Link Report for Mon. 7/21 -- Fryer Getting Comfortable Behind Plate Again

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: Idle

Huntsville: Idle

Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 gametime; first start after 26 relief appearances this season

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

West Virginia: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Rome (Braves), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525

 

Helena: RHP Nick Tyson at Casper (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Audio link via KCAP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433

 

Arizona: RHP Seth Lintz vs. the baby Rangers in Maryvale, 10:30 AM local Mountain Standard Time

 

Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:
Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

Brevard County:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_21_breafa_tbyafa_1

West Virginia:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_21_romafx_wvaafx_1

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_21_helrok_casrok_1

Arizona:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_21_rngrok_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 62 41 .602 - 38-18 24-23 W1 Memphis 55 46 .545 6.0 26-21 29-25 L2 Omaha 46 55 .455 15.0 21-29 25-26 L2 Nashville 40 62 .392 21.5 19-27 21-35 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 18 12 .600 - 9-6 9-6 W1 Huntsville 17 13 .567 1.0 8-7 9-6 L1 Carolina 15 15 .500 3.0 5-5 10-10 L1 Chattanooga 13 17 .433 5.0 6-9 7-8 L1 West Tenn 11 19 .367 7.0 4-11 7-8 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 16 11 .593 - 8-4 8-7 W1 St. Lucie 15 12 .556 1.0 8-5 7-7 L2 Jupiter 14 13 .519 2.0 7-5 7-8 L3 Palm Beach 14 14 .500 2.5 10-6 4-8 L5 Brevard County 12 17 .414 5.0 6-10 6-7 W4 Vero Beach 11 18 .379 6.0 5-9 6-9 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 21 9 .700 - 11-4 10-5 L2 Lakewood 20 10 .667 1.0 9-5 11-5 W5 Delmarva 16 14 .533 5.0 6-8 10-6 W1 Hagerstown 14 16 .467 7.0 5-10 9-6 W3 Lake County 12 18 .400 9.0 5-10 7-8 L2 Greensboro 11 19 .367 10.0 5-10 6-9 W1 Hickory 11 19 .367 10.0 3-11 8-8 L6 Lexington 8 21 .276 12.5 5-11 3-10 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 20 12 .625 - 9-2 11-10 W1 Helena 17 15 .531 3.0 9-9 8-6 W1 Great Falls 16 16 .500 4.0 9-8 7-8 L4 Missoula 6 26 .188 14.0 3-15 3-11 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 15 6 .714 - 7-4 8-2 L1 AZL Cubs 13 9 .591 2.5 9-2 4-7 W3 AZL Rangers 13 9 .591 2.5 7-5 6-4 W3 AZL Padres 12 10 .545 3.5 7-3 5-7 W1 AZL Royals 13 11 .542 3.5 9-3 4-8 W1 AZL Giants 12 12 .500 4.5 6-6 6-6 L1 AZL Athletics 9 13 .409 6.5 4-7 5-6 L3 AZL Mariners 9 14 .391 7.0 5-6 4-8 W1 AZL Brewers 5 17 .227 10.5 5-6 0-11 L2 

[Mass Haas]

2nd round RHP Seth Lintz worked two scoreless, ending each inning with a K to strand three total runners in scoring position. Still scoreless in Maryvale in the 4th.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com is listing a newcomer pitching for the Arizona Brewers, soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP Bobby McEwen.

 

Apparently he pitched out of Gonzaga, his college career ended after '07, this looks like it will be his pro debut.

 

It appears he's been focused on coaching and academy work (scroll on link). To be signed at that age, McEwen must have really impressed at a local tryout or such.

 

Career stats at Gonzaga are amazingly non-impressive.

 

Good luck to the "kid", there must be a nice backstory here somewhere.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Rangers 3, Arizona Brewers 0

 

Arizona Box Score

Tying run came to bat in the 9th -- Joey Paciorek caught looking at strike three...

 

Arizona Game Log

[battlekow]

Gindl in CF again ahead of both Schafer and Haydel--very interesting. Fryer catching again.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Anundsen is a ground ball machine! Even the 4 hits allowed thru 5 seem like they are all ground balls!

[Minigoon]

BC Manatees rained out tonight. No word, but assume it will be made up tomorrow.

[Minigoon]

West Virginia Power win in the 11th!! Odd finish to the game.

 

West Virginia Bottom 11th

• Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to left fielder David Berres.
• Matt Cline hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by pitcher Thomas Palica. Lee Haydel scores. Matt Cline to 1st.

[TheCrew07]

Mr Tyson where have you been all season? Very nice line tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 5, Casper (Rockies) 0

Helena Box Score

Nick Tyson (six IP, four hits including two weak infield grounders, no walks), lefty Daniel Meadows (two IP, five K's) and Wily Peralta (blowing smoke in the 9th, looking better each outing) combine for the shutout; John Delaney knocked the second pitch of the game out for a HR; Corey Kemp 3-for-4 with a double as the DH; SS Michael Marseco, the "little engine that could", as per Steve Wendt, on base three more times and just wowing them in the field -- so easy to root for Michael...

 

Helena Game Log

Billings wins, so the H-Crew is three games out with five to play in the first half -- that's tough...

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 6, Rome (Braves) 5, 11 innings

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Charleston, WV - The West Virginia Power defeated the Rome Braves for the first time since the 2006 season with a 6-5 victory in 11 innings at Appalachian Power Park on Monday night.

 

The Power took and early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Eric Fryer's RBI single. The Braves tied it up in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI double from Cody Johnson. Zelous Wheeler singled in Caleb Gindl in the fourth inning to give the Power their second lead of the night. Fryer singled in another run in the fifth inning and Wheeler reached on a fielder's choice to score Eric Farris, giving the Power their largest lead of the night.

 

Jason Heyward hit a solo shot in the sixth inning, his ninth of the season and the Braves scored twice in the seventh to tie it up. Adam Coe doubled in Johnson to score the first run and Chad Lundahl grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to bring in the tying run. Lee Haydel smacked a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Power the lead, before Lundahl returned the favor with a two-out RBI double of his own to tie it in the top of the ninth.

 

The Braves had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the tenth. They had runners at the corners with nobody out before Curtis Pasma struck out Heyward, walked Freddie Freeman and Michael Fisher grounded into 1-2-3 inning ending double play. Lee Haydel began the eleventh inning with a base hit. Matt Cline laid down a bunt on the right side of the infield, which was picked up by Tommy Palica. Palica's errant throw went into right field and allowed Haydel to score the winning run.

 

Pasma (4-2) tossed a pair of scoreless innings and allowed just a base hit to get the victory. Palica (6-5) allowed just the unearned run over two and a third on four hits and was tagged with the loss. Evan Anundsen allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings and Wes Etheridge provided two scoreless innings of relief. The Braves hit into four double plays, including three inning-enders.

 

The Power improved to 54-46 on the year and 22-9 in the second half with the win. The Braves fell to 37-63 on the year and 15-16 in the second half with the loss. Seven Power players hit safely, and four turned in multi-hit games. Fryer paced the Power with a 3-for-5 performance. Matt Cline reached four times and extended his on base streak to 12 games. Eric Farris went 1-for-4 and has hit safely in seven straight games since his 15-game hitting streak was snapped. The victory snapped a six game losing skid against the Braves. It was West Virginia's first win against Rome since August 9th, 2006.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against Rome Tuesday night. Right hander Roque Mercedes (4-4, 4.97) will make the start for the Power and the Braves will counter with left hander Richard Sullivan (1-1, 3.72). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

The Power steal seven bases in eight attempts, Matt Cline with three, Eric Farris two; Cline 2-for-4 with a sacrifice, he's been such a catalyst since swapping spots with Brent Brewer; Caleb Gindl on base four times -- nice; it bears repeating -- Eric Farris has hit in 22 of 23 games -- he's 21-of-27 in SB attempts, and played shortstop tonight as Manager Jeff Isom is really maximizing defensive flexibility as of late; keep catching, Eric Fryer, and you guys touched on Evan Anundsen above as the kid with yet another worm-burning effort ...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[battlekow]

Another good game for Mike Marseco. Combined with a couple Helena pitchers touting his D, he's starting to catch my eye a bit.

[And That]

Matt Cline has been very impressive since joining the Power. He of no batting gloves is getting it done.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with OF Michael Vass

Click on the KCAP archive of July 21st, then browse to the 10:30 minute mark; quite the tour of college campuses...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Fryer comfortable behind plate for Power

by Derek Taylor

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Eric Fryer has found his home behind the plate for the West Virginia Power.

 

How long the 24-year old catcher-turned-outfielder-turned catcher stays at his original position in Charleston depends largely on the time it takes for someone in his team's parent system to pluck the second-year pro from the low Class A level squad.

 

After spending 50 games in left field for West Virginia, Fryer has returned to the position he played throughout his high school and college careers thanks to the promotion of former Power catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

 

"We needed an extra bat in our lineup," Power Manager Jeff Isom said after his team's 6-5 win over Rome in 11 innings on Monday night at Appalachian Power Park. "(Fryer) came up from (rookie-level Helena) and we had Jonathan Lucroy to start the season so Jonathan was going to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate.

 

"We needed to find a position for Eric the way he was swinging the bat, so we put him in the outfield."

 

That spot -- left field -- gave Fryer a home early in 2008 and was where the former Ohio State Buckeye star spent his most productive week as a pro. Fryer was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week for June 30-July 6 when he hit .682 (15-for-22).

 

"Now he's opening some eyes in the organization," Isom said.

 

Fryer's right-handed bat has cooled of late. He was hitting .250 in his last 10 games before Monday's win. The Milwaukee Brewers' 10th-round pick of the 2007 draft went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Monday, improving his batting average to .345.

 

As important as his bat was on Monday -- Fryer gave the Power their first run with a first-inning RBI single -- it was his improving defense that was part of a crucial play late in the game. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, Fryer was the linchpin in a 1-2-3 double play to retire a speedy Michael Fisher at first base and allow the Power to escape the inning with the game still tied at 5-5.

 

"Early on I was more comfortable back there and then I got pretty comfortable in left field," Fryer said of his nomadic positioning since turning pro.

 

"Now, I felt a little rusty the first couple games but tonight I felt really good back there. I was blocking balls real well, so hopefully I'll keep getting better and building up on it."

 

West Virginia's fourth double play of the night quickly gave way to the game's final scenario. Lee Haydel opened the bottom of the 11th with a single. Matt Cline followed with a bunt that was fielded cleanly by Braves reliever Tommy Palica, but then thrown wide of first base.

 

Haydel didn't look up until he was on his way home from third with the game's winning run.

 

"I've got to give Lee Haydel all the credit in the world right there," Isom said. "Because I looked up to see where (Rome defenders) were at and he was almost right at me.

 

"So I said, 'Okay, we'll take a chance' and he scored it."

 

Power reliever Curtis Pasma (4-2) got the win after pitching two innings of one-hit baseball. The West Virginia bullpen totaled five innings in relief of starter Evan Anundsen and gave up just one run.

 

Palica (6-5) took the loss for Rome. West Virginia maintained its one-game lead for first place over Lakewood in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division.

 

Isom suggested he wouldn't be surprised to lose a second catcher to promotion before too long. Lucroy is hitting .321 at Class A Brevard County and Fryer could be hitting the ball even better.

 

"He's only had 12 games behind the plate (before Monday) but he's going to have many more in the future," Isom said. "If he continues to swing the bat who knows what's going to happen.

 

"I do know he's going to have quite a bit of the reps behind the plate the remainder of the season."