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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 37th 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 > 2009 > July > 05 > Entry
Carpenter saws the Reds into five easy pieces
Unless you are a St. Louis Cardinals fan, it isn’t much fun watching Chris Carpenter make your team look aimless and helpless. He makes them pound the ball into the dirt - ground ball after ground ball after ground ball.
After Sunday’s game, there can’t be a worm alive under the Great American Ball Park grass because the Cincinnati Reds beat them to death with their ground balls.
Carpenter pitched seven innings and held the Reds to one run and five hits during an 10-1 victory.
ON THE OTHER side, Bronson Arroyo was up to his recent ineffectiveness - five innings, eight runs (five earned) and 11 hits. Three unearned runs scored because of a throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion (where have we seen this act before?).
Didn’t matter that much because five earned runs was enough for Carpenter.
Manager Dusty Baker knew what was coming. Usually, there is no batting practice on a Sunday morning before a day game. But on this morning Baker had his boys out there taking BP, “Because we have that nasty Carpenter to face and we need to prepare.”
That one didn’t work so well.
Baker said the other reason he had his team taking batting practice was because it is embarking on a seven-game trip to Philadelphia (four) and New York (three), the last games before the All-Star break, “And you don’t get as much batting practice time on the field on the road.”
These last seven games against a couple of NL East powerhouses are important for the Reds to cling close before the break. What is amazing about the NL Central is that the Reds are as close to the top (three behind St. Louis) as they are to the bottom (three ahead of Pittsburgh). Wins, wins and more wins are needed.
Baker put it quaintly: “What this does for the NL Central is that there are no broken spirits before the All-Star break. Usually there are broken spirits. The spirits are all still alive. Makes for good baseball, though.”
AS EXPECTED, the Reds have only one All-Star representative - closer Coco Cordero (20 saves in 21 chances). It is Cordero’s third All-Star game, all with different teams - Texas, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
“A good goal for anybody is to make the All-Star team,” he said. “I’m excited. I may not seem like it now, but I will be when I get to St. Louis for the game. It’s real special, something big for me and my family.”
NOW IF US Airways can get me to Philadelphia tomorrow, we’ll see what the next six games will bring. Can’t wait for Friday, though, when I ride Amtrak Business Coach from Philly to New York, a pleasant 1 1/2-hour train ride. No security lines, no luggage hassle, no extra charge for suitcases, no cramped seats.
Amtrak won’t lose my luggage because it will be with me. Last year, US Airways lost my luggage after my flight from Dayton to New York was scuttled halfway there because of a foul odor surfaced in the airplane. We returned to Dayton, I was re-routed to NY through Washington, D.C. - but I think my luggage was re-routed through Washington state.
I got to New York Friday evening, just before game time. My luggage arrived Sunday morning - at check-out time from the hotel. US Airways did pay for the clothing and toiletries I had to buy to get me through those two days.
If I had known that, I would have shopped at Armani’s instead of the The Gap. Live and learn.
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Comments
By timb
July 6, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this
“Think we’ll see his BA over .200 by August 1st??? ” Since he’s never hit below .200, I would say yes. Then again, that error was momentous. Without the Reds might only lost 7-1. Good job, Rick, though. It’s important to always have a scapegoat when you’re a Brennaman, errr reds fan. Usually, on this board, it’s dusty. Nice to see Edwin back, so the average joes have their whipping boy back. PS Rick, take a look at Chipper Jones. He’s a butcher with the glove and has been for 15 years. If you can hit, you can overcome that. If not, the play by play guy complains about youBy florence
July 6, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this
Arroyo pitches well when the Reds are 15 games out. He gets rocked when they need a win to stay in the hunt. He needs shipped as well as Weathers. Those guys throw BP and 86 mph does not cut it. Harang is turning into a number 4 or 5. He has lost zip and gets rocked by decent teams. He pitched well against Arizona but there offense is about as bad as the redlegs. Dumo Arroyo/WeathersBy Scott
July 6, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this
Win or lose the Reds gets me away from all the bickering and backstabbing between Americans because of their continuing disgareements of each others ploitical views. Long live baseball.By RC
July 6, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
As I’ve said before, if Homer has a couple more decent starts, that will definitely make Arroyo and/or Harang that much more available. But Arroyo, on current form, isn’t likely to bring back more than a middling prospect. Harang might bring more, but he’s also the kind of guy you might want to keep around for the even younger pitching staff the Reds are likely to have next year. Face it, as the trade deadline approaches, Cordero is the only guy who might bring us a good established righty hitter in return. Rhodes can slide into the closer role for a while, but I think the team is (and darn well oughta be) grooming Masset for that spot, maybe as soon as next year. PS - If the Reds go into the dumper before the end of the month, don’t be surprised if Arroyo, Harang and Cordero ALL go. Maybe even Rhodes and Weathers, too. There’s a lotta good looking young pitchers that might benefit from a taste of the bigs, and some old guys who are living on borrowed time…By bigdoc
July 6, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
Hal, please post pictures from Amtrak!By Rick M of Anderson Township
July 6, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
Good ‘ole EEE. (ERROR on EDWIN ENCARNACION) Now that he’s back, I’m back to seeing what I was expecting to see….One or two brainfarts every game at the plate and one or two brainfarts every game in the field. He’s played in over 1100 minor and major league games at 3B and he still can’t play 3B. Think we’ll see his BA over .200 by August 1st???By scott from cincy
July 6, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this
Regardging Arroyo…we say this every year about him when he has his normal four-game swoon, but he comes back and pitches six or seven good games in a row, and always ends up with 13-15 wins when it is all said and done. He is a high-innings, .500 pitcher. Not a number two or three, but in this market, a servicable pitcher. If we can trade him, to open up spots for Lehr, Maloney, and Bailey, then, I say do it, but don’t expect too much. Freeing up salary for a SS is a great idea. Mark my words though, this team is not going to eat the $4.5M they have to pay EE next year. They will stand pat at CF and 3B in the offseason. Especially, if Taveras continues to hit. I would love them to get some guts and release or trade EE, sign a legit 3B or trade for one, and move Votto to LF next year, opening up 1B for a temporary slugger until Alonso is ready (maybe Bay or Lance Berkman). Then, the outfield next year would be Votto, Bruce, and Taveras/Dickerson.By scott from cincy
July 6, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this
I agree, trading Arroyo or Harang would be a great option, but I don’t like the idea of getting rid of Cordero. I know he costs a lot, but we have him for two more years, and he has been stellar this year. Having him at the top, allows everyone else to slide down. I also think that people need to get off of Weathers, it was not his fault that Dusty did not plan or look at the stats, leaving him to be OVERMATCHED against THE best weak fastball hitter in the game. The Reds had other chances to pad their lead and they didn’t. Bailey walked two, and then Rhodes blew it walking the rook. Phat Albert should not have even batted…Cordero should have come in to face him, NOT Weathers.By Jack
July 6, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
Dear Reds: While most people understand that the Reds have very little to no chance of making the playoffs, the actual record says differently. So management will be tempted to either to trade good prospects for somebody (killing the future) or not trading anybody so it does not appear that you are giving up. So, with that being said, it is okay to trade the following individuals without looking bad. Harang/Arroyo. One needs to go. Arroyo has just never been consistent and makes too much money to be average. Harang is a crowd favorite, but almost feel bad for him that he is a Red. Trade him for a player that might be a year away, plus it would shed a good amount of payroll. Trade/release EE, he is not any good and just looks like he does not want to be there. Cordero. He is having a great year, sell high. We can find a cheaper closer. Making these trades (Harang/Arroyo and Cordero) would save between 22 and 26 million dollars. Use this money to grab what you need for next year…be it a left fielder, shortstop, third baseman. Still have a great pitching foundation for next year. I think the Reds have a real chance to win “next” year. Just need to keep adding some outside talent and those playing well in the minor leagues.By steven ross
July 6, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this
Dan wrote: Once again Baker leaves his starting pitcher in to be beaten like a drum. A starting pitcher should NEVER be left in to give up 8 runs. Normally, I would agree but he was trying to save the bullpen before the road trip. Can’t fault Dusty for that decision. Plus we were facing Carpenter too. Wouldn’t have mattered.By Chuck
July 6, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
If (when) Arroyo pitches at GABP next, the Reds will be lucky to draw flies. It’s a guaranteed loss - no, beating. The Reds should make that night “Free Ticket Night.”By Barry
July 6, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this
Has Arroyo finally proven to everyone else what I have known all along, and that he is a #5 starter not a #2. If Homer can string together a few more QS’s along with Owings, shouldn’t it be Arroyo who gets sent packing either by trade(not gonna get much) or long relief.By jb
July 6, 2009 3:19 AM | Link to this
I would think if BA quit playing with himself on the mound,that would help his wrist,dude,do that in your room,it’s get’s old.By Dino
July 6, 2009 12:37 AM | Link to this
Someone along the way talked about how much alike Arroyo and Ownings pitching styles are. Shouldn’t those two be broken-up in the rotation so they are not back to back; those giving the other teams hitters the same look two days in a row? Owings has looked better since he has stopped following Bronson in the rotation. One of Owings early wins was after he followed Arroyo, but against different opponents. Is someone with the Reds besides Brantley noticed this?By Worn Cleats
July 5, 2009 11:26 PM | Link to this
I can’t decide which is more painful: watching Taveras trying to chase down and catch balls hit to the gap{that Dickerson would get to};waiting two months for Taveras to make contact with the pitches coming towards him; or, waiting for Arroyo to find something other than his crotch to pay attention to—like making good pitches? “That’s the way it goes”—according to ‘YO-YO’.By duffer21
July 5, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this
Obviously there is something seriously wrong with Arroyo. His pitches are flat, no bite on his curve ball. He is either injured (which he should thus go on the DL) or the pitching coach hasn’t done a good job at fixing him; either way, we cannot have him continue in this fashion as it is an incredible momentum breaker.By Tom
July 5, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this
Hal, If Arroyo would go on the DL and have his Carpel Tunnel fixed I think he could possible comeback next year and be the pitcher he was before. Get rid of Baker. He doesn’t use hie lineup to the best it is capable of doing. Hanigan is a better catcher and with his hitting use him. Baker keeps moving Bruce and never the same order no wonder he has trouble hitting. Get rid of Baker and hire Tony LaRussa for next year when his contract with the Cardinals expires.By Old Kiser Coach
July 5, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this
Arroyo must not have payed attention to Bailey and Owings. It looked to me like he was grabbing his crotch between pitches in honor of Michael Jackson. That was just about as sorry an example of pitching as I have seen for a while.By Dan
July 5, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this
Once again Baker leaves his starting pitcher in to be beaten like a drum. A starting pitcher should NEVER be left in to give up 8 runs.By Mike-Cinci
July 5, 2009 6:35 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately with a Carpenter/Arroyo matchup the Cards would probably win 9 out of 10 games. Carpenter is a clear #1 starter. The next 20 games against the Phils, Mets, Brewers, Dodgers, and Cubs will go a long way to tell us if the Reds can stay in the race. Only the 4 games against the Brewers are at home. Using the Cards series as the beginning of this tough run it is not good to start with 1 win and 2 losses at home. The next 3 weeks will be very interesting.By Tom
July 5, 2009 6:08 PM | Link to this
This past spring training in Sarasota was my last shot to see the Reds. I live in VA and can’t afford to go to AZ. Saw the Reds/Red Sox night spring training game in mid-March at Ed Smith. Arroyo pitched as badly today as he did in that game. The Red Sox scrubs beat Arroyo and the Reds starters like a drum. Trade him!By Springfield/Brooklyn
July 5, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
A little misummer baseball limerick lament to my favorite blog from a 50+ year Red’s fan. Unique on this earth is baseball In its power to entice and enthrall Most summers by now I’m free of that plough Cause my team’s in a frightful freefall But alas and alack for us all In the midsummer standings they’re tall They’ve no more of a chance Than a U.S. governor’s romance And my pathetic hope Will survive every choke And I’ll suffer till the last out is calledBy Kyle
July 5, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this
Arroyo is just painful to watch. At least he pitches quickly and moves the agony along.