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Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Aaron Harang Shouldn't Rely on Luck

I'll take this as a tongue-in-cheek joke, because it is funny, but I really hope Aaron Harang doesn't really believe this:

“We're close enough to Kentucky. I should be able to find a horseshoe,” Harang said, insisting that bad luck has as much to do with his record as anything else.

This was after Harang tossed the Reds' first quality start in nine games and became just the second starter to pick up a victory this season, which is only a measly 20 games mind you.

"Luck", my friends, hasn't given up 22 earned runs and six home runs in 27 innings this season. The culprit has been bad pitching, a lack of focus and the hope that the Harang of the past suddenly reappears out of thin air.

I know Harang isn't insisting that luck, or even bad luck, has had everything to do with his being dropped down several pegs from where he was just three years ago. I have seen you pitch, Aaron, and you have not been tagged by bad luck all that often. The problem, for the most part, is in your head.

Maybe a renewed focus and some time to really get down to business on pitches, placement, and better batter study can get you back to where you were (or at least allow you to pitch like you did on Tuesday more frequently).

What is most frustrating is that we know Harang is a much better pitcher, but this continued "gasoline on the fire" thing isn't getting him (or the Reds) anywhere. Maybe he has lost what made him what he once was, but he can at least get to a point where he is consistently "just okay" and not consistently bad.

I am hoping, as are the Reds, Harang has found a smidgen of what made him good. According to the Reds team report on Wednesday, Harang thinks he has done just that.

He told them he "went out there a little more carefree and really let the ball go," and that, "it kind of felt how it was a couple of years ago."

In a nutshell, Harang was aggressive and kept his demons at bay. The result: six innings, two earned runs, six strikeouts, one walk, and a Cincinnati win. He gave the Reds a chance and that is all we, as fans, are looking for, Mr. Harang.

As for that horseshoe you are looking for, I think it has morphed itself into a tape of Tuesday's pitching effort. You should review that baby as many times as you can during the next five days and retain that focus because the Cards and Mets are currently licking their chops.

Now if only the Reds can just learn how to run the base paths and keep from getting picked off.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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