Homer Bailey

[Red Rover]

on MLB Radio at 2:30 today, for anyone interested.

[dougdirt]

Nice catch, thanks for the heads up.

[Jpup]

Originally Posted by Red Rover

on MLB Radio at 2:30 today, for anyone interested.

eastern?

[dougdirt]

yeah, so in about 1 hour.

[dougdirt]

Well, Bailey is on the drive to ST and they cant get ahold of him, so they are going to attempt to reschedule....

[Jr's Boy]

Is it possible that he could,or should make the team in spring training?I just hope they dont promote him that quick like they did Wagner unless he is lights out in spring training.

[dougdirt]

I would say the chances of Bailey making the team out of spring training are slim and none, and the slim is all about the top 4 pitchers in the rotation all going down with major injuries. Bailey will start off in Sarasota in Advanced A ball in all likelihood and depending on his performance could move up to Chattanooga, but I highly doubt he makes it to the bigs barring major injuries to at least half of the staff.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

I would say the chances of Bailey making the team out of spring training are slim and none, and the slim is all about the top 4 pitchers in the rotation all going down with major injuries. Bailey will start off in Sarasota in Advanced A ball in all likelihood and depending on his performance could move up to Chattanooga, but I highly doubt he makes it to the bigs barring major injuries to at least half of the staff.

Injuries would not even do it. Especially since there is now no one with a reason to justify the pick with an early promotion. Also, that many injuries is not gonna get a call up of an A baller--they'll sign some waiver wire ballast before they promoted a kid.

[GridironGrace]

speaking of Bailey.. hows he coming along?? Has he shown improvements in his game and if so whats the time frame on breaking into the Bullpen for the REds?

[Red Leader]

Originally Posted by GridironGrace

speaking of Bailey.. hows he coming along?? Has he shown improvements in his game and if so whats the time frame on breaking into the Bullpen for the REds?

Funny you say bullpen, because that's the way I'd break him in, too. Just like the Phillies are doing with Ryan Madson. I'd say he's still at least 2 years away from making the Reds roster. The fastball and curve are there, but he needs a third pitch (changeup) and he's going to need more time to develop that pitch before he'll be an effective starter. He also needs work on his command, which seemed to get out of whack at times last year.

[GridironGrace]

Originally Posted by Red Leader

Funny you say bullpen, because that's the way I'd break him in, too. Just like the Phillies are doing with Ryan Madson. I'd say he's still at least 2 years away from making the Reds roster. The fastball and curve are there, but he needs a third pitch (changeup) and he's going to need more time to develop that pitch before he'll be an effective starter. He also needs work on his command, which seemed to get out of whack at times last year.

Thx.

Its just i play in an online league for MVP baseball 05 lol. And i used him alot and progressed him to make him better it was cool seeing him go from AAA to a SP on my staff

But yea all youngsters should start in the bullpen IMO. Gives you time to get a feel, and fix any problems b4 taking the mound as a starter and getting rattled.

Kinda like a QB in the NFL.. you dont wanna throw a rookie in the game as a Starter too soon, you can break thier spirit, and psycologicly they'd never get back in the game

[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by Red Leader

Funny you say bullpen, because that's the way I'd break him in, too. Just like the Phillies are doing with Ryan Madson. I'd say he's still at least 2 years away from making the Reds roster. The fastball and curve are there, but he needs a third pitch (changeup) and he's going to need more time to develop that pitch before he'll be an effective starter. He also needs work on his command, which seemed to get out of whack at times last year.

The velocity is there, the control on his FB is not even close. It was painful watching him pitch some games last year because he was all over the place.

[Aronchis]

Bailey had a interesting year last year. When he was healthy in May, he pitched great starting. When he got shoulder tendanitis in late May, it effected his performance in June and the first half of July. But, which is a rarity for a Reds prospect, he got over it and pitched better down stretch with 95-97mph fastballs.

Unlike other hyped pitchers, Bailey has the arm to be what we want him to be, but the mental side of it will be his challenge. The Reds pitching developement side has struggled through the years and Medlock was a good example of this last year. Medlock like Bailey needed a better changeup, if not worse than Bailey, who may eventually just need a 4 seamer/curve mix to be a successfull starter, but Medlock really needs that changeup for his 3rd pitch if he is going to make it though his fastball is underrated(solidly between 90-93mph). Medlock struggled in high A after his promotion in 2004 because he had no third pitch. Coming into 2005, I suspected Medlock would have the same amount of success he had in Dayton. But alas, Medlock struggled still, his changeup wasn't any better, and hitters unloaded on it. I find that a failure of instruction. Why? 1.5 months into the season, Medlock started whipping high A hitters, basically because his changeup got much much better. Amazing really. The kid probably had to feel out the pitch on his own. Sadly it took him way longer than it should have if his instruction would have been proper. Not every pitcher can do that.

Krivsky will have to improve pitching instruction in every level of the Reds system because it is surely lacking. If we want to get all we can from the Homer Bailey's and Calvin Medlock's, it is essential.