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Minor League Update Early Exits Ending in Victories
The farm system was perfect last night, as the affiliates won three games and Las Vegas had the day off. None of the affiliates gave up more than two runs, but none of the starters made it out of the sixth inning.

Las Vegas - Day Off

No game today.

~New Hampshire 4 @ Trenton 1 – Boxscore

New Hampshire got one run over the first seven innings, but then struck for three off Trenton reliever Wilkin de la Rosa to take the lead and eventual victory. Brian Jeroloman provided some offence at the bottom of the order, going 2-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored. Unfortunately, Jeroloman was unable to sustain any rallies, as the four batters in front of him – Eric Thames, Shawn Bowman, Adam Loewen and Jonathan Diaz – went 0-11 with a walk. Darin Mastroianni and Calix Crabbe, the top of the lineup, scored in the eighth, along with Jeroloman. Cleanup hitter Brad Emaus went 1-2 with a pair of walks.

Bobby Bell continued to put his early season struggles behind him with a strong 5 innings against Trenton. Bell struck out three and walked one, while surrendering five hits and a run. Vincent Bongiovanni and Trystan Magnuson provided solid relief for the Fisher Cats, combining for 4 innings of shutout baseball. Magnuson picked up his first save of the year, Bongiovanni his first victory.

Dunedin 5 @ Tampa 2 – Boxscore

Henderson Alvarez lowered his ERA to 0.37 and improved his record to 3-0. Alvarez pitched 5.1 innings and gave up a sole unearned run. He struck out five and gave up six hits. Boomer Potts picked up the hold with 1.2 innings and two strikeouts. Chad Beck and Daniel DeLucia pitched an inning each with Tampa touching DeLucia for a solo homer in the ninth.

Dunedin pounded 11 hits off Tampa pitching, giving the parent club a demonstration of a competent offensive performance. Tyler Pastornicky hit a double and scored a run and Raul Barron had two hits and a run. Dunedin scored three runs in the eight off two homers, with Dan Perales hitting a two-run homer with none out to score Yan Gomes and Michael McDade adding a solo shot later in the inning. The leaders of the offence were Perales, who went 3-4 with 3 RBI, and Gomes, who was 2-3 with a double and a walk.

Lansing 2 @ Western Michigan 1 – Boxscore

Danny Tepera gave up an unearned run over 5.1 innings. He gave up four hits and two walks and struck out one. Dustin Antonlin continued his strong start to the year with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Brian Slover and Steve Turnbull each pitched an inning with a strikeout and left Tepera ruing the fact his own error cost the Lugnuts a shutout.

Lansing was held to three hits. Ryan Schimpf hit a double and Brad McElroy added a single. The big blow was delivered by Sean Ochinko’s two-run double. The Lugnuts demonstrated a good batting eye, with Schimpf and Eric Eiland walking twice, AJ Jiminez, Bradley Glenn and Kenny Wilson also drawing the free pass. The Lugnuts went 6-6 in stolen base attempts, with Wilson leading the way with a pair and Eiland, Schimpf, Jiminez and Glenn chipping in.

Three Stars:

3rd Star – Henderson Alvarez, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 UER, 1 BB, 5 SO

2nd Star – Brian Jeroloman, 2-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, 5 TB

1st Star – Dan Perales, 3-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, 6 TB

Posted by Thomas on Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 01:54 AM EDT.
Early Exits Ending in Victories | 17 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
sam - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 02:18 AM EDT (#214365) #
Dónde está Justin Jackson?

I don't know if it's fair to draw this conclusion just yet, but it's certainly neat how a change of administration with a greater emphasis on player development has improved, almost across the board, our prospects. Really think about it, is there a Blue Jay prospect right now that is performing worse than last year? Shows how just a little more attention and investment to the minor leagues can yield great results. Also begs the question, would some of the flameout prospects under Ricciardi faired better under this regime?

Go Jays!
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rtcaino - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 09:02 AM EDT (#214368) #
If anything, it would have to do with being less aggressive with what level the players are being sent to.

I would also suggest some luck - kind of like being elected president as the economy gets out of a recession. The new president will be associated with the recovery, even though it was partially being in the right place at the right time.
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Mike Green - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 09:22 AM EDT (#214369) #
Brad Emaus continues to mash at third base for the Fisher Cats since his return from injury.  He doubled and walked twice in 4 appearances last night.  His very early slash line is .333/.487/.533 with 9 walks and 1 strikeout in 39 plate appearances. Is there a local fan who can tell us how he looks defensively at the new position? 

New Hampshire is in first place, Dunedin is tied for first, and Lansing is two games out, despite a 13-7 record.  The minor leagues are filled with hope, both on a team and individual level.

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Gerry - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 09:51 AM EDT (#214370) #

Answering a few questions:

Justin Jackson is on the DL.  He is out 4-6 weeks but that was from a couple of weeks ago so he could be back in 2-4 weeks.

Travis D'Arnaud has not played in a few days but he has not been placed on the DL.  That usually means the player has a minor injury that needs a few days but not a few weeks to recover from.  That's what happened with Aaron Hill and Edwin Encarnacion earlier in the Blue Jay season.  D'Arnaud could end up on the DL if he cannot get better but in the minors it is a 7 day DL.

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earlweaverfan - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 10:40 AM EDT (#214372) #
Does anyone have any insight into the fielding performance and potential of Chris Lubanski?  I know about his hitting - flashes of real power interspersed with too many strikeouts.

Still, he had an interesting spring and is off to a strong start in Vegas.  If Snider continues to miss the ball, is there any chance that the Jays will bring him up instead?
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Mike Green - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 11:48 AM EDT (#214375) #
Both New Hampshire and Dunedin have morning games today with Luis Perez and Page getting the starts.
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LouisvilleJayFan - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 12:03 PM EDT (#214376) #
Does anyone know why Robert Ray gets the Vegas start tonight in place of Brad Mills?
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ramone - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 12:29 PM EDT (#214377) #

"Does anyone know why Robert Ray gets the Vegas start tonight in place of Brad Mills?"

I would suspect becasue of the off-day they just chose not to skip Ray's start and Mills will go tomorrow. 

The Dunedin Jays are doing their best to look like the parent club today with 1 hit and 12K's through 5.

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Mike Green - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#214380) #
...but the Fisher Cats have walked 7 times and struck out but once. 
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damos - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#214382) #
Draft related tidbit from Keith Law's chat today:

"Any indications as to who the Jays are looking at? I know they've been linked to the Florida HS shortstop but that's the only name I've heard."

Law:
"I have heard several prep arms with them, including Aaron Sanchez. I did hear one rumor that they were on Michael Choice, but it doesn't fit for me - they have Lind and Snider, and Choice is another guy in the same mold."
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sam - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#214386) #
Cue google search
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lexomatic - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 07:31 PM EDT (#214387) #
if i remember correctly, lubanksi was a royals cf prospect, who coudln`t really play defense well enough for center. he had a BRUTAL year in AA or something, and never really recovered to his previous hitting levels.
maybe he got thick in the body i think he had one good base stealing year.

i wouldn`t count on him for more than average corner defense and emergency fill-in in centerfield. i woudln`t coutn on him fomr much wiht the bat either. unless Snider is really messed up i wouldn`t make that switch

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TamRa - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 08:04 PM EDT (#214388) #
one draft preview site had the Jays taking Zach Cox for a while, and call it Pomeranz now.

The Cox guy intrigues me though, what's the possibility we'd get a chance at him?

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Chris DH - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#214396) #

Aaron Sanchez? He isnt in the top 50 prospect list put out by Baseball America last week, however, he looks to be #25 on their high school list.  Seems like a bit of reach for the #11 pick?  Fastball peaks at 93 MPH.

Pomeranz is currently ranked 3rd overall at Baseball America - cant see him lasting to the Jays at #11.  Guess him and RHP Anthony Renaudo faced each other last weekend for a much anticipated pitching duel in front of numerous scouts but both were terrible.  Jim Callis in his draft chat this week doesnt expect this to impact their draft status too much...

Zack Cox is currently ranked 13th so there is a reasonable chance he could be there at #11.  However, i wouldnt be surprised to see a team in the top ten take a positional player like Cox as opposed to one of the high school pitchers.  Kevin Goldstein pretty much states this in his Top 10 Projection today.  Although, it looks like he prefers OF Michael Choice - takes walks like Cox but with much better tools...BA has Choice as the 15th ranked prospect.

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Jdog - Thursday, April 29 2010 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#214397) #

 "I have heard several prep arms with them, including Aaron Sanchez. I did hear one rumor that they were on Michael Choice, but it doesn't fit for me - they have Lind and Snider, and Choice is another guy in the same mold."

 

These experts always say to never draft for need and to simply take the best player available and then they make statements like this one which seem to contradict it.  If Choice is seen as the best player, he is the best player regardless of whether you have Lind and Snider. If they would let Lind and Snider stop them from taking someone, they need to shut up about this take the best person available BS.

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TamRa - Friday, April 30 2010 @ 12:10 AM EDT (#214400) #
D'arnoud has now been DL'ed





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damos - Friday, April 30 2010 @ 02:07 PM EDT (#214413) #
Sickels had this to say about Sanchez:

Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow HS (California)
If you like athleticism and projection, you will love Sanchez. Another University of Oregon recruit, Sanchez is 6-3 but just 175 pounds, with plenty of room to fill out. He throws 89-92 currently, hitting 93-95 at times, but if he gains the weight and strength that scouts expect, his velocity should pick up into the 93-95 range more consistently. He has a decent curve and change but both pitches need refinement. Although draft eligible, he's just 17 years old. Slotting him in the draft is tough: he seems like someone who would be drafted in the bottom half of the first round: the Marlins at 23 or the Giants at 24 seem like good fits, but I can also see someone taking a chance earlier than that. 

KLaw had Sanchez @ # 17 on his list & noted:
 "Quick-armed righty has steadily improved all spring, even in front of big crowds of scouts".
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Early Exits Ending in Victories | 17 comments | Create New Account
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