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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 > June > 04 > Entry
Patterson is back … and playing
You know you have no life when you wake up in the morning on the road and, after thinking about missing your wife, Nadine, and your dog, Barkley, you think about what to write in that day’s blogs.
When blog-writing began at our paper a couple of years ago, I hid in a corner or blamed computer ignorance when they “suggested” I write blogs.
Now it is probably the most fun I have in this business.
NFL QUARTERBACK Donovan McNabb was at the park early Wednesday and chatted with Ken Griffey Jr. for nearly 45 minutes and later said, “I’ve met a lot of celebrities in my time and never been in awe. I’m almost embarrassed because I was so in awe of Griffey.”
They exchanged signed jerseys.
WITH THAT preamble, let the fun begin — again. I see the comments on yesterday’s post are abundantly filled with anti-Patterson remarks.
First of all, even though rules say a player has to stay in the minors for 10 days after he is optioned, there is another rule that says that player can return earlier in the event of an injury to somebody who plays the same position.
Ryan Freel went down with a partially torn hamstring and returned to Cincinnati. He’ll miss at least three weeks, maybe more. Patterson, who left the Reds last Wednesday with a .200 average, is back.
Hey, the guy was hitting .409 for his five games in L-ville with a .435 on-base average. Pause here for everybody to say, in unison — So what? Big deal.
Patterson is in the lineup tonight, batting second and playing center field.
With Freel gone, with Norris Hopper gone and Ken Griffey Jr. still out, Baker has little choice — and let’s drop the idiotic suggestion of moving Joey Votto from first base to the outfield. He is the first baseman for the next 15 years — if the Reds keep him — so don’t start messing with him.
Baker said he wants the same things from Patterson he wanted from Day One — speed, defense, “and in this little ol’ ballpark he can hit ‘em out.”
Baker said he told Patterson to forget about his .200 average.
“I told him to start over, from today. Don’t worry about that average they put on the scoreboard. Show me and yourself what you can do from this point,” said Baker.
On Griffey not playing, Baker said the wet field (it rained most of the day and rain is predicted for tonight) played into it, “And I felt it would be better for him to play tomorrow (afternoon).” So, he’ll play tomorrow? “Yes,” said Baker.
THE MEDIA is mounting for the Griffey Chase. Sports Illustrated, USA Sports Weekly, the New York Times and ESPN.com are here. When they saw Griffey wasn’t in the lineup, they turned to Jay Bruce.
He is from Beaumont, Texas, and they began running names of famous people from Beaumont past him.
George Jones? He didn’t know the country singer.
Babe Didrickson? He didn’t know the female golfer.
Bum Phillips? He didn’t know the former NFL coach.
I pointed out to them, “Hey, the kid is only 21. You’re dropping names from the 60’s and 70’s on him, before he was born.”
Bruce dropped one on them: Mark Chesnutt?
They didn’t know the CURRENT country singing star. And Bruce laughed. Good for him.
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Comments
By RLG
June 8, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I was at the game in philly on Monday watching Bronson Arroyo get waxed and then I watched him get hammered again last night, Saturday. How long before they send him down to work on whatever is wrong with his velocity, arm angle, etc? Maybe it is time to call either Thompson or Maloney up from AAA. It would be nice to have a left hander in the rotation just to mix up what the other teams see. Arroyo and Harang are too similar. The last two starts, similar for Harang, almost. Sliders out over the plate just getting hammered with little movement on them. Does he has a tired arm? Doesn’t look like the same movement or velocity on his pitches as earlier in the year. Of course, it never helps when again this is one of the games when the offense is anemic. Your thoughts?By RLG
June 8, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I was at the game in philly on Monday watching Bronson Arroyo get waxed and then I watched him get hammered again last night, Saturday. How long before they send him down to work on whatever is wrong with his velocity, arm angle, etc? Maybe it is time to call either Thompson or Maloney up from AAA. It would be nice to have a left hander in the rotation just to mix up what the other teams see. Arroyo and Harang are too similar. The last two starts, similar for Harang, almost. Sliders out over the plate just getting hammered with little movement on them. Does he has a tired arm? Doesn’t look like the same movement or velocity on his pitches as earlier in the year. Of course, it never helps when again this is one of the games when the offense is anemic. Your thoughts?By Y-City Jim
June 5, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
My only real complaint (and everyone else’s) with Baker is his infatuation with Patterson. If CP’s glove is that important (and I am not convinced that it is) then put him in the 8th spot. He might actually produce something if the pressure was off. I’m not real crazy about the Bako thing either. While the Reds are not blessed with surplus of catching talent, I’d rather see Ross getting the bulk of the catching load.By David B
June 5, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
ahh Mrs. McCoy. She was my 8th grade teacher.By Kurt Frost
June 5, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
We all know Corey Patterson started off the season on a hot streak. Do you know what he’s done since April 10? .161/.200/.286By John Temple
June 5, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
“Fantasy” is a phoney know it all, who probably got cut from his high school band.By Indy
June 4, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
Hal, I’m glad you enjoy writing the blog, because it’s easily my favorite sports blog. I came here after listening to your many 2nd inning conversations with Marty on the radio. I expected another “columnist” type blog, but your mix of life on the road stories with clubhouse insight makes this one the best. Please keep it up - I look forward to reading it every day!By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
June 4, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
I make the points personal when you do, and in the case of Baker you b***h about him every day, all day long. That’s personal. Enough. He’s the manager, he’s going to be the manager and your vitriol is unutterably pointless and exhausting. Three years, $10.5 million. If you’re this pissy now, what will you be like by 2010? You’re a fan, you don’t know better, you don’t know the situations in the clubhouse or the health of the roster, and you don’t get paid to do any better. Looking at the box, Patterson had plenty of company tonight. Looking at the 40-man roster, there are NOT plenty of options. This was the best defensive team on the field. Looking at what he’s being paid, and the need for an extra outfielder, it’s a decision the manager and front office made in unison, not some yo-yo blabbering because his fantasy lineup isn’t on the field.By wizard
June 4, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
There are amateur baseball centerfielders with speed and defense—who don’t cost 3.5 million!By wizard
June 4, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
In the last two months Cordero has made better contact than Dusty’s boy Patterson! Tonight in his only at bat!By wizard
June 4, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal—I would do ANYTHING, were I the manager—to keep Corey Patterson on the bench—including playing Joey Votto, for a game or two, in the outfield! ANYTHING!! Case in point:ofer tonight!!!By Grandpa Jones
June 4, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
Who the heck is George Jones? Does he play for the Kaintuck Moonshiners? I’d say it’s a major asset and a plus and a sign of intelligence that JB doesn’t know who George Jones is. Isn’t George Jones some hillbilly singer? Yuck! Why would a smart kid from Texas know who that old dud is? Go Jay!By HuberTucky
June 4, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Makes me sick to see mister pop-out playing center and batting second. Give me Janish at short and Hair in center, thank you. And Philly Cheesesteak? Sorry. Pat’s and Geno’s both SUCK!!! They’re the worst cheesesteaks in Philly. Yeah, that’s what the tourists all eat, but that’s NOT what the locals like or want — like having Cheezewhiz & SteakUms…YUCK!!! I contend the VERY best are at Jim’s or Tony Luke’s, or best of all, John’s Roast Pork (strange name for a place that serves the best cheesesteak in Philly).By Matthew Deitner
June 4, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Bringing patterson back up was a surprising move to me. He said he needed to go down and work on things. Is 5 games really enough to get everything worked out? we’ll see.By Y-City Jim
June 4, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
How much has Patterson’s speed and bunting ability helped tonight? How much has it helped all season? There are three ex-Baker players in the starting line-up tonight. Two don’t belong in there. As for patterson, what other team has a .240 OBP guy batting second? Not even the Nationals. As for losing two outfielders, that is true but there were other options several that have been stated by other posters. Do you really need to go off on a personal tirade on me to make your point?By Mike
June 4, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
So..Jay didn’t know who George Jones was…Guarantee you…the ole possum doesn’t know who Jay Bruce is!!By Mr. Rawlings
June 4, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
Corey P is now under the Mendoza line..why is he batting #2? Whatever..maybe he can excell now after his adjustments..bottom line..somebody better..with the Reds 10 out now!By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
June 4, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
Yes, by all means, the modicum of baseball intelligence is Y-City Jim. No matter where he posts, it’s always the same lack of objectivity (himself) and nonsense—day after day, manager after manager, year after year. They’re down TWO outfielders, Patterson is the team’s fastest runner, best bunter and he’ll see fastballs in the 2-slot. It’s not completely idiotic, unless you’re Y-City Jim, who micro-harps on each day’s lineup as if real baseball was a freakin’ fantasy league.By Y-City Jim
June 4, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
It gets worse. Patterson is batting in the two spot. Dusty Baker is the least objective manager on the planet Earth. This is exactly why Patterson should have been cut!!! Votto could have gone to RF and Hatteberg could have been at 1B.By _Sir_Charles_
June 4, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
I won’t comment on the “move Votto to the outfield” part. But it’s not like Dusty didn’t have a DIFFERENT option here. And a better one, in my opinion. Hairston in CENTER. Janish at SHORT. You’ve got the same offense essentially that you’ve got with Hairston & Patterson, but you’ve got a much better defensive alignment. Bringing Corey up as an emergency OF replacement and then STARTING him is the same as rewarding him. How about you reward the Rook who’s playing well AND playing solid defense. This is a no-brainer to me. Don’t get me wrong, bringing up Corey was the right move. But starting him is the wrong move. And batting him near the top of the line up is criminally negligent. Shouldn’t he have to PROVE he’s worthy of hitting second before he’s awarded the spot?By Mike
June 4, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Patterson does not know how to take a walk. It is his biggest weakness. In 2006 he hit .276 with 16 HR’s, 53 RBI, and 45 SB’s. In 2007 he hit .269 with 8 HR’s, 53 RBI, and 37 SB’s. If he hits to the back of his baseball card he is an OK BACK-UP outfielder. His inability to improve his on base percentage makes him a bad everyday player. He will play some until Griffey returns which should be very soon. Hopefully he has a good night and the Reds win one.By Don
June 4, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
I for one personally like Patterson.When interviewed on Fox he seemed personable and on the quiet side.I guess you call it humility.He is trying perhaps too hard.He was a top prospect at one time so the potential is there. I hope he can bounce back.Also,I won’t hold it against Jay that he didn’t know who George Jones was.