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Reds could take lead in Hamilton trade
In the past few weeks, we’ve wondered who got the better of the deal, the Rangers or Reds. The Rangers have Josh Hamilton, one of baseball’s hottest hitters who seems back to form with an injury-free, blistering season. The Reds have Edinson Volquez, for whom they traded Hamilton to the Rangers and who has been the staff’s ace.
But there’s another factor that could push the Reds ahead in that trade, and we should find out soon if it’s legit. After placing reliever Kent Mercker on the disabled list, the Reds promoted Danny Herrera, the reliever who also came from Texas in the Hamilton deal.
(By the way, don’t confuse this Danny Herrera with the Napalm Death drummer or the power lifter.)
Herrera started the season with Class AA Chattanooga, but has moved forward in the system and pitched well for Class AAA Louisville:
“He was the other player,” Bats manager Rick Sweet said. “Obviously, the main guy (Volquez) is doing great, but Herrera is doing great down here. He keeps moving up the ladder, and we may very well see him at the next level before the year is out.”
Sweet said those words two weeks ago, so Herrera has arrived with the Reds sooner than many thought. He’s not known as a fireballing pitcher, and not just because he’s 5-foot-6, but he apparently throws a number of pitches well.
Herrera doesn’t overpower hitters but throws several pitches well. Most relievers stick to a fastball and one or two offspeed pitches. Herrera throws what he calls “seven different kinds of smoke.”
The best of them is his screwball that, as the name suggests, is quirky and uncommon and leaves most hitters flabbergasted. It also keeps them off-balance and makes his mid-80s fastball more effective.
“His stuff makes him unique,” Bats pitching coach Ted Power said. “He knows how to use it against all hitters — righties, lefties, singles hitters, power hitters. He knows how to mix it up. We’re not afraid to put him in there at any time.”
If Herrera pitches well, I think we can officially say the Hamilton deal was the best of Wayne Krivsky’s tenure as general manager (sorry, Brandon Phillips, but you’re just one man).
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