Mariner Minors: 09/04/2005

Mariner Minors

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Game Recaps (9/10/05)

Tacoma 5, Sacramento 4 (OAK) (ten innings)
RHP Francisco Cruceta went five innings and gave up a couple runs on five hits (HR) and four walks against three Ks. RHP Mike Bumstead walked two in the next third, and then LHP Andrew Lorraine went the next inning and a third, with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout. RHP Jeff Heaverlo got the final out of the seventh, but LHP Damian Moss, coming in from the ‘pen to face four left-handers, blew the save in the eighth, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in a third of an inning. RHP Masao Kida scored one of those, giving up a hit before recording the final two outs of the inning, one of them a strikeout. RHP Emiliano Fruto (W) went the last two frames and gave up a walk and struck out one, but that’s not the whole story, because the walk came after the Rainiers got the lead in the bottom of the tenth, and had been sacrificed to second before Fruto blew down the next batter with a fastball, then induced the final groundout. I heard the winning score in the top of the tenth. RF T.J. Bohn (2B, R, RBI, 2 SB) was facing RHP Chris Mabeus, who had just struck out the last two players, and tried to get into his head by stepping out of the box a few times, which worked, as Mabeus would eventually walked him. Then Bohn stole second, and SS Asdrubal Cabrera (R, 2 RBI) poked one past the second baseman into right field and Bohn scored, just beating the throw, and Cabrera took second. It was gooooood. Otherwise, you had DH Ryan Christianson (R, SB) with two hits, C Wiki Gonzalez (HR, 2 RBI, E) hitting a home run, and LF Shin-soo Choo going 1-for-3 with three walks.

San Antonio 2, Midland 12 (OAK)
After last night’s upset win, I figured the Missions would have some serious fight in them for this one, but RHP Juan Sandoval (L) gave up five runs on six hits, a hit batter, and three strikeouts against two Ks through two and two-thirds innings of work. LHP Chris Key went the next inning and a third, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks, and scoring one of Sandoval’s runs. Continuing the trend, LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up two runs on three hits and two Ks in the next two innings and LHP Jared Thomas gave up three runs on four hits, two walks, and three Ks before LHP Tim Rall got the final out. LF Jaime Bubela (R, SB, .409) and SS Adam Jones (2B, 2 RBI) both had three hits, but there were only two other hits in the whole lineup.

Wisconsin 8, Clinton 7 (TEX) (ten innings)
LHP Shawn Nottingham got through six and one-third innings, giving up seven runs (four earned) on six hits (2 HR!), a hit batter, three walks and three Ks. RHP Justin Jordan (W) took it the rest of the way, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out four. For the offense, C Jeff Clement (2 HR, 5 RBI) was the big contributor with three hits, including what would be the game-winning home run in the tenth. 3B Brent Johnson (R, SB, E), 2B Jack Arroyo (R), and LF Josh Womack (R, A) all had two hits, and CF Chris Colton (HR) hit a home run.

Tomorrow’s Games:
Tacoma: RHP Chris Buglovsky (?), @ 7:05 pm PT (2-2 against Sacramento)
San Antonio: Season Over (2-3 in playoffs against Midland)
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: RHP Cibney Bello, at Appleton, @ 4:35 pm PT (1-0 against Clinton, 2-1 against Beloit)
Everett: Season Over
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-35, .553, 4.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-388-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 11:06 PM

World Cup Update (9/10/05)

I figured since the tournament is about to it's halfway point, I'd post the lines for the various current M's prospects in the tournament.

OF Sebastien Boucher (Canada): .238/.273/.286, 21 at-bats, 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI, 4 Ks
IF Yung-chi Chen (Taiwan): .407/.448/.630, 27 at-bats, 6 runs, 11 hits, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 2 walks, 1 K
IF Ronald Garth (Nicaragua): .211/.348/.421, 19 at-bats, 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 2 walks, 5 Ks
C Rob Johnson (USA): .273/.333/.727, 11 at-bats, 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 1 walk, 1 stolen base
1B Bryan Lahair (USA): .444/.500/.889, 18 at-bats, 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 2 walks, 5 Ks
OF Kuo-hui Lo (Taiwan): .391/.481/.478, 23 at-bats, 4 runs, 9 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 1 walk, 3 Ks, 2 SB, 1 CS
IF Matt Rogelstad (Canada): .368/.455/.684, 19 at-bats, 19 at-bats, 3 runs, 7 hits, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 2 walks, 1 K, 1 stolen base

posted by Jay Y. @ 2:34 PM

Game Recaps (9/9/05)

So all the teams were backed up against the wall, facing elimination, and what did they do? They swept, and outscored their opponents 16-7. Life is good. Playoff baseball is fun.

Tacoma 7, Sacramento 4 (OAK)
RHP Jesse Foppert (W) gave up three runs on three hits (HR, a wild pitch, and three walks against two Ks in five+ innings of work. RHP Cha Seung Baek went the next three and allowed one of Foppert’s runs and one of his own to score on three hits and a strikeout. RHP Masao Kida (S) walked one in the ninth. On offense, LF Shin-soo Choo (R, RBI, SB) led the charge by reaching base safely five times via four hits and a walk. Choo’s hitting .455 in the playoffs right now. 1B Aaron Rifkin (RBI, CS), CF T.J. Bohn (R, SB), and C Rene Rivera (2B, R, RBI) all had two hits.

Midland 1 (OAK), San Antonio 5
RHP Jon Huber (W) went six strong innings and gave up an unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four. LHP Cesar Jimenez gave up a couple hits, walked one, and struck out two in the next two frames, then RHP Renee Cortez gave up a hit and punched out one in the ninth. Remember what I said about the Midland starting pitcher having a 5-0 record and a 0.84 ERA against the Missions? Feel free to throw that out the window. SS Adam Jones (HR, PO), RF Jon Nelson (2B, R, RBI), and 3B Jesus Guzman (RBI) all had two hits, and DH Nate Espy (2B, R), 1B Jesse Hoorelbeke (2B, R, RBI), and CF Gary Harris (HR) all smacked out extra-base hits. Unfortunately, Guzman came up lame with a hamstring problem and is probably out of the picture for tonight’s game.

Beloit 2 (MIN), Wisconsin 4 (ten innings)
First start in the league a playoff start? Well, LHP Robert Rohrbaugh didn’t seem to have a problem with it, and went six and one-third innings, giving up a couple runs on seven hits (HR), a hit batter, and a walk against five Ks. RHP Jon Lockwood (W) took the next three and two-thirds, giving up just two hits and striking out two. 3B Brent Johnson (2B, RBI) and 2B Oswaldo Navarro (HR, 2 R) also had two hits, but RF Mike Wilson (HR, 2 RBI) gets the game ball for hitting the big two-run walk-off shot to give the T-Rats the series victory. LF Josh Womack also had a triple.

Today’s Games:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, @ 7:05 pm PT (1-2 against Sacramento)
San Antonio: RHP Juan Sandoval, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PT (2-2 against Midland)
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: LHP Shawn Nottingham, at Clinton, @ 5:05 pm PT (0-0 against Clinton, 2-1 against Beloit)
Everett: Season Over
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-35, .553, 4.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-388-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 1:01 AM

Thursday, September 08, 2005

BA on Varvaro

The latest Ask BA column had this question on recently signed RHP Anthony Varvaro...

I'm just looking for some feedback on the Mariners' recent signing of righty Anthony Varvaro. After seeing him this year and based on your predraft ratings, the Mariners look to have made a shrewd move if he can come back from Tommy John surgery.

Darrell Jackson
Brooklyn

Before he blew out his elbow in May, Varvaro looked like a second- or third-round pick. He went 9-3, 2.32 at St. John's, ranking sixth in NCAA Division I with 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings, a rate better than that of more heralded teammate Craig Hansen (11.9), who went in the first round to the Red Sox. Some scouts said Varvaro was a more complete pitcher than Hansen, and he carved up college hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball and a hard curveball.

The Mariners took Varvaro in the 12th round, marking the second straight year they spent that pick on a pitcher they knew needed Tommy John surgery. (Wichita State lefthander Steve Uhlmansiek had the operation in 2004 and returned to the mound in the Rookie-level Arizona League this summer.) Considering the very low return rate on 12th-round picks, this type of gamble is always worth taking. Varvaro will report to Seattle's instructional league camp with the idea of beginning throwing again in October.

Not too much to it, but worth noting...

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:45 PM

Game Recaps (9/8/05)

Sacramento 7, Tacoma 2
LHP Bobby Livingston gave up three runs in six+ innings of work on eight hits and a walk against two Ks. LHP Andrew Lorraine (L) went the next inning and two-thirds, and scored on of Livingston’s runs and two of his own on two hits, a walk, and a K. RHP Masao Kida would score one of Lorraine’s runs and two more again after three hits (HR), a hit batter, and a K in the final four outs. C Wiki Gonzalez (2B, R, RBI), 1B Aaron Rifkin (2B), and CF T.J. Bohn (2B, R) all doubled. The Rainiers are facing elimination if they don’t win tomorrow.

Midland 5 (OAK), San Antonio 2
LHP Thom Oldham (L) pitched five innings and gave up a run for each, on nine hits (HR) and two walks against four Ks. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith had two hits, a hit batter, two walks, and two strikeouts in the three innings that followed, then RHP Nate Mateo walked one and struck out one in the ninth. For the offense, LF Jaime Bubela, DH Nate Espy (2B, R), and 1B Jesse Hoorelbeke all had two hits, but despite ten hits total, the offense couldn’t get it done. And tomorrow, they’ll have to go up against a pitcher that had a 5-0 record and a 0.84 ERA against them during the regular season.

Beloit 1 (MIN), Wisconsin 9
I won’t say that I completely called this one, but I did point out over at Lookout Landing that RHP Aaron Jensen (W) tore Beloit apart in his last outing, and that’s what he did this time too (which is just what I wanted to see from him in the playoffs). Jensen went seven innings and held the Snappers to a run on two hits and four walks against five Ks. RHP Jason Snyder gave up one hit in the two innings after that. 2B Oswaldo Navarro (2B, 4 RBI), DH Marshall Hubbard (2B, 2 R, RBI), and CF Chris Colton all had two hits, and RF Mike Wilson (2B, R) added a double. The deciding game of the series will come tomorrow.

Recaps of the playoff action tomorrow will be slighlty delayed, so don't expect them until after midnight.

Tomorrow’s Games:
Tacoma: RHP Jesse Foppert, at Sacramento, @ 7:05 pm PT (0-2 against Sacramento)
San Antonio: RHP Jon Huber, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT (1-2 against Midland)
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, at Wisconsin, @ 4:35 pm PT (1-1 against Beloit)
Everett: Season Over
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-35, .553, 4.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-388-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:25 PM

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Honkbal Fever!

Catch it!

(apparently, real photo taken from World Cup Baseball Tournament in the Netherlands, posted on Baseball America)

had I seen that on a baseball field, I would have waited for someone to scream "BLERN!" repeatedly, then checked if my scorecard to see if multiball had started yet < /semi-vague reference>

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:47 PM

Game Recaps (9/7/05)

Sacramento 7 (OAK), Tacoma 3
(grumbles about Oakland farm teams) LHP Damian Moss went five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs (three earned) to score on six hits and two walks against five strikeouts. RHP Jeff Heaverlo ended up scoring two of those and two of his own on three hits over the next two-thirds, but RHP Sean Green scored one of Heaverlo’s (and one of his own) after a hit and two walks in the next two-thirds. RHP Mike Bumstead held the Rivercats to two walks and struck out four over the next two frames, but the damage was already done. Aside from the three-run outburst in the bottom of the first in which 3B-RF Justin Leone (R), RF-CF Abraham Nunez (2B, R), C Wiki Gonzalez (R), 1B Aaron Rifkin (RBI), and 2B-3B Hunter Brown (2 RBI) all took part, there wasn’t much offense for the Rainiers. In fact, they only managed a single, a double, and a walk the following eight innings. And if you didn’t catch word already, 2B Michael Garciaparra is now on the roster with 2B Ramon Santiago getting called up to replace Morse. He came into the game after CF T.J. Bohn was ejected for arguing a strikeout call, and the whole lineup had to shuffle around a bit.

San Antonio 3, Midland 6 (OAK)
Well, what can I say? RHP Yorman Bazardo didn’t record an out in the start, and gave up five runs on four hits, a hit batter. and three walks. LHP Chris Key followed him for the next three innings, giving up a couple hits and striking out two, then LHP Jared Thomas gave up a run on two hits (HR), a walk, and two Ks over the next four. LHP Tim Rall gave up a couple hits in the eighth. For the offense, LF Jaime Bubela (2B), DH Nate Espy (2B, R), and CF Gary Harris (2B, R, RBI) doubled. 2B Ismael Castro, who went 1-for-4 in this game, has had the toughest luck of anyone in this series so far, despite hitting .375, as he came about an inch shy of hitting a home run to give the Missions a lead in this one, and yesterday, one of his hits went out of the park and bounced back in, eventually being ruled a double to some bizarre ground rules.

Wisconsin 0, Beloit 5 (MIN)
RHP Mark Lowe got through just three and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits and six walks. LHP Shawn Nottingham came in and was perfect through the end of the sixth, striking out three. RHP Stephen Grasley gave up a couple runs on two hits (HR) in the next inning and a third, but RHP Ivan Blanco scored one of those after a hit over the final two-thirds. The T-Rats batters were no-hit and held to three walks through the first seven and one-third innings, when SS Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, E) picked up the only hit of the game.

Everett 1, Eugene 3 (SD – 8)
RHP Roman Martinez (4.86) got the spot start, going six innings and giving up a run on two hits and three walks against six Ks. RHP Edgar Guaramato (3.62, L) went the next two, and allowed two runs (one earned) to score on three hits, two walks, and a strikeout. DH Reed Eastley (2B, R, .318) capped a fine debut season by going 3-for-4. His OPS came up at just shy of .900 at .897, and I’d say there’s a solid chance that he could vault over Wisconsin and start at Inland next year.

Tomorrow’s Games:
Tacoma: LHP Bobby Livingston, at Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PT (0-1 against Sacramento)
San Antonio: LHP Thom Oldham, at San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PT (1-1 against Midland)
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: RHP Aaron Jensen, at Wisconsin, @ 4:35 pm PT (0-1 against Beloit)
Everett: Season Over
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-35, .553, 4.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-388-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:37 PM

Morse Suspended

The official press release says that Morse has been suspended for violating the MLB drug policy, but a recent FoxSports article suggests that it might not be what we think, pointing out that the MILB had the right to continue testing Morse and handing down suspensions until he was clean. The MLB, in turn, took their opportunity to test Morse when he joined the M's and found a trace amount of a non-performance-enhancing drug in his system. While Morse did admit to using steroids in the '03-'04 offseason, the author of the article believes that he's been hit three times for a single offense.

I don't know how much truth there is to all of this, nor do I have the medical background to tell you how long it takes for such substances to metabolize, but it's interesting nonetheless. I guess this was the suspension of a younger player that there were rumblings about a while back.

posted by Jay Y. @ 11:52 AM

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Game Recaps (9/6/05)

Edit: 11:46 pm, fixed Everett link...
Edit: 12:31 am, it appears that Williams left the game with "shoulder discomfort", which is a bad way to go out any season. I'm also getting word from the ITP guys that Rohrbaugh is one the T-rats playoff roster, and won't be starting tomorrow.
San Antonio 3, Midland 2 (OAK)
Part of me looked at the box score and thought, “Yes! We finally beat Midland!”, and another part piped up, “Well, it wasn’t exactly fair to send RHP Rich Dorman (W) against them.” Dorman went seven and one-third innings and gave up two runs on six hits (HR), a wild pitch, and a walk while striking out ten. LHP Cesar Jimenez went the next inning, walking one and striking out one, then RHP Renee Cortez (S) got the save after balking and striking out the last two batters. LF Jaime Bubela (RBI, SB, CS, A) and 2B Ismael Castro (2 2B) both had a couple of hits, and SS Adam Jones (2B), 1B Jesse Hoorelbeke (2B), CF Gary Harris (2B, R), and RF Jon Nelson (2B, R, RBI) doubled. 3B Jesus Guzman was 0-for-1 at the plate, but reached three times after walking twice and getting plunked.

Everett 2, Eugene 6 (SD – 9)
LHP Harold Williams (5.79, L) couldn’t get an out in the game, giving up a hit, a wild pitch, and two walks before being pulled, all of which would score later. More info on that if/when it becomes available. LHP Justin Thomas (3.81) went the next five innings, giving up a two of Williams’ runs and a couple more on five hits and two walks against one K. RHP Randy Frye (4.00) pitched two frames after that, allowing a run to score on a hit (HR), two walks, and a strikeout, then RHP Eric Carter (7.67) finished up by giving up three hits in the eighth, none of which came around to score. For the offense, LF Jeff Flaig (2B, .254) and DH J.B. Tucker (HR, .259) both had extra-base hits. That was Tucker’s eleventh jack of the season, one behind Valbuena. Last game of the season tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s Games:
Tacoma: LHP Damian Moss, at Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PT
San Antonio: RHP Yorman Bazardo, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PT (1-0 against Midland)
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: RHP Mark Lowe, at Beloit, @ 4:30 pm PT
Everett: TBA, at Eugene, @ 7:05 pm PT
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-33, .560, 4 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-387-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 10:09 PM

Regarding the World Cup...

It would appear that our guys are doing some yardwork for Team USA...

Team USA rallied from its first deficit of the tournament to remain undefeated at the 36th World Cup, clubbing four home runs and beating Australia 6-4 Monday. The Americans, managed by Davey Johnson, then clubbed three consecutive homers Tuesday afternoon to beat Spain 11-1 in a game ended early by the international 10-run mercy rule. Team USA plays Puerto Rico on Wednesday at 7 a.m. Eastern time.

Catcher Rob Johnson (Mariners) capped a three-run eighth-inning rally against Australia with a two-run homer to provide the margin of victory as the Americans moved to 2-0. Team USA also got a pair of solo homers by DH Bryan LaHair (Mariners), who hit safely in his first six at-bats of the tournament, and a solo shot from left fielder Jeff Deardorff (Devil Rays).

I've also tracked down a list of M's, both current and former, playing in the World Cup...

Australia (1):
LHP Craig Anderson (x)

Canada (3):
IF Hyung Cho (x)
IF Matt Rogelstad
CF Sebastien Boucher

Chinese Taipei (2):
IF Yung-chi Chen
OF Kuo-hui Lo

Netherlands (2):
OF Harvey Monte (x)
OF Eugene Kingsdale (x)

Nicaragua (1):
IF Ronald Garth

Puerto Rico (4?):
3B Luis Figueroa (?) (x)
RHP Josue Matos (x)
LHP Melvin Pizarro (x)
LHP Miguel Martinez (x)

U.S.A. (2):
C Rob Johnson
1B Bryan Lahair

posted by Jay Y. @ 1:52 PM

Peoria Review

Some of you out there probably don't dig on the summer league reviews. Why follow a league where only about half the players make it to the U.S. anyway? Well, if you can't appreciate it for that reason, then you might want to look up the Peoria Mariners review I did, that was recently posted at ITP. Now if your gripe about the summer leagues is that they're exhibition games played in absurd conditions, well, this won't help you, but I did quite a bit of digging for this one and you may find something worthwhile in there. Heck, over on the ITP board we already have someone asking for info on Greg Halman.

(less formal reviews to follow, sooner or later...)

posted by Jay Y. @ 12:30 PM

Monday, September 05, 2005

Game Recaps (9/5/05)

Sacramento 2 (OAK + 16), Tacoma 5
RHP Chris Buglovsky (4.24, W) went five innings, holding the Rivercats to two hits and a walk while striking out two. RHP Mike Bumstead (4.75) went the next inning, striking out one, then RHP Mike Flannery (6.56) gave up a run on two hits and a K in the seventh. RHP Emliano Fruto (13.09) walked one and struck out one in the eighth, and RHP Cha Seung Baek (6.41) gave up a run on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout in the ninth.

Rancho Cucamonga 5 (ANA - 2), Inland Empire 7
RHP Brandon Moorhead (4.75, E, W) pitched eight innings, giving up four runs (two earned) after seven hits (2 HR!). RHP Craig James (2.42, S) gave up a run on three hits (HR) and struck out one in the ninth to get his 19th save of the season. 2B Michael Garciaparra (2B, R, 3 RBI, SB, CS, .298) and CF Wladimir Balentien (2B, R, RBI, .291) both had a couple of hits. Wlad also struck out twice, and for the season, once every 3.3 plate appearances, compared to 3.8 for his career to this point. 3B Erick Monzon (3B, R, RBI, .271) added a triple.

Wisconsin 1, Beloit 8 (MIN + 2)
Bullpen pitching today, with LHP Donny Langdon (4.75, L) going the first three and two-thirds innings and giving up a run on five hits (HR) and striking out two. RHP Justin Jordan (6.68) went the next two and a third innings, giving up three runs on five hits (HR) and punching out one. RHP Stephen Grasley (3.71) had a hit, a hit batter, and a strikeout in the seventh (I figure they’re saving him for the playoffs), but RHP Ivan Blanco (6.93) had some trouble after that, giving up four runs on a hit (HR), a wild pitch, a balk, and three walks in the next two-thirds before RHP Jason Snyder (4.82) got the final out. CF Chris Colton (2B, .335) and SS Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, .276) both had doubles, but that was about it.

Everett 4, Eugene 2 (SD - 10) (ten innings)
LHP Rollie Gibson (4.45) went five innings in his second start, allowing a run to score on four hits, a hit batter, and three walks against two Ks. RHP Nick Allen (4.59) went the next three innings, giving up two hits and striking out four. RHP Stephen Kahn (3.93, W) gave up a run on a hit (HR) and a walk against two Ks in the next two innings, blowing the save, but getting the win in extra innings. 2B Luis Valbuena (2 RBI, .263) singled in the two winning runs in the tenth, but SS Robert Hudson (2B, R, SB, CS, .253), who scored in that inning, and C J.B. Tucker (2B, HR, .257) both had three hits, and CF Casey Craig (2B, R, .277) had a double in his only at-bat, also scoring on Valbuena’s single.

Tomorrow’s Games:
Tacoma: Season Over (Playoffs begin Wednesday)
San Antonio: RHP Rich Dorman, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: Season Over
Wisconsin: Season Over (Playoffs begin Wednesday)
Everett: LHP Harold Williams, at Eugene, @ 7:05 pm PT
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 80-64, .556, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 30-40 (58-81), .429 (.417), 9 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-32 (76-63), .536 (.547), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 42-32, .568, 3.5 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 434-386-4, .529

posted by Jay Y. @ 9:01 PM

Game Recaps (9/4/05)

Sacramento 2 (OAK + 17), Tacoma 3
Rainiers clinch, with the last game of the season coming tomorrow. RHP Francisco Cruceta (5.00, W) went six and two-thirds innings in this one and gave up two runs on six hits (HR) against five strikeouts. LHP Andrew Lorraine (4.79) went the next inning and a third, giving up a hit and punching out two, then RHP Masao Kida (4.08, S) walked one in the ninth. RF Abraham Nunez (2 R, RBI, .274) and DH Wiki Gonzalez (3B, RBI, .312) had two hits each, and LF Shin-soo Choo (2B, R, .284), 1B Hunter Brown (2B, RBI, .288), and CF T.J. Bohn (2B, .312) all doubled.

San Antonio 0, Corpus Christi 3 (HOU + 4) (eleven innings)
RHP Juan Sandoval (4.03) pitched the first six innings and did rather well, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out three. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (4.35), LHP Jared Thomas (5.24), and RHP Renee Cortez (3.96) split the next three, with RRS giving up a hit and striking out two, Thomas hitting a batter, walking one and striking out one, and Cortez giving out a free pass. RHP Nate Mateo (9.37, L) got the loss, pitching the final inning and a third and striking out one before he gave up a three-run bomb after a hit and a walk. Mateo has sucked in a Missions uniform, but he seemed to be a good pitcher with the Padres, so I don’t know what’s going on with him. He gets an incomplete for now. The offense… well, they only managed four hits, all from different batters and none of them going for extra bases, so I guess I’ll note CF Gary Harris (SB, .282) because he was 1-for-4 with a stolen base…

Rancho Cucamonga 3 (ANA -1), Inland Empire 6
LHP Ryan Feierabend (3.88) only went an inning and a third before being ejected, giving up three runs on five hits (HR) and a hit batter. LHP Nick Bourgeois (3.59) went the next three and two-thirds and hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, walked three, and rung up three. RHP Nibaldo Acosta (5.83, W) would pick up the win, going two innings with a hit, a hit batter, a walk, and two Ks to show for it, then RHP Craig James (2.16, S) had a hit and a walk over the final two innings. LF Carlos Arroyo (2B, R, 3 RBI, .317) and CF Wladimir Balentien (2B, 2 RBI, .289) both had a couple of hits, and 1B Andy Hargrove (HR, .176) had his first home run at the level. SS Jeff Dominguez (2 R, .333) went 0-for-2 with a couple of walks, and 2B Dean Zorn (2B, .286) doubled and scored in his only at-bat, replacing 2B Michael Garciaparra (CS, .295), who was ejected.

Wisconsin 3, Beloit 2 (MIN + 1)
The T-Rats have the title for both halves now! RHP Cibney Bello (5.02) struggled a bit in his two innings, giving up two hits, throwing a wild pitch, and walking six while striking out three, but he got out of it with only two runs scoring. RHP Jon Lockwood (2.12) went the next three innings, giving up just one hit and striking out another six. Lockwood is striking out thirteen per nine for the level. LHP Eric O’Flaherty (3.75, S) collected a strikeout and his thirteenth save in the ninth. DH Marshall Hubbard (2 2B, .300) and 3B Brandon Green (RBI, .218) both had two hits, and C Jeff Clement (2B, .330) and CF Josh Womack (3B, R, .258) both had extra-base hits.

Everett 5, Salem-Keizer 3 (SF + 13)
RHP Jeff Gilmore (3.97, W) had a fine end to his season, going seven innings and giving up five hits, a hit batter, and a walk against seven strikeouts. LHP David Asher (4.79) went the next inning, giving up a couple of runs on three hits and striking out one, then RHP Edgar Guaramato (3.57) came in, walked the bases full, and struck out the only batter he recorded an out on. LHP Lance Beus (3.68, S) scored one of those, and recorded the final two outs for the save. DH Bryan Sabatella (3B, 2 RBI, .258) had a couple of hits, and C J.B. Tucker (2B, R, RBI, .247) and RF Alex Gary (2B, 2 R, .252) both doubled.

Today’s Games:
Tacoma: RHP Chris Buglovsky, at Tacoma, @ 1:35 pm PT
San Antonio: Season Over (Playoffs begin tomorrow)
Inland Empire: RHP Brandon Moorhead, at San Bernardino, @ 5:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: TBA (saving Santiago for the playoffs), at Beloit, @ 12:00 pm PT
Everett: LHP Rollie Gibson, at Eugene, @ 4:05 pm PT
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 79-64, .552, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-32 (76-64), .543 (.543), 1 GB in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 29-40 (57-81), .420 (.413), 9.5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 37-31 (76-62), .544 (.551), 1st (1.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 41-32, .562, 4 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 431-385-4, .528

posted by Jay Y. @ 12:59 AM

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Game Recaps (9/3/05)

Sacramento 2 (OAK + 18), Tacoma 0
RHP Jesse Foppert (4.03, L) went four innings and gave up a run on three hits, a hit batter, and three walks against five strikeouts. RHP Jeff Heaverlo (4.61) pitched the next two innings with three each of hits and strikeouts, and RHP Clint Nageotte (2.65) gave up a run on a hit and two walks in the inning after that. RHP Rafael Soriano (0.00) struck out two and didn’t let anyone reach in the eighth, and RHP Sean Green (3.65) had two hits, a walk, and two Ks in the ninth. 2B Ramon Santiago (2B, .253) had a double, and 3B Justin Leone (E, .245) was 1-for-2 with a couple of walks.

San Antonio 2, Corpus Christi 3 (HOU + 3)
RHP Jon Huber (4.74, E, L) went five innings and let three runs (two earned) score on nine hits, a balk, and a walk against seven Ks. LHP Tim Rall (3.81) gave up a hit, hit a batter, walked three, and rung up two over the last three innings. SS Adam Jones (.298) had a couple of hits, but there wasn’t much else going on.

Rancho Cucamonga 6 (ANA 0), Inland Empire 1
RHP Mumba Rivera (7.49, L) lasted only four and two-thirds innings and got the loss. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he only gave up one run on four hits, a hit batter, and two walks, and struck out three. RHP Aaron Trolia (4.82, E) went the next two and one-third and let four more score (three earned) after three hits, a walk, and three Ks. RHP Oliver Arias (6.64) went the last two and gave up one last run on two hits and a walk against three strikeouts. For the offense, LF Carlos Arroyo (R, .315) and RF Trevor Heid (2 2B, E, .194) had a couple of hits, and 2B Michael Garciaparra (2B, .295) doubled.

Wisconsin 1, Beloit 0 (MIN + 2)
RHP Aaron Jensen (5.56, W) pitched what might’ve been his best game of the season, going seven+ innings and allowing just three hits, a wild pitch, and a couple of walks while striking out seven. RHP Ivan Blanco (6.42) followed up with a perfect inning, and LHP Eric O’Flaherty (3.80, S) gave up a hit and struck out two in the ninth. 1B Marshall Hubbard (.297) and RF-CF Chris Colton (R, SB, .335) both had a couple of hits. While he did go 0-for-4 at the plate with 4 Ks, C Jeff Clement (.333) did participate in a double play at the plate with CF-LF Josh Womack (.258) who walked twice.

Everett 13, Salem-Keizer 7 (SF + 14)
LHP Paul Fagan (3.61, PO, E, W) got the win, going six+ innings and giving up five runs (four earned) after eight hits, three walks, and two Ks. Those numbers might’ve looked better, but RHP Randy Frye (3.86) scored three of those runs after Fagan couldn’t get an out after three batters in the seventh. Frye would go on to give up two more runs on three hits, a walk, and two Ks in an inning and two-thirds, then RHP Stephen Kahn (3.86, S) got the final four outs, walking one and striking out one. The bats were out tonight, with 3B Ron Prettyman (2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .288) collecting three hits, and 1B Jeff Flaig (2B, 3 R, RBI, E, .264), LF Alex Gary (HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .250), CF Casey Craig (2 R, .279), and SS Robert Hudson (2B, 2 RBI, E, .246) getting two each. RF Michael Saunders (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .280) also hit his seventh home run and walked.

Today’s Games:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, at Tacoma, @ 1:35 pm PT
San Antonio: RHP Juan Sandoval, at Corpus Christi, @ 5:05 pm PT
Inland Empire: LHP Ryan Feierabend, at San Bernardino, @ 6:11 pm PT
Wisconsin: RHP Cibney Bello, at Beloit, @ 12:00 pm PT
Everett: RHP Jeff Gilmore, at Salem-Keizer, @ 5:05 pm PT
Peoria: Season Over
Aguirre: Season Over (0-2 in playoffs against Venoco #1)

Tacoma Rainiers: 78-64, .549, 1st (1 GA) in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 38-31 (76-63), .551 (.547), T-1st in TL West
Inland Empire 66ers: 28-40 (56-81), .412 (.409), 10.5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 36-31 (75-62), .537 (.547), 1st (0.5 GA) in MWL West
Everett Aquasox: 40-32, .556, 4 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners, 17-11 (26-29), .607 (.472), 1.5 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners, 37-23-3, .617, 1st (1 GA) in VSL Valencia
Santo Domingo Mariners, 39-30-1, .565, 4 GB in DSL Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 427-384-4, .526

posted by Jay Y. @ 3:21 AM