Red Roster Set Thru Sat...Janish Optioned Chapman to Bullpen

The numbers crunch got Paul Janish on Tuesday morning. The Reds optioned Janish to Triple A Louisville and decided to carry 11 pitchers until Saturday or Sunday.

Injuries in the bullpen forced the Reds to put Aroldis Chapman back in the bullpen, leaving a starting rotation of Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake.

Todd Frazier, Willie Harris and Wilson Valdez will hold down the remaining bench positions for now.

"I dread this day every year," Dusty Baker said. "There were some very tough decisions, big time tough decisions. We will have to make another tough decision Saturday or Sunday."

Janish had a really good camp but the fact that he has an option left worked against him.

"There's always going to be somebody that had a good camp. There's always going to be tough decisions. That is why I despise this week as much as any during the year. There is a good chance that he'll be back. There's a great chance. You never know what can happen. Things change from year to year. This time last year he was our shortstop. The main thing that's within my power is to give someone an opportunity for a player. Sometimes the decision is mine, sometimes its ours, sometimes the decision is what's best for the organization."


"We gave Paul an opportunity last year until Cozart came along. That's the nature of this game. It's yours until you nail it down or someone else comes along when things don't go the way you planned. Now its Cozart's time. If he doesn't nail it down there'll be someone after that."

"Paul is still part of this team, and part of our family. He's still one of us even though he's not with us," Baker said.

What made it extra tough is that the Reds got Wilson Valdez, who can play short and other positions (like centerfield).

The decision to put Chapman back in the bullpen was made for the organization by injuries.

"That was a very, very tough decisions because Chapman could be one of our best starters or best relievers both. It is a situation where, with the injuries that we have, starting out early in the season when the starters are lucky to go five or six innings, we had to shore up our bullpen," Baker said.

"This early in the year the bullpen does a third to half the work. It only takes one dude to have one bad inning."

"Chapman is going to be a starter. He is going to be a very good starter. He's a smart kid. He actually anticipated it. When we lost Madson and Masset and Billy Bray is not sharp yet, through the process of elimination, he figured that stuff out."


Chapman started four games that counted and one minor league game. He pitched 17 innings and had a 2.12 ERA, leading the staff in strikeouts with 18. The concern had been his command but he walked just two batters in 17 innings.

"I concentrated on staying ahead in the count and not walking batters," Chapman said.