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Minor League Update Winckowski Is The Dude!
An organizational sweep thanks to Lansing! New Hampshire's doubleheader and Dunedin's singleheader were washed out. Buffalo had the night off. #LetsGoBlueJays


Lansing 4 West Michigan 2

The Lugnuts bats came alive just in time for Josh Winckowski as they scored three times in the seventh to snap a 1-1 tie. McGregory Contreras singled home the tie-breaking run before a bunt single by Tanner Kirwer and a throwing error by the first baseman brought in what turned out to be the winning and insurance runs. Lansing opened the scoring on a Rafael Lantigua triple in the second. Podkul had the other Lugnuts extra-base hit with a double as part of a two-hit game. Lantigua and Contreras also had a pair of hits apiece. Otto Lopez drew the lone walk. Reggie Pruitt, Hagen Danner (subbing in for Jordan Groshans who was a late scratch), Ryan Gold and Jake Brodt were 0-for-4.

Josh Winckowksi pitched seven innings and scattered five hits, a walk and two hit by pitches. He had just one 1-2-3 inning so there were a lot of ins, a lot of outs and what-have-yous but he struck out four to go along with 13 outs on the green rug that ties the stadium together. Cre Finfrock was nicked for a run in the eighth but got a nice diving stop by Podkul at second to limit the damage. Finfrock struck out two against two hits and a walk. Jackson Rees survived a hit and a walk and struck out one to earn his first professional save.




*** 3 Stars!!! ***

3. Nick Podkul, Lansing

2. Rafael Lantigua, Lansing

1. Josh Winckowski, Lansing


Extra Innings...
  • The Varsity has an article on Cavan Biggio.
  • The Buffalo News shines the spotlight on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
  • C's Plus Baseball checks in with Lansing lefty Marcus Reyes on C's Chat.
Posted by #2JBrumfield on Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 12:02 AM EDT.
Winckowski Is The Dude! | 15 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
dalimon5 - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 08:20 AM EDT (#374043) #
That movie reference in the title is a bit of a reach. A for effort though good job.
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bpoz - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#374053) #
The weather so far is good enough to "PLay Ball". Lansing up 3-1 in the 1st inning so far.
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#374057) #
Nick Podkul was someone I mentioned as my top sleeper in Lansing a few years back, I would love to see him promoted to Dunedin mid-season to see fi he is a real prospect.
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bpoz - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#374058) #
Sopko is going to pitch for Buffalo tonight. Y Diaz and Pearson for NH double header. No rain I hope.
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jerjapan - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 02:04 PM EDT (#374059) #
I like the title.  It really ties the thread together. 
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Jdog - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 02:59 PM EDT (#374060) #
Personally I don’t have much hope for Hagen Danner as a hitter and seeing as he was viewed as a potential high round pick as a pitcher would rather see him converted to the mound sooner than later.
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scottt - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 04:46 PM EDT (#374065) #
The Big Winckowski  would have worked for me.

Dude is 6'4".

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hypobole - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 05:05 PM EDT (#374066) #
Fangraphs latest Mock Draft has the Jays taking Jackson Rutledge at #11.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mock-draft-2-0/
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scottt - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#374068) #
He has a chance to be the highest-drafted junior college pitcher this
century, a distinction that currently belongs to righthander Phil
Bickford, whom the Giants took 18th overall in 2015.
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 07:45 PM EDT (#374069) #
The interesting tidbit here is that Texas potenially has a plan to go underslot for Baty and then his prep teammate Jimmy Lewis is the second round. I didn't see Baty as a good stand alone pick at 11, but a two for one like Groshans/Kloffenstein could be why the Jays has interest in Baty.

Rudlege or Manoah will likely be the top pitchers available, and would be good picks if they go bpa.
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scottt - Tuesday, May 14 2019 @ 08:08 PM EDT (#374070) #
BA has Rutlege 18th. I don't know that he's the best player available. He's a big, disciplined kid who hasn't put much on his arm because of a hip injury. Nate Pearson was 28th overall, so who knows. Warmoth was 22nd.
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Shoeless Joe - Wednesday, May 15 2019 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#374096) #
Well its really more my opinion than actual fact, and I understand the Jays have drafted well and know what they are doing but I enjoy to speculate.

I like Manoah and Rutledge more than any other pitchers in the draft, and the high end hitters seems to dry up up right before the Jays draft. Monoah dominated the cape cod league which I am sure the Jays value, but they've showed they are not afraid of the JUCO pitchers with Pearson. If they Jays go with a hitter I like Corbin Carrol more than the other high school hitters.
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bpoz - Wednesday, May 15 2019 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#374113) #
The draft is just under 3 weeks from now. Keep speculating Shoeless Joe. I too love the speculation.

Can you think of Rutledge and a high upside 2nd pick that is affordable? In 2017 Pearson and H Danner were a good 2,3 selection. I preffered Danner pitching. The next selections of R Adams, K Smith, C Large, B Lundquist and #9 Z Logue have all done very well so far.
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Shoeless Joe - Wednesday, May 15 2019 @ 11:54 AM EDT (#374117) #
It is difficult to predict who the Jays take in the second round because it depends if they go full slot on the first pick. The fact they were in on Baty makes me think they are at least looking into underslot signing to get a better prospect in round 2.

However I think this front office is looking at players who have hit well in the cape cod league, have bloodlines or have hit well in the summer circuit generally. They haven't focused much on athletic position players, and seem to not mind trading questionable hit tools for power tools.

Kyle Stowers is a player who I think the Jays will be interested in at #52 or even #88, as he has hit very well in the cape cod league and has been hitting better as the college season moves on. He is comparable to Griffen Conine.

Will Holland is somebody I think they target in rounds 3-4 as he has had a rough spring, but again hit well in the cape cod league. He is comparable to Kevin Smith.

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Shoeless Joe - Wednesday, May 15 2019 @ 12:02 PM EDT (#374118) #
Sammy Siani is high school hitter who hit well on the showcase circuit who could be available at 52 as well.
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Winckowski Is The Dude! | 15 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.