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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 > 2008 > June > 07 > Entry
Was it chicken, rice and beans?
The players were eating Cuban chicken, rice and beans in the pregame clubhouse and even sipped that strong stuff they call Cuban coffee in those little demitasse cups.
I love coffee, Starbuck’s variety, but that Cuban stuff stands my arm hairs on end and I spend the rest of the night walking on the ceiling.
But, hey, whatever works.
The Reds then went out Friday night and pounded the Florida Marlins, 11-3, spraying 17 hits all over the gridiron where the Miami Dolphins play in ineptitude. OK, so Bill Parcells is going to turn things around, right?
They try everything to draw baseball fans out here in the middle of nowhere, next to the Florida Turnpike and down the street from Calder Race Course.
And speaking of horses, pull hard for Big Brown. Horse racing needs a Triple Crown winner. I love horse racing, but when it comes to finding winners, I can’t even pick my nose.
Before the game and before he was surrounded by media, Ken Griffey Jr. sat at a table (no chicken, beans and rice for him — if he had, maybe he might have hit that 600th home run). Anyway, at the table with him was his son, Trey, and Jay Bruce. Bruce was eating the Cuban food and he broke an 0-for-9 with three hits Friday night.
Suddenly, it hit Griffey. Trey, 14, and Bruce, 21, were closer in age than Bruce and Griffey, 38. Bruce is only seven years older than Trey, but 17 years younger than Griffey.
“Now ain’t that a shame?” Griffey said.
Griffey told Adam Dunn that on the day he was drafted, “Hal McCoy was in my basement to do a story on me getting drafted No. 1 by the Seattle Mariners.”
Without missing a beat, Dunn said, “What did you give him, Tab or Fresca?” Then they both asked me if I was at Woodstock in 1969.
“Nope,” I said. “I was covering Ohio State football that year.”
Pitching coach Dick Pole put down a chicken wing and said, “I’da been there, but I was in boot camp.”
Griffey settled himself on a big black steamer trunk that goes with him everywhere he goes and met the Florida media.
“The biggest thing right now is that I’m just trying to be me,” he said. As I watched, I thought of that song by Chris Knight: “It Ain’t Easy Being Me.”
For Griffey, it isn’t. Sure, he has everything — riches, cars, a boat as big as a battleship, a wonderful family. But the demands on him are enough to rattle the Pope. And he handles it with dignity and aplomb, especially now that every media person wants a piece of him.
And he handles it.
“I don’t think about 600 home runs,” he said. “But y’all keep reminding me of it. When it’s all said and done, when I retire and go home, maybe I’ll think about it then.”
What he was thinking about was Friday’s game. He didn’t homer, but he was perfect. Two walks (the 16,000 fans booed because they wanted to see the 600th, and if it had happened there would be 160,000 people who would say they were there). Then he singled his next two times.
Perhaps the biggest thing this night was another win by 22-year-old Johnny Cueto, leveling his record at 5-5. He struggled a bit, needing 115 pitches to get through six innings.
He nearly didn’t make it. With the score 8-3, he loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth. He needed one more out to qualify for the win.
Dusty Baker came walked to the mound instead of Pole. Usually that means the hook.
But using Spanish, Baker said, “C’mon, Dude (what’s Spanish for Dude?). You want this game. You want this win? Then go get ‘em.”
Cueto was one pitch away from not getting it. He went to 3-and-2 on Matt Treanor. “A walk and he’s gone,” said Baker. Instead Cueto threw a nasty called strike past Treanor - one of the biggest pitches in his young career.
Cueto is 3-0 over his last four starts, a significant turnaround. And a big step forward for both him and the Reds.
And it’s chicken, rice and beans before Saturday night’s game.
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By Kyle
June 7, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Wow, how much does it suck when all these ex-Reds keep pounding us? Cordero wasn’t fooling anyone tonight.
By AP-FLORIDA
June 7, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
does not matter-cp still can’t play-up or down-his request or not…..
By Florida Buckeye
June 7, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
John thanks for the info…It changes my opinion of Patterson knowing that he asked to go down to work on his game: tells me a lot about his character, and puts him in a different light…
By HuberTucky
June 7, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Who is the idiot writing that Hairston is on his way to the minors (Bill)…and his negative comment about Cueto, too? What a bonehead you are, Bill! Stupid, too. Try to pay attention.
By Coach
June 7, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
What to watch for tonight: If the yo-yo throws a lot of breaking balls early in the count and out of the strike zone— he will lose—unless the Reds continue hitting. Regardless he will not pitch well, unless he throws fastballs,in and out of the strike zone—with occassional breaking balls late in the count!
By rob
June 7, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Not a fan of Starbucks. Tastes burnt to me, like the beans were roasted too long. Hal, do you like La Unica cigars? I treat myself to one on holidays and vacations. Needless to say, those days are too few and far between. Florida is good for spring training but terrible for 2 franchises. It won’t happen but it would be nice if Selig would allow the Rays and Marlins to just go belly up.
By Jeff
June 7, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
I think Dusty’s ability to speak Spanish is really underrated. I’m sure he can connect with the several Latin players on the team better than most other managers.
By Sunset Girl
June 7, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Hey Mr. McCoy, do you ever sleep?
By John
June 7, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Florida Buckeye, I read on DDN website that Patterson asked to be sent down a day or two after Bruce came up. True story. Go Reds!
By Reds Fan
June 7, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Why all the negativity? I know it was only one game but still have a shot at winning road trip. I don’t care how many beans they eat as long as that translates to wins. Looks what happens when Baker does the logical lineup. With Hairston and Bruce atop sets the tone. Be nice to win tonight to set up Harang and Volquez for rest of series. If Arroyo’s on his game and can get fly balls in that park like the Reds chances.
By bill
June 7, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
All Friday’s game did was get the Reds batting averages healthy. Hairston was on his way to the minors and will end up there. The Marlins will win the remaining three of this series. And don’t get your hopes up on Cueto.
By Florida Buckeye
June 7, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Oh, and another thing: Hal, could you hear from the pressbox the annoying guy who was between the plate and the Reds Dugout. There were so few people there that his voice clearly came through on the FSN FL broadcast and MAN was he a drunken fool…just wondering, take care and enjoy the cuban food in Miami: I live in Tampa, and we have great Cuban food here as well…
By Mike
June 7, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Well….11 runs…17 hits…a breakout from the drought a Philly. You can bet the ranch..hits will be very very scarce tonight…iin fact, it a safe bet..the Reds won’t have 6 hits tonight..usually happens every time after a robust offensive game…
By Florida Buckeye
June 7, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Hmm…and Griffey wasn’t putting extra effort into it last night? A man who rarely goes after balls with any zeal, tries to score from second on a knee that we have been told has been bothering him? And it’s just coincidence that his family are all there to witness this effort?!? Hmm. . Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the effort, I just wish it was there every night. Also, I noticed Patterson whiffed again, and it was reported by FSN Fl that CP asked to be sent down…I haven’t heard that reported here, or on FSN OH; I wonder about the vailidity of that too…All in all though, Great Game, and another Great Post Hal…Thanks for sharing.
By beav
June 7, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
another griffey fluff piece…we get it already
By AP-FLORIDA
June 7, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
GREAT GAME BUT…WE STILL HAVE RUSTY AND CP…MAYBE THEY’LL STAY IN MIAMI
By John
June 7, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Here’s hoping they keep plenty of Imodium on hand in the Reds’ clubhouse.
By pat Monahan
June 7, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this
I think it was the cuban coffee. All that caffeine.
By Ron
June 7, 2008 1:32 AM | Link to this
Hal: Can I be your publisher for the book you will write? Let’s meet at the Oakwood Club to discuss. I will buy.