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Post by kinsm on Apr 23, 2014 12:33:04 GMT -5
After the 22 year old's second consecutive start with 10 K's at Bakersfield last night, the Reds 4th round pick last year and Baseball America's #9 Reds prospect has a pro line........
17 starts - 64 innings - 31 hits - 14 walks - 89 strikeouts
0.70 ERA
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Post by The Duke on Apr 23, 2014 12:45:31 GMT -5
Reminds me of Mike Leake, except Lively's slider is supposed to be a better off speed pitch than anything Leaks has. 33 k vs 1 BB in 23 High A IP so far this year, 4-0, 0.39 ERA, and a 0.39 WHIP coincidentally. If he keeps this up he'll be in Pensacola before June.
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rufralf
Chris Sabo
Retired to beach town Mexico
Posts: 235 
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Post by rufralf on Apr 24, 2014 13:36:11 GMT -5
I'm been following Ben Lively since he was drafted and this is the first time I recall seeing his neme mentioned on this board or anywhere else for that matter. Very unusual for a kid to be able to throw that hard with such great control. Very impressive thus far.
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Post by quantumfootball on Apr 24, 2014 19:23:01 GMT -5
I'm been following Ben Lively since he was drafted and this is the first time I recall seeing his neme mentioned on this board or anywhere else for that matter. Very unusual for a kid to be able to throw that hard with such great control. Very impressive thus far. I guess he just has a "lively" fastball. |
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Post by Lark11 on Apr 24, 2014 19:24:25 GMT -5
I'm been following Ben Lively since he was drafted and this is the first time I recall seeing his neme mentioned on this board or anywhere else for that matter. Very unusual for a kid to be able to throw that hard with such great control. Very impressive thus far. He is/was a pretty trendy sleeper prospect of pundits heading into this season. So, his name has been floated around a bit, just not to the degree of the high profile prospects. |
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Post by The Duke on Apr 24, 2014 22:06:42 GMT -5
Fastball is only low 90's, occasionally upper 80's. He can touch 94-95 from time to time though. Most starts he works 90-93, using the slider as an out pitch, but can also throw the curve and changeup for strikes.
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Post by floydgator on Apr 25, 2014 10:29:51 GMT -5
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Post by redsfanman on Apr 25, 2014 10:31:18 GMT -5
MLB.com's review of Ben Lively:
Lively's average stuff combined with plus deception have some thinking of him as the right-handed version of Tony Cingrani. The Reds can only hope this Central Florida product can follow the same quick path to Cincinnati.
None of Lively's pitches jump off the page, but he does have four of them that he can throw for strikes. His fastball can touch 93-94 mph, and his slider shows signs of being a potential above-average pitch as well. Lively mixes in his curve and changeup well to keep hitters guessing. All of his stuff plays up because of his unusual delivery, in which his arm stays hidden, making it tough for hitters to pick up the ball. Opponents hit just .161 off of Lively during his pro debut in 2013.
It only took Cingrani a year to make an impact in Cincy. Lively could be on a similar fast track.
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So far it looks like Lively has pitched himself out of single A. Maybe the Cingrani comparisons are appropriate, both in the sense that he's a fast riser and that his success may somewhat defy expectations. I wonder if we'll see Lively in the Reds bullpen this year - obviously jumping from single A to MLB in a single season would be a huge rise - but maybe, if he keeps up his early success.
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Post by kinsm on Apr 25, 2014 15:54:48 GMT -5
Why the hell would Ben Lively be seen in the Reds bullpen this year?
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Post by floydgator on Apr 27, 2014 16:46:52 GMT -5
Nevermind, he stinks. He has gotten pounded today. 5 hits through 6 innings today. 0 runs or walks, but 5 hits is pretty embarrassing for him. 7 Ks.
Seriously, he is wasting time in Bakersfield, completely overmatching hitters in a hitter-friendly league and park. I get that we have a lot of arms in the AA rotation - move one up. Only Stephenson and Lorenzen have any business blocking Lively.
Or move Lively to AAA. Not my first choice, but it's better than continuing to run him out there in Bakersfield.
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Post by redsfanman on Apr 28, 2014 13:04:16 GMT -5
Why the hell would Ben Lively be seen in the Reds bullpen this year? Desperation. Look who's in the Reds' bullpen instead. Lively is throwing strikes and getting outs. He's in single A but pitching as well as anybody in the organization, and with that kinda success he must have at least a couple of good pitches. Making the team as a starter is probably a longer trajectory though. |
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Post by kinsm on Apr 28, 2014 13:19:46 GMT -5
That would be a horrible move, and thankfully for all of us Jocketty isn't a complete dumbass.
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Post by redsfanman on Apr 30, 2014 9:48:26 GMT -5
Ben Lively has dominated in single A, is it inconceivable that he'll be able to dominate AA and AAA in the next 3 or 4 months? Maybe once he starts to struggle somewhere a quick rise through the farm system will appear unlikely, but so far he's done nothing but dominate.
Sure, this guy was only drafted last year, but we've seen fast risers before in Mike Leake (needed NO minor league experience) and Tony Cingrani, who sailed through. Such guys are rare, but they exist.
In my opinion Lively should be promoted to AA ASAP. If he keeps up his current success he should go to AAA after a few starts. I don't think Jocketty promoting a 22 year old who has walked 1 and struck out 40 in 29 innings (with 1 ER and a 5-0 record) would be the sign of "a complete dumbass".
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Post by kinsm on Apr 30, 2014 11:19:09 GMT -5
Mike Leake was a 1st round starter, why on earthy would Jocketty waste such a blooming talent bringing him up to pitch out of the pen? Good lord, Cueto-Leake-Latos are all destined for free agency in 18 months leave the damn kid in the minors starting!
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Post by kinsm on May 7, 2014 23:56:38 GMT -5
Lively's 3 starts since I created this thread:
April 27th - 6 IP, 5 H's, 0 BB's, 7 K's, 0 ER's, W
May 2nd - 6 2/3 IP, 6 H's, 1 BB, 8 K's, 2 ER's, W
May 7th - 7 IP, 4 H's, 1 BB, 6 K's, 0 ER's, ND
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