Sorry about the updates, my Chicago trip was actually pushed back until Thursday so I have been gone the past two days and have a little catching up to do.

Spring Training Game Review 3/13/08 

Adam Rosales went 2-2 with an RBI and a double.

Drew Anderson (OF) went 0-1 with a walk.

Joey Votto went 0-2.

Jay Bruce went 0-2.

Chris Dickerson went 1-2 with a run.

Spring Training Game Review 3/14/08 vs Pirates

Chris Dickerson went 0-2.

Sean Henry went 1-1 with a walk in his spring debut for the Reds.

Luis Bolivar went 0-2.

Michael Griffin went 1-1 with a walk and a run.

Adam Rosales went 1-2 with a run.

Chris Valaika went 1-2 with a run in his spring debut.

Jay Bruce went 2-3 (now hitting .313).

Jerry Gil went 0-1.

Marcus McBeth went a perfect inning with a strikeout.

Brad Salmon struck out the side while mixing in a walk in his inning of work.

Tom Shearn allowed a hit in a scoreless inning of work.

Spring Training Game Review 3/14/08 vs Yankees 

Paul Janish went 0-1 with a walk.

Drew Anderson (OF) went 0-1.

Drew Stubbs went 0-1 with a run scored.

Joey Votto went 1-3.

Justin Turner went 0-1 with a run scored in his spring debut.

Ryan Hanigan went 1-3.

Juan Francisco went 1-2 with a run, RBI and a double.

Josh Roenicke and Pedro Viola each pitched a perfect inning of relief.

Daryl Thompson pitched a perfect 1.1 innings with a strikeout.

Roster Moves

Paul Janish and Chris Dickerson were optioned to AAA and Justin Lehr was reassigned to Minor League camp.

News

Tomorrow should be a solid update of lots of articles and some updates on some minor leaguers and how they are doing in their spring training.

Spring Training Game Review (vs Detroit)

Jay Bruce went 0-4.

Chris Heisey got his first action of the spring and drew a walk and scored a run in his only plate appearance.

Michael Griffin went 2-2 with a run.

Joey Votto went 0-2 with a walk.

Tonys Gutierrez went 1-2.

Ryan Hanigan went 1-3 with 2 RBI.

Adam Rosales went 1-2.

Chris Denove went 0-2.

Matt Maloney (pictured: Photo by Paul Sancya/AP) allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk in 2 innings.

Tom Shearn allowed a run on a solo HR in 1 inning.

Josh Roenicke struck out 2 batters and walked 1 in a hitless inning.

Tyler Pelland allowed a solo HR, a walk and had a strikeout in 1 inning of work.

Spring Training Game Review (vs Houston) 

Drew Stubbs went 0-1 with a walk in his first spring training game. C Trent noted that he did nothing to disprove his great defense during the game.

Paul Janish went 0-1 with a walk and a run.

Jose Castro went 1-2 with a triple and a run.

Drew Anderson (OF) went 0-1 with a walk, run and RBI.

Luis Bolivar drew a walk in his only PA.

Craig Tatum went 0-2.

Notes 

I am going to be in Chicago Wednesday and Thursday. Will have my laptop, but not sure how much I will be able to use it.

Spring Training Game Review

Drew Anderson (OF) 0-2.

Jay Bruce 0-3

Chris Dickerson 0-1 with a walk

Joey Votto 1-2 with a run, stolen base and a walk

Adam Rosales 0-1

Paul Janish 0-2

Chris Kroski 1-2 with a run, double and RBI

Craig Tatum 0-2

Ryan Hanigan 1-2 with a double, run and RBI

Daryl Thompson pitched a perfect inning with 3 strikeouts (pictured)

Ramon Ramirez allowed a run on 2 hits and a walk in 1 inning

Marcus McBeth allowed a walk while striking out 1 in a scoreless 9th.

Even more information on Juan Duran

John Fay has an article up on Duran’s signing with stuff from Bob Castellini, Bob Miller and more. Below are some of the highlights from the article.

“I think it’s a great step in that direction,” said Walt Jocketty, a special adviser to Castellini. “It’s one of the things Bob Castellini wants to do. This signing sends a pretty clear message that we’re going to be aggressive in the market.”

“They have a budget,” Castellini said of his scouts. “They decide how to spend it.”

This is always great news to hear. Its interesting to see roughly how big their budget is for the scouting/development. Lets do some quick math now…. 2 million for Duran and lets just figure 2.3 million for the first round pick this year (Reds have the 7th overall pick which got 2 million last season) that is 4 million already. The Reds are without a second round pick this year due to signing Cordero, so lets just use some close to normal numbers and figure they spend at least another $750,000 on just the draft. Given that the Reds sign likely another 15-20 players each year internationally I would imagine the Reds working with a signing budget of near $6,000,000 a year for the draft and international free agents.

The Duran signing is a risk. He’s 6 feet 6, 190 pounds. His power rates 80 on the scouting scale of 20-80. He has good speed and an exceptional arm.

“He’s very strong for a kid from the Dominican,” Buckley said. “He’ll get bigger. Most of the kids down there have never been in a weight room.

“But scouting in the Caribbean is more difficult. You can’t go see Juan Duran play with his high school team or traveling team.”

Buckley says Duran compares favorably with a No. 1 pick in the draft.

Obviously this is all scouting as you don’t really get to see him play in live games, but tools wise, as seen before with reports on him, are off the charts. The investment in the signing could also lead to further talent being introduced to the system.

Signing Duran shows they are willing to pay the going rate for top players. That rate has climbed steadily in the last couple of years. A lot of clubs would like to see a worldwide draft to level the playing field.

Until that happens, teams have to try to compete. Top players in the Caribbean are controlled by a “buscone,” a sort of agent/adviser.

“They’re more than agents,” assistant general manager Bob Miller said. “They sign up 13-, 14-year-old kids. They train them, house them, have their own fields.”

The buscone, of course, wants a return on his investment.

“Unless you make a significant signing, the buscones won’t even bring around the top kids,” Buckley said. “This shows we’re back in the game.”

The Reds made a big splash with Duran and hopefully, as Buckley notes, it will lead to buscones bringing talent to the Reds that they may not have otherwise had a chance to get to see.

Of course the best talent is not always the big dollar talent. As noted in the article, Johnny Cueto signed for the measly sum of $3,500. Talk about a return on your money on that signing. Still, diamonds in the rough are nice, but seeing top end talent more often than not is likely to reap its benefits as well.

Not sure if this is Fay thinking out loud, but from the sounds of it, he suggests that Duran could play in the GCL this year for the Reds. Correction from Fay, he wasn’t thinking out loud on that one, it is something that he got from Bob Miller. 

Most clubs thought Duran was not eligible to sign until July 2. It’s complicated, but the Reds got around that by placing him on the Billings rookie-league roster. He won’t play in Billings this year. He’ll probably play in the Gulf Coast League.

Hopefully there is a little truth to that. I will do some digging around and see if I can get a definitive answer on the subject.

Spring Training Game Review

Paul Janish went 1-2 with a run and an RBI.

Drew Anderson (OF) went 1-2 with 2 runs.

Joey Votto went 0-1 with a run.

Jay Bruce went 0-3 with a walk, run and RBI.

Tom Shearn allowed a walk and a hit in a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

Jon Coutlangus allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in an inning of work.

Spring Training Game Review 3/7/08 Game 1 

Johnny Cueto dazzled today against the Pirates ( Photo by Al Behrman AP)

Johnny Cueto is the story from the first game against the Pirates on Friday. The 22 year old  started for the first time this spring (has come in from the pen in prior outings) and showed why he is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Cueto went 3 innings, allowed just 1 hit, no walks and he struck out 4 batters.

Chris Dickerson went 1-2 with a run and an RBI.

Drew Anderson (OF) went 0-2.

Paul Janish went 0-2.

Adam Rosales went 0-2.

Ryan Hanigan went 0-3 with a run scored.

Craig Tatum went 0-1 with an RBI.

Richie Gardner allowed 5 hits and 2 walks in 0.1 innings that led to 7 earned runs. Not his best day.

Brad Salmon allowed 2 hits in 2 innings and struck out 4.

More on Johnny Cueto’s day

Here are some of the things Cueto said about his performance via C Trent:

“I feel good, I felt comfortable,” Cueto said after Friday’s performance. “I trust my stuff, I don’t do anything specific to impress anybody. I throw the way I’m used to throwing and challenge the hitters.”

When asked if he should start in the big leagues.

“Yes,” Cueto said through interpreter and catcher Javier Valentin as if he’d been asked nothing more if he wanted a bottle of water after pitching three innings and striking out four Pirate batters, while surrendering a single hit.  “That’s why I’m here. I’m throwing the ball good, if I’ve got a chance to start the season in the big leagues, I’ll be happy.”

Here are quotes from other Reds about his day:

“He throws easy, he throws strikes, he mixes up his pitches well,” Baker said following the 13-8 Pirates win. “He threw the ball well, he looks nice and relaxed. He’s coming fast. He looked good.”

“Sometimes those guys have no chance — no chance at all,” Bruce said. “I asked him how he was throwing, he said, ‘maybe 98.’ I believe him. He’s ridiculous. He’s going to be good for a long, long time.”

“If you have that kind of changeup, welcome to the big leagues,” Valentin said. “Everyone says the next Pedro Martinez, and hopefully that’s what we’ve got here, the next Pedro Martinez.”

John Fay also picked up some other things from other guys:

“That kid’s got some (stuff),” Ken Griffey Jr. said. “Some other guys are going to turn it up, especially somebody wearing No. 34. Competition is a good thing.”

Homer Bailey is No. 34.

It sounds like Griffey is suggesting that Bailey is going to turn his game up a little bit.

What have you learned from Francisco Cordero and Mario Soto?
“I’m working low, strike zone low, and that’s what Mario and Cordero talk to me
about.”

Did you reach your pitch limit today?
“No. I stayed short.”

Fay notes that Cueto threw another 15 pitches in the bullpen to get his full days work in.

Spring Training Game Review 3/6/08

Chris Dickerson went 0-1 officially, but in the bottom of the 9th after the game was officially over, the teams continued to play to get everyone the time they were scheduled to get. In that inning Dickerson hit a 3 run HR.

Paul Janish went 0-1 with a run.

Drew Anderson went 1-2 with an RBI.

Joey Votto went 0-2 with 2 walks and a run

Ryan Hanigan went 0-1

Adam Rosales went 0-1

Matt Maloney had another rough go of it. He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk in an inning pitched, including a home run.

Alexander Smit also allowed 4 runs in 1 inning, on 2 hits, 2 walks and a home run.

Marcus McBeth pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.

Edinson Volquez and Mario Soto on Juan Duran

This is from John Fay:

Edinson Volquez has seen Juan Duran play. He watched the 16-year-old outfielder the Reds signed in a tournament the Dominican.

“I saw him hit two two home runs in two at-bats,” Volquez said. “I saw him throw from the outfield. Unbelievable. I’ve never seen someone like that. He’s a little skinny right now. But he’s going to be really good.”

Duran is 6-foot-6, 190 pounds.

Mario Soto has not seen Duran play but he heard all about him.

“In my country, they said he was asking for $5 million,” Soto said.

Sounds like Volquez is sold on the kid big time after seeing him play.

Other notes

Jay Bruce will play tomorrow night against the Pirates for the first time since Saturday.

Johnny Cueto will make a start tomorrow afternoon against the Pirates (the Reds and Pirates play two games Friday, one at 1:05 and one at 7:05).

Spring training game review

Paul Janish - 1-1 with an RBI

Drew Anderson (OF) - 1-1 with an RBI

Chris Dickerson - 0-1

Adam Rosales - 0-1

Joey Votto - 1-2 with a run and an RBI

The game was cut short due to rain. Today we get to see Homer Bailey in his second start of the spring.

Sorry for no updates yesterday, some things came up and I didn’t get into the house until 8am this morning before crashing.

Spring Training Game Review - 3/3/08

Chris Dickerson - 0-3

Ryan Hanigan - 0-1

Drew Anderson (INF) - 1-3

Drew Anderson (OF) - 2-2 with a walk and a run

Joey Votto - 0-2

Paul Janish - 0-2

Adam Rosales - 0-2

Player News and Updates 

Jay Bruce just got one step closer to Louisville. The Reds have signed Corey Patterson to a minor league contract. I can’t say I have a problem with that, but its just one more reason to send Bruce to the minors. Baker has been making comments all spring training setting up Jay Bruce to not make the team and this is just one more nail in the coffin, and given that Jay is sitting out for a few days isn’t going to help much either. With that said, he was running around today, said he feels fine but they want to take a few days and not rush him back to early.

Homer Bailey will pitch Wednesday against the Red Sox. That should be interesting to follow. Johnny Cueto starts on Friday against Pittsburgh. Neither game is on the radio and since MLB won’t allow John Fay or C Trent to blog live about the games anymore, following along is going to be tough to do in real time. Thanks MLB, outside of your actual product, you suck.

Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto could be a nice part of the pitching staff in ‘08 (Photo: Al Behrman/AP)

I am just going to combine the two days lines, so the stats will be for the two games combined.

(Photo: Keith Srakocic/AP)

Game Reviews 

Chris Dickerson -  2-5 with a 2 run HR, triple, 2 runs, walk and 2 RBI

Adam Rosales - 2-5 with 3 runs

Jay Bruce - 2-4 with a double, a run scored, a stolen base and 2 RBI

Drew Anderson (OF) - 2-3 with 2 RBI and a triple

Craig Tatum - 1-3 with a double, run and RBI

Joey Votto - 1-2 with a run and a double

Drew Anderson (IF) - 0-1

Ryan Hanigan - 0-4

Paul Janish - 0-2

Matt Maloney - 1ip, 2 hits, 3 walks and 4 earned runs

Tyler Pelland - 1ip, 1 hit, 1 walk

Josh Roenicke - 1ip and 2 strikeouts

Johnny Cueto - 2ip, 4 hits, 1 run and 2 strikeouts

Game Notes 

Jay Bruce left todays game with a slightly strained quad. He is day-to-day.

Johnny Cueto is recovering from the flu and wasn’t likely 100% today.

Jay Bruce went 2-3 with a run.

Chris Dickerson went 0-2 with a walk and 2 runs scored. (Photo by Jeff Swinger/Enquirer)

Drew Anderson went 2-3 with a run and RBI.

Joey Votto went 0-1 with a walk and a stolen base.

Paul Janish went 1-2 with a double and a run.

Adam Rosales went 1-2 with a double.

Ryan Hanigan went 1-1.

Homer Bailey went 2 ip, 1h, 0r, 2bb, 1K. (Photo by Jeff Swinger/Enquirer)

Marcus McBeth went 1ip, 0h, 0r, 0bb, 1K.

Ramon Ramirez went 0.1ip, 0h, 0r, 1bb.

Tom Shearn went 1ip, 2h, 1r, 0bb, 1K.