The Duke's Weekly Reports

[The Duke]

Hitter Totals Report
Hitter Game Logs 5/27-6/1
Pitcher Totals Report
Pitcher Game Logs 5/27-6/1

[glow=red,2,300]The Duke's Hot 10[/glow]
1. Daryl Thompson - Was dominant in his 2nd start in AAA, and could be the Reds top prospect after this year.

2. Travis Wood - 8 Ks in 6 IP in his 2nd AA start, he and Maloney are the organizations top lefties.

3. Chris Valaika - Hit .316 with a HR and 6 rbi last week with a .350 OBP.

4. Josh Roenicke - Was promoted to AAA where he went 1 IP with 2 Ks and 0 hits and no BB

5. Todd Frazier - Hit .313 with a .353 OBP with 2 rbi

6. Matt Maloney - 5th straight quality start, many think he should have got the callup over Bailey

7. Devin Mesoraco - Hit .364 with 2 runs in 3 starts.

8. Ramon Geronimo - 4 Ks and 0 runs in 2^2/3 IP with a save.

9. Pedro Viola - 5 K and 0 runs in 3 IP

10. Sean Henry - Hit .308 with a .400 OBP with a HR and 5 rbi last week

[glow=blue,2,300]Not so Hot:[/glow]
Juan Francisco - Hit .174 last week
Craig Tatum - Hit .111 last week
Shaun Cumberland - Hit .188 last week
Keltavious Jones - Hit .150 last week
Justin Reed - Hit .158 last week
Jeff Jeffords - 4.90 ERA and a blown save
Scott Carrol - 6.55 ERA over two starts in High A
Carlos Fisher - 6.74 ERA with a loss and a save
Josh Ravin - 4 ER in 4 IP in a loss in his 3rd start in Low A.

[awnawboi21]

How crazy would that be for Thompson to go from not having "prospect" status to being ranked the #1 prospect in an organization in only one year?

[oldschoolstyle]

I'm a little concerned about our minor league system after this year. We have a lot of ok prospects, but with Bruce, Votto, Cueto, and Bailey being up we have drained a substantial amount from it. If we are out of it by the trade deadline, we need to add to it some more by trading some extra parts.

[The Duke]

I think by the end of the year the Reds could have as many as 5 top 100 prospects still.

Thompson
Frazier
Stubbs
Mesoraco
2008 #7 overall pick (Crow, Hosmer, Hicks, Friedrich, ?)

I'm pretty confident on those 5, and I think one of the follwoing might sneak in the back: Jordan Smith, Travis Wood, Chris Valaika, Juan Francisco.

Bruce and Bailey were both top 10 prospects in all the majors, and that is a rare thing to have. The Reds need to keep their good depth going right now and use this #7 pick to get a prime time prospect.

[oldschoolstyle]

I really am hoping for a slip of Alvarez or Hosmer at this point due to financial reasons. I just hope we aren't cheap about it too. Those 2 are a certainty to be in the top 20. I've said it once and I'll say it again: value is relative. If a guy doesn't have top 20 talent but still is in the top 20, then he will hold a lot of value in trades and such. Hype is value. Overrated players have value. Personally I think both Alvarez and Hosmer are studs, but even if they turn out not to be you could still trade them for a lot.

[The Duke]

My biggest fear is that the Reds cheap out and let elite talent fall past them for a "slot" guy. A #7 overall pick should net elite talent, and better be one of:

Eric Hosmer
Aaron Hicks
Brain Matusz
Aaron Crow
Tim Beckham
Pedro Alvarez
Justin Smoak
or maybe Christian Friedrich

[oldschoolstyle]

Agreed. Not getting one of them is unexceptable. The ONLY possible exception in my eyes would be to get a guy like Cole with a world of upside but is a high risk. If they want to role the dice I'm ok with that, but not if they only do it to play it cheap.

[Lark11]

Jun 2, 2008 13:33:08 GMT -5 The Duke said:

My biggest fear is that the Reds cheap out and let elite talent fall past them for a "slot" guy. A #7 overall pick should net elite talent, and better be one of:

Eric Hosmer
Aaron Hicks
Brain Matusz
Aaron Crow
Tim Beckham
Pedro Alvarez
Justin Smoak
or maybe Christian Friedrich

From what I've read, Crow is sliding due to contract demands that exceed what teams feel he's worth, so he seems likely to be available. Whether or not he's the right pick, I'm not sure.

[oldschoolstyle]

I don't want to draft a college pitcher! Idc how good he is, he won't have any room up here. If he is good enough to go 7th overall, he SHOULD be up to the MLB by the end of next season. Harang, Cueto, Volquez, Bailey, Maloney, Arroyo, and Thompson will already have the rotation covered. Besides, I think the top talent is hitters.

[The Duke]

Maloney is upgradable, Arroyo we should ship for prospects right when he is getting expensive, and Bailey is a head case. If there is a surplus of pitching, then the Reds can shop ot for specific needs in a trade. The Reds have hitters too. Just go BPA and not cheap out and i'll be happy

[oldschoolstyle]

I think we already HAVE a surplus of pitching (not that you ever can have to much pitching, but you get what I'm saying). If EE doesn't cut it, Dunn leaves, Jr leaves, we could always upgrade at Catcher... these are scenarios that could develope soon and we don't have any internal answers. If we do fix them internaly, we are going to need more depth to replace what we take out. There is no pitcher in this draft overwhelming enough to make me pick him over Hosmer, Alvarez, Beckham, Smoak, or Hicks. Heck I wouldn't even mind that Canadian guy we are supposed to be high on. That's just me, and I respectfully disagree with you on this one.

[awnawboi21]

I don't think a surplus of pitching is a problem. Everybody's always looking (and typically overpaying) for cheap young arms. We could cash in.


That said, Hicks is growing on me the more I hear about him. Hosmer is an interesting pick too. I don't think there's a chance in hell that Tim Beckham is available at 7, if he is, he's a no brainer.

[corpjet]

I agree with the statement you can never have too many quality arms.

If we take the BPA, I will be happy.

What would Wayne have done?