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Ji-Man was 2-3 w 2B, HR and 2 BB tonight. He now has his AA OPS over .900. That dude is a stud. He is going to be a good major league hitter. He can step right in for Smoak or Morales in 2015
Mariners Minor League Game Action Recap for July 30
Trade deadline ... shmade shmedline!
I made a strategic decision this morning to do a trade deadline post instead of a recap.
As Rick Perry once said ... "Oops."
So here's a late and abbreviated version.
But good things on the way! Like "Can Dominc Leone defeat the human brain?"
AAA -- Omaha 4, Tacoma 1 -- Box
Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) can be vexed by Ben Broussard just like the rest of Mariner-dom.
The Man For Whom We Coughed Up Shin-Soo Choo doubled and scored as Omaha got four earned runs off Walker: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Jesus Montero got his first Tacoma homer, but the rumors of pending suspension are mounting.
AA -- Jackson 5, Huntsville 1 -- Box
The Morbanwagon got cranked up and was running on a tank full of Choi Joy!
Julio Morban (Talk40 #15) had two triples and a walk.
Our man Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) got two singles and a walk.
Anthony Fernandez (Talk40 #23): 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Dominic Leone (Talk40 #25): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
High-A -- Stockton 8, High Desert 2 -- Box
Kevin Rivers had a homer (his 12th) and a single. Otherwise not much to discuss.
Low-A -- Clinton 4, Beloit 3 [10 innings] -- Box
Deeeeeeej!
D.J. Peterson came back from his day off and homered. He also drew a pair of walks.
Taylor Ard (Talk40 #32) also went deep.
Short Season-A -- Everett 6, Hillsboro 0 -- Box
The Aqua Sox got all their runs in the 4th inning. Half of them came on a three-run homer by one-time possible phenom Phillips Castillo (Talk40 #38).
And more Dutch Mastery! from Lars Huijer: 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. This kid is looking like one to keep a close eye on.
Rookie -- Pulaski 6, Bristol 0 [7 innings] -- Box
Rookie -- Pulaski 7, Bristol 2 [7 innings] -- Box
Game1: Jose Flores went six shutout innings. Jeffrey Zimmerman had two hits and a walk.
Game 2: Homers for Isaiah Yates (Talk40 #39) and Wilton Martinez. Three hits for Kristian Brito (Watch List).
Looking Ahead at What's Going on Now
Tyler Pike (Talk40 #14) for Clinton.
Comments
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Ji-Man is our first baseman of the future. What a find. Kid's gonna be a star and be the Garvey of our 70's styled Dodger infield. Let Smoak play daily in August, and make your decision on his future here based on that month. If he doesn't hit in August, if he doesn't carry weight, then tell him, "Justin, we already know what you can do in September. But we needed it in July and August. Take a seat. We're giving the job to someone else."
Then, assuming he continues to hit and consolidate in August, give first base to Ji-Man for September. See if we can catch lightning in a bottle. If not, Tacoma will do for the first few months of 2014. Justin can earn the job back in the offseason and spring training, if he wants it.
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2 hits allowed in his last 15 innings, only 26 in 51.2 innings for the season, and of course, no home runs allowed because his Ground Out/Fly Out Rate is 2.3. Derek Lowe, maybe?
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Who knows? I looked up Jose Campos the other day. After owning the Northwest league and freaking some of us out by being included in the Pineda trade, he's been scuffling in the low minors. So who knows? Success is certainly better than failure. And just think! Campos helped us acquire Jesus Montero! Well, no, don't think about that.
I'm feeling very malcontented lately, Mal. Can I borrow your moniker for a few days until I regain my usual cheery optimism?
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He's gotten comped to a young Glavine before tho (who walked 4 guys per 9 in the minors, believe it or not) so don't stress out too much about the walks just yet. High-walks, low-hits guys usually straighten out, and Pike is definitely one of those so far. Putting together a series of hits against him is a chore and a half. He's as hard to hit in the MWL as Taijuan Walker was.
I still think he's the best of the low-minors guys, though Diaz and Lars are getting some love from me too along with Gohara and Sanchez, our foreign signees. And Eddie Campbell is interesting - he should get dropped straight into the MWL next year and see what happens. He's just demolishing the App League now because it's close to home so his family and friends can get there to see him throw as a professional pitcher.
~G