Friday April 25th minor league updates

[OnBaseMachine]

Louisville plays at 7:15 with Homer Bailey making the start. Bailey is 3-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 26.1 innings while allowing only 19 hits and with a 4 BB/16 K ratio.

Chattanooga also starts at 7:15. Daryl Thompson is starting and enters the game 2-0 with a 0.76 ERA and 1 BB/25 K in 23.2 innings.

Sarasota begins at 7:00 with LHP Alexander Smit on the mound.

Dayton begins at 7:30.

[BRM]

It's a great night to follow the minor leagues since Bailey and Thompson are both pitching. I hope I have some time to follow this thread tonight.

[Matt700wlw]

I'll be interested in seeing what Bailey can do.

[OesterPoster]

I'll be interested in seeing what Bailey can do.

Also interesting to note, if I have the rotations right...

The Belisle/Fogg spot in the Reds rotation comes up on Saturday, April 26th...and then again on Friday, May 2nd.

Homer's spot in the Louisville rotation comes up on Friday, April 25th...and then again on Wednesday, April 30th.

If Homer does well tonight, it might get interesting to see if he actually makes a start for Louisville next Wednesday or Thursday.

[Aronchis]

Number 1(Thompson) and 3(Bailey) pitching prospects going tonight. Humid, night should be good for Bailey. I would take a 5I 4W 11k performance from him. He needs it.

[Screwball]

Number 1(Thompson) and 3(Bailey) pitching prospects going tonight.


Who's 2?

[OnBaseMachine]

.

[Matt700wlw]

http://eatourbrains.com/EoB/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/troll.jpg

The future - I've been told that this little guy is the next Johnny Cueto....and chicks dig his butt.

[OnBaseMachine]

1-0 Sarasota in the 1st.

Heisey: 0-for-1
Turner: 1-for-1 double
Valaika: 1-for-1 RBI double
Francisco: 0-for-1
Stubbs: 0-for-1

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce grounded out on a 3-2 pitch.

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer Bailey got the first batter to fly out to CF for the first out. Walker followed with a single to left but got caught stealing for the second out. Next batter flied out to shallow RF.

Homer: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K...13 pitches.

[Aronchis]

Homer with his 5.3k/9 tearing up AAA!!!! Without the bender, he can't strikeout anybody.

When Thompson gets to AAA, it will be interesting how he does compared to Bailey.

[SarasotaFan]

Homer with his 5.3k/9 tearing up AAA!!!! Without the bender, he can't strikeout anybody.

When Thompson gets to AAA, it will be interesting how he does compared to Bailey.
probably pass him up like Cueto did :thumbup:

[Spring~Fields]

Bruce is in CF tonight.

How many games has Bruce played in CF and LF this year, anyone know ?

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton is in a rain delay to begin the game.

[Spring~Fields]

Bailey is pitching inconsistent, lot of balls, low away etc. Tonight, he looks to me like he has in the past up with the Reds, hope he smooths out.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bailey is pitching inconsistent, lot of balls, low away etc. Tonight, he looks to me like he has in the past up with the Reds, hope he smooths out.

Yeah, he's not very sharp right now.

[Matt700wlw]

line so far?

Thanks.

[SarasotaFan]

line so far?

Thanks.

who's line ?

homer ? still pitching. bottom 2nd. bases loaded but 2 outs, pitcher up. 0-2 count. 2 hits, 0 runs.

[OnBaseMachine]

line so far?

Thanks.

2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

[SarasotaFan]

41 pitches...

[Spring~Fields]

line so far?

Thanks.
Pitches-strikes: Bailey 40-22, Taubenheim 24-15.
Ground outs-fly outs: Bailey 1-3, Taubenheim 3-2.
Batters faced: Bailey 9, Taubenheim 6.





Bailey 2.0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0.95

[Aronchis]

Bailey's problem is he can't use his bender anymore and he is stuck without a out pitch. He isn't having the greatest night either, but that will happen.

My guess is(and yes, this is only a guess) that the bender was mechanically flawed and accounted for his control groin problems last year because of its mechanics. Remember, Homer's bender looked pretty decent his last little show late in September. He actually struck some people out.

So, the Reds are trying to get him to be a fastball/changeup pitcher while mixing in a slider. It wasn't to Volquez actually got that nice changeup he finally began making progress. If Homer doesn't have a breaking ball, he won't be a major league quality pitcher to he developes a changeup that works in the majors.

I bet Thompson does pass him due to the fact it may take some time before Homer developes that changeup. Hence, he replaces Homer as the Reds number 1 pitching prospect even if his physical upside is less.

This is a example of unintended consenquences. 2 years ago, we all thought Homer would have a big time breaking ball. It didn't come to pass.

[SarasotaFan]

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bailey 2.0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0.95

Spring....since you copy / paste, if you just use the "code" tag it'll leave it formatted like shown above....

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson K's the side in the 3rd inning.

3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

[Aronchis]

Machine Gun Thompson!!!

[Spring~Fields]

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bailey 2.0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0.95

Spring....since you copy / paste, if you just use the "code" tag it'll leave it formatted like shown above....

code with parin and not the open close brackets?

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton has been postponed.

[SarasotaFan]

1-0 homer just gave up a bomb...

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer allows a solo HR to Andrew McCutchen to begin the 3rd inning.

[OnBaseMachine]

Another solo HR off Homer.

[SarasotaFan]

2-0 homer just gave up another jack...

windy tonight....

[SarasotaFan]

wow.....what a cry baby cheap shot attempt that was....Homer's now a loser in my book

[Spring~Fields]

Didn't Bailey nod to him come on or something ? :)

[OnBaseMachine]

wow.....what a cry baby cheap shot attempt that was....Homer's now a loser in my book

What the hell are you talking about?

[OnBaseMachine]

Bailey: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K

[SarasotaFan]

What the hell are you talking about?guess you aren't listening to the game ?? he threw behind matt kata who's in the left handed batter's box after giving up 2 jacks...

[OnBaseMachine]

guess you aren't listening to the game ?? he threw behind matt kata who's in the left handed batter's box after giving up 2 jacks...

Good. I like a pitcher who shows he's not afraid to throw inside.

[SarasotaFan]

Good. I like a pitcher who shows he's not afraid to throw inside.
?? hardly inside.....behind a left handed batter....

[OnBaseMachine]

?? hardly inside.....behind a left handed batter....

I like it. Nolan Ryan/Roger Clemens-esque.

[Matt700wlw]

...nobody on the current Reds staff would have the balls to do it

[Aronchis]

Yeah, sounded like Bailey was aiming for his head. Guy doesn't like giving up jacks.

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

[Tommyjohn25]

I like the swagger Bailey. It's been a while since I've seen that in a Reds pitcher.

[SarasotaFan]

I like it. Nolan Ryan/Roger Clemens-esque.
i hope the pitcher throws at him....

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce GIDP on the 6th pitch of the AB.

[OnBaseMachine]

i hope the pitcher throws at him....

Nice. I've read your posts in the past and come away thinking you had some sort of grudge against Bailey. Tonight confirms it.

[Matt700wlw]

i hope the pitcher throws at him....

Could happen. Goes with the turf.

I thought they DHed in the minors, or do the same rules apply as in the majors?

[SarasotaFan]

Nice. I've read your posts in the past and come away thinking you had some sort of grudge against Bailey. Tonight confirms it.No I like the kid as a pitching prospect with some things to work on and that I'm very critical of. But I just don't think throwing at people shows any class. I never liked with Nolan / Clemens (@ Cabrera) did it. The hitter is defenseless.

[SarasotaFan]

Could happen. Goes with the turf.

I thought they DHed in the minors, or do the same rules apply as in the majors?
AA / AAA - NL team vs NL team (and vs AL in world series) pitchers get to hit

[OnBaseMachine]

Valaika just hit a 3-run HR (#4) to give Sarasota a 6-0 lead.

Heisey: 0-for-2 walk
Turner: 2-for-2 double, walk, RBI
Valaika: 2-for-3 double, HR, 4 RBI
Francisco: 0-for-3
Stubbs: 0-for-2

Smit: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 0 K

[Matt700wlw]

AA / AAA - NL team vs NL team (and vs AL in world series) pitchers get to hit

Wasn't sure. Thanks.

[OnBaseMachine]

Two more K's for Thompson:

5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K

[SarasotaFan]

In Progress 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Louisville
0 0 0 1 1 3 0
Indianapolis
0 0 2 2 4 0

Louisville
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bailey 3.0 4 2 2 2 2 2 1.53

Indianapolis
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Taubenheim 4.0 3 1 1 1 2 0 7.11



Pitches-strikes: Bailey 54-30, Taubenheim 62-36.
Ground outs-fly outs: Bailey 2-4, Taubenheim 7-2.
Batters faced: Bailey 14, Taubenheim 14.

[pahster]

Two more K's for Thompson:

5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K

Thompson's beasting tonight.

[SarasotaFan]

Homer just hit someone after walking someone....conspiracy ?

[Spring~Fields]

Homer just hit someone after walking someone....conspiracy ?

He is having a rough night with the control.

[Matt700wlw]

First bad one of the year, I would say

[Spring~Fields]

First bad one of the year, I would say

I think so from when I have watched him.

3.2 5 4 4 3 3 2 2.10

Pitches-strikes: Bailey 75-40,
Ground outs-fly outs: Bailey 3-4

[SarasotaFan]

McCutchens is hot right now....


Team: Triple-A Indianapolis (International)
Age: 21
Why he's here: .333/.379/.593, 9-for-27, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 R, 3 RBIs, 3-for-3 SB, 2 BB, 5 SO
The Scoop: A 12-game hitting streak will get you noticed, but more significant than that, McCutchen has hit the ground running in 2008. That's not to say that he doesn't know how it feels to start slow. His frigid start last year in the Eastern League included a .189/.247/.311 April before heating up to .230/.307/.407 in May. Most encouragingly, McCutchen hasn't built his hitting streak on singles alone; he struck five extra-base hits and stole three bases last week.

[SarasotaFan]

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bailey 3.2 5 4 4 3 3 2 2.10

[Aronchis]

Not the best of nights for Bailey. At least he has kept up on strikeouts so far.........well, he has fallen behind again. Sucks not having a outpitch right now.

I wonder when Thompson will be promoted to AAA? I would wait to June and then give him a "tryout" and see how he does.

[Spring~Fields]

Nice diving catch by centerfielder Bruce on that last play.

Homer seemed more settled that inning.

Indianapolis Bottom 5th

Kevin Thompson grounds out, pitcher Homer Bailey to first baseman Kevin Barker.
Craig Wilson flies out to left fielder Drew T. Anderson.
Matt Kata flies out to center fielder Jay Bruce.


5.0 5 4 4 3 4 2 2.01

Pitches-strikes: Bailey 82-46, Ground outs-fly outs: Bailey 4-6,

[Degenerate39]

First bad one of the year, I would say

Everyone's bound to have them. Believe it or not Nolan Ryan didn't get 10 plus strikeouts every game. And Cy Young didn't win every game he pitched in. Homer will be fine and he'll be with the Reds before we all know it.

[Kc61]

Turner, Valaika, Francisco, Stubbs.

Not a bad minor league lineup. Maybe we can move them up about three levels.

Turner may not be a highly touted prospect but he will be a major leaguer. Probably a good one, too.

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

[Caveat Emperor]

Thompson: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

Serious question -- how long do you leave Thompson in Chattanooga before bringing him north to Louisville?

He's on a completely different level than the people he's facing, it seems.

[Spring~Fields]

Thompson: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

Wow!! That young man is throwing very well.

[SarasotaFan]

Serious question -- how long do you leave Thompson in Chattanooga before bringing him north to Louisville?

He's on a completely different level than the people he's facing, it seems.
So have other pitchers in the past, but they spent quite some time there....

[Aronchis]

Everyone's bound to have them. Believe it or not Nolan Ryan didn't get 10 plus strikeouts every game. And Cy Young didn't win every game he pitched in. Homer will be fine and he'll be with the Reds before we all know it.

Yeah, but Homer hasn't sniffed 10 k's this year once. He won't be a Red to his performances in AAA say so. Right now, they aren't up to speed. I am hoping it is like 2006 when he exploded in June. His numbers before June that year were 56.2I 45H 5HR 64k's 3.98ERA. Not overly impressive. Then he put it together.

Jay sucks tonight. Homer at least didn't lose anymore ground in the k/9 battle, which I feel is very important though he didn't have his best fastball tonight.

[OnBaseMachine]

Thompson: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

[Spring~Fields]

Turner, Valaika, Francisco, Stubbs.

Not a bad minor league lineup. Maybe we can move them up about three levels.

Turner may not be a highly touted prospect but he will be a major leaguer. Probably a good one, too.

They are hitting the cover off that ball..........How long before they move up?

[OnBaseMachine]

Serious question -- how long do you leave Thompson in Chattanooga before bringing him north to Louisville?

He's on a completely different level than the people he's facing, it seems.

He's totally dominating right now. Give him another start or two and then bump him to AAA if he's still dominating.

[OnBaseMachine]

7-1 Sarasota in the 7th.

Heisey: 1-for-3 double, walk
Turner: 2-for-2 double, walk
Valaika: 2-for-3 double, HR, 5 RBI
Francisco: 1-for-4 RBI
Stubbs: 1-for-3 double, walk

[Spring~Fields]

Bailey settled down the last two innings, he looked more composed and focused and pitching well now.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bailey: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 6 K

[Caveat Emperor]

So have other pitchers in the past, but they spent quite some time there....

FWIW, I think the right play with him would be to leave him at Chattanooga most of the season, with maybe a taste of Louisville near the end.

Give him an invite to the big league camp next spring to let him see if he can take the Johnny Cueto path to power.

[Caveat Emperor]

Bailey settled down the last two innings, he looked more composed and focused and pitching well now.

Sign of a good pitcher -- not having your best command + stuff, but still putting in your 6-7 innings.

Just as Cueto did on Thursday.

[OnBaseMachine]

BTW Jay Bruce struckout on 8 pitches in his last atbat. He's seen 20 pitches in three atbats.

[Spring~Fields]

Jay sucks tonight.


The whole team only has 3 hits and 2 walks tonight, the other side is pitching half way decent.

[Spring~Fields]

BTW Jay Bruce struckout on 8 pitches in his last atbat. He's seen 20 pitches in three atbats.

I saw him making the pitcher work and work, not bad.

[OnBaseMachine]

The whole team only has 3 hits and 2 walks tonight, the other side is pitching half way decent.

If Jay doesn't go 8-for-8 every night then he sucks.

[Spring~Fields]

Sign of a good pitcher -- not having your best command + stuff, but still putting in your 6-7 innings.

Just as Cueto did on Thursday.

Yes, I liked the way he composed himself after the rough start.

[Spring~Fields]

If Jay doesn't go 8-for-8 every night then he sucks.

Oh ;)..........

Not in my book though, he's looked just fine most nights that I watch him play.

[Benihana]

I'd like to see Thompson promoted right around the time of the draft.

I'd also like to see Stubbs, Francisco, Valaika, Turner, Waring and Frazier promoted immediately.

And I'd take a wait and see approach with Homer Bailey. I wouldn't think of promoting him until June at the absolute earliest. If they need a stand-in for Arroyo and/or Belisle before then, I'd offer up Justin Lehr or Matt Maloney.

[OnBaseMachine]

Oh ;)..........

Not in my book though, he's looked just fine most nights that I watch him play.

Yep. He's off to another great start. I'm hoping Jocketty calls him up within the next week or so.

I'd leave Bailey in AAA until at least June.

[OnBaseMachine]

Woohoo! Juan Francisco just walked for the first time this season! It only took him 88 atbats!;)

Turner is now 3-for-3 with a double.

[Spring~Fields]

I'd leave Bailey in AAA until at least June.

Yes he still shows signs of needing more time down there.

He still seems to get emotional out there, head down, walking around the mound etc when the command is not quite there. Flustered look.

But he did settle down nicely tonight.

[OnBaseMachine]

I was pleased with Homer's outing tonight. Like CE said, he settled down and gave them six innings. Good pitchers do that - just like Cueto yesterday.

[Spring~Fields]

I am anxious to see what these guys do at the next level. They are exciting.


Turner 2B 3 3 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .408
Valaika SS 4 1 2 1 0 1 5 0 0 .359
Francisco 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .295
Stubbs CF 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .333

[Degenerate39]

Yeah, but Homer hasn't sniffed 10 k's this year once. He won't be a Red to his performances in AAA say so. Right now, they aren't up to speed. I am hoping it is like 2006 when he exploded in June. His numbers before June that year were 56.2I 45H 5HR 64k's 3.98ERA. Not overly impressive. Then he put it together.

Jay sucks tonight. Homer at least didn't lose anymore ground in the k/9 battle, which I feel is very important though he didn't have his best fastball tonight.

He's done fine in AAA. If Arroyo has another bad start or two then you'll see Homer with the Reds.

[OnBaseMachine]

They brought Thompson back out for the 8th inning and the first batter reach on an error. A sac bunt, then a strikeout followed by two walks. Viola relieved him and allowed a 3-run double. All runs were unearned.

Thompson's final line: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 K

[OnBaseMachine]

Jay Bruce just singled on a 3-1 pitch. He's 1-for-4 on the night and saw a total of 25 pitches in those four atbats.

[BigRed07]

I am anxious to see what these guys do at the next level. They are exciting.


Turner 2B 3 3 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .408
Valaika SS 4 1 2 1 0 1 5 0 0 .359
Francisco 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .295
Stubbs CF 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .333

These 4 guy's need to be in AA soon. They need to let loose of the guy's that are clogging up the system ahead of these guy's. I will say it again, we need to promote the guy's that are getting it done on the field. Turner and Valaika have done nothing but produce. Castro,Janish and the rest have done nothing to dispute the fact that Valaika is a legit prospect at SS. Turner is the best 2B prospect in the Reds system and has done nothing but put up great numbers in every level he has played. You can't argue with results.I love my Cali boy's.

[Degenerate39]

Jay Bruce just singled on a 3-1 pitch. He's 1-for-4 on the night and saw a total of 25 pitches in those four atbats.

I don't care if he went 1 for 4 the one thing that stands out to me is that he saw 25 pitches. He would help out a lot in Cincinnati with his patience. It's too bad they just can't put him in Centerfield and leave him there until next year when either Griffey or Dunn is gone.

[11larkin11]

Guess who was hitting cleanup and playing third base for the home team in Dayton at Fifth Third Field tonight?

Not Brandon Waring.

Me.

[Triples]

[QUOTE=SarasotaFan;1615574]No I like the kid as a pitching prospect with some things to work on and that I'm very critical of. But I just don't think throwing at people shows any class. I never liked with Nolan / Clemens (@ Cabrera) did it. The hitter is defenseless.[/QUOTE)

He didn't throw at him or he would have hit him. He was just sending a message. I like it, old school. You dig in on me you might want to be prepared to take one in the ribs. Shows me Bailey has some hair on his butt, especially since they're playing by National league rules and he has to bat too.

[JayBruceFan]

Guess who was hitting cleanup and playing third base for the home team in Dayton at Fifth Third Field tonight?

Not Brandon Waring.

Me.

Care to elaborate on that?

[Razor Shines]

Went to the Bats/Indians game tonight. Sat behind home plate. Homer was all over the place early. His release point looked inconsitent. But as some have noted he settled down and looked very good over the last two innings. He looked like a completely different pitcher. His velocity was in the low 90s for the first 4 innings and then in the 5th and 6th he was pitching at 94-95 on almost every fastball. Oh and Matt Kata is a baby.

I was very impressed with Bruce at the plate. He's not afraid to take a pitch with two strikes. And he made a very nice diving play in center. He got a good jump on that ball, he was moving on contact but I still didn't think he was going to get to it.

Paul Janish is fun to watch at SS.

Drew McCutchen is a nice player. Although all the pitches that he drove were belt high (or higher) low 90s fastballs, you don't have to be a stud prospect to kill those pitches.

[cincyinco]

Homer is working hard on his "new" mechanics.. i.e. he's shortened his stride, less movement, etc.

Its not surprising he hasn't perfected them yet, which makes an outing where he struggles a bit with his release point, per Razor above, not unlikely.

As others have said, he regained his composure. he pitched with some mean streak in him - which i love btw - and his velocity apparently increased as the game went on.

The path to the majors is not always smooth.

I am still confident in Bailey, especially with his age relative to the league.

[Aronchis]

Bailey having "weak" velocity this point of the season isn't any surprise.

I would like to hear why they asked him to ditch his "plus curve". I wonder if it was mechanically prone to injury. That would explain a freaking load with Homer and why he has fallen behind guys like Hughes and Gallardo.

[reds44]

Thompson needs to be in AAA or Cincinnati.

[11larkin11]

Care to elaborate on that?


My HS team got the chance to play there tonight after selling 250 tickets, and I realized halfway through the game that I was playing the same position, hitting in the same spot, and sitting in the same dugout ask Brandon Waring ha.

[JayBruceFan]

That is awesome

What school do you go to?

[OnBaseMachine]

Chattanooga: Mudcats win with four in eighth

By: John Frierson
(Contact)

In his longest, best outing of the season, which is saying something even in late April, pitcher Daryl Thompson gave the Chattanooga Lookouts more than seven stellar innings Friday night.

But Carolina’s Ryan Tucker was right there with him the whole time, and the Mudcats took full advantage of the Lookouts’ lone defensive mistake for a 4-0 win in front of 4,053 at AT&T Field, snapping the Lookouts’ four-game win streak.

“I just didn’t get down soon enough — just something stupid,” Lookouts shortstop Eric Eymann said of his fielding error in the top of the eighth inning, on a sharply hit ball by Kris Harvey.

A sacrifice bunt moved Harvey to second with one out and pinch-hitter Albert Concepcion dug in against Thompson. With the count 1-2, Concepcion failed to chase a couple of balls low and away, pushing the count full. Concepcion fouled two pitches away before striking out looking.

John Raynor came up with two gone and walked. Manuel Mayorson then battled through a long at-bat, earning a walk on a 3-2 pitch, loading the bases for Chris Coghlan and ending Thompson’s night after a season-high 7 2/3 innings.

Pedro Viola replaced Thompson and walked Coghlan on a 3-2 pitch, scoring Harvey. Robert Manuel then surrendered a three-run double by Gaby Sanchez, who went 3-for-4.

Thompson was charged with three runs, all unearned, and took the loss despite lowering his ERA to 0.57 after more than 30 innings pitched this season. He allowed four hits, struck out 11 and walked three.

“He was mixing up pitches well. He could throw all his pitches for strikes and he had his fastball going where he could throw it outside and inside,” said Mudcats third baseman Lee Mitchell, a former Georgia standout from Cartersville, Ga., who went 0-for-4. “Luckily our pitcher had his good stuff tonight, too.”

Tucker pitched 5 2/3 innings, holding the Lookouts to three hits while striking out six and walking three. Jesus Delgado pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief and earned the win.

“I thought their guy threw the ball well, but I thought our guy threw the ball extremely well,” Lookouts manager Mike Goff said.

The Lookouts had a few scoring chances but always came up empty. Drew Anderson was stranded at second in the first, and in the second Cody Tatum hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a flyout to left, but Eymann grounded out to end the inning.

Mike Griffin, who had two of the Lookouts’ four hits, tripled in the eighth but was stuck on third. Each team finished with 12 strikeouts; the Lookouts left seven runners on base to the Mudcats’ four.

The Lookouts will try to bounce back in tonight’s 7:15 matchup, with Aaron Thompson (0-2) scheduled to pitch for Carolina and Ramon Ramirez (1-1) slated for the Lookouts.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/apr/26/chattanooga-mudcats-win-four-eighth/

[11larkin11]

That is awesome

What school do you go to?

Indian Lake

[tbball10]

Bailey having "weak" velocity this point of the season isn't any surprise.

I would like to hear why they asked him to ditch his "plus curve". I wonder if it was mechanically prone to injury. That would explain a freaking load with Homer and why he has fallen behind guys like Hughes and Gallardo.

phil hughes is 0-3 7.85era 11/10 k/bb in 18.1 innings, and the league is hitting .342 against him... color me optimistic, but i don't think homer would have any problem putting up those sparkiling #'s in the bigs.

[tbball10]

11larkin11, how'd u and ur team do in the game?

[OnBaseMachine]

Reds' Valaika remains red-hot
Florida State League leader collects five more RBIs
By Alan Friedman / Special to MLB.com

Chris Valaika is 10-for-21 with a homer and 11 RBIs during a five-game hitting streak. (Mark LoMoglio)

Chris Valaika says he is "seeing the ball real well." The statistics back him up.

Valaika doubled, homered and tied a career high with five RBIs on Friday to lead the Sarasota Reds to a 10-6 victory over the Clearwater Threshers.

The 22-year-old shortstop ripped a run-scoring double in the first inning, then belted his fourth homer with two men on in the fourth. He capped his second five-RBI night with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Valaika has hit safely in 19 of 22 games this season, leads the Florida State League with 25 RBIs and is tied for third with a .359 batting average.

"I think the whole team is seeing the ball well," the 2006 third-round draft pick said.

Valaika hit .284 with 12 homers and 79 RBIs in 136 games for Sarasota and Class A Dayton and said last season's experience has been a big factor in his strong start.

"Last year was my first full season and I learned a lot," he said. "It can really turn into a grind, so I knew what to do to prepare.

"I conditioned in the offseason and got on a weight program to maintain my strength come August and September."

Valaika's homer in the fourth keyed a four-run outburst that gave the Reds (12-10) a 6-0 lead. His sacrifice fly was part of a two-run sixth than extended the advantage to 9-1.

Sarasota's Justin Turner went 3-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Reds starter Alexander Smit (2-2) allowed a run on five hits and five walks without a strikeout over five innings to pick up the win.

Starter Darren Byrd (0-3) was tagged for nine runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 frames, striking out two and walking four, for the Threshers (7-16).

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080425&content_id=390328&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[_Sir_Charles_]

Anybody know why Brandon Warring hasn't played in the last 2 Dayton games? Injury? Promotion?


LOL. I just read 11Larkin11's post. Nevermind. :O)

[11larkin11]

11larkin11, how'd u and ur team do in the game?

I personally went 0-1 with 2 BBs, a HBP, and an RBI groundout. My team ended up pulling out a squeaker 7-6. Both teams threw their aces, but neither were on. We gave up 3 unearned in the first but battled back. Very awesome game and the first time we've beaten that great program from Bellefontaine in many years.