3/17/08---Reds vs. Tigers

[membengal]

Per Fay:

Corey Patterson CF
Juan Castro SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Paul Bako C
Johnny Cueto P

Tigers:

Renteria, SS
Polanco, P, 2B
Guillen, 1B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 3B
Jones, J, LF
Raburn, CF
Sardinha, C
Rogers, P

I am working hard not to over-react, but that looks like a potential opening day line-up, and it has Castro in it. And batting second.

I surely hope we don't see Castro batting second for this team during the regular season at any point. I know batting orders are not supposed to matter and all, but, still.

Happy Cueto day, everyone.

[OnBaseMachine]

I was hoping to see Bruce today too. Maybe he'll come in later.

[Raisor]

I've said it for every other manger that has done it. The second Castro is hitting 2nd in the lineup in a regular game, Dusty should be fired.

There, I said it. I don't really mean it, but there you go.

[redsfan30]

I'd really like to see Detroit bring thier big boys to Sarasota this afternoon to see how Cueto can react to them.

[Sea Ray]

I don't know why Bako would be the Opening Day starter. If he makes the team in Ross' absence then he makes it as a backup, that's all.

I also don't see that Keppinger has done anything to hand the opening day start to Castro.

[M2]

Originally Posted by Raisor

I've said it for every other manger that has done it. The second Castro is hitting 2nd in the lineup in a regular game, Dusty should be fired.

There, I said it. I don't really mean it, but there you go.

I hear you. It's painful enough that the guy even plays, but to put him #2 in the lineup is just cruel.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

I don't know why Bako would be the Opening Day starter.

a Bako/Javy combo makes no sense anyway as they are basically both LH hitters and below average defenders. I'd take Hanigan.

[lollipopcurve]

I also don't see that Keppinger has done anything to hand the opening day start to Castro.

Let's hope not. Keppinger in 2 hole -- hit and runorama.

[flyer85]

Patterson/Castro in the 1-2 spot is like punting on 1st down.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Keppinger in 2 hole -- hit and runorama.

not with Patterson leading off.

[M2]

Originally Posted by flyer85

a Bako/Javy combo makes no sense anyway as they are basically both LH hitters and below average defenders. I'd take Hanigan.

I'm for whoever the new catcher will be. There's got to be a new catcher who gets acquired in the next two weeks.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by M2

I'm for whoever the new catcher will be. There's got to be a new catcher who gets acquired in the next two weeks.

PECOTA thinks as least Hanigan is passable(a 5.8 VORP), which is great compared to Bako(-3.8).

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by M2

I'm for whoever the new catcher will be. There's got to be a new catcher who gets acquired in the next two weeks.

Doubtful. What do you do when Ross comes back?

[pedro]

Originally Posted by M2

I'm for whoever the new catcher will be. There's got to be a new catcher who gets acquired in the next two weeks.

I think so too.

[Kc61]

Just a suggestion, but perhaps we can go through this season limiting complaints about Castro to, say, 5 per game. We all know most RedsZoners don't like Castro.

Or maybe we can have an up-front agreement that -- whenever Castro is on the roster, is in the lineup, or comes into the game -- it is a bad idea and the manager is making a blunder.

Frankly, at an earlier stage, I thought the guy was ok off the bench. Don't know how much he has left at this point. But maybe a different subject?