Reds’ top prospects need to bide time with Dragons

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By Marc Katz, Staff Writer Updated 7:55 AM Monday, November 16, 2009

When Ken Griffey Sr. was added to the Dayton Dragons staff last week, it marked the completion of the most major league-experienced staff in the team’s 11 seasons.

Griffey, manager Todd Benzinger and pitching coach Tony Fossas spent nearly four decades in the majors, and all appear able to relate to younger players.

So congratulations to the parent Reds for assembling the staff.

Now, how about the players? A year ago, everyone in the organization knew the Reds were dumping on Dayton, a location where they’re trying to build Reds fans.

Nearly half the 2009 Reds played at one time in Dayton, and next season, that number should go over the halfway mark.

Increasingly, however, the Reds are bypassing their best prospects past the Dragons, so Dayton doesn’t get to see them, and doesn’t get to win.

The Reds say they are trying to develop prospects, not win at the minor-league level.

Well, how’s that working out? For each of the last nine seasons, the Reds have compiled a losing record. Why not develop a prospect who knows how to win?

It’s time to draft better and place those prospects better. It’s time to win some games in the minors. Love seeing Benzinger, Griffey and Fossas in the dugout. Want to see a few like them on the field.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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Ask the Reds front office which of its minor league teams sells out every game? Now let me think? Oh yes, that would Dayton! Dunn, Kearns and the crew drew big the first season but the fans never left after suffering through the likes of Travis Wong and crew. GIVE THE DRAGONS FANS A TEAM! God knows they deserve it!

Chief Black Cloud
11:07 AM, 12/30/2009

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If it helps the Dragons it will help the Reds. When one level see sucess it will carry up and onward.

mitter wed wegs pro whiter
1:59 PM, 11/18/2009

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They kept you but not McCoy. Everything you write is pure drivel.

For the record AAA Louisville, another Reds affiliate has performed very well over the last couple of years.

How you keep our job when more talented people in journalism lose theirs is a mystery, I can only hope that when the next line of cuts come, they fire you so they can afford to maintain the plants around the DDN building.

justin
3:42 AM, 11/18/2009

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If the Dragons ever win a championship it will be totally by accident. They develop players here and move them on,,,sometimes that doesn't take very long...now the will move Lynchburg which is in Carolina league now....

r
11:42 AM, 11/17/2009

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I, too, remember reading an article like this before. I think Mr. Katz misses the point of what the Reds seem to be trying to accomplish here. Their best prospects are not going to spend much if any time in Low-A ball. What it seems to me they are trying to do is polish up some diamonds in the rough by exposing them to Benzinger, Griffey, et. al. By surrounding these lesser prospects with major league coaching, they're trying to develop prospects and a winning mentality simultaneously.

Andy
4:14 PM, 11/16/2009

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