Farmers Only: Weekend Review

by BK on Aug 10, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Farmers only Comment 31 comments

Roster Moves: No new callups for Louisville, but Micah Owings and Chris Dickerson are there in the middle of rehab stints. In Carolina, Phillipe-Alexandre Valiquette and Scott Carroll are on the DL, and a new face joins the Mudcats in Greg Atencio, who last played for Omaha, the Royals AAA affiliate. Alexander Smit is off the DL in Sarasota, and Lance Janke joins the rotation out there. After a solid start for the GCL team, third baseman Henry Rodriguez skipped 2 levels up to Sarasota. Expect to see Daryl Thompson back soon as well, as he's rehabbing with the GCL team alongside Yonder Alonso, who was recently shut down for the time being. New faces down there include IF Mauricio Pimental, who comes from Billings, and the season debut for pitcher Luis Machuca, who you may remember as one of those named to the WBC preliminary roster for the Panama team.
Louisville scored 5 runs in the 9th on Sunday to salvage a game in their series against Rochester over the weekend. They lost 3-0 on Friday, in a game where they only mustered up 6 hits. 2 of the hits were by Daniel Dorn, and Chris Dickerson and Drew Stubbs each had a hit. Ben Jukich started the game and gave up 3 unearned runs in 5 innings, and it's worth noting that Jared Burton had a perfect inning of relief. They lost Saturday too, a 3-2 loss in a game that Matt Klinker had a good start in, but ended up getting the loss. Klinker gave up 1 earned run in 5 1/3 innings and struck out 5, and Enerio Del Rosario and Ramon Ramirez were perfect in their 1 2/3 and 1 innings of relief. Stubbs and Chris Denove both knocked in runs. In Sunday's 7-2 win, Chris Heisey was 2-for-5 with a HR, Wes Bankston knocked in 2 runs, and Dorn had 2 hits. Sam Lecure had a good outing, going 6 2/3 innings of 2 runs ball. Pedro Viola gave up a hit and a walk in his relief inning, and Burton and Logan Ondrusek were perfect in theirs, with Burton getting the win. Up next: Micah Owings takes a rehab start against Lehigh Valley at 7:05.
After a drubbing on Friday night, Carolina bounced back to win their other two games on the weekend against West Tenn. They lost on Friday night 20-9. Zach Ward, Chris Kelly, and Jerry Gil all gave up 6 runs in less than 2 innings each. Thankfully, these are probably the three worst pitchers on the staff right now. Juan Francisco and Stephen Chapman had three hits in the game, and Logan Parker homered. On a brighter note, they won Saturday night 7-3. Tom Cochran had another start where he gave up less than 3 runs (his 6th in a row), and Joe "The Cycle" Krebs pitched 3 one-hit innings for the save. El Nino Destructor had two more hits, and Chapman had two hits and drove in 3 runs. Jason Bour also had a nice game, going 3-for-5. The Mudcats put up 3 in the 9th to overtake West Tenn 6-4 on Sunday. Jose Castro went 3-for-4 and Todd Frazier hit his 13th HR of the season, a 3-run shot in the 9th to take the lead for good. Camilo Vazquez gave up 4 runs in 5 innings in his start, and Ruben Medina, Greg Atencio, and Sean Watson combining for 4 no-hit innings of relief. Up next: Jeremy Horst takes on West Tenn at 8:05.
Sarasota lost all three of their games over the weekend. On Friday, they lost 3-1 in 10 innings to St. Lucie. Lance Janke made his High-A debut, and pitched 6 innings of scoreless 3-hit ball, striking out 5 and walking nobody. Pedro Villarreal pitched 4 innings after that, and gave up the last 2 runs in the 10th inning. Dave Sappelt was 3-for-5. In Saturday's game, the S-Reds tied it up with 3 runs in the 9th before losing the game in the 13th 8-7. Curtis Partch started, and gave up 4 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Mark Pawelek pitched 3 strong innings in relief. Neftali Soto led the way for the offense, going 2-for-6 with a HR and 5 RBI. Sappelt had three more hits in this one, and Justin Reed had two. Matt Fairel had some trouble early, and it was too much to overcome as the S-Reds lost to Fort Myers 6-1 on Sunday. Jason Louwsma drove in the only run, and Josh Beal pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief. Up next: Alexander Smit takes his first start off the DL against Fort Myers at 7.
Dayton swept Lansing in all three of their games over the weekend, a 3-2 win Friday, a 18-5 pounding on Saturday, and a 10-9 victory on Sunday. Carlos Mendez was 3-for-4 on Sunday, and Mark Serrano pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his start. Donnie Joseph struck out 5 in two scoreless innings for the save. The offense was alive on Saturday, as evidenced by some of these lines. Kevyn Feiner was 5-for-6 with 4 doubles and 6 RBI. Cody Puckett was 4-for-6 with 2 doubles and a RBI. Enrique Rojas and Kevin Coddington each drove in 4 runs. Alexis Oliveras and Josh Fellhauer each had 3 hits, with the latter hitting his 6th HR of the season. The pitching could have been terrible, but it was actually pretty decent. J.C. Sulbaran gave up 2 runs in 5 innings, and Michael Konstanty ended up pitching an inning in the blowout win. Sunday's game was much closer, as Shea Snowden gave up a lot of runs early, but ended up scoring 7 in the 3rd to keep in the game. Humberto Sosa and Tony Brown homered for the Dragons, with Brown's being a grand slam. Up next: Ezequiel Infante takes on Lansing at 7:05.
Billings was rained out on Friday, and played a doubleheader on Saturday, with the second game getting rained out. So while Sarasota played 32 innings over the weekend, Billings only played 7, winning the game 2-1. Luca Panerati pitched the whole thing, giving up 1 unearned run in 7 innings, striking out 5 and walking none. Unquestionably his best outing of the season. Up next: Blair Carson takes on Idaho Falls at 9:05.
The GCL Reds played 2 full games and 2 doubleheader games over the weekend. On Friday, they beat the GCL Orioles 5-4 in 10 innings. Mitchell Clarke had the best outing for the pitching staff, pitching 3 scoreless innings. Jefry Sierra went 4-for-6 and Derrick Lowery had three hits for the G-Reds. They split a doubleheader with the GCL Red Sox, losing 5-4 in the first game and winning the second game 2-0. Billy Hamilton had two hits in the first game, and Harold Johnson gave up 1 run in 7 innings of work with 7 strikeouts. Luis Machuca pitched 6 shutout innings in the second game of the day, striking out 6 in his 2009 debut. Raul Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning to get the save. They lost to the GCL Twins on Sunday 5-4. Daniel Tuttle pitched 4 innings of 1-run ball and Trey Manz was 3-for-4 with a HR. Up next: The G-Reds are off.

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Will you stop it with the vegetables

by Man Mountain on Aug 10, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

BK - Great Post, thanks

When do you see Frazier moving up to AAA ?
When does the minor league season close out?
Finally who do you see getting called up to the Reds in September?

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

by Madville on Aug 10, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm starting to think they're not going to promote either Frazier or Cozart this year

and therefore neither are in the teams plans for the beginning of next year. I’m not sure what else they expect Frazier to do to earn a promotion.

This is frustrating. I’d like to see both get 100 PAs in AAA this year, then get a legitimate shot in ST next year. As it is, it looks like we’ll be stuck with AGon again or an expensive FA for shortstop.

Then, when either/both of these guys are doing well in AAA next year, they’ll be stuck there because we’ve signed crappy FAs to expensive contracts to suck for us and we won’t bench them in favor of a young prospect.

Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry

by nycredsfan on Aug 10, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frazier is Manchild..he should be at L-Ville last week.

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

by Madville on Aug 10, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this site is going to look like Fay's blog after the Keppinger trade once the reds announce they are picking up Gonzalez's option

Full disclosure: I will be cursing as loudly and crazily as anyone else…..okay, not AS loud. But, still, I won’t like it

by timb116 on Aug 10, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

1. 2010, as much as I disagree with it.
2. First week of September.
3. Viola and Stubbs are the only ones who I think will definitely get the call. Jukich, Valaika, Heisey, and McDonald are also possiblities, but they’ll likely be in the playoffs so who knows when they’ll get the call.

"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 Aug 10, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is not the answer I wantedc to hear Beek.

By 2011 who knows how far the organization will have deteriorated 9or hopefully reinvented itself)..On the ooher hand it is foolish to rush prospects.

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

by Madville on Aug 10, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did I hear a "9-or" in there?

I agree about the rushing prospects. I’d rather let them ripen a while until they’ve shown they can make adjustments at some level, even though it’s at a minor league level.

by Brian B on Aug 10, 2009 2:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

one problem is that none of the of the big prospects are on the 40-man

outside of Yonder. There is gonna have to be some rosterization going on to make room if any of those guys come up.

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

by Slyde on Aug 10, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heisey and Stubbs

have to be added to the 40-man before the rule 5 draft this year, don’t they?

So it wouldn’t be too big a deal to make room for them. It’s just a matter of doing it in now or doing it in November.

I think Frazier and Viola still have another year to go, so they could be out of luck this year. Though Viola is not young – 26. The Reds might want to see what they have in him now.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 10, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the difference is that they're not releasing somebody they still have to pay to make room in November.

I know it doesn’t matter. You know it doesn’t matter. Gray definitely knows it doesn’t matter. I doubt the Reds do though.

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

by Slyde on Aug 10, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think they need to release anyone

Correct me if I’m wrong here but they can just transfer some guys that are out for the season from the 15 day to the 60 day DL. Bill Bray, Mike Lincoln, Daryl Thompson, Edinson Volquez, and Danny Richar are all out for the season as far as I know, and are still on the 40 man roster (Lincoln, Volquez, and Richar are on the Major League 15-day, Bray and Thompson are on the minor league DL). I’m going by the 40 man roster info from Reds.com

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point, I always forget that the Reds haven't put those guys on the 60-day DL

Bray and Thompson can’t be put on the 60-day DL because that is only limited for players on the Major League disabled list.

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

by Slyde on Aug 10, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, I see

I thought anyone already on the 40 man could be placed on the 60-day. I also read on Scout.com that a team can only use the 60-day DL when they are at the maximum 40 players (I am not positive if this is true or not).

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and i remember hearing somewhere that there are only a certain number of players

you can stash on the 60-day. but i might have just picked that up from All-Star Baseball on my N64.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 10, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there used to be (not positive)

But as far as I know, there is no limit any more.

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, when those players are healthy again, they need to return to the 40, thus meaning you have the same problem in reverse

i.e., placing a formerly injured guy back on a 40 man containing guys you would not to expose to waivers

At least, unless I am missing something fundamental

by timb116 on Aug 10, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To clear some 40-man spots when those players are healthy

Since those players won’t be healthy till the off-season (or late 2010 possibly 2011 in Volquez’s case). They can decline Agon’s option (I’m praying they do), DFA Kip Wells and Danny Richar, and maybe even get rid of Laynce Nix (by whatever means).

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point. By losing players whose contracts expire they can bring back the other guys!

Thanks, Masochist

by timb116 on Aug 10, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think Nix is next on the chopping block when Bruce comes off the DL in a few weeks

he’s just a replacement player and is currently the worst OF we have on the roster (besides the obvious, of course). and he’s left-handed just like Bruce, so it only makes sense!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 10, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or when Dickerson comes back

that will probably happen sooner.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Aug 10, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I think Nix isn't long for the big leagues

He is a good defender in left and has decent to good power, but the league has pretty much figured him out at this point. He just doesn’t seem to have the plate discipline to adjust.

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Richar and Volquez won't be back until next year

So putting them on the 60-day makes sense. There’s no telling what the roster is going to look like then, and they’re taking up much needed space on the 40-man right now. Alex Gonzalez’s name won’t be on that roster, and neither will Nix and Gomes (unless they’re resigned). Same with Kip Wells and Justin Lehr. Then, if you dump some salary, you’ll get more spots, and they need to figure out something to do with Thompson and Ramon Ramirez. Same with Mike Lincoln.

I’m counting at least 7 spots on the 40-man that will be freed up in the offseason (or before), with the possibility of more depending on what the Reds depend to do with a few of those players. There’s no sense in being worried about needing room on the 40-man.

"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 Aug 10, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gomes is arb-eligible

so he’s theirs if they want him.

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

by Slyde on Aug 10, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but Volquez on the 60-man

would increase his MLB playing time, making him that much closer to arbitration, correct?

I’m still a bit confused on this, but that’s the way I see it. I figure he’s worth keeping on the 15-day for a year to have him cheaply for a year after that. I also feel like this has been discussed before.

by Cy Schourek on Aug 10, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

either way, he'll accrue service time

there is no way around it since he was on the big league roster when he went on the DL.

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

by Slyde on Aug 10, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Injured players

What baseball needs is some kind of “injured reserve” list where you can list a player if he is injured and call somebody up to replace him on the 25-man roster while he is hurt. That way your team is not saddled with having only a few bench players available. Of course, there would have to be a set minimum number of days that you have to keep the guy on the list before bringing him back.

The Reds would really benefit from this “injury list.”

Love,
Walt.

by Brian B on Aug 10, 2009 7:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I see Lincoln returning

I doubt anyone else will want a guy making $2.5 million with his injury history coming off a cervical disc replacement surgery. As for Thompson I think his future is in relief. Thompson will probably end up a short reliever due to his health (if he is able to return to form after this latest injury). If not, the Reds will likely cut him loose.

"Even if he is average, I’d still take him over Willyevergetonbase Taveras." - Randy in Chatt on redsminorleagues.com

by RedsMasochist on Aug 10, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that doesn't really save them any money, though

Players on the DL are still paid as major leaguers. If it’s the money the Reds are worried about, putting people in the DL is the last thing they want to do. That just increases the number of players they have to pay big league bucks to.

That sounds ridiculously cheap by MLB standards, but paying those extra salaries is a consideration when it comes to September callups, especially for small market teams.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 10, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

do you think Selig-esque contraction

is going to happen due to the economy?

by Cy Schourek on Aug 10, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno

Could be. Arena Football just contracted themselves out of existence.

But I think there’s a lot of factors that are pushing towards “localization.” Local attractions seem to be doing fairly well, as people stay home or take short trips rather than traveling long distances. Baseball could be part of that, though they’d probably have to lower prices.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 10, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs