Reds Spring Training 2023

[Kc61]

The Reds decided to go with four dedicated outfielders, sending Fairchild down.. That provides a need to have one or two players who can fill in in the outfield. If Pinder makes the club, he can play in the corners occasionally. Barrero can play in CF occasionally.

That’s all I see in this.

Barrero is primarily a shortstop and initially they will determine if he can be a regular there. If so, they have a valuable asset to play or trade.

if not, then they can consider a position switch or a utility role. In that case, CF would be in his future.

[Ron Madden]

In my humble opinion:
Ever since they figured out that most pitchers numbers go downhill facing a lineup for the 3rd time in one game and letting the starters throw fewer pitches MLB teams started carrying more relief pitchers on their roster, with more roster spots going to relief pitchers versatility becomes important for position players on the roster.

[Ron Madden]

Standings
https://www.mlb.com/reds/standings/spring-training

Reds Hitting Statistics Thru 3-20-23 (3 pages)
https://www.mlb.com/reds/stats/

Reds Pitching Statistics Thru 3-20-23 (3-20-23)
https://www.mlb.com/reds/stats/pitching

[Ron Madden]

Monday’s roster cuts narrowed a few positional battles. Lefty relievers Alex Young and Bennett Sousa are vying to become the second lefthander in the Reds’ bullpen to pair with Reiver Sanmartin.

Chad Pinder, Henry Ramos and Jason Vosler are likely competing for one bench spot after Fairchild and Lopez were cut from big-league camp, assuming Joey Votto is ready for the start of the season. Pinder has the most experience and brings the most versatility.

Jose Barrero played a few innings in center field during Monday’s spring training game. Barrero remains a favorite to start at shortstop, but the Reds’ top center field candidates, Will Benson and TJ Friedl, are both lefty hitters.

“It’s just another way to get (Barrero) into the lineup,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “One example would be facing a tough lefthander and we want Kevin Newman, Spencer Steer, Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson and one our right-handed hitting catchers. And we want Jose Barrero in the lineup because we’ve seen that. He’s a natural out there. It would be easier to have him go play center than to asking Spencer Steer or Kevin Newman who haven’t done it nearly as much to get them all in the lineup.”

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...s/70033087007/

[Bourgeois Zee]

Reds with OPS over 800 still with the team:
- Fraley
- Vosler
- Casali
- India
- Steer
- Henry Ramos

[Sea Ray]

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...s/70033087007/

I'm not getting Bell's comment on seeking ways to get Barrero into the lineup. He's the weakest link in any Reds lineup

[Bourgeois Zee]

Reds' pitchers with an ERA 4.50 or below still with the club:

- Lodolo
- Greene
- Ashcraft
- Cessa
- Sanmartin
- Young
- Cruz
- Sousa
- Kuhnel

[RED VAN HOT]

In my humble opinion:
Ever since they figured out that most pitchers numbers go downhill facing a lineup for the 3rd time in one game and letting the starters throw fewer pitches MLB teams started carrying more relief pitchers on their roster, with more roster spots going to relief pitchers versatility becomes important for position players on the roster.

That's certainly part of it, but in my also humble opinion, it goes further. The increasing importance of bullpens has led to a steady procession of relievers with excellent fastballs and sliders. Opposing managers are likely to select the bullpen arm that matches up best against the hitters due up. To counter this, the manager of the batting team is likely to pinch hit to get a better matchup. Positional flexibility permits the batting team manager more pinch hitting choices. Instead of a strict platoon substitution, he can move players around defensively in the next inning.

This strategy is particularly important for the Reds. They don't look like a power hitting club. If the Reds are going to compete, they will need to scratch for runs and win tight games. Positional flexibility is part of the reason for Pinder over Fairchild and having Barrero take innings in CF. It's also a reason for the Reds to have two LHP's in the pen, the other side of the strategy.

[Bourgeois Zee]

For those who believe the Reds' offense is fine:

- So far, across the infield (3B, 2B, 1B, SS, and C), the Reds' best rank amongst positions via fWAR projection is 22nd.

- They rank dead last at two positions-- 1B and SS (by a massive number).

[UPRedsFan]

That's certainly part of it, but in my also humble opinion, it goes further. The increasing importance of bullpens has led to a steady procession of relievers with excellent fastballs and sliders. Opposing managers are likely to select the bullpen arm that matches up best against the hitters due up. To counter this, the manager of the batting team is likely to pinch hit to get a better matchup. Positional flexibility permits the batting team manager more pinch hitting choices. Instead of a strict platoon substitution, he can move players around defensively in the next inning.

This strategy is particularly important for the Reds. They don't look like a power hitting club. If the Reds are going to compete, they will need to scratch for runs and win tight games. Positional flexibility is part of the reason for Pinder over Fairchild and having Barrero take innings in CF. It's also a reason for the Reds to have two LHP's in the pen, the other side of the strategy.

I get the concept and strategy of positional flexibility. But think this through situationally and how Pinder helps. You're not going to pinch hit to get a better matchup for India or Steer or Meyers against a right handed reliever. Pinder doesn't help you there anyway. If you need to do that you want Vosler not Pinder. You might pull Barrero for a LH pinch hitter in a run scoring situation, but that's why you have Newman on the bench to come in on defense the next inning. Pinder doesn't help you there either.

You might pull Friedl or Benson or Fraley in a run scoring situation against a left handed reliever, in which case you need a right handed hitting outfielder. Why is Pinder > Fairchild in that situation?

I just don't see where Pinder's ability to play the infield helps.

[TRF]

For those who believe the Reds' offense is fine:

- So far, across the infield (3B, 2B, 1B, SS, and C), the Reds' best rank amongst positions via fWAR projection is 22nd.

- They rank dead last at two positions-- 1B and SS (by a massive number).

Or young players progress because lots of young players do.

And Votto is a god. Not the God, but a god. I expect a nice rebound from him.

[mth123]

For those who believe the Reds' offense is fine:

- So far, across the infield (3B, 2B, 1B, SS, and C), the Reds' best rank amongst positions via fWAR projection is 22nd.

- They rank dead last at two positions-- 1B and SS (by a massive number).

But there is pretty high-end help coming. The pitching staff has 3 or 4 solid young guys and a bunch of retreads and guys who haven't even been good minor leaguers behind them. A good pitching staff could win with this offense. Neither the 27 Yankees nor the Big Red Machine would win more than 85 games with this pitching staff.

[Bourgeois Zee]

But there is pretty high-end help coming. The pitching staff has 3 or 4 solid young guys and a bunch of retreads and guys who haven't even been good minor leaguers behind them. A good pitching staff could win with this offense. Neither the 27 Yankees nor the Big Red Machine would win more than 85 games with this pitching staff.

We disagree (a lot) on what the Reds have in the minor leagues in terms of pitching-- and how they've performed in the minor leagues.

[Ron Madden]

Carli Baldwin
@carli_baldwin

Hi, Ohio sports Twitter ��

I’m very excited to share that I will be joining the @Reds
as a social media coordinator for the 2023 season! #ATOBTTR

https://twitter.com/carli_baldwin/st...DRkZX2qq4tAAAA


Carli Baldwin
@carli_baldwin • 9h

First day with the @Reds ☑️

https://twitter.com/carli_baldwin/st...CxjceJvr0tAAAA

[Ron Madden]

Cincinnati Reds
@Reds

Ya practice this in Little League.
#RedsST

watch:
https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1638...C-maGx8r0tAAAA