Series Preview: Reds at Braves
by gondeee on May 19, 2010 9:49 AM EDT
in Series Previews & Recaps
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Printhe first place Cincinnati Reds come to town to take on the Atlanta Braves... cough, cough, yes, I said first place Cincinnati Reds. Why is it that the Reds always seem to be playing their best baseball when they face the Braves? For the last few years they've played Atlanta as tough as any team in baseball. Last year Atlanta was 3-and-6 against them, the year before 3-and-3, a miserable 1-and-6 in 2007. You have to go back to 2006 to find the Braves with a winning record against the Reds, and then only barely at 4-and-3.
In what must be a scheduling snafu, or a schedule blessing, the Braves will only have to face the dreaded Reds five times this year -- this 2-game homestand and one 3-game tilt in Cincy. I had thought that every team played every other team at least three times at home and three times on the road, but apparently you can get away with less. The Reds will be in town this year for less than 24 hours.
Game 1: Aaron Harang vs. Kenshin Kawakami, Wednesday, 7:10pm
This will be a game of pitching futility, and massive run scoring. Watch, I say that and it will be a pitcher's duel. Remember when Aaron Harang was good? Remember when every other team wanted to trade for him. This dude has not been good for the past two years, and this year he's reaching a new level of suck. This could be just the mound opponent to pull Kenshin out of his season long funk. It will be either that or the new shoes he ordered.
Game 2: Mike Leake vs. Tommy Hanson, Thursday 1:05pm
Tommy had his worst outing of the year last time out, giving up five runs, but he kept battling and went deep into the game. A tip of the cap to him for staying on the mound even though he had been beaten around. That's a sign that he is really maturing quickly as a pitcher, as that's not something he did last year. Mike Leake is a guy who may actually give Jason Heyward a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year voting (if it were to be held today). This rookie has been the best pitcher this year for Cincinnati, and has held opponents to a lower batting average (.220) than Tommy Hanson (.234). This should be a good pitching matchup.
So if all goes according to plan, Game-1 will be a slugfest because of the horrible track record of the pitchers in that game, and game-2 should be a pitchers duel because the top pitchers from each team are facing off and because it's a day game after a night game and all the hitters will be worn out from the slugfest the night before.
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Can someone find a way to push Hanson’s start to Friday? I’ll be going to the game in Pittsburgh and I’d much rather watch him than Huddy, as great as he’s been he’s just not as exciting as grande rojo.
Avalanche fan stuck in Penguin territory.
I'm going on Saturday...
just be happy you see Huddy and not Lowe
by eaheckman10 on May 19, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel like Harang hasn’t been the same since Baker made him pitch 4 innings during an extra inning game on 2 or 3 days rest. I just tried to find the outing but couldn’t, so maybe I’m just crazy.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on May 19, 2010 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
Baker...
Leaves no pitcher unfucked.
-C
by cthabeerman on May 19, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Dusty's treatment of Harang has been "special"
Here is the game you are looking for. On Sunday May 25 Aaron Harang pitched 4 scoreless innings of relief against San Deigo in an 18 inning game, Harang threw 63 pitches. He started Friday May 23 and threw 103 pitches, and he started May 29.
He had an ERA over 10 in his 10 starts after the extra innings game, and spend a month on the DL.
Last year on May 25 Harang pitched on a rainy day against Houston, the game went into delay with the Reds leading and 2 outs in the top of the 5th, Dusty sent Harang back out after a lengthy delay so Harang could “get the win”. Harang struggled for the rest of the season after that.
"Every day we expect to win and here lately we've been doing that."-Homer Bailey
by justin007000 on May 19, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Baker's among the worst at managing a pitching staff
Surprising that people continue hiring him to manage baseball teams.
What made it worse was
The last four pitchers Dusty used were Fogg, Bray, Harang, and Volquez in that order. Fogg was the long man, and Bray a setup man, so for some unknown reason Dusty decided to use his long man before using his last setup man.
"Every day we expect to win and here lately we've been doing that."-Homer Bailey
by justin007000 on May 19, 2010 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank you, it definitely supports my theory. Had a very successful 2007, had a nice start to 2008, but pitched like shit after those two outings. Under performed last year, and looks pretty bad this year. You’d know better than me though, since I’m just going by the numbers and the few times we see him.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on May 19, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
He still has his velocity though
Plus he his K/9 is still over 7 and his BB/9 is only 1.9, and his K/BB is 4.10. Hopefully his ERA will start to match his periperhals.
"Every day we expect to win and here lately we've been doing that."-Homer Bailey
by justin007000 on May 19, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
From Cincinnati
Harang is a bit of an enigma, all his peripherals argue he should be pitching better than he has, yet he has an ERA over 6. He has had a pretty nice run over his last 4 starts. I am looking forward to seeing Leake and Heyword faceoff, and I have always enjoyed Reds/Braves games.
It will be a fun couple of days.
"Every day we expect to win and here lately we've been doing that."-Homer Bailey
Here's a look at Harang's last four starts
He’s 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA. He’s struck out 26 and only walked four. He has given up three home runs, but two of those were in one game against the Cardinals and could be considered Great American Ball Park cheapies.
So he’s pitching better. Still, he gets notoriously little run support when he starts. Every other starter in the Reds rotation has been pitching lights out recently, and we’ll see if Harang can match them.
by Brendanukkah on May 19, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Reds are a buzzsaw right now
But I like the pitching matchups and I like the way our new offense has been working.
I think the Braves can earn a sweep without too much fuss
60% of the time, it works every time
Ok Gondee...
You going to get us a media pass for tomorrow so we can cover the afternoon game complete with pictures!!!! I can take the afternoon off work if you can pull it off the the TC fans! :-)
Damn, meant to type “for the TC fans”. I hate it when my fingers don’t listen to my Brain.
Oh, and I’m serious, if anyone has a media pass that they’re not using, I’ll be happy to use it for you and provide you with the shots. ;-)
Ooooo, sounds good!
I certainly don’t have the pull to get you a pass, but I’m going to the game, so I’ll look around for you and see if you got one some other way!
How much does it suck to be a Reds pitching prospect knowing that eventually you may have to be managed by that retard Baker who is so incompetent, he darn near let his kid get steamrolled in a game? Not to mention absolutely ruining one Prior, Mark as well as Wood, Kerry.
I think I’d retire if it were me for about one year, then unretire as an FA. There are few managers in baseball as inept as Baker. Braves should at least get a split here.
When you've said Jason Heyward, you've said it all.........
I'm trying to be optimistic,
about our chances of winning tonight, but in the back of my mind I keep remembering how we seem to make not so good pitchers look great at times!
Go Braves!
To everyone who claims KK sucks based on his 0-6 record....
Look at the stat lines for KK and Harang in this post. Harang has worse numbers, but a better win/loss record. HOW CAN THAT BE!? Simple: Win/Loss records say absolutely nothing about how someone pitches….
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 19, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
Harang
Although he has one more start than KK. He average 6 innings per start. KK is barely just around 5. So i’m going to guess that has a big part in Harang picking up 2 victories – he’s able to pitch deep into game and is more durable to pitch in the 100’s PC. Pitchers can get lucky by hanging around and gutting out an inning or two…sometimes you team will reward you with a victory or a ND. Runs haven’t been plentiful for KK but he certainly hasn’t helped his cause either. But hey at least he has new gold spikes – I can sleep better knowing his feet will be comfortable.
Kawakami is not absolute shit, but he isn’t any good either.
by Nova Scotia Steve on May 19, 2010 6:45 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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