Bailey Called Up for Thursday

Announced over the Bats’ broadcast tonight, Homer Bailey will be in Philadelphia to start vs. the Phillies on Thursday due to Josh Fogg being placed on the disabled list for back spasms.  Homer was removed from Sunday night’s game after 2.2 innings pitched.  He gave up 2 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, and recorded one strikeout.

This is a huge start for Bailey who has been less than stellar in Triple A this year.  He has had several bad outings followed by a few adequate to good outings. So far this season Homer has a 4.05 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched, he has 54 strikeouts, 29 walks, 30 earned runs, and 63 hits.

The Reds will be looking for several strong outings from Homer, or just about anyone to fill the fifth spot in the rotation which has proven unkind to the likes of Matt Belisle and Josh Fogg so far this season.

Lazy Sunday Links and News II

Brandon Phillips and Matt Beslisle arbitration
Both Brandon Phillips and Matt Belisle filed for arbitration this week. 

For Belisle: Salary-$390,000 Asking-$1.65 million Reds Counter-$1 million

For Phillips: Salary-$407,000 Asking -$4.2 million Reds Counter-$2.7 million

JinAZ has a nice breakdown with some figures

Spring Training Home
Former COO John Allen made a trip out to Goodyear, Arizona this past week looking at a new site for the Reds’ spring training home.  Looks like Sarasota wants to make a counter offer to “re-build” Ed Smith Stadium which is in bad need of repair and to come up to code with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Read about it here and here. 

MLB Congressional Hearings
Last week Senator George Mitchell, Commissioner Bud Selig, and Player’s Union President Don Fehr had an appearance before Congress about the Mitchell Report.  Although I have barely watched some of the nearly four hours of testimony and questions, nothing much was gained; except for the fact that some Congressmen and Congress women know little or nothing about baseball.  One Congresswoman compared steroids in baseball to Britney Spears shenanigans. 

Baseball Prospectus Prospects List
BP has put out some information on Jay Bruce and the rest of the minor league prospects in the Reds system.  A subscription is required for the entire article.