadway.

For the Reds, on Friday it is Matt Belisle (1-2, 6.91) against right-hander Mike Pelfrey (2-2, 5.27). Being at home, the Mets probably have the slight edge in this one.

Saturday might be a hold-your-ears game — it is Bronson Arroyo (1-4, 8.63) against Johan Santana. While he is only 3-2 his ERA is 2.91, most of the Reds never have seen him. Of course, he’s never seen, either.

I’ve never been able to figure out the advantage when a pitcher and batter never have faced each other. Who has the advantage? My guess, though, is the pitcher — mainly because in my days I could never hit any pitcher.

Sunday is another wash — anybody can win, although if Mario Soto has Johnny Cueto back on track, as it seemed during his last start, the Reds could win this one. They face Oliver Perez (2-3, 4.63). When he was with Pittsburgh, every time he faced the Reds he struck out 10 or more and they couldn’t hit him if he threw water balloons at them.

But that was the Perez of old, and he no longer is the Perez of old. Just old.

So if I can wander from my Times Square hotel to the subway station without a pratfall, and survive the 45-minute subway ride to the Stinkhole that is Shea, we’ll see if the 9-0 seven-homer game was a fluke or the start of something big.

Speaking of getting to Shea, did anybody ever tell you the Sparky Anderson New York subway story? Players kept telling him how easy it was to get to the stadium on the subway. So he decided to try it and asked the hotel concierge, “How do I get to the stadium on the subway?”

The concierge gave him directions as to what train to take and where to get off. Anderson followed directions. When he arrived at his stop and detrained (that’s like deplaning, instead of just getting off the plane), he looked up to see:

YANKEE STADIUM!!!!

He had to hop an expensive cab to get from Yankee Stadium to Shea Stadium. You see, “The Stadium” in New York is Yankee. If you want to go to the other park, it is, “Shea.”

Anyway, I await Mr. Castellini’s reply.

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A home run barrage

By Hal McCoy | Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 01:57 PM

So I take a day off so I can get two days in a row off (with the Reds off Thursday) - and now I sound like a manager: “We’re giving Griffey off today because we have an off day tomorrow and that gives me two days off in a row.”

I need, it, though. I’ve watched too much bad baseball lately and the three days in Atlanta was like owning a home in Atlanta when Sherman came marching through with the torches.

And we’re going to New York and the dump that is Shea Stadium. Check my column Friday morning in the Dayton Daily News to find out why I despise Shea and a list of my five favorite ballparks.

Meanwhile, I’m listening to the radio and Jeff & Thom tell me the Reds hit four home runs in the second inning - Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Paul Bako, Jerry Hairston, Jr. I tend not to believe it without seeing it with my eyes, but Jeff & Thom don’t lie to me.

I do, however, believe what Edinson Volquez is doing - no runs through five innings with his fastball at 94/95, his tantalizing change-up and an occasional breaking ball.

And while the Reds were pouring runs across in the second inning, you just know Aaron Harang was sitting in the dugout thinking to himself (he’d never say it out loud): “Hey, guys. Couldn’t somebody, just one of you, hit a home run when I pitch?”

No sooner said than done (not Dunn). Two more home runs - back-to-backers by Votto (his second of the game) and Brandon Phillips, giving the Reds six in the first five innings.

Anybody remember Tuesday’s game? For only the 31st time in 422 GABP games there were no home runs hit. It has never happened back-to-back and the Reds made certain it didn’t happen Tuesday-Wednesday.

Speaking of Jeff & Thom (Marty took a day off, too), the Reds announced that long-time Louisville broadcaster Jim Kelch will be in the radio booth for 14 games this year. He has done Louisville games for 20 years.

Question: Do they have enough chairs in the booth? Is there room?

The Reds keep adding broadcasters. They’re all good. How about some players? Some good players.

Votto is a good player. A very good player. On track to become a great player. Whoops. He just hit his third home run of the game, the seventh by the Reds. Aren’t the Reds happy the big Canadian didn’t take up hockey. He has to be the only male in Canada who not only never played hockey, he can’t skate.

Votto and I have that in common. I can’t even roller skate, let alone ice skate.

And I wonder how long it will take the Reds to trade Scott Hatteberg, a great guy and an excellent clubhouse presence, but a piece of the puzzle the Reds no longer need.

With the Reds ahead, 9-0, and the game in the capable right palm of Edinson Volquez, it is safe for me to go to see my grandson, Eric, play a high school game - weather permitting.

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No luck for Harang, but Aruba is great

By Hal McCoy | Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 08:53 PM

Some random thoughts while watching the one-game winning streak evaporate in front of Big Z, Carlos Zambrano:

I had three pieces of LaRosa’s pizza by the end of the sixth inning, the same number of hits the Reds owned off Zambrano in eight innings.

To the guy who wondered when Norris Hopper would get in the lineup: Well, my friend, Hopper is on the DL and the commissioner won’t let players on the DL play in games, even if it is the Cincinnati Reds.

I’ll bet you’ll say, “I knew it,” when I tell you I once owned an Edsel. It’s a car, kids, an automobile.

Know why the Reds lost, 3-0, in about a minute-a-half. They whaled and flailed at everything. Zambrano needed only 30 pitches in his final three innings, only six in the seventh inning.

My favorite vacation site is Aruba. Or The Bahamas. Aruba, The Bahamas. About the same thing. Pitcher Sidney Ponson is from Aruba and is knighted — as in Sir Sidney Ponson. Remember when the Reds almost got him in a trade?

Suggestion to Aaron Harang: change deodorants, change your underwear, change your hair-style … change something because your teammates obviously don’t like something about you or they’d score you a run once in awhile.

He is now 1-5 with a 3.09 ERA with seven quality starts in eight games. As Marty Brennaman put it so succinctly, “Harang has to be the best 1-5 pitcher in the history of baseball.”

Let me hear a big amen on that one.

Does any manager in baseball walk more slowly to the mound than Chicago’s Lou Piniella? Because of Zambrano and no goofs by the umps, Sweet Lou never left the dugout Tuesday.

Does Todd Coffey sprint to the mound in Louisville?

When the Reds go from Los Angeles to San Diego later this month, I’m taking the train down the coast. Love the trains. No security checkpoints, the stations are downtown, the seats are La-Z-Boy recliners with huge windows for the ride down the coast. It’s a little over an hour and I wish it were four hours.

All teams used to take trains, when St. Louis had the team farthest west. Wish I had been covering baseball then.

Anybody know what Marty Brennaman’s middle name is? I do. Starts with ‘F’ and you’ll never get it, unless you already know it. Hint: Rhymes with Manchester.

It is now the bottom of the seventh, Cubs lead, 3-0, Zambrano still dealing and Cubs fans are outshouting and outsinging Reds fans here in Wrigley-East.

Dusty Baker’s office looks like a photo studio — photos everywhere and trinkets everywhere. There is a photo of singer Miles Davis and a picture of his fishing buddy, rock singer Elvin Bishop.

Aaron Harang leaves after seven innings, down 3-0. He gave up three runs and seven hits, but his potholes were the two walks he issued back-to-back to open the fourth. His only walks. But both scored.

It’s over. The one-game winning streak is a one-game losing streak. Harang asks if anybody knows where they hide the horseshoes. Hey, how about sending horseshoes and lucky charms to the big lug — Aaron Harang, c/o Cincinnati Reds, 100 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202. No horses attached, please.

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Griffey speaks out … loudly

By Hal McCoy | Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 04:45 PM

Ken Griffey Jr. sat on a black leather couch wearing a gray and orange track suit, watching some old NBA footage on a TV dangling from the ceiling as he talked.

The subject: an article in USA Today in which he was quoted as saying he’d like to finish his career in Seattle and would like to play for a contender.

He didn’t understand the ramifications, didn’t understand the furor he was kicking up. Again.

“I said the exact same thing last year (when the Cincinnati Reds played in Seattle),” said Griffey. “I said it like Emmitt Smith.”

Smith signed a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys so he could retire with the Cowboys, and last year Griffey said he wouldn’t mind doing that with the Mariners — not play for the Mariners, just sign a one-day contract and retire.

“The exact same thing, so why it is such a big story now? If I had changed anything from last year, it would be a story, but I said the same thing. So what’s the big deal?” said Griffey.

And about going to play for a contender?

“You guys (media) are making a big deal out of it when I said identically the same thing last year. There is no difference. None. And if it is said next year, it would be no different. I had 10-and-5 rights last year and I have 10-and-5 rights this year. The difference? I have one year left on my contract. So what?”

Griffey switched gears and plowed into his team’s current plight.

“The important thing is getting back on track,” he said. “I can’t worry about what-ifs. Everybody understands what is going on around here. Why wouldn’t we think we can turn things around? Some guys are making some great plays.

“If we were 15 games above .500 and hit this streak of somewhat bad luck, would anybody say anything? No,” he said.

But the team isn’t 15 above .500 and it shows no signs of being able to even scramble back to .500, let alone 15 over.

“Everybody is in a panic and we have five months of baseball left,” he said. “The biggest thing is we need to relax as a team and go play baseball. Everybody wants to win so bad that sometimes it hurts. The guys in here want to play and turn this thing around and want to make this the talk of the town, and not in a negative way.

“There are guys in here who want to see a crowded stadium with nothing but red in it,” Griffey said. “We don’t want to see empty seats.”

Or the blue that represents the Chicago Cubs that will balance out the red in Great American Ball Park.

“There is not a lack of effort and nobody has quit on this team and nobody in here will allow that to happen,” he continued. “And there isn’t anybody worried about a damn contract. No matter how much money you make ,it doesn’t help you between the lines.”

As for moving on, Griffey said, “If they come to you as a player and say, ‘We might want to do something,’ what do you say? My dad has three championship rings. That’s what it’s about. It isn’t about not wanting to win with anybody.

“All you’re concerned about is how you play and there’s a sense of pride, “he said. “If you don’t care, why are you here? The guys in this locker room care about how they play, day in and day out.

“Everybody is saying, ‘He struck out and he smiled. He doesn’t care.’ That’s bull,” said Griffey. “What’s the alternative? Go tear up the whole locker room because you’re mad? Sometimes you have to laugh it off instead of crying. Sometimes you just relax and smile, because sometimes a smile can help — relax you and everybody in here.”

Griffey, though, wasn’t smiling at this moment.

“Hey, nobody else’s name is on the back of my bubblegum card but mine. That’s my picture on the front. I have to go play as hard as I can and everything else will take care of itself. If I don’t, then something MIGHT happen.

“Do you think we want everybody in the city to talk about us in negative manner? No, we want to walk downtown and hear, ‘Way to go, keep it going.’ “

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