FOR A FEW
DAYS AT LEAST, THE REDS HAVE AMPLE LEFTIES FACING PHILLIES
6.27.10
BY:MEH
BACK IN RED; BILL BRAY
FOR A FEW DAYS AT LEAST,
THE REDS HAVE AMPLE LEFTIES FACING PHILLIES
Left-handed reliever Bill Bray's last appearance wearing a Reds uniform was
during their final game of the 2008 season. Bray missed the entire next
season rehabbing Tommy John surgery he received on May 19, 2009. After over
thirteen months of recovery, Mr. Bray is back in the Reds bullpen.
“I think this is better than when I was called up to the majors for the
first time,"
Bray said.
"Things have been going good for me, I feel good. I’ve been bouncing back
good, been able to go back-to-back days, pitch three times in four days, so
I can do what is expected of me here.”
In 10.1 innings pitched between A Lynchburg and AAA Louisville this season,
Bray struck out sixteen batters, walked three, allowed three hits, and
failed to let up a run. Sam LeCure (1-4, 4.86)
was sent down to AAA make room for Bray on the Reds' roster.
“(Bray) seemed to understand,”
Baker said.
“He understood why we were doing it. I told him that he can
pitch here in the big leagues. Just go down there and perfect his stuff even
more and there’s a good chance he’ll be back. Learn from whatever experience
he had here.”
The move leaves the Reds will only four starting pitchers, but one will not
be needed until after their three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies
this week. The Phillies are loaded with left-handed hitters and Dusty Baker
likes the idea of having three lefty relievers available while playing the
2008 World Series Champions.
Left-hander Travis Wood (5-6, 3.12) struck out nine batters during eight
innings of shutout baseball
on Friday for Louisville. Sam LeCure's former spot in the Reds' rotation
will fall on Thursday while Wood's falls on Wednesday for Louisville. Wood
could easily be pushed back a day to start against Carlos Silva (8-2, 3.01)
and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field on Thursday making his major league
debut.
A coinciding move will need to made when the Reds decide on a starter.
Expect Bill Bray to remain with the Reds. Bray has pitched very effectively
while rehabbing in the minors and has a track record in the majors since
2006 (8-7, 3.86). With Jordan Smith's sound transition into the majors (6.2
innings, 1.35 ERA) and great improvement from Nick Masset and Logan
Ondrusek, left-hander Danny Herrera (1-3. 4.09) may become temporarily out
of the mix. In the meantime, we will enjoy the extra left-handed manpower
against the Phillies.
“Sometimes when you are trying to win a pennant,"
Dusty Baker said.
"You have to make these temporary, auxiliary moves."
For those who reside under rocks (not that there's anything wrong with
that), the Reds signed Gary Matthews Jr. to a minor league deal and he
reported to Louisville on Thursday night. Matthews Jr. started for the Bats
against Norfolk on Saturday and Sunday with mixed results. On Saturday
Matthews Jr. struck out five times and went 3-5 with a double and a run on
Sunday.
Matthews Jr. was released on June 15 by the Mets after batting .190 in 65
plate appearances. The Mets acquired Matthews Jr. from the Angels prior to
the 2009 season. After an All-Star season with the Texas Rangers during 2006
(.313, 19HR, 79RBI), Matthews Jr. signed a 5-year $50 million contract with
the Angels. Through '07-'09 Matthews Jr. batted .248, hit 30 homeruns, and
drove in 168 runs. Matthews Jr. will become the everyday centerfielder at
Louisville.
"In the past, he
showed that if he plays a lot, he's a better player,"
general manager Walt Jocketty said.
"He hasn't had that opportunity with the Angels or Mets the last couple of
years. Hopefully, if he can get back, at some point he can help us at the
Major League level. This is a very inexpensive option to add depth, but we
think he's going to take a little while."
The Reds will begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at
Great American Ballpark on Monday. Go Reds!!!
MON: Jonny Cueto (7-2, 3.97) vs. Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 4.71)
TUE: Mike Leake (5-1, 2.92) vs. Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.53)
WED: Aaron Harang (6-7, 5.07) vs. Roy Halladay (9-6, 2.29)
*Update-Bill
Bray pitched the ninth inning for the Reds on Monday against the Phillies.
With the Reds leading 7-1 after Johnny Cueto pitched eight innings of one
run ball, Bray stepped onto a major league mound for the first time in
almost two years. Bray allowed two runs on two hits, but secured the win for
the Reds.
Lance McAlister speculated a interesting move for the Reds on his 700wlw
show Monday. Lance proposed the idea that Aaron Harang should be moved back
to start on Thursday against the Cubs at Wrigley allowing Travis Wood to
pitch on Wednesday. The move would not only give Harang an extra day of
rest, but would keep Wood on his regular pitching schedule. The left-handed
Wood would face the Phillies' lefty-stacked lineup (instead of a Cubs' that
prefers hitting lefties) and he would comfortably make his major league
debut at home.
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ENQUIRER
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still thinking of Joe
PAUL DAUGHERTY
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