Game 30: Braves 2, Reds 0

Atlanta's Tim Hudson threw a complete game three-hit shutout, giving Reds starter Edinson Volquez a hard-luck 2-0 loss.

The Reds (12-18) saw their offensive struggles continue against one of the National League's better starters. Not many balls were hit hard and there were no rallies to speak of. Edwin Encarnacion reached second on an eight inning infield single and error by Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar, but Cincinnati couldn't drive him in and the Reds were shut out.

Such is life when you're a bad offensive club. On this team, Encarnacion is pretty much the only guy that seems to go to the plate with a plan to be patient. Joey Votto, a guy who walked a decent amount in the minors, never does. Adam Dunn does walk but that has been it as far as his production. He really should be hitting leadoff, as much flak as Bob Boone took for doing that. Brandon Phillips swings at pitches Vladimir Guerrero wouldn't even glance at, and Griffey's bat has looked slow all season. Nearly every Corey Patterson at-bat is a disaster.

TYPICAL COREY PATTERSON AT-BAT
Tapped foul, 0-1.
Bunt attempt foul or missed, 0-2.
Weak groundout.

I can't believe Jerry Hairston Jr. hasn't earned at least more of a look than he's gotten. Patterson even dropped what should have been a routine warning-track fly ball that led to Brian McCann's dinger being a 2-run homer instead of a solo shot. On the positive side, the McCann homer was one of the only mistakes the NL ERA leader Volquez made all night. He was just sparkling and he along with Harang deserve much better than this club playing behind them.

I'm not sure how much of this team's offensive (and rest assured, it is truly offensive) approach at the plate is a result of Dusty Baker's "be aggressive" mantra, but if their approach is his doing it has been truly destructive. Without knowing more it would be premature to assign blame, but the fact is this team had basically the same cast of characters as last year and while that team did struggle against lefties, if the Reds were getting a similar level of production against everyone else, the record would be much better than a 40% success rate.

The first thirty games make it look like Walt Jocketty needs to just blow it up and start over. He's got a great opportunity to change the face of the team after this season, when Ken Griffey Jr. has a $4 million option and they can let Dunn walk. If they were sold on Dunn he would be extended already, and he certainly isn't earning a long-term deal with his play this year.

That, however, is a question for another day. This team is in a major rut but they play tomorrow. Whether that's a threat or a promise I'm not positive, but they definitely will play Atlanta tomorrow night. Game time is 7ish, Matt Belisle goes for the Nasti while JoJo Reyes goes for the ATL. Let's do this.