Rotation key to Reds' improvement
02/21/2006
SARASOTA -- Having just arrived this week to help the coaching staff at Spring Training, former Reds pitcher Tom Browning isn't just a valuable resource for the pitching staff to take advantage of in camp.
Browning is also the answer to a trivia question.
The left-hander was the last Reds pitcher drafted and developed by Cincinnati to win 15 games in a season. That was back in 1990, the same year of the Reds' last World Series championship.
The last time any Reds pitcher won 20 games in a season, whether he came from inside or outside the organization, was Danny Jackson in 1988.
In 2005, Aaron Harang was the team leader with 11 wins and was the only starter to surpass 200 innings. No Reds starter finished with an above-.500 record. The pitching staff's 5.15 ERA ranked at the bottom of the National League. Although the Reds had one of the most potent offenses in baseball, the club won just 73 games and finished fifth in the National League Central.
There weren't many offseason alterations from last year. Traded from Pittsburgh, Dave Williams is the only new starter. Over the weekend, new general manager Wayne Krivsky said he was still searching for more starting pitching. Veterans Chris Hammond and Rick White were signed to stabilize the bullpen, which still lacks a proven closer.
For several years, 'where's the pitching?' has been an often asked question around Cincinnati. That didn't change last year and it hasn't changed entering this season.
An optimistic pitching staff believes the answers are inside the Reds' clubhouse. In fact, its expectations are high.
"It's definitely going to be night and day from last year," starter Eric Milton declared about the staff.
Milton was the epitome of the rotation's woes last season. A free agent signed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract the previous winter, the left-hander was 8-15 record with a club-record 6.47 ERA and 40 homers allowed. He also accepted his share of responsibility.
"A lot of it was myself and the start I got off to," Milton said. "I've always said it's contagious, like hitting or anything else. When you're pitching good, the next guy wants to go out and top the guy before him. When things are going bad, it can wear on the whole staff and not just one person."
"The biggest thing is everybody has to be consistent," Harang said. "We had some ups and downs last year. Guys are coming in early, getting ready for the season. We've got some veteran guys to fill in the bullpen. Starters have to step up and get us through six or seven innings and give our bullpen a chance to finish it."
Reds manager Jerry Narron praised Harang and 10-game winner Brandon Claussen for being the most consistent of anyone last season. He expects them to build off of last season.
"I believe in Major League Baseball, you have to continue to adjust and you have to continue to get better," Narron said. "If they do that, they have a chance to have very good years."
The biggest question mark is the status of last year's Opening Day starter, Paul Wilson, who underwent rotator cuff surgery last June. Slated to be the fifth starter, Wilson's first turn in the rotation would come up April 9. The right-hander has been rehabilitating since January and increasing intensity of his throwing sessions incrementally.
"I'm not counting on him until he takes the mound," Narron said.
Williams, the Reds' acquisition in December's Sean Casey trade, believed he could be successful with his new club.
"From a pitcher's standpoint, you look at the team," said Williams, who was 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 25 starts with the Pirates last season. "I have a veteran catcher [Jason LaRue] that calls great games. I have an awesome offense. All I pretty much have to do is do my job. I kind of hold my own fate in my hands. I'm sure plenty of guys want those odds."
One feature that not favorable for Reds pitchers is a hitter friendly Great American Ball Park. The 252 homers hit there, including 120 allowed by Cincinnati pitchers, led the Major Leagues.
According to Narron, the stadium is not an excuse for inflated ERAs.
"I don't care what park you pitch in, I expect you to get guys out," Narron said. "I think if you lower your expectations, you'll have guys happy to give up some runs sometimes. I just believe in wherever you're pitching, you go out there and try not give up a run. If you give up a run, you try not give up two."
The way Williams sees it, there is no reason for the pitching staff not to do well this season.
"It's laid out for all of us," he said. "Everyone on the staff can say we're the ones that have to get it done. We know the other guys are going to get it done. You want that kind of pressure as a pitcher. There should be no excuses or anything like that."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
SARASOTA -- Having just arrived this week to help the coaching staff at Spring Training, former Reds pitcher Tom Browning isn't just a valuable resource for the pitching staff to take advantage of in camp.
Browning is also the answer to a trivia question.
The left-hander was the last Reds pitcher drafted and developed by Cincinnati to win 15 games in a season. That was back in 1990, the same year of the Reds' last World Series championship.
The last time any Reds pitcher won 20 games in a season, whether he came from inside or outside the organization, was Danny Jackson in 1988.
In 2005, Aaron Harang was the team leader with 11 wins and was the only starter to surpass 200 innings. No Reds starter finished with an above-.500 record. The pitching staff's 5.15 ERA ranked at the bottom of the National League. Although the Reds had one of the most potent offenses in baseball, the club won just 73 games and finished fifth in the National League Central.
There weren't many offseason alterations from last year. Traded from Pittsburgh, Dave Williams is the only new starter. Over the weekend, new general manager Wayne Krivsky said he was still searching for more starting pitching. Veterans Chris Hammond and Rick White were signed to stabilize the bullpen, which still lacks a proven closer.
For several years, 'where's the pitching?' has been an often asked question around Cincinnati. That didn't change last year and it hasn't changed entering this season.
An optimistic pitching staff believes the answers are inside the Reds' clubhouse. In fact, its expectations are high.
"It's definitely going to be night and day from last year," starter Eric Milton declared about the staff.
Milton was the epitome of the rotation's woes last season. A free agent signed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract the previous winter, the left-hander was 8-15 record with a club-record 6.47 ERA and 40 homers allowed. He also accepted his share of responsibility.
"A lot of it was myself and the start I got off to," Milton said. "I've always said it's contagious, like hitting or anything else. When you're pitching good, the next guy wants to go out and top the guy before him. When things are going bad, it can wear on the whole staff and not just one person."
"The biggest thing is everybody has to be consistent," Harang said. "We had some ups and downs last year. Guys are coming in early, getting ready for the season. We've got some veteran guys to fill in the bullpen. Starters have to step up and get us through six or seven innings and give our bullpen a chance to finish it."
Reds manager Jerry Narron praised Harang and 10-game winner Brandon Claussen for being the most consistent of anyone last season. He expects them to build off of last season.
"I believe in Major League Baseball, you have to continue to adjust and you have to continue to get better," Narron said. "If they do that, they have a chance to have very good years."
The biggest question mark is the status of last year's Opening Day starter, Paul Wilson, who underwent rotator cuff surgery last June. Slated to be the fifth starter, Wilson's first turn in the rotation would come up April 9. The right-hander has been rehabilitating since January and increasing intensity of his throwing sessions incrementally.
"I'm not counting on him until he takes the mound," Narron said.
Williams, the Reds' acquisition in December's Sean Casey trade, believed he could be successful with his new club.
"From a pitcher's standpoint, you look at the team," said Williams, who was 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 25 starts with the Pirates last season. "I have a veteran catcher [Jason LaRue] that calls great games. I have an awesome offense. All I pretty much have to do is do my job. I kind of hold my own fate in my hands. I'm sure plenty of guys want those odds."
One feature that not favorable for Reds pitchers is a hitter friendly Great American Ball Park. The 252 homers hit there, including 120 allowed by Cincinnati pitchers, led the Major Leagues.
According to Narron, the stadium is not an excuse for inflated ERAs.
"I don't care what park you pitch in, I expect you to get guys out," Narron said. "I think if you lower your expectations, you'll have guys happy to give up some runs sometimes. I just believe in wherever you're pitching, you go out there and try not give up a run. If you give up a run, you try not give up two."
The way Williams sees it, there is no reason for the pitching staff not to do well this season.
"It's laid out for all of us," he said. "Everyone on the staff can say we're the ones that have to get it done. We know the other guys are going to get it done. You want that kind of pressure as a pitcher. There should be no excuses or anything like that."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
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