Scouting and other minor league personnel moves today

Some scouting and other minor league personnel moves from the Reds today. This is from John Fay:

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The Reds today named Butch Baccala and Jeff Taylor Major League scouts, named Paul Pierson assistant director for player development and scouting, named Freddy Benavides minor league field coordinator and named Joe Katuska amateur scout.



Benevides takes over Tim Naehring's job; Pierson Grant Griesser's. Both were in-house promotions.

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Back in the early '90s, I always wondered why Freddie Benavides was on the Cincinnati Reds roster. Now I realize it was to open the door for him to be a minor league field coordinator with the team nearly 15 years later. Why do I get the feeling that Juan Castro has a similar future?

Butch Baccala was drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round the same year I was born.

Also found this nugget about Butch Baccala. :D

1. Chris Gruler, rhp

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS–Brentwood, Calif., 2002 (1st round). Signed by: Butch Baccala.

Background: The Reds were split on which high school pitcher to draft with the third overall pick in 2002: Gruler or Scott Kazmir. The consensus was that Kazmir had a higher ceiling, but his price tag was considered much higher as well.

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Originally Posted by OesterPoster

Also found this nugget about Butch Baccala. :D

1. Chris Gruler, rhp

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS–Brentwood, Calif., 2002 (1st round). Signed by: Butch Baccala.

Background: The Reds were split on which high school pitcher to draft with the third overall pick in 2002: Gruler or Scott Kazmir. The consensus was that Kazmir had a higher ceiling, but his price tag was considered much higher as well.

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Well, that's not a good start. I guess some of what figured into it was Carl Linder. Maybe the blame just got put on him.:)

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Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

Back in the early '90s, I always wondered why Freddie Benavides was on the Cincinnati Reds roster. Now I realize it was to open the door for him to be a minor league field coordinator with the team nearly 15 years later. Why do I get the feeling that Juan Castro has a similar future?

Butch Baccala was drafted by the Phillies in the 12th round the same year I was born.

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Juan Castro would make a fine roving minor league infield instructor.

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Originally Posted by Will M

Juan Castro would make a fine roving minor league infield instructor.

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He would be better at that then he is at hitting.:)

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Originally Posted by GoReds33

Well, that's not a good start. I guess some of what figured into it was Carl Linder. Maybe the blame just got put on him.:)

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I think you're saying this, but my take would be that the final decision on which player to draft was not Baccala's call. His was to identify talent and the FO made their decision (at that time) based on the financial considerations. In retrospect, it's clear Kazmir would have been the better investment.

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Originally Posted by redsmetz

I think you're saying this, but my take would be that the final decision on which player to draft was not Baccala's call. His was to identify talent and the FO made their decision (at that time) based on the financial considerations. In retrospect, it's clear Kazmir would have been the better investment.

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Then again there is no way that Gruler can prove his case versus Kazmir. I know that is due to injury. Most likely Kaz would have proven to be better but it is truly sad that Gruler never saw the light of MLB due to injury's .:(

It wasn't financial considerations for Kazmir. If I read that again, I am going to scream. Kazmir wasn't going to college. End of story. The Reds could have waited him out and signed him in November.

Adam Dunn knew Kazmir personally and offered to help in negotiations.

Gruler was that well liked.