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General Discussion => The Bus Ride Discussion Forum => Topic started by: OregonStrosFan on June 15, 2011, 12:44:34 pm
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Your one stop shop for all talk of the defending NYPL Champion Tri-City ValleyCats.
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The 2011 ValleyCat official roster was released today. LINK (http://static.newsroom.mlbcontrol.net/documents/2011/06/15/20525188/1/2011_OFFICIAL_ROSTER_6_16.pdf) The ValleyCats begin their NYPL Championship defense on Friday at home vs. Vermont.
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What's the deal with Brad James again? My recollection was a great sinker with little control. I assumed they gave up on him after hsi troubles at CC. What has he been up to the last few years? Didn't he play with the rodeo clown in JC?
Damn, I'm assuming Tony Shirley must have had elbow or shoulder surgery. I thought it was a knee issue last summer, but assumed that would have healed by now.
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This is where Springer will start once he signs, correct?
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This is where Springer will start once he signs, correct?
Presumably, yes.
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Maybe I'd forgotten this from his 7 appearances in the GCL last year, but looks like the Astros are trying another position player-turned-pitcher project with Ebert Rosario.
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'Cats Corner on the ValleyCats Opening Day roster: LINK (http://catscorner.mlblogs.com/2011/06/15/2011-roster-released/)
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What's the deal with Brad James again? My recollection was a great sinker with little control. I assumed they gave up on him after hsi troubles at CC. What has he been up to the last few years? Didn't he play with the rodeo clown in JC?
James had a great sinker that got him to AA but he never developed the change up he needed as a 3rd pitch. While in CC working on it he had arm trouble. he had surgery and is working his way back. Yes he and Towles played on the same JC team.
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Opening day lineup for the NYPL defending champion Tri-City ValleyCats. ValleyCats via Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/ValleyCats/status/81777451767824384):
Hinson 2B/ Gominsky CF/ Muren RF/ Duffy 3B/ Meredith LF/ Hamblin C/ Williams DH/ Healey SS/ Z. Johnson 1B/ J. Perez RHP
Also, as with Corpus, there is an app for that (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110610&content_id=20277728&vkey=news_t577&fext=.jsp&sid=t577)...
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After an ugly defensive game on opening night, the ValleyCats win 10-0 in their second game. Game Story (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110618&content_id=20703554&vkey=news_t577&fext=.jsp&sid=t577); BOX SCORE (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2011_06_18_verasx_trcasx_1)
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'Cats Corner is back and good as ever. "A tip of the cap... to Stubby Clapp (http://catscorner.mlblogs.com/2011/06/19/a-tip-of-the-cap-to-stubby-clapp/)"
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ValleyCats response to MiLB.TV question (via Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/ValleyCats/status/83921487521779712)):
We have televised games on MiLB.com scheduled Aug 30-Sept 1 at Aberdeen.
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There's a pretty good Tri-City blog, tcvfan (http://tcvfan.mlblogs.com), by a Tri-City season ticket holder. So far he has done an in-depth writeup of every Tri-City home game. Here's an excerpt from last night's game:
Juri Perez is a guy with great stuff. He was painting the corner with fastballs (in the low 90s, topping the gun at 94 at least three times), sprinkled in sliders (or cutters, it was something with late movement, darting in to the lefties), change ups (in the mid-high-80s), and a beautiful cureball in the high 70s. He could throw the curve for a strike at will, and it didn’t seem fair at all. Hell, my knees were buckling watching the curve come in, and I was sitting down!
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There's a pretty good Tri-City blog, tcvfan (http://tcvfan.mlblogs.com), by a Tri-City season ticket holder.
Totally forgot to mention that one, thanks for doing so! BTW, he's pretty open to requests as well (e.g. 'try to add more about velocity, repertoire, movement if you can' which he's done).
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That guy gives a lot of great info. Thanks for the heads up.
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There's a pretty good Tri-City blog, tcvfan (http://tcvfan.mlblogs.com), by a Tri-City season ticket holder. So far he has done an in-depth writeup of every Tri-City home game. Here's an excerpt from last night's game:
Juri Perez is a guy with great stuff. He was painting the corner with fastballs (in the low 90s, topping the gun at 94 at least three times), sprinkled in sliders (or cutters, it was something with late movement, darting in to the lefties), change ups (in the mid-high-80s), and a beautiful cureball in the high 70s. He could throw the curve for a strike at will, and it didn’t seem fair at all. Hell, my knees were buckling watching the curve come in, and I was sitting down!
"John Hinson –also with three errors on the season– still looks like he’s waiting for the ball to come to him. He had three chances tonight, and two of them were slow ground balls that turned into close plays at first, and they didn’t have to. He reacts to the ball off the bat well, he just has to take two or three steps in to make the out by a handful of steps, instead of one step or less. (Especially when the speedy center fielder is going down the line.)"
Hinson is a converted 3b which may explain why his reactions off the bat are fine but not yet charging the ball like he should.
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There's a pretty good Tri-City blog, tcvfan (http://tcvfan.mlblogs.com), by a Tri-City season ticket holder. So far he has done an in-depth writeup of every Tri-City home game.
More good stuff from tonight's game: LINK (http://tcvfan.mlblogs.com/2011/06/26/06252011-valleycats-recap-i-love-this-team/)
Despite the lengthy cut-and-paste below, there is a lot more decent info in the blog. Let's just say Dayan Diaz is now on my radar...
Dayan Diaz. Two words will sum his night up extremely well: strikeout and gas. He threw 55 pitches over three innings and eleven batters, of whom five struck out. He threw mostly fastballs, consistently hitting 94 on the stadium gun. The owner of the Cats, William Gladstone, sits down and to my right by a few rows, and he turned to ask the scouts (also to my right and a row ahead of me) if their gun was picking up his pitches at the same speed. They nodded, and I saw him slack jawed mouthing “wow” back to the scouts. That’s all I can say about him. Wow. This is a total guess, but I’d sat at least 30 of his pitches were over 93 MPH, and five or six were 95. His mechanics look very smooth and refined, and he repeats his delivery well. He stays closed to the batter right up until he steps forward, then unwinds gracefully to the plate. He’s only 22 and he’s got great stuff and a polished delivery. I may regret predicting this, since he has only thrown eight innings of short season A ball, but be on the lookout for this guy.
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Where did we get Dayan Diaz? What is his background? Anyone Thxs
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I'm guessing the Astros Venezuela academy seeing that he started playing in the VSL as a 17 year old. He has not pitched much at all to this point. His 22 now and has accumulated a grand total of 77IP in 5 years. I assume he got injured cause he didn't pitch at all in 09 and only pitched 1.1 inning last year.
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My wife and I are planning to go to the game on Tues. the 5th. Any player anyone wants me to try to pay particular attention to (not that my eyes or opinions are worth much)? If they keep a 5-man rotation, then last night's starter, Quezada, would be pitching.
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Real curious about that Dayan Diaz kid.
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Real curious about that Dayan Diaz kid.
Yeah, was hoping I might get to see him, but he's pitching tonight, so Tues would be too soon for him to start again.
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Yeah, was hoping I might get to see him, but he's pitching tonight, so Tues would be too soon for him to start again.
My bad, I thought he had come in for long relief last outing...
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Kyle Hallock's had a good start to the season. He went 7 innings tonight, allowing only 3 hits (2 ER) and striking out 11. That bumps his ERA to 2.00 on the season and gives him 20 K in 18 innings. He's given up 12 hits in those innings and walked 1.
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My bad, I thought he had come in for long relief last outing...
Actually, you are correct, and I goofed- The Spinners' SP tonight was named Diaz. Dayan Diaz of the 'Cats has 10 IP over 4 relief appearances (5 H, 5 BB, 1 ER, 12 K). So, crossing my fingers that I get a chance to see the kid...
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box score on milb.com has Hallock coming in for an inning in relief last night....i wonder if this is a mistake...
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'Cats Corner has started a series called "Get to know the 'Cats." Their first installment: 2B John Hinson (http://catscorner.mlblogs.com/2011/07/11/get-to-know-the-cats-2b-john-hinson/).
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Get to know the 'Cats: 1B Zach Johnson (http://catscorner.mlblogs.com/2011/07/12/get-to-know-the-cats-1b-zach-johnson/)
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Per the ValleyCats (via Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/ValleyCats/status/92391667944001536)):
[Jonas Dufek] finishes with six shutout innings for the third time in a row at "The Joe." Four K's, two hits, scoreless streak up to 20 IP.
BOX SCORE (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t577&t=g_box&gid=2011_07_16_staasx_trcasx_1) (in progress)
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Stubby goes all Canadian on 'em... LINK (http://blog.timesunion.com/mcguire/the-blowup-of-stubby-clapp/12190/)
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Jermaine Cotton is heading to the ValleyCats (per his Twitter feed).
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A nice, reflective Brandon Meredith interview (http://mlbreports.com/2011/08/06/interview-meredith/).
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Euris Quezeda hit with a 25-game suspension for . LINK (http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/08/11/astros-minor-leaguer-suspended-for-drug-policy-violation/)
...[T]he unusual 25-game ban is on the books for unauthorized use or possession of a syringe.
It does not match the usual 50-game suspensions that come with a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.
The major league drug policy does not include a mention of syringes, but possession and use must be approved under the minor league policy.
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A 25-game suspension will take him a game beyond the end of Tri-City’s regular season.
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If he was already taking something, it wasn't helping.
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Shirley with his first appearance of the year at Tri-City, throwing 3, giving up 2 singles and a walk while striking out 3.
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Springer to make his Valleycats, and professional, debut Tuesday. LINK (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110822&content_id=23580742&vkey=news_t577&fext=.jsp&sid=t577)
Mrs. Reuben and I will be in attendance. Though, we are a bit bummed that he couldn't make his debut on Wednesday, 50-cent hot dog night. Alas.
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Shirley with his first appearance of the year at Tri-City, throwing 3, giving up 2 singles and a walk while striking out 3.
Surely you can't be serious.
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Surely you can't be serious.
I've got this one...
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I've got this one...
... on the first bounce. Like JB Shuck.
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Springer to make his Valleycats, and professional, debut Tuesday. LINK (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110822&content_id=23580742&vkey=news_t577&fext=.jsp&sid=t577)
Mrs. Reuben and I will be in attendance. Though, we are a bit bummed that he couldn't make his debut on Wednesday, 50-cent hot dog night. Alas.
Well... nevermind. Springer was in uniform, stretched (and apparently practiced earlier) with the team, but did not play in the game. 'Cats won 7-4, largely on the strength of a 4-run 1st on 2 hits.
By the way, Neiko Johnson... got to give this guy credit. Hitting only .240ish but with a .407 OBP. And 5 extra-base hits all year- all doubles. He's short, skinny... no reason for pitchers to do anything but aim the ball down the middle of the plate for the most part, and somehow he finds a way to draw tons of BBs. He took several pitches that looked close, or at least close enough to be tempting.
Also, I think I might've seen Zach Levine there. Perhaps in town to cover Springer?
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By the way, Neiko Johnson... got to give this guy credit. Hitting only .240ish but with a .407 OBP. And 5 extra-base hits all year- all doubles. He's short, skinny... no reason for pitchers to do anything but aim the ball down the middle of the plate for the most part...
Huh. Johnson must've been pissed about his power being belittled. Led off the 1st with his first HR tonight. Valleycats come from behind to win 7-4 (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2011_08_24_broasx_trcasx_1), the game turning on a grand slam by .125-hitting SS Jacke Healey in the bottom of the 8th.
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Springer had a pretty nice day yesterday- 3-for-7 in the doubleheader including a leadoff HR for his first professional hit, a 2B, a BB, a HBP, and 3 SB in one game. A commenter on Astroscounty (http://www.astroscounty.com/), responding to Springer being named player of the game for both games, said
You have no idea how accurate you are picking Springer.
In the second game, his baserunning was absolutely explosive. The Spinners guessed right and performed a perfect pitch out, and he still beat it out by two steps.
Looks good going back on flyballs too.
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Season in Review – Tri-City Valley Cats
Record: 33-42 (.440)
Hitting: .247/.335/.349 32HR 513K 272BB 92SB 42CS 63GIDP
Pitching: 3.78ERA 1.39WHIP 36HR 614K 250BB
Offensive Leaders
Zach Johnson – G/PA/AB/H/RBI/TB
Matthew Duffy – R/2B/AVG/SLG/GIDP/HBP
Neiko Johnson – SB/BB/OBP/Sac
Bubby Williams – HR(6)/SF
Brandon Meredith – 3B
Pitching Leaders
Yuri Perez – GS/IP/BF
Dayan Diaz – W-L/ERA(1.98)/BB/K/WHIP
Ryan Cole – G/GF/SV
Euris Quezada – WP
Jonas Dufek -- HB
As the season progresses
June: 6-7 (.462)
July: 11-18 (.379)
August: 16-17 (.485)
Outfield
June LF: Meredith; CF: Gominsky; RF: Muren
July LF: Meredith/N.Johnson/Killsgaard; CF: Gominsky(Muren); RF: Muren(Meredith)
August LF: Epps/N.Johnson/(Scott); CF: Gominsky(Springer); RF: Muren(Epps)
Justin Gominsky (.237/.311/.276) and Andrew Muren (.257/.376/.324) were fixtures for most of the season before losing playing time in August to late-signer George Springer and newly-promoted Chris Epps and Jordan Scott. Gominsky saw his average fall during the year (.283 in June, .263 in July and .187 in August) while Muren seemed to rally as the season progressed (.171 in June, .222 in July and a team-leading .330 in August). Neither showed much power, and while speedy, both were caught stealing way too often (Muren 8/16; Gominsky 7/19). Muren also led the team with 55K in 222AB. Brandon Meredith started well (.270/.413/.378 in June) but tailed off in July before going on the DL in August. He finished at .244/.371/.395, leading the team in triples with 4. Springer struggled a bit in his pro debut (.179/.303/.393) but only 2K in 28AB looks promising. Both Epps (.212/.414/.385 in 70PA) and Scott (.235/.409/.353 in 22PA) seemed to adapt well, though neither hit much for average in limited appearances after their promotions. Kellen Killsgaard struggled mightily (.159/.194/.261) and was sent down to Greeneville in early August.
Infield
June 1B: Z.Johnson; 2B: Hinson; 3B: Duffy; SS: Rodriguez/N.Johnson
July 1B: Z.Johnson; 2B: Hinson; 3B: Duffy; SS: Healey(N.Johnson)
August 1B: Z.Johnson(Valenzuela); 2B: N.Johnson(Arrendell/Z.Johnson); 3B: Duffy(Valenzuela); SS: Healey(Arrendell)
Injuries figured heavily in the variety of alignments, as Jacke Healey was injured in the opening series, Rafael Valenzuela missed June and July recovering from last season’s injuries, and John Hinson went down in August. All of that meant that Miguel Arrendell had to drop down from Lancaster to fill in at middle infield positions in August, while normal first baseman Zach Johnson experimented with time at second. Meanwhile, Hector Rodriguez spent a few days in June on the Lancaster roster before joining Tri City and earned a promotion to Lexington in August. Duffy was the offensive star of the infield hitting a consistent .298/.370/.417 for the year with 20 doubles and 37 RBI. Hinson was heating up with a team-leading .305 average in July before his injury and finished at .284/.348/.389. He also fielded his position very well. At .262/.339/.369 and a team-leading 40RBI, Zach Johnson was also an offensive force. His defense, though, included 12 errors at 1B and 3 more in 7 games at 2B & 3B. Rafael Valenzuela appears to be recovered, hitting .316/.367/.456 in 128 PA’s after his return, but at 23 he has to play catch-up to retain any sort of prospect status. The slick-fielding Arrendell, however, may be headed nowhere. After stuggling for playing time over the past three years behind Mier and Altuve (Greeneville in 2009, Lexington in 2010 and Lancaster this year), he finds himself back in short-season ball at age 23. Neiko Johnson is another 23-year-old who needs to move up quickly. He split time evenly between 2B, SS and LF while swiping 21 bases and drawing 41 walks in 238 PA; he also struck out 37 times, though, and haad just 6 XBH.
Catcher
June Hamblin(Williams/McCurdy)
July Hamblin(McCurdy/Williams)
August McCurdy/Hamblin
Williams & Hamblin also accounted for well over half the starts at DH between them as management struggled to work three catchers into the mix. Bubby Williams struggled at the plate after a strong year at Greeneville in 2010, though he did end up leading the Valley Cats in HR with 6. He hit only .158 in June and barely cleared the Mendoza line, finishing at .206/.223/.397 – exclusively as DH in August. Miles Hamblin also started slow (.229 in June) but recovered to post a .264/.346/.398 line for the season, though he struck out 44 times in 201 AB. Meanwhile, Ryan McCurdy, who got very little playing time last year in rookie ball, hit .324/.388/.382 in 118 PA. He’s 23, though, and time is running out for him. None of the three were able to slow down the running game, with opponents successful on 108 of 137 attempts.
Rotation
June Perez/Dufek/Quezada/Hallock/Tropeano
July Perez/Dufek/Quezada/Hallock/Tropeano
August Perez/Hallock/Tropeano/Cotton/Champion
Jonas Dufek pitched well (3.71 ERA; 1.39 WHIP) before being injured in mid-August, while Euris Quezada (6.95 ERA; 2.05 WHIP) was much less successful before being suspended for 25 games for having unauthorized syringes. They were replaced by Adam Champion, who moved out of the bullpen to register a 2.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in August, and Jamaine Cotton, who posted a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP after being promoted from Greeneville. The “big three” all year, though, were Yuri Perez (1-6; 5.48 ERA; 1.62 WHIP; 9.0K/9), Kyle Hallock (3-4; 2.63 ERA; 1.22 WHIP; 8.9K/9), and Nick Tropeano (3-2; 2.36 ERA; 1.18 WHIP; 10.6K/9).
Bullpen – by IP
June Diaz/Champion/Smink/Rosario/Bueno/Cole/Bullock/Lambson/Blankenship/Belliard
July Lambson/Smink/Diaz/Bullock/Champion/Cole/Blankenship/Bueno/Rosario/Belliard
August Diaz/Smink/Bullock/Blankenship/Lambson/Cole/Rosario/Belliard/Bueno
Apart from Adam Champion being moved into the rotation in late July, the bullpen makeup was consistent for the full year. Ryan Cole (1-1; 2.33; 1.33 WHIP; 8.3K/IP; 10 saves) was the closer, while other roles appeared to be distributed pretty evenly. The standout performer was Dayan Diaz (7-3; 1.98 ERA; 1.14 WHIP; 12.6K/IP and 2 saves in 18 relief appearances and 1 start). Ebert Rosario was making the transition from 3B and posted a respectable 3.42 ERA (and a less respectable 1.69 WHIP) along with 27 K’s in 23+ innings. Garrett Bullock (2.51 ERA; 1.24 WHIP), Mitchell Lambson (4.33 & 1.16), Travis Blankenship (3.90 & 1.07) and Travis Smink (4.37 & 1.32) all contributed to a strong bullpen as well, but Bullock is 25 and only Lambson is under 23.
In sum: This team was at least mathematically in the race for a playoff spot until late in August, and was not as bad as the record indicates. They actually outscored opponents (345 to 343) and projected to a 38-37 record using the Pythagorean method. That said, key contributors were all a bit older than would be expected, and will have to really step it up to maintain prospect status as they move up the ladder.