Loading ...I confess to the pre-season belief that Kirk Saarloos could help this team, either out of the pen or as a spot starter. At this point, however, I just have to agree with John Fay:
If Kirk Saarloos is on roster for (Friday’s) game, the Reds have a credibility problem, well a bigger credibility problem. The last 10 batters he’s faced have reached — eight hits, a walk and a hit batsman. He’s allowed eight earned runs in that span.
What a strange season this has been.
And you just know that next year Saarloos will turn into Ryan Franklin, who was a sign of the apocalypse with the Reds in 2006 but now has an ERA that is closing in on 1.00 with STL. 1.00! Agh!
I wonder if Saarloos has an arm problem. His velocity is just not there. His fastball doesn’t even break 85.
Have they ruled out an injury?
On another note, what do people think about Mackanin getting the job full-time? It’s pretty much been assumed he’s only the an interim solution, but if the Reds continue above .500 under his leadership, why not? Big names don’t necessarily mean wins. Bobby Cox was only supposed to be interim too…he’s turned out pretty well.
re: Saarloos.
Exactly what the hell does Dick Pole do, if he’s not coaching these guys–through the good, the bad, and now, the very ugly.
Regardless if its coaching or injury, they have to set him down. The team is just beginning to play well and it can’t have what turned into a sure opponent’s rally coming in to pitch. He makes Stanton look like Cy Young right now.
I also think Mackanin deserves a longer look. Everyone seems hooked on some big name manager, but the proof is in the wins of this guy. But I wouldn’t extend him until after the season–because we’ve had too many in-house promotions that have been bad over time.
Dutchman must have an arm issue. no zip on fast ball no break on breaking ball. It is time to ship him back to Louisville.
Hmmmm….give Mackanin a longer look? Isn’t that what the FO did with Dave Miley and Jerry Narron? That really worked out well for the Reds. I’m not saying Mackanin doesn’t deserve the job but the Reds needs to take their time in the off-season and make a smart, informed decision. I agree that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a big name. I’d prefer a young up-and-comer myself.
Also don’t forget. The Reds are not a good team by any stretch of the imagination, but they still weren’t as bad as they played in the first half of the year. So them playing better in the second half was pretty much expected and I’m not sure how much of it has to do with Mackanin or not.
Give Mackanin a longer look?
Isn’t that what they are doing? He has the job through the end of the season and there’s still two more months, or one-third, to go.
I echo every word of Twill815 at #7; I couldn’t have said any of it better.
I don’t see any reason not to keep looking to Mackanin, but how can you look at less than a month of results and say those wins are his doing? Teams have ups and downs all year, and what I see is the Reds just happened to have a decent July coincide with Mackanin taking over.
Re: Saarloos – what remains to be seen is whether he is demoted for another AAA bullpen arm or whether Belisle is pushed from the rotation for Dumatrait. I think Belisle’s time in the rotation may be over if he doesn’t do well this Sunday vs the Cubbies.