Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-11-2006

[Chris]

Clay Rapada at it again!

[Chris]

After tonight, Rapada has 5.2 IP of scoreless ball, giving up 1 hit, 1 walk and 5 K's. Clay is 4-4 in save opportunities. Clay is flat out dealing!

[Chris]

Thanks, Nathan!

 

Kernels Shut Out Chiefs 6-0

Johnston has two of the Chiefs five hits

 

Cedar Rapids, IA – Two Cedar Rapids pitchers combined to shutout the Peoria Chiefs 6-0 Tuesday night in front of 891 fans at New Veterans Memorial Stadium. The loss knocks the Chiefs out of a five way first place tie and to 3-3 on the 2006 sesaon.

 

The Kernels scratched across an early run against Chiefs starter Donnie Veal. After a walk and a pickoff, Hainley Statia singled and advanced to third on a single by Pat Reilly. An error by Brandon Taylor allowed Statia to score as Mark Trumbo reached first on the errant throw. Veal recovered to strike out Warner Madrigal who was called for batters interference on his follow through resulting in an inning ending double play.

 

The Chiefs best chance to score against 18-year old starter Tommy Mendoza came in the 5th inning. Robinson Chirinos singled but was thrown out trying to steal second for the inning’s first out. Dylan Johnston followed with a single as did Brandon Taylor to put two on with one out. But Ryan Norwood flew out to deep center and Mendoza struck out Alberto Garcia to end the threat.

 

Cedar Rapids added to their lead in the 6th inning to knock Veal from the game. Reilly drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on the errant throw from catcher Mark Reed. With two down, Travis Schlichting drove an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first homer of the season and 3-0 Kernels lead.

 

The Kernels added a run in the 7th against the Chiefs bullpen and Peoria was unable to get anything on the board against Cedar Rapids reliever Dan Hawkins. Cedar Rapids then added a pair of runs on four straight hits against Chiefs reliever Tim Layden in the 8th inning for the final 6-0 margin.

 

Veal (0-2) took the loss allowing three runs on five hits 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked three batters on the night. Mendoza (1-1) picked up his first Midwest League win shutting out the Chiefs over six innings. The young right-hander allowed just four hits and struck out four. Dan Hawkins allowed just one hit over three shutout innings to pick up his first save of the season.

 

Pepsi Player of the Game:

Dylan Johnston (SS) – The Chiefs shortstop collected two of the team’s five hits. He singled in the 4th but was left at third base and he singled again in the 9th.

 

Notes…Donnie Veal struck out seven batters, a high for any Chiefs starter this season…The last time the Chiefs were shutout was August 29th at Beloit…The five hits mark a season low for the Chiefs offense…The gametime of 2:12 marks the Chiefs quickest game this season.RHP Todd Blackford (1-0) will start Wednesday at 6:30 PM against RHP Nick Adenhart (0-0)…The broadcast begins with the pre-game show on http://www.peoriachiefs.com at 6:15 PM.

[craig]

One of Harvey's two hits was an infield job. In 3 games he's got 6 K's already; interestingly enough, at least two of those were taking. I don't imagine he has much pitch recognition, so maybe he can't tell what will or won't be a strike. But hopefully a couple of called K's reflect that he's taking a few more pitches this year and not swinging at everything?

 

In two starts, Justin Berg is 0-2, and has been somewhat wild. But the interesting thing is that in two starts, his outfielders have yet to make an out. In 9.2 innings, he's scored 11 K's 18/0 GB/FB. That's some serious groundball movement! Guys with extreme groundball stuff combined with strikeout stuff, that's a pretty magic combination. Heh, of course good control would be the third aspect of the ideal magic triple, and there's little indication of that thus far. But he seems very interesting. I'd love to get an up-to-date scouting eval on him.

[roadster]

One of Harvey's two hits was an infield job. In 3 games he's got 6 K's already; interestingly enough, at least two of those were taking. I don't imagine he has much pitch recognition, so maybe he can't tell what will or won't be a strike. But hopefully a couple of called K's reflect that he's taking a few more pitches this year and not swinging at everything?

 

In two starts, Justin Berg is 0-2, and has been somewhat wild. But the interesting thing is that in two starts, his outfielders have yet to make an out. In 9.2 innings, he's scored 11 K's 18/0 GB/FB. That's some serious groundball movement! Guys with extreme groundball stuff combined with strikeout stuff, that's a pretty magic combination. Heh, of course good control would be the third aspect of the ideal magic triple, and there's little indication of that thus far. But he seems very interesting. I'd love to get an up-to-date scouting eval on him.

 

Also, what's surprising with Harvey is that he has 2 triples on a bum knee so it has not affected his running too much...if only he can start recognizing pitches he truly would be a 5 tool player.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Theriot played some RF yesterday? Is this a new thing?

[rawaction]

Theriot played some RF yesterday? Is this a new thing?

 

The Riot can do everything. He played some RF in spring training for the ML team.

[Chris]

Theriot played some RF yesterday? Is this a new thing?

 

The Riot can do everything. He played some RF in spring training for the ML team.

 

What he said

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So I live 20 minutes from Cedar Rapids, and I my intention is to go to at least 1 game each season when the Cubs affiliate comes to town. I'm still at an 0-fer. Every time Lansing/Peoria makes the trip, I get sick and can't go, it's a day game and I can't get out of work, or my kids end up with activities. This is really getting old.

[craig]

Also, what's surprising with Harvey is that he has 2 triples on a bum knee so it has not affected his running too much...if only he can start recognizing pitches he truly would be a 5 tool player.

 

Mark Grace averaged 3 triples a year, and got as many as 5 four different seasons, including at age 35 when I know he was slower than slow. I wouldn't read too much speed from the fact that Harvey got 2 triples in 467 AB last year. A triple every 2-3 months doesn't require real wheels. Although the scouting reports seem to suggest that last year, he could still move around decently in the outfield, his knees didn't make him a range liability.

 

I'm more concerned about the pitch recognition. If only... If only he could start recognizing pitches well, and hitting what he recognized, that would be awesome and he could be a force. Maybe he and Corey should be roommates someday.