Farmers only: Janish and Zach attack

by Rick House on Apr 28, 2008 4:31 AM EDT in News

It was a slamming day for shortstops -- Paul Janish and Zach Cozart -- and starting pitchers Matt Maloney and Luis Montano flooded the field with Ks. I hope they all remember who they are when they hit it big.

Janish

Triple-A: Paul Janish went absolutely berserk, going 4 for 4 with 6 RBIs in Louisville's 13-4 jackhammering of Columbus. Janish singled and scored in the first, drove in Ryan Hanigan on a sac fly in the second, doubled in Chris Dickerson and scored in the fourth, hit a grand slam in the fifth and doubled and scored in the seventh. Somewhere in there, Jay Bruce managed to hit his 5th homer of the year, Drew T. Anderson went 3 for 4 with a triple and Matt Maloney struck out 9 in 5.2 innings. Before last night, Janish had just 1 double and 7 RBIs on the season. UP NEXT: Columbus rubber match, 7 tonight.

Maloney

Double-A: The Lookouts led 2-0 in the top of fifth when the game was postponed due to rain. The game will resume today at 6 as part of a sortadoubleheader. So far Shaun Cumberland is 2 for 3 and James Avery is working on a 2-hitter.

High A: Sarasota lost 3-2 in 13 innings. Justin Turner was 1 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, Chris Valaika was 2 for 6 (7-game hitting streak), Drew Stubbs was 1 for 4 (8 games) and Juan Francisco got his bat back, going 2 for 6 with 2 doubles and both S-Reds RBIs. Logan Ondrusek threw 3 perfect innings in relief, striking out 5. UP NEXT: Rubber match at Dunedin, 7 tonight.

Cozart

Low A: Keltavious Jones was 3 for 5, Todd Frazier 2 for 4 and Zach Cozart blasted a ninth-inning grand slam for his first homer of the season as Dayton smoked Kane County 7-0. But perhaps most impressively, Luis Montano struck out 8 and walked none in a 6-inning 1-hitter. It was his second 1-hitter this week, as he lost a no-hitter in the seventh on Tuesday. But back to Cozart. Baseball America tabs him as the Reds' No. 18 prospect, calling him the best defensive shortstop in our system since Gookie Dawkins . He was drafted out of Mississippi last year in the second round and hit poorly as he finished the season out in Dayton. He had right shoulder surgery in the offseason and returned to the Dragons just a week ago, but he's hit in every game since his first. BA says his problem at the plate is that he's too much of a pull hitter with little power. He did have a big homer last night, but the righty pulled it to left. UP NEXT: New series at Peoria, 7:30 tonight.

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Read More: minding the farm, Reds farm is ripe at shortstop(Dayton Daily News)

Comments

our depth at shortstop is ridiculous

Janish, Valaika, Cozart, and Frazier, not even to mention Neftali Soto, who’s still in extended spring training… all those guys could be top 10 prospects in our system next year. Also 21-year-old Jose Castro, Chattanooga’s starter who’s a good contact hitter when he’s healthy and hitting from both sides of the plate, and Justin Turner can play short as well. It’ll clear out a bit as Frazier makes the full-time transition to third (Cozart’s seeing to that; I guess that means Waring is headed to the outfield and DH) and Valaika will probably eventually move to second. Still, we’ve currently got more shortstop prospects than we have farm teams. Check out the related DDN story.

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 28, 2008 4:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Did you post here...

Just to think people were commenting on this (jk)?

Next thing you know, you’re going to be recommending yourself or having arguments with yourself. That would not be entirely without precedent…

Seriously, though, that is a comforting bunch of shortstop talent. Nevertheless, I am always leery of any shortstop named Castro. Not sure why…Is this new Castro slick-fielding?

At least it wasn't Grady Little.

by Paul Householder on Apr 28, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

supposedly

castro is a 21-year-old who was kinda wasting away in the Mets’ farm system. I think we got him with sean watson in the jeff conine trade. I dont have my BA handy so i can’t remember a whole lot about him, but i remember it saying that he went from a switch-hitter to a strict righty, but his splits against righties were really bad so he went back. He had some kind of hand injury that hurt his production more, but when he was healthy and switch-hitting he was a nice contact hitter. (Batting something like .330). I don’t remember what it said specifically about his defense, though, but it did say he was good at it.

and i like to post notes afterward just cuz if i said everything i wanted to say in the main post it would be way too long. It’s been getting really long as it is.

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 28, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Janish

He got off to a slow start, but he’s been on fire lately. He hit his first homer of the year about about ten days ago, and it was a monster shot. Then he hit another one a couple of days later, and since then has been hitting very well.

Still, I’m not sure he’s top 10 prospect material. He’s 25 already, and I kinda doubt he’ll hit this well all season. He’s not really known for his stick.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 28, 2008 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

I really don't think many people see Janish is a starter.

But definitely some potential as a backup. Like an optimized Juan Castro.

Everybody's a jerk. You. Me. This jerk.

by andromache on Apr 28, 2008 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

wow

i didnt realize that janish had gotten so old. He was drafted in ‘04 out of Rice. You’re right. This is his last year as a prospect. He does seem to show power in bursts, though.

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 28, 2008 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Ew Gookie Dawkins...

Don’t compare a guy name Zach to a guy named Gookie!

Norris Hopper's #1 fan!!!

by Zach K on Apr 28, 2008 7:43 AM EDT reply actions

Has anyone else noticed something missing this season?

That’s right, not once have I felt the HEAT!

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 28, 2008 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

A few other things I've noticed from the Reds system

Drew Stubbs has 13 stolen bases in 23 games – with 0 times caught stealing. He had 23 all last season – I like that he’s improved that part of his game.

Todd Frazier has to be getting close to a callup. He hammered low-A pitching at the end of last year and is continuing to do so. He’s been striking out a lot this season, but he’s also walking a lot and hitting for power.

The left side of the infield seems to be a strength in the lower levels of the organization, with SS Frazier (who may end up as a 3rd baseman), teammate 3B Brandon Waring (OPS .872) in Low-A, and SS Valaika (OPS .920) and 3B Juan Francisco (.796) in high-A. With some weaker prospects at higher levels, I’d hope the Reds can get these guys moving up this year.

Darryl Thompson has been phenominal!

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Apr 28, 2008 1:02 PM EDT reply actions