“He was making progress, catching bullpens, doing well,” Bennett said. “He was happy, excited. This was obviously unexpected. We’re back to square one and we’re just focused on getting him healthy.”

The Orlando Paper has interviewed Sapp & his mother and gives the following update.

“I’m fine,” Sapp said.

Sapp’s mother, Missy, said her son could be released from the hospital as early as Thursday afternoon as long as he doesn’t have another seizure. She said doctors believe her son sustained the latest seizures because, per doctors’ orders, he was being weaned off of Phenobarbital, the more potent of his two anti-seizure medications.

It took 14 innings but the Avs got the win. Koby Clemens went 3 for 6 at the plate, just a HR short of the cycle. The Blue Rocks were testing him on the base paths with 8 stolen base attempts. They were successful in 5. Jimmy Van Ostrand also went 3 for 6.

In the 11th and in the 13th, Wlad Sutil was at the plate with two outs and the go ahead run on 3rd. He struck out both times. The second strike out caused Avs play by play man, Jason Benetti to quip that the base runners were heard saying “You picked a fine time to leave us Sutil”.

In the 14th, with two outs, Jordan Parraz walked and stole second and scored the winning run on Cesar Quintero’s double.

“As soon as Parraz went to second I was thinking, get a base hit, get him home,” Quintero said through the translation of teammate Osvaldo Fernando.

On the 14 inning game, Manager Pankovits said:

“I’m just happy nobody got hurt.”

Lexington

Manager Greg Langbehn had a heart to heart meeting with his players Tuesday afternoon, and it appears to have worked.

“We addressed some things before the (afternoon) workout today. So, hopefully, we can put some things together and get on a little better roll.”

Langbehn didn’t specify what was addressed, but in general the topic was “just being ready to play everyday and getting after it a little bit more. … Create some things and make things happen.”

The Legends responded by tying a team record for runs in a game in a 13-2 victory.

Max Sapp, Craig Carrado and Russell Dixon all had 3 hits, with Sapp driving in 3 runs on a double and a HR. However, he wasn’t the big RBI guy of the night. That distinction belonged to Steve Brown who drove in 4 runs on a 1 for 4 night, bringing this praise from his manager.

“We don’t really have a true four-hole hitter. He just seems to be a fit for us right now. … He’s putting the ball in play. He was 4-for-4 in situational hitting.”

Langbehn also heaped praise on his starter Leandro Cespedes who had another solid start.

“I like how he responded after the first inning,” Langbehn said. “He was a little lethargic the first inning. His command wasn’t there and it just didn’t seem like he was into it. He picked it up a little bit and started attacking the zone.”

Sacrifice double play? That is something you don’t see too often in game logs but here it is:

Steve Brown flies into sacrifice double play, right fielder David Marks to catcher Luis Exposito to third baseman Manuel Arambarris. Craig Corrado scores. Russell Dixon out at 3rd on the throw.

Corpus Christi

The Hooks lost their first game of the season. Brad James pitched well but was out dueled in the 2-0 defeat. Kaz Matsui started his comeback with a lead off double and was the only Hook to get to second base on the night.

“With three hits, you usually don’t get to second base too much,” Hooks outfielder Eli Iorg said. “(Rosa) made some good pitches, he worked fast and he threw strikes. Sometimes you hit the ball and it just doesn’t find holes. It was just one of those nights for us.”

Luis Pujols is on his teams league leading 12 errors in the first 6 games.

I am concerned about the errors and I already told the coaching staff I’m concerned because we’ve made too many throwing errors,” Pujols said. “Normally you don’t see that. It’s something that we’re going to have to address quickly.”

Round Rock

Brandon Duckworth took out his frustration at being snubbed by the Royals in favor of Hideo Nomo and helped Omaha defeat the Express 2-1.

Duckworth nearly got an opportunity to return to Kansas City last week, as the team was looking to add a non-roster pitcher (Peralta and Musser were ineligible because they had been optioned less than 10 days earlier). The Royals decided to go with Hideo Nomo.

“You can (get caught up in it),” Duckworth said. “I’m not going to lie. You hear about it, and you’re hoping because you’d much rather be in the big leagues. But they made their decision. When the time comes that they think they need me there, I’ll be there.”

Lexington

Asheville beat the Legends 5-4 in 11 last night. Astros pitchers did well with one exception. Leandro Cespedes struck out 6 and walked 3 during his 4 innings of work, allowing only one run and two hits. Abad, Robinson and Kelly combined for 5 innings of shutout ball with Kelly tallying four k’s along the way. Pacella took the loss without an earned run. The exception of the night was Mike Koons who allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk in 1 inning. He and Max Sapp allowed 3 stolen bases in that inning. Overall Asheville runners were 5 out of 6 against Sapp. This is a trend we will be watching.
At the plate, Nick Moresi accounted for all of Lexington’s runs with a grand slam in the 7th that tied the game. The Legends struck out 11 times during the game. They also committed 3 errors.

Corpus Christi

Brad James gave up 2 home runs in the 2nd inning but still ended up with a quality 6 inning start.

“I thought he did a nice job. He gave up two home runs, but other than that he did a good job,” Pujuols said. “He gave us six good innings there and hopefully we can get that all the time.

The Hooks bats responded and gave the Hooks a 5-2 lead going into the 8th. Sammy Gervacio, who had pitched a scoreless 7th surrendered 2 runs in the 8th to make it 5-4. Gervacio appeared to have struggled with his control as he hit a batter, and had a wild pitch in the 8th on back to back batters. Kyle Middleton blew the save in the 9th allowing 3 runs.

The Hooks rallied for a run in the 9th and one in the 11th for the win.

Luis Pujos’ reaction:

“The way the guys played, that’s what I want to see all year. I told the guys in our big meeting yesterday that the only thing I’m asking of them is the four hours they’re going to spend here with me and the coaching staff, to give their best,” Pujols said. “If they give their best, we’ll end up winning the game. We didn’t make any errors. I don’t think it’s going to happen every night, but at least they’re going to try.”

Iorg is paying attention:

“I knew the guy wasn’t going to come in on me. He hadn’t come in on me in two at-bats so I was looking for something out,” Iorg said. “He loved his curveball. He only threw me one fastball my first at bat . . . I just wanted to stay on it and hit it to right field. Sure enough, he threw me a curveball and I hit it. That happens very rarely but I guessed right and that’s what happened.”

Corpus Christi Caller writer Greg Rajan discusses that the relationship between Corpus Christi and the Hooks has moved from the honeymoon stage to the marriage stage. He mentions the challenges of keeping attendance up when the talent maybe lacking based on what he calls a farm system “dry spell”.
Salem

Roanoke.com features Chris Salamida as one of the returning faces of the Avs this year. Chris will start in the pen to get stretched out before moving into a starter role after “throwing exceptionally well in spring training.”

Smallball:

Langbehn said this team will feature aggressive base running. They are most likely to win with “small ball” rather than relying on a power game.

“The thing I like about the roster is kids that can run,” Langbehn said. “You can do things with them offensively. You can steal bases. You can hit-and-run, and go first-to-third on singles. … Of the 13 (position players), I would say 10 of them have a legitimate chance of stealing a base at any time.”

The starting rotation includes 6 pitchers. Lefties Bello, Severino, and Icenogle and Righties Cespedes, Adams and Ladeuth. Adams & Ladeuth will piggyback starts.

The idea of “piggyback” starts is to protect young arms, while giving both opportunities to start and relieve.

“Hopefully, you can get through a game with just two guys,” Langbehn said. “(That) buys you a day or two to rest guys” in the bullpen.

One of the new faces to the Astros has caught Langbehn’s eye, Roberto Mena

“He’s been extremely impressive,” Langbehn said. “He’s primarily a shortstop. He can play second; put him in at third; handles the bat well. I think he’s going to be pretty solid.”

Quote

“Last year was a big year for him,” Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett said. “For the first time, he started to show that consistency. He’s a little older and only pitching full time for about two years now.

Bogusevic is working on his slider & change up during the off season.

On Sapp:

Quote

“He’s really made some strides thus far, but we’d like to see some more consistency,” Bennett said. “He’s at a point now and he’s been in the organization a couple of years, this is normally the time a few of them start to make that jump and show more consistency.”

Quote

The Astros have been monitoring Sapp’s big-body physique in an effort to keep him in better shape. He has been doing pilates and recently started doing hot yoga, which is yoga in room heated to 95-100 degrees.