Post by kinsm on Feb 21, 2015 7:50:52 GMT -5
---Mark Sheldon
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- All of the Reds pitchers and catchers passed the physicals that were taken on Thursday, but minor issues are occasionally presented. That's one reason why the club is going to limit No. 1 prospect Robert Stephenson from throwing off of a mound.
• "Robert Stephenson will most likely not be throwing off the mound - a couple of days behind because we want to make sure his shoulder is totally strong and he's headed in a great direction," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Friday. "He won't be throwing on the side today if you're looking for him. He's a couple of days behind because we want to be cautious, and that's it."
Stephenson, who pitched at Double-A Pensacola last season, has never had any shoulder issues.
"He came out and did his long toss and we wanted his progressions to be to a certain place before we put him on the mound. We're just being cautious," Price said.
Other items of note from Friday at Reds camp:
• Lefty Sean Marshall, who is returning from surgery has had a minor setback in his rehab. First he's got to get where he can throw without soreness. "Two weeks ago, I was doing three sets of long-tossing from 120 feet, feeling pretty good. But I kind of had a little soreness in my shoulder. I got out here (to Arizona) Feb. 6. I had to slow down a bit. I'm not on the mound yet. Hopefully, I'll resume pretty quick and finish that long-toss session of the rehab, then throw on some flat ground and be on the mound soon."
• Lefty Tony Cingrani, who endured shoulder issues last season, came away from Thursday's bullpen session with no problem.
"He was fine," Price said Friday. "He had a short little breaking ball to go with his fastball. He looked like he was throwing the ball without any issue, which was nice. He told our training staff he felt awesome. It was a good start to Spring Training."
• Lefty reliever Jose Mijares, a non-roster invitee, has yet to report to Spring Training.
• Shortstop Eugenio Suarez reported early on Friday. Suarez was acquired from the Tigers in the trade for pitcher Alfredo Simon.
• “I do anticipate him taking on a higher workload this season. He missed some time last year with the injury to begin the year and then the hamstring, which took some games away from him. I also had Johnny linked with Brayan Pena and I’m not going to do that to start the season. Johnny threw well to both of them last year. It will be a little more random with how I use Brayan.” — Price on Mesoraco.
“Preferably, I’d like to catch 161 and take one day off after we clinch. I’m sure there are going to be some times where it makes sense to get Brayan in there and give me a couple of days to just regroup. As much as they want to write my name in the lineup is as much as I want to be back there.” — Mesoraco
No catcher in the Majors caught 150 games last season, and only the Royals' Salvador Perez caught more than 140 (146). Mesoraco would like be the rare modern catcher that can do it.
• “Honestly, it would be good to have something done before [the deadline] because that would take things out of my mind. All I have to do is continue to play baseball.” — Cueto
• “He’s a very talented young man, very polished from what we’ve seen. It’s a small sample size, it’s never more than two innings. It’s been very good. Our feeling is he has the stuff and the command to start, but he hasn’t taken on a starter’s workload in some time. We’ll integrate him at some time, that’s where we feel he’s best suited until we feel otherwise. We’ll integrate him there, that’s where we feel he’s best suited until he proves otherwise, we’re going to get him ready as a starter.” — Price on Raisel Iglesias
• Bailey, who is coming off of surgery to repair a torn flexor mass, said things are going well but that he is still a little behind from his usual schedule.
“I haven’t gotten off the mound,” Bailey said. “Usually, l like to get off the mound a few times before I come. But I can catch back up real quick. It’s more getting used to the throwing everyday stuff.”
Bailey noted that he has not had any setbacks to this point.
• A reporter on Thursday mistakenly asked if Reds manager Bryan Price was on the hot seat because he was in the final year of a two-year contract. When Price was promoted from pitching coach to manager in October 2014, he signed a three-year contract after replacing Dusty Baker.
"It doesn't mean I'm in any less peril as any other manager, I can tell you that," Price said. "I hope you can ask the same question for many, many years, if I get to the point where I'm close to the end of a contract."
The Reds did not play well last season and finished with a 76-86 record, in fourth place in the National League Central. Injuries played a part in the struggle, but a stronger year is clearly expected by ownership in 2015. The team made few big additions and is counting on returning stars to carry the club.
"I never once professionally worried about job security," Price said. "I don't anticipate that being an issue here, simply because I can't control it. I can do my job, and people can either like the results or not, and make their decision. I don't waste my time with it. I do appreciate the question, because inevitably, at this point in time next year, that'll be the case."
• Righty Mike Leake, who’ll qualify for free agency after the season, said he would be interested in exploring an extension but that the club has not approached him. “I’ll be happy to stay in Cincinnati, but I’d also be happy to go to free agency,” he said. “I’d like for them to show interest. They haven’t yet. If they don’t have interest, they don’t have interest.”
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- All of the Reds pitchers and catchers passed the physicals that were taken on Thursday, but minor issues are occasionally presented. That's one reason why the club is going to limit No. 1 prospect Robert Stephenson from throwing off of a mound.
• "Robert Stephenson will most likely not be throwing off the mound - a couple of days behind because we want to make sure his shoulder is totally strong and he's headed in a great direction," Reds manager Bryan Price said on Friday. "He won't be throwing on the side today if you're looking for him. He's a couple of days behind because we want to be cautious, and that's it."
Stephenson, who pitched at Double-A Pensacola last season, has never had any shoulder issues.
"He came out and did his long toss and we wanted his progressions to be to a certain place before we put him on the mound. We're just being cautious," Price said.
Other items of note from Friday at Reds camp:
• Lefty Sean Marshall, who is returning from surgery has had a minor setback in his rehab. First he's got to get where he can throw without soreness. "Two weeks ago, I was doing three sets of long-tossing from 120 feet, feeling pretty good. But I kind of had a little soreness in my shoulder. I got out here (to Arizona) Feb. 6. I had to slow down a bit. I'm not on the mound yet. Hopefully, I'll resume pretty quick and finish that long-toss session of the rehab, then throw on some flat ground and be on the mound soon."
• Lefty Tony Cingrani, who endured shoulder issues last season, came away from Thursday's bullpen session with no problem.
"He was fine," Price said Friday. "He had a short little breaking ball to go with his fastball. He looked like he was throwing the ball without any issue, which was nice. He told our training staff he felt awesome. It was a good start to Spring Training."
• Lefty reliever Jose Mijares, a non-roster invitee, has yet to report to Spring Training.
• Shortstop Eugenio Suarez reported early on Friday. Suarez was acquired from the Tigers in the trade for pitcher Alfredo Simon.
• “I do anticipate him taking on a higher workload this season. He missed some time last year with the injury to begin the year and then the hamstring, which took some games away from him. I also had Johnny linked with Brayan Pena and I’m not going to do that to start the season. Johnny threw well to both of them last year. It will be a little more random with how I use Brayan.” — Price on Mesoraco.
“Preferably, I’d like to catch 161 and take one day off after we clinch. I’m sure there are going to be some times where it makes sense to get Brayan in there and give me a couple of days to just regroup. As much as they want to write my name in the lineup is as much as I want to be back there.” — Mesoraco
No catcher in the Majors caught 150 games last season, and only the Royals' Salvador Perez caught more than 140 (146). Mesoraco would like be the rare modern catcher that can do it.
• “Honestly, it would be good to have something done before [the deadline] because that would take things out of my mind. All I have to do is continue to play baseball.” — Cueto
• “He’s a very talented young man, very polished from what we’ve seen. It’s a small sample size, it’s never more than two innings. It’s been very good. Our feeling is he has the stuff and the command to start, but he hasn’t taken on a starter’s workload in some time. We’ll integrate him at some time, that’s where we feel he’s best suited until we feel otherwise. We’ll integrate him there, that’s where we feel he’s best suited until he proves otherwise, we’re going to get him ready as a starter.” — Price on Raisel Iglesias
• Bailey, who is coming off of surgery to repair a torn flexor mass, said things are going well but that he is still a little behind from his usual schedule.
“I haven’t gotten off the mound,” Bailey said. “Usually, l like to get off the mound a few times before I come. But I can catch back up real quick. It’s more getting used to the throwing everyday stuff.”
Bailey noted that he has not had any setbacks to this point.
• A reporter on Thursday mistakenly asked if Reds manager Bryan Price was on the hot seat because he was in the final year of a two-year contract. When Price was promoted from pitching coach to manager in October 2014, he signed a three-year contract after replacing Dusty Baker.
"It doesn't mean I'm in any less peril as any other manager, I can tell you that," Price said. "I hope you can ask the same question for many, many years, if I get to the point where I'm close to the end of a contract."
The Reds did not play well last season and finished with a 76-86 record, in fourth place in the National League Central. Injuries played a part in the struggle, but a stronger year is clearly expected by ownership in 2015. The team made few big additions and is counting on returning stars to carry the club.
"I never once professionally worried about job security," Price said. "I don't anticipate that being an issue here, simply because I can't control it. I can do my job, and people can either like the results or not, and make their decision. I don't waste my time with it. I do appreciate the question, because inevitably, at this point in time next year, that'll be the case."
• Righty Mike Leake, who’ll qualify for free agency after the season, said he would be interested in exploring an extension but that the club has not approached him. “I’ll be happy to stay in Cincinnati, but I’d also be happy to go to free agency,” he said. “I’d like for them to show interest. They haven’t yet. If they don’t have interest, they don’t have interest.”
