Some fun and craziness in the low minors
NILES
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Friday paid homage to one-time Niles resident Harry Stevens, the concessionaire who helped establish the hot dog as a staple at baseball games. The Scrappers entered their game against Auburn as the hot team in the New York-Penn League, while the Doubledays were in the doghouse with a league-worst 1-5 record.
On this night, however, the Doubledays were the top dogs and the Scrappers (5-3) were just doggone bad, resulting in an 8-1 Auburn win in front of 2,856 fans at Eastwood Field.
“It was just one of those games,” said Scrappers pitching coach Jason Blanton. “That’s the game of baseball. You see it at every level from the big leagues on down. It is what it is, we just have to turn the page, come back tomorrow and get another W.”
Auburn scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning when J.D. Arruda crossed the plate on an Adalberto Carillo groundout. Arruda was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame.
Scrappers starter Matt Turner worked four solid innings, but in the fifth he allowed the first three batters to reach base before giving way to Jordan Scheftz.
“Matt is very level-headed for his age (19), he just goes out there and competes,” Blanton said. “Nothing fazes him. He had a few rough spots, but he was able to work out of trouble. I went out there a couple of times and told him to just trust his stuff. When he does that he’s okay because he has good stuff.”
Scheftz was grilled by the Doubledays and by his own wildness. The right-hander worked just 1.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and three walks. He also threw a trio of wild pitches
In just 3.1 innings of work this season, Scheftz has given up six runs while issuing nine walks and five wild pitches. He has also hit a batter.
Scheftz was with the Scrappers last summer.
“Right now, I think that Jordan is struggling both mentally and mechanically,” Blanton said.
Scrappers third baseman Henry Pujols, who committed a team-high 17 errors a year ago, made his first start of the ’19 season. He was added to the roster after spending the past two weeks at Lake County. Pujols committed a pair of errors and also misplayed a popup while going 0-3 at the plate.
The Scrappers scored their lone run in the sixth when Ray Delgato hit a leadoff double, then scored on a George Valera groundout.
The Scrappers mustered just three hits on the night.
“We just have to stick to our approach and come back tomorrow for a new beginning,” said Scrappers center fielder Korey Holland, who had a single and three walks.
Holland, who was selected by the Indians in the 2018 June draft out of high school, acknowledged that he and his young teammates are still getting acclimated to professional baseball.
“The long bus rides and such, it’s different,” Holland said. “I mean, it’s all a part of the game and we love it but it does take some getting used to.”
Re: Minor Matters
9872I need to learn who's who among the kiddies. Last year's draft class was outstanding and I followed them [and continue to] eagerly. Outside of Espino, Valdes, Najanjo and Cairo I don't know who's who. Too nice a day today and forecast tomorrow to spend time reading up but when the rain returns I'll take a look.
Tena is a SS. Noel is a IB. That's all I know about these kids so far.Tena 3-5 with a double ... Noel was 3-3 with 2 home runs and 6 rbi. ... And Brennan was 3-5 with double and walk.
Re: Minor Matters
9873Tena and Noel played in the DSL last year and kind of caught my eye.
Tena hit 313. He had 13 extra base hits. Any time a young SS hits kind of catches your attention, for a minute any way. He’s 18 this year in AZL.
Noel finished the year only hitting 243 last year, but had a 357 OBP. 10 homers and 11 doubles in 200 ABs. He is 17 this year in AZL.
Just a couple guys I thought I’d keep an eye on this year. If they start sucking I’ll forget about them quick.
Tena hit 313. He had 13 extra base hits. Any time a young SS hits kind of catches your attention, for a minute any way. He’s 18 this year in AZL.
Noel finished the year only hitting 243 last year, but had a 357 OBP. 10 homers and 11 doubles in 200 ABs. He is 17 this year in AZL.
Just a couple guys I thought I’d keep an eye on this year. If they start sucking I’ll forget about them quick.
Re: Minor Matters
9874Here's a "big story" we overlooked since the no-hit pitchers ae not guys we're closely following:
Eli Lingos had pitched in 35 Minor League games since being selected in the 22nd round of last year's Draft and he came out of the bullpen for every one of them. But when Class A Lake County had its game rained out on Thursday night, the Captains needed a starter for the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.
Lingos had given them some long relief this season and had been pretty efficient, so the gig belonged to him. With it came some advice from pitching coach Owen Dew.
"It is a start, but you're doing a really good job of coming out of the 'pen and getting ahead of guys and limiting damage and pitching your game," Dew told the left-hander. "Don't treat it any differently just because you're starting." A message to be ordinary produced the extraordinary.
Lingos combined with Luis Araujo and Kellen Rholl to throw the fifth no-hitter in team history, retiring the first 20 batters, as Lake County beat West Michigan, 4-0, to complete a doubleheader sweep at Classic Park.
It was the fourth no-hitter in the Midwest League this season and the Captains' first since Francisco Perez and James Karinchak combined on another seven-inning gem on April 25, 2018. That game also was a 4-0 win over West Michigan.
Lingos struck out the side in a marathon first inning. He threw 11 pitches to Whitecaps leadoff man Andre Lipcius, who couldn't catch up with the fastball and fouled off seven in a row before whiffing at a payoff pitch.
"That helped me dial in and attack from the start," Lingos said.
He cruised through the next three frames, striking out five on a season-high 53 pitches. After exiting, he rushed through his cooldown work in the clubhouse to get back and see if the perfect game was intact. It was.
Araujo followed, needing only 18 pitches to get through the fifth and sixth. He struck out two.
As the innings sailed by -- the game lasted one hour and 49 minutes -- Dew didn't even notice a perfect game was on the line. The mood in the dugout, both the coach and starting pitcher agreed, remained calm until one out remained to seal the deal. Only then, Lingos said, did things get tense.
"I actually thought everybody did a really good job of just going out and playing every pitch, every at-bat," Dew said. "I didn't really feel there was any pressure until maybe the seventh when guys started saying, 'You know, hey, this thing might happen.'"
The crowd of 4,218 reached its loudest as the Captains came within a strike of completing the first perfect game in franchise history. Rholl, who entered with a 1.35 ERA in 19 innings, struck out the first two batters in the seventh. The second, Wenceel Perez, worked the Whitecaps' first three-ball count of the game. But Nick Quintana also worked the count full and, unlike Perez, he did not bite at the payoff pitch. It was just off the plate and Perez walked to end the perfecto.
Rholl lost a slider and hit Ulrich Bojarski to put two runners on, and Dew visited the mound to remind his pitcher of what was at stake. Sure, a no-hitter would be nice, but the potential tying run was on deck. Rholl had no room to let the emotions of the moment get in the way of getting two wins in one day. And he didn't, retiring Hector Martinez on a fly to center field to lock down the milestone.
"It was one of those things that's really cool to share with your teammates," Dew said. "To have that outcome and have everyone step up and complete the job was really nice."
The Captains got their offense from four contributors, and it all came against West Michigan starter Robbie Welhaf. Cody Farhat smacked a solo homer to right field in the third, Miguel Jerez singled in a run in the fourth and Hosea Nelson did the same in the sixth before scoring on a triple by Connor Smith.
Eli Lingos had pitched in 35 Minor League games since being selected in the 22nd round of last year's Draft and he came out of the bullpen for every one of them. But when Class A Lake County had its game rained out on Thursday night, the Captains needed a starter for the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.
Lingos had given them some long relief this season and had been pretty efficient, so the gig belonged to him. With it came some advice from pitching coach Owen Dew.
"It is a start, but you're doing a really good job of coming out of the 'pen and getting ahead of guys and limiting damage and pitching your game," Dew told the left-hander. "Don't treat it any differently just because you're starting." A message to be ordinary produced the extraordinary.
Lingos combined with Luis Araujo and Kellen Rholl to throw the fifth no-hitter in team history, retiring the first 20 batters, as Lake County beat West Michigan, 4-0, to complete a doubleheader sweep at Classic Park.
It was the fourth no-hitter in the Midwest League this season and the Captains' first since Francisco Perez and James Karinchak combined on another seven-inning gem on April 25, 2018. That game also was a 4-0 win over West Michigan.
Lingos struck out the side in a marathon first inning. He threw 11 pitches to Whitecaps leadoff man Andre Lipcius, who couldn't catch up with the fastball and fouled off seven in a row before whiffing at a payoff pitch.
"That helped me dial in and attack from the start," Lingos said.
He cruised through the next three frames, striking out five on a season-high 53 pitches. After exiting, he rushed through his cooldown work in the clubhouse to get back and see if the perfect game was intact. It was.
Araujo followed, needing only 18 pitches to get through the fifth and sixth. He struck out two.
As the innings sailed by -- the game lasted one hour and 49 minutes -- Dew didn't even notice a perfect game was on the line. The mood in the dugout, both the coach and starting pitcher agreed, remained calm until one out remained to seal the deal. Only then, Lingos said, did things get tense.
"I actually thought everybody did a really good job of just going out and playing every pitch, every at-bat," Dew said. "I didn't really feel there was any pressure until maybe the seventh when guys started saying, 'You know, hey, this thing might happen.'"
The crowd of 4,218 reached its loudest as the Captains came within a strike of completing the first perfect game in franchise history. Rholl, who entered with a 1.35 ERA in 19 innings, struck out the first two batters in the seventh. The second, Wenceel Perez, worked the Whitecaps' first three-ball count of the game. But Nick Quintana also worked the count full and, unlike Perez, he did not bite at the payoff pitch. It was just off the plate and Perez walked to end the perfecto.
Rholl lost a slider and hit Ulrich Bojarski to put two runners on, and Dew visited the mound to remind his pitcher of what was at stake. Sure, a no-hitter would be nice, but the potential tying run was on deck. Rholl had no room to let the emotions of the moment get in the way of getting two wins in one day. And he didn't, retiring Hector Martinez on a fly to center field to lock down the milestone.
"It was one of those things that's really cool to share with your teammates," Dew said. "To have that outcome and have everyone step up and complete the job was really nice."
The Captains got their offense from four contributors, and it all came against West Michigan starter Robbie Welhaf. Cody Farhat smacked a solo homer to right field in the third, Miguel Jerez singled in a run in the fourth and Hosea Nelson did the same in the sixth before scoring on a triple by Connor Smith.
Re: Minor Matters
9875Today's pitchers:
Columbus: Paulsen up from Akron
Akron: TBD to replace Paulsen
Lynchburg: Solter
Lake County: Royalty
Mah Valley: Hankins
Columbus: Paulsen up from Akron
Akron: TBD to replace Paulsen
Lynchburg: Solter
Lake County: Royalty
Mah Valley: Hankins
Re: Minor Matters
9876Our DSLers with a win this morning.
GRodriguez doubled and singled; Martinez 0-6.
Starting pitcher Perez only 1 run in 5 innings but 6 walks vs 1 K.
Are there any pitchers here who we gave big deals to? Maybe some hard throwers whose game stats don't match their talent level.
GRodriguez doubled and singled; Martinez 0-6.
Starting pitcher Perez only 1 run in 5 innings but 6 walks vs 1 K.
Are there any pitchers here who we gave big deals to? Maybe some hard throwers whose game stats don't match their talent level.
Re: Minor Matters
9877With Benson promoted and Cardenas on the IL, Lake County received Cody Farhat and Jon Englemann from Mah Valley. Scrappers had too many OF. Now they'll be relying even more completely on teenagers in the lineup.
Re: Minor Matters
9878Ethan Hankins is looking like the best teenage pitcher at Mahoning Valley since CC Sabathia. Yesterday in 4 2/3 innings he again yielded no hits walked one and struck out 8. Hitless in his first 8 2/3 innings.
Re: Minor Matters
9879Benson didn't homer in his third game for Lynchburg, but he did walk twice, single, steal a base and throw out a baserunner.
Freeman doubled walked and stole a base. 2 singles and a walk for Jones. Mitch Reeves who was promoted too hit a 3 run homer.
Naylor Fermin and Englemann each with a pair of singles for Lake Royalty.
Alex Royalty's best start: 6 2/3 shutout innings, 4 hits, no walks, 10 K.
Ka ai Tom 2 singles for Akron.
Jordan Stephens recently claimed on waivers from the White Sox fanned 5 in 2 innings, allowed 1 run. I checked for his bio and find he was Sox No. 17 prospect this year. That's about the same level Civale was for the Indians. 6-1 190 RH from Rice, a 5th round draft pick in 2015. On the 40 man roster.
Johnson's 10th AAA double but struck out his 3 at bats/
Sandlin with his worst AAA outing: 2 solo homers in 1 1/3
Chang 0-4
more to come
Freeman doubled walked and stole a base. 2 singles and a walk for Jones. Mitch Reeves who was promoted too hit a 3 run homer.
Naylor Fermin and Englemann each with a pair of singles for Lake Royalty.
Alex Royalty's best start: 6 2/3 shutout innings, 4 hits, no walks, 10 K.
Ka ai Tom 2 singles for Akron.
Jordan Stephens recently claimed on waivers from the White Sox fanned 5 in 2 innings, allowed 1 run. I checked for his bio and find he was Sox No. 17 prospect this year. That's about the same level Civale was for the Indians. 6-1 190 RH from Rice, a 5th round draft pick in 2015. On the 40 man roster.
Johnson's 10th AAA double but struck out his 3 at bats/
Sandlin with his worst AAA outing: 2 solo homers in 1 1/3
Chang 0-4
more to come
Re: Minor Matters
9880Royalty had a mighty fine rookie season last year, but started slow this season. That line was impressive yesterday. Hopefully back on track.
Re: Minor Matters
9881Hankins got support from:
Jon.Rod with a double single and hbp. Valera single walk and steal. Delgado single walk and 2 steals. Holland single and walk. Cooper 2 singles.
In Arizona:
none-hitting SS Valdes was DH and got two singles. Cairo played SS and singled and left early.
here's a strange name but one to keep an eye on: Alexfri Planez with 2 doubles and a single. He hit 284/323/491 with 10 homers in DSL last summer. He's only 17. Played RF.
Jhon Vergera a 19 year old RH threw 5 shutout innings. His previous stats are not impressive.
for the other team, SS Ike Freeman [not to confused with major league IF Mike Freeman or Lynchburg SS Tyler Freeman] with 3 singles. A 21 year old from UNC should be in Mah Valley if they think much of him.
Noel left after 1 at bat.
Pablo Jiminez 3 run homer. The 20 year old OF is in his 4th pro year in DSL or AZL all that time
Good pitching by Luis D. Garcia [dont' forget the D, Luis C. Garcia pitched an inning of relief] 5 2 0 0 0 4. Unlike Vergera his past work looks pretty good 2.31 in DSL in 17; 4.31 in AZL in 18. 1 run in 10 innings this year; but he's not a strikeout pitcher
Jon.Rod with a double single and hbp. Valera single walk and steal. Delgado single walk and 2 steals. Holland single and walk. Cooper 2 singles.
In Arizona:
none-hitting SS Valdes was DH and got two singles. Cairo played SS and singled and left early.
here's a strange name but one to keep an eye on: Alexfri Planez with 2 doubles and a single. He hit 284/323/491 with 10 homers in DSL last summer. He's only 17. Played RF.
Jhon Vergera a 19 year old RH threw 5 shutout innings. His previous stats are not impressive.
for the other team, SS Ike Freeman [not to confused with major league IF Mike Freeman or Lynchburg SS Tyler Freeman] with 3 singles. A 21 year old from UNC should be in Mah Valley if they think much of him.
Noel left after 1 at bat.
Pablo Jiminez 3 run homer. The 20 year old OF is in his 4th pro year in DSL or AZL all that time
Good pitching by Luis D. Garcia [dont' forget the D, Luis C. Garcia pitched an inning of relief] 5 2 0 0 0 4. Unlike Vergera his past work looks pretty good 2.31 in DSL in 17; 4.31 in AZL in 18. 1 run in 10 innings this year; but he's not a strikeout pitcher
Re: Minor Matters
9882Clip Show won 10-9 yesterday, now 44-30 on year. ... Allen was 1-6, a double. ... Chang 3-6 with a homer. Walk off game winning single in bottom of 9th. 2nd homer in 4 games since return from IL. (might want to think about bringing him up in place of Freeman at some point soon?) ... Johnson 3-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Akron lost again, 6-5. 36-39 on year. Still lacking prospects. ... Clement 2-4. ... Hentges was bad. 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. ... Nelson with another shutout inning of relief.
Lynchburg won 12-9. 35-36 on year. ... Hillman was good again. 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. ... Freeman taking time to adjust, 0-5, batting .176. ... Jones 3-5 with a double, walk, and stolen base. ... OscarG 1-5. ... Benson 1-5 with walk and SB.
Captains won again, 7-6. 44-29 on year. ... Naylor 1-4 and a walk.
Scrappers won 2-1. 7-3 on the year. ... Rocchio with a couple much needed hits, 2-4. ... Valera 1-3 with 2 walks. ... JoRodriguez 0-3 with a walk.
AZL Red won 3-2. ... Valdes 0-4 with 3 K. ... Diaz 2-4 with a homer. Catcher is hitting 500 so far. ... Munoz 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
AZL Blue lost 8-2. ... Tena 0-3. ... Bracho 0-3 with a walk.
And of course the Dominican League don't play Sunday's...
Akron lost again, 6-5. 36-39 on year. Still lacking prospects. ... Clement 2-4. ... Hentges was bad. 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. ... Nelson with another shutout inning of relief.
Lynchburg won 12-9. 35-36 on year. ... Hillman was good again. 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. ... Freeman taking time to adjust, 0-5, batting .176. ... Jones 3-5 with a double, walk, and stolen base. ... OscarG 1-5. ... Benson 1-5 with walk and SB.
Captains won again, 7-6. 44-29 on year. ... Naylor 1-4 and a walk.
Scrappers won 2-1. 7-3 on the year. ... Rocchio with a couple much needed hits, 2-4. ... Valera 1-3 with 2 walks. ... JoRodriguez 0-3 with a walk.
AZL Red won 3-2. ... Valdes 0-4 with 3 K. ... Diaz 2-4 with a homer. Catcher is hitting 500 so far. ... Munoz 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
AZL Blue lost 8-2. ... Tena 0-3. ... Bracho 0-3 with a walk.
And of course the Dominican League don't play Sunday's...
Re: Minor Matters
9883Interesting Starters today -
Col - Talbot
Akr - Morgan
Lyn- Morris
LK - TBD
MV - Vargas
Morgan has been doing great this year, and promotion to Akron didn't slow him down.
Cody Morris is quietly becoming almost interesting. 7th round pick last year. In 9 starts he is 5-2 ... 3.20 ERA ... 45 IP ... 41 H ... 10 BB ... 56 K ... 1.13 WHIP.
Vargas is the 19 yo kid that hits 100+ on the gun, that I've mentioned.
Col - Talbot
Akr - Morgan
Lyn- Morris
LK - TBD
MV - Vargas
Morgan has been doing great this year, and promotion to Akron didn't slow him down.
Cody Morris is quietly becoming almost interesting. 7th round pick last year. In 9 starts he is 5-2 ... 3.20 ERA ... 45 IP ... 41 H ... 10 BB ... 56 K ... 1.13 WHIP.
Vargas is the 19 yo kid that hits 100+ on the gun, that I've mentioned.
Re: Minor Matters
9884Add Cody Morris to the list of 2018 draft picks who are impressing:
1 Naylor. Average slowly rising; even posting a kid catcher in full season league in his first year is challenging.
1B Hankins: terrific first two starts in NYPL as a teen
1C Torres: Tommy John
2 Sandlin: up to AAA midway through his first full season
3 Palacios injured, has not played
4 Adam Scott LHP up to AA as a starter pitcher
5 Stephen Kwan Lynchburg so so
6 Ray Delgado 2B for Mah Valley
7 Cody Morris, noted above
8 Alex Royalty HB noted his recent improvements; starting in low A
I'll skip those who aren't doing much
10 Robert Broom reliever up to AA great result to date
14 Korey Holland CF among the kid stars in Mah Valley, just getting started
16 Ruben Cardenas OF hitting real well in Lake County; now on the DL
1 Naylor. Average slowly rising; even posting a kid catcher in full season league in his first year is challenging.
1B Hankins: terrific first two starts in NYPL as a teen
1C Torres: Tommy John
2 Sandlin: up to AAA midway through his first full season
3 Palacios injured, has not played
4 Adam Scott LHP up to AA as a starter pitcher
5 Stephen Kwan Lynchburg so so
6 Ray Delgado 2B for Mah Valley
7 Cody Morris, noted above
8 Alex Royalty HB noted his recent improvements; starting in low A
I'll skip those who aren't doing much
10 Robert Broom reliever up to AA great result to date
14 Korey Holland CF among the kid stars in Mah Valley, just getting started
16 Ruben Cardenas OF hitting real well in Lake County; now on the DL
Re: Minor Matters
9885A couple Indians IFs on today's BA highlight list
Yu Chang, SS, Indians. Chang had three hits in six at-bats for Triple-A Columbus. The shortstop drove in three runs and came around to score twice. In the third inning, Cleveland’s No. 11 prospect smacked a solo home run. It was the first multi-hit game for Chang since April 11. [I'd give him a good or month or more myself before I considered promoting him. Freeman is serviceable. Chang has a nice ceiling]
Nolan Jones, 3B, Indians. Jones had two singles and a double for high Class A Lynchburg. The infielder also walked once and came around to score twice. The Indian’s No. 2 prospect now has a six-game hit streak going, with multiple hits in his last two contests.
Yu Chang, SS, Indians. Chang had three hits in six at-bats for Triple-A Columbus. The shortstop drove in three runs and came around to score twice. In the third inning, Cleveland’s No. 11 prospect smacked a solo home run. It was the first multi-hit game for Chang since April 11. [I'd give him a good or month or more myself before I considered promoting him. Freeman is serviceable. Chang has a nice ceiling]
Nolan Jones, 3B, Indians. Jones had two singles and a double for high Class A Lynchburg. The infielder also walked once and came around to score twice. The Indian’s No. 2 prospect now has a six-game hit streak going, with multiple hits in his last two contests.