Reds Insider: Reds v. Phillies lineup, pitching switch

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Reds v. Phillies lineup, pitching switch

The Reds just announced this:

MINOR LEAGUE GAMES: RHP Aaron Harang will throw in a minor league game on Sunday while RHP Edinson Volquez starts the "A" game against the Phillies...RHP Bronson Arroyo will throw in a minor league game on Monday while RHP Johnny Cueto starts against the Tigers.

Tonight's game is at 7:05, no radio. The lineup:

Corey Patterson CF
Juan Castro SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2 B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Paul Bako C
Chris Dickerson DH

Jeremy Affeldt P, followed by Mike Stanton, Jim Brower, Gary Majewski and Scott Sauerbeck.

55 Comments:

at 2:28 PM

Unknown said...

Not exactly a power armed staff tonight is it.

at 2:36 PM

24/7 said...

Guess we got the B squad pitching staff today after all that Arroyo and Cueto marvelousness yesterday.

Start Cueto and Volquez.
Put Bailey in the Pen.

Stanton is on borrowed time so why waste a roster spot on him?

We have 5 spots locked in with Cordero, Weathers, Burton, Stanton and Affeldt.

With our deep bench, can the Reds really keep 8 guys down there?

If not, that makes it really tough to get at least 3 of Bray, Bailey, Fogg, and one of Majewski/Coffey in there.

Cutting Fogg might be a bad idea seeing how the Reds got a #5 starter for pennies on the dollar.

Cutting Majewski or Coffey might be hard because they are both under big league contracts.

The money may be a lot with Stanton, but geez the guy is done at most the team can hope he puts together a surprising April in SELECTED outings, and someone stupid enough like the Phillies or another team that is good for bringing in mediocre pitching will bite.

at 2:45 PM

John said...

Wow. The all gonna-get-cut pitching staff...

at 2:48 PM

24/7 said...

It's funny the first 4 posts are all about how bad the pitching looks on paper tonite. At least we will be spared of The Affeldt Experiment. He's a reliever, and an effective one. Keep him there.

at 2:51 PM

Anonymous said...

John, please clarify,

your article in the enquirer soys NONE of the bathrooms worked, while other posyers that were at the game say they did. Did you personally try the different bathrooms? Or was that just the rumor around the facility?

Given the situation and whats at stake, it would be irresponsible journalism to make that kind if statement about E.S.S. if not confirmed.

If the Reds werent working on a deal to move, it would be no big deal, but in this case, its a little bit unproffesional.

If you are 100% correct then forget this post, but why the contradicting stories?

-Kevin in Ft Myers

at 2:55 PM

Anonymous said...

insert kepp and there is your opening day lineup, ladies and gentleman..

also, minus the blowup in his first appearance... the majik man has actually been effective this spring.

i hope he and bray can get finally get healthy and help this team out.

at 2:59 PM

Anonymous said...

why do people keep saying that affedlt shouldnt start? i think he has just as much a chance as EV. Lets give em a chance

at 3:07 PM

Anonymous said...

I don't see Dickerson being DH on opeing day.

at 3:08 PM

Anonymous said...

24/7 is your last name baker? u have no idea what you are typing about

at 3:08 PM

John Fay said...

In the press box, we can hear the radios that workers carry. All the bathrooms were out at one time. They were requesting water after the game to flush toilets.

No, I didn't go in every bathroom. That would have gotten me in trouble.

What happened Saturday has nothing to do with the Reds moving. Sarasota lost its chance to keep the Reds in January when the first country commission vote failed. That led to the exclusivity agreement, which led to what happened yesterday.

at 3:11 PM

24/7 said...

Branden,

Affeldt has been decent-to-bad all
spring.

Volquez has been good-to-great all spring.

Volquez has more stuff, velocity, and a better changeup than Affeldt, who currently doesn't have one and will need to acquire one in the next 10 days.

Affeldt has an 8.6 ERA in 8 innings thus far.

Volquez has a 5.6 ERA in 8 innings thus far.

Affeldt has given up 4 walks. Volquez 2.

Affeld has 4 strikeouts. Volquez 13. The most on the team.

at 3:12 PM

Anonymous said...

Branden,

I saw affeldt pitch 3 innings, I was not at all impressed. He threw way too many pitches, and about 60% were balls. At that rate, hes only avereging 5 / 6innings per outing. To start youve got to be abble to go 8 innings regularly.

I will say, he didnt give up the long ball, (out of the park, or in), ind did induce a couple of double play type ground balls.

Id say hes perfectly suited for middle releif.

As far a Volquez, baseball people (not just reds people) are pretty impressed with him.

Nobody really talking about Affeldt.

Kevin in Ft Myers

at 3:13 PM

Anonymous said...

Rangers at the plate: Josh Hamilton had three hits, including his second home run of the spring. He had a leadoff home run in the second inning, and Ben Broussard went deep that same inning with two outs, his first home run of the spring. Hamilton also had two singles. He stole second after one

trading away one of the greatest players in baseball for chump change another losing season

at 3:15 PM

Anonymous said...

24/7 you were one of the bloggers that was gushing over affeldt

quit being so wishy washy dude

at 3:15 PM

24/7 said...

Anon 2:08

If my name WAS Baker, I'd be putting Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez in the rotation and leaving Jeremy Affeldt and Josh Fogg in the pen. I'd also be going to somebody named Krivsky to ask him how much he will hate me if I cut Mike Stanton.

Spew knowledge, not hate.

at 3:17 PM

Anonymous said...

24/7 said...

deezman, Affeldt will be a quality starter, he just needs a chance .This team with players like Affeldt and Freel will go to the playoffs this year

at 3:20 PM

24/7 said...

Anon,

If you remember correctly, when the Reds signed Affeldt, I said it was a good move. It still is. I recall very accurately saying, "if he fails in the rotation, put him in the pen". Probably a very similar thought process to Wayne Krivsky, Dusty Baker, Bob Castellini and Walt Jocketty when the Reds pulled the trigger. I believe that philosophy was also shared by our own John Fay. Where's your support? All I hear is refutation that wouldn't make it past a grand jury full of campaigning politicians.

at 3:20 PM

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh, looks like this will be the last stand for Brower and Sauerbeck for spring 2008.

at 3:24 PM

24/7 said...

Anon, now you're just making up stuff. I haven't even been posting on this blog often lately until yesterday. And I know you're lying because I would NEVER EVER EVER say Freel is what we need to win a pennant. I've long thought Freel was overrated and loved because of his hustle and toughness in a gritty city like Cincinnati. He's a super sub who should not be on the opening day roster unless the Reds absolutely cannot find a suitor. Freel was terrible last year. Stop making up ficticious quotes and come up with something useful.

at 3:24 PM

Anonymous said...

affeldt is an average reliever, always has been..was always a terrible starter

no need to waste alot of time in spring training trying to figure that out

at 3:25 PM

Anonymous said...

John,

Thanks for the follow up, I wasnt suggesting whether or not the bathrooms worked made a difference in the Reds staying or going, only that until this is finalized those kind of statements, if not verified, dont belong in the paper.

If you were just giving a report on the game and had it as a comment about that day at the park, I think its fine, but it was in the context of a story about the Reds moving forward in the deal w/ Goodyear, and leaving Ed Smith / Sarasota. A little different.

Anyway, you do a great job and I have enjoyed participating in this site in the past weeks.

-Kevin in FM

at 3:26 PM

Anonymous said...

freel aint no super anything, Ryan Freel is a versatile sub, big difference

at 3:30 PM

Anonymous said...

How different is this year's crop of pitchers? Not too long ago Jimmy Haynes or Paul Wilson was the hammer. Now we are debating whether a quality pitcher such as josh Fogg can even make the cut. Hate WK if you must, but he has made a difference.

at 3:31 PM

Anonymous said...

John,

one more thing, SOME instead of NONE would have made all the difference in the world!

KinFM

at 3:38 PM

Anonymous said...

John, any way we could get a pitch count and strikes/balls along with Affeldts line? I think it more tells the story of Affeldt's ability to start.

Thanks,

KinFM

at 3:41 PM

Anonymous said...

josh fogg is a 60-60 lifetime pitcher..not quality

at 3:53 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

I always thought that Josh Fogg had a cool name but was just a very average pitcher.

at 3:54 PM

Anonymous said...

Just looking at St stats, Cueto has a 1.0 era for 9 inings pitched. I know Dustys not a #'s guy but its hard to ignore that.

My understanding is that Dusty likes what he sees too.

Cueto should probably contact a realtor in Cincy.

Kevin in FM

at 4:13 PM

Grizzlyfox said...

Now I know some people will say this is looking into this way too much, but it is what it is. Cueto and Volquez starting those two games are big. If they both continue to perform well and show they can go 5 innings in those starts, then you're probably looking at the #3 & 4 starters for the season. Of course they'd have to not implode in their last two starts of the spring, but this one seems to be the big one for both of them.

at 4:20 PM

Anonymous said...

Putting those two automatic outs at the top of our order better not be a sign of things to come during the regular season. If Baker is going to put guys with sub-.300 OBPs at the top, then I prefer Jerry Narron and that is saying a lot because he was horrific.

at 4:25 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

spring training neither is indicative of things to come or showcases anything.. You all are reading way too much into every single inning of every single game played in spring training

Keppinger will be starting at SS..maybe the whole season..and this is a good thing.Compression fracture s often end a players career as minor as they seem.AG may not be back

at 4:27 PM

Anonymous said...

That comment was more in reference to Patterson and it wouldn't surprise me if he was the opening day CF from some of Dusty's comments. Keppinger is not a SS on the defensive side of the ball. Great bat, but not without some cost. Still probably better than Gonzalez in the long run since he can't get on base.

at 4:33 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

keppinger is not a SS on the defensive side of the ball? is this because the scouts tell you this?

I saw a guy very adequate on the defensive side of the ball, if you trend out the half season he played.. he made less errors than Gonzalez.

Is he..or many other SSs the "artist" that Gonzalez is..nope../ But he can make 99.9 of the plays required to be a good SS.. His arm is fine as is his range

Plus the dude is a hitting machine

at 5:34 PM

reaganspad said...

He is so great that Dusty Baker said he needs to improve on the Double Play, "the most important defensive play in baseball"

Jack you are a one man (OK Maybe you are more than one) bandwagon for Keppinger at Shortstop as the answer. KC would not have let him go if he is what you say. He is a tweener, but fits in a great role for the Reds

Keppinger as starting Shortstop is a big question for this team, and he does NOT improve the pitching. Everybody, EVERYBODY but you (and yours) knows this. Fortunately Dusty is clear on Kepp's limitations.

Juan Castro will be your starter if AGon is done for the year. Keppinger will spell Juan.

Stop the Keppinger for hall of fame posts. The guy is like Pete Rose, but Rose wasn't let go by multiple teams. He won a position at 2nd base as a Rookie.

at 5:37 PM

Unknown said...

I agree that this is game is probably the last stand for the pitchers following Affeldt. Likely, it's Affeldt's last chance to audition for the starting rotation. That cat's running out of lives.

I believe this will be the Reds' rotation in April:

Harang
Arroyo
Cueto
Fogg
Volquez

I think Bailey's going to be in the bullpen when the season starts. Maybe that will change during the year. I certainly think Matt Belisle will (or at least should) be pitching long relief. Fogg, though, seems to have acquitted himself pretty well.

I don't claim to be an expert though. Yet me make that clear. I don't claim to be an expert.

--JR

at 5:43 PM

Brandon said...

As much as I will love the automatic out Castro brings to the plate his great defensive won't make up for the amount of guys he will leave on base. I have never liked AGon that much first few months he was to good to dive for the ball. He has quick hands and a good arm his range isn't anything great and he has had a few injury problems. If Kep doesn't stay SS then Janish needs to be SS Castro can come in when we have a lead to protect it.

at 5:54 PM

Anonymous said...

I don't know if was already mentioned or not (I admit I didn't read all the posts closely), but tonight's game is being broadcast on MLB's GameDay audio by some of their announcers.

at 5:58 PM

reaganspad said...

Brandon, I agree that Janish looks interesting, and he is on the 40 man, but Castro is out hitting him right now this spring (231 to 211).

Janish should get a chance to develop his bat in the minors.
This is HOW CRITICAL AGON is to this Reds team. We are a better team with AGON, Kepp and Castro. Let Dusty put the best one one the field.

Injured starters do not help us win games

at 6:00 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

reaganspad..you did say juan castro with his .190 average? or was it.180

keppinger hit much better than Gonzalez..trended out he made less errors than Gonzalez and the team played a heck of alot better with Keppinger in the game

some players are late bloomers and I would suggest to you that many feel the same way that I do. Go to the park sometime when Keppinger is in at short and listen to the fan accolades he receives

you were the same dude telling us how wonderful Affeldt and Fogg are

at 6:01 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

reaganspad..i just read your second post dude.. Anyone suggesting that Juan Castro is a starting SS is missing some marbles upstairs

at 6:04 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

castro with the lifetime .231 average

too funny

at 6:04 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

castro with the lifetime .231 average

too funny

at 6:11 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

Alex Gonzalez with a career batting average of .259 and career fielding average of .970 vs Keppingers .309
and .985 hmmm

Let Keppinger play everyday he will be an allstar for many years to come. Hes only 27 years old .

Dont matter anyway..this compression fracture will severely limit AG in the future if he cane even play at all

at 6:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Harang
Arroyo
Belisle
Cueto
Fogg
will be lineup
Harang
Arroyo
Cueto
Volquez
Bailey
should be

at 6:48 PM

reaganspad said...

Jack, You are the ONLY ONE making this case.

Kepp is a nice player, but he cannot turn the DP like AGON. Dusty knows this.

2007 Kepp had 27 DP's at short in 43 games. AGON had 73 in 103 games.

IF AGON is out like you seem to be cheering for, the Reds will trade for another shortstop.

Extra outs do not lower the team ERA. getting one out does not impact your error total, but it leads to big innings.......

CASTRO is a much better shortstop than Kepp, regardless of his bat.

at 7:16 PM

NVreds said...

Keppinger an allstar? seriously, there is nothing to back that up, in fact, he will never be an allstar, NEVER. I know, I've seen him play. and yes I've seen him live.

He played 62 games last yr, before that 55, there's no way you can take last yr and turn him into an allstar, you have no proof he can do what he did over a whole season, he hasn't even PLAYED a whole season (122 g total). phillips couldnt even make the allstar team.

That being said you start him over castro everyday of the week. the bat makes up for his lack of range, and he's lacking in range, I know, I've watched him, its decent but not good enough for my middle infield for a whole season.

I kinda hope we say bye bye to castro sometime here soon, and give janish his role, or rosales. castro can field with the best, but he can't hit the broadside of a barn.

24/7 is right, your a one man bandwagon, I'm glad he's our opening day SS too, but 24/7 is a lot more on target here.

at 7:20 PM

NVreds said...

gonzo may be out for awhile, but he's not done for the year, haha, thats funny. remember we have one of the tops as far as team doctors in kremcheck, I'll take his word over yours everyday.

compression fractures I'm sure differ depending on where they happen.

at 7:33 PM

redfuture said...

I'm really glad that Affeldt is clearing up any misconception about him being a starter, but now is the time to start giving him an inning at a time and make sure he do that much still.

at 7:37 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

DrK has not made any determination as of yet, its been conveyed that Ag will be out for 3 to 4 weeks..thats all.

Compression fractures are indicative of other complications compared to "clean breaks" you typically see in a sports injury.. Ask Fay what I do for a living..I am qualified to speak to this. A CF in the patella region is potentially career ending

Is there any reason to pull the plug on Keppinger..lets see what he can do for an entire season

Please with the double play nonsense. The team stunk with AG in there making his pretty double plays and mishandling the easy plays if you remember. You forget those

Keppinger reminds me of a young Cap Ripken

at 7:41 PM

Jack in Blue Ash said...

NV reds i have to go but Ill leave you with this..compared to clean breaks that you are accustomed to hearing about..Compression fractures are indicative of..and found within someone typically with a compromised skeletal system.. think Chris Perry

For a shortstop that relies on lateral movement, this is a very..very,, serious injury

at 7:46 PM

mrtonyb40 said...

good news!!! affeldt won't be in the starting rotation. harang,arroyo,cueto,volquez only 1 spot left. down to fogg,bailey and belisle.

at 7:49 PM

reaganspad said...

In each of the last 5 years, AGON has more Runs and RBI's than Kepp had in 07. while Kepp wasn't in the Majors in 2005, AGON got a ring.

Now Kepp had a career average in 07, but Average does not always translate into run production. he has also been passed on by 2 teams, so he still needs to prove himself, and get 500 ab's in a year.

I HOPE Kepp is productive, but Dusty says he needs to speed up the DP.
REALITY: Nice back up, utility player and glad the Reds have him. Thanks Krivsky

at 8:11 PM

redfuture said...

Votto struck out twice in the same inning against Jamie Moyer. Poor Harry Kallas, he finaly learned that Votto's name was not VOTE-o but now he calls hime vah-TOE.

at 8:58 PM

redfuture said...

The word is that the Cards are signing Lohse. I hope that the 3 or 4 times the Reds face him, they don't get the 'good' Kyle!

at 10:02 PM

Anonymous said...

Someone actually thinks that Doc K is good at this team doctor thing? After all these injuries, failed recoveries, and questionable diagnosis, I find that hard to swallow. Gonzalez had a whole off-season to get over his knee problem from last year and now it turns into a compression fracture which "has nothing to do with last year" even though it's the same knee. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Umm....Jack......when comparing Gonzalez and Keppinger on defense, don't forget sample size, range and the spectacular play ability. It's not close.

Previous Posts

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Reds v. Phillies lineup, pitching switch

55 Comments: