The Cincinnati Reds’ Fast Start Won’t Last
The Cincinnati Reds are off to a hot start for 2006, but they may be simply too one- dimensional to keep things going in the right direction for much longer. The Cincinnati Reds have pounded National League pitching after the first three weeks of the season to produce a total of 121 runs, more than any team in the majors. But the Cincinnati Reds’ pitchers have been hit hard, to the tune of a 5.55 team ERA. Their 12-7 record notwithstanding, the Cincinnati Reds will be hard pressed to continue their winning ways unless some of their hurlers come around, an unlikely scenario given their past work histories.
There are numerous Cincinnati Reds off to great beginnings in 2006, none more so than slugging behemoth Adam Dunn. Coming off a pair of forty home run campaigns, Dunn is well on his way to another great power year, as he has already hit 8 round trippers. At six-foot six and weighing 275 pounds, Dunn has prodigious strength, and when he hits the ball it stays hit. The 27 year old outfielder teams with Austin Kearns to give the Cincinnati Reds a fearsome one-two punch in the middle of their order. Kearns, who won’t be 26 until May, has never been able to play an entire season due to health issues. But he is batting over .300 with 5 homers and 15 RBI, and perhaps this year the Cincinnati Reds will get their money’s worth out of Kearns. Infielders Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarcion have both been off the charts; each has 17 RBI to lead the team, despite neither having a history of producing runs. However, they are both under 25, and although nobody in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization can possibly believe this pair will keep it up at their current paces, they have the chance to be solid contributors.
Ken Griffey Jr, a fixture on the Cincinnati Reds’ disabled list since coming to the Queen City in 2000, has wound up there once more with a strained tendon behind his knee. The Reds insist it is not a serious injury and expect him back by May. If he can somehow play in a decent number of games, the Cincinnati Reds will have baseball’s most potent outfield. If he winds up back on the DL, expect light hitting Ryan Freel to get the majority of the starts in centerfield. Rich Aurilia, the former Giants’ shortstop, has been seeing duty at second and first, and has kicked in 11 RBI so far.
The Cincinnati Reds aren’t worried about scoring runs; they are worried about preventing them. Bronson Arroyo, acquired from Boston for spare outfielder Wily Mo Pena, has looked like the best starter, as he has gone 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 26 innings. Bronson has even belted a pair of homers to help his own cause, but as he makes his way around the National League for a second time it will be interesting to see if he has the same success. Aaron Harang has a 3-1 mark, with the Cincinnati Reds’ only complete game to his credit, but he has given 19 runs in 32 innings. Lefty Brandon Claussen had the dubious distinction of giving up four home runs in one inning to the Milwaukee Brewers and is 1-2 in four outings. Left-handed Eric Milton is headed to the DL to join Griffey with a sore knee; the Cincinnati Reds have called up right-hander Elizardo Ramirez from Louisville to take his spot in the rotation. Elizardo was 0-1 but hadn’t issued a walk in 16 innings in Triple A. The Cincinnati Reds would sign right now for fifth starter Dave Williams to have a .500 season, but thus far the former Pirates’ pitcher has been lit up to a 10.50 ERA and has two decisions, both losses. The bullpen has been shaky at best, with only closer David Weathers giving up fewer hits than innings pitched while converting 4 of his 5 save opportunities.
The Cincinnati Reds’ schedule sees them playing struggling Washington six times in the next couple of weeks, but also sends them to red hot Houston for three contests and St. Louis for a pair. They have three off days in May, with no long home stand until a nine game stint that begins at the end of the month. By then, unless the Cincinnati Reds’ hitters have kept up their torrid starts, the Cincinnati Reds’ pitchers may very well have been battered into submission, making this good start to 2006 a distant memory.
There are numerous Cincinnati Reds off to great beginnings in 2006, none more so than slugging behemoth Adam Dunn. Coming off a pair of forty home run campaigns, Dunn is well on his way to another great power year, as he has already hit 8 round trippers. At six-foot six and weighing 275 pounds, Dunn has prodigious strength, and when he hits the ball it stays hit. The 27 year old outfielder teams with Austin Kearns to give the Cincinnati Reds a fearsome one-two punch in the middle of their order. Kearns, who won’t be 26 until May, has never been able to play an entire season due to health issues. But he is batting over .300 with 5 homers and 15 RBI, and perhaps this year the Cincinnati Reds will get their money’s worth out of Kearns. Infielders Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarcion have both been off the charts; each has 17 RBI to lead the team, despite neither having a history of producing runs. However, they are both under 25, and although nobody in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization can possibly believe this pair will keep it up at their current paces, they have the chance to be solid contributors.
Ken Griffey Jr, a fixture on the Cincinnati Reds’ disabled list since coming to the Queen City in 2000, has wound up there once more with a strained tendon behind his knee. The Reds insist it is not a serious injury and expect him back by May. If he can somehow play in a decent number of games, the Cincinnati Reds will have baseball’s most potent outfield. If he winds up back on the DL, expect light hitting Ryan Freel to get the majority of the starts in centerfield. Rich Aurilia, the former Giants’ shortstop, has been seeing duty at second and first, and has kicked in 11 RBI so far.
The Cincinnati Reds aren’t worried about scoring runs; they are worried about preventing them. Bronson Arroyo, acquired from Boston for spare outfielder Wily Mo Pena, has looked like the best starter, as he has gone 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 26 innings. Bronson has even belted a pair of homers to help his own cause, but as he makes his way around the National League for a second time it will be interesting to see if he has the same success. Aaron Harang has a 3-1 mark, with the Cincinnati Reds’ only complete game to his credit, but he has given 19 runs in 32 innings. Lefty Brandon Claussen had the dubious distinction of giving up four home runs in one inning to the Milwaukee Brewers and is 1-2 in four outings. Left-handed Eric Milton is headed to the DL to join Griffey with a sore knee; the Cincinnati Reds have called up right-hander Elizardo Ramirez from Louisville to take his spot in the rotation. Elizardo was 0-1 but hadn’t issued a walk in 16 innings in Triple A. The Cincinnati Reds would sign right now for fifth starter Dave Williams to have a .500 season, but thus far the former Pirates’ pitcher has been lit up to a 10.50 ERA and has two decisions, both losses. The bullpen has been shaky at best, with only closer David Weathers giving up fewer hits than innings pitched while converting 4 of his 5 save opportunities.
The Cincinnati Reds’ schedule sees them playing struggling Washington six times in the next couple of weeks, but also sends them to red hot Houston for three contests and St. Louis for a pair. They have three off days in May, with no long home stand until a nine game stint that begins at the end of the month. By then, unless the Cincinnati Reds’ hitters have kept up their torrid starts, the Cincinnati Reds’ pitchers may very well have been battered into submission, making this good start to 2006 a distant memory.
