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Thread: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

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    Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    No. 13 CHRIS VALAIKA, SS, REDS
    Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
    Age: 22
    Why He's Here: .417/.481/.667 (10-for-24), 6 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 HBP, 2 BB, 4 SO, 0/1 SB
    The Scoop: After ripping up Florida State League pitchers with a .363/.393/.585 line in 145 plate appearances, Valaika has proven he can hang in the Southern League, too. Now batting .287/.350/.450 in 143 Double-A plate appearances, Valaika highlighted his week with a 5-for-6 performance on Friday at Tennessee. With a heavy lower half, Valaika probably won't stick at shortstop, but a move to second base wouldn't ding his value too much, and he might have enough bat to be a productive big league regular at third base, too.

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...08/266328.html


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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    I am excited about the future of Valaika... i envision a Chase Utley esque type 2Bman... big bat with power... good but not great defense... Dan Uggla is also a good comparison

    move Phillips to SS, Valaika to 2B

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by The_jbh View Post
    I am excited about the future of Valaika... i envision a Chase Utley esque type 2Bman... big bat with power... good but not great defense... Dan Uggla is also a good comparison

    move Phillips to SS, Valaika to 2B
    I like Valaika, but Utley and Uggla are extremely optimistic comparisons. I'm thinking more along the lines of a solid guy like Mark De Rosa (which is also pretty optimistic actually). He can play many positions and has some pop in his bat which will play very well at 2B, but I'd rather have Phillips as my 2B. If the Reds could spin off Valaika as part of a deal for something solid at the Catcher or CF positions I would not lament the loss. Nothing against the guy, but I'm sleptical of either he or Phillips being able to play SS, and 2B and 3B are already taken. As an OF, Valaika would probably be limited to a corner defensively and doesn't have the bat to be a starter on a good team. If the Reds keep him, he'll be best used as an offensive minded super-sub IMO. Some other team with more of a need at 2B may see Valaika as a long term solution and may be willing to deal the Reds something else to fill a different need. I'd be on the phone with the Giants if I were Walt.
    Last edited by mth123; 06-14-2008 at 04:49 PM.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I like Valaika, but Utley and Uggla are extremely optimistic comparisons. I'm thinking more along the lines of a solid guy like Mark De Rosa (which is also pretty optimistic actually). He can play many positions and has some pop in his bat which will play very well at 2B, but I'd rather have Phillips as my 2B. If the Reds could spin off Valaika as part of a deal for something solid at the Catcher or CF positions I would not lament the loss. Nothing against the guy, but I'm sleptical of either he or Phillips being able to play SS, and 2B and 3B are already taken. As an OF, Valaika would probably be limited to a corner defensivelty and doesn't have the bat to be a starter on a good team. If the Reds keep him, he'll be best used as an offensive minded super-sub IMO. Some other team with more of a need at 2B may see Valaika as a long term solution and may be willing to deal the Reds something else to fill a different need. I'd be on the phone with the Giants if I were Walt.
    Valaika and Ross for Molina and Vizquel and cash?
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo View Post
    Valaika and Ross for Molina and Vizquel and cash?
    No.

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo View Post
    Valaika and Ross for Molina and Vizquel and cash?
    They could keep Vizquel and the cash IMO.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine View Post
    No.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    They could keep Vizquel and the cash IMO.
    Yeah I figured that would get a rise out of a few. Just kidding. :

    But I would persue Molina.
    Last edited by Mario-Rijo; 06-14-2008 at 05:03 PM.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Quote Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo View Post
    Yeah I figured that would get a rise out of a few. Just kidding. :
    Not really. It would be worth a guy like Valaika to upgrade from Ross to Molina IMO. Molina would add another bat to the line-up and be a massive upgrade to the defense behind the plate. Bako's defense is disappointing compared to his rep, but he'd be ok as a LH hitting back-up. Ross is atrocious. I can't stand his torreador act back there on plays at the plate. He and Javy may be the only defenders in the league that are as poor defensively at this position as Griffey is at his. It speaks volumes when there are two positions on the field in worse shape defensively than the one where Adam Dunn plays. SS may make 3.

    I'd try to make it a bigger deal and see if the Reds could add Maloney and Belisle and get Kevin Correia back to be the 5th starter.

    Valaika, Maloney, Belisle, and Ross for Molina and Correia. That would allow the Reds to send Bailey down and wait for him to get back whatever he lost.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

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    Re: Chris Valaika #13 on this weeks Prospect Hot Sheet

    Yeah, let's chill on the Chase Utley comparisons for now.


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