Results tagged ‘ catching ’
5 Easy Steps to Fixing the Reds Now!
We all know the cliché: it’s too early to panic about the Reds’ sluggish start. But there is cause for pause with the makeup of the current roster, which has quickly proven to be too weak with the bat and too inflexible on defense. There’s also a kink or two in the bullpen–if not now, in the near future. What should the Reds do? Early-season rosters are mild extensions of spring training. Injuries, ineffectiveness and cold weather play into the 25-man roster you see in April. The Reds have catcher David Ross and pitcher Matt Belise rehabbing injuries. They are close to returning. That’s not enough. Let’s be the general manager for a moment and look at fast, realistic solutions. Some are short-term, others are long-term and perhaps not fixable in the short and easy. Here’s what I do by Friday’s return home if I’m the GM: 1. Get Right-handed–A roster move that brings (preferably) 1b-LF Andy Phillips and/or 3b Jolbert Cabrera north. Anyway about it, the Reds have to reduce their vulnerabilities to left-handed pitchers. It’s not just against starting pitchers, but in the final three innings. The top five of this batting order are going to see situational lefties late in the game. Kevin Millar would look mighty schweeet on this team; Scott Hatteberg would look better off somewhere else. The idea of a lefty-lefty platoon at first base has grown fuzz. 2. Leave Encarnacion Alone–Yeah, yeah, he’s frigged up your fantasy teams but his slump is magnified by occurring at the start of the season. Players go through two-week slumps. It’s been less than 50 at-bats. Let him play through your impatience because it’s really not unusual for those who play (warm) winter ball to struggle early in the cold of March and April. We also know these things tend to snowball with EE. Let him be for now. 3. Catch Someone–Are the Reds seriously considering Mike Piazza? C’mon. Ross or no, the Reds have a catching problem and frankly it’s past the time they found a solution who starts 130 games. Given the demand for catchers these days, bah, it’s not happening right away. The Reds have not made a splashy deal for a catcher since Bo Diaz in mid-1985, but a solid catch-and-throw defender who can hit a little would sure help the bottom three of this lineup right away. 4. Shore Up Long Relief–The Reds are starting to pile up some short starts, having nine games in which the starter failed to reach the seventh inning (five have failed to reach the sixth). No one is preaching for complete games, but Johnny Cueto and Aaron Harang are the only starters to go into the seventh. When he’s ready, Belisle replaces Todd Coffey or Mike Lincoln in the role of swing. Belisle is far more suited for spot starting and long relief than Josh Fogg. 5. What You Can and Can’t Do–Can’t release Juan Castro while Alex Gonzalez is injured. It’s critical to have a solid backup middle infielder who plays defense. C’est la vie, Norris Hopper. He did a great job last year as a No. 4-5 outfielder and, yes, these players are important. But spare outfielders are on every street corner and with the addition of another right-handed bat (say, Phillips) who can play a corner, along with Ryan Freel’s versatility (and contract), Hopper’s presence is redundant. Space on the 40-man and 25-man rosters will have to come from somewhere in order to add some pop, and Hopper, who has options, is the most expendable.
Questions in Sarasota: Part 4
Even though spring training is almost complete and there’s still several question marks to be answered on the field, many Reds fans have turned their attention to the season ahead. A look at some of the recent queries:
Don’t Look, But . . .
Q: Has anyone looked at the Reds’ schedule in April and May? It’s really tough. With so many young pitchers can they survive this schedule? — Dale Lavritch
A: This is a great question because the Reds get screwed on the schedule–some way, somehow–almost every year. And Dale is right: It’s a brutal April-May schedule against non-division teams. The season opens with five games against playoff teams Arizona and Philadelphia, then a nine-game divisional roadtrip to Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Chicago. To compound, the Reds have yet another nine-game trip, to San Fran, St. Louis and Atlanta, that slops into May, followed by one home series against the Cubs and then a trip to the Mets. There’s also the first interleague series, against Cleveland, in May, and nine games against the Dodgers and Padres over the first two months. This is just ridiculous.
Oh, the Yankees play Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Kansas City and White Sox 14 times in April.
For all the promise of the young pitching staff and hope for the season, the Reds’ early-season schedule is a killer and could bury this team before Memorial Day. If they can get to June in some semblance of .500 things could get very interesting over the last two-thirds of the season. But if the Reds are 10-12 games under and the young pitchers are struggling. . . . Katie, bar the door.
Readiness
Q: How “ready” for the big leagues are these Class AAA pitchers?–Mary Gerstner
A: As the season approaches and Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez appear to have rotation slots won, this is the absolute biggest question of the Reds’ season. The Reds came to camp extremely thin in the rotation with a third-place finish in the woeful NL Central being hopeful. Now, they open the season with any playoff hopes riding on the coattails of Voltron and Cueto.
Spring training numbers don’t mean so much for pitchers; it’s about the stuff they have and the way big league hitters react and respond. In that regard, Voltron and Cueto have been the talk of all camps. On one side of the fence Reds fans are discussing the number of wins Voltron, Cueto and veteran Josh Fogg can bring to the back of the rotation. But on the other side, almost no one is talking about the number of losses this team will suffer if Voltron and Cueto are not ready for the big leagues.
Hither Bailey
Q: I see no purpose of sending Bailey to AAA. Why not let him work out of the bullpen with the Reds and gain the experience like they used to do with young pitchers in the old days? — Steve Brookes
A: We’ve heard more than a few times that Bailey has nothing to prove in the minors. Oh, yes he does. There, he can prove that he has command of all his pitches (which he doesn’t), that he can get past the fifth inning (which he can’t) and that he can be efficient in pitch counts (which he’s terrible).
Bailey is only 21 and what he’s shown last year and in spring training this year is he makes very few adjustments of how to work hitters from start to start. The best way to pitch, and pitch efficiently, is to attack, attack, attack the strike zone. Voltron and Cueto are making the team because of the way they get ahead in counts, putting the batter on the defensive for their “out” pitches. Bailey piddles and nibbles and shakes off signs, and seems to get lost with his mechanics from one batter to the next. Twice this spring he’s walked the opposing pitcher.
The bullpen, where he would get spot duty and come into games with runners on base, is not the way for him to learn. Especially since he’s awful at holding runners with that long stride. His workload would be erratic with off days and the use of a No. 5 starter, which is why you don’t see more young pitchers brought up in the bullpen these days. It was easier to find consistent work for these kids when everyone used a four-man rotation. Besides, the team behind you gets really, really pissed when a pitcher continually goes out there and struggles with command. You put up some runs, go out on defense and the pitcher needs 27 pitches to get through his half of an inning. Aargh!
No, Bailey needs to go to Louisville and work on the multitude of issues he has to be ready to beat Major League batters. His career is not over. He’s still fine tuning.
Baker’s Dozen
Q: If the Reds would win 12 more games with new manager Dusty Baker than they did last year they would have finished one game behind the Cubs for first place in the NL Central. Can Dusty make up this ground? — Brian Rahe
A: Several e-mails after my “Baker’s Impact” article in Storyline No. 4 asked a similar question: How many more wins does Baker bring? Brian’s estimate of 12 would make the Reds 84-78. Improvement? Yes, but enough to win the division this year? That seems a pinch low. I’ll say at least 87 wins are needed to snag the berth and don’t believe the Reds will win that many unless this pitching staff (i.e., Cueto and Volquez combine for 27 wins) completely surprises.
Catchy Situation
Q: Once healthy, will David Ross improve his offensive stats? Is it more important to be a good defensive catcher and mediocre batter? If Ross cannot improve, will Javier Valentin fill the bill or do the Reds look elsewhere? –Larry Hampton
A: Avid reader Larry sums up the catching situation quickly and thoroughly, and you get the feeling the Reds’ braintrust would like to have a better all-around catcher. The problem is Baker hasn’t really seen Ross, who is battling back spasms, and the qualities that make him so valuable to the pitching staff. If Ross hits .240 he does enough defensively to hold the starting job. But there’s no doubt this team is not going far into the season with either Bako or Valentin starting. They’ll be forced into making a deal if that occurs.
In-Between at In-Between
Q: So do you drop Juan Castro from the roster after Alex Gonzalez is ready? –Dennis Kuhn
A: Odd as it seems, shortstop is one of the more interesting issues of the last positional spot on the 25-man roster. The chances were not great for Castro to make the team as a utility infielder out of spring training until Gonzo suffered his knee fracture. Then, Baker started making not-so-veiled references to his preferred defensive qualities of the shortstop. Obviously, Jeff Keppinger doesn’t fit all these measures; Castro does. Now, the Reds have about 18 players who are capable of playing backup in the infield. And a lot hinges on whether they keep Bako as a backup catcher (and third on the roster) when Ross is healthy. Barring an injury to one of the other starting infielders I don’t see how Castro sticks when Gonzo comes off the DL.
The Junior Equation
Q: Will Ken Griffey Jr. return to the Reds in 2009? –David Boddy
A: That’s the $4 million question. The Reds hold a $16.5 million option on Griffey for next season and there’s almost no chance he will be offered that contract. But what if he thrives under Baker and has a monster season? What if he puts up “only” 30 homers and 100 RBI? Do you let him walk? Here’s what could happen:
1.) Junior walks. There’s a wide feeling he will bookend his career by finishing in Seattle for a season or two, especially if the Mariners, as expected, are contenders.
2.) Junior has a solid first half, is traded midseason to a contender and hot prospect Jay Bruce comes up from Louisville to replace him in right field for the next 10-12 years.
3.) Bruce suffers an injury, setback or doesn’t hav
e a very good season at Louisville and the Reds can’t afford to hand him a position going into next year. They need Griffey as insurance.
4.) The Reds have to pay Griffey $4 million if they decline the option. They can always re-sign him for one year at a lower salary, if he’s willing, that includes the option money.
Here’s the catch-all: for the Reds to be contenders this year, they probably need a big year from Griffey. So if Junior has the big year, what do the Reds do? They can’t trade him midseason if he’s a key element of a playoff push. Then, perhaps, the Reds are backed into a corner on Junior’s contract for next year.
This is an interesting storyline to watch for the first half of the season, especially on the development of Bruce.
(Editor’s Prerogative: Some questions are edited for clarity to pertain to the specific subject.)
Reds Spring Camp Sidebar: Questions in Sarasota, Part 2
Second in a Series
Even though spring training games are underway and many of the Reds’ question marks will be answered on the field, there are still lots of interesting twists, takes and turns about this team that we–the faithful–are pondering each day of camp. So we’ll address a few more of those questions in (fairly) short-answer format as a sidebar feature, “Questions in Sarasota,” between each installment of the five-part series “Reds Top 5 Storylines of Spring Training.” These questions and answers are not in any order of importance. Nor are they paralleling the mainbar series. They’re just interesting questions from fans to help all of Redlegs Nation enjoy watching the Nine prepare for the 2008 season:
The First Base Quandary
Q: Where does Scott Hatteberg fit in? –Charles Michels
Q2: Does Andy Phillips make the team? –Doug Smith, aka “The Bartender”
A: First base is increasingly a very interesting position to watch. While Votto has the inside nod on the starting job, what happens with the backup slot could affect several players and positions. Phillips appears to be roster-squeezed, especially since Jeff Keppinger is likely to get ABs as the right-handed first baseman and backup catcher Javier Valentin can slip into duty at first, as well. Plus, there’s quasi-incumbent Hatteberg’s situation.
Why the logjam? The only thing that figures is the Reds are waiting to see if Votto performs close to his September production this spring while also seeing if there’s a market for Hatteberg and/or Votto (in a bigger deal) as the season nears. Something must give. If the kid pitchers perform how do you justify demoting one of them in favor of a roster spot for three or four 1bs and/or three catchers? Because of Valentin’s role as a backup catcher and great pinch-hitter, the first-base backup will probably determine if Bako stays as a third catcher.
But Doc, It Only Hurts When I Throw
Q: What do you make of Bronson Arroyo’s health? I thought he was injured last year. –Jason Burwinkel, aka “AD05″
A: Lots of eyebrows raised about Arroyo’s health after throwing 129 pitches against San Diego May 16. He followed with a six-start binge of 0-4 with two no decisions, 10.78 ERA and 50 hits allowed in just 29.2 innings. Twelve of his 18 starts in the first half were more than 100 pitches, including a stretch from June to early July of five in a row with no less than 105 pitches.
Arroyo never confessed to injury and certainly he continued taking the mound. But later in the season he admitted to a tired arm. By Aug. 1, he was barely getting to the sixth inning . . . all of which raises an interesting point: For all the crap many fans give Dusty Baker about the way he rode Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in Chicago, especially during a pennant-winning season, why wasn’t there similar outcry when Jerry Narron and Pete Mackanin were mule-driving Aaron Harang and Arroyo the past two years?
Because, when you want to win games and you have a thin staff and even thinner bullpen, you go with your best guys as long as you can keep ‘em hitched to a bridle.
Temptation of Another (Retread)
Q: Can Reds management resist the temptation of signing Kenny Lofton to play in the outfield? –Eric Rodgers
A: Probably not. But it’s been oddly quiet on the Lofton front the past week to 10 days. The idea of a versatile lefty backup outfielder to slot opposite righty Norris Hopper makes a lot of sense. I still believe Jay Bruce spends at least 60 days in Louisville to start the season.
Sub-Prime Lesson: Don’t Spend Money You Don’t Have
Q: With the contracts of Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and several others coming off the boards after this year, it seems the Reds could have $40 million freed for 2009. Will the Reds be big free-agent shoppers in 2009? –Brian Butler
A: Not so fast. Yes, with expiring contracts and expected buyouts the Reds are looking at just under $44 million in savings, but they have about $18 million in escalating salaries in long-term contracts, around $6 mil in potential buyouts, not to mention any arbitration cases and escalations on non-arb contracts. The real amount freed looks to be around $16 million to $18 million. Now, if the Reds decline Ross’s option and dump Freel’s salary, that’s an additional $6 million! You can see all the Reds’ contracts at Cot’s Baseball Clearinghouse.
But the Damn Ball Only Costs $12.99!
Q: You have mentioned the Reds’ “Great Eight” stars of the Big Red Machine will appear at a card and memorabilia show in Baltimore (March 8-9). I was thinking of getting a ball signed by all of them through mail order but the cost is $372. That seems high. What does a ball with the entire team of players and coaches cost? –Terry Hart
A: It depends on the condition of the ball and quality of signatures, but a ’75 team-signed official National League ball (Chub Feeney stamp) with all the key names–the “Great Eight,” the remaining reserves and pitchers, plus manager Sparky Anderson and batting coach Ted Kluszewski–is typically around $1,200; the ’76 ball is about $1,500. You can shop eBay and memorabilia dealers and sometimes find lesser-conditioned balls for $1,000 or a little less.
I’m a believer of vintage sports memorabilia being part of your investment portfolio. The Big Red Machine balls are a good example. I paid less than $650 each at Leland’s auctions in the ’90s and now some auction prices are tipping $2,000 for the ’76 ball. How do you argue with a 307 percent return?
(Editor’s Prerogative: Some questions are edited for clarity to pertain to the specific subject.)
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