Congrats to Darin Ruf on his franchise-tying 37th HR of the year.  We can argue about what to make of his future, (we don’t have to, but I’m sure we will…again), he’s been absolutely crushing it the last month+.  Asche, Joseph and Gillies all had 3 hits in that game, Gillies and Joseph each with a HR.

Elsewhere, Maikel Franco was 4-4 plus a BB and drove in a run. What a second half that guy’s had.  He was OPSing .607 at their all-star break, after – .910.  And 6 Ks in 4 IP from Kevin Brady for WIL.  2BB also, bringing his NYPL total to 5. Versus 44K.  In 34 innings.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-28-2012 →

Light schedule Monday, with the DSL season ended, a rainout in Daytona and an off-day for Lakewood.  FYI – DSL is into the playoffs now, and the Phils did not make it into the tourney.  They finished 32-36, well off the pace in the Boca Chica South division.

Worth mentioning 2H and 2R each from Darin Ruf and Cody Asche, (including Ruf’s 36th HR, if that kind of thing interests you), but what a line from Trevor May: 8IP, 2H 1 R, 0BB, 9K.  3 flyball outs, 8 on the ground.  That’s top notch.

Elsewhere, every Williamsport Crosscutter had at least 1 hit, as Josh Warner shut down Jamestown on 4 hits over 6 scoreless IP. 

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-27-2012 →

Ok, so Cody Asche’s ISO in AA is .225.  That’s pretty remarkable.  See the list here for the qualified .220 and higher ISO MLB seasons over the last 10 years for third basemen:

http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/ueXSd 

I’m not saying Asche will do this in the bigs – quite the opposite.  Look at how few 3B really show power of that kind in full seasons in the bigs.  Some of us, myself included, might want to temper our expectations a little as he advances. 

But man has he been mashing at AA.  I mean, good freakin’ gracious.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-26-2012 →

Hard to complain about this line from Hoby Milner – 6 scoreless IP, 2H, 2BB, 6K.  Curious to see what kind of year he puts together in 2013.  A transition from the U of Texas bullpen this season to starting in A ball seems to have gone fairly well, with a very strong August. 

One more – Franklyn Vargas.  6K, 1H, 1 BB in 3 scoreless IP today.  For a 6’4″ 205lb lefty who turned 18 years old 4 days ago, I’ll take more than a K per inning in the GCL, even with a high walk rate.  Very intriguing.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-25-2012 →

Sure, Darin Ruf hit his 34th HR, but did you notice the big news?  Cameron Rupp hit his 10th! Babe Rupp!!!

And so continues my unhealthy obsession with Cameron Rupp.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-24-2012 →

So much going on that I don’t really know where to aim my focus.  So I will just say names:

Jesse Biddle, Darin Ruf, Cody Ashce, Maikel Franco, Tyler Cloyd, Kelly Dugan, Justin Friend.  As Tyson Gillies would say on Twitter, “Weew”.  I think that’s Canadian for “Woo”.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-23-2012 →

Good outing from Trevor May – 7IP, 4H, 3BB, 9K.  Took the loss, after allowing 2r/1ER. 

2 HR in a DH for CLR shortstop Edgar Duran yesterday. Progressing a level each year, since 2009, his OPS was slowly improving each year as well – but now he’s up over 100pts over last year.  And yes, it’s inflated after 2 bombs yesterday, and he could easily burn some of that off if he cools down the last 10 days or so, but overall still a marked improvement from a 21 yr old in A+.  Someone to keep an eye on. 

If Duran can stick at SS, and if his marginally bad walk rate comes up a little and he develops a touch more power, (both of which seem like second half trends, albeit in a league where the best pitchers are in AA the second half), that’s a real interesting guy for me.  Cliche alert – “Only time will tell”.  Also, “We shall see” fits there, as well.  So “only” time, or your vision, (with time essentially implied).  And really, many of us won’t “see” any of it, except maybe on YouTube or if he makes the SportsCenter Top Ten.  So let’s go with “Only time will tell unless you go watch and then you shall see.” (c) BiDC, 2012

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-22-2012 →

Dylan Cozens with his 3rd HR in his last 7 games.  His BB and K rates, as well as his BA, OBP, and SLG are all down in August.  His LD % is down to 10% for the month, compared with 19% and 21% the previous two months, (June is a very small sample).  His August BABIP is .216, due, in what I would guess is large part, to that low LD %.  Not making solid contact and not getting many breaks otherwise. 

One would hope he would lean on his previously good plate discipline, (walk rates of 7.7% in August, after 15.2% and 14.0% the previous two months), but it seems like maybe he’s trying to swing his way out.  Impossible to tell for sure from the stats.  Someone go ask him.  Go ahead.  Just walk right up.  Don’t be intimidated.  He’s only 6’6″ 235 lbs.  Not scary at all.

Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-21-2012 →