Reds Starters Are Getting More Credit Than Ever
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 3:26 PM EDT
in Features
42 comments
Cincinnati Reds starting pitchers are 16-11 so far this season. While that is definitely a good record, the more significant point is that the starting pitchers have 27 of the 31 decisions for the pitching staff so far this year - and they are winning more than losing. Through 31 games, no team in the league has fewer no decisions from the starting staff, and the Rays (5) are the only other team with fewer than 7 no decisions.
No Reds team in the last 50 years has had more decisions go to the starters in the first 31 games. More importantly, only the 1970 (19) and 1967 (17) teams have seen more wins by their starters in the first 31 games. They have been credited with the most wins in the Majors so far this year.
All of these decisions are going for the starters for a couple of reasons. First, the Reds' starters lead in the NL in innings pitched per start (6.16 IP/GS). They also have the most games in the Majors (13) where they have pitched 7+ innings while allowing 3 runs or fewer runs. Going late into games and holding the other team down will go a long way toward adding your name in the winning pitcher column.
A second reason for the starters are getting so many decisions is the bullpen. While the bullpen has a respectable 4.03 ERA, they are fourth in the Majors with scoreless appearances in 75% of their games. They have only given up runs in 4 wins this season, and not once has a starting pitcher left the game with a lead only to end up with a no decision (twice they've left the game in line for the loss but were taken off the hook). So kudos to Dusty Baker for his handling of the bullpen and the pitchers themselves for not ruining any games for the starters so far this year.
One last reason the starters have gotten so many decisions is the offense. The Reds have just 5 come from behind victories so far this year - only the Pirates and Rockies have fewer. So, with so few comebacks and so few blown leads, you can pretty much leave the game once the first run is scored because there is a pretty good likelihood that the team that scored is going to win on that day.
Come to think of it, Reds baseball is fairly boring and predictable, isn't it?
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Yeah, you
can go hang with the family once the score is 7-4, because this team has no power and an anemic offense. When you come back an hour plus later, the game’s still on and the Reds are once again trying to bunt. I missed the best part!
by timb116 on May 11, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the Reds have the highest batting average in the NL for the month of May
so yeah, anemic is no longer applicable.
by Daedalus on May 11, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think 10 games suddenly makes this team a good offensive team
I think they are a weak offensive team having a pretty good stretch right now.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
pessimist'd
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on May 11, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't say that
I’m just trying to be realistic. The issues that we saw at the beginning of the year don’t suddenly disappear because Ramon Herndandez and Jerry Hairston have had a good couple of weeks. The Reds still need another good right-handed bat (hopefully EdE can help when he’s healthy) and I’m not confident that Nix can keep hitting.
On the flip side, Jay Bruce has looked a lot better than I expected at this point. I felt at the beginning of the year that if he could progress quickly this year (and if EdE could take a step forward) that they could be a decent offense. So, I think there is a chance that they won’t be anemic, but ask me again in a month.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We did just fine without your pessimism, young man.
So far I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Taveras and Bruce. Hernandez, Hairston, possibly Nix and to a lesser extent Votto are playing over their heads, but at least Gonzalez is finally out and BP is showing signs of life.
I know I’m being overly optimistic here, but if we could get decent production from BP, EdE, and whoever’s at SS and avoid LF and catcher falling off a cliff, we have a great offense.
The great thing is that if the pitching holds up, we may not need all of those things to be true to have a shot at a better than decent year.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on May 11, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you after your first paragraph
though I would say the best they can do is “good” not “great”.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way Taveras maintains that .355 OBA
unless I get really lucky. This team needs to string three hits together to score and they did well at that for the last few days, but I don’t think Joey’s BABIP will stay .380, nor do I believe Ryan Hannigan is a .320 hitter, nor do I find Jerry Hairston valuable at all. Now, Jerry, as nice a guy as he seems to be, is….not good.
I missed you, Slyde
by timb116 on May 11, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bruce's BABIP is .240
yeah. you smell that? that’s the smell of unlimited potential.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 11, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think there's a chance
Taveras had a .367 OBP two years ago, albeit in 408 PAs. He’s in his age 27 season. And so far, he’s achieved his decent OBP with an average-ish .312 babip.
I’m not saying he’ll keep it up, but I think there’s a decent chance. A lot of the pessimism (mine included) concerning him this winter had a lot to do with his health and how much his play suffers when he’s hurt, which is normal for a speed guy.
by ken on May 11, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would pee from excitement if I have to eat my words and say Taveras is a good player on June 1st.
I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....
by jch24 on May 11, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
me too and he's been doing a fine job
The funny thing about Taveras is, if he’s still doing “a good job” in June, his OBP will probably be higher than his slugging %!
Still, he’s playing good defense and getting on base. I’m sure Uncle Walt was hoping to get the 2007 Taveras
by timb116 on May 11, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shandler
Rob Shandler’s Baseball HQ podcast started out this weekend with a snippet about Nix. Turns out that he’s got (before tonight’s game) a .438 BABIP, and a 31% K-rate, a BB/K ratio of 0.2 (very poor) and a high line drive rate of 29%.
This does not bode well.
by bbjones on May 11, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so
We only have to watch until the first run is scored, then we can to go bed?
Great news, since staying to up watch these west coast games is tough.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on May 11, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
still no blown saves!
I really couldn’t ask for anything more out of this staff, other then Lincoln getting his head out of his ass. Think Carlos Fisher could stage a coup and usurp Lincoln’s position?
Ali Boombaye
by Cy Schourek on May 11, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lincoln has thrown 4 scorless innings in a row
maybe he is figuring it out.
Bloop
by justin007000 on May 11, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no blown saves
but coco blew that game yesterday. thought for sure we’d win it when micah hit that homer. still bummed about it.
by Daedalus on May 11, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coco has blown two tie games so far
bum.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 11, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Predictable and Boring
That’s why I love small ball. No surprises…easy to understand and to watch, And it usually works pretty well cuase that’s the way game is played when its played right.
Red’s baseball in 2009 is almost as predictable as a Madville post replete with italics, bolds and pictures:
Just as predictable as Gapper and women 
Never Try and Never, ever Care - That’s the Madville Way
by Madville on May 11, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the game is played right
when you thump them like the ‘27 Yankees…..massive power, good defense, and great pitching. Smallball can kiss me and George Grad’s arse
by timb116 on May 11, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Harang
Arroyo
Volquez
Owings
Cueto
HAVOC wins ballgames.
by Brendanukkah on May 11, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My girlfriends and I used to play strip anagrams in college
Those were the days
Never Try and Never, ever Care - That’s the Madville Way
by Madville on May 11, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and that is why god hates america
Bloop
by justin007000 on May 11, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
non secular'd
Never Try and Never, ever Care - That’s the Madville Way
by Madville on May 11, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm kind of afraid of Arroyo pitching tonight...
Is anybody else concerned?
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on May 11, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nah
he gave up 9 runs in an inning+ his last time out. he’s good for about 6 solid and 2 runs tonight.
go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls
by Charlie Scrabbles on May 11, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a late start time
He should be fiiiiiine.
I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....
by jch24 on May 11, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not at all
He’s on the road. Mark him down for 7 innings, 1 ER in the first and that’s it
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on May 11, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope
But do you remember the game in Toronto last year when Arroyo gave up 11 runs in one-plus inning? He went 11-4 with a 3.42 ERA after that. Does history repeat itself? You betcha, bubba.
by RedConn on May 11, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My theory appears to be correct
Hal thinks he’s Sarah Palin. Old age is a bitch.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And he thinks Sarah Palin is a poor Southerner?
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on May 11, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hal
Did an interview with Bubba, which mostly revolved around his theory that guys named Bubba should be a lot bigger 5’-11’, 185 lbs.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on May 11, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
why do you like bubba crosby so much?
Dusty Baker said it was the first [triple play] he’d seen in person. When he was with the Dodgers, they hit into one, but he was in the bathroom.- C Trent
by The Crushinator on May 11, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on May 11, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....
by jch24 on May 11, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That page is way underutilized on this site.
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on May 11, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might make it my calling card
/SPECK to MM
I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....
by jch24 on May 12, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he's playing against a weak team tonight
as bad as the Reds’ offense has been, Arizona’s is even worse. Their top hitter? Felipe Lopez.
by cokane on May 11, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
'Sup, birds.
"Nobody's going to die just because they can't find their little yellow basket."
by Fat Vegas Alan on May 11, 2009 9:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Say Hey!
Umm… is anybody here?
"Nobody's going to die just because they can't find their little yellow basket."
by Fat Vegas Alan on May 11, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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