Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 15 > Entry
Killing time while it rains
Kent Mercker figured the Reds wouldn’t be playing tonight.
“I saw Noah buying wood and nails and my dogs are gone, so I figured, ‘No game,’ ” he said.
He was right. With rain predicted until close to midnight, the game was called at 5 o’clock and probably will be replayed August 18 - an off day for both teams, pending Players Association approval.
And what do the players do while the Ark is being built in center field?
Well, there was a card game in the middle of the room - an indoctrination for rookie Paul Janish. He played with Adam Dunn as his partner against Ryan Freel and Ken Griffey Jr.
Janish hesitated to make a play and Griffey said, “C’mon. If you think long, you think wrong.”
He did think long and played wrong. When he made his play, Dunn screamed, “Why didn’t you play the queen? Why didn’t you … DAMN!”
The conversation switched back toward Mercker’s side of the room and somebody mentioned how dumb and tough this year’s schedule is, just as it was last year.
Said Mercker, who sat out last season after Tommy John surgery, “Last year’s schedule was beautiful. Tee time at 8:15, happy hour at 8.”
With the rain and the threat that it will continue all night, somebody wondered how many fans might show up. Then it was mentioned that Class AAA Louisville outdrew the Reds-Marlins on Wednesday night.
“That’s understandable,” said somebody in the background. “Louisville has better players.”
And let me take a timeout at this point to thank Scott Priestle of The Columbus Dispatch. I wore a new pair of pants Thursday because I was going to be filmed in a documentary. I left a cellophane size tag running up and down my leg and Priestle told me about it.
You know, I think I wore those pants one other time — plastic strip included.
When I told Mercker I was “dressed up” to do a film documentary, he said, “Who’s doing it?”
“Some guy from New York,” I said.
“Well that narrows it down to about 10 million people,” he said.
With the game banged (baseball lingo for called off) Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday’s scheduled pitcher, Matt Belisle, will be skipped to keep everybody on rtheir turn.
Belisle will pitch Tuesday in Los Angeles and five days later in San Diego after doing a side session in the next couple of days.
“I know he wants to pitch, but we want to keep our pitchers on their regular schedule, especially Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, and now that Bronson Arroyo is doing well, we need to get him back on schedule,” said Baker.
Time to go do the documentary. Hope there is no price tag hanging from my shirt.
By the way, when Baker sent pitcher Johnny Cueto in to pinch-run for David Ross in the 10th inning Wednesday (Cueto scored the winning run on Janish’s single), he was going to send in Edinson Volquez.
Of all people, Edwin Encarnacion stopped him.
“First time I heard him speak in a week,” said Baker. “But he said, ‘No, no. Not Volquez. Cueto is faster.’” So I sent in Cueto and said, “Just don’t get picked off.”
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Comments
By jack
May 16, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Same old stuff, different day. Call up future shortstop and rather play him, we play an ex-Baker player. When will the front office realize that it is better to lose with youth then lose with veterans. Frankie’s girl. Why use a position player to pinch run when you have no idea how long the game will last. Would you rather see Cueto have to pitch hit later in the game?By Steven Ross
May 16, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Then it was mentioned that Class AAA Louisville outdrew the Reds-Marlins on Wednesday night. “That’s understandable,” said somebody in the background. “Louisville has better players.” Ahhh…’nuf said.By mike cahill
May 16, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
I think that pinch running Cueto was a terrible decision. I hope he doesn’t do anything similar again. That’s something you do in the 23rd inning.By Deaner
May 16, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
I hate those stickers on new jeans!By Jesse
May 16, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Hal, your blog and stories are superb. I wish the Enquirer’s Reds reporters had half the heart and talent you do. The DDN is now my source for all things Reds. Thanks for all the backstage info you give us fans. Its nice to read a blog that isn’t just a bunch of rehashed stats or news. Keep it up!By Stephen
May 16, 2008 2:48 AM | Link to this
Just a quick question here Hal. Bruce is tearing up AAA ball and I understand you just can’t sit a 13mil player in Dunn of Jr, but when do you just do what is best for the club and call this guy up? I mean what does he have to do learn how to pitch and throw a perfect game while hitting for the cycle in the same game?By frankie's girl
May 16, 2008 1:03 AM | Link to this
Does anyone else think it was incredibly stupid to put Cueto or Volquez in the game as a pinch runner. A top pitcher in a tight play at the plate, just the perfect set up for an injury. Why take the chance - I don’t care how fast they are. Turned out OK, but could have been a disaster.By Jim M.
May 15, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Saw That the Rockies might trade Matt Holiday (Ken Rosenthal’s column). Any Chance Hal the Reds could go after him to play left field? I dont know if they would accept Dunn in return, but if not could the Reds trade Stubbs?? and Maloney? or Travis Wood?By Kyle
May 15, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Reds Authority, maybe you should read Hal’s column a little more closely. He already told us the makeup date. Thanks for a great column, Hal.By Ted Lawson
May 15, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
Hal your notes and comments of the players during this rainout while in the clubhouse is one of the many reasons you are the best beat writer in Baseb all and in the Hall of fame. Always a pleasure to read what you have to say.By Reds Authority
May 15, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
By the way…the Reds will make up the game with the Marlins on August 18th when both teams have an “off” day.By Steve
May 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
I started down to the game but turned around because the rain kept getting worse and the radar didn’t look very promising. Neither did Javy Valentin playing 1B. A rainout would help the pitching staff. We need Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey, has anyone mentioned that yet?By Reds Authority
May 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Uhhhh…tonight’s game has been OFFICIALLY CANCELED (as of 5 p.m.). I’m surprised no one here knows that yet.By got milk
May 15, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
It looks like there’s an open window between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Y’all enjoy now, y’hear!By jarrod
May 15, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
everyone’s been rough on freel for celebrating but you have to remember that it was probably farney that did the kicking. i think its all being blown out of proportion along with grif not bunting. i was thinking to myself at the time i wanted him to swing and not bunt because he seems to be on the edge of getting hot. and i guess jimmypost2time means the cowboy and thom show and if you do im with you.By Jimmy1Time
May 15, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
I hope they took the kid out last night after the game. Awsome game last night. I hope the Cowboy & Marty Show is back on tonight. Other wise its the radio. Unless its a rainout