Minor League Thread

[volzok]

I couldnt have said it any better.

[griffeyfan3]

Does any body know why we dropped Smitherman? Seems like everytime i went and watched him last year at Louisville he hit the ball pretty well.

[Geki Ace]

Does any body know why we dropped Smitherman? Seems like everytime i went and watched him last year at Louisville he hit the ball pretty well.

Probably the .248/.272/.333 line he put up in AAA and the fact that he's past prospect age at this point.

[homerun21]

Smitherman was awesome for the Dayton Dragons...in 2002. Now he's just a bum. No problem at all with us releasing him.

[volzok]

Reds farm chief eyes the Lookouts’ future
By David Paschall/Staff Writer

SARASOTA, Fla. — Johnny Almaraz has relied on his eyes for much of his scouting background with the Cincinnati Reds and will continue to use them as the club’s new director of player development.

As for getting Chattanooga Lookouts owner Frank Burke to agree to a player development contract extension, Almaraz will use whatever it takes.

"We’re going to hog-tie Frank and say you can’t leave until the deal is signed," Almaraz said.

Getting Burke to continue a relationship that began in 1988 is among the many chores Almaraz assumed last month when he was named to replace Tim Naehring as farm director. Naehring had held the position for five seasons, but new Reds owner Bob Castellini moved the former Boston Red Sox third baseman to minor league field coordinator

click here for the rest

[volzok]

Perez bringing string music to the Lookouts
By David Paschall/Staff Writer

SARASOTA, Fla. � Miguel Perez is expecting a big year with the Chattanooga Lookouts, provided his skill with the bat can match his skill with musical instruments.

Once a member of the Venezuelan symphony, Perez is slated to be the top-rated prospect on Chattanooga�s opening day roster. The 22-yearold has been rated by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect with the Cincinnati Reds and the top defensive catcher.

That he is accomplished athletically and musically does not seem odd to the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, who was signed by the Reds in November 2000 and placed on their 40-man roster in November 2004. "Everybody has always told me that it must be tough doing both and that I�ve got a special talent," Perez said. "I just know that if I�ve wanted something, I wanted to learn how to do it and would spend all day every day learning it. Right now I play defense well, but it�s still something I work on every day."

Much like Dane Sardinha, who played for the Lookouts in 2002-03, Perez is known for his skills behind the plate and not at the plate. He hit just.237 in 74 games two years ago at Single-A Dayton before hitting.268 with 33 RBIs in 80 games last season at high Single-A Sarasota.

click here for the rest

[volzok]

As for Smitherman, he was 27 and was sent down last year from Louisville to Chattanooga. IIRC, he was sent down when Denorfia was called up. I was always kind of puzzled that we never tried to trade him a few years ago for anything when he might have gotten us something. He wasnt going anywhere with the Reds and its official now.

As for the articles, decent article about Almaraz and how hes really not different than Naehring. I thought the Perez article was decent if you can get pass all of the repeats and question marks. Hopefully Perez can pick it up at the plate this year in Chattanooga and really solidify his future spot with the Reds.

[griffeyfan3]

O i didn't realize he was 27..well that expalins alot.

[redsrbetter]

Reds add another catcher:

per rotoworld

Reds acquired catcher Ryan Jorgensen from the Marlins for infielder Carlos Piste.
The Reds can't be this worried about losing Dane Sardinha off waivers. Jorgensen, who was the Marlins' fourth catcher, will probably back up Sardinha for Triple-A Louisville.

[volzok]

Sounds like insurance if they lose Sardinha on waivers.

[volzok]

Jonathan Mayo's Top 50 Specs from minorleaguebaseball.com
Bailey is the only Red at #32.

[homerun21]

I don't know if anyone's seen this or not...but it's about Travis Wood..

https://baseballprospectus.com/artic...articleid=4894

The Surprise
Travis Wood, lhp, Reds
Drafted: 2005, second round
Velocity: Plus, especially for lefthander
Second Pitch: Plus-plus changeup
2005 Debut: 1.29 ERA in 49 innings with 67/20 K/BB ratio
The Good: As an Arkansas prep star Wood was seen by scouts primarily as a raw lefthander whose primary skill was the ability to throw hard, and even the Reds seem shocked at his initial success and polish. Wood began his career with 17.2 scoreless innings over six games, allowing seven hits and punching out 31. He showed little sign of slowing down when promoted to the Pioneer League, limiting opposing batters to a .174 average.
The Bad: While it is rare to find a teenager with an advanced changeup, Wood still needs a breaking ball, and he's yet to acquire a feel for the pitch. Short (6-foot) and slight of frame, he offers little projection.
The Immediate Future: Wood will pitch for Low Class A Dayton.

[redsrbetter]

Chatanooga's roster released:

2006 Lookouts Team Will Be A Mixture Of Veterans And New Players
Three Players Are On Baseball America's Top Ten Prospect List
by Tim Evearitt
posted March 28, 2006

Although the opening day roster for the 2006 Lookouts may not be complete until the last day of spring training, it appears that the team will be a mixture of returning players and players that spent the 2005 season playing for the Reds high-A Sarasota team.

Three players are in Baseball America’s list of top ten prospects for Cincinnati: Miguel Perez (catcher), Joey Votto (first base), and Travis Chick (RHP.

Returning Position Players

Rick Asadoorian (25) OF
- Hit .271 for Chattanooga in 93 games and .211 for Louisville in 33 games

Ryan Hanigan (25) C
- hit over .300 for the Lookouts last season

Norris Hopper (26) OF
- had a big year for Chattanooga at the plate in 2005
-
Javon Moran (23) OF
- Hit .353 for Sarasota in 53 games and .301 for Chattanooga in 23 games.

Gary Patchett (27) SS
– Hit .215 for Chattanooga in 48 games and .227 for Louisville in 9 games.


New Position Players

Luis Bolivar (25) 2b
- Hit .243 for Sarasota in 103 games

Javier Colina (27) 3b
Did not play in 2005 due to shoulder injury

Chris Dickerson (23) CF
- cousin of Eric Dickerson, former NFL player
- Hit .236 for Sarasota in 119 games. 11 home runs but fanned 124 times.

Danny Tiburcio (24) SS
– Hit .259 for Sarasota in 116 games. Made 34 errors

Miguel Perez (22) C*
- Reds Minor League Defensive Player of the Year
- Baseball America #7 prospect
- erased 44 percent of base stealers in 2005
– Hit .268 for Sarasota in 80 games and .208 for Louisville in 21 games.

Billy Rojo (22) INF
- Hit .274 in GCL in 24 games and .167 in two games at Sarasota

Mark Schramek (25) 3b
- Played in 42 games for Chattanooga in 2003 where he hit .177
– Hit .214 for Sarasota (2005) in 118 games.

Joey Votto (22) 1B*
- Baseball America ranks him the Reds ninth-best prospect.
- top first-base prospect in the system.
– Hit .256 for Sarasota in 124 games. Had 17 home runs and 83 RBI.

Jeff Urgelles (23) C
– Hit .223 for Sarasota in 63 games.

* 40-man roster


Returning Pitchers

Richie Gardner (24) RHP
- 3-6/5.73 for Chattanooga in 13 games started.

Jeff Bruksch (25) RHP
- 3-9 Chattanooga; 1-0 Louisville
- 6-3/3.06 for Sarasota in 25 games, started 17

Chick Travis (21) RHP*
Baseball America 10th best Reds’ prospect
Mobile 2.9/5.27; Chattanooga 2-2/ 4.86 in 8 games

Arian Cruz (27) LHP
-3-1/ 3.26 Chattanooga in 13 games

Phil Dumatrait (24) LHP*
- 4-12/3.17 for Chattanooga in 24 starts

Jeremy Schmidt (26) RHP
- Chattanooga 3-5/4.36 in 46 games, all in relief
- Sarasota 0-3/2.61 in 10 games, all in relief

David Shafer (24) RHP
- 1-0/0.00 for Sarasota in 10 games, all relief
- 1-6/4.04 for Chattanooga in 34 games, all relief. Struck out 41 in 39.2 innings.

Eddie Valdez (26) RHP
- 1-3/6.94 for Chattanooga in 12 games, started 11
– 3-2/1.95 for Sarasota in 14 games, started 13


New Pitchers

Giancarlo Alvardo (28) RHP
- in Mets organization

Kyle Edens (26) RHP
- 8-3/2.62 Sarasota. 37 games used mainly in relief

Carlos Guevara (24) RHP
- 4.3/2.45 for Sarasota in 44 games, all in relief

Erik Lohse (25) RHP
- brother of Kyle Lohse Twins’ pitcher
- 10-5/ 4.69 for Sarasota in 39 games, mainly in relief

Wayne Lundgren (23) RHP Australian
- no information available

Calvin Medlock (23) RHP
- Reds 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Jim Paduch (23) RHP
- 4-9/3.81 for Sarasota in 23 games, started 17

Thomas Pauly (24) RHP
- 2004 Potomac. 121 innings, struck out 135. 2.97 ERA
- did not play 2005 following shoulder surgery

Julio Villalon (27) RHP
- information not available

Brock Till (25) RHP
- 4-6/4.09 for Sarasota in 29 games, started 16 games

[Wally Mo Pena]

wow, not much to be excited about there. i don't know anything about medlock or lundgren, are they supposed to be anything?

[volzok]

A lot to shoulder
Arm woes plague prospects
By David Paschall Staff Writer

SARASOTA, Fla. — Homer Bailey has a bit more going for him than the typical 19-year-old.

In 2004, the right-handed pitcher from La Grange, Texas, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and signed for $2.3 million. Baseball America listed him before last season as the No. 1 prospect in the Reds organization, and he pitched well enough in Single-A Dayton to retain the honor this year.

The Reds believe Bailey could be No. 1 again next year provided he stays healthy, but Reds pitching prospects staying healthy is no guarantee.

Since 2001, Ricardo Aramboles, Bobby Basham, Phil Dumatrait, Richie Gardner, Chris Gruler, Josh Hall, Ty Howington, Luke Hudson and Thomas Pauly have had promising careers derailed by shoulder or arm surgeries. Each has pitched for the Lookouts except for Pauly, who was slated for Chattanooga last spring before undergoing two shoulder surgeries, and Gruler, who signed for $2.5 million in 2002 but underwent shoulder surgeries in 2004 and ’05. Why the high number?

"It’s the million-dollar question for our organization, and obviously everybody wants an answer," Lookouts manager Jayhawk Owens said.

Cincinnati’s failure to develop pitchers through the ranks has left the Reds with no choice but to make big-league trades. Such recent acquisitions have proven more harmful than helpful for an organization that has endured five consecutive losing seasons for the first time in 50 years.

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