NewsBreaks don't roll Reds' way in 2009
For most of season, Cincinnati was keeping pace in race
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/05/09 1:48 AM EST
CINCINNATI -- A team that desperately craves success and credibility, the Reds found themselves stuck in the baseball wilderness again. Not contending by the end of the 2009 season has become a familiar landscape. That made it nine straight losing seasons for the Reds, and it's now been 14 seasons since the last time Cincinnati felt the sensation of postseason play. Arguably with the most parity of any division, the National League Central seemed like the division most up for grabs when the season got under way. And for a while, the Reds kept pace with the large bunch near the top of the division. But injuries and a total lack of offense had the pack leaving the Reds behind around the All-Star break. Cincinnati finished July with an 8-19 record and rolled into August with a stretch where they lost 14 of 15 games. By the time they got hot again in September, it was way too late. A total of 46 players appeared in games, including eight that made their big league debuts in 2009. Jay Bruce struggled during his sophomore season and missed two months with a broken wrist. Joey Votto was the team's best hitter but missed considerable time dealing with personal issues and an inner ear infection. A free-agent pickup, center fielder Willy Taveras was a bust as a leadoff hitter because he couldn't get on base enough. By the end of July and the start of August, the white flag was waved and several veterans, including David Weathers, Jerry Hairston Jr., Alex Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion, were traded. And in one unexpected and puzzling move, a veteran was added when third baseman Scott Rolen came over in a deal with the Blue Jays. It wasn't an entirely lost season, however. The bullpen was a solid and reliable group and underscored its worth by picking up a rotation that wasn't as solid as many predicted in the offseason. Brandon Phillips had another 20-homer, 20-stolen-base season and knocked on the door for 100 RBIs. In the rotation, Johnny Cueto improved as a starter and should be even better in 2010 with a proper amount of rest and no winter pitching. As a team, the Reds were battle-tested, with about half of their games being decided by two runs or fewer. And if nothing else, the roster attrition offered the Reds a chance to let others step up. Jonny Gomes kicked open the door of opportunity as a corner outfielder and became a key contributor. Former first-round Draft pick Drew Stubbs emerged in late summer and could become the center fielder of the future. Shortstop Paul Janish proved, at least defensively, that he could handle himself in the Majors but still must grasp hitting. Starting pitcher Homer Bailey took his performances to another level late in the season and finally showed the stuff that made him a coveted prospect the past few seasons. Here is a look back at the 2009 season for the Reds: Record: 78-84, fourth place in the NL Central. Defining moment: By mid-May, the Reds were surging and had even moved into a tie for first place for one day on May 13. They never got above third place again the rest of the season. It was also around the time that Votto, the team's best hitter, started suffering dizzy spells that forced him out of multiple games. By May 30, Votto was placed on the disabled list to be treated for anxiety and depression and missed 21 games. What went right: The Reds' bullpen was consistently ranked at or near the top among NL staffs all season. Francisco Cordero, who notched 39 saves in 43 attempts, was the team's lone All-Star, and veteran Arthur Rhodes proved to be a solid free-agent addition in a setup role alongside Weathers -- before Weathers was traded. But newer faces like Nick Masset and Daniel Ray Herrera also emerged. What went wrong: The lineup had the double whammy of not being able to consistently get on base or score runs when they did have runners on. The Reds ranked at or near the bottom of the Majors in several categories, including team average, on-base percentage, runs scored and hitting with runners in scoring position. ... Injuries decimated much of the roster, with 19 different players serving time on the DL. The projected regular lineup only had 10 games together on the field, as every starting position player except for Phillips spent time on the DL. ... The rotation was supposed to be a roaring strength, but it didn't prove to be. Aaron Harang had another subpar season, and Edinson Volquez went down with a major elbow injury. Bronson Arroyo didn't really get going until after the All-Star break. Biggest surprise: After bottoming out in Tampa Bay the previous season, Gomes signed a Minor League deal with the Reds and reemerged as a dependable clutch hitter and home run threat. Gomes, who began 2009 at Triple-A Louisville, didn't come back to the Majors until late May and still hit 20 home runs in just 281 at-bats.Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
