Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Pulaski Ends Season With a Whimper

2 wins, 2 losses and 2 games cancelled for Katrina.

Scranton WB 2, Syracuse 8

John-Ford Griffin and Chad Gaudin each made a strong case for September callups yesterday. Griffin led the offense with 3 extra base hits, including his 27th homerun while Gaudin led the defense with 7.0 innings of 2 run ball, striking out 5. Kevin Barker also homered and Jason Arnold threw a perfect ninth, striking out 1.

Binghamton 6, New Hampshire 4

Vince Perkins struggled early, allowing 3 runs in the first, and then an unearned run in the second. He settled down very nicely after that and cruised through 6.0 innings, striking out 6 and not allowing another run to score. The offense clawed back to tie it at 4 thanks in part to homeruns from Curtis Thigpen and Eric Kratz. Rob Cosby doubled twice and Chip Cannon stole his first base of the season! The game was lost in the 8th when Bubbie Buzachero gave up a two run homer.

Sarasota 2, Dunedin 4

Kyle Yates threw a gem last, striking out 10 and allowing only 2 unearned runs in 6.2 innings. Yates' battery-mate, Joey Reiman, had a solid night both at the plate and behind it. Reiman threw out the only attempted runner and figured into all 4 of the D'Jays scoring plays with 3 singles and an RBI groundout for 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Danny Hill picked up his 14th save, with 1.1 perfect innings and 2 K's.

Lansing - rained out

Auburn - rained out

Pulaski 5, Greenville 6

Wilfreddy Aguirre got the start and pitched 2 strong innings before allowing 3 runs in the 3rd. The offense clawed back to take a 5-3 lead and Jon Grijalva came on in relief and retired 9 of the first 10 batters he faced, 4 of them by strikeout. But in Grijalva's fourth inning of relief he allowed 3 runs to score to take the loss. Anthony Hatch had 2 doubles and 2 RBI's. on the night. Pulaski finished the season 34-33, and 13 games behind the runaway division winner Danville. Danville takes on Elizabethton in the playoffs starting tonight.

The Three Stars

Third Star: Joey Reiman - part of all 4 scoring plays and a solid night behind the dish
Second Star: John-Ford Griffin - 2 doubles, his 27th HR and his 92nd-95th RBI's.
First Star: Kyle Yates - Double-digit strikouts and a solid win.

Posted by Ryan01 on Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 10:45 AM EDT.

Pulaski Ends Season With a Whimper | 27 comments | Create New Account

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

Blue in SK - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:18 AM EDT (#127077) #

So, what happend to JFG following this season? His power intrigues me given the lack of pop at the major league level.

I believe he is out of options, so that means he becomes minor league FA. Correct? Does he figure into the Jays plans for next year (maybe taking over as 4th OF). Seems like a waste to let him go, but is he worthy of a roster spot?

I guess the same questions could be asked of Gabe Gross?

Gerry - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:23 AM EDT (#127080) #

I think Ryan left the italics on.

Griffin was drafted by the Yankees in 2001, so I think he has one more year before he is a free agent, unless the Jays take him off the 40 man roster and he is claimed.

Rob - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:28 AM EDT (#127082) #

There are no runaway italics. There were never any runaway italics.

In other news, Griffin has an option left. Same with Gross. They were added to the 40-man for the 2004 season. He could get a job, but 4th OF won't be it -- Richard Griffin has a better arm than JFG.

Rob - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:32 AM EDT (#127083) #

And two other things:

One, from the Globe and Mail today: The Blue Jays will call up OF Gabe Gross from Triple-A Syracuse tomorrow when rosters can be expanded above the 25-man limit imposed for the first five months of the season. Two other players will be called up after the Syracuse season ends on Monday. Gaudin? Griffin? Relaford?

Two, why did the Jays send two catchers to the AFL? I understand sending Quiroz, but why Kratz? It seems strange that two of their three hitting prospects on Peoria would play the same position.

Gerry - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:35 AM EDT (#127084) #

The AFL is a combination of 5 teams and the teams essentially draft players onto the team to fill positions. I would imagine that when the Jays last pick came the team needed a catcher. As with any draft its your first 3-4 picks that are most important.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:46 AM EDT (#127085) #

Plus Quiroz and Neil Walker figure to get the most at-bats at catcher, because they are top prospects and need to get work in. Kratz can fill in when needed. He also has the ability to play first base and could see some time there.

Also, just to clear up the options thing... When a player runs out of options they do not become a free agent. Teams must send the players through waivers before they can be sent down. Minor league players not on the 40-man roster must have six full seasons in the minors before they can become a free agent, unless of course they are released.

Skills - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 01:18 PM EDT (#127092) #

Can someone explain to me what the point of calling up Desi Relaford would be?

R Billie - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 01:37 PM EDT (#127094) #

Yates continues to impress doesn't he? He's another guy along with Davis Romero who might get a AA rotation spot out of spring training.

Nigel - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 01:54 PM EDT (#127096) #

I would guess that next year's AA rotation might start the year with something like this: D. Romero, Isenberg, Purcey, Janssen, and Yates. First guess at AAA would be Banks, Marcum, Jackson, Perkins and McGowan.

slitheringslider - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 03:24 PM EDT (#127107) #

I would guess that next year's AA rotation might start the year with something like this: D. Romero, Isenberg, Purcey, Janssen, and Yates.

I think that Janssen would be ready for triple-A next year, as there are talks of him being Minor League Player of the year. It's hard to see management keep him at Double-A any longer.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 03:30 PM EDT (#127109) #

The "problem" is that the Jays have a backlog of pitchers, especially starters, in the upper minors.

Pistol - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 03:37 PM EDT (#127110) #

I'd be surprised if Janssen started in AAA. He's only had 9 AA starts and I believe he left 2 of those early due to injuries.

Nigel - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#127113) #

Janssen's only had 43 innings at AA and while he's done well, he hasn't dominated (not surprisingly) at AA like he did at Lansing and Dunedin. His 2.93 ERA doesn't reflect that he's also had 6 unearned runs against in 43 innings. His RA is 4.18. I think he'll start next year at AA with a view to moving him at the end of May or so.

Wedding Singer - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:02 PM EDT (#127114) #

Where do you guys see Ricky Romero slotting in? Would it be a stretch to start him out at AA?

Jordan - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:12 PM EDT (#127116) #

With the plethora of good pitchers at AA, plus the fact that he hasn't really been utterly dominant so far, plus the fact the Jays don't face a huge need to get all their best prospects to the top of the system right now, I'd say RR starts the season at Dunedin. Probably won't be there long, though.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:24 PM EDT (#127119) #

2006
Rosario, Gaudin out of options - TO or traded,

Syracuse
Shaun Marcum
Zach Jackson
Josh Banks
Ismael Ramirez
Dustin McGowan

New Hampshire
Kurt Isenberg
David Purcey
Davis Romero
Casey Janssen (no room in AAA)
Vince Perkins (no room in AAA)

Dunedin
Kyle Yates (no room in AA)
Ricky Romero
Chi-Hung Cheng
A.J. Wideman
Justin James

Lansing
Bobby Ray
Eric Fowler
Kristian Bell
Po-Hsuan Keng
Sean Stidfole/Randy Dicken/Orlando Trias

Gerry - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:28 PM EDT (#127120) #

I would probably flip Perkins to AAA and leave Ramirez in AA.

But I suspect one or more of these guys will be traded in the off season.

Nigel - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:41 PM EDT (#127121) #

I see Ramirez headed to the pen in AAA, that's why I left him off my list. I agree with Jordan that R. Romero will likely start in Dunedin and only move up once he starts to dominate at that level.

R Billie - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 04:45 PM EDT (#127123) #

Ricky Romero is still 20 years old and just two months removed from the draft. There's not much reason I can think of to put him in AA to start next year especially with the number of older prospects who need playing time there. I think Ricky will move up when he forces their hand.

Janssen will be better off getting a couple of more months at AA. His performance was SO good in A-ball that I would be extremely surprised if he was able to carry it up to AA and AAA. He's still doing a good job of preventing homeruns though it's not easy to hit them in New Hampshire.

Pistol - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 05:35 PM EDT (#127128) #

I think R Romero could start at AA, but there's really no reason for it especially when there's plenty of other candidates.

Best case R Romero starts in Dunedin and works his way to Syracuse by the end of the year (like Zach Jack) and worst case he's in Dunedin to start the year and moves to AA at the midpoint of the year and stays there for the rest of the year.

Jim - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 05:46 PM EDT (#127129) #

Purcey will be in AAA.

Rob - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 05:53 PM EDT (#127130) #

The Syracuse SkyChiefs website lists Ted Lilly as the starter for tonight's SkyChiefs-PawSox game. However, thunderstorms are predicted in the area all night. So maybe later, Ted.

Syracuse and Dunedin might get rained out and Auburn has already lost today's doubleheader to rain. Lansing looks to be in the clear and as of 5:01 pm, the Fisher Cats "are still on schedule for tonight's 6:35 PM game against the Mets" but youneverknow. So there could be just one game in tomorrow's Minor League Update.

Nigel - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 06:19 PM EDT (#127131) #

JP's already said that Purcey will start next year at AA.

slitheringslider - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 07:05 PM EDT (#127133) #

I agree that it doesn't make much sense starting Ricky Romero in AA. He has been OK so far in the short season, but not dominant. Zach Jackson pitched better than he did last year and he started in Dunedin this year as far as I could remember. Maybe Janssen shouldn't start in AAA next year, but I don't agree that he should stay in AA for that long. If he can continue what he's doing right now next year, he would be in AAA before long.

Pistol - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 08:52 PM EDT (#127139) #

Zack Jack pitched only a handful of uneventful innings in Auburn last year.

Gerry - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 10:27 PM EDT (#127142) #

Lansing have 3 new pitchers, from Pulaski, Connor Falkenbach, Hector Delgadillo and Ben Harrison. They replace Cheng, Keng and Wideman who are on international duty.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, August 31 2005 @ 11:16 PM EDT (#127144) #

Cory Hahn was also moved to Auburn.

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