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If, as a matter of policy, you always read the minor league updates -- or, conversely, you never read them -- then read ahead or don't, as the case may be. If, however, you only read them when it seems that something interesting happened in the minor leagues, then this is a good one to skip, 'cause there just wasn't a whole lot going down last night. I have tried to compensate for the relative absence of news with a surfeit of bad puns, which may only compound the problem.

The links on the game headings are to the BA boxscores.

Syracuse 2-1 at Buffalo 1-3

Vinny Chulk pitched the first complete game of his career in the opener, allowing a lone run on four hits and three walks while striking out four. The complete game would be more of an accomplishment had it been nine innings rather than seven. Simon Pond and Gabe Gross hit back-to-back RBI singles in the sixth to put the SkyChiefs ahead for good. Pond finished 2 for 3, and Jayson Werth went 1 for 4 with a double.

In the nightcap, Mike Smith pitched a six-inning complete game, which is about as impressive as a three-run shutout. Then again, I guess you could also call his game a three-run shutout if you so desired. Jorge Sequea went 2 for 3 with a double.

Harrisburg 1 at New Haven 2

How often does New Haven win when Russ Adams, Dominic Rich, Alexis Rios, and Guillermo Quiroz go 0 for 12 with zero walks? Well, it happened last night. The Ravens scratched out two runs on two singles in the bottom of the second, and Cam Reimers threw six solid innings (6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K) before turning the game over to Pete Bauer and Gustavo Chacin. Shawn Fagan, our own Kevin Youkilis doppelgänger, contributed two hits in three trips to the plate.

Dunedin 5 at Jupiter 4

Jesse Harper had a bit of a rough outing for the D-Jays: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR. He left the game with a 4-1 deficit, which was erased by Ron Davenport's three-run bomb in the top of the seventh. Maikel Jova singled home Jason Waugh in the top of the ninth for the game-winning run. Speaking of Jason Waugh, the man is officially On Fire (in the NBA Jam sense): 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, and two runs. Let's ignore the caught stealing, shall we? (Unless, of course, being thrown out on the base paths causes one to no longer be On Fire.) Aaron Hill went 1 for 4.

Charleston 2 at Rome 10

The Alley Cats failed to follow Cervantes' old maxim, as the Rome Braves hit and pitched well and the Alley Cats, well, didn't. John Wesley pitched unMethodically for three innings, allowing three runs on four hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out only one batter. He's going to have to start Conforming to the organizational philosophy of throwing strikes if he wants to be promoted. Or maybe he's offended the Church of, er, Rome.

I apologize in advance for the above.

Bluefield 5 at Pulaski 0

Pulaski managed only three hits, one by Robinzon Diaz, whose batting average plummeted to .443.
Minor League Update: Not Much to Update | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_John Neary - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 09:29 AM EDT (#95958) #
The Jays have made a few transcations over the past couple of days. Bob File was bumped up to Syracuse, and Auburn's .300-hitting first baseman with good on-base skills and promising power was promoted to Charleston. Who said anything about Vito Chiaravolloti? I'm talking about Clint Johnston, the 15th player chosen in the 1998 draft. Johnston spent five years as a pitcher in the Pirates' system, battling variousinjuries before being taken by the Jays in the minor league portion of the 2001 Rule 5 draft.

If Simon Pond is a longshot, then this guy is Simon Ocean -- he's 26 years old, and he just got promoted to low-A ball, but you've got to root for him.
_John Neary - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 09:29 AM EDT (#95959) #
"Transcations," indeed.
Craig B - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 09:38 AM EDT (#95960) #
NBA Jam! On Fire! *Nothing* is better than being On Fire.
Gerry - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 10:27 AM EDT (#95961) #
I know Chulk has fallen from his prospect status recently. But is there a chance he could make it to the bigs, maybe half-way through 2004? Can he "refine his craft" enough to do it? How is his "stuff"?
Coach - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#95962) #
Gerry, there were rumours in the offseason that Chulk (and Smith) would be in the Syracuse 'pen this year, because their big league futures, assuming they make it, are most likely as relievers. Obviously, they were needed more in the AAA rotation, but I don't think that perception has changed. Vinny could get his Toronto audition next year, but with competition from Smith and the next wave of free agent signings, he'll need to make a very strong impression in spring training.
_John Neary - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 11:14 AM EDT (#95963) #
Coach: Yes, Chulk is going to need a good spring to beat out Creek/Tam/Sturtze versions 2.0 ;)

(I sure hope not!)
_Jabonoso - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 11:50 AM EDT (#95964) #
What is the meaning of " doppelgangër ", is like Fagan minus two years plus .100 obp equals the greek guy?.
It is not the Charleston situation sad? that even worries me, low A should be considered the roots ( rookies being seeds and so on ).
Go Clint! Go! Thank you for the note.
_John Neary - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 01:20 PM EDT (#95965) #
doppelganger DOPP-ul-gang-er, noun:
A spiritual or ghostly double or counterpart; esp., an apparitional double of a living person; a cowalker. Doppelganger is from the German: doppel, double + Gänger, goer.

i.e. Shawn Fagan is doing his best Kevin Youkilis impression, and I felt the need to be pretentious.
_R Billie - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#95966) #
The trouble with low-A ball is that it's mostly high school age kids who are ready to play full season pro baseball. You're seldom going to see the Jays best prospects go there because they'll be college age and probably won't be challenged much more than they are in short-season.

So Charleston will always be kind of second division team, getting the lesser college prospects and some of the few younger guys that the Jays bother to draft. Or reclamation projects like Clint Johnson.

Which is why it seems odd to me that the A's kept Blanton down in low-A for so long. But I guess now that he's in AA, he's not far from the majors if he succeeds there.
_Jordan - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 04:06 PM EDT (#95967) #
The Orioles kept John Maine in Low-A way too long as well. The one thing about JP is that I can't identify any legitimate Jays prospects who've stayed at one level too long. If anything, guys like Russ Adams and Jordan DeJong have moved up more quickly than I would have expected. It could be a sign that he likes to challenge top prospects, or that he's trying to get the talent to the majors as quickly as reasonably possible, or he's just impatient by nature (perhaps all three). It hasn't seemed to be fatal to anyone so far, though, and Adams should only benefit by the early exposure to tough competition. Interesting contrast to other organizations, even the A's.
_R Billie - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#95968) #
I think JP can be guilty of pidgeon-holing people a bit prematurely as well. For instance, his insistence that Kelvim was better used as a reliever than a starter which has never held water.

Before this year began, he said high school draftees like McGowan, League, and Perkins would only move one level per year so as not to rush them. Then he sees them achieve and changes plans mid-year bringing them up, and bringing Adams up to AA despite a so-so performance in the FSL.

It's all subjective though really. For every guy out there that I think is moved too quickly, there's probably three that I've wanted promoted. I probably would have been beside myself if Hill and Vermilyea went the year without a promotion.
_Jabonoso - Wednesday, July 30 2003 @ 06:09 PM EDT (#95969) #
Le'ts hope we are not about to see another Stewart's fiasco with so many promotions...

Low A seems to be perfect ground for landing Dominicans, that do not have the short season requirement, but maybe they have the best coaches/teachers at Auburn and so the best talent also.

oh, by the way I enjoyed the Don Quijote ref. It's been in my head all they the " Acabaramos Sancho, ..." and then refers that you do not mess with the church.
Minor League Update: Not Much to Update | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.