Projecting the Opening Day Roster

[Vottomatic]

What I think the team will look like.

2B B. Phillips
SS Z. Cozart
1B J. Votto
3B S. Rolen
RF J. Bruce
CF D. Stubbs
LF C. Heisey
C R. Hanigan


SP1 J. Cueto
SP2 M. Latos
SP3 B. Arroyo
SP4 M. Leake
SP5 H. Bailey

LR S. LeCure
MR J. Arredondo
MR L. Ondrusek
MR B. Bray
SU N. Masset
SU S. Marshall
CL R. Madson

BN D. Mesoraco C
BN R. Ludwick or Fukudome OF
BN M. Cairo IF
BN J. Francisco 3B/LF
BN R. Theriot MIF

Janish, Frazier, and Phipps waiting their turn in Louisville to fill in for injuries.

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

What I think the team will look like.

2B B. Phillips
SS Z. Cozart
1B J. Votto
3B S. Rolen
RF J. Bruce
CF D. Stubbs
LF C. Heisey
C R. Hanigan


SP1 J. Cueto
SP2 M. Latos
SP3 B. Arroyo
SP4 M. Leake
SP5 H. Bailey

LR S. LeCure
MR J. Arredondo
MR L. Ondrusek
MR B. Bray
SU N. Masset
SU S. Marshall
CL R. Madson

BN D. Mesoraco C
BN R. Ludwick or Fukudome OF
BN M. Cairo IF
BN J. Francisco 3B/LF
BN R. Theriot MIF

Janish, Frazier, and Phipps waiting their turn in Louisville to fill in for injuries.

On paper, pretty good ballclub IMO. Starting pitchers have to hold up. Nice prediction.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by Kc61

On paper, pretty good ballclub IMO. Starting pitchers have to hold up. Nice prediction.

LeCure and Chapman are the 6th and 7th starters in case of injuries.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

LeCure and Chapman are the 6th and 7th starters in case of injuries.

I'm fine with Lecure picking up a start if someone had to miss one, but I like him better in the MR or late-inning roles. He wouldn't be my top choice for 5 or 6 starts if a start goes on the DL.

Chapman? maybe by June or July, but what happens if its April or May and Chapman hasn't been stretched out to 90 or 100 pitches. Or if he has been, but he's having control issues and he reaching those 90-100 pitches in the 4th or 5th inning. I don't want him up before he's ready to succeed.

In the past few years, we've had the luxury of Maloney, Thompson, Wood, Lecure (when he was still a starter). Now we have Reineke, maybe Cochran. I'm not sold on younger guys like Carroll or Klinker yet though. I don't like any of them enough to keep from adding another starter with some MLB experience. Not necessarily a Kurod or Oswalt, but another starter for depth. It doesn't even have to be pre-camp. Maybe someone who gets released. It may be somone who we can stash in :'Ville or someone who can compete for the fifth spot and be the 7th arm in the pen if they don't make the rotation. I'd love to have DTrain back for the $1M he signed with Philly.

I just want one more experienced arm for depth.

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by corkedbat

I'm fine with Lecure picking up a start if someone had to miss one, but I like him better in the MR or late-inning roles. He wouldn't be my top choice for 5 or 6 starts if a start goes on the DL.

Chapman? maybe by June or July, but what happens if its April or May and Chapman hasn't been stretched out to 90 or 100 pitches. Or if he has been, but he's having control issues and he reaching those 90-100 pitches in the 4th or 5th inning. I don't want him up before he's ready to succeed.

In the past few years, we've had the luxury of Maloney, Thompson, Wood, Lecure (when he was still a starter). Now we have Reineke, maybe Cochran. I'm not sold on younger guys like Carroll or Klinker yet though. I don't like any of them enough to keep from adding another starter with some MLB experience. Not necessarily a Kurod or Oswalt, but another starter for depth. It doesn't even have to be pre-camp. Maybe someone who gets released. It may be somone who we can stash in :'Ville or someone who can compete for the fifth spot and be the 7th arm in the pen if they don't make the rotation. I'd love to have DTrain back for the $1M he signed with Philly.

I just want one more experienced arm for depth.

I think team will add pitching, catching, outfield depth to be stashed at AAA. Minor league contract guys. After LF and backup infielder. They need some depth guys.

[corkedbat]

Right now, I would project the reds staff to be:

Jonny. Cueto
Mat Latos
Bronson Arroyo
Mike Leake
Homer Bailey
Sam LeCure
Jose Arredondo
Logan Ondrusek
Bill Bray
Nick Masset
Sean Marshall
Ryan Madson

I would have no problem starting the year with Ondrusek in the Bats pen and going with something like:

Jonny. Cueto
Mat Latos
Bronson Arroyo
Mike Leake
Homer Bailey
Rich Harden/Joe Saunders/Jeff Francis
Sam LeCure
Jose Arredondo
Bill Bray
Nick Masset
Sean Marshall
Ryan Madson

Even at that, I would still like to see and injury rehab guy or a reclamation project along the lines of Zach Duke added to the L'Ville rotation.

[corkedbat]

Just my WAG:

2B Brandon Phillips
SS Zach Cozart/Ryan Theriot
1B Joey Votto
3B Scott Rolen/Juan Francisco
RF Jay Bruce
LF Ryan Ludwick/Kosuke Fukadome
CF Drew Stubbs/Chris Heisey
CA Devin Mesaraco/Ryan Hanigan

S1 Jonny Cueto
S2 Mat Latos
S3 Bronson Arroyo
S4 Mike Leake
S5 Homer Bailey
S6/LR One of: Rich Harden/Joe Saunders/Jeff Francis
MR Sam LeCure
MR Jose Arredondo
MR Bill Bray
SU Nick Masset
SU Sean Marshall
CL Ryan Madson

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by Kc61

On paper, pretty good ballclub IMO. Starting pitchers have to hold up.

Depth is an issue with the team as currently constructed.

It's a good thing it's still early January.

Jocketty will kick the tires on MI, OF, and SP depth, grabbing at least one of each before the start of the season.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Originally Posted by corkedbat

I'm fine with Lecure picking up a start if someone had to miss one, but I like him better in the MR or late-inning roles. He wouldn't be my top choice for 5 or 6 starts if a start goes on the DL.

Chapman? maybe by June or July, but what happens if its April or May and Chapman hasn't been stretched out to 90 or 100 pitches. Or if he has been, but he's having control issues and he reaching those 90-100 pitches in the 4th or 5th inning. I don't want him up before he's ready to succeed.

In the past few years, we've had the luxury of Maloney, Thompson, Wood, Lecure (when he was still a starter). Now we have Reineke, maybe Cochran. I'm not sold on younger guys like Carroll or Klinker yet though. I don't like any of them enough to keep from adding another starter with some MLB experience. Not necessarily a Kurod or Oswalt, but another starter for depth. It doesn't even have to be pre-camp. Maybe someone who gets released. It may be somone who we can stash in :'Ville or someone who can compete for the fifth spot and be the 7th arm in the pen if they don't make the rotation. I'd love to have DTrain back for the $1M he signed with Philly.

I just want one more experienced arm for depth.

Wasn't Brackman a starter? And where does that Josh Judy guy fit in? Both L'ville bound?

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by _Sir_Charles_

Wasn't Brackman a starter? And where does that Josh Judy guy fit in? Both L'ville bound?

I wouldn't be surprised if Judy makes the club out of Spring Training. Carlos Fisher is also out of options, BTW. He too may make it early, only to be dealt later on if he proves ineffective or if the club can find a taker.

I'm guessing Jocketty is looking into dealing at least one reliever, perhaps two or three.

[Mario-Rijo]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

I wouldn't be surprised if Judy makes the club out of Spring Training. Carlos Fisher is also out of options, BTW. He too may make it early, only to be dealt later on if he proves ineffective or if the club can find a taker.

I'm guessing Jocketty is looking into dealing at least one reliever, perhaps two or three.

And needing all the depth they can get this may make the OD 25 man a bit odd looking. Good points.

[Tom Servo]

Personally, Madson, Marshall and Bray would be the only guys guaranteed a bullpen spot if I were running things. LeCure and Arrendondo would have a leg up, and Ondrusek and Masset would really have to prove themselves again after their horrific outings as the season went on. Brackman, Judy, and others would have a chance to win a spot. If I were Walt I would still be looking for potential cheap bullpen additions.

[Vottomatic]

What I think the team will look like - updated for Ludwick signing.

2B B. Phillips
SS Z. Cozart
1B J. Votto
3B S. Rolen
RF J. Bruce
CF D. Stubbs
LF C. Heisey
C R. Hanigan


SP1 J. Cueto
SP2 M. Latos
SP3 M. Leake
SP4 H. Bailey
SP5 B Arroyo

LR S. LeCure
MR J. Arredondo
MR L. Ondrusek
MR B. Bray
SU N. Masset
SU S. Marshall
CL R. Madson

BN D. Mesoraco C
BN R. Ludwick
BN M. Cairo IF
BN J. Francisco 3B/LF
BN R. Frazier 3B/SS/2B/LF

Janish and Phipps waiting their turn in Louisville to fill in for injuries.

I say forget Theriot and just go with Frazier. He has more diversity of positions, is younger, and probably has the better glove at this point. He also has more power.

Walt hasn't addressed it, but I assume Francisco is the extra OFer and 3B guy? Frazier could also play LF.

[TRF]

2B B. Phillips
SS Z. Cozart
1B J. Votto
3B S. Rolen
RF J. Bruce
CF D. Stubbs
LF R. Ludwick
C R. Hanigan


SP J. Cueto
SP M. Latos
SP B. Arroyo
SP M. Leake
SP H. Bailey

RP S. LeCure
RP J. Arredondo
RP L. Ondrusek
RP B. Bray
RP N. Masset
RP S. Marshall
CL R. Madson

BN D. Mesoraco
BN M. Cairo
BN J. Francisco
BN T. Frazier
BN Bill Rhinehart - I'm projecting. the career minor leaguer takes a big step forward and gets the oh so important 25th man spot. He does have some pop.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by TRF

2B B. Phillips
SS Z. Cozart
1B J. Votto
3B S. Rolen
RF J. Bruce
CF D. Stubbs
LF R. Ludwick
C R. Hanigan


SP J. Cueto
SP M. Latos
SP B. Arroyo
SP M. Leake
SP H. Bailey

RP S. LeCure
RP J. Arredondo
RP L. Ondrusek
RP B. Bray
RP N. Masset
RP S. Marshall
CL R. Madson

BN D. Mesoraco
BN M. Cairo
BN J. Francisco
BN T. Frazier
BN Bill Rhinehart - I'm projecting. the career minor leaguer takes a big step forward and gets the oh so important 25th man spot. He does have some pop.

And where do you project Heisey?