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It was an off day on the farm as the affiliates went 2-4.

Tacoma 4 Las Vegas 3

David Cooper had a strong day with a 3-for-3 performances and is setting himself up for a September recall. He hit a double and walked once. A day after pitching for Las Vegas, Jason Lane was the DH and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Darin Mastroianni went 0-for-3 but he walked twice and stole a base. Brett Lawrie was 1-for-4 with an RBI and an error. Robert Ray received the start and pitched respectably. He allowed three earned runs in six innings. He walked one batter and struck out six. Rommie Lewis and Ron Uviedo both pitched scoreless innings.

Reading 10 New Hampshire 6

B.J. LaMura started out well but faded quickly. His line included six runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out just one batter. Yohan Pino picked him up and worked 2.1 scoreless innings with three Ks and no walks. Matt Daly and Evan Crawford also kept the opponent off the board but Clint Everts was roughed up in the ninth and allowed three runs (just one earned). At the plate, Anthony Gose went 1-for-1 and walked four times I(Yeah buddy, that's what we like to see). Unfortunately, he was also thrown out trying to steal. Callix Crabbe and Travis d'Arnaud each had two hits. Crabbe hit a solo homer and d'Arnaud drove in two runs. Mark Sobolewski's hot hitting continued with a single and two RBI. Craig Stansberry hit a solo homer.

Dunedin 8 St. Lucie 1

Nestor Molina (Please don't be on the list of PTBNL that St. Louis can choose from) had another solid game. He allowed one run in five innings. Molina walked two and struck out five batters. Scott Gracey worked three scoreless innings. Aaron Loup pitched the ninth inning. Brad Glenn's 19th home run of the year was a three-run bomb. He also struck out twice. A.J. Jimenez had two hits but Sean Ochinko one-upped him with three hits, including a double. He also scored two runs. Ryan Goins had two singles. Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-3 with a double.

Lansing 10 Lake County 6

Sean Nolin had an off day with four runs (although just one earned) in 4.2 innings of work. He gave up four hits and five walks but also struck out five batters. Alesone Escalante allowed two runs in 1.1 innings of work. Dayton Marze worked two scoreless innings (and earned the win), while Brandon Berl worked an uneventful ninth. Toolsy Canadian Michael Crouse is looking to end the season on a high note with about a month to go. He had two hits and stole two bases, but was also caught once. He now has 35 steals on the season. Marcus Knecht and K.C. Hobson both had two hits. Carlos Perez went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk. Oliver Dominiguez did not had an official at-bat because he walked in each of his four plate appearances. Bryson Namba went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double.

Tri City 4 Vancouver 0

The offense had just five hits. Jonathan Berti, who's hitting .331 on the season, went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Nick Baligod managed two hits, while Jonathan Jones and Balbino Fuenmayor had a hit a piece. Kramer Champlin allowed two runs in four innings of work. He walked one, struck out three and induced five ground-ball outs (compared to two in the air). Taylor Cole allowed two runs in as many innings but Alex Pepe pitched two scoreless frames.

Kingsport 3 Bluefield 1

The offense managed just three hits. Chris Hawkins went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Arnie Munoz went 1-for-2 and picked off a runner at first base. Eli Boike had a pinch hit single and drove in a run. Art Charles was 0-for-1 with a strikeout and two walks. Starter Myles Jaye wasn't overly sharp as he allowed two runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. Aaron Sanchez, though, came out strong and allowed just one run in four innings. He allowed four hits, one walk and struck out six batters. Sanchez had a 19.80 ERA in two June appearances (5.0 innings) but he ended July with a 3.28 ERA in six appearances (24.2 innings). As mentioned in another thread, Noah Syndergaard has been promoted from Bluefield to Vancouver.

GCL Jays - Off Day

DSL Jays - Off Day

Top 3 Stars
3. Michael Crouse, 2 hits, 2 steals
2. Aaron Sanchez, 4 innings, 1 run, 6 Ks
1. David Cooper, 3-for-3
Cooper Keeps on Hitting | 28 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Gerry - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#239861) #
Lansing's broadcaster, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, has written a story about what life is really like in the minor leagues. You can read it here.
uglyone - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 10:40 AM EDT (#239863) #
It's a bit of a catch 22 with Cooper right now. I think he's legit and has every chance of being a decent MLB hitter, but I'm not sure that he is an upgrade over a guy like EE at the plate either now or in the future.....but I also think that thanks to playing in Vegas, he's still nowhere close to having earned any real trade value after his 2 years of struggles in AA.

Not sure what the best path here is. He wouldn't be a significant upgrade to the club now (well I'd rather have him up here than Teahen....but I'd rather have Lawrie up over Cooper), there's no massive upside to look forward to down the road, but moving him now would still be selling low imo and wouldn't get us anything much in return.
ogator - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 11:28 AM EDT (#239866) #
And isn't it better having Cooper playing every day in Vegas rather than sitting on the bench and never playing as Teahen is likely to do?
jgadfly - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#239868) #
I wonder whether an off-season of intensive weight training under the auspices of a knowlegeable trainor might be beneficial to turn some of his numerous doubles into homeruns. He is definitely making solid contact and has a great K:BB rate. He still has more potential upside than he has present value. If the physical prototype that is exemplified by Prince Fielder / Ryan Howard / Frank Thomas can fill the clean-up spot , surely there can be found a roster spot for a guy like a stronger more bulked-up Cooper ?
hypobole - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#239872) #
Very nice start for Adonys Cardona today vs the GCL Braves. Went 4 innings for the 1st time this year. Final line 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. 5/1 GO/FO.
lexomatic - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 01:39 PM EDT (#239873) #
I did a few MLE's today while I was eating lunch...
Cooper this season is putting up a Sean Casey special(299/362/453 35 2b 6 hr 34/35 bb/k). Adam Loewen is the older(?) version of Francoeur (250/310/417 11HR), and Lawrie translates to 284/337/515 with 25 hrs and 20 sbs
Fun with numbers

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=afe1f85d
http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/mlecalc.html

dan gordon - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#239875) #

Thanks for the mle's.  D'Arnaud's mle for his season so far is .272/.322/.437.

I'm not worried about a guy like Molina being included in the St.Louis deal.  When you see PTBNL or cash, it's usually mid to low level prospects, and usually ends up being cash.  If you're talking guys like Molina, that completely changes the deal.  Especially since there are 3 of them.   I think it's probably guys like , oh, Daly, Sobolewski, Ochinko, Tolisano, Glenn, Turnbull, that type of thing.  Nobody who's going to make you say, oh no, not him.

Kelekin - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 06:10 PM EDT (#239877) #
And there's no guarantee they get any PTBNLs since cash considerations was also a possibility.
TamRa - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 08:24 PM EDT (#239881) #
Justin Jacksons AA chance is over, at least for now  - he's going back to Dunedin.
cybercavalier - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 10:55 PM EDT (#239885) #
Thank lexomatic for the MLEs. How do you know the translated stats resemble Sean Casey's MLB stats ?
lexomatic - Monday, August 01 2011 @ 11:22 PM EDT (#239887) #
cyber, Casey was the first player who came to mind like that . Off the top of my head I think he was a good comparison, though I don't think Cooper would ever hit 24 HRs
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/caseyse01.shtml
2001 or 2005 mostly I think - his minor league stats are pretty beastly though
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=casey-001sea



bpoz - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#239892) #
I have not seen any talk about us making the playoffs this year. Is that because we don't want to jinx our teams?
I was pondering who would pitch.
hypobole - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 01:13 PM EDT (#239921) #
Oh, bpoz, why did you have to talk about us making the playoffs? Now were jinxed for sure! :(
92-93 - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 02:16 PM EDT (#239932) #
10.5 games back with 54 games to go is quite the mountain to climb. Jays have a relatively easy schedule in August and 6 games remaining vs. NYY.
uglyone - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#239937) #
after facing the toughest sked in baseball by a longshot so far (.514), a powder puff August sked does seem like a prime opportunity to make some sort of run.

the fact that Boston's top-5 hitters seem to be slowing a bit from that ridiculous tear they've been on the last month or two, and the fact that New York is still relying on Colon and Garcia as their #2 and #3 starters does leave some faint hope that those teams might be vulnerable that at least one of them stumbles a bit.

either way, let's see what these Jays can do during the powder puff August sked to earn themselves at least some interesting september games going head to head against the teams that in theory they would directly be trying to catch for a playoff spot.

If they can shave a significant chunk off the lead this month, then it might time to start hoping.
Ron - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#239940) #
The Jays need to go at least 40-14 to make the playoffs. The only way the Jays get into the playoffs is if they buy a ticket.

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 03:03 PM EDT (#239943) #
The odds are definitely very much against them.  It wouldn't surprise me at all though if 93 wins earns a wild card berth. Mind you, I don't see the harm in playing to win (short of trading d'Arnaud or Alvarez or Gose or somebody like that in a waiver claim deal).  It does set a good tone. 
China fan - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 03:06 PM EDT (#239944) #
The real question:  do you play to win if it means benching Snider against LHP and playing Encarnacion instead of Lawrie?
Mike Green - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 03:24 PM EDT (#239947) #
Sorry CF, but I don't see it.  It seems to me that calling up Lawrie to play third every day and using Encarnacion as a platoon partner for Snider/Thames/Lind serves the short-term and medium-term needs of the club.  The only issue is service time for Lawrie and the situation 6 years from now. 
92-93 - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#239951) #
With the crowd clamouring for Lawrie's arrival, it's worth noting that Jose Bautista has looked very, very good at the hot corner.
China fan - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 04:10 PM EDT (#239954) #

Mike, I was only posing the question, without implying any answer.  Your answer is a pretty good one, but it still implies that Snider and/or Thames should be platooned, at an age when they need everyday playing time, and incidentally it also implies that Davis would get virtually no playing time at all (since it is Davis, not Encarnacion, who normally gets the playing time when Snider or Thames is sitting). 

The other way of framing my question:  is 2011 still a developmental year, where the Jays are trying to figure out the talents of various young prospects, or is it a year where they're trying to maximize their wins?  If it's still a developmental year, why should they give any playing time to Encarnacion?  Everyone knows exactly what he can do:  he provides some power, he can play 1B or DH, he can sometimes hit enough doubles and HRs to boost his OPS to decent levels.  If the Jays want to keep him as a bench player in 2012, they already know what he can do.  But they don't know enough about Snider, Thames, Lawrie etc.  So if it's a developmental year, why are the Jays still giving playing time to Encarnacion (unless they are showcasing him for a trade)?  And if the goal has now shifted to maximizing wins, why not send Snider or Thames to the minors, so that everyone can maximize their playing time and solve their issues?  If Lawrie is promoted and Encarnacion is platooning, the Jays will need to bench either Thames or Snider virtually every day.

As today's lineup shows (Thames on the bench), it's not possible to give regular playing time to all of these guys -- and it will become much less possible if Lawrie is promoted.

92-93 - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 04:24 PM EDT (#239957) #
As much as people may have wanted EE DFA'd or now sent to the bench, he's been the team's 3rd best hitter for 2 months now (far better than Lind) and has an affordable 3.5m option for 2012. There's plenty of reasons to be giving him everyday playing time right now.
hypobole - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 04:31 PM EDT (#239958) #
Other than Bautista, Encarnation has been our best hitter the past couple of months. I wouldn't put either of them in a platoon role, no matter whether this is a contending or developmental year.
Mike Green - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#239967) #
Thames on the bench against one of the toughest lefties in the league?  That is fine with me.  He's had plenty of starts against lefties, and if he sits one game in three against left-handers, he'll get 550-600 PAs per year if healthy.
China fan - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 05:37 PM EDT (#239968) #
With Lawrie and Encarnacion both in the lineup -- plus Snider and Lind -- how will Thames manage to get 550 to 600 plate appearances per year?
uglyone - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 06:38 PM EDT (#239979) #
We've given 1176pa already only 2/3 of the way through this season to Patterson, Rivera, Davis, Nix, and McCoy.

I would absolute LOVE to have the "problem" of splitting those at bats between actual good players.

Assuming 700pa per position for a good offensive teams, and absolutely no injuries:

CF Rasmus 650 / Davis 50
RF Bautista 650 / Davis 50
LF Snider 550 / Thames 150
3B Lawrie 550 / Encarnacion 150
SS Escobar 650 / McCoy 50
2B XXXXXX 650 / McCoy 50
1B Lind 650 / Encarnacion 50
C Arencibia 550 / Molina 150
DH Thames 400 / Encarnacion 300

Totals:

Bautista 650
Rasmus 650
Escobar 650
Lind 650
2B 650
Thames 550
Snider 550
Lawrie 550
Arencibia 550
Encarnacion 500
Molina 150
Davis 100
McCoy 100
Jonny German - Tuesday, August 02 2011 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#239980) #
Uglyone has it just about exactly right. I might plan for a little more Davis, but no worries - he'll get his time in when injuries come up.
bpoz - Wednesday, August 03 2011 @ 08:24 AM EDT (#239996) #
Really Really good AB breakdown uglyone. I think quite a few of them are also capable of 20Hr with those ABs.
So our offense is set for 2012 as being V good IMO, except for inexperience. There will definitely be growing pains. We can't do anything about injuries, but we are covered everywhere but C, 2B & SS. Maybe McDade, d'Arnaud & Sierra will tear it up in AAA next year. I am already fretting about their ABs.

Thanks hypobole, I was concerned about jinxing us the decoy used by the Bauxites was Awesome.
I wish I knew the rules. Like I would never post that any of our pitchers is throwing a NoNo until the deed is done. Its too bad about pitch limits basically forcing NoNos to be a group effort, but that is still good.
Maybe some time we can bask in the joy of some High Water marks, especially since we are loaded in pitching. Since it is over D Hutchison's long "not scored upon" streak was one.
And JPA's Hr period last year then 2 in his ML debut.
Cooper Keeps on Hitting | 28 comments | Create New Account
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