8/28 MiLB Gameday: Go Zone

Plympton91 · Aug 28, 2014

Nothing in the Roanoke Times or MiLB.com game stories about Manuel Margot's scary looking injury before leaving the game last night. Hopefully that means it is nothing serious and not just a typical lack of curiosity about details behind minor league box scores.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Cuzittt said:
IL:Pawtucket (TBD) @ Lehigh Valley (Jeff Manship) [7:05pm]

Workman's slated to start tomorrow. Chris Hernandez last worked on 8/25 (1.2 IP, 36 pitches) and before that 8/22 (3.0 IP, 52 pitches). Ryan Verdugo threw 4.1 innings (70 pitches) on 8/23. I'll guess it's Verdugo on normal rest with Hernandez piggybacking.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

The DSL Sox are actually playing their postseason opener at home vs the BC Northwest Division-winning DSL Royals (they knocked off the DSL Orioles #1 squad, 2 games to 1). And, amazingly, there's actually a live box score feed from the game.

Daniel Gonzalez was lights out this morning, striking out the side in the 1st and allowing no hits through 6 innings with 3 BB & 6 K. Algenis Martinez relieved him and tossed a perfect t-7th with a K.

Jose Lozada broke the scoreless tie in the b-5th with a 2-run double to plate Isaias Lucena & Juan Hernandez. both runs unearned off Jorge Rodriguez after his throwing error on a bunt that put two runners in scoring position.

2-0 Sox heading to the b-7th.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Yeah, I don't know how you manage to keep it straight as often as you do given the inconsistent information they provide. I only noticed it because they were at the top of the live franchise scoreboard.

The Sox make it 3-0 with another in the b-7th after Hernandez singles and Gerardo Carrizalez doubles him home. Martinez put up another perfect frame in the t-8th and he'll try to nail it down as the Royals are coming up in the t-9th.

FWIW the other semifinal series has the DSL Rangers #1 (BC North winners and best record in the league at 54-16) taking on the DSL Giants (wild card winners out of the BC South, and 2-1 1st Round victors over the DSL Tigers this week).

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Martinez gets the first 2 batters (capping an 8-for-8 day on the hill), then Carlos Caceras comes on to face pinch-hitter Dalfis Ortiz and whiffs him. Sox win the series opener, 3-0, with a combined no-hitter.

FWIW, the other semifinal series has the DSL Rangers #1 (BC North winners and best record in the league at 54-16) taking on the DSL Giants (wild card winners out of the BC South, and 2-1 1st Round victors over the DSL Tigers this week). The Rangers are up 2-0 through 6 innings.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

GCL's bats have busted out once again. Nine hits (6 for extra bases) & 7 walks, with every starter reaching base at least once. Olivares, Chavis & LAx Basabe with 2 hits apiece, Trenton Kemp went deep for the 3rd time this season, and 6 different players have knocked in runs.

Kevin Steen (3 IP) and Michael Gunn (2 IP) each yielded a pair of runs (1 of Gunn's unearned), but Jalen Williams has worked 2 scoreless & hitless frames so far, which is nice to see after his struggles this season (29 baserunners in 16.2 IP with a 4.86 ERA and .318/.392/.364/.756 line).

8-4 Sox, t-8th.

EDIT - Perhaps I used superlatives too soon on Williams. Single, WP, single put another Royals run on the board, but he did whiff a pair in the 8th including Pita Rona to end the threat. By the way, Pita Rona sounds like the next great sandwich craze or something.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Wiliams pitches a perfect 9th with another K, and GCL wins it 8-5. It appears they'll be hopping a bus to open the playoffs at the GCL Cardinals in Jupiter. The other semifinal series would have the two Yankees GCL squads facing each other.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

For those considering hitting the Spinners game, it's Zombie Jersey Night. The first 1,000 fans get one of these:

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

mabrowndog said:
Workman's slated to start tomorrow. Chris Hernandez last worked on 8/25 (1.2 IP, 36 pitches) and before that 8/22 (3.0 IP, 52 pitches). Ryan Verdugo threw 4.1 innings (70 pitches) on 8/23. I'll guess it's Verdugo on normal rest with Hernandez piggybacking.

Verdugo it is, and after allowing a run in the b-1st he's now got a 4-1 lead thanks to his mates in the t-2nd. A Brentz walk, singles by Cecchini & Marrero, an RBI ground-out by Swihart, a 2-run single to LF by JBJ, and an RBI single by Justin Henry.

Verdugo's K'd 3 through the first 2 innings.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

I wonder if Cody Kukuk and Jamie Callahan ate the same meals today. Both yielded 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st in their respective starts.

Callahan was pulled after retiring just 2 batters (5 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 19 of 40 pitches for strikes) and replaced on the Greenville mound by Sergio Gomez. The Drive now trail 7-0 in the b-5th.

Kukuk continued his Jekyll & Hyde routine for Salem, as 7 of the first 8 batters reached. He only escaped further damage on a sac fly double play with the bases loaded, where Matty Johnson made the catch in LF and threw to Vinicio who relayed to Gedman for the inning-ending out at 1st, but after Frederick's 5th run scored from 3rd. The Sox got 2 runs back in the t-2nd on a bases-loaded wild pitch and a Carlos Asuaje sac fly. Salem trails 5-2, with Kukuk still on the hill entering the b-3rd (2 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K).

And FWIW:

Chris Hatfield @SPChrisHatfield

Much better second [inning] for Kukuk. 12 of 16 pitches for strikes, after 18 for 35 in first.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

A light workload for Brian Johnson tonight, but still dominant: 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 47 of 69 pitches for strikes. Sea Dogs broadcasters speculating the abbreviated outing is to ensure he's rested & ready for the playoffs.

Pete Ruiz took over and gave up 3 runs in his 1.2 IP of work as the Sea Dogs now trail 3-1, their lone run coming on a KDLC RBI single in the b-3rd. Dayan Diaz now on in relief. With the bases loaded he walked the first guy he faced to force in a run (the third charged to Ruiz) but then got an F-8 to end the b-7th.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Kukuk departs mid-4th, leaving 2 on for Kyle Kraus with 2 outs. Both score on a Mario Martinez throwing error (unearned), and it's 7-2 Frederick.

By the way, playing RF and batting cleanup tonight for the Keys is our old Taiwanese buddy Chih-Hsien Chiang, now in his 9th season as a US minor leaguer.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

While Greenville's pitching has been tattooed the last couple of nights (18 R on 28 H), the Drive offense has been anemic to the same extreme. One run on 4 H in the series opener, shut out on 3 H last night, and getting blanked again tonight on 3 H through 7 innings.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Why the flying fuck is John Mayberry still in AAA? He's clearly healed up. Last series vs the PawSox he went 2-for-4 in his first rehab game, crushed a 3-run jack the next evening, and tonight (his 7th rehab game) he just doubled in LHV's 2nd run of the game with 2 outs in the b-5th, sending Verdugo to the showers as Chris Hernandez takes the hill.

EDIT - The Iron Pigs greet the new pitcher with a walk and an RBI single before Reid Brignac flies out. PawSox lead down to 4-3 as they come to bat in the t-6th.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Portland gets their first two hitters on in the b-9th as Roof & Meneses both single, but a Shannon Wilkerson GIDP and a Mike Miller come-backer to the mound end any comeback thoughts. Reading takes it, 3-1.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

One more Sea Dogs note: Billy McMillon named Eastern League Manager of the Year. He joins Henry Owens (EL Pitcher of the Year) as a Portland honoree. Plus a few days ago last year's EL PotY (Anthony Ranaudo) was named International League Pitcher of the Year for this season.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

For those wondering about Rusney Castillo's eventual successor in center field:

Chris Hatfield @SPChrisHatfield · 3h

Manuel Margot is out of the lineup, but in uniform. Walking gingerly after turning his ankle running the bases yesterday.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Lehigh Valley ties it 4-4 in the b-6th. Chris Hernandez yields a pair of singles and then an RBI triple to Cesar Hernandez.

PawSox get the first two on in the t-7th with singles by Brentz & Cecchini.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Interesting night in Lowell. According to this poster on SP, it began like so:

Joe Oliver just went postal in Lowell before the 1st pitch tonight. He got into it with 1st base umpire before the first pitch and got tossed. He threw bats balls and anything he could get his hands on the field. He must have resevations at Strega at 8?

Pitcher Enfember Martinez & catcher David Sopilka were also ejected for the Spinners.

How did the team respond? With a 13-run outburst, 6 shutout innings from Jake Drehoff, and 2 innings of scoreless relief from Edwar Garcia. Aberdeen's down to their final 3 outs in the t-9th.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

mabrowndog said:
PawSox get the first two on in the t-7th with singles by Brentz & Cecchini.

And they both score after a walk to Marrero, a wild pitch, and a Swihart bloop single over second base. JBJ just walked to load the bases with 1 out, and the Sox lead 6-4.

EDIT - Justin Henry singles in two more to make it 8-4.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Aberdeen spoils the shutout, getting an unearned run on a passed ball by Alixon Suarez.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

More on BJ's 5 innings. I can't wait until PitchF/X data is available on this kid:

Kevin Thomas ‏@ClearTheBases 1m
According to stat man Aidan Thomas, Johnson threw 35 fastballs, 14 curves (10 strikes), 14 change-ups and six cut fastballs.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Cuzittt said:
I'll be very interested to hear the story of this...

Some tweets from the Spinners:

Lowell Spinners @LowellSpinners · 3h

Joe Oliver, David Sopilka tossed before first pitch as umpires enforce #NoFun rules against "Bullpen Standoffs." Oliver not pleased.

Retweeted by Lowell Spinners
John Hughes III @John_Hughes_III · 3h
@LowellSpinners Ump made Joe clear the equipment from the pen, joe protested. Pitched a fit

Lowell Spinners @LowellSpinners · 3h

Correction - not a standoff, rather umpires were not pleased with where equipment was in bullpen. Sopilka ejected, Oliver defended, ejected.

So... Sounds like the umps wanted equipment cleared from the pen before play began. Something made them eject Sopilka, who was probably either warming up Drehoff pregame or was stationed there for in-game work. Maybe he mouthed off or something? Who knows how Martinez got involved. Anyway, it appears Oliver took umbrage and went apeshit.

The aftermath:

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Before all the ejections and zombies and offense, more tranquil times in the Mill City with this nice shot of LeLacheur and the Merrimack.

Hood Blimp @HoodBlimp · 1h

We came out to support the @LowellSpinners from 1300 ft up.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

After a walk to Mayberry (grrrr....) to lead off the b-7th, Drake Britton relieved Chris Hernandez and allowed two straight singles as LHV cut their deficit to 8-5. Britton also walked a batter, but got out of the inning on a GIDP. On to the 8th.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Britton back out for the b-8th, and wastes no time getting right back to sucking. A double, bunt single and walk have loaded the bases for LHV with 2 outs.

EDIT - Heath Hembree to the rescue with the inning-ending strikeout.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Hembree takes care of biz in the 9th. PawSox hold on 8-5.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Cuzittt said:
Tri-city gives the Spinners a stay of execution by defeating Brooklyn.

Plus Connecticut lost to Hudson Valley. Gotta get past both of 'em.

mabrowndog · Aug 28, 2014

Looks like the stuff about the "bullpen standoff" leading to the ejections was apparently true. Spinners recap:

Even before the Lowell Spinners erupted for 13 runs there were fireworks at LeLacheur Park, as umpire Ryan Wilhelms ejected catcher David Sopilka and pitcher Enfember Martinez for participating in a "bullpen standoff," tossing Lowell manager Joe Oliver after he came out to protest, leading to Oliver leaving some equipment behind on the field.

So what the hell is a "bullpen standoff"? This blog post from two years ago explains:

Professional baseball bullpens have long been breeding grounds for eccentric behavior and bizarre rituals and, really, this shouldn’t be a surprise. Leave a group of bored young men to their own devices and spitting contests, impenetrable slang words and, yes, even lizard eating will result.

One particular bullpen competition that really seemed to take off this season was the in-game standing contest. The premise is simple: starting with the National Anthem, one (or more) players from each team’s bullpen attempts to stand at attention for the duration of the contest and beyond. This simultaneous exercise in endurance and absurdity was first brought to my attention via an excellent Myrtle Beach Pelicans blog post, and later in the season the Lowell Spinners produced a video that chronicled their standoff versus the State College Spikes.

And here's that video, from 7/30/2012:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgZ--186FA

Absurd and pointless? Of course. But grounds for ejection? Not on any planet. Unless I hear otherwise I'm assuming the "bullpen equipment" problem mentioned upthread was just an excuse for the ump to toss the two kids for merely over-standing their welcome, and Oliver came out to defend them.

Cesar Crespo · Aug 29, 2014

So Portland had 15 base runners and scored a run? Boston would be proud.

jscola85 · Aug 29, 2014

Verdugo's K numbers have been off the charts since joining the PawSox. He's now got only 6 less than he had with Omaha but in 18 less innings, leading to a 2.95 FIP with the Sox. Certainly not a prospect at his age but he could be useful depth for the MLB team next year.

mabrowndog · Aug 29, 2014

jscola85 said:
Verdugo's K numbers have been off the charts since joining the PawSox. He's now got only 6 less than he had with Omaha but in 18 less innings, leading to a 2.95 FIP with the Sox. Certainly not a prospect at his age but he could be useful depth for the MLB team next year.

Working mainly as a long reliever with the PawSox has probably helped his K rate. Opposing hitters can't make timing adjustments facing him their 3rd or 4th time in an outing, he doesn't have to resort to any of his fringy secondary pitches when cycling back through the lineup, and he avoids late-game fatigue-induced loss of control that can affect many pitchers.

As for next year, he's a minor league free agent this winter so if they don't add him to the 40-man they'd have to re-sign him to a minors deal. But since he still has two options remaining, I suspect he'll get a major league contract offer from a club that isn't faced with the pitching crunch the Sox have.

Of course, that leads me to wonder what the Royals were thinking when they dumped him for cash mid-season. Verdugo strikes me as precisely the type of guy small-market clubs should strive to retain.

mabrowndog · Aug 29, 2014

More details on the ejections last night in Lowell. And yes, the umpire was in fact just being an authoritarian douchebag.

The start of the game was delayed by around five minutes when Spinners catcher David Sopilka and pitcher Enfember Martinez were ejected by first-base umpire Ryan Wilhelms before the first pitch. Lowell manager Joe Oliver came out to speak with Wilhelms to get clarification about the ejections, but he was subsequently thrown out of the game too. As he left the field, Oliver threw a bag of balls onto the field, as well as eight bats and other dugout equipment.

It was later reported on social media that the ejections resulted from the location of equipment in the bullpen, although Wilhelms confirmed the ejections were not in regards to equipment. He declined to comment further on the situation.

None of the Aberdeen players were ejected, which according to a Lowell team official, was one of the complaints Oliver made to the field umpire. Wilhelms also tossed Brooklyn's Jhoan Urena on Monday night when the infielder refused to leave the field after the national anthem as part of a pregame standoff.

"I talked to the other coaches and they said the umpire said it was the same thing they did in Staten Island," a Lowell team official said. "It was a point of emphasis. They said Joe just asked why did our guys get thrown out and not their guys."

"I think they were doing the standoff with the other team," added Drehoff, selected in the 12th round of the 2013 Draft. "The umpire threw out two guys, and the manager went out to talk with him and I guess he thought he was trying to bump him. It was pretty ridiculous. They were just standing on the foul line after the national anthem. I'm not in the bullpen so I don't know, but I think we have done it a couple times."

Yes, Jake, it was pretty ridiculous. And the Spinners (along with every other NYPL club and a number of other minor league teams over the past couple of years) have done it more than a couple times.

Plympton91 · Aug 29, 2014

Two pieces of very good news buried in this very long thread:

Manuel Margot only has a sprained ankle; given the reports of him going down on the field it could have been much worse.

Health Hembree with a dominant relief outing, his first out of the 5 or 6 times he's pitched since the ill-advised 62-pitch stint.

bosox62 · Aug 29, 2014

Cuzittt said:
Drive lose 10-0.

Boxscore

Jamie Callahan went 2/3rds of an inning, allowing 5 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks; striking out one. Sergio Gomez went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, a WP and 3 walks; striking out 2. Oscar Perez went 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits; striking out one.

Hector Lorenzana and Tim Roberson each went 1/3. Kevin Mager, Jimmy Rider and Cole Sturgeon each went 1/4. Danny Mars and Franklin Guzman each went 0/3. Sam Travis and Danny Bethea each went 0/4.

I was at this pathetic display in Charleston last night....so embarrassed to be wearing my Sox garb.

8/28 MiLB Gameday: Go Zone

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