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Thread: Louisville closer

  1. #1
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    Louisville closer

    Voting in our prospect poll, and with Drew Hayes in mind, I got to wondering who might be the Bats' closer when the season starts. Most of the saves in Pensacola last year went to Donnie Joseph, who is gone, and Justin Freeman, who I think of as more of a serviceable middle-inning guy. Curtis Partch also had a shot late in the season.

    I'd think it would come down to Hayes and Partch--provided, of course, that Hoover remains in Cincinnati, as he should. If Ondrusek gets sent down, he'd surely be in the mix. And Clay Hensley might be a factor. Other candidates could include Jeff Stevens and Loek Van Mil, with maybe a little Nick Christiani. Maybe a pinch of Freeman, for that matter. But I'm thinking Hayes and Partch. Or maybe Partch and Hayes.

    Am I missing anybody?

    Edit: Chris Manno might also get some cracks at it, presumably in matchup situations.
    Last edited by mace; 03-13-2013 at 06:28 PM.


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    Re: Louisville closer

    It is possible that Manny Parra ends up in AAA. I would throw him into the mix. If Curtis throws the way he is capable of throwing, the rest of the IL are going to be Partched for runs in the 9th against the Bats. Booo!!!

  4. #3
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    JJ Hoover. He will get sent down because he has options.

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    Member camisadelgolf's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by texasdave View Post
    It is possible that Manny Parra ends up in AAA. I would throw him into the mix. If Curtis throws the way he is capable of throwing, the rest of the IL are going to be Partched for runs in the 9th against the Bats. Booo!!!
    Theoretically it's possible for Parra to go to AAA, but it is highly, highly unlikely. Parra is out of options. Even if he had one left, the Reds would need his permission to send him to the minors.

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    Re: Louisville closer

    Hoover will close if he starts in Louisville. If not, then Kevin Whalen will close for the Bats, he closed last year for the AAA Yankees.

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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by Red Swagger View Post
    Hoover will close if he starts in Louisville. If not, then Kevin Whalen will close for the Bats, he closed last year for the AAA Yankees.
    Wow, I totally whiffed on Whelan. Had to look him up. Appears that he closed the last two years for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Also looks like he's got some stuff but he's wild as a turkey.

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    Backup First Baseman OGB's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Hoover if he starts in AAA for sure, but otherwise I'd want it to be someone like Partch, Hayes, or Manno, who still have a legit shot at a big league career. Let the career minor leaguers be your space filler types in the bullpen.
    (Referring to Jack Hannahan signing with a Korean team)
    Since there are no teams on the moon, I guess South Korea's far enough from Cincinnati to satisfy me.
    -RichRed

  9. #8
    .377 in 1905 CySeymour's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    JJ Hoover. He will get sent down because he has options.
    Doug, instead of installing Hoover as the Louisville closer, do you think it possible that the Reds have him in a relief role with the mandate to pitch him on a regular basis, instead of waiting for a save situation?
    ...the 2-2 to Woodsen and here it comes...and it is swung on and missed! And Tom Browning has pitched a perfect game! Twenty-seven outs in a row, and he is being mobbed by his teammates, just to the thirdbase side of the mound.

  10. #9
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by CySeymour View Post
    Doug, instead of installing Hoover as the Louisville closer, do you think it possible that the Reds have him in a relief role with the mandate to pitch him on a regular basis, instead of waiting for a save situation?
    He is going to get his work in, though he seems to be making a case that you simply can't leave him off of the roster. While I don't think anyone expected him to have a poor spring, 14 strikeouts and 1 walk in 8 innings might be too tough to claim "options" for and send him down.

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    .377 in 1905 CySeymour's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    He is going to get his work in, though he seems to be making a case that you simply can't leave him off of the roster. While I don't think anyone expected him to have a poor spring, 14 strikeouts and 1 walk in 8 innings might be too tough to claim "options" for and send him down.
    Agreed. I think Hoover has immense value in the big leagues as a guy you can bring into the ball game in a high leverage spot to get out of an inning. His ability to miss bats makes him so much more valuable then Logan.
    ...the 2-2 to Woodsen and here it comes...and it is swung on and missed! And Tom Browning has pitched a perfect game! Twenty-seven outs in a row, and he is being mobbed by his teammates, just to the thirdbase side of the mound.

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    Re: Louisville closer

    I suppose Prior could also be used in some save situations. It'll be interesting to see how his role shakes out.

  13. #12
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by mace View Post
    I suppose Prior could also be used in some save situations. It'll be interesting to see how his role shakes out.
    Until he shows he won't walk a guy an inning, he shouldn't be used there.

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    Re: Louisville closer

    Going to be an interesting decision from the looks of it. I expect the bullpen to be extremely volatile this year, with a lot of guys up and down. While we won't see Parra down in Lousiville except on trumped-up injury reports, I wonder who we can expect his backup to be... would the Reds disrupt Cingrani's development as a starter to call him up?

    Our long reliever and righty setup situation seems pretty set in stone, but for the righties in middle relief (other than Arredondo), there's a lot of competition to make the cut. Ondrusek's got the history, but his peripherals are horrible, and he has options. JJ Hoover is looking the best of all so far, but he has options as well and doesn't have seniority on his side. Simon had a great season, can pitch long relief, and is out of options, but is having a terrible spring training. They're all fighting for one slot (assuming the Reds need Parra), and that's not even counting in the possibility of Chapman remaining in the pen. I'm genuinely unsure what to expect

    EDIT: Forgot that Masset was still injured. That means Simon is likely in, and it's between Hoover and Ondrusek. I wouldn't be shocked if Hoover forced his way in and Ondrusek closed in Louisville for a time.
    Last edited by The DARK; 03-20-2013 at 04:53 PM.

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    Re: Louisville closer

    I wouldn't be too surprised if Ondrusek goes to Louisville, but I would be surprised if he closes there. If Hoover makes the big club, as I suspect he will, my guess would be Hayes for closer. His peripherals suggest he is better suited for it.

  16. #15
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Louisville closer

    Quote Originally Posted by RED VAN HOT View Post
    I wouldn't be too surprised if Ondrusek goes to Louisville, but I would be surprised if he closes there. If Hoover makes the big club, as I suspect he will, my guess would be Hayes for closer. His peripherals suggest he is better suited for it.
    I am not even sure that Hayes will be in Louisville. While he could be, the guy walked a whole lot of guys in Pensacola last season. If my objective were to win games, I wouldn't have Hayes closing until he can show he won't walk a guy more than every other inning.


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