Link Report for Mon. 7/9 - Burgos strong again, but with little support

[TheCrew07]

some familiar names...

Offensive Players of the Week

For the week ending July 8

[TheCrew07]

same here

Pitchers of the Week

For the week ending July 8

[TheCrew07]

subscriber piece, a good read

Teams Still Finding Ways To Sign Top Preps

[battlekow]

Here's my random question of the night:

-When you click on the boxscore of Brevard County, who are the players on the left side (swinging) and right side (fielding) of the screen?

Sergio Miranda on the left and Hunter Morris on the right, I believe.

[TheCrew07]

BA's Draft Database

 

Some pretty big names still haven't signed and the deadline is rapidly approaching.

 

The most relevant to us at this point would be the 1 divisional and 2 remaining league signings, #8, #9, and#16 picks overall. The Pirates haven't signed Appel, the Marlins haven't signed Haeney, and the Nationals haven't signed Giolito... in case you aren't familiar with the names all are pitchers.

 

Only 6 first round picks remain unsigned

[TheCrew07]

Top Pitching Performances Over The Weekend, July 6-8

 

Mark Rogers is on the list but not commented on.

[TooLiveBrew]

Jacksonville 3, @Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Box

This was another Hiram Burgos showcase: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R/0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 9:4 GO:AO (82 total pitches... ?). Burgos put down the first twelve batters he faced before Suns 3B Curt Smith led off the top of the 5th with a single. A bunt single in the 6th was the only other hit surrendered by Burgos, and the run Jacksonville scored in the 6th came after a T.J. Mittelstaedt throwing error on said bunt hit. Pretty hard not to be excited about Burgos at this point.

 

Hunter Morris *yawn* led the way offensively again, going 2-4 with yet another 2B. CF Josh Prince was 1-3 with a BB, and went 2-2 in SB attempts while generally being a pest on the basepaths. He singled in the 3rd, and advanced to 2B on a throwing error by the Jacksonville third baseman. With two outs in the frame, he stole third, followed by a throwing error charged to the pitcher... and Prince scoring the Stars' only run of the game. In the 8th, Prince walked with one out and stole second base, representing the potential tying run ahead of Scooter Gennett and Morris. Unfortunately, Huntsville stranded him and left the score at 2-1. Mittelstaedt, Gennett, Anderson De La Rosa, and Tommy Manzella each singled once.

 

Relievers Darren Byrd and Brandon Kintzler each allowed a run in their single innings of work (Kintzler's was unearned, coming after 3B Mittelstaedt's second error of the game).

 

 

Huntsville PbP

If you want to click through to see the game log for the Suns' game clinching 8th & 9th, be my guest. Instead, here's Prince wreaking havoc on the bases:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 3rd

-Lee Haydel grounds out to first baseman Ben Lasater.

-Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to third baseman Curt Smith. Josh Prince advances to 2nd, on throwing error by third baseman Curt Smith.

-Scooter Gennett strikes out swinging.

-With Hunter Morris batting, Josh Prince steals (29) 3rd base, Josh Prince scores. Throwing error by pitcher Zach Neal.

-Hunter Morris flies out to center fielder Donnie Webb.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard drops series finale to Clearwater

07/09/2012 11:26 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/09/qVcZJLuj.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Andy Moye lost a decision for the first time in 2012 on Monday night, as Brevard County was defeated 8-4 by the Clearwater Threshers. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees were doubled up by the Clearwater Threshers, 8-4 on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium in the finale of a three-game set.

 

'Tees starter Andy Moye (4-1, 4.67) was looking to improve to 5-0 with Brevard and 8-0 overall in 2012 but the long ball by Clearwater did him in. Moye allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings of work, while fanning seven. Three of those runs came on homers as Jim Murphy went deep for a two-run homer in the fourth and Harold Martinez led off the fifth with a solo shot.

 

Moye departed the game with the Manatees (10-8 second half, 39-47 overall) down 4-3 but things got out of hand in the top of the seventh. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Greg Holle - who was in his second inning of work - allowed back-to-back singles to Carlos Alonso and Peter Lavin. Holle then walked Murphy to load the bases.

 

Clearwater (11-8, 47-38) catcher Cameron Rupp then put the Threshers up big as he took Holle's 1-2 offering over center field fence for a grand slam as Clearwater took an 8-3 lead.

 

A solo homer by Cody Hawn in the bottom of the ninth was his ninth of the season but it was too little, too late for the Manatees as they finished their six-game homestand with a 3-3 record.

 

Reggie Keen was 3-for-3 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot for Brevard. Keen has had at least two hits in three of his last four games and is hitting .303 since the All-Star break.

 

After a league-wide off day on Tuesday, the Manatees will hit the road for an eight-game road trip. Their first stop will be a four-game series with the Bradenton Marauders (11-8, 40-49) beginning on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

 

Drew Gagnon (0-0, 2.25) will get his third start as a Manatee on Wednesday. Gagnon has had quality starts in his first two outings with Brevard.

 

Bradenton will counter with southpaw Colton Cain (3-5, 4.31). Cain is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break.

 

Box Score

 

Andy Moye took his first loss of the season in this one. He pitched pretty good but some ill-timed homers did him in. The 7 K in 5 IP sure are nice. Greg Holle got the same rude treatment from the Clearwater hitters that Moye did. Casey Medlen managed to record 8 outs without allowing a run.

 

Reggie Keen went 3-3 but was caught stealing for his 16th time. Jason Rogers doubled and Cody Hawn homered.

 

Game Log

 

Oopsies.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 2nd

 

Hector Gomez reaches on fielding error by third baseman Harold Martinez.

Shea Vucinich grounds into a force out, second baseman Albert Cartwright to shortstop Edgar Duran. Hector Gomez out at 2nd. Shea Vucinich to 1st.

Joey Paciorek flies into double play, right fielder Miguel Alvarez to first baseman Jim Murphy. Shea Vucinich doubled off 1st.

 

A sputtered rally.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 9th

 

Cody Hawn homers (9) on a fly ball to left field.

Brock Kjeldgaard doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Miguel Alvarez.

Hector Gomez flies out to right fielder Miguel Alvarez.

Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging.

Joey Paciorek strikes out swinging.

[Tedaldtada]

Montana baseball romanticized by a single jpeg.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/85/f85e1ce4-ca45-11e1-9524-0019bb2963f4/4ffbac869b50a.image.jpg

Eliza Wiley Independent Record - Missoula's Breland Almadova gets a hit as the sun and clouds make a spectacular backdrop behind Kindrick Legion Field Monday night.

[Tedaldtada]

Mondesi Sr. in stands for Brewers' loss

By CURT SYNNESS Independent Record | Posted: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:05 am

 

The last time Raul Mondesi, Sr., was in Montana, it was 1990, when he was a base-stealing phenom for the Pioneer League’s Great Falls Dodgers.

 

Twenty-two years— 13 of which was spent in the major leagues — and about 40 pounds heavier (wot, relevence?), Mondesi was back in Big Sky Country on Monday, watching his son, Raul, Jr., play for the Helena Brewers.

 

And although the game with the Missoula Osprey at Kindrick Legion Field didn’t turn out in favor of the home team, as the hosts took a 12-2 drubbing, the elder Mondesi was still smiling afterwards.

 

“I’m just very happy that my son is starting out in the same place I did, Montana, although for a different team,” said the elder Mondesi, with a strong Spanish accent. “And he’s the same age I was, 19, and playing the same position I did back then, right field.”

 

Mondesi played in the big leagues from 1993-2005, for seven different teams, starting with the Los Angeles Dodgers and ending with the Atlanta Braves. He was the 1994 NL Rookie of the Year, garnered two Gold Gloves, and finished with a career batting average of .273.

 

Mondesi currently serves as the mayor of San Cristobol Province, Dominican Republican, where he flew in from on Monday.

 

But back to the ball game.

 

Helena took an early 2-0 lead after two innings, provided by doubles from Tyrone Taylor and Alfredo Rodriguez, Michael Reed reaching on an error, and an RBI single by Ruben Ozuna.

 

A solo home run by Missoula’s Justin Bianco in the third stanza closed the gap to one, and then a three-run bomb in the fourth by Bianco put the visitors up 4-2.

 

The Osprey continued to rack up the score, plating two runs in each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth frames.

 

The Brewers, who were shut out after the second, were also outhit 15-5, and were unable to record a base hit in the final seven innings of the game.

 

Bianco wound up with three hits and four RBIs, while teammate Pedro Ruiz was 4 for 5, just missing the cycle with two singles, a double and a triple.

 

Chris Pack collected the win on the mound, and Michael Schaub was hung with the defeat. Four Brewers pitchers gave up six walks on the night.

 

“Once we gave up that three-run homer, it was an uphill battle after that,” said Brewers coach Jeff Isom, whose team was denied its third straight win. “You can’t expect to walk guys and put zeroes up on the board, and by not hitting after the second, we didn’t give ourselves an opportunity offensively.”

 

Next the Brewers will travel to Idaho Falls, to take on the Chukars, where three Mondesis will be in the park on Wednesday.

 

“My other son, Raul Aldaberto, is only 16, and plays for Idaho Falls,” Raul, Sr. said. “He’s the youngest player in the (Pioneer) League.”

 

So who will dad be rooting for?

 

“Both…fifty-fifty,” he said with a proud grin.

 

Photo Gallery

 

Box Score

 

Michael Schaub was pitching decent until some sort of evil southwest wind from hell started whipping directly in from RF. He had to be pulled once he started to walk in runners. None of the 3 relievers fared much better as Missoula kept tacking on 2-spots.

 

At the plate, 2012 2nd rounder Tyrone Taylor made his debut and went 1-4 with a 2B. His 2nd and 3rd AB's both ended in line drives to the OF that were caught. Please just stay hot forever, Tyrone. Some pretty fantastic pitching from the Osprey tonight. Chris McFarland, in his 2nd AB, ripped an absolute moon shot foul ball homer. Straighten it out, son!

 

Raul Mondesi Jr. almost nabbed OF assist number 7 on a very long throw to 3B, but the runner just beat it. Steve sounded surprised the play was even that close.

 

Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Emerging players, small ball help Wisconsin Timber Rattlers succeed

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

***

 

LINK ABOVE includes video interview with OF Ben McMahan (plus Dancing Queen audio, always a bonus)

 

***

 

GRAND CHUTE — The Milwaukee Brewers organization has made only a minor investment in Ben McMahan, but he’s providing major production for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

The 22-year-old corner outfielder slammed a long home run and stole one of three bases by the Timber Rattlers in a 6-4 comeback win over Kane County Monday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

McMahan, a 23rd-round selection out of Florida in the 2011 major league draft, is hitting .305, tops among Timber Rattlers with more than 100 at-bats.

 

McMahan’s third-inning homer was his seventh of the season and he leads the team with a .489 slugging percentage. McMahan is also tied for second on the team in stolen bases with seven.

 

“I kind of struggled at the start of the season. I think I was trying to do too much,” McMahan said. “So I stopped putting so much pressure on myself and just tried to take it one bat at a time. That’s been working for me ever since.”

 

McMahan showed instant promise in his first professional season at rookie-league Helena (Mont.), where he hit .313 in 2011 with seven homers and 25 RBI in 162 at-bats.

 

“There’s definitely a lot less pressure coming in as a lower-round draft pick,” McMahan said. “You don’t have all that hype. But there’s pressure every day to earn your keep because you’re not going to get all the opportunities of a higher draft pick. You just have to keep grinding and take advantage of your opportunities.”

 

McMahan, a right-handed batter, is primarily a line-drive hitter but has some pop, as he showed with his solo blast over the wall in left-center.

 

“That was one of the longer ones I’ve hit,” McMahan said. “That felt good. I was battling in the count and he (Kane County starter Kyle Smith) was throwing me a lot of sliders. I got one I could handle and put a good swing on it.”

 

Another unheralded Timber Rattler who didn’t cost the Brewers organization much, third baseman Brandon Macias, also had a big day, going four-for-five to lead a 12-hit attack. Macias, signed by the Brewers in 2011 as an undrafted free agent, raised his batting average to .276. He leads the team in RBI with 41.

 

I don’t know if it matters whether you were drafted or weren’t drafted, because there’s always pressure in this game,” Macias said.

 

Macias drilled an RBI single to cap a three-run sixth inning that allowed the Timber Rattlers to break a 3-3 deadlock.

 

“In a day game, you always see the ball a little better,” Macias said. “I had a couple lucky ones today, but hits are hits. You take them and I’m glad to be able to help out.”

 

The Rattlers thrived with a small-ball approach in the game-breaking sixth. Max Walla started the rally with a single and moved to third on Adrian Williams’ hit-and-run single.

 

Walla then scored the tie-breaking run on a squeeze bunt RBI single by Chadwin Stang.

 

“We’ll do whatever it takes to score runs and win ballgames,” Macias said. “Stang does a lot for this team. He has power and can do the little things, like bunt.”

 

Wisconsin starter David Goforth went six innings to pick up the mound win and improve his record to 6-4. Goforth allowed three runs on nine hits, including a bomb over the center-field wall in the second by Julio Aparicio.

 

Alan Williams and Tommy Toledo finished up for the Rattlers, who improved to 53-34.

 

“The first couple innings I thought I kept the ball down and threw well,” Goforth said. “They hit some good pitches. Later on, I was getting the ball up and, fortunately, they were free swingers and were getting themselves out.

 

“I thought I kept our team in the game. I thought it was a good outing.”

 

Wisconsin's Ben McMahan bats against Kane County in Grand Chute, on Monday. / Photo by Wm. Glasheen/The Post-Crescent

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20120709&Category=APC020602&ArtNo=307090193&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Emerging-players-small-ball-help-Wisconsin-Timber-Rattlers-succeed

[Mass Haas]

Q&A with Hunter Morris

[Mass Haas]

Stars Lose Finale With Suns

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – With an opportunity of a series sweep hanging in the balance, the Stars lost the finale of a three-game set against the Jacksonville Suns by a score of 3-1 on Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

A night after hitting a season-high six home runs, the Stars were only able to manage their sole run of the game in the third inning. With one out, center fielder Josh Prince reached base on an infield single and then advanced to second on a throwing error from Suns third baseman Curt Smith. Then, while trying to steal third, a throwing error by Suns starting pitcher Zack Neal allowed Prince to score to give Huntsville a 1-0 lead.

 

Unfortunately, that would be the only run support Stars starting pitcher Hiram Burgos would get. The 24-year-old righty earned a no-decision after giving up just one run (unearned) on one hit through seven innings of work. Burgos also struck out four batters. He took a perfect game into the fifth inning, before giving up a leadoff single to Curt Smith.

 

With the game tied at 1-1 in the eighth inning, Stars reliever Darren Byrd came into the ballgame to replace Burgos. After giving up a leadoff walk to first baseman Ben Lasater and a sacrifice bunt, a pinch-hit RBI single from Shawn Bowman gave Jacksonville the lead for good.

 

In the ninth inning, the Suns scored their final run on a RBI single by right fielder Kyle Jensen off of Stars RHP Brandon Kintzler to make the score 3-1.

 

On the pitching side, reliever Jordan Conley earned the win for Jacksonville in two innings of scoreless relief. Suns closer A.J Ramos notched his ninth save on the season with scoreless final two innings.

 

For the Stars, Byrd took the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season.

 

On offense, the Stars got another multi-hit game from first baseman Hunter Morris, who went 2-for-4 with a double. Morris finished the series 7-for-13 with three home runs and seven runs batted in.

[JohnBriggs12]

After tonight's start, Burgos is about 10 innings away from the most he's pitched in a season as a pro - 119.2 last year. He pitched 137 innings between Bethune-Cookman and Helena in 2009. He could be running up against an inning limit before the end of the season, especially if the Brewers plan on pitching him in the AFL.

 

 

He's got a WHIP under 1 in those innings. The 109 2/3 he's logged are more like 90 in the amount of pitches thrown.

 

"if the Brewers plan on pitching him in the AFL"?

 

AFL? The way he's pitched, he's earned a look in the NL before this season is over.

 

How Hi is up?

[igor67]

Cameron Garfield only had a walk tonight, but he is closing in on 100 PA with an OPS well into the .800 range. For a guy having missed that much injury time that's pretty intriguing as a 21 year catcher.

[And That]

Regardless of how many theoretical innings Burgos has pitched based on some sort of pitch ratio, he's still going to be running up against an inning limit. He has at least 10 starts left with the Stars, plus any additional assignment after that.

[battlekow]

Final: AZL Angels 6, @AZL Brewers 4

 

AZL Brewers box score

3-3 after six innings, but single runs in each of the last three frames for the Angels won the game. The rehabbing Maverick Lasker turned in four scoreless to start the game, albeit with an ugly 3/4 K/BB plus two HBP, and Juan Francisco followed and was tagged for four runs (one earned).

 

Clint Coulter stayed hot (though who isn't when the game-time temp is 111?), collecting a single, walk, and HBP in four trips. Nothing negative to report on the defensive front for him today, either. Malcolm Dowell, who's quietly having a nice start to his season, reach all four times ups with a single, double, walk, and HBP. Jose Pena got back on the horse with a two-hit effort, and Alan Sharkey had two, including a double, as well. Angel Ortega, who's getting first crack at the leadoff spot in the stead of Tyrone Taylor, went 0-5. Jose Garcia was in left again.

 

AZL Brewers box score

[JohnBriggs12]

Regardless of how many theoretical innings Burgos has pitched based on some sort of pitch ratio, he's still going to be running up against an inning limit. He has at least 10 starts left with the Stars, plus any additional assignment after that.

 

Innings limits are arbitrary and can be adjusted. The fact that he's efficient means what may have been a 140 or 150 inning limit, might now be 160 or 165. 100 innings for a guy like Rogers is not the same as 100 for a guy like Burgos. Not only is it the pitches thrown but the number of times a guy has "high pitch" innings. High pitch innings stress arms. Who worked harder, the guy who threw 85 pitches over 4 innings, or the guy who went 7 or 8 in 85 pitches?

 

Burgos is pitching his way into consideration for next years rotation in Milwaukee. He's certainly not a lock but if he continues like he has, he could find himself in that spot and that means they'll need 180 innings minimum out of him next year. They may want him up around 160. Chris Sale is on pace for 200 innings for the White Sox, and the most he ever logged is 71. Burgos is older than Sale.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Teammates Hunter Morris and Jimmy Nelson on their Auburn-Alabama rivalry roots

[Mass Haas]

Despite the loss, local TV found Helena highlights, and the anchor will evetually learn to pronounce Mondesi, which doesn't seem very difficult.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Nashville Sounds' AAA All Star Jim Henderson joins the Sports Revolution (radio in Nashville)

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Helena Brewers broadcaster Steve Wendt sat down with Raul Mondesi Jr. before Monday's game

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Helena Brewers talking their own HR derby thoughts -- I believe that's Alfredo Rodriguez and Adam Giacalone following up the first player shown, my semi-educated guess comparing MiLB.com photos is that it's Yonki Hernandez.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong...

[CheezWizHed]

Montana baseball romanticized by a single jpeg.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/85/f85e1ce4-ca45-11e1-9524-0019bb2963f4/4ffbac869b50a.image.jpg

Eliza Wiley Independent Record - Missoula's Breland Almadova gets a hit as the sun and clouds make a spectacular backdrop behind Kindrick Legion Field Monday night.

 

 

Wow and WOW... Its so good that it almost looks fake.

[TooLiveBrew]

I remember several idyllic sunset shots from Helena last season. Seems like they all came from that exact spot, too. Can't beat that look at the sunsets... Montana really is a gorgeous state.