Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Playoffs Loom as Banks issues a walk

With the end of the season just over two weeks away some of the Jays affiliates are chasing playoff spots. Syracuse rode Gabe Gross' hot bat to beat Ottawa. The Chiefs need to win again today in Ottawa to set themselves up for a four game showdown against division leading Buffalo this week. New Hampshire were swept by Portland but are still in a playoff spot. Dunedin and Auburn would also be in the playoffs if the season ended today. And Josh Banks walked a batter, his first since June.

Syracuse 7 Ottawa 4

Spike Lundberg started for the Chiefs as he continues in his "fill-in" role. Lundberg struggled initially giving up one run in the first, two in the second and another run in the third. The Chiefs played catch-up by scoring three runs in the third on a walk and four singles. Syracuse tied the game in the fifth when Gabe Gross doubled and scored on an error. The Chiefs took the lead with 2 in the sixth thanks to a single by Justin Singleton, a double by Joe DePastino, a ground out, and a double by Gross. Julius Matos doubled and scored on a Gross single in the eighth. Francisco Rosario, Adrian Burnside, Lee Gronkiewicz and Matt Whiteside faced one hitter over the minimum in the last four innings. Gabe Gross led the offense, going 3-4 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in two. Julius Matos was 2-3.

Box Score

Portland 4 New Hampshire 3 - 15 innings

New Hampshire ran their losing streak against Portland to 11 games yesterday, although it took Portland 15 innings to win. Tracy Thorpe gave up a home run to the first hitter he faced in the fifteenth to take the loss. Portland had a chance to win when they scored a run in the twelfth but, in the bottom of the inning, Brad Hassey singled and scored on a single by Ron Davenport to extend the game further. Josh Banks delivered another excellent start. The first hitter he faced hit a home run, and Portland scored another run the sixth, but the big news was that Banks walked a hitter in the fifth inning. Banks' line was 8 8 2 2 1 3. The bullpen held Portland to one run over six innings before the winning home run. Hassey had 3 hits, Ron Davenport and Ron Acuna had two hits each. Chip Cannon went 0-7.

Box Score

Dunedin 6 Tampa 2

Davis Romero got back on track with an excellent start against the Yankee kids. Romero went six shutout innings, no walks and five K's. Look for todays interview with Dunedin manager, Omar Malave, in which he discusses Romero's season. Dunedin scored twice in the first inning, Rodney Medina singled, Carlo Cota doubled him home, David Smith singled, Adam Lind walked and Robinzon Diaz singled home the second run. In the fourth a sac fly by Smith scored Eric Arnold and in the fifth Medina doubled Mike Snyder home. Arnold hit a two run home run in the seventh. Diaz led the offense going 3-5. Arnold, Manny Mayorson, Medina and Cota had two hits each.

Box Score

Lansing 12 Wisconsin 1

Lansing jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the third and cruised to victory. Lansing bashed out 14 hits, Aaron Mathews went 4-5 with two doubles and a home run. Yuber Rodriguez went 3-4 and his average is now .204. Jason Armstrong went 2-6. Ryan Klosterman and Josh Lex homered. Danny Core picked up the win, six innings, three hits, one run, seven K's.

Box Score

Jamestown 9 Auburn 3

Auburn led this game 3-2 until Jamestown scored six in the sixth. Orlando Trias had given up two runs through five but he allowed three more runs and was pulled with two out in the inning. Josh Sowers gave up three more runs before getting the third out. Auburn's first run came on a home run by Brian Pettway. Auburn's other two runs came courtesy of a double by Emmanuel Sena, a triple by Ryan Patterson, and a double by Joey Metropoulos. Sena and Gutierrez had two hits each. The NY Penn league all-star break is Monday and Tuesday.

Box Score

Pulaski 4 Bluefield 5

Bluefield scored all five runs in the first two innings off Shane Benson. Benson did settle down to pitch four innings. Pulaski scored all their runs in the third, Chris Martinez singled, Zach Kalter doubled, Wesley Stone singled in one run and Jacob Butler hit a three run home run. Kalter went 3-4, Jesus Gonzalez continued his hot streak with two more hits.

Box Score

Your Three Star Selection

Third star - Aaron Mathews 4-5, home run

Second Star - Davis Romero, six shutout innings

First Star - Gabe Gross, 3-4, 2 runs, 2 ribbies

Standings Update

Just over two weeks left in the season, three teams, New Hampshire, Dunedin and Auburn are strong contenders for a playoff spot. Syracuse are a longer shot. Lansing and Pulaski will not make it.

Syracuse record is 66-63. The Chiefs are in third place, four games back of Buffalo, who they play four times this week.

The Fisher Cats are 64-64, after being swept by Portland, and are in second place, seven games back of Portland, and a half game ahead of Trenton for the last playoff spot.

Dunedin are 32-24, and are are in first place, a half game ahead of Lakeland. Lakeland were the first half champions, and if Lakeland win the second half then the team with the next best overall record gets the second spot. Dunedin currently are ahead by approx. 4 games in that race.

The Lugnuts are 24-33, and are tied for fourth, ten games back of South Bend.

Auburn are 33-27, in first place, four games ahead of Mahoning Valley.

Pulaski are 29-29, in third place, eleven games behind Danville.

Posted by Gerry on Monday, August 22 2005 @ 09:17 AM EDT.

Playoffs Loom as Banks issues a walk | 19 comments | Create New Account

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

Mike Green - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#126262) #

Shaun Marcum starts for the Chiefs this afternoon at 1 p.m. in Ottawa. Casey Janssen goes tonight for the Fisher Cats, while Mike MacDonald toes the rubber for the D-Jays.

Mike Green - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#126263) #

Matt Foster made an appearance for Pulaski last night, throwing 2 hitless innings with 3 walks and no Ks.

Maldoff - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#126271) #

Two questions about Mike MacDonald:

1) What is the future outlook for him? He looked great last season, but seems to have slowed down this year.

2) Who from this year's Auburn team will be the next version of MacDonald (ie strong short season, but cannot follow it up in a full season)? I'm thinking maybe Eric Fowler, but what do others think?

Marc Hulet - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 01:22 PM EDT (#126273) #

Mike MacDonald throws in the mid-80s. Fowler is a lefty who throws in the high 80s, can touch 90 and has better secondary stuff. Among scouts, MacDonald has already exceeded expectation.

dr. haque - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#126274) #

This is a question regarding Janssen, basically from what I read about his scouting report could he be compared to Brandon Webb but with better secondary stuff because Janssen's fastball has plus movement. And if anyone else can think of a better comparision that would be helpful?

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:02 PM EDT (#126279) #

From the nation's capital, it's goose eggs between the SkyChiefs and Lynx after 4 innings.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#126281) #

Top 5th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0 - John Stephens pitching for Ottawa.

* Justin Singelton strikes out swinging - 1 OUT
* Julius Matos becomes an out - 2 OUT
* Guillermo Quiroz called out on strikes - 3 OUT

After 4 1/2 innings - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:15 PM EDT (#126283) #

Bottom 5th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0. Shaun Marcum pitching for Syracuse.

* Keith Reed hits a tapper back to the mound, 1-3 on the scorecard - 1 OUT
* Midre Cummings hits a chopper to 2nd on a 3-0 pitch, 4-3 on the scorecard - 2 OUT
* Next batter robbed of a hit on a diving catch by Justin Singleton - 3 OUT

Syracuse announcer notes Marcum has done a good down keeping his fastballs and sliders down in the zone. Also notes that John Stephens is not exactly throwing heat but the Syracuse hitters seem out of whack.

After 5 complete - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#126284) #

Top 6th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0. John Stephens pitching for Ottawa.

* Gabe Gross retired on a long fly ball to right - 1 OUT
* Desi Relaford grounds out to 2nd - 2 OUT
* Kevin Barker flies out to right - 3 OUT

After 5 1/2 innings - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0.

Nigel - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#126285) #

That is Stephens' MO - it's a good day if he hits 85. He's usually 82-84 with his fastball and has one of the biggest and slowest curves around. He's a cult legend in certain circles - very good K rates with next to no stuff.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#126286) #

Bottom 6th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0. Shaun Marcum pitching for Syracuse.

* Kris Wilken? bunt fielded by Marcum, 1-3 on the putout - 1 OUT
* Ed Rogers hits a chopper to 2nd - 2 OUT
* Bernie Castro retired on one pitch, don't know how but the inning is over - 3 OUT

Notes - Marcum's pitch count has been low in this one according to the Syracuse announcer.

After 6 complete - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#126287) #

Top 7th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0. John Stephens pitching for Ottawa.

* John-Ford Griffin strikes out swinging - 1 OUT
* Chad Mottola, with one of the 3 SkyChiefs hits on the day, is hit by a pitch

Activity in the Lynx bullpen. Righty Eddy Rodriguez warming up.

* Mottola is thrown out trying to steal 2nd - 2 OUT
* Bryant Nelson grounds out to 2nd - 3 OUT

Stretch time at Lynx Stadium - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0.

Mike Green - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:36 PM EDT (#126290) #

Thanks, #2JB.

#2JBrumfield - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 02:50 PM EDT (#126291) #

Bottom 7th - Syracuse 0 Ottawa 0. Shaun Marcum pitching for Syracuse.

* Tim Raines Jr. singles to right, just the 2nd hit for the Lynx today.
* Napoleon Calzado strikes out swinging on an 0-2 changeup, Marcum's 2nd K of the day - 1 OUT
* Tim Raines Jr. steals 2nd. Syracuse announcer says Quiroz made a poor throw as it sailed to the right of the bag.
* Walter Young draws an intentional walk, Tim Raines Jr. holds at 2nd.
* Keith Reed grounds to short, Young retired on the fielder's choice at 2nd 6-4, not hit hard enough to turn two, Raines Jr. advances to 3rd - 2 OUT
* Midre Cummings doubles to left-centre on a 3-2 pitch, RAINES JR. SCORES, REED SCORES - Ottawa 2 Syracuse 0.
* Eli Whiteside called out on strikes on a 3-2 pitch - 3 OUT

After 7 innings - Ottawa 2 Syracuse 0.

I gotta get back to work. Marcum deserved a better fate.

Mike Green - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#126293) #

Kevin Tolar gave up 3 in the eighth and the Chiefs were shut out 5-0. Marcum's record on the season falls to 13-3; he's had a few breaks in the W-L dept., but he's a fine pitcher.

StephenT - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 04:28 PM EDT (#126298) #

98 pitches by Marcum (32 of them in the 7th). I'll try to write up some more later tonight.

rtcaino - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 05:24 PM EDT (#126302) #

Final score, 5 to nothing in favor of the Lynx.

Mike Green - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 10:43 PM EDT (#126309) #

I hadn't noticed how well Sandy Nin was doing. 2nd in the double A Texas League in ERA. He was a throw-in in the Speier-Hendrickson-Kennedy trade, but he might end up as the best pitcher. Youtrulyneverknow.

StephenT - Monday, August 22 2005 @ 11:53 PM EDT (#126312) #

It was a nice day for a ballgame in Ottawa (21C, mix of sun, cloud and even a few sprinkles). It was a decent crowd by Ottawa standards. There were also a few hornets and some low-flying birds to duck. And also apparently one Orioles fan who yelled 'O' near the end of the U.S. anthem.

Shaun Marcum (age 23) threw 98 pitches (64 strikes). 10 groundouts, 6 fly outs, 1 pop out, 1 infield bloop out, 2 swinging strikeouts, 1 called strikeout, 2 line singles, 1 loud double, 1 walk (4th ball intentional), 1 stolen base.

I saw 3 people holding 'Stalker Sport' guns behind the plate. The one closest to me was filling out 'Cleveland Indians Team Sheet' forms. On his gun, Marcum's fastball was usually 86-88 with one 90. (Actually I also saw a 109 on a pitch fouled off, and a 102 on another pitch fouled off; I suspect there are issues with the technology.) I also spotted a couple of 79's and a 82 on pitches which did not appear to be curves (maybe changeups).

The top OPS in the Lynx lineup was the 33-year-old switch-hitting DH Midre Cummings (.364 OBP, .507 SLG). Here are Cummings' at bats against Marcum:

2nd inning, 2 out, none on: swing/miss, swing/miss, ball, ball, ball, line single to right.

5th inning, 1 out, none on: ball, ball, ball, called strike, ground out 4-3.

7th inning, 2 out, runners at 1st and 3rd, scored still tied 0-0, Marcum had thrown 83 pitches at this point, including 17 in the inning to this point: ball, called strike, ball, called strike, ball, foul, loud double to left-centre which gave the Lynx a 2-0 lead.

So against arguably the toughest hitter in the lineup, Marcum went to a 3-ball count all three times and got hit hard twice. So even though he pitched well overall, he might not be ready to face a major league lineup at this point.

Guillermo Quiroz (age 23) was catching. He was batting 9th despite his .466 SLG (in just 73 at bats; his OBP was just .289). He hit a double off the right-field wall on the first pitch he saw from John Stephens (age 25). The next time up the sequence was foul, called strike, ball, ball, foul, called strike 3 on a low outside pitch. Quiroz gestured and shook his head, obviously not in agreement with the home plate umpire's call. Amusingly, a minute later he had his gear back on and was squatting in front of the same umpire, trying to get calls. (And the first pitch he received after that was a low inside pitch called a strike.) In the 8th, Quiroz came up again and on the first pitch from 24-year-old Eddy Rodriguez (82mph) grounded back to the pitcher for a double play to the end the inning.

There was a stolen base against Quiroz in the 7th (low pitch, Quiroz seemed a bit slow to make the throw and it was offline). In the 8th, a 'wild pitch' from lefty Kevin Tolar (age 34) got past him. But also in the 8th, with a runner on 2nd-base and 2 out, Quiroz received a pitch (a ball) but threw to 2nd-base and the perfect throw just picked off the runner going back (Napolean Calzado (age 28)), ending the inning.

Gabe Gross (age 25) batted lead off and had a called strikeout in his 1st at bat, perhaps the first to learn that the ump had a wide strike zone on this day, a getaway day for both teams. Gross also grounded out to 1st, lined out to right-field, and (against Aaron Rakers (age 28)) lined a single to right-centre to lead off the 9th.

Justin Singleton (age 26) made such a nice running, diving catch in centre-field to end the 5th, even the Lynx fans applauded.

During the 8th inning, Jason Arnold (age 26) and Jamie Vermilyea (age 23) were both warming in the pen, but neither got into the game.

The roster sheet intoned that 'Dominique, Duff and Hattig not traveling with team'. Also listed as on the DL were Justin Miller, John Schneider and Anton French.

Because it was a weekday, I parked in the official $3 lot rather than my usual spot (a business lot on Belfast Road). Lynx crowds seem large enough when it takes several minutes to get out of the parking lot after the game.

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