And so it starts ....

[JohnU]

The perpetual optimism over a lot of young pitchers is often offset by the reality that some of them won't be able to pitch.

Looks like Sanchez will get a few starts, right?

Reds' John Lamb: Undergoes offseason surgery
--
John Lamb underwent offseason back surgery, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lamb went under the knife for disc surgery in December, but was originally expected to be ready in time for the start of the season. Manager Bryan Price recently indicated that the lefty was a bit behind schedule though, so mid-to-late April seems to be the target date at this point.

 

[Redsfan1507]

The percentage of pitchers (or any player) than do not get injured is zero, if the sample size is large enough. Some overcome them or a few even get better. Most blitz careers.,,,of thousands of players we've never heard of, because it happened in Peoria, Dunedin, Nashua or Harvey Brokedick Jr. College.

Dizzy Dean was never the same after an injured toe.

 

[chico ruiz]

that was the injury or health issue that held up the cueto trade to kc for a short time. so, the reds knew what they were getting. they apparently felt confident enough about the severity of it to pull the trigger on the trade. lamb was having his best season at omaha, but i think finnegan and reed were the primary gets.

 

[JohnU]

Most injuries can be "fixed" to some degree and much of the problem is originally how the pitcher uses his arm/body/legs. If he can't adjust to a new regimen after the injury is fixed, he can't pitch to the same dynamics that got him signed.
A lot of pitchers can re-invent themselves if they have natural tools. If not, they are using their bodies to improve their skill set. Introducing the sore elbow or shoulder. The cutter is not for everyone.

It would be hard to believe that Dan Quisenberry could get people out if he didn't throw sidearm.

Sidearm is not a natural motion.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Tom Glavine got into the HOF with a called strike 6 inches outside.

 

[JohnU]

Lamb is not gonna get that strike!

 

[JohnU]

Brewers dumping Khris Davis for prospects. Could be a trend is signaling here. Davis's name starts with a K.

 

[Redsfan1507]

It's harder than you might think to lose more than 64 games. So, the Reds might actually improve their W/L with the Brewers in the same division. IMO, the Cubs should kill this division by the A-S break, with the Pirates playing for a playoff game. I think the Cardinals are worse than last year and may be just a 3rd place, .500 team. As bad as the Reds pitching may be, it's still better than the Brewers, who not only are less Ramirez, Gomez, Davis and Segura in the lineup, they also play bad defense. Roidless Ryan Braun can't lift that team by himself.

 

[JohnU]

It also appears that teams are dumping these one-dimensional hitters.
I can see the Brewers trying to trade Braun but that might not be possible with his contract.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Actually, IMO, Braun is a decent hitter even without the roids- he may be .290/25HR /20SB player...or about what Barry Bonds might have been if he hadn't turned into a .350/70 uber-roider.

Braun makes a lot of money, and that's the real potential problem- with trades and MLB.... He's failed 2 drug tests-even if the 1st one was overturned by MLB and the 2nd wasn't discovered by MLB-that speaks to PED's being a secondary consideration by MLB- the real issue is if his performance drops much and his contract is perceived to be an inconvenience- if so, MLB will A-Rod him and try to get as much of that inconvenient contract suspended as possible. They still boo Braun in Milwaukee. He won't be popular anywhere else as a mere mortal, and risking juicing back up again to be a superhero is a riskier risk now than 15 minutes after being named NL MLP. It's sticky wicket most will avoid, so I think Braun is a Brewer for his playing life, or suspension for life, whichever is first.