The Reds were expecting big things out of 28-year old righty reliever Nick Masset as they planned to use him as Francisco Cordero’s top set-up man based on how well he pitched last season. He pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. The things that made Masset such a good pitcher last season (throwing strikes and missing bats) have eluded him big time so far this season. Masset has pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Reds this year and he is 3-3 with 1 save, a 7.07 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP. He has given up 41 hits (5 homers) in only 28 innings this season while walking 16 batters. But he has struck out 37 batters this season showing that he has the stuff needed to turn things around and the Reds desperately need him to do so.

Nick Masset, Danny Herrera, Logan Ondrusek and Mike Lincoln have been bringing in a gas can out of the pen so far this season. They have a combined 0-1 record with a 19.80 ERA and a 2.60 WHIP. They have given up a combined 10 hits (2 of them homers) and they have walked 3 batters in only 5 innings this season which is downright pathetic. The Reds need these guys to straighten things out soon.

The Reds thought that they could count on Bronson Arroyo this season. They felt that he just had a bad year in 2007 but it has carried over into 2008. Arroyo has started 14 games this season for the Reds and he is 4-5 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Part of the problem has been the velocity on his fastball which is way down from last season and it’s allowing hitters to sit on his curveball. Arroyo has allowed an amazing 95 hits and 13 homers in only 73.2 innings this season. The Reds can’t compete in the Central Division if Arroyo doesn’t start pitching better soon.

Kyle Lohse, Bronson Arroyo, Todd Coffey, Matt Belisle and Kirk Saarloos have all not pitched up to their ability this season.  Bronson Arroyo is the pitcher that has hurt the Reds the most because they are paying him like an ace of the rotation and he simply is not that good and he’s proving that this season.  Arroyo is 3-9 this season with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP so far.  That just will not get it done.  The Reds need him to step up and start earning his paychecks starting RIGHT NOW.  Kyle Lohse has never really been that good of a pitcher so it should come as no surprise that he finished the first half of the season with a 5-10 record.  With that record Lohse has a 4.47 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP which doesn’t indicate how good his stuff is.  He should be a better pitcher than he has been so far in his career so it is possible that the light bulb could turn on at any point.  Matt Belisle surprised everyone in Spring Training and he won a job in the rotation but he might have a hard time keeping it if he doesn’t pitch better in the 2nd half.  Belisle is 5-6 with a 5.28 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP so far this season.  Todd Coffey is another pitcher that has been disappointing to the Reds this season.  He is 1-1 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP so far this season.  He has allowed an amazing 46 hits and 8 homers in only 35.1 innings and that will need to change soon.  He has good enough stuff to miss opposing bats so he needs to get that done.  Kirk Saarloos has never been a good major league pitcher and it’s unlikely he ever will be one.  Saarloos is 1-4 with a 6.85 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP so far this season for the Reds.  Hopefully he won’t pitch that much in the 2nd half of the season or the Reds will be in deep trouble.

Kirk Saarloos has been pretty bad for the Reds so far this season.  In 21 games (1 start), he is 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.  In 23 innings, he has allowed 21 hits, walked 11 batters and struck out 13.  Saarloos can start or relieve for the Reds, but he’s good at neither because he doesn’t have major league stuff.  The less the Reds pitch him…..the better.