Loading ...Homer Bailey had an easy outing this morning, in the Reds “B-game” against the Brew Crew:
Homer Bailey pitched two perfect innings in the B game against the Brewers. He struck out three. He went to a two-ball count only once. He threw 23 pitches in all.
His first inning was particularly good: He struck out the first hitter on three pitches, struck out the second hitter on fourth pitches, then got third hitter grounded out on the second pitch.
Bailey wanted start the B game over pitching in relief of Bronson Arroyo in the A game, so he could stick to his pregame routine.
“It’s nothing new,” Bailey said. “It’s more of the routine in general, starting a game. I was going to throw after Bronson. I told them I’d come early and pitch the early game.. You know what time you need to stretch, what time you need to be out to start throwing, what time to get off the mound and prepare into a game. I think that’s just as important as anything. That’s what I wanted to work on as opposed to be in the bullpen, throwing and getting out there in the game.”
Dusty Baker had some praise for his young right-hander:
Although Aroldis Chapman was originally slated to start the early game, the move was made for Bailey, and it was something Dusty Baker liked hearing coming from his young right-hander.
“The thing he’s learning is a routine,” Baker said. “That’s why he wanted to pitch the first game. They say sameness is greatness. He’s gotten into a regimine, which wasn’t Homer in the past. He’s maturing, he’s serious about being good in this game. He’s a man. He’s growing up.”
Indeed.
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(FYI, that last link above was from C. Trent, who spoke with Diamond Hoggers about all things Reds. It’s worth a listen.)
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In the end, the Reds lost 4-2, mostly because of four errors. The pitching was good:
The Reds lost the B game 4-2, thanks to some sloppy fielding. The Reds committed four errors — two by Miguel Cairo (on back-to-back plays) and one by Josh Anderson and Drew Sutton — leading to three unearned runs.
The Reds pitched well. Homer Bailey threw two perfect innings, striking out three. Carlos Fisher pitched two hitless innings. Jordan Smith gave up two runs (one earned) in two innings. Logan Ondrusek and Enerio Del Rosario pitched a scoreless inning each. Phillipe Valiquette gave up two unearned runs.
Fisher and Bailey are really the only two guys out of that group who have a chance to make the Opening Day roster, and Fisher is probably a bit of a longshot.
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In game two of the day, the Reds broke out the bats finally…but that wasn’t the big news.
Aroldis Chapman hit 102 on a scouts gun. OMG, indeed.
Can anyone remember a time when we’ve had so many good young arms?
@Steve: No. And I don’t know that there has ever been a time when this organization has had so many.
They aren’t all going to pan out, but some are. And that’s exciting.
Homer Bailey
Johnny Cueto
Travis Wood
Aroldis Chapman
Mike Leake
Then…
Brad Boxberger
Matt Maloney
Sam LeCure
Matt Klinker
Jordan Smith
Kyle Lotzkar
Donnie Joseph
Mark Serrano
Daniel Tuttle
Kip Wells
and everyone I’ve forgot. If they can’t get four good pitchers for the next half-decade or more out of that group, I’d be surprised.
I know it was only a B game early in spring training but I just have this feeling that Homer is gonna be flat out brilliant this year.
Very clever, Chad.
As far as young arms, this nowhere compares to the Reds, circa 1970. Keeping in mind that more than half of the curreng crop are 24-26, check out the Reds and farm, 1970:
Gary Nolan 22
Jim Merritt 26
Jim McGlothlin 26
Wayne Simpson 21
Don Gullett 19
Wayne Granger 26
Milt Wilcox 20
Pedro Borbon 23
Ross Grimsley 20
Vern Geishert, 24 (well, he was considered big and was traded for Foster)
Dave Tomlin 21
Rawly Eastwick 19
Tom Carroll 17
Will McEnaney 18
Pat Zachry 18
Santo Alcala 17
Joaquin Andujar 17
These guys were ALL on the Reds or in their farm system in 1970.
THAT was young pitching talent, and I’ll be surprised if we ever see it matched.
Peak pitchers at the time: Jim Maloney 29, Clay Carroll, Tony Cloninger 29…yet Maloney got hurt that year and was done; Cloninger had already been hurt and was done…
@Chad Dotson: Why is Kip Wells on the list??? Just seeing if we are paying attention?
What about Daryl Thompson, JC Sulbaran, Travis Webb, Matt Fairel, and Jeremy Horst?
I think he will be, too. I predicted earlier 15 wins and 4 ERA with a possibility of 18 wins and a 3.25-3.50 ERA
“Prison life consists of routine. And then more routine.” –Red.
Oh…one comment by Bailey not mentioned in the post…he said it was good to be pitching to Hanigan again; that it was the first time he had ptiched to Hanigan since last fall.
I wondered if anyone else heard that comment?
What’s with the logging in and comment moderation? or is that just me?
Here’s hoping that the 2010 version of Bailey is anywhere near what the 2009 September version of Bailey was. That would make for one awesome year!
@Steve Price: I saw that too, very interesting…Wonder if Hanigan will catch Arroyo and Bailey this season then?
That’s exactly what I was doing.
No, it’s everyone. I’ll have more on it later, but it’s something that we have to do.
Your comments shouldn’t be moderated any more. You’re approved.
Yeah, I had to go to WordPress and register. But it worked just great. I assume this is to keep the spammers out. No big deal. I guess it’s the price we have to pay for Redleg Nation’s fame. And well-deserved fame might I add!
If anyone has any problems registering, let me know. I think I have the issues ironed out. Should be a very quick and painless process.
Hope so….
@Chad Dotson: Yeah, I saw that too. That’s kinda what I figured. Poor Kip only wishes his arm was young again!
Gomes and Stubbs got their first diggers of the Spring today as well. The score is really the least important part of the games right now, but it was great to hear the offense finally came around today as well.
Is it wrong that I’m not excited about Chapman yet?
You should be able to register using your Facebook and Twitter accounts now. Let me know if that functionality is working.
Man Alive! I don’t remember what I was going to comment on, after jumping through the proverbial hoop that is WordPress.
Oh yeah, young pitching… i would Edinson Volquez in that group.
@Chad Dotson: Thanks