Spring Training 2010
Decisions delayed
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted April 1, 2010 9:25 PM ET
Thursday was supposed to be the big cutdown day for the Reds, instead, just two decisions were announced, and neither unexpected.The Reds reassigned catcher Corky Miller to minor league camp and optioned reliever Carlos Fisher to Class AAA Louisville.
"We'll have most of them tomorrow," Reds manager Dusty Baker told MLB.com.
Baker also told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that the decision on the team's fifth starter had yet to be made.
"There are a few things we have to discuss first. We'll see," Baker told Sheldon. "There's a lot more to it than just being the fifth starter."
That could be a tip of the cap toward left-hander Travis Wood, who among other things is already on the Reds' 40-man roster. Wood is in competition with Mike Leake, last year's first-round pick. Leake has not thrown a single minor league inning.
The final spot in the rotation is not the only decision left for the Reds.
Here's how the roster shakedown looks heading into the last weekend before Opening Day.
Starters: Aaron Harang, Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Wood/Leake. It looks like it'll be Wood.
Bullpen: Francisco Cordero, Arthur Rhodes, Nick Masset, Daniel Ray Herrera. Those four are pretty certain, from there, there's two or three of the following: Micah Owings, Mike Lincoln, Logan Ondrusek, Jared Burton and Matt Maloney. The guess here is Owings, Lincoln and Burton. Owings allows you to treat him as two players -- a long reliever and a pinch hitter.
Outfield: Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Jonny Gomes, Chris Dickerson. Then it comes down to Laynce Nix and Wladimir Balentien, Balentien is out of options and that may make the biggest difference. The team could also keep both and make a decision when they need a fifth starter (April 11).
Infield: Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Scott Rolen, Paul Janish are locks. If the Reds take 12 pitches, that leaves just one more spot. Although Juan Francisco has impressed, look for Drew Sutton to get the call in part because of his versatility. But Francisco may be the first player to get the call if someone gets hurt (especially if that's Rolen). Aaron Miles is a wild card -- he's owed a lot of money and has a history with Walt Jocketty, but he's not impressed this spring.
Catchers: Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010
Tags: Carlos Fisher, Corky Miller, Dusty Baker, Mike Leake, Travis Wood, Walt Jocketty
Comments (9)
Just curious, why is your read that it's a tip of the cap to Wood? It seems to me that the delay in announcement could have to do with freeing up a roster spot for Leake, since Wood is already rostered and Leake isn't. If it were Wood, what is the need to say:
""There are a few things we have to discuss first. We'll see," Baker told Sheldon. "There's a lot more to it than just being the fifth starter."
Reply
Is your read just based on the "more to it" being an indication that Leake needs to get into the grind of being a big leaguer (aka not just pitching "Friday nights")?
Reply
yes...
i just think at this point, if you're at a toss-up point, you give it to the guy who has paid his dues. and has also built up his innings in previous years.
Reply
I agree, and Dusty seemed to be heading off would-be criticism today when he defended Wood's command problems by saying he's always been a command guy and he's just pressing now. It was almost as though the decision was already made and Dusty was spinning it before the announcement, since Leake's control numbers are better this spring.
Reply
We're making too big a deal about the 5th starter. Whoever comes up early will certainly get optioned at some point, to avoid too much service time for one year. Wood, Leake and Chapman will all get chances this year, and will all get sent up and sent down. So let's not read too much into these early April 11th and 16th starts.
Reply
i don't disagree. i'd say at least 9 guys will have starts for the reds this season
Reply
I'm curious about the contract situation with Burton. I know he did the avoiding arbitration thing earlier this year, so are the minors no longer an option for him? My guess is that the Reds would like to take Ondrusek with them and let Burton find his groove in AAA, but I don't know if that's even an option.
Reply
he still has options, so yes, they can send him down.
i'm guessing he gets the benefit of the doubt, but i'm just guessing
Reply
Antonio, I was thinking the same thing when i read Dusty's comments. It seems more likely that Wood will get that 5th spot to start the season.
Reply