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REDS NOTES
Reds pitchers Volquez, Cueto drawing attention
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
SARASOTA, Fla. — While Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto has scouts slapping and pounding their radar guns to see if the '97s? and '98s? on the readouts are accurate, Edinson Volquez is making a ?Hey, Look Me Over? statement.
The 24-year-old right-hander struck out eight New York Yankees in four innings on Monday night, March 10, making a statement that perhaps fans who hated the trade that brought him to Cincinnati at the loss of popular outfielder Josh Hamilton should pay attention.
Extras
?Volquez is working on his breaking ball and when that gets better — wow,? Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ?Plus he has a little attitude. He doesn?t want to give up anything. He is hungry and there are certain desires that come with hunger and need.?
Volquez gave up two runs in his four innings, but no ball was hit hard. When one cheap hit fell in, Volquez stomped the mound like a matador looking for his fallen sword.
Of Cueto, one American League scout said, ?From people whose judgements I trust, they said Cueto is the best they?ve seen this spring.?
Mercker's return
Kent Mercker, 40 going on 25, took last season off after Tommy John surgery, did the Family Guy thing, is now trying a comeback, something that pleases Baker.
"I like Mercker in the bullpen because you get no jive from him, he tells it like it is," said Baker. "If you don't want the truth, don't ask Merck."
Mercker missed a couple of turns with a sore back, but appeared Tuesday against the Houston Astros and pitched a scoreless inning, throwing only six pitches. Leadoff hitter David Newhan bunted for a hit, then Mercker got a fly ball and a double play.
"How about that guy bunting in spring training with a three-run lead?" said Mercker. "Next time he is going to see that I'm throwing 91 miles an hour. Six pitches, though, isn't going to build my arm strength.
"I have the stuff, but I have to stay healthy," he said. "If you're hurt, the best stuff in the world isn't going to get people out."
Said Baker, "He looks like he had a year off, for the good. He regained strength and he's refreshed. His arm looks stronger, he is throwing the ball harder, but with less command. Right now I'm looking at arm strength, then command will come."
The Cincinnati 'Whos'
Another reason why the Reds are leaving Sarasota is the fact the local newspaper, the Herald-Tribune ignores them. They don't cover games. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 15 miles north of Sarasota and the newspaper has a correspondent that covers every home game. And they have a beat writer covering the Tampa Rays in St. Petersburg.
Tuesday was Exhibit A. The newspaper had a sports-cover bylined stories on both the Pirates and the Rays. The Reds? There was a Page One story giving the straight poop on how all 88 toilets in Ed Smith Stadium malfunctioned during Saturday's Reds game against the Braves.
Still ailing
Negative medical updates: Alex Gonzalez, still on crutches with a brace on his left knee; Jerry Gil, "Recovering slowly," said Baker; David Ross (bad back), "No change," said Baker.
And a positive note: Left-handed pitcher Bill Bray, bothered all spring by a shoulder problem, makes his exhibition debut tonight in Clearwater against the Phillies.
Quote of the day
Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey was in camp Tuesday and while the Hall of Fame decides which team's hat a player gets on his plaque, Petroskey decided, for his own information, to ask Ken Griffey Jr. whether he would wear Seattle or Cincinnati.
"It won't be red (Cincinnati)," said Griffey. "It will be blue (Seattle)."
