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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Inconsistent Ohlie

Injuries/News:

Eric Duncan was officially placed on the disabled list, retroactive to last Friday...Eric Hacker has been promoted from Charleston to parts unknown. In 2005, when Hacker was dominating the SAL with Phil Hughes, I thought there might be a chance for him as a prospect, but injuries have done too much to derail in his career. Still, it’s nice to see that he’s finally leaving Charleston...Marcos Vechionacci is still out.

AAA:

Ross Ohlendorf got some poor results yesterday, with a final line of 5-9-4-4-2-4-0 (IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO-HR), but in spots he looked the best I’ve seen him this year. Ohlie was getting his fastball over at 93, 94 MPH and showing good break on his off-speed pitches. The problem for him, as it seems to have been all year, is that his control and command would come and go. There were times when he looked like the guy the Yankees held up as the center piece of the RJ deal, and then there were times when he looked like nothing more than cannon fodder. In addition, his final line would have looked better, at least ERA wise, if 2B Andrew Beattie had not dropped a sure fire DP ball in the 4th inning, which led to 2 runs getting across.

Alberto Gonzalez was 1 for 4 with a single as he continues to chug along. He also put together another highlight reel play in the Top of the 5th as he fielded a ball deep in the hole, set himself, and threw a laser to the 1B. Defensively, he has come as advertised. This is the type of play where Jeter’s lack of range would necessitate a jump throw.

AA:

Jeff Marquez had a solid go in his 4th AA start with a line of 6-7-3-2-0-3-0. He was able to generate a lot of bad contact, and while that sometimes led to well placed hits, for the most part it kept the opposition off the board. Unfortunately, he was not able to pick up the victory as the Thunder offense did not come alive until late in the game.

While the Thunder offense would score 5 runs, Brett Gardner had no part of it. The struggling leadoff hitter was 0 for 5 with a strikeout. It’s still in the early going, but Gardner’s .190 AVG is unsightly. Fortunately, Cody Ehlers seems to be heating up, just as he said he would once the weather got warmer. Ehlers was 1 for 3 with a single and a walk. His average is up to .217, he is 4 for his last 11, and he has not struck out in 4 games.

A+:

Daniel McCutchen made his season debut after serving a 50-game suspension dating back to last season. While McCutchen’s name was originally linked to steroids, it turned out that the illegal substance that got him suspended was actually prescription medication he had not made MLB aware of. Anyway, McCutchen, who is reputed to have very good stuff, was solid. His final line of 6.1-3-1-1-0-2-1 can attest to that. Once Joba makes his way back, the Tampa rotation will be rolling.

Reegie Corona had a solid night, 2 for 5 with 2 singles, and Juan Miranda did the same, but in 4 at bats. Jose Tabata DHed and went 1 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout, while Francisco Cervelli had his first entirely unproductive game in a long time. The C was 0 for 4. Tim Battle also responded to my giving up on him as a prospect by going 3 for 5 with a stolen base and...wait for it...a strikeout.

A-:

Charleston had an early morning game, which they won despite only putting up 2 runs and 7 hits. Though the offensive totals were meager, the prospects played a large part in compiling them. Jose Gil, 0 for 3 with a strikeout, was the only guy who was entirely left out of the party. Eduardo Nunez, who is still in search of his first extra base hit, was 1 for 3 with a single, and Wilmer Pino was 1 for 4 with a single. After a hot start to the season, Pino has cooled considerably and is looking to get back on track. The offense’s elder statesmen, Mitch Hilligoss and Seth Fortenberry, had the best go of it at the plate. Hilligoss was 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout and now has a 7-game hit streak with doubles in 4 of his last 5. Fortenberry was 2 for 4 with a double and a strikeout. He has authored a 3-game hit streak with an extra base hit in each game of the streak.

Garret Patterson started the game, and while he did not allow a run in his 4 innings, I refuse to get excited about a guy born in 1982, in his second season of A-ball, who consistently struggles to throw strikes...even if he is left-handed and can touch the high 90s.

Spotlight On:

Scranton. Hopefully, Tyler Clippard breaks out of the early season funk that everyone in the AAA rotation seems to be experiencing. Alberto Gonzalez should also be good for another highlight reel play as well as a single.