Many options, few spots

[The Entertainer]

[quote][size=3][b]Many options, few spots[/b][/size]
Lots of competition to make Reds' final roster cut

BY JOHN FAY | JFAY@ENQUIRER.COM


SARASOTA, Fla. - Picking the roster on March 5 is a tricky proposition. But you can get a pretty clear picture of the 25 players the Reds will bring north.

In the Reds' case, there are two big variables: Will they go with two or three catchers? Will they go with 11 or 12 pitchers?

Either way, one thing is certain: There are not a lot of spots up for grabs. In fact, if you count Josh Hamilton as on the roster - and we are - 23 of the 25 spots are pretty much spoken for. And, if they go with 12 pitchers, only one spot for a position player is open.

"There's like five, six, seven guys in the mix for the last spot," Reds manager Jerry Narron.

One of those is the running, Jeff Keppinger, isn't anymore, because he's out four to six weeks with a broken right ring finger.

That leaves infielder Mark Bellhorn, outfielders Chris Denorfia, Norris Hopper and Bubba Crosby, and catcher Chad Moeller at the top of the list for the last spot.

If the Reds go with 11 pitchers, two of the five could make it.

The question may come down to what kind of player the Reds want.

"Whether it would be strictly an outfielder, or somebody who could play a little of both, whether it would be a defensive replacement in the outfield, whether it would be a left-handed bat, right-handed bat," Narron said. "There's a lot that goes into it."

First let's look at what's set. Basically, if you count Hamilton, who must remain on the 25-man roster or be offered back to Tampa Bay, barring injury or trade, 23 spots are fairly easy calls:

Four starters: Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Kyle Lohse and Eric Milton.

Seven other pitchers: Matt Belisle, Bill Bray, Todd Coffey, Rheal Cormier, Kirk Saarloos, Mike Stanton and David Weathers. Saarloos and Belisle could be the fifth starter or in the bullpen.

Two catchers: David Ross and Javier Valentin.

Six infielders: Juan Castro, Jeff Conine, Edwin Encarnacion, Alex Gonzalez, Scott Hatteberg and Brandon Phillips.

Four outfielders: Adam Dunn, Ryan Freel, Ken Griffey Jr. and Hamilton.

Bellhorn is the only infielder in the mix for the remaining spots. He has versatility on his side. He can play first, second and third base and he's a switch-hitter.

He hit .264 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI in '04. He's hit .201 in two years since.

He's looked good early in camp. He has a home run and five RBI.

"He's looked good everywhere we've put him," Narron said.

Bellhorn signed a minor-league deal with the Reds because he thought he'd be a good fit.

"A person like myself who can play different positions, hit from both sides of the plate, do a bit of everything, the National League is a good fit," he said. "I know Jerry likes to use his bench a lot. I can help out in those situations. It's an opportunity to play."

The downside with Bellhorn is he strikes out a great deal - 718 times in 2,093 big-league at-bats.

If Bellhorn doesn't make it, Ryan Freel would be used as an infielder as well as an outfielder.

Crosby, Denorfia and Hopper are similar players. All are solid defensively and can play all three outfield positions. None of the three has much power. Crosby is on a major-league contract; Hopper and Denorfia have options.

The Reds carried three catchers all of last year. Moeller has a great reputation as far as working with pitchers. "Everybody who's ever thrown to him likes to throw to him," Narron said.

The decisions for the last pitching spots will be even more difficult. It will get more difficult still if Paul Wilson and Dustin Hermanson pitch their way into the Reds' plans.

The overall depth is better. A pitcher like Michael Gosling, who was in the running for the fifth starter's spot last year, isn't really in the conversation this year.

"We don't want to bring somebody up by default," Narron said. "We talked about trying to get guys in here in the spring where guys wouldn't make the team by default. They'd win the job. There'd be competition. I think we've got that."

The Reds are still nearly a month from Opening Day.

"A lot of it will probably go down to the last few days on health," Narron said. "A guy in my mind might have the club made today, and things happen with other players before the end of spring which might change things."

Who wins the fifth spot will affect the makeup of the bullpen. Saarloos and Belisle are competing for that spot. They'll end up in the bullpen if they don't win it.

That probably wouldn't be the case with Bobby Livingston, Elizardo Ramirez, Victor Santos or Phil Dumatrait. Player options will influence decisions. Livingston, Dumatrait and Ramirez have options.

"I hope everybody pitches well," Narron said. "I love for every guy to go out and throw up zeros and have a great argument to make the club."[/quote]



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[The Entertainer]

[quote][size=3][b]Roster breakdown [/b][/size]
Here's a look at how the Reds roster shapes up:


STARTING PITCHERS

In: Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Kyle Lohse and Eric Milton

On the bubble: Kirk Saarloos, Matt Belisle, Bobby Livingston, Paul Wilson, Elizardo Ramirez, Victor Santos, Phil Dumatrait

The skinny: Saarloos and Belisle will go to the bullpen if they don't win the fifth spot.

RELIEF PITCHERS

In: Bill Bray, Todd Coffey, Rheal Cormier, Kirk Saarloos, Mike Stanton and David Weathers, plus Saarloos or Belisle

On the bubble: Gary Majewski, Brian Shackelford, Brad Salmon, Jared Burton and Dustin Hermanson

The skinny: If Hermanson proves he's healthy, a tight situation gets tighter. Salmon's big arm intrigues the Reds. Burton is a Rule 5 guy.

CATCHERS

In: David Ross and Javier Valentin

On the bubble: Chad Moeller

The skinny: It's a question of how the Reds want to make up the roster.

INFIELDERS

In: Juan Castro, Jeff Conine, Edwin Encarnacion, Alex Gonzalez, Scott Hatteberg and Brandon Phillips

On the bubble: Mark Bellhorn

The skinny: The Reds could go with one extra infielder because Ryan Freel can play infield and outfield, and Conine can play first and outfield.

OUTFIELDERS

In: Adam Dunn, Ryan Freel, Ken Griffey Jr. and Josh Hamilton

On the bubble: Bubba Crosby, Chris Denorfia and Norris Hopper

The skinny: Because they have options, Hopper and Denorfia are likely to end up in Louisville.

John Fay[/quote]



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