Yasmani Grandal to start season in Double-A

[camisadelgolf]

Yup. It was about a year ago. And if anyone didn't know, it was pretty much Yonder Alonso's idea to try Soto at catcher.

[redsmetz]

Yup. It was about a year ago. And if anyone didn't know, it was pretty much Yonder Alonso's idea to try Soto at catcher.

I didn't know that. Tell us the story, C. Seriously, I'm interested to know more.

[camisadelgolf]

I didn't know that. Tell us the story, C. Seriously, I'm interested to know more.

I don't remember the story very well, but during some drills in the off-season, Soto was casually receiving some pitches--I believe to help a pitcher warm up--and Alonso took notice. Basically, Yonder said something like, "He has a great arm. Why not give it a shot?" And in case someone wants to bring it up, this was before Soto moved off third base, so I really don't think Alonso had an ulterior motive.

[kpresidente]

So, if Grandal mashes, and plays better defense than Mesoraco, what do we do then?

[Grande Donkey]

So, if Grandal mashes, and plays better defense than Mesoraco, what do we do then?

Celebrate?

[Brutus]

Glad to see he wasn't sentenced to 3 months in the Bakersfield penitentiary.

[kpresidente]

Celebrate?

Evasion!

What do we do after we celebrate?

[camisadelgolf]

Evasion!

What do we do after we celebrate?

Draft a catcher in the first round.

[medford]

trade Mes or move him to 1b after/if Votto leaves. It would be a nice problem to have, that's for sure.

[muddie]

Glad to see he wasn't sentenced to 3 months in the Bakersfield penitentiary.

I wondered if that went into the decision. AA is a stretch of sorts...

[gedred69]

Glad to see he wasn't sentenced to 3 months in the Bakersfield penitentiary.

Wow! Everything I hear or read makes Bakersfield sound like a real hell hole. On an old thread someone posted that at the end of the dance the only people without a partner were the Reds and Bakersfield.

"You can't drink a fat girl thin." -Jeff Daniels

[muddie]

I don't understand how a team like Cincy, with their tradition, ends up in a place like Bakersfield. I believe that if they had offered up an appearance by the MLB team in the spring of 2011 at Lynchburg, like they did in Carolina a couple years back, they would have had a good shot at staying in the Carolina League. I don't know if throwing a few bucks at local charities in Lynchburg would have been legal, but that may have been in their favor as well. As it is, the Reds are in the crappiest park in the minors. That is unacceptable.

[dougdirt]

I don't understand how a team like Cincy, with their tradition, ends up in a place like Bakersfield. I believe that if they had offered up an appearance by the MLB team in the spring of 2011 at Lynchburg, like they did in Carolina a couple years back, they would have had a good shot at staying in the Carolina League. I don't know if throwing a few bucks at local charities in Lynchburg would have been legal, but that may have been in their favor as well. As it is, the Reds are in the crappiest park in the minors. That is unacceptable.

It probably had to do with the terrible teams that have been through Dayton the last few seasons and teams see what would be in their stadiums. No one wants a poor team, because that doesn't sell tickets.

[muddie]

It probably had to do with the terrible teams that have been through Dayton the last few seasons and teams see what would be in their stadiums. No one wants a poor team, because that doesn't sell tickets.

I hear you to an extent, but this goes back to the ability of being able to sell the organization. Who's responsible on the Reds side? Nothing is a given but I don't believe the organization got a fair hearing. Sell the pipeline. If a GM can't understand this there are problems arising from the sales person. I know Atlanta is a big deal in the south but...you have to get beyond that, and I believe Cincy got short changed from within.
I believe I could sell this organization to Lynchburg given the resources. Again, ending up in Bakersfield is unacceptable.

[mth123]

So, if Grandal mashes, and plays better defense than Mesoraco, what do we do then?

Promote them both. Kick Ramon to the curb. Stick Mes in the 5 hole as the missing mid-order bat and win the World Series. Meanwhile Grandal tears up AAA and we have a really nice problem for 2012.