Announced by Reds manager Bryan Price after Friday night’s game: Tyler Mahle will make his major league debut against the Pirates on Sunday afternoon.
RHP Tyler Mahle will be called up from the Triple-A @LouisvilleBats to start against the Pirates on Sunday at GABP. #Reds pic.twitter.com/Bspxoc2fHj
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 26, 2017
This is exactly the move I’ve been hoping to see the Reds make. There had been some sentiment that the Reds would not call up Mahle this season, but I thought he’d be here by September, at least. After all, the Reds have to put Mahle on the 40-man roster after the season anyway, so why not get him some big league time during this lost season?
Check out Mahle’s minor league stats; he’s been impressive at every level. This season, he began at Double-A Pensacola, where he posted a 7-3 record with a 1.59 ERA. He was promoted to Triple-A Louisville, and over 10 starts, Mahle has a 2.73 ERA with a 51/13 strikeout to walk ratio. He doesn’t overpower people, but he throws strikes and knows how to pitch.
By the actual numbers, Mahle has been as good as any pitcher in the organization over the last couple of years. Even better: he’s only 22 years old. I can’t wait to see this kid in the big leagues.
The Reds will have to make room on the 40-man roster for Mahle, so we’ll look forward to seeing what that transaction will be. (Scott Feldman to the 60-day disabled list?)
That’s now four guys underway, still three more in AAA (Garrett, Davis, Reed) and two more in DL (Desclafani and Finnegan) plus Bailey (dead weight for two more seasons). Let’s see, Go Reds!
Castillo…Romano…Stephenson…and now Mahle? Wow, MLB teams will be shaking in their boots.
It’s still possible that DeSclafani could be in the Reds rotation sometime in September. DeSclafani, Castillo, Romano, Stephenson & Mahle may not have them shaking- but that would turn some heads in the division.
Start the young four plus Garrett or Reed for the remainder of the season and we’ll see how the shaking goes.
The minor league season is about to end, so he’s likely up to stay. He has room yet on his innings limit.
Perhaps the most encouraging thing: In the minors this year, Mahle has had 17 quality starts. He has only had 2 games in which he failed to pitch at least 5 innings and one of those was purposely abbreviated because he was starting in the AA all-star game.
I’m thinking along the same lines. Garrett, Davis and Reed are in the mix too. These things work themselves out due to performance and injuries but I’m just not sure we can count on Disco, Bailey and Finnegan. Granted, if Bailey and Disco return healthy, that’s a good problem to have. I’d be looking to move Bailey’s salary though.
The will have about as much success at moving Bailey’s salary as they did BP, and speaking of Bailey isn’t Sunday his turn?, are they still planning to start Wojo?
The pitching is finally starting to sort. Bob looked good but can he come back and do it again? I do think his performance illustrates that a good breaking ball is more valuable than an elite fastball in homer-happy MLB where they are crushing poorly located 96+ fastballs. Changing speeds and command are what the Reds need to be valuing. I will be excited to see how Mahle performs.
Homer had his slider working and was jamming lefties with fastballs on the inside corner. Kind of looked like Big Sally the previous night, huh? Maybe Bob is starting to pay attention.
The Reds offense is stout, even if Cozart departs.
The backend of bullpen is strong but the front end and long relief probably needs restocked – easy enough.
Defense is also stout.
Over the last couple of weeks, have we seen Big Sally, Bob, and Louie take great steps forward. Louie was already strong and the other two might be finding their stride. I can’t wait to see Mahle added to the mix. Homer, Descafani, and Finnegan will probably come to regret sitting on the DL for so long.
If these four pitchers finish out strong, I hope Price gets some credit. Lord knows he gets enough blame.
Personally I would like them to take the strong backend and start the one pitcher who looks like he could be a solid starter. Instead of suffering set back after set back with Homer, Descafani, and Finnegan as starters, make them the back end until Iglesias shows he has set back after set back. I still would like to see Lorenzen get a shot. This would be the season to do it, so they are not shut down next year.
Depends on if you think that’s its his job to develop pitchers and I believe it was.Some think because he is the manager he doesn’t have the time.I am on record in saying he had little to do with Disco,Finny and Castillo since they came from other orginizations and that he hasn’t develop any pitchers at all in the last 4 year.Others say he helped Cueto and Homer.So pick a side I guess is the way to go.
Sept call ups start on Friday right?
Sorry to go off-topic, but here’s what I’ve been thinking. There was a long thread a few days ago about trades a-coming, with lots of them suggesting packaging some of our players to get some bona fide starters. But maybe what the team needs to trade for is a bona fide shortstop. I like Cozart, and I’d like to see him offered a 2 or 3 year deal (maybe the third year an option) that is affordable. Don’t know if he’d take it, but if so, it would allow the team time to groom/find a proper replacement. From the earlier posts, it sounds like we have many more options at 2nd base (including possibly Senzel). Maybe the Reds should try packaging Hamilton (market value? ) and Gennett (sell hi), with 1 or 2 other ‘prospecst’ and snag a good young OBP short stop. I love Billy and Gennett, but then we could move Schebler to CF, Winker at RF, bring Ervin up to provide late inning defense for Scheb, if his CF defense is not good enuff.
I like it very much.
Finally we are giving these young guys a chance and I like what they are doing.I just hope they let them pitch regardless of the results the rest of the year.I don’t want any of them to have some stinker games so front office please don’t get all worked up if they do.Learning to pitch at the big league level can be very humbling.Remember Stephensen’s last performance before he was sent down?Now fast forward to last night when even Hurdle said it was the best slider he had seen anybody throw all year long.The neat thing is all of these guys have the stuff.Just need to let them pitch. Go Reds and welcome our next young pitcher to the big leagues.
If I were a betting man, I would wager that Finnegan will be in the bullpen next year. I think the bullpen will be alright next year. There are three or four arms out of a group, that are ready to be candidates there: Chacin, Herget, Shackelford, Ismail Guillon (lefty), Ariel Hernandez, Asher (may take Lorenzen’s job or be long relief), Austin Brice.
Desclafani is a big unknown. He has been hurt so much the last two years. I frankly wouldn’t count on him. Lorenzen could also be in the mix for starting next Spring.
The next good arm coming along is Jose Lopez at AA. They were talking about him on the pre-game show a few weeks ago, and his personality and his stuff as comparable to Luis Castillo. He is still probably a year away.
Maybe 2019.
I think Amir Garrett is actually hurt. I don’t think he ever got over that hip injury he sustained in May. Give him the winter off, and see what he has next Spring.