Wisconsin loses deciding game
JMB · September 17, 2005 at 2:05 pm · Filed Under Mariners
South Bend beat the Timber Rattlers 4-0 today to win the Midwest League title, three games to two. After falling behind 2-0, Wisconsin won the next two games at home before dropping today’s finale.
And if you missed it, Tacoma was swept out of the PCL championship series by Nashville earlier.
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19 Responses to “Wisconsin loses deciding game”
wonder how much of all of this was upwards attrition– Tacoma loses players to Seattle, San Antonio loses players to Tacoma….
Lui Kit Wong of The News Tribune took one of the finest baseball photos I’ve seen all year at last night’s Rainiers game. It really tells a story, and begs for more to be told:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/v-photo/story/5185276p-4713314c.html?photo=1
Jim-
That was one helluva play by Moss that is pictured — though from my perspective, the Sounds’ runner had some reason for bitching. 😉
And Corco & I helped the guy sitting behind us “remind” Knox, upon every subsequent arrival into the batter’s box:
“Knox, YOU’RE OUT!!!”
Indeed he was out — we got there just in time to see that play.
From our front row seats.
Last night’s Rainers game had its ups and downs. People haven’t talked much about TJ Bohn, but I think he’s worth a mention on the Future 40, certainly more than Shin-Soo Choo, who was called up today. Last night TJ Bohn hit a two-run double to tie the game. Since his call up from San Antonio, he’s impressed me with his speed, fielding and hitting.
However, in the 13th, the Rainers gave the Sounds too many opportunities. Cabrera throwing error put a man on first, and then Leone missed a chance to end the inning by catching a foul on the third base side, near the stands.
BTW, at this point, it looks to me like Asdrubal Cabrera will need to spend another year on Tacoma, as perhaps will TJ Bohn and maybe Brown. But it seems like Aaron Rifkin, Justin Leone, Bucky Jacobsen, Shin-Soo Choo seem unlikely to stay in the Mariners system.
I didn’t keep up with the Wisconsin or San Antonio series, admittedly.
I just know that fireworks after a game are much more enjoyable when the game ends in your favor. Too bad the Rainiers lost 2 in Nashville, they played hard last night. And given all the moves (as msb said above) that they endured all season long, I personally think they did a helluva job.
At least if Corcoran was only going to see one all year in person, and was going to show up late to that one, well, at least it went extra innings so it’s almost like he got a full game in.
Re: Cabrera’s error that one could argue cost us the game… I don’t know, I was sitting over towards first, and i was torn as to whether i should write e-3 or e-6. either way, it spelled the beginning of the end.
#7 — Agree that Rifkin’s fielding was suspect, and that’s not the only example. Overall, he doesn’t seem to have much of a future.
BTW, has anyone noticed that Shin-Shoo Choo is slow, doesn’t field particularly well (arm & range are both mediocre), and isn’t even one of the top 5 hitters at Tacoma? (I’d put Nunez, TJ Bohn, Hunter Brown, Wiki, Rifkin, possibly even Leone ahead of him). So why did he get called up? Trade bait?
I’m not sure this is a good thing, but at least we’ll see a few more call ups to the big club now. Still it’d have been nice if the minor league clubs had gone all the way.
TJ Bohn, or “T-Bone” as I can’t stop calling him (even though I know it’s pronounced like “Bawn”), is hugely underrated in my book. He’s very solid defensively, and can hit the ball pretty well, too. Sure, he’s got Randy Winn’s power, but he certainly doesn’t have Randy Winn’s arm. I’ve had my eye on him for a bit, and it’s good to see him in Tacoma. I’m hoping he’s added to the 40-man and he might be a good insurance policy for Reed (or a good challenge to him).
The error charged to A-Cab should’ve gone to Rifkin. Corco & I were on the 3rd base side of home plate (but, really, just barely left of home). It made for prime heckling real estate while the Sounds warmed up in the on-deck circle. A couple of times, too, there were some well-timed cup adjustments directed towards the guys behind us.
I’m not sure if I’ve calculated right, but I believe if Bohn isn’t added to the 40-man this offseason he gets exposed to the Rule 5 draft. I’m not counting on him to develop into a full-time starter, but he could certainly be useful. He might help push Reed, and I would think he has Stan Javier potential as a quality backup who would be fine in semi-regular playing time at any outfield position.
#5 – Leone’s failure to get the foul pop up was critical. And boy did Lorraine struggle trying to tiptoe around Zumiga before he walked him.
#10 I didn’t have greatest view since the Cabrera’s throw was to Rifkin’s glove side, but I also thought Rifkin should have snared it. That’s the 1B’s job to make the SS look good.
Lots of missed opportunities in the Rainiers 12th. Rifkin’s horrid K after failing to bunt for the first out. Rene Rivera and Astrubal Cabrera both swinging at the first pitch with the bases loaded for the final two outs.
Rather appropriate that Bucky Jacobsen struck out to end the season. He was 1-5 with 4 K’s in the playoffs. Bucky right now looks like he ate Shawn Kemp.
btw, at the end of the postgame show Curto said that Dan Rohn told him that he thought it was “very unlikely” he would return as Tacoma manager in ‘06. (No reason given.)
btw, at the end of the postgame show Curto said that Dan Rohn told him that he thought it was “very unlikely†he would return as Tacoma manager in ‘06. (No reason given.)
Well, it’s certainly not for performance. He’s done very well in his time there despite the mid-season roster turnover.
jason
on a semi related note, Chen, the Wisconsin 3rd base player drafted by Taiwan to play on its national team on World championship, (thus miss the playoff for the Rattlers.) won his spot on the tournament all star team for his play on the 2nd base.
Cuba first, S. Korea 2nd, US 7th, Taiwan out of top 8 and did not advance into the second round.
none of the US players made the all tournament, btw.
http://www.wkhonkbal.nl/
My thoughts on some of the minor leaguers mentioned in this thread:
Asdrubal Cabrera: He doesn’t even turn 20 until November. Although he finished the year with Tacoma, he started it at Wisconsin, and skipped San Antonio — I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he begins 2006 at AA.
TJ Bohn: 25-yo, younger than I thought. His plate discipline, which wasn’t stellar to begin with, completely dissolved in AAA. Definitely needs another year there.
Shin-soo Choo: Certainly a disappointment after a good start to his career. Took a huge step backwards this year, though he did finish strong. The power the M’s have always hoped he’d develop has never come, though he does walk quite a bit. I was surprised to see he’s already 23; he was supposed to be starting by now. Given that he can’t handle CF and won’t hit enough for a corner, I don’t see how he fits in. Off-season trade bait?
Hunter Brown: I think he can help a club out, in the same way Leone could have two years ago. Like Leone, he’s not young, so his time needs to be now. Decent pop and patience. I certainly like him better than Dobbs and Bloomquist.
I also don’t see Rifkin or Jacobsen back in the organization next year. Leone’s 28, most likely a FA, and didn’t hit this year… I doubt he’ll be back either.
jason
As I said, I was seated very near 1b and had a great view of the e-3 or 6 play. initially i did write e-3, but then changed it to reflect what the official scorer had done. (i always question myself as to whether i should do that, but i also always note that i disagree in my scorebook too).
There was a nice article about tj bohn in the tnt the other day. here’s that http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/rainiers/story/5185245p-4713283c.html
Also, a nice article about hunter brown. here’s that http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/rainiers/story/5181067p-4709956c.html
And, from an article today about Dan Rohn’s reflections on the seasons…the following (which touches on the number of roster moves, and Rohn’s future):
Let me just say for the record, I am a huge Dan Rohn fan, and believe that if he is managing somewhere else next year, it should be for a big league club. Preferably, mine. Though I’ve heard good things about Brundage as well, I would miss Rohn-y.
from Corey Brock’s piece on Rohn this morning:
“In all likelihood, Rohn – who just completed his fifth season with the Rainiers – has managed his last game in Tacoma.
“Five years is a long time,†Rohn said. “There’s nothing else to prove here. Plus, I think that we have got some other guys (managers) who are ready to move up.—
IIRC, didn’t Rohn re-up with the Rainiers rather late this year? That was a good piece by Corey Brock. I hope (but I doubt) the M’s bring him up to the M’s coaching staff. He’s earned it.
I’d love to see Hunter Brown as the new Willie Bloomquist next year. I’ve been quietly cheering him all year (since a Rainiers/Stingers game in May that I attended where he went 3-for-4, scored two runs, and made some great plays, and I thought he was actually Justin Leone for the first inning or two because he was playing third and wearing #26), even after he was unceremoniously removed from the Future Forty for “being unable to hit AAA pitching”.
Thanks for those links, Oly Rainiers Fan.