Milton headed to surgery, DL

[dougdirt]

Well, his minor league history surely doesnt show him being not good. An ERA under 3 and a whip under 1.20 constitutes good in my book. Yes its just minor leagues, but that is what we were talking about. He isnt the greatest prospect around, but I dont think he is projected to be anything but a #4/5 guy, but he is still young, and has shown success throughout his minor league career. As a 22 year old in AAA last year, he finished 9th in ERA in the league.

[CTA513]

I checked his blog again and it says Ramirez is getting the start tomorrow.

[rdiersin]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Well, his minor league history surely doesnt show him being not good. An ERA under 3 and a whip under 1.20 constitutes good in my book. Yes its just minor leagues, but that is what we were talking about. He isnt the greatest prospect around, but I dont think he is projected to be anything but a #4/5 guy, but he is still young, and has shown success throughout his minor league career. As a 22 year old in AAA last year, he finished 9th in ERA in the league.

The point isn't that he hasn't performed well in minors, because with an ERA under 3, he has. The point is that he hasn't performed well in things that are indicators for future success in the majors, like K/9. Those sorts of things lead one to doubt his future as a major league pitcher, coupled with his performance last year with the Reds. Now, he has done better this year with a K/9 of 8.44, but it's way too earlier to say he's turned some kind of corner.

[reds44]

Originally Posted by rdiersin

The point isn't that he hasn't performed well in minors, because with an ERA under 3, he has. The point is that he hasn't performed well in things that are indicators for future success in the majors, like K/9. Those sorts of things lead one to doubt his future as a major league pitcher, coupled with his performance last year with the Reds. Now, he has done better this year with a K/9 of 8.44, but it's way too earlier to say he's turned some kind of corner.

I will trust ERA and K/BB ratio over K per 9 innings.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by reds44

I will trust ERA and K/BB ratio over K per 9 innings.

The Radke over Ryan Theory eh?

[rdiersin]

Originally Posted by reds44

I will trust ERA and K/BB ratio over K per 9 innings.

Hint: They're all important.

[Aronchis]

The Lizard was overrushed last year(sorta like Chick) and that was to AAA. He only had a few months success in AA before being stupidly promoted to AAA where he couldn't handle the level yet. I doubt he is quite ready yet either, if this were next year, I would be much more optimistic on his chances to pitch "quality" at this time. Hopefully he can hold his own at this point, but it won't be easy.

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by reds44

He is 23 (susposedly) and has made 4 career starts. You jump to conclusions too fast.

Oh he does ! He does! My personal belief is as a die hard fan , he just hurts to the point the negadelphia is takin over

[UPRedsFan]

What I'd really like to see is Belisle for a few starts with Lizard as the long man

[NatiRedGals]

MILWAUKEE -- Tests on Eric Milton's sore left knee revealed that the Reds starting pitcher will need arthroscopic surgery to clean out damaged meniscus cartilage.

Milton will go on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 19, on Monday. Pitching on three days' rest, Aaron Harang started in Milton's place on Sunday. Pitcher Elizardo Ramirez will be called up from Triple-A Louisville and start Monday at Washington.

Coming off two strong starts, Milton took a step backwards in Tuesday's 12-6 loss to Florida when he gave up nine earned runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

"I did not think he looked right at all," Reds manager Jerry Narron said Sunday morning. "He did not complain about his knee. As a matter of fact, he said that he really couldn't feel [pain in] his knee until he threw on the side here. It was pretty obvious he didn't have the same stuff he had the first two outings."

Once Milton reported discomfort, he was sent to Cincinnati on Saturday to be examined by team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek and underwent an MRI test. Kremchek will perform the surgical procedure on Monday morning.

The 30-year-old is expected to miss 2-3 weeks, but he won't necessarily have a routine recovery process since this will be the third surgery on Milton's left knee since 2002. In March 2003 when he was with the Twins, torn lateral meniscus cartilage required a major operation and forced him to miss most of the season.

"There's concern about that," Narron said of Milton's medical history. "There's concern about how much he's going to be able to throw the first week after the surgery and what he's going to lose between his last outing and when he'll be able to start working."

Milton is 2-1 with a 6.50 ERA in three starts this season. He was hoping to have a bounce-back year after he went 8-15 with a 6.47 ERA while allowing a Major League leading 40 home runs.

Timing was right: Ramirez was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts this season for Louisville but hasn't issued a walk in 16 innings. The decision to promote the 23-year-old was as much about timing as performance.

Among other candidates, lefty Michael Gosling was scheduled to pitch for Louisville on Sunday. Right-hander Justin Germano pitched on Saturday and veteran lefty Darrell May, set to throw on Monday, wasn't on the 40-man roster and would require an extra move to make room.

At the big-league level, long man Matt Belisle had to pitch four innings of relief for Dave Williams on Thursday.

As for 19-year-old top pitching prospect Homer Bailey, who is with Class A Sarasota, general manager Wayne Krivsky shot down any such suggestion that the 2004 first-round pick would get his first call up.

"I got 'H-O' out of my mouth and couldn't finish 'M-E-R,' before I got cut off," Narron said laughing. "I got cut off quick. I think he caught me before I even got to the 'H.'"

Meanwhile, Ramirez pitched six innings on Wednesday and would be pitching on his usual four days' rest. He retired 14 of his first 15 batters during a no-decision in his last outing. Last season, the right-hander was 0-3 with an 8.46 ERA in six games, including four starts for Cincinnati.

Freel sits: For the first time since he replaced the injured Ken Griffey Jr. in center field on April 12, Ryan Freel was not in Cincinnati's starting lineup on Sunday. Freel was 1-for-18 (.056) in previous match-ups vs. Brewers starter Doug Davis.

Veteran Quinton McCracken led off and started in center field in Freel's place.

Coming up: The road trip moves to the nation's capital on Monday for the first of three games against the Nationals. Livan Hernandez (1-2, 7.11 ERA) will start the 7:05 p.m. ET opener for Washington against Ramirez.

[KronoRed]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

Brian Reith?

Poor kid, thrown to the dogs.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

Poor kid, thrown to the dogs.

I remember watching his MLB debut. I think he took a perfect game into the 6th and it was all downhill from there.

[OnBaseMachine]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

I remember watching his MLB debut. I think he took a perfect game into the 6th and it was all downhill from there.

I remember that. I believe it was against the future World Series Champion D-Backs. I think he ended up pitching solid for a few inning at Wrigley Field in his next start and then as you said he went downhill after that.

[Hap]

Brian Reith was also waived by the Reds and then picked up by the Phillies and then waived by the Phillies and then back with the Reds in less than a month's time.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/reithbr01.shtml

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by UPRedsFan

What I'd really like to see is Belisle for a few starts with Lizard as the long man

He is piggybacking Williams.