Time for another set of Human League/Better Know a Red player profiles. Today we consider the pitching stylings of Aaron Harang. Check out his Human League entry, then go ponder his stats on JinAZ's site.

Aaron Harang is the Reds’ number one pitcher. He’s a right-hander who makes his mark with more with good control and smart pitching than with overwhelming stuff. He’s also freaking enormous at 6′ 7″ and 270 pounds. Harang is currently under a 1-year contract with the Reds for $2.35 million.

Amid the steaming mound of crap that was the Reds’ pitching in 2005, Harang quietly developed himself into a nice little bright spot. Harang enjoyed a strong spring in 2006 and won himself the Opening Day start.

To be fair, it wasn’t exactly a hard spot to win:

• Paul Wilson, the 2005 Opening Day starter, was beginning the season on the disabled list.
• Eric Milton, the shiny and expensive acquisition at the beginning of 2005 had been responsible for so much of that steaming mound that they couldn’t have called him the number one even if he started throwing 105 m.p.h.
• Brandon Claussen, a fairly bright spot in 2005 himself, just wasn’t enjoying the kind of surge that Harang was.
• Bronson Arroyo was still crying too much about being forced out of the Boston bullpen to take the ball.
• Dave Williams just wasn’t that good.

Also, to be fair, Harang’s performance on Opening Day 2006 was pretty much a shambles. Since then, though, Harang has established himself as the undeniable ace of the staff. In fact, he’s not just an ace by Reds standards. When was the last time we had one of those?

Among his impressive accomplishments include a shut-out against defending Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals in which he knocked in the only Reds’ run for the 1-0 win.

That RBI was particularly poignant considering what a horrible hitter Harang is. His inability to hit was an ongoing joke through 2005. However, his skills at the plate have improved markedly in 2006.

Get more information on Harang, specifically of the stat persuasion, at JinAZ’s site.

Aaron Harang is the Reds' number one pitcher. He's a right-hander who makes his mark with more with good control and smart pitching than with overwhelming stuff. He's also freaking enormous at 6' 7″ and 270 pounds. Harang is currently under a 1-year contract with the Reds for $2.35 million.

Amid the steaming mound of crap that was the Reds' pitching in 2005, Harang quietly developed himself into a nice little bright spot. Harang enjoyed a strong spring in 2006 and won himself the Opening Day start.

To be fair, it wasn't exactly a hard spot to win:

• Paul Wilson, the 2005 Opening Day starter, was beginning the season on the disabled list.
• Eric Milton, the shiny and expensive acquisition at the beginning of 2005 had been responsible for so much of that steaming mound that they couldn't have called him the number one even if he started throwing 105 m.p.h.
• Brandon Claussen, a fairly bright spot in 2005 himself, just wasn't enjoying the kind of surge that Harang was.
• Bronson Arroyo was still crying too much about being forced out of the Boston bullpen to take the ball.
• Dave Williams just wasn't that good.

Also, to be fair, Harang's performance on Opening Day 2006 was pretty much a shambles. Since then, though, Harang has established himself as the undeniable ace of the staff. In fact, he's not just an ace by Reds standards. When was the last time we had one of those?

Among his impressive accomplishments include a shut-out against defending Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals in which he knocked in the only Reds' run for the 1-0 win.

That RBI was particularly poignant considering what a horrible hitter Harang is. His inability to hit was an ongoing joke through 2005. However, his skills at the plate have improved markedly in 2006.

Get more information on Harang, specifically of the stat persuasion, at JinAZ's site.

Since I went to all the work to write these freaking questions, I figure I might as well share what I would have asked if I’d had the opportunity. I think you’ll agree that this would have been a killer interview

I would have asked these questions on May 1, 2006, after his complete game against the St. Louis Cardinals:

Tonight’s start —
swapping rotation to face Mulder
complete game; 4 hits, 1 run, 4 strike-outs, 5-0 recordBeen on fire. How’s it been pitching in Cincinnati?
How’s the media different?
How’s the team different?
How are the fans different?

When you were traded, you had some not-so-nice things to say about leaving Boston. Would you still rather be pitching out of their pen than what you did tonight?

Are you still in touch with your old Boston teammates?
What do they think of your performance?
What do they think of Wily Mo?
You’ve got to have a sense that you’re proving them wrong for trading you

The Sox beat the Yankees tonight, 3-7. Are you sad to have missed it?

You’ve got two home runs and a .125 batting average, which isn’t horrible for a pitcher. How are you liking hitting again?

What do you think of the Reds chances continuing through the season?

Lots of people testify about the influence of Bob Castellini on the team this season. Are you feeling his impact as well?

When are the cornrows coming back?

Do you have any new musical projects in the works?

What do you think of the new Pearl Jam album?

Looks like your next start will be in the heat of Arizona. Are you ready for a climate change?

The best of luck to you, Mr. Arroyo. Thank you so much for being on the podcast.

Since I went to all the work to write these freaking questions, I figure I might as well share what I would have asked if I'd had the opportunity. I think you'll agree that this would have been a killer interview

I would have asked these questions on May 1, 2006, after his complete game against the St. Louis Cardinals:

Tonight's start --
swapping rotation to face Mulder
complete game; 4 hits, 1 run, 4 strike-outs, 5-0 record

Been on fire. How's it been pitching in Cincinnati?
How's the media different?
How's the team different?
How are the fans different?

When you were traded, you had some not-so-nice things to say about leaving Boston. Would you still rather be pitching out of their pen than what you did tonight?

Are you still in touch with your old Boston teammates?
What do they think of your performance?
What do they think of Wily Mo?
You've got to have a sense that you're proving them wrong for trading you

The Sox beat the Yankees tonight, 3-7. Are you sad to have missed it?

You've got two home runs and a .125 batting average, which isn't horrible for a pitcher. How are you liking hitting again?

What do you think of the Reds chances continuing through the season?

Lots of people testify about the influence of Bob Castellini on the team this season. Are you feeling his impact as well?

When are the cornrows coming back?

Do you have any new musical projects in the works?

What do you think of the new Pearl Jam album?

Looks like your next start will be in the heat of Arizona. Are you ready for a climate change?

The best of luck to you, Mr. Arroyo. Thank you so much for being on the podcast.