I posted awhile back talking about how much I loved the Reds 5’6 relief pitcher Danny Herrera. Is this guy fun to watch or what?! I mean I wouldn’t care if the guy was 5’6, 6’0 or 6’8 the dude can pitch. Watching a screwball pitcher is something not every fan gets to see so Reds fans… you are lucky. He doesn’t do anything fancy or throw 98 MPH fastballs but he does do one thing…. gets outs.

I remember reading an article not too long ago which talked about Josh Hamilton. The article was based around how Josh is a type of player that people stop whatever they are doing to watch… kind of like a Barry Bonds or Albert Pujols. Well, the entire time i was reading this article, I thought to myself who my “stop-to-watch” player is. It didn’t take me long to think who it was.. it is Danny Herrera. Laugh all you want but Reds fans that watch games regularly can back me up that Herrera is fun to watch. It’s been noted that he can throw 12 different pitches, with his fastball topping out at 81 MPH.

People forget that Danny Herrera was the “throw in” player in the Josh Hamilton trade. Sure Edinson is struggling right now and I’d love to have Josh Hamilton bat in this lineup but I want people to not forget about Herrera. He has posted a 2.35 ERA w/ 6 SO in 7.2 IP.

I’m going to close on this note. Sure everyone loves the drug comeback story of Josh Hamilton, or the pitcher turned outfielder story of Rick Ankiel, but what about the life story of Danny Herrera. Both Hamilton and Ankiel were destined to be great players, Herrera was not. He doesn’t have the flam throwing arm or the excellent power behind the plate.. all he has is 12 different pitches none that reach over 81MPH. He throws pitches that are normally thrown in a wiffle ball game. Herrera is more than an underdog story… his story is a miracal. So Reds fans… who is your “stop-to-watch” player??

Many of you who are reading this post, probably already know that the Red’s lost their opening day game 2-1 on Monday. I still don’t know how we only lost by 1… seems like I was constantly thinking we should be down by 4 or 5… OH WELL!

After reading reds blogs and message boards daily for over three years, I really believe that Cincinnati has the most pessimistic fans in all of baseball. People are gripping over the reds opening day offensive output and claiming that the reds will not hit all year. Jesus… do you realize who we played and had to hit against?! Yeah the reds didn’t hit but they had to face not just a lefty, but the best lefty in ALL OF BASEBALL and ,not to mention, a very improved bullpen with the best closer in ALL OF BASEBALL. COME ON REDS FANS!

Jeff Keppinger hit a game winning broken bat single last night for the Houston. And who would of guessed it, I got on the reds message board and all I read is about how dumb trading keppinger was and how we need him on this team. The same people complaining how we traded Keppinger yesterday were the same people rejoicing and saying it was a “great move” the day he was traded. COME ON REDS FANS

There were many people on the reds message board yesterday complaining about my man Danny Herrera and how he needs to be sent down and that he is “trash and worthless”. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The guy was flat out nervous and you could tell. He hit his spots all ST, having excellent command. Just because he was nervous and pitched a bad inning, doesnt mean he is trash and should be sent down. Thats ridiculous. I’m sure when Herrera ends the season as being one of the best pitchers in our bullpen, those same people will be saying how great and awesome he was and how glad they were to have him on our team. COME ON REDS FANS!

I have a message to ALL Reds fans: Relax and take deeps breaths. Just because a team loses their first game doesn’t mean their season is over.. there is 161 more games. Just because an offense may have a bad night doesn’t mean they will struggle all season… there is 161 more games. Just because a pitcher has a bad inning doesn’t mean he should get sent down to AAA… there is 161 more games. It’s one thing to criticize a particular player for their ability or critic the fundamentals, or the lack their of in a game, buts its completly another thing to say a season is over after opening day. Reds fans need to sit back and take a few deep breaths. They say in football that you cant judge a draft pick till three years down the road… I feel like the same thing can be applied to baseball.. You can’t just a season until at least the all star break. COME ON REDS FANS!

Jeff Keppinger was traded to the Astros yesterday for a PTBNL. The PTBNL will be made soon. I think it wasn’t a bad plan for the Reds and was definitly a good thing for Jkepp. Jkep hasn’t been the same since he broke his kneecap and seemed last year to prove that he wasn’t anything but a player off the bench. Bench players are something the Reds have an abundance of and Jkepp is someone they could trade to get somebody in return. Jkeep benefits because he will probably get a chance to play everyday, probably at his best position- 3B. I wish Jkepp my best and I’m sure all Reds fans will do the same.

I’m not sure if this is completly accurate but the average height of a Major League pitcher is 6’2.

The Reds Pitcher Danny Herrera is 5’6.

With Danny Herrera, I have had nothing but positive things to say about him ever since he got a chance to pitch last year. Dude is a stud and I really hope he makes the team. He is a long shot but man, he is such a great story! He is 5’6, 140 pounds and has an 86 MPH fastball. He apparently has 12 different pictches in his arsenal and is a screwball pitcher. How sweet is that!

Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp hit back-to-back homers in the top of the tenth to beat Mike Lincoln and the Reds, 6-4.  Edwin Encarnacion had sent the game into extra innings with a two-out, two-strike, bottom-of-the ninth homer off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Earlier solo homers by Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips, and a pinch-hit RBI single by Javier Valentin, accounted for the rest of the Reds runs.  Tim Wakefield and Edinson Volquez, the starting pitchers, duelled for seven innings before turning the game over to the bullpens.

Before the game, Danny Herrera was sent back to Louisville when Gary Majewski was reinstated from the bereavement list.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an improvement over OPS.

Lefty Cole Hamels pitched a complete game three-hitter as the Phillies shut out the Reds 5-0 to win the series three games to one.  Homer Bailey gave up all five Phillies runs in six and one-third innings, but only two of the runs were earned, as the Reds committed three errors on the day.

Before the game, Danny Herrera was optioned to Louisville to make room on the roster for Bailey.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.

Phillies right-hander Adam Eaton frustrated Reds hitters for six and two-thirds innings, Chase Utley drove in yet another run, Pat Burrell hit his 14th homer of the year, and Brad Lidge earned his 15th save as the Phillies beat the Reds for the second night in a row, 3-2.

Aaron Harang pitched credibly for the Reds but was once again the victim of poor run support.  Edwin Encarnacion appeared to have finally hit his way out of his extended slump, hitting a solo homer and a triple, and scoring both Reds runs.  Ryan Freel singled, stole a base, made a run-saving catch, threw a bat into the crowd, and suffered a hamstring injury.  Diminutive screw-balling lefty Danny Herrera made an impressive debut for the Reds, striking out Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell with the bases loaded.  Herrera was called up before the game, when Kent Mercker was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL.

Bluzer runs RedlegStats.com, the home of Absolute Average, an alternative to OPS.