This is quite late, but you'll see why: with the short season Rookie and A ball teams in Peoria, Pulaski and Everett starting play this week, I take a look at the current rosters. You'll see where a lot of the M's draft picks will end up beginning their pro careers, plus see where some other draft picks and signees will pick up where they left off.
Other than that, and Jeff Clement swapping 25 man and 40 man spots with WLAD, not a bad day for the org. Details within, as always.
On to the wrap-up!
VENEZUELA~! The VSLMs and the VSL always take Sunday off.
¡MUY CALIENTE!
Mario Yepez: 8-17, double, triple, 3 R, 6 RBI, 2 walks, 5 K, SB
Jorge Agudelo: 6-17, double, 5 R, 2 RBI, 3 walks, 2 K, SB
Roberto Velasquez: 6-16, 5 R, 3 walks
Manuel Campos: 2 app, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, K
¡QUE LASTIMA!
This was a good week: nobody had a particularly poor week for the VSLMs, in a week where they went 5-0!
Dominican: DSL Cardinals 3, DSL Mariners 1
(League: 229/335/323... 3.74 ERA)
Jose Perdomo: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K, hit batter
Felix Bautista: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER (HR), 2 walks, 6 K
Efrain Nuñez: 2-3, RBI, K
rest of DSLMs lineup: 2-25, R, 4 walks, 6 K
The DSLMs managed four hits, two in the bottom 2nd, where they scored their lone run. Jose Perdomo held up his end for 5 innings, but Felix Bautista gave up the lead and the game down the stretch in an extended relief outing.
Once again, the following teams begin play on the following dates:
Pulaski Mariners (Rookie ball): June 17 (Tuesday)
Everett Aquasox (Short Season A ball): June 17 (Tuesday)
AZL Mariners (Rookie ball): June 22 (Sunday)
The Pulaski Mariners have the following currently committed to their roster:
P Jordan Alvis (21st round pick 2008)
P Nick Czyz (35th rd 2008)
P Kenn Kasparek (12th rd 2008)
P Taylor Lewis (19th rd 2008)
P Blake Nation (22nd rd 2008)
C Kylee Hash (scrap heaper: 17th rd pick of the Chisox in 2006, spent last year with Bristol, another App League team)
C Tommy Johnson (27th rd 2008)
IF Fred Bello (20th rd 2008)
OF Jacob Shaffer (15th rd 2008)
Obviously, there will be more additions before go-time, if they haven't already been made.
The AZL Mariners roster is a little fuller. Gary Thurman, he of the scary looking face from 2007, will be the manager. I bet he'll have an easy time keeping the Rookie ballers in line.
P Kyle Brown (33rd rd 2008)
P Robbie Dominguez (46th rd 2006... 14 app, 8 GS, 2.01 ERA, 44.2 IP, 1 HR, 15/37 BB/K in 2007 with Peoria)
P Andres Esquibel (38th rd 2008)
P Eddy Fernandez (2003 international signee... 13 app, 2.01 ERA, 22.1 IP, 1 HR, 5/13 with Peoria, and 8 fairly ugly appearances for Wisconsin in 2007)
P Donny Jobe (44th rd 2008)
P Chris Kirkland (36th rd 2008)
P Nick Love (32nd rd 2008)
P Miguel Marquez (2004 international signee... 6 GS +2, 2.10 ERA, 30 IP, 2 HR, 14/23 BB/K in 2007 with Peoria)
P Javier Martinez (29th rd 2007... 3 app, 5 IP, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 walks, 5 K in 2007 with Peoria)
P Richard Ortiz (2004 international signee... 16 app, 5 GS, 3.95 ERA, 41 IP, 3 HR, 15/38 BB/K in 2007 with Peoria)
P Brandon Pullen (37th rd 2008)
P Bradley Reid (30th rd 2008)
P Ramon Romeijn (2007 international signee... 6 app, 7.04 ERA, 7.2 IP, 5/9 BB/K in 2007 with Peoria)
P Christian Staehely (39th rd 2008)
C Juan Fuentes (2004 international signee... 313/370/393 in 112 ABs in 2007 with Peoria)
1B Brandon Fromm (41st rd 2006... 241/298/405 in 158 ABs in 2007 with Peoria)
SS Mario Martinez (2006 international signee... 281/311/352 in 196 ABs in 2007 with Peoria... only 18 years old)
3B Alfredo Mateo (2005 international signee... 290/359/384 in 138 ABs in 2007 with Peoria... only 19 years old)
OF Dwight Britton (2003 international signee... 263/318/288 in 80 ABs in 2007 with Peoria)
OF Jarrett Burgess (6th rd 2008... will be 18 in August)
Everett's roster also needs some filling in, but you can expect some Wisconsin T-Rats to get sent to Everett for more remedial development. Henry Cotto is the batting coach and Jose Moreno will be the manager. The current Aquasox:
P Aaron Brown (9th rd 2007... 20 app, 1.95 ERA, 37 IP, 3 HR, 15/49 BB/K in 2007 with Everett)
P Bobby LaFromboise (8th rd 2008)
P Brett Lorin (5th rd 2008)
P Mark Pettis (2006 undrafted free agent signing... 16 app, 2.36 ERA, 26.2 IP, 11/29 BB/K in 2007 with Everett)
P Philip Roy (39th rd 2007... 16 app, 6.21 ERA, 29 IP, 3 HR, 14/30 BB/K in 2007 with Everett)
P Doug Salinas (2005 international signee... 15 GS, 5.91 ERA, 70 IP, 6 HR, 31/70 BB/K in 2007 with Everett)
P Fabian Williamson (22nd rd 2006... 12 GS +2, 3.43 ERA, 65.2 IP, 3 HR, 25/73 BB/K in 207 with Peoria)
C Henry Contreras (24th rd 2008)
C Jeff Dunbar (11th rd 2007... 247/339/396 in 154 ABs in 2007 with Everett)
C Travis Howell (18th rd 2008)
1B Kris Sanchez (2007 undrafted free agent signing... 227/320/300 in 150 ABs in 2007 with Everett)
2B Bennett Billingsley (16th rd 2008)
SS Deybis Benitez (2003 international signee... 184/300/228 in 136 ABs in 2007 with Everett)
3B Nate Tenbrink (7th rd 2008)
IF Guy Welsh (18th rd 2007... 228/319/253 in 79 ABs in 2007 with Peoria, plus a promising 23 AB cup of coffee with Wisconsin)
OF Jermaine Brock (6th rd 2004... 230/298/285 in 165 ABs in 2007 with Everett)
OF Welington Dotel (BEEF ROIDS!... 2004 international signee... 263/312/413 in 160 ABs in 2007 spent mostly in Everett)
OF Ryan Royster (13th rd 2008)
OF Kalian Sams (2006 international signee... 225/318/414 in 191 ABs with Everett after 156 rather difficult ABs (205/287/353) in Wisconsin in 2007)
A: Wisconsin 6, Clinton 3
WIS: 31-35... CLI: 41-26
(League: 249/321/369... 3.62 ERA)
Donnie Hume: 6 IP, 2 H, (1 R) 0 ER, walk, 4 K, wild pitch (11 GS, 2.44 ERA, 51.2 IP, 4 HR, 19/50 BB/K)
Edward Paredes: 1 IP (12 GS +1, 4.01 ERA, 60.2 IP, 6 HR, 24/43 BB/K)
Jose Escalona: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, walk, 2 K (12 app, 2.45 ERA, 14.2 IP, 1 HR, 7/17 BB/K)
Gavin Dickey: 0-5, 4 K: The Golden Sombrero (288/346/411)
Ronald Garth: 2-2, 2 doubles, R, 2 RBI, 2 walks (260/311/385)
Denny Almonte: 1-4, RBI, 3 K (252/310/427)
Joe Dunigan: 1-3, double, 2 R, walk, K (212/288/365)
Blake Ochoa: 1-3, triple, R, walk (263/330/394)
Calvin Beamon: 2-4, double, R (239/309/332)
Donnie Hume closed the first half with another effective start, as the T-Rats powered ahead for good with a 4 run 5th inning.
Groundballs: 9
Flyballs: 5
Line Drives: 0
Pop Ups: 4
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 4
And with that, the first half of the Midwest League's season comes to a close. The MWL will now take their All Star Break. Phillipe Aumont, Edilio Colina and Juan Diaz were picked for the All Star team, but Aumont, on the DL to rest his arm, will skip the game.
Wisconsin finished the first half 31-35, well back (9.5 games to be exact) of 1st half Western division champ Clinton.
A+: High Desert 11, Lake Elsinore 6
Mavs: 32-38... Lake: 32-38
(League: 267/338/398... 4.41 ERA)
Anthony Varvaro: 3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 4 walks, 4 K (12 GS +2, 6.57 ERA, 63 IP, 7 HR, 48/65 BB/K)
Michael Wagner: 2 IP, 2 H, walk, K (26 app, 5.17 ERA, 31.1 IP, 8/26 BB/K)
Julio Santiago: 2 IP, 2 H, walk, K (21 app, 3.86 ERA, 30.1 IP, 1 HR, 19/27 BB/K)
Steven Richard: 1 IP, walk, K, wild pitch (returned from DL)
Steve Uhlmansiek: 1 IP, 1 H, hit batter (12 app, 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 1 HR, 8/11 BB/K)
Daniel Carroll IS BACK: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, K, SB
Chris Minaker: 1-4, double, walk (284/320/452)
Carlos Peguero: 1-4, R, 3 RBI, K (295/318/473)
Travis Scott: 1-3, double, R, 2 RBI, 2 walks (261/313/398)
Leury Bonilla: 2-5, R, 2 K (295/381/422)
Erick Monzon: 1-4, double, 2 R, walk, SB (178/241/234)
Jamie McOwen: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, walk (254/317/338)
Ogui Diaz: 1-5, R, RBI, K (250/298/307)
With Greg Halman called up to AA, Daniel Carroll finally got activated from the DL, his broken wrist fully healed, and the org decided not to waste any more time with him in Wisconsin, promoting him to take Halman's place in High Desert. Carroll immediately stepped in without missing a beat, getting on base twice, stealing a bag and scoring twice, while making two putouts in center field (a healthy average).
Meanwhile, Anthony Varvaro is having a very hard time keeping batters off the basepaths this year. A disaster inning undid a 4-1 Mavs lead: Three walks in the 3rd forced in a run, and then Rayner Contreras tripled to clear the bases before Jeremy Hunt's single up the middle cashed in Contreras. Varvaro struck out the next two batters to escape, and then Jim Horner decided that was enough.
Groundballs: 1
Flyballs: 5
Line Drives: 2
Pop Ups: 2
Walks: 4
Strikeouts: 4
The Mavs trailed 6-4 after that, but they blew up for 6 runs in the 6th to seize a 10-6 lead, which was enough to take care of Lake.
AA: Chattanooga 5, West Tenn 4
WTN: 41-29... CHA: 37-33
(League: 261/340/394... 4.17 ERA)
Denny Stark: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 walks (7 GS, 5.28 ERA, 30.2 IP, 2 HR, 18/15 BB/K)
Travis Chick: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER (HR), walk, 5 K (18 app, 2 GS, 4.00 ERA, 45 IP, 3 HR, 22/37 BB/K)
Brodie Downs: 2.1 IP, 1 H, K, hit batter (23 app, 4.66 ERA, 36.2 IP, 3 HR, 16/27 BB/K)
Shawn Kelley: 1.2 IP, 1 H, (intentional) walk, K
Brent Johnson: 1-5, 3 RBI (327/407/500)
Mark Kiger: 3-4, RBI, K (223/348/297)
Adam Moore: 1-4, double, R, K (302/377/457)
The Lookouts- LOOK OUT... had all 5 of their runs by the 5th, before the DIAMOND JAXX scored their first runs in the bottom half. Denny Stark's 2nd inning exit points to injury possibilities. Travis Chick wasn't all that much better. On the bright side, Shawn Kelley now has 16 consecutive scoreless innings since getting initially promoted from Wisconsin, as he's treating relief pitching in the higher ranks like a video game. How far can he go?
AAA: Tacoma 11, Sacramento 3
TAC: 35-34... SAC: 41-29
(League: 274/346/433... 4.73 ERA)
Robert Rohrbaugh: 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER (2 HR), 8 K (13 GS, 5.82 ERA, 72.2 IP, 5 HR, 24/57 BB/K)
Scott Williamson: 1.2 IP
Tug Hulett: 1-6, triple, R, 4 K: The Golden Sombrero (280/349/435)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 2-5, 2 R, RBI (264/346/398)
Victor Diaz: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, walk, K (286/363/540)
Bryan LaHair: 1-4, RBI, 2 K (260/349/479)
Rob Johnson: 3-4, double, 3 run HR, solo HR, 5 RBI, walk (259/329/366)
Charlton Jimerson: 1-5, solo HR, 2 K (227/242/460)
Oswaldo Navarro: 2-5, R (277/360/353)
Notable for his absence is Jeff Clement, who as you well know by now was recalled to the big club, as WLAD flatlined, got platooned, kept flatlining as you'd expect, and is now on his way back. Not sure what becomes of the Rainiers glut of outfielders. Someone will have to go away. Guesses:
Prentice Redman: Effective during this stint in AAA, but was kinda sorta brought in in part because of WLAD's promotion, and could be a logical choice to go back to AA, where he is an effective regular but not a blowaway talent. However, he can play all three outfield positions, and is clearly showing with his performance that he deserves to be in AAA.
Victor Diaz: Brought in mainly to fill in as a "RF"/DH, and isn't much of a glove. With WLAD returning, he becomes expendable, as remaining OFs can platoon the DH spot. But he's been one of Tacoma's most productive regulars, and yes, while prospect development comes first, the org's teams ARE trying to win games and be competitive, and Diaz's power hitting helps a lot with that.
Shawn Garrett: Has been useful in AAA as a LF/RF/1B/DH but not much more than that. A .744 OPS isn't particularly impressive for the PCL, especially for the power positions. A move back to AA would be a logical one. The only issue would be finding a place on the AA roster for him, as Brent Johnson, Michael Saunders, Mike Wilson and now Greg Halman have that department overloaded. Releasing him would be possible, though that would leave a bad impression, as Garrett hasn't been bad and hasn't done anything to warrant a release.
Charlton Jimerson: He still hits for power but can't consistently get on base anymore (.242 OBP) and his K/BB (60/1) is worse than ever. Also allegedly has a bad attitude. Any potential usefulness he had to the M's is likely gone. But his disappearance would leave no true CF in Tacoma (Jeremy Reed was the only other player with more than 10 starts in CF in Tacoma), other than maybe Prentice Redman, and most of Redman's outfield work has come at the corners. Prentice would have to go from spot-duty at CF to mastering the position... quickly.
Josh Womack: He's essentially as-needed bench fodder at this point anyway. And he wouldn't be needed. The only issue is that you can justify bringing him off the bench, as he hasn't much of a future and won't give you any guff about the role. The others... not so much.
Meanwhile, the Rainiers had a good game and veteran retread Scott Williamson joins the gang, recording 5 relief outs without incident. I guess we'll take what we can get in that bullpen.