Midsummer Notes & Thoughts

[Bourgeois Zee]

I keep waiting for Yerlin Confidan to get hot and help carry Daytona to a long win streak. He keeps being barely adequate. Perhaps that long layoff and injury really affected him. Perhaps he was just on a heater when he was named MOP of the ACL two years ago. Either way, it's been a disappointing last two seasons. Today, he hit his 7th double of the year to help the Tortugas go up, 3-0.

McElwain hadn't allowed a hit in his four innings. Once Frainger Aranguran replaced him, the first batter got a single. Sigh.

Tugas lead, 3-0.

[texasdave]

Louisville postponed today.

Lyon Richardson on the mound for the Lookouts.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Tortugas stretch their lead out to 7-2. Sal Stewart has a couple of hits today in four trips to the plate. Since 5/31, he's hitting .371. Better, both hits were doubles. Kid is supposed to have some pop. Now would be an ideal time to bust out, as it were.

[texasdave]

9 up and 9 down for Richardson on just 39 pitches. 4 on strikes. 'Nooga leads 1-0 after 3. Birmingham's leading hitter by batting average is just .235. <---added for context.

[texasdave]

Barons get a two-out single for their first safety of the game. Richardson walks the next batter, but then punches out his 7th hitter of the contest. His pitch count is up into the mid-60s, so that might be all. Per Chattanooga announcer, his fastball has been ranging from 93-97. Slider and changeup are in the 80s, and his curveball has been registering in the 70s. If that is indeed all for Richardson, his ERA has dropped to 2.42.

[Bourgeois Zee]

That Chattanooga offense looks no muy bueno from the numbers. Its top three bats go .182, .182, .180-- and that's after a double and a HR to open up a 6-0 lead.

James Free, the catcher turned 1B, has now hit his 5th HR on the season and is by far the best hitter statistically in the lineup. He's 2-2 today with a HR and a 2B and at .268 with an OPS just a hair under 800 for the season. If he could catch, I'd be all sorts of excited. As is, meh.

Speaking of excited, I'd guess most posters have Lyon Richardson in their top 10 (at least once EDLC, McLain, Steer, Abbott, and CES officially graduate).

What would it take for him to get into your top five?

[JCM11]

I'm trying to figure out if the Reds should wait until 2025 when Richardson will have the innings build up to be a SP for a whole season, convert him to the pen to help in the near future, or include him in a trade for instant MLB help. I think you could throw him in with Marte, India, or Steer and get a pretty good SP or starting OF.

[mth123]

I'm trying to figure out if the Reds should wait until 2025 when Richardson will have the innings build up to be a SP for a whole season, convert him to the pen to help in the near future, or include him in a trade for instant MLB help. I think you could throw him in with Marte, India, or Steer and get a pretty good SP or starting OF.

I'd wait on Richardson. I'd convert Boyle, Stoudt and maybe Williamson (though Williamson's last start has me rethinking that).

[Dave C]

Richardson's pitch mix is great. He could start with it easily. That said, I do worry about his ability to carry a starters load. Hope he continues to grow and they can stretch him to 80-90 pitches soon.

[Bourgeois Zee]

With today's 3-4 game (including his 11th 2B of the season and a BB), Edwin Arroyo has managed to bring his BA up to .250 and his OPS to .720.

Since 5/31, Arroyo's had 7 multi-hit games and hit safely in all 11 games. That's a .458 BA over those 11 games. He's added 7 extra-base hits including 3 HR over that timespan. Interestingly, only 2 BBs against 8 Ks.

[icehole3]

Blake Dunn home run 9

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...91917211123719

Ivan Johnson home run (6)

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...85968396156930

James Free home run (5)

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...81371640369153

2-RUN BLAST ALEX MCGARRY

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...81166391984133

Solid performance by Lyon Richardson today with 7 strikeouts in 4 scoreless 1-hit innings!

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...80207758749696

- - - Updated - - -

Rece Hinds hits a two-run homer

https://www.milb.com/chattanooga/vid...98-default-vtp

[Bourgeois Zee]

Is it bad that I watched the 8-second video on Richardson throwing one curve at least six times, thinking it was showing me different pitches?

[icehole3]

Is it bad that I watched the 8-second video on Richardson throwing one curve at least six times, thinking it was showing me different pitches?

No it is not. He has that 97-98 mph FB.

[brian5562]

Blake Dunn home run 9

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...91917211123719

Ivan Johnson home run (6)

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...85968396156930

James Free home run (5)

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...81371640369153

2-RUN BLAST ALEX MCGARRY

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...81166391984133

Solid performance by Lyon Richardson today with 7 strikeouts in 4 scoreless 1-hit innings!

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/st...80207758749696

- - - Updated - - -

Rece Hinds hits a two-run homer

https://www.milb.com/chattanooga/vid...98-default-vtp

I still hold out hope for Hinds. He obviously has to improve his strikeout rate. As well as work more walks.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Ricardo Cabrera (SS) and Carlos Sanchez (3B) were both on base four times last night. Cabrera had three walks and a safety, while Sanchez had two singles and two walks.

Right now, Cabrera has more walks (7) than Ks (4). Sanchez has double the BBs (8) to Ks (4).

The ACL Reds won 10-6, improving their record to a tidy 4-1.

The DSL Reds lost 5-4, dropping their record to 4-2.