Spectator,
There are 2 pitchers on the Generals who are on the disabled list, and with your buddy Leone seeming like he is handling the level alright (for the moment), what do you think is going to happen with the roster in Jackson? There are still Victor Sanchez, Tyler Pike and Landazuri waiting in the High Desert, and Jordan Shipers still out in the wings, with Sanchez, Pike, and Shipers all top ranked prospects. With that level of talent, are there still roster moves that need to be made to get these guys the experience they are going to need? After all, while a Carson Smith or Dominic Leone might have value somewhere, relievers are not really what are needed - you want to bring the starters along as you can. The bullpen guys may fit in somewhere, but are they really going to add to the overall quality of the team? With the trade deadlines approaching, do you start looking to see if there are any of the lower levels that can be used to get better value long term?
I'm sort of new at this, but I have been trying to follow along as best I can, and I am interested in the strategy of how to best utilize what seems to be a value a lot of people see in the Mariners minors...
AAA -- Fresno 3, Tacoma 2 -- Box
Of course, we have to start with Walker, Seattle Mariner NOT Texas Ranger!
5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
As noted in the Shout Box, he only threw 79 pitches, so he was probably pulled just to keep his workload light. He also had the cross-country travel this week to throw an inning in the Futures Game.
Unfortunately for the Rainiers, Logan Bawcom (Talk40 #31) gave up two runs in the 6th and 7th and that was enough for Fresno. Stephen Pryor pitched a scoreless 8th in his AAA return.
The offense came from solo shots by Abraham Almonte (26intheMix) and Carlos Peguero (Watch List).
AA -- Jackson 4, Mississippi 3 [10 innings] -- Box
If you follow this space, you know our new Mariners Prospect Talk icon is Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) and "our man" is Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) and our "out on a limb" guy is Dominic Leone (Talk40 #25).
Well, they're all still making us look like we know something of which we speak.
- Taylor: double, single, walk
- Choi: two singles, walk
- Dominant Dominic!: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Leone for Bullpen.
In the 10th, Ramon Morla reached on a passed-ball strike-three, then went to second on Choi's walk. Steven Proscia (26intheMix) brought him home with the game-winning single.
High-A -- High Desert 14, Lake Elsinore 2 -- Box
No need for extra-inning heroics in California.
Jordan Pries (26intheMix) was cruising on the mound: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K. And his offense took plenty of advantage.
And it started with Good News for the Kivle-fans ... the third consecutive game in which Patrick Kivlehan (Talk40 #33) homered. He has four in three games now; five for High Desert; eight overall.
And also good news for the Pow! Pow! Paolini! crowd. Daniel Paolini (Talk40 #26) hammered his 17th of the year, which leads the organization. He also had a double and a single.
On May 31 of last year, Paolini was hitting .254/.324/.381 and looked like a bust (except that he wasn't even a big enough deal to consider a bust; he was just a guy). Then he finished 2012 going .318/.397/.542 with 15 HR from June 1 on, and in 2013 he's .286/.395/.517 with 17 HR.
More to come.
Patrick Brady also homered (his fifth).
Low-A -- Lansing 2, Clinton 1 -- Box
Lansing grabbed a 2-0 lead in the 4th and made it hold up as the LumberKings didn't get much offense.
Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) had two singles and a walk.
Short Season-A -- Boise 9, Everett 2 -- Box
Boise did not "Fear the Zokan." Jacob Zokan gave up four earned runs in 3.2 IP.
But more offensive goodness from D.J. Peterson who got his sixth homer in just 26 games. He also has 11 walks: .314/.377/.549
Running mates Justin Seager and Austin Wilson each added a double and a single.
Rookie -- Pulaski 9, Johnson City 6 -- Box
The Pulaski offense was led by catcher Toby DeMello who delivered two balls over the wall (his second and third).
Leadoff hitter Ian Miller had three singles.
AZL Rookie -- Indians 10, Mariners 2 -- Box
The main bright spot was The Tank Tyler O'Neill who had a double and a single: .340/.415/.574.
Not sure how much longer he'll be in Arizona.
Looking Ahead
Tyler Pike (Talk40 #14) is slated for Clinton. Blake Beavan goes for Tacoma.
Comments
Always good to get new perspectives.
Shipers is a guy that scouts have always loved, but he's never put up very good performances in my book, so I've always been a Landazuri promotor.
I'm not sure if they'll give Landazuri a shot at Jackson this year, though I'd love to see it. It would be huge surprise to me to see Sanchez or Pike that high this year.
They've already moved up Trevor Miller, and Jordan Pries is another guy working his way up the ladder who could be there soon. I don't know if either of them will make it all the way to the majors, but they have a better shot than Gilheeney and Shankin, who are just kind of filling in space at the moment.
In the bullpen, Jeremy Dobbs and David Colvin have been the biggest surprises, and both could get a chance to move up.
Hope that helps. Thanks again!