The system went 3-and-2 on a night that offered tons of free baseball. A rehabbing player stole the show offensively by displaying patience and power for Springfield. Ryan Sherriff had the best outing of the day for starting pitchers as he induced at least twice as many grounders as fly balls for the second straight start for Palm Beach. Details after the jump…
Memphis 6, Omaha 4 (11 innings)
- Zack Cox was 2-for-3 with a double and 2 walks.
- Pete Kozma was 2-for-5 with a double.
- Lou Montanez singled twice.
- Mark Hamilton had a single and 2 walks.
- Cedric Hunter, Ryan Jackson, and Steven Hill all singled.
- Tyler Lyons pitched okay. He lasted 5.2 innings that featured 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts.
- Adam Reifer pitched a perfect inning.
- Barret Browning allowed an unearned run and walk in 0.2 innings.
- Jess Todd allowed 1 walk in 1.2 innings.
- Maikel Cleto only allowed 1 hit and struck out 2 in 2 innings.
- Matt Carpenter looks like he’s ready to return to St. Louis. He was 3-for-3 with a HR and 2 walks.
- Kolten Wong was 2-for-5.
- Jake Shaffer had a double and a walk.
- Greg Garcia was 3-for-5.
- Chris Swauger singled and walked twice. Adam Melker had a single and walk.
- Jermaine Curtis and Jose Garcia each had singles.
- Kevin Thomas was tagged for 4 runs (3 ER) on 2 hits, 4 walks, and zero strikeouts.
- Michael Blazek was fantastic as he struck out 5 in 3.1 innings, and only allowed one base runner (walk).
- Deryk Hooker gave up 1 run (unearned) on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
- Eric Fornataro struck out 2 in 1.1 innings.
- Keith Butler allowed an unearned run and walk in 1 inning. He struck out 1.
Palm Beach 3, Jupiter 2 (11 innings)
- Jonathan Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with a double and walk.
- Geoff Klein was 2-for-5.
- Starlin Rodriguez, Mike O’Neill, and Rainel Rosario had a hit and walk a piece.
- Nick Longmire and Ronny Gil each singled.
- Ryan Sherriff had a strong game, only allowing 1 run on 4 hits, zero walks, and 3 strikeouts in 7 innings. 14 of 19 outs on balls in play came via ground-balls, something we’re not used to seeing from Sheriff, at least not before his last two starts… or to this extent.
- Iden Nazario gave up 1 run on a hit and walk.
- Dean Kiekhefer allowed a hit and walk and struck out a batter in 2.1 innings.
- Chase Reid retired both of the batters he faced.
Quad Cities: No Game
Batavia 5, Auburn 6 (11 innings)
- Anthony Melchionda was 3-for-5 with a double.
- Matthew Young was 2-for-4 with a HR.
- Steven Ramos and David Washington doubled.
- Breyvic Valera (profiled earlier today by Jeff) went 2-for-5 with a double and walk.
- Jesus Montero singled. Leandro Mateo walked.
- Daniel Bibona allowed 3 runs (2 ER) on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 3 innings.
- Brandon Creath did not allow any hits in 2 innings. He had 2 strikeouts against 1 walk.
- Corey Baker allowed 2 hits and an unearned run in 3 innings. He struck out 2.
- Yunier Castillo struck out 3 in 2 innings and only allowed 1 hit.
- Jose Almarante only retired 1 of the 5 batters he faced. 2 runs (1 ER) scored on 3 hits, zero walks, and 1 strikeout.
Johnson City 3, Greeneville 10
- Jeremy Schaffer was 2-for-5 with a HR and double.
- Ronard Castillo had a hit and walk. Gerwuins Velazco did the same.
- C.J. McElroy, Ildemaro Vargas, and Trevor Martin all singled.
- Bryan Martinez was roughed up for 7 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and only 1 strikeout in 3 innings.
- Jeffrey Rauh allowed 1 run in 2 innings that included 4 hits and 1 strikeout.
- Michael Aldrete gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 2 innings; he struck out 2.
- Jacob Booden struck out 2 in 2 innings. He allowed 3 hits and a walk but no runs.

Entries (RSS)
Impressive statistical line for the LHP Sherriff 2.18 ERA in 5 starts 33 IP 5 BB 1.73 BB/9 not a big strikeout guy but a 5.19 K/9 and 18 on the year 1.05 GO/AO ratio opponents are batting only .167 against him small sample size of starts but impressive. Seems like another guy that focuses mainly on attacking the bottom of the strike zone pitching to contact heard he doesn’t have over powering stuff anyone got any more information on Sheriff?
Florida State lost to Arizona in the CWS finally. Now I expect the Cardinals will sign Ramsey quick for a cheap amount below slot since he has No Leverage.
Has Zack Cox finally turned the corner? He’s hitting .615 in his last five games with three walks and three strikeouts. He’s got three doubles and a home run during that period as well. He’s been a notorious slow starter, so is he about to turn it around?
Heard their was a mechanical flaw in Cox’s swing and they’ve figured it out. Remember last season when he reach the Texas League he got off to a notorious slow start he had the same flaw and after they fixed his swing he got on a tear and his numbers were sky rocketing. In June of last season when he started to struggle in Springfield was batting .180 that month. In July of 2011 he batted .380 .418 BABIP .446 OBP.
Considering Cox doesn’t hit for much power as shown by his .151 ISO this season he does have a good fundamental approach at the plate I’d still consider him a singles doubles guy when he reaches the Majors. I hope he does get hot and start to find his stroke that makes his trade value go up and he will be a intriguing piece to a trade since he is blocked by Freese and his defense has been below average this season at 3B. Lot’s of depth at 3B since this seasons draft with Kelly, Piscotty, and Wisdom and Rahmatulla.
rahmatulla is a 2nd baseman / OF’er i haven’t seen him playing any 3rd base. I’ll have to check and make sure but i think I’m correct.
looks like he has played decent amount of games at both positions almost equal at 2b/3b
He’s played 3rd exclusively this year.
I have been to one QC game this year – a couple of weeks ago – and Rahmatulla played 3B in that one.
So what the two games our Gulf Coast team played don’t count? They split by the way.
Hurray for Zack Cox, he has finally started to connect. This bodes well for Memphis since Adams and Chambers will be returning shortly.
Ryan Sherriff, this man has been terrific since coming from EST. Could be making a name for himself very quickly. Good to see Dan Bibona finally back on the mound, which I hope is where Boone Whiting will be soon.
Why is Colin Walsh still in QC?
Quad Cities had a log jam at 3B and when Piscotty signed he was assigned to Quad Cities and they were forced to call up Rahmatulla who is a 3B himself. I would like to see what Rahmatulla can do at the pitching friendly league.
rahmatulla can play 2nd base too. started a few games at SS but i don’t think he would be very good there
Pretty sure Starlin Rodriguez is going to get most of the innings at second at PB. His wOBA, adjusted for park, is .404. He’s an all-star and the team’s second-best hitter, after Mike O’Neill.
Third base had been open since Niko Vasquez was cut, so I think that’s going to be Rahmatulla’s position, unless they see him as a utility guy long-term and move him around to get him ready for that.
If Starlin Rodriguez can stay healthy that his natural position is 2B
Rahmatulla was called up long before Piscotty signed and thanks for the update; I hadn’t heard he was assigned to QC. Colin Walsh can play multiple positions, although he DH’s a lot. It’s time he learned the corner outfield positions. 2b and cf should be the only two positions blocked in Palm Beach. If we can teach Schumaker to play 2b in the majors, we can teach Walsh to play LF on the sunny shores.
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=597087
Thanks DT! You’re ahead of some of the other websites. You got the scoop man!
Interesting that Carson Kelly and Steve Bean were given the night off following both striking out three times the night before.
Taking a brief look at their swings, it looks like Bean has a lot of work to do with his approach at the plate. Kelly seems the more mature hitter. Should be fun to see what both can do at Johnson City.
Free Colin Walsh! C’mon Cardinals, reward the guy. Matt Carpenter also stands in Cox’s way. Hopefully he’ll be a nice trade chip by 7/31.
Cox, the trading chip, not Carpenter.
I wouldn’t be so quick to trade Cox, we have seen this year how important depth is. He has a chance to be the first guy up next season, in the case of an injury to any of the position players.
Also, who do you guys think will a September call up? Wong? OT? Jackson? Cox? On the pitching side we could see some of our top prospects come help in the pen.
I sort of agree, in that there is really not a whole lot of reason to be down on Cox if he gets his act together in AAA this year. He will be a big league player and probably above average. That said, he’s probably the #1 trade bait we have unless we want to get rid of some prime pitching prospects
Shelby Miller should be up, along with Adams. Depends on whether the Cardinals are in contention on whether a host of youngsters come up. Why trade Cox this year? He cannot have much value at the moment. Let him reestablish himself. I believe he needs to be on the MLB roster per his contract in 2014.
Cox MLB contract expires in 2013.
Also, no reason to sell low on Zack Cox.
Yunier Castillo couldn’t take a walk as a position player; happily, it looks like he can’t offer one as a pitcher. Dude despises the free pass.
He also strikes out a lot of people.
Does anyone have any idea where Andres Serrano is going to start or what’s going on with him?
Think MLB is still investigating the signing. Hope they get it done soon because I would like to get a read on him in the USA. Hearing his Fastball reaches up 95-96 he has good makeup. His best secondary pitch is probably his breaking ball and he also throws a change-up that will need a lot of work as well. Very raw pitcher but he’s another high risk player.
I believe Serrano’s birth certificate is being questioned. So until they can confirm that he is who he says he is, his contract will not be made official. Kind of put egg all over the face of Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com) who severely jumped the gun and named him one of our top 20 prospects, when he’s not yet our confirmed property.