Mariner Minors
Game Recaps (9/1/06)
Tucson 4 (ARI + 27), Tacoma 2LHP Bobby Livingston (4.59, L) took the loss, as he gave up four runs on ten hits (HR), while striking out three. Looking at his month by month ERA and average against, you had 2.12 and .177 for April, 9.35 and .390 in May, 2.76 and .260 in June, 6.44 and .380 in July, and 2.63 and .272 in August. This took me a little by surprise because I had the feeling that he lost in April and never got it back, but the K/BB seem to be the bigger culprit here, because he’s been walking an extra batter and a half or so per nine and has lost a couple of Ks off his usual, which is probably hurting him worse. Most of his good months haven’t been that good in that regard. Without those stabilizing his line, he ends up with wildly divergent BABIP from month to month and nothing he can really do aside from hope that he gets out of it. Oh yeah, there was another inning too, wasn’t there? RHP Aaron Looper (5.98) struck out a pair in the ninth. He’s still not that good.
1B-3B Greg Dobbs (3B, .313) keeps having the hits drop in for him, with another three tonight. CF Adam Jones (3B, 2 RBI, PO, A, .288) was plunked twice and had a triple.
Corpus Christi 7 (HOU 0), San Antonio 1RHP Yorman Bazardo (3.64, E, L) gave up six runs, four of ‘em earned, on four hits (HR), a wild pitch, and four walks against seven Ks. Wacky. RHP Nate Mateo (5.80) let another score on three hits and a walk in the final two.
DH Jesus Guzman (HR, .258) had a solo home run in the ninth, and 2B Yung-chi Chen (.301) had a couple of hits.
Lake Elsinore 2 (SD + 3), Inland Empire 1 Run for the hills, because RHP Andrew Baldwin (0.82, PO, L) gave up a couple of runs and lost a game, with five hits (HR), a hit batter, a walk, and six Ks in seven innings. RHP Juan Done (7.00) gave up two hits and a walk in the next inning and a third and LHP Rollie Gibson (0.00) walked one and struck out one in the final two-thirds.
RF Casey Craig (RBI, .297) had a couple of hits and LF Josh Womack (R, SB, .285) had a hit and a walk.
Wisconsin 2, Clinton 3 (TEX - 23)LHP Paul Fagan (4.94, L) let three score (two earned) after six hits, a wild pitch, two walks, and five Ks in five and two-thirds innings. He’s an interesting stat study case too, but I think I’ll save that for the offseason. Suffice to say, he’s better than he seems. RHP John Sullivan (0.00) struck out three of the next four batters he faced, and RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2.08) struck out two of the next three. Horner used good relievers to keep the game within reach. I know, it’s a crazy concept to most Mariners fans, but some people do it.
LF Jeff Flaig (2B, R, .219) had a double, and 2B Robby Hudson (R, .271) and RF Stan Posluszny (RBI, .171) both had a hit and a walk.
Vancouver 1 (OAK - 1), Everett 5RHP Natividad Dilone (3.38) gave up two hits, a wild pitch, and two walks while striking out five in six innings. RHP Andrew Fiorenza (4.55) gave up a run on couple of hits and a walk in the next inning and a third, and RHP Kameron Mickolio (2.87, S) had a hit, a walk, a K, and the save to show for the final inning and two-thirds.
RF Bryan Sabatella (2B, R, SB, A, .253) had two hits and a walk, LF Gavin Dickey (HR, 3 RBI, .226), DH Carlos Peguero (3B, RBI, .210), and 3B Leury Bonilla (2B, R, .206) all had extra-base hits, C Julian Henson (R, .143) had two walks, and CF Kevin Reynolds (R, RBI, .244) had a hit and a walk.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Jeff Harris, in Tacoma, @ 7:06 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Jorge Campillo, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Aaron Jensen, in San Bernardino, @ 7:11 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Juan Colon, at Clinton, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Chris Tillman, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 73-68, .518, 5.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 32-36 (59-77), .471, (.434), 9.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-34 (73-64), .493 (.533), 2 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 24-43 (51-86), .358 (.372), 17.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 30-41, .423, 22 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 390-420-5, .482
|
Game Recaps (8/31/06)
Salt Lake 0 (ANA + 17), Tacoma 3While I wasn’t around to see it, I imagine the last [PCL> start of the year by LHP Travis Blackley (4.09, W) was a real joy to watch, as through six innings, he only allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three. RHP Scott Atchison (2.49) gave up two hits, walked one, and punched out three in the next two innings, and then LHP Cesar Jimenez (4.40) gave up a hit in the ninth.
CF Adam Jones (HR, 2 R, .287) is still hitting, with another 3-for-4 night including his sixteenth home run.
Corpus Christi 0 (HOU - 1), San Antonio 7LHP Robert Rohrbaugh (3.78, W) shut down the Hooks tonight, holding them to six hits and a walk while ringing up four through seven innings. RHP Craig James (2.66) gave up a hit and a walk in the next two-thirds of an inning, but LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (2.97, S) got out of the jam and gave up one hit and struck out two in the final inning and a third for the save.
CF Wladimir Balentien (2 2B, R, 2 RBI, A, .236) was back in the lineup and had two doubles after spending some time in the manager’s doghouse. RF Mike Wilson (HR, 2 RBI, .250) had a homer, and LF Jason Bourgeois (R, CS, .278), 2B Yung-chi Chen (2 R, RBI, .295), and 1B Marshall Hubbard (R, RBI, .287) each had a hit and a walk.
Inland Empire 7, High Desert 6 (KC – 3) RHP Cibney Bello (3.90, W) got the win after going six innings and giving up a run on four hits and a walk while striking out five. RHP Ivan Blanco (3.67) pitched the next two innings and let three score (two earned) on four hits, and RHP Jose de la Cruz (2.95, S) let two more score on three hits and a walk in the ninth.
1B Andy Hargrove (2 HR, 5 RBI, .236) hit two out of the park and walked once, so now, in 110 at-bats, he has more home runs than his father did in half of his major league season. Okay, those seasons came at the very beginning and the end, when he wasn’t really playing a whole lot anymore, but this is less an opportunity to praise Andy as it is to diss on Mike. Ha. Okay, I’ve had my fun. RF Casey Craig (R, CS, E, .292), C Omar Falcon (2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, .260), and SS Jeff Dominguez (2B, .235) all had two hits.
Wisconsin 5, Peoria 6 (CHC – 2)RHP Roman Martinez (3.53) gave up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out four through three innings. LHP Lance Beus (4.54, L) let three more score (two earned) on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in the fourth. Continuing the trend, RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.55) pitched two innings and let a run score on a hit, a hit batter, and two walks while striking out two and RHP Cory Koliscak (4.05) let an unearned run score on a hit, a walk, and a K in the final two innings.
2B Ron Garth (.275), 1B Gerardo Avila (R, RBI, .169), and 3B Alex Liddi (2 R, 3 E, .208) all had two hits and RF Stan Posluszny (2B, RBI, .152) had a double and a walk.
Eugene 10 (SD + 9), Everett 5 (twelve innings)Suck… well, probably a good thing I didn’t head to this one either, but hey, LHP Tony Butler (3.31) gave up three runs on six hits while striking out nine in six innings, which is awesome. RHP Mike Schilling (5.37, BS), making his first appearance since injuring his ankle, let two runs (one earned) score on three hits in the next inning, and RHP Doug Fister (1.93) hit a batter and struck out four in two innings after that. RHP Joe Kantakevich (2.56) was around the strikezone a lot, as he gave up four hits but struck out five in two frames of work. RHP Stephen Richard (4.85) ended up losing the ganme and took a severe beating in the process, giving up five runs on six hits (HR) and a wild pitch while striking out one.
Had the game gone in the Aquasox favor, I might’ve been tempted to pass the gameball to 1B Joe White (2 HR, .270) for having three hits and a walk, pushing his top-10 OPS even higher and probably leaping over a batter or two. C Chao Kuan Wu (2 2B, 2 R, .238) and 3B Leury Bonilla (2B, 2 RBI, .203) both had two hits, and LF Bryan Sabatella (3B, R, RBI, SB, .246) and RF Carlos Peguero (2B, E, .208) both had extra-base hits and walks.
Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Bobby Livingston, in Tacoma, @ 7:06 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Yorman Bazardo, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Andrew Baldwin, in San Bernardino, @ 7:11 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Paul Fagan, at Clinton, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: RHP Natividad Dilone, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 73-67, .521, 5.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 32-35 (59-76), .478, (.437), 8 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 33-33 (73-63), .500 (.537), 1 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 24-42 (51-85), .364 (.375), 16.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 29-41, .414, 23 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 389-416-5, .483
|
Game Recaps (8/30/06)
Salt Lake 2 (ANA + 18), Tacoma 16Smashy smashy. Just not against RHP Francisco Cruceta (4.43, W), who got through six innings giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits, a hit batter, and three walks while striking out six. You read that correctly, no home runs! RHP Mike Flannery (5.16) gave up a hit, walked two, and punched out two in the next two innings. RHP Rocky Collis (0.00) struck out one in the ninth. They’re really digging for help at this point, and it didn’t stop there…
CF Adam Jones (2 2B, 3 R, CS, .282) led the offense with five hits, RF T.J. Bohn (2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, .280) and DH Ismael Castro (2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, .293) each had four, and 3B Hunter Brown (2 R, 3 RBI, E, .264) and 1B Jon Nelson (2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, .280) had three apiece, with Nelson’s going quite some distance. I referenced digging for help, so I have to note that C Juan Beltran (2B, R, 2 RBI, PB, .400) had two hits after being bumped up from Peoria. SS Oswaldo Navarro (.253) added a hit and two walks.
Corpus Christi 3 (HOU), San Antonio 5Things can occasionally normalize in weird ways. RHP Travis Chick (3.19, W) had been allowing a sizable number of baserunners and not striking out enough to keep his ERA where it was at, and today he struck out eight over eight and a third innings, but let three score on five hits, two wild pitches, and three walks. Granted, RHP Byron Embry (2.53, S) gave up a hit and a wild pitch to score one of those before he struck out the final two batters, but it seems a little peculiar. Quality start though, so I shouldn’t complain.
2B Yung-chi Chen (CS, .294) had three hits, CF Jason Bourgeois (3B, R, RBI, CS, .278) and 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, R, .286) had two each, and 3B Jesus Guzman (RBI, CS, .258) and SS Erick Monzon (R, .248) both had a hit and a walk. LF Marquise Liverpool (R, RBI, .333) was 1-for-3 upon being promoted. Not sure what’s going on at the moment, but Balentien may be out, as he hasn’t played in the past two.
High Desert 5 (KC – 2), Inland Empire 2RHP Justin Jordan (4.59) pitched six innings of no-hit ball while striking out six, and it’s sad to see a start like that go to waste. RHP Mumba Rivera (4.36) let a run score on a hit batter and a walk in two-thirds of an inning before he was ejected along with manager Gary Thurman. RHP Joe Woerman (3.00, BS) let that run and one more score after five hits, a walk, and three Ks in two innings. RHP Jose de la Cruz (2.68, L) got the loss as he gave up three runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks in an inning and a third.
1B Johan Limonta (R, .833) has kept hitting with another three tonight. DH Alex Meneses (2B, .276) had two hits and a walk and 2B Luis Valbuena (2B, R, E, .265) doubled,
Wisconsin 7, Peoria 8 (CHC – 3) (eleven innings)I have to recap two extra-innings losses? Ouch… Lots of seesaw action in this game… LHP David Asher (4.35) gave up six runs (five earned) over five innings on eight hits (HR), a hit batter, three walks, and five Ks. RHP John Sullivan (0.00) made his MWL debut after that, giving up a hit and striking out two. The eighth inning saw LHP Lance Beus (4.19) induce a groundout and give up a hit before RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.58) came in and finished it up with a wild pitch, a strikeout, a walk, and a groundout. RHP Brian Kappel (1.80, BS) blew his first save, letting a run score on a hit and a hit batter while striking out four in the next two innings. RHP Ruben Flores (5.25, L) let the final unearned run score in a third of an inning on two hits, a hit batter, and a walk.
The offense did their part to keep pace throughout most of the game. LF Jeff Flaig (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, .222) was at it again, with another three hits and a walk. SS Chris Minaker (R, SB, E, .322) and 1B Curtis Ledbetter (R, E, .228) had two hits apiece and CF Eddy Hernandez (2B, R, RBI, .243) and RF Stan Posluszny (2B, R, 3 RBI, E, .129) both doubled. C Adam Moore (R, E, .273) had a hit and a walk.
Eugene 1 (SD + 8), Everett 0 (seven innings)LHP Steve Uhlmansiek (3.45) let the game’s only run score on five hits and three walks against three Ks through four and a third innings. RHP Justin Souza (5.81) walked one and struck out three in the next inning and two-thirds and RHP Kameron Mickolio (3.03) gave up a hit and struck out one in the seventh.
C Chao Kuan Wu (.227) had a couple of hits and I was listening just long enough to hear one of them was a long single off the top of the wall. 1B Joe White (2B, .263) doubled.
Eugene 6 (+ 9), Everett 0 (seven innings)I guess I shouldn’t feel bad about skipping the DH. RHP Ricky Orta (5.59) gave up six runs on eight hits (2 HR) while striking out four in four and a third innings, and LHP Jose Suriel (3.82) gave up three hits to score two of those in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Ari Kafka (3.81) struck out two in the final two innings.
No traditional notables out of this group. The offense just wasn’t really a factor in either game.
Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: LHP Travis Blackley, in Tacoma, @ 7:06 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Robert Rohrbaugh, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Cibney Bello, at High Desert, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Roman Martinez, at Peoria, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Tony Butler, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 72-67, .518, 6.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 31-35 (58-76), .470, (.433), 8.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 32-33 (72-63), .492 (.533), 1 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 24-41 (51-84), .369 (.378), 16.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 29-40, .420, 22 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 386-414-5, .483
|
Game Recaps (8/29/06)
Salt Lake 0 (ANA + 19), Tacoma 2RHP Rich Dorman (4.35, W) had been a sleeper favorite both on the Mariner Minors blog and in the SportSpot Minors section for a while now, but after he struggled to start out the year, most of us kind of wrote him off. Maybe we shouldn’t have just yet, though, as he went eight innings today giving up just three hits and a walk
while striking out fourteen. In the space of one game, his K/BB goes from 1.5 to 1.69, which is crazy for it being so late in the season. LHP Cesar Jimenez (4.44, S) walked one, threw a wild pitch, and struck out two in relief.
1B The Dobber (2B, .308) had a couple of hits, 3B Hunter Brown (R, .260) had a hit and a walk, and LF Jon Nelson (2B, .283) and 2B Ismael Castro (2B, R, .276) both had doubles. DH Dean Zorn (.000) is back in Tacoma, again.
San Antonio 0, Frisco 6 (TEX + 7)LHP Ryan Feierabend (4.30, E, L) gave up four runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks against five Ks through five and two-thirds innings, so something was off tonight. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (3.08) let one of those score and an unearned of his own on a hit and a walk in the next inning and a third, and RHP Stephen Kahn (6.16) gave up another unearned run after a hit in the eighth. Not a good day for defense.
DH Jesus Guzman (2B, SB, .258) had a couple of hits and CF Jason Bourgeois (.276) had a hit and a walk.
Inland Empire 3, High Desert 6 (KC – 3)LHP Justin Thomas (4.20, L) was off again, giving up five runs on nine hits, a walk, and four Ks through six innings. RHP Aaron Trolia (5.12) gave up another run on three hits and struck out two in the final two innings.
C J.B. Tucker (2B, 3 RBI, .214) walked and had a bases-loaded double in the ninth to drive in all three runs. Curiously, both the starting catchers were ejected in the third. High Desert lost the DH when the dust cleared, but they still got the win.
Wisconsin 3, Peoria 0 (CHC – 4)Games like this reaffirm my feelings as a RHP Marwin Vega (5.63), as he gave up four hits and three walks while striking out five. Of the other outs he recorded, fifteen were groundballs and one was a flyout. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2.15) walked one and struck out one in the eighth and RHP Brian Kappel (1.57) K’d one in the ninth.
DH Chris Minaker (R, .321) and CF Eddy Hernandez (R, .244) both had three hits and C Travis Scott (2B, R, 2 RBI, .248) had two.
Everett’s game was rained out tonight and will be made up as part of a doubleheader tomorrow. I’m debating whether I want to go that and catch Uhlmansiek and Orta for the first time this season or wait ‘til Thursday and watch Butler again.
Surprise Royals 9 (+ 10), Peoria Mariners 6Hmm… not a bang… not really a whimper either… RHP Carlos Javier (7.57) gave up a run on two hits, two hit batters, a wild pitch, two walks, and two Ks in three innings. Following that, RHP Will Fenton (9.39) imploded (question: how would you define a pitcher implosion vs and explosion? Would the former have to involve inherited runners or errors?) and gave up six runs (five earned) after six hits, two walks, and two Ks in two innings of work. LHP Will Brown (5.70) let another unearned run score on two hits, a wild pitch, and a walk against one Ks in the two innings that followed, and RHP Jared Eichelberger (4.28) gave up a hit and struck out one in the eighth. RHP Haley Winter (6.91) walked two and let one of those come around as an unearned run in the ninth.
RF Jose Graterol (R, RBI, SB, E, .250) had three hits and a walk, but it seems like one of those “too little, too late” things. I can’t say I’m sure what happened with him after he had shown so much promise in the AZL last year, but that goes towards proving how the league is sometimes (*coughJairoandEddyHernandezcough*). LF Marquise Liverpool (3B, R, SB, E, .264), CF Wellington Dotel (R, CS, .261), DH Jairo Hernandez (R, CS, .216), 1B Donato Ruiz (2B, R, RBI, .233), and C Erwin Jacobo (2B, 2 RBI, 2 E, 2 PB, .222) had two hits apiece.
Don't miss out on Jon's intro piece right below this one. I'm glad to have him aboard here, as he's going to be quite a resource on the international side of things, in addition to the rest of the system.
Tomorrow’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Francisco Cruceta, in Tacoma, @ 7:06 pm PDT
San Antonio: RHP Travis Chick, in San Antonio, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Justin Jordan, in San Bernardino, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: LHP Jose Escalona, at Peoria, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, in Everett, @ 6:05 pm PDT
Second Game: RHP Ricky Orta (?)
Peoria: Season over, fifth place
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 71-67, .514, 7.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 30-35 (57-76), .462, (.429), 8.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 32-32 (72-62), .500 (.537), T-1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 24-40 (51-83), .375 (.381), 15.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 29-38, .433, 20 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-16 (25-30), .407 (.454), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 42-24, .636, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 384-410-5, .484
|
Intro and Bonus Bonanza
Hello everybody. Jonathan Helfgott here. For those of you (I'm assuming most) who are unfamiliar with my work, I'm currently working on a year-long research project on the globalization of baseball. Right now, I'm in the Dominican Republic, where I spend the vast majority of my days travelling back and forth between various baseball academies, both MLB-affiliated and independent, conducting interviews, snapping photos, and enjoying the island.
Sometimes, I update my blog,
GlobalBaseball, with pieces of information I pick up along the way. I've been slacking on the blogging thing for the past couple weeks, though, as I've been spending a lot of time travelling around the country.
While my primary focus is on the economic and cultural aspects of baseball's global expansion, I'm a fan first. So far, I haven't really figured out what I want GlobalBaseball to be. I have to save most of my research for my own purposes, and while I'm a diehard Mariners fan, I don't want the blog to be a chronicle of the Mariners' operations in every country I visit.
So, J. kindly offered me the opportunity to contribute to MM periodically with whatever Mariner-specific information I'm able to dig up.
While there will be a longer writeup of the DSL Ms in the near future (after they're eliminated from the playoffs), I wanted to post a response to a question MM reader Lance posed in the comments:
Lance wrote: "
Do you have a handle on which international signings still in the system received the biggest bonusus to sign? I know Felix got about $750K."
I've been able to get some of this information from Mariners' personnel down here, and thought I'd pass what I've got along. I hope to add to this in the coming weeks.
Signing bonuses for select (read: random guys I've asked about) Ms' international acquisitions:Mario Martinez, $600,000 (new signing)
Carlos Peguero, $360,000
______ Rodriguez, $280,000 (new signing, I didn't hear the first name and I was thinking about something else, so I didn't ask)
Yung-Chi Chen, $210,000*
Rey Lebron, $200,000 (new signing)
Welington Dotel, $180,000
Gregorio Rosario, $180,000
Kuo-Hui Lo, $155,000*
Greg Halman, $100,000
Ariel Alcantara, $90,000
Dwight Britton, $90,000
Juan Diaz, $50,000
I don't know for sure, but based on what I know about how the Ms' international operations work and their general willingness to spend money abroad, my guess is that Doug Salinas, Miguel Marquez, Alex Liddi, and possibly Richard Ortiz were all 6-figure signings.
The Mariners haven't produced much in the way of Dominican talent in the past few years. As far as major-league talent goes, it's pretty much Rafael Soriano (who they lucked into), Julio Mateo (eh), and nothing else. To find the system's best Dominican prospect, you have to go all the way down to Everett (Peguero), and once you get there, a 19-year-old with mammoth power and even bigger contact issues might not seem like such a great haul from the world's most baseball-crazed nation.
However, don't worry. The Mariners went through somewhat of a rough transition when they got rid of former scout Ramon de los Santos and brought in Patrick Guerrero to head up their Dominican operations. A few years into his tenure with the Ms, Guerrero has done a good job stockpiling interesting talents in the low levels of the system. Also, the Mariners have become one of the biggest spenders down here in recent years. "Top 3," according to Guerrero, (based on what I've heard about other teams' spending patterns, top 5 might be a bit more realistic, but they still spend very heavily).
While the Mariners are not likely to shell out 7-figure bonuses for the Joel Guzmans and Angel Villalonas of the world, they have competent people down here and a very competitive talent acquisition budget. Several teams cap their Dominican signings at $75,000-$90,000, and sign most of their players in the $25-50,000 range. Oakland goes so far as to field 2 DSL teams but refuse to give out a signing bonus greater than $40,000 to a Dominican player; an approach one scout calls "the boatload mentality." With the Mariners' financial commitment to improving their Dominican operations, the talent will arrive.
I hope those of you who stuck with me this long enjoyed the info. Expect to hear back from me in a couple of days.
*
The info on the Taiwanese signings comes from an exchange I had a long time ago with the guy who runs Taiwan Baseball.
|
Game Recaps (8/28/06)
Salt Lake 3 (ANA + 20), Tacoma 1When the Rainiers site listed a TBA for today’s starter, I figured it might end up being a bullpen day, but instead, RHP Jason Snyder (0.00, E, L) got called up out of the desert and gave up an unearned run on three hits and a wild pitch while punching out three in four innings of work. RHP Aaron Looper (6.08) let another score on three hits, a walk, and two Ks in the two and two-thirds that followed, and RHP Justin Huisman (8.51) carried it the rest of the way, allowing another run to score on two hits (HR) and two Ks.
1B Greg Dobbs (.306) kept up his hot hitting with another two hits and LF Jon Nelson (HR, .284) had a solo home run and a walk.
Unfortunately, this loss eliminated the Rainiers from playoff contention.
San Antonio 1, Frisco 2 (TEX + 6)LHP Jason Mackintosh (3.52, L) let one run score on three hits while striking out five in five innings of work, so it was a bit of a tough loss for him. RHP Chad Fillinger (3.22) let another run score after three hits, a walk, and a K in the next two innings, and RHP Craig James (2.69) gave up a hit and plunked two in the ninth.
2B Jesus Guzman (2B, R, .255) and LF Erick Monzon (2B, RBI, E, .247) both had doubles.
Inland Empire 7, High Desert 5 (KC – 4)RHP Aaron Jensen (7.18) kept it close, giving up three runs through five and two-thirds innings in spite of nine hits (2 HR), three walks, and a lone K. RHP Ivan Blanco (3.51, BS) let two score on a hit, a wild pitch, and a walk against a K in the next two and a third innings. RHP Juan Done (7.36, W) gave up a hit, walked one, and struck out one in the next inning, and then RHP Jose de la Cruz (2.59, S) walked one and struck out two in the ninth to notch his twentieth save of the season.
3B Ron Prettyman (RBI, .285) and SS Jeff Dominguez (2 R, RBI, .239) had three hits apiece, DH Alex Meneses (.268) walked twice, and 1B Andy Hargrove (.219) had a single and a walk. 1B Johan Limonta (HR, 2 RBI, 1.000) and C J.B. Tucker (HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, PB, .210) had home runs, and for Limonta, it was the first plate appearance since being promoted from Wisconsin.
Wisconsin 1, Peoria 3 (CHC – 3)RHP Juan Colon (6.39, E, L) actually did all right, going five innings and giving up two runs on three hits and two hit batters as he struck out four. RHP Cory Koliscak (4.76) gave up a hit, walked one, and rung up one in the next two innings, and RHP Ruben Flores (5.27) ran into some trouble in the ninth as he let a run score on a hit, a wild pitch, and three walks against a K.
C Adam Moore (HR, .274) had a home run, but that was about it for the T-Rats tonight.
Peoria Mariners 2, Scottsdale Giants 5 (+ 6)RHP Brandon Morrow (2.77, E, L) pitched a couple of innings and gave up a run on two hits, a walk, and a pair of Ks. RHP Nathan Adcock (3.31) gave up four (three earned) in the next four and a third innings on five hits and two hit batters while he struck out two batters, and then RHP Marquis Pettis (3.86) struck out one in the final inning and two-thirds.
1B Donato Ruiz (RBI, E, .217) had a couple of hits, CF Wellington Dotel (3B, RBI, A, .257) had a triple, and RF Jairo Hernandez (R, .196) had a hit and a walk.
Speaking of Marquis Pettis, the
Contra Costa Times had an interesting little story on him and his father, Mariners area scout Stacey Pettis.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: RHP Rich Dorman, in Tacoma, @ 7:00 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Ryan Feierabend, at Frisco, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: LHP Justin Thomas, at High Desert, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Marwin Vega, at Peoria, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: LHP Steve Uhlmansiek, in Everett, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Peoria: TBA, in Peoria, @ 6:00 pm PDT (season finale)
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 70-67, .511, 8.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 30-34 (57-75), .469, (.432), 7.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 32-31 (72-61), .508 (.541), T-1st in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 23-40 (50-83), .365 (.376), 15 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 29-38, .433, 20 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-15 (25-29), .423 (.463), 7.5 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 41-22, .651, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 381-405-5, .485
|
Game Recaps (8/27/06)
Tacoma 7, Tucson 13 (ARI + 34) While we’re losing, the Sidewinders are partying, celebrating how they’ve clenched their division title. RHP Jeff Harris (4.67, L) gave up seven runs (five earned) through four innings on five hits (3 HR!), a hit batter, and two walks against a K. RHP Scott Atchison (2.60) gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in the next two and a third innings, and then RHP Emiliano Fruto (3.18) let two more score on a hit batter and two walks in the next inning and a third. RHP Jon Huber (2.61) got the last third and gave up three hits, which scored both of Fruto’s runs and two of his own before he could record the final out.
3B Greg Dobbs (HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, .303) had four hits in the game, C Jeff Clement (2B, RBI, .256) had three, and LF Jose Morban (R, 2 E, CS, .244), SS Oswaldo Navarro (2B, RBI, E, .256), and DH Alex Gary (2B, R, .286) had two each. 2B Ismael Castro (2B, RBI, E, .283) added a double.
San Antonio 7, Frisco 12 (TEX + 5)RHP Yorman Bazardo (3.56, L) had one of those starts, giving up nine runs on fourteen hits (HR) and a hit batter in five and a third innings while striking out just two. RHP Nate Mateo (5.83) walked one and hit two in the next two and a third innings, and had two score against him as RHP Stephen Kahn (6.32) pulled a Huber (actually, with time zones, it’d be more accurate to reverse that, but no matter) gave up three hits (HR) before striking out the last batter.
CF Wladimir Balentien (HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, .233) had a walk and a grand slam and he can do that more often and I’d be down with it. Same goes for 3B Matt Tuiasosopo (HR, .192) hitting that homer off Thomas Diamond in the fifth. LF Jason Bourgeois (2B, R, .278) and 1B Marshall Hubbard (2B, R, RBI, .287) both had doubles, RF Mike Wilson (RBI, .259) had two hits, and DH Scotty Baseball (R, .307) walked twice.
Bakersfield 0 (TEX - 7), Inland Empire 2RHP Andrew Baldwin (0.00, W) gave up six hits through eight innings and struck out three. Stuff like this can’t last, but it’s still fun every once in a while. RHP Jose de la Cruz (2.63, S) gave up a hit and struck out one in the ninth.
2B Alex Meneses (2B, .277) had a couple of hits, RF Chris Colton (2B, RBI, .234), C Omar Falcon (HR, .249), and 1B Andy Hargrove (2B, .219) had extra-base knocks, and CF Brent Johnson (R, .291) had a hit and two walks.
Clinton 2 (TEX – 21), Wisconsin 3LHP Paul Fagan (5.01) was on today, going seven innings and giving up two runs on nine hits and two walks while he struck out eight and recorded ten groundball outs. Next up, RHP Edgar Guaramato (5.64, W) gave up a hit, walked one, and struck out one in the eighth, and RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2.22, S) walked one and struck out one in the ninth for the save.
As good as Fagan was, LF Jeff Flaig (2B, HR, 2 R, .221) may have been better, as he went 4-for-4 and gave the T-Rats a lead that stuck in the eighth inning with his home run. SS Chris Minaker (2B, R, RBI, .310) and RF Johan Limonta (RBI, .241) both had two hits.
Everett 4, Eugene 6 (SD + 7)RHP Chris Tillman (7.98, L) let four runs score through four innings on six hits, two wild pitches, a hit batter, and three walks against four Ks. LHP Rollie Gibson (3.45) pitched the next three innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three, but unfortunately, both those hits left the park. RHP Andrew Fiorenza (4.45) struck out two in the eighth.
DH Joe White (.262) and LF Bryan Sabatella (2 R, SB, .234) both had three hits and RF Carlos Peguero (HR, 3 RBI, CS, .224) and SS Ogui Diaz (RBI, .237) had two apiece. 3B Leury Bonilla (2B, .201) added a double.
Phoenix Athletics 10 (- 1), Peoria Mariners 6RHP Anthony Varvaro (1.64, L) got stuck with a tough loss as he gave up an unearned run on three hits and struck out four in three innings. RHP Robert Harmon (8.25) gave up two (one earned) on a hit, a wild pitch, and two walks while striking out three in the next two innings, and RHP Haley Winter (7.18) let four more (three earned) score on four hits and three Ks in the next two. RHP Kyle Parker (3.94) let three unearned runs cross after two hits, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and a walk against three Ks in the final two frames.
3B Deybis Benitez (3B, R, 3 E, .280), CF Wellington Dotel (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB, .258), and 2B Juan Beltran (2 2B, E, CS, .271) all had two hits, and CF Jairo Hernandez (2 R, RBI, 2 SB, .186) had a hit and a walk.
Today’s Starters:
Tacoma: TBA, in Tacoma, @ 7:00 pm PDT
San Antonio: LHP Jason Mackintosh, at Frisco, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Inland Empire: RHP Aaron Jensen, at High Desert, @ 7:05 pm PDT
Wisconsin: RHP Juan Colon, at Peoria, @ 5:05 pm PDT
Everett: Off day
Peoria: TBA, at Scottsdale, @ 6:00 pm PDT
Aguirre: Season over, fourth place
Tacoma Rainiers: 70-66, .515, 7.5 GB in PCL Pacific North
San Antonio Missions: 30-33 (57-74), .476, (.435), 6.5 GB in TL South
Inland Empire 66ers: 31-31 (71-61), .500 (.538), 0.5 GB in CAL South
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 23-39 (50-82), .371 (.379), 14.5 GB in MWL Western
Everett Aquasox: 29-38, .433, 20 GB in NWL West
Peoria Mariners: 11-14 (25-28), .440 (.472), 7 GB, in AZL
Aguirre Mariners: 37-28-5, .564, 3.5 GB in VSL
Santo Domingo Mariners: 41-22, .651, 1st in Santo Domingo Norte
Organizational Record: 380-401-5, .487
|
