Leading up to the start of the season, we’re taking every team the Reds will face in 2011 (in order) and examining which players on that team’s current 40-man roster have owned the Reds (Reds Killers) during their careers and which players don’t historically seem to do so hot against the Reds (anti-Reds Killers). Here are the teams we’ve got so far. now: the Cubs.
REDS KILLERSKerry Wood: 13-5, 2.97 ERA and 1.101 WHIP in 151 2/3 innings with 191 strikeouts; 13 wins are 6 more than he has against any other opponent. Strikeout/9 ratio of 11.3.Carlos Zambrano: 16-10, 3.06 ERA in 203 inningsAramis Ramirez: .318 (182-for-573), 26 HRs, 105 RBIs and 89 runs scored (most vs. any opponent)
ANTI-REDS KILLERSJeff Stevens: 34.71 ERA, 9 earned runs and 4 home runs allowed and 3 walks allowed in 2 1/3 inningsKoyie Hill: .217 (13-for-60) with 25 strikeoutsKosuke Fukudome: .222 (30-for-135) with 31 strikeouts
UP-AND-COMING (small sample size but showing signs of potentially being a Reds Killer)James Russell: 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings with 9 strikeoutsRandy Wells: 4-1, 2.64 ERA in 44 1/3 innings
NOTES
• former Red Ryan Dempster is 5-6 with a 4.20 ERA in 105 career innings against the Reds, with 102 strikeouts. He’s made 13 starts and finished 18 games in 37 appearances against his former team.
• neither Cubs starter Matt Garza nor infielder Carlos Pena has faced the Reds.
• former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija has an 11.57 ERA in 4 2/3 innings against the Reds, with 9 hits allowed.
• Infielder Jeff Baker, not known for his power, has 5 home runs in 51 at-bats against the Reds.
• Despite his steller debut against the Reds (HR, 6 RBIs on May 7), Starlin Castro hit just .208 (10-for-48) vs. Cincinnati in 2010.
Posted in: News and notes
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