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After watching the Jays bats struggle all night at Skydome, I got home to find out that the bats were very much alive down in the minors. 4 wins as all 6 affiliates were in action for the first time this year.

Curtis Thigpen's Longhorns take on Georgia in the College World Series semifinals today at 1:00pm.

Columbus 8 Syracuse 3

The Skychiefs are nearly as depleted as their parent club and it’s showing as they sit tied for last place in their division. Sean Douglass gave up 5 runs, 3 of which were earned, in 6 innings while Chris Baker gave up 2 more runs in relief. Kevin Frederick loaded the bases in the 9th but escaped unscathed in his 1 inning.

Gabe Gross went 3 for 4 and drove in a run while Glenn Williams hit his 16th homerun of the season in the bottom of the first.

Box score
Game story


New Hampshire 8 Bowie 2

The Fisher Cats blasted four solo homeruns in their victory to remain 5 games back in their division. The long balls came from Anton French, John-Ford Griffin, Dominic Rich, and Mike Snyder. Rich and French both fell a triple short of the cycle while Griffin added a pair of singles.

Gustavo Chacin went 5.1 innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and struck out 6. Newcomer Jamie Vermilyea finished things off with 3.2 innings perfect innings with 3 K's for his first AA save.

Box score
Game story


Dunedin 3 Palm Beach 5

Dunedin’s newest members had the best showings for the baby Jays. Shawn Marcum fired six strong innings with 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts and a big ‘ole goose egg in the walks column while Ryan Roberts went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Ron Davenport had his 9th homerun of the season and drove in all three D-Jays runs while Tracy Thorpe came on in the seventh and promptly gave up 3 runs and was charged with the loss.

Box score


Charleston 3 Hickory 2

Jermy Acey also had a good debut for his new team as he had 4 singles in 5 at-bats. However it was Joey Reiman who provided the heroics with a three run shot in the ninth to steal the lead and the game from Hickory. Tom Mastny didn’t get the callup with his teammates but may have pushed himself to the front of the queue for the next promotion with his performance: 7 innings, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 4 hits and no walks.

Box score
Game story


Mahoning Valley 0 Auburn 11

Mike McDonald (5 innings, 3 K’s, 0 hits), Danny Hill (1 inning), Joey McLaughlin (1 inning, 2 K’s), and Chris Neylan (2 innings) combined to shut out the Scrappers and take the home and home series 3-2.

10th rounder Brian Hall debuted with a single, double and 2 walks. Erik Kratz had 3 hits and Chip Cannon hit what will hopefully be the first of many homeruns in his professional career.

Box score


Pulaski 19 Princeton 2

The Jays had some help from Princeton in this 19-2 routing. 7 of Pulaski's runs were unearned on 5 errors. 13 of the 15 Jays to appear in the lineup reached base in this one. Leading the way was Luke Hetherington who reached base 4 times, scored 4 times and drove in 2. Josh Lex had the only long ball of the night.

There was a lot of interest in Pulaski pitchers Briant Grant and Edwards Rodriguez entering this season and they did not dissappoint in their debuts. 5 shutout innings, 6 K's for Grant and 2 shutout innings with 4 K's for Rodriguez.

Box score


Three-Star Selection!

Whew, this is getting hard with so many teams in action.

The 3rd Star Brian Grant: 5 shutout innings with 6 K's in his first start of the year.

The 2nd Star Tom Mastny: 7 shutout innings

The 1st Star Joey Reiman: 2 walks and a 'clutch' 9th inning 3 run homer.

Minor League Update: June 23 | 51 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Packjay - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#55766) #
Watch out for Brian Grant. This kid is finally coming of age.
_Jordan - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:06 AM EDT (#55767) #
You think Mastny is sending a message to the Jays' front office? Nonetheless, the sense I get is that his raw stuff and command lag behind both Marcum and James, which is why he's still in Charleston (plus the fact that the Alley-Cats still need an ace starter). I think he'll be along in good time.

He got beaten up pretty good last night, but Tracy Thorpe is quietly putting together one heck of a comeback season. In 31 innings, he's allowed just 19 hits, striking out 28. His only Achilles heel so far is his control -- 16 walks -- but shaky command is to be expected from someone coming off surgery and a long layoff. Keep a close eye on him.
_Finn McCool - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:16 AM EDT (#55768) #
It's good to see Brian Grant get off to a good start in Pulaski, but this is his third straight year in Pulaski so hopefully he'll get on a roll and be promoted to Auburn some time this summer.
_dp - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:17 AM EDT (#55769) #
Grffin is getting it together, eh? Would be nice if he put himself back on the chart, especially with Phelps sucking/not playing...
_Mike in CT - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#55770) #
The things us Jays fans all have to hang our hats on is how well the lower minors league affiliates have performed with J.P's draft picks making up the rosters. Hopefully they'll all continue to develop through the upper levels of the system and eventually to Toronto. That's the best shot we have at being a perenial contender. I just hope Tampa Bay doesn't keep developing all these top prospects. They could be a team to be reckoned with and Baltimore will spend the money to bring in talent so they can't be taken for granted. It's definitely going to be a challenge for the Jays.
_Christopher - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:33 AM EDT (#55771) #
Gross is strictly DHing due to an injury, no?
Is he scheduled for offseason surgery, and if so, what's his downtime estimated to be?
_Jacko - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:41 AM EDT (#55772) #
Griffin's looks like he's turned the corner. His season is a bit reminiscent of Gabe Gross in 2002. I'm guessing he's hitting a lot of balls right at people, and then pressing too much as a result (which is probably causing him to strike out more). His slugging and walk rate have both been fine. He hit for a high batting average in college, so I don't think there's any danger of him turning into Rob Deer (or Josh Phelps, for that matter).
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:42 AM EDT (#55773) #
As far as I've heard, no surgery is imminent but remains a possibility if the elbow doesn't heal itself.
_Marc - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#55774) #
It's great to see Pulaski and Auburn doing quite well but, especially with Pulaski, they're playing in a league with 18 and 19-year-olds. Pulaski is mostly made up of 21 to 23-year-olds. One of the downsides of only drafting college players and having a rookie level team. The Jays should really have two short season teams, but I think baseball rules prohibit that now.
_R Billie - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#55775) #
High batting average at low competition levels (which college is compared to high levels of pro ball) is no guarantee of later success. Still it's hard to believe that a guy that hit .400 with power in a season of college can fall off that much. Griffin's strikeout rate is scary, very Jack Cust like.
_Marc - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#55776) #
That's an apt comparison... Griffin to Cust, although Cust has much more raw power. Griffin needs to get back to what made him successful in college. The homeruns will come with solid, consistent contact.
Craig B - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#55777) #
Marc, I think you'd be surprised to see how close to the league average the P-Jays are. Johnson City, Kingsport, Elizabethton (at least the staff) are all pretty close in age to the P-Jays. The Kingsport Mets are probably the oldest team in the Appy.
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 11:44 AM EDT (#55778) #
Klosterman arrived and DHed for Auburn during last night's game.
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#55779) #
Davis Romero gets the start tonight for Charleston. I wonder if he'll be moved to the rotation permanently in light of the departures of James and Marcum (with Isenberg presumably filling in the other rotation slot).
_JohnnyS99 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 02:59 PM EDT (#55780) #
Wells its eitehr Romero or Mumma, Romera has proven himself as starter in spot duty and bieng one of the top k guys in his rookie year for Medicine Hat where he also started.
Craig B - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#55781) #
Texas are trailing Georgia 5-0 in the third inning at the CWS semifinal.
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:14 PM EDT (#55782) #
Down at the CWS, Curtis Thigpen doubled in his first at bat but was stranded. He just came around to score though on a Teagarden homerun after singling in his second at-bat. Longhorns trail 5-3 after 3.
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#55783) #
http://www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/gamecenter/boxscore/cws/11
Oh yeah, COMN for the live stats/play by play for that game.
_Rob - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#55784) #
5-3 Georgia, Texas within two now, after:

- Hollimon leadoff homer in the 3rd
- Two outs, then Thigpen singled to left field
- Next batter, Teagarden, 2 run homer

Top 5th now, Georgia batting.
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#55785) #
Thigpen is hit by a pitch in his 3rd plate appearance after a Johnston homerun. 5-4 Georgia after 5.
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:52 PM EDT (#55786) #
Thigpen guns down Bobby Felmy trying to steal 2nd in the 6th. Felmy is the first runner to challenge Thigpens arm so far.
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#55787) #
Check that, Georgia actually stole 3 bases in the 3rd inning. (2 on a double steal)
_Ryan01 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 04:05 PM EDT (#55788) #
Through six innings Thigpen has reached base 4 times with a double, single, HBP and intentional walk. Longhorns lead 6-5.
Gerry - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 04:34 PM EDT (#55789) #
The new Charleston rotation is set. Mastny and Core remain. Isenberg and Mumma move in. Ramon Mora has been released. Davis Romero is now a starter.
_Jordan - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 04:49 PM EDT (#55790) #
Ramon Mora has been released. Davis Romero is now a starter.

The first is not unexpected, and the second is great news. Romero will be held to low pitch counts for quite a while, I would suspect, as he stretches out his arm. I'm looking forward to this.
Gerry - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 04:55 PM EDT (#55791) #
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv%5C6874.html
Syracuse had brought back Anthony Sanders who was previously in the Jays minor league system. They obtained him fro Colorado for a PTBNL.

COMN to read a story of the jays minor leaguers returning to Pulaski for their second time through.
_MatO - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 05:02 PM EDT (#55792) #
With all due respect to James and Marcum, Davis Romero has been Charleston's best pitcher. I hope they give him a taste of Dunedin this year.
_MatO - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#55793) #
Texas has won 7-6. Thigpen went 3-3 with a W and HBP and is now I think 9-12 in the CWS.
_Finn McCool - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 06:29 PM EDT (#55794) #
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/040623bush.html
Matt Bush may have even more problem's than he thought. BA is reporting that the Padres are looking into voiding Bush's Contract COMM
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 06:36 PM EDT (#55795) #
Jordan, you and I both will be holding our breath with Davis Romero. He's just 21 and he's slight, so I agree that nice and easy is a wise approach.
_Jordan - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#55796) #
Gerry, thanks for the link to the Pulaski article -- very well written. Nick Thomas is my pre-season sleeper among the short-season players: he has power, patience and youth going for him. That groin injury could be problematic, but if he's healthy, he should pound the ball.

Any other nominees for short-season sleepers?
_Ryan Day - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 06:50 PM EDT (#55797) #
Matt Bush may have even more problem's than he thought. BA is reporting that the Padres are looking into voiding Bush's ContractMatt Bush may have even more problem's than he thought. BA is reporting that the Padres are looking into voiding Bush's Contract

Wow. I'm sure it won't actually come to voiding the contract, but what impact would that have on the Padres? IIRC, if you can't sign your first-round pick, you get a compensation pick; would this have the same effect?

Funny things happen when you give an 18 year-old $3 million.
_Finn McCool - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 07:01 PM EDT (#55798) #
I don't think voiding Bush's contract would accomplish much, it would just make him a free agent and he would sign with another team. If they want to punish him they should suspend him for the rest of the year and hope he comes back with a better attitude.
_JohnnyS99 - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 07:10 PM EDT (#55799) #
Good Article on Puluski. I can understand why Nick Thomas was upset , after the year he had.

"I was upset the first day, but after it kind of left me I said, 'Hey, I'll just go play,'" Thomas said. "You can't really do anything about it so I'll just go play and do my best.
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 23 2004 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#55800) #
Dunedin lost to Palm Beach 7-1. As I feared, Tablado was moved to short, and responded with 0-4 including 3 Ks. There is better news coming out of New Hampshire, Charleston and Auburn.
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:17 AM EDT (#55801) #
What a debut for lefty Chi Hung Cheng 5 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 9ks. Another Solid Relief appearance by Adrian Martin 2 ip, 0 runs, 3ks. It looks like no matter how sucessfull you are, if you are under 20 or under, you get put back in rookie ball another year.
_R Billie - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:21 AM EDT (#55802) #
Edward Rodriguez had a fine debut in relief last night for Pulaski. Tonight the other big international name, lefty Chi Hung Cheng, started for P-Jays and pitched 5 innings giving up an unearned run on 3 hits. He walked one and struck out 9. Draft and follow signee Adrian Martin followed up with two perfect innings including three strikeouts. Neither got the decision but that's some pretty fine pitching from two new guys.

The team blew a 4-1 lead in the 8th inning but came back from a one run deficit to take a 7-5 lead in the 9th.
_DJ - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:41 AM EDT (#55803) #
It looks like no matter how sucessfull you are, if you are under 20 or under, you get put back in rookie ball another year.


Neither Martin nor Cheng pitched in rookie ball last year. Who are you talking about?
_Sneeps - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:47 AM EDT (#55804) #
Isn't Cheng the guy with the "deformed" arm?
_R Billie - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:57 AM EDT (#55805) #
That was a rumour supposedly coming from a former coach of Cheng's. If that's deformed then he don't wanna be formed.
robertdudek - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 12:59 AM EDT (#55806) #
"If they want to punish him they should suspend him for the rest of the year and hope he comes back with a better attitude."

I don't know if sitting on your ass with $3 million for a year is particularly motivating.

They shouldn't suspend him - at least not for a long time. They should just work him extra hard on drills, day in day out.
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 10:33 AM EDT (#55807) #
Neither Martin nor Cheng pitched in rookie ball last year. Who are you talking about?

Huh, Who am I talking about?? hmmm..how about Nick Thomas? Hetherington? THey both had sucess last year. How about Brian Grant, Russell Savicas, Juan Perez, Yesson Beroa, Even Older players who had sucess were held back just cause of crowded roster. Is that enough names for you DJ ?
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 10:36 AM EDT (#55808) #
Wait DJ, you can add Vancamper to that list, who actually was promoted to Auburn last year, but is back in Pulaski this year. You can also add Yuber Rodriguez too. DJ dIdnt you read that article from Pulaski yesterday that someone posted?
_Sneeps - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 10:45 AM EDT (#55809) #
Of all the names you mentioned JohnnnnnnnnyS99, Nick Thomas was the only guy worthy of a promotion. The problem is, we drafted far too many 1st baseman this year, and they are older than him. So I guess he's just going to have to stick it out in Rookie ball since there's no room for him in Auburn.
Craig B - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 10:53 AM EDT (#55810) #
Even Older players who had sucess were held back just cause of crowded roster

Well what should they do? Release them? Trade them to Tampa Bay? Form a ragtag team of fun-loving barnstormers to tour the small towns of the Old Midwest? Burn them to heat the Fisher Cats clubhouse?
_Brent - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 10:59 AM EDT (#55811) #
Well what should they do? Release them? Trade them to Tampa Bay? Form a ragtag team of fun-loving barnstormers to tour the small towns of the Old Midwest?

I like the third option. That has sitcom written all over it. ;)
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 11:18 AM EDT (#55812) #
"(Of all the names you mentioned JohnnnnnnnnyS99, Nick Thomas was the only guy worthy of a promotion. The problem is, we drafted far too many 1st baseman this year, and they are older than him. So I guess he's just going to have to stick it out in Rookie ball since there's no room for him in Auburn."

I disagree, SNeeeeeeeps! Russell Savickas, Brian Grant could of been promoted to Auburn, which is the usual next step for a high school pick. Juan Perez and Yesson Beroa pitched good enough for a promotion last year too. Vancamper was their best infield prospect last year and did get promoted the final week, but with JP drafting college players frequently they would have to be placed in the more advanced league. Wasnt that whole article in Pulaski about players who had sucess bieng held back?
_johnnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 11:19 AM EDT (#55813) #
Its quite clear, that JP and the gang prefer the younger players (non 4 year colleges) to play multi years at rookie ball, call it the JP college if you wish.
_R Billie - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 11:40 AM EDT (#55814) #
You might be right but I find it hard to believe that they would hold back a younger player for no reason. Robinson Diaz is playing in Charleston this year but he also plays a less common position.

Eventhough JP oversees things I also think Dick Scott would have most of the say about where people go. Eventually these young guys repeating a level should master it to the point where they force a move to be made. If you're under 20 you have to displace the older players. That's just how things break down with the recent college heavy approach.

I think the Jays also recognize that though and after maybe one more draft I think JP sees them taking more younger, high ceiling guys early to give the log jam in the lower-middle portions of the system time to clear.
_Sneeps - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 11:44 AM EDT (#55815) #
Brian Grant: 2W 5L, 4.80 ERA 54.1 IP, 64 hits, 27 BB, 40 K's
Russ Savickas: 3W 3L, 4.28 ERA 54.2 IP, 52 hits, 22 BB, 39 K's
Juan Perez: 4W 6L, 4.48 ERA 64.1 IP, 71 hits, 12 BB, 35 K's
Yesson Berroa: 6W 2L, 3.86 ERA 63 IP, 72 hits, 20 BB, 39 K's
Eugenio Vancamper: .258, .291 OBP, 2 HR, 8 BB, 49 K's

Johnny, these players did NOT warrant a promotion.
_JohnnyS99 - Thursday, June 24 2004 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#55816) #
I disagree sneeps. Alot of these guys would at least be in Auburn in other organizations (brian Grant, Savicks, Berroa). David Hanson made a simmilar jump to Auburn after having so so numbers in Medicine hat. Didnt Rosario jump to Charleston after having mediocre numbers in Medicine hat as well. The Bottom line is JP is taking his time with the younger pitchers, its obvious.
Minor League Update: June 23 | 51 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.