MLB's The Pitch 22.7.10

 

THE PITCH

Thursday 22 July 2010

 

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Attached: Australian broadcast schedule of MLB games and current stats for all active Australian professional players.

 

 

AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS

Week in Review

 

Here is the latest on the Australians playing in the Major Leagues.  Note: hyperlinks in this section lead to web pages which include relevant video highlights:

 

Grant Balfour (Glenwood NSW) pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA over 41 appearances covering 41 innings.  The Rays are 56-37 (.602) in 2^nd place in the AL East 2 ½ games behind the NY Yankees:

• 16 July – pitched the 7^th inning in the Rays 5-4 loss at the Yankees getting one strikeout and earning his 10^th Hold.  The game was tied 3-all when he came on and faced only three batters to get though the inning – getting a strikeout and two fly-outs.
• 17 July – pitched 1/3 of the 8^th inning in the Rays 10-5 win at the Yankees.  He came on with the score 10-4, runners on 1^st and 3^rd, two outs recorded and got Derek Jeter to ground out to end the inning.
• 20 July – pitched the 10^th and 11^th innings and faced one batter to start the 13^th inning.  He allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two in the Rays 11-10 13-inning loss at Baltimore.  The score was tied at nine when Balfour entered – he struck out two in a three-up, three-down 10^th, and repeated the feat (though without striking anyone out) in the 11^th.  When he allowed a double to begin the 12^th he was pulled.

 

RAYS GAMES ON AUS TV: Tigers v Rays Tues 27 July on ESPN at 9:00 am; Wed 28 July on ESPN (check schedule for time); Fri 30 July on ONE (check schedule).

 

Peter Moylan (Vermont South VIC) is 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 49 appearances totalling 36 innings.  The Braves are 55-38 (.591) in 1^st place in the NL East 6 ½ games ahead of the NY Mets.

• 15 July – pitched the third out of the 7^th and first out of the 8^th in the Braves 2-1 win over visiting Milwaukee earning his 15^th Hold.  With the final score in place Moylan entered the game with runners on first and second and got Rickie Weeks to ground out to end the threat. In the 8^th he gave up a single then erased that runner by getting the next batter to ground into a fielders’ choice.  He was then lifted from the game.
• 17 July – pitched the last out of the 7^th inning in the Braves 6-3 loss against visiting Milwaukee.  The score was 4-2 with two outs and runners on 2^nd and 3^rd when Moylan came on – he gave up a two-run double to Corey Hart before getting Ryan Braun to ground out to end the inning.
• 18 July – pitched the 7^th inning in the Braves 11-6 win over visiting Milwaukee getting one strike out and surrendering one walk.  The score was 11-3 when Moylan came on.  There were runners on 1^st and 2^nd with no outs recorded.  He walked Weeks, struck out Corey Hart and got Ryan Braun to ground into a double play.

No BRAVES games on AUS TV this week.

 

Ryan Rowland-Smith (Newcastle NSW) is 1-9 with a 6.18 ERA in 20 appearances, 17 starts.  He’s pitched 87.1 innings allowing 60 earned runs on 110 hits and 37 walks while striking out 34.  The Mariners are 36-58 (.383) in last place in the AL West 19 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers.

• 17 July – got no decision pitching only 3.1 innings in his start at the LA Angels of Anaheim.  He allowed five earned runs on eight hits, including a solo home run, and a walk while striking out two.  The Mariners went on to lose 7-6.  He got off to a good start in the 1^st retiring three of four batters faced with one reaching on an error.  In the 2^nd he retired the first two batters before allowing a double and a single.  With Josh Bard batting the runner on first was picked off but a catching error allowed him to reach 2^nd safely while the runner from 3^rd scored.  Bard then struck out to end the inning.  The 3^rd began with a ground out followed by a homer and two doubles before ending the inning with a strike out and ground out.  In the 4^th he got a fly out before walking Howie Kendrick and allowing a single – at which point he was relieved.

 

Rowland-Smith is next scheduled to start US Thursday 22 July against the visiting Red Sox – 12:00 pm Friday Sydney time.

 

No MARINERS games on AUS TV this week.

 

Brad Thomas (Kellyville NSW) is 4-0 with a 4.61 ERA in 24 appearances, including two starts, totalling 41 innings.  He’s allowed 21 runs, all earned, on 47 hits and 21 walks while striking out 16.  The Tigers are 48-44 (.522) in 2^nd place in the AL Central 3 ½ games behind the White Sox as are the Twins.

• 16 July – pitched 2/3 of the 6^th inning in the Tigers’ 8-2 loss at Cleveland allowing two earned runs on two hits.  The score was 4-2 Cleveland when Thomas entered with runners on 1^st and 3^rd with one out recorded.  He allowed a sacrifice fly scoring the runner from 3^rd; a run scoring single; and a two-run homer before getting a ground out to end the inning.
• 20 July – pitched three outs over the 8^th and 9^th innings allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out one in the Tigers’ 8-0 loss to the visiting Rangers.  The score was 4-0 Rangers when Thomas came on in the 8^th with a runner on first and one out recorded.  He retired both batters he faced on a strike out and ground out.  In the 9^th he allowed a double followed by a sacrifice bunt before being relieved.

TIGERS GAMES ON AUS TV:  Tigers v Rays Tues 27 July on ESPN at 9:00 am; Wed 28 July on ESPN (check schedule for time); Fri 30 July on ONE (check schedule).

 

Rich Thompson (St Ives NSW) is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two appearances; he’s pitched 2.2 innings allowing one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts.  The Angels are 51-45 (.531) in 2^nd place in the AL West five games behind Texas.

• Hasn’t pitched this week (last pitched 10/7).

 

ANGELS GAMES ON AUS TV: Red Sox v Angels Tues 27 July on FOX at 12:00 pm and Thurs 29 July on ONE (check schedule)

 

 

ROWLAND-SMITH’S ROTATION SLOT NOT IN JEOPARDY

Evan Drellich, MLB.com – 18 July

 

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said he was going to speak with Ryan Rowland-Smith again on Sunday as they try to work through the southpaw's troubles.

 

Rowland-Smith's spot in the rotation, Wakamatsu said, was not in jeopardy after he lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed five earned runs in Seattle's 7-6 loss Saturday to the Angels.

 

Rowland-Smith took the no decision, but he is 1-9 with a 6.18 ERA and has lasted a combined 7 1/3 innings over his past two starts.

 

"This kid's a big part of our future," Wakamatsu said. "It's been a tough, tough year on him. Without the results, you still see some improvement. He's got a ways to go to be consistent, but he's pitched well enough in the past. He's going to have to make some adjustments both physically and mentally.

 

"I think he's got a chance to be an awfully good pitcher in the Major Leagues. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forward. It hasn't been pretty for him."

 

 

DOUBLE-A LEAGUES:

 

AUSTRALIAN PITCHER SEEKS CONSISTENCY WITH AEROS

Stephanie Storm, Beacon Journal – 20 July

 

Shane Lindsay (Bacchus Marsh VIC) wears a portion of the Australian flag tattooed on the inside of his left forearm, five blue stars that serve as a constant reminder of where he is from and how far he has traveled chasing his baseball dream.

 

A 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Melbourne, Lindsay started the season ranked by Baseball America as the 23rd best prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization. How he ended up with the Aeros is a long story.

 

In the end, all that matters is that Lindsay, 25, has found a home for now and is getting consistent work in an effort to put himself back on the baseball map.

 

”If I had started better, things might be different,” Lindsay said. ”But I know in the end everything will work out. When you work this hard and love the game like I do, it’s got to.”

 

Lindsay struggled to start the season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (the Rockies’ Triple-A club), going 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 14 appearances. He allowed 15 hits and 17 walks and struck out 19.

 

When the Rockies tried to get him through waivers, Lindsay was claimed by the New York Yankees.

 

”When they called and told me, I was at some random bar getting some lunch,” Lindsay said. ”I just started shaking and I threw my phone down. I was just so blown away. All I could say was, ‘The Yankees? Are you kidding me, mate?’ ”

 

But his stint in the Yankees organization didn’t last long or materialize into much. The closest Lindsay got to wearing pinstripes was hanging out and pitching at extending spring training in Tampa, Fla., for a couple of weeks until the Yankees needed to make a major-league roster move and sent him through waivers again.

 

”At that time I was thinking, ‘What am I doing? Where’s my career going?’ ” Lindsay said. ”But by the end of it, I was like, ‘Well, I’m going to have to pitch good to get to the major leagues anyway. So let’s go, let’s do it.’ ”

 

This time when the call came, Lindsay learned he’d been picked up by the Indians. His response was a bit tempered, his expectations understandably lowered after all that he’d already been through.

 

”When you watch him pitch, you see what other teams have seen in him,” Aeros manager Joel Skinner said. ”He’s got above-average arm strength and a major-league arm. He’s shown signs of that here. It’s just a matter of harnessing his stuff and getting him to repeat [his delivery].”

Lindsay’s stuff, featuring a mid-90s fastball, has never been the problem. His biggest struggle has been staying healthy — he tore his labrum in 2006 and missed the following season, then broke his hand in a fight in 2008 — and remaining consistent.

 

With steady work out of the Aeros’ bullpen, Lindsay has settled down. In nine appearances, he is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA, allowing one earned run in 102/3 innings. He has struck out 16 but is still battling his control, walking 11.

 

Aeros pitching coach Greg Hibbard calls Lindsay’s promising fastball ”an above-average pitch with below-average command,” but credits him with ”beginning to make good adjustments and learning his delivery better.”

 

It’s taken a majority of the season, but Lindsay finally has found a home. Even if it’s a temporary home a long way from his real one.

 

 

READING’S NAYLOR HIT HARD IN ALL-STAR LOSS

Mike Drago, Reading Eagle – 15 July

 

Drew Naylor (Cannon Hill QLD) had positive experiences during his first two All-Star appearances, in the New York-Penn League game in 2007 and in the South Atlantic League game a year later.

The third time, however, was not a charm for the Reading Phillies right-hander.

He never made it out of the seventh inning Wednesday at the Eastern League All-Star Game, surrendering back-to-back homers as the Western Division stars broke the game open with six runs on the way to a 10-3 victory before the largest crowd in Metro Bank Park history.

Naylor entered in a 2-2 tie and left seven batters later, his side down by six.

"Sometimes it happens," the 24-year-old Naylor said. "There's not much you can do about it. You've just got to try and get out of it; sometimes you can't."

After retiring Harrisburg's Chris Marrero to open the inning, Naylor allowed a single to Akron's John Drennan, then a deep fly ball to right to Bowie's Tyler Henson. Right fielder Kirk Niewenhuis of Binghamton got a glove on it just in front of the wall but couldn't hold on, the ball dropping for a double.

If that play is made, Naylor might've escaped, but it wasn't and he walked Richmond's Thomas Neal to load the bases.

Altoona's Chase D'Arnaud fouled off a couple pitches before jumping on a curve ball and driving it out of the park to left for a game-changing grand slam.

"I just wanted to go up there and hit a ball to the outfield so the guy on third base could score," said D'Arnaud, named the game MVP. "Didn't want to do too much. Getting to 3-2, recognized the breaking ball up and took advantage of a mistake. It was definitely good to be facing a pitcher I've seen once or twice."

Before Naylor could catch his breath Erie's Andy Dirks pounded a homer to right, and the Australia native's night was done.

"There's good hitters throughout (the lineup)," he said, "that's why it's the All-Star Game. All these guys know how to hit. I was getting behind in the count and they were just taking advantage of it."

In Naylor's 17 appearances for Reading this season he had allowed six runs just once; he had allowed two homers in a game just twice.

"You just have to shrug it off," Naylor said. "How often does that happen when you give up six runs in point-one of an inning?"

Some of Naylor's teammates fared a bit better.

Matt Rizzotti, who started at first base, singled in his first at-bat and walked in his second and final plate appearance. He also made a pair of solid plays in the field, including one sharp grounder down the line.

Vance Worley, who earned the win in last year's game, had an even better showing this time. He breezed through the fourth inning, needing only seven pitches to retire the side in order, all on groundouts.

"In an All-Star Game, guys are just trying to swing as hard as they can and hit the ball as far as they can," Worley said. "Obviously you've gotta make 'em good (pitches); you can't just ease it in there for 'em."

Kevin Mahar played the final four innings in the outfield and went 0-for-2. Freddy Galvis played the final four innings at shortstop and grounded into a double play in his only at-bat.

 

 

SINGLE-A LEAGUES:

 

WILLIAMS TOSSES FIVE NO-HIT FRAMES

Miracle hurler unhittable in his first start in nearly two years

MiLB.com – 19 July

 

Making his third career start -- and first since August 2008 -- Fort Myers right-hander Matt Williams (Camden NSW) tossed five no-hit frames in the Miracle's 1-0 loss to visiting Lakeland on Monday night.

 

He struck out four, walked two and hit a batter. The five-inning stint marked Williams' longest outing since pitching six frames as a member of the Rookie-level Elizabethton Twins on Aug. 13, 2006.

 

The Australian native began the season with Fort Myers, posting a 2-0 record and 2.30 ERA over seven appearances before being promoted to Double-A New Britain in early May. He went 1-3 with a 6.53 ERA in 24 games for the Rock Cats and converted three of six save opportunities. Williams rejoined the Miracle last week, pitching three innings at Daytona on Wednesday.

 

Williams faced three over the minimum in Monday's start and did not allow a runner past second base. The 23-year-old exited with the game still scoreless.

 

Lakeland starter Jacob Turner, a first-round pick in the 2009 Draft, was nearly as strong in his fifth outing for the Flying Tigers since his promotion from Class A West Michigan. He gave up two hits over five scoreless innings and improved to 1-1.

 

Reliever Shooter Hunt (1-4) took the loss for the Miracle. Entering the game in the sixth, he walked four of the five batters he faced and gave up a sacrifice fly to Lakeland first baseman Jordan Lennerton for the game's only run.

 

Christopher White led off the seventh with the Flying Tigers' first hit of the game. Lakeland finished with four hits, while Fort Myers amassed just three.

 

The contest was the Miracle's sixth 1-0 game of the season and fourth in July. Fort Myers is 2-4 in those games.

 

 

ROOKIE LEAGUES:

 

NINTH-ROUNDER JOSH SPENCE MAKES SPLASH IN PRO DEBUT

Nathaniel Stoltz, chickenfriars.com – 20 July

 

Ninth-round Padres selection Josh Spence (Grovedale VIC), a lefthander out of Arizona State, was one of the team’s bigger wild-card selections in the draft.

 

The native Australian was a finesse pitcher to begin with, and he missed all of last year with elbow trouble. That left his short-term future (not to mention his long-term future) in doubt. Spence played some summer ball to attempt to show he was back in the form that made him a third-rounder last year (he didn’t sign with the Angels) and the highest-drafted Australian in history.

 

The Padres eventually bit and signed Spence, who made his pro debut tonight in relief for the AZL Padres. The 22-year-old lefty allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of work, striking out three.

 

3 K in an inning–certainly a good sign from a finesse guy that whatever velocity he has is back. Given his advanced age and polish, I’d expect Spence to be sent up to Eugene or even Fort Wayne if and when the Padres are convinced he can shoulder a normal workload this season.

 

Spence’s signing means that the Padres have signed half of their top 10 selections: 2nd-rounder Jedd Gyorko, 4th-rounder Chris Bisson, 5th-rounder Rico Noel, Spence, and 10th-rounder Houston Slemp. First-rounder Karsten Whitson, 3rd-rounder Zach Cates, 6th-rounder John Barbato, 7th-rounder A.J. Vanegas, and 8th-rounder Jose Dore remain unsigned.

 

 

PROSPECT OUTLOOK: JARRYD SULLIVAN

Hyzduhq.blogspot.com

 

To many, Jarryd Sullivan (Padstow NSW) may not be a household name, but to those who follow the Pirates international signings, you may remember him as 1 of the 3 Australian players signed by the team this past spring and summer. During a season that saw the Pirates set a record for consecutive losing seasons, it also saw them open a state of the art Dominican Academy and make their first ventures into Taiwan and Australia. In the past, the Pirates have had few Australian players on their minor league rosters, most notably Brett Roneberg, Adrian Burnside and Paul Weinchard but this season marked the first time they actually hired a scout for the sole purpose of scouting in Australia and signing players that he and the front office felt could develop into potential major league players.

Sullivan supposedly began playing baseball at the age of 5 when he played for the East Hills Ball Club in the suburbs of Sydney. He continued to play amateur baseball there until he earned an opportunity to represent his New South Wales in the Australian Championships in the under 16 classification. With the experience he gained at the Championship and the success he had, Sullivan moved onto the Canterbury Baseball Club where he would meet NSW pitching coach Barry Holland who would help develop him into a quality pitcher. While pitching at Canterbury, he earned more opportunities pitching on the state level and eventually earned an invite to the Major League Australian Baseball Academy which he would attend 4 years in a row. One of the biggest highlights for him must have been being selected to the 2008 under 19 National Team for Australia. It was on that team that he would meet current Pirates scout Tony Harris who at the time was serving as the pitching coach for the national team. At the World Championships, Australia would finish 4th and Sullivan who pitched out of the bullpen for that team would put 3 solid outings and not surrender a run. Sullivan would go on to pitch and represent Australia on the national stage again but it was on the eve of attending his 4th major league academy that his representative would receive a call from Tony Harris with an offer from the Pirates. Jarryd was excited and anxious to sign but was 2 years into University studies; he needed assurance that his credits for school would still be good if he deferred his studies. Apparently after following all of the procedures, he found out 2 weeks later that he was good to go and was able to sign with the Pirates.

From what I could find, it doesn’t look like Sullivan attended the Florida Instructional league in September and October as I didn’t see his name on the list of players. He started the season in extended spring training then made his debut at State College, there he struggled with control. He's since been sent down to Bradenton where he'll hopefully put it together. It's still too early to write him off so keep an eye on him, he's another positive step in the right direction for the organization.

 

 

AT A GLANCE

• Check out the August issue of Inside Sport (on sale 21 July) to read what it’s like to attend a game at the new Yankee Stadium.
• The Padres have promoted RHP Hayden Beard (Canberra ACT) to their High-A Lake Elsinore team in the California League.
• This from TwinkieTown blogger roger13:

Some in the organization believe that James Beresford (Glen Waverly VIC) will be the Twins regular second baseman a few years from now.  This young Aussie was 7-20 (.350 Average) this week with 6 runs scored, a double, home run and 2 RBI.  After hitting only .164 Average in April, Beresford is now hitting .287/.345/.358 in 321 at bats with 24 walks, 37 strikeouts and 9 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

• OF Daniel Berg (Burwood VIC) has signed with the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the independent American Association.  In his first six games he’s batting .316 with a home run and six RBI.
• C Allan de San Miguel (Bentley WA) is back at High-A Fort Myers after a very brief stay with Double-A New Britain in the Twins system.

• Braves blogger CBWilk recently revealed his Top-10 Good Guys in Atlanta’s Minor Leagues and had this to say about Matt Kennelly (Palmyra WA):

The best thing about Mate, which is what everyone calls him, is that after you see him you get to retell all his stories in a butchered Australian accent. Most catchers are very serious, necessarily so, particularly right before a game, but he’s so laid back that you can sit and talk with him while he’s warming up the pitcher before a game. And he gets as excited about a good pitch as anyone. He’s one of the most honest players you’ll ever meet, he’ll tell you anything, about anything, and also one of the funniest.

Note: Matt has been placed on the 7-day disabled list.

• LHP Damian Moss (Sadlier NSW) has signed with the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League.
• I’d lost track of David Welch (Castle Hill NSW) but it turns out he’s pitching with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association.

 

 

 

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