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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Bullpen Solid In Spring Contest

March 26, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Sarasota, Fla.-The Dayton Dragons continued their preparations for the start of the 2008 Midwest League baseball season on Wednesday afternoon, battling the Hickory Crawdads in Bradenton.

The Crawdads lineup featured two Pittsburgh Pirates major league players who were in minor league camp to get extra at bats. Pirates center fielder Chris Duffy led off each of the first four innings of the game and was followed to the plate in the first three innings by 2006 National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez, regardless of where the team was in the batting order. Similar occurrences are common in minor league spring training games.

Duffy and Sanchez gave Dragons starting pitcher Luis Montano trouble, as the Crawdads enjoyed a pair of three run innings against the 23-year-old and went on to win the game 7-0.

The highlight of the day for Dayton was the work of the bullpen. Relievers Phillippe Valiquette, Dan Zeffiro, and Joseph Krebs combined for five scoreless innings. Valiquette, who pitched for Dayton in each of the last three seasons, was very impressive in retiring all six batters he faced. Zeffiro threw two shutout frames, and Krebs pitched a perfect inning while striking out two.

Krebs, who had an outstanding college season in 2007 at the University of Texas, could emerge as the Dragons closer when the season opens on April 3rd at Great Lakes. The 23-year-old former high football star receiver went 3-2 with a 3.98 earned run average in 10 games with Billings last summer after being drafted by the Reds.

The Dragons will take on the Orioles' Single-A club, the Delmarva Shorebirds, on Thursday and then meet Hickory again on Friday. They will work out at the Reds Minor League Complex Saturday before heading to Dayton.

After opening the season at Great Lakes, the Dragons will host the Fort Wayne Wizards in their home opener at Fifth Third Field on Monday, April 7th.

Notes: New Dragons third baseman Brandon Waring had a great professional debut season in 2007 when he belted a league-leading 20 home runs for Billings in the Pioneer League. Those 20 homers came after Waring had hit 27 home runs in the spring at Wofford College to rank second in the nation among NCAA Division I players.

"Overall statistically wise, it was a good year, but I think this year I have to be more consistent," said Waring after Wednesday's game. "I had some ups and downs and the main thing is just to be consistent. You have to come ready to play everyday. It's a full season. It's long, it's a grind, and doing the little things right...eating right, sleeping right, just getting ready."

The Dragons have a pair of positional battles still brewing. Four players are in the mix at second base and four others have split the catching duties. The rest of the lineup looks set with Waring at third base, Todd Frazier at shortstop, Mike McKennon at first base, Brandon Menchaca in left field, Justin Reed in center, and Denis Phipps in right. Reed has also played left and Menchaca has been stationed in center.

The strength of the club figures to be the heart of the batting order, with Frazier, Waring, and McKennon batting in the three, four and five slots. The three combined for 36 home runs in a combined 182 games at Billings last season.

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