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11 July 2004 Pitching line = IP H R ER BB
SO
Most of the top prospects out of the lineup Saturday
for travel to the Futures Game (Sunday) in Houston.
 Game action ...
INT -- Pete LaForest (TB, C) 2-3, 2B, BB ... swiped
another one(but caught twice), Joey Gathright (TB, CF) 3-4, BB, SB
& 2-4, double ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 3-5, 2B, 2 R, SB ...
Dane Sardinha (CIN, C) 2-4 ... rehab, Michael Ryan
(MIN, RF) 0-4, R, BB ... rehab, Shannon Stewart (MIN, DH) 1-4, R
... Gabe Gross (TOR, DH) 2-5, 2B, 8th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Cam
Reimers (TOR) 2.1 8 5 5 0 1 ... Mike Fontenot (BAL, 2B)
4-6, 3B, 2 R, RBI ... Jack Cust (BAL, DH) 2-3, 2B, 8th HR, 2 R, 5
RBI, 2 BB, HBP ... David Krynzel (MIL, CF) 2-4, 2 3B, R ...
looking better, Scott Erickson (NYN) 8.1 7 1 1 2 2 ... Grady
Sizemore CLE 3-5, 7th homer & 1-4, double ... Jhonny Peralta
CLE 3-5, double & 1-4 ... Jorge Cantu TB 2-5, 18th homer & 3-5, 2
doubles, 19th homer
PCL -- Mark Teahen KC 2-4, 2nd homer, 2 RBI
... Josh Karp MON Josh Karp 5.2 4 1 1 3 4, 5.16 ... ooops, Luis
Martinez STL 4.2
9 7 7 3 3, 6.94 ... Michael Tejera 7.0 6 1 1 0 5, 8-1, 3.56 ...
Clint Nageotte SEA having a tough time adjusting in AAA 6.0 7 4 4
2 8, 5.22 ... the struggling Joel Hanrahan LA moved to the pen,
1.0 1 0 0 1 3 ... Antonio Perez LA 3-4, .293 ... not nearly as
sharp since his MLB stint, Dennis Tankersley SD 5.0 11 6 5 1 4 ...
Tagg Bozied SD 1-3, double ... Nick Swisher OAK 2-5,
16th homer ... Dan Johnson OAK 4-5, triple ... TEX franchise
putting a big hurt on the COL AAA affiliate (14-8 & 12-3, with 37 hits in the
twin bill plus an 11-run inning) ... few individual stats available on the 2nd
game at upload time ... in the opener -- Clint Barmes COL 3-5, 2
doubles ... JD Closser COL 2-5, double ... Jason Jones TEX
4-6, double ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 2-3 ... Marshall
McDougall TEX 3-5, 2 doubles, 10th homer, 5 RBI ...
Chin-hui Tsao COL 4 11 6 6 1 5
EASTERN -- Josh Banks TOR
beginning to get comfortable in AA, 7.0 5 1 1 1 3 ... catcher Paul
Chiaffredo TOR 4-5, 2 homers ... an OK debut for Scott Kazmir
NYN in AA, 6.0 6 2 2 5 7 ... Keith Reed BAL 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI
... Boof Bonser MIN 7.1 8 5 5 2 5 ... Luis Maza MIN
1-3, 9th homer ... Ryan Howard PHI 2-2, walk, 89th RBI ...
Brian Tallet CLE continues his, so far, successful return from
surgery 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 ... Sean Henn NYA, showing the road back
from injury is not always smooth, 4.1 8 5 4 1 5
SOUTHERN -- Richard Lewis CHN 2B 2-6, 4 R, 2B,
K ... Brennan King LA 3B 1-4, R, 4 RBI, 2 K, HR (11) ... Josh
Barfield SD 2B
1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Tony Gwynn MIL OF 1-4, R, SB (24) ... Luke
Hudson CIN 7.0
5 1 1 0 6, W 5-7, 3.79 ... Nic Ungs FLA 6.2 4 2 2 0 6, W 5-5, 4.56 ...
Matt Parker TB 6.0 6 3 1 1 5, L 1-1, 1.50
WSox not missing Jeremy Reed at all as Brian
Anderson steps up :
" ...Anderson was named the BC Powder Southern
League Hitter of the Week for July 2-8. Anderson hit .414 (12-for-29) and drove
in seven runs ... He had two homers and two doubles for the week, posting
a slugging percentage of .759. Anderson is ranked the number seven prospect in
the White Sox system, according to Baseball America. He was selected by Chicago
in the first round (15th overall) of the 2003 Amateur Draft." (Southern League)
TEXAS -- Alberto Callaspo ANA 1-4, 3rd homer
& 2-4, 2 doubles
... RA DickeyTEX, rehab, 2.0 2 0 0 0 4 ... Ryan Shealy COL 18th homer, 2 RBI ...
Ian Kinsler TEX 3-4, double, .330 ... 1B John Lindsey SEA 4-5, 13th homer
... so far, so good for Colt Griffin KC in his new role, as a
closer, first save, 1.2 1 0 0 0 4, 1.35
CAROLINA -- Ryan Sweeney CHA 0-4, 2 K
Casey Rogowski CHA 1-4, double (17), K
Pedro Lopez CHA 1-2, RBI
Ryan Garko CLE
2-4, double, RBI (56)
Pat Osborn CLE 0-4
Nathan Panther CLE 1-4
Kevin Howard CIN 2-5
Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-4, R, HR (17), 2 RBI (61), BB, K
Josh Anderson HOU 1-3, 3 R, BB, 2 K, SB (11)
Donnie Murphy KC 1-4, double, K
Mike Aviles KC 1-4, R, K
Shane Costa KC 2-4, R, HR (3), 2 RBI
Trae McGill KC (W)
8 5 2 1 2 6 (9-0, 1.81)
Chaz Lytle PIT 2-4, SB (18)
Brad Eldred PIT 1-4, 3 K
Rajai Davis PIT 3-5, R, RBI
Tripper Johnson BAL 0-4
FLORIDA STATE --
Frank
Diaz (MON, CF) 2-2 2BB 2R 3SB(14) & 1-3 R
Looking real good in his first
rehab assignment, John Patterson (MON) 4 1 0 0 1 3
Jeremy Hermida
(FLA, RF) 3-4 2 doubles R RBI
Robert Andino (FLA, SS) 3-5 2B R -
hitting .591 in 4 FSL games
Scott Olson (FLA) 7.2 6 4 4 2 6 - 3.66 ERA
Brian Edwards (NYN) 6 6 1 1 0 4 - 2.53 ERA
Alhaji Turay (NYN,
RF) 1-4 HR(11) 3RBI
Ron Devenport (TOR, RF) 4-5 HR(11) 2R
Reggie
Abercrombie (LA, CF) 2-4 HR(3)
Mike Megrew (LA) 6.1 7 3 3 1 6
L(5-4, 3.21)
CALIFORNIA -- Bradley Sullivan
OAK 6.1 10 4 4 2 3 ... Ben Kozlowski TEX, in relief, 3.2 5 3
3 2 2 ... catcher John Suomi OAK 3-5, double
MIDWEST -- nifty debut Luke
Steidlmayer SD 4.1 2 2 0 0 8 ... Drew Macias SD 1-3, BB (.290)
... Danny Muegge ARZ 5.2 5 1 1 2 6 (W, 6-3, 3.07) ... Lou
Palmisano MIL 0-4 (.305) ... just can't lose Brandon Harmsen
NYA 7.0 11 0 0 0 2 (W, 9-0, 1.95) .. Brandon Wood ANA 0-3 ...
Adam Jones SEA 1-6, K ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 2-4, 2
K (.276) ... Brad Knox OAK 7.0 3 1 0 1 5 (W, 10-3, 1.97) ...
Brian Snyder 2-2, 2 BB (.316) ... Daric Barton STL 1-3,
K (.338) ... Cody Haerther STL 0-3, 2 K (.324) ... Micah
Furtado TEX 1-7, BB, 2 K (.322)
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Travis Ishikawa SF, 3-5, 2
doubles, 2 RBI ... Jesse Schmidt SF, 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs ... 20 run outburst by
Hickory, including Adam Boeve PIT, 2-5, 2 homers (20), 5 RBI ...
Brad Rea PIT,
3-5, homer (7), 6 RBI ... Jon Benick PIT, 2-4, homer (20), 3 RBI ...
Craig Stansberry PIT, 2-4, 2 RBI, 4 runs ... Nyjer Morgan PIT, 3-5, RBI, 3 runs ...
Nick Markakis BAL, 2-5, RBI ... Zach Dixon BAL, 5.0 5 2 2 2 4 ...
Clint Johnston TOR, 2-4, RBI ... James Shanks FLA, 2-5, RBI, 2 doubles, steal (18) ...
Ryan Bear FLA, 4-4, double, RBI ... Lastings Milledge NYM, 1-5, double, 2 steals (14)
... Andy Wilson NYM, 3-5, homer (13), double, 2 RBI ... Jake
Blalock PHI, 3-6,
homer (15), double, 5 RBI ... Michael Bourn PHI, 2-4, double, triple, 4 RBI, 2
runs ... Beau Hearod HOU, 3-5, homer (19), double, 2 RBI ... COL
CF Jordan Czarniecki 3-4, .322 ... Ian Stewart COL
2-3, .301
APPALACHIAN -- (Friday's action)
Yuber Rodriguez (TOR,
CF) 2-4, R, 2B (5), 3B (3), K, .368 BA... Brian Grant (TOR,
SP) 6.0 7 0 0 4 5, W (3-0) (1.71)... Julio Garcia (CLE, 2B)
1-5, R, .343 BA... Russ Triplett (NYN, SS), 2-4, 2 R, .356
BA... Seth Pietsch (NYN, DH) 0-2, R, SF, RBI (23), BB, K, .373
BA... Waladimir Sutil (HOU, SS) 1-3, R, BB, SB (6), .365
BA... Deacon Burns (MIN, RF) 2-4, R, 2B (8), HR (3), RBI (11),
K, .422 BA... Alexander Smit (MIN, SP) 6.0 4 1 1 0 9, ND
(3.18)... Cole Armstrong (ATL, C) 2-5, 2 R, 2B (3), K, .393
BA... Carl Loadenthal (ATL, CF) 2-4, 2 R, BB, K, .345 BA...
as good as it gets, Carlos Moreta (ATL, RF)
3-3, 3 R, 3 HR (3), 8 RBI (11), .300 BA...
Joseph Touchstone (TAM, 2B) 2-5, R, K, .386 BA... Jose
Delgado (STL, 2B) 1-4, 2 R, BB, K, .400 BA... Evan Tartaglia
(CHA, CF) 4-4, 3 R, 3B (2), 4 RBI (8), BB, SB (5), .350 BA... Jose De
Los Santos (CHA, 2B) 3-5, R, 2 RBI (18), K, .444 BA... Javier
Castillo (CHA, SS) 1-3, R, HR (3), 3 RBI (10), BB, K, .359 BA
NORTHWEST -- 3B Simon Klink SD
2-4, 6th homer ... Craig Whitaker SF 5.0 3 1 1 3 9, 2-0, 2.25 ...
TEX first rounder Thomas Diamond 2.1 3 2 2 1 4 ... Luis
Montanez CHN 3-5, 4th homer, 5 RBI, .392
PIONEER -- Bobby Mosby CIN 1-5,
6th homer ... OF Jaen Centeno ARZ 1-4, homer, .429
ARIZONA -- nice day at the park for some SF
kids, the 2-3-4-5-6 hitters -- CF Daniel Desouza 2-5, 2 RBI ... OF
Mike Mooney 3-6, 3 runs, homer, 2 RBI ... 1B Judson
Richards 3-6, 2 RBI ... 3B Lisandro Disla 2-5, 3 runs ... DH
Dorian Dixon 3-5, double, 3 runs, 3 RBI
GULF COAST -- 19-year-old righthander Stu
Alexander , the Marlins 29th round pick in 2003, 6.0 2 0 0 1 8 (a 20 inning
scoreless streak to kick off his pro career, just 7 hits, 2 walks, 22 Ks)
... Cory Middleton 3B DET 3-5, 3rd homer, .408
Troop
movements ... NYN -- activated Karim Garcia from the DL, optioned Matt Ginter to
AAA ... ARZ -- placed Scott Service on the DL, recalled Luis Terrero from
AAA ... CHA -- placed Frank Thomas on the DL, recalled Joe Borchard from
AAA ... TEX -- activated outfielder Laynce Nix from the DL, optioned RHP
Nick Regilio to AAA ... SEA -- activated outfielder Raul Ibanez
from the DL, designated shortstop Rich Aurilia for assignment ...
" ... The Kansas City Royals have promoted
Burlington Bees All-Star third baseman Mitch Maier to the Wilmington Blue
Rocks, the organization's high-A affiliate in the Carolina League. Maier leaves
the team on a six-game hitting streak with at least two hits in each game,
raising his average to a team-high .300 which ranks him eighth in the Midwest
League. Maier also ranks fourth in the MWL with 95 hits, third with 24 doubles,
and second with 34 stolen bases. He is the team leader with 41 runs scored and
36 RBI as well. Maier was an All-Star at mid-season and was voted the game's
Most Valuable Player." (Burlington Bees)
Cole
Hamels PHI, still on the shelf :
" ... Hamels, the Phillies top pitching prospect,
remains sidelined with a tricep injury and isn't expected to start throwing
again for 10 days. Clearwater is hopeful that Hamels will return to the rotation
in early August, according to Minor League field coordinator Bill Dancy."
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader)
The
minor league leaders (stats through Thursday's games, I believe). Source :
The Sports Network.
Triple-A Double-A A-Ball Short-Season
Batting Average Batting Average Batting Average Batting Average
C Thomas .358 ATL D Wright .363 NYN I Kinsler .402 TEX Jaen Centeno .441 ARZ
B Dallimore .352 SF W Taveras, .342 HOU B Moss .361 BOS JJ DeLosSantos .431 CHA
N Calzado .349 ATL B Harper .351 NYN John Jaso ,420 TB
E Aybar .348 ANA Brian Horwitz, .397 SF
M Aubrey .339 CLE
Home Runs Home Runs Home Runs Home Runs
C Pickering 26 KC R Howard 33 PHI B Sing 25 CHN Brandon Cashman 7 TEX
B Jacobsen 26 SEA G Sain 23 SD B Dopirak 24 CHN Colt Morton 7 SD
M Thames 24 DET D McPherson 20 ANA I Stewart 21 COL Ryan Fox 7 COL
M Napoli 19 ANA Seth Pietsch 7 NYN
Mitch Einertson 7 HOU
RBI RBI RBI RBI
B Jacobsen 86 SEA R Howard 88 PHI B Moss 79 BOS Seth Pietsch 22 NYN
J Cantu 70 TB D McPherson 69 ANA M Napoli 77 ANA Simon Klink 20 SF
J Stokes 59 FLO B Sing 74 CHN Juan Llamas 20 DET
J Gutierrez 59 CIN B Dopirak 70 CHN Adam Mannon 20 MIL
Bobby Mosby 20 CIN
Stolen Bases Stolen Bases Stolen Bases Stolen Bases
N Logan 34 DET W Lydon 49 NYN J Anderson 48 HOU Yung-Chi Chen 13 SEA
F Guzman 26 SD D Bacon 42 CHN E Aybar 38 ANA Eric Young 11 COL
W Taveras 32 HOU C Walker, 35 CHN Juan Valdes 10 CHA
R Davis 32 PIT
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, has updated his
Southern & Midwest League prospect lists. Scott now has Justin Jones
of the Cubs as the best prospect in the ML, ahead of Matt Moses
MIN and Brandon Wood ANA. Daric Barton STL has
climbed up to No.5, just behind MIL catcher Lou Palmisano.
In the Southern, Scott sticks with Prince Fielder as the top dog,
Dallas
McPherson ANA ... the highs & lows :
" ... The 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pounder is
putting up powerful numbers this season. He has combined for 28 home runs and 89
RBIs in only 84 games for Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake. It's
expected that McPherson, 23, will start at third for the Anaheim Angels next
season if the team doesn't re-sign Troy Glaus. "I think I have the talent to
play there one day, but I need to be a little more polished," said McPherson,
called up to the Stingers on June 22 after hitting 20 home runs in 68 games for
Arkansas and being named a Texas League All-Star. "There are days you might see
me and you may say I'm ready for the big leagues. Then the next day you see me
and say I need to go back to Single-A ball." On Thursday, McPherson went 2-for-5
with a homer and three RBIs. But on Friday night ... McPherson went
0-for-6 with six strikeouts, a Pacific Coast League record. Stingers manager
Mike Brumley, a shortstop for Las Vegas on the PCL championship team in 1988,
said McPherson is ticketed for Anaheim. "A tremendous talent," Brumley said.
"The last couple years he's made some great strides and the whole organization
is real excited about his potential and where he's going. "He's making some
people nervous when he goes to the plate. His time is going to come, but when
that happens I don't know." McPherson's reputation as a hitter grew last year
when he was with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He homered off Randy Johnson, who
was making a rehab start for the Arizona Diamondbacks' affiliate. Brumley said
McPherson is working hard on his defensive deficiencies. "The whole thing is to
get him to be an average fielder right now and let him work through some
things," Brumley said. "If he continues to improve, you're going to see some
great things from him." (Las Vegas Review-Journal )
10 July 2004
One of the worst days, Dallas McPherson 0-6, 6 Ks ... Kenny Baugh
begins to reward DET ... BJ Upton, hits keep coming ... CLE AAA kids --
Phillips, Sizemore, Peralta -- continue surge ... Josh Barfield, better ... Ryan
Howard, Ian Kinsler among phenoms to hit tough stretches ... Jake Stevens, ATL
hot shot ... SF kids combine for an 11-14 night ... kudos for Ian Stewart
Game action ...
INT -- B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-4, 12th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, 0 errors ...
burning up the basepaths again, Joey Gathright (TB, CF) 2-4, R,
BB, 2 SB ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 2-4, 2B, R & 2-4, 2 RBI, SB ...
Stephen Smitherman (CIN, 1B) 3-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB ... Dane
Sardinha (CIN, C) 4-5, 2B, 7th HR, 3 R, 4 RBI ... ouch, Matt
Belisle (CIN) 5.2 11 8 6 3 3 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF)
2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, HBP ... Dan Meyer (ATL) 4.2 5 2 2 2 7 ...
Jason Kubel (MIN, RF) 3-6, R ... rehab, Michael Ryan
(MIN, LF) 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI ... rehab, Shannon Stewart (MIN, DH) 2-3,
R ... Jesse Crain (MIN) 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 ... Guillermo
Quiroz (TOR, C & DH) 0-3, BB & 0-2, R, BB ... Gabe Gross (TOR,
LF) 2-2, 2B, RBI, 3 BB & 0-3 ... Marlon Byrd (PHI, CF) 2-4, 2B ...
Jack Cust (BAL, DH) 2-2 ... Brandon Phillips (CLE,
SS) 4-5, 2 R, RBI ... Grady Sizemore (CLE, CF) 3-6, RBI ...
Jhonny Peralta (CLE, 3B) 2-5, 2B, 10th HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB ... rough
outing, Kyle Denney (CLE) 4.1 9 6 5 2 0 ... Michael
Vento (NYA, RF) 2-6, R, RBI ... Ben Hendrickson (MIL) 5.0 4 0
0 2 1 ... Danny Garcia (NYN, 2B) 2-6, 2B, 2 R, SB ... Victor
Diaz (NYN, RF) 3-5, 12th HR, R, 3 RBI ... Prentice Redman (NYN,
LF) 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB ... David Wright (NYN, 3B) 2-5, R, BB
PCL -- JR House PIT 1-3, 12th homer ...
Joe Dillon FLO 2-4, triple ... Noah Lowry SF 7 8 2 2
1 6 ... Alex Gonzalez CHN, rehab, 1-2, 2 walks, 3 runs, SB ... a
setback after some outstanding efforts, Taylor Buchholz HOU 2 3 2
2 0 0 ... Ryan Church MON 2-4, 14th homer ... yikes, a golden
sombrero plus, Dallas McPherson ANA 0-6, 6 Ks
EASTERN -- Kenny Baugh DET begin to
round into form 7 6 0 0 4 6 ... Francisco Carmona CLE 6 5 1
1 3 2 ... Aaron Hill TOR 1-2, 7th homer ... JD Durbin
MIN 5 2-3 6 2 2 0 3 ... Luis Maza MIN 2-5, 8th homer ... Ryan
Howard PHI 0-4, obviously pressing a bit to try and break the Reading
homer record
SOUTHERN -- Dennis Ulacia CHA
6.1 5 0 0 2 3, 3.82 ... Bubba Nelson CIN 8.0 3 1 1 0 2, 1.64 ...
Richard Lewis CHN 2B 2-5, RBI, .321 ... James Loney
LA 1B 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI,
K, HR (12) ... Rickie Weeks MIL 2B 2-3, R, RBI ... Randy
Leek STL 7.0 8 2 1 0 4, W 1-1, 2.70 ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF
3-4, R, RBI, HR (11) ... Chris Seddon TB 5.1 5 1 1 2 7, W 6-4,
3.41
TEXAS -- Kameron Loe TEX 6.0 4 0
0 5 6 ... Jim Serrano KC 7.0 5 0 0 1 9, 1.50 ... Ian Kinsler
TEX 1-6, .310 ... Willy Taveras HOU 2-4, 33rd SB, .345 ...
Alberto Callaspo ANA 0-4 ... Jeff Mathis ANA 1-5, 16th
double
CAROLINA -- Kevin Howard CIN
1-4, R, double (19), K
Ryan Sweeney CHA 2-3, R, HR (5), RBI
(40), BB
Casey Rogowski CHA 2-4, R, double (16), RBI (61)
Pedro Lopez CHA 0-3, K
Donnie Murphy KC 2-3, 2 RBI
(53)
Mike Aviles KC 0-3, R, BB
Shane Costa KC
2-3, BB, K
Ryan Garko CLE 0-3, K
Pat Osborn CLE
1-3, R
Nathan Panther CLE 0-3, 2 K
Mark Saccomanno
HOU 0-3, BB, K
Josh Anderson HOU 2-4, 2 R, K, SB (10)
Chaz
Lytle PIT 0-3, BB, K
Brad Eldred PIT 1-4, double (22),
RBI (68)
Rajai Davis PIT 3-5, 2 R, double, .320
Brian
McCann ATL 1-2, K
Tripper Johnson BAL 2-4, R, K
Anthony Lerew ATL 4.1 5 6 6 4 4 (2.79)
Christopher Ray
BAL 5. 2 5 2 2 1 9 (3.89)
FLORIDA STATE --
Chris
Roberson (PHI, CF) 3-4 R RBI CS
Tony Giarratano (DET, SS) 0-2 2BB R
2SB(13)
Brent Clevlen (DET, RF) HR(3) 2RBI - hitting just .220
Robert Andino (FLA, SS) 3-6 2BB R - 3rd straight multi-hit game since being
promoted to FSL
Yorman Bazardo (FLA) 7 5 1 1 3 6 ND, 2.90 ERA
Alhaji Turay (NYN, LF) 3-8 2R
Frank Diaz (MON, RF) 2-4 2B R
Felix Pie (CHN, CF) 1-4 R SB(23)
Andy Laroche (LA, 3B) 2-5 2B R
Strange line of the night, Reggie Abercrombie (LA, CF) 1-5 R 4SB(11)
Reid Gorecki (STL, CF) 3-4 3R RBI CS
Mathew Murton (BOS, LF) 2-4 R
RBI
Batting leadoff tonight, Hanley Ramirez (BOS, SS) 0-5 R SB(9)
Luis Mendoza (BOS) 7 2 0 0 3 2 W(5-5, 3.39)
CALIFORNIA -- Erick Aybar ANA 2-4, .349
... Jason Perry OAK 2-4, 13th double, .388
MIDWEST -- Joey Votto CIN 1-4,
double, K (.291) ... Brandon Wood ANA 1-4, 9th HR (.289) ...
Adam Jones SEA 1-5 (.260) ... Lou Palmisano MIL 1-4,
double, BB ... Steven Bondurant OAK 6.2 7 2 1 0 6 (250) ...
Brian Dopirak CHN 0-3, BB ... Robert Ransom CHN 7.0 5 0
0 0 4 (341) ... Mitch Maier KC 2-4 ... no good news at all Kody
Kirkland DET 0-4, 3 K (.215) ... Nick Blackburn MIN 9.0 5 0
0 1 4 :
" ... Nick Blackburn [MIN] allowed only five
hits in a complete game shutout Friday night ... The shutout was
Blackburns first in 35 career starts as a professional ... Blackburn has not
allowed an earned run in his last 23 innings for the Swing, and has allowed only
two earned runs in 27 innings since the All-Star break. With the outing,
Blackburns ERA drops to 2.30, second-best on the Swing and fifth-best in the
Midwest League." (Quad Cities Swing)
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- 33 scoreless inning steak
snapped for Jake Stevens ATL, 5.0 4 1 1 1 8 (L 6-2, 1.46) ...
rehabbing Marcus Giles ATL, 0-2, 2 walks ... Xavier Paul
LA, 2-4, double, 2 runs ... Julio Pimentel LA, 6.0 4 0 0 3 4 (W
9-6, 2.81) ... Adam Miller CLE, 5.0 3 1 1 3 3 (L 6-3, 3.22) ...
Lastings Milledge NYM, 0-4, K ... Ryan Harvey NYM, 1-4,
homer (5), RBI ... Ryan Danly NYM, 5.0 8 2 2 1 7 (W 2-0, 2.35) ...
1B Jon Benick PIT 2-5, 13th double, 19th homer, 3 RBI ... big
nights for a pair of SF farmhands -- Jason Columbus DH 6-7, 16th double,
6th homer (54 Ks in 218 ABs, which is a lot better than teammate Travis
Ishikawa with 75 Ks in 217 ABs) & Brian Munhall CAT 5-7, 3 RBI ... SS
Javier Guzman PIT 4-7, 2 doubles ... Wes Bankston TB, heating
up, 2-4, 14th homer ... Delmon Young TB 1-5, .278 ... Beau
Hearod HOU 18th homer ... Daniel Haigwood CHW (a no-hitter
into the 8th), 7.0 1 1 1 4 6 (W 7-4, 4.89)
Ian Stewart COL, Hitter of the Week in the
South Atlantic :
" ... The 6'3" infielder led the league in home runs
(4), was second in RBI (11), slugging percentage (1.036) and tied for second in
hits (13). In addition, Stewart scored eight runs and put up a .483
on-base-percentage ... Stewart raised his average from .280 to .298 in the
6 game span and now leads the South Atlantic League with 21 home runs, a .599
slugging percentage and 187 total bases." (South Atlantic League)
APPALACHIAN -- (Thursday's games)
Yuber Rodriguez
(TOR, CF) 2-4, 2 K, .359 BA... Robert McCrory (BAL, SP) 5.2 2
0 0 4 9, W (2-0) (1.17)... Julio Garcia (CLE, 2B) 1-5, 2B (6),
.355 BA... Aristides Almenar (NYN, SP) 5.0 5 1 1 1 8
(1.06)... Deacon Burns (MIN, LF) 1-4, 3B (1), 2 K, .417 BA...
Juan Gutierrez (HOU, SP) 5.0 2 1 1 1 11, W (2-0) (3.26)...
Keith Eichas (ATL, 1B) 2-4, K, .366 BA... Joseph
Touchstone (TAM, DH) 4-5, R, 2 2B (6), SB (7), .385 BA... Jake
Ritchie (TAM, 3B) 2-4, 2 R, HR (4), RBI (12), BB, K, .339 BA...
Calvin Carpenter (TAM, RP) 4.0 0 0 0 0 7, W (1-0) (2.13)...
Jose Delgado (STL, 2B) 2-4, R, 3B (1), RBI (9), BB, K, .412
BA... Juan Lucena (STL, SS) 2-4, 2 RBI (10), SB (2), .370
BA... Brandon Yarbrough (STL, C) 1-3, BB, .339 BA...
Jose De Los Santos (CHA, DH) 1-4, RBI (16), .431 BA... Javier
Castillo (CHA, SS) 1-4, R, 2 K, .361 BA.
NORTHWEST -- Juan Morillo COL 6.0 1 2 0
4 4 ... Colt Morton SD catcher 2-4, 4th double, 9th homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI
PIONEER -- lefty Scott Elbert
LA 5.0 6 3 3 2 4 ... Billy Butler KC 2-5, 2 RBI
ARIZONA -- Andy Pratt CHN 3.0 0 0 0 0
4 ... Ben Diggins MIL back in action, 1.2 3 2 0 1 0 ... quite a
start, 2B Hernan Iribarren MIL 3-3, 2 doubles, triple, walk, .516
GULF COAST -- Andy Marte ATL, rehab,
1-4, double ... Jay Stephens NYA 5.0 4 0 0 2 4, 3-0, 1.31
Troop
movements ... BOS -- placed Lenny DiNardo on the DL, recalled Joe
Nelson from AAA, designated Tim Hamulack for assignment ... FLO -- signed
first round pick Taylor Tankersley ... LA -- placed Juan
Encarnacion on the DL, recalled Chin-Feng Chen for AAA ... MIL --
optioned Wes Obermueller to AAA, purchased the contract of Matt
Erickson from AAA ... OAK -- activated Eric Chavez from the DL, placed
Esteban German on the DL ... DET -- activated infielder Chris
Shelton from the DL, optioned LHP Steve Colyer to AAA ...
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on OAK's Jairo Garcia and Ryan
Howard PHI :
" ... A 21-year-old righthander, Garcia made our A's
depth chart but not our Top 30 Prospects list in the 2004 Prospect Handbook, and
it's safe to say he'll be ranked this year. He seems to have conquered the
intermittent shoulder soreness that slowed his progress and has shot from low
Class A Kane County to Double-A Midland with ease. Showcasing a 93-95 mph
fastball, he has posted a 65-14 strikeout-walk ratio in just 38 innings, while
opponents have batted .178 with nary a homer. He should reach the majors shortly
after he refines his slider or splitter into a good second pitch."
" ... Assistant editor Chris Kline recently ranked
Howard No. 8 on his list of top first-base prospects in the minors, and I
concur. Why doesn't he rank higher? Howard is a little old for Double-A at age
24, but he won't move up to Triple-A until he shows better command of the strike
zone (32 unintentional walks, 103 strikeouts in 313 at-bats). That hasn't hurt
him so far in the minors, but it could when he reaches the minors. If we did a
midseason Top 100, I'd put Howard in the 51-75 range."
Jeremy Deloney,
Baseball Miscellany, on Dan Meyer ATL :
" ... Not only is he the best pitching prospect in
the deep Braves system, but he is among the top pitching prospects in all of
baseball. Since signing as a supplemental first round pick in 2002 ... Meyer has
dominated every level of the minors. This season is no different. The 22
year-old lefty started 2004 with Double A Greenville of the Southern League.
Meyer went 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts. In his 65 innings with the G
Braves, he walked 12 and struck out 86. In addition, Meyer held the opposition
to a .215 batting average. Due to his plus-plus feel and moxie, the Braves
elevated him to Triple A Richmond where he is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in his first
two starts ... His outstanding command of all pitches in his arsenal is his
biggest strength. He has the confidence and ability to locate the fastball,
slider, changeup, and splitter at any time in any situation. Command is usually
the most difficult thing a pitcher can grasp, but Meyer's acumen will be a
strength even at the Major League level ... Scouts rave about Meyer's
mechanics and see an effortless, fluid delivery. In addition, he adds so much
deception in his delivery that his changeup will be that much more effective
once he irons out his slight kinks with the pitch. With Meyer's poise, polish,
and moxie as well as his terrific pitching abilities, he profiles to be a
cornerstone of the Braves rotation for several years to come."
David
Cameron, at ussmariner.com, has updated his Ms Top 40. Felix Hernandez,
newcomer Jeremy Reed and Clint Nageotte 1-2-3.
09 July 2004
Jeff Francis, Scott Kazmir moving up ... Seth Pietsch, Deacon
Burns among the APPY stars ... Lastings Milledge, Ian Stewart, power strokes ...
Adam Loewen, control again a problem ... Matt Wright, outstanding ... Ryan Garko
back in the swing ... Prince Fielder, sign of hope ... Dallas McPherson, another
long one ... Tim Stauffer, quick learner ... John Maine, solid ... another view
on Yusmeiro Petit ... success continues for Jhonny Peralta ... Mets try a Cuban
solution
Ooops
... Shane Mills' 5th
Annual 3-Pitch and BBQ has been rescheduled for July 17th ... a Saturday in Stoney Creek.
Baseball, swimming, bocce ball. Small charge for food. Contact Shane
for further information
Game action ...
INT -- Pete LaForest (TB, C) 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB ... Jonny
Gomes (TB, LF) 2-3, 2B, BB, HBP ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-5, 2 2B,
2 R, 0 errors ... speedy strikes again, Joey Gathright (TB, CF)
1-4, BB, 2 SB ... Stephen Smitherman (CIN, LF) 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
... ugly outing, Dustin Moseley (CIN) 5.0 11 8 8 2 2 ... Jason
Kubel (MIN, RF) 2-4, RBI ... Mike Fontenot (BAL, 2B) 3-5, 2
2B, 3B, R ... Jack Cust (BAL, LF) 2-5, RBI ... John
Maine (BAL) 6.0 6 1 1 3 6 ... big day! Jhonny Peralta (CLE,
SS) 2-4, 8th & 9th HRs, 4 R, 2 RBI, BB ... Arnie Munoz (CHA) 5.0
10 5 5 1 3 ... Michael Vento (NYA, RF) 4-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI ...
David Krynzel (MIL, CF) 3-4, SB ... Corey Hart (MIL, RF)
2-4, 3B, R ... David Wright (NYN, 3B) 1-4, 6th HR, R, RBI ...
Pat Strange (NYN) 6.0 7 2 2 2 4
PCL -- Jeremy Griffiths HOU 6 5
1 1 3 5 ... SS Tommy Whiteman HOU 2-2, walk, double ... Clint
Barmes COL 2-3, double ... Andy Tracy COL 3-4, 19th & 20th
homers ... Joe Dillon FLO 2-3, 31st homer ... John Gall
STL 3-5, double ... quick learner, Tim Stauffer SD 7 1-3 5 2 2 3 8
... Joe Blanton OAK 6 7 4 3 2 5 ... Dallas McPherson
ANA 2-5, double, 8th homer (28th overall), 3 RBI ... Bucky Jacobsen
SEA 1-2, 26th homer, 2 walks
EASTERN -- Aaron Hill TOR 0-5
Dominic Rich TOR 1-4, SB (3)
Val Majewski BAL 3-5, 2
SB (10)
Keith Reed BAL 1-5, HR (10), 2 RBI (35)
Dan
Denham CLE 6.0 4 1 0 2 4, W (2), 2.53 ERA
Jeff Keppinger PIT
0-4
Ryan Doumit PIT 2-4, 2B (17)
Bryan Bullington
PIT 5.0 7 3 3 2 4, 3.89 ERA
Carlos Valderrama SF 1-5, HR (4),
RBI (19)
Luis Maza MINN 2-4
Kevin West MINN 1-4,
2B (28)
Ryan Howard PHI 1-4, RBI (88)
This won't surprise anyone -- Ryan Howard PHI
chosen as the EL's MVP for June :
" ... Howard ... a unanimous selection for the
award after hitting .386 with 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 43 RBI, 28 runs scored,
11 walks, a .458 on-base percentage and a .868 slugging percentage in 30 games
for the R-Phils in June. The 64, 230 lb. slugger has blasted a league-best 33
home runs and driven in a league-high 87 runs in 81 games this season. The 2003
Florida State League MVP is also currently leading the league in slugging
percentage (.705), runs scored (63) and extra-base hits (51)." (Eastern League)
SOUTHERN -- Richard Gardner CIN 6.0 6 2
2 0 3, W 1-0, 3.00 ... Trevor Hutchinson FLA 6.0 6 1 1 1 3, 5.58
... Jarod Mathews TB 7.0 4 0 0 1 4, 2.91 ... Kelly
Johnson ATL OF 1-4, R, 3 RBI, HR (10) ... Anthony Reyes STL
8.0 7 5 4 0 6, 3.60 ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR (11)
... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 3-5, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI, HR (14) ...
Renyel Pinto CHN 6.0 5 4 4 1 11, L 8-5, 3.51 ... Ryan
Ketchner LA 7.2 3 1 1 2 9, W 6-2, 2.35 ... Brennan King LA 3B
2-4, R, 3 RBI, 2 K, HR (10)
" ... shortstop Josh Wilson was named the
Southern League Topps Player of the Month for June ... Wilson, who was recently
called up to AAA Albuquerque, is a two-time Southern League All-Star. For the
month, he tied for first in the Southern League in hits (36) and finished second
in home runs (6), while posting a batting average of .350. Wilson, a third round
draft pick of the Marlins in 1999, is ranked the #21 prospect in the Florida
system by Baseball America." (Southern League)
TEXAS -- Laynce Nix TEX rehab, 2-5 ...
Jeff Salazar COL, tough time in early AA going, 0-4, 0.91 ...
catcher John Baker OAK 2-4, 12th homer, .300 ... Conor
Jackson ARZ 2-5, .345
CAROLINA -- Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-4, K &
0-1, K
Brian McCann ATL 2-4, R, HR (12), RBI (47) & 1-3, R,
double, BB, 2 K
Tripper Johnson BAL 1-3, R, RBI (49)
Matt
Wright ATL (W) 7 4 1 1 1 11 (3-4, 2.82)
Kevin Howard CIN
2-4, 2 R, RBI (52), BB
Ryan Sweeney CHA 1-3, double, BB, K
Casey Rogowski CHA 0-2, 2 BB, K
Pedro Lopez CHA 0-4,
K
Donnie Murphy KC 1-5, R
Mike Aviles KC 3-5, 2
R, double (22), 2 RBI (48), 2 K
Shane Costa KC 1-3, R, double,
BB, K
Ryan Garko CLE 2-4, R, HR (15), 2 RBI (55)
Pat
Osborn CLE 2-4, R, RBI
Nathan Panther CLE 1-3, R, 2 RBI, K
Mark Saccomanno HOU 01-4, R, BB, 2 K
Josh Anderson
CF HOU 1-5
Chaz Lytle PIT 0-4, BB
Brad Eldred
PIT 0-4, BB
Rajai Davis PIT 3-5, RBI, BB, SB (32)
Fernando
Nieve HOU 8 5 0 0 1 2 (2.77)
Nic Gravelle PIT 8 2 0 0 0 5
FLORIDA STATE --
Eric
Duncan (NYA, 3B) 1-3 HR(1) 2R
Robert Andino (FLA, SS) 4-5 2B R
SB(1)
Raul Tablado (TOR, DH) 1-4 HR(13) 2RBI
Hanley Ramirez (BOS,
SS) 2-3 RBI & 1-3 2R RBI
Manny Delcarman (BOS) 5 10 4 4 0 3
Aarom
Baldiris (NYN, 3B) 2-3 R RBI SB(6) & 2-2 RBI
Jonathan Slack (NYN,
CF) 3-5 2R SB(26)
Mathew Murton (BOS, LF) 3-4 3R RBI & 0-4
Jon
Connolly (CHN) 6 4 2 2 3 6 - 2.90 ERA
Tony Giarratano (DET, SS) 2-3
2B CS & 2-4 - back over .400
Corey Hamman (DET) 6 3 0 0 0 4 W(4-0,
3.04)
Joel Zumaya (DET) 4.1 4 3 3 1 4 L(5-6, 4.84)
Jonathan
Broxton (LA) 3 3 1 1 2 5 - Left after 3 due to high pitch count
" ... Cubs first baseman Brandon Sing has
been named the TOPPS Player of the Month for the month of June by The TOPPS
Company of New York, New York. Brandon was awarded the Florida State League
Hitter of the Week, for the past two weeks as voted on by the managers of the
Florida State League. For the month of June, Sing collected 24 hits in 69
at-bats for an average of .348. Sing hit nine homeruns, three doubles, scored 25
runs and collected 29 runs batted in. He was walked 32 times and had one stolen
base in two attempts." (Daytona Cubs)
CALIFORNIA -- Joe Saunders ANA 7.0 4 1
1 3 4 ... Travis Hinton MIL, 15th homer ... Erick Aybar
ANA 5th homer
MIDWEST -- Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3,
double, BB, K (.295) ... Drew Macias SD 1-3 ... Christhian
Martinez DET 7.0 2 0 0 2 5 (3 starts, 1.89 ERA) ... Chris
Lubanski KC 2-5, double, 2 K (.248) ... Mitch Maier KC 3-4, K
... Billy Petrick CHN 5.0 9 3 3 1 3 (W, 9-4, 3.22) ... Brian
Dopirak CHN 1-3, BB, K (.314) ... Errol Simonitsch MIN 6.0
3 2 1 4 7 (W, 6-1, 2.26) ... Lou Palmisano MIL 1-4, double, BB
(.310) ... Tyler Clippard NYA 6.0 12 6 5 3 3 (3.83) ... Brendan
Ryan STL 2-4 (.335) ... Micah Furtado TEX 0-3, BB, K ...
Michel Simard ANA 7.0 5 1 1 1 5 (W, 7-5, 3.25) ... Bobby
Wilson (C) ANA 1-3, HR, BB, 2 K (.279) ... Thomas Oldham SEA
6.2 7 3 2 2 6 (3.01) ... Adam Jones SEA 1-4, K
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Lastings Milledge NYM,
3-5, homer (8), RBI, 2 runs ... Ian Stewart COL, 3-6, 2 homers
(20,21), 3 RBI, 3 runs ... Jonathan Herrera COL, 4-6, double, 2
homers (2,3), 2 RBI, 4 runs ... Jordan Czarnecki COL, 2-5, 2
doubles, 2 RBI ... Aaron Marsden COL, 7.0 11 6 6 1 5 (W 8-3, 3.67)
... Rogearvin Bernadina MON, 0-3, 2 RBI ... Nick
Markakis BAL, 1-5 ... Dustin Yount BAL, 2-4, 2 RBI ... Adam
Loewen BAL, 2.2 1 1 1 4 4 ... Adam Boeve PIT, 2-4, homer
(18), RBI ... Wardell Starling PIT, 6.0 7 1 1 2 6 ... Jereme
Milons LA, 3-6, double, homer (9), 2 RBI ... Xavier Paul
LA, 1-4, double, run, steal (8) ... Brandon Weededn LA, 5.0 3 0 0
3 5 (W 5-5, 4.29) ... Elliot Johnson TB, 3-4, double ... Delmon
Young TB, 0-5, 2 strikeouts ... Brad Snyder CLE, 1-3, homer
(9), RBI ... Ryan Goleski CLE, 1-3, homer (19), RBI ... Travis
Ishikawa SF, 2-4, homer (10), 3 RBI, steal (7) ... Brandon Moss
BOS, 2-3, homer (9), RBI ... Jarrett Gardner BOS, 6.0 8 3 2 0 4 (L
8-4, 2.20) ... Tom Mastny TOR 6.0 7 3 1 1 5, 1.89 ...
APPALACHIAN -- (Wednesday's games)
After a
day off, the Freak returns
Deacon Burns (MIN, DH) 4-6, R, 2B (7), RBI
(10), SB (2), K, .429 BA (2nd in the Appy)
trio of dingers for
Mitch Einertson (HOU, RF) 3-4, 3 R, 3 HR (7, T-1), 4 RBI (19, T-2), BB, K,
.275 BA
Danville Braves with a solid 2-3-4 trio, with CF Carl Loadenthal
(.340), 1B Keith Eichas (.358), and C/DH Cole Armstrong (.393) all
ranking in the top 16 in BA and in the top 18 in OBP in the Appy. They have
combined for a .364 average, 32 R, 10 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 19 BB, 20 K, 6 SBs and
a .439 OBP through 17 games. Their power numbers are low but should come
around, as the 2Bs and BB/K ratios would suggest
elsewhere Jose De Los
Santos (CHA, 3B) 1-4, R, 2B (4), 2 RBI (15), K, .444 BA (1st)
Javier Castillo (CHA, SS) 2-3, 2 R, BB, .368 BA / .424 OBP
Johnson City
Cardinals with a stacked order at the top, led by 2B Jose Delgado (.404
BA/.561 OBP) and his 16 R, 7 SB, SS Juan Lucena (.357/.400), and C
Brandon Yarbrough (.340/.419). In Wednesdays win over Bristol, the three
combined to go 9-13, 6 R, 3 2B, 4 RBI, BB, SB, K
Yuber Rodriguez (TOR,
CF) 1-3, R, 2B (4), 2 BB, K, .350 BA
Nick Thomas (TOR, 1B) 1-4, R, 2B
(6), BB, .327 BA
Corey Shafer (BAL, RF) 4-5, 3 R, 3B (1), HR (2), RBI
(8), K, .290 BA
Bryan Dumesnil (BAL, RP) 3.0 3 0 0 0 1, ND (0.82)
Julio Garcia (CLE, 2B) 2-4, 2B (5), K, .368 BA
P.J. Hiser (CLE, RF)
1-4, R, 2 K, falls to .327
Triple Crown threat at it again, Seth Pietsch
(NYN, LF) 2-3, 3 R, HR (7, T-1), 3 RBI (22, 1st), .403 BA (4th)
Travis Garcia (NYN, DH) 2-4, R, HR (1), 5 RBI (7), .227 BA.
PIONEER -- Geraldo Valentin CF KC 4-6,
double, SB, 3 RBI, .368 ... Ben Krantz ARZ 6.0 1 0 0 0 5
ARIZONA -- Mark Rogers MIL 2.0 3 3 0 1
3 ... 2B Hernan Iribarren MIL 2-3, 2 walks, .492 ... 1B Miguel
Vega KC 1-4, 6th homer, SB ... JK Ryu CHN, rehab, 2.0 3 2 2 0 2
... hmmm, at least at the lowest level of pro ball he's looking good,
Chan Ho Park TEX Park 7.0 3 1 0 2 7 ...
GULF COAST -- SS Luis.Soto BOS 3-5,
double, .375 ... SS Sean Henry NYN 4-5, 2 doubles
Troop
movements ... BAL -- recalled Jose Leon from AAA, optioned Rick
Bauer (sure getting lots of Air Miles) to AAA ... CHA -- activated Magglio
Ordonez from the DL, optioned Felix Diaz to AAA ... CLE --
recalled Cliff Bartosh from AAA, optioned Jason Davis
to AAA ... NYA -- purchased the contract of Juan Padilla from AAA,
recalled Sam Marsonek from AAA, optioned Bret Prinz and Brad
Halsey to AAA, designated Kevin Hooper for assignment ... TB -- recalled
Bobby Seay from AAA, optioned Jeremi Gonzalez to AAA ... COL -- placed LHP Joe
Kennedy on the DL, recalled RHP Allan Simpson from AAA ... HOU -- recalled RHP
Brandon Duckworth from AAA, optioned
Chris Burke to AAA ...
And,
just about time.
" ... Jeff Francis, the Rockies' first-round
selection in the June 2002 draft, made his farewell to Class AA Tulsa (Okla.) in
style Wednesday. Francis worked seven shutout innings, giving up one hit and no
walks, and striking out 14 against Arkansas. That gave him 113 2/3 innings and a
1.98 earned-run average, which qualifies him for the Texas League ERA title.
When Francis came out of the game, the public-address announcer in Tulsa
announced to the crowd he was being promoted to Class AAA Colorado Springs,
which prompted a standing ovation. Francis came out of the dugout to acknowledge
the fans. Francis, a native of Canada, is scheduled to start Sunday for the
World Team in the Futures Game, which is being held in Houston in conjunction
with the major league All-Star Game. He will join the Sky Sox after that game."
(Rocky Mountain News)
" ... Scott Kazmir is headed to the Mets'
Double-A Binghamton affiliate. Kazmir has righted himself since a poor start to
the year, bouncing back from a rib cage strain that caused him to miss a month.
He pitched six scoreless innings Monday ... improving his ERA to 0.78 over
his last four starts (23 IP, 2 ER). Overall, Kazmir is 1-2, 3.42 in 50 innings,
with a 51-22 strikeout-walk ratio and 49 hits allowed. "He's pitched really well
lately," St. Lucie pitching coach Rick Mahler said. "Early in the year, he was
just hurting. Once he did find his rhythm, he was able to finish his pitches."
Those pitches include a fastball in the 90-95 mph range, Mahler said, averaging
around 93, as well as a changeup Mahler termed "outstanding." (Baseball America)
And, Texas has promoted starter Josh Rupe to
A+, California League.
Mets'
the latest to take a chance on a Cuban pitcher :
" ... The Mets, searching for a pitcher to upgrade
the rotation, may have found the answer without giving up prospects. Cuban
defector Alain Soler has agreed to a $3 million deal with the Mets, the
Daily News has learned. The 6-3, 230-pound Soler reportedly fled Cuba by boat in
November with three other players and established residency in the Dominican
Republic. The package, which includes a signing bonus and multiyear contract,
will be announced after Soler passes a physical, according to multiple sources.
Most Mets officials have never seen Soler pitch, but the belief is that the
righthander, who throws in the low-90s and is purported to be 24 years old,
could be in the rotation after several minor-league starts. He is tentatively
scheduled to begin his U.S. professional career in Port St. Lucie, with a
potentially quick ascent through the system, though the Mets must obtain a
special visa for him to enter the country, which may take a few weeks ...One
major-league official speculated that interest in Soler was limited because of
the recent struggles of Jose Contreras. Soler pitched for Cuba's 2002 World
University Baseball Championships team in Sicily, and beat Taiwan in a semifinal
game, 2-0, with a five-hitter. "He is someone who can help someone right now,"
agent Joe Cubas was quoted as saying in April. (New York Daily News)
Jeremy
Deloney, Baseball Miscellany, on Lastings Milledge NYN :
" ... Milledge, a 19 year-old outfielder currently
playing in low A Capital City, is putting together a fantastic season at the
plate. He's hitting .329/.368/.555 in 42 games. He's attained 16 doubles, 7 HR,
and 12 stolen bases. Those numbers are extremely good for someone who missed
most of the first half of the season due to a broken finger suffered during
Spring Training. There isn't a whole lot that Milledge can't do on the baseball
field. He is among the top five-tool athletes in baseball right now at such a
young age. The 6'1" 185-pound centerfielder has amazing bat speed and can
generate massive power to all fields. Milledge has good speed, a solid
centerfield arm, and the ability to hit for a high average. The only knock on
Milledge thus far is his pitch selectivity ... Despite his potential and
quick success, the Mets should be patient with his development. Five-tool
athletes will encounter problems on the road to the majors and Milledge is due
for a slight blump."
Jeremy
also has a note on CLE's Jhonny Peralta, as does Joe Ptak at the
Cleveland Indians Report :
" ... Peralta ... He's already
experienced some time with Cleveland and figures to make it back before the
season is over. Peralta doesn't have much speed, but the Indians want him to add
some power to his already-polished bat. He did hit 15 HR at AA Akron in 2002 and
figures to hit 20+ HR at the big league level. He has a good enough glove to
play shortstop or third base and the Indians would rather see him at third."
" ... Peralta has been spectacularly consistent this
year as his average has not dipped below the .330 mark since April 20. He's
currently hitting .332 but, more encouragingly, has also started to hit for
power as he belted his 7th homerun on Tuesday night and is now slugging .482
with a .864 OPS." (Cleveland Indians Report)
Ted
Lukacs, The Minors First, has a look at Yusmeiro Petit NYN :
" ... Petit had blown away the South Atlantic League
allowing only 47 hits in 83 innings with 22 walks and 122 K's. He is from
Venezuela, just 19. BB America says he generally works at 88-90 MPH with just an
average curveball and a good changeup-but he knows how to pitch ... Caveat
emptor-lots of guys with good control and average stuff that know how to pitch
can get guys out in the low minors but can't get AA or AAA hitters out. The
difference in Petit's case is the sparkling hits/innings ratio. Lots of guys
like Dicky Gonzalez have great walk/K ratios, and strike out a lot of guys in
the low minors because they have good control. But their H/IP ratio is usually
nothing special. Petit's is. Saturday night, he had a dominating performance in
a matchup against Jonathan Broxton. Worked just 4 innings because he threw quite
a few pitches, but permitted no runs, walked three and struck out 9. Only one
ball hit hard, and no balls out of the infield. Another caveat-he is listed in
BB America, Sickels, etc, as 6' 180. On the programs in Vero and St. Lucie, he
is listed as 6' 230. Talked to Mets starters Scott Kazmir and Matt Lindstrom who
were running the gun and charting pitches yesterday. Asked about the listings.
Scott said, 230? He's at least that, and Lindstrom laughed and said, he's a big
boy. Asked them if they knew what Petit was registering on the gun the night
before. 87, 88. I said that's not very hard, and they said he's really
deceptive. Must change speeds well. But the extra weight has not brought
increased velocity. You have to hope he doesn't develop a weight problem, ala
Sidney Ponson."
08 July 2004
Jeff Francis outstanding, again ... MIN 1st rounder with super
pro debut ... Ms Shawn Nottingham phenom-like ... COL catcher Ryan Fox opening
eyes ... Clint Everts, solid ... Cubs' Brian Dopirak, 24th long one ... John
Danks, a beating ... sign of life from Josh Barfield, not from Prince Fielder
... Brandon Claussen, sharp ... BJ Upton, "D" troubles don't affect hitting ...
Justin Morneau, 22nd homer
A
reminder for Scoresheet managers in Southern Ontario ... Shane Mills' 5th
Annual 3-Pitch and BBQ is set for this Saturday (July 10th) in Stoney Creek.
Baseball, swimming, bocce ball. Small charge for food. Contact Shane
for further information
Our
thanks and congratulations to Harry Almquist, who has performed admirably
as our Texas League & Gulf Coast Correspondent. Harry is off for some
summer studies at Oxford. We'll miss his contributions.
Game action ...
INT -- Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 2-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI ... Pete LaForest
(TB, C) 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 0 errors
... Chad Gaudin (TB) 6.1 7 5 5 5 4 ... Stephen
Smitherman (CIN, LF) 2-3, 2 R, BB ... Dane Sardinha (CIN, C)
2-4, R ... strong outing, Brandon Claussen (CIN) 6.2 6 0 0 2 12
... Justin Morneau (MIN, 1B) 2-4, 2B, 22nd HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB ...
Jesse Crain (MIN) 2.0 2 0 0 0 4 ... Mike Fontenot
(BAL, 2B) 0-3, HBP ... Darnell McDonald (BAL, CF) 2-4 ...
Francisco Cruceta (CLE) 6.0 9 4 3 1 3 ... Byung-Hyun Kim (BOS)
1.1 2 1 1 1 2 ... Joe Borchard (CHA, RF) 2-4, 2B, 16th HR, R, RBI
... Robinson Cano (NYA, 2B) 2-4, 2nd HR, 2 R, RBI ... Corey
Hart (MIL, RF) 2-3, 3B, R, RBI ... interesting line, Jorge De
La Rosa (MIL) 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 ... David Wright (NYN, 3B) 2-3,
2B, BB ... Bob Keppel (NYN) 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 ... Wednesday Catchup -
Jorge Padilla (PHI, RF) 2-5, R ... Josh Hancock
(PHI) 8.0 5 1 1 2 3
PCL -- Gil Meche SEA 6.2 8 4 3 4
7 ... Jeremy Reed SEA 3-4, .357 ... Dallas McPherson
ANA 1-3, 7th homer, 3 RBI ... Justin Germano SD 7.0 7 3 2 1 5 ...
Garrett Atkins COL on a nice roll, 3-4, 10th homer, .342 ...
Eric Chavez OAK rehab 1-3, double
EASTERN -- Justin Huber NYN 2-5,
RBI (29) ... Karim Garcia NYN 1-5, 2B (1), 3 RBI (3) ... Matt
Peterson NYN 6.0 5 2 2 2 8, W (6), 3.20 ERA ... Aaron Hill
TOR 0-4... Dominic Rich TOR 1-4 ... Val Majewski BAL
2-4, 2B (16),RBI (55), SB (8) ... Keith Reed BAL 0-3 ...
Michael Aubrey CLE 1-1, 2 RBI (8) ... Jeremy Guthrie
CLE 6.0 9 5 4 3 5, 3.75 ERA ... Jeff Keppinger PIT 1-4 ... Ryan
Doumit PIT 0-2, BB ... Bobby Bradley PIT 4.0 3 1 1 0 6,
3.18 ERA ... Carlos Valderrama SF 2-4 ... Matt Cain
SF 2.0 2 1 1 0 2, 2.08 ERA ... Luis Maza MINN 0-4 ... Kevin
West MINN 1-4 ... Scott Baker MINN 7.0 6 2 2 2 8, 2.52 ERA
... Ryan Howard PHI 0-4
SOUTHERN -- Jose Capellan ATL
5.0 9 2 2 1 3 ... CF Chris Denorfia CIN, winning kudos in AA, 3-5,
double, 1st homer & 1-3 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN 4-5, double,
walk & 1-4, double, .301 ... Bobby Brownlie CHN 7.0 5 1 1 4,
2.82 ... 3B Vince Harrison TB, early struggles in AA, 1-3, 1st
homer, .111 ... Prince Fielder MIL, 0-4 ... Rickie Weeks
MIL 1-3 ... Brian Anderson CHA 2-5, double, .379 ... Josh
Barfield SD 3-4, 2 doubles, walk, 3 runs
TEXAS -- Jeff Francis COL,
amazing season, 7.0 1 0 0 0 14, 13-1, 1.98 ... Willy Taveras HOU 2-3,
32nd SB ... Matt Chico ARZ 2.2 4 4 4 5 2, 11.32 ...
Jeff Mathis ANA 1-4, 10th homer ... Ryan Shealy COL
1-4, 17th homer ... Ian Kinsler SS TEX 0-3 ... Laynce
Nix CF TEX rehab, 0-4 ... Jason Bourgeois 2B TEX 2-4, 2R,
3B ... Ruben Gotay 2B KC 2-4, R, 3RBI ... Colt Griffin
KC 1 0 0 0 0 1
CAROLINA -- an impressive day for some Reds
farmhands
Kevin Howard CIN (2B) 2-4, 2 R, double (18), HR (10),
4 RBI (51), 2 BB, K, .300
Matt Logan CIN (1B) 3-5, 3 R, 2
doubles, 3 RBI, BB, K
Ryan Hanigan CIN (DH) 4-6, R, 2 RBI
Bryan Prince CIN ( C) 5-6, 2 R, double, HR, 2 RBI
Ryan
Sweeney CHA 1-5, double
Casey Rogowski CHA 2-4, R, HR (13),
3 RBI (60), BB
Pedro Lopez CHA 3-5, R, RBI
Donnie
Murphy KC 2-5, R, HR (6), 3 RBI (51)
Mike Aviles KC 0-5, K
Shane Costa KC 2-5, R, double
Ryan Garko CLE 0-4
Pat Osborn CLE 1-3
Nathan Panther CLE 1-4
Devon Lowery KC (W) 6 5 2 2 1 4 (5-6, 3.84)
JD Martin CLE
(L) 6 7 4 4 2 3 (7-8, 4.70)
Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-4, K
Josh
Anderson CF HOU 1-4, K
Chaz Lytle PIT 1-3, double, SB
(17)
Brad Eldred PIT 0-4, 2 K
Zach Duke PIT (L)
6 9 1 1 1 7 (9-5, 1.38)
" ... third baseman Tripper Johnson
[BAL] was voted the Carolina Leagues Topps Player of the Month for June in a
poll of the managers. In 25 June games, the right hand batting Johnson hit .355
(33 for 93), with eight home runs and 23 RBI. His on-base percentage was .429.
Eight doubles and two triples helped swell his June slugging percentage to .742.
Cumulatively through games of July 6, the 22-year-old is hitting .279 with 15
home runs and 48 RBI. Johnson ... was the Orioles first round pick in the
2000 draft." (MinorLeagueBaseball.com)
FLORIDA STATE -- Raul Tablado (TOR,
DH) 1-4 HR(12)
Felix Pie (CHN, CF) 2-4 2B R RBI CS
Alex
Romero (MIN, DH) 3-5 2B R
Trent Oeltjen (MIN, CF) 2-3 R
Manny Tejada (MIN) 7 3 0 0 2 3 W(3-3, 4.30)
" ... shortstop Tony Giarratano was
selected as the Tigers' minor league player of the month for June. Giarratano
hit .438 (39x89) with 15 runs scored, seven doubles one homerun, 11 RBI and 10
stolen bases in 23 games. He reached base in every game in which he made a plate
appearance, and also racked up 12 multi-hit games. In June, Giarratano also had
two separate hit streaks, one of 16 games and the other 11 games. He has also
played well in the field committing just four errors 32 games."
CALIFORNIA -- Manny Parra MIL
5.2 7 3 3 1 6 ... Steven Shell ANA 6.0 5 2 2 1 9, 3.32 ...
Erick Aybar ANA 3-5, homer, .349 ... TEX young gun shot down, John
Danks 2.2 11 7 7 1 1 ... Merkin Valdez SF 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 ...
3B Nate Schierholtz SF 3-5, triple, .310 ... catcher John
Suomi OAK 4-5, double, 3 RBI, .311
MIDWEST -- Brian Dopirak CHN
2-4, 24th HR ... looking more and more like a lost season Kody
Kirkland DET 1-4, double, 2 K (.220) ... Lou Palmisano MIL
1-4, double, K ... Dustin Glant ARZ 9.0 7 2 1 0 3 ... Brian
Snyder OAK 1-3, 2 BB, K, E (.315) ... Adam Jones SEA 1-4,
K, E (.262) ... Daric Barton STL 3-5, double, HR ... Cody
Haerther STL 2-4, K ... blecch Abel Gomez NYA 3.0 8 9 9 4 3
(L, 7-5, now 3.83) ... Mitch Maier KC 2-4, BB, K (.291) ...
Calvin Medlock CIN 5.0 3 0 0 1 6 (W, 8-3, 2.56) ... Joey
Votto CIN 2-4, double, triple, BB ... hits bad, strikeouts good Scott
Tyler MIN 5.0 9 4 4 3 8 (3.26) ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-4,
double ... Kevin Jepsen 4.0 8 5 1 2 5 (2.96)
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Lastings Milledge
NYM, 1-5, run ... Ryan Harvey NYM, 3-5, double ... Shawn
Bowman NYM, 2-3, homer (13), 3 RBI ... Rogearvin Bernadina
MON, 3-4, double, RBI ... Clint Everts MON, 4.0 4 1 1 0 4 ...
Nick Markakis BAL, 1-4, double, RBI ... Fredy Deza BAL,
8.0 3 2 2 1 6 (W 6-8, 3.00) ... Jereme Milons LA, 3-5 ...
Chin-lung Hu LA, 1-5, 2 steals (15), 2 runs ... Xavier Paul
LA, 2-4, 2 RBI, steal (7) ... Tony Abreu 3-4, homer (5), 2
doubles, RBI, 2 runs ... Delmon Young TB, 1-4, 2 RBI ... Wes
Bankston TB, 2-3, double ... Tony Peguero TB, 6.0 11 6 6 0
2 (L 7-5, 2.98) ... Ryan Goleski CLE, 1-3, RBI ... Mitch
Talbot HOU, 7.0 3 2 2 1 1 (W 6-6, 4.40) ... Antonin Gray CHW,
1-4, double ... Robert Valido CHW, 2-4, double ... Micah
Schnurstein CHW, 2-4, double ... Ben Thurmond SF, 7.1 7 1 1 0
7 (W 4-2, 2.20) ... Brandon Moss BOS, 2-4, 2 RBI ... Beau
Vaughn BOS, 7.0 4 1 1 1 7 (W 4-1, 2.28) ... James Shanks
FLA, 3-4, 2 doubles, RBI, 2 runs ... Javon Moran PHI, 1-5, double,
run ... Jake Blalock PHI, 2-4, double, RBI ... Bradley
Mumma TOR, 6.0 6 1 1 0 7 (W 2-1, 3.00)
APPALACHIAN -- (Tuesday's games) Brad
Wiggins (BAL, LF) 2-4, R, 2B (3), RBI (3), .400 BA... Wimer
Mendez (BAL, SP) 5.2 3 0 0 2 4, W (2-0) (1.77)... Pulaski's Dynamic
Duo: Yuber Rodriguez (TOR, CF) 3-5, 2 R, 2 3B (2), 2 RBI (19),
.351 BA and Nick Thomas (TOR, DH) 3-4, R, 2 2B (5), RBI (18),
.333 BA... Keith Eichas (ATL, 1B) 2-3, 2 R, BB, .365 BA...
Cole Armstrong (ATL, C) 2-3, 2B (2), 2 RBI (17), BB, .385
BA... Glen Perkins, MIN first-rounder in June,4.0 2 0 0 1 7, ND (0.00)...
Jose Delgado (STL, 2B) 0-2, 2 K, error, .372 BA...
Johnny Woodard (MIN, 1B) 2-5, R, 2B (3), 2 RBI (9), K, .308 BA... Jake
Ritchie (TAM, 3B) 2-4, 2B (4), 2 K, error, .333 BA... Julio
Garcia (CLE, 2B), 2-3, R, RBI (6), 2 BB, .358 BA... Seth
Pietsch (NYN, LF) 1-4, RBI (19), .390 BA... Javier Castillo
(CHA, SS) 2-4, R, 2B (4), .352 BA... Jose De Los Santos (CHA,
3B) 1-4, RBI (13), .460 BA... excellent stuff from Orlando Rengel
(NYN, SP) 6.2 3 0 0 1 1, W (2-1) (0.96)... wasted effort in Bristol's 3-2 loss
to the K-Mets, 5 perfect innings from Lucas Harrell (CHA, SP)
5.0 0 0 0 0 4, ND (5.40).
NORTHWEST -- outstanding work by SF youngster,
Jesus Reina 5.0 1 0 0 0 10 ... Shawn Nottingham
SEA, now 3-0, 0.36, 6.0 3 0 0 3 7 ... Vern Sterry SD 6.0 4 0
0 2 9, 2.19
PIONEER -- CF Emilio Marcos LA
3-5, double, .368 ... catcher Chris Westervelt LA 2-4, double,
homer & 3-3, 5th homer, walk, .432 ... SS Brandon Carter LA 3-4,
double ... SS Sean Rodriguez ANA 2-2, 3 walks, double, 4 runs &
0-1, 3 walks, .486 ... COL catcher Ryan Fox 2-3, triple, 7th
homer, 4 runs, .395 ... COL DH Seth Smith 5-6, 2 doubles, 4 RBI, 4
runs, .424 ... 3B Billy Butler KC 2-4, double, 3 RBI, .333 ...hmm,
strange line for a DH, Grant Richardson MIL 0-0, 5 walks ...
ARIZONA -- Luke Hagerty CHN 4.0 5 3 0
2 2, 2.63 ... Cha Baek SEA, rehab, 4.0 3 2 1 0 2 ...
Troop
movements ... ANA -- optioned Alfredo Amezaga to AAA, activated
Shane Halter off the DL ... PHI -- activated outfielder Ricky Ledee from the DL,
optioned infielder Shawn Wooten to AAA ... BAL -- optioned RHP Rick
Bauer to AAA, sent outfielder Chad Mottola outright to AAA ... PIT --
optioned RHP Mark Corey to AAA, purchased the contract of RHP Willis
Roberts ... NYN -- activated catcher Vance Wilson from the DL, optioned
catcher Tom Wilson to AAA ... TEX -- designated LHP Nick
Bierbrodt for assignment, recalled LHP Nick Regilio from AAA
At RotoWorld, Matthew Pouliot with a look at future
HOU 2B Chris Burke and Lastings Milledge NYN :
" ... Burke, who was drafted 10th overall in 2001,
has done more than enough in Triple-A this season to indicate that hell be
ready for regular playing time in the majors next year. He wont be in Kents
class immediately, but the Astros would save $8 million by making the switch and
thats more than enough incentive to decline Kents option ... has only
really started to hit this year, but hes always been well thought of. After a
.300/.376/.438 season in the Midwest League in 2001, he was forced to make the
jump to Double-A Round Rock because the Astros lacked a high-A club. He hit only
.264/.330/.356 that year, but as a repeater in 2003, he improved to
.301/.379/.388. The power has started to come this year, as hes hit
.325/.403/.513 for Triple-A New Orleans. Hes not going to slug .500 in the
majors, but he could be Mark Loretta with speed. Burke has swiped 92 bases in
four professional seasons, and his quickness serves him well in the field. He
should be a slightly above average defensive second baseman."
" ... Milledge missed the first month and a
half of the season with a broken hand sustained on March 19, but he has excelled
since joining Capital City. The 19-year-old is a legitimate center fielder with
outstanding speed, and hes turned into a quality hitter even earlier than
expected. Though hes not going to be ready until 2007 at the earliest, hes
already a fine fantasy prospect."
Dayn
Perry, FoxSports, with his updated LA Top 10, retains Edwin Jackson at
the top. James Loney and Joel Hanrahan are
2-3, then teenager Joel Guzman :
" ... Signed out the Dominican in 2001 as a
non-drafted free agent, Guzman, prior to this season, had been long on hype and
short on performance ... he's put up abysmal numbers in the past. This
season, however, has been a different story. In the Florida State League, where
he's quite young for the circuit, he's putting up strong numbers. In 79 games,
Guzman is hitting .303 AVG/.350 OBP/.530 SLG with much improved (although still
sub-optimal) plate discipline. What's particularly encouraging is the power
spike. Guzman still needs to prove himself against advanced competition, and
some observers think he'll eventually need to move to a corner position. Still,
19-year-olds who slug more than .500 in the FSL warrant attention."
Casey
Kotchman, ANA, it's the wrist :
" ... Kotchman hurt his right wrist while
swinging a bat in a game June 29 and hasn't played in the ensuing five games.
Angels farm director Tony Reagins said it's not a DL situation and the club
doesn't view it as particularly serious, but Kotchman's history -- he played in
only 81 games for Class A Cedar Rapids in 2002 because of injuries to both
wrists -- led to the decision to sit him until he's 100 percent. "He just
tweaked it a little bit," Reagins said. "That's why we're giving him a few days
off. He probably would be in the lineup if it wasn't the same wrist as a few
years ago." (MLB.com)
Mets
Low-A slugger on the shelf :
" ... the Bombers will be without their top hitter,
as first baseman Ian Bladergroen tore a ligament in his left wrist in the
first game after returning from the South Atlantic League all-star break. "It
was just one of those freak things," Bladergroen told The State in Columbia,
S.C. "I took a swing and felt a little pinch. I tried to keep going but felt a
lot of pain, so I came out of the game." Bladergroen, who was hitting .342-13-74
at the time of the injury, has an MRI scheduled for later in the week to
determine the extent of the damage. (Baseball America)
07 July 2004
Ryan Howard, Felix Hernandez, Clint Everts 1-2-3 on BA's Prospect
Hot Sheet ... Howard, 33rd homer among 4 hits ... BJ Upton, 29th error ... Aaron
Heilman, two in a row... Dallas McPherson, maybe another of those streaks ...
Jamie Vermilyea, no longer perfect, but close ... Gavin Floyd solid ... Denny
Bautista, good KC pickup ... Wlad, kudos ... Lastings Milledge, one of the SAL's
best ... Ian Stewart too
Game action ...
INT -- Pete LaForest (TB, C) 1-4, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Jonny
Gomes (TB, LF) 1-3, 18th HR, R, 3 RBI, HBP ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS)
1-3, R, 2 BB, SB, 1 error ... Joey Gathright (TB, CF) 4-5, R, 3 SB
... rehab, Nate Cornejo (DET) 2.0 3 1 1 2 2 ... Ryan
Langerhans (ATL, CF) 2-5, RBI ... Wilson Betemit (ATL, SS) 2-4
... Brett Evert (ATL) 4.0 5 3 3 1 7 ... Justin Morneau
(MIN, DH) 2-4, 2B, HBP ... Jason Kubel (MIN, RF) 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2
RBI ... Gabe Gross (TOR, DH) 1-4, 7th HR, R, 2 RBI & 1-3, RBI, SF
... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, SS) 1-5, 7th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Ryan
Ludwick (CLE, RF) 2-3, 2B, BB ... Kelly Shoppach (BOS, C)
3-3, 2 2B, R ... Jamie Brown (BOS) 5.0 5 5 4 0 5 ... Joe
Borchard (CHA, RF) 1-3, 15th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Josh Stewart
(CHA) 7.0 8 3 3 4 6 ... Corey Hart (MIL, RF) 1-4, 2B & 1-4, 13th
HR, R, 2 RBI ... Pedro Liriano (MIL) 7.0 4 4 1 3 3 ... Victor
Diaz (NYN, RF) 2-4, R ... David Wright (NYN, 3B) 1-3, 5th
HR, R, 3 RBI, SF ... Aaron Heilman (NYN), second straight solid
effort, 6.0 6 2 1 1 7
PCL -- gaining strength, Carlos Hernandez
HOU 7.0 3 1 1 1 5 ... getting the hang of AAA now, SS Tommy Whiteman
HOU 3-3, double, walk, .317 ... John VanBenschoten PIT, small step
back after some quality efforts, 6.0 7 4 4 0 7 ... Danny Haren STL
5.1 7 4 4 4 3 ... Freddy Sanchez PIT, 2B, 0-5, 3 Ks, .206 ...
Scott Seabol STL gunning for some MLB work 3-4, 18th homer ...
Clint Barmes COL 2-4, double, .340 ... Kerry Wood CHN,
nice rehab effort, 5.0 2 0 0 1 4 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 3-4,
triple, 6th homer ... Bucky Jacobsen SEA 1-3, 25th homer, 3 RBI, 2
walks, .324 ... Nick Swisher OAK 1-4, 15th homer, 3 RBI
Tops for the week ... COL hitter, TEX pitcher ... "
... 3B Garrett Atkins hit .529 (18-34) with 9 runs scored, 7
doubles, 3 homers, 13 RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage ... left-hander
Sam Narron went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, allowing 13 hits, 3 earned
runs and 3 walks while striking out 7 in 15 innings." (Pacific Coast League)
EASTERN -- Justin Huber NYN 0-4
Karim Garcia NYN 0-4
Aaron Hill TOR 2-4
Dominic
Rich TOR 3-5, 2B (16), 2 RBI (43)
Jamie Vermilyea TOR 5.0
6 0 0 0 2, W (2), 0.00 ERA
Val Majewski BAL 1-4
Keith
Reed BAL 1-4
Michael Aubrey CLE 2-5, RBI (6)
Andy
Brown CLE 3.0 5 3 3 1 3, 6.58 ERA
Jeff Keppinger PIT 1-5
Ryan Doumit PIT 1-4
Ian Snell PIT 5.2 10 5 5 3
4, 3.41 ERA
Carlos Valderrama SF 1-4
Luis Maza
MINN 3-5, RBI (38), SB (3)
Kevin West MINN 1-3, HR (18), RBI
(71)
Ryan Howard PHI 4-4, 2B (18), HR (33), 3 RBI (87), SB (1)
Gavin Floyd PHI 6.0 5 1 1 3 7, W (4), 2.76 ERA
Wilfredo
Ledezma DET 8.0 7 3 3 0 9, W (10), 2.42 ERA
Abe Alvarez
BOS 5.0 5 3 3 0 5, W (8) 3.65 ERA
SOUTHERN -- CF Brian Anderson CHA 2-4,
homer, .375 ... Willy Aybar LA (at 2B) 3-5, double, .283 ... signs
of life, Rickie Weeks MIL 2-5, 2 doubles, 4 RBI & Prince
Fielder MIL 2-4, 2 walks
TEXAS -- Ian Kinsler SS TEX 2-4
... Laynce Nix CF TEX 1-4 ... John Hudgins TEX 6 6 2
2 3 5 ... Denny Bautista KC 7 6 0 0 2 9 ... Colt Griffin
KC 1 2 1 1 0 0 ... Alberto Callaspo SS ANA 3-5, R, 2B, RBI ...
Jeff Mathis C ANA 0-1, 2R, RBI ... Jayson Nix 2B COL
1-4, HR, 2RBI ... Ryan Shealy 1B COL 2-5, 2B, 3RBI ... John
Baker C OAK 2-3, 2R, BB ... Brant Colamarino 1B 2-4, R, 2B
... Conor Jackson LF ARI 1-4 ... Carlos Quentin RF
ARI 0-3, R, BB ... Jamie D'Antona 3B ARI 0-4 ... Sergio
Santos SS ARI 1-4, RBI ... Shin-soo Choo RF SEA 2-5, R ...
Felix
Hernandez SEA, no adjustment problems in his two AA starts, 7 4 4 2 2 4
CAROLINA -- Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-5, R,
RBI (49)
Matt Merricks ATL 5 5 4 1 2 8 (3.00)
Jeffrey
Bruksch CIN 6 5 0 0 0 8 (3.27)
Ryan Garko CLE 1-2, R, HR
(14), 3 RBI (53), 3 BB
Pat Osborn CLE 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR (5), 3 RBI
Nathan Panther CLE 2-5, R, double, RBI
Ryan Sweeney
CHA 0-4, RBI
Casey Rogowski CHA 1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB
Pedro
Lopez CHA 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2 K
Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-5, R,
double, K
Josh Anderson CF HOU 0-4, BB, K
Mike
Aviles KC 1-4, double (21), RBI (46), K
Shane Costa KC 2-4,
R
Tripper Johnson BAL 1-4, R
Chaz Lytle PIT 1-4
Brad Eldred PIT 2-4, double (21), 2 RBI (67)
FLORIDA STATE --
Vito
Chiaravalloti (TOR, 1B) 2-3 HR(10) 3RBI
Jon Papelbon (BOS) 6 6 0 0
0 9 W(7-5, 3.48)
Matthew Lindstrom (NYN) 5.2 6 3 3 5 3 L(3-4, 4.17)
Hanley Ramirez (BOS, SS) 2-3 R
Aarom Baldiris (NYN, 3B) 2-4
Juan Richardson (PHI, DH) 1-3 HR(1)
Chris Roberson (PHI, CF) 5-5 R
RBI
Ending scoreless innings streak in a big way, Bud Smith (PHI) 4.2 7
6 6 1 2 L(0-1, 3.95)
Felix Pie (CHN, CF) 2-5 HR(6) 2R 2RBI
Andrew
Sisco (CHN) 5 11 2 2 3 4 W(3-5, 4.34)
Joel Guzman (LA, SS) 2-4
HR(12) 2R 2RBI
Delwyn Young (LA, 2B) 2-3 R
Reggie Abercrombie
(LA, CF) 1-3 HR(2) 2RBI
Tony Giarratano (DET, SS) 3-5
Michael
Woods (DET, 2B) 3-5 R
Brent Clevlen (DET, RF) 2-5
Melky
Cabrera (NYA, CF) 2-5 R 3RBI
FSL debut, Eric Duncan (NYA, DH) 2-5
3B 2RBI
Reid Gorecki (STL, CF) 3-5 HR(4) 2R
Alex Romero (MIN,
RF) 2-3 R - Average up to .293
CALIFORNIA -- OF Brian Stavisky OAK
2-4, 2 homers, 3 RBI, .335 ... Jason Perry OAK, one-time Jays'
prospect, 2-4, 9th & 10th homers, .389 ... Clark Girardeau
SD 8.0 2 1 1 2 5, 2-0, 0.89 ... Ben Kozlowski TEX 6.0 4 0 0 2 2
MIDWEST -- Lou Palmisano MIL 0-2, BB, 2
K (.312) ... Miguel Montero ARZ 0-2, K (.289) ... Joey
Votto CIN 12th HR, BB, 2 K (.293) ... Adam Harben MIN 5.0 3 2
2 4 10 (3.01) .. average climbing higher Brian Dopirak CHN 2-4, BB
(.312) ... Ronald Bay CHN 7.0 2 2 1 1 6 (3.23) ... Brandon
Wood ANA 2 doubles (20), K ... Daric Barton STL 0-2, SF
(.329) ... Cody Haerther STL 1-3, 18th double (.328) ... Dirk
Hayhurst SD 7.0 5 1 1 1 6 (2.13) ... the struggles continue Chris
Lubanski KC 1-4, 3 K ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 2-4, K
(.283)
Wlad, Hitter of the Week " ... OF Wladimir
Balentien hit .450 (9-20) with 6 runs scored, 1 double, 2 triples, 3 homers,
5 RBI and an 1.150 slugging percentage." (Minor LeagueBaseball)
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Beau Hearod HOU, 1-4,
homer (17), 3 RBI ... Brad Snyder CLE, 3-5, 2 homers (7,8), 6 RBI
... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE, 2-5, homer (9), RBI ... Bill
Peavey CLE, 3-5, 2 homers (6,7), 3 RBI ... Bryan Digby ATL,
7.0 3 0 0 3 5 (W 6-6, 5.71) ... Xavier Paul LA, 3-3, double, 2
RBI, steal (6) ... Delmon Young TB, 2-5, double, RBI ... Wes
Bankston TB, 1-5, homer (13), 3 RBI ... Antonin Gray CHW,
4-5, homer (6), RBI, steal (6) ... Brandon Bounds CHW, 3-4, homer
(7), 2 RBI ... Ryan Rodriguez CHW, 7.0 3 0 0 1 8 (W 7-5, 4.23) ...
Jon Benick PIT, 4-5, homer (18), 2 RBI, 3 runs ... Leo
Nunez PIT, 7.0 6 3 3 3 6 ... Nick Markakis BAL, 0-4, run ...
Brandon Moss BOS, 1-4, steal (17), run ... Clint
Johnston TOR, 1-2, RBI, 2 walks ... Michael Bourn PHI, 1-3,
triple, steal (32), 2 walks ... Jake Blalock PHI, 1-4, 2 RBI ...
Randy Ruiz PHI, 3-3, 2 homers (5,6), 2 RBI ... CF Lastings
Milledge NYN 4-6, 7th homer, .333 ... Ian Stewart COL 2-4, 7th
triple, 19th homer, 3 RBI, .294 ... CF Jordan Czarniecki COL 4-5, 7th &
8th homers, .310
NEW YORK-PENN -- Andrew Moffitt DH
Baltimore 3-5, 1 RBI...C.J. Smith 1B 3-5, 3B, HR (.455 BA)...Jeff
Frazier Lf Detroit 2-4 3B, 3 RBI...Carlos Perez Balitmore
ND, 7,7, 3,3, 1,5....Matt Van Der Bosch Boston 2-4, 3R, 3B (.314 BA)....John
Jaso DH Tampa Bay 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI (.372 BA)...Ben Zobrist SS
Houston 3-4, HR, RBI (.384 BA)
APPALACHIAN -- catchup, Monday's games ...
Brad Wiggins
(BAL, DH) 3-4, R, .385 BA
Waladimir Sutil (HOU, SS) 1-4, R, SB (5),
.415 BA
Anthony Dewitt (HOU, RP) 3.0 3 1 0 0 1, W (2-1) (0.64)
Yuber Rodriguez (TOR, CF) 1-4, RBI (17), .327 BA
Nick Thomas (TOR,
DH) 1-4, R, HR (5), 3 RBI (17), BB, 2 K, .295 BA
Scott Roy (TOR, RP)
3.1 3 0 0 0 6, S (1) (2.53)
Keith Eichas (ATL, 1B) 3-4, 2B (6), K, .350
BA
Cole Armstrong (ATL, DH) 2-3, R, HR (1), RBI (15), BB, .367 BA
Deacon Burns (MIN, LF) 1-5, 2B (6), RBI (9), K, .400 BA
Jose Delgado
(STL, 2B) 0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 SB (7), K, .390 BA, .559 OBP (more than 80 points
better than the next highest in the Appy)
Jake Ritchie (TAM, 3B) 2-4, 3
R, 2B (3), RBI (11), BB, 2 K, .319 BA
Logan Weins
(TAM, 1B) 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI (9), K, .303 BA
Thomas Lagreid (TAM, C) 2-4,
2 R, 1 HR (2), 5 RBI (8), BB, K, .304 BA
think they left him out there long
enough? Garrett Alwert (CLE, SP) 4.0 12 11 11 1 2, L (1-1) (10.13)
Seth Pietsch (NYN, LF) 2-5, R, HR (7), 2 RBI (18), K, .400 BA
Gio
Gonzalez (CHA, SP) 3.0 4 1 1 0 6, ND (1.00)
Javier Castillo (CHA,
SS) 2-5, R, 2B (3), K, .340 BA
Jose De Los
Santos
(CHA, DH) 4-5, 2 R, 2B (3), 5 RBI (12), K, .478 BA.
Sunday's games ...
Cole
Armstrong (ATL, DH) 0-6, R, RBI
(14), K, .348 BA
Yuber Rodriguez (TOR, CF) 1-4, R, 2B (3), 2 BB, K, SB
(1), .333 BA
Nick Thomas (TOR, RF/1B) 2-5, R, HR (4), 3 RBI (14), K,
.300 BA
Waladimir Sutil (HOU, SS) 1-3, R, 2 BB, K, .432 BA
Mitch
Einertson (HOU, CF) 3-5, R, HR (4), 4 RBI (14), K, .250 BA
Enyelbert
Soto (HOU, RP) 1.2 1 0 0 0 3, W (1-0) (0.00)
Jose Delgado (STL, 2B) 1-4, 2
K, .410 BA
Deacon Burns (MIN, DH) 1-5, R, .422 BA
Jeremy Pickrel
(MIN, RF) 2-3, 2 R, HR (1), RBI (5), BB, K, .344 BA
Javier Lopez (MIN,
LF) 2-4, R, HR (2), 3 RBI (6), .323 BA
Jake Ritchie (TAM, 3B) 1-5, 2 R,
HR (3), 2 RBI (10), 3 K, .302 BA
Juan Valdes (CLE, DH) 0-3, R, 2 BB, 2
K, 2 SB (10), .209 BA
Jacob McGee (TAM, SP) 3.0 2 1 0 1 5, W (1-0)
(5.40)
Jose De Los Santos
(CHA, DH) 2-5, K, .439 BA
tough ND after 6 no-hit innings for Yunior Novoa
(CHA, SP) 6.0 0 0 0 3 1 (Appy best 0.59 ERA in 15.1 IP)
nice relief outing
wasted for Jose Gomez (NYN, RP) 4.0 0 0 0 2 10 (5.73)
Seth Pietsch
(NYN, LF) 1-4, R, 2B (1), BB, SB (3), .400 BA.
Saturday's games ...
Freakin Deacon Burns (MIN, DH)
2-3, 2 R, but then 0-3, BB, 2 K, .450 BA
First round pick Trevor Plouffe
(MIN, SS/DH) combined 1-8, K, average drops to .255
Yuber Rodriguez (TOR,
CF) 1-3, K, and 1-2, 2B (2), 2 RBI (16), BB, K, .341 BA
Steven Duguay
(MIN, SP) 6.0 3 1 1 0 6, W (1-0) (1.29)
Alexander Smit (MIN, SP) 5.0 3 1
1 1 9, ND (4.09)
P.J. Hiser (CLE, DH) 1-5, 3B (1), 2 RBI (5), 3 K, .405
BA
Cole Armstrong (ATL, as PH) 1-1, 13th RBI, .400 BA
nice
work by Danville RPs Chris Vines (ATL, RP) 4.0 4 0 0 0 8 (4.09) and
Kelvin Villa (ATL, RP) 3.0 1 0 0 1 4, W (1-0) (0.87)
Waladimir Sutil
(HOU, SS) 1-4, 2B (2), K, .441 BA
Juan Gutierrez (HOU, SP) 7.0 3 0 0 1
11, W (1-0) (3.77)
Marcos Cabral (NYN, SS) 2-5, R, 2B (3), K, .341 BA
Seth Pietsch (NYN, DH), 1-4, R, 2 K, .413 BA
Das Jesson (STL,
LF) 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (4), 2 RBI (10), .298 BA.
NORTHWEST -- that Luis Montanez CHN
1-2, is the Cubs first-rounder of a couple of years ago trying to fight his way
back as an OF ... TEX first-rounder looking awfully good in his debut, Thomas
Diamond 2.0 1 0 0 1 5 ... Josh Rupe TEX, bound for a
promotion, 5.0 5 0 0 1 5, 2-0, 1.50 ... CF Brandon Cashman TEX,
Hitter of the Week in the NW, 2-4, 7th homer, 3 RBI ... superb again,
Mike McGirr OAK 7.0 2 0 0 0 8, 3-0, 0.41 ... CF Javier Herrera OAK
3-6, 5th homer, .356 ...
PIONEER -- 1B Bobby Mosby CIN 2-4,
triple, 5th homer, 3 RBI ... COL catcher Ryan Fox 1-3, 6th homer, 2
walks, .375
ARIZONA -- OF Alexi Ogando OAK 3-6,
homer, 2 RBI ... 2B Hernan Iribarren MIL 3-5, triple, 6th SB, .482
GULF COAST -- Luis Soto SS BOS 1-3, HR
(5), 2RBI, SF ... Chris Turner RF BOS 2-4, 2R, 3B ... Neil
Walker DH PIT 0-5 ... Steve Lerud C PIT 2-5, 2B ...
Mario Pena BOS 5 5 3 1 0 3 ... Jon Poterson LF NYY 1-4,
R ... Anderson Amador RF NYY 0-4 ... Eric Campbell
SS ATL 0-4, 2k's ... Abreu NYY 4 1 0 0 0 6 ... Kyle Waldrop
MIN 5 5 1 1 0 6 ... Greg Golson DH PHI 2-4, 2RBI ... Jamie
Hoffman 3B LA 2-5, R, 5RBI, 2 3B ... Jason Stokes DH FLA
0-3 and 1-1, 2B
Troop
movements ... COL -- promoted OF Jeff Salazar to AA ... FLO -- promoted
SS Josh Wilson to AAA ... ARZ -- activated RHP Brian
Bruney from the DL, optioned infielder Andy Green to Triple-A
... TEX -- placed infielder Herbert Perry on the DL, purchased the contract of
infielder Manny Alexander from AAA ... TOR -- activated first baseman Carlos
Delgado from the DL, optioned RHP Adam Peterson to AAA ... BAL --
claimed catcher Ken Huckaby off waivers from TEX ... MON -- placed RHP Zach
Day on the DL, recalled LHP Chad Bentz from AAA ... CLE --
activated RHP Bob Wickman from the DL, designated RHP Jose Jimenez
for assignment ... FLO -- placed RHP Josh Beckett on the DL,
recalled catcher Josh Willingham from Double-A ... SF -- activated
LHP Jason Christiansen from the DL, optioned RHP David Aardsma to AAA ...
CHA -- activated LHP Scott Schoeneweis from the DL, optioned Jon Rauch to
AAA ...
Ryan
Howard PHI retained the top spot in the latest installment of Kevin
Goldstein's Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball America :
" ... With four more home runs this week, the
minor league home run leader is now just one away from Greg Luzinski's all-time
Reading record. No platoon problems here as Howard is averaging a home run every
9.2 at-bats vs. lefties, 9.5 vs. righties."
The Ms Felix Hernandez has moved up to
No. 2 :
" ... Just 18 years old, Hernandez allowed only one
run over six innings while striking out eight in his Double-A debut. In his
final start in the California league, he didn't throw a single fastball under 95
mph. Did I mention that he's just 18?"
Clint Everts MON finished at No. 3 and
Yusmerio Petit and Jeff Francis rounded out the top
five.
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Ryan Howard PHI :
" ... Howard physically resembles Fred McGriff, and
has similar power potential. He is a big guy, strong and muscular with the bat
speed to match. He will destroy most fastballs, and has worked hard to improve
his plate discipline ... Although he's hit for a good batting average the last
two years, his high strikeout totals lead many scouts to believe that that won't
carry through in the majors. He will take a walk, and despite his high strikeout
rate, isn't really a wild outside-the-zone swinger ... Howard is slow and does
not run well. His range at first base is limited, but he catches what he gets
to, is reliable, has soft hands and is adept at scooping throws out of the dirt
... stat line over the last three years shows improving power production,
and he's had no problems adjusting to Double-A pitching ... At age 24,
he's not particularly young for a top prospect ... Phillies have first base
covered with Jim Thome, and unfortunately Howard doesn't have the range to play
an outfield spot, leaving him without an obvious slot in the Phillies lineup
this year or next. Howard has been mentioned in trade rumors and his power would
certainly be attractive on the trade market. Unless Thome gets hurt, Howard
seems destined to be trade bait. Projecting Howard's performance in The Show
depends on how much you want to weight all the strikeouts in your calculation.
He certainly has 30+ homer power, but whether he's a .280 hitter or a .240
hitter in a major-league context will determine if he becomes a star or merely a
productive, but low-batting-average, slugger."
Jeremy
Deloney, Baseball Miscellany, on Rickie Weeks & Prince Fielder MIL
:
" ... Weeks, the Brewers first round pick in the
2003 draft, has been the big disappointment. The 21 year-old has posted
below-average numbers for Double A Huntsville, hitting .248-5-22 with only 6
stolen bases. This comes on the heels of a sterling debut late last season with
Beloit. He hit .349-1-16 in 20 games with the Snappers before closing the year
with the big league club (as part of his contract). Inconsistency has been the
problem for Fielder, 19, at Double A Huntsville. Considered the best slugger in
all of minor league baseball, he has mashed 13 HR for the Stars but is only
hitting .261. After going .313-27-112 for low A Beloit last year, expectations
were so high that some scouts saw Fielder ending this season in Milwaukee.
Despite his average performance, he is one of the youngest position players in
AA and also bypassed high A ball."
Expos
still confident in a MLB future for Josh Karp :
" ... When Strom [Expos minor league pitching
coordinator Brett Strom] looks at Karp's PCL struggles, he thinks of the late
Darryl Kile, who went 5-10, 6.64 in Tucson in 1990. The next season, he was
7-11, 3.69 in Houston. "If we had waited for Darryl Kile to have a breakout year
in Triple-A, he would have never gotten to the big leagues," said Strom, who
Tucson's pitching coach at the time. "We realized that his curveball would be
better in the (Astrodome) than it was in Tucson." "(Karp's) got a chance to be a
frontline starter," Strom said. "If we didn't believe that, he'd still be in
Double-A, because his numbers weren't great in Double-A. You have to trust what
you see."
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on part of the Cubs' stockpile of 1B :
" ... [Brandon SIng] ... He's now 23 and in
his third stint in the Florida State League, so Sing's .287/.431/.648 numbers
with FSL highs in runs (62), homers, RBIs (74) and slugging have to be taken
with a grain of salt. But the Cubs have also seen some Richie Sexson in the
rangy 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, and he is a prospect. He needs to go up to Double-A
and produce before I get too excited about him."
" ... [Brian Dopirak] ... A 2002 second-round
pick out of a Florida high school, Dopirak is the most feared power hitter in
the Midwest League, which he leads in homers and RBIs (64) while batting
.309/.370/.609, and he has more raw pop than just about anyone in the minors. If
he can make enough consistent contact (he has 173 strikeouts in 170 pro games),
he'll be a force to be reckoned with."
06 July 2004
BJ Upton 11th homer, 17th & 18th errors ... Scott Kazmir,
rounding into form ... Chin hui Tsao solid in AAA return ... Clint Nageotte
battered ... Prince Fielder, another ofer ... Ismael Ramirez, Raul Tablado
unsung TOR prospects ... success for a pair of OAK Brads - Sullivan & Knox ...
more kudos for Clint Everts ... Jeff Francoeur making some noise ... AA no
problem for Kyle Davies ... Joe Dillon, on Howard's homer heels
Game action ...
INT -- B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 1-4, 11th HR, R, RBI, 2 errors ...
Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Wilson
Betemit (ATL, PH) 1-1, 7th HR, R, 3 RBI ... Justin Morneau
(MIN, 1B) 1-5, 21st HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Jason Kubel (MIN, RF) 3-4,
2 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB ... Guillermo Quiroz (TOR, C) 2-4, 3B, 2 R ...
rehab, Carlos Delgado (TOR, 1B) 2-4 ... Cam Reimers
(TOR) 7.0 5 1 1 1 3 ... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, SS) 1-5, 6th HR, R, 2
RBI ... Michael Vento (NYA, RF) 1-4, 11th HR, R, 2 RBI, SF ...
Orlando Hernandez (NYA) 7.0 5 2 2 0 5 ... Craig Brazell
(NYN, 1B) 1-3, 17th HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB ... Scott Erickson (NYN)
5.0 6 1 1 2 4
PCL -- COL welcomes Chin hui Tsao to
AAA, 6.0 6 2 2 2 7 ... Garrett Atkins COL 3-4, 3 doubles, 3 runs, 3 RBI
... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 2-4, double, .319 ... so far he looks like a
steal for STL, Luis Martinez 7.0 4 2 2 4 11 ... taking awhile to
get comfortable, Freddy Sanchez PIT 1-4, .241 ... vet Scott
Seabol STL heating up, 3-4, 17th homer ... Jason Dubois CHN, back
in power mode, 2-3, 17th & 18th homers, 4 RBI ... Joe Dillon FLO
3-5, 2 doubles, 30th homer (AA & AAA), just two behind Ryan Howard ... Clint
Nageotte SEAL 6.0 12 7 6 2 4 ... Dallas McPherson ANA
2-5, double ... Casey Kotchman ANA out of the lineup again (no
word of injury) ... this probably wins him a start for LA, Brian
Falkenborg 6.0 3 1 1 2 6 ... Dennis Tankersley SD 5.2 9 4 4 0 3, 2.74
... Tagg Bozied SD 2-5, 14th homer, .302 ... Jake
Gautreau SD 2-4, 1st homer, 4 RBI, .342
EASTERN -- Justin Huber NYN 0-1
Prentice Redman NYN 1-4, 2B (29), RBI (49)
Karim Garcia
NYN 0-3, BB
Luis Maza MINN 0-4
Kevin West MINN
1-3, HR (17), 2 RBI (70)
SOUTHERN -- having no adjustment problem in
moving to AA, Kyle Davies ATL 5.2 8 1 1 2 7, 2-0, 1.42 ... worrisome,
Rickie Weeks MIL 1-3, .245 & Prince Fielder 0-4, .253
... Josh Willingham FLO 2-4, double ... Josh Barfield
SD 1-4, .235
TEXAS -- Nick Gorneault LF ANA 2-5, R
... Shin-soo Choo LF SEA 1-5, 2B, RBI, SB ... Phil Devey
SEA 6 5 2 2 1 9 ... Jayson Nix 2B COL 1-5 ... Ryan
Shealy 1B COL 1-5, HR ... John Baker DH OAK 1-5, HR ...
Jeremy Brown C OAK 2-5, R ... Jon Weber CF OAK 1-5, HR,
golden sombrero: 4k's ... Conor Jackson DH ARI 1-3, 2BB ...
Carlos Quentin RF ARI 3-4, 2R, 2 2B, 4RBI ... Jamie
D'Antona 3B ARI 0-4, BB
CAROLINA -- Jeff Francoeur ATL 3-5, R,
double (25), HR (13), 3 RBI (48), K
Brian McCann ATL 3-5, 2 R,
HR (11), 2 RBI (46)
Tripper Johnson BAL 0-3, BB, K
Chaz
Lytle PIT 1-4, R, double, K
Brad Eldred PIT 1-3, R,
double (20), RBI (65)
Ryan Garko CLE 0-3, BB & 1-4, R, triple, 2
RBI (50), K, .333
Pat Osborn CLE 1-3, double, BB & 0-3, R, 2 K
Nathan Panther CLE 1-3, R, RBI, K
Ryan Sweeney CHA
2-4, double, 2 RBI, K & 3-4, 2 R, HR (4), 4 RBI
Casey Rogowski
CHA 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, K & 2-4, R
Pedro Lopez CHA 0-2, R, BB & 1-4,
R
Mark Saccomanno HOU 3-7, RBI (59), 3 K
Josh
Anderson CF HOU 2-7, R, double, 2 K
Donnie Murphy KC 1-5,
BB, 3 K
Mike Aviles KC 2-5, double (20), BB
Shane
Costa KC 2-4, R, double, 2 BB
Jamie Merchant HOU 6 3 1 1 1 6
(3.31)
Trae McGill KC 5.2 9 1 1 1 6 (1.87)
FLORIDA STATE -- Mike Megrew LA
5.0 6 2 2 2 9 ... 2B Delwyn Young LA coming on strong after a
listless early season, 2-3, 11th & 12th homers, .267 ... Ismael
Ramirez TOR 7.0 2 0 0 1 8, 3.33 ... the unsung Raul Tablado
TOR 3-4, double, 11th homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI, .351 ... Scott Olsen
FLO 6.0 4 2 2 3 8 ... Scott Kazmir NYA 6.0 5 0 0 1 3
CALIFORNIA -- finally, something to shout
about, Bradley Sullivan OAK 7.0 4 2 0 0 8 ... SS Joaquin Arias TEX
4-6, 3 RBI, .304
MIDWEST -- there he goes again Brad Knox
OAK 6.0 5 0 0 1 8 (W, 9-3, 2.11) ... Adam Jones SEA 0-5, 2 K
(.262) ... Daric Barton STL 2-4, BB ... Cody Haerther
STL 3-4, BB ... Brandon Harmsen NYA 6.0 7 1 1 2 4 (W, 8-0, 2.14)
... Joey Votto CIN 1-2, 2 BB (league-leading 59 walks) ...
Mitch Maier KC 3-4, BB (.286) ... Drew Macias SD 2-3,
BB (.290) ... Danny Muegge ARZ 7.1 6 1 0 1 5 (3.17) ... Lou
Palmisano MIL 2-4 ... working in relief Joel Kirsten TEX
4.2 1 0 0 0 4 (W, 3-0, 2.08) ... Brandon Wood ANA 0-4, K ...
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Chuck Tiffany LA, 5.2
6 3 3 2 5 (W 4-0, 3.28) ... Jereme Milons LA, 2-5, 2 runs ...
Wes Bankston TB, 3-4, homer (12) double, 2 RBI, steal (6) ...
Elliot Johnson TB, 2-4, steal (25), run ... Delmon Young
TB, 0-3, steal (8), run ... Brandon Moss BOS, 3-5, double, triple,
3 RBI, 3 runs, steal (16) ... James Shanks FLA, 3-6, 2 homers
(7,8), 2 RBI, 3 runs ... DeWayne Wise ATL, on rehab, 2-3, 2 homers ...
Jake Blalock PHIL 1-2, double, 3 walks, .295 ... Zach Dixon
BAL, not up to his usual standrads, 5.0 3 3 2 4 7, 7-2, 2.20 ... SS
Javier Guzman PIT 2-4, 2 triples, 3 RBI, .296 ... Ryan
Goleski CLE 1-3, 2 walks, 18th homer ... Matt Whitney CLE,
once a pretty highly regarded 3B, trying to return from injury, 0-5, 3 Ks, .211
... Ricardo Nanita CHA 4-4, triple, homer, .424 ... 1B Travis
Ishikawa SF 2-4, homer
APPALACHIAN -- Seth Pietsch NYN the
Hitter of the Week in the Appy :
" ... Pietsch hit a hefty .448 in seven games for
the Mets and boasted an amazing .966 slugging percentage. He belted four homers,
smashed a double, a triple and scored 10 runs in addition to posting 14 RBI last
week. Pietsch may be only 5-foot-9, but there is nothing small about the way he
swings the bat. In 29 at-bats, Pietsch had a .469 on-base percentage, walked
twice, stole three bases, and struck out just three times." (Appalachian League)
NORTHWEST -- Ryan Harvey CHN 2-4, 3rd
homer, .321 ... SF first-rounder Roger Craig Whitaker 6.0 1
0 0 2 5 ... 3B Simon Klink SF 2-4, 4th & 5th homers, 4 RBI, .297
...
PIONEER -- Seth Smith DH COL 4-5,
double, .382 ... Billy Butler KC first rounder, 4-5, double,
triple, .339 ... LA first-rounder Blake DeWitt 3-4, 2 doubles, 3rd
homer ... OF Daniel Batz LA 4-5 ... 3B Nate Sutton
ANA 3-4, triple, 3 RBI
ARIZONA -- Miguel Vega 3B KC 2-4, 4th & 5th
homers, 4 RBI, .360 ... 2B Hernan Iribarren MIL 3-5, 5th SB, .471
GULF COAST -- Luis Soto DH BOS 1-5, HR
(4) ... Christian Lara SS BOS 2-4, R, 2 2B, SB, BB ... Neil
Walker C PIT 1-4, R, 2B ... Steve Lerud DH PIT 1-3, R, RBI,
2B ... Olivio Astacio BOS 5 1 1 0 1 2 ... Juan Rivera
SS LA 1-5 ... Eric Campbell SS ATL 1-3 ... Jon Poterson
LF NYY 0-3 ... Anderson Amador RF NYY 2-3, R, 2B ... Jay
Stephens NYY 2 0 0 0 0 0 ... Jeff Marquez NYY 5 3 0 0 1 5 ...
Greg Golson CF PHI 3-6, R ... Chris Middleton 3B DET
2-6, R, 3RBI
Troop
movements ... BAL -- placed third baseman Melvin Mora on the DL,
transferred first baseman David Segui to the 60-day disabled list; recalled
pitcher Dave Borkowski from AAA ... CLE -- activated outfielder Ryan
Ludwick and catcher Josh Bard from the DL and optioned them
to AAA, designated pitcher Scott Stewart for assignment;
transferred pitcher Joe Dawley from the 15-day to the 60-day
disabled list ... FLO -- activated pitcher Josh Beckett from
the DL, designated pitcher Aaron Small for assignment ... SD -- placed first
baseman Phil Nevin on the DL, recalled outfielder Xavier Nady from
AAA ... TB -- recalled pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez from AAA, optioned
pitcher Bartolome Fortunato to AAA ...
John
Manuel, in the Baseball America chat room :
" ... [Clint] Everts is shooting up the
Prospect Hot Sheet and in my mind is one of the top 25 prospects in the game.
(We've got an updated Top 25 coming in the next issue of the magazine.) He's
also just turning 20 this August and has pitched 77 innings to date. The Expos
probably won't want him to pitch more than 130 or so innings at that age and
with the kind of stuff that he has. I see no harm in letting him pitch the final
month in the Florida State League for five or six starts; that's what the 'Spos
did with him last year, promoting him to Savannah for his final five trips to
the mound."
" ... When it all shakes out, expect [Tony]
Giarratano to hit 10-15 HRs a year in the major leagues. The bigger point
it, he looks like a big league shortstop defensively who can be average or a
tick above with the bat."
" ... If [Ryan] Howard wants to play in
Philadelphia, he's going to have to move, but he's a big guy without outstanding
athletic ability, so he probably would not be a good outfielder defensively.
Clearly, he's locked in at the plate this year, and a near-.700 SLG is worth all
the strikeouts. His BB-K rate is right where it was a year ago, and it hasn't
seemed to hinder him. He's not an elite guy in my opinion; I'd like to see him
make more consistent contact before I predict him to hit 35 homers against major
league pitching."
" ... [Angel Guzman or Bobby
Brownlie?] I'd say it's still Guzman, who has strange numbers (2 BB, 49 SO
but a 4.00+ERA). It sounds like his stuff is coming back. Brownlie has lost some
velocity on his fastball, according to scouts, and also has to prove he can
pitch a full season. I think Guzman has the higher ceiling, and we've even had
some people call Brownlie a bulllpen guy because of his modest velocity (87-90
mph this year)."
Mark
Allen Haverty, The Sporting News, on Mark Teahen KC "
" ... One of the "stars" of Moneyball, Teahen was
compared to Jason Giambi in that book, or at least a young Giambi before he
developed power. Teahen is still waiting for that power to arrive. He hit just
one home run in 2002 between two levels of A-ball and three last year in
Double-A. The doubles don't give too much hope, either; he had just 14 in 2002
and 27 last year. This year began with a little more promise, six home runs in
Double-A before promotion. However, Teahen has just one home run in 27 Triple-A
games (96 at-bats). Giambi he isn't. He does resemble Joe Randa, though. Teahen
should be ready for a September call-up, and expect him to stick in 2005.
However, there's not much to get excited about here, with little power and a
batting average around .270."
Randy
Miller, phillyburbs.com, on Ryan Howard and Greg Golson :
" ... For now, the plan is to keep home run machine
Ryan Howard (.312, 32 HR, 84 RBIs) right where he is, playing first base in
Reading. No matter how many homers he hits, Howard won't be changing positions
as long as he's property of the Phillies, and a promotion to Triple-A isn't
expected until 2005. "I think Ryan is going to spend all year in Reading,"
assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said. "I don't see any real upside to moving him up.
There's no urgency. So what if he goes to Triple-A and does good. The downside
is if he goes there and doesn't do well, he'd have less trade value." As for
Howard learning how to play the outfield because his path to the majors is
blocked by Jim Thome, Arbuckle is 100 percent against experimenting. "He can't
run a lick," Arbuckle said. "This guy's defensive abilities just don't cut it as
an outfielder. I asked all our guys, 'Any way we need to think about an
experiment?' Nobody envisions him as an outfielder, not one." Meantime, Howard
hit his 10th homer in his last nine games on Friday, leaving him one behind Greg
Luzinski's club record (33 in 1970) and nine behind the league record of 41, set
in 1930 by Ken Strong and equaled in 1979 by Rick Lancellotti. The single-season
mark for homers by a minor leaguer is safe. In 1954, Joe Bauman hit 72 homers in
138 games for Roswell in the Longhorn League."
" ... CF Greg Golson, the Phils' No. 1 pick in the
June draft, made a humbling pro debut last Tuesday, going 0-for-3 with three
strikeouts, a walk and a steal. Since, the teen speedster has shown glimpses of
his potential while hitting .200 in 15 at-bats with seven Ks, a double and three
steals over his first four games. "He's just gotta go play, start swinging with
wood and face better pitching on a daily basis," Arbuckle said."
Cubs'
notes from the Arlington Daily Herald :
" ... Pitching prospect Angel Guzman
(shoulder surgery last year) came out of Saturday's start for Class AA West Tenn
after 4 innings. The Cubs say Guzman is suffering through a "dead-arm" period
and that he may miss 1 rehab start. The Cubs say the ailment is minor and that
Guzman was throwing 91-93 mph Saturday."
" ... Luis Montanez, drafted in the
first round in 2000 as a shortstop, is trying to make it as an outfielder after
trying second base. For Class A Boise Saturday, Montanez went 4-for-5 with a
pair of solo homers." (Arlington Daily Herald)
D'backs,
with a surplus of OF talent, have another to work into the mix :
" ... Josh Kroeger more than handled advanced
pitchers at El Paso to earn a shot at Triple A, 2003 draftees Conor Jackson and
Carlos Quentin made short work of pitchers in half a season in the California
League and Marland Williams is keeping his name in the mix with a solid campaign
in Double-A. Next spring, the Diamondbacks will likely have to consider where
2004 second-round pick (56th overall) Jon Zeringue fits in now that he's
signed and making his professional debut in Lancaster. There's always guys
pushing guys out," JetHawks manager Wally Backman said ... By signing early ...
the Louisiana State University standout advanced his ETA to Bank One Ballpark a
great deal. Instead of beginning his pro career in short-season Yakima or
Missoula and starting 2005 at low Class-A South Bend, Zeringue will get his
first taste in Lancaster with a chance of opening next season at Double-A El
Paso. "When my agent told me that I was pumped," Zeringue said. "When he told me
I'd be coming straight to high A, my eyes lit up. I'm glad they're giving me the
opportunity to come out here." ... Backman, though, has no intentions of
easing Zeringue into the lineup. When he starts Tuesday, he'll hit cleanup.
"There's some high expectations and that puts a little pressure on me," Zeringue
said. "But that's what I came here for me - to try and shine. I'm glad he put me
there. I want the pitchers to come after me." ... As a pro, Zeringue
projects as a frontline major league outfielder. He has a strong arm that plays
well in right field, runs well for his size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and has the
potential to hit 30 to 35 homers in the big leagues." (Antelope Valley Press)
05 July 2004
BJ Upton & TB farmhands on a tear ... pair of early
disappointments right the ship -- Taylor Buchholz, Edgar Gonzalez ... Mark
Teahen begins to figure it out ... Weeks, Fielder, closer to Mendoza line than
star territory ... Shin Soo Choo continues breakout campaign ... Anthony Lerew,
quality arm ... Chris Ray, stumbles ... Hanley Ramirez, there's still hope ...
Steven Bondurant, OAK surprise ... setbacks for Greg Miller, Bobby Jenks
Game action ...
INT -- if the D-Rays can win 12 straight without these guys, what will
they do when they're all called up? Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 1-5, 2B, 2 R ...
Pete LaForest (TB, C) 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI ... Jonny Gomes
(TB, LF) 2-4, R, BB ... another fine display, B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-3,
10th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 0 errors ... Joey Gathright (TB, CF)
3-5, RBI, SB( 17th in just 23 AAA games) ... Dane Sardinha (CIN,
C) 2-4 ... Matt Belisle (CIN) 6.2 6 1 1 1 3 ... Jason
Kubel (MIN, RF) 1-3, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... Guillermo Quiroz (TOR,
C) 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB ... rehab, Carlos Delgado (TOR, 1B) 3-5, 2
2B, 1st HR, 2 R, 4 RBI ... Jorge Padilla (PHI, RF) 2-4, RBI ...
Marlon Byrd (PHI, CF) 2-5 ... busy day, Mike Fontenot
(BAL, 2B) 3-3, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB ... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, SS)
2-5, 2B, R, RBI ... Alex Escobar (CLE, DH) 1-4, 4th HR, R, 3 RBI
... Kyle Denney (CLE) 6.0 8 4 4 0 7 ... back from injury, David
Krynzel (MIL, CF) 2-5 ... Ben Hendrickson (MIL) 7.0 8 1 1 1
7 ... Craig Brazell (NYN, 1B) 2-4, 2 2B
PCL -- he's really got the hang of it now,
Taylor Buchholz HOU 7.0 3 3 2 1 10 ... Edgar Gonzalez ARZ, likely
earning another shot with the D'Backs, 9.0 2 0 0 0 9 ... Luis
Terrero ARZ 1-2, homer (early exit, no word yet of any injury) ... Jeremy
Reed SEA 1-5, double ... Dallas McPherson ANA 2-4, double
... Calvin Pickering KC 2-3, 26th homer ... maybe George Brett has
had a chance to work some magic, Mark Teahen KC 4-4, triple,
homer, 3 RBI ... JD Closser COL 3-4, double
EASTERN -- Justin Huber NYN 2-4, 2B
(15), HR (9), 2 RBI (28)
Aaron Hill TOR 1-4, 2 K
Dominic
Rich TOR 0-3
Josh Banks TOR 7.1 4 1 1 1 6, 6.75 ERA
Val Majewski BAL 1-5
Keith Reed BAL 3-5, HR (9), RBI
(33)
Michael Aubrey CLE 0-3, 2 BB
Ryan Ludwick
CLE 1-5, 3 RBI (5)
Josh Bard CLE 1-4, RBI (5)
Jeff
Keppinger PIT 0-4
Kevin West MINN 1-3, RBI (68)
J.D.
Durbin MINN 2.2 3 1 1 2 4, 2.52 ERA
Ryan Howard PHI 1-4, BB
SOUTHERN -- Brian Anderson CHA 2-5,
double, 3 RBI ... catcher Josh Willingham FLO 3-6, 2 doubles, 2
RBI ... James Loney LA 2-5, double ... 3B Brennan King
LA 3-4, walk, double, homer, 3 RBI ... Chris Seddon TB 7.0 5 1 1 1
8 ... MIL brass has to be at least a little concerned, Rickie Weeks
1-3, .244 ... Prince Fielder 0-4, 2 Ks, .256 ... Brad
Nelson 0-3, .274 ... Tony Blanco CIN, so far so good in AA,
2-4, homer
TEXAS -- Alberto Callaspo SS ANA 1-4,
BB ... Nick Gorneault LF ANA 1-4, HR ... Jeff Mathis
C ANA 0-2, 2BB ... Shin-soo Choo RF SEA 3-4, 3B, HR, 4RBI, BB ... Ryan
Christianson C SEA 4-6, 3R, 2B ... Willy Taveras LF HOU 1-3
... Ian Kinsler SS TEX 1-3, R ... Kameron Loe TEX 8 4 1 1 0
4 ... Jayson Nix 2B COL 0-3, BB ... John Baker C OAK
2-2, 2 2B, 2RBI, 2BB ... Jeremy Brown DH 2-4, 2B ... Ruben
Gotay 2B KC 3-4, 3R, 2B, RBI, 2BB ... Brandon Berger DH KC
3-5, 4R, 2B, HR, 4RBI, BB ... Cory Aldridge LF KC 3-4, 2R, 2B,
2HR, 8RBI, 2BB ... Jesus Cota 1B ARI 2-5, R, RBI ... Chris
Snyder C ARI 1-3, HR, 2BB ... Conor Jackson LF ARI 1-5, R
... Carlos Quentin DH ARI 3-5, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Jamie
D'Antona 3B ARI 1-5, R, 3B, 2RBI ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 1-4,
R, BB ... Colt Griffin KC 1 1 0 0 0 1
CAROLINA -- Mark Saccomanno HOU
0-3, R, BB
Josh Anderson CF HOU 2-5, 3 R, triple, RBI, BB, 2 SB
(9), .400
Donnie Murphy KC 0-5
Mike Aviles KC
2-4
Shane Costa KC 0-3, BB, K
Jason Hirsch (W)
HOU 5 7 2 1 3 3 (7-6, 4.36)
Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-5
Brian
McCann ATL 2-4, R, double, RBI, BB
Anthony Lerew ATL (W)
7 5 0 0 2 5 (8-3, 2.34)
Tripper Johnson BAL 0-4, K
Chaz
Lytle PIT 0-4
Brad Eldred PIT 1-4, RBI (64), K
Christopher Ray BAL (L) 5 7 3 3 0 6 (2-2, 4.02)
FLORIDA STATE -- Hanley Ramirez BOS
2-4, walk ... Jeremy West BOS 2-4, 12th homer ... what a
disappointing season for Brent Clevlen DET 0-5, 4 Ks, .220 ...
Vince Perkins TOR 6.0 3 2 1 3 5
CALIFORNIA -- CF Lloyd Turner OAK 4-5,
double ... 1B Brian Stavisky OAK 3-5, double, 4 RBI ... Jeffrey
Baker COL 0-1, 3 walks, 3 runs, .341 ... Bobby Livingston
SEA 6.0 9 4 3 1 5 ... heating up again, Erick Aybar ANA 3-4,
triple, .352
MIDWEST -- recovering from a mild slump
Brandon Wood ANA 3-3, BB (.292) ... Nic Touchstone ANA 7.0 8 4
3 1 3 (3.48) ... Micah Furtado TEX 1-2, 2 HBP, 2 E (.343) ...
Nick Blackburn MIN 6.0 3 1 0 2 4 (2.60) ... speed bump Adam
Jones SEA 0-5, 3 K ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 2-4, 12th HR, 2
K (.279) ... Steven Bondurant OAK 6.0 7 1 1 2 7 (W, 11-4, 2.58)
... Chris Lubanski KC 1-3, K ... Brian Dopirak CHN
23rd HR (league longball leader; also tops in hits and of course total bases)
... Lou Palmisano MIL 1-2, 3 BB (.312) ... Cody Haerther
STL 2-4, BB (.322)
SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Ian Stewart COL, 1-4,
double ... Julio Pimentel LA, 4.2 7 4 4 3 2 (L 8-6, 3.03) ...
Antonin Gray CHW, 3-5, triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Micah
Schnurstein CHW, 2-5, homer (4), 2 RBI ... Ricardo Nanita 1-3,
double, 2 RBI, 2 walks ... Brad Snyder CLE, 3-5 ... Adam
Miller CLE, 2.0 5 3 3 1 3 ... Antonio Sucre MON, 2-5, run ...
Elliot Johnson TB, 2-4, double, 3 RBI, 3 runs, steal (24) ...
Delmon Young TB, 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 walks ... Jason Hammel
TB, 5.0 9 6 2 0 7 ... Beau Hearod HOU, 2-3, 2 homers (15, 16), 3
RBI, 2 walks ... Robert Stiehl HOU, 5.0 3 0 0 2 5 (W 3-3, 3.89)
... Jake Blalock PHI, 1-4 ... Nyjer Morgan PIT, 2-5,
steal (36) ... Thomas Gorzelanny PIT, 5.0 5 2 2 2 7 ... Jesse
Schmidt SF, 3-5, triple, homer (4), 2 RBI ... Brandon Moss
BOS, 1-3, run ... Lastings Milledge NYM, 1-4, runs, steal (12) ...
David Romero TOR, 5.0 1 1 0 2 7 (W 2-2, 2.17) ... James
Johnson BAL, 6.0 6 3 3 1 9 (L 4-6, 3.39)
NORTHWEST -- SD catcher Colt Morton
league-leading 7th homer, 3 RBI ... again a hard luck loser, Ed
Campusano CHN 0-3 in spite of a 2.37 ERA, 6.0 4 1 1 1 7 ... 3B Matt
Macri COL (with only Jeff Baker & Ian Stewart ahead of him as prospects
at 3B) 2-3, homer, walk, .400 ... Ryan Harvey CHN 1-4, homer ...
AJ Shappi ARZ 4.0 0 0 0 1 5 ... CF Javier Herrera
OAK 3-3, 2 homers, 2 walks, 3 runs, 5 RBI ... 1B Thomas Everidge OAK 3-3,
2 homers, walk, 3 RBI ... SEA SS Asdrubal Cabrera 3-4, double, 4
RBI ... 2B/3B Yung-Chi Chen SEA 3-5, double, triple
PIONEER -- COL catcher Ryan Fox
1-3, homer, .378 ... KC first-rounder Billy Butler 3B 3-5, double,
2 RBI ... LA first-rounder Scott Elbert not finding it easy,
2.1 2 4 4 5 2 ... ANA SS Sean Rodriguez 2-6, triple, .483 ... LA's
second, first-round pick, 3B Blake DeWitt 3-5, 2nd homer, 3 RBI
... Luis Castillo LA 2-5, 2 homers, 5 RBI
ARIZONA -- OF Alexi Ogando OAK 2-3,
double, .667 (just 12 ABs) ... Ian Gac TEX 3rd homer, .343 ...
Russell Begnaud KC 7.0 4 0 0 0 7
Troop
movements ... CIN -- placed first baseman Sean Casey on the DL, recalled
Corky Miller from AAA ... MIL -- placed second baseman Junior
Spivey on the DL, purchased the contract of outfielder Chris Magruder
from AAA ... SD -- signed outfielder Darren Bragg; sent outright outfielder
Kerry Robinson off the 40-man roster; recalled pitcher Ricky
Stone from AAA, optioned infielder Ramon Vazquez to AAA ...
SF -- recalled pitcher David Aardsma from AAA, optioned pitcher
Noah Lowry to AAA ...
Oh
oh ... Dodger phenom might be out for the season :
" ... Left-hander Greg Miller, the
Dodgers' 2003 minor league pitcher of the year, has suffered setbacks in his
rehabilitation from arthroscopic shoulder surgery and might miss the season.
"His rehab is slower than originally predicted in spring training," DePodesta
said. The Dodgers had hoped Miller would return to the mound in May after
undergoing surgery March 19. He has begun a throwing program at Class-A Vero
Beach." (LA Times)
Oh
oh (2) ... ANA phenom on the shelf again :
" ... Bobby Jenks, one of the Angels'
highly touted pitching prospects who recently missed two months because of a
stress reaction in his pitching elbow, has been shut down again after the injury
recurred. He could miss the remainder of the season. Angel General Manager Bill
Stoneman acknowledged that the latest in several setbacks relating to stress
reactions dating to last season was worrisome. "It's a precursor to a stress
fracture, and you have to wonder what's causing it and is it preventable." (LA
Times)
Adam
Loewen BAL, reason for optimism :
" ... left-hander Adam Loewen ...
(5 IP, 1 ER, 2H, 7K, 2BB) ... Loewen hurled his best game of the season, running
into trouble in the second inning after giving up a lead-off single to Clint
Johnston. Loewen eventually loaded the bases before giving up an RBI single to
Arnold. But Loewen got a strikeout and a groundout to escape without further
damage. The first batter of the third inning reached on an error, but Loewen
promptly picked him off, then sent down the last eight batters he faced in the
game." (Salisbury Daily Times)
BAL
OF, with an Olympic date and a promotion on the horizon :
" ... Nick Markakis ... has improved
with each month of the season and seems to have found his home in right field.
Though he struggled early in the year to track fly balls, much of it could have
been due to not knowing which spot in the outfield he would be playing until he
showed up at the park. He is currently batting .285 and has showed impressive
power, leading the Shorebirds with nine home runs and 49 RBIs. Markakis has also
shown a comfort level with the competition, hitting from any spot in the batting
order and seemingly always doing something productive at the plate, whether it's
moving the runner up or getting a ball into the outfield with runners in scoring
position. He has a .466 slugging percentage and a .363 on-base percentage.
Markakis' spot on the roster may not actually be lost because of a promotion to
the Frederick Keys, but because he could be headed to Athens for two weeks in
August to play for the Greek national baseball team in the Summer Olympics. If
he continues to produce like he did in June, his return flight could take him to
Frederick, not Delmarva. (Salisbury Daily Times)
COL
lefty continues to win kudos :
" ... When Jeff Francis is on the mound, one
can tell that's he is all business. On Friday the Tulsa left-handed pitcher
wasn't thinking about the last time he faced Midland on June 16, even though it
was his only loss of the season. And he certainly wasn't thinking about a
possible callup to Triple-A or even the majors, which could come at any day.
Nope not Francis. "One you get on the field it's game time," he said. "You don't
worry about where you should be or about revenge, you just worry about pitching
well." That businessman-like approach is why Francis is arguably the best
pitcher in the Texas League and showed Midland fans and the RockHounds just that
as he led the Drillers to a 4-1 victory Friday ... Francis (12-1) went 7 2/3
innings, allowed no runs on four hits, struck out 10 and walked two. "I really
felt good physically," Francis said. "I just tried to keep the ball down." The
only trouble Francis had in his stint was in the first inning when the
RockHounds had runners at second and third base with one out. Francis came back
and struck out Nelson Cruz and Brant Colamarino to end the inning. "The big
thing is not to let them have a big inning early in the game. One run wouldn't
have been a big deal," said Francis, who at one point retired 14 RockHounds in a
row. "It wasn't until the fourth or fifth inning that I got more in a rhythm."
Midland manager Webster Garrison ... said what separates Francis from other
pitchers in the league is the confidence he displays on the mound. "When things
are going good with the record, earned run average and strikeout-to-walk ratio,
he's definitely confident out there," Garrison said. "You can see it out there.
Even when he walks a guy he gets right back up there and he's ready to go."
(Midland Reporter Telegram)
Yankee
3B prospect on the way up :
" ... Battle Creek Yankees third baseman Eric Duncan
has been promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the high-A Florida State League.
Duncan - the New York Yankees' first-round pick in the draft a year ago - hit
.259 in 78 games with Battle Creek. His 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 52 runs scored
and 23 doubles led the team. In another move, second baseman Rafael Rodriguez
will return to Battle Creek after a brief stint at short-season Staten Island.
Duncan was selected as the starter at third base in the Midwest League All-Star
Game last month in Cedar Rapids. He was among the league leaders in RBIs
(third), doubles (fourth), extra-base hits (fifth) and runs scored (sixth) at
the time of his promotion. (Battle Creek Yankees)
A
couple of TEX notes from Jamey Newberg's Rangers Minor League Report :
" ... in Nick Regilio's six Oklahoma wins
this season, he's allowed one earned run in 37.2 innings (0.24 ERA). In his four
losses, he's allowed 27 earned runs in 18 innings (13.50 ERA) ... first-rounder
Thomas Diamond will debut for Spokane on Tuesday, and he'll be
limited to 30-40 pitches. Righthander Josh Rupe, who has pitched
well for the Indians while rehabbing his strained forearm, will relieve Diamond
and then likely be promoted to Stockton."
Correspondents
-- INTERNATIONAL (Herb Walters), EASTERN (Ralph Marston), SOUTHERN (Ken
Savage), TEXAS (Harry Almquist), FLORIDA STATE (Wayne
Stevens), CAROLINA (Troy Salvior), MIDWEST (Bob Reed), SOUTH ATLANTIC (Brad
Dowdy), NEW YORK-PENN (Chris
Carlson), APPALACHIAN (Scott Howes), GULF COAST (Harry Almquist)
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