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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 > 11 > Entry
Just call him Yonder from “The U”
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Yonder Alonso is one of those guys who is very proud to come from the University of Miami, one of those guys who refers to the school as “The U” and expects everybody to know what that means.
Alonso, who ripped a long double up the left field gap Wednesday against the Angels, sent a text this morning to Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun with the message, “We’re going to mess you up today.”
Braun also is a product of ‘The U,’ but if the Reds do “mess up” the Brewers today it will be without Braun. He didn’t make the 15-minute bus trip from Maryvale.
IN SEATTLE there is a Starbuck’s on every corner. In Boston, there is a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner. In Phoenix, there is a Mexican restaurant on every corner and tonight I am going to try one that comes highly recommended from broadcaster Marty Brennaman: “The best Mexican restaurant ever.”
It’s called called Raul & Teresa’s and it sits in the middle of nowhere at the base of the Estrella Mountains just a couple of miles from here. Like most good Mexican restaurants it is not much more than a hole in the wall and you enter through a pair of swinging half-doors like you see in western movies. Think I’ll have me a sarsaparilla or two.
TODD FRAZIER got hit in the buttocks with a pitch Wednesday in Tempe by lefthander Trevor Reckling, a fellow New Jersey native. Lefthanded teammate Aroldis Chapman drilled Frazier last week in an intrasquad game.
“They just scrubbed the target off my back,” said Frazier. “What is it with lefthanders and me? With the one yesterday I didn’t know what to do. That one came whizzing through the batter’s box.”
A couple of days ago manager Dusty Baker called Frazier, Juan Francisco, Chris Heisey and Yonder Alonso into his office for a chit-chat, telling them to relax and quit trying to make the team with one swing of the bat.
“Basically, he just told us to relax — which is the name of the game, man,” said Frazier. “We’re playing baseball, a game we love and enjoy, and that makes tons of sense. You just want to make an impact and when you are relaxed and having fun, that’s what is going to happen. I’m having so much fun. This is great.”
THE REDS made their first cuts of the spring, trimming four non-roster invitees - catcher Chris Denove, catcher Brandon Yarbrough, Dutch pitcher Alexander Smit and pitcher Jose Arredondo and outfielder Danny Dorn.
Dorn, though, made an impression on Baker during a stint at first base. “He impress me,” said Baker. “Right now it is a matter of numbers and how much playing time he was going to get. He recognized pitches as quickly as any of the young players we have here. Plus, he big-time got better at first base.
“He told me he hadn’t play first base before, other than a little bit in high school,” Baker added. “That’s a little strange for a guy who is lefthanded, but he said he played corner outfield all the time. He said in high school they had another lefthanded kid who could super hit but couldn’t play any other position but first base.”
BRONSON ARROYO is supposed to sing tonight at Woodjock in Scottsdale, a charity event put on by pitcher Jake Peavy. Former Yankee Bernie Williams is scheduled to sing, too.
Well, obviously Arroyo practiced too much. His voice was scratchy this morning and he was trying not to talk and said, “I’m trying to save my voice, man.”
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May 2, 2010 12:35 PM | Link to this
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By Flyer5
March 14, 2010 6:45 PM | Link to this
Muttman seems to have an affinity for goldilocks. A man-crush, I think. You can filter my farts with your nostril hairs, moron
By CaneFan79
March 12, 2010 10:02 PM | Link to this
By Hank “The ’ U ’ ….. this doesn’t sound good for the Reds Organization .. look out Folks” Gee, Hank what is so bad about the “U”? The four CWS National championships? Two of which have come since the Reds won their last TWENTY years ago? Funny, the #1 HS Football player in Ohio knows all about the “U” …He signed there. Hal, your a HOF’er but Alonso expecting people to know about the “U” is not as unreasonable as you make it sound. The “U” film on ESPN was their highest rated film.
By Mutaman
March 12, 2010 4:53 PM | Link to this
“How many quality wins, early, when the team is still in contention?” Well last year it was 7 through May. Is that early enough? Really Hal, can’t you do something about filtering out the morons here?
By Flyer5
March 12, 2010 4:05 PM | Link to this
“30 wins over the last two years for a bad team”. How many quality wins, early, when the team is still in contention? I think he’s apretty good reason why they’re a bad team. His wins are usually window dressing when the team is out of contention. Arroyo sucks.
By MAC
March 12, 2010 3:39 PM | Link to this
The U thus far appears to be Chapman & Dickerson, who still doesn’t get any positive press or a chance to win the CF job even though he’s out performing everyone else right now, “U” hear what I’m saying? “U” also have to like the way Frazier puts the bat on the ball; kid doesn’t K & has a “super better” approach than most young Reds’ hitters. Have “U” noticed that Dusty? Likewise, I like the way Cabrera? has been getting on base in front of a projected Votto, Rolen, Bruce lineup. If Reds stay healthy & play “big time” smarter BB, it could get interesting; they could make some noise this season!
By HavaKlu
March 12, 2010 3:01 AM | Link to this
Harry—-you need to be put to pasture. No way in the world the Rays would trade Garza for Alonso straight up. And Pena ain’t going anywhere this early in the season. Harry—-you better check the oats you’ve been eating.
By Loveland
March 11, 2010 8:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal, I saw your post the other day and was going to recommend Raul and Theresa’s. Definitely not a chain and has tremendous food. I was in Goodyear on Monday and got to take in the Chapman debut. He looked very calm and has that silky smooth delivery. He made 102 mph look effortless, then followed it with a 80’s change up that made the Royals batter look like a little leaguer. Fun to watch. I hope he makes the squad.
By Harry the Horse
March 11, 2010 3:31 PM | Link to this
The Rumor that won’t go away…. Rays scouts watching Yonder Alonso… Rays trade Carlos Pena to the White Sox for Gavin Floyd. Then trade Matt Garza for Yonder Alonso.. Rays ownership not comfortable with $ 70 million payroll. May happen before start of season…
By Yodasbrother
March 11, 2010 3:10 PM | Link to this
Arroyo consistantly eats innings too! Not bad in return for Wily Mo.
By Mutaman
March 11, 2010 2:21 PM | Link to this
“Dude outta be worried more about his pitching than his singing. Overrated waste of money if you ask me.” 30 wins over the last two years for a bad baseball team. Let’s waste some more money like this.
By Hank
March 11, 2010 2:11 PM | Link to this
The ’ U ’ ….. this doesn’t sound good for the Reds Organization .. look out Folks .
By primaarroyo
March 11, 2010 1:51 PM | Link to this
Dude outta be worried more about his pitching than his singing. Overrated waste of money if you ask me. I wonder if he serenades Alonso with Jimi Hendrix’ “Look Over Yonder”!?!
By Rick
March 11, 2010 1:44 PM | Link to this
ESPN rumour mill from today: “It would be viewed as an act of treason in the Twin Cities, but could the Twins consider the unthinkable and trade Joe Mauer? Souhan ,of the Star Tribune, says a long-term deal with Mauer is still more likely than not, but at some point the price will get too high. “If (agent Ron) Shapiro is intent on pushing Mauer to $25 million or more a year, Mauer might find himself on the Johan Santana Shuttle out of town,” Souhan writes. A trade of Mauer could yield a quality closer to replace Joe Nathan and keep one player from eating up a quarter of the entire payroll.” If this we’re a possibility, the Reds should jump in on that. Trade them the closer they need in Cordero (14M) and a few prospects, resurrect the Harang (12.125M) trade to LA or trade Hernandez (8.5M) and you have the room for 25M needed to keep Mauer. 3/11/2010 1:22:38 PM