Cincinnati Reds (41-42, 4th place, 4 GB)
20-20 at home, 21-22 on the road, 5-5 in their last ten, the Reds are the picture of mediocrity, but in this year’s National League that is all it takes to be able to call yourself a contender.
C: Ramon Hernandez: .251/.329/.363 - having his usual shrug your shoulders season behind the dish.
1B: Joey Votto: .356/.442/.601 – back from the DL and finding his sweet lefty stroke again, he’s the key guy that Feliciano will have to get out in any big spots.
2B: Brandon Phillips: .268/.338/.475 – one of the top hitting 2B in the league.
SS: Alex Gonzalez: .212/.256/.302 - he’s as terrible a hitter a sever, a regular David Eckstein who does very little of value and gets praised (and paid) for it.
3B: Edwin Encarnacion: .150/.284/.213- recently back off the DL and looking for his stroke, he hasn’t found it yet.
LF: Laynce Nix: .251/.304/.491 – former Texas Ranger, he’s found his way to mediocrity in a Reds uniform.
CF: Willy Taveras: .244/.287/.300 – another trackstar who can’t do anything with the bat, think Roger Cedeno with less pop in his bat!
RF: Jay Bruce: .209/.285/.444 – the 23 year old has 18 homers, but that’s about all he does well at the plate right now.
Bench: IF Jerry Hairston: hit .258/.311/.398 in place of Encarnacion until about a week ago C Ryan Hanigan: (no relation to Alyson Hannigan of American Pie) IF Paul Janish: I’ve never heard of him, have you? Has driven in 3 rbi’s off the bench in 82 plate appearences OF Chris Dickerson OF Jonny Gomes
Rotation: The Mets will see Bronson Arroyo (8-8, 5.85) against Fernando Nieve Friday night.
Emerging ace Johnny Cueto (8-5, 3.45) against Johan Santana on Saturday, in what promises to be an exciting pitchers duel (because Johan is great and anyone who faces the Mets looks great)
Aaron Harang (5-8, 3.89) will go against Big Pelf on Sunday, Harang is a case study in luck as he's dropped his ERA a full run from last season without any improvement to his walk, strikeout, or hits allowed rates.
The Mets will miss Micah Owings who goes tonight, Edison Volquez who is injured, and Maloney/Bailey who are filling in.
Bullpen: The Reds’ outstanding bullpen may have pitched better than any other bullpen in the majors so far this year, the top 5 each hold an ERA+ of 160 or better in at least 30 innings each. Francisco Cordero Danny Herrera Nick Masset Arthur Rhodes Dave Weathers Carlos Fisher Josh Roenicke
Ex-Mets: Weathers Ex-Reds on the Mets: None
|