CSNbbs

Let's get it started gents...

Need to get a #1 starter.

(02-12-2019 09:57 PM)Romell Shorter Wrote: [ -> ]Need to get a #1 starter.

I'm not ruling out any trades, especially something with Matt Kemp, but I think they're probably done with starting pitching for the time being.

Lineup looks pretty good imo especially if Senzel can handle CF. So does the bullpen. Starting pitching has a chance to be legitimately good for the first time in a long time and I think Wood, Castillo, or Gray at least have the capability of pitching like front-line starters.

Once things are finalized and the season starts, I expect them to hold off on any more moves until the ASB. Then they decide if they are sellers or buyers. If they are playing well enough to be buyers, I could see them splurging on a #1 or at least a #2. I think they've got the money to handle one with a big salary at least for the rest of the year if it comes to that.

They have a more interesting team this year, but I don’t see any better than .500

Alex Wood wins arbitration hearing:

Quote:The entire baseball arbitration process is brutally awkward. If an eligible player and team cannot agree on a salary for the upcoming season, they each submit fixed offers to an independent number cruncher, and rather than that independent number cruncher deciding exactly how much that player should be payed, he decides between the two offers based on the arguments presented.

Essentially, said number cruncher gets to watch both parties suggest how wrong each other is, respectively, and then side with one over the other. Sets quite the stage for a working relationship, no?

Well, on Wednesday new Cincinnati Reds pitcher Alex Wood officially found out how much he’ll be earning during the 2019 season, as the arbiter sided with him over his new employer, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported earlier.

That means Wood will take hom $9.65 million for his efforts in 2019 rather than the $8.7 million initially suggested by the Reds. Nothing like an extra million bucks, right?

Wood, now 28, took home an even $6 million during the 2018 season, and 2019 will be his final year of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent at the end of the season. That, of course, is barring a contract extension, something that new teammate Sonny Gray inked earlier this winter to avoid the entire free agency process.

Wood has pitched to a stellar 3.20 ERA combined over the last two seasons, topping 150 innings in each while compiling 4.7 total bWAR in that span. The Reds will hope that he, Gray, and fellow newbie Tanner Roark can help solidify a starting rotation that has been busted by pretty much every single batter who has faced it over the previous three seasons as the Reds try to emerge from the NL Central cellar for the first time since the 2013 season. And now that the paperwork is officially out of the way, one can only hope his transition from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Reds can get going on a smoother track.

Greener Wood

Senzel to compete for CF spot with former Red Eric Davis assisting...

Quote:As the Reds consider their regular center-fielder options, they are not just humoring career infielder Nick Senzel by letting him compete for the spot. Senzel believes he can do it. Perhaps more importantly, so does new manager David Bell.

Bell was at the Reds' spring complex during the offseason and saw Senzel, Cincinnati's No. 1-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, taking fly balls and performing other drills.

"Having never seen him on the field, my first impression was, 'This guy can really move. He's an athlete. This is more than possible,'" Bell said. "Not to say it's easy. The transition he'll have to make to become a regular center fielder, it's going to take a lot of work, a lot of dedication. But just the way he reacted, the way he moves, his athleticism, led me to believe it's very possible."

Throughout the offseason in Arizona, Senzel worked with roving instructor and former Reds great Eric Davis to learn the ins and outs of the position. He'll continue to work with Davis and outfield coach Jeff Pickler in Spring Training.

"They've made it as simple as possible for me," Senzel said. "Run, catch the ball and throw it in. That's about it. It's fun learning a new position. I'm just excited to get to work, start games and see how I go out there."

Senzel, 23, was a third baseman when he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Reds in 2016. He was given a chance at shortstop last spring, more just to learn the position, and then played second base for Triple-A Louisville. But he's currently blocked by veterans, with Eugenio Suarez at third and Scooter Gennett at second.

When former center fielder Billy Hamilton was non-tendered, Senzel immediately saw the opportunity to compete. After the Reds did not acquire a natural center fielder in the offseason, Senzel became an in-house candidate along with corner outfielders Scott Schebler and Yasiel Puig.

Now Senzel, a non-roster player in camp, is learning a position and competing for it at the same time.

"I'm just learning it every day, making sure I'm fresh and not overworking," Senzel said. "It seems a little more real because I can break camp with this club. Last year, there really wasn't a shot. I know this year that if I go out and play ball, and do what I know how to do, show that I'm healthy and stuff, there's a legitimate chance that I can start day one here and help this club win games."

Senzational

Pitching depth gives the Reds more quality starters and flexibility in the pen...

Quote:Unlike recent Reds Spring Trainings, much of the drama about who would comprise the rotation was already removed on the first day of camp. That's when manager David Bell revealed the starting five would likely be -- in no particular order -- Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark, Alex Wood, Luis Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani.

Bell and the club envision multiple pitchers being used in a hybrid-swing role that could involve starting or long and situational-relief work. That's opened a different competition.

"Those are five really quality starters. They're going to give us a chance to win every time out," said right-handed pitcher Sal Romano, who made 25 starts last season. "But I know that there's definitely a spot on this team for me to help in some possible way, being a swing guy able to step in when I need to, a key situation to get a ground ball or anything like that."

Besides Romano, Cody Reed, Tyler Mahle and Brandon Finnegan are among those in consideration. Michael Lorenzen appears locked into a spot already after he made 42 relief appearances and three starts last season.

"I already have done both," Reed said. "I definitely ended last year pretty well. I really don't care. I don't care when I get the ball, if it's in the first inning, after the first pitch of the game, or the eighth inning and I throw to one hitter. I just want to be in the big leagues and stay there. I think I definitely have what it takes to be a big league pitcher, starting or reliever."

Data have shown many starters' performances waned significantly the second or third time against an opponent's batting order, prompting quicker hooks by managers. Few pitchers worked complete games or surpassed 200 innings last season.

"We were kind of used to that and bullpen guys were used to that, being ready in the fourth or fifth innings," Reed said. "With all the analytics stuff and guys batting the third time through the order, it's just the way it is. Some managers are different than others. [Former interim manager Jim] Riggleman was a guy who was quick on the trigger, but we have guys in the bullpen that are really good that could get us all the way through the ninth inning."

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching

Came across this 2006 game against the Injuns. Reds scored 4 runs in the 8th and 5 in the 9th to come from behind to win 9-8. The batters in the 9th were:

Scott Hatteberg
Austin Kearns
Brandon Phillips
Javier Valentin
Ryan Freel
Felipe Lopez
Adam Dunn

(02-12-2019 10:50 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote: [ -> ]They have a more interesting team this year, but I don’t see any better than .500

They may be a .500 or slightly better team, but they should at least be fun to watch compared to the last 3 or 4 years.

What was Davis, about 160 lb. soaking wet? He had forearms and wrists as strong as tree trunks though.

Crowded outfield but depth and competition for starting spots never a bad thing...

Quote:Since Jesse Winker suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on July 23, he's gained a lot of company in the Reds' corner-outfield spots.

One December trade with the Dodgers brought Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, Scott Schebler is back and top prospect Nick Senzel is competing for a spot in center field, which could affect the corners because Puig and Schebler can also play center.

When asked whether the changes will affect him, Winker gave a blank stare back and answered succinctly.

"It won't," Winker replied politely.

Why not?

"I'm just going to play baseball. It will have no effect on me," he said. "To be honest with you, we're trying to do a lot of great things here as a team. We need great players to do that. The guys we've added, all around, are just solid players. They're going to help us here and it's going to be great to play alongside them. I'm looking forward to it."

One of the best younger hitters the Reds have, Winker batted .299/.405/.431 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 89 games last season. It abruptly ended when he fell down avoiding a line drive running the bases. Winker was diagnosed with a subluxation -- or partial dislocation -- in his non-throwing right shoulder.

It was a shame because Winker had started to become an early Rookie of the Year contender. From June 1-July 23, he hit .362 with six homers. Reds manager David Bell doesn't seem keen on further stunting Winker's growth as a big league hitter by having him platoon or play part-time.

"He does need to continue to develop, but we want him to contribute at that level and as an everyday player," Bell said. "Again, it's challenging having a lot of guys that can contribute, but I'm confident that it will work out. I really am. He's going to be a big part of what we're doing."

It helps that Winker, 25, is healthy with no lingering issues with his shoulder after a successful rehabilitation. He spent the entire offseason at the Reds' Spring Training complex preparing for this season.

"It was a really smooth process with everything. Everyone involved with the staff here and the strength staff did an awesome job," Winker said. "When it comes to limitations, I have none. I'm full-go and participating 100 percent."

That leaves the remaining question of where Winker might hit in the order. Bell hasn't revealed his thoughts on the topic, but he has some appealing options.

Former Reds manager Bryan Price and former interim manager Jim Riggleman tried Winker in the leadoff spot last season and got productive results. He batted .265/.373/.346 in 35 starts at the top of the order.

Winker's early summer tear came when he batted further down the lineup. In the fifth spot, he batted .536/.581/.750 in eight games and .308/.443/.500 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 26 games while in the sixth spot.

"I don't care where I hit, but I would love to lead off and bat first for this team," Winker said. "If I am hitting fifth or sixth, I will be the best fifth or sixth hitter I can be.

"Last year was my first time leading off, and there is just something about starting off the game that I really, really loved and enjoyed doing. If it's something I am called to do, then I'm going to be the best leadoff hitter I can be. I like to provide flexibility for the manager any way I can."

5 Dudes, 3 Spots

Reds Top 30 Prospects:

Link

(02-21-2019 06:51 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: [ -> ]Reds Top 30 Prospects:

Link

Even after all the prospects we traded that's still a very strong list at the top. Our top 3 (Senzel, Trammell and Greene) match up well with just about any other org's top 3. So do our top 4 (adding India) and even our top 7 (adding Santillian, Stephenson and Vlad) respectively.