Minor League Report...May 15, 2010

Coming off his no-hitter, Daniel Osterbrock collected 56% of the votes to become the first Player of the Week selected by the readers of Twinkie Town.

It appears the organization is developing a bad trend of playing about .500 ball one week followed by a really ugly week.  That was the case this week as they won only nine games with seventeen losses.  New Britain certainly isn't helping as they were winless in six games with only Beloit having a winning record at 4-3.

There were many moves as the Twins attempt to fix some of these problems.  They placed J.J. Hardy on the DL, recalling Matt Tolbert to take his spot.  They recalled Jose Mijares from his brief rehab assignment to Rochester.  With Joe Mauer recovered from his heel injury, Wilson Ramos was returned to Rochester.  They also activated Jose Morales from EST and optioned him to Rochester.  Pitchers Deolis Guerra and Cole DeVries were promoted from AA to Rochester after the Red Wings placed Charlie Zink on the DL and Yoslan Herrera was granted his release.  Jair Fernandez was returned to Ft. Myers by the Red Wings with Alan de San Miguel assigned to New Britain allowing the Rock Cats to return Danny Rams to Beloit.  Pitchers Matt Williams, Michael Allen and Kyle Gibson were promoted to New Britain as was utility player Yangervis Solarte.  Steve Hirschfield was returned to the Rock Cat disabled list.  The Rock Cats also suspended Henry Arias for disciplinary reasons. 

Loek Van Mil was activated from the DL and assigned to Ft. Myers.  Liam Hendriks and Steven Blevins were promoted to Ft. Myers.  Jonathan Goncalves was returned to EST by the Miracle with Andrei Lobanov joining the Miracle from EST.  The Beloit Snappers placed Tom Stuifbergen on their DL with Michael Tonkin and B.J. Hermsen being called up from EST.  If I got them all, that is twenty-six moves which is more than I recall in any week since I began this weekly report several years ago.         

Rochester Red Wings (AAA) (2-5, 14-21, 5th place, -7.0 games behind Syracuse)

Red Wing Manager Tom Nieto told Jim Mandelaro this week that "Its early, but its not going to be early forever."  Seven games out certainly doesn't mean their season is over, but the Red Wings need to start making a move soon if they are to make a run at the playoffs. 

The Wings are in a stretch where they are facing some big names with a date next Tuesday against Stephen Strasburg.  Ryan Mullins missed a quality start by one out when he squared off with Ardolis Chapman last Sunday.  Mullins pitched 5.2 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs and 6K/3BB as the Wings lost 5-2 as Jose Mijares allowed 2 hits and runs in 0.2 innings.  Mullins had a re-match with Louisville and Chapman last night.  This time the Wings prevailed as Chapman had his shortest start of the season, lasting only 3.1 innings with 9 hits and 8 runs.  Mullins was again good as he pitched 6.2 innings with 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned) and 4K/3BB to improve his record to 3-2.  Deolis Guerra made his first AAA start against Indianapolis on Thursday, pitching 4.0 innings with 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) and 3K/1BB as the Wings lost,8-3.  The Wings first win this week was Tuesday, 7-5 in ten innings, when Jeff Manship pitched 5.2 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs and 5K/3BB.  Rob Delaney picked up his fifth win in six decisions, pitching 1.0 shutout inning with 1 hit and 1K/1BB.

Mullins leads the staff with 42.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA and 29K/11BB.  As a starter, he has an excellent 3.31 ERA in 35.1 innings.  Glen Perkins had one of his better starts on Monday when he didn't allow a run in his first four innings.  Unfortunately, Perkins got only one out in the sixth inning before departing with seven runs on the board for Indianapolis.  Perkins has a 0-4 record, 10.72 ERA and 20K/11BB in six starts (22.2 innings).  Kyle Waldrop made three appearances this week, allowing one run in 6.2 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks as he maintained his excellent 1.73 ERA.  Rob Delaney made four appearances, pitching 3.1 innings with two runs and 4K/1BB raising his ERA to 3.86. 

Slama watch.....Slama made three appearances this week, picking up his seventh save.  Slama pitched 3.0 innings with two hits, one run, two strikeouts and no walks.  For the season, Slama has a 0-0 record, 7 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 18 appearances (22.1 innings) with 26 strikeouts and 9 walks (3.62 walks/9 innings).

Jose Morales had a big night in his first game of his season last night, going 5-5 with two runs scored, a double and RBI.  Jason Repko also had a big night, 4-4 with a run scored, double, 4 RBI and 2 walks, raising his average to .320/.417/.474.  The Red Wings' leading hitter for much of the season has been Dustin Martin, who had four multi-hit games this week.  Martin, who was 10-29, is now hitting .330/.398/.557 while leading the team with 5 home runs and 30 RBI.  Trevor Plouffe is also having an excellent spring, hitting .293/.358/.466.

The Wings top player this week was Danny Valencia who is currently in a 18-game hitting streak.  Valencia was 9-23 (.391 Average) with 4 runs scored, 3 doubles and 5 RBI.  After a very slow start, Valencia finished April hitting .256 in 78 at bats.  May has been another story as Valencia is hitting .364/.391/.455 in 44 at bats.  Although he has yet to hit his first home run, his average is up to .295 with a team high 11 doubles.  Valencia has struck out 21 times in 122 at bats while picking up 7 walks.   

New Britain Rock Cats (AA) (0-6, 6-27, 6th place, -16.0 games behind New Hampshire)

Former GM Terry Ryan spent much of his week in New Britain.  I expect Mr. Ryan isn't happy with what he saw as the Rock Cats were winless and continue to have the worst record in professional baseball.  The Cats are averaging two runs per game, have struck out 223 times in 936 at bats and are 1-16 at home where they have 20 errors led by Estarlin De Los Santos, who has eight of his nine errors at home.  Although Mr. Ryan went on in some detail, he summed up the Rock Cats problem as a "lack of execution."

Deolis Guerra was excellent in his last start for the Cats last Saturday when they lost to Portland, 4-3.  Guerra pitched 6.1 innings with 6 hits, 1 unearned run and 4K/2BB.  Matt Williams picked up the loss in his first appearance in AA, pitching 1.1 innings with 2 hits and 3 runs (2 earned).  Michael McCardell allowed only 1 run in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Portland, pitching 6.0 innings with 4 hits, 1 run and 4K/3BB.  David Bromberg had been excellent this spring, however, that wasn't the case on Monday when he allowed 11 hits and 8 runs in 4.2 innings.  Tyler Robertson was also very good in Thursday's 3-1 loss at Harrisburg.  Robertson pitched 5.2 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs and 5K/2BB to pick up his third loss in three decisions.

The starting staff has been solid this spring, McCardell (4.70 ERA), Gutierrez (4.38 ERA), Robertson (3.86 ERA) and Bromberg (3.58 ERA).  Spencer Steedley has been the lone reliever who has been getting it done as he has a 2.55 ERA in 17. 2 innings.  Others working out of the bullpen are:  Joe Testa (7.20 ERA), Chris Province (7.32 ERA), Santos Arias (5.00 ERA) and Henry Arias (11.42 ERA).  

There isn't a lot that can be said for the hitters as the Rock Cats scored three runs twice this week while scoring a total of five runs in their other four games.  Only two players, Ben Revere and Steve Singleton, had two multi-hit games.  Revere continued to be their top hitter at .292/.369/.319 (Yancarlos Ortiz is hitting .300 Average in only 40 at bats) with 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts.  The only other players hitting over .240 Average are Mark Dolenc (.288/.329/.370), Rene Tosoni (.280/.338/.432) and Alexander Soto (.277/.320/.340 in only 47 at bats).  Tosoni returned to the outfield in several games this week after being limited to designated hitter for several weeks.  Joe Benson is hitting .258/.343/.516 in his last ten games (31 at bats) with 2 home runs. 

Carlos Gutierrez was the Cats top player this week as he made his best start of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Trenton.  Gutierrez pitched 7.0 innings with 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned) and 4K/0BB.

Ft. Myers Miracle (Hi-A) (3-3, 15-19, 5th place, -5.0 games behind Bradenton)

The Miracle began a four game series with the Tampa Yankees on Monday, winning the first three 4-1, 6-2 and 2-1.  Kyle Gibson pitched 6.2 strong innings against the Yankees in his last start for the Miracle.  Gibson allowed 5 hits and 1 run in 6.2 innings with 8K/3BB.  Michael Tarsi also had a quality start on Tuesday, pitching 6.0 innings with 5 hits, 2 runs and 5K/3BB.  Liam Hendriks was excellent in his first start for the Mircale on Wednesday, pitching 7.0 innings with only 3 hits, 1 run and 8K/0BB to pick up his first win.  Daniel Osterbrock struggled in the final game against the Yankees, allowing 11 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in 5.1 innings in Thursday's 6-2 loss. 

Gibson moved up to AA after compiling a 4-1 record for the Miracle in 7 starts (43.1 innings) with a 1.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 1 complete game one-hitter and 40K/12BB.  Shooter Hunt made only one appearance this week, pitching 2.1 innings with no hits or runs, six strikeouts and only one walk as he lowered his ERA to 4.34.  Hunt has allowed four runs in his last ten appearances (18.2 innings) with 29 strikeouts and only 6 walks for a 1.93 ERA.  Matt Williams had a 2.30 ERA in 15.2 innings and Michael Allen had a 6.43 ERA in 14.0 innings before they were promoted to New Britain.  Billy Bullock leads the Miracle with 7 saves with a 3.13 ERA in 13 appearances (17.1 innings) with 20K/8BB.  Andrei Lobanov struck out two in his first appearance when he pitched 1.2 innings.  Loek Van Mil pitched 2.0 no-hit innings with 4 strikeouts in his first game on Tuesday, however, allowed the winning run in last night's 1-0 loss at Bradenton.  

Although he was only 1-12, the big news is that Paul Kelly was back at shortstop in four of the Miracle's last five games.  The light hitting Miracle had only two players with two multi-hit games this week, Brandon Roberts and Andrew Thompson.  Yangervis Solarte was the Miracle's leading hitter before his promotion, hitting .330/.408/.462 in 91 at bats.  Catcher Daniel Rohlfing is hitting for a .302 Average in 43 at bats.  Jonathan Goncalves hit .290/.303/.355 in 31 at bats during his brief assignment to the Miracle.  Drew Thompson is hitting .267/.328/.371 in 105 at bats as the 23 year old works his way back onto the Twins radar.

The Miracle's top player this week was starter Bruce Pugh.  Pugh began his week with a tough loss against St. Lucie, 3-2.  Pugh pitched 5.0 innings with only three hits, two runs, 9 strikeouts and 3 walks.  Pugh had the week's best starting performance last night when the Miracle again lost, 1-0 at Bradenton.  Pugh pitched 7.0 shutout innings with only 1 hit, 10 strikeouts and 1 walk.  Pugh walked the lead off hitter before retiring the next 12 batters as Bradenton got their only hit off him with two outs in the sixth inning. 

Beloit Snappers (A) (4-3, 21-14, Tied/first place with Quad Cities, +0.5 games ahead of Peoria)

The Snappers moved into a first place tie following a sweep of Wisconsin in last night's double header, 2-1 and 5-3.  Brad Stillings pitched 6.0 innings with 7 hits, 1 run and 5K/2BB in Saturday's 5-1 win in his best start of the season.  He followed that performance with another solid start last night when he pitched 5.0 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) and 2K/2BB in a 5-3 win at Wisconsin.  With three holes in their starting rotation, Peter Kennelly made his first start of the season on Sunday, pitching 4.0 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs and 2K/1BB.  Edgar Ibarra pitched 4.0 innings with 2 hits and 3 runs in Monday's 8-7, ten inning win versus Kane County.  Michael Tonkin was solid in his first start of the season in Tuesday's 5-1 loss.  Tonkin pitched 4.0 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs and 4K/0BB.  B.J. Hermsen was excellent in his first start last night, beating Wisconsin 2-1 with 5.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 run and 2K/2BB.

Steven Blevins had a 3.86 ERA and 6 saves before moving up to Ft. Myers.  Jhon Garcia hasn't allowed a run in his first three appearances (6.0 innings).  Dakota Watts has a 2.86 ERA with two saves in 13 games (22.0 innings) with 23 strikeouts and 13 walks.  Kane Holbrooks has 3 saves in 14 games (20.2 innings) with a 0.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 27 striketouts and only 3 walks.  Edgar Ibarra has a solid 3.92 ERA and 3-2 record in 20.2 innings.  Liam Hendriks had a 2-1 record in 6 starts (34.0 innings) with a 1.32 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 39K/4BB before taking the next step in his journey to Minnesota.

Brian Dozier and James Beresford both had two multi-hit games this week.  Third baseman Anderson Hidalgo leads the Snappers at .330/.348/.466 in 88 at bats.  Danny Rams returned from his brief stay at New Britain to hit his first home run of the season.  Although he is hitting for only a .215 Average, Rams is tied with Hidalgo for the team lead with 9 doubles.  Beresford is hitting .382 Average in his last ten games (34 at bats) to get his average up to .245/.316/.283 following a very slow start. 

Eliecer Cardenas has made three appearances (5.0 innings) for the Snappers since his promotion from EST last weekend.  Cardenas has yet to give up a run while allowing five hits with five strikeouts and three walks.  Cardenas picked up the win in Monday's ten inning victory against Kane County.  He picked up his second win last night at Wisconsin with 3.0 shutout innings to merit his nomination for this week's Player of the Week.