A: Clinton 7, Beloit 2
CLI: 20-13... BEL: 13-20
Aaron Pribanic: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 walks, 5 K (3.22 FIP)
Jose Jimenez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, walk, 3 K (4.95 FIP)
Blake Nation: one out, K (5.07 FIP)
Ruben Flores: 1 IP, 2 walks (3.99 FIP)
Maximo Mendez: 2-4, 2 run HR, 2 R, walk, 2 K (275/392/433)
Nate Tenbrink: 1-4, double, R, 2 K (297/377/500)
Kris Sanchez: 1-3, RBI, walk (11-32, 2 doubles, 3 HR, 7 BB, 7 K)
Jacob Shaffer: 2-3, R, RBI, walk, K (8-27, 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 K)
Terry Serrano: 2-4, double, R, RBI (274/404/370)
Luis Nuñez: 2-4, RBI (322/362/356)
With help from some poor fielding, Clinton got four runs by the end of the 3rd on Michael Allen (3.67 FIP), making Aaron Pribanic's night fairly easy, and even though he allowed a couple runs, he put in an excellent performance where Beloit did not manage a flyball off him until the 5th inning. He only left in the 7th once he began looking too shaky to finish after a leadoff double, a seeing eye one out single and a walk. Both of Pribanic's runs allowed came in that final frame, and one was an inherited run that reliever Jose Jimenez allowed to score.
Groundballs: 14
Flyballs: 2
Line Drives: 0
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 2
Strikeouts: 5
The Lumberkings blew the game open in the 8th off the curiously named Shooter Hunt (7.90 FIP: this guy's not long for pro ball). Maximo Mendez dealt the death blow with a 2 run home run, his first of the 2009 season, to make it 7-2.
A+: Stockton 10, High Desert 3
Mavs: 23-12... Ports: 12-23
Alfredo Venegas: 4 IP, 4 H, (4 R) 1 ER, walk, 3 K (5.57 FIP)
Travis Mortimore: no outs recorded: 4 H, 5 ER, walk (3.14 FIP)
Edward Paredes: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, walk, K (5.62 FIP)
Juan Zapata: 1 IP, 2 K (4.21 FIP)
Edilio Colina: 2-5 (257/318/346)
Joe Dunigan: 2-4, double, 2 run HR, walk (350/397/743)
Juan Diaz: 2-4 (350/387/479)
Joe Dunigan's 1st inning two run blast in the 1st gave promise to this game, but it quickly got away from the Mavs. The Ports snuck a run around in the 2nd, got three groundball singles off Alfredo Venegas and an error from Jamie McOwen in RF for 2 runs in the 3rd, took advantage of ANOTHER McOwen error in the 4th for another run, and then caved the roof in on Travis Mortimore and Edward Paredes in the 5th.
Mavs manager Jim Horner called into question the strike zone late in the top 5th and got run by home plate umpire Nick Bailey. While basically all the damage came off hits, it's possibly Bailey squeezed the Mavs pitchers and forced them to throw fat pitches in hitters counts... but I admit that's speculation.
Really, though, Horner should be mad at his infield for letting so many grounders get through for hits. Venegas in fact had a pretty good night on balls in play. His infield defense just let him down repeatedly.
Groundballs: 11
Flyballs: 3
Line Drives: 0
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 3
Mortimore himself went groundball, line drive, groundball, line drive, and while the line drives indicate suckage, both groundballs went for hits, and at the least Mortimore likely gets through the inning with minimal damage if those groundballs were snapped up.
At it stands, this game was basically over following that six run 5th inning. Stockton led 10-2 and cruised to a win.
Since Paredes went four innings in a pinch, let's look at how he did:
Groundballs: 8
Flyballs: 5
Line Drives: 1
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 1
No one unusual was patrolling the infield today. The suspect Alex Liddi was at 3B as always, Juan Diaz hasn't been bad at SS, Edilio Colina is typically fine at 2B and Ian Bladergroen is what he is at 1B. They just had a bad night.
AA: West Tenn 9, Tennessee 2
WTN: 13-19... TEN: 16-15
Justin Souza: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (HR), walk, 6 K (84 pitches, 58 strikes) (3.20 FIP)
Nick Hill: 2.2 IP, 1 H, K, hit batter (37-26) (2.68 FIP)
Marwin Vega: 1 IP, walk (14-7) (5.06 FIP)
Ezequiel Carrera: 2-5, R, walk, 2 K, 2 SB (333/471/396)
Marshall Hubbard: 1-5, double, 2 R, RBI, walk, K (261/400/391)
Greg Halman: 2-3, solo HR, 2 R (211/274/528)
Johan Limonta: 4-5, double, 2 R, 2 RBI (250/312/370)
Guillermo Quiroz: 2-4, RBI, walk
Matt Mangini: 0-2, 2 incidental RBI, 3 walks, K (261/340/348)
Oswaldo Navarro: 2-4, 2 R, K (274/398/342)
West Tenn trned the tables on Thursday's embarrassment with a reflexively fine performance. Justin Souza rebounded from a treacherous last start to pitch well through five. He fell apart in the 6th, but still, five good innings is a big improvement over one bad one.
Groundballs: 5
Flyballs: 6 (1 HR)
Line Drives: 3
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 6
Notable as well is Ezequiel Carrera bunting himself on to lead off the 7th, stealing 2nd, taking 3rd on a wild pitch then STEALING HOME. We have ourselves a speedy talent in Ezequiel Carrera.
AAA: Tacoma 12, New Orleans 4
TAC: 18-17... NOR: 14-21
Josh Hall: 5 IP, 5 H, (4 R) 2 ER (HR), 4 walks, 3 K, 2 wild pitches (96 pitches, 58 strikes)
Jared Wells: 2 IP, K (20-15)
Eric Hull: 1 IP (7-5)
Steven Shell: 1 IP, 1 H, K (16-11)
Jerry Owens: 2-3, 2 R, 2 walks (298/389/298)
Prentice Redman: 3-6, R, RBI, K (321/397/612)
Jeff Clement: 2-5, double, 2 R, walk, K (248/346/486)
Chris Shelton: 3-6, solo HR, 3 run HR, 3 R, 2 K (293/355/488)
Mike Morse: 3-5, double, RBI (277/349/438)
Bryan LaHair: 1-3, solo HR, 2 walks (258/340/565)
Adam Moore: 1-4, R, RBI, walk
Debuting in this blowout win was Adam Moore, FINALLY getting the call from AA yesterday to test his wares in AAA while the fumbling Guillermo Quiroz was sent to AA.
Apparently, this wasn't a reward callup so much as a replacement callup, as Jeff Clement's knees apparently are bothering him to where he can't catch. Bad news for Clement's prospects as a catch, though since migrating to 1B/DH he's hit far better. Maybe the catching wasn't affecting his hitting mentally and focus-wise as much as the stress on his ailing knees affected him physically.
Either way, Josh Hall looked like your typical waiver wire AAA tomato can, except that the offense blew up for seven runs in the first two frames and gave Hall and the bullpen more than enough cushion to put this game away.
Showing posts with label Jeff Clement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeff Clement. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mariners Minor League recap for 4/11/09
A: Clinton 3, Burlington 2
CLI: 3-0… BUR:0-3
Aaron Pribanic: 6 IP, 1 H, walk, 5 K
Bobby LaFromboise: two outs, 3 H, 2 ER, K
Walter Suriel: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Keith Meyer: 1 IP, K
Maximo Mendez: 2-4, triple, R, K
Denny Almonte: 1-4, R, RBI, 2 K
Kalian Sams: 1-4, RBI, 3 K
- Key: Aaron Pribanic flat out owned the Bees over six innings, as Burlington got their only hit on an infield grounder in the 1st and only managed two well hit balls to the outfield. They did recover by hammering Bobby LaFromboise in the 7th to get within 3-2, but Walter Suriel relieved him with two outs and got a groundout to escape. The Bees never threatened again.
Groundballs: 11
Flyballs: 1
Line Drives: 1
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 5
Pribanic, the team’s 5th round pick in 2008, was panned by many as an iffy 3rd round pick in last season’s draft, given a ho-hum 2008 season at the University of Nebraska (74.1 IP, 4 HR, 32 BB, 59 K, 4.72 ERA). But if he can be as brutally efficient as he was tonight, he may hold some promise. Stay tuned.
- One day after swiping their 2nd base of this young season, Maximo Mendez and Denny Almonte were each caught stealing on separate occasions for the first time each this season.
The two have quickly taken command as the team’s leading hitters. Mendez has 7 hits and Almonte has 3; no Lumberking has more than 2. And believe it or not, the seemingly impatient, hacking Almonte leads the team with 3 walks, though Mendez leads the team with 4 strikeouts.
- 2008 season numbers for the debuting relievers:
Bobby LaFromboise: 41.2 IP, 3 HR, 12 BB, 35 K, 3.46 ERA in Everett
Walter Suriel: 78.2 IP, 12 HR, 24 BB, 67 K, 6.06 ERA in Everett
A+: High Desert 6, Lancaster 1
Mavs: 3-0… Jethawks: 0-3
Donnie Hume: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 walks, 5 K
Jake Wild: 2 IP, 1 H, walk, 3 K
Phillipe Aumont: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 walks, wild pitch
Anthony Varvaro: 1 IP, 1 H, K
Tyson Gillies: 1-4, double, R, K
Edilio Colina: 1-4, double, R, RBI, K
Carlos Peguero: 2-3, triple, R, RBI, K
Jamie McOwen: 2-4, RBI
Jose Yepez: 0-2, sac fly RBI, K
Joe Dunigan: 2-3, solo HR, solo HR, walk, K
Key: Like Pribanic in the MWL, Donnie Hume put the clamps down on Lancaster. He neutralized the Cal League and today’s 17 mph left to right perfectly, allowing only four balls in play in the air during his five shutout innings. Aside from a shaky 2nd inning where he loaded the bases with one out (but escaped unscathed), Hume was totally in control.
Groundballs: 9
Flyballs: 1
Line Drives: 2
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 2
Strikeouts: 5
The Mavs powered to a 2-0 lead in the bottom 2nd with a Joe Dunigan solo shot (with the wind) and back to back doubles from Tyson Gillies and Edilio Colina. Carlos Peguero’s one out triple past poor Jonathan Gaston in RF (who may need counseling after getting abused by the Adelanto winds in this series) sparked a two run 5th to make it 4-0. Jamie McOwen punched in one run with a line drive single and Jose Yepez’s sac fly popped in another. The Mavs rallied for another run in the 6th and Joe Dunigan got another flyball to carry with the wind over the RF fence in the 8th to make it 6-1.
Oh yes, and Phillipe Aumont kinda sorta pitched a sloppy 8th where he walked three batters and uncorked a wild pitch to wave in the lone Lancaster run. Let’s just say the left to right wind didn’t help him harness that swerving breaking ball of his. Had Chris Minaker not been caught way off the bag on a pop up to 3B to end the frame, this inning could have been a lot worse.
AA: Due to a rain suspension, the DIAMOND JAXX had to conclude Friday’s suspended game before they could play today’s scheduled game.
Completion of Friday’s game: West Tenn 10, Montgomery 1
Ricky Orta: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, walk, 4 K, wild pitch
Doug FISTER: 4 IP, 2 H, walk, 4 K
Marwin Vega: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Ezequiel Carrera: 3-5 double, 2 R, 4 RBI
Carlos Triunfel: 2-3, double, R, RBI, fractured fibula
Adam Moore: 1-5, R, RBI, 2K
Greg Halman: 2-5, 3 run HR, K
Key: The DIAMOND JAXX had themselves a sweet five run massacre of Biscuits pitching in the 4th, as Adam Moore led off with a single, Marshall Hubbard walked and Greg Halman cleared everybody with a blast over the CF wall to make it 5-1. Matt Mangini singled right afterward, Javier Brito walked and after a Jeff Dominguez sacrifice, Ezequiel Carrera lined a single to cash in both runners and make it 7-1.
When it rains, it pours… literally. Rain suspended play shortly after, and they quickly finished up today, but not before Carrera singled in two more runs in the 6th and the DIAMOND JAXX added another run to make it 10-1. Doug FISTER filled in with four splendid scoreless debut innings after play resumed.
Also, as previously mentioned, the team’s leading prospect also happened to crack a fibula, which can’t help. The guy who replaced him? Oswaldo Navarro, who had spent the last couple years as Tacoma’s error prone shortstop. Talk about sending a message.
Today’s scheduled game: Montgomery 3, West Tenn 2, 7 innings
WTN: 2-1… MON: 1-2
Kyle Parker: 5 IP, 4 H, walk, 5 K
Justin Souza: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER
Ezequiel Carrera: 2-3, walk
Johan Limonta: 1-4, double, RBI, 2 K
Oswaldo Navarro: 2-3
Key: Kyle Parker’s fine AA debut was undone by a disastrous 6th inning debut from Justin Souza, who allowed three line drive RBI doubles to give Montgomery the lead for good. All four hits Souza allowed were hard hit.
Ezequiel Carrera had two more hits, and the newcomer easily leads the DIAMOND JAXX with six hits and 5 RBI after one series.
The team has its share of footspeed, but after one series, they not only have no stolen bases, but only one player has attempted to steal a base: Johan Limonta, arguably the team’s slowest runner. Needless to say, he was thrown out.
AAA: Tacoma 9, Sacramento 7, 11 innings
TAC: 2-1… SAC: 1-2
Gaby Hernandez: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER (HR), walk, 3 K, wild pitch
Sean White: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, K, wild pitch
Justin Thomas: one out, 2 H, 1 ER, walk
Jesus Delgado: 3 IP, 0 H, (1 R) 0 ER, 3 K
Randy Messenger: 1 IP, 1 H
Prentice Redman: 1-4, double, 2 RBI, 2 walks, K
Chris Shelton: 1-5, double, RBI, R, walk, 2 K
Mike Carp: 2-5, 2 doubles, R, 2 RBI, walk, 2 K
Mike Morse: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, walk
Bryan LaHair: 2-6, double, R, K
Callix Crabbe: 1-3, R, RBI
- Key #1: Down 1-0, the Rainiers exploded for six runs in the 4th, and good thing they did in hindsight, because they needed every single one. Six consecutive Rainiers reached base with one out: Jeff Clement (lined single), Chris Shelton (walk), Mike Carp (RBI double over RF), Mike Morse (lined 2 run single), Bryan LaHair (lined single) and Chris Woodward (walk). The barrage chased starter James Simmons (136 IP, 11 HR, 32 BB, 120 K in 2008 with Midland (AA)), and a Callix Crabbe 6-4 groundout brought in another run before Prentice Redman capped the rally with a soft liner past CF Matt Carson (minus 5-10 runs in CF, not good) to cash in two more.
- However, Key #2: Gaby Hernandez (64.2 IP, 14 HR, 26 BB, 54 K, 7.24 ERA in AAA Albany (FLA)) imploded in the 5th. After a leadoff single from Anthony Recker (274/346/437 in Midland), Gaby eventually uncorked a wild pitch, walked Eric Patterson, then gave up a 3 run bomb to Jack Hannahan (218/305/342 with Oakland) before getting lifted for groundballing tomato can Sean White. While showing productive stretches, Gaby hasn’t ever looked particularly solid since arriving via trade last season, and this start was no exception. In his Rainiers debut, the River Cats made him pay for his mistakes in-between stretches of groundball outs, and he could not survive the minimum five innings once the roof caved in.
Groundballs: 8
Flyballs: 4 (1 HR)
Line Drives: 4
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 3
Gaby’s implosion got Sacramento back into the game, and enabled the following:
Key #3: Sean White (125 IP, 12 HR, 43 BB, 52 K, 5.47 ERA in Tacoma) starts 2009 as the mop-up long reliever, and had come into the 7th holding the pesky River Cats in check with a 6-4 lead.
And then the bottom 7th happened. Cliff Pennington (297/426/386 in Sacramento) doubled over Prentice Redman in LF (0-5 runs below average in LF) to lead off. White got two quick groundouts but allowed a run to make it 6-5, and gave way to Justin Thomas (118.2 IP, 11 HR, 56 BB, 106 K, 4.32 ERA in West Tenn), who promptly showed us why his mid 90’s fastball isn’t enough to get him to the bigs: Daric Barton (226/327/348 with Oakland) walked. Aaron Cunningham (317/386/507 in Midland) smoked a grounder down the LF line to cash Barton in and tie the ballgame at 6. Sean Doolittle (254/311/388 in Midland) smoked a grounder to 2nd that Callix Crabbe (minus 0-5 runs at 2B) couldn’t field in time, but Cunningham headed for home a little slow, and Crabbe threw to Jeff Clement (LOL at C) at home in time to get him for the 3rd out!
In the top 9th, Chris Woodward lined a leadoff single to center, and Callix Crabbe bunted him over for one out. Reliever Jared Lansford (25.2 IP, 9 BB, 19 K, 0.70 ERA in Midland) intentionally put Prentice Redman on. Chris Burke poked a flyball that RF Sean Doolittle (0 to +5 runs in RF) couldn’t get to, but everyone on base stuck to their bags in case, and Doolittle threw to 2nd for an easy 9-4 force out on Redman for the 2nd out. Woodward took 3rd and Burke got on to put runners at the corners. Lansford pitched around Jeff Clement to load the bases, but uncorked a wild pitch to Chris Shelton to let Woodward in and give Tacoma the 7-6 lead!
After Shelton grounded out, Jesus Delgado (57.1 IP, 2 HR, 31 BB, 52 K, 3.45 ERA at AA Carolina (FLA)), after a scoreless 8th, came on to finish. Cliff Pennington flew to left for one out. Eric Patterson (320/358/517 at AAA Iowa (CHC)) grounded to 3B, but Mike Morse (actually league average at 3B) bobbled the ball (okay not there) and put Patterson on.
Key #3: Patterson took off and stole 2nd, while Clement threw YIKES AND AWAY trying to get him, allowing Patterson to take 3rd. There’s that defense again. Jack Hannahan flew to center for two outs. Daric Barton came up to keep it alive, and Clement passed a ball to let Patterson in and tie the ballgame. So those knocking Clement’s defense have plenty more ammo after last night: his defense literally cost his team a 9 inning victory. Barton flew to left for the 3rd out, but the damage was done and we headed to extras.
The Rainiers tried to take it in the 10th. Mike Morse got plunked and Bryan LaHair promptly doubled him to 3rd with one out. Chris Woodward got an intentional pass to load the bases. Callix Crabbe grounded to 1B Daric Barton (minus 0-5 runs at 1B), who threw home and got the lumbering Morse for two outs, bases still loaded. Prentice Redman hit a screamer… right to 3B Jack Hannahan for the 3rd out. Fortunately, Jesus Delgado locked down and put down the side (flyout, strikeout, groundout) to send us to the 11th.
Key #4: In the top 11th, Chris Burke grounded to 3B and Jack Hannahan threw YIKES AND AWAY to put him on. Jeff Clement sacrificed Burke over for one out, and Chris Shelton blooped a double by CF Matt Carson to cash him in and make it 8-7. Steve Moss came in to pinch run, and Mike Carp blooped a double of his own past LF Eric Patterson (minus 0-5 runs in limited duty at LF) to cash in the fleeter footed Moss and make it 9-7. After Mike Morse got an intentional pass, Bryan LaHair took a big chance to pad the lead further… and grounded into the 5-4-3 frame ending double play. That’ll boost you past Mike Sweeney on the depth chart, kid.
Steve Moss took over in LF while Mike Carp (plus 0-2 runs in LF) moved over to 1B (minus 0-5 runs) for the bottom 11th. Randy Messenger came in to shut this fracas down, and promptly surrendered a leadoff double to Gregorio Petit (348/400/435 in Sacramento), who lifted one past Redman in RF. Anthony Recker grounded out to 2nd for one out, but Petit took 3rd. With the tying run 90 feet away, Cliff Pennington lifted a flyball foul down the LF line… that Steve Moss ran down for the 2nd out! Eric Patterson lifted a harmless flyball to Chris Burke in CF and that was that.
CLI: 3-0… BUR:0-3
Aaron Pribanic: 6 IP, 1 H, walk, 5 K
Bobby LaFromboise: two outs, 3 H, 2 ER, K
Walter Suriel: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Keith Meyer: 1 IP, K
Maximo Mendez: 2-4, triple, R, K
Denny Almonte: 1-4, R, RBI, 2 K
Kalian Sams: 1-4, RBI, 3 K
- Key: Aaron Pribanic flat out owned the Bees over six innings, as Burlington got their only hit on an infield grounder in the 1st and only managed two well hit balls to the outfield. They did recover by hammering Bobby LaFromboise in the 7th to get within 3-2, but Walter Suriel relieved him with two outs and got a groundout to escape. The Bees never threatened again.
Groundballs: 11
Flyballs: 1
Line Drives: 1
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 5
Pribanic, the team’s 5th round pick in 2008, was panned by many as an iffy 3rd round pick in last season’s draft, given a ho-hum 2008 season at the University of Nebraska (74.1 IP, 4 HR, 32 BB, 59 K, 4.72 ERA). But if he can be as brutally efficient as he was tonight, he may hold some promise. Stay tuned.
- One day after swiping their 2nd base of this young season, Maximo Mendez and Denny Almonte were each caught stealing on separate occasions for the first time each this season.
The two have quickly taken command as the team’s leading hitters. Mendez has 7 hits and Almonte has 3; no Lumberking has more than 2. And believe it or not, the seemingly impatient, hacking Almonte leads the team with 3 walks, though Mendez leads the team with 4 strikeouts.
- 2008 season numbers for the debuting relievers:
Bobby LaFromboise: 41.2 IP, 3 HR, 12 BB, 35 K, 3.46 ERA in Everett
Walter Suriel: 78.2 IP, 12 HR, 24 BB, 67 K, 6.06 ERA in Everett
A+: High Desert 6, Lancaster 1
Mavs: 3-0… Jethawks: 0-3
Donnie Hume: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 walks, 5 K
Jake Wild: 2 IP, 1 H, walk, 3 K
Phillipe Aumont: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 walks, wild pitch
Anthony Varvaro: 1 IP, 1 H, K
Tyson Gillies: 1-4, double, R, K
Edilio Colina: 1-4, double, R, RBI, K
Carlos Peguero: 2-3, triple, R, RBI, K
Jamie McOwen: 2-4, RBI
Jose Yepez: 0-2, sac fly RBI, K
Joe Dunigan: 2-3, solo HR, solo HR, walk, K
Key: Like Pribanic in the MWL, Donnie Hume put the clamps down on Lancaster. He neutralized the Cal League and today’s 17 mph left to right perfectly, allowing only four balls in play in the air during his five shutout innings. Aside from a shaky 2nd inning where he loaded the bases with one out (but escaped unscathed), Hume was totally in control.
Groundballs: 9
Flyballs: 1
Line Drives: 2
Pop Ups: 1
Walks: 2
Strikeouts: 5
The Mavs powered to a 2-0 lead in the bottom 2nd with a Joe Dunigan solo shot (with the wind) and back to back doubles from Tyson Gillies and Edilio Colina. Carlos Peguero’s one out triple past poor Jonathan Gaston in RF (who may need counseling after getting abused by the Adelanto winds in this series) sparked a two run 5th to make it 4-0. Jamie McOwen punched in one run with a line drive single and Jose Yepez’s sac fly popped in another. The Mavs rallied for another run in the 6th and Joe Dunigan got another flyball to carry with the wind over the RF fence in the 8th to make it 6-1.
Oh yes, and Phillipe Aumont kinda sorta pitched a sloppy 8th where he walked three batters and uncorked a wild pitch to wave in the lone Lancaster run. Let’s just say the left to right wind didn’t help him harness that swerving breaking ball of his. Had Chris Minaker not been caught way off the bag on a pop up to 3B to end the frame, this inning could have been a lot worse.
AA: Due to a rain suspension, the DIAMOND JAXX had to conclude Friday’s suspended game before they could play today’s scheduled game.
Completion of Friday’s game: West Tenn 10, Montgomery 1
Ricky Orta: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, walk, 4 K, wild pitch
Doug FISTER: 4 IP, 2 H, walk, 4 K
Marwin Vega: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Ezequiel Carrera: 3-5 double, 2 R, 4 RBI
Carlos Triunfel: 2-3, double, R, RBI, fractured fibula
Adam Moore: 1-5, R, RBI, 2K
Greg Halman: 2-5, 3 run HR, K
Key: The DIAMOND JAXX had themselves a sweet five run massacre of Biscuits pitching in the 4th, as Adam Moore led off with a single, Marshall Hubbard walked and Greg Halman cleared everybody with a blast over the CF wall to make it 5-1. Matt Mangini singled right afterward, Javier Brito walked and after a Jeff Dominguez sacrifice, Ezequiel Carrera lined a single to cash in both runners and make it 7-1.
When it rains, it pours… literally. Rain suspended play shortly after, and they quickly finished up today, but not before Carrera singled in two more runs in the 6th and the DIAMOND JAXX added another run to make it 10-1. Doug FISTER filled in with four splendid scoreless debut innings after play resumed.
Also, as previously mentioned, the team’s leading prospect also happened to crack a fibula, which can’t help. The guy who replaced him? Oswaldo Navarro, who had spent the last couple years as Tacoma’s error prone shortstop. Talk about sending a message.
Today’s scheduled game: Montgomery 3, West Tenn 2, 7 innings
WTN: 2-1… MON: 1-2
Kyle Parker: 5 IP, 4 H, walk, 5 K
Justin Souza: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER
Ezequiel Carrera: 2-3, walk
Johan Limonta: 1-4, double, RBI, 2 K
Oswaldo Navarro: 2-3
Key: Kyle Parker’s fine AA debut was undone by a disastrous 6th inning debut from Justin Souza, who allowed three line drive RBI doubles to give Montgomery the lead for good. All four hits Souza allowed were hard hit.
Ezequiel Carrera had two more hits, and the newcomer easily leads the DIAMOND JAXX with six hits and 5 RBI after one series.
The team has its share of footspeed, but after one series, they not only have no stolen bases, but only one player has attempted to steal a base: Johan Limonta, arguably the team’s slowest runner. Needless to say, he was thrown out.
AAA: Tacoma 9, Sacramento 7, 11 innings
TAC: 2-1… SAC: 1-2
Gaby Hernandez: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER (HR), walk, 3 K, wild pitch
Sean White: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, K, wild pitch
Justin Thomas: one out, 2 H, 1 ER, walk
Jesus Delgado: 3 IP, 0 H, (1 R) 0 ER, 3 K
Randy Messenger: 1 IP, 1 H
Prentice Redman: 1-4, double, 2 RBI, 2 walks, K
Chris Shelton: 1-5, double, RBI, R, walk, 2 K
Mike Carp: 2-5, 2 doubles, R, 2 RBI, walk, 2 K
Mike Morse: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, walk
Bryan LaHair: 2-6, double, R, K
Callix Crabbe: 1-3, R, RBI
- Key #1: Down 1-0, the Rainiers exploded for six runs in the 4th, and good thing they did in hindsight, because they needed every single one. Six consecutive Rainiers reached base with one out: Jeff Clement (lined single), Chris Shelton (walk), Mike Carp (RBI double over RF), Mike Morse (lined 2 run single), Bryan LaHair (lined single) and Chris Woodward (walk). The barrage chased starter James Simmons (136 IP, 11 HR, 32 BB, 120 K in 2008 with Midland (AA)), and a Callix Crabbe 6-4 groundout brought in another run before Prentice Redman capped the rally with a soft liner past CF Matt Carson (minus 5-10 runs in CF, not good) to cash in two more.
- However, Key #2: Gaby Hernandez (64.2 IP, 14 HR, 26 BB, 54 K, 7.24 ERA in AAA Albany (FLA)) imploded in the 5th. After a leadoff single from Anthony Recker (274/346/437 in Midland), Gaby eventually uncorked a wild pitch, walked Eric Patterson, then gave up a 3 run bomb to Jack Hannahan (218/305/342 with Oakland) before getting lifted for groundballing tomato can Sean White. While showing productive stretches, Gaby hasn’t ever looked particularly solid since arriving via trade last season, and this start was no exception. In his Rainiers debut, the River Cats made him pay for his mistakes in-between stretches of groundball outs, and he could not survive the minimum five innings once the roof caved in.
Groundballs: 8
Flyballs: 4 (1 HR)
Line Drives: 4
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 3
Gaby’s implosion got Sacramento back into the game, and enabled the following:
Key #3: Sean White (125 IP, 12 HR, 43 BB, 52 K, 5.47 ERA in Tacoma) starts 2009 as the mop-up long reliever, and had come into the 7th holding the pesky River Cats in check with a 6-4 lead.
And then the bottom 7th happened. Cliff Pennington (297/426/386 in Sacramento) doubled over Prentice Redman in LF (0-5 runs below average in LF) to lead off. White got two quick groundouts but allowed a run to make it 6-5, and gave way to Justin Thomas (118.2 IP, 11 HR, 56 BB, 106 K, 4.32 ERA in West Tenn), who promptly showed us why his mid 90’s fastball isn’t enough to get him to the bigs: Daric Barton (226/327/348 with Oakland) walked. Aaron Cunningham (317/386/507 in Midland) smoked a grounder down the LF line to cash Barton in and tie the ballgame at 6. Sean Doolittle (254/311/388 in Midland) smoked a grounder to 2nd that Callix Crabbe (minus 0-5 runs at 2B) couldn’t field in time, but Cunningham headed for home a little slow, and Crabbe threw to Jeff Clement (LOL at C) at home in time to get him for the 3rd out!
In the top 9th, Chris Woodward lined a leadoff single to center, and Callix Crabbe bunted him over for one out. Reliever Jared Lansford (25.2 IP, 9 BB, 19 K, 0.70 ERA in Midland) intentionally put Prentice Redman on. Chris Burke poked a flyball that RF Sean Doolittle (0 to +5 runs in RF) couldn’t get to, but everyone on base stuck to their bags in case, and Doolittle threw to 2nd for an easy 9-4 force out on Redman for the 2nd out. Woodward took 3rd and Burke got on to put runners at the corners. Lansford pitched around Jeff Clement to load the bases, but uncorked a wild pitch to Chris Shelton to let Woodward in and give Tacoma the 7-6 lead!
After Shelton grounded out, Jesus Delgado (57.1 IP, 2 HR, 31 BB, 52 K, 3.45 ERA at AA Carolina (FLA)), after a scoreless 8th, came on to finish. Cliff Pennington flew to left for one out. Eric Patterson (320/358/517 at AAA Iowa (CHC)) grounded to 3B, but Mike Morse (actually league average at 3B) bobbled the ball (okay not there) and put Patterson on.
Key #3: Patterson took off and stole 2nd, while Clement threw YIKES AND AWAY trying to get him, allowing Patterson to take 3rd. There’s that defense again. Jack Hannahan flew to center for two outs. Daric Barton came up to keep it alive, and Clement passed a ball to let Patterson in and tie the ballgame. So those knocking Clement’s defense have plenty more ammo after last night: his defense literally cost his team a 9 inning victory. Barton flew to left for the 3rd out, but the damage was done and we headed to extras.
The Rainiers tried to take it in the 10th. Mike Morse got plunked and Bryan LaHair promptly doubled him to 3rd with one out. Chris Woodward got an intentional pass to load the bases. Callix Crabbe grounded to 1B Daric Barton (minus 0-5 runs at 1B), who threw home and got the lumbering Morse for two outs, bases still loaded. Prentice Redman hit a screamer… right to 3B Jack Hannahan for the 3rd out. Fortunately, Jesus Delgado locked down and put down the side (flyout, strikeout, groundout) to send us to the 11th.
Key #4: In the top 11th, Chris Burke grounded to 3B and Jack Hannahan threw YIKES AND AWAY to put him on. Jeff Clement sacrificed Burke over for one out, and Chris Shelton blooped a double by CF Matt Carson to cash him in and make it 8-7. Steve Moss came in to pinch run, and Mike Carp blooped a double of his own past LF Eric Patterson (minus 0-5 runs in limited duty at LF) to cash in the fleeter footed Moss and make it 9-7. After Mike Morse got an intentional pass, Bryan LaHair took a big chance to pad the lead further… and grounded into the 5-4-3 frame ending double play. That’ll boost you past Mike Sweeney on the depth chart, kid.
Steve Moss took over in LF while Mike Carp (plus 0-2 runs in LF) moved over to 1B (minus 0-5 runs) for the bottom 11th. Randy Messenger came in to shut this fracas down, and promptly surrendered a leadoff double to Gregorio Petit (348/400/435 in Sacramento), who lifted one past Redman in RF. Anthony Recker grounded out to 2nd for one out, but Petit took 3rd. With the tying run 90 feet away, Cliff Pennington lifted a flyball foul down the LF line… that Steve Moss ran down for the 2nd out! Eric Patterson lifted a harmless flyball to Chris Burke in CF and that was that.
Monday, March 30, 2009
More on Jeff Clement to AAA
Jeff Clement gets sent to AAA Tacoma for the 3rd straight year, as his catching defense still needs significant work, and it appears the struggles were beginning to affect his hitting. Saberheads wanted Clement to start everyday over ownership darling Kenji Johjima and work out the kinks at the MLB level.
One problem with learning how to catch by playing everyday in MLB is that any problems Clement has with catching (receiving pitches, calling games, setting fielding positions, managing pitchers) also becomes a problem for every pitcher he works with, and for his fellow fielders. This in turn hinders the development process for the team's young pitchers, and can hinder the performance of the veterans in their walk years, which could hurt the team's chances of increasing their trade value for a midseason deal. And this never minds any possible negative effects his struggles have on the team's performance as a whole, though this is generally considered a rebuilding year and the team's ceiling may not be too high.
His bat has potential, but with his catching playing enough games with his head to affect his hitting, better to have him get things back together in a lower pressure environment (Tacoma) than to keep him in the bigs, continue to watch him sputter and end up with a whiter, more talented Miguel Olivo-like head case who needs to get away from Seattle to figure things out. That sort of stuff does leak towards other men on the roster, and you don't want that. Maybe by May, the bat turns around and, even if his catching still isn't quite working, if the team's having problems at 1B or DH, or if Johjima's career fails to reanimate, you can bring him up and give him some sort of everyday role.
A demotion can be good if, while jacking around with his catching in Tacoma, they give him some quality time at 1B, LF, RF or DH. They could prepare him for either a possible conversion away from catcher, or help expand his potential roles so that the Mariners can better find regular lineup time for him.
Or at the least, he mashes in Tacoma and the team finds a trade partner willing to offer some useful talent in return. Teams that could use a catcher that doesn’t suck at hitting include:
- The Padres, because right now they’re planning on playing something called Nick Hundley at catcher every day
- The Astros if Pudge fails to rebound
- The Blue Jays if Rod Barajas flatlines
- The Marlins, who have yet to find a regular catcher that can perform more than a step above useless
- The Phillies if they get nothing out of their old man backstop rotation (Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste)
- Or maybe even the Red Sox if Jason Varitek finally falls apart.
In terms of self-actualizing Jeff Clement, demoting him may not be the optimal move from a philosophical standpoint. But who is to say that this move is permanent? Things can change rapidly in a month in MLB. And even if the 25 year old may not have a future with the Mariners, that’s not to say he can’t help the team by restoring any lost value in Tacoma and delivering some return value in a trade.
One problem with learning how to catch by playing everyday in MLB is that any problems Clement has with catching (receiving pitches, calling games, setting fielding positions, managing pitchers) also becomes a problem for every pitcher he works with, and for his fellow fielders. This in turn hinders the development process for the team's young pitchers, and can hinder the performance of the veterans in their walk years, which could hurt the team's chances of increasing their trade value for a midseason deal. And this never minds any possible negative effects his struggles have on the team's performance as a whole, though this is generally considered a rebuilding year and the team's ceiling may not be too high.
His bat has potential, but with his catching playing enough games with his head to affect his hitting, better to have him get things back together in a lower pressure environment (Tacoma) than to keep him in the bigs, continue to watch him sputter and end up with a whiter, more talented Miguel Olivo-like head case who needs to get away from Seattle to figure things out. That sort of stuff does leak towards other men on the roster, and you don't want that. Maybe by May, the bat turns around and, even if his catching still isn't quite working, if the team's having problems at 1B or DH, or if Johjima's career fails to reanimate, you can bring him up and give him some sort of everyday role.
A demotion can be good if, while jacking around with his catching in Tacoma, they give him some quality time at 1B, LF, RF or DH. They could prepare him for either a possible conversion away from catcher, or help expand his potential roles so that the Mariners can better find regular lineup time for him.
Or at the least, he mashes in Tacoma and the team finds a trade partner willing to offer some useful talent in return. Teams that could use a catcher that doesn’t suck at hitting include:
- The Padres, because right now they’re planning on playing something called Nick Hundley at catcher every day
- The Astros if Pudge fails to rebound
- The Blue Jays if Rod Barajas flatlines
- The Marlins, who have yet to find a regular catcher that can perform more than a step above useless
- The Phillies if they get nothing out of their old man backstop rotation (Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste)
- Or maybe even the Red Sox if Jason Varitek finally falls apart.
In terms of self-actualizing Jeff Clement, demoting him may not be the optimal move from a philosophical standpoint. But who is to say that this move is permanent? Things can change rapidly in a month in MLB. And even if the 25 year old may not have a future with the Mariners, that’s not to say he can’t help the team by restoring any lost value in Tacoma and delivering some return value in a trade.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The folly of inflated expectations for the Mariners domestic draft picks
Hardcore Mariners fans are dooming and glooming over two pieces of news:
One, via Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times:
Big news out of camp. Moments ago, I spoke to Brandon Morrow after he'd thrown a bullpen session and he told me (and Shannon Drayer and Tim Booth of AP) that he plans to be a full-time closer from now on. Not just this month, not just this season. For good.
"I feel good about it," he said. "I feel back home."
Wow. This is a major development. As if to hammer that home, the M's just released relief pitcher Tyler Walker. Walker had been one of the guys vying for the closer's job.
Apparently, Morrow made the decision more than a week ago.
Two, also via Geoff Baker:
We've been hinting at this for a while now and today, it became official. Mariners catcher Jeff Clement will start this season in Class AAA. He has some defensive issues to work on, notably, his throws to second base. But also his all-around game-calling. He'll get that chance playing every day down in Tacoma. Should spur some season-ticket sales there.
The Mariners bloggers are practically howling over this. After months of verbal fellatio for the job new GM Jack Zduriencik has done to recompose the Mariners roster, making astute pickups and the like... now they have angrily dismissed these two decisions as grave mistakes, with the classic (and at times hysterical) despair of diehard Mariners fans.
However, consider the following:
- Despite some impressive flashes as a starting pitcher, including a no hitter he took into the 8th inning of his first major league start, Brandon Morrow has yet to show that he can handle a regular starting pitcher's workload over a full season, let alone pitch effectively over a full season. Even among the starts he made, Morrow peppered his outings with walks and stretches of hard-hit frustration, plus he frequently struggled to go deep into ballgames and tended to fade quickly as he tired.
- Brandon Morrow is a diabetic. MLB does have a few diabetics, but diabetics who have successfully managed careers as regular starting pitchers include Jason Johnson... and... well, that's it. Yes, the Mariners drafted Morrow with the #5 pick in 2006 knowing he was a diabetic, and knowing he hadn't pitched more than once a week as a starter in college with Cal. The jury was out on whether Brandon Morrow could pitch every five days in MLB without being a liability in any significant way, such as only being a 5 inning starter (overtaxing the bullpen), or a season long workload eventually causing him health problems....
- ... or, to a more game-related extent, being able to keep his walks down and mix his pitches enough not to consistently fool MLB batters. As a reliever, he only had to throw hard and hit the strike zone enough times to get 3-4 batters out, but a starter has to be able to withstand an entire lineup at least three times, without telegraphing his next pitch or tiring to the point of becoming too hittable.
- Morrow's value as a starter is a question mark as a result. However, we know his value as a reliever: he is a lights out flamethrower that most times is unhittable, and a perfect candidate to close. Morrow and the team may have made this decision to maximize his potential value. Yes, top SPs get paid more than top closers, but you also have to consider expected value. Morrow's chances of becoming a quality starter are at this stage fairly remote for all the reasons stated. However, his chances of being a star closer are far higher.
As Brandon Morrow, do you take a longshot at a 10 out of 10 payout, or do you take a very high chance at a 6-8 out of 10 payout?
As the Seattle Mariners, do you take a longshot at developing a guy at a position where he is a huge question mark, or do you put him in a key position where you know he helps you win tight ballgames right now and likely for years to come? Let's say the M's consider dealing him down the road: do you take the risk of diminishing his current value and perhaps seeing a dim chance at ever maximizing his potential trade value... or do you take his current high value as a reliever and try to maximize that?
- Blogger and fan anger stems not so much from the prospects themselves, as many top prospects never reach their absolute ceiling, but from the fact that these were the team's top domestic draft picks in 2005 and 2006. Clement was picked 3rd overall in 2005 and Morrow was selected 5th overall in 2006. Compounding Morrow's selection is the fact that the Mariners passed on local UW star Tim Lincecum, who would go out to become arguably the top pitcher in the NL for the San Francisco Giants... and on North Carolina product Andrew Miller, who was arguably the top prospect in the 2006 draft but was passed over due to signability concerns.
Jeff Clement still has a long way to go with his defensive mechanics and game calling as a catcher. He has hit fairly well in AAA, though his hot bat has yet to translate to the big league level, and word on the street is that he has yet to make some necessary adjustments as a hitter that the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League has allowed him to overlook. His demotion to AAA isn't necessarily to work on his hitting (though he can certainly learn a few things), but to work on his defense, which presumably he'll get a chance to do full time for the first time since the low minors (he has shared catching duties with Rob Johnson the last couple season in Tacoma).
***
Many fans inflated their expectations for these guys and how the team has handled them, because they were top picks and because top picks such as Evan Longoria, Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun and Justin Verlander panned out and quickly became top contributors for their teams. There's a bit of fan-related envy of those other top picks, and fans want to see the Mariners top picks materialize into similar stars. Thus, outrage results when personnel moves that otherwise may be for the best indicate that they won't become those stars.
Bill Bavasi and his top assistants made a lot of personnel mistakes. But scouting director Bob Fontaine worked magic in the middle rounds to draft several potentially useful parts, plus international scouting director Bob Engle has brought in hordes of Latin American talent such as Felix Hernandez, Jose Lopez, Yuniesky Betancourt (well, before he got lazy) and many other top prospects currently working their way up the system.
The Bavasi era is over, and the healthy thing to do would be to make peace with the fact that some of the team's previous personnel moves and draft picks just aren't going to pan out as hoped. But Mariners fans were bred on misanthropy, with 22 losing seasons in 32 years, and since misanthropy comes most comfortably, the reaction is understandable.
But nothing has been destroyed. Jack Zduriencik has made many smart decisions in rebuilding this team, and the new front office didn't suddenly turn stupid before they made these moves.
Jeff Clement could still become a regular catcher, or a contributor at a different position. He could be traded for contributing talent. Brandon Morrow can be a lights out closer, and even if you say he has no future here, many teams still place significant value in a 98 mph flamethrower that can mow down hitters in the 9th and could offer the Mariners contributing talent. And that belies the point that, once his forearm strain heals, Brandon Morrow can help the Mariners right now. As a starter, there was doubt he could have helped the team in that role at all over the long term.
You may not like these two personnel moves, but they are neither inherently horrible moves given the context, nor have they ruined any serious long term prospects for the team's future. The team is on the same track to rebuilding for the future as they have always been... and as they are currently composed, given the AL West's weakness they could even contend this season with a little good fortune. Relax.
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