In John Fay’s Spring Training Preview he listed these 5 guys to watch for:
RHP Johnny Cueto: The 21-year-old could make the club out of spring training. There are people in the Reds baseball department who like him better than Homer Bailey. Cueto generally pitches at 90-93, but he can dial up a 96 mph fastball when he needs to.
OF Chris Dickerson: He’s nominally in the center-field race. His athleticism is top-notch - he’s Eric Dickerson’s cousin. But he struck out 131 times in 354 Triple-A at-bats last year.
RHP Josh Roenicke: He’s on the fast track. He was closing at Double-A last year, his second year in pro ball. His fastball touches 98 mph.
LHP Pedro Viola: His ERA was 0.95 at Chattanooga, 0.90 at Sarasota and 1.87 at Dayton last season.
SS Todd Frazier: Frazier was the No. 1 prospect in the Pioneer League. He’s always played at a high level, from Little League World Series hero to Rutgers All-American.
Frazier and Viola have not gotten a non-roster invite to spring training as of now and at this point I doubt it is likely to happen for either. Obviously Cueto is the stud of this grouping, but I think it will be interesting to see how Roenicke pitches in spring training against major league bats if he can stick around long enough before heading back to minor league camp. Dickerson is talked about having a chance to win the CF job, but I just don’t see it. Too much competition between a guy like Hopper or Freel who we know what they can do when healthy and then going up against the best prospect in baseball probably means Dickerson is heading back to Louisville for a little more seasoning. Like Roenicke though, I want to see how Dickerson does against proven Major Leaguers.
Pitchers and catchers report in 6 days (although plenty of guys are already there) and I know that at least I am getting excited. Its been too long since I have seen baseball, listened to baseball or actually had new baseball to talk about. I can’t wait.
Sunday, 10. February 2008
Pedro Viola has amazing stats so far! What is his stuff like? Is it major league quality?
Sunday, 10. February 2008
Yeah, it is major league quality. He has a fastball that is in the low to mid 90s fastball to go with a decent slider and he throws a ’show me’ change up every now and again. Being that he is a lefty, when his fastball is really on, he really brings something to the table that most lefties can’t.
Sunday, 10. February 2008
I’m with you on the missing baseball thing. I’m tired of talking about what could happen. Let’s just get to the good stuff!
Monday, 11. February 2008
Doug:
I’ll agree about Roenicke as far as seeing what he can do about facing major league hitters, but as Harry Caray used to say, if a guy can throw 98 in the minors, why can’t he throw 98 in the majors? Plus, Roenicke is not a young kid — isn’t he around 25, 26 years old? I think that level of maturity might give him a little advantage, despite his relative lack of experience.
By the way, is Travis Wood ready to go? Where do you see him starting? Dayton?
Monday, 11. February 2008
How much do you want to bet that Todd Frazier is ready to stick a fork in his hear when people mention the Little League World Series for the ten thousandth time?
Monday, 11. February 2008
Tom,
Roenicke could throw 98 MPH in the majors if he wanted to. He is an older guy (25 years old) but he didn’t pitch much at all in college. He played football and outfield in college and wasn’t even drafted until he was 24. So pitching wise, he is fairly young. As for Travis Wood…. from all accounts he is feeling pretty good and had been trying to put on weight all offseason, but I don’t know how well that went yet or not. I would say he is slated to start in Sarasota and hopefully he can stay healthy this time around.
Josh,
I bet you are right about Frazier and the LLWS. I am sure he has been hearing it for 10 years now and its probably been old since high school.
Monday, 11. February 2008
This is pretty much the end of the line for Dickerson unless he hits .300 or goes 30/30 in AAA. He was 14/30 last year in AA and AAA. He’s career .255 in the minors and has had more than 1 k per game every year in the minors. In other words, it has to click now because he’s too old to take only a developmental step. If the Reds pick up Lofton, then his chances of being with the big club are smaller barring another trade.
Monday, 11. February 2008
I think Dickerson easily has a chance to stick on a MLB roster over the next few years if only as a defensive specialist/pinch runner/power off the bench. The guy can flat out glove it. He will play in the majors one day, its just a very small chance at this point that its as a starter unless he walks into the perfect situation.
Monday, 11. February 2008
I neglected to mention that I’m pulling for him (and all Reds), especially because of his tools and personality. I hope the club has given him a clear message as to what he needs to do to be a Red.
Sunday, 9. March 2008
Have seen some great things out of Cueto and Roenike has looked good in 2IP. Dickerson has been OK despite Jeff Brantley stating you could drive a mack truck thru his swing. Will Viola or Frazier get any big league games. When do the minor leaguers start games?
Sunday, 9. March 2008
I doubt either guy will spend any time in ST major league games. Viola does have a chance to see time in the majors this year if he performs well.
Minor leaguers are currently in their own version of spring training and start games Wednesday.