Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-13-2008

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa is going to be postponed, if not canceled, for awhile if things keep up. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone out there!

 

Tennssee lost 4-0 after a Lengthy Rain Delay Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 0/3, BB

LF T. Colvin 0/2, 2 BB, Assist (Home)

1B J. Fox 0/4, 3 K

RF D. Deeds 1/4, 3 K

SS M. Camp 0/4

SP J. Samardzija 3 scoreless, 1 H, 1/2 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO

RP M. Holliman 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1/6 K/BB (ow), 5-2 GO-FO

 

Daytona is off until the 16th.

 

Peoria lost 1-0 in the 11th Box Score

 

CF J. Wyatt 2/5, CS (1), Assist (2B)

SS N. Samson 3/5, K, CS (5), E (17, throw)

2B M. Smith 2/5, K

3B J. Rosa 1/4, K, E (17, fielding)

LF B. Guyer 1/5, 2B (8), 3 K

RF D. Johnston 1/4, BB, 3 K

C J. Donaldson 0/4, 2 K, PB (6)

DH C. Andersen 0/4, 2 K

SP H. Chen 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4/0 K/BB, 5-8 GO-FO

RP J. Latham 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 6-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 0-2

Edited June 14, 2008 by Outshined_One

[Guest]

Iowa: LHP JR Mathes

Tenn: RHP Jeff Samardzija

Peoria: RHP Hung-Wen Chen

DSL Cubs 1: RHP Julio Castillo

DSL Cubs 2: RHP Francisco Acosta

 

Boise's rosters should be out this afternoon, check their team web site or the Idaho Statesman's sports section.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'll be heading over to Mississippi to check out the Shark tonight.

 

Unfortunately, I won't make any more trips this series, so I won't be able to give a first hand account of Russell.

[TysonCBulls423]

Shark through 3...3 IP 1 hit, 0 R, 2 bb, 1 K 3-4 GB-FB

[Outshined_One]

Man, tough luck Vance. Tennessee is still in the midst of a rain delay.

[TruffleShuffle]

looks like vance got the full experience of the tennessee offense today.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Shark was pretty good tonight. He held them scoreless until the rain shortened his outing. Holliman came on in relief and walked people left and right.

 

The Smokies offense is painful to watch. I'm not sure what's happened to Fox and Fuld. I saw them play last year at the same level and they were much better than this. Fuld made a few nice plays in CF and hit one liner hard that the second baseman robbed him on, but Fox is struggling at the plate. I hate that, because he was fun to watch last year. I'm not sure what has happened with those two.

 

Top to bottom, there's just not much to get excited about with the Smokies offense right now. It's really puzzling that guys like Fox, Fuld, and Colvin are looking as bad at the plate as they did when at this same level all three did very well last season.

 

You could tell that it's taking its toll on the team as well. The demeanor was no where near what it was when they came through last year.

 

And for those hoping for a report on Russell tomorrow, I'm sorry. Tonight is my last trip over for awhile. The gas prices are so high and I had to pay the first installment on my Cowboys stadium PSL and the wife has grounded me.

[craig]

Vance, what did Shark look like for fastball and breaking ball?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Vance, what did Shark look like for fastball and breaking ball?

 

The fastball was in the 88mph range and topped out at 91-92. I've said it before, but I think the Mississippi gun is a tick or two slow. For comparison, Veal was in the 86-87 range most of Wednesday night.

 

I really didn't get much look at his breaking ball. Our seats were good (first row on the Smokies on deck circle), but we for the first few innings we spent a lot of time moving down and then running for higher seats so we could get out of the rain. He was effective, but nothing really jumped out at me. His fastball didn't overpower and he didn't have a nasty breaking ball, but he worked well and was unscored upon when the rain forced them to call for the tarp.

 

But with the Braves line-up, if you get ahead and throw strikes, they aren't hard to beat. Veal had a better breaking ball the other night, but he routinely fell behind the hitters and they hurt him. Shark got ahead and for the most part had little trouble. Holliman came in after the delay, walked some, and got behind others, and he had more troubles.

 

The Braves line-up this year is no juggernaut, so if you don't fall behind, you can get them out.

[CubinNY]

Vance, what did Shark look like for fastball and breaking ball?

When I saw him last week against West Tenn. his fastball looked pretty good, but his breaking pitches were excellent. In hitters counts they were hitting the fastball pretty well. If he got ahead he was much more effective (obviously).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Vance, what did Shark look like for fastball and breaking ball?

When I saw him last week against West Tenn. his fastball looked pretty good, but his breaking pitches were excellent. In hitters counts they were hitting the fastball pretty well. If he got ahead he was much more effective (obviously).

 

That's probably a fair assessment last night too. I just didn't have a vantage point to really see the break on the pitch, but there weren't any good swings on his breaking ball. The hardest hit balls off of him were when he dialed that fastball up to 91-92. I can't say for certain, but I think when he'd try to throw it hard, the fastball flattened out a bit too much.