Link Report for Mon. 8/20 -- Can Ariel Pena improve shaky post-trade performance?

[Tedaldtada]

League Leaders throughout the System:

 

PCL: Not much here.

 

Logan Schafer is tied for 9th in 3B with 7

 

Eric Farris is 5th in SB with 37 (80.4%)

 

Wily Peralta is 17th in ERA at 4.75 (3.76 FIP), 15th in IP with 130.2, 8th in K at 128 and tied for 24th in WHIP at 1.56

 

SL:

 

Hunter Morris is 3rd in AVG at .298, 2nd in OPS at .898, 8th in R with 67, 2nd in H at 141, 1st in 2B (38), tied for 12th in 3B with 5, tied for 1st in HR with 23, 2nd in RBI with 98, 1st in TB with 257

 

Scooter Gennett is 6th in AVG at .296, 27th in OPS at .722, 16th in runs at 58, 1st in H with 144, 5th in 2B with 28, 5th in TB with 186, tied for 27th in SB with 11 (78.6%)

 

Kentrail Davis is 16th in AVG at .268, 21st in OPS at .737, 24th in R at 52, 17th in H at 106 tied for 8th in 3B with 6, 22nd in TB with 154, 19th in BB with 46, 18th in SB with 17 (68%)

 

Josh Prince is 30th in OPS at .717, 5th in R with 70, 11th in H at 116, tied for 9th in 2B with 25, tied for 17th in RBI with 51, 16th in TB with 163, 3rd in BB with 71, 1st in SB with 41 (71.9%)

 

Khris Davis is tied for 24th in HR with 8 (in only 44 games)

 

Josh Stinson is 2nd in ERA at 3.13, 9th in IP at 129.1, tied for 26th with 83, 25th in WHIP at 1.61

 

Evan Anundsen is 23rd (out of 27 qualifiers) at 4.89, 24th in IP at 106.2, 20th in WHIP at 1.48

 

Kyle Heckathorn is 24th at 5.01, 22nd in IP at 111.1, tied for 23rd in K with 84, tied for 13th in WHIP at 1.39

 

Hiram Burgos is 32nd in K with 77 (in 83.1 IP)

 

Three shutouts have been thrown this season in the Southern League. One belongs to Evan Anundsen.

 

FSL:

 

Mike Walker is 18th in BA at .279, 16th in OBP at .358, 23rd in OPS at .758, tied for 16th in R with 59, 7th in H with 118, tied for 18th in 2B with 22, tied for 19th in HR with 9, 5th in RBI with 68, 15th in TB with 169, 14th in BB with 48

 

Nick Shaw is 9th in R with 66, 3rd in BB with 63

 

Cody Hawn is 27th in R with 55, 6th in 2B with 27, tied for 15th in HR with 10, 11th in RBI with 63, tied for 23rd in TB with 153

 

Reggie Keen is 12th in H with 113, tied for 28th in TB with 149, 2nd in SB with 41

 

Shea Vucinich is 12th in 2B with 25, tied for 22nd in BB with 43

 

T.J. Mittelstaedt is tied for 7th with 7 3B, tied for 19th in HR with 9, tied 28th in RBI with 46, 25th in BB with 42, tied for 26th in SB with 14

 

Jason Rogers is 34th in BB with 38 (in just 56 games)

 

John Dishon is tied for 26th in SB with 14

 

Taylor Jungmann is 9th in ERA at 3.59 (3.56 FIP), 1st in IP with 143, 13th in K with 87, tied for 12th in WHIP at 1.31

 

Jed Bradley is 28th (out of 29 qualifiers) in ERA at 5.53 (4.54 FIP), 18th in IP with 107.1, 27th in WHIP at 1.67

 

Jimmy Nelson is 26th in K with 77

 

Casey Medlen is tied for 3rd in SV with 19

 

***********

 

I will do the bottom four teams tomorrow.

[TooLiveBrew]

@Mississippi 4, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Box

Ariel Pena turned in a good outing tonight, and the Stars took a late lead after scoring their first three runs of the game in the 7th. Unfortunately, the bullpen wasn't able to hang on for the win.

 

After getting shut out by starter David Hale (who pitched around 6 BBs in 4.1 IP by allowing just 1 H) & reliever Brent Leach through the 6th, Huntsville got consecutive singles from Josh Prince, Hainley Statia, and Scooter Gennett to lead off the 7th and break into the "R" column. Hunter Morris added an RBI single, and Brock Kjeldgaard's FC also plated a run. The Stars exited the top half of the frame with a 3-2 lead, and a new lease on life in this one.

 

Kyle Heckathorn took over in the home half of the 7th, & retired the Braves in order. He also drew a one-out BB in the top of the 8th... and wound up getting thrown out at the plate trying to score on a 2B by Prince. I'm not sure why, with just one out, you'd send the pitcher -- that you clearly think is important enough to leave in for a plate appearance with a one-run lead in the 8th -- to try & score from first on a 2B.

 

Heckathorn retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the 8th via the groundball. Then he walked a batter... and another... and another... to load the bases before he was removed. Josh Butler came on and plunked the first batter he faced to force in the tying run. Fortunately, he then induced a groundball out to escape the mess with minimal damage.

 

Dan Meadows came on for the 9th, and allowed a leadoff infield 1B. The Braves put down a successful sac bunt, and Meadows issued an IBB to the next batter. He got a FC at second base for the second out of the inning, but Joey Terdoslavich lined a 1B into right for the walk-off win.

 

Prince: 2-4, 2B

Statia: 1-4, RBI, BB

Gennett: 2-5, CS

Andy Gonzalez: 0-2, 3 BB

Morris: 1-4, RBI

Kjeldgaard: 0-2, RBI, 2 BB

Kentrail Davis: 0-4, SB, OF assist (at home plate in the 1st... check the PbP section)

Adam Weisenburger: 0-2, 2 BB

 

Pena: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K, WP, HBP, 6:2 GO:AO, 84 TP (53 strikes)

Heckathorn: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Butler: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, HBP

Meadows: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 K

 

I had a much longer editorial rant typed out, but I'll just go with this instead: the 85-ish pitch starts to which many Brewers farmhands seem to be limited frequently this season are driving me crazy. If it's some organizational strategy, I wish death to it soon. I realize Pena's 6th inning didn't go smoothly, and that it's entirely possible that that was due to him tiring. But if our young starters aren't allowed to learn to work deeper into games in the minors, when exactly are they going to develop the ability to do it? I also understand that player confidence is an important part of development, but this is really bothering me right now... especially given the Brewers' undeniably terrible track record of developing pitchers.

 

 

Huntsville PbP

Kentrail Davis flashed his strong arm once again, in tonight's opening inning:

 

Mississippi Bottom of the 1st

-Todd Cunningham grounds out, pitcher Ariel Pena to first baseman Hunter Morris.

-Keenan Wiley walks.

-Joey Terdoslavich singles on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Keenan Wiley to 3rd.

-Evan Gattis flies into a double play, right fielder Kentrail Davis to catcher Adam Weisenburger. Keenan Wiley out at home on the throw.

 

The only thing you'll find from the Stars' offense in innings 2-6 is frustration, so fast forward to their 7th:

 

Huntsville Top of the 7th

-Josh Prince singles on a line drive to center fielder Todd Cunningham.

-With Hainley Statia batting, Josh Prince advances to 2nd on a balk.

-Hainley Statia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Evan Gattis. Josh Prince scores.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Keenan Wiley. Hainley Statia to 2nd.

-Andy Gonzalez strikes out on a foul tip.

-Hunter Morris singles on a ground ball to right fielder Keenan Wiley. Hainley Statia scores. Scooter Gennett to 3rd.

-Brock Kjeldgaard grounds into a force out, fielded by second baseman Philip Gosselin. Scooter Gennett scores. Hunter Morris out at 2nd. Brock Kjeldgaard to 1st.

-Kentrail Davis grounds into a force out, third baseman Jason Christian to second baseman Philip Gosselin. Brock Kjeldgaard out at 2nd.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Vargas Tosses Gem To Lead Sounds Past Chasers, 9-1

Veteran Right-hander Faces One Over Minimum In Eight Scoreless Innings

 

PAPILLION, Neb. - Right-hander Claudio Vargas turned in an outstanding effort to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 9-1 victory over the division-rival Omaha Storm Chasers on Monday evening at Werner Park.

 

Vargas (6-1) faced just one over the minimum during his eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven batters and walking none. It marked his fifth quality start in his last six outings. Vargas, who became the first Sounds hurler to work more than seven innings in a start this season, has posted a 2.17 ERA (14er/58.0ip) over his last nine starts.

 

The Nashville right-hander retired the first 15 Omaha batters in order to match the longest such stretch by a Sounds hurler this season (Mike Fiers, May 24 at Las Vegas). Storm Chasers second baseman Rey Navarro opened the bottom of the sixth with a double into the left field corner to break up the veteran's perfect game. The only other baserunner the right-hander allowed came on an eighth-inning Max Ramirez single.

 

The win snapped a seven-game skid at Werner Park for the Sounds (60-70).

 

Corey Patterson, one of four Nashville players with two hits on the night, doubled twice and drove in a team-high three runs and Taylor Green homered to lead a 13-hit offensive attack.

 

The Sounds grabbed their first lead of the series in the top of the second, when they sent and plated six runs against Omaha starter Nate Adcock. It marked only the fourth time all season that Nashville scored six or more runs in a single inning.

 

Nashville strung together five consecutive hits to open the frame, a stretch capped by a go-ahead Caleb Gindl RBI single and a two-run double off the bat of Patterson. Later in the frame, Logan Schafer added a run-scoring single, Patterson scored on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and Eric Farris concluded the six-run rally with an RBI triple into the right field corner.

 

· AUDIO: Caleb Gindl Plates First Run Of Night

· AUDIO: Corey Patterson Two-Run Double

 

Adcock (7-5) was saddled with the loss after being pelted for six runs on nine hits over six frames of work.

 

Green (2-for-4) extended the Sounds' lead to 8-0 in the top of the eighth when he slugged his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot to deep right off Storm Chasers reliever Donnie Joseph. The third baseman has belted three home runs in last four games after swatting only three roundtrippers in his first 60 contests with the Sounds this season. Jordan Brown, who preceded Green with a single, also scored on the blast.

 

· AUDIO: Taylor Green Two-Run HR

 

Patterson upped the lead to 9-0 later in the frame when he drilled his second run-scoring double of the night, a two-out two-bagger to center that brought in Sean Halton (walk).

 

· AUDIO: Corey Patterson Closes Out Scoring With RBI Double

 

Omaha broke up the Sounds' shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth against Donovan Hand, who was unable to close out what would have been Nashville's league-leading 11th shutout of the year. Former Sound Jason Bourgeois led off with a single and later scored on a one-out Irving Falu RBI single.

 

Recently-added Sounds infielder Adrian Williams made his first career appearance above the Low-A level with a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth, striking out on four pitches against Roman Colon.

 

The teams wrap up their 16-game season series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Tuesday night. Right-hander Wily Peralta (6-10, 4.75) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Omaha southpaw Chris Dwyer (3-3, 6.70).

 

Nashville Box Score

Claudio. Freaking. Vargas.

 

The game story covered everything but here's a quick recap of the multi/XBH games: Eric Farris (2-5,3B), Taylor Green (2-5,HR), Caleb Gindl (2-4), Corey Patterson (2-4,2 2B), Humberto Quintero (1-4,2B)

 

Nashville Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

Final: DSL Angels 6, DSL Brewers 1

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

Jorge Ortega started and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. He was followed by Gian Rizzo (why wouldn't they give Gian another start?) who pitched 2 scoreless innings allowing 1 hit. Joshua Torres was tuned up for 3 runs in the 8th and Juan Santiago pitched a scoreless 9th.

 

The Brewers only managed 4 hits, no player had multiples and Jose Dicent committed an error.

[TheCrew07]

Also for those that care Hamilton is only 3 steals away from setting a new record.

 

Pensacola was postponed tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

 

Over four minutes of video highlights at the link above and a link to the detailed report from BrewCrewBall, so very much worth your while.

 

***

 

Post-Crescent video interview:

 

Timber Rattlers catcher Rafael Neda talks about catching Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum Monday night in an 8-1 win over Peoria at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium

 

***

 

Post-Crescent game story with quotes also features a photo gallery.

[JohnBriggs12]

Vargas having a nice season since signed any chance he will be up in sept.

 

I wouldn't want to even contemplate what would necessitate bringing up Vargas to pitch in September. With Thornburg, Peralta, and Marcum likely on their way to pitch, then I'd imagine that a Vargas call up would only be due to an injury to Gallardo or something catastrophic to Thornburg or Peralta---perish the thought.

 

I would think as an alternative to Livan, or Mclendon, or even K-Rod, it's not out of the question. He's certainly earned another minor league deal with a spring training invite which I'm guessing they will extend him early on, but I doubt they'd use a 40 man spot on him.

[Mass Haas]

STARS WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT THREE

 

PEARL, Miss. - A walk-off RBI single by Mississippi Braves first baseman Joey Terdoslovich snapped a three-game winning streak for the Huntsville Stars as they fell by a final score of 4-3 on Monday night at Trustmark Park.

 

Just like the first game of the series on Sunday, the M-Braves struck first. Center fielder Todd Cunningham drew a two-out walk in the third inning off of starter Ariel Pena and stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. During that at-bat, right fielder Keenan Wiley lined a single into left field to score Cunningham and make the score 1-0.

 

As M-Braves starting pitcher David Hale shut down the Stars bats early, Mississippi padded their one-run lead in the sixth inning. Cunningham started off things again with a leadoff single and stole second. Later in the inning, a RBI single from catcher Matt Kennelly scored Cunningham to put their lead at 2-0.

 

However, like the previous three games, the Stars were able to mount a comeback. In the seventh inning, center fielder Josh Prince started off the rally with a single. After Prince reached second on a balk by M-Braves reliever Brent Leach, shortstop Hainley Statia brought him home on an RBI single to cut the Stars deficit to one. Following a single by second baseman Scooter Gennett put runners at the corners with one out, an RBI single by Hunter Morris drove in Statia to tie up the game. The next at-bat, Gennett scored on a RBI groundout by right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard to give Huntsville a 3-2 lead.

 

Unfortunately, the Stars got a taste of their own medicine by the end of the night. In the eighth inning, after Huntsville RHP Kyle Heckathorn walked the bases loaded, reliever Josh Butler hit M-Braves second baseman Phil Gosselin with a pitch to bring home the game tying run.

 

With lefty Dan Meadows in the game to begin the bottom of the ninth, the M-Braves completed a comeback of their own. To begin the inning, third baseman Jason Christian singled and then advanced to second via sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk, a fielder’s choice by right fielder Wiley put runners at the corners for Terdoslovich. To win the ballgame, Terdoslovich lined a Meadows’ fastball into right field to score Christian.

 

On offense, the Stars were led by both Gennett and Prince who had two hits apiece. Also, the RBI single for Morris was his 99th run batted in on the season.

 

The Stars loss combined with the Chattanooga Lookouts losing on Monday keeps Huntsville six games back of a playoff spot with 13 regular season games left to play.

 

Game three of a five-game series between the Stars and M-Braves takes place on Tuesday as Huntsville will send RHP Josh Stinson (11-6, 3.13 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

[And That]

Vargas has been an alright reliever at the MLB level. Certainly replaceable, but he's had spurts of worthwhileness as well. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the Brewers to give him a couple of innings this year if he agreed to come back on a minor league deal next year. There are at least a half dozen guys on the 40-man who don't really deserve to be there, so there's not really a premium for 40-man space right now.