Cincinnati Reds’ bats awaken from their winter slumber
Apr 24, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) and third baseman Todd Frazier (21) celebrate scoring after Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick (not pictured) hit a double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. The Reds won 2-1. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
One game seemingly flipped the script for Cincy’s offense.
Through the first 11 games of this 2014 season, the Cincinnati Reds owned a record of 3-8. I had even seen a few comments – I stress, a few – within social media circles already crying for the head of manager Bryan Price. How times have changed even within a small window of only 22 games.
There’s the first 11 and the next 11. The Reds offense has taken on a scorer’s mentality, of sorts.
Take a look at some numbers.
| Reds | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | R | LOB | RECORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 11 | .219 | .286 | .336 | 8 | 26 | 81 | 3-8 |
| Last 11 | .289 | .364 | .442 | 12 | 62 | 84 | 8-3 |
There’s no comparison, is there? And that one game? It was a 12-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Reds had dropped the first two games of that series, losing by scores of 2-1 and 1-0. Since then, well, you see the results.
Let’s add this. Over those last 11 games, the Reds have failed to score at least four runs in every game only once. That occurred yesterday when they won 2-1 and finished off winning three of four in Pittsburgh. The Redlegs have also won their last three series after dropping their first three of the season. Two of the series wins were against rival Pittsburgh and the other was against the Chicago Cubs. Winning within the division is always a bonus.
The bats do bear a part in this early season turnaround.
I’m sure some of the kudos that Price will receive will be born from his un-Dusty Baker-like move in taking Joey Votto and slotting him in the lineup’s second spot. Don’t be fooled by thinking that alone has sparked this offensive switch. You’ll be leaving a few players out of the discussion that also deserve a mention or two.
| Mesraco | GP | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | R | RECORD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 11 | 3 | .455 | .500 | 1.000 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1-2 |
| Last 11 | 10 | .485 | .526 | .758 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 6-3 |
Mesoraco started the season on the disabled list and has done nothing but prove the front office made the right decision in dealing Ryan Hanigan. Yes, Off-season signee Brayan Pena has proven to be a nice addition as well.
Until yesterday, Mesoraco had collected a hit in every game in which he has played so far this season.
2. Jay Bruce
| Bruce | GP | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | R | RECORD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 11 | 11 | .158 | .283 | .368 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3-8 |
| Last 11 | 10 | .324 | .444 | .514 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 7-3 |
Could have his season started any worse? He definitely struggled through the team’s first 11 games and Bruce started in all 11. We could even go through the team’s (and Bruce’s) first 14 games and some of the numbers don’t look any better (.152/.333/.348, 2 HR, 8 RBI).
A couple of days off (as planned by Price) and the ship appears to have been righted.
And when Jay Bruce gets on one his patented hot streaks, the entire league is in serious peril.
3. Ryan Ludwick
| Ludwick | GP | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | R | RECORD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 11 | 9 | .250 | .286 | .344 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2-7 |
| Last 11 | 8 | .346 | .433 | .538 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6-2 |
Ludwick was a question mark heading into this season. In 2012, he was a huge piece of the Reds offense. After returning from a shoulder injury he suffered on Opening Day 2013, he was not the same as the 2012 model. The 2014 version of Ludwick is looking a little more like that of the 2012 season.
He drove in the winning runs in yesterday’s win, accounting for 2 of those 5 RBI. Maybe the best part of Ludwick’s contribution is that his strikeouts have subsided. For the first 11 games (9 for him), he whiffed 10 times. Over the “second half” (8 for Ludwick), it’s down to 5.
| Hamilton | GP | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | R | SB | RECORD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 11 | 10 | .147 | .194 | .235 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2-8 |
| Last 11 | 11 | .300 | .326 | .325 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 8-3 |
We can debate Hamilton being the guy atop the Reds batting order – or even a big leaguer – all we want. I’m sure we’ll hear this as long as the season continues. It is certainly a worthy discussion especially when you look at his stats through the team’s first 22 games.
But as you see in the table directly above, Hamilton has been a contributor over the last 11 games. Of course, the small difference in BA and OBP grabs your attention as there still is work to do here.
Last season, the Reds scored a lot, but most any Reds fan will tell you is that the offense of 2013 was inconsistent. Through 22 games last season, the Reds had scored more runs (112), had five games where the scored in double-digits and owned a record of 13-9. What makes this painful for the Reds faithful is that they are potentially two pitches to Ike Davis away from matching that same 13-9 record.
And if you think I’m discounting what the pitching from Johnny Cueto, Alfredo Simon, Tony Cingrani, and Mike Leake
For the next three games, this offensive revival will be put to the test as the Reds will visit Atlanta for three games. They will face the trio of Ervin Santana (5 GS, 2-0, 0.86 ERA, 0.810 WHIP), David Hale (3 GS, 0-0, 2.93 ERA, 1.630 WHIP), and Julio Teheran (5 GS, 2-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.000 WHIP).
And lest we forget, Atlanta owns one of baseball’s better bullpens.