Winter Ball '09-'10.

[mth123]

Its early in the offsesason, but the Reds crowded OF and Corner IF spots could get more interesting with a number of guys trying to advance and audition in Fall/Winter ball.

Chris Heisey is off to a fast start. Last night he went 2 for 3 with a double and a HR. So far he's 8 for 15 with 2 doubles, a triple, a HR, 2 BBs and an SB. With a half season in AAA, Heisey is a bit advanced for the AFL. It will be interesting to see what the Reds do with Heisey since Stubbs seems to have solidified CF of the future and both Gomes and Balentien may be ahead of him as the RH corner OF. Heisey could probably use a half season in AAA but he Francisco and Frazier will be pushing for time in the big league OF in 2010 at some point. You have to wonder if the Reds are showcasing Heisey for a trade by playing him in the AFL with him already having AAA experience.

Yonder Alonso went 0 for 3 with a SF and is starting off as cool as Heisey is hot. Alonso is 2 for 12 with a HR, a Walk and a SF. Another interesting name for a crowded picture. Votto at 1B and Alonso coming could push Joey to the OF.

In Mexico, Wes Bankston went 1 for 4 and is off to a decent start playing 3B - 8 for 25 with a double a HR and 3 BB for .320/.367/.480/.847. Playing 3B may make him valuable. There wouldn't seem to be much room for Bankston, but he was once considered a pretty good prospect and won't turn 26 until late November. I wouldn't mind seeing him brought back - especially if the Reds deal some others to fill other holes.

Darnell McDonald probably won't be back but he's off to a .500/.519/.958/.1.477 start. He did a good job providing AAA experience and depth for the big leagues. A team could do worse than having him at the end of the bench, but the Reds don't have room.

Adam Rosales is off to a slow start at .192/.344/.231/.575 but is getting on base with 5 walks. He plays a lot of positions and I still think he has a future as a major league bench player. His history suggests that he takes time to adjust to a new league so maybe he'll be better in the big leagues next time around. The Reds may not have room and I wonder if he'll be able to stick on the 40 man roster at this point. He'll be 27 in May.

In Venezuela, another name for the mix, Danny Dorn didn't play, but he's off to a bit of a slow start at .182/.357/.318/.675. He also is getting on base with 7 walks already. I hope he's protected from the Rule 5 draft.

[klw]

Is Wily Mo Pena playing anywhere? Just curious what he is up to as it didn't seem like he went to Japan.

[GOYA]

Juan Francisco went 2 for 4 with a walk in the Dominican.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/m...pbp&pid=464433

[klw]

a wily mo sighting. He is playing winter ball
http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?p=1754

Licey shutout their rival Aguilas 2-0, getting five shutout innings from Wilton Chavez. The Mexican league veteran limited Aguilas to two hits. John Halama went five innings for Aguilas, giving up only one run to take the loss. The one run was a solo homerun from Wily Mo Pena, who will try to prove to major league teams that his power is back. After getting cut by the Nationals the Mets signed him, but after 41 games with AAA Buffalo the Mets released him.

This is only the second day of action for the Dominican league so too early to list the leaders.

[GOYA]

Jukich

Date	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
Oct 16	0.00	1	1	4.0	2	0	0	1	3	1.67	.182

LeCure

Date	  ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
Oct 18	  6.75	1	1	2.2	3	4	2	0	1	3	4.00	.273

Barker

Date	 AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
Oct 16	.667	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.750	.667	1.417
Oct 17	.000	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.250	.000	.250
Oct 18	1.000	5	1	5	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.400	2.400
Totals	.636	11	2	7	2	0	0	2	2	0	0	0       .692	.818	1.510

Tatum is 0 for 9 in 2 games

[GOYA]

The Saguaros won a game! Heisey is still stroking.

Peo Saguaros

Player	        AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Hunter, C CF	5	1	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	.250
Hicks SS	2	2	2	1	0	0	0	2	0	.278
Heisey RF	4	2	3	1	0	0	3	1	0	.522
Alonso 1B	5	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.176
McBride LF	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.313
Cozart DH	5	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	.190
Rivero 3B	5	1	4	2	0	0	2	0	0	.381
Canham C	5	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.111
Vallejo 2B	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222

Player	        IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Putnam 	        2.0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0.00
Graham, C 	1.0	2	0	0	1	1	0	10.13
Watson, S 	2.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	9.64
Smith, Ca 	1.2	6	6	6	0	0	1	18.00
Meszaros 	0.1	1	2	2	2	0	1	20.25
Lo, Chi 	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00

[dougdirt]

Alonso has a .188 BABIP. Cozart is at .222. Things will turn around for them if they keep it up.

[GOYA]

The Reds have the leading avg hitters in the Mex and Dom leagues. McD and Barker, respectively.

Josh Bell is just ahead of Heisey at .533 in the AFL.

[GOYA]

Three Reds on the Gigantes del Cibao roster. That roster looks like two teams combined.

Juan Francisco
Enerio Del Rosario
Pedro Viola

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats....=t_ros&cid=670

[mace]

The Reds have the leading avg hitters in the Mex and Dom leagues. McD and Barker, respectively.

Josh Bell is just ahead of Heisey at .533 in the AFL.

I'm loath to say it, but I'm not convinced that McDonald can't produce in the NL. He's an excellent athlete and actually had a terrific season after he was sent down. That said, I recognize that the Reds' outfield is just too crowded for him, and most of the guys he'd compete with--Heisey, Francisco, Dickerson, Balentien, Frazier, Dorn, even Gomes--have the advantage of youth. I'd just be reluctant to write him off. Same with Nix. I realize Nix had OBP problems this year, but he also had neck problems. In certain ways (15 HR, 26 doubles in 309 AB), he was pretty darn productive.

I also think Barker could be a useful bat off the bench. But again, no room.

[GOYA]

McDonald was a Jekyll and Hyde last year. His two stints with the Reds were very different and it seems nobody is willing to look past the poor results from the early stint.

Early - .175/.250/.225 - .475 OPS - 24 games

Late - .323/.343/.508 - .851 OPS - 21 games

[mace]

I don't know how to set up polls, but an interesting one might be who we think will get the most PA's in left field next year. There are just so many candidates at this point. In no particular order:

1. Gomes
2. Dickerson
3. Nix
4. Balentien
5. Heisey
6. Stubbs
7. Dorn
8. McDonald
9. Francisco
10. Frazier
11. Votto
12. Other

[GOYA]

Cisco went 1 for 3 with another walk. That is 2 BB in 2 games. This one was intentional. I think we'll see that more often.

[dougdirt]

Francisco with another intentional walk tonight in an 0-4 effort. 3K and 3BB so far in the Dominican Winter League.

[flash]

Maybe i just didn't catch it in year's past but the stats of the winterleagues is better than I have ever seen. Just go to the winterleague home and look for stats. All the players are grouped by major league teams. It's great.

Bankston .306
Barker .500
Ford .310
Francisco .429
Heisey .500
McDonald .425

pitching not so great, but a few diamonds
Jukich 0.00 ERA
Kennard 0.00 ERA
Leake 1.80 ERA