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Balbino Fuenmayor led his team to victory as the farm went 2-4.


Las Vegas - All-Star Break

Portland 9 at New Hampshire 5

The Fisher Cats ran into the Portland pitching staff buzz-saw. The hitters each struck out at least once, and as a team K'ed a ridiculous 17 times in the usual nine innings. Anthony Gose was a particularly notable victim, going 0-5 with 4 Ks. Mark Sobolewski had the best day, going 2-4 with a HR. Travis d'Arnaud singled and walked.

Joel Carreno got the start and wasn't too great, allowing four runs in four innings. Frank Gailey really put the Cats in a hole by allowing five runs in his two innings, and that was too much of a deficit for New Hampshire to overcome.

Dunedin 4 at Palm Beach 8

Deck McGuire deserved better. The 2010 draft pick pitched five solid innings, allowing eight base-runners leading to one earned run, and striking out five. Let's get an update on Deck's season stats: 92.2 IP, 80 H, 36 BB, 88 K, 8 HR, 0.74 GO/AO. Good stats, not elite, but he's probably a solid B prospect.

Letting McGuire down were Scott Gracey and Dumas Garcia, who combined to allow six runs in two innings.

None of the hitters had great games, though Brad McElroy and Ryan Goins each had two hits.

Lansing 4 at Lake County 6

Lansing was winning this one 4-2 for most of the game, and stayed ahead thanks mostly to Casey Lawrence, who almost duplicated Deck McGuire's line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 ER. Dustin Antolin picked Lawrence up with five perfect outs of relief, but Dayton Marze couldn't close it out, letting the Captains come back with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn the coveted blown save-loss combo.

Someone named Eli Boike had a great game for the Luggies, as he walked twice and hit a triple. Bryson Namba smacked a two-run homer.

Vancouver 9 at Spokane 6

Finally, Vancouver provides us with the first win of the night on the farm. At least, the first win in this decreasing-level-of-play order, not necessarily chronologically.

Anyway, Vancouver had a bit of a home run derby of their own, smacking four against the Indians. Two were hit by the Great Balbino, who also singled and walked, and one each were hit by Stephen McQuail and Pierce Rankin. All the Canadians got in on the offensive fun, but none more so than the aforementioned Balbino Fuenmayor, who had a huge game.

Pitching mention goes to Alesone Escalante, who pitched two perfect innings in relief.

Bluefield - no game scheduled

GCL Jays 3 at GCL Phillies 6

Highly-regarded prospect Griffin Murphy got the start and pitched fairly well, allowing two runs in five innings and striking out three. Unfortunately, his counterpart, Ramon Oviedo, was much better, and the G-Jays couldn't muster enough offense to win this game.

Chris Peters probably had the best game at the plate, which isn't saying much, as Peters had a triple and a walk.

DSL Braves 4 at DSL Jays 8

Steven Romero pitched three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Angel Rojas reached base three times, and Kervin Santiago had 3 RBIs on two hits.

Three Stars!
3. Deck McGuire and Casey Lawrence
2. Pierce Rankin
1. Balbino Fuenmayor

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 07:25 AM EDT (#238500) #

I have a little information on Boike.  He is a Michigan kid from Detroit and played at Michigan State, so Cooley Law School Stadium is not new to him as he played some college ball there and played against the Lugnuts three times as a member of the Spartans.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent in May and started in Vancouver where he hit .370 before being promoted to Lansing Canada Day weekend.

China fan - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 08:39 AM EDT (#238502) #

Janssen posted another near-perfect inning for New Hampshire in his rehab yesterday.   He seems ready to return to the Jays, so now the question is who gets demoted or traded.   I know that some people are assuming Perez gets demoted because of his blown save on July 7, but overall he's been surprisingly effective, and he's one of the few relievers who has shown an ability to pitch multiple innings without any problems.  I'm still hoping that the Jays can find a way to trade Rauch or another veteran and find out what they've got in Perez.

MatO - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 09:37 AM EDT (#238511) #
bpoz - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 10:00 AM EDT (#238512) #
Anyone have information on Kervin Santiago? DSL catcher DOB April 5, 1993. I know that it is too much to hope that he is a C Perez clone. But....
Mike Green - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 10:16 AM EDT (#238514) #
Speaking of Perez, he has stagnated this year.  Opponents have been stealing bases on him at a very good rate, and my belief is that the focus on his defensive game is affecting his development at the plate.  I hope he is moved and soon.
damos - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 11:23 AM EDT (#238521) #
I think Gerry noted it in the last Minor League thread - but has anyone else seen the Vancouver / Spokane fight?  I watched it last night....& well, that was quite a hullabaloo. 
Maldoff - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 11:25 AM EDT (#238522) #
Lugnut Fan, can you share any insight to Carlos Perez? People were excited about him coming into the year, but as Mike Green noted, he seems to have stagnated
John Northey - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 11:28 AM EDT (#238523) #
Right now the pitching staff is...
Romero/Morrow/Cecil/Villanueva/Reyes
Camp/Dotel/Francisco/Frasor/Perez/Rauch/Rzep

Of the relievers only Rzep and Perez can be sent down afaik. Rzep has been effective, and Perez possibly even more so. The others have their weaknesses...
Camp - just 4.4 K/9
Dotel - 1.4 HR/9, 4.2 BB/9, 153 OPS+ vs LH (41 vs RH)
Francisco - 5.2 BB/9, 1.5 HR/9, 69 ERA+ (worst on the Jays for anyone with 3+ IP)
Frasor - solid, but never feel safe in the 9th with him
Rauch - 6 K/9, 1.4 HR/9

Right now Camp, Dotel, and Francisco should be nervous but I doubt the Jays would dump any of them for nothing at this point.

More likely we'd see the return of the 8 man bullpen (sigh). Which means that Mike McCoy is probably headed back to AAA yet again.
Mick Doherty - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#238527) #

Bpoz, not a lot on Santiago out there, but you can always start with BBRef.

 

earlweaverfan - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 03:20 PM EDT (#238537) #
MatO, your story about David Cooper is the second huge endorsement I have seen for Chad Mottola, as a valuable hitting coach.  First Snider, now Cooper.  I have not heard a companion story this year about how the Jays' major league hitting coach has strengthened or turned around any of our ailing batters.

Given that we have several major leaguers too advanced to be sent down to Las Vegas for his coaching yet who have either lost or not yet found their way at the plate (e.g., Hill, Encarnacion, Arencibia, Davis), should he become the Blue Jay hitting coach next year?

Just wondering...

dan gordon - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#238540) #
Yah, I watched the video of the fighting in the Vancouver game.  Some pretty serious punched thrown there.  Looks like a few of the Vancouver guys really got clocked - that Spokane runner was throwing some hard shots.  They need a fighting coach, LOL.  I just hope none of them suffered concussions. 
uglyone - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#238541) #
yeah, looks like a return to the 8-man pen is inevitable when Janssen comes back. no way they're going to just dump one of the vet relievers at this point.

I hate the 8-man 'pen, but since they're wasting a bench spot on McCoy anyways, I could really care less. I'd rather have another good 'pen arm than a 2nd no-hit bench middle infielder on the roster.

Really, though, cooper should be up here challenging EE for playing time.
Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#238543) #

Perez is learing to catch everyday and I think that is why you are seeing his offensive numbers decline.  He flat out raked at the beginning of the season, but since he catches near every game, his swing has gotten very long and he just looks tired.

I think Perez will have a position change coming up in his future.  I noticed that he occasionally takes balls at second during BP.  I'm not sure if that means anything or not as I was told the Jays were very serious about him learing the catching position.  I know there have been reports about his arm and how strong it is.  I'm not a scout, but I don't think his arm is strong enough to be an MLB catcher.  It seems that other teams have picked up on that too as they run on him a ton and I haven't seen much success in the way of him throwing runners out.

I think he is an exciting prospect and is valuable to the Jays, I'm just not sure it will be as a catcher.

uglyone - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 05:10 PM EDT (#238544) #
Does he have the atheticism IYO to make it at 2B?

that would be almost as good.
Ishai - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 05:49 PM EDT (#238545) #
The name of the baserunner who was throwing punches: Rougned Odor.

I don't know how to pronounce that first name, but it seems like it should belong to a Bond Villain.

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 09:15 PM EDT (#238556) #
I think Perez could absolutely handle second uglyone and I predict that is where he may ultimately end up. His foot work is pretty good behind the plate and should translate well to a middle infield position.
Marc Hulet - Tuesday, July 12 2011 @ 10:51 PM EDT (#238558) #
For what it's worth, the club has catcher Luis Hurtado in low-A ball, quite possibly to mentor Perez. Hurtado is a solid defensive catcher who spends a lot of time working with the Latin players (especially pitchers) and tends to move around a lot as need. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's in Lansing.
Maldoff - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 09:58 AM EDT (#238567) #
Anyone know where Kellen Sweeney is? He had 35 ABs early for Bluefield, and seems to have disappeared since.
Flex - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 10:34 AM EDT (#238570) #
There's some faint Twitter noise out there that the Jays have signed 1st pick Beede.
Mike Green - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 10:51 AM EDT (#238575) #
Most of the minor leagues were quiet because of the ASG, but Bluefield won 3-2 behind another fine outing from Syndergaard and a Chris Hawkins homer.  Dominating the Appalachian League at age 18 (as Syndergaard is doing) is not proof of anything, but it is better this way than the other.
Hodgie - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 11:32 AM EDT (#238577) #
I am curious to see how the Jays handle the likes of Syndergaard and Nicolino this season if they continue dominating their respective levels. A year older than Syndergaard, Nicolino is currently sporting 12 K/9 and 4/1 K/BB ratios in his 5 starts in Vancouver.
Gerry - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#238581) #
Joe Musgrove is making his professional baseball debut today in the GCL.
greenfrog - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 12:15 PM EDT (#238582) #
The scuttlebutt (per Keith Law, apparently confirmed by Sonny Gray) is that Beede had signed up for summer classes at Vanderbilt but, uh, hasn't shown up for classes yet. Really hope he signs with Toronto - he looks like a great arm to have in the organization.
Mike Forbes - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 12:57 PM EDT (#238583) #
Beede has likely already signed a contract with Toronto, it's probably sitting on MLB's desk as we speak. We just gotta for them to accept it since it's for sure overslot money.
sam - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 01:49 PM EDT (#238585) #

I don't know what the bonus is, or even the ballpark number, but it would be extremely fortunate for the Jays if Beede signing was made public.  The other players drafted could then use that number as a reference point and I imagine more will start signing.  Guys will know that the Jays will unlikely go over the bonus of the first pick.  I imagine someone like Norris will say if Beede gets 3 million to sign, I want 2.8 or 3 million as well. 

I think Beede will get money similar to Kaleb Cowhart from last year's draft. 

Jonny German - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#238586) #
Or the Jays could just tell their other picks what they gave Beede, if they think that'll help get them signed.
sam - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#238587) #
To all you Dad's out there with kids who get drafted, do us a favour, stay away from twitter. 
Mylegacy - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 06:06 PM EDT (#238591) #
I would give Daniel Norris Tyler Beede money.

One of the top RHP from HS in the draft and arguably the best LHP from HS in the draft. DO it AA.

greenfrog - Wednesday, July 13 2011 @ 06:44 PM EDT (#238592) #
All right MyLegacy, admit it - your genial, single-malt-sipping (natch) persona on the Box is just a cover. You're secretly a left-handed HS student from Tennessee who enjoys playing baseball, oh, every five days or so and could use some extra spending money this summer.
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