Yesterday, all I could offer was a "strong hint" that Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) would spend some time with the Big Club in September.
Then, of course, Jeff scooped me on my own beat (how old-school journalism-y that sounds!) with his bit on how Walker, Seattle Mariner! now looks very likely to be a reality show on the fall schedule. Needless to say, he added plenty of the Doc schtick that you can't get from my humble reports, so read the whole thing.
Meanwhile, what actually set the whole thing off was Franklin Gutierrez returning to the Big Club as a much-need RH outfielder who might be able to contribute with the bat and the glove.
Guti now has a new diagnosis for his various difficulties -- the no-doubt-much-googled ankylosing spondylitis -- and medication that may help him maintain a role as a part-time corner outfielder.
And -- to make room for Guti -- Aaron Harang was designated for assignment.
Thereby creating the Taijuan frenzy. Stay tuned.
And ... one more note: the brief taste of AA obtained by Chantz Mack (after Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) went on the DL) didn't last long. James Jones (Watch List) was activated from his own stint on the DL, and Mack returned to Everett.
OK ... on to game action.
AAA -- Tacoma 11, Salt Lake 5 -- Box
We were confident that it would come, since we've been following our man Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) since he launched his U.S. career with 24 hits in his first 14 games. He hits everywhere he goes.
And, after six lousy AAA games (.056 BABIP), he finally busted out some Choi Joy! for Tacoma: 2-for-5, HR.
He now has 17 homers to go with 34 doubles, six triples and 60 walks: .289/.387/.528.
Also going deep was Nate Tenbrink (26intheMix) (his 15th). He also added his 23rd double.
Blake Beavan seems to be treading water (5.1 IP, 4 ER), but Tom Wilhelmsen had an encouraging outing: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
AA -- Jackson 7, Chattanooga 3 -- Box
Yes, there was a Blash Splash! (No. 23), but, in an unusual twist, Jabari Blash (Watch List) was out-muscled.
It was a moment in the sun for Steven Proscia (26intheMix):
Jackson Bottom of the 3rd
- Steven Proscia homers (8) on a fly ball to left field.
Jackson Bottom of the 5th
- Steven Proscia homers (9) on a fly ball to left field.
Jackson Bottom of the 7th
- Steven Proscia homers (10) on a fly ball to left field.
Proscia is 23 and had a career-threatening demotion to High-A High Desert (to make room for Choi to play first at Jackson) earlier in the year. [Fellow ACC alum Mike McGee (26intheMix) retired at 24 this season after not advancing past High Desert.]
His OBP of .278 isn't helping much. So ... good for Proscia.
And there was good pitching from Trevor Miller (26intheMix): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
High-A -- High Desert 3, Inland Empire 1 -- Box
No slugfest here. The Mavericks eked out the win on three unearned runs and zero extra-base hits.
In his second start since promotion from Clinton, Scott DeCecco continued to pitch well: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Low-A -- Beloit 6, Clinton 5 -- Box
The Snappers took the lead with three in the 6th and then held on for the win.
Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32) got his seventh homer and Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16) had three singles.
Short Season-A -- Everett 4, Tri-Cities 0 -- Box
Short Season-A -- Everett 7, Tri-Cities 1 [12 innings] -- Box
Game 1: Austin Wilson tripled, and emerging Nate Koneski pitched five scoreless innings in the seven-inning contest ... setting up ...
Game 2!
Love games like this. Not only did they break through the bureaucratic semi-rinky-dink seven-inning barrier (Fight the Power!), they did it with a bunch of scoreless innings ... followed by a six-run bust out in the 12th.
The damage was mostly singles and walks, but Reggie Lawson had a big double in the midst of it.
Thyago Viera had a strong start (5.0 IP, 1 ER), and the brilliant reliever Emilio Pagan had another two scoreless innings.
Rookie -- Kingsport 3, Pulaski 2 -- Box
Edwin Diaz (Talk40 #36) was strong, but it wasn't quite enough: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Looking Ahead
James Paxton (Talk40 #3) is scheduled for Tacoma.