Game Over:
4-0 Phils
Oh, Halladay threw a no-hitter also...
Top 9:
Over. No Hitter for Halladay. It was the most methodically easy performance I've ever seen. In the Philly post-no hitter scrum, it was almost like his teammates were afraid to touch him. It's great how each postseason, one pitcher emerges as just obviously unhittable. There was Lee last year, Beckett twice, Kenny Rogers, Mariano, off the top of my head, but I've never seen an excellent offensive team be so overmatched in a postseason game. The luster of time tends to cast a sentimental sheen on great pitching performances from decades past, but Halladay tonight will be talked about and watched for decades in the future.
Top 8:
4-0
That was an absolute breeze, and Halladay is three outs away from the first no-hitter in the postseason since Don Larson in 1966. This is wonderful to watch.
Top 7:
Phils, 4-0
Whoa. Halladay got through the heart of Cincinnati's order, getting two groundouts and striking out Rolen. The crowd in Philly is frantic.
He's thrown first-pitch strikes to 19 of 22 batters.
Top 6:
Rollins made a nice play on a grounder over the mound, and now this is starting to get interesting; Halladay's still not given up a hit.
Top 5:
Phils, 4-0
Jay Bruce worked a two-out walk to at least give the Reds a baserunner. Halladay looks incredible -- he's thrown maybe three pitches in a poor location and everything is darting in either direction. Drew Stubbs, by the way, has some quietly great offensive numbers this year.
Bottom 4:
Phils, 4-0
Travis Wood has done a great job settling this game down and earning himself a start if the Reds can somehow get past the Phils three aces and into the NLCS.
Top 4:
Phils, 4-0
Halladay struck out two using the full arsenal and is, ho-hum, perfect through 4.
Bottom 3:
Phils, 4-0
Travis Wood has a fantastic, sweeping cutter. Halladay's bores sharply, and Cliff Lee's is right in between the two. The cutter is definitely the pitch of 2010.
Bottom 2:
Phils, 4-0
Volquez has three electric pitches, but he couldn't command any of them. After getting two quick outs, Ruiz walked, Valdez chopped an infield single, the Doc ripped an RBI single, Rollins walked, and Victorino drove the stake through Volquez's outing with a single to center. Mercifully, Travis Wood got Utley to roll over the end it... but this is a major hole for the Reds to dig out of, and I'm not just talking about Game 1.
Top 2:
1-0, Phils:
Halladay is just all over the Reds' bat handles. Leaked a few pitches to Rolen, resulting in some hefty cuts, but Halladay put him away with a change that disappeared straight down. The Philly crowd loved it.
Bottom 1:
1-0, Phils
Victorino manufactured a run with a beautiful slap double on a changeup from Volquez. He stole third, then Utley's sac fly scored him.
Volquez is one of those ballplayers who smirks all the time, which is annoying.
Top 1:
0-0
Halladay picked exquisitely at the first base-side corner of the plate to Phillips, OCab, and Votto and got three easy outs. Not a pitch in the center of the plate.
In stark contrast to the earlier game, it's nice to see (and hear) a home crowd with a little life. This is the most intimidating crowd in the National League.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Texas v. Tampa Bay, Game 1
Game Over
5-1, Texas
Feliz didn't look good early, surrendering back-to-back walks to begin the inning and then allowing a seething liner to right by Zobrist (who was all over everything all day) that was caught. Then he struck out two and turned out the lights with nice movement on high 90s gas. Carlos Pena struck out three times for Tampa and gave you no confidence that he was going to make contact this month.
With a questionable Shields (over Garza?) set to start Game 2, the Rays seem to Mr.Z to be in trouble.
Bottom 8:
5-1, Texas
Darren O'Day made Upton look very uncomfortable during a three-pitch AB and Oliver got Crawford and Longoria without incident.
Bottom 7:
5-1, Texas
Well, a Zobrist HR dangles the possibility that the Rays could bring the tying run to the plate if Qualls can skate through the 8th.
Bottom 6:
5-0, Texas
Lee's up to 10 Ks. Hard to believe that arguable the two best pitchers in baseball -- Lee and Halladay -- were both sent back to the minor leagues after spending significant time in the show.
Bottom 5:
5-0, Texas
Lee got his 8th K right about when TBS flashed a graphic listing him as tied for second with Bob Gibson for all-time playoff Game 1 ERA at 0.50. The don of Game 1 donuts is El Tiante.
graphic that lee is tied for 2 with bob gibson for gm 1 era, .50, 8 ks now
Top 5:
5-0, Texas
Vlad drilled a 3-0 fastball off the base of the center field wall to score Hamilton, who reached on an error. Most of Texas' hits have been of the tip-your-cap variety, but this one to Vlad was a ham sandwich.
Bottom 4:
4-0, Texas
Lee flipped huge, slow yakkers to K Pena and Baldelli, and let's move right into this Joe Madden riddle: why is Rocco Baldelli -- who had retired earlier this year and hasn't been a productive player for years -- starting this game?
Top 4:
4-0, Texas
Price was looking dominant, with another couple ticks on his fastball, then Molina popped a cheapie over the left-field fence. Looking bad for TB, as Lee is clearly settling in to this one.
Top 3:
3-0, Texas
Nelson Cruz hit a 3-0 fastball on the inside corner that was not badly placed approx. 440 feet to dead center.
Bottom 2:
2-0, Texas
Man, does Cliff Lee look good. Every fastball was either on the black or someplace unhittable but purposeful when he was ahead in the count, which was always. Zobrist hit a leadoff double, then it was K, F-8, K.
Also, batting average is a pretty meaningless stat, but Tampa has two starters hitting under .200 and neither is Sean Rodriguez. Not sure this team has the pop or starting pitching to hang with Texas.
Actually interesting from Buck Martinez: the pitcher who coaxes the highest percentage of first-pitch swings in baseball? Cliff Lee.
Top 2:
2-0, Texas
Francouer absolutely drilled a Price fastball off the center field wall to drive in Kinsler, who had singled, and Molina dropped a single into left to score the much maligned former Met who has hit .370 since joining the Rangers. The bottom of the Texas order changed their strategy against Price there, swinging early in the count. They have five hits already; this is a deep and very difficult lineup to pitch to. Lee with a lead is not good for Tampa.
Bottom 1:
0-0
Lee also stuck mostly to ol #1 and worked out of a bases-loaded jam after singles by Bartlett, Crawford, and Longoria. His cutter has so much lateral break it almost looks like a slider; that pitch looks like it'll be death on righties as it moves into their hands. Carlos Pena looks pretty lost. Hitting with the bases loaded and one out, he kept stepping out and calling time, and sure, this might have constituted a little gamesmanship, but you had the feeling he had no chance. He eventually struck out looking on a laser of a two-seamer from Lee, who has only walked 18 all year. Incredible stat.
Top 1:
0-0
Exciting initial half-inning of the playoffs. Despite two-out singles by Hamilton and Vlad, Price looked great. He threw almost all fastballs, almost all just off the outside corner. But Andrus and Cruz both worked long at-bats and got Price up to 24 pitches. Price seems determined to get through the order once without really showing them that slider.
As an aside, Josh Hamilton's batting stance is that of a left-handed Eric Davis.
**************************************************************************************
Ah, the playoffs... Ouch, an early setback: Buck martinez is the "analyst" for TBS. Is he actually wearing noseplugs while making these inane observations of what is completely obvious or does it just sound that way?
5-1, Texas
Feliz didn't look good early, surrendering back-to-back walks to begin the inning and then allowing a seething liner to right by Zobrist (who was all over everything all day) that was caught. Then he struck out two and turned out the lights with nice movement on high 90s gas. Carlos Pena struck out three times for Tampa and gave you no confidence that he was going to make contact this month.
With a questionable Shields (over Garza?) set to start Game 2, the Rays seem to Mr.Z to be in trouble.
Bottom 8:
5-1, Texas
Darren O'Day made Upton look very uncomfortable during a three-pitch AB and Oliver got Crawford and Longoria without incident.
Bottom 7:
5-1, Texas
Well, a Zobrist HR dangles the possibility that the Rays could bring the tying run to the plate if Qualls can skate through the 8th.
Bottom 6:
5-0, Texas
Lee's up to 10 Ks. Hard to believe that arguable the two best pitchers in baseball -- Lee and Halladay -- were both sent back to the minor leagues after spending significant time in the show.
Bottom 5:
5-0, Texas
Lee got his 8th K right about when TBS flashed a graphic listing him as tied for second with Bob Gibson for all-time playoff Game 1 ERA at 0.50. The don of Game 1 donuts is El Tiante.
graphic that lee is tied for 2 with bob gibson for gm 1 era, .50, 8 ks now
Top 5:
5-0, Texas
Vlad drilled a 3-0 fastball off the base of the center field wall to score Hamilton, who reached on an error. Most of Texas' hits have been of the tip-your-cap variety, but this one to Vlad was a ham sandwich.
Bottom 4:
4-0, Texas
Lee flipped huge, slow yakkers to K Pena and Baldelli, and let's move right into this Joe Madden riddle: why is Rocco Baldelli -- who had retired earlier this year and hasn't been a productive player for years -- starting this game?
Top 4:
4-0, Texas
Price was looking dominant, with another couple ticks on his fastball, then Molina popped a cheapie over the left-field fence. Looking bad for TB, as Lee is clearly settling in to this one.
Top 3:
3-0, Texas
Nelson Cruz hit a 3-0 fastball on the inside corner that was not badly placed approx. 440 feet to dead center.
Bottom 2:
2-0, Texas
Man, does Cliff Lee look good. Every fastball was either on the black or someplace unhittable but purposeful when he was ahead in the count, which was always. Zobrist hit a leadoff double, then it was K, F-8, K.
Also, batting average is a pretty meaningless stat, but Tampa has two starters hitting under .200 and neither is Sean Rodriguez. Not sure this team has the pop or starting pitching to hang with Texas.
Actually interesting from Buck Martinez: the pitcher who coaxes the highest percentage of first-pitch swings in baseball? Cliff Lee.
Top 2:
2-0, Texas
Francouer absolutely drilled a Price fastball off the center field wall to drive in Kinsler, who had singled, and Molina dropped a single into left to score the much maligned former Met who has hit .370 since joining the Rangers. The bottom of the Texas order changed their strategy against Price there, swinging early in the count. They have five hits already; this is a deep and very difficult lineup to pitch to. Lee with a lead is not good for Tampa.
Bottom 1:
0-0
Lee also stuck mostly to ol #1 and worked out of a bases-loaded jam after singles by Bartlett, Crawford, and Longoria. His cutter has so much lateral break it almost looks like a slider; that pitch looks like it'll be death on righties as it moves into their hands. Carlos Pena looks pretty lost. Hitting with the bases loaded and one out, he kept stepping out and calling time, and sure, this might have constituted a little gamesmanship, but you had the feeling he had no chance. He eventually struck out looking on a laser of a two-seamer from Lee, who has only walked 18 all year. Incredible stat.
Top 1:
0-0
Exciting initial half-inning of the playoffs. Despite two-out singles by Hamilton and Vlad, Price looked great. He threw almost all fastballs, almost all just off the outside corner. But Andrus and Cruz both worked long at-bats and got Price up to 24 pitches. Price seems determined to get through the order once without really showing them that slider.
As an aside, Josh Hamilton's batting stance is that of a left-handed Eric Davis.
**************************************************************************************
Ah, the playoffs... Ouch, an early setback: Buck martinez is the "analyst" for TBS. Is he actually wearing noseplugs while making these inane observations of what is completely obvious or does it just sound that way?
Breaking Down the Playoff Relievers
Most playoff games are decided in the 6th and 7th innings, between the starter and the closer. Here are eight playoff relievers you probably haven't thought a lot about who will have major impacts in the next week.
David Robertson, Yankees:
Robertson's 1.50 WHIP isn't gaudy, but this is the guy who's coming into a close game if Pettitte or Hughes is knocked out in the 5th or 6th. He's got one of the more impressive 12-to-6 curves in the bigs and has a reverse strikeout split, so he can go multiple innings if necessary. Pretty good weapon against the lefty-heavy Twins lineup.
Jesse Crain, Twins:
Another righty with a dramatic reverse split. Crain's .OPS against is .614 for lefties and they're slugging just .333. Righties' numbers against him aren't a whole lot better, so Crain should pitch a lot to all those Yankee switch-hitters in the middle innings.
Darren O'Day, Rangers:
The new Byung-Hyung Kim, and I mean that in a good way. A sidewinding righty who's delivering his second straight season with a WHIP right around 1.00. Gets better movement that any playoff pitcher except the Phillies' Ryan Madson and maybe the Giants' Santiago Casilla. Remember this, though: O'Day and kid closer Neftali Feliz are pretty green, for what it's worth. For every K-Rod in the playoffs there are a few Jobas.
Joaquin Benoit, Rays:
Benoit was in AAA until late April. Then he struck out 75 in 60 innings for Tampa while walking 11. Eleven. That's 11.19 Ks/9. 0.68 WHIP. The numbers in this case speak volumes.
Aroldis Chapman, Reds:
Myth: Chapman can throw 104. Fact: Chapman can throw 105 with a slider not dissimilar to that of the Carlton/Randy Johnson model. And you know that Dusty The Armwrecker will be K-rodding Chapman right before your bulging eyes. A major multiple-inning weapon, though this atmosphere will be very, very new.
Ryan Madson, Phillies:
Madson is as solid as Lidge is terrifying. That sinker is a bowling ball, he doesn't give up the amount of hits sinkerballers normally do, and his K/9 this year was a career high 10.87 while only surrendering four home runs. With Contreras the only other vaguely trustworthy bullpen arm, Madson's going to pitch a lot.
Santiago Casilla, Giants:
The Giants bullpen is stacked; Atlanta's in trouble if they're losing after five innings. Sergio Romo has become the Guillermo Mota to Brian Wilson's Eric Gagne (and by the way, Mota is in SF's pen), but righty slinger Santiago Casilla is the guy in the middle who can shut down in multiple innings. Nothing he throws is remotely straight, the heat touches 97, and he's given up eight hits in the last month.
Jonny Venters, Braves:
Atlanta is going to have a tough time winning bullpen wars against San Francisco, but Venters is the best bridge they have to Billy Wagner. A robust 93 Ks in 83 innings and a very non-robust .241 SLG against. Walks are a slight weakness, though: 39 on the year.
David Robertson, Yankees:
Robertson's 1.50 WHIP isn't gaudy, but this is the guy who's coming into a close game if Pettitte or Hughes is knocked out in the 5th or 6th. He's got one of the more impressive 12-to-6 curves in the bigs and has a reverse strikeout split, so he can go multiple innings if necessary. Pretty good weapon against the lefty-heavy Twins lineup.
Jesse Crain, Twins:
Another righty with a dramatic reverse split. Crain's .OPS against is .614 for lefties and they're slugging just .333. Righties' numbers against him aren't a whole lot better, so Crain should pitch a lot to all those Yankee switch-hitters in the middle innings.
Darren O'Day, Rangers:
The new Byung-Hyung Kim, and I mean that in a good way. A sidewinding righty who's delivering his second straight season with a WHIP right around 1.00. Gets better movement that any playoff pitcher except the Phillies' Ryan Madson and maybe the Giants' Santiago Casilla. Remember this, though: O'Day and kid closer Neftali Feliz are pretty green, for what it's worth. For every K-Rod in the playoffs there are a few Jobas.
Joaquin Benoit, Rays:
Benoit was in AAA until late April. Then he struck out 75 in 60 innings for Tampa while walking 11. Eleven. That's 11.19 Ks/9. 0.68 WHIP. The numbers in this case speak volumes.
Aroldis Chapman, Reds:
Myth: Chapman can throw 104. Fact: Chapman can throw 105 with a slider not dissimilar to that of the Carlton/Randy Johnson model. And you know that Dusty The Armwrecker will be K-rodding Chapman right before your bulging eyes. A major multiple-inning weapon, though this atmosphere will be very, very new.
Ryan Madson, Phillies:
Madson is as solid as Lidge is terrifying. That sinker is a bowling ball, he doesn't give up the amount of hits sinkerballers normally do, and his K/9 this year was a career high 10.87 while only surrendering four home runs. With Contreras the only other vaguely trustworthy bullpen arm, Madson's going to pitch a lot.
Santiago Casilla, Giants:
The Giants bullpen is stacked; Atlanta's in trouble if they're losing after five innings. Sergio Romo has become the Guillermo Mota to Brian Wilson's Eric Gagne (and by the way, Mota is in SF's pen), but righty slinger Santiago Casilla is the guy in the middle who can shut down in multiple innings. Nothing he throws is remotely straight, the heat touches 97, and he's given up eight hits in the last month.
Jonny Venters, Braves:
Atlanta is going to have a tough time winning bullpen wars against San Francisco, but Venters is the best bridge they have to Billy Wagner. A robust 93 Ks in 83 innings and a very non-robust .241 SLG against. Walks are a slight weakness, though: 39 on the year.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Mr. Z Is Back
You want an apology? I direct you here.
Look here: this is a Zephyrs blog and thus a Minor League blog, but the minor leagues are over, see, so we're switching to the big boys until November.
Here at What the Zeph we will be clogging the blogosphere with live, in-game commentary of as many playoff games as we can when not fully hypnotized by inevitable Taylor Swift pregame histrionics and national anthems.
Look here: this is a Zephyrs blog and thus a Minor League blog, but the minor leagues are over, see, so we're switching to the big boys until November.
Here at What the Zeph we will be clogging the blogosphere with live, in-game commentary of as many playoff games as we can when not fully hypnotized by inevitable Taylor Swift pregame histrionics and national anthems.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thomas Diamond to Start AAA All-Star Game
Mr.Z has inside sources telling him that Metairie native and UNO product Thomas Diamond -- currently having a terrific season for the AAA I-Cubs -- will start the AAA All-Star Game on July 14 at 6 pm CT. The game will be played in Allentown.
Diamond is currently leading the PCL in Ks and opponent's BAA and is 4th in WHIP.
Diamond is currently leading the PCL in Ks and opponent's BAA and is 4th in WHIP.
Game #83: Zephyrs Lose 2-1
After winning the first two games of a four-game set with Omaha, the Zs lost the final two to slip back to a game below .500. Yesterday's was a tough 2-1 defeat in 10 innings.
New Orleans' lone run came in the second, when Gookie Dawkins extended his hitting streak to ten games with a two-out RBI double to score Bryan Petersen from first. They rallied in the third as well, loading the bases with just one out on consecutive singles by Cousins, Richar, and LoMo off Omaha starter Luis Mendoza. But Luna grounded into a double play, and Omaha would squeeze a run across in the 5th on an Irving Falu sac fly. The decisive Omaha run in the 10th came off of a shaky Adalberto Mendez dealing with a tough heart of the Omaha order. Omaha loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to Alex Gordon. The heavy hitting Kila Ka'aihue brought home David Lough with a sac fly to give Omaha a 2-1 lead that would hold up.
Starting for the Zephyrs, Sean West was excellent once again and is solidifying his position as the pitcher with the best stuff on the staff. Over 7 strong innings the lefty gave up just four hits, three of them singles. Meyer and Benitez followed West with scoreless innings.
The Zephs are on the way to Iowa for a five-game set with the I-Cubs, one of them a make-up game for last week's rain-soaked series in New Orleans.
New Orleans' lone run came in the second, when Gookie Dawkins extended his hitting streak to ten games with a two-out RBI double to score Bryan Petersen from first. They rallied in the third as well, loading the bases with just one out on consecutive singles by Cousins, Richar, and LoMo off Omaha starter Luis Mendoza. But Luna grounded into a double play, and Omaha would squeeze a run across in the 5th on an Irving Falu sac fly. The decisive Omaha run in the 10th came off of a shaky Adalberto Mendez dealing with a tough heart of the Omaha order. Omaha loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to Alex Gordon. The heavy hitting Kila Ka'aihue brought home David Lough with a sac fly to give Omaha a 2-1 lead that would hold up.
Starting for the Zephyrs, Sean West was excellent once again and is solidifying his position as the pitcher with the best stuff on the staff. Over 7 strong innings the lefty gave up just four hits, three of them singles. Meyer and Benitez followed West with scoreless innings.
The Zephs are on the way to Iowa for a five-game set with the I-Cubs, one of them a make-up game for last week's rain-soaked series in New Orleans.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Game #82: Zephyrs Lose 7-2
The Zephs roll skidded to a halt after four consecutive wins as Omaha easily trounced the punchless Zs 7-2 last night in Metairie.
Riding two Ed Lucas home runs and strong pitching from standout starter Bryan Bullington, the Royals never let the Zephs into the game. Wes Whisler's fourth start for the Zephyrs couldn't have been much worse, as the lanky lefty allowed 13 baserunners in six innings, 10 of them reaching on hits, four of them extra-base hits. By the time Jorge Sosa came in to stop the bleeding and strike out five over two innings, the game was out of hand.
The most interesting thing going in this one was that Rick Ankiel got his first hit while on his rehab assignment from Kansas City, a double. Mr.Z is not joking.
Game #83 is today (Wednesday) at 11:30 am. Sean West is on the hill for the Zs.
Riding two Ed Lucas home runs and strong pitching from standout starter Bryan Bullington, the Royals never let the Zephs into the game. Wes Whisler's fourth start for the Zephyrs couldn't have been much worse, as the lanky lefty allowed 13 baserunners in six innings, 10 of them reaching on hits, four of them extra-base hits. By the time Jorge Sosa came in to stop the bleeding and strike out five over two innings, the game was out of hand.
The most interesting thing going in this one was that Rick Ankiel got his first hit while on his rehab assignment from Kansas City, a double. Mr.Z is not joking.
Game #83 is today (Wednesday) at 11:30 am. Sean West is on the hill for the Zs.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Games #80 & #81: Two More Wins
The Z-train is rolling. With wins over the Omaha Royals on the 4th of July and on National "Recovery" Day (July 5), the Zs have crept over the .500 mark for the first time since April.
The appetizer game to the deservedly renowned Zephyr Field fireworks was a close, tense one. The Zs built a 3-0 lead by the 4th on RBI doubles by Gookie Dawkins and LoMo as well as Danny Richar's RBI groundout. VandenHurk was excellent through five, but an Alex Gordon double and a Kila Ka'aihue bomb tied the game at three in the sixth. However, the Zephyrs have flashed late spark recently. After Omaha pulled ahead with two runs off of Jorge Sosa in the seventh, the Zephs loaded the bases for Hector Luna, the AAA All-Star who has flourished in every offensive situation this year except for with runners in scoring position. But God Bless America, Luna ripped a bases-clearing double and Armando Benitez took your breath away in the good way and the Zs held on for a 6-5 win.
Yesterday's 5-0 win came on the strength of another good Brian Lawrence performance on the hill. Lawrence was in scatter mode over 6 1/3, allowing eight baserunners with nobody passing third. After wiggling free from a bases-loaded jam in the 6th, the Zs came up with five in the bottom half courtesy of a solo shot by catcher Brad Davis and a three-run HR by Logan Morrison, LoMo's first at Zephyr Field.
Now at a cool 41-40, the Zs have caught Albuquerque in the standings and are a mere 2.5 games back of division-leading Oklahoma City.
The appetizer game to the deservedly renowned Zephyr Field fireworks was a close, tense one. The Zs built a 3-0 lead by the 4th on RBI doubles by Gookie Dawkins and LoMo as well as Danny Richar's RBI groundout. VandenHurk was excellent through five, but an Alex Gordon double and a Kila Ka'aihue bomb tied the game at three in the sixth. However, the Zephyrs have flashed late spark recently. After Omaha pulled ahead with two runs off of Jorge Sosa in the seventh, the Zephs loaded the bases for Hector Luna, the AAA All-Star who has flourished in every offensive situation this year except for with runners in scoring position. But God Bless America, Luna ripped a bases-clearing double and Armando Benitez took your breath away in the good way and the Zs held on for a 6-5 win.
Yesterday's 5-0 win came on the strength of another good Brian Lawrence performance on the hill. Lawrence was in scatter mode over 6 1/3, allowing eight baserunners with nobody passing third. After wiggling free from a bases-loaded jam in the 6th, the Zs came up with five in the bottom half courtesy of a solo shot by catcher Brad Davis and a three-run HR by Logan Morrison, LoMo's first at Zephyr Field.
Now at a cool 41-40, the Zs have caught Albuquerque in the standings and are a mere 2.5 games back of division-leading Oklahoma City.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Donnie Murphy Called Up
Well, this answers why Murphy was suspiciously pulled from the game two nights ago. The Marlins DFAd Brian Barden and called up shortstop Donnie Murphy yesterday, citing the need for late-inning offense.
Along with Hector Luna, Murphy had been one of the Zs only power threats with Logan Morrison still not flashing HR pop. Murphy has hit 12 HRs this season. Murphy has spent limited time in his career with both the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland A's; Florida will be his third major league team.
Tim Torres was called from AA Jacksonville to take Murphy's spot and had two hits in his debut. Torres has shown some pop this year with 10 HRs.
Along with Hector Luna, Murphy had been one of the Zs only power threats with Logan Morrison still not flashing HR pop. Murphy has hit 12 HRs this season. Murphy has spent limited time in his career with both the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland A's; Florida will be his third major league team.
Tim Torres was called from AA Jacksonville to take Murphy's spot and had two hits in his debut. Torres has shown some pop this year with 10 HRs.
Game #79: Zephyrs Win 3-1
Riding seven outstanding innings from Tom Mastny -- who was in the independent leagues a month ago -- the Zephyrs squeaked by Nashville 3-1 Saturday night to win their second straight road series. It's the first time this year the Zs have won two consecutive series on the road, and the team pulled to within one game of the .500 mark.
Mastny held Nashville's offense to just four hits and the Zephs bullpen did the rest, breezing through two clean innings with Meyer (instead of Benitez) getting the save opportunity. Tim Torres, debuting for the Zephs after being called up from Jacksonville, had two hits.
The Zephyrs return to Zephyr Field today to open a four-game series against Omaha. Tonight's game begins at 6 PM and VandenHurk will be on the hill opposed by former top pitching prospect Philip Humber.
Mastny held Nashville's offense to just four hits and the Zephs bullpen did the rest, breezing through two clean innings with Meyer (instead of Benitez) getting the save opportunity. Tim Torres, debuting for the Zephs after being called up from Jacksonville, had two hits.
The Zephyrs return to Zephyr Field today to open a four-game series against Omaha. Tonight's game begins at 6 PM and VandenHurk will be on the hill opposed by former top pitching prospect Philip Humber.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Respecting Hector Luna
Most baseball organizations have one or two: quintessential AAAA guys, the ones at the head of the AAA class who are those last guys cut in spring training. Your Jack Custs, your Roberto Petegines, your Brian Lawrences, your Hector Lunas.
The 2010 PCL AAA All-Star roster was announced Thursday and Hector Luna is the lone Zephyr representative (LoMo is in the Future's Game). Luna has been excellent offensively in his first season for the Zs; he leads the team in HRs and RBIs, he's hitting .300, he gets on base (.379 OBP), and he can play all over the field. None of this should be surprising. He hit .349 for Albuquerque last year with a .414 OBP and 17 bombs. His numbers have improved for several years running, culminating in 94 MVP-like games last year for the Dodgers AAA affiliate. Hector Luna has figured out the minor leagues.
Why is this not good enough for the next level? Well, Luna is... "big-bodied" and probably an unrealistic candidate to play any major league position but third base, a strike against someone whose role is likely to be the utility one. Luna is a little like the Dodgers' Ronnie Belliard, who he was actually traded for in 2006. And he strikes out more than you wish he did -- 53 this year in 267 ABs.
All this said, Luna's power numbers this year put him on a pace to shatter last year's. If he follows up this first half with a more or less equal second, you could easily argue that the Zs 30-year-old All Star has found the one thing that has eluded him in his minor league career -- power -- and that somehow, somewhere, Hector Luna deserves one more chance in the show.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Game #78: Zephyrs Win 4-3
Just as Mr.Z ventured to publicly call out the Zs for being incapable of surmounting deficits, they build a fence with single runs in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings to dramatically squeak by Nashville on the road for a morale-lifting W.
Bryan Petersen, Neil Wilson, and Danny Richar (who had replaced Donnie Murphy) all had clutch two-out RBI hits to cap late-inning rallies off Nashville's bullpen, sparking the Zephyr offense to a rare comeback win. Nashville starter Chuck Lofgren had limited what has recently been a painfully lethargic Zs offense to one run on Donnie Murphy's solo home run in the 2nd, his 12th of the season.
Zs starter and Shreveport native Sean West was solid again in six innings, and seems to be recapturing the potential that Florida saw in him last year, when he was a member of their rotation for 20 starts. West struck out seven and gave up just two runs, though he left behind by a run. When New Orleans tied the game at 2 in the 7th, Nashville answered immediately. Mr.Z fave Adalberto Mendez (the stats are becoming less incredible -- regression to the mean is a bitch) was greeted by Mat Gamel by a loooooong bomb to tie the game. But the Zs showed Mr.Z something in the 9th when they pieced together a rally from a dropped third strike wild pitch (Dawkins), a bloop forceout fielders choice (Luna), and Richar's huge two-out double.
The bottom of the 9th was Benitez time and was pleasantly uneventful, as the big man showed a live fastball and easily shut the door. This was one of those you file under a "team win" but Mr.Z is doling out tonight's HUGE Z to Richar for clutchness.
Bryan Petersen, Neil Wilson, and Danny Richar (who had replaced Donnie Murphy) all had clutch two-out RBI hits to cap late-inning rallies off Nashville's bullpen, sparking the Zephyr offense to a rare comeback win. Nashville starter Chuck Lofgren had limited what has recently been a painfully lethargic Zs offense to one run on Donnie Murphy's solo home run in the 2nd, his 12th of the season.
Zs starter and Shreveport native Sean West was solid again in six innings, and seems to be recapturing the potential that Florida saw in him last year, when he was a member of their rotation for 20 starts. West struck out seven and gave up just two runs, though he left behind by a run. When New Orleans tied the game at 2 in the 7th, Nashville answered immediately. Mr.Z fave Adalberto Mendez (the stats are becoming less incredible -- regression to the mean is a bitch) was greeted by Mat Gamel by a loooooong bomb to tie the game. But the Zs showed Mr.Z something in the 9th when they pieced together a rally from a dropped third strike wild pitch (Dawkins), a bloop forceout fielders choice (Luna), and Richar's huge two-out double.
The bottom of the 9th was Benitez time and was pleasantly uneventful, as the big man showed a live fastball and easily shut the door. This was one of those you file under a "team win" but Mr.Z is doling out tonight's HUGE Z to Richar for clutchness.
Richar!
Top 9:
Another huge two-out hit from the Zs. Danny Richar's double off journeyman Chris Smith drove home Gookie Dawkins and gave New Orleans a tenuous lead. Tenuous because Mr.Z thinks Armando Benitez is going to be pegged to close this.
Another huge two-out hit from the Zs. Danny Richar's double off journeyman Chris Smith drove home Gookie Dawkins and gave New Orleans a tenuous lead. Tenuous because Mr.Z thinks Armando Benitez is going to be pegged to close this.
Zephyrs Pull Ahead
Neil Wilson of all people just cracked a two-out double to score Carroll, who had singled. Newcomer Mark Saccomanno will now pinch hit for the pitcher's spot with two outs and two in scoring position.
EDIT: He lined to center to end the threat. Who protects this lead? Strickland? Hmmm.. it's Mendez, and he just gave up a bomb to Gamel to tie it at 3.
EDIT: He lined to center to end the threat. Who protects this lead? Strickland? Hmmm.. it's Mendez, and he just gave up a bomb to Gamel to tie it at 3.
The Good, The Bad
Good: The Zephs tied it by pushing across a run in the 7th.
Bad: Brett Sinkbeil -- he of the 6.75 ERA -- is in for West.
EDIT: Sink slithered out of trouble, leaving two on base.
Bad: Brett Sinkbeil -- he of the 6.75 ERA -- is in for West.
EDIT: Sink slithered out of trouble, leaving two on base.
Oh Wow
Bottom 6:
The Zephyrs did something interesting! Brett Carroll just threw out Joe Koshansky at first on a ground-ball single to right. Props to LoMo for even expecting the throw. Mr.Z remembers Jessie Barfield doing that once back in the day. Anyone got some more right fielders who have thrown out guys at first on a single?
The Zephyrs did something interesting! Brett Carroll just threw out Joe Koshansky at first on a ground-ball single to right. Props to LoMo for even expecting the throw. Mr.Z remembers Jessie Barfield doing that once back in the day. Anyone got some more right fielders who have thrown out guys at first on a single?
Donnie Murphy Removed From the Game
No word why and Steve Miller isn't talking (nor smoking, joking, or midnight toking) with him in the dugout. Murphy probably tweaked something; Richar is in.
Tense Moment in the 6th
Top 6:
The Zs have Gookie on third and Luna on second with two outs. Nashville just brought in Tim Dillard to face Carroll with two outs and two on. Cousins is on deck if they pitch around Carroll.
EDIT: Ugh, Carroll squibs it back to the mound and the Zs are done in the 6th still trailing 2-1.
The Zs have Gookie on third and Luna on second with two outs. Nashville just brought in Tim Dillard to face Carroll with two outs and two on. Cousins is on deck if they pitch around Carroll.
EDIT: Ugh, Carroll squibs it back to the mound and the Zs are done in the 6th still trailing 2-1.
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