Cody Ross back Wednesday?/Ross Activated Burns Optioned

[edabbs44]

Why all the love for Ross? I think this Cody Ross situation is almost as crazy as the Deno situation. What makes Ross any better than Denorfia? Kriv seems to be putting the team in this situation a lot so far (picking up these guys with no options left) and I hope he doesn't shoot himself in the foot in the future where he has to drop someone of value. Phillips worked out great and DRoss is kind of clogging up the roster since Kriv doesn't want to drop any catchers. Kriv has been lucky since there has been a lot of dead weight on the roster.

[Reds1]

I hope to see Cody back. Can he do a rehab stent? Everyday I log on to Redzone I expect to see some kind of trade with one of our catchers, Cody, or someone, but it hasn't happended. We might be stuck with the pen we currently have. Hopefully merk is healhty.

[flyer85]

Can he do a rehab stent?

... been doing that for the last three weeks.

[Joseph]

Why all the love for Ross? I think this Cody Ross situation is almost as crazy as the Deno situation. What makes Ross any better than Denorfia? Kriv seems to be putting the team in this situation a lot so far (picking up these guys with no options left) and I hope he doesn't shoot himself in the foot in the future where he has to drop someone of value. Phillips worked out great and DRoss is kind of clogging up the roster since Kriv doesn't want to drop any catchers. Kriv has been lucky since there has been a lot of dead weight on the roster.

You make a lot of sense on one hand. He has done this alot already [acquiring players who have to be on the 25 man roster]. So far the dice rolling has paid off big.

But then again in his defense, is there really anything on the 40 man outside maybe the top 12-15 guys that it would really hurt if we lost them? To paraphrase the great Branch Rickey "We sucked with them, we can suck without them."

[Kc61]

I wonder what the Reds will do with Ross. If they bring him up, which is necessary to keep him, McCracken seems like the odd man out. But Q can hit lefty (only Valentin on bench hits lefty) and can play centerfield (don't think Ross can).

I'm sure most people would rather keep Ross, as would I, since he has more upside. But with 12 pitchers and 3 catchers, team has room for only 3 non-catcher bench guys. Freel, Aurilia and who? Does Ross -- who only plays LF or RF -- provide enough flexibility for that spot? Do the Reds need a lefthanded bat (Ross hits righty) in that spot?

I'm interested to see how Krivsky handles this.

[flyer85]

But Q can hit lefty

bats LH would be the correct way to refer to it

Ross can play CF, certainly as well as the ball dropping QM.

[CaiGuy]

It's simple really:

Ross>Mcracken

He's younger and better, and actauly has a bit of an upside. Don't keep someone inferior because he tries to bat left-handed.

[Kc61]

It's simple really:

Ross>Mcracken

He's younger and better, and actauly has a bit of an upside. Don't keep someone inferior because he tries to bat left-handed.

I agree. But the bench would work better, IMO, if team only carried 2 catchers.

[Big Klu]

I think you can keep both C.Ross and McCracken. In my opinion, the best move is to send down a pitcher to make room for C. Ross:

1) Activate OF Cody Ross. Option RHP Mike Burns.

2) Activate LHP Kent Mercker. Option LHP Brian Shackelford or DFA RHP Rick White.

This leaves the club with 11 pitchers, which is plenty.

[NJReds]

From Marc's blog:

Ross in, Burns out

Cody Ross' eternal rehab assignment is over. He was activated from the DL today and Mike Burns was optioned back to Louisville.

Guess it is a bit intriguing that they're going down to 11 pitchers, but that might only last a couple of days, pending Mercker's expected return Friday.

[timmario66]

I think you can keep both C.Ross and McCracken. In my opinion, the best move is to send down a pitcher to make room for C. Ross:

1) Activate OF Cody Ross. Option RHP Mike Burns.
2) Activate LHP Kent Mercker. Option LHP Brian Shackelford or DFA RHP Rick White.

This leaves the club with 11 pitchers, which is plenty.

And we have a winner according to Marc's blog.

[Kc61]

Gold star for Big Klu.

[CaiGuy]

I think you can keep both C.Ross and McCracken. In my opinion, the best move is to send down a pitcher to make room for C. Ross:

1) Activate OF Cody Ross. Option RHP Mike Burns.

2) Activate LHP Kent Mercker. Option LHP Brian Shackelford or DFA RHP Rick White.

This leaves the club with 11 pitchers, which is plenty.

Good call, we'll have wait and see what they do with Merker. I hope White's time here is finished.

[Kc61]

I hope they keep Shack. I think his bad ERA is the result of one or two terrible outings in a mop up role. I don't know the stats but he seems to do well against lefties and is good for that limited role.

I also think White should be the odd man out. Hammond is pitching much better and can be used more often in meaningful spots. Belisle, occasionally, too. Of course, Reds may reverse course, add Mercker as 12th pitcher, and drop a position player.

[flyer85]

I hope they keep Shack. I think his bad ERA is the result of one or two terrible outings in a mop up role. I don't know the stats but he seems to do well against lefties and is good for that limited role.

LH hitters are 1-17 against Shack this year. He could be very good if spotted as a LOOGY. I am not sure Narron has a clue how to setup a bullpen to make use of a LOOGY.