Gwinnett @ Buffalo - Postponed
Mississippi 2, Jacksonville 6
Scott Diamond comes out with his best start of the year and then the bullpen gives up 5 runs to screw him out of a win. Specifically Rafael Cruz gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th. J. C. Bsocan has been in baseball since 1997 and all but 2006-2007 was with the Braves. The guy has never really hit well but he has a .483 AVG in his first 29 ABs with Mississippi this season after starting the year with Gwinnett hitting .250. Take my word though, it is the most hollow .483 in history.
Myrtle Beach 6, Frederick 7 - Final 11 Innings
Two games lost in the bottom of the final inning. Heyward has a lower AVG this month than last month but nearly every other stat is already equal or higher than last month. His OPS is back up to .888 and I love that his power is starting to bloom. Freeman is also turning it around, though slower than Heyward. His OPS is sitting at .801 right now and his K rate is solid though his BB rate could see some improvement. Johnson is Johnson. Our old friend Jake Stevens popped up in this game too closing it out for Frederick in the 11th to earn the win. I wonder if he punched anyone in the face.
Rome 3, Asheville 2
Zeke Spruill must have a Webb like sinker. He instigated 13 ground balls to 4 fly balls tonight. WOW. His record on the season is now 6-0 which has to be the best in the minors and his ERA is 1.91. If he can get his Ks up he could be one of the best pitching prospects around this time next year.
0 recs | 44 comments
You’d think that after that long, Boscan should be hitting 1.000 at AA. It’s funny though, in all those years, he only has 263 games at AA (including 7 this year) which is only about 2 full seasons. And he’s only got 121 games at AAA; in fact, if you average it out, he’s only played in about 69 games a year. For as long as he’s been around, it’s crazy that he’s played so little. Frankly, I think it’s a testament to perseverence.
Also, I’m quickly becoming a huge fan of Zeke Spruill. He was a great kid when I met him and wow he’s pitched fantastic as a pro.
cbwilk - May 15, 2009
If Zeke can add some quality secondary stuff he’s going to be a front-line starter IMO.
He has the kind of two-seamer that he can throw 70 times a start, with ++ control. And he should add some more velocity to it as he grows. If his slider becomes a plus pitch, watch out.
timmy3 - May 15, 2009
Wasnt it Tommy Hanson’s turn to pitch tonight?
Scott Coleman - May 15, 2009
He just pitched 3 games ago i think
just check back on the recaps…
justincredubil02 - May 15, 2009
yep.
never thought to do that. ha. i find myself counting the days until Hanson and Medlen's next start.P.s. go checkout the latest fanshot on Jurrjens. Its a fantastic article by a guy who writes some iffy stuff at times (like me!)
Scott Coleman - May 15, 2009
What does the great KLaw say about zeke?
anyone know?
justincredubil02 - May 15, 2009
i read all of KLaws chats and non-insider stories
and he’s never mentioned him. Check the bottom of the MLB section on espn.com for his weekly chats..
he usually does a wednesday or thursday chat; if i happen to catch a chat im going to send in a question or two about Zeke. He;s good at answering questions about relatively unknown prospects.
Scott Coleman - May 15, 2009
yeah
I have read most of his articles and his chats too, and I didn’t remember seeing anything.
justincredubil02 - May 15, 2009
Spruill
Zeke Spruill is the big story here. At 19 years old, with excellent stuff and command, he is on the fast track now as long as he doesn’t get hurt.
Messenger - May 15, 2009
i havent seen it mentioned here...
but zeke has yet to lose in his professional career with a combined 2 year record of 13-0. too early to get excited but what a start to the young man’s career.
ryan c - May 15, 2009
Re: Gwinnett.
Are they playing 2 today? Because if not…I get to see Hanson tomorrow. And that would make me very giddy
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
like a little school girl
chance13ga - May 15, 2009
Armas doesn’t make you giddy?
TradeAndruw - May 15, 2009
Medlen, which makes me slightly less giddy because I’ll have to answer questions from my dad, which I wouldn’t for Hanson since we saw him in the spring
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
They have 2 games scheduled...
So, my guess is that unless one of them gets postponed you’re out of luck. That’s assuming he’s scheduled to pitch the second game, which I don’t know.
Little Lady - May 15, 2009
I’m not totally out of luck. I “only” get to see Medlen otherwise
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
You want some cheese with your whine?
Little Lady - May 15, 2009
…kidding.
Little Lady - May 15, 2009
You gonna find Swagga and tell him about your undying love?
cbwilk - May 15, 2009
Gonna try! Hopefully I can get out of work early like I plan and get to the park around 6 or so
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
Is it plunger night????
mvandonsel - May 15, 2009
Plunger day is Monday, I think…and I’m scheduled to work a 9 and a half hour shift. Don’t think I’ll be making the drive.
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
That is not seriously a promotion, is it?
TradeAndruw - May 15, 2009
Quality.
http://www.ironpigsbaseball.com/tickets/promotions/
mvandonsel - May 15, 2009
OH NO! I thought you were gonna go for plunger day! That would’ve made a spectacular story.
mvandonsel - May 15, 2009
I’m kinda considering it…I dunno. Depends on several variables, like if I can get out of work early…yeah. We’ll see, also depends on my monetary situation, which is kinda laughable right now
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
brokejoe
Smoltz's Beard - May 15, 2009
Frenchy needs to start wearing a plunger for a helmet until he starts hitting.
TradeAndruw - May 15, 2009
+1 LOL, I feel a name change coming on for bigjoe.
mvandonsel - May 15, 2009
ducktits
royhobbs - May 15, 2009
How long is the drive? Thats a toughie, i’d have to question how far i would drive for a free plunger.
10-4 - May 15, 2009
But to say that you got it as a promotion at a baseball game!!!! Quality!
mvandonsel - May 15, 2009
Hour-hour and a half. Its not that long of a drive, but regardless. Worse comes to worse, I’ll cut a deal with my direct superior as opposed to the store manager.
bigjoe - May 15, 2009
Seems like our starters in the minors do a real good job of limiting walks. I like this.
Smoltz's Beard - May 15, 2009
Do they post them there walks on the skawrbawrd?
volsandbraves - May 15, 2009
The pitchers or the hitters?
buzzdeadwax - May 15, 2009
He’s making fun of Francoeur’s ridiculous OBP comment (I think).
TradeAndruw - May 15, 2009
Haha, I can see how you would get that.
Smoltz's Beard - May 15, 2009
Doh…should have put “starting pitchers” instead. Sorry.
Smoltz's Beard - May 15, 2009
I actually knew what you meant, but I was still making fun of FYF.
By the way, now that we’ve all heard unequivocally where his source of truth comes from, do you guys ever find yourselves trying to catch him looking at the scoreboard to see if OBP magically appeared up there? I wonder if he’s taken stock of all the MLB parks and knows the ones that officially frown upon him.
Knowing what a statistically conscious dood he is, I bet he’s got a database of shit like that.
volsandbraves - May 15, 2009
Me, too
And I was also thinking of the fanpost from last week about organizational plate discipline.
buzzdeadwax - May 15, 2009
I went to MiLB.com and looked at the rosters
Gwinnett, MB, and Rome are all stacked with prospects, and a lot of them look like my video game with the k:bb ratios. Spruill stands out, but there are many others like Locke, Delgado and Rohrbough (small sample size). The FO is going to have some tough decisions in the next few years regarding who to keep and who to trade.
buzzdeadwax - May 15, 2009
A very good problem to have. There’s at least 27-28 other teams wishing they had our organizational starting pitching depth. The Giants are probably the only club who can compete with us in that department.
timmy3 - May 15, 2009
Love it.
Smoltz's Beard - May 15, 2009
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