GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker might consider becoming a Las Vegas blackjack dealer when his run as a manager ends.
He has become a fast shuffler.
For the third time this spring, Baker has had to revise and reset his pitching rotation plans.
Because Johnny Cueto has shoulder inflammation and probably will miss at least two weeks, Baker's up-to-the-moment and subject-to-change rotation is:
Edinson Volquez (Opening Day), Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, Travis Wood, Mike Leake.
In addition to Cueto's injury, Arroyo is losing a two-week argument with a flu bug. He was scheduled to pitch Monday against the Seattle Mariners but was scratched and moved back to Thursday, meaning he drops from second to third in the rotation.
"He has fought this thing for a week to 10 days and still looks awful," Baker said. "He is already skinny. He told me he hasn't watched this much TV in 10 years."
Cueto, who left his past two spring starts early because of what was believed tightness in his biceps, was examined Monday in Cincinnati.
"He had MRIs on his elbow and shoulder, and everything structurally was fine," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He does have mild inflammation in his shoulder. So under the recommendation of (team physician) Dr. Tim Kremchek, we are going to shut him down for a week or so and give the inflammation a chance to subside, and get him back on a throwing program."
When the Reds break camp March 29, Cueto will be left behind to begin throwing.
"We're thinking a week to 10 days before he can throw," Jocketty said. "We're thinking about two weeks before he might be ready.
"He was up to about 40 pitches, so if he takes only a week off, it won't take that long. That's why it is nice to have the pitching depth that we have."
Catcher Corky Miller is 35 and has played professionally for 13 years for six different organizations, so he knows a thing or six about pitching.
Asked to describe each of the six Reds starters, here is what he said:
Volquez: "He is out there having fun. He always has fun. He has so much versatility in his pitches, so much he can do.
Arroyo: "His preparation for what he has to do is phenomenal. He knows exactly what he has to do to get people out -- throw hard, throw soft, throw high, throw low. He knows. That's him.
Cueto: "He is a guy who has devastating stuff, and he puts fear into batters. He has that fear presence on the mound. He has so much stuff he can beat you with that batters have to choose one to go after."
Bailey: "He is so intense. Every pitch he throws, even in spring, he is not trying to prove something to somebody else, he is trying to prove something to himself. The intensity he brings is fun to watch."
Wood: "He's an idiot -- in a good way. Woodie is confident, a young kid who has no fear. Just go out and get it, and I don't care, no matter who is at the plate. Sometimes, he seems like he is dumb. But he is not. Dumb like a fox.
Leake: "Hard to call a kid like that crafty, but he understands his stuff and what his stuff does. That's a big step. Hopefully, he isn't a guy who loses his stuff and can't find it. But he understand what his pitches does to hitters and what his stuff looks like to hitters."
Roster pared down
The Reds made eight roster cuts Monday, the first significant ones. Four pitchers and four position players were asked to move their gear to the minor-league clubhouse.
Pitchers: RHP Carlos Fisher, LHP Daniel Ray Herrera, RHP Jordan Smith and RHP Jerry Gil.
Position players: INF Todd Frazier, 1B Yonder Alonso, SS Zack Cozart and INF Kris Negron.
"They all played pretty well," Baker said. "A couple of pitchers are coming quicker than others, especially Gil. He has come real quick for a guy who has only pitched for a couple of years (a converted outfielder). Smith was up with us last year, and we know what Fisher and Herrera can do because they've been up with us.
"Alonso had a good spring offensively, and he is going to go down (to AAA Louisville) and play some left field and some first base. Cozart is coming quickly, real quick. This was my first real good look at Negron, and this guy could really contribute as a utility guy in the future. Frazier needs to get off to a quicker start (at Louisville) than he did last year."
