3/22 Game thread vs. The Empire

[IamWallaman]

Freel CF
Hatteberg 1B
Phillips 2B
Dunn LF
Encarnacion 3B
Hamilton RF
Ross C
Janish SS
Lohse P

Pavano is pitching for the Yanks.


Pretty nice lineup today.

I wonder if Janish will force a AGon trade in the next year?

[cincy09]

Yankee Lineup:

Melky Cabrera CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Kevin Reese LF
Carl Pavano P

[redsfan30]

I wonder if Janish will force a AGon trade in the next year?

No.

[BRM]

I thought Janish was reassigned to minor league camp?

[membengal]

I thought Janish was reassigned to minor league camp?

He was, but easy to bring those guys over to fill in when needed for big league games.

[coachw513]

I thought Janish was reassigned to minor league camp?

Yes he was, but minor league guys still play in some games/make some road trips...

Janish will start the year in Chatanooga, I'm assuming...he's promising, but I don't think Gonzalez is keeping the seat warm just yet...

Yankee Lineup:
Melky Cabrera CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Kevin Reese LF
Carl Pavano P

Oh, pretty good lineup for those guys too

[BRM]

Lohse definitely has his work cut out for him today.

[Joseph]

Lohse definitely has his work cut out for him today.

Now we'll see what he's made of a little bit more than facing say the Pirates. [Not sure he has faced them, just using them as an example]

[flyer85]

I thought Janish was reassigned to minor league camp?

he was. Doesn't mean they can't play him in games.

[IamWallaman]

No.

I was thinking more along the lines of "before his contract is up".

I'm going to be paying much more attention to him this year.

[membengal]

Exactly, that was a line-up against Boston last Saturday that had Ortiz, Ramirez and some of their other big sticks. His perforance was nothing to sneeze at.

[indy_dave00]

Considering Paul Janish turns 25 in October and will most likely spend the season in AA , I really don't see him as the future Reds everyday shortstop. His future in the majors (if he has one) will most likely be as a utility man.

[rotnoid]

Considering Paul Janish turns 25 in October and will most likely spend the season in AA , I really don't see him as the future Reds everyday shortstop. His future in the majors (if he has one) will most likely be as a utility man.

Good point, especially if Valeika continues to develop as he has.

[Doc. Scott]

Good point, especially if Valeika continues to develop as he has.

From Baseball Prospectus:

-Don't Believe The Hype: Shortstop Chris Valaika had a stunning debut last summer, earning Pioneer League MVP honors with a .324/.387/.520 line and putting together a league record 32-game hitting streak. He'll be bumped up to High A this year, and needs to show a more patient approach, and more importantly reverse some of the scouting reports that project an eventual move to second base.
---

I personally have no problem with a future second baseman who can hit a little, but I think BP was just reacting to Valaika's surprise capturing of the league MVP, etc. The other neat thing about Chris is that he's a bit younger than your average '06 college draftee (such as Parker, Stubbs, Dorn, or Turner), not turning 22 until August of this year. Those other four guys will all be 23 by the end of the '07 calendar year.

[Doc. Scott]

Considering Paul Janish turns 25 in October and will most likely spend the season in AA , I really don't see him as the future Reds everyday shortstop. His future in the majors (if he has one) will most likely be as a utility man.

Agreed. He could also pitch in blowouts.

I suppose it's possible that he could have an offensive 'splosion this season and play his way into the starting picture, but that's a longshot. If he were that highly regarded by the organization, they would have signed more of a stopgap SS and not multiple years of Alex Gonzalez.