Guerrero sent down, Krebs joins Sara Reds

Evidently, Sarasota starter Alex Smit wasn't pulling my leg then he told me Danny Guerrero had be reassigned to Dayton.

A press release from the Dayton Dragons reported that Midwest League All-star Joseph Krebs was promoted to the Sara-Reds.

The left hander, who pitched a scoreless inning in the Midwest League All-Star Game last Tuesday, went 6-2 with a 2.25 earned run average and six saves for the Dragons. He appeared in 26 games out of the bullpen.

Guerrero rejoins the Dragons after making 30 starts for Dayton over the last two seasons.

He started Monday night against the South Bend Silverhawks, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits and striking out just one in 2.2 innings work.

Guerrero spent the first half of the 2008 season with Sarasota and struggled, going 3-6 with a 7.48 ERA in 13 starts. He made 18 starts for the Dragons last season and went 5-4 with a 4.00 ERA.

The 22-year-old native of Mexico was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2005 season.

Where do they go from here? Next stop for outgoing Sara-Reds on the road the Majors is the AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. That's where Danny Dorn is hiding out at, as well as Cody Straight, Chris Valaika, Craig Tatum and Ben Jukich.

Sarasoa is 2-3, five games into the second half of the season, and two games behind division leading Dunedin. The Reds fell last night on the road to the St. Lucie Mets.

Rafael Gonzalez took the loss in the first game of a double header, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned on 5 hits and a pair of walks. Sarasota lost 9-3, managing only six hits in the contest.

In game two, Misael DeJesus suffered the loss, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5 in 4.1 innings.

St. Lucie, who finished the first half dead last in the league, is leading the FSL East Divison with a 4-1 record in the early going.

Red Sox contemplate move to Sarasota

A couple of articles - one in the Fort Myers News Press, the other in the Cape Coral Breeze - indicate that the Boston Red Sox may be contemplating a move to Sarasota, Florida.

Team Chief Operating Officer Mike Dee has told Lee County officials the team is exploring moving its spring training home from City of Palms Park in Fort Myers to Sarasota.

Sarasota is pitching a new 50-acre facility on the current site of Ed Smith Stadium, the previous home of the Cincinnati Reds. Currently, the Red Sox facility is split between two parcels in Fort Myers with the stadium miles (like 2 or 3) away from the training facility.

Dee said the separated situation is not conducive for spring training and is complicated by Red Sox Nation, which flocks to Southwest Florida every spring.

"It's not ideal for any team," said Dee. "It's extremely challenging for us when we have 4,000 fans show up on any given day at the practice facility."

Dee said the team was approached by officials from the city of Sarasota after the Cincinnati team announced they’d be moving to Arizona before 2010. The contact came while Red Sox officials were negotiating a lease extension with Lee County officials.

(One has to wonder why the City of Sarasota did not have the money to upgrade the existing facilities for the Reds, but will do it for the Red Sox.)

Meanwhile, Lee County is scrambling to see what they can do to keep the team in Fort Myers. The Red sox pay the city $320,000 each year on the stadium. However, it's true that their training facility, while greatly improved, is far down Edison from City of Palms Park. Both sites have inadequate parking.

Now here's an interesting piece from Charlie Whitehead's story in the Breeze:

"Florida locations could continue to fight over the state’s teams. Lee Commission Chairman Ray Judah sent off an urgent memo to legislators Wednesday, asking them to oppose an amendment to a House bill that would allow Sarasota to use state grant money to woo the Red Sox.

"That money, Judah said, was meant to allow Florida locations to fight to keep the teams they have, not lure away other Florida teams."

One thing that the move to Sarasota could do for the Red Sox which remaining in Fort Myers can't, is allow the Red Sox to move their High-A team back into the Florida State League. They have long wished to play in Fort Myers, the Fort Myers Miracle, who serve as the High-A team for the Minnesota Twins, have the FSL territorial rights and will not waive them.

The Red Sox played their High-A team in the FSL and Ed Smith Stadium through 2004. The Sara-Reds have played in the facility since.

I should note that this entire scenario could be a ploy for the Red Sox to gain lease concessions from the city of Fort Myers.

Meanwhile the Reds have considering their move, and seem likely to join the Cleveland Indians in the city of Goodyear, Arizona.

After searching, I did find an article in the Naples Daily News. The Sarasota Herald Tribune has a whole section on story, with a photo gallery and video talking about Sara's history with the Red Sox organization.

So Long Sarasota

A $16 million bond referendum to help fund a $45 million plan to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota failed Tuesday's vote by a narrow margin. With goes any long term plans for the Cincinnati Reds to continue on in Sarasota.

The Reds hold a lease on the Stadium through the 2008 season, and have signed a year-to-year deal to extend it three more years while they search for a new home.

The Cleveland Indians recently agreed to leave Orlando for Goodyear, Arizona. That is one of the cities in line for the Reds as well, as it tries to lock up the monopoly on Ohio Spring Training fans.

Lee County, Orlando and Vero Beach have also been tossed around as possible new homes for the Reds.

Vero Beach is currently housing the Tampa Devil Rays FSL affiliate, but plans appear to be in place to move the team to Charlotte County once the renovations on the Charlotte County stadium are completed.

The Reds had received a promise of $15 mil from the state if they could receive matching funds from locally, but with defeat of the referendum that deal becomes void. It's possible however that the State will agree to match funds for a diffrent location in the state of Florida.

Locations in Bonita Springs and Cape Coral have both been talked about previously as potential locations for a new spring training facility. However as of Thursday, Jeff Maultsby, director of Florida operations for the Reds, has said nothing has been done in terms of a search for a new home.

"We'll get moving here in the next couple days," Maultsby was quoted as saying in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

"It's like a blank canvas, which is kind of exciting," said John Allen, the Reds' executive vice president and chief operating officer, in the same publication. "We can look at a lot of different options."

The fate of Ed Smith Stadium is also up in the air. While the city will save money on the stadium operations, they will not be able to make up the revenue they receive from the Reds being in town. The void in the budget is estimated to be as high as $1.3 million per year.

The Herald Tribune noted that the city gets about $20 mil from a Reds Spring training game, with multiple dates available, vs. $7,000 from the Sarasota Blues Festival, an annual activity.

Jupiter's Sinkbeil sinks Beach Boys

(Photo courtesy Missouri State)

Waikiki 1 at North Shore 8

W: B. Sinkbeil (2-0, 1.13); L: J. Sullivan (0-2, 6.75); SV: S. Walker (1)
HR: None.

Who ever said Threshers and Manatees don't play nice together? In the Hawaiin Winter League, members of both teams are playing side by side on North Shore Honu.

The Hanu picked up a win Friday over the Waikiki Beach Boys, but it was neither a Manatee nor a Thresher that was the story of the game.

Rather, Jupiter Hammerhead's ace Brett Sinkbeil picked up his second win of the season, allowing only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 over 5 innings. He holds a stellar 1.13 ERA in Hawaii, having worked 16 innings in 4 games.

Waikiki's only run came in the fifth when Jermaine Mitchell (Oakland) reached on a fielding error by Lakeland Flying Tigers' shortstop Danny worth. Lucas Duda's (NY Mets) single moved him to second before Sinkbeil walked Oakland's Justin Sellars to load the bags. Mitchell would score on Sean McCraw's (NY Mets) force out, but Sinkbeil would then get Antoan Richardson (San Francisco) to strik out and Hector Pillot (NY Mets) to fly out to end the inning.

Steve Chapman (Milwaukee) walked with 2 outs in the 1st lead of North Shore's offense. Lou Santangelo (Houston) also drew a walk before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) reached on a fielding error and Jamie Romak's (Pittsburgh) double served to bring all three in.

Shintaro Yoshida (F/A) singled his way onto base in the bottom of the second and was followed onto the bags by Michael Griffin (Cininnati) before Chris Valuika (Cincinnati) walked. Michael Champman's (Milwaukee) ground ball to right brought in Yoshida and Griffin, although Chapman would find himself out at 2nd as he tried to strech the single into a double. Santangelo's ground ball to left brought in Valaika before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) would pop out to end the inning.

Hanu's production fell off after that though, and North Shore would not add the final 2 runs until the 8th inning. Gamel walked to lead off, but Jamie Romak (Pittsburgh) hit into a force out to nab him at 2nd. Dusty Ryan's (Detroit) walk pushed Romak to 2nd and Worth would push Romak over the plate when he reached on a throwing error by Waikiki's Sellers. Yoshida hit a sac fly to score Ryan, but Griffin would pop out to end the inning.

Milwaukee's Kevin Roberts pitched 1 inning of relief for North Shore, striking out 2 before Houston's Sean Walker came in to close the game, walking 2 and striking out 4 in 3 innings.

Colorado's Josh Sullivan suffered the loss, lasting only 3 innings and giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, and 3 walks while striking out 1. Kyohei Muranaka (F/A) finished off the game, both his runs were unearned. He gave up 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 5 in 5 innings.

The two teams rematach Saturday at 6:30 PM Hawaiin Time,

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Clearwater knocks out Sara-Reds

Clearwater 4 at Sarasota 3

W: J. Trujillo (1-0, 0.00); L: S. Watson (0-1, 6.00); SV: R. Swindle (1)
HR: None.

For a while, it looked like the Sarasota Reds really wanted to travel over to see the Brevard County Manatees tonight. For a while.

Sarasota jumped out to an early lead as Cody Strait scored off a failed force attempt on Tonys Gutierrez. A fielding error by Clearwater's Brad Harman led to the run with 2 men on base, both walked by Antonio Bastardo.

Clearwater finally got to former Miracle pitcher Alexander Smit in the 4th when Brad Harmon singled and Jeremy Slayden drew a walk. Jake Blalock doubled in the pair on a fly out to center.

The Reds took their lead back though in the bottom of the inning with Eric Eymann doubling in Gutierrez, then passing the plate when Clearwater's Jason Donald threw the ball away.

Sean Watson would replace Smith in the top of the 5th. He'd work 2 innings before the Threshers rallied in 7th.

Clay Harris singled his way onto base. With 2 outs, Brian Burgamy plated him to tie up the game, then stole 2nd base. Brad Harman would draw a walk, Jason Donald would be hit by a pitch and then Jeremy Slayden would walk to force in a run. That prompted the Reds to put Dan Denham onto the mound to get the last out.

The Reds could get nothing off Bear Hill or Rob Swindle and it will be the Clearwater team, not the Sarasota team, taking the bus over to Spacecoast Stadium for a pair of games this weekend.

Smit surrendered two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 4 2/3 frames for Sarasota.

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Clearwater, Brevard post wins

St. Lucie 2 at Brevard County 13

W: B. Wright (1-0, 2.35); L: E. Brown (0-1, 15.43)
HR: BRE: C. Gillespie (1).

First Half East Division Champion Brevard County progressed to the Florida State League finals, putting a 13-2 hurting on the St. Lucie Mets.

Cole Gillespie hit a home run in the first inning to put the Manatees on the board. Nestor Corredor reached on a fielding error in the 3rd and Lorenzo Cain walked. A Mat Gamel single scored the first runner, Cain was taken out on home on a fielder's choice that put Gillespie on base. Singles by Mike Bell and Yohannis Perez, mixed in with a Chris Errecart triple put the Manatees on top 6-0.

An Errecart double and a Perez single in the 7th extended the Manatees lead.

A Nick Evans double and a Dan Murphy single put St. Lucie on the board in top of the 8th, but the game was already out of reach. The Manatees tacked on another 5 runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brae Wright allowed only 2 hits on 8 hits and 1 walk in 7.2 innings while striking out 3. Patrick Ryan finish up on the mound for Brevard County. The Mets farm team threw 7 different pitchers at the Manatees, with Eric Brown suffering the loss for St. Lucie.

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Clearwater 3 at Sarasota 2

W: A. Carpenter (1-0, 3.00); L: D. Thompson (0-1, 3.60); SV: W. Savage (1)
HR: None.

Andrew Carpenter did not throw another perfect game, but the Threshers ace was effective Thursday night against Sarasota as the Threshers tied up the West Division Championship series at one game each.

A Tony Gutierrez walk and a Jeramiah Piepkorn single put the Reds on the board in the bottom of the second. A Lou Marson double helped the Threshers put 2 runners over the plate in the 4th to give the Phillies farm team the lead.

Marson's double in 6th scored Jeremy Slayden for an insurance run, which would be needed as a Cody Strait single, a stolen base and Gutierrez ground ball would give the Reds another run.

Carpenter picked up the win allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2 in 6 innings. Darryl Thompson took the loss the for the Reds, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4 through 5.

The final game of the series is Friday night at Ed Smith Stadium, with the win progressing to face the Manatees.

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Sarasota, St. Lucie take early FSL playoff leads

Sarasota 2 at Clearwater 0

W: B. Jukich (1-0, 0.00); L: A. Cruse (0-1, 3.00); SV: D. Lutz (1)

HR: SAR: C. Strait (1).

Sarasota ace Ben Jukich blanked the Clearwater Threshers for 7 innings at Bright House Networks Field and Cody Strait put a home run ball over the left field fence to lead the Reds to victory in game one of the West Division finals.

Jukich walked 2 and stuck out 5 before giving way to Sean Watson and Derrik Lutz who finished out the game. Clearwater only managed 2 hits agains the Reds staff.

Andrew Cruse took the loss for the Threshers, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4 in 6 innings worth of work.

Strait's yarder came at the top of 4th inning for the Reds. Chris Valaika also scored a run in the top of the 5th off Eric Eymann's sac-fly.

Ron "Bear" Hill finished off the game for the Threshers, allowing 1 hit and striking out 3 in 3 innings. Jason Donald and Matt Thayer were the only Threshers to record hits.

The series now travels to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for games 2 on Wednesday. Zac Stott will take the start for Clearwater. The Reds will counter with Daryl Thompson.

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Brevard County 0 at St. Lucie 8

W: J. Niese (1-0, 0.00); L: D. Welch (0-1, 3.38)
HR: None.

In the East Division finals, the St. Lucie Mets pounded out 8 runs on 12 hits, pasting the Brevard County Manatees.

Jonathan Niese allowed only 1 hit and walked 2 through six innings while striking out 9. Cole Gillespie tripled in the top of the 4th with 2 outs for the Tees, but Chris Errecart struck out swinging to preserve Neise's no hitter.

Victor Mendez scored in the bottom of the 3rd off a Hector Pellot single give the Mets the only run they would need, but there would be plenty of insurance, as the Mets scored consistently in through the next four innings.

Mendez was 2-for-3 with 1 run and 2 RBIs while Nick Evans was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI to lead the Mets. Catcher Sean McCraw and right fielder Ambiorix Conception were also 2-for-4 for the Mets, Conception with a run and an rbi in the contest. Pillot was 2-for-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI in the friendly confines of Tradition Field.

Gillespie was 2-for-3 for Brevard County; Darren Ford and Yohannis Perez had the other 2 hits for the Manatees.

David Welch suffered the loss, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 in 5.1 innings.

The two teams meet tonight in Melbourne for game 2, with Mike McClendon taking to the Spacecoast Stadium mound for the home team, while St Lucie will send right hander Eric Brown.

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