Ask Hal
Encarnacion making strides on defense
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Hal McCoy, the hall-of-fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News, knows a thing or two about America's pastime. If you want to tap into that knowledge, send an e-mail to hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.
Extras
Q Edwin Encarnacion is on pace to set a record for errors yet Dusty Baker predicts that Edwin will someday win a Gold Glove. Why hasn't Bud Selig reprimanded Baker for such inane comments? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek
A Probably for the same reason he hasn't reprimanded you for inane comments. First, Encarnacion is not on pace to set any errors record (Charlie Hickman holds that dubious distinction in the National League after making 91 for New York in the 1900 season. Encarnacion's eight miscues have him on pace for 43). Second, have you watched him recently? He has made some plays of which Brooks Robinson would be proud. By the way, Selig did ask me once, "Has that guy Dave ever seen a baseball game?"
Q Why do they use the letter "K" to signify a strikeout? — Liz, Dayton
A A baseball writer in the 1800s named Henry Chadwick is credited with devising a scoring system for baseball in which he numbered all the positions and came up with symbols for different plays. The "K" comes from the word strikeout. It is to the point where some people in Cincinnati might mark "D" on their scorecards for a strikeout. Need you ask why?
Q Why not trade Adam Dunn, move Joey Votto to left field and play Scott Hatteberg every day at first base? This would improve the team defensively, get more contact hitters in the lineup, and fewer strikeouts, and save the team millions to spend to improve the team. — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.
A Two teams would leap at the chance to acquire Dunn — the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, both within the division — and I can just picture Dunn beating the brains out of the Reds. Votto worked hard to become a good first baseman, and I don't think he could play left, so why mess him up? Hatteberg is not a good defensive first baseman, and he is at the end of the trail and would be a cosmetic fix. Throwing money at the bleeding isn't going to fix this. The Reds need to develop their own, which they are doing. Speaking of that, have you noticed that of the regular players, Dunn and Votto are the only players developed by the Reds?
Q Why did the Reds dump Jorge Cantu? He seemed to play pretty well for them last year and is putting up pretty good numbers in Florida this year. — Jim, Troy
A Why do fish bite bait, why do bears hibernate, why do dogs chase birds, why get rid of Cantu? Good questions, and I can't answer any. I, too, liked Cantu. A lot. He could play first base, second base, outfield, and he gave the Reds some right-handed pop, which they don't have. Another of life's great mysteries, although I think the Reds feared they would lose to him in arbitration and have to pay him large dollars. I would have kept him, but it doesn't say GM on my door.
Q Firing Wayne Krivsky was just another example of the dysfunction this franchise has shown since Lou Piniella left. From all of Marge Schott's shenanigans, the Pete Rose Jr. gimmick, Jim Bowden calling Bob Boone in the dugout to inform him he had an ineligible player. Is there any end to this? — Rob, St. Louis
A CEO Bob Castellini snapped at me when I asked about franchise stability with all the manager and general manager maneuvering in the past six years. Even George Steinbrenner kept GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre for a long time. Stability is important, and the Good Ship Cincinnati has sailed too long without a rudder. And they wonder why it keeps finding reefs and rocks?
Q Has there ever been a batter who hit a bases-empty five-run home run? It seems as if that's what the Reds are trying to do. My first act as new GM is to find another hitting coach. — Sttoc, Dayton
A I think I saw that in a Bugs Bunny baseball movie, which fits, because the Reds are cartoonishly bad right now. When a team doesn't hit, everybody wants to fire the hitting coach. In all my years, Brook Jacoby is the hardest-working batting coach I've ever seen. Of course, with this team he has a lot to do these days. I'm sure major changes are coming with GM Walt Jocketty, but probably not until after the season. Right now, look for minor tweaks and tinkering.
Q Seeing Josh Hamilton on top of the MLB in RBIs and Edinson Volquez near the top in ERA made me wonder what is the most high-profile trade ever, a two-player swap that ended up turning out nearly perfectly for both teams? — Neil, Farmington, Mich.
A Well, it wouldn't be Paul O'Neill for Roberto Kelly, whose major accomplishment was fathering nine kids. And it wouldn't be Tony Perez for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray, even though the Reds got two players in that one (they should have gotten eight). The Reds were hosed on both those deals. And it wouldn't be when the New York Mets traded Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi. In fact, most high-profile trades end up lopsided — and let's permit the Hamilton-Volquez deal to play out a full season before we stamp equality on it.
Question of the week
Q In a recent story, you said the Blue Jays ate the $10 million contract of Frank Howard. Wasn't it Frank Thomas? — Mark, Overland Park, Kan.
A Actually, it was former Reds outfielder and Valley View High School product Thomas Howard. Nah, just kidding. Yeah, I had a cramp. It was Frank Thomas. Speaking of Thomas Howard, when he played for the Reds, owner Marge Schott's gardener was named Howard. When then-GM Jim Bowden called Schott and said, "I just traded Howard," she said, "Who's going to do my gardening?" True story.
