So the Skychiefs are visiting David Newhan's favourite city this weekend, and while I don't expect to see Guillermo Quiroz and John-Ford Griffin touring the Florentine Renaissance exhibit at the Natinal Gallery, I also don't expect to attend any of the games in person. Last night's match showed that was probably a good decision on my part.
Ottawa 6 Syracuse 0
Sorry, but there’s nothing to talk about here from a prospect point of view – Chris Baker got knocked around, the Chiefs managed only 7 singles. The only noteworthy aspect is that Gabe Gross went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a double play. I watched some of the game on Rogers Cable here in Ottawa (I’m not attending any of the weekend’s games against the Skychiefs -- too busy with real life -- and last night was cool and rainy anyway). I think I must be bad luck for Gabe, because whenever I watch him – in person or on TV, minors or majors -- he performs terribly. I’m quite certain Gross will get a September 1 callup, and I’m equally confident that he will be dealt this off-season – the Jays need power in left field next year, and whatever his other virtues, Gross hasn’t yet recaptured his spring-training home run stroke.
Portland 7 New Hampshire 4
He got beaten up last night pretty good, but coming into the game, Vince Perkins was showing signs of turning it around at Double-A. Sporting a line of 108 IP, 100 H, 43 BB and 94 K, Perkins had a 6-6 record and a 3.75 ERA (just 8 HRs allowed, too). Perkins has had a strong second half, last night notwithstanding, and will be on any list of the Jays’ more promising pitching prospects. Watch him if he debuts in 2006 at Triple-A, especially if they make him a reliever.
Prospect Watch:
- Vince Perkins: 5 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 3 K: 4.14
- Tracy Thorpe:2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K: 3.45
- Ron Davenport : 3/5, HR, K: .269
- Miguel Negron : 2/5, 2B, RBI: .257
- Rob Cosby: 2/4, K: .322
Dunedin 8 Tampa 1
Another below-the-radar starter in the Jays system pitched a masterpiece last night. Kyle Yates threw a complete game five-hitter, walking 2 and striking out 11 Yankees. Yates started the season at Lansing and despite a 4.43 ERA, actually put up some dynamite numbers: 81 IP, 82 H, 19 BB, 81 K. Coming into last night’s game as a D-Jay, Yates had posted an almost identical line, but for the strikeouts: 56 IP, 57 H, 14 BB, 44 K. Last night’s 11-whiff performance will get him back on the 1/1 K/IP track and secure Yates’ leading spot on the undercard of Jays’ pitching prospects.
Prospect Watch:
- Kyle Yates: 9 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 11 K: 3.38
- David Smith: 3/5, 2B, BB, 2 RBI: .289
- Vito Chiaravalotti : 2/5, 2 2B, 2 R, K: .192
- Adam Lind : 1/5, 2B, BB, 2 RBI: .324 (that’s his 38th double. Wow.)
Wisconsin 12 Lansing 9
Chi-Hung Cheng has had a few rough starts lately, including a manhandling in Wisconsin last night. Eleven baserunners, including 2 dingers, in fewer than 5 innings, is the kind of trouble you can’t pitch yourself out of. For all he’s struggled lately, Cheng’s line this morning is still an attractive 131 IP, 105 H, 69 BB, 140 K, 8 HR. Beware that 3.28 ERA, though: he’s allowed 59 runs, only 48 of them earned. He just turned 20 a couple of months ago, so Cheng still has velocity and experience to add. He should become a pretty valuable property down the line.
Prospect Watch:
- Chi-Hung Cheng: 4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 HR: 3.28
- Jason Armstrong: 3/6, 2B, RBI, K: .290
- Ryan Klosterman : 2/5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI: .235
- Charlie Anderson: 2/5, 2B, R, RBI, K: .252
Auburn 5 Aberdeen 3
He took the collar in 4 plate trips last night, but there are few more exciting hitting prospects in the Blue Jays system than Ryan Patterson. After posting a cool .369/.448/.718 line earlier this year in his last season at LSU, the powerful (5’11”, 205 lb) Patterson has been tearing up the NY-Penn League and displaying strong leadership skills. He entered last night’s game at .333/.381/.557. Between college and the pros, he’s smacked 30 home runs in about 470 at-bats in 2005. Along with Adam Lind and Chip Cannon, he’s probably one of the Jays’ three best hitters in the minors, and he won’t take long to move up.
Prospect Watch:
- Robert Ray: 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K: 2.83
- Sean Shoffitt: 2/3, 2B, 2 BB, R, K: .248
- Cory Patton: 2/4, BB, RBI, K: .298.
- Joey Metropoulos: 2/4, 2B, 2 K: .298
Pulaski 9 Bluefield 2
It’s hard to pinpoint true prospects at Pulaski, but keep an eye on shortstop Jesus Gonzalez, who homered and doubled last night. His numbers are pretty dismal right now -- .233/.291/.391 -- but he’s shown a modicum of plate discipline and pretty decent power for a shortstop. You might recall him as the Blue Jays’ Dominican Summer League recipient of the organization’s Howard Webster Awards in 2004 after he hit .338 with 7 HRs and 44 RBIs last season. He’s struggling with the average this year, but he’s someone to put on the long-range radar.
Prospect Watch:
- Francisco Mateo: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K: 4.91
- Jacob Butler: 2/5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, K: .280
- Paul Franko: 2/5, 2B, RBI, K: .322
Your Three-Star Selection:
3. Jesus Gonzalez, Pulaski: Home run and double.
2. John Schneider, Dunedin: Four singles, 2 runs scored and an RBI.
1. Kyle Yates, Dunedin: Complete-game 5-hitter with 11 strikeouts.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=2005082007542674