John Manuel's NL Central "comments"
Posted: February 28 08, 12:29 am
From an ESPN chat:
Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=19466
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A Reds fan asked how Cueto rates and what's in his arsenal.
John said Cueto threw 30+ innings in winter ball, so he's ahead of most pitchers right now. Manuel likes Cueto, says he has 2 plus pitches and "a decent changeup". There is some concern about the workload of the 5'10", sub-200 pound youngster. Cueto threw more innings in 2007 than just about every minor leaguer. Manuel hopes the Reds use caution.
(Pan to video of Dusty Baker, chewing on a toothpick, while black clouds move in, lightning flashes and thunder rolls!!!)
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Someone wanted to know who will make it to the bigs faster: McCutcheon or Carlos Gonzalez (OAK).
John says both will get the call this year, and soon. Andrew has a couple OFers blocking him, but Manuel likes McCutcheon a lot more when comparing the two players long-term.
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A Brewers fan asked where Manuel thinks LaPorta will play, and if they'll call him up if he has a good 1st half.
John says "Braun could play CF eventually", Corey Hart is another option. LaPorta probably won't be needed with Cameron, Braun, Hart, Gross and Gwynn Jr. around. Look for LaPorta sometime in 2009. Manuel also said he fielded a lot of LaPorta Qs in a BA chat from Tuesday, so go there.
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A Reds fan asked about the offensive and defensive potential of 2007 2nd round pick, SS Zach Cozart.
Mr. Manuel said slightly below Adam Everett defensively, and about the same offensively but with slightly more power. However, since Zach is a "dead-pull hitter", he needs to realize he can hit to other areas of the field.
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The same Reds fan asked about Bailey's changeup and its progress.
John says while he doesn't have any new information, he has a theory. He thinks if Bailey improves his command, he can get by with an average changeup. Scouts are split on it. Some think Homer will eventually pick up the change, while others think it is essential due to his "arm action and the command problems that stem from it". In a little bit of a twist, Manuel agrees with the latter opinion, as he doesn't think Bailey's command will be consistent.
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Someone asked John his opinion on Mortenson.
Manuel says he has a "huge arm", average command and still has some room to grow, odd for a college senior. The mental side didn't click for Clayton early in his collegiate career, but if it finally does, look out. He dubs Mortenson the Cards' best pitching prospect.
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A fan asked (in essence) what is wrong with Eric Patterson.
Manuel says a "lack of power, defensive position and consistency". (Well, then!) He has the patience of his brother and shouldn't view himself as a source of power. Of course, people have been telling Eric this since his G-Tech days, and that is also part of his problem.
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A PIT fan wanted to know if John thought it was a good move to convert Moskos back to a starter and if this move justified selecting him in the 1st round. (Justification? Who cares?)
John says it's not justification, but approves of the move. John predicts he'll go through the minors as a starter, but move to the bullpen in MLB. Manuel calls Moskos a "really good future closer". However, he disagrees taking a closer 4th overall, because that isn't going to fix "15 years of issues" in PIT. John does hope the Pirates turn things around in the near future.
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Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=19466
===============
A Reds fan asked how Cueto rates and what's in his arsenal.
John said Cueto threw 30+ innings in winter ball, so he's ahead of most pitchers right now. Manuel likes Cueto, says he has 2 plus pitches and "a decent changeup". There is some concern about the workload of the 5'10", sub-200 pound youngster. Cueto threw more innings in 2007 than just about every minor leaguer. Manuel hopes the Reds use caution.
(Pan to video of Dusty Baker, chewing on a toothpick, while black clouds move in, lightning flashes and thunder rolls!!!)
----------------------
Someone wanted to know who will make it to the bigs faster: McCutcheon or Carlos Gonzalez (OAK).
John says both will get the call this year, and soon. Andrew has a couple OFers blocking him, but Manuel likes McCutcheon a lot more when comparing the two players long-term.
----------------------
A Brewers fan asked where Manuel thinks LaPorta will play, and if they'll call him up if he has a good 1st half.
John says "Braun could play CF eventually", Corey Hart is another option. LaPorta probably won't be needed with Cameron, Braun, Hart, Gross and Gwynn Jr. around. Look for LaPorta sometime in 2009. Manuel also said he fielded a lot of LaPorta Qs in a BA chat from Tuesday, so go there.
----------------------
A Reds fan asked about the offensive and defensive potential of 2007 2nd round pick, SS Zach Cozart.
Mr. Manuel said slightly below Adam Everett defensively, and about the same offensively but with slightly more power. However, since Zach is a "dead-pull hitter", he needs to realize he can hit to other areas of the field.
----------------------
The same Reds fan asked about Bailey's changeup and its progress.
John says while he doesn't have any new information, he has a theory. He thinks if Bailey improves his command, he can get by with an average changeup. Scouts are split on it. Some think Homer will eventually pick up the change, while others think it is essential due to his "arm action and the command problems that stem from it". In a little bit of a twist, Manuel agrees with the latter opinion, as he doesn't think Bailey's command will be consistent.
----------------------
Someone asked John his opinion on Mortenson.
Manuel says he has a "huge arm", average command and still has some room to grow, odd for a college senior. The mental side didn't click for Clayton early in his collegiate career, but if it finally does, look out. He dubs Mortenson the Cards' best pitching prospect.
----------------------
A fan asked (in essence) what is wrong with Eric Patterson.
Manuel says a "lack of power, defensive position and consistency". (Well, then!) He has the patience of his brother and shouldn't view himself as a source of power. Of course, people have been telling Eric this since his G-Tech days, and that is also part of his problem.
----------------------
A PIT fan wanted to know if John thought it was a good move to convert Moskos back to a starter and if this move justified selecting him in the 1st round. (Justification? Who cares?)
John says it's not justification, but approves of the move. John predicts he'll go through the minors as a starter, but move to the bullpen in MLB. Manuel calls Moskos a "really good future closer". However, he disagrees taking a closer 4th overall, because that isn't going to fix "15 years of issues" in PIT. John does hope the Pirates turn things around in the near future.
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