Too Many Catchers?

On of the puzzles Dusty Baker is trying put together is how to program each player to get ready for the season.

"Usually, the older guys take longer to get ready," Baker said.  "I pulled the stats from spring training last year.  The younger guys you don't know if they were a slow starter.  You try to program them so that they get hot around the same time.  It takes a while to get a feel for how many at bats or extra hitting they need.  There are some guys you try to slow down.  I remember on year Kevin Mitchell hit 15 home runs or something ridiculous like that.  We told him to save some of them for the regular season.  He said, 'I got plenty.'  Then he went and hit 49 during the season.  I don't know if there was a formula."

It is tough for the catchers.  The Reds have six in camp.  Ryan Hanigan, Ramon Hernandez, Corky Miller, Chris Denove, then the two first round picks, Devin Mesoroco and Yamani Grandal.

"It is hard to get them as many at bats,"  Baker said.  "You want them to catch some guys especially the ones they haven't seen.  The catchers other than Grandal have seen not knowing somebody."

Ryan Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez combined for a good season.  The tandem was very productive in 2010.  Hernandez got more at bats because Hanigan missed time with an injury, a broken thumb.

"They were both very productive, they were both strong, caught well, thew well.  They get along well which helps."

The Reds plan to use the designated hitter to get more position players at bats until the middle of March.