And the beat goes on...
Its absolutely fantastic to see what the Reds are doing, and its great to see the City responding so well to them. I hope we can keep it up--I'm looking forward to seeing the guys at the Jake next Friday.
Carrying on the academic Pythagorean debate, the trend hasn't shifted. Our projected record is 28-27, but the team is a full five games better at 33-22. Who would have thought.
As for the other stats I have tracked periodically here, let's take a look. Walks are actually improved over a couple of weeks ago, and nearly a full walk per nine innings below last season, and well below the NL avare of last year. However, K's are low (just below 6/9--considered by many a threshold success rate), and with hits and HR's well above the league average, you have the ERA over league average as well. To give up that many hits and homers, you'd need to have more power pitchers to succeed consistently.
BB/9 (2003--3.67 2004--2.88 NL Avg--3.42)
K/9 (2003--5.80 2004--5.99 NL Avg--6.54)
H/9 (2003--9.82 2004--9.43 NL Avg--8.96)
ERA (2003--5.09 2004--4.67 NL Avg--4.27)
K/bb (2003--1.58 2004--2.08 NL Avg--1.91)
hr/9 (2003--1.30 2004--1.22 NL Avg--1.07)
e/game (2003--0.87 2004--0.71)
As poor as the defense is, it is also improved. Hard to believe.
It was a big relief to see Paul Wilson pitch so well. Groin injuries can be pesky. Good call keeping him out. I am worried about Kearns, but less about Larkin. You have to expect it from a 40-year old. I agree with the caution on Kearns...he will be needed in Oakland.
Speaking of which, we really needed that win last night, and the one today. You're looking at going to Oakland where you face the two best LHPs in the game, and on Tuesday its even worse because you are looking at Belisle or Bong (or Etherton, I guess) in the Harang spot against Zito. Ouch.
Finally, I have previously said I would be happy with a .500 season. Now that we are 11 over, that's harder to fathom. At this point, if we even play .500, that would give us 86 or 87 wins. I think I picked 84 on Redszone.
Well, there's a long way to go. We need to keep scoring runs and getting no worse starting pitching than we do now.
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