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On Monday night, the farm played a bunch of close games, and got a couple great performances from Latin America products.


Fresno 1 at Las Vegas 7

The 51s got out to an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back doubles by Brian Dopirak and Chris Lubanski, and never looked back. That was enough for Bobby Ray, who overcame 9 base-runners in 6 innings (4 hits, 5 walks) and managed to allow only 1 run. Zach Jackson, David Purcey, and Steven Register each pitched a scoreless inning to seal the deal.

Though 2 runs was enough, the offense kept coming. In the third, they added 2 more on solo shots from Brett Wallace and Lubanski, and in the following inning Jarrett Hoffpauir singled home 2. Hoffpauir added an RBI double to make it 7-1. Interesting prospect watch: Wallace: 1-5, HR, no Ks. Arencibia: 0-3, BB, K. Dopirak: 2-4, 2B, BB.

New Hampshire 3 at Reading 4

Boy, is this ever a boring game to recap. Callix Crabbe was the only F-Cat to reach base more than once, and he had 2 singles. In the interesting prospect category, David Cooper, Darin Mastroianni, Eric Thames and Brad Emaus each singled. Bobby Bell started, and was okay - he allowed 7 baserunners in 5 innings, leading to 4 runs, while striking out 5.

Dunedin 4 at Daytona 2 (12 innings)

Henderson Alvarez started and showed why Da Box rated him as one of the Jays' top prospects during the off-season. The soon-to-be-20-year-old (his birthday is on Sunday) shut the D-Cubs out over 7 innings, while only allowing 4 base-runners, striking out 3 and inducing 13 ground balls. He didn't earn the win, though, as Alan Farina gave up 2 runs in the 8th inning to eventually send the game to extra innings. In the top of the 12th, the D-Jays went Small Ball to get the victory - Justin Jackson walked, Tyler Pastornicky and Brad McElroy both tried to bunt the runner over only to have their sacrifice attempts thwarted by the D-Cubs' inability to throw them out, thereby loading the bases, and Travis d'Arnaud brought home the go-ahead run with a sac fly. d'Arnaud had 2 singles and a double in addition to his game-winning hit, while Pastornicky and Jackson continued to play SS/2B and bat 1st/9th, respectively.

Lansing 4 at Great Lakes 3

The Lansing offense produced 4 runs on 10 hits to squeak by Great Lakes on Monday night. Five guys had one hit each, and The Great Balbino accounted for the other half, including a double and a solo home run. Chris Hopkins also had a good day at the dish with a double and two walks; otherwise the offense was somewhat anemic. In fact, Great Lakes scored 2 more hits than Lansing off starter Dennis Tepera and relievers Scott Gracey, Aaron Loup and Steven Turnbull. None of the pitchers were outstanding, though Loup struck out 6 in 2 2/3.

Three Stars
3. Jarrett Hoffpauir, Las Vegas - 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI
2. Henderson Alvarez, Dunedin - 7 IP, 4 baserunners, 13 GB
1. Balbino Fuenmayor, Lansing - 5-5, 2B, HR


4-3, 4-3, 4-2, and 4-morning | 20 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Kelekin - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 12:58 AM EDT (#213528) #
When you put "Luke Hopkins", I found myself furiously searching Google.  Why? Luke Hopkins was the power-heavy 5th round pick from the Jays in 2006 who quit baseball the following year.

You gave me hope and took it away all in the span of a minute! But more seriously - it's Chris Hopkins, not Luke.

TamRa - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 01:14 AM EDT (#213529) #
I wonder what the thinking is behind Jackson playing 2B constantly?

Is it simply a matter of thinking the adjustment will be better if they do it one way for weeks and then the other way for weeks (as opposed to switching them back and forth constantly)?

Or do they think Jackson (who's defense got raves) is the better bet to switch?



Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 01:43 AM EDT (#213530) #
My best guess is they Jackson already has more pro innings under his belt at SS, and they feel Pastornicky needs to put in more work to catch up to Jackson.

China fan - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 02:04 AM EDT (#213532) #
I tend to agree with WillRain on this.  If Jackson has any future at SS, you've gotta keep him at SS.  By playing him at 2B now, the Jays seem to be suggesting that they project him at 2B in the future.  Perhaps he has fallen behind Echevarria and Pastornicky on the SS depth chart.  The main problem with this, however, is that Jackson doesn't seem to have the bat for 2B.  His minor-league hitting numbers have never been great.  On the other hand, I took a look at the minor-league numbers for Orlando Hudson at a similar age.  When Hudson was 21, he was still at Hagerstown, a level below where Jackson is now, and his OPS was only .724.  So maybe there's still a chance that Jackson could develop into a doubles-type hitter with a major league future at 2B.  One can dream, anyway.
China fan - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 03:24 AM EDT (#213533) #

Vegas posted a 7-1 victory over Fresno last night.  Bobby Ray says, "Don't forget about me in the long list of pitching prospects" -- he tossed 6 innings of 1-run ball for the win (although he did allow a worrying 5 walks).  Purcey pitched an inning without any hits, although he gave up a walk.  Wallace smashed his 2nd homer, and Lubanski hit his 1st of the year.  Vegas is now 4-1 on the season.  This looks like a much more interesting season for the 51's, led by strong pitching and some power from the hitters.

On another note:  I haven't seen any analysis here of AA's web chat with fans yesterday, but he said a couple of very encouraging things.  One was this comment about the Jays draft strategy in the future:  "We're probably going to open it up a little bit with respect to our risk tolerance. Playing the American League East and reviewing both the lineups and pitching staffs, it is clear to me that we need to draft as many high ceiling players as possible."

I also liked this comment about Kevin Gregg's contract, which shows that AA is always thinking about the draft -- even a year ahead of the draft, when he is signing a veteran free agent:  "The other aspect that we liked about his contract were the club options, and alternatively, if we elected not to pick them up, we projected Kevin to be a Type-B free agent -- which could potentially net us a first-round Draft pick."

Mike Green - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 10:09 AM EDT (#213540) #
Jarret Hoffpauir had 3 hits for the 51s and is off to a good start in the Inglett/McCoy vein. 
Gerry - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 11:55 AM EDT (#213544) #

Re: Pastornicky and Jackson.  It appears to me that the Jays have decided that Pastornicky is now the better prospect and as a result he plays everyday shortstop.  Jackson is #2 in the pecking order and has to play second base.

This could easily change at any time.  If Jackson shines with the bat then the Jays could easily move him back to short.

This cannot be happy news for Jackson but hopefully it will motivate him (The Jays could also have done this to give Jackson a warning shot, there are many aspects to this that we don't know).

Dewey - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#213545) #
Yes, China Fan,  I’ve been puzzled by the complete absence of comment about Robert Ray (didn’t he ask to be called Robert when he was up last year for his cup of coffee?).  I liked what I saw then, and think we might well hear from him in future. 
Dave Rutt - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 12:58 PM EDT (#213552) #
When you put "Luke Hopkins", I found myself furiously searching Google. Why? Luke Hopkins was the power-heavy 5th round pick from the Jays in 2006 who quit baseball the following year.

Thanks Kelekin, it's been fixed. I was thrust into the rotation even though I really should still be in extended ST working out some kinks.

didn’t he ask to be called Robert when he was up last year for his cup of coffee?

If I remember correctly, it was the other way around - everyone called him Robert, but he asked to be Bobby. But I've been wrong before (read: earlier this thread).
Gerry - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#213562) #

Dunedin played an afternoon game today and scored two runs in the ninth to break the tie and seal the win.

Brian Van Kirk and Yan Gomes led the hitters with two hits each, Van Kirk hit a home run.  Pastornicky was at short again and Justin Jackson sat out, his second "rest day" of the season.

Nick Holmes - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#213563) #
http://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/12119151259
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Cuban SS Adeiny Hechavarria to a four-year US $10 million contract commencing with the 2010 season.
rtcaino - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#213565) #
Nice news about Hech.

*pops champagne*
Mike Green - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#213566) #
Bravo.
ramone - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 03:37 PM EDT (#213568) #

"Pastornicky was at short again and Justin Jackson sat out, his second "rest day" of the season."

Gerry, any reason why the Jays seem so down on Jackson, I would think he is allowed a mulligan for last season due to his shoulder issue.  I wonder if there are some attitude issues or something else going on.

Dewey - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 04:03 PM EDT (#213572) #
didn’t he [Ray] ask to be called Robert when he was up last year for his cup of coffee?

If I remember correctly, it was the other way around - everyone called him Robert, but he asked to be Bobby. But I've been wrong before (read: earlier this thread).

Yeah, I think you're right, Dave.  Bobby it shall be, for now anyway.
Gerry - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#213575) #

Gerry, any reason why the Jays seem so down on Jackson, I would think he is allowed a mulligan for last season due to his shoulder issue.  I wonder if there are some attitude issues or something else going on.

That's not something the Jays would discuss publicly so it will be difficult to find out.  I haven't heard anything at this time.

MatO - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#213576) #
Unsigned 3rd rounder Jake Barrett is pitching for Arizona State this year so the rumours of an injury being the reason for not signing him seem to be unfounded.  He's pitched quite well as a freshman with 28K's in 16.1IP as a reliever.
Gerry - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 08:32 PM EDT (#213580) #
Luis Perez pitching line for NH tonight is very similar to Ricky Romero's except Perez is through six innings.
Gerry - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 09:44 PM EDT (#213585) #

Ricky Romero one hitter in 8 innings.

Luis Perez one hitter in 7 innings.

But Perez didn't give up a run although he had a lot less strikeouts than Romero, just 3.

Ryan Day - Tuesday, April 13 2010 @ 11:08 PM EDT (#213589) #
Brad Mills is getting on the Blue Jays Pitching Train too, with 7 Ks through 4 innings.
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