Reds Tidbits (2008 season)

[crazybuckfan40]

I have been paying more attention to the affiliates this season to see who might be able to come up to the bigs and push some of the old tired Reds out of the roster and I've been impressed with a few guys so far. I know its early but some of these guys are really showing up and some are in areas of need.

C Alvin Colina: We picked him up last season off waivers from the Rockies and he's lit it up with us so far. He appears to be excellent behind the plate and thus far this season his offensive stat line has been great. His career hitting is only average but maybe he's getting that "new Reds syndrome" and finding his niche. Most impressively he's 7 for 9 with runners on base this season and 6 for 6 with RISP. Something we could definitely use on the big roster.

Don't know much about Colina, but honestly I don't mind a two man rotation between Ross and Bako when Ross comes back...Mesaraco is hopefully the catcher of the future, but he has at least 2 years and maybe 3 if he pans out...

P Homer Bailey: Everyone knows who he is and he appears to be getting his control down. Fewer walks, few ER's, <1.0 in WHiP. Should be a mid season addition for sure.

I still keep him down till midseason if everyone is throwing well...When Bailey comes up it needs to be because he is ready to never go back down...If we need a spot start or two or three, go with Belisle, Affeldt, Shearn, or Lehr...

P Justin Lehr: Where'd this guy come from? He' been near unhittable thus far this season. 0.60 ERA and <.50 WHiP in 15+ innings! Its AAA yes but those two games were against the Red Sox and Yankees clubs, not exactly without Major League talent. Justin has been around for a little while mostly pitching in relief with the Brewers and Mariners. Looks like the Reds think he's a better starter than reliever. All-Star last season in PCL and pitched lights out in the Mexican league this offseason. If he keeps this up he may be pushing for a call up sooner rather than later also.

Two games in...Lets wait and see if he can continue the success...He is not a hard thrower and right now we aren't starving for a starter, but if a spot start or two is needed he could be the man to get it...Remember Dumatrait started off real hot last year as well...Then only to actually get a chance and totally bomb...

OF Jay Bruce: He only needs to be called up and the rest will be history.

I say one more month...If he gets his power numbers up we are going to need him...

OF Drew Anderson: He's been killing the ball since the start of spring ball. He can run, plays excellent defense and thus far is producing at the plate. It will be hard for him to make the roster as long as Griffey is there and Bruce hasnt been called up yet. We just have too many outfielders for him to make the roster this season. Maybe next year or if injury or trade happens.

This is where you see cheap outfield depth that allows us to get rid of Freel...

P's Shearn, McBeth and Roenicke could also help us this season. Shearn is older but he has experience. Most of the guys on this list here are under 25-26 years old. The cupboard isnt bare, which is a real relief considering recent history. If the GM could package the right people and make some quality moves we could be in definite business.

McBeth has good stuff IMO...and Roenicke has even better stuff...Roenicke is in AA for whatever reason...Hopefully he continues to put up good numbers...Bray will be the first call up and then if anyone else struggles we have these two that can come up...

I havent gotten a chance to look at many guys below the AAA level so if you guys have an eye on some up and comers mention them here so I can check them out too.

Guys to watch out for in AA, A+, A are Daryl Thompson, no runs in two starts and 13 k's to go along with 1 BB...In about 12 innings I think...He also had a good spring while with the big club...

Danny Dorn - not a great start but one to watch in the OF at AA...

Drew Stubbs - He is finally coming around with the bat, every time he gets on first he is swiping second...if the doubles come around I think he will make some noise to start up here next season or a mid season call up next season...

Francisco 3B - he has great power, but a hole in his swing and no plate discipline...Still a couple years away...

Todd Frazier SS - If he can play SS at the major league level he is the SS of the future...Has 25-30 HR potential and is lighting it up in Dayton right now...Great eye at the plate too...

Brandon Waring 3B - Great power potential, but no plate discipline...

There are some others to watch as well, but these are the top level guys...

Check out Redszone minor league threads, they have lots of great info there, and also redsminorleagues.com...

Billings and the GCL should be interesting as well when they start up with 4 guys that are top guys in the system in Mesarasco, #1 pick this year, Lotzkar, and Soto...

 

[gefootball10]

todd frazier sounds pretty intruiging, i am thinking about going to see him in person. is there anyone you would compare him to in the mlb now buckfan? for instance is he a keppinger type player?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

todd frazier sounds pretty intruiging, i am thinking about going to see him in person. is there anyone you would compare him to in the mlb now buckfan? for instance is he a keppinger type player?

I really don't know...I haven't actually seen him live...So I am not sure on his arm and range at SS, but I think he has more power potential at the plate than Keppinger and think he is an everyday guy once he gets up here and into his prime...Has very good plate discipline to go along with his power potential as well...I think the main question is if he has enough range to stay at SS...Same question many might say about Kepp so in terms of D he might be like him...Could end up pretty much anywhere...Corner infield, corner outfield, SS, 2b...Has pretty good speed as well, as he swiped quite a few bases in college...

 

[jlb1705]

I honestly haven't kept up with Frazier much since shortly after he was drafted. It seems to me that at that time he was being projected as a 3B. The descriptions I see now make it sound a lot like he could become the player some of us have been hoping Edwin Encarnacion would be.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I honestly haven't kept up with Frazier much since shortly after he was drafted. It seems to me that at that time he was being projected as a 3B. The descriptions I see now make it sound a lot like he could become the player some of us have been hoping Edwin Encarnacion would be.

Very well could, and we also have Francisco who with a couple years could become a possibility at third as well...

 

[Bestbuck36]

Please God let those 3rd baseman keep improving. We need the help up here ASAFP!

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Please God let those 3rd baseman keep improving. We need the help up here ASAFP!

All the talk about developing 3B in the system is great, but I am still of the opinion that EE will be fine...

Yes he has struggled early, but his career numbers show that he always starts slow, so if this team can compete later in the season he will be a big help...

Dunn is hitting just as bad and no one is calling for a new left fielder...EE is still getting on base at a pretty good clip taking walks...

 

[billmac91]

All the talk about developing 3B in the system is great, but I am still of the opinion that EE will be fine...

Yes he has struggled early, but his career numbers show that he always starts slow, so if this team can compete later in the season he will be a big help...

Dunn is hitting just as bad and no one is calling for a new left fielder...EE is still getting on base at a pretty good clip taking walks...

Ya, as an outsider I don't get it....I think most MLB teams would love to have EE in their system. I understand the early frustration, but the guy is clearly, very talented.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Ya, as an outsider I don't get it....I think most MLB teams would love to have EE in their system. I understand the early frustration, but the guy is clearly, very talented.

I think it is the uninterested look he gives all the time, like he is not trying...

 

[scott91575]

Drew Stubbs - He is finally coming around with the bat, every time he gets on first he is swiping second...if the doubles come around I think he will make some noise to start up here next season or a mid season call up next season...

I had forgotten all about Stubbs. Never was a fan of that pick. Thought they should have grabbed Tim Lincecum. Of course, what do I know.

Hopefully in a year or two Stubbs is a starter, but I never really saw him as a future star in the bigs. Saw a lot of him in college, and he was hyped big time. Just never saw him as more than a solid player with possibly great D. Not really a 8th overall pick guy.

 

[scott91575]

All the talk about developing 3B in the system is great, but I am still of the opinion that EE will be fine...

Yes he has struggled early, but his career numbers show that he always starts slow, so if this team can compete later in the season he will be a big help...

Dunn is hitting just as bad and no one is calling for a new left fielder...EE is still getting on base at a pretty good clip taking walks...

That's because it's assumed Dunn is on his way out, and there is a guy waiting in the wings to take his spot. With EE, not so much.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I had forgotten all about Stubbs. Never was a fan of that pick. Thought they should have grabbed Tim Lincecum. Of course, what do I know.

Yeah that would of been great, but it is what it is...

Hopefully in a year or two Stubbs is a starter, but I never really saw him as a future star in the bigs. Saw a lot of him in college, and he was hyped big time. Just never saw him as more than a solid player with possibly great D. Not really a 8th overall pick guy.

I am probably one of Stubbs biggest fans...He has plus plus speed to roam CF...He takes lots of walks and since he is finally healhty this season and so far is producing good numbers...If he can put some solid power numbers together like 20 homers, he would be a great fit in CF for us with his right handed bat, great speed, defense...Not a leadoff guy tho even tho he can work the count and get on base, he seems to excel more in the 6spot...

In a couple years...

C - Mesaraso (this is the most riskiest at this point)
1B - Votto
2B - Phillips
SS - Frazier
3B - EE/Franciso
LF - Dunn (Do they resign him, or get someone for him?)
CF - Stubbs
RF - Bruce

Guys off the bench Dickerson, Rosales, Waring,

Pitching

Harang, Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, Thompson

Cordero, Roenicke, Bray, McBeth, Watson, Viola, Pelland

Obviously we will make some trades and it will not look much like this, but we have lots of depth in our system and lots of guys that look like they are going to pan out into something...Lots of pitching depth, and lots of infield dpeth...We lack in outfield depth tho after Bruce...Maybe some of the guys like Fransico will eventually get moved to the outfield if EE keep the 3b job...

 

[scott91575]

Yeah that would of been great, but it is what it is...



I am probably one of Stubbs biggest fans...He has plus plus speed to roam CF...He takes lots of walks and since he is finally healhty this season and so far is producing good numbers...If he can put some solid power numbers together like 20 homers, he would be a great fit in CF for us with his right handed bat, great speed, defense...Not a leadoff guy tho even tho he can work the count and get on base, he seems to excel more in the 6spot...

In a couple years...

C - Mesaraso (this is the most riskiest at this point)
1B - Votto
2B - Phillips
SS - Frazier
3B - EE/Franciso
LF - Dunn (Do they resign him, or get someone for him?)
CF - Stubbs
RF - Bruce

Guys off the bench Dickerson, Rosales, Waring,

Pitching

Harang, Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, Thompson

Cordero, Roenicke, Bray, McBeth, Watson, Viola, Pelland

Obviously we will make some trades and it will not look much like this, but we have lots of depth in our system and lots of guys that look like they are going to pan out into something...Lots of pitching depth, and lots of infield dpeth...We lack in outfield depth tho after Bruce...Maybe some of the guys like Fransico will eventually get moved to the outfield if EE keep the 3b job...

Sadly, a family member of mine was fired by the Reds because of the lack of minor league talent. Of course he put together much of that team you show. Now he works for the hated Yankees. Not sure I can forgive him for that.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Sadly, a family member of mine was fired by the Reds because of the lack of minor league talent. Of course he put together much of that team you show. Now he works for the hated Yankees. Not sure I can forgive him for that.

That is a ton of talent right there...If someone puts that talent together and gets fired then people doing the firing have problems...

 

[scott91575]

That is a ton of talent right there...If someone puts that talent together and gets fired then people doing the firing have problems...

Problem is there is not much patience in baseball. Not like he did it on his own, that is for sure.

Anyway, you can put the pieces together to figure out who it is.