Looking for some baseball tonight after the day games?

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 5:30 PM EDT in Farmers only

Have no fear, because the Reds minor league teams kick off their seasons tonight! All 4 teams playing right now have night games, so if you find yourself with nothing to do on a Thursday evening, they're worth checking out. Here's what's happening tonight:

The Louisville Bats open up their season at home tonight against the Columbus Clippers, first pitch is at 7:05. Jonny Gomes, Drew Stubbs, and Adam Rosales are likely the guys to watch in this one, but the real story is Homer Bailey's season debut. Can he keep up his string of great starts facing minor leaguers?
Our brand new AA affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats, take on the Mississippi Braves tonight at 8:05 on the road. The Mudcats roster is stacked this year, with names like Frazier, Heisey, Henry, Francisco, and Cozart anchoring the lineup. Paired with a solid bullpen, this team should win a lot of games. Dallas Buck starts for the 'Cats tonight.
In the world of High-A, the Sarasota Reds (or the S-Reds, as they're known) also start their season on the road in St. Lucie. Matt Klinker starts for Sarasota, but the real story for this team will be the play of some of the Reds top prospects, Yonder Alonso, Neftali Soto, and Devin Mesoraco.
Dayton kicks things off at home tonight against the Great Lakes Loons (which according to Wikipedia, is the Dodgers affiliate based in Midland, Michigan). Matt Fairel starts for the Dragons, and Billings standouts Tyler Stovall (who attended Moeller HS in Cincinnati (same as Junior!)) and David Sappelt (who hit .299/.354/.496 in Billings) will likely anchor the lineup. First pitch is 7:00.

Now you may be asking, how do I follow these excellent minor league games? Glad you asked. All minor league games are available on GameDay throughout the season on the minor leagues website, as well as select games on MiLB.TV and MiLB GameDay Audio. You can sign up for the TV service to watch the Louisville game, and according to their site, the Carolina and Dayton games are available on the radio tonight. I was surprised to not see the Bats game on that list, but I'd imagine WKRD in Louisville will have it, along with the excellent Jim Kelch. Go Future Reds!

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That Sarasota lineup should be fun to watch

Once Yonder gets promoted to AA, the Mudcats’ lineup should be ridiculous.

I’m hoping all 4 guys you mentioned for the Bats get off to good starts. I’d love to see all of them get promoted at some point this year. You have to figure Homer, Gomes, and Rosales will definitely get callups. Hopefully Stubbs can get some time too before the year is out.

by nycredsfan on Apr 9, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Incidentally...

What’s with all of the day games today?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 9, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

as the offspring said

i gotta get away

Made from 100% recycled awesome,

by chandrathan on Apr 9, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure that was Lenny Kravitz...

Now the neighborhood’s cracked and torn…

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 9, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, so young

Sitting on the bed
and I’m lying wide awake
There’s demons in my head
And it’s more than I can take
I think I’m gonna roll
But I think it’s kinda weak
Saying all I know is
I gotta get away from me
gotta get away from me
gotta get away from me

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

oh yeah

i starting humming this one. almost?

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 10, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

How can one baseball manager

swallow so many wins?

by coocooforcocoapuffs on Apr 9, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I am especially rooting for Homer and Adam Rosales

These guys should be up now…but they’re not.

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 9, 2009 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

So the WKRD feed isn't available for the Louisville game

but you can find the Clippers feed on this site. The old format of MiLB GD Audio was much much much much better.

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

Bats game kicking off

Here’s the Bats lineup:

Hopper RF
Stubbs CF
Valaika SS
Barker 1B
Gomes LF
Rosales 3B
Dorn DH
Tatum C
Bolivar 2B

Great to see Dorn getting a start at DH.

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

Dorn is starting in AAA?

hell yeah

My millions are unconventional!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 10, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Sarasota out to an early lead

Here’s our S-Reds:

Kahaulelio 2B
Reed CF
Alonso 1B
Buchholz SS
Soto 3B
Mesoraco C
Phipps RF
Perales LF
Kainer DH

That 3-6 may be our best middle of the order in the entire system…

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

I can't wait until Alonso joins the reds, and the first ball is hit over his head

the announcer will have to say it was hit over yonder

Made from 100% recycled awesome,

by chandrathan on Apr 9, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

Nerrrrrrrrrd!

"Screw it. We've got bigger problems than a butter shortage."

by Ash on Apr 9, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

doooorrrrknooobbbb

Made from 100% recycled awesome,

by chandrathan on Apr 9, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Dammit. You win. :P

"Screw it. We've got bigger problems than a butter shortage."

by Ash on Apr 9, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Fairel with a good first inning

Dragons lineup today:

Sappelt CF
Rojas SS
Day DH
Sosa 1B
Wiley RF
Puckett 2B
Pfister 3B
Coddington C
Brown LF

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

That third baseman needs to be promoted to the big league club right now.

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 9, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Pfister?

I barely know her!

by coocooforcocoapuffs on Apr 9, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Homer just gave up a dinger to a guy named Michael Aubrey

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

This will surely mean more votes for Owings

in the featured poll!

"Screw it. We've got bigger problems than a butter shortage."

by Ash on Apr 9, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Bailey

has given up another homer and now has a 12.00 ERA. (At least it’s not 81, like Carl Pavano’s).

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Make that an ERA of 13.50

The line:

5.1 IP / 9 H / 9 R / 8 ER / 1 BB / 5 SO / 3 HR

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

At least it's not 52, like Hideki Okajima's

Or 27, like Kyle Farnsworth’s

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

More on Aubrey

Coincidentally, his first major league hit was a home run off Volquez last year.

by coocooforcocoapuffs on Apr 9, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

A little update

Rosales and Alonso already have home runs tonight
Alex Buchholz has 2 hits, 4 RBIs so far
Carolina’s lineup announced, and it’s sick

Heisey CF
Cozart SS
Francisco 3B
Frazier LF
Parker 1B
Henry RF
Denove C
Eymann 2B
Buck P

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

by BK on Apr 9, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

Eymann

It bodes well that your #8 hitter hit .299 at the same level the previous year (.317 after bad April). Well, it doesn’t bode well for him I guess.

by Matt McWax on Apr 9, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Final score

Clippers 12, Bats 4.

Robert Manuel is the proud owner of 20.25 ERA.

Bray gave up only 1 hit and no runs in 1.2 innings.

On the hitting side, Rosales went 2 for 4 with a homer. Luis Bolivar went 1 for 3 with a homer and a walk. Norris Hopper was 1 for 3 with a double – and two walks. Gomes was 1 for 4 with a double.

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

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

is our AA team better than our AAA team?

maybe not the pitching.

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Apr 9, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Some consolation?

Methinks the Clippers are gonna blow up alotta pitchers this season.

Matt LaPorta is a stud.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Pitching and defense

From Jim Massie with the Columbus Dispatch:

Most of the power display came at the expense of Bats starter Homer Bailey, who allowed three homers, nine runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Adam Rosales and Luis Bolivar each hit a solo home run for Louisville, the top farm team for the Cincinnati Reds.

Bailey committed a pair of throwing errors in the fifth inning that led to a four-run inning for the Clippers and broke open a close game. Valbuena capped off the rally with his two-run homer.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

Bailey needed more time in spring training

I was stunned how bad he looked from a readiness view. Most of the 2007-8 Bailey struggles dealt with mechanical issues, tonight he simply couldn’t hit his spots. His command and breaking stuff were fine, matter of fact, his last strikeout of LaPorta was sick.

I think this really explains why he didn’t get the last rotation bid even though he only had one option left.

by Johnnypronto on Apr 10, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

his command was fine

but he couldn’t hit his spots?

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Apr 10, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I think this pronto guy might not know what he's talking about

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

by Slyde on Apr 10, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Methinks he needs to turn in his straw hat.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 10, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm willing to concede that he knows what he's talking about

if I see his ticket stub from last night’s game in Louisville, and he explains how a pitcher’s command is fine but he can’t hit his spots

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

by BK on Apr 10, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

so i did some very cursory research

and apparently command means your pitches do what you want them to do, like break, or in Hoss’s case fly straight as a dumb arrow tattoo, and command doesn’t have anything to do with where they end up.

I look forward to making many more comments intended to demean others intelligence that actually express my own ignorance. Season over/under 25.5.

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Apr 10, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

So that still doesn't make sense

because that would mean that Homer’s wasn’t hitting his spots, but since he had good command, he was intentionally not hitting his spots? Oookay.

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

by BK on Apr 10, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I am defending something I think is stupid

but look, command means the action on the pitches. Does the slider slide, does the sinker fall off, does the breaking ball break? Command is independent of where these things happen in relation to where they were intended to, which is control.

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Apr 10, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I get what you're saying

this is all a coincidence and irrelevant anyway unless pronto was actually there

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

by BK on Apr 10, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Right. You can be in command of everything..

…but still have no control over any of it.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 10, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

Were you at the game?

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

by BK on Apr 10, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I was not at the game...I was at the lanes

Despite my heroic efforts (148,203,213) my team the Colostomy Comets were crushed tonight by the McFlurries – 4-o
Shown below with their alternate (Bartholomew – kneeling) the McFlurries should have been at 2nd Seder tonight but opted to forgo centuries of important historic and religious observation to beat the shit out of the Philistine Comets…

That’s John on the left (believe it or not he’s the token gay goy toy) while brothers Mike and Ken smirk at the camera.

enough…its time for another Jack and Coke…

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 10, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions

dont you have to work?

"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21

by obc2 on Apr 10, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Hell yes

I own and operate an Art consulting/ Artist reprensentation business, I am presently develpomg an Interior Design to the Trade program for a major cincinnai based retail outdoor furniture ompany, my friend mark and I are writing a screenplay for Duane Johnson’s people to look at and in my spare time I’m working on another project for film…a contemporary musical.

I was hoping to get start a sideline biz robbing banks..but haven’t been able to find a good solid wheel man..yet

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 10, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions