Around NL Central Spring Training 3/18: Building Up The Reds

Reds: Widely considered a dark horse team this spring (and the last few springs), Dusty Baker and the Reds like what they’re hearing recently from other teams. Baker told C. Trent Rosecrans that he’s hearing a lot of positive things from opposing managers this spring, and it beats hearing “your team sucks.”

“I’ve heard it, too,” Baker said. “(Not this year) and not last year, either. But I’ve heard that, ‘what kind of team are you running out there?’ I’m not lying. Or, ‘how did you beat us today with that team?’ I don’t want to hear that (expletive).”

The Reds entered play Thursday at 6-6 this spring.

Cardinals: Jaime Garcia has drawn plenty of attention this spring, allowing just one earned run and three hits in 8.2 innings, with 12 strikeouts. He will get an opportunity to perform in the spotlight on Monday, when a split-squad day will allow him to make his first spring start. Unless he makes the team as a starter, Garcia will likely be sent back to AAA to get more innings – he pitched just 37.2 innings in the minors in 2009 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2008.

Cubs: Ted Lilly is back in camp after taking a few days away to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly IV. Lilly is still recovering from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, and was expected to throw live BP Thursday.

Pirates: Octavio Dotel is one step closer to returning to action from his strained oblique, as he threw 24 pitches in a minor league game Thursday. Assuming he feels ok Friday, he’s expected to pitch in the Pirates’ Grapefruit League game against the Rays Sunday.

Astros: The team is down to six candidates to fill their five outfield slots for Opening Day after releasing Alex Romero Wednesday. Romero hit .348/.416/.462 in Reno (AAA) for the Diamondbacks last season, but hasn’t been able to translate that to major league success, batting .239/.279/.339 in 299 big league PAs.

Brewers: The Brewers remain committed to stretching out all seven candidates for their starting rotation, which has created some schedule gymnastics over the coming days. On Thursday, Dave Bush is starting a B game in the afternoon while Manny Parra will start the team’s evening game. They’ll also need to play a B game on Saturday to get work for both Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson.