Minor League Wrap (8/24-30/09)
This is the second-to-last wrap of the season, as the affiliates not playing into the post-season won’t be active after the seventh of September. In fact, the Arizona League playoff is tomorrow and Pulaski won’t play after this coming Tuesday, so the end of the recaps is already in wind-down mode.
To the jump!
Dispatches from the Dominican:
One could look at the 47-26 record the M’s ran in the regular season and assume that they were loaded, but DSL talents are often difficult to evaluate. Unlike the VSL, squads in the Dominican only play within their division, and in the smaller divisions (the M’s are among four teams in theirs), numbers are more likely to be skewed than in a twelve-team division, as two of the others are, to the say nothing of the tendency for any pitcher with a passable offspeed pitch to have the league on a string. While they did manage to take a playoff series from the 49-23 Mets in the Boca Chica North, they were easily run out by the 52-19 Giants, who no-hit the M’s in game two of the second round of the playoffs.
Two of the hitters who put up good numbers on the roster were both in their fourth year in the league, being born in the tail end of 1987. Hector Mercedes hit .286/.398/.451 and Mario Flores hit .276/.382/.454, and both have been splitting time between catcher and first throughout the years. I’m not banking on either of them turning into much, so I prefer the outfield trio of LF George Drullard (seventeen, first-year, .277/.389/.328) and CF Marbin Beltre (eighteen, second-year, .270/.432/.333), who both, displayed a good batting eye regularly, and RF Janelfry Zorilla (eighteen, second-year, .257/.316/.383), who tied for second on the team in home runs. Two “sleepers†I liked were both six-figure signings, if I remember correctly, both in their first year, and both third basemen. Jose Martinez’ ending OPS of .612 wasn’t impressive at all, but he was the only one aside from Mercedes and Flores to hit double-digits in doubles and he managed a July where he hit .322/.366/.414, which is not all that common. Where Martinez faltered late, Lara picked up the slack, with six of his ten hits in August going for extras and a 9/14 K/BB.
The almost-entirely right-handed pitching staff featured such stalwarts as Ariel Alcantara and Victor Duarte, both of which have pitched at least in instructs, and the return of fourth-years Nelson Germocen and Bruno Mercedes. The pitcher with the most impressive numbers was newcomer George Mieses, an eighteen-year-old who ran a 79/22 K/BB in 70.0 innings and allowed just fifty-nine hits. Shortly behind was second-year Ambioris Hidalgo, who had a 75/26 K/BB in 68.0 innings and fifty-six hits allowed. One of the few left-handers on staff, Henry Perez pitched a team-leading 77.0 innings, but his hit rate was a little high despite a 65/15 K/BB, and his previous two seasons with the team were better. High-dollar signing Junior Nunez got his starts in, but while his average against was low, his 44/21 K/BB in 62.1 innings was less than impressive. The team also oversaw pitching transitions for Augusto Marte, Rey Lebron, Oliver Garcia, and at times, Fray Martinez and Jonathan Arias.
As these are numerical rankings, and there are a lot of issues with going about summer league stats in that manner, don’t take these too seriously. As always, someone in the mid-range will arrive to tear it up in Clinton or Everett when they hadn’t been given strong consideration previously.
Tacoma Rainiers (7-0 this week, 70-66 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, August 24th 2009
Tacoma 7, Fresno 4 (SF + 6)
W: Morrow (4-2, 4.11); L: Pucetas (10-4, 4.19); SV: Manuel (2)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Tacoma 11, Fresno 9 (SF + 5) (twelve innings)
W: Stark (2-2, 6.20); L: Matos, O (3-3, 3.54)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Tacoma 2, Portland 1 (SD – 18) (ten innings)
W: Koplove (1-0, 3.00); L: De La Cruz (2-5, 2.98)
Thursday, August 27th 2009
Tacoma 5, Portland 3 (SD – 19)
W: Vargas, J (4-3, 3.14); L: Cherry (0-1, 14.54); SV: Manuel (3)
Friday, August 28th 2009
Tacoma 6, Portland 1 (SD – 20)
W: Hernandez, G (8-9, 5.62); L: Ramos, C (4-5, 3.72)
Saturday, August 29th 2009
Tacoma 4, Portland 1 (SD – 21)
W: Morrow (5-2, 3.71); L: Carrillo, C (0-3, 6.14); SV: Koplove (2)
Sunday, August 30th 2009
Tacoma 6, Portland 3 (SD – 22)
W: Seddon (8-8, 4.55); L: Poreda (0-3, 7.57)
Hitter of the Week:
1B Mike Carp, L/R, 6/30/1986
7 G, 30 AB, 3 R, 12 H, 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 9/2 K/BB, .400/~.438/.533
If the comments from one week to the next are any indication, many are curious about the progress of Mr. Carp, who hit nineteen doubles and ten home runs in the first half and seemed to be a pretty exciting player. Well, in the second half, his average has gotten a little better, but he lost forty points in on-base percentage, nearly fifty in slugging, and has had 26% of hits go for extras (29% this month), compared to 44% before the break. His .808 OPS in August is okay overall, but hitting .214/.333/.286 in July over eighty-four at-bats really made a mess of things for him. Owens deserved this one a lot more, I just thought I’d take the opportunity to talk a little about Carp instead.
.400 Hitter at Premium Position Mention:
SS Oswaldo Navarro, R/R, 10/2/1984
7 G, 25 AB, 6 R, 10 H, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 5/3 K/BB, .400/~.464/.440
Anyone Need a Leadoff Man? Mention:
CF Jerry Owens, L/L, 2/16/1981
6 G, 24 AB, 9 R, 9 H, 2B, 2 3B, RBI, 3 SB, CS, 4/8 K/BB, .375/~.531/.583
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Gaby Hernandez, 5/21/1986
1-0, GS, 1.29 ERA in 7.0 IP, 6 H (HR), 4/0 K/BB, 7/8 G/F
Gaby Hernandez has won five games in August, and has been a big part of the Rainiers run that pulled them into a tie for first as of Sunday afternoon. The Rainiers are also averaging about seven runs of support in games that he’s started, so perhaps he’s just a good luck charm. Going by the monthly stats, the main difference between Hernandez’ 5-0 August and his 3-2 May, which was his second-best month, is just that, and he’s giving up a few more home runs in the heat. The rate stats of a walk every third inning and strikeouts in a little less then two of every three are about the same.
That Other Fifth Starter Mention:
LHP Garrett Olson, 10/18/1983
0-0, GS, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, 7/3 K/BB, 4/6 G/F
From The Training Room:
Alex Cintron is on the DL and Monzon is off it.
Strange Happenings:
Owens went 6-for-7 on Tuesday. Matt Tuiasospo had a two home run night this week, but he also struck out fourteen times in thirty-one at-bats. Oh, and the Rainiers have won nine in a row.
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (4-2 this week, 34-29 in the second half, 61-72 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, August 24th 2009
Birmingham 3 (CHW + 14), West Tenn 4
W: Varvaro (4-2, 2.96); L: Lujan (1-5, 4.61)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Birmingham 4 (CHW + 13), West Tenn 6
W: Bray (7-6, 2.87); L: Zaleski (6-1, 1.88); SV: Varvaro (8)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Birmingham 5 (CHW + 12), West Tenn 9
W: Newby (1-1, 3.08); L: Santos (0-1, 10.38)
Thursday, August 27th 2009
Off day
Friday, August 28th 2009
West Tenn 4, Mississippi 5 (ATL + 1)
W: Kimbrel (2-1, 0.82); L: Varvaro (4-3, 3.10)
Saturday, August 29th 2009
West Tenn 10, Mississippi 2 (ATL 0)
W: Munoz, L (8-6, 3.87); L: Cofield (10-5, 3.71)
Sunday, August 30th 2009
West Tenn 1, Mississippi 6 (ATL + 1)
W: Ortegano (5-3, 2.90); L: Cortes (1-4, 5.48); SV: Butts (5)
Hitter of the Week:
1B Rich Poythress, R/R, 8/11/1987
5 G, 17 AB, 2 R, 6 H, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 5/5 K/BB, .353/~.500/.471
I don’t think Poythress has yet hit quite like he thought he was going to hit coming in. He’s still waiting on his second pro home run and prior to this week he had run a 12/5 K/BB. Something seems to have clicked recently because he now has his first two doubles as a pro and his ability to draw walks got him on base roughly half his times up this week. The strikeouts are still a bit up there, seventeen in sixty-five at-bats, and he’s showing a platoon split of about .200 OPS points, so I’d leave him in double-A to start next season.
Replacement SS Mention:
SS Travis Garcia, R/R, 4/18/1982
5 G, 18 AB, 4 R, 7 H, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 3/1 K/BB, .389/~.421/.556
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Luis Munoz, 1/10/1982
1-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 7.0 IP, 2 H, R, 4/2 K/BB, 6/11 G/F
His numbers were not nearly as exciting as last week, but Hill and Rohrbaugh were off their game and Bray was his usual consistent, though unexciting self, so I’ll opt for Munoz, who didn’t allow an earned run. He only needed seventy-six pitches to get through his seven innings, hasn’t been scored on in the past thirteen frames, retired the first eight in order, and scattered his four baserunners throughout the following five innings, so I’m a little surprised that he wasn’t allowed to try for the complete. In any case, he has his eighth win, and that leads the team.
Strikeouts Mention:
RHP Dan Cortes, 3/4/1987
0-1, 2 GS, 3.27 ERA in 11.0 IP, 11 H (HR), 4 R, 17/5 K/BB, 8/7 G/F
From the Training Room:
A trip to the DL for Quiroz brought in Jose Yepez from High Desert. Otherwise, things were unchanged, though Triunfel has been rehabbing in Peoria.
High Desert Mavericks (5-2 this week, 36-27 in the second half, 79-54 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, August 24th 2009
Lancaster 6 (HOU – 3), High Desert 10
W: Penney (2-2, 4.63); L: Urckfitz (0-1, 6.75)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Lancaster 11 (HOU – 4), High Desert 12
W: Richard, S (7-1, 5.60); L: Duran (1-5, 8.33)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Lancaster 1 (HOU – 5), High Desert 2
W: Hensley (8-3, 4.44); L: Wolf (5-6, 5.07); SV: Jensen (1)
Thursday, August 27th 2009
High Desert 8, Inland Empire 1 (LA – 13)
W: Ramirez, J (8-9, 4.72); L: Miller, J (0-5, 7.20)
Friday, August 28th 2009
High Desert 1, Inland Empire 4 (LA – 12)
W: Alvarez, Ma (5-6, 4.45); L: Robles (2-2, 2.96); SV: Pfeiffer (3)
Saturday, August 29th 2009
High Desert 1, Inland Empire 4 (LA – 11)
W: Wall (4-8, 5.91); L: Wild (6-8, 4.13); SV: Pfeiffer (4)
Sunday, August 30th 2009
High Desert 3, Inland Empire 1 (LA – 12)
W: Hume (17-5, 4.76); L: Brannon (0-3, 4.36); SV: Richard, S (13)
Hitter of the Week:
RF Carlos Peguero, L/L, 2/22/1987
7 G, 22 AB, 8 R, 7 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6/3 K/BB, .318/~.400/.864
The recent home run tear by Peguero was enough to get him listed as the top dog on the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet for this past week, and their comments raise some points that I hadn’t yet mentioned. For those of you resting so that you may click over on more dire matters, they cover his earlier injuries, the elbow surgery in ’07, the wrist surgery in ’08, that have impeded his development and had him playing in less than eighty games on average coming into this year. His strikeout issues are just as terrifying as ever, but he’s at least drawing more walks this year.
Recent Trouble with Stolen Bases Mention:
CF Tyson Gillies, L/R, 10/31/1988
7 G, 28 AB, 6 R, 10 H, 2 3B, 2 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, 3 SB, 2 CS, .357/~.400/.500
.405 in the Last Ten Games Mention:
IF Jeffrey Dominguez, S/R, 7/31/1986
4 G, 14 AB, 5 R, 6 H, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3/1 K/BB, 2 SB, CS, .429/~.467/.643
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Stephen Hensley, 12/26/1986
1-0, GS, 1.50 ERA in 6.0 IP, 4 H (HR), R, 8/2 K/BB, 7/2 G/F
It’s the first time Hensley’s been mentioned in the wrap in some time, so I wish I could speak more glowingly of his recent performances. Cheers to him for holding a Lancaster team that has a .802 OPS to one run while pitching in Mavericks Stadium, but his July was actually better than his August, he’s just benefiting from a BABIP around .250 right now. His FIP in July was 3.90, to 5.61 in August, he walked one fewer per nine and nearly struck out one more in the exchange. Hensley has the best ERA of any starter with more than fifteen games at 4.46 for the season, so I think he’s pretty much punched his ticket to West Tenn. He’s done this with month-to-month (not start to start, unfortunately) consistency. After May, I don’t think you can point to any real “a-ha!” moment that he’s had.
Still Good Mention:
RHP Michael Pineda, 1/18/1989
0-0, GS, 2.70 ERA in 3.1 IP, 4 H (HR), R, 6/0 K/BB, 1/3 G/F
[second outing in the Cal League in over three months]
From the Training Room:
With Yepez catching another flight to join the Diamond Jaxx, Pulaski catcher Alexis Fonseca joined the team. Juan Fuentes also joined the team, although I’m not sure what brought him there.
Clinton Lumberkings (2-3 this week, 27-33 in the second half, 67-63 overall)
The Week in Review:
Monday, August 24th 2009
Clinton 3, Cedar Rapids 4 (ANA + 5)
W: Pugliese (3-2, 1.41); L: Nation (3-5, 3.16); SV: Hellweg (1)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Clinton 1, Cedar Rapids 8 (ANA + 6)
W: Smith, W (9-4, 3.46); L: Cleto (0-3, 5.19)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Rain out
Thursday, August 27th 2009
Also rained out (no make-up games)
Friday, August 28th 2009
Postponed (wet grounds)
Saturday, August 29th 2009
Quad Cities 3 (STL – 10), Clinton 10
W: LaFromboise (8-8, 4.06); L: McGregor (6-11, 5.78); SV: Josselyn (3)
Sunday, August 30th 2009
Quad Cities 0 (STL – 11), Clinton 5 (seven innings)
W: Vasquez (2-3, 6.14); L: Schneider (0-3, 2.88)
Quad Cities 2 (- 10), Clinton 1 (seven innings)
W: Thomas (6-7, 4.21); L: Hann (2-1, 1.13); SV: Delgado, Ra (3)
Hitter of the Week:
IF Kyle Seager, L/R, 11/3/1987
5 G, 17 AB, 2 R, 6 H, 2B, 4 RBI, 3/3 K/BB, .353/~.450/.411
By playing five games this week, the Lumberkings didn’t give me a lot to work with. This week for Seager was about the same as last week, except for another hit and fewer doubles overall. Even treading water on his K/BB, he still has three more walks than strikeouts for the season. The performance that really pushed him over the top for the week was his 3-for-4 night on Saturday, when he drove in four in what turned out to be a 10-3 victory.
Also Drawing Some Walks Mention:
SS Shaver Hansen, S/R, 12/19/1987
4 G, 9 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 2/5 K/BB, .222/~.500/.222
Pitcher of the Week:
LHP Anthony Vasquez, 9/19/1986
1-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 6.0 IP, 4 H, 5/1 K/BB, 7/5 G/F
As I said before, there were only five games this week, everyone but Kasparek started just once and Carraway didn’t even get an outing. Let’s talk Anthony Vasquez for a little bit. An eighteenth-round pick this year, Vasquez played for Chad Kreuter’s USC Trojans for four years, splitting his time between the bullpen and the outfield, where he hit over .300 and slugged over .480 the past two seasons. Unlike with Jones, they decided they liked his arm better, even though his transition to the rotation in his senior year (.278 avg. against, 53/21 K/BB in 70.2 innings) was not terribly inspiring.
On Eight-Day Rust Mention:
LHP Bobby LaFromboise, 6/25/1987
1-0, GS, 3.60 ERA in 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 6/2 K/BB, 3/5 G/F, WP
From the Training Room:
No official movements, not that they were needed.
Strange Happenings:
Cheyne Hann gave up a run on Sunday. It was the first time that had happened since June.
Everett Aquasox (2-5 this week, 36-33 overall)
Monday, August 24th 2009
Eugene 5 (SD – 5), Everett 4
W: Angelucci (1-2, 5.97); L: Reid (3-3, 4.88); SV: Fetter (6)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Eugene 4 (SD – 6), Everett 3
W: Bovich (1-0, 6.39); L: Kirkland (3-5, 5.01); SV: Greenwood (4)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Everett 21, Salem-Keizer 1 (SF + 15)
W: Stanton (4-3, 3.75); L: Vazquez (3-1, 3.97); SV: Reid (1)
Thursday, August 27th 2009
Everett 2, Salem-Keizer 14 (SF + 16)
W: Westcott, C (3-0, 2.73); L: Esquibel (2-4, 5.00)
Friday, August 28th 2009
Everett 2, Salem-Keizer 9 (SF + 17)
W: Bucardo, J (5-3, 2.70); L: Burnett (2-3, 4.37); SV: Stoffel, J (1)
Saturday, August 29th 2009
Salem-Keizer 4 (SF + 18), Everett 3
W: Valdez, Jo (3-2, 3.90); L: Cordero (0-2, 7.50); SV: Casilla, J (11)
Sunday, August 30th 2009
Salem-Keizer 4 (SF + 17), Everett 6
W: Reid (4-3, 4.21); L: Graves (2-2, 4.08); SV: Martinez, Fr (1)
Hitter of the Week:
1B Gerardo Avila, L/L, 7/15/1986
7 G, 27 AB, 4 R, 12 H, 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7/3 K/BB, .444/~.500/.926
Though he ended up missing a couple of weeks in the middle, Avila has had an August to envy from a production standpoint. Going into the final day, he’s batting .500/.525/.926 in fifty-four at-bats, which has helped pull his slugging up over .600 for the season. If not for the knee sprain and the ankle sprain, he might have turned into something earlier, but as it stands he’s way overdue to be added to the 40-man and he’s not exactly young for the league he’s in. If he’s still around next year (probably) and healthy (less likely), expect him to be putting up some ridiculous numbers in High Desert.
A Very Close Second Mention:
SS Anthony Phillips, S/R, 4/11/1990
7 G, 25 AB, 9 R, 12 H, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, SB, CS, 7/2 K/BB, .480/~.519/.920
More Distant Third Mention:
OF Wellington Dotel, R/R, 10/2/1985
6 G, 24 AB, 5 R, 10 H, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 6/0 K/BB, .417/~.417/.542
Pitcher of the Week:
LHP Jonathan Hesketh, 6/3/1986
0-0, 2 GS, 1.86 ERA in 9.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 17/4 K/BB, 3/8 G/F
A twentieth-round pick this year, Hesketh is new to the organization, but isn’t entirely a stranger. After graduating from a high school outside of Vancouver, he spent two years in a Texas community college before transferring to New Mexico, where he was a teammate of fellow southpaw Bobby LaFromboise. The two were briefly reunited earlier in the month in Clinton, but lately, Hesketh has been doing his damage in the Northwest League, where he’s struck out at least eight in his last two games. On Saturday, he ran a no-hitter through the first five, and struck out half the batters he faced. Don’t let the Ks fool you though, he’s a senior signing, running on guile and plus command of otherwise unimpressive stuff.
Strikeout Leaderboard Mention:
RHP Taylor Stanton, 1/15/1988
1-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, 6/0 K/BB, 4/6 G/F
From the Training Room:
Royster will be out for the rest of the season with a torn labrum. He really landed on that shoulder wrong. Incidentally, he’s the only All-Star for the Aquasox. Hawkins Gebbers was hit on the hand by a pitch and has been out for most of the last week.
They Said It…. I Guess:
“Eugene manager Greg Riddoch had good things to say about Everett’s infield defense following Monday night’s game, crediting the glove work of third baseman Mario Martinez, shortstop Anthony Phillips, second baseman Hawkins Gebbers and first baseman Gerardo Avila for the team’s success this season.
“That infield of theirs is as good as there is in the league,†Riddoch said. “They turn double plays, diving plays, don’t make errors, they don’t beat themselves. That’s probably why they’re in that spot (second in the division), not because their pitching or hitting is great, but because of the defense they play.â€â€
Everett Herald, 8/26/09
After Wednesday’s game, the Aquasox were hitting .284/.354/.441 as a team, leading in doubles(131) by eight, home runs (60) by nine, where the league average is about thirty-seven. They had a .030 point lead in OPS. They also scored twenty-one runs that night, but whatever, right?
Pulaski Mariners (3-3 this week, 28-34 overall)
Monday, August 24th 2009
Bluefield 6 (BAL + 2), Pulaski 11
W: Suda (3-1, 4.66); L: Beal (5-4, 4.28); SV: Buckborough (1)
Tuesday, August 25th 2009
Bluefield 5 (BAL + 1), Pulaski 6
W: Witten (1-1, 14.04); L: Taveras, S (2-1, 2.86)
Wednesday, August 26th 2009
Pulaski 0, Bristol 3 (CHW – 13) (seven innings)
W: Holmberg, D (1-2, 4.63); L: Gillheeney, J (0-2, 4.67); SV: Rodriguez, S (4)
Pulaski 1, Bristol 2 (-12) (seven innings)
W: Wiltz (4-2, 3.06); L: Sorce (2-1, 3.45)
Thursday, August 27th 2009
Pulaski 8, Bristol 2 (CHW – 13)
W: Housey (3-2, 2.95); L: Garcia (2-1, 2.35); SV: Merry (5)
Friday, August 28th 2009
Off day
Saturday, August 29th 2009
Canceled, for some reason
Sunday, August 30th 2009
Pulaski 1, Johnson City 6 (STL + 5)
W: Johnson, C (2-1, 4.01); L: Suda (3-2, 4.76)
Hitter of the Week:
C Steve Baron, R/R, 12/7/1990
5 G, 17 AB, 7 H, 4 2B, RBI, 7/1 K/BB, .412/~.444/.647
It’s generally recognized that Baron’s swing needs to be torn down and reconstructed, so considering the strikeouts, I’m less inclined to think that we’re already seeing the fruits of that as to think that his current approach, modified or not, has yielded some results worth talking about. Even a flawed swing catches up to pitches now and then. Most likely, they’ll get to the real work of that when they send him to instructs later in the fall. Even so, good for him for doubling his total extra-base hits in a week.
Double Play Combo Mention:
2B Fred Bello, R/R, 10/6/1987
6 G, 20 AB, 6 R, 7 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 3/2 K/BB, .350/~.409/.650
SS Gabriel Noriega, S/R, 9/13/1990
6 G, 21 AB, 2 R, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 RBI, SB, CS, 4/1 K/BB, .333/~.363/.476
Pitcher of the Week:
RHP Jean Tome, 9/5/1989
0-0, GS, 0.00 ERA in 5.0 IP, H, 4/1 K/BB, 1/9 G/F
The bullpen provided some legitimate competition this week, with Buckborough allowing one run on five hits against five Ks through four innings, Witten striking out six of the eight batters he retired in order, Merry striking out four in three and two-thirds while allowing a hit and two walks for his save, and Chang, who had five Ks and four hits allowed in five innings. I usually aim for at least two relief appearances though, and Dave does not like Chang at all, so Tome it is. He threw another one-hitter this week, albeit a much shorter one, lasting just five innings. His average against for the month is .113, which is so silly I don’t even have apt comparisons for it. Walks are slightly more realistic possibility for poor, flailing hitters, though still lower than they were in previous months.
Like I Said Mention:
RHP Kyle Witten, 9/14/1988
1-0, G, 0.00 ERA in 2.2 IP, 6/0 K/BB, 1/1 G/F
From the Training Room:
Fonseca heading to the Cal League didn’t really change anything since the M’s already had two catchers. Since de Jesus hasn’t played since the 21st, I’m declaring him to be DLed. Looks like pitching DL now is Haas, Nolan Diaz, and Eric Thomas.
Strange Happenings:
LHP Richard Ortiz started a game. And after one trial, that experiment was over with.
Dispatches from the Land of Rehabbers:
RHP Danny Cruz: 0-0, 2 G, 0.00 ERA in 2.0 IP, 4/2 K/BB
SS Nick Franklin: 5 G, 23 AB, 3 R, 9 H, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3/0 K/BB, .391/~.391/.565
RHP Josh Hall: 0-1, 2 GS, 0.00 ERA in 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (0 ER), 3/0 K/BB
OF Julio Morban: 5 G, 20 AB, R, 3 H, 2B, 5/0 K/BB, SB, .150/~.150/.200
IF Carlos Triunfel: 4 G, 16 AB, 4 H, 2B, 4 RBI, SB, 2/0 K/BB, .250/.250/.313
RHP Francisco Valdivia: 0-0, 1 G, 0.00 ERA in 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0/1 K/BB
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12 Responses to “Minor League Wrap (8/24-30/09)”
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GO RAINIERS!
Gawd, I love a late season surge towards the playoffs!
Lonnie
Why Avila over Phillips?
Avila over Phillips because of the insane month he’s been having, batting .500, slugging .900, and all that.
On any other team, Phillips would be an easy pick because he’s improved his defense and finally hitting (.304/.353/.522 this month). The reports I get back on him are pretty strong, and people who didn’t like him early on find that he’s really growing on them. Whether he’ll switch hit or not is still up in the air, but he seems to be hitting for average right now, which is something that he couldn’t do before.
Stalwart work as ever, Jay.
I can’t wait to see what the Future Forty list will look like this off-season.
I haven’t been keeping tabs- has Maikel Cleto been pitching lately?
Cleto is still around, but he wasn’t going to make the list this week because he got chased after three and a third innings after giving up three runs on seven hits. Before that, he had two hits and six Ks in three innings. He’s not going deep into games but he is technically starting. If you’re interested, the Lumberkings’ site lists him as tonight’s probable starter.
I see Robles continued his strikeout and groundball tendencies. Do you see him in West Tenn to start next year?
There is something really exciting about left-handers that throw in the mid nineties even if he is the size of the average american highschool sophmore.
Portland scored 4, topping Tacoma’s 1, but Morrow got the win? I think you flipped the PTL/TAC scores there, Jay.
I was at the Saturday Everett game and saw something I had never seen before. Both managers were fiercely arguing, with Piniella-like intensity–with each other. They stood at home plate screaming into each other’s faces. The issue wasn’t obvious. The umpire watched this for a while, then threw them both out!
The other strange thing was watching Hesketh obliterate the league-leaders with 88 mile an hour fast balls. 9 strikeouts in five innings. You say he does it with guile. His guile is pretty good.
Fixed. Proofreading doesn’t always work out as well as I’d like it to after I’ve been writing and staring at this for upwards of five or six hours.
I had a friend who was listening to the game between Robles and the Sixers and among other things he said that the home run off him (the first) was six inches off the plate, the umpires blew a few calls (should have struck Mientkiewicz out, and then he should have been thrown out later), along with a caught stealing that wasn’t thanks to the defense. Those three runs that scored against him probably shouldn’t have.
I was a little curious about him at first, but he’s really making hay out there to the point where yeah, West Tenn looks about right.
Thanks Jay.
How does this sound for a West Tenn rotation next year.
Dan Cortes
Mauricio Robles
Micheal Pineda
Nick Hill
J.C. Ramirez
If one of them maximizes their potential the M’s are in good shape. Any more than that is gravy. This is the best group I remember the M’s having in a long long time.
Hill is definitely in Tacoma next year. I wouldn’t rule out Cortes seeing the PCL either, but his command had gotten worse in his second double-A season. It depends on what kind of impression he makes to end the season, and to start the year in spring training, when the M’s should see a fair amount of him.
Hill is going to be a Rainier at any rate, so put Stephen Hensley or Donnie Hume in there. Wild probably does the swingman thing again.
Put Hill and maybe Cortes in Tacoma and replace them with Hume and Hensley, and you still have a pretty fine looking rotation at West Tenn.
Of that group, I really want to see how Hume handles the transition. You don’t win 17 games in the Cal League by accident or with a lack of talent…
Lonnie