Spring Training 2010
Short outing for Harang
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 9, 2010 6:27 PM ET
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Aaron Harang wanted to get his pitch count up in his start against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Reds' Opening Day starter was scheduled to go three innings, but after a 28-pitch first inning, he was limited to an inning-and-a-third.
"That's not how I wanted to do it," Harang said after allowing three runs on four hits and a walk and earning the 10-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. "Especially in this weather."
The gametime temperature was 58 degrees, cooler than the 65 degrees in Cincinnati at the same time.
"I was talking to (Diamondbacks catcher Chris) Snyder before the game, this feels like last April in Cincinnati," Harang said.
If the results are the same in Cincinnati next month for Harang, there will be even more hand-wringing than there is now. For now, Harang isn't concerned about his outing and neither is Dusty Baker.
"The ball was coming out of his hand today, he was getting two strikes on just about everybody, but he couldn't put them away with that third strike," Baker said. "He threw the ball well, he centered some balls when he had two strikes, but I was pleased with the way the ball came out of his hand. He had more velocity and better tempo. He'll be all right."
Harang said he's changing his mechanics, using his legs more and lengthening his stride.
"Overall, I'm happy with it, but there's still some fine tuning. It's all with the arm-slot," Harang said. "It's the way I've pitched for so long and all of a sudden to mechanically make adjustments, it's not going to work overnight. I've still got some stuff to work on, but that's what spring's for.
Harang threw well in the team's intrasquad game, but gave up a run in the first inning and two more in the second after back-to-back one-out doubles chased him from the game.
Harang has back-to-back 6-win seasons. And has caused some concerns over his performance. Spring is hardly an accurate barometer of regular-season performance - Zack Greinke had an ERA of nearly 10.00 last season.
Still, Harang was hardly inspiring confidence as he struggled getting behind on Diamondback hitters, allowing five of the nine batters he faced to reach base.
"I was throwing some good pitches early on, they were just working the count," Harang said. "It's tough when you fall behind, you've got to come in with strikes and it doesn't make it any easier."
Harang will pitch against Sunday in a "B" game at the Reds' complex at 10 a.m. local time against the Indians.
Harang wasn't the only Reds starter who struggled against the Diamondbacks - lefty Matt Maloney gave up four runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Maloney is part of the logjam of pitchers vying for the fifth starter's spot, along with Wednesday's starter Mike Lincoln. Maloney is scheduled to start Sunday against the White Sox in Goodyear. Alexander Smit also failed to go a full inning, allowing three runs in the eighth inning.
Both Harang and Maloney's replacements helped ease the bleeding, as Jon Adkins allowed one inherited runner to score, but gave up just a hit and a walk in 1.2 innings of work, adding a strikeout. Maloney was replaced by Sam LeCure, who allowed only a hit in his 2.1 innings of work in relief. Justin Lehr, another fifth starter candidate, allowed one inherited runner to score, but otherwise had a clean 1.1 innings of work, giving up two innings and finishing the game.
Game report
Diamondbacks 10, Reds 4
The buzz: Aaron Harang struggled in his first outing of the spring, giving up four hits and three runs in 1.1 innings. While folks back home may be overreacting at the boxscore, it's still a little early to worry yet, but it hardly instills confidence.
The results: Jay Bruce was 2-for-3 with a home run. Ryan Hanigan also homered in his only at-bat of the day. Chris Heisey doubled and scored. Harang, Maloney and Smit struggled, but their relievers, Adkins, LeCure and Lehr pitched well. Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect fourth inning.
Next: The Reds will play their first real road game of the spring on Wendesday against the Angels in Tempe. Mike Lincoln (0-1, 27.00 ERA) takes on lefty Trevor Reckling (0-0, 4.50) at 1:05 local time. Also scheduled to throw are Mike Leake, Arthur Rhodes, Kip Wells, Enerio Del Rosario, Philippe Valiquette and Logan Ondrusek.
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010
Tags: Aaron Harang, Alexander Smit, Francisco Cordero, Jon adkins, Justin Lehr, Justin Lehr Jay Bruce, Matt Maloney, Ryan Hanigan, Sam LeCure
Comments (0)