Reds to decide on Leake’s role after the Spring Training – MLB News
Mike Leake still retains the confidence he once magically inspired.
The Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Bryan Price on Wednesday, December 19, expressed his confidence in the pitcher Mike Leake as debate on the potential role of the pitcher in MLB `13 raged on.
There have been suggestions lately that the Reds might use him in the bullpen after he was No.5 starter for the Reds this past season. Unlike other starters in the rotation, Leake did not have a particularly successful year.
Having made 30 appearances, he posted 4.58 ERA with 8-9 record as he had 91 earned runs and surrendered 201 hits. After Johnny Cueto had oblique injury in the Game 1 of the National League Division Series which prompted the Reds to replace him with Leake,
the latter lost Game 4.
However, despite an unimpressive season compared to stellar ones that other Reds starters had, Price thinks Leake could put things in order.
"From a statistical standpoint, Leake would be the obvious guy, only in the sense that he didn't win as many games or his ERA was higher than the other four," Price said. "That being said, you can't underappreciate what he accomplished in 2010, winning 12
games in 2011 and starting the season 0-5 this year and then rallying like he did.”
Be that as it may, there are indications that Aroldis Chapman may be used as No. 5 starter in the upcoming season. However, Leake’s replacement by Chapman does not necessarily mean he stands no other chance to reattain the place in the rotation.
"For me personally, I have very high hopes about what he'll be able to accomplish over the course of his career. By no means do I want to write him off or look at him as a long man or Triple-A starter. He's a Major League starting pitcher to me."
The Reds will formally make a decision in this regard after assessing things in the Spring Training. This offseason, and Spring Training, provide Leake a rare opportunity to have the spot he wishes to be at given the tough competition lying ahead.
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