Archive for August, 2009
On Sanchez: “You saw his eyes get big,” Ray Lewis said, “and he was jumping around in the pocket. We gave him a lot of looks and disguises, and we confused him a little bit.” NYP (photo courtesy via Smoot)
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I have always been a big fan of Ray, but I have to say, seeing stuff like this gives me mixed feelings.How do you think this news about Ray will affect the team this season?
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A lot of fans really like this guy. I think Pie is neat -
If it wasn’t for the second game in a GCL double-header, the affiliates would have scored progressively fewer runs as you descend the minor league ladder. So what I’m saying is, stop reading after Dunedin.
Las Vegas 9 at Salt Lake 8
The 51s did a pretty good job of scoring throughout the game, and yet they were behind from the bottom of the 1st until the top of the 8th when they broke through for 3 runs and finally re-captured the lead they had first taken in the top of the 1st. The offense was fairly evenly distributed, with only Brian Dopirak not reaching base. Buck Coats drove in 3 on a triple and a single, and Aaron Mathews had 2 singles and 2 walks. T.J. Beam didn’t have a great start, but the trio of Zach Stewart, Brian Wolfe and Jeremy Accardo picked him up nicely, allowing 1 run over the final 4 2/3.
Scoring almost as many runs as you have hits is generally a good way to win a game. New Hampshire was more efficient than their opponents, scoring 8 runs on 9 hits while Trenton banged out 12 hits, but could only convert those runners into 5 runs. Nick Gorneault swung the big bat for the Cats, with 3 RBIs on a single and a homer. David Cooper doubled and walked twice. The pitching was nothing to write home about, or anything to write Batter’s Box about, really.
Moises Sierra 4 at Clearwater 2
Dunedin got out-hit 11-8 in this contest, but they had the big hit that counted: a grand slam by Moises Sierra. Clearwater did a poor job cashing in their runners, as they went 2-11 with RISP. Charles Huggins was good on the mound, allowing an earned run on 7 hits in 5 innings, and striking out 8.
Lansing put up a good fight in this one; they had 9 hits including homers by Mike McDade and Balbino Fuenmayor, and got a quality start out of Chase Lirette, who allowed 3 runs in 6 innings. It just wasn’t quite enough, as Jason Roenicke allowed the tying and go-ahead run to score in his 3 innings of work. Johermyn Chavez had a double in 4 trips, while Welinton Ramirez singled and stole a base.
Mahoning Valley 12 at Auburn 1
There is absolutely nothing that happened in this game that I care to mention.
GCL Blue Jays 1 at GCL Braves 3 (7 innings)
Wow, take a look at that box score. Actually, don’t, it’s bleak. The GCL Jays managed just 3 hits and 1 walk. Bryson Namba was the hero, homering in half of his at bats, but even though he wasn’t pinch-hit or pinch-run for or anything, he only managed 2 at bats. Gustavo Pierre had a single and a steal, and there was some solid work out of the bullpen.
GCL Braves 3 at GCL Jays 4 (7 innings)
That’s a little better. Eric Thames and Jony Fernandez each doubled and walked, and John Roberts smacked a solo homer to give the Baby Jays just enough offense to even up the doubleheader. Someone named Lance Loftin’ pitched 2 perfect innings out of the bullpen, but should probably switch to hitting with a name like that.
Three Stars
3. Moises Sierra - grand slam
2. Buck Coats - 2-4, 3B, 3 RBI
1. Nick Gorneault - 2-4, HR, 3 RBI
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Post your replies below!
Take a peek at a video of Pie doing his best work:
Jim Knox gets a pie in the face
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I wonder how Pie’s serious fans feel -
I missed yesterdayâs game- and Iâm infinitely grateful for that. I almost wished I missed todayâs game. John Danks sputtered and stuttered and struggled worse than Iâd seen anyone struggle since I saw Bartolo Colonâs donkey carrying him up a mountain. Har-har! Fat jokes! Apparently, Danksâs circulatory problem was far from under control. A close-up of his fingers showed it looking purple. In one inning, he walked three, gave up a base hit, and threw 36 pitches. D.J. Carrasco was in the bullpen in the third inning and I imagined Tony Pena or Randy Williams forced to hold down the Orioles single-handedly through 4 or so innings until Ozzie could revert to the Thornton/Dotel/Jenks formula. And you know what? He made it through 6.1 inning, and no Orioles scored until after his exit. I think I didnât breathe at all until Danks passed the ball to Ozzie. The Sox posted some article right before the game on their website, attributing the circulatory problems to dip. Now, itâs odd that this circulatory problem was never brought up. The most the fans got was news about a blister. The blisters are supposedly related, but why is today the day they picked to talk about the dip thing. I almost feel like it was some kind of conspiracy. In other news, Carlos Quentin hit a monster home. Gordon Beckham is playing some defense on third base that would rival Joe Credeâs. A.J. Pierzynski â the smartest, best base runner in the American League- was thrown out at third, costing the Sox a run. And the Sox beat the curse. I always say they canât hit a pitcher theyâve never faced before. Today, they forced him out after just a few innings! Alright, thatâs about all I have for today. Catch the finale tomorrow, when Mark Buehrle is up to the mound.
what do you think?This will be shocking news for Pie fans, but there are those of you who will say that you saw it coming. I can’t say I’m all that surprised. Pie is cool, I hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the team.
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haha, I can’t believe this guy,
Iowa Cubs (64-63) The Iowa Cubs were zapped by the New Orleans Zephyrs, 3-0. James Russell started and got no support on offense. He took the loss despite allowing only one run on three hits over five innings. He did have some problems throwing strikes, however, since he walked five. Russell struck out three. The I-Cubs only managed three hits tonight. Tennessee Smokies (29-27) The Smokies slipped by the Carolina Mudcats, 5-4. Chris Carpenter went five innings tonight, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out five. Alex Maestri got the win in relief after blowing the save. Maestri allowed one run on two walks and a hit batter over the two innings he pitched. He didn’t allow any hits and struck out one. Brian Schlitter pitched the final two innings to get the save. He allowed two hits but no runs. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out two. Second baseman Tony Thomas went 3 for 4 with a double. He had two RBI and scored once. Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Castro had one RBI. Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 5 with a double. Catcher Welington Castillo had an RBI and scored once in a 2 for 4 game. Daytona Cubs (23-31) The Daytona Cubs harpooned the Brevard County Manatees, 5-2. Ryan Searle started and picked up his seventh win of the year tonight. Searle allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. Searle struck out three and didn’t walk anyone. Chris Siegfried faced the final two batters and retired them both to record his first save of the year. Siegfried struck out one. Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his second home run for Daytona. It was a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Vitters went 1 for 4. Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 4.
Peoria Chiefs (34-20)
The Chiefs aren’t just winning anymore, they’re humiliating opponents. Tonight they shut out the Clinton LumberKings, 8-0.
Aaron Shafer started and got the win. He pitched six innings and allowed only three hits. Shafer walked two and struck out five.
Shortstop DJ LeMahieu was 3 for 4 with four RBI and one run scored. First baseman Rebel Ridling went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Second baseman Junior Lake tripled and scored in a 2 for 3 game. He also had one RBI. Catcher Mario Mercedes was 2 for 3 with two RBI.
The Chiefs have won nine of their last ten games. Over that ten game span, the Chiefs have outscored their opponents 83-17.
Boise Hawks (29-32)
The Hawks beat the Yakima Bears, 10-3.
Starter Jonathan Nagel allowed two unearned runs over three innings. He allowed three hits and a walk. Nagel fanned three. Josh Whitlock got the win with three innings of relief. He allowed one run on two hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 5 with a triple and a walk. Watkins scored twice. On defense, he had two unassisted double plays. Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 3 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He had two RBI and scored once.
Catcher Matt Williams, DH Richard Jones and third baseman George Matheus each had two singles.
AZL Cubs
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Post your thoughts!
Here’s a vid of Jones at his best:
Alex Jones Dressed As The Joker:Special Broadcast Part II
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haha, I can’t believe this guy,
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Any tThoughts?
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It seems like all the news has been about hill -
“The 51s held on for the win after a nail-biting ninth. Beyond that, more bleakness… and don’t even look at the New Hampshire game report if you have a weak stomach.
Las Vegas 5 Round Rock 4
The 51s offense has struggle a bit in the wake of losing both Travis Snider and Randy Ruiz to the Jays, but the club has reeled off a few good games recently. Last night, veteran pitcher Marty McLeary held the Houston affiliate to two runs in five innings with just five hits and one walk allowed. Bill Murphy followed up with three hitless, scoreless innings. Closer Bubbie Buzachero was unable to nail down the save after allowing two runs in one-third of an inning, but Brian Wolfe bailed him out by King the last two batters. At the plate, Brian Dopirak led the offense again with three hits, including a double. Kevin Howard also had three hits, and Joe Inglett drove in two hits, while enjoying a two-hit night that also included a homer. Buck Coats, a deserving September call-up, also had two hits and scored a run.
Trenton 1 New Hampshire 0 (10 innings)
For whatever reason, New Hampshire and the Eastern League seems to be a grave yard for Toronto’s offensive prospects - year in and year out. This year has been no different, and the club again struggled to put forth a respectable attack. On the plus side, Jays starter Randy Boone was also dealing in this one. The right-hander allowed just two hits in 7.2 innings of work, but also walked three three. Boone struck out six batters, as well. Wil Ledezma took the loss in the 10th inning. The Fisher Cats offense put forth just one hit - a single from Manny Mayorson (a former long-time Jays prospect who just came back to the fold recently after a few years in the Marlins’ system). Mayorson’s hit was in the second at-bat of the game, so the team was brutal at the plate from there on out, while facing five different pitchers.
Dunedin took a hard loss after three relievers combined to blow the game in the ninth inning with three runs allowed. Andrew Liebel began the game with five solid innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks. John Anderson, recently promoted from Lansing, worked three hitless innings and struck out five batters. Things began unraveling when Alan Farina entered and allowed two runs in one-third of an inning. Daniel DeLucia took the loss when he failed to record an out and left the winning run sitting on base. Matt Daly - another Lansing call-up - then entered and blew the save by allowing the winning run to score. At the plate, Brad McElroy and Tylor Pastornicky (up from Lansing) each had two hits and stole a base. McElroy also scored two runs. Jonathan Jaspe went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, but he added a second RBI. Moises Sierra’s late season swoon continued with an 0-for-4 night.
Starter Chris Holguin struggled with his control and walked four batters in four innings. He gave up a total of two runs. Jason Roenicke also had a bad night by allowing five hits and two runs in 1.1 innings of work. Frank Gailey had a rare off-night and allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Yorman Mayora settled things down with an inning’s work that saw him strikeout the side (while also issuing a walk). AJ Jimenez, Welinton Ramirez (called up from Auburn) and Michael McDade each had two hits. Jimenez had two doubles. McDade has been on fire in the last 10 games with a .415 average, two homers and eight RBI. Ryan Goins went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Well, it’s a good thing the Jays didn’t sign any of there top draft picks because there certainly are not issues down here in the lower minor league levels… Matt Wright, Jamie Lehman and Austin Armstrong each allowed at least four runs. Zach Anderson was the only pitcher to keep the Spinners off the score sheet and he only worked a third of an inning. At the plate for Auburn, Yan Gomes and Sean Ochinko each had two hits. Gomes slugged two doubles and drove in two runs. Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Kevin Nolan was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Markus Brisker had a hit and stole a base.
GCL Jays/Phillies suspended after three innings (rain)
The Jays were up 3-0 in the third inning, when the rains halted the game. Eric Thames and Jack Murphy were each 2-for-2. Nestor Molina had worked three scoreless innings.
The Three Stars:
3. AJ Jimenez for two hits, including two doubles
2. Brian Dopirak for three hits at triple-A
1. Randy Boone for allowing just two hits in 7.2 innings.
On a bonus note, the DSL Jays players finished up their season yesterday with a rain-shortened win over the DSL Cubs. Hitting prospects worth keeping an eye on include Manuel Falcon (2B/3B), Fausto Natera (SS), Simon Vazquez (1B/C), Leonardo Hernandez (C), Sony Javier (OF), and pitchers Jose Vargas, Milciades Santana, Fernando Bella, Victor German, Deivy Estrada, Misual Diaz, Denny Valdez, and Cesar Sanchez.
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What do you think?
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Jerry Jones (and Texas taxpayers) spent $1.2 billion constructing an opulent state-of-the-art multi-use arena that’s prefect for concerts, soccer matches, trade shows, Promise Keepers rallies, and even football games—provided that you don’t allow either team to punt.
Forty million of those dollars went to the installation of a massive 160-foot long, 90-foot high HD video board that dominates the airspace above the field. And in a surprise twist that no one could have seen coming, it took only one game to learn that an average NFL punter can easily smack the thing on a routine kick. Titans backup A.J. Trapasso hit it in the third quarter of their preseason game last night. Starter Craig Hentrich said he hit it half a dozen times in warmups and estimated that half the league’s kickers wouldn’t be able to punt normally in that building.
Jones isn’t buying that, however. He says the board has “entertainment value” and has no plans to move it higher. (There probably isn’t room, anyway.) Plus, Jones is convinced that the only danger is a devious punter with no regard for the laws of football who would intentionally try to hit the thing.
“If you look at how you punt the football, unless you’re trying to hit the scoreboard, you punt the ball to get downfield. You certainly want to get some hangtime, but you punt the ball to get downfield, and you sure don’t punt the ball down the middle. You punt it off to the side.”
“How high is high if somebody just wants to sit there and kick straight up?”
Yeah, why would a punter ever want to kick a ball … up? That’s not the Cowboy way, I tell ya.
Titans kicker exposes problem in Cowboys Stadium ESPN
Jerry Jones: The scoreboard isn’t budging Dallas Morning News
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I have always been a fan of JONES, but I have to say, seeing news like this gives me mixed feelings.How do you think this news will affect the team this season?
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We should be celebrating a 1-0 Cubs win this morning and picking up a game on the Cardinals.
Instead, because Aramis Ramirez booted a ball with two out in the second inning and Randy Wells followed it with a fat first-pitch fastball (for which he got roundly criticized, and rightly so, by Bob Brenly) to a good-hitting pitcher, Randy Wolf, the Cubs lost 2-1 to the Dodgers and remain seven games out of first place.
Here, I’ll give you one piece of good news: the Giants‘ win over Colorado kept the Cubs six games behind the wild-card leading Rockies.
Randy Wells pitched yet another outstanding game, and because he threw 6.2 innings, finally reached the list of qualified leaders for the ERA lead — to do so you have to have pitched one inning per game your team has played. The Cubs have played 120 games, Wells now has 120.1 innings, and his 2.84 ERA ranks seventh in the National League, two spots behind his Rookie of the Year competition, the Phillies‘ J.A. Happ. Brenly was right, though — you don’t throw a first-pitch fastball down the middle even to a pitcher, and especially a good hitter like Wolf, who had three hits in his last start including a home run. If he gets Wolf, the inning is over despite the Ramirez error and the bullpen would be getting high marks from everyone for holding down a 1-0 victory.
Wolf, with that hit, now has 11 RBI for the season, leading all major league pitchers. We were also informed on the CSN telecast that no Dodger pitcher had driven in that many runs in a season since Fernando Valenzuela had 11 in 1990.
Now, on to the feckless Cub offense, which generated exactly one hit last night: Ryan Theriot’s RBI single. Theriot waited exactly three pitches before getting picked off. That’s sad old song we have heard far too many times. There was, of course, with two out and two strikes on Milton Bradley, not much of a chance of scoring a run from first base. But with Bradley and D-Lee and A-Ram due up and a run already in, wouldn’t you the baserunner stick a little closer to first on a 1-2 count?
Anyway, the Cubs had exactly two more baserunners the rest of the game: a seventh-inning walk to Derrek Lee with one out, and a leadoff walk (!) by Alfonso Soriano in the eighth. Sam Fuld made a couple of nice defensive plays to keep the game close.
I don’t know what else to say. With 42 games remaining in the season, it is far too early for an optimist like me to give up. But this team simply has to play up to its capabilities offensively; this is the first time a Cubs team has been one-hit since Derek Lowe, then a Dodger, threw a one-hitter at Wrigley Field on August 31, 2005. I’m not one of those people for whom other sports are a big deal. Sure, I follow the Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks during their seasons.
But baseball is my game. I won’t give up until it is absolutely hopeless, and we have not gotten to that point yet. Ted Lilly throws this afternoon, and any time Ted takes the mound, the Cubs have a good shot at winning. The game preview thread will be up at 1 pm CDT. Go Cubs.
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I have always been a fan of pie, but I have to say, seeing stuff like this gives me mixed feelings.This will be shocking news for pie fans, but there are those of you who will say that you saw it coming. I’m pretty surprised though. pie is fantastic, I hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the team.
Shop for great seating options, and great prices on MLB tickets - at TicketsNow! Going to a game shouldn’t cost you hundreds of dollars, so shop by section and compare dozens of different tickets, all guaranteed to be authentic and delivered before the opening pitch.
Of all the people to whine about the Michael Vick signing, the most unlikely is Dan Leone, the former game-day employee who was fired after venting his frustations with the team on his Facebook page. Yet here we are.
You might recall Leone’s immortal status message: “Dan is expletive devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!” That was enough to get him canned, and they’ve refused to take him back in the months since.
But apparently doggie mass murder isn’t as heinous a sin, goes Leone’s thinking. He’s making the Philly media rounds to plead his case:
I figure, if a guy like that can get a second chance to make millions, why can’t I get a second chance? I won’t cost them that much to work there.
I deserve a second chance. I didn’t commit any crimes or kill any dogs. And I’m left jobless.”
Well, not jobless, as Leone is still working as a security guard across the parking lot at the Wachovia Center. But damn it, Flyers victories are bittersweet once you’ve tasted the Eagles nectar.
But Dan, I’ll tell you why Michael Vick received an offer, despite his past transgressions: he’s one of the best in the world at what he does. He can put a football between a receiver’s numbers at 50 yards. He can escape 300-pound monsters and scramble for a gain.
If Vick’s specialty was one that required a high school education, and didn’t have thousands of similarly unskilled workers waiting to take his place, then you’d have a case.
Fired Eagles Worker Asks: Second Chance for Vick, Why Not Me? KYW
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I have always been a fan of hill, I have to say, seeing news like this gives me mixed feelings.How do you think this news about hill will affect the team this season?
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Iowa Cubs (63-61)
The Iowa Cubs lost to the Portland Beaver, 10-9 in 13 innings.
A long time ago, Mitch Atkins started this game and he got knocked around for six runs in only four innings. Atkins surrendered six hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Jeff Stevens and Justin Berg each threw two shutout innings before Blake Parker entered the game in the 13th and allowed the winning run. Parker was credited with a third of an inning pitched, and he gave up one run on three hits and an intentional walk. Parker struck out one.
Catcher Chris Robinson was 2 for 4 with a double and two walks. Robinson had four RBI tonight and he scored once himself. First baseman Matt Craig hit two doubles and walked once in a 3 for 6 night. Craig scored twice and had two RBI.
Right fielder Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 5 with two walks. Hoffpauir also had two RBI and scored twice. Finally, shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies (28-25)
The Smokies pushed two runs across in the bottom of the ninth inning to blindside the Chattanooga Lookouts, 5-4. It was their fifth win in a row and moved them into a tie for first place in their division.
Starter Andrew Cashner had a few troubles tonight, as he allowed three runs on five hits in only four innings. He walked two. The good news was that he struck out six.
Marco Carrillo pitched the top of the ninth and got the win. He gave up one hit, didn’t walk anyone and struck out two.
Right fielder Tyler Colvin stayed hot tonight, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Colvin is hitting .383 in August.
First baseman Russ Canzler went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Robinson Chirinos was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Daytona Cubs
Rained out.
Peoria Chiefs
Did not play
Boise Hawks (27-31)
The Hawks beat the Spokane Indians, 1-0.
Robert Hernandez was excellent tonight, throwing six innings and allowing four hits and a walk. Dionis Nunez pitched the ninth inning and got his fifth save. He allowed only one hit and struck out one.
Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 4.
AZL Cubs
Did not play.
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I have always been a big fan of ray, I have to say, seeing stuff like this gives me mixed feelings.This will be shocking news for ray fans, but there are those of you who will say that you saw it coming. I’m pretty surprised though. ray is fantastic, I really hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the team.
Want to give yourself an edge? Want the same professional equipment that MVPs use? Want to steal a few dollars off the price? Get free shipping on orders over $99 when you shop at BaseballRampage. These guys have nearly everything you might need, from bats balls and gloves to cleats, bases, even pitching machines.