Fitness will remain a problem for Cincinnati Reds – MLB Update
As Spring Training is close to coming to an end, the Cincinnati Reds’ manager Dusty Baker said on Wednesday, March 21, there are questions that need to be answered. He was referring to the unexpected injuries and subsequently conspicuous missing of the pitchers
from the bullpen.
"I didn't have a bunch of questions," manager Dusty Baker said. "We still have to get [Bill] Bray, [Ryan] Madson and [Nick] Masset together. That didn't start out as a question. Sometimes things develop into a question."
Reds had started with fairly great enthusiasm considering the presence of highly qualified and competent players in Spring Training. However, injuries started taking their toll on the team as a whole.
First it was Nick Masset, whose sore shoulder did not allow him to actively participate in Spring Training. He was able to pitch only up to March 7. Then came Ryan Madson who had irritation in the right elbow; being resultantly sidelined.
Bill Bray is another player whose groin strain eventuated with his missing the games in the Cactus League. With whatever has transpired so far, the Reds want the players to appear in Friday’s Minor League game.
Bray and Madson are expected to be in the game. However, what might have been a perplexing question for Reds manager is the fact that only a single game cannot possibly ascertain the fitness and preparedness of the players for the upcoming season.
Or even if the players are prepared, it will take a while to rid oneself of the impact the injury usually invariably bring with it.
"These are very important positions on your team," Baker said. "We don't have a whole bunch of time to make up our minds. As usual, these final cuts are definitely the toughest ones."
The Reds will be looking to put many things in order prior to the commencement of the regular season. The bullpen hopes to rise up to the expectation since the Reds attach big importance to it. The fitness of the players, therefore, has crucial significance
for the team as the Reds take on the opponents in the league next month.
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