07.29.2008 A+

Class A Advanced
Stockton Ports [3rd, 6 games back, Cal North Division 20-17]
Last game 07/29/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Fernandez    R   9 5  109.2   3.36  4.53  2.47  1.41  77  51   .303   .213
Godfrey      R   5 4   93.2   5.48  4.30  6.52  1.48  83  31   .344   .232
Rodriguez    R   2 3   64.2   3.90  4.46  3.22  1.35  91  35   .265   .171
Banwart      R   1 2   28.1   3.49  2.19  4.50  1.55  27  20   .208   .233
Italiano     R   0 3   19.1  11.17 10.61 11.70  2.43  17  15   .341   .378
.
The Ports have struggled a bit since the last time I've updated, though they lead the
Wild Card with the second best overall record in the league.  The biggest surprise is
Italiano forgetting how to pitch as he's struggled mightily since being called up to AA.
I'm sure he'll get it together, he's much to talented to pitch this poorly much longer.
.
Banwart didn't do much to impress, giving up 4 runs, all earned, in 5IP.  Demel relieved
him and got the win, but gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 1 inning worth of work.  Heuser
pitched two and got a hold, Dewing finished the game pitching one frame and only allowing
a hit.
.
Gardenas had a RBI, in 6 AB as Spencer scored 2 with 2 hits including a double raising his
BA to .436 as Donaldson showcased why he was ranked so highly in the Cubs system before the
season started.  He had 4 rbi's hitting a homer, with 2 doubles, and scoring 2.  Carter
added a homer and also scored two.  Brown, playing catcher and center (now there's something
you don't see everyday) also scored 2, hit a homer and had a rbi.

07.29.2008 A

Class A
Kane County Cougars [7th - 6.5 back Mid Western Division 14-22]
Last game 07/29/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Richmond     R   6 8  115.1   4.60  6.13  3.56  1.21  72  19   .310   .227
Hodsdon      R   5 8   95.0   3.41  2.16  4.39  1.45  67  21   .339   .269
Mitchinson   R   5 3   71.0   1.90  1.35  2.39  0.92  70  11   .218   .197
Capra        L   0 1   10.0   6.30  6.00  6.43  1.90   8   7   .200   .333
Hernandez    L   1 0    5.2   6.35  0.00  7.20  1.59   7   1   .000   .364
.
Things haven't gone swimmingly for the Cougs since the last time I've updated
this site.  But it was interesting to see the improvement of pitchers Hodson
and Mitchinson, who actually have improved quite a bit.  Carlos Hernandez has
been promoted from Class A Short Season, and if I'm reading his stats correctly
he has yet to give up a hit to a left handed hitter in over 40IP.  So if nothing
else he has a future as a LOOGY if this start to his professional career is
indicative of the type of pitcher he is.
.
As you may (or not) know the Peoria Chiefs, the minor league team of the Chicago Cubs,
and the Kane County Cougars are playing the first ever minor league game in Wrigley.
Unfortunately the weather is not on board apparently, as a storm has come in and the
game, tied 6-6 in the 9th, has been suspended until tomorrow.
.
Richmond started the game and did not have a stellar outing.  Going only 4.1 innings he
gave up 8 hits, 5 earned runs with 2 homers and a WP and striking out only 3.  On the
brightside - if there is a brightside, he didn't walk anybody.  He has been relieved
so far by Glushon and Espinal who combined have only allowed one run in 4 innings.
.
Paramore, a catcher who recently promoted from Rookie Ball in Arizona, was the hitting
hero getting  2 hits and driving in 3.  Dowling, playing first, hit a solo homer.  Weeks,
not suffering too much from his face plant was hittless in 1 AB.  Late inning replacement
it looks like.

07.29.2008 A Short Season

Class A Short Season
Vancouver Canadians [3rd - 2.5 back NOR West 18-24]
Last game 07/29/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Moria        R   1 3   45.1   4.57  6.75  3.52  1.50  43  19   .339   .250
Hernandez    L   2 0   39.2   2.31  0.00  7.20  0.98  38   7   .000   .364
Figueroa     R   0 3   36.0   4.25  3.00  4.67  1.56  38  23   .219   .252
Garcia       R   1 3   29.2   4.25  3.55  4.76  1.72  21  18   .171   .319
Tacker       R   0 5   23.1   9.31  6.00 11.65  2.31  28  19   .295   .351
.
So, the Canadians are a bit like the parent club, but without the pitching.
Meaning, they don't score much.  But luckily they play in the equivalent of
the NL East, so though they are 6 games under .500, they're only 2.5 games
out of first.
.
Figueroa started the game and got the loss, allowing 1 earned (2 total) in
5 innings.  He struck out 7 and walked 4.  Lissman hit a homerun and drove in
the only 2 runs.
.
The Canadians had 6 hits and 2 runs, Tri City had 3 hits and 4 runs.  Sucks to
be a Canadian I guess.

06.21.2008 AAA

Triple A
Sacramento Rivercats [1st, Pacific South Division 46-31]
Last game 06/21/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Gonzalez     L   3 5   79.0   5.01  6.10  4.63  1.48  78  38   .269   .247
Meyer        L   7 5   77.1   4.89  3.92  5.24  1.26  72  39   .253   .238
Braden       L   0 0   18.0   2.50  0.00  3.21  1.56  17   6   .294   .321
.
.
Rodriguez, the pitching coach for the Rivercats has been named to be
the Pacific Coast ASG pitching coach.  Players have not
been selected yet, I don't believe as the game is not until 7/16.
Congrats to Rick Rodriguez.  Rick has been the PC for Sacramento for
8 of the teams 9 seasons (so Curt Young was only the AAA PC for 1
year?).
.
DiNardo had a night I'm sure he'd rather forget, giving up 7 hits and 3
earned runs in 1.2IP.  The rest of the bullpen didn't fare much better as
the Rivercats fell to the Bees 12-5.  I guess the wind was blowing out in
Salt Lake..

Jesus Guzman was promoted to Sacramento and continued to rake.  He had 3 hits
in 3 AB, scoring a run and driving in 1.  His average sits at a perfect 1.000.
Not sure how this promotion will effect his eligibility in the Texas League
ASG... which I'm sure he could careless.  :)  Powell hit a homer, but his
average is an abysmal .200.  So much for Zook looking over his shoulder.
Robnett scored 2 runs as did Bankston.

06.21.2008 AA

Double A
Midland Rockhounds [4th, Tex South Division - 2nd half 1-3]
Last game 06/21/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Mazzaro      R   7 3   91.1   2.36  2.96  2.15  1.17  65  25   .240   .247
Bailey       R   1 8   71.1   6.18  7.17  5.76  1.60  69  45   .259   .258
Webb         R   5 4   70.1   4.73  1.29  5.40  1.48  52  25   .276   .286
Simmons      R   2 3   49.1   3.65  3.48  3.77  1.26  40  12   .211   .296
Cahill       R   1 0    6.0   1.50  0.00  2.70  0.83   6   3   .000   .154
.
7 Rockhounds have been selected for the 2008 TL ASG on 6/25  Whoohooo!  Take
that everybody.  So here goes.  Jesus Guzman will be the starting 3rd basemen
for the South.  Mazzaro, who currently leads the league in wins and ERA will
be there.  Catcher, Anthony Recker and OFer Jon Zeringue are reserves, James
Simmons and Andrew Carigan round out the magnificant 7.  Carrigans tarted the
year at Stockton and was promoted after a month and has been thecloser for the
Hounds ever since.
..
Cahill has been promoted to AA and had an nice debut, 6IP 6 SO, 3BB, 1 earned
run.  He was the first pitcher in the California League to reach the
century mark in K's, 103 to be exact.  Add the 6 in the debut and he has 109
K's to just 34 BB.  Nice, very nice indeed.  Cahill, it should be noted, was
actually selected for the ASG, but was ineligble to play since he was
promoted.
.
Bailey fell to 1-8 as he gave up 3 earned runs in 4.2 innings as the Hounds
fell to San Antonio 3-1.  Farley and Shipman pitched 4.1 innings of shut out
baseball to close out the game.
.
Cunningham hit his 4th homer for the only run.  The Rockhounds didn't exactly
comport themselves very well at the plate as the starter for San Antonio went
7, striking out 11.  Midland struck out 16 times in 9 innings.  Ouch.

06.21.2008 A+

Class A Advanced
Stockton Ports [3rd, Cal North Division - 2nd half 3-3]
Last game 06/21/2008
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Fernandez    R   7 4   75.0   3.84  5.40  2.80  1.39  50  35   .305   .210
Rodrigeuz    R   6 6   31.2   3.41  4.30  2.65  1.14  45  14   .258   .107
Banwart      R   0 1   12.2   3.55  3.00  4.05  1.58  13   9   .231   .208
.
.
Two players from the Ports were in the ASG, Doolittle and Gilbert.  The Ports
finished the first half with a 42-28 record, one game back from San Jose's record
of 43-27.  So that's a double drat.  From what I read they have not secured a
playoff berth, eventhough they have one of the best records in the minors.  So it's
time to get things going into the second half..
.

News while I was gone: On Thursday Gilbert hit for the cycle with a little help from
the official scorer.  He hit a 9th inning grounder to the secondbasemen who bobbled
the it.  The official scorer originally judged it an error but later reversed his
ruling and gave a single to Gilbert and thus a single completing his cycle.  He
also had 4 rbis and 4 hits, both career highs.  Brett Anderson struck out 10 and
has only allowed 3 earned runs in his last 3 starts, spanning 23 2/3 innings, but
he must have been promoted, because the Ports do not have any of his stats listed.
But he was named Texas League Player of the Week for 06/15.
.
Fernandez pitched 6 strong innings allowing 7 hits but only 2 runs - only one earned
as the Ports fell to Mavericks 6 to 7 in 11.  The Ports scored 1 in the top of the 11th,
but Gordon didn't record an out before allowing 2 in the bottom of the inning.
.
Both Carter and Rosendo hit a homer as Doolittle drove in a run on no hits.  Mitchell
went 3/5 but outside of that the hitting was fairly sparse for an 11 inning affair.
Sulentic had two hits and scored, but seems to be struggling of late as his BA has
fallen under .300.

06.21.2008 A

Class A
Kane County Cougars [1st Mid Western Division (3 way tie) - 2nd half 3-0]
Last game 04/30/2008
.
.
Pitcher      T   W L     IP    era   vLH   vRH  whip  so  bb  avgLH  avgRH
Richmond     R   5 6   79.1   3.74  5.29  2.68  1.06  51  11   .306   .190
Hodsdon      R   3 5   71.1   3.53  2.27  4.79  1.39  53  13   .333   .257
Italiano     R   7 0   70.0   1.16  0.82  1.46  1.11  79  35   .135   .209
Mitchinson   R   5 2   67.1   1.60  1.44  1.75  0.88  65  10   .229   .172
.
It seems like forever since I last did a recap... for those few who actually
read this, I'm sorry.  I went on vacation for a month and while I was gone my
phone service got disconnected (don't ask).  While I was gone my access to the
internet was limited and the connection was spotty and I haven't had any at home
since being back.  Anyway, enough of that on to the fun stuff...
.
First the Cougars have clinched a Midwest League Western Division first-half
playoff spot on Wednesday.  Clinton won the first half and the Cougars ended in
second place.
.
Italiano pitched well for 4 innings and then was pulled.  I can't find anything
on an injury, so fingers crossed that he left for something other than being
hurt.  He allowed 2 hits and 1 run with 3 BB and 3 K's.  Italiano has been named
Topps' MID Player of the Month (for May) and is a MID Mid-Season All Star.  Great
bounce back season for Craig.  Hertzler came in in the 5th and allowed 1 unearned
run as Cougs beat Clinton 4-2.
.
Cobb, another MID Mid-Season All Star, went 3/4, Brown, another MID Mid-Season
All Star, hit a homer and knocked in 2, while Dowling, also a MID Mid-Season
All Star, and Hamblin had the two remaining RBI's.
.
The offense has been fairly unpredictable but the pitching has been outstanding
all season long.