Millennial League Baseball, est. 2001

[Questdog]

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

We have a doubleheader coming up and need an extra starter, so 1B Dave Thompson (27-R) was temporarily sent to Daytona (A) and P Dave Buchalter (25-R) was recalled. Buchalter will start today to give P Jim Baucom an extra day of rest after his high pitch count outing last time.

Indianapolis Arrows (52-65 .444 21 GB in 6th place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (57-59 .491 7.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division)

IND: Rubin Ligon (30-R) (3-6 4.26 ERA 76 IP, 87 H, 5 HR, 44 BB, 41 SO) vs.
JAX: Dave Buchalter (25-R) (3-2 4.81 ERA 63.2 IP, 64 H, 10 HR, 31 BB, 35 SO) Rookie

We beat Ligon in June, but only scored 2 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts in 7 innings.

Buchalter last started for the Jays on August 2. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5 innings in a no decision that we won. He has had 2 starts for Daytona (A) since and was hammered both times.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (23-R .245-412-1-35-.626-23 B+)
2: 1B Vinny Puga (26-R .244-270-3-21-.671-20 B+)
3: RF Lou Baldwin (24-L .257-439-20-61-.798-8 A)
4: CF Mike Cram (31-R .233-395-16-64-.713-6 C+) Sprained elbow
5: LF Bob Gorka (29-S .246-329-9-27-.727-22 B+)
6: 3B Norm Geiger (27-R .235-425-23-60-.746-3 B+) All-Star(01)
7: 2B Leon Wooten (32-R .270-345-5-31-.714-11 B+) All-Star
8: C Doug Peacock (34-S .184-217-2-18-.557-1 B)
9: P Rubin Ligon (30-S .261-23-0-2-.609-0 B+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .286-98-0-4-.670-6 B)
2: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .273-139-6-16-.762-1 C)
3: LF Ray McDonald (23-L .321-427-9-59-.877-17 A)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .300-400-18-83-.877-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .228-312-8-30-.658-19 B)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .204-152-6-21-.653-9 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .254-335-8-44-.685-33 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .242-128-3-10-.684-0 B)
9: P Dave Buchalter (25-R .273-22-0-1-.623-0 C) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 90 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 6,703

Top of the First:
Ray Stover grounds a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit. Vinny Puga pops out to right. A wild pitch sends Stover to 2nd... Lou Baldwin doubles to left center and Stover scores... 1 to 0, Arrows. P Dave Buchalter balks the runner to 3rd... Mike Cram grounds out to 3rd and Baldwin scores. 2 to 0, Arrows. Bob Gorka swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short.

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson grounds out to short. Dennis Brown pops out to left. Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd...

Top of the Second:
Norm Geiger hits a home run to left... 3 to 0, Arrows.

Bottom of the Second:
Marty Eades grounds a double over the 3rd base bag. Jack Washburn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Don Kern grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Eades goes to 3rd. Kern steals 2nd. Bart Daw pokes a hit to center and Eades scores! 3 to 1, Arrows. C Doug Peacock picks Daw off at 1st....

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Lou Baldwin doubles to left center and goes to 3rd on a passed ball, the first of the season for C Don Kern.... Mike Cram flies out to deep center and Baldwin tags up and scores. 4 to 1, Arrows.

Top of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Leon Wooten beats out an infield hit. Doug Peacock, the sub-.200 hitter, hits a home run to right... 6 to 1, Arrows. Pia! A train ticket!

Top of the Fifth:
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (29-R). Bert Swope (31-S) is in to catch in a double switch. Vinny Puga bloops a hit over the 2nd baseman... With 1 out, Mike Cram grounds one to 3rd, but Marty Eades boots it... P Hopley balks the runners up... Bob Gorka walks to load the bases up with 1 out... Norm Geiger strikes out! Leon Wooten strikes out looking!

Bottom of the Seventh:
Jack Washburn draws his 3rd walk of the game. That does it for P Rubin Ligon. New Pitcher: Wayne Hill (34-R), who has a 3.00 ERA in 6 IP and only 1 hit allowed. LF Cal Doty (26-L) doubles to left center and Washburn scores! 6 to 2, Arrows. The next three all strike out...

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Tom Paul (33-L), who is 4-2 with 2 SV and a 6.75 ERA in 48 IP. He had a 2.88 ERA in 68.2 IP last year. Junior Danielson grounds a hit up he middle. PH Ed Diskin (39-) hits a home run to left center!! 6 to 4, Arrows. Our 3-4-5 hitters all make outs...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Hal Bradford (27-L), who is not fresh at all... Ed Diskin stays in to play 3rd and Marty Eades moves to 1st. Ray Stover grounds a hit up the middle. Vinny Puga swings at the first pitch and bloops a hit to right and Stover goes to 3rd... There is no one else; P Bradford has to finish this inning.... Lou Baldwin pops out to center and the runners hold. Mike Cram, who hit 2 home runs yesterday, strikes out! Bob Gorka flies out to center!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Brent Webster (36-R), their 3-time All-Star closer, who is 4-3 with 23 SV and a 1.48 ERA in 60.2 IP with an 0.96 WHIP and only 1 Blown Save all year. 6-7-8 up for us. Cal Doty grounds a hit to right and Lou Baldwin muffs the pickup for an error! Bart Daw pops out to 2nd. PH Danny Stewart (32-L) beats out an infield hit! Bert Swope pokes a hit to right and Doty scores! 6 to 5, Arrows. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) lines out to center. 2 outs. Ed Diskin grounds a hit to left and Stewart heads home......Safe! Tie Game: 6 to 6! Ray McDonald, who has done nothing all game, hits a home run to left center and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!!!!!!!!!!

Won - 9 to 6

Ahoy, there!!
Our 4th walk-off HR of the season!

We had 11 hits and made 1 error
Indianapolis had 10 hits and made 1 error

Dave Buchalter went 4 innings, allowed 6 runs (5 earned), 6 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk and struck out 1. He threw a WP and balked. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Robbie Hopley went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. He balked.
LHP Bill Grant went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 4.
LHP Hal Bradford (W 4-0) went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 2 hits and struck out 1.

Rubin Ligon went 6+ innings, gave us 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks (all Jack Washburn) and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Brent Webster (L 4-4, BS 2) got 2 outs, gave us 5 runs and 5 hits with 1 home run.

PH/3B Ed Diskin went 2 for 2 with his 5th home run of the season, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. LF/RF Ray McDonald his his 10th home run of the season, a game winner, and had 3 RBI. 3B/1B Marty Eades hit a double and scored a run. 1B Jack Washburn drew 3 walks, stole a base and scored a run. LF Cal Doty went 2 for 2, scored a run and had an RBI an no out on the bases! PH Danny Stewart had a hit and scored a run. C Bert Swope had a hit , scored a run and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

P Dave Buchalter (25-R) was sent back to Daytona (A) and P John Lombardi (29-R) was recalled. Lombardi is 0-4 with a 5.49 ERA in 7 starts for the Jays this year, but continues to pitch well for the Tortugas.

Indianapolis Arrows (52-66 .441 22 GB in 6th place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (58-59 .496 7.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division)

IND: Raymound Hogan (26-R) (6-11 5.14 ERA 133 IP, 159 H, 8 HR, 50 BB, 79 SO) Rookie vs.
JAX: Jim Baucom (22-L) (12-5 1.93 ERA 186.1 IP, 151 H, 5 HR, 36 BB, 148 SO) All-Star(2: 02-03)

We beat Hogan in June, scoring 7 runs on 7 hits, 3 home runs and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 7 innings.

Baucom gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts in a CG win last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (23-R .248-416-1-35-.630-23 B+)
2: 2B Vinny Puga (26-R .247-275-3-21-.673-20 B)
3: RF Lou Baldwin (24-L .259-444-20-62-.802-8 A)
4: 1B Duane Weeks (26-R .263-57-2-9-.721-0 B+) Rookie #54 prospect
5: LF Bob Gorka (29-S .244-332-9-27-.725-22 B+)
6: C Fred Hines (33-R .272-191-0-15-.630-1 B)
7: CF Tex Pollard (28-S .231-78-1-5-.559-3 C+)
8: 3B Nick Hatfield (33-S .103-29-0-0-.299-0 A)
9: P Raymound Hogan (26-L .243-37-0-1-.597-0 C+) Rookie #71 prospect

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .284-102-0-4-.664-6 B)
2: LF Cal Doty (26-L .288-431-3-41-.730-26 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .319-432-10-62-.879-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .300-404-18-83-.875-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .227-313-8-30-.663-20 B)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .201-154-6-21-.644-10 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .254-339-8-45-.683-33 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .237-131-3-10-.669-0 B)
9: P Jim Baucom (22-L .268-56-0-5-.586-0 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 82 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 12 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,340

Top of the First:
Ray Stover swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Vinny Puga takes a 3-2 pitch pitch for strike three! Now, quit with all the full counts! We could really use a CG today, as no one in the Bullpen is fresh at all. Lou Baldwin triples to left center.... Duane Weeks swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to short! 26 pitch inning....

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson flies out to deep left. Cal Doty doubles down the right field line! Ray McDonald grounds a hit to right and Doty scores! 1 to 0, Jays! Marty Eades strikes out on 3 pitches... Jack Washburn swings at a 3-2 pitch and triples to the right field corner and McDonald scores! 2 to 0, Jays! Don Kern pokes a hit to center and Washburn scores! 3 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw grounds out to 3rd.

Top of the Second:
Bob Gorka walks on 4 pitches... Fred Hines lines a hit to right center... Tex Pollard grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Gorka goes to 3rd!! Nick Hatfield swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and doubles high off the wall in right center! Don Kern grounds a hit to right and Washburn scores! 4 to 0, Jays! The next three make outs...

Bottom of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Victor Perales (24-L), after a scoreless 7th. With 2 outs, Don Kern draws a walk. Bart Daw swings at the first pitch and lines a double to left and Kern scores! 5 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Ninth:
P Jim Baucom is at 114 pitches. Ed Diskin, who pinch-hit last inning, stays in to play 1st and Charlie Faber (32-R) is in to play 3rd. 5-6-7 up for the Arrows. Bob Gorka strikes out! Fred Hines, who has 2 hits with a double today, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short! Tex Pollard grounds one to 3rd and Charlie Faber makes a great stop and throws Pollard out at 1st and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 0

.500, Baby!!!

We had 10 hits and made no errors
Indianapolis had 7 hits and made no errors

Jim Baucom (W 13-5) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 7. 122 pitches. His 4th shutout of the season and 8th of his young career!

Raymound Hogan (L 6-12) went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2.

LF Cal Doty had 3 hits with a double and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn went 2 for 2 with a double and a triple and a walk, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. C Don Kern had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Bart Daw hit a double, stole a base and had an RBI.

Down on the Farm: Al Calice (22-R), our #1 pick in this year's B Leagues Draft, pitched a shutout at home versus New Haven. He allowed 8 hits and no walks and struck out 4. He is now 5-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 1 SV in 17 starts (24 G). I would like to hold off on calling him up until next season, but if he suddenly starts dominating A Ball hitters, we will have to bring him up. But New Haven is the worst hitting team in the American Association (other than Daytona), so we will have to see a lot more than this.

[Questdog]

Thursday, August 21, 2003

Indianapolis Arrows (52-67 .437 23 GB in 6th place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (59-59 .500 6.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division)

IND: Dave Guindon (31-R) (3-12 4.90 ERA 117.2 IP, 123 H, 13 HR, 55 BB, 70 SO) vs.
JAX: Dale Gilchrist (24-R) (8-8 2.84 ERA 120.1 IP, 101 H, 7 HR, 44 BB, 66 SO)

We beat Guindon in June, scoring 5 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Gilchrist gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 7 innings in a win last time out. We are holding Del Warwick back to pitch against Memphis and their lefty dominated lineup tomorrow.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (23-R .248-420-1-35-.629-23 B+)
2: 1B Vinny Puga (26-R .244-279-3-21-.664-20 B+)
3: RF Lou Baldwin (24-L .261-448-20-62-.808-8 A)
4: CF Mike Cram (31-R .231-399-16-66-.705-6 C+) Sprained elbow
5: LF Bob Gorka (29-S .242-335-9-27-.720-22 B+)
6: 3B Norm Geiger (27-R .235-430-24-61-.749-3 B+) All-Star(01)
7: C Doug Peacock (34-S .186-220-3-20-.575-1 B)
8: 2B Ty Halverson (20-R .229-35-1-2-.657-2 A++) Rookie #6 prospect
9: P Dave Guindon (31-R .114-35-0-1-.257-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .292-435-3-41-.739-26 B+)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .234-274-1-17-.592-7 C+)
3: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .268-142-6-16-.746-1 C)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .297-408-18-83-.867-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .232-315-8-31-.683-20 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .211-190-0-17-.562-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .254-343-8-46-.684-34 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .283-106-0-4-.658-6 B)
9: P Dale Gilchrist (24-R .233-43-0-5-.500-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 85 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 7,533

Top of the First:
Ray Stover beats out an infield hit... Vinny Puga grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!! Lou Baldwin, 8 for 14 with 3 doubles and a triple this series, swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd!

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty grounds out to 2nd. Danny Stewart lines a hit to left. Dennis Brown draws a walk. Marty Eades strikes out... Jack Washburn hits a home run to right!!! 3 to 0, Jays! Bert Swope grounds out to 2nd.

Two innings, two GDP's for our defense!

Bottom of the Second:
Bart Daw beats out an infield hit and steals 2nd! But the next three all make outs...

Bottom of the Fifth:
Cal Doty grounds a hit up the middle and steals 2nd! He steals 3rd on the very next pitch! I hate them stealing 3rd, but do not complain when they make it! Danny Stewart grounds out to the pitcher and Doty stays put... Dennis Brown lines an 0-2 pitch to center for a hit and Doty scores! 4 to 0, Jays! The next two make outs...

Bottom of the Sixth:
New Pitcher: Victor Perales (24-L), who pitched 2 innings and gave us a run yesterday. He seems to be an awesome pitcher, except for his 6 walks per 9 innings. PH Don Kern (26-R), who will stay in to catch, and Bart Daw lead off with back to back walks. Junior Danielson swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds a hit to left and Kern scores! 5 to 0, Jays! If you would have told me in the Spring that Danielson would end up being our everyday 2nd baseman this season. I would have told you the only way would be if 3 other guys got hurt! But none of those other guys are hurt and here he is! P Dale Gilchrist swings away, but accomplished the same thing as a bunt with a slow roller to 3rd. The only difference is that he gets charged an at bat. Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right and both runners score and Doty takes 2nd! 7 to 0, Jays! PH Gary McKellar (33-R), who will stay in to play center, lines a double over the center fielder's head and Doty scores! 8 to 0, Jays! PH Ray McDonald (23-L), who will stay in to play right, is sent in with the lefty, Perales still on the mound. But they pull him. New Pitcher: Dennis Cooper (34-R), who is 1-3 with 1 SV and a 4.30 ERA in 69 IP. McDonald pokes a hit to center and McKellar scores! 9 to 0, Jays! Marty Eades grounds a hit to right. Jack Washburn doubles to right center and McDonald scores! 10 to 0, Jays! Don Kern, who started the inning with a walk, strikes out looking on 3 pitches... Bart Daw lines one hard and deep to right, but Lou Baldwin makes a diving catch...

Won - 10 to 0

Back to back shutouts!
We are a WINNING Ball Club!

We finish the season series with Indianapolis 6-2.
Better than the 3-5 of last year and the 1-7 of 2001!

We had 12 hits and made 1 error
Indianapolis had 4 hits (all singles) and made 1 error

Dale Gilchrist (W 9-8) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 4 hits, 3 walks and struck out 3. 121 pitches. His 3rd shutout of the season and 4th of his career.

Dave Guindon (L 3-13) went 5 innings, gave us 4 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 2.

LF Cal Doty had 2 hits, stole 2 bases, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. PH/CF Gary McKellar hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Dennis Brown had a hit and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. PH/RF Ray McDonald had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Marty Eades had 2 hits with a double. 1B Jack Washburn hit a double and his 9th home run of the season and had 4 RBI. It is his first home run for the Jays in over 2 months. SS Bart Daw had a hit and a walk, stole a base and scored a run. 2B Junior Danielson had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, August 22, 2003

The Memphis Mules are here to play 4 games in 3 days over the weekend with a doubleheader today. They just lost 3 of 4 games in Providence, ending a 10 game losing streak with a 9 to 1 win yesterday. We are 3-5 against them on the season and lost 1 game, 2 to 0, the last time they visited, July 8. The 2nd scheduled game of the set was rained out, hence our doubleheader today. They are down to 8th in scoring with 3.97 runs per game, but their lineup still scares me more than any other (Jacksonville has actually outscored them and is #6 with 4.06). The Mules are 7th in fewest runs allowed with 3.90 per game (Jacksonville is #9 with 4.00). Their run differential is +8 and ours is +7.

Memphis Mules (63-57 .525 4 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (60-59 .504 6.5 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division)

Game 1
MEM: Robin Morris (29-R) (6-1 2.56 ERA 2 SV, 91.1 IP, 68 H, 2 HR, 41 BB, 65 SO) vs.
JAX: Del Warwick (28-L) (10-10 2.56 ERA 175.2 IP, 166 H, 13 HR, 47 BB, 94 SO) Gold Glove

Morris was 9-8 with a 4.27 ERA in 22 starts and 168.2 IP last year. He is 1-0 in 2 starts against us in his career with a 3.77 ERA. 14.1 IP, 12 H, 2 HR, 5 BB, 10 SO. We faced him once in relief this season, in April, and he pitched 3 scoreless innings and picked up a Save in an 11 to 1 win.

Warwick has had a full week of rest. He gave up 1 runs on 5 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 7 innings in a win last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: SS Tony Weninger (22-R .147-68-0-2-.342-1 B+) Rookie #17 prospect
2: 3B Keith Meyer (28-L .360-458-18-61-.986-26 C+) MVP(01)/Silver Slugger(2: 01(2B),02(3B)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (29-L .240-391-13-59-.738-11 B) Silver Slugger(2: 01(SS),02(2B)/All-Star(2: 01-02)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (29-L .256-437-23-74-.791-1 A) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: LF Rafael Jimenez (29-L .292-418-18-52-.795-7 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: RF Ron Alario (33-R .290-279-2-30-.707-5 A+) Gold Glove
7: CF Steve Gress (32-L .237-456-4-29-.643-23 B) All-Star(01)
8: C Hector Ramirez (31-R .097-31-0-1-.329-0 B+)
9: P Robin Morris (29-R .481-27-0-3-1.037-1 D+) 0 SO

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .282-110-0-5-.652-6 B)
2: LF Cal Doty (26-L .293-440-3-43-.740-28 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .320-438-10-64-.876-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .299-412-18-83-.871-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .235-319-9-35-.699-20 B)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .209-158-6-23-.661-10 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .254-346-8-46-.686-35 B+)
8: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .235-277-1-17-.593-7 C+)
9: P Del Warwick (28-L .184-49-0-1-.364-0 C) Gold Glove

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 80 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 6 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,836

Top of the First:
Tony Weninger takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... Keith Meyer grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Leo Toruno flies out to deep center and Meyer tags up and goes to 2nd. Nestor Gonzalez grounds a hit to right and Meyer scores... 1 to 0, Mules. Rafael Jimenez pops out to center.

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left! Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to left and Danielson scores from 1st! Tie Game: 1 to 1! Ray McDonald lines out hard to deep left. And then Doty gets caught trying to steal 3rd.... Why am I tormented so? Marty Eades, of course, hits a home run to left! 2 to 1, Jays! Jack Washburn flies out to deep center.

Bottom of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Jack Washburn triples to right center! He now has 11 in only 321 AB! With the infield in, Don Kern swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit through the left side and Washburn scores! 3 to 1, Jays! Bart Daw grounds a hit to left. Danny Stewart lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. P Del Warwick swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit through the right side and 2 runs score and the other runners move up! 5 to 1, Jays! That does it for P Robin Morris. New Pitcher: Ron Wilson (26-L), who is 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 28.2 IP. Junior Danielson pops out to short. Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and fouls out to the catcher...

Top of the Sixth:
Tony Weninger grounds a hit up the middle... He came into the game batting .147, but has 2 of their 3 hits on the day... Keith Meyer lines a hit to right and Weninger beats the throw to 3rd... The Bullpen gets up. Leo Toruno grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Weninger scores!! 5 to 2, Jays.

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out, Bart Daw grounds one to short, but Tony Weninger throws the ball away for a 2 base error! PH Gary McKellar (33-R), who will stay in to play center, doubles to right and Daw scores! 6 to 2, Jays! The next two make outs.

Top of the Eighth:
Charlie Faber (32-R) is in to play 3rd. Hector Ramirez draws a walk... The Bullpen gets up. P Del Warwick has walked 3 batters today, all three to lead off an inning.. PH Dave Stacy (28-R), batting .257 with 1 HR and 2 RBI in 35 AB, swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to left center... Tony Weninger strikes out looking! Keith Meyer grounds out to short and Ramirez scores. 6 to 3, Jays. Call to the Pen: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (32-L). Leo Toruno swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted!

Won - 6 to 3

We had 10 hits and made no errors
Memphis had 5 hits and made 1 error

Del Warwick (W 11-10) went 7.2 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 6. 116 pitches. At bat, he had a hit and 2 RBI.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 9) faced 4 batters and retired them all.

Robin Morris (L 6-2) went 3.1 innings, gave us 5 runs, 9 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 1.

LF Cal Doty hit a double and had an RBI. 3B Marty Eades hit his 19th home run of the season. 1B Jack Washburn hit a triple and scored a run. C Don Kern had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had a hit, stole a base and scored 2 runs. PH/CF Gary McKellar hit a double and had an RBI.

Game 2
MEM: Darrell Carraway (35-R) (7-6 3.58 ERA 115.2 IP, 98 H, 8 HR, 39 BB, 59 SO) vs.
JAX: Danny Coreano (24-L) (5-4 3.01 ERA 74.2 IP, 63 H, 2 HR, 21 BB, 32 SO)

Carraway beat us in June, giving us 4 runs on 7 hits, 1 home run and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 6 innings. He has the flu.

Coreano gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 7.2 innings in a win last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: SS Tony Weninger (22-R .169-71-0-2-.394-1 B+) Rookie
2: 3B Keith Meyer (28-L .359-462-18-62-.982-26 C+) MVP(01)/Silver Slugger(2: 01(2B),02(3B)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (29-L .238-395-13-59-.731-11 B) Silver Slugger(2: 01(SS),02(2B)/All-Star(2: 01-02)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (29-L .256-441-23-75-.788-1 A) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: LF Rafael Jimenez (29-L .289-422-18-52-.787-7 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: RF Ron Alario (33-R .287-282-2-30-.702-5 A+) Gold Glove
7: CF Steve Gress (32-L .235-459-4-29-.639-23 B) All-Star(01)
8: C Hector Ramirez (31-R .091-33-0-1-.332-0 B+)
9: P Darrell Carraway (35-R .049-41-0-3-.120-0 F) Flu

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .281-114-0-5-.647-6 B)
2: LF Cal Doty (26-L .293-444-3-44-.740-28 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .317-442-10-64-.869-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .298-416-19-84-.875-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .235-323-9-35-.703-20 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .208-192-0-17-.557-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .254-350-8-46-.684-36 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .237-139-3-12-.674-0 B)
9: P Danny Coreano (24-L .286-21-0-1-.619-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 85 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,887

Our biggest crowd since the Home Opener!

Top of the First:
Tony Weninger strikes out on 3 pitches! Keith Meyer strikes out! P Danny Coreano struck out 2 batters in his last 3 starts combined! Leo Toruno swings at a 3-0 pitch and fouls out to 3rd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson pops out to short. Cal Doty flies out to center. Ray McDonald strikes out looking....

Top of the Second:
P Danny Coreano strikes out to the first two batters! Ron Alario swings at a 1-2 pitch and hits a home run to left center... 1 to 0, Mules. Both Alario's and Coreano's third home runs of the season.... Steve Gress strikes out looking! 5 strikeouts in the first 7 batters, but also an unlikely home run...

Top of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Nestor Gonzalez doubles to left center. Rafael Jimenez beats out an infield hit... He steals 2nd. Ron Alario grounds a hit up the middle and both runners score... 3 to 0, Mules. The next two make outs.

Top of the Sixth:
With 1 out, Nestor Gonzalez hits a home run to right... 4 to 0, Mules. P Danny Coreano allowed 2 home runs on the season before today and 2 more today...

Bottom of the Sixth:
PH Mike Volkman (35-L) and Junior Danielson lead off with back to back hits and we have runners at the corners with no outs! Cal Doty flies out to left and Volkman tags up and scores without a throw. 4 to 1, Mules. At least we will not be shutout by a crappy old man with the flu.... Danielson steals 2nd. But our 3 and 4 hitters both pop out...

Lost - 4 to 1

We had 6 hits and made 1 error
Memphis had 6 hits and made no errors

Danny Coreano (L 5-5) went 6 innings, allowed 4 runs, 6 hits, 2 home runs, no walks and struck out a career high 8. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Johnny Groom went 1 scoreless inning and struck out 1.
LHP Dave Nini pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 2.

Darrell Carraway (W 8-6) went 7+ innings, gave us 1 run, 6 hits, no walks and struck out 3.
RHP Jackie Wade (SV 12) faced 5 batters and got 6 outs with 1 strikeout.

1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a double, but thought it was a triple and stole a base. PH/CF Danny Stewart had a hit. PH Mike Volkman had a hit and scored our only run.

For Memphis, RF Ron Alario had 2 hits with his 3rd home run of the season and 3 RBI.

[Questdog]

Saturday, August 23, 2003

Memphis Mules (64-58 .525 3.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (61-60 .504 6 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division)

MEM: Rick Potts (24-R) (9-3 2.14 ERA 138.2 IP, 84 H, 8 HR, 32 BB, 93 SO) All-Star(02) vs.
JAX: Tommy Keyser (24-L) (0-1 81.00 ERA 0.2 IP, 4 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO) Rookie

Potts is their #1 starter. He is 1-0 in 2 starts against us this season with a 2 hit shutout. 0.53 ERA, 17 IP, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 9 SO. He is pitching on short rest today.

Keyser is making his 2nd MLB start and his last this season if he gets pummeled again. There are no sure things in Baseball, but us losing today is about as close as you are ever gonna get....

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: SS Tony Weninger (22-R .173-75-0-2-.412-1 B+) Rookie
2: 3B Keith Meyer (28-L .356-466-18-62-.974-26 C+) MVP(01)/Silver Slugger(2: 01(2B),02(3B)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (29-L .236-399-13-59-.724-11 B) Silver Slugger(2: 01(SS),02(2B)/All-Star(2: 01-02)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (29-L .258-445-24-76-.799-1 A) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: LF Rafael Jimenez (29-L .289-426-18-52-.785-8 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: C Roger Beaudin (31-R .257-370-10-46-.719-4 D+) All-Star
7: CF Steve Gress (32-L .233-463-4-29-.634-23 B) All-Star(01)
8: RF Ron Alario (33-R .290-286-3-33-.716-5 A+) Gold Glove
9: P Rick Potts (24-R .048-42-0-0-.117-0 C+) All-Star(02)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .291-447-3-45-.735-28 B+)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .239-280-1-17-.601-7 C+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .314-446-10-64-.861-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .295-420-19-84-.867-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .239-326-9-35-.711-21 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .205-195-0-17-.549-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .252-353-8-46-.678-36 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .280-118-0-5-.642-7 B)
9: P Tommy Keyser (24-R MLB debut at bat (hopefully) B+) Rookie

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 90 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from left
Attendance: 10,018

Another new season high in attendance, outside of the Home Opener!

Top of the First:
Tony Weninger grounds a hit to left... Keith Meyer pops out to 2nd. Leo Toruno strikes out looking! Nestor Gonzalez grounds out to 1st, 3-1! P Tommy Keyser has actually pitched a scoreless inning!

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty tries to bunt his way on, but pops out to the pitcher... Danny Stewart walks on 4 pitches. Ray McDonald pops out to center. Marty Eades strikes out...

Bottom of the Third:
P Rick Potts strikes out the side in order...

P Rick Potts has 8 strikeouts through 4 innings and we have no hits....

Bottom of the Fifth:
We finally get a hit when Bart Daw leads off with a liner to right, but P Rick Potts picks him off...

Top of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Ron Alario doubles to center. The Bullpen gets up. P Rick Potts swings away and grounds out to 2nd and Alario goes to 3rd. We have to get Tony Weninger out here, because Keith Meyer is on deck and you know he will not leave a runner at 3rd... Weninger takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... Keith Meyer bloops a hit over the 3rd baseman and Alario scores and Weninger tries to take 3rd, but Cal Doty throws him out! 1 to 0, Mules. But Doty is hurt....

Bottom of the Seventh:
Marty Eades who was 7 for 14 with 2 HR against Potts before this game, plunks one, but C Roger Beaudin throws the ball away for a 2 base error! With 1 out, they make a pitching change! New Pitcher: Jim Lucas (24-R), a rookie who pitched a scoreless inning yesterday. PH Ed Diskin (39-R) strikes out on 3 pitches... Bart Daw grounds out to short...

Bottom of the Eighth:
Junior Danielson lines a hit over the shortstop. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. That does it for P Jim Lucas. New Pitcher: Jim Sutton (33-L), who is 5-2 with 13 SV and a 2.34 ERA in 73 IP. RF Dennis Brown (29-L) is allowed to hit, because Danny Stewart, on deck, is a worse hitter and we only have one outfielder left on the bench. Brown pops out short. PH Gary McKellar (33-R) bunts into a force at 3rd, 2-5. What in the heck is he bunting for with one out??????????????????????????????????????????????? Why am I so misused by my players? Ray McDonald hits a home run to right!!! 3 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (32-L). 6-7-8 up for the Mules. Roger Beaudin pops out to short. Steve Gress strikes out! Ron Alario pops out to center and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!!

Won - 3 to 1

Ahoy, there!
As unlikely a win as ever was!

We had 3 whole hits and made 1 error
Memphis had 6 hits and made 2 errors

Tommy Keyser (W 1-1), in his 1st MLB victory, went 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 10) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

Rick Potts went 6.1 innings, gave us 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 10.
LHP Jim Sutton (L 5-3, BS 7) went 1 inning, gave us 2 runs, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.

RF/LF Ray McDonald hit his 11th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. PH Mike Volkman drew a walk and scored a run.

Trudy's report on Cal Doty is a sore ankle that will hamper his running and throwing for 4 or 5 days.

[Questdog]

Sunday, August 24, 2003

I woke up early this morning from a nightmare of innumerable home runs flying off the bats of the Mules as John Lombardi cheerfully lobbed up meatball pitch after meatball pitch and giggling as each ball disappeared over the right field wall..... I got dressed and drove to Daytona (A) and woke up Mark Uhrich (27-L) and told him to get dressed quickly because he was pitching today. He is the only lefty we have that is available to pitch. After I got back to the ballpark about 10:30 A.M, I hastily filled out the paperwork to send Lombardi back to Daytona (A) and add Uhrich to the roster and sent Pia to fetch a train ticket.

Memphis Mules (64-59 .520 4.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (62-60 .508 6 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division)

MEM: Dave Whipple (28-R) (3-2 4.62 ERA 62.1 IP, 64 H, 7 HR, 29 BB, 45 SO) vs.
JAX: Marc Uhrich (27-L) (0-1 9.00 ERA 5 IP, 4 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 0 SO)

This will be Whipple's 6th start of the season and 3 of them have been against us. We was 1-1 in the first two with a 4.63 ERA. 11.2 IP, 10 H, 3 HR, 9 BB, 9 SO.

Uhrich has not pitched anywhere in over two weeks....

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
MEMPHIS
1: RF Fred Heff (22-R .222-176-1-15-.608-1 B)
2: 3B Keith Meyer (28-L .355-470-18-63-.970-26 C+) MVP(01)/Silver Slugger(2: 01(2B),02(3B)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
3: 2B Leo Toruno (29-L .234-402-13-59-.720-11 B) Silver Slugger(2: 01(SS),02(2B)/All-Star(2: 01-02)
4: 1B Nestor Gonzalez (29-L .261-449-24-76-.801-1 A) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: LF Rafael Jimenez (29-L .286-430-18-52-.778-8 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: C Roger Beaudin (31-R .257-373-10-46-.720-4 D+) All-Star
7: CF Ron Alario (33-R .290-290-3-33-.717-5 B) Gold Glove(RF)
8: SS Benito Abonza (31-R .217-290-1-21-.553-0 B+)
9: P Dave Whipple (28-R .182-11-0-1-.364-0 C+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .238-282-1-17-.599-7 C+)
2: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .269-145-6-17-.749-1 C)
3: LF Ray McDonald (23-L .313-450-11-67-.865-17 A)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .293-423-19-84-.862-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .237-329-9-35-.705-21 B)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .216-162-6-24-.672-10 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .253-356-8-46-.678-36 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .281-121-0-5-.643-7 B)
9: P Marc Uhrich (27-L .000-1-0-0-.000-0 D)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 85 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 10,647

Yet another new season high in attendance, outside of the Home Opener!
And only 140 fewer than the opener!

Top of the First:
Fred Heff grounds a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a hit... Keith Meyer grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Leo Toruno lines out to 1st and Jack Washburn tags Keith Meyer for a double play!!

Bottom of the First:
Danny Stewart fouls out to the catcher... Dennis Brown flies out to center. Ray McDonald strikes out looking...

Bottom of the Second:
Marty Eades hits his 20th home run of the season to left! 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Fourth:
Fred Heff doubles to center... The Mules have 2 hits, both by Heff... But more are coming, don't worry! Here's one now! Keith Meyer beats out an infield hit. Leo Toruno swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses. Nestor Gonzalez strikes out! Rafael Jimenez lines a hit to center and Heff scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Ray McDonald lines a hit to right and then Marty Eades gets beaned.... I am ready for a fight, but no one else is.... Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right and McDonald scores! 2 to 1, Jays! Don Kern flies out to deep center and Eades tags up and moves to 3rd. Bart Daw lines a hit to right and Eades scores and Washburn goes to 3rd! 3 to 1, Jays! Junior Danielson pops out to short... P Marc Uhrich swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle and Washburn scores! 4 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Fifth:
Ron Alario and Benito Abonza lead off with back to back hits and the Mules have runners at the corners with no outs. The Bullpen gets up. P Dave Whipple bunts the runner to 2nd and the runner on 3rd stays put. A wild pitch scores Alario.... 4 to 2, Jays. With the infield in, Fred Heff grounds out to 3rd and the runner holds. Keith Meyer grounds a hit up the middle and Abonza scores... 4 to 3, Jays. Leo Toruno grounds a hit up the middle and Meyer heads to 3rd, but Danny Stewart throws him out!

Top of the Sixth:
The Bullpen is ready. With 1 out, Rafael Jimenez grounds a hit up the middle. Roger Beaudin swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to right center... Call to the Bullpen: Johnny Groom (25-R). Ron Alario clears the bases with a double to left... 5 to 4, Mules. Benito Abonza takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... P Dave Whipple tries to bunt, but pops out to the pitcher. Fred Heff flies out to center.

Bottom of the Sixth:
Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center and then steals 2nd. A passed ball sends him to 3rd! Don Kern works the count to 3-0, but ends up striking out.... Bart Daw skies one to center, but Ron Alario muffs the catch for a 2 base error and Washburn scores! Tie Game: 5 to 5! Junior Danielson grounds a hit to left and Daw scores! 6 to 5, Jays! That does it for P Dave Whipple. New Pitcher: Jackie Wade (27-R), their closer, who got a Save with 2 better than perfect innings on Friday. PH Cal Doty (26-L) is sent up. Danielson steals 2nd! They walk Doty intentionally. Danny Stewart grounds into a 6-4-3 double play....

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Dave Nini (25-L), after 2 scoreless innings, The Bullpen is ready. Charlie Faber is into play 3rd and Gary McKellar is into play center. Danny Stewart moves to left and Ray McDonald moves to right. 9-1-2 up for the Mules. PH Steve Gress (32-L), 0 for 11 with 6 strikeouts this series, swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to short. Fred Heff gets beaned.... Call to the Bullpen: Hal Bradford (27-L). Unfortunately, Bill Grant is too tired... Keith Meyer grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. Leo Toruno swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 6 to 5

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Memphis had 12 hits and made 1 error

Marc Uhrich went 5.1 innings, allowed 5 runs, 10 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI. Would Lombardi have done any better? I doubt it...
RHP Johnny Groom (W 4-1, BS 1) got 2 outs, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk and both inherited runners to score....
LHP Dave Nini (H 3) went 2.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 HBP and struck out 3.
LHP Hal Bradford (SV 4) faced 2 batters and got them both out.

Dave Whipple (L 3-3) went 5.1 innings, gave us 6 runs (4 earned), 6 hits, 1 home run, no walks, 2 HBP and struck out 4. He had a SH, the 13th of the month of August by an opposing pitcher, setting a new team record.... Now, THAT is not a record you do not hear about every day! It is also the 50th of the season and the team record is 55.

3B Marty Eades hit his 20th home run of the season, was hit by a pitch and scored 2 runs. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had a hit, scored a run and had 2 RBI. PH Cal Doty was walked intentionally.

The Mules announced that RP Jack Wade, injured during the game, had an arthritic elbow and would be shut down for the season. They now have 3 closers on the DL, all out for the year.

[Questdog]

August 25, 2003

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Mark Manley, P, Indianapolis (30-R 12-9 4.01) Pitched back to back 6 hit shutouts, one against Jacksonville.

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

August 18 - 2B/SS Leo Toruno (29-L) of Memphis hit a Grand Slam, drew a walk, stole a base and had 5 RBI at Providence, but the Mules lost, 7 to 6.
August 18 - 2B Ron Lerche (24-R) of Louisville went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a triple, drew 2 walks, stole a base, scored 4 runs and had 3 RBI at Ottawa. The Colonels won, 10 to 2.
August 18 - Rookie LF Joel Yost (24-L) of Hartford had 3 hits, stole a base, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at Charlotte. The Whalers won, 12 to 3.
August 19 - Juan Estrada (29-L) of Providence pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Memphis. He walked 3 and struck out 5. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. He is now 11-10 with a 3.93 ERA in 25 starts. The Steamrollers won, 1 to 0, and only had 3 hits themselves.
August 19 - Tommy Corris (23-R) of Louisville pitched a 4 hit shutout at Ottawa. He walked 1 and struck out 3. At bat, he had 2 hits and scored a run. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. He is now 9-9 with a 3.17 ERA in 26 starts. The Colonels won, 4 to 0.
August 20 - Memphis lost at Providence, 3 to 2, for their 10th loss in a row. We will play them 4 games this coming weekend. They have only scored 28 runs during the losing streak, but have one of the most formidable lineups in the MLB.
August 21 - Memphis won at Providence, 9 to 1, ending their 10 game losing streak. 1B Nestor Gonzalez (29-L) had 3 hits with a double and a home run, scored 2 runs and had 5 RBI.
August 21 - Ron Hutchins (32-R) of Syracuse pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Orlando. He did not walk a batter and struck out 9. At bat, he drew a walk and scored a run. He now leads the MLB with 6 shutouts. He is now 14-5 with a 1.52 ERA in 25 starts. The Sycamores won, 9 to 0.
August 21 - CF Mike Fox (24-L) of Hartford had 4 hits with a double, stole a base and scored 4 runs at Charlotte. The Whalers won, 7 to 4.
August 22 - Mike Elizondo (24-R) of Columbus pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Syracuse. He walked 2 and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit and knocked in the only run of the game. It is his 5th shutout of the season. He is now 13-6 with a 2.52 ERA in 25 starts. The Explorers won, 1 to 0.
August 22 - Larry Bowling (25-R) of Providence pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Indianapolis. He walked 2, hit a batter and struck out 10. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had 2 RBI. It is his 5th shutout of the season. He is now 12-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 26 starts. The Steamrollers won, 4 to 0.
August 22 - LF Tom Morris (29-R) of Charlotte hit 2 home runs and had 5 RBI at home versus Richmond. The Hornets won, 6 to 5.
August 23 - LF Dave Jay (38-R) of Birmingham hit a double and a home run, scored 2 runs and had 5 RBI at home versus Orlando. The Barons won, 10 to 1.
August 23 - Doug Jones (26-R) of Buffalo pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Rochester in only his 2nd start of the season. He walked 1 and struck out 5. At bat, he had 2 hits with a home run and scored 2 runs. He is now 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 2 starts. The Bombers won, 4 to 0.

Want to here something funny? The Jacksonville Jays have the best record in the MLB since the All-Star break! We are 25-12 (.676). Syracuse is 2nd best at 24-13 (.649). If everyone keeps playing at the same clip as they have since the break, we will finish 2nd in the South, 2 game behind Louisville. 91 wins to 89. The Colonels are 23-13 (.639). The perennial powers of Richmond, Charlotte and Memphis all have losing records since the break.

If we can just manage to finish the season without a losing record, I will be tickled pink!

[Questdog]

Monday, August 25, 2003

Today is Bill Grant's 33rd and Dale Gilchrist's 25th birthdays!

We are in Orlando to play our in state rivals a 3 game series. The Juice were swept in 3 games at Birmingham over the weekend and were swept in 4 games by Syracuse before that. They were the hottest team in the League in July. We are 3-4 against them on the season and this is our first visit to the Magic Kingdom. They are 3rd in scoring with 4.40 runs per game and are only 4 runs behind Birmingham, the current leader (Jacksonville is #6 with 4.06). They are 13th in fewest runs allowed with 4.38 per game (Jacksonville is #9 with 3.98). Their run differential is +2 and ours is +10, tied for 7th best!

Jacksonville Jays (63-60 .512 6 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (61-63 .492 8.5 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Jim Baucom (22-L) (13-5 1.84 ERA 195.1 IP, 158 H, 5 HR, 37 BB, 155 SO) All-Star(2: 02-03) vs.
ORL: Manny Martinez (31-R) (7-8 3.13 ERA 132.1 IP, 123 H, 8 HR, 31 BB, 104 SO)

Baucom pitched a 7 hit shutout with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts last time out. He threw 122 pitches, so we would love to have him take it much easier today.

Martinez, the ex-Jay, has made 2 starts against us this season and only allowed 1 run, but only pitched 4 innings, because he got hurt in both games. He is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA. 4 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 1 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .235-285-1-17-.595-7 C+)
2: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .268-149-6-17-.742-1 C)
3: LF Ray McDonald (23-L .313-454-11-67-.861-17 A)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .293-426-20-85-.869-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .240-333-9-36-.709-22 B)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (39-R .241-274-5-49-.646-1 C+)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .253-360-8-48-.676-36 B+)
8: C Don Kern (26-R .211-166-6-24-.657-10 B) Rookie
9: P Jim Baucom (22-L .254-59-0-5-.557-0 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)

ORLANDO
1: 3B Ernie Patterson (22-R .290-517-0-43-.668-48 A+) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
2: 2B Tom Howard (27-R .276-434-15-50-.799-18 B+)
3: LF Ricky Perez (23-L .294-411-18-78-.869-13 B)
4: 1B Herman Chance (33-R .245-347-20-54-.781-0 C+) All-Star
5: RF Gil Weaver (25-L .313-473-19-84-.886-16 C) All-Star(3: 01-03)
6: C Mike Day (32-S .255-235-6-32-.691-0 C+)
7: SS Roger Falbo (32-R .304-102-0-7-.674-0 B)
8: CF Pete Thompson (23-L .236-292-9-39-.683-7 B) Rookie #4 prospect
9: P Manny Martinez (31-R .171-41-0-2-.337-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 88 F, Clear Skies, with an 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,963

Top of the First:
Danny Stewart strikes out looking... Dennis Brown swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Ray McDonald lines out to left...

Bottom of the First:
Ernie Patterson grounds out to 3rd. Tom Howard, batting .407 against the Jays this season, grounds out to 1st, 3-1. Ricky Perez strikes out! 1-2-3!

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Jack Washburn triples to left center! Ed Diskin draws a walk. Bart Daw grounds into a 6-4-3 double play....

Through 5 innings, each team only has 1 hit.

After 6 innings, we pull Jim Baucom because he is over 100 pitches....

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (29-R). With 1 out, Pete Thompson doubles to left and steals 3rd... P Manny Martinez strikes out. Ernie Patterson swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses!

Top of the Ninth:
Still no score in this game! P Manny Martinez is at 108 pitches. 9-1-2 up for us. PH Cal Doty (26-L) grounds out to short. Danny Stewart grounds out to 2nd. Dennis Brown pops out to short...

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L). 5-6-7 up for the Juice. Gil Weaver lines one hard to left, but Ray McDonald makes a diving catch! Mike Day strikes out looking! Roger Falbo grounds out to short!

Extras!

Top of the Tenth:
3-4-5 up for us. With 1 out, Marty Eades lines a hit to center. Jack Washburn lines a hit to left. Junior Danielson lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Bart Daw grounds into a force at home, 6-2... That does it for P Manny Martinez. New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (28-R), their closer, who is 4-8 with 18 SV and a 3.54 ERA in 96.2 IP with 14 HR allowed. C Bert Swope (31-S) draws a walk to force in a run! 1 to 0, Jays! We let P Bill Grant bat, because 1) we do not trust the rested relievers we have and 2) only Charlie Faber and Gary McKellar are on the bench and the better one is hitting .165 against right-handers... Grant pops out to center.

Bottom of the Tenth:
The last two players on the bench enter the game: Charlie Faber at 3rd and Gary McKellar in center. Danny Stewart moves to left and Ray McDonald moves to right. PH Jim Wilt (28-R), batting .219 with 1 HR and 5 RBI in 73 AB, fouls out to the catcher. PH Joe Jones (27-R), batting .193 with 1 HR and 9 RBI in 109 AB, grounds out to 2nd. Ernie Patterson grounds out to short and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 1 to 0

We had 5 whole hits and made no errors
Orlando had 3 hits and made no errors

Jim Baucom pitched 6 shutout innings, allowed 2 hits, 4 walks and struck out 8. 103 pitches.
RHP Robbie Hopley went scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 4.
LHP Bill Grants (W 4-5) pitched 2 perfect inning and struck out 1.

Manny Martinez (L 7-9) went 9.2 innings, gave us 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 7. 133 pitches.

1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a triple and scored the only run of the game. He now leads the MLB with 12 triples! 2B Ed Diskin had a hit and walk. PR/2B Junior Danielson had a hit in his only at bat and stole a base. C Bert Swope drew a bases loaded walk in his only trip to the plate for the only RBI of the game.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Jacksonville Jays (64-60 .516 5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (61-64 .488 8.5 GB tied for 6th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Dale Gilchrist (25-R) (9-8 2.64 ERA 129.1 IP, 105 H, 7 HR, 47 BB, 69 SO) vs.
ORL: Bob Carroll (27-R) (7-8 4.95 ERA 129 IP, 141 H, 7 HR, 60 BB, 55 SO)

Gilchrist pitched a 4 hit shutout with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts last time out.

Carroll is 1-0 in 2 starts against us this season with a 6.55 ERA. 11 IP, 11 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 6 SO. He pitched well in the win and we beat him up in the no decision.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .232-289-1-17-.587-7 C+)
2: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .261-153-6-17-.724-1 C)
3: 3B Ed Diskin (39-R .243-276-5-49-.650-1 C)
4: LF Ray McDonald (23-L .310-458-11-67-.854-17 A)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .243-337-9-36-.718-22 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .203-197-0-18-.547-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .250-364-8-48-.669-36 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .288-125-0-6-.654-9 B)
9: P Dale Gilchrist (25-R .213-47-0-5-.459-0 C+)

ORLANDO
1: 3B Ernie Patterson (22-R .289-522-0-43-.665-49 A+) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (24-R .269-438-2-36-.657-10 A) All-Star(02)
3: RF Gil Weaver (25-L .310-477-19-84-.879-16 C) All-Star(3: 01-03)
4: LF Barry Magee (31-L .247-247-9-31-.730-8 A)
5: 2B Tom Howard (27-R .274-438-15-50-.792-18 B+)
6: CF Pete Thompson (23-L .237-295-9-39-.686-8 B) Rookie
7: 1B Joe Jones (27-R .191-110-1-9-.522-0 A+)
8: C Ricky Tejada (29-L .294-160-5-20-.854-1 B)
9: P Bob Carroll (27-R .182-33-0-1-.410-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 81 F, Overcast, with a 12 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,294

Top of the First:
Danny Stewart strikes out on 3 pitches.... Dennis Brown grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Ed Diskin takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Ray McDonald strikes out...

Bottom of the First:
Ernie Patterson grounds out to short. Danny Hutchinson swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short. Gil Weaver takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... Barry Magee strikes out on 3 pitches!

Top of the Second:
Jack Washburn beats out and infield hit, steals 2nd and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Bart Daw grounds out to short and Washburn scores. 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Danny Stewart draws a walk. Dennis Brown grounds a hit up the middle and Stewart beats the throw to 3rd! Ed Diskin clears the bases with a double grounded over the 3rd base bag!! 3 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right and Diskin beats the throw home and McDonald takes 2nd! 4 to 0, Jays! The next two make outs...

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, P Bob Carroll grounds out to short and P Dale Gilchrist calls out Trudy the Trainer.... New Pitcher: Hal Bradford (27-L). Ernie Patterson pops out to right.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Danny Hutchinson beats out an infield hit and Gil Weaver lines a hit to right... With 1 out, Tom Howard grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!!

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Joe Jones hits a home run to left... 4 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Seventh:
On the Hill: Johnny Groom (25-R), after a scoreless 6th. Tom Howard beats out an infield hit. The Bullpen gets up. Pete Thompson grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6. Joe Jones takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... Ricky Tejada swings at a 3-2 pitch and bloops a hit to left and Thompson scores... 4 to 2, Jays. Pia! A train ticket, if you please! PH Ricky Perez (23-L), their regular cleanup hitter, who was 1 for 4 yesterday, is sent up. Call to the Bullpen: Dave Nini (25-L). Marty Eades is in to play 3rd in a double switch. Perez lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out... PH All-Star Herman Chance (33-R), who was 0 for 2 with 2 walks yesterday, walks on 4 pitches to force in a run... 4 to 3, Jays. Pia! Make that two! Danny Hutchinson strikes out. A wild pitch scored Tejada... Tie Game: 4 to 4. We walk Gil Weaver intentionally so that we can force in another run with a walk... Barry Magee grounds out to 2nd!

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Dave Kelly (32-R), who is 6-3 with 2 SV and a 3.41 ERA in 60.2 IP. With 2 outs, Bart Daw hits a home run to right! 5 to 4, Jays!

It starts to rain in the top of the 9th, but unfortunately, not heavy enough to stop the game.

But after 1 out, they do stop the game, but only for for 32 minutes.

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Robbie Hopley (29-R), who is not fresh. The Bullpen (Bill Grant) is ready. Charlie Faber (32-R) stays in to play 3rd and Gary McKellar (33-R) stays in to play center. Danny Stewart moves to left and Ray McDonald moves to right. Top of their order up. 1B Herman Chance flies out near the warning track in center. Danny Hutchinson grounds out to 2nd. Gil Weaver grounds a hit to right... Barry Magee swings at the first pitch and bloops a hit to left and Weaver goes to 3rd... Tom Howard takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 4

We had 10 hits and made no errors
Orlando had 11 hits and made no errors

Dale Gilchrist pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed no hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Hal Bradford went 2.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 1 home run and struck out 1.
RHP Johnny Groom (H 2) went 1.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Dave Nini (W 3-1, BS 2) went 1.2 scoreless innings (but allowed 2 inherited runners to score), allowed 3 hits, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 2. He threw a WP.
RHP Robbie Hopley (SV 3) pitched a scoreless 9th, allowed 2 hits and struck out 1.

Bob Carroll went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4.
RHP Dave Kelly (L 6-4) went 1 inning, gave us 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.

CF/LF Danny Stewart had 2 hits with a double and a walk and scored a run. 3B Ed Diskin went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI. SS Bart Daw hit his 9th home run of the season and had 2 RBI.

Trudy's report on Dale Gilchrist is back spasms that she thinks will be fine by tomorrow!

[Questdog]

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Today is Marc Uhrich's 28th birthday!

RP Johnny Groom (25-R) and RP Dave Nini (25-L) were sent back to Daytona (A). RP Roger Wallace (28-R) and RP Justin Reddick (31-R) were reluctantly recalled.

Jacksonville Jays (65-60 .520 5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (61-65 .484 9.5 GB tied for 6th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (28-L) (11-10 2.60 ERA 183.1 IP, 171 H, 13 HR, 50 BB, 100 SO) Gold Glove vs.
ORL: Larry Hemmerling (27-R) (7-5 4.22 ERA 111 IP, 118 H, 11 HR, 40 BB, 76 SO) Silver Slugger(01)

Warwick had won his last 3 starts. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts in 7.2 innings last time out.

We beat Hemmerling in May, but only scored 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings. Danny Coreano pitched a shutout for us.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .235-293-1-17-.598-7 C+)
2: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .261-157-6-17-.718-1 C)
3: LF Ray McDonald (23-L .310-462-11-68-.851-17 A)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .292-431-20-85-.864-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .243-341-9-36-.715 23 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .199-201-0-18-.536-1 B)
7: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .287-129-0-6-.649-9 B)
8: SS Charlie Faber (32-R .200-175-0-11-.536-6 C+)
9: P Del Warwick (28-L .192-52-0-3-.381-0 C) Gold Glove

ORLANDO
1: 3B Ernie Patterson (22-R .290-525-0-43-.665-50 A+) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (24-R .269-443-2-36-.654-10 A) All-Star(02)
3: LF Ricky Perez (23-L .296-416-18-78-.868-14 B)
4: 1B Herman Chance (33-R .243-350-20-55-.779-0 C+) All-Star
5: 2B Tom Howard (27-R .273-443-15-50-.787-18 B+)
6: C Mike Day (32-S .252-238-6-32-.685-0 C+)
7: RF Barry Magee (31-L .246-252-9-31-.723-8 B)
8: CF Pete Thompson (23-L .234-299-9-39-.677-8 B) Rookie
9: P Larry Hemmerling (27-R .306-36-0-3-.658-0 F) Silver Slugger(01)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 83 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,845

Top of the First:
Danny Stewart swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Dennis Brown hits one a lot harder, but also grounds out to 2nd. Ray McDonald drives one to deep left, but Barry Magee makes a leaping catch...

Bottom of the First:
Ernie Patterson swings at the first pitch and lines out to right. Danny Hutchinson swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Ricky Perez swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to left! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Second:
Herman Chance lines a hit to left center and Tom Howard beats out an infield hit... But the next three all make outs with 2 strikeouts!

We go 9 up, 9 down....

Bottom of the Third:
P Larry Hemmerling, the 2001 Silver Slugger, doubles to left... Ernie Patterson grounds a hit to center and Hemmerling heads home, but Danny Stewart throws him out! Patterson steals 2nd. But the next two make outs!

Top of the Fourth:
Danny Stewart walks on 4 pitches and Dennis Brown beats out an infield hit, our first base knock of the game. With 1 out, Marty Eades draws a walk to load the bases up. Jack Washburn strikes out on a 3-2 pitch.... Bert Swope strikes out looking on 3 pitches....

Top of the Fifth:
Junior Danielson tries to bunt his way aboard, but does not bunt it far enough and C Mike Day quickly pounces on it, but throws the ball away for a 2 base error! But the next three make outs...

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, P Larry Hemmerling grounds a hit up the middle. Ernie Patterson swings at the first pitch and grounds another hit up the middle Danny Hutchinson swings at the first pitch and grounds yet another hit up the middle and P Hemmerling beats the throw home this time... 1 to 0, Juice. Ricky Perez grounds a fourth straight hit up the middle and Patterson heads home, but Danny Stewart throws him out! 9 hits now for the Juice...

Top of the Sixth:
P Larry Hemmerling strikes out our 2-3-4 hitters in order...

Bottom of the Sixth:
Herman Chance strikes out, but C Bert Swope lets the ball get away for a passed ball and Chance is safe at 1st.... The Bullpen gets up. Tom Howard beats out an infield hit... Mike Day grounds out slowly to short and the runners move up. With the infield in, Barry Magee grounds out to 2nd and the runners hold. We walk Pete Thompson intentionally to load the bases up with 2 outs.... I had left P Del Warwick in there to get that lefty out.... We would rather face the righty swinging Silver Slugger pitcher, who is 2 for 2 with a double today.... Well, it us your funeral, so here we go... P Hemmerling grounds out to 3rd! Through 6 innings, we have been outhit 10 to 1....

Bottom of the Seventh:
Ernie Patterson doubles to left... The Bullpen is up. Danny Hutchinson triples to right.... 2 to 0, Juice. Ricky Perez grounds a hit up the middle.... 3 to 0, Juice. Call to the Bullpen: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L), the only rested reliever. Don Kern (26-R) is in to catch in a double switch. P Grant gets the next three out with 2 strikeouts.

Top of the Eighth:
PH Cal Doty (26-L) swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to left center. Our second hit of the game. Don Kern lines a hit to right. That does it for P Larry Hemmerling. New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (28-R), their closer, who got 1 out and gave us a walk in Friday. Danny Stewart flies out to right and Doty and his bum ankle hold at 3rd. Dennis Brown grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Doty scores. 3 to 1, Juice.

Bottom of the Eight:
Barry Magee beats out an infield hit. Pete Thompson lines a hit to right center and Magee beats the throw to 3rd and Thompson takes 2nd... There is no one else; P Grant has to finish this inning. Ricky Tejada takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with no outs... All three of these batters are lefties.... Ernie Patterson swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles over the 3rd base bag and 2 runs scores.. 5 to 1, Juice. Hit #16... Danny Hutchinson triples to right again... 7 to 1, Juice. Ricky Perez strikes out looking and we finally have an out. Herman Chance strikes out. Tom Howard grounds out to 3rd.

Lost - 7 to 1

We had 5 whole hits and made no errors
Orlando had 17 hits and made 1 error

Del Warwick (L 11-11) went 6+ innings, allowed 3 runs, 13 hits, 1 walk (INT) and struck out 5.
LHP Bill Grant went 2 innings, allowed 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. 50 pitches.

Larry Hemmerling (W 8-5) went 7+ innings, gave us 1 run, 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 8. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double and scored a run.
RHP Ray Hayes (SV 19) pitched 2 scoreless innings, gave us 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.

3B Marty Eades had a hit and a walk. PH Mike Volkman drew a walk. 2B Junior Danielson hit a double. PH Cal Doty hit a double and scored our only run. C Don Kern had a hit in his only at bat.

For Orlando, 3B Ernie Patterson had 4 hits with 2 doubles, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. SS Danny Hutchinson had 3 hits with 2 triples, tying the MLB record, scored a run and had 4 RBI. 2B Tom Howard had 3 hits.

[Questdog]

Friday, August 29, 2003

His 10 days of exile being up, we recalled 1B Dave Thompson (27-R) from Daytona (A) and sent P Marc Uhrich (28-L) back. Trudy has also cleared Cal Doty for play!

We are in New Orleans to play a 3 game series over the weekend. The Pelicans were just swept in 3 games by Charlotte. We are 5-2 against them on the season and this is our first visit to Louisiana this year. They are last in scoring with 3.44 runs per game (Jacksonville is #6 with 4.02). The Pelicans are 14th in fewest runs allowed with 4.48 per game (Jacksonville is #9 with 3.97). Their run differential is -130, the worst in the MLB, and ours is +6, tied for 7th best.

Jacksonville Jays (65-61 .516 5.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
New Orleans Pelicans (47-79 .373 23.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Danny Coreano (24-L) (5-5 3.24 ERA 80.2 IP, 69 H, 4 HR, 21 BB, 40 SO) vs.
NO: Bill Colby (32-R) (9-11 3.68 ERA 183.1 IP, 184 H, 18 HR, 41 BB, 98 SO)

Coreano gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 home runs and no walks with a career high 8 strikeouts last time out in a loss.

Colby is their #1 starter. He is 0-2 in 2 starts against us this season, but pitched well both times. 3.21 ERA, 14 IP, 10 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 7 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .289-453-3-45-.733-28 B+)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .233-296-1-17-.595-7 C+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .307-466-11-68-.844-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .293-434-20-85-.864-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .241-345-9-36-.707-23 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .196-204-0-18-.529-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .249-369-9-50-.674-36 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .286-133-0-6-.652-9 B)
9: P Danny Coreano (24-L .318-22-0-1-.682-0 F)

NEW ORLEANS
1: RF Franklin Sanchez (22-R .224-272-1-17-.558-16 A+)
2: CF Victor Ocasio (27-R .208-481-7-31-.574-23 B+)
3: LF Jerry Rafanello (32-S .279-283-3-27-.716-0 D) All-Star(2: 01,03)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (34-L .271-417-20-74-.814-1 C+)
5: 2B Tim Dawson (27-R .268-395-5-41-.714-8 C)
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (27-R .309-392-5-50-.787-0 A)
7: C Niel Williams (27-R .221-276-3-26-.618-0 B)
8: SS Jim Brister (31-S .233-253-2-17-.630-1 B)
9: P Bill Colby (32-R .161-56-0-6-.336-0 C)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Crosley Field
Weather: 83 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,282

Top of the First:
Cal Doty flies out to deep center. Danny Stewart grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Ray McDonald strikes out...

Bottom of the First:
Franklin Sanchez strikes out! Victor Ocasio strikes out on 3 pitches! Jerry Rafanello swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle.... He is now 12 for 24 (.500) against the Jays this season with with 4 doubles and a home run. He is only hitting .262 against the rest of the League... Jay Kegler triples to right and Rafanello scores... 1 to 0, Pelicans. His first triple of the season... Tim Dawson flies out to center.

Top of the Second:
Marty Eades doubles to left! Jack Washburn walks on 4 pitches. Bert Swope lines a hit to center and Eades beats the throw home! Tie Game: 1 to 1! Bart Daw grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Washburn goes to 3rd. Daw steals 2nd. Junior Danielson works his way back from an 0-2 count to walk and load the bases up with 1 out. P Danny Coreano flies out to deep center and Washburn trots home. 2 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Second:
Chuck Corrigan lines a hit to right and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch... Niel Williams walks on 4 pitches... With 1 out, P Bill Colby lays down a bunt and P Danny Coreano throws to 3rd, but late and the bases are loaded with 1 out.... Franklin Sanchez flies out to deep center and Corrigan tags up, but Danny Stewart throws him out!!

Bottom of the Third:
Victor Ocasio takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 1 out, he steals 2nd. With 2 outs, Tim Dawson ground a hit to left and Ocasio scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2.

Bottom of the Fifth:
Victor Ocasio lines a hit to right center and steals 2nd... Jerry Rafanello flies out to very deep center and Ocasio tags up and moves to 3rd. Jay Kegler strikes out looking! Tim Dawson swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to right!

Top of the Sixth:
Danny Stewart draws a walk. With 1 out, Marty Eades hits a fly ball to left, but it hits off the heel of the glove of Jerry Rafanello for a 2 base error! They walk Jack Washburn intentionally to load the bases up with 1 out. A wild pitch scores Stewart! 3 to 2, Jays! They do NOT walk Swope to set up the double play and he grounds a hit up the middle and both runners score!! 5 to 2, Jays! That does it for P Bill Colby. New Pitcher: Lyle Wilkin (31-R), who is 4-3 with 3 SV and a 3.71 ERA in 70.1 IP with 1 start. Bart Daw draws a walk. Junior Danielson grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Swope goes to 3rd. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) is sent up. Danielson steals 2nd. Volkman puts a charge into one, but it is caught on the warning track in center.

Bottom of the Seventh:
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (28-R), after a scoreless 6th. He strikes out the first two batters and then gets Jerry Rafanello to pop out to 2nd! But when he comes back to the dugout, he goes to Trudy the Trainer.... Who says he is done for today...

Top of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Jesus Torres (2-R), a rookie, after a scoreless 7th. With 2 outs, Bart Daw blasts one high off the scoreboard in left center and ends up with a triple! It he had hit it more to the right or left, it would have been a home run. Junior Danielson swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left center and Daw scores! 6 to 2, Jays! PH Dennis Brown (29-L) lines a hit to center and Danielson goes to 3rd. Cal Doty lines a hit to left and Danielson scores! 7 to 2, Jays!

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Justin Reddick (31-R). Gary McKellar (33-R) is into play center and Danny Stewart moves to left. Jay Kegler hits a home run to left center... 7 to 3, Jays. It is good to see that he is still the same ol' Reddick! What, Pia? No. No train ticket. There is no one else left in Daytona (A) who I think might be better than Reddick. We will just live with his home runs for now and see if anyone goes on a tear for the Tortugas. But they do not have a lot of season left for anyone to show that they have improved.

Top of the Ninth:
Ray McDonald draws a walk. That does it for P Jesus Torres. New Pitcher: Rudy Norwood (31-R), another rookie, who is 1-2 with 1 SV and a 4.74 ERA in 24.2 IP. His first pitch is a wild one. His next three, though, are by Marty Eades for strikes... With 2 outs, Bert Swope grounds a hit to right and McDonald scores! 8 to 3, Jays!

Won - 8 to 3

We had 11 hits and made no errors
New Orleans had 9 hits and made 1 error

Danny Coreano (W 6-5) went 5 innings, allowed 2 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP. 94 pitches. At bat, he hit a SF.
RHP Roger Wallace (H 3) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Justin Reddick went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 2.

Bill Colby (L 9-12) went 5.1 innings, gave us 5 runs (4 earned), 5 hits, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 2. He threw a WP.

LF Cal Doty had 2 hits and an RBI. CF/LF Danny Stewart had a hit and a walk and scored a run and threw a runner out at home. 3B Marty Eades hit a double and scored 2 runs. 1B Jack Washburn had a hit and 2 walks (1 INT) and scored 2 runs. C Bert Swope had 3 hits and 4 RBI. SS Bart Daw hit a triple, drew a walk, stole a base and scored a run. 2B Junior Danielson had a hit and a walk, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. PH Dennis Brown had a hit.

Trudy's report on Roger Wallace is back spasms that she figures to bother him for about a week. She says she thinks he can pitch through it without affecting his performance. So we will let him try.

[Questdog]

Saturday, August 30, 2003

Jacksonville Jays (66-61 .520 5.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
New Orleans Pelicans (47-80 .370 24.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Jim Baucom (22-L) (13-5 1.79 ERA 201.1 IP, 160 H, 5 HR, 41 BB, 163 SO) All-Star(2: 02-03) vs.
NO: Dan Krueger (25-R) (3-3 3.04 ERA 50.1 IP, 48 H, 0 HR, 11 BB, 31 SO in A Ball)

Baucom pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits an 4 walks with 8 strikeouts last time out in a no decision that we won, 1 to 0, in 10 innings.

Krueger is making his season debut today. He was 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 7 starts and 29.2 IP as a rookie last year, before a torn elbow ligament ended his season. Editor's Note: He should still be a rookie, but he is not in OOTP because DL time counts against a player's rookie status. It should not. He did not make his debut in A Ball this season until May, but then had another injury in June that put him out of action for two more months. He has had 2 starts for Shreveport since and, in the last one, allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and no walks with 8 strikeouts in 8 innings. He was the 2nd overall pick in the 2002 B Leagues Draft when Jim Baucom was picked 1st. We have never faced him. Baucom and Krueger faced each other once in the B Leagues and Krueger hit a home run, but Baucom won the game, though neither pitched particularly well that day.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .290-458-3-46-.734-28 B+)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .233-300-1-17-.595-7 C+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .304-470-11-68-.839-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .292-439-20-85-.861-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .241-348-9-36-.711-23 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .206-209-0-22-.544-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .249-373-9-50-.679-37 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .287-136-0-7-.657-10 B)
9: P Jim Baucom (22-L .246-61-0-5-.539-0 C) All-Star (2: 02-03)

NEW ORLEANS
1: RF Franklin Sanchez (22-R .220-277-1-17-.549-16 A+)
2: CF Victor Ocasio (27-R .210-485-7-31-.581-25 B+)
3: LF Jerry Rafanello (32-S .281-288-3-27-.717-0 D) All-Star(2: 01,03)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (34-L .273-422-21-76-.826-1 C+)
5: 2B Tim Dawson (27-R .268-399-5-42-.712-8 C)
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (27-R .309-395-5-50-.788-0 A)
7: SS Ron Taylor (31-S .210-357-0-16-.517-22 B+)
8: C Niel Williams (27-R .219-278-3-26-.619-0 B)
9: P Dan Krueger (25-R Season debut F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Crosley Field
Weather: 86 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,715

Top of the First:
Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.... Danny Stewart grounds out to 3rd. Ray McDonald, who has gone cold as ice, swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to right.... He is now 3 for his last 33 (.091).

Bottom of the First:
Franklin Sanchez lines a hit to right... He tries to steal 2nd, but C Bert Swope throws him out! Victor Ocasio strikes out! Jarry Rafanello lines one to deep right, but Ray McDonald makes a running catch!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Jerry Rafanello hits a home run to left.... 1 to 0, Pelicans. Only 4 HR on the season and 2 against us... Jay Kegler doubles to left center... But the next three make outs.

Top of the Fifth:
Bert Swope grounds a hit up the middle. Bart Daw lays down a bunt, but 1B Jay Kegler makes a bad throw to the 2nd baseman covering 1st for a 2 base error! They walk Junior Danielson intentionally to load the bases up with no outs. P Jim Baucom pops out to center and the runners hold. With 1 out, Cal Doty smashes one to 2nd that eats Tim Dawson up and Swope scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1! The give Doty a hit on the play! Danny Stewart lines out to deep center and Daw tags up and scores without a throw. 2 to 1, Jays! Now would be a good time for Ray McDonald to snap out of his slump! He pokes a hit to center and Danielson heads home, but Victor Ocasio throws him out...

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Ron Taylor beats out an infield hit. The Bullpen gets up. Taylor steals 2nd. Niel Williams hits a home run to right... 3 to 2, Pelicans. The next two make outs.

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Keith Casebolt (25-L), their closer, who came on to get the final out of the 7th. PH Ed Diskin (39-R) bloops a hit to right. Pinch-runner: Charlie Faber (32-R). Pinch-Hitter: Dave Thompson (27-R) swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines out to short. A wild pitch sends Faber to 2nd! Bart Daw strikes out on a 3-2 pitch... Junior Danielson swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd...

Lost - 3 to 2

We had 7 hits and made 1 error
New Orleans had 7 hits and made 1 error

Jim Baucom (L 13-6) went 7 innings, allowed 3 runs, 7 hits, 2 home runs, no walks and struck out 8. 107 pitches. At bat, he drew a walk.
LHP Hal Bradford pitched a perfect inning.

Dan Krueger went 6.2 innings, gave us 2 unearned runs, 6 hits, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 5. 115 pitches.
LHP Keith Casebolt (W 4-3) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, gave us 1 hit and struck out 3. He threw a WP.

LF Cal Doty had 2 hits with a double and an RBI. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk. 3B Marty Eades had 2 hits. PH Ed Diskin had a hit.

[Questdog]

Sunday, August 31, 2003

Jacksonville Jays (66-62 .516 5.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
New Orleans Pelicans (48-80 .375 23.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Dale Gilchrist (25-R) (9-8 2.59 ERA 132 IP, 105 H, 7 HR, 48 BB, 70 SO) vs.
NO: Terry Henry (32-R) (3-18 5.27 ERA 155.1 IP, 184 H, 16 HR, 37 BB, 79 SO)

Gilchrist only went 2.2 scoreless innings with 1 walk and 1 strikeout last time out because of an injury. I really like him, but I need someone I can rely on in the rotation, so he will be made available for trade this Winter.

Henry leads the MLB in losses, 3 more than anyone else. He is 0-2 in 2 starts against us this season with a 6.57 ERA. 12.1 IP, 19 H, 3 HR, 4 BB, 5 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .281-139-0-7-.648-10 B)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .232-302-1-18-.591-7 C+)
3: LF Cal Doty (26-L .292-462-3-47-.738-28 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .293-443-20-85-.862-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .239-351-9-36-.705-23 B)
6: RF Dennis Brown (29-L .265-162-6-18-.720-1 C)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .247-376-9-50-.674-37 B+)
8: C Don Kern (26-R .213-169-6-24-.657-10 B) Rookie
9: P Dale Gilchrist (25-R .208-48-0-5-.449-0 C+)

NEW ORLEANS
1: SS Ron Taylor (31-S .211-360-0-16-.518-23 B+)
2: CF Victor Ocasio (27-R .209-489-7-31-.576-25 B+)
3: LF Tim Dawson (27-R .266-402-5-42-.707-8 B+)
4: 1B Jay Kegler (34-L .272-426-21-76-.825-1 C+)
5: C Niel Williams (27-R .221-281-4-28-.630-0 B)
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (27-R .309-398-5-50-.787-0 A)
7: RF Ricky Palmer (34-S .206-126-5-15-.662-2 B+)
8: 2B Jim Brister (31-S .233-257-2-17-.632-1 A)
9: P Terry Henry (32-R .163-43-1-2-.419-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Crosley Field
Weather: 78 F, Overcast, with a 7 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 9,106

Top of the First:
Junior Danielson pops out to left. Danny Stewart flies out to the warning track in right. Cal Doty flies out to left... If we lose to this bum, I will.... I dunno what, but it won't be pretty....

Bottom of the First:
Ron Taylor grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Victor Ocasio grounds out to the pitcher. Tim Dawson triples off the scoreboard in left center... Jay Kegler strikes out looking!

The game is scoreless through 5 innings....

And through 6....

And through 7....

Do you remember those happy days when we were scoring runs by the bushel?
They seem so long ago now....

Still scoreless through 8....

Top of the Ninth:
P Terry Henry is at 116 pitches. Do you remember that he was 3-18 with a 5.27 ERA before this game? PH Ray McDonald (23-L) flies out to deep center. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Junior Danielson beats out an infield hit. Danny Stewart grounds out to short...

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L). Ray McDonald stays in to play center and Bert Swope is in to catch. 3-4-5 up for them. PH Joe Simson (26-R), who was 0 for 1 yesterday, swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to right... PH Jerry Rafanello (32-S), who is 4 for 8 with a HR this series and could use a fastball in the ribs, hits a home run to left....

Lost - 2 to 0

Unbelievable.....
Three amazing things about this shutout loss:
1) The crappy pitcher that tossed it
2) We had 9 hits and a walk and no runners put out on the bases or GDP's.
3) Jerry Rafanello now has 5 HR on the season and 3 against us. He is now 16 for 32 with 4 doubles and 3 home runs against the Jays this year. .500 BA and .906 SLG.

Yes, Pia, I am to blame for the demise of your laptop.... I will get you a better one.

We had 9 hits and made no errors
New Orleans had 6 hits and made 1 error

Dale Gilchrist pitched 8 scoreless innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4. 107 pitches. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP Bill Grant (L 4-6) did not record an out and allowed 2 runs , 2 hits and a home run.

Terry Henry (W 4-18) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 9 hits, 1 walk and struck out 7. 127 pitches. It is his 1st shutout ever and 1st CG this season and only the 3rd of his career in 66 starts. He is now 11-41 with a 5.01 ERA in his career. It will take a long time for the shame of this loss to go away.....

2B Junior Danielson had 3 hits and stole 2 bases. 3B Marty Eades had a hit and a walk. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a double.

Another oddity of this game: Yesterday Jim Baucom threw 107 pitches, 72 for strikes and his relief, Hal Bradford, threw 10 pitches, 5 for strikes. Today, Dal Gilchrist threw 107 pitches, 72 for strikes and his relief, Bill Grant, threw 10 pitches, 5 for strikes.

[Questdog]

September 1, 2003

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Larry Davis, 3B, Charlotte (28-S .349/.386/.463) Had 12 hits with 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 0 SO, 2 SB, 0 CS, 7 R and 6 RBI in 6 G (5 GS)

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

August 27 - Mike Elizondo (25-R) of Columbus pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Providence. He did not walk a batter and struck out 11. At bat, he scored a run. It is his 6th shutout of the season, tying him for the MLB Lead. He is now 14-6 with a 2.41 ERA in 26 starts. The Explorers won, 2 to 0.
August 28 - Bob Stephens (26-R) of Charlotte pitched a 5 hit shutout at New Orleans. He did not walk a batter and struck out 5. It is his 3rd shutout of the season. He is now 13-7 with a 2.77 ERA in 25 starts. The Hornets won, 7 to 0. 3B Larry Davis had 4 hits with a double and a home run, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI. He now has a 21 game hitting streak.
August 31 - Bill Cortright (35-R) of Ottawa pitched a 5 hit shutout at home versus Columbus. He walked 3 and struck out 4. It is his 5th shutout of the season. He is now 14-8 with a 2.98 ERA in 24 starts. The Otters won, 1 to 0, and only had 4 hits themselves.

[Questdog]

Monthly Awards for August, 2003
Player of the Month: Larry Davis, 3b, Charlotte (28-S) .491/.509/.627 110 AB, 54 H (!!!), 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 2 SO, 3 SB, 0 CS, 19 R, 23 RBI in 27 G (26 GS)
Pitcher of the Month: David Lucero, lhp, Syracuse (24-L) 5-0 1.28 ERA 6 GS, 0 ShO, 49.1 IP, 36 H, 1 HR, 10 BB, 26 SO
Rookie of the Month: Melvin Brisita, rhp, Louisville (22-L) 4-0 1.24 ERA 5 GS, 1 ShO, 36.1 IP, 25 H, 0 HR, 15 BB, 15 SO

Monthly Awards for July, 2003
Player of the Month: Keith Meyer, 3b, Memphis (28-L) .426/.460/.670 94 AB, 2 2B, 0 3B, 7 HR, 6 BB, 6 SO, 5 SB, 2 CS, 18 R, 16 RBI in 24 G (23 GS) (3rd career BoM)
Pitcher of the Month: Jim Baucom, lhp, Jacksonville (22-L) 4-1 1.13 ERA 5 GS, 3 ShO, 40 IP, 29 H, 0 HR, 8 BB, 35 SO
Rookie of the Month: Ralph Williams, lhp, Rochester (23-L) 2-0 3.10 ERA 4 GS, 1 ShO, 29 IP, 22 H, 1 HR, 11 BB, 16 SO (2nd straight RoM)

Monthly Awards for June, 2003
Player of the Month: Alan Douglas, 1b, Louisville (27-S) .296/.412/.802 81 AB, 0 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR (!!), 15 BB, 11 SO, 2 SB, 6 CS, 21 R, 26 RBI in 24 G (23 GS)
Pitcher of the Month: Sammy Brumley, lhp, Richmond (26-L) 3-0 0.55 ERA 6 GS, 3 ShO, 48.2 IP, 34 H, 0 HR, 14 BB, 34 SO (2nd career PoM)
Rookie of the Month: Ralph Williams, lhp, Rochester (23-L) 3-0 1.66 ERA 5 GS, 0 ShO, 38 IP, 32 H, 3 HR, 19 BB, 21 SO

Monthly Awards for May, 2003
Player of the Month: Ivan Moreno, rf, Buffalo (31-L) .396/.458/.849 106 AB, 3 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR (!!), 12 BB, 17 SO, 0 SB, 1 CS, 23 R, 30 RBI (!!) in 27 G (3rd career PoM)
Pitcher of the Month: Ron Hutchins, rhp, Syracuse (31-R) 4-1 1.71 ERA 6 GS, 2 ShO, 47.1 IP, 24 H, 2 HR, 15 BB, 51 SO
Rookie of the Month: Benedict Hughes, lhp, Ottawa (24-L) 4-1 3.25 ERA 5 GS, 0 ShO, 36 IP, 33 H, 1 HR, 20 BB, 20 SO

Monthly Awards for April, 2003
Player of the Month: Roger Beaudin, c, Memphis (30-R) .444/.481/.750 72 AB, 10 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 5 BB, 6 SO, 2 SB, 0 CS, 15 R, 23 RBI in 20 G (18 GS)
Pitcher of the Month: Billy Warner, rhp, Richmond (24-R) 4-0 1.70 ERA 5 GS, 1 ShO, 42.1 IP, 24 H, 1 HR, 15 BB, 25 SO
Rookie of the Month: Marty Forner, lhp, Birmingham (30-L) 3-0 1.17 ERA 3 GS, 1 ShO, 23 IP, 17 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 14 SO

[Questdog]

Monday, September 1, 2003

We are in Charlotte to play the 1st place Hornets a short 2 game set. They swept the Mules in 3 games at Memphis over the weekend and have won 6 in a row. We are 4-5 against them on the season and won 2 of 3 the last time we visited. They are 3rd in scoring with 4.29 runs per game (Jacksonville is tied for #5 with 4.00). Scoring is down in the MLB this season. Overall scoring average: 2001: 4.11; 2002: 4.08; 2003: 3.94. Editor's Note: I thought I compensated enough for lowering the number of errors, but maybe not. I will study the issue this off season and maybe raise the errors a little. We did cut them quite a bit. Maybe a little too much. The Hornets are 6th in fewest runs allowed with 3.78 per game (Jacksonville is up to #8 with 3.94). Their run differential is +66, 4th best in the MLB, and ours is +8, 8th best.

Jacksonville Jays (66-63 .512 6.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Charlotte Hornets (73-57 .562 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (28-L) (11-11 2.66 ERA 189.1 IP, 184 H, 13 HR, 51 BB, 105 SO) Gold Glove vs.
CHAR: Rick Cox (32-R) (16-7 2.32 ERA 201.2 IP, 172 H, 9 HR, 54 BB, 12 SO) Ace(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)

Warwick gave up 3 runs on 13 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 6 innings last time out in a loss. The 13 hits allowed tied the Jays team record by a starting pitcher, shared with 3 scrub pitchers from 2001.

Cox is their #1 starter. We faced the League leader in losses yesterday and we face the League leader in wins today. The leader in losses shut is out, so what will the leader in wins do to us? Well, we faced him once this year, in June, and he shut us out on 5 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. In his career, he is 7-1 in 9 starts against us with a 1.45 ERA. He is 7-0 in his last 11 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .292-144-0-7-.667-12 B)
2: LF Cal Doty (26-L .290-466-3-47-.732-28 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .304-474-11-68-.837-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .294-446-20-85-.862-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .243-354-9-36-.713-23 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .208-212-0-22-.546-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .245-380-9-50-.667-37 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .229-144-3-12-.652-0 B)
9: P Del Warwick (28-L .185-54-0-3-.367-0 C) Gold Glove

CHARLOTTE
1: SS Harold Evans (24-R .290-293-0-23-.716-13 A)
2: 2B Jim Sabin (35-R .290-31-0-5-.710-0 B)
3: 3B Larry Davis (28-S .349-482-4-67-.849-13 B) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
4: RF Terry Graham (24-L .200-110-3-13-.608-0 A)
5: LF John Hartz (38-R .266-271-4-28-.747-14 C) All-Star(01-02)
6: 1B Tom Morris (29-R .176-216-3-18-.549-0 B)
7: CF Gabe Valdez (31-R .249-394-7-44-.639-0 B)
8: C Larry Griffin (31-S .268-231-7-33-.751-1 C+) All-Star(02)
9: P Rick Cox (32-L .079-63-0-3-.205-0 F) Ace(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Charlotte Municipal Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 16,570

Top of the First:
Junior Danielson grounds out to 3rd. Cal Doty lines a hit to right. Ray McDonald swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and Doty goes to 2nd. Marty Eades pops out to right...

Bottom of the First:
Harold Evans flies out to left. Jim Sabin flies out to deep left. Larry Davis, the August Player of the Month, grounds a hit up the middle. He now has a 25 game hitting streak, the longest in the MLB this season and second longest of all-time. The record is 29 by Jerry Rafanello of New Orleans last year. Davis steals 2nd. Terry Graham swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to right and Griffin scores... 1 to 0, Hornets. They get a 2-out hit from their cleanup hitter and we did not... John Hartz draws a walk. Tom Morris swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd.

Top of the Second:
Jack Washburn bunts his way aboard and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch. He steals 3rd! Bert Swope lines a double to left and Washburn scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1! The next three make outs...

Top of the Sixth:
With 2 outs, Bert Swope doubles to center. They walk Bart Daw intentionally to face Gary McKellar, who they walked intentionally earlier... McKellar bloops a hit to right and Swope beats the throw home! 2 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of Sixth:
Larry Davis doubles to left for his third hit of the game... The Hornets have 5 as a team. Terry Graham grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and Davis goes to 3rd. John Hartz flies out to deep center and Davis tags up, but Gary McKellar throws him out!!

Bottom of the Eighth:
The Bullpen is ready. PH Danny Pakan (27-L), batting .429 with 7 RBI in 42 AB, swings at the first pitch and beats out an infield hit, gets bunted to 2nd and goes to 3rd on a ground out. 2 outs and Larry Davis is up and he is a switch-hitter who is 3 for 3 today with a double and just won the Player of the Month award for August when he hit .491 and has a 25 game hitting streak going. A .200 hitting lefty is on deck. What would you do? We LOVE to walk batters intentionally except when it makes sense... Davis grounds a hit to left and Pakan scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2.

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Miguel Tejeda (25-R), their closer, who is 6-10 with 26 SV and a 3.48 ERA. 8-9-1 up for us. PH Danny Stewart (32-L), who will stay in to play center, pops out to 2nd. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) hits for P Robbie Hopley (29-R), who never actually faced a batter. Hopley came in to the game last inning with 2 outs and a runner was caught stealing. Volkman grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Junior Danielson swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses....

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L), going for his 2nd loss in a row. He did not get a batter out yesterday in taking the loss. 5-6-7 up for the Hornets. PH Tom Barker (31-L), batting .254 with 8 HR and 29 RBI in 138 AB, strikes out looking! Tom Morris, the sub-.200 hitter, beats out an infield hit, his second hit of the game... Gabe Valdez flies out to center. PH Scott Damon (24-R), batting .256 with 10 HR and 44 RBI in 360 AB, strikes out!

Extras!

Top of the Tenth:
2-3-4 up for us. We go down in order....

Bottom of the Tenth:
9-1-2 up for them. They go down in order!

Top of the Eleventh:
New Pitcher: Mike Hall (34-R), who is 2-2 with 1 SV and a 3.66 ERA in 71.1 IP with 4 starts. We go down in order...

Bottom of the Eleventh:
After Larry Davis grounds out for his first out of the day, Terry Graham, the .200 hitter, grounds his third hit of the game up the middle... But the next two make outs!

Top of the Twelfth:
With 1 out, PH Dennis Brown (29-L) grounds out to 2nd and we go down in order for the fifth straight inning.... We have not had a base runner since 3-time All-Star P Rick Cox left the game after 7 innings....

Bottom of the Twelfth:
New Pitcher: Roger Wallace (28-R), pitching with back spasms. They go down in order!

Top of the Thirteenth:
New Pitcher: Mark Kyles (31-R), who is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in only 4.1 IP. He has a 5.56 career ERA in 100.1 IP. 2-3-4 up for us and if we go down in order again, then someone has put a hex on us.... With 1 out, Ray McDonald doubles to left! Marty Eades lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and McDonald beats the throw home and Eades takes 2nd! 3 to 2, Jays!. Pinch-runner: Charlie Faber (32-R), who will stay in to play 3rd. They walk Jack Washburn intentionally. Bert Swope grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Faber goes to 3rd. Bart Daw clears the bases with a double lined to left!! 5 to 2, Jays! Danny Stewart doubles to right and Daw scores! 6 to 2, Jays! PH Ed Diskin (39-R) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Junior Danielson grounds out to 3rd.

Won - 6 to 2

We had 11 hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 11 hits and made 1 error

Del Warwick went 7.2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. 121 pitches.
RHP Robbie Hopley got an out without facing a batter.
LHP Bill Grant went 3 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 4.
RHP Roger Wallace (W 4-5) pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
LHP Hal Bradford went 1 scoreless inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Rick Cox went 7 innings, gave us 2 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks (2 INT) and struck out 3. He threw a WP.
RHP Mark Kyles (L 1-2) went 1 inning, gave us 4 runs, 4 hits and 2 walks (1 INT).

LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits with a double and scored a run. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits and a walk (INT), stole 2 bases and scored a run. C Bert Swope hit 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw hit a double, drew a walk (INT), scored a run and had 2 RBI. CF Gary McKellar had a hit and a walk (INT) and an RBI and threw a runner out at home. PH/CF Danny Stewart hit a double and had an RBI. PH Ed Diskin drew a walk.

For Charlotte, 3B Larry Davis had 4 hits with a double, stole a base, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Terry Graham had 3 hits with a double and an RBI.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

Jacksonville Jays (67-63 .515 5.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Charlotte Hornets (73-58 .557 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Tommy Keyser (24-L) (1-1 7.27 ERA 8.2 IP, 10 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 7 SO) Rookie vs.
CHAR: Jack Brown (27-R) (10-7 4.16 ERA 134 IP, 146 H, 5 HR, 63 BB, 61 SO)

This will be Keyser's 3rd MLB start. He had as crappy as one can be in his first, but only gave up 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 innings last time out in his 1st win.

Brown is 1-1 in 2 starts against us this season with a 7.15 ERA. 11.1 IP, 20 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 5 SO. He is pitching on short rest today.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .289-471-3-47-.730-28 B+)
2: CF Danny Stewart (32-L .232-310-1-19-.592-7 C+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .304-480-11-68-.837-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .292-452-20-86-.856-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .245-359-9-36-.716-25 B)
6: C Bert Swope (31-S .211-218-0-23-.558-1 B)
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .244-385-9-52-.668-37 B+)
8: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .278-151-0-7-.637-12 B)
9: P Tommy Keyser (24-R .000-2-0-0-.000-0 B+) Rookie

CHARLOTTE
1: LF Scott Damon (24-R .255-361-10-44-.707-5 A)
2: C Alex Martinez (29-R .193-207-1-13-.487-3 B+)
3: 3B Larry Davis (28-S .352-488-4-68-.856-14 B) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
4: RF Terry Graham (24-L .216-116-3-14-.636-0 A)
5: 2B Marty Derringer (25-R .246-366-6-45-.646-15 A)
6: 1B Bruce McArthur (26-L .268-396-8-39-.725-0 A+) Gold Glove
7: CF Gabe Valdez (31-R .246-399-7-44-.631-0 B)
8: SS Randy Dodson (30-L .273-55-1-5-.728-0 B+)
9: P Jack Brown (27-R .333-45-0-10-.726-0 B+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Charlotte Municipal Stadium
Weather: 79 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 15,054

Top of the First:
Cal Doty strikes out... Danny Stewart beats out an infield hit. Ray McDonald lines a hit to center. Marty Eades grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Stewart goes to 3rd. Jack Washburn pops out to 2nd...

Bottom of the First:
Scott Damon pops out to right. Alex Martinez, who is not a sub-.200 hitter when facing the Jays, lines a hit to right... Larry Davis grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. Terry Graham grounds one to short, but Bart Daw makes a bad throw to 2nd... Marty Derringer pops out to 2nd!

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Bart Daw lines a hit to left. Junior Danielson lines a hit to left center and Daw heads to 3rd. The throw by LF Scott Damon is into the dugout and Daw scores! 1 to 0, Jays! P Tommy Keyser doubles to right and Danielson scores! 2 to 0, Jays. Keyser's first MLB hit! Cal Doty lines a hit to center. He gets caught stealing 2nd.... Danny Stewart takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three....

Bottom of the Second:
Bruce McArthur pokes a hit to right. Gabe Valdez doubles to right center and McArthur scores from 1st... 2 to 1, Jays. Randy Dodson grounds a hit to right... P Jack Brown bunts the runner to 2nd and Valdez holds at 3rd. Scott Damon grounds out to 3rd and the runners hold! Can we get a sub-.200 hitter out? Alex Martinez grounds out to 3rd!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Marty Eades doubles to right. With 2 outs, Bert Swope hits a fly ball to center, but Gabe Valdez muffs it for a 2 base error and Eades scores! 3 to 1, Jays! Bart Daw grounds a hit to left and Swope scores! 4 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Scott Damon doubles to right center. The Bullpen gets up. Alex Martinez, the sub-.200 hitter, grounds his third hit of the game to left and Damon scores... 4 to 2, Jays. Larry Davis swings at a 3-0 pitch and flies out to right and Martinez tags up and goes to 3rd. Terry Graham grounds out to 1st, 3-1!

Top of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Larry Durbin (37-R), who has held us scoreless since getting the last out of the 5th. Bart Daw beats out an infield hit and Junior Danielson bunts him to 2nd. PH Mike Volkman (35-L) doubles to right center and Daw scores! 5 to 2, Jays! Their Bullpen is all tuckered out. They walk Cal Doty intentionally. Danny Stewart grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Volkman goes to 3rd. Ray McDonald strikes out on 3 pitches....

Top of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Jack Washburn grounds a hit to right. That does it for P Larry Durbin. New Pitcher: Mark Kyles (31-R), who gave us 4 runs in an inning yesterday and took the loss. Bert Swope grounds a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Washburn goes to 3rd. Bart Daw flies out to deep left and Washburn tags up and scores. 6 to 2, Jays!

Won - 6 to 2

Mini-sweep!

We lose 2 of 3 to last place New Orleans and sweep 1st place Charlotte...

We had 16 hits and made 1 error
Charlotte had 9 hits and made 2 errors

Tommy Keyser (W 2-1) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 9 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. 115 pitches. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double and an RBI.
RHP Robbie Hopley (SV 4) pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 1.

Jack Brown (L 10-8) went 4.2 innings, gave us 4 runs (2 earned), 9 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4.

LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits. 3B Marty Eades hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. 1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits and scored a run. SS Bart Daw had 3 hits, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 2B Junior Danielson had 2 hits and scored a run. PH Mike Volkman hit a double and had an RBI.

For Charlotte, C Alex Martinez, batting .193 coming into the game, had 3 hits and an RBI.

[Questdog]

Thursday, September 4, 2003

From here on out every series we play will be our final meeting with our opponent.

We are back home to play the Syracuse Sycamores a 4 game series through the weekend. They lost a pair of games in Ottawa on Monday and Tuesday. We split 4 games with them in Syracuse, June 26-29. They are 15th in scoring with 3.61 runs per game (Jacksonville is down to #7 with 4.03). The Sycamores are 1st in fewest runs per game with 2.74 per game, a half a run better than anyone else (Jacksonville is #8 with 3.91). Only twice in in the last 22 games have the Sycamores allowed more than 3 runs. Only 5 times since the All-Star break and in two of those, they allowed 4 runs. They have only allowed 90 runs since the All-Star break in 46 games! That is an average of 1.96 per game! Their run differential is +114, the best in the MLB, even though they have the 2nd weakest offense in the League. Ours is now +16, 7th best.

Syracuse Sycamores (81-51 .615 5 GA in 1st place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (68-63 .519 4.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

SYR: Tom Peterson (32-R) (13-8 1.79 ERA 196.1 IP, 154 H, 5 HR, 26 BB, 101 SO) All-Star vs.
JAX: Jim Baucom (22-L) (13-6 1.86 ERA 208.1 IP, 167 H, 7 HR, 41 BB, 171 SO) All-Star(2: 02-03)

We faced Peterson in June and he beat us giving us 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts in a CG. In his last 9 starts, he has allowed 9 total runs, only once allowing more than 1 and that was 2. He is only 7-2 in those games. though, because he lost two 1 to 0 games. He leads the MLB in CG (12) and BB/9 (1.2) and is 2nd in ERA.

Baucom gave up 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 home runs and no walks with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a loss.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
SYRACUSE
1: CF Jim Beard (25-R .259-471-2-23-.621-33 A+)
2: LF Jeff Garrigus (34-R .234-402-13-49-.689-8 A) All-Star
3: 1B Don Bruns (33-R .281-295-3-35-.729-6 C) 4 for 9 w/2 HR vs Baucom
4: SS Frank Bates (31-R .256-485-26-73-.800-17 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: C Lee Dean (30-L .224-370-4-37-.662-0 C) Silver Slugger(2: 01-02)/All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: RF Dave Bess (27-R .256-387-8-57-.708-4 B+)
7: 3B Sal Esquivel (35-R .172-58-1-3-.559-2 B)
8: 2B Buddy Elliott (33-R .261-357-2-33-.643-0 B+)
9: P Tom Peterson (32-R .164-67-0-5-.341-0 F) All-Star

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .284-155-0-7-.646-12 B)
2: LF Cal Doty (26-L .288-475-3-47-.729-28 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .305-485-11-68-.837-17 B+)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .292-456-20-86-.856-2 C) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .247-364-9-36-.717-25 B)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .209-172-6-24-.646-10 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .249-389-9-54-.675-37 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .231-147-3-13-.656-0 B)
9: P Jim Baucom (22-L .238-63-0-5-.533-0 C) All-Star(2: 02-03)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 91 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 8,471

Top of the First:
Jim Beard flies out to right. Jeff Garrigus grounds out to 3rd. Don Bruns grounds out to 3rd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson strikes out looking... Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle. It is time for his annual September outburst! Ray McDonald flies out to deep left. Doty steals 2nd! Marty Eades swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd...

Bottom of the Second:
Jack Washburn doubles to right center and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Bart Daw pops out to center and Washburn holds... Gary McKellar takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. P Jim Baucom grounds a hit to left and Washburn scores! 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Third:
And who gets the first hit of the game for Syracuse? The sub-.200 hitter, of course! Sal Esquivel grounds a hit up the middle. Buddy Elliott grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for another hit and Esquivel beats the throw to 3rd... P Tom Peterson bunts Elliott to 2nd and Esquivel stays put at 3rd. Jim Beard lines a hit to center and Esquivel scores and Elliott heads home, but Gary McKellar throws him out! Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Third:
With 1 out, Ray McDonald beats out an infield hit and goes to 2nd on a ground out. Jack Washburn grounds a hit up the middle and McDonald scores! 2 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Bart Daw doubles to right! And gets thrown out trying to steal 3rd....

Top of the Fifth:
With 2 outs, P Tom Peterson swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle... Jim Beard lines a hit to right... Jeff Garrigus hits a home run to left center... 4 to 2, Sycamores. This park does not like lefties... It is too kind to right-handed hitters....

Bottom of the Sixth:
Jack Washburn doubles to left. Don Kern grounds a hit to left and Washburn scores! 4 to 3, Sycamores. Kern gets caught stealing...

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Hal Bradford (27-L). With 1 out, Dave Bess swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit up the middle. Sal Esquivel, the sub-.200 hitter, grounds his second hit of the game up the middle and Bess goes to 3rd... The Bullpen gets up. Buddy Elliott grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Benny Martineau (32-L), their All-Star(02) and Fireman Trophy winning closer, who was not an All-Star this season for some reason. He is 3-3 with 30 SV and a 1.51 ERA in 53.2 IP with only 15 BB and 54 SO. 7-8-9 up for us. Bart Daw grounds out to short. Gary McKellar grounds out to 2nd... PH Dave Thompson (27-R) grounds out to short...

Lost - 4 to 3

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Syracuse had 12 hits and made 1 error

Jim Baucom (L 13-7) went 7 innings, allowed 4 runs, 9 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI. Only his 3rd non Quality Start of the season and against the 2nd worst offense in the League...
LHP Hal Bradford pitched 2 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits.

Tom Peterson (W 14-8) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Benny Martineau (SV 31) pitched a perfect 9th.

1B Jack Washburn had 3 hits with 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw hit a double. PH Mike Volkman had a hit.

For Syracuse, Jim Beard had 3 hits and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. LF Jeff Garrigus hit his 14th home run of the season and had 3 RBI.

Around the League: The Northern Division went 8-0 against the South today.

[Questdog]

Friday, September 5, 2003

Syracuse Sycamores (82-51 .617 5 GA in 1st place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (68-64 .515 4.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

SYR: Ron Wisham (33-R) (11-9 3.44 ERA 178 IP, 162 H, 11 HR, 42 BB, 119 SO) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(01) vs.
JAX: Dale Gilchrist (25-R) (9-8 2.44 ERA 140 IP, 109 H, 7 HR, 50 BB, 74 SO)

We beat Wisham, who won 23 games, the Ace Award and the Hurler Trophy last year, in June, scoring 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Gilchrist pitched 8 scoreless innings last time out, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts, but we did not score either and he had a no decision that we lost in the bottom of the 9th.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
SYRACUSE
1: CF Jim Beard (25-R .263-475-2-24-.629-33 A+)
2: 1B Bill Crystal (29-S .207-213-7-17-.616-14 A) ex-Jay
3: SS Frank Bates (31-R .254-489-26-73-.794-17 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 01-03)
4: 3B Octavio Garcia (27-S .241-361-12-50-.727-5 B+)
5: C Lee Dean (30-L .227-374-4-37-.671-0 C) Silver Slugger(2: 01-02)/All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: LF Jeff Garrigus (34-R .233-407-14-52-.693-8 A) All-Star
7: 2B Dick Rothwell (26-R .236-212-3-26-.623-4 B)
8: RF Javier Perez (27-L .269-119-3-11-.717-1 B)
9: P Ron Wisham (33-L .125-56-0-0-.280-0 C) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(01)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Junior Danielson (32-R .278-158-0-7-.634-12 B)
2: SS Bart Daw (31-R .249-389-9-54-.675-37 B+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .305-489-11-68-.834-17 B+)
4: 1B Marty Eades (32-R .289-460-20-86-.849-2 C) All-Star
5: 3B Ed Diskin (39-R .254-280-5-51-.677-1 C)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .210-176-6-25-.643-10 B) Rookie
7: LF Cal Doty (26-L .288-479-3-47-.727-29 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .227-150-3-13-.648-0 B)
9: P Dale Gilchrist (25-R .216-51-0-5-.462-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 74 F, Overcast, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 9,528

Top of the First:
Jim Beard grounds out to 2nd. Bill Crystal, the ex-Jay, grounds out to 2nd. Frank Bates lines a hit to left... He tries to steal 2nd, but C Don Kern throws him out!

Bottom of the First:
Junior Danielson flies out to left. Bart Daw grounds out to 2nd. Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd....

Bottom of the Second:
Marty Eades grounds a hit to left. With 1 out, Don Kern hits a home run to center!! 2 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Third:
P Dale Gilchrist swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center and then goes to 2nd on a ground out. Bart Daw walks on 4 pitches. Ray McDonald lines a hit to center and P Gilchrist is waved home, much to my chagrin.... The boy is injury prone; why take risks? He is out in a collision and hurt... Why are we so stupid? Marty Eades beats out an infield hit to load the bases up with 2 outs. P Ron Wisham balks home a run! 3 to 0, Jays! Ed Diskin lines out hard to right. Roger Wallace (28-R) will go in to pitch next inning.

Top of the Seventh:
Bill Crystal pokes a hit over the shortstop. The Bullpen gets up. With 1 out, Crystal is running on a 3-2 pitch to Octavio Garcia,who strikes out, and Crystal is safe at 2nd with a stolen base. Lee Dean lines a hit to center and Crystal heads home, but Gary McKellar throws him out!

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L). Jeff Garrigus knocks a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left... 3 to 1, Jays. Dick Rothwell grounds a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a double... The Bullpen hops up. Javier Perez grounds a hit to left and Rothwell scores... 3 to 2, Jays. PH Don Bruns (33-R), who was 1 for 4 yesterday, lines a hit to left.... Call to the Bullpen: Robbie Hopley (29-R). Jim Beard grounds a hit to right and Perez scores... Tie Game: 3 to 3. 5 straight hits to start the inning.... Bill Crystal swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6, and Bruns goes to 3rd. Crystal tries to steal 2nd and C Don Kern throws the ball into center field and Bruns scores... 4 to 3, Sycamores. When crap like this happens , I feel like someone is out to get me... Frank Bates strikes out. Octavio Garcia pokes a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Crystal scores... 5 to 3, Sycamores. This the 2nd worst offense in the League.... A 5 run inning...

Top of the Ninth:
The Bullpen is ready. Jeff Garrigus grounds the slowest ball I have ever seen make it through the infield and into the right field grass for a hit... Call to the Bullpen: Justin Reddick (31-R). Dick Rothwell lines a hit to center... Javier Perez plunks one and we get the force at 2nd, 2-4, and Garrigus goes to 3rd. Don Bruns grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Garrigus scores, but Gary McKellar throws Perez out at 3rd! 6 to 3, Sycamores.

Lost - 6 to 3

We are now 7-14 against lefties on the season...
That is the worst record in the League.
Also the fewest lefties faced by any team, by far.
I guess that is one good reason to load them all up in our own rotation...

We had 7 hits and made 1 error
Syracuse had 15 hits (9 in the 8th and 9th innings) and made no errors

Dale Gilchrist pitched 3 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, no walks and struck out no one. At bat, he had an unfortunate hit.
RHP Roger Wallace went 4 scoreless innings, allowed 4 hits and struck out 3.
LHP Bill Grant (L 4-7) got no one out for the 2nd time in 3 outings, allowed 4 runs (3 earned), 4 hits and 1 home run. 10 runs allowed in his last 5 IP.
RHP Robbie Hopley (BS 2) went 1 inning, allowed 2 runs (1 earned), 3 hits and struck out 2.
RHP Justin Reddick went 1 scoreless inning (but allowed the inherited runner to score) and allowed 2 hits.

Ron Wisham (W 12-9) went 7 innings, gave us 3 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 3. He balked.
LHP Benny Martineau (SV 32) pitched 2 perfect innings and struck out 2.

SS Bart Daw drew 2 walks and scored a run. 1B Marty Eades had 2 hits and scored a run. C Don Kern hit his 7th home run of the season and had 2 RBI. It was the team's 1st home run in 8 games.... CF Gary McKellar was 0 for 4, but threw 2 runners out, one at home and one at 3rd.

For Syracuse, LF Jeff Garrigus had 3 hits with his 15th home run of the season 2nd 2nd in 2 days and scored 2 runs.

Trudy's report on Dale Gilchrist is back spasms, the same thing that Roger Wallace had. She says it should bother him for a week or two, but won't affect his pitching. Maybe not, but being injury prone, it will send him to the hospital without fail, if we try to pitch him.... So we will put him on the DL....

[Questdog]

Saturday, September 6, 2003

We put P Dale Gilchrist (25-R) on the Disabled List and recalled P Mike Marsh (22-R), who has had some impressive outings for Daytona (A) of late. Some not so impressive, too...

Syracuse Sycamores (83-51 .619 5 GA in 1st place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (68-65 .511 4.5 GB in 4th place in the Southern Division)

SYR: Ron Hutchins (32-R) (15-5 1.41 ERA 197.1 IP, 126 H, 5 HR, 54 BB, 187 SO) All-Star(3: 01-03) vs.
JAX: Danny Coreano (24-L) (6-5 3.26 ERA 85.2 IP, 75 H, 4 HR, 23 BB, 43 SO)

Someone said Hutchins needed a bop on the nose. Well, here is our chance to deliver one. He is the #1 starter on a staff full of #1 starters. He was 15-8 with a 2.77 ERA in 227.1 IP last year and led the MLB in strikeouts with 248. This year, he leads in the League in ERA, Shutouts and Strikeouts. The League is hitting .183 against him. He is actually, believe it or not, 0-1 in 2 starts against us in his career with a 5.40 ERA. 11.2 IP, 16 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 15 SO. We did not face him in Syracuse this season.

Coreano gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5 innings last time out in a win.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
SYRACUSE
1: CF Jim Beard (25-R .265-480-2-25-.631-33 A+)
2: LF Jeff Garrigus (34-R .238-411-15-53-.708-8 A) All-Star
3: 1B Don Bruns (33-R .286-301-3-36-.734-6 C)
4: SS Frank Bates (31-R .254-493-26-73-.791-17 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: C Lee Dean (30-L .230-378-4-37-.674-0 C) Silver Slugger(2: 01-02)/All-Star(2: 02-03)
6: RF Dave Bess (27-R .256-391-8-57-.706-4 B+)
7: 3B Octavio Garcia (27-S .241-365-12-51-.724-5 B+)
8: 2B Buddy Elliott (33-R .261-360-2-33-.645-0 B+)
9: P Ron Hutchins (32-R .066-61-0-0-.189-0 C+) All-Star(3: 01-03)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (26-L .288-483-3-47-.726-29 B+)
2: RF Ray McDonald (23-L .304-493-11-68-.831-17 B+)
3: 1B Jack Washburn (21-L .253-368-9-37-.730-25 B)
4: 3B Marty Eades (32-R .291-464-20-86-.850-2 C) All-Star
5: 2B Ed Diskin (39-R .254-284-5-51-.675-1 C+)
6: C Don Kern (26-R .211-180-7-27-.657-10 B) Rookie
7: SS Bart Daw (31-R .248-395-9-54-.676-37 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (33-R .221-154-3-13-.632-0 B)
9: P Danny Coreano (24-L .304-23-0-2-.639-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 84 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,983

Top of the First:
Jim Beard strikes out! Jeff Garrigus grounds a hit to right... Why does every team have one guy that we just cannot get out at all? Don Bruns walks on 4 pitches.... Frank Bates grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!!

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty grounds one up the middle, but Buddy Elliott makes a diving stop and throws him out.... Ray McDonald flies out to center. Jack Washburn doubles to right. How many times has Marty Eades failed to get a 2 out hit to knock in a run in the 1st inning of late? Well, add one more to the tally... He strikes out...

Top of the Fourth:
Jeff Garrigus swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to center. 7 pitch AB. Don Bruns takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. 9 pitch AB. Frank Bates takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. 8 pitch AB. Lee Dean Takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. 7 pitch AB. The Bullpen gets up. Dave Bess strikes out on 3 pitches! Octavio Garcia swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses! 6 pitch AB. A 40 pitch inning with no runs! That is not something you see every day!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Marty Eades grounds a hit up the middle. Ed Diskin plunks a bunt down in front of the plate and C Lee Dean goes to 2nd for the force, but his throw is late! Don Kern grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Eades goes to 3rd.... Bart Daw strikes out....

Top of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Justin Reddick (31-R). P Danny Coreano was at 110 pitches after 6 innings and getting tired.... Dave Bess grounds out to short and Bart Daw boots it. Octavio Garcia lays down a bunt and C Don Kern goes to 2nd, but his throw is late... Here we go with another of those ridiculous innings... This is not P Reddick's fault at all, but the Bullpen gets up anyway. I do suspect his bad karma is to blame, though... Buddy Elliott flies out to deep center and Bess tags up and goes to 3rd. P Ron Hutchins fails to get a bunt down and swings away with 2 strikes and misses! Jim Beard lines one hard to deep right, but Ray McDonald runs it down!

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (33-L). He has been very shaky of late and has not retired a batter in 2 of his last 3 outings. 5-6-7 up for the Sycamores. Lee Dean flies out to center. Dave Bess takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. The Bullpen is stirring. PH Don Czachor (32-L), 0 for 1 yesterday, but a lifetime .340 hitter, lines out to short. We try to double Bess off at 1st, but he gets back in time... Buddy Elliott pops out to center!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Eli Kyzar (31-R), a 2-time All-Star(01,03), who is 8-7 with 1 SV and a 2.52 ERA in 93 IP with 10 starts. He was 18-8 with a 2.37 ERA as a full-time starter in 2001. 3-4-5 up for us. Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep right. Marty Eades lines one hard to deep left, but Jeff Garrigus makes a diving catch.... Ed Diskin strikes out...

Extras!

Top of the Tenth:
9-1-2 up for Syracuse. They go down in order, including Jeff Garrigus!

Bottom of the Tenth:
6-7-8 up for us. Don Kern beats out an infield hit. Bart Daw bunts into a force at 2nd, 1-6.... Danny Stewart grounds a hit up the middle and Daw beats the throw to 3rd! PH Dave Thompson (27-R) is sent up. Stewart steals 2nd.... Thompson strikes out.... Cal Doty lines a hit to right and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 1 to 0

We certainly did not give P Ron Hutchins a bop on the nose, but we won the game!

We had 5 whole hits and made 1 error
Syracuse had 3 hits (all singles; 2 by Jeff Garrigus) and made 1 error

Danny Coreano pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 5 walks and struck out 5. 110 pitches. It is the 5th time in the past 2 weeks that we have had a starting pitched not allow any runs and not get a win. 2 of those were Dale Gilchrist leaving early with an injury, but still....
RHP Justin Reddick went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
LHP Bill Grant (W 5-7) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 1.

Ron Hutchins pitched 8 scoreless innings, gave us 2 hits, 2 walks and struck out 9. 118 pitches. His season ERA is now 1.36....
RHP Eli Kyzar (L 8-8) went 1.2 innings, gave us 1 run, 3 hits and struck out 2.

LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk, stole his 30th base of the season and knocked home the game winning run, the only run of the game. 1B Jack Washburn hit a double. CF Danny Stewart had a hit in his only at bat.