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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > March > 09 > Entry
No need to worry: Harang, Baker
Color me confused and I prefer fuschia or chartreuse, the colors I preferred in my leisure suits back in the 1970s.
What’s up with Aaron Harang? I know, I know. It is ONLY spring training and that was only Harang’s second appearance this spring when he couldn’t make it out of the second inning Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He was supposed to pitch three innings, but only made it through 1 1/3 because he reached his limit of 50 pitches at that juncture, using 28 in the first inning.
At this time of spring training, it is always the same. A pitcher who can’t retire his Aunt Matilda says, “I was just working on things.” Or he says, “I’m just trying to build my arm strength.” Or he says, “I’m just getting in my work and I’m not worried about results.”
They all say it and Harang said it Tuesday after giving up three runs, four hits and a walk while retiring only four batters.
HE IS WORKING on his new mechanics, some tweaking in his delivery after he lost 32 games in the last two years.
Nobody loves Aaron Harang more than I do - a great guy, never makes excuses, takes the ball without question at any time, loves his wife and kids. What more can one ask?
BUT DOESN’T he worry you Reds fans? He should. This is going to be the Opening Day starter against the St. Louis Cardinals and so far this spring he has had two putrid performances.
Both Harang and manager Dusty Baker were happy with the way the baseball was coming out of Harang’s hand. “Nice and smooth.” Apparently, the Cleveland Indians (his first opponent) and the Diamondbacks were happy with the way it came out of his hand and sped to the outfield.
With Harang, I’m more than willing to give him the benefit of doubt after doubt after doubt. He’s earned it. But he is also ultra-important to the success or failure of this team, a team that can’t take another 16 defeats from its No. 1 pitcher.
I’ll let you listen to what Harang and Baker said after the Reds lost, 10-4, to the D-Backs, their third loss in four games. Does it soothe your nerves? Not mine.
“I didn’t want to come out of the game that early, but what it came down to was pitch count,” said Harang. “I was throwing some good pitches early-on, but they were working the count. It’s tough when you get behind in the count and have to come in to them. Doesn’t make it any easier.
“I’d get ahead and miss up, or pull a slider and bury it too much,” he said. “It’s still early-on and nothing I’m concerned too much about. Of course, with this weather (54 degrees), it felt like last April in Cincinnati,” Harang said with a laugh.
Working on mechanics, Aaron?
:”Yeah, overall I’m happy with it, but I have to do more with my arm slot and I have to do some fine-tuning,” he said. “From the way I’ve pitched all along to making some mechanical adjustments doesn’t work overnight. I still have some things to work on, but that’s what spring is for right now.
“The ball felt as if it was coming out free and easy, but I was just missing,” he added. “It’s still a long spring and the biggest thing is to build the pitch count right now.”
See what I mean? A dictionary of a pitcher’s spring cliches.
“I’m not really concerned with the outcome, but Dusty was happy and (pitching coach) Bryan Price was happy with the way the ball was coming out,” he said. “The adjustments? I’m loading up a little bit longer, striding out to really drive toward the plate by lengthening my stride six or seven inches from what it was last year.”
OK, so what did Baker say?
“The ball was coming out his hand well today,” he said. “He was getting two strikes on most everybody, but just couldn’t put them away with that third strike. He threw the ball well, but centered his pitches too much when he had two strikes. The main thing is we’re pleased with the way the ball is coming out of his hands, giving him better velocity and better rhythm and tempo. He’ll be all right. He looked pretty good.”
I’m no pitching coach and I’ll defer to Harang and Baker and Price, but sometime soon he needs to pitch some clean innings to soothe the angst of fans all over the Tri-State, some of whom are now saying, “Why didn’t they trade him to the Los Angeles Dodgers this winter when they had the chance?”
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May 1, 2010 10:56 PM | Link to this
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March 30, 2010 5:45 AM | Link to this
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By Dave
March 11, 2010 12:16 AM | Link to this
REMEMBER!! What is Baker’s history with young arms? The Giants-The Cubs. Don’t count your while this manager is in charge of your chickens.
By Billie
March 10, 2010 9:48 PM | Link to this
I know we can’t start him opening day (I’m just so excited about him being in Cincinnati), but he’s ready and should be given the fifth spot in the rotation and should be on the opening day roster. My dreams have come true and I can’t wait to see him pitch. I have a feeling it’s going to be the same thing with the others. Inconsistency galore with a number of big run first innings. Chapman is going to make the rest of our rotation look AA over the next couple of months. This guy is special and we are so lucky to have him. I also can’t wait for Edison to come back. He’s our second best starting pitcher.
By StuttgartTim
March 10, 2010 7:07 PM | Link to this
Billie, Billie, Billie, First even if Chappie IS ready you would NEVER start the rookie on Opening day, especially in Cinci. Secondly, you do not want to rush this kid. Let him pitch a little in AA or AAA. If he is looking good come September then you bring him up. The last thing you want to do is to put too much on him too soon. I DO agree however, that Harang should not have been named opening day starter this early.
By Billie
March 10, 2010 3:46 PM | Link to this
I think Harang may be done? I like the guy, but the numbers don’t lie. When is Dusty going to wake up and realize that Champman is our #1 guy. I’m tired of hearing that he may not be ready. This guy has been coached by some of the best. He’s ready and should be starting on opening day.
By Mike
March 10, 2010 2:55 PM | Link to this
We should not worry too much. Co Co Cordero had a horrible Spring and look at the year he had. As long as Baker does not pitch Harang a few days after pitching four innings in relief or resume pitching after a long rain delay after a win, the Reds should be fine.
By Mutaman
March 10, 2010 2:42 PM | Link to this
“This time of ST is when pitchers are supposed to be ahead of the hitters. The Reds’ pitchers aren’t anywhere near that.” How can you make a statement like that? Chapman, Arroyo, Bailey, and Wood have looked great.
By Justin2
March 10, 2010 11:25 AM | Link to this
Actually Harang’s velocity last year was the same as it was in 2006 and 2007. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1451&position=P#pitchtype Harang had bad luck last year, but given his solid K and BB rate he will bounce back this year.
By MAC
March 10, 2010 10:21 AM | Link to this
Harang’s out pitch is his slider & of course it’s early & most pitchers aren’t throwing a lot of breaking balls at this pt or aren’t throwing them well as AH mentioned. He has lost velocity off his FB & his short stride doesn’t help w/ that; he hardly uses the lower 1/2 to pitch w/ which is what they R working on…lengthing his stride. Doing that will take away the bite or downward tilt on his slider…he has to find a happy medium where he get’s good performance out of both pitches..he’s still working that out so I can buy most of the pitcher speak @ this pt. However, I don’t see AH being the pitcher he once was. He’s lost just enough off of both pitches to make him very hittable. He’s worked hard to get in better shape; maybe it will make a difference in the long run…let’s hope so anyway.
By Ignorant Beings
March 10, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this
Why does noone remember all the games Harang pitched well in, and got little to no run support? You sound like the morons who sit in the stands at HS games, yelling at the coach, because you heard some other being, lacking in intelligence, embarrass himself.
By Nate in Miami FL
March 10, 2010 9:16 AM | Link to this
I’m just wondering why he was named opening day starter so early in the Spring. Shouldn’t Cueto be considered for this spot? I haven’t been following much this Spring, but from last year’s output I would consider him the Reds’ strongest pitcher. Nonetheless, I’m just happy to be able to talk baseball again and have Hal’s blogs to keep up with the Redlegs!
By Ebes
March 10, 2010 9:13 AM | Link to this
I’m standing behind Harang and you can color me Cincinnati Red! “worry bankrupts the spirit”-Berri Clive
By Im4moreHal
March 10, 2010 9:07 AM | Link to this
Just hope Harang can get off to a decent start and then traded. Maloney, Chapman, Leake and Ownings will lose less than the 15 games that Harang will have. The young pitchers need a chance. We need a catcher and SS in the future.
By cardenas 16
March 10, 2010 9:05 AM | Link to this
I believe Harang has made those comments before during the regular season. He was not concerned on his way to a 16 loss season. The guy is batting practice. Lets hope Volquez heals, Bailey is the real deal, Cueto keeps progressing and Chapman is the real deal and this staff could be very strong in 2011 without Harang.
By Parallax
March 10, 2010 6:54 AM | Link to this
Fire Haraang!
By steven ross
March 10, 2010 6:52 AM | Link to this
Spring Training or not, I’m with Hal. Little bit concerned. We’ve seen this too many times lately with Harang.
By michael
March 10, 2010 6:23 AM | Link to this
Not worried….I think Harang will have a good year. Yoda, I have pondered that same question. Gullet didn’t have much to work with in his tenure.
By Mike
March 9, 2010 11:45 PM | Link to this
Yo Hal, Harangatang didn’t pitch against the Indians. I think he had two perfect or near perfect innings in the Intra Squad game.
By Yodasbrother
March 9, 2010 11:07 PM | Link to this
I always wondered how good of a pitching coach that Dick Pole was. It seems like Don Gullet did not have any arms to work with like Pole had. I know Pole had lower era’s, but I am not sure they were that much lower. Maybe Harang will be a good barometer as to whether we have a better pitching coach this year. I hope it ends up good for Harang. He seems like a class person. Thought Pole was decent too, just wondered how good of a pitching coach he really was.
By Justin
March 9, 2010 10:44 PM | Link to this
Not sure, but I think if you pull his spring stats from the past they are consistently bad. I remember Griff or someone saying how they would sit in the outfield and watch him thrown the same pitch time after time in the spring. I’m not worried yet, but if his last outing or two before Opening Day aren’t better then I’ll worry.