Smokies Smoke Barons

A 7-run 3rd inning helped pave the way for the Tennessee Smokies (Diamondbacks) to blast the Birmingham Barons (White Sox) 15-2 in Southern League contest that was the biggest blowout in the minors Friday night.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Tennessee tied the game on a hit batsman and back-to-back singles. The Smokes took the lead in the 3rd and never looked back.

With one out, SS Alberto Gonzalez singled, then RF Jesus Cota singled, moving Gonzalez to third. 1B James D'Antona singled to right, scoring Gonzalez and moving Cota to second. 3B Agustin Murillo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cota scored on a passed ball by Baron's C Gustavo Molina. LF Mark Reynolds drove in D'Antona and Murillo with a single to to left. C Phil Avlas singled, moving Reynolds to second. DH Alex Frazier then hit his 6th home run, making the score 8-1.

In the 4th, Cota hit a 2-run homer, and Alex Frazier singled in Agustin Murillo to make it 11-1.

Barons 3B Micah Schnurstein hit a solo home run to make it 8-2, but that's as close as they would get.

A Mark Reynolds home run and Alberto Gonzalez's bases-loaded single scored Phil Avlas and CF Steve Garrabrants in the 6th made it 14-2. In the 7th, Mark Reynolds singled, then scored on an error by Barons RF Thomas Collaro, making it 15-2.

The Smokies pounded out 20 hits en route to the victory. Jesus Cota had 5 of the hits in 6 at-bats, including a double and a home run. Mark Reynolds was 3-for-3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. Also with three hits were Alberto Gonzalez, Phil Avlas, and Alex Frazier.

[wrapup: Smokies, MiLB]

14 Innings In South Bend

3,732 fans (or those that stayed til the end) in South Bend, IN went home disappointed Friday night as the South Bend Silver Hawks dropped a 14-inning Midwest League contest to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 4-2, in the longest game of the night in the minor leagues.

In the 2nd inning, Whitecaps RF Matthew Joyce doubled, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on LF Michael Hernandez's sacrifice fly to right field.

South Bend tied it up in the bottom of the inning. 1B Bryan Byrne walked, moved to second on DH Will Crouch grounder to third, them moved to third on a wild pitch by Whitecaps pitcher Burke Badenhop. With two out, 3B Steve Mena doubled to left, scoring Byrne.

The Silver Hawks took the lead in the third. RF Leyson Septimo doubled, moved to third on CF Justin Upton's single, and scored when Byrne singled.

It remained 2-1 until the 7th, when West Michigan tied the score. SS Mark Haske reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Silver Hawks C Orlando Mercado. Whitecaps C Joel Roa singled to left, scoring Haske and tying the game.

The only baserunners to reach before the 14th inning were Silver Hawks 2B Manuel Ferrer who singled in the 7th, but was forced at second to end the inning; Whitecaps DH Justin Justice reached on a bunt-single, but was stranded there; Justice reached on a two-out double in the 11th, but was stranded.

In the top of the 14th, South Bend reliever Ryan Doherty came in to pitch. Whitecaps Justin Justice walked, then Mark Haske reached on a fielder's choice that saw Justice reach second on River Hawks 2B Manuel Ferrer's throwing error. A wild pitch moved Justice to third and Haske to second. Whitecaps Joel Roa then hit a grounder to center field, scoring Justice and Haske.

Whitecaps P Orlando Perdomo set down the River Hawks in order in the bottom of the 14th to secure his 27th save and give Jose Fragoso his 1st win.

[wrapup: Whitecaps]

Saltdogs' Jeff Blitstein Earns Fourth Shutout

Lincoln Saltdogs pitcher Jeff Blitstein became the third pitcher in the minors to post his 4th shutout of the season Friday night, as Lincoln blanked the St. Paul Saints 8-0 in an American Association game.

Against St. Paul, Blistein allowed 8 hits, but kept the Saints off the scoreboard.

The Parker, Colo., native scattered eight hits while walking two and striking out three in improving his record to 7-1 on the season. A deeper look at the numbers indicates greater dominance. In posting his second-straight complete-game shutout, Blitstein induced 14 ground-ball outs and only six balls were hit out of the infield by Saints batters. Over the course of his last two starts, he has induced 32 ground ball outs in 18 innings and only 10 balls have been hit out of the infield, either safe hits or outs, by the 61 total batters that he’s faced. In addition, Blitstein has given up just three runs (two earned) in his last 36 innings of work and he has now pitched 22.1 consecutive scoreless innings.

[more]

Blistein joins the Montogomery Biscuits (Devil Rays/ Southern League) pitcher Andy Sonnanstine and Tony Casoli of the Traverse City Beach Bums (Frontier League) as pitchers who have pitched 4 complete game shutouts in 2006.

51s Lose Two-Hitter

An impressive pitching performance by Las Vegas 51s pitcher Joel Hanrahan was wasted when the Oklahoma RedHawks scored two unearned runs and Las Vegas failed to score in a Pacific Coast League contest Friday night.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, RedHawks SS Joaquin Arias was hit by a pitch, then stole second. Las Vegas 3B Andy LaRoche misplayed a ball hit by Oklahome RF Adam Hyzdu, allowing Arias to score. RedHawks 3B Jamie Burke then tripled, scoring Hyzdu.

Hanrahan only allowed one more baserunner when Oklahoma C Miguel Ojeda singled in the 5th. He was relieved in the 8th by Lance Carter, who walked a batter and got into trouble when a baserunner reached third on a throwing error. Carter was relieved by Tim Hamulack, who got out of the inning on a fly ball to center.

Offensively, Las Vegas SS Wilson Valdez went 3-for-3 with a double, but was left stranded at third base in the 4th inning and at second base in the 8th. In all, the 51s left 9 runners on base.

Oklahoma has now kept opponents scoreless for 21 innings as they won their 4th in a row.

[wrapup: 51s]

Coyotes Win One-Hitter

Edinburg Coyotes pitchers Ryan Harris and Julio Castro combined to one-hit the Alexandria Aces Friday night in a United League contest. Harris allowed Alexandria CF Keto Anderson a single in the third inning, the only hit of the night for the Aces.

In the fourth, Alexandria scored an unearned run without a hit. The fifth inning saw Aces DH Trey Beamon reach base on a error by Coyotes 3B Jose Olmeda. Olmeda commited his second error of the inning when his throwing error allowed 3B Luis Espinosa to reach base and Beamon to advance to third. Beamon scored when C Ryan Smith grounded out.

After getting out of the inning with no further damage, Harris saw his team's defense stiffen. He pitched three perfect innings before turning the game over to Castro in the ninth. A perfect 9th by Castro gave Harris his 7th win and Castro his 2nd save. It was Castro's first appearance in three weeks, after being sidelined with a shoulder injury.

[wrapups: Coyotes, Aces]

Lincoln Saltdogs pound St. Paul Saints, 16-1

The Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association continued their drive for both halves titles. Last night, they won the biggest blowout of the day in the minors, beating the St. Paul Saints, 16-1.

Three runs in the 1st, two coming on a Kevin Sullivan homer, gave Lincoln an early lead. St. Paul narrowed it to 3-1 when Jose Torres singled, scoring Chaz Lytle. But it was as close as the visitors would get.

Lincoln added four runs in the 3rd, five in the 4th, another three in the 5th, and a final run in the 7th to make it 16-1.

Saltdogs pitcher Kyle Ruwe relieved starter Roger Lincoln, who was coming off the DL, in the third inning. Ruwe set down 17 straight Saints en route to his 7th win of the season.

Saints reliever Gabe Eikum debuted for St. Paul. He went 5 innings, and gave up 9 runs on 12 hits (3 were home runs) in his welcome to pro baseball.

The win keeps the Saltdogs 5 games in front of the St. Joe Blacksnakes in the race for the second half championship of the AA North Division. The Saltdogs won the first half.

[wrapups: Saltdogs, Saints]

14 Innings In New Orleans

Down 6-5 in the 9th, New Orleans Zephyrs (Nationals) 1B Larry Broadway hit a one-out solo home run off Tuscon Sidewinders (Diamondbacks) to send the game to extra innings Thursday night. It took five extra frames before the home team prevailed, 7-6.

In the 14th, Zephyrs SS Anthony Medrano singled on a soft fly ball to right field, scoring pinch runner Russ Cleveland, and ending the contest.

Although the Sidewinders committed a season-high 7 errors, only one of New Orleans' runs was unearned. In the first inning, two errors allowed RF Kenny Kelly on base and to advance to second. After being sacrificed to third, he scored the game's first run on CF Marlon Byrd's single to right field.

Despite 5 additional errors, the Sidewinders managed to get out of those innings with no damage due to the errors. The unearned run in the first allowed the Zephyrs enough runs to force extra innings ... and eventually the win.

A New League

Back in the heyday of minor league baseball ... you know ... the 1940s and 1950s ... before Major League Baseball expanded to the West and the South ... there were minor leagues everywhere. You could even find pro baseball being played in Moultrie, GA, Opelika, AL, and many other small cities across the U.S.

When the Major Leagues moved into California in the 1950s, and into Georgia in the 1960s, plus expanding in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, plus the impact of television and other technologies, it became harder and harder for teams to draw crowds. I've seen a report (I can't confirm it) that the Georgia-Florida League champ Thomasville Tigers drew about 120 a game in 1963.

What finally happened to all those baseball teams and baseball leagues folded when baseball reorganized the minor leagues to affiliate all the teams with Major League teams.

Oh, to be sure, there are still independent leagues, but by far, most of the teams are in affiliated leagues.

But not all leagues are affiliated.

While there aren't as many independent leagues as once existed, they're still there. Oh, not the original leagues or teams, to be sure. But they carry on the namesake of the teams and leagues of old.

The American Association, for instance, was contracted in the 1990s when Minor League Baseball decided to have only two Triple-A leagues: the Pacific Coast League and the International League. Well, a few years ago, a group brought back the American Association. Actually, they stated up a league and called it the American Association.

But that's not much different than the South Atlantic League deciding to take the name of the defunct Southern League. Or the Western Carolinas League deciding to take the name of the South Atlantic League. That kind of thing has happened a lot.

Still, there are independent leagues floating around all over the U.S.

Well, not all over. Not in the South.

But that's supposed to change next year.

There's a new independent league starting up play on May 1, 2007: the South Coast League. The new league just announced another franchise for its inaugural season: Bradenton, FL. That team will join Charlotte County,FL, Albany, GA, Macon, GA, and Aiken, SC and one other planned team.

Now, whether or not the teams or the league will succeed ... I don't know. I hope so. But I do wonder if there's enough people willing to go out and support a team.

In the South Atlantic League, for instance, Rome is the smallest Georgia city with a team, far smaller than Columbus, Savannah, and Augusta. But Rome leads all those cities in attendence.

So, you never know. I hope the new league makes it. More children need the opportunity to see pro baseball. Even it's it watching the Macon Music play the Albany Polecats.

Sonnanstine is Southern League Player of the Month

photo: Montogomery Biscuits

Going 6-0 in six starts, including two complete game shutouts isn't a bad month, no matter where you're pitching. Fortunately for the Montogomery Biscuits (Devil Rays) of the Southern League, Andy Sonnanstine pitches for them.

The 23-year-old righthander from Wadsworth, OH was named the TOPPS Southern League Player of the Month for July.

Minor League Baseball's press release gives more details about the outstanding month this young pitcher had:

Sonnanstine leads the Southern League with 12 wins, 148.1 innings pitched, 4 complete games, and 4 shutouts. He is also tied for the league lead with 120 strikeouts while ranking fifth with a 2.67 ERA. In 22 starts this season, the righty has posted 14 quality starts and gone at least 6.0 innings in 18 contests. He has walked just 25 hitters while striking out 120 for a K/BB ratio of 4.80. He has also posted a 0.96 WHIP (148.1 IP, 117 H).

His four shutouts this season is tied for tops in all of minor league baseball, and is more than many teams have recorded. (Note: Tony Casoli of the Traverse City Beach Bums in the Frontier League also has four shutouts this season.)

I really need to drive over to Montgomery and watch this young man pitch one night.

Golden League, Golden Bases

photo: Golden Baseball League

The Golden Baseball League has brought to mind orange baseballs (remember that?) with their new bases ... that are golden.

According to a league press release, the bases were to have been put into use this week:

First, second and third base will be changed during a pre-game ceremony to reflect the new golden color with fans participating in the activity. Home plate will remain white to clearly delineate the strike zone.

As one that considers himself a purist ... I'm not sure just how I feel about golden bases. On the one hand, anything that draws fans to the park is a good thing. But I'm not sure if golden bases do that. If a jewelry store or chain signs on as a sponsor, then there'll be an indirect draw via advertising.

But messing with the field? I just don't know. I hope the golden bases don't adversely impact umpires. But with them keeping home plate white to "clearly delineate the strike zone," it indicates the golden color may be a problem for the men in blue.

I'm not sure golden bases are a good thing.

I'm not sure they're a bad thing, either.

Sixteen Innings In Greenville

Tied at 3 after nine innings, the Lake County Captains (Indians) and the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) of the South Atlantic League battled for a total of 16 innings before the visitors prevailed, 6-5 Wednesday night in Greenville, SC. It was the longest game in the minors yesterday.

Lake County scored early, taking a 3-0 lead, but Greenville drove back to tie the game in the 8th inning, before going to extra frames knotted 3-all.

Lake County's RF P. J. Hiser led off the 11th with a home run. CF Mike Conroy later drove in 3B Chris De La Cruz, who had singled following Hiser's solo shot.

In the bottom of the 11th, Greenville's DH Christopher Turner and 3B Dustin Kelly hit back-to-back homers to start the inning, but Captains pitcher Matt Davis settled down and got out of the inning.

It remained 5-5 until the 16th, when Lake County scored an unearned run following a throwing error by Greenville's Dustin Kelly that allowed Lake County 2B Jose Chavez to reach third. Chavez then scored on LF Mike Butia's grounder to short.

Christopher Turner led off the bottom of the 16th with a double, but could get no further when Lake County pitcher Julio Pinto got PH Matthew Mercurio to fly out to left, then struck out LF Michael Hall to win the game.

It was the longest game in Lake County Captains history. The team has been in East Lake, OH since 2003. It's also the Greenville Drive's longest game. The team moved to Greenville, SC from Columbia, SC last year.

Kiss A Catfish

A South Atlantic League team is raising money for Special Olympics of Georgia by auctioning off three players. The Columbus Catfish are taking bids until August 11 for the chance to "Kiss A Catfish."

Pitcher Arismendy Castillo, outfielder Adam Godwin, and team mascot Hook are selling themselves for the cause.

RHP Arismendy Castillo, OF Adam Godwin and mascot Hook are prepared to do their civic duty for the benefit of a worthwhile cause. The kiss will take place on top of the dugout after the Catfish game against the Greenville Drive on Friday, August 11 at 7:00pm.

Bids can be placed by calling (706) 571-8866, e-mailing kissacatfish@gmail.com, or by obtaining a bid form in the souvenir store at a Columbus Catfish game. The minimum bid is $10 and bidding ends in the middle of the seventh inning during the August 11th game.

[full story]

Here are the players (and mascot) up for bids:

Arismendy Castillo	Adam Godwin	Hook

Baseball Disgrace

In an article on SI.com, columnist Tom Verducci lists what he calls the 10 most embarrassing moments in baseball.

As a baseball fan, I read such articles with fascination. However, those in my lifetime bring back unpleasant memories. Why would I dwell on such things?

Verducci says it "reminds us just how great an institution baseball is, for it has survived these." Yeah, maybe so. But reading them doesn't make me think, "Gosh, baseball's great!"

Rather, it reminds me that baseball is made up of flawed humans. Some make tragic mistakes. Some show a lack of concern for others. None of the items on the list show sportsmanship.

While he alludes to Phillies owner Bill Cox being banned from baseball for betting on his team, that incident doesn't make the list. Pete Rose's being banned for betting on the Reds does make the list (number 7).

I might take issue with the order in which he put some of the items. Number one, for instance.

Commissioner Kenesaw Landis in 1942 announces there is no policy, official or otherwise, barring blacks from baseball.

The supporting story behind retells the story that Landis colluded with NL president Ford Frick to make sure Bill Veeck couldn't buy the Phillies and hire Negro League players in 1943, and helped direct the sale to Cox instead. While the story was accepted as gospel for years, there are enough questions to cause -- in my mind, at least -- doubt about it.

Frick, for instance, put down a protest by St. Louis Cardinals players regarding Jackie Robinson's playing. Also, Baseball Digest reports Cox was a thorn in the side of Frick, suggesting to me that Frick wouldn't have supported Cox if he hadn't been the highest bidder for the Phillies.

So, I'm not so sure about the accuracy of number one. My personal choice would be number 5: The Steroid Era.

This chapter of baseball's disgrace isn't complete. And the fact it's still going on suggests that steroids may be overlooked ... for certain players, at least. And to me, that's baseball's biggest disgrace.

Bet on baseball ... on your own team ... and be banned for life. Use drugs ... get in the Hall of Fame.

If that's not a disgrace, I don't know what is.

Related: Don Surber

Big Brothers, Big Sisters

I got a call last week from Big Brothers Big Sisters asking me if I wanted free tickets to a game. I, of course, said yes.

You see, I have signed my children up under the Big Brother Big Sisters program. They were having a special night at the ball park (Joe Davis Stadium here in Huntsville) last week.

A good time was had by all and we won the game against the Birmingham Barons. It was a close and exciting game.

Huntsville Stars

Bat Bitch

photo: Greensboro Grasshoppers

No, I'm not making a snide remark about anyone. But the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League introduce a new kind of bat girl tonight when they host the Savannah Sand Gnats.

The nine-month-old bitch, named "Miss Babe Ruth," will debut at First Horizon Park this evening, but will see limited action. If all goes well, she'll be more and more involved in the action over the remainder of the season.

A now nine-month old Miss Babe Ruth will don a uniform, try to calm pre-game jitters and take the field for her first performance First Horizon Park. Though daily practices still continue, instructors believe she has what it takes to make a solid impact with the team, especially during the upcoming eight-game homestand.

“We are so excited for Babe to be in the game tonight,” said Grasshoppers President Donald Moore. “She has worked so hard and progressed extremely well for her age.”

No word on if umpires will now be allowed to have their seeing-eye dogs accompany them to the plate.

Seven Minor Leaguers Suspended

Seven Minor League players were suspended today for drug violations. Five tested positive in the Venezuelan Summer League, while one Appalachian League and one Gulf Coast League player tested positive for drugs.

GCL Dodgers catcher Kengshill Pujols and Danville Braves catcher Cole Flowers tested positive for "a performance-enhancing substance." VSL Pirates pitchers Edison Barrios, Juan Casas, and Alfredo Reyes, VSL Tigers/Marlins catcher Alvaro Diaz (a Detroit player), and VSL Phillies outfielder Jesus Granado all failed drug tests for performance-enhancers.

All the players received 50-game suspensions, except Reyes, who was suspended for 100 games because it was his second positive test result.

Personally, I'm glad to see baseball coming down on players that violate drug policies. I'm just sad to see them coming down on Minor Leaguers and letting Barry Bonds continue to play.

Life isn't fair.

Welcome

This is an experiment in group blogging. The idea is a blog for baseball fans. Not just to read, but to write.

We're looking for bloggers. Or for people that would like to be bloggers. As long as the topic is baseball.

The only thing to keep in mind is that baseball is a family sport. Sure, it's a business. But it's also an event that the whole family can enjoy. And enjoy cheaply, at the minor league level.

So, if you're a blogger -- or if you want to be -- and you want to blog about baseball, this is the place for you.