Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Minor League Update: June 14

This is Jonny's Minor League Update.

Jonny's not here, man. But we have the news anyway.

Syracuse 8 @ Richmond 6

This was Dave Bush's third start, but something happened. Bush threw a pitch between the legs of Richmond's Esix Snead. This prompted the dugouts to empty. Order was restored, and Snead eventually walked. On his way to first base, he decided to charge the mound instead. This time there was a real brawl, and multiple ejections ensued, including Snead, Bush, and Adrian Burnside. All this was in the 2nd inning.

Finally Josue Matos came on and actually did some pitching, tossing 3-1/3 allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Matt Duff and Spike Lundberg were less effective, but kept things close enough for Matt Whiteside to come on and get his 9th save with a spotless 2-K 9th.

The Chiefs must have gotten a team discount on doubles, as 6 of their 9 hits went for 2 bags. Leadoff hitter Gabe Gross had one of the deuces, and also reached by walk and by being plunked. 1B Kevin Barker smacked a homer to go with his double, making him the only Syracuse batter with two hits.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

New Hampshire 2 @ Binghampton 3

The Fisher Cats rallied from an early 2-0 deficit with runs in the 6th and 7th to tie things up, but the Mets came right back to score the eventual winner in the bottom of the 7th. Josh Banks was effective, going 7 innings charged with the 3 runs on 8 hits, 5 punchouts without walking anybody. Jesse Carlson finished up without incident.

Clint Johnston did his bit on offence, collecting 3 hits including a solo homer, but the two singles from Raul Tablado and single and double from Miguel Negron proved to be insufficient complements as the rest of the lineup produced just one hit (a double by Rob Cosby).

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Tampa 2 @ Dunedin 4

The Jays made the most of their 7 hits, parlaying them into 4 runs and beating the Yankees in Dunedin. 9th hitter and shortstop Manny Mayorson rapped out 3 doubles and is now hitting a how-about-that .280 / .340 / .422 on the season. 1B Joey Reiman was the other half of the Jay offence, smacking a solo homer as well as a single.

Davis Romero worked a tidy 5 innings of 5-hitter, 1 run and a pair each of walks and strikeouts. Justin James blew the save and vultured the win in his 2-2/3rds, while Tracy Thorpe nailed down his first save of the season by recording the final 4 outs.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Lansing 3 @ West Michigan 4 (12 innings)

A painful loss for the Nuts as they led 2-0 going to the bottom of the ninth and 3-2 going to the bottom of the 10th, only to have the Whitecaps tie it up each time and then push the eventual winner across in the 12th. This wasted a brilliant start by Kyle Yates, who mowed down West Michigan for 8 shutout innings, allowing just 4 singles while whiffing 8 and conceding no free passes. Mark Sopko blew the save in the ninth on his own merit, allowing 3 hits and a walk, but Scott Roy was more in the wrong place at the wrong time as the tying and winning runs he conceded were unearned.

The Lansing offence managed 5 two-base hits to West Michigan’s solitary double, but 4 singles and 2 walks weren’t enough of a complement to that for the purpose of scoring runs in the extended contest. LF Cory Patton had 2 of the 2-baggers, while RF Eric Nielsen and 2B Jason Armstrong each had one in addition to a single. Nielsen drew a walk and stole a base for good measure.

Boxscore - MinorLeagueBaseball.com.

Three-Star Selection!

The Third Star: Clint Johnston, New Hampshire, 3 hits including a homer.

The Second Star: Manny Mayorson, Dunedin, 3 doubles.

The First Star: Kyle Yates, Lansing 8 dominant innings.

Posted by Magpie on Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 10:53 AM EDT.

Minor League Update: June 14 | 44 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:46 AM EDT (#119571) #

Bush took 5 stiches in the head when Snead hit him with his helmet. The teams play again tonight, no doubt with a warning before the game starts. If Marcum hits anyone you will know it's on purpose, his control is that good.

ainge_fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:47 AM EDT (#119572) #

Not sure if this was noted anywhere, but Yahoo has an article showing that the Jays have signed 23 players from the draft already, the highest being 4th rd pk Ryan Patterson and also interesting that HS'er Wesley Stone agreed to terms already, since last year 0 HS'ers were signed if I'm not mistaken. Also interesting to note that CI Paul Franko was signed as an amateur FA, a guy who was a draft and follow the last TWO years.

Sorry, but I don't know how to make links work on here, so if someone can do this for me/others, here's the page:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=citadel-2_387195_325&prov=citadel&type=story

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#119573) #

The 1st half divisional races are underway. Lansing is 1 game out of the wild card spot with 6 to play. The Lugs send Russ Savickas to the mound tonight. Meanwhile Dunedin trails first place Lakeland by 5.5 games, and start a 3 game series with the Tigers at home this afternoon on a "Wet and Wild Tuesday". With water guns, ahem. David Purcey gets the start.

R Billie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#119574) #

Snead should be suspended. You can't go around hitting people in the head with helmets. What was he raised in a barn? Because people in barns are always swinging helmets around.

ainge_fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#119575) #

Huh...seems to be that the link worked. I really like the aggressive signing the Jays tend to do. Any word on late round steals, guys who dropped d/t signability?

Hoping to see afew of the bats maybe waking up a bit in Lansing. Pretty highly regarded hitters like Patton, Snavely, Klostermann, YRodriguez and Nielsen have all had disappointing starts despite showing some flashes.

MatO - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:02 PM EDT (#119576) #

Saw a replay of the incident on TV last night. I'm not sure why Bush would have been tossed. He had his back turned when Snead attacked him. What are you supposed to do just stand there and get pummelled?

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:05 PM EDT (#119578) #

Of course, MatO. You're supposed to take a pummelling, and then lead your team on a march around the stadium to oppose violence. Sandy Gandhi lives. ;)

Gerry - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#119581) #

I don't think Bush was tossed, he left for injury reasons.

Here is an interesting Hattig story...

http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050614/SPORTS/50614002/1006/NEWS01

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#119582) #

The boxscore indicates that Bush was ejected along with 3 other players. On the other hand, the Syracuse Post-Standard game story suggests that Bush left due to injury. Snead was apparently angry because of comments made the previous day by Matt Whiteside.

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:25 PM EDT (#119583) #

One thing to add about Lansing. They have a huge four game series with Fort Wayne to wrap up the first half this weekend. The final playoff spot will be determined in that series. The boys are going to have to play more consistent and string together some wins to get it though.

MatO - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#119584) #

Lugnut fan. You mentioned that Cheng was using his fastball low in the strike zone last week. How hard was he throwing it?

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#119585) #

Cheng was working low in the zone. His fastball was 87-89. He did hit 90 on one or two pitches, so his velocity was the same. He was throwing everything for strikes and when you have good command and can throw all your pitches for strikes, you're going to be far more effective.

Talking with Tom Bradley a little on Friday night after the game, it sounds like Cheng doesn't like to throw 100% in the pen, either warming up for the game or during his side sessions, but Tom said that was something that he did in his side prior to his start and when he was warming up in the pen. Hopefully with the success he had in his last start, something will click and he will command his fastball better.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#119590) #

Heckuva game going on in Dunedin. David Purcey went 5 innings and gave up a 2 run homer and not much else except 4 walks, striking out 9, while Chip Cannon homered and tripled. In the top of the sixth Adrian Martin came on and served up a solo homer to Nicholson, his 2nd of the game, and the D-Jays trail 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.

mendocino - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:04 PM EDT (#119591) #

http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3177334

The Toronto Blue Jays have announced today that in addition to second baseman Juan Peralta being placed on the disabled list, infielder Eugenio Velez will be added to the active roster and will be in the lineup for tonight’s game in West Michigan.

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#119593) #

It's about time for Peralta to be placed on the DL. He hasn't played since 6/3 with his right hand.

fozzy - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#119595) #

What bothers me most about the Snead attack was this line from the Post-Standard, after he had been ejected for the cheap shot:

"With many in the crowd of 1,981 at The Diamond cheering him on, Snead smiled and waved as he entered the dugout."

On top of that, the tone of the article suggests that Braves manager Pat Kelly is placing full responsibility for the mess on Whiteside, despite the fact that they (quite likely) intentionally nailed Gross the inning before. Disgusting, the lot of it.

fozzy - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:45 PM EDT (#119596) #

oh, and I forgot to add, the entire mess happens after Whiteside calls Snead to apologize for saying what he said? That's just plain wrong; it boggles the mind.

Craig B - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:53 PM EDT (#119597) #

I assume Snead is trying to make a name for himself. He's a hopelessly bad player - probably the worst-looking hitter I've ever seen in the major leagues other than pitchers - and I imagine he knows that time is running out.

He's only a little guy, I wish someone had taken the time to rough him up a bit. You can't have guys throwing helmets at each other, the next thing you know someone will be doing a Juan Marichal on somebody and that's when people get seriously hurt.

Craig B - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#119598) #

The more I think about this, the more it bothers me, actually. The next time Snead's standing on second base (hard to see him on base, I grant you) what's to stop the outfielders from charging him en masse? Ugh, I hate this aspect of the game - at least not many guys get hurt this way.

Rob - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 03:20 PM EDT (#119602) #

More on Snead/Whiteside, from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. (I believe every AAA city has a newspaper with a hyphenated name.)

Whiteside: they hit Gross to start the game. I'm sure that was ordered by Pat [Kelly] to stir things up. That shows me what kind of class Pat has. We pretty much saved PK's job last year. He's lucky to have one this year.

Both stories make it clear than Kelly blames Whiteside (who apologized directly to Snead earlier), not the guy who, you know, attacked the pitcher. He shrugs off Esix's role: "It does happen now and then in our game." I guess there's no love lost between the manager and his former closer.

And this has nothing to do with the incident but his 682 OPS this year? Yeah, that's a career high for Snead.

Fawaz - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#119603) #

He must also be a pretty angry kid - you don't think the baseball public isn't constantly riding him because of his name? Really, someone named E-6 has no business playing ball, unless he's playing short for the Devil Rays. Sigh, if only he were a shortstop, his story would be complete.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#119605) #

Dunedin game went oto the 12th inning. Manny Mayerson led off with a single and Chip Cannon came to the plate. Lakeland intentionally walked Chip even though first base was occupied. Eric Arnold then worked a walk and the pitcher hit Joey Reiman for the winning run.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 03:56 PM EDT (#119606) #

Do you think Chip Cannon might be ready for another promotion? Check out the 12th inning of today's game log. When as a #3 hitter, you come up with one out and a runner on first in extra innings and you are intentionally walked, that is a sign that you are ready for new challenges. Normally, Cannon's performance during his hot streak would be taken with a huge grain of salt, but he will be 24 in the fall, and one does need to find out whether he can hit double A pitching. With Vito on the DL, the timing is right.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#119607) #

Gerry and I are not joined at the hip, appearances to the contrary notwithstanding.

R Billie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#119611) #

Chip is on an impressive role and one way or the other he does have to move up to AA for a couple of months this year to see if he's doing more than taking advantage of physical maturity. 17 homeruns this year is pretty good.

Meanwhile Purcey seems to be doing his best old time Vince Perkins impression on the mound though Perkins tended to be harder to hit. 9 strikeouts is fine but this is A-ball where the hitters are young and usually less than patient. 4 walks in 5 innings at that level for a 23 year old is terrible.

Purcey always struck me as a draft pick that carried a lot of risk with him. Yes he is a lefty with good stuff but taking a pitcher with poor mechanics with a first round pick is a significant risk. Of course he could make an adjustment or two and settle down and dominate. But in 14 A-ball starts it hasn't seemed to have gotten much better outside of more strikeouts of late.

I guess it's easy to be spoiled by faster movers like Bush and Banks and Marcum and Jackson. If Purcey does settle down though he should be capable of significantly more. He'll have to be protected on the 40-man roster after this season though and I sure hope he's in AA by then.

MatO - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#119615) #

Purcey will have to be protected after next season. This is only his second year.

R Billie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 05:08 PM EDT (#119616) #

Ah that's right. For some reason I was thinking he was drafted in 2003. I'm less concerned about him now but I'd still like to see him reach AA if only to keep pace with Jackson, Banks, Bush, Marcum, Vermilyea, Janssen (soon to be I think), and others who have advanced faster in the same time frame.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 05:16 PM EDT (#119617) #

Cannon has been at Dunedin for a couple of weeks, after doing OK at Lansing. Let's not promote him until we have at least two months history. Otherwise we would have promoted Adam Lind and John Ford Griffin in April.

Stellers Jay - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#119618) #

Gerry, I understand what you are saying, but I think age plays a big factor in the decision. Cannon will be 24 shortly and he's still in A-Ball. It would be a benefit to the Jays to promote him to New Hampshire and see what he can do against legtitimate prospects. Lind is 21 and there's plenty of time on his side to see what he can do. As for Griffin, if the Jays really have any long-term interest in him, I would advocate promoting him to Toronto for August and September and give him an extended look. He's out of options after this year, and there will be plenty of competition for his roster spot. He'll be 26 at the end of the season, it's time for him to shit or get off the pot.

Brian B. - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 05:28 PM EDT (#119619) #

How fast did Roy Halladay rise through the minors before he showed up in the majors and then had to be sent down to rebuild (although he came from high school didn't he)?

Don't most hard throwers take a bit longer to find their control in the majors even if they've come out of college?

If that's the case, I guess David Purcey and possibly Vince Perkins might still be on track.

What do 'ya think?

Ducey - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 05:49 PM EDT (#119620) #

John Sickels looks at two Blue Jay draft picks today.

He says Jacob Butler looks promising and was good value for his selection. He had good offensive numbers including more walks than K's

Denis Bigley (22nd round)is also mentioned as having good pitching numbers but he only throws 84-86 MPH. Apparently he once threw harder.

mendocino - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 06:05 PM EDT (#119621) #

Dennis Bigley
http://bluejays.scout.com/2/386393.html

InsideTheDome: Is there an aspect of your game you are looking to improve upon as you enter professional baseball?

Dennis Bigley: I definitely want to regain my old form, work out a little bit, and maybe lose some weight. My main goal is to get my fastball back to where it used to be. I used to throw 90-93 MPH, so I want to work on that, and use the resources that the Blue Jays have to improve all my pitches and make me a better pitcher.

Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 06:30 PM EDT (#119623) #

My take on Cannon. He has been on a helluva roll over the last three to four weeks. As far as promoting him to New Hampshire, I would wait to do that. The reason is, is that this is his first full season and in August, prospects that aren't used to 140 game seasons get very fatigued and their swings get real long. I don't think it would do any good for him to go to AA this year just from the simple fact that if he gets fatigued, he probably isn't going to do well and it could hurt his confidence. I am aware of the age aspect of him, but I think whether he is promoted or not, he will start next season at AA and if he succeeds during the first half of next season, you promote him to AAA. If he hits well at AAA, then you make him a late season call up next year and at the age of 25, he wouldn't be to old to make his major league debut and it would be a very impressive and fast rise in the system.

A lot of analysts that I listen too say that you can't really judge a hitter until he has 1000 minor league at bats.

Magpie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 06:54 PM EDT (#119626) #

How fast did Roy Halladay rise through the minors before he showed up in the majors

Doc was drafted out of Arvada West High School in June 1995, two months after his 18th birthday. He went straight to the Gulf Coast League for the rest of 1995.

He spent all of 1996 at Dunedin in the FSL, where he went 15-7, 2.73 in 27 starts.

He began 1997 at Knoxville (AA) - he went 2-3, 5.40 in 7 starts and was promoted to Syracuse. He was the youngest pitcher in the league (just turned 20.) He went 7-10, 4.58 at AAA.

He spent most of 1998 at Syracuse, going 9-5, 3.79, and was a September call-up to Toronto. He made two starts, and in the second one came within one out of pitching a no-hitter.

He spent all of 1999 in Toronto (8-7, 3.92), and began 2000 in Toronto. That's when it all felt apart (4-7, 10.84) - he was optioned back to AAA twice. He started 2001 back in A ball, worked his way through AA, and AAA, and was back in Toronto by July. A new man, and a new pitcher!

Magpie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 06:56 PM EDT (#119627) #

A lot of analysts that I listen to say that you can't really judge a hitter until he has 1000 minor league at bats.

Well, just ignore them when they say that. Because that's dumb.

The Bone - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 07:15 PM EDT (#119628) #

Stellers Jay - I'm pretty sure Griffin won't be out of options in 2006 - Griffin, Gross and Arnold are all 2001 Draft picks, and thus would have been added to the 40 man after the 2003 season - so their 3 option years would be 2004, 2005 and 2006

Stellers Jay - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 07:39 PM EDT (#119629) #

Sorry, you're right he will still have options next year. He's still 26 years old at the end of the year and he will have spent a full year in both AA and AAA. It's time to figure out whether he can contribute or if the roster spot is better used elsewhere.

JaysNJets - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 08:48 PM EDT (#119631) #

I don't know if this is the place to post this but Zach Jackson made the Baseball America Hot Prospect Sheet at #20. (Sorry but I'm not sure how to post a link.) Quite an impressive accomplishment if you compare him to the others listed there.

Gerry - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 08:48 PM EDT (#119632) #

I forget to mention that Vito Chiaravalloti has an oblique strain. With obliques you never know when they will be better, Vito told me he feels it is not that bad and he should be back soon.

Ron Davenport has been out almost two months with a similar problem. Davenport is now taking BP so he could be back soon.

Mike D - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 08:54 PM EDT (#119634) #

The more I think about this, the more it bothers me, actually

Me too, Craig. As George Costanza once said, this situation is like an onion -- the more layers you peel off, the more it stinks.

Snead deserves at least 10 games for this. His steps toward the mound? A foreseeable and emotional, if excessive, response. Jumping David Bush from behind two pitches later, and leading with a thrown helmet? That's a coldly calculated sneak attack.

And I was predisposed to like Snead. I saw him hit a walk-off homer for the Mets in person two years ago.

Mike D - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 08:57 PM EDT (#119635) #

Zach Jackson

Nice catch, JaysNJets. Chip Cannon and Casey Janssen scored honourable mentions, too.

R Billie - Tuesday, June 14 2005 @ 11:49 PM EDT (#119645) #

Well the Jays finally got a mention on the Hot Sheet this year. Unless I'm wrong this is their first.

It's amazing though how many young players have dominant stretches in the minors at any given time. Especially given that Jackson's stretch is only good for #20. Hopefully those three Jays keep it up and keep moving up. I'm surprised to see Chip Cannon get an honorable mention given his age; I don't recall whether Lind at two years younger ever got such a nod.

Marc Hulet - Wednesday, June 15 2005 @ 09:07 AM EDT (#119658) #

I'm surprised people keep making such a big deal about Cannon's age... He's really not THAT old (23) for high-A ball, especially if he keeps on the same path that he's on. And he doesn't turn 24 until after the season is over.

Mike Green - Wednesday, June 15 2005 @ 09:47 AM EDT (#119664) #

Marc, your comment got me to thinking. I had assumed that what Bill James used to say, almost all good prospects reach the majors before 25 because there's not much improvement after that, was still true. So, I thought that I'd check all the regular first basemen in 2004. Most of the really good ones, Delgado, Thome, Helton and so on, got more than 300 ABs at age 24 or less. But, the list of regular first baseman who got their first serious exposure at age 25 or later surprised me. Doug Mientkiewicz, Ben Broussard, Scott Hatteberg and Ken Harvey did not surprise me. But, you've also got JT Snow, Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Millar, Lyle Overbay and Phil Nevin.

So, I've revised my opinion. It's no big deal if Cannon stays in high A awhile, although I'd still like to see him double A at some point this season. The only proviso is that it is important that he be challenged. If he continues to be walked intentionally in key situations, then it will be time to move him to allow him to grow.

Minor League Update: June 14 | 44 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.