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Cincinnati Reds

What to do with Harang?

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted April 22, 2010 12:09 AM ET

Dusty Baker will be giving plenty of thought to Aaron Harang and what to do about his struggling starter, but 15 minutes following the Reds' 14-6 loss to the Dodgers Wednesday night was not the time.

"I don't know, I just got beat to death," Baker said. "I haven't had time to think about it."

In his fourth start of the season, Harang had another bad outing, lasting 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs, six earned runs, walking two and striking out two. In four starts, he's allowed 29 hits and 22 runs in 21.2 innings and has an ERA of 8.31.

In Chicago, the Cubs moved their Opening Day starter, Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen after a 1-2 start with a 7.45 ERA. At the very least, the Reds' next off day, Monday, coincides with Harang's spot in the rotation and he could be skipped.

Baker brushed aside a mention of the Cubs' move of Zambrano.

"That has nothing to do with us," Baker said. "They have one of their starters coming off the DL, we don't have that luxury."

What the Reds do have is young arms in Louisville. Matt Maloney improved to 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in three starts with a win on Wednesday, but left early due to blisters on his left hand. Also pitching well in Louisville are Sam LeCure is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, Travis Wood is 0-3 with a 3.50 ERA and Aroldis Chapman is 0-1 with a 0.92 ERA. All four pitchers are on the 40-man roster.

Harang may also be looking south for answers.

"We're so close to Kentucky, I should be able to find a horseshoe," Harang said.

While some of his past problems can be attributed to bad luck, on Wednesday he had trouble getting ahead of batters and putting hitters the caliber of the Dodgers' in hitters counts leads to bad results. Harang gave up at least a run in all but one inning he started and quickly blew a 3-1 lead in the second.

"I thought we made some adjustments, I was throwing in, I was throwing out, mixing up everything, it just seemed like everything I was throwing they were getting it and finding a hole," Harang said. "The only ball I thought was hit hard was (Andre) Ethier's - he did a good job with that (third-inning home run). I started him away, went in, back away, back in, I threw him a changeup away and he stayed with it. Other than that, I don't have much else to say other than that."

Harang's only quality start in four outings this season came, incidentally, against Zambrano, when he went seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits. That game was Zambrano's only win of the season. Like Harang, it was his best, going seven innings, allowing six hits and three runs.

Another short outing by a Reds starter meant another long night for the Reds bullpen. After being fresh to start the series following a day off, Baker called on four relievers on Wednesday after using five on Tuesday. Rookie Logan Ondrusek struggled again gave up four runs in two innings and saw his ERA jump to 11.25 in nine outings. Ondrusek, Daniel Ray Herrera and Mike Lincoln all pitched for the second day in a row, and once again the teams bullpen is drained early in a series and may have to look to Louisville, for a reliever.

Two options in Louisville are right-handers Enerio Del Rosario and Carlos Fisher, both are on the 40-man roster and both are pitching well. Del Rosario is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in six appearances, while Fisher hasn't allowed a run in six appearances and eight innings. He's also pitched with better control, walking only one batter and striking out eight so far this season.

"We've got to get our starting pitching together, big time," Baker said.

Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories

Tags: Aaron Harang, Andre Ethier, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos FIsher, Dusty Baker, Enerio Del Rosario, Logan Ondrusek, Matt Maloney, Sam LeCure, Travis Wood