The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

Most of our prospects have “graduated” in service time and are no longer eligible for the rankings. That has seen us plummet from 1st to 21st in the organization rankings with our top prospect being 19-year-old CF Pacio Bertrand (41) at the complex. Tashfin Sassi (#58 A) and top pick Steve Robique (#69 SA) are next.
I knew that coming into this year. I have what I think is a stacked AAA roster and will look for opportunities to build up that minor league depth again. But as of now priority #1 is winning a world series and keeping the 25 man roster full of everyday assets.
Priority #2 is getting the “core” signed.
As of today here is who I define as being “in” the core group.

SP
(23) Matt Behrens – 169K arbitration eligible with 2.88 million estimate. Not willing to talk more than a 1 year deal
(24) Trevor Pope – signed through 2011 1.6/3.6/4.6
(25) Rich Whittaker - 5.1M arbitration eligible with 6.9 million estimate. Doesn't want to talk more than a 1 year extension.


RP
(27) Ranan Laskey – signed through 2015 1.1/1.1/1.3/1.3
(30) Danny Villa – Signed through 2013 3.6/3.6


POSITION PLAYERS
(30) C Ryan Bermudez – Signed through 2013 3.8/3.8
(23) 1B Aaron Chisholm – 169K arbitration-eligible 5.5 million estimate. We are currently in talks and I have made an 8-year offer to him.
(20) 2B/SS Sam Reyes – 169K won't be arbitration-eligible until possibly after 2013 at the earliest.
(22) INF Joe Tighe – 169K won't be arbitration-eligible until after 2013 at the earliest
(25) 3B Luis Orozco – 2 signed through 2016 2.35/3.35/5/7.15/7.5 with a player opt-out, 2017-18 are team options at 7.5 million
(24) LF Jeff Anderson – 169K won't be arbitration-eligible until after 2013 at the earliest
(23) LF/RF Dave Nolasco – 169K Might be arbitration-eligible this winter 3.22M estimate
(25) CF Jesse Kucher – 169K might be arbitration-eligible this winter 2.2M estimate

14 players counting Tyler Dagger
The breakdown of this group looks like this
These 14 players are signed for:

[gehrig38]

• Detroit, LA, and Philadelphia to win their divisions with a Buffalo Wild Card. Philadelphia to win the PL Pennant.
  
• Chris Whitten (SF) vs Romeo Pirelli (NE) for the MVP.
• Josh Viens (NYP) to win Koufax #4
  
• In the Colonial, it's Lexington, us, and Charlotte with a San Antonio WC. Actually they think we are going to tie San Antonio with 95 wins.
• Lexington to come out of the Colonial once again.
  
• Jorge Hernandez (SAN) Corey Furr (SAN) and Ricky Gutierrez (NYE) for the MVP
• Masuda, Au-Yong (LEX) Cameron Mears (CHA) for the Koufax

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 2-1
• STANDINGS: 2nd (1 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 15 (t-5th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 8 (t-3rd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .744 (2nd)
• ZONE RATING: +0.5 (7th)
• ERRORS: 1 (t-4th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Delighted
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (2-1) 2-1 @ NY Empire
• 3/30: NYE 3 AUS 2
• POTG: Matt Behrens ND 6.1 IP 7 H 5 K 1 ER 1-3 RBI
• Villa BS (1) L 0.1 IP 2 H 2 BB 2 ER Nolasco 3-5 R
• 3/31: AUS 6 NYE 5 (13)
• POTG: Joe Tighe 3-5 2B HR 3 R RBI
• Jack Headen (NYE) 4-6 2 R Gutierrez (NYE) HR 3 RBI Chisholm 0-3 3K 3BB Pope ND 5.1 IP 7 H 3 HR 5 ER 6 relievers go 7.2 IP 2 H 5 K 5 BB 0 R Villa W (1-1)
• 4/1: AUS 7 NYE 0
• POTG: Rich Whittaker CG 13 K 4 H 0 BB
• Dave Nolasco 3-5 2B R SB Reyes 2-3 HR 2 RBI Orozco 2-5 HR R RBI
• NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 @ Charlotte 3 vs San Antonio
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 3/30: Josh Viens (NYP) struck out 13 in an opening day 2-hitter to beat Buffalo 4-0.
• 3/31: Jeremy Buttitta (MEM) fanned 11 in a 6-0 win over Lexington.
• 4/1: Dave Bottini (OH) fanned 6, walked none and scattered 7 hits in a 7-0 win over New England.
• 4/1: Jordan De Jesus (CHI) allowed 6 hits, striking out 10 in a 2-0 win over Baltimore
  
  
• Star 1B Chisholm signs 8-year pact
• The Austin Rustlers today announced they had signed 2011 Rookie of the Year and MVP 1B Aaron Chisholm to an 8 year 60.7 million dollar extension. Chisholm's base salaries will be 5.5/6.3/7/7.5/7.5/8/9.46 and year 8 will be a team option at 9.46 million with a 1.3 million dollar buy out.
• BACKROOM CHATTER
• His arbitration estimate was already looking like 6 million before the season started. He is off to a 1-12 start but I'm pretty sure that will get fixed. The deal is for less money every single year than I think he would get through arbitration or by waiting. He's a 10m+ player after this next season.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 6-3
• STANDINGS: t-1st (+3)
• RUNS SCORED: 38 (t-8th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 26 (2nd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .691 (5th)
• ZONE RATING: +1.9 (7th)
• ERRORS: 3 (t-3rd)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (4-2) 2-1 @ Charlotte 2-1 vs San Antonio
• 4/2: OFF DAY
• 4/3: CHA 3 AUS 2
• POTG: Brian Sasser (CHA) W (1-0) 6 IP 5 H 7 K 2 ER
• Brooks L 6 IP 8 H 5 K 3 ER Nolasco & Colon each 2-3 2B RBI Chisholm 0-3 BB .067
• 4/4: AUS 8 CHA 4
• POTG: David Nolasco 4-5 2B HR 2 R 3 RBI
• Chisholm HR (1) Aasen HR (1) Dave Anderson W (1-0) 8 IP 5H 11 K 4 ER 2-3 RBI
• 4/5: AUS 3 CHA 0
• POTG: Matt Behrens CG 6 H 7 K 1-4
• Behrens outduels Cameron Mears L (1-1) 8 IP 9 K 7 H 3 ER Chisholm HR (2) Canales HR (1)
• 4/6: AUS 3 SAN 2
• POTG: Pope W (1-0) 7 IP 4 H 10 K 2 ER
• Holifield (SAN) L (0-2) CG 11 H 3 K 0 BB 3 ER Tighe 2-4 HR 2 RBI CS Colon 3-4 2 R
• 4/7: AUS 4 SAN 3
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 3-4 2 2B HR 4 RBI
• Whittaker W (2-0) 8 IP 12 K 5 H 3 ER Laskey SV (2) 1 IP 3 K
• 4/8: SAN 6 AUS 3
• POTG: Steve Passler (SAN) 3-5 HR 3 RBI 2 R
• Tighe 3-5 Chisholm HR Brooks L (0-2) 3 IP 13 H 5 ER
• NEXT WEEK: 4 vs Lexington 3 @ Houston
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/2: Zhen-Bang Zong (NYE) fanned 8 and allowed just 3 hits in a 7-0 win over Montreal
• 4/2: Lexington's winter prize Danny Gariepy threw a 3-hit shutout in his first-ever start for the Rebels. They downed Phoenix 5-0.
• 4/2: The pre-season experts may have been on to something. San Francisco's Chris Whitten went 3-4 and slammed 3 home runs, driving in 5 in the Bears 14-4 win over San Jose. The 26 year old hit a career high 50 HR and drove in 111 last season.
• 4/3: David Paredes (NYP) scattered 8 hits in a 6-0 win over Detroit.
• 4/4: JJ Welker (NE) shut out the Blackbirds 1-0 fanning 11 and allowing just 3 hits.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Onel Ocaya (PHI) 15-31 3 HR 10 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gerek Szymiczek (PIT) 12-25 3 HR 10 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 10-6
• STANDINGS: 1st (+2)
• RUNS SCORED: 67 (7th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 57 (4th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .670 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +0.4 (9th)
• ERRORS: 9 (9th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (4-3) 2-2 vs Lexington 2-1 @ Houston
• 4/9: AUS 5 LEX 4
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 2-3 2 BB GW HR 2 RBI
• Villa blows 3-2 lead (BS 2) Laskey SV (3) Anderson ND 7 IP 5 H 8 K 2 ER Griggs (LEX) 6 IP 7 H 6 K 1 ER
• 4/10: LEX 3 AUS 0 (10)
• POTG: Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) CG 10 IP 5 H 16 K 1-4 R
• Behrens ND 7.1 IP 6 H 10 K 0 R Oscar Gonzalez (LEX) 3R HR (5) off Laskey top 9
• 4/11: AUS 8 LEX 7
• POTG: Decker Blue (LEX) 3-4 HR
• Trevor Pope comes out after 2 with an undiagnosed injury (see news). Canales 3-4 2 R (hitting .360) Auguston (LEX) 3-4 3 RBI comes out with an Achilles injury. Aasen with a walk off 1B to win it
• 4/12: LEX 5 AUS 4
• POTG: Comerford (LEX) 3-4 2B RBI
• Chisholm 3-4 2B Whittaker L (2-1) 7.1 IP 8 H 10 K 4 BB 5 ER
• 4/13: HOU 5 AUS 2
• POTG: Ken Fairweather W (1-1) 8 IP 8 H 5 K 2 ER
• Brooks L (0-3 7.80) 6 IP 9 H 2 HR 10 K 5 ER
• 4/14: AUS 4 HOU 3
• POTG: Dave Anderson W (2-0 3.52) 8 IP 4 H 5 K 3 ER 1-1 R RBI
• Chisholm 2-4 HR (6) 2 RBI (13)
• 4/15: AUS 6 HOU 4
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 3-4 2 HR (8) 4 RBI (17)
• Jeff Reardon 4-4 R RBI Behrens W (2-0 0.62) 6.1 IP 9 H 8 K 4 R 1 ER Laskey SV (5)
• NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 @ Mexico 3 @ Pittsburgh
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/9: Pat Rienstra (PIT) tossed a 5-hit shutout to beat the Empire 3-0.
• 4/13: Mark Rioux (NYE) struck out 7, walked 3 and allowed just 3 hits in a 4-0 win over Lexington
• 4/13: Troy Gillon (DAL) beat Buffalo 5-0 on a 5-hitter
• 4/14: Tommy Berger (PRO) whiffed 7, walked 1 in a 5-0 win over Pittsburgh
• 4/14: Omar Torres (DET) went 5-5 in the Chargers 7-5 win over Baltimore. Torres is on fire to start the season hitting .500 through 15 games. He's 34-68 8 2B 2 3B 4 HR and 16 RBI.
• 4/15: Tomohiro Masuda fanned 12 in a 2-hit shutout of New York.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/10: Ahmed Muiru (AAA) acquired from Ft Worth in a small deal last month, opened up Warren's season going 4-6 2B 2 HR and 6 RBI in a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Stingers. Sam Rhoads pitched 7.1 strong innings for the win.
• 4/12: Trevor Pope has a strained hamstring and will go on the 15 day DL. Jason Kucher is eligible to come off the DL. The simple move would be to swap one for the other but Kucher hasn't had an AB in a month and Canales is raking. I'll send Kucher out of 5-10 days of at bats in Warren, recall Sam Rhoads.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Omar Torres (DET) 20-34 3 HR 11 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Chisholm (AUS) 13-27 4 HR 8 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 12-10
• STANDINGS: 2nd (1 GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 99 (7th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 89 (5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .662 (14th)
• ZONE RATING: -1.2 (11th)
• ERRORS: 14 (t-11th)
• FAN INTEREST: 70
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (2-4) 0-3 @ Mexico 2-1 @ Pittsburgh
• 4/16: OFF DAY
• 4/17: MEX 7 AUS 6
• POTG: Ray Maury (MEX) 3-4 2 2B 2 R 2 RBI
• Rhoads ND 6.1 IP 10 H 10 K 5 R 4 ER Villa BS (3) L (1-2) 1.2 IP 2 H 3 BB 2 ER 4 K
• 4/18: MEX 8 AUS 7
• POTG: Jeff Anderson 3-4 2 HR 5 RBI 3 R
• Reyes 3-5 Whittaker 5 IP 8 H 4 K 5 ER Miller BS (1) Barrett L
• 4/19: MEX 4 AUS 2
• POTG: Davis (MEX) 8 IP 6 H 2 ER W (1-0 2.25)
• Brooks CG L (0-4 6.65) CG 11 H 8 K 4 ER
• 4/20: AUS 5 PIT 3
• POTG: Dave Anderson W (3-0 3.19) 8 IP 7 H 7 K 2 ER 1-2
• Laskey SV (6)
• 4/21: AUS 8 PIT 4
• POTG: Orozco 2-4 2 2B 3 RBI
• Cowan HR (1) Nolasco 2-5 2B 2 R RBI leading the CL in hitting .388 Behrens W (3-0 1.51) 6.2 IP 4 ER
• 4/22: PIT 6 AUS 4
• POTG: Sean Greenwald (PIT) 2-3 HR 2 R RBI
• Bermudez 3-4 Anderson HR (4) Rhoads L (0-1) 7 IP 8 H 5 K 5 ER
• NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Denver OFF DAY 3 vs Providence
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/16: Xie-li Au-Yong (LEX) struck out 9 in a 4 hitter to beat Memphis 4-0 and win his 1st of the year.
• 4/16: 26-year-old Steve Forney (HOU) Struck out a career-high 17 Ft Worth Cowboys in a 3-0 win.
• 4/16: Jeff Alexander (PHX) went the distance striking out 10 in a 2-0 win over Denver.
• 4/18: Jeff Hall (NE) beat Brooklyn 5-0 striking out 9.
• 4/18: Rusty McCarthy (LA) fanned 7 and scattered 7 hits in beating San Jose 7-0
• 4/20: Ryan Logan (BUF) threw a 5-hit shutout to beat LA 7-0.
• 4/21: Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) moved to 4-0 1.79 striking out 14 in a 4-hitter to beat Denver 4-0.
• 4/22: Tim Soledad (DAL) beat Detroit 2-0 on a 6-hitter
• 4/22: Ben Sullivan (SAN) lost a no-hitter with 2 outs in the 9th but settled on a 1-hit 8-0 win over Ft Worth.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/18: Jesse Kucher will be recalled and catcher Brian Keegan will be sent down.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Victor Herrada (BUF) 16-33 5 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jeff Davis (CHA) 14-29 5 HR 13 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 15-13
• STANDINGS: 3rd (½ GB)
• RUNS SCORED: 118 (7th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 112 (5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .673 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +0.2 (10th)
• ERRORS: 18 (13th)
• FAN INTEREST: 70
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (3-3) 3-0 vs Denver 0-3 vs Providence
• 4/23: AUS 3 DEN 2
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (3-1 3.62) 8 IP 11 K 2 ER 1-3 R
• Laskey SV (7)
• 4/24: AUS 6 DEN 5 (10)
• POTG: Jeff Anderson 3-5 2B 3B 2 R RBI
• Chisholm HR (9) 2 RBI (22) Tighe 2-4 2 2B 2 R Orozco walk-off 1B RP Tom Barrett undisclosed injury (see news)
• 4/25: AUS 3 DEN 0
• POTG: Anderson ND 6 IP 10 K 4 H
• Villa W 2 IP 5 K Laskey SV (8) Kucher 2 out 3R HR in the 8th
• 4/26: OFF DAY
• 4/27: PRO 1 AUS 0
• POTG: Mike Desmon (PRO) W (3-1 2.00) 8 IP 4 H 9 K
• Bowman SV (10) Behrens L (3-1 1.48) 7 IP 2 H 10 K 1 ER 2-2
• 4/28: PRO 9 AUS 2
• POTG: Bob Mitchell W (4-1 2.70) 7.2 IP 6 H 5 K 2 ER
• Nolasco 3-4 HR RBI
• 4/29: PRO 6 AUS 5
• POTG: Justin Marvel (PRO) 2-4 2 HR 3 RBI
• Whittaker L (3-2) 5.1 IP 8 K 3 HR 5 ER Jeff Anderson 3 SB
• NEXT WEEK: 4 @ Ft Worth 3 @ San Antonio
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 4/23: Victor Herrada (BUF) went 5-5 2B 3B 3 RBI in a 13-4 win over Brooklyn
• 4/26: Matt Reichlin (NYE) scattered 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out 2 in a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh
• 4/27: Jon Jones (DET) the Chargers big signing this winter fanned 8, walked 2 and gave up 4 hits in a 1-0 win over Buffalo. He's 2-2 2.29
• 4/27: Josh Viens (NYP) won his 4th (4-1 1.36) fanning 11 in a 3-hit 5-0 win over Dallas
• 4/28: Freddy Rosales (DAL) went 5-5 and hit for the cycle in an 11-4 win over New York.
• 4/28: Zhen-Bang Zong (NYE) beat Denver 4-0 on a 3-hitter.
• 4/29: Mark Rioux (NYE) shut out Denver for a 2nd straight day with a 4-hit 13 K CG
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 4/25: Tyler Dagger is headed to Warren for some at-bats before activating him. Tom Barrett suffered a mild hamstring strain and is DtD for the week. Javy Canales is out of options. So when Dagger is ready there isn't a clean move to be made.
• 4/27: Salt Lake City (A) pitcher Bryant Greer threw a 2-hitter last night. He fanned 7 and walked 1. The 1 walk was a season low. In 31 IP he's struck out 24 and walked 25. Better yet he has allowed just 11 hits! His BABIP? .118 He's 2-3 1.74
  
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Seung-Hyeon Kim (PHI) 10-23 2 HR 10 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Pete Cox (FW) 14-27 2 HR 6 RBI

• ALL TIME SINGLE SEASON STRIKEOUTS

1. Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) 426, 2010
2. Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) 390, 2011
3. Josh Viens (NYP) 358, 2011
4. Josh Viens (NYP) 357, 2010
5. Andy Zerbe (CHA) 339, 2010

All 5 in the past 2 years.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 20-15
• STANDINGS: 1st (+1)
• RUNS SCORED: 154 (7th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 136 (5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .677 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +2.8 (4th)
• ERRORS: 19 (t-11th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (5-2) 3 -1 vs Ft Worth 2-1 @ San Antonio
• 4/30: AUS 6 FW 5
• POTG: Dustin Fahey (FW) 2-4 2 HR 4 RBI (helps him win POTM)
• Brooks ND 7 IP 6 H 10 K 4 ER Reyes 2-4 HR RBI Kucher 2-4 2 2B 2 RBI Aasen PH walk off 1B
• 5/1: AUS 4 FW 3
• POTG: David Anderson W (4-0 2.62) 7.2 IP 6 K 6 H 2 ER
• Laskey SV (9) Carter White (FW) L (2-4) CG 11 H 6 K 4 ER Chisholm 2-4 2B 2 RBI
• 5/2: AUS 7 FW 0
• POTG: Behrens CG 11 K 4 H (4-1 1.22) 1-4
• Tighe 3-4 2 R RBI Kucher 2-4 R RBI
• 5/3: FW 3 AUS 2
• POTG: Elijah Pulliam (FW) W (3-3 2.98) 7 IP 7 H 4 K 1 ER
• Rhoads L (0-3) 6 IP 9 K 4 H 2 ER Danny Vargas (FW) 4-5 2B R RBI
• 5/4: AUS 7 SAN 3
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (4-2 3.81) 7 IP 6 H 8 K 4 BB 1 ER
• Villa SV (1) Anderson 2-4 HR 2 R RBI Orozco 2-4 2B R 2 RBI Nolasco 2-4 R RBI (.388)
• 5/5: AUS 4 SAN 3 (7)
• POTG: Ryan Bermudez 3-3 2B HR 2 R 2 RBI
• Brooks CG W (1-4) 6 IP 6 H 7 K 3 ER Pattison (SAN) L (1-4) CG 7 IP 8 H 8 K 3 ER
• 5/6: SAN 7 AUS 6 (11)
• POTG: Sean Green (SAN) 3-5 2B HR 3 R 2 RBI
• Reyes 3-3 2B HR (5) 2 R 2 RBI (strained hamstring, DtD for 4-5 days) Aasen 3-3 HR R RBI Cowan PH 9th inning HR ties it. Walt Tiley (SAN) walks it off with a HR in the 11th
• NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Montreal OFF DAY 3 vs Phoenix
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 5/2:Tim Collins (CHI) fanned 11 and walked none in a 1-hit 2-0 win. Antenor Moreno (PHI) broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the 7th.
• 5/3: The New York Punishers announced the signing of the ABL's all-time saves leader Leo Montes to a 2-year extension. The 37-year-old will earn 9.6 million over the 2 years.
• 5/4: Jake Byers (NYP) fanned 16 Storm hitters in the Punishers 6-2 win over LA. He allowed 3 hits and walked 2 to remain undefeated. 5-0 2.88
• 5/4: The Buffalo Bison have lost the services of SP Pedro Martinez for the remainder of the 2012 season. The 27-year-old was 4-1 2.66. He will undergo surgery to 'release' compression on his radial nerve and is expected to be out until at least Spring Training next year. 27-year-old Ryan Aleshire (22-29 4.77) will take his place. Two time Koufax winner Joey Elliott suffered a torn flexor tendon last May and the 33-year-old is due back in 5 weeks. The 6-time all-star and 5-time gold glove winner is apparently coming back on full throttle and doing great. Buffalo (17-16) is 6 games behind division-leading Philadelphia and just 1 ½ games in back of the Punishers for the wild card.
• 5/5: Omar Trinidad (SD) beat Buffalo 1-0 allowing just 2 hits while fanning 8 and walking 4.
• 5/6: Dennis Russell (NYE) struck out a career-high 13 in a 4-hit 5-0 win over Phoenix. The 23-year-old was 13-7 3.11 last year and is 3-3 3.00 so far this season
• 5/6: 34-year-old Memphis 1B Aaron Thoma went 4-4 drilling 3 home runs and driving in 7 in the Blue Sox 13-2 pasting of Charlotte.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 5/2: Tyler Dagger is ready to come off his rehab. I have designated Javy Canales and called up Dagger. I have 2 significant deals in discussion right now to open up an OF spot.
• 5/3: Trevor Pope is not responding to treatment and his return is not TBD
• 5/4: Bryant Greer (A) in his last 5 starts 32.1 IP 10 H 10 R 2 ER 22 K 29 BB
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daniel Contraras (DAL) 14-24 2 HR 9 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Danny Vargas (FW) 14-26 HR 3 RBI

• ABL ACTIVE LEADERS IN ALL TIME STRIKEOUTS

1. William Marcial (DAL) 3951
2. Luis Rivera (MEM) 3796
3. Pet Rienstra (PIT) 3660
4. Jeff Hall (NE) 3454
5. Joey Elliott (BUF) 3306

[gehrig38]

RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dave Nolasco .377/.441/.538 3 HR 14 RBI 2-2 SB
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Matt Behrens 3-1 1.48 42.2 IP 36 H 47 K 13 BB 1.15 WHIP
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Travis Harrison OF (A) .259/.364/.624 9 HR 21 RBI
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Bryant Greer (A) 2-3 1.74 31 IP 11 H 24 K 25 BB .109 OppAvg .118 BABIP 1.16 WHIP

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes (PHI) .409-9-27 22 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dustin Fahey (FW) .321-10-28 19 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jason Keeton (DET) 4-0 1.64 44 IP 48 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Danny Gariepy (FW) 5-1 2.66 44 IP 53 K
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ernesto Aguilar (PHI) 1-0 9 SV 4.09 9.2 IP 14 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Jason Wenrich (CHA) 2-0 7 SV 4.22


A couple of clubs firing on all cylinders out of the gate. I don't know how Lexington doesn't win 120 games with that rotation.
Providence and Philadelphia both having strong Aprils. Dave Nolasco, nice. Denver and Ft Worth are likely going to start unloading if this keeps up.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 22-19
• STANDINGS: 1st (+ ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 180 *8th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 168 (6th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .671 (11th)
• ZONE RATING: +1.3 (5th)
• ERRORS: 20 (6th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (2-4) 1-2 @ Montreal 1-2 vs Phoenix
• 5/7: AUS 5 MON 3
• POTG: Behrens W (5-1) 6.2 IP 4 H 5 BB 9 K 3 ER
• Laskey SV (10) Chisholm 2-4 2B 2 RBI Dagger 2-4 2 R RBI
• 5/8: MON 9 AUS 4
• POTG: Josh Sims (MON) 1-3 HR 3 RBI 2 R
• Tighe 3-5 2B 3B R 2 RBI Rhoads (0-4) 3.2 IP 6 H 3 K 3 BB 7 ER
• 5/9: MON 7 AUS 5
• POTG: Frank Mendez (MON) 3-4 HR 2 RBI
• Tighe 3-5 Orozco 3-4 2B R RBI SB Whittaker L (4-3) 3.2 IP 11 H 2 HR 7 ER
• 5/10: OFF DAY
• 5/11: PHX 3 AUS 2
• POTG: Mike Gasque (PHX) W (3-4) 7 IP 5 H 7 K 2 ER
• Haske SV (14) Brooks L (1-5) 7 IP 7 H 5 K 2 HR 3 ER
• 5/12: PHX 10 AUS 6
• POTG: Dave Nolasco 4-5 2B 3 RBI
• Cowan 3-5 Anderson L (4-1) 4.2 IP 7 H 2 K 3 HR 7 ER
• 5/13: AUS 4 PHX 0
• POTG: Matt Behrens W (6-1 1.38) 7 IP 7 H 10 K 0 BB
• Chisholm 2-4 2B HR (10) 2 RBI (32)
• NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Memphis OFF DAY 3 @ Ft Worth
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 5/8: Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) fanned 15 in a 5 hit gem to beat Memphis 12-4.
• 5/8: The Denver Saints have fired GM Travis Ezzell and Manager Juan Olvera after just 36 games. The Saints, 11-25, have named former Rustler Bench Coach Josh Alba the interim manager with no word on who the new GM will be.
• 5/9: Dana Kemble struck out 11 and a 2-hit CG to beat San Jose 4-0
• 5/10: Jack Headen (NYE) went 5-5 2B HR 3 RBI in the Empire's 7-6 win over Pittsburgh
• 5/13: Israel Magallon (PRO) went 4-5 and hit for the cycle in the Black Sox 7-1 win over Montreal
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 5/7: Javy Canales cleared waivers and reported to AAA Warren.
• 5/10: Trevor Pope will come off the DL and make 1-2 starts at Warren
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bill Tribett (LA) 8-23 7 HR 10 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Decker Blue (LEX) 15-33 3 HR 9 RBI 8 R

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 25-22
• STANDINGS: 1st (+2)
• RUNS SCORED: 214 (t-7th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 188 (3rd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .677 (11th)
• ZONE RATING: +4.3 (1st)
• ERRORS: 22 (t-6th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (3-3) 1-2 @ Memphis 2-1 @ Ft Worth
• 5/14: MEM 5 AUS 3
• POTG: Dave Lutz (MEM) W (1-4) 7 IP 5 H 8 K 1 ER
• Rhoads L (0-5) 1 hitter too many. 2R HR in the 8th, 2 outs of 3-2 game. Reyes injured diag. Pending see news
• 5/15: AUS 12 MEM 1
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (5-3) 8.1 IP 4 H 6 K 1 ER 1-4 RBI
• Kucher 3-4 2 R CS (3) Dagger 3-5 2B 3B 2 R 3 RBI Cowan 2-5 HR 4 RBI
• 5/16: MEM 4 AUS 3
• POTG: Travis Brooks CG L (1-6) 8 IP 7 H 7 K 2 HR 4 ER
• Aaron Chisholm 1-1 4 BB ties Austin record
• 5/17: OFF DAY
• 5/18: AUS 10 FW 6
• POTG: Joe Tighe 2-5 HR 5 RBI tied 6-6 in the 9th hits his 1st career grand slam
• Reyes 3-4 2B Chisholm 2-5 2B HR (11) 2 RBI Anderson HR (8)
• 5/19: AUS 6 FW 3
• POTG: Behrens W (7-1) 7.1 IP 4 H 7 K 3 ER 2-3 R RBI hitting .280
• Laskey SV (11) Chisholm HR (12) 3 RBI (38)
• 5/20: FW 1 AUS 0
• POTG: Zach Willis (FW) CG W (3-4) 6 H 5 K 0 BB
• Whittaker CG L (5-4) 4 H 11 K 1 BB 1 ER Micah Bowman (FW) 2nd inning solo-HR.
• NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Houston OFF DAY 3 vs NY Empire
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 5/14: Jeff Alexander (PHX) won his 7th (7-2 1.69) with a 6 hit 13 K performance in a 3-0 win over Denver.
• 5/15: Dennis Montanez (NYP) went 3-4 hammering 3 HR's in the Punishers 8-2 win over Philadelphia
• 5/15: Jamie Wren (SJ) struck out 11 and allowed just 2 hits in the Hawks 8-0 drubbing of Dallas
• 5/16: Tony Rostro (NYP) held Philadelphia to just 4 hits in a 1-0 win.
• 5/19: The ABL's #2 prospect P Rod Maley of the Ohio Generals was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and will miss the remainder of the 2012 season.
• 5/20: 31-year-old Myles Green (LEX) went 3-5 with 3 HR's and 6 RBI in the Rebels 12-10 win over San Antonio.
• 5/20: Jeff Alexander (PHX) tossed a 6 hitter in a 6-0 win over Memphis and struck out 13 for the 2nd time this week. He's 8-2 1.51 with 96 K's in 83.2 IP
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 5/16: Sammy Reyes has an irritated hammy and will sit for another day.
• 5/17: Trevor Pope went 7 innings pain-free last night in Warren. Sam Rhoads will be sent down and Trevor called up.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dan Frazier (NE) 13-29 4 HR 10 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Steve Passler (SAN) 11-20 3 HR 7 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 30-23
• STANDINGS: 1st (+2 ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 244 (t-5th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 205 (3rd)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .676 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +2.0 (6th)
• ERRORS: 24 (t-6th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (5-1) 2-1 vs Houston 3-0 vs NY Empire
• 5/21: AUS 5 HOU 4
• POTG: Ryan DeCicco (HOU) 3-3 2 2B 3 RBI
• Reyes HR 3 RBI Nolasco 3-4 R RBI Brooks W (2-6) 6 IP 8 H 8 K 4 R 1 ER Laskey SV (12)
• 5/22: HOU 5 AUS 3
• POTG: Orozco 3-4 2B 2 R RBI
• Pope ND 5 IP 2 ER 8 K Villa BS (4) L (2-3) 2.1 IP 5 H 3 ER Barrett hurt again. Diagnosis pending (see news)
• 5/23: AUS 4 HOU 3 (10)
• POTG: Steve Forney (HOU) ND 7 IP 13 K 1 ER 1-3 R
• Down 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 8th Tyler Dagger ties it with a 2R PH single and then draws a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th to win it. Anderson 6.1 IP 9 H 11 K 3 ER Laskey 2 IP 3 K W (2-1)
• 5/24: DAY OFF
• 5/25: AUS 7 NYE 1
• POTG: Matt Behrens W (8-1 1.56) 8 IP 7 H 9 K 1 ER
• Tighe 2-4 2 R SB (9) Chisholm 2-5 2B 2 RBI (41) Nolasco 2-4 2B HR 3 RBI
• 5/26: AUS 4 NYE 0
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (6-4) CG 5 H 0 BB 8 K 1-4
• Anderson 2-4 2B R SB Orozco 2-4 RBI SB Tighe 2 SB (11)
• 5/27: AUS 7 NYE 4
• POTG: Ryan Bermudez 2-4 2 HR 4 RBI
• Brooks ND 6 IP 6 H 8 K 4 ER Laskey SV (13)
• NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Mexico 4 @ Phoenix
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 5/23: Myeong-Han Jung (SF) shut out Ohio 4-0. He struck out 3, walked 1 and scattered 5 hits.
• 5/24: Ohio has been on fire the past month and managed to catch Detroit in the Patriot Leagues Harbor Division. Making things worse for the Chargers is the injury to the leagues leading hitter Omar Torres (.358). He will miss until at least mid-June with a hand injury. Ohio and Detroit at tied at 27-23.
• 5/25: Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) entered the 9th inning with a 6-2 lead on Ft Worth and having struck out 17 Cowboy hitters. He struck out leadoff hitter Danny Vargas for his 18th on an 0-2 fastball. Ran the count to 1-2 on Pete Cox before getting a swing and miss to tie the ABL record with 19 strikeouts. Pat Blau went 0-2, took a ball, and then flailed at a high FB for strike three and a new ABL record 20 strikeouts in a 9 inning game.
• 5/25: Time Collins (CHI) evened his record at 3-3 with a 4-0 5 hit shutout of San Diego. He fanned 11 to give him 115 in 85.2 IP.
• 5/26: John Del Bianco (DET) fanned a season-high 14 in a 4-0 shutout of Philadelphia
• 5/27: Joe Farmer (BUF) scattered 5 hits in a 5-0 win over Baltimore
• 5/27: Mexico veteran Matt Dickes made his 2nd start of the season and threw his 2nd straight complete game in a 2-0 win over Denver. He's 2-0 0.50 in 18 IP 9 H 11 K 1 ER
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 5/23: Some guy's bodies just aren't made to throw a baseball even though they are good at it. Their arms just aren't able to hold up. Tommy Barrett has another shoulder injury and will be out 8-9 months which would mean that since March of 2010 through the end of this year he will have spent 22 months on the DL. Nothing you can do honestly, except to ensure you don't offer big dollars or a long term extension. RHP John Ferguson, acquired in the July deal with Dallas with SP Allan Johnson for RP Mason Britton will be recalled.
• 5/24: Speaking of Allen Johnson. He fired a 2-hitter to beat the McAllen Missles 4-0 and upped his record to 5-1 4.18 for Warren.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wilfrid Gonzalez (DAL) 12-27 2 HR 6 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Yodo Takahashi (MEX) 9-17 3 HR 6 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 33-27
• STANDINGS: 1st (+1 ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 272 (t-4th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 232 (4th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .675 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +1.7 (5th)
• ERRORS: 29 (7th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (3-4) 2-1 vs Mexico 1-3 @ Phoenix
• 5/28: MEX 4 AUS 2
• POTG: Tommy Traywick (MEX) 2-4 2 HR 2 R 2 RBI
• Orozco 2-4 HR R RBI Pope L (1-1) 4.1 IP 8 H 3 HR 9 K 4 ER
• 5/29: AUS 6 MEX 1
• POTG: Dave Anderson W (5-1) 8 IP 4 H 7 K 1 ER 1-3 HR 2 RBI
• Orozco 3-4 R RBI Dagger 2-3 HR R 3 RBI
• 5/30: AUS 6 MEX 3
• POTG: Behrens W (9-1 1.75) 7 IP 8 H 9 K 3 ER 1-3
• Laskey SV (14) Nolasco 2-4 2B 2 R RBI Orozco HR (5) 2 RBI (28) Doug Wilson (MEX) 4-4 2 2B RBI
• 5/31: PHX 3 AUS 1
• POTG: Dave Gullion (PHX) W (7-2 2.65) 7 IP 7 H 10 K 1 ER
• Haske (PHX) SV (19) Whittaker L (6-5) 6 IP 4 H 5 K 3 R 1 ER 1-2 2B R
• 6/1: AUS 6 PHX 0
• POTG: Travis Brooks CG 6 H 3 K
• Tighe 2-5 HR 2 R 2 RBI SB (12) Nolasco 3-5 HR R 3 RBI Cowan HR
• 6/2: PHX 10 AUS 3
• POTG: Jake Murphy (PHX) 2-3 HR 2 R 3 RBI
• Orozco 3-4 R RBI Pope L (1-2) 6.1 IP 10 H 5 ER Ferguson 0.1 IP 3 H 2BB 2 HR 5 ER
• 6/3: PHX 6 AUS 4
• POTG: Heriberto Perez (PHX) 4-4 HR R RBI
• Orozco 3-4 2B RBI Anderson L (5-2) 3.2 IP 9 H 2 K 5 ER Haske (PHX) SV (20) Tighe 2-4 SB (14) (see ABL news)
• NEXT WEEK: 4 @ San Antonio 3 @ Lexington
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 5/29: The Empire crushed Providence 16-1 and MVP Ricky Gutierrez went 5-5 with a HR.
• 5/30: Jeff Alexander (PHX) threw his 3rd shutout in his past 4 starts and his ABL leading 4th shutout of the year in a 4-0 win over Philadelphia. He fanned 8 and walked 1 in becoming the ABL's 1st 10 game-winner. The 26-year-old is 10-2 1.52 with 116 K's in 100.2 IP.
• 5/30: 3 time Koufax winner and future Hall of Famer David Faulkner made his 391st career start and threw his 1st ever shutout! It was just his 2nd career complete game!
• 6/2: Dave Bottini (OH) fanned 6 in a 7-0 win over Baltimore
• 6/3: Heriberto Perez is a former Rustler who I dealt for Jesse Kucher and OF Jerry Breaux in 2010. He's hitting .272/.346/.476 with 10 2B 10 HR 25 RBI in 55 games and is 14-18 SB
• 6/3: Dallas OF David Sanders went 5-5 in the Texans 15-0 massacre of New England.
• 6/4: Jamie Truncellito (LA) also had 5 hits in a 5-0 win over San Jose.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 5/31: Tony Perales (A) took home Mid-West League Pitcher of the month going 3-1 6 SV 4.30 14.2 IP 11 K
• 5/31: Allan Johnson took home the Western League POTM going 5-0 3.19 42.1 IP 28 K
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joel Moss (SJ) 10-22 3 HR 8 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luis Orozco (AUS) 13-28 2 HR 6 RBI
  
• Current and former Rustler's win POTW

[gehrig38]

RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Luis Orozco .371/.416/.562 9 2B 3 HR 17 RBI 2-2 SB .468 BABIP
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Matt Behrens 6-0 2.00 45 IP 34 H 54 K 13 BB
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Travis Harrison (AA) .309/.412/.680 11 HR 30 RBI 22 R
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Danny Rodriguez (AAA) 3-0 2.58 38.1 IP 30 H 29/9 K/BB 1.02 WHIP

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Bill Tribett (LA) .327-12-23 25 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Decker Blue (LEX) .348-9-24 22 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: John Del Bianco (DET) 5-0 1.78 50.2 IP 67 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jeff Alexander (PHX) 6-0 1.23 51.1 IP 64 K
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Steve Castwdronova (SF) 3-3 3.86 44.1 IP 46 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Amir White (HOU) .402-8-20

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 37-30
• STANDINGS: 1st (+2 ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 309 (5th)
• RUNS AGAINST: 269 (5th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .675 (12th)
• ZONE RATING: +1.8 (15th)
• ERRORS: 31 (7th)
• FAN INTEREST: 70
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (4-3) 2-2 @ San Antonio 2-1 @ Lexington
• 6/4: SAN 8 AUS 5
• POTG: Corey Furr (SAN) 4-5 2B 3B 2 R 3 RBI
• Behrens L (9-2) 1.2 IP 8 H 1 HR 7 ER Cowan 2-4 GS 4 RBI
• 6/5: SAN 5 US 2
• POTG: Jeff Anderson 2-2 HR R RBI 2 BB CS
• Whittaker L (6-6) 7 IP 4 H 6 BB 6 K 5 ER
• 6/6: AUS 9 SAN 8
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 2-3 2 HR 3 R 4 RBI 2 BB
• Anderson 2-4 2 2B 2 R 2 RBI BB Orozco 3-4 2 2B 3 RBI Bermudez 3-5 R Brooks W (4-6) 6 IP 9 H 4 ER Laskey 1 IP 3 H 1 ER 3 K SV (15)
• 6/7: AUS 4 SAN 1
• POTG: Trevor Pope W (2-2) 8 IP 4 H 5 K 1 ER
• Laskey SV (16) Cowan 2-4 2B 2 RBI Nolasco 2-4 2B R RBI
• 6/8: AUS 9 LEX 5
• POTG: Dave Nolasco 2-4 HR 2 R 2 RBI (hit 2nd) Dagger 2-4 2 R 2 RBI (lead off) Bermudez 2-5 2 2B 2 RBI Anderson W (6-2) 6.2 IP 7 H 7 K 3 HR 5 ER Davis (LEX) L (6-2) 5 IP 5 H 9 K 4 ER
• 6/9: AUS 8 LEX 6 (16)
• POTG: Sam Reyes 2-6 2B HR 3 R 2 RBI 2 BB
• Tighe 3-7 R Kucher 0-6 before walk off 1B in the 16th Behrens 5 IP 10 H 5 ER Bullpen 11 IP 4 H 11 K 4 BB Aspinwall 3 IP 1 H 4 K W (1-0)
• 6/10: LEX 4 AUS 0
• POTG: Bob Shrader (LEX) W (1-1 5.59) 8 IP 5 H 7 K 0 R
• Whittaker L (6-7) 7 IP 7 H 11 K 2 ER Comerford (LEX) 3-4 HR R 2 RBI
• NEXT WEEK: OFF DAY 3 vs Ft Worth 3 vs Pittsburgh
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 6/4: Alex Grant (BRO) beat LA 3-0, striking out 8, walking 2 and scattering 6 hits.
• 6/4: Allen Gies (DEN) struck out a career-high 15 in a 2-1 win over Houston.
• 6/4: San Diego signed C Daniel Aguiluz to a 3-year extension. The 31-year-old will make 3.4 a year.
• 6/4: Cain Angwin (PHI) went the distance in a 4-0 win over Chicago
• 6/4: Chris Lach (DEN) punched out 9 and allowed just 4 hits in a 9-0 win over Houston.
• 6/6: Andy Zerbe (CHA) struck out 9 to move to 5-4 3.24 in a 1-0 win over Ft Worth
• 6/7: Dave Bottini (OH) fanned 10 walked none and allowed just 3 hits in a 4-0 win over Philadelphia
• 6/7: Michael Nettles (SF) hit 3 homers and drove in 6 in the Bears 10-6 win over San Jose
• 6/7: The Colonial leagues leading hitter, Danny Vargas (FW) slid awkwardly into 2B and broke his kneecap today. He will miss the remainder of the season for the 22-41 Cowboys. Vargas signed a 4 year 32 million dollar extension prior to this season.
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joel Moss (SJ) 10-24 5 HR 11 RBI
• Moss is hitting .339/.403/.649 19 HR 62 RBI in a breakout season. I sent him, along with Chris Johnston and Eric Allen to SJ for Rich Whittaker.
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ethan Keaton (PRO) 9-12 HR 6 RBI

[gehrig38]

• In 2010 I managed to deal around enough to allow for 9 picks in the drafts first three rounds. I thought it would be cool to check up on those players:

1. Rd 1 #1 2B/SS Sam Reyes He's lived up to the hype. Was in AAA by 2011 where he hit .278/.394/.451 with 20 2B 15 HR and stole 22-28 before a late-season callup where he continued to hit. .273/.388/.534 with 11 HR 27 RBI in 46 games and 9-9 in SB. Having a bit of a down first half but his .353 OBP is why he'll never have a long slump.
2. Rd 1 #26 LF Nate Davis hit 25 HR's at Ft Wayne his draft year. Started in Hartford last season but struggled hitting .165/.298/.404 with 8 HR 24 RBI in 29 games before being sent down to Ft Wayne where he continued to struggle hitting .162/.299/.371 6 HR 25 RBI over 31 games. Back at Hartford to start this season
3. Rd 2 #37 1B Kyle Yadon as the leagues youngest player he hit .246/.341/.649 with 24 HR 48 RBI his draft season at Ft Wayne. Was hurt early in the season in 2011 and returned to hit .205/.357/.441 with 10 HR and 32 RBI in 45 games. Will start this season in Hartford.
4. Rd 2 #50 Jeff Baker LHP Came out of the draft and started at Ft Wayne and Hartford in 2010. After 6 starts last year he moved into his future role as the closer in Salt Lake. Saved 24 games and 49 appearances with bad peripherals (40 BB 54 K 1.44 WHIP). This year opened the season as the closer in AAA Warren where he is 4-2 11 SV 4.79 but the strikeouts are now coming (10.0/9 as opposed to 6.1/9 last year). He'll get as much time as he needs. A name often brought up in any trade talks I have.
5. Rd 2 #53 OF Joe Laporte Came out like gangbusters hitting .260/.387/.697 with 32 HR 65 RBI in just 64 games. Started at Hartford in 2011 and was hot before a promotion to SLC where he struggled, hitting .208. Started this season at Modesto and was putrid through 18 games (.098/.236/.148) before being sent back to SLC where he has continued to struggle.
6. Rd 2 #54 Chris Lawson RHP Went 6-6 3.97 95 IP 100 H 95 K 22 BB in SS Hartford out of the draft. Was 11-5 3.42 in 24 starts at Salt Lake before a short end of the season call up to AA Modesto where he got hammered. Now back in AA and 4-3 4.04 82 IP 69 K 23 BB
7. Rd 2 #62 1B Dave Bates Has done nothing but hit. Actually being promoted from AA to AAA today. He went straight to SS Hartford out of the draft and hit .301/.411/.722 before a promotion to A ball with SLC for the seasons final 20 games and ended with 24 HR and 59 RBI In 60 games. Last year at AA Modesto he hit just .210/.306/.475 but had 32 HR's and 86 RBI in 125 games
8. Rd 3 #75 Travis Harrison OF Hit .302/.400/.643 10 HR 36 RBI in 35 games at Ft Wayne in 2010. 2011 he hit .224/.349/.488 27 HR 62 RBI in 102 games at Salt Lake, skipping Hartford. He started this year again at Salt Lake (he's just 20) and was killing it before a call up to AA Modesto where he keeps hitting. .275/.423/.537 6 HR 25 RBI 23 games. Getting on base is a skill that just doesn't go away.
9. Rd 3 #90 Jonathan Salazar 2-2 16 SV 4.94 27 IP 33 K 2010 at Ft Wayne, 1-1 15 SV 2.96 24 IP 28 K in 2011 Hartford. Struggling this year and has lost the closer's job in Salt Lake. 1-3 1 SV 7.54 22 IP 14 K 13 BB and has surrendered 8 HR's.

[gehrig38]

• Baltimore, Houston, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Ft Worth have the top 5 picks this year.
• We will be selecting 18th and 28th 44th, 61st, and 75th in the first three rounds. We'll get 5 of the top 75.
• I'll keep track of the 1st round through our picks.
  
• Here are the top 10 players coming into the draft according to the OSA

• 1st Round: (#) = Pre-draft prospect rank

1. Baltimore – Jeremy Stuever 18 RHP North Alabama JUCO (3)
2. Houston – Nick Mauzey 17 CF LHH Valdosta HS (1)
3. Pittsburgh - Malik Holtz 20 CF RHH Baylor (2)
4. Dallas – Jeremy Novak 18 CF RHH College of the Sequoias JUCO (5)
5. Ft Worth – Elijah Mitchell 19 RHH Chipola JUCO (4)
6. Brooklyn – Ben Rice 17 RHP Paradise Valley HS (6)
7. Denver – Andy Rupnick 17 RHP Coal City HS (7)
8. San Antonio – Arturo Mino 17 1B RHH Pueblo South HS (8)
9. New England – John Neighbors 18 2B RHH College of Southern Idaho (16)
10. Mexico – Ronnie Kelly 17 CFRHH Paradise Valley HS (12)
11. NY Empire – Chris Paredes 21 SS Boston College (9)
12. Los Angeles – Chris Whisner 21 RHP Kansas State (13)
13. San Diego – Miguel Agostini 20 RHP Iowa State (19)
14. Phoenix – Jorge Falcon 18 CF RHH College of Southern Idaho (22)
15. Montreal – Zach Mitchell 19 LHP College of Southern Idaho (11) CSI won their 6th JUCO title this year
16. Memphis – George Newell 18 RHP Petaluma HS (20)
17. Providence – Antonio Peterson 18 RHP Torrey Pines HS (14)
18. Austin – Jeff Hana 20 RF SWITCH UMASS (10) Solid bat on both sides, cannon
19. Chicago – Chris Peterson 17 RHP Paradise Valley Trojans
20. Philadelphia – Edwin Polit 21 RHP Boston College
21. Ohio – Chris Riehm 17 LF RHH South Miami HS
22. San Francisco – Albert Contreras 17 LF RHH Mount Carmel HS
23. Buffalo – Kyle Miller 18 RF LHH South Miami HS
24. Charlotte – Willie Malta 17 SS RHH Torrey Pines HS
25. NY Punishers – Jason Hogan 20 SS SWITCH University of California
26. Lexington – Norm Fernatt 21 C RHH Penn
27. Detroit – Bryce Mcleod 19 LHP Brunswick JUCO
28. Austin – Chris Renfrow 18 RF LHH North Alabama JUCO Huge power, no speed, great arm

• Pick #44 – Kevin Clevenger 18 OF LHH College of Southern Idaho JUCO potential 3 hole bat no speed lots of work on defense
• Pick #61 – Rich Ashe 18 RHP College of the Sequoias
• Pick #75 – John Keintz 20 RHP Stanford RH Closer arm

[gehrig38]

AUSTIN, SAN JOSE IN A BLOCKBUSTER
The Austin Rustlers have acquired the services of 2011 Patriot League Rookie of the year, Andrew McGlasson, in a 7 player deal announced last night. Both sides mentioned that the talks had been going on for the last month after McGlasson had a blow-up with manager Nate Reedy after being told he would start splitting time with the team's premier OF Prospect Sandy Gutierrez. The situation got so bad that the Hawks shocked many by sending McGlasson down to AAA Salem just 2 weeks ago. Apparently that's when Rustler GM Curt Schilling got involved.
Austin is sending top OF prospect Javy Canales, P prospect Mike Carter, 1B prospect 18-year-old Kevin Russell and 20 year old OF prospect Keith Hall as well as the teams swapping 2nd round picks.
San Jose will send McGlasson and 20-year old P prospect Pat Hobart the other way.
McGlasson hit .383/.393/.643 45 2B 13 3B 18 HR 100 RBI 8 SB and 103 R in running away with the rookie of the year voting and the PL batting title. His 247 hits were league-leading and an all-time ABL rookie record. No word yet on how things will play out as the Austin OF seems to be full. Rustler fans were Very excited at the news. The 20-year-old Hobart (44th overall pick in 2010 out of Temple) will be sent to AA.


BACKROOM CHATTER
Any trade you feel 50/50 great/terrified is a good one. There is no chance his numbers are a fluke and I gave him a cache of talent. Not premier talent all around but 5 players with a legitimate chance to play in the big leagues. Be interesting to see where Canales lands off the bat.
I cannot trade Reardon, no one is willing to take him on unless I pay 75+% of the remaining monies. The HUGE question is this year's option. Does he pick it up? I think if he remains my 3 ½ OF he has to given what he'd likely get on the market. The great part about this? McGlasson was ok accepting a demotion to AAA Warren where he will play every day. All sorts of things can happen and maybe even look around to see who might want to trade for him? Time will tell but this team is just 8 games above .500 and I was expecting a better team than last year. Sometimes you do have to shake things up just for the sake of change.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 43-30
• STANDINGS: 1st (+3 ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 346 (3rd)
• RUNS AGAINST: 282 (4th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .680 (9th)
• ZONE RATING: +3.0 (4th)
• ERRORS: 33 (t-6th)
• FAN INTEREST: 70
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (6-0) 3-0 vs Ft Worth 3-0 vs Pittsburgh
• 6/11: OFF DAY
• 6/12: AUS 3 FW 1
• POTG: Brooks W (5-6) 8 IP 5 H 9 K 1 ER
• Laskey SV (17) Willis (FW) CG L (3-7 3.13) 8 IP 6 H 7 K 3 R 1 ER 2 out 8th inning error leads to 2 unearned runs Cowan 2-3 R RBI
• 6/13: AUS 5 FW 1
• POTG: Pope W (3-2) 7.1 IP 4 H 8 K 1 BB 1 ER 1-2 2B
• Miller SV (1) Nolasco (7) Chisholm (17) homer Aasen 2-3 HR R 2 RBI
• 6/14: AUS 7 FW 5
• POTG: Chisholm 2-3 HR 2 R 2 RBI
• J Anderson 2-5 2 2B 2 RBI Orozco 2-4 HR 2 RBI D Anderson W (7-2 4.56) 7.1 IP 12 K 3 HR 4 ER 1-4 R Laskey SV (18)
• 6/15: AUS 9 PIT 0
• POTG: Behrens W (10-2 2.58) 7 IP 2 H 8 K 0 BB
• Kucher 4-5 3 R RBI SB Aasen 3-4 HR 2 R 3 RBI Nolasco 2-5 2 2B R RBI Orozco 2-5 2B HR 3 RBI Dagger 3-4 HR R RBI
• 6/16: AUS 7 PIT 4
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (7-7) 8 IP 7 H 11 K 3 ER
• Laskey SV (19) Kucher 3-5 2B R RBI SB Nolasco 2-4 2B 2 R RBI SB Chisholm HR (19)
• 6/17: AUS 6 PIT 2
• POTG: Travis Brooks W (6-6) 8 IP 7 H 7 K 2 ER 1-2 R
• Orozco 2-4 HR 3 RBI
• NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Denver 3 @ Montreal
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 6/11: Mike Broadway (SAN) threw his 1st career shutout and his 1st career 1-hitter in a 6-0 win over Mexico. He lost the no-hit bid to a 2 out 8th inning Brady Woolard 2B. After the game, Mexico announced Woolard had agreed to a 4 year 17.96 million dollar extension.
• 6/13: Brad Ullrich (PHI) shut down the Blackbirds 3-0 scattering 6 hits.
• 6/15: With San Diego tied for the lead in the PL's California division the news that star LF Andy O'Brien suffered a severe hamstring strain and would be out 2-3 months was devastating. The 24-year-old is coming off a breakout .263-31-88 season and was hitting .305/.386/.585 with 14 2B and 17 HR driving in 45.
• 6/15: Matt Mincey (CHA) won his 1st game of the season throwing a 2-hitter to beat the Empire 1-0.
• 6/16: David Guillion (PHX) won his 9th game of the year with a 12 K 5-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Houston. He's 9-2 2.29.
• 6/16: Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) fanned 15 Denver Saints in the Rebels 3-1 win. The lefty came within an out of a CG. He allowed just 3 hits in winning his 10th. He's 10-2 2.83 with 179 K's in 114.2 IP
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 6/15: Top pick Jeff Hanna has signed and will report to SS Hartford.
  
  
• CLASS A SALT LAKE ALL-STARS – SP Bryant Greer 4-6 2.67
• CLASS AA MODESTO ALL-STARS – RP Akinori Hirano 0-0 2.66 1B Dave Bates .285-19-62
• CLASS AAA WARREN ALL STARS – SP Danny Rodriguez 5-0 2.69, CF Andy Adrian .368-10 HR 15 SB
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joel Moss (SJ) 13-26 3 HR 12 RBI
• I believe this is his 3rd straight week winning the award
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alex Ochoa (MEM) 10-26 5 HR 10 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 48-31
• STANDINGS: 1st (+5 ½)
• RUNS SCORED: 386 (2nd)
• RUNS AGAINST: 310 (4th)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .681 (9th)
• ZONE RATING: +4.7 (4th)
• ERRORS: 37 (6th)
• FAN INTEREST: 69
• OWNERS MOOD: Very Happy
  
  
• THIS WEEK: (5-1) 2-1 vs Denver 3-0 @ Montreal
• 6/18: OFF DAY
• 6/19: AUS 8 DEN 3
• POTG: Pope W (4-2) 8 IP 4 H 7 K 2 ER 1-3 R RBI
• Chisholm HR (20) 3 RBI (58) Tighe 2-3 2B (14) 2 R 2 SB (17) Kucher 2-4 2B (13) 2 RBI
• 6/20: DEN 11 AUS 4
• POTG: Jeremiah Smith (DEN) 3-4 2 2B 4 R 2 RBI
• Anderson L (7-3) 6.1 IP 9 H 7 ER Nolasco 2-4 HE 2 R RBI
• 6/21: AUS 5 DEN 1
• POTG: Behrens ND 6 IP 10 K 4 H 4 BB 1ER 1-2
• Gies (DEN) CG 12 H 3 K 5 ER Tighe 2-4 2B R 2 RBI Orozco 3-4 2B (26) 2 R
• Headed to Montreal. The Paragon's home park is one of the most offensive friendly in the game.
• 6/22: AUS 3 MON 2
• POTG: Rich Whittaker W (8-7 3.39) 7.1 IP 6 H 8 K 0 BB 2 ER
• Laskey SV (20) Orozco 3-4 HR (10) R RBI Aasen HR 2 RBI
• 6/23: AUS 10 MON 7
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 2-2 2 HR 3 R 2 RBI 3 BB
• Nolasco 2-5 Grand Slam 4 RBI Colon PH HR Brooks W (7-6) 7 IP 5 H 6 K 6 BB 3 HR 4 ER
• 6/24: AUS 10 MON 4
• POTG: Aaron Chisholm 3-6 HR 2 R 2 RBI
• Reyes 2-5 HR 2 R 2 RBI
• NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Mexico OFF DAY 3 @ Providence
  
  
• ABL HAPPENINGS:
• 6/19: Stuart Abel (SJ) beat Chicago 2-0 scattering 5 hits and fanning 3.
• 6/19: Matt Renzi (HOU) struck out 5 in a 6-0 win over Ft Worth
• 6/20: Ryan Logan (BUF) shut down San Francisco on just 4 hits in a 2-0 win.
• 6/23: Jeremy Adam (PHX) fanned 9, walked none and gave up just 2 hits in a 2-0 win over San Antonio.
• 6/24: Mark Rioux (NYE) was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon today. The 22-year-old, and #1 overall pick in 2007, will be out at least a year.
  
  
• RUSTLER NEWS:
• 6/22: Nate Davis (A) went 3-4 and hit 3 HR's in an 8-7 loss to the Des Moines Monks. The 19-year-old has hit 4 HR's in the past 2 days and has 4 HR's and 5 RBI's in his 1st five games at SLC. He was 3-6 5.13 but had a very good April tossing 2 shutouts including a 13 strikeout game vs Denver.
  
  
  
• PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Danny Hynes (NE) 14-30 2 RBI
• COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Bauer (HOU) 14-27 6 RBI