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Three victories in four games for the affiliates on Sunday with a couple of notable performances thrown in.

Louisville 3 @ Syracuse 5 Boxscore

It's Hector Luna's world and we're all just living in it. Well, for today, anyway. Heading into the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2, things were looking bleak for Syracuse. But with two out and nobody on, the Skychiefs strung together a couple of hits, including an Adam Lind RBI single to tie matters. Luna then deposited a 2-1 delivery well over the wall in left-centre to snatch victory from the hands of Gary Majewski. The blast made a winner of Shawn Camp who was perfect over 2.2 innings.

Davis 'The Other' Romero made his first appearance since labrum surgery over a year ago, and acquitted himself quite nicely allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out two over three innings work.

Adam Lind went 3-for-4 to give himself a respectable 1.086 OPS on the year. Robinzon Diaz had both a pair of singles and passed balls while Chip Cannon had a fairly typical 3 strikeouts in four AB.

New Hampshire 2 @ Connecticut 4 Boxscore

Things weren't so hot for the Fisher Cats today. Ricky Romero had a frustrating start allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks over, you guessed it, 3.2 innings work. He did strike out five, though. And Troy Tulowitzki's only hitting .192 in Colorado so things aren't all bad.

Nothing too notable of the offensive side. New Zealand's own Scott Campbell did pick up four singles in five trips but everyone else was fairly silent for the Cats. Even the boxscore was kinda boring.

Fort Myers 0 @ Dunedin 3 (6 innings) Boxscore

Kenny Rodriguez's Blue Jays debut was cut short by rain. No matter, though as the 20 year-old Cuban was excellent throughout going the six-inning distance allowing only one hit while striking out seven. Paul Franko supplied a good deal of the offense with two doubles and two runs scored. Travis Snider had an RBI double and two strikeouts. Don't let it happen again, Travis.

Lansing 6 @ Fort Wayne 4 (10 innings) Boxscore

I've got a feeling that following the Lugnuts is going to be quite enjoyable this year. There are no less than five intriguing prospects in the starting lineup and, so far anyway, most are off to promising starts. The Lugnuts spent most of Sunday playing catch-up. Trailing 3-0 through five, the 'Nuts knotted things with a three run sixth thanks to a well, three-run HR by Yohermyn Chavez. Fort Wayne retook the lead in the bottom of the inning but Lansing tied things up again Chavez went yard again, this time good for two. Edgar Estanga closed things out for the Lugnuts with 4 innings of 2-hit ball.

Justin Jackson took an 0-for-4 (though with a walk), but Kevin Ahrens continued his hot start with two singles and a walk in five plate appearances. Both Jackson and Ahrens also stole their first bases of the year.

On the mound for the Lugnuts was two-time Jays draft pick Brad Mills. Mills was shaky, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs over his four innings of work. Picking him up in relief was Dave Stieb wannabe Brian Pettway. He couldn't do it with the stick but on the mound, he seems alright. Two innings of work yielded three singles and a run. Pettway will be an interesting case to follow.

But, as you can tell, Chavez was the real story today. Two years removed from being an overmatched 17 year-old, Chavez looks to be blossoming into the type of toolsy teen the Jays haven't really had since Alexis Rios broke out in 2002.

Three Star Selection

Pretty clear-cut today......

3rd Star: Hector Luna- Walk off HR for Syracuse

2nd Star: Yohermyn Chavez- 3-for-5, 2HR, 5RBI, SB

1st Star: Kenny Rodriguez- CG SO. 6 IP, 1H, 7K

It's Luna Time! | 15 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, April 07 2008 @ 10:02 AM EDT (#182301) #
Chavez is a solid guy at age 19.  The power may come quick, and the speed may fade fast.  Which is OK.
mendocino - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 10:37 AM EDT (#182302) #

How old is Kenny Rodriguez ? MILB has him as 20 years old, but an article from Baseball America in july of last year had him at 22 last season.

 

 

 

"The Blue Jays signed highly touted righthander Kenny Rodriguez, and the 22-year-old Cuban defector is expected to report to high Class A Dunedin immediately. Rodriguez defected last year in Ecuador and reportedly fled to Peru. He surfaced in the Dominican touching 93 with his fastball, but still pitches backwards, primarily using his plus curveball, average slider and changeup."

Excalabur - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 10:42 AM EDT (#182303) #
Good to see Davis "the Underdog" Romero back: he's one of my favourite Jays prospects, so I wish him well in his quest for health and the big leagues. 


ChicagoJaysFan - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#182306) #
Good to see Davis "the Underdog" Romero back: he's one of my favourite Jays prospects, so I wish him well in his quest for health and the big leagues

I liked Romero a lot before he got injured and hope he does well. 

However, his recovery could indicate a larger impact on the Jays than just getting a possible arm for middle-inning relief. Romero, like Janssen, suffered a torn labrum.  I think most studies on labrum recoveries are about 4-5 years old, but they're not uplifting on the chances of recovery. Hopefully, a Romero recovery would indicate that some dramatic progress has been made in how to recover from these injures and that there is hope for Janssen (I'm skeptical).
timpinder - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 08:31 PM EDT (#182329) #

I'd like to pose a question to the infinitely knowledgeable bauxites here.  I've asked before but haven't received a straight answer.

Is Adam Lind's major league service clock ticking? 

He's played 107 games for the Jays between September 2006 and September 2007.  I know Hill was up for 105 games in 2005 and just missed getting that rookie year recognized as his first controlled year.  Lind has started out on a tear in AAA this season, and the comments from Blair, Wilner, et al, are that Lind will spend the season in AAA this year and be the starting left-fielder in 2009.  I'm just wondering if 2009 will actually count as his 2nd major league season even if he doesn't play at all in 2008, because he's been up for 107 games already.  Would he then be eligible for arbitration in 2011?  Or would 2009 be his first controlled year, assuming everything goes according to plan?  I'm a big Lind fan and I hate the thought that he might waste one of the six controlled major league service years toiling away in AAA.

If anyone has a better understanding of how the whole arbitration/service time stuff works and can enlighten me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Gerry - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 08:36 PM EDT (#182330) #
The pitching line-up for Dunedin so far tonight has been Gustavo Chacin who pitched poorly; Paul Philips; BJ Ryan (3 up, 3 down); and Armando Benitez (3 up, 3 down).  Despite that lineup the Jays are losing due to Gus's struggles.  No sign of Brett Cecil yet tonight.
Pistol - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 08:51 PM EDT (#182332) #
Is Adam Lind's major league service clock ticking?

No, only when he's in the majors.
Mike Green - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 09:13 PM EDT (#182334) #
Justin Jackson had another good night with the bat.  If he can manage a serviceable offensive season in the Midwest League at age 19, that will be terrific news.
timpinder - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 09:19 PM EDT (#182335) #
Thank you Pistol.
Lugnut Fan - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 11:18 PM EDT (#182338) #

Good observation Mike,

I like how Jackson sets the tone for the line up.  He seems to be a more than adequate lead off guy and he is getting on base a ton right now.  He has scored nine runs in five games.  This team in Lansing is really a lot of fun to watch.

Dave501 - Monday, April 07 2008 @ 11:36 PM EDT (#182339) #

What's really exciting to me about Jackson is that when he was drafted he was kind of considered all glove, but with potential to develop hitting skills.  Is those hitting skills develop as they seem to be, and his baserunning seems good, I think he could become a very special player.

ok, so its like 3 games into the season or something and i might be getting excited.  But with Lansing tearing it up, a red sox sweep, Thomas not being dead weight,  it's a good time to be a Jays (and organization) fan.

ANationalAcrobat - Tuesday, April 08 2008 @ 12:04 AM EDT (#182341) #
Thanks for the observations, Lugnut Fan. The team in Lansing does indeed look exciting and I'm really looking forward to your comments/reports this year.
peiscooter - Tuesday, April 08 2008 @ 05:56 AM EDT (#182344) #

Adam Lind enters the 2008 season with 145 days of major league service.  If not called up beforehand due to injuries, etc. he should at least get a September callup when the roster expands.  Another 30 days service time would then have him finish 2008 with 1 year and 3 days service. 

If he then becomes our left fielder in 2009 and stays in the majors it will be following the 2010 season that he would be arbitration eligible with 3 years and 3 days of service time. 

All players with more than 3 years service time, but less than 6 years are arbitration eligible as well as the top 17% of players with service time between 2 and 3 years.  Lind's 2 years and 3 days of service after 2009 would not qualify him as one of the top 17%.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2003/01/transactions-glossary.html

 

timpinder - Tuesday, April 08 2008 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#182355) #
Thanks peiscooter.  I'm glad to hear Lind will be controlled until at least after 2013.  I suppose the Jays could keep him in AAA all year (no September call-up) and control him until 2014, but I'm sure that won't happen.  If I read that correctly, then even if the Jays bring Lind up in the middle of this season because he forces their hand or because Stairs gets hurt, then he would still be controlled until after 2013 because he wouldn't have two full years in the majors.  That's good news.
peiscooter - Tuesday, April 08 2008 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#182368) #

Actually, since my original post, I looked into it further. 

The Syracuse season ends on September 1 and the Jays season on September 28.  If the Jays recall Lind and he arrives on September 2 then he would add 27 days of service and finish 2008 with exactly one year, making 2013 his free agency year. 

If they delay his recall by just one day, his free agency year would be 2014.  Interesting situation.

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