Reds camp report
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Cincinnati Reds:
1. No recent Cincinnati team has had bulwarks at the top of the rotation like Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Arroyo led the majors with 240 2/3 innings pitched, most by a Reds pitcher since Jose Rijo's 257 1/3 in 1993. Arroyo was the first Reds pitcher to lead the NL outright in innings pitched (Jack Billingham tied in 1973) since Bucky Walters did it in three consecutive seasons between 1939 and 1941. Arroyo and Harang became the first pair of Reds pitchers to work 230 or more innings since 1998 (Danny Jackson and Tom Browning) and the first pair of Reds right-handers with 230 or more innings pitched since 1965 (Sammy Ellis and Jim Maloney).
2. One priority for the Reds is to do a better job of catching the ball in 2007. Last year's Reds ranked 15th in the NL with a .979 fielding percentage. Only Washington, at .978, was worse. So Cincinnati signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who committed only seven errors in 475 total chances last season in Boston. He also compiled a 57-game errorless streak, a record for a shortstop in Boston. "Going into the offseason people were speculating on whether Brandon Phillips would move over to short, but our preference is to keep him at second base," general manager Wayne Krivsky says. "I think he'd be a fine shortstop, but he's got a chance to become a Gold Glove second baseman."
3. Ken Griffey Jr.'s broken hand is progressing, and Krivsky says we'll see him in Grapefruit League games before long. The GM wouldn't be pinned down as to when, however, and he says he's not concerned about it. "He doesn't need many games to get ready anyway," Krivsky says.
4. The Reds were masters at the quick strike last season: They set a club record with 13 pinch-homers. Javier Valentin smashed four, David Ross two and Quinten McCracken, Jason LaRue, Juan Castro, Ray Olmedo, Todd Hollansworth, Brendan Harris and Griffey hit one each. Maybe the roster was so varied because manager Jerry Narron kept everyone on their toes: He used an NL-high 140 different lineups.
5. After acquiring 36 players during his wild and frenetic first year as a GM, Krivsky is looking to be at least a little less busy in 2007. "We made a lot of strides last year throughout the year," he says. "It's just an ongoing process, like it is for 29 other teams. There are areas you try and go over. We're trying to get people in the right place, we're trying to get some continuity between our major and minor league teams. That's important."
Cards=Ballin 
