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A week after complaining that the affiliates never play well on Mondays, and threatening to fact-check that claim, the affiliates threw a wrench in my plans by going 3-0. The evening featured excellent starting pitching at all 3 levels, and one player went 5-5 with a home run. Who was it? Guess you'll just have to click through!


Las Vegas 6 at Sacramento 4

The Las Vegas rotation is in pretty good shape these days, containing a bunch of good left-handed prospects (David Purcey, Brett Cecil, Brad Mills, Fabio Castro). The last spot is occupied by the one right-hander who is also the only non-prospect: Brian Burres. Tonight, though, the spotlight fell on Burres as he threw 6 excellent innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 7. Dirk Hayhurst and Bryan Bullingon each pitched a scoreless inning, and though Jeremy Accardo allowed 2 runs in the ninth, the 51s had scored more than enough and Las Vegas hung on for the 6-4 victory.

Buck Coats set the table as a lead-off hitter should, reaching base twice, swiping a bag, and hitting a sac fly. Coats currently has a line of 323/380/448 with 15 steals and is one of several AAAA-level 51s who would probably be more beneficial to the Jays right now than John McDonald. Aaron Mathews was the hitting star out of the second spot in the line-up, going 2-4 with a double and 3 RBIs. J.P. Arencibia had a single and a strikeout in 4 trips, while Travis Snider had the day off.

New Hampshire 2 at Harrisburg 1

Brian Burres was good, but Reidier Gonzalez was great. The 23-year-old Cuban went 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6. He also induced 13 ground balls to only 5 flyouts. Gonzalez' season stats: 66.1 IP, 58 H, 16 BB (1.12 WHIP), 43 K (5.85/9IP), 2HR, 1.48 GO/AO, 2.31 ERA. Gonzalez could be looking at a mid-season promotion... if there's room in AAA.

Just like in Las Vegas, the New Hampshire bullpen made things a little dicey in the 9th inning as Edgar Estanga allowed a run without recording an out, but Bubbie Buzachero slammed the door for his first save. Luckily, the Fisher Cats' offense scored just enough against Carlos Martinez, who was otherwise pretty dominant, allowing 4 baserunners and striking out 11 in his 7 innings. New Hampshire's runs both came courtesy of a 2-run single by Adam Calderone.

Jupiter 4 at Dunedin 12

Continuing in the evening's tradition, Andrew Liebel pitched an excellent game for the D-Jays, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks in 6 2/3 innings while striking out 8. Liebel's stats over his last 5 starts: 31.1 IP, 26 H, 11 BB (1.18 WHIP), 29 K. 2.87 ERA. Unlike in Las Vegas or New Hampshire, though, Liebel didn't almost lose the win in the late innings, as Dunedin blasted 12 runs for a lop-sided victory.

Dunedin's 1-2 hitters, Darin Mastroianni and John Tolisano, provided the 1-2 punch, combining to go 8-8 with a walk, 5 runs scored and 6 RBIs. Despite the offensive output, Kevin Ahrens managed to go 0-5 while Justin Jackson went 0-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Lansing - scheduled day off

Three (plus one) Stars!
3. Andrew Liebel and Brian Burres, quality starts
2. Reidier Gonzalez, 8 scoreless innings
1. John Tolisano, 5-5 with a HR
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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
92-93 - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 10:08 AM EDT (#200765) #
"Coats currently has a line of 323/380/448 with 15 steals and is one of several AAAA-level 51s who would probably be more beneficial to the Jays right now than John McDonald."

True, but irrelevant. If the Jays exposed JMac to waivers to try to send him to LV he would almost certainly be scooped up, which would leave the Jays unprotected in the event of a Scutaro injury (unless Angel Sanchez excites you). That risk is not worth it when you consider that Cito never uses his bench other than to pinch run, which JMac is more than capable of doing.
Pistol - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 11:36 AM EDT (#200766) #
If the Jays exposed JMac to waivers to try to send him to LV he would almost certainly be scooped up

For $1.9 million I'm guessing there's not going to be takers.  And if there are I wouldn't stand in the way.
Mike Green - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 11:52 AM EDT (#200768) #
Wouldn't a taker be only responsible for a pro-rated share of the baseball minimum wage as the A's were when they picked up Thomas last year? 

I wish that the club had a different back-up shortstop, but that money is now sunk cost and there are an absence of good alternatives.  Fortunately, the most rigorous part of the schedule is past.  If Cito gives Scutaro a day off later in June and a couple of days off in August, it might work out all right. Now that Inglett is up, he should definitely give Hill a day off within the next couple of weeks. 

Mastroianni has taken a nice step forward, and could follow Calderone as a fourth OF prospect.

ayjackson - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 12:04 PM EDT (#200769) #

Given room on the 40, Mastroianni would make a nice September call up.  He'd be an excellent pinch running option.

I agree that as soon as Inglett heats up a bit, Hill should be in line for a day off or two.

Chuck - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 12:06 PM EDT (#200770) #

Wouldn't a taker be only responsible for a pro-rated share of the baseball minimum wage as the A's were when they picked up Thomas last year? 

I am not entirely clear on all this, but aren't you describing a situation where he is given his outright release? The Jays would be on the hook for the entire contract and would only be compensated for the prorated share of the league minimum salary should any team sign him.

I think this business about putting him on waivers to send him to AAA is a different matter. A team that made the claim would then attempt to work out a trade with Toronto who would have to participate in the process in good faith (though how do you even guage that?). The team acquiring him would then assume the contract.

But of course, I have been wrong before.

Mike Green - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#200772) #
Right, Chuck.  I need more coffee.
Moe - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 01:01 PM EDT (#200775) #
Any info on Mastroianni defense in CF? His bat doesn't strike me as anything special but he seems to have a lot of speed. If he can keep the walk numbers up and the strikeouts down, his glove could make him quite valuable given that there will be a need for CF at one point the way V.W.'s glove has been going downhill.
FisherCat - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 02:10 PM EDT (#200778) #

Any info on Mastroianni defense in CF? His bat doesn't strike me as anything special but he seems to have a lot of speed. If he can keep the walk numbers up and the strikeouts down, his glove could make him quite valuable given that there will be a need for CF at one point the way V.W.'s glove has been going downhill.

I remember seeing Mastroianni when he played 2B @ SS-A Auburn two summers ago and liked what I saw, and yes he's very fast.  He reminded me a lot of the Aaron Hill I saw in AA-NH (circa 2004).  IIRC, his offensive stats in Auburn were pretty decent and I suspect they put him in CF to take advantage of his quickness more than because of any defensive advantage/disadvantage.

John Northey - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 02:20 PM EDT (#200779) #
If a players options are used up (ie: the number of years he can be sent to the minors without going through waivers) then he has the choice of refusing a minor league assignment and becoming a free agent without losing any cash - basically he would be released but would still have his contract intact.  If he doesn't refuse and another team wants him in the majors then that team takes on his contract and gets him for free unless the Jays call him back up immediately.

For McDonald I suspect he'd refuse the trip to AAA and make it into a release situation, given this is his free agent year and time in AAA would just cut down the odds of someone giving him a major league contract for 2010.

92-93 - Tuesday, June 02 2009 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#200783) #
"For $1.9 million I'm guessing there's not going to be takers. And if there are I wouldn't stand in the way."

At this point saving money shouldn't be an issue for the Jays, they are right in a playoff race and can't afford to not have a backup SS.

And I don't see why teams like NYY, NYM, and BOS wouldn't jump at the opportunity to add JMac. Guys like Ramon Pena, Angel Berroa, Ramon Martinez, and Nick Green currently have employment on their rosters, and I'm sure those teams would love to add a glove of JMac's calibre if the offensive production they are getting from those utility players is pretty limited anyway (and each contain wicked lineups that could hide JMac when he plays). Having to pay McDonald 1.3m or so is clearly not an issue.
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