Pics from the Texas League All-Star Game
From Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, TX. The North Division won, 2-1. Corey Smith of Northwest Arkansas was the only player with 2 hits as pitching dominated. He also scored a run and drove in another late in the game. Midland's Josh Horton doubled in the only run for the South Division. Springfield's Trey Hearne started and pitched 2 innings to get credit for the win while Midland's Jason Fernandez, who also went 2 innings, gave up an early run that saddled him with the loss.
Ever since I saw pictures of this ballpark a couple years ago I'd hoped to get a chance to see a game there in person. When I found out earlier this year that the Texas League All-Star Game would be played there I made it a goal to cover it. Fortunately that worked out, I took my trip to the Dallas area last week, caught a Rangers game on Monday (and marked one more MLB park off my list of places to visit), then worked this one on Wednesday.
When a league has an All-Star Game where just its own divisions face each other it means a lot more players from those teams are involved than you get with the California/Carolina League game or the Pacific Coast League/International League game, which has a max of three players per team this year. Maybe it waters down the talent a bit but in this case it gave me the chance to see a number of A's prospects from Midland's team along with others as well. I'd been thinking of trying to catch a game in Midland but the timing didn't work out, though they do have an airport nearby so I wouldn't have to drive five hours or so once I got into Texas.
So far that's two minor league ASGs with 2-1 finals. I'd bet the last one I'll be at in Portland will have a few more runs scored than that. The dugout steps were a little steep and I wanted to be a bit safer from foul balls so I shot from inside the dugout itself, close to the steps, and it let me get ground-level angles for everything I did from the sides. I like being that low if I can. One thing I did more of this time was take shots of pitchers from off to one side of home plate as they warmed up between innings. I also like them wearing their team uniforms so much better because it makes it a lot easier to remember who's who later on when you have more than just a hat to go by. There are 115 shots here, including a number of ballpark pics, and some of my favorites follow.
0 comments | 0 recs
Dominican baseball documentary
Hi Everyone,
I am the producer of a documentary about baseball in the Dominican Republic and I wanted to spread the word about a film that I think you'll really enjoy. It is called ROAD TO THE BIG LEAGUES and it is all about the journey for Dominican born baseball players that are trying to make it to the BIg Leagues.
The film follows superstars like Big Papi and Vladimir Guerrero but it's main focus is on the young ball payers that are trying to make it to the pros today (i.e HOOP DREAMS). Anyway, to see the trailer and check out the DVD go to http://www.roadtothebigleagues.com
Thanks for your time and if you watch it I'd love to hear your thoughts!
1 comment | 0 recs
Wishing Spoondoggie Well...
I just wanted to pass on good wishes to community member Spoondoggies who has been diagnosed with a severe case of the swine flu. Spoondoggies, who is a member of the Super Sickels Keeper League created by Dewey Finn, is a huge baseball fan and I know he is probably either watching TV or on his laptop checking the latest minor league baseball news. A long time friend, I know that Spoony will beat this flu and be out of the hospital in a few weeks.
Take care Spoony and get well!!!!!
1 comment | 0 recs
Hope for Fausto Carmona?
Fausto Carmona has been a nightmare for the past 1.5 seasons. How could someone who looked like one of the better young arms in baseball during 2007, become so craptastic? Was 2007 a straight up fluke? I remember Torii Hunter saying that hitting his sinker was like hitting a bowling ball. These days, its apparenlty more like tennis balls.
Anyways, do you think he can turn his career around and possibly recapture some of his 2007 success? He was sent down to the minors to work on a few things, and so far the results have been very promising. His stats are:
3 Starts: 0.98 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 11 Hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 17 K, 1.71 GO/FO
Very encouraging signs.
What are your thoughts on Fausto?
8 comments | 0 recs
My Top 50 Prospects
My criteria for this list is 130 AB's for position players (which is why Andrew McCutchen and his 126 AB's are on this list) and 50 IP for Pitchers.
1-Matt Wieters-C-Orioles
2-Tommy Hanson-RHP-Braves
3-Jason Heyward-OF-Braves
4-Mike Stanton-OF-Marlins
5-Madison Bumgarner-LHP-Giants
6-Andrew McCutchen-OF-Pirates
7-Gordon Beckham-SS-White Sox
8-Jarrod Parker-RHP-D-Backs
9-Tim Beckham-SS-Rays
10-Justin Smoak-1B-Rangers
11-Pedro Alvarez-3B-Pirates
12-Eric Hosmer-1B-Royals
13-Buster Posey-C-Giants
14-Yonder Alonso-1B-Reds
15-Jesus Montero-C-Yankees
16-Chris Tillman-RHP-Orioles
17-Mike Moustakas-3B-Royals
18-Josh Vitters-3B-Cubs
19-Brian Matusz-LHP-Orioles
20-Desmond Jennings-OF-Rays
21-Fernando Martinez-OF-Mets
22-Tim Alderson-RHP-Giants
23-Casey Kelly-RHP-Red Sox
24-Carlos Santana-C-Indians
25-Aaron Hicks-OF-Twins
26-Austin Jackson-OF-Yankees
27-Lars Anderson-1B-Red Sox
28-Ben Revere-OF-Twins
29-Michael Bowden-RHP-Red Sox
30-Brett Wallace-3B-Cardinals
31-Logan Morrison-1B-Marlins
32-Danny Duffy-LHP-Royals
33-Angel Villalona-1B-Giants
34-Josh Reddick-OF-Red Sox
35-Matt Moore-LHP-Rays
36-Tim Melville-RHP-Royals
37-Chris Carter-1B-A's
38-Neftali Feliz-RHP-Rangers
40-Jeremy Hellickson-RHP-Rays
41-Matt LaPorta-OF-Indians
42-Wilmer Flores-SS-Mets
43-Martin Perez-LHP-Rangers
44-Lonnie Chisenhall-3B-Indians
45-Jason Castro-C-Astros
46-Aaron Poreda-LHP-White Sox
47-Dominic Brown-OF-Phillies
48-Kyle Drabek-RHP-Phillies
49-Jordan Lyles-RHP-Astros
50-Jenrry Mejia-RHP-Mets
44 comments | 0 recs
Who is the best available?
I'm in a keeper league, and I'm wondering who the list of the best prospects available are. The ideal prospects are guys who will be in the majors within a year and a half.
Any help is really, really appreciated - I could really use it.
Those who are unavailable:
Wade Davis, Antonelli, Matusz, Yu Darvish, Posey, Bryce Harper
Hosmer, Chris Marrero, Brett Wallace, Tillman, Feliz, Jarrod Parker
Alvarez, McCutchen, Dominguez, Carlos Santana, Desmond Jennings, Holland
David Price, Strasburg, Alonso, Logan Morrison, Smoak, Viciedo
Austin Jackson, F-Mart, Chacin, Wilmer Flores, Deolis Guerra
Montero, Jose Tabata, Daniel Bard, Hanson, Aaron Hicks, Ben Revere, Bumgarner
Jake McGee, Weiters, Kyle Blanks, Moustakas, Lars Anderson, Chris Carter
Carasco, Stanton, Villalona, T. Beckham, G. Beckham
Vitters, Halman, Arrenciba, Heyward, Alderson
0 comments | 0 recs
BEST PROSPECT IN BASEBALL
No, this post isn't about Matt Wieters, Jason Heyward, Stephen Strasburg or even Bryce Harper.
This post is dedicated to my all time favorite prospect, Josh Womack
Womack hits a home run about every 100 at bats and is 25 years of age. In fact, double checking, I don't even think he's still playing pro baseball. His career batting average is .257 and slugging percentage is shy of .400.
So why do I value this everyday minor league?
http://www.break.com/index/cool-spinning-baseball-bat-trick.html
His incredible batting ritual.
An "A" prospect if you ask me.
5 comments | 0 recs
Smoak Promoted to AAA
http://startelegramsports.typepad.com/foul_territory/2009/07/smoak-to-triple-a.html
He was due for this because it seemed like he had nothing left to prove in AA. The only thing that held him back was the injury. I wonder how long it will be until he cracks the majors. Any guesses? With the continuing struggles of Chris Davis, I'm not sure how long they can keep him down, especially if they want to contend this year.
53 comments | 0 recs
Frederick's Top 50 Prospects
1) Matt Wieters
3) Tommy Hanson
4) Justin Smoak
9) Buster Posey
11) Lars Anderson
12) Gordon Beckham
13) Jenrry Mejia
14) Andrew McCutchen
15) Carlos Santana
17) Brian Matusz
18) Pedro Alvarez
19) Martin Perez
20) Mat Latos
21) Neftali Feliz
22) Matt LaPorta
23) Jhoulys Chacin
24) Derek Holland
25) Vin Mazzaro
26) Jake Arrieta
27) Tim Alderson
28) Yonder Alonso
29) Brad Holt
30) Kyle Drabek
31) Dominic Brown
32) Brett Wallace
33) Tyler Flowers
34) Michael Saunders
35) Desmond Jennings
36) Jordan Lyles
37) Jason Knapp
38) Derek Norris
39) Michael Taylor
40) Tim Beckham
41) Josh Vitters
42) Lonnie Chisenhall
43) Carlos Carrasco
44) Brett Cecil
45) Kyle Blanks
46) Casey Kelly
47) Aaron Hicks
48) Jordan Danks
49) Carlos Triunfel
50) Nick Weglarz
Rock 'N' Roll McDonaldz~
27 comments | 0 recs
Showing 1 - 10 of 11,825Older





