What is the value of bringing up a guy who can't get out of the first inning?
You have to go to the bullpen anyhow. Why not just let the bullpen start the game?
Chris Welsh said it last night- he has stuff a lot like Mike Leake. Leake is just more consistent. You can get more hitters in AAA out with a mistake belt high than you can in MLB. Mistakes at 102 don't hurt you as bad or as often as mistakes at 82. That's simple.
Reynolds isn't terrible, he's just not good. I'd say, he's a little below average...like several dozen pitchers in MLB, and at least one Reds manager I know. Wilbur Wood pitched BOTH games of a DH in the 70's. I don't know what that has to do with anything, but in surprised it hadn't occurred to anyone since.
Reynolds would have survived if the Reds had scored 6 runs in the first 3 innings.
He would have lasted until the 6th inning, which he did anyhow.
Weird, but that doubleheader was a wash for throwaway arms.
I think the 26th man idea is an interesting one but I don't think it really is very sensible.
I'd have just started Simon, told him to go 3, then brought in LeCure, told him to go 3 and finish up with Ondrusek, Hoover and hopefully Chapman.
But it's nice Reynolds got the chance. Applaud the team for doing that, even at some cost.
Todd Redmond, who did the 26th man last year and got shelled, is pitching for Toronto now.
The Reds will, BTW, have to offer up Reynolds to FA if he doesn't stick. They were talking him going on Sunday in LA.