(Too big a stretch?)
The Blue Jays minor-league squads were 2-2 on the night. As you might guess, in places where the pitching was right good things happened, in other places not so much. Since there's now one full week of the season in the books (okay, 8 days, humor me) , along with tonight's game updates I'll be highlighting those hot and cold starts worthy of comment.
Las Vegas 5, Fresno 8
Offensively, the struggling 51's got a long home run from Travis Snider, and a pair of singles apiece from Travis d'Arnaud and Mike McCoy, as well as a Gose (which is defined as stealing 2nd followed immediately by stealing third before scoring) but was otherwise unworthy of note. You have to wonder though, how long you can go before there's a psychological wear & tear on the kids from knowing they are playing behind a pathetic SP most nights. Chris Woodward and the coaching staff have their work cut out for them keeping the kids upbeat.
Speaking of sucky SP, there's Bill Murphy. Four IP, five earned runs, a 10.57 ERA as he walks off the mound, just another night at the office at Cashman Field. The bullpen fared a bit better, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings of work. But every time the hitters tried to make a game of it, the pitchers gave the Grizzlies their cushion back.
For the 51's in the first week, it's hard to find many highlights. Already 4 games back of the Grizzlies at 2-6, if this team is going to make you smile it's going to be the hitting of shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Hitting .406 so far and second on the team in total bases is exactly what Jays fans had in mind. He's already struck out 8 times, which is something that will need attention at some point, but given that he will be fighting the perception that his bat is a PCL illusion all year, reports of consistent hard-hit balls are very encouraging. The other offensive gem, no surprise, is Travis Snider. But the best thing everyone can do with Snider is just turn him loose and let him build up a body of work and not be obsessed with every swing of the bat. David Cooper has been fine, but on the flip side d'Arnaud and Gose have started off ice cold.
Pitching? You don't want to talk about the pitching dude. Well, there is Robert Coello – 1 walk and 9 K's in 5 IP out of the bullpen. But really, it's best not to look here, you could damage your eyesight.
New Hampshire 3, New Britain 5
Justin Jackson just won't leave me be. Every time I decide his best-by date has expired he goes on another tear. Tonight, facing the re-habbing Jason Marquis, he was 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles a pair of steals, and a run scored In the F-Cats losing effort. Koby Clemens contributed an 8th inning home run but otherwise the offense was mostly absent.
Chad Jenkins got the start and did not fair as well as he had in his first start. The former first rounder got dinged for all five of the New Britain runs in his seven innings of work, three of them coming in the 6th inning when a HBP and two wild pitches led to trouble. On the other hand one could argue that Jenkins pitched six strong innings and one sucky one so the line might be deceiving.
Reviewing the season-to-date, the 3-4 F-Cats is still waiting for the rotation, other than Drew Hutchison, to get on-track. Hutch has a 1.64 ERA and five relievers have yet to give up an earned run in 12.1 innings between them. Deck McGuire looks to get his groove back on Friday night.
On offense, it's the (now) lightly regarded Jackson, along with the equally unheralded Brad Glenn who've provided the bulk of the contribution. Mike McDade has been okay and the rest are still looking to heat up.
Dunedin 2, Brevard County 0
The D-Jays prevailed tonight behind excellent pitching and just enough offense. Surprise Ace Sean Nolin dominated for 5.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and walking none while striking out 11. Dustin Antolin pitched 1.2, allowing a single baserunner, to pick up his first save.
The hitters were less eye-catching, not getting to the Manatee's Jed Bradly until Jon Talley provided their first hit leading off the 6th with a single. After an error and a wild pitch moved him to 3B, “Captain” Jack Murphy picked up the sacrifice RBI for the games first score. Jake Marisnick followed with a two-out triple but was stranded at third. Captain Jack struck again in the 8th with a solo-shot homer off the Manatees' reliever to provide the final score.
Season so far: The D-Jays are 6-1 on the season and there's a good reason – pitching. If you are not paying attention to Sean Nolin by now, WAKE UP! Everyone's heard about Wojo, we all love John Stilson (I know I do!) and we harbor some hopes for Sam Dyson, but Nolin has yet to surrender a run in 2 starts spanning almost 12 IP, and has 13K's over against 2 walks. The 2010 6th rounder who disappointed the club in his initial appearance in the organization that year came back in 2011 rededicated and so far he's been even better this year.
That's not to disrespect Stilson, who likewise hasn't given up a run yet. He's been exactly as advertised. The bullpen can trot out six relievers who've combined for 22 innings and only given up a pair of earned runs. The team ERA is 2.56 and without Wojo's one rough outing it falls to 1.82. Among the hitters, Jake Marisnick and Marcus Knecht share the spotlight with unheralded shortstop Kevin Nolan and catcher Sean Ochinko.
Lansing 3, West Michigan 2
The 'Nuts ran their franchise-record winning streak (to open the season) to seven games by edging the Whitecaps 3-2 behind the strong pitching of shadow-dweller Dave Rollins. The oft-overlooked left-hander (a 24th round pick last year) was drafted out of college and is in his age 22 seasons so if the Jays handle the widely praised high-schoolers who share the rotation with him gently, he might be the first in this group to get back to Florida. In tonight's game he twirled five innings of 2-hit ball, allowing only one unearned run. Then turned it over to a typically effective bullpen, with the Whitecaps picking up another run, off closer AJ Meyer, in a collective four innings of work.
On the offensive side, the middle infield tandem of Jon Berti and Andy Burns each collected a single, a double, and an RBI. Marcus Brisker was held hitless but walked and stole both 2nd and 3rd in the seventh inning.
Looking at the collective performance of the 7-0 Lugnuts in the first week of the season, it would obviously be hard to find negatives, but the pitching has been stellar. A team ERA of 1.65 is all the evidence you really need. Another fun note, in 60 collective IP, they've allowed ONE homer. Offensively, though the sample sizes are obviously tiny, I've heard a couple of professional observers take notice of SS Andy Burns as a sleeper. Name a guy on this team that you are keeping an eye on, and if his name isn't Chino Vega (who's only played in 2 games) or Carlos Perez, you're probably pretty happy with his start.
***Three Stars***
Third star: Dave Rollins - Five excellent innings and the win
Second Star: Justin Jackson - Did it all for NH tonight
First Star: Sean Nolin - As well pitched game as you'll see in the Jays' system this year.
The Blue Jays minor-league squads were 2-2 on the night. As you might guess, in places where the pitching was right good things happened, in other places not so much. Since there's now one full week of the season in the books (okay, 8 days, humor me) , along with tonight's game updates I'll be highlighting those hot and cold starts worthy of comment.
Las Vegas 5, Fresno 8
Offensively, the struggling 51's got a long home run from Travis Snider, and a pair of singles apiece from Travis d'Arnaud and Mike McCoy, as well as a Gose (which is defined as stealing 2nd followed immediately by stealing third before scoring) but was otherwise unworthy of note. You have to wonder though, how long you can go before there's a psychological wear & tear on the kids from knowing they are playing behind a pathetic SP most nights. Chris Woodward and the coaching staff have their work cut out for them keeping the kids upbeat.
Speaking of sucky SP, there's Bill Murphy. Four IP, five earned runs, a 10.57 ERA as he walks off the mound, just another night at the office at Cashman Field. The bullpen fared a bit better, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings of work. But every time the hitters tried to make a game of it, the pitchers gave the Grizzlies their cushion back.
For the 51's in the first week, it's hard to find many highlights. Already 4 games back of the Grizzlies at 2-6, if this team is going to make you smile it's going to be the hitting of shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Hitting .406 so far and second on the team in total bases is exactly what Jays fans had in mind. He's already struck out 8 times, which is something that will need attention at some point, but given that he will be fighting the perception that his bat is a PCL illusion all year, reports of consistent hard-hit balls are very encouraging. The other offensive gem, no surprise, is Travis Snider. But the best thing everyone can do with Snider is just turn him loose and let him build up a body of work and not be obsessed with every swing of the bat. David Cooper has been fine, but on the flip side d'Arnaud and Gose have started off ice cold.
Pitching? You don't want to talk about the pitching dude. Well, there is Robert Coello – 1 walk and 9 K's in 5 IP out of the bullpen. But really, it's best not to look here, you could damage your eyesight.
New Hampshire 3, New Britain 5
Justin Jackson just won't leave me be. Every time I decide his best-by date has expired he goes on another tear. Tonight, facing the re-habbing Jason Marquis, he was 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles a pair of steals, and a run scored In the F-Cats losing effort. Koby Clemens contributed an 8th inning home run but otherwise the offense was mostly absent.
Chad Jenkins got the start and did not fair as well as he had in his first start. The former first rounder got dinged for all five of the New Britain runs in his seven innings of work, three of them coming in the 6th inning when a HBP and two wild pitches led to trouble. On the other hand one could argue that Jenkins pitched six strong innings and one sucky one so the line might be deceiving.
Reviewing the season-to-date, the 3-4 F-Cats is still waiting for the rotation, other than Drew Hutchison, to get on-track. Hutch has a 1.64 ERA and five relievers have yet to give up an earned run in 12.1 innings between them. Deck McGuire looks to get his groove back on Friday night.
On offense, it's the (now) lightly regarded Jackson, along with the equally unheralded Brad Glenn who've provided the bulk of the contribution. Mike McDade has been okay and the rest are still looking to heat up.
Dunedin 2, Brevard County 0
The D-Jays prevailed tonight behind excellent pitching and just enough offense. Surprise Ace Sean Nolin dominated for 5.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and walking none while striking out 11. Dustin Antolin pitched 1.2, allowing a single baserunner, to pick up his first save.
The hitters were less eye-catching, not getting to the Manatee's Jed Bradly until Jon Talley provided their first hit leading off the 6th with a single. After an error and a wild pitch moved him to 3B, “Captain” Jack Murphy picked up the sacrifice RBI for the games first score. Jake Marisnick followed with a two-out triple but was stranded at third. Captain Jack struck again in the 8th with a solo-shot homer off the Manatees' reliever to provide the final score.
Season so far: The D-Jays are 6-1 on the season and there's a good reason – pitching. If you are not paying attention to Sean Nolin by now, WAKE UP! Everyone's heard about Wojo, we all love John Stilson (I know I do!) and we harbor some hopes for Sam Dyson, but Nolin has yet to surrender a run in 2 starts spanning almost 12 IP, and has 13K's over against 2 walks. The 2010 6th rounder who disappointed the club in his initial appearance in the organization that year came back in 2011 rededicated and so far he's been even better this year.
That's not to disrespect Stilson, who likewise hasn't given up a run yet. He's been exactly as advertised. The bullpen can trot out six relievers who've combined for 22 innings and only given up a pair of earned runs. The team ERA is 2.56 and without Wojo's one rough outing it falls to 1.82. Among the hitters, Jake Marisnick and Marcus Knecht share the spotlight with unheralded shortstop Kevin Nolan and catcher Sean Ochinko.
Lansing 3, West Michigan 2
The 'Nuts ran their franchise-record winning streak (to open the season) to seven games by edging the Whitecaps 3-2 behind the strong pitching of shadow-dweller Dave Rollins. The oft-overlooked left-hander (a 24th round pick last year) was drafted out of college and is in his age 22 seasons so if the Jays handle the widely praised high-schoolers who share the rotation with him gently, he might be the first in this group to get back to Florida. In tonight's game he twirled five innings of 2-hit ball, allowing only one unearned run. Then turned it over to a typically effective bullpen, with the Whitecaps picking up another run, off closer AJ Meyer, in a collective four innings of work.
On the offensive side, the middle infield tandem of Jon Berti and Andy Burns each collected a single, a double, and an RBI. Marcus Brisker was held hitless but walked and stole both 2nd and 3rd in the seventh inning.
Looking at the collective performance of the 7-0 Lugnuts in the first week of the season, it would obviously be hard to find negatives, but the pitching has been stellar. A team ERA of 1.65 is all the evidence you really need. Another fun note, in 60 collective IP, they've allowed ONE homer. Offensively, though the sample sizes are obviously tiny, I've heard a couple of professional observers take notice of SS Andy Burns as a sleeper. Name a guy on this team that you are keeping an eye on, and if his name isn't Chino Vega (who's only played in 2 games) or Carlos Perez, you're probably pretty happy with his start.
***Three Stars***
Third star: Dave Rollins - Five excellent innings and the win
Second Star: Justin Jackson - Did it all for NH tonight
First Star: Sean Nolin - As well pitched game as you'll see in the Jays' system this year.
