Reds Trade Keppinger

Now that the Reds have traded Jeff Keppinger to the Astros here is where their roster situation stands as of today, with 30 players still in camp, and needing to cut down to 25.

They are going to keep 12 pitchers, 10 of which are definite:

1. Arroyo
2. Burton
3. Cordero
4. Cueto
5. Harang
6. Lincoln
7. Owings
8. Rhodes
9. Volquez
10. Weathers

For the last two slots there are four contenders

1. Bray and Herrera for the LH relief slot
2. Bailey
3. Masset

As far as the 13 position players, they still have 16 in camp, 11 of which are definite:

1. Hanigan
2. Hernandez
3. Encarnacion
4. Gonzalez
5. Hairston
6. Phillips
7. Votto
8. Bruce
9. Dickerson
10. Taveras (ugh)
11. Gomes - not 100% definite, but that's the rumor

That leaves two spots left.

One will go to an IF: Janish or Rosales
One will go to an OF: Nix, McDonald or Castillo

What I think Dusty will do:

1. Herrera
2. Masset

Bray will stay in Sarasota to keep working, Bailey will be assigned for now to AAA. The Reds will try to move Masset if they can to another team, then bring Homer up.

1. Janish
2. McDonald

Slight edge to Janish over Rosales because he's a better glove at SS and I think they are really committed to being better defensively up the middle this year. Janish has played a few spring games at 3B to see if he can do it and he looked good there.

The OF slot is a close call. McDonald has had a great spring. Nix started off well, but has tapered off. McDonald is a better fielder from what I've seen.

Castillo is kind of a wild card because he can catch, play 2B and OF. He's versatile and an excellent athlete, but I think he loses out because he's a jack of all trades and master of none.

P.S. At my last game in Sarasota, Reds vs. Rays, I left because of a long rain delay and I wanted to get on the road. BUT before I left I was able to shake Dusty's hand to wish him good luck. I also got Eric Davis' autograph.

3.28 Reds at Tampa Bay Rays

Saturday the Reds traveled south to Port Charlotte, new spring home of the Tampa Bay Rays for an afternoon ballgame. I've already blogged about this renovated facility for the Rays - it was packed, including the lawn seats for today's game. The Reds won 5-1.

The weather was somewhat noteworthy - I'd estimate there was a wind of about 40 mph blowing dead out to left field. I was shocked that more home runs weren't hit that way during the game. The flags were absolutely stiff.



Rays Notes

Jason Hammel, RHP who is locked in a battle for the Rays fifth starter, pitched really well. Over the 5 innings that he pitched the Reds didn't score, he gave up only 2 hits, struck out 4 and walked only 1 batter. He had excellent control. The Reds had a couple of hard hit balls but didn't really threaten over the first five.


Aki Iwamura, back from his participation on the winning Japanese team in the WBC, lofted a not-well-hit popup to the LF, who then drifted all the way back until he caught the ball on the warning track. Such was the effect of the wind.

Carl Crawford, back after fighting an injury, had two hits and stole his seventh base of the spring.



Reds Notes

Will Taveras walked then got picked off to lead off the game - that's twice this spring he has been picked off first base. To his credit, in the Reds 6th inning rally off Rays relief pitcher (for now) Jason Isrinhausen, Taveras executed a perfect hit and run play form the plate, slapping the ball to the vacated second base hole, with Paul Janish stealing.

Jeff Keppinger has become really pathetic - going O-5 on the day, including a K, and several ground outs. Batting second in the lineup (why?) in the sixth inning, with runners on first and third and the Reds trailing by a run, he popped up weakly to the second baseman.

Jay Bruce had a key, bases-loaded single, driving in two runs in the 6th inning, giving the Reds the lead, which they held. He lined a two strike pitch to CF. His batting average is now up to .292 and while I wouldn't say he is completely ready to go on Opening Day, he's close.

Ramon Hernandez had another challenging day behind the plate. He gave up an easy passed ball and remained ineffective at throwing runners out on the bases. Once again, Dusty looked angry (shook his head) at something Hernandez did, or didn't do, to stop the running game. Hernandez also missed a pop up that landed in foul territory at his feet. The wind played a role in that, but he seemed to have trouble with it beyond the wind.

I'm not calling this a "prediction" yet, but there is some chance that backup catcher Ryan Hanagan will get some more playing time at catcher than most people think. There are two reasons that may not happen - one is that the trade of Ryan Freel for Hernandez turned out to be GM Walt Jocketty's biggest off-season move, so there will be some internal pressure for Hernandez to play. Secondly, Hernandez was very public about his unhappiness at Baltimore, and how that lead to his subpar season. The basic premise of the Freel-for-Hernandez swap on the Reds end was that Ramon would be happier, and therefore better, this year. Starting Hanagan in a number of games would jeopardize that.

Joey Votto hit his third home run of the spring in the 8th inning.



Edinson Volquez had a good line - in fact he gave up just one earned run, his first in 19 innings pitched this spring - but he didn't have very good control. He was constantly pitching from behind in counts and walked four hitters.



Bray, Burton and Masset pitched well in relief.

Hickory Hollow

After the game I drove to Bradenton to eat dinner at the Hickory Hollow restaurant - which I'd raved about here a few days ago. It was spectacular again this time. I ordered the combination of pork spare ribs and BBQ chicken. My sides were cheesy potatoes and cole slaw.

As I was leaving this rooster was sitting on the chairs outside in the waiting area near the front door. It was loudly sqwaking "cock-a-doodle-do" several times. I thought they only did that when the sun came up. Anyhow, I wondered if it was worried about being caught and served for dinner!

3.27 Night Reds at Yankees

On Friday night the Reds traveled north to play the Yankees at the newly named George M. Steinbrunner Stadium, which used to be called Legends Field. As befits the Yankees, their minor league park has a major league feel. There is a large upper deck and several luxury box areas.

Their concession stands serve something out of the Flintstones, a large turkey leg. The guy in front of me was eating one, although he only took one bite and threw it under his chair. No kidding.


Yankees Notes

The news broke this week about Derek Jeter leading off for the Yankees. He'll do well in that role, I expect to see him stealing more bases this year as a result.


Johnny Damon still has a weak arm in the OF. The Reds took advantage of every opportunity to take the extra base on him.

Mark Teixeira made a few nice plays at 1B, and also had a single with an RBI.


The most noteworthy performance was by C.C. Sabathia who pitched 7.2 innings and basically shut down the Reds after we scratched out three hits on him in the second inning. He gave up a total of 4 hits and had 7 Ks and no walks. He's ready for Opening Day.




Reds Notes

The Reds left their left-handed starters at home. Dusty had seen first-hand the way LHP C.C. Sabathia handled the likes of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce last year when Sabathia was with the Brewers. I'm sure our lefties didn't mind the day off, or not facing C.C.

Brandon Phillips, who is our best hitter against LHP, did have a single, but also made an error in the field.


Dusty played his former LF Jacque Jones at 1B in this game, for a reason that escapes me. Jones made two really bad plays in the field in one inning leading to Aaron Harang being charged with 2 unearned runs.

Ramon Hernandez looked a little shaky behind the plate, giving up a passed ball and not controlling the Yankees running game (Yankees running game?) very well. Dusty was clearly unhappy with something Hernandez did, or didn't do, on a successful double steal.

Aaron Harang, who has had some good starts and bad starts this spring, causing some concern about his readiness to return to his 2006 and 2007 form, pitched really well in this game. His line score doesn't reflect it, but he was in control pretty much for all of his 6 innings. He struck out 5 and walked 2. I'm starting to feel pretty encouraged about his upcoming season.

3.26 Night Reds vs. Twins

The Reds played a rare night game at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday against the Ft. Myers-based Minnesota Twins. The Reds won 6-4. You are allowed to stand along the perimeter of the inside bowl of the stadium, one deep. I decided to watch most of the game from right behind home plate.

Twins Notes

The Twins' starting pitcher was Nick Blackburn, who pitched pretty well. He is not overpowering, but was spotting his pitches well against the Reds on Thursday. He gave up two earned runs and three hits in four innings.


The other pitcher of note for the Twins was shut-down closer Joe Nathan. He came on to pitch a 1-2-3 6th inning, with two strikeouts.



Reds Notes

Jerry Hairston Jr. is still showing signs of rust at the plate, although he has looked very smooth in the field at SS taking over for the injured Alex Gonzalez. He muscled a pitch into left field for a 2-run single in this game.

Chris Dickerson made another great play in the field, gunning down a runner at the plate that was trying to score on a base hit. The throw arrived on a line drive all the way to the catcher and beat the runner by a couple of steps. Wish I had a picture of it.

Willy Taveras struck out, walked (!) and had a single, but was caught stealing.

Micah Owings started as pitcher for the Reds and did not look sharp. He somehow managed to only give up one run despite surrendering six hits and five walks in four innings. He is a tremendous athlete, though. Not only is he a good hitter - doubling down the left field line in his only AB - but he is a very fast runner. He could pinch hit and pinch run for the Reds this year.


The Reds bullpen, with the exception of Closer Fancisco Cordero, was excellent again. Mike Lincoln, David Weathers, Pedro Viola and Josh Roenicke all finished their assignments without giving up a run.

Special mention ought to be made of Daniel Ray Herrera, a LHP who not only hasn't given up a run this spring, but he's only let one runner on base out of 22 that he has faced. He has 8 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.



Jay Bruce hitting.



Catcher Ramon Hernandez hit his first home run as a member of the Reds.



Jeff Keppinger, who's frustrations at the plate continued, hit three virtually identical ground balls between the shortstop and second base, one of which snuck through on 6-hops for a single.

3.26 Yankees at Phillies

Today the New York Yankees made the short trip from Tampa to Clearwater to face the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. The game was played at beautiful Bright House Field, the Phillies new spring home. One of the nice features of the stadium is the way they use the OF areas, sprawling lawns and a gigantic bar called Frenchy's.

Both teams were playing the majority of their starters, and each was sending a highly regarded young pitcher to the mound. Carlos Carasco started for the Phillies and Joba Chamberlain took the ball for the Yankees.

The game also featured the two starting shortstops for the American WBC team, Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins.



Yankees Notes and Pictures

Derek Jeter, captain of the Yankees, had a nice day at the plate in his new role as lead off hitter, with a couple of hits and a stolen base.

Mark Teixeira, the latest addition to the Bronx Bombers, hit the ball hard a couple of times. Equally important, Teixeira brings his Gold Glove first base skills to the Yankees infield.

Hideki Matsui got the Yankees scoring going with a first-pitch home run pulled on a line drive down the right field line, scoring himeself and Jeter.

Yankee 3B Alex Rodriquez, um, Cody Ransom, hit a long home run to LF.

Joba was hit hard by the Phillies in the first inning, getting behind both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard who took him deep. He settled down for a couple more innings then was lifted after giving up a walk and double in the 5th.

Late in the game Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher each homered. The Yankees ended up winning 10-2.

Phillies Notes and Pictures

Carlos Carasco got off to a poor start as well, surrendering the home run to Matsui. He was lucky to escape the first having given up only two runs. After that he settled down and pitched easy second and third innings before giving up Ransom's solo homer in the fourth.

This was Jimmy Rollins' first game back in the lineup after the WBC. I'm sure the Phillies fans are anxious for him to return to form, alongside 2B Chase Utley who had major offseason surgery on his hip.

Utley hit a long home run to right field in the first inning.

Later in the first, Ryan Howard, the Phillies 1B, hit a gigantic opposite field home run - probably the longest homer I've seen this spring. The woman sitting in front of me turned around to say that Howard was going to have a big year because he had lost a lot of weight.

The Phillies didn't score again after the two first inning home runs. Chase Utley took a called third strike with two on and two out in the fifth inning, ending their best chance to add to the first inning runs.

Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge, who didn't blow a save through the entire 2008 season, came in to pitch a clean 7th inning.

3.25 Reds vs. Red Sox - Pitchers Duel

This afternoon's game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith stadium featured two pitching prospects, 23-year old Johnny Cueto and 24-year old Clay Buchholz. Both teams played most of their starting units, so this game promised to be a reasonable test for both young arms.

It was a spectacular day in Sarasota, sunny and 79º. The game was completely sold out, thanks to the many Red Sox fans in attendance.


My Talk with Chris Welsh

In the later innings I moved down and stood behind home plate. In the ninth inning, Reds TV broadcaster Chris Welsh walked up and stood next to me. A former major league pitcher, Welsh has been a Reds broadcaster since 1993, forming a long-time continuous announcing team with George Grande. I barely recognized him since he has shaved off his distinctive moustache.

I started talking about the Reds with him, including specific players, and I was very surprised at how candid he was about them. I've decided not to repeat his specific comments here, since he probably didn't think they would be published on the internet and could possibly cause him some trouble. But they were fascinating. If you're curious, ask me and I'll tell you in person.

Immediately after the game, Dusty Baker held a press conference on the field. Welsh is the guy in the white shirt with his back to the camera. Hal McCoy, the Hall of Fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News is in the salmon-colored shirt.



Reds Pitching

The Reds staff came into today's game having thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings. Taking the mound was Johnny Cueto, my previous choice as the breakthrough pitcher for the Reds in 2009. I like his increased maturity and experience.


Today, Cueto completely dominated the Red Sox. He faced the minimum 18 batters over six innings. He did allow two runners on singles, both of whom were immediately erased through double plays. He struck out 5 and walked none. Most importantly, he kept his pitch count down - throwing only 69 pitches - against a team built by Theo Epstein on OBP.

Ryan Masset, who according to rumors, the Reds are shopping, pitched two clean innings in the 7th and 8th, so the Reds had extended their shutout streak to 29 innings.

Then came the 9th inning and LHP Bill Bray. Bray came to the Reds from the Washington Nationals in the Austin Kearns trade a few years ago. I like Bray - he is a hard throwing pitcher who generally gets the job done. He has been inconsistent this spring, and there have been published reports that he might be considered expendable due to the emergence of lefty specialists Daniel Herrera and Pedro Viola, both of whom I have written about in this blog.

Facing Red Sox back-up hitters, Bray walked the first batter at a full count, narrowly missing on the 2-2 pitch. He then was victimized by a perfect hit and run play, with the lead runner moving to third. Bray earned a temporary reprieve by striking out the next hitter, but then gave up a down-the-line ground ball double to left, scoring two runs. He walked a couple more batters before finally retiring the side, having surrendered the Reds 1-0 lead.

Bray may end up traded or find himself pitching in Louisville for the Reds 'AAA' team.

Red Sox Pitching

Clay Buchholz held up his end of the pitching duel, giving up just one unearned run and a few hits.

With the score tied 0-0, Buchholz induced Paul Janish to hit a routine ground ball to the shortstop, who proceeded to let it go right through his legs (E-6). Buchholz compounded the problem by throwing past 1B Kevin Youkilis on a pickoff attempt, allowing Janish to advance all the way third. It looked like Buchholz would work himself out of the jam when Jeff Keppinger hit yet another ground ball to the shortstop. Keppinger somehow beat the throw (fwiw, I thought he was out) driving in Janish with the first run of the game.

After that the Sox bullpen closed the door on the Reds. Jonathan Pappelbon, the best closer in baseball, pitched the 7th. He did give up a hit to Reds catcher Ryan Hanagan, but otherwise had no problems.


Reds Hitting

Willy Taveras lead off the game with a single, and ala Corey Patterson, proceeded to be picked off at 1B. He later struck out and, in the sixth, with one out, popped out with the go-ahead run on 3B.

Fun Facts: In nearly 500 AB last year for the Rockies, Willy Taveras had 26 RBI. In 2005 with the Astros, he had just 29 RBI in over 590 AB. By comparison, leading off for the Reds in 2008, Chris Dickerson and Jerry Hairston, combined for 51 RBI in only 360 AB.

Jeff Keppinger's hitting woes continued. He grounded out to the shortstop every AB except one, where he narrowly beat out the SS throw for his 7th hit (all singles) of the spring.

Catcher Ramon Hernandez saw his first action for the Reds after returning from the Venezualan WBC team. His career .326 OBP fits right in with the Reds. He'll be starting in front of Ryan Hanagan, who has a .375 OBP this spring and managed a .367 OBP last fall for the Reds in nearly 100 AB.

30-year-old CF Darnell McDonald continues to impress. He went in for Taveras late in the game and gunned down a Red Sox runner at the plate in the ninth inning to record the third out. His throw on a medium-deep fly ball clearly beat the runner to home.

McDonald's hitting line batting lead off this spring (35 AB) is: .371/.395/.629, with 1 home run and 10 RBI to go along with 3 SB.

Willy Taveras' hitting line batting lead off this spring (28 AB) is: .250/.344/.286, with 0 home runs, 0 RBI and 3 SB. That's not a typo - his slugging percentage is .286.

Chris Dickerson, who could play CF, has posted: .341/.388/.523 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 6 SB.



Red Sox Hitting

The Sox didn't hit much today, but I do want to give a shout out to Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis, who did single. The Gold Glove, All-Star "Youk" not only was born in Cincinnati, but played his college baseball for the University of Cincinnati. The Reds, of course, didn't draft him. Probably because he was busy clogging up the bases.


2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia lined to left one of the two singles given up in 6 innings by Johnny Cueto.

3.24 Pirates at Braves

This game report will be relatively brief for two reasons. First, I was having focus issues with my camera. Second, I was too busy talking to take pictures and notes after the first inning.

The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games in Champion Stadium, which is literally on the property of Disney World, in Orlando. It's about 30 minutes from the Astros park, where I had been earlier in the day.

I stopped in between games to eat at a Latin restaurant called La Gota Fria. I had planned to eat at a seafood restaurant, but not only was it gone, but the business that had taken it's place had been abandoned. So I tried La Gota Fria, unscouted.

My meal at La Gota Fria was excellent. I had some pupusas for the first time on this trip, filled with pork and cheese. They are like grilled stuffed tortillas, although thicker. They come from El Salvadoran cuisine as an appetizer - I used to order them frequently when I lived in DC.

For my entrée I had grilled chicken, rice, beans and plantains. Very yummy.

Back to baseball. Champion Stadium feels larger compared to other minor league stadiums in the sense that it has a pretty significant upper deck. It also has more of a big time feel, kind of like a small major league park.


It is unique in two other ways. First, they are the only place I've been so far that offers free parking. Also, they have a pitch speed indicator on the scoreboard.

My seat -- initially -- was in the twelfth row, just behind home plate, about 10 feet to to the first base side. Just as the game was about to start, a guy (I'd guess around 17-18 years old) got up from his first row seat in front of me and started up the aisle to get some food. As he saw me, he said "Go Dragons". I was kind of confused until I realized I was wearing my Dayton Dragons hat - they are the 'A' club for the Reds. He asked me if I lived in Dayton and volunteered that he used to live in Ohio and was a Reds and Dragons fan. I asked him how he and his father got such good seats and he said they are family friends with the Atlanta GM, Frank Wrenn. He went up the rest of the steps, bought his food and sat back down.

At the end of the first inning the guy walked back up the aisle and asked me if I wanted to sit with them in the first row. They had three seats but his mother decided not to go to the game. Uh, YES!

So I spent the rest of the game in the first row, right behind the catcher. Quite a view. Even though I've had some good seats, this vantage point revealed the speed and power of the game. The Braves on deck circle was immediately in front of us. When Yunel Escobar warmed up to hit I thought he was going to his us with his bat.

Anyhow, I spent the rest of the game discussing sports with this father and son, who had very similar sports team interests as I did, especially the Reds, and they also had detailed knowledge, so it was fun talking with them. I did poke my camera lens through the home plate webbing to take two pictures, both of which are a bit blurry because of the camera issues.


Javier Vazquez and Ross Ohlendorfer pitched really well, especially the latter. I don't really know much about him other than what I saw last night, which was a hard fast ball and devastating curve.

Chipper Jones played for the first time in a while, as he had been injured.