tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post729936597771126430..comments2023-10-20T06:12:38.934-07:00Comments on Redlegs Baseball: 2009 Surprises: Pleasant and OtherwiseLark11http://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-90188372064667560162009-06-23T21:44:52.978-07:002009-06-23T21:44:52.978-07:00Hey Joe,
Thanks for the kind words. I just sent y...Hey Joe,<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. I just sent you an e-mail. <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-5870357606132747172009-06-22T18:26:49.595-07:002009-06-22T18:26:49.595-07:00Lark11,
My name is Joe Yanarella from Bleacher Rep...Lark11,<br />My name is Joe Yanarella from Bleacher Report and I'm looking to add Featured Columnists for our MLB Team Pages and I enjoy your blog entries.<br /><br />Please drop me an e-mail so I can provide you with more information about Bleacher Report Featured Columnists and the additional exposure we can provide for your blog.<br /><br />Thanks and keep up the great work.<br /><br />Joe Yanarella<br />Editor-in-Chief<br />Bleacher Report<br />joe@bleacherreport.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00887342881283249091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-31634310702804063202009-06-16T21:58:40.903-07:002009-06-16T21:58:40.903-07:00Brian,
It'll be interesting to see who the Re...Brian,<br /><br />It'll be interesting to see who the Reds get signed. <br /><br />In the fourth round, the Reds selected UNC catcher Mark Fleury, who was one of the best college backstops in country. It was a bit of a watered down class, but still he's a solid prospect. If they sign Fleury, then it seems less likely that they'll sign both Tucker Barnhart and Chase Fowler. <br /><br />I haven't heard of any outrageous contract demands for either, but Barnhart was the more highly regarded catching prospect. Baseball America had Fleury rated #11 and Barnhart rated 16th of all the draft eligible catchers. For what it's worth, Fowler didn't rate among the top 25 catchers. <br /><br />I would imagine that if they sign Fleury, then they will probably sign one of the Barnhart/Fowler duo. That's more of a gut feel than anything else, but with Mesoraco already at the lower levels, I'm not sure they'd sign 3 catchers from this draft class. <br /><br />As for the shortstops, I could see both of them signing. At least, that's my hope. Obviously, shortstops have more positional flexibility than catchers, so they could find room for both Perez and Marrero. <br /><br />The Reds did sign Hamilton, but while he is a very good athlete, he's pretty raw. I'm not convinced he'll hit enough at the professional level or be able to stick at shortstop. <br /><br />Perez seems to be the opposite of Hamilton. He's a bit short on tools, but his makeup and instincts are big pluses and help his tools play up a tick. Baseball America had him rated as the 11th best shortstop in the draft class. <br /><br />As for Marrero, he's another intriguing talent and played at American Heritage High School, the same school that produced uber-prospect Eric Hosmer. Marrero has the skills to have been drafted higher, so he could have been more of a 5th/6th round pick. Baseball America rated him as the 12th best shortstop prospect. My gut tells me he might be the toughest sign, but again I don't have any evidence to back that up. <br /><br />In short, I don't think the Hamilton signing necessarily precludes the signing of both Marrero and Perez, but a Fleury signing might preclude the signing of both Barnhart and Fowler. <br /><br />Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how the Reds deal with their draftees. They may have to go a bit over slot to sign a couple of these guys, but the long-term payoff could make it well worth it. <br /><br />Anyway, that's what I'm currently thinking. Thanks for the comment!<br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-86111282128848704982009-06-16T21:28:14.188-07:002009-06-16T21:28:14.188-07:00Hey Brian,
Thanks for the clarification on the GC...Hey Brian,<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification on the GCL. I figured that was the logical spot for them to land. It's tough to do much else with such young prospects, as they simply aren't ready to be thrown into the mix against mature competition.<br /><br />Duran has grown so much, so quickly, that he seems more likely to struggle than Yorman. Duran just doesn't seem all that comfortable in his new body, but Yorman seems more polished at this point. Even so, both are good prospects with big upside. It'll be fun to see what happens when they hit the GCL.<br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-9315548320308480942009-06-16T21:01:22.208-07:002009-06-16T21:01:22.208-07:00i just read that the reds signed billy hamilton, d...i just read that the reds signed billy hamilton, don joseph, and mark serrano. <br />Do you think that the reds will be able to sign stephen perez, deven marrero, chase fowler, or tucker barnhart especially the SS because of the billy hamilton signingBriannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-56411055062601904442009-06-16T20:56:45.975-07:002009-06-16T20:56:45.975-07:00thanks for answering my duran and yorman comment i...thanks for answering my duran and yorman comment i found out that they will both be in the GCL league for the redsBriannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-65559157697490004012009-06-16T11:33:03.413-07:002009-06-16T11:33:03.413-07:00Hey 007,
I think Homer's trade value is nil. ...Hey 007,<br /><br />I think Homer's trade value is nil. That's the main reason why I was so against promoting him for his most recent start. Prior to that start, he had been rebuilding some measure of trade value with some solid triple-A production. If they had left him down there to continue to build his confidence, I think it would also have built his trade value. The decision to call him up destroyed any trade value he had built up. Right now, I'd be very surprised if the Reds could get anything for him. I agree with you, for now I think he's only "trade-able" as a throw-in on a larger deal. <br /><br />As of now, I don't want to see Bailey until September and I want the Reds to force him to EARN a promotion. The one thing that gives me an ounce of hope is that Homer is now reported to be throwing a split-fingered fastball. He has gone away from the ineffective curveball and the changeup that fooled no one. <br /><br />As you mentioned, he desperately needs a swing-and-miss pitch. In his last MLB start, Homer threw 95 pitches and got a grand total of 3 swing-and-misses. That's an unbelievable inability to miss bats for a reputed power pitcher. Someone with plus stuff should miss more bats than that. However, there is some positive news, as the split-fingered fastball seems to be working. <br /><br />In his last three triple-A starts, Homer has tossed 23.1 innings giving up 1 earned run and striking out 23 hitters. Maybe, just maybe, Homer is turning corner and doing a better job avoiding contact. <br /><br />I remain very skeptical about Homer and will wait until he proves me wrong. But, I suppose I still have to mention the possibility that he is turning the corner. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment! <br /><br />Best,<br />LarkLark11https://www.blogger.com/profile/06571198327064220683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347536209014288641.post-33980068720869791222009-06-16T10:12:23.817-07:002009-06-16T10:12:23.817-07:00I'm curious to what you think Homer's valu...I'm curious to what you think Homer's value is now. He's been brought up, done nothing but still has a decent game in AAA. Is he trade bait at best now. He never strikes anyone out. To me he's part of a package at best.Conspiracy007https://www.blogger.com/profile/14557922520590560657noreply@blogger.com