Hawaii Winter Ball: Latest -- Darren Ford Hometown Article

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America update on the status of the league after the earthquake:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/t...62658.html

[Mass Haas]

North Shore falls on Tuesday, 7-4

 

Nice to see Lorenzo Cain (center field yet) back in action, 2-for-5 with two SB's and an outfield assist; Joe Thatcher still unscored upon -- 11 pitches, 7 for strikes, one K, in his perfect inning..

 

Box Score and GameDay:

Darren Ford, Robert Hinton idle...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

[Mass Haas]

Lorenzo Cain with a single and walk (also picked off once) in North Shore's 7-4 victory Wednesday:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Now that 'Zo is back, where's Darren Ford?

[Mass Haas]

North Shore's game ends in a 4-4 tie Friday night after 11 innings.

No Darren Ford, we'll do some inquiring if we don't see hm this weekend; also anxious for another Joe Thatcher sighting...

 

Lorenzo Cain, CF, leading off, (now at .200, 7-for-35, three extra-base hits, 10 K's)

- strikes out swinging in the 1st

- strikes out swinging to end the 3rd, man on 1st

- called out on strikes, one out in the 5th

- doubles on a sharp ground ball to right field, one out, man on 1st, in the 7th, later scores

- grounds out softly to 2nd leading off the 9th

 

Robert Hinton three scoreless innings to end the game, nice:

 

Waikiki Top 9th

- Dexter Fowler strikes out on foul tip.

- Mark Minicozzi walks.

- Nate Schierholtz grounds into double play, first baseman Mike Carp to shortstop Jonathan Tucker to pitcher Robert Hinton. Mark Minicozzi out at 2nd.

 

Waikiki Top 10th

- Reed Eastley singles on a line drive to right fielder Dustin Martin.

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ian Desmond replaces Reed Eastley.

- Cole Garner out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Robert Hinton to second baseman Blake Dewitt. Ian Desmond to 2nd.

- Christopher Nelson strikes out swinging, catcher Drew Butera to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Devin Ivany flies out to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

 

Waikiki Top 11th

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Sebastien Boucher replaces Tomoaki Egawa.

- Sebastien Boucher walks.

- Eric Young grounds out, second baseman Blake Dewitt to first baseman Mike Carp. Sebastien Boucher to 2nd.

- Dexter Fowler grounds out to first baseman Mike Carp. Sebastien Boucher to 3rd.

- Mark Minicozzi strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore loses, 6-5 in ten innings, Saturday night

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Lorenzo Cain two singles, two K's in five AB's -- in his other AB, he flied out to right with a runner on 2nd and no one out, but moved the runner to 3rd base -- in effect a good AB. Seeing stuff like that is why the game logs are such a nice addition -- during Link Report season, if you spend an extra few minutes with those game logs, it gives you a much greater appreciation for the overall stats than the raw box scores. I'll admit it takes effort, but for the diehards, a nice bonus...

 

Darren Ford still idle; time for us to inquire why...

 

Joe Thatcher still unscored upon:

 

Waikiki Top 8th

 

- Pitcher Change: Joe Thatcher replaces Wesley Wright.

- Eric Young Jr. strikes out swinging.

- Taichi Okazaki grounds out, third baseman Blake Dewitt to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Dexter Fowler grounds out, shortstop Jonathan Tucker to first baseman Mike Carp.

 

Waikiki Top 9th

 

- Reed Eastley singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Cole Garner replaces Reed Eastley.

- Ian Desmond out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Joe Thatcher to first baseman Mike Carp. Cole Garner to 2nd.

- Nate Schierholtz reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Jonathan Tucker to third baseman Blake Dewitt. Cole Garner out at 3rd.

- Pitcher Change: Zachary Hammes replaces Joe Thatcher.

- Grant Psomas called out on strikes.

 

The pitcher who replaced Thatcher in the 9th surrendered three runs in the 10th and took the loss...

 

The boys play again Sunday, 8:00 Central, Gameday via the MiLB.com home page:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?cid=milb

[Mass Haas]

Lorenzo Cain 0-for-4 in an otherwise "nothing to report" 4-0 North Shore loss Sunday; league is idle Monday:

 

www.hawaiiwinterbaseball....10-22.html

[Mass Haas]

Brewerfan respectfully wishes Lorenzo Cain and Darren Ford and their families well.

 

The reason each has missed some time in the early going of the Hawaii League schedule has been due to deaths in their families.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore holds on for a 10-9 win Tuesday.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Robert Hinton's second consecutive stellar three-inning outing for the save:

 

West Oahu Bottom 7th

 

- Pitcher Change: Robert Hinton replaces Yusuke Kawasaki.

- Defensive Substitution: Takehiro Donoue replaces third baseman Koby Clemens, batting 8th, playing third base.

- Chris Rahl strikes out swinging.

- Sean Kazmar flies out to center fielder Darren Ford.

- William Venable strikes out swinging.

 

West Oahu Bottom 8th

 

- Yasushi Iihara grounds out, pitcher Robert Hinton to first baseman Cory Dunlap.

- Mike Stodolka strikes out swinging, catcher Keiyo Aomatsu to first baseman Cory Dunlap.

- John Otness grounds out, third baseman Takehiro Donoue to first baseman Cory Dunlap.

 

West Oahu Bottom 9th

 

- Jeffrey Corsaletti called out on strikes.

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Emerson Frostad replaces Jose Vallejo.

- Emerson Frostad lines out to second baseman Blake Dewitt.

- Peter Ciofrone flies out to center fielder Darren Ford.

 

Darren Ford working off some rust in his first game back, 0-for-5 with three K's.

 

Lorenzo Cain homers, his first, on a fly ball to left field leading off the 6th. He went 2-for-5, with a two-run single in the 4th.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore wins Wednesday, 5-0

 

Joe Thatcher allows two hits and two walks in two innings, but keeps his season-long scoreless streak intact:

 

CaneFires 7th

- Pitcher Change: J. Thatcher replaces W. Wright.

- J. Vallejo singles to center field.

- C. Rahl pops out to J. Thatcher.

-W. Venable flies out to X. Paul.

- J. Mayberry flies out to X. Paul.

(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

 

CaneFires 8th

-- E. Frostad singles to left field.

- B. Mc Fall grounds into a force out, B. Dewitt to R. Choy Foo, E. Frostad out at 2nd.

- J. Whittleman walks, B. Mc Fall to 2nd.

- J. Ford pops out to D. Butera in foul territory.

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Y. Iihara replaces M. Moriyama.

- With Y. Iihara batting, passed ball by D. Butera, B. Mc Fall to 3rd; J. Whittleman to 2nd.

- Y. Iihara walks.

- J. Vallejo flies out to L. Cain.

(0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

 

Darren Ford 1-for-4 (single), BB, K, SB, run scored

 

Lorenzo Cain 1-for-5 (single), two RBI, two K

 

www.hawaiiwinterbaseball....10-25.html

[Mass Haas]

North Shore lost 11-4 Friday night.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Darren Ford (leadoff, CF) singled in four AB's (one K) and also walked. He stole a base and was also picked off. He's now 10-for-47 (.213), but an OBP above .350 now. Two of the ten hits are doubles. He's struck out 21 times, continuing a theme from the regular season. He's now 7-for-9 in SB attempts.

 

Lorenzo Cain (RF) singled twice in five AB's, and drove in two runs with his two-out 8th inning single. He mishandled a sharp ground ball to right on the first batter of the game for his first error of the season. Now 14-for-59 (.237), but only three walks thus far.

[Mass Haas]

Robert Hinton gets the win (6-5 North Shore) with two scoreless innings Saturday night -- toss out one very bad outing (bad pineapple?), and he's been darn near perfect.

 

Waikiki Top 8th

 

- Pitcher Change: Robert Hinton replaces Takuya Kikou.

- Defensive Substitution: Drew Butera replaces catcher Keiyo Aomatsu, batting 6th, playing catcher.

- Kenta Nakanishi hit by pitch.

- Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ian Desmond replaces Kenta Nakanishi.

- Sebastien Boucher called out on strikes.

- Eric YoungJr. pops out to shortstop Jonathan Tucker.

- With Christopher Nelson batting, Ian Desmond caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Drew Butera to second baseman Blake Dewitt.

 

Waikiki Top 9th

 

- Christopher Nelson doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Issei Nakamura.

- Dexter Fowler strikes out swinging.

- Mark Minicozzi grounds out, third baseman Koby Clemens to first baseman Cory Dunlap.

- Devin Ivany called out on strikes.

 

Darren Ford scored the winning run when he pinch-ran in the bottom of the 9th.

 

Tough night for Lorenzo Cain -- 0-for-4 (three K's, pop out) and a throwing error from CF.

[Mass Haas]

Rotoworld:

 

Robert Hinton worked two scoreless innings and struck out three Saturday to earn a relief win for North Shore of the HWL.

Hinton, 22, has a 2.51 ERA and a 19/2 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings in Hawaii. He finished with a 3.31 ERA and a 95/26 K/BB ratio in 89 2/3 innings while being used primarily as a reliever for Single-A Brevard County this year. He lacks remarkable stuff, so he doesn't project as anything more than a middle reliever. However, the Brewers can afford to get more aggressive with him.

[colbyjack]

In the season ending Farm Hops, I identified Hinton as my minor league sleeper. I have heard from one scout that has seem him pitch in the FSL that he is a top 10 prospect in the Brewers system, even though he likely will not be identified as one when BA's top prospect lists come out.

 

I think Rotoworld's assessment is a little off on Hinton, as saying he doesn't have remarkable stuff makes it sound as though he records outs via smoke & mirrors. Hinton has plenty good stuff, and a solid 3-pitch arsenal that could allow him to continue to be used as a starter heading into the '07 season. It was very nice to see him continue his success in Hawaii, and again, I think he's a name people should become more familiar with.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore scores five in the 2nd ining and wins, 5-3

 

Lefty "Super" Joe Thatcher throws two more scoreless innings and runs his season-long scoreless streak to 14 2/3 innings over eight appearances, with fine peripheral stats as well.

 

Darren Ford had a one-out, two-run double and finished 1-for-4 (two K's, thrown out on a bunt attempt leading off the 4th).

 

Day off for Lorenzo Cain.

 

Up-to-the-minute stats (click on the Honu icon, then YTD stats):

 

www.hawaiiwinterbaseball.com/schedule

[Mass Haas]

Hinton Pitcher of the Week:

 

www.hawaiiwinterbaseball....10-30.aspx

 

In a close race for Pitcher of the Week honors, Robert Hinton came out on top. The dependable Honu reliever appeared in two games this week, pitching a combined five innings, while allowing only one hit. He struck out seven while walking none, earning a win and a save.

 

Hinton, a New York Mets prospect (oh, well), has posted a 2.51 ERA on the season, with a 1-0 record and one save. He has struck out 19 while walking only two. He played for class-A Brevard County during the regular season.

 

http://www.hawaiiwinterbaseball.com/images/news/hinton.JPG

 

http://www.hawaiiwinterbaseball.com/images/news/hinton2.JPG

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.honoluluadvertiser.co...052/SPORTS

 

Working in Winter enjoyable to Lum

By Stacy Kaneshiro

Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

 

Since graduating from Roosevelt High in 1963, the only profession Mike Lum has known is baseball. But with no pro team in Hawai'i since the Islanders of the Pacific Coast League left after the 1987 season, it was hard for Lum to find a job here.

 

But Hawaii Winter Baseball returned and Lum found work ? albeit a temporary one, lasting just seven weeks ? as hitting coach for the North Shore Honu.

 

"It's nice to get back home and work," Lum said. "With my business, there's no opportunity to come back to Hawai'i and work. There's been no professional teams until now."

 

The irony is this might be his last time coaching in HWB. His duties have changed with the Milwaukee Brewers, as he was recently named hitting coordinator. He was promoted from hitting coach at Low-A West Virginia to succeed Jim Skaalen, who was named hitting coach for the Brewers. The coaching staffs of HWB are made up of managers and coaches of minor league teams.

 

(Coordinators have made brief appearances this season. New York Yankees pitching instructor Nardi Contreras was on hand to watch the four Yankees pitchers ? Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Christian Garcia and Jeff Marquez ? last week. Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coordinator Bill Robinson came to observe prospects Blake DeWitt (infielder), Cory Dunlap (first base) and Xavier Paul (outfielder) as well as pitchers Wesley Wright and Zachary Hammes.)

 

"I'm going back to coordinating," Lum said. "I'll be roving again. I interviewed for the big league job with the Brewers, (as) did the hitting coordinator (Skaalen). He's been there four, five years. He was chosen, which is great because he knows the players in the big leagues. He's been around those guys. He and I worked very well together and I think our relationship will continue, with he being the big league coach and I being the roving guy."

 

Lum returns to the type of work he had done for 16 years with the Chicago White Sox. But his contract was not renewed after the 2005 season. He hooked up with the Brewers in January, but the only opening was at West Virginia of the South Atlantic League.

 

"I was a little reluctant at first when they said the position they had open was for a hitting coach in the South Atlantic League, which is A-ball," Lum said. "I thought about it for a day and said, 'I think this will be a great opportunity for me to do something different,' and it was the best summer I had. I loved it."

 

By being here, he also gets to work with Brewer prospects Lorenzo Cain and Darren Ford, who were both outfielders at West Virginia. Cain batted .307 and had 34 steals, while Ford batted .283 with 69 steals.

 

"I think these guys have a chance to become impact players," Lum said.

[Mass Haas]

Honu/Sharks POSTPONED

 

Due to an unexpected power outage in Waipahu, Tuesday night's game between the Honu and Sharks at Hans L'Orange Field has been postponed. The game will be made up this Wednesday, November 1, in a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 PM (9:00 PM Central).

[Mass Haas]

HWL Site:

 

Due to heavy rains in the West Oahu area, this afternoon's doubleheader between the Honu and Sharks at Hans L'Orange Field has been postponed. A makeup date will be announced.

[Mass Haas]

Wow, what a miserable night in Hawaii.

 

Darren Ford goes 0-for-6 with five K's (now at .193, 28 K's in 57 AB's -- combined with his regular season, that's 161 K's in 548 AB's).

 

Lorenzo Cain (.206) went 0-for-5. He walked once.

 

Joe Thatcher blew the save in the 9th, allowed three runs, including his first and only earned run of the season (two of his runs scored after his departure and were unearned).

 

North Shore then scored two in the bottom of the 9th to tie things up.

 

Robert Hinton was fantastic in the 10th, coming in to bail out his teammate from a one-out, men on 1st and 2nd jam.

 

In another big jam in the 11th, Hinton nearly pitched out of it, but was done in by his shortstop's error, and he took the loss without surrendering an earned run.

 

Box Score / Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

[Mass Haas]

North Shore loses 10-4, Saturday

 

Days off were expected for Joe Thatcher and Robert Hinton, but Darren Ford and Lorenzo Cain were also given the day off to recover from Friday's rough night.

 

Honu plays again Sunday at 8:00 Central.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore loses 5-1 Sunday...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Joe Thatcher cruises through two innings:

 

West Oahu Top 7th

 

- Pitcher Change: Joe Thatcher replaces Yusuke Kawasaki.

- Jose Vallejo grounds out, shortstop Jonathan Tucker to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Jeffrey Corsaletti grounds out to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Yasushi Iihara grounds out, pitcher Joe Thatcher to first baseman Mike Carp.

 

West Oahu Top 8th

 

- Chris Rahl doubles (5) on a sharp ground ball to left fielder Xavier Paul.

- Mike Stodolka strikes out swinging.

- John Mayberry strikes out swinging.

- John Whittleman grounds out, second baseman Rodney Choy Foo to first baseman Mike Carp.

 

Lorenzo Cain (single) was 1-for-4, Darren Ford 0-for-3. Details on their AB's in the game log linked above.

[Mass Haas]

North Shore wins Tuesday night, 2-0

 

Darren Ford still struggling (0-for-4, two K's), Lorenzo Cain 1-for-4 with a double (two K's). Ford had hit ninth in his prior game, but was back in the leadoff spot in this one:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

[Mass Haas]

North Shore loses 2-0 Wednesday night, as lately pitching rules in Hawaii:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Lorenzo Cain with an infield single in four AB's; Darren Ford, Joe Thatcher, Robert Hinton idle...

[Mass Haas]

You can actually watch last night's North Shore game -- catch a glimpse of Lorenzo Cain at noon Central Thursday and then again at 3:00 Central on MLB's Baseball Channel.TV:

 

mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/me...p#20061027

 

EDIT: Just watched Cain's first AB, unfortunately a first-pitch groundout to third. 'Zo looks rail-thin, but flashed serious speed on the groundout. Fun to see him "in person"...

[Mass Haas]

North Shore loses, 3-2, in ten innings

 

This game may be once again available on BaseballChannel.TV via MLB.com, but unfortuntaely, not "On Demand". Viewing times look to be at Noon and 3:00 PM Central Friday. The taped games run in a two-hour block, no commercials. Considering that there are two Hawaii League games each day, it's a 50/50 call on which game might be available each day. I'll try to peek in later today and let folks know if the North Shore game will be available -- it'd be nice to peek in and catch Thatcher's stint on tape.

 

BaseballChannel.TV link:

 

mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/me...p#20061027

 

My guess is that many of the previous games were available as well, but this service is so obscure and poorly advertised that we missed our earlier chances to view them. The games don't appear to be archived anywhere.

 

Joe Thatcher was virtually untouchable and pitched shutout ball for 2 2/3 innings, but was victimized on a walk-off homerun by the Rockies' Duke Sardinha.

 

Waikiki Bottom 8th

 

- Pitcher Change: Joe Thatcher replaces Yusuke Kawasaki.

- Duke Sardinha strikes out swinging.

- Grant Psomas grounds out, third baseman Blake Dewitt to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Cole Garner grounds out, third baseman Blake Dewitt to first baseman Mike Carp.

 

Waikiki Bottom 9th

 

- Dexter Fowler grounds out softly, third baseman Blake Dewitt to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Reed Eastley strikes out swinging.

- Christopher Nelson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jonathan Tucker.

- Mark Minicozzi called out on strikes.

 

Waikiki Bottom 10th

 

- Nate Schierholtz called out on strikes.

- Devin Ivany grounds out, second baseman Rodney Choy Foo to first baseman Mike Carp.

- Duke Sardinha homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.

 

Darren Ford walked in the 4th, promptly stole both second and third base, and then scored on a sac fly. He was 0-for-3 otherwise (one K).

 

Lorenzo Cain struck out in the top of the first, started the game in right field, and chased down a triple in the top of the 2nd. While he remained in the game for the rest of that defensive half-inning, he was replaced in right field to open the 3rd. You'd have to think he may have tweaked something on that triple. If there's video, we may be able to learn more.

 

Box Score / Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...n_waiwin_1