Midwest League 1999

Rockford Reds

Several members of this team also played a significant number of games at Clinton. Stats shown for those players include both teams.

Post-Season Profile

For half the season, it looked like Cincy wanted to give the Rockford fans a going-away present; until the All-Star break, this was clearly the league's best team. After the big-league Reds finished shuffling players, Rockford's team turned anemic. Lots of players had a few games at Marinelli this season; for a couple days they even had Mark Wohlers. And many, many players had excellent half-seasons. The pitching staff was excellent, and deep, Brandon Larson finally found his bearings, and Corky Miller was fun to watch. But the summer ended with a whimper--eight losses in September, when you include the playoffs--and the Rockford franchise left town.

Rockford hosted some fine teams, and for a few years drew good crowds. They deserved a better ending.

Season Summary

• First Half: 45-24 (.652), 1st place, 4.0 ahead
• Second Half: 31-39 (.443), 4th place, 9.0 behind
• Pitching: 76-63, 4.24, 32 saves, 1046 strikeouts
• Hitting: .266, 700 runs, 116 HR, 227 steals (65% success)
• Errors: 208 (1.50 per game)
• April: 10-12 (.455)
• May: 21-8 (.724)
• June: 18-6 (.750)
• July: 15-13 (.536)
• August: 14-18 (.438)
• September: 0-6 (.000)

• Best Player on the Team: Catcher Corky Miller

• Best Starting Pitcher: Dave Therneau (12-3, 3.41, 106 strikeouts) or Robert Averette (9-5, 2.58, 98 strikeouts) or Brett Haring (10-3, 3.34, 94 strikeouts)
• Bullpen Stopper: Jake Meyer (3-2, 16 saves, 2.54, 51 strikeouts)
• Strikeout Pitchers: Dave Therneau, Jake Meyer, James Manias
• Control Pitcher: Dave Therneau

• Best Hitter: Brandon Larson (.300, 13 HR, 52 RBI)
• Home Run Leader: Eric Welsh (16)
• High Batting Average: Brandon Larson (.300), Adam Dunn (.307), Andy Burress (.304)
• High On Base Percentage: Adam Dunn (.409), Corky Miller (.438)
• High Slugging Percentage: Brandon Larson (.536), Corky Miller (.503), Eric Welsh (.473), Blane Layton (.457), Austin Kearns (.458), Adam Dunn (.476), Andy Burress (.452)
• Notable Baserunners: Austin Kearns, Brian Conley, Brandon Larson, Adam Dunn, Andy Burress, Travis Dawkins, Dewayne Wise
• Notable Batting Eye: none

July Profile

The Reds have scored 528 runs while permitting only 454. Although they let up a bit in July, Rockford remains a team with excellent pitchers and a solid but unimposing lineup. The system's done some July player shuffling; this squad was not helped by the changes.

Catcher Corky Miller's developed into a star this summer; he heads a lineup without serious weaknesses but without particular strengths. Some of these guys run well; others are home run threats. Outfielder Austin Kearns is the only player with power and speed.

Dave Therneau is among the league leaders in most pitching statistics, while Robert Averette and Lance Davis are also putting up some impressive numbers. This staff has no weak links; they're a difficult nine to beat.

June Profile

They got better in June. It's time to admit this team's real. The Reds feature the League's best pitching, and their offense is better than average. They run a lot, too. This team's only weakness is at defense.

Catcher Corky Miller, third baseman Brandon Larson, and outfielder Blane Layton are having outstanding seasons. The rest of the offense is solid. There's serious speed, too; shortstop Gookie Dawkins leads in steals, but Larson and outfielder Austin Kearns are better thieves.

The pitching rotation's exceptional: Robert Averette's the most impressive talent, but Dave Therneau's been more successful. Lance Davis and Brett Haring fill out the rotation. The relievers are unremarkable, but none give away games.

Notable mid-season losses: Outfielder Andy Burress has been promoted, and pitcher Jacobo Sequea is now pitching in the Arizona League.

Also worth watching: Reliever George Oleksik.

May Profile

This is the league's best team, but they're not overwhelmingly so. They were nearly flawless in May.

The hitters are strong, but no one's yet taken charge. Corky Miller, the regular catcher, is having the best summer, but third baseman Brandon Larson is the best talent. Larson's only weakness is that he's extremely impatient at the plate; with even a little discipline he'd post some awesome numbers. Outfielder Austin Kearns has shown good power. Everyone runs. Larson, and outfielders Dewayne Wise and Andy Burress are excellent baserunners, but shortstop Travis Dawkins is the most likely thief.

Dave Therneau's leading the league in wins and strikeouts, but really doesn't look like a staff ace. Lance Davis, Robert Averette, and Jacobo Sequea have also pitched well in the rotation; Averette's stats resemble Therneau's. The relief staff is similar; many have pitched well, but none are overwhelming.

April Profile

Rockford's pitching is excellent; can't say much good about the hitting, though, and the defense is terrible. The pitchers do everything well. When a Reds hitter manages to get on base, he's likely to run. And likely to succeed.

Pre-Season Profile

Manager

Mike Rojas has now managed for six years in the minors; the Reds are his third organization, which is a bit unusual. This is his second MWL season. He's a fairly conventional manager, though last year's Quad City squad ran a lot. Since the QC offense was generally poor last summer, this baserunning was likely an effort to get things moving.

Where they played last season

These comments and table are based on opening day rosters.

The heart of this team was at Burlington last summer. The remaining pitching slots were filled from Charleston, and a handful of hitters were promoted from Billings.

Team        League             W/L   Place    Hitters Pitchers
                                    (Teams)
Burlington  Midwest (A)        63-77 13(14)      5       5
Charleston  South Atlantic (A) 44-96 14(14)      1       4
Billings    Pioneer (R+)       40-34  4(8)       3       1

Cincinnati only moves players around a bit, so only a few players are counted twice in this table. Three of these players were in other organizations last season, two did not play professionally, and one played for a team in an independent league. One of this year's Rockford Reds spent half of last season playing AA ball.

First Round Draft Selection

• Brandon Larson (1997; 14th pick)

Returning to the Midwest League

Members of last summer's Burlington team.

• Gene Altman (P, 25 games)
• Andy Burress (124 games)
• Lance Davis (P, 25 games)
• Travis Dawkins (102 games)
• Joe Giuliano (P, 44 games)
• Brandon Larson (18 games)
• Corey Price (52 games)
• Fernando Rios (119 games)
• Dave Therneau (P, 7 games)
• Eric Welsh (135 games)
• Johnny Whitesides (P, 18 games)
• DeWayne Wise (127 games)

Returning to Low-A Ball

Members of last season's Charleston, WVA (South Atlantic League) team.

• Robert Averett (P, 14 games)
• Nathan Gardner (P, 45 games)
• Brett Haring (P, 38 games)
• Corey Price (36 games)
• Jacobo Sequea (P, 13 games)

Oldest & Youngest Reds

On opening day, the average age of the Reds was 21.7 years. Follow this link for more information about MWL team ages.

• Oldest player on the team: Nathan Gardner (born September 10, 1974)
• Youngest player on the team: Jacobo Sequea (born August 31, 1981)