| 07 June 2010
And the beat goes on for the Cincinnati Reds in close games. Following Sunday's 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals - which allowed the Reds to win the series two games to one - the Reds are 5-1 in extra inning games this season.
It was a key victory as it allowed Cincinnati to move back into a tie for first place in the National League Central Division with the St. Louis Cardinals. Both clubs have a 33-24 mark, which ties as the second-best record in the NL (the San Diego Padres are 0.5 games up on the Reds/Cardinals with a mark of 33-23).
Other quick-hitters from the Reds:
Drew Stubbs is starting to prove me wrong and I love it: Stubbs flat-out won Sunday's game for the Reds with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, including the game-winning, two-out RBI single in the top of the 10th inning. Stubbs also had a big knock in the previous inning when he led off with a double. The Reds were trailing 2-1 entering the ninth, but scored 3 runs to take a 4-2 lead. However, Coco Cordero blew the save (which is becoming a bit of a theme), but Stubbs was right there to pick him up the following inning.
Hanigan is a bigger loss than some expected: I'm not down on Ramon Hernandez - I think he's a solid player. However, there is no question in my mind that Ryan Hanigan is the best catcher on the team. The team ERA is much lower when he his behind the plate and he's every bit as good of a hitter as Hernandez. (In fact, this year, Hanigan has been the better hitter by far - and Hernandez has been solid. It's just that Hanigan was hitting extremely well before he went on the DL with a fractured bone in the tip of hi thumb.)
Another problem with losing Hanigan (who is expected to return by the end of the month at the latest) is that Corky Miller now has to get spot starts to give Hernandez a rest and Miller is almost-always out-matched at the plate. Hopefully Hanigan gets back even sooner than expected and is able to pick up right where he left off, or at least close to it.
In my opinion, the Reds are three players away: The Reds are already a contender this season - there is no doubt about that. I think they are going to stay in the race all year. However, if they really want to get over the top and make the playoffs, I think they are three players away: two bullpen arms and an extra outfielder (not necessarily a starter, just another OF bat).
So, can GM Walt Jocketty pull off a trade for all three of the components that I believe the team needs? Is that realistic? And they don't need to be top-shelf guys, just players that can help. I think the trades are going to happen, or at least something close (maybe they will only trade for one bullpen arm instead of two, for instance). I'm convinced that owner Bob Castellini is sick of losing and thinks that this year might be his best shot to get something done. They won't mortgage the future to rent a few players for 2-3 months, but the Reds have enough minor league talent to get something done, while not giving away any of their top prospects.
Speaking of prospects ... Mesoraco going from "bust" to "very intriguing": The Reds' 2007 first-round draft pick Devin Mesoraco has been a big disappointment up until this season. The catcher was behind the curve offensively and defensively during his first 2.5 seasons of pro ball.
However, something has clicked this year and Mesoraco was recently promoted from high-A Lynchburg to Double-A Carolina. While in A-ball playing for the Hillcats, Mesoraco, 21, batted .335 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. He had an OPS of 1.035 in 158 at-bats.
Thus far with the Mudcats, Mesoraco is only batting .182 with two homers and three RBIs (OPS of .724 in just 22 at bats). However, the good news is that he finally seems to be on the right track. Hopefully he will have a solid year at Double-A and will establish himself as the Reds' catcher of the future.
First-round of the MLB draft is tonight: The Reds have the 12th overall pick of the 2010 draft tonight (the draft is spread over three days now and there are several different directions they could elect to go. After landing the steal of the 2009 draft - pitcher Mike Leake with the No. 8 overall pick - the Reds' front office, led by scouting director Chris Buckley, must be feeling pretty good about their ability to draft well.
There are three names that I am keeping a close eye on - guys that could land with the Reds with the 12th pick tonight. They include shortstop Christian Colon from Cal State Fullerton, right-handed starting pitcher Alex Wimmers from Ohio State and catcher Yasmani Grandal from the University of Miami.
The Reds have a big need at shortstop, but I never like drafting based on need whether it's baseball or football. However, Colon is projected to be the No. 11 pick of the draft by ESPN's Keith Law, so if he is still available when the Reds pick, he might be a very good value. Plus, he would fill the biggest need in the organization (unless you believe that Louisville shortstop Zack Cozart is the SS of the future).
Wimmers is a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten pitcher of the year. Law has him falling until the 21st pick of the first round. Buckley is a big fan of drafting college pitchers, Wimmers is one of the best in the nation and he hails from Cincinnati Moeller High School. Add it all up and he might be the Reds' choice.
Grandal is also an interesting case and Law predicts that the Reds will draft him. However, with the season that Mesoraco is putting together, would the team really draft a catcher in the first round in two out of the last four years? I find that hard to believe, but if they think Grandal is their catcher of the future, don't be surprised to see Buckley and Co. pull the trigger.
[UPDATE -- 6:25 p.m. EST, Monday: Law is now projecting that the Reds will take Georgia Tech pitcher Deck McGwire with the 12th pick. Should be interesting to see what happens tonight! Last year, Buckley kept things very close to the vest and not many draft analysts predicted that Leake would be the Reds' pick. So, does Law have some inside connections, or is he guessing? We'll find out in less than two hours. The draft starts at 7 and the Reds should pick shortly after 8.]
Chapman watch: Through 10 starts at Louisville, Cuban sensation Aroldis Chapman is 5-2 with a 3.42 ERA. In 52.2 innings, he's struck out 60 batters, given up 46 hits and 28 walks.
Conventional wisdom says that Chapman will be called up sometime this month and I'm personally jacked to see his debut. His numbers at Louisville would look even better if not for two poor starts that affected his ERA. I think Chapman is going to be a nice addition to the Reds' starting staff whenever he joins it. Stephen Strasburg will make his MLB debut on Tuesday and I think Chapman's will come sometime in the middle part of the month. Yes, safe to say I'm excited to see a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher that can throw 103 MPH.
Bailey back soon?: Homer Bailey is on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation, but he will make rehab start at Louisville early this week. If all goes well, Bailey could be back in the rotation by next week. Or, if he has a setback, the team could keep Sam LeCure in the rotation for now, or give the ball to Mr. Chapman to see what he can do.
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