Alter H.S. graduation 2012
Warrior Soccer Classic 2012
Franklin graduation 2012
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
SARASOTA, Fla. — When Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto leave camp to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, they'll have a persistent shadow.
To the good fortune of the Cincinnati Reds, Mario Soto is the Dominican pitching coach and he says, "I'll be watching them like a cat. I'll keep 'em out of trouble and working hard."
"From what I understand, a lot of players loafed and didn't do their work at the last WBC, but I'm going to make sure they do all their work and do it right," said Soto.
Soto says he doesn't believe the absences of Volquez and Cueto will hurt them in their preparation for their season with the Reds — unless they get hurt.
"Volquez will start the first game for the Dominican and Cueto probably will start the third game," said Soto.
Lincoln already ready
One of the most impressive pitchers in camp so far is one who doesn't really have to win a job — reliever Mike Lincoln — but he is throwing as if he thinks he needs to impress.
"He has been outstanding, so good it is scary," said pitcher coach Dick Pole. "You want them to start at a certain level and work up. You don't want them to start at the top and go backward."
Hidden ball trick
Manager Dusty Baker leaned against a screen and watched pitcher Micah Owings throwing a bullpen session.
"Man, he hides the ball so well," he said. "You can't see it until it leaves his hand. His changeup is really good and hiding the ball the way he does makes that changeup even more effective."
Back-Up Brigade
Minor-league pitchers Danny Herrera, Jeff Kennard (Centerville), Sam Lecure and Andy Pettyjohn best be prepared to get bus ride sores.
Whether they pitch in games or not, those four are the Backup Brigade for road exhibition games to make certain the Reds don't run out of pitching.
"My first year as pitching coach with the Cubs, the manager was Don Zimmer and the general manager was Jim Frey," said Reds pitching coach Dick Pole.
"We played an 11-inning game and it was still tied and I ran out of pitchers and we had to quit. I thought I was going to get fired and I said right then, 'I'll never again run out of pitching.' "
Quote of the day
Asked what he wants his players to show him this spring, manager Dusty Baker said, "I don't want them to show me anything. Just do the best they can. Be good every day and great some days. Play, learn, retain and win."
