A rainy night in America (wasn't that a U2 album?) washed out minor-league games in New Haven, Dunedin, Charleston and even Pulaski, leaving only Syracuse (which would have preferred a rainout to what actually happened -- losing to Pasqual Coco 6-4) and, more happily, the Auburn Doubledays of the NY-Penn League, who won their second game of the season, a 12-2 trouncing of Jamestown (scroll down to the bottom). Some names of note, both from last night and for the future:
* 2003 second-round draft choice Josh Banks made his professional debut, allowing 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings (on a strict pitch count) on 3 hits, but encouragingly, struck out 5 while walking only 1.
* The pitching line of the night, though, belonged to 2003 9th-rounder Jamie Vermilyea, who picked up Banks in the third inning and threw 3 1/3 shutout innings, with just 1 hit, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts (that's right, 8 of his 10 outs were whiffs).
* Among the many hitting stars were 2003 15th-rounder and cleanup-hitting first baseman Vito Chiaravalotti (instantly one of my favourite prospect names), who homered, scored twice and drove in two. Vito is a little old for this league, though, turning 23 in October.
* Another 2003 draftee, sleeper Christian Snavely, also debuted professionally (in the outfield) and went 1-for-4 with a run and RBI. Aaron Hill didn't suit up, though he'll surely be in the lineup in a few games' time, after he catches his breath.
* Other names to watch on this squad include:
- Second baseman Eric Arnold, a product of Rice who has a good batting eye (.268/.359/.339 in 17 games at Medicine Hat last season before hitting the wall with a late-season Auburn promotion) (23 in July)
- Wafer-thin (5'11", 155 lb) shortstop Juan Peralta, another strong OBP performer (.272/.342/.278 in 283 AB at Medicine Hat, along with 16 steals in 24 tries and a 30/38 BB/K rate) (just 20 next week)
- Third baseman and Canadian Nom Siriveaw, who ripped up the NY-Penn last year but struggled terribly at higher levels
- Outfielder Jarad Mangione, who showed promising power at Medicine Hat last year (7 HRs, second only to Jason Perry), had an adequate BB/K ratio of 19/40 in 179 AB, and is only 19
- Another favourite-name candidiate, reliever Bubbie Buzachero, who struck out 42 in 40 innings last year (good), allowed 34 hits (not bad), but walked 25 and threw 10 wild pitches (not so good) -- he turned 22 last week
Other 2003 draftees on the Doubledays include top choice Hill, 4th-round lefty Kurt Isenberg, 7th-round righty Danny Core, 11th-round righty Tom Mastny, 14th-round righty Jeremy Foster (out of VMI), 18th-round third baseman Ryan Roberts, 21st-round righty (you see a pattern emerging?) Mark Sopko, 25th-round utilityman Brian Patrick, 27th-round righty Brian Reed, and finally (and you all must root for this young man) 42nd-round catcher Jeremy Knicely.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030619095526999