Minor League Discussion

[missionhockey21]

Nice to hear about Steve Kelly yet again lowering his ERA. I really don't know much about him other than he isn't that special stuff wise, but I would like to see him get a MLB start if a spot opens up due to injury. He deserves a chance based just on his AAA success both this and last year.

[volzok]

Sorry I didnt get the reports last night. Had to work late and didnt feel like getting on here.

Louisville lost last night 10-4

Box score

EdE went 1-4 hitting a 2 run HR his 5th of the year.
Kelly went 3-4 with a double, a triple and a run.
Romano went 2-4
Valentine pitched 1 inn, 2 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and a HR. His ERA is at 9.00

Just a note for the other team. Marte dominated going 4-5 with a HR, a double, scored twice and drove in 3.

[volzok]

Chattanooga won last night 4-3

Box score

Denorfia went 2-3 with a triple, 2 runs, 2 RBI and a walk
Kozlowski started and got a no decision going 7 inn, 7 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 4 K
Nelson had a BS but got the win going 2 inn, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 walks and 3 K

[volzok]

Sarasota lost last night 3-2

Box score

Votto went 1-4 with his 5 HR of the year, solo shot, but he also struck out 3 times.
Ruiz went 0-3

[volzok]

Dayton lost last night 5-3

Box score

The ice cold Janish didnt play
Guiterrez went 1-4 with run

[volzok]

News and notes from a couple different sites:

Two of the Reds' top pitching prospects , righthanders Chris Gruler and Thomas Pauley, had shoulder surgery. Gruler, a 2002 first-round pick, had a procedure to clean out and loosen the shoulder joint; he had surgery in 2003 to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff. Pauley, a second-rounder in 2003, also had a procedure to clean up the shoulder joint. Pauley went 8-7, 2.97 last year at high Class A Potomac and led the Carolina League with 135 strikeouts in 121 innings.

Pitcher Steve Kelly needed three stitches yesterday after suffering a head gash in a freak batting practice accident. He was standing behind a protective screen in center field, collecting balls in a bucket, when a wind gust blew the screen on top of him.

[volzok]

Dragons' Janish has big-league glove skills

By Marc Katz

Dayton Daily News

Dick "Ducky" Schofield played 19 years in the major leagues, mostly at shortstop, retiring with a .227 batting average.

His son followed, hitting .230 in 14 big-league seasons.

Mark Belanger hit .228 in 18 major-league years, mostly with the Orioles, and participated six years in postseason play.

They don't promote many shortstops like that anymore, at least on the good teams.

But you can find fielding shortstops like the Schofields and Belangers in baseball, and start right in the Class A Midwest League, where Paul Janish is playing for the Dayton Dragons.

So far, Janish has been an off-and-on hitter. While his batting average is just .231 heading into weekend play, he also has three home runs and leads the team with 17 RBIs from the No. 2 spot in the batting order. He'll have to hit a little better than that to make the majors, but his fielding is already there.

Of the three components to baseball, you hear the most about are pitching and hitting. Defense ranks a distant third.

Of the three, fielding is the one part that shouldn't get tougher as a player moves up.

A good fielder like Janish won't look much different on the diamond today when the Dragons open an eight-game homestand or at Great American Ball Park in a few years.

He should get better, but right now he's a major-league infielder. He has good range and a superior arm. He's accurate and makes the correct play almost every time. A couple of times, he has forced throws he shouldn't have tried, but even that is a positive.

It shows he isn't afraid to try to make a big play.

"Janish with his glove alone is a plus tool," said Freddie Benavides, roving infield instructor for the Reds and a former major-league shortstop. "He always seems to get the good hop (on a grounder). You create the good hop with good footwork. He makes the pitching staff better. We're trying to pitch to contact. With contact, you've got to catch the ball."

Janish, the Reds' fifth-round draft choice from NCAA champion Rice last summer, has made all the plays for the Dragons. He is neither as flashy as Rainer Olmedo, who was here six years ago and has since played in the majors, nor as inconsistent as David Espinosa, a first-round pick later traded to the Tigers.

Janish just makes all the plays.

"Fielding is just like hitting," Janish said. "You have to have confidence. But it's not any different in low A or Class AA. You catch it and throw it. I take a lot of pride in defense."

Dragons tales

• First baseman Bobby Mosby has been playing on a rehab assignment in Sarasota, but he's still limping on a strained left knee, according to Reds farm director Tim Naehring. At least he didn't have to face surgery that might have brought an early end to his season.

Mosby is expected to be ready to rejoin the Dragons by mid-June.

It will take a little longer for center fielder B.J. Szymanski. He had two bone chips removed from his right knee and is expected to continue rehab until at least the end of June. He, too, is expected to return.

• Former Dragons first baseman Jesse Gutierrez, hitting .310 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 25 games at Class AA Chattanooga, had his season cut short when he slid into home plate recently and tore up a knee.

Gutierrez, who did well for the Lookouts last season, might have been promoted to Class AAA Louisville, but the Reds signed free agent A.J. Zapp, who was hitting .222 with a homer and nine RBIs in 28 games.

Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157

[redsrbetter]

-Promote Denorfia to Louisville.
-Kelly is really on a tear and that is awesome trade material IMO.
-It sucks that Gruler and Pauly had to have surgery. Especially for Pauly who had a pretty good season last year. Hopefully he can bounce back from this.
-I don't know what to say about Janish. He has a tremendous glove, but until he hits, I would keep him down in A ball. Hopefully he gets a lot of work in and learns how to really hit.

[volzok]

I agree with everything you say here redsrbetter. I would be surprised if Janish gets to Sarasota this year. Unless he really starts tearing it up. But as long as he is playing and getting plenty of ABs, I think he will be fine.

[volzok]

Louisville lost today 16-8

Box score

EdE went 2-3 with his 6th HR of the season, 2 runs, 2 RBI and a walk
Romano also hit a homer going 2-5
Kelly went 1-4 with 2 runs, a walk and 2 K
Robertson got the loss going 4 inn, 12 hits, 8 runs, 2 BB, 2K

Minor side note, EdE did have an error which makes 12 for the season.

[volzok]

Chattanooga lost 7-3

Box score

Denorfia went 1-4 with his 4th homer of the season, solo shot, and 2 K
Hopper went 2-4

[volzok]

Sarasota lost 12-3

Box score

Votto went 2-2 with his 6th homer of the season, solo shot, and a walk. Votto has 27 RBI on the season.
Dickerson went 2-4 with his 7th HR of the year, also solo, and a strike out
Ruiz went 0-3

[volzok]

Dayton won 10-5 today

Box score

Janish went 1-4 with 2 runs, a walk and K
Gentry went 2-5 with 2 runs and 3 RBI

[volzok]

Louisville lost today 2-1

Box score

EdE went 0-3 with a walk and run
Kelly went 0-4
Keisler pitched 7.2 inn giving up 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 K

[volzok]

Sarasota lost today 8-6

Box score

Votto went 0-3 with a RBI, 2 walks and 2 K
Ruiz went 1-4 with a stolen base, he has 11 on the year.
Basham started the game going 4 inn, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 K