SB Nation - Ben Davis

All Assumptions-Are-Dangerous Minor League Free Agent Team

Jeff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:07:19 -0000

Dave at Fangraphs passed along a link to this year's crop of minor league free agents. A popular thing to do with this information is pick out a handful of guys that would make interesting and potentially worthwhile pick-ups. This is not that. This is a full team made up of guys who, years ago, were supposed to go on to do some big big things, only to end up on the fall 2009 list of mlFA's. Consider this just another reminder that you should never ever ever take a prospect's future for granted.*

C: JR House
1B: Ryan Shealy
2B: Josh Barfield
SS: Antonio Perez
3B: Dallas McPherson
LF: Wes Bankston
CF: Joe Borchard
RF: John-Ford Griffin
DH: Josh Phelps

BENCH-C: JD Closser (does Ben Davis still count?)
BENCH-INF: Eric Duncan
BENCH-OF: Dave Krynzel
BENCH-UTIL: Donnie Murphy

SP: Jerome Williams
SP: Greg Miller
SP: Kenny Baugh
SP: Humberto Sanchez
SP: Bobby Brownlie

RP: Jose Capellan
RP: Wes Littleton
RP: Casey Fossum
RP: John Van Benschoten
RP: Chad Orvella
RP: Clint Everts
RP: Andrew Brown

If there were a 26th spot, I'd give it to Dee Brown, but it would just be so damn easy to include him that I had to find an alternative. Also among the free agents are formerly established Major Leaguers like Chris Capuano and Chad Cordero, along with the astonishingly driven Jolbert Cabrera. Jolbert just wants to win. Come on, Yankees. Take the plunge. Win one for Jolbert.

If there were a 27th spot, I'd give it to Mark McGonigle, because, really? McGonigle?

* never take any player's future for granted

Farmers Only: Weekend Review

BK — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:00:19 -0000

Only 6 games on the weekend for Reds minor leaguers.

Walk-off Wilkin

On Saturday, Louisville won 3-2 over Scranton/WB behind a (finally) good start from Daryl Thompson. Thompson pitched 6 innings and gave up 2 runs. On offense, Norris Hopper, Drew Stubbs, Kevin Barker, and Wilkin Castillo all had two hits. Sunday's game was a true pitcher's duel, as the Bats won again, 3-0 in 11 innings. Ramon Ramirez went 8 innings of shutout ball, and Pedro Viola and Josh Roenicke both pitched more than one inning in relief without giving up a hit. Viola's ERA is down again, to 0.66 now. Deadly. Wilkin Castillo was the hero, with a walk-off 3 run shot in the 11th, and Drew Stubbs was 3-for-4 for the Bats. Up next: Matt Maloney's next in line, as he takes on Scranton at 7:05.

8 shutout innings, dude

Carolina lost an up and down game on Saturday, 7-5. After Carolina broke the 3-3 tie in the 8th, Mobile came back with two in the top of the 9th with two runs. El Nino Destructor singled in his pet chupacabra to tie it in the bottom of the 9th, but Ruben Medina gave up two runs in the 10th to lose the game for the Mudcats. Eric Eymann, who has 6 hits in his last two games, was 3-for-5 to lead Carolina, and Juan Francisco, Zach Cozart, and Sean Henry all had two hits. Chris Heisey went 0-for-4, but walked in the 9th to extend his on-base streak to "every single game this season". The Mudcats were off on Sunday. Up next: Misael DeJesus takes on Birmingham at 8:05.
On Saturday, Sarasota won an extra inning game, 7-6 over Jupiter in 12. Neftali Soto hit his 3rd homer of the season, and Yonder Alonso, Denis Phipps, and Devin Mesoraco had two hits each to lead the offense. Jerry Gil started again, and gave up 6 ER in 3 1/3 innings. It's time to give this little experiment up, Jerry, your 10.36 ERA isn't getting it done. On the positive side of the pitching perspective, Enerio Del Rosario, Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, and Ben Davis all pitched at least two innings of scoreless ball for the S-Reds. Up next: Luis Montano is the probable starter to take on Fort Myers at 7:05.
Dayton beat Kane County 7-5, as Kevin Coddington drove in 3 runs for the Dragons. Curtis Partch had a little bit of trouble, giving up 5 R (3 ER) in 6, but the bullpen was solid to keep the Dragons in the game. Sunday's game wasn't as lucky for the Dragons, as they got spanked by the Cougars, 18-3. Byron Wiley hit his first HR of the season and Frank Pfister had two hits to highlight the Dragons offense. The pitching was obviously bad. Forget that ever happened. Up next: Dayton's off tonight.

Farmers Only: Weekend Recap

BK — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:00:18 -0000

Bailey

Louisville had three games over the weekend, dropping the series to Buffalo. In Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, Sam LeCure had some trouble with the Bisons offense, as he gave up 5 runs in 4 to lose 5-1. In Game 2, the Bats blanked Buffalo 2-0, behind a 7-inning shutout by Homer Bailey. Bailey's 1 walk, 5 strikeout performance may not be good enough for some people, but it's good enough for me. In the rubber match of the series on Sunday, Daryl Thompson pitched a quality start but didn't get any run support, as the Bats lost 4-1. Drew Stubbs is finally starting to come on as of late, collecting three hits on Sunday. He's batting .455 in his last six games. Up next: Ramon Ramirez is the scheduled starter, as the Bats open up a new series against Rochester, first pitch at 7:05.

Stubbs

Carolina split their two games over the weekend with Chattanooga, winning 3-2 on Saturday and losing 5-1 on Sunday. In Saturday's game, Chris Denove was 2-for-5 with a HR, and Zach Cozart and Sean Cumberland had two hits for the Mudcats. However, the pitching Saturday was superb, as Justin Mallett went 6 innings of 2 run ball, and the bullpen pitched 8 innings of 2-hit, shutout ball, combining to strike out 8. Federico Baez, Ruben Medina, Derrik Lutz, and Camilo Vazquez all pitched two innings each, with the latter two giving up no hits. In Sunday's game, James Avery had a solid start, but Sean Watson gave up 4 runs in relief to earn the loss. Todd Frazier had two hits for the Mudcats. Up next: Misael DeJesus takes on 'Nooga again, 7:15 ET.
Sarasota split their games as well, getting blanked 2-0 by St. Lucie on Saturday and winning 4-3 on Sunday. On Saturday, Zach Stewart pitched 8 strong innings, giving up only two runs and striking out 4, but the Sarasota offense could only muster up 3 hits. On Sunday, Jeremy Horst went 5 1/3 innings of 2 run ball, and Ben Davis earned his 3rd save of the season. Carson Kainer had two hits for the S-Reds, Neftali Soto had two hits and a solo HR, and Yonder Alonso was 1-for-3 with a 3 run shot. Up next: Jerry Gil takes on Fort Myers at 7.
Dayton dropped both of their games to Fort Wayne, losing 6-1 Saturday and 4-3 Sunday. On Saturday, Matt Fairel had a rough outing, allowing 7 hits and walking 6 in his 4 2/3 innings of work. In Sunday's game, Josh Ravin pitched 5 innings and gave up 2 runs, but Andrew Bowman ran into some trouble in the 7th to break up the tie. Carlos Mendez went 2-for-4 with a HR for the Dragons, and Miguel Rojas had a home run of his own. Up next: Curtis Partch is the next starter in line as the Dragons face Fort Wayne again, 7:05 start.

Farmers Only: Apparently everyone affiliated with the Reds took the day off on Thursday

BK — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:00:15 -0000

All three Reds minor league teams playing Thursday night lost, and no home runs were hit. Not very exciting for a Reds off day, if you ask me.

Louisville was rained out. Matt Maloney and Sam LeCure will take Buffalo on in a doubleheader, with Game 1 starting at 5:30.
Carolina lost 3-1 to the former Reds affiliate. Dallas Buck pitched three innings for the Mudcats before leaving in the 4th with an injury, according to the Mudcats broadcast. No word yet as to how bad the injury is. Ruben Medina and Alexander Smit pitched two innings of scoreless ball each before Derrik Lutz blew the lead in the 8th to lose the game for the Mudcats. Michael Griffin and Eric Eymann had two hits each for the Mudcats. Up next: Travis Wood takes on those traitorous Lookouts, 7:15 ET.
Sarasota came back from being down 5-2, but lost 7-5 in 10 innings. Matt Klinker allowed 5 runs in his 6 innings of work, and former catcher Ben Davis gave up the walk off home run in the 10th. Kevyn Feiner led the S-Reds with two hits, and Justin Reed was 1-for-5 with 2 RBI. Up next: Travis Webb takes on St. Lucie, starting at 7:00.
Dayton lost to the Beloit Snappers, 6-4. Lance Janke picked up 2 2/3 more scoreless innings in long relief, lowering his ERA to 1.62. Carlos Mendez, Kevin Coddington, and Frank Pfister had two hits each for the Dragons. Up next: Matt Fairel is the scheduled starter against Beloit, first pitch at 7:30.

Farmers Only: TheBobblehead gives you another reason to vote for him

BK — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:00:14 -0000

Bobble

Bobblehead candidate Sam LeCure pitched a gem, as Louisville blanked Toledo 6-0. LeCure went 6 2/3 innings, gave up 3 hits, no runs, and struck out 6. Pedro Viola and Robert Manuel both were nails out of the bullpen. The Bats hot bats kept hitting, with Adam Rosales stretching his hitting streak to 9 games, and Wes Bankston went 2-for-4 with his 4th home run of the season, his 3rd in 5 games. Norris Hopper also had two hits, including a triple, to bring his average up to .254 on the season. Up next: Louisville takes on Toledo again, 2 PM start.
Conversely, Carolina lost to Tennessee 5-0. Dallas Buck started for the Cats, going 6 2/3 innings, giving up 5 R (3 ER), striking out 4. It was a solid start for Buck, but it didn't matter, as the offense saw 7 players have one hit each, apparently not in a sequence that scored a run. Hot hitting Mudcat Chris Heisey had the day off. Up next: Carolina takes on Tennessee again, starting at 2 PM.

Mesoraco

Lucky for the Sarasota Reds, the Palm Beach Cardinals don't have Albert Pujols, so they were able pull off a win 4-3. Matt Klinker started for Sarasota, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing 3 ER, but the bullpen kept the S-Reds in the game long enough to to come back. The bullpen combination of Logan Ondrusek, Joseph Krebs, and Ben Davis combined to pitch 4 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings. Devin Mesoraco was the offensive force, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and the solo HR in the 8th to give the S-Reds the lead. Up next: Palm Beach again, 1 PM.
Dayton can't keep up its winning ways, dropping to South Bend 9-3. Leonardo Astorga is struggling something fierce for the Dragons. He pitched 4 innings, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits, taking his ERA up to 18.90. Any chance he can get replaced in the Dragons rotation? Lance Janke could take over from the bullpen, or one of the guys at extended ST could come in and take a shot. What's Kyle Lotzkar up to? Byron Wiley kept hitting for Dayton, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, but he can't overcome a deficit like that by himself. Up next: Matt Fairel takes on South Bend, starting at 2.