Edinson Volquez

by Dfarth on Mar 16, 2008 2:42 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

I just wanted to point out that Everyday Edinson is having himself a nice Spring. For the most part, the majority of the hype so far has been on Johnny Cueto. Some experts have even penciled Johnny Cueto into the Reds rotation - and for solid reasoning considering his strong spring. Volquez, however, has been very good himself. He threw 5 scoreless innings today against a Phillies lineup that included three of the best hitters in the NL (Utley, Rollins, and Howard). His ERA is down to 3.46 and he has a very good 19/3 K/BB in 13 innings. I'm curious if everyone thinks that the Reds will really start Volquez and Cueto over the vets and Bailey or will the kids get sent back to AAA. Knowing Baker, it maybe hard to tell....

Poll

Assuming Cueto makes the Reds Rotation, who will be the 5th starter?

Jeremy Affeldt

10 votes

Edinson Volquez

58 votes

Homer Bailey

27 votes

Matt Belisle

22 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 15 comments

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Comments

Volquez will start

If for no other reason than to save face over the Josh Hamilton trade, Krivsky will make sure Volquez is in the rotation. Hamilton is looking like he will blow up the AL this year, so the Reds need to show they got considerable fair value in return.

I don't see Affeldt or Belisle holding the #5 spot if Volquez is ready, which it looks like he is. Cueto is another story, since he has plenty of options and came up through the system. They may wait until May or June to see where they are in the NL Central race. If they need a shot in the arm, they could go to Cueto (and Bailey) at that point.

by TigerFanInCleveland on Mar 16, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

that the Reds will end up looking better in that deal.

by RollingWave on Mar 16, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

With affeldt, the reds kind of see him as a reliever then as a starter and Belisle isn't that good so Volquez most likely could be the 5th starter or even the 4th starter becuase he has more experience than Cueto.

Not to mention Bailey is probably going to start the year in the minors.

by NYYLover1000 on Mar 16, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Volquez isn't in the rotation

its going to be a shame. He has done nothing this spring to suggest he shouldn't be. 19 strikeouts in 13 innings doesn't get you into the rotation? Come on now.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Mar 16, 2008 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If...

Volquez finally cured those command issues of his i think he could do well in Cincinatti. He'll probably have a nice little season and if he's lucky, make a run at NL RoY? Unless he's not eligible anymore, but i think he is.

by deadboy on Mar 16, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He isn't

eligible for ROY.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Mar 16, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Had a debate

with a guy on the Royals blog. I said I would trade DeJesus for Volquez straight up. I felt that E.Q. has pretty much got it together and the risk was worth the upside. We'll see how it plays out.

by Yoda on Mar 16, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol

I love DeJesus, I think he's going to have a great year, but I'd trade him for Volquez in an instant.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Mar 16, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Volquez

Belisle might be an interesting buy-low for another team.

by bootsy on Mar 16, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Volquez overrated

Edinson Volquez will probably start the year in the Reds rotation, but I will be shocked if he finishes the year in the rotation. IMO, he's a set up man long term, not a starter. He doesn't have the breaking ball or command/control to succeed as a starter in MLB. But his fastball/changeup combo would be very effective over 1-2 inning stints.

I think Cueto is far and away the Reds best pitching prospect. Homer Bailey is also one of the most overrated prospects in MLB. His command/control is very poor, he doesn't have a 3rd pitch, good control of his curve, and his velocity is not as good as advertized. I am not shocked to see that he has strugged in the major leagues and so far in Spring Training. He's still young, so he could improve, but he has not progressed at all over the last two seasons. I wanted the Tigers to draft him in the 2004 draft, but after seeing Bailey (and seeing how Verlander has performed for the Tigers), I am very glad they passed on him.

by grandslam84 on Mar 16, 2008 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Question

Have you even watched Volquez or Bailey at all this year?

Bailey's command is solid from the wind up, its from the stretch he has problems and has fallen apart. On top of that, his change up has improved leaps and bounds from what I've seen this spring. His velocity has been exactly as advertised. He'll be fine, he just needs more reps. The kid is 21. TWENTY ONE. He was rushed, but I have confidence this kid will make it. Maybe not this year, but he'll be just fine barring something unfortunate.

As for Volquez, he's been downright filthy. His curve was on today, and from what I've seen all spring its been a good one, he's just left it up from time to time.

With both kids, I see starting pitchers who are going to be in the rotation, whether thats to start the season or not. I see two kids, both with 3 quality pitches, with Volquez needing to refine his mechanics and stuff a bit - but the potential and talent is blatently obvious.

by cincyinco on Mar 16, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you are right for Cincy's sake

I have not had the opportunity to watch any of Volquez or Bailey's Spring Training starts. But I did watch them both start a few games last season, and my impressions of them were what I stated above.

Texas' GM, Daniels, does not have the greatest trade record (i.e. trading Chris Young), but I have a hard time believing that he would have traded Edinson Volquez had his pitching starved organization believed Volquez would turn into a top of the rotation starter. I have no doubt Volquez has a great fastball and changeup, but I am not yet sold that he has turned the corner command/control wise and developed a decent breaking ball from a few Spring Training starts. I still have doubts that he will stick as a starting pitcher.

You are right that Homer Bailey is very young, but I don't think you can automatically assume that his command/control and changeup will improve in the future because of his youth. He probably does need at least one more year in AAA in order to learn how to pitch, improve his secondary offerings, and hone his command/control. He probably overpowered lower level minor leaguers with his fastball, but that is not a strategy that works in MLB, especially if a pitcher does not have great fastball command.

by grandslam84 on Mar 16, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re Bailey last year

You do know that he was hurt for most of last year right? Starting in May he had two separate groin pulls that led to two different disabled list stints. He wasn't the same guy for the better part of last year that he actually is.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Mar 16, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

I figured from your post you were referring to last year... sounded a lot like last year.

I know its only spring, but from what I've seen with my eyes both guys have 3 usable pitches - they just have things they have to work on.

Volquez has looked pretty darn good. He's reportedly working on a slider and my junk the curve, but from what I've seen the curve is solid - he just needs to locate that pitch better. The rest is fine.

Homer looks better to me this spring as far as his command goes and his change up appears to have made some major strides IMO. Again though, when pitching from the stretch his command falls apart. Thats where he needs work, repetitions. He should probably start in AAA.

In any case, both pitchers I think look good. They flash the stuff. They appear to have improved their stuff(particularly Bailey), at least from my eyes.

Do both have things to work on? Absolutely. Is the talent there? Absolutely. Will they put it together? Remains to be seen, but thats the fun part now isn't it?

by cincyinco on Mar 16, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EV

Ive seen EV pitch in Frisco, Ive seen EV pitch in OKC and ive seen EV pitch on TV in arlington, and im pleasently suprised with how well hes doing.

EV is a feast or fammin guy. As good as he is, at some point hell come back to earth. The problem there is that alot of his problems have to do with whats doing on between the ears aswell as the location of his pitches.

Do you know that EV missed a bullpen session last year in OKC right before has was to be called up to the majors and it cost him the chance to come up until much latter in the year? Hes had a couple of instances like that throughout his career.

I want EV to do well, but im really not going to jump on his bandwagon just yet. Let him do a few starts in Cincinati first.

Batting practice tomorrow you be there....I have Pop, everyday

by laxtonto on Mar 17, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs