Baseball America came out with its Pioneer League rankings on Thursday. The Reds placed four players in the Top 20. Here is how they were ranked:
- 8. Tony Cingrani – LHP
- 10. Ryan Wright – 2B
- 12. Sean Buckley – 3B
- 19. Kyle Waldrop – OF
It is my opinion that the talent level overall in the league was down this season. In the subscriber chat, the #2 prospect in the Pioneer League would have ranked behind #1-5 in the other advanced rookie league, the Appy League. That isn’t to take away from the guys the Reds had listed, all have there abilities worth noting, just that the overall talent in the league may be down slightly compared to previous seasons. Cingrani was the second highest rated pitcher in the league behind the guy ranked directly ahead of him at #7. One other thing to note about the league rankings, they are more based on how the managers feel about the players and often the team and even top 100 rankings will differ somewhat from these rankings. The most important part is the scouting reports from these rankings rather than the placement of the players. The next rankings of a league that will involve the Reds will be on September 27th (Tuesday) then on the 29th.
The Reds have announced that they will pick up the option on Brandon Phillips. Phillips has said that he isn’t happy with that and wants an extension too. I am on the side that really appreciates what Phillips is (a very good player currently), but doesn’t think it makes sense for a team like the Reds to pay him what the market says he should get due to how his value is achieved and his current age combined with the money/years he is going to want/get. The main problem is, the Reds really only have two internal options who I think have a chance of taking over at 2B (or moving Cozart to 2B in once case) for 2013. Henry Rodriguez plays second base and split his year in Bakersfield and Carolina. Didi Gregorius (pictured, right) is a natural shortstop and also split his season with the same two teams. Rodriguez is probably a little more ready with his bat, but Gregorius has the far superior glove of the two players. Gregorius may be rushed if you start him out in Louisville to try and push his time table up to fit Phillips leaving. Rodriguez is probably more ready for AAA after hitting .302/.367/.432 in Carolina over 312 plate appearances. If neither guy is ready for the start of 2013 though, the Reds are likely to have to find a stop gap for the 2013 season and I hope if that is the case that the Reds don’t do something crazy and extend Phillips because he has been here and is the guy that they are comfortable with. That is my take on it. What about you?