Loading ...From Kevin Kelly at the Enquirer:
Milton, a left-hander, was supposed to make his final spring training start Saturday but stayed in Cincinnati because of lower back spasms and will be evaluated this morning by team medical director Tim Kremchek.
snip….
“Hopefully it’s nothing serious and have to miss a start,” Reds manager Jerry Narron said of Milton, who allowed 10 earned runs on 23 hits in 132/3 innings in four Grapefruit League starts.
Anyone buying this? Anyone? Lance McAlister isn’t either…from Lance’s blog:
Things I’m told
This probably won’t shock you, but I’m told Eric Milton is not really hurt……The Reds will attempt to put him on the “Phantom DL” to buy some time on what to do with him.
On the one hand, I’m thrilled that it appears the Reds are aware that this is someone that could cost them a chance to compete for a division title. Games given away in April cost just as much as games lost due to a collapse in September.
But I’d have more faith if I truly believed they’ll pull the plug on him and let him walk. Krivsky’s had no problem with cleaning house on other Bowden and O’Brien decisions, this one should be a “no brainer”.
UPDATE (by Chad): A conspiracy theory.
If Lohse and Belisle and Saarloos all make the initial rotation, at least one of them is likely to not live up to expectations early on. (Or in Belisle’s case, come down with real back problems.) Milton can come back and get his shot as a fill-in. If that is less than stellar, the Reds can look at Livingston, or Bailey – both of whom should by then have been able to establish themselves at AAA.
This scenario is similar to last year, when Milton hurt his knee early on and got replaced in an emergency by Elizardo Ramirez. Elizardo did very well, and when Milton came back after missing something like a month with his knee problem, the Reds kept Elizardo in there and instead cut bait on the only meager property obtained in exchange for Sean Casey. I think I’ve got that chronology right.
One good friend of this blog has already emailed me with his conspiracy theory on this. Let’s hear them from you.
Is Milton really hurt? Or are the Reds afraid his ERA is gonna get bruised?
other things Lance has heard from his sources
“Lavar Arrington is coming to Cincinnati, its a lock”
All Im saying.
ctrent reports hermanson is gone. back to closer by random chance?
That was very surprising.
Will Carroll, injury guru at Baseball Prospectus, says his sources tell him that Milton’s back spasms are genuine. But also that Milton thinks he’ll be fine in time for his scheduled start.
Hermanson had a very bad outing in his last spring game. But given the optimism spouted all spring by most team observers, it’s an out-of-the-blue cut. “ctrent” insists it’s not an April Fool’s thing.
In the overview it appears they wanted Hermanson to go to Lullville and get some arm strength and innings, since he came to camp late and hasn’t pitched in almost two seasons.
Why he would refuse that for 2-3 weeks is stupefying. It’s not like anyone else was beating down his door with a ML contract.
Doug, Arrington and Marvin don’t get along. Serious bad blood there. So that would be a shock.
But then, Lavar might not have many options. Great guy, though.
no it’s not a joke, i’m stuck in the office, listening to wlw and they’ve reported hermanson out too.
i actually hope they’re not planning on burton being the closer right off, the guy’s control just isn’t there yet. which isn’t to say he’s bad, just that he still needs time to develop.
i think the first rule of closing is don’t be danny graves. the second is don’t walk a bunch of people, no matter how hard you throw your slider.
They’re not handing the closer roleto a rookie, least of all one without experience above A ball.