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REDS' NO.1 PICK MIKE LEAKE IS A FAMILIAR NAME IN ARIZONA

3.10.10
BY: MEH
MIKE LEAKE IS GODZILLA
REDS' NO.1 PICK MIKE LEAKE IS A FAMILIAR NAME IN ARIZONA
Mike Leake Godzilla
Michael Raymond Leake was selected by the Oakland Athletics during the seventh round of the 2006 MLB draft. Opting to go to college at Arizona State University, the 5'10" right-hander was nothing short of brilliant. In three years he posted a 40-6 record with a 2.91 ERA. Leake led the Sun Devils to three straight PAC-10 titles and won 10+ games in all three of his seasons at ASU (He was one of only two Sun Devils to ever do so). His Junior year in 2009 was by far the best of Leake's career and possibly one of the greatest in Sun Devil history. Going 16-1 (leading the nation) with a 1.71 ERA (leading the PAC-10), Leake won the PAC-10 Pitcher of the Year Award for the second straight year (the only player to ever win the award in back-to-back seasons) and was named the 2009 National Player of the Year by the ABCA. Leake also proved in college that he's no automatic-out at the plate. He batted .299 during his time at ASU in almost 100 at bats. His best year at the dish was 2008 when he batted .340 in 47 at bats hitting 2 home runs and driving in 11. Mike Leake is no stranger to success. During high school in San Diego, Leake led the Fallbrook Warriors to three league titles in four years. It seems that winning may be in his blood.

The Cincinnati Reds selected Mike Leake during the first round (eighth overall) of the 2009 MLB draft. After pitching in the '09 Arizona Fall League (Leake talks about the AFL here) he is currently training with the Reds in Goodyear, Arizona, once again in the state where he culminated his baseball career. When Reds' beat writer John Fay mentioned Leake's status in Arizona prior to Wednesday's game at Tempe Diablo Stadium, he grinned and said, "I'm Godzilla". Dusty Baker had this to say about Mr. Leake:


“He has that quiet confidence. He has a great idea about how to pitch at such a young age (22). He has great command of the strike zone. I remember talking to Bob Welch (former Dodgers, A’s pitcher) who saw him at ASU and he told me, ‘You’re going to like this young man. He keeps that cheese around the knees.’ What I’ve noticed about him is that unlike most young guys he recognized very quickly how a hitter reacts to a certain pitch. He doesn’t throw a fastball past a hitter then come in with a breaking pitch to let a hitter catch up. Nor does he throw a breaking pitch that a hitter is way out in front of then come back with a fastball that enables the hitter to adjust.”



So far this spring, "keeping that cheese around the knees", Leake has continued to pitch according to his resumé. In two games so far he has pitched three scoreless  innings allowing only one hit while striking out two. Joining a brigade instilled with some of the most talented young pitchers in baseball, Leake and his pitching colleagues are doing what they can to reinvent the Cincinnati Reds.

With the help of Mike "Godzilla" Leake, the Reds beat the Angels on Wednesday shutting them out 6-0. Mike Lincoln rebounded after his terrible first spring outing. Imitating teammate Homer Bailey, Lincoln hurled two perfect innings striking out a pair to start the game for the Reds. Fifth spot candidates Mike Leake and Travis Wood both pitched two scoreless innings allowing only one hit each. Veterans Kip Wells and Arthur Rhodes also got some work in on Wednesday. Both continued the youngsters' trend by pitching scoreless innings (Rhodes 1ip, 1h and Wells 2ip, 0h, 3bb, 2so).

Todd Frazier had no lingering effects after being hit by an Aroldis Chapman fastball in Friday's Spring Opener. Frazier led the Reds' offense driving in two runs, after Laynce Nix and Corky Miller both hit RBI singles, capping a five run eighth inning.

MORE NEWS:
-RNR#45 How about these young pitchers? REDLEG NATION
-
Leake, Phillips plus some controversy
HAL McCOY
-Photos from Wednesday's game BETTER OFF RED
-Wednesday news and notes REDS MINOR LEAGUES
-All-time Reds' pitching rotation BLEACHER REPORT
-Cincinnati Reds:The looming tower
DEADSPIN
-A Pirate fan's Reds preview
BUCS DUGOUT

-VIDEO:Leake's line JOHN FAY

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