Homer Bailey: Could he make the Big League Club Now?

[KearnsyEars]

Question for you Red Zone die hards like myself. Any chance we see this kid at the ML level out of ST? Any chance he gets promoted at all this year? If he has the arm, why not do it? He sounds every bit as ready as Wagner was when wagner came on the scene.

[Red Leader]

No where near ready. 2 years, at least.

If you want him out of baseball in 2 years and rooming with Ryan Leaf, bring him up now.

[KearnsyEars]

Well from what I hear he has the arm? So are you worried about his maturity and development? How old of a kid is he?

[RedsManRick]

4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP in LOW A. I think the question is whether he could pitch in AA right now, not the majors.

Wagner was older and much more polished.

[KearnsyEars]

not to change subject within thread...and those stats above tell me your right he isn't ready, but has anyone heard if Wagner's fastball has regained velocity. I don't know if it was the big league beer nights or what but Wagner lost his fastball last season. I am worried about him getting on track.

[Red Leader]

Originally Posted by KearnsyEars

Well from what I hear he has the arm? So are you worried about his maturity and development? How old of a kid is he?

He turns 20 on May 3rd of this year. 20.

He still has a lot of work to do before he's major league ready. He has velocity on his fastball of a major leaguer, but not the command of it. He has a curveball that is pretty good, too, but consistency is not there. He doesn't have an advanced third pitch at all.

[KearnsyEars]

if he starts hot and gets a third pitch, I'd love to see him get a shot as a youngster sometime this year.

[paintmered]

Homer's ETA: 2009-2010.

No, he's not ready. He's not even close.

[reds44]

I don't want to see Homer up here at all this year. I have seen to many of our pitchers be rushed.

[KronoRed]

Not near ready.

We need pitching but rushing him is not the answer

[TRF]

Originally Posted by Red Leader

No where near ready. 2 years, at least.

If you want him out of baseball in 2 years and rooming with Ryan Leaf, bring him up now.

Now this is funny. Ryan Leaf was just hired by West Texas A&M as QB Coach.

Now that is falling a loooong way.

[Spitball]

Originally Posted by KearnsyEars

not to change subject within thread...and those stats above tell me your right he isn't ready, but has anyone heard if Wagner's fastball has regained velocity. I don't know if it was the big league beer nights or what but Wagner lost his fastball last season. I am worried about him getting on track.

Wagner is probably an excellent example of why the Reds shouldn't rush Bailey. I hope the new regime has a better plan for Wagner because I think the old one tried to rush him for their own selfish reasons.

When he came out of Univ. of Houston it was obvious his mechanics were not conducive to a long career. First, there were quotes saying the Reds wouldn't mess with his mechanics. Then they began messing. Then he had location problems. Then he had failures (0 for career in save opportunities). Then he had shoulder inflamation.

Wagner has some rough edges. His mechanics are an issue. Can he stay healthy and have major league command pitching with such a violent motion? Can he get batters out if he is changed? Should these questions be ironed out at the major league level? Not in my opinion.

[KronoRed]

Agreed, Wagner needs to go to AAA for the entire year.

[KearnsyEars]

Or at least half the year. I just hope his fastball is over 90 again.

[westofyou]

Here's your Reds in the expansion era who pitched at age 20 or less.

CINCINNATI REDS
SEASON
1969-2005
  
INNINGS PITCHED               YEAR     IP       AGE    
1    Don Gullett              1971    218         20   
2    Don Gullett              1970     78         19   
3    Mario Soto               1977     60.2       20   
4    Manny Sarmiento          1976     43.2       20   
5    Milt Wilcox              1970     22.1       20   
6    Ryan Wagner              2003     21.2       20   
7    Rosario Rodriguez        1990     10.1       20   
8    Rosario Rodriguez        1989      4.1       19

Gullett was a young LH with control in a pitching era and Soto's first season in the bigs was ugly and pretty at points.

But they real question is do you want to start his clock for that?