Before the game in Dayton last night I had a chance to sit down with Tom Nichols, the radio (and tv for the 25-games that are on in the Dayton area) broadcaster for the Dragons about the team. He talked about the pitching staff being off to such a great start, a few individual pitchers, Carlton Daal, Sebastian Elizalde and Phillip Ervin. Give it a watch/listen.
Another day and another article or two on the great start for Ben Lively. MiLB.com has up their weekly California League article, but it’s main focus is on Lively. There are quotes from Lively and Reds player development director Jeff Graupe. Two of the quotes from Graupe standout a little more than the rest.
“He does have four quality Major League pitches and he’s able to locate them,” Graupe said. “I think it’s easy to kind of point to raw stuff, but pitchability is a major factor.”
“I think we’ll evaluate these next couple starts,” Graupe said, “and move him when we think the time is right.”
There is more from the article worth reading though, so go check it out.
Jim Callis took some reader questions over at MLB Pipeline and to fit the theme, a reader asked about Ben Lively.
It’s hard to contain my excitement when I look at the line Reds right-hander Ben Lively has put up: 6-0, 0.63 ERA, 42 2/3 innings, 23 hits, three walks and 54 strikeouts — and in the California League, no less. Will he stay as a starter? And what kind of upside does he possess?
— Tim B., CincinnatiA fourth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2013, Lively definitely has what it takes to remain a starter. He has tremendous command of four average-or-better pitches: a low-90s fastball, a solid slider and a decent curveball and changeup. Lively doesn’t have a true out pitch, but his offerings play up because of his ability to locate them, and he projects as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
Jamie Ramsey tweeted out yesterday afternoon that the Reds have signed Shelley Duncan (INF) and Lou Marson (C) to minor league contracts. Duncan was in the big leagues with the Rays last season for 20 games, hitting .182/.297/.309. It wasn’t much better in the minor leagues, hitting .215/.287/.382 in Triple-A. Marson only had five plate appearances in the big leagues in 2013, all with the Indians, after injuring his shoulder and missing nearly the entire season. In 2010-2012, being a part time catcher he hit .216/.304/.290 over 801 plate appearances. He threw out 26% of opposing base runners, though at least according to one metric, he is a well below-average pitch framer.
I will have some more draft scouting reports up over the weekend, so be sure to swing by and check those out.