Little bit of news and notes on Bailey and Votto

Fox Sports did an article written by Dayn Perry on AA projected All-Stars. Here is what he said about Joey Votto

1B — Joey Votto — Chattanooga, Southern League (Reds)

Age: 22
Acquired: 2nd round, 2002, Richview Collegiate Institute (Toronto, ON)
2006 Top 100 Rank: Unranked

Votto was in the 2005 top 100, but he slumped last season. This year, he's had a tremendous first half at AA-Chattanooga: he's got a batting line of .318 AVG/.385 OBP/.568 SLG with 42 extra-base hits in 296 at bats. A number of great major leaguers once endured a lackluster season down on the farm (as Votto did last year), so there's nothing to say he won't become an impact talent in Cincinnati. Votto's very much back on track.

www.foxsports.com

John Fay wrote this peice about Homer Bailey in his most recent "Reds Notebook"

Bailey scorching Double-A

Reds notebook

BY JOHN FAY AND KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

Chief executive officer Bob Castellini is in charge of the Reds organization from soup to nuts.

He's also a fan. And fans want No. 1 prospect Homer Bailey in Cincinnati forthwith.

What does Castellini think?

"Homer Bailey is going to follow the course that Wayne (Krivsky) and (farm director) Johnny Almaraz and our baseball operations lay out," Castellini said. "I'm going to have no say about it."

Bailey, a 20-year-old right-hander, keeps getting attention because he has been a sensation since he was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga.

He's 2-0 and has thrown 12 shutout innings in two starts. Tuesday night, he did not allow a hit over six innings. "He's in the right spot," Krivsky said. "It's nice to see him get off to a good start."

Bailey's numbers are better since he was promoted. He was 3-5 with a 3.31 ERA at Single-A Sarasota before his promotion.

Matt Belisle saw Bailey throw while Belisle was on a rehab assignment in Chattanooga. "He just has a dominating fastball," Belisle said. "He's a guy with a huge ceiling."

Bailey also throws a curveball and a change-up.

"It's a good curve," Belisle said. "But when he's throwing 93 to 98 and spotting it, it doesn't matter what the other pitches are."

Reds manager Jerry Narron often kids about wanting Bailey to be called up. Would he really like him on the 25-man roster?

"At some point," Narron said.

Some point this year?

"We'll see how he keeps pitching," he said.

www.enquirer.com