I gave up on 'em early last night and watched Hot Tub Time Machine. I'm not sure which one was a bigger waste of time.
I gave up on 'em early last night and watched Hot Tub Time Machine. I'm not sure which one was a bigger waste of time.
I was suprised that the MLB Network crew just killed the Reds last night while showing highlights of the Brewers scoring run after run.
Basically they said:
- Cueto's been horrible for the past month. (Actually he's been okay the last month until last night)
- Cards folded ... Reds did everything possible to keep them in the race. Cards are a better team, though.
- This (last night's game) shows that they have no pitching. Power pitching wins in the playoffs and the Reds have a bunch of soft tossers (?) ... (Okay, I'll give you Arroyo, but after that?)
- For some reason they thought Harang would be in the rotation ... no mention of Bailey, Wood or Volquez.
MLB Network is usually pretty spot on with analysis. But last night's barrage was one sided with zero credit given to the Reds for being in the position that they're in. I can't remember the crew. I think it was Harold Reynolds, Mitch Williams and another ex-pitcher.
"The players make the manager, it's never the other way." - Sparky Anderson
Some of that has merit though. The Reds likely 1/2 game starters are going to be Arroyo and Cueto.
That doesn't strike fear in anyone. Cueto has a k/9 comparable to Barry Zito right now. His stuff is severely overrated, IMO. He elevates way too much and doesn't have much snap on his slider.
Hopefully the Reds somehow get deep into the playoffs and Edinson, Wood, and Homer get more starts.
In the playoffs I don't see Cueto and Arroyo having much success. But in a short series anything can happen.
This is the time. The real Reds organization is back.
Just curious, why do you need to be a power pitcher in the playoffs?
-Jamie Moyer has a career 4.14 ERA, including one terrible outing in the NLCS where he went 1 1/3 and gave up 6 runs. Even still, his ERA is lower than his career average for regular season games.
-Tom Glavine has a career 3.30 ERA in the playoffs while he has a career 3.54 ERA in the regular season.
Are there any soft tossers who otherwise were good pitchers that couldn't perform in the playoffs?
There are always going to be outliers. The theory overall is that finesse pitchers rely alot on the overaggressiveness of weak offensive teams to swing at bad pitches. You aren't going to get the Phillies, Yankees, or Drays out with the same junk that gets Cubs, Pirates, and 'Stros hitters out.
The better teams are going to force you to bring your finesse stuff into the zone and they probably are going to punish you. That or they will work you into a ton of pitches and get you later. It's very easy for even average pitchers to get into a groove against bad, hacking teams.
That's at least the thought.
This is the time. The real Reds organization is back.
I agree with Cerdric about Cueto.
I'm hoping Bailey and Volquez can keep up their recent success.
I really think in order for the Reds to make it far in the playoffs they're going to have to go high risk/high reward with their rotation. Sure, Bailey and Volquez could implode at any time, but they give us the best chance at dominating an opponent too. I think the Reds are going to have to gamble this way to make it far. Maybe even throw Chapman into the rotation.
And I understand the theory, I just don't know if there's any evidence supporting that. ALL pitchers make their numbers in games where they are going well and ALL pitchers coincidentally have those games more often against bad offenses than good ones.
I suppose it could be said that "finesse pitchers," which I wouldn't categorize Cueto as anyway, have less of a margin for error, or more of a chance at getting blown out, but I haven't seen much evidence that says they can't be effective.
Did you not watch the White Sox run to the World Series a few years ago?
Mark Beuhrle
Freddy Garcia
Jon Garland
Jose Contreas
Which one of those is a power pitcher? Cueto's not a finesse pitcher either.
Btw before last night Cueto had 4 september starts, and had gone 23 innings while giving up 7 earned runs. His K/BB in those 4 starts was 20/5, and all four of his starts were QS.
If that's horrible then, umm, okay.
"Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"
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