The Reds suffered another tough loss in extra innings this evening coming only 3 days after the marathon 19 inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Looking over the QRO data, this was to be expected. Tomorrow the final task on this Herculean road trip will be the most daunting task of all. The Reds face Jair Jurrjens who leads the National League with a 1.56 ERA. The challenge the Braves present is not just formidable starting pitching led by Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, and Derek Lowe it is a relief corps that the QRO analysis shows to be tougher than any in the NL Central. On to the numbers!
| Atlanta Braves Relievers | ||||||
| Pitcher | RA | QRO | FRO | ND | QAR | FAR |
| Jairo Asencio | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% | 20% |
| Cory Gearrin | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 60% | 30% |
| Craig Kimbrel | 27 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 78% | 22% |
| Scott Linebrink | 23 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 70% | 26% |
| Cristhian Martinez | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 46% | 54% |
| Peter Moylan | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71% | 29% |
| Eric O’Flaherty | 28 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 75% | 18% |
| Scott Proctor | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 86% | 14% |
| George Sherrill | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 60% | 25% |
| Jonny Venters | 29 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 83% | 17% |
| Braves Staff Totals | 168 | 120 | 41 | 7 | 71% | 24% |
| Data Through 5/28/2011 | ||||||
I find my self again drawn to a conclusion I often make when examining a baseball team. The best offense in baseball is a good defense. Strong pitching and solid defense allow you to hang around and win ballgames. The Reds proved it yesterday and tonight the Braves reiterated that proof. Looking over the Braves numbers what grabs my attention is the fact that 4 out of 5 Braves pitchers with 20 relief appearances have at least a 70% Quality Appearance Ratio. The Braves are the first team to crest the 70% WQAR as a staff. Lastly, and in my opinion most importantly, I covet Jonny Venters. I want him in a Reds uniform. He is a reliever in the mold of the Wild Boys of the 1990 World Champion Reds Team. His ERA is a eye popping .055. He has successfully fulfilled manager Fredi Gonzalez task 24 of 29 times, the most of any reliever I have yet analyzed. And he throws strikes recording 28 strikeouts in 30.2 innings with only 10 walks. The success Atlanta has enjoyed has been in spite of the loss of Peter Moylan who is slated for back surgery in the near future and is now on the 60 day DL. Winning in Atlanta requires you to strike early to avoid being put to sleep by this bullpen. Stay tuned for more QRO analysis and an NL Central update on Monday.
Follow me on Twitter @JohnHeitz
One final word. Remember to say thank you to the veterans in your life this Memorial Day Weekend and to remember those no longer with us.
For my part I salute my uncle, Lawrence Heitz. In the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln, PFC Heitz gave his “Last Full Measure of Devotion” on the island of Okinawa in 1944.
Tags: Atlanta Braves, Jonny Venters, QRO
I am a father of four kids who has a desire to share my love for baseball with them. From pretending I was a right handed Joe Morgan in the back yard playing wiffle ball (I even did the arm flap, to pump up my swing) to my obsession with the strategy of the game. Since I live in Pittsburgh now where baseball is on the third burner, listening to Marty on the internet radio broadcast is sacred time to me. I love his caustic bluntness about the Reds failings almost as much as his youthful joy when the Reds excel.
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