Reds Insider: Reds v. Pirates

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Reds v. Pirates

Reds v. Pirates, 1:05, WLW

Norris Hopper CF
Ryan Freel LF
Ken Griffey Jr .RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Jerry Gil SS
Javy Valentin C
Josh Fogg P

26 Comments:

at 10:07 AM

MONEY MIKE said...

John-

Do you know how devin merasco is progressing? We could sure use a good catcher.

at 10:17 AM

kevin in west lafayette said...

I wonder how many innings Gil will get today?... pretty good player. I really like that outfield defensively. This would be a fun game to watch.

at 10:17 AM

stew said...

At what point do we start to read into no Keppinger in the lineup again?

at 10:19 AM

PresidentJohnAllenJr. said...

John, when is the next roster cuts? Any trade rumors?

at 10:25 AM

gogginguy said...

If the most unlikely scenario has now come to pass and not one, but two young pitchers have displaced Krivsky's free-agent signings of starting pitchers -- and neither of the young guys is Bailey... does Bailey even have a place on this team? More to the question.. what's his trade value?

at 10:29 AM

ATM said...

where is keppinger? is he hurt, because this is the third day in a row he has not played...

at 10:41 AM

kevin in west lafayette said...

I may be in the minority here... but I wouldn't mind seeing one of these other "utility" guys on the roster until Votto heats up in triple A. I'd take Gil or Andy Phillips... even Green. I'd love to have a decent right handed bat that could sub for Edwin and Hatteburg...yes I know Edwin's a righty.

at 10:42 AM

Unknown said...

I thought Keppinger was playing today?

at 10:57 AM

tb in bexley said...

john- how do you think votto and bailey will respond to their potential demotion to aaa? depending on how fogg and belisle finish the spring, i don't think homer has done enough to make the rotation and there are enough good arms in the pen. hatt has swung the bat so well this spring, and i can't see dusty wanting to loose his veteran leadership. i just don't see two left handed first basemen on the opening day roster, particularly with the competition we have going on for our bench and the need for right handed bats.

at 11:05 AM

j-rod said...

mesoraco is still 3 years away maybe but you're right we need a good backstop that can hit pretty decent. i thought that may be michael barrett with his dusty connection but it never materialized. maybe we could make a hybrid of javy and ross. that would make one good catcher.

at 11:08 AM

Librariman said...

John-

Anything to read into Bruce not playing since Saturday (I think it was)?

at 11:10 AM

docproc said...

Must add my name to the "Where's Keppinger?" cry. Goes three for three on Saturday and then sits out the next three days? What is up?

at 11:14 AM

Redleg city said...

at 11:11 PM bart756 said...
John - I have a friend who is a scout for the Royals, he was in town this week for a funeral and while all of us were at the bar later, we started talking baseball, of course. Now our small area has seen some good players make it.. Clint Barmes, Jamey Carrol, Nevin Ashley, Don Mattingly and Scott Rolen to name a few.. Anyway, he said the Reds have made it well known that Ryan Freel and Matt Belisle are available, is this so? Would they give up on Belisle after only one year at a starting effort? He also stated the conception around baseball is that Homer Bailey is a smart-ass, know-it-all who is uncoachable and refuses to change anything about his game, or risk his career by listening to the cather in any situation... do you get this impression from him? Just curious..

This note from above comes from Cueto's day thread.

This is a question I've been trying to ask,but nobody seems to answer it,so I'm trying again.Is the above true or not. Anybody have a take?

at 11:42 AM

John Fay said...

As my favorite announcer, Marty, would say: It's a big, old hang-with-'em for Votto and Bailey if they get sent down. Neither has played well this spring. But in both cases, they'll be with the big club at some point his season.

at 12:03 PM

Hiney said...

Kevin, I too would be okay with Green. I know Jolbert Cabrera has been impressive this camp too, just not too sure what position each can play. I'm sure that's going to be a major factor, here.

If we keep 12 pitchers, and then 2 catchers...that leaves 11 position players.

INF - Hatteberg, Phillips, Keppinger, Encarnacion, Castro (or Hairston), and Green (or Cabrera).

OF - Griffey, Dunn, Patterson (barf!), Freel, Hopper.

So that would leave out Votto, Bruce, both of the Drew Andersons I guess, and Gil.

I wonder if Hairston makes it, which I'm assuming he will...could make Freel or Hopper expendable. I can't believe the determination has been made to import Hairston at the expense of Freel, but that's the Jocketty / Baker bug turning it's ugly head again.

at 12:04 PM

reaganspad said...

I would guess that with Keppinger, Dusty knows what he has, a great hitter, steady but unspectaclure fielder.

If AGon is on the disabled list, they need to know who else can play SS or do they need to start thinking about a trade?

162 games exposes a lot

at 12:05 PM

RedBlooded said...

Ah, the age of instant gratification. Remember, Bailey is 21 yrs old. Volquez is 25. He should be ahead of Bailey. In terms of Bailey being arrogant, someone started that rumor. If he is successful he is "confident" even "cocky". If he is struggling he is"arrogant" even "pig-headed". He will be a good pitcher when he is a good pitcher. Or not. He has some time to prove which it will be. It would be foolish to give up on him any time soon. And it would be foolish for him to give up on himself. And I would like to make a bet with anyone interested as to whether Bailey will be in the rotation some time this year. I say yes, emphatically.

at 12:09 PM

tb in bexley said...

john- thanks for the response, i completely agree. i love both of these players, and i know their contribution is near. joey will be dissapointed, but if he can use this as motivation, play well, and force his way up...i think you are looking at a potential star. the rap on homer being uncoachable scares me to death.

at 12:10 PM

Hiney said...

A follow-up on Jerry Hairston, his last 3 years:

05 - 380 ABs, .261 Avg.
06 - 170 ABs, .206 Avg.
07 - 159 ABs, .189 Avg.

It appears the man may.... be... toast.

I know facts like these have never stood in Dusty's way, just pointing it out though.

at 12:37 PM

Anonymous said...

I think Hatteberg starting the year at 1st base is a good move by Baker. He's a proven hitter, good defensively, and he has a veteran presence around the younger infielders. Votto will be ready soon enough, and when he is..look out. Hatteberg can help us get out of the gate fast.

at 12:47 PM

REddlegg in Colorado said...

I think Phillips get's in due to experience. Cowboy & Thom were talking about how good he is with the glove,he can play variety of positions, & That he never got a chance with the yankees(Go figure) to really prove himself.His bat in AAA for the yanks was really solid,something like he averaged 30 HRs. & 100 Rbi's in a few season's down there.

This guy could sneak up & take a spot from someone not paying attention(Not playing hard enough & producing).1st Base Phillips & Hatty ,maybe Votto gets sent down to work on mechanics.That .180 -.190 avg.(Whatever it is) does not look good for Votto

at 1:35 PM

Anonymous said...

Everyone needs to calm down about Homer. I remember a kid who came up with the Cubs with a mid-90s FB, cocky, "uncoachable." In 1988, at age 21/22 he went 6-14 with a 5.61 ERA. He was erratic, inconsistent. His name? Greg Maddux. Now not every cocky 21 year old 1st round pick turns into a HOFer but you get my point. Oh, at age 23 Maddux went 18-8/3.18 ERA.:)

at 2:02 PM

Unknown said...

Uh-oh

Fogg gives up 6 runs (3 earned) in 3 innings to the weakest hitting team in the NL (and without Jason Bay in the lineup). Now who's our fifth starter? Can Bailey or Belisle step up?

at 3:20 PM

Gunner said...

Here is my take on Fogg today: This could be the beginning of the dead arm period for pitchers. At least that is my hope, this is about the time it starts to happen. Lets hope Cueto's small struggles & Fogg's today is just that ... dead arms.

at 5:25 PM

Red Faced said...

Yes Bruce will be in Louisville to start the season. Most likely a couple of months. That's OK, I can get those pictures from the Caravan of him signed this way. Bailey needs to be there too and I'm guessing he will be.

We'll see Bruce soon though and this will keep his free agent clock from starting. It might be good to have him and Cueto on different free-agent tracks to be honest.

Don't be surprised if Belisle pitches himself into the lineup over the next week or so. It could happen. Yeah and Jack will leave us alone, I know.

Can't wait guys, see you opening day.

at 5:31 PM

Anonymous said...

I'm confident that Cueto's "struggles" were most likely do to the fact he was facing one of, if not the best offense in baseball.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Reds v. Pirates

26 Comments: