Stubby F***'N Clapp!!
...Nuff said!
Thanks to the successful launch of Batter's Box Minor League Radio Reporting (including excellent descriptions from the likes of Robert Dudek and Mike Green), our comprehensive coverage just a got a little more... well, comprehensive:
Syracuse had a scheduled day off yesterday
Akron 5-5 at New Hampshire 8-1
Boxscore (Game 1)
Boxscore (Game 2)
In the first game of the twin-billing, Tyrell Godwin strated the Major League tools that were expected of him, as a unique three-time first round draft selection. Godwin (3-4, 2 R, 3B, 2B, SB) was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle, and picked up his 7th stolen base of the season -- an organizational best - to add to his already impressive statline. The Fisher Cats scored four runs each in the 4th and 6th innings to make a winner out of an Gustavo Chacin. Chacin (5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR) was pulled in (favour of Kevin Frederick) before he could qualify for the arbitrary "quality start," but he left after a highly efficient performance nonetheless. His one home run allowed came on a wind-abetted fly ball. The Venezuelan southpaw, who hadn't allowed more than one run in a game this season until yesterday, used both his curve and fastball effectively, keeping Akron's batters off balance for the most part. The Fisher Cat hitters pounded out a season high 12 hits, including two each by Aaron Hill (2-4), Jose Umbria (2-4), and the steady Danny Solano (2-3, BB, 2 RBI).
In the second game, New Hampshire's bats were quelled by Akron's Victor Kleine and Jake Robbins, who allowed only three hits in total. Spot-starter Ryan Houston (4+ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) pitched into the 5th, when he was relieved by Dan Jackson. It was Houston's first start in some time, but he certainly got the job done. Jackson opened the floodgates in the fifth, allowing four Aero runs to score, sealing the Cats' fate, and allowing the Aeros to salvage the split. Notes: Mississauga's John Ogiltree pitched 2 2/3 of shutout relief in the second game. DH John-Ford Griffin is an abysmal 1-16 (including 11 Ks) against lefties this season. Stubby Clapp (more on him later) crossed dugouts and debuted in the second game, going 0-3 (2 K).
Dunedin 5 at Daytona 3
Boxscore
Led by Scott Dragicevich -- third baseman and on-base freak (where have I heard that combination before?! -- the Baby Jays outlasted the Daytona Cubbies in fine fashion last night. Jayce Tingler set things in motion with an inspiring performance in the first inning. The magnetic leadoff hitter was tingled by a bean-ball, advanced to second on a balk (caused by a distraction at first base?) and hustled in to score on a two-out throwing gaffe by the shortstop. Daytona answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first off of Francisco Rosario. The runs were both unearned, as Ron Davenport and Dragicevich made fielding errors to extend the inning. On a positive side, Rosario didn't allow a hit. On the much larger negative end, he only recorded two outs before pitching coach Rick Langford had seen enough to call on Jamie Vermilyea out of the pen. Rosario's line (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO) is cause for more than a little concern, and so we'll definitely be looking for some information on his health status in the coming days.
Vermilyea was valiant in relief, allowing only four hits and no freebies (2 K), through 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball. The lanky righty was the sharpest he's been this season, inducing the majority of the batters he faced into grounding out, as well as picking off a runner in the 3rd inning. Santo Valdez must have felt the vote of confidence from sympathetic Bauxites; either that, or the man has a short memory -- not a bad asset for a relief prospect who had given up 11 earned runs in his previous short relief stint. Either way, the baseball gods decided that Valdez deserved a "W", and that's just what Santo received for his two innings (2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO). The D-Jays scored four late-inning runs, with the game-breaker arriving off the bat of catcher John Schneider, who singled in a pair of runs with the bases loaded in the 8th. Big Vito (3-4) continued his hot hitting, having benefited perhaps from the brief hiatus. Robert (aka Derrek) Nunley picked up his first save of the season after a nail-biting 9th.
Lakewood 6 at Charleston 3
Boxscore
Gazette Game Story
Links of the Day
1. Matt Michael, Post-Standard, has the news on a pending promotion for Dustin McGowan to Syracuse.
2. Alex Rios could join the Blue Jays as early as "June or July" (JP Ricciardi -- Fan590 Morning Show, responding to a question about a possible righthanded OF complement for Catalanotto)
3. As reported here first (by Kent Williams), newest Jay farmhand Stubby Clapp was acquired from Cleveland (for a PTBN or cash considerations). Clapp replaces the DL-ed Mike Snyder on the Fisher Cat roster. Snyder -- off the schneid one day with a heroic 8th inning home run -- and onto the disabled list, and the Baseball Injury Hall of Fame the next (following in the Jays tradition bestowed upon him by the likes of Paul Quantrill, Ted Lilly, Justin Miller, and yes, Glenallen Hill -- see #23) with a high-five-induced wrist injury. In any case, Clapp's addition to the organization is a welcome one, especially for long-time Jays fan (and Bauxite regular) Ryan Adams. There was a nice article on Stubby (and his Olympic-bound teammates) in November, written by the other guru of Canadian Baseball, the Sun's Bob Elliott.
4. Thanks to our Batter's Box correspondent from Panama, Evair Montenegro, for alerting us to one of the only reports (in Spanish; 2002) on promising Alley Cat southpaw Davis Romero. Aside from the note that Romero can dial it in at 93 mph, the Google translation might be your best bet.
5. Dunedin's Josh Banks is the only Jay remaining in Kevin Goldstein's Prospect Hot Sheet for Baseball America. Jays prospect-watchers should get used to the infrequency of Jays names on BA's lists these days, as most of the prospects covered extensively here are flying under-the-radar there.
6. Craig Liadis, Union-Leader, has the report on the Fisher Cats' first game yesterday.
Three-Star Selection!
The Third Star: Willie Rivera, SS, Charleston (in a losing effort, he came up with a "web gem"; a leading contender for a 2004 Batter's Box Organizational Gold Glove Award; Who says we don't value defence at da Box?!)
The Second Star: Tyrell Godwin, LF, New Hampshire (3-4, 2 R, 3B, 2B, SB; definitely the Cat Catalyst in Game 1 yesterday)
The First Star: Scott Dragicevich, 3B, Dunedin (1-1, R, 3 BB; the sort of statline that gets the organization's attention)
Today's Games
Scranton-WB at Syracuse (David Bush), 6:00 pm
Akron (CLE) at New Hampshire (Todd Ozias), 12:05 pm
Dunedin (Ismael Ramirez) at Daytona (CHI-N), 10:30 am
Hagerstown (SF) at Charleston (Ramon Mora), 6:05 pm
...Nuff said!
Thanks to the successful launch of Batter's Box Minor League Radio Reporting (including excellent descriptions from the likes of Robert Dudek and Mike Green), our comprehensive coverage just a got a little more... well, comprehensive:
Syracuse had a scheduled day off yesterday
Akron 5-5 at New Hampshire 8-1
Boxscore (Game 1)
Boxscore (Game 2)
In the first game of the twin-billing, Tyrell Godwin strated the Major League tools that were expected of him, as a unique three-time first round draft selection. Godwin (3-4, 2 R, 3B, 2B, SB) was a homer shy of hitting for the cycle, and picked up his 7th stolen base of the season -- an organizational best - to add to his already impressive statline. The Fisher Cats scored four runs each in the 4th and 6th innings to make a winner out of an Gustavo Chacin. Chacin (5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR) was pulled in (favour of Kevin Frederick) before he could qualify for the arbitrary "quality start," but he left after a highly efficient performance nonetheless. His one home run allowed came on a wind-abetted fly ball. The Venezuelan southpaw, who hadn't allowed more than one run in a game this season until yesterday, used both his curve and fastball effectively, keeping Akron's batters off balance for the most part. The Fisher Cat hitters pounded out a season high 12 hits, including two each by Aaron Hill (2-4), Jose Umbria (2-4), and the steady Danny Solano (2-3, BB, 2 RBI).
In the second game, New Hampshire's bats were quelled by Akron's Victor Kleine and Jake Robbins, who allowed only three hits in total. Spot-starter Ryan Houston (4+ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) pitched into the 5th, when he was relieved by Dan Jackson. It was Houston's first start in some time, but he certainly got the job done. Jackson opened the floodgates in the fifth, allowing four Aero runs to score, sealing the Cats' fate, and allowing the Aeros to salvage the split. Notes: Mississauga's John Ogiltree pitched 2 2/3 of shutout relief in the second game. DH John-Ford Griffin is an abysmal 1-16 (including 11 Ks) against lefties this season. Stubby Clapp (more on him later) crossed dugouts and debuted in the second game, going 0-3 (2 K).
Dunedin 5 at Daytona 3
Boxscore
Led by Scott Dragicevich -- third baseman and on-base freak (where have I heard that combination before?! -- the Baby Jays outlasted the Daytona Cubbies in fine fashion last night. Jayce Tingler set things in motion with an inspiring performance in the first inning. The magnetic leadoff hitter was tingled by a bean-ball, advanced to second on a balk (caused by a distraction at first base?) and hustled in to score on a two-out throwing gaffe by the shortstop. Daytona answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first off of Francisco Rosario. The runs were both unearned, as Ron Davenport and Dragicevich made fielding errors to extend the inning. On a positive side, Rosario didn't allow a hit. On the much larger negative end, he only recorded two outs before pitching coach Rick Langford had seen enough to call on Jamie Vermilyea out of the pen. Rosario's line (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO) is cause for more than a little concern, and so we'll definitely be looking for some information on his health status in the coming days.
Vermilyea was valiant in relief, allowing only four hits and no freebies (2 K), through 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball. The lanky righty was the sharpest he's been this season, inducing the majority of the batters he faced into grounding out, as well as picking off a runner in the 3rd inning. Santo Valdez must have felt the vote of confidence from sympathetic Bauxites; either that, or the man has a short memory -- not a bad asset for a relief prospect who had given up 11 earned runs in his previous short relief stint. Either way, the baseball gods decided that Valdez deserved a "W", and that's just what Santo received for his two innings (2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO). The D-Jays scored four late-inning runs, with the game-breaker arriving off the bat of catcher John Schneider, who singled in a pair of runs with the bases loaded in the 8th. Big Vito (3-4) continued his hot hitting, having benefited perhaps from the brief hiatus. Robert (aka Derrek) Nunley picked up his first save of the season after a nail-biting 9th.
Lakewood 6 at Charleston 3
Boxscore
Gazette Game Story
Links of the Day
1. Matt Michael, Post-Standard, has the news on a pending promotion for Dustin McGowan to Syracuse.
2. Alex Rios could join the Blue Jays as early as "June or July" (JP Ricciardi -- Fan590 Morning Show, responding to a question about a possible righthanded OF complement for Catalanotto)
3. As reported here first (by Kent Williams), newest Jay farmhand Stubby Clapp was acquired from Cleveland (for a PTBN or cash considerations). Clapp replaces the DL-ed Mike Snyder on the Fisher Cat roster. Snyder -- off the schneid one day with a heroic 8th inning home run -- and onto the disabled list, and the Baseball Injury Hall of Fame the next (following in the Jays tradition bestowed upon him by the likes of Paul Quantrill, Ted Lilly, Justin Miller, and yes, Glenallen Hill -- see #23) with a high-five-induced wrist injury. In any case, Clapp's addition to the organization is a welcome one, especially for long-time Jays fan (and Bauxite regular) Ryan Adams. There was a nice article on Stubby (and his Olympic-bound teammates) in November, written by the other guru of Canadian Baseball, the Sun's Bob Elliott.
4. Thanks to our Batter's Box correspondent from Panama, Evair Montenegro, for alerting us to one of the only reports (in Spanish; 2002) on promising Alley Cat southpaw Davis Romero. Aside from the note that Romero can dial it in at 93 mph, the Google translation might be your best bet.
5. Dunedin's Josh Banks is the only Jay remaining in Kevin Goldstein's Prospect Hot Sheet for Baseball America. Jays prospect-watchers should get used to the infrequency of Jays names on BA's lists these days, as most of the prospects covered extensively here are flying under-the-radar there.
6. Craig Liadis, Union-Leader, has the report on the Fisher Cats' first game yesterday.
Three-Star Selection!
The Third Star: Willie Rivera, SS, Charleston (in a losing effort, he came up with a "web gem"; a leading contender for a 2004 Batter's Box Organizational Gold Glove Award; Who says we don't value defence at da Box?!)
The Second Star: Tyrell Godwin, LF, New Hampshire (3-4, 2 R, 3B, 2B, SB; definitely the Cat Catalyst in Game 1 yesterday)
The First Star: Scott Dragicevich, 3B, Dunedin (1-1, R, 3 BB; the sort of statline that gets the organization's attention)
Today's Games
Scranton-WB at Syracuse (David Bush), 6:00 pm
Akron (CLE) at New Hampshire (Todd Ozias), 12:05 pm
Dunedin (Ismael Ramirez) at Daytona (CHI-N), 10:30 am
Hagerstown (SF) at Charleston (Ramon Mora), 6:05 pm
