Per multiple reports, Seattle has fired manager Scott Servias, and the Angels have extended the contract of GM Perry Minasian.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 18, @ Salt Lake (LAA) 5
Round Rock: 19 hits, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 23-23, 4 GB, 60-60 overall
SP Jack Leiter: 5.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 9 SO, 75 P / 55 S, 3.51 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.26 ERA
CF Dustin Harris: 2-3, .282/.366/.406
C Andrew Knapp: 1-5, HR (9), BB, .294/.383/.457
1B Justin Foscue: 3-6, .286/.439/.463
LF Trevor Hauver: 3-5, 2B, HR (7), .214/.322/.365
3B Jonathan Ornelas: 3-5, 2B, BB, .250/.323/.330
SS Jax Biggers: 3-5, 2 2B, BB, .276/.401/.391
2B Frainer Chavez: 2-5: 2B, .231/.302/.308
In a much more hostile environment, Jack Leiter wasn’t quite so absurdly dominant as last week but close enough to have you panting. Leiter missed 14 bats (19% of all pitches, 35% of swings) split evenly between the fastball and slider. Leiter didn’t touch 100 last last week but threw three heaters that would round up, and in general his velocity was higher. Having pitched only 3.1 innings last week, his velocity did fade toward the end last night, not exceeding 98.0 in the final two innings. Leiter didn’t allow anything off that bat above 89 MPH until the 5th. A 6th-inning homer by Jake Marisnick and an error prevented a full six innings. Pitching at altitude cuts into the induced vertical break that makes his fastball such a weapon when he’s on his game. Last week’s start was in Round Rock, and only two of his highest 20 IVB readings in the last two starts occurred last night. He still tore through a mature lineup. Video highlights.
CF Dustin Harris was pulled mid-game and is not in tonight’s lineup, although he remains on the active roster. He did foul a ball off his foot earlier last night, He and his teammates plowed through full plates at the offensive feast and then went back for seconds and thirds.
Texas released catcher Andrew Knapp.
AA: Frisco 9, San Antonio (SDP) 3
Frisco: 12 hits, 6 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 25-22, 3 GB, 69-47 overall
SP Kumar Rocker: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 72 P / 47 S, 0.46 ERA
RP Dane Acker: 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3.24 HBP, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 3-5, HR (4), SB (5), .299/.381/.506
SS Max Acosta: 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 SB (24), .267/.321/.376
1B Abimelec Ortiz: 1-3, HR (10), 2 BB, .227/.311/.373
LF Aaron Zavala: 2-2, BB, .223/.334/.303
Kumar Rocker was magnificent yet again. I suppose we have the question of what level of competition is appropriate for this stage of his return from Tommy John, but ignoring that, he’s simply too good for the level. AA opposition is batting .132/.169/.191. Rocker missed 16 bats, 22% of all pitches and 44% of swings. The breaker(s), which the media crew were calling a curve and only a curve*, missed 11 bats out of 14 swings. He added a small handful of changes that were reasonably effective. The fastballs ranged from 97 to 100, with 4-5 in the triple digits. Here’s highlights, which are required viewing.
* To me, the pitch has looked like a slider more often than not, while a good number with more hop and less tail look like curves. I’ve never been fully certain whether they’re distinct or variations on a theme. Deciphering breakers in 2022 can be a tricky business. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d missed Rocker himself describing his stuff. Maybe we’ll have Statcast guessing his pitches next time out, or at least somewhere down the line in 2024.
Hi-A: Hickory 8, Bowling Green (TAM) 4
Hickory: 8 hits, 8 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 26-24, 6.5 GB, 54-62 overall
SP Paul Bonzagni: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 79 P / 46 S, 2.76 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 3.07 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 1-3, 2 BB, .230/.290/.401
3B Sebastian Walcott: 2-3, BB, SB (20), .252/.340/.421
1B Arturo Disla: 3-4, HR (5), .283/.362/.600
240-lb. baserunning legend Arturo Disla struck again. On first wth two out and with Sebastian Walcott at third, Disla bolted for second base. The throw easily beat him, but he effected a rundown that allowed Walcott to score first. Disla also homered. We’ll see whether power or speed is the carrying tool going forward.
Bowling Green manager Rafael Valenzuela took umbrage at a (correct, in my opinion) call of batter’s interference, was tossed, kicked dirt over the plate, and retrieved a trash receptacle from the dugout and placed it behind the plate.
Lo-A: Down East 1, Delmarva (BAL) 4
Down East: 5 hits, 0 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 1 walk, 13 strikeouts
Record: 22-23, 5.5 GB, 57-53 overall
SP Jose Gonzalez: 3 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 3 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 51 P / 34 S, 2.34 ERA
RP Josh Trentadue: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 4.48 ERA
RP Justin Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.92 ERA
2B Casey Cook: 3-4, 2B, .219/.297/.250
Down East has lost eight of ten since a ten-game win streak.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Sampson
AA: TBA (DeGrom)
Hi-A: Rosario
Lo-A: TBA
Five Years Ago Yesterday
I did not file a report because of work. What is it about August 22nd? Ricky Vanasco had a fine low-A debut, striking out eight in five innings and allowing one run on two hits and a walk.