Red Reposter - Honoring Hall o' Famer Hal

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 17, 2009 10:49 AM EDT in News

In case you couldnt make it to the ballpark last night to see it
here's a video of Hal's speech.
Last night was Hall o' Famer Hal Night in Cincinnati
and coincidentally it was also Ernie Harwell night in Detroit. The Tigers Hall o' Famer broadcaster is 92 and was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Here's what Harwell had to say during his ceremony at Comerica:

"In my almost 92 years on this earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey, and the blessed part of that journey is it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan. "I deeply appreciate the great people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all. No question about that. "And I certainly want to thank you from the depth of my heart, for your devotion, your support, your loyalty and your love. Thank you very much and God bless you." Baseball is losing some of it's finest ambassadors this year, huh?
CTR says that while Scott Rolen induced that wild pitch that scored Joey Votto for the win
it was Brandon Phillips on the back end of it that made the play of the day. As the ball rolled toward the Astros' dugout, BP rounded 2nd and hesitated only a second to see what catcher Chris Coste was going to do. When Coste coasted to the ball, BP sprinted to 3B without a throw. Dusty Baker tells BP that is "Jackie Robinson stuff". He likes that.
Johnny Cueto was scratched from the rotation yesterday due to the flu
and Matt Maloney will return to the mound in his stead. Maloney threw on Tuesday and his blister didnt bother him, so he's good to go.
Dusty has been taking advantage of the new depth at catcher
When Ryan Hanigan came off the DL last week, Baker said he would get the bulk of the catching duties. I let out a sigh of relief, because it was probably the first correct roster decision Baker made in 4 months. But of course, it hasnt happened like that, as Hanigan has only started 3 games since his return. Dusty loves him some Corky Miller, and he's gotten the majority of the starts. Dusty says Hanigan and Miller will split the series against the Marlins. Craig Tatum started yesterday's win against the Astros. Ramon Hernandez could be back by this weekend too, meaning our future catcher will likely get even less on-the-job training. Why?
Doug Gray did his season review of the Dayton Dragons
and he thinks Mark Serrano and Miguel Rojas are the best pitching and positional prospects on the team.
Jon Heyman took a look at the soon-to-be free agents and the kind of deals we can expect them to get this winter
If you are hoping the Reds could bring in a guy like Matt Holliday or Jason Bay or Chone Figgins to play LF, then you should probably just cut that out right now. Nahgonnahappen. I would be surprised if the Reds spent any more than $5 million combined this winter on free agents.
Bobby Cox has managed the Braves for 24 seasons
most of them very well. But he may not come back next year. "I just don’t know right now," he said. "I’m not thinking about it. I’m still trying to get us in the playoffs somehow." The Braves will likely miss the playoffs for the 4th straight season, and some of the fans are pointing at Cox. They can all go eat a peach for all I care. Let them miss the playoffs for 14 years and we'll see how they feel.
Anybody got a 3 year old that I can take to the park with me?
I wanna be on TV!

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The Hanigan item makes me especially mad

I was trying to come up with an excuse, like maybe they need to audition back-ups, but I don’t think that cuts it. We know what we’re getting with Hernandez or Miller, which is diminshing returns. And it’s pretty clear from his minor league numbers that Tatum is another light-hitting catcher, so the decision seems to be who calls the best game and plays the position best. There should already be decent intelligence. The guy who by rights should be getting 70-80% of starts next year needs to keep catching this staff and getting plate appearances, especially after having started the season as a back-up, being injured and then slumping. Aside from Dusty being an idiot, I can only hope Hanigan isn’t 100% yet to make any sense of this.

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 17, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

Maybe it's not as necessary for Hanigan to catch Lehr and Wells since they won't be around next year?

Clutching at straws is better than nothing.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 17, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Sea Bass got the game winning hit for the Red Sox last night

Link.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 17, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

That was the weakest game winning hit I've ever seen

Any decent left fielder makes that look like a pop up. It almost looked like Juan Rivera just decided he couldn’t be bothered to go into extras.

Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry

by nycredsfan on Sep 17, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder

if Rivera and A-Gon played together growing up. They’re about the same age, and both are from Venezuela.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 17, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I know a guy in New York, his name is Joe

do you know him?

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Sep 17, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I might

Six degrees of separation, and all that.

Baseball tends to be kind of incestuous. It’s not unusual for elite players to know each other from their Little League days (or whatever the equivalent is). Melky Cabrera seems to know everyone his age who played in the Dominican Republic.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 17, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I know...

just being cute is all.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Sep 17, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

You knew that family was going to be taken care of

When that video went viral like it did, you knew they’d get publicity and plenty of replacement baseballs. In fact, the tributes don’t stop there. I read that the Phillies are going to let that little girl play an inning at shortstop during their next homestand.

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Sep 17, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

she could probably draw a walk

zone’s pretty small.

by bbjones on Sep 18, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions

From my experience

3 year olds swing at everything. I think it’s true that plate discipline is a learned skill.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 18, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions

my 2.5 year old grand daughter not only swings but I gotta tell you the kids connects more often than not.

More than I can say for Wily.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Sep 18, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Question about Stubbs

Is he on pace to be a 40+ homerun hitter? He’s got 7 in just over a month of playing time. Maybe he’s our power-hitting OF we’ve been looking for.

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Sep 17, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

yep, just like Chris Dickerson, who had 6 HR in 122 PA last season

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

When he was drafted, he was reported to have "light tower power"

Then they tried to close some holes in his swing and all his power went away in the minors. I’m damn glad it decided to show up again in the bigs. I’d be happy with 20 home runs from him over a full season, plus his great glove in center. That’s a damn sight better than Willy Taveras.

Of course, six of Stubbs’s seven homers have come at hitter friendly GABP. His home and away splits are pretty startling. .315/.339/.667 in Cincinnati, .203/.276/.290 on the road, where he has 20 more plate appearances. If he starts to do what he’s done in Cincinnati everywhere else, consistently, then watch out.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 17, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you, Brook Jacoby?

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Sep 17, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I still say small sample size

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah...

I’m not sold on Stubbs yet, but I’d definitely prefer him to Willy.

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Sep 17, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

"im not sold on this exema yet

but i definitely prefer it to ascending bowel cancer"

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 17, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

I like it.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Sep 17, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Excellent.

People always asking, 'Uncle Jemima, why you sell booze?' I say 'sell whatchu know' and I knows about booze.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Sep 18, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he's gonna be good enough to play everyday

I’m just not so sure that he’s a 20 HR guy

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

C'mon everybody! We're going to Michigan!

jch24 has a new burger challenge to face!

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

15 hours to cook the burger?

i like my burgers and steak well done but that’s just dusty baker level of stupidity there.

"Some times you get lucky; some times you get Willy Taveras." - Teh Fay

by joshuar9476 on Sep 17, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

the Red Sox and Cardinals have proven that theory true ....

… then again so have the Cubs and their losing blue colors

"Some times you get lucky; some times you get Willy Taveras." - Teh Fay

by joshuar9476 on Sep 17, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Kevin Goldstein picks each org's biggest minor league movers this year

(via BPro):

Cincinnati Reds: A second-round pick in 2005 who had all but fallen off the radar after a pair of mediocre seasons (at best), Travis Wood is a short, stocky lefty whose best pitch is a changeup, but he was one of the best pitchers in the minors this year, compiling a 1.77 ERA in 27 starts between Double- and Triple-A.

He gives honorable mention to Chris Heisey.

Definitely a good argument.

by Slyde on Sep 17, 2009 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

Wood really needs to be a frontrunner for that #5 starter spot

along with Owins and Maloney.

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Sep 17, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I love this story

from The Fay:

I must tell one of my favorite Hal stories. An unnamed player came up to him one day and said: "Hal, you’re good with words, what does ‘platonic’ mean."

Hal told him what it meant.

"That bitch," the player replied.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Sep 17, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs