Question of the Week
Q: What does P10 mean in the baseball standings? — John, Springfield
A: That stands for a team's record over its past 10 games. I'm not sure what the value is of knowing a team's record over its previous 10 games since the overall W-L is what counts. There is also a WC in the standings, meaning where a team stands in the wild-card race. I'm not sure that in early May too many people care where their teams stand in the race for a wild-card spot — unless you are a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. They'll take anything they can get.
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: Why do I no longer hear the term "quality start" applied to the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff this year? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek
A: To me, the quality start statistic is useless. To get a quality start a pitcher must last six innings and give up three or fewer runs. Three runs in six innings is a 4.50 earned-run average. That's quality? To prove my point, the Reds had 15 quality starts in their first 31 games, yet the starters are ranked 15th out of 16 teams in the National League with a 5.47 ERA. That kind of ERA reminds me of the days of Eric Milton and Dave Williams.
Q: How do you rate the between-the-legs throw Brandon Phillips made last week — a defensive play or a huge hot dog move? — John, Springboro
A: On a scale of 1 to 10, a 12. It was the only way he could get the runner because he didn't have time to stop, set and throw. Believe it or not, he practices that play. That might be the best play by a second baseman I've ever seen and I've seen, uh, millions. As for being a hot dog, Phillips smiles and says, "Just splash the mustard on me."
Q: You are the GM of a new baseball team and you have your choice to pick one of the Reds' MVPs since 1961, so who would you chose to build your team around? — Craig, Central, Ky.
A: That limits my choices to Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Barry Larkin and Joey Votto. Easy choice. Besides pitching, catching is the most important position on the field. Was there ever a better catcher than Johnny Bench? I'll start with him and fill in the blanks, even if he is now 63 years old and has a bad back. Let me have all seven of those guys, though, and I'll whip the world, even though I'd have no pitching because no Cincinnati pitcher has ever won the Cy Young.
Q: With the Reds catching in such good hands over the next few years, has there been any discussion about trying Devin Mesoraco at third base or left field? — Stan, Glider, Ore.
A: Like pitching, you can never have enough catching. It's like searching for a diamond in a bucket of pebbles. Although the Reds have a plethora of catching talent, GM Walt Jocketty is not interested in tinkering with it because it is such a valuable and perishable commodity. If any position needs fixing, he'll fix it with talent already familiar with the position.
Q: What is the Reds' record with Scott Rolen in the lineup? — Stocc, Miamisburg
A: Not much different than without him, actually. The Reds are 8-7 in the 15 games Rolen played this season before his shoulder rebelled. But, of course, his glove and his bat and his leadership are missed. Without him, the Reds are trying everybody but Coco Cordero at third — Juan Francisco, Miguel Cairo, Chris Valaika, Paul Janish. I always said it would take four guys to replace Rolen.
Q: Broadcaster Marty Brennaman sounded as if he was getting a bit perturbed last week when the Houston Astros were stealing bases with a 9-3 lead. What's your take? — Bill, Villa Hills, Ky.
A: I've never subscribed to the theory that a team should not steal bases with a big lead because it is rubbing noses in it. Do batters quit trying to hit home runs with a big lead? How big of a lead is enough? In Great American Ball Park, a six-run lead can disappear faster than a $7 beer. The object of the game is to score runs, and stealing bases is a part of scoring runs. I guess I feel that way because I was never fast enough to steal a base and always wondered what it was like.
Q: I'm going to ask the unmentionable: What happens to the Reds if Joey Votto gets hurt? — Mark, Columbus
A: They drape black crepe over the outfield walls, postpone every game until he is ready and make certain Dr. Tim Kremchek has him under 24-hour surveillance. Actually, it depends on how long he would be out. Miguel Cairo filled in nicely at first base last year. The Reds were 8-8 without Votto and Cairo was 5-4. If something serious happened, Yonder Alonso is hitting .296 with three homers and 10 RBI in 23 games at Louisville. But it is a dastardly thought. Think St. Louis Cardinals without Albert Pujols.
Q: It's a given that manager Dusty Baker speaks Spanish to Aroldis Chapman, but does he habla espanol to the Latin players who have mastered English? — Gary, Bjerkvik, Norway
A: Only if he doesn't want prying media ears to hear the conversation. After two years of college Spanish, I understand "Si." And, no, he doesn't speak Canadian to Joey Votto, eh. It was always humorous to watch Reds pitchers shake their heads after Sparky Anderson left the mound because he barely spoke English.
Q: Back in the days of The Big Red Machine, there was a guy who sat behind home plate in Dodger Stadium with a radar gun and a huge cigar. Did you ever exchange cigars with him? — Bill, Covington, Ky.
A: His name was Mike Brito and he always wore a tie and a white Panama hat with a 9-inch unlit cigar in his mouth and a radar gun in his right hand. He did it for the Dodgers for 20 years in addition to being a scout in Mexico who signed 30 big-league players in 29 years. He never lit that cigar and we never exchanged because mine looked like a twig to his tree branch.