Farmers Only: Could Zach Stewart be positioning himself for a September callup?

by BK on Jul 22, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Farmers only

Stewart

Louisville won 5-2 over Buffalo behind a solid pitching performance by Matt Maloney. Maloney went 7 innings and gave up 2 runs and 2 hits while striking out 6. Zach Stewart pitched two scoreless innings in relief to get the save. That's 9 2/3 innings in Louisville so far without giving up an earned run, and he hasn't given one up since June 24th, when he was a Mudcat. In his 89 total innings (split between 3 levels), his ERA is a stellar 1.62. Wes Bankston was 4-for-4 to lead the offense, and Darnell McDonald hit his 7th HR of the season. As for the other big time prospects, Chris Heisey had a double to go 1-for-4 and Drew Stubbs and Alex Gonzalez on rehab were held hitless. Up next: Louisville takes on Buffalo again at 7:05 wiith Ramon Ramirez taking the hill.
Carolina won on a late-inning rally in Huntsville, 4-3. Stephen Chapman and Todd Frazier both went deep for the Mudcats, and Sean Henry had two hits in the leadoff spot. Lee Tabor wasn't bad, giving up 2 runs in 5 innings, but Sean Watson, Logan Ondrusek, and Phil-Alex Valiquette combined to give up 1 hit in relief to seal the win. Up next: The Mudcats take on Huntsville at 8, with Matt Klinker set to go (probably).

Mr. BubbaFan?

Sarasota lost 4-1 to Clearwater. Dave Sappelt and Neftali Soto had two hits each, and Chris Kelly pitched 2 shutout innings in relief, but that was about all that happened. Up next: Sarasota takes on Dunedin at 7. Luis Montano is likely to get the start.
Dayton was off. J.C. Sulbaran takes on Wisconsin at 8:05.
Billings beat Ogden 7-6 led by a 3-run HR by Thomas Nurre. Shea Snowden had some trouble in his start, but the bullpen shut Ogden down. Up next: The Mustangs are off today.
The GCL Reds were off too. They'll take on the GCL Rays today at noon.

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blah...

keep tearing it up, Hi-Z.

Bankston could be a “big-time” prospect if he didn’t suck so much defensively.

Wooooo Frazier! I wish Juan Francisco batted RH.

by GrooveLeg on Jul 22, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Bankston would be a big-time prospect if he wasn't already 25 and in his 4th year of AAA

"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 Jul 22, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Remember the Dayton Dragons "basebrawl"?

Julio Castillo, the Cubs minor league pitcher who threw a ball into the stands and beaned a fan, is now standing trial.

DAYTON, Ohio — Cubs minor-league pitcher Julio Castillo, accused of throwing a baseball that struck and injured a fan in the stands during a brawl, had been angry and decided to hurt someone, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

In opening statements during Castillo’s trial, assistant Montgomery County prosecutor Jon Marshall said the evidence will show that Castillo, 22, of the Dominican Republic, committed felonious assault.

“He decided he was going to hurt someone, anyone,” Marshall said. “He had in his hand a hard dense object, a baseball. He decided to hurl that baseball, that object, with great force.”

Castillo, who was pitching for the Peoria Chiefs, is accused of throwing a baseball into the stands during a 10-minute, bench-clearing brawl last July when the Chiefs played the Dayton Dragons.

Also, the McPaper has a story about the Reds today. Partly, anyway.

Save our season: Can three disappointing 2009 teams recover?

With more than 10 weeks remaining in the season, it’s not too late for some disappointing clubs to turn things around. We look at what has prevented the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds from performing to their potential and whether they have the wherewithal to overcome the hurdles ahead.

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

by BubbaFan on Jul 22, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

I went to high school with Jon Marshall

We were on the baseball team together.

by Brendanukkah on Jul 22, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I heard yesterday on the radio that David Bell,

the Carolina manager, had indicated the organization wanted to see if Frazier could work at second base some. This excites me. In my estimation, it mean Walt is seriously considering moving BP to SS and finding a second baseman. Secondly, there are a couple of guys who are close to the bigs and could do that job better than either playing SS.

Kudos to Stewart. Baseball Prospectus noted he was the type of college closer who should move quickly into a set-up in the majors.

It’s too bad the major league club has had the last two nights off…I mean, I keep turning into games, but I don’t see the Reds playing. I assume that’s some college team the Dodgers are playing?

by timb116 on Jul 22, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, Tim, excited about prospects!?!?!

I agree, by the way. Frazier’s defense would probably play fine there, and if he played up to his potential he could be one of the elite offensive 2B in the league, and BPs offensive shortcomings stop mattering completely if he’s a good defensive shortstop.

Can you imagine having 2 middle infielders who could both field their position and OPS around .800?

That’d be crazy if Stewart did make it to the big club in September. That’d mean he went from high-A to MLB in one season…….impressive.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jul 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd be fine with Frazier getting some time at 2B

And if you don’t consider the ridiculous season Travis Wood is having, Stewart is having one of the best seasons in the Reds system. I think as long as they keep his innings down in Louisville, he’d be a huge asset for the big league club. I’d understand if they didn’t want to rush him, but if he keeps pitching the way he has been, his case would be a hard one to ignore.

"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 Jul 22, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I've never seen him pitch, but the book was that he would ceiling out as an MLB set-up man

For me, that’s cool. I happen think closers are over-rated and over-paid and having a bunch of good arms in the pen makes a better plan than dropping all your money on Frankie Rodriguez or Francisco Cordero.

by timb116 on Jul 22, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm more excited over moving Brandon to short, because I think finding a second baseman

is easier than finding an SS.

by timb116 on Jul 22, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

BP will prolly never play SS in the majors

Sigh

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Jul 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

wasn't BP

originally an SS anyway?

by chazzilla on Jul 22, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Yep.

He moved over when he was with the Indians organization because they had Omar Vizquel blocking him.

"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 Jul 22, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Has there ever been official word on why BP never moved back to SS?

Is he like John Bell Hood, and just couldn’t go to the right?

by Cy Schourek on Jul 22, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Hal claims he wants to, but Dusty always says "why should you

move a Gold Glove 2nd baseman to short. Then you just need a 2nd baseman."

I concur with Dusty, except his reasoning is right, but his conclusion is wrong. 2nd basemen are easier to find.

At any rate, it would have to be done in the off-season to give Brandon time to adjust.

by timb116 on Jul 22, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Bankston question

has he ever had a stint with the Reds? Or is he going to be stuck in AAA for a long time?

by Red_Poodle on Jul 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Nope

This is his first season with Cincinnati. He got some time in the bigs last year with Oakland, but I wouldn’t call him a prospect.

"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 Jul 22, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions