Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings June 23, 2017 THIS DAY in REDS HISTORY 1963-The Reds Complete a Four-Game Sweep of Houston, Allowing Only One Run
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Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings June 23, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1963-The Reds complete a four-game sweep of Houston, allowing only one run. Jim O’Toole, Jim Maloney, Bob Purkey, Jim Tsitouris and Joe Nuxhall combined to pitch 32 consecutive scoreless innings MLB.COM Inbox: Can the Reds depend on Bailey? Beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers questions from fans By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | June 22nd, 2017 + 43 COMMENTS What can the Reds expect from Homer Bailey? -- Charlie on Facebook live It's a good question. Bailey will be activated from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday to make his season debut vs. the Nationals. He's a bit of an X-factor, because it's hard to place high expectations on someone who has had three elbow surgeries and only eight starts since August 2014. The last surgery was Feb. 18 to remove bone chips. But based on his rehab assignment numbers, they should expect some length and dependability. The rotation has averaged 4.93 innings per start this season. If Bailey can just go six or seven innings and keep the team in the game, the lineup should be able to do its part. What is Zack Cozart's prognosis on the DL with a right quad strain? -- Molly on Facebook live Cozart, who went on the DL on Monday, was expecting to begin baseball activity on Friday in Washington after a few days of rest. He was optimistic that he could be ready for activation on the first day he is eligible, which is Wednesday. Players often have a speedier timetable than management or the medical staff, so we shall see. How much will this DL stint hurt the trade possibility of Cozart? -- Greg H. Probably not much. What hurts more is a lack of teams in need of a shortstop. The Orioles just lost JJ Hardy to an injury for a while, and that becomes one potential suitor as Baltimore is hovering around .500 in the American League East. But like was the case in the offseason, most teams seem to be set at shortstop. What should the Reds do with Jesse Winker? -- Ron H., Coloma, Mich. Keep letting him develop. The No. 2 prospect in the organization according to MLBPipeline.com, Winker is blocked at the moment with the Reds' corner outfield spots being set. The club has no plans to take away playing time from either left fielder Adam Duvall or right fielder Scott Schebler. Both players are hitting and playing well. Will Robert Stephenson make it as a starter for the Reds? -- Maury T., Cheviot, Ohio Even former first-round picks can go through development fits and struggles, and Stephenson apparently isn't exempt. His issue during his brief big league stints and during Spring Training was command in the strike zone. Even lately as he is being stretched out at Triple-A Louisville, he is still prone to walks. Stephenson has a 0.69 ERA in three starts since being sent down, but he has 10 walks and 11 strikeouts in 13 innings. That won't cut it in the big leagues, especially when the Reds need starting pitchers to be efficient, consistent and work deep into games. Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Top prospect Senzel promoted to Double-A RHP Mahle, No. 8 prospect, heads to Triple-A By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | June 22nd, 2017 + 3 COMMENTS Several promotions of Reds prospects were completed on Thursday, with the most notable being third baseman Nick Senzel moving up to Double-A Pensacola. Senzel, the No. 1 prospect in the organization according to MLBPipeline.com, batted .305/.371/.476 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 62 games for Class A Advanced Daytona. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft will turn 22 years old on June 29. Also going to Pensacola is first baseman Gavin LaValley (No. 25 prospect). Right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle is the most known of those going from Pensacola to Triple-A Louisville. The No. 8 prospect in the organization, Mahle was 7-3 with a 1.59 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 14 starts that also included a perfect game. Joining Mahle at Louisville is second baseman Shed Long (No. 13 prospect) and infielder Alex Blandino (No. 23 prospect). Among those going from Class A Dayton to Daytona is third baseman Brantley Bell. Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Votto: 'Just think of me as the Canadian Ichiro' C. Trent Rosecrans , [email protected] Published 11:15 a.m. ET June 22, 2017 | Updated 16 hours ago ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – If asked, Joey Votto would consider participating in the Home Run Derby at next month’s All-Star Game, but he hasn’t been asked. Votto, who entered Thursday tied for second in the National League in home runs with 20, has never participated in the derby. He nearly did it in 2010, he said, but he was voted into the game later and deferred. Once he’s in it, Votto said, he believes he has as good of a chance as anyone to win, he said. “Do I think I can win it? Of course,” he said. None of his teammates doubt him. “If he really sold out and said, 'I'm going to win this,’ there's a good chance he would do it,” said Adam Duvall, who has 16 home runs and reached the semifinals last year in San Diego, falling to defending champion and former Red third baseman Todd Frazier. “With him, that's probably anything. Anything that he really sets out to do, that he wants to win, he can do it – whatever it is.” Votto is currently hitting home runs at a higher rate than he has at any point in his career, one every 15.65 plate appearances. Votto certainly has power, but he’s more known for his plate discipline and all-around hitting abilities. In that regard, he’s up there with another yearly fashionable pick to win the Home Run Derby – Ichiro Suzuki. Before last year’s All-Star Game in San Diego, Barry Bonds said he thought Suzuki could win the derby if he participated. Anyone who has seen Suzuki hit home runs at will in batting practice wouldn’t doubt it. “Just think of me as the Canadian Ichiro – Japan has theirs and Canada has theirs,” Votto joked when asked about similarities to Suzuki. “Yes, I could pull homers into the seats at will.” Batting practice shows don’t interest Votto. His batting practices are more workshop and less show. “I don't know how he'd do, but I think he'd be great,” said Scott Schebler, who also has 20 homers. “You just watch him as a hitter and he'd figure it out, not a big deal. He doesn't show off in BP, so it's hard to imagine. But I think he'd be just fine. Goodness gracious a hitter like him, it doesn't take him long to figure stuff out. I think he'd be just fine.” Votto and Schebler are the first Reds teammates to have at least 20 homers in the first 71 games of the season since 1970, when Tony Perez had 26 through 71 games and Johnny Bench had 25. Duvall currently has 16 home runs and the three could become just the second Reds trio to have 20 or more homers at the All-Star break since 1970, when Perez had 29, Bench 28 and Lee May 20. None of the three have been approached by Major League Baseball about participating in this year’s derby, they said. Votto said he’d only participate if he made the All-Star team. Duvall said he’d consider participating if he wasn’t an All-Star and Schebler said if asked, he’d do it regardless. Last year, neither of the finalists, Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins or Frazier, were All-Stars. “That's a tough one,” said Duvall, an All-Star a year ago. “It is something that's related to being an All-Star, I think. But I think I would consider it.” Schebler said he’s participated in minor-league home run derbies and enjoyed the experience. To do it in the big leagues? “That'd be freakin' awesome,” Schebler said. “That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it's not something that goes through my head on a regular basis, I've got a lot of other things to worry about other than that.” TRANSACTIONS 06/23/17 Minnesota Twins placed SS Ehire Adrianza on the 10-day disabled list. Abdominal issues. Minnesota Twins optioned LHP Nik Turley to Rochester Red Wings. Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Gabriel Ynoa to Norfolk Tides. Oakland Athletics sent SS Marcus Semien on a rehab assignment to Stockton Ports. 06/22/17 St. Louis Cardinals signed CF Chase Pinder. Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Jacob Webb. Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Steven Jennings. Mike Broadway assigned to Montgomery Biscuits from Tampa Bay Rays.