Farmers Only: That's All, Folks!

by BK on Sep 8, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Farmers only

Labor Day means that most of the minor league teams are done for the year, with one still going on and one team in the playoffs. Let's go over some highlights of the long weekend, and see what's ahead.

Louisville closed out their season by winning 3 of thelr last 4. Highlights included a combined 7-hit game from Todd Frazier and Juan Francisco, a 5-inning shutout relief outing by Lee Tabor, a 9 strikeout start by Ben Jukich, 3-hit games by Jay Bruce and Ryan Hanigan, 7 shutout innings by Sam Lecure, and another 2-hit game by Jay Bruce. Bruce was 5-for-18 and Hanigan was 7-for-18 on their rehab stints. Up next: Obviously the big news is that the Bats are the sole team in the Reds organization to make their playoffs this year. They'll take on the Durham Bulls (TB) in a 5-game series, starting Wednesday in Durham. They'll play at least one game in Louisville on Friday night, so if you're so inclined, come on down and see a playoff game. Slyde and I will be there, so come say hello.
Carolina also won 3 of their final 4, but finished 11 games back in their division at 28-42 in the second half. Some highlights of their weekend: 2 hits and a homer by Yonder Alonso, a 3-for-3 game from Alonso, and 7 shutout innings by Jerry Gil (!). Yonder has been hitting .412 over his last 10 games, and is rumored to be joining Louisville for their playoff run.
Sarasota finished dead last in their division at 26-43 in the second half, but won 2 of their final 3 games. Lance Janke had a 1-run, 7 inning outing, Carlos Fisher had a perfect inning of work, Neftali Soto had a 2-hit game, Denis Phipps had a 3-hit game with a HR, Curtis Partch pitched 7 shutout innings, Jordan Wideman had a 3-hit game, and Matt Fairel finished his season with 8 shutout innings.
Dayton lost 3 of their last 4 to finish out their year. Highlights include another good start by Chase Ware, a homer by Josh Fellhauer, and a 3-hit night by Carlos Mendez. The Dragons finish out the second half at 31-38, 17.5 games out of first.
Billings will continue their season until the end of this week.

As this is the last Farmers Only column of the season, I'd like to thank all you people for putting up with me and reading. nycredsfan and I have a lot planned for the offseason, and we'll still continue to cover Louisville's playoff run (including live updates from Friday night's game) and finish up the Billings season. The minor league season really doesn't end. Next comes the Arizona Fall League!

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Comments

new content is always welcome on the home page

thanks for taking the time and making the effort to contribute positively to this here website, its much appreciated. there’s nothing like getting some baseball meat and potatoes first thing in the morning, especially after being up all night with a sick kiddo. only one reds minor league team made the playoffs? oy vay. then again, a large amount of the system’s minor league players are currently playing in GABP.

you sir, deserve a Gene-Roebair.

"Plain and simple, I wake up in the morning and piss excellence"

by obc2 on Sep 8, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions

seriously, thanks for everything, BK

At least there’s Travis Wood to look forward to next year.

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Sep 8, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks

And now let’s change the subject. . .

Anyone catch Joe Poz’s post last week about tv announcers who talk too much? Announcers were measured by number of word spoken during their first scoreless inning on a particular day, and then divided by the number of minutes (or something like that). Predictably, George Grande comes in third or fourth in the league in dudes who won’t shut the fuck up.

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/09/04/my-heroes-have-always-been-kuipers/

then scroll down in the comments to someone named “Fight” on Sept. 4 at 11:01 a.m. (and of course the mobile version of Poz’s site won’t let me copy and paste the comment. Fail.)

This douchebag claims that Reds fans are blessed to have such a great announcing team: Grande, The Creeper, Thom Brenneman, and The Cowboy.

This is the kind of bullshit that keeps Cincinnati from keeping up with the rest of the world.

by Brian B on Sep 8, 2009 9:40 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Here it is

(and I apologize if this has already been discussed. I haven’t been around much lately.)

Fight said:
Sep 4th @ 11:01 am
I may be in the minority, but I am a Reds’ fan who appreciates George Grande. Now that he is doing fewer games, it seems that I appreciate him even more. We are lucky to have such good announcers on TV (Grande, T. Brennaman, Chris "The Creeper" Welsh, and Jeff "The Cowboy" Brantley) and the radio (T. Brennaman, Cowboy, and Marty Brennaman). Perhaps it is because we are a bad team, but I love listening to all these guys.

by Brian B on Sep 8, 2009 9:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Oh.

I thought “the creeper” would be Jim Day.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 8, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

i thought it was a contraction for Marty "the Crypt Keeper" Brennaman

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 8, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Very nice work, BK

I know that I all too often give into temptation to not write a game recap, so to have these up every day is a great achievement. They may not always get the comments, but they always get the appreciation.

by Brendanukkah on Sep 8, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

If Louisville makes it to the finals

and the SWB Yanks do, too, I will be there when their series starts Sept. 17.

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 8, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

But who will you be cheering for?

by Brendanukkah on Sep 8, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I've wondered that...

are you more of a Yankees or Reds fan, BF?

You ever been to the South side of Milwaukee?

by chesirecat on Sep 8, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

She's a witch!

Burn her!

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Sep 8, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll let you know

when it happens!

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

by BubbaFan on Sep 8, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

helluva job BeeK

helluva job

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 8, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

oh, and good luck to you and 'credsfan for the offseason

im looking forward to it

by Charlie Scrabbles on Sep 8, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, I've got plenty of ideas to keep up as busy as possible

"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 Sep 8, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, I'm going Friday too!

Just in case you forgot.

by jsl413 on Sep 8, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

really?

give us a call and we’ll meet up! :)

She said, "You don't even buy me presents." Yeah I did. I bought you a box of chicken but I ate it on the way home.

by Slyde on Sep 8, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha, sorry I didn't mention you

I expect a full eyewitness report posted to Cincy Jungle. I know how they love their minor league baseball over there.

"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 Sep 8, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

They would probably have my head.

by jsl413 on Sep 8, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Alonso has been named the Southern League hitter of the week

hat tip: RLN

She said, "You don't even buy me presents." Yeah I did. I bought you a box of chicken but I ate it on the way home.

by Slyde on Sep 8, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

And rightly so.

He’s had a hell of a run to finish off his season. Has there been any confirmation about him coming to Louisville for the playoffs? I’d think that would be a huge get for them against Durham.

"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 Sep 8, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven't heard it from anyone but Doug Gray

Fay said it was a possible rumor, but Doug is the only one I’ve heard saying it was a definite, and that was last week.

She said, "You don't even buy me presents." Yeah I did. I bought you a box of chicken but I ate it on the way home.

by Slyde on Sep 8, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Another little FO aside.

Baseball America named their best and worst full-season teams of 2009. Our very own Louisville Bats were the 9th best minor league team this year, while the Sarasota Reds were the 5th worst.

"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 Sep 8, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions