Loading ...From today’s DDN:
Pitchers? Ryan Wagner (2-1, 3.00 ERA) and Mike Burns (0-0, 1.98) are arguing over the 12th and final spot on the pitching staff. Narron insisted all spring he will go with a 12-man staff on his final 25-man roster.
“I haven’t wavered and I’m still 99 percent sure it’ll be 12,” Narron said. “I’m giving myself just a tad wiggle room, but I really don’t need it.”
Most of us would wonder why they need 12 pitchers in April, but this would mean that Belisle has made the team.
Although he isn’t expected to miss much time after undergoing minor knee surgery this week, it is likely catcher Jason LaRue will start the season on the disabled list, with Javier Valentin and recently acquired Dave Ross likely to go north. That leaves catcher Dane Sardinha outside the loop, and because he is out of options, the team is likely to lose the No. 2 draft choice in 2000, either on a waiver claim or by trade.
Didn’t Sardinha pass through waivers one time before and re-signed with the Reds?
Outfielder Quinton McCracken (strained right foot) is a likely disabled list inhabitant, leaving high-performing outfielders Brian Buchanan and Andy Abad on the bubble for one spot.
Buchanan, signed Feb. 20 and not even invited to major-league camp, doesn’t even dress in the major-league clubhouse. His gear is in the minor-league locker room, but he is playing nearly every exhibition game and is hitting .568 (21-for-37) with nine doubles.
“If he keeps this up and goes north with us he might be using my office to dress,” Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.
Yeah, we’re deep in the outfield, uh-huh.
Yeah, let’s trade Kearns for Jake Westbook.
Well, a guy who hits .560+ in Spring Training deserves a roster spot. It’s not like this guy hit that high because of a few ABs. He has a lot. Maybe something is just clicking for him this year. He can always be sent down.
Have a little faith, things will be better than everyone expects this year.
Enquirer cites some Reds scouts thinking that Ryan Wagner might be available in a trade.
Thesis: Spring training stats don’t mean anything, especially for veterans.
Exhibit 1 – Batting
Bobby Estalella led the Reds in hitting last spring. Tim Hummel hit really well in 50 ABs in 2004. Raul Gonzales raked in 2002. So did Anthony Sanders.
Exhibit 2 – Pitching
2005 ERAs (spring training, regular season)
Ryan Wagner: 1.17 – 6.11
Randy Keisler: 1.23 – 6.27
Dan Graves: 1.38 – 7.36
Ben Weber: 2.76 – 8.03
I’m glad McCracken is going on the DL. Keeps him out of my misery.
I’d love to see Buchanan make the team as a fifth outfielder. He has a little pop…and I went to college with him.
What does it mean for our closer situation if Wagner doesn’t make the team? Is our closer then Weathers by default? Weathers/Coffey?
I assume the closers spot is Weathers’ to lose!
And he tried very hard during the spring to do just that!