I’m listening to the new REM. If everything between Automatic for the People and now was intended to provide dramatic effect for their return to sounding like REM, then holy smokes it’s been a smashing success. I had no idea they were capable of making music like this anymore. No whining mid-tempo crap, just driving rock ‘n’ roll. It’s like they suddenly decided it’d be good to make a follow up to Reckoning. Novel concept, that.
Anyway, you’re here for the baseball…
Triple-A — Sacramento 12, Portland 7
Peter Ciofrone (LF): 1-for-5, E
Chase Headley (3B): 0-for-2, 3 BB
Brian Myrow: 2-for-5, HR, E
Chip Ambres (CF): 2-for-5
Will Venable (DH): 1-for-3, BB, HBP
Nick Hundley: 2-for-5, 2B, HR
Vince Sinisi: 2-for-4, SF
Dirk Hayhurst: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO (91 pitches, 55 strikes)
Mauro Zarate: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 SO
Adam Bass: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 HR, 4 BB, 1 SO
Joe Thatcher: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 2 SO
Hayhurst made his first start after 15 relief appearances to start the season — fanned the first four batters he faced, including Travis Buck, who has had some success at the big-league level… Zarate, Bass, and Edwin Moreno then gave a textbook demonstration of how not to protect a lead.
Double-A — San Antonio 7, Springfield 4
Drew Macias: 4-for-5, 3B
Chad Huffman: 0-for-3, BB, SF
Kyle Blanks: 2-for-4
Seth Johnston: 0-for-4
Jose Lobaton: 1-for-4
Craig Cooper: 1-for-1, HR
Stephen Faris: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 7 SO (10 GO)
Cooper came on as a defensive replacement in the seventh and homered two innings later… Faris’ line is unusual: he recorded only one fly ball out, but allowed a homer.
High-A — Rancho Cucamonga 11, Lake Elsinore 6
Javis Diaz: 1-for-5
Cedric Hunter: 2-for-5, 2B, HR
Eric Sogard (DH): 2-for-4, BB
Mitch Canham: 0-for-5
Rayner Contreras: 2-for-4, BB
Kellen Kulbacki: 3-for-4, 2B, HR, E
Cory Luebke: 2 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 1 HR, 0 BB, 4 SO
Justin Hampson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 0 SO
Hunter keeps flashing the power, Sogard not so much… Kulbacki is showing some signs of life… Fugly line from Luebke…
Low-A — Fort Wayne 8, Dayton 3
Luis Durango: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
Justin Baum: 1-for-4, HR
Yefri Carvajal: 2-for-4
Felix Carrasco: 2-for-4, 2 HR
Shane Buschini (DH): 0-for-4
Matt Teague: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO (8 GO)
Robert Woodard: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 2 SO
Carrasco continues to make Russell Branyan look like Rod Carew… I wish I had a photo of him — Carrasco, that is, although a photo of Carew might be nice, too… More coverage at the Wizards official web site.
Off the field, infielder Drew Cumberland has been placed on the disabled list due to a “tweaked” rhomboid muscle. What is a rhomboid muscle? Something to do with the shoulder, it seems…
Draft Watch: Jemile Weeks
pre-draft rankings:
- Baseball America (sub), 27
- Brewerfan.net, 25
- PG Crosschecker, 19
- John Sickels, 25
The younger brother of Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks could be a terrific fit for the Padres. He’s an athletic, switch-hitting infielder with speed and good on-base skills. He doesn’t possess his brother’s power and may be better suited to center field. Similar skill set to Matt Antonelli.
- Scouting report with video (MiLB.com)
Heres an article about the declining television ratings for Padres games. I guess it is no surprise. Interesting though that Ducksnorts seems to be increasing in viewership lately, with the exception of the in game threads.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080530-9999-1s30mediacol.html
The FirstInning player links are tremendous.
Kulbacki, pulling himself up from a brutal start. I predict a power surge in June and July. He’s too good not to start driving the ball with consistency in the Cal League.
Murmur and Reckoning are among my all-time fav records, but I’ve found each subsequent REM album to be progressively less and less tolerable. You’re right about the new album, though- it actually sounds like REM (or at least, REM as I prefer them).
Check out Dirk’s stats over his last two outings:
9 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 16 K
16 K’s over his last 9 IP!!!! Dirk’s the man. This bullpen picture is about to get real crowded in SD. Got to make room for Guevara, Hampson, Hensley, and Hayhurst deserves a shot at some point, right? Besides Henn, who is out of options, there really isn’t anyone in the bullpen doing terrible enough to ship out right now.
Geoff, Query your thoughts on adding Keoni Ruth to your prospect watch list. He tore up the AZL last summer, spent some of his college years at USD and, perhaps most importantly, has a really cool name.
He hasn’t gotten going yet with the Storm this year but I have high hopes for him.
#2@Tom Waits: Thank Richard Wade for the FirstInning links. That was a great suggestion, and surprisingly easy to implement.
I agree about Kulbacki, too. The guy’s track record is too strong (even if it’s collegiate performance) for him to continue like he started.
#5@Ryan: Yeah, I mentioned Ruth in the book as well as another quasi-local product, Lance Zawadzki. I probably should start including them. Either could develop into a utility type player.
#1@parlo: Thanks for this link … at the bottom is a Classic Colemanism from yesterday …
Jerry Coleman said, “Justin Huber is Australian, but he speaks English.†Fortunately, however, Coleman wasn’t finished, adding, “But you have to be Australian to understand him.â€
#7@LynchMob: I laughed out loud when I heard him say that yesterday. Coleman is awesome.