Well, for those who haven't seen him yet, here's a look at Johnny Cueto in action. Former Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosencrans has provided a video clip of Johnny mowing them down in spring training.
Cueto is ready and he NEEDS to be in the rotation out of spring training. He's got electric stuff and tremendous command. If he breaks camp with the Reds, there's no doubt in my mind that he would be the Reds second best starting pitcher behind only the great Aaron Harang. Cueto has comparable stuff to Homer, but his command makes him much more effective. Johnny could be the pivotal man for the Reds and their chances for success in 2008.
Hey Lark,
ReplyDeleteI am right with you, Cueto has just continued to impress with every outing i have seen if he doesn't make the team at the end of camp then that will answer my questions about Baker for sure. It amazes me that there hasn't been much more talk about him, everyone seems to be focusing on Homer and his struggles, but maybe thats helped Johnny kind of fly under the radar. I dont know. Any way what do you think the chances are he would make the rotation sitting behind Harang? I always saw Bronson as a number 3 even when we first traded for him.
Hey, justafan!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see Homer still more highly regarded than Johnny. At the very least, they need to be ranked equally. However, it may indeed be better for Johnny, as he hasn't had the expectations to live up to like Homer.
It may also be good for Johnny to slide past Homer, as it might help motivate Bailey a bit.
I'd say that Cueto would be worthy of being our #2 starter, but Arroyo would like hold on to that title in name. I'd imagine that Cueto actually gets slotted in as the #5 starter.
Either way, it would be a big victory for us just to have Cueto in the rotation to start the year. I wouldn't have expected the Reds to be so forward thinking on the subject, so that would be encouraging.
-Lark
Lark - what do you see the rotation settling down to. I just don't think Homer has earned it yet. After Affeldt's terrible outing, I'm going with Harang, Arroyo, Fogg, Volquez, and Cueto. If we're going to have 2 rookies in the rotation, I think we need Fogg to eat up some innings.
ReplyDeleteBoy, Affeldt was practically handed the job and still couldn't secure it. It doesn't seem like Dusty can give him much more time.
Hey redvol,
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't know what the rotation will be. I waffle back and forth about it, but there is such a new dynamic in Cincinnati that it's difficult to say how it'll play out.
If I had to guess by reading the tea leaves, I'd say it'll be:
1) A.Harang
2) B.Arroyo
3) M.Belisle
4) J.Fogg
5) J.Cueto
I don't know what that means for Homer, but I think Cueto has secured a spot. It doesn't make sense for the Reds to sign Fogg if they aren't going to use him in the rotation. And, oddly enough, the Reds still seem very high on Matt Belisle, though I'm not entirely sure what he's done to justify their faith.
If I had to guess, I'd say Volquez goes to the bullpen and Homer goes to triple-A until the Reds tire of the substandard production of either Belisle or Fogg.
It'll be very interesting to have Volquez's power arm in the bullpen and I just don't think the Reds and Dusty are going to be comfortable having two rookie pitchers in rotation out of spring training.
And, if it's an either or, I think it's Cueto over Homer. Anyway, just my $.02.
-Lark
I was discussing Cueto's mechanics with someone the other day and he thought there were real similarities with Tom Gordon. However, the more I watch Cueto, the more I see similarities with Pedro Martinez. It's in that electric follow through. And, any similarities to Pedro are always good!!
ReplyDelete