The Reds are in transition right now, and it shows in minor league pitching rotations. I've got the following in Louisville to start the season (assuming health):
- Justin Dunn/ Connor Overton
- Brandon Williamson
- Levi Stoudt
- Ben Lively/ Casey Legumina
- Kevin Herget/ Carson Spiers
Now, that's some depth, some upside, a couple real prospects, a couple failed major leaguers-- the typical AAA rotation, honestly. After that, though, is where things get... complicated.
There are 10 guys who could well claim a spot in the Chattanooga rotation, and I have no idea how the Reds will manage their stockpile of starting pitchers. It's past time to make decisions on some of these guys, but here we are. They all have warts, but there's also enough real talent to see what happens too. Were it me, I'd pull out the old piggyback starter plan again or, failing that, fast-track at least three (and as many as five) would-be starters as relievers so that they might make their major league debut this season.
Piggybacking has its advantages. It shortens games, for sure, and provides a rather unique way to develop guys to their fullest. Too, it should be effective for Chattanooga. There's not a guy in the would-be 10-deep rotation who's shown a propensity to pitch to contact, conserve pitches, and go deep into games. Piggybacking a five-inning guy with a four-inning guy allows both to go relatively deep, use more than a couple of pitches, and pitch through lineups a third time (or fourth). Too, while Boyle, Abbott, Roa, and Phillips are probably a head better than any of the other guys, every one of these pitchers needs the challenge of AA.
That, however, doesn't seem to the plan. I expect Krall and company might keep Bonnin, Richardson, and Farr in Dayton for half a season of healthy innings before making decisions. Each has reasons for repeating the level-- the two former for injury and the latter for ineffectiveness. They'd be slumming it in Dayton, but it's close to the major league squad and the Reds could send out medical personnel to check on them.
This is not to say that some guys won't be moved to the pen. I expect Eduardo Salazar is pen-bound (and might be something). Benschoter, too, is old, and his stuff plays up as a RP (or at least it did in the AFL).
There's also Rule V acquisition Kyle Glogoski, whose numbers are exceptional. He's likely to play a part... somewhere. We're going to ignore him for now because I literally have no clue. (As is typical, you might argue.)
That, then, leaves the Chattanooga rotation as:
- Joe Boyle
- Andrew Abbott
- Connor Phillips
- Jake Wong OR Kyle Glogoski
- Christian Roa
with Benschoter and Salazar as relievers (along with Gayman, Benoit, Kravetz, Michael Byrne, Vin Tampanelli, and Broxton Roby?)
That leaves the following candidates for Dayton:
- Bryce Bonnin
- Chase Petty
- Steve Hajjar
- Lyon Richardson
- Thomas Farr
- Javi Rivera
- Julian Aguiar
- Tanner Cooper
- Hunter Parks
- Jose Franco
- Ryan Cardona
Now, that looks like it might result in a piggyback rotation. (Plus one. I guess we can assume one injury?) Adding Luis Mey, Dennis Boatman, and Rule V guy Brooks Crawford could work-- if you're ignoring the previous season's minor league relief arms that showed a bit of promise. That seems unlikely, honestly.
We do know that Jose Acuna, Bryce Hubbart, and Reynardo Cruz are ticketed to Daytona. Chris McElwain almost assuredly has a spot there too. Abel, if he's in Cincinnati's plans, belongs there as well. (As does Jabob Heatherley, if he's healthy.)
How do you put the various rotations together? Are you piggybacking? If so, would that be in AA or Dayton? (Or, failing that, Daytona?) If you're moving SP to the pen, which ones?
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Originally Posted by mth123
