99 problems but a pitch ain't one: The Reds' 10 best starts of 2008

by Rick House on Oct 29, 2008 8:00 AM EDT in Features Comment 24 comments

Associated Press photo/Tom Uhlman

As you await with bated breath the thrilling conclusion to Game 5 of the World Series, tonight or whenever it decides to stop raining in Philadelphia, here's a look at the top 10 Reds pitching performances of the year, sorted (by Slyde) by game score. I also added links back to the original RedReporter threads, so you can remember where you were when these gems took place. You might not remember, for instance, that most of us never saw the best game on the mound this season.

10. Edinson Volquez, August 17, GS 71: The first of several appearances by Edinson on this list, on this night Volquez beat former Red Kyle Lohse and the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a typical late-season performance for Volquez, with only 4 strikeouts and 4 walks, but he only gave up 3 hits and fanned Rick Ankiel twice. RR

9. Aaron Harang, June 13, GS 72: This was a fun night on several fronts: The Reds beat the World Champion Red Sox, Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn homered and the Harang struck out 7 for his first win in 6 appearances. The Reds were already in last place at that point, but hey, a win over the Red Sox is a win over the Red Sox. RR

8. Volquez, May 7, GS 73: This game was over when the Reds smacked three home runs in the second inning off the Cubs' Jon Lieber, but Edinson made sure by striking out 10 for the second of 6 times (!) on the season. He walked a season-high 6 but got his ERA down to 1.06, which it would never be again. Also remembered as that time Joey Votto had three home runs. The Reds were already in last. RR

7. Volquez, May 23 ,GS 74: Three starts later, Edinson struck out 12 but got a no-decision. The Reds needed some late heroics -- a 9th-inning home run by Adam Dunn off Trevor Hoffman -- to pull it off. The Reds were still in last. RR

6. Bronson Arroyo, August 26, GS 74: Just days after Marty and Thom Brennaman railed on the radio that the Reds hadn't secured a complete game all year, Bronson came through with a solid if not flashy nine-inning, one-run game against the Astros to dig the Reds out of the cellar for good. Way to go, Bronson. RR

5. Arroyo, May 10, GS 77: The Bender was working as Bronson struck out 9 Mets to salvage a split of a day-night doubleheader. Then again, he was pitching on 6 days' rest after allowing 7 runs in 1.1 innings his previous start. RR

4. Harang, April 20, GS 78: The greatest moment of the season couldn't have happened had Harang not struck out 8 and allowed just 1 run in 8 innings to get the Reds to extras. Probably the most over-shadowed start of the season. RR

3. Volquez, June 4, GS 79: Edinson struck out 8 and allowed just 2 hits in 7 innings as the Reds beat the Phillies on just 3 hits. Approaching midseason, Volquez's ERA was still just 1.32 -- but it was about to go up in 8 of his next 9 starts. This game was pretty much the end of the Cy Young season. RR

2. Harang, September 17, GS 79: The Reds handed the Cardinals their 7th straight loss -- some consolation on a lost season -- and saw Harang get back into ace form, allowing 6 hits in a complete-game shutout. Hard to believe this was 1 of only 6 wins all season for the big man. RR

1. Johnny Cueto, April 3, GS 81: When Game 3 is the high point of your season, you probably root for the Cincinnati Reds. For many of us this was the first look at the sick movement on Johnny's Cueto's fastball, and Little Pedro seemed like a distinct possibility. Cueto struck out 10 Diamondbacks in 7 innings, taking a no-hitter into the 6th until Justin Upton's solo homer. Still, it was the only blemish on one of the best performances by any pitcher in the majors all year -- and it put the Reds in first place in the NL Central for the only time all season. Remember being in first? It happened. Not that many of us actually got to see it happen. RR

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Thinking about Johnny Cueto's first start still makes me tingle a little

That game was easily the most fun I had listening to a radio broadcast last season.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Oct 29, 2008 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

no doubt

i was following along on gameday because i was at work. i had never seen a pitcher for the Reds so thoroughly dominate. it felt like the first time i got drunk.

"If you don't get the President of the United States on that phone, you know what's gonna happen to you? You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company."

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 29, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was following on gameday too, in class

I remember thinking that if the no-hitter was still going, I wasn’t going to my next class. I was planning on sitting there and following it until it was over.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Oct 29, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the first time i got drunk i freaked out

i think i didn’t take it far enough. I knew i was drunk, but i wasn’t so drunk that I didn’t care.

"It will put a smile on your face to see a Chevy with a Soviet transmission"

by justin007000 on Oct 29, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this was the first game I saw all the way through on the season

and I just remember giggling the entire time. I felt like it was playing some shoot-em-up game on Invinsibility Mode. Just a whole lot of fun.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Oct 29, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't see it because I was in Denver

But I didn’t see Obama either. I am a two time loser.

by Brendanukkah on Oct 29, 2008 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no Brewers games on the list

I’ll take that as a good thing. i can’t wait for the top ten list of ____ that includes walk off wins by C-Pat and slugging Paul Bako.

by ol Pete on Oct 29, 2008 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not surprising, but a little sad

ChiSox won’t re-sign Griffey.

by Brendanukkah on Oct 29, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Grif should take the hint and retire

Nothing worse than watching one of the greats trying to extend his career – you know like Bret Farvre

We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security.

~Dwight D. Eisenhower

by Madville on Oct 29, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When was the last time...

we had four of our top five starters with ERAs under 5?

It’s, uh, been a while.

This place is like a sexy preschool.

by Gray on Oct 29, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The last time the Reds had 4 starters make 25 starts and post an ERA under 5.00

1992

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Oct 29, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

for the record

I wish the Reds had a pitcher named Dolf Luque now. That may be one of the most seriously badass names in baseball history.

also, I’m too lazy to go back to the Cueto gamethread, but props to the guy making fun of “the Ryan Dempster Starter Experiment”. And also, what happened to Johnny Cueto Thinks We’re Sellouts. Does JC now believe in us as much as he believes him?

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Oct 29, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's have an honorable mention for Aaron Harang's performance in Dusty's Folly

That is, the 18 inning game in San Diego where Dusty ruined his ace. Everyone remembers that Harang was terrible after that game, but recall that he pitched four scoreless innings of relief, including NINE strikeouts. He was absolutely incredible that day, damn near heroic. He was ill-served by Corey Patterson batting leadoff and going 0-8, and Volquez eventually coughing up the game. He was ill-served by Dusty deciding to use his bullpen poorly, then deciding that this game against the (at the time) MLB-worst Padres was absolutely worth winning at all hazards.

It doesn’t get a game score, because he wasn’t the starter, but that was the most memorable pitching performance this year, in my opinion.

by Brendanukkah on Oct 29, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I love this guy - but I also think he could be traded...

Johnny Cueto
Check out this link
He’s got something that a batter can’t resist
Its a four-seam fastball with late cut and some nasty sink,

Johnny Cueto
How they fear him
How batters are worried by such a little squirt
Every time he throws a slider
Its a chase pitch low and down in the dirt

RRs in heaven
They get carried away
They dream of Johnny C
And how it’s gonna be
Other pitchers
Scare batters at the plate
But we just sit and wait, we’d rather concentrate

On Johnny Cueto
change-up floating free
Strikes out those Cubs and Dodgers so easily
And together we will see how lovely post season play will be

RRs are in heaven
They get carried away
Ash and Adromache, dream of him
And how it’s gonna be
Other fellas
Call them out for a date
But they just sit and wait, they’d rather concentrate

On Johnny Cueto
How hitters fear him
Why are batters worried by such a little squirt
Every time he throws a slider
Its a chase pitch low, away down in the dirt

*Johnny Cueto ..
Johnny Cueto ..
Johnny Cueto ..
Johnny Cueto ..
You’re a #4 starter to me

This beautiful work is to be sung to the tune of Johnny angel, by Shelly Fabres

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch3Fv3D4832LQ0_T8g&sa=X&oi=video_result&resnum=3&ct=thumbnail&usg=AFQjCNFPWuvdqgPmouLVcpELRFad85lJEA

Used without permission of Ash and Andromache

Sgt. McCAin and Sarah The Impaler don't scare me none.

by Madville on Oct 29, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not only low, but also in the dirt

What do you mean, "blank slate"?

by boobs on Oct 29, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reds sign the next Cueto.

Er, well, we’ll have to see about that. The Reds have, following on the heels of international signing success of Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran, inked to a contract 16-year-old LHP Ismail Guillon.

Guillon, a Venezuelan, was regarded as probably the best Latin American pitcher available to sign left on the market. He is 6-foot-3 and also plays 1B, but the Reds want him on the mound. He reportedly throws 88-92 m.p.h. and features an advanced change for his age.

Guillon has what is described as a “funky” delivery and at least two scouts have questioned if his current throwing motion will result in arm problems. Maybe the Reds can work on that. Afterall, young Reds pitchers never get hurt, do they? Guillon is said to be quite polished but still has some projection.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Oct 29, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Arroyo

Ok, I had a laugh when you posted

The Bender was working as Bronson struck out 9 Mets.

As if Bronson had been drinking all day.

"Patterson, Keppinger, Bako.... Cream of the Suck" -Slyde

by snohio on Oct 29, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, no. That happened on June 24

when he lasted one inning in a 14-1 loss to Toronto.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Oct 29, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was

when The Bender wasn’t working. You assume that there was only one time there was The Bender.
Sometimes The Bender works and sometimes The Bender doesn’t.

"Patterson, Keppinger, Bako.... Cream of the Suck" -Slyde

by snohio on Oct 29, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs