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Another 3 of 4 for the Blue Jay farm as starting pitching (mostly) rules the day.



Scranton 1 @ Syracuse 4

Chad Gaudin pitched 7 excellent scoreless innings and the SkyChiefs rallied for 3 runs in the 7th to shoot down the Red Barons. Along the way Gaudin struck out 7 while surrendering 4 hits (all singles) and two walks. Matt Whiteside chalked up his 3rd save of the campaign with a spotless 9th.

Anton French sparked the rally, drawing a walk with one out and stealing second. Bryant Nelson then tripled him home, and after a Gabe Gross fielder’s choice Chad Mottola drove home the two insurance runs with a dinger to left.

John-Ford Griffin joined Nelson and Mottola as each tallied 2 hit. Catcher Andy Dominique slapped 3 singles in scoring and driving in a run. SS Aaron Hill finally cooled down a little, taking an oh-fer.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Post-Standard



New Hampshire 6 @ Harrisburg 2

Top prospect Josh Banks took to the hill in Harrisburg and didn’t disappoint, delivering 6-2/3 strong innings. Banks struck out 6 Senators, allowing a solo homer and 2 singles, walking 2. Bubbie Buzachero stranded 2 Banks runners, while Lee Gronkiewicz was touched for a meaningless run in a 3-hit 9th.

With Banks shutting down Harrisburg, the Cat hitters got their business done early, scoring 3 runs in the first 2 innings. It was a balanced attack, with no player scoring or driving in more than one run and only LF Ron Davenport not contributing to the 13-hit 4-walk offensive showing. 2B Carlo Cota, DH Kevin Barker, RF Mikael Jova, and C Eric Kratz all stroked doubles, while SS Raul Tablado showed signs of rounding nicely into form with his 2 singles and 2 free passes. Big Vito Chiaravalloti settled for just a single in 5 trips this night. Remember all that concern about New Hampshire's lack of offence? After scoring 14 runs in their first 7 games, the Cats have now run up 24 in their last 5.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Union-Leader



Lakeland 7 @ Dunedin 1

The pitching prospect parade continued in Dunedin, but unfortunately for the Jays it was 2004 #2 overall Justin Verlander that was dominant, not their own #16 Dave Purcey. Though charged with just 1 run on 3 hits, it was a forgettable outing for the big lefty as he lasted only 4 innings and walked 5 Tigers, striking out 3. Justin James didn’t walk anyone in his 3 innings of relief, but he did allow a homer among 4 base hits as Lakeland plated 4. Another 2 Tiger runs were charged to Brad Mumma in the 8th, while Adrian Martin pitched a scoreless 9th.

Meanwhile, Verlander was striking out 9 D-Jays over 7 innings. Adam Lind seemed to have him figured out, driving in the Dunedin run with one of his two doubles off the former Old Dominion star. CF Jayce Tingler and C Robinzon Diaz both managed two singles in the game, while 1B Clint Johnson went 1-for-3 with a walk. Nobody else reached base, including twin ugly lines of 0-for-4, 3K for 2B Ryan Roberts and RF David Smith.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.



Lansing 8 @ Beloit 6

2B Juan Peralta, 3B Jason Armstrong, and LF Cory Patton each drove in 2 runs as the Lugnuts held off Beloit to maintain their hold on first place in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League. Peralta did it with 4 singles, and stole a base as well; Armstrong with 2 doubles and a single; and the General, most efficient of all, did his bit with a home run. Curtis Thigpen, DHing and hitting second, smacked a double in 5 plate appearances.

Aaron Wideman was solid for 6 innings, 3 earned on 5 hits including a homer. He whiffed 4 and walked 1 in earning his first Lugnut W. Jordy Templet was hit around for 3 runs in his inning, but Joey McLaughlin Jr. finished up with 2 scoreless frames for a well-deserved Save.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Recap - Lansing State Journal



Three-Star Selection!

The Third Star: Adam Lind , 4 bases off an otherwise dominant pitcher.

The Second Star: Josh Banks , New Hampshire, 6-2/3, 6-2 K/BB, 3 hits.

The First Star: Chad Gaudin , Syracuse. 7 shutout innings, 7 Ks.

Gaudin, Banks, Wideman: A Win-Win-Win Proposition | 25 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Gerry - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#112599) #
Thanks Jonny.

Merv Rettenmund, the Jays minor league hitting coordinator, was doing the Binghamton/Syracuse shuffle last week. Rettenmund was in Binghamton on Thursday and Saturday, and in Syracuse on Friday, helping to get the hitters on track. It looks like he was helpful.

I believe Purcey hit a couple of batters, in addition to the walks, as he appears to have been really wild.

Chalk up another big plus for Adam Lind, facing a top pitching prospect he notches a couple of doubles; the kid can hit. For those of you who missed my report on Lind last year, picture the sweet swing of Ken Griffey Junior, or Johnny Olerud. Thats what Lind's swing looks like.
Mick Doherty - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:22 AM EDT (#112600) #
to shoot down the Red Barons.

That's funny! You going to nickname Gaudin "Snoopy"?

Sister - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:22 AM EDT (#112601) #
My apologies if this has already been posted, but according to Rotoworld, Jay alumni Adam Peterson has claimed by Detroit.

"Tigers claimed RHP Adam Peterson off waivers from the Diamondbacks and optioned him to Double-A Erie.
Well worth a try. Peterson's control, which was never particularly good, has adandoned him of late, but he still has the potential to develop into a setup man."

NYJaysFan36 - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#112602) #
Interesting twist on the Hillenbrand trade. Looks like the Jays did pretty well on that one.

I went to Syracuse Saturday. Chris Baker looked really good. Most of the Chiefs bats, especially Justin Singleton, did not. A lot of luck played into their 4 run 7th, including balls off the mound and sloppy fielding.
Singleton struck out twice against left-handers Sean Fesh and Eude Brito. It was like he just wasn't seeing the ball against the lefties.
Aaron Hill had some trouble defensively as well, pulling Crozier off the bag (his 5th error) and bobbling a few. I'm told he has since made his 6th error.
Lefty reliever Adrian Burnside had a pretty solid outing, striking out 2 of the 4 batters he faced.
uglyone - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#112603) #
I have a feeling that trading Cash for Gaudin is going to turn out to be one of J.P.'s greatest trades.

This kid is really, really good....and young.
R Billie - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 11:44 AM EDT (#112614) #
The question with Gaudin is whether he has a pitch to use against lefties or if his slider is good enough to bury them. If he can handle lefties he can start. If he can't he can probably be a pretty decent reliever and the Jays can always use depth there. Either way he was a pretty good return for a catcher who at this point profiles as a defensive backup.
Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 12:39 PM EDT (#112622) #
Casey Janssen has been named Midwest Pitcher of the week. I don't think it is going to be long and he is going to be moving up to Dunedin or possibly even New Hampshire. His ERA after three starts is 0.47. It just isn't doing him any good to pitch at this level.
Marc Hulet - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 01:01 PM EDT (#112625) #
I agree that Janssen should be promoted aggressively, especially since he was a college senior pick, who is a fair bit older than his competition. I would like to see him challenged.
Mike Green - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 01:28 PM EDT (#112628) #
Tonight's action:

Syracuse (Rosario) at Pawtucket 6:05
New Hampshire (Perkins) at Harrisburg 6:05
Dunedin (Z. Jackson) at Lakeland 7:00
West Michigan at Lansing (Cheng) 6:05

And our tongue-twister of the day: a parade of pitching prospects picked a crop of crisp potatoes.
Gerry - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#112629) #
If you were to move Janssen up to Dunedin who would get bumped out of the rotation? Purcey and Jackson are first round picks; MacDonald pitched a one hitter over seven innings last time out; Isenberg pitched a one hitter over six innings last time out; and Davis Romero gave up 2 runs on four hits over six innings his last time.

Janssen will stay in Lansing through mid season, unless there is an injury. Baseball time works more slowly, and the hitters might catch up to Janssen, so lets not get carried away yet.
Nigel - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#112632) #
I don't think Syracuse is playing tonight. Their website says that they have the day off today and will be in Pawtucket tomorrow night. I also can't see the game listed anywhere.
Mike Green - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#112633) #
Thanks, Nigel, for the correction.
Sister - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 03:04 PM EDT (#112634) #
It certainly is nice to be a fan of the Jays organization with all of these solid pitching prospects starting at all four levels of the minors. So much depth!

Now if we could only see a few more top notch power bat prospects in the system to balance things out.
Mike Forbes - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#112637) #
Hopefully we can grab a nice power prospect in this years draft...
Dunny - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 05:16 PM EDT (#112642) #
Wow, great pitching right down the line tonight..
R Billie - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 05:40 PM EDT (#112644) #
Looks like Gaudin also has a nice changeup according to this Syracuse Post Standard article which also says he altered his delivery from last year to allow him better location and more tilt on the slider.

Gaudin had a great season as a 19 year old in low-A in 2002:
2.26 era, 26 g, 17 gs, 119.1 ip, 106 h, 5 hr, 37 bb, 106 k

He followed that up with an even better season as a 20 year old in 2003 between high-A and AA ball.
high-A: 2.13 era, 14 g, 14 gs, 80.1 ip, 63 h, 2 hr, 23 bb, 70 k
AA: 0.47 era, 3 g, 3 gs, 19 ip, 8 h, 0 hr, 3 bb, 23 k

His time in high-A included a complete game and his brief stint in AA included a complete game shutout. It's no surprise that the D-Rays were high on Gaudin at the time. Clearly this was a guy with good stuff who also had command.

What is harder to understand is their decision to promote a 20 year old pitcher directly to the majors after three AA starts instead of doing the logical thing and promoting him to AAA. His AA performance was tremendous although it was only 19 innings. But for service time reasons alone there was little reason to rush a young arm up that fast.

The Tigers did the same thing in bringing up Bonderman at least a year and probably a year and a half too early. Fortunately it didn't matter much for Bonderman but it will matter for the Tigers as he will be arbitration eligible after THIS year at the age of 22. Bonderman is actually about six months older than Gaudin although his stuff and size give him a much higher ceiling.

To Gaudin's credit he didn't embarrass himself in the major leagues that year though his peripheral numbers took an expected dive after the jump:
3.60 era, 15 g, 3 gs, 40 ip, 37 h, 4 hr, 16 bb, 23 k

Decent, especially considering his age and next to no experience above A-ball. But not the numbers of a pitcher you'd expect to be successful in the long run, particularly the command. 2004 was rougher in both the majors and the minors though again not terrible for a 21 year old. His command wasn't there though and his pitches were flat.

So the Jays buy low on a guy that seems to have very good possibilities and a new delivery and better bite and location on his pitches has gotten him off to a solid start. Getting him for Kevin Cash has the potential to turn out as much value as the Kielty for Lilly trade ending up providing.

By July, Gaudin could be in the big league rotation or he could be used as bait to bring in an established player or a good prospect at a position of need. Any way you slice it, I think JP has managed to turn an older asset with some question marks in Cash into a very young and polished asset with good upside in Gaudin.

Gaudin's story actually reminds me a bit of Brandon Lyon who also zoomed up the ladder at a young age, had a tough season and was put on waivers. Boston picked him up and made him part of the Curt Schilling package after he made some adjustments and started throwing harder with the same command. Now Lyon appears to be a competent closer in Arizona. It seems players ahead of the age curve need to be cut a bit of slack. The Jays did so for four years with Chacin in AA.

#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 07:54 PM EDT (#112660) #
Top 6th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3. Jason Bergmann pitching for Harrisburg.

Starter Rich Rundells line 5IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 4K

* Ron Davenport fouls out to 3rd - 1 OUT
* Vito Chiaravalloti singles to left past the diving 3B Sean Norris
* Erik Kratz called out on strikes - 2 OUT
* Ron Acuna (1 for 3 with a run scored) walks, Chiaravalloti advances to 2nd
* Wild pitch advances Chiaravalloti to 3rd and Acuna to 2nd
* Carlo Cota, who belted a 3-run HR to tie the game, walks on a 3-2 pitch, bases load
* Next batter (Kevin Barker?) grounds out to 2nd - 3 OUT

After 5 1/2 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3
#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 07:59 PM EDT (#112663) #
Bottom 6th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3. Josue Matos pitching for New Hampshire.

* Marcus Nettles bunt attempt - thrown out by 3B Rob Cosby - 1 OUT
* Drew McMillan is retired - 2 OUT
* Brandon Watson grounds out to 2B Carlo Cota - 3 OUT

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base

After 6 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3
#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 08:11 PM EDT (#112671) #
* Mikael Jova (2-for-3, 2 singles) pops up in the infielder - 1 OUT
* Robert Cosby called out on strikes - 2 OUT
* Raul Tablado strikes out swinging - 3 OUT

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base

Stretch time in Harrisburg - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3

Bottom 7th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3. Josue Matos pitching for New Hampshire.

* Rich Lane called out on strikes - 1 OUT - 4 K's for Matos, 9 K's for NH pitchers
* Next batter pops up to 3B Rob Cosby - 2 OUT
* Melvin Nieves flies out to right - 3 OUT

Josue Mators - 9 batters faced, 9 batters retired

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base

After 7 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3
#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 08:23 PM EDT (#112676) #
Top 8th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3. Jason Bergmann pitching for Harrisburg.

* Ron Davenport singles to right-centre, ball mishandled by the outfielder, Davenport advances to 2nd.

Chris Schroeder warming up in the Harrisburg bullpen.

* Vito Chiaravalloti grounds out to first 3-1, Davenport advances to 3rd - 1 OUT
* Erik Kratz gets an infield single off the glove of 3B Shawn Norris with the infield in - Davenport holds at 3rd
* Ron Acuna (1-3, walk, run scored)
* Carlo Cota lines out to 2B Edgar Gonzales and Erik Kratz is tagged out - double play - 2 OUT & 3 OUT

0 runs, 2 hits, 1 errors, 1 left on base

After 7 1/2 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3


#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 08:40 PM EDT (#112681) #
Bottom 8th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 3. Josue Matos pitching for New Hampshire.

* Craig Kuzmic singles to centre

Steve Andrade heating up in the New Hampshire bullpen

* Shawn Norris flies out to right - 1 OUT
* Melvin Dorta singles to left, Kuzmic advances to 2nd

Steve Andrade relieves Josue Matos.

* Marcus Nettles singles off the glove of P Steve Andrade -
Kuzmic advances to 3rd, Dorta advances to 2nd, Bases Loaded
* Drew McMillan hits a sac fly to right - Kuzmic SCORES - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 4
* Brandon Watson flies out to centre - 3 OUT

1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base

After 8 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 4


#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 08:42 PM EDT (#112682) #
Top 9th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 4. Chris Schroeder pitching for Harrisburg.

* Carlo Cota strikes out swinging on 3 pitches, unable to lay off a high fastball - 1 OUT
* Kevin Barker strikes out swinging - 2 OUT
* Mikael Jova strikes out swinging - 3 OUT

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base

After 8 1/2 innings - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 4
#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 09:02 PM EDT (#112701) #
Bottom 9th - New Hampshire 4 Harrisburg 4. Steve Andrade pitching for New Hampshire.

* Rich Lane sharply singles to right on a 3-2 pitch
* Edgar Gonzalez sacrifices Lane to 2nd 3-4, Big Vito's throw was a little high but Carlo Cota brought it down - 1 OUT
* Melvin Nieves intentionally walked

Jordan DeJong now pitching for New Hampshire.

DeJong's numbers to date...3G, 0-1, 9.00

* Craig Kuzmic, first-pitch swinging, bounces out to 1B Vito Chiaravalloti, who makes the play unassisted, Lane advances to 3rd, Nieves advances to 2nd - 2 OUT
* Shawn Norris singles to right on a 3-2 pitch to right field past a diving 1B Vito Chiaravalotti - Rich Lane SCORES

1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base

Final Score - Harrisburg 5 New Hampshire 4


#2JBrumfield - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 09:10 PM EDT (#112709) #
Post Game Wrap Up

Harrisburg 5
New Hampshire 4
WP - Chris Schroeder
LP - Steve Andrade
HR - Melvin Nieves, HAR; Carlo Cota, NH - 3 run homer
Other NH run - Raul Tablado, RBI single

Time - 2:52
Paid Attendance - 2,722
Stellers Jay - Tuesday, April 19 2005 @ 10:15 PM EDT (#112789) #
Casey Jannsen has garnered a little attention for his impressive start. He was "listed in the team photo" section of Baseball America's first Prospect Hot Sheet of the year.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/hotsheet2005.html
Gaudin, Banks, Wideman: A Win-Win-Win Proposition | 25 comments | Create New Account
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