Top 5 Pitcher of the Year Candidates

Today we will look at the 5 Pitchers who I think are the 5 most deserving players for Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Cincinnati Reds. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Homer Bailey

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
SAR	FSL	3	5	3.31	13	13	70.2	49	35	26	6	22	79	0.99	.189
CHA	SOU	7	1	1.59	13	13	68.0	50	13	12	1	28	77	1.43	.208
Totals		10	6	2.47	26	26	138.2	99	48	38	7	50	156	1.18	.198

Homer made huge strides this season. He jumped from the FSL after the All-Star break and went to the Southern League where he went 7-1 and dominated the league. He only allowed 1 HR from May 24th through the end of the season and held opposing batters to a .198 AVG.

Johnny Cueto

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
DAY	MID	8	1	2.59	14	14	76.1	52	22	22	5	15	82	1.15	.191
SAR	FSL	7	2	3.50	12	12	61.2	48	25	24	6	23	61	0.79	.214
Totals		15	3	3.00	26	26	138.0	100	47	46	11	38	143	0.96	.202

Johnny Cueto was the surprise breakout prospect of the year. He came out of nowhere and jumped onto everyone's radar. The first half of the season he dominated the Midwest League before getting the promotion to the FSL where he struggled early but finished strong.

Carlos Fisher

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
DAY	MID	12	5	2.76	27	27	150.0	133	53	46	5	38	122	1.93	.237

Carlos Fisher was a 2005 Draft pick out of Lewis and Clark State. Fisher was not even a pitcher when he went to college and made the switch as a sophomore. Carlos was among the Reds leaders in wins, ERA, Innings pitched and GO/FO ratio.

David Shafer

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
CHA	SOU	1	2	2.36	44	26	49.2	37	14	13	2	16	52	0.81	.204

David Shafer was the closer for easily the best bullpen in the Reds system at Chattanooga. Shafer had a Reds best 26 saves and helped take the Lookouts to the Southern League playoffs.

Steve Kelly

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
CHA	SOU	9	4	2.82	15	14	83.0	88	34	26	4	24	63	1.10	.273
LOU	INT	4	7	3.16	12	10	68.1	68	26	24	7	29	46	1.53	.264
Totals		13	11	2.97	27	24	151.1	156	60	50	11	53	109	1.28	.269

Steve Kelly is not the youngest guy in the group, but he put up a very good and unheralded season in 2006 between Chattanooga and Louisville. Kelly is not an overpowering pitcher, but he gets the job done. He had 13 wins and an ERA under 3.

I am still having problems with the polls that I use, so there isn't one again, but if you want to vote, you could just leave a reply with who and why.