ATLANTA – Rick Reed is so aware of his success at Turner Field that he feigned laryngitis so he wouldn’t have to talk about it.
But a quick Post investigation revealed that Reed just has a funny bone. Although he does have a sore throat, Reed will pitch tonight.
“I don’t throw with my throat,” Reed said.
Reed did talk, but didn’t want to address his Braves success. Why would he want to mess with a good thing?
As it turns out, Reed throws with his right arm and especially well against the Braves. He is 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA in five games at The Ted, despite the fact he can’t keep up with the Joneses.
Chipper Jones enters tonight 10-for-28 (.347) with two homers, while Andruw Jones is 9-for-26 (.346) with three homers against Reed. Reed will also have to face the added lefty bat of former Met Rico Brogna, who is 7-for-20 (.350) against Reed.
This spring, Reed arrived in good shape and it showed. It is not the results that were as important as the fact that his curveball looked improved. The results were good, too, as he went 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five games this spring. Even though he was enjoying so much success, he couldn’t wait to say ‘see ya’ to St. Lucie.
“I was ready to get out of Florida a month ago,” Reed said.
Last season the Mets were 2-4 against Atlanta here with Reed taking one of those victories. He was masterful on July 22, outdueling Greg Maddux with seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win.
At Shea, Reed split his two games against Atlanta last season. Reed started the John Rocker return game on June 29 and only lasted three innings giving up four runs. Andruw Jones even knocked Reed onto the DL with a fractured left wrist after scorching a laser literally off Reed.
When the Mets were fading in September, it was Reed who finally ended the suspense by clinching the wild card with a 6-2 win over the Braves at Shea. He went eight innings that night, giving up one run.
His career record against Atlanta is 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 14 games. This ERA is more than a half run better than his career earned run average of 3.93.
Part of the reason GM Steve Phillips wanted Reed back was because the Mets face the Braves 19 times now and Atlanta hits lefties better than righties. The right-handed Reed signed a $21.75 million three-year contract. The deal has an option for a fourth season.
Part of the reason Reed is called the poor man’s Maddux is because of his precision. Last year, he ranked third in the NL with 1.66 walks per nine innings. Maddux was first at 1.52 per nine.
Out of every pitcher in major-league history with at least 750 innings or 1,500 appearances, Reed ranks 42nd with 1.76 walks per game. Maddux is 85th at 1.98 per. Tommy Bond is the all-time leader with an incredible .576 per nine. Bond played in the late 1870s.
It will be interesting tonight to see how much Reed uses his curveball. During spring training, he worked extensively on throwing it, trying to gain more confidence in it.
With pitching coach’s Charlie Hough’s aid, Reed saw the pitch improve and become more consistent.
“I don’t know if he’ll use it more, but I think he might use it more effectively,” Hough said of Reed’s curveball.
Reed threw about 10 curveballs a game last year and the added pitch can keep hitters off balance. He doesn’t have to use the curve often, he just has to make so hitters have another look to consider.
“I don’t see him as having a better curveball,” Hough said. “I think he is going to be more confident in throwing it. I think he is going to start to use it and getting a big out with it.
“Mentally, if he gets confidence in it, he’ll use it more when it counts.”
It is amazing sometimes to believe pitchers who threw in the World Series could sometimes not be fully confident. Al Leiter, however, the most successful starter on the team, talks about it all the time.
So Hough is maintaining a “handle with care” mindset heading into tonight. He is trying to get inside Reed’s head so Reed can get inside the Braves’ batters’ heads and the rest of the Mets’ opponents.
“Hopefully, I can keep him there,” Hough said. “Once you show the other teams you have a good [curveball], you don’t have to use it.”
