Nationalsclub.com | Washington Nationals News, nationals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Hal McCoy, the hall-offame 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 </div>Q Are you thinking like I am, that Adam Dunn's defensive skills in left field were overlooked and would help this Reds team defensively if he were still here? - Dave, Miamisburg/ Centerville/Beavercreek A If I ever start thinking the way you do, just hurry up and give me the Kool-Aid. While Dunn was an offensive force, his defensive skills were never overlooked. You couldn't miss the awfulness. In fact, it appears he messed up left field in Great American Ball Park so badly that nobody can play it. Q Why are all Baseball parks different in sizes when most all sports are played on the same-sized fields, courts and arenas? - Ron, Dayton A All the old parks were built in downtown areas and had to be fitted into the confines of space available, meaning they didn't have much room down the leftfield line, hence the Green Monster in Boston. And now we get retro parks with built-in nuances, nooks and crannies. Now don't bring up football fields being all the same configurations (but smaller than Baseball fields). I plead ignorance, a plea I often use. Q It appears Arthur Rhodes writes something in the dirt before every appearance, and I'd like to know if I'm just seeing things. - Michael, Columbus A You ask him. I asked him a question in Chicago and I thought he was going to use my head for a snack. I haven't noticed, but I'll check it out. I'd rather run on the field and read it than ask him. Q I was watching "SportsCenter" and saw Jermaine Dye hit another home run, and I think he has more homers than all the Reds combined. How close were the Reds to getting Dye and what do you think their record would be with him? - Brian, Oakwood A I'm told it was as close as A and B or 1 and 2. Homer Bailey was Chicago-bound but the deal died due to cash - the Reds' lack of it. The Reds wanted the White Sox to pick up some of Dye's salary and they said no, so the trade, that was in place died. With what he is doing, he is a player the Reds should Dye for. He might have made the difference in four or five games already. Q Do major-league ballplayers buy their own bats and gloves? - Justin, 11, Dayton A It's a case of the more money you have the less you have to spend. Players sign contracts with bat manufacturers, glove manufacturers, shoe manufacturers and even wrist-band manufactures. They get it all free. Ken Griffey Jr. had 36 boxes (I counted) of shoes stacked near his locker. Only my wife has more shoe boxes in her closet. Q Edward Encarnacion is approaching Willie Greene status as far as panning out. Wouldn't he be good trade bait? - James, Brookville A Former GM Jim Bowden once said Willie Greene had hands as quick as Barry Bonds. Unfortunately, Willie used them more with a knife and fork than a Baseball bat. One day I approached him three times for an interview and each time he said, "Not now." After the third time I said, "Willie, not now, not ever." And I never tried to talk to him again, but he was gone within months. Trade bait? To whom and for what? Scouts see the same thing you do. Q If you can change one rule, other than the DH, what would it be? - William, Beavercreek A Why can't I do away with the DH? I hate it, but you probably know that and want to read something else. OK, I hate it that if a pitcher makes an error and that run scores, it is an unearned run and doesn't count on the pitcher's ERA. If the pitcher makes the error, it should count on his ERA. Q If I can't talk you into writing a book - and I understand you gave away the new computer Nadine bought for you to write it - how about Bernie Stowe doing one. He certainly would have a lot of great stories, wouldn't he? - Scott, Miamisburg A I'll do the book. Honest. Right now, I cover nearly every game, write two blogs, a game story, a notebook, walk the dog and mix in a few hours of sleep. The book is in my head, so maybe I can invite everybody to read my mind. Yes, I gave my new laptop to my brother-in-law with hopes Nadine will buy me a new, upgraded model. With nearly 60 years of service to the Reds , Bernie Stowe could write Baseball's version of "War and Peace" or the Encyclopedia Redtannica. Q My 91-year-old neighbor asked me about last year's first baseman, Scott Hatteberg. I checked my "Who's Who in Baseball" and he isn't there. Any ideas to his whereabouts? - Bob, Versailles A Hatteberg is one of the nicest and brightest men ever to grace a green diamond. The Reds released him early last season and surprisingly nobody signed him. He is home in Oregon enjoying his rather large brood of kids, who made a trip to Miami with him a couple of years ago. They commandeered the swimming pool, and their splashing turned my burger bun into a soggy blob. Q I heard you talking on the radio about what a great guy and teammate David Ross was for the Reds . Why did the Reds get rid of him so quick last year when their catching wasn't that good? - Dick, Dayton A While Paul Bako and Javier Valentin combined didn't make one half of a Johnny Bench, Ross was often injured, and while his middle name was Wade he never came close to hitting like Boggs - .231 when he was released. Yeah, I know. Bako hit .217 last year and wasn't as good defensively as Ross, but manager Dusty Baker had a history with Bako.

Hal McCoy, the hall-offame 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

Q Are you thinking like I am, that Adam Dunn's defensive skills in left field were overlooked and would help this Reds team defensively if he were still here? - Dave, Miamisburg/ Centerville/Beavercreek

A If I ever start thinking the way you do, just hurry up and give me the Kool-Aid. While Dunn was an offensive force, his defensive skills were never overlooked. You couldn't miss the awfulness. In fact, it appears he messed up left field in Great American Ball Park so badly that nobody can play it.

Q Why are all Baseball parks different in sizes when most all sports are played on the same-sized fields, courts and arenas? - Ron, Dayton

A All the old parks were built in downtown areas and had to be fitted into the confines of space available, meaning they didn't have much room down the leftfield line, hence the Green Monster in Boston. And now we get retro parks with built-in nuances, nooks and crannies. Now don't bring up football fields being all the same configurations (but smaller than Baseball fields). I plead ignorance, a plea I often use.

Q It appears Arthur Rhodes writes something in the dirt before every appearance, and I'd like to know if I'm just seeing things. - Michael, Columbus

A You ask him. I asked him a question in Chicago and I thought he was going to use my head for a snack. I haven't noticed, but I'll check it out. I'd rather run on the field and read it than ask him.

Q I was watching "SportsCenter" and saw Jermaine Dye hit another home run, and I think he has more homers than all the Reds combined. How close were the Reds to getting Dye and what do you think their record would be with him? - Brian, Oakwood

A I'm told it was as close as A and B or 1 and 2. Homer Bailey was Chicago-bound but the deal died due to cash - the Reds' lack of it. The Reds wanted the White Sox to pick up some of Dye's salary and they said no, so the trade, that was in place died. With what he is doing, he is a player the Reds should Dye for. He might have made the difference in four or five games already.

Q Do major-league ballplayers buy their own bats and gloves? - Justin, 11, Dayton

A It's a case of the more money you have the less you have to spend. Players sign contracts with bat manufacturers, glove manufacturers, shoe manufacturers and even wrist-band manufactures. They get it all free. Ken Griffey Jr. had 36 boxes (I counted) of shoes stacked near his locker. Only my wife has more shoe boxes in her closet.

Q Edward Encarnacion is approaching Willie Greene status as far as panning out. Wouldn't he be good trade bait? - James, Brookville

A Former GM Jim Bowden once said Willie Greene had hands as quick as Barry Bonds. Unfortunately, Willie used them more with a knife and fork than a Baseball bat. One day I approached him three times for an interview and each time he said, "Not now." After the third time I said, "Willie, not now, not ever." And I never tried to talk to him again, but he was gone within months. Trade bait? To whom and for what? Scouts see the same thing you do.

Q If you can change one rule, other than the DH, what would it be? - William, Beavercreek

A Why can't I do away with the DH? I hate it, but you probably know that and want to read something else. OK, I hate it that if a pitcher makes an error and that run scores, it is an unearned run and doesn't count on the pitcher's ERA. If the pitcher makes the error, it should count on his ERA.

Q If I can't talk you into writing a book - and I understand you gave away the new computer Nadine bought for you to write it - how about Bernie Stowe doing one. He certainly would have a lot of great stories, wouldn't he? - Scott, Miamisburg

A I'll do the book. Honest. Right now, I cover nearly every game, write two blogs, a game story, a notebook, walk the dog and mix in a few hours of sleep. The book is in my head, so maybe I can invite everybody to read my mind. Yes, I gave my new laptop to my brother-in-law with hopes Nadine will buy me a new, upgraded model. With nearly 60 years of service to the Reds , Bernie Stowe could write Baseball's version of "War and Peace" or the Encyclopedia Redtannica.

Q My 91-year-old neighbor asked me about last year's first baseman, Scott Hatteberg. I checked my "Who's Who in Baseball" and he isn't there. Any ideas to his whereabouts? - Bob, Versailles

A Hatteberg is one of the nicest and brightest men ever to grace a green diamond. The Reds released him early last season and surprisingly nobody signed him. He is home in Oregon enjoying his rather large brood of kids, who made a trip to Miami with him a couple of years ago. They commandeered the swimming pool, and their splashing turned my burger bun into a soggy blob.

Q I heard you talking on the radio about what a great guy and teammate David Ross was for the Reds . Why did the Reds get rid of him so quick last year when their catching wasn't that good? - Dick, Dayton

A While Paul Bako and Javier Valentin combined didn't make one half of a Johnny Bench, Ross was often injured, and while his middle name was Wade he never came close to hitting like Boggs - .231 when he was released. Yeah, I know. Bako hit .217 last year and wasn't as good defensively as Ross, but manager Dusty Baker had a history with Bako.