At Third Base, #8, Zack McQuarrie

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 3/31/2004--4/6/2003
Best Game
4/5--4-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 1 K
Worst Game
4/6--0-4, 1 R, 1 K

Week of 4/7--4/13
Worst Game
4/9--1-4, 1 RBI, 3 K
Best Game
4/10--3-4, 1 3B, 1 R

Week of 4/14--4/20
Best Game
4/14--3-7, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R, 1 K
Worst Game
4/18--0-6, 1 K

Week of 4/21--4/27
Worst Game
4/21--0-4, 1 K
Best Game
4/27--2-5, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 2 R

From 4/28--4/30
4/29--0-5, 1 BB, 1 K
4/30--1-4, 1 2B, 1 SB, 1 R, 1 K

I started out hot in the first week of the season, which makes me feel a little satisfied with my play, so far and I overall had a pretty decent month. After meeting with the hitting coach, I found I'd developed a little bit, to:
COntact:26/60
Power:17/30
Eye: 31/90
Gap: 39/40
Defense: From 73 to 74

Current Stats:
.291, 5 2B, 4 3B, 13 RBI, 16 R, 9 SB, .346/.402/.748

[VoltageEJ]

From 5/1--5/4
5/1--1-4, 1 2B, 1 SB, 1 RBI, 1 BB
5/2--1-4, 1 RBI
5/3--1-3, 1 BB
5/4--1-4, 1 R, 1 SB, 1 BB

On 5/3, I finally got the call that I was being promoted to AA! Of course that also meant that finally I was leaving home. Saying my goodbyes, I packed and flew to Orlando, to meet the affiliate team there, the Orlando Rays. I was told I was batting leadoff, to start with and playing third.

[VoltageEJ]

From 5/5--5/11
Worst Game
5/9--1-5, 1 SB, 3 K
Best Game
5/11--1-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

5/12--5/18
Best Game
5/15--2-5, 2 SB, 1 R, 1 K
Worst Game
5/16--0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Week of 5/19--5/25
Worst Game
5/19--1-4, 2 R
Best Game
5/20--2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 K

Week of 5/26--6/1
Worst Game
5/27--0-3, 2 K
Best Game
5/30--2-4, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R, 1 BB


I hit my second professional homerun, this time my first in AA, not long after being called up. A few weeks later in the month, I hit another one. I'm starting to like AA, so far. Met with the hitting coach, again.

Contact:27/60
Power:19/30
Eye:33/90
Gap:40/40

Current Stats:
.273, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 R, 11 SB, .321/.364/.685

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 6/2--6/8
Worst Game
6/7--0-3, 1 K
Best Game
6/8--0-2, 1 SB, 2 BB

Week of 6/9--6/15
6/10--0-4, 2 K
6/11--1-3, 1 3B, 1 R
6/12--0-3
6/13--3-5, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 1 R
6/14--1-4, 1 3B, 2 RBI
6/15--0-2, 1 BB

Week of 6/16--6/22
Best Game #1
6/18--3-6, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 SB
Best Game #2
6/21--3-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
Worst Game
6/22--0-5

Week of 6/23--6/29
Worst Game
6/23--0-3
Best Game
6/26--1-4, SB

6/30--1-5, SB

I had a pretty good month. I started hitting more homeruns it seems, doubling my totals. I had 1 all last year, now I have 4 times that. I guess I'm definitely growing as a player.

Contact:29/60
Power:20/30
Eye:35/90
Gap:40/40

Current Stats:
.257, 4 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 22 SB, .309/.382/.691

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 7/1--7/6
Best Game
7/5--1-3, RBI
Worst Game
7/6--0-4, K

Week of 7/7--7/13
Best Game
7/7--1-4, HR, RBI, R, SB, K
Worst Game
7/13--0-4, K

Well, it's the All-Star Break. I'm doing fairly well this year, I think, especially compared to last year at this time.

Contact:30/60
Power: 21/30
Eye:35/90
Gap:40/40

Stats:
.245, 6 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 23 R, 27 SB, .294/.367/.661

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 7/14--7/20
Best Game #1
7/17--3-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, SB, R, K
Worst Game
7/19--1-4, R, 2 K
Best Game #2
7/20--3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SB, 2 R

Week of 7/21--7/27
Worst Game
7/24--0-4, 2 K
Best Game
7/26--1-3, RBI, BB, 2 SB, K

From 7/28--7/31
7/29--1-3, SB, 2 BB, K
7/30--1-4, 2 R, BB, K
7/31--2-4, R




Well, the trade deadline has been approaching, and quite honestly now that it is, I'm actually hoping to get the call, now, to tell me I'm going elsewhere. A challenge is one thing. Being blocked, when you get towards the Major league level, is quite another. Unfortunately, the call didn't come, so it seems I'm still in the Devil Ray Organization for at least the rest of this year. Damn. Well..I'm sure it'll all turn out for the best. Speaking of, I checked in with my bro and found out what he did last year and what he was doing this year, up until getting hurt around 7/23, strained rotator cuff..Ow. I've actually had that before. Definitely not a fun thing. It looks like he was at
2003-11-8, 2.75 ERA, 170 IP, 157 HA, 33 BB, 168 K, 1 CG, 1 SHO
2004-10-4, 3.08, 125.2 IP, 123 HA, 28, 157 K 2 CG, 1 SHO

Sheesh. Seems like he's doing quite a lot better than I am, though I have improved a little, to:
Contact: 30/60 to 33/60
Power:No Change from 21/30
Eye: No change from 35/90
Gap:Maxed at 40/40

Stats:
.263, 9 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 31 R, 34 SB, .323/.374/.696

[VoltageEJ]

From 8/1--8/3
8/1--2-4, K
8/2--3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, SB, 2 R, 1 K
8/3--0-3, RBI, BB, K

Week of 8/4--8/10
Worst Game
8/7--0-4
Best Game
8/10--3-4, 2 SB, 2 R

Week of 8/11--8/17
Best Game
8/12--1-3, 2 RBI, SB, R
Worst Game

Week of 8/18--8/24
8/18--2-4, K
8/19--3-4, 2 R, K
8/20--0-3, K
8/22--1-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB, R
8/23--0-2, BB
8/24--1-4, SB, K

Week of 8/25--8/31
8/25--0-3
8/26--0-3, R, K
8/27--0-3, R, BB, 2 K
8/28--0-4, R, K
8/29--0-3, SB, 2 K
8/30--1-4
8/31--1-4, R, SB, K




Well, it's the last month of the season. And happily, with a week left in the season, on 8/26, I get called up to the next step of my career. One small step below the big leagues, AAA and Tampa's affiliate, the Durham Bulls! At first I thought I wasn't hearing right, since I was a little hungover from drinking with some buddies, but apparantely not. So, I've been called up to bat 7th and play third. And I learned more interesting news, in that Mark Texiera went out with an injury and was gone until Mid-September. I may very well get the call in a week. I hope. I probably shouldn't get too excited. And I'm glad I didn't. September 1st came around and no call. After how I struggled my last week in AAA, I'm not surprised. Maybe next year, though. I just wished I'd finished the season on a stronger note. Well..time to get my heavy workout going. My development sits at
Contact:37/60
Power:22/30
Eye"36/90
Gap:40/40

Stats(Combined at three levels):
135 G, 521 AB, 140 H, 17 2B, 9 3B, 5 HR, 51 RBI, 60 R, 40 BB/69 K, 57 SB/8 CS, .269 AVG, .330 OBP, .365 Slugging, .695 OPS

[VoltageEJ]

Well, I have to admit. I'm both shocked and a little dissapointed. And maybe even a little relieved. I was released by Tampa, out of nowhere, apparantely. So now I'm without a team. Hmm. For now, at least, I suppose. I'll just wait until I get an offer, I guess. On the bright side, I may get to pick and choose who I sign with...but who knows if the offers will be all that plentiful. Should be an..interesting off-season, I guess. I suppose I'll just keep working out and watch the rest of the season, until then, though.

[VoltageEJ]

heh heh. I managed to get a little bit of revenge, I suppose. I met the Tampa Owner in a bar, talked him into having a few drinks with me...then preceeded to get him so drunk, he thought I was STILL on the team and he wrote me a $500 thousand dollar check for equipment. Release ME, will you..Serves him right..

[VoltageEJ]

Well, I'm a little surprised. I had several teams bidding over me..looking over there rosters as is, I decided to go with the Arizona Diamondbacks, since it's close to home and they don't have nearly as much depth at third as some of the other teams. They actually wanted to pay me 620 thousand for two years! For a prospect! Well, I'm starting the year in their AAA Affiliate and batting leadoff. Checking with my new hitting coach, he's rated me at the following:
Contact: 50/60
Power: 25/30
Eye: 42/90
Gap: 40/40

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 3/31-4/6
Best Games
4/1--5-5, 2 SB, 3 R
4/2--3-6, 1 3B, 1 SB, R, K
Worst Game
4/5--0-4

Week of 4/7--4/13
Best Game
4/7--2-4, 2B, SB
Worst Game
4/9--0-4

Week of 4/14--4/20
Best Game #1
4/14--2-6, 3B, RBI, 2 R
Worst Game
4/16--0-4, 2 K
Best Game #2
4/18--1-3, 2 R, 3 SB, 2 BB

Week of 4/21--4/27
Best Game
4/24--2-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, R
Worst Game
4/27--0-3, 2 BB,

From 4/28 to 4/30
4/29--1-4, RBI, SB, K
4/30--0-4, 3 K

Wow. I have to admit. I'm a little in awe..a week into the season, I got moved into the 3 slot in the lineup. Definitely a proud moment for me. I just hope I can live up to that. Latest development ratings:
Contact- 53/60
Power- 26/30
Eye- 43/90
Gap- 40/40

Current Stats:
.264, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 14 R, 12 SB, .347/.382/.729

[VoltageEJ]

From 5/1 to 5/4
5/1--3-4, 1 R
5/2--0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
5/3--1-3, 1 BB
5/4--1-4, 1 RBI, 1 K

Week of 5/5--5/11
Worst Game
5/8-0-4, 2 K
Best Game
5/9-2-4, 3B, 2 SB 1 BB, 2 R

Well, I've finally done it, as of 5/11, I've been called up to the active roster and I am now a Major League Ballplayer, finally! I call my family to let them know the good news and call some old friends I have in Arizona, from living there a few years ago to let them know when I'm going to be in the area. Bob Brenly's let me know that I'm going to be batting leadoff and playing third against lefties and DHing against Righties, so I will get to see some playing time! I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to play with contenders and a lot of great players that are apart of this team.

[VoltageEJ]

Well, it's time for my major league debut. We're on the field first. I'm leading off the next inning..against the D-Train, Dontrelle Willis. No small task for my first game..
First pitch Dontrelle throws..And it's clouted, WAY back. It's gone! Homerun in my very first Major League at bat, the very first pitch, off Dontrelle Willis, 373 Ft! What a way to make an entrance! Next AB in the third, I fly out to right center. I strike out from a slider, in the bottom of the fifth. Made a throwing error in the 7th, much to my dismay. Ground out to second in the bottom of the 7th. I grounded out to third, after Gonzo tied it with a three-run homer in the Ninth.

I ended up going 1-5, with the 373 Ft. Homerun, an error and a strikeout.

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 5/14--5/20
4 G, 4-11, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 K, .364 AVG, .364 OBP, .818 SLG, 1.182 OPS

Of course, despite this great first week, I went 0-4, the next week in 3 games limited duty, with 2 Strikeouts and a HBP, then, for no real reason that I could think of, was sent back down to the minors. I went 1-3 with a strikeout and a run scored, my first game back, apparantely back in the three spot.

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 5/26--6/1
Best Game
5/27--1-2, 1 R, 1 SB, 2 BB, 1 K
Worst Game
6/1--0-3, BB

Week of 6/2--6/8
5-25(.200), 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K

Week of 6/9--6/15
Best Game
6/12--3-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
5-22(.227), 3 R, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K

As a nice Little birthday present, I got called up on 6/17, my brithday, to the Active Roster, to face the Dodgers in LA. Needless to say, I was happy to be around and managed to try and get tickets for my family. And I was also now leading off full-time. I just hoped I managed to stay up in the lineup this time.

Week of 6/16--6/22
5 G, 6/20(.300), 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 K/3 BB, 3 SB/2 CS, .375/.650

Week of 6/23--6/29
6 G, 7-22(.318), HR, RBI, 4 R, 1 K/2 BB, 1 CS, .375/.455

Week of 6/30--7/6
7 G, 7/28(.250), 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 4 R, 5 K/3 BB, 2 SB/2 CS, .323/.357

At the end of the month, going over my progress, it seems I'm now rated at:
Contact: 57/60
Power:30/30
Eye: 47/90
Gap:40/40

Hmm..I'm going to have to look into getting a book on taking walks soon, I think.

[VoltageEJ]

Week of 7/7--7/13
7 G, 6-27(.222), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 3 K/1 BB, 1 SB/1 CS, .233/.333

Week of 7/14--7/20
4 G, 4/15(.267), 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 1 K/2 BB, 1 SB, .353/.667

Week of 7/21--7/27
Well, things were going great until after Friday, the 25th, when I suddenly got called down. I'm not really sure why, yet again. I thought I'd been doing really good for the team.
5 G, 5-21(.238), 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K/1 BB, CS, .273/.571

My first game back in AAA, I went 2-3, with a R and a K

7/28--7/31
Well, here it is..the last days before the trade deadline. I ALMOST hope I get traded, to another team on the West Coast, just so I can get some stability with where I'm playing.

7/29--0-4, 2 K
7/30--1-4
7/31--0-1

Well, the deadline passed and I'm still in the D-Back Organization..My progress is now at:

Contact: 59/60
Power: 30/30
Eye: 47/90
Gap:40/40

Current Stats:
Minor League:
.242, 7 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 33 R, 26 BB/38 K 24 SB, .319/.333/.652

Majors:
.264, 5 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 24 R, 18 K/12 BB, 7 SB, .321/.493/.814

[VoltageEJ]

From 8/1 to 8/3
Best Game
8/1--1-4, 3B, 2 R, BB
2-11(.182), 2 R, 2 BB/2 K

Week of 8/4--8/10
7-19(.368), 3 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB/2 K, 4 SB

Week of 8/11--8/17
8-22(.364), 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB/1 K, 2 SB
30 SB

Bought a book on taking walks, finally. Cheaper ones are hard to find. I STILL Can't believe how expensive these books are..You'd think for this price, it'd come with a VR setup complete with Babe Ruth himself giving you instructions..Ah well.

Week of 8/18--8/24
5-25(.200), 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB/3 K

Week of 8/25--8/31
6-17(.353), 5 R, 1 RBI, 4 BB/3 K, 4 SB

Well, I got the September call-up. No clue whether I'll make the playoff roster or not. I found out the reason I lost my spot on the active roster was because they traded Detroit for a power-hitting third baseman, Chris Dolph. The guy who was taken #4 in the same draft as me. Wonderful. So I probably won't get my starting job back, likely, until I'm a Free Agent again. My progress is now at:

Contact:60/60
Power:30/30
Eye: 48/90
Gap: 40/40

Final Minor League stats:
88 G, 325 AB, 84 H, 10 2B, 7 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 47 K/40 BB, 34 SB/6 CS, .258 AVG/.342 OBP/.351 SLG/.692 OPS

[VoltageEJ]

Pre-Season-2006
----------------------
Well, that was definitely a productive offseason. I finished reading the book on taking walks. Picked up a thing or two from it. I also was informed by the trainer and hitting coach during a hitting camp that I'd gotten a little better at hitting balls into the Gap. I'm still in AAA and batting third. They also consider me a 4 and a half star prospect now. heh. Maybe I'll be able to get my job back, soon, after all. Here's what my initial spring training scouting report reads as:

Contact: 67/70
Power: 30/30
Eye: 54/90
Gap: 40/50

[jeheinz72]

Great job, keep it up, I'll be reading

[VoltageEJ]

April
---------------------
Week of 3/31--4/6
4-17(.235), 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, .381/.294

Bought myself a new pair of shoes. They feel so
light, I actually feel a little faster from it.

Weel of 4/7--4/13
6-22(.273), 1 2B, 6 R, 3 SB

Week of 4/14--4/20
16-29((.552), 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 6 R, 5 SB

Week of 4/21--4/27
10-24(.417) 1 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 10 R, 1 SB

Well, with the way I'm hitting, I fully expect to be
called up soon.

From 4/28--4/30
3-7, 1 R

Definitely a great start to the year. I'm thinking of
buying a bat sometime soon..namely, as soon as I can
afford one. My scouting report looks about like this,
so far:

Contact: 70/70
Power: 30/30
Eye: 54/90
Gap: 44/50

Current Stats:
39-99(.394), 4 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 24 R, 9 SB, .460/.545/1.006