Despite empty seats, Reds not going anywhere
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about our nation’s pastime. Tap into that knowledge by sending an email to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.
Q: Am I supposed to be impressed when I see a player break a perfectly good baseball bat over his knee after striking out? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek
A: Why be impressed when it happens all the time? Cheap wood. I’ll be impressed when I see a player take off his helmet and break the bat over his head. The only time I was impressed with a broken bat was when former Reds outfielder Glenn Braggs swung and missed a pitch and broke the bat hitting his biceps on the follow-through. Now that’s impressive. Braggs, though, was built like a Greek statue and as hard as marble.
Q: Since there are numerous cities that would support a major-league team better than Cincinnati, do you think the city might lose the team? — DENNIS, Beavercreek
A: That is not going to happen in your lifetime, even though I have no idea how old you are. All those empty seats in Great American Ball Park are the product of four straight last-place seasons. I’m shocked anybody goes. The formula is easy: put a winning team on the field and the seats will be filled. Cincinnati is still a great baseball town and the fans are smart. Give them something to cheer about and they will come. As baseball’s oldest franchise, MLB would say no, no, no to moving the franchise.
Q: Several times recently I’ve heard Reds broadcasters refer to one of the Reds’ young players as being out of options come spring training, so what does that mean? — ALAN, New Albany, Ind.
A: That means pitcher Robert Stephenson is in trouble. Every player has three years worth of options when they can be sent back to the minors with no consequences. After the third year, a player is out of options. If a team tries to send him back to the minors, another team can claim him for nothing. It is a rule to keep rich teams from stockpiling talent and hiding it in the minors. But it doesn’t seem to affect the St. Louis Cardinals, does it? Stephenson has been called up and sent down for his maximum three years, so the Reds have to keep him next year or risk having him claimed by another team.
Q: With the Reds likely to lose Matt Harvey at season’s end, why not cut Homer Bailey to free up cash and go after two midlevel starting pitchers? — JAY, Englewood
A: Cutting Bailey will not free up one copper cent or one plug nickel. Baseball contracts are guaranteed and the Reds still owe Bailey close to $30 million — $23 million for next year plus a $5 million buyout for 2020 if they don’t want to pay him another $25 million. If they cut him, he rides off into the sunset on one of his lasso horses with $28 million in his saddle bags. And the Reds don’t need midlevel pitchers. They have a whole staff of them right now. They need a couple of topshelf pitchers.
Q: The San Diego Chicken makes very few appearances these days when he once set the tone for mascots, so have you ever written stories about any of them? — GREG, Beavercreek
A: I saw one of the San Diego Chicken’s first performances in old San Diego/Jack Murphy Stadium when he was the KGB Chicken, representing a radio station. His name was Ted Giannoulas. He was hilarious and I wrote a story about him. Giannoulas never forgot it and always gave me credit for one of the first stories written about him. He appeared once at a University of Dayton basketball game and spotted me at the press table. He ran over, ripped the paper out of my typewriter and tore up my story. But my favorite is still the Phillie Phanatic. Sorry, Ted.
Q: What is this quote about: “Who knew that a dispute over a chair in the broadcast booth might be the most interesting thing about this season?” — KEITH, Brookville
A: A few days ago, Detroit Tigers broadcasters Mario Impernba and Rod Allen engaged in fisticuffs in the booth after a game. Those close to the situation said the two personalities don’t mesh and the two together was like oxygen near an open flame. But a fight over a chair? Wonder which one wanted to be the chairman?
Q: I always have liked Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner and I wonder if you are friends with any baseball broadcasters? — RON, Vandalia
A: Funny you should mention Charley Steiner because he is a good friend and when he had a baseball show on Sirius radio he often had me on. I also like Pat Hughes of the Chicago Cubs, Chip Caray of the Atlanta Braves, Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mark Grant of the San Diego Padres, Tom Hamilton of the Cleveland Indians and Greg Brown of the Pittsburgh Pirates. All are great broadcasters, but I list them as friends. And, of course, at the top of the list is the guy who went into the Hall of Fame the same year I did, Bob “Mr. Baseball” Uecker, who is always just a bit outside.
Q: If I were the Reds I would seriously think about making Corky Miller the skipper. What do you think? — DAN, Concord, N.C.
A: Catchers historically make good managers, although the Reds have tried four since the late 1990s and only Jack McKeon worked out. Miller has no managerial experience, but has a lot of knowledge behind that bushy mustache and is well-respected throughout the game. The Reds are sticking to their plan to conduct a thorough search after the season. Interim manager Jim Riggleman is in the mix and was a heavy favorite when he first took over and the team played so well. But his star has fallen with the team’s recent relapses. Barry Larkin’s name isn’t heard so much lately. Wonder if Joe Girardi (a catcher) might be interested after his great run with the New York Yankees?