Hi everyone. It's been a little while since our last minor league update, so I figured it was time for another one. With the Jays' players dropping like flies, it's good to know how the kids are doing. Today's post comes from a song off Common's Like Water for Chocolate record, one of my favourite hip-hop records.
Las Vegas
Wade Miller had a decent start for the 51s last night, although it was nothing special. Miller managed to get through 5 innings yielding just 2 runs on 4 hits, though he walked 3 and just struck out 1. Better than Burres? We may very well find out soon. After some rough times in the starting rotation, Dirk Hayhurst is back in the bullpen. In his first appearance out of the pen, he gave up a run, but he did strike out 2 and walk no one, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Dirk start to put up solid numbers out of the pen soon. Brad Mills and Brett Cecil are still struggling, although Mills had an ok start the last time out. Still, the pair have walked more than they have struck out, and that can't be blamed on the PCL, at least, not credibly. Personally, I don't think you get called up if you're pitching that way, so I don't mind them being passed over this time. Jonah Bayliss is doing a nice job out of the bullpen.
On the hitting side, Scott Campbell had been really struggling but has come on of late, hitting .400/.526/.467 over his last 5 games. He continues to struggle at third base, though, with an ugly 6 errors already. Catcher J.P. Arencibia doesn't have great numbers this season either, and has yet to hit a home run, but he's been swinging the bat better recently, with 5 doubles over the past week. In case you were wondering, he has drawn one walk this season, back in one of the first games hasn't drawn a walk yet. He has a lot of work to do. Russ Adams continues to swing a hot bat, with a .324/.368/.618 line. He's probably a credible left-handed bench player on a major-league team, but there's no room for him on the Jays.
New Hampshire
On-base expert catching prospect Brian Jeroloman hasn't been walking much (just 5 this season) but he is hitting much better, .310/.365/.431 to be exact. Second baseman Brad Emaus has cooled off after his hot start and is now nursing an 0-13 streak, though his overall numbers are still respectable. Brian Dopirak is doing a decent job at the plate (.814 OPS). 2008's first round pick, David Cooper, had a big day yesterday (3-4 with a double) and is now hitting .276/.364/.397.
On the pitching side, Fabio Castro and Reidier Gonzalez continue to light it up - Castro is 2-0 with a 0.83 ERA over 21 2/3 innings and, even more impressively, 24 Ks to just 3 walks. Gonzalez has also been impressive, with a 1.37 ERA and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over 26 1/3 innings. Marc Rzepzynski is having significant control problems (14 walks in 19 1/3 innnings) but has been striking out everyone (27 Ks) and generally still getting the job done (3-1, 4.58 ERA).
Dunedin
Moses Sierra continues to torch the ball and is now hitting .340/.397/.603 with half of his hits of the extra base variety. Fellow outfielders Darrin Mastroianni and Eric Thames have fallen off a bit but both are still doing a very solid job (.873 and .866 OPSes, respectively). 2007 draftees Justin Jackson, Kevin Ahrens, and John Tolisano aren't hitting a lick (Ahrens .470 OPS is the best of the three). Adam Loewen has just joined the team and played in his first two games.
On the pitching side, the starters are struggling while the relievers are doing well, particularly Tim Collins, who has a 20/1 K/BB ratio over 11 innings. 2007 draftee Trystan Magnuson is also doing well after struggling in his first full professional season last year.
Lansing
Outfielder Johermyn Chavez is treating the ball like a villain from the old Batman TV series, to the tune of .391/.420/.761. Chavez already has 4 home runs, a triple, and 4 doubles in 13 games, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down. Other than outfielder Brian Van Kirk (1.012 OPS), the other Lugnuts, are struggling at the plate, particularly Balbino Fuenmayor (.257 OPS) and Tyler Pastornicky (.547 OPS).
Back next time!