Jeff Brantley talks Reds pitching at caravan visit in Chillicothe
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By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
During a Cincinnati Reds Caravan stop on Thursday at the WBEX 1490 AM radio station in Chillicothe, broadcaster and former MLB pitcher Jeff Brantley spoke about the upcoming Reds season, the pitching staff and what he expects from the team as spring training nears.
Brantley began broadcasting with the Reds for the 2007 season, and since then, "The Cowboy" has seen the Reds go from near the bottom of the NL Central, all the way to the postseason in three of the past four seasons, including two division titles.
This offseason, the Reds haven't made many moves to improve the team, but Brantley told The Highland County Press the Reds didn't need to make that many moves to the roster, especially to the pitching staff.
"I think that if you look at the pitching staff that this club has, I think you could compare them with anybody," Brantley said. "When I say 'anybody,' I'm talking about from the (New York) Yankees to the (Los Angeles) Dodgers and all the areas in between.
"They're just as good as anybody else out there."
The conversation stayed focused on the 2014 pitching staff of the Reds that will include: Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.82 ERA), Mat Latos (14-7, 3.16 ERA), Homer Bailey (11-12, 3.49 ERA), Tony Cingrani (7-4, 2.92 ERA) and Mike Leake (14-7, 3.37 ERA).
[[In-content Ad]]Latos led the Reds with 210.2 innings pitched, and Bailey led the Reds with 199 strikeouts.
"I think any year where you have a young pitching staff where all the guys come together … these are all guys that the Reds basically brought up, except for Latos, and they traded basically four of their top minor league prospects for Latos," Brantley said. "They've been around a long time, they understand the intricacies of the game … they know what's expected of them, they know how to do their work.
"But yet, they're all 28, 29 years old. That just doesn't happen anymore. It doesn't happen anymore because the money in the game changes all that."
The Reds didn't try to re-sign veteran pitcher Bronson Arroyo (14-12, 3.79 ERA) this offseason. Arroyo didn't spend a single day on the disabled list during his eight years in Cincinnati. Cingrani will replace Arroyo in the rotation.
Cingrani pitched 104.2 innings last season as he replaced Cueto in the rotation, with Cueto battling numerous injuries all season. Brantley said Cingrani proved he was ready to pitch in the majors last year.
"I think that's the same question that went into last year with Tony Cingrani," Brantley said. "Can he compete at the major league level? I think we found out pretty quick that no only can Cingrani compete, but he was pretty doggone good. I think that in itself is the reason that the Reds didn't sign Bronson Arroyo back."
Don't forget about the relief pitchers of the Reds, with Brantley talking about how they, like the starters, are young but experienced at the MLB level.
Aroldis Chapman had 38 saves for the Reds in 43 opportunities. In 63.2 innings, he had 112 strikeouts.
"Not only do they have it on the starting side, but they have a strong, or the strongest, bullpen in baseball, anchored by the hardest thrower in the game in Aroldis Chapman," he said. "I think when you start talking about winning baseball, where else are you going to put your hopes and dreams but the pitching staff?
"If you pitch, you will compete. I don't care how much you hit, you have to pitch."
Brantley began broadcasting with the Reds for the 2007 season, and since then, "The Cowboy" has seen the Reds go from near the bottom of the NL Central, all the way to the postseason in three of the past four seasons, including two division titles.
This offseason, the Reds haven't made many moves to improve the team, but Brantley told The Highland County Press the Reds didn't need to make that many moves to the roster, especially to the pitching staff.
"I think that if you look at the pitching staff that this club has, I think you could compare them with anybody," Brantley said. "When I say 'anybody,' I'm talking about from the (New York) Yankees to the (Los Angeles) Dodgers and all the areas in between.
"They're just as good as anybody else out there."
The conversation stayed focused on the 2014 pitching staff of the Reds that will include: Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.82 ERA), Mat Latos (14-7, 3.16 ERA), Homer Bailey (11-12, 3.49 ERA), Tony Cingrani (7-4, 2.92 ERA) and Mike Leake (14-7, 3.37 ERA).
[[In-content Ad]]Latos led the Reds with 210.2 innings pitched, and Bailey led the Reds with 199 strikeouts.
"I think any year where you have a young pitching staff where all the guys come together … these are all guys that the Reds basically brought up, except for Latos, and they traded basically four of their top minor league prospects for Latos," Brantley said. "They've been around a long time, they understand the intricacies of the game … they know what's expected of them, they know how to do their work.
"But yet, they're all 28, 29 years old. That just doesn't happen anymore. It doesn't happen anymore because the money in the game changes all that."
The Reds didn't try to re-sign veteran pitcher Bronson Arroyo (14-12, 3.79 ERA) this offseason. Arroyo didn't spend a single day on the disabled list during his eight years in Cincinnati. Cingrani will replace Arroyo in the rotation.
Cingrani pitched 104.2 innings last season as he replaced Cueto in the rotation, with Cueto battling numerous injuries all season. Brantley said Cingrani proved he was ready to pitch in the majors last year.
"I think that's the same question that went into last year with Tony Cingrani," Brantley said. "Can he compete at the major league level? I think we found out pretty quick that no only can Cingrani compete, but he was pretty doggone good. I think that in itself is the reason that the Reds didn't sign Bronson Arroyo back."
Don't forget about the relief pitchers of the Reds, with Brantley talking about how they, like the starters, are young but experienced at the MLB level.
Aroldis Chapman had 38 saves for the Reds in 43 opportunities. In 63.2 innings, he had 112 strikeouts.
"Not only do they have it on the starting side, but they have a strong, or the strongest, bullpen in baseball, anchored by the hardest thrower in the game in Aroldis Chapman," he said. "I think when you start talking about winning baseball, where else are you going to put your hopes and dreams but the pitching staff?
"If you pitch, you will compete. I don't care how much you hit, you have to pitch."