Scott Lucas Daily Farm Archive

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/27

Stars of the Day
AAA: Josh Lindblom / Engel Beltre, Greg Miclat
AA: Arlett Mavare / Brett Nicholas, Alex Buchholz, Joe Benson
Hi-A: Trever Adams
Lo-A: none

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Memphis (STL) 2
Record: 27-24, -1.0

Josh Lindblom threw a stout 111 pitches in a seven-inning outing, yielding a two-run homer, six other hits and a walk. Lindblom struck out five.

CF Engel Beltre was 2-5 with his 14th double and 11th steal. Last year, Beltre took a lengthy step forward in power, hitting 13 triples and 13 homers along with 17 doubles. In 2013, he's on pace for 40 doubles but is awaiting his first homer or three-bagger. He's also on pace to set a career high in walks (admittedly, a low hurdle to jump in his case).

SS Greg Miclat (.272/.381/.312) was 2-3 with a walk and his 6th steal.

AA: Frisco 6, at Tulsa (COL) 3
Record: 29-21, -1.0

Nick McBride lasted four innings in his AA debut, which came after he'd made an appearance in AAA. Tulsa touched him for three runs on five hits and a walk, and he fanned one. McBride was Texas's 2009 5th rounder and will be Rule 5-eligible for the first time this winter if not protected on the 40-man roster. Other draft picks Texas will consider are OF Jared Hoying, 1B Brett Nicholas, OF Ryan Strausborger, and pitchers Jimmy Reyes, Ryan Rodebaugh, Ben Rowen and Joe Van Meter. Among non-drafted players, the "must add" is infielder Luis Sardinas (assuming his signing year of 2009 counts; if not, Texas can wait until 2014).

Arlett Mavare (6.00 ERA) worked three scoreless innings with a hit and a strikeout.

CF Joe Benson homered for the second time in two games as a Rider. 1B Brett Nicholas (.299/.369/.571) hit his 11th homer and singled. Nicholas had endured an 11-game homer drought after hitting five in seven games. 3B Alex Buchholz was 3-4.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 1, at Lynchburg (ATL) 4
Record: 29-20, +4.5

Aside from one injury-shortened outing, Luke Jackson had achieved five innings in every start but his pitch-count-shortened 2013 debut. Yesterday was the second, as Jackson (2.74 ERA) walked three and allowed five hits (including a homer) and two runs in 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

Rougned Odor (.281/.359/.449) reached on two HBPs and a walk but was caught stealing twice. 1B Trever Adams (.265/.329/.422) singled and mashed his sixth homer.

Low-A: Hickory 0, at Augusta (SFO) 4
Record: 28-21, -2.0

Hickory was two-hit by 2012 20th-overall pick Chris Stratton and Rowlett native Steven Okert. LF Nick Vickerson and RF Nomar Mazara doubled. Jorge Alfaro reached on a hit-by-pitch (#11, already a career-high) and walk (#13, approaching his high of 16).

Tyler Smith (4.17 ERA) gave up three runs in four innings on a solo homer, five other hits and two walks while striking out four.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Oklahoma's Eric Hurley allowed two homers but otherwise minimized the damage, giving up three runs (one earned) in six innings. Hurley had surrendered 13 homers in just 60 innings. This frightening pace would continue during his brief Major League career.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Luis Parra
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/28

Stars of the Day
AAA: Scott Richmond / Aaron Cunningham
AA: Joe Benson, Hanser Alberto
Hi-A: Royce Bolinger
Lo-A: Jose LeClerc, Alexander Claudio / Nick Vickerson, David Lyon

AAA: Round Rock 3, at New Orleans (MIA) 2
Record: 28-24, -1.0

LF Aaron Cunningham (.288/.378/.454) plated everything with homers in the 1st and 8th. DH Robinson Chirinos (.271/.388/.438) singled twice. Korean import Scott Richmond allowed a lone run in six innings, and Kyle McClellan earned his second save with a one-hit, one-strikeout 9th.

Mike Olt should be back soon. Per Jason Cole of Baseball Prospectus, he DH'ed and led off every inning of last night's extended spring training game.

AA: at Frisco 6, Springfield (STL) 5
Record: 30-21, -1.0, six-game win streak

Entering with one on and none out in the 8th, Roman Mendez retired the side and the first two batters in the 9th on 14 pitches. One strike away from victory, Mendez threw nine straight balls, the last of which elicited a visit from the trainer while Mendez crouched over, holding his right arm. It doesn't look good. That said, Jurickson Profar's hand injury looked scary as it happened, and he was fine. Mendez spent the winter mending a stress fracture in his elbow.

Starter Carlos Pimentel (3.09 ERA) endured his worst start of the season, surrendering two homers and five other hits leading to five runs in 5.1 innings. Pimentel did maintain his newfound impeccable control, walking one and striking out five. Ben Rowen retired the last batter with the bases loaded for his fifth save and third in three games.

SS Hanser Alberto and CF Joe Benson hit three-run homers. Alberto has both of his 2013 homers in May, an otherwise dreary month for him (.163/.235/.239).

Benson has three homers in three games as a Ranger. He hit 27 in 2010, mostly in AA, so he's got some pop. Similarly, he proved capable of mashing AA pitching three years ago. Assuming he's bumped to AAA, Texas will get a better handle on what, if anything, he can offer. By my count, 28 teams passed on the opportunity to claim him from Minnesota.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 1, at Lynchburg (ATL) 8
Record: 29-21, +3.0, five-game losing streak

Lynchburg took Victor Payano deep three times and Will Lamb twice. Payano (4.22 ERA) had allowed only two homers in his previous nine starts. In six innings, he gave up six other hits, walked two, struck out four and allowed five runs. Lamb has six homers and 14 walks on his ledger in just 21.2 innings.

I recently tweeted that the Pelicans had allowed a league-worst 38 homers, but I was double-counting last night's five. (MiLB.com is updating team-wide stats much more quickly these days.)

CF Royce Bolinger's two doubles led a quiet evening for the offense.

Low-A: Hickory 7, at Augusta (SFO) 4
Record: 29-21, -1.0

Hickory recovered from an early 3-0 deficit without the benefit of the long ball, instead relying on five walks and several timely hits. Catcher David Lyon (.191/.295/.294) walked, hit a two-run double and gunned down two baserunners. 2B Nick Vickerson (.328/.438/.475) walked twice and singled.

Luis Parra (0.75 ERA) walked five and fanned seven in just four innings. He allowed four hits and four runs, all unearned because of error-prone defense. Jose Leclerc (3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 SO) and Alexander Claudio (2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) held fast as the offense stormed back.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Bakersfield hit five homers against Visalia, including an inside-the-parker from Jose Vallejo, who raced around the bases when the right fielder tangled his cleats in a chain-link fence and couldn't retrieve the ball. Oklahoma's game at Omaha was suspended because of a nearby hydrochloric acid spill.

A rehabbing Pedro Martinez faced 2007 #1 pick David Price in Florida State League game. Announced attendance: 1,961.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: CJ Edwards
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/29

Stars of the Day
Hi-A: CJ Edwards, Ryan Bores / David Lyon
Lo-A: Preston Beck

AAA and AA: rain

Doubleheaders today.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 2, at Lynchburg (ATL) 8
Record: 29-22. +3.0, six-game losing streak

The Pelicans have been outscored 20-4 in the series. RF Preston Beck (.216/.323/.306) hit his first high-A homer and walked twice from the #9 spot. The other eight: 2-29 with a walk.

Jerad Eickhoff (4.01 ERA) was victimized by a three-run homer in the 1st and allowed three more (unearned) in the 7th. He struck out three and walked one.

Making his 2013 debut was righty Taylor Dennis, who gave up two runs in the 8th on two hits and a walk. Dennis was Texas's 2011 34th rounder out of the University of Southern Indiana. He pitched capably in relief at Hickory last summer, posting a 2.12 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 34 innings.

LHP Victor Payano is on the Disabled List.

Low-A: Hickory 1, at Augusta (SFO) 2
Record: 29-22. -2.0

Despite allowing no runs and a single hit, C.J. Edwards (2.25 ERA) lasted just 3.2 innings, striking out seven and walking four. Ryan Bores (2.70 ERA) tossed a scoreless 7th and 8th with one strikeout.

Catcher Jorge Alfaro was removed for precautionary reasons in the 3rd. Joey Gallo entered as part of a three-way switch and fanned three times. He has 17 strikeouts in his last 26 at-bats. DH David Lyon doubled and singled.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Healthy: Kevin Millwood. Up: Travis Metcalf. Down: Kam Loe and German Duran. Two rainouts on the farm. Oklahoma's Nelson Cruz hit his 15th homer and Chris Davis hit his first in AAA, 14th overall.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend / TBA
AA: Tyler Tufts / Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[jta4437]

Jorge Alfaro reached on a hit-by-pitch (#11, already a career-high) and walk (#13, approaching his high of 16).

That's certainly good news, as that's his biggest weakness coming into this year,

That along with the added pop and he's certainly making strides

 

[Windingmywatch]

Jorge Alfaro reached on a hit-by-pitch (#11, already a career-high) and walk (#13, approaching his high of 16).

That's certainly good news, as that's his biggest weakness coming into this year,

That along with the added pop and he's certainly making strides

Lots of other names at HIK ... but I bet TEX is most interested in Alfaro's development. I think they would be very happy to see him at Myrtle Beach for the second half of 2013.

Now if he could get rid of his errors when he's behind the plate. Not sure I understand why Alfaro's getting so much time at 1b when it is Gallo who is the one who will eventually need to change positions.

 

[romeo212000]

Lots of other names at HIK ... but I bet TEX is most interested in Alfaro's development. I think they would be very happy to see him at Myrtle Beach for the second half of 2013.

Now if he could get rid of his errors when he's behind the plate. Not sure I understand why Alfaro's getting so much time at 1b when it is Gallo who is the one who will eventually need to change positions.

If Gallo doesn't cut down on his k's he may not be playing much of anything.

 

[Windingmywatch]

If Gallo doesn't cut down on his k's he may not be playing much of anything.

My season thread post on that topic from this morning ...

Although sitting in second place in the SAL North ... K's are a problem and not just Gallo (76) ... Brinson (83), Akins (60) ...

Hickory Indiv Stats: Hickory Crawdads 2013 Individual Stats | Hickory Crawdads Stats

South Atlantic League Team Stats: South Atlantic League 2013 Team Batting | Hickory Crawdads Stats

#14. Hickory 540Ks on 1649ABs ... (32.7%)
#13. Greenville 458Ks on 1662ABs ... (27.6%)
...
#10. Ashville 411Ks on 1704ABs ... (24.1%)

Last (#14) w/150BB ... #13 w/390Hits ... #5 w/247Runs. Left side of the HIK infield is not the reincarnate of Andrus-Beltre ... Marte has 19Es and Gallo has 11Es.

Going into the year I wondered how the Myrtle Beach group felt about all the offensive talent sitting right behind them at Hickory. Couple of the guys might straighten themselves out between now and end of July but its not like there is a veteran presence down there to set an example.

From reading Scott Lucas daily farm reports my sense is that they are having altogether too much fun at Hickory and spending little if any time on the basics of playing sound baseball.

It is a long step up from A to High A ... and a huge giant step up to AA. I too thought we might see Gallo jump to Myrtle Beach half way through the season and then play winter ball ... and potentially arriving at Frisco coming out of 2014 camp. I bet that isn't the timetable TEX expects for Gallo given the first two months at Hickory. Lots of raw talent w/Gallo, Brinson and a few others ... but a long way from being ready for AA let alone higher.

And then there is the thing that there aren't many 6'5" 3bmen around ... so at some point he's going to become a 1bman (or COF) ... and that takes time too ... but ought to cut down on his errors.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/30

3B Mike Olt will spend the weekend in Frisco, where Alexi Ogando will start tonight.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Ryan Feierabend / Engel Beltre, Yangervis Solarte, Chris McGuiness
AA: Tyler Tufts, Phil Klein, Arlett Mavare / Brett Nicholas, Joe Benson
Hi-A: Alec Asher / Rougned Odor, Preston Beck
Lo-A: Lewis Brinson, Ryan Rua

AAA (1): Round Rock 1, at New Orleans (MIA) 0 (7 innings)
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
AAA (2): Round Rock 6, at New Orleans (MIA) 5 (7 innings)
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 30-24, -0.5

Six one-hit innings from Ryan Feierabend and Yangervis Solarte's 5th homer highlighted the opener. Cory Burns loaded the bases with none out on three singles before striking out ex-Express catcher Koyie Hill and getting a double-play grounder from Ben Lasater. Engel Beltre (.284/.332/.347) was 3-4 with his 12th steal.

Solarte homered again in the nightcap, driving in three including Chris McGuiness (.267/.383/.477), who had two singles and a double for the evening. Beltre walked twice. The Zephyrs touched Jake Brigham (9.50 ERA) for seven hits and a walk in 3.1 innings, leading to four runs. Brigham struck out four.

AA (1): at Frisco 1, Springfield (STL) 0
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
AA (2): at Frisco 0, Springfield (STL) 6
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 31-22, -2.0

Four Riders combined on a one-hitter in the first game, though they put seven on base via walks and a hit-by-pitch. Tyler Tufts (.4.75 ERA) worked the first three frames, Phil Klein (2.08 ERA) fanned four in two innings, and Wilmer Font (1.64 ERA) retired four while walking two and committing an error. Richard Bleier retired the last two Cards around a bases-loading walk.

1B Brett Nicholas (.308/.380/.589) doubled and hit a solo homer, his 12th. CF Joe Benson was 2-2 with a walk.

Neil Ramirez struck out seven of 20 batters faced in Game 2 but allowed three walks, two homers and three other hits in four innings, resulting in all of Springfield's runs. Arlett Mavare walked two and fanned two in a couple of scoreless innings. Ben Rowen (1 IP, 1 SO) has 11 consecutive scoreless appearances.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 1, at Lynchburg (ATL) 4
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 29-23, +3.0, 7-game losing streak

The Pelicans have been outscored 43-15 in series sweeps against Wilmington and Lynchburg. Alec Asher (2.86 ERA) avoided the long-ball trouble of prior starters but yielded nine hits and three runs (one earned) in six innings. Asher struck out eight and walked none.

Rougned Odor (.287/.373/.404 in May) singled twice and walked. CF Royce Bolinger singled and doubled. At .326/.365/.506 in May, he's been Myrtle's best batter by a fair margin this month.

Low-A: Hickory 7, at Rome (ATL) 8
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 29-23, -2.0

Hickory recovered from an early 3-0 deficit, only to lose a four-run advantage. Rome scored five across the 6th and 7th against Jose Valdespina (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 SO) and Cody Kendall (2 IP, 3 H, 1 SO). Starter Connor Sadzeck (3.02 ERA) settled down after a combination of bad luck and a little too much plate on some pitches led to three early runs. In five innings, he walked one, struck out two and surrendered four runs and seven hits. Opponents are hitting .248/.299/.324 against him.

Originally set for a night off, CF Lewis Brinson (.239/.312/.472) drew a career-high three walks and mashed his 11th homer. Ryan Rua (.236/.353/.563) hit his 14th homer and shares the league lead with Pittsburgh's Stetson Allie, who resembles actor/comedian/non-athlete Patton Oswalt in his photo.

Nick Williams was a late scratch but pinch-ran in the 9th. Jorge Alfaro, removed for precautionary reasons early Wednesday, returned to action at first base and was 0-5.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas added Robinson Tejeda and optioned Kason Gabbard. Tejeda made four relief appearances before being designated for assignment and lost to the Royals.

Frisco's Elvis Andrus broke a finger on his throwing hand and was expected to miss three weeks. In five scoreless innings, Clinton's Neftali Feliz struck out eight and allowed two hits, both Ben Revere doubles. Frisco's Matt Harrison permitted three earned runs (five total) in six innings, walking none and striking out seven.

Today's Starters
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Alexi Ogando
Hi-A: Nick Martinez
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

What have I missed as the reason Alfaro is getting so much work at 1b when he's TEX #5 prospect and MLB's #5 overall catching prospect?

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 5/31

The worst is true: RHP Roman Mendez will miss the remainder of 2013 after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his right elbow. He suffered an identical injury last fall but recovered in time for Frisco's Opening Day. Mendez is on Texas's 40-man roster on his second option.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Brad Mills / Chris McGuiness, Robinson Chirinos
AA: Teodoro Martinez, Joe Benson, Mike Olt, Chih-Hsien Chiang, Ryan Strausborger, Odubel Herrera
Hi-A: Chris Grayson
Lo-A: Sam Stafford

AAA: Round Rock 1, at New Orleans (MIA) 2
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 30-25, -1.0

A 6th-inning solo homer off Kyle McClellan and another run against a wild Johan Yan (2 IP,1 H, 3 BB, HBP) were enough for the Zephyrs. Brad Mills (3.13 ERA) permitted two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings. 1B Chris McGuiness was 2-3 with a walk, while Robinson Chirinos singled and accounted for Round Rock's only run with his third homer.

AA: at Frisco 7, Tulsa (COL) 4
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 32-22, -1.0

Alexi Ogando barreled through six innings with just 60 pitches, walking none striking out four. The only significant blot was a two-run homer following a Chih-Hsieh Chiang error. Ogando may head straight back to the Texas rotation.

Playing for the first time since April 25th, Mike Olt struck out in his first two at-bats, flied out deep to left, and crushed a no-doubter over the left-field fence.Video Highlights & Clips - MiLB | Frisco's Olt hits two-run homer - Video | Frisco RoughRiders Multimedia

Five other Riders homered: Teodoro Martinez (5th), Joe Benson (4th), Chih-Hsien Chiang (5th), Ryan Strausborger (5th) and Odubel Herrera (1st). Chiang also singled.

On to protect a four-run lead in the 9th, Justin Miller allowed a run and loaded the bases with two out, forcing Ben Rowen to enter for the final out and his sixth save.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 2, at Salem (BOS) 3
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 29-24, +2.0, 8-game losing streak

Against Ryan Harvey (1.46 ERA), Salem scored the go-ahead run in the 8th despite making all three outs on the bases: a pickoff, caught-stealing and OF Chris Grayson's gundown of a runner at the plate. Harvey allowed two walks and two singles. Starter Nick Martinez (2.70 ERA) yielded two runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings and struck out two.

Grayson (.229/.321/.368) also nabbed a runner at third and was 1-2 with a double, walk and a caught-stealing after being picked off.

Low-A: Hickory 5, at Rome (ATL) 6
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 29-24, -2.0

Hickory again recovered from a large early deficit only to fall short. Joe Maloney's seventh homer brought in Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo (1-3, BB) to cap a five-run 6th. Mazara (.272/.374/.391 in May) was 2-3 with a double and walk. Jorge Alfaro doubled and singled.

Sam Stafford (9.00) pitched a scoreless 7th and 8th, working around two hits and a walk. Starter Andrew Faulkner (2.95 ERA) was touched for five hits, four walks and four runs in 4.2 innings while striking out two. Two runs off hard-throwing but erratic Jose LeClerc (5.08 ERA) in the 6th inverted Hickory's one-run advantage. LeClerc (1.1 IP 3 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) has fanned 30% of opposing hitters but getting strung for a .427 average when they manage to make contact.

Dominican Summer League
It's Opening Day. Opening Morning, to be specific. Among the notable members of Texas's entry is SS/3B Juremi Profar, 17-year-old brother of Jurickson. Other include middle infielder Luis Terrero and RHPs Pedro Payano and Kevin Sosa.

I don't cover the league on a daily basis. MiLB.com barely does itself. Certainly, tv/radio coverage is absent, and updated box scores and game logs appear haphazardly. But, I'll try to provide occasional updates.

At this level, the variance in talent and quality of play is extreme, very few players have developed power, and errors and other miscues are rampant. Last year, the entire league had a higher OBP (.337) and slugging percentage (.330). Texas's edition hit seven homers in 70 games but averaged nearly six walks plus HBPs per game. It's not a league from which to infer much of anything from the statistics.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
In front of 12,000 Omahans at Rosenblatt Stadium, Oklahoma's Luis Mendoza and Yukinaga Maeda combined to retire four batters and give up 11 runs. Maeda pitched in Japan forever and came to Texas as a 37-year-old raging against the dying of the light, but I've got no personal recollection of him whatsoever. Nelson Cruz (.331/.446/.691) hit his 16th homer and singled.

Frisco received 7.1 strong innings from Tommy Hunter, who allowed three runs, walked three and struck out four. Converted outfielder and former Astro prospect Brian Gordon retired the last five batters in order for the save. Clinton's Engel Beltre, Renny Osuna, Miguel Alfonzo and Matt Lawson plus five Beloit Snappers were ejected after a bench-clearing brawl that delayed the game by 25 minutes. Osuna and Beloit's catcher were the instigators. Beltre (.275/.300/.402) went 4-5 with three runs scored.

Today's Starters
AAA: Tyler Smith
AA: Luke Jackson
Hi-A: Nick McBride
Lo-A: Martin Perez

--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/1

Stars of the Day
AAA: Martin Perez, Cory Burns / Engel Beltre, Robinson Chirinos, Jim Adduci, Chris McGuiness
AA: Ryan Rodebaugh, Jimmy Reyes / Mike Olt, Teodoro Martinez, Alex Buchholz
Hi-A: Rougned Odor, Royce Bolinger
Lo-A: Nick Vickerson, Nick Williams, Ryan Rua, Joey Gallo, Jordan Akins, Joe Maloney

AAA: at Round Rock 8, Nashville (MIL) 5
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 31-25, -1.0

Engel Beltre (.279/.328/.356) hit his first homer and made the catch of the year. Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard DH Robinson Chirinos (.299/.402/.477) was 3-4. Chris McGuiness doubled twice, giving him 18 with the season not quite 40% complete. RF Jim Adduci was 2-3 with a walk.

Martin Perez gave up two runs in six innings on a Josh Prince solo homer and two other hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Cory Burns fanned two in a 1-2-3 9th for his 12th save.

AA: at Frisco 3, Tulsa (COL) 7
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 32-23, -1.5

Mike Olt singled, doubled and struck out twice in four trips to the plate. Teodoro Martinez hit his sixth homer, and 3B Alex Buchholz was 3-4. Martinez (.276/.336/.433) has more homers than doubles, not an outcome I would have predicted in March. He had 50 doubles and ten homers entering 2013.

Nick McBride gave up seven runs in two innings on eight hits and two walks. As I've said previously, McBride's forays into the upper minors are a function of organizational need. McBride has allowed 24 baserunners in nine innings between AA and AAA. Richard Bleier (2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 SO) managed to avoid permanent damage, and both Jimmy Reyes and Ryan Rodebaugh tossed two scoreless innings.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 5, at Salem (BOS) 3
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 30-24, +2.0

The Pelicans broke and eight-game losing streak. Luke Jackson (2.44 ERA) issued five walks for the first time this season. Despite those and five hits in his 5.2 innings, nobody scored. Jackson struck out three. Salem plated only three of its 20 baserunners thanks to two double plays and outfield assists from Preston Beck, Royce Bolinger and Chris Grayson. Both Bolinger and DH Rougned Odor were 2-4 with a double.

Low-A: Hickory 11, at Rome (ATL) 9 (10 innings)
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 30-24, -1.0

Joey Gallo's two-run homer (#14) over the batting eye in the 10th provided the winning margin. Video Highlights & Clips - MiLB | Hickory's Gallo slugs two-run homer - Video | Hickory Crawdads Multimedia Gallo was 0-4 with three strikeouts previously. Two-out RBI hits in the 9th by Nick Vickerson (2-5, 2B, BB) and Jorge Alfaro (1-5) forced extras. Nick Williams was 3-5 with a triple, Ryan Rua doubled twice, and Jordan Akins singled and doubled. Joe Maloney was 3-5 with two doubles.

Tyler Smith (5.04 ERA) was touched for six runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.2 innings while striking out one.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
In seven innings, Beavan walked his 2nd batter of the year and only struck out one. After fanning 124 in 66 innings as a high-school senior, His professional strikeout rate after seven starts was a mere 11%.

Nelson Cruz hit his 17th homer and singled. Cruz was 2nd in the league in OPS (1.151) to Seattle prospect Jeff Clement. In Cruz's case, he was off the 40, and Texas had a solid set of outfielders that year (Josh Hamilton, David Murphy, Marlon Byrd, Milton Bradley and Brandon Boggs, who was hitting .276/.336/.429 at the time). Clement was stuck behind DH Jose Vidro, hitting .235/.289/.346 and earning $8.5 million.

Today's Starters
AAA: Luis Parra
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter
Lo-A: Luis Parra
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

Amateur Draft

The draft begins Thursday. Texas picks 23rd (its own pick) and 30th (compensation for Josh Hamilton) in the first round and 62nd overall for its second-round pick. Rounds 3-10 take place Friday, and 11-40 occur Saturday. What with the late picks and Texas's idiosyncratic style, guessing whom the Rangers will chose is a difficult task at best. (Not that I don't enjoy reading all the mock drafts out there.) Be certain, however, that the top picks will be selected on perceived talent, not need. Texas won't ignore middle infielders just because Andrus and Profar are locked up for many years.

Short-season Spokane begins next Friday, while the rookies commence on the 20th.

3B Mike Olt is headed to Round Rock. He doubled yesterday and completed his three-day weekend with a .333/.333/.750 line and six strikeouts.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/2

Stars of the Day
AAA: Josh Lindblom
AA: Arlett Mavare / Teodoro Martinez
Hi-A: Jake Skole, Drew Robinson
Lo-A: Luis Parra / Joey Gallo

AAA: at Round Rock 3, Nashville (MIL) 2
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 32-25, tied for 1st

Josh Lindblom (2.04 ERA) limited Nashville to a run on four hits and three walks while striking out five. Honestly, I expect Lindblom's ERA to rise, because he isn't going to maintain his current miniscule .208 BABIP, but that's not to say he won't keep pitching well.

No hitter stood out in a single-heavy attack. 1B Chris McGuiness and LF Joey Butler singled twice.

AA: at Frisco 3, Tulsa (COL) 5
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 32-24, -3.0

Carlos Pimentel (3.29 ERA) walked four for the first time in over a year. Pimentel also hit a batter and yielded six hits leading to five runs (three earned).

Ben Rowen (0.66 ERA) made a 13th consecutive scoreless appearance with a spotless 9th. Rowen has appeared in 15 of Frisco's last 32 games. Wilmer Font walked one and fanned two in the 8th. He's walked at least one batter in ten of his last eleven outings. On the season, his combined BB/HBP rate is 20%, although he's allowed only a .132 opposing average and just two extra-base hits. Arlett Mavare struck out four in 2.1 scoreless innings.

LF Teodoro Martinez was 2-4 with his 12th steal.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 2, at Salem (BOS) 3
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 30-25, +1.0

Four Pelicans combined on a one-hitter. Joe Van Meter surrendered a two-out, two-run double in the 4th, and Will Lamb walked two and allowed a another run to score on his own error in the 6th. Van Meter (2.78) walked four and hit a batter in four innings.

The Pelicans scored on consecutive homers by Jake Skole (1st)and Drew Robinson (2nd) in the 8th. Skole (.199/.292/.267) also singled and doubled. The homer was his first at any level in over a year.

Myrtle Beach has lost nine of ten; it's 7.5-game lead has dwindled to one with 15 games remaining in the season's first half.

Low-A: Hickory 1, at Rome (ATL) 3
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 30-25, -1.0

With two on and two out in the 5th, SS Nick Urbanus fielded a grounder and threw it into right field, letting both runners score. This proved of great consequence in the one game of the series that didn't produce runs by the bushel. Hickory managed only two baserunners subsequently. 3B Joey Gallo singled and tripled. A remarkably efficient Luis Parra lasted seven innings, striking out four and allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Chris Davis’s 8th-inning grand slam reversed a two-run deficit for Oklahoma. Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer (his 18th) in the 4th. John Mayberry (.319/.379/.538 in AAA) singled and doubled. Taylor Teagarden was in an 0-for-18 slide.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: off
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff
Lo-A: off
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/3

1B Ronald Guzman has been activated at low-A Hickory. The 18-year-old suffered a knee injury in Spring Training and was on crutches when I saw him in mid-March. Guzman batted .321/.374/.434 in rookie ball last summer. He's the youngest player on the team save Nomar Mazara.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Lisalverto Bonilla / Mike Olt, Jim Adduci
Hi-A: Jerad Eickhoff

AAA: at Round Rock 5, Nashville (MIL) 7 (11 innings)
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 32-26, -1.0

3B Mike Olt went 3-5 with two hard-hit singles to left and a broken-bat liner to center. He struck out and popped up in his other at-bats.

Lisalverto Bonilla (5.40 ERA) pitched as well as I've ever seen from him, retiring nine straight and fanning five. Bonilla's very hard fastball and occasional slider remain erratic, but oh, that changeup. It's delivered like an attempt to crack 100 on the gun, and batters can't pick it up.

A 9th-inning solo homer from Jim Adduci (2-4, double, walk) forced extras. Round Rock loaded the bases with none out in the 10th, but Greg Miclat grounded into a 4-2-3 double play and Robinson Chirinos popped out. In the 11th, Nashville's Stephen Parker hit an RBI triple over a very shallow-playing Engel Beltre and scored on a sac fly. Starter Scott Richmond gave up a three-run homer in the 1st and two other runs in seven innings.

AA: off

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 1, Potomac (WAS) 2 (10 innings)
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 30-26, +1.5

With his fastball/curve/change trio working to near-perfection, Jerad Eickhoff (3.66 ERA) set career highs with 11 strikeouts across eight innings. He walked one and allowed just three hits, the second of which proved costly. Potomac's Jason Martinson, after taking a close 2-2 pitch with two out in the 7th, drilled Eickhoff's full-count offering over the fence to tie the game at one. Eickhoff now leads the league with 66.1 innings, unusual for a Texas player, but he's a full-grown 22-year-old coming off 126 innings last year.

Another solo homer off Randol Rojas proved too much for Myrtle Beach to overcome. The Pelicans have allowed a total of four hits in their last two games and lost both.

1B Joe Maloney was promoted from Hickory, where he'd batted .224/.301/.435 with seven homers. Not that he'd earned a promotion per se, but Maloney deserved better than a trip back to Arizona or a relegation to the end of Hickory's bench. OF Royce Bolinger has been DL'ed. He'd been hitting as well as any Pelican lately.

Low-A: off

The Sally League announced its All-Stars. Hickory's contingent consists of pitchers C.J. Edwards and Alexander Claudio, catcher Jorge Alfaro, infielders Joey Gallo and Ryan Rua, and outfielder Lewis Brinson. They'll play in two weeks at Lakewood, New Jersey, home of the Blue Claws. You knew the South Atlantic League had a team in Jersey, yes?

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Low-A Clinton sent nine men to the Midwest League All-Star game including Mitch Moreland, Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland. Clinton lost 9-4 to Burlington, assisted by a three-run homer by Mike Moustakas off Fabio Castillo. Oklahoma received homers from German Duran (#1), Taylor Teagarden (#3) and Jason Botts (#4) in a 10-4 loss.

Today's Starters
AAA: Ryan Feierabend
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Aliangel "Frank" Lopez
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

In 6 games for Frisco Joe Benson has 6R, 7H, 1 3b, 4HR .389/.476/1.167/1.643

... wow

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/4

Stars of the Day
AAA: Mike Olt, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Tyler Tufts / Tomas Telis
Hi-A: Francisco Mendoza / Trever Adams, Drew Robinson
Lo-A: Frank Lopez / Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams

AAA: at Round Rock 6, Nashville (MIL) 2
Scoreboard | Round Rock Express Scoreboard
Record: 33-26, tied for 1st

Mike Olt hammered a 1-0 fastball to center for his second AAA homer. He drew a nine-pitch walk in his next appearance and then struck out twice. If, hypothetically, Nelson Cruz were suspended today and said "I wholeheartedly accept MLB's investigation, witness affidavits and punishment at face value," I don't think Texas would be inclined to recall Olt immediately. While I'm optimistic about his situation, Olt could use some minor-league seasoning to insure his timing and confidence are fully recovered. Video Highlights & Clips - MiLB | Round Rock's Mike Olt homers - Video | Round Rock Express Multimedia

Yangervis Solarte also homered for the seventh time. Solarte has recovered from a soft April and his hitting .303/.346/.443, fairly close to last year's line. DH Mike Bianucci doubled and walked. Batting .136/.240/.227, Bianucci is trying to get on track after missing the first six weeks of the season.

Ryan Feierabend (4.02 ERA) gave up two runs in five innings. Jake Brigham, Kyle McClellan and Johan Yan tossed scoreless innings.

AA: Frisco 1, at San Antonio (SDG) 2
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 32-25, -4.0

Tomas Telis (.242/.268/.318) clubbed his first homer of the year and singled. Although never expected to display above-average over-the-fence power, Telis did hit 11 homers and slug .430 as a Crawdad in 2011. Video Highlights & Clips - MiLB | Telis goes yard for RoughRiders - Video | Frisco RoughRiders Multimedia

Justin Miller threw a 1-2-3 8th with one strikeout. Tyler Tufts (4.08 ERA) one-hit the Missions over five innings while walking and fanning one. An error and passed ball contributed to both San Antonio runs in the 7th against Richard Bleier (1 IP, 3 H, 3 SO). Phil Klein gave up a single and three walks in the 6th but no runs.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 2, Potomac (WAS) 9
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 30-27, +0.5

The Pelicans have lost of 11 of 12 by an aggregate score of 64-27. Luis Sardinas' two-out error in the 4th plated two, and a subsequent single scored another. Alec Asher (2.83 ERA) was atypically hittable, allowing more safeties (5) than innings pitched (3.2) for only his third start this season. Asher walked two, struck six and permitted one earned run along with three of the unearned variety.

Only two of ten batters put the ball in play against Francisco Mendoza (5.52 ERA), who fanned five and walked three in 2.1 scoreless innings.

3B Drew Robinson (.217/.300/.328) singled and doubled, and 1B Trever Adams (.243/.322/.386) reached on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Five hitless games have dropped catcher Kellin Deglan to .191/.290/.411.

Low-A: at Hickory 4, Lakewood (PHI) 1
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 31-25, -1.0

In his first full-season game, 19-year-old Aliangel Frank Lopez took a no-hitter into the 6th. He departed with a single hit, two walks and six strikeouts on his ledger, and eventually, an unearned run. Alex Claudio earned a carefree two-inning save, his ninth. Lopez and Claudio successfully split pitching duties in the rookie-league championship game last August.

Jorge Alfaro (.247/.333/.478) hit his 10th homer, double last year's total in 23 fewer games. Better still, Alfaro has already easily surpassed last year's activity at catcher. Hamstring troubles limited him to a paltry 29 games behind the dish. This year, he's on pace for 100. (WMW: well now I know why Alfaro is limited in his innings behind the plate I was wondering about.)

LF Nick Williams doubled twice. While possessed of more-than ample power, Williams (.296/.322/.583) had only one double entering the game. He would've been an All Star if not for missing a full month with a strain.

1B Ronald Guzman was 0-3 with a strikeout in his belated 2013 debut. Guzman's last at-bat resulted in a warning-track fly to center.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
In Bakersfield, a magnificent pitcher’s duel between Kasey Kiker and Oakland’s Trevor Cahill produced a scoreless game until the 8th. Kiker tossed seven scoreless innings, allowed just three hits and a walk and struck out six. Cahill entered the 3rd after a rehab appearance by Andrew Brown and fanned 12 in six innings.

The 20-year-old Cahill, taken 66th overall in 2006, would finish 2008 in AA Midland and begin 2009 in Oakland's rotation. Kiker, selected 12th overall the same year, never reached AAA and was out of baseball by his 25th birthday.

Minnesota grabbed OF Joe Benson two places prior to Cahill. Benson is day-to-day with a groin pull, by the way. He hasn't been DL'ed.

Today's Starters
AAA: off
AA: Neil Ramirez
Hi-A: Neil Martinez
Lo-A: Ryan Bores
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[Windingmywatch]

A reader asked me about a replacement for Mitch Moreland if needed: "Olt? McGuiness? Adduci?" My response: "I'd say you have the choices in the right order. My belief is they'd prefer Olt fully recover his timing and confidence, but I still think Olt's more likely to hit a little more than the other two. Certainly, even if he wasn't the first choice, they'd be watching him carefully."

Texas has chosen Option B: Chris McGuiness is a Texas Ranger. Mitch Moreland is on the 15-day DL. Colby Lewis was pushed to the 60-day DL to clear space for McGuiness. The Rangers acquired McGuiness, Roman Mendez and catcher Michael Thomas (who didn't last long) for Jarrod Saltalamacchia in July 2010. Cleveland swiped him in the Rule 5 draft but offered him back at the Spring Training.

The lefty was batting .275/.382/.477 with six homers in 55 games for AAA Round Rock. Some of his home-run power has downgraded; he is (or was) on pace for a career-best 46 doubles but only 15 homers. Aside from that, he's hitting about the same as ever. McGuiness has a very patient approach and doesn't hit for a high average. That said, he doesn't strike out excessively. He'll adjust in order to make contact. He's very unlikely to replace Moreland's production but hopefully can provide some help.

The draft begins tonight. The Rangers will pick 23rd, 30th and 62nd.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 6/5

Stars of the Day
AA: Neil Ramirez / Hanser Alberto, Odubel Herrera
Hi-A: Nick Martinez
Lo-A: Joe Burns / Nick Vickerson, Nic Williams, Ryan Rua, Nomar Mazara, Ronald Guzman

AAA: off

AA: Frisco 7, at San Antonio (SDG) 3
Scoreboard | Frisco RoughRiders Scoreboard
Record: 33-25, -3.0

Neil Ramirez (3.38 ERA) returned to form with six strong innings in which he permitted a run on just three hits and a walk and struck out seven. Opponents are hitting a paltry .174/.285/.324 against him with a 31% strikeout rate.

The Riders availed themselves of three Missions errors to score five unearned runs. DH Odubel Herrera (.251/.270/.327) was 3-5, while the trio of catcher Tomas Telis (.248/.273/.328), 1B Brett Nicholas (.299/.372/.559) and 2B Guilder Rodriguez (.277/.364/.329) connected for a double and single. Herrera has been riding a sub-.300 OBP since late May. Never the most patient fellow, Herrera's walk rate has flatlined during 2013. He's drawn one free pass in his last 42 games.

SS Hanser Alberto hit his third homer. Alberto is struggling in AA, batting only .218/.256/.295, but he's not yet 21. Alberto effectively skipped a level, spending just a half-season in Hickory and Myrtle Beach followed by a strong showing in the Arizona Fall league that hastened his assignment to Frisco.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 0, Potomac (WAS) 5
Scoreboard | Myrtle Beach Pelicans Scoreboard
Record: 30-28, +0.5

The Pelicans had six baserunners; none reached second base and two were caught stealing. Nick Martinez (2.73 ERA) pitched capably, fanning eight in six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks.

Low-A: at Hickory 12, Lakewood (PHI) 4
Scoreboard | Hickory Crawdads Scoreboard
Record: 32-25, +0.5

After narrowly missing a homer in his first game, Ronald Guzman succeeded in his second at-bat on Wednesday. Guzman also singled. Three others went deep: LF Nick Williams (#9), 2B Ryan Rua (#15) and Nick Vickerson (2). Williams also singled and doubled, Rua singled and Vickerson walked twice. Nomar Mazara was 3-3 with a walk, and CF Lewis Brinson and SS Luis Marte singled twice.

Starter Ryan Bores (3.77 ERA) gave up three runs in the 1st and another in the 2nd but was steady thereafter, lasting five innings and allowing seven hits and two walks. Joe Burns (4.61 ERA) fanned three in two scoreless innings, and Keone Kela (2.89 ERA) struck out two in the 9th.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
...will return tomorrow. I'm out of pocket and on the run today.

Today's Starters
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Kevin Pucetas
Hi-A: Victor Payano
Lo-A: Andrew Faulkner

 

[jta4437]

Texas has chosen Option B: Chris McGuiness is a Texas Ranger.

While not the sexy choice, its the correct choice;

Olt needs to do it for longer at the AAA before he's exposed to ML pitching again, while he's been much better after coming back he's still striking out WAY too much

 

[Windingmywatch]

While not the sexy choice, its the correct choice;

Olt needs to do it for longer at the AAA before he's exposed to ML pitching again, while he's been much better after coming back he's still striking out WAY too much

Agree. Some were pushing for Olt to get the call and provide "depth at 1b, 3b and COF". His troubles last season when he was up was in TEX trying to do too many other things with him.

They are unlikely to make the same mistake again with him and when he is activated it will be to do something he is very familiar with rather than be thrown into a new position and expected to not stink at the plate as well.

McGuiness is up to play 1b and not disrupt anything in the process ... zero expectations of anything else. Which may turn out to be a great move for TEX.

Bad moves in my opinion while TEX waits for McGuiness to get to BOS is playing Berkman at 1b and DHing Baker ... unless there is something about Baker's health we don't know yet.

On a somewhat related issue ... why is a multimillion dollar company moving replacement players by scheduled airline service? Would cost only around $15k to move McGuiness from Des Moines to Boston in time for the game.

 

[jta4437]

Agree. Some were pushing for Olt to get the call and provide "depth at 1b, 3b and COF". His troubles last season when he was up was in TEX trying to do too many other things with him.

They are unlikely to make the same mistake again with him and when he is activated it will be to do something he is very familiar with rather than be thrown into a new position and expected to not stink at the plate as well.

McGuiness is up to play 1b and not disrupt anything in the process ... zero expectations of anything else. Which may turn out to be a great move for TEX.

Bad moves in my opinion while TEX waits for McGuiness to get to BOS is playing Berkman at 1b and DHing Baker ... unless there is something about Baker's health we don't know yet.

On a somewhat related issue ... why is a multimillion dollar company moving replacement players by scheduled airline service? Would cost only around $15k to move McGuiness from Des Moines to Boston in time for the game.

Get Berkman a day in the field? I dunno otherwise, I was wondering the same thing

 

[Windingmywatch]

Get Berkman a day in the field? I dunno otherwise, I was wondering the same thing

Getting Berkman a day in the field ... before he sits for three games in TOR due to turf?

And if McGiniss is in the dugout right now ... wouldn't you rather have had him playing 1b the last inning?