Let me Tell you why it Sucks to be a Red.

by Small town pillager

It's too bad that the Reds were missing some key pitchers early in the season, or they could be in a position to make a little noise.  As much as I hated the Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez for Billy Bray and Gary Ma Jew Ski trade last year, Bray has looked great since he came back from injury late this season performing as the Reds best 7th inning guy.  Add to that Rule 5 pick Jared Burton showing some pretty good stuff since being called back up to man the 8th inning.  When  you look at how many games the Reds lost early this year in the 7th and 8th innings- thank you very much Mike Freaking Stanton, they could easily be winning this admittedly weak division if they had had these guys going from the get to. 

Even if they wouldn't have been able to do much in the post season, a winning record would have kept the great seasons that Aaron Harang and Brandon Phillips are putting together from getting ignored.  Harang has been one of the most consistent pitchers, toiling in one of the worst pitchers parks in baseball.  If you ever needed proof that he's a heck of a pitcher who's being forgotten about on a weak team- he was one of the few people ever to lead the NL in wins and Strikeouts, and he failed to receive any Cy Young consideration at all.  I can understand him not winning, because Webb was a stud last year, but he should have been in the conversation.

Then you have Phillips.  If you ever watch a Reds game- and I can understand why few of you probably do- you're guarenteed to see Phillips make a great play or two.  Every game.  The play he made to win the game for the Reds Thursday night was one of the best I've ever seen.  If you missed it, look for it on youtube or something, it should probably be on there.  That defense alone would be enough, but he's also having one of the better offensive seasons for a second baseman this year or any year. He's got a realistic shot to be only the second baseman ever to have a 30-30 season, and he's been getting big hits at critical times.  What's his reward been for this work?  Not even an alternate in the all star game.  I mean, I can see Chase Utley beating him out, but Tony La Russa sees Phillips play a lot during the season, he should have known better than to give Orlando Hudson and Freddy Sanchez the nod over him.  Neither of these guys has any many home runs now as Brandon had at the break. 

Watch, he probably won't even be talked about when they hand out the gold glove award this year.

MojokongVarsity

826 days ago

Score 2

Phillips is gonna be fine player for many years. I just hope the Reds can keep him long term. I do wish he could show a little more plate discipline at times, but he's a young guy who's still learning the craft. Harang could be a top 5 pitcher in the league right now. The concern with the Reds is that they feel like this current team doesn't need much more to be a contender. Traditionally the when the team makes a run at the end of the season, ownership feels it's unnecessary to add more key players to be a contender. It's clear the Reds need better pitching and don't need more offense. Dunn is going to make 13 million next year. I would love to see him go somewhere else and bring in even a mediocre arm. The guy is built for DH.

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Small town pillagerVarsity

826 days ago

Score 2

I could not agree with you more. I think they may have hit on something with their set-up guys, but they really need about two consisten starters who they know what they're going to get from. Dunn puts up great numbers, but he's such a liability in the field, and he of course stirkes out way too much. They have enough depth in the outfield that I'd almost rather see Dunn not in there even if we can't trade him. We'd probably see a dropoff in power, but I've always thought that homers were a little overrated anyway. I'd rather see a guy who's getting on and keeping rallies alive. Unfortunately for the Reds, I think if they were going to get anything for Dunn, it probably would have been at the deadline this year.

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MojokongVarsity

826 days ago

Score 2

I thought that too, but then I read moneyball and learned that if we dont pick up his option we get 2 first round picks for compensation.

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RomiezzoLegend

826 days ago

Score 2

It's a shame that the Reds can't really get it together. I think a lot of players on the team have good talent, but they can't really do well in games with their teammates. When a pitcher pitches well, the offense can't produce much, if the offense is on fire, the defense or pitching screws it up. Guys like Aaron Harang, Brandon Phillips, Ken Griffey Jr., and Adam Dunn can do a lot, but they get no consideration since the Reds are not playoff contenders in many peopele's perspectives.

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Small town pillagerVarsity

826 days ago

Score 1

That or they waste a great game by both the pitching and the offense in the same game. Like Harang's last start where he pitches a complete game 2 hit shutout and the team picks that gam to blow up for 8 runs. I'm not sure if they've given that kind of run support to Arroyo if you add up all of his starts.

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