PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Before I head to the ballpark, here's the Reds lineup and travel roster for the day:
Drew Stubbs ................ CF
Orlando Cabrera .......... SS
Joey Votto ....................DH
Brandon Phillips............2B
Scott Rolen ...................3B
Jay Bruce..................... RF
Jonny Gomes ...............LF
Ramon Hernandez ........ C
Todd Frazier..................1B
Bronson Arroyo ......... RHP
Pitchers
Arroyo, Bronson ............... RHP
Chapman, Aroldis ............. LHP
Cordero, Francisco .......... RHP
Fisher, Carlos................... RHP
Geronimo, Ramon.............RHP
Owings, Micah ................. RHP
Smith, Jordan ................... RHP
Catchers
Castillo, Wilkin...........C/INF/OF
Hanigan, Ryan ...................... C
Hernandez, Ramon ............... C
Mesoraco, Devin ................... C
Infielders
Alonso, Yonder .................. INF
Cabrera, Orlando ............... INF
Frazier, Todd................ INF/OF
Janish, Paul ....................... INF
Miles, Aaron ....................... INF
Phillips, Brandon ................ INF
Rolen, Scott ....................... INF
Valaika, Chris ..................... INF
Votto, Joey ......................... INF
Outfielders
Balentien, Wladimir ............. OF
Bruce, Jay ........................... OF
Dickerson, Chris.................. OF
Gomes, Jonny ..................... OF
Heisey, Chris....................... OF
Nix, Laynce ......................... OF
Stubbs, Drew ...................... OF
Drew Stubbs ................ CF
Orlando Cabrera .......... SS
Joey Votto ....................DH
Brandon Phillips............2B
Scott Rolen ...................3B
Jay Bruce..................... RF
Jonny Gomes ...............LF
Ramon Hernandez ........ C
Todd Frazier..................1B
Bronson Arroyo ......... RHP
Pitchers
Arroyo, Bronson ............... RHP
Chapman, Aroldis ............. LHP
Cordero, Francisco .......... RHP
Fisher, Carlos................... RHP
Geronimo, Ramon.............RHP
Owings, Micah ................. RHP
Smith, Jordan ................... RHP
Catchers
Castillo, Wilkin...........C/INF/OF
Hanigan, Ryan ...................... C
Hernandez, Ramon ............... C
Mesoraco, Devin ................... C
Infielders
Alonso, Yonder .................. INF
Cabrera, Orlando ............... INF
Frazier, Todd................ INF/OF
Janish, Paul ....................... INF
Miles, Aaron ....................... INF
Phillips, Brandon ................ INF
Rolen, Scott ....................... INF
Valaika, Chris ..................... INF
Votto, Joey ......................... INF
Outfielders
Balentien, Wladimir ............. OF
Bruce, Jay ........................... OF
Dickerson, Chris.................. OF
Gomes, Jonny ..................... OF
Heisey, Chris....................... OF
Nix, Laynce ......................... OF
Stubbs, Drew ...................... OF
SO Chapman throws today? I guess this afternoon we'll be hearing more clamouring for him to be the openning day starter.
Only if he's the AAA Opening Day starter, IMO. I would really hope that management has learned from mistakes of Spring Trainings past. He may be ready for Prime Time now, but make sure he's ready. Let him come up and spot start after the All Star break and then bring him up in September as the new number 5, if the three number 5s we have don't falter beforehand.
Just think of the potential pitching lineup in 2 years. Volquez (fully recovered from Tommy John surgery), Chapman, Cueto, Bailey, Leake.
Hopefully the defense will be there too.
Well, I don't think it's a mistake for him to start the season in the rotation if he is ready to do so. C Trent said he looked similar to Cueto 2 years ago in terms of stuff and mental toughness. If he's ready, and AAA wouldn't suit him, I have no problem with that.
I personally think, just on stuff alone, he brings more to the table than Owings, Maloney, Lincoln and others. Those guys, have to be on their game at all times or they'll get bombed. If Chapman stays in the strikezone and keeps missing low, sure he may get into some jams, but a nasty slider and 100MPH fastball can get him out of trouble.
He may be suited to come right in and take his lumps in the majors, Bailey wasn't, but Cueto has seemed to be. I just get tired of people already annointing him the next Randy Johnson, Cy Young, and Pedro Martinez all wrapped up in one package.