After a bleak 0-2 start, the Cincinnati Reds kicked it in gear and won five of their next six, before losing two straight to the Florida Marlins
At the 10-game mark in 2010 there are some things that need to be noted.
First: The seven-time Gold Glove winning third baseman, Scott Rolen leads the team with three errors. He is the only Reds player to have committed more than one miscue.
Second: Joey Votto has been watching too much film (or video) of Drew Stubbs. He has taken over the team lead in strikeouts with 13, in only 38 AB. He has more strikeouts than hits, and that is never a good sign. He is currently batting only .263, which sadly is the highest average of everyday Reds starters.
Third: Jonny Gomes is leading the team in RBI with seven and in slugging percentage among starters at .556. He also has the highest OPS+ among Reds starters at 113. His .259 average is headed north and already the second best among starters.
Fourth: Paul Janish has played only one game, but was 2-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI, and an OBP of .600. Instead of Dusty Baker riding the hot horse, he promptly sat him down the following game in favor of Orlando Cabrera's .295 avg. Cabrera is tied for the team lead in RBI with Gomes at seven.
Fifth: Ryan Hanigan is batting .455 with 1 HR and 4 RBI, yet is still playing backup to the Mendoza-line heading Ramon Hernandez who is batting .217.
Sixth: Contrary to popular belief, the wheels are not falling off the Aaron Harang wagon. They already fell off! He has given up 19 H and 14 ER in 16 innings. He has also watched five balls leave the yard while whiffing 13. The strikeout ratio is the one positive factor on Harang's rap sheet.
Seventh: Homer Bailey looks like the Homer of old. That is not what you want to read. We all had high hopes that he would take over where he left off in 2009. I even predicted a 20-win season for the young man. Go ahead and give me the egg now.
Eighth: Coco Cordero is actually the bright star on this stormy night in the Reds season. He leads the league in saves with four, and won the other game for the Reds. After a stern dressing down by me on this site, Coco has shown who has the bigger stones and performed nearly flawless relief work.
The few things I would take away from the first 10 games are as follows: I would play Janish until he became mortal again. I would also make Ryan Hanigan the starting catcher regardless of anything else that happens.
I would call up Rick Sweet and tell him to pack Aroldis Chapman's bag and ship him to PNC Park in Pittsburgh for tonight's game against the Bucs.
I would then relegate Harang to rain-delay pitcher or mop-up man, whichever is most convenient. I don't care how much he is making, the team's season should not rest on it.
What are your thoughts so far?
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