Bad night for the pitchers, as both starters and relievers conspired to give up the go-ahead runs in 4 out of 5 games played. Only Auburn escaped with a victory last night. There were some sterling starting performances ruined when a starter went back to the mound once too often or the relievers couldn't get the job done. Some nights, both sides of the coin come up tails.
Scranton 12 Syracuse 2
Here’s a little comparison for you:
Pitcher Age Level H/9 HR/9 BB/9 K/9 Pitcher A 24 AAA 8.37 1.35 3.15 6.30 Pitcher B 24 AAA 9.26 1.09 3.64 6.26Pitcher A is Francisco Rosario, coming into last night’s game, which he entered in relief and allowed 3 more runs in 1 inning of work in a Scranton whitewash. Pitcher B is, unfortunately, Pasqual Coco, in his last season as a Blue Jays farmhand (Coco’s pitching for Veracruz in the Mexican League these days, in case you were wondering). This isn’t meant to say that Rosario will be a washout like Coco, but only to say that his performance so far this year has been much less than stellar. The problem is the lack of strikeouts: he’s not getting batters to swing and miss a whole lot. It’s hard to use the TJ surgery as a defence anymore, considering that Dustin McGowan suffered his injury a year later and is pitching effectively in the majors today. Rosario is certainly not ready for a September callup, and he needs to make a much better showing next year at Syracuse to get his prospect shine back.
Prospect Watch:
- Gabe Gross: 2/4, 2B, run, .298 BA
- Chad Gaudin: 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K: 2.73 (he pitched better than this: a 1-hit shutout through 5 before imploding)
- Jason Arnold: 1 2/3 IP,3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K: 5.60 ERA
Harrisburg 6 New Hampshire 1
The list of true hitting prospects in the Jays’ system is pretty short, but Rob Cosby is elbowing his way onto it. Cosby is following a red-hot July (.404/.443/.789) cut short by injuries with an equally sizzling August. He cracked his 3rd homer of the month and 15th of the campaign for the Fisher Cats’ only run last night (and added a single, too). Only his poor walk totals are keeping from elite prospect status – the power and the average are there. Josh Banks was brilliant for 8 innings but, like Gaudin, went one inning too many and saw the roof fall in with 4 runs in the top of the 9th (the last courtesy of reliever Tracy Thorpe, who added one of his own.
Prospect Watch:
- Josh Banks: 8 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 6 K: 4.02
- Curtis Thigpen:1/4, 2B, K: .227
- Ryan Roberts: 1/4, 1B, K, .265 BA
Sarasota 8 Dunedin 6
The Blue Jays once had four left-handers in their major-league rotations (Jimmy Key, John Cerutti, Mike Flanagan and Jeff Mussleman). While we’re unlikely to see that ever again, the organization has never been richer in southpaws, until now. Last night, Davis Romero produced another solid line for the system’s portsiders: after a rough first inning (5 hits, 3 runs), Romero settled down and ended up allowing just 2 more hits and 1 run over 6 innings, walking 1 and striking out 11. Romero’s just about ready for AA. Another blown lead for the bullpen, as the D-Jays led 6-4 in the top of the 9th but saw closer Milton Tavarez allow all 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk, all of them scoring with 2 out.
Prospect Watch:
- Adam Lind: 2/5, 2B, HR (12), 2 RBI: .315
- Jayce Tingler: 2/5, RBI: .269
- Manny Mayorson : 2/3, BB, 2 RBI, R: .279
Lansing: no game scheduled
Auburn 5 Aberdeen 3
Injuries have slowed him down, but Joey Metropoulos is starting to show the Jays some of the potential they saw when they drafted him in the 9th round last year. Metropoulos went 3-for-3 last night with 2 doubles, a homer, a walk and 2 RBI. He was hitting a respectable .265/.327/.469 in about 100 AB heading into the game, a line that will improve. Metropoulous’ vaunted power has only shown up in the doubles category thus far, but he appears to be finding his stroke. For a change, the bullpen held a ninth-inning lead for a Jays affiliate. All hail Yesson Berroa.
Prospect Watch:
- Randy Dicken: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K: 3.99 ERA
- Josh Sowers: 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K: 6.00. Maybe the pen is the right fit for him.
- Nick Thomas: 1/3, 2B, BB, RBI, R: .269
Kingsport 6 Pulaski 4
Eziemir Reinoso, who makes Joey Metropoulos only the second-hardest name to spell in this report, allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in just 1 inning of work in the 4th bullpen failure of the night. Graig Badger and Anthony Hatch had the only 2-hit nights for Pulaski.
Your Three-Star Selection:
3. Rob Cosby, New Hampshire: Home run, single.
2. Adam Lind, Dunedin:Home run, double, 2 RBI.
1. Joey Metropoulos, Auburn: 3/3, 2 doubles, home run, 2 RBI.
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