Edinson Volquez - Reds Opening Day Starter

• sherm03

  

  thavoice;688390 wrote: Just read that Wainright from the Cardinals may be out for the season...............

  
  Ya...Sportscenter is reporting that he may need Tommy John surgery.
  
  
  I'm fine with Volquez starting opening day. I'm more interested to see who gets the 5 spot in the rotation.
  
  We know that we've got EV, Bronson, Cueto, and most likely Homer in the rotation. So I'm interested to see who gets the last spot between Leake and Wood.
• Midstate01

  

  Wonder if chris carpenter has stopped crying long enough to explain this to his son?
• thavoice

  I imagine someone down the line has done it but I would like to see what spots in the rotation face eachother throughout the season. The top three spots get the same amount of starts so that doesnt matter.....just curious how often the 1 faces the 1 in the rotation throughout the season.
• justincredible

  

  sherm03;688424 wrote:Ya...Sportscenter is reporting that he may need Tommy John surgery.
  
  
  I'm fine with Volquez starting opening day. I'm more interested to see who gets the 5 spot in the rotation.
  
  We know that we've got EV, Bronson, Cueto, and most likely Homer in the rotation. So I'm interested to see who gets the last spot between Leake and Wood.

  
  Last spot should be between Bailey and Leake. Wood should be a lock unless he pitches like complete shit this spring. I think Bailey makes the rotation and Leake starts the year in the pen.
• jordo212000

  

  justincredible;688522 wrote: I think Bailey makes the rotation and Leake starts the year in the pen.

  
  I wouldn't be surprised to see Leake start the year in AAA so that they can manage his workload a little better at the start of the season. I think after he spends a month or two down there, they'll bring him up as soon as somebody gets dinged
• SportsAndLady

  

  Wood should definitely be in the rotation. Last spot will come down to Bailey or Leake, and like already said, Bailey will probably get the spot because Leake can be the long guy out of the bullpen because of his bat.
• jordo212000

  

  SportsAndLady;688612 wrote:Wood should definitely be in the rotation. Last spot will come down to Bailey or Leake, and like already said, Bailey will probably get the spot because Leake can be the long guy out of the bullpen because of his bat.

  
  If it is close you can guarantee that Bailey will be the guy. Leake still has options
• justincredible

  

  I'll post this here since it's the most recent Reds discussion thread.
  
  My co-worker went out to AZ for her brothers wedding and she and her boyfriend took a day to go to practice at Goodyear. She picked up a mini helmet for me before the trip to get some autographs. She came back with 15 signatures including Phillips, Bruce, Stubbs, and the guy with the best mustache in professional sports, Corky Miller.
  
  She said half of the "fans" there were the jackass autograph hunters with suitcases full of memorabilia to get signed just to sell. The players were reluctant to sign because of those jackasses but a lot of them took the time to sign for the people who were obviously Reds fans. Votto wouldn't sign the helmet but he did sign her tshirt since it was a Votto tshirt jersey.
  
  https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041723&id=76200267&l=f0e14f357c
• closer26

  On the topic off the Opening Day starter, doesn't Bronson have a poor track record of pitching in day games? And has previously even said that he doesn't like pitching day games? I would assume that the main reason isn't that Dusty doesn't want Edinson and Cueto back to back but rather that Bronson just really doesnt wanna throw that day
• thavoice

  I do not know is record but I do remember him saying he does not like to pitch in day games.
  
  ..probably because he is out playin his guitar too late at night.
  
  
  We can only hope that JTM, The creeper and BA have another commercial this year...."together again!"
• thavoice

  justincredible;688790 wrote:I'll post this here since it's the most recent Reds discussion thread.
  
  My co-worker went out to AZ for her brothers wedding and she and her boyfriend took a day to go to practice at Goodyear. She picked up a mini helmet for me before the trip to get some autographs. She came back with 15 signatures including Phillips, Bruce, Stubbs, and the guy with the best mustache in professional sports, Corky Miller.
  
  She said half of the "fans" there were the jackass autograph hunters with suitcases full of memorabilia to get signed just to sell. The players were reluctant to sign because of those jackasses but a lot of them took the time to sign for the people who were obviously Reds fans. Votto wouldn't sign the helmet but he did sign her tshirt since it was a Votto tshirt jersey.
  
  https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041723&id=76200267&l=f0e14f357c

  I can see how players get mad at people who just get the autographs to make money. ON the redss caravan they make a private stop at a local restaurant looking Grand Lake St Marys and only about 100 poeple are there for this closed event. A kid asked BP for another autograph and he said "sure, you all do not look like the type who will sell them on ebay".
  
  
  Marty was great to talk to. Talked to him about the reds of course, and he knows some people that I know, and we talked about the lake the restuarant overlooked. Marty seems genuinely interested in talking to the public. Freel, whom I did not know was doing something in the organization, was ok to talk to. He looked bored to death. Meseraco was pretty cool He and I talked about the steelers...as he is from Pa. Told him that my friends and I have steelers season tix he said he may have to get ahold of us for tix....until I told him where our seats were as he can get much better with his other connections!
  
  BP seemed ok. He was cordial and nice guy, but you could tell he ws too big for the event. He wanted to be elsewhere but he wasnt mean or anything. Wore his shades inside the restuarant to be cool of course. You could tell he was doing his duty but really wasnt totally into it. Maybe it was because it was so small event and not everyone was yelling and getting crazy..do not know. He has come to this place 2, maybe three time. When he was leaving someone yelled 'see you next year' and he responded as he walked out..as I was right there.......'oh wow, i hope I dont have to make this trip next year'
• Laley23

  

  thavoice;688862 wrote:I can see how players get mad at people who just get the autographs to make money

  
  yeah, that would piss me off. I would definitely never sign for someone if it was apparent they were just going to flip the signature and make money. I wouldnt want anyone making money off my signature unless it is charity. If my signature makes a fans or kids day/year/life or whatever Id go out of my way for that...but I would tell guys with a bunch of stuff obviously looking to re-sell to shove it.
• dave

  Votto has always been a tool about autographs, even in Louisville. Good to see the other guys realize the fans pay their salaries.
  
  I was lucky to get Joey's auto on his SI cover at Redsfest but he only signed for the bare minimum (about 35mins) of the allotted 1 hour. Many guys signed for well over an hour including BP and Jay.
• sherm03

  

  justincredible;688522 wrote:Last spot should be between Bailey and Leake. Wood should be a lock unless he pitches like complete shit this spring. I think Bailey makes the rotation and Leake starts the year in the pen.

  
  That was my original thinking until I heard Marty on the Reds Hot Stove League show on 700WLW. He said there is no doubt in his mind that the 4 spot will go to Bailey, and that Wood and Leake will be battling for the last spot. He also said that the odd man out will not go to the pen to be a long reliever. Instead, he said that Dusty will send him down to Louisville so he is starting every fifth day and is ready to come up and fill right in if he's needed during the season.
• justincredible

  

  dave;689304 wrote:Votto has always been a tool about autographs, even in Louisville. Good to see the other guys realize the fans pay their salaries.
  
  I was lucky to get Joey's auto on his SI cover at Redsfest but he only signed for the bare minimum (about 35mins) of the allotted 1 hour. Many guys signed for well over an hour including BP and Jay.

  
  I'm not going to hate on Votto for it. He had no problem signing my co-workers tshirt so he wasn't really a dick about it. He's also Canadian so I'm sure that has something to do with it. Canadians are weird.
• justincredible

  

  sherm03;689308 wrote:That was my original thinking until I heard Marty on the Reds Hot Stove League show on 700WLW. He said there is no doubt in his mind that the 4 spot will go to Bailey, and that Wood and Leake will be battling for the last spot. He also said that the odd man out will not go to the pen to be a long reliever. Instead, he said that Dusty will send him down to Louisville so he is starting every fifth day and is ready to come up and fill right in if he's needed during the season.

  
  Yeah, but wtf does Marty know? It's not like he'd have reliable resources for this info or anything.
• dave

  Yeah I heard that too, they don't need a long man in the pen, especially early in the year with extra off days. Also, they want to get Chapman innings so he will probably throw 2 maybe 3 innings at times.
• dave

  justincredible;689319 wrote:I'm not going to hate on Votto for it. He had no problem signing my co-workers tshirt so he wasn't really a dick about it. He's also Canadian so I'm sure that has something to do with it. Canadians are weird.

  
  Yeah I don't hold it against him. Just saying it's his personality, not a money thing.
• justincredible

  

  dave;689479 wrote:Yeah I don't hold it against him. Just saying it's his personality, not a money thing.

  
  Gotcha.
• justincredible

  

  Reds had their photo day yesterday.
  
  This mustache inspired the Gateway Arch:
  
  
  Funny story about Herrera (told by co-worker). He was riding around the complex on his bike and one of the idiot autograph hounds asked "is that guy the gardener or something?" Derp.
  
  
  Maloney looks vintage
  
  
  This is actually Scott Rolen's son
  
• dave

  I'm sad we prob won't ever see Corky in Cincy again. He'll be 4th on the depth chart by May and 5th by August.
• thavoice

  If thehy all pitch well....I see Bailey in the rotation as he is out of options......Wood or leake battle out and loser goes to AAA. It is a long season and one of them, if not more, will need to be moved up so keep him at AAA in the starting role.
  
  DO not know what the future holds for Chapman. Would like to see him as a starter someday
• BCBulldog

  

  thavoice;689840 wrote:If thehy all pitch well....I see Bailey in the rotation as he is out of options......Wood or leake battle out and loser goes to AAA. It is a long season and one of them, if not more, will need to be moved up so keep him at AAA in the starting role.
  
  DO not know what the future holds for Chapman. Would like to see him as a starter someday

  
  Considering that Willis and Arredondo have a real shot of both making the team, I don't see the Reds putting Wood or Leake in the bullpen. The one who doesn't win a rotation spot will be sent down to Louisville. I expect Wood to make it since he is the only lefty of the starters. I do believe there is an outside possibility that Bailey is traded before the opener, but I don't think they will find a good enough deal to make them pull the trigger. Plus, I believe that Baker likes the idea of staggering his fireballers (Volquez, Cueto, Bailey) with the slower guys (Arroyo and Leake or Wood).
  
  I believe the only reason Chapman is not a starter right now is that they simply don't need him there, but can't really justify sending him down. Chapman has legit #1 stuff and the only way he doesn't go back to being a starter is if they end up converting him into the closer, but even that seems like a bit of a waste of his talent.
  
  Considering all of this, here is how I see it shaking out for the pitchers (assuming they carry 12 pitchers):
  SP1 - Volquez
  SP2 - Arroyo
  SP3 - Cueto
  SP4 - Wood
  SP5 - Bailey
  RP - Willis (will probably be the odd man out if they only keep 11 pitchers)
  RP - Arredondo
  RP - Bray
  RP - Ondrusek
  Setup - Masset (will share setup duties with Chapman)
  Setup - Chapman (see above)
  Closer - Cordero