Link Report for Sat. 7/6

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO OF POST-GAME PRESSER AT LINK

 

***

 

Stirring up Space Coast: Alex Rodriguez hears it from Brevard fans

by John A. Torres, Florida Today

 

VIERA — Being a fan is complicated. Sometimes it involves a love-hate relationship.

 

Baseball fans came out by the thousands Saturday night to see fallen slugger Alex Rodriguez, making a rehab start for the Tampa Yankees against the Brevard County Manatees. Then they booed him — loudly.

 

Good for them.

 

Later, when he stood in foul territory signing autographs for more than an inning after he was done for the night. The fans cheered him.

 

Good for them. Fans by nature are fickle, and love-hate relationships can be complicated.

 

And it gets no more complicated than when it involves A-Rod. Rodriguez, an admitted steroid user whose name popped up again in the offseason in connection with a South Florida pain clinic doling out PEDs to MLB players, will likely never live down the controversy that has followed him and plagued his career in recent years.

 

A large crowd came out to Space Coast Stadium — 3,148 — to see A-Rod, the slugger the Yankees may not even want back. They’d rather his hip injury keep him out all season. This way his ludicrous contract — they still owe him $114 million over five years — would be handled by an insurance claim, and they might be able to recoup some of the money.

 

Still, the Yankees could probably use a big bat right about now. The question is, does A-Rod have anything left in the tank? Right now, he’s just trying to make sure he can play without pain.

 

“Getting a hit means nothing,” he said after he left the game. “The main thing is being able to play back to back games. I was happy that I did get some work at third base and scored from first. Tomorrow is another test.”

 

Batting second and playing third base, Rodriguez was soundly booed after cheers initially greeted him as he stepped to the box.

 

He took two pitches against Manatees starter Cody Scarpetta before grounding out weakly to short. Rodriguez looked as if he was running through knee-high mud. He later said that he was running at about 75 percent speed.

 

He looked older than his 38 years, looked slow, looked a lot like the player who embarrassed himself during the 2012 American League playoffs. He also hasn’t played major league ball in nine months.

 

Still, remember when Yankees manager Joe Girardi was forced to pinch-hit for the once-feared slugger? Then he even benched him as the Yankees were swept by the Detroit Tigers. He managed three singles in 25 at-bats and struck out 12 times.

 

In the middle of that slump, New York papers reported him scoring a woman’s phone number during a game. What followed was hip surgery and the more recent steroid allegations from the South Florida report.

 

Despite all the distractions and negativity, Rodriguez is trying to play his way back to the Bronx. Rehabbing, after initial reports said he would be out all season.

 

“I’m literally just trying to two-step back into this thing and be smart about it,” he said. “Everything is going to take some time.”

 

He was booed more soundly in the third when he came to bat with two men on. He silenced the crowd with a sharp single to center.

 

“It felt amazing, man. It was a rocket. It was incredible. It was magical,” he sarcastically described the hit to reporters. “Who cares? I did see the ball better, those are the kinds of things I want to focus on, in all seriousness.”

 

The fans finally did cheer in the fifth. A-Rod came up with two men on and caught a pitch from Scarpetta in the hip. Yep, the same hip that he had operated on a few months ago. The fans cheered wildly as he jogged to first base.

 

He came around to score a few pitches later when O’Brien’s single to left skipped past left fielder Lance Roenicke for a two-base error. The Yankees went on to win 6-1.

 

Before the game, a few hundred fans packed into the autograph well hoping to get a signature on a ball, hat or jersey. They were disappointed when he didn’t sign a single one. The troubled slugger waited until he was done playing and jogged out to the left field tarp in the sixth inning where he signed dozens and dozens of autographs as hundreds of fans ran over to have something signed.

 

It was a nice touch for a player looking for all the good will he can muster.

 

A-Rod described his reception as “Awesome. The fans have been great wherever I’ve been.”

 

Maybe he didn’t hear the boos. Maybe he just realizes it’s gonna take some time to win back the fans.

 

Love-hate, it’s complicated.

 

But all was forgiven, at least for a little while.

[Mass Haas]

Baez starts Double-A with a bang

Cubs' top prospect homers in first at-bat for Tennessee

 

The Stars won, Taylor Jungmann was fantastic, but the big name gets the MiLB feature treatment...

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Dodgers 4, @AZL Brewers 0

 

AZL Brewers Box Score

 

The A-Crew is in an awful funk offensively right now, with just two runs combined in the last three losses. They mustered just three lonely singles here, two by CF Edgardo Rivera. The club didn't draw a single walk (one HBP, Elvis Rubio), and fanned ten times.

 

FIELDING

E: Rubio (2, fielding).

Outfield assists: Rubio 3 (Henderson at 3rd base, Wingo at 3rd base, Cordero, J at home).

 

AZL Dodgers Top of the 8th

 

Reymundo Torres called out on strikes.

Josh Henderson doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Josh Henderson out at 3rd, right fielder Elvis Rubio to second baseman Francisco Castillo to third baseman Tucker Neuhaus.

Scott Wingo walks.

Adam Law singles on a line drive to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Scott Wingo out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Elvis Rubio to third baseman Tucker Neuhaus.

 

AZL Dodgers Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Scott Harkin replaces Alejandro Lavandero.

Chris O'Brien strikes out swinging.

Cody Bellinger grounds out, second baseman Francisco Castillo to first baseman David Denson.

Josmar Cordero singles on a fly ball to left fielder Johnny Davis.

Michael Ahmed reaches on a fielding error by right fielder Elvis Rubio. Josmar Cordero out at home, right fielder Elvis Rubio to shortstop Luis Aviles to catcher Paul Eshleman.

 

AZL Brewers Game Log

 

We saw some Devin Williams earlier in the Report, his 3rd and final inning didn't go so well:

 

AZL Dodgers Top of the 3rd

 

Chris O'Brien walks.

Cody Bellinger walks. Chris O'Brien to 2nd.

With Julian Leon batting, wild pitch by Devin Williams, Chris O'Brien to 3rd. Cody Bellinger to 2nd.

Julian Leon out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Chris O'Brien scores. Cody Bellinger to 3rd.

Michael Ahmed doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Johnny Davis. Cody Bellinger scores.

Cristian Gomez strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Clint Terry replaces Devin Williams.

Reymundo Torres doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Davis. Michael Ahmed scores.

Josh Henderson strikes out swinging.

 

Scoreless but interesting work the rest of the way by the staff, Dodgers had 20 baserunners total but scored only four runs on the night.

 

David Denson 0-for-3 (three K's, 17 in 35 AB's) and Tucker Neuhaus 0-for-3, two K's, so the youngest Brewers still finding their way.

[igor67]

Anybody have any data on how pitcher friendly the Southern League is playing this year? After a few years of drifting towards an almost normal amount of offense from the extreme pitcher friendly environment it was during Hart's time there it has seemed like maybe it's been suppressing runs again this year.

[TooLiveBrew]

Orf prepares to catch a pass as Jacob Morris slides into second

http://cmsimg.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=G1&Date=20130706&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=307060020&Ref=V1&MaxW=600&Border=0

We're spoiled by the quality photography the Helena squad has had so far... but... a 'pass'? I only hope it went for a touchdown...