Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th 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 > 2008 > May > 05 > Entry
Weather-ing a storm
There was a victory sighting down on the river Monday night — an honest-to-God victory by the Cincinnati Reds, 5-3, over the Chicago Cubs.
What made it even more fun was a sprinkling of controversy after the game, engineered by pitcher David Weathers throwing down the gauntlet to Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley. And they’re friends.
But after the game, Weathers was waiting for the media. He wasn’t angry and actually smiled through most of it.
On Sunday, during a hideous loss to Atlanta, 14-7, Brantley said on the air, “It is obvious there are players on this team playing much harder than others.”
Weathers heard it driving home from a workout.
“We take a lot of pride in what we do and sometimes when you hear things about your teammates — I’ve been on the DL watching and listening — sometimes you have to defend your teammates,” said Weathers.
“I don’t feel like we have anybody quitting,” he added. “Do we have guys struggling? Yeah, we do. But that doesn’t mean you quit.”
Weathers and Brantley are friends, but Weathers said, “He played and he is a guy who knows the game and should know about struggles out there. Sometimes you feel like you’re climbing a cactus. It’s hard. I don’t mean it to be a big deal — I feel like I’m on The View and said something to Barbara.”
A few minutes later Brantley was en route to the clubhouse to chat with Stormy.
A couple of noteworthies in this one, a win that stopped five games of enough bleeding to send the entire team to the blood bank for transfusions.
After a couple of sessions with his mentor, Mario Soto, 22-year-old rookie Johnny Cueto was back into a smoother groove. He went six innings and gave up three runs and six hits, striking out eight. Very impressive. Mr. Soto, take a bow. And don’t ever leave.
There was a lucky, two-run broken-bat single by Jeff Keppinger during a three-run first, then Adam Dunn also drove in two runs. He didn’t break his bat, but chipped the paint on some red seats in right field with a two-run, 463-foot home run, a home run that actually meant something.
The ninth inning was a huff and a hoot.
Francisco Cordero came in to protect a two-run lead and turned into a tee-ball extravaganza.
The first two Cubs singled. Pinch-hitter Daryle Ward lined a 3-and-2 pitch devastatingly hard, but right at center fielder Corey Patterson for the first out.
Then Cordero walked the bases full. With one out and the sacks jammed or loaded or full (three on), he bounced a pitch off catcher Paul Bako’s chest protector and it rolled about 10 feet to the right of home plate.
Mike Fontenot tried to score from third, but Bako scrambled after the ball and threw a better pitch to Cordero, covering home, than Cordero threw to him. Cordero blocked the plate and Fontenot was out.
Now he walked another, refilling the bases and bringing up Derrek The Dangerous Lee, while manager Dusty Baker and the boys in the first-base dugout covered their eyes.
Cordero hung a slider.
“Usually that pitch is hit out of the park,” said Cordero. “I was lucky. He swung and missed. Then I threw him a fastball.”
Lee pulled it to Joey Votto at first base and Votto slid feet first into the bag, narrowly retiring Lee.
Just another victory, a victory that was about as difficult as getting the first olive out of a jar without spilling juice all over your hand.
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Comments
By preacher,franklin ohio
May 6, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
geter done for jesus not reds god bless the reds.By Bill
May 6, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Boy, am I stupid…disregard.By Bill
May 6, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
Do you mean Jeff Picoro? Jeff Brantley was a pitcher…By Jabin
May 6, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
what is taking so damn long to get Norris Hopper in the lineup…..Patterson flat out sucks…….if the season continues like this, i would like to see a redeal…By Mark
May 6, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
With Dusty as their inspirational leader… wait, he fell asleep again in the dugout. I’m from Chicago and a lifetime Reds fan. That was the worst managerial signing ever. He got booted out of Chicago for letting the team get lazy. Even Whitesox fans were laughing at the Reds for this.By Michael in Monterey, CA
May 6, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Weathers is back? Noooooooo!!!! Look, someone needs to tell the offense to relax and work the count. The Reds are making outs on too many first and second pitches and not waiting for one they can drive. Dempster had several innings last night where he only threw 5-8 pitches to complete three outs. On the other hand, pratically every Cubs hitter took Cueto deep into the count. That is the reason the Reds aren’t hitting and the Cubs are tearing it up.By Rob
May 6, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Arroyo is embarrassed and defensive, both by his play and from getting ragged on by his commercial. He has and never should have been a #2 man in a rotation, and the expectations heaped on him by management were unrealistic. It pains me to watch him toss those melon balls as it has since he first arrived. Maybe he needs to go back to the Bo Derek corn rows to find that post-season mojo of the past. As for Freel giving it his all, I’d rather him play a little smarter than as reckless as he is, but that’s his game so i guess i have to take it since there is no better alternative. I cringe every time he goes after a ball in the gap. More often than not, he doesn’t make the play and the ball ends up rolling around before his back up can pick it up.By Cait
May 6, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Weathers is a good guy and gives a full effort, as does Freel and a few other vets. Arroyo has said the Cincy fans don’t support the team like the Red Sox fans do. But I heard a loud crowd last night in the ninth and I hear people get excited when Freel is involved in a play. So to Arroyo and Weathers - great effort by players begets great support from fans. As does winning. Also, I don’t think Arroyo is tanking it. He may want out of Cincy, but you do that by giving another team a reason to want to trade for you. Losing & a high ERA won’t do that.By donb51
May 6, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Hi Hal, Sometimes something like this is all a team needs to turn it around. I have been ragging on Adam Dunn for a while now, and I am going to do nothing from now on but to cheer him on. His homerun last night is the first this year that that has helped the Reds win. Like Midway, Gettysburg, and Iwo Jima, this is a turning point for the Reds. From now on, it’s .600 ball from the Reds. Let’s go Dunn, let’s go Reds, c’mon Griff, get these guys fired up!By Kyle
May 6, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
This whole coaching staff needs to go. We haven’t had a decent pitching coach for decades. Everyone can see the impact that Soto has on Cueto. Why not turn him loose as pitching coach? We certainly need to turn Pole loose…to look for a new job.By Scott
May 6, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Thanks for all the blog stories Hal. I really enjoy reading them.By Scott
May 6, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Thanks for all the blog stories Hal. I really enjoy reading them.By HuberTucky
May 6, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
It’s quite sad how a team gets it’s @ss in the air over comments made by a broadcaster or sports writer. They are so think skinned and sensitive. and so easily get in a huff. Yeah, the brotherhood of false pride. If they’d just shut up and do their job and earn some of that big money most of us can only dream off (as in win a lottery) then perhaps there would be more sympathy. But the way this team has played year after year…sympathy is only a word in the dictionary. I have NONE for these guys…getting paid millions to play a game? Yeah, right!By Steven Ross
May 6, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Yep, all the Reds runs were unearned last night. It was long overdue we got a few breaks though.By Michael
May 6, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
I grew up watching Pete Rose. He set a standard that can’t be matched, but this is baseball and if you don’t want to win or don’t love to play, get out of Cincinnati!By Jeff
May 6, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
What I can’t figure is the hitting coaches. I was listening to the braves game the other day and they were saying how terry pendleton makes all the braves hitters drive the ball in the opposite field gap during BP. Watch the reds game tonight and look how every team pitches them. It is away, away, away. Yet they still try to pull the ball. Phillips used to go with the pitch and now he is doing what griffey and dunn do. This is what a hitting coach is supposed to teach. Go figureBy Mike
May 6, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
Brantley comments hit home..and many of the Reds know it. All any fan wants is a true effort and hustle. TV games don’t lie. You can watch and know who’s dogging it..it’s incredible to understand how a millionaire player can show up to a game,and choose to give only a portion of his talent, not earn his money, betray his fans and then be defensive if he is questioned. Know this..there is a locker room brotherhood..Weathers displayed that and defended any players that might be suspect. Again, TV doesn’t lie..just watch. You want effort? Just watch Freel’s efforts. It’s amazing he style of play isn’t contagious. That’s all you can ask..play with ALL the talent you have. Brantley knows..most of the Reds know. That all any fan wants when he puts down good hard earned money for a ticket.By ROGER DOTY
May 6, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
LET’S FACE IT—THIS TEAM IS A TRAIN WRECK.JOCK SHOULD TELL OWNER BOB THAT HE IS RESIGNING AND BOB SHOULD GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL MARK CUBAN AND OFFER TO SELL.BOB WANTS TO WIN NOW AND IT IS’NT GOING TO HAPPEN.By bill
May 6, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Hey Joe, a five game losing streak for this team is not a slump.By joe
May 6, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
Were not all the Reds runs unearned on Monday night against the Cubs? Hence, the slump is not over.By Pete
May 6, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
Agree w/ TimBob1 about Arroyo’s comments. Arrogant as hell! I don’t necessarily believe he’s tanking games. He just stinks! Plain & simple. Think the BOSOX unloaded him for a reason? It certainly wasn’t to get Wily Mo & sign him to a long term contract!By TimBob1
May 6, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this
Has it occurred to anyone that Bronson Arroyo may be tanking games in hopes of being traded to his beloved Redsox? His comments in today’s (May 6) seem very arrogant for a pitcher who can’t get past the 4th inning.By ShockMonkey
May 6, 2008 6:28 AM | Link to this
For once, a few things went right for the Reds last night. A minor miricle we escaped the 9th with a win.By Sigh Yung
May 6, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
Reds Batting order: Freel {Hopper Later} Phillips Keppinger Votto Griffey{if we must} Encarnacion Dunn{if we must} Backo Pitcher The first four sticks all make contact! Sorry, forgot how to spell my name!By Sigh Young
May 6, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
I say J. Brantley for Reds pitching coach! No one in the dugout seems to have any answers for Arroyo—Brantley does. Instead of getting your feelings hurt by a broadcaster—Do your job!