Well, roughly a month to go before this stopgap measure of keeping the site going will be gone. As noted in the comments, Baseball America has updated its Top 30 list, which I opted not to write about because I kind of, sort of need to save something for the post-offseason (not to mention, Mr. Boss already did this). Aside from Carter Kieboom graduating, I’m not sure how much different this will be than the 2021 Top 30. Do you drop off some guys simply because they got older? How will they knowwhich of the draft picks were a bust? All they have to go on is what the teams tell them since scouts aren’t working and many are already out of a job.
Syracuse 4 Rochester 3 (13 inn.) – 2010
• Arnesen 5⅔ IP 4H 2R 2ER 2BB 5K
• Bergmann (W, 4-3) 2IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K
• Whiting 2-5, 1R, 1BB, 2SB (2B, HP)
• Botts 2-4, 2B
Syracuse got the scoring started in 1st by stealing a run as Boomer Whiting singled, stole second, took third on the overthrow, and stole home with two outs. The lead lasted until the bottom of the 5th, when Rochester came back with two runs. In the 7th Syracuse tied things back up at 2-2 and then regained the lead at 3-2 in the 8th with another run. Rochester had one last chance in the bottom of the 9th and they used it as they were able to score one and send this game into extras. Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the 13th when newly-promoted Danny Espinosa led off with a solo home run. Starter Erik Arnesen went 5⅔ innings, giving up four hits, two runs, and two walks while registering five strikeouts. Arnesen was perhaps the first of a prototype for the Nats: the (relatively) soft-tossing righty that eats innings but never really gets a fair shake (see: Simms, John; McGowin, Kyle). The 17th Rd. pick of 2006 worked his way from Vermont to Syracuse by 2010, but there he stayed until he became a MLFA. Oakland (*shock*) picked him up for one last look before he finished his career in the Atlantic League, winning 13 of 22GS in 2013 and seven of 17GS in 2014.
Harrisburg 10 Erie 6 – 2011
• Rosenbaum (W, 1-0) 5⅔ IP, 3H, 4R, 1ER, 3BB, 3K
• Pena (H, 2) 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Harper 3-5, R, 3B, HR, 3RBI, SB, GIDP, E
• Komatsu 2-5, 2R, 2B
• Davis 2-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI
Danny Rosenbaum won his AA debut while the Sens broke out of their offensive funk as Harrisburg defeated Erie, 10-6. Bryce Harper was a double shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with 3RBI. Leonard Davis and Derek Norris also homered as the Senators pounded out seven extra-base hits, 12 total and left on just four runners. Rosenbaum threw five scoreless innings before a walk, two errors, and two doubles chased him in the 6th. He was charged with four runs, but just three were earned as the Ohio-born southpaw walked three and struck out three. Hassan Pena put out the fire with two and a third scoreless innings of relief for his second hold. The win keeps pace with second-place Bowie and Richmond, keeping the lead at just a ½ game in the E.L. West.
Davis was a member of the last Expos draft (2004, 8th Rd.) and was a long-time OG, playing for eight seasons at six positions, primarily at 3B (352G) and the OF (331G). He began his final pro season in the Can-Am League (independent) with the New Jersey Jackals where he hung a line of .317/.375/.553 for 52G before returning to the Sens for a lackluster six weeks in 2011. After taking 2012 off he made one last gasp with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (.269/.321/.438, 5HR in 35G) for six weeks before hanging it up for good.
Potomac 10 Winston-Salem 2 – 2014
• Spann (W, 8-5) 6IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, HBP
• Walsh 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Ballou 3-4, 2R, 2B, 3B, BB, 2RBI
• Oduber 2-5, 2R, 2HR, 6RBI
• Miller 2-4, R, HR, RBI
Matthew Spann tossed six one-hit innings, Randolph Oduber drove in six Last Night In Woodbridge.
Ballou was behind the eight-ball from get-go as a 23-y.o. senior sign out of Marshall University in 2013. He was the bright spot on an abysmal Auburn team in his first year and got two cups of coffee at AAA in 2016 and 2017. The bulk of his career was spent with AA Harrisburg, where he played 206 games from 2015 to 2017.
Hagerstown 3 Lakewood 0 – 2013
• Mooneyham (W, 8-3) 7⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 4BB, 7K
• Self (S, 4) 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Pleffner 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI
• Severino 1-3, 3B, 2RBI
Brett Mooneyham and Derek Self combined on a two-hit shutout as the Suns took another one from Lakewood, 3-0. Mooneyham did, however, issue four walks including two to the last two batters he faced with one out in the 8th. He gave up a first-inning single and struck out seven to tie Pedro Encarnacion for the team lead in wins. Derek Self stranded both runners and pitched around a ninth-inning double for his fourth save. Shawn Pleffner singled, doubled, and walked while Pedro Severino drove in two with a triple to pace the Suns offense.
Auburn 5 State College 1 – 2019
• N. Gomez 5IP, 5H, R, ER, 2BB, 7K
• Chu (W, 2-1) 3IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 2K
• Jo. Sanchez 1-2, R, 2BB, CS
• Carrillo 2-3, R
• Randa 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI
The Doubledays beat the same team on consecutive days for the first time since July 1-2 with a 5-1 victory over the Spikes. Niomar Gomez got the start and gave up a run on a HR (#2 in 42⅔ IP, how novel) five hits total. He walked two and struck out seven. The win went to veteran southpaw Gilberto Chu, who turned in three scoreless innings with one hit and two walks allowed. Jake Randa homered in the bottom of the 6th to give Auburn a 2-1 lead. An inning later, the Doubledays scored twice on three singles and a wild pitch. Adalberto Carrillo led the eight-hit parade with two singles while Jose Sanchez drew two of the team’s four walks and also reached base on a single.