Mariner Minors: 06/11/2006

Mariner Minors

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Game Recaps (6/16/05)

In addition to Morrow, it looks like 12th round OF Gavin Dickey is now in the fold. Of course, if he supplants Lo, Halman, or Graterol on the Aquasox roster… scratch that, he probably will, but maybe I’ll get to see ‘em all on Monday anyway.

Tacoma 1, Sacramento 2 (OAK + 1)
LHP Cesar Jimenez (4.76) pitched six solid innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out five, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it together. RHP Aaron Looper (6.47) gave up three hits and struck out one over the next inning and a third, and then RHP Sean Green (2.00, E, L) allowed a run against Looper to score and one more against him after a hit and two walks in an inning of work.
1B Bryan Lahair (RBI, .250) got a couple of hits, RF Shin-soo Choo (2B, SB, .292) had a double, and 3B Hunter Brown (.266) walked twice. CF Chris Snelling (.247) was 1-for-4.

San Antonio 7, Midland 9 (OAK + 2)
LHP Travis Blackley (4.56, 2 PO) struggled in his five innings, giving up six runs on nine hits (2 HR!) and a walk. He didn’t even K a single batter, though he did hit one and pick off two. RHP Mike Flannery (5.35, L) pitched the next inning and a third, giving up three runs on two hits and a walk against K, and LHP Eric O’Flaherty (1.35) helped two of those score after three hits and a K in an inning and two-thirds.
LF Kevin Reynolds (2B, R, RBI, CS, .250) had three hits in the game, 3B Jesus Guzman (R, RBI, .257) had two, RF Gary Harris (2B, R, 2 RBI, .211), and CF Sebastien Boucher (R, .223) had a hit and two walks. The offense, on its own, was good, and everyone in the lineup had a hit, but when combined with that kind of pitching, it just didn’t cut it.

Inland Empire 5, Visalia 7 (TB - 4)
LHP Shawn Nottingham (3.72, 2 E) gave up five runs (two earned) through six and two-thirds innings of work after four hits, two walks, and four Ks. RHP Mike Hrynio (1.84) let two of those score after a hit in his two-thirds of an inning, and then LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (7.20, E, L) gave up three runs (two earned) in two-thirds+ on two hits (HR). The six errors and a passed ball in the game probably hurt the Sixers chances of pulling it out. Just a thought.
The two through four hitters of 2B Yung-chi Chen (2B, HR, 2 R, E, .335), DH Marshall Hubbard (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, .257), and RF Mike Wilson (RBI, E, .306) had two hits each, and SS Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, E, .309) had a double.

Wisconsin 1, Quad Cities 7 (STL - 3)
I was looking forward to this game and two of my favorite low minors pitchers took serious beatings. Suck. RHP Marwin Vega (7.33, L) gave up three runs on five hits, a wild pitch, three walks, and three Ks in two and one-third innings. RHP Nick Allen (2.47) let one of those score, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in two and two-thirds, and then LHP Lance Beus (1.29) struck out one in the sixth. RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.17) gave up four runs on three hits and three walks in the seventh, and RHP Justin Ockerman (11.25) walked one in the eighth.
2B Luis Valbuena (.265) and LF Jairo Hernandez (2B, .212) both had a couple of hits, and 1B Jeff Flaig (2B, .218) added another double. Through the 14th, Valbuena was hitting .286/.362/.524 in June, and Flaig was at .333./351/.444.

VSL Astros 2 (- 2), Aguirre 6 (seven innings)
Once again, we have to dig to the VSL to find any wins at all. RHP Yorjans Chourio (2.61, E, W) gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a K in six innings. RHP Carlos Sanchez (2.75, S) pitched the final two, hitting one batter and ringing up two.
2B Jorge Agudelo (R, RBI, .356) and 1B Humberto Espinoza (RBI, .316) both had a pair of hits, RF Nicomedes Gomez (2B, R, RBI, .226) had a double, and SS Terry Serrano (2 R, .143) walked twice.

Aguirre 13, VSL Astros 10 (- 3) (seven innings)
Can’t say I recall ever seeing a seven-inning slugfest like this in VSL before. RHP Felix Correa (3.52) gave up three runs (two earned) through three and two-thirds on three hits, a wild pitch, two walks, and four walks against three Ks. RHP Rhonny Acosta (7.27) gave up four more runs (three earned) through two-thirds of an inning after three hits, two walks, and a K, and then LHP Jose Jimenez (1.66, W) got the win after allowing three runs (one earned) to score in the final two and two-thirds on four hits, a walk, and five Ks.
3B Edilio Colina (3 R, RBI, CS, E, .300) had three hits in the game, CF Dwight Britton (2B, 3 R, RBI, .257) and 1B Humberto Espinoza (2 R, RBI, .301) had two, with Espinoza adding two walks, and C Larry Gonzalez (2B, R, 2 RBI, .312) had a double. DH Jorge Agudelo (R, 2 RBI, .345) and SS Cesar Fuentes (R, RBI, .CS, 250) both had a hit to go with their two walks.

Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Rich Dorman, at Sacramento, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Nate Mateo, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Cibney Bello (?) (get in shape soon, Morrow), at Visalia, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Ruben Flores, at Quad Cities, @ 5:00 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 34-34, .500, 4.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 26-40, .394, 13.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 37-30, .552, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-41, .397, 13.5 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 13-14-2, .483, 4.5 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 137-159-2, .463

posted by Jay Y. @ 2:51 AM

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Game Recaps (6/15/06)

The final hurdle was cleared and I’ve got a whole chunk of free time to play around with now. The draft recap will continue and refresh periodically starting tomorrow. How far I go with it has yet to be determined. In the meantime, word in the P-I notebook is that Morrow has signed and a press conference is scheduled for tomorrow.

Sacramento 3 (OAK 0), Tacoma 8
We’ve been waiting a while now for LHP Bobby Livingston (5.06, PO. W) to turn in a passable start and he got it this time, going six innings and giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks against five Ks. RHP Jon Huber (2.70, S) pitched the final three, with another run on a solo shot, plus one more hit and two more Ks.
CF Shin-soo Choo (R, .94) might be on fire now, with another four hits tonight. Byut the majority of the offense was on, as RF Adam Jones (R, RBI, SB, .253) added three, and 1B Greg Dobbs (R, RBI, .301), C rob Johnson (3B, R, 3 RBI, .261), and SS Asdrubal Cabrera (2B, R, RBI, .244) had two each. 3B Hunter Brown (2B, R, RBI, .269) also had a double.

San Antonio 6, Midland 5 (OAK + 1)
LHP Adam Pettyjohn (2.51, W) allowed two runs to score through six innings on six hits, a balk, a walk, and a five Ks. LHP Jason Mackintosh (3.57) pitched two frames after that, giving up a hit and ringing up three, but RHP Stephen Kahn (6.00) gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, a wild pitch, and a walk in the ninth.
C Justin Ruchti (R, .265) had three hits in the game, CF Sebastien Boucher (3B, R, 3 RBI, .221) and SS Oswaldo Navarro (RBI, PO, E, .253) both had two, and LF Gary Harris (2B, 2 R, .209) and DH Kevin Reynolds (2B, R, .179) each had a double.

Inland Empire 7, San Jose 0 (SF + 11)
LHP Justin Thomas (1.50, PO, W) kept the good pitching going, with six frames of scoreless work with six hits, two walks, and eight Ks to show for it all. LHP Thom Oldham (2.16, S) didn’t fare so well, giving up six hits and striking out three in his three innings, but he still managed to get out of it without a run scoring.
CF Brent Johnson (2 R, RBI, A, .298) and LF Josh Womack (R, .305) both had three hits, and 1B Marshall Hubbard (HR, 2 R, 2 RBi, .252) had his sixth home run along with a walk.

Wisconsin 2, Quad Cities 1 (STL - 4)
LHP Harold Williams (3.21, W) gave up a run on two hits, two hit batters, and four walks against three Ks over six innings. I think I’ve said it before so… RHP Joe Woerman (1.36, S) struck out one in the seventh for the save. Nineteen scoreless innings now. Free Joe Woerman.
3B Ron Garth (RBI, .272) had a couple of hits, and 2B Luis Valbuena (.255) was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Wisconsin 1, Quad Cities 2 (- 3)
LHP Jose Escalona (3.97, L) pitched for five and a third innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk against three Ks. LHP David Asher (3.55) faced two batters without getting an out, hit to one and error to allow the other to reach, but RHP Roman Martinez (3.86) got a line DP for the final two outs.
DH Luis Valbuena (RBI, .260) had two hits, and 2B Ron Garth (2B, R, .273) doubled, so basically, same notables, different results and positions.

Aguirre 4, Cagua Reds 4 (+ 7) (eleven innings)
Ah, VSL ties… RHP Alfredo Venegas (3.07) pitched four innings and allowed two runs to score on five hits, a wild pitch, two hit batters, and a walk against three Ks. Still waiting for him to really turn it on this year. LHP Jose Jimenez (1.42, E) gave up an unearned run in the next two innings on four hits, a walk, and a K, and RHP Carlos Sanchez (3.06) walked two and let a run score in the inning+ that followed. RHP Jessie Nava (2.30) pitched the next three, scoring the run against Sanchez and walking three, throwing a wild pitch, and striking out two. RHP Yoervis Medina (5.50) gave up a couple of hits and struck out one in the eleventh.
CF Dwight Britton (R, 2 RBI, CS, .250) and RF Mario Yepez (2 R, .214) both had two hits and a walk, and 3B Edilio Colina (.279) walked twice.

Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Cesar Jimenez, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Travis Blackley, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Shawn Nottingham, at Visalia, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Marwin Vega (!), at Quad Cities, @ 5:00 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Astros (doubleheader), @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 34-33, .507, 3.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 26-39, .400, 12.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 37-29, .561, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 27-40, .403, 12.5 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 11-14-2, .444, 6 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 135-155-2, .466

posted by Jay Y. @ 11:13 PM

Game Recaps (6/14/06)

Sacramento 4 (OAK 0), Tacoma 9 (seven innings)
RHP Francisco Cruceta (3.71, W) pitched all seven innings and got the win, giving up four runs on four hits (3 HR!!) and two walks against seven strikeouts. Everything’s great, except for the longballs.
RF Shin-soo Choo (2 2B, 2 R, .276) and CF (yes, CF) Chris Snelling (2 R, 2 RBI, .247) both had two hits, DH Greg Dobbs (2B, R, 2 RBI, .304) and LF Jon Nelson (HR, 2 RBI, .340) had extra-base knocks, and 3B Hunter Brown (R, .269) walked a couple of times. C Rob Johnson (2 RBI, .252) was back in the lineup and had a hit and a walk in the first game of the DH.

Sacramento 8 (+ 1), Tacoma 4 (seven innings)
All that kept us from a rare system sweep… RHP Cha Seung Baek (3.58) fought off the flu and the Rivercats for five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits (2 HR!), a hit batter, and four Ks. RHP Renee Cortez (4.50) had one of his meltdowns following him, giving up five runs on four hits and two walks with one K in two-thirds of an inning before RHP Scott Atchison (3.97) came in, scored two of those runs, and gave up a hit and struck out one over the final inning and a third.
RF Shin-soo Choo (2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .283) was the star in this one too, with three more hits, and 2B Scotty Baseball (2B, R, RBI, .208) had a double.

San Antonio 2, Corpus Christi 0 (HOU + 11)
Another win? I’ll take it! LHP Ryan Feierabend (4.41, PO, W) killed ‘em, going six and two-thirds innings and giving up five hits while striking out ten. Curiously, no groundball outs. RHP Craig James (2.00) gave up a hit in the next inning, and then RHP Mark Lowe (0.00) struck out one of the final four outs.
CF Sebastien Boucher (2B, .216) doubled, but the big hit was off the bat of C Justin Ruchti (HR, 2 RBI, .245), who hit the deciding two-run shot.

Inland Empire 10, San Jose 1 (SF + 12)
The all-star snub of LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (1.75, W) continues to be a mystery… well, perhaps not, given that he was injured earlier, but he certainly turned in a great performance, going six and a third innings and giving up just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out eighth. RHP Jon Lockwood (3.04) gave up three hits and struck out two over the next inning and two-thirds, and then RHP Mike Hrynio (1.93) walked one and struck out two in the ninth.
CF Brent Johnson (.290) and C J.B. Tucker (HR, 2 R, .192) both had two hits, and 2B Yung-chi Chen (HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .333), SS Ron Prettyman (2B, 2 RBI, .298), and 1B Matt Rogelstad (2B, R, RBI, .245) all had extra-base hits. Chen also walked twice.

Aguirre 14, VSL Cardinals 2 (- 8)
RHP Juan Ramirez (2.45) had two hits, two walks, and three Ks to show for four innings of work. After that, RHP Yoervis Medina (5.82) walked two, hit one, and threw a wild pitch in a third of an inning, and RHP Leonardo Rodriguez (3.78) let one of those turn into a run, but otherwise did well, giving up three hits and striking out one in the final four and two-thirds.
SS Cesar Fuentes (2B, R, 2 RBI, SB, PO, .235), PH-RF Nicomedes Gomez (2B, 2 R, RBI, .167), and 1B Pablo Orfila (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, .400) each had two hits and LF Rayon Lampe (HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, CS, .215) and CF Terry Serrano (HR, 2 RBi, .148) both had home runs. Lampe also walked twice, as did 2B Jetsy Extrano (R, RBI, PO, .286).

Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Bobby Livingston, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Adam Pettyjohn, at Midland, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Justin Thomas, at San Jose, @ 12:45 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Harold Williams, at Quad Cities, @ 3:30 pm PDT
Second Game: LHP Jose Escalona
Aguirre: TBA, at Cagua, @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 33-33, .500, 3.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 25-39, .391, 12.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 36-29, .554, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 26-38, .400, 13 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 11-14-1, .442, 5.5 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 131-154-1, .460

posted by Jay Y. @ 1:22 AM

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Parts of Aquasox Roster Announced

Via the Herald, we know that Cs Chao Kuan Wu, Jair Fernandez, and Adam Moore, IF Dean Zorn, RHPs Doug Fister, Michael Schilling, and Juan Colon, and OFs Greg Halman, Jose Graterol (going by that name again), and Kuo-hui Lo will be on the roster. I've said it before, but that outfield is going to be awesome.

I have a complete roster now, and it looks like the pitching staff is rounded out by college guys, plus a few former DSL types, Colon, Dilone, Suriel. The infield also has a lot of Dominicans, with Manelik Pimentel, Ogui Diaz, and Leury Bonilla. Catcher/first/DH looks to be a battle, with Travis Scott and Joe White listed in addition to the guys we already knew.

posted by Jay Y. @ 12:43 AM

Game Recaps (6/13/06)

A little more draft news leaks, as it appears that the M’s have signed RHP Bryan Ball. The P-I has indicated that more signings, including the top two, may be officially announced shortly.

Sacramento 10 (OAK + 1), Tacoma 1
Much as I’d like to maintain the hope brought on by the AFL seasons, the wheels have fallen off the bandwagon for RHP Clint Nageotte (5.14, L), and the wagon may be on fire. Nags only lasted an inning and two-thirds, and gave up eight runs on nine hits (HR), a wild pitch, and a walk against three Ks. On the plus side, RHP Dan Wright (4.50) was pretty solid through the next four and a third innings, allowing just the one run on two hits and a walk with four more Ks. RHP Sean Green (1.59) struck out two in the next two frames of work, and then RHP Jon Huber (2.45) gave up a run on two hits in the ninth.
LF Greg Dobbs (3B, .304) had a triple, but that was about all that was noteworthy, unless you consider the first triple-A start and hit for 1B Bryan Lahair (.250). No Snelling in the lineup.

San Antonio 8, Corpus Christi 1 (HOU + 12)
I don’t know how much hope I have for the Missions in the second half. I know that Clement’s return will help them immensely, as will their revamped bullpen (if the rotation can hold out), but for now, I’ll have to revel in it all coming together for one game. RHP Yorman Bazardo (2.97, W) only allowed four hits in five innings of work, struck out one, and recorded ten groundouts to four flies. LHP Eric O’Flaherty (1.54) pitched the next three and allowed an unearned run to score on five hits while he struck out four, and then RHP Mark Lowe (0.00) had a hit and a strikeout to show for the ninth.
What’s really amazing about the offensive production is that they pulled it off without Lahair or Balentien. CF Sebastien Boucher (R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, .215), SS Oswaldo Navarro (2 2B, 5 RBI!, SB, E, .247), DH Jason Bourgeois (2 R, SB, .248), and 2B Ismael Castro (2 R, .248) all had two hits and a walk, and 1B Erick Monzon (2B, R, .259) doubled. There was also a sighting of 1B Andy Hargrove (.000), who got hit by a pitch. No comment there, I’d really rather see someone with more potential at first for the Aquasox anyway.

Inland Empire 2, San Jose 3 (SF + 13)
I don’t know what to say about this one aside from there were a lot of missed opportunities. RHP Aaron Jensen (3.05) did his part by pitching five innings and allowing just four hits while striking out five. RHP Justin Jordan (4.71) also did all right, striking out one in the sixth, but LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (4.15) got tagged with a couple of unearned runs on a hit, a wild pitch, a walk, and a K in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Jose de la Cruz (4.13) scored two of those, and gave up two hits, hit a batter, and struck out one in two and a third innings. RHP Mumba Rivera (2.72, L) would take the loss in extra innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out four in two+ innings.
The Sixers had the bases loaded with no outs in the twelfth, and a runner in scoring position with one out in the thirteenth. Neither resulted in scoring. 2B Yung-chi Chen (R, .333) and LF Josh Womack (.297) both had two hits, RF Mike Wilson (3B, R, .307) tripled (and struck out four times), and 3B Ron Prettyman (2B, .300) doubled, but no batter was beyond reproach tonight.

Wisconsin 2, Lansing 6 (TOR + 14)
LHP Paul Fagan (4.74, L) stuck around for seven and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on eight hits (2 HR!), a hit batter, a walk, and two punchouts. RHP Roman Martinez (4.26) had three chances to record the final out, but walked away having scored a run against Fagan after a hit, a hit batter, and a walk. LHP David Asher (3.55) had to come in for the final out.
2B Luis Valbuena (3B, HR, 2 R, .252) was the clear star for the offense, coming up a double shy of hitting for the cycle, but other doubles were provided by 3B Ron Garth (2B, .265), DH Jeff Flaig (2B, .212), and 1B Curtis L:edbetter (2B, .188).

Rattlers broadcaster Chris Mehring has a blog now. I’ll hook up a link on the sidebar a little later with the team section. Jeff Dominguez has been named to the all-star team as an injury replacement, according to his blog and other sources floating around.

VSL Phillies 4 (+ 10), Aguirre 2
From the weakest to the toughest in the space of a day. RHP Yovanny Olivero (3.13) gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out two in four and a third innings. RHP Carlos Sanchez (2.70) came in for two and two-thirds innings after that, scoring two of Olivero’s runs and giving up a run of his own on three hits, a hit batter, and two walks against two Ks, and then LHP Jose Jimenez (1.59) gave up a hit and struck out three in the final two innings.
C Larry Gonzalez (RBI, .325) and RF Mario Yepez (2B, .250) both provided two hits for the offense, 3B Edilio Colina (2B, R, .291) had a double, and 2B Jetsy Extrano (.286) had a hit and a walk and should be posting an OPS north of .850 now, second among the regulars.

Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, in Tacoma, @ 6:05 pm PDT
Second Game: Mystery Starter!
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Feierabend (?), at Corpus Christi, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, at San Jose, @ 5:00 pm PDT
Wisconsin: Off day
Aguirre: TBA, at Cardinals, @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 32-32, .500, 3 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 24-39, .381, 13.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 35-29, .547, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 26-38, .400, 13 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 10-14-1, .420, 7 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 127-153-1, .454

posted by Jay Y. @ 12:12 AM

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Game Recaps (6/12/06)

Sacramento 6 (OAK 0), Tacoma 8
Take that, A’s farm team. RHP Rich Dorman (3.38) came in for Baek (late scratch) and gave up five runs on three hits (HR), two wild pitches, and four walks against five Ks. Grand slam home runs have a way of ruining lines. RHP Aaron Looper (6.46) gave up a run on a hit, a walk, and a K in the next two innings, and then RHP Scott Atchison (4.50) held the Rivercats to the same, minus the run, in his two frames of work. RHP Renee Cortez (3.31, S) earned his fourth save of the season, striking out two in the ninth.
Though he didn’t lead the team in hits, and many others had two, 3B Greg Dobbs (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, .305) gets the gameball, mostly for driving in the two winning runs, but also for walking twice. Aside from that, C Guillermo Quiroz (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .304) and 2B Michael Garciaparra (HR, 2 R, .362) both had three hits, including home runs, and CF Adam Jones (2B, .250) and DH Chris Snelling (R, .234) had two each. RF Shin-soo Choo (R, .270) didn’t have a hit, but walked three times to bump up that OBP a little more. 1B Hunter Brown (2B, R, 2 RBI, .280) had a double and two walks as well. All in all, it was fine night for the offense.

San Antonio 3, Corpus Christi 6 (HOU + 13)
RHP Nate Mateo (4.50, L) lost it late in the game, giving up five runs in five and a third on seven hits (HR) and two walks against five Ks. RHP Chad Fillinger (2.39) let one of those score, along with an unearned run of his own, on four hits and a hit batter and rung up two in an inning and two-thirds. RHP Stephen Kahn (4.50) struck out one in the eighth.
RF Wladimir Balentien (RBI, .253) managed two hits, after striking out in five of his first eight plate appearances upon returning. 3B Jesus Guzman (R, RBI, CS, .268) added a hit and a walk, and was running an OBP about seventy points higher than his batting average coming into the game. I’d say he’s making his way back, even if he isn’t a major prospect.

An unfortunate San Antonio Express-News writer didn’t get Art Thiel’s recent article. I’d e-mail him, but I imagine the floodgates have already opened there. The internet and sarcasm have not historically gone well together.

2B Yung-chi Chen will represent the Sixers in the coming all-star game.

Wisconsin 4, Lansing 2 (TOR + 13)
I can’t say I expected RHP Ruben Flores (5.23, W) to take out the Lugnuts like he did, going five and two-thirds innings and giving up two runs on three hits, a balk, and six walks against four Ks, but he did it. And in that case, isn’t it nice to have RHP Edgar Guaramato (4.15) and RHP Joe Woerman (1.41, S) around? Guar pitched an inning and two thirds, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out four, which means that nine of his last ten outs are Ks. Woerman, on the other hand, has run his scoreless streak up to eighteen innings and walked one while K’ing two.
2B Luis Valbuena (HR, 2 RBI, .243), CF Michael Saunders (2B, CS, .224), and DH Bryan Sabatella (CS, .193) all had two hits, and 1B Jeff Flaig (2B, .211) and RF Jairo Hernandez (3B, RBI, CS, .200) both had extra-base knocks. Valbuena’s first home run of the season, finally.

Following the game, there were a few significant moves made. C Chao Kuan Wu was sent to Everett, though I don’t know how that will work out with him, Santin, and Jair Fernandez fighting over time, to say nothing of whoever will be at first or DH otherwise. RHP Marwin Vega was called back up to Wisconsin, which was the source of some celebration on my part, even if it means I won’t be chuckling to myself as I watch batters flail at change-ups flying in below the I-5 speed limit a week from now. IF Ron Garth was also reinstated from the DL, and that takes care of the position player move. I’m assuming Vega takes Thomas’ spot, albeit a little late. The T-Rats are also back above .400.

VSL Twins/Blue Jays 0 (- 9), Aguirre 8
I’d like to think more of this game, but the team they were facing off against is the worst overall in the league. RHP Rhonny Acosta (5.94, PO, W) pitched seven strong innings against them, with four hits, a wild pitch, a walk, and five Ks to show for it. RHP Leonardo Rodriguez (5.25) hit a batter in the last two innings, which is the only way anyone reached against him.
C Larry Gonzalez (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, CS, .306) made the most of his playing time, logging three hits in three at-bats. RF Mario Yepez (3B, R, RBI, SB, .233) had two hits, DH Jetsy Extrano (R, .283) had a hit and two walks, and CF Dwight Britton (2B, R, CS, .242) had a double and a walk. PH-LF Nicomedes Gomez (3B, R, RBI, .095) also made use of a rare at bat, tripling in a run and scoring.

Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Clint Nageotte, in Tacoma, @ 11:35 am PDT
San Antonio: RHP Yorman Bazardo, at Corpus Christi, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Aaron Jensen, at San Jose, @ 7:00 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Paul Fagan, at Lansing, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 32-31, .508, 2 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 23-39, .371, 14.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 35-28, .556, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 26-37, .406, 13 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 10-13-1, .438, 6 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 126-149-1, .458

posted by Jay Y. @ 12:48 AM

Monday, June 12, 2006

Lahair Promoted

Jason at Prospect Insider is reporting that 1B Bryan Lahair was promoted to triple-A Tacoma and 1B/DH Todd Sears was released. Certainly not what I expected given that he struggled through most of May.

And there was much joy and pumping of fists.

posted by Jay Y. @ 5:56 PM

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Third-Round Pick Signs

Or rather, LHP Anthony Butler will sign, later on today.

RHP Chris Tillman has been sighted at the past couple of Angels games, and could be joining him shortly, and the negotiations with top pick RHP Brandon Morrow indicate that the sides aren't too far apart. Good news all around.

posted by Jay Y. @ 11:01 PM

Game Recaps (6/11/06)

Tacoma 8, Las Vegas 1 (LA + 7)
LHP Cesar Jimenez (5.33, W) cruised through five innings of work, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out two, which makes me wonder why they decided to pull him after only 78 pitches (no indications of injury). RHP Jon Huber (0.00) gave up two hits and hit a batter in the next two innings, and then RHP Sean Green (1.80) gave up a run on two hits and two walks while punching out one in the final two innings of the game.
LF Jon Nelson (2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .444) was the big man for the offense today, clubbing three hits that all went for extra-bases, though I wouldn’t get too excited about his performance since his promotion. RF Shin-soo Choo (2B, HR, E, .272) and 3B Greg Dobbs (2B, 2 R, .300) each added two hits and a walk, and 1B Todd Sears (R, RBI, .267) was 1-for-3 with two walks.

San Antonio 1, Corpus Christi 5 (HOU + 12)
Major league rehab stints are always a draw for the fans, but never something you want to run into as a minor league team, and rarely this lopsided. LHP Travis Blackley (4.14, L) gave it a five and one-third inning effort and ended up allowing five runs to score on eight hits, two hit batters, a walk, and five Ks. And Clemens? He went six innings, allowing two hits (not to who you would think, Monzon and Oliveros) and struck out eleven. We surrender. RHP Craig James (2.06) let two of Blackley’s runs score on two hits, a wild pitch, a walk, and a strikeout in his inning of work, and then LHP Eric O’Flaherty (2.08) came in and had a hit, a balk, a hit batter, and a K to show for an inning and two-thirds’ worth of work.
The Missions offense did okay considering they had three innings to work with. They had five hits in that span alone, and two each went to 3B Jesus Guzman (R, .267) and 1B Bryan Lahair (.297), who needs to bust out of his recent slump.

MLB.com just put a story on the game up.

Lancaster 5 (ARI - 4), Inland Empire 3
Should I try saying nice things? RHP Cibney Bello (4.98, E, L) gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits (2 HR!), three walks, and three Ks in three innings of work. I guess the K per inning is… *sound of teeth grinding*… nice… forget it, maybe some other start. Bello’s giving up a little over one home run per nine innings, and I fear what that (and his WHIP) might be with better talent around the league. RHP Mike Hrynio (2.08), on the other hand, gave up one hit, one wild pitch, and one walk through three innings while ringing up three, and that is indeed nice. LHP Thom Oldham (3.38) gave up four hits and struck out two over the final three.
2B Yung-chi Chen (2B, .332), 1B Marshall Hubbard (2 RBI, .258), and SS Ron Prettyman (.304) collected two hits each, RF Chris Colton (CS, .236) walked three times, CF Brent Johnson (R, .295) reached three times via a hit, a walk, and being hit, and LF Josh Womack (2B, RBI, .295) doubled. Not quite enough.

Wisconsin 4, Lansing 7 (TOR + 14)
RHP Nick Allen (2.63, L) was as deserving as anyone on the current staff to take over in the rotation, but gave up four runs (one earned) on three hits, two walks, and two Ks through three innings of work. RHP Justin Ockerman (15.00) gave up three runs on two hits, two walks, and a K in the fourth, and then LHP Lance Beus (1.50) kept it to two hits, a hit batter, a walk, and three Ks over the next three innings. RHP Joe Woerman (1.48) struck out one and has something like 16.1 straight scoreless innings. Seriously, free Joe Woerman. Well, as soon as some of the drafted guys are ready to take his spot, I guess.
CF Casey Craig (2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB, .266) had two hits, SS Jeff Dominguez (2B, R, RBI, 2 PO, .280) doubled and walked twice, and 1B Bryan Sabatella (2B, R, .184) doubled and walked once. No reinforcements coming any time soon for the T-Rats offense, though I find it odd to note they’re only the fourth worst in team OPS in the league. Yikes.

The M’s farm system currently has two teams below .400 and might have three soon, if things continue going poorly. The good news is, the Aquasox, who should be awesome, will be starting up a week from tomorrow. Bad news… well, I won’t be able to make it to media day.

Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Cha Seung Baek, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Nate Mateo, at Corpus Christi, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: Off day
Wisconsin: RHP Ruben Flores, at Lansing, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT

Tacoma Rainiers: 31-31, .500, 4 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 23-38, .377, 13.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 35-28, .556, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 25-37, .397, 14 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 9-13-1, .413, 6 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 123-148-1, .454

posted by Jay Y. @ 9:52 PM

Game Recaps (6/10/06)

Tacoma 2, Las Vegas 3 (LA + 8)
LHP Bobby Livingston (5.32, L) was a little better, going seven innings and giving up three runs on seven hits (HR), a balk, and a walk against two Ks. RHP Renee Cortez (3.41) gave up a hit and a walk in the ninth.
CF Adam Jones (RBI, CS, .252) and 1B Greg Dobbs (.296) had two hits, LF Shin-soo Choo (2B, R, A, E, .268) had a double and a walk, and 2B Michael Garciaparra (.352) had a single and a walk. DH Chris Snelling (RBI, .235) was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in his return to the lineup. Word on the old ITP boards is that he had the flu.

San Antonio 3, Corpus Christi 8 (HOU + 11)
LHP Adam Pettyjohn (2.89, L) struggled, going four innings and letting seven runs score on nine hits (HR), a balk, a hit batter, and a walk against five Ks. RHP Mike Flannery (4.76) gave up a run on four hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a strikeout in the next three frames of work, and then RHP Mark Lowe (0.00) gave up a hit and punched out two in the eighth.
LF Jason Bourgois (2B, E, .248) had three hits in the game, but DH Erick Monzon (HR, 2 RBi, .275) also reached safely three times via a home run and two walks. 3B Jesus Guzman (.262) also had two walks, C Luis Oliveros (.241) had two hits, and 1B Bryan Lahair (.289) had a hit and a walk. 2B Ismael Castro (HR, .253) clubbed his first home run this season, and that was the first home run at this level for him and Monzon.

Lancaster 1 (ARI - 5), Inland Empire 0
The Sixers offense wasted one of the best starts LHP Shawn Nottingham (3.82, E, PO, L) turned in this year, as he went the complete nine innings and gave up an unearned run on seven hits, three hit batters, and a walk while he struck out eight. He only threw 100 pitches in this one, and apparently busted out a slider in this one that he hadn’t previously thrown in a game.
2B Yung-chi Chen (CS, .329) had two hits, RF Mike Wilson (.321) walked twice, and 3B Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, PO, .323) had his thirteenth double of the season.

Wisconsin 2, Lansing 4 (TOR + 13)
LHP Jose Escalona (4.03, E) turned in a quality start against one of the better offensive teams in the league, going six innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits, a hit batter, and a walk while he punched out six. Unfortunately, it was all for naught, as RHP Roman Martinez (4.26, L) gave up a run on a hit, a hit batter, and K in two-thirds of an inning, and LHP David Asher (3.65) gave up another on three hits in the final inning and a third.
2B Luis Valbuena (3B, 2 RBI, .237) had his fourth triple of the season, good for second on the team behind Saunders’ five, and LF Jairo Hernandez (R, .194) had a hit and a walk.

Aguirre 6, VSL Tigers/Marlins 5 (- 4)
We have to go to the VSL to avoid the system sweep for the day. RHP Miguel Marquez (1.95, W) allowed three runs to score on four hits, a wild pitch, and a hit batter while he struck out five. He’s not as dominant as he was before, but he’s still doing all right in the overall numbers. RHP Yorjans Chourio (3.38) pitched the next three innings and gave up two runs on three hits, two walks, and two Ks. In the ninth, RHP Jessie Nava (2.84, S) notched his first save by walking one and striking out two.
With fourteen hits in the game, the offense probably should’ve scored more runs, but it was nice to see something out of them. 2B Jetsy Extrano (R, RBI, .280), CF Dwight Britton (2B, 2 R, A, .239), DH Jorge Agudelo (2B, 2 RBI, CS, .375), C Israel Nunez (HR, .391), and LF Rayon Lampe (.222) all had two hits in the game. 1B Humberto Espinoza (.284) added two walks, and SS Terry Serrano (2B, R, .152) had a double.

Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Cesar Jimenez, already underway
San Antonio: LHP Travis Blackley (vs. Clemens!), at Corpus Christi, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Cibney Bello, in San Bernardino, @ 2:11 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Nick Allen (replacing Thomas), already underway
Aguirre: Off day

Tacoma Rainiers: 30-31, .491, 4 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 23-37, .383, 12.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 35-27, .565, 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 25-37, .403, 13 GB in MWL Western
Aguirre Mariners: 9-13-1, .413, 6 GB in VSL
Organizational Record: 122-145-1, .457

posted by Jay Y. @ 1:21 PM