The Cincinnati Reds will take the field in Goodyear this afternoon as they play hosts to the Los Angeles Angels, who are playing without their two superstars in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani as those two continue to play in the World Baseball Classic. First pitch is set for 4:05pm ET.
Angels (13-7-2) vs Reds (11-11-1)
Angels |
Reds |
|||
| 1 | Taylor Ward | LF | Jonathan India | 2B |
| 2 | Luis Rengifo | 2B | Joey Votto | DH |
| 3 | Taylor Jones | 1B | Wil Myers | 1B |
| 4 | Hunter Renfroe | RF | Tyler Stephenson | C |
| 5 | Gio Urshela | 3B | Jake Fraley | RF |
| 6 | Logan O’Hoppe | C | Kevin Newman | SS |
| 7 | Kevin Padlo | DH | TJ Friedl | CF |
| 8 | Jordyn Adams | CF | Spencer Steer | 3B |
| 9 | David Fletcher | SS | Chad Pinder | LF |
| 10 | Chase Silseth | RHP | Nick Lodolo | LHP |
Reserve players on today’s Reds roster
| Pitchers | Infielders |
| Daniel Norris | Alejo Lopez |
| Reiver Sanmartin | Matt Reynolds |
| Alex Young | Ilvin Fernandez |
| Manuel Cachutt | Steven Leyton |
| Ryan Nutof | Nick Martini |
| Randy Wynne | Outfielders |
| Catchers | Jose Barrero |
| Jhonny Pereda | Will Benson |
| Hayden Jones | Stuart Fairchild |
| Henry Ramos | |
| Blake Dunn | |
| TJ Hopkins |
Where to watch/listen/follow the game
You can watch this afternoon’s game on Bally Sports Ohio as well as MLB.tv. If you want to listen in on the radio then set your dial to 1360 WSAI AM.
Reds links and news
The Cincinnati Reds would consider trading Joey Votto
Reds general manager Nick Krall was on MLB Network Radio this morning and said that there was a chance that the team would consider trading Joey Votto. The statement came with a few caveats, but we wrote all about it this morning if you want some more details.
More cuts have been made
The Reds released reliever Daniel Norris today. They also sent Stuart Fairchild, Alejo Lopez, and Silvino Bracho to minor league camp. That puts the spring roster at 39 players. You can read more about all of it here.
Weighing in on the 2023 Reds
Cards Conclave asked several writers that cover the Reds to answer a few questions about the upcoming season. Myself and Jim Walker represented Redleg Nation, Wick Terrell of Red Reporter, and Shawn Weaver chimed in with plenty of thoughts. For the most part we all seemed to be on the same page about things, particularly for the 2023 season.
So, Pinder is third in total ABs on the Reds this spring. Only Stephenson with 5 more and Fraley with one are ahead of him. He has 3 hits and an awesome .258 OPS. Fairchild was sent down with an .819 OPS. He had as many XBH as Pinder has total hits. Yet, Pinder is here, starting his 4th consecutive game and Fairchild got a plane ticket. These are the kinds of decisions that lead some of us to advocate for Bell’s removal. And, no, I don’t believe Krall is calling the shots.
I would bet Krall did not say put Barrero in CF so he can become more versatile….laughable. Bell is not the guy to develop, encourage and instill confidence in young players.
He has had a rookie of the year with a guy who hadn’t played the position before. He has probably started more rookie pitchers than any other mlb manager the last four years. He brought along a rookie closer last year. So it is a little unfair to say Bell is against promoting and developing young players.
You don’t believe Krall is calling the shots because you are looking for any reason to drag Bell down.
The manager is not setting the roster. Anywhere. Not in Cincinnati. Not in Atlanta. Not in Houston.
So Bell has zero input on keeping Pinder?
Doug, what you are saying is not the same as claiming the manager has no input on the roster construction.
The manager 100% does give feedback to the GM on who he wants on the roster and who he doesn’t. Ultimately, it’s Krall’s decision, but Bell is definitely involved in “calling the shots”.
He can certainly make requests. But the roster is set by the GM. The GM gets the final call (unless it is a situation where the owner has to sign off on cutting someone owed money). If someone makes the roster it’s on Nick Krall, even if someone else suggested something to him.
Agree with Doug. The GM sets the roster and the manager sets the lineup.
Look for reasons? Trust me, I don’t have to look. He provides fresh material daily. If one has ever managed, or managed managers, then identifying bad ones is easy. But, you are right on one point, I see no value in Bell whatsoever. I wouldn’t want him managing a little league team.
Then you shouldn’t have to make them up, dude. Blame him for the actual things he has say in, not the things he doesn’t.
I agree with CI3J also. Bell does have input. But he does not make the decision. The roster is set by the GM. What makes this so funny is that I agree with Krall’s decision to keep Pinder over Fairchild. Until Fairchild has zero chance to be an every day player he should play every day. He will not do that in Cincinnati so he should be in Louisville. This team has zero chance of making the playoffs this year. They are not playing for 2023. So the fact that Pinder is on the squad benefits the Reds in several ways. 1st, Pinder stinks so it may mean fewer wins and as a result a better pick in the 2024 draft. 2nd it gives Fairchild everyday at bats.
Of course I doubt anyone on here really knows but it would seem to me that Bell has a lot of input whether Krall likes it or not simply because of the relationship his dad has with the owner. Either way Krall has to take the heat for it.
Stock- So you are not getting on my bandwagon of “wire to wire a championship is what I desire”?
Not a Bell fan, but you are spot on regarding Krall calling the shots.
I am there with you JB. I am pretty busy right now so I hope you don’t mind me waiting until 2026 as my schedule should lighten up by then.
Of course you don’t believe it. And you do believe that spring training at-bats are of paramount importance.
And belief is not within the definition of fact.
OUTFIELDERS
Jose Barrero
Seriously… They’re seriously doing this?
I don’t mind Barrero having some flexibility, but if they’re seriously doing this to open up SS for a 30 year old journeyman with a career 79 OPS+ and a career of -4 Rtot, then this is just pure incompetence.
Ever think they are doing this to see if Barrero can play cf and still hit. To open the door for Cruz to come play ss?
Barrero has not had enough major league ABs at SS, to prove he can hit and play SS, and now they want him to be able to hit and do both… A lot of pressure, and they do not know if EDLC can hit or play defense at the MLB level yet. Barrero can play defense.
Oh, I get it, Harry: Infielders don’t get injured. Except when they do, as was the case with every starting infielder on last season’s Reds. I see little point in guessing about what might have been, since by doing so any point of view, no matter how illogical, can be “proven” right
There are too many darn shortstops, somebody has to move, why is Barrero immune from this discussion?
Why does one not here anything about any of the minor league SSs learning CF in the minors? One always reads EDLC wants to stay at SS , I would guess Barrero does as well. Learn the position in the minors so a player can be an effective MLB CF when they get to the majors. Are they wanting history to repeat itself, ie Senzel?
It’s your unsubstantiated supposition that Senzel’s troubles stem from the position change. Lots of players through the years have played multiple positions for the Reds and for other teams, for one thing, and Senzel has had a terrible history of injuries which, by themselves, could certainly account for where we find him now.
The main point was why is Barrero the only SS we hear about who should change to CF, he is already up. The players in the minors are not MLB ready so switch them now so they are ready when they get to the bigs.
Certainly moving to CF didn’t help Senzel but I think Ward had a lot to do with his demise as well as Aquino’s.
Good point. He has CF experience so they obviously believe that he can make the transition. I think McClain is next up at SS but that is TBD.
Once again, Green Mountain, you’re making a solipsistic argument. How did Senzel break his toe? Turning a double play? How did he bang up his shoulder? Fielding a grounder?
Just because Mookie Wilson or Eric Davis or whoever made the transition from catcher or shortstop to CF doesn’t mean that somehow someway it’s inherently right for Senzel…or Barrero or EDLC.
The sacred cows and shibboleths sure go down hard here at RLN.
My hope is Barrero is the SS, and starts hitting, making EDLC plug in at 3B or CF. My gut tells me Barrero won’t get the bat going well enough to be an everyday starter, and EDLC will take over SS. If that happens, and Barrero can cover SS, CF, 2B, and 3B his mediocre to bad bat might be good enough with his strong defense to remain a utility player.
The Reds will have a thinner bench at other positions by carrying three catchers. Barrero played outfield (professionally) in Cuba and previously with the Reds. No one said they were converting him to CF. Why not get him a few spring training innings at CF just in case they need him to play in a game that counts later?
They are doing this to carry a third catcher. Everything emanates from that.
Actually, Newman is 29 years old. Plus, 30 years old is not an issue! Trea Turner is 30 and makes $27mil. Xander Bogaerts is 30 and is paid $24mil. Trever Story and Javier Baez are 30 and make $22mil. ETC. Why not Kevin Newman?
Doug, I really enjoyed reading the Q&A with you, Jim, and the other participants. You had the occasional Q&A last year with you and RLN writers. I’d love to see that come back this year. Thanks.
Where was that at? Would be interested in reading as well.
See the link in last section of Doug’s article above.
All Questions Answered. Which reminds me, we are overdue …
Reds have alot of middle infielders. Has anyone given any thought as to why Barrero maybe playing cf. To see of he can play the position and hit. Allowing for Cruz to play ss sometime in May?
Krall and the owners I don’t care for, Bell does what he can with what he has to work with. I was taught along time ago, if you think you can do a better job. Then by all means go apply..
Oh, and let’s all just relax. We knew it was gonna be a struggle this season.
Any player should “learn” to play the position in the minor leagues. To ask a young player to learn it on the fly and still be an effective MLB hitter..not sure about that one. Senzel who they tried it with last time, played all ST there and how is that turning out, he is still not effective out there.
Ask India what he thinks of that. or Tommy Helms, or #14.
So you compare India to Rose…seriously
In that respect: The point is that the inability of players to change positions is in our minds, not theirs.
Among all the threads with Pinder comments, has anybody included him with Myers as the most likely to be traded? Perhaps Newman as well. Solak didn’t make the first cut, but the Reds clearly have Myers and Newman ready for a mid-season deal. Newman may last all season, but if any of the SSs catch fire, he goes as well.
The GM/manager dilemma is getting enough exposure to increase value (as we all learned with Moose) which costs somebody else ABs – in the case of Pinder that would be Fairchild, and to a lesser extent, Friedl.
Stock’s comment about Fairchild getting plenty of ABs in AAA is correct, but for his sake, Fairchild should be traded – unless Myers and Pinder get moved in July, the Reds don’t want him as the 5th OFer. Another team might, and might right now.
Pinder may not hit well today since the Angels might have the book on him being a AL West team
Plus, it’s not a Tuesday, and all three of his hits this spring have come on a Tuesday.
Nice Doug. That is probably a stat no one saw coming.
+1000. Doug Spitting the Facts!
Did he have the same thing for breakfast those days? Could mean something. ?
At least analytics will limit him to playing one day a week
Wasn’t Fairchild outrighted by the reds and passed over by every other team enabling the reds to resign him?
No. You have him confused with someone else.
Thanks Doug. Getting old is hard. Lol
You are not kidding. Still hoping to find a fix for it, but so far I have come up empty.
I’m finding it easy, Jim T. I don’t lift a finger and it happens anyway.
Doug reds didn’t designate him but the other teams he played for did I believe. I think he made it through the process a few times. Like I said I’m old and can be wrong.
Think only the Giants did that last year in June, which is when the Reds claimed him. Before that he was involved in a series of transactions – trades and purchases for cash.
I commented earlier that he has trade value, and that’s why. It’s not much, but it’s something.
Fairchild may have been DFA in one or both of the trade situations which came just a few weeks apart in May and June of 2022. The point is he never was never outrighted.
Returned to the Reds on a waiver claim in mid June. He OPSed at .851 with the Reds at AAA then in 99 PAs at MLB for the Reds had an .897/ 141 OPS/OPS+
Optimist>> I think they may be icing Fairchild at AAA until they can clear somebody else via trade to get him more regular playing time at MLB. Then again this is the Reds and he could be DFA for a spot or Pinder or Ramos. If so, once again, he will probably land on his feet.
Thanks Jim – I’m not that informed on the intricacies of the process, but the “was never outrighted” comment makes sense, which means even the Giants did not release him since he then was a Reds waiver claim.
I really agree with the sentiment of your “icing” comment – essentially, he should be on a MLB roster, and getting enough playing time to put up some numbers. I have to believe some other team would want him for that, which he surely would prefer, rather than being full time at Louisville. He has that value to someone else if the Reds won’t do it.
Reds and Angels hitters must have something to do after this game. Lots of first pitch swinging. 10 pitches for 2 innings for the Angels pitcher.
I have no point of this statement other than pointing it out. I don’t care how many pitches they see in ST.
Lost in all the who is the utility player 26 th man 5 th outfielder stuff is the continued progression of greene lodolo and Ashcraft. Young starting pitching development is the fastest path to relevancy. Excited to watch greene lodolo and ashcraft
Williamson might should possibly be # 5 . Young guns took their lumps last season early but seem to have taken 4 steps forward. Might be time to let DJ work with BW every 5 th day and let him work with the big3.
Lodolo strong so far. Probably jinxed it so blame me if innings 3-5 go sideways
I think this adds to my frustration. We truly have the building blocks to be a really good team in the very near future. I just hope Bell and Ownership don’t waste it. Hopefully with the money saved from 3Ms contract expiring, ownership will allow Krall to invest in an actual experienced bullpen to add to Diaz and hopefully whoever develops this year. A solid OF bat would be a nice add as well.
I am tending to agree regarding Williamson. I’m thinking what he has left to learn or work on can be done in Cincinnati. If he founders, then he can go down for some tune-up time
Newman signed a 2.7 million contract with the Reds so he will be the regular guy at short.Pinder is on a minor league deal but has stats on the back of his card.Fairchild has options but he can hit.Maybe Barrero can handle some games at short and then some games in center and still hit but its asking an awful lot.Lets see how it plays out.
I like the way India has looked the last few days. Him returning back to his ROY form, would be a big boost for this team.
He’s hitting the ball very hard. If I could say ‘looking good,’ like Cowboy, I would add that in.
I’m going to keep banging the Friedl Drum. Give him enough PAs and he’s going to put up a 15/20 season
He’s a good ball player, period. Every successful team needs guys like him.
Aside from the jam that inning, Lodolo is looking pretty ready to me. Cowboy said as much. And he worked out of that jam as well.
This just in … India has a really nice stroke.
And Wil Myers gives us a writs-flick flair that finds a space well over the wall. Didn’t look like it off the bat.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of that in GABP this year from him. Well, at least until the trade deadline.
Jake Fraley = big league hitter
Good to see these guys stealing bases and taking the extra base like Fraley did there. Gone are the station to station guys.
Am I just lucky or what? I got the 50% discount link this morning and activated my subscription. And I’m rewarded with THIS!!! 😀
Note to Doug – Pinder hit on a Monday … 😮
He did, so now he can play two days a week.
You want to get on my wire to wire bandwagon? Could use some of your luck!
RBI Double by Pinder, everything I say about him, I take back…. not really. But glad he got a hit.
Well, Barrero in CF and Pinder the “star” of SP. Well, Bell might not pick the lineup but his style of managing leads to the only options as mediocre, flexible, platoon worthy “what ifs” and “don’t answer” kind of players. Sort of reminds me of an old 1950s Elvis tune that was loosely about not answering junk mail (solicitations) .
“Return to Pinder!
Hit-ting no zone,
Keeps on running, destination unknown!
..
Working with the coaches!
Trying to straighten that swing,
But when at the plate,
No hear no ding!”
Chad, you’re OK, but this management situation is not. Hope you surprise us with some well placed dingers this season. All the best.
+500
Don’t you suppose that the mediocre options last year had something to do with the available players? I don’t recall that there were any stars–multi-position or not–languishing on the bench. There’s no point in making the obvious observation that no manager prefers bad or mediocre players to good ones, though some here have made tortured attempts to explain why Bell does.
Radio booth was saying the Halos will go with a 6-man and this kid is #7 at best. Certainly not his best inning. Looking more like batting practice to me for our guys.
Boys are keeping the left fielder busy. Ladies and gentlemen CHAD PINDER has joined the show .
Still has to make the 40-man and then the 26-man to head North
Alright, Pinder has turned the corner. Bell is a genius.
+500
He did turn the corner at first and ended up on second. Baby steps.
TySteve is due here. I’m calling it.
Wil Meyers is costing us league minimum, isn’t he?
Yep … just like I had envisioned it 😀
That was for my TySteve comment
Repeating an earlier news flash … RoY India is dialed in!!
Id give the Reds a B+ for spring training
Ive liked what Ive seen and guys seem
More dialed in to hit the ground running
Maybe wont matter but Im interested
It would appear Steer is hearing all the chatter about him having stone hands. He’s looked pretty relaxed and smooth over there to me today.
Ah….
My lodolo concerns are gone.
He looked extremely sharp and efficient today with the exception of that one inning of troubles.
I like how he doesn’t seem to get rattled and got the job done.
Keeping Newman and Pinder while moving Barrero for no reason and sending Fairchild down are good reasons for me to keep my interest in this team low. Just incompetence and a seeming indifference to the fans.
+1000
The Reds need to get over their addiction to 30-something journeymen with career 85 OPS+.
Krall keeps signing them, and Bell keeps playing them. It’s a joint effort.
Either commit to the youth movement, or admit that this team is never going anywhere, ever.
Well, that’s one way to win a ballgame. 8 runs in that inning and Lodolo’s outing kind of put it out of reach early.
I hope Barrero has a break out year. I have seen potential. He has had difficulty in previous years hitting MLB pitching, but has done better this Spring. Hope he does well in CF as well.
Agreed. I think he needs to relax a bit. Seems to want to crush every pitch. Wish he’d learn to take the outside pitch and go the other way.
Actually, Newman is 29 years old. Plus, 30 years old is not an issue! Trea Turner is 30 and makes $27mil. Xander Bogaerts is 30 and is paid $24mil. Trever Story and Javier Baez are 30 and make $22mil. ETC. Why not Kevin Newman?
Because Kevin Newman has proven statistically that he is not Turner, Bogaerts, Story or Baez.
+100000000000000000000000000