Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Lugnuts Day to Forget!

Today the farm played 9 games, including a rain makeup, and a resumed game from last week. Ryan Tepera had his best start of the year for NH. Kyle Drabek continued to pitch well for Dunedin coming back from Tommy-John. Lansing was no-hit by a young Seattle pitching prospect. The DSL Blue Jays managed 22 runs with 20 hits, and 14 walks.

Buffalo – All-Star Break

New Hampshire 4 – Portland 0

Ryan Tepera had possibly the best start of his career tonight, as he pitched 8 scoreless innings giving up 4 hits, with no walks and 7 strikeouts. Scott Gracey finished the game, pitching a scoreless 9th inning giving up a hit, with one strikeout.

Melky Cabrera had 2 hits, in third rehab game with New Hampshire. AJ Jimenez, Ryan Schimpf and Kevin Ahrens each had a double with a RBI contributing to the offense tonight.

Dunedin 4 – 6 Fort Myers

Kyle Drabek started today, against superstar prospect Byron Buxton and the Fort Myers Miracle. Kyle continued to pitch well coming back from TJS, and pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, with 2 strikeouts. John Anderson gave up two runs pitching in the fourth and fifth innings. Dayton Marze gave up a triple to Byron Buxton in the 7th, later allowing him to score. Blake McFarland pitched the 9th inning giving up 3 earned runs and being credited with the game loss.

Mike Crouse hit a grand-slam in the 8th inning, in a day which Dunedin only managed to put together 5 hits.

Lansing 0 - Clinton 1

Despite only giving up 4 hits, Lansing lost today in a pitching duel between the two teams. Taylor Cole pitched 6 innings, only giving up one unearned run, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.

Lansing only got one base runner today, when Dalton Pompey was hit by a pitch. Otherwise, 18 year old starter Victor Sanchez had a perfect game, 9 innings with zeros across the board, with 8 strikeouts.

Vancouver 6 – Everett 7

Kyle Anderson started, going 5 innings for the Canadians, giving up one earned run, but the bullpen had an offday, giving up 5 runs in the 6th, and 7th inning.

The offense today managed to have 12 hits, which totaled 6 runs. Andy Fermin had four hits, including a home run and a double. Christian Vazquez, and David Harris each had 2 hits including a double.

Bluefield 9 – Burlington 1 (Resumed game from July 10th)

This game was a continuation of a suspended game from July 10th the game appears to have been resumed in the 5th inning. Alberto Tirado started the resumed game after the suspension a week ago. Alberto pitched 5 strong innings, giving up 2 hits, one unearned run, with no walks, and three strikeouts.

In the 7th inning, Bluefield exploded for 6 runs, DJ Davis, Dawel Lugo, Garrett Gustons, and Tim Locastro each had a double contributing to the inning.

Bluefield 4 – Burlington 3 (7 Innings)

Today, Jario Labourt, and Yeyfry Del Rosario were the tandem starters, with Jairo Labourt starting the first 3 innings in which he gave up one earned run. Yeyfry started the 4th inning, and he gave up 4 hits over 3 scoreless innings pitched.

GCL Blue Jays 15 – GCL Tigers 5 (7 Innings)

The GCL Blue Jays had 19 hits, and two walks today which combined for 15 runs. Thomas Collins had 2 HR, with 4 RBI, Josh Almonte had two doubles with three runs scored. As well Andres De Aza contributed to the attack, with three hits, and three runs scored.

Jesus Tinoco, and Kamakani Usui combined to pich 7 innings, giving up 10 hits, 5 earned runs, with two walks, and 6 strikeouts.

GCL Blue Jays 7 – GCL Tigers 8 (Makeup of July 1st RainOut, 4 innings)

Daniel Lietz was victimized by poor Blue Jays defense, as he gave up 11 hits, with 8 runs, of which only 2 were earned. Corey Gorman pitched two scoreless innings, in the 3rd and 4th innings with two walks, and two strikeouts.

Gabriel Cenas had a double with three RBI, and Thomas Collins continued to hit, as he was 2-4 with 2 runs scored.

DSL Blue Jays 22 - DSL Braves 3

The DSL Blue Jays had their best offensive game of the season in which they had 20 hits, and 14 walks, which amounted to 22 runs. It was a combined attack across the board, Juan Tejada, and Rodgrigo Orozco each had 4 hits and 4 RBI each.

Francis Eduardo pitched the first three innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 earned runs, with 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Johnathan Torres, Denis Diaz, and Rauly Castillo combined to pitch the next 6 scoreless innings in relief.

Three Stars

3-Mike Crouse

2-Thomas Collins

1-Ryan Tepera

Posted by tercet on Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 09:36 AM EDT.

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

John Northey - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#276637) #

With mid-season all-star games being completed I wonder who is moving where as this is a good time to do shuffling of the decks.

Buffalo is the big concern as it is the AAA team and the Jays were trying to make them competitive this year. Right now they are 3rd in their division, 3 1/2 games back of Pawtucket (Red Sox) but just 49-47 so about as mediocre as the ML team but on the right side of 500. For the wild card they are 1 1/2 back of Norfolk (Orioles). Buffalo has the 3rd worst ERA in the IL (12th best if you prefer) at 4.43. Just 7th in total runs scored but 2nd in OPS (have played fewest games in the IL but just 3 fewer than the team who has played the most) and 3rd in OBP.

Clearly pitching needs help as I don't think Buffalo is a launching pad. I suspect Romero, Wang and Weber are locks for the rotation for now (ERA's of 5.56, 2.28, 2.37 respectively). Justin Germano has been the rock (17 starts) but his 5.35 ERA suggests he could be dumped quickly although his June & July are a lot better (ERA below 4 in both months) as could David Bush (4.20 ERA in 90 IP, 14 starts and 4 relief games) or pretty much anyone else as none are prospects (all are 28+). Chad Jenkins was starting but hasn't since June 27th and wasn't doing well - at 25 I suspect he might be moved into the 'filler' category if he wasn't already. This is a staff that finally is getting it going but with Romero being the only guy the organization really cares about down there it is ripe for promotions. I suspect Stroman, Marcus (3.23 ERA in AA with 10.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9) and Nolin, Sean (2.09 ERA 9.7 K/9 1.9 BB/9 0.3 HR/9) are ripe for callups to AAA to replace Bush and Germano. Really, I don't see why they haven't been called up to AAA yet.

The pen in AAA is solid with Brad Lincoln (2.79 ERA 7 BB 21 SO in 19 1/3 IP) and John Stilson (1.82 ERA 10 BB 21 SO in 24 2/3 IP). Mickey Storey and Joel Carreno also have been solid in that pen (ERAs sub 3 over a K per IP). Don't see any issues despite them losing Wagner and Perez to the big club and Chad Beck to the DL. Plus Jeremy Jeffress is back from the DL and Tommy Hottovy has yet to allow a run in his 12 games. Seems AAA has the same pen as the bigs - almost too deep and strong.

Seems the pitching in AAA is solving itself as the rotation is much stronger with Wang and Weber plus Romero finally seems to be getting it going. Germano for the last month and a half has been good and Bush is very serviceable but I would prefer to see some prospects in the AAA rotation.

John Northey - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#276638) #

Add Sergio Santos to AAA along with Cabrera. Funny - he might be the worst of the pen options now in AAA.

uglyone - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 12:52 PM EDT (#276639) #

I'd love to see some of the deadweight jettisoned from Buffalo's pitching staff, because they could legitimately load up the entire AAA staff with legit MLB-potential talent right now, without rushing anyone:

SP R.Romero / J.Happ / B.Morrow
SP S.Nolin
SP M.Stroman
SP D.Hutchison
SP K.Drabek

RP S.Santos
RP J.Stilson
RP L.Perez
RP J.Carreno
RP M.Storey
RP N.Wagner
RP B.Lincoln

There's really not much need to keep around the likes of Wang, Germano, Bush, Vargas, Weber, Carlyle, Korecky, Batista, etc. etc. anymore.

Lylemcr - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#276642) #

When I look at the starting staff, you take away Nolin and Stroman and add Henderson Alvarez(who is just getting off the DL), you have the starting staff from last year. We don't have one starter from last year on the squad... {The new 5 (except for Rogers) are not much better}

I think the Jays should have a ceremony where they get a witch doctor or something to remove the curse off the starting pitching. To be named as a starter of the Jays out of spring training is a curse or something.

I like the bullpen depth in Buffalo. That is a good place to leverage trade position.

ayjackson - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 07:53 PM EDT (#276652) #

I wonder if Happ will beat Romero back to the Jays lineup. JA has pitched five scoreless innings (3 hits, 0 walks, 7 k's) in Dunedin tonight. Send him to Buffalo? Or to NH and Nolin to Buffalo?

ayjackson - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#276653) #

Sanchez replaces Happ:

Chris King ‏@StatsKing 2m
Sanchez sequence vs Buxton: 97, 98, 99, 100, 83, 99. Buxton flies out on the warning track to dead center
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ayjackson - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 08:46 PM EDT (#276656) #

Chris King ‏@StatsKing 46s
Sanchez is attacking hitters here in 9th. Sharp sliders followed by deep changes then 96-98 to put them away. Lots of swing & misses
Expand

Gerry - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 08:47 PM EDT (#276657) #

I spoke with someone in the Jays system today about Santos. They said his fastball was 90-92 in his last Dunedin appearance but it was his second day in a row pitching, the first time since his injury. They also noted he is coming back from shoulder surgery so it does take time.

From this I might surmise that his usage might be similar to Casey Janssen at the start of the year, day to day and rarely two days in a row.

rtcaino - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 09:10 PM EDT (#276658) #

Does Santos have options left? I forget from ST - seem to recall him being a lock and not involved in the 'who has options left' discussion. (Given his minor league career, I presume no options left.)

Also, GREAT to see Sanchez back and impressing!

ramone - Thursday, July 18 2013 @ 09:29 PM EDT (#276659) #

I'm watching the Bisons game on milb.tv right now, Santos hit 95 on his first pitch, topped out there, heard a 93 and a 94 as well, k'd three and gave up a single, fastball looked good and he had trouble locating the slider, so much better than when I listened to him pitch in Dunedin. As Gerry noted likely just the back to back days.

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