Saturdee 8-13-11 Minor League Updates

[mace]

Gabriel Rosa has homered but the AZL Reds trail 7-5 in the sixth. Not the best day for young Eliezer Beard.

[mace]

Our boys in Arizona rallied late and prevailed, 9-8. Brandon Dailey (2-5, .346) singled in Humberto Valor (2-3, 2 doubles), who had doubled, for the game-winner in the eighth. In addition to Rosa, Steve Selsky homered.

Alejandro (Spanish for "Unhittable") Chacin breezed to his 10th save.

[RED VAN HOT]

Our boys in Arizona rallied late and prevailed, 9-8. Brandon Dailey (2-5, .346) singled in Humberto Valor (2-3, 2 doubles), who had doubled, for the game-winner in the eighth. In addition to Rosa, Steve Selsky homered.

Alejandro (Spanish for "Unhittable") Chacin breezed to his 10th save.

I have noticed that Chacin has been used exclusively as a closer. Is it unusual for someone who has recently turned 18 to be used this way? Have the Reds determined that he will be groomed for this role, or, are they simply limiting the innings on a young arm by putting him in 1 inning situations?

[mace]

I don't know what they plan for Chacin, but I recall that Corcino was started in a similar way. In 2009, he closed at Billings at age 18 (after a season in relief in the DSL). He never started a game until he returned to Billings last year.

[batsfan]

Bats losing 2-1, Phipps and Dorn with back to back doubles. Phipps is batting .367

[batsfan]

Phipps triples in Francisco, bats still down 3 -2

[batsfan]

DORN triples in Phipps! Not sure if I have ever seen back-to-back triples before!

[batsfan]

Sac fly Mike Costanzo, 4 - 3 bats lead!

[mth123]

So is Phipps one of those raw athletes who suddenly has the lights go on? If so, he's probably in the OF mix in Cincy in 2012.

[mace]

So is Phipps one of those raw athletes who suddenly has the lights go on? If so, he's probably in the OF mix in Cincy in 2012.

I absolutely don't know what to make of him. How can you?

I do recall that, last year (I think it was), the Reds used him in a surprising number of spring training games. Made it seem like they saw something in him.

The amazing thing to me is that it's his hit tool that has suddenly caught fire. I could understand better, I guess, if it was a power surge. That could be a little more random. But this is a guy who batted .238 and .255 at Dayton, .239 at Sarasota and .228 last year at Carolina. Go figure.

[dougdirt]

I have noticed that Chacin has been used exclusively as a closer. Is it unusual for someone who has recently turned 18 to be used this way? Have the Reds determined that he will be groomed for this role, or, are they simply limiting the innings on a young arm by putting him in 1 inning situations?
He is going to be a reliever, but his stuff won't allow him to be a closer. Not unless he adds several MPH to his fastball. Right now, his fastball is pretty average.

[dougdirt]

So is Phipps one of those raw athletes who suddenly has the lights go on? If so, he's probably in the OF mix in Cincy in 2012.

He certainly is a raw athlete. It seems that all he is doing these days when he puts the bat on the ball is hit a line drive somewhere.

[mace]

Mitch Clarke had another strong start--kid's looking good--and Brian Pearl and Blaine Howell have each followed with three scoreless innings. Dayton is 1-1 in the 11th. Torreyes left for a pinch-runner in the 9th. I believe that's the second straight night he's been replaced by a pinch-runner. He's also in a slump. Not sure what's going on.

Edit: I see that Torreyes was HBP in the ninth.

[mace]

Dayton wins 2-1.

Dayton Bottom of the 11th

* Jefry Sierra grounds out softly to pitcher Kyle Petter.
* Theo Bowe strikes out swinging.
* Billy Hamilton singles on a line drive to left fielder Brian Heere.
* Drew Poulk singles on a line drive to center fielder Luigi Rodriguez. Billy Hamilton scores. Fielding error by center fielder Luigi Rodriguez.

[dougdirt]

Here is how the Carolina game ended tonight. Great play by HRod.
Great play by Henry Rodriguez to end the game - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhMwTeN-UIs)

[mace]

Soto hit his 26th, Campbell his 7th, and Rhinehart was 4-4. Rojas was back in the lineup, playing 3B with Gregorius at SS.

[corkedbat]

I had f0rgotten that DiGregorio was a lefty, while Rodriiquez and Hamilton are switch-hitters to go with Cozart and Torreyes as righties. That should give the Reds quite a bit of balance and flexability in the MI spots over the next few years (unless they go out of house for a solution).