Visibility could be low for future of Reds' Fogg

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The offseason was going to be memorable for Josh Fogg. And, indeed, it turned out that way for all the wrong reasons.

Fogg is languishing in the Cincinnati bullpen, a long reliever who began the season in the Reds rotation, where he lasted three starts. Spring training was under way when Fogg signed with the Reds, his hopes of cashing in on free agency dashed.

"I'd been on six one-year deals so far in my career," Fogg said last weekend in New York, where the Reds played. "I wanted a multiyear deal. I wanted to have a little security. I wanted to go out there and be able to dig my heels in somewhere for a couple years.

"It didn't work out. That's basically all you can say; it just didn't work out the way anyone was expecting."

Fogg went 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA for the Rockies last year, ranking second on the staff in wins and starts (29) and third in innings pitched (1652/3). In his final seven starts of the regular season, Fogg went 3-0 with a 3.82 ERA. His salary was $3,625,000.

On Feb. 21, Cincinnati signed Fogg to a one-year, $1 million contract with only $400,000 guaranteed. That was after the Rockies discussed a one-year contract in the $4 million to $5 million range with Fogg's agent and after deals disappeared for back-of-the rotation starters such as the three- year, $21 million contract Jason Marquis got from the Chicago Cubs in December 2006.

"When the season ended last year, there was only the year prior to gauge what was going to happen, and I had to take my chances," Fogg, 31, said. "You roll the dice a little bit. But it came up short this time."

Fogg went 1-2 with a 13.09 ERA in three starts, the last coming April 16 at Chicago where he allowed nine runs and seven hits in two innings. Matt Belisle replaced Fogg in the rotation April 21, joining Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo and promising youngsters, Edinson Volquez, 24, and rookie Johnny Cueto, 22.

"The two young kids here are ridiculous," Fogg said. "Those kids are unbelievable. Harang's great. Bronson's done it for years and Belisle's got great stuff. So I'm not sitting down there for no reason; these guys can pitch."

Fogg has a 5.56 ERA in four relief appearances. But after pitching a combined 62/3 scoreless innings in two strong outings, he allowed five runs in 22/3 innings May 4 at Atlanta and hasn't pitched since.

"It hasn't been the ideal situation this year, but it's still early in the year," Fogg said. "There's chances, whether it's with another team, whether something happens here, who knows. I'm going to just keep coming in every day and try to do my job."

Fogg said he would "definitely" welcome a return to Colorado, where he spent the past two seasons. But unless he gets designated for assignment and the Rockies can get Fogg for very little, that appears unlikely.

The Rockies want to give Greg Reynolds and Jorge De La Rosa, newcomers to the rotation, about half a dozen starts, at which point starter Jason Hirsh could be healthy. And if Fogg does leave the Reds, he wants to go somewhere and start.

"It was hard enough getting a (starting) job this offseason after a decent year," Fogg said. "It's going to be real hard getting a starting job after sitting in the bullpen (nearly) all year. I don't think teams are trading for bullpen guys that throw 88 (mph). They're looking for guys that throw a little harder than I am."

These days Fogg rarely pitches, banished to long relief and, most nights, a seat in the bullpen. The only constant from his two seasons with the Rockies was Fogg smiled often as he discussed his situation and was engaging and upbeat.

"I can't come in here and be Bitter Bob every day," Fogg said. "That's just not a person I can be. I don't do it at home. I don't do it here. I'm still getting to play a game for a living. I'm in the big- league clubhouse every day. I get to go out on a big-league field and play catch. If I get in the game sometimes, it's icing on the cake. But you can't walk around here being (ticked) off at the world. It's not going to keep you in the game very long."

Paid in full

Josh Fogg found 150,000 pennies - 60 boxes, $25 to a box - in his Reds locker Wednesday to pay off a bet.

Fogg looked at Ken Griffey Jr. and said, "That's good, 'Griff.' That's funny. Kick me while I'm down."

Griffey had told Fogg he was going to pay off the $1,500 he owed him in pennies.

"I'm going to take them out to the bullpen and count them," Fogg said. "I've got a lot of time on my hands out there."

• May 16, 2008

  7:59 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  CyberHostage writes:

  Looks like Fogg has one heck of an agent.

• May 16, 2008

  11:32 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  PajamaPulitzer writes:

  Sounds like the Rocks could get him back on the cheap.

• May 16, 2008

  3:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Squatch writes:

  Who the hell turns down 4-5 million for 1 year to get a 1 million dollar deal with the reds? His agent needs to get kicked in the nutz after turning that deal down. I understand wanting a long term deal but how could he think anybody was going to give him more money than that.

  I was sad to see him go but damn I could have got him better deal than what the Reds gave him.

• May 21, 2008

  6:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Malkasian writes:

  I pitched with Fogg way back in the day (I was 15 he was 17). We spent many innings together in the bullpen. I know he gets creative out there, so I don't doubt he'll count all those pennies. And trust me, he has way more pennies than any of us making comments on here so I don’t think he is worried about you all bashing his agent....