Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Another Forgettable Day

Four losses and two games were postponed or cancelled. Ho hum.

Reno 6 @ Las Vegas 4 – Boxscore

Fabio Castro started and nearly got the quality start, going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs. He struggled with his control, walking five against five strikeouts. Bill Murphy entered in relief and took the loss to fall to 0-6. Murphy surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings with two strikeouts. Then Brian Wolfe entered in relief and allowed the second of Castro’s two runners to score. He ended up going 1.2 innings, but allowed a solo homer to Chris Young in the eighth to give Reno some insurance runs.

Billy Buckner met the definition of a quality start for the Aces, allowing three runs over 6 innings. Aussie Travis Blackely got the win with two innings of one-run relief. Buck Coats was hitless, but Joe Inglett, Brian Dopirak, JP Arencibia, and Howie Clark each had a single. Arencibia, the DH, and Clark each scored a run. Jason Lane went 3-for-4 with three doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Kevin Howard added a triple, a walk and two RBI. Kyle Phillips went 2-for-3 with a run, but was ejected in the seventh inning, so Arencibia had to move from the DH position and Las Vegas lost their DH. Angel Sanchez also added two singles.

Harrisburg 3 @ New Hampshire 2 –Boxscore

New Hampshire had seven hits and actually outhit the opposition, but couldn’t find a way to put many runs on the scoreboard. In the third inning Todd Donovan tripled and was driven home by Darin Mastroianni and in the sixth David Cooper hit a solo homer. Cooper was 2-for-3 with a walk and Mastroianni also walked and stole two bases, but was caught stealing once. He’s 32-for-39 so far in Double-A. Brad Emaus, Brian Van Kirk and Jonathan Diaz were held hitless with Van Kirk striking out in all four of his at-bats. Al Quintana, Scott Campbell and Brian Jeroloman all added singles and Jeroloman stole his first base of the year.

“Tiny” Tim Collins continues to struggle for the first time in his professional career, picked up his third loss in five appearances. Seth Smith started and did quite well, giving up one run in 5.1 innings with nine strikeouts against one walk. Smith’s ERA is 2.08 for New Hampshire and 2.76 for the year at Double-A. Trystan Magnuson walked one over 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Collins came in for the eighth and surrendered a leadoff single to Freddie Bynum before Michael Daniel hit a game-winning two-run homer off Collins. He got the next three batters and Zach Dials got through a scoreless ninth, but the damage had been done.

Tampa @ Dunedin – Postponed.

Postponed due to rain.

Western Michigan 8 @ Lansing 3 – Boxscore

Lansing had five hits, all singles. Wellinton Ramirez, Justin McClanahan and Balbino Fuenmayor each had one and Yohermyn Chavez added two. Chavez, McClanahan and Michael McDade scored the teams runs with Fuenmayor driving two in and McClanahan also picking up an RBI.

John Anderson started and gave up two runs over 2.2 innings. He struck out four, but gave up five hits and a walk before turning the ball over to Jonas Cuotto. Cuotto gave up five runs, four earned, over 2.1 innings with four hits and three walks allowed. Dustin Antolin calmed things down with 3 innings of relief and was only touched for one unearned run and Frank Gailey finished things off with a scoreless inning. Defence was a problem for Lansing, as AJ Jimenez had his tenth passed ball of the year, McDade made his fourteenth error of the year and Fuenmayor had both a fielding and a throwing error to bring him up to 12 on the year.

Williamsport 8 @ Auburn 4 – Boxscore

Matt Wright started for the Doubledays and took the loss. He struck out seven over 4.1 innings but surrendered five runs, four earned. Wright gave up four hits, but walked three and committed a balk. He got five of his six batters out on balls in play on fly balls. Brian Justice replaced Wright in the fifth and promptly made an error on a pickoff attempt. Justice went on to surrender three runs that inning, one of which was Wright’s runner, and they were all unearned because of his miscue and a second error by Kevin Nolan. Justice allowed a solo homer in the next inning before Zach Outman, Zach Anderson and Casey Beck combined for three scoreless innings of one-hit relief.

The middle of the lineup provided the bulk of the offence for Auburn as they notched six of the seven hits for the Doubledays. Yan Gomes, Kyle Gilligan and Bradley Glenn each had two hits, with Gomes and Glenn hitting doubles and Gomes and Gilligan adding an RBI. Chris Hopkins went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Ryan Schimpf scored the other run on a walk. Eric Eiland picked up an RBI, driving home Gomes for one of his two runs.

GCL Blue Jays @ GCL Tigers

Cancelled.

Three Stars:
3rd Star – Seth Smith, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER1 BB, 9 K
2nd Star – David Cooper, 2-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, 5 TB
1st Star – Jason Lane, 3-4, R, 3 2B, RBI, 6 TB

Posted by Thomas on Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 10:59 AM EDT.

Another Forgettable Day | 16 comments | Create New Account

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

Helpmates - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#205641) #

I'm hoping that Darin Mastroianni at least gets a "look" in spring training next year. He seems to be a Reed Johnson warrior/grinder type who could inject some life into this rather listless squad. He appears to have a fairly good grasp of the strike zone, and he's on the verge of swiping seventy bags this year. Since we're stuck with him, why not consider moving Wells to left (so as to reduce wear and tear on his body), and give Mastroianni a shot?

sam - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 11:37 AM EDT (#205643) #

So what are we looking at for next year draft wise. If Marco Scutaro leaves, then two first rounders. One in the top fifteen and one later in the first round. Two compensation first rounders, one for Scutaro and one from Paxton. Two second round picks, compensation for Eliopolous and our existing second rounder. Two third round picks, one for Barrett and our existing third rounder. So, potentially eight picks in the first 100. If Roy leaves, presumably we get some serious prospects back in return. Now, if the Jays budget say eight to ten million for next year's draft combined with the prospects we'd be receiving from the potential Halladay deal and coupled with our average minor league system, well that sounds like something to look forward to.

whiterasta80 - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#205645) #

I'm also on the Darin bandwaggon, although I'd put Wells in Right, Travis in Left, and Lind at first.

TamRa - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 02:30 PM EDT (#205650) #

if you dare offer arb to Barajas that's another pick

ayjackson - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 02:35 PM EDT (#205651) #

Is there any benefit to keeping Marcum, McGowan, Litsch, etc on the 15-day DL as opposed to the 60-day DL heading into the offseason? We could use the 40-man space for Dopirak and the like come September.

Denoit - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 03:04 PM EDT (#205654) #

Clark Griffith Summer League Top Prospect - From Baseball America http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/summer-scene/summer-league-top-prospects/2009/268791.html

No. 1 K.C. Hobson, 1b/of, Southern Maryland (SIGNED: Blue Jays)

Hobson, the son of former Red Sox third baseman and later manager Butch Hobson, would have been a valuable two-way player for Texas A&M but instead signed with the Blue Jays on Aug. 17 for a $500,000 bonus as a sixth-round pick. He played just 15 games in the Clark Griffith League before signing but tore the league apart, batting .431/.448/.708 in 65 at-bats. Thirteen of his 25 hits in regular-season play were for extra bases (eight doubles, five triples). Hobson shows above-average savvy as a hitter and makes pro-level adjustments during at-bats—he struck out just twice all summer against much older competition. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Hobson has below-average speed but runs well underway, which may allow him to play a corner outfield spot at the pro level.

MatO - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 04:35 PM EDT (#205655) #

Mastroianni has a SLG% of .305 in AA and an OPS of around .675. What 's that translate to in the majors? An OPS of .600? That 's John McDonald territory. I'd like a heck of a lot more out of a corner OF.

Mike Green - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#205656) #

I wouldn't do the OPS translation of his double A statistics alone because of BABIP sample size issues. Mastroianni has no pop, good speed and an even W/K at both single and double A. He does play centerfield, and I'd venture a guess that he covers more ground than Vernon Wells.

I'd venture a guess that he might go .260/.330/.330 in the majors. Ideally, he's Dave Roberts and best used as a 4th outfielder/pinch-runner. On the long-term rebuild Jays of 2010, he might be a good choice for your everyday centerfielder, with Wells in left, Snider in right, and Lind traded for younger prospects.

sam - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 06:24 PM EDT (#205657) #

I'd hope the Jays aren't thinking about trading Adam Lind already. And I believe the age difference between Lind and Mastroani is only a year or two. So I'd have to disagree with that proposition. I'd say bring him up next time Vernon gets hurt, which of course would be an extended amount of time and then assess from there. Long term, three to five years down the line. I see Adam Lind being used exclusively as a DH. I think one of the many outfield prospects that are slowly coming through will likely man center and right. Something like Wilson, Chavez, Sierra, Marisnick, Pierre (if he does move out to the outfield), Ramirez etc. But of course a lot would have to go right if one or even two of them were to make it.

Mike Green - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 06:42 PM EDT (#205658) #

If you're going Marlin, you really need to focus your energies on bang for your buck when you can win. Lind will be expensive by the time that the Jays are ready to compete if they do not increase their payroll.

The other alternative, and one that I obviously would prefer, is for the club to significantly increase payroll. Right now that is not looking too likely.

Dave Till - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 08:48 PM EDT (#205660) #

Some gloom-inducing stats for you all: since the Jays peaked at 27-14, they've been playing .369 baseball. Over a full season, that would be a 60-102 record. And that's with Halladay, Scutaro, Barajas, and most of the season with Rolen. Eeek.

Mike Green - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 09:14 PM EDT (#205661) #

In happier news, Eric Thames made it back to Dunedin and tripled in three as the D-Jays won the nightcap. I still like him as a prospect despite the injury troubles.

timpinder - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 09:32 PM EDT (#205662) #

You're right Mike, it's not looking likely that the Jays will be increasing payroll. Stark is "grumbling" that the Jays will be aggressive in their attempts to trade Edwin Encarnacion and his contract this winter:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings090827&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

I'm certainly not married to Encarnacion and won't care if he's traded, but it looks like yet another salary dump. There are only two third basemen that would offer a real improvement on Encarnacion who are available as free agents. Chipper Jones isn't coming here, and despite the talk about Figgins, I don't see him in a Jays' uniform either. My guess is that a young third baseman will be coming back in the Halladay trade that will occur in the off-season. And wherever Halladay goes, so does my allegiance.

Spifficus - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 09:46 PM EDT (#205663) #

Ok, Nick Green has just become a must-target over the winter for the utility infielder role. He has good defense, a better bat than McDonald, and an 88-90 fastball with a slider that comes from a clean delivery. Wait. What?

It was actually kind of scary - he looked like a legitimate pitcher out there (and with better control than some).

Spifficus - Thursday, August 27 2009 @ 09:52 PM EDT (#205664) #

There are only two third basemen that would offer a real improvement on Encarnacion who are available as free agents.

What if a recovered Beltre promises to buy a cup?

TamRa - Friday, August 28 2009 @ 04:05 AM EDT (#205666) #

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