Public Service Announcement
Has everyone filed their taxes? You’ve still got a few hours in case you, oh, I don’t know, forgot or something. I’m not a slacker or anything — though my wife would tell you otherwise — but I just dropped the final envelope in the mail a few minutes ago. Whew!
Mark Prior rocks. Joe Mauer’s nice and all (and yes, I realize they had budget constraints), but the Twins screwed the pooch by passing on Prior.
By the way, I’m taking August 4th in the “When someone finally scores on Arthur Rhodes” pool. Does anyone realize how good he is?
In other baby news, the Moyers have child #5 on the way and due in August. They’re also talking about having a sixth as well. Having seen Jamie himself grocery shopping here in Seattle, I’ll say that given the amount of food he was buying for a family of six, he’s going to need a second shopping cart if the Moyer clan grows to eight.
Minor League Highlights for Monday, April 14
Las Vegas 5, Tacoma 4 (DH Game 1). The Rainiers dropped the first game of their double-header, but have to be encouraged by another good start from RHP Jeff Heaverlo (5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). Heaverlo now has a 3.07 ERA over his first three starts with a 15:5 K:BB ratio in 14.2 innings — not bad for a guy who missed all of last season with a torn labrum.
Tacoma 6, Las Vegas 2 (DH Game 2). The Rainiers evened things up in the nightcap behind 5 2/3 strong innings from RHP Brian Sweeney (3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K), who came out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season. As our own David Cameron says, “Sweeeney’s at it again. 2 BB’s, 14 K, 2.03 ERA. Stuff or no stuff, someone is eventually going to give this guy a look in the big leagues.” RHP Aaron Taylor worked the final 1 1/3 (double-headers feature seven inning games) to pick up his third save. LF Jacques Landry led the offense with his third homer of the season.
San Antonio 7, El Paso 2. CF Michael Curry and 2B Luis “Rule 5 Kid” Ugueto had three hits each in support of Aussie LHP Travis Blackley, who allowed just three hits over six innings to pick up his first win (3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K). Blackley is probably the top lefty in the system following last season’s trade of Derrick Van Dusen to Texas. In other prospect news, SS Jose Lopez continues to struggle. He was 1-5 last night and is hitting just .245/.296/.306 on the season.
Inland Empire did not play.
Wisconsin 4, Burlington 2. 3B Matt Hagen homered and drove in all four runs for the Timber Rattlers, who also got two hits apiece from 2B Tim Merritt and C Rene Rivera. After a so-so season at Everett, Rivera is in his first year of full-season ball and looking to establish himself as a bonafide catching prospect. RHP Tom “TA” Fullmer worked the requisite 5 IP for the win (4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K), followed by RHPs Renee Cortez and Bryan Heaston. Heaston faced only the final batter of the game, retiring him to pick up a save.
I watched the first part of the Reds-Cubs game before tuning over to the Mariners, and I’d like to say that this is not a good way to watch baseball games. Prior makes other pitchers seem like poor substitutes. Watching Pineiro I was thinking “yeah, that’s a good fastball, but it’s not one of Prior’s 94-mph darts. Yeah, that curve broke, but Prior’s dies like it was shot in mid-air. Yeah, his delivery is good, but it’s not as smooth as Prior’s.”
My back still hurts from that 13-inning marathon in the evening cold on Sunday.
The San Bernardino Sun has an excellent article on Ryan Ketchner today. More than any other prospect in the system, I hope he makes it to Seattle before his career ends.