Gwinnett 3 Buffalo 2
Oh, what to do with Anthony Gose? He had a major gaffe last night and sat today. Manager Marty Brown today suggested his head was still in Toronto. Surprising, as his head really wasn’t in Toronto when he was in Toronto. Nonetheless, prospects tend to go through this when they return to the minors. It does say a bit about Gose and where he thinks he should be. I was so impressed with him this Spring Training. He was saying all the right things and seemed to have an idea of where he stood and what he needed to work on. Unless I’ve missed something here, questions about his bat remain and he needs everyday at-bats at the Minor League level. I’ve seen some at-bats of his at Buffalo where he simply doesn’t look at all interested in what is going on. Not that anyone is suggesting this, but way too soon to be giving up on him or even entertaining the idea of trading him.
Yes, there was a game today in Buffalo. The Bisons fell again to the last place Braves’ affiliate. Quite a funk dem Herd are in. They’ve lost eight of their last ten. Was Josh Thole really that good? Justin Germano went a very respectable eight innings in today’s game, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk. The Bisons mounted a late comeback, but fell short. Stars at the plate include Moises Sierra and Luis Jiminez, both gentleman went 2-4 with a double. Mauro (not be mistaken with Maru) Gomez went 1-4. I admit that last one was a stretch. Jose Reyes, if you’ve been living under a rock and this is your only source of Blue Jays news in which case god bless you, will be joining the Buffalo club for the weekend set.
New Hampshire 4 Altoona 7
New Hampshire didn’t fair well either over in Altoona. A.J. Jimenez though went 4-5 with two doubles, raising his batting average to an even .500. I don’t know if we’ll see a lot of him behind the plate this season with the Jays likely easing his arm back into playing shape, but opposing pitchers just can’t seem to get him out at the moment and he’s showing some signs of extra base power this year. I think the Jays probably want to see him catch 100+ more games at the minor league level, but good signs here. The shocking news in this game was Kevin Pillar went 0-5. Don’t fret Bauxites, he’s still stinging the ball and we won’t have to trade him for Dustin Ackley and the keys to Jack Z’s mom’s house just yet. Ryan Tepera started, walked four and allowed four runs. His relievers weren’t all too impressive either. New Hampshire sits second to last in the Eastern League Eastern Division. Marcus Stroman starts tomorrow.
Dunedin 0 Daytona 4
Not too much happening down in Daytona as the Gustavo Pierre led Dunedin Blue Jays were shutout by the Cubs affiliate. Pierre did mark his promotion by reaching twice. He doubled and singled. Marco Grifantini started and allowed four runs in four innings. Aaron Sanchez makes his triumphant return tomorrow night.
Tonight’s game marked the first game of the second half. For those that don’t know, the seasons of the two full season A-ball affiliates are divided into two. The division winner, I believe, of each half plays each other in the playoffs. The Dunedin squad clinched a playoff spot by finishing first in their division during the first half of play.
Lansing 1 Bowling Green 2
Lansing lost a squeaker to the Rays’ very stacked Low-A affiliate. A lot of good lookin’ prospects on that Hot Rods roster. Any who, Taylor Cole started and went five strong. He worked out of a jam in the fourth and did well to limit Bowling Green despite surrendering nine hits. Kramer Champlin and Wil Browning combined to pitch the remaining three scoreless innings. At the plate, leadoff man Dwight Smith had a hit, scored a run and walked twice. In the two hole Dalton Pompey walked three times. Number three hitter Christian Lopes did not like any of this and went 0-4. Meanwhile, my pick for breakout prospect Kellen Sweeney continues to wallow at the bottom of the order hitting below the Mendoza line. He also made an error.
Vancouver 6 Salem-Keizer 4
A late comeback saw the visiting Canadians top the hometown Volcanoes. Vancouver scored thrice in the eighth and twice in the ninth as converted outfielder Markus Brisker picked up his first professional win. Dickie Thon had two hits and Canadian born Canadians catcher Michael Reeves had a double and two RBIs. The Northwest League affiliate is now 4-3.
Greeneville 0 Bluefield 5
Bluefield opened the season with a win. Chase DeJong pitched five scoreless innings and was followed by Canadian Shane Dawson who pitched four scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing a hit and a walk. Dawson and DeJong were helped out on the night by some stellar defense as the Bluefield Jays turned four double plays, caught a runner stealing, and recorded an outfield assist. Dawel Lugo paced the Jays with three hits and Mitch Nay had two hits including a double. Eric Arce cleared the bases with a triple in the eighth and Matt Dean went 1-4 and played first base. A lot of guys to watch out for on this team. Zakery Wasilewski gets the ball tomorrow.
DSL Cubs 0 DSL Blue Jays 3
Usually clubs try to get their big bonus Latin American guys stateside as soon as possible. The Jays have decided to keep Ronniel Demorizi and Richard Urena in the Dominican a while longer and it seems to have paid off for both of them. Demorizi was the star today as he swatted two homeruns and surprisingly for a Latin American guy has walked more this season than he has struck out. The notion you can’t walk off the island is somewhat engrained in these kids so good for Demorizi for showing some patience at the plate. Urena has held his own as well against the predominately older competition and eighteen year-old Miguel Castro pitched five innings and struck out nine today. The DSL is at the bottom of a very long ladder to success, but good to see some guys who got paid out Latin America under the new regime play well. The Jays need to continue to hit up this market as some teams do get discouraged when high bonus kids don’t perform.
Three Stars
3. Justin Germano
2. Miguel Castro and Ronniel Demorizi
1. A.J. Jimenez
