Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Minor League Update: June 29

Jamie Vermilyea. That’s the executive summary of this update. Jamie Perfect Game Vermilyea!

Syracuse 4 @ Columbus 11

The only loss in the Toronto farm system came at the top, as the SkyChiefs were shot down decisively by the Columbus Clippers. DH Gabe Gross had a big night, collecting 4 hits including a home run, and SS Russ Adams and C Paul Chiaffredo each contributed 2 singles. On the pitching side of the ledger, Sean Douglass (3 earned in 2 innings), Chris Baker (6 in 2) and Aquilino Lopez (2 in 1) were all knocked around.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

New Britain 4 @ New Hampshire 5
New Britain 0 @ New Hampshire 2

7 innings. No hits. No walks. No errors. 5 strikeouts. 2 balls hit out of the infield. Your expectations weren’t quite that high for a spot starter? The Fisher Cats swept a double header on Jamie Vermilyea’s most excellent outing. Capital P, Capital G, Perfect Game. I’ll leave it to the more learned minor league aficionados to tell us if this is a first in Blue Jay minor league history.

Vermilyea’s gem was the nightcap of the twin bill, supported by 3B Danny Solano’s 2-run single in the second inning. In the opener, it was DH Maikel Jova swinging the big lumber, cashing in two runs on a single in the 3rd, then hitting a walk-off solo homer in the 7th. Aaron Hill showed signs of breaking out of his recent funk with a 3 for 4 performance, while 1B John-Ford Griffin continued his improved play of late with 3 walks to show for his 4 plate appearances. RF Ty Godwin swiped 2 bags for 20 on the season. He’s stealing at an 80% clip.

Pitching-wise, the first game featured 6 innings from Todd Ozias, 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk, with 4 punchouts. Brandon League pitched a perfect 7th with one K, and vultured the W thanks to Jova’s bomb.

Boxscores: Game 1, Game 2 - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Dunedin 8 @ St. Lucie 5

In a game that featured 12 runs in the final 4 innings after just 1 in the first 5, the Dunedin Blue Jays beat the St. Lucie Mets. The first 5 hitters in Dunedin’s lineup all had two hits: LF Medina, 3B Cota, 1B Davenport, DH Chiaravalloti, and CF Negron. Davenport and Big Vito each had two doubles, while Negron had one two-bagger.

Neomar Flores started and went a very strong 6-2/3, surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 7. Bubbie Buzachero got the save but was uncharacteristically shaky, walking in an inherited runner in the 8th and surrendering a run of his own on three hits in the 9th. He did strike out 3 batters.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Charleston – Off Day

Auburn 7 @ New Jersey 1

The Auburn express rolled on, this time at the expense of the New Jersey Cardinals. Jeremy “Jesse Who?” Harper turned in 6 brilliant innings of 2-hitter, 6/1 K/BB. Joey McLaughlin kept the shutout going for 2 more innings, but Chris Leonard was touched for a singleton in the 9th, allowing 2 hits while striking out 2.

No lack of offence for the good guys; SS Ryan Klosterman (single, triple), 3B Vince Esposito (single, double, 2 walks, 3 RBI), LF Adam Lind (3-run homer, walk), and 1B Chip Cannon (2 singles, double) led the way.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Burlington Indians 2 @ Pulaski 6

Just another day at the office for the still-undefeated P-Jays, as they tripled the Burlington Indians at the home field. SS Eugenio Valez singled and doubled; C Brian Bormaster doubled and singled twice; Ninth hitter (?) and first baseman Charles Anderson walked, doubled, and homered. LF Luke Hetherington also swatted a big fly.

The pitching was supplied by Brian Grant (6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3/2 K/BB), lefty James Pidutti (2 perfect innings, 3 Ks), and Aaron Tressler (1 perfect inning, 2 Ks).

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Three-Star Selection!

The Third Star: Neomar Flores, Dunedin. 6-2/3 innings, 5 baserunners, 7 strikeouts.

The Second Star: Gabe Gross, Syracuse. 3 singles and a Jack.

The First Star: Jamie Vermilyea, New Hampshire. El Perfecto.

Posted by Jonny German on Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:17 PM EDT.

Minor League Update: June 29 | 49 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

_Mike - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 01:37 AM EDT (#54787) #

this is an amazing site with stuff ypu cant get like anywhere else on the net. one bone of contention though. do we have to wait until next year to discuss some of this years draftees? in particular a discussion of guys like klosterman, metropolous, lind and the two prized lefties purcey and jackson would be good....

_Tassle - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 02:32 AM EDT (#54788) #

You think maybe they might consider keeping Jamie in the rotation? Is it a question of arm strength or ability? Because he may have just answered the ability question.

_Tyler - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 02:54 AM EDT (#54789) #

MIKE,

Great sense of timing. Tomorrow, Decoding the Draft, Part 2 will be posted. Here's a description from Gideon's Part 1 post earlier today.

"Tomorrow: Who did the Blue Jays get in the 2004 Draft? Who are the impact players and who are the sleepers? Read Part 2 tomorrow for more insights on the newest members of the Blue Jay organization."

_Moffatt - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 08:50 AM EDT (#54790) #

in particular a discussion of guys like klosterman, metropolous, lind and the two prized lefties purcey and jackson would be good....

Agreed. We've had a discussion of Jackson since last Wednesday. check it out.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 08:52 AM EDT (#54791) #

You think maybe they might consider keeping Jamie in the rotation? Is it a question of arm strength or ability?

It is a matter of personal preference. Vermilyea stated last year that he prefered to be in the pen. This year he has been a spot starter at Dunedin and now at New Hampshire. I do not know if the Jays are trying to "work him over" to get him to start.

_Jordan - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 08:56 AM EDT (#54792) #

Gabe Gross inches ever closer to .300, and every flash of power he shows is more and more encouraging. I don't want to set unrealistic goals, but I sure would like to see him finish the season approaching the .300/.400/.500 range (he's currently at .297/.376/.443).

Didja notice who played 3B and batted second for Columbus last night? Mr. Homer Bush. Not only that, but Darren Bragg was leading off and Mike Kelly batted cleanup. The '90s evidently never ended in Columbus.

Ryan Roberts is off to a slowish start in Dunedin (.241), but it's very early yet, and he doesn't at all appear overmatched.

_Finn McCool - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:00 AM EDT (#54793) #

Jamie Vermilyea has stated on a couple of times that he prefers to work out of the bull pen. If that is indeed true Vermilyea did himself no favours by pitching a perfect game last night, because you just know that based on that game there is going to be alot of discussion on the jays part on where he is best suited to pitch, and there is bound to be a push to put him in the rotation and see how he does.

_Jim - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:24 AM EDT (#54794) #

"If that is indeed true Vermilyea did himself no favours by pitching a perfect game last night"

The brass will discount that game based on the New Britain lineup. The only player even resembling a prospect is Maza, and that is mostly based on a high average for the past few months. Bowen has been up a few times to Minnesota but he doesn't hit at all even in AA.

Craig B - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:48 AM EDT (#54795) #

The brass will discount that game based on the New Britain lineup

The brass will evaluate that game based on their internal reports (from the manager and coaches and any scouts that were in attendance) of how Vermilyea was pitching, more than anything else.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:09 AM EDT (#54796) #

And for the rest of us, all we know is that Vermilyea has had 7 starts among his 21 appearances in high A and double A this year and his overall line is:

67 IP, 54H, 13W, 46K, 4 HR allowed

His K rate has declined as he has worked his way up the minors so far, but all other markers are positive.

_Finn McCool - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#54797) #

Come on Jim, that is extremely unfair to Vermilyea to say that the bass will discount the game based on New Britian's line up. Give credit where credit is do, and Vermilyea has done what no other pitcher has done to New Britian this year.

_Ryan01 - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#54798) #

Vermilyea's accomplishment is outstanding, there's no doubt about that whatsoever, he flat out pitched a great game. But you do have to consider that it was against a weak offense in likely one of the best pitcher's parks in the league. We've talked about the poor batting eye in the New Hampshire park several times. If we're going to give Hill and the rest of the offense the benefit of the doubt for their struggles at home you have to consider the converse.

Again, Vermilyea pitched a great game regardless of all that, but I don't think it's unreasonable to suspect with our limited knowledge that he may not have been quite as dominant as the box score suggests.

_Moffatt - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#54799) #

You generally don't throw a perfect game without a lot of luck/positive circumstances on your side. I don't see why this one should be any different. Would Dennis Martinez thrown a perfect game if he was pitching in Coors rather than Dodger Stadium?

_Finn McCool - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:56 AM EDT (#54800) #

Agreed luck play's a factor in a no hitter. I think back on Dave Stieb and if he had luck on his side he would have pitched at least 3 no hitters not just one

_Leviathan - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#54801) #

How many times were the 1997 Blue Jays no-hit? That's right, never. That was as anemic an offense as you'll find (to take a page out of Bill Walton) in the history of professional baseball.

It's borderline ignorant to take anything away from Vermilyea's performance. Weak competition? Pitcher friendly stadium? What's next, the hitters had their bats glued to their shoulders?

A perfect game is rare, pitcher's park and weak offense or not. Curt Schilling can face AA competition and give up a hit 99.999999% of the time. If it were so easy to have perfect games against weaker competition, why haven't we seen more of that?

Give me a break. A perfect game is a perfect game. Just give the man his props without trying to micro-analyze everything.

_Marc - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:08 AM EDT (#54802) #

Vermilyea is a similar pitcher to Chulk... He is better suited to the pen because he doesn't throw that hard (88-91) and will likely get lit up as a starter in AAA and the majors (like Chulk). His best pitch is a slider and a great out-pitch from the pen. He's also one of those guys that teams will hit better the second time they see him.

_Finn McCool - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:19 AM EDT (#54803) #

I too thought that Vermilyea had just an average fast ball, but they had the gun on his in first appearence for the Fisher Cats and it is reported he hit 95 mph. I can only guess that they were using the faster gun, either that or he is one of these pitchers who can throw harder but only when he needs to.

_Moffatt - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:23 AM EDT (#54804) #

The guy throws a perfect game and people are suggesting he's not very good. I can't imagine what you guys would be saying today if he got lit up!

Can't we be happy for his rather impressive accomplishment and leave the rather negative "analysis" for a day in which he didn't just accomplish something rather spectacular?

Named For Hank - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#54805) #

The guy throws a perfect game and people are suggesting he's not very good. I can't imagine what you guys would be saying today if he got lit up!

Either nothing because they wouldn't know about it, or there would be a lot of moaning about how our farm system sucks as bad as our team. Yay for Toronto fans!

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#54806) #

Vermilyea's full line was: 21 up, 5Ks, 10 ground outs, 2 line outs, 2 fly outs, 2 foul outs. Very effective pitching with a smattering of luck.

He now has pitched 11.2 perfect innings since he arrived at double A. He obviously doesn't have the stuff or K rate that Rich Harden did when he threw 18 no-hit innings to start his double A season last year, but it's still a very, very impressive accomplishment.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:50 AM EDT (#54807) #

The brass will discount that game based on the New Britain lineup.

No-one will pitch a perfect game every time out, and people know that you need some luck to get one. But let's look at who we have here. Vermilyea was the surpirse of the 2003 draft. John Sickels printed "Sleeper alert" in capitals beside Vermilyea's entry in his prospect book. So we are not dealing with a guy who just got lucky one time here.

The Jays promoted Vermilyea to New Hampshire for a reason. There were other candidates who could have been promoted such as Bubbie Buzachero. Why did the Jays promote Vermilyea? Other than the managers and coaches scouting reports, he was pitching well for Dunedin. Vermilyea made three starts in June for Dunedin. In those starts his WHIP was just over 1 and his ERA just over 2. In his 4.2 innings in New Hamshire BEFORE last night he did not allow a ball to be hit out of the infield. Last night there were two balls hit out of the infield. His strikeout numbers are not overly large to indicate the hitters have vision problems. He is just making the hitters have weak hits, he is fooling them with his stuff.

Here is an excerpt from Jordan's report from Vermilyea afyer the 2003 season: "Jamie’s fastball may rarely crack 90, but he fires it from a ¾-ish angle that gives it tremendous movement; coupled with a very sharp slider and an assortment of other pitches, he has more than enough weapons to make a lot of hitters look foolish, which is how he spent his summer (a 7/78 BB/K rate in 51 IP)". That description ties into what we have seen, his stuff is working really well know and the hitters are missing. This is NOT a fluke.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#54808) #

Here's a theory for you. Maybe Vermilyea, a young man from Tucson, is a hot weather pitcher. Last year, his spring college numbers were quite good, but did not portend fully his overpowering summer performance in Auburn. This year, he started off slowly in Dunedin, but when June arrived, he got hot.

As long as he wears enough sunscreen, I'm OK with great hot weather pitching (Tucsonans have the second highest rate of skin cancer in the world).

_R Billie - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:15 PM EDT (#54809) #

At the end of the day, the perfect 7 innings is one game and while it's absolutely great, I don't think the Jays should evaluate Vermilyea's abilities any higher today. Anymore than they should conclude Josh Banks isn't good based on being shelled a couple of times in AA.

BTW, a caller called in to Mike Hogan this morning complaining about Syracuse's poor record and asking where all the good young players the Jays are touting are. Apparently he ignored the other six layers of the Jays minor league system who all have winning records and ignored the fact that many of the top prospects in AAA have gone down to injury. Gross, Adams, and Bush are doing fine and are capable of better while Peterson and Rios are already called up to the majors. Chulk and Frasor are also already up. Quiroz, McGowan, and Arnold are injured. So that accounts for most of the top prospects near or at the major league level.

Everyone else is more than a year away but that doesn't mean they don't exist. If there is a fault with Syracuse it's that most of the veterans they have brought in to supplement the team at non-prospect positions haven't been very good.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:16 PM EDT (#54810) #

I just went back and read the game report. Jamie threw only 71 pitches in seven innings. He also had five strikeouts. The pitch count is low, so the hitters were swinging and just not making good contact.

_Marc - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:33 PM EDT (#54811) #

I certainly didn't mean to take away from Vermilyea's accomplishment... I think what he's done in New Hamp is amazing and I have been a huge supporter of his since he signed. I just think he is better suited for the pen and that he could be a solid 4th starter or an extremely effective setup man. But no legit righthanded 1 or 2 starter in the majors pitches 88-91 mph.

_R Billie - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#54812) #

I think Vermilyea is another David Bush and there ain't not nothing wrong with that, especially for a 9th round pick. Two solid Miguel Batista or Ted Lilly level pitchers on the way. Now if Josh Banks can get back on track we're looking at some pretty impressive depth added to the big club by 2006. Too bad about McGowan, that was a kick in the shins.

_Jim - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:39 PM EDT (#54813) #

The brass will evaluate that game based on their internal reports (from the manager and coaches and any scouts that were in attendance) of how Vermilyea was pitching, more than anything else.

You are right, I was a little off there. I think we should discount the results a little bit because the lineup was so weak. Pulaski has a better team then NB right now.

_Jim - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#54814) #

'The guy throws a perfect game and people are suggesting he's not very good. I can't imagine what you guys would be saying today if he got lit up!'

I'm not discounting his future or his prospectdom. I like him and look forward to seeing him pitch (hopefully) the next time they come to Connecticut. Just pointed out that while it is a cool accomplishment and all, let's just keep it in perspective. It was 7 innings in a pitcher's park against a horrible lineup.

_jim854 - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:49 PM EDT (#54815) #

Gerry is absolutely right - lets enjoy this moment as it rarely happens at any level in baseball. And it doesn't matter who the opposition happens to be.

I saw Vermilyea pitch in Dunedin in May - he threw strikes and the hitters were unable to make solid contact. He was in for 2 or 3 innings I think and he impressed me.

Dave Till - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 12:49 PM EDT (#54816) #

Of course, you can read too much into a perfect game. For example, Tom Browning once had one. But it's not Vermilyea's fault that the opposition was mediocre. And even the best pitching prospect in baseball could not have done better than he did - you can't do better than perfect. :-)

_Ryan01 - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#54817) #

Plenty of righthanded groundball have been very successful starers without throwing blazing stuff. Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, John Thomson and Brad Radke come to mind off the top of my head. As long as Vermilyea keeps throwing strikes and keeps the ball on the ground there's no reason to put limits on his potential. The strikeouts are of less concern for groundball pitchers like Halladay, League than they are for someone like Lilly or Rosario. Vermilyea has an outstanding minor league record in his short career and there's no reason the Jays won't keep their options open on what role Jamie pitches in.

_Ryan01 - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 01:15 PM EDT (#54818) #

And by 'groundballs who are successful starers', I mean groundball pitchers who are successful starters. Me fail english? That's unpossible.

_R Billie - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#54819) #

Tim Hudson can reach the mid-90s with his fastball when he wants to; though according to some so can Vermilyea.

We won't know until these guys reach the majors what they will turn into; but I think the Jays have a shot at building a nice back of the rotation along the lines of what Seattle had last year out of these guys.

_Leviathan - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 02:12 PM EDT (#54820) #

Keep that in minds folks.

The only perfect games that count are the ones against great lineups in hitter's parks. And the balls have to be juiced. Oh, and the pitcher has to be blind folded.

Got it?

Wow. Here I thought people would be happy for the guy who just threw a perfect game. Instead we get the cliche "great game, but" argument.

As for Jamie's future, going from AA to AAA is the hardest leap. We'll know just how ready or good he is when he faces AAA hitting (the good ones, games against bad teams don't count...well, unless you do bad against the bad teams, then you suck).

_Marc - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#54821) #

Like I said, I love Vermilyea, but I don't think he's stuff is comparable to Bush's pure stuff, although Vermilyea might have better movement on his fastball. Radke and Hudson both throw harder than Vermilyea... Thomson did before injury problems too and now he isn't much more than a fourth starter on a good team.

Does Vermilyea actually throw a split or a sinker or does he just have natural downward movement?

_MatO - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 04:19 PM EDT (#54822) #

Things to keep an eye out for tonight. Banks starts for NH, Perkins for Dunedin and let's see if Cheng can repeat the success of his first start for Pulaski.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:30 PM EDT (#54823) #

I tried to connect to the New Hampshire game, but no luck.
Josh Banks had an early 4-0 lead, but the F-Cats now trail 5-4.

Instead, I connected to the Auburn game. Auburn trailed 4-2 going to the 7th, but 2 walks, 2 HBPs, a double play, and a 3 run homer by Brian Hall, and the Doubledays have themselves a 6-4 lead at the 7th inning stretch.

_ainge_fan - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:37 PM EDT (#54824) #

Pulaski is on the brink of actually *not winning* tonight - 2-2 in the 8th. Dunedin is hitting it on the screws - up 10-1 also in the 8th I think.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#54825) #

Jayson Rodriguez (J-Rod) on to pitch for Auburn.

A ground ball to first, a walk and a HBP put two men on with one out.

On the out-of-town, Syracuse trails Columbus 3-2 in the eighth; New Britain leads New Hampshire 5-4; Dunedin is rolling over St. Lucie 10-1 behind Vince Perkins, and Pulaski and Burlington are tied 2-2.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:53 PM EDT (#54826) #

J-Rod induced a pop-up, and then Doubledays Manager Dennis Holmberg made the call to the bullpen for Eric Rico.

Rico surrendered a ground single to right, and then a ground double down the line, and it's 6-6. A ground ball to Klosterman, and Mahoning Valley is retired. 6-6 after 7.

In the top of the eighth, a ground ball, a fly ball and a Metropolous strikeout happen within 3 and 1/2 minutes, and it's 6-6 after 7 and 1/2 innings.

Dunedin defeated St. Lucie 11-1. Great pitching from Perkins, Pleiness and Maureau (memories of Auburn 2002) with dingers from Cota and Ryan Roberts.

Coach - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:56 PM EDT (#54827) #

Mike Wilner is hoping to talk to Jamie Vermilyea on the postgame show, if anyone is interested.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#54828) #

Three up, three down for Mahoning Valley in the bottom of the eighth.

Ninth inning.

Mike Macaluso doubles down the right field line. Aaron Matthews up. Macaluso advances to third on a passed ball. Matthews reaches on an error by the second baseman, Macaluso holds. Klosterman singles to right, Macaluso scores, Matthews to second. Auburn leads 7-6.

I've got to go.

_Sneeps - Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 11:22 PM EDT (#54829) #

Guillermo Quiroz finally played again tonight. He went 0-4 droping his average to .243.
Great to see him back in the lineup.

_ainge_fan - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 12:05 AM EDT (#54830) #

Cool stuff to see Perkins smokin' again. His return to last years form would be a big boost for the system - particularly in light of the injury to McGowan. He could conceivably be in New Hampshire before the year's out. I mean, really, if his command turns the corner like McGowan's did last year, he could move up towards top prospect ranking in the organization. And yes, I know it's just one start.

Pulaski pulls it out in 10. They're shooting for an undefeated season. Nice young power arms there this year - Martin, Cheng and Rodriguez are mowing em' down at an impressive clip so far.

_mendocino - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 02:45 AM EDT (#54831) #

COMN for DSL stats as of june 28

Craig B - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 08:24 AM EDT (#54832) #

Here's the stats that Mendocino was trying to provide. You have to put the URL in the "Homepage" box, not the E-Mail box...

_MatO - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#54833) #

Wow. Look at Francisco Mateo's pitching stats. He's a 20 yr old lefty in his first year.

_Sneeps - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 11:14 AM EDT (#54834) #

I wonder what happened to Juan Manzueta?

robertdudek - Wednesday, June 30 2004 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#54835) #

In addition, Vermilyea has retired 34 straight batters in AA. To put that in perspective - the major league record is 41.

Minor League Update: June 29 | 49 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.