Monday April 28th minor league updates

[OnBaseMachine]

-Louisville 7:05 - Adam Pettyjohn.

-Chattanooga was suspended in the 4th inning yesterday and will finish that game today at 6:15 and play the regularly scheduled game afterwards. Ben Jukich will start game two.

-Sarasota 7:00 - Travis Wood makes the start.

-Dayton has been postponed due to rain.

[Joseph]

How is Wood so far this year?

[Screwball]

How is Wood so far this year?

4 GS, 17.2 IP, 1-2, 2.55 ERA, 11.21 K/9, 5.09 BB/9, 2.20 K/BB, 0.00 HR/9 1.47 WHIP, 2.41 FIP

[TRF]

How is Wood so far this year?
2.55 ERA, 22K's in 17 1/3 IP. He's just under a hit per inning, but has given up 10 BB's. He's a little lucky his ERA isn't higher, but I think he's doing fine as he hasn't given up a HR this year. I don't think anyone is hitting the ball real hard against him.

[Redman15]

I saw his last start in Clearwater. He threw the ball well. He gave up 3 or 4 little dinkers were he got in on hitters that fell for hits. He made a error that was cost him a few runs. He definitely has good stuff. I was impressed with the way he went after guys.

[OnBaseMachine]

Louisville is in a rain delay. Bruce isn't in the starting lineup for some reason...

[dougdirt]

Weather does not look promising for Louisville. If they get the game in I would be surprised.

Lookouts are leading 4-0 in the game they are finishing from yesterday. Viola in to pitch in the 8th.

[reds44]

Louisville is in a rain delay. Bruce isn't in the starting lineup for some reason...
Rosales isn't either..

[dougdirt]

Rosales isn't either..

they are trying to score fewer runs, just to get the pitchers to pitch better games?

[OnBaseMachine]

Chris Valaika needs to be in Chattanooga.

Heisey: 0-for-0 walk
Turner: 0-for-1
Valaika: 1-for-1 2-run HR (#5)
Francisco: 1-for-1
Stubbs: 1-for-1

Wood: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

[ochoa30]

nice job chris

[New Fever]

Valakia hit his 5th homer (2 run homer) , Drew Stuubs and Juan Francisco singled in top half of the first.

[dougdirt]

Pedro Viola gets charged with 3 earned runs in the 8th. Lutz finished off the inning. Lookouts leading 4-3 in the bottom of 8.

[OnBaseMachine]

Viola is really struggling right now.

Wood: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

[OnBaseMachine]

Valaika singles...he's 2-for-2 with a HR and single.

[PuffyPig]

2.55 ERA, 22K's in 17 1/3 IP. He's just under a hit per inning, but has given up 10 BB's. He's a little lucky his ERA isn't higher, but I think he's doing fine as he hasn't given up a HR this year. I don't think anyone is hitting the ball real hard against him.

2.55 ERA, 2.41 FIP doesn't sound like "lucky" to me....

[OnBaseMachine]

Wood: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

[Ben]

Reading Viola's scouting report in the Prospect Handbook leads me to believe that despite his great fastball (according to BA it has been clocked between 92 to 95 mph), his offspeed pitches need work. As we've seen with Todd Coffey, you need more than just a hard fastball to get hitters out at the majors or any level for that matter. But given that Viola is only 23 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop his offspeed stuff so its not the time to give up on him just yet.

[dougdirt]

Ben, your signature is the worst comparison I have ever seen in my life.

[OnBaseMachine]

6-3 Chattanooga after 8.

Cumberland: 2-for-3 two walks
DeJesus: 3-for-4 two doubles, walk
Henry: 2-for-3 three RBI

Roenicke is coming in to save the game.

[Kc61]

Of all players in the Reds system, Valaika really needs a promotion. He is absolutely on fire, hitting with power and for average. Get him to Chatanooga I say.

[OnBaseMachine]

Roenicke retired the first two hitters with ease but then walked a couple and allowed a RBI single before getting the final out for the save. He's really struggled with command in his last two outings.

[OnBaseMachine]

Wood: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

[dougdirt]

The Chattanooga bullpen was supposed to be a big strength, but top to bottom the main guys have struggled thus far in the season.

[OnBaseMachine]

Valaika singles again. He's 3-for-3 with the homerun.

Stubbs singles, he's 2-for-3.

[dougdirt]

Chris Valaika is real good right now. That entire team is just killing the ball.

[Redman15]

Sarasota leads 7-0. Score 5 in the 5th.

Sarasota Top 5th

* Eddy Rodriguez singles on a line drive to right fielder David Smith.
* Chris Heisey walks. Eddy Rodriguez to 2nd.
* Justin Turner singles on a ground ball to right fielder David Smith. Eddy Rodriguez scores. Chris Heisey to 2nd.
* Chris Valaika singles on a fly ball to right fielder David Smith. Chris Heisey to 3rd. Justin Turner to 2nd.
* Juan Francisco out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder David Smith. Chris Heisey scores. Justin Turner to 3rd.
* Pitcher Change: Adrian Martin replaces Gustavo Chacin.
* Drew Stubbs singles on a fly ball to center fielder Sean Shoffit. Justin Turner scores. Chris Valaika to 2nd.
* Carson Kainer reaches on catcher interference by Al Quintana. Chris Valaika to 3rd. Drew Stubbs to 2nd. Carson Kainer to 1st.
* Jason Louwsma singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Emanuele. Chris Valaika scores. Drew Stubbs scores. Carson Kainer to 3rd.
* Justin Tordi grounds into double play, shortstop Luis Sanchez to second baseman Jonathan Diaz to first baseman Paul Franko. Jason Louwsma out at 2nd.

[dougdirt]

Travis Wood - 5ip, 2h, 2bb, 4K, 0r.

[OnBaseMachine]

Valaika singles AGAIN! 4-for-4 with a HR.

[Redman15]

Stubbs Homers!!!!

[OnBaseMachine]

And Stubbs hits a 2-run HR! His first of the year. He's 3-for-4 with a HR.

[dougdirt]

So Drew Stubbs is hitting .352/.429/.549 right now..... just sayin....

[ochoa30]

So Drew Stubbs is hitting .352/.429/.549 right now..... just sayin....

but, but, but, drew stubbs is a bust.:mooner:

[OnBaseMachine]

Wood: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K

[dougdirt]

Wood: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K

Great to see Travis get deep into a game. He has pitched on a short leash so far this season.

[HokieRed]

Great to see the success throughout the minors. Valaika needs to be moved; that's obvious and should be done sooner rather than later. Does make me feel even worse, though, about the bad decision regarding Krivsky. He deserved better.

[Caveat Emperor]

So Drew Stubbs is hitting .352/.429/.549 right now..... just sayin....

Stubbs is proving the haters (including myself) wrong so far. It's early in the season, but if he can keep this up for another month or so, he should be in Chattanooga.

[dougdirt]

Stubbs is proving the haters (including myself) wrong so far. It's early in the season, but if he can keep this up for another month or so, he should be in Chattanooga.

Agreed. I want to see it continue, but given the league and what it generally does to guys that entire lineup in Sarasota has been incredible.

[dougdirt]

Shaun Cumberland hit a solo HR for Chattanooga in the first.

[OnBaseMachine]

Boxscore screwed up. Wood just went six.

[dougdirt]

Looks like Wood actually left after the 6th and the box score took time to update itself. Still a solid outing, 6ip, 5h, 3bb, 5K and 2 runs.

[Grande Donkey]

Love to see Stubb's get one over the fence. He is having a great start.

[Lockdwn11]

I am really rooting for Valakia. I had a chance to talk to him down in sarasota this year . He gave my 7 year old a ball and signed his Reds mini Bat seamed like a realy good kid.

[OnBaseMachine]

Valaika is now 5-for-5 with a HR. Wow.

[crazyredfan40]

Do you guys think Valaika projects as a utility type player with a solid bat like say Keppinger, and maybe a year or two as an everyday player, or do you think he is going to be playing a certain position?

Also anyone know about his speed or throwing arm?

[Aronchis]

Sarasota has some guy named "Otterness". "I am the Otterness".

Valaika got off to a hot start last year to. Then caved. When promoted, looked outclassed.

Stubbs got off to a hot start to than imploded by June before a rise at the end.

[dougdirt]

Stubbs got off to a hot start to than imploded by June before a rise at the end.
Stubbs hit .282/.326/.376 last April.... not quite a hot start.

[crazyredfan40]

Sarasota has some guy named "Otterness". "I am the Otterness".

Valaika got off to a hot start last year to. Then caved. When promoted, looked outclassed.

Stubbs got off to a hot start to than imploded by June before a rise at the end.

I was thinking the same thing about these guys...Hopefully with the setback last year, for Valaika when he jumped levels and Stubbs when he had to contend with his turf toe, set them up to succeed this year...

[PuffyPig]

Stubbs got off to a hot start to than imploded by June before a rise at the end.


Last year in April: .702 OPS

This year in April: .978 OPS

That's a little different I would say.

[OnBaseMachine]

Do you guys think Valaika projects as a utility type player with a solid bat like say Keppinger, and maybe a year or two as an everyday player, or do you think he is going to be playing a certain position?

Also anyone know about his speed or throwing arm?

Michael Young.

[HokieRed]

At the moment he's projecting as an everyday third baseman. He should be in Chattanooga pronto, and I'd like to see Cumberland in Louisville. If Cumberland turns out to be the answer to the CF problem, Castellini should get down on his knees and go hire Wayne back.

[roborobj]

Jukich gets a one to nothing win tonight for Chattanooga.

[OnBaseMachine]

Roenicke struckout the only batter he faced in the second game for the save.

[dougdirt]

Louisville is in the 12th with runners on second and third with 2 outs in a tie game...

[OnBaseMachine]

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

[dougdirt]

Louisville strands 3 to head to the 13th...

[SMcGavin]

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

I love it. I can't wait to watch this guy pitch, even if he never ends up making it he is fun to follow.

[OnBaseMachine]

Louisville is still tied at 2 in the bottom of the 14th inning.

[OnBaseMachine]

Heading to the 15th inning...

[OnBaseMachine]

Scoreless top 15th for Brower.

[OnBaseMachine]

On to the 16th inning still tied at 2.

[Screwball]

On to the 16th inning still tied at 2.

Didn't Louisville also go 14 innings not too long ago?

[mbgrayson]

Nice pitching again tonight for the Bats.

To the 17th!

[mbgrayson]

Clippers score three in the top of the 17th off of firstbaseman Kevin Barker. They ran out of pitchers...could have used Bray tonight.

Bats down 5-2 going into the bottom of 17.


Update: Bats lose 5-2 in 17 innings. Barker takes the loss....he now has a 27.0 ERA.

[OnBaseMachine]

Didn't Louisville also go 14 innings not too long ago?

They went to 13 innings on Saturday night.

[kheidg-]

Consecutive good outings for Jukich. A few more and Louisville might be in his immediate future.

[OnBaseMachine]

Sarasota's Valaika still sizzling
Shortstop continues torrid hitting with five-hit effort against Dunedin
By Alan Friedman / Special to MLB.com

Sarasota's Chris Valaika admits he tries to hit the ball hard each time he comes to the plate. Thus far this season, he's succeeding at an impressive rate.

The 22-year-old shortstop enjoyed his first career five-hit game Monday, belting a homer and driving in two runs as the visiting Reds cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays at Knology Park.

Valaika, who was serving as the Reds' designated hitter, began his big night with a two-run homer, his fifth, in the first inning. He singled in the third, fifth, seventh and ninth to pace a 12-hit attack, and also scored three times for Sarasota.

"I'm feeling good," said Valaika, who is batting .389 and leads the Florida State League with 27 RBIs. "A lot of guys on the team are doing well. It's a fun environment to be around. I did it (5-for-5) in college, but never in the pros."

Valaika, who was selected by Cincinnati out of UC-Santa Barbara in the third round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, is riding an eight-game hitting streak and has at least one hit in 22 of the Reds' 25 games this season. He hit a combined .284 with 12 homers and 79 RBIs at Class A Dayton and Sarasota last year.

"I try to be a situational hitter when that's needed," Valaika added. "When it doesn't call for that, I try to stay up the middle and hit the ball hard every at-bat."

Valaika wasn't alone in driving the Reds (14-11) past the Blue Jays (14-11). Justin Turner, who is hitting .384, singled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Drew Stubbs went 3-for-5 with his first homer of the year and three RBIs, boosting his batting average to .348.

Travis Wood (2-2) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings to notch the win.

Former Major Leaguer Gustavo Chacin (0-3) took the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 4 1/3 frames.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080428&content_id=391430&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[AccordinglyReds]

Clippers score three in the top of the 17th off of firstbaseman Kevin Barker. They ran out of pitchers...could have used Bray tonight.

Bats down 5-2 going into the bottom of 17.


Update: Bats lose 5-2 in 17 innings. Barker takes the loss....he now has a 27.0 ERA.

Ahh I wish I could have been there tonight. That would have been fun to watch Barker pitch. lol