2020 Cincinnati Reds

[countywide35]

Money again ! Baseball this summer??? Short season, ruined the game over money.its been this way way before the 19 set in ?

MLB the only pro sport to have striked??

[Geronimo]

No one plays for love of the game any more any sport ! It's all about the $$$ sign !

[VetteMan]

A recent article concerning the Red's third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Like teammate Nick Senzel, Suarez has used his quarantine time to get his surgically repaired right shoulder ready for the pushed back Opening Day. Suarez would probably have been iffy for March 26, but he has reported to Summer Camp in shape and feeling 100 percent. He will certainly be ready for the Red's new Opening Day , set for July 24th against the Detroit Tigers at Great American Ball Park. At this point, lets hope that there will be an Opening Day.

[Geronimo]

Go Reds !

[VetteMan]

Manager David Bell announced on Wednesday that Sonny Gray, will be the Opening Day starter vs the Detroit Tigers on July 24 at Great American Ball Park. To be an Opening Day starter, especially in this circumstance, I try to put myself in that moment, Gray said. Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Wade Miley, and Anthony Desciafani form the rest of the rotation order.

[VetteMan]

When Mike Moustakas signed his 4yr, 64 million dollar contract with the Reds on Dec 5th, with the intention of moving from 3rd base to 2nd base, there were skeptics about his defensive range and mobility in the middle of the infield. Moustakas was a 3 time All-Star 3rd basemen, who had played 47 gamed at 2nd base for the Brewers. Strong defense would be a bonus, but the 31 year old was part of a 166 million offseason free-agent spree by a Cincinnati club looking to improve it's offensive production. Moustakas hit 254, with 35 HR, and 87 RBI in 143 games for the Brewers in 2019.

[VetteMan]

One of several free agents that the Reds added in the offseason, outfielder Shogo Akiyama last saw Great American Ball Park when he signed his 3yr 21 million dollar contract on Jan 6th. He said that it is finally hitting him that he will be playing in Cincinnati. One big difference is going to be the natural grass playing surface. After baseball was halted due to the Corid-19, He said that he remained in the US, staying with a fellow baseball player in LA. He says that he has been practicing on the weekdays, 3 hr a day, and has been able to even get in quite a bit of hitting as well. He also says that he is really looking forward to hitting in Great American Ball Park.

[VetteMan]

The Cincinnati Reds are sticking with Kyle Farmer as the backup shortstop. I made a commitment early on in spring training to see more of Kyle Farmer at shortstop, said manager David Bell. We're really glad that we did, I didn't realize just how well that he could play short. He could even play an extended time at short if need be. Farmer, who is 29 yrs old, gave Bell the old " put me in coach " talk.

[VetteMan]

Reds center fielder Nick Senzel missed his 3rd straight scrimmage on Sunday because he's dealing with a hyperextended left elbow. The team is viewing Senzel as day to day. Senzel was injured during Thursday's scrimmage while taking a swing. He should be back out there playing ( Monday ) or the next day. Manager David Bell said that it was nothing serious, that he could have been back out there if need be.

[Geronimo]

Hope baseball makes it ?

[VetteMan]

Because of the need for depth to supplement the rotation due to potentially shorter starts during a 60 game schedule, the roles of Tyler Mahle and Lucas Sims have suddenly become more magnified. Manager David Bell said that both were being prepared for "piggyback" or tandem starts to assist the back of the rotation, if needed. The club already has Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Wade Miley, and Anthony DeSclafani as it's formidable starting five. I don't know what it's going to be like, Mahle said. We have a lot of guys in the pen that can fill in for a start or whatever. It's going to be interesting. We have a ton of depth, We're kind of set in that aspect.

[VetteMan]

Reds power hitting outfielder Aristides Aquino is ready to prove that he's not just a one-hit wonder. Known as "The Punisher", Aquino will have some questions to answer in 2020. Can he keep his spot as the regular right fielder after the Reds signed big free agents like Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama. Aquino has Minor league options left which doesn't help his case. Following his August 1st call-up from Triple-A Louisville, Aquino hit 320 BA, with 14 HR in his 1st month with the Reds. Then the bottom fell out in Sept. as he only hit 196 BA, with 5 HR. Every team made adjustments toward what my swing is, Aquino said. I think I just have to learn to be more consistent and maintain that consistency throughout the season. I don't know for sure, but I will be very surprised if he is the starter in right field on opening day.

[VetteMan]

Derek Dietrich realized he was one of the fortunate ones. The Reds utility player, who was added to the teams player pool on Wednesday, acknowledged that he had contracted Covid-19 last month ahead of reporting to summer camp workouts. Dietrich tested positive in Goodyear, Arizona, before he reported to the teams complex for voluntary workouts. Dietrich who will turn 31 on Saturday, reported to the teams alternate training site at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. Dietrich said that it was a long process to get back on the field.

[VetteMan]

Some of the Reds top prospects to keep an eye on are: Tejay Antone, RHP. After reaching Triple-A in 2019, Antone was added to the 40 man roster during the offseason. Joel Kuhnel, RHP used his fastball-slider combination last year and could use his fastball that touches triple-digits to impact the bullpen again in 2020. Long shots for 2020: Nick Lodolo, LHP, Tyler Stephenson, C, and Jose Garcia, SS. It is probably unlikely that the Reds would rush their 2019 1st Rd pick ( Nick Lodolo to the big leagues, but he is very advanced and has thrown well in Summer Camp. If the Reds want to carry 3-catchers, Stephenson is close to ready. As far as shortstops are concerned, Garcia was getting a lot of reps in Summer Camp, because the Reds don't have many true SS in camp. Others in the player pool: Johathan India, 3B, Tony Santillan, RHP, Stuart Fairchild, OF, Alfredo Rodriguez, SS, and Ryan Hendrix,RHP.

[Geronimo]

SS Garcia is a player ! This 60 game season might get interning!

[VetteMan]

SS Garcia is a player ! This 60 game season might get interning!

There have been a lot of very positive reports about him, as they have played him a lot in the Summer Camp. He very well could be their shortstop of the future.

[Geronimo]

Future ? Play time now ! Or some one else will give him the time ?

[VetteMan]

In the 3 1/2 months between the abrupt end of spring training and the resumption of work-outs, Reds catchers continued to work over Zoom with coach JR House. The club made sure that top catching prospect Tyler Shephenson was included in those sessions. The reason was simple, ranked as the organization's #3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Shephenson has the chance to be in the Major Leagues at any point during this 60 game season. Shephenson who was added to the 40- man roster in November, would likely have spent this season at Triple-A Louisville under normal circumstances, instead the 23 yr old is part of the 58 man player pool and has been working out mostly at the alternate training site at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. Every day, every experience he has is just one more step toward hopefully be coming an everyday catcher here for us at some point. Shephenson said, I'll just continue to work hard and wait for that call, hopefully."

[VetteMan]

The Reds made 5 cuts on Sat. while also informing reliever and Northern Kentucky resident Nate Jones that he made their Opening Day roster. Reassigned to the alternate training site at Plasco Park in Mason, Ohio, were pitchers Jesse Biddle, Alex Powers, and RJ Alaniz, utility player Derek Dietrich and infielder Alfredo Rodriguez. Jones, born in Covington, Ky., and currently residing in Butler, the 34 yr old starred for Northern Kentucky University's baseball team in college. Appearing in 284 career games in the Major Leagues with the White Sox from 2012-2019, Jones is 22-13 with a 3.12 ERA and 122 WHP. His 318 strikeouts in that span led all White Sox relievers.

[VetteMan]

Any concerns over whether Nick Castellanos would be ready for Opening day seemed to be answered succinctly on Monday by the Reds right fielder. I'm ready today, Castellanos said. During Fridays scrimmage he was hit in his upper back by a Tyler Mahle fastball and fell to the ground. He was down for several moments as he experienced a "stinger" until getting up and walking off the field under his own power.