Lil Red Machine

Starters

Johnny Cueto: Has been in a tailspin lately. He started off looking like a very likely all star candidate. His numbers at the break are still good–8-6/3.62 ERA, but he has looked like a fatigued pitcher lately. Mechanically, he’s falling off towards 1st base when he releases the ball. Also, he’s been doing more throwing as opposed to pitching. I think in the end, he’ll be alright, as he’s too talented to continue to pitch as poorly as he has been the past month

Grade: B+

Aaron Harang: He’s having another year with a bad record. He may never fully recover and bounce back from the workload tossed his way the past several years. His 4.18 ERA though, given his 5-9 record, indicates that run support has been an issue for him. This IS is better season for him than last year. He’s not the clearcut ace of this staff anymore, but he’s still a workhorse.

Grade: B-

Edinson Volquez: He won’t be back for about another month. Even when healthy, he wasn’t fooling hitters the way he did the first half half of 2008. It’s been about a year now since we’ve seen Volquez in true form. What has been wrong? He’s lost some of his aggresiveness towards hitters, resorting more to “nibbing.” If he gets healthy, and Cueto gets back on track, the Reds have a 1-2 pitching duo that few teams can match with

Grade: C (leaning towards an incomplete)

Bronson Arroyo: He eats innings, is incredibly durable, and mixed some terrible starts in with some great starts. He can be maddeningly inconsistent, but he is what he is. There are worse options to have at the back end of a rotation. His carpel tunnel seems not to be a factor for him out on the mound.

Grade: B-

Micah Owings: He doesn’t have much variety in his pitches, but for a number 5 starter, a 6-9 record coupled with a 4.94 ERA is about what one should expect. As is the case with Arroyo, there are worse options to have than Owings at the back end. He is still young and has room to grow, and he also gives the Reds not only a legit hitter at the number 9 spot, but a true pinch hit threat on days where he’s not pitching.

Grade: B-

It should also me mentioned that Homer Bailey has looked very sharp in recent outings. He’s been in the rotation since the injury to Volquez. He has a tremendous amount of talent–perhaps moreso than anyone else in the rotation when he’s going in the right direction. Even the great Albert Pujols praised his stuff. He just has to continue to do what he’s done lately.

Bullpen: Collectively, this has been an absolutely outstanding unit. They have faltered as of late, but the setup guys David Weather and Arthur Rhodes have done an outstanding job of keeping the opposition shut down so that Francisco Cordero can come in and finish them off. All 3 of these guys are older guys. They are smart, durable, and know how to pitch. Bottom line. Outside of that trio, Daniel Ray Herrera has been in a pretty bad slump lately, but he’s been producing for the most part. He may greatly benefit from the rest.