Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Canadians win Big with 14 Runs

On Wednesday the affiliates were 3-6, with wins coming from Buffalo, Lansing and Vancouver. Vancouver scored 14 runs in victory, while Ryan Borucki had another excellent start. Buffalo split a double header with Scranton and remain 1.5 games out of the Wild-Card with 5 games remaining. Lansing snuck by with a run in the top of the 9th, to win 3-2.

Buffalo 6 – Scranton/WB 5 (7 Innings)

The theme of poor defense on Wednesday continued, as Raul Valdes allowed 5 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings. Bobby Korecky came in to close the game for his 21st save.

Down 5-1 heading in the final inning, the Bisons offense finally awoke. Brett Wallace had a 3 run HR, and Dan Johnson hit his team leading 18th HR.

Buffalo 3 – Scranton/WB 8 (Makeup of 4/25 PPD- 7 Innings)

Scott Copeland allowed 6 runs (4 earned) over 4 innings, and Ryan Tepera allowed 2 more runs while only pitching an inning.

The Bisons scored all of their runs in the 5th, Ryan Schimpf, Cole Gillepsie, and Anthony Gose scored on back to back to back singles.

Harrisburg 9 – New Hampshire 6

Casey Lawrence allowed 7 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings, on 11 hits, with 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.

Andy Burns had 3 doubles, while scoring 3 runs. Brad Glenn had 3 hits, including a solo HR in the 9th, while scoring 2 runs.

Daytona 8 – Dunedin 2

Matt Boyd had a rare bad start for Dunedin, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) over 4 innings. Griffin Murphy continued to struggle in Dunedin since his promotion for Lansing, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) over an inning. Brandon Morrow had his first rehab outing, pitching 1 scoreless inning with a strikeout.

Mitch Nay scored in the 5th, after getting on base with a double, then scored on a Nick Baligod single the next at bat. Nick Baligod doubled to start the 8th and later scored on a LB Dantzler ground out.

Vancouver 14 – Eugene 3

Ryan Borucki continued to pitch well for Vancouver with a line of 5.2IP 2H 1ER 1R 0BB 3SO.

The Canadians offense had their best night of the year, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits. Franklin Barreto scored 3 runs, with 3 hits, including his 6th HR. Ryan McBroom had 3 hits, including his 10th HR. Chris Carlson had 4 hits including 2 doubles, and a triple while scoring 3 runs.

Pulaski 4 – Bluefield 2

Bluefield scored 2 runs on 7 hits versus Pulaski. Rolando Segovia scored both of the Bluefield runs, while having 3 hits.

Joey Aquino pitched 4 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits, with no walks and 6 strikeouts. Alberto Guzman came in next and pitched 3 innings while allowing 2 runs (1 earned).

(GCL Yankees 1) 7 – GCL Blue Jays 4

Angel Perdomo allowed 4 earned over 5.2 innings, and Joe Claver came in after to allow 3 runs over 2.1 innings.

Cliff Brantley, Deiferson Barreto, Nathan DeSouza, and Dave Pepe each had 2 hits. Juan Kelly had a good game as well, with 3 hits in a losing cause.

GCL BlueJays 3 – (GCL Yankees1) 5 (Makeup of 8/13 PPD – 7 Innings)

Dave Pepe went 3-4, with 2 doubles, and 2 RBI. Cliff Brantley was 2-2, with 2 runs scored.

On the pitching side 17 year old Hansel Rodriguez allowed 4 runs (2 earned) over 3 innings and Bobby Wheatley followed up with allowing 1 earned over 3.

Three Stars

1. Ryan Borucki

2. Chris Carlson

3. Franklin Barreto

Posted by tercet on Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 09:48 AM EDT.

Canadians win Big with 14 Runs | 26 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Gerry - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#292659) #

The GCL regular season finishes today and the Jays played early and lost. It was a tough year for the baby Jays, they finished with a record of 18-41.

Sean Reid-Foley pitched today and had 6 K's in 3 innings. Some of the good performers in the GCL were promoted before today. Lane Thomas and Grayson Huffman are two of the graduates.

uglyone - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#292662) #

It's interesting how we emptied out certain levels this year.

AA is a wasteland at the moment with only two struggling fringe guys on the roster in burns and crouse. Norris and Pompey were skipped past there like it was cursed land. GCL is also a wasteland with only reid-foley and perdomo and maybe brentz worth keeping an eye on.

The other levels all have a bunch of interesting young talent, though:

AAA: Gose/(Pillar), Norris/(Sanchez), Pompey, Nolin, Graveman, Jimenez, (Rasmussen), (Goins), (Jenkins)
A+: Osuna, Castro, Smith, Nay, Lopes
A: Tellez, Lugo, Dean, Davis, (Alford), Loveless, Dawson, Dejong, Cardona
A-: Barreto, Urena, Pentacost, Heidt, Borucki, Labourt, Smoral, Tirado, Lietz
Rk: Jansen, Thomas, Smith, Romano, Huffman

P.S. Interesting fact i learned while looking this up - Dwight Smith is second in the entire midwest league with a 134wrc+. The only guy ahead of him is a 23yr old with a 135wrc+.

uglyone - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#292663) #

And now this has me thinking of age-based "cohorts" in our system.

Let's break it down in 5yr groups. 38+ (last legs), 33-37 (decline), 28-32 (prime), 23-27 (young), 18-22 (prospect).

Using ages as of next year, not this year:

* = free agent or club option

Prospects ------- Young --------- Prime --------- Decline -------- Last Legs

CF Pompey 22 --- Gose 24 ------- Rasmus* 28 --- XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
RF Alford 20 ----- Pillar 26 ------- Mastro 29 ----- Bautista 34 ---- XXXXXXXXX
LF Smith 22 ----- Crouse 24 ----- Cabrera* 30 --- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
3B Nay 21 ------- Lawrie 25 ----- Francisco 28 -- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
SS Urena 19 ----- Goins 27 ------ Reyes 32 ------ XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
2B Barreto 19 --- Burns 24 ------ Tolleson 31 ---- Kawasaki 34* -- XXXXXXXXX
1B Tellez 20 ----- XXXXXXX ----- En'cion 32 ----- Johnson 35* --- XXXXXXXXX
C Pentacost 22 -- Jimenez 25 ---- Navarro 31 ---- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
DH Dean 22 ----- XXXXXXXX ----- Lind 31* ------ XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX

UT Heidt 22 ----- XXXXXXXX ----- Valencia 30 --- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
OF Thomas 19 -- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
IF Lugo 20 ------ XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX
C Janssen 20 --- XXXXXXXX ----- Thole 28 ------ XXXXXXX ------ XXXXXXXXX

SP Sanchez 22 --- Stroman 24 ---- Morrow 30* ---- Buehrle 35 ----- Dickey 40
SP Norris 22 ----- Hutchison 24 --- XXXXXXX ----- Happ 33* ------- XXXXXXXXX
SP Hoffman 22 --- Nolin 25 ------- XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
SP Osuna 20 ----- Graveman 24 --- XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
SP Castro 20 ---- Jenkins 27 ------ XXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX

RP Borucki 21 --- Loup 27 --------- Cecil 28 ------- Janssen 33* ---- XXXXXXXXX
RP Smoral 21 ---- Rasmussen 26 -- Redmond 31 -- McGowan 33* --- XXXXXXXXX
RP Smith 19 ----- Drabek 27 ------- Santos 32* ---- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
RP ReidFoley 19 - Stilson 24 ------- Delabar 31 ---- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
RP Perdomo 21 -- Tepera 27 ------- XXXXXXXXX -- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
RP Labourt 21 --- Cole 25 ---------- XXXXXXXXX -- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX
RP Tirado 21 ----- Boyd 24 -------- XXXXXXXXX -- XXXXXXXX ----- XXXXXXXXX

You know, i think Lind is the only option i'd pick up.

And really the only other free agent i'd be tempted to sign would be melky....but even that isn't a necessity to me, what with his horrible defensive metrics and all of gose, pillar, and pompey showing well.

Otherwise let all the old guys go, even the affordable happ.

PeterG - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 04:45 PM EDT (#292665) #

I'd keep Happ for one year as we need depth in case of injury......it is not wise to break in too many rookies at the same time as they then become FA's or need new contracts at the same time.....better to stagger imo.....Norris and Graveman should spend more time in AAA next year but not necessarily the whole season. I am ok with Nolin in TO if he can make it as a 5th or more likely in the pen.

I don't think Melky is back.....along with Janssen, Morrow, Rasmus.......I like Melky but it now looks as if he may be able to get 5 years and that would be foolish for Jays who could be on verge of a remake......I would prefer a switch hitting DH to Lind if one can be found but would pick up his option as he may have trade value. I think there is a reasonable chance that one of or both of JBO or EE is dealt if younger major league talent can be brought back in return.....I think the team wants to move to less reliance on the HR and more to speed, defence.

greenfrog - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#292667) #

FWIW, Dave Cameron speculated that Melky might accept a QO, given that his market value might be around 3/36 or 3/39 (can't remember exactly what he wrote).

Time will tell, but I would be surprised to see Melky get 5/75 or thereabouts. I don't think teams are as inclined as they used to be to overlook player position, defense, age, etc. And in Melky's case, there is the issue of past PED use, which may increase his perceived risk somewhat.

dan gordon - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 05:29 PM EDT (#292668) #

A lot depends on what alternatives are available in trades or as free agents, to guys like Melky, Happ, Janssen, etc. I like Cabrera, but had been thinking they could let him and Rasmus go, and use a combination of Gose, Pillar and Reimold to start 2015, with Pompey coming up at some time, but now that Reimold has been DFA'd after hitting only .212, I'm really hoping they keep Melky. With the year he's had, though, somebody's going to offer him a long contract - Choo got a 7-year contract last offseason, and he was a year older than Melky will be this offseason.

I'd also pick up McGowan's option. Looking at his numbers as a reliever only for 2013/2014 combined, he's pitched 61 2/3 innings with only 44 hits allowed, 26 walks, 56 K's, an ERA of 2.77 and a WHIP of 1.135. I think he can give you 50+ solid innings at the back end of the bullpen.

With his late season struggles, Janssen may have made himself more affordable. I guess a big question there is why has he been struggling - is it something to do with the illness and weight loss he had a few weeks ago, or is his arm bothering him. I've read that his average velocity is down a fair bit this year, even when he was pitching so well in mid season, so maybe that's a warning flag that he should be avoided.

greenfrog - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 05:37 PM EDT (#292669) #

Choo's performance in 2014 might give teams pause before giving Melky a lengthy/pricey contract.

Paul D - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 05:40 PM EDT (#292670) #

Reimold's now a Diamondback.

PeterG - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 06:35 PM EDT (#292672) #

I believe that 3/39 view on Melky was a few weeks back....There have been recent comments of 5/90 from other observers.....I am sure Jays will give a QO and would likely do 3/39....I don't see team going 5 years whatever the amount.....one year of Melky would allow prospects like Pompey to have a full year in AAA as perhaps he should. The other side of it is that it might fool management into thinking the team is a serious contender when likely it is not....thus stalling other remake moves that might best be made sooner rather than later.

jerjapan - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#292673) #

Ugly, interesting to see Derrick Loveless on your list. He draws lots of walks, but otherwise seems unremarkable to me. Why include him?

And where's Taylor Cole, Fangraphs 'fringe five' leader?

PeterG - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 07:14 PM EDT (#292674) #

Loveless seems worth developing....Cole is trade package material imo.

On the subject of direction, is Bautista not a 10 and 5 before the start of next season amd possibly EE the year after? If so, should that be taken into consideration as far as future moves are concerned. A team can get into a lot of trouble hanging onto to aging players too long as the Phillies have done. If Bautista is indeed a 10 and 5 before next season, I think moving him has to be taken into serious consideration. Does anyone know his status in that respect......I checked on Baseball Reference but there were too many partial seasons to be sure but it did appear that he may well be eligible for hat status.....

TangledUpInBlue - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 08:37 PM EDT (#292676) #

Andrew Stoeten wrote about 10 and 5 rights earlier this week. Bautista hits the mark something like 10 games into next season and Encarnacion in 2015 (don't recall when exactly).

TangledUpInBlue - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 08:46 PM EDT (#292677) #

It's the end of next season for Encarnacion, according to Stoeten.

PeterG - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 08:55 PM EDT (#292678) #

considering that info I think it would be wise to see what we could get for Bautista this off season.......and make a deal if the return is satisfactory. I would be ok with a young makor league OF and a capable 2b with at least 2 years of control or the reverse......Odor + would be nice......

ogator - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 09:04 PM EDT (#292679) #

Gose us having a monster game for Buffalo. HR, 2B and 6 rbis and Pompey is looking like he is going to be the Jays CF sooner rather than later.

PeterG - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 10:17 PM EDT (#292680) #

Pompey would be better off having a complete season in AAA next year as it is a longer learning curve for hitters than for pitchers. Due to service time issues, I would expect Norris and Graveman both to start at AAA though either or both could well find his way to TO at some point during the season. Good to see that Jiminez is back. He has hit a HR tonight. Looking forward to seeing him in September and hoping that he is the back up next season.

John Northey - Thursday, August 28 2014 @ 10:55 PM EDT (#292681) #

Weird game for Graveman. 7 K's, 2 BB, 7 H and 3 R/ER in 5 1/3 IP. His worst game in AAA but by far his highest K total. I wonder if the Jays told him he needs to up the K's or if he has heard that from somewhere and decided to use a different method.

As for Gose... since Pompey arrived in AAA Gose is now 12 for 34 (353) with a double, triple and 2 home runs. 10 R, 13 RBI. 2 BB 10 SO. 8 SB, 2 CS. So outside of the K's he has done very well I'd say in those 8 games. It really seems he needs that fire lit under him, or that is just a weird co-incidence.

TangledUpInBlue - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 08:17 AM EDT (#292682) #

It really seems he needs that fire lit under him, or that is just a weird co-incidence.

Those are the two options, are they? Well let's see what other weird coincidences have been occurring since Pompey joined the Bisons. Cole Gillespie is 10-for-26 (.385!!) with 7 BBs and 0 Ks. Wow! Brett Wallace is 10-for-31 with 4 HRs. That's like 70 HRs over a full season! Ryan Goins is 8-for-18 with 6 doubles! That's right — since Dalton Pompey arrived, Ryan Goins is not only hitting .444, he's getting 75% of his hits for extra bases! This Dalton Pompey is amazing!!! But why isn't anyone talking about his effect on Gillespie, Wallace, and Goins? Because it doesn't tell the story we want to tell? Seriously, Gose may well be the 4th-best hitter on the team since Pompey arrived (excluding Pompey himself).

And actually, those were three of the first four guys I checked so who knows what else is going on. The other guy I checked was Dan Johnson, who's gone 3-for-24 with just 1 BB since Dalton Pompey arrived and crushed his spirits or something. (I can create the details for that storyline if you'd like. Old vet... sees the young kid arrive... realizes one of them has a future and it ain't him... depression... The stories, they write themselves!)

ogator - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 08:47 AM EDT (#292683) #

Why would Pompey benefit from "a full season" in AAA? Is there some part of his game that is especially weak and needs work? Is he weak on defense? Weak on OBP? Is he getting a weak jump on SB attempts? Are AAA pitchers picking him apart?
I remember in the early days Jesse Barfield was on 3B and he got hit by a foul ball while he took his lead in fair territory and he was out and I wondered why they didn't teach him about that in the minors...or maybe in Little League. If Pompey is their best CFer in the spring, then why send him to Buffalo? There is nothing magic about being in AAA. If Pompey is ready, then he shouldn't have to pay some imaginary dues in Buffalo but I'm not in a position to know if he's ready. It is a very interesting question.

John Northey - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 09:23 AM EDT (#292684) #

Checking Gose there is another story mixed in... he was just sent down right as Pompey arrived (a day or two earlier Gose was sent down).

As many have noticed Gose has been a yo-yo this year. Here is how he did with each demotion...
Didn't make team: 242/375/333 - seems to have decided to be a real leadoff hitter
1 ML game, down again: 229/325/286 - appears to still be trying to get to 1B
1 more ML game, down again: 238/256/381
Big ML stretch, down for 3 games: 1-10 with 2 walks
2 weeks up, down again: 267/267/300 line over 30 PA.
Up for a month, now down again: 302/348/512

Probably just co-incidence, but this has been easily his strongest stretch of any period being sent down, with just his first stretch being remotely close (due to high OBP).

What is really of note is just how often he has been sent up and down. This is his 6th stretch in the minors this year. That has to be frustrating, as he has to feel he belongs in the majors by now. How were his ML stretches?
1: 0-2 3 BB
2: 2-4
3: 225/326/275 over 95 PA
4: 217/280/261 over 25 PA
5: 242/333/303 over 76 PA

Nothing 'wow' there, but his 2nd and 5th would be acceptable if he shows elite defense and baserunning. Still, need a bit more power or an OBP over 350 I'd say.

Gose has moved from #1 for CF to #2 I suspect (behind Pompey) with a chance of dropping to #3 (behind Pillar) if he can't get to at least a 350 Slg or OBP. This last demotion he might be seeing that he is falling behind and has to pick it up and show the Jays he is not a AAA player. Or, as mentioned earlier, it might be too much reading of the tea leaves.

John Northey - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#292685) #

Regarding Pompey, or any player who does well at first in AAA, what I recall reading is that players should stay at a level long enough to see a club for a second time as often the scouting reports in the minors are weaker (there are many to track) and the clubs once they see a guy can sometimes pick up on something they can exploit the second time around (ie: first 3 games they try multiple things to get him out, 2nd time they have less experimenting to do). How true that is I don't know, but I have heard it a few times.

short - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 01:31 PM EDT (#292686) #

Does anyone have a list of the players who need protection from the Rule V draft this year?

TangledUpInBlue - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#292687) #

Here's an interesting piece from John Lott. Headline:

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Kendall Graveman finds a new pitch — by accident — and surges through the minors

John Northey - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#292688) #

Cool. A Mariano Rivera with endurance? Nice upside to find all of the sudden. Wouldn't bet on a ML career just yet, let along a HOF one, but boy is that nice. One wonders why they can't teach the cutter to more guys and see advances but I guess it depends on the arm and motion and all that.

dan gordon - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#292691) #

Good to have an explanation for why Graveman improved so dramatically this season. Having a solid reason for it increases the probability that it is something that can be repeated. Maybe even improved on, since it's a brand new pitch for him. I guess he's got to be considered to be in the mix for starts at some point next season. I have to say, despite the disappointment in the big league team falling back after leading the division, the development of several young players has been a big reason for optimism - Stroman, Norris, Pompey, Graveman and Sanchez have all made big strides in the upper minors/majors, and there are quite a few good performances in the lower minors. Hutchison has show flashes of being a good big league pitcher, and hopefully, a year further from TJ, he can be better next year. This is the most I've been interested in the Jays minor league system in a couple of years.

John Northey - Friday, August 29 2014 @ 04:03 PM EDT (#292692) #

I know I'm looking forward to the top 30/100 lists that come out in the winter to see how the Jays minors do this time. Also wondering what AA will do this weekend ... if the Jays sweep the Yankees and Baltimore gets swept or Detroit/Seattle both suck royally this weekend then things get to the point where he could squint and see a shot but boy is that stretching it. Odds are strong that he is trying to find a new home for Buehrle or Dickey right now and hopefully for Janssen/Rasmus/Cabrera (the 3 free agents) with plans to have one of the kids come up and start in September.

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