Rookies 2006

 

                                                          Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO

 

02 September, 2006

    No report tomorrow ... need some time to organize my teams for a playoff push ...

    Olympic Qualifier, Cuba - USA whipped Dominican Republic 12-2 ... Skip Schumaker 2-4, grand slam ... Mark Reynolds 3-4, homer ... Bryan Lahair 1-4, homer ... Canada scored 11 runs in the last two innings, including six in the bottom of the 9th to down Panama 15-12 ... Jeremy Ware's grand slam in the 9th was the winner ... Ryan Radmanovich, Kevin Nicholson and Reed Easley also had home runs for Canada ... Emerson Frostad 3 hits, 3 runs ...Mexico shaded Nicaragua 2-0 ... Cuba remained undefeated with a 10-1 trouncing of Venezuela

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Jason Cooper CLE 2-3, 2B, BB, .228 ... Terry Tiffee MIN 2-4, R, .277 ... Jerry Owens CHA 1-4, 2 R, BB, SB, .262 ... Casey Rogowski CHA 1-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 SF, .272 ... Rob Cosby TOR 1-4, 17th HR, R, RBI, .253 ... Josh Banks TOR 7-2/3 8 3 3 1 4, 5.17 ... Chris Shelton DET 0-3, 2 BB, HBP, .266 ... Ryan Raburn DET 2-6, 2 R, SB, .280 ... William Bergolla CIN 2-4, 2 SB, .282 ... rehab, Trot Nixon BOS 0-4, .000 ... rehab, Jason Varitek BOS 1-3, 1st HR, R, RBI, .333 ... Craig Hansen BOS 2 0 0 0 0 1, 2.62 ... Josh Kroeger PHI 2-4, 9th HR, R, 2 RBI, .227 ... Justin Germano PHI 8 4 1 1 0 4, 3.48 ... Val Majewski BAL 1-3, RBI, BB, .256 ... Craig Stansberry PIT 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, .230 ... Christian Garcia NYA 2-6, 2B, R, SB, .241 ... Sean Henn NYA 2-1/3 0 0 0 0 3, 4.10

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Carlos Villanueva MIL 8.0 2 2 2 0 10, 2.71 ... JR House HOU 2-4, .416 ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-4, SB, .358 ... OF Jeff Baker COL 3-4, 30th double, 2 homers (18), 5 RBI (106), .306 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 2-4, double, .314

EASTERN (AA)  --  Ryan Patterson OF TOR 3-4, double, homer, walk, .257 ... Trevor Crowe CLE, 2B experiment a little shaky, 0-4, error (throw), walk, 3 Ks ...  CF Carlos Gomez NYN 1-4, walk, 2 SBs (41), CS (9), .283

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Spike Lundberg LAD, W (15-2), 6 3 0 0 1 5, 2.27 ... James Russ FLA, 7 5 2 0 4 5, 3.80 ... Carlos Gonzalez RF ARI, 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, .182 ... AJ Shappi ARI, 7 6 3 3 0 6, 5.59 ... Jack Cassel SD, 4 10 7 2 1 5, 2.29 ... what's new, Joey Votto 1B CIN, 2-2, 46th 2B, R, 2 BB, .316 ... Tyler Pelland CIN, 6 1 0 0 3 6, 3.99 ... Chris Shaver CHC, 7 6 3 3 1 4, 2.99 ... Ryan Braun 3B MIL, 1-4, 21st HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, .295 ... Corey Thurman MIL, 5 8 4 3 0 6, 2.96 ... Wes Whisler CHW, 6 10 4 4 2 3, 4.43 ... Reid Brignac, 1-3, RBI, R, 2 BB, .281 ... Evan Longoria 3B TB, 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 K, .271 ... Jeff Niemann TB, 5.1 4 0 0 4 6, 2.68 ... Dan Curtis ATL, 6 3 0 0 1 9, 4.22

TEXAS (AA)  --  Thomas Diamond TEX 2.0 6 5 5 1 2, 4.24 ... Daniel Haigwood TEX 6.0 4 1 1 2 7, 3.63 ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-3, 31st double, .286 ... Sean Rodriguez LAA 3-4, double (34th overall), homer (29th overall), (.922 OPS in A+, 1.000+ in AA) ... Ian Stewart COl 0-4, .268 ... Chris Lubanski KC 2-5, .282 ... Alex Gordon KC 2-4, 16th error, .325

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  1B Cesar Nicolas ARZ 3-5, 2 homers (14), 5 RBI, .297 ... Michael Collins LAA 3-6, 28th double, 5 RBI, .290 ... Tim Lincecum SF 5.0 1 0 0 3 9 (58 Ks in 32 innings), 1.95 ... 2B Corey Wimberly COL 2-4, double, 49th SB, .319 ... catcher John Jaso TB 2-5, homer, .306 ... Andrew Baldwin SEA 7.0 5 2 2 1 6, 0.82

CAROLINA (A+) --  Steve Mortimer 1B WAS 1-3, HR(6), 3RBI, .223 ... JC Holt DH ATL 2-4, 2 2B,2R,2RBI, .268 ... Carl Loadenthal RF ATL 3-4, HR, 3RBI & 1-4, 7th homer, .321... Marvin Lowrance LF WAS 1-2, HR(5), .255 ... Carlos Martinez WAS 5.0 6 3 3 2 3 W, 5.40 ... Argenis Reyes 2B CLE 2-3, HR(1), .266 ... Josh Hansen DH CHA 1-3, HR(17), .251 ... Chuck Lofgren's final effort toward MILB Player of the year 5.2 5 0 0 1 3 W(17), 2.32 (overall, 139.2/108, 125/54K/W) ... Kyle McCulloch CHA 6.0 5 1 1 3 3, 4.08 ... David Cook CHA 2-3, 2RBI, 2SB, .237 ... Joe Ness CLE 4.2 5 2 1 2 4, 3.62 ... Derek Rodriguez CHA 6.0 2 0 0 2 8 W, 4.91

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Donnie Veal CHN 6 1/3 2 0 0 3 12 ND, 1.67 … Mike Costanzo 3B PHI 2-4 2 doubles, .258 … Aaron Mathews CF TOR 4-5 2HR(9) double, 3R, .284 … Cliff Floyd LF NYN (rehab) 2-4 2HR 4RBI … Mike Carp 1B NYN 2-4, .290 … Alcides Escobar SS TOR 2-5 R RBI SB(27), .249 … Grant Psomas 3B FLO 2-5 double, R RBI, .294 … JT Restko LF FLO 2-3 R, .249 … Colby Rasmus CF STL 2-3 R RBI, .261 … Mark McCormick STL 2 5 5 5 2 4 ND, 11.25 … David Winfree 3B MIN 2-4 HR(13) 2R RBI, .277

MIDWEST (A) --  disappointing season in the home stretch for Justin Upton, 0-4, .265 ... Cameron Maybin DET, one of those days, 0-5, 4 Ks, .310 ... Alexander Smit MIN 7.0 6 3 3 3 10, 2.99 ... Mitch Atkins CHN 7.2 5 0 0 2 7, 13-4, 2.41 ... Luke Hochevar KC 6.0 4 2 2 0 6, 1.17 ... shortstop Tyler Greene STL 1-3, homer, .278

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  shortstop Elvis Andrus ATL 4-5, .269 ... 3B Eric Campbell ATL 2-5, 22nd homer, .297 ... OF Lorenzo Cain MIL 5-5, 3 doubles (36), walk, .310 ... Shane Lindsay COL 5.0 4 2 1 8 6, 2.67 ... 2B Eugenio Velez SF 3-3, 2 walks, 2 SBs (63), .316 ... Erick Abreu NYA 6.0 6 1 1 2 2, 1.88 ... Travis Denker LAD 3-4, double, .278 ... Brad James HOU 5.0 6 4 4 2 3, 1.46 ... OF Aaron Cunningham CHA 4-4, 3 doubles (26), .309

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  3B Billy Rowell BAL, no problem with the move up to the NYP, 2-4, .421 ... shortstop Scott Sizemore DET 2-5, walk, .333 ... OF Jordan Parraz HOU 2-5, .342 ... Mitchell Hilligoss NYA, at SS, 3-5, double, .296

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Mike McKenry C COL 3-5, 2 r, hr, 2 rbi, .219 ... Hector Gomez ss COL 3-4, r, rbi, .259 ... Matt Camp OF CHC 3-5, .303 ... Tyler Colvin OF CHC 2-4, 2r, 2 hr, 3 rbi, .279 ... Josh Lansford 2-4, r, .264 ... Deryck Lewis 2-3, 2 r, bb. 2b, hr, 4 rbi, .253 ... Mario Mercedes C CHC 2-3, 2 r, 2 rbi, .309 ... Edwin Roman LF ARZ 2-5, 2 r, 2 rbi, bb, .259 ... Travis Tully OF ARZ 2-5, 2 r, rbi, bb, .277 ... Blake Sharpe ss ARZ 3-4, 2 r, 2b, 2 rbi, bb, .271 ... Mike DeCarlo 1b ARZ 2-5, 3 rbi, bb, .252 ... Chad Tracy C TEX 2-4, r, 2 2b, .263 ... Chris Davis 2-4, 2 rbi, hr, 2 rbi, .273 ... Jodam Rivera 2b SD 2-3, 2 r, bb, .316 ... Tom King ss SD 3-4, r, 4 rbi, .240 ... Gavin Dickey OF SEA 1-4, r, hr, 3 rbi, .226 ... Bryan Sabatella OF SEA 2-3, r, 2b, bb, sb, .253

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  CF Archie Gilbert CHA 2-3, triple, 3 SBs (31), .329 ... OF Gerardo Parra ARZ 2-4, double, .337 ... Steven Johnson LAD 6.0 4 1 1 1 9, 3.79 ... Josh Bell 3B LAD 3-5, double, .296 ... OF Ryan Rogowski LAD 2-5, double, triple, .310 ...  OF Nick Van Stratten KC, up from the ARZ League, 3-4, double ... CF Christopher Pettit LAA 3-4, double, .332

    Troop Movements ...  BAL - recalled RHP Winston Abreu and RHP Julio Manon from AAA, OF Jeff Fiorentino from AA ... BOS - recalled LHP Craig Breslow, OF David Murphy from AAA ... CHA - recalled RHP Charlie Haeger, LHP Boone Logan and C Chris Stewart from AAA, purchased the contract of OF Ryan Sweeney from AAA ... DET - recalled RHP Jordan Tata, Ramon Santiago from Triple-A ...  KC - purchased the contract of RHP Ryan Braun from AAA, transferred Reggie Sanders from the 15- to the 60-day DL, released LHP Bobby Madritsch ... LAA - activated 1B Darin Erstad and OF Curtis Pride from the DL, recalled RHP Chris Bootcheck and C Jeff Mathis from AAA, activated Dallas McPherson from the DL and optioned him to Triple-A  ... MIN - recalled RHP Scott Baker and C Chris Heintz from AAA, purchased the contract of INF Alex Casilla from AA, transferred OF Shannon Stewart from the 15- to 60-day DL ... NYA - recalled C Wil Nieves, RHP T.J. Beam and RHP Jose Veras from AAA, designated outfielder Mitch Jones for assignment  ... OAK - recalled C Jeremy Brown and LHP Ron Flores from AAA, purchased the contract of OF Hiram Bocachica from AAA ... SEA - recalled RHP Emiliano Fruto from AAA ...TEX - recalled RHP Scott Feldman from AAA ... TOR - purchased the contracts of OF Adam Lind and Kevin Barker from Triple-A ... TB - activated infielder Ty Wigginton from the DL, recalled RHP Brian Stokes, Edwin Jackson from Triple-A

ATL - activated OF Brian Jordan, RHP Kyle Davies and INF Willy Aybar from the DL, recalled C Brayan Pena and 1B-OF Scott Thorman from AAA, and RHP Joey Devine from AA ... CHN - activated LHP Scott Eyre, LHP Sean Marshall and RHP Wade Miller from the DL, recalled C Geovany Soto from AAA ... CIN - recalled LHP Brian Shackelford from AAA, activated RHP Gary Majewski and RHP Jason Standridge from the DL ... COL - purchased the contract of Vinny Castilla from AAA ... FLO - recalled RHP Chris Resop and RHP Yusmeiro Petit from AAA ... HOU - recalled RHP Matt Albers and OF Charlton Jimerson from AAA ... LAD - recalled OF Matt Kemp and 1B James Loney from AAA, purchased the contract of C Einar Diaz from AAA ... MIL - recalled RHP Dennis Sarfate from AAA, purchased the contract of C Vinny Rottino from AAA, placed 2B Rickie Weeks on the 60-day DL ... NYN - recalled RHP Heath Bell and LHP Royce Ring from AAA ... PHI - acquired 1B Randall Simon from TEX for cash ... PIT - activated RHP Josh Sharpless from the DL ... SD - recalled RHP Scott Cassidy from AAA ... SF - recalled INF Lance Niekro, OF Jason Ellison, RHP Brian Wilson, C Justin Knoedler, OF Fred Lewis, and LHP Jonathan Sanchez from AAA, and RHP Scott Munter from AA ... WAS - acquired CF Nook Logan from DET for PTBNL, sent RHP Kevin Gryboski outright to AAA ... STL - recalled RHP Brad Thompson, John Rodriguez, Craig Breslow from Triple-A

    Red Sox woes compounded as baseball takes a back seat to real life :

" ... Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Jon Lester has a form of lymphoma and will start treatment in the coming week, the team announced Friday. Enlarged lymph nodes were identified when Lester, 22, was tested to determine the cause of back pain that sent him to the disabled list last Monday. The club said Friday he has a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma ... Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is one of a group of cancers known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, said Dr. Robert Soiffer, chief of the division of hematologic malignancies at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. "It is a disease that can strike at any age," said Soiffer, who is not involved in Lester's treatment. "It's responsive to chemotherapy and very treatable."  (Associated Press)

Curt Schilling (strained lat muscle) to miss his next start ... Jonathan Papelbon left Friday's game with an apparent injury :

" ...  Papelbon left Friday's game with one out in the ninth inning after throwing a pitch to Toronto's Lyle Overbay. "Basically, I felt it a couple of pitches before I actually felt the larger strain," Papelbon said. "Right now, we don't really know what's going on. It's just basically some sort of strain in my shoulder. That's basically what we're going to go on right now." Papelbon, who allowed two hits in the ninth, will have the shoulder examined first thing when he gets to the park Saturday morning. "The doctors and the trainers think it's just a fatigue issue."  (MLB.com)

More injury notes from AP :

" ...  Brad Radke has a stress fracture in his right shoulder, an injury Minnesota doesn't necessarily think will end his season. ... Dr. Dan Buss recommended that he not throw for two to three weeks."

" ... Rookie Anthony Reyes will get the first shot at filling Mark Mulder's spot in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation when he starts Sunday against the Pirates... Reyes, who won't be added to the roster until Sunday, is projected as a full-time member of the rotation next year. He said he got away from relying on his fastball in his earlier stint with the Cardinals but returned to power pitching while in the minors."

    ARZ likely looking to move a veteran catcher to make room for their backstop of the future:

" ...  Miguel Montero, a blue-chip prospect who is expected to follow Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin and Chris Young and be another talented, homegrown star to merit a full share of playing time.  He is the Diamondbacks' catcher of the future ...  when major league rosters can expand, Montero will be among those welcomed into the fold ... The franchise has a tough decision. If Montero is ready to play, what happens to Estrada or Snyder? One of them will have to go to make room for Montero, 23, a left-handed batter from Venezuela ...  The Diamondbacks aren't about to announce Montero as their starting catching in 2007. But make no mistake: They really, really like the kid.  After hitting 10 homers with 46 RBIs in 81 games for Double-A Tennessee, he was promoted to Triple-A Tucson and hasn't missed a beat. In his first 35 games for the Sidewinders, he was hitting .323 with seven homers and 29 RBIs and had an OPS rating (on-base, plus slugging percentage) of .923. "He's played remarkably consistent and he's taking Triple-A by storm," said A.J. Hinch, the Diamondbacks' director of player development."  (Arizona Republic)

     Ian Stewart COL ... to the pasture.

" ...  General manager Dan O'Dowd admitted for the first time Double-A uber-prospect Ian Stewart could convert to the outfield from third base as the team looks to rev up their dormant offense next year and beyond ...  "And with what (third baseman) Garrett Atkins has done, what it says is that Ian will be part of our team eventually at a different position. Where and when will depend on how he does and how the players do in front of him." ...  For Stewart ... Double-A ball at Tulsa has been a grind because of a wrist injury and inconsistency. But his athleticism suggests he can play outfield down the road, a necessity given Atkins has emerged as the Rockies' best hitter."  (Denver Post)


01 September, 2006

    Olympic qualifier, Cuba - no games Thursday.  Friday, Canada vs Panama & USA vs Dominican Republic, Cuba vs Venezuela, Mexico vs Nicaragua

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Ben Francisco CLE 2-6, BB, .277 ... Asdrubal Cabrera CLE 1-5, RBI, SF, .259 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-6, .357 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-5, BB, Sac, SB, .280 ... Alex Romero MIN 1-3, .261 ... Terry Tiffee MIN 2-7, 2 RBI, .274 ... Rob Cosby TOR 1-5, R, BB, .253 ... Sergio Santos TOR 1-6, 5th HR, R, RBI, .211 ... Francisco Rosario TOR 3 0 0 0 0 4, 2.92 ... Casey Janssen TOR 3-2/3 6 2 2 3 2, 4.85 ... David Murphy BOS 2-4, RBI, .267 ... rehab, Trot Nixon BOS 0-4, .000 ... Gavin Floyd PHI 8 3 4 4 3 7, 4.23 ... Val Majewski BAL 2-5, 2 2B, R, RBI, .256 ... Eli Whiteside BAL 3-5, 11th HR, R, 3 RBI, .248

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Felix Pie CHN 1-4, .277 ... JR House HOU 1-5, homer, .412 ...  promoted to AAA, Ben Kozlowski LAD, 5.0 7 7 6 2 3 ... Adam Jones SEA 3-5, 16th homer, .287 ... Zach Jackson MIL 5.0 7 7 7 6 1, 4.21 ... Tony Gwynn Jr 2-5, 2 SBs (29), .302 ...  Dustin Nippert ARZ 6.0 7 5 5 2 6, 4.87

EASTERN (AA)  --  TOR lefty Ricardo Romero, 7.2 5 3 3 1 5, 2-7, 5.08 ... on a tear (.549 over his last 8 games), Chip Cannon TOR 2-2, 2 homers (27), 2 walks, 4 RBI, .251 ... Devern Hansack BOS 7.0 1 0 0 1 12, 3.26 ... Adam Miller CLE 6.0 4 2 1 1 7, 15-6, 2.75 ... Neil Walker PIT 0-4, .143 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-4, double, .309 ... Trevor Crowe CLE, back in CF, 0-5, error, .252

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Carlos Gonzalez RF ARI, 1-4, RBI, R, .173 ... Colt Morton C SD, 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, K, .267 ... Michael Ekstrom SD, 8 8 3 3 1 5, 3.84 ... Joey Votto 1B CIN, 1-3, another 2B (45), R, BB, K, .313 ... Josh Hall CIN, 9 5 1 1 3 3, 3.39 ... Sean Gallagher CHC, 7 5 2 2 2 9, 2.71 ... Manny Parra MIL, W (3-0), 6 3 0 0 3 7, 2.87 ... Adam Russell CHW, 7.2 5 1 1 1 3, 4.75 ... Reid Brignac SS TB, 1-5, 3B, RBI, R, K, .280 ... Evan Longoria 3B TB, 1-4, .264 ... Elliot Johnson 2B TB, 2-4, 2B, R, BB, K, .282 ... Tony Peguero TB, 7 7 3 0 2 4, 2.97

TEXAS (AA)  --  Tyler Lumsden KC 6.0 4 1 1 1 5, 3.06 ... Alex Gordon KC 2-4, .323 ... Chris Lubanski KC 2-4, .281 ...  Joe Koshansky COL, fading, 0-3, .287 ... Troy Patton HOU 6.0 6 4 4 2 5, 4.37 ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-4, .284

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Sergio Pedroza TB 1-2, triple, walk, .345 (.990 OPS overall) ... OF Luis Perez OAK 2-5, homer, .324 ... shortstop Jonathan Herrera COL 2-4, .312 ... Gregory Reynolds COL 5.0 4 4 3 0 2, 3.33 ... Emilio Bonifacio ARZ 3-5, 33rd double, walk, 59th SB, .316 ... Javier Brito ARZ 1-3, double, 3 walks, .355

CAROLINA (A+) --  Pedro Powell CF PIT 2-4, RBI, 2SB(63), .261 ... Yoann Torrealba PIT 6.0 3 1 1 4 3 W, 4.01

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Cody Ehlers 1B NYA 3-5, 3 doubles, R RBI, .300 … Reegie Corona SS NYA 2-5 RBI, .290 … Jeff Frazier LF DET 2-4 HR(13) 2R 2RBI, .229 … Mike Costanzo 3B PHI 2-3 HR(13) 2R 3RBI, .256 … Aaron Mathews CF TOR 3-5 double, RBI, .278 … Tom Gordon PHI (rehab) 2 0 0 0 1 3 … Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL 2-4 R, .326 … JT Restko LF FLO 2-4, .245 … Trevor Plouffe SS MIN 2-4 RBI, .246 … Oswaldo Sosa MIN 7 1/3 5 4 3 2 5 L(4-1, 2.08) … Johnny Cueto CIN 7 4 0 0 0 7 W(7-2, 3.50)

MIDWEST (A) --  Wade Davis TB 7.0 0 1 0 2 7, 3.02 ... Yohan Pino MIN 5.0 4 0 0 2 2, 14-2, 1.91 (little notice but super numbers, 20 walks, 99 Ks in 94 innings, more below)  ... Eduardo Morlan MIN 5.0 3 0 0 2 6, 2.29 (125 Ks in 106 IP) ... CF Joe Benson MIN (up from the GCL) 4-4 ... Justin Upton ARZ 0-2, 2 walks, .267 ... Chi-Hung Cheng TOR 5.0 3 1 1 4 4, 2.70 ... Cameron Maybin DET 1-4, walk, .315 ... CF Jon Jay STL 2-3, double, .353 ... Matt Antonelli SF, up from the NWL, at 2B, 1-3, triple

" ...  Wade Davis [TB] ...  pitched a no-hitter [seven inning] and set a single-season franchise strikeout record on Thursday night. He just didn't win the game. Davis tossed the Devil Rays' second no-hitter in as many weeks, but the Beloit Snappers took advantage of two errors and clinched a Midwest League playoff berth with a 1-0 blanking of Southwest Michigan in the first game of a doubleheader. "This was the strangest game I've seen, absolutely," a dejected Davis said. "Nothing even compares." It should have been a night for celebration for Davis (7-12), who walked two and struck out seven to bring his total to a team-record 165 over 146 innings."  (MiLB.com)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Eric Campbell ATL 5-7, 2 2B (26), .296 ... Elvis Andrus ATL 0-3, .262 ... Travis Denker LAD 2-6, 3B (1), RBI (45), 2 BB, .270 ... Joe Martinez SF (W, 15-5) 6 4 0 0 0 4, 3.01 ... Eugenio Velez SF 2-4, 3B (20), 2 RBI (90), 2 BB, .312 ... James Deters CLE (W, 12-9) 7 6 1 0 0 2, 3.11 ... Max Ramirez CLE 2-2, RBI (62), 2 BB, .296 ... Carlos Carrasco PHI (W, 12-6) 7 4 3 3 1 7, 2.26 ... Jeremy Slayden PHI 0-4, RBI (81), BB, .306 ... Chorye Spoone BAL (L, 7-9) 5-1/3 5 5 3 5 2, 3.56 ... Dexter Fowler COL 1-6, SB (42), .296 ... Eric Young Jr COL 2-4, SB (86), BB, .293 ... Cole Garner COL 2-5, 2B (40), RBI (86), SB (35), .306

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  New batting leader - John Parraz HOU 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, .342 ... 2B Wilmer Pino NYA 0-4, .335 ... SS Scott Sizemore DET 0-3, 1 BB, .332 ... 2B Mike Martinez WASH .321 ... CF Jason Denham CLE 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 CS, .317 ... LF Mike Daniel WASH 1-4, .316 ... 1B Jake Blackwood FLA 1-4 .310 ... LF Dustin Martin NYN 1-4, .303 ... LF Nate Southard STL 1-3, 2 BB, 1 E .301 ...1B Eric Taylor TOR 2-4, 1 RBI, .300 ...SS Andy Lytle CLE 0-1, .295 ...1B Chris Vinyard BAL 1-2, 2 BB .293 ... 2B Scott Campbell TOR 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB, .291 ... 3B Mitch Hilligoss NYA 0-4, .289 ...Eric Brown NYN 6 8 3 1 0 5,  1.16 (W 6-1) ... 2B Luis Rivera NYN 2-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 E ... 3B Ivan Naccarata NYN 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 E ... Jeremy Hellickson TB 5 5 3 3 2 9, 2.23 (W 3-3) ... C Matt Spring TB 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB ... 2B Brandon Rouseve TB 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... CF John Matulia TB 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS ... DH Francisco Guzman WASH 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB ... Josh Tomlin CLE 6.2 4 1 1 0 9, 2.27 (W 7-2) ... C Matt McBride CLE 3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB ... Kyle Winters FLA 6 1 0 0 0 4, 2.25 ... DH Matt Liuzza TOR 2-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI ... League leader in saves - Luis Lebron BAL 1 1 1 1 0 1, 1.32 (Sv 18) ... Josh Tamba BAL 5 3 0 0 1 3, 2.75 ... C Vic Castillo BAL 1-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 E ... DH Ryan Strieby DET 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI ... Cristhian Martinez DET 6 4 0 0 2 5, 2.34 ... ... SS Kris Negron BOS 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB ... C Jonathan Still BOS 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI ... 3B Tim O'Brien NYA 2-3, 1 RBI ... Darren Byrd PHI 7 2 0 0 4 3, 2.30 (W 2-0) ... DH Brian Capps PHI 2-6, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI ... DH Jake Dempsey PHI 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI ... RF Gus Milner PHI 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI ... 3B Donovan Solano STL 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 E.

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Matt Camp OF CHC 2-5, 2 r, hr, 2 rbi, .298 ... Russ Canzler 1b CHC 2-5, r, 2 2b, .272 ... Steve Clevenger 2b CHC 3-4, 2 r, 2b, .293 ... Matt Canepa C CHC 3-3, r, 3b, 2rbi, bb, .236 ... Jacob Renshaw sp CHC W 1-2, 6.0 3 0 0 1 5, 3.93 ... Brian Lauderdale DH SD 3-7, r, .247 ... Jodam Rivera 2b SD 3-7, r, 2 2b, rbi, .250 ... Abraham Aguilar 3b SD 4-5, 2 r, hr, 2rbi, .211 ... Joseph White DH SEA 3-5, 2 r, 2 hr, 2 rbi, bb, .270 ... Emmanuel Burriss ss SF 2-3, r, rbi, bb, .307 ... Kevin Pucetas sp SF W 6-1, 6.0 1 1 0 1 8, 2.23 ... Mike DeCarlo 1b ARZ 2-4, 3 rbi, 2 hr, 3 rbi, .246 ... Shane Bryne OF ARZ 3-4, r, 2b, rbi, .247 ... Shane Dove sp ARZ W 5-5, 6.0 5 2 1 1 6, 1.73

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  Joshua Wall LAD 6.0 5 2 2 2 8, 5.34 ... Ryan Rogowski LAD 2-3, 27th SB, .308 ... Trevor Bell LAA 5.0 10 3 3 1 1, 3.66 ... Ryan Mount LAA 2-5, .298 ... CF Christopher Pettit LAA 3-5, 21st double, .324

    Troop Movements ...  OAK - recalled Dan Johnson from Triple-A,  sent D'Angelo Jimenez outright to Triple-A ... CIN - recalled Brendan Harris from Triple-A, optioned Matt Belisle to Single-A ... SD - signed Rudy Seanez, acquired David Wells from BOS for PTBNL,  recalled Terrmel Sledge from Triple-A, optioned Mike Thompson to Triple-A ...  ... FLO - recalled Robert Andino from Triple-A, optioned Randy Messenger to Single-A ...BOS - activated Lenny DiNardo from the DL, acquired Kevin Jarvis from ARZ for PTBNL & assigned him to Triple-A  ... STL - placed Mark Mulder on the DL, purchased the contract of Mike Rose from Triple-A ... NYN - recalled Anderson Hernandez from Triple-A ... MIN - acquired Phil Nevin and cash from CHN for PTBNL ... HOU - recalled Matt Albers and Charlton Jimerson from Triple-A ...  WAS - acquired Jhonny Nunez from LAD for Marlon Anderson and cash, acquired Luis Atliano from ATL for Daryle Ward  ...

    You know, this sounds promising.  Maybe there's hope after all for Elijah Dukes TB :

" ...   Dukes' 30-game suspension is done, but he won't be rejoining Triple-A Durham for the final week of the International League season ...  said he will play this winter in the Dominican Republic to prepare for spring training next year. He said he hopes to make the team out of camp. Before then, he said he will voluntarily resume anger management classes in Tampa. "I want to be able to come into spring training next year and start over," Dukes said. "I still have some things I want to do to get better for next year. "I'm going to start going to the classes again. I want to keep hearing the things I was hearing before." Dukes, the Rays' third-round pick in the 2002 draft, hit .293 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 283 at-bats in a season marred by suspensions ... Dukes also said he is happy for fellow prospects B.J. Upton and Delmon Young, who recently were called up by the Devil Rays. "Hopefully I can join them next year," Dukes said. "It's up to me to complete the trio, because I don't think they're going back down. It's always good to see the guys you've played with happy. … Y'all are going to know when I get up. I'm going to be smiling every day."   (Tampa Tribune)

    Minor league vet named the MVP of the Pacific Coast League :

" ...  Scott McClain ... tied for first in home runs (29), second in runs batted in (104), and fourth in extra-base hits (58). He is also near the top of the League in fielding percentage with a mark of .977 at third base. Earlier this week, the 34-year old was elected to the 2006 All-PCL team as the League's top man at the hot corner ...  Scott was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in the 22nd round of the 1990 Draft."   (Pacific Coast League) 

    CLE kids take the top awards in the Carolina League :

" ...  Kinston outfielder Jordan Brown was voted Most Valuable Player, while teammate Chuck Lofgren took Pitcher of the Year honors ... With five playing dates remaining, Brown was the league leader in RBI with 87. He also led in total bases and slugging percentage. Lefty Lofgren had a league best 16 wins, the most of any Kinston pitcher since the Indians affiliation began in 1987. He is second in ERA and strikeouts."  (Carolina League)

    Canadian kid the best of the Southern League :

" ... first baseman Joey Votto has been named the Most Valuable Player ...  A Triple Crown contender for much of the season, Votto's name appears near the top of the league leader-board in nearly every offensive category. He is currently leading the Southern League with a .313 average, 154 hits, 44 doubles, 67 extra-base hits, 82 runs scored, a .402 on-base percentage and a .539 slugging percentage. He also ranks third in the league with 76 RBI and is tied for third with 21 home runs."  (Southern League)

Among the All-Stars - catcher Miguel Montero ARZ, 3B Scott Moore CHN, shortstop Chin-Lung Hu LAD, SPAndy Sonnanstine TB, SP Tyler Lumsden (now KC).  In a weird one, Dodger's Spike Lundberg was named the Pitcher of the Year, but failed to win a spot on the All-Stars.

    DET's top prospect catches a break ... in court. 

" ...  Cameron Maybin pleaded guilty to alcohol possession by a minor. Maybin, the Detroit Tigers No. 1 draft choice in 2005, entered the plea Tuesday before Rockford District Judge Steven Servaas, who ordered him to spend one year on non-reporting probation and pay $125 in fines. The misdemeanor charge will be dropped if he stays out of trouble while on probation. He also was fined $160 after he admitted responsibility to careless driving ...  "I understand that I failed to use good judgment in this particular situation. I apologize to the Tigers' organization and my fans," said Maybin."   (Grand Rapids Press)

    SD a winner as the Arizona League announces its All-Stars :

" ... Padres placed a league-best three players on the Arizona League postseason All-Star Team. Chief among the Padres' triumvirate was outfielder Cedric Hunter, who was named the league's Most Valuable Player.  Hunter ranked among the league's top three in average (.371), RBIs (44), hits (79), doubles (13), on-base percentage (.467) and runs scored (46). The 18-year-old, who was selected in the third round of this year's amateur player draft, hit a scorching .422 in the month of August ...  joined on the squad by two teammates -- second baseman Rayner Contreras and fellow outfielder Luis Durango. Contreras led the league with 52 RBIs, while Durango's .378 batting average was the best among all Rookie-level teams."   (MiLB.com)

    CINCY shortstop takes the top prize in the Pioneer League :

" ...  Chris Valaika was named the league's Most Valuable Player. To date, Valaika is hitting .340 and leading the league with 60 RBI. Just last week in Orem, he tied and broke a Pioneer League Record by hitting safely in 30 and 31 consecutive games. His streak would finally end two nights later at 32 ...  Pitcher of the Year ... Brandon Hynick of the Casper Rockies who got called up to Single A Tri-City just one week ago. Hynick posted a 4-3 record with a 2.39 ERA while striking out 70 men in 64 innings during his time with the Rockies."  (Orem Owlz)

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Yohan Pino MIN :

" ...  Pino made our Twins depth chart in the 2006 Prospect Handbook, but otherwise I didn’t hear much about him either. After signing out of Venezuela in 2004, he went 19-3 in two years of Rookie ball, so his career record now stands at 32-5. Though he’s just in his first year of full-season ball and his third as a pro, Pino is 22. Lanky at a listed 6-foot-3 and 158 pounds, he’s not overpowering but throws strikes ...  with a four-pitch mix. His fastball has average velocity and he locates it very well, and he keeps hitters off balance with a slow curveball. Pino’s projection isn’t as gaudy as his numbers, but he could sneak into the back of a big league rotation or serve as a useful swingman. Though the Twins are loaded with pitching prospects, they’ll try to accelerate his development next season."


31 August, 2006

    Olympic Qualifier, Cuba - Stubby Clapp had three hits, including a double and drove in a pair as Canada downed Brazil 7-3 ... The USA lost its first match in the initial round, 12-9 to Venezuela ... Bryan LaHair 2-5, homer ... Kurt Suzuki 3-5, homer ... Bobby Hill 4-5 ... Kevin Slowey 5.0 5 4 4 1 6

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Ben Francisco CLE 2-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, .276 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-4, 2 RBI, .370 ... Jason Cooper CLE 1-4, 2B, .225 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-2, R, BB, HBP, .281 ... Jake Dittler CLE 7 4 2 2 2 4, 4.70 ... Brayan Pena ATL 1-3, .302 ... Anthony Lerew ATL 5 6 3 3 1 7, 7.48 ... Alex Romero MIN 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, SB, .260 ... Rob Cosby TOR 2-4, .253 ... Adam Lind TOR 1-4, R, .394 ... Dustin McGowan TOR 1 1 0 0 1 1, 4.39 ... Brandon Watson CIN 2-3, R, .276 ... David Murphy BOS 2-5, 2B, 8th HR, R, 2 RBI, .264 ... Josh Kroeger PHI 1-3, 2B, BB, .229 ... Eude Brito PHI 2 1 0 0 0 4, 3.17 ... Val Majewski BAL 2-4, 2 R, .253

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Eric Patterson CHN 2-3, walk, .386 ... John Rheinecker TEX 7.0 6 3 1 2 6, 2.52 ... JR House HOU 2-4, 2 doubles, .424 ... Matt Kemp LAD 4-5, 14th SB, .368 ... Tim Stauffer SD 5.0 8 5 5 1 5, 5.34 ... George Kottaras SD, 0-4, .224 ... Micah Owings ARZ 6.0 4 1 1 0 5, 10-0, 3.70 (and 3-4 at the plate, .405)  ... Adam Jones SEA 5-6, 2 doubles, .282 ... T.J. Bohn SEA 4-6, double, .280

EASTERN (AA)  --  Phil Hughes NYA, finishing up with an outstanding run, 5.0 2 0 0 0 5, 10-3, 2.25 ... Phil Humber NYN 6.0 4 0 0 2 6, 3.18 ... Gio Gonzalez PHI, another disappointing effort, 4.2 8 5 5 4 3, 7-11, 4.42 ... Brian Barton CF CLE 3-4, .360 ... Trevor Crowe CLE, at 2B, 0-3, walk, 2 errors (both on throws), .261 ... Kory Casto WAS 2-4, 24th double, .277 ... Matt Moses MIN 1-3, walk & 2-4, homer, .252 ... J.A. Happ PHI 6.0 6 2 2 0 4, 2.65

SOUTHERN (AA) --  no games scheduled

TEXAS (AA)  --  unusual night for the KC kids, Alex Gordon 0-3, Chris Lubanski 0-3 ... Travis Chick SEA 8.1 5 3 3 3 8, 3.19 ... 2B Yung Chi Chen SEA 3-4, SB, .294 ... Hunter Pence HOU 0-3 ... Douglas Mathis TEX 4.0 10 4 3 3 5 ... Brian Stavisky OAK 4-5, .318 ... Danny Putnam OAK, he needed this, 3-5, 2 homers, 5 RBI, .244

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Chase Headley SD 2-5, 4 RBI, .292 ... Sergio Pedroza TB, on a roll, 3-4, double, .341 ... Justin Jordan SEA 6.0 0 0 0 0 6, 4.59 ...  the NWL MVP, getting comfortable, Cyle Hankerd ARZ 3-5, 2 homers, .289 ... CF Chris Rahl ARZ 3-5, 44th double, .338

CAROLINA (A+) --  Mike Carlin LF PIT 4-5, 2R, RBI, .277 ... Antoniio Sucre RF PIT 1-3, HR(6), 2RBI, .226 ... Pete Maestrales LF BAL 2-4, 2B, HR(7), .283 ... Nolan Reimold RF BAL 1-4, HR(19), .256 ... Mario Delgado 1B BAL 2-3, HR(11), 2RBI, .286 ... Brian Bock C BAL 2-4, R, 2RBI, .197 ... Ian Desmond SS WAS 2-5, 2B, HR(8), 2R, .242 ... Brandon Powell 3B WAS 3-5, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, .286 ... Devin Ivany C WAS 3-4, R, RBI, .266 ... JC Holt 2B ATL 3-4, 2R, 2RBI, 2SB, .266 ... Ovandy Suero LF ATL 3-3, 2B, 3R, SB, .294 ... John Barnes BOS 5.2 3 1 1 2 3 W, 3.06

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  David Winfree 3B MIN 2-5 double, R RBI, .274 … Mike Costanzo 3B PHI 3-5 double, R 2RBI, .254

MIDWEST (A) --  Travis Wood CIN 6.0 2 0 0 3 5, 10-4, 3.79 ... Justin Upton ARZ 1-3, double & 2-3, walk, .268 ... Cameron Maybin DET 1-4, 9th homer (grand slam), .315 ... Adam Ottavino STL 6.0 4 2 1 3 5, 3.63 ... Jon Jay STL 2-4, walk, .349 ... John Mayberry TEX, finally getting the hang of it, 2-4, 26th double, 20th homer, .274 ... Will Venable SD 1-4, 33rd double, .310

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Luis Valdez PIT (W, 7-8) 6 5 4 1 1 10, 4.28 ... Brad Corley PIT 1-4, RBI (97 - SAL leader), .282 ... JR Towles HOU 2-5, HR (11), 4 RBI (52), .310 ... Austin Jackson NYA 2-5, SB (36), .257 ... Tim Battle NYA 2-5, 2B (14), .276 ... Dexter Fowler COL 0-2, SB (41), 3 BB, .298 ... Eric Young Jr COL 0-2, 2 BB, .291 ... Phillip Cuadrado COL, grand slams in 1st and 2nd innings, 2-4, 2 HR (15), 8 RBI (85), .306 ... Max Ramirez CLE 1-4, RBI (61), .292 ... Jeremy Slayden PHI 2-4, 2B (44), 3 RBI (80), .310 ... Joel Fountain FLA (W, 1-0) 5 5 0 0 1 0, 0.00 ... Mat Gamel MIL 2-5, 2B (28), .290 ... Lorenzo Cain MIL 2-5, SB (33), .304

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  2B Wilmer Pino NYA 1-4, 1 R, 1 SB .342 ... John Parraz HOU 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR (6) 3 RBI, .342 ... SS Scott Sizemore DET 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, .336 ... 2B Mike Martinez WASH .321 ... CF Mike Daniel WASH 1-4, .318 ... CF Jason Denham CLE 1-4, .313 ... 1B Jake Blackwood FLA 0-4 & 0-3 .311 ... LF Dustin Martin NYN 1-4, 1 2B, .304 ... LF Nate Southard STL 3-4, 2 R, 1 SB .301 ... SS Andy Lytle CLE 0-4, .297 ...1B Eric Taylor TOR 1-5, 1 R .296 ...3B Mitch Hilligoss NYA 1-4, .294 ... 1B Chris Vinyard BAL 0-5, .291 ... 2B Scott Campbell TOR 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI .290 ... Ryan Owen TB 7 4 0 0 0 8, 2.37 (W 5-2) ... 2B Brandon Rouseve TB 2-4, 2 RBI ... LF Francisco Guzman WASH 2-4, 2 2B ... Todd Wagler HOU 5 4 0 0 0 2, 3.07 ... Chris Salamida HOU 2 2 3 1 2 2, 0.86 ... Todd Privett NYN 6 5 0 0 2 4, 2.41... SS Emmanuel Garcia NYN 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB 1 E ... Chase Lirette TOR 6 2 0 0 1 5 2.29 (W 4-1) ... Zach Clark BAL 6 7 0 0 1 0, 0.00 (W 1-0) ... CF Brandon Tripp BAL 3-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI ... CF Billy Rowell BAL 3-4, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... C Jim Skelton DET 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB ... 2B Jared Schweitzer STL 2-4, 3 RBI ... Kyle Sadlowski STL 6.1 4 1 0 0 3, 2.84 (W 2-2) ... Angel Reyes NYA 7 5 2 2 1 5, 1.54 (L 0-1) ... C Jose Gil NYA 1-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB ... LF Paul Smyth BOS 2-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... 3B Zak Farkas BOS 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 CS ... RF Jay Miller PHI 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB ... RF Gus Milner PHI 2-4, 1 RBI ... DH Jake Dempsey PHI 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI ... LF Dave Mense FLA 1-3, 1 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI ... 2B Chris Coghlan FLA 1-3 & 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB ...

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Emmanuel Burriss ss SF 2-4, r, 2b, bb, rbi, .302 ... Larry Cobb 2-5, .297 ... John Odom sp SF W 6-2, 5.0 6 1 1 0 4, 2.62 ... Andrew Bailey sp OAK L 1-5, 6.0 3 4 1 2 5, 2.21 ... Michael Epping of SD 2-4, rbi, .263 ... Brooks Dunn sp SD W 4-5, 6.0 5 0 0 0 8, 2.65 ... Matt Matulia ss CHC 2-3, 2r, bb, rbi, .253 ... Tyler Colvin OF CHC 1-4, r, hr, 4 rbi, .277 ... Josh Lansford 3b CHC 2-4, 2 r, .261 ... Russ Canzler 1b CHC 1-4, r, hr, 2 rbi, .270 ... Jose Ceda sp W 1-0. 5.0 1 0 0 1 6, 4.00 ... Joey Side DH ARZ 1-2, r, bb, rbi, .270 ... Mike DeCarlo 1b ARZ 1-3, r, 2b, bb, rbi, .238 ... Andrew Kreidermacher sp COL L 5-5, 7.0 8 3 2 3 5, 3.74 ... Scott Souther W 2-7, 7.0 5 0 0 2 6, 4.21

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Andrew Schindling BAL 5.0 1 0 0 0 6 ERA 2.49 .... Blake King STL 6.0 3 2 2 1 4, ERA 3.02 ... Robert Ramirez SS HOU 2-4, .314 ... Nick Carr NYM (W 3-3) 5.0 4 0 0 0 9, ERA 4.88 ... Mike McCormick 3B TB 1-3 10th HR, .275 ... Daniel Valencia 3B MIN 1-3, .311 ... Wilton Noel TB (W 2-5) 7.0 2 2 0 1 11, ERA 4.81 ...

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  Daniel Dorn CIN 1-1, 8th homer, .344 ... Chris Valaika CIN 4-5, 3 doubles, walk, .340 ... OF Carlos Santana LAD 2-3, 7th homer, 2 walks, .315 ... OF Chris Errecart MIL 3-4, 2 doubles, .323 ... OF Cole Gillespie 2-4, 17th SB, .355 ... CF Christopher Pettit LAA 3-4, 2 doubles (20), .317 ... OF Gerardo Parra ARZ 2-4, triple, .335

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  in the final games of the regular season ... talk about being in a funk ... Shane Funk TEX 0.2 3 2 2 2 2, 0-9, 9.00 ... Andrew Lefave MIL 1-3, .353 (finishes 3rd in the batting race behind the SD OF pair, Durango and Hunter ...  shortstop Marcus Lemon TEX 1-3, triple, .310 ... nice way to wrap up their season, Trevor Cahill OAK (4.0 0 0 0 0 7) and Henry Alberto Rodriguez (5.0 0 0 0 2 7) teamed up on a no-hitter ... Timothy Schoeninger LAA, finishes second in ERA (to teammate Nicolas Veras) 6.0 5 0 0 1 6, 1.79 ... Cedric Hunter SD 2-4, 13th double, .371 ...  batting champ, Luis Durango 1-4, walk, .378

    Troop Movements ...  NYN - acquired catcher Mike Nickeas from TEX for Victor Diaz ... TEX - sent Adam Hyzdu outright to Triple-A ... BAL - claimed Danny Ardoin off waivers from COL  designated Tim Byrdak, Ed Rogers for assignment, acquired Angel Chavez from PHI as the PTBNL in the Jeff Conine trade   ... PHI - recalled Carlos Ruiz from Triple-A, optioned Matt Smith to Single-A ...

    Jason Hirsh HOU named the Pitcher of the Year in the PCL :

" ...  Hirsh ... also elected to the 2006 All-PCL squad earlier this week as top right-handed starting pitcher in the League. Hirsh, 24, from Santa Monica, California, holds a record of 13-and-2 and won an impressive 12 consecutive games before being promoted to the Houston Astros on August 12th. His 13 wins and 2.10 earned run average are both currently the top marks for any PCL pitcher this season. Additionally, opposing batters have only managed to post a .193 batting average when facing the 6'-8" righthander this season."  (Pacific Coast League)

    TOR OF Adam Lind adds to his laurels :

" ...  Lind has been selected as the 2006 Eastern League Most Valuable Player. Prior to receiving his promotion to ... Triple-A...  Lind was threatening to become just the fifth player in the history of the Eastern League to win the Triple Crown. In 91 games with Fisher Cats this season, the 23-year old hit .310 with 24 doubles, 19 homers, 71 RBI, 43 runs scored, a .543 slugging percentage and a .357 on-base percentage. At the time of his promotion Adam was leading the league in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and extra-base hits and was ranked second in the league in batting average. The 6'2", 205 lb. slugger has been even more impressive since making his Triple-A debut with the SkyChiefs on July 25th ... has reached base in all but three of the 33 games he has played in with Syracuse and is hitting .400 (42-for-105) with seven doubles, five home runs, 19 runs scored, 18 RBI and 23 walks."  (Eastern League)

    BOS second sacker is the top dog in the South Atlantic League :

" ...  Eugenio Velez was named Most Valuable Player of the South Atlantic League ... Velez, in his fifth professional season, leads the league in batting. He ranks second in RBI, fourth in stolen bases, fourth in total hits, second in slugging percentage, first in extra-base hits and fourth in runs."   (Augusta Chronicle)

Tough league.  Will Inman MIL 10-1, 1.40 didn't even rate as the loop's top pitcher.  That went to Matthew Maloney PHI, 16-8, 1.99, 172 Ks in 162 2/3s innings.  Maloney's teammate, Carlos Carrasco and Inman were the other pitchers selected for the post-season All-Stars.  Other familiar names on the squad - catcher Angel Salome MIL,  1B Ben Jones NYA, 3B Eric Campbell ATL (picked for the Util slot) and OFs Lorenzo Cain MIL, Andrew McCutchen PIT, Cole Garner COL and Dexter Fowler COL.  McCutchen was named as the best prospect in the league.

" ...   Maloney has had the best year on the mound in BlueClaws team history. The southpaw has a shot at the South Atlantic League Triple Crown this season. Maloney currently leads the S.A.L. with 16 wins and 172 strikeouts while his ERA of 1.99 is second best. Maloney holds the Lakewood record for all-time and single-season wins and strikeouts and his 16 wins is tied for the best in Major and Minor League Baseball. Carrasco has also pitched extremely well for Lakewood this season. His ERA of 2.19 ranks third in the S.A.L. and is in the top five in Single-A ball. Carrasco is third in the league with 152 strikeouts behind only Maloney and another Lakewood pitcher, Josh Outman."  (Lakewood BlueClaws)

    Evan Grant, Inside Texas Rangers, on Eric Hurley, AA or AAA in 2007?

" ...  Hurley was brilliant in his six starts at Double-A Frisco after a July promotion from Class A Bakersfield. But he hasn't pitched since Aug. 19 and probably won't pitch again during the regular season because of an oblique muscle strain. He's had just six starts at Double-A. I'd almost certainly give him more next year, perhaps a half season's worth. Quite frankly, though, I'm not opposed to leaving a guy at one level and letting him dominate for an entire season. If Hurley won 15-17 games at Double-A next year and maybe led the league in ERA or strikeouts, that would earn him street cred with his teammates and opponents. He'd have something of a reputation for being a hot-shot before he ever got to the big leagues. And if he has that kind of season at Double-A in 2007, I see no reason why he couldn't make the jump straight to the big-league rotation for 2008. In other words, I think a full year of dominating Double-A hitters would be worth more than having him start at Triple-A and maybe struggle for a bit or move to Triple-A in mid-season and not be able to garner some of the minor league accolades that give prospects a little extra hype when they hit the big leagues."

    Jason A. Churchill, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, checks out the Ms 2006 draft results :

" ...  First round (fifth overall), Brandon Morrow, RHP, California: Morrow's stuff includes a fastball that sits in the 93 to 97 mph range and a potentially devastating split-finger fastball. Whether his future is in the bullpen or the rotation will depend heavily on how well he can develop a viable breaking ball. Morrow, 21, should move quickly and could begin 2007 with Inland Empire, the Mariners' high Class A affiliate in the California League."

2nd round  " ...  Chris Tillman, RHP, Fountain Valley HS (Calif.): Tillman has a plus fastball and an advanced curve that will push him through the lower levels rapidly. How quickly he develops into a big leaguer will be determined by the progress of his changeup and his command. Tillman's pure stuff screams No. 2 starter in the mold of John Lackey or Mike Mussina. The Mariners will play it safe with his arm but surely will challenge him against tough competition."

    More on the Northwest League MVP :

" ...   left-fielder Cyle Hankerd has been named as the Northwest League's Most Valuable Player ...  Hankerd, now with the Lancaster Jethawks of the California League, hit .384 in his time with the Bears, a mark that figures to stand up for the league batting title. Hankerd also accumulated 83 hits, a total that continues to lead the league despite his promotion nearly two weeks ago. Hankerd is also fourth in OBP (.424), and fifth in slugging (.519). Hankerd is the first MVP for Yakima since current Diamondback Conor Jackson won the award in 2003."  (Yakima Bears)


30 August, 2006

    Olympic Qualifier, Cuba - Mark Reynolds belted a pair of homers and knocked in four to paced USA to its 4th straight win, 5-2 over Puerto Rico.  Billy Butler also had a homer for the winners.  Canada dropped a 2-1 decision to Mexico.

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Asdrubal Cabrera CLE 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, SF, SB, .267 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 2-4, 2B, RBI, .375 ... Jason Cooper CLE 0-2, R, 2 BB, .225 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, 9th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, .283 ... Fausto Carmona CLE 3 1 1 1 2 4, 4.62 ... Alex Romero MIN 0-2, R, 2 BB, Sac, .258 ... Casey Rogowski CHA 1-3, 13th HR, R, 2 RBI, .271 ... Charlie Haeger CHA 6 6 3 3 2 3, 3.07 ... Rob Cosby TOR 1-5, 16th HR, R, 2 RBI, .251 ... Adam Lind TOR 4-4, 5th HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, SF, .400 ... Chris Shelton DET 1-3, R, 2 BB, .274 ... Ryan Raburn DET 3-5, 2B, 20th HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, .279 ... Phil Dumatrait CIN 4 8 7 7 3 4, 5.01 ... Craig Hansen BOS 2 3 2 2 0 1, 2.78 ... Carlos Ruiz PHI 2-4, 16th HR, R, 4 RBI, .310 ... Eli Whiteside BAL 0-2, 2 BB, .242 ... Craig Stansberry PIT 0-2, R, 2 BB, SB, .227 ... Steven White NYA 8 4 4 4 2 7, 4.95 ... Shawn Riggans TB 2-4, .290 ... rehab, Ty Wigginton TB 1-4, 2B, .375 ... Chris Seddon TB 4 6 2 2 4 5, 4.91 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 2-5, .276 ... Yusaku Iriki NYN 6 5 0 0 1 4, 5.02

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Felix Pie CHN 0-4, .277 ... Eric Patterson CHN 0-2, 2 walks, .366 ... JR House HOU 1-4, homer, .420 ... James Loney LAD 4-5, 3 RBI, .383 ... Matt Kemp LAD 3-5, double, 13th SB, .356 ... Jack Cust SD, longing for one more chance, 2-3, 28th homer, 2 walks (137), .294 ... Jonathan Sanchez SF 2.0 1 0 0 1 5, 3.80 ... Rich Dorman SEA 8.0 3 0 0 1 14, 4.35 ... Jason Windsor OAK 6.0 7 1 1 2 7, 3.97 ... Scott Hairston ARZ 3-4, double, .325 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 4-5, 8th SB, .340

EASTERN (AA)  --  TOR lefty David Purcey 6.0 6 2 2 1 7, 5.90 ... CF Carlos Gomez NYN 2-4, 22nd double, .285 ... BOS CF Jacoby Ellsbury, one of those days, 0-3, 3 Ks, error,.322 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-5, homer, .333 ... OF Brad Snyder CLE 4-4, 28th double, 2 homers (18), walk, 5 RBI, .272 ... Trevor Crowe CLE, at 2B, 1-3, walk, 15th SB, .267

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Steven Jackson ARI, 7.1 4 2 2 5 7, 2.65 ... TJ Nall LAD, 7 4 0 0 0 5, 2.94 ... Mark Alexander LAD, 26th save, 1 0 0 0 0 2, 0.60, 81 Ks in 59 innings ... Jovan Moran CF CIN, 4-5, 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, SB, .325 ... Jose Garcia FLA, 5 5 3 3 2 6, 3.40 ... Evan Longoria 3B TB, 2-4, HR, K, .314 ... Jack Egbert CHW, 4 2 0 0 5 7, 1.12 ... Jason Cromer TB, 5 2 0 0 3 5, 2.73

TEXAS (AA)  --  Sean Rodriguez LAA 2-3, double (32nd overall) , homer (28th overall), .354 ... CF Josh Anderson HOU 2-5, triple, .315 ...  Hunter Pence HOU, slipping a tad, 1-4, .284 ... Juan Morillo COL 7.0 4 3 3 1 9, 4.62 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-4, 10th homer, .271 ... Zack Greinke KC 6.0 6 5 5 3 4, 4.34 ... Chris Lubanski KC 2-4, 33rd double, .281

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  catcher Josh Arhart TB 2-4, 15th homer, .301 ... 2B Corey Wimberly COL 2-4, triple, .322 ... catcher Tomas Duenas KC 2-2, double, .306 ... lefty Daniel Herrera TEX, not bad for a 45th rounder, 8.0 4 1 1 0 6, 1.49 ... Darin Erstad LAA, rehab, 1-2, walk

CAROLINA (A+) --  Jose Constanza DH CLE 1-3, 2B, RBI, SB, .332 ... Shawn Nottingham CLE first start in CLE org. since trade from SEA 4.0 5 1 1 0 2, 2.25 ... Justin Cassel CHA 5.0 4 1 0 2 4, 5.65 ... Brent Lillibridge SS PIT 2-5, 2B, R, 2RBI, .307 ... Steven Pearce 1B PIT 2-5, 2 2B, 3R, 2SB, .265 ... Antonio Sucre RF PIT 3-5, R, 2RBI, SB, .225 ... Pedro Powell CF PIT 3-5, R, RBI, SB(61), .260 ... Mario Delgado 1B BAL 1-4, HR(10), .281 ... Morgan Clendenin C BAL 1-3, HR(4), 2R, .260 ... Shairon Martis WAS 6.0 6 3 2 0 3, 3.00 ... JoJo Reyes ATL 8.0 3 0 0 0 8 W, 3.71

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Colby Rasmus CF STL 2-4 HR(5) 3RBI, .257 … Jamie Garcia STL 6 2/3 4 2 2 1 8 W(5-4, 3.84) … Jesus Flores C NYN 2-2 2R, & 3-3 2HR(19) 3RBI, .266 … Jeff Frazier LF DET 2-5 2HR(12) 3RBI, .227 … Jeff Larish 1B DET 2-3 double, R, .259 … Greg Golson CF PHI 2-3, .279 … Brad Harman SS PHI 2-3, .240

MIDWEST (A) --  Justin Upton ARZ 2-3, 2 doubles (27), .265 ... lefty Jacob McGee TB 4.0 1 1 1 2 6, 3.05 ... Chris Parmelee MIN 0-1 & 2-3, .312 ... Jon Jay STL 3-3 & 2-4, homer, .346 ... Tyler Greene STL 3-3, 13th homer & 2-5, .284 ... Jeff Baisley OAK 0-3 & 1-3, 22nd homer, 3 RBI (107),.303 ... John Mayberry TEX 3-3, 19th homer & 0-2, walk, .272 ... Cameron Maybin 1-3, 2 walks, .316 ... Will Venable SD 2-4, 10th homer & 1-2, .310

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Todd Redmond PIT (W, 12-6) 7 7 5 4 2 5, 2.89 ... Brad Corley PIT 1-4, 2B (32), 2 RBI (96 - SAL leader), BB (a rarity: 102/16 K/BB this year), .283 ... JR Towles HOU 2-4, HR (10), 3 RBI (48), SB (13), .308 ... Alan Johnson COL (W, 13-5) 6 3 1 1 0 6, 3.98 ... football season is here as Asheville (COL) scores 3 touchdowns on Kannapolis (CHA), 21-2 ... Dexter Fowler COL 3-6, 2B (30), 3B (6), 5 RBI (40), .300 ... Eric Young Jr COL 1-4, 2B (27), 2 RBI (47), BB, .292 ... Chris Nelson COL 3-6, 2B (38), 2 RBI (76), .269 ... Cole Garner COL 2-5, HR (19), 2 RBI (84), .307 ... Alex Farfan CHA, yikes, 1/3 7 9 9 3 1, 10.86 ... Ronnie Ray SF (W, 8-6) 7 6 2 2 0 8, 3.48 ... Eugenio Velez SF 1-5, 3B (19), .310 ... Elvis Andrus ATL 1-6, .264 ... Eric Campbell ATL 1-1, HR (21), RBI (75), BB, .289 ... Travis Denker LAD 1-3, RBI (44), BB (not a rarity: 32/62 K/BB this year), .269 ... Austin Jackson NYA 1-5, BB, .255 ... Will Inman MIL 6 3 2 2 1 11, 1.40 ... Chris Volstad FLA 5 4 2 1 1 3, 3.08 .

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  2B Wilmer Pino NYA 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, .344 ... RF John Parraz .341 ... SS Scott Sizemore DET .341 ... 1B Jake Blackwood FLA .320 ... CF Mike Daniel WASH 4-5, 2 2B, .319 ... CF Jason Denham CLE 2-5, 1 R, .314 ... CF Dustin Martin NYN 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, .305 ... SS Andy Lytle CLE 0-3, 1 RBI, .302 ...1B Eric Taylor .299 ... 1B Chris Vinyard BAL 0-3, .297 ... 3B Mitch Hilligoss NYA 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, .295 ... 2B Scott Campbell .293 ... LF Nate Southard STL 3-5, 1 2B, 3 RBI .292 ...Tobi Stoner NYN 6 5 1 0 1 3 2.35 ... Tim Norton NYA 7 2 0 0 0 7 2.81 ... 2B Chih-Hsien Chiang BOS 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI ... 3B Richard Caputo WASH 2-3, 2 R, 12B, 1 3B, 1 BB ... RF Maiko Loyola TB 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB ... Woods Fines TB 6 4 1 0 1 5 2.58 (W 6-3) ... RF Dave Cash BAL 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI ... 2B Jared Schweitzer STL 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI ... SS Josh Rodriguez CLE 2-3, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Chris Davis 1b TEX 2-4, r, 2b(17), rbi(37), 279 ... Matt Camp OF CHC 2-5, r, 2b(11), 2 rni(35), .297 ... Russ Canzler 1b CHC 3-4, 2 r, 3b(4), .270 ... Josh Lansford 2-4, r, 2 2b(7), 3 rbi(32), .256 ... Brett Pill 1b SF 1-3, 4 r, 2 bb, 2 rbi(33), .238 ... Adam Witter C SF, cycling, 4-4, 4 r, 2b(12), 3b(1), hr(15), 7 rbi(50), bb, .291 ... Robert Felmy OF SF 3-4, r, 2b(8), 3 rbi(31), .265 ... Michael McBryde OF SF 3-5, r, 2 rbi(34), .293 ... Alex Valdez 3b OAK 2-4, 2b(31), .290 ... Adam Cowart sp SF W 10-0, 5.0 4 0 0 0 3, 0.80 ... Scott Deal sp OAK L 7-4 BOMBED 4.2 8 9 6 4 1, 3.30 ... Jeff Kindel 1b COL 2-5, 4, rbi, .303 ... Bret Berglund OF COL 2-5, 2 rbi, .229 ... Josh Sullivan sp COL nd 5.1 2 2 1 6 9 2.20

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Anthony Martinez 1B BAL 2-5, 6th HR .304 ... Isaias Garcia 2B STL 2-5, 4th HR, .344 ... Larry Williams OF ATL 2-5, .338 ... Steve Brown OF HOU 1-2, .311 ... Polin Trinidad HOU 5.0 5 1 1 1 7 ERA 2.33 ... Jose Rodriguez 2B CHW 3-5, 2 doubles, .280

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  OF Daniel Dorn CIN 2-5, 16th double, 7th homer, 5 RBI, .340 ... starting a new hit streak, Chris Valaika CIN 2-5, .331 ... Ryan Rogowski OF LAD 2-4, double, walk, 26th SB, .303 ... 1B Rick Taloa LAD 2-5, 10th homer, .292 ... Sean O'Sullivan LAA 6.0 4 1 1 0 6, 4-0, 1.91 ... Ryan Mount SS LAA 3-5, 14th double, grand slam, 5 RBI, .293 ... OF Gerardo Parra ARZ 2-3, triple, .332 ... Marc Maddox KC 3-4, 19th double, 3rd homer, .330

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  OF Andrew Lefave MIL 3-3, double, 2 walks, .353 ... CF Luis Durango SD 2-4, .381 ... Cedric Hunter SD 1-3, 2 walks, .368

    Troop Movements ...  BOS - purchased the contract of Mike Burns from Triple-A, optioned Kason Gabbard to Triple-A ... BAL - activated David Newhan from the 60-day DL ...  DET - recalled Tony Giarratano from Double-A & placed him on the 15-day DL, designated Nook Logan for assignment, purchased the contract of Alexis Gomez from Triple-A  ... TB - placed Jonny Gomes on the 15-day DL, recalled Delmon Young from Triple-A ... CIN - optioned Chris Michalak to Single-A, recalled Chris Denorfia from Triple-A ... COL - purchased the contract of Troy Tulowitzki from Double-A, optioned Luis Gonzalez to Triple-A ...

    John Franco, SportsBlurb (mainly subscription) reviews the top picks in the 2006 draft :

" ... Giants’ pitcher Tim Lincecum has picked up right where he left off after leading the NCAA ranks in strikeouts, dominating Cal League hitters with the polish of a seasoned veteran. Through five starts (22.2 innings), Lincecum has 39 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA. He has allowed just 12 hits and opponents are batting .150 against him this year. There has been speculation that Lincecum could be rushed to the major leagues as a relief pitcher given the sad state of the Giants’ bullpen, and while they are sticking with him as a starter for now, it might just be a case of giving him more work in a shorter amount of time."

" ...  Infielder Billy Rowell, the Orioles first round pick at No. 9 overall, has made a great first impression with the bat. Through 42 games at Bluefield (Appalachian League), Rowell is hitting .329/.402/.507 with 20 extra-base hits, including 15 doubles. His performance is even more impressive considering that he was drafted out of high school."

" ... Greg Reynolds has been sort of a forgotten man since the Rockies made him the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, but his performance at High-A Modesto should be causing fans to sit up and take notice. Through 10 starts, Reynolds has pitched 43.2 innings with a shaky 27:15 strikeout to walk ratio, but he has allowed just one home run and posted a solid 3.09 ERA in a tough environment for pitchers."

    Jonathan Mayo, MiLB.com, on possible September callups :

" ...  Jeff Clement ...  An early injury probably precludes him from being called up, but he's in Triple-A and was drafted a year ago with the hopes of him moving quickly. It's not clear where he would play, with Kenji Johjima entrenched, but the M's could make room for his bat if they really wanted to."

" ... Jacoby Ellsbury ...  In just his first full season, he's shown a knack for getting on base and using his speed to be a game-changer. His Portland club is likely headed to the Eastern League playoffs, but his speed could help re-ignite Boston's playoff hopes."

" ... Miguel Montero ...  He's the future behind the plate for the D-Backs, but Tucson is headed to the playoffs and Montero has had less than a half-season at the Triple-A level."

" ... Humberto Sanchez .... He could be a nice right-handed complement to Miller in the 'pen, though his future is as a starter. Sanchez has pitched well since his promotion to Triple-A. But he's had some health issues in the past, and the Tigers may want Sanchez to stick with Toledo if it makes the playoffs, then call it a very successful season."

    Nate Stephens, RotoWorld, checks out Joey Votto CIN, among others :

" ...   he’s hitting .312/.400/.539. That line includes 23 homers and 43 doubles, and it’s still possible the soon-to-be 23 year-old will add more power to his 6’3”, 200-pound frame. Also of note is that his 100/72 K/BB ratio is the best of his career, as is the 24 steals in 30 tries. Votto will head to Triple-A to begin next season, and could reach the majors in the second half of the year if Scott Hatteberg is hurt or ineffective. That he will get to play half his games in the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark means we don’t need to discount his park-inflated minor league numbers as much as for most prospects. However, his 726 OPS versus lefties this season is significantly worse than his 1054 line against right-handers, so the club may look to platoon Votto at least initially ...  I also don’t think he’ll be able to hit .290 for his first few years in the majors, but a normal career path would make Votto a very valuable player in time. He’s worth grabbing, but be patient."

    A minor league vet takes the top prize in the International League :

" ...  The International League today announced its post-season All-Star Team and Award Winners ...  Durham Bulls first baseman Kevin Witt has been named the IL's Most Valuable Player on the strength of his League-leading 36 HR, 99 RBI, 82 runs scored, and .577 slugging percentage. A pair of Charlotte Knights have won Special Awards. Lefty Heath Phillips is the League's Most Valuable Pitcher thanks to a 13-5 record, tied for most victories in the IL, and a 2.96 ERA, second-best in the League. His teammate, third baseman Josh Fields, has been voted the IL's Rookie-of-the-Year. The former college football star is hitting .308 with 19 HR, 69 RBI, and 28 SB in just his third season in professional baseball."  (International League)

Among the All-Stars - Jason Dubois CLE, Pat Neshek MIN and Dustin Pedroia BOS.

    In the Texas League, no surprise as a KC farmhand takes the top prize :

" ...  Alex Gordon ...  named the Texas League Player of the Year ...  leads the Texas League in Walks, Slugging Percentage, OPS, Runs Scored and Total Bases ...  Matt Albers, was named Pitcher of the Year."  (Texas League)

    ARZ OF, SF starter key picks among Northwest League All-Stars:

" ... The Most Valuable Player award went to Yakima outfielder Cyle Hankerd with his league-best .384 average ... Right-handed starter Adam Cowart, who leads the league with a 9-0 record and 0.86 ERA in 73 2/3 innings was chosen."

Other All-Stars included - C Chad Tracy TEX, 2B Emmanuel Burriss SF, 3B Alex Valdez OAK, SS Daniel Moyora COL, SP Shane Dove ARZ.

    Hittin' Howie the top rookie in the PCL :

" ...  Howie Kendrick of the Salt Lake Bees has been named 2006 Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year ...  Kendrick, 23, from Jacksonville, Florida, hit .369 with 13 home runs and knocked in 62 runs for the Bees before being called up to the Los Angeles Angels on July 14th. His promotion came just two days after participating in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo as the starting second baseman for the PCL. "He's a special player,'' Salt Lake manager Brian Harper said of Kendrick. "Hitting success isn't achieved by accident, it takes hard work, and he's a very committed young man. He's showing that now with the Angels.'' Since joining Angels, Kendrick has continued his success, hitting for a .317 average with 19 runs batted in."  (Pacific Coast League)


29 August, 2006

    Olympic qualifier, Cuba - Canada scored a pair in the 10th to edge Venezuela 7-5 ... Pete LaForest went 3-3 with a homer ... Emerson Frostad 1-1, homer

Cuba erupted for eight in the first inning on the way to 17-3 triumph over the Dominican Republic.

Chad Allen's grand slam paced the US to a 15-3 win over Mexico ... Mark Reynolds 2-4, homer ... Billy Butler 2-4, double ... Skip Schumaker CF & leadoff 3-5 ... Zack Segovia, another good outing, 5.0 4 1 1 2 3

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Asdrubal Cabrera CLE 3-3, R, RBI, HBP, .266 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-3, 7th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB, .369 ... Jason Cooper CLE 3-4, 2B, 13th HR, 2 R, RBI, .226 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, RBI, BB, .284 ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 6 7 3 3 2 4, 3.23 ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 2-4, 2B, R, .298 ... Chris Stewart CHA 2-3, 4th HR, R, RBI, .265 ... Sean Tracey CHA 6 4 3 3 4 6, 3.87 ... Adam Lind TOR 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, .376 ... Francisco Rosario TOR 2 1 0 0 0 3, 3.16 ... Ryan Raburn DET 1-4, 2B, R, BB, .275 ... Jordan Tata DET 5 7 5 3 1 1, 3.84 ... Josh Kroeger PHI 2-5, 2B, R, .228 ... Scott Mathieson PHI 6 5 3 2 2 6, 3.93 ... Bronson Sardinha NYA 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB, .294 ... Darrell Rasner NYA 6 7 4 3 0 5, 2.76 ... Wes Bankston TB 2-4, R, 2 RBI, .311 ... rehab, Ty Wigginton TB 2-4, 2B, 1st HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .500 ... Edwin Jackson TB 1 1 0 0 1 3, 5.55 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 2-4, .274

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Justin Huber KC 1-4, double, .291 ... Felix Pie CHN, after a little spurt back to ofers, 0-4, .279 ... Dana Eveland MIL 7.0 4 2 2 4 5, 2.18 ... Ubaldo Jimenez COL 6.0 5 4 0 4 4, 5.10 ... JD Closser COL 3-4, walk, .306 ... OF Delwyn Young LAD 3-4, 3 doubles (40), 5 RBI (91), .275 ... James Loney LAD 2-4, 33rd double, .377 ... Jason Ellison Sf 2-4, double, .410 ... Dustin Moseley LAA 7.0 5 1 1 1 7, 12-8, 4.70 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 2-4, 2 doubles, .335 ... George Kottaras SD, sliding down the charts, 0-3, .233

EASTERN (AA)  --  Matt Moses MIN 2-3, 16th double & 1-3, .249 ... lefty Thomas Hottovy BOS 7.0 1 0 0 2 7, 5.03 ... CF Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 2-3, triple, 2 SBs (16), CS (8), .328 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 2-3, walk, 3 RBI, .345 ... Brian Barton CLE 1-3, double, SB, .357

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Jerry Gil CF ARI, 2-5, 23rd HR, 25th 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, .268 (17 walks, 118 Ks) ... finally, Carlos Gonzalez RF ARI, 3-5, 1st AA HR (22 overall), 2 R ... Blake DeWitt 3B LAD, 2-5, 2 RBI, R, K, .209 ... Cincy GM in Chattanooga to see the phenom -- Homer Bailey CIN, W (7-0), 6 2 0 0 0 8, 1.06 ... Joey Votto 1B CIN, 2-4, 44th 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K, .314 ... Justin Ruggiano RF TB, 2-3, 2 2B (33), 3 RBI, 2 R, .281 ... Mitch Talbot TB, 7.2 7 0 0 1 7, 1.94 ... Ryan Braun 3B MIL, 3-4, 2B, R, .297 ... Tim Dillard MIL, 6 9 3 2 0 6, 3.13 ... Chris Walker CF CHC, 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 46th SB, .291

TEXAS (AA)  --  CF Josh Anderson HOU 3-5, 26th double, 43rd SB, .314 ... Sean Rodriguez LAA 2-4, homer (27th overall), .333 ... Ian Stewart COL 2-3, 40th double, 3 walks, .271 ... Blake Hawksworth STL 6.0 5 4 3 1 2, 3.47 ... Billy Buckner KC 7.0 7 0 0 4 4, 5.09

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Jonathan Barratt TB 5.0 1 0 0 2 1, 2.93 ... Sergio Pedroza TB, on a roll, 3-3, 2 doubles (34 overall), walk, .338 ... Darren Sack SF 5.2 4 4 4 2 4, 1.72 ... Franklin Morales COL 6.0 5 1 1 3 6, 3.68 (175 Ks in 149 IP) ... shortstop Jonathan Herrera COL 2-4, .313

CAROLINA (A+) --  Nolan Reimold RF BAL 1-3, HR(18), 2RBI, .256 ... Jason Fransz LF BAL 3-4, R, 2RBI, .252 ... Luke Montz C WAS 2-4, HR(16), .232 ... Argenis Reyes SS CLE 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB, .263 ... Craig Stammen WAS 6.0 3 0 0 4 4, 4.39 ... Scott Lewis CLE 5.0 4 0 0 1 4, 1.52 ... Drew Sutton 2B HOU 3-5, HR(15), .267 ... Wallace Torbert LF HOU 1-5, HR(5), 2RBI, .308 ... Jeffrey Mackor C HOU 3-4, 2B, R, 2RBI, .275 ... Chris Kelly 1B CHA 2-4, HR(18), 2RBI, .243 ... Paulino Del Guidice HOU 7.0 6 2 2 1 0 W, 4.34 ... Brent Lillibridge SS PIT 2-3, R, 2RBI, .304 ... Steven Pearce 1B PIT 2-3, HR(14), 2RBI, .263 ... Pedro Powell CF PIT 1-3, 2R, SB(60), .256 ... Matt Lorenzo PIT 7.0 4 0 0 2 2 W, 4.45

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Hitting for the cycle, Greg Golson CF PHI 4-4 double, triple, HR(6) 2R 2RBI, .271 … Mike Carp 1B NYN 2-3 RBI, .292 … Colby Rasmus CF STL 2-4 RBI, .251 … FSL Debut, Mark McCormick STL 2 0 0 0 1 1 … Jonothan Niese NYN 5 3 3 1 3 5 … Kevin Whelan DET 3 1 0 0 1 2 W(4-1, 2.67) … Reegie Corona SS NYA 3-5 double, HR(1) 2R 4RBI, .333 … Chase Wright NYA 6 5 3 1 3 6 ND, 1.91 … Charlie Fermaint CF MIL 3-4 double, 3R SB(26), .277 … Grant Psomas 3B FLO 3-5 double, 2RBI, .295 … Brad Harman SS PHI 2-4 double, R SB(6), .237 … Anthony Swarzak MIN 2 4 2 2 3 0 L(10-7, 3.33) … Kyle Kendrick PHI 7 6 1 1 1 5 W(9-6, 3.63)

MIDWEST (A) --  Cameron Maybin DET 0-4, 2 K's (.316) ... Sendy Vasquez DET 6 3 1 1 0 9 (2.82) ... Joshua Johnson KC 0-3, 2 BB's (.251) ... Miguel Vega KC 0-5, golden sombrero ... Jesse Estrada CHN 7 2 1 1 0 4 (W, 6-1, 3.34) ... Mark Reed CHN 0-3, K (.257)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Chaz Roe COL (W, 6-4) 5 8 4 4 2 5, 4.27 ... Dexter Fowler COL 4-9, 2B (29), 2 SB (40), .297 ... Eric Young Jr COL 3-7, RBI (45), SB (85), .293 ... Chris Nelson COL 3-6, 3 RBI (74), .266 ... Cole Garner COL 6-8, 3 2B (39), HR (18), 3 RBI (82), SB (34), .306 ... Elvis Andrus ATL 1-4, 2B (25), .266 ... Eric Campbell ATL 0-4, .287 ... Lucas May LAD 2-3, 2B (25), 3B (8), 2 RBI (80), .270 ... Travis Denker LAD 0-2, 2 BB, .268 ... Eugenio Velez SF 1-4, SB (60), .312 ... Austin Jackson NYA 0-3, 2 BB, .256 ... Max Ramirez CLE 1-3, 2B (22), RBI (60), BB, .293 ... Matt Maloney PHI (W, 16-8) 5 1 0 0 4 4, 1.99 ... Mike Spidale PHI 2-5, RBI (36), .343 ... Jeremy Slayden PHI 1-2, RBI (77), SB (5), BB, .308

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  2B Wilmer Pino NYA 0-3, .346 ... RF John Parraz HOU 1-4, .341 ... SS Scott Sizemore DET 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, .341 ... 1B Jake Blackwood FLA 1-3, 2 RBI .320 ... CF Jason Denham CLE 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, .312 ... SS Andy Lytle CLE 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B, .307 ...1B Chris Vinyard BAL 1-4, .301 ... CF Dustin Martin NYN 0-4, .301 ... 1B Eric Taylor HOU 1-4, 1 R, .299 ... 3B Mitch Hilligoss NYA 0-3, .296 ... 2B Scott Campbell TOR 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, .293 ...Jeff Moore BAL 7 5 1 1 1 5 2.30 ... Matt Falk TB 6 5 1 1 0 6 ... Pat Bresnehan PIT 6 3 0 0 1 8 2.43 (W 4-5) ... LF Alex Presley PIT 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, ... RF Miles Durham PIT 1-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB ... C Steve Gonzalez STL 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI ... League Leader in SB - CF Jim Rapoport STL 1-5, 1 SB (23) ... 2B Justin Jacobs FLA 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI ... 3B Ron Bourquin DET 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, ... CF Deik Scram DET 2-5, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... David Qualben HOU 6 6 3 3 3 6 2.06 ... LF Orlando Rosales HOU 2-5, 2 RBI ... 3B Matt Lane TOR 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 E ... DH Matt Liuzza TOR 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI ... 3B Dustin Realini CLE 2-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI ...3B Manny Arambarris BOS 3-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB ... 1B Mike Jones BOS 3-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI ... RF Ryan Kalish BOS 2-4, 1 R, 3 RBI ... SS Kris Negron BOS 3-5, 3 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB ... Felix Doubront BOS, debut in the NYP, 6 4 2 2 2 4, 3.00 ( W 1-0)

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  No games scheduled

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Anthony Martinez 1B BAL 2-4, 2 doubles(13), .301 ... Steve Brown OF HOU 2-4, .309 ... Robert Ramirez SS HOU 1-5, .311 ... Juan Moreno CHW (W 7-5) 6.0 6 0 0 1 11, ERA 4.60 ... Larry Williams OF ATL 0-4, .337 ... Willie Cabrera OF ATL 0-4, .309 ... Mike Storey CLE (W 3-6) 7.0 2 0 0 1 3, ERA 4.11 ... Mike McCormick 3B TB 1-3, 9th HR, .278 ... Nevin Ashley 1-4, .342 ... Tyree Hayes TB (L, 3-1) 6.0 5 3 1 1 3, ERA 2.48 ... Brian Kirwan (W 5-5) 5.1 7 1 1 1 3, ERA 5.62

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  OF Daniel Dorn CIN 3-4, 15th double, 2 homers (6), 2 walks, 4 RBI, .339 ... Drew Stubbs CIN 1-4, 2 walks, .255 ... OF Cole Gillespie MIL 3-3, 12th double, .356 ... shortstop Ryan Mount LAA 2-4, double, triple, .286 ... CF & leadoff Archie Gilbert CHA 2-4, walk, .335 ... OF Gerardo Parra ARZ 2-4, 16th double, .328 ... CF Joe Dickerson KC 2-4, double, .291

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  Jason Botts TEX, rehab, 2-4, 2 doubles ... Brent Fisher KC, imp;riving on an already outstanding season, 5.0 0 0 0 1 8, 2.11 ... Brandon Morrow SEA 2.0 2 1 1 1 2, 2.77 ... 2B Lisandro Rosario CHN 3-4, double, .327 ... 2B Rayner Contreras SD 4-6, double, triple, 5 RBI, .333 ... 18-year-old CF Cedric Hunter SD 2-5, walk, 2 SBs (17), .369

    Troop Movements ...  PHI - optioned Danny Sandoval to Double-A ... DET - recalled  Andrew Miller from Single-A, purchased the contract of Alexis Gomez from Triple-A ... BOS - recalled Adam Stern from Triple-A and placed him on the 60-day DL, placed Jon Lester on the 15-day DL, purchased the contract of Carlos Pena from Triple-A  ... TOR - recalled Russ Adams from Triple-A, optioned Ryan Roberts to Triple-A ... CIN - acquired Tim Bausher from BOS for Mike Burns ... CHN - activated Derrek Lee from the 15-day DL, optioned Buck Coats to Triple-A ... PIT - placed Tom Gorzelanny, Mike Gonzalez on the 15-day DL, designated Britt Reames for assignment, recalled Jonah Bayliss from Triple-A, purchased the contract of Marty McLeary, Brian Rogers ... HOU - recalled Eric Bruntlett from Triple-A, recalled Humberto Quintero from Triple-A, optioned Chris Sampson, JR House  to Triple-A ... SEA - placed Julio Mateo on the 60-day DL, purchased the contract of Jon Huber from Triple-A

    Baseball America updates its Player of the Year Watch ... but ... seems the contest has been over for some time ... hard to believe it will be anyone other than Alex Gordon KC.

    Some prized prospects positioned to make the jump to MLB :

" ...  The Devil Rays appear poised to call up controversial prospect Delmon Young and put him in the lineup Tuesday in Chicago ...  The 20-year-old is one of the game's top young talents but has also caused considerable trouble. He was suspended 50 games after throwing his bat at an umpire during an April 26 game, and created more controversy in late July when he made comments to USA Today critical of the organization ...  Since returning from the suspension, Young has played well, hitting .318 with eight homers and 57 RBIs for the Bulls."  (St. Petersburg Times)

" ...  Hayden Penn has likely made his last start for Class AAA Ottawa this season, Perlozzo said ...  likely will be called up by the Orioles after rosters expand on Sept. 1 and make a start for Baltimore shortly thereafter. "I don't think he needs any more time down there," Perlozzo said."  (Washington Post)

    Lots of vets taking home the weekly awards for hitters, but many prospect pitchers in the weekly limelight :

" ...  Glen Perkins, a left-handed starting pitcher for the New Britain Rock Cats, is the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week ... The 23-year old made a pair of starts for the Rock Cats last week and was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. In his first start of the week Perkins struck out 10 batters and walked two while surrendering just one hit in seven shutout innings of work...  pitched five innings in his second start of the week, giving up one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six batters ... selected by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the June 2004 draft."  (Eastern League)

" ...  right-hander Jeff Niemann went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts last week to earn Pitcher of the Week honors ...  has a 5-5 record with a 2.88 ERA in 13 starts this season. He has struck out 78 hitters in 72.0 innings ... 23-year-old  ... selected in the first round (fourth overall) in the 2004 draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays."  (Southern League)

" ...  Hayden Penn won a pair of games ...  lowered his season ERA to 2.26 while improving his overall mark to 7-4. Hayden allowed just one run on eight hits in 5.2 innings last Monday against Pawtucket, striking out eight while walking two. Penn followed that victory with his most impressive Triple-A start yet Saturday night against Syracuse, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings. Penn scattered five hits and struck out a season-high 10 hitters without a walk in a 9-0 Lynx triumph ...  5-2 since returning from an injury earlier this year. Opposing hitters are batting just .221 against Penn  ...   selected by Baltimore in the 5th round of the 2002 draft."  (International League)

" ... Anthony Reyes [STL] ...  earned winning decisions in both of his appearances and didn't allow a single run in 13 innings of work ...  stretched his consecutive wins streak in the PCL to five games during the past week ... improved to 6-and-1 on the season with a 2.57 earned run average and 82 strikeouts."  (Pacific Coast League)

" ... Alex Gordon [KC] ...  slugged three homers and two doubles and drove in nine runs. Four of the six games were multi-hit ...  In 123 games his season he had a .326 batting average with 29 home runs and 37 doubles. While he may be best known for his offense, he is no slouch with his glove, as he leads all Texas League third baseman with a .955 fielding percentage."  (Texas League)

" ... Pioneer League Josh Bell [LAD] ...  a consistent performer all season, but this week he turned in two games that were simply monstrous. On Thursday, the 19-year-old third baseman went 4-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs as the Raptors defeated Great Falls, 9-1. Bell was even better on Sunday, as he went 3-for-4 with two homers and seven RBIs in Ogden's 14-5 romp over Billings."  (MiLB.com)

" ... Appalachian League Sergio Severino [HOU] ...  the Appalachian League's strikeout leader, pitched brilliantly this week. The 21-year-old allowed two runs over six innings against Pulaski on Tuesday but did not factor into the decision. Five days later, Severino allowed just two hits over six shutout innings while striking out eight as the Astros blanked Kingsport, 6-0."  (MiLB.com)

" ...  shortstop Brent Lillibridge [PIT] is the Carolina League Offensive Player of the Week ...  went 9-23 for a .391 average last week, driving in nine runs, scoring eight and stealing eight bases ... Between Low-A Hickory and the Hillcats, Lillibridge has amassed some of the best numbers in baseball for the 2006 season ... Through last week, he had 13 homers, 66 RBI and 51 steals ... one of only five players in the Minors with 100 runs scored (101)."  (Carolina League)

    Tidbits from the Pacific Coast League weekly report :

" ...  OF Jeff Salazar has hit .425 in his last 10 games with two homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez has a 3-1 record in August, but his 6.39 ERA is more representative of how he has pitched. Jimenez has given up 17 walks and five home runs in his last 31 innings ... OF Jason Ellison hit .366 in his last 10 games with a home run, seven RBIs and eight runs scored ... OF Matt Kemp has caught fire recently, hitting .440 (22-for-50) in his last 11 games with two homers, 14 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Among Kemp's 22 hits are four doubles and a triple as well as the two homers. That scorching stretch has raised Kemp's batting average with the 51s from .320 to .351 ... 1B Justin Huber hit .344 in his last 10 games with a home run, seven RBIs and seven runs scored ... C Jeff Mathis batted .346 in his last 10 contests with a homer, five RBIs and seven runs scored. He begins the week with seven hits in his last 12 at-bats."  (MiLB.com)

    PCL All-Stars named :

" ... For the second consecutive season, Jeff Mathis of the Salt Lake Bees has been honored as the All-PCL catcher. Tucson Sidewinders standout and PCL hits leader (153 hits) Alberto Callaspo was selected at the second base position and is joined in the middle infield by teammate prospect Stephen Drew at shortstop. James Loney of the Las Vegas 51s was named the League's top first baseman and currently leads the league in batting average with a staggering mark of .376."  (Pacific Coast League)

Among the other selections - Scott Hairston ARZ, Jeff Baker COL, Jason Hirsh HOU, Rich Hill CHN.

    HOU affiliate places five on the Texas League All-Star team :

" ...  Infielders Jonny Ash and Ben Zobrist, outfielders Josh Anderson and Hunter Pence, and pitcher Matt Albers were accorded the recognition in voting by league managers, broadcasters and beat writers ... Pence, tabbed earlier this year by Baseball America as the "Most Exciting Player" in the Texas League, is batting .287 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI's entering tonight's action. He ranks second in the league in triples (8), third in runs (92) and extra-base hits (66), fourth in home runs, and tied for fourth in RBI's and slugging percentage (.549). Albers ... one of six pitchers chosen to the squad. In 19 starts for the Hooks, Albers was 10-2 with a 2.17 ERA, which continues to rank as the best earned run average in the league this year. Albers has enough innings to qualify for the league's ERA crown. At the time of his promotion in July, Albers was also among the league leaders in strikeouts, having fanned 95 batters in 116 innings."  (Corpus Christi Hooks)

Others named include - catcher Kurt Suzuki OAK, 1B Joe Koshansky COL, SS Brandon Wood LAA, 3B Alex Gordon KC, OF Billy Butler KC.

    Pair of NYA farmhands the top guns in the Florida State League :

" ...   Cody Ehlers and Chase Wright were both named to the Florida State League's postseason All-Star team while being given the league's highest honors on Monday. Ehlers was voted the 2006 FSL Most Valuable Player and Wright got the nod for Most Valuable Pitcher  ...  Ehlers has been the league's most dominating run producer all season, leading the league with 103 RBIs ... also leads the league with 35 doubles, is fourth in hits (142) and compiled 18 home runs while batting .298. Wright has been just as dominating on the mound. The 23-year-old left-hander leads the league with a 1.93 ERA and is second with 11 wins."  (MiLB.com)

" ... Alexi Casilla [MIN] ... chosen as a utility infielder ... hit .331-0-33 in 78 games for the Miracle before being promoted to Double-A New Britain on July 14. In 323 at bats he had 12 doubles, six triples and scored 56 runs with an on base percentage of .390. He stole 31 bases in 37 attempts. He is still second in the FSL in batting. With New Britain he is currently hitting .304-1-13 in 41 games. In 158 at bats he has 10 doubles and one triple with an on base percentage of .379. He has swiped 19 bases in 21 attempts." (Fort Myers Miracle)

    The best of the Yankee prospects ranks No. 1 on the Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball America:

" ...  1. Philip Hughes ...  tossed five no-hit innings this week, lowering his August ERA to 0.72. Even working on a strict pitch count, Hughes is securing his case as the top pitcher in all the minors."

" ... 2. Cedric Hunter [SD] ...   third-rounder from King High in Decatur, Ga. has had no trouble adjusting to pro ball. Hunter had a streak of 48 games reaching base safely snapped on Saturday, but he was still hitting .368/.463/.483. What might be most impressive is that in 201 at-bats he has walked 37 times and struck out just 20."

" ... 6. Chris Lubanski ...  For the second straight season Lubanski is shaking off a mediocre first couple of months and exploding in the second half. The 21-year-old hit .355 from June 1 through the end of the year in 2005, and this year he is hitting .325/.420/.583 with 10 of his 15 homers since the all-star break."

   Toby Harrmann, BrewerFan.com, updates the MIL prospect chart :

" ... 01 Gallardo, Yovani ... There is little doubt in my mind that Yovanni Gallardo will be in the big leagues before the All-Star break next year."

" ... 02 Braun, Ryan ... I'll eat a little crow here - I thought Braun was going to have a little trouble adjusting to AA in his first go-around, but as it turns out, his bat has been just fine... Now, about that defense..."

" ...  03 Inman, Will  ... The Brewers may have held Inman back this year, but he's more than poised to have a Gallardo-esque 2007."

   More from MinorLeagueSplits ...  OBA leaders in full-season ball, vs RHP and LHP :

vs LHP

 1. .522 Maximiliano Ramirez ATL (before trade to CLE)
 2. .519 Adam Hyzdu TEX
 3. .496 Vasili Spanos OAK
 4. .491 Brian Barton CLE
 5. .489 Brent Lillibridge PIT
 6. .488 Jeffrey Baisley OAK
 7. .485 Billy Butler KC
 8. .482 Brian Stavisky OAK
 9. .477 Curtis Thigpen TOR
10. .476 Kurt Suzuki OAK

vs RHP

 1. .469 Cory Dunlap LAD
 2. .464 Jack Cust SD
 3. .456 Carl Loadenthal ATL
 4. .451 Sergio Pedroza LAD (before trade to TB)
 5. .445 Alex Gordon KC
 6. .444 Reggie Willits LAA
 7. .442 Tim HulettJr. TEX
 8. .440 Jason Mooneyham LAD
 9. .440 Corey Coles NYN
10. .438 Chase Headley SD


28 August, 2006

    Olympic qualifier, Havana  - Cuba came from behind to shade Panama 7-6 on Sunday ... Mexico downed Venezuela 5-4 ... Skip Schumaker went 4-for-5 to lead Team USA over Team Canada 9-3 in the opener for both clubs ...Heath Phillips 6.0 5 1 1 0 3 ... Stubby Clapp belted a two-run double in the 9th as Canada downed Puerto Rico 6-5 ... Kurt Suzuki's homer in the 10th gave Team USA an 8-7 win over Brazil ... Nick Adenhart, another tough day, 4.2 5 4 4 1 6, Billy Butler 1-2, homer ...

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Scott Thorman ATL 2-5, R, SB, .302 ... rehab, Kyle Davies ATL 8 4 0 0 1 5, 0.60 ... Terry Tiffee MIN 1-3, 2B, R, BB, .279 ... Scott Baker MIN 7-2/3 5 3 3 2 6, 2.67 ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 2-5, RBI, .296 ... JD Fields CHA 3-5, 2B, 19th HR, 2 R, RBI, .310 ... Russ Adams TOR 2-4, 2 2B, R, .311 ... Sergio Santos TOR 2-4, 2B, RBI, .213 ... Josh Banks TOR 6-1/3 4 1 1 1 5, 5.25 ... Dustin McGowan TOR 2-2/3 0 0 0 1 0, 4.46 ... Chris Shelton DET 1-4, .286 ... Ryan Raburn DET 1-4, 2B, .275 ... Brandon Watson CIN 2-3, R, .270 ... William Bergolla CIN 2-4, 2B, R, .280 ... Tonys Gutierrez CIN 1-4, 2B, RBI, .283 ... Chris Denorfia CIN 1-2, 7th HR, R, 3 RBI, .349 ... Carlos Pena BOS 2-3, BB, .278 ... Adam Boeve PIT 1-3, 2B, RBI, .267 ... Bronson Sardinha NYA 1-3, R, .299 ... Delmon Young TB 1-5, 2 RBI, .316 ... Wes Bankston TB 3-5, 5th HR, 2 R, RBI, .306 ... Joel Guzman TB 2-5, 2B, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI, .224 ... Brian Stokes TB 2-2/3 3 0 0 0 1, 4.11 ... Anderson Hernandez NYN 1-4, .249 ... Mitch Wylie NYN 1 0 0 0 0 0, 3.02 ... Alay Soler NYN 5 7 5 5 2 7, 9.00

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Sean Marshall CHN 7.0 6 1 0 3 7, 3.32 ... Anthony Reyes STL 7.0 4 0 0 1 8, 6-1, 2.57 ... Carlos Villanueva MIL 6.0 5 2 2 2 5, 7-1, 2.78 ... Justin Huber KC 2-3, .291 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 3-5, double, homer, .320 ... Matt Kemp LAD 4-5, double, .351 ...  if Kevin Witt can make it back to MLB, why not vet Jon Knott SD 5-6, 2 homers (28), 5 RBI (104), .275 ...  LAD lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, really taking to a starting role, 3.0 1 1 1 1, 3.06 ... Yusmeiro Petit FLO 6.0 6 4 4 0 7, 4.28 ... Taylor Buchholz HOU 5.0 7 3 3 2 4, 4.97 ... Jeff Clement SEA 3-5, double, .256 ... Merkin Valdez SF 2.2 2 2 2 2 4, 5.80 ... Jason Ellison SF 2-4, double, .408

EASTERN (AA)  --  Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-3, double, .327 ... Radhames Liz BAL 6.0 5 3 3 3 7, 5.36 ... Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 1-2, walk, 2 SBs (14), .322 ... Ty Clippard NYA 5.0 6 2 2 2 5, 3.50 ... Trevor Crowe CLE, at 2B, 1-3, 2 walks, .272 ... OF Brad Snyder CLE, 4-4, triple, walk, .266

SOUTHERN (AA) --  James Brauer FLA, AA debut, 6 4 0 0 2 2 ... Jerry Gil CF ARI, 1-4, 22nd HR, 2 RBI, .267 ... Carlos Gonzalez RF ARI, ugly, 0-4, 3 K ... Tydus Meadows LF LAD, 3-4, HR, 3 R, .297 ... Scott Elbert LAD, 7 5 3 3 1 3, 3.70 ... Reid Brignac SS TB, 1-4, RBI, R, 2, .301 ... Evan Longoria SS TB, 1-4, R, .266 ... Andrew Sonnanstine TB, does it again, W (15-7), 7 7 1 1 1 6, 2.77 ... Ryan Braun 3B MIL, 1-4, 20th HR, .288 ... Yovani Gallardo MIL, 8 4 2 2 1 8, 1.70 ... Jake Fox LF CHC, 2-5, 30th 2B, 2 R, K, .277 ... Sean Thompson SD, 6 8 4 4 2 5, 3.56

TEXAS (AA)  --  shortstop Sean Rodriguez LAA 2-4, double, homer (26th overall), .317 ... a sign of life, Ian Stewart COL 3-3, double, .268 ... Alex Gordon KC 3-4, 29th homer, 4 RBI (94), 2 walks, 22nd SB, 15th error, .326 ... Chris Lubanski KC 4-6, triple, 2 homers (15), .282 ... Thomas Diamond TEX 5.0 3 3 3 2 5, 12-5, 3.96 ... OF Wladimir Balentien SEA 1-3, 22nd homer, .233

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Chase Headley SD 2-5, .290 ... Darin Erstad LAA, rehab, 0-1 ... Javier Brito ARZ 3-5, walk, .354 ... 2B & leadoff Eduardo Cornejo TEX 2-3, double, .369 ... Tim Lincecum SF, already time for a promotion, 5.2 1 0 0 2 11 ... Sergio Pedroza TB 1-4, homer (28th overall), .311 ... Andrew Baldwin SEA, quite a debut in the SEA system (one hit, no runs, over 7 inning in his first game)  8.0 6 0 0 0 3, 2-0, 0.00

CAROLINA (A+) --  Clint Sammons C ATL 3-5, HR(8), 2R, 2RBI, .246 ... Diory Hernandez SS ATL 1-5, HR(6), 2RBI, .239 ... Jason Fransz LF BAL 2-5, HR(24), 2R, 2RBI, .248 ... Ender Chavez RF WAS 2-5, 2R, SB, .277 ... Brandon Powell 3B WAS 2-5, HR(14), .284 ... Devin Ivany C WAS 2-6, 2B, R, 2RBI, .264 ... Dee Brown LF WAS 2-3, R, 2RBI, SB, .298 ... Rodney Choy Foo 3B CLE 1-3, HR(10), 3RBI, SB, .295 ... John Drennan CF CLE 2-5, 3B, R, RBI, SB, .253 ... Wallace Torbert LF HOU 2-5, 2 2B, 2R, RBI, SB, .309 ... Francisco Caraballo RF HOU 1-3, HR(14), 2RBI, .245 ... Rory Shortell HOU 7.0 6 1 1 0 4 W, 3.24 ... John Otness 1B BOS 2-5, 2R, RBI, .279 ... Andrew Pinckney 3B BOS 3-5, 2B, R, 3RBI, .257 ... Claudio Arias RF BOS 2-5, HR(8), 3RBI, .248 ... Antonio Sucre RF PIT 2-5, 2B, 3R, RBI, .218 ... Vince Rooi 3B PIT 1-2, HR(8), 2R, 3RBI, .249

MIDWEST (A) --  Wade Leblanc SD 5.0 4 0 0 1 8, 3-1, 2.28 ... Cameron Maybin DET 1-5, .319 ... John Mayberry TEX 1-2, 2 walks, .269 ... Justin Upton ARZ, again DNP ... Alexander Smit MIN, REALLY liking the return to a starting role, 7.0 0 0 0 4 11, 2.93 (fronted what turned out to be a 9-hitter, over 19 innings) ... Christopher Parmelee MIN 2-3, .250 ... Jay Bruce CIN 1-6, .291

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Shane Lindsay COL (L, 2-1) 6-2/3 4 1 1 1 8, 2.83 ... Dexter Fowler COL 1-4, 2B (28), .288 ... Eric Young Jr COL 2-4, 2B (25), SB (84), .291 ... Josh Outman PHI (W, 14-6) 5 6 1 1 2 5, 2.89 ... Mike Spidale PHI 4-4, 2B (17), SB (25), BB, .342 ... Jeremy Slayden PHI 1-4, 2 RBI (76), BB, .307 ... Max Ramirez CLE 1-4, HR (13), RBI (59), BB, .292 ... Ofilio Castro WAS 2-5, 3B (6), 5 RBI (55), .255 ... Elvis Andrus ATL 0-4, .266 ... James McDonald LAD 8 1 0 0 1 8, 4.25 ... Austin Jackson NYA 1-4, .257

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  SS Andy Lytle CLE 1-4, .309 ... C Matt Liuzza TOR 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB ... 1B Luke Hopkins TOR 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI ... RF Shawn Scobee TOR 1-5, 1 2B, 3 RBI ... CF Adam Calderone TOR 3-5, 2 R ... LF Ben Zeskind TOR 2-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 3 BB ... C Matt Clarkson PIT 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI ... LF Alex Presley PIT 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI ... SS Angel Gonzalez PIT 3-4, 1 R ... Nicolas Suero PIT 6 2 1 0 4 2.95 ... DH Jake Dempsey PHI 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI & 1-3, 1R, 1 2B

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --   Tyler Colvin OF CHC 1-5, 2 r, hr(6), r rbi(42), .278 ... Russ Canzler 1b CHC 1-3, 2 r, hr(15), rbi(56), .262 ... Joseph Batten 2b ARZ 2-4, r, 2b(4), .164 ... Mark Pawelek sp CHC W 3-5, 5.0 4 1 1 1 6, 2.41 ... Eric Butler sp ARZ L 3-5, 6.0 6 3 3 2 8 3.86 ... Andrew Miller sp SD W 2-1, 6.0 8 2 2 0 6, 3.81 ... Chad Huffman OF SD 2-3, 3 r, 2b(17), hr(9), rbi(40), .343 ... Bryan Sabatella OF SEA 3-4, 2 r, .254 ... Carlos Peguero OF SEA 2-4, r, hr(2), 3 rbi6), .224 ... Emmanuel Burriss ss SF 3-7, r, 2b(6), 2 rbi(23), e(15), .302 ... Robert Felmy OF SF 3-7, r, hr(7), 2 rbi(28), .253 ... Inoel Deaza sp OAk nd, 6.0 6 2 2 0 3, 3.84 ... Daniel Mayora 2b COL 2-4, r, 2b(18), rb(26), .317 ... Bret Berglund OF TEX 1-4, r, hr(4), 2 rbi(26), .225

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Jamie Richmond ATL, no news on why such a short outing, 2.0 0 0 0 0 1, 1.21 ... 2B & leadoff Isaias Garcia STL 2-5, homer, .339 ... catcher Jonathan Jaspe TOR 3-5, 21st double, .296 ... CF Chris Emanuele TOR 3-5, double, homer, .321 ... Sergio Severino HOU 6.0 2 0 0 3 8, 2.90 (90 Ks in 68 IP)

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  CF Drew Stubbs CIN 2-5, .255 ... SS Chris Valaika 0-4, hit streak ends at 32 games ... 3B Josh Bell LAD 3-4 2 homers, including a grand slam, 7 RBI, .297 ...  OF Stephen Chapman MIL 3-5, walk, .316 ... OF Chris Errecart MIL 3-6, 12th homer, 6 RBI, .316 ... OF Christopher Pettit LAA 2-4, 18th double, 6th homer, .319 ... CF Joseph Dickerson KC 2-5, 7th homer, 9th SB, .287

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  OF Norberto Ortiz LAA 2-3, homer, .288 ... Dallas Braden OAK 5.0 3 2 2 1 10, 2-0, 0.86 (36 Ks in 21 innings) ...  Cliff Pennington OAK 2-4, .464 ... Jason Botts TEX, rehab, 1-5

    Troop Movements ...  DET - optioned Colby Lewis to Triple-A,  optioned Brent Clevlen to Double-A ... PHI - acquired Jeff Conine and cash from BAL for PTBNL ... CHN - purchased the contract of Les Walrond from Triple-A, optioned Jae-Kuk Ryu to Triple-A ... SEA - recalled Mike Morse from Triple-A, optioned T.J. Bohn to Triple-A ...

    TEX in September ?

" ...  The Rangers are considering as many as 10 call-ups. While it appears almost certain catcher Miguel Ojeda along with relievers Scott Feldman and Nick Masset will be joining the club, the rest of the group is not as clear cut. The Rangers are considering a handful of pitchers, including lefties Koronka and Rheinecker and right-hander Kameron Loe. The most intriguing decision may be whether to bring up shortstop Joaquin Arias. Arias, acquired from the Yankees in the Alex Rodriguez deal, turns 22 on Sept. 21. He was .260 with four homers and 24 stolen bases at Triple-A Oklahoma entering Saturday. "Everyone who's called up will either help the club in September or benefit from the experience," said GM Jon Daniels, who declined to elaborate on call-up decisions. "Hopefully, both."   (Dallas Morning News)

   Among the findings at MinorLeagueSplits, OPS by position.  The best of the full-season centre fielders and shortstops (stats through Aug 24th) :

 1. .926 Trevor Crowe CLE
 2. .918 Chris Denorfia CIN
 3. .898 Chris Young ARZ
 4. .897 Colby Rasmus STL
 5. .884 John Drennen CLE
 6. .874 Cameron Maybin DET
 7. .859 Victor Hall NYA
 8. .854 Chris Rahl ARZ
 9. .854 Dustin Majewski TOR
10. .832 Brian Burgamy PHI

 1. .939 Reid Brignac TB
 2. .933 Brent Lillibridge PIT
 3. .926 Sean Rodriguez LAA
 4. .925 Ben Zobrist HOU
 5. .914 Brandon Wood LAA
 6. .896 Michael Hollimon DET
 7. .861 Troy Tulowitzki COL
 8. .852 Brian Bixler PIT
 9. .841 Ryan Klosterman TOR
10. .816 Dustin Pedroia BOS


CORRESPONDENTS : INT - Herb Walters, PCL - JDM, EASTERN - Harry Almquist, SOUTHERN - Zack Staten, TEXAS - Steve Macias, CALIFORNIA - JDM, CAROLINA - Jimmy Salmon, FLORIDA STATE - Wayne Stevens, MIDWEST - Bob Reed, SOUTH ATLANTIC - Martin Rose, NYP - Brian Carruthers, NW - Thom Hanson, APPALACHIAN - Mike Feifel, PIONEER - Joe McAnally & JDM, GULF COAST - JDM,  ARIZONA - JDM, ALASKA - Matt Nemeth 
 

1.
 

    
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