Corky Miller...

[Redsfan1507]

Against righty pitching, Paul would be a better 2 hitter choice than Cozart, IMO. Is also like to see Robinson get more time. I'm afraid Lutz is Adam Dunn- lite... and I've lost confidence in Heisey. Billy Hamilton is getting the wind knocked out of him trying to reinvent his approach...( are they trying to make him rhe next Drew Stubbs?) Where is Yorman Rodriguez ?

 

[JohnU]

freese had a good 1961.

Freese also broke his ankle in spring training in 1962. I remember the Sports Illustrated headline: The Reds is Dead.

Freese came back in July or something and I was actually at that game ... the place was packed for some reason and Freese took a 4-pitch walk on his return. The fans really liked Augie.

He was one of those guys who was a perfect fit for Fred Hutchinson.

 

[chico ruiz]

yorman is at bakersfield. i think the reds signed him as a non-draftee when he was 16 years old 3 or 4 years ago. it's apparent that bruce, frazier, and others are hard workers. really making legitimate efforts to get better. that's the thing that has impressed me the most about this group of reds. good effort, with very little let down. in the end, that's all you can really ask for. they just don't give up. it wasn't that long ago that we couldn't say that. anyway, it makes me want to go to the ballpark. a young team busting it from home to first and never giving in.

 

[JohnU]

To stay clear of Corky for the moment, this isn't a team that doesn't have talent or lack of motivation. We maybe are expecting too much but look at it from a simple math point of view. Had we won the 3rd game of the Pirates series and had we taken just ONE more game from the Birdlegs, we'd be in first place.

So it's too early to make those kinds of "waddifs" or even evaluate the pennant race. I look at the standings and wonder who's really NOT a contender. Lucky for us, we aren't rooting for the Blue Jays or the Angels. What a train wreck those two teams became, and to think the scribes all had these teams in the post-season just two months ago.

Reds are doing OK, and it's frustrating to know they can do better. Every team can say that.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Ditto on the work ethic...lots better now. The good news is, the Reds are still on pace for a hair over 90 wins. The bad news ? They aren't playing that good, and 91 might miss the playoffs. They just need to start hitting... tough to do against the Braves, Cardinals, Nationals, any team in the West Coast... you know, the playoff contenders. I'm no expert, but I would think it would be easier to get bat healthy against the Cubs.

 

[chico ruiz]

fred hutchinson. a beloved figure, not just in cincy, but league wide. i saw an old interview with al kaline, and he could not say enough about how instrumental fred was in his development and success. apparently, fred put him together with ted williams to talk hitting. i think it was the kind of thing fred did a lot.

i've seen so many miraculous things in baseball that i don't count any team out with 130 games to go (maybe houston & miami). for instance, i think fans underestimate the pirates. if you take a close look at them, they have a really well balanced line-up. speed, some guys that can handle the bat, and pop. KC has a good ballclub this year.
toronto signed some name players, but apparently forgot that they might need a bullpen (not that many teams have a good deep bullpen). but, they're only nine games out on may 5. they miss reyes's speed up front. colorado's starters don't appear to be 162 game strong. i watch a lot of baseball, and could go on and on. i'm going to spare you that. injuries and depth. and trades.

 

[JohnU]

Redleg nation had an hour interview with Jim Maloney, who discussed Hutch briefly. Said the guy could be pretty brutal but also pretty forgiving. Whatever it was, the Reds became contenders under Hutch and remained that way until he was done managing.

 

[JohnU]

Here is the Maloney interview. Pretty insightful stuff from the 60s when the big guy was pitching. It is an hour long so adjust. You won't really want to miss any of it.

Redleg Nation Radio #84: with Reds Hall of Famer Jim Maloney | Redleg Nation

 

[Redsfan1507]

ALL Good stuff, but whatzit gotta do with Corky ? Lol2X

 

[JohnU]

Corky was the catcher when Maloney was a rookie. I thought that was pretty clear.

 

[chico ruiz]

thanks for posting the maloney interview. i had missed that on the nation. i've always found that decade particularly compelling. not just the best ball players, but the best of the best.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Man, Maloney could throw. So could Wayne Simpson, Don Gullett and Gary Nolan... imagine that rotation healthy...Reds might have won 5 more WS.

 

[JohnU]

Maloney was one of those rare guys who had huge hands. He struck out 8 guys in a row once.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Shoot, Alredo Simon struck out 6 in a row last night.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Shoot, Alredo Simon struck out 6 in a row last night.

 

[JohnU]

I would have liked to see him get another inning but I know he needed to come down for a hitter. Being behind sucks.

 

[eburg5000]

Jim Maloney was one of my all time favorite Reds pitchers. I believe he pitched 2 no hitters for the Reds. But I'm not sure. I know he pitched 1

 

[Redsfan1507]

Who was it that tossed a no hitter and still got a loss ? Wasn't he a Red ? Lost on a walk and a couple errors I think... Can't remember the name.

 

[JohnU]

Maloney pitched 10 no-hits against the Mets in 1965 and some guy named Johnny Lewis hit a HR in the 10th to beat him 1-0. They called it a no-no for years, finally changed it to say it wasn't.

Later that year, he pitched another 10-inning no-hitter to beat the Cubs 1-0 on a HR by Cardenas.

 

[JohnU]

The other no-no was in 1969.
On the 30th of April. Over Houston.
The next night ... yeah ... weird. Don Wilson returns the favor.

Note the attendances on these games and wonder how baseball survived in those days in Cincy.


April 30, 1969 Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com
May 1, 1969 Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com