4/1 Spring Training Report

Posted by Jeremy on April 2, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Turning the page on the calendar, I saw the big red circle around April 6th marking the beginning of the 2009 MLB regular season!  Spring training has flown by this season at a rocket’s (not steroid enhanced) pace and what a spring it has been for several young players!  Wednesday’s action saw all or nothing slugger Michael Wilson of the Seattle Mariners slug his 8th HR of the spring, and super non-rookies Travis Buck and Alex Gordon hit their 4th and 6th HR’s respectively.  ‘08 N.L. Rookie of the Year, Geovanny Soto and Mets prospect Omir Santos rang the dinger bell twice, but it was the young pitchers who opened eyes today.  San Francisco Giants superstar-in-the-making Madison Bumgarner surrendered just one hit in 3 innings of work while striking out 4, but even that performance was not good enough to usurp the one time phenom Homer Bailey.  The Cincinnati Reds hurler tossed 6 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs a walk an 8 strikeouts.  Additionally, he went 2 for 2 at the plate with a double and a run scored.  While it may not earn him a spot on the Reds’ rotation, it is surely worthy of receiving today’s Youngster of the Day award.

Youngster of the Day—HOMER BAILEY

Other Notable Performances:

• Josh Anderson—1-4 R RBI
• Adam Rosales—2-3 HR(2) 2 RBI
• Homer Bailey—6 IP 4H 2 ER BB 8K (2-2 2B R)
• Chris Johnson—2-4 2B RBI R
• William Glen—4 IP 6H ER BB 4K (W)
• Omir Santos—2-3 2 HR(4) 3 RBI 2R
• Travis Snider—2-3 2 2B R RBI
• Ross Detwiler—2.1 IP H
• Derek Holland—4 IP 3H ER BB 4K W(2)
• Matt Brown—1-3 HR(3) 2 RBI
• Geovanny Soto—2-2 2 HR(2) 5 RBI
• Travis Buck—2-2 HR(4) 2 RBI
• Cliff Pennington—2-2 2B 2 RBI R
• Rob Johnson—1-5 HR(2) 2 RBI
• Trevor Crowe—1-4 BB 2R
• Mike Wilson—2-5 HR(8) 2R 2 RBI
• Dexter Fowler—3-5 2B 3B RBI 2R
• Alex Gordon—2-4 HR(6) RBI
• Albert Callaspo—2-3 2B RBI BB SB(1)
• Billy Butler—1-4 HR(4) RBI
• Madison Bumgarner—3 IP H 4K

3/26 Spring Training report

Posted by Jeremy on March 27, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Joba Chamberlain earned his 3rd win of the spring, Jordan Schafer and Pablo Sandoval continue to post multi-hit games, and sparsely used prospects David Cooper and Gerardo Parra tacked up a couple of base knocks yesterday.  However, the top youngster was Kansas City Royals’ SS Mike Aviles whose 2-3 afternoon included his 2nd HR 5 RBI and 2 runs scored.  The Royals young offense is rounding into shape and I fully believe that this team is one that will turn some heads this season.

Youngster of the Day—MIKE AVILES

Other Notable Performances:

• Emilio Bonifacio—2-4 3B 5 RBI R
• Cameron Maybin—2-3 2B 2R
• Adam Jones—3-4 HR(1) 2B 2 RBI 2R
• Joba Chamberlain—4.1 IP 3H 2 ER 3 BB 3K W(3)
• Aaron Mathews—2-3 2R RBI
• David Cooper—2-3 R
• Jordan Schafer—2-4 3B R
• Freddie Freeman—1-2 RBI
• Matt Joyce—1-3 RBI R BB SB(1)
• Rick Porcello—2.1 IP 3H ER 3 BB K
• Pablo Sandoval—2-4 2 RBI 2R SB(1)
• Blake DeWitt—2-4 2B 2 RBI R
• Jason McDonald—3 IP 2H 2 BB 3K W(2)
• Elvis Andrus—1-2 R RBI
• Mike Aviles—2-3 HR(2) 2B 4 RBI 2R
• Alex Gordon—2-3 R
• Billy Butler—2-4 R
• Mitch Maier—1-1 R RBI SB(2)
• Gerardo Parra—2-4 2B R RBI
• Chris Getz—1-4 R 2 SB(4)
• Nick Adenhart—6 IP 5H ER 2 BB 3K W(2)

3/23 Spring Training Report

Posted by Jeremy on March 24, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

As prospects continue to be shipped to their minor league destinations, the list of young performers grows smaller and smaller.  In today’s action, Chris Carter of the Red Sox and Pablo Sandoval of the Giants continue to hit the snot out of the baseball, each gathering 3 hits and a HR (for Carter his 5th and Sandoval his 3rd).  Jake Fox and Micah Hoffpauir continue to be two of the undersung heroes of the pre-season for the Chicago Cubs and slow starters Cliff Pennington, Wladimir Balentien, and John Raynor are all heating up at just the right time.  Today’s youngster of the day was a real slow starter, but his recent tear has raised his batting average from just .105 a week ago to a much more respectible .242 today.  Florida Marlins 2B in waiting Chris Coghlan went 3-4 including his 1st HR of the spring, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Youngster of the Day—CHRIS COGHLAN

Other Notable Performances:

• Chris Carter (Sox)—3-4 HR(5) RBI 2R
• Dusty Brown—1-3 2 RBI 2B
• Chris Coghlan—3-4 HR(1) 3 RBI 2R
• John Raynor—3-5 2B R SB(2)
• J.R. Towles—2-3 2B 2R
• J.A. Happ—5 IP 5H ER 3 BB 3K
• Ricky Romero—5 IP 7H 2 ER 2 BB 5K (L)
• Chris Dickerson—2-2 2R SB(6)
• Zack Cozart—2-2
• Ubaldo Jimenez—6 IP 3H 2 BB 2K (W)
• Dexter Fowler—1-1 2B R
• Wladimir Balentien—2-3 HR(3) 3 RBI
• Rob Johnson—2-3 2 2B 2R
• Pablo Sandoval—3-4 HR(3) RBI
• Erick Aybar—2-2 HR(1) 2 RBI 2R 2B
• Trevor Reckling—2 IP H BB
• Mike Aviles—2-4 2B R
• Billy Butler—1-2 2B 2 BB
• Kyle Blanks—2-3 2B 2 RBI 2R
• Chase Headley—3-5 HR(2) 3 RBI 2R
• Jake Fox—3-5 3R HR(2) 3 RBI 2R
• Micah Hoffpauir—2-4 2 2B 2R RBI
• Bo Scales—2-6 3 RBI 2R
• Cliff Pennington—2-2 2B 2R 2 RBI
• Corey Wimberley—1-4 2B R SB(5)

3/21 Spring Training Report

Posted by Jeremy on March 22, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

For those of you who entered the PPR Contest, never fear!  I will have the results posted later on this evening or first thing tomorrow morning.  Winners can expect an email from me soon requesting your shipping address.

As for the baseball action, yesterday offered a full slate of action and several outstanding performances.  Jay Bruce belted his 2nd HR of the spring as did Buster Posey and Kendry Morales.  Trevor Cahill continues to look like he his ready for a major league rotation spot throwing 5 innings of one run ball.  Jake Fox pounded his 4th HR of the spring and added 5 RBI as did Billy Butler, but it was Colby Rasmus’ 5 hit day that takes home today’s youngster of the day honors.

Youngster of the Day—COLBY RASMUS

Other Notable Performances:

• Michael Bowden—3 IP 3H ER BB 2K
• Junichi Tazawa—2 IP 2H 2K
• Anibal Sanchez—5.2 IP 5H 2 ER BB 2K
• Luke Hughes—2-4 RBI
• Brian Duensing—2 IP H 2K
• John Mayberry Jr.—2-4 2B SB(3)
• Jordan Schafer—1-4 R BB
• Josh Anderson—1-1 HR(2) 3 RBI
• Brandon Jones—2-4 2 RBI 2R BB
• Freddie Freeman—1-3 2B R RBI
• Jay Bruce—3-4 HR(2) 3 RBI R
• Homer Bailey—4.2 IP 4H 3 ER 2 BB 4K (L)
• Colby Rasmus—5-6 2 2B 2R 3 RBI
• David Freese—2-4 2B R
• Jason Motte—IP K SV(4)
• Jeff Larish—2-5 HR(3) 2R RBI
• Joba Chamberlain—3 IP 4H ER 5K
• Juan Miranda—1-1 HR(2) 2 RBI
• Jesus Guzman—2-4 2 RBI R
• Roger Kieschnick—1-2 HR(1) 2 RBI
• Pablo Sandoval—2-4 2B R RBI
• Emmannuel Burriss—3-5 3R RBI
• Buster Posey—1-3 HR(2) RBI
• Eugenio Velez—1-3 R SB(5)
• Trevor Cahill—5 IP 4H ER 2K
• Aaron Cunningham—2-4 2B R RBI
• Matt Tuiasosopo—2-2 2R 2 RBI
• Chris Carter (A’s)—1-1 2B R
• Kendry Morales—1-3 HR(2) RBI
• Nick Adenhart—5 IP 4H ER BB 6K
• Brad Nelson—2-4 2 2B 2 RBI
• Xavier Paul—1-1 3B R
• Matt LaPorta—3-4 2 2B 2 RBI R
• Jason McDonald—3 IP BB K
• Mitch Maier—3-6 2 2B 3R
• Billy Butler—2-6 HR(3) 2B 5 RBI 3R
• Chad Tracy (Rangers)—1-1 GS HR(1) 4 RBI
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia—2-2 R BB 2 2B
• Joe Koshansky—1-3 HR(2) RBI
• Jake Fox—3-5 HR(4) 2B 5 RBI R
• Chris Getz—2-4 RBI
• Joshua Fields—2-4 HR(2) RBI