Dickerson Speechless, Reds Sign 30th Pick

[WVRedsFan]

From Fay's blog:

Posted by JohnFay at 8/14/2008 7:53 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com

Chris Dickerson was speechless afterward.

He went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple. He drove in the go-ahead run and scored the insurance run.

"I just felt really compfortable," he siad. "I got the jitters out."

All four of hit hits are for extra bases.

"Good placement," he said.

Johnny Cueto went five innings, allowing one run on four hits, walked three and struck out seven. Cueto was lifted for a pinch-hit hitter in the sixth. And, in a roundabout way, the Reds got him the lead. It was hit first win since July 3.

Cueto gave up one in the first. He gave up back-to-back hits to start the inning, struck out the next two swinging, then gave up a bloop RBI single to Andy LaRoche.

Javy Valentin tied it in the second with his second home run in as many starts. I think if Valentin played every day, he'd hit.

Bad third for the Reds: Chris Dickerson led off with a double. Jeff Keppinger got him to third with a groundout. But Jay Bruce struck out with the infield in. Brandon Phillips and Valentin walked. Edwin Encarnacion grounded out on the first pitch. He's 1-for-13 with the bases loaded this year. He was 18-for-37 coming into this year. He hit .360 with runners in scoring position last year. This year, he's hitting .213.

Corey Patterson led off the sixth with a double. He went to third on Paul Bako's groundout. The reds sent Andy Phillips up to hit for Cueto. Phillips hit a grounder to third. But Patterson broke on contact. He was caught in a rundown. Phillips managed to get to second. Dickerson eased the pain of the blunder, but doubling Phillips in. It was Dickerson's first career RBI.

Dickerson tripled in the ninth and scored on Jeff Keppinger's squeeze.

A bit of news from Baseball America:

A source has confirmed that the Reds will finalize a contract with 30th-round pick Juan Carlos Sulbaran on Thursday. Sulbaran, a righthander from American Heritage High in Plantation, Fla., will receive a $500,000 bonus and bypass a commitment to Florida.

Sulbaran was born in Curacao and is currently playing for the Dutch Olympic team in Beijing. He secured that spot with a strong performance against Cuba’s Olympic team at Haarlem Baseball Week last month, allowing one run over seven innings while striking out six. The projectable 6-foot-3 righthander already runs his fastball into the low 90s with minimal effort and pitches from a good downhill plane. His curveball and changeup also project as average or better pitches.

[Stormy]

I like Dickerson, irregardless of his first nights of production, and hope he gets a nod in some capacity in the 2009 OF (either as a starting CF between Bruce and a RHH sledge hammer LF acquisition), or as our 4th OF.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

He should have been up here a while ago.

[WVRedsFan]

I like Dickerson, irregardless of his first nights of production, and hope he gets a nod in some capacity in the 2009 OF (either as a starting CF between Bruce and a RHH sledge hammer LF acquisition), or as our 4th OF.

Absolutely agree. Players like Chris are simply what this team needs. Speed, smarts, and fielding is the definition of a good bench player. Not saying he doesn't deserve to start or play a lot, but he is valuable for that. Much better than what we've had over the last few years.

[Big Klu]

I like Dickerson, irregardless of his first nights of production, and hope he gets a nod in some capacity in the 2009 OF (either as a starting CF between Bruce and a RHH sledge hammer LF acquisition), or as our 4th OF.

How about we fire up the DeLorean, rev it up to 88 MPH, and go back and get Kevin Mitchell for LF?

[dougdirt]

How about we fire up the DeLorean, rev it up to 88 MPH, and go back and get Kevin Mitchell for LF?

If we are going to go back to the 80s to get someone can we just bring back the original 44 (ok, not the original, but you know who I mean)?

[camisadelgolf]

Kevin Mitchell was an awesome hitter. I really enjoyed watching him. Injuries could have kept him from the Hall of Fame.

And not only did the Reds sign their 30th round pick, they also signed their 35th round pick with 4th round pick money. The Reds are continuing to show that they're willing to sign players at above-slot money, and MLB can't be too happy about that.

[Topcat]

Absolutely agree. Players like Chris are simply what this team needs. Speed, smarts, and fielding is the definition of a good bench player. Not saying he doesn't deserve to start or play a lot, but he is valuable for that. Much better than what we've had over the last few years.

But his OPS should define his value , seriously I wish him well and if he can prevent 30 hits or runs a yr and can give decent 270 production and a .OpS of around 345. He will be a true addition and welcome sight to the former challenged of we have run out. Oh and please show Corey Patterson the door. He is to expensive for his truly useless skillset.

[Sea Ray]

But his OPS should define his value , seriously I wish him well and if he can prevent 30 hits or runs a yr and can give decent 270 production and a .OpS of around 345. He will be a true addition and welcome sight to the former challenged of we have run out. Oh and please show Corey Patterson the door. He is to expensive for his truly useless skillset.

What do you mean by 270 production and .OpS of 345?

[RedlegJake]

What do you mean by 270 production and .OpS of 345?

He has to mean .270 BA and .345 OBP

.345 OPS is Corey Patterson.

If Chris can OPS over .700 I'm fine with him in CF. That's my Mendoza line for CF. Anything less and he's a bigger drag than defense can compensate for. Anything more increases his value tremendously.

[nate]

He has to mean .270 BA and .345 OBP

.345 OPS is Corey Patterson.

If Chris can OPS over .700 I'm fine with him in CF. That's my Mendoza line for CF. Anything less and he's a bigger drag than defense can compensate for. Anything more increases his value tremendously.

CP is OPSing a caliente .576.

[princeton]

If Chris can OPS over .700 I'm fine with him in CF.

didn't hit lefties much in the minors, and it'll be worse up here.

but pair him with Stubbs, and you might have something.

[George Anderson]

I am curious why the 30th round pick is getting any ink at all?

Isn't this out of the norm??

Isn't $500,000 an awful lot of money to pay a 30th round pick?


Why haven't picks #2 to #29 been as publicized??

[RedsManRick]

I am curious why the 30th round pick is getting any ink at all?

Isn't this out of the norm??

Isn't $500,000 an awful lot of money to pay a 30th round pick?


Why haven't picks #2 to #29 been as publicized??

Yeah, that sort of money is 4th round money. Likely situation is that he's a Junior and everybody expected him to go back to school, so he slipped big time. The Reds took a flier on him and the trades freed up some cash. This sort of thing is an extremely underrated part of building an organization in my estimation. What if we consider that he came over as part of the Griffey deal? Makes it look a lot better...

[camisadelgolf]

I am curious why the 30th round pick is getting any ink at all?

Isn't this out of the norm??

Isn't $500,000 an awful lot of money to pay a 30th round pick?


Why haven't picks #2 to #29 been as publicized??

Based on the past couple years, I'd say $500,000 is second round money. The Reds must really like the guy because he demanded second round money, and the Reds supposedly weren't willing to go higher than third round money. It looks the Reds were willing to bend more to get him signed.