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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > March > 09 > Entry
Random thoughts while trying to stay warm
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Some not-so-clear thoughts after the daily 8 a.m. meeting in manager Dusty Baker’s office, attended usually by five or six bleary-eyed reporters:
IT IS 52 degrees with a threat of more rain as I put this blog together at 9 a.m.
A writer approached Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty and Jocketty said, “You need a tan.”
Said the writer, “Where am I going to get one?”
“At a tanning booth,” said Jocketty.
NEW SHORTSTOP Orlando Cabrera laughed to himself during Monday’s exhibition game in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals when Cuban Aroldis Chapman cranked off a couple of pitches at 100 miles or hour (one gun said 102).
“Chapman told me before the game that he heard people say he didn’t throw so hard in the intrasquad game, so he was going to throw a couple of pitches real hard against Kansas City,” said Cabrera. “Wow, did he ever?”
This from the chart of a scout on a string of Chapman pitches Monday: 97 fastball, 102 fastball, 98 fastball, 98 fastball, 80 change-up, 90 slider, 100 fastball.
MANAGER DUSTY BAKER on ‘B’ games played early in the morning: “If you can play at 9:30 in the morning, you can play at any time. And while those games don’t mean anything on the statistical sheets, they mean a lot to us. We’re watching them closely.”
STILL LOOKING for good non-franchise places to eat around Goodyear. Found a decent Italian place at the corner of Indian School Road (quaint name, huh) and Litchfield called Bella Luna. Had some veal that I could have cut with my ball point pen.
Found a decent place called McGrath’s Seafood, but it could be a franchise joint. I’ve never seen one anywhere else. Very affordable. I had a bowl (bowl, not cup) of delicious New England clam chowder, a salad and scallops on a skewer for $20.
BAKER HAD some good words about non-roster pitcher Phillipe Valiquette, a 23-year-old lefthanded pitcher from Montreal. He attended the same high school as Eric Gagne, Edouard Monpetit High School, where he helped lead his team to the Canadian championships in both his junior and senior season.
Valiquette, a seventh-round pick in 2004, spent his first four years in Class A and started his fifth year last season at Class A Sarasota, He was 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in 17 games and was promoted to Class AA Carolina, where he was 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA over 27 games - all out of the bullpen.
With his glasses and stern demeanor, Valiquette looks more like a stock broker than a strike maker.
“He has good stuff, really good stuff,” said Baker. “He wants it badly, is very confident. He gets frustrated quickly because he does have such confidence and aspirations.”
The frustrations showed in his ‘B’ game appearance Monday against Milwaukee when his teammates kicked the ball around for three errors that led to a stack of unearned runs.
“It’s a matter of him finding a consistent release point and finding the plate,” Baker said. “Like a lot of young players, most pitchers are signed not as a finished product, but what they might be. I hear he has come a long way from when he first got here. He’s French Canadian, so he probably didn’t play a whole lot.”
JOSH ANDERSON is a non-roster player who is in the mix for left field, although he is less of an ingredient in that mix than, say, Jonny Gomes or Chris Dickerson.
Anderson played in Monday’s ‘B’ game and led the first inning with a single, then stole second and stole third.
“He has some skill,” said Baker. “He can run, he can throw, he is a good fielder. He’s a line drive hitter - but there is still a lot there that hasn’t been brought out yet.”
Anderson, 27, has already logged major-league time with Houston, Atlanta, Detroit and Kansas City. He stole 57 bases his senior year at Eastern Kentucky University and was the first EKU player ever named to the Louisville Slugger All-America team.
REDS OPENING DAY starter Aaron Harang stood near a fence chatting with Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin during the ‘B’ game.
“Well, I guess, from what I read everywhere, it’s the Cardinals and the Cubs in our division and nobody else,” said Melvin with a sly grin.”
Harang answered with six words: “We’ll see. We’ll see about that.” As Harang walked away, Melvin said, “Good luck this year - except when you pitch against us.”
OK, I’VE GONE to the dark side. I’m tweeting (not twittering?). Check me out at FSOhioHalMcCoy.
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By Janet
March 10, 2010 1:45 PM | Link to this
Valiquette may have been in A ball for 4 years but he was only 17 his first year and had some personal issues a second year. He has what it takes to be a pitcher - he’s a little crazy, in a good way. Nice guy. Ask him about his car with all the speakers sometime. See what you can do about the weather, will you? We’re headed there next week.
By easy e
March 10, 2010 1:10 PM | Link to this
Headed your way Hal…gotta see this place i’ll look for you around dinner time
By Gary
March 10, 2010 10:15 AM | Link to this
Bella Luna is a good place to eat, enjoyed it many times. Any comments about the Mexican food in Goodyear? Aurturo’s, and Raul & Theresa’s for the authentic, Woody’s Macayo for all round good food.
By Reds Authority
March 10, 2010 1:53 AM | Link to this
Bella Luna is in Cincinnati, so it is NOT unique to Good Year! http://www.bellalunacincy.com/
By Reds Authority
March 10, 2010 1:52 AM | Link to this
Bella Luna is in Cincinnati, so it is NOT unique to Good Year!
By David
March 9, 2010 9:21 PM | Link to this
“Had some veal that I could have cut with my ball point pen.” I’ve always heard that the pen is sharper than the knife, or sword, or something like that! I enjoy reading your reports. I wanted to try to make it to Goodyear, but reading your reports are more in-line with my budget! Thanks!
By grumpy
March 9, 2010 7:04 PM | Link to this
If that guy starts in AAA he wont stay there. They have too much money invested to have him linger in the minors.
By juggler
March 9, 2010 6:00 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal - McGraths is a small chain based out here in Oregon. It is just in a few states. Good place for seafood.
By MAC
March 9, 2010 2:38 PM | Link to this
Thanks Hal; more good info from a couple of guys I haven’t herd much about. ESPN says scouts believe Chapman will most likely to start in AA or AAA; what’s your take?