Millennial League Baseball, est. 2001

[Questdog]

Meet the 2005 Jays!

Opening Day starters are highlighted in blue.

Opening Day Roster
Pitchers
Starting Rotation
Jim Baucom
23 year old left-hander from Indianapolis, Indiana. 6' 8" 202 lbs. (-3) $163,125. The first pick in the 2002 B Leagues Draft. A big, tall string bean who can hit 100 MPH in the radar gun with his over the top fastball. He also throws a slider, changeup and splitter. A decent fielder for a pitcher and one of the best moves to 1st I have ever seen. He is an average hitter for a pitch with a career .190 BA. He is an excellent bunter. He is very smart on and off the field. He made the All-Star team in each of his first three seasons and led the MLB in SO the last two and won the pitching Triple Crown last season, winning the the Ace Award and the Hurler Trophy. He started the season 15-0. Also set an MLB record with 9 shutouts. Was 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA this Spring. 19 IP, 17 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 11 SO.
2004 (MLB): 27-3 1.71 ERA 274 IP 181 H. 11 HR, 40 BB, 266 SO, 1.3/8.7 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 14-11 2.13 ERA 258.1 IP, 205 H, 9 HR, 51 BB, 216 SO, 1.8/7.5 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): 11-14 3.01 ERA 248 IP, 230 H, 17 HR, 70 BB, 174 SO, 2.5/6.3 BB/SO per 9 as a rookie for Jacksonville
MLB (3 yrs): 52-28 2.26 ERA 780.1 IP, 616 H, 37 HR, 161 BB, 656 SO, 1.9/7.6 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Del Warwick
30 year old left-hander from Amarillo, Texas. 5' 11" 190 lbs. (+4) $159,450. Acquired in a trade with Rochester in December 2002 for Rookie of the Year RF Glen Lewis. 95 MPH over the top fastball with a curve and changeup. He won a Gold Glove in 2002 and has a superb move to first. A decent hitter for a pitcher with a .209 career BA and a superb bunter with 53 SH over the last four seasons. A very hard worker and a nice guy. He is tied for 3rd in the MLB in career wins. Tied for 2nd in the MLB with 6 shutouts last year. Was 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA this Spring. 20.1 IP, 16 H, 3 HR, 8 BB, 14 SO.
2004 (MLB): 14-9 2.79 ERA 235.1 IP, 216 H, 15 HR, 48 BB, 149 SO, 1.8/5.7 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 14-12 2.60 ERA 242 IP, 229 H, 18 HR, 62 BB, 139 SO, 2.3/5.2 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): 18-10 3.04 ERA 254.2 IP, 214 H, 18 HR, 88 BB, 157 SO, 3.1/5.5 BB/SO per 9 for Rochester
MLB (4 yrs): 63-42 2.95 ERA 969.2 IP, 880 H, 71 HR, 286 BB, 601 SO, 2.7/5.6 BB/SO per 9 for Rochester (2) and Jacksonville (2)

Mike Marsh
23 year old right-hander (24 on April 20) from Hanover, Pennsylvania (a very small town about 15 miles east of Gettysburg). 6' 8" 201 lbs. (+4) $110,250. 96 MPH over the top fastball with a curve, changeup and forkball. Gets a lot of ground balls. A very good fielder for a pitcher, but not a good move to first. A good hitter for a pitcher with a .273 career BA. He is a good bunter. Very hard worker and a leader. Made the All-Star team as a rookie with a hot start last year and finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting. Went 1-0 with 1 SV and did not allow run this Spring! 17.2 IP, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 12 SO.
2004 (MLB): 12-5 2.29 ERA 145.1 IP, 119 H, 4 HR, 53 BB, 98 SO, 3.3/6.1 BB/SO per 9 as a rookie for Jacksonville
2004 (A): 0-2 2.60 ERA 27.2 IP, 31 H, 2 HR, 16 BB. 15 SO, 5.2/4.9 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2003 (MLB): 1-4 7.22 ERA 33.2 IP, 36 H, 5 HR, 23 BB, 8 SO, 6.1/2.1 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 6-11 3.59 ERA 105.1 IP, 93 H, 5 HR, 48 BB, 76 SO, 4.1/6.5 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (B): 1-1 1.63 ERA 1 SV, 30 G, 1 GS, 60.2 IP, 43 H, 2 HR, 40 BB, 47 SO, 5.9/7/0 BB/SO per 9 for Knoxville of the Southern League
MLB (2 yrs): 13-9 3.22 ERA 179 IP, 155 H, 9 HR, 76 BB, 106 SO, 3.5/5.3 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

P Al Calice
24 year old right-hander from Chicago, Illinois. 6' 3" 194 lbs. (+1) $36,000. Our 1st pick (4th overall) in the 2003 B Leagues Draft. 98 MPH over the top fastball with a curve and slider. Not a very good fielder and only has a mediocre move to 1st. A horrible hitter, striking out in over half of his at bats as a rookie, but he is a good bunter. Was 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA this Spring. 18 IP, 14 H, 4 HR, 10 BB, 8 SO.
2004 (MLB): 8-9 3.58 ERA 183.2 IP, 179 H, 12 HR, 83 BB, 95 SO, 4.1/4.7 BB/SO per 9 as a rookie for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 1-0 2.25 ERA 4 G, 1 GS, 16 IP, 17 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 8 SO, 3.4/4.5 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 7-7 3.47 ERA 1 SV, 27 G, 20 GS, 137.1 IP, 133 H, 4 HR, 59 BB, 88 SO, 3.9/5.8 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (B): 3-4 2.34 ERA 10 SV 41 G, 2 GS, 61.2 IP, 41 H, 2 HR, 32 BB, 48 SO, 4.7/7.0 BB/SO per 9 for Asheville of the Southern League
MLB (2 yrs): 9-9 3.47 ERA 199.2 IP, 196 H, 13 HR, 89 BB, 103 SO, 4.1/5.4 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Tommy Keyser.
25 year old left-hander from Crossville, Tennessee (a very small town not quite halfway to Nashville from Knoxville). 6' 6" 204 lbs. (no change) $17,000. Rookie. Our 5th round pick in the 2003 B Leagues Draft. 94 MPH fastball with a slider and changeup. Pitches up in the zone and gets a lot of fly balls. A very good fielder for a pitcher and an average move to 1st for a left-hander. Went 2 for 5 with a double for the Jays in 2003 and has hit .200 over the last 4 seasons at all levels. He is a below average bunter. A stand up fellow and good under pressure. Was the Pitcher of the Year in the Southern League in 2002, leading in Wins and ERA. He won the battle for the 5th spot in the rotation, but will be on a short leash. Was 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA this Spring. 20.1 IP, 23 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 9 SO.
2004 (A): 7-9 4.05 ERA 111 IP, 120 H, 9 HR, 47 BB, 69 SO, 3.8/5.6 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2003 (MLB): 2-1 6.75 ERA 18.2 IP, 26 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 11 SO, 4.8/5.3 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 4-9 4.02 ERA 118.2 IP, 118 H, 8 HR, 63 BB, 68 SO, 4.8/5.2 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (B): 17-9 2.38 ERA 208 IP, 180 H, 6 HR, 66 BB, 139 SO, 2.9/6.0 BB/SO per 9 for Savannah of the Southern League

Bullpen
Bill Grant
34 year old left-hander from Mentor, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland. on Lake Erie). 6' 2" 190 lbs. (+2) $115,500 Acquired in a trade with Rochester in February, 2001. 96 MPH cut fastball with a curve. A decent fielder and a great move to 1st. 2 for 8 in his career as a hitter with 1 strikeout (to a non-pitcher) and a decent bunter. Likes to play cards in the clubhouse. Made the All-Star team in 2002 and 2003, but had his best season last year, finishing 2nd in the Rolaids Relief Man Award point totals. Was 0-3 with 2 SV and a 1.83 ERA this Spring. 19.2 IP, 19 H, 1 HR, 10 BB, 25 SO()led the Grapefruit League).
2004 (MLB): 9-0 1.95 ERA 78.1 IP, 72 H, 6 HR, 24 BB, 67 SO, 2.8/7.7 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 6-9 3.20 ERA 15 SV 98.1 IP, 92 H, 7 HR, 36 BB, 85 SO, 3.3/7.8 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): 2-9 2.27 ERA 20 SV 95.1 IP, 67 H, 5 HR, 39 BB, 86 SO, 3.7/8.1 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
MLB (4 yrs): 23-21 2.75 ERA 65 SV 380 IP, 327 H, 27 HR, 144 BB, 330 SO 3.4/7.8 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Albert Davies
28 year old left-hander from Pleasant View, Tennessee (a very small town 20 miles northwest of Nashville). 6' 7" 202 lbs. (+3) $29,400. Was our 6th round pick in the 2003 B Leagues Draft. 94 MPH cut fastball and splitter. A decent fielder for a pitcher and a superb move to 1st. 1 for 7 with a double and 1 strikeout in the last four season at all levels. Decent bunter. A stand up guy and a team leader. Made the All-Star team as a rookie last year. Led the Southern League in SV in 2002. Was 1-0 with 3 SV and an 0.90 ERA this Spring. 20 IP, 10 H, 1 HR, 7 BB, 15 SO.
2004 (MLB): 8-6 2.37 ERA 5 SV, 91 IP, 79 H, 6 HR, 31 BB, 68 SO, 3.1/6.7 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 0-0 4.63 ERA 11.2 IP, 21 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 9 SO, 4.6/6.9 BB/SO per 9 as a rookie for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 0-4 3.47 ERA 1 SV, 36.1 IP, 28 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 40 SO, 2.5/9.9 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002(B): 9-6 2.48 ERA 26 SV, 65.1 IP, 44 H, 4 HR, 26 BB, 79 SO, 3.6/10.9 BB/SO per 9 for Jackson of the Southern League
MLB (2 yrs): 8-6 2.63 ERA 5 SV, 102.2 IP, 100 H, 7 HR, 37 BB, 77 SO, 3.2/6.8 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Bob Craig
27 year old right-hander from New York, New York. 6' 5" 199 lbs. $24,000. An original Jay. 94 MPH fastball with a curve, slider and changeup. Not a good fielder at all and a subpar move to 1st. Has never had an MLB at bat and was 0 for 1 in A Ball, but he did not strike. A great bunter. A likeable guy. The first Top 100 (barely) prospect the Jays ever had, finally had a decent season for them last year. Was 0-1 with 1 SV and a 4.11 ERA this Spring. 15.1 IP, 14 H, 0 HR, 8 BB, 14 SO.
2004 (MLB): 5-0 1.46 ERA 3 SV, 37 IP, 27 H, 1 HR, 19 BB, 27 SO, 4.6/6.6 BB/SO per 9 as a rookie for Jacksonville
2004 (A): 1-1 2.01 ERA 13 SV, 22.1 IP, 15 H, 2 HR, 5 BB, 20 SO, 2.0/8.1 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2003 (MLB): 0-0 81.00 ERA 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 HR, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0.0/0.0 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003(A): 1-1 3.29 ERA 4 SV, 13.2 IP, 12 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 10 SO, 2.0/6.6 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (MLB): 0-1 21.00 3 IP, 8 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 SO, 9.0/6.0 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (A): 2-6 5.49 ERA 10 SV, 39.1 IP, 43 H, 4 HR, 21 BB, 40 SO, 4.8/9.2 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
MLB (4 yrs): 5-1 5.23 ERA 3 SV, 53.1 IP, 55 H, 7 HR, 32 BB, 41 SO, 5.4/6.9 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Roger Wallace
29 year old right-hander from Brooklyn, New York. 6' 2" 196 lbs. (+4) $17,000. Acquired in a trade with Columbus in February, 2001. 95 MPH over the top fastball that he throws with 2 seams and 4. He also throws a changeup. He gets a lot more fly balls than ground balls. A decent fielder, but not such a great move to first. 2 for 14 with 5 SO in his MLB career, but is a very good bunter. Does not like being in the limelight, being a shy fellow, but he is a good guy. I have never had much confidence in him, but he keeps sticking around because the other fellows that would take his job have stunk it up. Was 1-2 with a 1.69 ERA this Spring. 21.1 IP, 20 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 21 SO.
2004 (MLB): 7-3 3.18 ERA 3 SV, 82 IP, 71 H, 10 HR, 29 BB, 62 SO, 3.2/6.8 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 6-5 3.27 ERA 2 SV 77 IP, 81 H, 7 HR, 22 BB, 54 SO, 2.6/6.3 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 2-2 3.60 ERA 15 IP, 18 H, 0 HR, 10 BB, 11 SO, 6.0/6.6 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (MLB): 5-6 3.25 ERA 3 SV 88.2 IP, 87 H, 7 HR, 27 BB, 71 SO, 2.7/7.2 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (A): 0-0 0.00 ERA 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0.0/13.5 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
MLB (4 yrs): 23-17 3.41 ERA 11 SV 343.1 IP, 335 H, 36 HR, 109 BB, 267 SO, 2.9/7.0 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville

Johnny Groom
27 year old right-hander from Colorado Springs, Colorado. 6' 2" 199 lbs. $30,000. Acquired in a trade with Orlando in April, 2003. 92 MPH cut fastball and a curve. Not much of a fielder, but has a good move to first for a right-hander. 2 for 5 with 1 SO for Jacksonville in 2003 and 4 for 15 over the last 4 seasons at all levels. A decent good bunter. Spontaneous and carefree is how our Media Guide described him in 2003, and that sort of fellow always gets on my nerves, but is a okay. We though we got something when we traded for him, but he gave up too many home runs for me to stick with him. He is holding a spot until one of the rookies we drafted this year shoes they are ready. Was 1-2 with 2 SV and a 4.50 ERA this Spring. 18 IP, 19 H, 0 HR, 12 BB, 20 SO.
2004 (A): 3-1 2.40 ERA 4 SV, 45 IP, 40 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 44 SO, 2.0/8.8 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2003 (MLB): 4-1 4.40 ERA 4 SV 59.1 IP, 51 H, 8 HR, 23 BB, 42 SO, 3.5/6.4 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 1-1 1.42 ERA 6 SV, 12.2 IP, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO, 2.8/11.4 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (A): 6-8 2.49 ERA 16 SV, 90.1 IP, 68 H, 3 HR, 28 BB, 88 SO, 2.8/8.8 BB/SO per 9 for Tampa

Fielders
Catchers
Dave Estey
23 year old catcher who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 6' 2" 189 lbs. $5,000. Rookie. Our 3rd round pick in the 2004 B Leagues Draft. A poor receiver with a below average arm. Threw out 40% of base stealers for Daytona (A) in the past two seasons, but had 18 PB and 18 E in 122 games. A fast runner for a catcher and is very good at picking his spots to run. A very hard worker and a nice guy. Has proven he can hit A Ball pitching and has also proven that he is not much of a catcher. He will be our 3rd catcher and primary pinch-hitter against right-handers. Hit .333/.429/.417 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in 12 AB this Spring with 1 SB.
2004 (A): .275/.404/.425 in 207 AB with 5 HR and 25 RBI and 9 SB for Daytona
2003 (B): .268/.408/.430 in 235 AB with 7 HR and 41 RBI and 6 SB for Amarillo of the Texas League Won a Bronze Bat.
2002 (B): .296/.394/.519 in 27 AB with 1 HR and 2 RBI and 3 SB for Amarillo of the Texas League

Bob Hutson
22 year old catcher who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Smyrna, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta). 6' 0" 186 lbs. $5,000. Rookie. Our 1st round pick (15th overall) in this year's B Leagues Draft. A solid receiver with an average arm. A very slow runner and no threat to steal (but he can outrun my pet 3-legged box turtle). Was the MVP of the Texas League last year and won a Bronze Glove, his 2nd in a row. A good guy, but not easy to cozy up to. Hit .277/.346/.383 with 5 2B and 0 HR and 5 RBI in 47 AB this Spring with 0 SB.
2004 (B): .312/.415/.543 in 352 AB with 19 HR and 82 RBI and 2 SB for San Antonio of the Texas League
2003 (B): .244/.336/.396 in 283 AB with 9 HR and 47 RBI and 1 SB for San Antonio of the Texas League

Don Kern
28 year old catcher who bats and throws right-handed from Los Altos, California (a very small city 15 miles northwest of San Jose). 6' 0" 195 lbs. (no change) $11,000. Our 4th round pick in the 2003 B Leagues Draft. A very good receiver (Scott the Scott upgraded his evaluation!) with a solid arm. Threw out 43% of base stealers in his rookie season and upped that to 50% last year. A decent runner for a catcher and is very good at picking his spots to run. Has yet to break the .200 ceiling, but we are still hopeful. He started last season as the #1 catcher, but went 5 for 50 and was sent to Daytona (A). After coming back, he went 13 for 62 (.210). A very hard worker and a great guy. Won a Bronze Glove in the Southern League in 2001. Since Bob Hutson is a lefty, we are going to want to sit him against the real tough lefties and and Bert Swope cannot hit lefties at all, so Kern gets the job as backup catcher. Hit .219/.316/.312 with 0 HR and 5 RBI in 32 AB this Spring with 1 SB.
2004 (MLB): .161/.248/.214 in 112 AB with 1 HR and 10 RBI and 0 SB for Jacksonville
2004 (A): .255/.352/.383 in 47 AB with 1 HR and 5 RBI and 0 SB for Daytona
2003 (MLB): .199/.279/.327 in 251 AB with 8 HR and 33 RBI and 11 SB as a rookie for Jacksonville
2003 (A): .267/.371/.300 in 60 AB with 0 HR and 6 RBI and 5 SB for Daytona
2002 (B): .278/.377/.389 in 288 AB with 7 HR and 29 RBI and 11 SB for Savannah of the Southern League
MLB (2 yrs): .187/.269/.292 in 363 AB with 9 HR and 43 RBI and 11 SB for Jacksonville

Infielders
Dave Thompson
29 year old first baseman who bats and throws right-handed from Rutherford, New Jersey (near where the Giants play football). 5' 11" 202 lbs. (+2) $6,000. Acquired in a trade with Buffalo in April, 2003. Not a lot of range and not much of an arm, but very sure-handed. Not much of a runner, but will steal a base every now and then. Has little power, but will draw a walk and hit singles. A very hard worker and a good guy, but not too bright. Hit .211/.279/.342 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in 38 AB this Spring with 0 SB.
2004 (MLB): .273/.359/.359 in 128 AB with 2 HR and 11 RBI and 0 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .280/.336/.346 in 107 AB with 1 HR and 7 RBI and 0 SB as a rookie for Jacksonville
2003 (A): .372/.460/.500 in 86 AB with 2 HR and 13 RBI and 1 SB for Daytona
2002 (A): .288/.345/.519 in 52 AB with 2 HR and 11 RBI and 0 SB for Erie
MLB (2 yrs): .277/.349/.353 in 235 AB with 3 HR and 18 RBI and 0 SB for Jacksonville

1B Jack Washburn
23 year old first baseman who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Edgemoor, Delaware (a suburb of Wilmington). 6' 1" 180 lbs. (+4) $26,000. Our 2nd round pick in the 2002 B Leagues Draft. He has very good range for a first baseman, but has been very error prone. He made 14 in 115 starts last year (.986). Was a 2nd baseman in the B Leagues. A very fast runner, who is in better shape this year and is even faster than we was!. He likes to steal bases and is very good at it. He is a leader in the clubhouse. He led the Southern League in HR, RBI and SLG and was 2nd in OPS as a 19 year old. I predict that he will have his breakout season this year and become a force at the plate. Hit .275/.344/.569 in 51 AB with 3 HR and 15 RBI this Spring with 1 SB. He led the team in HR and RBI and also with 2 3B. All those things were true last year, though, too, but he did not have his breakout season. But he only struck out 6 times this Spring.
2004 (MLB): .234/.312/.421 in 423 AB with 16 HR and 55 RBI and 21 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .241/.287/.417 in 456 AB with 12 HR and 47 RBI and 32 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (A): .333/.340/.604 in 48 AB with 3 HR and 10 RBI and 7 SB for Daytona
2002 (MLB): .263/.300/.479 in 190 AB with 7 HR and 29 RBI and 9 SB as a rookie for Jacksonville
2002 (A): .317/.355/.608 in 306 AB with 15 2B, 13 3B and 16 HR and 58 RBI and 74 SO and 18 SB for Daytona
MLB (3 yrs): .242/.299/.429 in 1069 AB with 35 HR and 131 RBI and 62 SB for Jacksonville.

Charlie Faber
34 year old 2nd baseman who bats and throws right-handed from Pompano Beach, Florida (in Pam Beach County, 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale). 6' 3" 201 lbs. (+2) $60,000. Acquired in a trade with Richmond in March, 2002. A solid defender with exceptional hands and a good arm. Does not have the range he used to, though he can still cover plenty of ground. Can play anywhere on the infield. Average runner and will steal a base now and then. Was one of the pleasant surprises last year, doing a great job as our leadoff hitter. He have rewarded him by putting him back on the bench. But with all of our middle infielder being injury prone, he should get plenty of playing time, of he can stay healthy himself. Hit .234/.368/.255 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in 47 AB this Spring with 1 SB.
2004 (MLB): .290/.366/.355 in 420 AB with 0 HR and 41 RBI and 9 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .200/.281/.260 in 200 AB with 0 HR and 12 RBI and 6 SB for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): .230/.328/.281 in 178 AB with 0 HR and 10 RBI and 1 SB for Jacksonville
MLB (4 yrs): .249/.324/.313 in 1190 AB with 1 HR and 105 RBI and 19 SB for Richmond (1) and Jacksonville (3)

T.R. Hunter
28 year old 2nd baseman who bats and throws right-handed from Union City, New Jersey (near the Hudson River across from Manhattan). 5' 11" 183 lbs. $159,200. Acquired in a trade with Providence in February. A very good fielder with above average range, very good hands and a good arm. Can play anywhere on the infield and represented the Northern Division in the All-Star Game as a shortstop the past 3 seasons. Below average runner, but will steal a base now and then. Had 13 in 2003, but no more than 4 any other year. He is not to bright and can be a little reluctant to change. He wants to be a shortstop, but I don't think he will give us any problems. Does not like to let a pitch go by without swinging. Hit .255/.246/.345 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in 55 AB this Spring with 1 SB.
2004 (MLB): .267/.315/.397 in 509 AB with 9 HR and 48 RBI and 2 SB for Providence
2003 (MLB): .304/.348/.408 in 563 AB with 9 HR and 58 RBI and 13 SB for Providence
2002 (MLB): .269/.316/.382 in 550 AB with 11 HR and 69 RBI and 4 SB for Providence
MLB (4 yrs): .280/.330/.396 in 1998 AB with 34 HR and 218 RBI and 20 SB for Providence

Tom McDowell
27 year old third baseman who bats and throws right-handed from Folsom, California (18 miles northeast of Sacramento, famous for its prison). 6' 0" 196 lbs. (-1) $130,000. Acquired in a trade with Rochester in October, 2003, for Marty Eades, whose team records for HR and RBI in a season, McDowell broke last year.. Has very good range and a very strong arm, but is a bit error prone, making 24 last year, the most by a 3rd baseman in the MLB. Can play 1st well and the corner outfield spots, if pressed. Average runner, but likes to steal bases and is very good at it. Stole 22 bases in 2003 without being caught. Once went 5 for 5 with a double and a home run and 5 RBI against the Jays. A very hard worker. Had a horrible Spring. Hit .170/.228/.208 with 0 HR and 4 RBI in 53 AB this Spring with 4 SB.
2004 (MLB): .270/.336/.467 in 582 AB with 27 HR and 104 RBI and 11 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .260/.341/.401 in 546 AB with 14 HR and 72 RBI and 22 SB for Rochester
2002 (MLB): .243/.309/.378 in 527 AB with 13 HR and 62 RBI and 13 SB for Rochester
MLB (4 yrs): .259/.327/.416 in 1879 AB with 61 HR and 262 RBI and 48 SB for Rochester (3) and Jacksonville (1)

Bart Daw
33 year old shortstop who bats and throws right-handed from Warren, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit). 6' 1" 203 lbs. (-1) $50,000. Acquired in a trade with Providence just before Opening Day, 2002. A very good fielder, but not the elite defender that he was. He has lost a little range, but still has great hands and one of the strongest arms for a shortstop in the League. Fast runner, but has lost a step from last year. Likes to steal bases and is very good at it. A very hard worker and a leader in the clubhouse. Hit .292/.365/.415 with 1 HR and 8 RBI in 65 AB this Spring with 5 SB.
2004 (MLB): .227/.304/.316 in 481 AB with 7 HR and 52 RBI and 23 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .246/.306/.352 in 488 AB with 9 HR and 61 RBI and 41 SB for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): .212/.302/.313 in 457 AB with 7 HR and 46 RBI and 18 SB for Jacksonville
MLB (4 yrs): .228/.303/.318 in 1786 AB with 25 HR and 180 RBI and 98 SB for Providence (1) and Jacksonville (3)

SS Frank Roadman
30 year old shortstop who bats and throws right-handed from Latrobe, Pennsylvania (a very small town 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, home to Arnold Palmer, Mr. Rogers and the Banana Split). 6' 3" 199 lbs. (-2) $6,000. An original Jay. Only a decent glove and no bat at all. He can run and steal bases and holds the team record for steals with 42 in 2001. He's an animal rights activist and has become a loudmouth about it this year. But he is no slacker, so we can tolerate him. 2004 was the first year he spent the whole season with a team. Mostly because everyone else who could be our backup shortstop got too old to play the position. Hit .295/.326/.545 with 1 HR and 7 XBH and 4 RBI in 44 AB this Spring with 1 SB.
2004 (MLB): .208/.279/.286 in 77 AB with 1 HR and 4 RBI and 6 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .196/.213/.196 in 46 AB with 0 HR and 2 RBI and 2 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (A): .282/.331/.391 in 348 AB with 5 HR and 43 RBI and 41 SB for Daytona
2002 (A): .217/.281/.287 in 314 AB with 4 HR and 23 RBI and 26 SB for Daytona
MLB (3 yrs): .212/.275/.278 in 598 AB with 6 HR and 41 RBI and 50 SB for Jacksonville

Outfielders
Fernando Tello
23 year old left fielder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Columbus, Ohio. 6' 1" 199 lbs. (+3) $24,000. Our 1st round pick (9th overall) in the 2004 B Leagues Draft. Subpar range and a very strong arm. Can also play 1st and 3rd base, but makes a ton of errors on the infield. 1 in 1 game at 3rd last year and 4 in 25 games at 1st (.982 FA). Slow runner. A very hard worker, but not one to make a lot of friends. Was 2nd in the MVP voting and won the Batting Title and a Bronze Bat in the Southern League in 2003. Was Rookie of the Month in July last year and finished 4th in the voting for Rookie of the Year. We are moving him to left this year to left Ray McDonald play his natural position. .227/.340/.273 with 0 HR and 3 RBI in 44 AB with 0 SB this Spring.
2004 (MLB): .278/.340/.409 in 492 AB with 12 HR and 53 RBI and 0 SB as a rookie for Jacksonville
2004 (A): .289/.341/.470 in 83 AB with 2 HR and 14 RBI and 0 SB for Daytona
2003 (B): .330/.395/.487 in 464 AB with 17 HR and 83 RBI with 1 SB for Asheville of the Southern League
2002 (B): .253/.343/.366 in 396 AB with 9 HR and 50 RBI and 1 SB for Asheville of the Southern League

Gary McKellar
35 year old center fielder who bats and throws right-handed from Vallejo, California (on the north part of the San Francisco Bay). 6' 2" 199 lbs. (+4) $42,000. An original Jay. He was as slow as molasses last year, but is slower this year. He makes up for it with great anticipation and routes to the ball and still can cover enough ground to play an above average center field.. Has a very strong arm. Very smart. Formerly, had a reputation as a slacker, but has overcome that once again. He will likely be the one to go go to Daytona (A) when Cal Doty returns from his injury. Hit .122/.204/.184 with 1 HR and 6 RBI in 49 AB this Spring with 0 SB.
2004 (MLB): .273/.343/.312 in 128 AB with 0 HR and 15 RBI and 0 SB for Jacksonville
2004 (A): .375/.375/.375 in 8 AB with 0 HR and 3 RBI and 0 SB for Daytona
2003 (MLB): .222/.300/.319 in 185 AB with 3 HR and 17 RBI and 0 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (A): .257/.316/.300 in 70 AB with 1 HR and 9 RBI and 1 SB for Daytona
2002 (MLB): .261/.329/.290 in 69 AB with 0 HR and 4 RBI and 1 SB for Jacksonville
2002 (A): .262/.361/.393 in 61 AB with 1 HR and 5 RBI and 0 SB for Daytona
MLB (3 yrs): .246/.319/.312 in 382 AB with 3 HR and 36 RBI and 1 SB for Jacksonville

Dickie Stemen
30 year old center fielder who bats and throws right-handed from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (on the Door Peninsula, 38 miles northeast of Green Bay). 6' 3" 202 lbs. $22,000. Acquired in a trade with Hartford in February. Has adequate range to play center and an extremely strong arm and very sure hands. Has only made 1 error in 208 outfield games at all levels over the last 4 seasons. Could be a Gold Glove right fielder. Has hit for good averages with some power over the last 4 years, but does not like to let a pitch go by without taking a cut at it. A very hard worker and goes along with the flow. Very injury prone. I hope he can last the two weeks that Cal Doty is set to miss. Hit .236/.250/.436 with 5 2B and 2 HR and 9 RBI in 55 AB this Spring with 0 SB and 0 BB.
2004 (A): .309/.341/.420 in 81 AB with 2 HR and 11 RBI and 2 SB for New Haven
2003 (MLB): .309/.367/.418 in 55 AB with 1 HR and 6 RBI and 3 SB for Hartford
2003 (A): .290/.336/.452 in 124 AB with 4 HR and 20 RBI and 2 SB for New Haven
2002 (MLB): .300/.325/.445 in 110 AB with 2 HR and 15 RBI and 4 SB for Hartford
2002 (A): .438/.500/.750 in 16 AB with 1 HR and 9 RBI and 1 SB for New Haven
MLB (3 yrs): .280/.312/.411 in 214 AB with 5 HR and 31 RBI and 7 SB for Hartford

Ray McDonald
24 year old right fielder who bats and throws left-handed from Cimarron Hills, Colorado (surrounded by Colorado Springs). 6' 1" 187 lbs. (+5) $158,400. Acquired in a trade with Orlando in December, 2002. Decent range and a strong arm and can play anywhere in the outfield and some 1st base. Had 18 outfield assists in 2003. Very fast runner and likes to steal, but is not such a great percentage runner. A very hard worker and easy going. Led the MLB in doubles with 39 in 2003. Has led in IBB in each of the last two seasons. Would have been an MVP candidate if he had not missed 3 weeks last year. Made the All-Star team for the first of what we hope will be many times last year. Hit .211/.308/.263 with 0 HR and 6 RBI in 57 AB this Spring with 3 SB.
2004 (MLB): .300/.359/.509 in 527 AB with 22 HR and 99 RBI and 20 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .304/.369/.465 in 592 AB with 12 HR and 81 RBI and 19 SB for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): .278/.339/.406 in 503 AB with 8 HR and 51 RBI and 23 SB for Orlando
MLB (4 yrs): .287/.348/.447 in 1813 AB with 45 HR and 254 RBI and 68 SB for Orlando (2) and Jacksonville (2)

Danny Rosas
26 year old right fielder who bats and throws left-handed from David, Panama. 5' 10" 175 lbs. $24,000. Acquired in a trade with Louisville in February. Decent range and a good arm. Though he is a very fast runner, he lacks the instincts to be a good center fielder. He is very good at stealing bases and is prolific, stealing 74 over the last two seasons. Will take a walk and hit over .300 in 2 seasons in A Ball, but has not hit for much average in the MLB. Hit .235/.305/.392 with 1 HR and 8 RBI in 51 AB this Spring with 2 SB.
2004 (MLB): .240/.322/.328 in 542 AB with 8 HR and 42 RBI and 43 SB for Louisville
2003 (MLB): .257/.342/.361 in 460 AB with 4 HR and 29 RBI and 42 SB for Louisville
2003 (A): .000/.167/.000 in 5 AB with 0 HR and 0 RBI with 0 SB for Lexington
2002 (MLB): .202/.307/.273 in 242 AB with 3 HR and 12 RBI and 17 SB for Louisville
2002 (A): .327/.417/.475 in 223 AB with 3 HR and 20 RBI and 22 SB for Lexington
MLB (3 yrs): .239/.326/.330 in 1244 AB with 15 HR and 83 RBI and 102 SB for Louisville

Disabled List
Robbie Hopley
30 year old right-hander from Nassau, the Bahamas. 6' 6" 200 lbs. (no change) $16,000. Acquired in a trade with Syracuse in April, 2002. 97 MPH cut fastball and curve. An excellent fielder, but is very slow to home and does not have a good move to first. His move is not even good enough to be called bad. 1 for 3 in his career as a hitter without a strikeout, and a very good bunter. A quiet, unassuming fellow, who is a hard worker, but has a reputation for being cost conscious. Did not allow a home run in the MLB in his first 3 seasons, but gave up 7 last year. HE had become our #2 man in the Bullpen when his season ended on September 10 last year with shoulder inflammation. He required surgery and is not expected to be able to throw until June.
2004 (MLB): 1-2 2.50 ERA 10 SV, 68.1 IP, 57 H, 7 HR, 27 BB, 45 SO, 3.6/5.9 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): 2-3 3.17 ERA 4 SV, 59.2 IP, 54 H, 0 HR, 31 BB, 45 SO, 4.7/6.8 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2003 (A): 1-0 0.00 ERA 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1.6/7.9 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
2002 (MLB): 3-1 3.21 ERA 28 IP, 22 H, 0 HR, 19 BB, 23 SO, 6.1/7.4 BB/SO per 9 for Jacksonville
2002 (A): 2-1 5.25 ERA 24 IP, 30 H, 1 HR, 13 BB, 23 SO, 4.9/8.6 BB/SO per 9 for Daytona
MLB (4 yrs): 10-7 2.84 ERA 14 SV, 205.2 IP, 166 H, 7 HR, 105 BB, 154 SO, 4.6/6.7 per 9 for Syracuse (1) and Jacksonville (3)

Norm Mayer
29 year old left fielder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Scottsdale, Arizona. 5' 10" 175 lbs. $9,500. Acquired in a trade with Hartford in February. Above average range and a decent arm and sure hands. Can play a passable center field. A fast runner and likes to steal bases, but is not very good at it. Does not have any power, but has hit for good averages in A Ball. Has not his for good averages in the MLB. A stand up guy and easy going. Tied for the MLB lead with 14 triples. HIt .281/.324/.438 in 32 AB this Spring with 0 HR and 2 RBI and 0 SB and 2 CS until he hurt his elbow in March 20. He is expected t miss the next 2 to 3 weeks.
2004 (MLB): .243/.291/.338 in 74 AB with 1 HR and 7 RBI and 1 SB for Hartford
2004 (A): .300/.348/.450 in 353 AB with 5 HR and 45 RBI and 13 SB for New Haven
2003 (MLB): .183/.247/.207 in 82 AB with 0 HR and 5 RBI and 3 SV for Hartford
2003 (A): .283/.343/.400 in 60 AB with 0 HR and 8 RBI and 7 SB for New Haven
2002 (MLB): .212/.276/.285 in 165 AB with 1 HR and 12 RBI and 3 SB for Hartford
2002 (A): .338/.352/.485 in 68 AB with 1 HR and 11 RBI and 2 SB for New Haven
MLB (4 yrs): .210/.273/.338 in 671 AB with 11 HR and 65 RBI and 20 SB for Hartford

Cal Doty
28 year old center fielder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from New York, New York. 6' 1" 175 lbs. (+3) $159,450. An original Jay. Good range and an average arm. Has made 41 errors in his first three seasons with he Jays, but only 4 last year. He will lead the league in errors at center field for certain, unless he gets hurt, which is likely. Very fast runner and likes to steal, but got caught more than he was safe last year. But he was running faster this Spring than he ever has. A very hard worker and a great guy and probably still the most popular player on the team. Makes a lot of money giving speeches around town. Was tied for 2nd in the MLB with 37 doubles in 2003. Hit 17 HR in his 1st 3 seasons combined, but 14 last year. Finished 3rd in BA and won the Silver Slugger Award for center field last season and made the All-Star team for the 1st time. Hit .250/.323/.321 in 28 AB with 0 HR and 2 RBI this Spring with 3 SB and 0 CS before a pulled muscle put him out of action. He was originally estimated to miss the first two weeks of the season, but Trudy says he may be back in a week!
2004 (MLB): .333/.391/.492 in 598 AB with 14 HR and 77 RBI and 17 SB for Jacksonville
2003 (MLB): .296/.355/.401 in 588 AB with 5 HR and 62 RBI and 38 SB for Jacksonville
2002 (MLB): .293/.361/.395 in 478 AB with 6 HR and 42 RBI and 33 SB for Jacksonville
MLB (4 yrs): .306/.367/.427 in 2267 AB with 31 HR and 255 RBI and 106 SB for Jacksonville

Since there are only 16 teams in the League and no minor league affiliations below A Ball, being the 200th highest rated prospect in the Millennial League does not mean much, so we only worry about the top 100.

Prospects ranked by Baseball America in the top 100:
RP Mike Hollenbeck (#8) New Draftee
22 year old (23 on April 30) right-hander from New York, New York. 6' 2" 178 lbs. Minor League contract. Rookie. Our 2nd round pick in the year's B Leagues Draft. 99 MPH fastball with a curve and change up. Scott the Scout says he'll eventually be a starter, but we drafted him to be our closer of the future. A very good fielder with about as good a move to first as a right-hander can have. 0 for 7 as a hitter last year with 2 strikeouts and is not a very good bunter. He is a very hard worker and leadership material. Was the Reliever of the Year in the Southern League last year. I was hoping we could plug him right into the Bullpen from the get go, but he got hit hard in Spring Training: 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA. 7.1 IP, 13 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 3 SO.
2004 (B): 2-4 1.25 ERA 12 SV, 79 IP, 49 H, 4 HR, 24 BB, 69 SO, 2.7/7.9 BB/SO per 9 for Asheville of the Southern League

C Bob Hutson (#41) New Draftee.
See Opening Day roster above.

P Tommy Keyser (#49) Up from #59.
See Opening Day Roster above.

RP Mickel Cannady (#66) New Draftee.
23 year old right-hander from Santa Clara, California (just west of San Jose). 5' 11" 174 lbs. Minor League contract. Rookie. Our 4th round pick in the year's B Leagues Draft. 97 MPH cut fastball with a sinker and change up. Not the worst fielder ever, but not so great, either. Has an average move to first for a right-hander. 2 for 5 with 2 RBI as a hitter in 2002 in the B Leagues, but has not batted since. A superb bunter. A solid teammate. Was 2nd in the Texas League in Saves last year. Was not hit as hard as Hollenbeck, but did not wow anyone this Spring: 0-0 with a 4.42 ERA. 18.1 IP, 21 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 11 SO.
2004 (B): 9-2 2.62 ERA 30 SV, 65.1 IP, 49 H, 4 HR, 30 BB, 63 SO, 4.1/8.7 BB/SO per 9 for San Antonio of the Texas League
2003 (B): 0-1 4.26 ERA 1 SV 6.1 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0.0/7.1 BB/SP per 9 for San Antonio of the Texas League
2002 (B): 1-1 3.55 ERA 2 GS, 12.2 IP, 15 H. 1 HR, 5 BB, 8 SO, 3.6/5.7 BB/SO per 9 for San Antonio of the Texas League

CF Dave Brown (#77) New Draftee.
20 year old who bats left-handed and throws right-handed from Charlotte, North Carolina. 6' 2" 185 lbs. Minor League contract. Rookie. Our 3rd round pick in this year's B Leagues Draft. Good range and an average arm. Very fast, but not a good percentage base stealer. A quiet fellow who takes care of business. Was not invited to Spring Training.
2004 (B): .289/.338/.371 in 439 AB with 1 HR and 27 RBI and 21 SB for Wichita of the Texas League
2003 (B): .667/.667/.667 in 3 AB with 0 HR and 0 RBI and 1 SB for Wichita of the Texas League

Prospects no longer ranked due to service time (or age):
P Al Calice (was #2)
P Mike Marsh (was #5)
RF Fernando Tello (was #80)

Prospects still eligible, but no longer ranked in the Top 100:
None

Our group of prospects is rated 9th this year, down from 6th last year. Richmond, with 7 in the Top 100, ranks at the top this year. Syracuse is rated at the bottom.

Top 25 prospects according to Baseball America:
(Rank: Name, Position, Team (Age-Throws or Bats) (Level to begin the season))
1: Paul Heffernan, 2B, Hartford (19-R) (A) new draftee
2: Tom Richards, SS, Providence (19-L) (A) new draftee
3: Jose Olazabal, RF, New Orleans (23-L) (A) was #3
4: Glenn Benoit, SS, Hartford (22-R) (A) was #4
5: Shawn Smith, 2B, Rochester (21-R) (A) was #6
6: Walt Schnitzler, 1B, Orlando (24-R) (A) was #8
7: Guy Goodman, RP, Richmond (21-R) (A) new draftee
8: Mike Hollenbeck, RP, Jacksonville (22-R) (A) new draftee
9: Jose Porchas, P, Ottawa (22-R) (A) new draftee
10: Pat DuKatz, CF, Indianapolis (21-R) (A) was #11
11: Craig Kovacs, CF, Indianapolis (21-R) (A) new draftee
12: Jimmy Allen, CF, Charlotte (20-L) (A) new draftee
13: Doug Sievers, SS, Richmond (22-L) (A) was #35
14: Marcos Villaneda, SS, Birmingham (21-R) (A) new draftee
15: Fred Ferraro, 3B, New Orleans (23-R) (A) new draftee
16: Mike Schoen, 3B, Indianapolis (24-R) (MLB) was #25
17: Sam Kowalski, SS, Charlotte (21-R) (A) was #27
18: Jim Dooley, RP, Louisville (21-R) (A) new draftee
19: Lindy Elson, 3B, Charlotte (25-R) (MLB) was #31
20: Steve Steele, C, Memphis (21-R) (MLB) new draftee
21: Hank Widger, SS, Richmond (22-R) (MLB) was #24
22: Wayne Williams, RP, Indianapolis (21-R) (A) new draftee
23: Buddy Hollinger, SS, Ottawa (21-R) (A) was #36
24: Eddie Taylor, SS, Rochester (25-R) (A) was #30
25: Bobby Baker, 2B, Charlotte (22-R) (MLB) was #38

Eligible prospects, no longer in the top 25:
Duane Harland, 2B, Ottawa (23-R) (MLB) was #16, now #86
John Lamphiear, LF, Richmond (23-S) (A) was #18, now #30
Claude Sipple, RP, Memphis (23-R) (MLB) was #19, now #31
Robert Rodriguez, RF, Orlando (23-R) (A) was #23, now #26

Prognosis:
For the first time in three years, we have made the offense better on paper by drafting a catcher that can hit and trading for an All-Star middle infielder. Which means we will probably score fewer runs this year..... Taking Dale Gilchrist out of the rotation won't help anything and our depth there is thinner that ever, but if everyone stays healthy (knock on wood), we should be about the same overall as we will get a full year out of Mike Marsh and I expect Al Calice to pitch better. Jim Baucom, of course, cannot pitch much better than he did last year, but if we can find a fifth starter who does not stink it up, our rotation will be the best in the MLB. The Bullpen has help on the way, but it is not quite here yet. Hopefully, Bill Grant does not succumb to the ravages of old age before the youngsters we drafted can step in.

Last year, I was conservative and predicted 84 wins and a 4th place finish, but the evidence for the breakout season was right there in front of me the whole time and I ignored it. In 2001, we finished 36 games out. In 2002, we were 22 games out. In 2003, we were 8 games out before dropping a half game due to the tiebreaker they played. That was a consistent 14 game jump in the standings every year, so if the pattern held, we should have finished 6 games ahead in 2004 and in 1st place. But I was too chicken to follow that thread. And it did not hold anyway, as we finished 22 games ahead! Anyway, as long as Jim Baucom and our top four starters stay healthy, I think we should repeat as Southern Division Champions and hopefully, win the Millennial Cup this year! But there is no way we win 110 games again.... We are not going to play .750 ball in 1-run games again.

Baseball America has picked us to repeat, 2 games ahead of Richmond. They pick Birmingham to bounce back and finish 3rd. The have picked Charlotte for the basement, but with 76 wins. They have picked Ottawa to win the North, the third different team they have picked over Syracuse in the last three years. But Syracuse has been there at the end every season. They are picking us to win the Millennial Cup.

Editor's Note: Eureka! I have made a breakthrough in replicating the stats from the 70's and 80's! I have always been able to get most everything to end up exactly like I want it to, except for 2 things: CG and IP per start. I have been able to get either one to be spot on, but not both. If I get the CG to be exactly where they should be, then the starting pitchers pitch too many innings. If I get the starting pitchers to pitch the right amount of innings, the CG are too low. I have always opted to get the IP per start spot on and live with the low CG. Last year, in the MLB there were 321 CG. That is a little over 100 short of what it should be to replicate the stats of the NL in 1969-1992. But I hit upon an idea and have fiddled with it all day and it is working pretty well! So this year, we ought to see a big boost in CG, whiling keeping the IP per start just about the same! We'll still be a little short on CG, but a whole lot closer than we were! Of course, the run scoring environment has a big impact on CG. In 2003, when scoring was down in the MLB, there were 370 CG. In 2001, the highest scoring season we have had yet, there were only 301 CG. So, how close we get to the target of about 440, depends on how many runs score this season, but we will be a lot closer under the new system than the old, regardless!

A byproduct of this innovation is that we will not have to worry about giving Jim Baucom an extra day off every time he throws 120 pitches, which was not very realistic in a 1970's and 80's environment, anyway. This is because the new system uses a setting of 'Normal' for pitcher endurance and the old system used 'Low'. I did not use 'Normal' before, because..... Well, it is difficult to explain. Say you are trying to get a 14 to come up and you have three dials you can click to 5 different positions to get a number to pop up. But no matter how you turn the three dials, 14 will not come up. The closest you can get is 12 and 17. Well, 12 is closer to 14 than 17, and to get the 12, one of the dials was set to 'Low'. Leaving the other dials unchanged and just turning the one set to 'Low' to 'Normal' makes the number 17 pop up. Leaving the dial at 'Normal' and clicking another dial down, makes 10 pop up. So that is why I was using a 'Low' endurance setting.... But my new idea has allowed me to get 13 to pop up with the setting to 'Normal'! Understand?

Next up: Opening Day!

[Questdog]

Monday, April 4, 2005

Opening Day!

We have to open on the road again for the 4th time in 5 seasons, this time in Charlotte with a short 2 game set. We were 8-6 against the Hornets on the season last year when they finished 78-84 in 6th place in the South. They were 5th in scoring with 698 runs (Jacksonville was 3rd with 710). They were tied for 11th in fewest runs allowed with 699 last year (Jacksonville was 1st with 508). Charlotte's run differential was -1 and ours was +202.

Jacksonville Jays (110-52 .679 22 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division last year) at
Charlotte Hornets (78-84 .481 32 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division last year)

JAX: Jim Baucom (23-L) (27-3 1.71 ERA 274 IP, 181 H, 11 HR, 40 BB, 266 SO last year) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)
CHAR: Angel Gomez (25-R) (13-12 3.18 ERA 226.2 IP, 212 H, 18 HR, 65 BB, 107 SO last year)

Baucom only faced the Hornets once last year and shut them out on 7 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts.

Gomez is 0-5 in 6 starts against the Jays in his career with a 6.06 ERA. 32.2 IP, 42 H, 6 HR, 8 BB, 17 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF) Stats from last year
JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .234-423-16-55-.732-21 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .278-492-12-53-.749-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .300-527-22-99-.868-20 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .270-582-27-104-.803-11 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L MLB debut B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .267-509-9-48-.712-2 A+ w/Prov) All-Star(3: 02-04) Jay debut
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .227-481-7-52-.620-23 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .309-81-2-11-.761-2 B in A Ball) Jay debut
9: P Jim Baucom (23-L .191-89-0-5-.408-0 C) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)

CHARLOTTE
1: CF Ed Northrup (26-L .290-421-1-38-.687-31 B+)
2: 3B Larry Davis (29-S .323-641-3-85-.781-12 B) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(01)
3: 2B Terry Wolf (33-L .282-418-15-68-.828-0 B) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(3: 02-04)
4: LF Terry Graham (25-L .299-588-28-109-.891-2 A) All-Star
5: SS Scott Damon (26-R .259-474-19-73-.761-4 A)
6: RF Tom Morris (31-R .262-256-4-24-.759-0 C+)
7: 1B Marty Derringer (27-R .251-521-10-60-.684-27 A)
8: C Mike Tyra (29-R .211-426-7-40-.644-0 B)
9: P Angel Gomez (25-R .217-69-0-4-.475-0 D+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Charlotte Municipal Stadium
Weather: 57 F, Overcast, with a 7 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 21,484

Top of the First
With Cal Doty out with an injury and Charlie Faber, the greatest leadoff hitter ever, on the bench, who leads off? We're trying Jack Washburn, who has the speed, but has not been a high OBP guy in the past. But he walked more than he struck out in Spring Training, so we are giving him a shot. Who else? Stemen swings at everything, Daw hits .200, Hunter swings at everything and is not a base stealer, Hutson runs like a catcher, McDowell led the team in HR and RBI, McDonald does not walk much, except intentionally, Tello is a turtle on the bases..... So Washburn it is and he grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Fernando Tell strikes out looking... Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and pops out to center.....

Bottom of the First
Will P Jim Baucom start the season 15-0 again? Doubtful. And his Spring stats have me a bit worried that he has reverted to human status. 2.84 ERA and only 11 SO in 19 IP. Ed Northrup pokes a hit to right...... Larry Davis swings at the first pitch and pops out to 2nd. Terry Wolf swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left... Terry Graham swings at a 1-2 pitch and pops out to right. Last year, that would have been a strikeout.... Scott Damon grounds one to 2nd and T.R. Hunter, who I had hopes of winning the Jays' first Gold Glove, boots it and the bases are loaded with 2 outs.... Tom Morris strikes out on 3 pitches!

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Bob Hutson, in his first MLB at bat, pops out to right.... T.R. Hunter, in his first at bat as a Jay, swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.... Looking like an awesome pickup so far!

Top of the Third
Bart Daw takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Should have led him off.... Dickie Stemen, in his first at bat as a Jay, strikes out looking on 3 pitches.... This is the guy that swings at everything... Everything except called strike threes, apparently.... P Jim Baucom bunts Daw to 2nd. Jack Washburn hits one hard to deep center, but Ed Northrup runs it down on the warning track.... No hits through 3 innings.... Yep, we added to the offense and made it worse!

Top of the Fourth
Fernando Tello takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Ray McDonald gets our first hit of the season by jerking a home run down the right field line!! 2 to 0, Jays! With 1 out, Bob Hutson lines a 2-2 pitch to left for the first hit of his career! T.R. Hunter swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds into a 4-6-3 double play..... Yep, awesome addition to the team! An error, a strikeout and a GDP already!

Bottom of the Fourth
Scott Damon leads off with a home run to left.... 2 to 1, Jays. Tom Morris grounds a hit to left and Fernando Tello botches the scoop for an error.... But the next three make outs with 2 strikeouts!

Bottom of the Fifth
Ed Northrup grounds a hit to right and steals 2nd... The Hornets already have 6 hits off P Jim Baucom.....But the next three all make outs!

Top of the Sixth
Fernando Tello grounds a hit up the middle and Ray McDonald gets beaned after hitting a home run last time up! I am up and ready to fight, but everyone looks at me like I am a crazed lunatic..... Ballplayers ain't men no more.... Tom McDowell grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Tello goes to 3rd...... Bob Hutson doubles to right and Tello scores! 3 to 1, Jays! A wild pitch sends Hutson to 3rd. T.R. Hunter grounds out to 3rd.... He is not endearing himself to me very much.....

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Mike Penafiel (34-R), who was 5-5 with 4 SV and a 6.94 ERA in 72.2 IP with 100 H and 12 HR allowed last year. He had 3 solid seasons before that, though. Jack Washburn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. My hope was that Washburn would steal bases to keep Fernando Tello from grounding into double plays, but Washburn does not run and Tello grounds a double play ball to 2nd, but Terry Wolf boots it! Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Washburn goes to 3rd. Tom McDowell plunks one into a force at 2nd, 2-4, and Washburn stays put at 3rd. Bob Hutson, as opposed to T.R. Hunter, is quickly becoming a favorite! He clears the bases with his second double of the day, this one to center!! 5 to 1, Jays! T.R. Hunter pops one up to shallow left, but Terry Graham clanks it for a 2 base error and Hutson scores! 6 to 1, Jays! Bart Daw strikes out for the third time today....

Top of the Ninth
With 1 out, P Jim Baucom grounds his second hit of the game to right! Jack Washburn doubles to center! Fernando Tello grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and the runners hold. Ray McDonald beats out and infield hit and P Baucom scores! 7 to 1, Jays!

Won - 7 to 1

We had 9 hits and made 3 errors
Charlotte had 7 hits and made 2 errors

Jim Baucom (W 1-0) went 9 innings (CG), allowed 1 run, 7 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 7. 108 pitches. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double and scored a run.

Angel Gomez (L 0-1), now 0-6 in his career against the Jays, went 7 innings, gave us 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 6. He threw a WP.

1B Jack Washburn hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. LF Fernando Tello had a hit and a walk and scored 2 runs. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits with a home run and a HBP (after the HR) and had 3 RBI. C Bob Hutson, in his MLB debut went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, scored a run and had 3 RBI!

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (1-0 1.000 0 GA tied for 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Charlotte Hornets (0-1 .000 1 GB tied for 7th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (14-9 2.79 ERA 235.1 IP, 216 H, 15 HR, 48 BB, 149 SO last year) Gold Glove(02)
CHAR: Charlie Foltz (31-R) (12-11 3.38 ERA 236.2 IP, 210 H, 17 HR, 82 BB, 169 SO last year for Memphis) All-Star(01)

Warwick was 1-1 in 5 starts against the Hornets last year with a 3 hit shutout and a 4.13 ERA. 32.2 IP, 36 H, 0 HR, 10 BB, 26 SO.

Foltz, acquired from Memphis in a trade this Winter, is 5-3 in 11 starts against the Jays in his career with a 4.57 ERA. 69 IP, 74 H, 3 HR, 30 BB, 51 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .250-4-0-0-.900-0 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .250-4-0-0-.650-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .500-4-1-3-1.850-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .000-5-0-0-.000-0 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .750-4-0-3-2.000-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .000-4-0-0-.000-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .000-3-0-0-.250-0 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .000-4-0-0-.000-0 B)
9: P Del Warwick (30-L Season debut F) Gold Glove(02)

CHARLOTTE
1: CF Ed Northrup (26-L .500-4-0-0-1.000-1 B+)
2: 1B Larry Davis (29-S .250-4-0-0-.500-0 B) Silver Slugger(01,3B)/All-Star(01)
3: 2B Terry Wolf (33-L .667-3-0-0-1.417-0 B) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(3: 02-04)
4: RF Terry Graham (25-L .000-4-0-0-.000-0 A) All-Star
5: LF Scott Damon (26-R .250-4-1-1-1.250-0 A+)
6: 3B Tom Morris (31-R .250-4-0-0-.500-0 B)
7: SS Marty Derringer (27-R .000-4-0-0-.000-0 B)
8: C Alex Martinez (30-R Season debut B+)
9: P Charlie Foltz (31-R Season debut F) All-Star(01)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Charlotte Municipal Stadium
Weather: 59 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 11,181

Top of the First
Jack Washburn lines a 2-2 pitch to right center for a double! Fernando Tello pops out to center. Ray McDonald lines the first pitch to deep left center, but Ed Northrup makes a leaping catch.... Tom McDowell strikes out on 3 pitches....

Bottom of the First
Ed Northrup triples to right center.... Larry Davis grounds out to 3rd and Northrup scores... 1 to 0, Hornets. Terry Wolf pops out to center. Terry Graham pops out to left.

Bottom of the Second
Scott Damon and Tom Morris lead off with back to back hits and the Hornets have runners at the corners with no outs... Marty Derringer strikes out! Alex Martinez, in his first at bat of the season, lines the first pitch to right for a double and Damon scores... 2 to 0, Hornets. P Charlie Foltz strikes out. Ed Northrup swings at a 3-2 pitch and mises!

Top of the Third
Dickie Stemen lines the first pitch to left for a double, his first hit as a Jay! P Del Warwick bunts him to 3rd. With the infield in, Jack Washburn grounds out to short and Stemen stays put.... Fernando Tello grounds out to short.....

The Hornets load the bases up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd, but Marty Derringer grounds out to short! 6 hits already for Charlotte.....

Top of the Seventh
With 1 out, T.R. Hunter lines his first hit as a Jay to left. Bart Daw lines his first hit of the year to center. Dickie Stemen grounds a hit up the middle and Hunter scores! 2 to 1, Hornets. PH Dave Estey (23-L), in his MLB debut, grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and the runners move up. Jack Washburn flies out to right.......

Bottom of the Seventh
New Pitcher: All-Star Albert Davies, in his season debut. Ed Northrup grounds a hit to left.... The Bullpen hops back up. With 1 out, Terry Wolf hits a home run to right.... 4 to 1, Hornets. Davies will not be a 2-time All-Star....

Lost - 4 to 1

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 10 hits and made no errors

Del Warwick (L 0-1) went 6 innings, allowed 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6.
LHP Albert Davies went 1 inning, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits and 1 home run.
RHP Johnny Groom pitched a perfect inning.

Charlie Foltz (W 1-0) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 1 run, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 8. 110 pitches.

1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a double and stole a base. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk. PH Danny Rosas, in his Jay debut, grounded into a force at 2nd, 6-4. CF Dickie Stemen had 2 hits with a double and our only RBI. PH Dave Estey, in his MLB debut, grounded out to 1st.

For Charlotte, 2B Terry Wolf had 2 hits with a home run and 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 7, 2005

We are in Columbus to play the Explorers a 4 game series through the weekend. They split a pair of games here on Monday and Tuesday with Rochester to open the season. We were 7-1 against them last year when then finished 86-76 in 3rd place in the North. They were 12th scoring with 620 runs and 3rd in fewest runs allowed with 572, good for a +48 run differential. They are without the services of 1B Gabriel Beltran (35-S), the 2002 MVP, and CF Jorge Moreida (26-L) this series. Beltran is expected to be out until the middle of May, but Moreida sprained his ankle and they are hoping he could come back any day now.

Jacksonville Jays (1-1 .500 1 GB tied for 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Columbus Explorers (1-1 .500 1 GB tied for 3rd place in the Northern Division)

JAX: Mike Marsh (23-R) (12-5 2.29 ERA 145.1 IP, 119 H, 4 HR, 53 BB, 98 SO last year) All-Star
COL: Steve Melita (32-R) (5-15 5.48 ERA 149.1 IP, 183 H, 16 HR, 41 BB, 82 SO last year)

Marsh faced the Explorers once last year and had an easy win in his pocket when we were up 7 to 2 after 4 innings, but he got hurt with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th and did not get the win. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks with 1 strike out.

Melita is 2-3 in 6 starts against the Jays in his career with a shutout and a 4.64 ERA. 33 IP, 36 H, 2 HR, 13 BB, 18 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .375-8-0-0-1.069-1 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .125-8-0-0-.347-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .429-7-1-3-1.413-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .000-9-0-0-.000-0 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .500-8-0-3-1.250-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .125-8-0-0-.250-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .167-6-0-0-.452-0 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .250-8-0-1-.625-0 B)
9: P Mike Marsh (23-R Season debut B+) All-Star

COLUMBUS
1: LF Steve Shauer (29-L .250-8-1-4-1.000-0 B+)
2: 2B Roger Briones (22-L Season debut B)
3: CF Bob Cline (26-R .143-7-0-0-.286-0 C) Trade from Richmond
4: RF Robert Duenas (35-L 1.000-1-0-0-3.000-0 C+)
5: 1B Miguel Andrade (28-L .000-7-0-0-.000-0 B+)
6: 3B Floyd Shawn (27-R .000-5-0-0-.167-0 B)
7: SS Joe Tirey (33-L .200-5-0-0-.400-0 A) Gold Glove(3: 01,03-04)
8: C Marc Barksdale (34-R .167-6-0-0-.333-0 B) All-Star/Gold Glove(3: 01-02,04)
9: P Steve Melita (32-R Season debut C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Comiskey Park
Weather: 59 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing right to left
Attendance: 9,060

Top of the First
Jack Washburn grounds out to 2nd. Fernando Tello draws a walk. Ray McDonald doubles to right center and Tello scores from 1st! 1 to 0, Jays! Tom McDowell strikes out on 3 pitches.... He is messed up bad right now and does not look like he will ever get another hit in his life.... .436 OPS in Spring Training and now 0 for 10 with 5 strikeouts to start the season.... And not one of the 5 balls he has hit so far was hit hard.... Bob Hutson grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the First
Steve Shauer grounds out to 2nd. Roger Briones strikes out looking! Bob Cline is an ex-Robin, so you know he hits for average, and he grounds a hit up the middle.... Robert Duenas swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses!

Through 5 innings, we have 2 hits....

And through 6....

And through 7.....

Top of the Eighth
Bart Daw lines the first pitch off the wall in center for a double! Dickie Stemen lines a 2-2 pitch to center for a hit! P Mike Marsh bunts Stemen to 2nd and Daw holds at 3rd. They walk Jack Washburn intentionally to load the bases up for Fernando Tello, who is definitely a threat to ground into a double play. But he instead lines a hit to center and 2 runs score!! 3 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald strikes out for our 9th K of the day and Tom McDowell hits one hard for the first time this season, but lines out to left....

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Mike McGillicuddy (25-R), in his MLB debut. The Explorers got him in the same trade with Richmond that netted them CF Bob Cline. Bob Hutson lines a double to left! T.R. Hunter lines a hit to center and Hutson scores! 4 to 0, Jays! The next three make outs.

Bottom of the Ninth
P Mike Marsh is at 115 pitches. Gary McKellar (35-R) is in to play left. Roger Briones grounds the first pitch over the 3rd base bag for a double.... Only the second hit of the game for the Explorers. The Bullpen gets up. Bob Cline strikes out! Robert Duenas strikes out for #10 by P Mike Marsh! Miguel Andrade grounds a double over the 1st base bag and Briones scores.... 4 to 1, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: Bob Craig (27-R), in his season debut. Floyd Shawn bloops the first pitch to right for a hit... Call to the Bullpen; 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (34-L), in his season debut. PH Sandy Jimenez (39-R), 0 for 1 on the season and a career .256 hitter with a .705 OPS, strikes out and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 4 to 1

We had 7 hits and made 1 error (T.R. Hunter again)
Columbus had 4 hits (3 in the 9th) and made no errors

Mike Marsh (W 1-0) went 8.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 3 walks and struck out 10. 126 pitches.
RHP Bob Craig faced 1 batter, threw 1 pitch and gave up a hit.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 1) faced 1 batter and struck him out.

Steve Melita (L 0-1) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks and struck out 9.

1B Jack Washburn drew 2 walks and stole a base. LF Fernando Tello had a hit and a walk, scored a run and had 2 RBI. RF Ray McDonald hit a double and had an RBI. C Bob Hutson hit a double and scored a run. 2B T.R. Hunter had 2 hits and an RBI, but made his 2nd error of the season already. SS Bart Daw hit a double and scored a run.

Around the League: In his debut with Providence, P Dale Gilchrist (26-R) held Richmond scoreless on 1 hit and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts for 6.2 innings, but then had to leave with an injury. A muscle pull that will bother him for about a week, the Steamrollers report.

Also, RF Rob Worms (32-R), who we cut this Spring, made his season debut for Charlotte and hit a home run.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 8, 2005

P Victor Espinoza (40-R), the best pitcher on the 2001 Jays before we traded him to New Orleans, has announced that this will be his final season. He is 33-25 with a 2.56 ERA in his career, but has only started 19 games over the last 2 seasons due to injuries.

Jacksonville Jays (2-1 .667 0 GA tied for 1st place (with 4 other teams!) in the Southern Division) at
Columbus Explorers (1-2 .333 1 GB tied for 5th (last) place in the Northern Division)

After 3 games, there are no more unbeaten teams in the MLB. New Orleans is the only winless team.

JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (8-9 3.58 ERA 183.2 IP, 179 H, 12 HR, 83 BB, 95 SO last year)
COL: Pat Land (25-R) (A Ball; 2-4 4.15 ERA 4 SV, 26 IP, 22 H, 2 HR, 24 BB, 24 SO last year) Rookie

Calice faced the Explorers once last year and was lit up for 8 runs (7 earned) on 10 hits and 4 walks with 1 strikeout in a loss. He had won 5 in a row before that start and finished the season 1-5.

Land is making his MLB debut today. He was a 5th round pick by Charlotte in the 2002 B Leagues Draft. He is not rated in the Top 100 prospects. His previous starting experience amounts to 1 start in the B Leagues. He can hum it at 99 MPH, but walked 8.3 per 9 innings in A Ball last year. He is the 144th different pitcher to start a game against the Jays!

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .300-10-0-0-.962-2 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .182-11-0-2-.490-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .364-11-1-4-1.189-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .000-13-0-0-.000-0 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .417-12-0-3-1.083-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .250-12-0-1-.500-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .200-10-0-0-.573-0 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .250-12-0-1-.583-0 B)
9: P Al Calice (24-L Season debut F)

COLUMBUS
1: LF Steve Shauer (29-L .167-12-1-4-.667-0 B+)
2: 2B Roger Briones (22-L .250-4-0-0-.750-0 B)
3: CF Bob Cline (26-R .182-11-0-0-.364-0 C)
4: RF Robert Duenas (35-L .250-4-0-0-.900-0 C+)
5: 1B Miguel Andrade (28-L .100-10-0-1-.382-0 B+)
6: 3B Floyd Shawn (27-R .111-9-0-0-.311-0 B)
7: SS Joe Tirey (33-L .125-8-0-0-.250-0 A) Gold Glove(3: 01,03-04)
8: C Marc Barksdale (34-R .111-9-0-0-.222-0 B) All-Star/Gold Glove(3: 01-02,04)
9: P Pat Land (25-L MLB debut C+) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Comiskey Park
Weather: 50 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 11,196

Top of the First
Jack Washburn grounds out to 2nd. Fernando Tello grounds out to short. Ray McDonald knocks one off the wall in left center and ends up with a triple! Tom McDowell grounds out to short.... 0 for 14....

Bottom of the First
Steve Shauer walks on 4 pitches.... Their guy walks over 8 per game and does not walk anybody.... Shauer tries to steal 2nd, but C Bob Hutson throws him out! The first runner thrown out by Hutson in his career! Roger Briones flies out to left. Bob Cline strikes out looking!

Top of the Second
Bob Hutson swings at the first pitch and hits the first home run of his career to right! 1 to 0, Jays! T.R. Hunter swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted. But P Pat Land is hurt. New Pitcher: Conrad Roberts (37-R), in his season debut. We was 6-10 with 1 SV and a 4.49 ERA in 114.1 IP with 16 starts last year. With 2 outs, Dickie Stemen beats out an infield hit. P Al Calice beats out an infield hit! Jack Washburn flies out to center...

Bottom of the Second
Robert Duenas takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and P Al Calice has walked the leadoff man for the second straight inning.... With 2 outs, Joe Tirey takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... Marc Barksdale lines a hit to right and Duenas heads home, but Ray McDonald throws him out!

Bottom of the Third
With 2 outs, Roger Briones lines the first pitch to right for a hit. Bob Cline takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... 4 walks already by P Al Calice... Robert Duenas takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and walk #5 and the bases are loaded.... The Bullpen gets up. Miguel Andrade takes another 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in a run.... Tie Game: 1 to 1. 6 walks! Floyd Shawn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and walk #7 and another run is in.... 2 to 1, Explorers. He will not tie the team record of 8 walks in a game.... Call to the Bullpen: Roger Wallace (29-R). Joe Tirey swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 1st, 3-1!

Bottom of the Fourth
New Pitcher: Johnny Groom (27-R). With 2 outs, Steve Shauer beats out an infield hit and steals 2nd. Roger Briones grounds an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Shauer heads home, but Dickie Stemen throws him out!

Top of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Tom McDowell swings at the first pitch and hits a home run to right! His first hit of the year! Tie Game: 2 to 2!

Bottom of the Fifth
Bob Cline lines the first pitch to right for a hit and goes to 2nd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Floyd Shawn grounds the first pitch to left for a hit and Cline scores... 3 to 2, Explorers.

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Bob Craig (27-R). Charlie Faber (34-R), who pinch-hit unsuccessfully last inning stays in to play 2nd and T.R. Hunter moves to short. With 1 out, Marc Barksdale lines a hit to right. With 2 outs, Steve Shauer beats out an infield hit... Roger Briones grounds a hit to right and Barksdale scores.... 4 to 2, Explorers.

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: Jim Rutherford (35-R), their closer, who has 1 SV and 1 scoreless inning under his belt this season. He was 4-8 with 30 SV and a 2.60 ERA in 79.2 IP with an 0.98 WHIP last year. 2-3-4 up for us. Fernando Tello grounds out to 2nd. Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd... Tom McDowell strikes out.....

Lost - 4 to 2

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Columbus had 10 hits (all singles) and made no errors

Al Calice went 2.2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 2 hits, 7 walks(!!!!!!!) and struck out 1. He threw a WP. At bat, he had a hit. I hope this is an aberration......
RHP Roger Wallace faced 1 batter and retired him.
RHP Johnny Groom (L 0-1), who I cannot wait to see go back to Daytona (A), went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2.
LHP Albert Davies went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.
RHP Bob Craig went 1 inning, allowed 1 run and 3 hits.

Pat Land went 1.1 innings, gave us 1 run, 2 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out no one.
RHP Conrad Roberts (W 1-0) went 4.2 innings, gave us 1 run, 6 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Jim Rutherford (SV 2) pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

RF Ray McDonald hit a triple and drew a walk and threw a runner out at home. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits with his first home run of the season. C Bob Hutson had 2 hits with the first home run of his career. CF Dickie Stemen had a hit and walk and threw a runner out at home. PH Dave Estey drew a walk. PH Dave Thompson drew a walk.

For Columbus, 2B/1B Roger Briones had 3 hits, scored a run and had an RBI.

The Explorers announced that P Pat Land had elbow tendinitis and would be out 4 to 5 weeks.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 9, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (2-2 .500 0 GA tied for 1st place (with 6 other teams!) in the Southern Division) at
Columbus Explorers (2-2 .500 1 GB tied for 5th place in the Northern Division)

Every team in the South is 2-2, except for New Orleans (0-4).

JAX: Jim Baucom (23-L) (1-0 1.00 ERA 9 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 7 SO) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)
COL: Mike Elizondo (26-R) (1-0 2.25 ERA 8 IP, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 4 SO) All-Star(2: 03-04)

Baucom was 2-0 in 2 starts against Columbus last year with 1 shutout and a 1.65 ERA. 16.1 IP, 12 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 12 SO.

Elizondo is their #1 starter. He was 11-11 with a 2.71 ERA in 249 IP last year. He tied for the MLB lead in Wins with 18 in 2003. He is 0-3 in 6 starts against the Jays in his career with a 3.67 ERA. 41.2 IP, 50 H, 0 HR, 11 BB, 17 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .200-15-0-0-.667-2 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .188-16-0-2-.465-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .333-15-1-4-1.178-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .111-18-1-1-.389-0 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .438-16-1-4-1.250-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .250-16-0-1-.500-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .154-13-0-0-.445-0 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .267-15-0-1-.646-0 B)
9: P Jim Baucom (23-L .667-3-0-0-1.667-0 C) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)

COLUMBUS
1: LF Steve Shauer (29-L .250-16-1-4-.794-1 B+)
2: CF Dave Sanders (31-R .000-7-0-0-.125-0 C+)
3: RF Bob Cline (26-R .200-15-0-0-.450-0 B)
4: 3B Floyd Shawn (27-R .167-12-0-2-.452-0 B)
5: 1B Roger Briones (22-L .444-9-0-1-1.000-0 A+)
6: C Jorge Ortega (26-R Season debut C+)
7: 2B Dan Carroll (27-R .400-5-0-0-1.000-0 A++) Gold Glove(03)
8: SS Jose Madrid (25-R Season debut A) Rookie #81 prospect
9: P Mike Elizondo (26-R .000-2-0-0-.000-0 F) All-Star(2: 03-04)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Comiskey Park
Weather: 56 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,165

Top of the First
I hate to mention this for fear of jinxing him today, but it just has to be mentioned. We are playing our 5th game and Jack Washburn has yet to strike out! He struck out 104 times in 423 AB last year. He swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Fernando Tello swings at the first pitch and hits one deep to right that just clears the fence for a home run! Thank you, Wind! 1 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald strikes out looking.... Tom McDowell grounds out to 1st, unassisted.

Bottom of the First
Steve Shauer grounds a hit to right.... P Jim Baucom's deepest hitless run into a game so far this year is still 0 batters..... Dave Sanders bloops a hit to right and Shauer goes to 3rd... Bob Cline plunks into a force at 2nd, 2-6, and Shauer holds at 3rd. Floyd Shawn grounds into a 5-4-3 double play!!

Bottom of the Fifth
With 1 out, Jose Madrid walks on 4 pitches and steals 2nd. P Mike Elizondo grounds a hit up the middle and Madrid heads home, but Dickie Stemen throws him out!

Top of the Sixth
Fernando Tello doubles high off the wall in center! They walk Ray McDonald intentionally. Tom McDowell has an many GDP as H (2) this season.... But he lines out to center. With 2 outs, T.R. Hunter bloops a hit to right and Tello beats the throw home and the runners move up! 2 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw lines a hit to center and both runners score!! 4 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Seventh
Roger Briones and Jorge Ortega lead off with back to back hits.... The Bullpen gets up. Dan Carroll lines out to 1st and Jack Washburn fires the ball to T.R. Hunter at 2nd and we double off Briones!!

Won - 4 to 0

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Columbus had 7 hits and made no errors

Jim Baucom (W 2-0) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6. 107 pitches. At bat, he drew a walk. The 19th shutout of his career, most in the MLB!

Mike Elizondo (L 1-1) went 8 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 9. At bat, he had a hit.

1B Jack Washburn went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. My bad.... LF Fernando Tello hit a double and his first home run of the season and scored 2 runs. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk (INT) and scored a run. 2B T.R. Hunter had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits and 2 RBI.

Around the League: It was a good day for the Jays as they were the only Southern Division team to win a game today! Which means every team in the division now has a losing record except for Jacksonville!

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 10, 2005

We were expecting to get CF Cal Doty back sometime early this coming week, but Trudy the Trainer says that ain't gonna happen.... His pulled muscle is still bothering him and she will not give me a new estimate of his return time....

Jacksonville Jays (3-2 .600 1 GA in 1st place (all alone!) in the Southern Division) at
Columbus Explorers (2-3 .400 2 GB tied for 6th (last) place in the Northern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (0-1 3.00 ERA 6 IP, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 6 SO) Gold Glove(02)
COL: Terry Luckett (30-L) (0-1 7.36 ERA 7.1 IP, 12 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 7 SO) All-Star(4: 01-04)

Warwick faced Columbus once last year and beat them with 1 run allowed on 7 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.

Luckett is now their #2 starter, but the #1 winningest pitch ever in the MLB with 71 Wins. He was 22-6 with a 1.99 ERA in 240 IP last year and would have been a unanimous Ace Award winner and Hurler Trophy winner in any other season. #2 starter..... He is 4-4 in 8 starts in his career against the Jays with a shutout and a 3.26 ERA. 58 IP, 62 H, 3 HR, 7 BB, 37 SO. He is the first lefty we have faced this season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .263-19-0-1-.616-0 B)
2: 1B Dave Thompson (29-R .000-0-0-0-1.000-0 C+)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .333-18-1-4-1.121-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .091-22-1-1-.318-0 C+)
5: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .250-20-0-2-.500-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
6: LF Gary McKellar (35-R Season debut at bat A+)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .235-17-0-2-.572-1 B+)
8: C Don Kern (28-R Season debut B+)
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .000-1-0-0-.000-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

COLUMBUS
1: LF Steve Shauer (29-L .250-20-1-4-.736-1 B+)
2: CF Dave Sanders (31-R .182-11-0-0-.523-0 C+)
3: RF Bob Cline (26-R .158-19-0-0-.358-0 B)
4: 1B Miguel Andrade (28-L .077-13-0-2-.354-0 B+)
5: 3B Floyd Shawn (27-R .125-16-0-2-.347-0 B)
6: C Marc Barksdale (34-R .231-13-0-0-.462-0 B) All-Star/Gold Glove(3: 01-02,04)
7: SS Joe Tirey (33-L .100-10-0-0-.350-0 A) Gold Glove(3: 01,03-04)
8: 2B Jose Madrid (25-R .000-2-0-0-.333-1 A+) Rookie
9: P Terry Luckett (30-L .000-2-0-0-.000-0 D) All-Star(4: 01-04)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Comiskey Park
Weather: 54 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in to right
Attendance: 12,079

Top of the First
Dickie Stemen flies out to deep center. Dave Thompson bloops an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit! Ray McDonald flies out to right. Tom McDowell strikes out....

Bottom of the First
Steve Shauer pops out to center. Dave Sanders lines a hit to center.... Bob Cline grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. Miguel Andrade lines the first pitch to left for a double and Cline scores... 1 to 0, Explorers. Floyd Shawn flies out to right.

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Gary McKellar beats out an infield hit. Bart Daw walks on 4 pitches. Don Kern pokes an 0-2 pitch to center for a hit and McKellar scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1! Kern hit .161 last year and is now batting 1.000 this year! P Del Warwick bunts the runners up. Dickie Stemen grounds a hit up the middle and both runners score!! 3 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Sixth
Ray McDonald beats out an infield hit. Tom McDowell hits a fly ball to right, but Bob Cline muffs it for an error! T.R. Hunter beats out an infield hit and the bases are loaded with no outs! Gary McKellar pops out to 2nd.... The 2-2 pitch to Bart Daw is in the dirt and gets by the catcher for a wild pitch and McDonald scores! 4 to 1, Jays! Bart Daw flies out to deep center on a 3-2 pitch and McDowell tags up and scores! 5 to 1, Jays!

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Bob Cline hits a home run to left... 5 to 2, Jays.

Top of the Seventh
New Pitcher: Bill Chappell (25-R), the rookie, pitching in his 3rd straight game of the series with 3 scoreless innings. With 1 out, PH Jack Washburn (23-L), who will stay in to play 1st, hits a home run to right! 6 to 2, Jays!

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Earl Savage (26-R), after a perfect 8th. He is pitching with a strained hamstring. Dickie Stemen, who never walks, takes a 3-2 pitch for his second walk of the game! With 1 out, Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Tom McDowell hits a home run to left!!! 9 to 2, Jays!

Won - 9 to 2

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Columbus had 7 hits and made 1 error

Del Warwick (W 1-1) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 3.
RHP Roger Wallace pitched 2 perfect innings.

Terry Luckett (L 0-2) went 6 innings, gave us 5 runs (3 earned), 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 2. He threw a WP.

CF Dickie Stemen had a hit and 2 walks, scored a run and had 2 RBI. PH/1B Jack Washburn hit his 1st home run of the season. RF Ray McDonald had 2 hits and a walk and scored 2 runs. 3B Tom McDowell hit his 2nd home run, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. 2B T.R. Hunter had a hit and a walk. SS Bart Daw drew a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. C Don Kern had a hit and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI.

For Columbus, RF Bob Cline had 2 hits with his 1st home run of the season and scored 2 runs. 1B Miguel Andrade hit 2 doubles and had an RBI.

Down on the Farm: I forgot to mention earlier that I was successful in killing the Tortugas name. Our A Ball affiliate is now officially known as the Daytona Beach Admirals! 2 of our draftees from this year made their debut today and helped them win their first game ever as the Admirals! P Dick Wellborn (21-R), our 5th round pick, pitched 8 shutout innings, allowed 6 hits and 4 walks with 7 strikeouts! Mickel Cannady (23-R), our 4th round pick, pitched a perfect 9th with a strikeout. The Admirals won, 5 to 0, at Durham.

[Questdog]

April 11, 2005

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Jim Baucom, P, Jacksonville (23-L 2-0 0.50 ERA) Pitched 2 CG with 1 shutout. 18 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 13 SO.

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

April 4 - RF Ed Yeager (29-L) of Ottawa hit a 2-run home run at home versus Hartford to extend hit hitting streak from last season to 20 games.
April 5 - Benedict Hughes (25-L) of Rochester pitched a 3 hit shutout at Columbus, He walked 1, hit a batter and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI. It is the 3rd shutout of his career. The Roosters won, 6 to 0.
April 5 - C Joe Tomlinson (30-R) of Ottawa hit a double and a Grand Slam and had 5 RBI at home versus Hartford. It is the 6th Grand Slam of his career. No one else in the MLB has more than 3. RF Ed Yeager (29-L) went 0 for 4 to end his carryover hitting streak at 20 games. The Otters won, 6 to 1.
April 6 - Richmond lost their #2 starter, Greg Sinclair (27-R) for the season with a torn rotator cuff. We is 40-44 with a 3.84 ERA in his career.
April 8 - C Mark Scott (29-R) of Rochester had 3 hits with a home run and a walk, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI at Charlotte. The Roosters won, 9 to 4. RF Rob Worms (32-R), the ex-Jay started his 2nd game for the Hornets and hit his 2nd home run.
April 9 - Orlando Lost P Manny Martinez (33-R), the ex-Jay, for probably the rest of the season with shoulder inflammation. He might be back in late September.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 11, 2005

Home Opener!

The Indianapolis Arrows hare here to help us pop the cork on Connie Mack Stadium fro 2005 with a 4 game series. They split 4 games in Memphis over the weekend. We were 7-1 against them last year when they finished 70-92 in 6th place in the North. After a week of play, they are tied for 10th in scoring with 4.00 runs per game (Jacksonville is #5 with 4.50). The Arrows are tied for 14th in fewest runs allowed with 5.67 per game (Jacksonville is #1 with 2.00!). Their run differential is -10, 4th worst in the MLB, and ours is +15, 2nd best to Ottawa (+21!).

Indianapolis Arrows (2-4 .333 3 GB tied for 7th (last) place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (4-2 .667 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)


IND: Arturo Flores (28-L) (5-12 4.66 ERA 121.2 IP, 151 H, 7 HR, 64 BB, 66 SO Last year) Gold Glove(01)
JAX: Tommy Keyser (25-L) (A Ball: 7-9 4.05 ERA 111 IP, 120 H, 9 HR, 47 BB, 69 SO Last year) Rookie

Flores is making his season debut. He looks like an easy touch, but he is 3-1 in 5 starts against the Jays in his career with 2 shutouts and a 1.36 ERA, the 3rd best among all opponents who have started at least 5 games. 33 IP, 23 H, 2 HR, 11 BB, 22 SO.

Keyser is making his season debut. He started 4 games for the Jays in 2003 and went 2-1, but had a 6.75 ERA. 18.2 IP, 26 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 11 SO. Other than allowing too many hits, walks and home runs, he did okay.... He was the #49 prospect this Spring, up 10 spots from last year, which is the biggest reason we have any hope for him, because he has not pitched very well anywhere yet. But he pitched better than the other candidates for the #5 spot int he rotation this Spring, so here he is. He will be given 3 starts at least and after that, we will reevaluate the situation.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (25-R .280-25-1-3-.837-0 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Ward (30-L .286-28-0-3-.679-0 B)
3: CF Mike Cram (32-R .250-24-0-3-.519-0 C+)
4: LF Lou Baldwin (25-L .273-22-0-1-.697-0 A) All-Star
5: 1B Bill Jacobson (27-R .190-21-1-3-.673-0 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)/Gold Glove(01)
6: 2B Leon Wooten (33-R .231-13-0-3-.747-0 B+) All-Star(03)
7: 3B Manuel Montes (25-L .429-7-1-1-1.286-0 C)
8: C Fred Hines (35-R Season debut at bat B)
9: P Arturo Flores (28-L Season debut F) Gold Glove(01)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .273-22-0-3-.678-0 B)
2: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .250-24-0-2-.530-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .364-22-1-4-1.118-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .111-27-2-4-.444-0 C+)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .190-21-1-1-.720-2 B)
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .238-21-1-3-.733-0 C)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .211-19-0-3-.536-1 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (22-L .400-20-1-4-1.100-0 B) Rookie
9: P Tommy Keyser (25-R Season debut B) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 79 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 16,372

Largest regular season crowd ever!

Top of the First
Ray Stover beats out an infield hit.... He tries to steal 2nd, but we have a pitchout on and C Bob Hutson throws him out! Jimmy Ward swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to center. Mike Cram takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three!

Bottom of the First
Dickie Stemen draws a walk! T.R. Hunter swings at the first pitch and pops out to left. Ray McDonald pops out to right. Tom McDowell bloops a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit and Stemen goes to 3rd! Jack Washburn strikes out looking....

Top of the Third
Manuel Montes grounds a hit up the middle. Fred Hines grounds into a 6-4-3 double play!! But P Tommy Keyser is hurt... Maybe he won't get at least three starts..... New Pitcher: Johnny Groom (27-R). P Arturo Flores strikes out.

Bottom of the Fourth
Tom McDowell grounds a hit to left and Jack Washburn gets beaned! But the next three all make outs.... How come everyone else can hits this fellow, but we cannot?

Top of the Fifth
Lou Baldwin walks on 4 pitches and Bill Jacobson lines a hit to left... The Bullpen gets up. Leon Wooten grounds into a 4-6-3 double play!!

Bottom of the Fifth
With 2 outs, T.R. Hunter his a home run to left! 1 to 0, Jays! His first home run as a Jay!

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Brent Webster (38-R), their 4-time All-Star closer with 122 SV the last 4 seasons, but who is not their closer anymore. He is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in 2 innings this year, but was 3-4 with 32 SV and a 2.52 ERA last season. Dickie Stemen and T.R. Hunter lead off with back to back hits! Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Stemen goes to 3rd. Tom McDowell strikes out... Jack Washburn lines a hit to right and Stemen scores and McDonald goes to 3rd! 2 to 0, Jays! Fernando Tello grounds a hit up the middle and McDonald scores! 3 to 0, Jays!

Won - 3 to 0

We had 8 hits and made no errors
Indianapolis had 6 hits (all singles) and made no errors

Tommy Keyser went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, no walks and struck out 1.
RHP Johnny Groom (W 1-1) went 2.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 2.
RHP Bob Craig (H 1) went 2 scoreless innings and allowed 1 hit.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 2) pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 2.

Arturo Flores (L 0-1) went 7 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 5.

CF Dickie Stemen had a hit and 2 walks and scored a run. He now has 5 walks and 24 AB! Last year, in A Ball, he walked 3 times in 81 AB and in his MLB career before this season he had 10 walks and 214 AB! 2B T.R. Hunter had 2 hits with his first home run as a Jay. 3B Tom McDowell had 3 hits. 1B Jack Washburn had a hit and was hit by a pitch and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw hit a double.

Trudy's report on Tommy Keyser is a sore elbow that she thinks will bother him for about a month....

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

P Tommy Keyser (25-L) was put on the DL and P Dave Buchalter (26-R) was recalled.

Indianapolis Arrows (2-5 .286 4 GB tied for 7th (last) place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (5-2 .714 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)


IND: Mark Manley (32-R) (1-0 2.57 ERA 7 IP, 5 H, 2 HR, 2 BB, 7 SO)
JAX: Mike Marsh (23-R) (1-0 1.04 ERA 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 10 SO) All-Star

Manley was 4-13 with a 4.93 ERA in 137 IP last year, but 15-13 in 2003. He is 2-1 in 4 starts against the Jays in his career with a 2.70 ERA. 23.1 IP, 22 H, 1 HR, 13 BB, 14 SO.

Marsh was 2-0 in 1 start and one 4 inning relief appearance against the Arrows last year with a 5 hit shutout and no runs allowed. 13 IP, 6 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (25-R .276-29-1-3-.792-0 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Ward (30-L .281-32-0-3-.656-0 B)
3: CF Mike Cram (32-R .250-28-0-3-.517-0 C+)
4: LF Lou Baldwin (25-L .240-25-0-1-.641-0 A) All-Star
5: 1B Bill Jacobson (27-R .208-24-1-3-.671-0 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)/Gold Glove(01)
6: C Denny Broughton (25-L .263-19-1-3-.918-0 D+)
7: 2B Leon Wooten (33-R .188-16-0-3-.610-0 B+) All-Star(03)
8: 3B Ty Halverson (22-R .188-16-0-1-.548-1 A)
9: P Mark Manley (32-R .000-2-0-0-.000-0 F) .297 career BA

JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .208-24-1-2-.738-2 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .240-25-1-4-.696-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .308-26-1-4-.958-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .161-31-2-4-.516-0 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .348-23-1-4-.957-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .286-28-1-3-.703-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .217-23-0-3-.574-1 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .292-24-0-3-.747-0 B)
9: P Mike Marsh (23-R .000-3-0-0-.000-0 B+) All-Star

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 63 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 8,509

Top of the First
Ray Stover swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Jimmy Ward grounds out to 2nd. Mike Cram swings at the first pitch and flies out to left! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Jack Washburn doubles to center! Fernando Tello pops one up to short right center and no one takes charge and it drops for a hit! Ray McDonald strikes out looking..... Tom McDowell lines a 3-0 pitch to center for a hit and Washburn scores and Tello beats the throw to 3rd! 1 to 0, Jays! McDowell steals 2nd! Bob Hutson grounds out to the pitcher and the runners hold... T.R. Hunter grounds out to short....

Bottom of the Second
With 1 out, Dickie Stemen doubles to center and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Jack Washburn walks on 4 pitches and P Mark Manley is hurt. New Pitcher: Justin Reddick (32-R), the ex-Jay, who is 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 IP with 1 BB and 6 SO and 1 HR. Fernando Tello swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.....

The Arrows go 9 up, 9 down!

Bottom of the Third
Ray McDonald grounds a hit up the middle. Tom McDowell grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. A wild pitch moves him up. With 2 outs, T.R. Hunter grounds a hit to left and McDowell scores! 2 to 0, Jays! Bart Daw hits a home run to left center!! 4 to 0, Jays. That's the old Justin we knew and now love! 4 to 0, Jays!

Bottom of the Fourth
With 1 out Fernando Tello doubles to left center. Ray McDonald grounds one to 2nd, but Leon Wooten boots it! Tom McDowell pops out to 2nd.... Bob Hutson grounds out to 2nd....

Top of the Sixth
Ty Halverson, the #8 hitter, lines a hit to right, the first of the game for the Arrows.... With 2 outs, Jimmy Ward grounds a hit up the middle and Halverson beats the throw to 3rd. Mike Cram grounds out to 2nd!

Won - 4 to 0

3 shutouts in the last 4 games!

We had 13 hits and made 1 error
Indianapolis had 4 hits (all singles) and made 1 error

It is the first time we have reached double digit hits this season!
Thanks, Justin Reddick!

Mike Marsh (W 2-0) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), allowed 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 6. 115 pitches. At bat, he had 2 hits. The 5th shutout of his career!

Mark Manley (L 1-1) went 1.2 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2.
RHP Justin Reddick, the ex-Jay, went 3.1 innings, gave us 3 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run and struck out 4.

1B Jack Washburn hit a double, drew a walk and scored a run. LF Fernando Tello had 2 hits with a double. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 2B T.R. Hunter had a hit and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits with his 1st home run of the season and had 2 RBI. CF Dickie Stemen had 2 hits with a double.

The Arrows announced that P Mark Manley had a mild calf strain that they figured to bother him for about a week.

Around the League: In his 2nd start for Providence, P Dale Gilchrist (26-R) was injured again and will be out for 3 weeks.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Indianapolis Arrows (2-6 .250 5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (6-2 .750 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

IND: Dave Guindon (33-R) (0-0 9.64 ERA 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 1 SO)
JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (0-0 6.75 ERA 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 HR, 7 BB, 1 SO)

Guindon was 8-11 with a 5.08 ERA in 168.1 IP last year and 4-18 in 2003. He is 2-4 in 6 starts against the Jays in his career with a 6.75 ERA. 33.1 IP, 44 H, 4 HR, 12 BB, 17 SO.

Calice's 1st start was an unmitigated disaster.... He was 1-0 in 2 starts against the Arrows last year with a 2.13 ERA. 12.2 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (25-R .242-33-1-3-.699-0 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Ward (30-L .306-36-0-3-.694-0 B)
3: CF Mike Cram (32-R .219-32-0-3-.454-0 C+)
4: LF Lou Baldwin (25-L .207-29-0-1-.557-0 A) All-Star
5: 1B Bill Jacobson (27-R .185-27-1-3-.624-0 B+) All-Star(2: 01,03)/Gold Glove(01)
6: C Denny Broughton (25-L .261-23-1-3-.849-0 D+)
7: 2B Manuel Montes (25-L .400-10-1-1-1.100-0 C+)
8: 3B Ty Halverson (22-R .211-19-0-1-.566-1 A)
9: P Dave Guindon (33-R .000-1-0-0-.000-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .214-28-1-2-.762-2 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .267-30-1-4-.746-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .290-31-1-4-.873-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .194-36-2-5-.583-1 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .296-27-1-4-.815-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .290-31-1-4-.720-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .259-27-1-5-.744-1 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .321-28-0-3-.817-0 B)
9: P Al Calice (24-L 1.000-1-0-0-2.000-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 70 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 7,964

Top of the First
Ray Stover grounds out to 2nd. Jimmy Ward lines a hit to center, extending his hitting streak carried over from last season to 15 games... He steals 2nd.... Mike Cram lines a 3-2 pitch to left center for a triple and Ward scores... 1 to 0, Arrows. Lou Baldwin pops out to center and Cram stays put. Bill Jacobson grounds out to 3rd!

Bottom of the First
Jack Washburn lines a hit to right! Fernando Tello grounds the first pitch to right for a hit and Washburn goes to 3rd! Ray McDonald lines a hit to right and Washburn scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1! Tom McDowell grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Tello goes to 3rd..... Already his 3rd GDP this season... He had 9 all of last season. Bob Hutson lines out to 2nd....

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Manuel Montes grounds a hit to right and steals 2nd. With 2 outs, P Dave Guindon lines the first pitch to left center for a hit and Montes scores.... 2 to 1, Arrows. No walks, anyway.....

Top of the Third
Jimmy Ward pokes a hit to center.... With 1 out, Lou Baldwin grounds a hit up the middle and Ward beats the throw to 3rd... Bill Jacobson swings at the first pitch and pops out to center and the runners hold. Denny Broughton clears the bases with a double to center.... 4 to 1, Arrows. I expected P Al Calice, a former #1 prospect, to take a step forward this season, but he looks to have taken about 8 steps back......

Bottom of the Fifth
With 1 out, Jack Washburn walks on 4 pitches. Fernando Tello grounds a hit up the middle and Washburn beats the throw to 3rd! Ray McDonald bloops one to left, but Lou Baldwin rushes in and makes a great catch, but Washburn tags up and scores. 4 to 2, Arrows. Tom McDowell mashes one 475 ft. to left center!! Tie Game: 4 to 4!

Top of the Seventh
With 1 out, Jimmy Ward doubles to right center... The Bullpen gets up. Mike Cram grounds one to 3rd, but Tom McDowell boots it.... Lou Baldwin strikes out! Bill Jacobson grounds out to short! After those first 3 rough innings, P Al Calice did pretty well!

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Tom Paul (35-L), their closer, who has taken the job from the 4-time All-Star. He is 0-1 with 2 SV and a 4.50 ERA in 6 IP. Duane Weeks (28-R) is in to play 3rd in a double switch. With 2 outs, PH Don Kern (28-R), who will stay in to catch, lines the first pitch over the center fielder's head for a double! They walk T.R. Hunter intentionally. Bart Daw grounds a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Kern scores! 5 to 4, Jays! Dickie Stemen hits a home run to left!!! 8 to 4, Jays! Who needs Cal Doty!!!

Won - 8 to 4

We had 10 hits and made 2 errors
Indianapolis had 9 hits and made no errors

Al Calice went 7 innings, allowed 4 runs, 9 hits, no walks (!!!) and struck out 6. 115 pitches. He walked 7 in 2.2 IP in his first start.
LHP Albert Davies (W 1-0) pitched a perfect inning with 1 strikeout.
RHP Roger Wallace pitched a perfect inning.

Dave Guindon went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
LHP Tom Paul (L 0-2) got 2 outs, gave us 4 runs, 3 hits, 1 home run and 1 walk (INT). Yeah, he is a LOT better than the 4-time All-Star!

1B Jack Washburn had a hit and a walk and scored 2 runs. LF Fernando Tello had 2 hits and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and 2 RBI. 3B Tom McDowell hit his 3rd home run of the season, drew a walk and had 2 RBI. PH/C Don Kern hit a double and scored a run. I think we will start platooning our catchers. SS Bart Daw had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI. CF Dickie Stemen, off to the best start on the team, had 2 hits with his 1st home run as a Jay and had 3 RBI.

For Indianapolis, RF Jimmy Ward had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Yesterday, Eli Kyzar (32-R) pitched a 3 hit shutout for Syracuse, his 2nd shutout in 2 starts this season. Today, they traded him to Louisville!

The Sycamores sent Kyzar and SS Tony Anderson to the Colonels for LF Ernie Mitchell (25-L) and minor league SS Tom Spiegel (24-R).

Kyzar, a 3-time All-Star(01,03-04), is 51-39 with a 2.57 ERA in his career. Anderson hit .226/.290/.318 in 195 AB with 3 HR and 22 RBI and 0 SB as a rookie last year. He was the 15th overall pick in the 2003 B Leagues Drat and was the #42 prospect a year ago.

Mitchell hit .304/.358/.491 in 230 AB with 5 HR and 33 RBI and 9 SB as a rookie last year. He was a 3rd round pick in the 2002 B Leagues draft and was not ranked in the Top 100 prospects last year. Spiegel was a 4th round pick in the 2002 B Leagues Draft and is not ranked in the Top 100 prospects.

Wow! That is a lot to give up for 3rd and 4th round draft picks! Admittedly, Mitchell hit a lot better than a 3rd round draft pick as a rookie last year and is off to a hot start this season (.438), but trading a 3-time All-Star who has just pitched back to back shutouts to open the season is cold blooded!

Indianapolis Arrows (2-7 .222 5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (7-2 .778 2 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

IND: Raymound Hogan (27-R) (1-0 2.25 ERA 8 IP, 10 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 4 SO)
JAX: Jim Baucom (23-L) (2-0 0.50 ERA 18 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 13 SO) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)

Hogan is their #1 starter. He left his Opening Day start in the 1st inning with an injury. He was 14-13 with a 4.63 ERA in 194.1 IP last year and 7-18 with a 4.99 ERA in 2003 as a rookie. He is 0-3 in 4 starts against the Jays in his career with a 7.94 ERA. 22.2 IP, 23 H, 6 HR, 8 BB, 12 SO.

Baucom pitched a 7 hit shutout with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
INDIANAPOLIS
1: SS Ray Stover (25-R .211-38-1-3-.610-0 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Ward (30-L .341-41-0-3-.780-1 B) 6 for 14 (.429) w/HR vs Baucom
3: CF Mike Cram (32-R .222-36-0-4-.515-0 C+) 2 for 12 (.167) w/HR vs Baucom
4: LF Lou Baldwin (25-L .212-33-0-1-.551-0 A) All-Star
5: 1B Leon Wooten (33-R .158-19-0-3-.516-0 A) All-Star(03)
6: C Denny Broughton (25-L .259-27-1-5-.836-0 D+)
7: 3B Ty Halverson (22-R .174-23-0-1-.469-1 A)
8: 2B Nick Hatfield (35-S 1.000-1-0-0-2.000-0 B+) 2 for 3 vs Baucom
9: P Raymound Hogan (27-L .250-4-0-1-.750-0 C) .258 career BA

JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .226-31-1-2-.771-2 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .294-34-1-4-.775-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .294-34-1-6-.846-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .205-39-3-7-.687-1 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .267-30-1-4-.733-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .265-34-1-4-.677-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .290-31-1-6-.775-1 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .344-32-1-6-.932-0 B)
9: P Jim Baucom (23-L .333-6-0-0-.929-0 C) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 70 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,217

Top of the First
Ray Stover lines one hard to deep right, but Ray McDonald runs it down and P Jim Baucom has retired the leadoff hitter for the first time this season! Though that was probably the hardest hit ball of the three.... Jimmy Ward strikes out looking! Mike Cram strikes out! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Jack Washburn lines a 2-2 pitch over the center fielder's head and ends up with a triple! Fernando Tello grounds a hit to right and Washburn scores! 1 to 0, Jays! A wild pitch sends Tello to 2nd! Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Tom McDowell grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4, and Tello goes to 3rd. McDowell steals 2nd! Bob Hutson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out! The first walk of his career! He walked a whole bunch in the B Leagues. T.R. Hunter grounds into a force at home, 1-2..... Bart Daw lines out to center and once again we let a chance for a big first inning slip away.....

Top of the Third
Nick Hatfield, 2 for 3 in his career against P Jim Baucom, makes it 3 for 4 with a double grounded over the 3rd base bag..... P Raymound Hogan bunts him to 3rd. With the infield in, Ray Stover grounds an 0-2 pitch through the left side for a hit and Hatfield scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. With 2 outs, Mike Cram beats out an infield hit.... They have 4 hits already.... Lou Baldwin swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses! But the Ump calls Catcher's Interference and the bases are loaded with 2 outs.... Leon Wooten lines out to 3rd, Tom McDowell making a nice stab!

Bottom of the Third
With 2 outs, Tom McDowell hits a home run to left center! 2 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Fifth
Ray Stover leads off with a walk and goes to 2nd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Lou Baldwin lines an 0-2 pitch to left for a hit and Stover scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. Baldwin tries to steal 2nd, but C Bob Hutson throws him out!

Bottom of the Fifth
Jack Washburn lines a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit, steals 2nd and goes to 3rd on a ground out. With the infield in, Ray McDonald grounds out to 2nd and Washburn stays put.... Tom McDowell absolutely crushes a 2-2 pitch to straight away center for a home run!! 4 to 2, Jays! 509 ft! I'd say he is hitting better now than when the season started! Two home runs today!

Top of the Ninth
On the Hill: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (34-L), after a perfect 8th. Don Kern (28-R) stays in to catch after pinch-hitting unsuccessfully last inning. 5-6-7 up for the Arrows. Leon Wooten strikes out! Denny Broughton strikes out looking! Ty Halverson strikes out on 3 pitches and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays! 5 straight strikeouts to end the game for P Grant! I'd say the old man still has it!

Won - 4 to 2

Sweep!

We had 5 whole hits and made 1 error
Indianapolis had 7 hits and made no errors

Jim Baucom (W 3-0) went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5. 111 pitches.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 3) pitched 2 perfect innings with 5 strikeouts.

Raymound Hogan (L 1-1) went 6 innings, gave us 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 home runs, 3 walks and struck out 4. He threw a WP.

1B Jack Washburn had 2 hits with a triple, stole a base and scored 2 runs. 3B Tom McDowell hit 2 home runs, stole a base and had 3 RBI. He leads the MLB in HR with 5! 1 short of the RBI lead with 10.

For Indianapolis, 2B Nick Hatfield went 2 for 3 with a double and scored a run. He is now 4 for 6 lifetime against Jim Baucom.

The Arrows announced that CF Mike Cram, injured making a great catch, had back spasms, but they expected him to be fine after a good night's rest.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 15, 2005

The Louisville Colonels are here to play a 3 game series over the weekend. They just split 4 games at home with Rochester and just made a big trade for an ace starter yesterday. Fortunately, he should not see his debut with the Colonels until after they leave town. We were 11-3 against them last year when they finished 80-80 in 3rd place in the South. They are tied for 12th in scoring so far with 3.20 runs per game (Jacksonville is 6th with 4.60). 4.60 is more than we scored last year when we finished 3rd in runs. Scoring is up in the MLB in the early going. The Colonels are 2nd in fewest runs allowed (before their newest ace has pitched at all) with 2.60 per game (Jacksonville, with an MLB leading 3 shutouts is 1st with 1.80). Here is an oddity: Birmingham is last in runs allowed, but 1st in CG. Louisville's run differential is +6, tied for 4th best, and our is +28, easily the best! Ottawa is 2nd at +18 and no one else is in double digits.

Louisville Colonels (4-6 .400 4 GB tied for 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (8-2 .800 2 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

LOU: Tommy Corris (24-R) (0-1 3.00 ERA 15 IP, 14 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 SO) All-Star
JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (1-1 2.77 ERA 13 IP, 15 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO) Gold Glove(02)

Corris is their #1 starter, even after the trade for Eli Kyzar, who they are slotting at #3. Corris was 17-11 with a 2.67 ERA in 245.2 IP last year and 13-12 with a 2.94 ERA in 2003. He is 3-3 in 9 starts against the Jays in his career with a 4.04 ERA. 62.1 IP, 60 H, 4 HR, 16 BB, 37 SO.

Warwick gave up 2 runs on 7 hits, 1 home run and no walks with 3 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a win.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
LOUISVILLE
1: CF Al Graves (28-L .359-39-0-2-.789-2 C)
2: RF Ray Lovell (31-L .130-23-1-4-.391-0 B)
3: LF Jose Castillo (23-S .229-35-1-4-.604-1 B+) Rookie #29 prospect
4: C Dick Pavlov (37-L .250-28-0-5-.632-0 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(4: 01-04)
5: 1B Alan Douglas (29-S .148-27-0-1-.355-1 A)
6: SS Graham Carr (33-R .318-22-0-4-.739-0 B+)
7: 3B Robin Massey (25-R .250-16-0-1-.705-0 A)
8: 2B Barry Ward (25-R .167-6-0-2-.452-0 A)
9: P Tommy Corris (24-R .600-5-0-0-1.200-0 F) All-Star .221 career BA

JACKSONVILLE
1: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .257-35-1-2-.852-3 B)
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .289-38-1-5-.746-0 C)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .270-37-1-6-.796-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .233-43-5-10-.855-2 C+)
5: C Bob Hutson (22-L .250-32-1-4-.710-0 B) Rookie
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .243-37-1-4-.624-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .273-33-1-6-.749-1 B+)
8: CF Dickie Stemen (30-R .314-35-1-6-.857-0 B)
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .000-3-0-0-.000-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 75 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 12,694

Top of the First
Al Graves grounds out to 2nd. Ray Lovell lines out to 2nd. Jose Castillo swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to 2nd! 1-2-3! That's about all you can do to 2nd!

Bottom of the First
Jack Washburn pops out to 3rd. Fernando Tello strikes out looking.... Ray McDonald strikes out looking....

Top of the Fifth
Barry Ward grounds a hit to right... P Tommy Corris, in a scoreless game, swings away and grounds one to 1st, but Jack Washburn boots it... Al Graves grounds a hit up the middle and Ward beats the throw home.... 1 to 0, Colonels. And Dickie Stemen is hurt making the futile throw..... Gary McKellar (35-R) is in to play center. Ray Lovell grounds into a 3-6-1 double play!!

Bottom of the Fifth
Bob Hutson lines his second double of the game to left (our only 2 hits so far) and goes to 3rd on a ground out. With the infield in, Bart Daw grounds out to 1st, unassisted, and Hutson holds.... Gary McKellar grounds out to short....

Bottom of the Eighth:
With 1 out, PH Dave Estey (23-L) beats out an infield hit, his first in the MLB! But that is all we get.

Top of the Ninth
New Pitcher: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L). Charlie Faber (34-R) is in to play 2nd and Danny Rosas (26-L), who pinch-hit unsuccessfully last inning, stays in to play right. Ray McDonald moves to center. Alan Douglas walks on 4 pitches... The Bullpen gets up. With 1 out, Douglas steals 2nd. With 2 outs, Barry Ward grounds the first pitch to right for a hit and Douglas scores... 2 to 0, Colonels.

Bottom of the Ninth
P Tommy Corris is at 100 pitches. Top of our order up. Jack Washburn grounds out to 1st, unassisted... Fernando Tello pops out to left... Ray McDonald, whose BA is down to .250 now, strikes out for the third time today........... Under .250 now....

Lost - 2 to 0

We had 3 whole hits and made 1 error
Louisville had 5 hits (all singles) and made no errors

Del Warwick (L 1-2) went 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 4 walks and struck out 5.
LHP Albert Davies went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 1 hit and 1 walk.

Tommy Corris (W 1-1) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 3 hits, no walks and struck out 9. 111 pitches.

C Bob Hutson hit 2 doubles. PH Dave Estey had an infield hit, the first hit of his MLB career.

For Louisville, #8 hitter, 2B Barry Ward went 3 for 3 with a walk, scored a run and had an RBI.

Trudy's report on Dickie Stemen is strained triceps that should bother him for about a month, she thinks. Which means two months, if you go by her recent estimates....

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 16, 2005

CF Dickie Stemen (30-R) was put on the Disabled List and LF Danny Stewart (34-L) was recalled from Daytona Beach (A). We are down to 1 CF on the active roster: 35 year old Gary McKellar, the fellow with the sometimes attitude problems who cannot outrun my 3-legged pet box turtle anymore, but somehow can cover enough ground in center to be our best out there..... We are going to try to platoon him and Danny Rosas, with Ray McDonald playing center against right-handers. We are assuming that it won't be too long until Cal Doty comes back and are avoiding the radical step of calling up Dave Brown (20-L), our 3rd round pick in this year's B Leagues Draft, who could handle the position defensively, but probably would no hit his weight, which might break his spirit and stunt his growth.

Louisville Colonels (5-6 .455 3 GB in 5th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (8-3 .737 2 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

LOU: Carlos Santiago (27-L) (1-1 3.21 ERA 14 IP, 13 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 10 SO)
JAX: Dave Buchalter (26-R) (A Ball: 0-1 1.29 ERA 7 IP, 4 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 4 SO)

Santiago was 15-15 with a 2.69 ERA in 254.1 IP last year and 8-15 with a 4.64 ERA in 2003. He is 3-8 in 14 starts against the Jays in his career with a 4.27 ERA. 97 IP, 102 H, 4 HR, 28 BB, 56 SO.

Buchalter is making his season debut with the Jays. He was 5-1 in 6 starts for us last year with 4.14 ERA. 37 IP, 32 H, 8 HR, 17 BB, 16 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
LOUISVILLE
1: 2B Al Graves (28-L .357-42-0-3-.794-2 A)
2: LF Jamie Hawley (25-L .118-17-0-0-.284-0 D+)
3: CF Jose Castillo (23-S .205-39-1-4-.544-1 D+) Rookie
4: RF Lee Brand (29-L .059-17-0-0-.118-0 D+)
5: 1B Alan Douglas (29-S .138-29-0-1-.380-2 A)
6: C Dick Pavlov (37-L .226-31-0-5-.594-0 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(4: 01-04)
7: 3B Robin Massey (25-R .200-20-0-1-.585-0 A)
8: SS Barry Ward (25-R .444-9-0-3-.990-0 B+)
9: P Carlos Santiago (27-L .000-2-0-0-.000-0 F) .068 career BA

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Bart Daw (33-R .257-35-1-6-.708-1 B+)
2: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .225-40-1-4-.579-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .244-41-1-6-.724-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .217-46-5-10-.799-2 C+)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .231-39-1-2-.769-3 B)
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .262-42-1-5-.676-0 C)
7: C Don Kern (28-R .400-5-0-1-1.100-0 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (35-R .250-4-0-0-.500-0 B)
9: P Dave Buchalter (26-R Season debut F) Career .286 BA

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 13,293

Top of the First
Al Graves swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. Jamie Hawley pops out to 3rd. Jose Castillo swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First
Bart Daw grounds out to short. T.R. Hunter swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Ray McDonald flies out to deep center....

The Colonels go 9 up, 9 down!

Bottom of the Third
Gary McKellar lines a hit to center and P Dave Buchalter bunts him to 2nd. With 2 outs, T.R. Hunter lines the first pitch to right for a double and McKellar scores! 1 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald grounds a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a hit and Hunter scores! 2 to 0, Jays! We load the bases up with 2 outs, but Fernando Tello pops out to short.

Top of the Fourth
With 1 out, Jamie Hawley lines the first pitch to center for a hit... Jose Castillo doubles to center and Hawley scores from 1st... 2 to 1, Jays. The next two make outs!

Top of the Fifth
Dick Pavlov lines a hit to left center. Robin Massey lines a double to left.... The Bullpen gets up. We walk Barry Ward intentionally to load the bases up for a pitcher that walks over 4 per 9 innings.... P Carlos Santiago, the career .068 hitter, grounds a hit to right and Pavlov scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. Call to the Bullpen: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L). Al Graves swings at the first pitch and grounds into a force at home, 4-2. Jamie Hawley swings at the first pitch and clears the bases with a double to left center.... 5 to 2, Colonels. A wild pitch sends Hawley to 3rd... Jose Castillo strikes out. Lee Brand strikes out on 3 pitches.

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Johnny Groom (27-R). With 1 out, Alan Douglas hits a home run to right center... 6 to 2, Colonels.

Lost - 6 to 2

We had 5 whole hits and made no errors
Louisville had 10 hits and made no errors

We have had 13 total hits in our last 3 games....

Dave Buchalter (L 0-1) went 4+ innings, allowed 5 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1. Everything he gave up was in the 4th and 5th innings....
LHP Albert Davies went 3 scoreless innings (all 3 inherited runners scored), allowed 3 hits and struck out 4. He threw a WP.
RHP Johnny Groom went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 2 hits, 1 home run and struck out 4.

Carlos Santiago (W 2-1) went 9 innings (CG), gave us 2 runs, 5 hits, 4 walks and struck out 5. He threw a WP. 107 pitches. At bat, the career .068 hitter had 2 hits, scored a run and had an RBI.

2B T.R. Hunter hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. RF Ray McDonald had a hit and a walk and an RBI. 3B Tom McDowell had 2 hits and a walk.

For Louisville, LF Jamie Hawley had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had 3 RBI. 1B Alan Douglas hit his 1st home run of the season. He hit 40 in 2003, but only 15 last year in 50+ more at bats than '03.

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Louisville Colonels (6-6 .500 2 GB tied for 4th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (8-4 .667 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division)

LOU: John Wilson (29-R) (1-1 2.87 ERA 15.2 IP, 18 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 8 SO)
JAX: Mike Marsh (23-R) (2-0 0.51 ERA 17.2 IP, 7 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO) All-Star

Wilson was 8-17 with a 4.02 ERA in 219.2 IP last year and 10-12 with a 4.11 ERA in 2003. He is 0-3 in 4 starts against the Jays in his career with a 6.26 ERA. 23 IP, 22 H, 6 HR, 9 BB, 9 SO.

Marsh pitched a 5 hit shutout with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
LOUISVILLE
1: LF Ray Lovell (31-L .111-27-1-4-.333-0 B)
2: 2B Robin Massey (25-R .250-24-0-1-.692-0 A+)
3: CF Jose Castillo (23-S .209-43-1-5-.563-1 D+) Rookie
4: RF Lee Brand (29-L .048-21-0-0-.095-0 D+)
5: 1B Alan Douglas (29-S .152-33-1-2-.486-2 A)
6: C Dick Pavlov (37-L .229-35-0-5-.586-0 B) Silver Slugger/All-Star(4: 01-04)
7: 3B Ed Ruiz (35-R .308-13-0-0-.742-0 C+)
8: SS Graham Carr (33-R .308-26-0-4-.703-0 B+)
9: P John Wilson (29-R .000-5-0-0-.167-0 F) .193 career BA

JACKSONVILLE
1: RF Danny Rosas (26-L .000-4-0-0-.000-0 B+) ex-Colonel
2: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .239-46-1-5-.619-0 C)
3: CF Ray McDonald (24-L .250-44-1-6-.733-0 C) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .245-49-5-10-.846-3 C+)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .214-42-1-2-.731-4 B)
6: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .227-44-1-5-.595-0 A+) All-Star(3: 02-04)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .231-39-1-6-.638-1 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (22-L .286-35-1-4-.820-0 B) Rookie
9: P Mike Marsh (23-R .286-7-0-0-.571-0 B+) All-Star

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 11,809

Top of the First
Ray Lovell flies out to left. Robin Massey beats out an infield hit... Jose Castillo walks on 4 pitches.... Lee Brand hits a home run to right center... 3 to 0, Colonels. Alan Douglas flies out to the warning track in left. Dick Pavlov grounds a hit to right... Ed Ruiz flies out to center.

Bottom of the First
Danny Rosas grounds a hit up the middle! Fernando Tello grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.....Ray McDonald strikes out on 3 pitches.... What is wrong with him?

Top of the Second
Graham Carr doubles to left center.... How can a guy be lights in one start and lit up the next? I'll never understand pitchers.... P John Wilson bunts Carr to 3rd. Ray Lovell grounds the first pitch up the middle for a hit and Carr scores... 4 to 0, Colonels. The next two make outs.

Bottom of the Second
Tom McDowell doubles to right! With 1 out, T.R. Hunter lines out to short and they double McDowell off at 2nd..............

Bottom of the Fourth
With 1 out, Ray McDonald takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Tom McDowell bloops a hit over the 2nd baseman. With 2 outs, T.R. Hunter grounds a hit up the middle and McDonald scores! 4 to 1, Colonels.

Top of the Eighth
New Pitcher: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (34-L). Alan Douglas hits a home run to right... 5 to 1, Colonels.

Bottom of the Eighth
Charlie Faber draws a walk. Danny Rosas grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Fernando Tello tries to ground into another double play to 1st, but Alan Douglas makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error! With 2 outs, Tom McDowell lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and Rosas scores and Tello goes to 3rd! 5 to 2, Colonels. Jack Washburn lines the first pitch to left center for a hit and Tello scores! 5 to 3, Colonels.

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Hill: Steve Dockery (28-R), their 4-time All-Star and 2003 Rolaids Relief Man Award winning closer, after getting the final out of the 8th. PH Danny Stewart (34-L), in his season debut, strikes out looking.... Bob Hutson lines out to center... Charlie Faber grounds out to 2nd....

Lost - 5 to 3

Swept....

We had 7 hits and made no errors
Louisville had 10 hits and made 1 error

We could sure use our best hitter back.....
20 total hits in the last 4 games.
Ray McDonald has doubled his strikeout rate from last year and is on pace to get 162 SO.....
Everyone is striking out a lot, except for the guy who led the team the past two seasons: Jack Washburn, who only has 6 in 46 AB.

11-3 against the Colonels last year; 0-3 this year....

Mike Marsh (L 2-1) went 7 innings, allowed 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP Bill Grant went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 3.

John Wilson (W 2-1) went 7.2 innings, gave us 3 runs (1 earned), 7 hits, 2 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 5. At bat, he drew a walk.
RHP Steve Dockery (SV 3) faced 4 batters and got them all out with 1 strikeout.

3B Tom McDowell had 3 hits with a double and an RBI.

For Louisville, RF Lee Brand had 2 hits with his 1st home run of the season and 3 RBI. 1B Alan Douglas his his 2nd home run and 2nd in two days,

[Questdog]

April 18, 2005

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Ricky Perez, LF, Orlando (25-L .354/.448/.625) Had 12 hits with 1 2B, 4 HR, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB, 7 R and 9 RBI in 7 G (3rd career PoW)

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

April 11 - C Larry Slattery (29-R) of Richmond had 4 hits, scored a run and had 5 RBI at home versus Ottawa. The Robins won, 15 to 3, and had 21 hits.
April 11 - 2B Roger Briones (22-L) of Columbus had 4 hits with a home run, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI at Memphis, but the Explorers lost, 8 to 7. Briones hit a 2-run home run in the Top of the 9th to tie the game, but the Mules scored a run in the bottom half to win.
April 13 - Eli Kyzar (32-R) of Syracuse pitched a 3 hit shutout at Charlotte. He walked 1 and struck out 2. At bat, he hit a SF. It is his 2nd shutout in 2 starts this season and the 14th of his career. The Sycamores won, 8 to 0.
April 13 - Ricky Perez (25-L) of Orlando hit 2 home runs, drew 2 walks, was hit by a pitch (after the home runs), scored 4 runs and had 4 RBI at Buffalo. The Juice won, 10 to 1.
April 14 - 1B Gus Milam (36-R) of Providence had 3 hits with 2 home runs and a walk, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Birmingham. P Ramiro Huerta (32-R), an ex-Baron, pitched a CG and hit a Grand Slam, the 3rd pitcher to ever hit one. It was his 2nd career HR. The Steamrollers won, 11 to 1.
April 15 - Steve Cron (30-L) of Buffalo pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Ottawa, who were scoring over 7 runs a game before today. He did not walk a batter and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI. It is the 17th shutout of his career tying him for 2nd place on the all-time list with Tom Peterson of Syracuse. The Bombers won, 2 to 0.
April 15 - Brian Ragazzo (23-L) of New Orleans pitched a 10 inning, 2 hit shutout at Birmingham He walked 4 and struck out 8. At bat, he had a hit. It is the 3rd shutout of his career. The Pelicans won, 1 to 0, in 10 innings. Juan Estrada (31-L) also went the distance, taking the loss for the Barons.
April 16 - SS Skip Dunkin (26-S) of Richmond had 5 hits with a triple, scored 2 runs and had an RBI at Orlando. The Robins won, 8 to 6, in 12 innings and outhit the Juice, 20 to 15.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 18, 2005

We are down in Orlando to play a short 2 game set. The Juice lost 2 of 3 here to Richmond over the weekend. We were 10-4 against them last season when they finished 80-82 in 4th place in the South. They are 11th in scoring with 3.77 runs per game (Jacksonville is tied for 6th with 3.92). The Juice were 4th in scoring last year with 700 runs and there is no reason to think they won't be among the MLB leaders by the end of the season this year. They are tied for 13th in fewest runs allowed with 4.62 per game (Jacksonville is now tied for 1st with Louisville with 2.38) Their run differential is -11, tied for 11th best, and ours is +20, now 2nd to Ottawa (+21).

Fun Fact: We were 35-12 (.745) in 1-run games last season. This year we have not played a 1-run game yet, the only team not to.

Jacksonville Jays (8-5 .615 0 GA tied for 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (5-8 .385 3 GB tied for 6th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Al Calice (24-R) (0-0 5.59 ERA 9.2 IP, 11 H, 0 HR, 7 BB, 7 SO)
ORL: Ray Berres (26-R) (A Ball: 0-1 15.43 ERA 2.1 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 0 SO)

Calice allowed 4 runs on 9 hits and no walks with 6 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a no decision that we won with a 4-run 8th.

Berres was injured in Spring Training and is making his season debut today after one rehab start that did not go very well. We was 3-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 16 starts and 104 IP last year and 3-3 with a 2.80 ERA in 8 starts and 54.2 IP in 2003. We have only faced him once before and beat him, but only scored 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts on 7 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Charlie Faber (34-R .000-4-0-0-.200-0 B+)
2: RF Danny Rosas (26-L .125-8-0-0-.250-0 B+)
3: CF Ray McDonald (24-L .234-47-1-7-.701-0 C) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .283-53-5-11-.913-3 C+)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .217-46-1-3-.712-4 B)
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .220-50-1-5-.570-0 C)
7: SS Bart Daw (33-R .225-40-1-6-.639-1 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (22-L .256-39-1-4-.737-0 B) Rookie
9: P Al Calice (24-L .333-3-0-0-.667-0 F)

ORLANDO
1: 2B Ernie Patterson (24-R .268-56-0-4-.620-1 A) All-Star(02)/Gold Glove(4: 01-04,3B)
2: SS Danny Hutchinson (25-R .314-35-0-2-.657-1 B+) All-Star(02)
3: LF Ricky Perez (25-L .354-48-4-11-1.073-3 B) All-Star
4: 1B Herman Chance (35-R .225-40-3-4-.811-0 C+) All-Star(2: 03-04)
5: RF Gil Weaver (27-L .368-38-3-9-1.062-0 C) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
6: CF Pete Thompson (24-L .308-39-1-4-.973-0 B)
7: 3B Joe Jones (28-R .130-23-0-1-.518-1 B+)
8: C Mike Day (34-S .229-35-0-4-.643-0 C+)
9: P Ray Berres (26-R Season debut C) .205 career BA

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 81 F, Clear Skies, with a 10 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 9,947

Top of the First
Charlie Faber grounds out to 2nd. Danny Rosas strikes out... Ray McDonald flies out to deep center....

Bottom of the First
Ernie Patterson lines the first pitch to right center for a hit.... Danny Hutchinson grounds a hit to left.... Ricky Perez flies out to right. Herman Chance hits a home run to right.... 3 to 0, Juice. Gil Weaver hits a home run to right.... 4 to 0, Juice. The Bullpen gets up. Pete Thompson grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Joe Jones flies out to left. P Al Calice now has a season ERA of 8.44.... We should send him to the minors to fix his issues, but who would we call up? Our rotation would look really nice with Dave Buchalter as our #4 starter....

Top of the Second
With 1 out, Jack Washburn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Fernando Tello doubles to center! Bart Daw grounds out to 3rd and Washburn scores and Tello holds at 2nd. 4 to 1, Juice. Bob Hutson lines a hit to right and Tello heads home, but Gil Weaver throws him out....

The Juice load the bases up with 2 outs in the 2nd, but Herman Chance strikes out.

Bottom of the Third
P Al Calice strikes out their 5-6-7 hitters in order!

Top of the Fourth
With 1 out, Jack Washburn triples to center! Fernando Tello flies out to deep center and Washburn tags up and scores. 4 to 2, Juice.

Top of the Sixth
Danny Rosas draws a walk and goes to 2nd on a deep fly ball. With 2 outs, Jack Washburn beats out an infield hit, but comes up lame..... Pinch-runner: Dave Thompson (29-R), who will stay in to play 1st. Fernando Tello flies out to right....

Bottom of the Sixth
Gil Weaver takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and P Al Calice balks him to 2nd.... The Bullpen is up. We walk Pete Thompson intentionally. With 1 out, Mike Day clears the bases with a double to left.... 6 to 2, Juice. Call to the Bullpen: Bob Craig (27-R). Danny Stewart (34-L) is in to play left in a double switch. The next two make outs.

Top of the Eighth
With 1 out, Danny Rosas doubles to right. Ray McDonald grounds the first pitch to right for a hit and Rosas beats the throw home and McDonald takes 2nd! 6 to 3, Juice. Tom McDowell lines a 3-2 pitch to left for a hit and McDonald scores! 6 to 4, Juice. Dave Thompson swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd and McDowell moves up. PH Frank Roadman (30-R), in his season debut, grounds out to 3rd...

Bottom of the Eighth
New Pitcher: Roger Wallace (29-R). Gil Weaver hits his second home run of the game to right... 7 to 4, Juice.

Top of the Ninth
P Ray Berres is at 136 pitches. SS T.R Hunter (28-R) lines a hit to left. Bob Hutson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. That does it for P Berres after only 148 pitches. New Pitcher: All-Star Bob Carroll (29-R), who is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and 8 H in 4 IP. He was 11-5 with 5 SV and a 3.34 ERA in 126.2 IP with 11 starts last year, when he made the All-Star team. Danny Stewart strikes out looking..... A wild pitch moves the runners up. Charlie Faber walks on 4 pitches to load the bases up and put the tying run on base with 1 out! Danny Rosas pops out to 2nd.... Ray McDonald, the fella we would cherry pick to be the hitter in this situation, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted.....

Lost - 7 to 4

4 losses in a row....

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Orlando had 8 hits and made no errors

Al Calice (L 0-1) went 5.1 innings, allowed 6 runs, 7 hits, 2 home runs, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 7. He balked.
RHP Bob Craig faced 5 batters and got them all out with 3 strikeouts.
RHP Roger Wallace went 1 inning, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.

Ray Berres (W 1-0), in his season debut, went 8+ innings, gave us 4 runs, 9 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5. 148 pitches.
RHP Bob Carroll (SV 1) pitched a scoreless 9th and gave us 1 walk and struck out 1. He threw a WP.

RF Danny Rosas had 2 hits with a double, drew a walk and scored a run. RF Ray McDonald had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Jack Washburn was 2 for 2 with a triple and a walk and scored 2 runs. LF Fernando Tello hit a double and had an RBI. SS T.R. Hunter had a hit in his only at bat. C Bob Hutson had a hit and a walk.

For Orlando, 1B Herman Chance hit his 4th home run of the season and had 3 RBI. RF Gil Weaver hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and scored 3 runs and threw a runner out at home. He now has 5 HR on the season.

Trudy's report on Jack Washburn is a bruised shin that will bother him for 4 or 5 days.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (8-6 .571 0 GA tied for 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Orlando Juice (6-8 .429 2 GB in 6th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Jim Baucom (23-L) (3-0 1.08 ERA 25 IP, 21 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 18 SO) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)
ORL: Don Miller (34-R) (2-0 2.08 ERA 17.1 IP, 11 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 9 SO) Rookie

Baucom allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a win.

Miller, a 34 year old rookie, was 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 3 starts last year. We gave him his one loss, but only scored 3 runs on 9 hits, 2 home runs and no walks with 6 strikeouts in 7 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: 2B Charlie Faber (34-R .000-8-0-0-.200-0 B+)
2: SS T.R. Hunter (28-R .245-49-1-6-.615-0 B+) All-Star (3: 02-04)
3: 3B Fernando Tello (23-L .231-52-1-6-.601-0 C+)
4: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .231-52-1-8-.674-0 B+) All-Star
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .250-48-1-3-.815-4 B) Bruised Shin
6: CF Gary McKellar (35-R .286-7-0-0-.571-0 B)
7: LF Danny Rosas (26-L .250-12-0-0-.641-0 B+)
8: C Bob Hutson (22-L .262-42-1-4-.748-0 B) Rookie
9: P Jim Baucom (23-L .250-8-0-0-.708-0 C) Ace/Hurler/All-Star(3: 02-04)

ORLANDO
1: LF Ted Mason (27-R .000-10-0-0-.231-1 B+)
2: 2B Tom Howard (28-R .143-56-1-3-.369-0 B+) All-Star
3: 1B Herman Chance (35-R .227-44-4-7-.852-0 C+) All-Star(2: 03-04)
4: 3B Joe Jones (28-R .111-27-0-1-.454-1 B+)
5: C Mike Day (34-S .256-39-0-6-.703-0 C+)
6: RF Gil Weaver (27-L .390-41-5-11-1.236-0 C) Silver Slugger(03)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
7: SS Danny Hutchinson (25-R .316-38-0-2-.675-1 B+) All-Star(02)
8: CF Pete Thompson (24-L .286-42-1-4-.919-0 B)
9: P Don Miller (34-S .250-8-0-2-.500-0 D+) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Forbes Field
Weather: 79 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 10,144

Top of the First
Charlie Faber, the greatest lead off hitter ever, draws a walk! T.R. Hunter pokes a hit to center! Fernando Tello flies out to deep center and Faber tags up and heads to 3rd. The throw by Pete Thompson is into the dugout and Faber scores! 1 to 0, Jays! Ray McDonald strikes out................. Jack Washburn swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep center.

Bottom of the First
Ted Mason takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three! Tom Howard grounds one to 3rd, where Fernando Tello is, and I hold my breath, but Tello makes the play! Herman Chance flies out to deep left! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Third
With one out, Ted Mason grounds one to 3rd and Fernando Tello boots it.... A wild pitch sends Mason to 2nd and and P Jim Baucom balks him to 3rd.... Tom Howard doubles to right and Mason scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. The next two make outs.

Through 5 innings, we have 2 hits and 6 strikeouts against a 34 year old rookie.....

Bottom of the Sixth
With 1 out, Joe Jones takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... With 2 outs, Gil Weaver doubles to left center and Jones scores.... 2 to 1, Juice.

Top of the Seventh
Jack Washburn leads off with a walk, but gets caught stealing.... Gary McKellar hits a home run to left! Tie Game: 2 to 2!

Top of the Ninth
P Don Miller is at 98 pitches. 4-5-6 up for us. Ray McDonald, 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts and an infield pop out, walks on 4 pitches! Jack Washburn flies out to center. Gary McKellar pops out to right... McDonald steals 2nd and goes to 3rd when C Mike Day throws the ball away! They walk Danny Rosas intentionally. PH Dave Thompson (29-R) draws a walk to load the bases up with 2 outs for 3B Tom McDowell (27-R). He flies out to left.........................

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Hill: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (34-L), after getting the final out of the 8th (Struck out Gil Weaver with 2 runners on). Don Kern (28-R) is in to catch. 7-8-9 up for Orlando. Danny Hutchinson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4.... The Bullpen gets up. Pete Thompson bunts the runner up. PH Ricky Perez (25-L), 1 for 4 yesterday and batting .341 on the season, grounds out to short! Ted Mason strikes out!

Extras!
For the first time this season!

Top of the Tenth
New Pitcher: Ray Hayes (29-R), their closer, who is 0-1 with 2 SV and a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 IP already. He has thrown over 100 innings in every season so far. Top of our order up, but #3 is now the pitcher's spot. We go down in order...

Bottom of the Tenth
New Pitcher: All-Star Albert Davies (28-L). 2-3-4 up for the Juice. With 2 out, Joe Jones triples to left center..... Mike Day grounds one to 3rd, but Fernando Tello is not there anymore, and Tom McDowell makes the play!

Top of the Eleventh
With 1 out (Ray McDonald), Jack Washburn takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Gary McKellar is up and is a big GDP threat, but Washburn does not run..... he does til have the bruised shin. McKellar walks on 4 pitches! With 2 outs, Don Kern launches the first pitch over the left field fence!!! 5 to 2, Jays! Tom McDowell grounds a hit up the middle! But Charlie Faber strikes out...

Bottom of the Eleventh
With 2 outs, Pete Thompson lines a 3-2 pitch to right for a hit. PH Ernie Patterson (24-R), 1 for 4 with a run yesterday, pokes a hit to left.... The Bullpen gets up. Ted Mason swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to left and the bases are loaded, all after getting the first two batters out.... Tom Howard, the winning run and a long ball threat with 75 HR in his career, drives one to deep left, but Danny Rosas runs it down and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 5 to 2

We had 7 hits and made 1 error
Orlando had 10 hits and made 2 errors

Jim Baucom went 7 innings, allowed 2 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 9. He threw a WP and balked. 127 pitches.
RHP Bob Craig got 2 outs, allowed 1 hit and 2 walks (1 INT).
LHP Bil Grant went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 2.
LHP Albert Davies (W 2-0) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 4 hits and struck out 2.

Don Miller went 9 innings, gave us 2 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, 1 home run, 5 walks (1 INT) and struck out 7. 119 pitches.
RHP Ray Hayes (L 0-2) went 2 innings, gave us 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 1.

2B Charlie Faber had a hit and a walk and scored a run. SS T.R. Hunter had 2 hits. 1B Jack Washburn had a hit and 2 walks and scored a run. CF Gary McKellar hit his 1st home run of the season, drew a walk and scored 2 runs. C Don Kern his his 1st home run and had 3 RBI in his only at bat.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Yesterday, we Mike Marsh's 24th birthday!

LF Norm Mayer (29-L) has been cleared to play by Trudy the Trainer, so he was activated from the DL and LF Danny Stewart (34-L) was sent back to Daytona Beach (A). Mayer cannot hit a lick (career .210 BA), but he is better in center than anyone else we have now, except Gary McKellar (35-R).

We are in Birmingham to play the Barons a 4 game series through the weekend. They won a pair of games here against Charlotte on Monday and Tuesday. We were 11-3 against them last year when they finished 70-92 in last place in the South. They are 3rd in scoring with 4.47 runs per game (Jacksonville is floundering and down to a tie for 7th with 4.00). They are only hitting .241, but are 2nd in HR with 15. Jacksonville is only hitting .234 now and is tied for 3rd with 14 HR. The Barons are last in fewest runs allowed with 4.93 per game (Jacksonville is now #2 with 2.67). Syracuse is #1 with 2.53. Birmingham's run differential is -7, 11th in the MLB, and ours is +20, still 2nd to Ottawa (+21).

Jacksonville Jays (9-6 .600 0 GA tied for 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (6-9 .400 3 GB tied for 6th (last) place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Del Warwick (30-L) (1-2 2.14 ERA 21 IP, 19 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 14 SO) Gold Glove(02)
BIRM: Juan Estrada (31-L) (0-3 2.42 ERA 26 IP, 24 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 15 SO)

Warwick gave up 1 run on 4 hits and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 innings last time out, but still took a loss.

Estrada is their #1 starter, acquired in a trade with Providence this Winter. He was 9-14 with a 3.38 ERA in 228.2 IP last year with the Steamrollers and 13-15 with a 3.91 ERA in 2003. He is 3-1 in 5 starts against the Jays in his career with a 3.25 ERA. 36 IP, 36 H, 3 HR, 7 BB, 30 SO.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Bart Daw (33-R .214-42-1-7-.610-2 B+)
2: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .259-54-1-6-.632-0 A+) All-Star (3: 02-04)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .214-56-1-8-.640-0 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .283-60-5-12-.873-3 C+)
5: 1B Dave Thompson (29-R .125-8-0-0-.425-0 C+) 5 for 9 w/HR vs Estrada
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .214-56-1-6-.559-0 C)
7: C Don Kern (28-R .333-9-1-4-1.232-0 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (35-R .273-11-1-1-.879-0 B)
9: P Del Warwick (30-L .000-5-0-0-.000-0 F) Gold Glove(02)

BIRMINGHAM
1: 3B Stan Stephens (27-R .297-64-0-4-.682-4 C+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: LF Benny Dreher (27-R .286-56-0-4-.666-2 B+) Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
3: RF Bob Marks (26-R .298-57-1-5-.805-4 B+) RoY(03)/All-Star
4: CF Sergio Acevedo (31-R .172-58-5-13-.733-1 B+) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: 1B Jim Montgomery (34-R .250-8-1-4-1.150-0 A) All-Star(03) 8-26(.308) w/3 HR vs Warwick
6: 2B Rick Halverson (28-L .306-49-2-5-.796-0 B) All-Star(01)
7: SS Turner Morache (25-R .308-13-0-2-.692-1 C+)
8: C Shigeru Nagata (27-R .167-24-1-3-.522-0 B) 2 for 3 w/HR vs Warwick
9: P Juan Estrada (31-L .167-6-0-0-.333-0 C)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 63 F, Clear Skies, with a 6 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 8,761

Top of the First
Bart Daw grounds out to the pitcher... T.R. Hunter strikes out.... Ray McDonald doubles to right center! Oh! I hope this means he has found his stroke! Tom McDowell strikes out....

Bottom of the First
Stan Stephens swings at a 3-0 pitch and lines out to left! Thanks, Stan! Benny Dreher strikes out looking! Bob Marks lines out to 1st! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Second
Sergio Acevedo hits a home run to right.... 1 to 0, Barons.

Bottom of the Third
With 1 out, Stan Stephens grounds a double over the 3rd base bag.... Benny Dreher pokes a hit over the shortstop.... Bob Marks lines a home run to left... It took about half a second to get out of here.... 4 to 0, Barons.

Lost - 4 to 0

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

Del Warwick (L 1-3) went 7 innings, allowed 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 7.
RHP Johnny Groom went 1 scoreless inning and allowed 1 hit.

Juan Estrada (W 1-3) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 3 hits, 3 walks and struck out 10. 137 pitches.

RF Ray McDonald hit a double. CF Gary McKellar drew 2 walks.

For Birmingham, RF Bob Marks hit his 2nd home run of the season and had 3 RBI. CF Sergio Acevedo his his MLB leading 6th home run. And raised his BA to .180.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 22, 2005

Jacksonville Jays (9-7 .562 0 GA tied for 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (7-9 .438 2 GB tied for 5th place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Mike Marsh (24-R) (2-1 1.82 ERA 24.2 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 7 BB, 20 SO) All-Star
BIRM: Marty Forner (32-L) (1-1 4.74 ERA 19 IP, 19 H, 5 HR, 7 BB, 9 SO)

Marsh gave up 4 runs on 7 hits, 1 home run and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 7 innings last time out in a loss.

Forner was 11-8 with a 3.42 ERA in 152.2 IP last year as a 31 year old rookie. We faced him once and he beat us with 7 scoreless innings on 7 hits and no walks with 3 strikeouts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Bart Daw (33-R .196-46-1-7-.559-2 B+)
2: 2B T.R. Hunter (28-R .259-58-1-6-.623-0 A+) All-Star (3: 02-04)
3: RF Ray McDonald (24-L .217-60-1-8-.648-1 B+) All-Star
4: 3B Tom McDowell (27-R .266-64-5-12-.819-3 C+)
5: 1B Jack Washburn (23-L .255-51-1-3-.828-4 B) Bruised shin
6: LF Fernando Tello (23-L .200-60-1-6-.522-0 C)
7: C Don Kern (28-R .273-111-4-1.065-0 B+)
8: CF Gary McKellar (35-R .250-12-1-1-.900-0 B)
9: P Mike Marsh (24-R .333-9-0-0-.667-0 B+) All-Star

BIRMINGHAM
1: 3B Stan Stephens (27-R .309-68-0-4-.715-4 C+) All-Star(2: 01,03)
2: LF Benny Dreher (27-R .283-60-0-4-.655-2 B+) Gold Glove(2: 01-02)
3: 1B Wilson Partida (28-R .311-45-1-8-.793-3 B) Trade from Ottawa
4: CF Sergio Acevedo (31-R .180-61-6-14-.778-1 B+) Silver Slugger(01)/All-Star(3: 01-03)
5: SS Ken Kelly (26-S .086-58-1-2-.300-0 B) All-Star(02)
6: RF Bob Marks (26-R .295-61-2-8-.835-4 B+) RoY(03)/All-Star
7: 2B Rick Halverson (28-L .288-52-2-5-.750-0 B) All-Star(01)
8: C Antonio Barajas (27-R .222-27-0-9-.562-0 B)
9: P Marty Forner (32-L .200-5-0-0-.400-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 60 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 10,341

Top of the First
Bart Daw pops out to short... T.R. Hunter grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit! Ray McDonald swings at the first pitch and grounds into a force at 2nd, 3-6. Tom McDowell pokes a 3-2 pitch to center for a hit and McDonald goes to 3rd. McDowell steals 2nd! Jack Washburn grounds out to 2nd....

Bottom of the First
Stan Stephens swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep right. Benny Dreher grounds out to short. Wilson Partida swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Top of the Second
Fernando Tello grounds a hit up the middle! Don Kern doubles to center! Gary McKellar strikes out.... P Mike Marsh swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep center and Tello tags up and beats the throw home. 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Third
T.R. Hunter triples to right center! With the infield in, Ray McDonald grounds out to short and Hunter holds.... Tom McDowell grounds out to the pitcher and Hunter holds.... Useless! All of them useless! Jack Washburn strikes out............

Top of the Fifth
Bart Daw grounds one to 3rd, but Stan Stephens throws the ball away for a 2 base error! P Marty Forner is hurt. New Pitcher: Tony Horch (33-R), who is 1-0 with 1 SV and a 15.00 ERA in 6 IP with 13 H, 2 HR and 5 BB. T.R. Hunter grounds out to 2nd and Daw goes to 3rd. With the infield in, Ray McDonald grounds a double over the 1st base bag and Daw scores! 2 to 0, Jays! The next two fly out.....

Bottom of the Fifth
Rick Halverson doubles off the wall in right center.... With 2 outs, Stan Stephens strikes out! Only his 4th K of the season! But when P Mike Marsh comes to the dugout, he goes to see Trudy and she says he is done for the day......

Bottom of the Ninth
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (29-R), after a perfect 8th. The Bullpen is ready. 4-5-6 up for the Barons. Sergio Acevedo strikes out! Ken Kelly fouls out to the catcher! Bob Marks hits a home run to right.... 2 to 1, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: 2-time All-Star Bill Grant (34-L). PH Al Chase (33-R), 1 for 9 on the season, but a .301 career hitter, grounds out to short and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 2 to 1

The first 1-run game of the season!
And we won!

We had 9 hits and made no errors
Birmingham had 7 hits and made 1 error

Mike Marsh (W 3-1) pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowed 4 hits, no walks and struck out 4. At bat, he hit a SF.
RHP Bob Craig (H 2) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 1.
RHP Roger Wallace (H 1) went 1.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run and struck out 1.
LHP Bill Grant (SV 4) faced 1 batter and retired him.

Marty Forner (L 1-2) went 4+ innings, gave us 2 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Tony Horch, the fella with the 15.00 ERA, pitched 3 scoreless innings and gave us 3 hits.

2B T.R. Hunter had 4 hits with a triple, but no runs or RBI. RF Ray McDonald hit 2 doubles and had an RBI. C Don Kern hit a double.

For Birmingham, RF Bob Marks had 2 hits with his 3rd home run of the season and 2nd in the last two days.

The Barons announced that P Marty Forner had an oblique strain and would likely be out 1 to 2 weeks, so he will be put on the DL.

Trudy's report on Mike Marsh is a sore elbow that she thinks will bother him for a week or two.... Off to such a great start....