How will WBC effect Reds players?

[mbgrayson]

My concern is whether all the Reds playing in the WBC are going to get the playing time they need to be ready for opeing day.

We all saw the great game Junior had yesterday at WBC. He has played in all 3 U.S. games, had 8 ABs, and has a .750 batting average. (2.550 OPS!)

Willy Mo Pena is getting some playing time for the Dominican. He has played two of three games, 6 ABs, and he has a .500 batting average. (1.071 OPS)

Javier Valentin is getting very little playing time for Puerto Rico, as the #3 catcher behind Pudge and Yadier Molina. He has one AB so far, actually while playing 1st base.

Also, although he is off the 40 man roster, Jung Bong is on the South Korea team. He has pitched two scoreless innings, with two walks allowed.

So Valentin and Bong are not getting much work at all. Even Griffey and Pena are getting far fewer ABs than they would in regualar spring training games. For comparison sake, Dunn has 17 ABs, and Freel and Denorfia have 22 each. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the rest of March.

Mike

[BigRed]

Not worried too much about it. Junior and Pena are not getting as many ABs as they would get in camp, but are likely facing better competition and both are doing well. However, Valentin getting only 1 AB is troublesome. However, he will have the last couple of weeks of the spring to get ready. It is not as big a problem as if he was a pitcher. Bong would be a problem if he was expected to contribute. However, he won't be sniffing Cincinnati all year.

[4256 Hits]

There will be plenty of time after the tournament for the hitter to get sharp, only a pitcher would concern me not getting the work in.

IMO for vertern hitters it would take them no longer 3 weeks of spring training to be ready it the pitchers that need more.