Joe

Valentine

Did you get all that? Obtained from Oakland for Jose Guillen last year, the 24-year-old has been a closer throughout his minor-league career. He needs, however, to develop a breaking ball to make him more effective, and starting games in the minors will give him more innings to practice his new pitch.

Valentine has been a starter in the minors this year, but the Reds will use him as a reliever. It’s uncertain who will be sent down to make room for him.

Now this is a surprise. Valentine had a 5.01 ERA in Triple-A and a 12.00 ERA in one start and five relief appearances as a major leaguer, but manager Dave Miley gave him the save opportunity after Ryan Wagner pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings. While it could be the start of a trend, Valentine isn’t yet that great of a bet.

We don’t expect Valentine to be a long-term solution, but he did strike out two, hitting 97 mph on the gun, in a perfect inning last night. The Reds will want to see if he’s for real.

His own error led to the run. After a leadoff walk, Valentine threw away Nomar Garciaparra’s comebacker, putting runners on the corners with no outs. He then got Moises Alou to ground into a double play as a run scored, and after Aramis Ramirez singled, Derrek Lee struck out.

He was far more impressive than Ryan Wagner, who allowed three runs in one-third of an inning. Valentine has given up just three runs in 12 2/3 innings this month. Of course, the 11 walks he’s allowed show that he still has some problems to work through.

We’ll be disappointed if Ryan Wagner doesn’t get the next save chance the Reds generate.

That’s two losses in three days for Valentine. He may still be the primary closer for now, but Ryan Wagner, who pitched two more scoreless innings tonight, could also get a look.

Valentine walked two, but he recorded the last out of the ninth and then pitched a scoreless tenth. Ryan Wagner pitched two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, but since Valentine was saved for the late game situation it appears he is the favorite for saves right now.

Valentine loaded the bases and then threw a wild pitch with Albert Pujols up and two outs. Valentine has pitched well in pressure situations twice in the last few days, so tonight’s outing isn’t too discouraging.