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Reds Tidbits (2009 season)

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Dryden;1480716; said:
Yeah it did ... until Grande just interviewed him and asked (paraphrasing), "What major league pitcher do you pattern yourself after?" to which Leake replied, "Greg Maddux. Otherwise if I don't hit my spots I get hit alot."
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Oh fucking goody. So many guys running around out there with Maddux like control. The margin of error gets much smaller and the amount of damage they can do gets much larger as you move up kid.

I haven't ventured over to see the carnage at RZ but I wouldn't dismiss their opinions. They went nuts a couple of years ago because we took Drew Stubbs instead of some pitcher named Lincecum that they had been screaming for. How we lookin on that one?

As for Dunn and Marty, my feelings are well known. He's a bitter old bastard who's ego is completely out of control. Thankfully he's not getting any younger. He'll be gone soon enough.
 
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Jaxbuck;1480793; said:
Oh [censored]ing goody. So many guys running around out there with Maddux like control. The margin of error gets much smaller and the amount of damage they can do gets much larger as you move up kid.

I haven't ventured over to see the carnage at RZ but I wouldn't dismiss their opinions. They went nuts a couple of years ago because we took Drew Stubbs instead of some pitcher named Lincecum that they had been screaming for. How we lookin on that one?

As for Dunn and Marty, my feelings are well known. He's a bitter old bastard who's ego is completely out of control. Thankfully he's not getting any younger. He'll be gone soon enough.
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I sense much anger in this one.
 
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Jaxbuck;1480793; said:
Oh fucking goody. So many guys running around out there with Maddux like control. The margin of error gets much smaller and the amount of damage they can do gets much larger as you move up kid.

I haven't ventured over to see the carnage at RZ but I wouldn't dismiss their opinions. They went nuts a couple of years ago because we took Drew Stubbs instead of some pitcher named Lincecum that they had been screaming for. How we lookin on that one?

As for Dunn and Marty, my feelings are well known. He's a bitter old bastard who's ego is completely out of control. Thankfully he's not getting any younger. He'll be gone soon enough.
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Let the hate consume you!
 
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I was really excited when I heard the Reds were looking at loading up on LHP in the draft, before they took two RHP and an unsignable three-sport athlete committed to Ole Miss (football) in the first three rounds. :(
 
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Dryden;1480836; said:
I was really excited when I heard the Reds were looking at loading up on LHP in the draft, before they took two RHP and an unsignable three-sport athlete committed to Ole Miss (football) in the first three rounds. :(
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I bet he's fast.
 
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PS: The Brew Crew lost a game they led 2-0 when Todd Coffey came in in the 7th and promptly gave up three runs, two inherited by the starter.

It was bound to happen.

Thank you Secret Agent ... Man (Secret ... Agent Man!)
 
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Dryden;1480836; said:
I was really excited when I heard the Reds were looking at loading up on LHP in the draft, before they took two RHP and an unsignable three-sport athlete committed to Ole Miss (football) in the first three rounds. :(
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They took a left hander in rd 3.

I also misspoke on Hamilton. It's actually Mississippi St. I looked him up, and he was a 2 star recruit. From what I read football is not his best sport, and baseball is by far his best sport. I don't think he will be tough to sign. Per this report he is expected to sign and forego college....

http://www.fox40now.com/sports/47482127.html

Pretty crazy that 2nd rounders are now getting million dollar contracts. Unlikely he would pass that up to go to college.

edit: Here is the reason I got the school info wrong initially. I used this website in some searches for him.
http://www.baseballfactory.com/top100/?page=3

Hamilton is an exceptional talent with sub 6.5 speed in the 60-yard dash and the ability to use it on the base paths. In addition to a good glove, a strong arm and solid switch hitting ability, he has a good feel for the game. Signed to play football at Mississippi.
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edit2: quick video on Hamilton

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4330555&c_id=mlb

and write up....

Hitting ability:Hamilton has bat speed and strength, but has a very crude approach. There are holes in his swing that will need to be closed as he has trouble with pitches away and off-speed stuff. Power:It's raw, maybe future average. For a shortstop, it's pretty good. He doesn't show much power now because of the mechanical flaws in his swing. Running speed:He's above average, a real easy runner who makes it look effortless. Base running:Hard to judge, but moves up bases when he gets the chance. He'll likely have to learn to read pitches to become a basestealing threat in the future. Arm strength:It's above average, though he doesn't show it much. Fielding:There are some who feel he's destined for the outfield, others who think he might be able to stay at short, even though he doesn't always seem natural there. Range:His athleticism makes it pretty good. He's a better fielder on the move. Physical Description:Hamilton is a very athletic middle infielder; a three-sport standout who resembles a young Tony Fernandez. Medical Update:Healthy. Strengths:Athleticism off the charts. All the potential tools are there, if a bit raw. Weaknesses:Crude offensive approach makes some worry about his ability to hit at the next level. Hasn't been exposed to too much top-flight opposition. Summary:Hamilton is the quintessential high-risk, high-reward athlete at this level who is sure to interest many in June. A three-sport star in Mississippi, he's got all sorts of tools, though his hitting approach is a bit crude and he's got some holes in his swing. But the bat speed, strength and running speed would make any scout at least intrigued, especially if you think he can stay at shortstop. Someone will take a chance on that -- and that they can sign him away from his football commitment to Mississippi State on Draft day.
 
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More on Leake and a few quick blurbs on the other picks....

Arizona State righty is Reds' top pick | MLB.com: News

CINCINNATI -- One way or another, pitcher Mike Leake was standing tall on Tuesday night.
Leake was the eighth overall selection by the Reds in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University. The school lists him as six feet tall and 180 pounds. The right-hander said that was a little generous.
"You want the honest truth or the sugar coating?" Leake said. "I'm about five-ten and a half."
No matter his height, the numbers that Leake posted this season for ASU were quite lofty.
A 21-year-old junior starting pitcher who also played the outfield, Leake is 16-1 with a 1.36 ERA in 17 games, including 16 starts, for the Sun Devils. In 132 2/3 innings, he had 21 walks and 150 strikeouts. His 40 career wins in three seasons are tied for the most in school history.
"Those numbers to aluminum bats are pretty scary," Reds senior director of scouting Chris Buckley said. "We're thrilled to have him."
Arizona State is currently participating in the College World Series. Leake hasn't learned when he will pitch next.
Leake is considered a ground-ball pitcher who allowed just two homers in 2009, which should be to his benefit at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. He uses a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. According to Buckley, Leake's fastball runs 88-93 mph and can touch 94 mph.
"It's his command and how polished he is," Buckley said of what the Reds liked about Leake. "He throws four pitches for strikes. He can throw them at any time. He's an outstanding fielder. He has an outstanding pickoff move. He has all the intangibles that good pitchers have."
"When I'm getting ground balls, I know I'm doing well," said Leake, a native of Fallbrook, Calif. "That's all I can really do -- work down in the zone and try to get ground balls to the infield. I like to work in and break bats. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but it will be fun to throw some wood in the fire, hopefully."
Leake, originally a 2006 seventh-round pick of the A's who chose to play college ball instead, is one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. He is the first pitcher the Reds have taken with their first-round pick since Homer Bailey in 2004.
Because Arizona State is still competing, the Reds will not be able to open contract negotiations with Leake until his season is finished. There is an Aug. 17 deadline for clubs to sign drafted players, and anyone not signed can be selected in the 2010 Draft.
Leake will be represented by agent Danny Horwits, who also handles Reds relievers David Weathers and Arthur Rhodes and Cincinnati's second pick, pitcher Brad Boxberger from USC. Leake wasn't looking to drag out talks and appeared eager to sign.
"I will be ready to do it once our season is over," Leake said. "The sooner we can get it done, the better. We can build a better relationship that way instead of going back and forth at each other with different negotiations."
Last year, with the seventh overall pick, the Reds took first baseman Yonder Alonso from the University of Miami. Alonso, signed to a five-year, $4.55 million Major League contract minutes before the deadline expired, is currently with Double-A Carolina after starting the year at Class A Sarasota.
As for where Leake might start in the Reds' system, Buckley was non-committal. The pitcher's innings count indicates that there was no rush to move him up quickly this year.
"This is a guy that's 16-1, so he's pitched a fair amount of baseball this year," Buckley said. "You don't want to rush him or put him in a situation where he could get hurt."
"I will be able to pitch," Leake said. "I think I'm in pretty good shape. I don't think I'm worn down too much. I think I can still do what they want me to do for this summer."
Nine of the opening 12 first-round picks were pitchers and with the top end of the Draft considered pitching rich, the Reds were expected to take an arm. Buckley wasn't surprised that Leake was still around when the No. 8 pick was up.
"If he were 6-foot-2, he would have for sure gone before us," Buckley said. "[Red Sox second baseman Dustin] Pedroia is 5-foot-8. Sometimes they come in smaller packages."
Fittingly, Leake said that the pitcher he most identified with and emulated was future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who is also listed as six feet tall. Giants ace Tim Lincecum stands at 5-foot-11 and is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner.
"It's always been a thing that's haunted me," Leake said of his height. "I don't let it get to me that much. I know all you have to do is show what you're capable of, and it will pay off in the end."
Other Reds picks from Day 1:
Compensation round, 43rd overall, RHP Brad Boxberger: A starting pitching prospect, Boxberger was 11-12 with a 3.81 ERA in 46 games (37 starts) over three seasons at Southern California. This season in 14 starts, he was 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA, 50 walks and 99 strikeouts. Scouting reports track Boxberger's fastball at 91-93 mph and topping out at 94 mph. He is also listed at six feet tall.
Round 2, 57th overall, SS Billy Hamilton: Taken out of Taylorsville High School in Mississippi, Hamilton has an offer to play football for Mississippi State. According to the MLB.com Draft Tracker report, Hamilton's hitting approach "is a bit crude," but his bat speed, strength and running speed were praised.
Round 3, 88th overall, LHP Donnie Joseph: A lefty reliever from the University of Houston, Joseph was 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 50 innings over 31 appearances. He had 11 saves.
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The pitcher sounds better in that write up. I like that he understands the whole "groundball's are good" concept.

The SS has a mile long scouting report that basically boils down to the fact they like him because he's fast, even though he can't really hit. Shocking. The Dusty wants first base unclogged at all times one way or the other. Pure genius.

I wouldn't be scared of all glove no hit SS's or CF's if we didn't have a manager that thought "Thy SS/CF must leadoff" was one of the 10 commandments.
 
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BTW, Reds are back on... don't look now, but Cordero must not handle rain delays very well. Probably not very often does he come into the game, and get rained on like that after mentally being ready, and then waiting 2 hours (?) to pitch again, but come the fuck on, it's the Natinals.

Nevermind, we are going to 10... standby
 
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