Off Day (Praise the Lord!)
I guarantee the Reds won’t lose today!
I don’t know what’s more frustrating – the fact that Aaron Harang is 1-4, or the fact that Aaron Harang is 1-4 with a 2.98 ERA.
Actually, I know what the most frustrating thing is – Corey Patterson, our leadoff hitter, batting .214 with a .280 OBP. That’s only slightly better than Bronson Arroyo’s OBP.
Stupid Dusty’s horses…
It’s now the month of May, and you know what that means? It means that we can no longer say, “Relax, it’s only April.” The Reds are getting dangerously close to tanking this season if adjustments aren’t made soon. What adjustments need to be made? Hell if I know, I just run this stupid site.
April Starting Pitching Grades
Aaron Harang: B-
He’s pitching well enough to win, but getting no offensive support.
Bronson Arroyo: C-
He’d be a “D+” if it wasn’t for his last start.
Johnny Cueto: B
Though, his last couple of starts worry me.
Josh Fogg: F
Did you really have to ask?
Matt Belisle: D+
Proof that success in the minors doesn’t equate to success in the majors. He has one more bad start in him before I relegate him to the ranks of Josh Fogg and Gary Majewski. That’s not a good place to be, Matt.
Edinson Volquez: A
Wow…
April Hitting Grades
Corey Patterson: C-
Sometimes when Patterson grounds out weakly to shortstop, I’ll squint my eyes and pretend he’s Jay Bruce hitting a double to the wall.
Jeff Keppinger: A-
Quietly one of the best players on this team.
Ken Griffey Jr.: B-
He’s notorious for having slow Aprils. Once the weather starts to heat up and those aching muscles of his loosen up, I expect Junior to pick up the pace a bit.
Brandon Phillips: B
Such a fun player to watch.
Adam Dunn: D+
Wherefore art thou, Big Donkey? 22 Ks and a .224 average to boot? Not good.
Edwin Encarnacion: C
He was an “F” for the first half of April, and an “A” for the second half. That averages out to a “C”, folks. Plus, his shaky defense has cost us a few games.
Joey Votto: B+
Just a solid player.
Paul Bako: A-
When was the last time that any of us could give a Reds catcher an “A” grade? I have to hand it to the old man, he’s making the most of his time with the Reds right now. And when his stats inevitably start to fade as the season goes on, I’ll just keep telling myself, “At least he’s not Jason LaRue.”
