Ross Ohlendorf shouldn’t pitch another pitch for the Cincinnati Reds.
It’s not just that Ohlendorf isn’t very good. That is part of it, but more importantly, he’s just in the way.
Ohlendorf’s 4.56 ERA in 47.1 innings doesn’t truly depict just how bad he is. Last night showed once again why Ohlendorf probably wouldn’t pitch for any other major league besides the hapless and rudderless Cincinnati Reds.
Ohlendorf celebrated his 34th birthday last night by entering the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead, the base loaded and two outs. He walked the first batter he faced to tie the game. Then he hit the next batter for a walk-off defeat.
Ohlendorf served some purpose earlier in the year when the Reds were reeling from injuries to starting pitchers.
But now, he is of no use to the Reds.
Even if he were a better pitcher than he is and had decent numbers, Ohlendorf is just in the way of a Reds’ team and organization in shambles.
Had Ohlendorf pitched well leading up to the trade deadline, he would be pitching elsewhere right now. Sadly, his ERA this year is actually better than his career 4.71 ERA.
But that’s not good enough for any other team in baseball to even offer the trade equivalent of a bucket of balls.
The sooner the Reds send Ohlendorf on his way the better. That way Reds’ manager Bryan Price will now longer be able to use him. For some reason, Price fancies Ohlendorf as a late-inning pitcher who should be used in tied games or games in which the Reds lead.
The use of Ohlendorf by Price flies in the face of any managerial common sense. He has Raisel Iglesias in his bullpen with a 2.13 ERA but has used the dominant reliever with 7-0 and 7-2 leads in his last two appearances.
Price also had Michael Lorenzen and his 2.13 ERA available. Lorenzen had also pitched the game before in the eighth inning with a 7-3 lead.
Instead, Price trots out Ohlendorf. It’s time for the Reds’ front office to dump personnel like Ohlendorf and Price. Neither should be part of the Reds’ present or future.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
The post Ross Ohlendorf is wasted roster spot for Cincinnati Reds appeared first on OutsidePitchMLB.
