Durham Bulls v. Norfolk Tides (Orioles) – Postponed

Last night’s game between the Durham Bulls and the Norfolk Tides was postponed due to rain, and will be made up as part of a double header starting at 5:05 PM Saturday.

Montgomery Biscuits 16, Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks) 7

Despite the seven runs that Mobile put on the board, the game was never really in question after the third inning. The reason – the Biscuits posted a franchise record 12 runs in the frame, scoring six with two outs. The Biscuits scored their first run on a throwing error when, with runners on first and second, Shawn O’Malley tried to bunt them over. A hit batter loaded the bases, with runs scoring on a walk and another hit batter. O’Malley came up to the plate again, this time with the bases loaded and the Biscuits ahead 6-0, and hit a two run double. Ty Morrison followed with a two run single, and Robby Price had a two run home run to cap the scoring. Meanwhile, Victor Mateo was no-hitting the BayBears through five innings, before he allowed three runs in the top of the sixth. Mateo still had a solid start, giving up the three runs on two hits and four walks, while recording two strikeouts. Mobile put another four runs on the board in the top of the seventh, but Montgomery scored three in the bottom of  the frame, and tacked on another run in the eighth for the 16-7 victory. Price, O’Malley and Kevin Kiermaier each had two hits. Riccio Torrez was 3-3 with three runs scored, a double, and a walk.

Charlotte Stone Crabs 2, Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) 1

If the opposition is going to give extra opportunities to score, it is always great to take advantage of their kindness. The Stone Crabs did just that, scoring two unearned runs to come away with a 2-1 victory. Jake Malm singled to lead off the third, followed by a Taylor Motter line drive to short. Austin Nola attempted to double Malm off first, but threw the ball away, allowing Malm to reach third. Kes Carter immediately followed with a base hit to drive in the first run of the game. Jupiter tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, as Ross Wilson led off the inning with a home run. Charlotte took advantage of another error in the top of the sixth, as Hector Guevara led off the frame by reaching second due to an error. After a groundout moved him to third, Guevara scored on a sacrifice fly. The Hammerheads were unable to muster a threat, being retired in order over the next four innings as the Stone Crabs came away with the victory. Ryan Carpenter picked up the win, giving up one run on four hits and a walk, recording ten strikeouts in the process. Carter was 2-3 with a double and an RBI, as he looks to break out of a terrible slump to start the season.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, Dayton Dragons (Reds) 2

The Hot Rods took advantage of sloppy play by the Dragons in the second, as Justin O’Conner and Thomas Coyle reached on back to back errors. Patrick Leonard followed with a base hit to plate O’Conner with the game’s first run. After another single loaded the bases, Marty Gantt singled to drive in Coyle. The Hot Rods got another run on the third error of the inning, when Tyler Goeddel reached on the second error by shortstop Zach Vincej. Dayton got two of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Jesse Winker doubled with one out, and came around to score on a base hit by Seth Mejias-Brean. Jeff Gelaich followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Mejias-Brean scored on a groundout, as the Dragons trimmed the lead to 3-2. The Hot Rods tacked on a run in the sixth, as Joey Rickard doubled, and later scored on a base hit by Andrew Toles, and added another run in the eighth to come away with the 5-2 victory. Dylan Floro picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits in five innings or work, striking out three batters. Coyle was 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Goedell, O’Conner and Leonardo Reginatto each had two hits in the victory.

Chris Archer got the start for the Rays and looked really good, touching 97 MPH with his fastball although his changeup with his primary focus, and he tossed a hitless inning with one strikeout working around a walk. Jake Odorizzi followed him with a scoreless frame of his own, allowing only a walk. Beyond those two, the Rays didn’t send any MLB pitchers or top prospects to the mound, although Juan Sandoval, a name we’ve heard about a lot lately because of his perseverance overcoming blindness in his right eye to continue his career, made an appearance, allowing a run in an inning of work. The trio of Alexander Torres, Matt Nevarez, and Kirby Yate also impressed, each tossing a scoreless inning where they worked around a hit while striking out one. But that’s the last we’ll talk about pitching for a while.

The Rays took the early lead in the second inning on a Mike Fontenot RBI double, but it was in the 6th inning when the offense really hit its stride. The Rays began the inning down 2-1, but with 1 out and a runner on, Wil Myers drilled an opposite-field double, his first hit in a Rays uniform. It was exactly the type of bullet line drive Myers is capable of hitting on a regular basis, and it should be the first of many. But before the Rays got all sentimental, they got around to scoring a trio of runs, including 2 on RBI singles by Jason Bourgeois and Fontenot. Then the Rays apparently iced the game in the 9th, taking a 7-2 lead when Leslie Anderson followed up his big homer on Saturday with a 2-run single and Myers contributed a sac fly. But after lefty Jimmy Patterson had a disastrous outing, allowing 5 runs in just 0.2 innings pitched, the Rays offense had to go back to work in extra innings and they were more than up to the task.

There were 2 outs with Shawn O’Malley on first following a 1-out single in the 10th inning when the hot-hitting Leslie Anderson came up to the plate, unfortunately without a runnre in scoring position. However, O’Malley made something happen, stealing second base, and then Anderson came through in the clutch once again, delivering an RBI single to give the Rays an 8-7 lead. But there was still more as catcher Mark Thomas followed with a 2-run home run to make it a 10-7 game. Thomas is a catcher best known for his defensive prowess, but he had a huge second half at the plate at Double-A and if his strong offense keeps up, he could be the Rays’ catcher of the future. Even if this homer is only the start of a ridiculous spring, he’s a major longshot to make the Rays’ roster out of spring training, needing a full year at Triple-A, but the Rays had to be excited seeing him pick up right where he left off to begin 2013. Before we talk more about the bats, we have to give credit to Thomas, batterymate to end the game, Jim Paduch, he retired all four batters he faced to earn the win in the game.

The Rays had an incredible offensive day, managing 10 runs on 15 hits, managing just four hits for extra bases and only going 5 for 16 with runners in scoring position, but they used an outstanding running game to key their offense, stealing 5 out of 5 bases, two by O’Malley and one each by Bouregois, Hak-Ju Lee, and Ty Morrison. Anderson, Stephen Vogt, and Mike Fontenot all had multi-hit games for the Rays and Myers went 1 for 3 with his first hit as a Ray, but you gotta love what Thomas did as well, going 1 for 3 with his 10th inning homer and also picking a runner off of first base. It was an outstanding all-around effort by the Rays offense, and while Patterson and the pitching had a rough day, the bats were able to pick them up to come away with the win. Even in spring training, coming up huge in the 10th inning to nail down a win has to leave you smiling.

Baseball America’s Bill Balew did a chat about the Rays’ prospects following Baseball America’s ranking of the Rays’ top 10 prospects yesterday, and he had some interesting comments about several players. The link is certainly worth the read, praising Rays prospects such as Jeff Ames, Jesse Hahn, and Nick Sawyer. Here’s a quick sample on Sawyer.

Sawyer is guy I really like and he’s definitely a reliever to keep an eye on. He had a great start to his pro career, and he’s an example of the Rays’ dedication to indepth scouting. He has a relatively fresh arm after not pitching a ton in junior college and his stuff is really electric. He also seems to have the mindset to be a major contributor in the bullpen at higher levels. Some relievers come out of the gate strong and then fizzle after scouting reports are created, but I think Sawyer has a chance to be an impact guy down the road.

And finally, also courtesy of Baseball America, the Rays have released 15 players while re-signed one other. Let’s go down the list, listing all the players with a few brief comments.

Re-Signed: UTIL Shawn O’Malley- O’Malley, who turns 25 in December, was the Rays’ 5th round pick in 2006 and split 2012 between Double-A and Triple-A. O’Malley features nice speed and defensive versatility, being a solid defensive shortstop and second baseman with experience at the corner outfield spots and third base as well. He has never been a great hitter and has little power, but he could fill a Drew Sutton/Brooks Conrad type role for the Rays in 2012 if the needs arises.

Released: RHP Daniel Bream- Bream, 24, was the Rays’ 33rd round pick in 2011 but was still at Rookie Ball this season. He throws a low-90′s fastball with late life, but he fails to control it and his breaking pitches have not progressed at all.

RHP Zach Butler- Butler, 23, was the Rays’ 34th round pick in 2011 but was Bream’s teammate with the Princeton Rays. His fastball is unimpressive, although he throws a solid curveball and a halfway-decent changeup. He could catch on with another organization.

RHP Shane Dyer- Dyer, 24, was the Rays’ 6th round pick in 2008 and pitched OK at Double-A before getting shelled at Triple-A. He features a well below-average fastball right around 90 MPH, depending heavily on his good cutter. He also throws a curveball and a changeup, neither of which are very impressive. Dyer doesn’t miss any bats and doesn’t force enough weak contact at this point, although some team may see some promise in him.

RHP George Jensen- Jensen, 22, was the Rays’ 46th round pick in 2010, got hit hard at High-A this season and features unimpressive stuff, a fastball around 90 MPH and a halfway-decent breaking ball.

RHP Alex Koronis- Koronis, 24, was the Rays’ 11th round pick in 2009 and struggled between High-A and Double-A this season. He is an extreme flyball pitcher, featuring a low-90′s fastball that he fails to control very well, a halfway-decent curveball, and a changeup that has never really developed. He’s interesting enough that he could sign elsewhere.

RHP Kyle Pelchy- Pelchy, 23, was a non-drafted free agent signee by the Rays this season and struggled with the GCL Rays. His fastball hits just the high-80′s although his curveball is a solid pitch. He was going to join the Air Force before the Rays signed him, so he wil likely head into service there and best of luck to him.

RHP Stayton Thomas- Thomas, 23, was the Rays’ 43rd round pick in 2011. He throws a decent high-80′s sinker but has never really progressed with a breaking ball or changeup.

LHP Brett Blaise- Blaise, 22, was a non-drafted free agent by the Rays this year and struggled with the GCL Rays. He throws a low-90′s fastball and a solid curveball, both of which show flashes but neither of which he can control at this point, but the reason he was released right now as an amphetamine suspension.

LHP Dayne Quist- Quist, 23, was the Rays’ 28th round pick in 2012 but was sent just to the GCL Rays, although he did pitch well there. He features good control of his three-pitch arsenal, a fastball, a curveball, and a changeup, but his pitches are unimpressive in terms of movement and command. I thought his control gave him a chance, and another team could pick him up.

LHP Justin Woodall- Woodall, 25, was the Rays’ 26th round pick in 2010 but didn’t pitch very well at Low-A before getting suspended for meth. He throws a fastball around 90 MPH with a halfway-decent breaking ball and a changeup.

C Michael Williams- Williams, 22, was the Rays’  30th round pick in 2012 and didn’t hit at all at Short Season-A and didn’t inspire much confidence defensively even though that was his calling card at Kentucky.

1B Miguel Beltran- Beltran, 22, was the Rays’ 19th round pick in 2012 but was overmatched even with the GCL Rays. He features big-time raw power but a very long swing that did not cut it in pro ball.

1B Philip Wunderlich- Wunderlich, who turned 24 a few days ago, was the Rays’ 12th round pick in 2010 but completely fell apart at High-A, failing to show any hitting ability, power, or plate discipline, which has always been his fatal flaw. His solid bat speed and raw power is still there and some team could pick him up and try to start over with him in terms of his approach at the plate to try to make his tools materialize in game action.

3B Daniel Duran- Duran, who turned 24 in September, was the Rays’ 24th round pick in 2012 but had a disastrous debut with the Princeton Rays. He shows a little bat speed and makes a lot of contact, but his power is severely lacking, especially considering he profiles best defensively at first base or in an outfield corner.

OF Deshun Dixon- Dixon, who turned 21 in September, was the Rays’ 10th round pick in 2010 but didn’t do much at Short Season-A before getting suspended for substance abuse. He’s a good athlete and pretty fast but he has never hit at all.

OF Chris Murrill- Murrill, 24, as the Rays’ 35th round pick in 2009 and was released by the Rays after last season before struggling when they re-signed him this year. He’s a one-tool player with great speed but he is a groundball hitter who hasn’t gotten on base consistently enough to use his speed the past two years.

All in all, it’s a little bit alarming that four 2012 draft picks have already been released, but all four were mid-round picks, and the Rays were just taking shots for upside knowing that most of them would not succeed. There were a few relatively high picks released from the past several years but nothing too notable (I was most disappointed in the performance of Wunderlich that prompted his release), and it is nice that they re-signed the former 5th rounder O’Malley, who we could see in some capacity in the big leagues in 2012. The Rays also have 16 players eligible for minor league free agency and we will cover them later today.