Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

Three wins in four tries for the affiliates as a top prospect returned to action.

Las Vegas 4    Fresno 2

The 51s offense didn't do much save for a four-run fifth in which they parlayed three singles into four runs thanks to an error, a walk, a balk, a HBP and a sac fly. Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits and an RBI while Anthony Gose and Travis D'Arnaud had one hit apiece. Gose also walked but struck out twice.

Andrew Carpenter started and went six strong allowing two runs on six hits and two walks against six punchouts. Clint Everts and Jerry Gil finished things off.

Bowie 7    New Hampshire 3

Chad Jenkins' rough season continued on Saturday as the former first rounder allowed four runs on 10 hits in just four innings. He walked one and struck out just one. His ERA rose to 6.35.

The Fisher Cats' offense didn't do much but was highlighted by Mark Sobolewski's 10th homer and two hit efforts from Ryan Goins and John Tolisano. Mike McDade was 1-for-4 with a single.

Clearwater 1    Dunedin 7

The big news in this one is that Jake Marisnick is back after missing more than two weeks with an injury. Marisnick went 1-for-3 with a walk while hitting out of the lead-off spot. Kevin Ahrens was the star of the night (serious) going 3-for-3 with a homer and a walk. Travis Snider was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in his rehab appearance.

Asher Wojciechowski pitched effectively going six and allowing just a run on six hits. He walked, and struck out, a pair.

Lake County 5    Lansing 6

The Lugnuts scored six in the first and then held on for dear life. Kevin Pillar was the only Lugnut with multiple hits going 2-for-3. Carlos Perez was 1-for-4 with a double.

David Rollins started and went five allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. He struck out two and walked five.

Three Stars:

3rd Star: Adeiny Hechavarria- 2-for-5, 2B
2nd Star: Asher Wojciechowski- 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1st Star: Kevin Ahrens- 3-for-3, 2 R, BB, HR, 2 RBI

Posted by braden on Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 09:40 AM EDT.

Three Outta Four | 14 comments | Create New Account

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Original Ryan - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 11:08 AM EDT (#258294) #

I'm in Manchester right now and saw last night's game. Jenkins wasn't missing many bats, although most of the hits were hard-hit ground balls that found holes. Jenkins actually got bailed out a couple of times by a nice double play behind him, so his earned run total could've been worse.

Jenkins wasn't happy with the strikezone, and Sal Fasano got tossed in the fifth for arguing balls and strikes. From my seat it was hard to tell if they had a point, but I don't think the strikezone was Jenkins' biggest problem last night.

About an hour ago I saw Fasano catch the side sessions for Deck McGuire, Brett Cecil and Randy Boone (who is currently on the DL). Fasano's conversation with McGuire afterward was a bit animated and probably one-sided.

China fan - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#258296) #

Hechavarria now has an OPS of .821 and an OBP of .371 and is leading the team in RBIs from the number 2 slot in the lineup. His BB/K ratio is roughly similar to those of d'Arnaud and Gose. I'm becoming more optimistic about how this will translate to the majors. But the question is how to work him into the Jays lineup. You can't trade Escobar or push him to 2B without having full confidence in Hechavarria's hitting. And you can't have Hech sitting on the bench for his first season in the majors, he has to be playing regularly. Barring an injury to Escobar, the Jays will need some finesse to find a way to introduce him to the majors.

TamRa - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 07:28 PM EDT (#258300) #

Not that I was ever wildly impressed with them, particularly Jenkins, but I'm mystified at how he and McGuire have fallen completely apart this year (to say nothing of the departed Molina)

What gives?

acepinball - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#258303) #

Well, when Jenkins was in low-A, the asterisk beside his higher ERAs was that he was a groundball pitcher who would see improved numbers with improved defense behind him.

All three of those guys had Hech behind them last season. Perhaps that has contributed partially to their major regression.

Gerry - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 08:33 PM EDT (#258307) #

Congratulations to the Dunedin Jays on making the playoffs. That is two Jays teams in the playoffs so far.

Mike Green - Sunday, June 10 2012 @ 10:00 PM EDT (#258311) #

Snider went 4-5 with a double for the D-Jays tonight. Take heart, Travisophiles.

bpoz - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 09:14 AM EDT (#258321) #

Original Ryan, please tell us more on Jenkins. What were the mixture of pitches that he threw, Location, velocity & movement. I have always felt that he works on his weak offerings to improve them. I got that impression from his interviews. So I am hoping that he is just getting his total package together.

How about the position players. Did you see any decent defense & hitting. McDade, Tollesano & J Jackson are the only players that I have on my radar. Thanks.

Original Ryan - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 10:18 AM EDT (#258326) #

As I mentioned in the other thread, I'm not much of a scout. The Fisher Cats didn't play particularly well this weekend, so most of my impressions were negative. :-)

Goins impressed me defensively, particularly on the first double play behind Jenkins. He had a brain cramp later in the game as he tried to get the lead runner at third on a ground ball, but the throw was not in time. Even if it had been a force play, the runner probably would've been safe.

McDade made a boneheaded mistake on the basepaths Saturday. He was on first when there was a catch made in the gap in right. It turned into a double play when he wasn't able to get back to first in time.

bpoz - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 11:02 AM EDT (#258327) #

Thanks Original Ryan.

JB21 - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 12:08 PM EDT (#258329) #

Can soembody explain to me (or send me a link with info) the clinching a playoff spot for winning the division in the first half? And is this only in A Ball?

Gerry - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 12:30 PM EDT (#258335) #

JB:

Split seasons are just in A ball.

If you go to milb.com and click on standings, there is a link on the left of the standings with the playoff procedures as it is called. It is a general description of how many teams make it and who has home field advantage and what if the same team wins both halves.

However the description is general, it doesn't tell you when the first half ends. For most A ball leagues the first half ends next week with an all-star break. This midpoint also fits in with the start of the short season leagues when teams take the opportunity to shuffle their rosters.

92-93 - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 01:48 PM EDT (#258341) #

And you can't have Hech sitting on the bench for his first season in the majors, he has to be playing regularly.

This goes back to a discussion from the offseason, but I don't agree with this at all. I've been saying for quite some time that I'd like to see Hechavarria eased into the bigs in a utility infielder role and take it from there, see if he earns more playing time. Omar Vizquel, who is terrible, is on pace to get around 150 PA this year for the Jays and that's without a 2B/SS/3B hitting the DL. Hechavarria in that role next year could easily be worked in for 300-400 PA, as long as you are willing to forego the notion that the only method for developing a prospect is to give him EVERY DAY ABs at his level.

China fan - Monday, June 11 2012 @ 06:58 PM EDT (#258376) #

I'd be happy if Hechavarria could get 300 to 400 PAs in his rookie season. I would define that as "playing regularly." You're right that he doesn't need to have 500 PAs. But, as you said, even 300 PAs for Hech would probably require Escobar to spend some time on the DL -- which is also what I said in my post, when I said that it would be difficult for Hech to get enough playing time "barring an injury to Escobar."

(I don't see Hech getting a lot of time at 2B, even if the regular 2B is injured. He just hasn't got enough experience at 2B yet.)

tstaddon - Tuesday, June 12 2012 @ 06:27 AM EDT (#258416) #

Very interesting that both pitchers have imploded without Hechavarria. I'd be very curious to know if there's a direct correlation. d'Arnaud's no longer in the mix, either, so catcher ERA is typically an inflated stat it stands to reason it could be a greater factor in the minor leagues than in the majors.

Obviously still too early to give up on either of them, but what a shame it would be if Jenkins and especially McGuire end up as relievers.

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