Wednesday April 30th minor league updates

[OnBaseMachine]

-Louisville plays at 11:05 with Homer Bailey (3-2, 1.95) on the mound.

-Chattanooga also has an early game beginning at 12:00 with Sam Lecure (1-1, 4.03) pitching.

-Sarasota plays at 7:00 with Jordan Smith (4-1, 1.72) taking the mound.

-Dayton plays a doubleheader beginning at 6:00. Curtis Partch (0-3, 7.11) and Enerio Del Rosario (1-1, 1.65) will be the starters.

[FIRELEFT]

I think this will be a good test for Sarasota's O.
They are going up against Tampa's Eric Hacker 2-1, 0.82

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer begins the game with a strikeout.

[OnBaseMachine]

Great first inning for Homer Bailey - strikeout, flyout, strikeout.

1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K...11 pitches.

[Redman15]

I just noticed Danny Dorn and Mike DeJesus are on the Sarasota roster. I think Dorn is on a rehab assignment. Jerry Gil is now on the Chattanooga roster.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce singles in his first atbat.

[OnBaseMachine]

Louisville had the bases loaded with one out but Jolbert Cabrera GIDP to end the inning.

Scoreless after one.

[OnBaseMachine]

Top 2. Homer gets a flyout to left, allows a bloop single, gets a popout, a single, and then a strikeout to end the inning.

2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K...29 pitches, 21 strikes.

[Benihana]

Today may be the outing that gets Homer promoted to the big team.

[TRF]

Bailey K'd Wathan on 4 pitches in the top of the 3rd.

[dougdirt]

Bailey just broke off a nasty curveball to Mark Holliman to get his second strike out of the 3rd inning. He hasn't completely scrapped the pitch.

[TRF]

Now he K's Mike Holliman on 5 pitches.

[dougdirt]

Jay Bruce just saved himself. Read the ball wrong off the bat and had to jump to make the catch to end the inning.

[TRF]

Bailey through three IP: 42 pitches 29 for strikes, 2 hits 0 BB's, 5 K's.

I think he can go 7 innings easy at this rate.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bailey just broke off a nasty curveball to Mark Holliman to get his second strike out of the 3rd inning. He hasn't completely scrapped the pitch.

Good to hear.

[dougdirt]

Jay Bruce hit a triple off the top of the RF fence. Bats lead 1-0.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce hits a RBI triple!

Doug, how close was that to a HR? NM. Just saw your post.

[dougdirt]

Oh, and its off a lefty. Bruce scores on a sac fly. 2-0 Bats.

[membengal]

I thought I read somewhere on here that Bruce was slumping lately...

[dougdirt]

Bruce hits a RBI triple!

Doug, how close was that to a HR?
Look above buddy... :)

It literally hit the top of the wall and bounced back onto the field.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce is now hitting .400 with a 1.050 OPS in 25 atbats against lefties this season.

[Degenerate39]

Bruce hits a RBI triple!

I guess that would've been a homer if he wasn't struggling right now...

[OnBaseMachine]

Look above buddy... :)

It literally hit the top of the wall and bounced back onto the field.

Thanks.

Jay is halfway to the cycle...

[dougdirt]

Bailey walks his first batter. Missed real bad on a fastball in the middle of the at bat, other balls just missed the zone.

[dougdirt]

Bailey strikes out the 2nd batter of the inning on a called strike three fastball on the inside of the plate.

[OnBaseMachine]

Larish K's. #6 for Homer.

[dougdirt]

Hit and run works and runners are on the corners with 1 out.

[OnBaseMachine]

FC scores a run.

[dougdirt]

Bailey gets a taylor made DP ball, but the batter just beat out the throw (pretty fast guy) and the runner scores. 2-1 Bats lead.

[dougdirt]

Bailey is looking pretty good from all that I have seen so far.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bailey: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

[OnBaseMachine]

How is the changeup and slider looking, doug? And how often is he throwing the curve?

[dougdirt]

How is the changeup and slider looking, doug? And how often is he throwing the curve?

Slider has been strong for the most part. He put one in the dirt last inning that went about 59 feet or so. Have only seen 3 or 4 curveballs, but I did miss the first inning. Change up has not been bad. Its really an improving pitch and actually a good pitch for him at this point in time.

[dougdirt]

Chris Dickerson just tripled into the corner.

[OnBaseMachine]

Slider has been strong for the most part. He put one in the dirt last inning that went about 59 feet or so. Have only seen 3 or 4 curveballs, but I did miss the first inning. Change up has not been bad. Its really an improving pitch and actually a good pitch for him at this point in time.

Thanks. With his fastball and curve, the changeup only needs to be an average offering. And the slider could be another weapon in his arsenal, especially against RH hitters.

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer walks the .185 hitting catcher to begin the 5th. Can't do that.

[OnBaseMachine]

Doubleplay on the very next pitch. 2 outs.

[dougdirt]

Bailey walks the first batter on 6 pitches then on the first pitch to the next batter he gets a perfect DP ball to erase it.

[OnBaseMachine]

Another first pitch out.

Bailey: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K...70 pitches.

[OnBaseMachine]

Chattanooga is down 1-0 after one. Sam Lecure allowed a solo HR.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce grounded out to end the 5th.

2-1 Louisville.

[dougdirt]

Bailey just threw another beauty of a curve

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer gets Perez to popout on 2-2. 1 out.

[dougdirt]

Bailey just threw back to back curveballs.... uh oh.

[OnBaseMachine]

Strikeout #7 for Homer. 2 outs.

[dougdirt]

Bailey should have had strike 3 called on a 2-2 count, but went full before getting strike 3 swinging.

[dougdirt]

Bailey is throwing his curve this inning, just threw his 4th of the inning.

[dougdirt]

Just hit 96 on a swinging strike.

[dougdirt]

Another fastball swinging for strike 3. 8 strikeouts on the game.

[OnBaseMachine]

Another K.

Bailey: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K...88 pitches.

[Tommyjohn25]

I'll be the first to say it (today). Get me Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey. :D

[OnBaseMachine]

Will Homer come back out for the 7th? Only 88 pitches, I say yes.

[OnBaseMachine]

Homer back out there for the 7th inning and gets a flyout on a 1-1 count. 1 out.

[OnBaseMachine]

Melian singles on 1-2.

[OnBaseMachine]

2-run HR off Homer.

[OnBaseMachine]

Strikeout #9. 2 outs.

[OnBaseMachine]

Another strikeout as Homer's day is done.

7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 10 K...108 pitches.

[OnBaseMachine]

Very nice outing by Homer today. 2 BB/10 K's is especially impressive.

[Degenerate39]

Another strikeout as Homer's day is done.

7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 10 K...108 pitches.

Not bad. Nice to see his PEACE's up this start

[OesterPoster]

Excellent. Thanks for the updates guys.

With the Reds' changing their rotation around, I don't see where Bailey can slide right in for a struggling Belisle now. Might be something more to watch after Belisle's next start, though they have another off day on May 8th.


Friday, Edinson Volquez
Saturday, Matt Belisle
Sunday, Johnny Cueto
Monday, Aaron Harang
Tuesday, Bronson Arroyo

[Benihana]

Aronchis, paging Aronchis....

What do you have to say about Homer's K's today?

[OnBaseMachine]

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

[OesterPoster]

Aronchis, paging Aronchis....

What do you have to say about Homer's K's today?

Something tells me he might have a comment on this:


Louisville Bottom 7th

* Jay Bruce strikes out swinging.

:)

[TRF]

That was a heckuva game for Bailey and Bruce.

The Reds have some decisions to make and soon.

[dougdirt]

Player AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
Green 2B 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
Janish SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .302
Bruce RF 4 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 .316
Phillips, A DH 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
Cabrera 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
Rosales 3B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .177
Bolivar LF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
Dickerson CF 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241
Colina, A C 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
Bailey P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Herrera P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Adkins P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

BATTING
3B: Bruce (3, Connolly), Dickerson (4, Connolly).
TB: Janish 2; Bruce 4; Phillips, A; Bolivar; Dickerson 3; Colina, A.
RBI: Bruce (19), Phillips, A (4), Janish 2 (15).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Colina, A; Phillips, A.
SF: Phillips, A.
GIDP: Cabrera.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
DP: (Janish-Green-Cabrera).

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bailey (W, 4-2) 7.0 5 3 3 2 10 1 2.29
Herrera (H, 1) 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Adkins (S, 4) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.52



HBP: Dickerson (by Connolly).
Pitches-strikes: Connolly 86-54, Rusch, M 11-8, Bailey 108-66, Herrera 23-15, Adkins 6-4.
Ground outs-fly outs: Connolly 8-11, Rusch, M 0-3, Bailey 4-7, Herrera 0-4, Adkins 1-1.
Batters faced: Connolly 30, Rusch, M 4, Bailey 27, Herrera 5, Adkins 2.

[Aronchis]

My takes: Homer's "bender" was back today and it was evident. His fastball location was bad today, thankfully his secondary stuff was there.........again(and all of it).

It was nice to see Bruce break out of a mini-funk.

Neither should be called up. Bailey needs to be hitting everything together being this young and it isn't there yet. I would wait to the weather warms up. Ditto for Bruce.

[dougdirt]

My takes: Homer's "bender" was back today and it was evident. His fastball location was bad today, thankfully his secondary stuff was there.........again(and all of it).

It was nice to see Bruce break out of a mini-funk.

Neither should be called up. Bailey needs to be hitting everything together being this young and it isn't there yet. I would wait to the weather warms up. Ditto for Bruce.

Did you watch the game? His fastball was located pretty well today in my opinion.

[Aronchis]

Did you watch the game? His fastball was located pretty well today in my opinion.

Yup. Early in the game he was fine, but he seemed to tire easily today. It got worse as the game went on and he start planting his feet wrong. That hr was a especially ugly pitch.

[dougdirt]

Is anyone else really worried that something is up with Sam Lecure's arm? This year he has walked 20 batters in 26.1 innings. He has never been the best control guy, but he was never close to being this bad.

[Benihana]

Is anyone else really worried that something is up with Sam Lecure's arm? This year he has walked 20 batters in 26.1 innings. He has never been the best control guy, but he was never close to being this bad.

I never really had LeCure rated higher than a C prospect even at his best, so I'm not too worried or surprised at his regression this year.

[dougdirt]

I never really had LeCure rated higher than a C prospect even at his best, so I'm not too worried or surprised at his regression this year.

Me either really as far as his rating, but I figured a fringy 4/5 guy, but his walk rate has absolutely soared this year. I really wonder if something isn't up with his arm.

[Caveat Emperor]

Neither should be called up. Bailey needs to be hitting everything together being this young and it isn't there yet. I would wait to the weather warms up. Ditto for Bruce.

Surprisingly, I agree.

Bailey is just starting to put it together, it looks like. He needs 3 or 4 more starts exactly like this one before he gets called. HE needs to learn what it takes to succeed, and there is no better teacher than repitition.

For Bruce, he's hitting well but his BA-driven OBP makes me think he needs more time in AAA to refine his OB skills. With pure hitting talent like his, he should be walking a ton. He already knows how to hammer mistake pitches, he now needs to recognize what to do when he's pitched around.

[Matt700wlw]

My takes: Homer's "bender" was back today and it was evident. His fastball location was bad today, thankfully his secondary stuff was there.........again(and all of it).

It was nice to see Bruce break out of a mini-funk.



Mini funk?

[NJReds]

Mini funk?

http://www.theboxset.com/images/reviewcaptures/395capture_goldmember05.jpg

[Buckeye33]

http://www.theboxset.com/images/reviewcaptures/395capture_goldmember05.jpg

:D:D:D:D

Well done.

[Aronchis]

Surprisingly, I agree.

Bailey is just starting to put it together, it looks like. He needs 3 or 4 more starts exactly like this one before he gets called. HE needs to learn what it takes to succeed, and there is no better teacher than repitition.

For Bruce, he's hitting well but his BA-driven OBP makes me think he needs more time in AAA to refine his OB skills. With pure hitting talent like his, he should be walking a ton. He already knows how to hammer mistake pitches, he now needs to recognize what to do when he's pitched around.

Yep. What I heard/seen of Jay, alot of 3 ball counts he doesn't finish as walks. Need more data on him, but a trend that can be improved on.

[fearofpopvol1]

I really don't want to see Bailey up here any earlier than June or July, preferably July. Bruce on the other hand. I'm starting to think he's ready now and that he could help the ML team right away.

[dougdirt]

Dayton is under way right now in game 1. They go 1-2-3 in the first. Frazier struck out on a change up to end the first.

[Kc61]

Dayton is under way right now in game 1. They go 1-2-3 in the first. Frazier struck out on a change up to end the first.

I just don't get the way they are developing Frazier. He is DHing tonight, as he often does. Cozart is the shortstop, not saying Frazier should play short. But shouldn't they be using Frazier at some position, on a consistent basis, to get him ready to play in the NL?

Unless he is learning a new position in practice, it's hard to see what the plan is for this guy.

[OnBaseMachine]

Frazier's in a bit of a mini slump right now, at least for his standards he is.

[OnBaseMachine]

Chris Valaika enters tonight with an eight game hitting streak and five straight multi-hit games, including a total of 15 hits in those five games.

[OnBaseMachine]

The opposing pitcher is throwing a perfect game through four innings against Dayton.

[OnBaseMachine]

Denis Phipps doubles with one out in the 5th to breakup the perfect game.

[OnBaseMachine]

Jordan Smith: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

[OnBaseMachine]

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

[Redman15]

Today will be a good test for Sarasota. Tampa's pitcher Eirc Hacker has put up some great numbers so far.So far 2 innings 3 hits and 2 GIDP for the Reds. 1-0 T3
2008 Season
Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG
TAM FSL 2 1 0.82 5 5 0 0 0 33.0 14 5 3 0 2 24 1.43 .125
Minors 2 1 0.82 5 5 0 0 0 33.0 14 5 3 0 2 24 1.43 .125

[Aronchis]

Frazier's in a bit of a mini slump right now, at least for his standards he is.

Ah, finally some acceptance. Frazier has been disappointing the last 10 days.

[OnBaseMachine]

Chattanooga won today 14-7. They trailed 7-0 going into the 7th inning and scored four runs in the 7th inning and three more to tie it in the 8th inning and force extra innings. They then exploded for seven runs in the 10th inning to win 14-7.

Henry: 2-for-4 two doubles, two walks
Gutierrez: 3-for-5 double, walk
Tatum: 1-for-3 two walks
Szymanski: 2-for-5 walk
Castro: 2-for-4
Cumberland: 1-for-1

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

Viola: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Lutz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

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

[OnBaseMachine]

Ah, finally some acceptance. Frazier has been disappointing the last 10 days.

Believe it or not, but players tend to slump over the course of a long season.

[OnBaseMachine]

1-0 Sarasota in the 3rd.

Turner: 0-for-0 walk
Valaika: 0-for-1
Francisco: 1-for-1
Stubbs: 0-for-1
Heisey: 1-for-1

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

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton lost game one of the doubleheader, 5-0. They had two hits all game, a Denis Phipps double and Kevyn Feiner single.

[*BaseClogger*]

How do you guys watch these minor league games?

What is Jon Adkins' line this year? Could he be a guy that contributes at some point as a post-hype sleeper?

[OnBaseMachine]

Adkins: 17.1 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 0.52 ERA

He's more of a AAAA type player IMO.

[Aronchis]

Nice to see Fisher and Viola have decent days. The bp prospects throughout the system are off to slow starts.

[Degenerate39]

Jay Bruce leads the Bats in hitting (.316), HR (5) and RBI (19) and ranks second in stolen bases (6).

[dougdirt]

How do you guys watch these minor league games?


You can watch most of the AAA games for $30 a season at www.milb.tv and you can listen to nearly all the minor league games for free at milb.com

[OnBaseMachine]

Sarasota is tied at 1 in the 6th inning.

Smith: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K

[OnBaseMachine]

Stubbs just walked and was caught stealing for the first time all year.

[*BaseClogger*]

Adkins: 17.1 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 0.52 ERA

He's more of a AAAA type player IMO.

yeah, that's what I figure. I was optimistic that he had more K's, but the control seems good...

[OnBaseMachine]

Still 1-1 in the 7th.

Turner: 0-for-1 walk, HBP
Valaika: 0-for-3
Francisco: 1-for-3
Stubbs: 0-for-2 walk
Heisey: 3-for-3 double, triple

Smith: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 11 GO/6 FO

[*BaseClogger*]

Is this Smith a decent prospect? Seems like I have seen his name several times now...

[membengal]

Hey, guys? How do you use (like, where do I go to tell it to ignore someone) the ignore feature? Dead serious question.

[OnBaseMachine]

Is this Smith a decent prospect? Seems like I have seen his name several times now...

Yeah, he's a pretty good prospect. His fastball has been clocked as high as 96 mph. He also throws a slider and split-fingered fastball. He probably profiles best as a power arm in the back of a bullpen.

[OnBaseMachine]

Smith: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 13 GO/6 FO

[OnBaseMachine]

Sarasota scores two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the 3-1 lead. Chris Valaika doubled to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Francisco followed with a walk and Chris Heisey doubled to drive both runners in. Heisey is 4-for-4 with two doubles and a triple.

[membengal]

Hey, guys? How do you use (like, where do I go to tell it to ignore someone) the ignore feature? Dead serious question.


Found it! That's absolute nirvana, is what that is.

[OnBaseMachine]

Sean Watson throws a scoreless 9th and Sarasota wins 3-1.

Turner: 0-for-2 walk, HBP
Valaika: 1-for-4 double
Francisco: 1-for-3 walk
Stubbs: 0-for-3 walk
Heisey: 4-for-4 two doubles, triple, 2 RBI

Smith: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 13 GO/6 FO

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

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton is winning game two 1-0 in the 3rd inning.

Todd Frazier is 1-for-2 with a solo HR (#7).

[*BaseClogger*]

Yeah, he's a pretty good prospect. His fastball has been clocked as high as 96 mph. He also throws a slider and split-fingered fastball. He probably profiles best as a power arm in the back of a bullpen.

Thanks...

[mth123]

Chattanooga won today 14-7. They trailed 7-0 going into the 7th inning and scored four runs in the 7th inning and three more to tie it in the 8th inning and force extra innings. They then exploded for seven runs in the 10th inning to win 14-7.

Henry: 2-for-4 two doubles, two walks
Gutierrez: 3-for-5 double, walk
Tatum: 1-for-3 two walks
Szymanski: 2-for-5 walk
Castro: 2-for-4
Cumberland: 1-for-1

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

Viola: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Lutz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

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

Henry has been pretty good since the promotion. Its only 43 PA, but .342/.422/.658/1.080. He and Cumberland may actually help bridge the gap between Bruce and Stubbs/Frazier for young OF talent. I always hated the Conine signing and was wishing for Jayson Werth as the RH Bat when LA let him go. But, since WK chose to pass on Werth at $500K and make an ill advised trade for the more pricey guy that Philly wanted to dump to make room, the Henry/Castro return was a pretty good salvage job.

[HBP]

Found it! That's absolute nirvana, is what that is.

:laugh:

[mth123]

Dayton is winning game two 1-0 in the 3rd inning.

Todd Frazier is 1-for-2 with a solo HR (#7).

Nice to see Frazier get it going again.

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton is now tied at 4 in the 5th inning.

Frazier: 2-for-3 HR (#7)
Waring: 0-for-2 HBP
Jones: 1-for-3 SB
Reed: 2-for-2 triple

[SMcGavin]

Nice to see Frazier get it going again.

You know I was thinking Frazier was in a bit of a slump too. Then I looked it up and his OPS entering tonight was 1.005. Mr. Frazier has set some pretty high standards for himself! Of all of our interesting low-minor bats Frazier is the one who it seems most like a lock to end up as a solid hitter at the ML level. Now let's just find him a position.

[mth123]

You know I was thinking Frazier was in a bit of a slump too. Then I looked it up and his OPS entering tonight was 1.005. Mr. Frazier has set some pretty high standards for himself! Of all of our interesting low-minor bats Frazier is the one who it seems most like a lock to end up as a solid hitter at the ML level. Now let's just find him a position.

Agreed. I'd like to see a real fast track for him. IMO, he's the best chance for that RH bat to help EdE balance out Bruce and Votto. Not this year of course, but I'd get him in position for a 2009 debut at some point and push him until he stops hitting.

[dougdirt]

Agreed. I'd like to see a real fast track for him. IMO, he's the best chance for that RH bat to help EdE balance out Bruce and Votto. Not this year of course, but I'd get him in position for a 2009 debut at some point and push him until he stops hitting.

Of course that would also assume Jay Bruce can't hit lefties well, but over the last two years in AAA he has hit lefties better than righties.

[fearofpopvol1]

Do the Reds ML experts on here think that Frazier will be passable at SS? I know he's more projected for a 3B type (maybe 2B), but not SS. Where would he play? With the way Edwin is hitting, it seems hard to believe that the Reds would get rid of EdE. His defense thus far this year has not been pretty. He's had a lot of errors.

[dougdirt]

Do the Reds ML experts on here think that Frazier will be passable at SS? I know he's more projected for a 3B type (maybe 2B), but not SS. Where would he play? With the way Edwin is hitting, it seems hard to believe that the Reds would get rid of EdE. His defense thus far this year has not been pretty. He's had a lot of errors.

No, he won't be passable at SS. He has minimal range at best. I think LF or 1B is in his future.

[*BaseClogger*]

No, he won't be passable at SS. He has minimal range at best. I think LF or 1B is in his future.

Can his bat become more than average at those two positions? If he can come close to average defensively at 2B or 3B they seem like the most logical options. Oh wait... Brandon Phillips and EE...

[OnBaseMachine]

Dayton won game two, 5-4.

Frazier: 3-for-5 double, homerun (#7), 3 RBI
Waring: 1-for-4 double, HBP
Reed: 3-for-3 triple, walk

[mth123]

Of course that would also assume Jay Bruce can't hit lefties well, but over the last two years in AAA he has hit lefties better than righties.

No, I mean to balance the line-up, not platoon with or make-up for Bruce. You still need a RH threat to keep the other teams from stacking LH against the Reds to baffle the other lefty bats. Griffey and Dunn are pretty good against lefties, but the Reds still struggle against LH Pitching because of the lack a similar RH threats.

[fearofpopvol1]

Yeah, that's interesting about Frazier. I'm wondering if they would move Votto to LF and put Frazier at 1B. Is Frazier's arm any good?

[dougdirt]

No, I mean to balance the line-up, not platoon with or make-up for Bruce. You still need a RH threat to keep the other teams from stacking LH against the Reds to baffle the other lefty bats. Griffey and Dunn are pretty good against lefties, but the Reds still struggle against LH Pitching because of the lack a similar RH threats.

Dunn and Griffey won't be Reds by the time Frazier matters.

[Caveat Emperor]

Can his bat become more than average at those two positions? If he can come close to average defensively at 2B or 3B they seem like the most logical options. Oh wait... Brandon Phillips and EE...

Surplus is a very good thing. Sell from strength to acquire need.

[mth123]

Dunn and Griffey won't be Reds by the time Frazier matters.

No, but Bruce and Votto will and the situation will be the same. The two primary bats will both be left-handed, They need a RH complement who is on the same level. I hope that is Frazier and I hope he's fast tracked enough that he'll be up by the end of 2009 and a fixture in the line-up in 2010.

[dougdirt]

No, but Bruce and Votto will and the situation will be the same. The two primary bats will both be left-handed, They need a RH complement who is on the same level. I hope that is Frazier and I hope he's fast tracked enough that he'll be up by the end of 2009 and a fixture in the line-up in 2010.

Why do they need a right handed compliment? If Bruce hits lefties to a tune of a .900 OPS they can bring in lefties all they want to. I don't think Votto has it in him to do anything similar to that, but the fact that Bruce is a lefty doesn't mean you can just bring in a lefty and get him out. Kid kills lefties.

[lollipopcurve]

Kid kills lefties.

Hasn't always been the case, and remember he's facing minor leaguers.

[Caveat Emperor]

Hasn't always been the case, and remember he's facing minor leaguers.

Truth.

There's no such thing as a good lefty at AAA unless you face someone on a rehab assignment.

[dougdirt]

Hasn't always been the case, and remember he's facing minor leaguers.

Yeah, as a 19 year old he struggled against them. Find me a lefty who hits pro lefties well at age 19 and I will find you the exception and not the rule. While I doubt Bruce hits lefties as well in the majors as he does righties, if he loses 100 points of his OPS against lefties heading to the majors he still hits the crap out of them.

[Matt700wlw]

Yeah, as a 19 year old he struggled against them. Find me a lefty who hits pro lefties well at age 19 and I will find you the exception and not the rule. While I doubt Bruce hits lefties as well in the majors as he does righties, if he loses 100 points of his OPS against lefties heading to the majors he still hits the crap out of them.

Won't know until he's up here. It's not doing much good for him to not be challenged down there.

[mth123]

Why do they need a right handed compliment? If Bruce hits lefties to a tune of a .900 OPS they can bring in lefties all they want to. I don't think Votto has it in him to do anything similar to that, but the fact that Bruce is a lefty doesn't mean you can just bring in a lefty and get him out. Kid kills lefties.

Because the lefties screw up everybody else. Dunn hits then now, but the lefties still screw up the overall offense. I think they need a strong deterent to the opposing manager and most managers don't look at the stats they just look at the conventional wisdom. Bruce is a LH bat and that won't deter the opposition. No matter how much Bruce hits lefties, they'll still use 'em and he'll be the only one to hit them. Add a similar punisher from the right side and that changes the equation.

[dougdirt]

Because the lefties screw up everybody else. Dunn hits then now, but the lefties still screw up the overall offense. I think they need a strong deterent to the opposing manager and most managers don't look at the stats they just look at the conventional wisdom. Bruce is a LH bat and that won't deter the opposition. No matter how much Bruce hits lefties, they'll still use 'em and he'll be the only one to hit them. Add a similar punisher from the right side and that changes the equation.

You are assuming now that next year the Reds will be chock full of lefties. All I see looking forward to next year are Votto and Bruce from the left side of the plate. Phillips, Edwin and Keppinger are righties. With the way Edwin is hitting the ball, he might be the right handed bat everyone thinks we need but we might already have it.... Dustball just wants to bat him 6th.

[mth123]

You are assuming now that next year the Reds will be chock full of lefties. All I see looking forward to next year are Votto and Bruce from the left side of the plate. Phillips, Edwin and Keppinger are righties. With the way Edwin is hitting the ball, he might be the right handed bat everyone thinks we need but we might already have it.... Dustball just wants to bat him 6th.

Personally, I bring back Dunn and Patterson with the hope that the deals can be limited to about 3 years with a transition to Frazier and Stubbs in the next decade. There really isn't anything out there to spend the money on. If Stubbs is the real deal (and I'm starting to believe he has a chance for the first time) the Patterson/Freel now, Stubbs later CF has that spot locked down defensively. With Bruce in RF, I think they can carry Dunn in LF. If Frazier hits he may end up being Dunn's eventual successor. I move him through the system as quickly as possible to open as many options as they can. They also may need to sell a bat off to get another arm. EdE may be that guy with Frazier taking over. One thought is that the Reds let Freel walk after 2009 with Frazier playing RF and Bruce sliding into CF against LHP starting in 2010. I really think Frazier is an A Level guy who will be ready before Stubbs. If Frazier forces the issue, Dunn could still be traded if his contract isn't the impedement it is now. To have these options, gotta get him through the system first.

[Benihana]

Can his bat become more than average at those two positions? If he can come close to average defensively at 2B or 3B they seem like the most logical options. Oh wait... Brandon Phillips and EE...

QUICK HITS:

I wish they'd move Phillips to SS for sooooo many reasons. Frazier, Soto, Valaika, and Turner could all have futures in the majors at 2B. Most likely none of them will ever play SS at the big league level. Oh well, at least they're all a couple years away from being up there anyway.

Also the more I think about it, turning down the Arroyo-Escobar and Reyes deal might be Wayne's worst move when all is said and done.

What in the world else do Valaika and Frazier have to do to earn promotions?
Finally, Jordan Smith is becoming more and more interesting by the outing.

[crazyredfan40]

QUICK HITS:

I wish they'd move Phillips to SS for sooooo many reasons. Frazier, Soto, Valaika, and Turner could all have futures in the majors at 2B. Most likely none of them will ever play SS at the big league level. Oh well, at least they're all a couple years away from being up there anyway.

Also the more I think about it, turning down the Arroyo-Escobar and Reyes deal might be Wayne's worst move when all is said and done.

What in the world else do Valaika and Frazier have to do to earn promotions?
Finally, Jordan Smith is becoming more and more interesting by the outing.

On the promotion thing...Just going off last year, they waited till the first half of the season was over for the teams to lock in the playoff bits from the first half and then did the promotions...

[dougdirt]

On the promotion thing...Just going off last year, they waited till the first half of the season was over for the teams to lock in the playoff bits from the first half and then did the promotions...

Not completely true. It all depended on the player. Daryl Thompson, who was at a level too low for him and everyone knew it, was promoted at the end of April after going 5-0 with an ERA under 2.00 for Dayton. Given that Valaika spent half a season in Sarasota last year I think he could get promoted quicker than mid season.

[Redman15]

I would think there would be some promotions pretty soon in Sarasota.
Perales is ready to join them along with Dorn. Perales is ready now and
Dorn should be ready 1st part of next week. I would speculate that 1 OF
will get moved up and 1 down. I would of picked Stubbs for sure, but last
year they took Heisey instead. You never know with the Reds.

[crazyredfan40]

Not completely true. It all depended on the player. Daryl Thompson, who was at a level too low for him and everyone knew it, was promoted at the end of April after going 5-0 with an ERA under 2.00 for Dayton. Given that Valaika spent half a season in Sarasota last year I think he could get promoted quicker than mid season.

Yeah, but there were articles last year I believe that talked about guys like Valaika, Turner, Bruce, etc. to stay with the team they were with for the first half of the season...

When did Watson get promoted last year was it mid season or after his blistering start?

[dougdirt]

Watson was promoted in June.

[cincyinco]

Didn't most guys see promotions coincide with the influx of talent arriving from the first year player draft?