Finally, some respect

[redsmetz]

This column by Jeff Gordon (writer, not racer) in today's St. Louis Post Dispatch was a fair assessment of where the Reds have been this season and how tenacious they've been.


Resilient Reds manage to keep the heat on Cards

BY JEFF GORDON
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Monday, Aug. 14 2006

Back in the spring, we touted the Cincinnati Reds as a legitimate playoff
threat. Clearly this team has FINALLY upgraded its pitching.

That, combined with their ever-productive offense, figured to give the Reds
staying power.

And the Reds have, in fact, lasted in the NL Central Race -– but only because
of the collective persistence of the entire operation. A series of pitching
crises befell the team again this summer, but the Reds have battled back within
1 ½ games of the Cardinals heading into this week’s three-game series.

This has been quite an accomplishment. Playing home games in the Great American
Launching Pad takes a toll on starting pitchers.

Veteran Eric Milton is having another tough year in this ballpark. During his
12 starts there, he has allowed 14 homers -– twice as many as he has allowed on
the road -- while recording an earned-run average of 5.19.

Staff ace Aaron Harang is an even more dramatic example. In 13 starts at home, he allowed 13 homers and posted a 5.09 ERA. In 13 games on the road (including 12 starts), he allowed four homers while recording a 2.40 ERA.

Newcomer Bronson Arroyo starred in all venues earlier this season. Back on June 19, he was 9-3 with a 2.47 ERA.

But he hasn’t won a game since. He had a 5.45 ERA in July and his ERA so far
this month is 6.27. Arroyo has tried everything -– including getting a cornrow
haircut -– to get back on track. Nothing has worked.

“I'm about at the end of my rope, superstition-wise,” Arroyo told the
Associated Press. “Maybe I'll have to bring in a live chicken or something.”

One calamity after another has hit the pitching staff this season. Each time it
appears one hole is filled, two more appear. The Reds have used 26 different
pitchers this season and counting.

Manager Jerry Narron and pitching coach Tom Hume have been tested all season. (Hume stepped in for pitching coach Vern Ruhle, who began undergoing cancer treatments this spring in Florida. It has been that sort of year for the Reds.)

Among the current pitching cast is Chris Michalak, a 35-year-old lefthander
with 53 big league appearances before his recall. He is in line for his first
major league start since 2001.

Kent Mercker, Gary Majewski, Jason Standridge and Matt Belisle are on the
15-day disabled list and Brandon Claussen, Paul Wilson and Grant Balfour are on the 60-day shelf.

Mercker’s latest elbow injury -- he will undergo reconstructive surgery
Thursday -- could be a career-ender for the former Cardinal. That is a tough
blow, since Mercker had been an effective specialist for the Reds this season.

“I'm not at the age where if I have to have 'Tommy John,' I'm not going to go
through all that,” Mercker told reporters Friday. “Maybe it's muscular. I don't
know. But I know it would be less painful to have a C-section without an
epidural than to throw another pitch. I would assume. I've never had one. But I hear it's painful.”

General manager Wayne Krivsky has worked relentlessly to upgrade his pitching staff, adding one hurler after another to the battered mix. His best get has been closer Eddie Guardado, who has converted eight of 10 save opportunities since arriving from Seattle.

But the staff struggles continue. Guardado blew his save opportunity Sunday,
forcing the Reds to pull out a 7-5 victory in 11 innings in Philadelphia.

Back on Friday night, the Reds fell 6-5 in 14 innings and burned up the
pitching staff in the process. They used nine pitchers in that loss.

The Cincinnati Enquirer notes that the three-game series required 34 innings
and 1,176 pitches. Somehow, the Reds soldiered through it and kept moving
forward.

You can’t give them enough credit for what they have done.

“That's what we've been doing all year,” Reds slugger Ken Griffey Jr. said
after Sunday’s victory. “Until the last out is made we think we can make it
tough on the other team. To win ballgames and try to get in the playoffs,
you've got to try and do that.

“So far we've been able to do some things and have fun.”

[Ltlabner]

But the staff struggles continue. Guardado blew his save opportunity Sunday, forcing the Reds to pull out a 7-5 victory in 11 innings in Philadelphia.

Well, actually EE blew the save with his 9th inning error.

Good article. Nice to get an opinion from outside the Redszone fishbowl.

[SunDeck]

Good article. Nice to get an opinion from outside the Redszone fishbowl.

Roger that. 26 pitchers...that says an awful lot.

[westofyou]

You can’t give them enough credit for what they have done.


Unless you think you could have done better.

[boognish]

Roger that. 26 pitchers...that says an awful lot.

On a different note, it also says a lot about the attitude success has on the way the team is covered in the media. The Washington Nationals have also used 26 pitchers, but it is reported as an excuse or a mitigating factor for the team's woes this season.

A couple of extra wins and a slow year in the NL changes the spin from "the beleaguered Reds" to the "resilient, never-say-die Reds."

[dabvu2498]

Unless you think you could have done better.
The life-blood of the "Legions of the Miserable."

I can't believe I just quoted Johnny Majors.

[Falls City Beer]

Well, actually EE blew the save with his 9th inning error.



Yeah. Forget those three hits Guardado gave up in that one inning of work. Those events never lead to blown saves. :rolleyes:

[princeton]

26 pitchers...that says an awful lot.

I thought that it was 26 pitchers in the last three weeks.

wonder if we can hit 40? 40 would be cool.

50 would be out of sight.

[Joseph]

Is this really respect for the Reds or a Daugherty-esque article talking about the Cards not getting it done?

[Redhook]

Well, actually EE blew the save with his 9th inning error.


EE didn't blow that save. Guardado got absolutely rocked that inning. The play that was charged an error could've easily been called a hit. The ball was hit so hard it probably had a dent in it. I doubt RA, Castro, or Freel could've made that play either. While accuracy on his throws needs to improve, EE's fielding is quite impressive. He's made some incredible plays recently. I blame that 9th inning on Guardado. He allowed 2 hits prior to that play and one after. That's too many in the 9th inning of a close game.

[redsmetz]

EE didn't blow that save. Guardado got absolutely rocked that inning. The play that was charged an error could've easily been called a hit. The ball was hit so hard it probably had a dent in it. I doubt RA, Castro, or Freel could've made that play either. While accuracy on his throws needs to improve, EE's fielding is quite impressive. He's made some incredible plays recently. I blame that 9th inning on Guardado. He allowed 2 hits prior to that play and one after. That's too many in the 9th inning of a close game.

What I've seen thus far of Guardado, I would think he probably would agree with you. He seems pretty stand up.

[Redhook]

What I've seen thus far of Guardado, I would think he probably would agree with you. He seems pretty stand up.

I really like Guardado. He does seem like a stand up guy. Yes, he's struggled his last couple of outings, but I love having him on our team. I just hope his arm can last 2 1/2 more months.

Speaking of respect for the Reds, I give them all the respect in the world. For all the ups and downs this year, for all the turnover in the clubhouse, and for everyone expecting them to fall apart I give them huge props for still being in the race right now. I love watching it. Even though I don't believe this team is as good as the '99 team, this season is remarkably similar. It took until September for most to realize they were good and had a legitimate chance at making the playoffs. It will probably be the same with this team. I expect a large number of people to jump on the bandwagon once this team is still in good shape come September. Fortunately, I'm already on and have my seat firmly in place.

[redsmetz]

Is this really respect for the Reds or a Daugherty-esque article talking about the Cards not getting it done?

There certainly is some element to that and you're not off base for suggesting it, but I think he's also acknowledging that we refuse to go away and that is different from previous years.

[The_jbh]

EE didn't blow that save. Guardado got absolutely rocked that inning. The play that was charged an error could've easily been called a hit. The ball was hit so hard it probably had a dent in it. I doubt RA, Castro, or Freel could've made that play either. While accuracy on his throws needs to improve, EE's fielding is quite impressive. He's made some incredible plays recently. I blame that 9th inning on Guardado. He allowed 2 hits prior to that play and one after. That's too many in the 9th inning of a close game.

I listened to the game not watched it but from what Nuxy made it sound like was that Encarnacion made a great play on a ball that he had not business getting to. He made a tough throw from the knees that went too high. I played 3B in HS and I know how hard it is to make a throw on your knees. Not only can you not set up with your feet, but you have to make the throw completely with your arm where normally its a whole body effort. If that was the case (and again, i listened to the game so i could be wrong) get off Edwin's back. He gave us a shot for an out that should have been a base hit. Everything ive SEEN of EE in the past week has shown me he is capable of being a GREAT 3B. He has great range and gets to balls that other guys we have had on this squad play 3B would never get to. When you make plays like that, throwing errors are going occur. Id rather EE slightly overthrow Hatteburg (aslong as it doesnt completely miss Hatte and go into a dugout) than that ball get in the outfield and give players shots at extra bases.

[TeamBoone]

Speaking of respect for the Reds, I give them all the respect in the world. For all the ups and downs this year, for all the turnover in the clubhouse, and for everyone expecting them to fall apart I give them huge props for still being in the race right now. I love watching it.

I think this is a huge point and one that's been overlooked on this team.

I saw an article somewhere recently about the players coming into the clubhouse to find new teammates that they didn't even know had been acquired, saying "hi, nice to meet ya" and running out onto the field for pregame practice. This was especially applicable when Hollandsworth was recently obtained; very few knew him when he arrived though because he's an OFer, I don't think it would have as much of an impact.

I've never played professional sports, so I have no idea how difficult it may be to play with guys you've never played with before but I would think it could definitely affect their level of efficiency (Clayton/Phillips shortly after Clayton was acquired).

[Ltlabner]

I think this is a huge point and one that's been overlooked on this team.

I saw an article somewhere recently about the players coming into the clubhouse to find new teammates that they didn't even know had been acquired, saying "hi, nice to meet ya" and running out onto the field for pregame practice. This was especially applicable when Hollandsworth was recently obtained; very few knew him when he arrived though because he's an OFer, I don't think it would have as much of an impact.

I've never played professional sports, so I have no idea how difficult it may be to play with guys you've never played with before but I would think it could definitely affect their level of efficiency (Clayton/Phillips shortly after Clayton was acquired).


This is one area where I think Narron deserves some props. I think his "tradional" approach and ability to juggle all these players and changes keeps a certian level of calm in the midst of chaos. The players like and respond to him and with all of these player changes that's especially challenging.

This falls into the extreemly gray area of "chemistry" and "fuzzy clubhouse stuff" so the benefit to the team is very difficult to measure. But overall, it's a positive for the Reds.

[redsmetz]

This is one area where I think Narron deserves some props. I think his "tradional" approach and ability to juggle all these players and changes keeps a certian level of calm in the midst of chaos. The players like and respond to him and with all of these player changes that's especially challenging.

This falls into the extreemly gray area of "chemistry" and "fuzzy clubhouse stuff" so the benefit to the team is very difficult to measure. But overall, it's a positive for the Reds.

I think this is often overlooked with Narron. Where he seems so laid back and like he's on valium, he may be the perfect manager for the situation at hand, balancing the turmoil of so much change.

[Doc. Scott]

I wonder how long it's going to take before the press figures out that GABP is not really a hitter's park. Just favorable towards homers.

I know my guess for the answer- until the Reds stop being known as That Team With Crappy Pitching. Which will take a couple more years to sink in.

[redsfan30]

This isnt' directed to anyone in this thread inparticular, but why is it that so many here seem to demand respect from national media, yet many of those same people are the ones just sitting around and waiting for the bottom to fall out?

[Redhook]

I listened to the game not watched it but from what Nuxy made it sound like was that Encarnacion made a great play on a ball that he had not business getting to. He made a tough throw from the knees that went too high.

That play you are talking about occured earlier in the game somewhere around the 5th inning I think. He made a phenomenal effort to get to that ball and just missed getting the runner out at first. That was ruled a base hit. The error in the 9th was hit almost directly at him, but it was hit as hard as Dunn's home run earlier in the game. Should he have made the play? Probably, but it was very difficult. Maybe he got a bad bounce too. Whatever the ruling on the field, it doesn't take away the fact that there were two men on base before that at-bat, that the ball was torched, and another hit was given up after that at-bat. Bad game for Guardado. He'll be back though, I'm not worried about him.


Everything ive SEEN of EE in the past week has shown me he is capable of being a GREAT 3B. He has great range and gets to balls that other guys we have had on this squad play 3B would never get to.

I agree. He's been making some awesome plays out there. It's exciting watching him get better and better each week. We're very lucky to have him.

[REDSEER]

Finally, some respect

Just win and the respect will come......I'm sure this guy's view is also messed up a bit because of the Cards' recent failures at Pittsburgh......

Not saying that this year's team isn't special, because it definitely is in my eyes, but in any normal NL year this team is back 7+ games, messing with the writer's view of the teams behind him.....

Notice also that most of the "respect" that we are getting is from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch......IMO the city media is trying to keep a positive attitude about their slumping hometown Cardinals by making the teams chasing them look like world beaters.....

Just win, and respect will come.....I thought nothing of the Dodgers until they went on this streak of theirs, now I want no part of the Dodgers until the playoffs.....


(yes, I said playoffs)

[lo ryder]

All credit should be given to the new ownership and front office personnel. We finally have some backing that was lacking for many previous years.