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The affiliates came away with a clean sweep in the U.S.A. by going 4-0 Tuesday, scoring a combined 33 runs.


Buffalo 8 Syracuse 4

Syracuse, NY - Deck McGuire (3-0) encountered his first rough outing in Triple-A. He served up a home run as part of a three-run first and gave up another solo blast in the fourth. He made it through five innings to qualify for the win by allowing six hits, two walks and a hit by pitch while whiffing three. He threw 52 strikes out of his 86 pitches. Esmil Antonio R. scattered two hits over two scoreless frames. John Stilson allowed two hits but struck out one in a scoreless eighth. Bobby Korecky had a strikeout in a shutout ninth.

The Herd got on the board in the fourth with a Dan Johnson solo homer, his 14th of the campaign. A two-run triple by Kenny Wilson in the fifth was followed by a Jared Goeddert solo dinger and a Munenori Kawasaki RBI triple in the sixth to give Buffalo its first lead. They added three more insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run homer by Mike Nickeas and an RBI double by Darin Mastroianni. Brad Glenn doubled and singled and he was joined by Johnson, Wilson and Kawasaki in the two-hit club. Wilson also stole his 4th base with the Bisons. Mastroianni and Nickeas also walked to reach base twice.


New Hampshire 7 Bowie 5


Bowie, MD
- The Fisher Cats made the Orioles affiliate pay for plunking Melky Mesa to start off the game. "Mr. Table" set the table and made it to third on a Jon Berti double and scored on a Ryan Schimpf sacrifice fly. Berti would tie things up with a solo homer in the third. The F-Cats used some small ball to take the lead in the sixth when Jonathan Jones squeezed a run with a sacrifice bunt. Hector Gimenez would increase the bulge to three runs with a two-run poke over the wall in the seventh. The long ball would come to New Hampshire's rescue again in the ninth when Schimpf went deep for a two-run bomb to provide the winning margin. Berti got aboard five times on two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. Jones had a hit and a stolen base. Mike McDade had the other two-hit night with a double and a single. Andy Burns was 1-for-4 and Mike Crouse had a base on balls.

Scott Copeland
was in line to win this one after going six strong innings and overcoming a two-run homer in the first. That was among the six hits he gave up along with a walk. He struck out four and got nine outs on the ground. Sergio Santos blew the save after being slapped around for three runs in the seventh on three hits and a walk but he struck out two. Arik Sikula (1-0) walked one and struck out one in a shutout eighth. Randy Boone worked a 1-2-3 ninth for save number six.


Dunedin 11 Daytona 4

Dunedin, FL - K.C. Hobson hammered his fifth homer of the year, a solo shot in the first inning. That set the tone for the night as the D-Jays blew up for five runs in the second on a Nick Baligod run-scoring double, a Peter Mooney RBI single, a Dalton Pompey two-run base knock and a Hobson double. Hobson would go deep again for a three-run blast in the fourth. Pompey's fielder's choice in the sixth and his RBI single in the eighth wrapped up the scoring. Hobson, Gustavo Pierre and Derrick Chung all had a threesome in the hit column. Baligod reached twice by taking one for the team. Dwight Smith Jr. was 1-for-5.

Ben White (3-3) was tagged for just a solo homer by the Cubs affiliate in five innings. His only 1-2-3 frame was the fifth but he only surrendered five hits, walked nobody and struck out a pair. Chad Girodo pitched a one-hitter over two frames and struck out one. Justin Jackson was charged with three runs (two earned) in just one-third of an inning. Efrain Nieves allowed two of Jackson's runners to score but got the final two outs of the eighth. Danny Barnes walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth.


Lansing 7 Fort Wayne 4


Fort Wayne, IN - Matt Dean's two-run single got the Lugnuts rolling in the third and that was followed by an L.B. Dantzler sac fly. Dean would bring home another run with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to give the Lugnuts a 4-3 lead. A Chaz Frank RBI single in the eighth put Lansing ahead to stay. Run-scoring singles by Dantzler and Dawel Lugo padded the lead in the ninth. Dean had the only two-hit effort and also drew a walk. The on-base leader was Derrick Loveless, who singled and walked three times. Santiago Nessy had a triple and a base on balls. Mitch Nay had a double but struck out three times. D.J. Davis singled and whiffed twice. Only Dickie Joe Thon was hitless but he did earn a base on balls.

Jeremy Gabryszwski got through 6.1 innings against the Padres affiliate and was charged with four runs, two earned as the result of his own throwing error and clank by Loveless at second. He allowed just six hits but also struck out a half-dozen while walking nobody. Scott Silverstein (6-2) allowed his inherited runner to score but pitched 1.2 innings of one-hit ball with two K's. Griffin Murphy surrendered a hit but struck out a pair to collect his ninth save.


Tuesday's Linescores


*** 3 Stars!!! ***


3. Ryan Schimpf, New Hampshire - Has 31 extra-base hits on the season, including two in Buffalo.


2. Jon Berti, New Hampshire
- A four-game hitting streak by going 6-for-16 with a double, a homer and two walks.


1. K.C. Hobson, New Hampshire
- Extended his hitting streak to eight with five multi-hit efforts. Batting .375 over his last 10 contests.


Wednesday's Schedule & Probable Starters


DSL Blue Jays
@ DSL Tigers, 10:30 am ET - TBA.
Daytona @ Dunedin, 6:30 pm ET - LHP Matt Boyd (4-1, 0.43)
New Hampshire @ Bowie, 6:35 pm ET - RHP P.J. Walters (1-0, 2.13).
Lansing @ Fort Wayne, 7:05 pm ET - RHP Chase De Jong (0-4, 4.82).


Extra Innings...

MiLB.com has a feature on Frank Viola III.
NHFisherCats.com has a story on the players' and coaches uniform numbers.
The Vancouver Sun profiles new general manager J.C. Fraser.
Son Of A Butch, Hobson's Good! | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Kelekin - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 02:42 AM EDT (#288211) #
Vancouver's roster seems to be updated with a full list of names. I must say it's definitely the least inspired player list we've had there, though we have lots of unsigned college kids still. Barreto is certainly the highlight.

I'm excited to see Miguel Castro, who had a great year last year as a 19-year old mostly in the DSL. Seemingly they like him enough to challenge him at Vancouver.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 09:15 AM EDT (#288219) #
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/06/09/the-mlb-draft-and-future-vancouver-canadians/

According to this article yesterday that posted roster has been changing constantly over the last week, and they expect a bunch of top prospects like pentacost, tellez, castro, alford, barreto.

Plus guys like tirado and labourt, and a bunch of this year's college draftees.
PeterG - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 09:38 AM EDT (#288222) #
If Tellez and Castro can start and succeed at Vancouver in this very early stage of their careers, that would be huge. I remember some scouts saying last year that Castro could move quickly.
Gerry - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 09:45 AM EDT (#288223) #
The Vancouver Sun article is opinion, not based on comments from Blue Jay minor league staff. I think Charlie Caskey does a good job with the Canadians but his source is most likely a player who just has an opinion.

The most interesting parts of the Vancouver roster is the starting pitching. Tirado, Labourt, Castro, Suriel and Wasilewski should give you a good base to work off every night.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 09:47 AM EDT (#288224) #
Castro is a beaut. Not only does he have the biggest arm of all those low level kids but so far has put up the dominant elite stats, both Ks and control, that indicate legit potential.

I don't think i'm stretching at all by putting him first of all the lower level pitchers, and behind only stroman, sanchez, norris, hoffman, and osuna. And i guess nolin too just because he's so close.

If castro can do in A-/A this year what he did in rookie ball last year, he may even move ahead of some of those guys.
jerjapan - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#288228) #
The lower minors are stacked, and the upper minors have good depth pieces and AAAA guys - I'm loving the direction of this farm system given our recent draft.

Speaking of AAAA guys, I'd love to see Schimpf and Sikula in AAA for a look. Schimpf is 26, can play 2nd, 3rd and LF, and could be a good righty-mashing platoon player. He's been moving slowly through the minors but seems to make adjustments with each level.

Sikula is a 26 year old reliever, drafted in the mid thirties, but he's done nothing but strike people out at every level. I've long thought you could get good value in the late rounds of the draft with university seniors who are pure relievers.
PeterG - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 10:23 AM EDT (#288231) #
Schimpf already had a try at AAA and did not do well, unlike Brad Glenn who is ripping it up. I agree on Sikula. He good be a quick mover. He is already handling the promo to AA . If he continues to do well, I can see him in Buffalo by the end of July maybe.
short - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#288242) #
Schimpf had 25 at bats in AAA, that doesn't really count as giving him a try.

I think he should get another shot.
China fan - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 05:13 PM EDT (#288272) #
During the off-season, some analysts said the Jays had a "middle of the pack" farm system.  Today, with the Jays ranked as having one of the best drafts of any MLB team, and assuming that the Jays sign all their key draftees as seems likely, is it now possible that the Jays have a top-10 farm system again?   (If it is top 10 now, that's a pretty quick replenishment from all the trades of 2012-13.)
China fan - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 05:31 PM EDT (#288273) #
The Jays have traded Shawn Hill to the White Sox.  They've also demoted Liz to New Hampshire, and Romero is on the DL.  So the current Buffalo rotation is Nolin/McGuire/Drabek/Hendriks/vacant.  Who will the 5th starter be?  Is there room for someone to be promoted from New Hampshire? Are we getting close to the time when there will be promotions across the system, including Norris and Cole from Dunedin to New Hampshire?  Maybe even Sanchez to Buffalo?
Richard S.S. - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 07:29 PM EDT (#288282) #
Toronto got lucky with two early picks and a Top 1-3 talent still available and a top draft-for-need player available. Then they stayed lucky getting a Top-20 talent still available. They hit a homerun as it looks like their first six picks (1st-5th Rounds) are signing quick.

I think Morrow's due back shortly, so it might be Stroman sent down before someone is called up.
Gerry - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 08:13 PM EDT (#288286) #
Buffalo have Esmil Rogers who could start. By next week they will likely have Chad Jenkins back too. Sergio Santos will probably pitch Thursday and Saturday before being ready for the Jays.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 10:06 PM EDT (#288288) #
Ya i'm guessing/hoping it's jenkins.

Nolin 24
Hendriks 25
Mcguire 25
Drabek 26
Jenkins 26

Is an interesting group of young starting talent whose window is still open....even though its just open a crack for the last two.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 11 2014 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#288289) #
"During the off-season, some analysts said the Jays had a "middle of the pack" farm system. Today, with the Jays ranked as having one of the best drafts of any MLB team, and assuming that the Jays sign all their key draftees as seems likely, is it now possible that the Jays have a top-10 farm system again? (If it is top 10 now, that's a pretty quick replenishment from all the trades of 2012-13.)"

The draft is big. As are the huge seasons from norris and pompey. Lugo holding his own in a ball at 19 too.

If guys like barreto and castro can shine in a-/a coming up, then yeah the system starts to look really really good.
Gerry - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 08:57 AM EDT (#288295) #
Aaron Sanchez has been promoted to AAA.
jayBlue - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:13 AM EDT (#288296) #
And now we wait for the Norris promotion. I wonder what the ripple effect is with the expected promotions coming soon. How many Dunedin Blue Jays get promoted? Who fills those spots? Are any Lugnuts worthy of promotions? Doesn't seem like many do and if they do they don't match up position-wise with the promotion-worthy Dunedin players. I would say Pompey, Flores and Smith deserve promotions on Dunedin's hitting side and Norris and Cole deserve it on pitching side (only looking at SP).
From Lansing, maybe Dean gets a push and either Lugo or Thon too, but no real must-promotions from the hitters. The Pitchers have been struggling for the most part with Gabryszwski being the best of the bunch.
Anyone have any thoughts?
China fan - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:23 AM EDT (#288297) #
 "....Maybe even Sanchez to Buffalo?...."

So it looks like I called it.  Or, put it this way, my suggestion wasn't as far-fetched as I thought.  I did have a hunch that the Jays were clearing a vacant spot in the Buffalo rotation for someone, and Sanchez was the obvious possibility.  His performance at New Hampshire wasn't always brilliant, but overall it was pretty good and it's time to give him a bigger challenge.
China fan - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:30 AM EDT (#288298) #
From the Shi Davidi report on Sanchez's promotion:

The 21-year-old right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 14 starts with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.  But he’d been stronger in his last two starts, including an outing Sunday versus Erie in which he struck out seven in six innings and was described as “electric.”
Gerry - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:37 AM EDT (#288299) #
The Bisons released Ryan Rowland-Smith a few days ago.

Also the Jays released Kellen Sweeney, a 2nd round pick in 2010, who never developed.
John Northey - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:39 AM EDT (#288300) #
The Jays got 'lucky' by sucking last year and not signing their first round pick.  Still, it does work out - the Jays traded some top prospects, got some solid players (Buehrle, Dickey, Reyes) and are contending this year and likely next.  The extra strong draft allows the farm to rebuild quickly and the good young A ballers in 2013 are climbing fast to make room.

Last year Bickford was ranked #25 on May 17th.  This year the Jays used that pick on Max Pentecost who was ranked #10 in a deeper draft, while using #9 on a guy who was viewed as a potential #1 until late (Hoffman, who finished at #13 before the Jays took him).  I think that 'trade' works out well.
China fan - Thursday, June 12 2014 @ 09:46 AM EDT (#288301) #
Ryan Rowland-Smith has posted a few poignant tweets about his release.  It's a reminder of the harsh realities of life as a baseball journeyman.


Ryan Rowland-Smith @hyphen18

Blue jays released me yesterday. Heading home. Looking forward to being in the right place at the right time and throw strikes.

I hung a slider and gave up a three run bomb.  Got me a plane ticket.



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