BP on Travis Chick - 5/8/06

[RedsManRick]

RHP Travis Chick, Reds

For the briefest of moments in 2004, Chick was flavor of the month in prospect land, putting together seven monster starts (2.13 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 42 innings) for Low-A Fort Wayne after being traded from the Marlins to the Padres in a deal for Ismael Valdez. The Padres jumped the then 20-year-old Chick to Double-A to begin 2005, and it proved to be an overly-aggressive move, as Chick struggled with his command and began to press, which led to issues with his delivery, which led to lower velocity, which led to more problems. After putting up a 5.27 ERA in 19 starts for Double-A Mobile, Chick was included in another trade, going to the Reds as part of the Joe Randa deal. So now he's 21, in his third organization, and back in Double-A, and Chick has reeled off four straight starts allowing two or fewer earned runs, something he never accomplished last year. If you were a young pitcher looking for a chance, Cincinnati could be the ideal organization. He's not coming up anytime soon, but a major league debut sometime this season is within reach.

[HBP]

His numbers are looking good right now. A little better than Dumatrait's, who has been getting more attention early in the season.


Player W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WHIP
Phil Dumatrait 2 2 3.60 5 5 0 0 0 25.0 20 11 10 2 0 10 25 1.20
Travis Chick 1 0 2.96 5 5 0 0 0 24.1 19 8 8 3 1 7 20 1.07

[traderumor]

Is he off the DL?

[dougdirt]

Well Dumatrait has been VERY good in 3 starts, and 2 of them, including his last one really affected his numbers. His first bad start was after a week and a half layoff becuase he had a child. Chick is doing well this season and I really hope he keeps it up. I was really worried with him after last season and his numbers after he was traded here.

[Aronchis]

Going to high A to AA can be a real real challenge. To even think based on limiteds low A innings, Chick could handle it, was stupid. Sounds like the guy should be rehabing his arm.

In AA, you get alot more polished Vets and advancing prospects(like Joey Votto for example) who can handle good heat/fastballs and better plate eye if you don't flash good secondary stuff, you will be trashed. Thomas Diamond rocked high A last year and then struggled badly in AA because he didn't show any good secondary pitches. Pelfrey had it easy in high A, moves to AA and looks much more human.

Richie Gardner was somebody who handled the conversion. He rocked high A and then was still fairly effective in 1.5 months of AA. My guess was because his secondary pitches were effective.

[membengal]

Is he off the DL?

yeah, he's back, pitched well in first time back too, I think.

Edited to add:

Found it...the update is from OBM in the 5/6 results thread:

Chick's night is finished, good first start back from the DL.

5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K

[traderumor]

yeah, he's back, pitched well in first time back too, I think.

Edited to add:

Found it...the update is from OBM in the 5/6 results thread:

Chick's night is finished, good first start back from the DL.

5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Thanks, time flies, it seems like he just went on more recently than that.

[Sea Ray]

Is he off the DL?

What was he on the DL for?

[dougdirt]

He had tricep tendonitis if I remember correctly. Seeing as he only missed 2 starts with it, I would say it was just a precautionary thing.