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Reds Tidbits (2006 Season)

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Cincy

2/28/06

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=910 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=585><!--BEGIN: STORY--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytext vAlign=top><!-- ARTICLE HEADLINE -->Astacio not an option

Reds notebook

BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - The Reds have pulled out of the Pedro Astacio sweepstakes.
General manager Wayne Krivsky said Monday the club was no longer negotiating with Astacio.

Astacio, a 36-year-old right-hander, was 4-2 with a 3.17 ERA with San Diego last year. San Diego picked him up after he was released by Texas, where he went 2-8 with a 6.04 ERA.

If right-hander Paul Wilson isn't ready to start the season in the rotation, left-hander Michael Gosling or right-hander Justin Germano would likely be the fifth starter.
The Reds picked up Gosling off waivers from Arizona, where he was 0-3 with a 4.45 ERA last year. Germano, obtained in the Joe Randa trade, went 10-8 with a 3.79 ERA in Triple-A last year.

Right-hander Luke Hudson, in camp as a non-roster player, is a possibility as well.

O'BRIEN TO BREWERS: Former Reds general manager Dan O'Brien is at the Milwaukee Brewers' camp in Arizona and could be in the employ of the club shortly.
O'Brien is meeting with the Brewers' scouting staff.

"We're talking to him," Brewers GM Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I'd say there's a good chance he'll be doing something for us. He'll probably do some (player) evaluations. It's another source of information."

O'Brien was Melvin's top assistant when Melvin was GM in Texas.

BUS MAN: Management has its privileges. For example, most big-league managers don't spend any more time on the bus in spring training than necessary.

If the club is playing a split-squad doubleheader, the skipper goes to the home game or takes the shorter bus ride of the two away games.

Not Reds manager Jerry Narron.

"For me, I think the manager should go to the farthest place," he said. "It's tough for me to ask an everyday guy to go down there and (I) stay here."

So Narron will go on the road to Fort Myers Friday for a game against the Minnesota Twins. The Reds are playing the Detroit Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium at the same time.
That's four hours on the bus.

A good reason to go to Fort Myers is that Homer Bailey will likely make his debut in a big-league spring game there.

"Homer's scheduled to go there," Narron said. "We'll see."

PHYSICALS: The Washington Nationals are scrambling to fill their rotation after Brian Lawrence, who they obtained in a deal with San Diego, had shoulder surgery.
It's been speculated that Lawrence was hurt when the Nats got him. The Reds have safeguards against such things.

"When we obtain a pitcher, either as a free agent or through a trade, we automatically get an MRI on his shoulder and elbow, regardless of the injury history," trainer Mark Mann said. "We also get all their medical history. The signing is always contingent on a physical."

The Reds had agreed to a deal with left-hander Scott Sauerbeck before the 2004 season. But he failed the physical and ended up having surgery.

HIGH ON HATCHER: Ryan Freel gave a ringing, unsolicited endorsement of new first base coach Billy Hatcher.

"I learned more in 15 minutes with Billy than I learned in 13 years in pro ball," Freel said.

Hatcher has tutored Freel, who stole 37 bases two years ago and 36 last year, on pitchers' moves. The simplest slide step would freeze Freel in the past. Hatcher taught him to watch a pitcher's shoulder as well as his feet.

"That should get me 10 more right there," Freel said.

BE LIKE ALBERT: When hitting coach Chris Chambliss showed Wily Mo Peña tapes of Albert Pujols, he wasn't trying to get Peña to copy Pujols' swing.

"I wanted him to see how balanced Albert is," Chambliss said. "He keeps his head so still. That makes a big difference as far as seeing the ball."

Pujols, maybe the premier hitter in the game, keeps his front side almost perfectly still. Peña took to the lesson well.

"When Wily Mo sees the ball well, he makes good decisions as far as balls and strikes," Chambliss said. "Wily works at it. He wants to get better."

Narron said concentration is the key for Peña.

"He's a guy who if he puts the bat on the ball, he can hit it out anywhere," Narron said. "The big thing is not giving away any at-bats. It sounds easy but it's tough."

ON SECOND THOUGHT: Ken Griffey Jr. will leave camp Wednesday after the intrasquad game to join Team USA for World Baseball Classic workouts in Phoenix.
Griffey had planned to wait until Saturday because his daughter, Taryn, is playing in her first softball game in Orlando.

"I may still fly home for it," Griffey said. "That's my baby. She's so much like me. She's strong."

CLAUSSEN V. HUDSON: Left- hander Brandon Claussen will start for one side in Wednesday's intra-squad game. Right-hander Luke Hudson will start for the other.
Gosling will start in Fort Myers against the Twins on Friday. Germano will start the home game against the Tigers.
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Cincy

2/28/06

Don't sell Lopez short

He's evolved and matured since start of 2005

BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - Last April was a character test for Felipe Lopez.
He lost the battle for the starting shortstop job to Rich Aurilia in spring training.
In the past, Lopez might have moped. He might have gone into a shell. But, last season, he just kept working.I thought he matured even as the year went on last year," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I was impressed with him early in the year when Rich was playing shortstop, and he didn't roll over and die. He kept working hard and waiting his turn.
"It would have been easy for him to go to the end of the dugout and pout. He didn't do that."
Lopez got his chance May 11 when Aurilia went on the disabled list.
The starting shortstop job was Lopez's by the time Aurilia returned from the DL.
Lopez would go on to hit .291 with 23 home runs, 97 runs, 34 doubles and 85 RBI. He led National League shortstops in home runs, runs batted in and extra-base hits. He was second in slugging and third in average, on-base percentage and doubles.
It was one of the best offensive years ever by a Reds' shortstop.
What was the difference for Lopez, who had not had more than eight homers or 34 RBI in a big-league season?
"Comfort," he said. "Not being afraid to fail. I didn't get down on myself. I've always had the ability. It was a matter of being comfortable."
Lopez, 25, has given himself a tough act to follow. He says he won't be satisfied merely to meet his numbers from a year ago.
"Every year, you try to improve something," Lopez said. "I've worked on everything. I'm not - I can't be - satisfied with what I did last year. I've got to improve."
Lopez attributed part of his success to the offseason work with Rick Eckstein, brother of St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein, and a group of players in Orlando.
"I did the same thing as last offseason," he said.
Lopez finished last season strong. He had a rough August, hitting .231. But he bounced back, hitting .327 in September and .375 in October.
"I prepare myself in the offseason for that, so I can go 162 (games), no problem," he said. "I take that seriously. I keep up with it during the season."
The Reds added Bucky Dent as infield/bench coach. Narron thinks having a former big-league shortstop to work with will help Lopez.
"I don't know about the physical part of it," Narron said. "He might make more errors this year than last. But I think with the mental part Bucky will really help him."
Lopez gave up a chance to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic to spend time in camp with Dent.
"It's going good," Lopez said. "I like his methods, his ways of teaching. So far, it's been great. He said we don't have to change anything big. It's little things."
Lopez made only 17 errors last season in 148 games after making 15 in a 79 games the year before.
Dent isn't looking for drastic changes.
"We'll work on little things," Dent said. "Little subtle things can really help."
When you're coming off a year like Lopez's, getting a little better can be a really good thing.
E-mail [email protected]
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Cincy

3/1/06

Five starters appear set

Wilson's health is biggest 'if'

BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - Reds manager Jerry Narron is ready to set the rotation.
If Paul Wilson is healthy, Narron said the rotation will be Aaron Harang, Brandon Claussen, Wilson, Eric Milton and Dave Williams (in no particular order).
"Barring trades or injuries, yeah," Narron said.
What about performance?
"Barring trades and injuries."
Narron made those comments before Dave Williams, making his Reds debut, allowed five runs (two earned) in the first inning against the Kia Tigers of Korea.
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky isn't quite ready to commit to the rotation."If you're talking in a vacuum, yeah," Krivsky said. "We haven't played a game yet."
Krivsky said he understands Narron's reasoning on the starting rotation.
"If you go on past history, it makes sense to make that kind of statement," he said.
But Krivsky added that he doesn't want to ignore spring training results.
"We're here to compete," Krivsky said.
"We play a month's worth of games. You don't want to take anything for granted. I think competition is good," Krivsky added.
The chances that the Reds would add outside help greatly diminished Monday, when the team broke off talks with Pedro Astacio. Astacio subsequently signed with Washington.
A trade is still possible, but don't look for anything to happen soon.
"I'm always trying to improve the team any way I can," Krivsky said. "But let's get into (exhibition) games. Let's see these guys compete. There's enough competition here that I hope they make it tough on Jerry to pick the 11 or 10 (pitchers) at the end."
Still, based on track records, it's hard to imagine the Reds going with any combination other than Harang, Claussen, Wilson, Milton and Williams - if Wilson is healthy.
Those five combined to go 40-55 last year with a 4.54 ERA. Only one of the five pitched more than 200 innings (Harang, 2112/3).
That doesn't exactly fill the fans' hearts with optimism.
But the Reds think things could improve based on two things:
Milton and Wilson had track records as effective big-league pitchers before last year. In 2005, Milton was 8-15 with a 6.47 ERA, while Wilson was 1-5 with a 7.77 ERA. The Reds are hoping those numbers were an aberration.
Harang, Claussen and Williams, who are all 27 years old or younger, should improve with another year's experience.
"Claussen and Harang were our most consistent pitchers last year," Narron said. "With experience, they have a chance to be better. Dave Williams has a good breaking ball. He changes speeds and he's an outstanding competitor."
It appears Wilson will be ready - or at least very close to ready - when the season starts.
Wilson had shoulder surgery in July, suffered a slight setback at the beginning of camp, but is on track again.
He threw 70 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday.
"It went well," he said. "The last 20 were better than the first 20."
The Reds have no firm date when Wilson will pitch in an exhibition game.
"I'm champing at the bit to get out there," Wilson said. "But we don't want to get in that roller coaster chase."
Krivsky agrees.
"We don't want to rush Paul," Krivsky said. "He's had a great rehab so far. We don't want to see him do anything to take him off the roll he seems to be on."
If Wilson isn't ready, righty Justin Germano or lefty Michael Gosling likely will take his place.
"We'll see how it shakes out at the end," Krivsky said.
E-mail [email protected]
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Some quick thoughts

the rotation will be Aaron Harang, Brandon Claussen, Wilson, Eric Milton and Dave Williams
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I knew it was coming, but my God when you see it in print :cry:

Narron made those comments before Dave Williams, making his Reds debut, allowed five runs (two earned) in the first inning against the Kia Tigers of Korea.
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The Kia Tigers of fucking Korea? :frown2:


Those five combined to go 40-55 last year with a 4.54 ERA. Only one of the five pitched more than 200 innings (Harang, 2112/3).
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:sick1:


Dave Williams has a good breaking ball. He changes speeds and he's an outstanding competitor
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Notice he didn't say he's an outstanding pitcher. In Reds lingo competitor is code for a guy who cant play for shit but tries real hard. Its a term most often used for the gaggle fuck of 30 something has-been futility infielders they collect by the gross.

"We'll see how it shakes out at the end," Krivsky said.
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'06 is over and now I'm getting scared for about '07 and beyond. I knew they were bad but now that I've seen it live....holy shit. I need a drink.
 
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Jaxbuck said:
Some quick thoughts:
'06 is over and now I'm getting scared for about '07 and beyond. I knew they were bad but now that I've seen it live....holy shit. I need a drink.
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Did you notice anything positive with some of the young guys while you were there? Specifically, I want to get an idea of how EE is progressing. I haven't seen very many updates on him so far this spring.
 
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Cincy

3/2/06

Counted on, now counted out
After not meeting big expectations in 2005, castoff Hudson off map
BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - Luke Hudson has flown so far under the radar at Reds camp that he would be lucky to clear the pitcher's mound.
Hudson, a 28-year-old right-hander, is here as a non-roster player. When members of the Reds brass talk about the roster, Hudson's name doesn't come up.
Two days after Wayne Krivsky was named general manager, he made a move that could have meant losing Hudson. The Reds designated Hudson for assignment when they signed left-hander Michael Gosling off waivers.
Hudson passed through waivers and re-signed a minor-league deal.
"It's part of the game," Hudson said. "It happens to a lot of players. What can you do about it? I feel good. I'll go out and see what happens."
Hudson made his first start of the spring Wednesday in an intrasquad game. He faced four batters and threw 15 pitches. The Reds ended the inning when Hudson reached his pitch count.
He should have had a 1-2-3 inning, but a fly ball off the bat of Ken Griffey Jr. fell between left fielder Tuffy Rhodes and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion for a hit.
Hudson got ahead 0-2 on Austin Kearns, then hit him with a pitch.
"It was kind of bittersweet," Hudson said.
"It's the first time I've been healthy in the spring since '04," Hudson added.
"But to hit one of your own guys is the worst feeling in the world."
Lack of command of his pitches has left Hudson with bad feelings many times in his career. His stuff is first-rate, among the best in the organization, but he doesn't always know where his pitches are going.
"If he commands his pitches and throws strikes, he has good games," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "When he doesn't, he struggles."
Hudson's only run of consistent big-league success came in the latter part of 2004. He went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA over nine starts in August and September. He allowed only 36 hits and struck out 38 in 481/3 innings.
The Reds penciled him in the rotation going into last season.
"Everyone had high expectations," Hudson said.
"Then I got hurt in the spring."
That was a bad start to a bad season. Hudson, who missed 2003 after shoulder surgery, began the 2005 season on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
He rehabbed until June.
Once activated, he struggled through June and July. He finally found himself in August, going 4-1 with a 3.64 ERA. But after two disastrous starts in September (11 runs in 52/3 innings), he was sent to the bullpen.
He went to the Arizona Fall League after the season but didn't do much better - 0-1, 6.58 ERA in six starts.
Hudson had a sore back early in spring training. That's why he was limited to 15 pitches Wednesday.
He's behind Gosling and right-hander Justin Germano in the battle for a starting spot - and a spot will be open only if Paul Wilson isn't ready at the start of the season.
"I'm just going to go out and pitch," Hudson said. "If I pitch like I'm capable of, the opportunity will come."
E-mail [email protected]
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The beatings continue in Florida.

Ben Kozlowski(sp) pitched a couple of innings vs Detroits first teamers today. I dont have the official stats yet but needless to say he got rocked.

At least 4 runs in 2 IP. 3 BB and 1 HBP by my count. Every ball struck was smashed. Magglio Ordonez hit into a DP to end the 1st that was a fraction from being a 2 run HR, absolutely smoked it.

Its just an absolute shame they cant find 10 or 11 guys of even average ML ability. :shake:
 
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Never good news when someone is diagnosed with cancer.:(

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Reds pitching coach has cancer</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>March 2, 2006

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) -- Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle has cancer, but plans to stay with the team while getting treatment.
The 55-year-old Ruhle informed Reds players on Thursday morning, before the club opened its spring training schedule against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland. He didn't disclose the type of cancer he has, but said doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
"My doctors feel that they've caught it at an early stage and it is very treatable," Ruhle said in a statement. "I plan to maintain a presence in spring training, but there will be times when I am away from the team for a few days as I receive treatment."
Ruhle declined to comment beyond his statement.
The cancer was detected by a blood test given to players and coaches as part of spring training physicals. Ruhle lives in Sarasota and will be treated by doctors in the area.
"We will approach this as a day-to-day thing," general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "He may be able to stay with us, and we might not have to make any changes."
Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron learned about Ruhle's cancer after the coach missed a workout with pitchers and catchers.
"The good thing was that they found it early," Narron said. "He didn't have any symptoms. He had knee surgery in November and was fine then. The doctors gave him a lot of hope that it would be put in remission."
Bullpen coach Tom Hume will fill in when Ruhle needs to be away getting treatment. Ruhle pitched in the major leagues for Detroit, Houston, Cleveland and the California Angels from 1974-86, going 67-88 with a 3.73 ERA. He was a pitching coach with Houston, Philadelphia and the New York Mets before joining the Reds organization in 2004.
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I was kind of hoping Ryan Wagner would get straightened out in the off-season. He gave up 2 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs in one inning of work, including a homerun by ex-Red Reggie Taylor and took the loss. Off to an inauspicious start. Wily Mo Pena: 0-3, 3K's, Scott Hatteberg hits a homerun.

EDIT - Remove Box score - illegible garbage. Oops.
 
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Yeah I think the old people in charge of the organization brought Wagner up way too fast.

He has great potential, but I just hope it doesnt get wasted by bringing him up too fast. He has shown flashes, and hopefully he can get that back.
 
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Cincy

3/3/06

Thursday's spring training notes

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We know (Jacob) Cruz can hit. He's going to give you a good at-bat every time up - even if he has to sit two weeks between at-bats."

- Reds manager Jerry Narron after Cruz went 2-for-2 with three walks in Thursday's game. Cruz led the majors with 20 pinch hits last year.

INJURY REPORT

Eric Milton's calf injury, the reason he was scratched from Thursday's start, is not serious. He would have started if it had been a regular-season game. ... Austin Kearns did not make the trip after being hit by a pitch on his left arm Wednesday. He's expected to play today.

DETROIT 8, REDS 5
The arms: Left-hander Ben Kozlowski, the emergency starter for Milton, allowed four runs on three hits in two innings. ... Ryan Wagner gave up three runs in the seventh, after the Reds had come back to tie it, to take the loss.
The bats: Scott Hatteberg hit his first home run in a Reds uniform in the fourth. ... Quinton McCracken had two hits and an RBI. Cruz reached base all five times up - three walks, a single and a double.
The rest: Catcher Dane Sardinha made his second throwing error in as many games.
Next: The Reds play a split-squad doubleheader today. Right-hander Justin Germano faces Detroit left-hander Mike Maroth at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
Left-hander Michael Gosling faces Minnesota right-hander Brad Radke in Fort Myers.
Both games start at 1 p.m. Neither is on WLW-AM (700).
On Saturday, the Reds visit the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m., and Sunday the Reds host Tampa Bay at 1:05
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