Hal McCoy, Hall of Fame beat writer for the Cincinnati Reds, will be calling it quits at the end of the 2009 season. The economic times have caused the Dayton Daily News to severely cut back on their coverage of the Reds. With television and internet surpassing radio and print media as the primary forms of communication beat writers have seemed to go out of style; Hal has not. Hal McCoy is the best of the best, the Vin Scully of the printed page. He is nothing but class and his insight and stories about the Cincinnati Reds are unparalleled. You will be missed, Hal.
Read Hal's goodbye post.
Update 8/8/09:
Hal clarifies that he was not fired and thanks fans. Again, nothing but class.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Lehr reminds us why baseball is the greatest game in the world
This stuff just doesn't happen in other major sports. In professional football or basketball an athlete just can't hang on for years in a minor league system and eventually get his or her shot. You make it when you're young or you don't and find another career. Last night Justin Lehr reminded us why baseball is the greatest game in the world.
Justin Lehr, a 32-year old journeyman pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, threw a 4-hit complete game shutout against the Chicago Cubs last night. It was Lehr's second start in his brief major league career and his only shutout at any level. Lehr's performance lifted the spirits of a Reds team (and Reds fans) that had lost 8 straight and 14 out of their last 15 games. But how couldn't this story lift your spirits?
Lehr was in the Reds system last year but left to pitch in Korea. Earlier this season, he pitched for the Phillies Triple-A club, Lehigh Valley, and then was moved back into the Reds system in a cash trade. He went 8-1 with a 2.51 ERA for Triple-A Louisville. You can just tell by this series of events that Lehr was just trying to hang onto a dream for a little while longer.
It was easy to see that Lehr was emotional in his post-game interview even with a few layers of shaving cream pie on face. He said that he was going to go call his wife and kids. Upon hearing this I was instantly reminded of the scene from The Rookie where Jimmy Morris calls his wife and kids to tell them that he is finally going to pitch in the majors.
Justin Lehr, a 32-year old journeyman pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, threw a 4-hit complete game shutout against the Chicago Cubs last night. It was Lehr's second start in his brief major league career and his only shutout at any level. Lehr's performance lifted the spirits of a Reds team (and Reds fans) that had lost 8 straight and 14 out of their last 15 games. But how couldn't this story lift your spirits?
Lehr was in the Reds system last year but left to pitch in Korea. Earlier this season, he pitched for the Phillies Triple-A club, Lehigh Valley, and then was moved back into the Reds system in a cash trade. He went 8-1 with a 2.51 ERA for Triple-A Louisville. You can just tell by this series of events that Lehr was just trying to hang onto a dream for a little while longer.
It was easy to see that Lehr was emotional in his post-game interview even with a few layers of shaving cream pie on face. He said that he was going to go call his wife and kids. Upon hearing this I was instantly reminded of the scene from The Rookie where Jimmy Morris calls his wife and kids to tell them that he is finally going to pitch in the majors.
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