Spring Training 2010
Utility competition tight
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 11, 2010 12:30 PM ET
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The Reds starting infield is, barring injury, set. Joey Votto at first, Brandon Phillips at second, Orlando Cabrera at shortstop and Scott Rolen at third. Two of the three outfield positions are set, and so are the two catching spots.
If the team takes 12 pitchers, that leaves five spots for a starting outfielder - or platoon - and bench players. With 54 players in camp, the options are there, but the numbers are limited. On Thursday, Dusty Baker was asked if he'd decided how many reserve infielders he was going to take north.
Paul Janish
"I don't know, I haven't played that game yet," Baker said. "I haven't even played that shell game yet, because you'll be playing all day and night. Right now we'll play them and see come cut time. Now cut time comes weekly."
The first cuts came Wednesday night, as five players were reassigned to minor league camp: catchers Chris Denove and Brandon Yarbrough, pitchers Alexander Smit and Jose Arredondo and first baseman/outfielder Danny Dorn.
Left behind are plenty of infield options - Paul Janish, Juan Francisco, Aaron Miles, Drew Sutton, Chris Valaika, Chris Burke, Miguel Cairo, Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier. Some of those can play the outfield as well, adding shells to the already complicated game.
Valaika, Cozart and Frazier are prospects, but unlikely to start this season in the big leagues
Janish has proven his worth defensively, but has struggled offensively. Francisco has offensive tools, but is not finished defensively. He's also limited to third base and leftfield.
Drew Sutton
Sutton and Burke can both play the outfield as well, while Miles and Cairo are veterans who still have something to prove.
Cairo has made the most of his time, hitting a homer and a double, knocking in three runs in just four at-bats. Meanwhile, Burke and Miles have been on the sideline, each with finger injuries.
Burke's injury is more severe. He fractured the knuckle on his right ring finger on Feb. 25 and was expected to miss three weeks. Burke hit off a tee for the first time on Wednesday and did soft toss hitting drills in the batting cage on Thursday.
Miles, as he noted, got off relatively easy. He fractured the tip of his right middle finger and will play Friday against the Dodgers.
"I'm anxious to get out there," Miles said. "I'm jealous of watching these guys play on these fields. For me coming off of the year I had last year, I want to show I can be that guy that I have been in the past. There's still enough time to do that, but here it is, we have three weeks left and I haven't even had an at-bat yet."
Miles hit .185 for the Cubs last season after hitting .317 for the Cardinals in 2008. He was traded from Chicago to Oakland in December and then was traded along with a player to be named in the deal that sent Willy Taveras and Adam Rosales to Oakland on Feb. 1. Part of the consideration for Miles to make the team will be his contract. He's in the second year of a two-year contract and will receive $2.7 million this season.
"It was (a) hard (decision) before they got hurt, but we still have three weeks," Baker said. "Burke's got it tough right now because he's not on the roster. Miles is on the roster and Miles is making a pretty good salary, so we've got to give him a good look."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010
Tags: Aaron Miles, Chris Burke, Drew Sutton, Miguel Cairo, Paul Janish, Reds, spring training
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