This will be the last post on the blogger format. I have officially moved the site over to MVN.com to cover the Reds system. If you bookmarked the site, or have it in your site feed reader, go to www.redsminorleagues.com or http://mvn.com/milb-reds/ and update them so you can stay up to date.
posted by Doug Gray @ 4:27 PM
Courtesy of C. Trent Rosecrans
posted by Doug Gray @ 12:01 PM
Mark Sheldon wrote this article about Johnny Cueto on Reds.com
Cueto emerging from Bailey's shadowRight-hander is Reds' next top pitching prospectBy Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Once Homer Bailey realizes his Major League destiny, the masses will be quick to identify the Reds' next top pitching prospect.Right-hander Johnny Cueto has put himself into position to be that guy.
Bailey was the organization's Minor League player of the year, but the Reds still recognized Cueto as their pitcher of the year. The 21-year-old was a combined 15-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 26 starts combined at Class A Dayton and higher Class A Sarasota. He also had 143 strikeouts.
"He's a special kid," Reds assistant director of player development Grant Griesser said. "He really, really put himself on the map last year -- not that we didn't know this guy was a talent. The numbers he put up between Dayton and Sarasota were extremely impressive. He's a quiet competitor. The sky is the limit for Johnny."
Cueto, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, was signed in 2004 out of the Dominican Republic. He spent his first pro season in the Dominican summer league and 2005 in the Gulf Coast League but posted a 5.02 ERA in 13 games that season.
A hot start with Dayton where he went 8-1 with a 2.59 ERA and two shutouts in 14 starts, including a streak of 21 consecutive scoreless innings, earned Cueto a promotion to Sarasota in late June.
"We're looking for big things out of him," Griesser said. "He's one of those guys that are not big in stature. But he's certainly got a lot of heart and a big right arm."
On the move: Miguel Perez, who has been restricted from much activity after a rib removed during November surgery, has begun catching in the bullpen. On Sunday, he was catching a bullpen session for Bailey. Perez is not expected to resume playing in games until at least the All-Star break.
Name in the game: Former Reds first baseman Todd Benzinger, who caught the final out when Cincinnati won the 1990 World Series at Oakland, has been in Minor League camp this week working with hitters as a guest instructor. Benzinger will be departing this week.
Class of '06: Right-handed pitcher Sean Watson, the Reds' second-round draft pick last season, was 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in 17 games combined at rookie level Billings and Class A Dayton. Watson owned a 1.52 ERA in his seven games at Billings, including four starts.
Game on: Minor League camp full squad workouts began late last week. The first Minor League games begin on Thursday.
What they're saying: "He didn't have any days off in there. That was 32 straight games. You know as a hitter at any level, to be able to do what he did just shows he's a very consistent player that's serious about his work. He was prepared every day." -- Griesser, on shortstop Chris Valaika, the 2006 third-round draft pick that had a Pioneer League record 32-game hitting streak for Billings last season.
posted by Doug Gray @ 3:46 PM
Norris Hopper - OF - 1 for 2 with an RBI
posted by Doug Gray @ 3:38 PM
Joey Votto - 1B - 0 for 1 with a run and a walk
posted by Doug Gray @ 3:56 PM
There have been a trio of articles on Reds first base prospect Joey Votto recently.
Failures taught Votto to succeed by Chad Brokhoff for the Sarasota Herald Tribune
posted by Doug Gray @ 7:36 PM
Josh Hamilton - OF - 1 for 2 with a run
posted by Doug Gray @ 5:35 PM
posted by Doug Gray @ 7:18 PM
Chris Dickerson - OF - 0 for 2
posted by Doug Gray @ 12:16 AM
You can go to www.batsbaseball.com to download it, or just click this link and 'save target as'. The file is a PDF and you will need Acrobat to read it.
posted by Doug Gray @ 12:37 PM
Paul Daugherty wrote this on Homer Bailey for the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Homer's arm precious, his makeup precocious
BRADENTON, Fla. - The kid taught himself how to throw a changeup. He slid the middle and index fingers of his golden right hand entirely off the top of the ball. Without the influence of those two "power fingers,'' the speed of the pitch slowed enough to fool hitters.
"Any time I'd put any pressure (on the ball) with my middle or index finger, it comes out 88 (mph), just what (hitters) are looking for,'' Homer Bailey explained. "I needed to make it slower. I use weaker fingers and throw it as hard as I can. It's part of learning by yourself.''
Recently, Reds TV analyst Chris Welsh filmed a segment with Bailey for the team's pre-game show, when Bailey displayed his changeup grip. "I've never seen that,'' said Welsh. "Who taught you that?''
"Nobody,'' Bailey said.
"Usually, you don't see that in a guy until he's 26 or 27. You'd have thought he'd been in the big leagues 10 years, the way he explained himself,'' said Welsh.
Homer Bailey will be swiveling heads for a lot of years. The difference between a great, young pitcher and a great, young thrower is usually between the ears. Bailey is 20 going on Clemens.
He has the sort of Tiger Woods confidence that suggests what you do against him is irrelevant. If Bailey's on his game, it doesn't much matter. After his two-inning workout against Pittsburgh Sunday, someone asked Bailey how many fastballs he threw. Reasonable question, given that Bailey's fastball threatens the sound barrier.
"No idea,'' the kid said. "I don't even remember who I just faced. I couldn't tell you what I just did.''
He knew about his own game, though. The supremely gifted always do. He knew he rushed his pitches. He knew he threw too many pitches too high in the strike zone. He threw some changeups so well, he couldn't believe the Pirates actually hit them. Jose Hernandez fouled off a 3-2 change in the second inning, before ripping a two-run double to right. "Are you kidding me?'' was Bailey's reaction.
I talked to Bailey for the first time Sunday. He showed a wisdom that bordered on smugness. It was the first time I ever felt I was being lectured by a 20-year-old.
I mentioned that 21-year-old pitchers (Bailey turns 21 in May), with a few notable exceptions, aren't successful in the major leagues. Had he noticed?
"Do you expect them to (be)?'' Bailey shot back. "If I'm there early in the season, there are going to be times I'm going to get hit around. So what? The sun's coming up the next day. You learn by it. Some people are scared to death of making a mistake or looking bad out there. I personally don't care. Like today. First inning, breezed right through. Second inning, did some things wrong. I need that. (I) know what I need to do now.''
The difference between pitchers and throwers, Bailey explained patiently to a hopeless scribe, is "finding your weaknesses and trying to make them strengths. You always hear the greatest pitchers (being) students of the game. I'll be the first to tell you I'm not,'' said Bailey. "But I will do whatever it takes to be the best at what I do, whether it's learning how to command a changeup or breaking ball (or) making adjustments like getting the fastball down in the stretch.''
He doesn't watch baseball when he isn't playing it. He didn't know anything about the Pirates. The kid doesn't clutter his head.
Bailey likely will begin the year in Triple-A, where he can start every fifth day. The Reds have four off days in April, and a conga line of veterans competing for the fifth starter's spot. There is no need to rush him. History says the best pitchers don't shine until they're at least 22.
Dontrelle Willis and C.C. Sabathia are notable exceptions, as was Kerry Wood. Wood went 13-6 in 1998 at age 21 and was rookie of the year. He was also hurt all of the following season. Greg Maddux went 6-14 at age 21; Tom Glavine was 2-4, John Smoltz 2-7. Reds GM Wayne Krivsky was in Minnesota with the Twins' young guns Francisco Liriano and Johan Santana. Each blossomed after late-season call-ups at age 21.
Homer Bailey's arm is ready for prime time. We already knew that. So, it turns out, is his head. We're just waiting on the inevitable now.
Daugherty really needs better fact checking, becuase Santana posted a 6.50+ ERA in 30 appearances for the Twins as a 21 year old, and was not a late season call up. At 22, he posted an ERA of 4.74. Not quite blossomed. However when he turned 23, he did blossom pretty well with an ERA under 3 and well, as they say, the rest is history. Onto the Bailey front though, I know he was working out with a private pitching coach (that he has worked with since HS) in the offseason, but I find it a little strange that he taught himself a change up and both that coach and the organization has not said anything about it yet. Considering it has always been his worst pitch, you would think somewhere along the lines someone may have stepped in and said "Homer, why don't you try this grip for a change up". Maybe that is just me though.
Also, it was pointed out to me that this website was mentioned in The Hardball Times 2007 Season Preview as the best source for news and analysis of Reds minor league player development. I have to say that I am pretty excited about that. I take some pride in what I do and I appreciate everyone who comes here to read my ramblings about our system, and its nice to know that people appreciate what I do.
posted by Doug Gray @ 11:43 AM
Chris Dickerson - OF - 0 for 1
posted by Doug Gray @ 10:05 PM
Milb.com (official website of Minor League Baseball) released its Reds preseason preview today. Let me say that usually stuff this good and in depth I would copy and paste the entire article, but this article is very long and in depth, so I suggest you just click the link and go read it all.
posted by Doug Gray @ 3:14 PM
Josh Hamilton at the plate (Photo: Al Behrman)
Josh Hamilton - OF - 1 for 1 with a walk and a run
Jerry Gil - OF - 2 for 3 with a HR and 2 runs
Paul Janish - SS - 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run
Joey Votto - 1B - 1 for 1 with an RBI
posted by Doug Gray @ 7:05 PM
Rotoworld.com has released their Top 150 Prospects list. The Reds ended up having 5 players on the list, with 1 large omission in my opinion.
4. Homer Bailey
8. Jay Bruce
48. Joey Votto
111. Drew Stubbs
119. Travis Wood
Not listed, Johnny Cueto. I am not sure how he did not make the list, but I guess every list is missing something. The article has mini scouting reports on each player in the top 100, its worth checking out.
posted by Doug Gray @ 3:01 PM
There are two Minor League related articles on Reds.com right now.
Mark Sheldon wrote one centering around SS Paul Janish entitled No quit in Janish.
Mark Sheldon of Reds.com also wrote an article about Homer Baileys struggles today. Below are some quotes from it that I think are fairly important.
| An example was when Bailey threw the changeup for a first pitch to Jose Hernandez in the second inning. Hernandez was way out in front and swung and missed. Bailey tried the same pitch later in the at-bat with a full count on Hernandez. "[I said] 'He's going to miss this one big time.' No, he fouled it off," Bailey said. "[I thought] 'You've got to be kidding me! How did you foul it off?'" |
This is one reason I really hope Homer gets to spend his time in Louisville. Down there he will get to face more professional type hitters, who will make him work hard to get them out. They will fight off some of his better stuff and make him figure out how to pitch to these type of hitters, the types that Majors are full of. I think he would benefit greatly to learn this way. Plus, how nice is it that Homer was so confident in his once not so hot changeup that he threw it in a full count?
| "If I'm [in the Majors] early this season, just like I'm working to be, there are going to be times I get hit around. So what?" Bailey said. "The sun is coming up the next day. What you do is learn by it. Some people are scared to death of making a mistake and looking bad out there. I personally don't care. You have to know what you need to do now." |
Also good to see that he understands that you can't dominate every time you step onto the mound.
Take your time to read both article.
posted by Doug Gray @ 8:52 PM
Well here is how the Reds Minor Leaguers did today in Spring Training action.
Photo: Al Behrman
Paul Janish - SS - 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts
Josh Hamilton - OF - 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run
Joey Votto - 1B - 1 for 3 with a run and 2 RBI
Norris Hopper - OF - 1 for 2
Jerry Gil - SS - 0 for 2 with a strikeout
Homer Bailey - SP - 2 innings, 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. 1 Strikeout
Brad Salmon - RP - 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Jon Coutlangus - RP - 1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Calvin Medlock - RP - 1 inning, 2 hits, 0 runs.
posted by Doug Gray @ 5:02 PM
Homer Bailey will be making his offical Spring Training Debut for 2007 today at 1:05 against the Pirates. Lets hope the Pirates treat him better than they did Eric Milton earlier this week.
posted by Doug Gray @ 2:00 AM
Reds Minor League Pitcher Bobby Livingston
Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images
Norris Hopper - OF - 1 for 4 with a run
Paul Janish - SS - 3 for 3 with a double, run and 2 RBI
Josh Hamilton - OF - 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a walk and a run scored
Joey Votto - 1B - 1 for 3 with a run, walk and RBI
Bobby Livingston - P - 2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
posted by Doug Gray @ 4:27 PM
Today ProjectProspect.com released its Top 30 Outfielders under age 25 list. Jay Bruce made it in at #9. Here is what they had to say about him.
9. Jay Bruce, A, CIN (4/3/87): Jay Bruce is as big as they come when talking impact prospects. He posted a solid .291/.355/.516 vital line while playing though a shoulder injury last season at Single-A Dayton. Prior to injuring his shoulder, the 19-year-old put up a 1.060 July OPS. Bruce has what it takes to quickly move up this list and could become baseball’s No. 1 prospect as soon as 2008.
posted by Doug Gray @ 1:09 PM
Seriously, how can you not root for Josh Hamilton? He has a very dark past, but he is trying to turn his life around. Here are some quotes from various newspapers on Hamilton.
From John Fay and the Cincinnati Enquirer
"It was so sweet because it was the first one I hit in 4½ or 5 years," he said. "I wanted to smile so bad rounding second. I could hear (wife) Katie and the kids yelling."
"I was extremely happy."
This is from Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News
People still were talking Friday about Hamilton's Thursday home run, which cleared a 30-foot high batter's-eye wall above the center-field fence. It was written that it was the farthest ball Hamilton ever hit, but he disputed that Friday with a smile.
"I hit one when I was at Bakersfield (2002) that was actually measured at 549 feet," he said. "There was a dirt canal behind the ballpark, and it rained a couple days before so it was still kind of wet. They found it stuck in there and marked it off. It was pretty cool."
posted by Doug Gray @ 11:41 AM
First off, the Reds just finished their second spring training game. Here are the Minor Leaguers stats.
To read the entire article go to Reds.com or click here
Canadian Joey Votto's lumber of choice as a kid was usually a baseball bat, not a hockey stick.Votto, the Reds first base prospect, always felt more comfortable on the diamond than on the ice around his native Toronto.
"I took a girl skating once, I fell all over the place and she laughed at me," Votto recalled. "That was actually my first date. She was laughing at me at the school the next day. When you're in the seventh grade and not skating so well, it gets around the school. It's a big thing."
Fortunately for the Reds, Votto hits much better than he skates -- which could have the 23-year-old poised to be Cincinnati's next big thing.
"There is no such thing as perfecting your game," Votto said. "But I try as hard as I can to do to get the fundamentals right, run the bases properly and listen to my managers and play defense. I want to clean up my game. There's always something to improve. It drives me crazy and it's frustrating some days when you think you have it and the next day, you don't. It's an ongoing struggle."
During morning fielding drills, the Reds' first base trio of Hatteberg, Conine and Votto dutifully take ground balls and often work through situations. Each practiced scooping short hops or making throws to second base. In the various drills, Votto looked just as comfortable as the more polished veterans.
Votto says he prefers to listen more and talk less when around Hatteberg and Conine, two of the more respected veterans in the game today. Hatteberg, 37, has liked what he has seen from Votto the past two springs.
"He's one of those guys with unlimited potential," Hatteberg said. "He has got huge power. It seems like he's doing a great job of having an idea at what he wants to do at the plate. He's not just a one-dimensional power guy. He wants to hit for average. Defensively, I'm learning from him, too. He's very smooth over there. He's got a lot of skills in all aspects."
It'd be realistic to think that another good year could have Votto in the Majors when September callups are promoted. Until his time comes, he plans on leaving his mark at big-league camp for as long as possible.
"I'm going to take advantage of the situation I'm in right now," Votto said. "I'm standing around Jeff Conine and Scott Hatteberg every single day listening to them and their stories and watching them go about their work. I have Ken Griffey Jr. in center field. Alex Gonzalez, one of the best defensive players in baseball, is at shortstop. I'd be a fool not to pay attention, watch and learn and add it to my own game. That's where I'm at here."
posted by Doug Gray @ 9:46 PM
Homer has a video interview on milb.com right now, you can click the link below to view the video directly, or you can go to milb.com and search for it.
posted by Doug Gray @ 7:05 PM
Well the Reds played their first official game today. Here is how the Minor Leaguers did.
Some notes from the game.
According to C. Trent Rosecrans Josh Hamilton called his HR that he hit today. This is from his blog
Josh Hamilton's last home run? 2002. He hit 9 in 2002 before having season-ending surgery on July 18 of that year.
Add to that -- he called it.
Hamilton and David Ross were talking before that at-bat. Ross was counting all the homers that had been hit already during the game. Hamilton then said, "You forgot one." After Ross looked at him, Hamilton continued, "The one I'm going to hit."
And did he ever.
Jerry Gil threw out a runner at home from CF to end the game, preserving the 9-7 win.
posted by Doug Gray @ 5:47 PM
Today is a big day in the prospect world. Baseball America came out with their Top 100 prospect list. The Reds had 4 players make the list, and lets also not forget that Johnny Cueto was one player who Jim Callis said just missed. Now, as for the list, here are where the Reds are at, and I added my own comments.
5. Homer Bailey - He ranks behind just Phil Hughes as far as pitchers go (Matsuzaka is #1, but I don't consider Japanese imports as prospects). I can see exactly where they are coming from on this, and while I disagree, I certainly see their point of view.
14. Jay Bruce - This is the one that makes no sense to me. Last year, Jay was named the #1 prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America. Two players from the Midwest League are ranked higher than him, Cameron Maybin at #6 and Justin Upton at #9. I would really enjoy hearing how that one happens.
43. Joey Votto - Someone finally acknowledges that Votto ripped the balls cover off once he was allowed to take his approach to hitting.
88. Drew Stubbs - Notes that he has tools all the way around, but is also listed as a risk factor.
Again, be sure to check out the entire list at BaseballAmerica.com.
posted by Doug Gray @ 1:39 PM
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