By Kevin Spiegel, Contributing Editor Philadelphia, PA -- ***
This Week in Minor League Baseball - May 28 *** From The Sports Network
For the Rome Braves, the month of May has been nothing short of miraculous.
To begin with, they lost four straight games and 7-of-8 and were mired near
the bottom of the South Atlantic League Southern Division Standings.
Boy, have things changed.
Manager Rocket Wheeler's club reeled off 11 straight victories to vault
themselves back into contention in the Southern Division. And it's been
nothing short of a team effort - both pitching and hitting.
Wheeler's pitching staff is anchored by lefthander Chuck James, who is 2-0
during the streak, including an eight-hit shutout in game #4. For the year,
the 22-year-old James, a 20th-round draft pick by the Braves in 2002, is an
impressive 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA. He has struck out 50 batters in 48 2/3rd
innings. Wheeler's bullpen doesn't have a real "closer", rather
eight different pitchers have recorded at least one save.
On the offensive side, the team batted .314 during the streak. They outhit
their opponents (125-87), outhomered them (9-3) and outscored them by a 3-to-1
margin (69-31). The man who gets the job started for the Braves is leadoff
hitter Josh Burrus, who has seen his average go up about 30 points during the
club's winning streak. He's the guy that sets the table and with his
aggressive style, will take the extra base. His numbers are evident of that:
.370, with 7 SB, and 13 runs scored during the 11-game span.
The winning streak came to an end on Thursday, as the Augusta GreenJackets
scored one in the eighth and then the game winner in the bottom of the ninth,
to beat the Rome Braves, 4-3.
KUDOS TO THE PORTS
Last weekend, the Stockton Ports of the California League reached 4,000
career victories - and became the fastest to do so in league history. The
Ports, who have dominated the California League for many, many years with 10
league titles, blanked the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 8-0 Sunday. Their first
win came back in 1941. This year, the Ports are struggling in the North
Division with a record just below the .500 mark.
CURRENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: International League: Pitcher - Josh Towers,
Syracuse; Player - Joe Borchard, Charlotte OF. Pacific Coast League: Pitcher -
Travis Blackley, Tacoma; Player - J.R. House, Nashville, C. Eastern League:
Pitcher - Scott Baker, New Britain; Player - Aaron Rifkin, Trenton 1B. Texas
League: Pitcher - Ezequiel Astacio, Round Rock; Player - Chad Santos, Wichita
1B. Southern League: Pitcher - Chris Rojas, Mobile; Player - Micah Hoffpauir,
West Tenn, 1B. California League: Pitcher - John Hudgins, Stockton; Player -
Nelson Cruz, Modesto OF. Carolina League: Pitcher - Blaine Boyer, Myrtle
Beach; Player - Ricardo Nanita, Winston-Salem OF. Florida State League:
Pitcher - Dimas Reina, Vero Beach; Player - Chris Roberson, Clearwater OF.
Midwest League: Pitcher - Abel Gomez, Battle Creek; Player - Wladimir
Balentien, Wisconsin OF. South Atlantic League: Pitcher - Juan Serrata,
Hagerstown; Player - Jordan Czarniecki, OF.
JOSE REYES SIGHTING
With the Major League Baseball season about one-quarter through, the New
York Mets remain very concerned about their 20-year-old injured second baseman
Jose Reyes and his rehab progress. The fleet-footed Reyes was injured back in
March when he strained his right hamstring. He is currently with the St. Lucie
(A) Mets in Florida. The Mets insist there is no rush for their future star,
because Reyes has a history of nagging injuries. He has had five leg injuries
in the past 16 months. Now word out of St. Lucie is that Reyes' back is acting
up, which forced him to sit out the last couple games. However, Manager Tim
Teufel insists nothing is wrong and that a long car ride by Reyes was the
reason for his sore back. Reyes joined the parent club late last season, but
missed the final month with a severely sprained ankle.
SPEAKING OF REHAB ASSIGNMENTS
The Florida Marlins received some encouraging news about injured pitcher
A.J. Burnett. The righthander comes off a 78-pitch, four-inning rehab stint
with Single-A Jupiter and could be heading to Triple-A Albuquerque for his
next start on Friday. Burnett has been sidelined since 2002 when he underwent
Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Of his 78 pitches, Burnett threw 50
strikes, including 41 at 95 MPH. He struck out four and walked two. If all
goes well, the Marlins could recall Burnett the first week of June.
FINALLY - A "K" IN KOTCHMAN
It had to happen. It's happened to the best players in the game. Getting
struck out. For Anaheim rookie slugger Casey Kotchman, it took 13-plus games,
but Toronto's Justin Miller struck out Kotchman. Including his first 28 games
with Double-A Arkansas this year, Kotchman has struck out just eight times in
164 at-bats. For the injury-riddled Angels, Kotchman has stepped in for Darin
Erstad and done a fine job at first base. In 15 games, he's batting .259 with
eight RBI and more importantly, no errors.
TAVERAS A THREAT TO GET ON BASE
Round Rock's Willy Taveras has a knack for getting on-base. In fact, he had
a streak of reaching base in 36 straight games come to a halt on May 18th by
the San Antonio Missions. He took an 0-fer in the game. Since then, Taveras is
back on track, getting on base in five straight games. For the season, the
speedy Taveras is hitting .356, including .388 at home. He's among the league
leaders in hits (63), stolen bases (29), batting average (.356) and an OBP of
(.420). About the only thing that could slow Taveras down is an injury and
that's exactly what happened. Taveras has been bothered by a strained hip
flexor and been given some time to rest.
PRIOR STRONG IN REHAB START
The Chicago baseball world has been focused on Lansing, Michigan lately.
That's where Cubs' ace Mark Prior has been pitching on a rehab assignment. The
young righthander made his second start for the Lugnuts and lasted into the
fifth inning. He gave up one run, struck out eight in 4 1/3rd innings. In two
starts for the Lugnuts, Prior has been outstanding. He has given up one run,
struck out 13 and yielded just two hits in 7 1/3rd innings. Prior is expected
to make one more start with Iowa (AAA) and then be activated for the June 4-6
series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
DEMPSTER GOOD IN REHAB FOR LANSING
More good news for the Lansing Lugnuts' parent club, the Chicago Cubs.
Righthander Ryan Dempster pitched three-innings of two-hit ball during his
rehab stint on Wednesday. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Dempster has been sidelined with an injured right elbow since the start of the
season. His next start is expected to be on Memorial Day against Cedar Rapids.
EXCITING NEWS FOR EASTERN LEAGUE
The league-wide attendance figures for the Eastern League show an increase
of just over 11 1/2 percent for the first six weeks of the season. Also, the
Akron Aeros lead the league in attendance with over 6,917 fans per game; the
Reading Phillies are second at 6,530. The Aeros also lead in total attendance
with 138,348 fans.
WEEKLY NO-HITTER UPDATE
Time for the pitching feat of the week and the winner is Battle Creek's
Elvys Quezada, who fired a no-hitter Monday night against the South Bend
Silver Hawks. Quezada, a 15th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees, struck
out 11 and walked four to notch his first win of the season. Quezada was
involved in a minor car accident during spring training and didn't join the
team until last April. It was the second no-hitter in Battle Creek history, as
Carlos Hernandez turned in a "no-no" back on May 28, 2000 against
West Michigan.
TV DEAL FOR SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE
The South Atlantic League and Comcast Sports Southeast/Charter Sports
Southeast have reached an agreement to televise a Game of the Week, beginning
with the All-Star Game on June 29th. Two days later, Thursday, July 1st and
for the next eight weeks, a regular season game will be broadcasted. The first
game is scheduled to be Charleston, SC at Savannah.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
(Triple-A): Batting Average - Chad Allen, Oklahoma (.392), Larry Sutton,
Albuquerque (.385). Home Runs - Luis Garcia, Las Vegas (16), Calvin Pickering,
Omaha (16), Earl Snyder, Pawtucket (14), Marcus Thames, Toledo (14). On-Base
Percentage - Larry Sutton, Albuquerque (.480), Andy Tracy, Colorado Springs
(.449). Slugging Percentage - Larry Sutton, Albuquerque (.755), Calvin
Pickering, Omaha (.733), Jose Leon, Ottawa (.720). Hits - Wilson Valdez,
Albuquerque (67), Clint Barmes, Colorado Springs (65), Bryant Nelson,
Charlotte (64). Runs Batted In - Jon Knott, Portland (47), Bucky Jacobsen,
Tacoma (43), Earl Snyder, Pawtucket (41), Andy Tracy, Colorado Springs (41).
Stolen Bases - Nook Logan, Toledo (19), Wilson Valdez, Albuquerque (16).
(Note: Minimum 30 games).
(Double-A): Batting Average - Jason Kubel, New Britain (.377). Home Runs -
Jason Stokes, Carolina (14), Ryan Howard, Reading (13). On-Base Percentage -
David Wright, Binghamton (.473). Slugging Percentage - Joe Dillon, Carolina
(.684), Jason Kubel, New Britain (.667). Hits - Tommy Whiteman, Round Rock
(67), Todd Self, Round Rock (66), Willy Taveras, Round Rock (63), Kenny Kelly,
Chattanooga (62), Alberto Callaspo, Arkansas (62). Runs Batted In - Jason
Stokes, Carolina (43), Todd Self, Round Rock (40), Micah Hoffpauir, West Tenn
(39). Stolen Bases - Wayne Lydon, Binghamton (31), Willy Taveras, Round Rock
(29), Dwaine Bacon, West Tenn (28).
(Single-A): Batting Average - Ian Kinsler, Clinton (.399), Brandon
Pinckney, Lake County (.383), Brandon Moss, Augusta (.367), Erick Aybar,
Rancho Cucamonga (.364). Home Runs - Tony Blanco, Potomac (15), Nate
Schierholtz, Hagerstown (14), Michael Napoli, Rancho Cucamonga (13), Dan
Trumble, San Jose (13), Brandon Sing, Daytona (13), Eliezer Alfonzo, Jupiter
(13), Kevin Collins, Lansing (13). On-Base Percentage - Darren Fenster,
Wilmington (.462), Ian Kinsler, Clinton (.460), Brett Harper, St. Lucie
(.448). Slugging Percentage - Dan Trumble, San Jose (.693), Kevin Collins,
Lansing (.691). Hits - Ian Kinsler, Clinton (71), Alejandro Machado, Brevard
County (66), Josh Anderson, Lexington (66), Brandon Moss, Augusta (65), Erick
Aybar, Rancho Cucamonga (64), Ryan Goleski, Lake County (62), Rajai Davis,
Lynchburg (61). Runs Batted In - Michael Napoli, Rancho Cucamonga (52). Stolen
Bases - Josh Anderson, Lexington (38), Michael Bourn, Lakewood (27), Erick
Aybar, Rancho Cucamonga (25), Chris Walker, Lansing (24).
HURLERS EXTRAORDINARE
(Triple-A): Earned Run Average, Starters - Rob Bell, Durham (1.69), Brian
Powell, Scranton-WB (1.83). Record - Felix Diaz, Charlotte (6-0) Saves - Matt
Whiteside, Richmond (13). Strikeouts - Danny Haren, Memphis (76), David Bush,
Syracuse (54), Innings Pitched - Pat Ahearne, Toledo (64.2), Jared Fernandez,
New Orleans (64.2), Danny Haren, Memphis (64), Joe Blanton, Sacramento (64).
(Double-A): Earned Run Average, Starters - Brad Thompson, Tennessee (1.33).
Record - Jeff Francis, Tulsa (7-0), Arnie Munoz, Birmingham (6-0), Brad
Thompson, Tennessee (7-1). Saves - Ryan Speier, Tulsa (16), Santiago Ramirez,
Round Rock (15). Strikeouts - Jeff Francis, Tulsa (77), Ezequiel Astacio,
Round Rock (61), Andrew Brown, Jacksonville (58), Lance Cormier, El Paso (58),
Bill Murphy, Carolina (57). Innings Pitched - Jake Woods, Arkansas (66), Jeff
Francis, Tulsa (64.1), Lance Cormier, El Paso (63).
(Single-A): Earned Run Average, Starters - Chris Seddon, Bakersfield
(0.65), Sean Marshall, Lansing (1.11),
Matthew DeSalvo, Tampa (1.26), Dimas Reina, Vero Beach (1.29), Zach Duke
Lynchburg (1.27), Record - Chuck James, Rome (6-0), Brian Bulger,
Charleston-SC (6-0), Trae McGill, Wilmington (6-0), Micah Posey, Cedar Rapids
(6-0), Jackson Paz, Peoria (6-0), Steven Bondurant, Kane County (8-2). Saves -
Jeremy Accardo, San Jose (14), Adalberto Mendez, Lansing (14), Jose Diaz,
Columbus-A (12), Ryan Prahm, Kinston (12), Jason Burch, Peoria (12).
Strikeouts - Brad Knox, Kane County (73), Jon Papelbon, Sarasota (71),
Jonathan Broxton, Vero Beach (68), Steven Bondurant, Kane County (65),
Yusmeiro Petit, Capital City (65), Matthew DeSalvo, Tampa (63), Jose Capellan,
Myrtle Beach (62), Richard Hill, Daytona (62), Felix Hernandez, Inland Empire
(61), Ubaldo Jimenez, Visalia (61). Innings Pitched - Aaron Marsden, Asheville
(67.1), Bobby Livingston, Inland Empire (67.1).
