Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - When I find myself in times of trouble

It is Sunday morning, and the doors of the Church of Baseball are always open. And so we pray. May our pitchers always throw strikes and may the wind blow in. Yesterday our youthful minor leaguers faced much adversity on the way to compiling a 2-4 record.

Pawtucket 12 Syracuse 3

You know it's a bad night when two affiliates fall by the identical 12-3 margin. Shaun Marcum had probably his worst outing as a pro. It started with a leadoff homer and 2 run homer by Kelly Shoppach in the first. After the Chiefs tallied 3 in the 2nd and the Pawsox took the lead with a run in the 3rd, it all fell apart for Marcum in the 4th. Two outs, bases loaded for Roberto Petagine. See you later ball, see you later Marcum. Adrian Burnside pitched well in relief, while Jason Arnold and Spike Lundberg did not. It didn't matter as the Sky Chiefs could muster only 5 hits, including John-Ford Griffin's 2. The highlights of the evening were Curt Schilling's 9th inning mop-up effort for Pawtucket and a 5-4-3 double play started by Dave Berg.

boxscore

Syracuse Post-Standard story on the thrill of Shill

Portland 3 New Hampshire 6

In the second matchup of Red Sox and Jay affiliates, the Fisher Cats rallied for 3 runs in the eighth to down the Sea Dogs. With Ryan Roberts on first and one down, the Cats had the hot-hitting Rob Cosby at the plate. The Portland outfield was pushed back to the fences in a tie game. Manager Mike Basso started Roberts and Cosby lined a single to left. Roberts headed for third and when the left-fielder had trouble coming up with the ball, he kept on coming and scored. Maikel Jova's 2nd triple of the game followed, and that was it. Dustin McGowan started and went 7 strong innings, allowing 3 runs, 2 on solo homers and the other unearned. He surrendered 6 hits and 1 walk, while punching out 5. Jesse Carlson and Tracy Thorpe pitched an inning each for the win and save respectively. Miguel Negron had 2 hits and scored twice.

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New Hampshire Union Leader game story

Dunedin 3 Palm Beach 12

It was raining cats and dogs on the Gold Coast of Florida yesterday, but it was raining baserunners in Palm Beach. 13 hits and 6 walks for the home side. Davis Romero started and wished that he hadn't, as he was touched for 6 runs in the second inning. Brad Mumma survived 2.1 innings with only 2 unearned runs, but then Mark Sopko and Milton Tavarez suffered some more. Tim Whittaker had 2 hits, while Carlo Cota tripled and walked. That was the extent of the good news for the D-Jays. Chip Cannon was out of the lineup for the 2nd straight day.

Kane County 1 Lansing 5

Redemption in Michigan, as the Lugnuts slayed the Cougars behind the solid pitching of Danny Core and the big bat of Charlie Anderson. Core went 8 innings, allowing 5 hits including a solo homer, while walking one and striking out 7. Anderson drove in all the Lugs runs with a 3 run homer and a 2 run single. Christian Snavely and Luke Hetherington each reached base 3 times in 4 trips.

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Lansing State Journal game story

Auburn 2 Lowell 7

The Doubledays could manage only 7 hits in a painful loss. Hot-hitting centerfielder Ryan Patterson was hit by a pitch (to drive in a run), but was removed from the game. There is no word yet on whether he sustained any injuries. Brian Pettway stroked 2 doubles, while Cory Patton continues his streak with 2 hits and a walk. Orlando Trias allowed 4 earned runs in 5.1 innings on 6 hits and 1 walk, while Gabriel Alfaro allowed 3 earned runs in 2.2 innings on 4 hits and 2 walks, but did strike out 5. It was not a night to remember.

boxscore

Johnson City 8 Pulaski 5

Sometimes, the simple version of runs created doesn't tell a true story. So it was in Pulaski last night as the P-Jays hit 4 homers and had 10 other baserunners, but could manage only 5 runs. Why? 4 solo homers and 6 double plays. Yech. Catcher Jonathan Jaspe went 3-3 with a homer and a walk, but was involved in a DP twice, one a 5-4. It was that kind of a night. Leance Soto homered and struck out once in 4 trips, and also made his 5th error of the campaign. Joe Wice started and went 5 innings and surrendered 5 earned runs on 8 hits and no walks while striking out 3.

boxscore

3-star selection
3rd star-Danny Core, apparently only 6 excellent innings for Lansing (help us out here, milb.com)
2nd star-Dustin McGowan, a fine outing for the Fisher Cats
1st star-Charlie Anderson, a homer and 5 ribbies for Lansing

Posted by Mike Green on Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 09:00 AM EDT.

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Marc Hulet - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 11:10 AM EDT (#122130) #

From the Fisher Cats:

Manchester, NH- RHP Vince Perkins was activated from the disabled list yesterday and LHP Zach Jackson was placed on the temporary inactive list (Futures Game). Today, 1B Chip Cannon joins the Fisher Cats from Single-A Dunedin and 1B Vito Chiaravalloti leaves New Hampshire for Dunedin. Also, OF Jason Waugh was placed on the disabled list today.

The 23-year-old Perkins has been on the DL since June 23 with a rib injury.

Mike Green - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#122131) #

Thanks, Marc. When I heard that Vito was coming off the DL on the Fisher Cat broadcast yesterday, I wondered what the organization was going to do.

The Lansing State Journal game story suggests that Core only went 6 innings, with Juan Perez going 2 and Jeremy Harper closing it out. The milb boxscore still has Core with 8 innings, but I'm pretty sure the game story is accurate. Should I take away Core's 1st star?

Rob - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 11:39 AM EDT (#122133) #

While I would find it hard to believe that whoever was in charge of the boxscore missed that Perez replaced Core (imagine confusing Batista for Speier), it appears that the game story is correct. I'd imagine we'll see that fixed sometime in the next few days, but Eddie Cannon still went 1-for-4 for the D-Jays one day, so what do I know?

If you take away Core's last two innings, you have a Game Score of 63. McGowan had a 59, and I'd say his start was better, since he was facing AA hitters, not the Midwest League. I'd say...move Core to the third star and move McGowan and Anderson up one spot.

Mike Green - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#122135) #

The rook has wisdom beyond his years. Done.

timsevs - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#122136) #

Does anyone know what has happened to Rosario? I heard he had a 'tired arm' and was on the DL, please correct me if I'm wrong.

If fit do you think there is any chance he will be up in Toronto whilst Doc is out?

Rob - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#122144) #

Some limited BBRadio here before I leave to run some errands:

Chip Cannon is batting 7th (DH) in the lineup and Charlie Zink can't find home plate here in the top of the first. Four-pitch walk to Negron, 2-0 count to Roberts.

Just as I say that, two strikes from the knuckler to Ryan Roberts. Miguel Negron steals second and gets to third on a groundout. Another ball to Clint Johnston, followed by a couple of weird strikes, then a wild pitch.

Zink must be fun to catch.

Another ball in the dirt! The full count goes to the wall and bounces into the bullpen for an automatic double, Negron scores.

Rob Cosby comes up with a .509 slugging average. He pops it up, then it's dropped in foul territory and Fisher Cats Ballpark plays about 45 of Homer's "D'oh!" cries, all in a row. Must have been from the flashback episode...you know, when Bart put Homer in a coma? Anyway, Cosby flies out.

Jared Sandberg (he's in AA? wow) tags the next batter out at first and the inning is over. One run in, and I've got to go. Call me the John Wasdin of BBRadio.

Rob - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#122145) #

One last thing: WXKL/WKBR/whatever they call themselves now has, bar none, the best "returning-from-commercial" music. The Blue Jays on the FAN have some bad elevator-type music, but this is some good stuff from New Hampshire.

RiosGrande - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 01:55 PM EDT (#122150) #

Simply amazing, in his first AA at bat Chip hits a 2 run home run. better get that Cannon ready in Toronto, maybe the fans can vote who to fire out of it everytime he hits a home run, I call Hinske.

CeeBee - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#122151) #

Are the major leagues ready for a Cannon? ;) :) If he keeps doing this can the Jays not call him up in September?

RiosGrande - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 02:21 PM EDT (#122152) #

disappointing, Chip only hit a double in his 2nd at bat. Janssen is cruising along through 4, only one hit, no walks, and 5 k's.

RiosGrande - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#122153) #

make that 5 innings, and 7 k's for Janssen

Maldoff - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 02:54 PM EDT (#122154) #

You think Janssen could come up to the big leagues and replace Halladay for a month? He's already climbed from Low-A to AA, so why not go the last mile?

Mike Green - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 03:26 PM EDT (#122155) #

No. There are very few pitchers who can afford to skip a double A/triple A education. You need to have overpowering stuff, good command and maturity and grit. You have to be Roger Clemens basically. Janssen's stuff is fine, but not overpowering.

Janssen ended his double A debut with 7 innings pitched, 2 hits, no walks and 8 strikeouts. Very nice.

Maldoff - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#122160) #

It was sarcasm Mike!

Pistol - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 05:15 PM EDT (#122162) #

I went to NH today and Janssen was in control the whole game. I don't believe anyone even reached 2B on him. The first few innings it seemed like he threw 90% fastballs, mixing them on each side of the plate. In one AB he shattered two of David Murphy's bats on consectutive pitches. He really seemed to do a good job getting the ball inside on lefties. In the later innings he started to mix in more breaking balls with varying degrees of success (noting that he only gave up 2 baserunners in 7 innings).

Vince Perkins came in in the 8th and walked the first two batters and promptly got pulled. Even warming up he was wild, throwing a couple to the backstop.

When I saw the lineup I thought it was odd that Cannon was hitting 7th and was glad to see he was playing after a couple days off. It was only after the HR that I realized he had two days off because he got promoted to AA. You'd think I would know that. Cannon's HR looked to be a high lazy fly ball, but then it cleared the wall in RF by a considerable amount (it's about 350 to right-center). The double was a rope down the line. He has some lumbering in his running, but I don't think it's as bad as it's made out to be.

It was my first time to the park and it was really nice ballpark . Left field is about 30 feet deeper than right field, and the wind blows toward right field, so it wouldn't surprise me to see that the park favors LH batters over RH batters, perhaps by a considerable amount.

rtcaino - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 05:15 PM EDT (#122163) #

C'mon Maldoff. He obviously needs more than one start above
A ball...

Pistol - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 06:10 PM EDT (#122171) #

The other interesting thing about Cannon - he comes to the plate to 'Candy Shop' by 50 Cent. That certainly wouldn't have been my first guess.

Rob - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 07:28 PM EDT (#122174) #

Core's 6-inning start is confirmed by the LansingLugnuts.com Game Summary: "Danny Core worked six solid innings...[there was] plenty of support for Juan Perez and Jeremy Harper, who combined to hold the Cougars to one hit over the final three innings of the contest."

And today's boxscore for Lansing is also wrong (Wideman did not pitch the whole game). Couldn't they get it right one day out of two?

Fawaz - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 08:27 PM EDT (#122180) #

Zach-Jack took the loss today at the futures game.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/specials/all_star/2005/07/10/futures.game/index.html

Mike Green - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 09:04 PM EDT (#122182) #

Chad Gaudin had another fine start for the Chiefs. 6IP, 6 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts. He's now had 15 successful AAA starts. It wouldn't be out of line to give him another shot at the Show, but for myself, I'd prefer that he have another 5 starts.

Waveburner - Sunday, July 10 2005 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#122183) #

Anyone know if Gaudin is using his change or sinker effectively in AAA yet? Regardless of the numbers he puts up in AAA he needs a 3rd pitch in the Majors. As a starter anyways.

kpataky - Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:12 AM EDT (#122204) #

Sorry guys, I haven't been at Da Box in a while. I just haven't seen a whole lot of Jays Baseball in a while. I've been going crazy the last few weeks traveling around taking a lot of pictures.

Anyway, I was in Durham, NH on vacation visiting my parents and my brothers who live there in the end of June. We took the kids to a couple of Bulls games and lo and behold, they were playing the Skychiefs! I got some great shots of Chad Gaudin in his start when he dominated the game. Dave Bush left the whole family tickets and we had a blast.

This past Saturday I went up to New Hampshire to see Dustin McGowan make his first home start in the new Fisher Cats Ballpark. Surprised to see me, Dustin and I had a brief conversation in which we talked about a few things including his health. He feels good and is getting stronger with every start. I noticed the scar on his elbow from the surgery (which is visible in several of my pictures).

During the game, Dustin mixed his pitches well, throwing a 4 and 2 seam fastball, change and breaking ball. His fastball was routinely in the 90s, but I can't recall him getting higher than 94. He made his longest start of the year going 7 innings, and aside from the back to back homers by Nieves and Buckley in the 5th, he pitched a fine game. Below one of my favorite shots from the game:

http://pataky.net/photos

On a side note: The hotel that is just beyond or above the left center field wall at Fisher Cats' Ballpark is now 2 stories tall and seems to be progressing rather slowly. The field still appears to be one of the best I have seen in the Eastern League this year, rivaled only by the one at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton.

The Fisher Cats come down to New Britain this week for 5 games in 4 days starting this Thursday. I will be on had for most of those games. I am going to try to catch the ones in which Jackson, Janssen, Banks and/or McGowans starts.

kpataky - Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:18 AM EDT (#122205) #

Pistol - Monday, July 11 2005 @ 08:19 AM EDT (#122206) #

On a side note: The hotel that is just beyond or above the left center field wall at Fisher Cats' Ballpark is now 2 stories tall and seems to be progressing rather slowly.

And is quite the eye sore. What's strange is that it's going to block the view of downtown, not that that is anything all that special.

When I find myself in times of trouble | 24 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.