Minor League Wrap (6/22-28/09)
There are nine affiliates playing now that I’m having to keep track of through the dailies, but I’m only going to be keeping up with the top six here because summer league stuff, in Arizona or Latin America, is not something that’s worth paying a great deal of attention to. I’ll get rehab notes in from Peoria when I need to, but I’ve seen so many hitters/pitchers over the years do almost nothing after a tour of the Arizona League to put much stock in it.
To the jump!
The Mavericks Lose by Two Touchdowns (One Extra Point and a Two-Point Conversion):
So I get an e-mail from Dave last night, the subject heading of which is “Holy crapâ€, and the content of which is a link. A link to this box score. Holy crap indeed. An inning later, the two teams cleared fifty runs for the game.
Let’s break this down by the numbers:
Pitchers used: 11 (3 for the Storm, 8 for the Mavs, 2 of which were position players)
Hits Allowed: 58 (32 by the Storm, 26 by the Mavs)
Doubles: 19 (11 for the Storm, 8 for the Mavs)
Triples: 3 (2 for the Storm, 1 for the Mavs)
Home Runs: 10 (5 for the Storm, 4 of which were given up by Jose Yepez, 5 for the Mavs)
Errors: 6 (1 for the Storm, 5 for the Mavs)
Walks: 14 (1 by Storm pitching, 13 by Mavs pitching)
Strikeouts: 15 (6 by Storm pitching, 9 by Mavs pitching)
Wild Pitches: 4 (all Mavs)
It’s also worth noting that one of the errors was overturned and changed to a hit. I hope that was for the sake of breaking some other record.
Some other notes:
• It was the longest regulation game in league history (four hours, ten minutes)
• The Storm broke the record for hits, previously shared by two teams at 29
• The record for runs in a game? Shattered.
• The Storm broke the record for RBI, but not runs, which is just weird.
• None of the Mavericks’ hits came from Joe Dunigan, who was 0-for-5.
• James McOwen is now the sole owner of the Cal League’s longest hitting streak on record with 36 games, more than a quarter of a season of non-stop hitting, and no one is going to know until tomorrow when he either does or doesn’t continue the streak (it’s usually one or the other).
Tacoma Rainiers (2-4 this week, 36-40 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, June 22nd 2009
Off day
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
Las Vegas 4 (TOR – 12), Tacoma 14
W: Delgado, J (2-1, 5.68); L: Burres (4-6, 4.99)
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
Las Vegas 4 (TOR – 11), Tacoma 1
W: Rzepczynski (1-0, 0.00); L: Seddon (4-5, 4.71); SV: Wolfe (1)
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Las Vegas 11 (TOR – 10), Tacoma 4
W: Beam (4-2, 3.83); L: Hernandez, G (3-7, 5.64)
Friday, June 26th 2009
Las Vegas 7 (TOR – 11), Tacoma 8
W: Hull (6-3, 4.85); L: Wolfe (1-3, 5.19)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
Tacoma 5, Reno 6 (TOR 0)
W: Blackley, T (2-3, 4.81); L: Baldwin (5-5, 4.90); SV: Korecky (11)
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Tacoma 3, Reno 4 (TOR + 1)
W: Slaten (2-1, 3.48); L: Stark (0-1, 4.05); SV: Korecky (12)
Hitter of the Week:
DH Jeff Clement, L/R, 8/21/1983
6 G, 23 AB, 9 R, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7/3 K/BB, .347/.423/.913
Early June was not good to Clement. In fact, his overall numbers are still pretty ugly (.224/.296/.408), so I’d like to think that the bunch of extra-base hits this week were worth something. The good news is that if he’s ready to try legging out a triple (not that he’s even trying to steal bases or anything), I’m guessing that he might be getting close to donning the gear and climbing behind the plate again, but at this point we can only guess.
2010 Left Fielder Mention:
OF Michael Saunders, L/R, 11/19/1986
6 G, 25 AB, 3 R, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6/0 K/BB, CS, .360/~.360/.680
Pitcher of the Week:
LHP Chris Seddon, 10/13/1983
0-1, GS, 3.00 in 6.0 IP, 7 H (HR), 2 R, 3/3 K/BB, 8/7 G/F
When Fister doesn’t pitch well, I have to think of new ways to say that the Mariners have already pillaged what worthwhile pitching the Rainiers had. What’s that, Chris Seddon? You say you want to be pitcher of the week? Okay! Because RR-S is on suspension for headhunting, Hull was awful in a spot start on two day’s rest, Baldwin’s “throw down the middle†philosophy failed, as did that of Fister, all the relievers gave up runs, and Gaby Hernandez is still Gaby Hernandez. Unlike with the D-Jaxx, I don’t think help is on the way.
Honorable Mention:
N/A
From The Training Room:
So, RR-S hit Angel Sanchez in the head with a pitch and both benches cleared. It didn’t get ugly, but he was suspended. Reinforcements consisted of RHP Joey Newby, who has trouble with the strikezone. Goody. Oswaldo Navarro replaces Mike Morse on the roster. He does not replace Mike Morse in our hearts.
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (3-4 this week, 3-4 in the second half, 30-47 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, June 22nd 2009
West Tenn 6, Mobile 7 (ARI)
W: Ellis (2-1, 1.38); L: Aumont (0-2, 6.75)
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
West Tenn 2, Mobile 9 (ARI + 2)
W: Roemer (3-4, 3.61); L: Parker (4-4, 4.06)
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
West Tenn 4, Mobile 10 (ARI + 3)
W: Shell (2-0, 0.60); L: Evans (3-8, 4.71)
Thursday, June 25th 2009
West Tenn 6, Mobile 1 (ARI + 2)
W: Parker (4-3, 3.77); L: Mann (4-4, 5.20)
Friday, June 26th 2009
West Tenn 9, Mobile 3 (ARI + 1)
W: Souza (5-6, 3.31); L: Enright (5-6, 3.92)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
West Tenn 6, Mobile 5 (ARI 0)
W: Orta (1-1, 2.66); L: Stange (0-2, 4.22); SV: Aumont (1)
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Mississippi 6 (ATL + 2), West Tenn 3
W: Reynoso (5-4, 3.31); L: Fields, J (2-1, 5.68); SV: Gustafson (1)
Hitter of the Week:
CF Ezequiel Carrera, L/L, 6/11/1987
7 G, 22 AB, 6 R, 9 H, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2/6 K/BB, 4 SB, .409/.536/.636
I am glad to have Carrera back because not only does he give the D-Jaxx an actual noteworthy prospect but he makes my life a hell of a lot easier. Since returning from the DL on the 19th, Carrera has played in every game for the D-Jaxx, reached safely in all of them (hit in all but one), and after a blip on his K/BB radar (3/1 through the first two games), he is now back to walking more than he strikes out. As Dunigan before him, Carrera has had no rust to shake off after leaving the bench. With three extra-base hits on the week, including his first home run of the year, he has increased his total for the year by 50%, and if more are on the way, watch out.
Not Quite Dead Yet Mention:
CF Gregory Halman 8/26/1987
4 G, 16 AB, 3 R, 6 H, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5/1 K/BB, CS, .375/~.412/.750
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Steven Shell, 3/10/1983
1-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0/1 K/BB, 6/12 G/F
Pitching in West Tenn continues to suck. So what else is new? Fields allowed six runs, Aumont gave up one in an inning and a third, and the two fellows who had two starts this week, occasionally a scale-tipping move, managed to have one good outing and one where they had as many or more runs than innings pitched. Shell is here because he did not fail to be interesting, recording no strikeouts through six innings, but only one walk and two hits. Of course, with his recent background and the exciting trade yesterday, I mostly think about the other former Nat we supposedly have in system. Paging Chad Cordero…
One Win Away from an Even Record Mention:
RHP Justin Souza, 10/22/1985
1-0, GS, 3.18 ERA in 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2/2 K/BB, 6/9 G/F
From the Training Room:
Gavin Dickey hit the DL, for reasons I’m not entirely clear on, but instead of bringing on an extra outfielder, they decided to sign a middle infielder, Jimmy Mojica. Take a guess as to which organization Mojica has a history with. Luis Pena, who has been on the DL since his first start of the year, looks like he might be back soon as he pitched five innings for Peoria on Saturday night, giving up a run on a solo shot and striking out six.
Strange Happenings:
Phil Plantier, D-Jaxx manager, will be managing the North Division in the Southern League All-Star Game two weeks from today. What strikes me as odd about this is that the D-Jaxx didn’t win the division in the first half, and didn’t win it all last year either.
High Desert Mavericks (2-2 this week, 2-2 in the second half, 45-29 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, June 22nd 2009
Off day
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
All-Star Game:
Dunigan 1-4
Liddi 1-2
Scott 1-2
Diaz 1-3, BB
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
Off day
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Bakersfield 6 (TEX), High Desert 3
W: Bleier (5-4, 4.48); L: Ramirez, J (4-4, 4.61); SV: Reed, E (9)
Friday, June 26th 2009
Bakersfield 1 (TEX 0), High Desert 3
W: Hensley (3-1, 4.30); L: Tatusko (1-2, 3.68); SV: Richard, S (4)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
Bakersfield 8 (TEX – 1), High Desert 16
W: Hume (8-3, 4.46); L: Falcon (1-1, 2.43)
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Lake Elsinore 33 (SD + 2), High Desert 18
W: Teague (1-1, 5.40); L: Adcock (5-4, 4.54)
Hitter of the Week:
3B Alex Liddi, R/R, 8/14/1988
4 G, 16 AB, 9 R, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4/2 K/BB, .438/.526/1.125
Fresh off his being named to the Futures Game, and playing in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game, Liddi continues to establish himself. What’s especially impressive about this week is that none of his home runs came in the ludicrous 33-18 game, and instead he got them the old fashioned way in regular, somewhat normal games taking climate into account. Liddi now has nineteen home runs for the year. Prior to this season, he had seventeen home runs, for his career. In half a season plus a few days, he has twenty-one more total bases than he did all of last year. He’s four away from matching his doubles total for last season, one away from matching his triples, and already has thirteen more RBI. High Desert does things for a hitter.
Cal League Record Holder Mention:
RF James McOwen, 9/26/1985
4 G, 20 AB, 5 R, 9 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 1/1 K/BB, .450/.476/.700
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Steven Hensley, 12/27/1986
1-0, GS, 1.13 ERA in 8.0 IP, 4 H, R, 11/1 K/BB, 9/3 G/F
Abreviated weeks make my job easy. Hensley happened make it easier. Building of last week, when he had five Ks to two walks and six hits allowed in seven innings, Hensley started this week and hit double-digits in Ks, simultaneously transforming himself into an extreme groundball pitcher. He struck out seven in a row from the first to the third and no one reached against him until the fourth. It’s possible that he was working on something over the break, and certainly impressive given it was in High Desert, but Bakersfield doesn’t have a great offense and strikes out the second most in the league.
Because Sunday Left No Survivors Mention:
LHP Donnie Hume, 8/29/1985
1-0, 5.06 ERA in 5.1 IP, 3 H (HR), 7/0 K/BB, 5/5 G/F, 3 WP
From the Training Room:
Juan Diaz is on the DL, though the Mavs should be able to compensate. Deybis Benitez joins the team to fill in on the infield. Pineda remains on the DL. I believe Harben may have been released.
Strange Happenings:
You got enough of that already.
Clinton Lumberkings (2-2 this week, 2-2 in the second half, 42-32 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, June 22nd 2009
Off day
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
All-Star Game:
Tenbrink 0-1 RBI
Savastano 1-2
Sanchez 2 BB
Serrano 2B
Almonte 1-4 (2 K)
Pribanic : 1.0 IP, H
Hann : 0.2 IP
Flores : 0.2 IP, 0/1 K/BB
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
Off day
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Beloit 2 (MIN), Clinton 7
W: Jimenez, Jo (4-1, 2.94); L: Berlind (2-8, 4.04); SV: Hann (4)
Friday, June 26th 2009
Beloit 3 (MIN – 2), Clinton 4
W: Penney (2-1, 3.38); L: Pugh (2-2, 4.15); SV: Flores, R (14)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
Rain out
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Beloit 6 (MIN – 1), Clinton 2 (seven innings)
W: Lanigan (7-4, 4.46); L: Venegas (2-3, 3.69)
Beloit 6 (0), Clinton 4 (seven innings)
W: Tarsi (3-1, 1.95); L: Pribanic (6-4, 2.49); SV: Williams, Ma (5)
Hitter of the Week:
RF Denny Almonte, S/R, 9/24/1988
3 G, 10 AB, 2 R, 5 H, 2B, HR, 3/0 K/BB, 3 SB, .500/.500/.900
About a month ago, while he was stuck in a May that saw him slug and little else (with thirteen home runs, he already has three more than last year, and in over one hundred fewer at-bats), we started to raise the idea that Almonte should consider giving up switch-hitting soon, as his numbers against left-handers were unimpressive. Now compare his lines: .267/.302/.522 vs. LHP, .273/.326/.511 vs. RHP. Whoops? Still, even with such progress, his eye numbers would suggest that he’s still more comfortable with a right-hander on the mound, as he hasn’t seen improvements in his walks, but his Ks have gone down from nearly half of his ABs to less than 40%, and they continue to fall. Overall, he still strikes out in well over a third of his at-bats, but this is something to consider as the season continues.
Always a Bridesmaid Mention:
IF Scott Savastano, R/R, 6/12/1986
4 G, 13 AB, 2 R, 6 H, 2B, 4 RBI, 2/4 K/BB, SB, .462/.588/.538
Pitcher of the Week:
LHP Jose Jimenez, 3/23/1987
1-0, G, 0.00 ERA in 2.1 IP, 2/1 K/BB, 3/2 G/F
The starter, which included Kasparek, Cleto, and Pribanic, did not have a good start to the second half, so for the hell of it, let’s talk about the parts of the bullpen that aren’t Hann/Flores, because the whole of the pitching staff is pretty good. Jimenez got through the month of April without allowing a run, and has yet to allow one against left-handers. He holds a .122 average against them with a 20/6 K/BB in 11.1 innings. Right-handers give him more trouble, .301 average, twelve walks, only eight Ks. Nation, who could have taken the top spot (I like wins or something), has turned is on in June, only allowing five hits through 14.2 inning and running an 11/3 K/BB.
Another Good Reliever Mention:
RHP Blake Nation, 5/16/1987
0-0, G, 0.00 ERA in 2.2 IP, 3/1 K/BB, 3/2 G/F
From the Training Room:
There were some significant shake-ups in the catching corps, as Tommy Johnson was sent back to Peoria, Flaming Bees was added, and Travis Howell was placed on the DL. Mario Martinez was also sent to Everett, while right-hander Maikel Cleto joined the team. Cleto pitched four and a third innings in his first start with the Lumberkings, giving up a run on two hits and three walks against three Ks. LaFromboise got pushed to the bullpen.
Everett Aquasox (5-4)
Monday, June 22nd 2009
Everett 1, Vancouver 7 (OAK + 1)
W: Christensen (1-0, 0.00); L: Roy (0-1, 21.60)
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
Spokane 3 (TEX 0), Everett 4
W: Pullen (1-0, 3.38); L: Matlock, C (0-1, 2.70)
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
Spokane 18 (TEX + 1), Everett 9
W: Tullis, B (1-0, 6.75); L: Stanton (0-1, 13.50)
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Spokane 1 (TEX 0), Everett 12
W: Lewis (2-0, 1.50); L: Ross (1-1, 5.40)
Friday, June 26th 2009
Spokane 1 (TEX – 1), Everett 5
W: Czyz (1-1, 1.59); L: Thompson (0-1, 4.50)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
Spokane 1 (TEX – 2), Everett 5
W: Brown, K (1-0, 13.50); L: Bermudez, Re (0-1, 7.20); SV: Pullen (1)
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Everett 4, Eugene 5 (SD – 3)
W: Hinson (1-1, 8.59); L: Rios (0-1, 7.50); SV: Erickson, D (2)
Hitter of the Week+:
IF Hawkins Gebbers, R/R, 7/29/1986
9 G, 34 AB, 4 R, 14 H, 3 2B, HR, 9 RBI, 3/3 K/BB, 2 CS, .412/.474/.588
So maybe I talk about how Gebbers has a hit safely in all nine games so far, except McOwen is doing that hitting thing pretty well right now. Maybe instead I talk about how he’s from Brewster up in Okanogan County, except with a population of around two thousand, I don’t know how many people would be able to find it on the map. I could talk about his name, which is a very gritty name indeed, but I think I’ve already mentioned that as well as the anecdote about him coming on in extra innings for his college team, hampered by a serious cough, and how he knocked one over the left field wall to win it. Gebbers is an interesting player for a number of reasons.
Another Dutchman Remembers How to Hit (but still sort of imitates a windmill) Mention:
CF Kalian Sams, 8/25/1986
4 G, 16 AB, 5 R, 6 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7/1 K/BB, 2 SB, .375/.412/1.000
Pitcher of the Week+:
RHP Taylor Lewis, 6/2/1988
2-0, 2 GS, 1.50 ERA in 12.0 IP, 9 H (2 HR), 2 R, 11/3 K/BB, 11/14 G/F, 2 WP, 3 HB, BK
The opening day article published in the Everett Herald mentioned that Lewis hates to lose, which is worth writing about. You don’t want to see your opening day starter phone it in. That’s just bad press. But as it turns out, Lewis is pretty good too. In his first outing, he managed to hold Vancouver to one run despite four hits, three walks, a hit batter, and a balk, though he did also strike out six. I was tuned into this game and it seemed like every time he got himself into trouble, he managed to get back out of it. His second start was a bit easier, but check this out. The only two runs against him so far are solo home runs. He has a .320 average against bases empty, and one grounder for every five flies. Runners on? A paltry .053 average (just one hit), seven Ks to two walks (6.2 innings overall), and two and a quarter grounders per fly. Small sample size. Still cool.
Token Rotation Southpaw Mention:
LHP Nick Czyz, 4/10/1987
1-1, 2 GS, 1.59 ERA in 11.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 12/6 K/BB, 13/8 G/F
From the Training Room:
After the road trip to Canada, the Sox added RHPs Chris Kirkland, Taylor Stanton, and Andrew Carraway, 3B Mario Martinez from Clinton, and CF Jose Rivero from Peoria.
Strange Happenings:
“Wednesday night Everett took a 6-0 lead before eventually losing to Spokane 18-9.
Exactly seven years to the day earlier the mirror image occurred. On June 24, 2002, the Sox fell behind 6-0 to the same Spokane Indians in a game at Everett Memorial Stadium before rallying to win 9-8.
Everett’s starting pitcher in that game, who staked the Indians to a 6-0 lead? None other then current Sox pitching coach Rich Dorman.
That wasn’t the only unusual aspect to Wednesday’s game. The Northwest League is renown for its lengthy games. Yet despite the fact that 27 runs were scored, Wednesday’s game was completed is less than three hours, clocking in at 2:59.â€
Everett Herald, 6/26/2009
Pulaski Mariners (1-5)
Monday, June 22nd 2009
No game.
Tuesday, June 23rd 2009
Danville 8 (ATL), Pulaski 3
W: Masters, C (1-0, 0.00); L: Diaz, N (0-1, 8.44)
Wednesday, June 24th 2009
Danville 7 (ATL + 2), Pulaski 6
W: Surinach (1-0, 0.00); L: Maurer (0-1, 7.20); SV: Berryhill (1)
Thursday, June 25th 2009
Danville 12 (ATL + 3), Pulaski 3
W: Rasmus (1-0, 2.45); L: Tome (0-1, 9.00)
Friday, June 26th 2009
Pulaski 4, Elizabathon 14 (MIN + 4)
W: Munoz, Mi (1-0, 3.60); L: Chang (0-1, 8.10)
Saturday, June 27th 2009
Pulaski 3, Elizabathon 8 (MIN + 5)
W: Sanchez, An (1-0, 5.40); L: Rodriguez, L (0-1, 32.40)
Sunday, June 28th 2009
Pulaski 9, Elizabathon 6 (MIN + 4)
W: Valdez (1-0, 7.94); L: Davis, T (0-1, 8.10); SV: Vasquez (1)
Hitter of the Week:
LF Dwight Britton, S/R, 7/17/1987
6 G, 23 AB, 5 R, 8 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 10/1 K/BB, .348/.375/.739
One of the few Nicaraguans in the system (perhaps the only position player), Britton spent three years in the summer leagues before graduating and, after a season in Peoria, is now in his second tour of the Appalachian League. Scouts have generally liked his tools, but as you can see in his numbers, there are some things lacking in his “swing as hard as I can†approach. It’s worked for him through the first week, it might not after that. Expect Morban (.333/.400/.444) or de Jesus (.211/.375/.263, but it’s early), or even the recently surprising Noriega (.316/.409/.579) to take over the top spot in future weeks.
“Walk This Way†Mention:
C Tommy Johnson, 3/14/1986
3 G, 4 AB, R, 2 H, 2 2B, RBI, 1/5 K/BB, .500/.778/1.000
Pitcher of Week:
LHP Richard Ortiz, 11/26/1987
0-0, 2 G, 2.25 ERA in 4.0 IP, 2 H, R, 6/0 K/BB, 2/4 G/F, HB
Some of these guys aren’t bad, but they started out poorly, and the two teams Pulaski has faced so far are leading their respective divisions by good margins. Ortiz is the only pitcher worth mentioning as of yet, primarily for his Saturday performance in which he struck out six in three nearly-perfect innings (hit batter). Prior to this season, he spent two seasons in Peoria and two in the Dominican. He can strike out some guys now and then, but he’s another one of those arms that lacks a solid approach and walks too many.
Mighty Fine Peripherals Mention:
RHP Jean Tome, 9/5/1989 (from Brazil)
0-1, GS, 9.00 ERA in 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), 9/2 K/BB, 3/0 G/F
From the Training Room:
The Pulaski roster is filling out with various players being signed and getting their reps in at Peoria. The M’s have recently added RHPs Brian Cloud (NDFA) and Jorden Merry (40th round), LHP Brian Moran (7th round), and OF Mark McGonigle (NDFA). They also got SS Fred Bello from the Aquasox and LHP Richard Ortiz, after he had a brief stint in Peoria.
Dispatches from the Land of Rehabbers:
OF Daniel Carroll: 4 G, 19 AB, 2 R, 3 R, 2B, 4 RBI, 9/2 K/BB, SB, .158/.238/.211
OF Gregory Halman: 3 G, 11 AB, R, 2 H, 3B, 2 RBI, 8/2 K/BB, .182/.308/.364
LHP Cesar Jimenez: 0-0, 3 G (2 GS), 0.00 ERA in 3.0 IP, H, 2 HB, 5/1 K/BB
RHP Shawn Kelley : 0-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 1.0 IP, 2/0 K/BB
RHP Luis Pena: 2-0. 2 G, 1.80 ERA in 10.0 IP, 3 H (HR), 2 R, 10/3 K/BB
RHP Jeff Zimmerman: 0-0, GS, 4.50 ERA in 2.0 IP, 2 H, R, 2/1 K/BB
Comments
11 Responses to “Minor League Wrap (6/22-28/09)”
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Great report as always, Jay.
It’s only half of a season, but what a half of a season for Liddi. I checked out the Future Forty, and you guys had him pegged for a 2013 ETA.
Again, half a season and the California League. But, have you seen anything this season that might make you think sometime in 2011 or 2012 may be possible? Or, should we expect a big regression at some point?
Jay i continue to look forward every week to your report
its funny Carson and I were on the same thought process. do you see Liddi moving up to West Tenn to see if this tear is ligit anytime soon. im pretty patient and i would really like to see him solidfy as a real prospect…
I understand his defense isnt very good but what are the chances that he sticks at third?
2 questions-I was wondering about Messinger. Is he a Major League closer on a AAA team? 2nd-Is your last rehab mention the Jeff Zimmerman of late ’90’s Rangers fame?
I suppose it’s possible McOwen could have a game without an official at-bat next. (That would be rather cool, actually.)
Messenger is a AAAA reliever on a AAA team.
Mike Snow already answered part one, or at least part of part one. Messenger gets some saves, but because he puts the ball in play so much, they’re frequently sloppy. He’s not a bad arm to have around, as last season proved, but we can do better, and we ought to.
And yes. That Zimmerman is the same Zimmerman. Not to be confused with Jordan Zimmerman.
I haven’t “seen” anything exactly because I don’t make it down to the Cal League all that often, but in the lines from month to month I’ve seen some reasons for hope. He went from three strikeouts to every walk for most of last year to around two for most of this year, but he still strikes out a bit and he’s been lucky so far to have as many hits drop in as he has. June has seen performances from him that are more normalized, but even so, the park factors in California can be so extreme. Taking both into account, his road OPS of .845 is not terribly impressive.
Liddi is still more of a physical player than a skilled one, and while the Midwest League exposes such things, California masks them. I don’t think I see the new organization, with their conservative approach, pushing him to West Tenn and neither would I. His track record doesn’t support that, and his improvement has been on an arithmetic (or incremental) scale rather than the exponential on that it seems. Acknowledging that Mavericks Stadium could encourage some bad habits, and has in the past (swings that only work at home), I still keep him where he’s having success right now and preach fundamentals that he could be able to apply later against tougher competition.
Maybe managing the North Division in the Southern League All-Star Game is not considered a reward?
Are you suggesting it’s like being a Union soldier at a Civil War reenactment?
Well, he’s sitting on the bench tonight it seems, even though the Mavs had that all-star break earlier in the week.
I’m blaming you, by the way.
Thanks for the update on Dennis Raben. I was wondering why he wasn’t on the Aqua Sox roster.
Which was on the 5/25 update about Raben, sorry about posting on wrong thread.