The Cincinnati Reds played two games again today and like the day prior, they split things. Cincinnati took a loss in Arizona against the Los Angeles Angels, but the offense went wild once again out in Las Vegas as the Reds pummeled the Oakland Athletics.
Reds vs Angels
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (4-5-1) | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Angels (5-3-1) |
8 | 11 | 1 |
| W: Tepera L: Farmer |
|||
| Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Highlights
Cincinnati wasted no time in the early game. Will Benson picked up an infield single to former Red Brandon Drury. He then scored from first base on a double by Kevin Newman that went down the left field line. Luis Cessa held that lead as he tossed 2.0 shutout innings with a walk and two strikeouts. In the 3rd inning the Reds turned the game over to the bullpen. Prospect Casey Legumina came on and he threw 2.0 perfect innings with a strikeout.
In the 5th inning that’s when the bullpen began to run into problems. Daniel Norris allowed three runs in an inning of work. With the Angels leading 3-1 and heading to the top of the 6th, the Reds offense went back to work. Henry Ramos singled and he moved up to second on a single by Kevin Newman. A throwing error on a grounder brought Ramos in. Jason Vosler came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game up, and Elly De La Cruz beat out an infield single to plate the go-ahead run and make it 4-3.
The bullpen woes weren’t over, though. Buck Farmer took over for the bottom of the 6th and like Daniel Norris before him he gave up three runs – allowing four hits in the inning. In the next inning it was Hunter Strickland’s turn to pitch and he gave up two more runs as Los Angeles grabbed an 8-4 lead. Fernando Cruz pitched a shutout 8th inning with two strikeouts.
In the top of the 9th it was Chuckie Robinson getting things started as he smacked a 1-out double. An out later it was prospect Edwin Arroyo with a double of his own to plate Robinson and make it 8-5. That was all the Reds would get on the day as they tell to the Angels on the afternoon in Arizona.
Kevin Newman, Elly De La Cruz, and Chuckie Robinson all finished the day with two hits.
Reds vs Athletics
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (4-5-1) | 12 | 13 | 0 |
| Oakland Athletics (2-7-1) | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| W: Phillips L: Blackburn |
|||
| Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Highlights
It didn’t take very long for the Reds to get on the board in this one and they got on the board often in the early parts of this one. Jonathan India led off the game with a walk, moved up to second on a fly out, headed to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a Jake Fraley infield single.
In the next inning it was Cincinnati’s offense putting in some big time work. Jose Barrero, Matt McLain, Michael Siani, and Alex McGarry all singled to lead off the inning and that plated two runs. Jonathan India followed up with his second walk in as many innings to load the bases. After a pitching change Tyler Stephenson struck uot, but Jake Fraley drew a walk to bring in a run to make it 4-0. TJ Friedl then picked up the fifth single of the inning for the Reds and plated two more runs to extend the lead to 6-0.
Nick Lodolo welcomed a 6-run lead and cruised through his 3.0 innings of work, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Prospect Connor Phillips took over in the 4th and he kept Oakland off of the board in his 2.0 innings while walking two and picking up three strikeouts. The offense went back to work in the top of the 6th. Tyler Stephenson singled with one out and then Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl walked to load the bases. Spencer Steer came through with an RBI single to make it 8-0.
Andrew Abbott, the team’s 14th rated prospect, pitched a shutout bottom of the 6th inning. The Reds offense decided he’d be more comfortable with a bigger lead and got to work once again. Matt McLain would walk and Michael Siani would single to lead off the inning. Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled in a run as he picked up what seemed like his eleventy-billionth RBI of the spring. A walk followed to load the bases and then Stuart Fairchild was hit by a pitch to bring in another run and make it 10-0. Prospect Nick Quintana capped the inning with a 2-run single to make it 12-0. Abbott returned to the mound for the bottom of the inning and two singles and a wild pitch led to Oakland finally getting on the board.
The Athletics weren’t finished and in the 8th inning it was another struggle for Ben Lively. He allowed three runs on five hits as his ERA ballooned to 23.63 on the spring. Bennett Sousa took over in the 9th inning with a 12-4 lead
Jake Fraley finished the game reaching base four times – he singled and walked three times. TJ Friedl picked up two hits and a walk. Spencer Steer had a hit and a walk. Matt McLain went 1-3 with a walk and he now has six walks with one strikeout in six games played. Michael Siani picked up two hits and a walk on the day.
Monday’s Game
Tomorrow things are back to normal as the Cincinnati Reds will only play one game. They’ll be in Goodyear with Chase Anderson on the mound and they will host the Colorado Rockies in the first evening game of the spring. First pitch is set for 8:05pm ET.
You’d have a hard time trying to convince me that the Reds won’t be able to put together a solid 5 man rotation as soon as next season with
Lodolo
Greene
Ashcraft
And 2 of
Williamson
Stoudt
Abbott
Phillips
Roa
Gutierrez
Go ahead and move Boyle, Bonnin, and Richardson to the pen
Why would you move Boyle to the pen at this point? Keep him as a starter until he proves he can’t. His ceiling is so dang high, you have to see it through further.
Short answer is his 20 grade command
After his move to AA he was starting to get hit a bit. When that happens on top of walking 25 batters in 26 innings you’re going to have problems
The reds will have to make a 40 man decision on him at the end of the year and if he’s still walking 8 batters per 9 innings then it isn’t working as a starter. Move him to the pen where I think he has better stuff than Karcher (also has walk problems but got protected) and I think he has role on the reds at some point next season
Boyle is most likely three years away. We must remember that the Top 3 and Diaz will all be free agents in 5 years and at least one will be moved before then.I really think Weaver is going to get one of the starting spots regardless of how ST goes. On his pre-game Managers show Bell was pretty high on Stoudt and there were some excuses for Overton’s performances so far so I would not write him off.
Almost impossible that Boyle is 3 years away – he will either have 1 – progressed to a starter and debut in MLB late-2024; 2 – been moved to the pen and in MLB mid-2024; or 3 – on his way out of affiliated baseball at season end 2024. Unless there’s injury time in there, two full years of development will show what’s there. If it’s 1 or 2, the floor is then an unreliable middle-inning reliever while the ceiling remains ace/#2 starter.
@BDH it’s really a no brainer on Boyle to the pen. I get why some people want him to remain a starter, but they are just delaying the inevitable, and slowing down his possible arrival to the Reds.
Agree 100%
Shouldn’t have left out Cessa
Strickland flunked last pre-season and made the team, and continued to flunk for 5 of the 6 months of the season.
So maybe he’s trying that approach again this Spring?
He knows just what Bell is looking for in a relief pitcher.
He’s a lock.
I don’t know that I can stomach another season of Hunter Strickland. The guy thinks he has an overpowering fastball at 93-96mph. Guys like that aren’t even a dime a dozen these days. He is a hitter’s dream.
Note: “prospect Nick Quintana….” from the Tucker Barnhart ‘trade’ a few years ago.
Thanks. I could not remember where he came from.
2nd round pick out of U of Arizona and Team USA.
I was impressed with his swing. Given all of the high ceiling kids, there will be a need for the role players, and I can see Quintana filling that.
Watching him in Dayton last year, he was never a big eye opener but always seemed to be in the middle of good things happening. My assessment is he is just a ball player which is a real positive in my book.
The Kids are alright. Fraley, Freidl and Benson are LH hitters and Myers a Righty. They are going to have to keep a RH hitter if Benson makes the cut. Siani and Pinder are not making the team as LH hitters. 5th outfielder, if they keep one will be between Fairchild ,Solak and Ramos. Senzel if he is healthy but I doubt he will be ready by opening day. Ramos is way ahead of everyone else right now. If they keep 5 outfielders and 3 catchers that leaves one spot for an extra infielder. Steer, Barrero,India, Votto won’t be ready, so 2 players. Newman and ? For me it’s CES.
I asked the same thing. Reds play multiple teams with lefty starters the first few weeks. Who plays CF against the Pirates/Cubs/Braves/Rays /Phillies left handed starters first 2 weeks of the season? IF Senzel is a few days behind, it may be a moot point.
CES especially if Votto isn’t ready.
CES day by day is pretty much making it impossible to keep him off the opening day roster….at least so far.
Here’s hoping CES becomes the new Tony Perez
I know no one will like this proposal, but India as the DH? I want his bat in the lineup, but not his glove at 2B, and McLain is showing off this spring. He maybe called up to the Reds in a couple of months. I am also open to LF as an India destination, maybe he’s even the RH side of the Fraley platoon, and when he’s not in LF he’s DHing. As @Old and other have questioned who’s going to cover the OF when facing LHP if Fraley, Benson, and Friedl are the starters.
End of the day I don’t think India will be taken off of 2B, just trying to see the lineup differently.
I don’t disagree at all. I have thought moving India to left field to be a great solution for the future. There is so much infield talent and such a lack of outfield talent coming up through the system.
Or to 1B.
I think I would rather see CES at first base, so that puts India in left field for me.
Reds saving $750,000 with Moustakas on Rockies. They are talking about him being their starting second baseman.
I’m 99.5% sure that’s not how it works. The Reds owe him his full salary. Anything the Rockies pay him does nothing for what the Reds owe him.
I am pretty sure MK has it right. The Rockies owe him the league minimum and the Reds are on the hook for the rest. What MK reported is exactly the way it used to be. I am not sure if the new collective bargaining agreement changed that but don’t see any reason it would.
He is. This is why that 0.5% should always be accounted for. That and the part where I’m a dummy.
Doug…hardly a dummy. The rules for salaries, contracts, etc have become so arcane, it would take a real genius to keep up with them.
And teams make mistakes with the MLB CBA all the time, and they are getting PAID to be right…and a lot of money.
Despite his sometimes lackluster appearances, I think Weaver is likely “#5” starting the season. If Williamson shines at AAA, and Weaver falters, maybe Williamson is up by June.
I want CES to come East with the Reds, but there’s that arb clock. I think he might be the first call-up in late April, early May….but they will put Pinder on the roster, despite batting out on the Interstate right now. Ditto Solak.
Votto and Senzel…who knows when they will be ready. Senzel may start in AAA on a rehab assignment..too.
The bullpen…once again a big mystery. There is some real talent in the Spring training camp, but the visage of Hunter Strickland looms large in the mind of David Bell. Veteran Presence…and he KNOWS how to pitch in the Major Leagues….badly. Really. This time.
Haha, you are definitely not a dummy, Doug! You’re just a good midwesterner, readily admitting when he’s wrong. 😉
Btw, maybe this is obvious, but anyway… I’m pretty sure the Reds are off the hook for $750K only if Moose actually earns that from the Rockies… in other words, only if he makes the team.
Great weekend of baseball….flipping back and forth between the two games yesterday was awesome. Observations–
–Legumina’s fastball had both Trout and Rendon late multiple times. Could be a nice late inning option.
–Arroyo is reminding me a bit of Robby Alomar. They both played A ball at 18 with Edwin having a better OPS, albeit with more swing and miss to his game (but more power). Alomar played a full season at AA as a 19 year old then jumped to the bigs at 20….probably not the path for Arroyo but I’m curious to see what he can do if the Reds are aggressive with him.
–The power is almost a given, but CES impressed me with his 2 strike single on Saturday. He showed great plate coverage and the ability to cut down his swing….tells me he’ll be more than a low average/high power corner infielder.
–Friedl has shown very well against LHP.
–Andrew Abbott has a really high floor. Probably the safest bet to become a rotation piece.
–Jay Allen made some very loud outs. Loving the bat speed.
–Barrero’s plate approach is inconsistent, but the pitch recognition is seemingly there. Pair that with his absurd atheticism and it’s enough for me to give him a long look to start the season.
–EDLC has lost that hitch with his hands from the left side that I saw last year.
That made Benevades 2-0 for the weekend , didn’t it? Hmm
The rough part of the Spring excitement is knowing that, despite the trading of “veteran presences” for “prospects” some of whom are already showing they might be capable…Bell will clearly, mysteriously prefer to go with Pinder, Vosler, Kojak, Reynolds…. at best mediocre veteran presences.
And the team will once again perform poorly and we’ll hear more of Bell’s mewling post game platitudes.
Those here defending Bell last year used the “It’s not his fault, he’s playing the players he’s been given.”
This April we’ll see Bell’s true colors.
And a lot more of Hunter Strickland.