A FEW MO' THINGS, 4/16/12
-And so we come off the ledge a bit after a disaster-staving-off, 8-5 Reds win in DC. I can't imagine what a series sweep at the hands of the Nationals would've felt like this am.
Thankfully, because the Reds have Joey Votto and the Nationals don't, we don't have to worry about it.
We do however, have to worry about the following...
*Scott Rolen. Championship teams might use Scott Rolen as a cleanup hitter, if said teams were winning championships in 2002. Yes, he added an insurance run with a single in the 11th, but Scott has, for the most part, looked awful at the plate. He's provided zero protection to Votto, has been completely sapped of his power, and his lack of offense only amplifies the questions about the production the Reds will get from both third base and the fourth spot in the batting order.
I don't need a 40-homer guy hitting fourth, but I need a guy who can at least threaten to hit the ball out of the ballpark.
Scott Rolen is not that guy.
Let's look at the four teams that made the postseason in 2011...
The Phillies hit Ryan Howard fourth 146 times.
The Cardinals hit Matt Holliday fourth 99 times and Lance Berkman 56 times.
The Brewers put Prince Fielder in the four spot for all 162 games.
All legit offensive threats, all guys who have the potential to hit the ball out of the yard every time up, all better offensive players than Scott Rolen.
"But Mo, what about the Diamondbacks? They won 94 games with players like Steven Drew and Chris Young batting fourth!"
Correct. The Diamondbacks were also baseball's most aggressive team on the basepaths in 2011, had a Cy Young candidate in their rotation, got a great season from Daniel Hudson, and had a lights-out bullpen.
The Reds, so far, are or have none of those things.
The issue has been offense, and the culprits are many. Few players on this team are hitting, the bench is very uninspiring, and Ludwick's grand slam aside, they've lacked pop at the plate. These guys will hit more than they have, Joey Votto remains the best Reds hitter of the my lifetime (Can anyone poke pitches the opposite way like Joey?), Bruce will still lead the league in homers, and Zack Cozart is quickly turning into my favorite Red, but with so little production from such an important spot in the batting order, it's hard to imagine this team being able to score enough to meet our expectations.
*Dusty Baker. I guess like players, managers go through slumps. Two years ago, nearly every maneuver Bakes made worked. This year, not so much. From using Cozart off the bench to hit for Willie Harris to lay down a bunt Friday night (Harris has 27 career sacrifices) to wasting an out by having Valdez bunt in the 11th yesterday (Votto bailed him out), to general mismanagement of the bullpen, the manager has not had a good first ten games. It's not his fault that almost no one is hitting, and the options off the bench are less than great, but I've spent large chunks of the season's first 11 days wondering what the manager is doing.
*Brandon Phillips. I'm not pretending to be a doctor, but if a guy who's game is based largely on speed can't run, and you've invested as much as the Reds have in BP, then why play him? Yes, the offense needs a spark and no, this team is not the same with Phillips out of the lineup, but I wouldn't play him until he could run, which right now he clearly cannot.
*The starting pitching. Mat Latos was okay. Homer Bailey was okay. Mike Leake was okay. Bronson Arroyo was much, much, better than okay, but the problem is okay was the norm in DC and has been so far this season. Okay as the norm won't cut it, especially with the relief corps shorthanded and double especially with the offense slumping.
-Please help me with this.
(Photo courtesy of The AP)
I didn't hear much talk radio on Friday, instead opting to enjoy a few beverages with Lindsay, but my understanding is that a player showing raw emotion after a tough loss was actually a topic? Is that where we are? Does mamby-pambiness have no limits?
-I'm a day late on this, but this Toronto Sun feature on Joey Votto is a must read.
-Sports in 2012. Misbehaving NFL fans will now have their heads examined.
-Here is one of the most awkward announcer exchanges you'll ever hear.
-Urban Meyer had an interesting way to put pressure on his kicker Saturday....
-We finally got a chance to see the Marlins' hideous sculpture in action yesterday....
-This girl was sitting next to the dude who caught the ball....
(Thanks to SI's Hot Clicks)
More later, including a blog previewing today's radio show. At 4:40 today, I'll talk with Akili Smith on ESPN1530. I'm on every day this week except for tomorrow, when I'll be jamming in Cleveland with Springsteen. Here's a mildly funny prankster quitting jobs he doesn't actually have.
