Over the last two weeks -- whether Griffey, Dunn, Lopez or Kearns we no longer are taking professional at bats. Down by 4 in the 8th or 9th 2-0 counts we swing -- that's just crazy. High schoolers don't make that mistake. Down by 3 or 4 in the last two innings you need baserunners -- what the hell is going on?
In May the Reds have 29 (not counting today) fewer walks than in April. Presumably, they will get some the last days of May, but obviously the walks are way down.
However, perhaps the problem is not patience? Maybe the league has adjusted to the Reds. Managers tell pitchers "don't walk these guys." And maybe the Reds don't hit well enough to compensate.
Right now, the Reds have almost as many homers in May as in April (36 April, 33 May). They are still hitting the long ball. But they are way down in almost every other offensive stat, including doubles (by 19) from April and walks.
Maybe the problem is that they need the walks to generate an offense, they can't do it with their bats.
Fair enough. But, my comment is based on a failure in fundementals of the game. Immovable facts or truths -- you take 2-0 down by 4 leading off the 7th, 8th or 9th inning. Period.
Redleg I agree about taking at that point in the game. I also think that passive plate appearances is one of Dunn's major dowhfalls. The guy is terrible when he gets behind in the count but he is very passive looking for what he must deem the perfect pitch and he usually never finds it.
when a pitcher is struggling they need to learn to take a strike it might be the only one he throws u but u if u make him throw more pitches the worse he will get
Here's what I think has happened. Earlier, the Reds were ALL OVER strikes, using all fields. So, the 'D' started pitching around the plate more. Then, came the walks. This allowed them to put small ball principles into play. Then, they started hitting the homerun which resulted in a lot of standing around waiting for that mammoth shot. It's easy to do. Now, that they're swinging for the fences, they're fouling off a lot of pitches and having a lot more 2-strike counts. Since, they were getting all those walks before they are still "taking pitches" and thus striking out a lot on 2-strike pitches. We've all seen this a lot as of late. Now that the Reds aren't doing anything with strikes and they are taking pitches, the opposition just starts throwing everything down the middle. The cure? Start swinging at the strikes and get this thing back to where the opposition is pitching around hitters.
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