Given to Fly: Pujols, Cubs might be home run race to watch

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May 15, 2006

Given to Fly: Pujols, Cubs might be home run race to watch

By Craig Pearson The Tribune Star Mon May 15, 2006, 05:22 AM EDT

The Cincinnati Reds’ powerful offense is no secret The Reds wouldn't be a game out of first place in the NL Central because of their pitching.

Chicago fans should know their Cubs are sitting dead last in runs scored, on-base percentage and OPS — on-base percentage and slugging percentage added together — as well as almost 100 points behind the Milwaukee Brewers in slugging percentage.

The list continues … last in hits and second-worst to the Padres and Pirates in batting average (.247). Khalil Greene’s homer Sunday put the Padres just one behind the Cubs for last place in home runs. Albert Pujols went hitless and made an error in the Cardinals’ loss Sunday, showing he is human. With his 19 home runs, Pujols is gaining quickly on the Cubs’ total of 26.

Of course, the Brewers are leading the league in homers with 56 and OPS at .813. We all knew that would happen.

The Reds’ offense, on the other hand, has been a juggernaut in recent years. But the Cincinnati pitchers got served up for the highest ERA in the league last year.

It is nice to see Austin Kearns back to form this year, and Ken Griffey Jr.’s three-run walk-off blast Friday was exciting. Hope to see more of that this summer.

Since the Cubs are going to be home early this fall, I’d love to see Griffey Jr. playing in late September or October. Will that Reds offense have enough to make up for a below-average pitching staff? The Reds are on pace to score a club-record 886 runs, and a team-record 227 home runs so it could be enough.

The 1999 Reds scored 865 runs and it wasn’t enough to get them in the playoffs. That team won 96 games behind a high-powered offense and a 3.99 earned-run average, but manager Jack McKeon’s team lost to the Mets in a one-game playoff for the wild card.

The Cardinals have the top staff in the league again this year. The Cardinals will continue to slow down opposing offenses enough for Pujols, Edmonds and Rolen to drive in enough runs to win.

Two years ago on June 8, the Reds were still in first place and finished that season 76-86. Without any major injuries, the Reds will be in the playoff hunt.

Cincinnati General Manager Wayne Krivsky should be looking to deal away some of the offense for some pitching as he did before spring training with the Willy Mo Pena for Bronson Arroyo deal. Who might he get for Ken Griffey Jr.?

There’s only 22,000 fans showing up for Reds games, so far this season — five teams are worse in MLB — so it’s not like you’re going to outrage the masses by trading Junior. If the Yankees had any pitchers to deal, they would be the team to call after Hideki Matsui going down with a broken wrist. Randy Johnson has been referred to as a “lost little boy” in New York, but I’m not sure I’d make that trade if I were the Reds’ GM.

But I also wouldn’t count on Bronson Arroyo — or any other Reds pitcher — having a 2.03 ERA in August.

---

“10 runs we can do it.” —Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, who was born in Chicago but spent his high school years and after in San Diego, after singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Sunday’s Cubs-Padres game at Wrigley Field. San Diego led 8-0 and won 9-0.

At the current rate, the Cubs should shoot for 10 runs this week.

--Pink bats work — Reds catcher Jason Larue hit his second homer of the year with a Rawlings pink bat that several big leaguers used Sunday to raise money for a breast cancer cure.

Craig Pearson can be reached by phone after 4 p.m. at (812) 231-4356 or by email at craig.pearson@tribstar.com.

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