Rookies 2004

23 May, 2004    Pitching line = IP H R ER BB SO

    Game action ... INT --   Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 2-4, R, SB ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 1-4, 0 errors ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 1-5, 2B, R & 2-6, RBI ... Marcus Thames (DET, RF) 0-4 & 1-4, 14th HR, R, 2 RBI, SF ... Bubba Nelson (CIN) 4.1 6 5 5 4 5 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 1-4, 5th HR, R, 3 RBI ... Michael Restovich (MIN, LF) 1-4, 11th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Jorge Padilla (PHI, RF) 1-3, 1st HR, R, 2 RBI, BB & 0-3 ... Tim Raines Jr (BAL, CF) 2-4, R & 0-3 ... Brian Forystek (BAL) 4.1 7 4 4 3 2 ... John Maine (BAL) 3.1 7 5 5 2 2 ... Victor Diaz (NYN, RF) 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI

PCL --  ARZ infielder Tim Olson 3-5, double, 2 homers ... Tony Armas MON, stepping up to AAA to continue rehab, 4.2 4 2 0 0 5 ... better, Clint Nageotte SEA 7.0 5 2 2 2 6 ... after a couple of weeks of little, Calvin Pickering KC breaks out again, 2-3, 14th & 15th homers ... Bucky Jacobsen, might win some bench duty in SEA, 2-4, 10th homer, .318 ... Wilson Valdez SS FLO 3-4 (11-15 in last three games) ... Sean Burnett PIT 5.0 7 5 4 2 2 ... JR House PIT 3-4, double, 9th homer, .313 ... Dan Johnson OAK 2-4, 9th homer, 4 RBI, .314 ... Xavier Nady SD 3-4, .392

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 0-2 … Justin Huber NYN 1-4 … Prentice Redman NYN 1-4, RBI (33) … Aaron Hill TOR 1-5, HR (3), 2 RBI (19) … Dominic Rich TOR 1-3, 2B (10) … Dioner Navarro NYA 3-5, 2B (7), HR (3), 2 RBI (13) … Chien-Ming Wang NYA 5.0 8 5 5 2 3, W (2) … Val Majewski BAL 1-4, HR (7), RBI (20) … Keith Reed BAL 2-4, SB (2) … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-8 … Jeff Keppinger PIT 2-8 … Ryan Doumit PIT 1-7, BB … Bryan Bullington PIT 6.0 7 2 1 0 5, W (3) … Ian Snell PIT 7.0 4 0 0 2 4 … Michael Cervenak SF 0-3 … Jeremy Guthrie CLE 7.0 5 0 0 0 2 …

SOUTHERN --  Luis Martinez STL 6.0 2 1 0 2 6, lost falling to 3-4 with 4.69 era ... Jason Stokes FLA 1B 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR (12) ... Andy Marte ATL 3B 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR (8) ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K ... Freddy Guzman SD OF 0-2, 2 BB ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 0-3 ... Bobby Brownlie CHN 7.0 3 1 1 1 1, 5-3, 2.82 era ... James Loney LA 1B 0-4, 1 K, .214 ... Brad Nelson MIL OF 3-5, 3 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR (8) ... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 1-5, 2 R ... Dennis Sarfate MIL 7.0 2 1 0 4 5

TEXAS --  Ervin Santana ANA, strong second effort since DL stint, 6.0 4 2 1 1 5 ... away go the ANA kids again -- Jeff Mathis 3-4, 5th homer, Dallas McPherson 2-4, 6th homer, Nick Gorneault 2-4, double ... Greg Jacobs SEA 2-3, walk,  double & 1-2, triple, .349 ... Mark Teahen OAK 2-4, double, triple & 0-3, .340 ... Ezequiel Astacio HOU 8.0 6 2 2 1 12 ... Josh Kroeger ARZ 2-4, 2 doubles ... Jeff Francis COL 7.0 9 2 2 1 7, 6-0, 2.60 (and, see earlier report on Francis, below)

CAROLINA --  Michael Aubrey CLE 0-4, K ... Ryan Garko CLE 0-3, RBI (35), K ... Ivan Ochoa CLE 1-3 ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 0-5, K... Brian Anderson CHA 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (8) ... Casey Rogowski CHA 2-4, 2 R, HR (8), 3 RBI (36), K ... Pedro Lopez CHA 1-3, R, K ... JD Martin CLE (L) 4 6 6 6 1 3 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-3, BB ... Scott Thorman ATL 0-4, R, RBI (29) ... Brian McCann ATL 1-4, RBI ... Donnie Murphy KC 1-4, K ... Mike Aviles KC 0-4, K ... Blaine Boyer ATL (W) 8.1 4 0 0 1 3 (4-2, 2.49) ... Shaun Shiery KC (L) 5.2 3 3 0 2 2 (1-2, 1.83) ... Chaz Lytle PIT 1-4 ... Brad Eldred PIT 2-4, R, double, RBI (37), K ... Rajai Davis PIT 1-3, R, 2 BB, SB (16) ... Tripper Johnson BAL 1-4, K ... Doug Gredvig BAL 1-4, K ... Tony Blanco CIN 0-4, K ... Chris Denorfia CIN 1-3, R, double, BB, SB (5) ... Luke Scott HOU 1-4, double ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-4, R, K ... Friday night ... Tony Blanco CIN 2-4, double, RBI (30) ... Chris Denorfia CIN 1-5, R ... Luke Scott HOU 2-5, 2 R, double, HR (5), 4 RBI (25), K ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 2-4, double, RBI (31), BB ...

FLORIDA STATE --  Chad Billingsley LA, latest phenom to phall, 3.1 5 8 5 4 ... Delwyn Young LA, heatin' up, 3-5, 7th homer ... Joel Guzman LA, so hot, then so cold, 0-3, 3 Ks ... Bronson Sardinha NYA 2-5, double, .325 ... 2B Jared Koutnik NYA 2-5, 6th & 7th homers, 7 RBI, .289 ... Jon Papelbon BOS 6.0 3 0 0 0 10, 3.18 ... still scufflin', Joel Zumaya DET 6.1 7 4 4 3 4, 5.04 ... Matthew Murton BOS 1-3, 8th homer ... Jose Reyes NYN, rehab looking OK, 3-5, but an error ... Nick Johnson MON 0-4

CALIFORNIA --  the surge continues, Jeffrey Baker COL 2-2, walk, .341 ... some night for middle of the lineup for the ARZ franchise -- Conor Jackson 2-5, double, Carlos Quentin 2-5, double, 10th homer, Jamie D`Antona 3-4, double

MIDWEST --  Brandon Wood ANA 3-5, 5th HR (teen shortstop has lifted his average 50+ points in 2 weeks, to .303) ... Michel Simard ANA 6.0 6 1 1 1 7 (3.33) ... Melky Cabrera NYA 2-3, 2 doubles (16) ... Eric Duncan NYA 1-2, BB ... Tyler Clippard NYA 6.0 9 3 2 0 8 (345) ... Lou Palmisano MIL 2-3 ... bit of a letdown after a hot start Justin Jones CHN 4.0 5 3 3 1 1 ... Drew Macias SD 2-4 ... Daric Barton STL 1-1, 2 BB ... Cody Haerther STL 2-4 (.291) ... must've been kryptonite nite at the ballpark Ian Kinsler TEX 0-4 ... Tony Giarratano DET 2-4 (.294) .. Adam Jones SEA 0-3 ... Chris Lubanski KC 1-4 (.219) ... Mitch Maier KC 0-4, 3 K

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Ryan Goleski CLE, 2-5, homer (11), 2 RBI ... Javier Herrera CLE, 3-4, homer (5), 2 RBI, 3 runs ... Sean Smith CLE, 5.0 3 1 0 1 3 (W 5-1, 3.18) ... Nate Spears BAL 3-4, double, triple, RBI ... Christopher Ray BAL, 3.0 9 7 7 1 3 (L 1-3, 3.48) ... Antonin Gray 2-5, homer (2), 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Chris Young CHW, 2-2, homer (8), 2 RBI, 4 runs, steal (13) ... Gustavo Molina CHW, 4-5, homer (2), 5 RBI ... Jon Benick PIT, 1-4, homer (11), 2 RBI ... Ian Stewart COL, 1-4, RBI ... Aaron Marsden COL, 6.0 4 1 1 2 6 ... Andy LaRoche LA, 1-4, homer (7), RBI ... Daniel Core TOR, 7.0 4 0 0 0 3 (W 2-3, 3.38) ... Matt Albers HOU, 5.0 6 5 5 5 4 (L 2-1, 2.45) ... Beau Hearod HOU, 2-4, homer (9), RBI ... Lastings Milledge 0-3, walk, run ... Ian Bladergroen NYM, 1-4, run ... Delmon Young TB, 0-4, K ... Elijah Dukes TB, 2-3, double, 2 runs, steal (12) ... Wes Bankston TB, 1-2, double, 2 RBI, 2 walks, steal (2) ... Jake Blalock PHI, 3-5, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs (last four games, 13-22, double, 4 homers, 9 RBI)  ... Javon Moran PHI, 2-6, 2 steals (19), 2 runs ... Michael Bourn 3-4, double, RBI, 4 runs, steal (24) ... Randy Ruiz PHI, 3-6, homer (2), double, 5 RBI ... Nate Schierholtz SF, 2-5, homer (12), 3 RBI ... Travis Ishikawa SF, 2-4, double, RBI ...  BOS kid Brandon Moss having a terrific season, 2-4, walk, .369 ... CF Steve Doetsch ATL 3-5, double, triple, 3 RBI

    Troop movements ...  NYA -- Bubba Crosby up (Jason Giambi DL), Jose Contreras up (Bret Prinz down) ... COL -- recalled outfielder Rene Reyes from AAA, placed pitcher Jason Young on the 15-day disabled list ... MIN --  recalled outfielder Michael Restovich (Luis Rivas DL) ...

    John Sickels, ESPN.com, on a pair of Vancouver-area lefties, 2003 first-rounders Jeff Francis COL & Adam Loewen BAL :

" ... Francis is ahead of Loewen right now, being much more polished and much closer to being major league ready. But scouts remain high on Loewen's long-term potential. The Orioles have Loewen pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League. Through seven starts, he has a 2-2 record, a 3.48 ERA, and a 31/24 K/BB ratio in 33.2 innings, with 27 hits allowed. Statistically, his K/IP and H/IP ratios are good, but his walk rate is too high, which hurts his K/BB. This is statistical confirmation of his scouting reports. Loewen can hit 95 mph and has a big nasty curveball, but he has problems throwing strikes. So far it hasn't hurt him much at the A-ball level, but he'll need to improve his command significantly before he is ready to thrive at higher levels. He also needs to improve his changeup, which he sometimes telegraphs. He's just 20 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to correct these issues. In comparison to Francis, Loewen has the higher ceiling since he throws harder. Scouts say he could be an ace/rotation anchor eventually, whereas Francis projects more like a No. 2 or 3 starter. Francis is more refined at this point and less risky on his own terms, though in the long run he'll face the handicap of having to pitch in Coors Field."

    MIL trying so hard to be patient ... with so much talent about to be harvested from the farm :

" ... The Brewers have legitimate prospects at every position and a deep pitching pool, something that makes Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik cringe as much as smile. ``It's a job that's unfinished yet because we've got to have these kids become good major league players, not just good minor leaguers,'' Zduriencik said. An impressive array of blue chip talent is working its way to Milwaukee at any rate, led by JJ Hardy, first baseman Prince Fielder, second baseman Rickie Weeks, pitcher Ben Hendrickson, catcher Lou Palmisano and outfielders Corey Hart, Anthony Gwynn and Brad Nelson. Hart was called up Friday from Triple-A Indianapolis after third baseman Wes Helms went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained knee. Although more prospects could get a taste of the major leagues this summer, the pipeline isn't expected to start flowing until next year ... Hart in the Triple-A Southern League, Fielder in the single-A Midwest League with the Beloit Snappers and Palmisano in the rookie Pioneer League all won MVP honors last season ... The players say it's nice to have strength in numbers, too. ``You know there are so many other players coming up that you don't have to worry about just turning the whole team around by yourself,'' Fielder said." (Beloit Daily news)

    Even when pounded, Edwin Jackson LA winning solid reviews :

" ... With Jackson pitching, Albuquerque outfielder Chris Aguila was the Isotopes' go-to guy. That's because he played against Jackson last season in the Southern League. "He has a real good fastball, a fastball that is harder than it looks," Aguila said. "It's a kind of effortless fastball. It's a pretty live one." Derek Wathan, who played third and center field for Albuquerque on Friday, said Jackson is going to be good. "Some guys, halfway there, their fastball just kind of explodes," Wathan said. "He has that stuff." Jackson wasn't at his best Friday, but he showed flashes of promise. "The kid's got phenomenal stuff," Albuquerque manager Tracy Woodson said. "Guys were coming back to the dugout saying, `This guy's got good stuff.' "  (Albuquerque Tribune)

22 May, 2004  

    Game action ... INT --  B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB, 1 error ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 2-5, R, RBI, SB ... Marcus Thames (DET, RF) 2-3, 2B, 13th HR, R, 3 RBI, BB ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 3-4, R, BB ... AAA debut, Jason Kubel (MIN, RF) 2-4, RBI ... Alexis Rios (TOR, RF) 2-4 ... David Bush (TOR) 6.0 9 5 5 2 7 ... Grady Sizemore (CLE, CF) 2-4, 2B, R ... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, SS) 2-4, 2 R ... Kelly Shoppach (BOS, DH) 2-4, 6th HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB ... Jeremy Reed (CHA, CF) 3-6, 2B, 1st & 2nd HRs, 3 R, 2 RBI ... Jorge De La Rosa (MIL) 5.0 6 3 3 1 5 ... Craig Brazell (NYN, DH) 2-5, 10th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Victor Diaz (NYN, RF) 2-5, R, RBI ... Bob Keppel (NYN) 5.1 8 4 4 0 2

PCL --  a sign of progress, Taylor Buchholz HOU 6.0 8 2 2 2 4 ... Ryan Church MON 2-4, 2 doubles, .352 ... David DeJesus KC 2-4, double, SB, .299 ... Jose Lopez SEA 2-4, double, 7th homer ... Ben Davis SEA 0-5, .167 ... might just be a lost season for Edwin Jackson LA, 5.0 10 6 5 3 5, 5.21 (did much better as a hitter, 2-2, homer)  ... Joe Blanton OAK, not so hot either, 6.1 10 5 5 0 3  ...  Wilson Valdez FLO SS 4-5 (following Thursday's 4-6) ...  big, big night for JR House PIT, hit for the cycle, 9th double, 1st triple, 8th homer, .295 ... Nick Swisher OAK 2-4, double, 6th homer ... JD Closser COL 3-5, .314 ... Rey Ordonez CHN 2-5 ... Danny Haren STL 5.0 6 5 5 3 5

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 0-2, 2 BB … Justin Huber NYN 1-3, BB … Prentice Redman NYN 2-4, 2B (19), RBI (32) … Aaron Hill TOR 1-4, 2 RBI (17) … Dominic Rich TOR 1-4, BB … Dioner Navarro NYA 1-4, HR (2), 2 RBI (11) … Val Majewski BAL 1-4 … Michael Cervenak SF 0-4 …

SOUTHERN --  Chris Seddon TB 5.0 6 4 4 3 6 ... still waiting for a breakout, Andy Marte ATL 1-3, double, .254 ... Sean Marshall CHN 5.1 3 2 1 4 5 ... Ryan Ketchner LA 4.0 6 4 3 1 2 ... one-time BOS starting prospect, Brad Baker seems to have found a home in the pen, 12th save, 0.90, 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 ... Freddy Guzman SD CF 3-4, 1st homer, .289 ...

Cards' kids cop both weekly awards :

" ... Papo Bolivar was named ...Hitter of the Week for May 14-20 ...  .520 (13-for-25), drove in nine runs and scored eight times. He hit four home runs for the week, including three in one game ...  Bolivar’s outstanding week has pushed him up to ninth in batting average (.311) and seventh in slugging percentage (.538) in the Southern League. Bolivar, originally signed by the Twins as a nondrafted free agent in 1996, was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis organization in November 2002 ... Brad Thompson made it a Tennessee sweep, as he was named ... Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. Thompson ...  set the Southern League record for consecutive scoreless innings at 48.1. Thompson went 2-0 on the week, allowing just one earned run in 12.2 innings. For the season, Thompson has posted a 7-0 mark, along with a miniscule 0.18 earned run average." (Southern League)

TEXAS --  Jayson Nix 2B COL 1-4 ... 2B Zach McClellan COL 8 5 1 1 2 6 ... Wilie Taveras CF HOU 2-4, but shockingly, no SB ... Tommy Whiteman SS HOU 2-4, R ... Todd Self 1B HOU 2-4, 2R, 2B, RBI, SB ... Shin-soo Choo CF SEA 0-3, BB, SB ... Drew Meyer SS TEX 1-4 ... Alberto Callaspo SS ANA 2-4, R ... Nick Gorneault RF ANA 2-4, R, 2B ... Dallas McPherson 3B ANA 1-3, HR, 3RBI, BB ... Jeff Mathis C ANA 0-3, BB, R ... Erik Thompson TEX 6 4 3 0 1 2 ... Tim Bittner ANA 7 3 0 0 2 7 ... Mark Teahen 3B OAK 0-4, BB, 3k's ... Jeremy Brown C OAK 1-3, 2R, 2BB, 2k's ... Maryland Williams CF ARI 2-4, R, 3B, BB ... Josh Kroeger RF ARI 1-3, 2B ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 2-4 ... Lance Cormier ARI 5 6 4 3 3 6

CAROLINA --  Ryan Garko CLE 1-3 ... Pat Osborne CLE 1-2, 2 R, triple, BB, .391 ... Ivan Ochoa CLE 1-5, double, 2 RBI ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 1-5, 2 RBI, 2 K... Brian Anderson CHA 2-3, 2 R, HR (4), RBI (25), BB ... Casey Rogowski CHA 1-3, BB ... Pedro Lopez CHA 1-4, K ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-4, double, RBI ... Scott Thorman ATL 1-4, R, K ... Mike Aviles KC 2-5, double, triple, RBI (28) ... Anthony Lerew ATL (W) 6.2 5 1 1 3 3 (4-2, 3.00) ... Brad Eldred PIT 2-5, R, HR (9), 2 RBI (36), 2 K ... Rajai Davis PIT 0-4, R, BB, SB (15) ... Tripper Johnson BAL 1-3, BB, K ... Doug Gredvig BAL 0-4, K ...

FLORIDA STATE --  rough welcome to A+, Matthew Lindstrom NYN 4.0 9 6 6 1 1 ... sigh of relief, Nick Johnson 3-5, homer, 3 RBI ... Jose Reyes NYN, finally back in action, but left early 1-2, SB ... Joel Guzman LA, on a tear, 3-5, 7th homer, .288 ... Delwyn Young LA 2-3, walk, 6th homer, 3 runs ... Andy Sisco, CHN, far from the hype, 4.1 5 3 3 3 3 ... Buddy Blair STL 8.0 3 0 0 1 8 (needed just 76 pitches)

CALIFORNIA --  Felix Hernandez SEA, a winner, but less than dominating, 6.0 5 2 2 2 7 ... 2B Hyung Cho SEA 3-5, 2 doubles, .328 ... Jeffrey Baker COL 3-5, 2 doubles, .331

MIDWEST --  Billy Petrick CHN 5.0 10 5 5 1 5 (3.18) ... Drew Macias SD 1-3 ... Ian Kinsler 2-5, 4th HR, E (.409) ... impressive once again John Danks TEX 5.0 3 0 0 0 6 (1.59) ... Adam Jones SEA 1-4 (.247) ... strange line Chad Scarbery ARZ 3.0 4 5 2 4 1 (2.96) ... Joey Votto CIN 2-3, double (.310) ... Andy Baldwin DET 7.0 6 1 1 0 0 (W, 5-3, 2.83) ... Mitch Maier KC 2-5, double ... wouldn't it be nice if a new player named "Dusty" got to the majors? Dusty Hughes KC 7.0 5 1 1 2 8 (W, 4-2, 1.56)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Xavier Paul LA, 1-4, double, 2 RBI ... Andy LaRoche LA, 1-2, double, 2 walks ... Nyjer Morgan PIT, 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, homer short of cycle ... Ian Stewart COL, 0-5, run, K ... Matt Esquivel ATL, 3-5, 2 doubles, RBI, run, SB (9) ... Jake Stevens ATL, 6.0 6 2 1 1 4 ... Javon Moran PHI, 3-6, homer (2), double, triple, 2 runs, 4 RBI, single short of cycle ... Jake Blalock PHI, 3-6, homer (6), 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Beau Hearod HOU, 2-5, double, homer (8), 2 RBI ... Delmon Young TB, 1-4, 2 K ... Nate Schierholtz SF, 2-6, homer (11), RBI, 2 runs ... Jason Columbus SF, 4-5, double, 3 RBI, 2 runs ... Antonin Gray CHW, 3-4, 2 doubles, RBI ... Daniel Haigwood CHW, 5.0 10 6 6 3 3 (L 4-2, 4.00) ... Clint Everts MON 6.0 4 3 3 1 7, 2.81 ... Ian Bladergroen NYN 1-3, 9th homer, .333

Yet another LA arm in the spotlight :

" ... Chuck Tiffany pitched a 7-inning perfect game in Game 2 of a doubleheader ... Thursday, May 20th to earn ... Pitcher of the Week honors. Tiffany struck out 12 batters in his masterful performance to raise his record to 2-0 on the season. Chuck started 2 games this week for the Catfish, going 1-0 in 12 innings pitched having allowed 1 earned run and 1 walk in his other start. Tiffany struck out 17 batters total for the week and posted a 0.75 ERA."

" ... Chuck Tiffany hurled a seven-inning perfect game in a 10-0 victory over the Greensboro Bats Thursday ... The victory was the second of Tiffany's professional career. The first came when he combined with reliever Marcos Carvajal on a seven-inning no-hitter against Greensboro earlier this month. "Starting off with a no-hitter and perfect game, it still hasn't hit me yet," Tiffany said. Tiffany came out firing from the start. He struck out the side in the first inning. "Chuck threw the heck out of the ball," Columbus catcher Jared Price said. ... Tiffany finished with 12 strikeouts." (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

" ... I was in the airport one time and the (Dodgers) baseball team was coming through. This kid walked up to me and asked if I'd take a picture with him. I guess he was about 13, 14 years old. When I took the picture, he said, 'Take a good look at me because you'll see me play for the Dodgers.' He's here right now -- Tiffany." (Columbus Ledger-Enquirer)

    Troop movements ...  MIL -- Corey Hart with an opportunity (Wes Helms DL) ... MIN -- promoted outfielder Jason Kubel from AA to AAA ... SD -- Dennis Tankersley & Rod Beck up (Eddie Oropesa chopped, Ramon Vazquez DL) ... BOS -- recalled pitcher Anastacio Martinez from AAA (Scott Williamson DL) ... TEX -- Gerald Laird gone for a good chunk of the season (torn a ligament in his left thumb, surgery Saturday, expected to miss at least three months) ...  ARZ -- optioned Doug DeVore to AAA (Richie Sexton activated) ... SEA -- optioned infielder Ramon Santiago to AAA (Willie Bloomquist activated from DL) ...  KC -- purchased the contract of outfielder Brandon Berger (Adrian Brown designated for assignment) ... NYN -- recalled RHP Tyler Yates (foptioned outfielder Esix Snead to Triple-A) ... SF -- Lance Niekro concluded his rehabilitation assignment In A+, promoted to Fresno, AAA ... 

Once such a highly sought after prospect, Ben Petrick has called it quits after struggling in AAA with Portland :

" ... Petrick has retired as an active player after a nine-year professional baseball career ... a second-round selection of the Colorado Rockies in the 1995 draft and spent parts of five seasons at the major league level with the Rockies and the Detroit Tigers. In 240 major league games, Petrick, 27, batted .257 with 27 home runs and 94 RBIs." (Portland Beavers)

" ... He has been dealing with symptoms of Parkinson's disease for more than four years ... Petrick hastened to add that "it's not that I'm physically disabled. I can still do anything. It's almost impossible to tell if you don't know. I can do what I'm doing for a long time." Petrick's father, Vern Petrick, the long-time athletic director at Glencoe, has Parkinson's disease. He said that while he has the disease, his son only has the symptoms. The two have undergone tests at Oregon Health Sciences University. Ben Petrick first noticed the symptoms while playing fall baseball in Tucson in 1999. "There were some signs of dexterity problems in my left hand," he said, "and some problems on my left side. I had it checked out in Tucson and Denver, and the doctor said I had Parkinsonism. Just the symptoms. "I've been taking medication for it since then. I could continue doing what I'm doing, or I could take less medication and do something else." (Portland Oregonian)

    PIT's top pick last season heading for a lengthy DL stint :

" ... Paul Maholm ... surgery ...  to repair bone fractures in the orbital sinus area of his left eye. Maholm sustained a broken bone and other fractures when he was hit by a line drive while pitching for Lynchburg Saturday. Maholm won't be returning to the mound any time soon. He will remain in the hospital for three or four days so doctors can control his pain. He also will remain in Pittsburgh for seven to 10 days for treatment." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

    TB with a chance of getting Seth McClung back for some innings this season :

" ... McClung said Thursday he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and hopes to play for the Rays by August. ``I'm looking for a rehab assignment [to the minors] in July. Hopefully I can prove my merit there,'' he said. ``I'm in the best shape I've been in, in five years - my best shape since high school.'' McClung was 4-1 as a rookie with the Rays in 2003 before he injured his arm while pitching in a game May 22. He had surgery on his right elbow June 26.  ...  Although he bounced between the rotation and bullpen last year, he said the Rays have told him he'll start when he returns. ``Hopefully I can make it back here by August. I'm throwing all my pitches now,'' he said. ``And one good thing is that I've developed a change-up, which I didn't have last year." (Tampa Tribune)

    Ah, that's why :

" ... Adam Loewen was scratched from his start at Single-A Delmarva on Wednesday because of a strained rib cage muscle. Orioles officials said it was strictly a precautionary move, and they only plan to have him miss one start." (Baltimore Sun)

    Allan Simpson, Baseball America, in  the chat room on the 2004 draft :

" ... [Jeff Niemann] ... It's possible he could even go No. 1. He's a bit of a wild card because he hasn't started a game in a while because of a nagging groin injury, but he was lights out in relief last Saturday with a fastball at 96-97 and a slider at 86-87. He has better stuff than Jered Weaver and might be the more attractive selection if he shows in the 2-3 starts he'll have before the draft that he's 100 percent healthy and is the same pitcher he was in 2003."

" ... The speculation all spring has been that the Tigers would take [Justin] Verlander at No. 2, and there's still a good chance they will. He's got better stuff and a higher upside than Weaver, but his performance and command has been up and down. Even at 96-97, he's gotten knocked around this spring by teams like Princeton and William & Mary."

" ... [Nick} Adenhart's name was noticeably absent from our top 100 list. He's in a wait-and-see situation after pulling himself out of a game in early May with a sore elbow. He's had an MRI and teams are fearful that he may have to undergo Tommy John surgery."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on high school shortstop Chris Nelson, forecast as a Top 5 pick (possibly going to TB -- already with BJ Upton at SS  :

" ... Nelson is an extremely attractive prospect. He has made a rapid recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he has a good chance to be the best position player to come out of this draft. There are three consensus top everyday players in this draft, all shortstops, and Nelson has a better chance to stay at that position than Florida State's Stephen Drew and a better chance to hit than San Diego high schooler Matt Bush ... Upton has a good chance to become Derek Jeter with more power and a better glove—don't get too alarmed about minor league error totals—so Nelson would project as Tampa Bay's second baseman of the future. While Nelson has a good bat, it's not a Rickie Weeks bat, so we're probably not talking about a superstar second baseman ... This is a pitching draft, and Tampa Bay should take advantage of it. If Long Beach State righthander Jered Weaver, Niemann and Drew go 1-2-3 as we project, the Rays would have their choice of the remaining Rice aces (Humber, Townsend), the most electric arms in college and high school (Old Dominion's Justin Verlander and Bailey) or their pick of the most polished lefties (Vanderbilt's Jeremy Sowers or Missouri prepster Scott Elbert). The Rays should take whomever they determine is the best of that group."

21 May, 2004

    Game action ... INT --  Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 2-4, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI, SB ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 1-2, 4th HR, R, RBI, BB, HBP, 0 errors ... Chad Gaudin (TB) 2.0 3 1 1 1 1 ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 2-4, SF, SB ... Joe Valentine (CIN) 4.2 5 1 1 2 3 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 1-3, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB ... Justin Morneau (MIN, 1B) 3-5, 10th HR, 2 R, RBI ... Tim Raines Jr (BAL, CF) 3-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI ... Darnell McDonald (BAL, RF) 2-5, 2B ... Kurt Ainsworth (BAL) 4.0 7 4 4 1 6 ... Brandon Phillips (CLE, SS) 2-4, RBI ... Kazuhito Tadano (CLE) 5.0 4 0 0 1 4 ... Kelly Shoppach (BOS, DH) 2-4, RBI ... Jeremy Reed (CHA, CF) 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SB ... Jon Rauch (CHA) 5.0 2 1 1 4 4 ... Corey Hart (MIL, RF) 1-5, 7th HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB ... much better this time, Chris Capuano (MIL, rehab) 5.2 4 1 1 1 7 ... Pat Strange (NYN) 6.0 4 3 3 1 3 ... Perhaps a reward coming for patience ... Joe Borchard CHA finally on a little roll, 3-5, 3 doubles, 4 RBI after a 3-4 Wednesday, now on an 8-game hitting streak (since a week on the shelf with a sore back) 14-32, . 438, with 6 doubles, 3 homers, 14 RBI

PCL --  vet Bucky Jacobsen, now with SEA, again having a nice season 3-4, 8th & 9th homers, 4 RBI, .320 ... Nick Regilio TEX 6.0 6 0 0 1 9, 3.68 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 1-5, 1st homer, .270 ... Antonio Perez LA 2-5, triple, .287 ... Koyie Hill LA 4-4, 6th homer, walk, .291 ... Mike Wood OAK, continues to impress, 7.0 5 0 0 1 6, 2.36 ... Dan Johnson OAK 4-5 ... Nick Swisher OAK 3-4, walk, .248 ... Denny Stark COL 7.0 0 0 0 4 9, 4.78 ... Clint Barmes COL 2-4, triple, .355 ... how about this kid, Rey Ordonez, now with the Cubs, 3-4, double, error too ...

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 2-5, 2B (16), RBI (24) … Justin Huber NYN 1-3, RBI (8) … Prentice Redman NYN … Aaron Hill TOR 1-5, RBI (15) … Dominic Rich TOR 1-5, HR (2), RBI (17) … Dioner Navarro NYA 1-5 … Val Majewski BAL BB … Keith Reed BAL 0-3, BB … Jason Kubel MINN 1-3, BB … Rick Helling MINN 7.0 5 2 2 1 5 … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-4 … Jeff Keppinger PIT 3-4, 2B (4)… Ryan Doumit PIT 0-3, BB … Michael Cervenak SF 1-3, BB … Ryan Howard PHI 1-4, 12th homer

SOUTHERN --  Andy Marte ATL 3B 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 1-4 ... Willy Aybar LA 2B 1-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... TJ Nall LA 7.0 2 1 1 0 5, 4-0, 2.27 ... Freddy Guzman SD OF 0-4, 1 K ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 1-4 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN 3B 2-5, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 K ... Eric Reed FLA OF 2-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 BB, 2 K's ... Jason Stokes FLA 1B 0-1, 1 K, pinch hit 2nd straight game ... Trevor Hutchinson FLA 2.0 5 6 2 1 1 ... Rickie Weeks MIL 2B, 0-5, 1 R, 1 BB ... Tony Gwynn Jr MIL OF 1-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K ... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 1-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K ... Brad Nelson MIL OF 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K ... Aaron McNeal CHA 1B 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR (11)

TEXAS --  Jayson Nix 2B COL 1-5 ... Ryan Shealy DH COL 1-3, HR, 2RBI, BB ... Zach Parker COL 8 6 1 0 1 2 ... Willy Taveras CF HOU 2-3, 2R, 2BB, 2SB (29) ... Tommy Whiteman SS HOU 3-4, 2B, HR, 4RBI ... Shin-soo Choo LF SEA 1-4, R, BB ... Greg Jacobs DH SEA 2-5, R ... Will Smith RF TEX 2-6, 2R, 2RBI ... Jason Botts 1B TEX 3-5, R, BB ... Jason Bourgeois 2B TEX 2-6 ... Alberto Callaspo SS ANA 1-4 ... Dallas McPherson 3B ANA 0-4, 2k's ... Jeff Mathis C ANA 1-4, 2B ... Mark Teahen 3B OAK 1-3, RBI, BB ... John Baker C OAK 1-4, R ... Brian Barden 3B ARI 2-4, 2R, HR ... Josh Kroeger RF ARI 2-4, HR, 2B, 2RBI ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 0-4, 3k's

CAROLINA --  Ryan Sweeney CHA 1-3 & 1-3, 2 K... Brian Anderson CHA 0-3 & 0-2, BB, 2 K ... Casey Rogowski CHA 0-3, K & 1-3, K... Luke Scott HOU 0-1, 2 BB, SB (2) & 2-3, RBI ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 0-3, K & 1-2, R, BB ... Fernando Nieve HOU (W) 7 4 0 0 1 8 CG (4-3, 3.61) ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-6, R, K ... Scott Thorman ATL 2-6 ... Brian McCann ATL 1-6, double, 2 RBI ... Donnie Murphy KC 0-5, BB, K ... Mike Aviles KC 2-5, double, K ... Kyle Davies ATL 7 4 0 0 1 8 (3.40) ... Trae McGill KC 7 6 1 1 2 5 (1.38) ...

FLORIDA STATE --  Cole Hamels PHI, no rest from the layoff, 3.0 0 0 0 0 6 (combined with two others on a one-hitter) ... Michael Hinckley MON 5.2 5 3 3 2 6, 2.78 ... still hitless in his rehab stint, Nick Johnson MON 0-3 ... Jesse Harper TOR 5.0 2 0 0 1 4 ... Scott Olsen FLO 5.0 4 1 1 4 7, 3.53 ... Josh Teekel STL 7.0 4 2 2 0 6, 2.70 ... Eliezer Alfonzo FLO 11th homer, 30th RBI ... Brandon Sing 1B CHN 13th homer

CALIFORNIA --  Bobby Livingston SEA (Pitcher of the Week), still very good, but lost for the first time (6-1) 6.0 7 4 2 0 4, 1.59 ... Vincent Sinisi TEX 3-5, 2 RBI, .308 ... Jeff Salazar COL 3-5, 4th triple, 3 RBI, .319 ... catcher Kevin Reinking COL came into the game as a Mendoza-line hitter, 3-3, 2 homers, walk, 3 RBI

MIDWEST --  performance of the day could only be Mark Prior CHN 3.0 0 0 0 1 5 ... and relieved by Carlos Marmol CHN 6.0 2 1 0 0 8 (W, 5-0, 2.13) ... Brian Dopirak CHN 1-4, double, 2 K ... Danny Muegge ARZ 8.0 4 1 1 0 8 (3.34) ... Ian Kinsler 1-4, double (23rd), 2 K (.409/.470/.624 & 11 SBs, just 4 errors) ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-5, 2 doubles (11) ... Bobby Wilson (C) ANA 2-3, BB (.320) ... no pitcher's duel after all Micah Posey ANA 6.2 6 4 4 0 5 (2.51) vs. Errol Simonitsch MIN 5.0 9 4 4 3 4 (2.44) ... Brian Snyder OAK 2-3, BB (.310) ... merely solid Steven Bondurant OAK 6.0 7 3 3 0 6 (W, 7-2, 2.38) ... Daric Barton STL 1-3, double ... Brendan Ryan STL 2-4 (.358) ... Adam Jones SEA 3-5, double, triple, but 2 more errors (15) ... Calvin Medlock CIN 4.0 4 2 2 1 7 (2.36) ... and in relief Omar Segovia CIN 5.0 2 0 0 1 6 (2.77) ... Drew Macias SD 1-2, BB (.306) ... Eric Duncan NYA 2-4, 4th SB ... Lou Palmisano MIL 1-3, BB (.319)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Thomas Mastny TOR, 7.0 1 0 0 0 6 (W 2-2, 2.18) ... Javon Moran PHI, 3-6, run, 2 RBI, steal (17) ... huge night Jake Blalock PHI 5-6, 3 homers (3,4,5), double, 4 runs, 5 RBI ... Josh Anderson HOU, 2-4, RBI, 2 runs ... Beau Hearod HOU, 2-5, homer (7), 3 RBI ... seven inning perfect game Chuck Tiffany LA, 7.0 0 0 0 0 12 (W 2-0, 1.57) ... Andy LaRoche LA, 1-2, homer (6), 2 RBI ... Xavier Paul LA, 1-4, double, RBI ... Nate Schierholtz SF, 1-4, homer (10), RBI ... Delmon Young TB, 2-4, homer (6), 3 RBI ... Wes Bankston 2-3, homer (5), 5 RBI ... Yusmeiro Petit NYN 6.0 2 0 0 2 10, 5-1, 1.62 ... Lastings Milledge NYN (Leadoff & CF) 1-5, double ...

    Troop movements ...  NYN -- speedster Esix Snead up with the Mets (Al Leiter DL) ... CHN -- Mike Wuertz back up (Kerry Wood DL) ... MIN -- Justin Morneau back up (Shannon Stewart DL) ...  TEX -- Gerald Laird torn ligament in his left hand,  MRI on Friday morning to determine the extent of the damage. Rangers manager Buck Showalter estimated Laird would be out for about three months if the ligament is torn ...

    Another young gun on the shelf :

" ... Tampa Bay ... announced that left-handed pitcher James Houser has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with discomfort in his left arm. The second round selection in the 2003 June Draft has been sent to St. Petersburg, FL as a precaution, and will be examined by Rays’ team physicians. The discomfort forced Houser to leave Wednesday’s game with Augusta in the seventh inning. Despite the injury, Houser pitched six-plus shutout innings of one-hit ball, walking three while striking out four. The left-hander has a 3-1 record this season with a 2.20 ERA, placing him among the league leaders. He currently has a 17 scoreless inning streak." (Charleston (SC) RiverDogs)

    Tim Drew, JD Drew, now likely Stephen Drew as as first round pick :

" ... With Drew, all the questions center around his makeup. Even if Drew lacks the first-step quickness to play shortstop as a pro, he profiles as an excellent offensive second baseman. But scouting his desire has proven elusive. "The first time I ever saw him, he did nothing against us," said one coach whose team has played Drew over the last three seasons. "Then when we were in Tallahassee once, he just had the quickest hands at the plate that I have ever seen. He ripped the bat through the strike zone, just unreal bat speed. But I think he only does that when he wants to play. "I've seen the scouts make those Todd Walker comparisons. Todd was a great player, but Stephen is better because he is more athletic and he's a better runner. And I think he'll be a better hitter, if he wants to be." It seems that teams like the Padres, Tigers and Mets--which hold the first three picks in the draft--are banking that he wants it." (John Manuel, Baseball America)

    Significant progress by a pair of TEX SPs :

" ... RHP Ricardo Rodriguez made his first start in extended spring training and threw three shutout innings (38 pitches). He is expected to make one more start in Arizona before rejoining Triple-A Oklahoma."

" ... Juan Dominguez mania is not set for an imminent return to Ameriquest Field ... Dominguez is again dominating in the minor leagues – his latest gem was a complete-game 12-1 victory for Triple-A Oklahoma on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. It was Dominguez's fourth consecutive win. But there is no rush to roll the dice again on Dominguez. For one, there's no room in the rotation, and two, the club would like to see some maturation from him ...  Dominguez mostly has been the same pitcher he was last year when he tore through all three levels of the minors. He is relying heavily on his fastball and sinker. The breaking ball the Rangers want him to develop is still a work in progress. ...  But the Rangers said they are happy with his development. "There isn't a level he hasn't pitched well at yet," manager Buck Showalter said." (Dallas Morning News)

    Chris Kline, Baseball America, on Chuck James ATL :

" ... Class A Rome lefthander Chuck James just keeps winning ... struck out eight in five innings in a 4-0 win over Asheville. He is now 5-0, 1.05 in 43 innings, yielding just 18 hits during that span. A 20th-round pick out of Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Junior College, James works with a fastball in the 89-91 mph range with an exceptional changeup and a developing slider. "He does it with mirrors," an AL scout said. "Nothing overpowering, but is advanced in changing speeds and keeping hitters off-balance. He's just eating that league up right now."

    ARZ all smiles over the clubs top pick in the 2003 draft :

" ... The awards and accolades keep stacking up for JetHawks left fielder Conor Jackson. Last week, Jackson accepted an engraved plaque and a silver bowl for winning the Northwest League's MVP award and making the league's postseason all-star team. This week, he was named the California League's Co-Player of the Week with Inland Empire pitcher Bobby Livingston ... Jackson hit .407 (11-for-27) with nine RBI and 10 runs scored. He belted two homers and maintained a .741 slugging percentage and a .469 on-base percentage ... "He's real consistent at the plate," Lancaster manager Wally Backman said. "He gives you quality at-bats all the time. He doesn't give many away." Jackson set a Northwest League record with 35 doubles at short-season Yakima (Wash.) and drove in 60 runs to go with a .319 average. This year, Jackson is hitting .322 with 11 doubles, 32 RBI and seven homers - up from the six he hit last year. A lot of that power increase has to do with the 25 pounds that Jackson put on during his first offseason as a pro." (Antelope Valley Press)

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, on the latest CLE steal & ANA's Dallas McPherson :

" ... Andy Brown ... has had injury problems, missing 2000 and much of 2001 after Tommy John surgery and almost all of last year with bone chips in his elbow that needed to be removed. Still, his mid-90s fastball and four-pitch assortment make him a great pickup for the Indians. He's as talented as Fausto Carmona, Adam Miller or any other pitcher in the team's farm system, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him reach the majors in August or September."

" ... McPherson has produced at every level, entering this season with a .304/.400/.514 line and 47 SB in 1,017 AB. The only concerns about McPherson are with his glove. There's been thought given to making him a right fielder, though that subject is dead now with Vladimir Guerrero in town. Since Troy Glaus is a free agent after the season, the Angels have every reason to keep McPherson at third base. He'll make errors, but he has decent range at the position and he has a great arm, of course. The Angels think they can make a World Series run this year despite all of their injuries, so if they believe McPherson can help, they'll give him an opportunity ...  could develop into a Troy Glaus-like offensive threat. He'll probably hit 10 or 20 points higher, though he'll give that up and a little more by having only an above average walk rate. Like Glaus, he could have some 40-homer years. There aren't many better fantasy prospects."

20 May, 2004

    Game action ... INT --  Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 1-3, 2nd HR, R, RBI, SB ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-4, 2B, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI, 0 errors ... Dewon Brazelton (TB) 7.0 7 2 2 2 7 ... Josh Hancock (PHI) 3.0 2 0 0 1 3 ... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, 3B) 1-5, 1st HR, R, 2 RBI ... Joe Borchard (CHA, RF) 3-4, SB ... Brad Halsey (NYA) 7.1 6 1 1 2 3 ... Pedro Liriano (MIL) 7.0 4 0 0 0 10 ... Victor Diaz (NYN, RF) 2-4, 2 R, RBI ... Jeremy Griffiths (NYN) 4.2 8 7 5 3 1

PCL --  No games scheduled.

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 0-5, RBI (23) … Justin Huber NYN 1-3, BB … Prentice Redman NYN 0-7… Aaron Hill TOR 0-2, BB … Dominic Rich TOR 0-2, BB … Dioner Navarro NYA 1-4 … Val Majewski BAL 0-3, BB … Keith Reed BAL 0-4 … David Crourthers BAL 7.0 1 0 0 2 8, W (2), (2.70) … Jason Kubel MINN 1-4 … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4 … Jeff Keppinger PIT 1-4 … Ryan Doumit PIT 1-4 … Michael Cervenak SF 1-3, 2B (13), RBI (32) … Gavin Floyd PHI 8.0 0 0 0 3 5, (1.76) :

" ... Floyd probably could have returned to pitch the ninth. Who knows? Perhaps he would have finished a no-hitter, but this is the land of development in Double-A baseball. Pitch counts tend to squelch complete games. Lifted after working eight hitless inning and throwing 107 pitches, Floyd watched the Fisher Cats steal a 1-0 victory ... reliever Brito Eude lost the game, lost the combined no-hitter, and his team’s winning streak ended at five ...  Floyd, the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft, left with only a sparkling line score: eight innings, no hits, five strikeouts, three walks. There was never a debate for the Phillies. Floyd was gone after eight innings and 100 pitches. “We had already decided he was coming out,” Reading manager Greg Legg said. “Obviously, we’d all like to see him pitch the ninth and get a no-hitter. That’s all great, but it’s not about that. You want to do these things in the big leagues, not in the Eastern League. You push a kid a little too much, and he gets his no-hitter, and then gets hurt, we’d be kicking ourselves.” Floyd was disappointed but rolled with the punches, saying “I was getting a little tired” later in the game. Francisco Rosario made his second start for the Fishers, clocking 98 mph on at least two radar guns. He pitched five innings, handing the scoreless game to New Hampshire’s bullpen.”  (Manchester Union Leader)

Catchup, Tuesday;s games :

" ... The promotion from Class A to Double-A is considered the biggest jump in professional baseball, but it did little to faze the New Britain Rock Cats’ newest pitcher Scott Baker. Baker retired the first 19 hitters he faced, taking a perfect game into the seventh and final inning, then settled for a one-hit shutout Tuesday as the Rock Cats salvaged the second game of a doubleheader with the Portland Sea Dogs ...  "(Baker) had great mound presence and kept the ball down," Rock Cats manager Stan Cliburn said. "During the first game, I saw him in the locker room in total concentration. Total preparation was a big part of his outing along with great physical stuff. I don’t think he threw a ball above the knees. It was just a masterpiece." (New Britain Herald)

SOUTHERN --  Rickie Weeks MIL 2B 0-3, 1 BB ... Tony Gwynn Jr MIL OF 1-4, 1 K ... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 1-4 ... Brad Nelson MIL OF 0-3, 1 K ... Aaron McNeal CHA 1B 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K's, 1 HR (10) ... James Loney LA 1B 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K ... Freddy Guzman SD OF 2-4, 1 K ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 1-4, 1 R, 1 K ... Andy Marte ATL 3B 2-5, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 0-5, 1 K ... Chadd Blasko CHN 4.1 11 9 8 0 1, ouch ... Eric Reed FLA OF 2-5, 1 2B, 1 K ... Josh Willingham FLA C 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K's ... Jason Stokes FLA 1B 0-1, 1 K, pinch hit ... Brad Thompson STL finally gave up a run, but not before setting the shutout record,  6.2 6 1 1 1 6, 7-0, 0.18 :

" ... Thompson established a minor league record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched with 5 2/3 shutout innings in an 11-2 win over West Tenn ... Thompson set the record on a short fly ball to right field off the bat of Aron Weston for the first out of the fifth inning, giving him 57 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings dating to last August. Thompson strung together the record while pitching for Tennessee, Peoria (Midwest League) and Palm Beach (Florida State League). He also claimed the Southern League record with a start of 50 scoreless innings. The streak came to an end in the sixth. Richard Lewis stroked a double off the wall in right-center with one out. Thompson followed in routine fashion, striking out Micah Hoffpauir. Thompson issued a full count walk to Matt Craig to put two aboard before Mike Dzurilla stroked a clean single to right-center to score Lewis from second." (Tennessee Smokies)

TEXAS --  Willie Taveras HOU, just keeps tickin', 2-5, .351 ... Jake Woods ANA  8.0 7 0 0 0 5, 5-1, 2.17 ... Kameron Loe TEX, adjustment problems in AA,  6.0 10 3 3 1 4, 1-4, 4.47 ... Jason Botts TEX 2-4, double, .289 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 2-3, 12th double, 4th triple, 23rd RBI, walk ... Dustin Nippert ARZ 5.2 8 3 2 3 3, 4.53

CAROLINA --  Tony Blanco CIN 1-2, RBI (29), K ... Chris Denorfia CIN 1-4, R, 2 K ... Chaz Lytle PIT 0-4, 2 K ... Brad Eldred PIT 0-3, BB, 2 K ... Rajai Davis PIT 3-4, R, double, .342 ... Zach Duke PIT (L) 5 3 2 2 1 7 (5-1, 1.23) ... Donnie Murphy KC 0-4, BB, K ... Michael Aubrey CLE 2-4, RBI (26), 2 K ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-4, R, HR (10), RBI (34), K ... Devon Lowery KC 5 6 4 4 1 5 (3.55) ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K ... Scott Thorman ATL 2-4, double, 2 RBI (28) ... Brian McCann ATL 0-3, BB, K ... Tripper Johnson BAL 1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K ...

FLORIDA STATE --  LA comes up with yet another mound prospect, Mike Megrew 7.0 0 0 0 2 11, 3-1, 1.95 :

" ... Mike Megrew painted a masterpiece Wednesday night as the Vero Beach Dodgers flirted with a no-hitter in sweeping the visiting Tampa Yankees ... Megrew threw seven no-hit innings, but gave way to RHP Beau Dannemiller, who allowed the Yankee’s first hit ... in the eighth inning. Megrew’s seven no-hit innings were accompanied by a season-best 11 strikeouts and two walks. He carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before walking his first batter." (Vero Beach Dodgers)

Elizardo Ramirez PHI 8.0 7 0 0 1 6, 5-1, 2.44 ... Joel Guzman LA, 11-game hitting streak, 1-4, 6th homer (after an ice-cold few weeks, a hot streak has put Guzman into the leaders in SLG, .507) ... Jeremy West BOS 2-5, .326 ... Matthew Murton BOS 4-5, .281 ... Nick Johnson MON 0-4.

CALIFORNIA --  Erick Aybar ANA 3-5, 5th double, 5th triple, .368 ... Michael Napoli ANA (catching) 2-5, .341 ... Joaquin Arias SS TEX 3-5, .280 ... Jeffrey Baker COL on a nice roll, 3-5, .333 ... Manny Parra MIL 6.0 3 3 0 1 4

MIDWEST --  No games scheduled.

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Nate Schierholtz SF, 2-5, 16th & 17th doubles, .329 ... Adam Boeve PIT 3-4, 8th & 9th homers, 2 walks, .296 ... Lastings Milledge NYN, 1-5 in his debut after a lengthy DL stint ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, 5th homer & 0-3, .287 ... James Houser TB (also, see below), 6.0 1 0 0 3 4, 3-1, 2.20 ... Chuck James ATL, winning recognition as one of the Braves' best, 5.2 6 0 0 1 8, 5-0, 1.03

    Troop movements ... CLE -- acquired pitcher Andy Brown from LA to complete the Milton Bradley trade  ... CIN -- activated outfielder Austin Kearns from the DL, sent outright outfielder Jason Romano to AAA ... PIT -- purchased the contract of outfielder Ruben Mateo from AAA, placed outfielder J.J. Davis on the DL ... PHI -- recalled pitcher Geoff Geary from AAA (Brian Powell DL) ... CHN -- recalled OF Jason Dubois from AAA (Sammy Sosa DL ) ... FLO -- purcahsed the contract of outfielder Larry Sutton from AAA (WiL Cordero DL) ...  TB -- activated Jason Standridge from the DL, purchased the contract of Rob Bell from AAA, optioned Chad Gaudin and Jeremi Gonzalez to AAA ...

    A little surprise near the top in Dayn Perry's TB prospect update at FoxSports.  BJ Upton claims the top spot with the unsung Jonny Gomes slipping into the No. 2 slot ahead of Delmon Young.  Down at No. 8, a young gun beginning to attract some attention :

" ... James Houser, LHP, Age: 19 ... a second-round selection in 2002, had first-round talent, but a loss of velocity in the spring caused him to tumble to the second. Those concerns have subsided. He throws four pitches for strikes. He needs to develop better command of his two curveballs, but he already has a good change, which is the pitch most youngsters struggle with. Last season in the rookie-level Appalachian League, Houser struck out more than a batter per inning and showed very good command. This year, he's been dispatched to the Sally League, and he's pitching fairly well. He's a long way from the majors, and anything can happen. He looks promising, but there's little here to suggest he's going to be a future ace."

Grabbing the last spot was catcher Pete LaForest :

" ... LaForest is old for a prospect, but he plays a key defensive position and has good power potential. He doesn't hit for average, but he does draw walks and put up solid power numbers for an up-the-middle defender. LaForest slugged .567 at AAA-Durham last season, and he could get a look in Tampa at some point before September. He's back in Durham this season and struggling in the early going. At 26, he'll likely never be a star, but with his secondary hitting skills he could be a highly useful backup or perhaps even a solid regular at the highest level."

    COL whiz kid might be facing a DL stint :

" ... staff ace Ubaldo Jimenez ... held to just three innings in his start Tuesday. "He felt some tightness in his shoulder, so we're going to take it day-to-day and see what it is," Cole said. "It was something new, and hopefully it's not something serious. Hopefully it can heal itself before his next start. [Oaks pitching coach] Jim Bennett noticed something was bothering [Jimenez]. He didn't want to come out, but for his health, we took him out of the game at that point." Jimenez, who leads the Cal League in strikeouts and is among league leaders in several other pitching categories, gave up three runs on four hits. In his previous start on May 12 against Rancho Cucamonga, Jimenez turned in his most ineffective outing of the season, allowing nine hits and six runs -- two of which were earned -- in five and 1/3 innings." (Visalia Times-Delta)

    MIL pitching prospect with a chance for some MLB action this weekend :

" ... Pitching prospect Ben Hendrickson was lifted from his Tuesday start for Triple-A Indianapolis after two innings, and there is a chance his next appearance will come in a Brewers uniform. With left-hander Chris Capuano slated to make another minor league rehabilitation start, the Brewers are short a starter for Saturday's game at Pittsburgh. "We limited him to 50 pitches, just to give us an option," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. In two innings, Hendrickson allowed one unearned run on three hits. He is 3-2 this season with a 2.25 ERA. The 23-year-old was Milwaukee's 10th-round selection in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. He was 7-6 with a 3.45 ERA at Double-A Huntsville last season and missed time early in the year with right elbow soreness." (MLB.com)

    KC's top prospect vaults right to the Royals :

" ... Zack Greinke was scheduled to start for the Omaha Royals Saturday afternoon at Tacoma. Instead, the 20-year old right-hander is now set to make his Major League debut pitching Saturday afternoon at Oakland, with Greinke squaring off against Barry Zito, the 2002 American League Cy Young Award winner. The Kansas City Royals say Greinke, ranked by Baseball America as the team’s top prospect entering this season, will join the parent club for the series opener in Oakland on Friday night ... Greinke made six starts for Omaha, going 1-1 and posting a 2.51 ERA. In three of his first five starts, a strict pitch count held him to four innings in each outing. However, Greinke turned in his longest, and possibly best stint of the season Monday night ... when he recorded his first Triple-A win in a 2-1 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies ... gave up one run on two hits and a hit batter in the first inning. But, after his teammates scored two runs in the bottom of the first to give Greinke the lead, he blanked Fresno over the next five frames ...  did not walk a batter Monday, while chalking up a season-high seven strikeouts and retiring ten straight batters at one point during his 83-pitch effort. Overall with Omaha, Greinke pitched 28-and-two-thirds innings, allowing 8 earned runs on 25 hits. He walked just six batters, while striking out 23 and held opposing batters to a .225 average." (Omaha Royals)

    Not in the prospect category, but all-around good guy, The Crime Dog, gets another chance :

" ... Fred McGriff may yet get his chance to reach 500 home runs. The 40-year-old slugger has decided to join Triple-A Durham, and the sagging Tampa Bay Devil Rays expect to promote him to the majors by the end of May. "I think three left-handed hitters in the lineup hitting .200 or below prompts us to make this move," Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar said Wednesday. "Fred McGriff gives us an experienced bat in the line up. We're looking for offense." McGriff is nine home runs short of 500." (Associated Press)

19 May, 2004

    Game action ... INT --  Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 3-4, R, SB ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 0-5, SB, 0 errors ... Nook Logan (DET, CF) 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB ... Marcus Thames (DET, RF) 3-4, 2 2B, 12th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... rehabbing Austin Kearns (CIN, DH) 0-2, 3 R, 3 BB ... Brandon Claussen (CIN) 5.0 4 3 3 4 4 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 2-5 ... Russ Adams (TOR, SS) 2-5, 2B, 2 R ... Alexis Rios (TOR, RF) 4-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI ... Jorge Padilla (PHI, RF) 2-4 ... Jack Cust (BAL, DH) 1-3, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... Jhonny Peralta (CLE, 3B) 2-5, RBI ... Byung-Hyun Kim (BOS) 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 ... Josh Stewart (CHA) 5.0 8 2 2 1 4 ... Corey Hart (MIL, RF) 3-5, 2B, 6th HR, 3 R, 4 RBI ... Ben Hendrickson (MIL) 2.0 3 1 0 1 1 ... Aaron Heilman (NYN) 6.0 3 4 4 3 4

PCL --  Aaron Miles COL 3-6, double ... Rene Reyes COL 3-5, 2 doubles, .394 ... Cody Ransom SF 4-4, 4th homer, .275 ... not a good time for Jason Dubois CHN to come away with a double ofer, (with Sammy Sosa due for a DL stint) 0-4, 2 Ks & 0-3 ... Brendan Harris CHN, once pretty highly rated, 2-3, homer, .200 ... Xavier Nady SD 2-4, 2 walks, double  ... Michael Tejera, seems in line for another FLO trial, 7.0 4 0 0 2 2, 4-0, 2.57 ... Juan Dominguez TEX 9.0 4 1 1 4 4, 4-1, 2.72 ... Chad Allen TEX, 5-6, 3rd homer, 3 RBI, .409 ... little sign of life from Adrian Gonzalez TEX 3-5, .274 ... Chris George KC 5.0 5 2 2 2 4. 1.96 ... Travis Blackley SEA  6.0 2 2 1 4 1 ... Adam Wainwright STL 3.0 7 8 7 4 2 ... Jamal Strong SEA 4-5, double, .349 ... Carlos Hernandez HOU 5.0 4 3 3 4 3, 4-0, 2.40 ... Edgar Gonzalez ARZ 6.0 12 7 7 1 5 ... Luis Terrero ARZ 2-5, triple, .340

EASTERN --  Aaron Hill TOR 0-4 … Dominic Rich TOR 2-4, 2B (9), 3B (2) … Dioner Navarro NYA 1-2, 2 BB … Val Majewski BAL 0-3, BB … Keith Reed BAL 2-5, RBI (13) … Jason Kubel MINN 2-6, 2B (14), HR (6), RBI (29) … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, 2B (14) … Jeff Keppinger PIT 1-3, 2 RBI (10) … Ryan Doumit PIT 1-5 … Michael Cervenak SF 1-4

SOUTHERN --  Andy Marte ATL 3B 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K ... Paul Byrd ATL 4.0 5 5 5 1 3, rehab not going very well ... Chris Narveson STL 6.0 6 4 4 2 4, now 0-5 ... Reggie Abercrombie LA OF 0-3, 1 BB, batting .118 ... James Loney LA 1B 2-3, 1 2B, 1 BB ... Freddy Guzman SD OF 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB (10 & 11) ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K ... Tim Stauffer SD 8.0 8 1 1 2 2, 2.57 ... Eric Reed FLA OF 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (3) ... Josh Willingham FLA C 3-3, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 BB ... Ronald Belizario FLA 6.0 5 2 2 1 4, still 5.59 era ... Arnie Munoz CHA 6.0 3 3 2 3 5 ... Rickie Weeks MIL 0-2, 2 walks, .279 ... Prince Fielder MIL 0-3, down to .273 ...

TEXAS --  Willy Taveras CF HOU 0-4 ... Tommy Whiteman SS HOU 2-3, 2B ... Dustin Delucchi CF 2-4, R, 2CS ... Shin-soo Choo RF 1-3, R, 2B, RBI, BB ... Jayson Nix 2B COL 0-4, 2k's ... Junior Herndon 7 4 1 1 0 6 ... Drew Meyer SS TEX 1-5, HR, 3RBI ... Jason Botts 1B TEX 2-4, 2HR (10) ... Alberto Callaspo DH ANA 0-4, RBI ... Nick Gorneault CF ANA 1-4, R, 2B ... Dallas McPherson ANA 3B 0-4 ... Jeff Mathis C ANA 3-3, 2 2B, RBI ... Eric Cyr ANA 6.1 6 4 4 1 1 ... Freddie Bynum CF OAK 3-5, 2R, 2 3B, 2RBI, 2 SB ... Mark Teahen 3B OAK 1-5, R ... John Baker C OAK 2-5, 2B ... Jeremy Brown C OAK 2-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI ... Victor Hall CF ARI 3-3, R, 2B, 2BB, SB ... Brian Barden 3B ARI 0-4, RBI ... Josh Kroeger RF ARI 0-4 ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 0-3, BB

CAROLINA --  Donnie Murphy KC 1-4, R, K ... Mike Aviles KC 0-3, BB ... Michael Aubrey CLE 1-4, R, HR (5), RBI (25) ... Ivan Ochoa CLE 1-3, BB, SB (9) ... worth mentioning Ryan Prahm CLE 1 0 0 0 0 3 (11 saves, 0.00 ERA) ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 0-4 ... Brian Anderson CHA 2-4 ... Casey Rogowski CHA 1-4, R, K ... Luke Scott HOU 2-3, R, HR (4), 2 RBI ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 0-4, 2 K ... Jason Hirsch HOU (W) 7 5 1 1 2 5 (3-3, 4.29) ... Chris Denorfia CIN 1-4, RBI (28) ... Chaz Lytle PIT 2-4, RBI ... Brad Eldred PIT 2-3, R, double, 3 RBI (34), BB, K ... Rajai Davis PIT 2-4, R, RBI, BB ... Richard Gardner CIN (L) 3 9 6 5 0 2 (5-2, 2.55) ... Jonathan Albaladejo PIT (W) 6 3 0 0 1 6 (3-4, 5.09) ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-2, R, BB ... Scott Thorman ATL 1-3, R, RBI ... Brian McCann ATL 1-3, R, HR (3), 3 RBI, K ... Doug Gredvig BAL 0-2, K ... Tripper Johnson BAL 0-2 ... Jose Capellan ATL (W) 5 1 0 0 0 7 (4-1, 2.06)

FLORIDA STATE --  some good signs (6 Ks in 3 IP), but looks like it may take awhile for Angel Guzman CHN to get back in form, 3.0 9 5 4 0 6 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-4, .280 ... Josh Banks TOR, poised to move up the ladder,  6.0 3 1 0 0 11, 5-1, 1.72 ... Nick Johnson MON 0-2, walk ... Alejandro Machado SS MON 3-5, .351 ... Jonathan Broxton LA 6.1 6 3 3 4 6, 3.28 ... Joel Guzman LA 3-5, 4th triple, .284

CALIFORNIA --  Rene Rivera C SEA 3-4,double, homer, .324 ... oh, oh, Ubaldo Jimenez COL, second straight off night, 3.0 4 3 3 1 2 ... Jeffrey Baker 3B COL 2-2, walk, .321 ... Bradley Sullivan OAK 5.0 8 7 7 2 1 ... Joe Saunders ANA 5.0 7 2 2 1 0 ... Erick Aybar ANA 3-5, .360 ... Michael Napoli ANA 2-4, 12th homer, .339 ... John Suomi C OAK 2-5, .325 ... Matthew Cain SF 4.1 9 5 2 1 3, 2.09 ... Fred Lewis SF 2-3, 2 walks, .331 .

MIDWEST --  Chris Lubanski KC 0-5 (.214) ... Lou Palmisano MIL 0-4, 2 K ... second start as good as the first Trent Peterson OAK 7.0 4 1 1 0 6 (0.75) ... Kody Kirkland DET 2-4 ... Jared Wells SD 7.0 7 1 1 1 4 (2.89) ... Lino Garcia ARZ 2-4, 2 SB (.317) ... Hector Made NYA 2-3, 2 E ... Daric Barton (C) STL 2-3, 2 doubles, BB ... Brendan Ryan STL 2-4, double ... Joey Votto CIN 2-2, double, BB (.296) ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-3, 5th SB (.281) ... Kevin Jepsen ANA 6.0 2 2 1 3 13 (2.49) ... Adam Jones SEA 0-3, BB, 2 K, E ... Jason Mackintosh SEA 5.2 2 0 0 0 6 (2.45) ... this is getting ridiculous Ian Kinsler TEX 2-4, double, 2 BB (.414)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  No games scheduled.

    Troop movements ... ANA -- minor league vet Adam Riggs up (Troy Glaus DL) :

" ... General Manager Bill Stoneman said that, despite his recent decision to recall first baseman Casey Kotchman from double-A Arkansas to replace the injured Darin Erstad, he would not, for now, rush top third-base prospect Dallas McPherson to Anaheim. McPherson is hitting .301 with three home runs and 21 runs batted in at Arkansas." (LA Times)

ATL -- placed second baseman Marcus Giles on the DL, activated infielder Jesse Garcia .. MON -- activated outfielder Carl Everett from the DL ... NYA -- activated pitcher Felix Heredia from the DL, designated pitcher Donovan Osborne for assignment ... PIT -- recalled pitcher Mike Gonzalez from AAA, designated pitcher Jason Boyd for assignment ... SD -- placed pitcher David Wells on the DL, recalled pitcher Justin Germano from AAA ... TB -- recalled outfielder Jonny Gomes from AAA,  designated outfielder Midre Cummings for assignment ... CHA -- optioned RHP Felix Diaz to Triple-A, recalled LHP Kelly Wunsch from Triple-A ...

    Brad Thompson STL right to the top rung of the ladder on Kevin Goldstein's Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball America :

" ... We can deny him no longer -- started the year ranked as the 13th best pitcher in the Cardinals system, now he's No. 1 on the Hot Sheet thanks to Southern League record-tying 43.1 scoreless innings."

Jason Kubel MIN captured the runnerup slot with TB lefty Chris Seddon at No. 3 :

" ... Took his 0.65 ERA to the Southern League, where he fired six more shutout innings in his Biscuit debut."

David Wright NYN ranked No. 4, just ahead of BJ Upton TB.

Kevin not at all afraid of reaching out to include some generally unfamiliar names for the list.  Among those who made the list -- ATL's Chuck James, Bobby Livingston SEA, Howie Kendrick ANA, Zach Duke PIT, and Ian Kinsler TEX.

    Kathleen O'Brien, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, notes a shift of emphasis in TEX :

" ... At every level of the organization, the Rangers have at least a couple of exciting pitching prospects. Ricardo Rodriguez, due back from an appendectomy next week, and Juan Dominguez head the list at Triple A Oklahoma. Kameron Loe, Kelvin Jimenez and Erik Thompson are among the tops at Double A Frisco. John Hudgins and Wes Littleton are on the radar at high Class A Stockton (Calif.). And John Danks and Matt Lorenzo are turning heads for low Class A Clinton (Iowa). "The thing that I think I'm most proud of is the depth that we've added to the system the last couple years," said assistant general manager Grady Fuson, who oversees the draft. "It's easy to say that we've got at least three guys, maybe four, whom we've got some hope for. In the near future, we're going to have some fun decisions to make. Those decisions will include deciding whether Dominguez's upside, Rodriguez's brief major league experience, Thompson's penchant for strikeouts or Sam Narron's statistics are more impressive. Determining who earns promotions first is a tricky call that is based on past and present performance, scouts' opinions and potential ... "Between the draft, between the Latin program and between what's going on the minor league system, we're pretty pleased," Hart said. "We don't have Josh Beckett sitting down there in our system. We don't have that big arm, can't-miss guy. But we do have some depth that has a chance to be good solid pitchers at the major league level." Danks might be that "can't-miss" pitcher, but the Rangers won't yet anoint the 19-year-old with that label. Instead, they will let him rise at his own pace through the minors. They hope he will continue to flourish in the system Fuson devised, in which Class A teams use an eight-man rotation with four starting tandems."

    Mark Prior scheduled for a Midwest stint and it's generating a lot of interest :

" ... Mark Prior's road to recovery is generating serious interest beyond the Cubs, Chicago and the National League. Prior, rehabbing his Achilles' tendon, will make his first minor-league start Thursday night for the Lansing Lugnuts, the Cubs' affiliate in the Class A Midwest League. He is to throw two innings that night and is to make another start for Lansing on May 25. The appearances will be his first against live batters after a succession of simulated workouts over recent weeks. Within minutes of Lansing's announcement that Prior would start--the Cubs wanted to wait until midday Monday to confirm that Prior had no elbow soreness--the Lugnuts had more than 100 Internet ticket requests, most from the Chicago area. The Lugnuts' Web site urged: "Cancel all prior commitments, Mark Prior to pitch for Lugnuts Thursday." Fans here and there apparently are heeding the recommendation. "It's just been going crazy," Lugnuts general manager Jeff Calhoun said. "Cubs fans are dying to see Mark Prior pitch." (Chicago Tribune)

    Joe Mauer MIN back in action :

" ... The 21-year-old rookie went 2-4 with a home run as the designated hitter in an extended Spring Training game in Fort Myers, Fla. "Everything was fine. He didn't really have to run the bases," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Mauer is due to DH again in both ends of a doubleheader on Wednesday. If all goes well, he'll catch five innings of a game on Thursday. "We're moving right along and everything looks good," Gardenhire said. But Twins fans shouldn't count on seeing Mauer behind the plate at the Metrodome just yet. Gardenhire said that Mauer still has work to do before he's sent out on a rehabilitation assignment. "He's got to get in shape again," Gardenhire said. "He hasn't done that much running, and his legs are going to take a beating for the first three or four games. He's going to be worn-out." The Twins will monitor Mauer's progress over the next couple of days before deciding on their next move, but Gardenhire said he expects that Mauer will catch at both Double-A and Triple-A before returning to the Majors." (MLB.com)

18 May, 2004  

    Game action ... INT --  Matt Diaz (TB, RF) 2-4, 2B, R ... B.J. Upton (TB, SS, quick turnaround from tough day,  3-5, 2nd HR, R ,2 RBI, 0 errors ... Marcus Thames (DET, RF) 2-5, 2B, 11th HR, 2 R, 3 RBI ... rehabbing Austin Kearns (CIN, RF) 3-5, 2 2B, R, RBI ... Matt Belisle (CIN) 4.2 7 7 7 2 2 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, CF) 2-5, R, RBI ... Jorge Padilla (PHI, RF) 2-4, 2B ... Mike Fontenot (BAL, 2B) 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Jeremy Reed (CHA, LF) 2-5, 3 R, BB ... Joe Borchard (CHA, RF) 2-5, 4th & 5th HRs, 2 R, 7 RBI ... Michael Vento (NYA, RF) 2-4, 2B, 5th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Tyler Yates (NYN) 5.2 0 0 0 3 5

PCL --  after a really tough start to the season, John VanBenschoten PIT begins to turn it around,  7.0 5 1 1 2 10 ... Clint Nageotte SEA going the other way, 4.0 10 9 9 1 3 2 ... Kevin Olsen FLO 8.2 6 1 1 1 7 ... Josh Karp MON 6.0 5 3 3 4 7 ... Aaron Miles COL 2-5, double, as he starts over ... Rene Reyes COL 3-5, .377 ... Zack Greinke KC 6.0 6 1 1 0 7 ... Antonio Perez LA 1-2, 2 walks, .289 ... Koyie Hill LA, coming alive, 3-4, double, 5th homer, walk, 4 RBI, up to .279 ... Jayson Werth LA, back from DL, 2-4, walk, triple

" ... catcher Craig Ansman [ARZ] hit a grand slam home run in back-to-back contests to take the Pacific Coast League’s Batter of the Week Award  ....starter Mike Wood [OAK] earns Pitcher of the Week honors." (Pacific Coast League)

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 0-3, BB … Justin Huber NYN 1-1, BB … Prentice Redman NYN 0-3, BB … Matt Peterson NYN 8.0 6 1 1 1 6, W (3), (2.35) … Aaron Hill TOR 1-4, 2B (4) … Dominic Rich TOR 1-4, RBI (16) … Dioner Navarro NYA 2-4 … Chien-Ming Wang NYA 6.0 5 3 3 0 7, (3.43) … Val Majewski BAL 0-4 … Keith Reed BAL 1-4, HR (3), RBI (12) … Jason Kubel MINN 1-4, 2B (13), RBI (28), .384 AVG … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, RBI (16) … Jeremy Guthrie CLE 6.2 7 4 4 2 4, W (3), (4.63) … Jeff Keppinger PIT 2-4, RBI (8), .412 AVG … Ryan Doumit PIT 2-4, 2B (8), 2 RBI (11) … Ian Snell PIT 6.0 8 4 4 0 7, (3.16) … Michael Cervenak SF 0-3, BB … Keith Bucktrot PHI 7.0 8 3 3 0 7, W (3), (2.37) …

" ... Shawn Hill [MON] right-handed pitcher for the Harrisburg Senators, is the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week ... In two starts last week, the 6’2”, 185 lb. hurler was 2-0 with eight strikeouts and a 0.60 ERA. ... Hill evened his record to 3-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.72, which is currently tops in the Eastern League. Hill, the Montreal Expos sixth round selection in the June 2000 draft, also had a solid week at the plate, going 2-for-6 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored." (Eastern League)

" ... “ … third baseman Jack Hannahan [DET] has been named Eastern League player of the week for the week ... batting .682 (15-22) with two doubles and one home run in six games. During this span, the 24-year-old raised his batting average for the season from .232 to .327, while posting a .720 on-base percentage. For the season, Hannahan is tied for fifth in the league in OBP at .481. He was selected in the third round of the 2001 June Draft by the Detroit Tigers.”

SOUTHERN --  Edwin Encarnacion CIN 3B 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K's ... Reggie Abercrombie LA OF 2-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 2 K's, avg up to .129 ... James Loney LA 1B 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB ... Eric Reed FLA OF 1-5, 1 R, 1 SB (20) ... Jason Stokes FLA 1B 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI ... Freddy Guzman SD OF 1-5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 4-5, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 K ... Aaron McNeal CHA 1B 0-3, 3 K's ... Bobby Brownlie CHN 6.0 9 4 4 0 5 ... Andy Marte ATL 3B 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR (7) ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B ... Rickie Weeks MIL 2B 1-5, 3 K's ... Tony Gwynn Jr MIL OF 3-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB (11) ... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 0-4, 1 BB ... Brad Nelson MIL OF 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K ... Dwaine Bacon CF CHN, isn't on any top prospect lists (a 16th round pick in 2001), but he's making the most of a AA opportunity, last weeks' co-hitter of the week, Bacon keeps charging, 3-3, 2 walks, 25th SB, .275 

From Sunday -- Chris Seddon TB superb in AA debut 5.0 4 0 0 1 6 ... Seddon topped Cubs' prospect Sean Marshall, also in his first AA action, 3.0 10 6 6 0 2

TEXAS --  Dustin Delucchi CF SEA 2-5, 3RBI ... Shin-soo Choo LF SEA 1-4, R, 3RBI, BB ... Maryland Williams CF ARI 3-5, 2R, HR ...  Brian Barden 3B ARI 2-3  ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 0-5 ... Josh Kroeger RF ARI 2-3, R, 3B, BB ...Ervin Santana ANA, season debut, 3.2 5 2 2 3 6 ... Jeff Francis 7.2 9 2 2 1 9, 2.91 (and, see below) ... Jeremy Brown OAK 2-4, 2nd homer, .190 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 4th homer, .298

CAROLINA --  Donnie Murphy KC 0-4, 2 RBI (27), K ... Mike Aviles KC 1-4, BB, K ... Michael Aubrey CLE 0-2, 2 BB ... Ivan Ochoa CLE 2-3, RBI, BB ... Ryan Garko CLE 0-4, 2 K ... time for a demotion Colt Griffin KC (L) 1.2 4 3 3 4 1 (1-4, 8.73) ... JD Martin CLE (W) 5.2 5 2 2 2 3 (4-2, 4.76) ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 3-5, 3 R, HR (2), 2 RBI ... Brian Anderson CHA 3-4, double, triple, 2 RBI (24), SB (6), .345... Casey Rogowski CHA 1-4, RBI, 2 K ... Luke Scott HOU 0-4 ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-4 ... Chris Denorfia CIN 2-4, BB, 2 K ... Chaz Lytle PIT 1-3, 2 R, K ... Brad Eldred PIT 3-4, R, double, SB (3) ... Rajai Davis PIT 2-5

" ... HITTER-- ... Mark Saccomanno [HOU] hit .560 (14-25) with 4 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 10 RBI and a .960 slugging percentage. PITCHER--Myrtle Beach right-hander Anthony Lerew [ATL] went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, allowing 8 hits, and 3 walks while striking out 18 in 12.1 innings."

FLORIDA STATE --  Kyle Sleeth DET 6.0 4 1 1 2 8, 2.66 ... Brent Clevlen DET 1-3, 2nd homer & 2-3, double, triple, .349 ... Jays' Kurt Isenberg received some good reviews, but the actual performance hasn't been pretty, 1.1 6 6 6 1 1, 5.97 ... Tony Armas MON, 3.1 4 5 5 3 2 ... Chad Billingsley LA, finally got a win,  5.0 6 1 1 1 6, 1.83 ... Delwyn Young LA 2-3, walk & 3-3, 4th & 5th homers, 4 RBI,  .226 ... Joel Guzman LA 2-4, double & 2-4 double, .273 ... Joel Zumaya DET 6.0 1 3 1 6 5, 4.95 ... Blake Blasi SS STL 3-5, .396 ...  Nic Jackson CHN, nice day on the road back from injury, 1-2 & 3-4, double, triple, homer (missed the cycle by a single) ... NYN SS Corey Ragsdale homer, 2 RBI & 3-4, double

CALIFORNIA --  Joey Gomes TB 3-3, walk

MIDWEST --  a heartbeat, maybe Kody Kirkland DET 2-4 (.183) ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4 ... Matt Brown (3B) ANA 7th and 8th HR, but 3 K (.286) (10th round pick out of high school in 2001) .. wow Thomas Oldham SEA 7.0 5 0 0 0 13 (3.51) ... Adam Jones SEA 2-5, triple (.239) ... Abel Gomez NYA 6.0 4 1 1 4 4 (W, 4-0, 2.13) ... Melky Cabrera NYA 2-5, triple ... Erold Andrus NYA 3-3, BB (.262) ... back-to-back rough outings Matt Chico ARZ 5.0 8 4 4 2 6 (up to 2.82) ... Brendan Ryan STL 3-5, double (.348) ... 18-year-old Daric Barton STL 2-5, 1st HR (2nd game in '04, after winter elbow surgery) ... Joey Votto CIN 5th HR ... Matt Farnum TEX 5.0 4 0 0 1 3 (W, 3-1, 1.70) ... forget the doubles, how about longballs? Ian Kinsler TEX 1st and 2nd HR ... Lou Palmisano MIL 2-5 (328) ... Steve Moss MIL 3-5, 2 doubles, HR

" ... third baseman Matt Brown [ANA], who hit three home runs and drove in eight runs in a game on May 13 at Beloit, has been named the Midwest League’s Player of the Week ... Brown batted .444 (8-for-18) with a 1.167 slugging percentage in five games ...belted four home runs and drove in 11 runs ... Brad Knox [OAK] was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week, the second straight week a member of the Cougars was honored. Knox was 2-0 and allowed only one run in 13 innings while striking out 16." (Cedar Rapids Kernels)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Zach Dixon BAL, wild by effective, 5.0 1 1 0 5 4, 3-1, 0.76 ... Ian Stewart COL 2-3, double ... Adam Miller CLE 4.2 8 4 3 2 3, 2.20 ... Ryan Goleski CLE 10th homer, .338 ...

    Troop movements ... MIL -- recalled RHP Mike Adams from Triple-A ... ARZ -- Scott Hairston back up for a few days (Greg Colbrunn DL) ... COL -- recalled RHP Aaron Cook from Triple-A, optioned RHP Scott Dohmann to Triple-A ...  BOS -- Hanley Ramirez, A+, DL (sprained wrist) ...

    John Sickels, ESPN.com, on super Canadian lefty, Jeff Francis COL :

" ... Francis is tall and rather lanky. A good overall athlete, he still has room to fill out and add strength to his frame and oomph to his fastball. Even if that doesn't happen, his fastball is already more than adequate at 89-92 mph ...  he's refined the breaker into a very nice standard curveball. He's also made major strides with his changeup and has learned to work both corners of the plate with all three pitches. He is not afraid to throw inside. Francis' command is already above average and should end up in the excellent category with more experience. His delivery is smooth, helping his command and keeping excess stress off his arm ... This season, he's picked up where he left off last year, mowing down Texas League hitters with relative ease ... His 2003 numbers were sharp across the board, and the fact that he's maintained (and improved) his ratios while moving up to a more difficult league is an excellent marker for his future ... Ideally, Francis should stay in the minors this season, adding to his experience base and refining his game ...  wouldn't be shocking if Francis gets a call later this summer. On his own terms, Jeff Francis is one of the five best left-handed pitching prospects in the game. Whether he'll be able to turn that into success in Coors Field is another matter."

    PIT kid, Paul Maholm, hit in the face by a batted ball, appears to have escaped serious injury :

" ... "He'll go back to his apartment and rest for three or four days," said Bo McKinnis, Maholm's agent. "We won't know how bad everything is until the swelling goes down, but the preliminary probe shows no vision problems, and he has feeling in all of his extremities."  ... It is too early to tell whether Maholm will require surgery or how long the injury will keep him off the field. That won't be known until Maholm is examined again once the swelling subsides. There also is the psychological barrier Maholm might have to overcome when he takes the mound again. "This is not the end of it, but it was a very scary moment," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "We have very high hopes for Paul Maholm."  (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

17 May, 2004

    Game action ... INT --  B.J. Upton (TB, SS) 2-4, RBI, 1 error ... rehabbing Austin Kearns (CIN, RF) 2-4, 3B, R, RBI ... Bubba Nelson (CIN) 6.2 5 2 2 1 3 ... Ryan Langerhans (ATL, RF) 2-4, 2B, 3 R, BB ... Michael Restovich (MIN, RF) 1-3, 10th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... Tim Raines Jr (BAL, CF) 2-4, 2B, HBP, SB ... John Maine (BAL) 5.0 8 5 5 1 4 ... Kazuhito Tadano (CLE) 1.1 0 0 0 1 0 ... Joe Borchard (CHA, CF) 1-3, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI ... Michael Vento (NYA, RF) 1-3, 4th HR, R, RBI ... if he can lose the wildness (2 WP, 2 HB) he might be back in NY soon, Jose Contreras (NYA) 7.0 4 2 2 4 12 ... Jorge De La Rosa (MIL) 3.0 4 4 4 5 3 ... Randy Keisler NYN one run, four hits in 7 1/3 ... David Bush TOR three runs, eight hits, seven Ks through seven

PCL --  ouch, Ricky Nolasco CHN 1.1 8 6 6 2 1 ... Esteban German OAK 4-6, 2 doubles, .333 ... getting back in the swing after a late start, minor league vet Graham Koonce OAK 3-4, 2 doubles, walk, 7th homer, 5 RBI, .266 ... itching for another MLB shot, Jamey Wright KC, 4th straight in, 6.0 4 1 1 1 3, 6-2, 2.51 ... Antonio Perez LA, 2-2, 2 walks, double, 4 runs, .288 ... Clint Barmes COL 3-5, 2 doubles, .364 ... Xavier Nady SD (CF no less) 3-5, double & 2-3, double, .400 ... JR House PIT 2-4, double, 7th homer, 4 RBI, .277 ... Danny Haren STL 7.0 7 4 4 1 8, 3.59 ... Cha-Seung Baek SEA 5.1 4 2 1 1 5, 4.06 ... Scott Downs MON, a chance to make it up after all these years,  8.0 5 1 1 1 5, 3.00 ... Sean Burnett PIT, a little shaky after an injury scare, 5.1 8 5 5 1 5

EASTERN --  David Wright NYN 4-5, 2B (15), 2 RBI (22) … Justin Huber NYN 2-4, BB … Prentice Redman NYN 2-4, 2 2B (14), RBI (31) … Aaron Hill TOR 0-3, BB … Dominic Rich TOR 0-2, 2 BB … Dioner Navarro NYA 1-4, R, BB … Val Majewski BAL 0-4, BB … Keith Reed BAL 1-3, BB … Jason Kubel MINN 2-5, 3 RBI (27) … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-4 … Francisco Cruceta CLE 8.0 8 6 5 0 4, (3.83) … Ryan Doumit PIT 1-4, 2B (7), RBI (9) … Bryan Bullington PIT 5.0 4 1 1 1 2, W (2), (3.51) … Michael Cervenak SF 2-4

SOUTHERN --  Freddy Guzman SD OF 0-1, 1 BB ... Josh Barfield SD 2B 0-4, 2 K's ... Aaron McNeal CHA 1B 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K ... Andy Marte ATL 3B 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K's ... Kelly Johnson ATL OF 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI ... Dan Meyer  ATL dominating 7.0 2 0 0 0 8, 3-1, 1.45 era (In his last four starts, 32 Ks in 22 innings)  ... Rickie Weeks MIL 2B 1-4, 1 K ... Tony Gwynn Jr MIL OF 0-4, 2 K's ... Prince Fielder MIL 1B 0-3, 1 K ... Brad Nelson MIL OF 2-3, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 SB ... Eric Reed FLA OF 1-5, 1 R, 3 K's ... Jason Stokes FLA 1B 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K ... Josh Willingham FLA C 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K ... Nic Ungs FLA 5.0 8 4 4 3 2 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN 3B 0-2, 2 BB, 1 K ... Reggie Abercrombie LA OF 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K's, batting .077 ... James Loney LA 1B 1-4, 1 K

TEXAS --  Alberto Callaspo SS ANA 0-4 ... Nick Gorneault CF ANA 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR ... Dallas McPherson 3B ANA 1-4, RBI, 3K's, might be called up soon if Troy Glaus is put on DL ... Jeff Mathis C ANA 1-3, HR, BB ... Jayson Nix 2B COL 0-3, R, BB ... Ryan Shealy 1B COL 2-3, R, BB ... Jason Bourgeois 2B TEX 2-5, R. 2K's ... Drew Meyer SS TEX About time, 3-5, 3R and 3-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI ... Jason Botts 1B TEX 3-5, HR, 3R, 3RBI and 1-3, HR, 3RBI, 2BB ... Erik Thompson TEX Brilliant, 9 5 0 0 1 6 ... Willy Taveras CF HOU 1-3, R, RBI, BB ... Todd Self 1B HOU 2-5, 2 2B, R, RBI ... Tommy Whiteman SS HOU 2-4, R, BB ... Mark Teahen 3B OAK 3-5, R ... John Baker C OAK 1-3, 2B ... Shin-soo Choo LF SEA 2-5, RBI, SB ... Greg Jacobs DH SEA 2-5, RBI ... Brian Barden 3B ARI 2-5, R, RBI ... Josh Kroeger RF ARI 2-3 ... Sergio Santos SS ARI 0-2, RBI ... Lance Cormier ARI 6.1 10 4 4 2 2, raising ERA to 2.12

CAROLINA --  Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-4, 2 R, double, K, SB (6) ... Scott Thorman ATL 0-3, RBI (24) ... Brian McCann ATL 3-5, 2 R, double, HR (2), RBI ... Chris Denorfia CIN 2-4, K, SB (4) ... Anthony Lerew ATL (W) 5.1 6 0 0 1 9 (3-2, 3.27) ... Luke Scott HOU 3-4, R, double, HR (3), 2 RBI ... Mark Saccomanno HOU 1-4, K ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 4-6 ... Brian Anderson CHA 1-6, 2 RBI, K ... Casey Rogowski CHA 0-5, R, BB, 3 K ... Chaz Lytle PIT 1-5, BB, K ... Brad Eldred PIT 1-5, R, double, 3 K ... Rajai Davis PIT 2-5, R, BB, K ... Doug Gredvig BAL 0-2, 2 BB, K ... Tripper Johnson BAL 1-4, R, HR (7), RBI, 3 K ... Michael Aubrey CLE 3-5, R, double, HR (4), 3 RBI (24) ... Ivan Ochoa CLE 1-5, R, RBI, K ... Ryan Garko CLE 2-3, 2 R, double, HR (9), 2 RBI (33), K

FLORIDA STATE --  Bob Keppel NYA, just his second game since return from injury, 5.0 5 1 1 1 2 0

CALIFORNIA --  TB kids (1-2-3 in the batting order) quite a day, SS Matthew Maniscalco 4-5, double, .314 ... CF Jesus Feliciano 4-5, .321 & 3B Vince Harrison 3-4, homer, 4 RBI, .295 ... Felix Hernandez SEA, another stumble, 4.0 8 7 5 3 3, 3.67 ... Erick Aybar ANA, quiet lately, 2-5, double, .351 ... Jeffrey Baker 3B COL 3-5, .308 ... Conor Jackson ARZ 3-5, walk, 6th & 7th homers, .326 ... catcher John Vanden Berg MIL 4-4, double, 3rd homer, walk, .345 ... Lance Niekro SF looks ready to return to AAA, 5-5, 2 doubles, walk ... Fred Lewis CF SF 2-5, 4th triple, walk, .322

MIDWEST --  Ricky Barrett MIN 6.0 5 0 0 1 6 (2.19) ... Cody Haerther STL 2-5, 2nd HR ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4 (.331) ... Nic Touchstone ANA 6.0 1 0 0 3 3 (.295) ... Adam Jones SEA 0-3 ... this is encouraging Kenneth Durost MIL 5.0 2 0 0 2 8 (down to 4.23) ... Lou Palmisano MIL (DH at cleanup) 3-4, 2 doubles ... Lino Garcia ARZ 1-4 (.313) ... Melky Cabrera NYA 3-4, double, BB, 7th steal ... Hector Made (SS) NYA 2-4 (.269) ... Brad Knox OAK 7.0 4 0 0 0 11 ... sombrero time Andrew Wishy TEX 0-4, all K's ... John Danks TEX 3.2 2 0 0 1 1 (1.86) ... he has the right formula Ian Kinsler TEX 3-4 (.409) ... Brian Dopirak CHN 1-4 ... Justin Jones CHN 4.0 4 1 0 3 4 (2 starts, no earned runs)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Nate Schierholtz SF 3B 2-5, 9th homer, 3 RBI & 1-3, double, .329 ... OF James Shanks FLO 3-4, 2 doubles, homer, 6 RBI ... Ian Stewart COL 2-4, .284 ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, double, 2 walks, 4 RBI, .294 ... Jason Pridie TB 5-6, double, triple, 3 RBI, 4 runs, .248 ... Ryan Roberts 2B TOR 2-4, 5th homers, .322 ... Christopher Ray BAL 5.0 7 4 3 4 3, 2.20

    Troop movements ... MIL -- placed RHP Ben Ford on the DL ... COL -- optioned second baseman Aaron Miles to AAA, recalled RHP Allan Simpson, RHP Jason Young from Triple-A, designated pitcher Scott Elarton for assignment ... KC -- placed outfielder Aaron Guiel on the DL, purchased the contract of infielder Wilton Guerrero from AAA, designated pitcher Joe Dawley for assignment ... NYN -- Designated pitcher James Baldwin for assignment; recalled pitcher Matt Ginter from AAA ... NYA -- transferred pitcher Orlando Hernandez to the 60-day disabled list; optioned catcher David Parrish to AAA ... MON -- optioned outfielder Ron Calloway to Triple-A ... 

    Adriano Rosario, 19,  aka Ramon Antonio Pena Paulino, 22 :

" ...  Baseball is checking whether a Diamondbacks pitching prospect used his nephew's identity to sign with the team, making him appear three years younger, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Birth records show that Adriano Rosario's real name is Ramon Antonio Pena Paulino, and that he was born Jan. 9, 1982, making him 22. The real Rosario, who is Pena's nephew, turned 19 Sunday, according to the documents. Pena, a hard-throwing right-hander, allegedly used his nephew's birth certificate to gain a $400,000 signing bonus with Arizona in 2002, the documents show. He signed as a free agent in June 2002. Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said that there is an ongoing investigation. ``We are aware that there are reports to that affect, and we are looking into those reports and have communicated with the Diamondbacks about that,'' Alderson said Sunday. The Diamondbacks have denied any wrongdoing. Neither Pena nor his agent, Scott Boras, returned telephone calls seeking comment. Some baseball prospects have tried to hide their ages in an attempt to make themselves more attractive to scouts." (Enrique Rojas, Associated Press)

   So far, so good.  September a possibility :

" ... Talk about a sight for sore eyes. There was Jesse Foppert, throwing off the mound at SBC Park on Thursday for the first time since he underwent elbow reconstruction surgery in September, dealing the ball free and easy. Head trainer Stan Conte stood watch with a radar gun to make sure Foppert did not throw faster than 80 mph. It's a good thing Conte was there, because Foppert said his arm feels good and he needs to resist the urge to air it out this soon after "Tommy John" surgery. "It's hard to baby it," Foppert said. He has thrown from bullpen mounds many times during his rehabilitation but climbed the stadium mound Thursday so the Giants could videotape his delivery to ensure he's using the technique he was taught to take pressure off his elbow. The right-hander had been "opening up," with his right side drifting toward the third-base line. Now he is keeping his body more compact when he throws. Foppert won eight games as a 22-year-old rookie before he got hurt last season and remains a big part of the Giants' future. The normal recovery from this surgery is a year, which would bring Foppert back to the mound in September. "It's doable," he said. "We'll see how the summer goes." (San Francisco Chronicle)

   Joe Mauer MIN, getting close to resuming rookie season :

" ... Mauer is scheduled to catch in the bullpen for a second time today and will be the designated hitter on Tuesday in an extended spring training game. If all goes well, he could catch in an extended spring training game by Wednesday. "He's squatting and has no swelling and no soreness," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues. Being able to squat without pain has been the biggest hurdle for Mauer, who was injured during the second game of the season. If the workouts go well, Mauer could soon begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Saturday he still doesn't expect Mauer to be ready by the first week in June." (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

   Nothing further yet on the extent of injuries to young PIT hurler :

" ... Hillcats starter Paul Maholm, the Pirates’ first-round selection last year, was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital after being hit in the face by a line drive in the top of the fourth inning. Maholm managed to get his glove up on the shot up the middle but did not deflect the ball, according to teammates on the field. It hit him in the nose and under the right eye. Maholm went down immediately and stayed on the ground for over 15 minutes. Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter, driving the ambulance onto the field from the right field corner. They stabilized Maholm’s neck and carried him off the field on a stretcher. “It was somber, especially when you see the blood and a guy’s arms shaking,” Hillcats manager Jay Loviglio said ...  Later in the game, the Hillcats announced that Maholm was in good condition with no life-threatening injuries." (Lynchburg News & Advance)

    Correspondents -- INTERNATIONAL (Herb Walters), EASTERN  (Ralph Marston), SOUTHERN (Ken Savage), TEXAS (Harry Almquist), FLORIDA STATE (Kevin Dunshee), CAROLINA (Troy Salvior), MIDWEST (Bob Reed), SOUTH ATLANTIC (Brad Dowdy)

    
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2003 Minor League Stats 1 (Hitters, by OPS, by AAA, AA, A, Short Season, OBA, SLG, Walks, Ks, SBs, Errors)

2003 Minor League Stats 2 (Pitchers, by ERA, AAA, AA, A, Short Season, Ks & Hitters by position)