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Saturday, May 26, 2007

Who Starts Tuesday?

Injuries/News:

Nope.

AAA:

Chase Wright won’t start Tuesday. One reason is that he pitched last night and managed a line of 5.1-7-3-3-1-4-2 (IP-H-R-ER-BB-K-HR). The other reason is that he hasn’t been all that good in his post-AA career. In 33 innings for Scranton, Wright’s K:BB ratio is an uninspiring 12:14. He still needs to learn to throw his fastball for consistent strikes before he gets noticeably better as a pitcher.

Eric Duncan’s inability to pick up base hits as well as a bit of an overcrowded roster left him on the bench for the night. Alberto Gonzalez did play and was 1 for 3 with his 5th triple and 8th walk of the season. May has brought more power, patience, and discipline for the SS, but less hits. He seems to be taking hitting advice from Eric Duncan.

AA:

Eh…

A+:

Ian Kennedy had another big outing in what has been a month of big outings. The diminutive right-hander posted a line of 5-4-2-2-1-8-0 on this particular night. If, prior to the season, you would have told me that Kennedy would not have a K:BB ratio greater than 3:1 until late May, I would have assumed he was struggling. Instead he’s been doing very well, in spite of his on and off walk problems.

The Tampa hitters were facing a Jake McGee, an excellent pitching prospect in the Devil Ray organization, and it showed. Reegie Corona was 2 for 4 with a walk to up his line to .299/.382/.386. Unfortunately, he also made his 15th error of the year. Corona has walked 9 times while striking out just 4 times over his last 10 games; this stretch has made his season ratio an impressive 23:26. Jose Tabata was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. Tabata now has 8 extra base hits in 171 at bats.  Francisco Cervelli had a pretty quiet game, going 1 for 3 with a strikeout. Marcos Vechionacci’s game was silent. The 3B was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. Lastly, Colin Curtis seemed to be swinging for the fences as he was 1 for 4 with a homer and 3 strikeouts. Curtis was a tough guy to strike out in the early going and even had a 1:1 BB:K ratio, but is now at 21:30 in 148 at bats, including 3:10 in his last 37.

A-:

The Hilligoss hit streak reached 31. The 3B was 2 for 4 with a double, his 12th of the season.  Austin Jackson was 1 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout.

Spotlight On:

Either Marquez or Smith taking the mound for Trenton.