George Herron
cjherron
pacmanxu
slapshot66
Reds Rollin’
Posted by George Herron on May 13, 2009
Over the weekend the Reds took two out of three from the division leading
We aren't quite there yet, but 2009 is looking pretty good.
Cardinals and have come to Arizona and won the first two games so far. While I have been saying all year that this team will be better, even I did not expect this latest rash of winning! While I am terribly excited, I am also cautious. Eventually Edwin and Gonzo are going to get healthy and will be re-inserted into the lineup, and I don’t think that would be the best thing for this team.
Let me explain further why I don’t think that will be a good idea and why the Reds have looked so good lately.
- Pitching has been awesome. With the exception of Bronson Arroyo’s disaster of 9 runs and only 2/3 of an inning and David Weathers boarder line implosion Friday night the pitching has been coming together better than a dish Emril prepared, BAM! In the 12 games they have played this month they have only given up an average of 4.3 runs per game, that is including the 15 run disaster from last week. They have had three shut outs and no blown saves, so it is not just the starting rotation, it is the whole staff coming together at the right time.
- Production from the 3,4,5 hitters. Votto, who has missed quite a few games lately with the flu still has produced this month. He has hit one home run and has six RBI. Philips finally remembered how to hit and exploded for 4 home runs and 15 RBI this month. And Jay Bruce might have had the best offensive month of all of them going for six home runs and 8 RBI.
- The best part of the 3,4,5 hitter producing is that there are runners in front of them. Taveras batting average is above the .300 mark and his on base percentage is a career best .377 right now. He is not stealing the bases I would expect, (He did say he was going to steal 100 this year) but he will get there, hopefully. But even if he doesn’t does it matter, the Reds are winning!
- I hate to say it, but Edwin and Gonzo have been noticeably absent from the lineup and this team is winning. When they come back the Reds will have a real hard decision to make, but I say play the hot hand. Play either Janish or Harriston at short, I would prefer Janish until he proves he can’t and play Rosales at third. Rosales is a fan favorite and he energizes this team. I think his youthful, energetic attitude is infectious and will only help this team. EE has been nothing short of miserable at the plate and still not great in the field. let Rosales lose the job. Gonzo has not played in two years and it shows. The guy looked slow before he got hurt. Let Harriston and Janish play and push each other. Rosales and Janish are what I like to call scrappy. They remind me of Mark Lemke. Lemke was never the guy that you feared in the Braves lineup, but you just knew that he would come through when you needed him. He always had that big hit in him, just waiting to get out. As a matter of fact I might start rating a players clutchness based on Mark, call it the Lemke rating system. I would rate Rosales as 7 right now, I would rate A-Rod a 3 and I would rate Adum Dunn a 1.
- Laynce Nix is making the most of his opportunity. He has stolen left field away from Chris Dickerson because of superior playing. Dusty would be wise to look at that when thinking about putting Gonzo or EE back in the lineup right away. Remember when some guy named Lou Gehrig replace Wally Pipp at first base for the Yankees? That turned out pretty good I think.
There are, however, a few things that have me slightly concerned.
- 10 errors in 12 games. That is without EE for a lot of them. That is not a good number and it HAS to go down. you can not commit errors and expect to keep winning.
- The Lizards insistence to hit Phillips fourth still boggles my mind. I know that he is producing now, but he is so much more suited for the 2 or 3 spot in the lineup. Move Votto down to four, all he has done all year is produce, there is no reason that can’t continue by dropping him to fourth.
- Base running has been pretty poor. Base stealing is almost non-existent, and runners have been getting picked off pretty regularly. I hate to say it but the last two- three years have been pretty horrific as far as the basics are concerned, and this needs to be improved.
All in all, really, it has been a good start to the year and I look forward to seeing if they can keep it up through September. If they can, this might be a post season team a year early! If the season were to end today the Reds WOULD be in the playoffs. Just so you know.
chiefshu said
Rosales has become my favorite player. You are right, he does bring energy and fun to the ball club. I like his socks. I like his hustle. I like calling him “Pete” Rosales. I like to think that the Reds are bringing fun back to baseball. They remind me of the Rays and the Twins in the early 2000s. These guys just like to play ball and have fun. I’m not saying championship. However, I am having fun watching them play. As I said on my facebook – Reds need to keep harnessing the good energy/block the bad. Feel the flow. Feel it. It’s circular. It’s like a carousel. All good things.
grhii said
Kevin Nealon Would be proud Shu!
But I totally agree, they got rid of club house cancers like Dunn and Griffey and have youth and guys that love to play the game. That is why I was so afraid when there was talk about bringing in Shef. Thank god that didn’t work out.
Go Reds, and keep doing it the right way.