Scott Lucas Daily Farm Archive

[fordman84]

I was out-of-pocket yesterday and learned of Darvish's injury on a phone call with my father at 8pm. He (and a couple of emailers) wanted to know who in Round Rock's rotation might replace him, if need be.

The answer: nobody. For the most part, they've been competent statistically, but having seen them all, none stands out as a potential MLB candidate at present. Jake Brigham has pitched best recently, keeping opponents off-stride with his willingness to throw any of four pitches in just about any count. Brigham is also the only rotation member lacking Major League experience (the others being Ryan Feierabend, Evan Meek, Brad Mills, Scott Richmond). Also, promotion of a Round Rock starter would require a 40-man roster maneuver.

Earlier today, Neil Ramirez was scratched from his scheduled start for Frisco with no reason given. More recently, the Rangers announced Ross Wolf as today's starter. Ramirez has recovered his velocity and dominated at times, but he's also occasionally struggled with his control and command, catching no plate or too much. Still, opponents are hitting a meager .196/.289/.316 against him. Though in AA now, he's made 33 Triple-A starts and is older than you might think (24, a year older than I thought). He'd be my choice if Texas has to grab a farm arm. Ramirez is a also a potential relief arm in September.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 7/10

Stars of the Day
AAA: Scott Richmond
AA: Zach Zaneski, Alex Claudio, Lisaverto Bonilla / Alex Buchholz, Hanser Alberto, Ryan Strausborger
Lo-A: Sam Stafford / Ronald Guzman, Ryan Rua, Nomar Mazara, David Lyon
Short-A: Alex de la Cruz / Marcus Greene
Rookie: Diego Cedeno, Jose Cardona

AAA: at Round Rock 0, Oklahoma City (HOU) 7
Record: 52-42, -1.0

MIke Olt (0-3) returned to the lineup a day after being hit on the helmet by a pitch.

After being one-hit on Monday and scoring 11 runs Tuesday, Round Rock was two-hit. Manny Ramirez drew a walk in three trips to the plate. Scott Richmond mostly kept OKC off the board despite five walks (7 IP, 2 R), but Justin Miller's AAA debut was forgettable: 2 innings, 5 hits, 5 runs, 2 homers. He did strike out three. Miller has been erratic coming off Tommy John surgery but has a big arm and is worth watching.

AA: Frisco 7, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 8 (16 innings)
Record: 7-12, -5.0

Frisco recovered from a 7-0 deficit, capped by a 9th-inning homer from Ryan Strausborger, but was shut out across six extra innings. Catcher Zach Zaneski threw three scoreless innings with two strikeouts. RF Chih-Hsien Chiang got two outs in the 16th, but he unleashed a wild slurve past a tired Tomas Telis to bring home a runner on third. "Normal" backup pitcher Guilder Rodriguez was out with a cold.

As for the real pitchers, Alex Claudio (2.1 IP, 0 H, 2 SO) and Lisalverto Bonilla (3 IP, 1 H, 4 SO) fared best. To date, Claudio (1.93 ERA) has handled the two-level jump with aplomb, fanning 10 and allowing eight runners in 9.1 innings. Jimmy Reyes allowed seven runners but no runs in two innings. Starter Kevin Pucetas yielded six runs in 3.2 innings.

3B Alex Buchholz was 4-7 with three doubles, and SS Hanser Alberto (.218/.252/.288) singled twice, doubled and stole his 11th base.

High-A: wet

Two today.

Low-A: Hickory 11, at Hagerstown (WAS) 7
Record: 13-6, +1.5

Hickory belted four homers including two by Ryan Rua, giving him a minor league-leading 28. Others came from RF Nomara Mazara (his eighth) and catcher David Lyon (third). All three also drew walks, and Rua (.260/.366/.632) added two singles. 1B Ronald Guzman (.330/.377/.464) singled and doubled.

Andrew Faulkner (3.39 ERA) allowed six runs (four earned) and 13 runners in just 4.2 innings while striking out six. Sam Stafford (6.62 ERA) stranded two Faulkner runners in the 5th and worked 2.1 scoreless innings, albeit with some wildness in the 7th. Regardless, he's been effective lately after an opening two months that would have forced most pitchers back to extended spring training.

Short-A: Spokane 3, at Salem-Keizer (SFO) 4
Record: 15-11, -4.0

David Ledbetter (1.23 ERA) gave up a two-run homer and another run on four hits in five innings; he walked none and struck out four. Alex de la Cruz (0.63 ERA) maintained a one-run lead across three innings and whiffed four. Catcher Marcus Greene (.271/.434/.339) and 1B Kevin Torres doubled and walked.

Spokane is 14-5 since a 1-6 start. The Indians are 1-5 against division-leading Everett (19-7), and they don't meet again during the season's first half.

Rookie: at Rangers 5, Angels 8
Record: 11-6, +1.5

In his second appearance, Cole Wiper struck out the side in order in the 6th. Starter Kevin Sosa, yielded three runs in five innings on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

CF Jose Cardona (.292/.342/.446) was 3-5, and LF Diego Cedeno (.271/.371/.373) went 2-4 with a double and walk. Jairo Beras (1-5) threw out a runner at the plate and committed an error.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Clinton's Michael Main struck out three while spreading out seven hits and two walks across 4.2 one-run innings. Frisco's Craig Gentry (.269/.326/.353) hit a solo homer.

Today's Starters
AAA: Alexi Ogando
AA: Arlett Mavare
Hi-A: Luke Jackson / maybe Joe Van Meter
Lo-A: CJ Edwards
Short-A: Kelvin Vasquez
Rookie: Derek Thompson

--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[fordman84]

Liking more and more what I hear about this Ryan Rua kid. Lots of pop

 

[fordman84]

Texas won't have a Futures Game representative. 3B Joey Gallo was DL'ed with a groin strain. Catcher Jorge Alfaro is already disabled with a broken finger.

Frisco starter Neil Ramirez, whom I mentioned as a potential MLB replacement yesterday, was scratched with shoulder soreness but remains on the active roster for now. Ramirez has dealt with this issue on multiple occasions.

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 7/11

Stars of the Day
AAA: Ryan Feierabend / Mike Olt, Chris McGuiness, Jared Hoying
AA: Arlett Mavare
Hi-A: Joe Van Meter / Rougned Odor
Lo-A: CJ Edwards / David Lyon, Nick Williams
Short-A: none
Rookie: Derek Thompson / Jairo Beras

AAA: Round Rock 2, at Omaha (KC) 4
Record: 52-43, -2.0

Omaha scored everything off rehabbing Alexi Ogando in the 1st on a homer, three other hits, a walk and wild pitch. Ogando then threw three scoreless innings affected only by a double, and he departed in the 5th after walking the leadoff batter. Similar to last Saturday, he matched his MLB output in velocity but located erratically, even during the scoreless innings. Ogando will pitch for Frisco next, as Round Rock shares its All-Star break with the big boys. I assume, given the circumstances, he'll pitch for Texas after that, so I hope to see significant improvement.

Mike Olt (.234/.338/.468 since his return) doubled twice. Chris McGuiness (.262/.373/.439) was 2-3 with a walk, and Jared Hoying (.316/.333/.558) hit his fourth homer. Ryan Feierebend (3.97 ERA) threw three scoreless innings.

AA: Frisco 2, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 5
Record: 7-13, -6.0

In Ramirez's absence and coming off Wednesday's 16-inning marathon, Arlett Mavare (6.12 ERA) provided a stout effort, working five innings and allowing a single run on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Unfortunately, Corpus touched reliever Richard Bleier (4.79 ERA) for four runs in two frames.

Ryan Strausborger was 0-4 but stole his 20th base. Hanser Alberto (.219/.256/.295) tripled.

High-A (1): Myrtle Beach 3, at Salem (BOS) (8 innings) 2
High-A (2): Myrtle Beach 1, at Salem (BOS) (7 innings) 3
Record: 11-8, +1.0

The Pelicans eked out a win in the opener courtesy of five walks and sloppy Red Sox defense. Rougned Odor (.292/.361/.444) singled and walked, and Jake Skole walked twice and stole his fifth base. Trever Adams tripled home Odor in the 8th. Luke Jackson (2.51 ERA) walked five himself in six innings but surrendered only two runs on four hits while fanning four. Joe Van Meter (3.48 ERA) worked a scoreless 7th and 8th with two Ks.

Nick Martinez (3.18 ERA) pitched a six-inning complete game in the nightcap, allowing seven hits and two walks and striking out three. Myrtle Beach was limited to three hits including two singles by 2B Edwin Garcia.

Low-A: Hickory 3, at Hagerstown (WAS) 5
Record: 13-7, +0.5

CJ Edwards (1.95 ERA) continues to amaze, throwing a seventh consecutive start with one or fewer runs allowed. In six innings, Edwards yielded a run on five hits, a walk and five strikeouts. For the season, Edwards has an opposing line of .192/.270/.240. He's faced 614 batters professionally and has yet to allow a home run.

Hagerstown took out its frustration on Joe Burns (0.2 IP, 4 R).

Hickory batters registered nine hits, all singles, and a season-low four strikeouts. Catcher David Lyon (.252/.353/.385) was 3-3 with a walk, and CF Nick Williams singled twice and walked. Williams has four walks since the All-Star break, not a high number but equalling his output from the entire first half of the season.

Meanwhile, Jordan Akins went 2-4 but is hitting .177/.177/.290 with 28 strikeouts in fifteen games since his last walk on June 22nd. His walk rate BB/SO ratio are slightly worse than last year, which I wouldn't have thought possible.

Hickory will host the 2014 Sally League All-Star Game.

Short-A: Spokane 1, at Salem-Keizer (SFO) 9
Record: 15-12, -4.0

Spokane walked 13 Volcanoes. Kelvin Vasquez issued seven walks in his three innings, striking out four and allowing three runs and two hits. Vasquez has faced 95 batters with Spokane but has yet to surrender an extra-base hit; opponents are hitting a curious .308/.411/.308 against him. The Indians had five hits, including two Cam Schiller singles.

Rookie: Rangers 2, at D-backs 6
Record: 11-7, +0.5

Jairo Beras (.250/.314/.406) produced his first multi-hit game, going 3-4 with a double. SS Travis Demeritte (.284/.392/.478) walked twice. Derek Thompson's basic line was ordinary -- 2.1 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk -- but he fanned six of 11 batters faced, and the runs scored with considerable assistance from the defense and a struggling Keone Kela (0.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SO).

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas optioned Scott Feldman and Wes Littleton and recalled Kam Loe and… Joselo Diaz? I don't remember that at all. Diaz would pitch one inning and be outrighted back to the minors. At Houston-affiliated Round Rock, Joaquin Arias lasered a homer to left and committed an error leading to multiple unearned runs in a 10-3 loss. Frisco's Elvis Andrus stole two bases, giving him 33 on the season. Clinton's Engel Beltre hit a solo homer (#5), his 18th double, and a single.

Today's Starters
AAA: Jake Brigham
AA: Carlos Pimentel
Hi-A: Alec Asher
Lo-A: Luis Parra
Short-A: Chi-Chi Gonzalez
Rookie: Akeem Bostick

--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[fordman84]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of 7/12

Stars of the Day
AAA: Jake Brigham, Ben Rowen / Manny Ramirez, Chris McGuiness, Yangervis Solarte
AA: Carlos Pimentel, Lisalverto Bonilla / Alejandro Selen, Greg Miclat, Brett Nicholas
Hi-A: Taylor Dennis / Pat Cantwell, Rougned Odor
Lo-A: Jose Valdespina / Nick Vickerson
Short-A: Eric Brooks / Evan Van Hoosier
Rookie: Nick Gardewine / Jairo Beras, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

AAA: Round Rock 7, at Omaha (KC) 6
Record: 53-43, -1.0

After the Express blew a five-run lead in the 8th, none other than Manny Ramirez (3-5, .286/.375/.571) saved the day with a 9th-inning solo homer, his second. Yangervis Solarte also homered (his team-leading 11th) and singled, and 1B Chris McGuiness (.267/.375/.444) singled and doubled.

Jake Brigham (3.98 ERA) continues to shine, posting six innings of one-run ball with five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. He did struggle with his control at times despite the modest walk total, throwing 106 pitches. In his last six appearances covering 32.2 innings, Brigham has an 0.55 ERA, four walks and 32 strikeouts. To rephrase what I wrote yesterday: if I had to grab someone from Round Rock for the Texas rotation, I would say "I have to? Are you sure?" And then I would pick Brigham, even though he's the only rotation member lacking MLB experience. The others:

Evan Meek: 3.34 ERA in 173 MLB innings all in relief (2008-2012)
Scott Richmond: 5.27 ERA in 169 innings (2008-2012, mostly in 2009)
Ryan Feierabend: 7.22 ERA in 106 innings (2006-2008)
Brad Mills: 7.76 ERA in 53 innings (2009-2012)

Ben Rowen handled the 9th in order with one strikeout.

AA: Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 3 (13 innings)
Record: 8-13, -5.0

Frisco survived a deeply unwanted extra-inning game without resorting to hitters on the mound. Carlos Pimentel (4.15 ERA) offered another good start, lasting seven innings and surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Phil Klein (2.86 ERA), who walked four without retiring a batter in his last outing, walked three this time (one intentionally) but managed two scoreless innings. The erratic Lisalverto Bonilla mowed down six in order with three strikeouts.

Replacing the ejected Teodoro Martinez, Alejandro Selen (.240/.264/.351) hit a solo homer in the 13th. Brett Nicholas and Greg Miclat had three singles.

High-A: at Myrtle Beach 3, Winston-Salem (CHA) 11
Record: 11-9, tied for 1st

Watching Alec Asher's start on the intertubes, I had a tweet mentally prepared regarding his strong 1st inning. He'd struck out the first two batters (curve swinging, fastball looking) and had two strikes on a third. Then: full-count walk, error on routine grounder by SS Edwin Garcia, soft single, double, double, homer, double, and at last the third out. Technically, the runs are unearned, but Asher (3.41 ERA) certainly bears much of the responsibility for them.

Asher's fastball is hard but pretty straight. When he locates on the bottom corners, which happens more often than not, he's quite impressive. When he elevates and/or catches too much plate, he suffers. Asher would last four innings, allow two more (earned) runs and strike out a total of five. His opposing line is .261/.321/.394. The park-adjusted average line for Myrtle Beach is .255/.334/.364.

Taylor Dennis (5.87 ERA) gave up a solo homer and one other hit while striking out four in three innings. Pat Cantwell (.244/.316/.314) was 3-5 with a double, and Rougned Odor (.295/.362/.448) doubled and singled.

Low-A: Hickory 0, at Lakewood (PHI) 4
Record: 13-8, +0.5

Jose Valdespina fanned five in 2.1 scoreless innings and stranded three Luis Parra runners. Valdespina's 6.83 ERA is the result of a handful of extremely messy outings. Lately, he's pitched much better. Parra (1.31 ERA) allowed 12 runners in 5.2 innings, four of which scored. He struck out four.

Nick Vickerson had two singles and a walk for an offense that otherwise had no solution for Philly pitcher Severino Gonzalez, who has six walks and 64 strikeouts between the Sally League and higher Florida State League.

Short-A: Spokane 2, at Salem-Keizer (SFO) 6
Record: 15-13, -4.0, elimination number 7

Chi-Chi Gonzalez (7.24 ERA) fanned five in three innings but allowed four runs on six hits and a walk. Opponents are hitting a lofty .390/.446/.508 against him. Eric Brooks followed with four strikeouts in four innings marred by a solo homer. 2B Evan Van Hoosier (.346/.469/.615) provided most of the offense in the form of his first professional homer and a single.

5th-round catcher Joe Jackson was 0-4 in a professional debut delayed by a broken thumb.

Rookie: Rangers 2, at Mariners 3
Record: 11-8, -0.5

DH Jairo Beras (.250/.308/.472) hit his first pro homer off rehabbing 22-year-old M's lefty Jordan Shipers. 2B Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.269/.338/.284) singled twice and walked.

Nick Gardewine (3.00 ERA) lasted three innings, striking out three and allowing one run. Starter Akeem Bostick (5.00 ERA) surrendered two runs in 1.1 innings on four hits; he walked none and struck out three.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
AAA -- Tommy Hunter: 7 IP, 0 R, 5 SO
AA -- Neftali Feliz: 6 IP, 2 R, 3 SO
hi-A -- Evan Reed: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 4 SO
lo-A -- Michael Kirkman: 6.2 IP, 0 R, 5 SO
sh-A -- Wilfredo Boscan: 6 IP, 1 R, 7 SO
rook -- rehabbing Brandon McCarthy: 2 IP, 1 R

Today's Starters
AAA: Brad Mills
AA: Tyler Tufts
Hi-A: Jared Eickhoff
Lo-A: Connor Sadzeck
Short-A: Kyle Castro
Rookie: Jose Samayoa

--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[romeo212000]

So far, looks like manny can still hit.

 

[fordman84]

So far, looks like manny can still hit.

at least at AAA. Wonder if he will be a call up for DH this year or if this is strictly a AAA contract to try out for other teams.

 

[romeo212000]

at least at AAA. Wonder if he will be a call up for DH this year or if this is strictly a AAA contract to try out for other teams.

If JD thinks he can help us, he'll get called up.