Young Arms Day

The Reds will get their first look at Mike Leake and Travis Wood against major league talent today.

"They are more advanced pitching wise than most pitchers that age, with their location, movement and change of speed," Dusty Baker said.

Leake was the Reds first pick last year out of Arizona State. He is 23. Wood is 24 and was taken with the second pick in the 2005 draft.

Wood set a Southern League record with a tiny 1.21 earned run average.

"I just want them to relax and throw strikes," Baker said. "We are all in a hurry for the finsihed product but sometimes we just have to let them mature, like Johnny Cueto (who will start today) and Homer (Bailey)"

"That's the hard part about coaching sometimes. You tend to overcoach. Sometimes you have to let them mature. As long as they are taking positive steps. Then once they get it, bang. They keep it for a long time."

Baker asked us to compare pitchers like, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson at the same age.

"What would people do about Steve Carlton when he lost 20 games?" Baker asked. "I bet a lot of people forget he lost 20 games."