Francisco Rosario has his groove back as the Fisher Cats break out the sparkling wine. Russ Adams is hot as he leaves Syracuse, Guillermo Quiroz and Eric Crozier are not. Ryan Glynn, who has a degree in business economics, delays his retirement plans. Plus bonus coverage for the same low price.
Every team won and Auburn lost (the back end of a doubleheader).
Scranton 3 Syracuse 5
Dave Maurer got the start and gave up a 2 run home run in the first. Howie Clark homered to lead off the second to make it 2-1. Later in the inning Simon Pond doubled home Julius Matos to tie the game. Talley Haines followed Maurer and let up one run in three innings. The Chiefs got that back and more in the sixth on a Russ Adams single, a double from Howie Clark and a home run by Matos. Jason Kershner and Mike Nakamura pitched the last three innings.
Russ Adams finished his Syracuse season going 3-4 with a double. Guillermo Quiroz and Eric Crozier had 0-fers.
Game Story, and details on Ryan Glynn postponing his retirement decision.
Norwich 1 New Hampshire 2
Franky, may I call you Franky? Franky was dealing last night, seven innings, eight punch-outs, only one walk and six hits. In his last four starts Rosario has pitched 24.1 innings, allowing 16 hits, 5 walks while recording 28 strikeouts. So what has happened? Last week Rosario talked about confidence, finally feeling comfortable in throwing his curveball. As an amateur psychologist I hereby declare Rosario was feeling tentative through most of this year, not letting it all go on the mound, still carrying the mental scars from his surgery. It now looks like he is not tentative any longer. It will be interesting to see how Franky does in the the AFL, a strong showing could leave him challenging for a major league spot next year.
Norwich scored in the second on a couple of hits and that was it until the bottom of the seventh. John Ford Griffin led off with an infield single and, with two outs, Justin Singleton singled moving the runner to third. Paul Chiaffredo singled to tie the game and a throwing error by the right fielder let the winning run come across. The win clinched the division title for the Fisher Cats, a great start for the franchise, it is all downhill from here.
Game Story
Fort Myers 1 Dunedin 10
Dunedin scored eight runs in the first three innings which was more than enough for all-star Ismael Ramirez. With the big lead Izzy was pulled after five innings having allowed one run on seven hits.
Jayce Tingler homered to lead off the game and drove in Dunedin's second run with a sac fly. The first five hitters in the third inning reached base and all scored.
Five hitters had two hits, Tingler, Cota, Vito, Negron and Waugh.
Charleston 2 Kannapolis 0
Eric Rico started and was outstanding, six innings four hits and a walk. Rico's ERA at Charleston is 1.93, pretty good for an outfielder.
Charleston took the lead in the sixth, Robinson Diaz doubled and went to third on a single by Jermy Acey. With one out Acey stole second and Diaz was able to come home on a fielders choice. The score remained 1-0 until the ninth when Willie Rivera reached on an error and Diaz singled him home.
Diaz and Rodney Medina registered two hits each while Joey Reiman walked three times.
Game Story
Jamestown 6 Auburn 7
Jamestown 5 Auburn 2
In game one Auburn took a 6-1 lead only to have Jamestown tie it in the sixth. Casey Janssen pitched into the sixth inning allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. Jason Armstrong carried the big stick in game one going 3-3 with three runs scored and two RBI's. Greg Powers and Eric Nielsen also drove in two runs each. Jayson Rodriguez allowed two inherited runners score plus two runs of his own but vultured the win. Danny Hill continued his fine pitching to record the save. Ryan Klosterman had a game to forget, 0-4, 2 K's and three errors.
In the nightcap Jamestown scored two in the first inning off Brian Grant who was making his first start at A ball. Grant pitched 4.2 innings allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits. Auburn only had five hits in the nightcap, Adam Lind drove in both on a groundout and a double. Eric Nielsen had two hits.
Our Three-Star Selection
The 3rd Star: Robinson Diaz, scored the first run, drove in the second, two hits
The 2nd Star: Eric Rico, six shutout innings
The 1st Star: Francisco Rosario, seven shutout innings
Bonus Coverage
I was in Buffalo at the Syracuse game earlier this week. Here are some comments from the Chiefs:
Marty Pevey gave a scouting report on Raul Tablado, thinking back to when he managed him in the instructional league. Toolsy kid, great body, big square shoulders, long arms, big hands, long and lanky, great extention over the plate. He was just learning how to play."
Marty managed Gustavo Chacin last year in New Haven. He recently got to see the 2004 Chacin when Gus was recalled to start some games for the Chiefs. Chacin has added a couple of mph on his fastball. The second thing is he has improved his cutter and can pitch inside to righthanders. The third thing is his changeup has become much better.
For all you computer geeks out there Marty carries a laptop that contains a lot of proprietary information. The laptop is left unattended while the game is on so the Blue Jays have to make sure the computer does not fall into the wrong hands. The solution is a biometric pad that Marty has to use to verify his thumbprint before he can unlock the system.
I talked with Eric Crozier about his minor league career. After attending Norfolk State University Crozier was drafted in the 41st round by the Indians in 2000. His first two minor league years do not show on the baseball cube but he assured me he played in the New York Penn League in 2000 and in Columbus, Georgia, in 2001. Crozier played in the Carolina league in 2002 and was an all-star, hitting .326 with 9 home runs, and earned a promotion to AA where he hit .296 in 43 games. After a break-out 2002, 2003 at AA Akron was a disappointment. Eric's average dropped to .245 although he did hit 19 home runs. Eric had a couple of explanations. I had some fractures in my spine, the doctors thought they were old, from a couple of years earlier. I aggravated it last year, I had worked hard in the off-season to add 18 pounds to my body and that might have been a part of it. I only missed seven or eight days but most days I woke up feeling really stiff. So I took it easy last off season. Eric had another explanation for 2003. I was not very smart, I eliminated half the field trying to hit everything out to right. I learned from it and I have been blessed this year. As an aside Crozier is one of the softest talkers I have met, "speak softly and carry a big stick" sums him up well.
Every team won and Auburn lost (the back end of a doubleheader).
Scranton 3 Syracuse 5
Dave Maurer got the start and gave up a 2 run home run in the first. Howie Clark homered to lead off the second to make it 2-1. Later in the inning Simon Pond doubled home Julius Matos to tie the game. Talley Haines followed Maurer and let up one run in three innings. The Chiefs got that back and more in the sixth on a Russ Adams single, a double from Howie Clark and a home run by Matos. Jason Kershner and Mike Nakamura pitched the last three innings.
Russ Adams finished his Syracuse season going 3-4 with a double. Guillermo Quiroz and Eric Crozier had 0-fers.
Game Story, and details on Ryan Glynn postponing his retirement decision.
Norwich 1 New Hampshire 2
Franky, may I call you Franky? Franky was dealing last night, seven innings, eight punch-outs, only one walk and six hits. In his last four starts Rosario has pitched 24.1 innings, allowing 16 hits, 5 walks while recording 28 strikeouts. So what has happened? Last week Rosario talked about confidence, finally feeling comfortable in throwing his curveball. As an amateur psychologist I hereby declare Rosario was feeling tentative through most of this year, not letting it all go on the mound, still carrying the mental scars from his surgery. It now looks like he is not tentative any longer. It will be interesting to see how Franky does in the the AFL, a strong showing could leave him challenging for a major league spot next year.
Norwich scored in the second on a couple of hits and that was it until the bottom of the seventh. John Ford Griffin led off with an infield single and, with two outs, Justin Singleton singled moving the runner to third. Paul Chiaffredo singled to tie the game and a throwing error by the right fielder let the winning run come across. The win clinched the division title for the Fisher Cats, a great start for the franchise, it is all downhill from here.
Game Story
Fort Myers 1 Dunedin 10
Dunedin scored eight runs in the first three innings which was more than enough for all-star Ismael Ramirez. With the big lead Izzy was pulled after five innings having allowed one run on seven hits.
Jayce Tingler homered to lead off the game and drove in Dunedin's second run with a sac fly. The first five hitters in the third inning reached base and all scored.
Five hitters had two hits, Tingler, Cota, Vito, Negron and Waugh.
Charleston 2 Kannapolis 0
Eric Rico started and was outstanding, six innings four hits and a walk. Rico's ERA at Charleston is 1.93, pretty good for an outfielder.
Charleston took the lead in the sixth, Robinson Diaz doubled and went to third on a single by Jermy Acey. With one out Acey stole second and Diaz was able to come home on a fielders choice. The score remained 1-0 until the ninth when Willie Rivera reached on an error and Diaz singled him home.
Diaz and Rodney Medina registered two hits each while Joey Reiman walked three times.
Game Story
Jamestown 6 Auburn 7
Jamestown 5 Auburn 2
In game one Auburn took a 6-1 lead only to have Jamestown tie it in the sixth. Casey Janssen pitched into the sixth inning allowing four runs on three hits and a walk. Jason Armstrong carried the big stick in game one going 3-3 with three runs scored and two RBI's. Greg Powers and Eric Nielsen also drove in two runs each. Jayson Rodriguez allowed two inherited runners score plus two runs of his own but vultured the win. Danny Hill continued his fine pitching to record the save. Ryan Klosterman had a game to forget, 0-4, 2 K's and three errors.
In the nightcap Jamestown scored two in the first inning off Brian Grant who was making his first start at A ball. Grant pitched 4.2 innings allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits. Auburn only had five hits in the nightcap, Adam Lind drove in both on a groundout and a double. Eric Nielsen had two hits.
Our Three-Star Selection
The 3rd Star: Robinson Diaz, scored the first run, drove in the second, two hits
The 2nd Star: Eric Rico, six shutout innings
The 1st Star: Francisco Rosario, seven shutout innings
Bonus Coverage
I was in Buffalo at the Syracuse game earlier this week. Here are some comments from the Chiefs:
Marty Pevey gave a scouting report on Raul Tablado, thinking back to when he managed him in the instructional league. Toolsy kid, great body, big square shoulders, long arms, big hands, long and lanky, great extention over the plate. He was just learning how to play."
Marty managed Gustavo Chacin last year in New Haven. He recently got to see the 2004 Chacin when Gus was recalled to start some games for the Chiefs. Chacin has added a couple of mph on his fastball. The second thing is he has improved his cutter and can pitch inside to righthanders. The third thing is his changeup has become much better.
For all you computer geeks out there Marty carries a laptop that contains a lot of proprietary information. The laptop is left unattended while the game is on so the Blue Jays have to make sure the computer does not fall into the wrong hands. The solution is a biometric pad that Marty has to use to verify his thumbprint before he can unlock the system.
I talked with Eric Crozier about his minor league career. After attending Norfolk State University Crozier was drafted in the 41st round by the Indians in 2000. His first two minor league years do not show on the baseball cube but he assured me he played in the New York Penn League in 2000 and in Columbus, Georgia, in 2001. Crozier played in the Carolina league in 2002 and was an all-star, hitting .326 with 9 home runs, and earned a promotion to AA where he hit .296 in 43 games. After a break-out 2002, 2003 at AA Akron was a disappointment. Eric's average dropped to .245 although he did hit 19 home runs. Eric had a couple of explanations. I had some fractures in my spine, the doctors thought they were old, from a couple of years earlier. I aggravated it last year, I had worked hard in the off-season to add 18 pounds to my body and that might have been a part of it. I only missed seven or eight days but most days I woke up feeling really stiff. So I took it easy last off season. Eric had another explanation for 2003. I was not very smart, I eliminated half the field trying to hit everything out to right. I learned from it and I have been blessed this year. As an aside Crozier is one of the softest talkers I have met, "speak softly and carry a big stick" sums him up well.
