Paul Janish has gotten a couple of starts over the past three days. A reward for his amazing performance on Wednesday? No. Just a shortage of infielders. Starters Scott Rolen and Joey Votto had the flu, which has been going around the Reds clubhouse, and the injury-prone Rolen has a sore back as well.
Janish started at 3B on Friday, and went 0 for 3 with a walk. He seemed rather impatient. Two of his at-bats lasted only one pitch.
Today, he started at 3B again and was 1 for 3 with a double. Is that good enough to get him another start? I hope so. Frankly, I'm kind of annoyed that Miguel Cairo started at 3B on Saturday. Walt Jocketty said he wanted Janish to get lots of playing time so he could continue to develop, but it appears that was just talk. If they really wanted him to get playing time, it wouldn't have been over a week before he got an at-bat, and they wouldn't be starting 35-year-old Cairo instead of Janish.
It's really frustrating, because Janish has the best glove on the team, maybe the best glove in Major League Baseball. He's hitting better than Orlando Cabrera or Miguel Cairo. But he's behind them on the depth chart.
Cabrera is pretty gawd-awful on defense. The Reds starters have been having trouble going deep into games, and I can't help wondering if the black hole at SS is part of the problem.
The Reds have been a train wreck lately. They were swept by the lowly Pirates over the weekend. I wonder if Dusty will keep his job. I'm guessing no. I have no idea who would replace him, but I'm hoping it's someone that will give Janish a fair shot.
Labels: Paul Janish
