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Home > Blogs > Upon Further Review > Archives > 2008 > June > 02 > Entry
Homer Bailey hasn’t earned his second chance
At this same time last year, the news that Homer Bailey will start Thursday for the Cincinnati Reds would’ve been met with a parade, or something near it. Reds fans would’ve united in celebration, planned a Cy Young party and snapped up as many tickets as possible.
A year later, things have changed. During his time with the big club last season, Bailey was average or slightly above, and it was somewhat unfair that then-general manager Wayne Krivsky and the organization faced so much pressure to produce Bailey in a Reds uniform.
There hasn’t been that pressure this season, especially with Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez as young starters in the rotation. Still, Bailey left his last start for Class AAA Louisville early to keep him fresh for the Reds.
“I didn’t expect anything, didn’t want to know anything as far as what they’re thinking up there,” Bailey said. “I just kind of let things unfold however they do.”
Some around Bailey said he’s better prepared to pitch in the major leagues than he was last year, when he finished 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA.
“Mentally, I think he’s much more mature than the first time I sent him up,” (Louisville manager Rick) Sweet said. “He’s got a better idea of what he’s got to do.”
Bailey dominated in April, going 4-2 with a 2.29 ERA, but for a three-game stretch he allowed 15 earned runs in 141/3 innings. Bailey felt he “got it back” on May 27 against Columbus, allowing one earned run in six innings.
But Bailey hasn’t earned his second chance in Cincinnati. He started the season in Louisville because he couldn’t keep his pitch counts under control. He hasn’t taken the advice of his coaches and others as seriously as he should.
This has nothing to do with his attitude toward reporters, which has been fairly unfriendly. Players have the right to be unfriendly if they like, especially if they feel like the group of reporters are out to get them (which Bailey obviously does). If you have the chance to learn from big-league coaches, though, you should take advantage of the opportunity.
We all helped create his attitude with our constant pats on the back, but he didn’t get the hint when he started the season in Class AAA, told a reporter less than a month ago that he hasn’t learned anything in Louisville and probably really hasn’t. So, he doesn’t yet belong with the Reds again.
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