The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

The IBL at the halfway mark.
The 2nd wild card is definitely going to spice it up. Pittsburgh and Tulsa are pulling away already, the Pacific looks like a 3 way shootout. The FL West is looking like everyone's in at this point. Columbus is leading or tied in 4 other divisions outside ours. New York is teasing the Empire right now, on the verge a race and pulling away with a run.
6 Teams within 5 of the 2nd spot in the FL Wild Card.
Vince Bray is working to a 2nd pitching triple crown in the FL.
Cruz is on pace to break his own single season save mark (48). Thompson could entertain some triple crown talk as we move farther along.

[gehrig38]

A peek at the other league's best players through 81 games.
Jesus Andrales (LV) looking for a 2nd batting title, though he was hurt today and it likely out a few weeks...
Interesting to see an expansion team SP leading the league in ERA. Porter came from Tulsa last year, where he was 4-8 6.39.
Bray is clearly healthy and back at full speed, a dominating first half.

[gehrig38]

At the 81 game mark...
Chavez is having hell of a season so far. Chartier is, though he doesn't know it, singing a wonderful swan song, hope he wins the batting title!
Cruz is justifying the extension in quick fashion and Pedro Salinas is clearly the real deal with the bat. Before his injury I was thinking Bryan Rogers was going to compete for a K title, maybe next year.

[gehrig38]

A look at the stats, then the team page for the full monty at 81...Very little to complain about on the offensive side, other than Collins has played in just 23 games to date. Wes Morgan is quietly have a great season. Alexander is in a peak/valley year, that's going week to week. Ron Miller has been a Godsend, had an amazing spring and has been called on to play everyday, which he wanted, and has hit his butt off. Riggs is making a place among the leagues best 2B.
It's only 71 games but I am feeling like I need to keep an eye out on a catcher, Hudson's cooled off but I am feeling like this is 'who he is' from here on out. Might have to look at the Knox deal again.

[gehrig38]

A look at our team page at 81 games.

[gehrig38]

INJURY NEWS
Vegas loses all star Andrales:
Jesus Andrales will miss the next 3 weeks after spraining his ankle in a collision on the bases yesterday. The 51’s are 47-34 and 3 games back of 1st place Sacramento, and 1 game in front of LA for the 1st WC spot. Andrales is the Coastal leagues leading hitter at .352.

Wizards out a closer:
LA closer Julion Gonzalez will miss the next 4-5 weeks with shoulder problems the team learned today. Gonzalez is 1-2 20 Saves and a 2.36 ERA and LA is currently holding the 2nd WC position by 4 games over Houston, and 4 games behind Sacramento in the Pacific.

TRADE NEWS
Edmonton bolsters rotation:
The Trappers have traded for 29 year old SP Tim Daniel, from San Antonio, for 21 year old 1B prospect Jorge Marin. Daniel was 9-6 5.26 in 23 starts for the Silver Stars last year, and has been in AAA this season. He moves into the Edmonton rotation (he’s 10-12 5.72 lifetime). Edmonton sent 1B/OF Marin, a speedy young prospect they signed out of Mexico in 2014 to San Antonio.

GOOD GAMES
CL ERA leader Ken Porter helped his cause again today, firing a 5 hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Baltimore. The win moves him to 7-7 2.69 on the season.

GAME 82
Ken Lee (9-4) pitched 7.2-6-2-2-1-6 strong innings in beating Michigan’s Dan Hill (2-10). Wes Morgan went 2-3, scored 3 and drove in 3 (56) on his 14th homer and Luis Chavez hit his league leading 29th, a grand slam, in the 9th. Pedro Salinas was 2-5.
CHI 12 MICH 2 (59-23 +8)

GOOD GAMES
David Powell (SAC) tossed a 4 hit 7-0 shutout over Vegas today. He’s 8-6 4.45 on the year.

WEEK 13 RECAP
FL POTW-Christian Schall (COL) 11-27 4 HR’s 9 RBI’s (.255-15-54)
CL POTW-Toby Clifton (SAC) 11-20 4 HR’s 8 RBI’s (.303-15-51)

IBL CAREER RBI LEADERS
Bill Alexander (CHI) 784
Bill Hill (SI) 715
Curt Whimster (TUL) 669
Cy May (HOU) 629
Travis Bryant (BAL) 627

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Sacramento (3)
3) Tulsa (2)
4) Columbus (4)
5) Pittsburgh (7)
OUT Arizona (16) Ouch, a 1-6 week only made better by Edmonton’s 2-5 showing.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 14
2 @ Michigan (28-54 31 GB MW)
3 vs New York (45-37 +3 EM)
Off Day
1 @ Staten Island (38-44 7 GB EM)

GAME 83
A 2 run 9th inning rally broke a 3-3 tie and made Jake Ellison a 5 game winner (5-0). Alejandrez went 6-4-3-3-4-6 and Ellison and Cruz (27th Save) went 3 hitless innings in relief. Luis Chavez leadoff triple in the 9th proved to be the game winning run on Bill Alexanders 3rd hit of the day.
CHI 5 MICH 4 (60-23 +9)

TRADE NEWS
Bulldogs reacquires former slugger from Bisons:
Pittsburgh made a deal to acquire 31 year old OF Jose Palacios from Buffalo for 25 year old 1B Miguel Deleon. Deleon is thought to be one of the future stars, offensively, in the IBL but the Bulldogs felt they had the depth to make the move for the veteran slugger. Palacios was a Bulldog in ’12 (after being acquired from Houston) and ’13 (when he was dealt to Buffalo). He hit 22 homers in 122 games with Pittsburgh and has 121 career homers in 690 games. His best season was 2015 when he hit 34, and drove in 114 for Buffalo. Deleon was 3rd in the IBL last season with 209 hits and owns a career .314 average. The deal was seen as a big win for Buffalo who, at 32-51, are trying to put together a team for the longer term while the Bulldogs are 10 games in front of Baltimore in the CL Keystone. Palacios will DH and hit behind cleanup hitter Ross Tunstall.

Tulsa, Columbus deal aging all stars:
Columbus sent 35 year old 3B Haqverdi Hamidov and 22 year old 2B Dave Tyler to Tulsa for 34 year old Greg McCain. Tulsa had inked the former batting champ to a 4 year 39.1M deal this past Marchbut he missed almost 5 weeks to start the season. He’s done nothing but hit since returning, .326-7-35 in 41 games but Columbus was in dire need of the bat with 6 players on the DL and them holding a 5 game lead for the FL WC 1st spot. Tulsa, 54-29 and 11 games in front of Houston in the Lone Star. Was after IF depth and rumor has it were huge fans of the prospect acquired in the deal. Tyler is a 22 year old 1B/3B who can play 2B/SS if needed. A decent contact guy who has big power projections, the Drillers have sent him to short season Bucyrus. He was Columbus’s 3rd round pick in 2014 (54th overall). Hamidov was struggling so far this year, hitting .207-3-25 in 64 games.

GAME 84
A 22 mph wind out to center and some horrid SP were two factors in an ass whipping. Michigan hit 6 homers and scored 18 runs as Curt Daugherty was embarrassing and Ken Johnson gave up a career worst 7 in 1.2 IP. Daugherty gave up 7 in 1.2 as well. We actually led 5-4 after the top of the 2nd, but Michigan scored 14 over the next 4. Stu Gaskin (9) Freddie Gill (6) Pat Dobson 2 (21) and Ted Long 2 (7) hit homers with Gill driving in 4 in a 4-5 day and Long driving in 6 with a Grand Slam. Coates (8), Morgan (15) and Alexander (13) homered for Chicago.
MICH 18 CHI 9 (60-24 +8)

ROSTER MOVES
Daugherty was optioned to AAA and put on the trading block as the final out of the game was being made…..
Mike Alexander was recalled from AAA Tulsa.

GREAT GAMES
Houston slugger Cy May went 3-3 and drove in 4 today as he hit 3 home runs in a 5-4 win over Fresno. May has 27 homers and 75 RBI’s on the year. This was his 2nd career 3 homer game (10/25/13 he hit 3 home runs in a World Series game vs Sacramento).

GAME 85
A season of ‘1 too many’ for Gerardo Zamora. Trailing 3-1 into the 7th, and tiring, with 2 outs he gave up a single and was left in, 1 too many, as Mathew Moore drilled his 2nd of the game (12) to make it 5-1. Zamora (6-2) went 6.2-8-5-5-2-2- in the loss. Moore was 3-4 with 3 runs and 4 RBI’s (34) and Jean Chartier hit his 13th. Sherman Mitchell (5-7 6.68) went the distance 9-6-1-1-3-4 in the win.
NY 5 CHI 1 (60-25 +7)

GOOD GAMES
A name you’ll likely hear over the next decade or two, Jorge Garcia, went 5-6 in a 16-6 Clipper win over Green Bay. The IBL’s youngest player, at 18, drovin in 5. He’s hitting .308-3-17 in 18 games since his recall from AA. He was discovered and signed out of Cuba in 2015.

TRADE NEWS
I have an offer in on Cox now, with SP Curt Daugherty as the center of that offer.

GAME 86
Cruz (Save 28) escapes a hairy 1st and 3rd 9th inning after Ken Johnson’s clutch 8th inning DP ball with 1 out and runners on the corner of a 2-1 game. Walt Thompson (11-3) went 7-7-1-1-2-10 for the win. Ron Miller accounted for the offense in a 2-3 day, hitting 2 solo shots (17).
CHI 2 NY 1 (61-25 +8)

TRADE NEWS
Chicago deals for Catcher Knox:
The Iron Pigs sent 24 year old SP Curt Daugherty and 26 year old OF Greg Leonard to the Sacramento River Cats for 26 year old Catcher George Knox. Daugherty has defied all expections in 3 separate call ups, getting hammered each and every time to the point he needs a change of scenery. Leonard will likely move onto their IBL roster, he’s good enough. Know was hitting .243-14-42 this year and provides a younger and more potent bat to Flores as the backup. Flores was optioned to Tulsa to make room for Knox on the 25 man roster.

Chicago deals veteran backup:
We followed the earlier deal by sending Rafael Flores to New Hampshire for 26 year old lefty reliever Robert Helms. A very good LH pen option making minimum, and with just 2 years of IBL service who’s struggling for the Fisher Cats right now (4-2 1 Save 5.77). He’ll head to Tulsa for now.

CONTRACT TALKS
Met with Bryan Rogers, who’s currently DL’d, about an extension. He’s arbitration eligible after this season and is likely looking at a 5m or so settlement. He was talking about a 1 year 7+ million deal and I offered him 3 at 9.7, with the 3rd year vesting on 55 games started. He was receptive and will get back to us.

GAME 87
Ken Lee (10-4) dominated over the first 8, but Marcos Oginlara hit his 2nd homer of the game (22) in the 9th to force him out and Ernesto Cruz came in to get his 29th Save. Lee went 8.1-7-3-3-2-4 and entered the 9th with just 79 pitches. Bill Alexander’s 1st inning Grand Slam (14) and Massi Lorenzelli’s 1st homer of the year were the offense.
CHI 5 NY 3 (62-25 +

MINORS NEWS
Orlando Rea (3rd pick this year) is out with a severe ankle sprain, for the next 2 months. He was 1-1 3.86 in 3 starts over 18.2 IP.

GAME 88
Alejandrez (11-4) dominates (7-5-1-1-2-4) and the offense pounds 16 hits, scoring 12 times. Newest Iron Pig George Knox goes 3-3 with 3 RBI’s (45) in his 1st start, 6 starters (Riggs, Chartier, Salinas, Morgan, Miller and Alexander) have 2 hits apiece.
CHI 12 SI 2 (63-25 +8)

INJURY NEWS
Pittsburgh ace sidelined:
Bulldog Vincent Bray will head to the 15 day DL today with tendinitis in his right arm. At 14-3 Pittsburgh is taking every precaution to not have this linger. They lead the Keystone by 12 games over Baltimore.

WEEK 14 RECAP
FL POTW-Andrew Jones (GB) 9-25 3 HR’s 12 RBI’s (.303-21-65)
CL POTW-Lance Berkman (DAL) 11-24 3 HR’s 13 RBI’s (.213-22-68)

INTERESTING NEWS
Former #2 pick 1B Jorge Trujillo took home the AA POTW honors after his 11-26 4 HR 9 RBI week. He’s hitting .441-6-12 in 9 games since being called up. For the season, between A/AA, he’s hit 24 homers and driven in 61 runs in 63 total games. While hitting .343. I am feeling pretty sure John Johnston will never be good enough to make this trade not seem like a huge mistake.

IBL SINGLE SEASON RECORD: TRIPLES
Luis Rubio (AZ) 19 ‘13
Rich Stone (HOU) 18 ‘16
Rich Stone (HOU) 18 ‘15
Jesus Andrales (LV) 18 ‘14
Rich Stone (HOU) 17 ‘14

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Tulsa (3)
3) Columbus (4)
4) Pittsburgh (5)
5) Sacramento (2)

TRADE NEWS
Dallas ships gold glove 1B to Houston:
The Texans have traded 33 year old Joe Rowe to Houston for 29 year old 2B Roberto Morales. Rowe is hitting .257-13-46 after a monster ’16 campaign (.279-31-118). Morales is hitting .234-8-29 in 79 games. He hit .267-7-40 in 113 games between Pittsburgh and Houston last year. His best year was in 2015 when he hit .280-13-70 in 150 games for the Bulldogs. He hit a career high 15 homers in 2012 for Sacramento. He was a 2015 CL All star and finished 3rd with 41 doubles and 7th with 110 runs. Rowe was a 2012 CL All Star and won the CL Gold Glove at 1B in ’15 and ’16 but will move to 3B in Houston with Troy Glaus playing first.

[gehrig38]

Where we stand on the 10th of July

[gehrig38]

WEEK 15
2 @ Staten Island (39-49 9 GB EM)
3 vs Green Bay (48-40 15 GB MW)
2 @ Edmonton (47-41 +2 W)

GAME 89
A 3 run 9th inning rally capped by newcomer George Knox’s tie breaking single decided this one. Mike Alexander battled, throwing 110 pitches over a 6-9-3-2-1-6 outing. Sanchez (1-2) got the win and Cruz saved his 30th. Yankee SP Ron Phillips went 8-6-3-2-2-5 in the no decision.
CHI 6 SI 4 (64-25 +8)

INJURY NEWS
Edmonton RP Leroy Long will miss the next 10+ months after rotator cuff surgery today. Long was 3-1 2.54 in 38 games this year.

TRADE NEWS
Knights acquire 3B Kjorsvik from Baltimore:
The Baltimore Raicats sent 29 year old RP Stanton Snyder and 20 year old IF prospect Octavio Gomez to New York for 3B Birger Kjorsvik and 2.2M dollars. Kjorsvik was hitting .238-6-29 in 56 games this season and is a career .256 hitter in 709 IBL games, all but 59 with the Knights. He has 94 career homers. He’ll play 3rd and SS for New York. Snyder will move into a setup role for the 1st place Knights and closer Sherwood Jacobs. He’s 2-1 4.28 in 36 games this season with 42 k’s in 40 IP. He’s 11-15 4.20 in 313 IBL appearances with 502 K’s in 385.2 IP. Gomez was drafted 4th in the 2015 June Draft by Sacramento and dealt that season to Baltimore with Nori Takahashi for OF Jorge Ortiz. He can play all three IF positions and the OF corners.

GAME 90
Zamora (7-2) goes 7-6-2-2-1-5 and Pedro Salinas hits a 3 run shot for his 25th homer in a 7-1 win. Jean Chartier goes 2-5 with a triple (5) and his 14th homer, driving in 3 (52).
CHI 7 SI 3 (65-25 +8)

STREAKS
Todd Helton (GB) went 1-4 to extend his streak to 20 straight with a hit. It’s his 3rd streak of 20 or more games with a hit.

CONTRACT TALKS
Chicago inks SP:
Bryan Rogers agreed to terms on a 3 year 14.08M dollar contract extension to keep him in Chicago through the 2020 season. The 3rd year will vest at 55 games started in the ’18-’19 seasons.

(This is a staggeringly good deal if he remains at his current level, and his command continues to improve. With Martinez dealing in AAA, Zamora taking his lumps up here now, it makes the front end of our rotation very power arm heavy. The hope would be to resign Thompson for 2-3 more years once his deal is up to allow one of these guys to step into the role of ace)

GAME 91
Walt Thompson (12-3) punches out 10 again in a 7-5-3-3-1-10 outing and Cruz bails out the pen for his 31st save. Wes Morgan went 1-4 with his 16th homer and 3 RBI’s (63), Chartier and Chavez stole their 20th bases and Pedro Salinas was 1-4 with 2 RBI’s (73). Andruw Jones was 3-4 with 3 runs and Scott Rolen hit his 16th homer. Todd Helton was 0-4, ending his 20 game streak.
CHI 8 GB 5 (66-25 +9)

GREAT GAMES
Tulsa Driller Curt Whimster went 3-3 today, hitting 3 solo homers for his 1st career 3 home run game. Whimster is hitting .298-29-81 on the season.

TRADE NEWS
Edmonton acquired OF James Snyder from West Michigan for 23 year old OF Rick Hudson. Snyder was playing sparingly this year hitting just .197-1-6 in 21 games but will move into the Edmonton lineup and play LF. This will mark the 3rd time Hudson’s been traded in the past 4 seasons. A top tier runner and good corner OF defender, West Michigan will see if it can’t tap into his abilities. At 23 he’s running out of time on the prospect docket.

Green Bay has shipped OF Dave Miller to Fresno for 25 year OF German Puente and 18 year old IF prospect Don Slater. Puente had played in just 12 games with the Grizzlies this season (his first IBL action) after signing a minor league contract with them last year (he was San Antonio’s 9th pick in 2013 out of FSU). Slater is a top tier IF prospect drafted out of McNeil HS in Austin, Texas in last years draft (6th round). He has top shelf defensive ability and is just 18 years old, as well as an outstanding runner. Miller was a member of the 2013 Houston Roughrider World Series team and signed a 2 year 16.5M extension with Green Bay last winter. He is slated to DH and hit 6th for Fresno who is 10 games out of the race for the 2nd WC position, 15 behind Sacramento in the West.

GAME 92
Irony? A 2 out error by defensive replacement Massi Lorenzelli allowed pinch hitter Chase Utley to step up with 2 on, in a 7-5 game, Utley took Ernesto Cruz deep for a game winning 3 run shot, and Cruz’s 2nd blown save and 1st loss of the year (1st decision really, 0-1). Up to that point the pen had held behind Ken Lee’s 6.1-8-4-4-3-8 game. Todd Helton hit his 15th homer. Luis Chavez went 3-4 hitting his 30th homer and driving in 3 (94). Jean Chartier was 2-4 scoring twice and driving in 2 (56).
GB 8 CHI 7 (66-26 +9)

INJURY NEWS
Diablo’s lose slugger Conway:
El Paso will be without big free agent signing Stefan Conway for the next 6-7 weeks after he fractured his wrist getting hit by a pitch. Conway was hitting .251-15-56 for the Diablos, who are tied with Arizona 1 game behind 1st place Edmonton, and 4 games behind 2nd Wild Card Green Bay at 47-45.

OUCH!
Tulsa outfield Luis Ramirez, a 25 year old slugger we drafted in the Inaugural draft and had spent the past 6 seasons working his way up, this year finally starting to realize his potential, ended his career today after he was drilled in the head yesterday and suffered a career ending concussion and skull fracture. “While we are saddened at this tragic turn of events, Luis was a player that was definitely in our future plans, we have made it clear to him that there is a home here whenever he’s ready, if he’s ready, to return to baseball in some capacity” GM Curt Schilling said.
(The kid had legit pop, hitting 32 homers in his past 142 AAA games as well as being an outstanding defender. We’ll hire him as a coach at some point soon.)

So I’ve gone out and extended a 2 year 3.2M offer to free agent, and former all star Jeff Holland. He’s 30, can still play the field very well, and can still hit. I need more insurance than I currently have.

Devastating news out of Vegas!
A 25 year 5 tool player is supposed to be starting a Hall of Fame career, not ending one. But that’s exactly what happened in Las Vegas today as 25 year old all star and Gold Glove winner Jorge Gonzalez announced his retirement from the game. He was hurt in a May 21st collision this year in one of the worst sports injuries you’ll ever see. Completely wrecking his left knee and having to undergo an ACL reconstruction. Team doctors today announced he will need further surgery and a total knee replacement, ending his career before it really got started. In 226 caeer games the outfielder hit .336-17-112 with 47 doubles, 13 triples and stole 75-108 bases. He finished 3rd in the CL batting race last year (.330) and 4th in SB (35).


GAME 93
Ryan Pennington (H13) and Chris Holt (H1) escaped a bases loaded no out jam in the 7th and Ernesto Cruz got the final 2 outs in the 9th for his 32nd save in a 6-3 win. Alejandrez (12-4) tied Walt Thompson for the FL lead in wins with a 6-5-2-2-1-3 outing and Pedro Salinas went 3-5 with 3 RBI’s (76) on his 26th homer. Wes Morgan was 2-2 with 2 walks and hit #17. Troy Becker went 3-3. Josh Hamilton nailed his 21st homer in the 1st.
CHI 6 GB 3 (67-26 +)

GOOD GAMES
Ok, I have a feeling we’re watching the start of something special. 22 year old #1 pick Pat Kelley tossed his 2nd shutout of his short, 5 start career, blanking Houston 3-0 and running his record to 4-1 1.91. He’s been flat out dominant since signing. 37.2 IP, 20 hits, 26 punchouts and 15 walks.

TRADE NEWS
In lieu of Holland actually accepting the offer I still need to clear some 40 man room. Sent 25 year old RP Bob Pollard to Dallas, along with a 3rd pick, for their 3rd pick in next years draft. I have relievers, and this will move me up 15-20 spots. They wouldn’t do it for an earlier pick.

MINORS NEWS
Roberto Martinez’s 21st birthday is tomorrow and he’ll celebrate it as an undefeated AAA pitcher. He’s 7-0 2.34 in 8 starts. In 61.2 IP he’s K’d 63, walked 26 and given up 43 hits. His control is still in need of work, but he’s at 347 minor league IP now and should be at/near/over 400 after this season. Depending on the workload he is in line to get called up in September. On the season he’s 12-1 2.23 in 125 IP over 17 starts. Averaging over 7 IP a start too. He’s punched out 117 and walked 55.

GAME 94
Mike Alexander went 6.1-6-2-2-4-2 but Eliison and Holt botched it, giving up his runner and 3 more before being bailed out by the offense. Holt won his 1st game (1-1) and Jorge Sanchez spelled a tired Ernesto Cruz for his 1st save of the year.
Bill Alexander hit a bases loaded triple (1) to turn a 0-0 game into a 3-0 lead in the 5th. Ron Miller was 2-3. Riggs (30) and Salinas (15) doubled. Jose Lopez was 2-4 with 3 RBI’s for Edmonton.
CHI 7 EDM 5 (68-26 +10)

GOOD GAMES
Dave Ladd (SI) went 5-6 with 2 RBI’s in a 15-5 win over Michigan today.

TRADE NEWS
Dayton sent 32 year old AAA IF Pedro Ramos to Pittsburgh for 25 year old OF Barry Webster. Ramos ia a career .219-31-118 hitter in 277 IBL games. His best season was 2015 when he hit .235-17-49 between Green Bay and Dayton. With everyday 2B Ramiro Villanueva out for at least the next 3 months the Bulldogs were looking for external options. The price was Webster, a 25 year old OB machine. He’s played sparingly in the past 5 seasons, many felt he was called up far too early in 2013. But he’s a career .276/.382/.360 hitter and in limited action this year he’s hitting .340 with a .508 OBP in 47 AB’s over 19 games. The Dragons have said they’ll use him as a late inning defensive option and a platoon bat vs RHP.

GAME 95
Zamora (7-3) battled but left with 2 runners on and a 4-4 tie, and Pennington let them score and the game slipped away there. Sixto Morales (8-10) went 7-7-4-4-0-5 for the win. Newly acquired James Snyder went 3-4 with 4 RBI’s for Edmonton. Eric Hudson drove in 3 with a bases loaded double (10) in the 7th.
EDM 6 CHI 4 (68-27 +10)

INJURY NEWS
Houston takes huge blow to post season chances as May and O’Reilly go down:
3B Millard O’Reilly will miss the next 5-6 weeks with an oblique injury. He’s hitting .318-11-49 on the year. Houston is 48-47, 14 games behind 1st place Tulsa and 6 behind #2 WC Las Vegas. They also placed OF Cy May on the DL with a severe hamstring strain. Doctors expect him to miss at least the next 2 months. May was hitting .281-27-78 on the year.

WEEK 15 RECAP
FL POTW-Dave Ladd (SI) 14-30 4 HR’s 7 RBI’s (.259-13-56)
CL POTW-Curt Whimster (TUL) 13-29 7 HR’s 10 RBI’s (.303-32-85) Now leading the IBL in HR’s.

STUFF
Jorge Trujillo (1B we traded) won another AA POTW, and is hitting .397-9-23 in 16 games.

CONTRACT TALK
Columbus locks up ace for 4 more:
Clipper Ace Mike Holmes has agreed to terms on a 4 year 54M dollar contract extension. The 33 year old is 7-10 3.95 in 21 starts this year and 88-62 3.84 in his career in 387 starts, all for the Clippers. The deal will pay him 13.5 million in each of the 4 years, starting next season and running through his age 37 season in 2021.

ROSTER NEWS
Rogers left for Tulsa and 1-2 start rehab assignement today.

IBL CAREER LEADERS: TOTAL BASES
Curt Whimster (TUL) 2037
Bill Hill (SI) 1956
Bill Alexander (CHI) 1908
Rich Stone (HOU) 1855
Cy May (HOU) 1774

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Tulsa (2)
3) Sacramento (5)
4) Pittsburgh (4)
5) Los Angeles (8)
OUT Columbus (7)

[gehrig38]

WEEK 16
1 @ Edmonton (49-46 Tied in W)
3 @ El Paso (49-46 Tied in W/4 GB WC #2)
Off Day
2 vs Brooklyn (52-43 1 GB EM/6 GB WC #1/1 GB WC #2)

GAME 96
A 2 run 9th inning rally capped by George Knox’s 2 run single with Ken Johnson taking over for a resting Cruz for his 2nd save. Walt Thompson went 8-10-3-2-1-7 for his 13th win and also became the 1st IBL pitcher to record 100 career wins (100-43) in his 187th career start. Wes Morgan hit his 18th and Knox his 15th (1st in a Chicago uniform). Chartier and Chavez stole their 23rd bases and Chartier was 2-4 with his 14th double.Thompson is now the FL leader in Wins, K’s (148) and 2nd in ERA (3.36) to Zito’s 3.31.
CHI 4 EDM 3 (69-27 +10)

INJURY NEWS
Yankees Hill to the DL:
Staten Island slugger Bill Hill is headed to the 15 day DL after a baserunning collision sprained his ankle. The 34 year old Hill was hitting .286-13-42 at the time of his injury.

ROSTER NEWS
Bryan Rogers punched out 13 in 7.1 IP of his rehab start yesterday. We’ll wait another day before sending Alexander out and recalling him. Alexander was 0-0 with a 2.92 in his brief callup.

GAME 97
Artie Johnson (13-5 4.28) was too tough today, going 8.2-7-0-0-2-4 and Jon Sloan got the final out for his 23rd Save in a 2-0 shutout. Ken Lee (10-5) went 7.1-7-2-2-2-6 in the loss. El Paso scored 1 in the 3rd on Luis Ramos’s solo shot (15) and 1 in the 8th on Vince Lange’s RBI single (29) which drove in Tony Ruiz who was 2-4 with 2 doubles (13).
EP 2 CHI 0 (69-28 +9)

GOOD GAMES
Quinton Morton (ALK) fired a 4 hitter over Arizona in a 9-0 win. He’s 7-9 4.48 on the year.

Steve Dunlap (WMI) gave up just 3 hits in an 8-0 shutout of Edmonton to move to 12-5 5.37 on the year.

Yankee slugger Alejandro Villanueva went 5-6 in a 14-6 whipping of New York. He drove in 4 and is hitting .299-15-66 on the year.

Zorba Christofis (SAC) went 3-5 with 5 RBI’s as he hammered 3 homers in a 12-1 win over Boston.

TRADE NEWS
Edmonton solidifies Pen with Closer Womack:
The Edmonton Trappers today acquired 25 year old West Michigan Closer Jack Womack from the White Caps for 23 year old OF prospect Ramon Campos. Campos was the 2nd round pick of the Fresno Grizzlies in the 2012 June Draft (45th overall). Womack moved into the Closers role this year and was 2-1 with 21 saves and 2.61 ERA in 41 games. He was a 2017 FL All Star. He’s appeared in 171 IBL games with a 9-8 3.51 ERA, with 26 saves and 150 K’s in 190 IP. He will setup for Trapper Closer Colton Courtney.

TRADE NEWS
5 player deal nets Houston All Star, Gold Glover Boyd:
The Corpus Christi Hooks sent All Star Randolph Boyd to the Houston Roughriders for 4 players today. The Hooks will receive 20 year old C Dennis Welch, 23 year old 1B Ed Adronyk, 20 year old SP Rusty Kelley and 23 year old OF Albert Crawford. Boyd is a 2 time all star and career .294/.341/.480 hitter with 192 doubles and 127 homers in 793 career games. He signed a 2 year 14.4M dollar free agent contract with the Hooks this winter after 5 seasons in Baltimore. He’s hit 31 or more doubles every season, his best season coming in 2015 when he hit .309-30-129. Welch was Houston’s 11th pick in 2014, Adronyk their 1st pick in the 2012 June Draft, Kelley was an undrafted minor league free agent in 2014, and Crawaford was Houston’s 52nd round pick in the 2012 Inaugural draft. The belief is that none of these are blue chippers, with Welch and Adronyk the most likely to get to the IBL, Kelly projects as a 4 or 5 at best. After the O’Reilly injury Houston has been scouring for a replacement, and Boyd’s ability to play gold glove defense at all 4 IF positions as well as his bat were a perfect find for Houston, which is 13 games behind Tulsa in the Lone Star, and 5 behind Vegas for the 2nd Wild Card.

GAME 98
A rare bullpen meltdown by Ernesto Cruz (BS3, 0-2) as he and Jake Ellison allowed 5 runs over the final 3 outs. Vince Lange and Tommy Henry hit back to back 2 run doubles in a 4 run 9th, the 2nd off Cruz, both with 1 out, and Tony Ruiz lead off the 10th with a walk off solo shot off Cruz to end it.
Pedro Salinas drilled a grand slam in the 7th, Bill Alexander hit 2 double s(12) and Will Harris was 3-4. Alejandrez went 6.1-7-2-2-2-6.
EP 7 CHI 6 (10) (69-29 +8)

GAME 99
Mike Alexander couldn’t get past the 4th in a 4-7-6-5-4-1 outing but the offense managd to keep it tied until Sanchez (1-3) blew it in the 6th. Vincent Lange was 3-4, Caden Haynes 3-5 and Tony Ruiz hit his 7th homer. Wes Morgan (19) Bill Alexander (15) Troy Becker (2) and Pedro Salina (28) hit homers in the loss as El Paso completed a 3 game sweep.
EP 8 CHI 6 (69-30 +8)

GREAT GAMES
Las Vegas OF Bob White went 4-5 with 4 RBI’s and hit for the cycle in a 12-8 loss to San Antonio. He’s the 3rd player for Vegas to accomplish the feat (Jelmar Walraven, Casey Blanchard both in 2013) and just the 17th player in IBL history to do it.

INJURY NEWS
Los Angeles Wizards SP Luis Chavez will miss the remainder of 2017 after undergoing surgery to relieve a radial nerve compression in his throwing arm.The 31 year old Chavez was 9-7 4.48 in 21 starts.

TRADE NEWS
Michigan acquires former All Star:
The Philadelphia Patriots traded 2015 All Star Julio Martinez to Michigan for 1B Ted Long and C Peter Sweeny today. The 30 year old Martinez missed all of last season after breaking his kneecap but is a career .286 hiter with 71 homers in 539 IBL games. Long hit a career high 27 homers last year but has been a bench player this year, appearing in just 34 games but hitting 8 homers and driving in 24. Sweeny was signed out of Canada last year by the NY Knights and traded to Michigan earlier this year.

West Michigan, Green Bay make a swap:
West Michigan has sent 31 year old C Doug Winston and 21 year old IF Leon Morales to Green Bay for 30 year old 2B Ken Jackson. Winston is a 2 time FL Gold Glove winner at Catcher now with his 5th IBL team in 6 years. Jackson is an elite defender as well, playing all around the IF but has been relegated to backup duty and was extremely unhappy with his role, playing in just 19 games this season (.333-3-11). West Michigan signed Morales out of Venezuela last year.

Roster News
OF Jeff Holland has agreed to a 2 year 3.2M contract. Hugh Collins is 5-8 in his 2 games, so he’s ready. Troy Becker and Holland will head to Tulsa.

PROBLEM:
Holland is refusing to be demoted, which I knew was a possibility. So we’ll see who is interested…

El Paso bites, offering 26 year old LHH OF Steve Rowe. A 19/20 defender across all three spots, with a 18 eye. We also exchange 1st and 2nd round picks, moving me up some in both rounds after convincing John Gibson Holland was not only a premium talent, but signed to a very palatable 2 year deal. Rowe has 2 options left.

GAME 100
Bryan Rogers (7-4) return was rusty at best. 5-8-6-5-5-6 giving up 2 homers on 107 pitches. Ron Miller (18) and George Knox (16) homered but Carlos Andrade was 4-4 with 3 RBI’s in a 7-6 Brooklyn win.
BRO 7 CHI 6 (69-31 +7)

GOOD GAMES
Edmonton's Sixto Morales tossed a 2 hitter over Michigan today. The 25 year old struck out 8 in moving to 9-10 4.09 on the year.

TRADE NEWS
Fresno has sent 28 year old RP Jose Romano to El Paso for 18 year old C prospect Albert Coleman. Romano is 11-4 3 Saves 3.36 ERA in 182 IBL games over 219 IP. Coleman was the Diablos 3rd pick in the 2016 June Draft and is considered a very good hitting catching prospect.

Pittsburgh Trades for SP:
The Bulldogs have sent 19 year old OF prospect Jesus Chapa to New Hampshire for 26 year old SP Dan Morris. Morris is 25-22 5.31 lifetime in 76 games, 67 starts. He’s 9-4 4.75 in 20 starts this year. Chapa was one of Pittsburgh’s top OF prospects, signed out of Puerto Rico in 2015.

GAME 101
A 2 run tie breaking rally in the 8th capped by Bill Alexander’s 3rd hit of the day made Arturo Rodriguez a winner (4-1). Ernesto Cruz got the final 3 in order for his 33rd Save. Wes Morgan was 2-3 with 2 RBI’s (69) on his 20th homer.
CHI 8 BRO 6 (70-31 +7)

WEEK 16 RECAP
FL POTW-Andruw Jones (GB) 11-21 4 HR’s 8 RBI’s (.316-26-78)
CL POTW-Jeff Ball (FRE) 12-24 3 HR’s 13 RBI’s (.290-15-60)

ORG NEWS
Belleview 1B Ruberto Gabere took home MWL POTW honors for his 7-18 6 RBI week. He’s hitting .262-20-65 on the year.

IBL CAREER HR LEADERS
Bill Alexander (CHI) 250
Bill Hill (SI) 240
Curt Whimster (TUL) 226
Cy May (HOU) 222
Travis Bryant (BAL) 219

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Sacramento (3)
2) Los Angeles (5)
3) Tulsa (2)
4) Chicago (1) First week this year I can remember that we aren’t #1
5) Columbus (7)
OUT Pittsburgh (6)

[gehrig38]

Quick look at the standings

[MizzouRah]

39 games over .500 and Columbus is only 7 games behind you, wow... and look at Tulsa and Sacramento.

[illeracula]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

39 games over .500 and Columbus is only 7 games behind you, wow... and look at Tulsa and Sacramento.

I was thinking the same thing, Columbus just won't go away...

[Orcin]

It's an interesting league of haves and have nots. There are 5 teams over .600 and 4 teams under .400.

[gehrig38]

Originally Posted by illeracula

I was thinking the same thing, Columbus just won't go away...

Not only that, but their run 2 years ago is one I won't forget. The playoff format change is going to have a major impact this year. But either way, WC now have to seriously earn their way to the Series.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 17
1 vs Brooklyn
3 @ Dayton
3 vs Arizona

GAME 102
A 2 out 2 strike pinch hit tie breaking homer in the 9th from Ron Miller was the difference. Thompson (14-3) went 8-8-5-4-1-5 and Cruz was perfect in the 9th for his 34th save. Jumped out for 5 early runs but allowed the Cyclones to claw their way back. 4 Iron Pig homers (Alexander (16) Collins (6) Salinas (29) and Millers pinch hit (19).
CHI 6 BRO 5 (71-31 +

INJURY NEWS
Texan Lance Berkman will miss the next month with a strained oblique. The 25 year old is hitting .315-25-83.

Bulldogs lose Casisas for the year:
Gonzalo Casisas will miss the remainder of the ’17 season with a severe lat strain. He was 7-6- 5.90 in 20 starts.

TRADE NEWS
Staten Island gets Ashley:
Yankees prospects Nathan Spencer (21 year old 3B) and Romain Caron (23 year old C) are headed to Fresno after they dealt 29 year old Tanner Ashley to Staten Island for the prospects. Ashley is 39-50 5.37 in 131 games, 120 starts. He’s 8-7 4.54 in 20 starts this season. He was 15-6 3.18 in AAA last year, and 3-1 1.19 in 5 starts of a September call up for Fresno. Staten Island is his 5th IBL team (Buffalo ’12-’13, Dayton ’13, Arizona ’14 and Fresno ’15,’16,’17). Spencer was Staten Islands 11th rounder in 2014 and was the #94 IBL prospect entering this season, while Caron was the Yanks 3rd rounder in the 2012 draft.

GAME 103
A stiff wind to right and some bad pitching led to 7 homers being hit, 5 by Dayton. Ken Lee (11-5) managed to keep them to solo’s in a 6-7-3-3-1-8 outing. Alfonso Gallegos was 3-5 with 3 RBI’s on 2 homers (16) and Ben Wellman hit 2 solos shots (10). Hugh Collins 7th homer was a Grand Slam in the 2nd. Luis Chavez, before going down in the 8th, hit his 31st. Pedro Salinas was 2-5 with 3 RBI’s on 2 doubles (18). George Knox was 2-5 as well.
CHI 11 DAY 6 (72-31 +8)

INJURY NEWS
No word on Chavez, needless to say anything serious would be a big deal.

TRADE NEWS
Houston deals for a SP:
The Roughriders have sent 20 year old C prospect Dave Nicholson to Houston for 29 year old SP Robert Johnson. Johnson is 3-1 3.34 in 6 starts since his call up this year. He’s 13-11 5.25 in 94 IBL games, 25 starts. Houston is 13 games back of 1st place Tulsa, and 1 game out of the #2 WC spot. Nicholson was signed in 2016 as a minor league FA after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2015 June Draft.

GAME 104
Alejandrez (12-5) struggled going 5.1-9-4-4-1-6 and the pen locked it down byt the offense couldn’t manage to get back in it. Yohann Diffenderffer got the final 3 outs for his 15th save. George Knox hit his 17th homer. Ron Miller was 3-5, Bill Alexander went 2-3.
DAY 4 CHI 3 (72-32 +7)


GREAT GAMES
Michigan rookie Calvin Dundee became the 1st Battlecat player in history to homer 3 times in 1 game when he went 4-4 with 3 homers and 4 RBI’s in a 12-11 loss to El Paso.

INJURY NEWS
Chavez has knee tendinitis, and will be DtD for the next week or so.

TRADE NEWS
Texans, Cyclones swap big leaguers:
Dallas sent 27 year old SP Tom Meade to Brooklyn for Catcher Andres Romero. Meade is 6-8 4.90 in 17 starts, Romerp is hitting .219-2-11 in 62 games. Romero had his first full year as a catcher last season, catching 146 games, hitting .264-7-75. Meade is a 3 time minor league all star and former A (N) Pitcher of the year. He was Dallas’s 10th round pick in the expansion draft.

Fresno deals 3B for prospects:
Edmonton acquired 3B Rory Lewis from Fresno for 23 year old OF prospect John Brown and 23 year old IF prospect Vern Ross. Edmonton’s season is slipping away as 3/4ths of the IF is on the DL, Lewis will help fill the gap while they try and mend. He’s a career .236-21-126 hitter in 341 games. Brown was Edmonton’s 3rd pick in the 2016 June Draft out of Indiana State, Ross was originally drafted by Fresno in 2015 out of UCLA, and released, then signed by Edmonton in 2016.

GAME 105
The offense pounds out 17 hits, and Rogers (8-4) is on early, going 7-5-5-5-3-10. Hugh Collins hits another Gand Slam (8) and Salinas goes 3-6, Alexander 3-6 as well. Chartier hits his 15th homer, driving in 3 (62). Craig Massey goes 2-3 with a double (10) and his 6th homer, driving in 4 (22). Richard O’Dell (6-11) gets KO’d with a 7 run 2nd.
CHI 12 DAY 5 (73-32 +8)

MINORS NEWS
Short Season All Stars announced: Heavener sends SP Glen Ratcliff (4-1 1.43 ERA )

TRADE NEWS
El Paso sends 30 year old 1B Tommy Henry to Baltimore for 36 year old RF Jesus Acevedo and 23 year old RP Jose Navarro are headed to El Paso. Acevedo is a career .296 hitter in 718 games with 79 HR’s and a .378 OBP. He’s spend the past 6 seasons in Baltimore. Had his best year in ’14 going .314-21-100 in 157 games. Henry had his best year in 2015 hitting .321-23-87 in 130 games. He’s a career .282 hitter with 65 homers in 478 games. Navarro was the Railcats 8th rounder in 2015 and a top relief prospect in the Baltimore organization.

GAME 106
Bill Alexander is rounding into form. Going 4-4 with a double (13) and his 17th homer, and Pedro Salinas was 2-5 with 2 RBI’s (91). Zamora (8-3) had a great game, 7-5-2-2-1-8 and Ken Johnson (H8) got 3 in the 8th for Cruz to notch his 35th Save.
CHI 5 AZ 2 (74-32 +8)

GREAT GAMES
Felipe Rosa (CC) went 5-6 with an RBI in a 6-5 win over Fresno.

TRADE NEWS
Fresno in a pair of deals, nets closer and a prospect:
The Grizzlies sent 35 year old 1B to Dallas for 32 year old Closer Bobby Whitten and 24 year old Derek Jenkins. Whitten will setup for Carlos Thuiller. Fresno then sent 29 year old SP Howard Crane to New Hampshire for Fisher Cats IF prospect Carlos Flores. Crane was 9-8 5.28. Flores was signed out of Mexico by New Hampshire in March.

STUFF
Dallas Texan RF Ichiro Suzuki has broken the IBL single season SB record, with his 56th and 57th SB’s in last nights game, surpassing Jesus Andrales (LV) record of 55, with 56 games to go.

GAME 107
Thompson (15-3) stays on a roll going 8-6-3-3-1-5 and George Knox’s 6th inning Grand Slam turns a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead, and eventually a 6-4 win. Ron Miller was 3-3 with his 20th homer and 12th double, Knox also doubled (18). Ernesto Cruz pitched a perfect 9th for his 36th save.
CHI 5 AZ 2 (75-32 +8)

18 year old Clipper, in the news again:
Jorge Garcia, the 18 year old phenom for the Clippers was 4-5 with 4 RBI’s today, hitting for the cycle in the process.

TRADE NEWS
Los Angeles ships slugging OF to Arizona:
Roger Goodman will now try and anchor a new lineup in Arizona. The 30 year old was traded to the Greyhounds for 37 year old RP Wu-shiun Fou and 21 year old 1B prospect Mike Ward. Ward was the #1 pick of the Greyhounds in 2016 out of Georgia Tech (11th overall) and is one of the top hitting propects in the game.

GAME 108
Another crucial early error was the game. Pedro Salinas booted a ball leading to 3 unearned runs. Ken Lee (11-6) went 6-7-5-2-0-3 in the loss. Esteban Mendez saved his 23rd.
AZ 5 CHI 3 (75-33 +8)

WEEK 17 RECAP AND THE TRADE DEADLINE
FL POTW-Andruw Jones (GB) 13-27 5 HR’s 12 RBI’s 7 Runs (.327-31-90)
CL POTW-Rich Stone (HOU) 13-29 4 HR’s 11 RBI’s (.320-12-63)

IBL CAREER ERA LEADERS
Joe Boswell (PIT) 1.60
Ernesto Cruz (CHI) 1.61
Bill Barlow (SAC) 2.02
Anbar Suhayb (ALK) 2.13
Esteban Mendez (AZ) 2.23

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (4)
2) Tulsa (3)
3) Los Angeles (2)
4) Sacramento (1)
5) Columbus (5)

MINORS NEWS
Roberto Martinez gave up a run in 8 yesterday. He’s 8-0 2.00 in 11 starts at AAA Tulsa. Just turned 21 as well.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 18
3 @ Columbus
Off Day
3 vs Buffalo

GAME 109
Alejandrez (13-5) used magic and 2 double plays to escap 3 early bases loaded jams in going 5.1-7-1-1-5-8. Pennington and Johnson threw 3 scoreless to end it. Salinas hit #30 with a double (21). Chartier was 1-2 with 3 walks and 2 SB’s (30).
CHI 5 COL 1 (76-33 +9)

JULY RECAP
JULY FL HITTER-Andruw Jones (GB) .400-15-42 26 Runs (.331-33-95)
JULY CL HITTER-Curt Whimster (TUL) .366-16-33 25 Runs (.314-38-102)
JULY FL PITCHER-Walt Thompson (CHI) 6-0 3.60 (15-3 3.42)
JULY CL PITCHER-Antonio Rodriguez (TUL) 5-0 1.79 (12-8 3.30)
JULY FL ROOKIE-Pedro Salinas (CHI) .360-7-32 (.315-30-92)
JULY CL ROOKIE-Leonard Plumbly (NH) .343-3-8 17 Runs (.394-8-32)

CONTRACT TALKS
Whimster and Tulsa agree to record extension:
Tulsa Driller Curt Whimster has agreed to terms on a 6 year 120 million dollar contract extension, that will keep the all star in a Driller uniform through 2024. Whimster is a 3 time all star, 2014 Hank Aaron Award winner and threatening the single season home run mark this year. A career .314 hitter who sits 3rd all time in IBL Home Runs with 231 and 3rd in RBI’s with 699. He’s the IBL all time leader in games played at 915, and VORP at 440.8, as well as Runs with 664, and total bases with 2081. He also leads in career WAR at 44.6. He holds the single season record for OPS with his 2014 mark of 1.117.

GOOD GAMES
Edmonton SS Jeff Kane went 5-5 in a 13-10 win over Green Bay. Kane drove in 2 with 3 doubles and 2 homers. He’s hitting .254-12-52.

ORG NEWS
Minor league FA Tony Lugo hit for the cycle for Class A (N) Belleview today. He’s just been interested into the lineup and is hitting .391-3-17 in his first 23 games.

Heavener RP Nizi Pipa took home SS Pitcher of the Month for his 6-0 4 Save 0.90 month. He appeared in 15 games and k’d 28 in 20 IP. He wa ssigned in March as a minor league free agent after being released by West Michigan, who drafted him in the 9th round of the June 2015 draft.

[gehrig38]

2 months to go!

[gehrig38]

WEEK 18 Con’t

GAME 110
Rogers (8-5) struggled and Marcos Diaz (5-3) was nails, going 9-6-0-0-2-3. Christian Schall was 2-5 with 4 RBI’s on his 22nd homer. Paul Riggs went down in the 2nd with a leg injury we think, no word but he’s out a day or two while we await news.
COL 8 CHI 0 (76-34 +8)

GAME 111
Zamora (9-3) threw a great game (7-7-2-1-1-6) and the offense pounced early, scoring 6 in the first 3. Pedro Salinas was 3-6 with 2 RBI’s (94), Eric Coates went 4-5 with a double (20), Hugh Collins hit his 9th homer, driving in 2 (33). Eric Hudson showed some life, going 2-4 with 2 RBI’s (40). He’s at .246 so far this year. Christian Schall was 3-4 with his 23 homer and 2 doubles (28).
Randy Pennington (Save 1) worked out of a bases loaded jam to get the last 4 outs.
CHI 9 COL 5 (77-34 +9)

OFF DAY NEWS
Riggs is out a week. Can’t afford to be shorthanded given we go with 12 pitchers so we’ll DL him. Give youngster Lester Jones some games and AB’s.

Look around the minors:

TULSA 79-34 +17-A dominant team filled with prospects and trade bait, and lots of IBL insurance. Alberto Rivera (3B) is an IBL top prospect and finally reaching his potential. Hitting .311-10-61 in 95 games, he’s a September callup at a minimum, and pushing for an everyday job next year at 1B/3B, for someone. Was discovered in Puerto Rico in 2012. Projects to be a .310+ Avg guy with .400+ OBP. Troy Becker is riding the IBL/AAA train and hitting .402 in Tulsa, Alex Cueller has 13 homers, and our top Catching prospect Martin Ramirez is defensively ready, and close to the same offensively. Hitting .261-10-38 in 77 games. Pitching wise, Mike Alexander is 12-4 2.99, Tony Childs is 13-3 3.27, Roberto Martinez is 8-0 2.00 and Mike Hamilton is 13-5 3.09. Bunch of prospect arms in the pen as well. They are top 3 in every category except Home Runs.

BAKERSFIELD 60-53 14 GB-OF Jose Gonzalez has jumped into top prospect talk after his promotion from Belleview. Hitting .314-6-23 in 41 games. His bat has jumped projection wise but at 21 his defense in left and right make him a DH right now, and we have a young one already. Gabriel Fies is hitting as well, .299-7-43. The pitching is strong too, Jim House 8-1 3.22, Bryant Thomas 9-4 3.03 with 162 K’s in 121.2 IP. If he could somehow gain more control he’s a legit top of the rotation guy, but no one can see it improving enough. Ed Harris is 12-4 2.38. Top relief prospect Jorge Pacheco is 3-3 with 23 saves, 2.49 ERA, and just 20 years old.

DENISON 56-57 18 GB-Minor league FA Jake Preston is hitting .302-10-44. Ramon Lopez is 14-8 2.84. Dallas Texan Class A franchise, the Sulliven Mudhens? They’re 15-98 now, 59 games back.

BELLEVIEW 61-52 +1-Minor League FA Max Briddon is pacing the offense with a .294-14-74, backed by Ruberto Gabere’s .261-20-71. Jorge Trujillo (2016 #1) is 6-4 3.19 in 15 starts. Jeff Boggs is 10-6 2.88.

HEAVENER 20-19 TIED-2016 5th rounder Ron Leenan is hitting .317-0-18 in 35 games and has likely become our 2nd best catching prospect. Glen Ratcliff (2017 15th rounder out of Mississippi State) is 4-2 2.36 in 7 starts.

OMAHA 17-22 6 GB-Japanse signing Iemitsu Matsumara is hitting .311 with 23 RBI’s playing around the OF in 36 games, Kevin Olson (2016 6th rounder) is hitting .302-4-15. 2nd rounder Tom Jackson is playing both ways full time still, 2-4 5.12 but throwing well, and hitting .269-1-8.

GAME 112
Walt Thompson (16-3) had another dominant start (8-7-3-3-0-12) and the offense walked all over the Bison staff for 16 runs on 16 hits. Led by Wes Morgan’s 4-5 4 RBI day and Bill Alexander going 2-3 with 5 RBI’s (74) on his 18th homer. Hugh Collins was 2-6 with 3 RBI’s on his 10th homer.
CHI 16 BUF 5 (78-34 +9)

STREAKS
Andruw Jones was 1-4 in a 10-4 loss to El Paso, extending his hitting streak to 20 games.

STUFF
Walt Thompson now leads the FL in Wins, by 2, K’s by 7 over Zito, and is .04 in ERA behind Green Bay’s Grant Thomas.

GAME 113
Lee (12-6) was solid in a 7-7-4-4-1-9 outing and 5 Chicago homers put this one away early. Chartier was 2-4 with 3 runs, 3 RBI’s (68) and hit 2 homers (17), Luis Chavez hit just his 3rd homer (32) in the past 23 games. Hugh Collins hit his 11th, and George Knox his 19th (5th since coming over in 17 games).
CHI 9 BUF 4 (79-34 +9)

GAME 114
An 8 run 6th capped by Jean Chartiers grand slam made a winner of Dave Winston (recalled from his rehab the other day, Chase Holt was sent back to Tulsa). George Knox stayed hot since joining the club going 3-4 with his 20th homer and 4 RBI’s (63).
CHI 12 BUF 2 (80-34 +9)

WEEK 18 RECAP
FL POTW-Andruw Jones (GB) 8-21 5 HR’s 11 RBI’s (.326-35-99) 4th time in the past 5 weeks he’s won.
CL POTW-Curt Whimster (TUL) 10-24 4 HR’s 6 RBI’s (.315-41-106)

GOOD GAMES
Antonio Rodriguez (TUL) tossed 2 hitter over Baltimore to move to 14-8 3.19.

STUFF
Knox appears to have been a great pickup. He’s hot since the move, in 18 games he’s hitting .359/.388/.688 with 6 homers and 21 RBI’s and catching the staff to an ERA of 3.41. He has just 2 years 20 days of service, could likely be a super 2, so it’s not out of the realm to think extension. If he were to qualify, it’s looking like a 2+ million dollar number. We’ve floated a 4 year deal, with the last year being a team option, for 7.2 million, with a base of 1.2/1.5/2.0 and the option coming in at 2.5. Every year a steal if he’s healthy.

IBL CAREER LEADER: INNINGS PITCHED:
Chris O’Slattery (BAL) 1436.2
Vincente Romero (HOU) 1349.1
Walt Thompson (CHI) 1334.2
Mike Holmes (COL) 1280.0
Esteban Valdez (SAC) 1261.1

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Chicago (1)
2) Tulsa (2)
3) Columbus (5)
4) Sacramento (4)
5) Los Angeles (3)

[gehrig38]

WEEK 19
3 @ Alaska
3 @ West Michigan
1 vs Michigan

GAME 115
Ken Johnson (H9) struck out Alex Rodriguez with 2 outs and the tying run on 3rd in the 7th and Ernesto Cruz (Save 37) escaped a 1st and 3rd 1 out jam in the 9th. Bryan Rogers went 6.2-5-1-1-3-5 for the win (9-5). Quinn Morton (8-12) went 8-9-2-2-2-5 in the loss. Hugh Collins 12th homer in the 5th was the game winner.
CHI 2 ALK 1 (81-34 +10)

GOOD GAMES
23 year old Denis Brown’s (CC) 2nd start of his IBL career was a gem. Shutting out Boston on a 1 hitter 5-0 to win his first IBL game. He’s 1-0 2.91 in 9 games, 2 starts.

LA’s Ralph White beat Las Vegas 12-0 to win his 11th. The win moves LA 9 games up on Vegas for the 1st CL Wild Card spot, and keeps them 1 game behind Sacramento in the Pacific.

GAME 116
Zamora walked a tightrope in every inning, but a 3 run 5th tied the game for Alaska. He went 6-8-3-3-4-5. The Avalanche got to Arturo Rodriguez (4-2) in the 7th for 2. Hugh Collins was 3-5 with a leadoff HR (13) and a double (9). Jamie Hilton drove in 3 (50). Anbar Suhayb worked out of a 9th inning jam to save his 28th.
ALK 5 CHI 3 (81-35 +10)

INJURY NEWS
Pittsburgh Bulldog OF and 1st half CL MVP Angelo Gomez will miss the next 4 weeks after fracturing his thumb. Gomez is hitting .327-30-79 for the 1st place club, now 68-48 and 11 up on 2nd place Baltimore.

GOOD GAMES
Brooklyn 1B Carlos Andrade went 5-5 in a 15-13 win over Green Bay. He’s now hitting .341, and leading the FL.

Recently signed OF Jeff Holland (EP) went 5-5 in a 15-6 win over Edmonton.

Pedro Salinas was 1-4 to extend his hitting streak to 20 games.

GAME 117
Two aces go at it, Zito vs Thompson…
Thompson (16-4) led 2-1 with 2 outs, 2 on, in the bottom of the 7th, when Alex Rodriguez slammed a 3 run homer (33) to win it for Alaska. Thompson went 7-11-4-4-1-9, Zito (14-10) went 8-9-2-2-1-6 for the win. Arod was 4-4 with a double (19) and 3 RBI’s. Dan Jackson was 3-4 with 2 runs.
ALK 6 CHI 2 (81-36 +9)

STREAK NEWS
Jeff Hudson (COL) went 1-5 to extend his streak to 20 games with a hit.

Vincente Soto (LA) is back in the news. The Wizard OF is tied with Jesus Andrales (LV) for the CL lead in hitting at .341, and now has a 20 game hitting streak. Soto is making a bid for his 3rd batting title.

GAME 118
Wes Morgan’s 21st homer broke a 3-3 tie in the 8th and Ernesto Cruz wiggled out of a runner on 2nd 1 out jam in the 9th for his 38th Save. Chartier (19) Morgan (21) and Salinas (31) homered. Salinas was 1-1 with 4 walks, tying a regular season Iron Pig record. Arturo Rodriguez (5-2) won with 2 hitless IP, striking out 5. Julian Martinez was 3-5 with his 30th double and Jorge Ibarra hit a 3 run homer off Ken Lee who went 6-8-3-3-3-6 in the no decision.
CHI 4 WMI 3 (82-36 +10)

GOOD GAMES
Glen Harvey (LV) shut out Corpus Christi on 4 hits and K’d a career high 13 to move to 11-6 2.98 on the year.

GAME 119
Julian Martinez doubled (31) and tripled (6) and youngster Mike Lucas (making just his 2nd IBL start) went 8-2-3-3-4-3 for the win, with John Anthony picking up his 4th save. Tyson Howard doubled twice (26) and drove in 3 (51). Pedro Salinas hit his 32nd homer to account for the Chicago offense. Alejandrez (13-6) went 6-11-5-5-1-4 in the loss.
WMI 5 CHI 3 (82-37 +10)

GAME 120
Bryan Rogers (9-6) battled his control again in a 6-5-4-4-4-6 loss and Steve Dunlap (13-8) went 7.2-3-3-1-3-3 for the win. Hugh Hawkins was 3-4 with a double (1) and Tyson Howrd drove in 2. Lester Jones continued to hit, drilling his first IBL homer in a 1-3 day (.417-1-4 since his call up). Wes Morgan was hurt in the 7th with no word yet on the extent of his injury. Salinas’s streak was halted at 23, which is now the longest in Chicago history, topping Wes Morgan’s 22 game streak of 2012.
WMI 4 CHI 3 (82-38 +9)

INJURY NEWS
Hooks Catcher Brent McCoy will be sidelined the next 4 weeks with plantar fasciitis. He’s hitting .240-27-64 in the first year of a 4 year 52.4 million dollar contract signed this winter as the Hooks are headed for another last place finish as they are 41-79, 37 games out.

GAME 121
Lorenzelli ties the game with a 1 out double and 2 hitters later Pedro Salinas forces in the game winning run with a bases loaded walk off Michigan close Jake Duncan (BS3 3-4). Zamora went 8-4-3-3-3-7 and had his ‘one bad inning’ in the 6th as Bob Herman followed 2 walks with his 28th homer. Ernesto Cruz picked up the win with a perfect inning (1-2). Lester Jones was 3-4.
CHI 4 MICH 3 (83-38 +9)

ROSTER NEWS
Wes Morgan will be out 2-3 weeks with an oblique injury. Riggs is 2 days from returning and will not need a rehab assisgnment. Alberto Rivera will be summoned for a brief look and we’ll reassess the infield in 2 days.

GOOD GAMES
Marcos Diaz (COL) fired his 2nd shutout in 3 starts with a 13-0 2 hit win over Staten Island. He’s 6-3 3.67 on the year.

WEEK 19 RECAP
FL POTW-Carlos Andrade (BRO) 19-30 1 HR 12 RBI’s (.346-19-92)
CL POTW-Wally Reed (TUL) 12-29 3 HR’s 7 RBI’s (.306-25-65)

IBL POWER RANKINGS
1) Tulsa (2)
2) Chicago (1)
3) Sacramento (4)
4) Columbus (3)
5) El Paso (11) 6-1 week with a 3 game sweep of Edmonton as well as wins of 11-4, 15-6 and 18-6
OUT Los Angeles (7)