Cactus schedule

I've never seen Wallach catch, but from everything I've heard he's not very good. This team is woefully thin at catcher, but I doubt we'll ever see him behind the plate at GABP.

Rob Brantly has had a descent spring. He has some MLB experience, but doesn't have any remaining assignment options if added to the 40 man roster.

Stuart Turner would have to be the default 3rd catcher by being on the 40 man, but his rule 5 status doesn't allow him to be optioned if Meso is healthy. If the Reds really like the kid and want some flexibilty they could work out a trade with the Twins and the rule 5 restrictions are gone.

I'd compare Phil Ervin to Drew Stubbs. Both had questionable hit tools when drafted. Stubbs was drafted 8th overall and more would have been expected from him. Phil Ervin was the 27th pick and was more of a crapshoot sort of draft pick. I don't care much for late round college picks, I'd rather see them spent on HS kids.

Tyler Stephenson and Chris Okey are still in the mix eventually, I assume.

Chris Okey wasn't overly impressive in Dayton. We'll see how he does his first full year in pro ball.

Tyler Stephenson is going to take some time to develop being drafted out of HS. Haven't heard any negatives about his progress, but he's only 20 years old and is probably at least 3-5 years away from GABP.

I think catcher may be the toughest position to draft successfully.

Hit-n-Run said:

I think catcher may be the toughest position to draft successfully.

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"You know it."

So Winker doesn't make the club. Is he worse/better/same as Jennings or Kivelahan?

Garrett throwing 5 innings, obviously he's being stretched out to start with the Reds. Otherwise, they could stretch him out over a longer period at Pensacola.

Garrett has appeared to have the inside track with Bryan Price this spring. He's been roughed up his last two outings.

Romano has only had one bad inning all spring, but I think the Reds will option him to AAA for more seasoning. Maybe a dark horse bullpen pick?

Reed was strong his last outing and is scheduled to start one of the last few games in Arizona. Price is on record as saying he thought Cody Reed was ready last season. So I think Price feels it's time for Reed to get his shot at redemption.

Rookie Davis and Tim Adleman are going today in split squad action. It's a big day for Tim Adleman. Davis has impressed and Adleman hasn't, but I think Bryan Price likes Adleman's experience. Davis may fall into the same category as Romano.

Tim Adleman is well beyond the prospect age and wouldn't benefit from being optioned. With as many young pitchers moving up through the Reds system, the time is approaching when Adleman is either going to be a productive MLB pitcher or waiver wire fodder.

Bryan Price and for that matter the Reds in general don't seem too high on Robert Steohenson. He's a top 100 prospect that appears to be disappointing them at every turn. If they've lost faith in his ability to progress, I'd rather they trade him while there's still value. The Reds have a history of riding deadhorse prospects until there's absolutely no value remaining

Then there's Bronson. Just show up and you have a job. Price may have a man crush on the guy.

Hit-n-Run said:

The Reds have a history of riding deadhorse prospects until there's absolutely no value remaining

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I would maybe assume that part of that was due to the previous regime. Either way, I agree. Stephenson has to at least be as good as some of the guys who were with the club last year. Then again, Crown Cemetery in Indy has better pitchers.

Adleman and Davis had subpar outings today, but so has every other SP lately.

I think Cody Reed locks down a spot in the rotation with a descent showing tomorrow.

I could see Luetge and Coleman making this bullpen.

Maybe depending on what the pitchers were trying to achieve, they were bad outings. I think they should be throwing 80 pitches by now.

Feldman, Finnegan, Reed, Garrett, Arroyo/Adleman/Stephenson/Romano/Davis/Castillo ... Disco.
I don't much like this pitching staff, thought I would like it more.
Maybe there is potential there.

Lorenzen, Iglesias, Storen, Wood, Cingrani, one of the others above, Peralta, Astin ... bullpen appears better but then again a Titanic without the hole in the side would be better. Luetge, Coleman probably in.

I am not including Homer Bailey in any of this.
I can see the Reds making a deal but it's too late in camp to see what that might be.
Clearly we have catcher issues. Turner appears to be the man.

Raburn out, Kivelahan in?

Patrick Kivlehan has hit the crap out of the ball and has played solid defense at the corners. It's interesting that he didn't play college baseball at Rutgers until his senor season.

Having a good spring is nice, but the Kivlehan types never seem to bring it with them to OD. Brennan Boesch anyone?

I keep waiting for the Reds to cut Desmond Jennings, but now I'm afraid he might make the team.

Cody Reed threw batting practice today.

Last day in Arizona, who played well enough to make this team?

Veterans and projected everyday lineup get the benefit of the doubt, but who makes out the rest of this roster?

Hit-n-Run said:

Last day in Arizona, who played well enough to make this team?

Veterans and projected everyday lineup get the benefit of the doubt, but who makes out the rest of this roster?

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The 4-man bench would include 13 pitchers so the agenda clearly is that we aren't all that convinced this pitching staff can make it through April. With Disco, Homer and Iglesias all on the mend, Bronson not ready to pitch, Reed and Adleman showing signs of ineptitude, that leaves some kids who probably ought to be in the minors to start the season. Cingrani is going to be the 2017 version of the nightmare reliever, in continuation of his inability last year to pitch.

Jennings, Turner, Alcantara, Kivelahan, Renda, Irrabarron ... of that group, I think if that's the biggest news we get to ponder this year, it's going to be a very long season. None of these guys -- Jennings excepted, should be anywhere near a big-league batting cage for a rebuilding team.

They can go with this bench for at least 2 weeks since nobody is yet banged up. I'd guess Winker the Wonk would be the first callup after Hamilton crashes into a wall. Renda would come up if any of the infielders goes down. Votto hurt? Could slide Duvall over to first base or call up Christian Walker. I assume Dillson Herrera will be good to go sometime in June.

Mesoraco needs to prove he can play somewhere. That's probably 2 or 3 weeks out.

This pitching staff is going to need 4 long relievers and Bryan Price is trying to sell us the illusion that he has four closers.

This is going to be another year of the weak bench syndrome. Most the guys left in camp are non-roster types.

Imo. Garrett, Stephenson, Reed, and Adleman were all disappointing. I keep Davis and Romano, at least they showed up and competed at a level befitting consideration.

I like some of the younger bullpen options in the system more than the same old retreads.

I think Iglesias will be OK as long as he doesn't have a career ending bathroom injury.

Hit-n-Run said:

This pitching staff is going to need 4 long relievers and Bryan Price is trying to sell us the illusion that he has four closers.

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I think we can expect at least 3 pitchers on virtually every game, with the rare 13-0 blowout giving the starter a CG out of indifference. The issue is getting 5 decent innings out of a starter. Finnegan can do that and I think Bronson will somehow manage. Feldman? No way to tell. After that, it's going to be a mix and match for the 6-7th, and anybody who hasn't pitched this week to go the last 2. All that assumes some kind of competitive score along the way. Being down 6-1 going into the 6th and leaving that inning down 10-1 ... where have we seen that before?

I can see 8 to 10 wins in April. After that, it depends.

Kivelahan apparently made the cut.
Adleman didn't. Luetke, Coleman didn't.
Romano didn't.
Renda didn't.
No real shocks.