Stars of the Day: May 16
You're lucky if, during your lifetime, you have the privilege of watching one of the greatest talents of all time don your team's colors.
Oh, and Ian Kinsler is everything anyone could have ever dreamed he'd be, and a lot more.
Clinton improved to 27-10 as they fought through a rough outing by starter Blake Beavan and overcame deficits of 3-0 and 6-2 to post a comeback 7-6 victory in the 10th inning when Engel Beltre (.259 / .294 / .401) tripled and scored on a single by the phenomenally hot Renny Osuna (.361 / .434 / .533), who finished up 4-6 with a triple and three RBIs.
Osuna has now produced multi-hit performances in seven of his last nine games.
After Cedar Rapids chased Beavan (4.50 ERA), who surrendered six runs on six hits -- including three homers -- in just three innings without recording a single strikeout, Ryan Tatusko (3.91 ERA) gave the L-Kings a chance with three scoreless frames of relief, allowing just one hit and fanning four.
Fabio Castillo (3.52 ERA) followed Tatusko with two hitless frames and Hector Nelo (1-1; 2.70) (pictured) finished the job, holding the Kernels scoreless over the final two, punching out two along the way.
Bakersfield was trounced by Lancaster as Zach Phillips (3-3; 5.98) had his second absolutely horrendous start -- mixed in among several very good ones. The lefty surrendered nine runs on a dozen hits and three walks in five.
The good news is that Jose Vallejo (.292 / .347 / .444) seems to have emerged from his late-April / early-May slump. Vallejo was hitting .347 / .390 / .510 on April 26 and then saw his line dip all the way down to .277 / .329 / .405 by May 10. Yesterday, the exciting Vallejo went 3-4 with his 11th double of the year and drove in two runs.
Oklahoma got another disappointing outing from starter Eric Hurley (6.80 ERA) who gave up seven runs, five earned, on five hits -- two of which left the yard -- and two walks as the RedHawks fell, 13-8 at Memphis.
Hurley fanned just two and needed 101 pitches to get through his five. In 47.2 innings of work, Hurley has surrendered 11 home runs, worst in the PCL. Lefties are hitting .304 / .363 / .598 against Hurley and they've taken him downtown seven times in just 93 at-bats.
Check this out: Oklahoma's first baseman Junior Mayberry (.328 / .366 / .657) homered and took one for the team in a 2-3 outing.
Frisco completed the Rangers Farm ofer by losing 8-4 to San Antonio at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Steve Murphy (.318 / .353 / .541) belted his sixth homer of the year in a 2-5 outing, while Max Ramirez, Craig Gentry and Emerson Frostad each went 2-4. Frosty doubled and allegedly stole home.
Why did John Mayberry stop getting on base?
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OBP:
Stanford (172 G): .346, .419, .391.
Spokane (71 G): .341
Clinton (126 G): .358
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Bakersfield (63 G): .314
Frisco (69 G): .307
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His AVG dipped when he hit Bakersfield and never came up again until OKC a couple weeks ago. I don't know the BABIP figures for the player...there may be some bad luck. Here's hoping that nice SLG he's bringing to the upper Minors intimidates some pitchers into walking him, and that he's still got enough of an eye to take a walk. I have to admit, I'd like to see this player succeed (not as a 1B, as a corner OF).
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If you've seen JMJ play in the OF - you'd much reather see him at first base - trust me on this one.
http://emcmlb.blogspot.com/
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Josh Hamilton for president.
In a couple years we'll look back on this and realize that, just as you said, we have one of the best pure players to ever play.
That is a bold statement I know but I'll stick to my guns til then.
Stay the course Josh.
Go Rangers!!!
Ryan A
http://bigleaguehair.mlblogs.com/
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Hey Mike,
I appreciate your work. Good stuff.
What's the difference between last year's Eric Hurley and this year's?
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