Top 10 Watch and Other Notables

[Elam]

Thought it might be a good idea to keep an eye on or top ten monthly, as well as those who are stirring some intrest.

1. Homer Bailey, rhp

Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO
Sarasota 1 2 3.08 5 5 0 0 0 26.1 18 12 9 2 7 29

2. Jay Bruce, of

Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Dayton 21 83 13 23 7 2 2 12 40 7 15 3 3 .323 .482 .277

3. Travis Wood, lhp

Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO
Dayton 2 0 4.03 5 5 0 0 0 22.1 21 11 10 2 12 25

4. B.J. Szymanski, of

Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Dayton 21 81 13 14 1 2 4 10 31 9 34 5 3 .264 .383 .173

5. Chris Denorfia, of

Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Louisville 20 74 11 26 5 0 3 10 40 9 8 4 0 .422 .541 .351

6. Rafael Gonzalez, rhp
N/A

7. Miguel Perez, c

Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Chattanooga 19 65 6 13 0 0 1 5 16 5 12 0 1 .268 .246 .200

8. Tyler Pelland, lhp

Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO
Chattanooga 1 1 4.09 5 5 0 0 0 22.0 26 17 10 4 14 18

9. Joey Votto, 1b

Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Chattanooga 24 91 11 21 6 0 4 12 39 11 24 3 1 .311 .429 .231

10. Travis Chick, rhp

Team W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO
Chattanooga 1 0 3.26 4 4 0 0 0 19.1 18 7 7 3 6 15

Notables:
Cody Strait (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Cody%20Strait&pos=IF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=448790) - 22 (D.O.B. 5/28/83)
Calvin Medlock (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Calvin%20Medlock&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=445938) - 23 (D.O.B. 11/8/82)
Phil Dumatrait (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Phil%20Dumatrait&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=430597) - 24 (D.O.B. 7/12/81)
Carlos Guevara (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Carlos%20Guevara&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=454581) - 24 (D.O.B. 3/18/82)
Adam Rosales (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Adam%20Rosales&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=489267) - 22 (D.O.B. 5/20/83)
Johnny Cueto (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Johnny%20Cueto&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=456501) - 20 (D.O.B. 2/15/86)

[dougdirt]

I would also add into that group Camilo Vazquez. 2.39 ERA so far this season for Sarasota.

[RedsManRick]

Could you throw their ages in there for a bit more context?

[dougdirt]

RMR, Bailey turns 20 in 2 days, Bruce is 19, Wood is 19, Szymanski is 23, Denorfia is 25, Gonzalez is 20, Perez is 22, Pelland is 22, Votto is 22, Chick is 21

[OnBaseMachine]

I'm still holding out hope that Rafael Gonzalez will return. He supposedly has great stuff, but command is his main issue. Hopefully he will return in time for the short season leagues.

[dougdirt]

I'm still holding out hope that Rafael Gonzalez will return. He supposedly has great stuff, but command is his main issue. Hopefully he will return in time for the short season leagues.

Here is a little bit of what Baseball America had to say about Gonzalez in their prospect handbook.

His stuff is just a tick behind Homer Bailey’s for the best in the system. Gonzalez throws 92-94 mph and peaks at 97, and he also shows a plus curveball and an average changeup at times. Gonzalez has a soft, thick lower half and struggles to keep his weight under control. His stamina and stuff suffered in 2005 until he dedicated more time to cardiovascular work. His secondary pitches and control are very inconsistent.

[OnBaseMachine]

Three or four of us need to shoot a email toward Baseball America and ask them what is going on with Gonzalez. That way it has a better chance of getting answered.

[dougdirt]

OBM, let me know who you want to email and i will email them with you and hopefully with a few similar questions someone can get an answer on it.

[OnBaseMachine]

I emailed Chris Kline and Jim Callis.

[dougdirt]

I also sent emails, hopefully we get something back

[UC_Ken]

Does Bruce's low OBP concern anyone else?

[dougdirt]

It doesnt concern me right now. Its early and he is in the middle of a slump. He has been Hot, Cold, Hot and now he is cold again. He has good bat speed, some scouts think Bruces bat wont come around for another year or two, I am not to worried about it yet.

[edabbs44]

BJs whole stat line concerns me. Esp considering he's got to be one of the oldest people in low A.

[dougdirt]

Szymanski concerns me a lot....I think he is about to fall into the category of "used to be highly touted prospect"

[Superdude]

Don't worry guys...Szymanski 2-4 game has got his average nearly topping .200 already!

[OnBaseMachine]

Does Bruce's low OBP concern anyone else?

Not at all. Coming out of high school last year, Bruce was ranked as having the second best plate discipline in the draft, IIRC. Bruce compares favorably to Larry Walker, who only walked 18 times and had a .289 OBP in his first year. He turned out to be pretty good. :) There is nothing to be concerned about, IMO.

[dougdirt]

Three or four of us need to shoot a email toward Baseball America and ask them what is going on with Gonzalez. That way it has a better chance of getting answered.
Jim Callis just emailed me and said this:

Doug: I haven't heard the exact nature of his departure. --Jim Callis

[motob]

from the bullpen... Mike Burns seems to be getting back his swagger. He had some frustrating innings when he was on Reds roster, giving up 18 hits in 9 in.
I can understand his frustration, most of the hits came from weak defensive plays... Dunn tripping over his feet on a fly ball comes to mind-

Now having been sent down, he's throwing lights out and scoreless innings when called to the mound. 9.2 innings 4 hits 1 BB and 8 SO. (W-1,HLD-1)

His pitches don't scream at radar guns, but ball placement and control is what he's all about. I expect him to continue throwing hard and get back to Cinci. Let's go Burns!:thumbup: