Loading ...Games played 04/09/09
AAA
Adam Rosales was 2 for 4 with a HR. Luis Bolivar also homered. Norris Hopper had a 2B and 2 BB. Drew Stubbs and Kevin Barker each walked twice. Jonny Gomes added a 2B.
Homer Bailey got knocked around pretty good going 5.1 IP allowing 9 R, 8 ER, on 9 H and a BB with 5 K. Three of the nine hits he allowed were HRs. Bill Bray went 1.2 IP in relief without allowing a run while recording 2 K.
AA
Chris Denove was 2 for 3 with a 2b and a BB. Zach Cozart 2 for 4 with a BB. Todd Frazier added a hit and a BB.
Dallas Buck started and went 5 IP giving up 3 R on 5 H and a BB with 2 K. Robert Manuel threw two scoreless innings of relief.
High A
Alex Buchholz was 3 for 4 with a HR, 2B, and a BB. Neftali Soto was 2 for 4. Yonder Alonso went 1 for 3 with a HR and 2 BB. Daniel Perales homered. Jake Kahaulelio doubled.
Redleg Nation Spotlight Player Matt Klinker gets the start and no decision as he goes 4 IP allowing 3 R on 5 H and a BB with 4 K. Logan Ondrusek (2 IP), Phil Valiquette (2 IP), and Joseph Krebs (1 IP) all threw scoreless relief.
Low A
David Sappelt was 2 for 5 with a HR and a 2B. Kyle Day tripled. Humberto Sosa doubled and BB. Byron Wiley walked twice.
Matt Fairel takes the loss going 2 IP allowing 4 R, 3 ER, on 5 H and 3 BB with 2 K. Mace Thurman gives up a run over 2.2 IP of relief while recording 6 K.
What a night for Alex Buchholz. I’m disappointed I won’t get to see him play in Dayton, but WOW, what a debut.
Can’t figure out why Matt was pulled, he had a big lead and probably could have gone one more inning…
Bad night for Homer…actually, none of our starting pitchers had really good nights.
I love the Down on the Farm Report. I’ve always followed the Bats (being in Louisville), but since last year I have really enjoyed following the entire farm system. It helps that we have so many future stars in our system. Homer will get back on track now that he can’t feel sorry for himself and as I said before, it’s a crying shame Bill Bray is not in Cincinnati. I have high hopes for Chris Valaika too and was disappointed in his opening night, but he’ll get it together.
Yonder Alonso is absolutely going to maul at High A. What a poor decision to start him there.
I see where you are coming from, David, but I’m not sure I totally agree. I do think that you’re right that he’s going to really rake at high-A.
But the guy really hasn’t played in the minors at all before this season. I kinda like the idea of starting him at A, letting him destroy the competition (if that’s what he does), and pumping up the confidence. There’s no reason he can’t be in AA soon.
Heck, if he gets promoted and hits well at AA, they might even think about a September call-up for him. He’s already on the 40 man roster.
With all the money invested in Alonso, better to start him too low than too high…as long as they’re ready to promote him as soon as he proves that he’s ready for the better competition.
I know I’ve seen it somewhere, but what’s the plan for Votto and Alonso if/when he gets called up? Will one of them play OF?
Probably a little bit of an emotional let down on Homer’s part. I wish they’d just put this kid on the big league roster and let him pitch.
I agree with Chad…we talked about this on one of the Podcasts…let him have some success early in his minor league career, a month or so (if he rakes) at High A isn’t going to slow him down if he’s ready.
Also, I’ve been told by a number of minor league players that they believe that teams not only look at your playing skills, but also look at how you handle adversity and “situations”…so, don’t discount the possibility that with both Homer and Alonso that some of this may also be a test to see how they handle it.
As for last night, I heard it was cold and rainy last night in Louisville, so I wouldn’t read too much into one start.
Also thought it was interesting that last night, Tatum was the starting catcher at Louisville, not Dusty’s guy, Castillo. Not sure how much it means, but thought it was interesting.
It means Castillo is not viewed a starting catcher by his past or present organization. Castillo played a position other than catcher more than half the time with the DBacks AAA team.
Between the Reds and Loiusville last year:
C – 3 games in AAA only
2B – 3 AAA/Cin
3B – 7 AAA
OF – 6 AAA/Cin
He even played 16 games at SS in AAA/AA with the Dbacks over the past two years.
It was wet and cool in Louisville last night.
On Homer, exactly why he still needs to be in the minors for now. Let him dominate there for a while, then bring him.
Agreed with other on Alonso. Let him get off to a good.start in A, then move him up to AA. That won’t hurt him one bit.