just because Bochy said that they’re keeping him doesn’t mean that the Cards don’t get him back. If he doesn’t do so hot, then they will return him. Bochy’s word isn’t final-there’s always the off chance that he struggles and the Giants give him back.

comment on this at this time. I’ll just wait for Jillsinmo to chime in and then give her a big +1.

APV, at Let’s Go Trib, posted the following write up on Reyes. A lot of this sounds familiar:

The data on Reyes also isn’t super because of limited major-league exposure the past two years, but…Reyes looked like a different pitcher last year than the year before, throwing harder and inducing more contact. Pitching out of the bullpen in St. Louis his fastball was sitting just over 92. In Cleveland it was 90-91. In 2007 it was sitting in the upper 80s. According to Josh Kalk’s pitch f/x data he was throwing 93 last season. His secondary stuff, based on both sets of data, was about 3mph faster than 2007. He switched from a pretty dramatic fly-ball pitcher with serious HR problems, to a moderate GB pitcher with a much more friendly HR-rate. As a result of all this he was more successful than any previous extended stretch in the majors (his cup of coffee in 2005 was better, but very brief). However he did so with his worst K-rate at any level over the previous four years.

In theory, Reyes 3-pitch combination gives him an interesting set of options, in that he has two pitches with very similar break (fastball and change) but dramatically different speeds (low 90s, upper 70s), and two pitches with similar speed (curve and change) but very different breaks. Coming through the minors he became a top pitching prospect by putting up good K-rates (8+/game), good walk rates, and despite being a fly-ball pitcher, not allowing many HRs (<1/9IP). Last year he was a low K, high GB pitcher, and seemed to have some success at that. I don’t know which version will show up in Cleveland for 2009. If he doesn’t do either, that’s probably a bad sign. There’s not a lot of evidence his increased velocity was helping him last season, but his velocity will be another interesting thing to keep track of as the early season progresses.

While I wish the guy all the best, AVP is right that Reyes has posted some awfully confused stats these past couple of years. According to the Indians depth chart, though, he’s the fifth starter.

i hate what if’s

Are the Indians pissed that we finally got something out of Ryan Ludwick? I don’t see them ruminating over it, but I’ll take Ludwick over Reyes any day of the year. Are the Padres pissed that Ozzie turned out awesome in STL? Who cares? Should the Jays have kept Glaus and let Rolen twist in the wind? Probably, but this is simply the nature of the thing. At least we didn’t trade Nathan, etc. for AJ Pierzynski. Boston would rather have Hanley than Beckett right now, but that’s no longer up to them. Players break out, things change, and this is all much too unpredictable to really be concerned with.

I was a fan of Reyes, I thought he could have been great here but we all know that if you dont 100% mindlessly follow TLR and Daddy Duncan then you will not last here (ask Adam Kennedy). If Reyes goes on to win lets just 10-12 games and makes 30 starts and Pinerio is blowing wins again then we should regret this. I think Anthony could have worked here.

Good news…

“Luis Perdomo was designated for assignment and fellow righty Justin Miller was reassigned to Minor League camp, opening the door for righty reliever Brandon Medders.”