CSNbbs

Wilkin Castillo: Long shot, many options
Reds notebook

By John Fay • jfay@enquirer.com • March 16, 2010


Enquirer file/Amanda Davidson
Reds catchers Chris Denove (foreground) and Wilkin Castillo talk during practice in Goodyear, Ariz.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Wilkin Castillo is an interesting case in Reds camp.

He can run with the outfielders and pick it with the infielders, but his prime position is catcher.

That's where he likes to play the most.

"I love catching," he said. "I like the other positions. But catching is my favorite."

Castillo, 25, played 270 games as catcher in the minors, 25 at second base, 60 at third, 16 at shortstop and 40 in the outfield.

Add the fact that he's a switch hitter and he gives a manager a lot of flexibility.

Castillo missed half of last season after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder sliding head-first into second base on June 20.

He's made a couple of starts this spring, hitting 3-for-10 with two RBI.

"He's an interesting guy," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He can do a lot of things."

Castillo, in camp on a minor league contract, is a long shot to make the team. The Reds are set at catcher with starter Ramon Hernandez and backup Ryan Hanigan.

The Reds obtained Castillo in the trade that sent Adam Dunn to Arizona.

FISHER HURTING: The Reds, pitchers especially, have had a healthy camp. But right-hander Carlos Fisher is out with a sore right elbow.

"It tightened up that last game," Fisher said. "It scared me because I've never had a problem before."

Fisher did not have an MRI. He will rest for a few days.

"I don't think it's a big deal," he said. "It's just a precaution."

Fisher, the 27-year-old right-hander, spent almost all of last year with the Reds. He went 1-1 with a 4.47 ERA in 39 games and 52 1/3 innings. He was the long man much of the season. He went two innings or more 11 times.

His ERA was inflated by one terrible outing. He gave up five runs to the Dodgers without retiring a batter on Aug. 29. In his other 38 games, his ERA was 3.61.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100...ny+options

Chap-Mania, lineup
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 12:20 pm

The sound in the background is the Aroldis Chapman Hype Machine getting cranked up. Chapman makes his third appearance and first start today when the Reds taken on Milwaukee in the first of day-night doubleheader. The second game is against Cleveland.

I’ve been accused of overhyping the Cuban left-handed. Guilty. When you get a story like Chapman in spring training, you tend to run with it. A reader reminded me of the Homer Bailey hype a few years ago. This is different for a couple of reasons: a) Chapman is a Cuban defector, b) the Reds are paying him $30 million, c) he throws 100 (the list of other Reds who have thrown 100 in my time on the beat is blank) and d) he’s become a national story as far as baseball. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is in today, for example.

It’s been fun to watch.

Here’s the rest of the lineup for the 4 p.m. tilt:

Chris Dickerson cf

Zack Cozart ss

Joey Votto 1b

Jonny Gomes lf

Wladimir Balentien rf

Ramon Hernandez c

Chris Burke dh

Wilkin Castillo 2b

Chapman p

Chapman is supposed to go three innings, followed Kip Wells (two), Nick Masset (one), Juston Lehr (two), Arthur Rhodes (one).

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...ia-lineup/

Real split squad
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 1:15 pm

With four games in three days, the Reds have really split the squad.

The lineup Thursday will be virtually the same as the one for today’s first game. The players playing in tonight’s game will have tomorrow off.

“You want to spread it out,” Dusty Baker said. “So fatigue doesn’t set in and you get injuries, especially leg injuries. We’re in a tough stretch. It’s a real split squad.”

FOSSAS STAYING: Baker said Tony Fossas will stay with the big league club to help acclimate Aroldis Chapman at least through the off day on Tuesday.

“Then Tony has to go back his club (Dayton),” Baker said. “That will give Chapman time without Tony.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...lit-squad/

Reds Announce Opening Day Festivities
Posted by nhurm March 17th, 2010, 2:33 pm

FROM THE REDS:

Reds Announce Opening Day Festivities

The Reds have announced details for the 2010 Opening Day festivities on Monday, April 5:

• 91st Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal: Johnny Bench

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Findlay Market Parade. Bench will also serve as the Honorary Captain of the Opening Day game and catch the ceremonial first pitch. For more information on the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, visit http://www.findlaymarketparade.com.

• Opening Day Parade Special Guests: Bronson Arroyo, George Grande and Miss Ohio Amanda Tempel

Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo will ride in the parade. This marks the second year in a row that a Reds player will be featured in the parade. In 2009, pitchers Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto rode in the parade.

• Ceremonial First Pitch: George Grande

Broadcaster George Grande will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Grande was the television play-by-play voice of the Reds for the past 17 years, and is scheduled to return to the booth in September for a few games.

• Official Game Ball Delivery: Miss Ohio Amanda Tempel

Miss Ohio USA 2010 Amanda Tempel will deliver the official game ball to the mound to be used by Opening Day starting pitcher Aaron Harang. She is a St. Bernard native and a 2008 graduate of Roger Bacon High School.

• National Anthem: Ben Utecht

Recording artist, former Bengals tight end and 2006 Super Bowl Champion Ben Utecht will sing the National Anthem.

• God Bless America: Elan Trotman

Saxophonist Elan Trotman will perform God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.

• Flyover: Four F-16’s from the 178th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard based in Springfield, Ohio will perform a pregame flyover.

• American Flag: Haiti Relief volunteers from the American Red Cross and Matthew 25: Ministries will hold a giant American flag in the outfield during the singing of our National Anthem.

• Parade of Colors: Honor Guard units from the Navy, Air Force, Marines, Army and Coast Guard will comprise a Parade of Colors on the field

• Pregame Concerts: The Goshorn Brothers and Pete Wagner Dixieland Band will perform pregame concerts in the ballpark.

• Gates Open: Gates to Great American Ball Park will open at 11:10 a.m. and the first pitch of the game is at 1:10 p.m.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...stivities/

Brewers 3, Reds 1 after 6
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 4:04 pm

Aroldis Chapman vs. left-hander Doug Davis.

Rickie Weeks led off the game with a home run to left-center. It landed well up on the lawn. Came on 3-1 pitch. Chapman got Carlos Gomez to fly out on the next pitch. He struck out Ryan Braun for the second out. struck out Corey Hart to end the inning. 17 pitches, 8 strikes.

Chapman worked a 1-2-3 second, striking out two. He got a strike out and a groundout to start the third. He then walked Weeks but he got a groundout to end it.

He’s done: Three innings, one hit, one run, one walk, five strikeouts. He hit 100 on the gun once.

I overheard this from a scout: “He’s their best pitcher right. How are they going to start him in the minors?”

The Reds tied it in the fifth on Wilkin Castillo’s triple and an error.

The Brewers scored two off of Kip Wells in the sixth.

Dusty Baker doesn’t think the fact that Chapman is starting will affect him.

“Not really,” Baker said. “It’s not like this is first time going out and doing it. I don’t think it matters that much to him. In spring training, doesn’t matter much anyway. It’s not like ‘hurry up get loose.’ You know when you’re going in the game. It’s just like starting.”

Potentially facing batters for a second time, Baker said, isn’t that a big of a deal either.

“Not yet,” Baker said. “Usually if you’re got good stuff, it’s not the second time. It’s the third time. A lot of that depends on who’s catching. He doesn’t know the hitters. How to pitch them goes to catcher. Where to pitch them goes to the catcher. How you get it there is up to him.”

Chapman usually throw what catcher Ramon Hernandez calls anyway.

“What’s there to shake off, plus he trusts Ramon,” Baker said. ”That’s huge.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...s-brewers/

3 Chapman questions for Jocketty
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 6:17 pm

Another strong outing for Aroldis Chapman. He went three shutout ininngs and allowed one hit — a homer to Rickie Weeks to start the game — walked one and struck out five against the Brewers.

Over seven innings and three outings, Chapman has allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out 10.

After Wednesday’s outing, I asked Walt Jocketty three Chapman questions:

–Could he make the team as a reliever? “That has not been discussed. Probably not.”

–Because qualifying arbitration by 2012 affects his contract, will that be a factor in the decision if he makes the team? “If he’s good enough to make the team, no. We look at that with all our players, but it doesn’t affect the decisions we make.”

–Chapman threw 118 innings last year in Cuba. Will you limit his number of innings because of that? “We haven’t put a number on it. but we’ll watch pitch counts and the stress on his arm. We monitor that with all our pitchers.”

I think the plan all along has been to start Chapman in the minors. But plans change based on performance. Control was supposed to be the issue with Chapman. But two walks versus 10 strikeouts says he’s doing well on that front.

“I fixed some of the mechanical problems I had,” he said. “My control is not a problem at this moment.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...-jocketty/

Lincoln to the bullpen, new pitch for Chapman
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 7:09 pm

From the it-comes-as-no-surprise department: The Reds have decided to move Mike Lincoln back to the bullpen. Lincoln had a 6.23 ERA over three starts.

The fifth starter competition is down to: Justin Lehr, Matt Maloney, Micah Owings, Kip Wells, Travis Wood, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman.

Wells could be next. He gave up four runs in two innings Wednesday. Overall, he’s walked seven in in seven innings this spring.

“We’re in the process,” Baker said. “We’re starting to narrow it down. We’re having some meetings, trying to determine who is who. It’s going to go down the wire, even if we have to use minor league games and B games.”

Chapman is in the thick of the race.

“Ah yeah, he’s going to pitch,” Baker said. ”We’ve got a ways to go before we make that determination.”

Chapman showed the Reds another wrinkle Wednesday.

“He looked outstanding,” Baker said. ’He had a nasty sinker, a two-seamer we didn’t even know he had. He’s slowly but slowly adding to his repertoire of pitches. He’s feeling more confident.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...r-chapman/

Final: Brewers 5, Reds 2
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 4:04 pm

Aroldis Chapman vs. left-hander Doug Davis.

Rickie Weeks led off the game with a home run to left-center. It landed well up on the lawn. Came on 3-1 pitch. Chapman got Carlos Gomez to fly out on the next pitch. He struck out Ryan Braun for the second out. struck out Corey Hart to end the inning. 17 pitches, 8 strikes.

Chapman worked a 1-2-3 second, striking out two. He got a strike out and a groundout to start the third. He then walked Weeks but he got a groundout to end it.

He’s done: Three innings, one hit, one run, one walk, five strikeouts. He hit 100 on the gun once.

I overheard this from a scout: “He’s their best pitcher right. How are they going to start him in the minors?”

The Reds tied it in the fifth on Wilkin Castillo’s triple and an error.

The Brewers scored two off of Kip Wells in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Chris Valaika homered to lead off the ninth.

Dusty Baker doesn’t think the fact that Chapman is starting will affect him.

“Not really,” Baker said. “It’s not like this is first time going out and doing it. I don’t think it matters that much to him. In spring training, doesn’t matter much anyway. It’s not like ‘hurry up get loose.’ You know when you’re going in the game. It’s just like starting.”

Potentially facing batters for a second time, Baker said, isn’t that a big of a deal either.

“Not yet,” Baker said. “Usually if you’re got good stuff, it’s not the second time. It’s the third time. A lot of that depends on who’s catching. He doesn’t know the hitters. How to pitch them goes to catcher. Where to pitch them goes to the catcher. How you get it there is up to him.”

Chapman usually throw what catcher Ramon Hernandez calls anyway.

“What’s there to shake off, plus he trusts Ramon,” Baker said. ”That’s huge.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...s-brewers/

Man, I'm excited.

The dude won't be in the minors very long. Think of the attendance boost when Chapman starts a game.

Final: Indians 8, Reds 2
Posted by jfay March 17th, 2010, 11:13 pm

Not a good night for Bronson Arroyo in the second game. He gave up four on eight hits and did not get through the fourth.

The offense wasn’t much better. The Reds managed three hits. Two of those came in the first inning.

Reds took a 1-0 lead in the first. Chris Dickerson doubled to start the Reds’ first. He moved up on Orlando Cabrera’s groundout. Brandon Phillips drove him in with a single.

The Indians tied it on Jason McDonald’s RBI groundout in the second. Arroyo allowed five hits in the first two innings. He pitched a 1-2-3 third. But he got lit up in the fourth. He gave up four runs on three hits before leaving with two outs. His line: 3 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts.

Micah Owings pitched three innings of scoreless, one-hit ball. He walked two and struck out two.

The Reds added a run in the sixth on Phillips’ RBI groundout.

Daniel Ray Herrera gave up two runs on two hits in the eighth. He also walked two.

Jared Burton gave up a long home run to Beau Mills on an 0-2 in the ninth.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03...fter-3-12/

Lincoln out of 5th spot race

No shock here -- Mike Lincoln is out of the fifth spot battle. Manager Dusty Baker told Lincoln this morning that he is going back to the bullpen. Lincoln posted a 11.37 ERA in his three starts.

"We're starting to narrow it down," Baker said. "We're going back to have some meetings and try and determine who is who. It'll probably go down to the wire, even if we have to use minor league games or 'B' games and things like that. As long as we get these guys their innings for endurance sake."

That leaves Matt Maloney, Micah Owings Travis Wood, Justin Lehr, Kip Wells and of course Aroldis Chapman in the fifth starter race. 2009 first-round pick Mike Leake has been second-best behind Chapman but has no Minor League experience at all. Wells gave up four runs and four hits in two innings and didn't help his remote chances. Justin Lehr has gotten no starts yet and no more than two innings of work. He worked two scoreless today.

In his latest outing (and first start), Chapman gave one hit and one run on a leadoff homer by Rickie Weeks with one walk and five strikeouts. Read about the start here.

Here is the breakdown of the battle:

Leake: 0.00 ERA, five scoreless innings and six strikeouts.
Wood: 1.29 ERA, five walks and six strikeouts.

Owings: 9.00 ERA in two games but is pitching vs. Indians tonight.

Lehr: 4.26 ERA through 4 games
Maloney: 6.75 ERA through 3 games, including one start, with 4 BB and five Ks.
Wells: 6.00 ERA in four games.
Chapman: 1.29 ERA, two walks and 10 strikeouts.

Based on what we've seen so far, Chapman and Wood should have the best chances.

Who do you like? I don't do the "if the season started today" stuff because it doesn't start today. Anything can happen between now and April 5, but it's getting harder for me to imagine that Chapman doesn't get the spot if he keeps this up.

http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/archives/..._race.html

Aroldis Chapman wows Reds again
Unveils 'nasty' new pitch in rotation bid

By John Fay • jfay@enquirer.com • March 17, 2010


Enquirer file photo
Aroldis Chapman went three innings, allowing one run on one hit, in the Reds' 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday. He walked one and struck out five.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - There is no question Aroldis Chapman can pitch in the majors and soon.

The only question: How soon?

Chapman's third outing and first start of the spring was as impressive as the first two. He went three innings, allowing one run on one hit, in the Reds' 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday. He walked one and struck out five.

Chapman gave up a home run to Rickie Weeks to start the game, then retired the next eight in a row.

"He just got behind on Rickie Weeks," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Other than that, he was throwing strikes. He looked outstanding."

His fastball touched 100. His slider was sharp. And he showed a new wrinkle.

"He had a nasty sinker, a two-seamer we didn't even know he had," Baker said. "He's slowly but surely adding to his repertoire of pitches. He's feeling more confident."

Chapman wowed the scouts at Goodyear to see him.

"He's their best pitcher," a National League scout said. "How can they think about starting him in the minors?"

Chapman has allowed only the one run on two hits over seven innings. He's struck out 10 and walked two.

But there are factors other than performance in the decision on Chapman. The Reds want to get Chapman, the 22-year-old Cuban defector, comfortable culturally.

There are other things to consider as well.

Chapman's contract is affected by how quickly he reaches arbitration. If he qualifies for arbitration after 2012, the remaining $5 million in salary on his contract is converted to a bonus. If he's successful, he'll make a lot of money in arbitration.

Making the team out of spring training would almost certainly qualify for arbitration after '12.

"If he's good enough to make the team, (that won't be a factor)," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We look at that with all our players, but it doesn't affect the decisions we make."

Jocketty did say if Chapman makes the team, it will be as a starter.

"(Bullpen) has not been discussed," Jocketty said. "Probably not."

One other big factor is innings. Chapman threw 118 innings last year in Cuba. Clubs do not like to add too many innings too quickly with young pitchers.

"We haven't put a number on it," Jocketty said. "But we'll watch pitch counts and the stress on his arm. We monitor that with all our pitchers."

Control was supposed to be the issue with Chapman. But two walks versus 10 strikeouts says he's doing well on that front.

"I fixed some of the mechanical problems I had," he said through an interpreter. "My control is not a problem at this moment."

The fixes? "I'm staying taller, finishing my pitches better and not opening up my elbow," he said.

Wednesday was Chapman's first start.

"I felt really good," he said. "It felt good to start the game. I feel better starting, but I have no problem coming in relief."

The Reds eliminated Mike Lincoln from the race for the fifth start.

Chapman, of course, is still under consideration.

"Ah yeah, he's going to pitch," Baker said. "We've got a ways to go before we make that determination."

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100...++em+again

Chapmania!
by Chad Dotson on March 17th, 2010 in 2010 Reds, The Phenom

Good grief. Is there anything Aroldis Chapman can’t do?

The young Cuban phenom made his first start for the Reds today in Goodyear, against the Brewers. The result: Three innings, one hit, one run, one walk, five strikeouts. Are you kidding me? Nothing fazes this kid.

Here’s what the Brewers’ Doug Davis said: “He’s going to be one of the greats if he stays healthy.” Corey Hart: “Nothing was straight. Everything moved.”

Then there’s this:

Quote: Chapman showed the Reds another wrinkle Wednesday.

“He looked outstanding,” Baker said. ’He had a nasty sinker, a two-seamer we didn’t even know he had. He’s slowly but slowly adding to his repertoire of pitches. He’s feeling more confident.”

Ummm…he threw a pitch the Reds didn’t even know he had???? What??!?!?!?!

Our buddy Steve over at Seeing Reds got some good pics of today’s Chapman start, including a look at that split-finger:



Steve also had a pic that apparently showed the trainers looking at what appears to be a blister or something Chapman is developing (see the pic at the bottom of this post, below the fold). It didn’t affect him today, clearly. Lots of other great pictures and video over at Steve’s site; I recommend you check them out.

At this point, you gotta believe that Chapman is going to break camp with the Reds if he keeps this up. I just don’t know how they’d justify sending him to the minors when they could have a latter-day “Fernando-mania” situation on their hands. Chapman would put butts in the seats…not to mention the fact that he certainly looks like the Reds best pitcher right now. (I still think the minors is the best option, at least initially, but sheesh…this kid keeps impressing.)

GM Walt Jocketty answered some questions about Chapman, including the question of whether he can make the team. Most interesting to me, however, is this quote from The Phenom, addressing his earlier-reported control problems:

Quote: “I fixed some of the mechanical problems I had,” he said. “My control is not a problem at this moment.”

Ten strikeouts, two walks. His control has been pretty good so far, with all his pitches. Is it possible that the instruction Chapman has received since arriving on these shores has already put the kid over the top? Should we induct pitching coach Bryan Price into the Reds Hall of Fame yet?

You know, I have a tendency to get over-excited in the spring anyway, but this is ridiculous. I’ve never seen anything like it.



http://redlegnation.com/2010/03/17/chapmania/

The Return of Wily Mo Pena
by Chad Dotson on March 17th, 2010 in 2010 Reds

Remember Wily Mo Pena? Check out this comment about Wily Mo from a past edition of Baseball Prospectus http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470558...0470558407

Quote:Pena has a ton of power, but there’s not much else to recommend him. He won’t take walks, he struck out 442 times in 447 minor-league games, he can’t hit lefties, and, outside of a strong arm, he’s not particularly adept in the field, in part because of struggles with his weight. Still, that power is awfully alluring….

Wait…what? Oh yeah, sorry about that. The above comment is actually the note from this year’s Baseball Prospectus 2010 about this year’s non-Chapman spring training darling, Juan Francisco.

Can someone tell me what the fascination with Francisco is all about? Well, I know what it’s about; he hits the ball a long way. That’s great, I love that. Heck, my favorite Red of recent vintage was Adam Dunn. I dig the longball.

On the other hand, Francisco has walked 72 times in his entire minor league career. Yep, that covers 447 games, over which time, as noted above, Francisco has struck out 442 times. He swings at everything, and I have zero confidence that he will learn plate discipline at the major league level. No one does.

Plus, the guy is beyond brutal in the field. Maybe he can learn left field; I don’t know. I know he can’t play 3B at the minor league level, so in the bigs, he’d make Edwin Encarnacion look like a gold glover.

The power, however, is legit, and he has looked good over the last three weeks, which is why people are touting him as a platoon partner for Jonny Gomes in left field. He actually has more power than Wily Mo…but he gets on base less. Ugh. It’s not a perfect comparison, but from the Reds’ perspective, it works. And that’s today’s topic of discussion:

Juan Francisco = Wily Mo Pena. Discuss amongst yourselves.

http://redlegnation.com/2010/03/17/the-r...y-mo-pena/