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
| Articles of Interest |
| 2006 Reds Top 40 Prospects |
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