Wood, Reds looking to contend in NL Central again
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — In 2010, the Cincinnati Reds embarked on a season that will not soon be forgotten. They won 91 games, won the NL Central championship for the first time in 15 years and welcomed young, home-grown players to lead them to the next level.
The 2011 season starts on Thursday, March 31, but the time is now for the young but now experienced Reds baseball club.
"I think we have something to prove every day. Last year we had something to prove, and we proved we could win. Now we have to prove we belong there," Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Travis Wood said while in Chillicothe last week for the Reds Caravan appearance at WBEX-AM Radio. "We have to show we can do it again. We have to go out every day and give it everything we got and prove everybody wrong again."
Last season was the rookie season for Wood, and he didn't disappoint his team when they needed him to produce from the mound.
In his MLB debut last season, Wood took the hill on the road at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs … Wrigley Field. On the first day of July, he went seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Not bad for a MLB debut.
"It was awesome. It was everything you dream of," Wood said when asked about his MLB debut. "It’s where you want to be as a baseball player. I couldn't have asked for anything more … going to (play against) the Cubs, making your debut there at Wrigley and being fortunate enough to have a good game. Being fortunate enough to have some good games to stay up the rest of the year, and the playoffs were unbelievable."
Though the Reds were swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati gained the experience needed to continue to stay at the top of their division and possibly make a run this season if they can earn a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive year.
Last year in the playoffs, Wood pitched 3.1 innings, allowing no runs and one hit out of the bullpen. In his lone appearance, he had three strikeouts and one walk. In the regular season Wood, a 5-11 left-hander, was 5-4 overall with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts. During his 102.2 innings, he struck out 86 batters, holding batters to an average of .222.
His break-out game came against the Phillies, his third career start, on July 10, where he pitched a near-perfect game. On that night in Philadelphia, at Citizens Bank Park, Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning but gave up a lead-off double to Carlos Ruiz. The Reds ended up losing the game 1-0 (Wood a no-decision), due in large part to his counterpart on the mound, Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, who also had a no-decision as the game went 11 innings.
In his near-perfect game, Wood tossed 109 pitches and had just five three-ball counts (four were full). He struck out eight batters that night.
But looking forward to the 2011 season, especially spring training, the lefty has competition to deal with, not only from his opponents, but his teammates as well, with the pool of starting pitchers not being light in the Reds organization.
It is a lock that Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will be in the five-man rotation, but that still leaves two spots for not only Wood, but Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Sam LeCure and others to battle over during spring training. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 16, and the first game of the spring for the Reds will be on Sunday, Feb. 27 against the Cleveland Indians.
“I just have to go out and give it everything, and not hold anything back. Hopefully the offseason preparation has got me where I need to be going into spring and do what I gotta do,” Wood said about improving this spring. “I just have been doing what I have to do … working out, getting stronger, make sure my arms in shape and be in the best physical shape I can be in. Just go out and give it everything.
“My first goal is to make the rotation, and after that, every time I step onto the mound I want to give my team a chance to win.”
The Reds will open the 2011 regular season on Thursday, March 31 at Great American Ball Park against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The 2011 season starts on Thursday, March 31, but the time is now for the young but now experienced Reds baseball club.
"I think we have something to prove every day. Last year we had something to prove, and we proved we could win. Now we have to prove we belong there," Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Travis Wood said while in Chillicothe last week for the Reds Caravan appearance at WBEX-AM Radio. "We have to show we can do it again. We have to go out every day and give it everything we got and prove everybody wrong again."
Last season was the rookie season for Wood, and he didn't disappoint his team when they needed him to produce from the mound.
In his MLB debut last season, Wood took the hill on the road at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs … Wrigley Field. On the first day of July, he went seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Not bad for a MLB debut.
"It was awesome. It was everything you dream of," Wood said when asked about his MLB debut. "It’s where you want to be as a baseball player. I couldn't have asked for anything more … going to (play against) the Cubs, making your debut there at Wrigley and being fortunate enough to have a good game. Being fortunate enough to have some good games to stay up the rest of the year, and the playoffs were unbelievable."
Though the Reds were swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati gained the experience needed to continue to stay at the top of their division and possibly make a run this season if they can earn a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive year.
Last year in the playoffs, Wood pitched 3.1 innings, allowing no runs and one hit out of the bullpen. In his lone appearance, he had three strikeouts and one walk. In the regular season Wood, a 5-11 left-hander, was 5-4 overall with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts. During his 102.2 innings, he struck out 86 batters, holding batters to an average of .222.
His break-out game came against the Phillies, his third career start, on July 10, where he pitched a near-perfect game. On that night in Philadelphia, at Citizens Bank Park, Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning but gave up a lead-off double to Carlos Ruiz. The Reds ended up losing the game 1-0 (Wood a no-decision), due in large part to his counterpart on the mound, Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay, who also had a no-decision as the game went 11 innings.
In his near-perfect game, Wood tossed 109 pitches and had just five three-ball counts (four were full). He struck out eight batters that night.
But looking forward to the 2011 season, especially spring training, the lefty has competition to deal with, not only from his opponents, but his teammates as well, with the pool of starting pitchers not being light in the Reds organization.
It is a lock that Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will be in the five-man rotation, but that still leaves two spots for not only Wood, but Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Sam LeCure and others to battle over during spring training. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 16, and the first game of the spring for the Reds will be on Sunday, Feb. 27 against the Cleveland Indians.
“I just have to go out and give it everything, and not hold anything back. Hopefully the offseason preparation has got me where I need to be going into spring and do what I gotta do,” Wood said about improving this spring. “I just have been doing what I have to do … working out, getting stronger, make sure my arms in shape and be in the best physical shape I can be in. Just go out and give it everything.
“My first goal is to make the rotation, and after that, every time I step onto the mound I want to give my team a chance to win.”
The Reds will open the 2011 regular season on Thursday, March 31 at Great American Ball Park against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]