Loading ...All I ask is that Dusty pick five out of the following six names for the starting rotation: Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Matt Belisle, Johnny Cueto, and Edinson Volquez. That has the potential to be a dynamite group of starters.
For his part, Cueto is opening some eyes and impressing some good people. Tossing three shutout innings, allowing 1 hit with 4 Ks and no BBs will definitely get you noticed. The 1.80 ERA helps, too.
I could definitely live with five from that group. They all have the potential to send hitters away from the plate shaking their heads.
I agree, the only thing is, management has to be willing to live with some growing pains. Young pitchers are going to struggle…you can’t treat them like they have EE or, IMO, you’ll destroy them.
Every once in awhile Dusty has an intelligent quote:
“If you have good stuff, you can make hitters swing and miss and foul off pitches off. Ninety-five is 95. Ninety-five with location, boy.”
Heck, 88 with location (and movement) is pretty darn good!
From the Fay:
Again, it’s early so ratings can change quickly, but here’s how the starters in competition for the rotation — Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are off the board — have looked:
1. Cueto
2. Josh Fogg
3. Homer Bailey
4. Edinson Volquez
5. Jeremy Affeldt
6. Matt Belisle
7. Matt Maloney
Past perfromance will be a factor in who makes it, of course. No one but Maloney has pitched their way out of the race. It will be interesting from here on out. Affeldt is going to make the team but he could be shifted to the bullpen. Same goes for Volquez.
I saw a quote in the DDN from Griff who said that “He (Cueto) is going to make it real tough on some guys who think they’re going to be in the rotation. No. 34 (Bailey) better step it up.”
I love seeing this from Griffey for a number of reasons. First, it speaks well for Cueto…high praise from arguably the best player of this generation. Second, maybe it will make Bailey buckle down a little bit…he seems pretty cocksure of himself. Typically I like that a little bit, but I don’t want him to think he can cruise to a spot in the rotation.
Lastly, I like Giffey saying this as a means of leadership. He’s not really been a vocal leader for this team and I think maybe he’s trying to step it up, which could really help the Reds take a big step forward to competing.
Griffey wants a WS ring!!
It’s a pretty culture-shocking comment. I find myself surprised by it but then I realize I’m used to the typical guarded speech of this and most other orgs. What he said is true and simple and veteran players should be able to freely make comments about what they are seeing. Belisle needs to step it up too, he was unimpressive today. Griffey’s comment could also be directed at management (slyly).
Belisle had a nice third and by pitching out of jams in the first two, the line looks pretty good.
Belisle is a headcase. I don’t think he’ll ever amount to much of anything.