Happy Memorial Day everyone, I hope you all had great weather for whatever your various holiday activities were.
The organization went 1-2 as Palm Beach was off today. I’ll never understand minor league scheduling. I guess everyone in Florida just wanted to go to the beach instead.
- Adam Ottavino was the hard luck loser for Memphis today as he pitched 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. 1 of the hits was a solo HR and those hurt. However, he did strike out 8. He had 6 outs on the ground vs. 3 in the air.
- Fernando Salas finished up the game with 2 innings of all zeroes.
- Bryan Anderson, C went 3-3 with 3 singles and a walk.
- Jarrett Hoffpauir, 2B went 2-3 with 1 walk and the lone RBI.
- Mark Shorey, RF went 2-4
- Jon Jay, LF went 0-2 but was a baseball magnet as he was hit by 2 pitches.
- Ryan Kulik went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. He struck out only 2 and got 10 ground outs to 6 flyouts.
- Marco Gonzalzes gave up 2 hits and 0 runs over 2 innings.
- Eddie Degerman pitched a mop-up shut-out 9th.
- James Rapoport, CF went 3-4 with a walk.
- Tyler Henley, RF went 1-4 with a 3 run double.
- DJ Toolsy Tools went 1-3 with 2 walks and 1 RBI.
- Pete Kozma, SS went 2-3 with a walk. Every good game someone (including myself) will say, “Hey, maybe he’s adjusting to the level” and every bad game someone will say, “Hey, he needs to go back to Palm Beach”.
- Matthew Arburr, 1B went 0-4 and will be wearing the leprechaun hat in warm-ups tomorrow as he had 3 Ks.
Quad Cities 4, Angry Apple with a Pot for a Hat 7
- Andres Rosales was a little wild today as he pitched 3.2 innings and gave up 4 runs on only 3 hits. How does that happen? With 5 walks and a wild pitch, that’s how that happens.
- Joel Pichardo came into his first game since being called up from extended spring training and allowed 1 of his inherited runners to score on a single. He walked 1 and struck out 1 in his other 1 inning of work. He has shown the ability to strike out batters in Johnson City last year, so hopefully he can keep it up.
- Hector Cardenas pitched the last 4 innings and gave up 3 runs (1 earned). He walked 2 and struck out 0.
- Charles Cutler, DH, went 1-4 with 2 RBIs.
- Nico Vasquez, SS went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. He will be wearing the team leprechaun hat tomorrow as well. He also had another error in the field. I know he’s a hot prospect and is breaking people’s hearts so far this year, but he was literally in high school last year at this time. I’m just sayin. He’s obviously talented, so there’s no rush.
- Roberto Espinoza went 1-3 but had an adventure behind the plate. He allowed 1 wild pitch, 1 passed ball. 4 steals were attempted against him and he caught 2 guys.
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we gotta remember it took daryl jones a while to put it together, so as you said we cant become so agitated when niko struggles.
also, apparently only angry apples can wear tincaps. at least in fort wayne. i for one never would have guessed that team nickname from the logo.
Saddens me to not see Wallace’s name in the DFR again. Hopefully he does somthing bullet-worthy next game. He seems to be getting his hits (and HRs) in bunches.
Kozma was 2 for 3 with a BB and no strike outs or errors. He played 40 – 50 games at PB before he was promoted to Springfield. The guy has the talent just need to adjust a level.
Was at the Memphis game today…so a few random thoughts:
Ottavino looked pretty good. His fb was erratic the first two innings; it was up and getting smacked hard. Lots of loud outs and the home run…another shot that hit the top of the wall, missing a round-tripper by about a foot. Robinson chased down another cannon shot to the warning track. Left field at PGE is about Fenway distance, so the HR was definitely park-aided. But it was a line drive missile.
After the second, Ott was able to get the ball down, mixed in his secondary pitches down in the zone also, and was able to hit the corners–his command definitely improved and the Ks started coming. FB sat at about 92, ranging from 91 to 96 (!) once in his last inning (rode that one high, obviously overthrowing with runners on). I didn’t trust the gun…since once it showed the fb at 104, another time 57. That’s quite a changeup.
Other thoughts…was excited to see the Walrus. He looks like two tree stumps attached to a head. He made one nice play in the field, ranging to the line to field a medium hit gb, threw a strike to first to catch the runner by a step. At the plate he looked quite comfortable, lining into a questionably called DP, singling, and once getting worked over by Portland’s junkballer. In that particular at-bat he saw several straight offspeed pitches low in the zone, one that he swung through…then struck out swinging at an 88 mph fastball above the letters.
Anderson looked like a man on a mission at the plate–was great to see him have a nice game. But the offense was anemic and quite sad. Greene looked a bit lost, swinging and missing at a steady diet of offspeed junk, Craig was in frustration mode, slamming his helmet after stranding runners. Greene did make a very nice play at short, causing me to wonder why he is back in AAA and not starting for the big club.
Salas was quite the steady presence on the mound. Every fastball hit exactly 90 on the gun; his command was as advertised. The Destroyer was warming in the pen in the 9th after the bottom of the order loaded the bases with one out. Rowlett looked like a chump on three pitches, and Sugar Shane lined out softly to end the game, preventing Todd from atoning for the previous night.
Both clubs are having nice seasons on the mound and opposite years at the plate…the game was over briskly in just over two hours…which was nice since it was my three year-old’s first.
The B. Anderson reference got me curious, he hasn’t seemed to generate quite the buzz this year as in previous seasons. I was surprised to find his season line against righties: 320/378/573 for an OPS of 951! And that as a 22 year old in his first full season at AAA. Obviously, the next couple of years he isn’t going to face lefties (whom Yadi hits particularly well). However, it appears from his numbers that he will be ready to spell Yadi a couple of days a week starting next season against tough righties. With more rest and YM’s improved hitting that could make for a good aggregate amount of production from the catcher’s spot. It bears mentioning that his numbers against southpaws are horrific, bringing his overall OPS down to a still-respectable 785 (given his age and position).
As for Kozma, I don’t think anyone could reasonably expect him to light the world on fire in AA this year. I personally am all for aggressive promotions, the danger is that it will do more harm than good if the player isn’t really ready to move up. His BABIP at Springfield (229) suggests he has hit into some bad luck, however, his BABIP at A+ (404) isn’t going to be sustainable either. If, as it has been suggested, his offensive struggles are affecting his defense, it is my personal opinion (having seen him in person just the one time this year) that he would have benefitted significantly from spending half or most of the season at PB before being moved to Springfield. I suspect virtually everyone reading this site (myself included) is pulling for him to adjust to AA sooner rather than later. Hopefully being rushed won’t unduly hinder his development.
If the Cardinals follow normal practice, it will be time to bench Anderson. Everytime
he had a great game, he seems to be benched the next game.
I Wonder how long Memphis plans on keeping the 6 man rotation, disappointed to see Donovan Solano get moved down but since they plan on using him everyday at 3rd I can live with it, still would have liked Hoff move to utility and possibly learn some versatility and let Solano try second everyday since he was 18-for-54 with 5 doubles vs 4 Strikeouts since May 8th.
Was at the Memphis game as well. FIVE double plays were a killer. And loading the bases down one in the ninth and coming away with nothing …
I was thinking the same thing about Anderson–he is not putting up a bad season at all. If he can get his OBP up about 20 points he will have an 800ish OPS. I will take that from a catcher.
something needs to be done about our major league offense…its getting ridicuolous…call up dj jones, wallace, and anderson…sign barry bonds…trade for hanley ramirez….something
(i don’t really want any of these things)
Didn’t see anything in this DFR about it but I didn’t check yesterday’s posts, but Josh Wilson has quit QCs and has basically disappeared and won’t return phone calls.
http://www.qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/article_768505b0-497a-11de-823d-001cc4c002e0.html
Oh no. I didn’t see that. Hopefully he is off getting help.
oooh Jason Motte v2.0 promoted to Palm Beach
I found myself wondering “what team logo could possible resemble an angry apple with a pot for a hat?” Then I clicked the link and found it was actually just an angry apple with a pot for a hat. Huh.
Is Tyler Henley somebody I should keep an eye on? In my small sample size, anecdotal evidence leaning perusal of recent DFRs it seems like he’s been kinda hot this year. Is he an actual prospect?
I’d call him a prospect. Drafted in the 8th round in 2007 out of Rice. He’s been playing mostly RF this year and he’s been showing up in the DFRs lately because he started hitting for power about 10 days ago, which is very nice to see.
mike,
Good stuff about the park factors, think we often forget about those things that can affect a game.
I don’t know much about Ottavino, but I do know that they want high velo guys to work on their velo, which often translates into missing spots and often HR. Hitting 96 cruising 92-99, once he gets it together he will be there. He may not be as accurate as the younger softer tossing guys, unless their velo develops they won’t get passed AA.
Saw a good spot on ESPN with Gammons about the dangers of taking young players and moving them up too quickly, specifically talking about Francouer. Early success often turns into hitting the proverbial brick wall, I say don’t rush young players. That includes young guys just out of college too, just my opinion.
Regarding Nico.
Keep in mind. The cubs drafted Josh Vitters in 2007 in the first round (3rd overall) and he’s just now starting to hit in the same league that Nico is playing in. Vitters had to be sent back down to short season last year (partly due to injury) but has been hitting the ball well this year in Peoria. Vitters was (and is) considered a much better hitter than Vasquez, so there’s no reason to fret.
Anyone notice that Mabry’s in Milwaukee with the Cardinals as a BP pitcher and extra hitting instructor? Stlcardinals.com implies that he and Mo are working out some sort of coaching gig with the Cards.
I think he’d be great as some sort of hitting instructor at Memphis or roving around the organization. I recall rookies would always credit Mabry with helping them prepare for pinch hitting duties when he was with the team. Since most players who’d be called up would likely see a lot of time on the bench and PH’ing, having Mabry spend time with the AAA team and pass on what he knows seems like a pretty valuable thing to have around.
I have gone to many quad city river bandit games and no one needs to worry abt Niko. He is struggling and that is normal. Major league players lke Ortiz is struggling. Baseball players go thru that its normal.You have players that can easily adjust and others that take time but will surprise you at the end. In reference to Niko’s errs oreven 3b err they just don’t sit there and wait for balls to come to there gloves. Those two kids run for every hard hit line drive that goes by there way. They will stop it with there body if need be to avoid additional bases. In alot of games I have notice other players in the team have caused errors but they never get charged with it. it’s like they pick and choose the one to give it too. the 2nd baseman lilley is great to get on base but very slow and runs very little to try to stop those line drives going his way from becoming hits. That helps him from avoiding errors. A big % of those hits are stoppable. No offense to anyone but when you complain abt Niko’s errors or Castelano errors go to there game and watch them kill themself to get the ball. They play with there hearts out there and a certain percentage of those errors should of not been charged to them. Hopefully they don’t even know of this website so Niko doesnt read the sad comments some of you make each and everyday. Imagine this is beyond constructive criticizum any player reading this would lose there confidence. These players made it cause there good and they will prove themselfs in the long run. Not every player is an A-Rod or Longoria. Some take a couple of years to become amazing players