The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Reds' Bailey player of week in NL

OSU kicker thrust into rose-hued spotlight
3:00 a.m.
OSU looking to extend winning streak over UM
11/21/09
Coles dismayed as RedHawks lose again
11/21/09
Miami hockey blanks Western Michigan 3-0
11/21/09
Miami volleyball advances in MAC tourney
11/21/09
> More sports headlines

Staff and Wire Reports 2:32 AM Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Raise your hand if you thought you’d see this in 2009: Reds right-handed pitcher Homer Bailey named the National League Player of the Week.

That’s right, Cincinnati’s once-erratic starter was honored Monday, Oct. 5, for a strong close to the season. In two outings last week, Bailey went 2-0 with a 0.69 earned-run average. He struck out 14 in 13 innings.

“You could tell he didn’t want to give up anything,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said after Bailey threw six scoreless innings Sunday. “He learned to trust his fastball and how to pitch out of the trouble.”

Bailey was 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA over his final nine starts. He finished the season 8-5 with a 4.53 ERA.

The former No. 1 draft pick caught fire along with the Reds, who went a major-league best 27-13 since Aug. 23.

Bailey’s honor came one week after Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named NL Player of the Week. Votto finished the season with a .323 batting average — the first Red to hit better than .300 since Sean Casey and Ken Griffey Jr. in 2005.

Season’s last game

Baseball’s final playoff spot will be decided today when the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers — both 86-76 — break a tie to decide the champion of the American League Central.

The teams meet in Minneapolis at 5 p.m. The game will be televised by TBS.

The winner’s prize: Fly directly to New York to meet the Yankees in an AL playoff series. The Twins and Tigers were a combined 1-13 this season against the Yankees.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Jay Bruce is not going to play winter ball because he found his stroke in the last couple weeks. He did?
I'm praying that the Reds don't just plant him full-time again in right field next year and wait around for him to start hitting if ever. He's like the reincarnation of Austin Kearns. Lots of strike outs, good outfielder and most fans seem oblivious of his numbers and love him. God help us.

Bruce
9:15 AM, 10/11/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Ok. So, how many here were the same people who were ready to dump Bailey about a month or so ago?

Shane
4:09 PM, 10/9/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Homer's got the potential. He's shown that. And WVa Fan is correct - don't give up on a kid until he gives you reason to do so. But does he have the mentality, maturity, and the ability to make the adjustments needed to become that go-to guy? We'll see. I've gotta agree with Pete. He should go out and beat the Pirates every time and that's not something he's always done, even in AAA. That comes down to consistency, too. I would like to think he's finally "got it" like Hal McCoy stated.

Jeff
7:26 AM, 10/8/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Believe it or not, we've watched the Reds "hope" they had enough in the minor leagues to compete for the last several yrs now; it hasn't worked out real well & I doubt it will be any better next yr? However, it looks like that's what the Reds will try & do and they'll hope fans will still buy tickets while they labor thru another season. It's great to C the young guys develop, but it just isn't likely. We're only talking about improving 10-15 games; why not go for it while we have the pitching?

MAC
2:06 AM, 10/8/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Homer is going to be a great pitcher. He is still young. How many of you wanted the Reds to trade him and gave up on him? He is only going to get better with experience. He has the right stuff. He could be out No. 1 guy in a year or so.

W.Va. Reds fan
8:30 PM, 10/7/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 7 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.