Cincinnati Reds: Homer Bailey does not expect bullpen success

It has been a while since Homer Bailey has had success with the Cincinnati Reds. He does not expect that to change any time soon.

Sometimes, 2014 seems so long ago. For Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, it must seem like a lifetime has passed in those four years. That season, he was a solid starter for the Reds, having come off of two seasons where he fired over 200 innings, with two no hitters and a six year extension under his belt. The future seemed bright for Bailey, as he could be the centerpiece for the rest of the decade.

However, he was sidelined with elbow injuries that season, and has not been the same. Bailey has battled injuries and ineffectiveness, posting a 9-20 record, with a 6.40 ERA and a 1.714 WHiP since the start of 2015. In that time frame, he has appeared in just 38 games, spanning 187.1 innings.

Finally healthy again heading into 2018, the hope was that Bailey would be able to be a key piece of the Reds rotation again. Instead, he has stumbled out of the game, posting a 1-7 record with a 6.64 ERA and a 1.694 WHiP. While he leads the NL with 12 starts, Bailey also leads the league with his seven losses, 81 hits allowed, 46 earned runs, and 15 homers. With Anthony DeSclafani set to come off the DL, it was not a surprise that Bailey is being sent to the bullpen in hopes that he can rediscover his form. However, do not expect much success, especially if you are listening to Bailey himself.

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In a way, one has to appreciate the honesty in Bailey’s answer. He has to know that he has not been a viable major leaguer since his spate of elbow injuries. That contract, which has one more year at $23 million, and a $5 million buyout for the 2020 campaign, is the only reason why he is still on the roster. At this point, Bailey should be wearing a ski mask when collecting his checks from the Reds.

And yet, that defeatist attitude may help explain why Bailey has struggled as much as he has. Instead of being willing to help the Reds and head to the bullpen, he is already expecting failure. He does not feel that anything is going to change, and when he struggles in a relief role, he will be right. At this point, his failure is a self fulfilling prophesy, and makes one wonder if the Reds should cut bait despite the salary implications.

At this point, it feels as though the relationship between the Reds and Bailey has become toxic. With the Reds in the midst of their rebuild, that sort of attitude can destroy the young roster. Players could pick up bad habits, and expect to lose. A change of scenery is needed, not just for the Reds, but for Bailey as well.

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Homer Bailey may not expect to have success in the Cincinnati Reds bullpen, but his attitude certainly is not helping matters. His failure is now a self fulfilling prophesy.