From: tom dunne on
On Apr 11, 9:38 pm, eddyg...(a)msn.com (john smith) wrote:

> Another bonus is his ability to work quickly, this Gibson like trait
> will benefit the defense immensely. I really like this guy and see no
> reason to rush Volquez back so quickly. Unlike last year the starting
> pitching depth seems to be for real. Talk to me after June 15 on that
> one. That time last year was when the pitching went south in a hurry.

That's a real good point, John. If Leake's as good as he looked today
(and really, he's better than all those walks), there's no hurry on
Volquez. The real question is what do you do with Aroldis Chapman?
We know the Reds can't dump Harang or Arroyo because of salaries.
Homer is out of options now, so you can't send him to the minors. Do
you demote Cueto to make room? Do you try to make a trade and gamble
that Chapman can handle a full year of pitching at the Major League
level?

Either way, it's a hell of a problem to have. Who can believe the
Reds have too much starting pitching! Imagine next year, if Volquez
returns to form and the other guys develop as hoped - you've got a
rotation of Volquez, Cueto, Chapman, Bailey and Leake. Those are some
young guns the likes of which this franchise has never seen. The Reds
also free up something like $25 million in salary, with Arroyo and
Harang gone. 2011 could be a really good year.
From: john smith on
As I always said I would love to trade Harang but I don't see this
happening anytime soon. If a month goes by and the top of the order
continues to tread water, I would go a little radical and try to get a
team that has a legit shortstop to bite on Cordero and maybe Frazier. I
would then move Cueto to the bullpen where he might be best suited and
then bring Chapman aboard. Cueto would then set up Massett the new
closer. I really don't think Cueto will ever be a big innings eater so
maybe 90 innings a year out of the pen might serve him well. I would
then stick Bailey and Chapman in between the other three, Having soft
guy hard guy every other day.

Speaking of Leake, dare I say Greg Maddux in the same breath. Of course
it is way too early to tell....

From: David Short on
On 4/12/2010 12:31 AM, john smith wrote:
> Speaking of Leake, dare I say Greg Maddux in the same breath. Of course
> it is way too early to tell....
That might be rushing it just a little bit.

dfs
From: RJA on
On Apr 11, 9:38 pm, eddyg...(a)msn.com (john smith) wrote:
> What impressed me about Leake today was his ability to paint both sides
> of the plate. He isn't going to blow people away but his ball sure does
> have significant ball movement. I even thought he got squeezed a few
> times by the home plate ump and to his credit he never showed his
> displeasure. Poise from a 22 year old guy is quite nice to see. He takes
> nothing for granted. I heard WJ say he was unloading the equipment truck
> in Arizona. Quite nice to be humble.
>
> Another bonus is his ability to work quickly, this Gibson like trait
> will benefit the defense immensely. I really like this guy and see no
> reason to rush Volquez back so quickly. Unlike last year the starting
> pitching depth seems to be for real. Talk to me after June 15 on that
> one. That time last year was when the pitching went south in a hurry.
>
> With all the young arms and people in this group showing their concerns
> for innings pitched, a six man rotation might not sound so far-fetched.
> But then again injuries always seem to straighten things out in the long
> run.
>
> Gomes is a very professional hitter and a hard nosed player. He is an
> asset to any team. One of my biggest concerns thus far is 1-2 in the
> order. I just don't see this as being a positive on this team.

I don't know how you can say that if you've been watching. Gomes
can't hit a breaking ball, and chases some really bad pitches as
well. Professional hitter isn't something I'd call him. More like,
hacker.
From: john smith on
Every Reds hitter through 6 games looks like a hacker. They have been
very undisciplined at the plate thus far. The reason I Call Gomes a
professional hitter is that he does the little things in producing runs.
Case in point, the insurance run he so deftly provided a couple of days
ago.

A professional hitter plays situational baseball and knows when to swing
hard and when to just make contact. If I was to judge someone only on
the last 6 games, Joey Votto would be considered a hacker too. He has
had the most horrific swings I have ever seen through the first 6 games
of a season.

Also keep in mind when watching Gomes, he doesn't play every day and it
is hard to maintain a good swing this way. Especially in the beginning
of the season.

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