Farmers Only: Where a menacing glare helps you win ballgames

by BK on Apr 13, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Farmers only

After today's triple play, let's hope the Reds farmhands can stay away from the recent trend of failed HAVOC:

Satan

Louisville won in impressive fashion, 5-1, to take the series against Columbus. Ben Jukich started for the Bats, and his soulless stare alone convinced 15 Clippers hitters to make outs. He also struck out three, walked three, and gave up a run on 6 hits. The bullpen was just as impressive, with Robert Manuel, Bill Bray, and Josh Roenicke striking out 5 and walking none between them in the 4 scoreless innings they pitched. Offensively, Craig Tatum led the way with 2 hits including a 3-R HR, with Chris Valaika going yard off of the Saarlooser as well for his first of the season. Up next: Louisville opens up a new series at home against Toledo, game time at 7:05.

Heisey

The Mudcats bullpen was the story, as they blew a lead in the late innings to drop a tough one to Mississippi, 7-4. James Avery had a decent start for the Cats leaving with a one run lead, but the bullpen gave up two runs in both the 7th and the 8th. Chris Heisey led the Cats attack, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run against Tom Glavine (!), who was making a rehab start down in AA. He's batting .462 on the season so far in the leadoff slot in Carolina. Up next: The Mudcats close up their series with a day game, starting at 12:00 noon. Misael DeJesus gets the start, and with the Reds not playing until later, I'd encourage Farmers Only enthusiasts to listen for free online, as there's a hell of a lot more to get excited about in Zebulon than there is in Cincinnati this season.
There may be even more to get excited about in Sarasota this season, but not on this date, where they dropped a pitcher's duel with St. Lucie, 1-0. The only S-Reds run was unearned, as Jeremy Horst, Enerio Del Rosario, Joseph Krebs, and Logan Ondrusek combined on the excellent pitching performance. However, the offense just wasn't up to the task, with the S-Reds only mustering 6 hits, with two of them coming from backup 1B Jason Louwsma. Up next: Sarasota's off tomorrow.
Dayton was off today, and opens up a new series in Peoria starting at 7:30.

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Projecting!

How excited should we get, at this point, about guys like Valaika, Frazier, Heisey, and even Cozart? Do we believe any of them could contribute to the Reds this year? If so, which ones do you think will do so and where would they play? If any of these are ready, who does that make tradeable from the Reds………and, if we could trade a pitcher and a position player (because of one of these kids), could the Reds get that feared hitter we long for? If so, who? I know this is a real string of questions but I’d love to hear some speculation from you guys. :)

by nighthawk32 on Apr 13, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions

if Charlie Scrabbles were GM

i think the first on the trade block this year would be Brandon Phillips. unlike Slyde, i really dig BP, but he is about to get very expensive very soon. he is set to make 17.5 mil for the next 2 years, with a 12 mil option for ‘12. not that i am for dumping veterans who get pricey, because i believe this team needs to pay for talent when it’s there. but BP is probably the most replaceable player who could net the most in return, so he’s the one i would trade. Valaika looks like he could be ready to take over in July if need be, and though he’s probably not the Gold Glover BP is, he looks to have a better bat.

i might trade EdE too, and CoCo is probably unmovable, but after that i see no need to move anyone else.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 13, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I really wish that someone other than Canada had played Votto in LF a little this spring

I think trading EdE seems a likely scenario, and it also seems like a worthy experiment to try and put Votto in LF, thus opening up 1B for Yonder. Jo-eh seems to have the athleticism to play the outfield, and it gives us the solid outfield bat we’ve been craving, left-handed though it may be. One of our other highly touted prospects can man the hot corner vacated by Encarnacion’s trade. We get to keep Votto and Yonder, who to me are each more valuable than Encarnacion, and we can continue to develop our own talent, while solving some positional redundancies. We’d still need a right-handed bat (Valaika? El Nino Destructor?), but it would seem to make some sense. With Yonder starting the season in Sarasota though, the timetable looks a little longer on some of the key prospects than I anticipated. Still, it doesn’t hurt to start prepping Votto for a move now.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Coco has a no-trade clause

so yeah, he’s pretty unmovable. I think that BP is probably worth hanging on to if they’re gonna do the whole “pitching and D” thang…I doubt Valaika is going to have nearly the amount of value Phillips will.

The ones to make room for, I think, are Frazier and Yonder. That means figuring something out with Votto. Oh, and lets pray that Cozart can outhit Janish and fast.

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Apr 13, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

you think

He’d object to being traded to a contender?

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 13, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

precisely

let’s say a contender loses their closer and are willing (this is why it is unlikely) to exercise CoCo’s option year if he is willing to accept a trade. the no-trade clause doesnt nullify the prospect of a trade, it just makes it more difficult.

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 13, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

with a 4-year contract

he probably bought a house in the area. And who would want to try to sell a house in this market?

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Apr 13, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Adam Rosaleswill get a shot before Frazier

If Gonzo doesn’t get going Rosales could see some time if Gonzalez needs to go to AAA to get his timing together.

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 13, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but Frazier and Valaika are better prospects than Rosales

Rosales will likely be the next one up, but won’t enjoy the prolonged major league success as Frazier and Valaika. I think both Valaika and Frazier could end up in Cincinnati in September, with Valaika having a better chance this year. As far as trading ML players to make room for these guys, it may happen eventually, but I think we’re a little premature on that front right now. If one (or more) of them makes a splash on the big league club, we could see some shifting this offseason, but it’s still way too early to tell anything.

"I can eat mayonnaise with a spoon." - Jeff Brantley

by BK on Apr 13, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I see Rosales as a journeyman style 3B man.

Frazier is the one who really caught my eye in ST.
Vailaka swings like a girl and his name is foreign sounding.

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 13, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

god dman somebody has hit the bottle early today

"Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions!"- Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA.

by justin007000 on Apr 13, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

2:21 pm - Early ?

PSSSSHAWWWW

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 13, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

The week in HAVOC

By my count, there were two extra outs created by HAVOC on Sunday (triple play resulting from the runners going).

On Saturday, there seemed to be two extra outs (Votto out at home, Bruce doubled off first).

On Friday, there were no extra outs generated by HAVOC.

On Thursday, there were no extra outs generated by HAVOC.

On Wednesday, we had Joey Votto getting thrown out stealing home.

On Opening Day, we had EdE getting doubled off first.

Did I miss anything? It seems that HAVOC has resulted in a total of six extra outs in five games, with three stolen bases to show for it.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

The triple play..

I think even without Baker and Berry sending the runners, the Pirates would have gotten the second out at second. Am I wrong?

(NOT a HAVOC apologist BTW)

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think they would have

It was a lazy liner.

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 13, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

It was, as George Grande would say...

A bloop.

And it wasn’t the type of bloop that looks like a line drive or ground ball either. It also wasn’t the type of bloop that leaves the ballpark or makes it to the warning track. It was a really bloopy sort of bloop.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

george doesn't call real bloops bloops

Blessed be baseball!

by Daedalus on Apr 13, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah yes.

I forgot. Ignorance is bliss…

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

We need to keep track of this too

Maybe a different tote board to go with T-Virus’ gloves.

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 13, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

It's already in the works

"I can eat mayonnaise with a spoon." - Jeff Brantley

by BK on Apr 13, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

You guys and your behind the scenes work

I told myself I wouldn’t cry……

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 13, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

They didn't generate any extra outs on the bases during the rain out on Friday?

Shocking!

To be fair, the Reds have also taken 14 extra bases on top of those 3 stolen bases.

Tm    Outs  Bases  PCT
SFG     1     20    5%
ARI     1     18    6%
FLA     2     25    8%
PHI     2     13   15%
MIL     3     18   17%
LAD     5     27   19%
ATL     3     16   19%
SDP     3     16   19%
STL     4     21   19%
COL     5     26   19%
WSN     2     10   20%
LgAvg   4     18   22%
CHC     4     17   24%
NYM     6     20   30%
CIN     6     17   35%
PIT     6     15   40%
HOU     6      7   86%

At least we’re not the Astros!

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 13, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Jay Bruce is looking at Pittsburgh's number

“What’s up?”

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

I wasn’t sure how to track the extra bases, it is 100% fair to include them. Nevertheless, it is as I feared, which is that at 35% outs per attempt at an extra base, we are solidly striving for mediocrity.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Having A Variety Of Chances

..to run ourselves out of an inning.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I probably should redo that percentage

it is not outs per attempt, rather outs per extra base. So, the percentage is bad, but it’s hard to say what is an out per attempt, because the attempts are hard to track.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 13, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

Probably a ratio is better (i.e., extra outs:extra bases), since there is always the attempt where the runner goes but manages to get back ahead of the throw.

Do your stats also track runners caught in a rundown (which would not show up as an outfield assist)?

And…I figured out that thing about Friday all by myself.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

it's all on BBRef's new version

They have a base running section on the league pages under “Batting [+]”. A rundown would be included in outs on bases (OOB) as that tracks any out on a base that wasn’t because of a force out at the next base for the runner (that is, does not include GIDP or fielder’s choice). They also have individual numbers for each player on that page as well.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 13, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

So our HAVOC Ratio after one week is 6:17.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Apr 13, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

2009 slogan

“Brace Yourself: This Year We Get Biblical.”

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Cool grey drizzly Monday morning

What are ya’ll listening to?

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

Middle management

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 13, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I like their old stuff.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

you mean back before they got all corporate?

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 13, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

A little this morning, but mostly this sunny weekend

I was cruising around with the windows down listening to this.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I like.

Kinda reminds me of Arcade Fire but… fun!

I started out this dreary morning going cliche with Elliott Smith but since have moved on to this gal.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

She's a favorite

I have her “Escondida” album, and it’s chock full of great tunes, highlighted by this.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I've heard that before but didn't realize it was her.

I can’t find it on YouTube but she has a great song the I think is called “The Littlest Birds.” Is it on ‘Escondida’? I love that song in part because it was given to me on a mix CD from a co-worker that I probably shouldn’t have been accepting mix CDs from.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

It was on Catalpa, her debut album

Here she is singing it with her former group, the Be Good Tanyas. Apparently Syd Barrett wrote the song. Huh.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh, indeed.

Pink Floyd’s Sid Barrett? Is there a Pink Floyd version? I must know m…. nah, whatever. Nevermind.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 13, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotta love Welshmen taking the name of a Latin solidarity movement.

All of their songs sound kind of the same, but I like their spoken-word-breakdowns 2 minutes into every song (except for You which its about 4 minutes in).

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Apr 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

You gotta admit, it’s a pretty original thing to do. Of course, this might have more to do with Justin than either of us.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Brilliant band

The title track off their latest LP is the catchiest song imaginable.

by teb7 on Apr 13, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

"We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed"?

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Yessir

I was supposed to go see them and Titus Andronicus in Feb but my silly girlfriend scheduled a ski trip that weekend. Their live show comes highly rec’d.

by teb7 on Apr 13, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Titus Andronicus

They’re opening for Lucero at the show I want to see on Sunday. I don’t know any of their stuff, but I’ve heard good things. Any insight?

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

They rock hard

And they don’t apologize. The singing is a bit of an acquired taste, but their guitar work melts faces. Dunno much about Lucero, what’s their sound?

by teb7 on Apr 13, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Like Wilco's alt country stuff, but better

Actually, I sort of liken them to an American Pogues. If you want boozy drinking anthems and tales of drunken nights about to go wrong, they’re your band. Their lead guy actually opened for the Pogues on St. Patrick’s Day, so maybe that’s why I made the association.

This song was one of my first introductions to them and sealed the deal (the sound on the live YouTube vid isn’t that great, but use your imagination).

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Here’s another song with way better sound.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 13, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Can’t listen at work, but looking forward to it when I get home. I do enjoy Wilco’s alt-country days, but not to a huge degree—hope these guys are even better.

by teb7 on Apr 13, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions