Farmers only

by Rick House on Apr 25, 2008 1:11 AM EDT in News

Bruce

Triple-A: Jay Bruce fell a triple short of the cycle and the Bats' bullpen imploded before leaving the bases loaded and securing a 6-4 win over Indianapolis. AAA ace Justin Lehr did it again, allowing 5 hits in six scoreless innings. Andy Phillips had two doubles and Adam Rosales was 2 for 2, but his error in the ninth open the floodgates to four unearned runs surrendered by Jim Brower. He was a disaster, but he still hasn't allowed an earned run this season. The Bats moved two games ahead of the Indians for first in the International League West. UP NEXT: Game 4 at Indy, 7:15 tonight.

Valaika

Double-A: Cody Strait hit a walk-off homer as Chattanooga beat Carolina 3-2 . Shaun Cumberland was 2 for 4, and Sam LeCure was impressive, striking out 5 and allowing just one run in 7 innings. So far Cumberland has been the only hitter for the Lookouts who has been encouraging, but this team has some arms. UP NEXT: Game 2 vs. Carolina, 7:15 tonight.

High A: Chris Valaika was 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs as Sarasota won 6-4 . Drew Stubbs was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, Justin Turner and Chris Heisey had two hits apiece and Juan Francisco's 0-for-4 night was the only offensive discouragement. Jordan Smith improved to 4-1, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) in his 6 innings. UP NEXT: Rubber match at Clearwater, tonight at 7.

Low A: Dayton had the day off and is traveling to Kane County for a 7:30 game tonight.

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

notes

the sarasota four - Stubbs, Valaika, Francisco and Turner - are still studdin. Francisco’s in a little 4-for-25 slump over the past week, but he’s still second in the league in home runs. And the others all have at least .898 OPSes, with Justin Turner leading the league in BA (.382). The craziest part is that Stubbs, Valaika and Turner represent the team’s up-the-middle defensive structure.

Justin Lehr is a AAA stud. He started for the PCL in the AAA All-Star Game last year, and with the game in Louisville this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s starting for the International League. Dunno if that’s ever happened.

Thank you to Zach for accepting my trade in the beer league. I offered a new deal to Madville, and I ask you to check it out good sir. And Justin, there’s a deal for you in there if you go give it a looksee. If you don’t like it, make a counter offer.

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Apr 25, 2008 3:02 AM EDT reply actions

Drainage!

Adam Lind is now mine. I drink your milkshake!

by Red Menace on Apr 25, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Jay Bruce

I really think he’ll be with the Reds by Memorial Day, especially if they keep playing this bad.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Apr 25, 2008 6:37 AM EDT reply actions

What about Dustbag's man love for Corey?

I’d love to see J. soon. It will be interesting to see who gets the boot. Corey? Farney? NoHo? Bako? LLM? Hatte? So many choices..so little results.

Radiohead killed the Video Star

by Madville on Apr 25, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

When are the Reds likely to promote Stubbs to the Nooga?

I’m okay with letting Valaika, Francisco and Turner spend most if not all the season in Sarasota, but the Reds need to get a better read on Stubbs before the Griffey and Dunn sweepstakes begin.

With Jocketty now GM, Stubbs might not be anywhere in the Reds future plans. If he isn’t, does it make sense to keep him in a league where he’s succeeding? I.e., in order to make him more attractive as a trade piece?

Don't listen to Stalin, kid, he's a punk...

by Man Mountain on Apr 25, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

The problem I see with keeping him in Sarasota

is that he is too old to be at such a low level. If he was 25 and in Chattanooga and hitting well, that’d be different. He’d still be too old, but performing well in Chattanooga would make him seem like he could hit in the Majors. I feel like being in High-A, even if he’s still just 23, leaves a lot of question about whether he can perform at the higher levels. This is especially true of a player like Stubbs who had a lot of doubt surrounding his ability to actually hit the ball in the pros. I’m just not certain that other teams would look at him and think that he really has a future in the Majors yet.

You're drowning in the past, Mike, and I've got your life jacket right here. It's called the 80s and it's gonna be around forever.

by Slyde on Apr 25, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

So do you think he's likely to be promoted soon?

I know it’s hard to get a read on how Jocketty does things.

Have yall thought about setting up an interview with Viva El Birdos re: what to expect from Jocketty?

Don't listen to Stalin, kid, he's a punk...

by Man Mountain on Apr 25, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Excellent idea (on the interview)

I’ll get right on it.

As for Stubbs…I wish he would get promoted. I still think he’s a level too low. And if they are willing to sign Dunn for a few more years, I’m willing to put up with a crappy bat from Stubbs next season if he can solidify the defense out there. Of course, Dusty would have him leading off, so there’s that.

You're drowning in the past, Mike, and I've got your life jacket right here. It's called the 80s and it's gonna be around forever.

by Slyde on Apr 25, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I took a quick look at the Birdos page

Mostly they seem to think this was a positive move for the Reds, though some still have a bad taste in their mouths from moving prospects for veterans. An in-depth discussion with one of the site’s main guys is definitely in order though.

Interestingly, a lot of posts were dedicated to Krivsky, with many of them offering up similar defenses (he wasn’t THAT bad of a GM; timing is odd; etc.). Their biggest critique of him was the Cordero signing, which is interesting because it really hasn’t been looked at as a negative in Reds land.

Oh, and I know that “Cardinals = greatest fans” is a load of crap, but a couple posts made mention of the fact that they were saddened by the decline of Cincinnati as a baseball town and wished for good things for the organization so that the Reds-Cardinals rivalry could really redevelop (even though we’ve done very well in our head-to-head meetings with the Cards the last couple years). A nice gesture from them, I thought.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 25, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

lboros is going to answer some questions for us

hope to have it up tomorrow if possible.

You're drowning in the past, Mike, and I've got your life jacket right here. It's called the 80s and it's gonna be around forever.

by Slyde on Apr 25, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

My impression of the Krivsky love

is that it’s something akin to the love most Duke-UNC-ACC basketball fans have for Oliver Pernell at Clemson. They like that he seems like a nice guy and that they get to beat the shit out of his team every year. His success this year led to some strange and sudden dislike for the man.

Don't listen to Stalin, kid, he's a punk...

by Man Mountain on Apr 25, 2008 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, Tim Lincecum has a 16 1/3 inning scoreless streak!

And it ain’t for Sarasota. Or any Reds affiliate for that matter.

Still, do good Stubbs! (Now I’m hoping that we draft someone named Scrockett this year.)

by Brendanukkah on Apr 25, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

obc said the reds should have drafted tim lincecum(b)

just sayin’

In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me the choice is easy.

by chandrathan on Apr 25, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I still say

that dude’s about 100 innings away from throwing his elbow to the plate wtih the ball.

Don't listen to Stalin, kid, he's a punk...

by Man Mountain on Apr 25, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

the giants already had a player do that

In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me the choice is easy.

by chandrathan on Apr 25, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

Actually made me giggle

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 25, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I've wondered about that

His lack of size was/is obviously a concern, but should it be? Mechanics aside (especially since Lincecum’s are violent), is the rate of arm injury really that much worse for a smallish guy like Lincecum (and Cueto) as opposed to a bigger guy (Bailey/Harang)? I would tend to think that a shoulder is a shoulder and more weight would serve to apply more pressure, resulting in more injuries rather than less.

Anyone have some statistics on this? (bats eyes at slyde)

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 25, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions