2013 Draft-Notes - Shawn O’Neill, Phil Ervin, Jeremy Martinez, Jonathan Crawford

VBL Players of the Week  - South Pitchers of the Week - Shawn O’Neill, Harrisonburg. O’Neill pitched 9 1/3 innings for Harrisonburg over three appearances and saved a pair of games for the Turks. His saves came in his first two appearances, going the final 2.0 innings in a 10-7 win over Staunton on Tuesday and the last three innings of an 11-5 triumph over Covington on Thursday. O’Neill, from La Salle, had nine strikeouts on the week and allowed just one run on three hits. CSB

Phil Ervin (OF; Harwich Mariners; Samford; 2013 Draft) - Big check mark here. By the end of the Cape I bet he's one of this biggest risers. Smallish and kind of thick but athletic and ran the bases really well. Savage bat speed and ball exploded off a quick, short stroke. Fouled off a hard FB in on his hands one pitch. Next pitch the pitcher came back in even higher and tighter - Laser HR to LF. Impressive as he had to adjust even farther inside and start his swing even sooner. No small feat when its your first game of the year with a wooden bat. Next AB laced a ball into the RF gap. Really impressed by Ervin.  - BB  

Jeremy Martinez, C, H.S. (CA): The 5'11", 190 lbs. Martinez has the skills to stay at catcher long term with the potential for a plus hit tool.  Strong defensive catchers who can hit are obviously rare, so Martinez's all-around skills should be at a premium.  He also tends to perform big at showcase events, so scouts know he can play well when the spotlight is on.  ESPN rates him as the top high school player in the draft.  As I mentioned, high school catching is a strong group for 2013 but Martinez is a cut above other standouts such as Zach Collins, Chris Okey, Nick Ciuffo, and Ryan Healey. Chicago Now  

Player:  Jonathon Crawford   Position:  RHP   School:  Florida   Date of Birth:  11/1/1991   Height/Weight:  6’1/205   Bats/Throws:  R/R   2013 Class:  Junior   Previously Drafted:  2010, 42nd Rd, Marlins  - Scouting Report:  After being used sparingly as a freshman and then struggling in the Northwoods League, Jonathon Crawford started putting the pieces together during his sophomore year.  If I were to rank him just off of the games I watched him pitch, Crawford would probably be one of my top 5 college players (and I didn’t see his no-hitter).  He is a likely first rounder with a chance to climb into the top half of the first round BLF

2013 Draft-Notes – Over-Slotting, UCLA-FS, Ryne Stanek, Joe Landi, Phil Ervin, Ryne Stanek

Cameron Tewksbury‏ - Just committed to play baseball at the University of South Carolina! All the glory goes to God!

My Hitter of the Night in the Cape Cod League from June 18th is Phil Ervin of the Harwich Mariners by way of Samford University. Phil went 2 for 3, with a grand slam in the fifth inning. He scored a run and also stole 2 bases last night. Phil Ervin

UCLA vs. Florida State:

UCLA– RHSP – Zack Weiss – 3-2, 4.04, 69.0-IP, 44-K, 29-BB, 10-HBP - just OK vs. Creighton in NCAA Regional play, allowing three runs on 7H in 5 IP… first FB 91…projects as a weekend starter next season… hard time finding zone in the 1^st…hit 93… hung a curve to James Ramsey, causing action in the 1^stinning with only one out down… no first pitch strikes on the first six FSU batters… walks in first run, third walk in the inning and that’s it for Weise… 26 pitches, only 10 strikes. The problem here might have been the fact that Weiss hadn’t pitched for a couple of weeks.

UCLA– RP – Ryan Deeter – power arm – sits 94 – 35-G, 1-0, 0.94… suicide squeeze on first pitch and turn out the lights… sitting at 91 tonight, but very effective… 1-2-3 in his second inning… good stuff.

UCLA- SS – Pat Valaika - .271, 225-AB, 1-HR, 39-RBI, 29-K, 12-E – basically a pop-up to short right field in the 2^nd… strikeout in 5^th…

UCLA– 2B - Kevin Williams - .299, 157-AB, 2-HR, 21-RBI, 27-K – comes in with one hit in playoffs… ninth hitter… struck out in 3^rd…

FSU– C – Stephen McGee - .237, 198-AB, 40-RBI, 9-E– comes in 6-27 in post season… walked with bases loaded for first FSU run…struck out in the 3^rd (first FSU K)… walked in 4^th…

I noticed that Lance McCullers was the latest player to be signed for much more than his slotted money. Teams seem to be figuring out this new system by signing their early signees to a number less than the slot allocated. This leaves them additional funds to go after the one guy they drafted that they knew they were going to have trouble with. Sure, there will be fines, but hasn’t their always been a luxury tax? It will be interesting to see what the last three days of the signing period punches out.

Kendall Rogers‏ - South Carolina now has a tough decision to make on a starting pitcher for Wednesday. You can bet Michael Roth wants the ball.

College Baseball 360‏ - We were treated to a great pair of catchers in Florida-Kent State game (Mike Zunino & David Lyon). Both great players & leaders of D

John Manuel - Always tough to leave for Omaha, and always tough to leave Omaha. This year's College World Series is just getting good when I have to leave.

Fangraphs - A Second Thing About Ryne Stanek… Of Stanek, Fitt wrote this in March also —with regard to Stanek’s repertoire in an early March start: His fastball ranged from 93-97 mph, still sitting at 93-95 in the seventh inning. He effectively mixed in a pair of hard breaking balls — an 81-83 curveball and an 85-86 slider— as well as an improved 84-86 changeup. From what I watched of that game against Mississippi State, Stanek’s fastball appeared to be sitting more in the 90-91 mph range, and he walked almost as many as he struck out (7:5 K:BB) in 5.2 innings. In Stanek’s most recent appearance — Game Two of the Super Regional against Baylor — Stanek both walked and struck out four in 4.0 innings fangraphs

Razorback Baseball - The Razorback pitching staff lowered its NCAA Tournament ERA to 1.75 (14 ER in 72 innings)…. Arkansas has now won seven straight one-run games and are 14-8 in one-run games this season… The Razorbacks will next play on Thursday at 8 p.m. against the winner of Wednesday's Kent State/South Carolina game.

Joe Landi (Rhode Island) of the Newark Pilots is the PGCBL Player of the Week. He is the first player in the history of the Newark Pilots to win a PGCBL Player of the Week prize. Rene Solis (St. Mary’s, Texas) of the Watertown Wizards is the PGCBL Pitcher of the Week. Solis is the second Watertown pitcher in two seasons to earn weekly recognition. Joe Landi

2013 Draft/D1 Notes – Dan Child, Phil Ervin, UCLA-Brook, FSU-ARIZ, CHATHAM ANGLERS

Dan Child

Player:  Dan Child   Position:  RHP   School:  Oregon State   Date of Birth:  7/24/1992   Height/Weight:  6’5/225   Bats/Throws:  R/R   2013 Class:  Junior   Previously Drafted:  2010, 48th Rd, Padres  Scouting Report:   •High arm slot   •Big leg kick   •Fastball 89-93 with late sink   •Above average slider (83-84)   •Change 81-82   •Good downward plane   •Gets alot of ground ball outs   •Hides ball well

Andrew Hartwell -

My Hitter of the Night in the Cape Cod League from June 14th is Phil Ervin of the Harwich Mariners by way of Samford University. Phil went 2 for 3, with a triple and home run. He scored three runs and drove in three on the night as well.

Conor Glassey -

Nice inning from CA LHP Stephen Gonsalves. 89-91, nice CB, lots of strikes 

UCLA-Stoney Brook –

                        -we got a good look at 2013 draft eligible players:

SP Adam Plutko – primarily a two + pitch guy, throws 4-seamer 88-91, excellent CU… going into this game, his post-season stat line is: 18 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 14 K's, 5 BB… likes to elevate the fastball… velocity down in the 2^nd inning, sitting 84 early, up to 87… gets out of 2^nd with 0-R… hung a fastball in the 3^rd for a home run… strikeout with 83-mph 2-seamer… 72-slider… sat most of the 3^rd at 89… 55 pitches in first three innings… 81 curve, 77-CU… 60th pitch was 89-FB… outstanding CU to end the 4^th… maintained his velocity through the seventh (112 pitches) inning… Allowed 1 run on 5 H, struck out 7 (mostly with FBs), got 7 flyball outs.

SS Pat Valaika – .250 in post season… 5-11, 160… excellent bunt for an RBI in the first inning… strike out in fourth…

2B  Kevin Williams – 4^th round pick by LAD in 2010… .305 2011 average… infield single in the 1^st… shot aided by wind over CF head for 2-R… probably the first successful ball ever hit over CF Travis Jankowski's head.

1B Kevin Courtney – big lefty… most improved hitting this season according to coaches… 9-28 in post-season coming in… really bad swing on backdoor slider for K in first with bases loaded…excellent defensive play on a badly thrown pitch by the pitcher… well earned walk in the 5^th…

                                    RP – Joshua Mason -  88-91, + curve…

Opinion – Plutko was okay, but he’s no Gerrit Cole… I actually was impressed with Courtney’s defense and plate patience. Will keep an eye on him.

FSU-Arizona –

C – Stephen McGee – going into the game: 189-AB, .243 – Baseball America was proven correct (in the 1^st inning) when they said you can run on McGee… Port St. lucie, Florida native… pitches love the way he handles them… not known as a bat…

LF – Johnny Field – batted .383 in 2012 going into the season (235-AB)… struck out first at-bat… pop-up in the 3^rd… 

Hit the sack early when the meds took over...

Chatham Anglers

CHATHAM ANGLERS - Manager: John Schiffner (20th season)  Last season: 15-28-1; fifth place in East. Outlook: The Anglers finished fifth for a second season in row but Schiffner has compiled a solid staff this summer. Maine sophomore third baseman Alex Calbick and Louisville sophomore RHP Dace Kime are the only returnees. Calbick had 43 RBIs in 56 games this season while Kime struck out 42 in 40 2/3 innings for the Cardinals. Brewster native Alex Powers, a left-handed reliever for Southern New Hampshire, joins the Anglers this summer. Powers, who helped Team Cape Cod to the Senior Babe Ruth World Series last summer, had a standout season for the Penmen with a 1.52 ERA in 29 2/3 innings, walking 13 while striking out 48. Boston College sophomore outfielder Tom Bourdon had a solid year hitting .324 with 10 homers. Virginia Tech sophomore infielder Chad Pinder hit .325 for the Hokies, clubbing seven homers and driving in 37 runs. He finished with a .538 slugging percentage and .380 OBP. His teammate junior reliever Jake Joyce made 29 appearances for the Hokies and struck out 41 in 34 2/3 innings. Also joining Chatham are San Diego teammates sophomore outfielder Louie Lechich, who hit .311 and had 33 RBIs, and sophomore reliever Michael Wagner, who had 19 saves in 31 appearances and posted a 2.58 ERA. Pepperdine sophomore Scott Frazier had a 3.93 ERA in 103 innings, striking out 69 while walking 31. Louisville-Lafayette freshman RHP Austin Robichaux had a 2.91 ERA in 12 appearances (nine starts) with 11 walks and 21 strikeouts.