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The 51s held on for the win after a nail-biting ninth. Beyond that, more bleakness... and don't even look at the New Hampshire game report if you have a weak stomach.


Las Vegas 5 Round Rock 4

The 51s offense has struggle a bit in the wake of losing both Travis Snider and Randy Ruiz to the Jays, but the club has reeled off a few good games recently. Last night, veteran pitcher Marty McLeary held the Houston affiliate to two runs in five innings with just five hits and one walk allowed. Bill Murphy followed up with three hitless, scoreless innings. Closer Bubbie Buzachero was unable to nail down the save after allowing two runs in one-third of an inning, but Brian Wolfe bailed him out by King the last two batters. At the plate, Brian Dopirak led the offense again with three hits, including a double. Kevin Howard also had three hits, and Joe Inglett drove in two hits, while enjoying a two-hit night that also included a homer. Buck Coats, a deserving September call-up, also had two hits and scored a run.

Trenton 1 New Hampshire 0  (10 innings)

For whatever reason, New Hampshire and the Eastern League seems to be a grave yard for Toronto's offensive prospects - year in and year out. This year has been no different, and the club again struggled to put forth a respectable attack. On the plus side, Jays starter Randy Boone was also dealing in this one. The right-hander allowed just two hits in 7.2 innings of work, but also walked three three. Boone struck out six batters, as well. Wil Ledezma took the loss in the 10th inning. The Fisher Cats offense put forth just one hit - a single from Manny Mayorson (a former long-time Jays prospect who just came back to the fold recently after a few years in the Marlins' system). Mayorson's hit was in the second at-bat of the game, so the team was brutal at the plate from there on out, while facing five different pitchers.

Clearwater 5 Dunedin 4

Dunedin took a hard loss after three relievers combined to blow the game in the ninth inning with three runs allowed. Andrew Liebel began the game with five solid innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks. John Anderson, recently promoted from Lansing, worked three hitless innings and struck out five batters. Things began unraveling when Alan Farina entered and allowed two runs in one-third of an inning. Daniel DeLucia took the loss when he failed to record an out and left the winning run sitting on base. Matt Daly - another Lansing call-up - then entered and blew the save by allowing the winning run to score. At the plate, Brad McElroy and Tylor Pastornicky (up from Lansing) each had two hits and stole a base. McElroy also scored two runs. Jonathan Jaspe went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, but he added a second RBI. Moises Sierra's late season swoon continued with an 0-for-4 night.

Fort Wayne 8 Lansing 6

Starter Chris Holguin struggled with his control and walked four batters in four innings. He gave up a total of two runs. Jason Roenicke also had a bad night by allowing five hits and two runs in 1.1 innings of work. Frank Gailey had a rare off-night and allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Yorman Mayora settled things down with an inning's work that saw him strikeout the side (while also issuing a walk). AJ Jimenez, Welinton Ramirez (called up from Auburn) and Michael McDade each had two hits. Jimenez had two doubles. McDade has been on fire in the last 10 games with a .415 average, two homers and eight RBI. Ryan Goins went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Lowell 16 Auburn 7

Well, it's a good thing the Jays didn't sign any of there top draft picks because there certainly are not issues down here in the lower minor league levels... Matt Wright, Jamie Lehman and Austin Armstrong each allowed at least four runs. Zach Anderson was the only pitcher to keep the Spinners off the score sheet and he only worked a third of an inning. At the plate for Auburn, Yan Gomes and Sean Ochinko each had two hits. Gomes slugged two doubles and drove in two runs. Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Kevin Nolan was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Markus Brisker had a hit and stole a base.

GCL Jays/Phillies suspended after three innings (rain)

The Jays were up 3-0 in the third inning, when the rains halted the game. Eric Thames and Jack Murphy were each 2-for-2. Nestor Molina had worked three scoreless innings.

The Three Stars:
3. AJ Jimenez for two hits, including two doubles
2. Brian Dopirak for three hits at triple-A
1. Randy Boone for allowing just two hits in 7.2 innings.

On a bonus note, the DSL Jays players finished up their season yesterday with a rain-shortened win over the DSL Cubs. Hitting prospects worth keeping an eye on include Manuel Falcon (2B/3B), Fausto Natera (SS), Simon Vazquez (1B/C), Leonardo Hernandez (C), Sony Javier (OF), and pitchers Jose Vargas, Milciades Santana, Fernando Bella, Victor German, Deivy Estrada, Misual Diaz, Denny Valdez, and Cesar Sanchez.

Las Vegas Does Us Proud | 11 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
greenfrog - Saturday, August 22 2009 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#205418) #
Tolisano makes this week's "not-so-hot sheet" from Baseball America:

"John Tolisano, 2b, Blue Jays: Two years ago, the Blue Jays spent three of their top six draft picks on high schoolers, taking Kevin Ahrens in the first round before grabbing Tolisano and Justin Jackson in the supplemental first round. All three have struggled mightily as pros, to the point where their future appears considerably more dim than it did in June '07. Ahrens and Jackson each have an OPS below .600 in the high Class A Florida State League, while their teammate Tolisano paces the class with a meager .235/.305/.396 line in 96 games for Dunedin. This week Tolisano managed just two hits—both singles—and a walk in 22 trips to the plate."
bball12 - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 08:49 AM EDT (#205430) #
You know - I really enjoy reading most of the posts on this site. Of all the Toronto sites this one - in my opinion - seems to have the best discussions, best coverage and the most knowledgable fans.

That being said - is it really necessary to highlight individuals that may be having a tough week or two?

That doesnt seem to be a very fair way of analyzing performance.
Spifficus - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 11:55 AM EDT (#205435) #
My take on it is the opposite - showing what people are saying about our prospects, warts and all. Tolisano has 'earned' this little spotlight. Of course, if he knocks the ball around for the next week or two and gets on the hot sheet, there will be 3 posts in rapid succession with the text.
Marc Hulet - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 04:56 PM EDT (#205449) #
How is only analyzing the good performances fair? To get a fair grasp on a player's potential, you need to see how a player responds to adversity.
bball12 - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 05:15 PM EDT (#205450) #
Well - if thats the case - do it for all the ones that have had a rough 2 weeks.
Put all the clunkers up.

Either do it - or dont do it.

Doing it selectively doesnt seem very fair to me.

IMO.




Spifficus - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 05:21 PM EDT (#205451) #
I'm sure if someone else makes the not-so-hot list next week, someone will do similar. Actually, I hope they do - I always forget to check the BA hot-list.
Spifficus - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 05:33 PM EDT (#205453) #

How is only analyzing the good performances fair? To get a fair grasp on a player's potential, you need to see how a player responds to adversity.

To this point, how about Emaus and Sobolewski, who each hit pretty well in April and May, cratered in June, and have bounced back quite strong (.282/.380/.411 and .330/.375/.495since, respectively)? That's a pretty good recovery.

greenfrog - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 06:15 PM EDT (#205456) #
I usually try to catch BA's Hot Sheet to see if any Jays have made it (Cooper? Dopirak? Collins? Alvarez? Amazingly, Snider never made the list during his pre-callup streak at AAA), but happened to catch the Tolisano/Ahrens/Jackson reference in the "not-so-hot" shortlist at the bottom.

I would much rather hear good news about Jays prospects, but mostly I'm interested in hearing objective or outside views about the farm system. Not that BA's analysis should be considered gospel, but it can be a useful source of info.
92-93 - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 07:39 PM EDT (#205457) #
Can Snider even make the Hot Sheet? He has quite a few MLB PAs.
Pistol - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 08:40 PM EDT (#205458) #
Doing it selectively doesnt seem very fair to me.

If a player is taken in the first few rounds of the draft and or a top prospect they're going to be looked at closely - hence why BA pointed out the Dunedin struggles (and isn't the beef really with them?).  When Snider struggles everyone knows, everyone knows Arencibia isn't hitting this year, and really almost all of the top rated hitters coming into the year for that matter.

No one cares about the 23rd round prospect used to fill out the minor league teams because they're (generally) not legitimate prospects in the first place.

So there really isn't much selectivity in it.  The top prospects get followed closer, and regardless of how they're doing.
ayjackson - Sunday, August 23 2009 @ 10:07 PM EDT (#205466) #
Snider was in Baseball America's Hot Sheet last week, as a Blast From The Past.  Travis has too many Major League plate appearances to qualify for any prospect rankings or lists.
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