Loading ...Redleg Nation is proud to announce our Minor League Players of the Month for May:
Position Player/Hitter:
Joey Votto, Louisville. The 23-year-old former 2nd round pick (2002) was a unanimous pick of the editors for POTM honors. Joey rebounded from a rough first month in AAA to have an outstanding May. For the month, he hit .402/.496/.618 for a phenomenal 1.114 OPS for the month. He scored 21 runs, knocked in 21 runs, and walked 19 times. He had 4 doubles and 6 homers during May. On the season, his OPS when ahead in the count is 1.305 and 1.086 with runners in scoring position.
Another good solid month by Votto and the Reds should be looking for a way to get him in the lineup every day.
Others considered: Jay Bruce, Danny Dorn, and Justin Turner
Pitcher:
Sean Watson, Dayton. Last year’s 2nd round selection continues to progress as he’s making the adjustment from college reliever to professional starter. The 21 year old made 6 starts in May, going 1-2, but allowing only 5 earned runs in 33 1/3 innings. (1.35 ERA) He allowed only 23 hits and 7 walks, while striking out 46 during the month. (.90 WHIP). For the month, batters hit only .197 vs Watson.
I think after two good months (2.70 ERA and 1.2 WHIP in April), he’s due for a promotion.
Homer Bailey gets an honorable mention this month.
Others considered: Carlos Fisher, Johnny Cueto
Didn’t Dorn skip a level?
I’m not sure…Matt, did he skip a level?
Well, a “way” for Joey may have opened up today. Looks like Jason Giambi is done for the year with a torn planar fascia tendon in his foot. That means the Evil Empire will be in the market for a left-handed power bat to DH. I wouldn’t want anybody on their major league roster that we could afford, but the Yanks have Tabata and minor league pitching (and could offer salary relief for one large contract) to give. Not advocatin’; just sayin’.
Maybe they’ll want Hatteberg or Conine.
Dare to dream.
Maybe they’ll want Hatteberg or Conine.
I don’t think so. What I’m more afraid of is that Krivsky would ask for someone like Melky.
Melky Cabrera is a good player, and still very young.
Melky Cabrera is a good player, and still very young.
If by “good” you mean an OBP of .284 and an OPS+ of 61 this season, then Melky is “good”. In three seasons, he’s complied an OPS+ of 89. We already have a similar player. He just went on the DL with a career OPS+ of 93.
If I’m Krivsky, I don’t move Dunn or Griffey this year. This team should be playing for 2008. With Dunn and Griffey both under contract next year (exercising Dunn’s option of course), you go with those guys and trade them next year if things don’t work out.
And Hatteberg for Melky wouldn’t be a bad deal for the Reds.
I’ll admit not knowing much about the Yankees farm system other than Hughes and Karsten. So, whether there are better options than Melky for Hatteberg, I cannot comment on.
But speaking of Melky alone, he’s certainly not having a good year so far this year. Last year, as a 21 year old in Yankee Stadium, he hit .280 with a .360 OBP. No power. Plays all 3 outfield positions. I’d say that’s fair return for a 30-(whatever Hatteberg is this year) year old first base platoon/bench player.
Greg,
My fear is that Krivsky would send Griffey and his contract to NY and ask for Melky in return. Of course, Hatte (age 37, IIRC)for Melky works and makes Votto the left-handed part of the 1B platoon. It’s just that we already have a couple of Melky types in Hopper and Freel and Hopper is a far better glove.
I’m not advocating trading Dunn. I’d be more amenable to trading Griffey (assuming he would accept the trade) while he’s healthy to clear some budget space and get some prospects in return.
I don’t see this team making the Great Leap Forward by 2008. Too many question marks loom right now and I’m not convinced Krivsky can or will take the correct steps to remedy them. I think 2009 is more realistic. Homer and Joey have a season under their belts and Jay Bruce is in center. That gives us an outfield (hopefully) of Hamilton in right, Bruce in center and Dunn in left. That’s a much better defensive outfield than Dunn-Hamilton-Griffey.
As for Votto, Marty and Rosencrans were talking about his defense last night. I know all of Narron’s comments seemed to be directed at Votto improving his defense, but does anyone have any numbers in regards to how well Votto plays first? On top of this do any of you think that would be an issue when he moves up?
My opinion of 2008:
Barring any major trade, the “starting 8″ this year is the same next year, except Votto will hopefully have the first base job. The defense is adequate and they currently have the most runs scored in the NL Central.
Pitching is suspect again. Lohse and Milton will be gone. Hopefully, Arroyo, Harang and Bailey provide a solid 1-2-3. Belisle can continue to pitch the way he has and Dumatrait makes the step to ML starter in the #5 slot. It’s now June, I say get Bailey and Dumatrait up here making starts and taking their lumps in the majors, ASAP.
Same for the bullpen. McBeth, Salmon, Majewski, Coutlangus. Three of these four are already up, and they should spend the season figuring out who the best 7-8-9th inning close game relievers are or whether they need to upgrade in the offseason.
A lot of my 2008 vision requires the minor league guys who are ready (Votto, Dumatrait, Bailey, McBeth) coming up and getting their ML experience. Icing on the cake would be wooing Ivan Rodriguez in the offseason to come to Cincinnati as a free agent. He did wonders for the Tiger’s young pitching staff. He may be in the final years of his career, but I think a 2-3 year deal would be well worth it.
That’s a much better defensive outfield than Dunn-Hamilton-Griffey.
Absolutely, but you don’t have that outfield for the leather, but for the wood. Keep a strong infield defense (and I think ours will be pretty good in the long haul)with a good arm in CF and I can stand a gap or two in the outfield in return for what Jr and Dunn bring to the plate. We have defensive replacements already for late innings (and I’m not talking about where we have a one run lead in the ninth, I think that’s going to bite us hard one of these days).
It’s already bit us hard a couple of times this year.
How good is Votto in the outfield? I don’t understand why he isn’t up with the big club considering the injuries. He should’ve at least been given a chance until Hamilton comes back.
Absolutely, but you don’t have that outfield for the leather, but for the wood.
I’m not sure Jay Bruce would be a big offensive drop-off from the 38-year-old and oft-injured Griffey.
The problem with keeping Griffey is the tacit assumption of good health. Given his recent history, that may be a stretch (ouch!).
Both the Angels and Yankees could use a left-handed power bat at DH. Both have something to interest a rebuilding team like the Reds. It’s true that the Yankees main contribution in the near-term would be salary relief, but that salary relief might make a Pudge (2-yr max IMO) possible.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a Ken Griffey fan and I would have liked to see Junior get a ring wearing the home team’s laundry. But that’s not going to happen. The Reds need to get something out of the investment in Griffey. And the best way to do that is deal him for the parts of the next Reds’ championship team.
Wonder which Yankee middle relievers Krivsky might have his eye on?
Fer Chrissakes, Chad, we’ve already got ex-Yankee Stanton. Don’t even think it.
Maybe lefties Myers or Villone, but they aren’t old enough for the Reds.
IMO, the Yankees need OBP more than power. That makes Hatteberg a nice fit, actually. (Esp. if Minkawits keeps stinking it up).
I don’t think he brings Cabrera back, but I’d be pitching it.
(I really like watching Hatteberg, though – patience and a very sweet swing.)
Well, what the Yankees really need is pitching. Hughes is out now at least until mid-August with a Grade 3 ankle sprain. Mussina stinks. And one of these days Wang’s peripherals are going to catch up with him if they haven’t already.
Frankly, I’ve grown to like Hatteberg and wouldn’t mind having him around next year to back up Joey. I can’t get excited about Melky, not with Hopper and Freel still around (but I’m open to Freel not being around :-)). It’s not out of the question that Bruce could take the back-up role out of ST next year.
IMO, that Yankees are a good fit only for moving Junior and only because they can take on the salary. There’s no position player – outside the one we can’t afford and who wouldn’t come here because he’s opting out at season’s end- on the 25-man that I would want. Only Cano isn’t on the wrong side of 30 and, while he’s probably a better bat going forward than Brandon, it’s not a given and I’d rather have Phillips’ glove.
Hasn’t Junior been quoted in the past as saying he would never play for the Yankees, something about the way his dad was treated there?
Anyone else remember anything like this?
Bill,
It’s actually the way he was treated there. Boss Stein barred kids from the clubhouse. But time heals all wounds.
Not saying he would accept a trade, but just that our best match with the Evil Empire is Junior as a salary dump.
I think Dorn skipped a level… I know that’s almost unheard of, but it happened….once.