REDS' PROSPECT JUAN FRANCISCO  DRIVES IN THREE RUNS, WITH TWO HOME RUNS, IN LOSS AGAINST CUBS
 

3.14.10
BY: MEH
FRANCISCO BLASTS TWO AGAINST CUBS
REDS' PROSPECT JUAN FRANCISCO  DRIVES IN THREE RUNS, WITH TWO HOME RUNS, IN LOSS AGAINST CUBS

(Photo: Carl Kline)
The Cincinnati Reds lost Saturday to the Chicago Cubs 11-4 in Mesa. Micah Owings, John Adkins, and Pedro Viola all struggled against Lou Piniella's ball club allowing ten of the Cub's eleven runs. John Adkins got hit the hardest, allowing five earned runs on seven hits over just one inning of work. On the other hand, Homer Bailey quietly showed his new found maturity again on the mound. Bailey pitched three innings allowing one run on three hits. Bailey pitched in front of 11,825 on Saturday. His last two starts were attended by no one. Bailey on this spring:

"I’m under the radar. Chapman is going through a lot and throwing really well. That’s good to see. I don’t know what the plans are for that fifth spot in the rotation and it’s none of my business."

It's hard to deny the fact that Homer Bailey may be growing up. Bailey is no longer the "top prospect" bleeding arrogance and inexperience. He is the No. 4 pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation and one of the many keys to the Reds' success this season. Paul Daugherty wrote about Bailey's conversion to maturity:

We’ve been taking Bailey’s emotional temperature for three springs at least, ever since it became possible he’d be pitching in Cincinnati at some point in the summertime. We looked for signs of mental growth, because the physical gifts were so obvious.

One spring, Homer was “defensive’’ or “surly.’’ The next, he was “approachable’’ perhaps, or “less guarded.’’ 

Homer was an arrogant know-it-all one year, so we believed. He was “coachable’’ the next. This is his fifth season in major-league camp and still we’re passing judgment on Homer’s head.

“Comfortable,’’ we’ve decided. “Humbled.’’

How any of that impacts how he pitches, is anyone’s guess. He went 6-1 in his last nine starts last year. His reaction to that burst of success is telling.

“So what?’’ Bailey says.

An uninjured Scott Rolen was scratched from Saturday's lineup for Juan Francisco. Batting cleanup, Francisco confirmed his "Heavy Artillery" tag for a day. He blasted two home runs, one in the second inning and again in the fourth. Francisco was named MVP of the Dominican Winter League hitting .302 with 11 HR and 42 RBI.
  
Also, I couldn't help but notice #90 in this picture from Jaime Ramsey's blog. RHP Forest Cannon was drafted by the Reds during the 34th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft. Cannon didn't impress much in Billings last year (7 games, 10.1 innings, 4.35 ERA), but it sure is hard to hate on a guy with such a explosive last name.

MORE NEWS:
-Failure will lead to success for Jay Bruce PAUL DAUGHERTY
-VIDEO:Francisco's future could be in left REDS.COM
-View the 2010 Cincinnati Reds tickets COREY BRINN
-The Captain and The Mayor MARK SHELDON
-Owings, Price reunited C.TRENT
-Q&A with Hal McCoy DDN

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