nkufan23

This new team will actually be playing in a legit league that is a direct feeder to the MLS. I think that's what will make this team succeed versus what other pro teams in the area have done in the past. Anytime a minor league team is affiliated with a major professional team it's odds of succeeding are greater. I see no reason why this team can't be what the Cyclones are for Hockey, I don't even like soccer very much but I'm already excited to attend some games. The New Nippert will be an amazing place to take in these games. I'm pretty sure at least one team from this same league has already transitioned into the MLS, this will be a lot different than the Cincinnati Kings or Saints who play in High School stadiums. Another neat thing about teams in the USL is they sometimes compete against MLS teams in scrimmages and have even been known to upset them sometimes. Carl Lindner III bringing new pro soccer team to Cincy

Baseball America released its best tools in AAA Baseball. Robert Stephenson was named best pitcher in the International League Division with Steven Matz being named the best in Pacific Coast League. 2015 Triple-A Best Tools - BaseballAmerica.com

Jose Lopez had a nice game for Billings last night. 5 shutout innings with just 1 walk and 7 strikeouts. His last 3 starts he has fired 14 innings with 22 strikeouts, only 3 walks and an era of 1.29. This is his first action since being drafted by the Reds in the 7th Round out of Seton Hall last season. He looks to be recovering nicely from his TJ surgery and could end up being a streal. He's has a big time arm. Here's a couple good links on him. Reds RHP Jose Lopez is dominating for the Billings Mustangs Seton Hall pitcher Jose Lopez drafted by Reds | MLB.com

Cody Reed had a rough go of it tonight. 2.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K. His first inning got off to a bad start with a Blandino error and then a bloop single. Reed would also walk 2 in the inning. The 2nd Inning Reed regrouped and struck out the side in order. In the 3rd inning he walked 3 and hit a batter before being pulled. Just didn't have the command tonight.

Very good numbers since June 1st, those numbers are more of the norm for him rather than what he put up during his slow start. I think it took him some time to get adjusted to a new league with better pitching along with recovering from his wrist injury still. His plate discipline and hitting approach are very elite for someone his age, he's a bit Vottoesque.

I delivered mail to Zimmer's house a few years ago when he lived in Sycamore. He was next door neighbors with Jay Gruden.

It's still early but Alex Blandino is 2-for-2 with two singles and a walk tonight, and is now hitting .286/.400/.619 - 1.019 OPS through his first 25 plate appearances with Pensacola. Has four walks to only one strikeout.

Found this little tidbit regarding Winker. For those concerned about him I wouldn't be as he's holding up very well for his age especially given his slow start and the fact he's coming off a wrist injury and playing in a pitchers park Winker's wRC+ is 20% better than the typical Southern League AA prospect. Of those that have 300 ABs in that league, only Orlando Arcia has posted better numbers while being younger. When couched in terms of RAA, he's 8th among all true AA prospects (24 or younger), again just below Arcia when adding numbers to age. If you prefer the back of the baseball card numbers, since June 1 (about 250 ABs) he's gone off for about a .300/.400/.460 line. He's 2 for 3 so far tonight.

Excited to see some Bud Dupree for the Steelers and Charles Johnson for the Vikes. Johnson had somewhat of a breakout season last year, always cool to see the local kids succeed. He has all kinds of talent.

Waldrop, Duran, Rodriguez, Duvall, Skipworth, Finnegan, Lamb, Garrett, Smith, Contreras. I'd say most of these guys are a sure bet as they are already on the 40 man. I think Stephenson, Winker, Weiss and Schuster have a shot as well, they just have to make some moves and add them to the 40 man.

Update on Boyles. Didn't realize he pitched today but he did. 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K's.

Ty Boyles has been pitching really well for Billings. He's a left handed starter drafted in 2013 in the 11th Round, he's 19 years old. He's a big boy at 6'3" and 270 pounds. All he's done since being drafted is put up very impressive numbers. This year at Billings he's thrown 53 innings with a 1.70 ERA and 45 K's. Since being drafted between the AZL Reds and Billings he has 128 IP, 97 H, 128 K's and an ERA of 2.31. Very impressive thus far for the youngster, hopefully he can keep his weight in check and keep producing the same results as he moves up.

Ty Washington is off to a nice start after being bumped up to Advanced A Daytona. He is a 2nd Baseman and was the Reds 43rd Round pick in 2011 out of Plano HS in Texas. He's 21 years old. He has 5 hits in his first 12 AB's with 2 doubles. He's also walked 4 times. On the season he's hitting .286 with a .363 OBP in 196 AB's.

Cory Thompson has been swinging a hot bat lately. He's playing SS for the Dayton Dragons and is 20 years old, he was the Reds 5th Round pick in 2013. His tools are starting to show out. .325 in his last 10 games with 4 HR's and 8 RBI's.

Finnegan roughed up good tonight. 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Garrett had a nice outing. 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Since there isn't a thread for the D-Backs series I'd just like to say I've been impressed by Keyvius so far. The talent is undeniable if he can harness it and control his pitches. He looked great striking out Goldshmidt with that hammer curveball and 95 mph heater. Love that he's only 24. Just another link to add to the long chain of SP candidates or potential bullpen improvements.

Bailey and Disco will also be in the mix for SP I assume. Holmberg and Astin could also be a candidate along with Jackson Stephens and Seth Varner. Although with more elite arms ahead of them these guys are probably destined for the pen. Which brings up another point, the pen should be vastly improved made up of guys that the Reds decide are better off being relief pitchers out of the collection of arms already mentioned. Then you also have guys that are already bullpen arms such as Zack Weiss who has been dominant this year and some other nice arms from the most recent draft such as Herget out of USF who is expected to advance quickly. It's also important to note that the Reds have nice draft position this year with an early first and the first comp pick. These guys will hopefully be bats that can be thrown into the equation by 2017 and 2018. I think the Reds are competing for a wildcard spot in 2017 led by a young and very good pitching staff.

Reed records career-high 12 strikeouts for Blue Wahoos Cody Reed records career-high 12 strikeouts | reds.com

Cody Reed comes in at #3 on the BA hot sheet. Prospect Hot Sheet (Aug. 7): Another No. 1 For Frazier - BaseballAmerica.com Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.60, 2 GS, 15 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 18 SO, 4 BB The Scoop: Vastly improved control this season makes Reed look less like a throw-in from the Johnny Cueto deal with the Royals with each start he takes at the Double-A level. If he continues to repeat his delivery and finish his pitches, then his slider and changeup will continue to improve. Either way, the Reds have to be delighted by Reed’s mid-90s fastball and the results from his first two starts for the organization.

I'm guessing it's TWC 510 or 511 I know I've seen other minor league games on there. On the ASN website I did a search for Florence Zip Code and it said either local TWC sports stations which I'm assuming would be above or WSTR which I know is a local news station in the Cincinnati area. Who knows...I would really like to watch the game though.

Sunday's Blue Wahoos game is supposed to air nationally on the American Sports Network at 6 pm EST. Cant figure out what station that would be.

His velocity was apparently there from what I've read, he just struggled with control like you said.

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It's impressive to me that Cody Reed was able to strike out 12 batters and only through 94 pitches in 8 innings.