Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 31,...

Cincinnati Reds

Press Clippings

March 31, 2018

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY

2003-Cincinnati hosts the opening of Great American Ball Park. The Reds lose to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-1, before a

sellout crowd of 42,343

MLB.COM

Reds sign Gallardo to one-year deal

By Daniel Kramer MLB.com @DKramer_

10:33 AM ET

Yovani Gallardo has found a new home.

The veteran starter, who was released by the Brewers on Monday from a one-year contract he signed this winter, has agreed to a

Major League contract with the Reds, the club announced Saturday. To make room for the 32-year-old right-hander, the Reds

optioned right-hander Zack Weiss to Triple-A Louisville and designated catcher Stuart Turner for assignment to clear a spot on the

40-man roster.

Gallardo had looked like a sneaky good pickup for the Brewers, who were seeking rotational depth to supplement their major lineup

upgrades over the winter. However, Gallardo struggled to an 0-1 record with a 4.73 ERA in eight Cactus League appearances.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell had said that releasing Gallardo was in part to create more roster flexibility in Milwaukee's

bullpen.

For the Reds, Gallardo brings extensive experience pitching in the National League Central, having played for the Brewers from

2007-14 before jumping to the American League for three seasons, with the Rangers, Orioles and Mariners. Over his 11-year career,

Gallardo is 113-93 with a 3.93 ERA over 1,722 1/3 innings.

Bailey duels, but Reds can't cash in on OD

By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon

Mar. 30th, 2018

CINCINNATI -- For the first time since 2014, Homer Bailey made it to the start of a season healthy and able to pitch. For the first

time in a big league career that began in 2007, Bailey started on Opening Day.

Although Bailey delivered a sound six-inning performance, while able to command and execute pitches like he did before elbow

injuries betrayed him three times, he couldn't match Nationals ace Max Scherzer in a 2-0 loss on Friday.

"I think I will be a little bit more satisfied when we pull out a win for that one," said Bailey, who gave up one earned run and four

hits with three walks and three strikeouts. "At the end of the day, you can look at [the fact] you threw well, but it's still an 'L.' That's

what is most important."

Scherzer struck out 10 over his six brilliant innings, with five hits and a walk. For Bailey, the game started with Adam Eaton's

single. With one out and two on, Ryan Zimmerman grounded to third base for a potential inning-ending double play. But Bryce

Harper made a good slide into second baseman Scooter Gennett that forced a throw in the dirt as Eaton scored.

"Baseball, win or lose, it's typically going to be by one or two runs. It's the little things that were the difference-makers in this

game," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Gennett went 4-for-4, including three hits off of Scherzer, but Cincinnati wasn't able to solve him enough to get any runs home.

Bailey, who had a 6.43 ERA in 18 starts last season after his return from a third elbow surgery, kept Washington off of the

scoreboard the rest of the day. Washington scored its other run on Brian Goodwin's sacrifice fly in the ninth against reliever Jared

Hughes.

"It's been a while," Price said of Bailey. "He had a really good idea of what he wanted to accomplish in Spring Training -- to get

really good command of his fastball, re-introduce the curveball in the mix. He had, really, all of his pitches and very, very good

fastball command. If this is a sign of things to come, it's a heck of a first start."

Bailey wasn't willing to take the moral victory. The real thing would have been much more to savor.

"Every game, you can find things you did well. You can find things you didn't do well," Bailey said. "To be satisfied with a good

loss is just not really in my nature or the rest of this stuff. We kind of hold ourselves a little bit higher. Hopefully we can help the

team pull out a few more wins."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Fighting through fourth inning: The Reds appeared to run Scherzer's pitch count up in a two-out jam in the fourth inning. First,

Gennett dueled in a 10-pitch at-bat and fouled off five straight pitches before hitting a single. Scott Schebler worked to a 3-1 count

before fouling off three in a row and hitting a single. But Scherzer shut the rally down by striking out Tucker Barnhart.

"We grinded out some at-bats against some tough pitching," Price said.

Collision in left-center: Bailey had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth and escaped the jam with his 104th pitch, but not

before some drama. Michael A. Taylor's fly ball to left-center field brought left fielder Jesse Winker and center fielder Billy

Hamilton together. Both called for the ball before the two collided. Winker came up with the catch for the third out. Neither player

was injured, and Hamilton could be seen laughing while lying on the ground. For the past two seasons, Adam Duvall has been next

to Hamilton in left field, but there is now an outfield rotation in place.

"Off the bat, I got a read on it. I peeked for Billy really early, and then I didn't peek again," Winker said. "It's his outfield. I'm just

over there to catch the balls to left. It's my fault. That one is on me."

QUOTABLE

"We kind of had him on the ropes and he just got out of it, fairly easily. I guess he just executes his pitches. I'm looking forward to

facing him again. As a rookie, as anybody, those are the matchups you look for -- Max Scherzer, the aces of anybody's staff.

Hopefully I can build a better of a book, results-wise, against him next time." -- Winker, on Scherzer

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The last Reds player to get four hits in an Opening Day game was Ramon Hernandez, who went 4-for-5 in 2011 and hit the walk-off

home run that defeated the Brewers.

WHAT'S NEXT

When the Reds continue their Opening Series with the Nationals on Saturday at 2:10 p.m. ET, Luis Castillo will get the start against

Stephen Strasburg. Gennett could be particularly dangerous for Strasburg, as he's 4-for-11 (.364) with three homers, a double and

six RBIs against him over his career.

Gennett 4-for-4, but only concerned with 0-1

Reds' 2B records 3 knocks off Scherzer, who otherwise proved stingy


Mar. 30th, 2018

CINCINNATI -- Sure, it's a small sample size for Scooter Gennett after he went 4-for-4 on Opening Day. Gennett is now batting

1.000 with a 2.250 OPS after one game. But there was only one stat that counted to the second baseman once the Reds finished

playing the Nationals on Friday.

Zero-and-one. That was Cincinnati's record after a 2-0 loss to Washington. Gennett notched three hits against ace Max Scherzer and

one against reliever Ryan Madson in a perfect personal day and a not-so-good day for the team.

"That's all that matters -- the loss today. Whether 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, I suffer the same way. It's not a good feeling," Gennett said.

With 10 strikeouts over six innings, Scherzer dominated the Reds' lineup, but not all of it. He could not retire Gennett.

In his first at-bat, Gennett hit a liner through the right side and hustled his way to second base for an easy double in the second

inning. With two outs in the fourth, during a 10-pitch at-bat, Gennett fouled off five consecutive pitches before hitting a single into

right field. In the sixth, Gennett lofted a soft single into short center field.

"When you're facing a guy like that, you can't watch strikes go by," Gennett said. "You get 0-1, you feel like you've already struck

out against a guy like that. For me, if it looks like a strike, I will swing and keep it that simple."

In the eighth, off Madson, Gennett singled for his fourth hit of the game. It was the first four-hit Opening Day game for a Reds

player since Ramon Hernandez did it vs. the Brewers in 2011, when he also hit a walk-off homer against the Brewers.

"You couldn't have a better day at the plate than Scooter did. Just really good professional at-bats," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Only one player last season managed a three-hit game off Scherzer: Michael Conforto of the Mets on April 23.

Entering the day, Gennett was 1-for-10 with five strikeouts in his career vs. Scherzer.

Scherzer struck out seven in a row after Gennett's double and allowed five hits overall.

"We needed to put balls in play," Price said. "We had some baserunners and some opportunities. However, when you don't put the

ball in play, you can't advance runners and nothing really happens. There's no advance."

Seven of the Reds' starting nine struck out against Scherzer at least once. Only Joey Votto and Gennett didn't go down on strikes.

But Votto didn't reach safely, until singling in the eighth, and Gennett only enjoyed some success on a tough afternoon against the

two-time defending National League Cy Young Award winner.

"He did his job today," Reds left fielder Jesse Winker said of Gennett. "I'm happy he got off on the right foot, and to do it against a

guy who is the best in the game."

The Reds were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.

"We couldn't get that timely hit in certain situations," Gennett said. "[Scherzer] is the type of guy that if you give him some

breathing room, he will take full advantage."

Hamilton at No. 9 part of Reds' lineup fluidity

Duvall comes off bench as Price will play matchups with outfielders; rookies experience first OD


Mar. 30th, 2018

CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Bryan Price promised before Spring Training that a four-man outfield rotation for the three spots

would be used. Price also indicated that speedy Billy Hamilton might not always be featured in his customary leadoff spot.

Both situations came to fruition on Opening Day against the Nationals on Friday. Left fielder Adam Duvall was on the bench and

Hamilton batted ninth, while Jesse Winker was the leadoff hitter and in left field. Expect lineup fluidity for the other 161 games,

too.

"This isn't a spot he's going to fill for the rest of the year," Price said of Hamilton. "There will be matchups where I like Billy more

at the top of the lineup than at the bottom. For today and this matchup, hitting ninth is fine. Another thing we talked about is he's

fully aware of how he's used this year."

Hamilton batted .170 during Spring Training and entered the season with a .298 career on-base percentage while mostly batting at

the top spot.

"I feel like it doesn't matter where I hit. I definitely want to get back up to one," Hamilton said. "I have to earn that spot again. It's

not going to be given to me. I'm a guy who takes on challenges."

Hamilton started 59 games in 2015 as the No. 9 hitter, and he prefers to bat there rather than in the eighth spot ahead of the pitcher.

"If I'm in the ninth hole, now I can steal, now I can do what I want to do," Hamilton said. "If you hit eighth, the pitcher has to bunt

you over, then I'm not able to use what I can do on the bases."

Price doesn't expect that Hamilton's spot in the lineup will always be first or ninth.

"There could be other circumstances where maybe he hits second," Price said. "Those are all exploratory-type circumstances."

Duvall given advance notice

Before making his lineup public, Price had already spoken one on one with Duvall during Thursday's workout and notified him he

would not be starting. It was a tough decision for Price, especially since Duvall has hit 30-plus homers in each of the past two

seasons.

"Because I didn't want him to show up and look at the lineup and see he's not in it," Price said. "This is a guy who has been really

good for our team, and me as manager in the way he goes about his business. This isn't an indictment. It has nothing to do with

Adam as much as it's I've got four guys that are going to play. Now I'm going to try to pick the best situations."

Each game going forward, someone among Duvall, Winker, Hamilton and Scott Schebler will have to sit.

"You want to have the good matchups, but you also have four guys who I think are regular outfielders," Price said. "I'm not going to

have anybody sitting on the bench for three, four or five days in a row. We'll keep these guys in the mix. We've got four really good

outfielders and another young kid in [Phillip] Ervin."

Rookies' first Opening Day

The Reds' Opening Day roster carries five rookies in Winker, Ervin and pitchers Tyler Mahle, Jackson Stephens and Zack Weiss.

Only Weiss didn't spend any time in the big leagues last season.

Winker was excited to take it all in, especially since Cincinnati has the tradition of being baseball's oldest professional team.

"I heard it's the best Opening Day in baseball. That's what everybody has told me," Winker said.

Although not a rookie, reliever Jared Hughes was thrilled to be part of his first Reds Opening Day. As a free agent, Hughes signed a

two-year, $4.5 million contract in December.

"I was here one year for it," Hughes said. "It is the best Opening Day in baseball. This is where it all began back in the day, in my

opinion. It's where it should all begin every year."

Worth noting

Major League Baseball notified teams of the official pools for Draft and international spending in 2018 on Wednesday. For the 2018

Draft, the Reds have an allotted pool figure of $10,887,600, and $5,946,400 for the fifth overall selection.

The international signing period begins July 2, and the Reds are among six clubs with the highest pool allotment -- $6,025,400.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Homer Bailey's brilliance not enough as Cincinnati Reds fall 2-0

John Fay, [email protected]

Published 7:19 p.m. ET March 30, 2018 | Updated 8:34 p.m. ET March 30, 2018

Homer Bailey pitched like, well, an Opening Day starter.

It was not enough for the Reds to win. They fell to the Washington Nationals 2-0 before a regular-season Great American Ball Park

record crowd of 43,787. Max Scherzer out-dueled Bailey. But it took the defending National League Cy Young winner at his best to

beat Bailey.

It was an Opening Day loss and that always is made much of in Redsland, but Bailey’s outing was a terrific sign for the 2018

season.

“It’s a great thing,” Price said. “It’s the first time he started the season healthy since 2014. It’s been a while. He had a really good

idea of what he wanted to accomplish in spring training. That was to get command of his fastball and re-introduce the curveball to

his mix. Today, he really had all of his pitches and very, very good fastball command.

“If this is a sign of things to come, it’s a heck of a first start.”

He went six innings and allowed one run on four hits. He walked three – two in his final inning of work – and struck out three – two

in his final inning of work. He threw 104 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Bailey followed his plan.

"That's not a team you can try to go out and get a whole lot strikeouts," Bailey said. "To get deep in the game, we were going to

have to get them to put it in play."

He did that. He didn't have a strikeout until the fifth. And he didn't look like a pitcher coming back from three elbow surgeries that

cost him most of the last three seasons.

That curveball Price talked about? Bailey said he hasn't been able to throw it for the last three years. Why?

"It hurt," he said.

The run Bailey gave up came in the first, an inning he could have escaped unscathed. Adam Eaton led off with a bloop single to

right. An out later, Bryce Harper hit a hard ground ball up the middle. Shortstop Jose Peraza got his glove on it but could not make

the play.

Ryan Zimmerman hit into what had the makings of 5-4-3 double play, but Scooter Gennett’s throw was in the dirt. Joey Votto could

not make the scoop. Eaton scored to make it 1-0.

"We were unable to turn the double play," Price said. "It was unfortunate… It's the little things. Baseball, you win or lose, it's

typically going to be by one or two runs. It's the little things that are difference makers in this game."

Bailey came out aggressively. Fifteen of the first 17 pitches he threw in the first were strikes.

One run looked like it might be enough for Scherzer.

After allowing a leadoff double to Gennett in the second, Scherzer struck out the side. He struck out the side again in the third and

started the fourth with a strikeout as well.

Votto ended the strikeout streak with a fly out. Two great at-bats gave the home fans a little hope. Gennett ended a 10-pitch at-bat

with a single to center. Scott Schebler followed with a nine-pitch at-bat that ended in a single, sending Gennett to third. Schebler

stole second. But Scherzer got Tucker Barnhart to swing over an 89 mph cutter to end the threat.

The high drama of the day came of in the sixth. Anthony Rendon led off with a single. Harper followed with a walk. But Bailey

struck out Zimmerman and Howie Kendrick. Bailey just missed on a 3-2 pitch to walk Trea Turner.

Bailey fell behind Michael Taylor 3-1. He got Taylor to swing through a slider, then foul one off.

Taylor lofted a high fly to left on a fastball.

Jesse Winker lost it in the sun. Billy Hamilton raced over when he realized Winker had lost it. The two collided and went down in a

heap. But Winker held on for the catch.

"It might not have stood out at the time, the 3-1 pitch to Taylor was a big one," Price said. "To get to 3-2 and eventually get him out

and leave the bases loaded."

Bailey, never one to boast or get too ebullient about anything, liked what he did against Taylor.

"Those (pitches) were really sweet," he said. "It was nice to get out of that. That was one of part of the game that can really define it.

To go six and (give up) one. You leave one middle-middle for him to hit a double… That was really a big spot in the game where

you had to pull through."

The Reds threaten with two outs in the eighth. Votto and Gennett singled against Ryan Madson, but Schebler grounded into the shift

at second to end it.

"We had some opportunities," Price said. "We were unable to do it."

The Nationals added a run in the ninth. Taylor led off with a perfect bunt. He stole second and went to third on a ground out. Brian

Goodwin got Taylor in with sacrifice fly to left. Winker's throw was a bit off line and Taylor avoided Barnhart's tag with a slide.

But the story of the day was Bailey. For the season to be good for the Reds, he's going to have to be good. He was good Friday. But

not good enough for his taste.

"I think I'll be more satisfied when he pull out a win," he said. "At the end of the day, you can look at you threw well. But it's still an

out. That's what's most important… To be satisfied with a good loss in not in my nature."

Reds outfielders Jesse Winker and Billy Hamilton collide in memorable Opening Day catch

Adam Baum, [email protected]


Hundreds of little things happen in a baseball game. Some carry immense weight and play a pivotal role in the outcome. Others are

inconsequential and easily forgotten. But, some leave a mark like a body shot from a heavyweight boxing champion in search of a

belt.

Cincinnati Reds rookie outfielder Jesse Winker will forever remember his first career Opening Day start. He'll also never forget

making the most exciting catch and the bruises that likely came with it in a 2-0 loss Friday evening to the Washington Nationals in

front of 43,878 fans – the most ever for a regular season game at Great American Ballpark.

In the sixth inning, with Reds right-hander Homer Bailey dealing deep into his first career start on Opening Day, Bailey waded into

some murky waters. The Nationals had bases loaded with two outs when Michael Taylor settled into the batter's box against a full

count.

Taylor lifted a drive – which traveled off his bat at a speed of 102 mph – into deep left-center field. Winker, in left, and Billy

Hamilton, in center, converged, both following it to the warning track while the space between them evaporated.

The ensuing collision coerced a robust reaction. Fans stood and stirred waiting to see if the ball was secure, and collectively held

their breath as Hamilton, who ended up on his back, and Winker, flat on his stomach, made it to their feet.

"Off the bat, bases were loaded I wanted to make a play," said Winker, who went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk. "Homer was

pitching his ass off and I just wanted to make a play for him, help him get out of that situation and I didn't hear Billy at all. I gotta be

better at that cause it's Billy's outfield when he's in center and it's Schebler's outfield when he's in center. I gotta be better at that.

That's 100 percent my fault. I'm just happy I hung onto it and we got out of it.

"I told Billy, 'We're not about to lay on the field, we're getting up and we're going off.' Luckily, we both ended up being okay. We'll

go back at it tomorrow."

The pair smiled and laughed as they ran from the outfield side-by-side and Winker opened his glove and let Hamilton reveal the

catch that kept it a one-run game.

On his Opening Day debut, Winker said: "It was cool. You're excited to come to the yard. You're excited to come play. Obviously,

I'd like to be a part of a win; help the team win one, but like you said, first Opening Day, it's a cool notch on the belt I guess."

Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price explains his surprising Opening Day lineup

John Fay, [email protected]


Reds manager Bryan Price’s Opening Day lineup against the Washington Nationals had a double surprise.

No Adam Duvall.

No Billy Hamilton in the leadoff spot.

Hamilton, in fact, was hitting ninth.

The lineup:

Jesse Winker LF

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Joey Votto 1B

Scooter Gennett 2B

Scott Schebler RF

Tucker Barnhart C

Jose Peraza SS

Homer Bailey P

Billy Hamilton CF

“(Hamilton will) be hitting leadoff as well this year,” Price said. “This isn't a spot he's going to fill for the rest of the year. There will

be matchups where I like Billy more at the top of the lineup than at the bottom. For today and this matchup, hitting ninth is fine.

Another thing we talked about is he's fully aware of how he's used this year.”

Hamilton hit leadoff in all 135 games he started last year. He’s hit leadoff in 499 of 626 career starts. He’s hit ninth 91 times. That,

of course, includes interleague games in which the DH is used.

Price has been clear all offseason that Hamilton was not guaranteed the leadoff spot.

“Bryan called me in and told me what the situation was, so it wouldn’t surprise me (Friday),” Hamilton said. “I’ve got to do

whatever I can to get to the top of the lineup. I feel like I’m a leadoff hitter. That’s where I should always be at.”

Winker doesn’t have Hamilton’s speed – nobody does – but Winker is more proficient than Hamilton at getting on base. Winker had

a .398 on-base percentage in the minors, and he got on base at a .375 clip last year in 47 games with the Reds.

Price has also been clear that he’ll use four outfielders. Duvall, the lone right-handed hitter in the foursome, was out Friday because

the Nationals were starting Max Scherzer. Left-handers have hit .243 off Scherzer in his career; right-handers have hit .189.

Still, it was hard to sit Duvall, who hit 31 home runs and drove in 99 last year.

“It’s really hard,” Price said. “I talked to Adam (Thursday) about it's because I didn’t want him to show up and look at the lineup

and see he’s not in it. This is a guy who has been really good for our team, and for me as a manager in the way he goes about his

business. This isn’t an indictment. It has nothing to do with Adam as much as it’s I’ve got four guys that are going to play. Now I’m

going to try to pick the best situations.

"Sentimentally, I’d like to have him run out there on Opening Day, but our goal as a team is to try and go out there and attack with

our best group.”

As for Hamilton, he’ll probably be hitting leadoff or ninth.

“There could be other circumstances where maybe he hits second,” Price said. "Those are all exploratory-type circumstances. For

me, I like him at the top or I like him, you can call it second leadoff or whatever you want, but hitting after the pitcher in the nine-

hole also works.”

Hamilton can change Price’s mind by getting on base more. Hamilton had a .299 on-base percentage last year, down from .321 the

year before.

“It’s going to be a challenge for me to get on the top of the lineup every day,” Hamilton said. “That’s where I want to be. I don’t

want come in and have to look at the lineup. It’s going to be a little different."

Luis Castillo embodies optimism Cincinnati Reds need in 2018

Adam Baum, [email protected]


Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luis Casillo made his major league debut in June last season against the Washington Nationals.

Saturday he'll get a much earlier start to the season against the same team at Great American Ball Park.

"I feel really happy the Reds gave me this opportunity," Castillo told reporters Friday. "That means that they trust me."

The 25-year-old is one of the more optimistic young pieces on the Reds' roster and there are plenty of reasons that trust was

extended to Castillo.

In 15 starts last season, he led all National League rookies in ERA (3.12) and opponents' batting average (.202) while posting the

eighth-most strikeouts (98) among rookies.

"Really want him to pick up where he left off and that was competing with good stuff in the zone," said Reds manager Bryan Price.

"He's worked very hard on commanding the glove side of the plate, away to a right-handed hitter which needs to be a strength area

for him and improving his slider which we've seen also.

"Mechanically, we've worked on a few things. (Pitching coach) Mack (Jenkins) and (assistant pitching/bullpen coach) Teddy

(Power) have worked on him to try to stabilize, make his delivery more repeatable so the pitch quality continues to improve, and

then just growth and experience. You know, you're kind of just throwing these guys into the fire and saying, 'Hey, go out there and

continue to learn and improve.' It's no different than any other young guy, however, not a lot of starting pitchers have that type of

stuff ... he's really good and he's comfortable in competition and he does a lot of things that put our team in a position to win. I'd like

to see him continue to develop and get better."

Castillo said his biggest focus going into his second major league season came between his ears.

"Mentally, that was the biggest improvement that I made," he said. "For me to be able to have a successful year this year I have to

be strong mentally and I think the spring was great and I feel good right now."

Castillo's 2017 record (3-7) is a little deceiving in that he only allowed more than three earned runs in two of his 15 starts, eight of

which were considered quality starts.

"You have experience, you know how things work in the big leagues," said Castillo. "You know the hitters as well. I've been

focused on that 100 percent, trying to study the hitters I'm gonna face."

On facing the Nationals for the third time in two years, Castillo said: "Last year my debut was against the Nationals so I kind of

know what kind of hitters I'm gonna face. I've been through the preparation. The big thing for me is to go out there and take care of

business and believe in my pitches."

THE ATHLETIC

The Reds might have lost, but getting 'Old Homer' back is a big win

By C. Trent Rosecrans Mar 31, 2018

CINCINNATI – Tucker Barnhart hadn't really seen the Homer Bailey of old up close, the two no-hitter Homer Bailey that signed a

massive contract.

Barnhart, 27, had yet to catch a game above Double-A when Bailey became just the third Reds pitcher to notch multiple no-hitters.

As Barnhart sat in the Reds' dugout during Friday's 2-0 Opening Day loss to the Nationals, the Gold Glover had to turn to Devin

Mesoraco, himself just 29, to be sure of the comparison.

“Old Homer,” Barnhart said. “Devin and I were talking as the game was progressing and talking about the innings and his fastball

command, it was outstanding. That's how he pitches when he's right.”

Bailey threw just two balls in the first inning and finished with 67 strikes of his 104 pitches on the night. The 64-percent strike rate

wasn't that far off of his 62-percent strike rate of a year ago, but it was the quality of the location. In baseball lingo, control is the

ability to throw strikes, command is to put the ball where you want.

Friday, Bailey commanded his fastball.

“We were elevating, we were pitching down, pitching to all four quadrants to the zone – down in, down and away, up and in, up and

away,” Barnhart said. “He was old Homer today.”

Old Homer did what he needed to do, going six innings and nearly matching reigning National League Cy Young winner Max

Scherzer, who struck out 10 Reds in his six shutout innings.

Bailey allowed just one run, that coming in the first when he easily could have gotten out unscathed if not for two defensive plays

that didn't go his way.

Adam Eaton led off the game with a broken-bat single and went from first-to-third on Bryce Harper's single that went just past

shortstop José Peraza on the first-base side of second. Ryan Zimmerman then hit a double-play ball to third, but Harper slid hard

and second baseman Scooter Gennett one-hopped a ball that went in and out of the glove of first baseman Joey Votto, allowing the

run to score.

That would be it for Bailey. He allowed runners on base again in just the third (and walk and an infield single) and then in the sixth

(two walks and a single).

“His command was a little more finite than we've seen both in spring training and I can only use last year as a barometer because we

really haven't seen him healthy, even though he was healthy last year, he was not completely himself,” Reds manager Bryan Price

said. “What I've noticed is he's got that really good, crisp fastball command. He's throwing a ton of strikes, working ahead and

executing better pitches when he's ahead, mostly fastball, slider today from what I could notice.”

He also had another old friend, the curveball.

Bailey only threw the curveball eight times, according to MLB.com's Gameday app, but he threw it for a strike five of those,

including a swinging strike, a called strike and using it to induce a groundout.

In 2013, Bailey's best season, he threw the curveball 11.9 percent of the time, according to FanGraphs.com. He was down to using it

4.4 percent of the time last year. The reason was simple – “It hurt,” Bailey said.

Barnhart said at times last season, they'd hold onto the pitch, kind of as a last resort and likely in a situation where he could get out

of an inning because recovering from throwing that pitch was just too much.

“I can't imagine what that's like, a pitch that you know you need to rely on that you can't go to, it's got to be frustrating,” Barnhart

said.

After every bullpen or outing this spring, the two would talk and bring up the curveball. The pitch was improved, but so too was

Bailey's ability to throw it without pain.

Of all his pitches, the three surgeries to his right elbow area impacted the curveball the most. Through flexor mass surgery, Tommy

John surgery and the removal of bone spurs, Bailey is finally healthy. He's able to throw his fastball where he wants to and his

curveball at will.

“There was once a time when I had a pretty good one, so to get it back,” Bailey said.

The biggest curveball didn't make a huge difference in the game, but the confidence to use it showed it's a pitch that is back in the

repertoire. Down 2-1 to Harper in the sixth, he got a called strike on the pitch down in the zone to make it 2-2. He came back with

another that was called a ball before walking him.

Then, with the bases loaded, he threw a 0-1 curveball to Trea Turner for a ball, his final curve of the night.

More than the curveball or the fastball command, the biggest thing Bailey was able to show on Friday was that he was back on the

mound, pitching six innings and giving his team a chance to win.

As the rotation stands, none of the other four pitchers in the team's rotation was older than 14 when Bailey made his big-league

debut in 2007. Monday's starter, Tyler Mahle, was still in high school for Bailey's first no-hitter.

“You get to that point where Homer's throwing 190-plus, 200, 200-plus innings, that's the sign of a good year regardless of if it's

win-loss is really good or your hits-per-innings pitched or whatever else,” Price said. “If he's staying in games six innings or more,

six and seven innings, and it's going to be a very good sign that he's back on top of his game.”

Jesse Winker on spectacular collision with Billy Hamilton: 'That one's on me'

By Shannon Russell Mar 31, 2018

CINCINNATI – One of the Cincinnati Reds’ biggest defensive plays Friday at Great American Ball Park nearly ended in disaster as

left fielder Jesse Winker and center fielder Billy Hamilton collided while fielding a baseball deep in left center.

“It was my fault,” Winker said afterward, smiling sheepishly. “That one’s on me.”

Somehow Winker managed to make the catch, his gloved hand popping up from a tangle of limbs on the warning track. But to

understand that particular sequence during the sixth inning of the Washington Nationals’ 2-0 victory over the Reds on Opening Day,

it’s best to rewind to the reasons Winker and Hamilton were in that pickle.

Manager Bryan Price said this year he plans to play a four-man outfield rotation featuring Adam Duvall, Winker, Hamilton and

Scott Schebler. Winker received the starting nod on his first Opening Day based on match-ups with Nationals pitcher Max Sherzer.

Price said splits indicated left-handed hitters fare better against the three-time Cy Young Award winner, and Winker is a lefty.

Price said right-handed Duvall will be back in the lineup Saturday.

“I have four guys that I think are regular Major League outfielders. I’m not going to have anybody sitting on the bench for three,

four or five days in a row. It will keep these guys in the mix. We’ve got four really good outfielders and a young kid in (Phillip)

Ervin, so I’m going to keep floating them around and getting the best match-ups and make sure that they’re playing regularly,” Price

said.

Friday's crash could have cost the Reds big. With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, Nationals center fielder Michael

A. Taylor had the chance to break open a 1-0 game. He swung on a slider and missed, bringing up full count and energizing a record

crowd of 43,878.

Then, on Homer Bailey’s next pitch, Taylor blasted the ball deep. As the sun peeked through the clouds, Winker and Hamilton

raced toward the ball and each other. They reached for it simultaneously, Winker’s outstretched arm wedged under Hamilton’s,

before tumbling to the ground.

Catcher Tucker Barnhart said the ball didn’t appear like it was carrying well, so he knew when Taylor made contact that it would

stay in the park. But with bases loaded, there was no room for error. And neither outfielder wanted to ruin Bailey’s outing.

“Homer pitched incredible so I just wanted to make a play like anything, like obviously Billy, like everyone else on the field. And

off the bat, I got a read on it. I peeked at Billy early and I didn’t peek again. I’ve said it before but it’s his outfield. I’m just over

there to catch the balls to left,” Winker said.

Hamilton said the sun had no impact on the players' collision. He was focused on watching the ball and minding the fence and not

so much about Winker. Their words were absorbed by stadium noise.

“He was yelling for the ball and I was yelling for the ball and we just couldn’t hear each other,” Hamilton said. “That’s just how it

happened. Just got to get used to playing each other. I’m just happy he made that catch.”

Duvall runs a little slower than Winker, Hamilton said. That most likely impacted the development of the play. Two other details –

that Winker “can get to a lot of balls,” and “we haven’t played together that long,” Hamilton said – played roles, too. Now cut to the

clumsy dual bid for the catch that left the two outfielders in a heap.

Winker felt fine after the fall but Hamilton, who weighs 55 pounds less than his teammate, took a shot to the gut and momentarily

lost his wind.

Billy Hamilton, left, smiles as he runs back to the dugout with Jesse Winker after their collision and circus catch at the warning

track. Joseph Fuqua II/For The Athletic

“I think we made pretty good contact, I’m not even going to lie to you,” Winker said. “Luckily, I held on. Billy is a part-time free

safety, I guess. Luckily, it wasn’t helmet-to-helmet contact. But we made good contact. I guess it’s part of the game.”

With all eyes on the outfield, before Winker proved he'd caught the ball, Bailey watched from a semi-crouched position in the

infield.

“Scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know if they caught it, if they didn’t. And the umpire didn’t really signal an out, so do I need to

cover a base? Do I go in the dugout? I guess we need to work on our chain of command a little bit, but we were able to get out that,”

Bailey said.

Fans cheered as Hamilton and Winker jogged back to the dugout together. The moral of the story?

“Next time I’ll peek again and let him go get it because it’s Billy, and we’ve all seen what Billy can do out there,” Winker said. “We

all know. I kind of got a little bit too far.”

DAYTON DAILY NEWS

Bailey pitches well for Reds but not happy because of the loss

Dave Jablonski Staff Writer

8:21 p.m Friday, March 30, 2018

CINCINNATI

Homer Bailey has thrown two no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds. He has started two postseason games. From 2007-17, he started

192 games for the Reds.

One thing he had not done until Friday was start on Opening Day. Bailey made the most of his first chance, allowing one run on

four hits in six innings, albeit in a losing effort. The Washington Nationals blanked the Reds 2-0.

Despite his extensive experience in a Reds uniform, this wasn’t just another game for Bailey. This one felt different. He knows how

much Opening Day means to the city. The largest crowd in the regular-season history of Great American Ball Park (43,878) came

out on a chilly day.

“Great energy today from the fans here,” Bailey said. “To me, those are the games you live for to play. Kudos to them for coming

out and really being behind us.”

Bailey is the fourth different starter in a row the Reds have used on Opening Day, following Johnny Cueto (2015), Raisel Iglesias

(2016) and Scott Feldman (2017)

After giving up a run in the first — Springfield native Adam Eaton led off the game with a single and scored on a fielder’s choice

groundout — Bailey pitched five scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out three.

This was a strong start by Bailey coming off a season in which he was 6-9 with a 6.43 ERA. He looked like the Bailey of August

and September, when he was 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA in seven starts, and not the one of early last season when he was trying to regain

his form after missing most of the previous two seasons with injuries.

“I think I’ll be more satisfied when we pull out a win,” Bailey said. “At the end of the day, you can look at, ‘Well, you threw well,’

but it’s still an ‘L,’ and that’s what’s important. I’m not really happy with the results because of the loss, and that’s the end of it.

Every game you can find things you did well or find things you didn’t do well. To be satisfied with a good loss it’s just not really in

my nature or the rest of this staff.”

Bailey’s performance satisfied manager Bryan Price, who needs the veteran Bailey to be a consistent presence on a young staff that

right now has four other starters between the ages of 23 and 25.

“I’m not going to ask anything more for Opening Day,” Price said. “It was six really good innings.”

BALLPARKDIGEST.COM

Who Has The Best MLB Player-Development Facilities? Here Are The Top Six

By Ballpark Digest Editors on March 28, 2018 in Major-League Baseball, Minor-League Baseball

The backbone of any successful MLB franchise is a successful player-development system. And these days successful player

development means strong MiLB and spring-training facilities. We end our ranking of MLB organizations by the quality of their

player-development facilities with the top six organizations.

There are teams with some definite player-development philosophies, like the Atlanta Braves, who prefer owning and operating

their affiliates, and the Chicago White Sox, who centralize affiliates for the most part in North Carolina and the South. Others, it

seems, don’t have much of a philosophical bent and evaluate each affiliate separately. We know every MLB team wants the perfect

player-development system, but perfection is hard to achieve. Hence these ratings, new for 2018.

No black-box methodology here. We asked former GMs, broadcasters past and present, and journalists with expertise in specific

leagues to rank facilities based on four criteria: player facilities, fan experience, proximity and stability. Player facilities include

clubhouses, workout spaces, quality of batting/pitching cages, meeting spaces and cafeteria/nutritional services. The fan experience

covers the physical condition of the ballpark, concessions and in-game entertainment. Proximity covers to what extent players are

shuffled around; being closer to the MLB parent and other MiLB affiliates is always a good thing. Finally, stability covers the

length of the current affiliation deal and expectations of the future. We cover every level of MiLB affiliation (including MiLB teams

owned by the parent), as well as spring-training facilities. Spring complexes are increasingly used as year-round facilities: after

spring training ends, complexes are used for rehabs, extended-spring workouts and potentially MiLB play, as well as hosting

Rookie-league games.

Each level of play was assigned a potential score in each category, with AAA and spring-training facilities receiving the highest

number of potential points, decreasing by level of play. We asked our experts to limit their responses to ballparks and spring

facilities they’ve actually visited and spent time in, and their responses are reported here in aggregated form. No single opinion

dominates any ranking, as multiple feedbacks are reflected in every instance.

6. Kansas City Royals

Strengths: Stability, player facilities Weaknesses: Fan experience, proximity

We are at the point of our rankings where strengths and weaknesses are relative, and not many points separate #6 from #1. That’s

abundantly clear with our listing for the Kansas City Royals player-development rankings. Really, there’s strength up and down the

line: Werner Park, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) works both for players and fans, making

it an ideal top affiliate.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

Strengths: Stability, proximity Weaknesses Player facilities, fan experience

The whole Tampa Bay player-development plan relies on patient player development, which is why a stable farm system makes a

difference. Having the two top affiliates perform at high levels helps the rankings — Durham Bulls Athletic Park, home of the

Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) and Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Montgomery Biscuits (Class AA; Southern

League), both excel.

4. St. Louis Cardinals

Strengths: Stability, proximity Weaknesses: Player facilities, fan experience

The Cardinals, like the Braves, operate under the philosophy that it’s best to have an ownership stake in player development; hence

the minority ownership of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the outright ownership of the Springfield

Cardinals (Class AA; Texas League) and the Palm Beach Cardinals (High A; Florida State League). What’s noteworthy is how the

Cards’ player-development facilities have improved over the past few years, with upgrades in Memphis and Johnson City, and

potential improvements in Palm Beach.

2 (t). New York Yankees

Strengths: Stability, proximity, player facilities Weaknesses: Fan experience

No surprise that a storied organization like the Yankees would stress stability in their player-development system. Outside of the

organizations where the Yankees have a partial investment, however, there’s been plenty of improvement over the past few years,

such as renovations at PNC Field, home of the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League) and George

M. Steinbrenner Field, the team’s spring-training home and the regular-season home of the Tampa Tarpons (High A; Florida State

League). And, of course, Riley Park, home of the Charleston RiverDogs (Low A; Sally League) is one of Minor League Baseball’s

gems.

2 (t). Philadelphia Phillies

Strengths: Stability, fan experience Weaknesses: player facilities, proximity

Talk about consistency. There isn’t a weak link in the Phillies’ player-development facilities on any level; any MLB team would

love to be playing out of any of these facilities, and that stability elevates the entire system. Heck, the Phillies have a Short Season

A team hosting MLB exhibitions!

1. Cincinnati Reds

Strengths: Stability, fan experience Weaknesses: Proximity, player facilities

Again, a strong system from top to bottom, with a score boosted by two strong Rookie-level teams. Having a Louisville Slugger

Field or a Fifth Third Field just down the road is definitely a plus, as are top-level facilities in Pensacola, Billings and Greeneville.

Add in the historic value of playing out of Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Tortugas

(High A; Florida State League) and you have a player-development system at the top of our rankings.

Transactions

03/31/18

Cincinnati Reds designated C Stuart Turner for assignment.

Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Yovani Gallardo.

St. Louis Cardinals optioned RHP Greg Holland to Palm Beach Cardinals.

St. Louis Cardinals transferred RHP Alex Reyes from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right elbow injury.

St. Louis Cardinals placed LHP Brett Cecil on the 10-day disabled list. Left shoulder strain.

St. Louis Cardinals recalled LHP Ryan Sherriff from Memphis Redbirds.

St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent RHP Greg Holland.

Cincinnati Reds optioned RHP Zack Weiss to Louisville Bats.

03/30/18

Seattle Mariners recalled David Freitas from Tacoma Rainiers.

Milwaukee Brewers transferred RHP Jimmy Nelson from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right shoulder

inflammation.

Milwaukee Brewers optioned Ji-Man Choi to Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

San Diego Padres transferred RHP Colin Rea from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right shoulder strain.

San Diego Padres selected the contract of LHP Joey Lucchesi from San Antonio Missions.

San Diego Padres optioned C Raffy Lopez to El Paso Chihuahuas.

Philadelphia Phillies recalled Yacksel Rios from Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Philadelphia Phillies placed RHP Pat Neshek on the 10-day disabled list. Right shoulder strain.

Atlanta Braves selected the contract of RHP Miguel Socolovich from Gwinnett Stripers.

Atlanta Braves placed C Tyler Flowers on the 10-day disabled list. Strained left oblique.

Atlanta Braves transferred LHP Jacob Lindgren from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Left elbow surgery.

New York Yankees recalled RF Billy McKinney from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

New York Yankees placed CF Aaron Hicks on the 10-day disabled list. Right intercostal muscle strain.

Seattle Mariners placed C Mike Zunino on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, 2018. Strained left oblique.

LHP Dan Jennings assigned to Milwaukee Brewers.

Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 31,...

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