8/13/09

Minors Stuff




The Herd:


The last six years, Jason Dubois has spent plenty of time bouncing between Buffalo and Des Moines, Iowa. Hardly like going from, say, Wrigley to Fenway, but such can be life in Triple-A baseball.
The 30-year-old outfielder is back in Buffalo for the third season in his career after the New York Mets acquired him over the weekend from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named.
For a Buffalo team going nowhere, it's always nice to add a bat three years removed from being a Most Valuable Player for the franchise.
"I was kind of shocked about the trade because I didn't think many people get traded with 30 days left in the season," Dubois said with a laugh before Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Rochester Red Wings in Coca-Cola Field. "But it's good to be here. You get to play every day and that's a good thing so now let's see if I can help them get some wins out of this."



Ike Davis returned to the lineup, after missing three games, and collected two hits in the Binghamton Mets 4-1 loss to the Harrisburg Senators Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium. Jenrry Mejia returned from the disabled list to make his first start since June 23, but gave up a three-run first inning and took the loss.

Mejia struggled to find the plate in the first inning. He walked the first two Senators batters, who both scored on Joel Guzman’s two-run double. Guzman then scored on Marvin Lowrance’s single, pitting Harrisburg a 3-0 lead.

Josh Thole and Davis both singled in the first inning for Binghamton (44-70). Senators’ starter Erik Arnesen then hit Lucas Duda to load the bases and D.J. Wabick would score Thole with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-1.

In the sixth, Harrisburg (54-61) increased the lead to 4-1 when Edgar Alfonzo walked Guzman to lead off the frame. He would later score on Francisco Plasencia’s single.

Mejia, who was working on a pitch count, pitched three innings, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks. He was pinned with his fourth loss of the season with the B-Mets.

Arnesen settled down after the first inning to win his seventh game. He went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits. Atahualpa Severino notched the save in his first opportunity with the Senators this season.

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Gnats:


Eric Beaulac:FB - 85-87 MPH early. 90-91 MPH from the 3rd inning on. Control issues, struggled to keep the ball down.SL - 77-80 MPH throughout. A little less bite and control than usual. It wasn't a swing and miss offering on this occasion.CH - Upper 70's throughout. Used the pitch more often than I had seen previously. It was nothing special, but helped to offsetJefry Marte had a rough night over at third base. I know he's leading the Sally in errors, but he usually picks the ball clean when I'm in attendance. It was the first time I've seen him look downright bad at the hot corner.





Salem Red Sox general manager John Katz describes himself as someone who "loves a good challenge," and it was this personality trait that prompted the next phase of his professional career.
The Red Sox announced Tuesday that Katz has accepted an offer to become the president of the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League. Katz will remain in Salem through the remainder of the 2009 campaign before assuming his new role in Savannah.
"Over the past four years, John has put a tremendous amount of energy into serving the franchise and the Salem community," said Salem Red Sox managing director Timothy Zue in a press release. "We are thrilled with the job he has done, and deeply appreciate his dedication to the fans and this region. He will certainly be missed, but we support his decision to accept this new position."



The Cyclones finished their season series with the Staten Island Yankees tied 7-7 — taking a free dinner out of the belly of Borough President Markowitz, who has a yearly bet on the series with Staten Island beep James Molinaro. “The Baby Bombers from Brooklyn’s suburb may have come back to tie the series, but we’re still in first place and we’ll seek vengeance — Brooklyn-style — if we face the Yankees in the post-season,” proclaimed the understated Markowitz. … The Clones’ series with the Jamestown Jammers got a little heated over the weekend. Both benches cleared on Friday when catcher Juan Centeno tagged a runner at the plate on a confusing play that had actually been ruled dead. No punches were thrown. On Saturday, Justin Garber, out by a mile, bowled over Jamestown’s catcher in the 11th inning trying to score. Garber split his chin and left the game to get stitches. Alex Gregory laid out Jamestown’s catcher on Sunday in a closer play, and John Servidio took a ball off his leg two innings later in that game for his New York-Penn League-leading 10th hit-by-pitch. … Tommy Lasorda, who pitched 13 innings with a 7.62 ERA for the Brooklyn Dodgers, is coming to Sunday’s game to be inducted into Keyspan Park’s Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame at 4:30 pm. Lasorda is better known for managing the Los Angeles version of Dem Bums to two World Series championships.



New York Mets
Draft pick signed: RHP Taylor Whitenton (39)
Traded: 2B Greg Veloz to Nationals for 2B Anderson Hernandez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Elmer Dessens, RHP Nelson Figueroa
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Pat Misch, C Robinson Cancel
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Elmer Dessens
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Michael Johnson, OF Rafael Fernandez, OF Cody Holliday
Reinstated from DL: OF Scott Grimes




Feel compelled to note that, given all the attention that is sure to accompany Lastings Milledge's intangibles for some time to come, to this one set of eyes, he has appeared to be faring quite well.
On the field early yesterday afternoon, I saw him run in the Coors Field outfield to ask strength coach Frank Velasquez what he could do extra. I saw him participate with enthusiasm in all team activities on the field, mostly serious but with the occasional laugh and smile. I saw him step into the batter's box and tap catcher Chris Iannetta's shin guards before the first at-bat.
Little stuff, but it all adds up.



2010 Draft:


Current order for top 10 picks in the 2010 Draft:


1. Washington 74 losses
2. Kansas City 69
3. San Diego 66
4. Pittsburgh 67
5. Baltimore 67
6. Cincinnati 64
7. Cleveland 64
8. Oakland 63
9. Arizona 63
10. Mets 61

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