Leake to Start At AA & Other Discoveries

[Scrap Irony]

As per RedsFest.

Good news, IMO. Leake's advanced feel for pitching (and good stuff) will be challenged, but not to the point of impossibility.

At this point, you've got to think he's fourth in line for a starter spot behind Maloney, Lehr, and Wood.

Also:

• Boxberger to likely close in A Ball

• Frazier to play in AAA, but no position has been chosen for him yet. Jocketty said it depended on how Francisco (another man without a position) plays in LF

• Speaking of Francisco, he's going to be tried first, it looks like, in LF.

[mth123]

As per RedsFest.

Good news, IMO. Leake's advanced feel for pitching (and good stuff) will be challenged, but not to the point of impossibility.

At this point, you've got to think he's fourth in line for a starter spot behind Maloney, Lehr, and Wood.

Also:

• Boxberger to likely close in A Ball

• Frazier to play in AAA, but no position has been chosen for him yet. Jocketty said it depended on how Francisco (another man without a position) plays in LF

• Speaking of Francisco, he's going to be tried first, it looks like, in LF.

This all makes sense. If they follow through, they will have done the right thing IMO.

[dougdirt]

Funny on Frazier, who was listed as the left fielder just last week by Reynolds.

Where did you hear about Boxberger and closing? After the AFL Reds personnel was quoted as saying he would likely be on the Zach Stewart plan (begin the year starting and see where it goes).

[mdccclxix]

Funny on Frazier, who was listed as the left fielder just last week by Reynolds.

Where did you hear about Boxberger and closing? After the AFL Reds personnel was quoted as saying he would likely be on the Zach Stewart plan (begin the year starting and see where it goes).

Maybe that means Francisco is expected to make the MLB roster??

[dougdirt]

Maybe that means Francisco is expected to make the MLB roster??

Francisco was talked about as starting at 3B in AAA.....

[Bumstead]

Why wouldn't Frazier be competing with Heisey for the LF job in Cincy?

Bum

[dougdirt]

Why wouldn't Frazier be competing with Heisey for the LF job in Cincy?

Bum

The Reds don't want him to be doing that yet, apparently....

[mdccclxix]

Francisco was talked about as starting at 3B in AAA.....

Reynolds: "My anticipation is that he'd probably start in left field next year in Triple-A. But things change on a dime, so I'm not sure that will happen, but that'd be my guess."

How true!

[OnBaseMachine]

From Mark Sheldon:

There will be guys in camp like outfielder Chris Heisey and pitcher Travis Wood to compete for jobs. First round and pitcher Mike Leake is a possiblity to be invited to camp as a non-roster player.

http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/

[OnBaseMachine]

I like the decision to start Leake in Double-A. He could be in Cincy by the end of next season if he pitches well.

[Scrap Irony]

I'm assuming they view him as not quite ready. Reynolds hinted as much at Redszone, when he talked about how some guys would benefit from half a year or more in AAA and their relative youth, then mentioned Frazier in particular. Francisco wasn't mentioned at that time, IIRC.

[GIDP]

I kinda find it hard to believe that Valaika cant out produce Janish.

[dougdirt]

I kinda find it hard to believe that Valaika cant out produce Janish.

Janish is probably 20 runs better defensively than Valaika at SS right now. Over 600 PA if Janish repeated his 2009 line, Valaika would have to hit for an OPS about 115 points higher. Possible? Yes. Certainty? Not after his 2009 in AAA. Given that this team is going defense first, Valaika most likely will get no legit shot at SS as a starter.

[cincyinco]

Sorry mth, I'm one of those who doesn't get all the dorn love.

I sure think he has value, just not nearly as much as most folks here seem to have.

I just have a hard time showing the love to a guy who by all accounts is pigeon holed into a platoon role. That has value, but nothing that can't be found readily available for the min or close to it from outside the organization, and truth be told I think the reds should be striving for better.

All that said, I'm rooting for Dorn. I just don't understand the hubub about a guy that screams limited and common value. You can find players with good splits anywhere if you look.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't see a ton of value in platoon players. Its a last resort, and so should be dorn unless he can prove otherwise.

[mth123]

Sorry mth, I'm one of those who doesn't get all the dorn love.

I sure think he has value, just not nearly as much as most folks here seem to have.

I just have a hard time showing the love to a guy who by all accounts is pigeon holed into a platoon role. That has value, but nothing that can't be found readily available for the min or close to it from outside the organization, and truth be told I think the reds should be striving for better.

All that said, I'm rooting for Dorn. I just don't understand the hubub about a guy that screams limited and common value. You can find players with good splits anywhere if you look.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't see a ton of value in platoon players. Its a last resort, and so should be dorn unless he can prove otherwise.

I understand that platoon guys aren't stars, but the Reds are trying to build a team to win games. Even though its two top guys, Bruce and Votto, are lefty bats, this team is very vulnerable to RH Pitching. Gomes, Rolen, and Phillips are the major RH bats and all put up mediocre numbers against RH pitching.Throw in three dead spots in the line-up at C, SS and P and this team looks like it will have trouble with RH even if Votto repeats and Bruce goes nuts. If Bruce starts hot, I don't think he will get much to hit against RHP with Rolen or Phillips hitting behind him and I fear a return of the overanxious pop-up machine that we saw most of last year. A lefty bat who mashes RHP in the 5 spot would go a long, long way. Add a guy like Brignac to play SS when a RHP is on the mound and be open to using Dickerson and his superior lead-off skills in CF vs. RHP and this team could do quite well offensively. Right now they look like they are at least one bat short against RHP. Against lefty pitching, they look a lot better. Rolen, Phillips and Gomes are all big threats against LHP and Votto does well against everyone. The team needs to shore itself up against RHP and Dorn is the most major league ready bat on hand for that job. I'd use Francisco in LF against RHP if no one else is added, but I can see the huge downside to that one.

Votto in LF and Alonso at 1B at some point may solve the problem, but until then Dorn may be the best option. I see why Dusty wants Laynce Nix back, though I'm a sleptic where he is concerned.