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 > 09 > Entry
Travel woes continue
I’ve picked on American, I’ve picked on United and I’ve picked on Delta.
Now it is the turn of U.S. Airways Express — and this one is a beaut.
The flight was scheduled for 7:11 this morning. We left on time, but sat on the runway 40 minutes, a traffic hold from LaGuardia. No biggie. Happens all the time.
But as we departed there was an odor in the plane. Not me. I showered thoroughly. Halfway to New York — yes, HALFWAY — they were told to turn back to Dayton. The smell was from cleaning fluid they used on the engines the night before and they said they had to turn back because maintenance for the CRJ-200 was better in Dayton than in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or New York.
Yeah, right.
They had medical personnel awaiting our return to Dayton and one woman was treated for a severe headache and nausea. She was sitting in front of me on the plane reading the Dayton Daily News — at one point reading my column today about my five favorites parks.
Maybe that caused her headache and nausea.
So here I sit in the Dayton airport at 9:45, hoping they get us to New York soon.
Speaking of ballparks, let me know your favorites and least favorites and why. No fair saying Great American Stinks because the team stinks.
They took the plane to the maintenance shed, probably for fumigation. And here we sit. Can’t believe I got up at 4:30 this morning and had my good friend, Jeff Gordon, drop me off at the airport.
Travel on this job is becoming more and more problem-filled. I guess I now yearn for the return of the days when the writers traveled on the team charters. Deadlines and frequent-flier miles killed that years ago.
As much as I hate the Stinkhole that is Shea, I sure hope to get there on time for tonight’s game. It is in the hands of U.S. Airways — and that’s a scary thing.
Just found out our flight is canceled. HELP!
So I trudged back through security to the U.S. Airways counter to Patrick, an agent I’ve known for years. With his great help, I was booked on a noon flight to Washington, then a flight that gets me into New York around five.
That will give me no time to check into the hotel to shower, shave and change clothes. I’ll go straight to the ballpark. There is one safety net. Heavy rain is predicted and maybe the game will be rained out and postponed.
A TSA agent told me David Weathers came through Dayton security for a 9:30 New York flight that I noticed was delayed. Also full. I couldn’t get on. Hope Stormy makes it.
Me? I HATE air travel these days and I used to love it. You literally make your destinations on a wing and prayer.
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Comments
By Bob
May 11, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Patterson in the 3 hole. You was kidding I hope? A guy batting .200 is the best hitter on the team. It’s a shame that Jr. occupies that spot. That’s supposedly the best hitter on your team. I realize that Keppinger does not fill that requirement, but until you can show me a better one; he truly is the best fundamental hitter on the team, especially situational hitting.By Kurt
May 9, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
I feel ya Hal, that’s why back in day, when I worked for Continental, we referred to that carrier as U.S. Scare, btw DELTA stands for don’t even leave the airport. enjoy Shea!By Justin
May 9, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Hal, I was reading through your best ballparks photo blog. I can understand your distaste for GABP, but did you have to trash the riverboat? For goodness sake, don’t criticize the only smidgen of character in our bland, lifeless stadium.By sun deck lover
May 9, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
To all of the Griffey haters ( who were missing in the winter of 99) here are some numbers for comparison of other “overpaid” big bats in baseball. Stats are from 2005 through today according to mlb.com and lohud.com. Name, 2008 base salary,Games, HR,RBI: Griffey $8.2M, 415, 96, 272, C. Delgado $16M, 458, 99, 332, T. Glaus $12.5M, 452, 96, 284, T. Helton $16.6M, 477, 55, 263, C. Beltran $18.6M, 467, 92, 319, J. Thome $15.6M, 365, 90, 255, P. Burrell $14.25M, 488, 100, 339, M. Teixeira $12.5M, 489, 110,378 There are many other examples, don’t have time to add up numbers on everybody to prove that you get the run production that you are paying for, maybe even getting a deal. Here are some other salaries: J. Damon (not a big bat, big name) $13M, A. Jones $14.7M, G. Sheffield $13.3M, B. Abreu $16M, A. Ramirez $15M, S. Rolen $11.6 M. I would think about picking up the option for 2009. Now Dunn on the other hand!……………………By donb51
May 9, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal, The Reds are playing .667 ball over the last 3 games, so cheer up.By donb51
May 9, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal, The Reds are playing .667 ball over the last 3 games, so cheer up.By econprof
May 9, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Hal, Perhaps you’ll be able to get back on the team charter in a few years if inflight wifi becomes available. I share your distate for air travel; it’s become a really degrading experience.By Steve
May 9, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
I’ve only been to two major league ballparks in my life three if you count Crosley but don’t remember much. I grew up at Riverfront and still miss it. A very comfortable place to watch a game. I agree with Diamond the sun is brutal at GABP. When the sun is setting in the west they should issue flip-down sunglasses for everyone in the leftfield seats. The fanzone would be more comfortable if located elsewhere because of the setting sun, but I know that’s impossible. Overall I still love going to the ballpark.By Diamond
May 9, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Got a travel update, Hal. John Fay posted in his blog that he’s still waiting for his 9 AM flight to board. You both might be covering the action off the TV! Misery loves company, right? (And to everyone reading, sorry I hit the post link twice earlier because my browser was slow. I won’t do that again!)By Darrell
May 9, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Glad to see you listed Coors Field #3, I list it as my #2 . Being from Hamilton, now living in Colorado, Coors is a great ballpark and you can’t beat it at night. My #1 is Minute Maid Park in Houston. I like it best when the roof is closed on a hot August night and the A/C inside really makes it comfortable to enjoy the game. Also, they have a great sound system and seats are close to the field in the lower level. See you in August when the Reds come to Denver.By got milk
May 9, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
I fly on business about every other week. It’s terrible. One o fmy sisters tells me that air travel today is what bus travel used to be. I can’t imagine that bus travel was ever this bad! My favorite parks are GAB, the new one in St. Louis and PNC. Last summer I got to the Royals stadium for the first time. Now there’s a park that’s got a few years on it and is still great. By the way, Merker was DLed this morning and Bray was recalled. If tonight’s game get cancelled, what are the odds of a DH tomorrow or Sunday?By Diamond
May 9, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Godspeed, Hal! Horror stories like this one is why my father refuses to fly anywhere - and why I drive to Columbus or Indy to fly Southwest. As far as my favorite parks, nothing beats Turner Field. From Skip’s BBQ to the scoreboard to the sightlines to the walkways and the game operations (why don’t the Reds produce an “About the Opponent” pre-game feature?), Turner is the best. I’d love to see Dodger Stadium. I also want to get to PNC Park, AT&T Field (SF), and Wrigley. My least fave is GABP, and not because the team is poor. The atmosphere in that place is awful. The design is brutal. I never had trouble getting around Riverfront, and day games weren’t an exercise in survival. The sun, the heat, and the only way to be sure to get out of it is to sit in the second deck club seats. They ruined the Machine Room with their renovations, and I’d much rather look at a city skyline than the boring hills of NKY. Try walking around the 3B upper deck concourse during big games or the 1B field level concourse anytime before or during a game. It is awful and I’s like to publicly and posthumously thank Marge for steamrolling the county into putting it there, in that configuration, so that homers to RF might land in the river (like McCovey Cove - 5+ years and still waiting).By Diamond
May 9, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Godspeed, Hal! Horror stories like this one is why my father refuses to fly anywhere - and why I drive to Columbus or Indy to fly Southwest. As far as my favorite parks, nothing beats Turner Field. From Skip’s BBQ to the scoreboard to the sightlines to the walkways and the game operations (why don’t the Reds produce an “About the Opponent” pre-game feature?), Turner is the best. I’d love to see Dodger Stadium. I also want to get to PNC Park, AT&T Field (SF), and Wrigley. My least fave is GABP, and not because the team is poor. The atmosphere in that place is awful. The design is brutal. I never had trouble getting around Riverfront, and day games weren’t an exercise in survival. The sun, the heat, and the only way to be sure to get out of it is to sit in the second deck club seats. They ruined the Machine Room with their renovations, and I’d much rather look at a city skyline than the boring hills of NKY. Try walking around the 3B upper deck concourse during big games or the 1B field level concourse anytime before or during a game. It is awful and I’s like to publicly and posthumously thank Marge for steamrolling the county into putting it there, in that configuration, so that homers to RF might land in the river (like McCovey Cove - 5+ years and still waiting).By Pete
May 9, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I empathize w/ the USELESS SCAREWAYS debacle you’re having to endure, Hal. I’d much rather walk than fly w/ those clowns that the circus fired. Least favorite ballpark was the old Memorial Stadium in B-more. Man, I knew it was old (@ that time). But you didn’t know if the place was gonna collapse or not. Scared the bee-geezzuss outa ya! My favorite is pretty much any MINOR LEAGUE park because they’re more intimate, normally isn’t a bad seat in the house, & most of the players are actually out there trying to bust their rears to play ball.By Jay
May 9, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Don’t worry Hal, it’s pouring here in NY. I don’t think there will be a game (though I have no idea of forecasts so maybe it’s supposed to stop).