Red Reposter - 6/10/09
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 10, 2009 11:40 AM EDT
in News
36 comments
- The Reds took Mike Leake with the 8th pick in the draft, and the reaction from the Reds blogosphere has been uniformly positive. Here is what Red Reporter's Resident Amateur Baseball Czar Thundering Turtle had to say about him: "He’s athletic and produces. A three-sport athlete in high school, Oakland drafted him in the seventh round in 2006. He’s a strike thrower with a fastball ranging from 88-92, having touched 94. He gets plenty of movement. Leake thros from a 3/4 arm slot, which gives him armside run and sink on his fastball. He gets a lot of ground balls. His change and slider are improving. His cut fastball is above average. leake is smart.His stats: 14-1 1.24 ERA. 15 G, 116 IP, 66 H, 128 K, 18 BB."
Jinaz at Basement Dwellers likes him too, being a recent ASU grad himself. But being the sourpuss that he is, he reminds us that 7 of 10 top draft picks end up working at car dealerships.
Reds scouting director Chris Buckley had this to say about him: "He’s a very polished college pitcher; throws four pitches. The numbers are just off the charts. He’s a very good baseball player. He’s one of their better position players. This guy hit the ground running in college. He’s a groundball pitcher. We’re thrilled to have him."
Doug at RML has a few videos of Leake.
Dave Cameron at FanGraphs had this to say: "I love Mike Leake. This pick breaks a lot of hearts. Leake’s a great command groundball guy who can pound the strike zone and knows how to pitch. The stuff isn’t as great as some of the other arms, but he’s a better pitcher than all of them. He’s got the kind of package that you look for in an innings eater, and this is a great selection for the Reds."
Tom at the Enquirer provides us with a link to Leake's prospect blog. -
Doug also gives us his take on the first day of the draft for the Reds. They took RHP Brad Boxberger from USC in the supplemental round, high school SS Billy Hamilton in the 2nd, and LHP Donnie Jospeh from U of Houston in the 3rd round. Here's what Doug had to say: "Overall I think that I really like what the Reds have done so far. Leake came in ranked #7 on my overall draft board and while my #3 guy was sitting there, I don’t mind passing over him. Adding perhaps the best athlete in the draft (Hamilton) is never a problem for me even if he is raw and is not taken in the first round. We also have two live arms who may need a little time (Boxberger and Joseph) but have plenty of good going for them."
-
Now on to the Big Leagues:
I miss Adam Dunn. And he understands that. But he says we just need to let him go:
Dunn was asked about what Brandon Phillips said the other day about having a left fielder that could hit AND field and he replied with his usual easy humor: "Nice, real nice. I could probably think of something nasty or humorous to say. I'll ask him about it. No, I won't. That's Brandon. Brandon has to let me go. I'm not there any more. Let me go."
He also had some advice for the struggling Jay Bruce: "Jay's scuffling, huh? What's he doing? Swinging at everything? Worst thing you can do. You feel like you have to swing early in the count so you're not behind in the count." Told that Bruce was 2 for 33, Dunn laughed and said, "I'm about 3 for 38. But I feel good at the plate."
From the same article, Hal updates us on some injury news: Votto started working out in Cincinnati on Monday. When asked if Votto could be ready by Sunday, when he is eligible to return from the DL, Dusty Baker said: "It'll be two weeks Sunday? Seems longer (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY). He could do that, but I don't want to put that time frame on him. All I know he is doing better and working on coming back." Edwin Encarnacion suffered a setback in his rehab and will not be embarking on a rehab assignment just yet. I'm worried. -
In case you missed it
Alex Gonzalez now as a better batting average than Jay Bruce. Good thing batting average is a stupid stat, right? Right? -
Tom Verducci thinks the Reds have 1 of the 5 biggest problem positions for contending teams
Do you think he picks LF, CF, or 3B? How about all three? And what about SS? -
Willy Taveras had the #1 Web Gem on Tuesday
It totally makes up for those 3 strike outs and that caught stealing. -
Murray Chass has an interesting article on how teams manipulate player service time to avoid arbitration
It looks like it's happening more and more every year, with a bevy of top prospects getting the call in the last 2 weeks. The Reds did something similar with Jay Bruce in 2008. -
Todd Frazier has gone consecutive games without a hit just once this year
How do I know this? FanGraphs now has game logs for minor league players! As far as I know, this is the first time game logs have been available on the internet for minor leaguers. It's an outstanding development.
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Interesting note from 3/26/09; Leake vs. Boxberger
The Reds top 2 picks faced each other a few months ago, and here is what Bryan Smith had to say before the game:
Boxberger pitched against Cole last weekend, and was a mess, walking eight batters in 5 2/3 innings. He’s really beginning to remind me of Ryan Perry—stretched as a starter, but with the athleticism and durability that makes it hard to shunt him off to a career of relief pitching. Still, whether it’s in July or in two years, Boxberger’s command problems will take him to the bullpen, where I suspect he’ll be pretty good. Leake, on the other hand, is more of the starter-or-bust type, with solid stuff, and thriving when he’s repeating his delivery and hitting his spots. His 15 strikeouts last weekend is a sign of how far his secondary stuff has come, as well as a red flag about his usage: 33 batters faced is too many (we might not have access to a raw pitch count, but it would be a surprise if it was below 120). For as good as Leake has been of late, he’s been overworked, which doesn’t bode well for anyone in the end—his May performance with the Sun Devils, his draft stock, or his professional career. It’s time to scale it back, Coach Murphy.
by D-Rock on Jun 10, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is Leake starting in the first ASU CWS game?
They play UNC on Sunday at 1:00. It’ll be on ESPN.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on Jun 10, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
in the new draft thread
BK says Leake and Fleury will be playing in that game.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Jun 10, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
From what I've heard, Leake will be starting that game
I thought Grande or Welsh mentioned it when he was on the air last night, that they’d be watching him pitch on Sunday and he agreed.
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 10, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
can't help noticing
the contrast between Dunn’s departure from Cincinnati and McLouth’s departure from Pittsburgh.
Yeah, BP is a bit of a grump, but as I recall, Arroyo was trashing Dunn, too, shortly after he left. And Dunn acted like he’d just won the lottery when he was traded.
Meanwhile, McLouth’s teammates put up a shrine with photos and candles in the clubhouse, while McLouth clearly didn’t want to leave. He tearfully told his teammates to remember that the prospects they were getting for him would make the team better.
I guess it’s proof that team chemistry doesn’t equal winning…
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Jun 10, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
in the front office
no one was saddened by Dunn’s departure.
"We're going to Adonis, son"
jch24
by obc2 on Jun 10, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
why?
Did he have off the field issues?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Jun 10, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The word was
Junior and Dunn mocked “hard work”, creating an atmosphere that wasn’t conducive to winning. I didn’t buy this the first time I heard it but there have been way too many people I know that have said it for it to be total myth. Which is a shame, because I luuuuuurv Junior, always have. It’s where the 24 in my nick comes from.
"It seems as if every mistake I've ever made in life I've had an erection in one hand and a Bud Light in the other."
by jch24 on Jun 10, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
24 hour love machine...i didn't buy that the 1st I heard it but......
Sweat plus sacrifice equals another useless out. Mads
by Madville on Jun 10, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
interesting
And weird, since you figure both Dunn and Jr. must have worked very hard to achieve their success.
Maybe they’re the kind of people who work hard but don’t want anyone to know it. I knew a lot of people like that in college. They pretended like they never studied (because it made them seem smarter when they passed their classes). They would hide in the closet with their books so their roommates wouldn’t see them studying. Every once in awhile, they’d be found out because they fell off the top shelf or something.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not a hundred percent behind this
I think (especially in Jr.‘s case) the game just came natural to him. Did he work hard? Absolutely. But their was a whole lot of natural talent there as well. My guess is that Jr., in his youth, could fall out of bed and hit homers. He didn’t NEED to practice as much. The same is true for guys like Gretzky and Jordan. They all worked hard at their craft, but they also have an amazing skill set to begin with — so much of the game comes naturally to them they can’t relate to people who need to work a ton to maintain their ability.
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 11, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
*there
/idiot
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 11, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
say what you want about glaring holes
But did anyone else notice SI called the Reds a contender? it’s so nice to hear those words!
We have a CF – Chris Dickerson. But since it’s evident EE won’t be back for a long time, the Reds might as well go out and get a 3B. But who? The article suggests Mark DeRosa. Thoughts on this?
by Daedalus on Jun 10, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ramon Hernandez!
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on Jun 10, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm kind of happy with Cherry there
I don’t know what it is, but whenever he’s in the lineup, he seems to help the Reds win.
by Brendanukkah on Jun 10, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except, of course, for the last week and a half
He was sorta’ in the lineup for that 3-7 run through the NL Central elite.
The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!
by TheC on Jun 10, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In fact, the Reds are 22-24 in games where he makes an appearance, so... waitaminnit
Never mind. Let’s go get us a third baseman (Beltre!).
by Brendanukkah on Jun 10, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take Beltre right now, but the Reds really need a bat more than anything
His defense would solidify the one truly weak spot on the diamond, but I’d rather have someone I feel more confident in at the plate right now.
And I’m going to say it…the Reds should probably move past EdE now. Injuries like this are notoriously hard to come back from at full strength. I’m not sure what they should do with him, but they may not even want to consider him as the 3B of 2010 at this point. I know it’s a dramatic decision, but hand injuries always seem to linger.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on Jun 10, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But what's it going to take to get them
to give any prospect other than Rosales a chance at third?
I wonder if it can even happen this season.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on Jun 10, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it would be so much easier
if Frazier was ready right now. who knows if he is or not, i mean, there is a chance he could be. but it would be pretty dramatic for a team like the Reds, two games out of 1st, to bring up a kid from AA to be the savior of the season. 10 times out of 10 they would make a trade first. they cant just move past EdE. i dont know if they should or not, but they wont.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 10, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
for sheer amusement
I’d love for the Reds to trade Dylan Thompson for Brendan Harris. Or really anyone for Harris, who’s still solid and replacable enough for when the rest of the Reds youth grows up.
Other 3b on crappy teams include Aurilia (Har!…or is it…) and Kevin Kouzmanoff. I’ve always been a big fan of Kouz, who can also play LF. I think he could put up some numbers in Cincy, but his OBP is, um, tragicomic. He could probably be picked up for cheap, FWIW
I’m still want Beltre bad, I think that he’ll even out to his usual production as the year goes on, so I’d love for him to do that in a Reds uniform. But I think the time for that to happen was February.
by Cy Schourek on Jun 10, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aren't the Pads kind of trying to unload Kouzmanoff?
I feel like he could be a good “change of scenery” guy.
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 10, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait a second...
There’s nothing wrong with working at a car dealership.
Often wrong, never uncertain.
by sidnancy on Jun 10, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
there is if youve been paid a million bucks not to
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 10, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, at least they're not pumping gas
/Kiffin’d
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 10, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lineup, per Sheldon tweet:
m_sheldon: #reds lineup — Taveras out of leadoff spot: Hairston Jr. 5 Taveras 8 Phillips 4 Nix 7 Hernandez 3 Bruce 9 Gonzalez 6 Hanigan 2 Harang 1
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
by RedConn on Jun 10, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
umm
Taveras is punished for his abysmal play by being moved to the 2nd hole? i know im being prematurely alarmist here, but if Dusty Patterson’s this situation im gonna wig out.
and btw RedConn, i dig your new avatar. “gotta serve somebody” is one of my all-time faves.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 10, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, me too
And I figure the Reds, like the album, are a “Slow Train Coming”
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
by RedConn on Jun 10, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Time for me to sing
“I don’t have to apoloooooggiiiiiiizzzzzeee……”
"It seems as if every mistake I've ever made in life I've had an erection in one hand and a Bud Light in the other."
by jch24 on Jun 10, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Hanigan's been hitting as well as anybody on the team...
and he continues to bat 8th.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
by Gray on Jun 10, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's the catcher. Tradition.
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 10, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy Hell!
Hairston
Hernandez
Hanigan
Harang
This game brought to you by the letters “H” and “W.”
by Brendanukkah on Jun 10, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More Dunn-Phillips
SOME OF YOU may have noticed an exchange of words around second base in the sixth inning between Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips.
Dunn was on first when Washington’s Elijah Dukes grounded to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez near second. Gonzalez stepped on second and threw to first for a double play.
As second baseman Phillips ran off the field, past Dunn, he said (according to Dunn), "Why didn’t you slide and take out Gonzalez? You would have taken me out." Said Dunn, "I like Alex better than you. And you wouldn’t have been near the bag anyway."
Said Phillips, dodging the controversy (if you can call it that), "He wasn’t close enough to take out Alex. Hey, he (Dunn) loves us. He’s our homeboy." At the time Phillips was taking hitting instruction from batting coach Brook Jacaboy and Jacoby laughed and said, "That’s love. That’s brotherly love."
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on Jun 10, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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