GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- So here's what I've learned after spending the week with the Reds in Goodyear:
Nobody affiliated with the Reds likes this idea of being a business that's rebuilding. Joey Votto bristled at the word and says he'll confront anyone who says this 2016 version of the Reds can compete. Well, OK. You have to feel as though you're going to succeed, or why show up for work, right? It doesn't matter if your business is baseball or widgets, you have to believe you'll be successful.
Except....
The Reds may have one of the greenest pitching staffs in the history of baseball. Forget Homer Bailey until at least early to mid May. Anthony Desclafani will be the most seasoned pitcher. After him, it'll be Raisel Iglesias. After him, who knows? John Lamb was a Triple-A pitcher before the Reds traded for him (or traded away Johnny Cueto and his salary and got Lamb in return). Brandon Finnegan pitched for the Royals in the Word Series two years ago. But he appears to a bullpen guy. Cody Reed has size and strong Double-A numbers. Robert Stephenson is the Reds "ace" in waiting. But he has just a so-so season in minor league baseball last season. John Moscot is coming off an injury, after just a taste of major league baseball last season. Michael Lorenzen could start or could be the Reds "closer" if J.J. Hoover is ineffective this season.
You get an idea of the rebuilding deal?
I think if the Reds catch a break with health, their 'everyday 8' will be OK, but just that. There is a job opening in left field, another at third base. Guess is, Eugenio Suarez will move from short stop to third. But left field is now officially a casting call. Yorman Rodriguez is willing, but is hardly inspiring. Jesse Winker, the Reds second best prospect behind Stephenson may get the job by default.
But the Reds front office doesn't really want to do that with Winker, who hasn't played above Double-A and had a miserable first half to his season in 2015 with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Compounding all of this, is that the Reds play in baseball's toughest division. The Cubs just got stronger this week, by resigning outfielder Dexter Fowler. Their organization has gone from a hot mess to one of the best in baseball in just three years. The Pirates organization, and their Major League ballclub, is very strong. And the Cardinals are the "bell cow" in the game.
So all due respect to those in the 'not rebuilding camp', that's exactly what's going on. It's why Cueto and Leake were traded in July. It's why Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman were dealt away late last year. The core of this team wasn't good enough to get it done in 2012-13. And the roster was becoming too expensive for an unrealistic landscape of competing in the near future.
How much longer until this franchise is on its feet again? My guess has always been 2018. The trades of Chapman and Frazier, who were both cost certain in the near future signify the Reds front offices is thinking that way too.
But there is strength in numbers in the team's pitching. Ultimately, five starters will emerge from the pool of eleven legitimate contenders right now.
Some random thoughts.....
Watching Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis work with Jay Bruce on his hitting for about an hour on Wednesday afternoon, after practice, was startling. Davis and Larkin held nothing back in their loud criticism and encouragement of Bruce. At one point, Larkin asked Bruce if 9 On Your Side's Keenan Singleton, who was videoing the stern lesson, bothered Bruce. He said no. He should have said yes. Much of what was going on was uncomfortable, as the two former stars were blunt in their instruction....
But the Reds can't give Bruce away at this point, so they have to do everything they can to get his hitting righted by the July trade deadline. Thing is, Bruce has the talent. He had back to back Silver Slugger (best hitter at his position) seasons. He put up solid power numbers last year. It's his average and strike outs that are nuking Bruce here, and in trying to trade him...
Catcher Devin Mesoraco is showing no lingering effects of last year's hip-nerve problem nor the ensuing surgery. He started swinging a bat back in December but told me "I don't think I'll be leading the Cactus League in home runs this spring."
Fun fact that can win you a bar bet. Reds pitching prospect Cody Reed's grandmother dated Elvis Presley. Reed and his family are from Memphis...
Desclafani was excited to find a diner in Goodyear that served the ultimate New Jersey delicacy. The Garden State native, like most New Jerseyans, is a lover of grilled Taylor Ham and fried egg sandwiches. I mentioned to Todd Frazier, another Jersey Boy that Desclafani had stumbled onto this oasis in Arizona. Frazier said he was going to text his former teammate immediately to get the address of the diner...
For the record, Taylor Ham and egg sandwiches must be served on a Portugese hard roll for the ultimate dining experience...
It was great seeing Lou Piniella in camp. Since he bought the team about ten years ago, Reds CEO Bob Castellini has been trying to get Piniella to rejoin the team. As I'm sure you know, the last Reds manager to lead the club to a World Series title was Piniella. And that season was more than a wild ride. Piniella's finest and most embarrassing moment, was when arguing a call at first base that went against the Reds, Piniella literally stole first base. He lifted it off the ground and tossed it into right field. Of course he was ejected from the game. But within days, someone had organized a base tossing contest on Fountain Square. Sweet Lou said this week that invariably, when a current manager looses his cool and has an on field fit, the station will replay his base tossing tantrum. "When that comes on," said Piniella, "I change the channel."
Piniella had so many great 'one liners' while with the Reds it's hard to remember all of them. One of my favorites came during one spring training in Plant City Florida. A writer mentioned to him that Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda was looking better, that he had lost weight. Piniella, who was always battling weight and an ever expanding waist line said, "Lasorda looked in the mirror this past winter and decided to lose 20 pounds. I looked in the mirror this past winter and decided to do nothing"....
By the way, Lou looks like his lost about 20 points from the last time I saw him.
