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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 > 2009 > November > 03
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Of Aruba, Pole and Lee/Hamels
Aruba is nice this time of year - or any time of year. Spent six days there last week and it was 90 to 92 every day, not a drop of precip and the heat was kept down by a persistent cool breeze off the cobalt blue ocean just a few yards behind the hotel.
If I had stayed away from the casinos, where I firmly believe they have figured out a way to cheat at blackjack, it would have been a perfect vacation.
I mean, how many times did I have a wager between $25 and $40 in front of me with two face cards in my possession with the dealer showing five? Then he would pull an ace for 16 and another five for 21 to beat me - time after time after time after time.
Then on the next hand, with a $10 bet, I’d draw a blackjack, just to keep me interested.
Where was 007 when I needed him?
If you go to Aruba, steer clear of the casinos, but don’t miss restaurants like Sole Mare, Papiemento’s, Simply Fish (tables on the beach with torches lighting the tables), El Gaucho and, for ambiance to watch the sunset, The Lighthouse.
TALKED TO Dick Pole this week, the pitching coach the Cincinnati Reds unceremoniously fired late in the season. Why couldn’t they at least wait until the end of the season?
Pole, a Michigan resident, is in Florida this week to undergo hip replacement surgery. After 22 years as a coach he says he won’t pursue another job, “Unless somebody comes after me.”
I know many of you called for his removal all season and wanted hitting coach Brook Jacoby gone, too. Well, you got half of what you wanted.
To me, it is almost always sad to see a dedicated, hard-working guy lose his job. Perhaps when you are with somebody every day and get to know them personally, your view becomes fuzzy.
All I know is that Pole worked hard and knew his job. Usually, when a manager or coach is fired, it is because his players or pitchers underachieve.
To me, though, most of the Reds pitchers were pitching to their capabilities, perhaps everybody but Aaron Harang, who has struggled the last couple of years. Bronson Arroyo blossomed under Pole, as did Edinson Volquez. In fact, Volquez was upset when Pole was fired.
After many false starts, Homer Bailey turned it around the second half of last season. Didn’t Pole have something to do with that?
We all know how obstinate young Bailey can be and Pole refused to coddle him - and it probably cost him his job.
One problem with the Reds is that CEO Bob Castellini listens to too many people and some of them have axes to grind or let personalities sway their opinions. One of them got Castellini’s ear about Pole and Pole was axed (pole-axed?).
A manager and a coach is only as good as his players/pitchers, and I saw improvement from the Reds pitching staff under Pole.
WILL THE PHILLIES be brave enough to bring back Cliff Lee on three days of rest if the World Series goes seven games and give him the ball Thursday?
It is probably their only chance. If it goes seven - and I believe it might - it will be Cole Hamels’ turn to pitch. I wasn’t there to hear the quote or put it into context, but I’m mystified about his quote, “I can’t wait for the season to be over.”
If that’s what he said and what he meant, I don’t want him pitching the deciding game of the World Series. You would more like to hear him say, “I wish the season would never end.”
With the way he pitched in his last start against the Yankees, well, it looked as if he wanted the season to end.
What do you think? Should Lee pitch Game 7, if there is one?
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