Tigers’ Minor League Recap (5/12/08)
Toledo (26-13)
Dontrelle Willis (5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K) wasn’t particularly sharp in his second rehab start, but the Mud Hens still earned a 6-5 win over Charlotte. Five of the Hens’ six runs came from the long ball - shocking, I know. Jeff Larish (2 for 4, HR) went first with a two-run job, and then Mike Hessman (2 for 3, HR, BB), Mike Hollimon (1 for 5, HR) and Dane Sardinha (1 for 4, HR) all followed with solo shots.
In fact, the run that didn’t involve a Mud Hen trotting around the bases was a Timo Perez (1 for 4) single that brought in Clete Thomas (1 for 4, BB, SB). It must have felt good, too, because it followed an intentional walk to Brent Clevlen (1 for 3, BB). That provided the Hens’ second run of the eighth inning, but the big hit came from Sardinha. His ninth inning homer was the difference.
Blaine Neal (1 IP) was perfect in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 13th save. Actually, Willis was the only Hen pitcher to have much trouble tonight. Preston Larrison (2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K) pitched well and earned a win for his troubles.
Erie
No game.
Lakeland (20-17)
The Flying Tigers won a wild one, 6-2, in eleven innings at Tampa. After falling behind 1-0 early, Lakeland tied the game in the seventh when Ryan Strieby (1 for 5, 2B) doubled in Mike Bertram (2 for 5). An inning later, they seemed to be in trouble again when the Yankees scored again to make it 2-1.
The Yankee run came after Zach Simons (0.1 IP, 2 BB) replaced Duane Below (7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K) - who had been masterful - with a man on first, walked the first two batters he faced and then Scott Sizemore (1 for 5) made an error after catching a popup that allowed a run to score (I’m sure that was an interesting play to see.) Simons was pulled for Nick Martin (0.1 IP, 1 K) at that point, and Martin got Lakeland out of the inning.
With their last chance in the ninth, the Flying Tigers came through. Sizemore reached on an error and took third on a single to center by James Skelton (1 for 4). With runners now at first and third with no outs, Cale Iorg (0 for 4, BB) hit into a force out that brought in Sizemore to tie the game. They weren’t able to put the game away that inning, but that would come in the top of the eleventh.
In that inning, Brandon Timm (1 for 3, 2B, BB) led off with a double, followed by a bunt single from Sizemore. After Lakeland pinch hit for Skelton with Shawn Roof, Roof walked to load the bases. Cale Iorg again came up at a crucial time, and again got the run in. This time it was a bases loaded walk. With the bases still loaded and still no outs, Bertram hit a grounder to second that I’m sure had the second baseman thinking double play.
He instead made an error on the play, letting two runners score and leaving runners at the corners. The scoring was finally completed when Strieby’s double play grounder knocked in Iorg, and that was just about it for the drama in this one. Brendan Wise (1 IP) came in for Angel Castro (2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K) and threw a perfect inning to put this one to bed.
It’s a shame this one didn’t get really interesting until after Below left, because he certainly pitched well enough to get the win.
West Michigan (19-15)
Lauren Gagnier (7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 7 K) was another hard luck case in the system. His Whitecaps lost to Fort Wayne, 2-1, despite his throwing a gem.
The Whitecaps managed a couple threats, including a bases loaded situation in the first, but only managed a run on an Adrian Casanova (1 for 4, HR) homer. Ronnie Bourquin (1 for 3, 2B, BB) had the only other extra base hit, and Kyle Peter (2 for 4) was the only Cap to pick up more than one hit.
First Look at 2008 Mud Hens
Even after a loss on Sunday, the Toledo Mud Hens are the team with the best record in the Tigers’ farm system. That’s true by a good margin, and even while the team is getting good pitching and defense, there’s really not much doubt as to how they’ve accomplished their 25-12 record. They are pounding the ever-loving crap out of the ball.
That’s evident when you realize they’re outscoring the rest of the league by half a run per game, but other categories may illustrate it better. They’re tied for first in doubles, second in triples, and are leading the league in home runs. But they’re not only leading the league in home runs. With 58 long balls, they have 27 more home runs than the team that’s in second for that category.
They’re not necessarily drawing a ton of walks - they’re only tied for fifth in that category - but having the third highest batting average allows them to have plenty of men on base when they’re jacking balls out of the park. That brings me to the eye-popper. In a league where only three teams clear a slugging percentage of .400, the Hens are slugging .493. That’s a full .083 points ahead of the next team. With the number of at bats the Hens have, that difference encompasses more than 100 total bases. Put another way, take the second-best power hitting team in the league. Pro rate their stats so they have the same number of at bats as the Hens, and then add 25 home runs. Now that team is slugging like Toledo.
Of course, the savvy fan may see their third-best batting average and wonder if their power is a LITTLE bit of a mirage, raised up by a good team batting average. That’s not the case either. In a league where the average isolated power is .157, the Hens are pounding the ball to the tune of a .226 ISO. That’s about 45% better than the league, which is even better than the rate they’re outpacing the league in slugging percentage. See what I mean about how they’re killing International League pitching?
We saw with Erie, though, it’s very difficult to get the job done with hitting alone. That’s where the Mud Hens separate themselves. In addition to a killer lineup, they’re actually getting some pretty good pitching and defense as well. Their .681 defensive efficiency rating (the percentage of balls in play they turn into outs) is third best in the league and a full .017 points better than the league average.
That’s very helpful, because the pitchers don’t strikeout or walk a lot of batters. The squad’s 103 walks are lowest in the league, and their 236 strikeouts are tenth despite the staff’s third highest innings pitched total. Combine that with a slightly better than league average ability to keep the ball in the yard, and you have a lot of balls in play. Turning those into outs is why the Hens’ pitchers have the sixth best ERA in the league. A low number of unearned runs is why they’re preventing runs at the third best rate in the league.
Throw all those things into the same mix and you have to this point one of the best teams in the IL, despite a fairly active shuttle between Toledo and Detroit.
Tigers’ Minor League Recap (5/10 and 5/11)
Toledo (25-13)
5/10/08
The Mud Hens split a doubleheader with Charlotte, losing the first one 4-1 and winning as the “home team” in the second game, 5-3. In the first game, Virgil Vasquez (5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K) may not have been hit as hard as his line suggests - there were some infield singles and soft line drives - but it still wasn’t a game that will push him to the front of the line as the next Tiger-in-waiting. The Hens’ lone run came on a Mike Hessman (1 for 3, HR) homer that was one of just three hits for Toledo.
Game two was obviously much more of a success for the Hens. Not only did Mike Hessman (1 for 3, HR) hit another home run, but Clete Thomas (1 for 3, HR) went yard as well and Brent Clevlen (3 for 3, 2B, SB) picked up three hits and a stolen base. Just as importantly, Casey Fossum (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K) gave Toledo a very good spot start, and despite a shaky seventh for Blaine Neal (1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) the Hens were able to hold on for the win.
5/11/08
The Mud Hens lost a slugfest with the Charlotte Knights, 10-6. They fought back from a couple different early deficits, but couldn’t recover after Anastacio Martinez (1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 K) and Ian Ostlund (0.2 IP, 2 H) combined to allow four runs in the seventh. Yorman Bazardo (5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K) was the starter in this one and continues to struggle as he allowed three home runs in this one.
Things went better for the Hens at the plate as Brent Clevlen (1 for 3, HR, 2 BB) and Mike Hollimon (2 for 4, HR) both homered and Timo Perez (2 for 4, SB) added a couple of hits.
Erie (15-21)
5/10/08
The SeaWolves couldn’t break their funk as they were smoked by the Senators, 9-0. Ben Fritz (6 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 6 K) had to sustain a good deal of the beating to give the taxed bullpen a rest. His offense didn’t give him a lot of time to recuperate between innings either. They only managed five singles and two walks in the whole game and only two of those singles came while he was still in the game.
The only batter I’ll mention is Will Rhymes (2 for 4), who was able to pick up a couple of singles.
5/11/08
The losing continued for the SeaWolves on Sunday as they dropped a 7-6 decision to Harrisburg. After falling behind 7-3, they made a valiant attempt at a comeback in the eighth inning with three runs. That was all they could muster, though, and their tailspin continues.
If you’re looking for good news in this one, the bullpen combo of Matt Righter (1 IP), Andrew Kown (1 IP, 2 K), Danny Zell (0.2 IP, 1 K) and Anthony Tomey (0.1 IP, 1 BB) pitched a nearly perfect three innings which allowed the come most of the way back. Also, the offense got back to hitting like the best lineup in the league with five of their ten hits going for extra bases. Wilkin Ramirez (2 for 4, 2B, HR) continued to tear the cover off the ball with a double and a home run, and Kody Kirkland (2 for 4) continued his long climb back to respectability with a couple more hits.
You may have noticed Andrew Kown picked up a relief appearance. It looks like we have our answer to which pitcher is getting bumped from the rotation. He seemed like a logical choice since he had some time in the bullpen last season.
Lakeland (19-17)
5/10/08
The Flying Tigers beat Vero Beach, 6-2, and the lineup must not have been paying close attention because Rick Porcello (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K) got the start and they put up some runs. I’d love to see Porcello start notching some strikeouts (simply because I’m afraid he’s being indoctrinated with some Tiger anti-K philosophy), but his results in this one were again pretty impressive. Seventeen (non-bunt) balls were put in play and ten of them were grounders. His infielders seem to be up to the task as only three balls in total went for hits.
Let’s not get too caught up in Porcello, though. The bullpen had to pitch the final four innings and they did a great job of it, especially Jay Sborz (2.2 IP, 1 H, 4 K).
On the other side of the lineup card, four players provided all the hits and most of the production. James Skelton (3 for 4, HR, SB) was the big bopper, getting his first extra base hit in style - a two-run homer. Scott Sizemore (2 for 5, 2B) and Ryan Strieby (2 for 4) added a couple hits each, and Shawn Roof (1 for 3, BB) reached twice with a single and a walk.
5/11/08
No game.
West Michigan (19-14)
5/10/08
The Whitecaps beat Lansing, 4-2, in what appeared to be a great game for Manny Miguelez (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K). All four hits he allowed were singles and after he gave up a run in the second he allowed just three more baserunners - a single, an error and a walk. Of course, his defense turning three of their four double plays while he was on the mound was pretty helpful but he gets credit for getting the ground balls to start them.
In addition to the eight strikeouts, he was a ground ball machine in this game (11 of 15 balls in play were grounders). I look forward to hearing an updated scouting report on Miguelez, because he seems to do well when he’s on his game.
At the plate, the Caps did enough to get the win. Only Casper Wells’ (1 for 3, HR) home run was an earned run, but Kyle Peter (2 for 4, 2B) and Justin Henry (2 for 4) both had two hits and Audy Ciriaco (1 for 3, 2B) was able to leg out a double.
5/11/08
Rained out.
Whitecaps add two young pitchers
The Tigers received an infusion of talent today as Brandon Hamilton was added to the West Michigan Whitecaps along with a product of the Venezuelan Summer League, Mauricio Robles. To make room for the additions, Kelvin Cedano was sent down to extended spring training and Ramon Garcia was promoted to Lakeland. That required some additional moves, but we’ll get back to those in a minute.
It’s nice to see West Michigan get some promising young pitchers in Hamilton and Robles. The Whitecaps have been playing good ball, but they were a little long in the tooth for Lo A ball, and because of that they were short on top of the line prospects. With both of these young pitchers being just 19 years old, people will take notice if they do well.
I’ve profiled Hamilton before, but don’t know much about Robles other than what it says on the roster. He’s a smaller pitcher at 5′10″ and 160 pounds, and throws left-handed. We can, of course, look at his VSL stats from last year but those may not tell us much about what to expect when he pitches stateside. Still, you generally don’t get a shot at full season ball as a 19 year old if you don’t have a live arm.
Getting back to the Ramon Garcia move, his promotion necessitated another move by the Flying Tigers so Luis Marte was promoted to Erie. Considering how well Marte had been throwing, that’s not a surprising choice. Garcia pitched a game for Lakeland last year and while that did not go well, I’d be surprised if the way he was pitching in West Michigan didn’t earn him better results this season.
That brings us up to Erie, who once again would seem to have a rotation situation. Before Josh Rainwater went down the other night with a strained oblique, the SeaWolves had six starters on the squad. Rainwater’s injury seemed to take care of the problem in the short term, but here they are again with six starters. Performance alone would seem to call for bouncing either Danny Christensen or Andrew Kown from the rotation, but these decisions aren’t always based simply on performance.
With the surplus of starters which will only worsen when Rainwater comes back, I can’t help but wonder if Jon Connolly should be nervous about his position in the organization. A move like that wouldn’t require changing anybody else’s role on the team.
Whatever direction the Tigers decided to go, it’s exciting to see Marte in Erie. They needed help in the rotation and he steps in to instantly become what I think is their most promising arm.
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