Mariner Minors
Game Recaps (6/30/06)
Fresno 3 (SF - 13), Tacoma 8If not for the fact that the Fresno roster is composed mostly with poor hitters, I would go for it, but as it stands, I am
thisclose to starting a Free RHP Francisco Cruceta (3.77, W) campaign. Cruceta gave up three runs on four hits (2 HR!) and two walks against eleven strikeouts. RHP Jon Huber (1.15) followed him and gave up a couple hits through two innings of work.
RF Shin-soo Choo (3 R, 3 RBI, SB, .316) had four hits in the game, LF Chris Snelling (2B, 3 RBI, SB, .287) had three, CF Adam Jones (2B, R, RBI, .275), 3B Greg Dobbs (.299), and 1B Jon Nelson (2 R, .263) had two apiece, and 2B Hunter Brown (SB, .256) had a hit plus two walks.
San Antonio 4, Frisco 2 (TEX - 4)LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (1.38, PO, W) got another W after pitching seven innings and giving up four hits and two walks while striking out five. RHP Stephen Kahn (5.02) gave up two runs on three hits, a walk, and a K in an inning and a third, but RHP Mark Lowe (1.23) let a couple of those score on a hit before he struck out the final two batters.
RF Wladimir Balentien (2B, R, 2 RBI, CS, .258) had a couple of hits in the game, enough to get him the nod as the top offensive player in this one. 1B Marshall Hubbard (R, RBI, .393) had a hit and a walk, and 2B Jesus Guzman (R, .258) had a couple of walks.
Inland Empire 4, Rancho Cucamonga 9 (ANA - 4)LHP Shawn Nottingham (4.03) pitched five innings and allowed nine runs (seven earned) to score on eight hits (2 HR!), a wild pitch, and two walks against four Ks. The last three were split between RHP Juan Done (6.00), RHP Aaron Trolia (6.49), and RHP Mumba Rivera (3.04). Done struck out one, Trolia gave up a hit, and Mumba did both.
CF Brent Johnson (2B, 2 R, .307) had three more hits in the game and his OPS is edging closer to .800, though it’s largely average reliant. C Brian Schweiger (CS, PB, E, .400) had two, plus a walk, and LF Casey Craig (HR, 2 RBI, .467) cracked his first Cal League home run.
Wisconsin 1, West Michigan 4 (DET + 5)Same score, same teams, different day. RHP Nick Allen (2.89, L) gave up all four runs through five and one-third innings on six hits (HR) and a walk against three Ks, and LHP Harold Williams (3.09) let two of those score, with a hit, two wild pitches, three walks, and three Ks in his inning and two-thirds of work. LHP Lance Beus (2.08) gave up a hit, hit a batter, and struck out two in the eighth.
3B Ron Garth (RBI, .269) and CF Alex Gary (CS, .240) both had two hits in the game. 1B Johan Limonta (.219) had a hit and a walk, extending his hitting streak to six games.
Salem-Keizer 1 (SF + 8), Everett 5 MiLB.com says one thing, the official Aquasox release say another. I’m siding with the latter. LHP Steve Uhlmansiek (0.64. W) pitched five innings, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four. RHP Justin Souza (0.00) finally made an appearance in the sixth, with two singles, a wild pitch, and a K to show for it, and then RHP Joe Kantakevich (5.14) gave up a run on a hit and a hit batter in the seventh. LHP Saydel Beltran (13.50) struck out a batter, and then RHP Brian Kappel (0.00, S) finished the game, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.
2B Dean Zorn (2B, R, RBI, .282) had three hits in the game, CF Greg Halman (R, SB, .261) and SS Chris Minaker (2B, R, .176) had two apiece, 1B Joe White (.294) walked three times, and 3B Leury Bonilla (HR, 2 RBI, .125) cracked his first home run of the season.
Mesa Angels 4 (- 3), Peoria Mariners 5Today, we finally saw an appearance by LHP Tony Butler (0.00), who pitched one inning and struck out two. RHP Douglas Salinas (0.00) followed him and pitched five innings, giving up three hits, hitting a batter, walking one, and ringing up four. RHP Diomny Gaetano (22.50) had a meltdown in the next inning+, giving up four runs on three hits, a hit batter, and three walks against one strikeout, and RHP Rocky Collis (3.00, BS, W) let one of those score, but eventually got the win after two hits and a walk in two innings of work.
For the hitters, the game ball has to go to OF Carlos Peguero (2 HR, PO, A, .355), who had three hits, including his second and third home runs, the latter of which was a walk-off in the ninth. 1B Gerardo Avila (HR, 2 RBI, .400) also had a home run, his third as well, and he and Peguero are in a tie with several other players for the league lead right now. C Julian Henson (3B, .357) had a triple.
VSL Orioles/White Sox 7 (+ 3), Aguirre Mariners 2RHP Yovanny Olivero (2.37, L) gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits, a wild pitch, and a walk against two Ks in three innings of work. RHP Rhonny Acosta (6.75) gave up three runs over the next five and a third after five hits, four walks, and two Ks. RHP Yoervis Chourio (1.93) would be left to record the final two outs.
3B Jetsy Extrano (E, .276) was the only player in the lineup with two hits. There weren’t any extra-base knocks in this one.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Cha Seung Baek, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Travis Blackley, at Frisco, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Cibney Bello, at Rancho Cucamonga, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Ruben Flores, at West Michigan, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Natividad Dilone, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Off day
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 45-36, .556, 3 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 6-2 (33-43), .750, (.434), 1 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 5-2 (44-33), .714 (.571), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 2-7 (29-50), .222 (.367), 3 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 9-3, .750, 1 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 5-3, .625, 2 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 19-16-3, .539, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 196-186-3, .513
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AsCab for Eduardo Perez
A little late jumping on the wagon, or jumping onto a different wagon here, as the case may be but I still have things to say about this trade.
I don't have as much of a problem with it as other people seem to. Granted, my first instinct was to run around like a chicken with its head cut off, but after thinking about it, I wasn't as bothered as I thought I would be.
A lot of people have been fighting this one by bringing up the notion that Hargrove may not play Perez at all. First off, we don't know that, because Perez is a fairly established bat, unlike Petagine and unlike anyone we've called up from the minors. He's not a regular, but he is a veteran and has a track record to fall back on. Second, this move acts to call Hargrove's bluff, in a manner of speaking. If the team trades away one of their top ten prospects for a player, you expect that player to see time on the field, and if not, it could be construed as insubordination. Either Hargrove plays Perez, or he may be giving the management a cheap excuse to replace him. We can't really lose here.
Reagarding the actual trade, yes, we overpaid. That's what you sometimes do when you're looking for a good commodity and there's limited quantities of it. I think the Indians probably milked that as much as they could, and probably turned down Oswaldo Navarro before this. Perez' platoon splits against lefties are absolutely monstrous, and he makes everyone around him in the lineup better.
Yes, I'd like this trade a lot more if Perez were a few years younger, but given his on field limitations and his somewhat minor role, it's not as if he's going to be the car we ride into the ground until it won't go anymore. He could conceivably be a guy who's capable of sustaining this level of production or near it for the next few years (including when our chances might be better than they are now) just because he isn't going through that regular wear and tear.
Yes, this does limit our options a little. Looking at it, you'd have to say that the Mariners FO has used their resources and come to the conclusion that they're riding the Beltre/YuBet/Lopez/Sexson infield for the forseeable future. Is that so bad? It hinges around a lot of things... whether Beltre's revival is real, whether YuBet is morphing into a much better batter than we thought we had, whether Lopez is the real deal (scratch that, let's say he is for now), and whether Sexson can be brought back to life.
But realistically, we probably weren't going to trade Beltre, ever, and what we had to give up in order to get him out of here would've been a lot worse. Having YuBet, a Carlos Guillen-level potential bat in AsCab, and Lopez taking up spots on the infield would've been nice, but in my opinion, you have to ride out Lopez at second as long as you conceivably can. Why? Because he's a more than premium bat for the position and his production isn't nearly as exciting when moved to a corner. Having Jose at second gives us the opportunity to add that extra kick at third, if it comes to that, and by all accounts, I think he's proven he can handle the position. Getting premium production from a defensive position makes everything else easier for the offense.
Right now, we don't know what other deals might be on the horizon or what we might have to put together to get that extra-arm in the rotation. And then, maybe we can moan about the loss of AsCab, but he wasn't the only prospect who was pulling off a sort of breakthrough. We have pitchers in the system who are doing the same, and any team trading away a pitcher is probably going to ask for some of the same in return. Our remaining offensive prospects are not so terrible as to prevent us from "sweetening" a deal later on. While we're waiting for the market for those pitching pieces to establish itself, we just sent away a prospect that had little place on the team other than trade bait (though he probably is better than the returns) for a guy who hits cleanup for us against the type of pitching that's killed us all year, and we can use him as the measuring stick for whether the offense can keep fighting like it is or whether it will be on the ropes in another few rounds. We just gave them the shot in the arm they needed, now let's see what they do with it.
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Game Recaps (6/29/06)
Tacoma 5, Las Vegas 8 (LA - 1)Eh, they had a good run. RHP Rich Dorman (4.92, L) gave up seven runs on seven hits (2 HR!), a wild pitch, a balk, and two walks in two innings of work. RHP Aaron Looper (6.16) gave up another run on two hits (HR) in three innings of work, and then RHP Mike Flannery (0.00) turned in two perfect frames and LHP Thom Oldham (3.86) gave up a hit in the eighth.
SS Scotty Baseball (HR, 2 R, .249) led the charge with two hits, including a ninth inning home run. 3B Hunter Brown (2B, .255) added a double. Considering the lack of extra-base hits, the Rainiers offense did pretty well.
The whole Texas League was off. My bad.
Inland Empire 14, Rancho Cucamonga 5 (ANA - 5)LHP Justin Thomas (3.27, W) pitched five+ innings and gave up four runs on seven hits (HR) and two walks while he punched out eleven. RHP Jon Lockwood (3.42) let two of those score after a home run, but struck out three in two innings of work. RHP Mike Hrynio (0.00) hit one in the next inning, and then RHP Joe Woerman (0.00) struck out two in the ninth.
Offense! CF Brent Johnson (2 R, RBI, .301), RF Casey Craig (2 R, 2 RBI, .500), and LF Josh Womack (3B, 2 R, RBI, CS, .294) all had three hits in the game, C Omar Falcon (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, .255) and DH Chris Colton (2B, R, RBI, .230) both had two hits, and 2B Jack Arroyo (2B, R, RBI, .421) and 1B Andy Hargrove (2B, 2 R, RBI, .176) both had a double and at least one walk. Perhaps the Sixers will be okay even after losing Hubbard, Wilson, Tui, and now Chen.
Wisconsin 1, West Michigan 4 (DET + 4)LHP Paul Fagan (4.35, L) pitched seven and a third innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, while striking out and running a ten to four ground fly ratio. Five of those hits came in the seventh and eighth, and RHP Justin Ockerman (7.04) let one of them score one a hit and a walk while he tried to record the final two outs. Fagan’s still an interesting pitcher to me, he’s behind pace for when we drafted him, but he seems to be one of those types who could put together the groundball/strikeout dominance and avoid the big inning and suddenly become quite a pitcher.
RF Eddy Hernandez (2 2B, .228) had three hits in the game, 2B Luis Valbuena (2B, R, .276) and C Nick Prosise (2B, PB, .241) both had two hits, and SS Robby Hudson (2B, RBI, .271) doubled. Only one other hit from the other four guys though, and no walks for anyone on the team.
Salem-Keizer 3 (SF + 9), Everett 1 RHP Mike Schilling (0.90, L) gave up three unearned runs on four hits and a hit batter while striking out three in seven innings of work. He also had twelve groundouts to six flies. RHP Aaron Solomon (0.00) walked one, threw a wild pitch, and recorded two outs before giving way to LHP Saydel Beltran (14.94) for one out. RHP Ari Kafka (6.75) struck out the side in the ninth.
CF Greg Halman (HR, .238) led off the game with a home run, but not much else happened. LF Bryan Sabatella (SB, CS, .467) had a couple of hits and a walk, and RF Jose Graterol (2B, .176) doubled, but there was only one hit aside from that.
Peoria Mariners 4, Phoenix Athletics 6 (- 1)RHP Leonardo Torres (0.00) pitched one inning before giving way to RHP Carlos Javier (4.00), who pitched four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, a wild pitch, four walks, and four Ks. RHP Marquis Pettis (0.00, E) gave up a hit and struck out two in the next two innings, and then RHP Robert Harmon (9.00, L) gave up the lead on a hit, two wild pitches, two walks, and a K.
3B Alex Liddi (2B, 2 RBI, E, .280) had three hits in the game, 1B Gerardo Avila (R, E, SB, .419) had another two hits, DH Juan Guzman (.286) had a couple of walks, and C Erwin Jacobo (HR, PB, .250) cracked a home run in the third.
Most of the scheduled VSL games were rained out again. The Aguirre team was scheduled for a doubleheader too.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, in Tacoma, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, at Frisco, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Shawn Nottingham (?), at Rancho Cucamonga, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Nick Allen, at West Michigan, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, in Peoria, @ 9:30 am PDT
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 44-36, .550, 4 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 5-2 (32-43), .714, (.427), 1 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 5-1 (44-32), .833 (.579), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 2-6 (29-49), .250 (.372), 3 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 8-3, .727, 2 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 4-3, .571, 2 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 19-15-3, .554, 3 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 192-183-3, .512
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Game Recaps (6/28/06)
Tacoma 7, Las Vegas 0 (LA - 2)LHP Cesar Jimenez (3.95, PO, W) had a no-no through eight innings before giving up the one hit he allowed. He ended up walking two and striking out four through nine innings. What more is there to say? Not a whole lot, but one has to feel that, with a .594 OPS against in June coming into the game, he may be coming around. Good news, and one of the less heralded stories of late (probably because, unlike Feierabend, he’s walking guys still and not striking out too many).
DH Jeff Clement (HR, 4 RBI, .207) had a grand slam in the eighth for the big hit of the game. Additionally, RF Shin-soo Choo (HR, .312), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (3B, R, .236), and C Rob Johnson (3 SB, .256) all had two hits, 1B Bryan Lahair (2B, .327) had a double in two plate appearances, and LF Chris Snelling (R, .271) walked twice.
Ten in a row…
Arkansas 4 (ANA - 3), San Antonio 3RHP Nate Mateo (5.34) pitched four and a third innings and gave up a couple of runs on four hits, a hit batter, and four walks against four Ks. RHP Craig James (1.64) let one of those score and gave up two hits and a walk while striking out four in the next two and a third innings. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (0.00) recorded Ks on three of his four outs, but RHP Mark Lowe (1.29, L) couldn’t keep it going and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out one.
3B Matt Tuiasosopo (2B, RBI, .261) had three hits and a walk in the game, a little surprising. DH Marshall Hubbard (3B, R, RBI, .400) had two hit, CF Sebastien Boucher (.241) had two walks, and 2B Jason Bourgeois (2B, R, .247) had a double.
Peoria 1 (CHC + 1), Wisconsin 5Prior to the game, the T-Rats
performed a team exorcism, of sorts. I’d say it worked. RHP Marwin Vega (6.19, W) pitched six and two-thirds innings and gave up a run on six hits, a wild pitch, two hit batters, and five walks, while recording two groundouts for every fly. RHP Roman Martinez (3.46) struck out two in the next inning and a third, and then LHP David Asher (4.43) struck out two of the last three batters.
Offensively, 2B Luis Valbuena (R, RBI, .272), 1B Curtis Ledbetter (2B, 2 RBI, .220), and CF Kevin Reynolds (2B, 2 R, .278) all had two hits in the game.
Word from the Rattlers Radio blog is that Jeff Dominguez is headed up to Inland and Alex Gary is back in Wisconsin.
Everett 2, Yakima 3 (ARI - 6) LHP Greg Nesbit (3.60, L) let three runs score on six hits and a walk against four Ks through five innings of work. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0.00) walked one and struck out three in the next two innings, and then LHP Jose Suriel (1.59) struck out two in the ninth.
LF Kuo-hui Lo (R, .323) and 3B Manelik Pimentel (2B, 3B, RBI, .278) led the batters with two hits apiece.
The Aquasox site is saying that RHPs Ricky Orta, Anthony Fiorenza, and Bryan Bell will be
joining the team in the coming homestand. You might want to check these games out, not just for the pitching matchups, but because it’s the top two teams in the west facing off.
Peoria Mariners 7, Phoenix Brewers 8 (- 1)LHP Aric Van Gaalen (1.29) gave up a couple runs on seven hits against five Ks in six innings of work. RHP Kyle Parker (12.71, PO, L) gave up six runs on five hits, two wild pitches, a hit batter, and three walks in the next two frames. RHP Rocky Collis (4.50) had a hit and a K to show for the ninth.
LF Wellington Dotel (HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .A, 286), 1B Gerardo Avila (.407), C Julian Henson (R, CS, E, .400), and 2B Alex Meneses (R, .400) all had two hits. Rehabber 3B Jose Morban (3B, R, .200) had a triple.
Rain washed out all of the scheduled VSL games.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Rich Dorman, at Las Vegas, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, at Frisco, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Justin Thomas, at Rancho Cucamonga, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Paul Fagan, at West Michigan, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Mike Schilling, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, at Phoenix, @ 9:30 am PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Pirates, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 44-35, .557, 3 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 5-2 (32-43), .714, (.427), 1 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 4-1 (43-32), .800 (.573), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 2-5 (29-48), .286 (.377), 2 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 8-2, .800, 1 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 4-2, .667, 1 GB in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 19-15-3, .554, 3 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 190-180-3, .513
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Baehl Not Going to Sign
Per a
story in his local paper, 14th round pick 3B/RHP Jared Baehl has indicated that he won't be signing with the Mariners, preferring to go out and get his education while playing college-level baseball.
I had kind of written him off anyway, after he had shown up in the papers a few times following the draft, but given little indication that he had any intent to sign. Time to focus those resources on the other guys...
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Game Recaps (6/27/06)
Tacoma 6, Las Vegas 1 (LA - 1)LHP Bobby Livingston (4.30, W) pitched six and two-thirds innings and gave up a run on five hits, a hit batter, and two walks against three strikeouts. RHP Jon Huber (1.32) pitched the next inning and a third, giving allowing a hit and two walks while striking out two, and then RHP Scott Atchison (3.93) walked one in the ninth.
For the offense, RF Shin-soo Choo (2B, 3B, R, RBI, .311) and 2B Scotty Baseball (2 R, RBI, E, .249) both had two hits, and 1B Bryan Lahair (2B, R, RBI, .321), DH Jeff Clement (2B, RBI, .200), and C Rob Johnson (2B, R, .250) all added doubles.
The Rainiers have won their last nine.
OF Chris Snelling is the
PCL Player of the Week.
Arkansas 3 (ANA - 4), San Antonio 4LHP Ryan Feierabend (3.92, W) tore up a tough Arkansas lineup to the tune of one run on three hits (solo shot to Brandon Wood) and eleven strikeouts. He’s adjusted a lot better than I initially predicted. Dude can pitch. LHP Jason Mackintosh (4.12) walked one and threw two wild pitches in the ninth.
CF Sebastien Boucher (2B, R, 4 RBI, SB, A, .243) and LF Mike Wilson (2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .381) both managed three hits in the game, RF Wladimir Balentien (R, RBI, SB, .258) had two (and a walk!), 2B Jason Bourgeois (R, SB, .247) had a hit and two walks, and 3B Matt Rogelstad (2B, R, .114) had a double.
In the
California/Carolina All-Star Game, 2B Yung-chiu Chen was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored and RF Josh Womack was hitless in his one at-bat.
Peoria 6 (CHC + 2), Wisconsin 4Alas, the T-Rats seem to be right about where they were at the end of the half. LHP Jose Escalona (4.22) did quite nicely, going six innings and giving up three hits, balking, and striking out four. LHP Harold Williams (3.18) pitched the next two and allowed one run to score on a hit (HR), a wild pitch, and two walks against four Ks. The K/BB there at least provides me with some hope. RHP Roman Martinez (3.86) gave up three unearned runs and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning, but RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.55, L) gave up one of those runs and let two more score on two hits, a wild pitch, and a walk.
2B Luis Valbuena (2 2B, RBI, .268) and 3B Ron Garth (2B, .272) both had three hits in the game, SS Robby Hudson (2 R, E, .275) had two, and RF Miochael Saunders (HR, 2 RBI, .213) hit his third home run.
Everett 5, Yakima 3 (ARI - 7) Recapping the Aquasox has been quite enjoyable thus far, but I’d rather see them face off against West Division competition so we can really see where we’re going with this. RHP Doug Fister (0.90, W) gave up a couple of runs (one earned) through five innings of work on five hits and a walk while he struck out three. RHP Kameron Mikolio (0.00) pitched the next three innings and allowed three hits and a walk while he struck out three, and then RHP Brian Kappel (0.00, S) gave up a hit and struck out five of the last seven batters.
RF Kuo-hui Lo (2B, RBI, 2 SB, CS, .286) and 2B Dean Zorn (2 2B, .229) both had a couple of hits and a walk, and SS Chris Minaker (2B, R, RBI, .200) had a double in his Aquasox debut.
RHP Mike Schilling is your
NWL Pitcher of the Week.
Surprise Royals 14 (+ 1), Peoria Mariners 4The first mark on the Mariners record… RHP Randy Frye (0.00) pitched an inning and gave up a hit, as did RHP Diomny Gateano (9.00), though he gave up a run. RHP Jared Eichelberger (10.80) gave up five runs (three earned) through the next two frames on four hits (HR), a wild pitch, and two walks, with two Ks, and then RHP Haley Winter (27.00) gave up six more runs on eight hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and two Ks. LHP Will Brown (3.60) finished it off by giving up two runs on a hit, two wild pitches, a walk, and three Ks, so it seems like he and Gaetano got the short end of the stick in this one. Can’t say I know why this was such a bullpen day for the squad, as they surely have their fair share of interesting pitchers down there (still waiting on Zapata and Butler, though I don’t know that Morrow and Tillman would’ve been quite ready yet).
1B Gerardo Avila (2 HR, 3 RBI, .409) provided most of the offense by himself, going 4-for-5. His performance thus far is way outside the spectrum of sustainability, but I’m still holding out hope that he’s at least decent. LF Wellington Dotel (2B, R, .250) and RF Stan Posluszny (R, .176) both had two hits. More context needed, but I like some of the early returns from the summer league import crew.
Aguirre Mariners 6, VSL Astros 5 (- 5)RHP Alfredo Venegas (2.83, W) pitched five and a third innings and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out five. RHP Leonardo Rodriguez (3.65) then walked two and threw two wild pitches while recording one out, before giving way to LHP Jose Jimenez (2.97, W) for three innings. Jimenez would let two more runs score on three hits, a hit batter, two walks, and two Ks, and then RHP Jessie Nava (2.95, S) walked one before recording the final groundout.
SS Cesar Fuentes (R, RBI, .262), 3B Jetsy Extrano (2 2B, 3 RBI, E, .265), 1B Pablo Orfila (R, .297), and RF Mario Yepez (2B, R, .247) all had two hits. Fuentes had a couple of walks and Extrano had one.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Cear Jimenez, at Las Vegas, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Nate Mateo, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: All-star break
Wisconsin: RHP Marwin Vega, in Appleton, @ 9:35 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Greg Nesbit, at Yakima, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, at Phoenix, @ 9:30 am PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Mets, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 43-35, .551, 3 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 5-1 (32-42), .833, (.432), T-1st in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 4-1 (43-32), .800 (.573), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 1-5 (28-48), .167 (.368), 3 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 8-1, .889, T-1st in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 4-1, .800, T-1st in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 19-15-3, .554, 3 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 187-178-3, .512
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Game Recaps (6/26/06)
Tacoma 6, Las Vegas 1 (LA 0)RHP Cha Seung Baek (3.23, W) pitched seven and a third innings and gave up a run on a solo shot, plus seven other hits while he struck out four. RHP Emiliano Fruto (3.23, S) walked one and struck out one pitching the rest of the distance.
RF Shin-soo Choo (2B, 2 R, RBI, .308) continued his hot hitting by going 4-for-5, and cF Adam Jones (R, .274) had three hits batting after him. 3B Greg Dobbs (2B, R, RBI, .302) and 1B Bryan Lahair (RBI, .320) both had two hits, 2B Ismael Castro (HR, .286) hit a home run, and LF Jon Nelson (.245) and SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.235) both had two walks.
Arkansas 3 (ANA - 3), San Antonio 4RHP Yorman Bazardo (3.15, E) pitched six innings and gave up three runs on five hits, a wild pitch, a balk, and five walks against two Ks. LHP Eric O’Flaherty (0.98, W) followed up by striking out two in two innings of work, and RHP Mark Lowe (0.00, S) struck out one in the ninth. Since being promoted, O’Flaherty, Lowe, and Kahn are collectively running a 1.31 WHIP and striking out just under seven per nine. Not bad.
CF Sebastien Boucher (2B, R, RBI, .235), DH Jason Bourgeois (2B, 3B, R, .246), 2B Jesus Guzman (3 RBI, .264), and 1B Marshall Hubbard (.438) all had two hits.
Peoria 3 (CHC + 1), Wisconsin 1RHP Ruben Flores (5.80) gave up two runs on seven hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and a walk through six innings of work, but struck out ten along the way. I don’t get him. LHP Lance Beus (2.25) pitched the next two innings and gave up a run on two hits, two walks, and two Ks, then RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.24) gave up a hit and struck out two in the ninth.
DH Robby Hudson (RBI, .272) had two hits, and 1B Curtis Ledbetter (3B, R, E, .206) had a triple. The offense as a whole continues to struggle, but it’s not as if the pitching has done too much better.
Everett 9, Yakima 4 (ARI - 6) RHP Natividad Dilone (0.00) gave up three hits, a wild pitch, and three walks against four Ks, but came up an out shy of the minimum for the win. RHP Juan Colon (13.50) gave up two runs on two hits, a balk, and a walk with a K in two and one-third+ innings of work, and then RHP Joseph Kantakevich (4.50) allowed a couple more runs to score on four hits and a K in the final two innings. He would also let one of Colon’s runs score.
DH Adam Moore (2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, .500) and SS Ogui Diaz (R, RBI, .321) both had three hits, CF Greg Halman (2B, RBI, .242) had two, and 1B Bryan Sabatella (2B, R, .417) and RF Kuo-hui Lo (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .240) both had extra-base hits. I wasn’t too impressed with Moore behind the plate, but the dude can certainly hit.
Cagua Reds 4 (+ 10), Aguirre Mariners 4 (eleven innings)Fortunately, ties only happen in the summer leagues. RHP Juan Ramirez (2.70) let two runs score on six hits, two wild pitches, and a walk against four Ks in four innings of work. RHP Yoervis Medina (4.74, E) would give up two more runs in the next inning and two-thirds on two hits, a hit batter, and three walks against one K. RHP Carlos Sanchez (2.16, PO) turned in quite a performance, allowing just three hits and striking out nine over the next four and a third innings, but the eleventh wouldn’t yield much for either side. LHP Jose Jimenez (2.63) recorded an out and gave up a hit, and then RHP Jessie Nava (3.00) threw a wild pitch and recorded two more groundouts.
DH Jorge Agudelo (R, RBI, .336) and 2B Jetsy Extrano (2B, .250) both had three hits, and C Israel Nunez (2B, R, RBI, .433) had two hits and two walks.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Bobby Livingston, at Las Vegas, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Feierabend, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: All-star break
Wisconsin: LHP Jose Escalona, in Appleton, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Doug Fister, at Yakima, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, in Peoria, @ 9:30 am PDT
Aguirre: TBA, at Astros, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 42-35, .545, 4 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 4-1 (31-42), .800, (.425), T-1st in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 4-1 (43-32), .800 (.573), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 1-4 (28-47), .200 (.373), 3 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 7-1, .875, T-1st in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 4-0, 1.000, 1st in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 18-15-3, .542, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 183-176-3, .510
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Tillman Signs
No time for analysis, as I'm running out the door, but theres a
press release at MLB.com stating that Tillman has signed, along with a bunch of other guys who haven't appeared or been mentioned yet.
If you're curious, the one pick in the top thirteen that isn't under contract is 8th round pick RHP Steve Richard.
Now, onto the other HS signings...
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Game Recaps (6/25/06)
Portland 5 (SD - 5), Tacoma 6RHP Francisco Cruceta (3.76) had another shaky start, going five innings and giving up four runs on seven hits and five walks against five Ks. RHP Renee Cortez (4.61) gave up a run on three hits, a wild pitch, and two walks in the next inning and a third, and LHP Thom Oldham (4.50) had a hit, a walk, and a K in the next inning and two-thirds. RHP Jon Huber (1.46, S) gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth.
1B Greg Dobbs (4 RBI, .300) and C Rob Johnson (2B, RBI, PO, .253) both had two hits. 2B Ismael Castro (R, SB, .333) was 1-for-3 in his first triple-A appearance of his career.
Springfield 4 (STL - 2), San Antonio 8LHP Travis Blackley (4.29, W) went seven innings and gave up four runs (one earned) six hits and a walk against seven Ks. Awesome. RHP Stephen Kahn (4.15) gave up a couple of hits, a wild pitch, and a couple of free passes while striking out one in the final two innings.
I know that 2B Jesus Guzman (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .259) and 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, .417) both had two hits and that’s usually grounds for getting the top honors, but I have to pass that again to RF Wladimir Balentien (HR, 5 RBI, SB, .258) for his fourteenth home run of the season, a grand slam in the first inning. LF Mike Wilson (2B, R, .333) added a double. The early returns from the recently promoted guys have been mostly good.
Kane County 10 (OAK + 2), Wisconsin 2Can’t claim a sweep two nights in a row because of this one. RHP Nick Allen (2.45, L) pitched four innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits against four Ks. LHP David Asher (4.66) would give up seven runs (five earned) in the next two innings on six hits (HR), a hit batter, a walk, and a K. RHP Justin Ockerman (7.71) gave up a run on two hits, two walks, and two Ks in the eighth, and then LHP Rollie Gibson (5.64) struck out one over the final two innings of work.
Offensively, SS Robby Hudson (R, RBI, E, .266) and LF Johan Limonta (RBI, .214) both had two hits.
Everett 8, Yakima 5 (ARI - 5) LHP Steve Uhlmansiek (1.00, E) lasted four innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits, a hit batter, two walks, and six strikeouts. RHP Ari Kafka (9.00) gave up a hit and struck out one in the next two innings, and then RHP Aaron Solomon (0.00) walked two and struck out one in the next two-thirds. LHP Saydel Beltran (15.75) bailed Solomon out, but couldn’t save himself as he allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk against four Ks in two innings of work. RHP Kameron Mickolio (0.00, S) got the final out of the game, and thus, the save.
Because it’s been bugging me, I have to bring this up: Has anyone actually seen Justin Souza? Aside from when he introduced himself at the microphone on opening night? Anyone?
C Adam Moore (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, .474), RF Kuo-hui Lo (2B, 2 R, RBI, SB, .250), and SS Ogui Diaz (2B, RBI, E, .250) all had three hits in the game, and CF Greg Halman (HR, SB, E, .214), DH Bryan Sabatella (R, 2 RBI, .500), and LF Gavin Dickey (2B, RBI, .400) had two each.
Peoria Mariners 3, Scottsdale Rangers 1 (+ 1)Starting out with yesterday’s game this time around. RHP Carlos Javier (0.00, W) pitched five innings, gave up three hits, a wild pitch, and two walks, and struck out five. Solid. RHP Douglas Salinas (0.00, E, S) would pitch the final four frames and give up an unearned run on two hits while striking out two.
For the offense, RF Carlos Peguero (2 2B, R, .333) had a pair of doubles and C Juan Beltran (2B, R, .444) had one double.
Phoenix Brewers 5 (- 3), Peoria Mariners 15RHP Anthony Varvaro (0.00) made his first post-surgery appearance, going two innings, hitting two batters, walking one, and striking out three. RHP Marquis Pettis (0.00, W) followed him for two innings and walked two while ringing up three. The two-inning stints continued, as RHP Kyle Parker (4.91) had a hit, a walk, and two Ks and RHP Rocky Collis (6.00) let two runs score on four hits (HR) and a walk over the next four innings. Finally, RHP Robert Harmon (9.00) gave up three runs on two hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and two walks in the ninth.
More impressive than the nine hits might’ve been the fact that M’s batters drew fifteen walks in this one. CF Alex Gary (4 RBI, SB, .286) had one hit and drew four walks, SS Marcos Villescas (2 R, .267) had three walks, and LF Wellington Dotel (2B, 2 R, RBI, SB, E, .167) and 1B Gerardo Avila (R, 2 RBI, SB, .291) both had two. RF Carlos Peguero (2B, 2 R, RBI, .385), 3B Alex Liddi (2B, R, RBI, .235), and 2B Juan Guzman (2B, 3 R, .500) all had two hits.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Cha Seung Baek, at Las Vegas, @ 7:05 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Yorman Bazardo, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: All-star break
Wisconsin: RHP Ruben Flores, in Appleton, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Natividad Dilone, at Yakima, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Off day
Aguirre: TBA, in Aguirre, @ 8:00 am PDT
Tacoma Rainiers: 41-35, .539, 4 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 3-1 (30-42), .750, (.417), T-1st in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 4-1 (43-32), .800 (.573), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 1-3 (28-46), .250 (.378), 2 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 6-1, .857, 1 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 4-0, 1.000, 1st in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 18-15-2, .543, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 180-175-2, .507
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Game Recaps (6/24/06)
Portland 2 (SD - 4), Tacoma 12RHP Rich Dorman (3.88) got under control for a game and went seven innings, giving up just two runs on seven hits and a walk while he struck out seven. RHP Austin Binbens-Dirkx (0.00) gave up a couple of hits and a walk while striking out five in the final two innings, subbing in as the Rainiers needed a fresh arm.
CF Chris Snelling (3 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI, E, .287) and 2B Scotty Baseball (3B, HR, 3 R, .249) both had three hits, but Snelling… man, he seems to be coming around. RF Adam Jones (2 R, A, .268), 3B Greg Dobbs (2B, 2 R, RBI, .297), and 1B Bryan Lahair (2B, 2 RBI, SB, .304) all had two hits, and LF Shin-soo Choo (2 R, RBI, .300) had a hit and two walks.
Springfield 2 (STL - 1), San Antonio 8In his Texas League debut, LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (3.00, PO. W) gave up a couple of runs on eight hits (HR) and a walk against five Ks through six innings of work. Not bad. RHP Mike Flannery (4.97) followed him and gave up three hits while striking out two in the next inning and two-thirds, and then LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (0.00) struck out the final batter of the eighth. RHP Craig James (1.73) gave up a hit and struck out two in the ninth.
The offense had a few standouts. CF Sebastien Boucher (3 R, 3 SB, .230) reach four times on a hit and three walks, DH Jason Bourgeois (2B, 5 RBI, .238) drove in five via two hits and a sac fly, and 1B Marshall Hubbard (HR, .375) had his first double-A home run. Aside from that, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo (R, .250) and SS Erick Monzon (2B, 2 R, .277) had two hits, and RF Wladimir Balentien (2B, .258) and C Luis Oliveros (2B, R, .247) both hit doubles.
Modesto 0 (COL - 4), Inland Empire 1The prediction was really a shot in the dark on my part, but RHP Chad Fillinger (0.00, W) was stellar through six innings of work, giving up just three hits and striking out four. Whatever helps the team the most long-term. RHP Justin Jordan (4.46) had an uneventful seventh, RHP Juan Done (9.00) gave up a hit in the eighth, and RHP Jose de la Cruz (3.66, S) struck out one in the ninth.
The Sixers had a good amount of offense, though you wouldn’t know it looking at the run totals. 2B-3B Yung-chi Chen (SB, .342) had three hits in the game, and 3B-CF Brent Johnson (CS, .295) and CF Casey Craig (.375) both had two each.
The Sixers have started their all-star break now, but the paper says that a number of the players and coaches will be headed down to San Diego today to catch the game and hopefully hang out in the clubhouse.
Kane County 1 (OAK + 1), Wisconsin 2A real pleasant surprise here. LHP Paul Fagan (4.30, W) held the Cougs to a single run on six hits, a wild pitch, a walk, and four Ks through the complete nine innings, while recording fourteen groundouts to eight flies. The sinker stuff doesn’t always show up for every game, but it seems to have been working for him this time around. The Cougs only had a couple of doubles.
As for the T-Rats, well, they had four doubles, and those were four of the five hits they got. 2B Luis Valbuena (2B, .265), C Nick Prosise (2B, .247), CF Michael Saunders (2B, R, .211), and RF Eddy Hernandez (2B, RBI, .217) accounted for those, and Saunders also took a walk.
Everett 4, Yakima 2 (ARI - 4) RHP Mike Schilling (1.38, W) got the job done in his second start ,going six innings and allowing two runs to score on five hits (HR) and a walk against four strikeouts. LHP Jose Suriel (1.93, S) walked two and punched out five over the final three innings.
1B Joe White (HR, .318) had a home run in the game, CF Greg Halman (3B, R, .182) had a triple, and RF Jose Graterol (2B, RBI, .100) had a double.
The Peoria game stopped updating in the seventh for some odd reason. The M’s were up 3-1, but I’m holding off on an update until they get that straightened out.
Aguirre Mariners 7, VSL Cardinals 0 (- 10)RHP Yovanny Olivero (2.06, W) turned in one of the best VSL pitching performances I’ve ever seen, going six innings and allowing just two hits while striking out eight. He’s only eighteen too. RHP Yoervis Chourio (2.02, S) pitched the final three innings, giving up one hit and striking out two.
2B Cesar Fuentes (R, E, .253) had three hits in the game, while 3B Edilio Colina (2B, R, .310) and C Israel Nunez (2 R, .407) logged two each. 1B Pablo Orfila (HR, .286) had a home run, his first of the year.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, in Tacoma, @ 1:35 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Travis Blackley, in San Antonio, @ 4:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: All-star break
Wisconsin: RHP Nick Allen, in Appleton, @ 11:05 am PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, at Yakima, @ 6:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, in Peoria, @ 9:30 am PDT
Aguirre: Off day
Tacoma Rainiers: 40-35, .533, 5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 2-1 (29-42), .667, (.408), T-1st in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 4-1 (43-32), .800 (.573), 1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 1-2 (28-45), .333 (.384), 1 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 5-1, .833, 1 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 2-0, 1.000, T-1st in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 18-15-2, .543, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 10-4, .714, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 175-174-2, .501
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