despite better defense.
True or false?
Discuss.
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despite better defense.
True or false?
Discuss.
I think I agree.
Do not totally agree. Can analyze it to death of course. Worse in what way?
ERA
Harang: 2008 = 4.86 ; 2009 = 4.52
Cueto: 2008 = 4.81 ; 2009 = 4.23
Bailey: 2008 = 7.93 ; 2009 = 7.06
STAFF: 2008 = 4.97 ; 2009 = 4.94
Strikeouts are down... 2008 = 7.47 K/9IP ; 2009 = 6.47 K/9IP.
Walks have gone up... 2008 = 3.36 BB/9IP ; 2009 = 3.63 BB/9IP.
Hits allowed are down... 2008 = 9.76 H/9IP ; 2009 = 9.52 H/IP.
Walks up, hits down... 2008 = 1.46 WHIP ; 2009 = 1.46 WHIP.
Better defense? 2008 = 0.65 E/G ; 2009 = 0.70 E/G. When looking only at errors it is close, but not better.
The pitching has been nothing to write home about this year and I think it safe to say it has not lived up to the expectations going into the season.
And let's not forget Arroyo....
He's certainly having a stellar 2009
Disagree...completely.
Bailey is MUCH improved. Inconsistant...but I'd expect that from a young kid.
Harang is throwing MUCH better than last year...just not getting the results. Not as good as 2 & 3 years ago, but much better than last season. He'll have a poor INNING and have no chance at a win.
Cueto had a tremendous first half. He hit a bump mid season and has not been able to put it back together. I put a good portion of this on Dick Pole.
Owings has been up and down a bit, but for a 5th starter he's been MUCH better than I expected.
Arroyo DOES have 10 wins. How, I have NO idea. He's looked great one night and like garbage the next. But you come to expect it after a while. For a number 4 starter (which is what he is on a full, healthy Cincy staff), he's right about average. Overpaid for a #4, but adequet.
Edinson....too much off season throwing crippled his season before it even began I think.
Pole, Dick. Among the most useless carbon-based life forms to ever put on a Reds cap and call himself a coach.
I'm not sure I concur with your original statement, but I can say this that for the first time in my recent memory, I know that when a Reds pitcher gets behind, even by a few runs, there is very little chance (maybe even "virtually no chance") that this club can come from behind to win a game. I think we've done it twice all season, if that.
So perhaps the club's premise of pitching and defense coming into the season wasn't faulty, even if not perfectly executed, between lacking one additional "big bat" and the plethora of injuries that has decimated the starting players on this club, we presently do not have the offense necessary to get back in games. Harang's outing the other night is a good example. It's never easy coming back from a 4 run deficit, but in the past this club had the hitters to have a good chance of doing it. Right now, we don't.
So defense and pitching are a great concept, and probably the right approach. But without some modicum of an offense, your pitchers and your fielders have to be nearly perfect to give us a chance.
I think the whole "pitching and defense" mantra was a "we're not going to hit a lick this year, so we've got to tell the fans something this spring" smokescreen.
And with that said, with this weenie offense, two runs can sometimes mean ballgame, which doesn't do the pitchers much good unless they're lights out. Take Harang on Monday night, his stuff's working, strikes out a bunch, but the one home run dooms him. Once it was 3-0, I was like, that's like 8-0 against a team with a capable offense.
Oh, you mean that guy who has the most quality starts on the team (true)? ;)
Either really good or really bad. This year he reminds me of the past with guys like Cory Lidle or Kyle Lohse. Either a QS or gets bombed. No in-between for Bronson.
22 Starts
Qual St: 12 G, 1.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP.
NON QS: 10 G, 10.95 ERA, 2.25 WHIP.
I think a telling remark came from Cueto last night and Harang the night before. With so little run support, the pressure is to be perfect and it's not working. Some have said that if that gets to a pitcher, he shouldn't be in the majors, but I disagree. They're all human, but if you know you're going to lose by allowing 3 or 4 runs (or even less!), it must be horrible for the starters. No mistakes, boys, and we'll win. What a horrible life.