Aldrois Chapman, Meet Dusty Baker

Dusty Baker, Reds pitchers and total/average Pitcher Abuse Points (PAP) by season:

2009:
Aaron Harang (162.1 IP, 15th in total PAP, 16th in Avg. PAP)
Bronson Arroyo (220.1 IP, 18th in total PAP, 22nd in Avg. PAP)
Homer Bailey (113.1 IP, 40th in total PAP, 23rd in Avg. PAP)
Johnny Cueto (171.1 IP, 83rd in total PAP, 96th in Avg. PAP)
Micah Owings (119.2 IP, 167th in total PAP, 184th in Avg. PAP)
(out of a total 664 pitchers)
-Point of interest: The second most abused pitcher by game in baseball was Pedro Martinez (~3762 Avg. PAP). The most abused pitcher by game in baseball was Justin Verlander (~6283 Avg. PAP).

2008
Aaron Harang (184.1 IP, 19th in total PAP, 18th in Avg. PAP)
Bronson Arroyo (200 IP, 15th in total PAP, 19th in Avg. PAP)
Edinson Volquez (196 IP, 17th in total PAP, 18th in Avg. PAP, )
Johnny Cueto (174 IP, 27th in total PAP, 34th in Avg. PAP)
Josh Fogg (78.1 IP for the Reds, 189th in total PAP, 196th in Avg. PAP)
(out of a total 651 pitchers)

2007
Aaron Harang (231.2 IP, 5th in total PAP, 5th in Avg. PAP)
Bronson Arroyo (210.2 IP, 6th in total PAP, 6th in Avg. PAP)
Kyle Lohse (131.2 IP, 54th in total PAP, 60th in Avg. PAP)
Matt Belisle (177.2 IP, 83rd in total PAP, 98th in Avg. PAP)
Bobby Livingston (56.1 IP, 153rd in total PAP, 149th in Avg. PAP)
(out of a total 666 pitchers)

Pitchers who required major arm surgery/surgeries while or shortly after Dusty Baker was their manager:

Edinson Volquez
Kerry Wood
Mark Prior
Matt Clement
Jason Schmidt
Angel Guzman
Rob Nenn
Aaron Harang*

*Harang didn't require major surgery, but Dusty Baker broke him on May 22, 2008.

That's eight pitchers in sixteen years of management. Welcome to the Reds, Aldrois Chapman.

Dusty Baker doesn't just break pitchers

Joey Votto is still dizzy. After a bout with flu last week, Joey Votto -- who played every inning of every Reds' game prior to his illness -- is still not 100%. Perhaps its because Dusty Baker refuses to rest Joey Votto.

Other guys Dusty refused to rest: Edwin Encarnacion (DL), Aaron Harang (broken last season), Mark Prior (broken every season).

Reds players beware.

HAVOC: The Red's Rotation

I wouldn't argue that Arroyo or Owings inspires any fear in the hearts of NL batters, but I'm shocked that I have yet to see any advertising for the Red's rotation by abbreviation:

Aaron Harang
Bronson Arroyo
Edinson Volquez
Micah Owings
Johnny Cueto

H.A.V.O.C.

Dusty’s Reds changing approach

Dusty Baker has always been known for playing the veterans and being a fan of the long ball. According to this article http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11439492 Dusty Baker and the Cincinnati Reds actually want to run this year. This is shocking to hear about any Dusty Baker team. The article points out how they brought in Willy Tavaras who loves to run and steals a lot of basses.

Dusty said that "We've had eight years of losing the other way," Baker said. "It's time to do something different, don't you think?"

Adding one player who runs doesn’t mean you’re a running team all of a sudden. They still have Votto and Bruce who are power guys. Phillips is a guy who will steal some bases. Both candidates at shortstop don’t really run and Gonzalez will probably get the job being a veteran over the less experience Keppinger. Encaration doesn’t do anything and Ramon Hernandez doesn’t run. That leaves left field where a few players are competing for the left field. They are: Jerry Hairston Jr. (A dusty favorite from Chicago), Chris Dickerson who I think should be the starting left fielder, but he is a rookie playing for Dusty baker, so good luck to him. Some other guys brought competing are Jonny Gomes, Jacque Jones, Norris Hopper, Daryle Ward and Laynce Nix. Some of those guys have speed like Hariston and Hopper, but Hariston doesn’t run a lot. Thus, no matter who wins the left field job, they only have two starters who can actually run. Only one more than last year! Sounds like a big change Dusty!

The Cubs Graveyard

Following up on my theory that all washed up Cubs end up in Baltimore or Cincinnati, The "Bright" One and I decided to assemble a 25-man roster of ex-Cubs who have been on either the Reds or O's in just the last five years (2004 and on).

C - Robert Machado (O)
C - Paul Bako (R)
1B - Rafael Palmeiro (O)
2B - Freddie Bynum (O)
SS - Cesar Izturis (O)
3B - Alex Cintron (O)
OF - Felix Pie (O)
OF - Sammy Sosa (O)
OF - Jerry Harriston Jr. (O/R)
OF - Corey Patterson (O/R)
OF - Gary Matthews Jr. (O)
OF - Jacque Jones (R)
INF - Daryle Ward (R)
INF - Brendan Harris (O)
SP - Rich Hill (O)
SP - Steve Trachsel (O)
SP - Kyle Lohse (R)
SP - Todd Van Poppel (R)
RP - LaTroy Hawkins (O)
RP - Rocky Cherry (O)
RP - Phil Norton (R)
RP - Jon Leicester (O)
RP - Kent Mercker (O)
CL - David Weathers (R)

So far, we've got a 24 man roster short 1 SP. Bonus points if anyone can find a SP prospect the Cubs either dealt out or was released and then signed by the O's/Reds.