FEAR AND LOATHING IN CENTER FIELD

When the Cincinnati Reds selected Drew Stubbs during the first round (eighth overall) of the 2006 amateur entry draft, they knew what kind of player they had just landed. During Stubbs' three years ('04-'06) as a Texas Longhorn, he posted some pretty serious numbers. His Freshman year, Stubbs played in 71 games for the Longhorns and hit a respectable .301 in 266 at-bats. Driving in 47 runs along with 26 stolen bases, scoring 51 times, and hitting sixteen doubles, Stubbs was on his way to becoming the next Longhorn star.

Through '05 and '06, Stubbs increased his numbers significantly. At twenty years of age during his sophomore season at Texas, Stubbs raised his average to .311 while driving in 46 runs. In 72 games, Stubbs increased his doubles (20), stolen bases (32), walks (32), and homerun (11) totals from his previous season. Stubbs was developing very nicely.

In Drew Stubbs' final season as a Texas Longhorn, he was named co-MVP of the squad and was also tagged as the Big 12 co-Player of the Year. The three-time All-American had a fantastic Junior season batting .342 in 62 games. Stubbs scored 65 runs, hit 12 homers, and stole 26 bases in 2006 for the Longhorns. While playing superb defense, Stubbs' showcased his five-tool talent and secured a spot among baseball's top prospects.

Now that we've praised Drew Stubbs' baseball ability and discussed the reasoning behind his first-round selection, we will digress. Not to downgrade or minimize Drew Stubbs' capability, or to disrespect the Reds organization, but to simply point out one thing.... strikeouts.

Here's where it gets interesting. During Stubbs freshman season at Texas, he struck out 28% of the time, but brought it down to 25% as a sophomore and junior. During '04-'06 while Stubbs was playing at Texas, former Longhorn quarterback Adam Dunn (hated by many Reds fans for his K's) led the NL in strikeouts (195, 168, 194) while playing for Cincinnati.

During Dunn's three year strikeout fest, he struck out 33% of the time. Obviously Dunn's strikeout total was repulsive (557) during '04-'06, but he made up for it with his offensive production. Posting a .249 average throughout the three years Dunn hit 126 homers, 93 doubles, scored 311 runs, drove in 295 runs, and walked 334 times all while missing only five games. Strikeouts are acceptable when a player composes such statistics.

After leaving the Big 12, Drew Stubbs became substantially prone to striking out. Playing 56 games for the Billings Mustangs in 2006, Stubbs whiffed 64 times in 210 at-bats (30%) while posting a .252 average. His first full season in the Reds organization was with the Dayton Dragons during 2007. Stubbs struck out 29% of the time and scored 93 runs in '07, but drove in a measly 43 runs as his average modestly increased (.270).

Stubbs climbed the minor league ladder during 2008, and seemed to be developing attractively, as he cut down his strikeouts. In 131 games with Sarasota, Chattanooga, and Louisville Stubbs batted .290 and struck out only 26% of the time but was still struggling offensively. He drove in 57 runs and homered only seven times. Stubbs was consistently rabid when he was on base scoring 75 times and stealing 33 bags (led Reds minor leagues), but it was not often enough with his .373 OBP.

Before making his major league debut on August 19, 2009, Stubbs spent most of the year in Louisville. He played 107 games for the Bats in '09, hit .268, homered three times, and drove in 39 runs as he represented the Reds in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game. Stubbs cut down his strikeout percentage to .250 and was considered the Reds' third best prospect behind Yonder Alonso and Todd Frazier. After being called up to the big leagues, Stubbs showed reasonable promise in only 42 games. He struck out 27% of the time but scored 27 runs, hit eight homeruns, and drove in seventeen runs finishing the season with the Reds.

The year is 2010. Drew Stubbs made the Opening Day roster for the Reds. Hitting first and seventh in the Reds' lineup, Stubbs currently has a .231 average, 15 stolen bases, 31 RBI, 36 runs scored, seven doubles, and seven homeruns in 69 games. His .306 OBP has kept his deadly speed off the base paths.

Stubbs' 74 strikeouts currently tie him for seventh in the NL. Justin Upton, Rickie Weeks, David Wright, Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche, Ryan Howard, and Dan Uggla are impressive players who also share the top ten strikeout list with Stubbs, but they all set them selves apart from him with their offense.

All ten have AT LEAST ten homers, ten doubles, 38 RBI, and 38 runs scored except Stubbs. He has the second worse average among them with the third worse being .254 (Uggla). Remember Adam Dunn's 33% strikeout rate during 2004-'06? Drew Stubbs' is 31% so far in 2010. Strikeouts are acceptable when a player produces other quality statistics. At 25 years old, Drew Stubbs is not compensating.

Drew, we like you. We really do. We're aware that your development in the minor leagues peaked and it's time for the majors, but we need more from you. Your speed and agility in the outfield are priceless along with your cannon of an arm. When you reach, you are arguably the best base runner on the team, but it needs to happen more frequently.

Shorten your swing. Level it out. Get on base.

Stop striking out!

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REDS STOP SKID, BEAT A'S IN TEN

After being swept by the worst team in the AL West and losing seven of their last nine games, the Cincinnati Reds needed a win, bad. They slid 1.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals and despite quality pitching against Seattle, their top notch offense had gone stale.

Joey Votto doubled in Brandon Phillips during the first inning of Monday's game against the Oakland A's, but after that the Reds allowed another mediocre pitcher to appear as a Cy Young candidate. After the first inning, Gio Gonzales settled in for Oakland and pitched seven innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine. With 96 pitches, Mike "Godzilla" Leake kept his team in the game hurling six innings (1ER, 5H) and rebounded nicely after his first major league loss on June 16 against the Dodgers.

During the top of the ninth inning with the game tied at one, Jay Bruce came off the bench to drive in a run with two outs. Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Kouzmanoff drilled the first pitch he saw from Reds' closer Francisco Cordero into the right-field seats of Oakland Coliseum tying the game at two. It was Cordero's fifth blown save this season in 22 chances. Cordero finished the inning without any further damage ant sent the game into extras.

Something then woke up the Reds' offense. Ramon Hernandez led off the tenth inning with a homerun off the left-field foul pole. Brandon Phillips followed with a single and Paul Janish bunted him to second. Joey Votto and Scott Rolen then hit their fifteenth homeruns of the season, back-to-back.

"It seems like when your bats are sick, everybody's bats are sick," Dusty Baker said. "When your bats get well, it seems like everybody's bats get well at the same time."

Just to make the game interesting, Dusty Baker sent Francisco Cordero back to the mound in the bottom of the tenth with a comfortable 6-2 lead. The Shaky Cordero walked the first two batters he faced and was quickly yanked. Danny Herrera replaced Cordero and retired one, but allowed a run to score before rookie Jordan Smith took over. With one out, Smith got Kevin Kouzmanoff to groundout to Paul Janish as Conor Jackson scored from third. Smith then struck out Jack Cust to end the game as the Reds defeated the A's 6-4.

Jordan Smith received his first major league save and for the second time this season, Francisco Cordero blew a save while receiving the win.

Bronson Arroyo (6-3, 4.53) will face Dallas Braden (4-6, 3.78) and the Athletics at 10:05pm on Tuesday.

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GET YOUR SH#T TOGETHER.

Aaron Harang did everything he could to help the Reds avoid a sweep by the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Harang went six innings for the Reds allowing only one run on three hits. Aside from Harang's start against Houston on May 29 (7IP, 1ER, 4H) when his team supported him with twelve runs, it was his best game of the season. Harang received the loss as his team's offense remained cramped in Seattle. On Sunday, the Reds lost 1-0 to the Mariners for the second time in three days. Only one run was scored by the Reds during their three day stay in Seattle.

“It was a nightmare weekend,” Dusty Baker said. “We couldn’t buy a run. It was a tough weekend, a very tough weekend.”

On Friday against the Mariners, Johnny Cueto also pitched well enough to receive the victory. Cueto pitched only 5.2 innings, but allowed just one run on four hits. Once again, the Reds' offense failed to score as Cliff Lee pitched a complete-game shutout (6H, 7K) to defeat the Reds 1-0.

Sam LeCure started for the Reds on Saturday. Outside of one ugly pitch that propelled a four-run sixth, LeCure pitched dutiful. Scoring their only run of the series in the fourth inning, the Reds' offense failed to supply Lecure with an anchor. Felix Hernandez hurled a complete-game (5H, 9K) as the Mariners beat the Reds 5-1.

During their three game series with the Mariners, the Reds stuck out 23 times and collected only 14 hits. Joey Votto and Scott Rolen combined for half of the Reds' hits against the Mariners as Brandon Phillips, Jonny Gomes, Jay Bruce, and Orlando Cabrera only had one hit a piece the entire series.

There is no bright side of being swept by the worst team in the AL West and falling 1.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, but the performance of the Reds' pitching staff over the weekend was nothing short of concrete. The Reds' bullpen set aside their recent struggles and combined for 8.1 scoreless innings of relief allowing only three hits. A Reds' offense that currently leads the NL in runs (337), hits (650), homeruns (83), RBI (327), slugging percentage (.449), and average (.276) should have capitalized, but didn't. The Reds' pistons have trouble when it comes to collective firing.

"It was a tough series to swallow," said Aaron Harang. "We have to look forward to going down to Oakland and turning things around."

The Reds have lost six of their last seven games inspiring some of their followers to remember Junes of the past. The next three games in Oakland will be a true test for the Cincinnati Reds. They have played hot, and stayed hot, many times this season. It is the reason they are five games above .500 and only 1.5 games out of first place. Teams will always go cold during a tedious 162-game season, but only the good teams rise to the occasion and stop the bleeding. The leadership and determination of Scott Rolen, Joey Votto, and Brandon Phillips will be closely monitored as they attempt to overcome. Go Reds!

MONDAY: Mike Leake (5-1, 3.02) vs. Gio Gonzales (6-5, 4.21) at 10:05pm
TUESDAY: Bronson Arroyo (6-3, 4.53) vs. Dallas Braden (4-6, 3.78) at 10:05pm
WEDNESDAY: Johnny Cueto (6-2, 4.30) vs. Vin Mazzaro (2-1, 5.22) at 3:35pm

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#GOMESFACTS

Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds won only their fourth game of their last ten on Thursday beating the Dodgers 7-1. During the Reds' three-game losing streak against Kansas City and Los Angeles, the reds were outscored 25-5.

Arroyo admittedly had no command of his pitches on Thursday. The only pitch that was cooperating with Arroyo was his sinker as he used it to entice three 3-6-1 double plays in which he assisted. Aside from a career high six walks during his seven innings of work, Arroyo gave the Reds an early 3-1 lead with a three-run jack during the second inning. It was Arroyo's fifth career homerun and first since 2008.

“I’m just glad Bronson stopped the leak,” Dusty Baker said. “These guys don’t get too high when they win or too low when they lose.”

The Reds are now headed to the West Coast for six games against Seattle (25-41) and Oakland (33-35) beginning Friday. During the past four years the Reds are 13-32 out west.

“One good thing, it’ll probably be cool out there,” Dusty Baker said. “You can get your strength back.”

During the Reds ten game home-stand, Jonny Gomes remained solid going 10-32 with 12 RBI (including a career-high 6RBI game against the Royals). Gomes owns a weak .205 average in thirteen career games against the Mariners, but has far superior numbers against the Athletics (.308AVG and 12RBI in 17G). With the Reds leaving Cincinnati after a disappointing ten days to explore Western America, expect Gomes to manhandle his former league over the next week and ignite the Reds' offense. Here are some interesting #gomesfacts collected from the world wide web. Enjoy.

Jonny Gomes once went on the 15 day DL, just to see what it felt like to be mortal.

MLB is considering putting Jonny Gomes DNA on the list of banned substances.

Jonny Gomes can throw a one-hopper from the warning track to home at GABP. He can do this while playing in Pittsburg.

Chuck Norris won't fight Jonny Gomes.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Jonny Gomes is awesome.

Johnny Gomes blows bubbles with peanut butter.

Jonny Gomes' bat is the cause of global warming.

When taking the SAT, write "Jonny Gomes" for every answer. You will score over 8,000.

When Jonny Gomes puts on Chris Sabo's RecSpecs, he can see the future.

Jonny Gomes' Gmail account exceeds 1GB.

Jonny Gomes once took one of Dusty Baker's toothpicks to the plate as a bat, and got an intentional walk.

Jonny Gomes doesn't sleep........he waits.

Jonny Gomes even hits pitches thrown by used car salesmen.

When Jonny Gomes falls in water, he doesn't get wet. Water gets Jonny Gomes.

Jonny Gomes doesn't mow his lawn. He begs it to grow.

Jonny Gomes' mom has a tattoo that says "son."

Jonny Gomes was what Willis was talkin' about.

The G in OMGreds stands for "Gomes."

Superman wears Jonny Gomes pajamas to bed.

Jonny Gomes can eat more ice cream than Jeff Brantley. Barely.

Jonny Gomes once left Marty Brennaman speechless.

Jonny Gomes can touch MC Hammer.

For Jonny Gomes, the warning track isn't there to warn him, it's there to warn the wall.

Johnny Cueto (6-1, 4.50) will face Cliff Lee (4-3, 2.88) and the Mariners at 10:10pm on Friday.

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"THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO."

Reds' manager Dusty Baker has not been thrown out of a game since April 25, 2009 when he was ejected along with Jerry Hairston. Known for his collected composure, Scott Rolen has only been ejected two times during his major league career prior to Wednesday. Both men exploded when umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called a full-count fastball from Clayton Kershaw a strike during the sixth inning of the Reds' loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday.

After attempting a stroll to first, Rolen argued with Wendelstedt concerning the location of the pitch. Rolen must have said the magic word as Wendelstedt ejected him faster than a bat out of hell. Dusty Baker then emerged from the Reds' dugout continuing Rolen's dispute, and was also briskly tossed. On AM radio, both Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley concurred that the pitch was an obvious makeup call from a previous Wendelstedt blunder during the same at-bat. The pitch should have been ball four, sending Rolen to first, and loading the bases for Jonny Gomes with no one out.

“I was upset,” Rolen said. “I thought that was a big at-bat, a game-changing at-bat, possibly. I reacted to that.”

“I saw it the same way Scott saw it,” Baker said. “That was a big call in the game. They’re human, too, but you don’t have to like it.”

The Reds went on to lose the game 6-2. Mike Leake received his first major league loss (5-1, 3.02) in a disappointing start (6IP, 9H, 5ER) for the Reds. The Reds have lost three straight games and five of their last eight. Somehow they have managed to remain tied for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

“Don’t panic,” Baker said. “You’re going to go through periods like this. There’s a long way to go, and you go hot and cold sometimes.”

Sound familiar? Dusty Baker's mentality is currently identical to one month ago, when the Reds initially emerged atop the NL Central.

Bronson Arroyo (5-3, 4.80) will attempt to salvage a win against John Ely (3-3, 3.38) and the Dodgers at 12:35pm on Thursday.

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