Roster battles hit final stretch

[volzok]

I figured I would post this article to start a discussion on the roster and maybe even make predictions on who will get the final spots.

Notes: Roster battles hit final stretch
Buchanan making an impression; Ruhle remains positive
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

BRADENTON, Fla. -- We still don't know exactly how the Reds' finalized 25-man roster will look at the end of Spring Training. However, we do know these basic facts:

General manager Wayne Krivsky and manager Jerry Narron currently have 41 players in camp. In the final nine days that remain after Thursday, 16 players will be going to places other than Cincinnati.

Many of them won't be too happy about that.

Several interesting roster decisions lie ahead. Some guys are on bubbles poised to burst.

"I hope they make it tough," Krivsky said. "It's a sign we're getting better."

Although Krivsky was hired just before camp opened in February, Narron has been contemplating the makeup of his team for a much longer period of time.

"Since Oct. 3," Narron said, referring to the end of last season. "Every day, a dozen times.

"We've got some guys that might come down to the last day. The best part is that we've had guys come into camp playing really well to try to get those last spots."

It appears that 20 of the 25 roster spots are already locked up by established players. Two pitchers, Grant Balfour and Paul Wilson, seem destined to begin the season on the disabled list. If Cincinnati carries 12 pitchers, as expected, nine of those spots are already assured for the five-man rotation plus veteran relievers Kent Mercker, David Weathers, Chris Hammond and Rick White.

That leaves just three bullpen roles up for grabs among nine pitchers -- Matt Belisle, Mike Burns, Todd Coffey, Justin Germano, Michael Gosling, Brian Shackelford, Ryan Wagner and non-roster invites Jake Robbins and Jung Bong. Of that group, Burns (1.69 ERA, no runs allowed in last 5 2/3 innings), Coffey (3.60 ERA) and Wagner (4.00 ERA) are having the best springs so far.

Among other pending decisions: Will an extra infielder be needed? Will Narron carry two catchers or three? Who is the 25th man?

Rich Aurilia, Edwin Encarnacion, Scott Hatteberg, Felipe Lopez, Tony Womack and Ryan Freel are in as infielders. Freel can play both infield and the outfield. Recent pick-up Matt Kata (.200 average) and non-roster invite Frank Menechino (.111) are battling to also be included as utility players.

Jason LaRue and Javier Valentin are locks behind the plate. David Ross, acquired in a trade Tuesday, and Dane Sardinha are both out of Minor League options and would be exposed to waiver claims if sent down.

Quinton McCracken, batting .357, and non-roster invite Dewayne Wise, batting .283, are fighting to be the fourth outfielder. So is pinch-hitting specialist Jacob Cruz, another non-roster player. Cruz is batting .160 this spring, but led the club with 20 pinch-hits in 2005.

Making the process more complicated is there could still be more trades or waiver claims as other clubs make their own late spring roster decisions.

Krivsky understood why there's a focus on the Opening Day roster, but believed there was also too much emphasis about it.

"For people that don't make the 25 [man roster], it doesn't mean their season is over," Krivsky said. "It's a long year and you're going to need depth and you're going to have injuries. You have to call on that depth during the course of the year. There will be a lot of guys that end up on the team that aren't on it Opening Day."

Making the most: Veteran outfielder Brian Buchanan spent all winter looking for a team to join. Shortly after Krivsky was hired, Buchanan made a phone call since he knew the new GM from his days with the Twins.

"I saw he got the job and I got his number from my agent," Buchanan said. "I called over and asked, 'Do you guys need any help?'"

Signed to a Minor League deal, Buchanan was not invited to big league camp. But he's made the most of every chance he's been summoned as an extra player in spring games.

"They said they'd bring me to as many games as they could out of [the Minor League] mini-camp. I've pretty much came to all of them," Buchanan said.

After Thursday's 3-for-4, four-RBI day in a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh, the 32-year-old was batting .552 (16-for-28) with one homer and 11 RBIs in 17 games. That would be good enough for second among big leaguers with at least 20 spring at-bats.

"I told him the other day he set an all-time record this spring for the most hits without being invited to Spring Training," Krivsky joked.

After playing for Minnesota from 2000-02, Buchanan has bounced to several organizations, including the Padres, Mets, Rockies and back to the Twins' Triple-A club. He hopes his performances for the Reds this spring can lead to something down the road.

"When you have the game almost taken away from you, and you're trying to get a job, you try to make the most of your opportunities," said Buchanan, a .258 career hitter in 346 Major League games.

Starting five: The Reds rotation appears set, but not officially finalized. Expect the following order when the season opens: Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Brandon Claussen, Eric Milton and Dave Williams.

"[That's the rotation,] if everything ran its course," Narron said. "It hasn't been written down in cement."

Move pending: Reliever Jason Standridge, who was taken off the 40-man roster on Tuesday after Ross was acquired, cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Louisville. Standridge has three days to accept the assignment or declare himself a free agent.

Positive outlook: There has been no formal announcement about whether Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle will be with the team when the season opens. But it appears likely that Ruhle will remain in Sarasota to continue his treatments for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The 55-year-old, who was diagnosed earlier this month, has often been able to work in uniform during Spring Training and takes days off when needed. Ruhle reports his outlook as positive.

"I'm doing well," Ruhle said. "The prognosis is good and I'm dealing with the process. Everything seems very workable and very treatable. I'm very pleased with the things I've been able to do so far."

Bullpen coach Tom Hume has assumed Ruhle's duties on the days he's been out.

Coming up: A third straight road game is scheduled for Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET when the Reds play the Devil Rays at St. Petersburg. Projected Opening Day starter Harang will pitch against Tampa Bay's Seth McClung.

[volzok]

If you assume that there is 5 open spots, here is what I would like to see:

Belisle, Coffey, Wagner
Denorfia, McCracken

Some may think I am crazy wanting McCracken, but I dont think hes a bad bottom of the bench guy. I just think hes more useful at this point than Cruz.

Here is what I expect to see:

Coffey, Germano, Wagner
Denorfia, Cruz/Ross

I have to expect that they dont want Aurilia as backup 1B. Obviously Dunn doesnt want to play there much. So that leaves either Cruz or they have one of the 3 catchers become the backup 1B. Thats just my thoughts though.

[Slyder]

Didnt Valentin play some 1b last year while Casey was out? I agree with you Redsr about the bench. I cant help but think somethings really close in the terms of a catcher trade and Ross was gotten as an insurance policy.

[redsrbetter]

Yep Valentin could work as a backup 1B. He even played a little 1B for Puerto Rico fduring the WBC.

What I want:

Belisle, Coffey, Shackelford, Cruz

What we'll see:

Belisle, Coffey, Burns, Buchanan

I think Buchanan has earned it and will get it. We have a new regime in the FO and they may not think equally about Cruz as the old regime did. Buchanan is simply out playing everyone and he may end up getting the job.

I want Cruz right now though as he is a safe bet to be able to come off the bench and get a hit once in a while which is not the easiest thing to do. He has excelled in it for the past few seasons and as they said, it is his expertise.

I can't say I dislike that rotation either. Although, I believe that there will be one more addition to it and possibly sliding Williams to a spot starter/long-relief role. But Narron has the right order in mind IMO. Now if he could just start the right position players.

[redsfan28]

I wonder if the Reds might put Wilson on the 15 day DL to start the season and keep Germano on as a 5th starter or long reliever.

[Wally Mo Pena]

i think the infield guys they list are enough to back up all of the positions, so were really looking for two outfileders and three relievers. for the outfielders i give it to denorfia and wise. Denorfia seems perfect to get a start or two a week to keep the other guys fresh, and wise brings power, speed, a good arm, and playoff experience. McC and the rest have mostly been feasting on late inning pitchers, and McC esspecially hasn't shown anything, since he never walks or hits for power. He's an auto-out at the big leage level.

As for pitchers it seems like it must have been a mistake that they didn't list Belisle as one of the guys having "the best springs," since he has a 2.25 ERA with 7k and no walks over 8 innings, and is 2 for 2 in saves. No walks has to be to jerry's liking, and that's one area that i'm in agreement with him.

so i take belisle for sure, and probably wagner since he hasn't given up a run since the beginning of spring and has loloked a lot better, and then let coffey and burns duke it out until the last day. Coffey certainly has history in the organization, which i think helps him, but he's still really hitable, and has allowed 15 baserunners in 10 innings.

the thing about the pen is that there are really only two spots remaining, since paul wilson will probably be moved to the pen when he comes off the DL. but they'll take three and then demote the guy who struggles the most.

[volzok]

I wonder if the Reds might put Wilson on the 15 day DL to start the season and keep Germano on as a 5th starter or long reliever.

I think the rotation is Harang, Arroyo, Claussen, Milton and Williams. Wilson is probably going to start on the DL. So Germano is fighting for a bullpen spot.

[Geki Ace]

I think Coffey and Belisle are pretty much locks. I'd like to see Wags get the last spot, but I'd be fine if Love Shack got it. I'd rather see Burns and Shackelford than Hammond and White, but that's not gonna happen.

Offensively, I'd like to see Denorfia and Cruz, but think we will see Ross and McSucken/Wise.