It's been in the Shout Box already, but the original MarinersTalk.com Hero Vinnie Catricala (Talk40 #10) was designatged for assignment to make room for Jeremy Bonderman.
One thing you learn in the Prospect Game is that even many of the guys with very good odds don't end up making it. (What you hardly ever see is guys with really bad odds making it.)
Vinnie still has good odds, based on his three years of excellent stats. But, after a terrible 2012 and weak April, his strong May didn't get him off the bottom of the pecking order.
And there's a decent chance he'll clear waivers and return to the Mariners, just off the 40-man roster. Robert Andino already cleared, and last year we saw Chih-Hsien Chiang clear in mid-season. The claiming team has to put him on their 40-man roster, and the gamble is that no one will have a spot for him. We'll see what happens, but, for now, he's out.
Bonderman's nothing special, but Blake Beavan or Hector Noesi have had their shots, and some kind of 40-man move was likely anyway. And it was pretty clear that Catricala was going to be next in line.
Hope to see you back, but, if not, good luck to Vinnie.
AAA -- Sacramento 9, Tacoma 2 -- Box
Unfortunately, the timing didn't quite work out for Erasmo Ramirez to fill the major-league spot, but if things continue to progress, he ought to take one of the "retread" spots soon.
E-RAM got his first rehab start at AA Jackson, but his second came for Tacoma, and: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
The walk rate is higher than "traditional Erasmo," but a solo home run was his only XBH allowed. So pretty good overall.
The deluge of runs came when journeyman Jhonny Nunez, who frankly has just been all kinds of bad all year (8.23 ERA; BB > K) came in to relieve.
On offense, it was Stefen Romero (Talk40 #11) with a double and two singles.
High-A -- High Desert 4, Modesto 3 -- Box
We've been caught up with Blash Splash and Choi Joy, so it's been awhile since we got to use the Pow! Pow! Paolini!
Daniel Paolini (Talk40 #26) got his seventh home run, plus a double and a single to lead the Mavericks. He's now at .279/.382/.470. Will it be enough now that he's moved off second base? Maybe.
Meanwhile, the always valuable Lonnie of MC (MarinersCentral.com) is reporting the our man Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) will get the call to Jackson. Vinnie's loss is Ji-Man's gain, I guess.
If Sunday was his High Desert swan song, it was a good one: his 23rd and 24th doubles, plus a single.
And we told you about Dominic Leone (Talk40 #25) first: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 4 K.
Low-A -- Clinton 4, Burlington 3 -- Box
Will Ketel Marte (26intheMix) have offensive value after all? I'm still skeptical, but he did hit in the leadoff spot, and delivered a double, a single and a stolen base. The double (his third) did not bring his SLG over the .300 mark, however.
Dario Pizzano (26intheMix) also had a double and a single, but no stolen base.
Scott DeCecco had a nice outing on the mound: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
Looking Ahead
Jackson had another day wiped out by storms. They will once again try to get Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) to the mound in a double header on Monday. James Gilheeney, back with the Generals after a Tacoma stint, is slated for the other game.
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