Loading ...Two days ago, our own Bill said this about Reds pitcher Matt Belisle:
I’ve always liked Belisle and think he’s more suited for a starter spot…he sure turned some heads today, I’d imagine. The one hit he gave up was a flare, according to Trent Rosecrans.
Well, today, John Fay has this article in which the Reds…agree with Bill!
It sounds as if the Reds plan for right-hander Matt Belisle to be a starter.
“We really felt last year when he came up with the back problems that he’d be better suited to being on a regular schedule,” Reds manager Jerry Narron said.
If Belisle is going to start, it’s probably going to be in the fifth spot in the rotation. He has been the most impressive of the pitchers competing for the spot. He’s 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and has allowed only seven hits in nine innings.
He pitched four innings, allowing one hit, in the Reds’ 3-0 victory over Toronto Monday.
“I thought he threw the best yesterday – I hate to say the best I’ve ever seen him, because he’s thrown well for us – but I thought he threw outstanding,” Narron said. “He used all of his pitches. He used both sides of the plate extremely well with his fastball, kept the ball down, and threw strikes.
“It was an impressive outing for him.”
I didn’t realize Belisle was only 26 years old. I’m a little higher on him now than I was before, just based on the fact that he’s had some (limited) success in the bigs, and he is still approaching his prime.
I’m a big fan of Belisle. He and Denorfia are like mirror images to me: One is semi-hyped and unimpressive (to me); the other is overlooked, but seems very promising (again, to me).
I like Belisle and Sarloos both guys has an upside. Why not both be in the rotation, and finnaly give up on Milton and the endless parade of flyballs. Throw in Livingston who has looked more than solid, I think Milton is at best the 7th best starter in camp.
I think it was just a year and half ago that they were talking about moving Belisle to the closer’s spot after the release of Graves. I think he’s earned a shot at starting in the bigs. If it doesn’t work out we actually have depth to fall back on this year unlike last year when Joe Mays was out there every 5th day.