Dateline: 318 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
As of March 18, Spencer Steer has taken his cortisone shot and worked "his ass off" to be ready for opening day in nine days.
Reds' management are not closing the door to his opening day roster spot but are afraid that his coming back too soon will lead to a setback.
Steer threw for the first time on March 18.
"I would say one, it's a little difficult, and he knows it, when you first pick up a ball, it doesn't feel that great anyway but there is a ton of improvement," Francona said. "In the hitting progression, he's going to get some at bats in a minor league game, Thursday (March 20). Timing doesn't always work in our favor."
Technically, the deadline is opening day but the Reds are seeing how Steer's progressions play out. They have to make that decision sooner rather than later.
"He wants to be game ready yesterday, we reminded him, we have to do this right," Francona said. "He's a solid kid man. He's been the cutoff man (in drills). He picks up the balls (after drills). He just wants to be part of what we're doing."
Wade Miley is pitching to live batters today (March 18).
"He wants to be game ready yesterday, we reminded him, we have to do this right," Francona said. "He's a solid kid man. He's been the cutoff man (in drills). He picks up the balls (after drills). He just wants to be part of what we're doing." t enough of him. He makes me laugh. He watches the game.”
Francona spoke about how the game has changed and how baseball tends to faze low velocity throwers like Miley out of the game.
“Swing and miss is so valued now,” Francona explained. “I’ll tell you what when you look up in the seventh inning and he’s still pitching. He’s getting early weak contact. That’s pitching too.”
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