Farm System

[George Anderson]

Has anyone in the new Reds new ownership/management made any mention of any future changes or improvements to the farm system? Have any new scouts or Minor league coaches been added to improve the farm system?We can talk trades/free agent signings till we are blue in the face but the heart and soul of the success of most franchises in particular the Reds has been a strong farm system and that is something the past several years has not been for the most part that productive. Having the likes of Ty Howington and Chris Gruler being our number one picks the past few years has not helped this franchise in the least. I hope the focus of this franchise is to at the very least develop our first quality starting pitcher since Tom Browning.

[Aronchis]

Has anyone in the new Reds new ownership/management made any mention of any future changes or improvements to the farm system? Have any new scouts or Minor league coaches been added to improve the farm system?We can talk trades/free agent signings till we are blue in the face but the heart and soul of the success of most franchises in particular the Reds has been a strong farm system and that is something the past several years has not been for the most part that productive. Having the likes of Ty Howington and Chris Gruler being our number one picks the past few years has not helped this franchise in the least. I hope the focus of this franchise is to at the very least develop our first quality starting pitcher since Tom Browning.

Nothing personally, but Howington and Gruler are getting into the "years ago" realm.

[George Anderson]

Nothing personally, but Howington and Gruler are getting into the "years ago" realm.

Howington was drafted #1 in 1999 and Gruler #1 in 2002. Had those guys been decent picks they would be here and producing by now!!

[dfs]

I hope the focus of this franchise is to at the very least develop our first quality starting pitcher since Tom Browning.

Oddly enough now with Harang and Arroyo around bolstering the rotation to the almost respectable level...sure enough there are some guys in the minors who project to be decent starters.

Check out the names Baily, Cueto, and Wood. None of them are older than 21. They've looked very good in AA, high A and low A respectively. Very highly thought of prospects. Baily was recently ranked the second best right handed starting pitching prospect in baseball. All three of those guys are comparable to the pre-injury Howington. It's a matter of keeping them healthy.

Phil Dumatrait is still in the organization. It's still barely possible that he or Brandon Claussen could become something interesting. Not likely, but possible. The Lizard is still around. I have no idea how he stayed as effective as he did for so long, but with pitchers anything can happen.

In addition the reds had another low A prosepct named Zach Ward that they turned into Kyle Lohse in a deal that had me furious at the time, but looks better every time Lohse goes out there and throws well. I think Lohse is an important part of their short term plans.

Odd to think that the rotation will soon be a strength of my favorite nine.

[bradmu]

I saw Grueler pitched a little in Rookie Ball this year. Does anyone know what the report on him was?

Anyone heard if Howington is finished or still pitching somewhere? How about Richie Gardner?

These guys are no Homer Bailey type, but its always possible they could get it going and pitch out of the bullpen.

[cincyinco]

Last I heard Gruler suffered another setback and was pretty much done. Or perhaps I'm getting him confused with Pauly? I know Gardner was doing pretty well in instructional league after his shoulder surguy, and the first step in his comeback from that injury was going smoothly.

[redsmetz]

I saw Grueler pitched a little in Rookie Ball this year. Does anyone know what the report on him was?

Anyone heard if Howington is finished or still pitching somewhere? How about Richie Gardner?

These guys are no Homer Bailey type, but its always possible they could get it going and pitch out of the bullpen.

Howington signed on with the Lincoln Saltdogs in the new American Association in April, but was released a month later. I can't find anything further on him.