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Josh Towers' K/BB ratio may be the talk of the town, but Shaun Marcum and Casey Janssen aren't far behind. It was a 2-2 night on the farm.

Syracuse 1, Ottawa 5

Brandon League continued to struggle, lasting 4.1 innings and yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, a walk, no strikeouts and a wild pitch. It wasn’t a terrible evening for League but it just not the type of outing we would have expected from him 7 months ago. Spike Lundberg would also probably prefer to forget last night as he gave up another two runs in the sixth during his 2.2 innings of relief. Mike Nannini pitched a fairly meaningless but solid ninth inning. Aaron Hill drove in the only run for the Skychiefs with a double in the first inning while John-Ford Griffin was held hitless but drew a walk.

The biggest Skychiefs news came from JP on the FAN 590 as we learned that Guillermo Quiroz suffered another collapsed lung. He underwent surgery to hopefully prevent this from happening again and we hope that his recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Take your time and get well, Q! We need you in a Blue Jays uniform gunning down runners with that arm of yours next year.

Box Score
Game Story

New Hampshire 6, Norwich 2

Shaun Marcum just keeps rolling. This time he threw 6 innings, giving up 2 runs and defeating another college-closer turned starter, David Aardsma. Marcum did, however, walk a batter. That lowers his K/BB ratio to 26/4, roughly half as good as his Toronto colleague, Josh Towers. Clearly, Marcum still needs to work on his control a little. In all seriousness though, Josue Matos and Lee Gronkiewicz pitched 3 sparkling innings of relief to polish of a solid win for the Fisher Cats.

Kevin Barker anchored the offense with a double, a triple and 3 runs driven in along the way. Ron Acuna and Miguel Negron had three hit nights while Raul Tablado went O-fer in 5 trips to the plate.

Box Score
Game Story

Dunedin 2, Sarasota 5 - Rain shortened

Davis Romero must have pissed off the DIPS fairy, as he threw 5 innings with 8 K’s, no BB’s, and no HR’s but gave up 11 hits! Only 1 of the 4 runs scored was earned as errors from Romero, Clint Johnston, and Ryan Roberts didn’t help the D-Jays cause.

Robinzon Diaz singled to drive in Johnston for the Jays first run in the sixth and John Schneider (the catcher, not the actor who played Bo Duke) drew a bases loaded walk later in the inning to bring home the second run.

Box Score

Quad Cities 1, Lansing 5

Casey Janssen is yet another pitcher with outstanding control trying to climb his way up the ladder. 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs and 5 strikeouts to a solitary walk. Ho-hum, win number 3 for Janssen who ran his K:BB to 34:4. Adrian Martin gave up a run in the eighth inning while closer Danny Hill pitched a perfect ninth.

Chip Cannon provided all the offense needed in the first inning with a 2 run homerun. This came shortly after Eric Neilsen’s RBI single to score Yuber Rodriguez. The Lugnuts added two more runs for insurance, including a solo shot from Ryan Klosterman

Box Score
Game Story

Three Stars!

Third Star: Shaun Marcum
Second Star: Kevin Barker
First Star: Casey Janssen

Control Towers: The Next Generation | 38 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Lugnut Fan - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 08:16 AM EDT (#115483) #
Nice summary Ryan.

The final line on Janssen was actually 7IP; 0 runs; 5 K's; 1 walk and 1 hit batter. Martin came in in the 8th and gave up the run. Hill closed it out. Not to be picky or anything...
Ryan01 - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 08:59 AM EDT (#115490) #
Thanks Lugnut Fan. The Boxscore still has Janssen going 8 innings and no Martin but I'll certainly take your word for it. The change and some new links will be up shortly.
Lugnut Fan - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:08 AM EDT (#115492) #
Thanks Ryan,

I saw it posted incorrectly someplace else as well, so it sounds like the official box score was wrong or they missed a pitching change. I was in the press box with the official scorer last night and he pointed out the pitching change, so I'm kind of surprised that it was missed.
daryn - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:22 AM EDT (#115494) #
The Quiroz story is somewhat worrisome.

Do we have anyone of substance in AAA right now? Who is Andy Dominique?

Would he get called up if needed in Toronto???
Ryan01 - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:35 AM EDT (#115500) #
Looks like Ken Joyce agrees with your assessment of Casey Janssen, LF. But any thoughts on Danny Hill? He had that one rough outing early but has been nearly untouchable ever since.

daryn, Dominique is a veteran minor leaguer who was picked up when Quiroz first went down. He saw a little time in Boston last year in a backup role so he'd likely be the first one called up. After that... well, let's just hope Gregg Zaun stays nice and healthy.
Mike Green - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:42 AM EDT (#115502) #
All baseball from morning to night today.

The Lugnuts start the day off right with a 10:35 a.m tilt against Quad City. Juan Perez comes out of the bullpen for the start. At 12:35, the Fisher Cats and Ismael Ramirez take on the Norwich Navigators. Later on in the afternoon, Doc performs his aviary surgery. At 6, Ryan Glynn and the Sky Chiefs take on John Maine and the Lynx in Ottawa and at 7, David Purcey and the D-Jays host Josh Hall and the Sarasota Baby Sox.

Workplace efficiency takes another hit today.
Lugnut Fan - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:51 AM EDT (#115503) #
Thanks Ryan,

I'm impressed with Danny Hill. He has been nearly untouchable and I really like him in the closer position in Lansing. He has a good, effective fastball and uses that primarily. If you have a good fastball, you can usually overpower hitters at this level, but he will have to develop a change up or a curve or something else. He has what looks like a slider to me, but throwing everything hard I don't think is a good thing as you advance. I think a fastball / change up combination is all you need to have alot of success at the next level as long as both pitches are really good.
Ducey - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 11:27 AM EDT (#115518) #
Funny, I was thinking about Danny Hill today too.

As a third rounder he has been overshadowed by Lind and Janssen who were picked before and after him.

JP seems to feel (probably rightly) that the best major league bullpen guys were starters in the minors. Guys like Bubbie, who are closers in the low minors seem to lose prospect status real quick. Accordingly, I am a little worried about Hill. Should I be? I am hoping that they put him as a closer to protect him a little after an injury last year and that they will stretch him out in the second half of the season. From his draft report here he seemed to drafted as sinking fastball guy will little in the way of secondary pitches. Maybe putting him the rotation would help him develop another pitch or two.
R Billie - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 11:39 AM EDT (#115523) #
As a starter you simply get to face more batters and throw more pitches and throw a variety of pitches. You have to repeat your delivery over a number of innings and you learn to vary your approach as well as pace yourself by pitching efficiently so you can last longer. I think it should put the pitcher more in the mindset of staying focused, under control, and not overthrowing.

If you are a significant prospect then you should have a starting or long relief role. One inning stints don't do much to help you develop. I think if Hill stays healthy and performs they can eventually move him into a role where he's throwing more innings. That would the best thing for him.

Just as it's the best thing for Brandon League right now. He didn't have a great start but it has to be considered an improvement. He allowed fewer hits and walks and got 10 groundballs to 3 flyouts. If he can keep making incremental progress and finding some consistency he should improve. They just have to be careful that he doesn't hurt himself while his mechanics are all over the place.
R Billie - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 11:41 AM EDT (#115526) #
I've been thinking for a while now that Shaun Marcum reminds me of Josh Towers. The good Josh Towers that has pitched this year rather than the prior Josh Towers who was blown out every third game it seemed.

He's fine as a starter for now but if Marcum's velocity improves with a move to the pen, combined with the type of command he has, he might be able to pull a Brandon Lyon.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 12:24 PM EDT (#115533) #
Ryan Roberts is going to make a fine DH one day. I know nobody has ever raved about his defense, but 9 errors in a month from a second baseman is down right ugly.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#115534) #
Some BB Radio from Norwich with a pitching match-up of Simon vs Ramirez.

Acuna leads of with a chop single up the middle. Acuna then steals 2nd and the throw sails in to CF and he goes to 3rd on the play.
Cota hits a sac fly to RF to open the scoring - 1 out.
Barker pops out on the first pitch - 2 out.
Jova grounds out for the 3rd out.

NH 1 - Norwich 0 after half an inning
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#115535) #
Bottom of 1st - Ismael Ramirez fresh off the DL

Lewis strikes out swinging on 3 pitches for the first out.
Labarbera grounds back to Ramirez on the 1st pitch. - 2 out.
Buscher pops up to Cosby for the 3rd out.

3 outs on 6 pitches. I can't type fast enough to keep up, the Navigators need to start taking some pitches.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#115536) #
Top 2nd

Kratz flies out - 1 out.
Cosby line out for the second out.
Vito loops out to CF for the quick 3rd out.


(Simon was originally part of the Phillies organization and went to the Giants in the Felix Rodriguez deal at the trade deadline last year).
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 12:59 PM EDT (#115538) #
Bottom of 2nd

Ortmeier drives one to deep Right Centre and it is .........Gone.........No caught by Acuna. Gotta love minor league announcers. A loud first out.
Von Schell hits single back up the middle.
Valderrama grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

Still 1-0 for the good guys after 2.
Maldoff - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#115542) #
Anyone know what roster move the Fisher Cats made to bring Ramirez back off the DL?
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:09 PM EDT (#115543) #
Top 3rd

Hassey strikes out swinging and is retired at 1st base. 1 out.
Negron singles.
Acuna strikes out for the 2nd out.
Cota up and Simon picks Negron off of 1st base. - 3out.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:10 PM EDT (#115544) #
Ogiltree back to the DL, Ramirez activated.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#115548) #
Bottom 3rd.

Benavidez strikes out for the 1st out.
Curry lines out to Cosby - 2 out.
Hutting hits a line drive home run to LF on a full count.
Lewis walks.
Labarbera flies out to deep LF.
Tied up at 1 after 3.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:28 PM EDT (#115549) #
Top 4th

Cota grounds out 5-3. 1 out.
Barker grounds out. 2 out.
Jova grounds out to the SS. 3 out.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:35 PM EDT (#115551) #
Bottom of the 4th

Buscher pops out to Vito. 1 out.
Ortmeier flies out to Negron for the 2nd out.
Von Schell flies out to Acuna for the 3rd out.

Still tied at 1.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#115552) #
Top 5

Kratz strikes out.
Cosby lines out to Ortmeier.
Vito singles with 2 out.
Hassey (giving Tablado a day off) grounds out to 2nd on the 1st pitch.

Mike Green - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#115554) #
On the out-of-town scoreboard, Lansing defeated Quad Cities 9-4 in the morning game. Ryan Klosterman homered again (his fifth) and had 3 hits, while Juan Peralta reached base 4 times.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:47 PM EDT (#115555) #
Bottom of the 5th

Valderrama flies out to Acuna at the warning track. 1 out.
Benavidez strikes out looking at a third pitch change up.
Curry (the pride of Little Rock Arkansas) flies out to CF for the third out.

Still tied at 1 through 5.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#115557) #
Top 6.

Negron lays down a bunt and Simon makes a nice play to get him at first.
Acuna grounds out to 2ND.
Cota singles in to RF.
Barker (236 Major League at bats in his career) slices a double into LF. Cota holds at third.
Jova grounds out to SS stranding 2 base runners.

Yikes, NH hitters are averaging over 8 K's per game.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:01 PM EDT (#115558) #
Bottom 6

Houston enters the game relieving Ramirez.
Ramirez's final line 5IP, 3Hits, 1Run, 1BB, 3K's.

Hutting pops out in foul territory,
Lewis gets ahead 3-0 in the count and prompty strikes out looking.
Labarbera pops out to Cota.

3 up, 3 Down (10 batters in a row for NH pitching)

On to the 7th, still tied at 1.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#115560) #
Top 7

Let's see who's got the best pen because Burres is in to replace the starter Simon.

Kratz grounds out to SS
Cosby grounds out to first.
Vito grounds out to SS.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#115561) #
Bottom of 7

Houston still working.

Buscher flies out to CF.
Ortmeier popped out to Hassey.
Von Schell hits one to CF and Negron shows nice range to track it down.

1-1 through 7.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#115562) #
Top of the 8th.

Hassey lines out to CF.
Negron grounds out 6-3.
Acuna retired quickly for the 3rd out.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:22 PM EDT (#115563) #
Bottom of the 8th.

Houston starts his third inning of work.

Valderrama strikes out looking on three pitches.
Benavidez strikes out looking at a breaking ball on the outside corner.
Curry (hitting .111) doubles to the gap. Walter comes in as a pinch runner.
Hutting lines the ball of Cosby's glove for an infield hit. Walter holds at third.
Lewis strikes out looking on three pitches.

Houston gets out of a jam in his third inning of work.

Still tied going to the 9th.

Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#115565) #
Top of the 9th.

Cota leads off with a single.
Barker singles in to LF. Cota holds at second.
Jova lays a sac bunt down and advances both runners. Job well done.
Kratz gets walked intentionally to load the bases and set up the double play.
Cosby singles and Cota scores. Bases still loaded.
Vito (Hit Grand Slam NOW!) hits a sac fly scoring a run and all runners advance on the throw to the plate.
Hassey flies out to CF.

NH 3 Norwich 1 after 8 and a half
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#115568) #
Bottom of the Ninth

Gronkiewicz on to pitch looking for his 6th save of the year.

Labarbera flies out to LF.
Buscher grounds out 2-3.
Ortmeier singles.
Von Schell "the tying run" flies out to deep CF.


Fisher Cats win 3-1. Ryan Houston picks up his 1st win of the year. Gronkiewicz get his 6th save.
Mike Green - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 02:42 PM EDT (#115570) #
Thanks, Stellars Jay, for the BBRadio. It sounds like the Navigators hit a number of balls to the track.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 06:38 PM EDT (#115709) #
Yeah, the Navigators did hit a lot of deep fly balls, but off the top of my head, I don't think very many were really well hit. Acuna and Negron were camped out under them waiting for them to come down. They didn't have to make too many "plays" to record outs. The Fishercats on the other hand make Rios look like Pujols. They weren't swinging and missing much, but they didn't hit a ball hard all day. Lots and lots of slowly hit grounders to infielders. Izzy Ramirez was pitching out over the plate almost the whole 5 innings he pitched. The Norwich radio guys were amazed at him painting the outside corner with his fastball. Ryan Houston was flat out over powering picking up his 1st win while punching out 4. It all comes down to control with him and he was on today.
Gerry - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 09:18 PM EDT (#115729) #
If any of you have a Baseball America subscription check the minor league classification notebook for May 2nd for Low A. Casey Janssen is the featured story and you get a good feel for his background.
Stellers Jay - Wednesday, May 04 2005 @ 10:09 PM EDT (#115735) #
On the out of town scoreboard, Syracuse defeated Ottawa 5 to 1. Ryan Glynn went 7 effective innings to pick up the win. Arnold picked up the save pitching an inning and a third.

Dunedin is in extra innings. Mr. Purcey had another roller coaster start. Do you want the good news or the bad news? Bad news he walked 4 and gave up 3 runs (1 earned) in 4 innings. Good news is that he struck out 6. The hitters don't appear to do a whole lot with it when Purcey throws it over the plate.
kpataky - Thursday, May 05 2005 @ 08:24 AM EDT (#115744) #
Here is an article about the Quiroz story.
Lugnut Fan - Thursday, May 05 2005 @ 10:10 AM EDT (#115755) #
Thanks Gerry,

I heard that Baseball America did a feature on him, but I haven't had a chance to pick it up. I will have to check it out.
Control Towers: The Next Generation | 38 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.