Voodoo dolls and toothpicks
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I'm worried!
In fact, I'm scared.
As avid fans or even as avid viewers of the Cincinnati Reds, the question headed into the season is: Should there be concern about Cincinnati Reds ace Aaron Harang and his lack of production the past two seasons, including spring training 2010?
I am a big backer of Harang. He has had some productive years in the past, but lately it seems as if something is missing from his arsenal when he is on the hill.
Most of us know spring stats aren't worth the paper they are printed on, but still with Harang, something just doesn't seem right from my distant view.
Let's start by looking at Harang's career as a whole.
Since joining the Reds in 2003 in a trade with the Oakland A's, his ERA by season with the Reds are as follows: 5.28, 3.83, 3.76, 3.73, 4.79 and 4.21. The first ERA in '03 was from nine games after the trade; in 16 games the same season in the American League, it was 5.31.
In a stretch from 2005-07 his ERA was under 4.00, which in any era of baseball is something pitchers look to have. It looked like Harang was on his way to leading the Reds to the playoffs, then it happened.
The game in 2008 against the San Diego Padres when the Reds ace, a starting pitcher, one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball, came in for a relief appearance in extra innings, and since that day, he has never been the same.
It is like his arm was a voodoo doll and Dusty Baker's toothpicks were the needles.
He just doesn't seem like the same pitcher that used to control the game whenever he walked out to the mound. (No, it isn't the fact he lost weight either.)
I still can't fathom why the guy who you are paying a lot, I mean A LOT, of money to pitch every fifth day came in on two days’ rest. And for what? As usual, the Reds lost. Not only did they lose the game, but in the process, their ace's arm went missing.
Headed into his final spring start this year, Harang's ERA was over 11, but he did drop it two full points to end the spring at 9.88 with a record of 1-3.
One positive from the spring is he had 15 strikeouts in 14 1/2 innings. He was pitching with speeds of 93 to 94 MPH, but the results just don't seem to be there.
Against the Padres Tuesday, the Opening Day starter pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits. Four of the runs were earned.
What worries me is in the past two seasons, Harang has won just 12 games and lost 31. In '08 he was 6-17 and last season finished 6-14 in 26 starts. So in two seasons, he is 12-31 in his last 55 trips to the mound.
Even with all the numbers, the Reds are putting on a smile, saying they aren't worried or he will be ready. You know, the normal speech that comes from the Queen City when words are dispersed about their professional sporting teams.
But in the Opening Day starter’s defense, he hasn't been blessed with the best surrounding cast in his tenure with the Cincinnati ball club.
The Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000, with overall records since Harang stepped foot in Cincinnati of: 69-93, 76-86, 73-89, 80-82, 72-90, 74-88 and 78-84. Not what you call quality seasons from a professional baseball club.
I hate to harp on it (not really), but in my humble opinion, the problem was when Dusty walked toward the mound on that fateful day in ‘08 and pointed his arm (covered in wrist bands, even though the man hasn’t played baseball in over 20 years) toward the bullpen and out came the ace of the team in the 13th inning, in a 9-9 game. On two days’ rest.
Harang not only pitched well, but pitched like an ace. He allowed no runs, one walk, and two hits in four innings. He struck out nine batters on 63 total pitches.
Now for the bad news.
In his next start, three freakin’ days later, against the Pittsburgh Pirates he allowed six earned runs in four innings. He threw 73 pitches and struck out two batters.
And since that day, we know what has happened.
With all of that said and the Reds currently not able to gain any type of consistency hitting in the final week of spring training, aren’t you ready for the real season to begin?
I know I am!
Let’s just hope Harang’s arm is ready, too!
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In fact, I'm scared.
As avid fans or even as avid viewers of the Cincinnati Reds, the question headed into the season is: Should there be concern about Cincinnati Reds ace Aaron Harang and his lack of production the past two seasons, including spring training 2010?
I am a big backer of Harang. He has had some productive years in the past, but lately it seems as if something is missing from his arsenal when he is on the hill.
Most of us know spring stats aren't worth the paper they are printed on, but still with Harang, something just doesn't seem right from my distant view.
Let's start by looking at Harang's career as a whole.
Since joining the Reds in 2003 in a trade with the Oakland A's, his ERA by season with the Reds are as follows: 5.28, 3.83, 3.76, 3.73, 4.79 and 4.21. The first ERA in '03 was from nine games after the trade; in 16 games the same season in the American League, it was 5.31.
In a stretch from 2005-07 his ERA was under 4.00, which in any era of baseball is something pitchers look to have. It looked like Harang was on his way to leading the Reds to the playoffs, then it happened.
The game in 2008 against the San Diego Padres when the Reds ace, a starting pitcher, one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball, came in for a relief appearance in extra innings, and since that day, he has never been the same.
It is like his arm was a voodoo doll and Dusty Baker's toothpicks were the needles.
He just doesn't seem like the same pitcher that used to control the game whenever he walked out to the mound. (No, it isn't the fact he lost weight either.)
I still can't fathom why the guy who you are paying a lot, I mean A LOT, of money to pitch every fifth day came in on two days’ rest. And for what? As usual, the Reds lost. Not only did they lose the game, but in the process, their ace's arm went missing.
Headed into his final spring start this year, Harang's ERA was over 11, but he did drop it two full points to end the spring at 9.88 with a record of 1-3.
One positive from the spring is he had 15 strikeouts in 14 1/2 innings. He was pitching with speeds of 93 to 94 MPH, but the results just don't seem to be there.
Against the Padres Tuesday, the Opening Day starter pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits. Four of the runs were earned.
What worries me is in the past two seasons, Harang has won just 12 games and lost 31. In '08 he was 6-17 and last season finished 6-14 in 26 starts. So in two seasons, he is 12-31 in his last 55 trips to the mound.
Even with all the numbers, the Reds are putting on a smile, saying they aren't worried or he will be ready. You know, the normal speech that comes from the Queen City when words are dispersed about their professional sporting teams.
But in the Opening Day starter’s defense, he hasn't been blessed with the best surrounding cast in his tenure with the Cincinnati ball club.
The Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000, with overall records since Harang stepped foot in Cincinnati of: 69-93, 76-86, 73-89, 80-82, 72-90, 74-88 and 78-84. Not what you call quality seasons from a professional baseball club.
I hate to harp on it (not really), but in my humble opinion, the problem was when Dusty walked toward the mound on that fateful day in ‘08 and pointed his arm (covered in wrist bands, even though the man hasn’t played baseball in over 20 years) toward the bullpen and out came the ace of the team in the 13th inning, in a 9-9 game. On two days’ rest.
Harang not only pitched well, but pitched like an ace. He allowed no runs, one walk, and two hits in four innings. He struck out nine batters on 63 total pitches.
Now for the bad news.
In his next start, three freakin’ days later, against the Pittsburgh Pirates he allowed six earned runs in four innings. He threw 73 pitches and struck out two batters.
And since that day, we know what has happened.
With all of that said and the Reds currently not able to gain any type of consistency hitting in the final week of spring training, aren’t you ready for the real season to begin?
I know I am!
Let’s just hope Harang’s arm is ready, too!
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