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Due to the Cincinnati Reds’ recent pitching struggles, the idea of bringing Tony Cingrani back into the rotation has come up. While there is no disagreement about the Reds’ pitching struggles, taking Cingrani out of the bullpen would be the wrong move.
Cingrani made his first three major league appearance out of the pen back in 2012. In those three appearances, he tallied the following:
2012: 3 GP / 5.0 innings / 1.80 ERA
Over the next two seasons, he would be used as a starter and deliver sub-par results:
2013: 18 GS / 97.1 innings / 7-4 / 36 BB’s / 109 K’s / 2.77 ERA
2014: 11 GS / 59.2 innings / 2-7 / 31 BB’s / 58 K’s / 4.68 ERA
Total: 29 GS / 157.0 innings / 9-11 / 67 BB’s / 167 K’s / 3.49 ERA
The reason for Cingrani’s transition to the bullpen was due to his inability to go far into games. In fact, he would pitch an average of 5.41 innings per outing. One reason behind his short outings could be attributed to control issues, which resulted in walks. In his 29 games started, Cingrani would issue an average of 3.84 walks per nine innings.
This season, the Reds sent Cingrani back to the ‘pen and the transition started off well, boasting a 2.66 ERA after his first two months. He struggled in June as he posted 9.00 ERA for the month, raising his season mark to 3.47. He eventually was placed on the disabled list and is currently working his way back. Cingrani’s inability to go far in games proves he is best suited to be in the pen. If you keep him in the pen it will allow him to throw harder and be more effective in shorter spurts.
In the end, even though the Reds may need help with their starters, moving Cingrani back to the rotation is not the answer. Moving him back would not only hurt the bullpen, but the starting rotation as well, which is not what the Reds are seeking to do.
Chad Troyan is a baseball and football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChadTroyan15, “Like”him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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