Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
May 23, 2008
Jekyll and Hyde Pitching Staff

The Cincinnati Reds lost to the San Diego Padres Thursday night 8-2. It's another example of a very strange season for the Reds pitchers. Look at the home/road splits for the team:

Through May 22
Reds 2008HomeRoad
Runs per Game4.54.1
Runs Allowed per Game4.25.7
Record14-97-18
Johnny Cueto

Johnny Cueto at Dodger Stadium. Cueto is the poster child for the Reds home/road woes as he posts a 3.82 ERA at home, 7.99 on the road.
Photo: Icon SMI


The pitching staff allowed more home runs in fewer games at home than on the road, just what should be expected from pitching in a ballpark like GAB. That, however, hasn't translated into more runs allowed. For some reason, the pitching staff is striking out fewer batters on the road but allowing many more hits:

Through May 22
Reds Pitchers 2008HomeRoad
Innings210208 2/3
Strikeouts195174
Hits191255

So what's going on? Could it be that visitors, knowing that Great American is a good place to hit homers, are swinging for the fences? This would account for the higher strikeout rate, and possibly fewer hits as fly balls fall into waiting outfield gloves. If the Reds were pitching on the road like they were at home, they'd be in contention in the NL Central.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:24 AM | Team Evaluation | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Well, the New League Powerhouse failed to do the most important thing in interleague play this weekend - win more ball games. (I only looked at games from Friday - Sunday)

AL went 22 - 19 in this first round of interleague play.

You must have forgot to do that post like you said you would before the weekend started. ;)

Posted by: zeppelinkm at May 23, 2008 10:18 AM

I think most of the difference in strikeouts is because cueto and volquez have pitched about 20 more innings at home than on the road. If you look at last year's team the strikeout rate was about the same at home and on the road.

Are the run differences meaningful at this stage of the season?

Posted by: bsball at May 23, 2008 10:28 AM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?