Spring training

So far none of the pitchers has blown a tire, pulled a string or popped a wheelie. so I assume we can at least make it through the weekend without having to modify Plan A.

Seems like 4 or 5 guys we thought were MLB pitchers are system fodder now.

I was looking at ticket prices for the first ST games against Cleveland, They are higher than regular season prices. I guess there is a higher demand.

The 1st ST game I went to I paid 5 dollars, that was 1999 Most ticket before the Reds left FL were less than 20 dollars. Oh well , wasn't planning on going anyway.

eburg5000 said:

I was looking at ticket prices for the first ST games against Cleveland, They are higher than regular season prices. I guess there is a higher demand.

The 1st ST game I went to I paid 5 dollars, that was 1999 Most ticket before the Reds left FL were less than 20 dollars. Oh well , wasn't planning on going anyway.

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I wondered about that. It would seem that you should get something more for that, such as maybe 50 bucks off a shopping spree at Deeznuts Sporting Goods or something. I mean, I'd go watch some spring ball for 10 bucks. Hell, it's a practice game with a lot of dudes named Wilson or Brandywein ...

Here, I can wait till early May and see indy ball for free or 12 bucks for the real thing at the end of the month.

I realize the cities that own these ballparks are making deals with MLB operations to take care of 100 people for more than a month, so I get it. I just don't care about paying for it.

Adding Derek Dietrich is an interesting move. Dietrich is capable of playing MLB outfield.
They claim he's infield depth but that's not for me to say.

I'm getting the idea that the Reds don't want to sign Scooter. He said that they haven't even talked to him yet They probably want to use a younger cheaper player at 2nd.

So, if it's the Reds intentions not to sign Scooter. Why haven't they traded him while he still has value? It's probably already to late to get much of anything for him.

Scooter's trade value has been whatever another team is willing to give up for his services. I assume the Reds haven't gotten an offer that was too good to pass up.

Heard this morning that Sonny Gray has been scratched as the Saturday ST opener SP. Tightness in the elbow. May be nothing, but the knee jerk reaction is here we go again.

Hit-n-Run said:

Scooter's trade value has been whatever another team is willing to give up for his services. I assume the Reds haven't gotten an offer that was too good to pass up.

Heard this morning that Sonny Gray has been scratched as the Saturday ST opener SP. Tightness in the elbow. May be nothing, but the knee jerk reaction is here we go again.

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I think Gray is probably smart enough to consult the med staff. My hope is that he doesn't think he's ready yet to throw breaking balls, so why even warm up? But the word 'elbow' and 'concern' usually are in the same sentence.

I don't know if the Scooter talks are more than Fay asking him a question and getting an honest answer. But there's no secret where the Reds are going with this and if Scoots wasn't part of the chat, not sure what that means. They already had a conversation about his arb contract. Did they not discuss anything else?

It isn't like he wasn't in trade rumor talk with Seattle last summer.

They are gonna play it out and Scooter will walk in November. I don't know if the Reds are going to negotiate extensions until they are sure Senzel can hit big-league pitching.

On another note, check out the Reds.com interview between Votto and Smoltz. Very very enlightening. Good questions and great answers.

Signing Iglesias as a backup SS isn't as much a coup as it is a 'w.t.f.' moment for the rest of the league? Iglesias rates as one of the best defensive SS in the game and he hit .269 last year. For $3 million, did the Pirates just not care?

Spring training games are on there way, Reds are 1-1-1 which means that and 5 dollars might buy you a cup of coffee

Been cool out in AZ. That might be one reason why Gray was shut down, but we all have seen this before in ST. They say it's just a minor precaution, and the guy is out for the rest of the year

eburg5000 said:

Spring training games are on there way, Reds are 1-1-1 which means that and 5 dollars might buy you a cup of coffee

Been cool out in AZ. That might be one reason why Gray was shut down, but we all have seen this before in ST. They say it's just a minor precaution, and the guy is out for the rest of the year

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Pitchers are high risk. Gray was throwing on a flat field so at least he isn't shut down completely. I think these guys are overly cautious. I guess I can't blame them.

The Reds are well into spring training now. It should be time for some minor league cuts.

There is a lot of competition for the extra infield position. Also the last two pitching rotation spots. I'm thinking that Disco and Casttilli will be the front runners. But in the end it's any buddies guess. There also could be some trades that could determine the final out come.

Having Dietrich and Iglesias dropped in their laps, the Reds can send Connor Joe back to LA if they want. That's a cheap transaction. The skill set for all three guys is about the same but Iglesias would not be as versatile, though better at SS. I think he opts out of the deal. Somebody will want him.

I think Gray starts the year on the DL since he's way behind the others.
Farmer earned a look but he'll go to Louisville.

There are some good players on the edge here. That's how the REds got Scooter. If Kemp is released, he gets a contract that evening. That deal may already be done, just waiting for the lawyers to read it.

This Reds offseason stumps me...lots of one year guys, an offensive upgrade for sure, but it doesn't look like a rebuild, and damned sure doesn't look like a playoff capable roster either... although I'm not overly optimistic about the pitching, on paper. they are also an upgrade by default, IF healthy, which currently they don't appear to be.. The bullpen is still a dysfunctional unit. The OF defense may be embarrassingly inept, especially if the CF job is between a 3b, 2 guys that should be DH's and a RP. I'm hoping Senzel succeeds there, because the current platoon prospects in CF aren't pretty.

The Reds do have a legitimate chance to escape the NLC cellar, if they can score more than they give up, and hold off the Pirates. Cubs are taking a nap again and will still wake up in time to see playoffs. I can't wait to see Moustakas play 2b, but the Brewers CAN hit and sadly, their starting pitching looks as viable as our Reds, with a better bullpen. Grandal is going to mash in Milwaukee, IMO. Goldschmidt and a couple of healthy pitchers could make the Cardinals better than last year. If the Reds played in the ALC, I would like their chances better.

Dietrich is a legit under radar help guy, a lock to make this team, and probably play quite a bit.

I think the Reds will hit. I also think they can only go as far as the pitching takes them...then they start over next year.

Redsfan1507 said:

This Reds offseason stumps me...lots of one year guys, an offensive upgrade for sure, but it doesn't look like a rebuild, and damned sure doesn't look like a playoff capable roster either... although I'm not overly optimistic about the pitching, on paper. they are also an upgrade by default, IF healthy, which currently they don't appear to be.. The bullpen is still a dysfunctional unit. The OF defense may be embarrassingly inept, especially if the CF job is between a 3b, 2 guys that should be DH's and a RP. I'm hoping Senzel succeeds there, because the current platoon prospects in CF aren't pretty.


Dietrich is a legit under radar help guy, a lock to make this team, and probably play quite a bit.

I think the Reds will hit. I also think they can only go as far as the pitching takes them...then they start over next year.

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I think the yardstick for improved pitching now is, "Does our pitching coach have a different idea than the last 3 guys did?"

Meaning, he is convinced the lunch of chicken salad was originally chicken shit.

But I think they are convinced they can milk 6 or 7 guys with 5 innings apiece, get enough breaks from the bullpen and score 6 runs.

I like the outfield more than you do, mainly because they might all be required to HIT a cutoff man.

JohnU said:

I think Gray starts the year on the DL since he's way behind the others.
Farmer earned a look but he'll go to Louisville.

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I think Gray is supposed tp start this week..... then we have heard that before. Farmer was playing SS the one game I was watching, I don't know if he has been catching in spring or not.

Gray may have thrown some back-lot innings. I don't think anybody pays much attention to that. I know he's had bullpens.

JohnU, LOL...Schebler might have to bounce twice to hit the cutoff man. The only MLB OF I've seen with a worse arm was Jonny Damon.

What I like best about the Reds OF this year, is the only Reds OF that might hit like a pitcher this year, is a pitcher- Lorenzen. If you believe the ST propaganda that Lorenzen is actually going to get defensive innings in the OF this season (I don't).

I do believe Winker (LF) can hit above .280 in a full time job, and be good leadoff guy, assuming lefty pitching doesn't figure him out, and as long as you don't expect him to steal. His shoulder surgery is a concern- typically reduces ability to hit for power. Kemp could easily hit 25 HR in GABP if he got in 100 games, but his D is terrible. Ditto Schebler, he would be the vs. righty platoon with Kemp (vs. lefties) if Senzel doesn't take the CF job outright. That leaves Puig, who's probably the RF, although he's a better CF than either Schebler or Kemp. I see lots of speculation about Kemp being released or traded, but I think there are plenty of AB's for Winker, Senzel (who can also play 3 infield positions), Kemp, Schebler and Puig. I think the odd man out is the hottest ST OF, Phil Ervin. I think a legit 2020 two-way OF answer might be Trammel.

Pitching coaches ? They rely on 3 things...

#1: PITCHING TALENT. You can't coach a mule into a thoroughbred.

#2: ATTITUDE / COOPERATION. You can't move an immovable object. Unless a coach has a REAL name these guys recognize, and list of certified rags to riches pitchers in his resume, he's just some old chump making cab fare to these guys...unless he is their last chance before bartending school ...in that case, see #1 above or #3 below.

#3: HEALTH: It's a pity, but ZERO team trainers were ever big league pitchers, or pitching coaches. Trainers can train athletes for a marathon, a Mr. Universe title, or help them get abs good enough for an underwear billboard, but I haven't seen them avoid any UL, rotator cuff, abductor or lat injuries in their customers that throw for a living. Pitching coaches simply demand pitchers to put strains on the normal human tensile strength connective tissue their original DNA gave them, that can't support those superhuman capacity muscles trainers try to achieve. Until they can get connective tissue to bulk up on par with 21st century muscles, lifespans of arms are going to get shorter. You can't coach connective tissue, but I do wish Reds coaches could coach a few mechanics for better control between surgeries.

I don't think we will see Senzel play the OF much after this summer. He might not play there much after May if the Reds decide to move Scooter to the American League.

JohnU said:

I don't think we will see Senzel play the OF much after this summer. He might not play there much after May if the Reds decide to move Scooter to the American League.

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I agree. I think CF is just a temporary excuse to get Senzel into the lineup without disturbing the current infield too much. I think the Reds Brass think Senzel can replace Scooter for a fraction of the price, at least for 3-4 years, of course. If they do trade Scooter, they better get a pitcher or two.

Redsfan1507 said:

I agree. I think CF is just a temporary excuse to get Senzel into the lineup without disturbing the current infield too much. I think the Reds Brass think Senzel can replace Scooter for a fraction of the price, at least for 3-4 years, of course. If they do trade Scooter, they better get a pitcher or two.

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Somebody will bite on Scooter though he'd be worth more if he could prove his shoulder is healed. We tend to forget that the night he hit the 4 HRs he was playing left field that game.

But they might throw some money at Roark or Wood this fall and if Trammell is what they think he is, mid 2020, they should have a pretty decent offense.

I think upgrading at catcher is likely soon and it could turn out that Farmer is the biggest piece of the trade they got with Puig and Kemp.

Kemp doesn't have much value now, other than in a Duvall-type trade for some team that wants a 20-HR guy. So some Sims-Wisler pitchers could be in the future.

I don't think the Reds will try to sign Puig. He's not that hard to replace. He would be a nice bat in Cincy.

Dietrich landing in their laps lets them send Connor Joe back to LA for the peanut transaction. Wild card is Jose Iglesias. He's got some trade value.