The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has been a real problem this season. While it’s pitched better of late, getting back Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims (and others who are currently working their way back from injury) would go a long way. But with those two specifically, it seems that the timeline may have been moved back a little further than initially expected. Initially it seemed that Tejay Antone was going to return right after the All-Star break. That, however, is not the case anymore.
“Not right after (the break),” said manager David Bell on Sunday. “I would say closer to the end of July would be a realistic goal.”
“(He) Hasn’t started throwing yet,” Bell said of Tejay Antone. “He did have a PRP injection. That was about 3-4 days ago. Apparently after that there’s a period where you don’t do a whole lot and then he’ll start ramping up here. He’s doing a lot more movement the last couple days. I think he should be throwing here any day.”
“With Tejay – he didn’t have to have it (PRP injection). The decision was to do it for the long term. It can slow you down for 3-4 days, but on the back side of that it was the smarter decision just for the long term healing and health.”
As for Sims, he hasn’t pitched since June 22nd in Minnesota when he allowed three runs without recording an out in a 10-7 win. He was diagnosed with a sprained elbow after the game and placed on the 7-day injured list.
“Lucas might be a hair ahead of Tejay,” said Bell. “They’re both progression. All of the reports are encouraging. I think with both of those guys we have to be sure we give them enough time to get all the way back now and not have to go through this anymore the rest of the year.”
Michael Feliz makes a rehab appearance
Last night reliever Michael Feliz began a rehab stint with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He faced off against Nashville and had a 1-2-3 inning, but it wasn’t without a little bit of drama. The righty recorded to long outs that were caught on the warning track before striking out the third and final hitter of the inning in the Bats win. Feliz was throwing 93-95 on the night with his fastball.
It will be great to get both back. If we can add Nick and Moose to the active roster it will be even better.
I think it’s clear that the Brewers and Reds are the best teams in the NL Central. That is why I think today’s game against the Cubs is so important. The quicker we establish this as a two team race, the better.
It’s not even really a race at this point. The Brewers are running away with this thing. It’s not impossible to catch them, but it would take a ton to do so. The Brewers can play .500 the rest of the season and the Reds would need to go 48-32 just to tie them – that’s a .600 clip the rest of the way. Again, not impossible, but very unlikely. It’s why “let’s get healthy in the bullpen before we make any moves” was and is a terrible plan. They waited too long.
It does seem like a long way to go. The now that were over 500 again, and in 2nd place. The new goal should be to climb the next rung, to take #2 wildcard spot. We’re 5.5 games behind the Padres. The good news is the west presumable will be beating each other up.
Reds were 34-31 in 1999 on June 20.
They went 62-35 the rest of the way to finish 96-66. Some awful teams led to some long winning streaks. Many teams the Reds play in August and September will be in all out tank mode.
The Reds could get a good lefty out of the pen who is controlled beyond this season. The market for Trevor Story will be the A’s who never take on payroll and no one else. Story could be had with a prospect better than the 35th pick in the 2022 draft or a lesser prospect and Bob Castellini’s wallet.
The Reds get 5 picks in the upcoming draft from #17-89 including 3 of the top 35 picks. That’s a load of new talent.
With the deep draft coming, the Reds can afford both a bump in payroll and parting with some medium prospects to get Story and a dominant lefty bullpen arm- Taylor Rogers of the Twins is controlled through 2022.
There’s a difference between “hope” and “expectation”, though. I hope they can get it done. But it’s not a realistic expectation, either. This team isn’t a .600 team or close to it. Stranger things have happened, and I’m trying to not come off as a Debbie Downer here…. it’s just a monumental thing that needs to happen.
So you’re saying the only way to make the playoffs is to play good. I think that’s a given. The “math” isn’t insurmountable at this point, but yes if they remain a 500 team, they will not make it.
No, I’m saying that they have to play great the rest of the season.
I agree the Reds have their work cut out for them, but two weeks ago the Brewers were tied with the Cubs and the Reds were 4 games out.
I guess I’m still not convinced the Brewers are going to run away with it Some team is going to give them a run. It might as well be the reds.
Pray for a loooonnnnnggggg Brewers losing streak. (While the Reds keep winning, of course.)
Collapses don’t happen because a team plays .500 ball.
When the Cubs were tied 10 days ago how is that they are now 10 games out? What were the chances of that happening? I’ll wait while you fetch your slide rule.
When things go bad teams don’t just tread water and play .500
That’s a pretty premature stance there. A week and a half ago the Cubs were tied with the Brewers at 42-33. Also consider the level of competition. The Brewers have had a really easy schedule of late. Also consider that the Reds play the Tigers, Tigers or Marlins in about half of their final 40 games. Anything can happen still….way too early to call it.
No one is “calling it”. What I’m saying is that it’s an incredibly difficult hill to climb. The math is tough to overcome no matter how much one may want to hope it’s not.
Tigers, Marlins or Pirates…I meant to sayRe
Last twenty and two thirds innings three earned runs
The 7-game set against Brewers seems to be the key for Reds play-off hopes. I think Reds must win 5 games at least from that series to keep contending for NLCD Championship and they will not have Antone, Sims, Moustakas neither Lorenzen in those games. Of course, they should play hard against the others teams too…
Per the post, David Bell comments about Tejay Antone’s situation:
“With Tejay – he didn’t have to have it (PRP injection). The decision was to do it for the long term. It can slow you down for 3-4 days, but on the back side of that it was the smarter decision just for the long term healing and health.”
So riddle me this. When they start giving guys injections they “didn’t have to have” in order to promote “long term healing and health” how does substance use differ from PED use except the substance injected just doesn’t happen to be on the PED prohibited list?
Maybe there should be a rule that when the substance is used in this sort of situation the player must sit out at a minimum as long as when it is truly needed to promote healing immediate and avoid surgical intervention?
Just wondering.
Ughh..PRP injection. Not good.