And yes, I'm still reading.
I think it's funny that Taijuan's first and so far only run came one the long ball. Somebody ran into a 97 MPH fastball - and that somebody was our (formerly very own) L-Rod.
Is that another Taijuan-ism? "The only players allowed to score off of Taijuan are comrades who have worn the teal."
Ty Kelly has been a monster so far, but like you said, it won't last. Still, I'd rather he be tearing it up after the trade.
And Chris Taylor continues to kill, as you pointed out. He had an OBP of .426 in the desert, and is up to .417 in AA. With his skill on the basepaths, that's killer. Taylor might make Brad Miller expendable in one of those big trades we dream of, and I never thought I would say that about him.
Even being decently satisfied on draft day by his selection, I didn't think that. I want his Ks to come down some - shortstops that strike out 21% of the time are a little iffy - but Brad Miller was at 19% this year and Franklin was at 20% for his minor league career. If you're hitting .300+ and getting on base at a .400 clip, you can do basically whatever you want.
Bravo Chris Taylor. Also, Choi is at .290/.420/.420 his last 10 games with more walks than Ks. AA isn't scaring him either.
The future is still bright...
~G
AAA -- Tacoma 6, Salt Lake 4 -- Box
Ty upstages Tai? Yes!
Ty Kelly won't keep this up. (Trust me.) But it's a fun ride: 4-for-4, double, walk.
Kelly the Oriole: .283/.389/.382
Kelly the Mariner: .545/.615/.955
I don't think it has to do with preferring teal accents to orange. But maybe.
Meanwhile, it was time again for Walker, Seattle Mariner!
When Taijuan Walker pitches, "relief pitchers" are the ones on hand to administer first aid to the opposing batters.
Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2): 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
It was his first earned run issued at AAA. His overall Tacoma line after 16.0 IP:
0.56 ERA | 1.00 WHIP | 0.6 HR/9 | 2.8 BB/9 | 9.0 K/9
AA -- Jackson 5, Pensacola 4 -- Box
Our new Mariners Prospect Talk Icon Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28) had two more hits (single and double) and a walk. His single in the 8th kicked off the game-winning rally.
Taylor now has 110 hits (36 of them XBH), 54 walks and 25 steals.
Taylor's collegiate mate Steven Proscia (26intheMix) got his seventh homer.
And the end of the game was held down by the Goon Squad!
Tyler Burgoon (26intheMix): 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 K (now at 12.6 K/9)
Carson Smith (Talk40 #13): 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K (now at 12.3 K/9)
High-A -- Lancaster 10, High Desert 2 -- Box
Not much good to report from the desert, except that it was only 100 instead of 108.
The JetHawks left some of our favorite pitchers in their vapor trail, including Trevor Miller (26intheMix) and Matt Brazis (26intheMix).
Patrick Kivlehan (Talk40 #33) had three singles.
Low-A -- Clinton 5, Cedar Rapids 3 -- Box
Scott DeCecco went seven strong innings: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
And he got a boost from some Teen Titans:
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Gabriel Guerrero (Talk40 #16): 2-for-3, still red-hot but without pop
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Timmy Lopes (Talk40 #20): 2-for-4
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Martin Peguero (Watch List): 3-for-3, double
Short Season-A -- Everett 6, Salem-Keizer 1 -- Box
Rigoberto Garcia is trying hard to get himself on the map: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
He's got a 2.22 ERA and 1.17 WHIP after five starts.
And he got plenty of offense from "Dodger Infield: The New Class" (maybe):
- D.J. Peterson: 2-for-4, double; still playing 3b every day
- Justin Seager: 3-for-4
- Jamodrick McGruder (26intheMix): double; OBP .494 after 21 games
- Jack Reinheimer: single; .320/.407/.360
Rookie -- Pulaski 2, Princeton 1 -- Box
Edwin Diaz (Talk40 #36) saw his ERA skyrocket to 0.41 after yielding one run Sunday.
6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
He has 25 strikeouts and just two walks.
And his hitting star was Zach Shank, the second baseman from Marist College. He had his first home run, his fourth double and a single. Another northeastern college dude from the Tom McNamara stable (Paolini, Pizzano, Brazis, Horstman, Rivers, Ian Miller).
[No sculpture in the snow at Marist, as far as we can find.]
AZL Rookie -- Mariners 4, Cubs 2 [10 innings] -- Box
Pinch-hitter Luis Caballero got the walk-off ground-rule double in the extra frame.
I've always viewed the "walk-off ground-rule double" as one of my favorite plays in baseball.
Yeah, just seeing if you're still reading.
Looking Ahead
Luiz Gohara (Talk40 #21) is scheduled for Pulaski, while Tyler Pike (Talk40 #14) is lined up for Clinton.
And the "Dutch Master" Lars Huijer is due to go for Everett.
Comments
Love your work, Spec. Part of my daily routine - eat, sleep, move irrigation pipes, read SSI, watch the Ms, lather, rinse, repeat. Life as an old retired guy. (with RA).
He needs a collection of them, to be FKey7 applied to various game situations when he's up here.
The "application of first aid" line is happenin' :- )
If Taylor continues to hit and can make plays like this in the hole...1:20 in the linked video highlight, Taylor may eventually takeover the SS spot, but a guy with the kind of bat and athleticsm Miller possesses and the makeup that seems to make him a clubhouse favorite wherever he goes certainly warrants a spot somewhere in the lineup. The guy is a winner on and off the field.
http://virginiasportstv.com/baseball/5BK
But it's tough to find a spot for him if Seager is at third, Taylor can play SS, hit .300 and swipe 40+ bags a year, And Franklin is a power machine at second. If Miller, who is a plus player under club control, can get you the bat that Taylor can't, then you'd think it would be Miller that goes.
Our problem in getting a monster hitter via trade is that we want to do it without giving up our top-5 players: we want to hold on to Franklin, Seager, Zunino and Walker for sure. So if you do that, what do you have that people will trade for? A clubbing SS who has triples speed might be something that lets you hang on to the rest.
It looks to me like the Ms love Miller to death, tho, and will hold onto him short of that Stanton-level pipe dream. Makes Taylor trade-bait later, though - I just don't see how you play both of them, and Seager, and Franklin. Kick Miller to CF, maybe? He has the wheels and the arm.
It's a great problem to have. On cue, Miller drives in a run. Keep it up, m'man. I looove having all the kids roll up their sleeves and get it done.
~G~G
Could he play all over, give people rest, hedge against injuries? If you can play SS, you can pretty much play anywhere, right?
Personally, I think both Miller and Taylor will eventually be just as good...maybe a little less pop, but better gloves and from what I've read and heard, Franklin may not have the clubhouse apeal of Brad Miller (but then again, not many do). I haven't heard anything about Taylor in that regard, but clubhouse chemestry goes a LONG way towards creating a championship team. I just finished reading Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere by Lucas Mann. It chronicals the 2010 season of the Clinton Lumberkings (Franklin's record breaking season) and it's not really critical of Franklin but also doesn't paint him in the best light. Of course he was also very young and immature at the time so I'm willing to give him a pass there. Anyone else read the book?
Yep, I read it - don't believe everything you read.
Franklin in the clubhouse? Haven't you noticed that everywhere he goes the teams win?? for instance CLINTON, JACKSON, TACOMA. Spring Training hitting the San Fran dudes.
BTW - Franklin is literally in the Hall of Fame at the Clinton Stadium. What memories this kid makes.
Franklin has been on a tear - teams winning everywhere he goes...oh yeah I forgot - Franklin has two rings for USA and another with the Rookie Mariner club....he is also literally in the Clinton Hall of Fame....if you trade him, you might miss him?