Month: July 2023

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, Sugar Land (HOU) 1
Round Rock: 12 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 9 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 6-4, 2 GB, 50-34 overall

SP Edwar Colina: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 14 P / 7 S, 6.75 ERA
RP Cole Winn: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 7.32 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.86 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1.46 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, 2 HR, (10), BB, .281/.402/.508
DH Sam Huff: 3-4, 2B, .312/.400/.543
RF Elier Hernandez: 2-4, HR (15), .320/.383/.554
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 3-4, .257/.372/.366
LF Dustin Harris: 2-3, BB, .289/.418/.511

Justin Foscue homered twice. The timing is commendable.

Dustin Harris continues to hit in a respectable if narrow velocity range. If this keeps up, I’ll have to see which Major Leaguers have similar styles. It could be fine, I just haven’t come across it before in a year and a half of toying with AAA data. Sam Huff continues to be Tony Gwynn since coming back to Round Rock.

Elier Hernandez and his agent should learn Japanese.

At present, Round Rock has a two-man rotation plus relievers plus someone up from Frisco plus lengthy relief efforts from Cole Winn. The team’s median start length in 2023 is 3.2 innings and 65 pitches.

AA: Frisco 9, Midland (OAK) 12 (7)
Frisco: 11 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 16 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts

SP Jack Leiter: 0.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 29 P / 16 S, 5.51 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 4-5, .315/.372/.450
3B Thomas Saggese: 2-4, HR (12), BB
LF Trevor Hauver: 2-4, BB, .251/.373/.420
2B Jax Biggers: 1-4, HR (6), .211/.328/.325

AA: Frisco 6, Midland (OAK) 1 (7)
Frisco: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 5-5, 2 GB, 36-42 overall

SP Nick Krauth: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 0 SO, 73 P / 50 S, 5.57 ERA
RP Justin Slaten: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.54 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.10 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 2-3, HR (8), .312/.423/.471
3B Thomas Saggese: 2-2, 2 2B, HBP, .313/.382/.513
RF Kellen Strahm: 1-3, HR (4), .231/.336/.324

Maybe if Jack Leiter cleanly fields a comebacker and turns a double play, and maybe if Aaron Zavala doesn’t commit two errors that let runners advance, Leiter gets out of the inning with three runs and a pitch count in the mid-twenties. But I wouldn’t say he was cheated, and the box score is a reasonable account of his day.

Hi-A: Hickory 4, at Winston-Salem (CHW) 7
Hickory: 10 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 12-1, 4 G ahead, 39-35 overall

SP Emiliano Teodo: 3.2 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 3 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 70 P / 44 S, 4.88 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 3.86 ERA
DH Abi Ortiz: 3-4, 3B, .355/.418/.752

The winning streak ends at 15. Down 7-2 in the 7th, Hickory managed to get the tying runner to the plate with one out in the 9th but couldn’t convert. Results for Emiliano Teodo weren’t great, but he threw plenty of strikes and didn’t walk anyone. Abimelec “Speedy” Ortiz has three triples in his last five games to go along with the four in his previous 190.

Lo-A: Down East 5, at Kannapolis (CHW) 8
Down East: 10 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 8-5, 1 G ahead, 45-29 overall

SP Brock Porter: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 74 P / 41 S, 2.62 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1.23 ERA
CF Anthony Gutierrez: 2-5, 2 2B, .239/.297/.296
2B Danyer Cueva: 2-4, SB (4), .270/.315/.397
1B Zion Bannister: 3-4, 2B, .271/.368/.356

Four hits allowed are a career high for Brock Porter. Admittedly, his workload is slightly lighter than Wilbur Wood in the early 1970s, but Porter has been very hard to hit. Anthony Gutierrez doubled twice. Earlier in the week, he was ejected after shoving the opposing third baseman who’d fallen on him after he’d slid into the base. Cleared benches, exchanged words, etc. Gutierrez’s year hasn’t proceeded quite as well as hoped, but a full two months and at least one playoff series offer plenty of time for better results.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Howard
AA: Bremer
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Jeffrey Springs issued two bases-loaded walks in relief for Round Rock. He had a 42% strikeout rate and 23% BB/HBP rate.

Sean Bass of The Ticket and I have a new Diamond Podthat should be available later this afternoon. Topics include the Chapman trade, a plea to remember that baseball isn’t college football, a similar rough patch in Texas’s past that turned out peachy, the tough post-ASB homestand leading to the series at Houston, a quick draft preview, the two Texas prospects I’d really rather not trade (but nobody is untouchable), and more. Links in signature at bottom.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, Sugar Land (HOU) 3
Round Rock: 14 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 5-4, 2 GB, 49-34 overall

SP Taylor Hearn: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 49 P / 28 S, 3.86 ERA
RP Ryan Tepera: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 4.30 ERA
CF Bubba Thompson: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (), .250/.361/.346
SS Davis Wendzel: 3-5, HR (17), .259/.388/.522
C Sam Huff: 3-5, 2 2B, .302/.393/.533
2B Jonathan Ornelas: 1-4, HR (5), BB, .249/.367/.360
LF JP Martinez: 3-5, 2 2B, .337/.459/.586

Hearn, Tepera, Jake Latz, Ian Kennedy, and Yerry Rodriguez combined to carry a no-hitter into the 8th. With one out, a walk, single, and homer off Rodriguez eliminated both the no-hitter and shutout.

The former Angel Tepera has fanned 10 of 25 batters (40%) with the Express, almost exclusively with his sweeping slider. With his fastball, which has averaged 92 MPH, Tepera has a 2% overall swinging strike rate and 6% on opposing swings. With the slider, the corresponding figures are 21% and 48%. 

In four games since returning to Round Rock, Sam Huff has ten hits, five for extra bases, and four walks. Clearly, two-plus weeks gathering dust (and an MLB salary, which is nice) with the Rangers didn’t affect his swing. In 15 late-June games, he received all of zero starts and three plate appearances.

AA: wet

Two today.

Hi-A: Hickory 10, at Winston-Salem (CHW) 6 (completion of Wednesday’s suspended game)
Hickory: 10 hits, 9 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts

SP Larson Kindreich: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 30 P / 17 S, 5.05 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA
DH Geisel Cepeda: 1-3, 2 BB, .280/.367/.362
1B Abi Ortiz: 2-5, 3B
2B Frainyer Chavez: 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
Hi-A: Hickory 7, at Winston-Salem (CHW) 2 (7)
Hickory: 8 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Record: 12-0, 5 G up, 39-34 overall

SP Winston Santos: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 91 P / 63 S, 4.84 ERA
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-3, HR (4), BB, .302/.405/.469
SS Max Acosta: 1-3, BB, .270/.322/.376
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-4, HR (12), .342/.409/.735
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, 2B, SB (4), .222/.276/.414
2B Frainyer Chavez: 1-3, HR (2), .227/.338/.300

Hickory has won 15 straight. In the completion of Wednesday’s game, new-to-Hickory Nick Lockhart shut down the Dash for three innings as Hickory scored the game’s last seven runs including four with two out in the 9th. After a shaky 1st, night starter Winston Santos had a chance at a seven-inning compete game but was removed after consecutive two-out singles. Santos still delivered 91 pitches, most by a Hickory starter in 2023.

Abimelec Ortiz is the Sally League position player of the month. The month of June. July is a work in progress.

Lo-A: Down East 4, at Kannapolis (CHW) 11 (completion of Wednesday’s suspended game)
Down East: 8 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

SP Kohl Drake: 2 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 59 P / 38 S, 22.50 ERA
RP Matt Brosky: 4 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 6 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.96 ERA
RP CJ Widger: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
RF Jojo Blackmon: 3-4, HR (5), SB (14), .173/.272/.319

Lo-A: Down East 3, at Kannapolis (CHW) 2 (9)
Down East: 8 hits, 4 walks, 15 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 8-4, 1 G up, 45-28 overall

SP Joseph Montalvo: 5.2 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 75 P / 47 S, 1.85 ERA
RP Jackson Leath: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 2.92 ERA
DH Cam Cauley: 2-4, 3B, BB, .240/.335/.403

22-year-old Kohl Drake was greeted rudely in his low-A debut. Drake had fanned 18 and posted a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 rookie innings. Texas selected him in last year’s 11th round out of Walters State Community College (Brett Martin and Chad Bell are alumni), but he received the sixth-largest bonus of $175,000. Also debuting with a more favorable result was CJ Widger, 2021’s 10th-round pick from Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester.

In what was a scheduled seven-inning second game, Cam Cauley singled in Zion Bannister with two out in the 9th to provide the margin, and Jackson Leath stranded a runner on third in both extra innings.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Colina
AA: Officially TBD / Krauth. Leiter was scheduled last night.
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East provided three three exceptional highlights, and I have the grainy video. LF Alex Kowalcyzk, SS Anderson Tejeda, and 1B Charles Leblanc combined on the unlikeliest 7-6-3 double play you’ll ever see, pitcher Emerson Martinez fielded a sharp grounder between his legs, and RF Franklin Rollin made a diving catch.

However steep his descent from prospect status, I continue to be nonplussed that Tejeda was simply out of professional baseball before turning 24.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, Sugar Land (HOU) 9
Round Rock: 11 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Record: 4-4, 2 GB, 48-34 overall

SP Seth Nordlin: 4 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 68 P / 44 S, 9.00 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.40 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.40 ERA
3B Davis Wendzel: 1-5, HR (16), .252/.384/.508
C Sam Huff: 3-3, 2B, 2 BB, .294/.388/.520
2B Justin Foscue: 2-5, 2B, .279/.402/.489

Sam Huff did not hit the ball on the ground at all yesterday. Go, Sam, go. In case you missed it, I mentioned a few days ago that Huff confoundingly had the second-highest grounder rate on the team after Jonathan Ornelas.

Davis Wendzel broke an 11-game homerless stretch but was still productive within that gap (.275/.463/.325).

Seth Nordlin, like Nick Krauth and Triston Polley before him, is up from Frisco to provide some innings.

AA: Frisco 4, Midland (OAK) 13
Frisco: 7 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 12 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 4-4, 2 GB, 35-41 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 4 IP, 5 H (2 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 80 P / 41 S, 7.06 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.55 ERA
DH Trevor Hauver: 2-4, 2 HR (8), .250/.373/.420

Whew. If you see Theo McDowell or Eudrys Manon out in the wild today, buy them a Snickers and say “you’ll get ’em next time,” because they went through some things last night. Both walked four batters during Midland’s eight-run, 14-batter 9th inning. Manon in particular is pushing the limits of the “successful despite terrible control” archetype. He has a tolerable 4.08 ERA despite a whopping 30% BB/HBP rate because opponents are hitting .155 and slugging .241 against him.

Trevor Hauver had his first multi-homer game since his pro debut in 2021, when he went deep twice as a member of the low-A Tampa Tarpons.

Hi-A: suspended

Lo-A: suspended

Today’s Starters
AAA: Hearn
AA: Leiter
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
“Demarcus Evans struck again [2 IP, 0 R, 4 SO]. His last 40 batters: 28 strikeouts (22 swinging), 2 walks, 10 balls in play with 2 hits (both grounders). That’s an opposing line of .052/.100/.079 with a 70% strikeout rate. Every year, you hope for one or two fringe prospects to take a big step forward, and it’s looking like we have one in Evans.”

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Sugar Land (HOU) 0
Round Rock: 5 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 4-3, 2 GB, 48-33 overall

SP Owen White: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 60 P / 36 S, 5.25 ERA
RP Edwar Colina: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7.71 ERA
RP Spencer Howard: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 4.22 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1.59 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 1-4, HR (10), .269/.379/.474

Owen White rebounded from last week’s rough start in Vegas. As has usually been the case in 2023, he wasn’t overpowering but still quite effective, getting a bunch of catchable flies and  tallying five innings on just 60 pitches. Three relievers one-hit the Cowboys the rest of the way.

I did not make the game in person because I had a date with a grill, but 11,639 others did.

AA: Frisco 6, Midland (OAK) 3
Frisco: 9 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 4-3, 1 GB, 35-40 overall

SP Josh Stephan: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 64 P / 43 S, 4.15 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.21 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 3-5, .306/.364/.417
3B Thomas Saggese: 1-3, BB, HBP, SB (7), .306/.375/.493
C Liam Hicks: 1-3, 2 BB, .212/.362/.341

I mentioned that Dane Acker had a travel buddy on his trip from Hickory to Frisco. Josh Stephan made his AA debut, pitching well through one out in the 5th, when he was abruptly pulled after fielding a squibber and throwing to first. My understanding is that he should be fine.

In his last five appearances covering 4.2 innings, Antoine Kelley has nine strikeouts and no walks. He has always missed bats, but finding the plate consistently is another story. Texas received him and now-departed IF Mark Mathias last summer for reliever Mat Bush, who Milwaukee recently released.

IF Chris Seise is on the seven-day IL.

Frisco hosted 12,045 fans, the second-largest crowd in franchise history. Hickory and Down East also had bumper crowds late last week approaching July 4th.

Hi-A: Hickory 6, at Winston-Salem (CHW) 4 (14)
Hickory: 10 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 10-0, 4 G up, 37-34 overall

SP Jose Corniell: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 62 P / 39 S, 2.08 ERA
RP Luis Tejeda: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.29 ERA
RP Andy Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 2.67 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 3.38 ERA
DH Cody Freeman: 1-6, HR (9), .216/.271/.407
RF Yosy Galan: 2-6, 2 2B, SB (4), .314/.314/.543
CF Daniel Mateo: 4-6, 2 2B, SB (20), .268/.282/.404

In front of 10,200 fans, Winston-Salem’s largest crowd ever, Hickory won its longest game since 2016 and extended its winning streak to 13 games. The teams traded runs in the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings. Twice, the Dash tied the game with two out during extras. The CF wall is about 20′ high, and a Jacob Burke fly caromed off of it perhaps two feet below the top for an RBI triple. 2B Loidel Chapelli saved two runs with a snare of a hard Cody Freeman grounder with the bases loaded. Hickory finally created a larger gap in the 14th when Yosy Galan hit an RBI double and later scored on a groundout. Galan has yet to draw walk in nine high-A games but is hitting well since his promotion.

Hickory held the Dash to nine hits. Andy Rodriguez’s line was better than advertised; both walks were intentional, and the three runs all started from second base during extras.

OF Alejandro Osuna is on the seven-day IL.

Lo-A: Down East 4, at Kannapolis (CHW) 2
Down East: 5 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 7-3, 1 G up, 44-27 overall

SP Brayan Mendoza: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 56 P / 36 S, 2.84 ERA
RP Damian Mendoza: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.59 ERA
RP Wyatt Sparks: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1.45 ERA

Since mid-June, Down East’s offense has the league’s fewest hits and a paltry .208 average but has the second-most runs thanks to a decent number of walks and solid power. Meanwhile, the pitching and defense have allowed a .197/.285/.301 line and five fewer runs than any other team.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: Garcia
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: Drake

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Ariel Jurado had an Ariel Jurado start: five strikeouts, five flies, 17 grounders in eight innings. Frisco won 5-2 to improve to 9-4 in the second half after a franchise-worst first.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 10, at Las Vegas (OAK) 7
Round Rock: 10 hits, 8 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 3-3, 2 GB, 47-33 overall

SP Robert Dugger: 6.2 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 101 P / 66 S, 4.74 ERA
CF JP Martinez: 1-3, HR (8), 2 BB, .340/.467/.596
1B Dustin Harris: 1-3, BB, .286/.432/.571
3B Dio Arias: 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR (3), .274/.354/.417

AAA newcomer Dustin Harris has some of the oddest batted-ball data I’ve seen. In 26 balls in play, Harris has yet to exceed 100 MPH. But at the same time, his median velo is an above-average 92, and he’s hit only one ball under 80. He’s consistently hitting in a very tight velo range. He’s also hit only one ball at greater than 41 degrees (anything 45 and up is almost always a popout or flyout). He has triple the usual proportion of balls in what I call the “unlucky” zone: 88-94 MPH off the bat in a range of 19 to 40 degrees. A basic description would be a ball hit fairly hard at a nice angle but usually into an awaiting outfielder’s glove. We’ll see how that progresses. Consistently hitting in that angle range is terrific. The difference between guys who hit 88-97 MPH at those angles versus a few ticks harder is measured in millions of dollars.

Diosbel Arias fell a single short of a cycle.

AA: Frisco 11, at San Antonio (SDG) 3
Frisco: 12 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 3-3, 2 GB, 34-40 overall

SP Dane Acker: 4 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 3 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 73 P / 48 S, 6.75 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.51 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.87 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 3-4, HR (7), BB, .316/.427/.471
LF Aaron Zavala: 1-3, 2B, BB, .209/.359/.313
2B Jax Biggers: 1-5, HR (4), .201/.327/.302

In his AA debut, Dane Acker was greeted with back-to-back triples by the rude San Antonio hosts. Acker later allowed a dubious inside-the-park homer. Juan Fernandez’s towering fly to left center landed between Aaron Zavala and Evan Carter, bounced high off the wall, and wasn’t retrieved cleanly, allowing Fernandez to race home. The outfielders argued to no avail that the ball actually rebounded off a scoreboard above the line.

The outfielders are correct. Here’s a screengrab at the moment of impact:

I don’t blame the umps. Whether playing out there or observing from a distance, left field is a blinding nightmare in the early evening. In any case, Acker allowed three extra-base hits but was in control otherwise.

Acker did not make the trip from Hickory alone.

In 12 games at San Antonio, Evan Carter batted .458/.551/.771. San Antonio is the league’s most pitcher-friendly park and can be especially vexing to lefty batters when the wind blows in from right-center. 

Hi-A: off

Hickory played Monday through Sunday last week, unlike Texas’s other teams and most of the Sally league. Neither Hickory nor last week’s opponent Greensboro had lengthy trips to their next destination, so I’m not sure why they couldn’t play on the 3rd. Hickory commences six in Winston-Salem tonight.

Lo-A: Down East 3, Carolina (MIL) 0
Down East: 6 hits, 9 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Record: 6-3, tied for first, 43-27 overall

SP Dylan MacLean: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 64 P / 42 S, 2.72 ERA
RP DJ McCarty: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.70 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 0-2, 2 BB, HBP, SB (20), .244/.335/.407
LF Jojo Blackmon: 1-2, 2 BB, .161/.263/.300

The DM tandem squelched Carolina to produce Down East’s third shutout in the six-game series. Once again, the Woodies didn’t hit much but managed to put a few on the board by taking advantage of wild pitchers.

Today’s Starters
AAA: White
AA: TBD
Hi-A: TBD
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Spokane’s Hans Crouse retired nine straight to open the game, then allowed three runs on a homer, two singles, a walk, three wild pitches, and two stolen bases.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 13, at Las Vegas (OAK) 2
Round Rock: 17 hits, 9 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 5 walks, 16 strikeouts
Record: 2-3, 2 GB, 46-33 overall

SP Jake Latz: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 36 P / 24 S, 7.28 ERA
RP Taylor Hearn: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 4.15 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-3, 3 BB, .247/.366/.352
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-3, 3 BB, .256/.389/.508
C Sam Huff: 3-5, 2 HR (11), BB, .282/.372/.512
LF Elier Hernandez: 3-5, HR (13), .330/.396/.554
RF Sandro Fabian: 4-5, 2B, .291/.333/.527

Sam Huff hit three balls in the air per my instructions, resulting in two homers and a bloop single.

Marc Church touched 99, missed nine bats out of 34 pitches and struck out four in two innings. He also surrendered a two-run homer.

Taylor Hearn has been okay but isn’t standing out among a crowd of AAA relievers on the 40. Non-40 pickup Ryan Tepera, paid handsomely by the Angels to pitch in AAA for the Rangers, is unscored upon with seven strikeouts in six innings. Tepera has avoided hard contact so far and missed batted with the slider. His fastball has topped at 93.7 and isn’t really scaring anyone.

AA: Frisco 6, at San Antonio (SDG) 4
Frisco: 11 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 2-3, 3 GB, 33-40 overall

SP Noah Bremer: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 46 P / 28 S, 11.12 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.80 ERA
CF Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, BB, .302/.363/.448
DH Evan Carter: 1-4, 2B, BB, .307/.420/.450
SS Thomas Saggese: 2-5, HR (11), .307/.371/.498
RF Kellen Strahm: 3-4, 2B, .236/.340/.319

A passed ball and soft single by Trevor Hauver plated two in the 9th to break a lengthy deadlock. Luisangel Acuna had walked and Evan Carter doubled earlier in the inning. Acuna played center field for the second and made a swell diving catch (video).

Hi-A: Hickory 8, Greensboro (PIT) 7 (12)
Hickory: 11 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 9 walks, 23 strikeouts
Record: 9-0, 3.5 G up, 36-34 overall

SP Mitch Bratt: 3 IP, 8 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 82 P / 54 S, 3.56 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.61 ERA
RP Seth Clark: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.05 ERA
RP Yohanse Morel: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 2.81 ERA
1B Tucker Mitchell: 4-4, 2 BB, .299/.406/.448
RF Yosy Galan: 2-5, 2B, HR (1), .310/.310/.517

Hickory collected a modest 11 hits across 12 innings, only two for extra bases. They were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and committed three errors.
Mitch Bratt allowed a career-worst five runs. The result? A franchise-best 12th consecutive victory in a packed home park.

Hickory fanned 23 batters. Mike Jarvis was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.

Lo-A: Down East 3, Carolina (MIL) 7
Down East: 4 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 5-3, tied for first, 42-27 overall

SP Leandro Lopez: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 67 P / 44 S, 3.51 ERA
RP Luis Ramirez: 3.2 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 3 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, 4.54 ERA

The tandem starters notched nine strikeouts but were hittable, and the offense was quiet for a second straight day.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Dugger
AA: TBD
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
For the umpteenth time in 2018, I tried to tease something positive out of whatever Willie Calhoun had been doing lately. Calhoun received some attention earlier this season with some nice games for the Yankees, but at present he’s league-average hitter (more-or-less) with negative defensive and baserunning value, thus the very definition of replacement level. Admittedly, the Yankees have had to deal with several injuries, but even so, their roster construction is just weird.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, at Las Vegas (OAK) 6
Round Rock: 15 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 1-1, tied for first, 45-31 overall

SP Owen White: 2 IP, 6 H (3 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 57 P / 31 S, 9.00 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 5.40 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0.96 ERA
CF Bubba Thompson: 3-6, SB (4), .300/.417/.333
RF JP Martinez: 2-4, BB, SB (23), .345/.470/.559
C Matt Whatley: 4-4, HR (1), BB, .227/.331/.300

From Herman Melville’s Bartleby, The Pitcher: “In this very attitude did I sit when I called to him, rapidly stating what it was I wanted him to do—namely, to pitch multiple innings in Las Vegas, the most hitter-friendly location within the most hitter-friendly league. Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when without moving from his privacy, Bartleby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied, ‘I would prefer not to.’ “

Okay, neither Owen White nor anyone else is going to refuse to pitch in a potentially destructive environment, but the thought crosses my mind once in a while. White has allowed seven hits in two AAA starts. Four of them have left the yard.

After two games, Round Rock shares the second-half division lead with nine other teams. The entire league is 1-1.

AA: Frisco 2, at San Antonio (SDG) 3
Frisco: 6 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 1-1, 1 GB, 32-38 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 9 SO, 84 P / 52 S, 6.75 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 3-5, 2B, SB (32), .301/.360/.442
RF Trevor Hauver: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (1), .244/.369/.395

Trevor Hauver has a nine-game hitting streak with a .387/.537/.548 line. Hauver has always walked at a tremendous rate, but many of that type have difficulty responding to pitchers with better control and command once they reach AA. Hauver has batted .241/.386/.417 in 79 AA games stretching to late last year. Picked in 2020’s third round by the Yankees, Hauver will be Rule 5-eligible if unprotected. At present, I’m doubtful he’s placed on the 40, but he has time. That aside, a good showing would entail continued improvement against AA pitching and perhaps a late-season finish in AAA.

Low-whiff, high-strikeout hitters in the organization with at least 100 PA are Hauver, Aaron Zavala, Ian Moller, and Griffin Cheney.

Incidentally, three-fifths of Atlanta’s current rotation (Shuster, Strider, Elder) came from the 2020 draft. That’s ridiculous.

Hi-A: Hickory 7, Greensboro (PIT) 0
Hickory: 10 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 6-0, 2.5 G up, 33-34 overall

SP Larson Kindreich: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 8 SO, 73 P / 45 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 5.25 ERA
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-4, HR (3), .266/.375/.430
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, 2B, .218/.280/.397
DH Yosy Galan: 2-4, 2B, .250/.250/.300

Hickory’s nightly flirtation with no-hitters is a winning strategy. Kindreich’s flirting was rather awkward, as he somehow escaped the 1st unscathed despite a hit batter, two walks, and a wild pitch. He didn’t allow a hit until the 5th. Last night’s wildness aside, Kindreich has reduced his BB/HBP rate from 18% last year to 14% in 2023, although his strikeout rate has also fallen the same amount from 32% to 28%.

Lo-A: Down East 5, Carolina (MIL) 1
Down East: 7 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 4-1, 1 G up, 41-25 overall

SP Aidan Curry: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 52 P / 38 S, 2.73 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.56 ERA
2B Danyer Cueva: 2-4, 2B, .266/.319/.402
C Ian Moller: 2-3, HR (4), .186/.312/.314

Led by Aidan Curry retiring his first 11 opponents, Down East maintained a shutout until he 9th and needed only 102 pitches. Of those first 11, Curry struck out five, and 14 of his 34 pitches were swinging strikes. Like Josh Stephan, Curry missed 2020’s five-round draft and signed as a free agent out of high school. Those guys flew under the radar because undrafted Americans hardly ever make an impact, plus we were all distracted by civilization potentially collapsing.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Otto
AA: TBD
Hi-A: Santos
Lo-A: TBD (Porter)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Round Rock’s win streak ended at seven with a late-inning loss to Colorado Springs. As I wrote: “Colorado Springs is a lame-duck entity, at least in terms of Triple A. They’ll move to San Antonio after the season. The existing AA Missions are headed to a new stadium in Amarillo. The MLB affiliation for next year’s Missions is undetermined, but the Rangers are a perfect fit geographically. The drawback is the stadium, which doesn’t measure up to other AAA parks. The mayor of San Antonio remains actively disinterested in funding a replacement stadium downtown. They’re hoping for a major franchise in some sport. I believe a stadium near US 281 north of Loop 1604 would do fabulous business, as the area has grown dramatically in the last decade, but I lack the means to build it.”

The Trade
A full month before the trade deadline, the Rangers addressed their most serious weakness with the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman. (Not to say that they’re done.) You’ve probably heard some commentary imploring the Rangers not to wait until the last minute to improve the squad, and I didn’t disagree, but trades aren’t unilateral decisions. The Rangers needed a willing partner, and they found one in KC for a return that is honestly a little lighter than I expected.

Chapman has a noisy and concerning Wikipedia page that raises two questions:

1) Why would the Rangers trade for a guy who lost his closer’s role last year, missed three weeks with a tattoo-induced infection, was pointedly omitted from the postseason roster after skipping a mandatory workout, and signed a make-good contract with the downtrodden Royals?

Here’s why:

Chapman’s walk rate is an atrocious 16%, but as we see increasingly often, the walks are just an annoyance because he’s so hard to hit. Opponents are batting .158, slugging .188, and when they’re unable to draw a walk, their strikeout rate is 53%. Chapman’s average sinker velocity is 101.3, and the four-seamer is 99.4. He is on a different level than anyone on the Rangers.

2) Why would the Rangers trade for a guy with a documented history of domestic abuse and the first suspension handed down under MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy instituted in 2015?

Because he’ll get more batters out than some other relievers who are almost certainly better human beings. That’s it. As to how we as fans should react, well, there’s no absolute answer. Ultimately, it’s your time and money, and taking a closer look at how you use them is always worthwhile.

Is Cole Ragans a starter? A long reliever? A 7th-or-later one-inning guy? I’m still not sure. I assume the Royals see him as a starter, because otherwise the acquisition seems awfully light on their side. I certainly would keep him on that path were I in charge of a club like KC. I expect he’ll be useful somehow, if perhaps not in the way the Royals hope. He’s been optioned to AAA Omaha. While Ragans is switching from one of baseball’s better teams to one of the worst, the move does allow him to develop at his own speed, no longer beholden to the short-term and shifting needs of a club like the Rangers.

I had read a little about Roni Cabrera but had never typed his name until yesterday. Texas signed him in May 2022, far from peak signing time and for only $10,000, so at least in that respect he’s not remotely on the level of a Sebastian Walcott or Anthony Gutierrez. Now 17, he’s hitting a stout .320/.469/.620 while manning CF in his second year in the Dominican Republic, and reports of his batted-ball data and projection are positive. While he’s a long, long way from reaching the Majors, KC obviously saw enough to accept him in the deal.

As I’d mentioned, Glenn Otto looked ready to go immediately upon starting his rehab assignment in Round Rock. Not that can guarantee he’ll be better than, say, John King, but he’s at full capacity.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, at Las Vegas (OAK) 5
Round Rock: 6 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 1-2, 1 GB, 45-32 overall

SP Chase Lee: 2.2 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 47 P / 33 S, 3.51 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF JP Martinez: 1-4, HR (6), .342/.465/.570
DH Blaine Crim: 2-4, 2B, .263/.372/.453
1B Dustin Harris: 1-2, 2 BB, .333/.484/.625

Alex Speas had a successful AAA debut, touching 100 once with the fastball but dealing mostly cutters in an 88-97 range. No, that’s not a Statcast pitch classification defect; Speas really tossed a 97 MPH cutter. Speas’ effectiveness was of a different variety than displayed in Frisco. He struck out two but only missed two bats on outside cutters. His control was almost too good. He pounded the zone, where everything swung at was no worse than fouled, and only one of six balls in play was below 93 MPH off the bat.

Down a run in the 9th, Round Rock loaded the bases with none out but didn’t score.

There are worse problems to have, but with the trade of Ragans and call-up of Glenn Otto, the Express are down to two starters: Owen White and Robert Dugger. Three if you reinsert Cole Winn, who’s pitched in long relief lately. Might be time to throw a little money at someone in the Atlantic League.

AA: Frisco 3, at San Antonio (SDG) 10
Frisco: 7 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 1-2, 2 GB, 32-39 overall

SP Jack Leiter: 4.2 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 8 R, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SO, 86 P / 56 S, 4.85 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 2-4, 2B, .309/.423/.454

Activated from the Development List after a week off, Jack Leiter ran the gamut. He threw strikes at a 65% rate but walked or hit five. He missed 13 bats, but the contact included four extra-base hits and a .619 slugging percentage.

Hi-A: Hickory 5, Greensboro (PIT) 2
Hickory: 13 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 1 hit, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 7-0, 2.5 G up, 34-34 overall

SP Winston Santos: 6.2 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 2 R, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 6 SO, 88 P / 48 S, 5.07 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 3.81 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 3-4, 2B, .264/.379/.392
SS Max Acosta: 1-3, BB, .275/.323/.383
DH Abi Ortiz: 2-4, HR (11), .360/.427/.750
C Cody Freeman: 2-4, HR (8), .224/.284/.415

In the span of two months, Hickory has a 12-game losing streak and ten-game win streak. In four wins against Greensboro, which held the league’s best offense entering the series, Hickory has allowed only six runs and 11 hits. Like Dane Acker and Larson Kindreich before him, Winston Santos lacked control but was nearly impossible to hit.

Abimelec Ortiz doesn’t have minor league ball’s most homers, nor does he have the highest homer rate, but in some sense he’s the best in the minors at going deep when factoring age. Entering last night, 120 batters had at least 12 homers. Of those, 12 had a HR rate of 7% of their plate appearances. So, we’re talking the elite both in raw numbers and frequency. 11 of those 12 have done most or all of their damage in AAA, often in a favorable home park, and nearly all are in their mid-twenties. 23-year-old Mark Vientos is the youngest of the AAA group. There’s one outlier among the 12: 21-year-old Abi Ortiz. What does this mean? I don’t know. It could mean a jump from Jamey’s top 72 to Baseball America’s top 30. It could just be a crazy hot streak, and we subsequently discover that Ortiz can’t and won’t hit bendy stuff. Don’t trade Ohtani for Ortiz in your dynasty league just yet.

Lo-A: Down East 11, Carolina (MIL) 0
Down East: 15 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 5-1, 1 G up, 42-25 overall

SP Joseph Montalvo: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 74 P / 51 S, 1.71 ERA
RP Damien Mendoza: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.04 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.18 ERA
2B Danyer Cueva: 3-5, .264/.325/.406
C Ian Moller: 1-4, 2B, BB, .188/.314/.318
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-5, 2B, .232/.325/.367
1B Griffin Cheney: 2-3, 2B, 3B, BB, .214/.329/.443
RF Jojo Blackmon: 2-3, HBP, 3 SB (13), .160/.258/.303

I’d listed Brock Porter as Friday’s starter out of habit, but he didn’t pitch, probably because of the extra day off on Tuesday. Joseph Montalvo started instead and continued to shine. Danyer Cueva was Down East’s best hitter in June, batting .326/.396/.512.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: Krauth
Hi-A: Teodo
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Spokane lost in the 9th when Hillsboro scored twice off Emmanuel Clase.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, at Las Vegas (OAK) 6
Round Rock: 15 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 1-1, tied for first, 45-31 overall

SP Owen White: 2 IP, 6 H (3 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 57 P / 31 S, 9.00 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 5.40 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0.96 ERA
CF Bubba Thompson: 3-6, SB (4), .300/.417/.333
RF JP Martinez: 2-4, BB, SB (23), .345/.470/.559
C Matt Whatley: 4-4, HR (1), BB, .227/.331/.300

From Herman Melville’s Bartleby, The Pitcher: “In this very attitude did I sit when I called to him, rapidly stating what it was I wanted him to do—namely, to pitch multiple innings in Las Vegas, the most hitter-friendly location within the most hitter-friendly league. Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when without moving from his privacy, Bartleby in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied, ‘I would prefer not to.’ “

Okay, neither Owen White nor anyone else is going to refuse to pitch in a potentially destructive environment, but the thought crosses my mind once in a while. White has allowed seven hits in two AAA starts. Four of them have left the yard.

After two games, Round Rock shares the second-half division lead with nine other teams. The entire league is 1-1.

AA: Frisco 2, at San Antonio (SDG) 3
Frisco: 6 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 1-1, 1 GB, 32-38 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 9 SO, 84 P / 52 S, 6.75 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 3-5, 2B, SB (32), .301/.360/.442
RF Trevor Hauver: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (1), .244/.369/.395

Trevor Hauver has a nine-game hitting streak with a .387/.537/.548 line. Hauver has always walked at a tremendous rate, but many of that type have difficulty responding to pitchers with better control and command once they reach AA. Hauver has batted .241/.386/.417 in 79 AA games stretching to late last year. Picked in 2020’s third round by the Yankees, Hauver will be Rule 5-eligible if unprotected. At present, I’m doubtful he’s placed on the 40, but he has time. That aside, a good showing would entail continued improvement against AA pitching and perhaps a late-season finish in AAA.

Low-whiff, high-strikeout hitters in the organization with at least 100 PA are Hauver, Aaron Zavala, Ian Moller, and Griffin Cheney.

Incidentally, three-fifths of Atlanta’s current rotation (Shuster, Strider, Elder) came from the 2020 draft. That’s ridiculous.

Hi-A: Hickory 7, Greensboro (PIT) 0
Hickory: 10 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 6-0, 2.5 G up, 33-34 overall

SP Larson Kindreich: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 8 SO, 73 P / 45 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 5.25 ERA
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-4, HR (3), .266/.375/.430
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, 2B, .218/.280/.397
DH Yosy Galan: 2-4, 2B, .250/.250/.300

Hickory’s nightly flirtation with no-hitters is a winning strategy. Kindreich’s flirting was rather awkward, as he somehow escaped the 1st unscathed despite a hit batter, two walks, and a wild pitch. He didn’t allow a hit until the 5th. Last night’s wildness aside, Kindreich has reduced his BB/HBP rate from 18% last year to 14% in 2023, although his strikeout rate has also fallen the same amount from 32% to 28%.

Lo-A: Down East 5, Carolina (MIL) 1
Down East: 7 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 4-1, 1 G up, 41-25 overall

SP Aidan Curry: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 52 P / 38 S, 2.73 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.56 ERA
2B Danyer Cueva: 2-4, 2B, .266/.319/.402
C Ian Moller: 2-3, HR (4), .186/.312/.314

Led by Aidan Curry retiring his first 11 opponents, Down East maintained a shutout until he 9th and needed only 102 pitches. Of those first 11, Curry struck out five, and 14 of his 34 pitches were swinging strikes. Like Josh Stephan, Curry missed 2020’s five-round draft and signed as a free agent out of high school. Those guys flew under the radar because undrafted Americans hardly ever make an impact, plus we were all distracted by civilization potentially collapsing.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Otto
AA: TBD
Hi-A: Santos
Lo-A: TBD (Porter)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Round Rock’s win streak ended at seven with a late-inning loss to Colorado Springs. As I wrote: “Colorado Springs is a lame-duck entity, at least in terms of Triple A. They’ll move to San Antonio after the season. The existing AA Missions are headed to a new stadium in Amarillo. The MLB affiliation for next year’s Missions is undetermined, but the Rangers are a perfect fit geographically. The drawback is the stadium, which doesn’t measure up to other AAA parks. The mayor of San Antonio remains actively disinterested in funding a replacement stadium downtown. They’re hoping for a major franchise in some sport. I believe a stadium near US 281 north of Loop 1604 would do fabulous business, as the area has grown dramatically in the last decade, but I lack the means to build it.”