Loading ...–The state of the Reds, Red Hot Mama style.
–Nick Masset is due to come off the disabled list today, and he can’t wait.
–Mark Sheldon wants to know what you thought about Dusty Baker’s decision to send Aaron Harang back out to the mound after a 2+ hour rain delay.
–In case you missed it yesterday morning, interesting story about the Dodgers granting press credentials to select bloggers. What do you think?
–Finally, I want to make sure you didn’t miss our interview with Reds minor league pitcher Jeremy Horst from late last week. Great kid, and he’s having a great year, too. Give Horst some love, why don’t you?
A little off-topic here, but have you guys noticed that the Pads have won 10 straight? I know getting swept is never a positive thing, but is anyone else feeling a little bit better about that series now?
“Harang stayed loose indoors by throwing simulated innings in the batting cage.”
He threw simulated innings for 2 hours? Yeah, GREAT idea!
(for the doctor’s profit margin.)
Who goes out for Masset?
- Fisher back down?
- Burton to DL?
- TV guys this weekend were saying Lincoln, but I don’t see how they release him this early into his two year deal.
I’d be shocked (and happy) if it was Lincoln, but think it’ll be Burton to the DL.
Here’s the thing that won’t be mentioned, and even though I love Aaron Harang, it’s fair to say: Yesterday’s game strategy decision was made ENTIRELY in pursuit of an individual statistical accomplishment.
Ordinarily, that’s the kind of thing that everyone lines up to cry and complain about. Rickey Henderson, Adam Dunn – they’re all “selfish.” Yet Dusty sends Harang out there, at some increased risk of injury, for NO other reason than to pad his stats.
That’s crazy, IMO.
Think it has to be Burton. Something just doesn’t seem right with him, and I think the front office will try and give Lincoln time to figure things out after that contract.
Chris, Dusty did say that in the article.
I confess I did not think about it in those terms, but reading the article it is clear it was all about the win, not saving the pen (which was coming off an extra inning game). Only justification I can give is that it is one of those things that, while objectively a bad call, managers do anyway to get their players to buy in. I would think/hope Harang is veteran enough that type of thing is not necessary, but the team does seem pretty together right now, so I reluctantly will give Dusty the benefit of the doubt.
I disagree. That’s the problem with being a “player’s manager.” His role is to look out for the best interest of the individual and the team. Your kid may want something, but it’s not necessarily the best for him/her or the family. Tough love Dusty, tough love… there’s just too much at stake in this instance. Volquez is down, we can’t lose Harang. Get him a “toy” later when things are calm.
According to Fay’s Reds notebook, Harang made “12-15 tosses” every “15-20 minutes” in an attempt to stay loose.
There’s a risk in sending him back out there to get one more out, but in the end, a manager has to trust his players. Especially a guy like Harang, who most assuredly has earned it.
Are baseball players really fragile?
Dudes
does anybody remember when we had a 2 or 3 man rotation
guys were pitching every couple of days and playing the field when not pitching…
baseball players today are a bunch of wusses
I think baseball requires precision. Baseball is a finesse game when you get down to it. A lot of things have to go right to get the result you want. So, if two hours off makes Harang’s arm even a little bit tighter and that’s the difference between a hanging curveball out of the park and a “K,” or he over-extends and misses a start because he’s out of routine, then that should be avoided. Unlike football, you can’t play baseball with a cast. But, it’s less about them being “fragile” athletes and more about the demands of being excellent at the game.
This is off-topic but wanted to throw it out there:
1.) Did you see Eric Milton is starting for the Dodgers tonight? Wow…I didn’t think anybody would have him.
2.) Did you see in yesterday’s transactions that Colorado recalled Josh Fogg and sent Matt Belisle to the minors…A couple of more blasts from the past
…This all leads me to say, aren’t you really happy with the rotation this year? After seeing guys like that for past god knows how long…it is nice to have a full strong rotation for a change.
Harang has earned the trust from Dusty and if he felt like he was not jeopardizing himself or the club to go back out and get one out, then I don’t see any problem with letting him do it. Now if the bases were loaded and it was a one run game, I would definitely reconsider sending a pitcher back out after 2+ hours.
@brublejr.. YES, it’s night and day!
I agree with Matt WI on this one. Dusty is being paid to make the tough call and the tough call is to tell Harang I am sorry but I can’t send you back out there.
On the other matter I vote Burton to the DL or sent down.
Harang stayed loose during the delay and threw 12 pitches to finish the 5th. Big, fat, hairy deal.
Is anybody still wishing the Reds had signed Bradley? From Bradley:
“Bradley, suspended one game last month after an argument with umpire Larry Vanover, said he thought other umps were getting back at him for the incident.
‘Unfortunately, I just think it’s a lot of ‘Oh, you did this to my colleague,’ or ‘We’re going to get him any time we can,’ Bradley said, according to the Chicago Tribune. ‘As soon as he gets two strikes, we’re going to call whatever and see what he does. Let’s try to ruin Milton Bradley.’”
As much as I hate to agree with Mr. Redlegs two days in a row
……
I might think differently if it were Cueto or Volquez or Bailey. It was Aaron Harang; he was staying warm the entire time with the specific intent of only getting one more out. I’m not entirely sure either way about an increased risk of injury, and I’m going to defer to the pros on that one and try not to get too worked up.
On the other hand, I absolutely agree with Chris’ sentiment below:
Yesterday’s game strategy decision was made ENTIRELY in pursuit of an individual statistical accomplishment.
There can be no question about this. Of course, that’s why Dusty Baker is reputed to be a player’s manager. I can’t see that it hurt the team to send Harang to the mound for one more out (although arguments to the contrary are not lightly taken), but it definitely helped Harang personally.
GregD–
I was one of the ones who wanted Bradley, but I knew going in that the guy is nutty. He hasn’t disappointed, has he?
One last thing: I wanted to thank brublejr for comment number 13. It wasn’t long ago that we were rife with Miltons and Foggs. Things are much better now.
I’m not saying the extra 11 pitches was likely to hurt Harang. I’m saying it made it some bit more likely to get hurt than if he was sitting in the clubhouse.
Balanced against the “benefit” – padding Harang’s stats is the only thing I can imagine or have heard – and the fact that Harang hadn’t been effective all day anyway, the decision is hard to defend.
It’s the talent-management equivalent of leaving your seat belt off on a trip to the corner store. You’ll probably be okay, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.
“I stayed loose,” Harang said. “Every 15, 20 minutes, I’d go in the batting cage and make 12, 15 tosses to stay loose. Toward the end when we didn’t know what was going to happen, I had to push a little harder to go back out there.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t have a problem with Harang going back in.
I think because Harang didn’t get hurt, people are more comfortable. I would have put him out again in the playoffs, but not in game x of 162
I don’t think we have any idea whether Harang’s arm was damaged by the extra pitches. We won’t know that for days/weeks/months.
I think Harang had it set in his mind he was going back out there and wanted the ball. He prepared himself the whole time during the delay and got it done in just a few pitches. He is a veteran leader and I think when a player like that comes to you as a manager and wants the ball you want him to do it.
From all the reports I have read, Harang WANTED the ball. That is a huge difference than had Baker said you’re going back out there and get the win when he didn’t want to go. The way I read it was that Harang was basically pestering Baker to finish that inning.
We won’t know for a while if this is going to hurt him, but I don’t think it will.
I hear you, Brublejr, but almost ALL major leaguers want to go out and play. That competitive drive is what got them to the majors in the first place.
Speaking broadly, the “gamer” mentality has lost a lot of ballgames over the years. How many times does a guy get hammered for 4 starts before finally admitting to an injury? I remember it happening with Paul Wilson several times.
Per Rob Butcher:
“Today the Reds reinstated from the 15-day disabled list RHP Nick Masset (strained left oblique muscle); optioned to Louisville C/IF/OF Wilkin Castillo; OF Darnell McDonald cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Louisville.”
Also, re: GregD #23: “I had to push a little harder to go back out there.”
I couldn’t tell at first whether Harang meant pushing his body or his manager, but after a couple of reads I’m pretty sure he meant the latter.
Based on the previous clause in that quoted sentence, it sounds like Dusty and his staff were leaning toward shelving Harang as the delay wore on, but agreed with their pitcher once they had a timetable.
I can’t believe Darnell cleared waivers.
Yeah Kurt
you’d think a bunch of teams would want him!
Surprised Castillo went down to be honest. Yesterday they were saying that Burton has had a hard time keeping sharp because he hasn’t been used enough and now with the addition of Masset he will be used even less.
Plus, w/out BP we are short infielders. (Esp w/ an on/off Votto).
They’ll have to move a reliever when Volquez comes off the DL.