Nick Masset and Danny Richar came to the Reds in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade.
Masset had a rough first start against the Boston Red Sox but a great play by Richar prevented it from being worse.
Julio Lugo singled up the middle to open the game. Masset fielded a comeback ball that could have been turned into a double play but Masset's throw was wide right. Richar tried to salvage the play by throwing to first anyway but it was too late to get Brad Wilkerson.
The inning turned nasty in a hurry. Boston scored four runs before the inning mercifully ended.
"I make those plays all the time in practice," Masset said. "I've made it 100 times in games. I let things get away from me. My nerves were a bit out of control. I needed to slow things down. I was trying to do more than I needed to do."
"He may have been over amped. He was throwing hard," manager Dusty Baker said.
Richar made a diving stop of J.D. Drew's ground ball between first and second and was able to force David Ortiz despite diving away from second base.
Richar was 0-for-2 with a strikeout but the defensive gem is the type of play that Baker is looking for.
The Red Sox battered Robert Manuel for six runs in the second inning. Manuel only lasted a third of an inning before Aaron Fulz stopped the bleeding.
Jared Burton was the bright spot. He turned in the first scoreless inning of the game in the fifth. Carlos Fisher also tossed a scoreless frame.
The Red Sox banged out 20 hits in taking a 16-5 verdict.
The Reds offense was missing against the Red Sox until the fourth.
Jerry Hairston Jr. walked and went to third on Joey Votto's single. Edwin Encarnacion delivered Hairston with a sacrifice fly.
Votto added a double. He has turned heads around the National League.
"Votto is way ahead of where he was last year," Baker said. "His confidence level is great. Guys around the league talk about him. Derrick Lee was talking to me about him this winter. Albert Pujols asked me if he could talk to him last year. I said 'go ahead'. Usually it's the manager or one of the coaches ask a player to talk to one of your guys."
Votto's double was to leftfield off a lefthanded pitcher.
"Joey's locked in. Especially, when he hits a double to left off a lefthanded hitter," Baker said.
Votto, Willie Traveras, Ramon Hernandez, Pedro Viola, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez and Hairston now leave to play in the World Baseball Classic.
"It is an opportunity to see some of the other guys," Baker said. "I'll keep an eye on the players that are going. I hope they play. I hope they don't appear on an injury report. I will talk to them in the morning. They came into camp in shape. They know what to do."
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Youth Movement
Yonder Alonso was rated by Baseball America as the Reds number one prospect. He was a star for three season on the Miami University Hurricanes, a well respected baseball program.
The Reds signed him to a major league contract last August. He was invited to major league camp after just 16 professional at bats with the Reds advanced A, Sarasota club.
In his spring debut he grounded out to first in his initial at bat and struck out in his second at bat.
It was in the field that Alonso really struggled. He failed to scoup a pair of low throws by other infielders and botched a slow roller to first with two outs and the bases loaded. Ramon Ramirez was about to escape a bases loaded jam when Alonso failed to come up with the squibber.
Manager Dusty Baker stuck up for the clubs first pick in last year's draft.
"He has come in early everyday to take ground balls," Baker said. "We have seen the improvement. He was over aggressive on the ground ball and was out of control."
It is Juan Francisco, however, that has shown the tools of the trade so far.
Francisco is 21-years old with a beefy 6'2" frame that is listed politely at 180 pounds. He lead the Reds minor league system with 23 home runs and 92 RBI. He played in the Dominican Winter League and broke Rafael Batista's 34-year old record for home runs by a lefthanded hitter with 12. He hit six more in the playoffs.
Baker finds the winter league performance credible.
"Winter ball is no joke," Baker said. "It is more serious for some guys from that country. A lot of big time people are into it. There's gambling. There's a lot pressure that you gotta play good or you'll here it. He batted cleanup on his team. They have big ballparks."
Baker likes his aggressiveness at the plate.
"He's what you want young to be. You want hitters that you can tone down," Baker said. "You want guys to be selective, you want guys to go deep in the count but that's something that comes with experience. Young hitter you want to see aggressive. He strikes out a lot right now but you can tone that down. Its hard to turn that flame up."
Baker sees a versatile fielder in Francisco. He has a strong arm and has played some outfield.
"He has good foot work, a great arm. There's a good athlete in that young oversized body right now. He'll tone up. Not everyone can be born skinny. Albert Pujols wasn't skinny either."
"He can play outfield. David Bell likes his hands. It depends on what the organization needs. You have (Todd) Frazier also at third. Alonso at first. I mean eventually they all have to be together."
He
The Reds signed him to a major league contract last August. He was invited to major league camp after just 16 professional at bats with the Reds advanced A, Sarasota club.
In his spring debut he grounded out to first in his initial at bat and struck out in his second at bat.
It was in the field that Alonso really struggled. He failed to scoup a pair of low throws by other infielders and botched a slow roller to first with two outs and the bases loaded. Ramon Ramirez was about to escape a bases loaded jam when Alonso failed to come up with the squibber.
Manager Dusty Baker stuck up for the clubs first pick in last year's draft.
"He has come in early everyday to take ground balls," Baker said. "We have seen the improvement. He was over aggressive on the ground ball and was out of control."
It is Juan Francisco, however, that has shown the tools of the trade so far.
Francisco is 21-years old with a beefy 6'2" frame that is listed politely at 180 pounds. He lead the Reds minor league system with 23 home runs and 92 RBI. He played in the Dominican Winter League and broke Rafael Batista's 34-year old record for home runs by a lefthanded hitter with 12. He hit six more in the playoffs.
Baker finds the winter league performance credible.
"Winter ball is no joke," Baker said. "It is more serious for some guys from that country. A lot of big time people are into it. There's gambling. There's a lot pressure that you gotta play good or you'll here it. He batted cleanup on his team. They have big ballparks."
Baker likes his aggressiveness at the plate.
"He's what you want young to be. You want hitters that you can tone down," Baker said. "You want guys to be selective, you want guys to go deep in the count but that's something that comes with experience. Young hitter you want to see aggressive. He strikes out a lot right now but you can tone that down. Its hard to turn that flame up."
Baker sees a versatile fielder in Francisco. He has a strong arm and has played some outfield.
"He has good foot work, a great arm. There's a good athlete in that young oversized body right now. He'll tone up. Not everyone can be born skinny. Albert Pujols wasn't skinny either."
"He can play outfield. David Bell likes his hands. It depends on what the organization needs. You have (Todd) Frazier also at third. Alonso at first. I mean eventually they all have to be together."
He
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pitching and Defense
Dusty Baker is pleased that the Cincinnati Reds have shown the willingness to do the little things early in spring training.
Lost in the Reds 7-0 win over the American League Champion, Tampa Bay Rays was a play by Chris Dickerson in the first inning.
Dickerson cut off a base hit down the leftfield line by Carl Crawford and held the Rays speedy outfielder to a single. Visions of the ball rattling around in the corner with Adam Dunn in that position were erased.
"That's what we're trying to stress the little things," Baker said. "It's not just hits, RBI and stolen bases and the obvious big things. But the little things that create a good situation for you or prevents a bad situation against you. If the ball goes to the corner, its 2-0 and who knows how many more they get."
The Reds have changed philosophies. Gone are power hitters, Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. The 2009 version has more speed. The Reds are not going to rely on the home run ball this season. Cincinnati was 57-51 when they hit at least one home run in 2008. They were 17-36 in homerless games.
"It is the personnel we have. You manage to your personnel," Baker said. "We just have more speed. Plus nine years of losing the other way you have to try something don't you think."
Yet in the first game of the spring the Reds scored six runs directly from the home run ball. Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam and Adam Rosales chipped in with a two-run home run, while setting a record for the fastest home run trot.
"I'll take the home run. In a minute," Baker said. "It is like a three-point shooting basketball team. You can't live and die by the three pointer. You need a some layups too. Some fast breaks and good defense. But when you're down by two points in a close game. You need the three point shot. You can't win just one way."
So far the younger Reds have bought into the philosophy of speed and defense. Even the cleanup hitter, Brandon Phillips is not a power guy.
"Brandon is more of speed guy than a power guy," Baker said.
"It doesn't matter if they (players) like it," Baker said. "They have to do it. I haven't had to talk to anyone so far. So far so good. Sooner or later someone is not going to hustle and I'll say something right away. I hope I don't have to. I hope that they get on themselves."
It would be hard to follow up on the shutout the pitchers turned in on Wednesday.
"I don't think I've ever seen that in the first game," Baker said.
Lost in the Reds 7-0 win over the American League Champion, Tampa Bay Rays was a play by Chris Dickerson in the first inning.
Dickerson cut off a base hit down the leftfield line by Carl Crawford and held the Rays speedy outfielder to a single. Visions of the ball rattling around in the corner with Adam Dunn in that position were erased.
"That's what we're trying to stress the little things," Baker said. "It's not just hits, RBI and stolen bases and the obvious big things. But the little things that create a good situation for you or prevents a bad situation against you. If the ball goes to the corner, its 2-0 and who knows how many more they get."
The Reds have changed philosophies. Gone are power hitters, Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. The 2009 version has more speed. The Reds are not going to rely on the home run ball this season. Cincinnati was 57-51 when they hit at least one home run in 2008. They were 17-36 in homerless games.
"It is the personnel we have. You manage to your personnel," Baker said. "We just have more speed. Plus nine years of losing the other way you have to try something don't you think."
Yet in the first game of the spring the Reds scored six runs directly from the home run ball. Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam and Adam Rosales chipped in with a two-run home run, while setting a record for the fastest home run trot.
"I'll take the home run. In a minute," Baker said. "It is like a three-point shooting basketball team. You can't live and die by the three pointer. You need a some layups too. Some fast breaks and good defense. But when you're down by two points in a close game. You need the three point shot. You can't win just one way."
So far the younger Reds have bought into the philosophy of speed and defense. Even the cleanup hitter, Brandon Phillips is not a power guy.
"Brandon is more of speed guy than a power guy," Baker said.
"It doesn't matter if they (players) like it," Baker said. "They have to do it. I haven't had to talk to anyone so far. So far so good. Sooner or later someone is not going to hustle and I'll say something right away. I hope I don't have to. I hope that they get on themselves."
It would be hard to follow up on the shutout the pitchers turned in on Wednesday.
"I don't think I've ever seen that in the first game," Baker said.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Young Pitchers Start Strong
Reds beat Tampa Bay 7-0.
The World Baseball Classic did two things. It added a week to spring training.
Reds manager, Dusty Baker, sees positives and negatives to the situation.
One of the negatives is that Baker and pitching coach, Dick Pole will not get much time to work with sophomores, Edinson Valquez and Johnny Cueto. They will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the Classic.
The saving grace is that Mario Soto, who has worked individualy with both pitchers, is the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic.
"They worked very hard and pitched some in the winter league," Baker said.
Volquez started the first exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched three scoreless innings, escaping a mini-jam by striking out Evan Longoria with two men on in the third inning.
"That's him," Baker said. "He knows how to get out of trouble. He wasn't as sharp as the others but he was sharp enough."
"I had trouble with my fastball," Volquez said. "I got behind on Longoria, then I went to my change up."
Cueto followed with three more hitless, scoreless innings. He walked one batter but struck out three.
Homer Bailey, trying to earn the fifth spot in the starting rotation, struck out two in his perfect inning.
Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam home run in the fifth inning to essentially seal the
"They all threw the ball well and we played good defense," Baker said. "That's what happens when you get good pitching. All of a sudden you get a big inning. It was a real good day. Anytime you can get a shutout this early."
Usually, starting players are limited to one or two at bats in three innings this early in training but Willie Traveres, Jerry Hairston Jr, Ramon Hernandez and Joey Votto will participate in the WBC and leave the Reds camp on March 1.
Baker stressed that it is important for them to get more innings early.
"You have to get their legs in shape," Baker said. "Other wise they go from winter to nine innings right away."
He used the quartet five innings today. They will play six innings on Thursday and seven on Friday.
The positive that Baker and his staff get a longer look at players like Wilkin Castillo and Pedro Viola. Both players were not selected to play in the Classic.
"Wilkin is one of the guys that is going to benefit from the longer camp," Baker said.
Gonzalez to DH
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez missed last year with a compression fracture in his left knee.
The Reds medical staff gave him a clean bill of health but the team is proceeding with caution.
"He's doing fine," Baker said. "We are going to use him as a designated hitter tomorrow (Thursday)."
"A lot depends on Gonzo," Baker said.
His health will influence who makes the team.
Mexican Standoff
Several players were teasing Jerry Hairston Jr about playing for Mexico in the WBC.
There was speculation that he is only eligible for the Mexican team because he once at a burrito.
Actually, his mother is of Mexican decent making him and his brother Scott of the San Diego Padres eligible.
"You don't even speak spanish," an unidentified player yelled out.
"I know enough and I'll let my bat do the talking," Hairston said.
The World Baseball Classic did two things. It added a week to spring training.
Reds manager, Dusty Baker, sees positives and negatives to the situation.
One of the negatives is that Baker and pitching coach, Dick Pole will not get much time to work with sophomores, Edinson Valquez and Johnny Cueto. They will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the Classic.
The saving grace is that Mario Soto, who has worked individualy with both pitchers, is the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic.
"They worked very hard and pitched some in the winter league," Baker said.
Volquez started the first exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched three scoreless innings, escaping a mini-jam by striking out Evan Longoria with two men on in the third inning.
"That's him," Baker said. "He knows how to get out of trouble. He wasn't as sharp as the others but he was sharp enough."
"I had trouble with my fastball," Volquez said. "I got behind on Longoria, then I went to my change up."
Cueto followed with three more hitless, scoreless innings. He walked one batter but struck out three.
Homer Bailey, trying to earn the fifth spot in the starting rotation, struck out two in his perfect inning.
Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam home run in the fifth inning to essentially seal the
"They all threw the ball well and we played good defense," Baker said. "That's what happens when you get good pitching. All of a sudden you get a big inning. It was a real good day. Anytime you can get a shutout this early."
Usually, starting players are limited to one or two at bats in three innings this early in training but Willie Traveres, Jerry Hairston Jr, Ramon Hernandez and Joey Votto will participate in the WBC and leave the Reds camp on March 1.
Baker stressed that it is important for them to get more innings early.
"You have to get their legs in shape," Baker said. "Other wise they go from winter to nine innings right away."
He used the quartet five innings today. They will play six innings on Thursday and seven on Friday.
The positive that Baker and his staff get a longer look at players like Wilkin Castillo and Pedro Viola. Both players were not selected to play in the Classic.
"Wilkin is one of the guys that is going to benefit from the longer camp," Baker said.
Gonzalez to DH
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez missed last year with a compression fracture in his left knee.
The Reds medical staff gave him a clean bill of health but the team is proceeding with caution.
"He's doing fine," Baker said. "We are going to use him as a designated hitter tomorrow (Thursday)."
"A lot depends on Gonzo," Baker said.
His health will influence who makes the team.
Mexican Standoff
Several players were teasing Jerry Hairston Jr about playing for Mexico in the WBC.
There was speculation that he is only eligible for the Mexican team because he once at a burrito.
Actually, his mother is of Mexican decent making him and his brother Scott of the San Diego Padres eligible.
"You don't even speak spanish," an unidentified player yelled out.
"I know enough and I'll let my bat do the talking," Hairston said.
Welcome to the Reds Spring Training Blog!
This blog will chronicle the Cincinnati Reds during their spring training in Sarasota, Florida in 2009. Articles, interviews and pictures will be uploaded for the duration of spring training.
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