playing in center field......

https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/news/arizona-fall-league-update-matt-mclain-starts-in-center-field-for-cincinnati-reds-01jbd8safrf1

(10-30-2024, 01:09 PM)Goalpost Wrote: playing in center field......

https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/news/arizona-fall-league-update-matt-mclain-starts-in-center-field-for-cincinnati-reds-01jbd8safrf1

He should be playing at SS 

(10-30-2024, 08:49 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: He should be playing at SS 

If he has the legs for it, why not CF?

Reds are just light on outfield prospects and have a glut of infield players.  And, after their top 2 pitching prospects, Lowder and Burns,  is another wave of infielders....Collier, Arroyo, and Stewart.

If McLain works out at CF, that would mean we have our two best defenders in the two most important defensive positions on the field. So I approve of this. I often felt he was being wasted at 2nd base. Elly belongs at SS and moving him to 3B to get McLain at SS would have felt like a waste of defensive talent, but this is a really good alternative to maximize our defensive prowess.

A Reds name to follow pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

Top fastball velocities:

101.8 mph -- Luis Mey, CIN
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.6 mph -- Mey
101.5 mph -- Mey

The 23-year-old Mey is turning heads as the Fall League’s most electric closer for Glendale. He doesn’t only own the five hardest-tracked fastballs, he owns the top 16. No other player has eclipsed triple digits from the mound this fall other than Mey.

(11-05-2024, 04:24 PM)Goalpost Wrote: A Reds name to follow pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

Top fastball velocities:

101.8 mph -- Luis Mey, CIN
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.6 mph -- Mey
101.5 mph -- Mey

The 23-year-old Mey is turning heads as the Fall League’s most electric closer for Glendale. He doesn’t only own the five hardest-tracked fastballs, he owns the top 16. No other player has eclipsed triple digits from the mound this fall other than Mey.

I see stats like that and my brain just starts screaming that it's an inevitability... 

(11-05-2024, 04:24 PM)Goalpost Wrote: A Reds name to follow pitching in the Arizona Fall League.

Top fastball velocities:

101.8 mph -- Luis Mey, CIN
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.7 mph -- Mey
101.6 mph -- Mey
101.5 mph -- Mey

The 23-year-old Mey is turning heads as the Fall League’s most electric closer for Glendale. He doesn’t only own the five hardest-tracked fastballs, he owns the top 16. No other player has eclipsed triple digits from the mound this fall other than Mey.

Kevin has him eyes for his #1 pick in FBB next season!   Just joking with you, Kevin. Damn sure impressive. 

https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-arizona-fall-league-roundup-2024
Sheldon's article has me pumped.

I'm going out there and saying that they don't need to sign big FAs. I always believed in CES and if they still have France, that's a hell of a 1-2 punch. Spread out Stephenson and France in the lineup because they are both excellent at going to the opposite field, RF.

McLain only played in 13 games, hit a semi-weak .240, but had 4 homers in those 13 games playing at 2B, 3B and CF. I agree with Bengalsfan74. McLain should be at SS. For those of you that don't understand why I want EDLC in the outfield instead of McLain, watch this . . . sorry for the standard definition.




Arroyo back healthy, hopefully he keeps progressing.

Never heard of this kid before . . . from the article.
Unranked prospect Tyler Callihan missed a couple of months from June-August with a hand injury. Able to play in the AFL, Callihan batted .263 with a .762 OPS, two homers and 10 RBIs in 19 games. Normally a second baseman, the lefty hitter got significant playing time in left field.

"He started swinging the bat from Day 1 upon his return to the lineup in Double-A,” Farrell said. “He earned a promotion to Triple-A at the end of the year. We wanted to continue to get him at-bats and he just kept hitting.”

Luis Mey, 8 2/3 scoreless over 8 games, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts and 6 saves.

Jose Acuna working his way up the pipeline . . . also from the article
Another right-hander, Jose Acuna, impressed while posting a 2.77 ERA in four games -- including three starts. The 22-year-old walked 11 and struck out 16 over 13 innings. Acuna opened the '24 season in extended spring camp, but he pitched a combined 15 games with the Rookie-level ACL Reds, Double-A and Triple-A Louisville.

"He’s always shown an advanced feel to pitch and has some pitchability in his game,” Farrell said. “Continuing to build and log innings was important. He went out and made the Fall Stars team and had a really good fall.”

(11-17-2024, 12:58 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: I'm going out there and saying that they don't need to sign big FAs.

"We don't need better players, we'll just be healthier next year and young guys will get better." has worked approximately 0 times in the past despite it being the yearly offseason mantra and is why we are 0/19 on winning a postseason series with Bob Castellini and have the longest postseason advancement drought among all the major professional sports. 31-29 in a pandemic shortened season is our best record in over a decade.

(10-30-2024, 08:49 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: He should be playing at SS 

(10-30-2024, 08:51 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If he has the legs for it, why not CF?

Reds have to figure out where to put Candelario, EDLC, McLain, and India (assuming he doesn't get traded).

They could move EDLC to 3B or CF, but I would expect if they're trying McLain elsewhere, they are considering keeping EDLC at SS and India at 2B.
They are going to play Candelario somewhere with how much they are paying him.
Given Candelario isn't an overly great hitter, I wouldn't want him to be the primary DH, so he needs a spot in the INF.

If McLain can show he can play CF, that helps the team out tremendously I think.
I would assume it would only be periodically anyway to give Friedl a rest day.