Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
Weather and scheduling meant the farm only played three games last night (plus the DSL). Vegas did its best Blue Jays impression, winning on the strength of a huge inning, and Auburn did its best Edwin Encarnacion impression, losing because of a crapload of errors. Also: now that the deadline is passed and John Buck is still in Toronto, is it time to resurrect the old FREE ARENCIBIA!?

Las Vegas 13 at Sacramento 5

This was a fairly low-scoring game.... except in the 5th inning. Vegas outdid the big club by putting up a 9-spot, while Sacramento scored 80% of their 5 runs in the inning. LV's runs came courtesy of 10 hits and an incredible 11 walks. The biggest thumpers and walkers were J.P. Arencibia, who homered, singled and walked twice, and Brad Emaus, who singled, SFed, and walked twice. Brad Mills was typically effective, allowing four runs in seven innings on eight baserunners while striking out four.

New Hampshire - scheduled off-day

Dunedin - suspended. This game was suspended in the fourth inning with Dunedin up 2-0 on the strength of a Welinton Ramirez home run, off Rays uber-prospect Matt Moore no less. Joel Carreno had thrown 3 2/3 of 2-hit shutout.

Lansing 10 at Bowling Green 9

What a game! Tied 3-3 after five innings, the Lugnuts took control with 2-spots in both the 6th and 7th, giving them a commanding 7-3 lead with just two frames to play, only to see Bowling Green storm back with six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Eric Eiland struck out and Sean Ochinko popped out, and Lansing was down to its last out, down by two and with the bases empty. Of course, you know what's coming… Brad Glenn homered to cut the deficit in half, A.J. Jimenez singled, and Kevin Ahrens connected for his fifth homer to give Lansing the lead. Nestor Molina, who had blown the save in the eighth, came back out and shut the door for the win.

Dave Sever began and delivered a Quality Start™, going six innings and allowing three runs, while striking out five. Offensively, Ochinko was the star, going 4-5 with a double and a homer and driving in five. Justin Jackson went 2-3 with a homer and a walk.

Auburn 2 at Williamsport 6

On earned runs, this was a close game; unfortunately, Auburn's FIVE errors - by Gustavo Pierre, Andy Fermin and THREE by Joseph Bowen - caused the game to get a little out of hand. Fermin at least made up for his defensive prowesslessness by banging out half of Auburn's six hits and driving in both runs, but he wasn't helped much by his bat-wielding teammates.

Sean Nolin got the start and lasted 2 2/3, though he only gave up one run. Sam Strickland took over and pitched four moderately effective innings, allowing two runs on eight baserunners.

GCL Jays - postponed

DSL Jays 0 at DSL Tigers 1

Alex Ramirez was fantastic, pitching six innings of shutout ball and striking out eight.

Three Stars!
3. Brad Mills - Quality Start™ + 1 - 7 IP, 4 ER
2. J.P. Arencibia - 2-4, 2 BBs, HR
1. Sean Ochinko - 4-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI

Links

Hitters and Pitchers of the Week are up on milb.com. Congrats to Fisher Cat B.J. LaMura, Eastern League Pitcher of the Week.
JPA Hits #31 | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Anders - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 11:44 AM EDT (#219701) #
Technically not a quality start for Mills - you have to allow 3 or fewer runs for that.
Dave Rutt - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 11:53 AM EDT (#219702) #
That's what the +1 is all about!
Mike Green - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:00 PM EDT (#219706) #
Josh Roenicke struck out 5 in 2 innings of work.  He's now put up very pretty W/K numbers for the season in a tough environment.

#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:08 PM EDT (#219709) #
the Lugnuts took control with 2-spots in both the 6th and 7th, giving them a commanding 7-3 lead with just two frames to play

I see what you did there, Dave! Bowling - frames. You got to get up pretty late in the afternoon to fool me! :D
Anyways, here's an article on El Duderino for your reading pleasure.
Magpie - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#219711) #
Technically not a quality start for Mills - you have to allow 3 or fewer runs for that.

Even in the PCL?
Gerry - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#219712) #

Bobby Bell is pitching for the GCL Jays today and that got me thinking about the Arizona Fall League.  Who would the Jays send there?  The pitching is always the toughest as starters hit their innings limits during the season, so often it is previously injured starters who go to the AFL.  Bell is a candidate as is Scott Richmond or Dirk Hayhurst, assuming they all recover in time.  Randy Boone is also an option as is reliever Alan Farina.

On the hitting side Travis D'Arnaud could be an option, if his back is OK.  Eric Thames and Adam Loewen (again) could also go.  I don't know what the recovery time is for hamate surgery but Moises Sierra would look good out there.  Other than those guys Mike McDade, John Tolisano and even Kevin Ahrens, if he continues to hit better, could be on the short list.

John Northey - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:35 PM EDT (#219714) #
Starting to wonder who will be called up in September.

I figure one catcher, one infielder, and one or two pitchers is what should be expected.

JPA is obvious for the catcher it seems, but the Jays might call up Raul Chavez to avoid starting JPA's service time clock and to fill a probable promise to give Chavez some playing time this year - it is traditional that you need 3 or 4 catchers but so far just 2 have been required. A slim chance both are called up with JPA getting mainly DH time.

For the infield McCoy has been up and down like a yo-yo it seems while Hoffpauir has been very useful in AAA between 3B/2B. I'm guessing McCoy gets the call, and I doubt both will.

Wildcards for the team on offense are Loewen (his contract is up, might have to put him on the roster to keep him), Lubanski (hitting 308-362-596), and Mike Jacobs (just traded for him).

For the pen we have Roenicke and Accardo from the right side with Lewis and Carlson on the left as guys with ML experience who should probably get a shot. Sheesh, could see all 4 coming up but odds are just Lewis will get a call and maybe Roenicke.

For the rotation, to fill in holes as guys hit inning limits, would be Rzep and Mills. Shawn Hill looks like a potential lock as he has 5 starts so far with just 1 walk and 26 K's in 28 IP and just 3 runs allowed. Of course, that is against low A and rookie leaguers but still an impressive comeback thus far.

A few tough choices for AA. More than 2 more guys in the pen will just be a waste, I can see calling up both catchers to give Cito lots of flexibility to pinch run, thus an excuse to use McCoy & McDonald as well. Hill is at arbitration stage and has 3 years 153 days service time coming into this one thus another 19 days and he qualifies for free agency in 2 years rather than 3 which might shift things a bit depending on the deal he signed.
MatO - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 12:51 PM EDT (#219717) #

Jeremy Accardo has had a nice little run recently.  His K rate is edging back to respectibility.

Whatever happened to Scott Richmond?

TamRa - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#219721) #
Whatever happened to Scott Richmond?

Been on the DL for some time now.I think he got 2, maybe 3 starts, before being re-injured and there have been no reports I've seen on what the new injury is.

Starting to wonder who will be called up in September.

Based on potential needs in the rotation - Zep, Mills and possibly Shawn Hill

Pen - Surely Carlson, Accardo, and Roenicke

hitters - JPA, and McCoy seem to be givens. Beyond that...myabe Huff since he's been upalready...but anyone else gets into complications about options and service time. Perhaps Lubanski if he's healthy just to have a look at him. On a long shot, maybe Loewen given his unique situation.

that got me thinking about the Arizona Fall League.

Re Richmond and Hayhurst - i might be wrong but even if healthy, I think they probably have too much major league service time to qualify.

Here are the rules:

  • All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1.
  • One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team.
  • One foreign player is allowed, as long as the player does not reside in a country that participates in winter ball, as part of the Caribbean Confederation or the Australian winter league.
  • No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.
  • To be eligible, players on Minor League disabled lists must be activated at least 45 days before the conclusion of their respective seasons.

So Richmond, Hill and Reyes are out - Hayhurst could get in but probably won't be ready.

the last one would seem to eliminate Bell since he's still technically on the DL, along with Campbell, Lubanski, Sierra, and Tolisano (and possibly others activated within the last couple of weeks)

So with those restrictions in mind, and i was sure there was a restriction about not repeating the league but idon't see it, here is a list of possibilites which have at least some potential to be interesting:

Mills
Zep
Ray
Roenicke
Lewis
Boone
Farquhar
Magnuson
Farina
Jenkins
Cerrano

No more than 2-3 of those guys

Emaus (if you can repeat)
JPA (if it doesn't conflict with being in Toronto - 1st game is 10/12)
Jeroloman
Hechevarria
Thames
Mastorianni and Loewen (if you can repeat)
Bowman
d'Arnaud
McDade
Gose (probably way too soon for this)

If I were doing this - granted i don't have any of the info they have - I'd say Mills and Roenicke and maybe Magnuson (given he's the oldest of those relievers) on the pitching side and Adeiny, Thames and either repeat Emaus or send a catcher on the hitting side.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#219723) #
I believe Richmond is starting tonight.
DaveB - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 02:01 PM EDT (#219728) #
Pretty amazing win by Lansing especially with Ahrens hitting his fourth home run in three games to cap that ninth-inning rally. I'm curious about Nestor Molina as a prospect. He blew a save opportunity last night thanks to a single that somehow drove in three runs, then struck out two guys in the ninth to earn the win. Seems like Fasano is trusting him more in late-inning situations. I know nothing about Molina's pitching toolbox but his history is interesting and he is one of the youngest pitchers on the team at 21. He was a position player until just two years ago, showing little more than a good eye at the plate. He had a good first year as a pitcher in the DSL in 2008. Last year, after a little bit of a rough start in the GCL, he had a strong finish. Same thing this year for Lansing. After his first eight games he had given up 16 hits in 13.2 IP, an ERA of 7.24. He's been lights out since (56.2 IP, 0.89 WHIP, 45K and 1.74 ERA). His GB ratio is high, teams are hitting .206 against him for the season (.078 in July over 21 IP) and he's given up one HR in three months. I suspect he doesn't have the strongest arm in the world or he would have entered the DSL as a pitcher, but any comments from someone who has seen him in action or read a detailed scouting report would be welcome.
Mike Green - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#219730) #
I saw Molina.  He throws pretty good heat at about 93, but I had a baseline view so I could not really speak to the movement.  Lugnut Fan would probably be able to give you a full report.

He's young enough that he is some kind of a prospect, albeit that pitching prospects are usually starters in the minors.

Denoit - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 04:33 PM EDT (#219745) #

that got me thinking about the Arizona Fall League.

Hechavarria has to be a top candidate to go.

Nolan - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 10:52 PM EDT (#219772) #
JPA is obvious for the catcher it seems, but the Jays might call up Raul Chavez to avoid starting JPA's service time clock and to fill a probable promise to give Chavez some playing time this year - it is traditional that you need 3 or 4 catchers but so far just 2 have been required.

I thought that service time wasn't started if a prospect was brought up after the rosters expand.  False?
Gerry - Tuesday, August 03 2010 @ 11:13 PM EDT (#219773) #

I saw Molina pitch earlier in the season.  He made a spot start in a doubleheader so he might have pitched differently than when he pitches in relief.

Molina was 91-92 with his fastball.  He had a good sinker at 86, a slider and a change-up.  My notes say he worked fast, pitched to contact (he was probably conscious of going deeper in the game as a starter) and that the fastball, sinker combo was a good one.

DaveB - Wednesday, August 04 2010 @ 12:23 AM EDT (#219777) #
Thanks Mike and Gerry for the observations on Molina. It's encouraging to hear he is getting his fastball to 91-93, with good control and enough stuff to get some strikeouts in addition to inducing a lot of ground ball outs. Overall, he is having an excellent season even without taking into account his youth or limited experience on the mound, and he seems to be holding up despite logging considerable innings in his first full season. One of the guys to watch closely next year in Dunedin.
ayjackson - Wednesday, August 04 2010 @ 02:18 AM EDT (#219783) #
I think Hechevarria may be a September call-up.  It may be in his contract.  Personally, I'd like to see JPA, Emaus and Loewen here in September.
TamRa - Wednesday, August 04 2010 @ 03:04 AM EDT (#219785) #
I thought that service time wasn't started if a prospect was brought up after the rosters expand.  False?

We debate this every year - and last year someone finaly cited some evidence which convinced me that this is in fact false - though i was very sure up to that point that it was true.

Spifficus - Wednesday, August 04 2010 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#219803) #

I thought that service time wasn't started if a prospect was brought up after the rosters expand. False?

You're probably getting that jumbled up with options, which wouldn't kick in (because a player's never optioned back down for 20 days after they've been a Sept callup).

When I double-checked the service time provisions in the CBA, there wasn't anything to exclude it, and it uses the term "Active List", and not "25-man roster". It indicates earlier in the doc that the "Active List limit" is set to 40 as of Sept 1st, so unless there's something else overriding it that I'm missing (still processing coffee, so that's easy to see), service time is accrued.

ogator - Thursday, August 05 2010 @ 08:42 AM EDT (#219868) #
Does anybody know who holds the record for most home runs by a Blue Jay minor leaguer?  Is it JPA?  Does that information exist?  Where would a curious person find such information?
ogator - Thursday, August 05 2010 @ 11:53 AM EDT (#219893) #
  At age 20 Carlos Delgado (currently drawing interest from the White Sox) hit 30 home runs for Dunedin.  That still puts JPA in the lead.  Anyone have any other guesses?
JPA Hits #31 | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.