News over the weekend came that Tony Cingrani was being called up on Tuesday. The Reds don’t really have a situational lefty on the roster since Bill Bray hasn’t been able to stay healthy, so it looks like Cingrani is going to be given the chance to be that guy. Of course, whether that is a good idea or not, I am not sure. In AA this year his splits are better against right handers than against left handers. In 26.2 innings against lefties he posted a 3.38 ERA, 18 hits allowed, 5 home runs, 9 walks and 26 strikeouts. Those are pretty good numbers (except the high home run rate), but not nearly as good as the ones he posted against righties. I also believe that Cingrani will get more playing time than any other call up for the Reds aside from maybe a guy like Ondrusek or Mesoraco.Here is some video that I shot last month while in Pensacola of Cingrani, which apparently hardly anyone watched as it has less than 100 views. So go watch it:
Billy Hamilton won the California League MVP last week. He had an outstanding run in the league, hitting .323/.413/.439 with 104 steals in 392 plate appearances. With that said, he played 82 games in a league where they play 140. A guy like CJ Cron hit 27 homers and drove in 123. Eric Castro hit .283/.380/.511 over 568 trips to the plate while driving in 108. Those guys were there all year. Very strange to see that happen. Hamilton was the only player from Bakersfield who made the postseason All Star team.
In the Pioneer League the Reds had two players named to the Postseason All Star team. Seth Mejias-Brean was named as the third baseman on the team and Ismael Guillon was named as one of the five pitchers on the squad. Pat Kelly also took home the manager of the year award.
In the Southern League Josh Fellhauer was the Reds lone representative on the Postseason All Star team as an outfielder. Billy Hamilton was awarded with the leagues’ best hustler award.
Both Dayton and Louisville were shut out of the postseason All Star teams and awards.
Today is the last day of the season for Louisville, Pensacola and Dayton. Bakersfield will begin the playoffs at home on Saturday, but their last regular season game is today. Billings has a 1 game lead with 4 games left. They need to win the division to make the playoffs.