Monday Stories The man who is arguably the #1 prospect in all of baseball burned OKC. Can it please be Stoffel Time in Houston??? Nick Tropeano really, really hates Visalia. Lexington stormed out like the hare, but their game had the same end result as Aesop's tale. Recap OKC blew a 6-0 lead to Omaha and ended up getting saddled with a 7-6 loss. Epic fail all around from the bullpen as Fernando Abad gave up 4 in the 7th to tie and an unearned run from Mickey Storey in the 9th turned out to be the winner for the Storm Chasers. Brett Oberholtzer had a nice outing, going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits (2-run homer to Wil Myers), walking 2 and striking out 5. Matt Dominguez had a 2-run single in the 1st. Brandon Barnes went 2-4 with an RBI single and an RBI groundout. J.B. Shuck was 2-4 with an RBI single, and Landon Powell had an RBI groundout. A-bad allowed a 2-run double to Tony Abreu, then Myers took him for a ride to tie the game at 6. All 4 runs he allowed occurred with 2 outs in the 7th. Storey botched a groundball in the 9th that allowed Derrick Robinson to score the go-ahead run. Corpus knocked off Midland 3-2 on the strength of a strong outing from Rob Rasmussen. In 7 1/3 innings, he allowed 2 runs (1 inherited) on 5 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 7. The Hooks did all their scoring in the 3rd, as Bobby Borchering had an RBI single and Ben Heath ripped a 2-run double. Josh Zeid got the last 2 outs of the 8th, but not before allowing one of Rasmussen's runners to score. Tyler Ladendorf popped a ball out to Ben Orloff, who ended up losing sight of it. That resulted in a run scoring, which cut the lead to 3-2. Jason Stoffel allowed a hit to lead off the 9th, but he promptly erased Matt Rizzotti by inducing a double play from Jeremy Barfield. Stoffel struck out Josh Horton to end the game, racking up his 20th save of the season. Ah, Nick Tropeano just doesn't like Visalia. In a day game, the Rawhide torched him in an 11-4 Lancaster loss. He allowed 6 runs (2 3-run homers did him in) on 6 hits, walked 4, and struck out 4 in only 3 innings. Zach Grimmett didn't fare much better, and Brad Dydalewicz came out unscathed, with 2 scoreless innings and 2 strikeouts. Erik Castro went 2-4 with an RBI double in the 1st, and Jonathan Meyer went 2-4 with an RBI groundout and an RBI single. Castro scored the only run that wasn't driven in, when Chris Epps singled and advanced all the way to 3rd on a Visalia error. Lexington stormed out of the gate with a 5-0 lead after the top of the 1st in Asheville, but they would walk off with a 9-8 loss in 10. The 5 runs in the 1st came off a 2-run homer from Zach Johnson (13) and a 3-run shot from Nolan Fontana (2). Both of them finished with 2 hits. Delino DeShields went 1-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 steals (77). David Rollins' Lexington debut was short-lived, as he allowed 3 runs (2 inherited) on 3 hits (solo homer), walked 1, and struck out 1 in 1 2/3 innings. He was activated from the DL to start this game, so I'm not sure if he would be going for long anyway. Juri Perez went 5 1/3 innings and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. The Tourists chipped away at the lead until they actually took the lead, but the Legends were able to tie the game at 8 with 2 runs in the top of the 9th. Zach Johnson's 3rd RBI was a single that scored Delino DeShields. After Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch to move Johnson over to 2nd, Brandon Meredith came through with an RBI single to tie the game. Meredith, who has torn it up this month, finished 3-5 with 2 runs scored to bump his average to .280. Murilo Gouvea, unfortunately, was taken deep by Harold Riggins with 1 out in the 10th. Tri-City, unfortunately, was never really in it in their series finale against Auburn. They did score 5 in the 9th, though. Problem was, they were already down 9-0. Still, the ValleyCats took 2 out of 3 and still had a nice roadtrip, despite losing 9-5. Jesse Wierzbicki had a 3-run homer, his 3rd. Joe Sclafani and Emilio King each drove in 1. Neiko Johnson and Preston Tucker had 2 hits apiece. Brady Rodgers got knocked around in his 6 innings, as he allowed 5 runs on 7 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Greeneville took one on the chin in an 8-3 loss to Bluefield. Jimmy Howick had an RBI double. Ernesto Genoves and Mike Martinez also drove in 1. Dan Minor only went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs (1 inherited) on 9 hits (2-run homer), walked 2, and struck out 2. Scott Zuloaga recorded both of his outs via strikeout. Mike Dimock threw 2 2/3 scoreless, allowing one of Minor's runners to score. He allowed a hit, walked 1, and struck out 3. Tanner Bushue....... The GCLstros withstood 2 in the 6th from the Marlins to top them 4-2. Jio Mier began his rehab assignment and went 0-1 with a walk and a run scored. Yonathan Mejia had a 2-run single in the 1st, Luis De La Rosa had a sac fly in the 2nd, and The River ripped an RBI double in the 5th. Enderson Franco, coming off a 7-inning CG his last time out, went 5 1/3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and fanned 5. Ricardo Batista went 1 2/3 innings, allowing a hit and getting all 5 of his outs via strikeout. Gera Sanchez, the undrafted free agent from New Mexico, got his 1st save. In 2 scoreless, he allowed 2 hits and struck out 2. The Academy got doubled up by the Dodgers, 10-5. Cristian Murillo and Jarico Reynoso both went 2-4 with an RBI. Mesac Laguna and Marlon Avea also had 2 hits. Here's WTHB's assessment of the Academy's pitching:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jimmy Paredes playing left field tonight at Class AAA OKC, his first professional game in the outfield.</p>— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/zacharylevine/status/230460432798867457" data-datetime="2012-08-01T00:30:23+00:00">August 1, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I wonder if Trope's arm is dead, after a long season? Any reports on why he's getting shelled? velocity or movement down?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Marc Krauss' first <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks"><s>@</s><b>cchooks</b></a> at-bat: A mammoth two-run homer over the right-field visitors' bullpen. Whoa.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/230456567831621632" data-datetime="2012-08-01T00:15:02+00:00">August 1, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I guess it's Visalia. He hasn't been terrible in Lancaster (or the rest of the California League, for that matter), it's just Visalia that's been brutalizing him. I still think he gets a shot to make the Corpus rotation in 2013.
It seems that right when I was starting to finally get a grasp on all the minor leaguers, the trades happened. I have made it my goal to get more acquainted with the new prospects that we received in the Blue jays, White Sox and Diamondbacks trades.
Tuesday Stories Wheels fall off gif needed for OKC... Wheels almost fell off, but the #1 Prospect (possibly not for long) saved the day for Corpus. Lexington looked to continue their push for the playoffs. Recap OKC got blitzed by Omaha 12-5 despite jumping out to a 5-0 lead after the 3rd inning courtesy of 2 2-run homers from Crash Hessman (28), Brad Snyder (16), and an RBI groundout from Fernando Martinez. Angel Sanchez went 4-4 with a double and a triple. So, that should have been a relatively safe lead, right? Well.... no. The Storm Chasers unleashed a torrent on the Redhawks as they scored 12 unanswered the rest of the way. Rudy Owens was cruising until he got blown away in the 5th. In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed 5 runs on 5 hits (grand slam), walked 3, and struck out 3. Ugh... Corpus looked to be cruising to a win against San Antonio.... until they damn near blew it. After the top of the 8th, their 7-2 lead turned into a 7-7 tie. But, Jonathan Singleton was able to remedy the situation by taking Michael Broadway deep for his 14th of the season. His homer turned out to be the difference in an 8-7 Hooks win, which gave them a 6-game lead on San Antonio for the 2nd half and reaffirmed their stranglehold on the Texas League's South division. Marc Krauss announced his arrival to the Astros organization with a 2-run homer in the 1st, his 16th of the season. Jose Martinez went 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Robbie Grossman tripled and had an RBI groundout. Drew Locke had a 2-run double, and Jordan Kreke had an RBI groundout and a sac fly. Matt Heidenreich went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer) and struck out 4. Josh Zeid failed. Kevin Chapman got the save. Lancaster walked off 6-5 losers in 10 innings against Stockton, but it wasn't for lack of trying. The Jethawks rallied from a 5-2 hole with back-to-back solo blasts from George Springer (21) and Erik Castro (17) in the 8th and an Alex Todd sac fly in the 9th. Unfortunately, the normally reliable Carlos Quevedo allowed the walk-off double to Max Stassi. Colton Cain, in his debut, went 4 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits (3-run homer), walked 1, and struck out 4. Chia-Jen Lo allowed a solo homer to Brett Oberacker for his 1st earned run of the season. He fanned 3. Jorge De Leon threw 2 scoreless. Lexington had to hang on as they saw Asheville claw away at their 8-2 lead in the 7th and turned it into an 8-6 lead. Fortunately, Delino DeShields took advantage of some wildness from Tourists reliever Kenneth Roberts to score a vital insurance run in a 9-6 victory. DeShields finished 2-5 and had a solo homer (9) in the 5th. Matt Duffy (13) and Brandon Meredith (11) had back-to-back solos in the 2nd. Duffy also had an RBI double in the 4th and came home on Nolan Fontana's RBI single. Fontana scored on a Jordan Scott sac fly. Zach Johnson had a 2-run double in the 7th. Mike Foltynewicz had a nice rebound outing, going 5 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8. The Tourists got to Mitch Lambson in the 7th for 4 runs. Evan Grills was able to fend them off, and Dayan Diaz got his 15th save of the season. Greeneville has stumbled to end July, as they lost 5-1 to Bluefield. The Appy Astros are now 3-9 since July 20, when they were swept in a doubleheader at Kingsport. They didn't have an RBI despite outhitting the Blue Jays 9-6. D'Andre Toney went 2-5 with a double and scored the only run on an error in the 5th that allowed Brian Blasik to reach. Jean Carlos Batista went 2-4 with a double, and Ricky Gingras went 2-4. Adrian Houser had an OK start, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked 2 and fanned 8. The GCLstros walked off with a 2-1 loss in 13 innings to the Marlins. Juan Santana had 2 of the 4 hits, with a double and an RBI single in the 4th that constituted the only offense. Carlos Correa and The River both went 1-6. Lance McCullers, in what might have been his final GCL start before heading to Greeneville, threw 3 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits, walked 1, and fanned 5. Ambiorix De Leon, Brandon Culbreth, and Krishawn Holley kept the Marlins scoreless for Erick Gonzalez, who couldn't close the deal. Alan Abreu was tagged with the loss, since the winning run was his responsibility. Juan Mojica allowed it to score. The Academy and the Dodgers headed into extras with no score, until the Dodgers got 6 in the top of the 10th. The Academy could only manage 1. Cristian Murillo grounded into a force play for the only RBI. Mesac Laguna and Luis Reynoso had doubles. Francisco Baso struck out 1 in a 1-2-3 1st. Juan Hernandez threw 3 2/3 scoreless without allowing a hit, walking 3, and striking out 6. Johan Arias followed with 4 scoreless, and he allowed 3 hits, walked 1, and fanned 1. The Dodgers got all 6 of their runs off Victor Mesa in the 10th.
Flipping the calendar.... time for a standings check. Weird... the whole system is in contention for playoff spots in their leagues. OKC is 62-48, in 2nd place in the Pacific Coast League American Southern division. They are 1.5 behind Albuquerque. Their current 3-game losing streak is rendering them unable to make up ground on the Isotopes, who have dropped 2 straight. Corpus is 26-12 in the 2nd half, 6 games ahead of San Antonio in the Texas League South. Overall, they are 63-45, 4 ahead of Frisco. If the standings hold for the 2nd half, the Hooks will meet the Roughriders in the playoffs. Lancaster, at 19-19, is in 4th in the California League South, 6 behind High Desert, who won the 1st half. At 56-52 overall, they are in 3rd, 2 behind Lake Elsinore for the South's wild-card spot. Who knows what would have happened had the Jethawks won more than 1 game in Lake Elsinore this season; if they miss, they probably won't have to look too far as to where they messed up. Lexington trying to make a big push in the South Atlantic League's Southern division. At 20-19, they are in 4th, a half-game behind Augusta for 3rd, and 5 behind the leaders, Rome, who was the worst in the entire Sally League in the 1st half. In fact, despite leading the division in the 2nd half, Rome still has the worst overall record at 43-66. Overall, the Legends are 59-49, in 3rd and 8.5 behind the leaders, Asheville. Tri-City's 30-12 record is the best in the New York-Penn League. They have opened up a 10-game lead on Vermont in the Stedler division. The ValleyCats are 18-4 on the road this season. If the standings hold, the ValleyCats will play the Wild-Card winner in the 1st round. Currently, that team is Brooklyn. Greeneville is in 2nd in the Appalachian League West with a 22-18 record, 6 behind Elizabethton. They'll have to be careful though, as they only lead Johnson City, the 3rd-placed team, by percentage points. If the standings manage to hold, they will play Burlington in the 1st round. The GCLstros are at .500 with a 19-19 record. They are 7 behind the Cardinals and 4.5 behind the Yankees for the wild card spot. The Academy is 16-34, tied for last with the Rays in the DSL's Boca Chica Northwest Division. They are 21 behind the Mariners.
Nice start from Vince Velasquez for Tri-City in their series opener against Batavia. He threw 6 shutout innings, allowed 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 8. Unfortunately, it's a scoreless game. Jamaine Cotton now in to pitch.
That is true but I can't remember a trade in which 4 players were acquired in which all of them are as awful as the players Astros got in that trade.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Paul Clemens' <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks"><s>@</s><b>cchooks</b></a> line tonight: 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R/6 ER, 2 BB, 10 Ks. 105 pitches, 62 strikes. He is out of the game.</p>— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregRajan/status/230848222220914688" data-datetime="2012-08-02T02:11:19+00:00">August 2, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jordan Jankowski, the 35th-rounder from this year, is 4-0 with a save and a 1.99 ERA in relief for Greeneville. He now has 39 strikeouts (against 8 walks) in 22 2/3 innings this season after a perfect 9th inning with 2 strikeouts against Kingsport tonight.
Don’t look now but several Astros prospects on pace for 20 hr seasons. Some familiar names, some not so familiar. Already there Telvin Nash (HiA) – 23hr George Springer (HiA) – 21hr Bobby Borchering (HiA & AA) – 21 hr (18 in HiA, 3 in AA) Brett Wallace (AAA & ML) – 20 hr (16 in AAA, 4 in ML) On the cusp Erik Castro (HiA) – 18hr Domingo Santana (HiA) – 17 hr Marc Krauss (AA) – 17 hr Possible Mike Kvasnicka (LoA) – 15 hr Would have to catch fire Jonathan Singleton (AA) – 14 hr Jose Martinez (AA) – 13 hr Zach Johnson (LoA) – 13 hr Matt Duffy (LoA) – 13 hr Special consideration to the AAAA players Mike Hessman (AAA) – 28 hr Brad Snyder (AAA) – 16 hr
