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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > April > 05
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Some surprises on a tumultuous day
Some surprises emerged from today’s workout, one day before the Cincinnati Reds meet the New York Mets on Opening Day tomorrow (dress warm - gloves and scarves recommended, and maybe snow goggles).
And not all the surprises are for the good.
Jonny Gomes did not make the team. That’s a surprise. Gomes started fast, hitting nearly .300 for half the spring, then hit an unfortunate dry spell and his average tumbled to the .220s. Yet, he led the team in home runs (four) and tied for the lead in RBIs with 12.
What hurt him is that he did not play well at first base and did not play well defensively in right field and left field.
Instead, the Reds kept 30-year-old Darnell McDonald (he is not a kid and is two years older than Gomes with far less major-league experience). McDonald, a No.1 draft pick by the Orioles in 1997, has speed and can chase down fly balls. He had a great spring hitting, but the back of his baseball card tells you why he has bounced around the minors his entire career, playing only 21 major-league games and hitting .143. His minor-league career average is .269 with 11 homers in 4,815 minor-league at-bats.
Gomes was designated for assignment, meaning he has 72 hours to decided if he will report to Class AAA Louisville or become a free agent and try to sign with another team. At this moment, the stunned Gomes is not certain of his immediate future.
THE OTHER surprise is that the Reds optioned infielder/outfielder Adam Rosales to Louisville, keeping shortstop Paul Janish instead. What does that say? That says the Reds are uncertain about shortstop Alex Gonzalez and Janish is back-up insurance.
IT IS NOT surprising that the Reds optioned Homer Bailey to Louisville, but the guess here is that he won’t stay there long. He may quickly replace Bronson Arroyo in the rotation. Arroyo is battling carpal tunnel syndrome and the Reds have moved him back from his scheduled Thursday start to Sunday. In his place Thursday Micah Owings will pitch. Owings pitched in a minor-league game today - five innings, one run, five hits, no walks, two strikeouts.
Nor is it surprsing that the Reds optioned both catcher/infielder Wilkin Castillo and lefthanded relief pitcher Bill Bray to Louisville. There was no room for Castillo and Bray was awful all spring, losing his lefthanded bullpen spot to Daniel Ray Herrerra, who won it fair and square by not giving up a run all spring.
LAYNCE NIX made it as the lefthanded bat off the bench and Nick Massat was a survivor in the bullpen because he has experience there and Bailey doesnt.
ANOTHER OMINOUS note is that Willy Taveras, acquired to bat leadoff and play center field, has the flu and won’t be in the Opening Day lineup against Mets lefthander Johan Santana, making it a difficult debut for the lefthanded McDonald if he plays center field. Of course, Chris Dickerson could be the center fielder on Opening Day, with Jerry Hairston Jr. playing left field.
That’s a lot of turmoil and tribulation for a team that desperately needs to get off to a fast start.
THE ROSTER:
Pitchers
RHP Aaron Harang RHP Edinson Volquez RHP Micah Owings RHP Johnny Cueto RHP Bronson Arroyo RHP Francisco Cordero RHP David Weathers RHP Jared Burton LHP Daniel Ray Herrera RHP Mike Lincoln LHP Arthur Rhodes RHP Nick Massat
Catchers
Ramon Hernandez Ryan Hanigan
Infielders
Joey Votto Brandon Phillips Alex Gonzalez Edwin Encarnacion Paul Janish
Outfielders Jay Bruce Willy Taveras Chris Dickerson Darnell McDonald
Infielders/Outfielders
Jerry Hairston Jr. Laynce Nix
MY PREDICTION FOR THE NL CENTRAL: 1. Cubs, 2. Brewers, 3. Cardinals, 4 Reds, 5, Astros, 6. Pirates.
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