Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-9-2007

[Outshined_One]

I think around the ASB would be good, even earlier is fine. It's been just 41 innings but he is a college kid and more advanced.

 

I still wonder about his stuff, I haven't read too many flattering things about his FB but those reports might still be based off last season. Also, Holliman started off well last season (obviously not sub-0.50 ERA, he did have a sub-3 ERA in June though) and then really tailed off so that might be a concern.

 

Looking at the basic numbers through 41 IP...

 

K/9: 6.59

BB/9: 1.76

HR/9: 0 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

BAA: .217

GO/FO: 1.14

 

His numbers such as BABIP and LD% don't exactly seem to be grossly out of whack, either. You can't even say that he's benefiting from a pitcher-friendly park because of the fact that he has been markedly more successful on the road than at home this season.

 

Now, I'm curious to see what would happen to him if he got bumped up to AAA at some point this season. We've seen plenty of pitching prospects in this organization catch fire in AA only to sputter out in AAA.

 

At the rate Holliman's going, we might very well find out this season.

[Marco4]

Tennessee won 9-0 Box Score

 

These games are surprisingly varied.

 

1-2, 1-12, 9-0. Two left to go in the series.

[Guest]

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Double-Down on Fresno in 8-5 win

Iowa regains share of first place with 6th straight win

By Toby Hyde / http://www.iowacubs.com

 

The Iowa Cubs came from behind to beat the Fresno Grizzlies 8-5 on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park in front of 8,989 fans. The win extended Iowa's winning streak to a season high six games, and coupled with Nashville's loss to Colorado Springs left the teams with identical records, earning the Cubs a share of first place for the first time in the month of May.

Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, Mike Fontenot, who had a huge day, doubled with two outs to start the rally. Mike Kinkade then doubled into the right field corner to bring home Fontenot with the tying run. Kinkade then scored the go-ahead run when Fresno second baseman, William Bergolla, booted Micah Hoffpauir's sharp groundball.

 

The Cubs expanded their lead with two more two out runs in the bottom of the eighth. With out Buck Coats doubled to right. Coat then stole third on ball four to Angel Pagan. Pinch hitter Geovany Soto brought home Coats with a sacrifice fly to right field. Fontenot plated Pagan from first with a double to left-center field. Fontenot finished 4-5 with three doubles, two runs scored and one driven home.

 

The early innings produced frequent scoring. After Fresno picked up a run off Cubs starter Ryan O'Malley in the top of the first, Iowa scored three times in the bottom of the inning on four doubles from Fontenot, Kinkade, Hoffpauir and Koyie Hill. However, the Cubs' 3-1 lead only lasted for two outs as Fresno tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the second. Iowa committed errors in each of the first two innings leading to three unearned Grizzlies runs and also snapped their streak of four straight games without a defensive mistake.

 

Fresno's Fred Lewis put the Grizzlies ahead with a solo home run off Ryan O'Malley in the third, but Iowa's Angel Pagan tied the game at 4-4 with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fifth, immediately following Pagan's long ball, O'Mally gave up a leadoff double to Fresno's Dan Ortmeier and then walked Scott McClain. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. However, O'Malley contained the potential damage to just one run. He struck out Justin Leone and induced a groundout from Fred Lewis that brought home Ormeier to put the Grizzlies up 5-4. That ended O'Malley's afternoon, but Ben Howard picked up the final out in the fifth with one pitch by getting Tomas De La Rosa to ground out.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Holliman and Smokies Bats Snap Biscuits Win Streak with a 9-0 Win Wednesday Night

 

Montgomery, AL- Tennessee jumped on the Biscuits with two quick runs in the top of the first. Josh Kroeger singled in the first run and Matt Craig groundout for a second.

 

Tennessee ahead 2-0 heading into the second inning wasted little time scoring more runs. One run crossed home on an throwing error by Montgomery pitcher Chris Mason and Jorge Cortes smacked a single to bring in another.

 

The Smokies subtracted any doubt with a three run fifth. Evan Longoria’s second error allowed the score to swell to 5-0. Then Craig brought home two more with a double.

 

Cortes capped off a two run eighth for Tennessee with his fifth hit of the night. Cortes ended the game 5-for-5 at the plate. It is the second time this year he has accomplished that feat.

 

Mark Holliman shutout Montgomery through 8 innings, while yielding only eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts to get the win.

 

Geoffrey Jones struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the Smokies shutout.

 

Tennessee is now 5 and 3 on this road trip while the win snaps Montgomery’s five game winning streak.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"]Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire

Cubs Manager Gets Fired Up Igniting Bats

Jeanine Jiannetti

 

[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] Mitch Atkins (2-1) furnished the Flying Tigers with three solo shots in the first four innings to give Lakeland (12-21) the advantage over Daytona (18-14) early, but it wouldn’t be enough to take the Cubs who have won four of the last six games in come-from-behind victories. The “Cardiac Cubs” would come back again to overtake the Flying Tigers 5-3 in the final innings, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

 

Robinson Chirinos (1-2) who struck out looking in the fourth inning also made a note of it to home plate umpire Jordan Baker and was ejected along with Manager Jody Davis, who came to his defense.

 

The Daytona Cubs were only able to bounce four hits off the bats Wednesday night while not one runner was able to reach third base, let alone cross the plate up until the bottom of the eighth.

 

With Nate Spears (0-2) and Chris Amador (1-3) reaching base on walks, Matt Matulia (2-3) sparked the ignition with a bases clearing triple to the right field wall to resuscitate the Cubs.

 

Then with two outs, Jesus Valdez (1-4) pounded a double up the right field line that scored Matulia. Mark Reed (0-1) drew the walk and Valdez and Reed both scored as Alberto Garcia (1-4) continued to breath new life into the Cubs with a two run double. The Rally was enough to surpass the Flying Tigers 5-3 in game one of a four game set.

 

Darin Downs (1-0) got the win on his first appearance with the Cubs. Downs had three strike outs and one walk while allowing only one hit in one inning pitched Downs is the third Cubs pitcher to get the win after arriving late to Daytona.

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"]Chiefs Fall at Dayton 10-7

 

Dayton, OH – The Peoria Chiefs fell behind early and their game long rally fell short Wednesday night in a 10-7 loss to the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field. Peoria is now 16-14 on the season and 2-4 on their current 11 game road trip.

 

Both teams went in order in the first but Dayton got a big second inning against Peoria starter Billy Muldowney. Juan Francisco led off with his 8th homer of the season, a long blast to straight away center. Denis Phipps followed with a solo homer of his own just inside the left field foul pole. Muldowney then issued a walk, gave up a single and allowed a one-out walk to load the bases. Marco Carrillo came out of the bullpen and walked Drew Stubbs to force in a run before giving up a two-run single to Justin Turner for a 5-0 Dayton lead.

 

Peoria wasted a chance in the third inning with runners on second and third and just one out. Dragons starter Rafael Gonzalez struck out Matt Camp and Jim Adduci to end the inning. The Chiefs did get on the board in the fourth inning against Gonzalez. Josh Lansford’s bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out. Blake Lalli then bounced into a double play as Alfred Joseph scored to get Peoria on the board. Gonzalez retired Carter to end the threat.

 

Dayton added to their lead against Carrillo in the fourth. With one out, Drew Stubbs powered his fifth homer of the season over the seats in left and then Francisco drove in Turner with a single to right.

 

Peoria picked up a pair in the sixth inning thanks to two errors by Dragons third baseman Juan Francisco. Lalli and Carter each drove in a run in the inning as the Chiefs cut the lead to 7-3. Dayton used three straight doubles in the sixth inning against Mike Billek to push the lead to 9-3. The Chiefs scored one run in the seventh and the eighth to again cut the lead to four. Dayton again used the longball in the eighth to push the lead to 10-5. Justin Turner’s solo homer off Peoria reliever Chuckie Platt was Dayton ’s fourth solo shot of the ninth.

 

Peoria started a rally in the ninth against Anthony Gressick when Jonathon Mota lad off with a walk. Camp drove a two run homer to right, his first of the season, cutting the lead to 10-7. But Ramon Geronimo came out of the bullpen and picked up his second save of the season by retiring the next three hitters to end the game.

 

Gorman’s Pub Players of the game: Josh Lansford (3B) & Matt Camp (2B) – Lansford now has a five game hit streak going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in tonight’s contest. Camp hit his first homer of the season in the 9th and was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.

 

Notes… Jonathon Mota went 0-for-2 to end an eight game hit streak…Yusuf Carter now leads the way with a seven game hit streak while Russ Canzler has a six game hit streak…

[rawaction]

Geoffrey Jones pitches the 9th inning and Tennessee wins it 9-0. Holliman is on fire.

 

Is there anyway this kid sees the majors this year? Any move to AA or AAA in the forseeable future?

 

He's in AA right now.

 

I could see a call up to AAA if he keeps pitching the way he does, but that probably wouldn't happen until the second half of the season (at the very earliest).

 

I think around the ASB would be good, even earlier is fine. It's been just 41 innings but he is a college kid and more advanced.

 

I still wonder about his stuff, I haven't read too many flattering things about his FB but those reports might still be based off last season. Also, Holliman started off well last season (obviously not sub-0.50 ERA, he did have a sub-3 ERA in June though) and then really tailed off so that might be a concern.

 

MY BOY!

[Lefty]

Iowa just took a 6-5 lead after a double by Fontenot, then a 2-out RBI double by Kinkade. That tied the game up at 5. Hoffpauir then reached on an error by Fresno's 2B. Kinkade scored from 2nd to give Iowa the lead.

 

Fontenot is 3/4 with a pair of doubles today. His average is now up to .330.

that impossible. it must be a mistake. after all, 32 other teams passed on him when he was available so he really must stink. if he keeps it up he might turn into the left handed version of theriot for the cubs. maybe the cubs should trade derosa and put fontenot at 2b to along with theriot at ss.

 

How has Fontenot looked playing SS?

[Guest]

Iowa just took a 6-5 lead after a double by Fontenot, then a 2-out RBI double by Kinkade. That tied the game up at 5. Hoffpauir then reached on an error by Fresno's 2B. Kinkade scored from 2nd to give Iowa the lead.

 

Fontenot is 3/4 with a pair of doubles today. His average is now up to .330.

that impossible. it must be a mistake. after all, 32 other teams passed on him when he was available so he really must stink. if he keeps it up he might turn into the left handed version of theriot for the cubs. maybe the cubs should trade derosa and put fontenot at 2b to along with theriot at ss.

 

How has Fontenot looked playing SS?

 

Not good defensively.

[Guest]

Montgomery Advertiser[/url]"]Holliman continued his early-season mastery Wednesday in the Smokies' 9-0 win over the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

The right-hander threw eight innings to lower his league-best ERA to 0.44, register his sixth straight dominating start and improve his record to 5-0.

 

"I've said the same thing for five starts now," Smokies manager Pat Listach said. "All he does is throw all of his pitches for strikes and stay ahead in the count.

 

"That's pitching. That's what he did today."

 

Holliman scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out seven. Two of the hits were by rehabbing major-leaguer Greg Norton. The Biscuits had only four runners get into scoring position against Holliman.

 

"Hopefully, I can keep this up through the whole season and into next season," said Holliman, whose success may soon warrant a promotion to Class AAA Iowa.

 

"That would be a good thing, definitely a good thing," Holliman said. "That's what you work for, to get to the next level."