Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

The affiliates swept in convincing fashion, winning 29-9. Somebody even hit a home run! You'll have to keep reading to find out who (hint: it was Anthony Gose. And like 3 other guys.)

Las Vegas: Scheduled Off Day

Binghamton 3 at New Hampshire 11

This one went the bare minimum, 4 1/2 innings, before being called for rain. One hesitates to think what the final score would have looked like otherwise. In the second inning New Hampshire scored 5 unearned runs, to go along with 2 of the earned variety, capped off by an Anthony Gose home run. They would not look back. Moises Sierra would also add a home run, his 6th, and he and Gose both finished 1/3 with a HR and 3 RBI, though Gose also walked. Mark Sobolewski singled and doubled and cashed three, while Travis d'Arnaud had a perfect 3 for 3 night with 2 2B and 2 R and RBI. Hechavarria also went single-double in his 3 plate appearances. Mastro also singled and stole a base. Zach Stewart went the distance for the Cats, giving up 6 hits and allowing all three runs, with an 8/2 K/BB.

Dunedin 13 at Bradenton 3

Dunedin also scored 7 runs in the first two innings, but they would need a full 'nother seven to get another six. Not impressive, guys - have you seen what the Cat's have been doing? The whole lineup contributed to this one, banging out 13 hits and walking 5 times; five players drove in at least 2 runs. Kevin Ahrens and Brad Glenn both went 2/4 with a home run and 2 RBI, with Ahrens also walking. AJ Jiminez had 2 singles and a double, Justin Jackson singled, walked twice and stole a base, and everyone else but Sean Ochinko had a hit. Chad Jenkins meanwhile turned in a fine start, going 7.2 innings and allowing only 2 runs. He gave up 8 hits and a walk, while striking out 5 and getting 75% of his outs in play on the ground.

Lansing 5 at South Bend 3

Lansing scored early and scored late to take this one against hated (probably) rival South Bend. The 'Nuts scored in the 1st, 2nd and 4th to lead 3-0 before the Bend came back to tie it with runs in the 4th and 7th. Never matter. Jake Marisnick singled, stole second and went to third on a botched pickoff before being doubled in by Lance Durham. Oli Dominguez added a single for insurance, and that was that. The Lugnuts only reached based safely 9 times, 6 hits and 3 walks, but made the most of them. Everyone but Jonathan Jones reached safely exactly once, except for Dominguez, who walked with his single. Marisnick stole 2 bases, Gustavo Pierre and Michael Crouse 1 apiece. Sean Nolin pitched well, allowing only 3 hits and a walk in his 6 innings. South Bend got 2 off of him, but he struck out 7 of them. He now has a 23/4 K/BB in 22 innings. Steve Turnbull struck out the side in the 9th for the save.

Three Stars!

Third Star! Travis d'Arnaud - 3/3, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Second Star! Sean Nolin - 6 IP 3 H 2 ER 1 BB 7 K
First Star! Chad Jenkins - 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K 12/4 GB/FB

Posted by Anders on Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 10:48 AM EDT.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner | 49 comments | Create New Account

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

Sister - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 11:35 AM EDT (#235153) #

As someone mentioned recently, Travis d'Arnaud has been on fire since coming off the DL. Over his last 10 games (spanning pre- and post DL) he is hitting .429, .529, .679 (1208 OPS).

Another player on fire recently is Kevin Ahrens. Over his last 10, Ahrens is posting a .306, .422, .583 (1006 OPS) line, with a sparkiling 6:8 K:BB ratio.

I'm happy to see some progress from Ahrens and fellow 2008 high-schooler Justin Jackson.

sam - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#235155) #

If the farm system stays the course the rest of the year, the old adage about farm systems and prospects over the course of a season--something to the effect that one-third improve, a third stay the same, and a third regress might not apply this year.

By my estimation, roughly two-thirds of the system have improved.

85bluejay - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#235157) #

Have to echo sam's comment - it's early but the farm system is having a good year - best that I can remember - the 2010 draft picks that have played are doing well, can't wait for the 2010 prep class to get going in short season

MatO - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#235159) #

An afternoon win for the Fisher Cats and more promising results from Gose, McDade and Sierra.

Ryan Day - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 02:30 PM EDT (#235163) #

I hadn't noticed this, but The Star seems to be running a weekly report on the Jays' minor leaguers. This week they looked at the Dunedin rotation, and last week's article was mostly about Gose & Hechavarria. It also featured an interesting quote from Sal Fasano, who says that Moises Sierra has some of the best power in the system. Which is interesting, because it really hasn't shown up in his numbers to date.

China fan - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 02:37 PM EDT (#235164) #

Hechavarria is the one that I remain concerned about at New Hampshire. His glove seems fine, but his hitting this season is worse than in his 253 at-bats at AA last year. Of course he's only had barely a year of minor-league ball, so it's reasonable to remain optimistic.

ayjackson - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 02:45 PM EDT (#235165) #

You have to wonder if it`s worth chasing these Cubans. I think I`d rather spend $2.5m per year on an Adonis Cardona for four years rather than one, older Cuban prospect.

MatO - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 02:53 PM EDT (#235167) #

Sierra hit his 7th HR today so he's on a pace for 20+ which isn't too shabby.

92-93 - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#235169) #

Let's hope Hechavarria is just having a hard time adjusting to this miserable northeast spring, and that his bat will heat up with the weather.

uglyone - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#235170) #

In fact, Sierra is now tied for 4th in the Eastern League with 7hr, and leads the 'Cats.

BalzacChieftain - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:21 PM EDT (#235171) #

If I remember correctly, Hech wasn't really supposed to do a whole lot with his bat other than be league average with the ability to sustain a half decent average due to his speed. I think we'd be kidding ourselves if we set the bar too high on his offensive potential. As was stated above, taking Cubans can be a bit of a craphsoot with the limited data that is available to analyze as well as a lack of scouting reports.

Hodgie - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:35 PM EDT (#235172) #

I find myself surprised over the continued skepticism regarding Gose from many of the prospect mavens. It could be a sample size issue, but after today's game he is now sporting a .365 OBP and has improved his walk (10.8%), strikeout (21.2%) and stolen base (85%) ratios considerably from a season ago against obviously better competition. Couple that with reputed defensive excellence in CF and the fact that he is the second youngest position player in all of AA (minimum 37 AB courtesy of Baseball-Reference) and I would think you would have a much more respected prospect.

China fan - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:42 PM EDT (#235173) #

I agree that Hechavarria doesn't have to produce a lot with the bat. But his OBP, which was .305 at New Hampshire last year, has sunk to .254 this year. Neither of those numbers is likely to translate to anything respectable in the majors. But he's only had 160 at-bats this season, so he has plenty of time to turn it around. If he can improve on last year's OBP, that would be enough to keep me happy.

Kelekin - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#235174) #

Hech might be a career back-up infielder, it's just a reality. We don't know yet. Put me in the boat (no pun intended) that believes it's much better to invest in other South and Latin American countries with more reasonable expenditures.

Ron - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#235176) #

If you're interested in the draft, I recommend listening to Kevin Goldstein's podcast. Scott Boras was a guest and to the surprise of no one, he's not a fan of hard slotting. He said if there's hard slotting, baseball would lose more players to football and basketball. He also feels like hard slotting isn't good because the talent level isn't equal every year and the pay should reflect this.

I know Boras isn't popular among fans but if my son was a projected top pick, I would want Boras as his advisor.

1990Jays - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:15 PM EDT (#235177) #

Ryan Day - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:21 PM EDT (#235178) #

I think the skepticism arises because while Gose is probably as toolsy and athletic as anyone, he hasn't had much in the way of actual results until now. He hasn't hit above .262, didn't walk a whole lot, and struck out a fair bit for a guy without much power. And despite being faster than The Flash, he got thrown out a heck of a lot last year.

It looks like he's putting things together this year, and I really hope it's for real - he looks like a pretty exciting player. But who knows - he's had one awesome month and one lousy month so far.

Mike Green - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:25 PM EDT (#235179) #

As of right now, Gose is a helluva prospect. McDade, Sierra, and d'Arnaud are also very good prospects. The last time the double A franchise had 4 very good position prospects would be the New Haven Ravens of 2003 with Rios, Quiroz, Adams and Gabe Gross. Hopefully this quartet will end up producing more at the major league level.

Mike Green - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#235181) #

Ryan, the FSL last year was an extreme pitcher's situation. .262 was actually above league average and quite good for a 19 year old. Gose now has an OBP of .360 during his 2 and 1/2 months in the Jay organization (about 275 PAs). With his speed, defensive capabilities, modest amount of pop and his age relative to league, this is very good.

finch - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:37 PM EDT (#235182) #

I'm looking forward to BA's Hot Prospect Sheet tomorrow. I'm hoping that both Gose and Deck McGuire both make it. Travis d'Arnaud and Brett Lawrie both have a shot at making the list.

But of course, BA won't give any of them love...

D. King - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#235183) #

I was curious, there have been so many chicken dinners served up lately....

Cumulative Minor League Records (AL East only for now):

Toronto - 91-66
Tampa Bay - 79-79
Baltimore - 78-81
New York - 77-81
Boston - 72-80

I don't know if this tells us anything (other than a world series is guaranteed in the next three seasons), but it certainly is nice to look at. I have to imagine that that record plays well against the other five divisions as well.

Well done to everyone involved in the minor league system on one helluva start to 2011.

greenfrog - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 05:23 PM EDT (#235184) #

I agree, the Jays system has been just outstanding so far this year.

Very impressed with what Gose has done to this point. And while he may have had one bad month and one good month, his good month has been superb (900 OPS with an 11:14 BB:K ratio and 9:1 SB:CS), and it came second, so it appears he's on the right trajectory. It's interesting that he has more triples than doubles after 146 AB.

sam - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 05:36 PM EDT (#235185) #

On Hech, I wonder how much a difference Luis Rivera had last year? I think he needs time. Full year in New Hampshire then another full year at Las Vegas and you hope he's ready. You'd hope he develops a better eye along the way.

The thing I think that is most remarkable about the Jays system is it seems like everyone is walking a lot more. The boxscores seem to suggest guys across the organization have developed a good approach and are content with walking. I'm quite proud to be a fan of the Jays right now. It seems like they're getting their act together and developing an "identity" from the ML to Extended. I think it's only a matter of time before we see results.

Ron - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 05:42 PM EDT (#235186) #

Boras is 100% right. Draft slotting is an extraordinarily bad idea, it only helps a couple of teams like the Mets and Brewers who stick to slot recomendations. It hurts big market and small market teams alike who despite having low payrolls spend a ton of money on the draft.

While the draft is flawed, I agree hard slotting is a bad idea. With a hard slotting system, a player like Zack Lee probably would be playing football for LSU (and aiming for the NFL) instead of the Dodgers organization. Hard slotting also takes away the rights for the drafted players/agents to negotiate their contracts. Now one new idea that I hope to see in the next CBA is trading of draft picks. It makes the draft more interesting to watch and just like what AA said last night on the broadcast, it gives teams more options to build their roster/farm system.

Helpmates - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 05:53 PM EDT (#235187) #

I'm looking forward to BA's Hot Prospect Sheet tomorrow. I'm hoping that both Gose and Deck McGuire both make it.

Along with our boy Bradley Glenn.

Kelekin - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 06:01 PM EDT (#235188) #

@Ron: Glad to hear you listen to that podcast. I discovered it back on Episode 5 and it's been a must-listen weekly for me (and the only other podcast I ever listen to is Baseball Today, and that's rarely). If they do put in hard slotting, they really need to allow draft pick trading.

ComebyDeanChance - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 08:37 PM EDT (#235189) #

With a hard slotting system, a player like Zack Lee probably would be playing football for LSU (and aiming for the NFL) instead of the Dodgers organization

Fair enough, but I think you weigh losing Zach Lee to football with losing the reverse-place driven talent acquisition order and putting in place the same big market preference system that dominates free agency, and presumably reverse ordered the selection process. You could just as easily give the Red Sox and the Yankees the first picks in any draft.

Me, I'd obviously let Lee go.

scottt - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 09:52 PM EDT (#235191) #

Hard slotting also takes away the rights for the drafted players/agents to negotiate their contracts.

That's a frivolous right, considering the players can't negotiate much until they hit arbitration et free agency.

Baseball is probably better off if every draftee who needs to be bought off with multi-million contract to pretend they care about playing doesn't make it to The Show.

There's an issue with foreign players who don't participate in the draft, obviously.

I don't see how hard slotting hurts the small market teams. It's really not a point for Boras to make, anyway.

Maybe the best system is to just auction the players one by one. The big market teams would probably blow their budgets on the first 5 guys.

scottt - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 09:55 PM EDT (#235192) #

I think Rivera just woke up.

Now the big question: can Farell win interleague games?

Ron - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 10:46 PM EDT (#235193) #

That's a frivolous right, considering the players can't negotiate much until they hit arbitration et free agency.

I completely disagree. Players that are drafted right now are not locked into a pre-determined contract. If there was hard slotting like the NBA, there is no negotiating. The drafter player will simply sign for whatever amount the CBA says it is.

I don't see how hard slotting hurts the small market teams. It's really not a point for Boras to make, anyway.

Hard Slotting would hurt all the small market teams that currently go over slot. Teams like the Royals and Pirates routinely go over slot for numerous picks while big market teams like the White Sox and Mets mostly stick to slot recommendations. As long as there are teams that are stupid enough to pass over more talented players just so they can stick to slot recommendations, there will always be teams that benefit from their stupidity. Boras has a vested interest when it comes to hard slots because it would likely reduce the amount of money his company could earn.

Ducey - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 11:22 PM EDT (#235195) #

The whole idea of the draft is to allow the worst teams to get the best players in the hope they will actually be able to compete. A hard slot system would allow teams to select the best player available and not worry about Boras holding them ransom. It has worked well in the NHL.

The current system just emphasizes the gap between the haves and have nots. Not only do the Yankees buy every free agent they want, they can get better drafties that drop to them over signability concerns.

Boras talking about slots is like talking to a fox about whether the chickens should be left free to wander around the farm.

TamRa - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 11:33 PM EDT (#235196) #

he is the second youngest position player in all of AA (minimum 37 AB courtesy of Baseball-Reference)

Someone explain to me how you find this sort of info on BR. I'm vaguely aware it can be done for major leaguers (though I don't know how) and I'm very surprised to find it can be done for minor leaguers.

Mike Green - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 11:38 PM EDT (#235197) #

From the minors section of BBRef, navigate to league batting leaders. One of the sortable columns is for age.

A.J. Jimenez came out after the third inning tonight in Florida. I hope he's OK.

Ron - Thursday, May 19 2011 @ 11:53 PM EDT (#235198) #

I guess Cliff Lee didn�t get the memo that he was suppose to sign with the Yankees.

The current system doesn�t emphasize the gap between the haves and have nots, it emphasizes the gap between smart and stupid ball clubs when it comes to the draft. Unless you are trying to host the all-star game, there isn�t a valid reason why your ball club should strictly stick to slot recommendations. You put in hard slotting and you remove the competitive advantage that small market/small revenue teams like the Pirates and Royals currently have. While these types of clubs are unlikely to go after the upper top tier major league free agents, they do have the ability to go after and sign the upper tier draft prospects that slip due to bonus demands.

rtcaino - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 08:13 AM EDT (#235204) #

I guess Cliff Lee didn�t get the memo that he was suppose to sign with the Yankees.

The current system doesn�t emphasize the gap between the haves and have nots, it emphasizes the gap between smart and stupid ball clubs when it comes to the draft.

I'm not sure the Phillies handling of the Cliff Lee situation (when they traded him) fits the category of 'smart': nor whether they would fit the definition of �have nots� that the draft system should attempt to benefit.

92-93 - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 11:19 AM EDT (#235215) #

Ron's overall point is clear, and correct. The absence of a hard slot or salary cap has NOT steered the top talent towards the top teams in recent years - the Red Sox let their starting C go to Detroit over 2m per year, the Yankees couldn't sign this year's potential #1, Gerritt Cole, when they had the chance...if players steered themselves towards teams with outrageous bonus demands then Bryce Harper & Stephen Strasburg would not be Nationals right now.

I'll never understand why when it comes to sports people all of a sudden become communists. Especially around here, where most of us are fans of a team owned by one of the richest, if not the richest, ownership group in baseball.

92-93 - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 11:40 AM EDT (#235216) #

Kelekin, I assume there's a few closet 0.9ers here.

MatO - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#235218) #

The reason that Washington had a shot at those guys is due to the draft. The draft itself is Communist (to borrow the term). Maybe there shouldn't be a draft at all like it is for international players. It's funny that in Socialist Europe, Soccer is entirely governed by the free market.

marcuse - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 12:47 PM EDT (#235219) #

Communists? Senator McCarthy is going to be thoroughly disappointed!

While I enjoy hyperbole as much as the next guy, in reality I have yet to read one post outlining the principles of dialectical materialism, describing class war, or any even veiled commentary about false consciousness! When fellow posters start advocated that the players control the means of production (and that workers control the media platforms) I will concede your point ... this is just another red herring!

electric carrot - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 12:59 PM EDT (#235222) #

I'll never understand why when it comes to sports people all of a sudden become communists.

Sports are games. Games have rules. The reason they have rules that everyone understands and has to obey so that there is a kind of fairness. There are even Commie umpires involved occasionally who will intervene if say player wants to call himself safe because he's bigger and more powerful not because he's more skilled or because he was actually safe.

To believe that there is not a competitive disadvantage in baseball is to simply not be paying attention. I'm not talking results, I'm talking the options that some teams have to call themselves safe when they actually aren't more skilled at selecting players and/or making contracts. Many teams have a ton of wiggle room. Many teams have nearly none.

If you actually want the game to fair (remember it's a game -- it's designed to be controlled and regulated) then I think reforming it so that some teams don't get to be safe more often than others is in the game's best interest.

Commie Out.

Chuck - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#235223) #

remember it's a game

Major league baseball is a business enterprise. Its primary product happens to be baseball games.

Matthew E - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:15 PM EDT (#235227) #

But remember, the off-field competition in baseball is not between teams; it's between leagues. The Jays aren't competing with the Yankees off the field; the Jays and Yankees (and the 28 other teams) are cooperating to compete against the Maple Leafs and Knicks and Cowboys.

If a disparity between how much money is available to the Yankees as opposed to how much money is available to the Jays is hindering MLB's ability to compete against all the other entertainment options out there (locally or globally), then it behooves MLB and its component teams to sort that out.

It's not a perfect analogy, but if you owned a chain of restaurants, you wouldn't be satisfied if some of your locations were thriving while others were being neglected, would you?

electric carrot - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#235229) #

Major league baseball is a business enterprise. Its primary product happens to be baseball games.

OK -- it's game wrapped up in a business model -- the most successful business model is probably to bring the fences way in so there are more homers, give reality stars at bats, give the most popular players several at bats an inning, and I don't know, how about cheerleaders, and more action.

Wait a minute we have that already it's called WWF.

What am I saying? I don't know -- I think I'll just go to Disneyland and try not to think about it anymore.

92-93 - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#235230) #

I wouldn't send the customers from my thriving locations to my neglected ones just to try evening out the revenues from all my locations - I'd figure out what's working in the successful places and have new management implement those concepts in the neglected ones.

See : Rays, Tampa

92-93 - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#235234) #

Nobody is saying there isn't an inherent competitive disadvantage in baseball - we're saying it's largely irrelevant, and have (at least) the last decade to back up our argument. Go ask Cubs, Tigers, and Mets fans how much success they've enjoyed watching their top ranking payrolls play.

electric carrot - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#235239) #

So you're basing the fact that there is no relevant competitive disadvantage on 10 at bats (years). To really prove this statistically I think you would need about 100-200 years of data -- there are so many factors in baseball and so much luck.

I prefer the common sense model.

Team X has 45 million to spend
Team Y has 245 million to spend.

I actually don't care if team x wins or doesn't win -- team Y has an advantage that's relevant.

Anders - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#235242) #

See : Rays, Tampa

While I am somewhat sympathetic to the notion that there should be less restrictions on how team's operate, I think that the reality is if you went completely unfettered you would end up like the Premier League - 4 teams every year with a shot at winning it, with the occasional interloper. Not that that is what is being suggested, but I think it's wishful thinking to think that the financial behemoths won't run amok over everyone else.

With regards to the Rays, it is certainly overly simplistic to say that Tampa succeeded because they had high draft position for 10 years straight - their ownership and management are definitely amongst the games best at this juncture. They have been greatly aided by the system that rewards teams for poor finishes with high draft picks, to be certain though.

They also draw 18,000 fans a game despite some 3 years of sustained success. There are only so many large metropolitan cities, and only so many teams with rich, 100 year histories and built-in fanbases that pre-exist any current ownership and management. I think some system is needed in order to allow the teams lacking these things to succeed on a consistent basis.

ayjackson - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 06:42 PM EDT (#235245) #

Jesse Litsch has been placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder soreness.

TamRa - Friday, May 20 2011 @ 07:56 PM EDT (#235247) #

Matthew describes it correctly. It's what i've said for years. McDonalds on Main street isn't in competition with McDonalds on First Street, their in competition with Burger King and Wendy's

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