Reds v. Rays, if we play, roster hints
Posted by JohnFay at 3/29/2009 9:54 AM EDT on Cincinnati.com

It's raining. It's been raining since 5 this morning. They already sent the minor leaguers home. I think they'll wait a while before they bang the Reds-Rays (the Rays games have drawn nearly 7,000). But my guess is we don't play.

We asked Dusty Baker some roster questions. He wouldn't commit.

--It's lining up for Micah Owings to be the fifth starter.

“That’s not official,” Baker said. “He’s pitched well. He’s pitched great.”

Where does that leave Homer Bailey?

“That’s a little premature,” Baker said. “Whatever it is, Homer’s in our plan big time. He’s shown more progress than he has over the last couple of years. That’s what you need to see from young guys is progress and maturity. He’s getting it and figuring it out.”

--It sounds like Bill Bray's roster spot is in jeopardy because his velocity is down five or six miles an hour and Daniel Ray Herrera is pitch so well.

“That’s the question right now,” Baker said. “He did a good job for us last year. He has outstanding stuff. Yesterday, his velocity was down a little bit. You don’t know if that’s from overthrowing. He’s been checked and they can’t find anything.”

“I’ve talked with him about being himself and not trying to hard.”

Herrera would probably get the call if it’s not Bray.

“Early in the year, change-of-speed guys are the hardest to hit,” Baker said.

--Baker hinted that the Reds' won't let options affect the final roster.

“We'll try to let options affect it. Try to get the best players on the team.”


Here's the lineup if we do play:

Rays:

Adam Kennedy 2b

Gabe Kapler lf

Matt Joyce cf

Shawn Riggans c

Gabe Gross rf

Morgan Ensberg 3b

Chris Richard 1b

Ray Olmedo ss

Scott Kazmir p


Reds:

Willy Taveras cf

Jerry Hairston Jr. ss

Joey Votto 1b

Brandon Phillips 2b

Jay Bruce rf

Adam Rosales 3b

Chris Dickerson lf

Ramon Hernandez c

Bronson Arroyo p

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...innati.com

It's a long season and with the liklihood of injuries to pitchers, I think they should take options into account. I'd go ahead and option Bray and Homer (both of whom I like) and let them prove they are good to go - if they are successful you can bet they will get opportunities at the major leagues before long this year. On the other hand, Masset has no options (and even though I'm not that big of a fan) so I keep him because he probably wouldn't clear waivers and he's someone I think we'll be glad we have later this year.

I also really like Herrera. If used appropriately (and of course I question whether Dusty can or will), I think he could be devastating in certain situations and a real asset.