Reds thread

[bengaldoug]

Use Madson as a setup man.

We don't know what Madson will be next year, the first year after Tommy John surgery. He may not even be able to pitch until midseason, and even if he does we won't have him under contract. He'll be a free agent again. Whether we'll be able to resign him, or even want to, is unknown at this point. Maybe Broxton will have his heater back by then, but he'll be a free agent too, unless we can extend him.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

We don't know what Madson will be next year, the first year after Tommy John surgery. He may not even be able to pitch until midseason, and even if he does we won't have him under contract. He'll be a free agent again. Whether we'll be able to resign him, or even want to, is unknown at this point. Maybe Broxton will have his heater back by then, but he'll be a free agent too, unless we can extend him.

I see,thanks for the info!

 

[bengaldoug]

I love the idea of Chappy in the rotation with Broxton closing and Madson setting him up, but that's a whole lot of shit that has to line up just right. It's good to know that we have depth in the bullpen, no matter what happens.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

I love the idea of Chappy in the rotation with Broxton closing and Madson setting him up, but that's a whole lot of shit that has to line up just right. It's good to know that we have depth in the bullpen, no matter what happens.

Indeed!! You never know what ol Jockerty might have up his sleeve!! I knew things had to get better when we got him at GM.

 

[vancelot23]

I may be alone, but I'd keep Chapman in the bullpen. I just don't see him as a great starter. He can't throw 100 mph fastballs for 9 innings. His other pitches are just ok and I dont see him as a dominant starter. He is a dominant reliever.

 

[Tubbs1518]

If you don't see his slider as dominant you aren't watching him pitch. And I remember him starting and dominating just fine for Cuba a few years ago.

 

[Tubbs1518]

I'd say his 2.27 ERA says he is doing ok throwing at 95. Plenty of closers have been dominant never throwing 100.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Randy Johnson threw 96-99 for 9 innings.

You just have to work your arm up to it. I think Chapman can do it. He was doing pretty good in S.T. before all the injuries to the 'pen.

 

[cincygrad]

He's lost faith in his slider several times this year. For a few weeks he was throwing nothing but gas...... That's going to be an issue for a starter.

That said, I think the guy has the makings of a dominant starter and I'm sure this is in his future. But I don't want to switch in the middle of the year -- Why mess with what is working? For now, we can have a 'nasty-boys' type of approach where we only need to get to the 7 or 8th inning with the lead.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Yeah you don't switch it now. You go with what is working. Leave Chapman closing this year. Then this offseason you work on his slider and his split finger, and some sort of offspeed pitch, maybe a change-up.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Yeah you don't switch it now. You go with what is working. Leave Chapman closing this year. Then this offseason you work on his slider and his split finger, and some sort of offspeed pitch, maybe a change-up.

He has a change-up. He was using it this spring. He's pretty much shelved it while he's closing.

Agreed about when to make the change. You start stretching him out in fall-ball or the DR and then again in ST, though you don't want to over-tax his arm..so maybe they will give him the winter off and then just start in ST.

 

[Tubbs1518]

I'd also use him much like the Nata are Strasburg this season. Give him an inning cap for next year. Rays did the same when they brought Price into the rotation.

 

[bengaldoug]

Yeah you don't switch it now. You go with what is working. Leave Chapman closing this year. Then this offseason you work on his slider and his split finger, and some sort of offspeed pitch, maybe a change-up.

I completely agree with this....his splitter is an offspeed pitch.....with the slider and a heater dialed down into the 95-99 mph range, all he'll need is to get stretched out to where he can throw 100 or so pitches and I'm sure he'll quickly be a dominant starter....next year....this year we want him saving October games.....

 

[vancelot23]

As I said, I'm sure I'm alone. I'd leave him at closer.

 

[Tubbs1518]

As it's been stated, a dominant closer isn't really needed. A dominant staff however, is.

 

[bengaldoug]

With this bullpen and the addition of Broxton, it's basically a six inning game now....if we can have a lead after six, it's basically over.....Broxton very impressive tonight.....

 

[Tubbs1518]

So who do you put out as our 3rd starter come playoff time? Arroyo or Bailey?

 

[bengaldoug]

So who do you put out as our 3rd starter come playoff time? Arroyo or Bailey?

As of now it's Bailey.....that's subject to change seeing how things go over the rest of the season, of course.....actually Bailey would be #2 off his performance before his last start, and Latos#3, although I know they brought Latos in with him intended to be the two....

 

[Tubbs1518]

Lagos will be the #2 going into the playoffs. I can't really see them going any other way.

 

[bengaldoug]

Probably true. His record tends to get better as the year goes on, while Bailey is soon headed into unknown territory re innings pitched. Unknown whether he'll tire or not.