Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Dunedin Hangs Another Ring on Jupiter

No near perfect games in today's report, but there was some fine pitching, nonetheless. 2 wins, 2 losses.

Syracuse 2, Toledo 0

Another solid night for Francisco Rosario who went 6 2/3 shutout innings, for just his second win of the season. The seventh inning looked like trouble when a double off of Rosario, a single off Jesse Carlson and a walk off Spike Lundberg loaded the bases. But the reliever roulette would stop there as Spike stayed in and ended the threat with a strikeout. Aside from that inning, the Mudhens could not advance a runner past 2nd base the entire game.

John-Ford Griffin walked and Joe Depastino drove him in with a double. Depastino would score on a single from Julius Matos. Griffin finished the night with two walks and a single. Closer Jason Arnold also got some work in with a shutout ninth inning for his 5th save of the year.

Box Score

New Hampshire 1, Trenton 5

Working on a week of rest, Josh Banks struggled for the second time in as many starts. Just like last time, things started out just fine for Banks. In fact, he was perfect through three innings and had struck out the side in the second inning. Then came the fourth -- single, double, single, single, strike out, home run -- and that was end of Banks’ evening.

Maikel Jova led the offense with 3 hits and scored the only Fisher Cat run. Raul Tablado’s bat also continues to thaw out a little as he had the Cats’ only extra base hit, a double in the fourth. Bubbie Buzachero and Jamie Vermilyea were very solid in relief, combining for 4 2/3 shutout inning with 9 K’s!

Box Score

Dunedin 1, Jupiter 0

The Dunedin offense mustered all the offense Mike MacDonald would need as he hung up quite a few rings on the scoreboard. Only 1 strikeout in Mac’s 7 innings but he held the bats quiet as only 4 hits would slip through for Jupiter. Brad Mumma and Milton Tavarez were solid in relief and the Baby Jays shutout the opposition. The Jays’ only run came in the second inning when Eric Arnold and Joey Reiman hit consecutive singles with Arnold advancing to third and eventually scoring on a David Smith sac fly.

Box Score

Wisconsin 17, Lansing 8

Well, at least the offense has heated up a little the last few weeks. The only problem is that Wisconsin’s was much hotter yesterday. Kyle Yates was hammered for 9 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks and was unable to make it out of the fourth inning. It wasn’t just Yates that struggled either. Jeremy Harper was pounded for another 6 runs in only 1 and 2/3 innings. The Lugnuts tried to mount a comeback, scoring 4 in the fifth and 2 in the seventh, but couldn’t overcome the massive deficit.

Box Score

Three Stars! - last Wednesday’s winners were all hitters, this week it’s all pitchers.

Third Star: Jaime Vermilyea
Second Star: Francisco Rosario
First Star: Mike MacDonald

Posted by Ryan01 on Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 09:34 AM EDT.

Dunedin Hangs Another Ring on Jupiter | 49 comments | Create New Account

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Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#116939) #

Excellent, Ryan. Saturn's rings have apparently been around for 1 billion years and have another billion before they melt.

There are 3 10:30 a.m. games on the agenda today:
-Syracuse (League) at Toledo (Douglass)-video streaming available at mudhens.com.
-New Hampshire (Reimers) at Trenton
-Dunedin (Isenberg) at Jupiter

Lansing has the day off.

Gerry - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:06 AM EDT (#116942) #

After a seven strikeout appearance in relief last week Vermilyea had five K's in three innings yesterday. His K rate is up significantly over last year.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:16 AM EDT (#116945) #

Milb.com is becoming less and less reliable unfortunately. Lee Gronkiewicz finished up the New Hampshire game and recorded 2 Ks in an inning; Vermilyea ended up with 3 Ks in 2 innings. It is now fixed in the milb.com boxscore, but the failure to record pitching changes until well into the following day is an ongoing problem with milb.com.

Brian B. - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:25 AM EDT (#116946) #

I guess I haven't been paying enough attention, but when did Bubbie make it back to New Hampshire?

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:29 AM EDT (#116947) #

A few days ago.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#116950) #

Bubbie was brought back up to New Hampshire and Josue Matos moved up to Syracuse, according to rosters at Milb.com... but we all know how reliable they are!

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:49 AM EDT (#116951) #

You see League's problems to Granderson there. Good sinking fastball but that's the only pitch he's been throwing and his control is all over the place with it. Starts 1-2 and goes 3-2 and then gives up a wind aided homerun to the opposite field in left. Then he walks the next batter. And then Hanahan follows with another opposite field homerun to make it a 3-0 game.

They're taking advantage of the wind but that's already the 5th homerun that League has given up this year in just over 20 innings. He really needs to work on throwing the fastball to good spots and mixing in at least one other reliable pitch, preferably two.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:49 AM EDT (#116952) #

My Toledo video connection comes and goes, but it looks like the Mud Hens have already rocked League for 2 homers in the first inning, one by Granderson.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#116953) #

RBillie, I'm jealous. I'll let you take the commentary.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#116954) #

League strikes out the next batter (a righty) and allows an infield hit to Wise (lefty) and finally gets out of the inning on a routine ground out by a lefty.

Rough first inning but his problems are all location related. If you're a sinker ball pitcher you cannot pitch up even if you throw hard. It took Kevin Brown a long time to find the range with his command and hopefully it doesn't take League as long.

Wildrose - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#116955) #

Its almost like Wrigley Field on a windy day... boy the ball is really carrying...still as R Billie states League needs a better breaking ball.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#116956) #

A routine ground out begins the Jays half of the second and Gabe Gross manages and infield single which just gets by the pitcher Douglass. Gross did not look good during that at bat, missing cleanly on a fastball over the plate and then making weak contact with two strikes.

An error on a fielder's choice puts runners 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Good hard slide by Gross but the throw was high.

Crozier is batting and falls behind 0-2. Douglass has good command today. Big swing and a miss on a curveball down out of the zone. 2 down.

John Schnieder flies out to left to end the inning.

3-0 Hens in the middle of the 2nd.

VGeras - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:07 AM EDT (#116957) #

It is not MiLB's fault with the boxscores. The way it works is that the home team has an intern calling in to MiLB every half inning and gives the update. Many times the intern is lazy and forgets to mention the pitching chance. Then the team realizes the error the next day and they call in, at which time, we yell at them to make sure they have people who actually know baseball calling in
(I work for MiLB by the way)

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:12 AM EDT (#116958) #

I think League had a couple of good sliders after the homeruns which helped him get out of the inning. He also hung one high out of the zone but his delivery is inconsistent with all of his pitches right now.

Walks the leadoff man on 5 pitches. Went 3-0 without being close to the strikezone then delivered a sinker belt high for a strike and then missed outside for the walk.

Dawkins tries to bunt twice and falls behind 0-2 on fouls. Then he grounds a 1-2 sharply past Matos diving at third. 2 on with nobody out.

A doubleplay groundball hit weakly to short and Hill bobbles and gets only the runner at second. Runners on the corners with 1 out.

Makes a couple of good pitches to Granderson to get ahead 1-2. Then he sends a hard shot up the middle and a diving stab by and outstretched Hill who starts a tremendous doubleplay to make up for the one he missed.

End of 2, 3-0 Hens.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#116960) #

Douglass labours to French but gets an easy fly out to CF on a full count.

Nelson grounds out weakly to second.

Hill was hit by a pitch in the first and flies out to CF here.

Mid 3rd, 3-0 Hens.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:27 AM EDT (#116961) #

League falls behind 3-1 to Shelton. Pops up a fastball running in on him to CF for the first out.

Hanahan went opposite field with a 2 run homer in the first and doubles down the left field line here. League delivered a 2-2 sinker belt high over the plate. His pitches seem to be either well out of the strike zone and obvious balls or weak pitches down the middle of the plate.

Hessman grounds sharply one hop to short on a 2-2 pitch. 2 out.

League throws three great sinkers to Wise that dive below the knees late for a strikeout. That's where he needs to pitch.

End 3rd, 3-0 Hens.

MatO - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:32 AM EDT (#116962) #

The League that I saw this season had a sinking fastball with much less movement than the guy who came up at the end of last season. The increased HR rate would reflect that since HR's have never previously been an issue with him. There was so much movement on his fastball last year that I was amazed any batter could get the fat part of the bat on the ball.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:39 AM EDT (#116963) #

Griffin walks on 5 pitches to lead off. First walk from Douglass.

Mottola strikes out on a 1-2 fastball spotted well low and away.

The kids are cheering for Gross because apparently if he strikes out they get ice cream. Gross works the count to 3-1. Fastball just misses. 1st and 2nd with 1 out.

Matos reached in the 2nd on an error. Douglass struggles with his command falling being 3-1. Matos lines it to left but the outfielder has it and there are 2 out.

Crozier dunks a single to left in front of Dwayne Wise and Griffin is waved home on a risky play. Wise's throw is up the line a little and Griffin just slides in safe ahead of the tag. The runners move up to 2nd and 3rd and the Chiefs now trail 3-1.

Schneider grounds weakly to short on a 1-2 slider to end the inning.

Mid 4th, 3-1 Hens.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:41 AM EDT (#116964) #

I was amazed that Griffin was sent on that play. Wise fielded the ball about 15 feet deeper than where the SS was playing and made an awful three bounce throw up the line in foul territory. If he had made a poor to average throw, Griffin would have been dead by 10 feet.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:47 AM EDT (#116965) #

I think throwing the sinker with less movement is related to his inconsistent delivery. When you don't have a good delivery the ball flattens out.

League back out for the 4th. Gets a swinging strike with a slider. Fastball looks good but is called a ball. Another close pitch is called a ball. Good sinker bounced foul, 2-2. Outside, full count. Another good fastball is popped up foul for the out.

Gets ahead 0-2 on a righty with a fastball fouled and a slider chased outside. Then just misses low and away with a fastball and then delivers a slider strike on the outside edge for the K.

League is getting better movement on his fastball gets ahead 1-2 on Dawkins but then a slider outside is a little bit up and gets looped to right-centre for a single.

A hard one hopper to short and Hill forces Dawkins to end the inning. Best inning for Brandon so far.

End 4th, 3-1 Hens.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:47 AM EDT (#116966) #

On the out-of-town scoreboard, Big Vito hit his 1st homer of the season, a grand slam, as the Fisher Cats lead 4-0 in the 2nd. The D-Jays lead 3-1 after 4 innings, as Kurt Isenberg has struck out 5.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:53 AM EDT (#116967) #

Nice inning for League in the fourth. He had much better control and everything was down in the zone. Even the flare to RF was on a pitch that was down and away from the hitter.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:54 AM EDT (#116968) #

French strikes out on a 1-2 pitch well up out of the zone.

Nelson flies out to deep left-centre.

Hill ground one hard wide of third but it's backhanded and the throw across is just in time.

Mid 5th, 3-1 Hens.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#116969) #

Tablado just went yard for the Fisher Cats, who lead 6-0. Homers from Vito and Tablado constitute just about the best news possible for a struggling Cat offence.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:03 PM EDT (#116970) #

League returns for the 5th against Granderson. Falls behind 2-1. Hit sharply in the air to right-centre and French will make the catch.

2-1 pitch bores right in on Shelton and hits hit flush on the back as he turns away.

Now the trainer and a number of other people are coming out to check on League after that pitch but League convinces them nothing is amiss. I wonder if he's suffering from a blister or something. Duff will start warming.

Gets ahead 1-2 on Hanahan who already has a double and a homer today swings at a sinker low and grounds weakly back to League to throws on the money to Hill and the relay is bang bang at first but the Chiefs don't get the call. 2 out.

Hessman rocks an outside slider off the wall in left-centre and Shelton will easily score from first with two outs.

The next hitter grounds out weakly to short.

End 5th, 4-1 Hens. That's probably all she wrote for League.

And that's all she wrote for my commentary for now. I might get back to catch the end of the game.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:08 PM EDT (#116971) #

Thanks, RBillie. That was very helpful.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:17 PM EDT (#116972) #

I'll come in and relieve RBillie and see if I can bring any better luck to the skychiefs.

Top 6.

Griffin walks.
Mottola strikes out swinging for Douglas' 6th K.
Gross ("top flight player of the game") strikes out swinging for the 2nd out.
Matos doubles down the RF line. Griffin holds at 3rd.
Crozier strikes out swinging on a curveball that barely reached the plate.

Still 4-1 Mudhens

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:22 PM EDT (#116973) #

Bottom 6

Matt Duff in to relieve League.
League's final line 5IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 3K's. (most of the damage came in the 1st inning).

Raburn flies out to Griffin.
Harper pops out to Nelson on the second of back to back nasty cuveballs.
Dawkings grounds out.

quick 3 up 3 down inning for Duff who has a big league curveball on his resume.

braden - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:27 PM EDT (#116974) #

Duff will start warming.

D'oh! Warm Duff.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:32 PM EDT (#116976) #

Top 7. John Ennis enters the game in relief of Douglass.
The final line on Douglas is 6IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 8K's.

Schneider strikes out.
French rips a triple into the gap in Right-Centre Field. (French can flat out fly).
Nelson batting, a wild pitch scores French for the 2nd Skychief run. Nelson records an out.
Hill strikes out swinging.

4-2 Mudhens going to the stretch.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:38 PM EDT (#116977) #

Bottom of the 7th. Duff still working.

Gomez flies out to French.
Granderson copies Gomez and decides to fly out to French.
Shelton fouls out to Gross in the skychief bullpen. Gross covered a lot of ground and made a shoestring catch.

4-2 hens after 7.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:41 PM EDT (#116979) #

Yesterday's Toledo Blade: Baugh, humbug: Mud Hens hurler good, but Rosario better

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:46 PM EDT (#116980) #

Top 8. Vic Darensbourg (a sidearming loogy) comes into the game. Should be a good test for Griffin and Gross.

Griffin strikes out looking
Motolla singles to LF.
Gross grounds into a 6-3 double play.

Interesting tidbit (Matos fresh out of the bullpen in NH, will draw in to the rotation for the skychiefs tomorrow.) I guess with Glynn gone and Downs in Toronto, there are some temporary spots to fill.

Still 4-2 Mudhens

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 12:57 PM EDT (#116981) #

Bottom 8. Former Mudhen Adrian Burnside in to pitch for the Skychiefs.

Hannahan grounds out to Hill.
Hessman grounds out to Burnside.
Wise grounds to Crozier who boots it for an error.
Raburn batting. Burnside throws to first (Wise is running). Crozier makes a poor throw and is charged with his second error in about 15 seconds. Wise advances to third on the play. Raburn strikes out to end the inning.

Burnside won a silver medal with the Australian team at the Olympics last summer in Athens.

4-2 hens going to the last bats.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:03 PM EDT (#116982) #

Top 9. Mudhens closer Jason Karnuth in to the game. (Karnuth looks and pitches like former Jay Mike Timlin).

Matos grounds out to 3rd.
Crozier strikes out looking at a belt high fastball.
Singleton (PH's for Schneider) grounds out to 2nd.

Final score 4-2 Mudhens. Win goes to Douglass, loss goes to League, Save goes to Karnuth.

Rob - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#116983) #

Justin Singleton looks a lot like Gabe Gross. Bats lefty, high socks, wears #18. Gross is, what, 19? 16?

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:11 PM EDT (#116987) #

Unfortnately, Gross is hitting a lot like Justin Singleton right now and that's the bigger problem. I'm not too worried about it because I wonder if he's getting anything to hit. I bet he'll see better pitches and hit better batting in the bottom 3rd of the order in Toronto than he will being the leading man in Syracuse.

I've seen most of the last 2 games and Eric Crozier looks absolutely lost at the plate and in the field. I know he has problems with breaking pitches, but he's missing fat fastballs right now. And in the field he's booted three balls that he should have made easily in the last 2 games.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:12 PM EDT (#116988) #

The belt high fastball to Crozier started off inside and came back to catch the inside corner.

On the out-of-town scoreboard, Dunedin leads 11-1 in the ninth, as Kurt Isenberg struck out 8 in 7 innings. New Hampshire's lead has been cut to 7-5, as the Cats' 3 errors have led to 3 unearned runs.

Rob - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:17 PM EDT (#116993) #

I love how the postgame highlights (before what appears to be the condensed game started) start off with random freeze frame shots of the Flyin' Hawaiian in mid-stretch, then go to the same error (by Hill?) over and over again, followed by #47 on the Toledo bench preparing to high-five someone, then Hill, then #47 again, etc.

the shadow - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#116994) #

Have the Jays tinkered with League's arm slot(3/4) since last season at all?

Jordan - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#117000) #

For all we're concerned about League's performance thus far -- and I certainly hope that trip to the mound signalled nothing serious -- we should remember that he's still a young 22, and that this is his first prolonged exposure to big-league-calibre hitters (he's nine months younger than Josh Banks, who's still going through growing pains in New Hampshire). If League spends all year in Syracuse honing his craft and working on improving his location, that'll be just fine.

Aside from a bad habit of losing his focus for an inning or so and getting beaten up, plus a nasty thing for homers allowed (7 in just 44 innings), Francisco Rosario is getting pretty close to ready: 44 IP, 32 H, 19 BB, 38 K, 20.7% KBF. He could help the Blue Jays as a September callup, and if he starts turning some walks into strikeouts, possibly sooner.

R Billie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#117002) #

Right now I would advise patience with both Rosario and League. Only through diligent coaching and repetition are they going to get to where they need to be.

Rosario is getting closer but I'd really like to see him hone his command and cut down those walks and homeruns. The velocity and strikeouts are nice but he needs to tighten up a bit to prepare for generally more patient and more dangerous big league hitters.

Rob - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#117003) #

New Hampshire is still playing, with Vermilyea in for the 13th to pitch to Duncan, Duncan and Brown. He goes to a full count on the first batter, then walks him on a pitch that "did not miss by much." The winning run is on first.

The second Duncan steps in. A line drive to CF, and we have first and second, nobody out. This is one situation where you usually bunt, but Dee Brown is lifted for a pinch-hitter. Yes, that Dee Brown. You know your career in MLB is over when you can't bunt against a AA pitcher.

The bunt works, an intentional walk follows, and now the bases are loaded with nobody out. The winning run is 90 feet away, and Mike Basso comes out to talk to Vermilyea.

To be continued.

Rob - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#117004) #

Vermilyea nearly hits the batter on the first pitch, but the game isn't over just yet. A liner...caught by Cosby at third! He saved the game there. Two outs.

And the next hitter, Santos, is plunked by Vermilyea! What an ending. The patented Reed Johnson RBI play ends this game, 8-7 for Trenton.

Magpie - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:06 PM EDT (#117005) #

And for those of you who want to see the Real Jupiter, a reminder that it's extrememly visible in the western skies these nights.

Rob - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#117006) #

And for those of you who want to see the Real Jupiter, a reminder that it's extrememly visible in the western skies these nights.

From Doorstep Astronomy: On the evening of May 19, the waxing gibbous Moon will appear to pass very close to Jupiter. Many people gazing skyward that night will probably be wondering what that bright "star" hovering above to the right of the Moon is?

There you have it folks. Jupiter will have "extremem" visibility next to the Moon.

Craig B - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#117007) #

Oh yeah? Well Even a small telescope will provide a wonderful view of Saturn’s beautiful ring system, now tilted 23.6 degrees toward the Earth. All through the balance of May, even in small telescopes, Saturn’s ring system is displayed broadly with chilling elegance. .

You hear that, boys? *Chilling elegance*. I'd say Saturn's chilling elegance knocks Jupiter's extreme, or extremem, or even extremeemeemeemem visibility right into a cocked hat.

What's that you say? Shut up and get on with finishing the flippin' Game Report? Oh, right.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 04:37 PM EDT (#117016) #

I saw a lot of Rosario's game last night and he looked very impressive. The one thing that concerns me is that he really threw only 2 pitches last night. His fastball moves a lot and is effective and he has a good change up that was getting outs last night. But, how quickly he can develop a legitimate 3rd pitch to change the hitters eye will determine whether he is a starter or reliever in Toronto. One of the articles I was reading says he throws a "slider that looks and acts like a cutter". He either didn't throw it much or it doesn't move much more than his fastball because I didn't notice it in last night's game.

mathesond - Wednesday, May 18 2005 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#117023) #

Game Report? We don' need no stinking Game report!

Unless, of course, we do...

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