What a difference a year makes for Paul Janish -- and not in a good way.
Janish was the starting shortstop last spring. Edgar Renteria was brought in to back him up but the job was Janish's.
Janish did lose the job. He was hitting .227 without a home run on July 7 when the Reds optioned him to Class AAA Louisville and brought up Zack Cozart. Cozart was deemed the shortstop of 2012 based in a very good 11-game stint before an injury ended his season.
Janish finished with a .214 average and no home runs and 23 RBI in 336 at-bats.
This spring, Janish is fighting for a spot on the roster.
"Obviously, it's a lot different," he said. "This year, I'm doing what I can to vie (for a) spot, doing what I can to make the team. Last year, it was pretty set in stone. I knew worst-case scenario I was going to be on the team as the utility guy.
"It's a little different set-up, having to make the team. I'm trying to stay healthy and let the card fall where they may."
Janish is playing third base and second base as well as short.
"At the start of camp, I talked to (Chris Speier) and Dusty Baker about it," Janish said. "Moving around the infield is fine with me. I'm in spot where I'd be willing to jump in the outfield. I'll do whatever I can to make the team.
"On the bench, versatility is at premium. That's something I'm OK with. I'm comfortable all over the infield."
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Nick Masset is over the shoulder soreness that sidelined him. "I'm 100 percent," he said. "After another bullpen or two, I'll be ready for a game."
--RHP Ryan Madson continues to throw well and recover from a sore elbow. "It's pretty close to 100 percent right now," Madson said March 15. "I never had any problems like that before, I don't know what it was. Now we've gotten through it and it feels great. Just looking forward to getting in some games and getting my feet wet."
--RHP Jordan Smith has been shut down for 10 days or so with a sore right elbow. Smith missed time last year with shoulder tendinitis.
--LF Chris Heisey has struggled at the plate. He not hit in camp. Going into March 16, he was hitting .130 with 11 strikeouts in 23 at-bats. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been up there thinking most of the time," Heisey said. "Where are my hands, where is my stride going? I'm getting to the point where I can stop thinking while I'm hitting, and just go up there and trust my eyes."
--INF/OF Todd Frazier is putting up good numbers in camp. Going into March 16, he led the club in home runs (three), runs (eight) and total bases (19). "I know I've got to hit to play," he said.
BY THE NUMBERS: 92 -- That's how many games the Reds won in 1978, the final year under Sparky Anderson. They only surpassed that total once since.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You always want to play better. It's not just spring training, it's guys trying to secure jobs on the team and guys trying to impress. It's not only giving up runs, we're striking out at an alarming rate. That's something that we definitely have to get better on that haunted us last year. It's not just old guys, it's young guys, everybody. We've got to pick up our game." -- Manager Dusty Baker during the Reds' five-game losing streak.
