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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > March > 16 > Entry
Volquez mows ‘em down
Edinson Volquez wasn’t content to shut out the Philadelphia Phillies for five innings on three hits on a day with humidity so thick you could bite it and chew it.
After displaying another dazzling imitation of Pedro Martinez, he did his Lance Armstrong act, riding a bicycle at full-pedal for another 30 minutes.
Volquez possesses four pitches, “All of of which he uses at all time and isn’t afraid to throw to anybody at any time,” said catcher Javier Valentin. “But his changeup is his best.”
Indeed, in the first inning Volquez struck out National League Most Valuable Player Jimmy Rollins on a changeup to open the game, then struck out Ryan Howard on a changeup to end the inning.
“When I signed, I was afraid to throw the changeup,” said Volquez. “I knew the grip, knew how to hold it, but I was scared. I wanted to throw as hard as I could. I thought if I threw soft, they’d hit. I’m older and wiser now.”
And much better. In four appearances this spring, he has pitched 13 innings, giving up five runs, 15 hits, three walks and struck out 19. He fanned six Phillies and swalked one in five innings Sunday, throwing 69 pitches, 47 for strikes.
Can you spell r-o-t-a-t-i-o-n?
ROENICKE SURVIVING
They call it the Coffin Corner, a string of lockers to the right as players walk in the clubhouse doors.
It’s where young players getting their first taste of Major League life slip into their uniforms and watch as stars and studs walk by.
On Sundahy morning, there were eight empty lockers and one occupied locker. The empties were formerly the location of players sent back to the minors over the past week.
Still standing is pitcher Josh Roenicke — and that’s an accomplishment. While he is 25, he has pitched in only 67 minor-league games and 70 total innings.
He was the 10th round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 out of UCLA and he has thoroughbred blood lines - his father, Ron, and his uncle, Gary, were major-league players. They were outfielders, not pitchers.
With Roenicke still occupying a precarious spot in the big-league clubhouse, manager Dusty Baker was asked about his status. After all, he has made four appearances, pitched four innings, given up no runs, two hits, one walk and struck out four.
Pretty dazzling stuff for an inexperienced young man from Ruff & Ready, Calif.
“He doesn’t have enough experience and we’ll send him out to pitch pretty soon,” said Baker. “He certainly has pitched his way into future considerations. He has been on a fast track. He’s only pitched ‘A’ ball and a little ‘AA’ ball (19 games, 19 innings). You can only carry so many.
“We can only carry 12 pitchers and we have like 16 or 17 guys under consideration,” Baker added. “You can’t carry everybody and he is probably the least experienced of any pitcher in camp. But he IS on a fast track. For a guy who hasn’t pitched much, he is on a real fast track.”
A SAD FAREWELL
There was, though, one cut Sunday and it pained Baker because Adam Rosales, a 24-year-old infielder left an impression - on and off the field. Rosales played in 17 games and hit .321.
“We sent him out to play after he had a real good spring for us,” said Baker. “He played all over the place, hustled, showed great attitude and great aptitude for the game. He has a big future.”
Rosales played shortstop, second base, first base, third base, outfield - all over - and Baker said, “I asked him what he liked best and he said shortstop, but half the players I know came up as shortstops. I talked to (infield coach) Chris Speier about that and he said Rosales is kind of tall and lean for a shorstop.
“But for a young guy, he showed he can play a lot of different positions and that’s hard to do,” Baker said. “He can play both sides of second base, which is even harder. A lot of guys can’t do that. And he works hard and hustles at all times. I enjoyed having him here.”
Baker hates to make cuts, but this one cut him deeper.
“It’s tough especially with such a good kid,” said Baker. “Not that there are any bad ones, but there are some exceptional ones. He is one of the few kids, only one of two or three, who came in when I first got here and introduced himself. That’s old-school stuff and I like it. You shouldn’t have to tell them and he didn’t have to be told.”
There is a major issue, too, involving the catching situation and the abysmal back of David Ross, who hasn’t played in any of the team’s first 17 exhibition games.
Baker is at the point where he doesn’t believe Ross will be ready for Opening Day, meaning Paul Bako makes the team. Perhaps Ross will start on the DL.
Asked if Ross could be ready by Opening Day, Baker raised his eyebrows as if somebody poked him in the posterior with a sharp stick.
“It’s gonna be tough on him,” said Baker. “He hasn’t done any hitting or squatting in games. He has to get at-bats for timing and also have to get timing for catching. I’d like to get him in there to catch some of the guys he hasn’t caught before.”
That’s a long list: Jeremy Affeldt, Josh Fogg, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Francisco Cordero, Scott Sauerbeck.
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Comments
By Greg
March 17, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Can we finally jettison Majewski? Stanton? Bray? “Experience” obviously does nothing for a dead arm.
By jarrod
March 17, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
my prediction is that both cueto and volquez will be in the rotation. but just you watch cueto struggle a little today in his start. it won’t be enough to rattle him but something like 3 runs in 5 innings. he’ll face a good lineup. and it could be good for him in the long run. of course if he’s lights out i suppose thats good too.
By ohdave.net
March 16, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Hal, I can spell r-o-t-a-t-i-o-n… Can you spell a-c-e?
By ohdave.net
March 16, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Hal, I can spell f-o-t-a-t-i-o-n… Can you spell a-c-e?
By ArGee
March 16, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
One of Baker’s tough decisions will be Burton. Everyone considers him a lock but he has has a terrible spring. Shelled yesterday. Another one season wonder like Coffey?