Homer Bailey is one sick dude.

by greg456 on Jul 2, 2006 10:31 PM EDT

5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

He is now 3-0 through three AA starts with some insane numbers.

17 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 22 K

I really don't wanna see this guy rushed, but Wayne's gotta be feeling a little pressure at this point.

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Krivsky

The way he sounded on television earlier in the week, I don't think he's going to budge.

by Blue on Jul 2, 2006 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

The biggest problem with bringing him up, is that he still seems to be on a strict pitch count. The first sign that they are considering a call-up, might be that they let him go a little deeper into games.

by matchu522 on Jul 2, 2006 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

One more thing

I was listening to Tracy Jones after today's debacle, and he was screaming to bring him up now.

(I know, I know...should never listen to sportstalk radio, but it's a habit that is hard to break)

But as he was drilling caller after caller on this, he kept asking if anyone could think of a good reason not to bring him up. Noone could, but it got me to thinking. I was able to come up with one - Ryan Wagner.

There is no doubt that Wagner was rushed to the bigs, and I think everyone can remember the level of success he had up here when he finally got here. I think everyone can also remember the brutal flame-out his career has become to this point.

Now, I'm not trying to say that Homer would become another Ryan Wagner, nor am I saying that Wagner is beyond hope. But I think Kriv has the best long term interests of the club at heart.

I, for one, would rather see the team take their time with Homer, even if it means that he is not pitching with the Reds until September - with the thought that I would rather have him for the next 5 years down the road more than I would rather risk calling him up for a few months this year and possibly screwing him up. If the stories about him are true, he sounds like a #1 pitcher...something we have not had since who...Rijo? That makes Homer like fine china to me.

Does this make me a bad person? :)

"I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball" - Pete Rose

by Officer Dibble on Jul 2, 2006 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Great points

about the comparison to Wagner. I think Homer shouldn't be rushed for the sake of the long term. But the only thing I disagree on is that I think we not only have one ace on the staff presently, but two in Arroyo and Harang. Good post though, you're right on.

by harangatang on Jul 3, 2006 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Bailey

You have an interesting take on Bailey. I say that because you think that the difference between calling him up now and calling him up when Krivsky is ready is just two months. I hope you're right.

With that being said, I see no reason why he could not survive in the Reds bullpen immediately. Actually, considering how the Twins handled Francisco Liriano, I would not be surprised to see Wayne take this route before too long.

by Blue on Jul 3, 2006 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions

You all

forget that Liriano spent all of last year in AAA.

by DisplacedFan on Jul 3, 2006 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

pitch development

We are seeing that Bailey's fastball can dominate AA hitters. Great easy motion, lots of speed. But his curve, while definitely a plus pitch, is not under control yet. And his change is still a minus, from what I've heard. The difference between last year and this, is that in 2006 Bailey is apparently not operating under orders to throw his other pitches x% of the time or whatever, whether they get hit hard or not. I'd rather he work on these in the minors than in a major-league trial-by-fire.

Where is Soto right now, and how soon can the Reds get him back to teaching Changeups 101?

After Ryan Wagner, it would be extraordinarily disappointing if that sort of thing happened again.

by DevilsAdvocate on Jul 3, 2006 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

I gotta agree, unfortunately.

I heard the Jones segment the other night too. Soooo....I'm a nerd too o.k.?
But I don't think it's just about being fragile. He has the room to make mistakes, and he WILL before he's done with the minors. I'd preffer to see him put pressure on himself to make it to the bigs through the process everyone else goes through, instead of stressing out about throwing harder once he's lit up, in order to stay up here.

As much as I'd like to see something with a pulse in our pen, I applaud the K'Kreme for waiting. So far, doing the opposite of everything Bowden or Dano would do has worked. I think Krivsky makes every choice in his day by asking himself, "WWBODD?" and then not doing it. Being a great GM is that simple, I'm convinced.

"When I am king, to avoid any further confusion, football will be called football and soccer will be called fagball." -Adam Corolla

by sukr on Jul 3, 2006 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

WWBODD?

I've already started manufacturing the WWBODD? bracelet. I figure there's at least 28 GMs that would buy them (the two others being JimBo himself and Bob Melvin (or is Doug? Which one is the GM?).

by Slyde on Jul 3, 2006 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions