Thursday, August 11, 2011 Minor League Updates

[GOYA]

Bats @ Hens

Negron 6
Valaika 4
Francisco 5
Phipps DH
Hermida 9
Mesoraco 2
Dorn 3
Cook 7
Perez 8
Reineke 1

[Blitz Dorsey]

Originally Posted by GOYA

Bats @ Hens

Negron 6
Valaika 4
Francisco 5
Phipps DH
Hermida 9
Mesoraco 2
Dorn 3
Cook 7
Perez 8
Reineke 1

I know it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but I don't like the idea of Mes batting sixth. He's our best prospect and the No. 1 catching prospect in all of MLB. He should be batting somewhere between 3-5 for Louisville IMO. It's a confidence thing. I realize Phipps is on fire, but how about rewarding Mes for the good overall season he's had and bat him in the cleanup spot? I just don't get batting him sixth. He needs the most ABs he can get. Bat him third if you need to, but not sixth. Negron should not be leading off. Just have Valaika leadoff and move everyone up a spot. Or put Phipps in the two hole.

OK, I just spent waaaaaay too much time dissecting a AAA lineup.

[GOYA]

Do you see Mesoraco batting 4th in Cincinnati? I don't. Not that he couldn't. But I can see him in the 6 hole.

[GOYA]

Negron walked and Valaika doubled him in to start the first. Next 3 batters K'ed.

1-0 Bats now in the 2nd

[GOYA]

4-0 Bats in the 3rd after a Hermida HR. Francisco and Phipps had singled in front of him.

[HokieRed]

Is Valaika starting to hit the ball just a little bit better?

[Blitz Dorsey]

Originally Posted by GOYA

Do you see Mesoraco batting 4th in Cincinnati? I don't. Not that he couldn't. But I can see him in the 6 hole.

Perhaps eventually in MLB he can be a cleanup hitter (more likely fifth hitter) but yes I think he will start out batting sixth or lower. They will ease him in. The point is that if Mesoraco is the best player in your system, he should not be batting sixth at Triple-A IMO. Build the kid's confidence up even more. Tell him "You're our cleanup hitter while you're down here." That's what a player of his ilk deserves IMO. My lineup would have been Valaika, Phipps, Francisco, Mesoraco, Hermida, Dorn ... and then go from there.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Originally Posted by HokieRed

Is Valaika starting to hit the ball just a little bit better?

Well, there was nowhere to go but up, but yes. He's slowly turned this into just a "bad" season for him. It was "atrocious" until the last month or so.

[kfm]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

I know it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but I don't like the idea of Mes batting sixth. He's our best prospect and the No. 1 catching prospect in all of MLB. He should be batting somewhere between 3-5 for Louisville IMO. It's a confidence thing. I realize Phipps is on fire, but how about rewarding Mes for the good overall season he's had and bat him in the cleanup spot? I just don't get batting him sixth. He needs the most ABs he can get. Bat him third if you need to, but not sixth. Negron should not be leading off. Just have Valaika leadoff and move everyone up a spot. Or put Phipps in the two hole.

OK, I just spent waaaaaay too much time dissecting a AAA lineup.

If Dusty made this lineup, oh boy would he get destroyed. I don't get why he is batting sixth either. I could see him batting in between Votto and Bruce eventually, but isn't it about getting him more at bats to get him ready for the big leagues.

[GOYA]

Hens get 2 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th and lead 5-4.

Felix Perez out with an ankle.

[GOYA]

Francisco knocked in Valaika to tie it in the 7th. Tied 5-5 now in the bottom of the 9th.

Valaika, Francisco and Phipps are all 2 for 4. Valaika's are both doubles.

Now going to extras in Toledo.

[GOYA]

Bats lost 6-5 in 11.

[texasdave]

Mud Hens in 11. 6-5.

[texasdave]

Mudcats fall 6-4. Gregorius 2-3 with a walk and a blast.

[texasdave]

Dayton prevails Duran hit his 12th and Vidal his 17th.