Cactus schedule

[JohnU]

I think the Reds are missing the boat on not advancing these guys out of Double-A more quickly. They seem far too interested in contract status than winning at the top level.

Astin in mix to win a spot in Reds' bullpen

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Not much of a competition for roster spots if the club has already determined who is making the team before ST starts.

Robert Stephenson had another solid outing going 4 innings allowing a solo HR, 5 K 's, 1 BB.
Why has he yet to start a ST game?

There's several relief pitchers that have pitched well enough to make this club. Barrett Astin is one of them. The guy that has probably struggled the most in relief is Michael Lorenzon.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The winner of the opening day starter sweepstakes is Scott Feldman.

The loser is the fans.

 

[JohnU]

The winner of the opening day starter sweepstakes is Scott Feldman.

The loser is the fans.

So much for still another great tradition. No offense to Feldman, but a guy signed off the clearance rack should not be the OD starter.

 

[JohnU]

Gawd, how I wish we could find somebody who wasn't kissing ass with the angels.

"I think his experience and the way he commands the strike zone really puts him as the best candidate," Price said. "Scott is exactly the guy we were looking for and we targeted. Veteran guy with a presence that commands the zone and has a veteran savvy that will serve us well. That will work well in an Opening Day environment."

 

[JohnU]

So if Romano makes the rotation, how many innings do they give him?

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Romano threw 156 innings last season, so I'd guess the Reds would be comfortabe letting him throw around 180.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Heard on WLW that Iglesias has soreness in his elbow.

Once again, when elbow soreness makes the news, it's never good news.

 

[JohnU]

Once again, when elbow soreness makes the news, it's never good news.

I was thinking Iglesias was going for the shoulder injury to end his career. I guess in favoring that, he must have 'tweaked' an elbow. Scratch him for 4 weeks, I imagine.

 

[Redsfan1507]

So much for still another great tradition. No offense to Feldman, but a guy signed off the clearance rack should not be the OD starter.

Remember the "grand" SP for the opening game of GABP ? Jimmy Haines. Reminds me of that one.

 

[JohnU]

Remember the "grand" SP for the opening game of GABP ? Jimmy Haines. Reminds me of that one.

Just for the bug of it, I looked up the 1935 OD starter for the Reds, after the team was 52-99 the previous year. The old storyteller Waite Hoyt at the end of his career, started for the Pirates. Ol' Waite was not the man he once was.

Tony Frietas started for the Reds.

Tony Freitas Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 16, 1935 | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[Redsfan1507]

Listening to WLW on the way home from work today, and caught a Price remark on questions about where Peraza might hit in the lineup- I had to chuckle....Price was non committal, but didn't sound like #2 was his preference...said he (Peraza) didn't walk much and wanted baserunners on for Votto, and that he was concerned about whoever hit behind Hamilton allowing him enough pitches to steal a base...uh...since when does Hamilton walk much ? and...why do the Reds want to wait until the hitter has 2 strikes to let Billy steal ?

...Trying to figure out WHO on this team "walks much" other than Votto...I'm stumped....there aren't many Reds other than JV that walk enough to mention, and I'm hard pressed to expect any Reds hitter other than Votto to have better than a 3:1 K to BB ratio. Not sure this lineup has many teeth in any order, but I have to believe Peraza's contact rate and OBP will be higher than either Hamilton or Cozart. Schebler has had a decent spring, if that's any consolation. If DuVall isn't hitting 30 HR behind Votto, JV may walk 300 times this year, or hit .250 swinging at the pitcharounds.

 

[JohnU]

I think Schebler may be a pleasant surprise but he will be platooned. As for taking a walk, I'd like to see somebody just put the ball in play before Votto comes to the plate.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Gonna need to score like a basketball team to outscore the Reds pitching staff.

 

[JohnU]

Meso clearly not ready to start the season, so that's probably a DL for at least the first 2 weeks, probablyb longer. i'd wager on a 60-day stint, to be honest.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

If Meso isn't on the OD roster, who's the backup catcher?

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Do they keep the rule 5 kid or Rob Brantly? Chad Wallach is not an option.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The Reds are expected to make another cut, maybe today.

There's a few guys that have hurt their own chances.

I think Tim Adleman has pitched his way out of rotation contention.

Wandy Peralta hasn't helped his case for the second bullpen lefty.

Alcantara has hit a little lately and that may be enough for the Reds to keep the guy they really wanted all along.

Ryan Raburn already seems to have Price's blessing.

 

[JohnU]

Raburn is probably the 4th outfielder. Not sure after that. Jennings or Winker ... or maybe they use Alcantara in the outfield once a week. Maybe the Reds will keep 3 catchers for a few days since nobody at Louisville will be tired yet. I'd venture it's Brantly. Mesoraco still has another week to show he can catch but he's said he won't be ready so if the only reason to have him on the team is to PH, what's the point of that? For a couple of weeks, there is no need to be conventional with a roster coming out of the heat into the cold.

Adelman is probably happy he got the chance. He will be a nice No. 7 guy at AAA. I give him 20 days and he's recalled.

I want to see Rookie Davis make this roster.

 

[JohnU]

No point rehashing what was written on Reds.com but I thought the comments about Iglesias' injury were interesting. Apparently he hurt himself off the field.

Wallach back to the minors so we still don't know who No. 3 catcher is.

Phil Erwin looking more like a wasted No. 1 pick.