Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 8-2 | @ Norfolk, 12:05pm | Cornelio (AAA debut) vs. Contreras (6-3, 3.99) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 6-3 | vs. Portland, 6:30pm | Susana (0-1, 4.15) vs. Holobetz (0-0, 0.00) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 7-3 | @ Aberdeen, 7:05pm | Randall (0-0, 0.00 @ MWL) vs. Cartaya (A+ debut) |
| Fredericksburg | Postponed | @ Myrtle Beach, 6:05pm | Sales (4-3, 2.71 @ FSL) and B. Romero (1-4, 6.17) vs. Mulé (2-6, 6.26) and Camacho (0-1, 1.69) |
| DSL Nationals | OFF DAY | vs. DSL Giants Black, 11am |
Norfolk 8 Rochester 2
• Sampson (L, 2-3) 4+ IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 1K, HBP
• Powell 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 1-0 IR-S
• Crews 2-3
• Arruda 2-3, R; 1IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 0K
Norfolk erased an early 2-0 lead with a five-run 5th as they took their second straight from Rochester, 8-2. Adrian Sampson took the loss, his third, on four runs let in on five hits and three walks. He struck out one. Dylan Crews and J.T. Arruda both went 2-for-3 to lead the Red Wings seven-single fusillade with Arruda helping out the bullpen with a scoreless 9th. Roster moves: RHP Cade Cavalli recalled to Washington; RHP Andry Lara optioned from Washington; RHP Riley Cornelio promoted from Harrisburg; RHP Michael Cuevas placed on the 7-Day I.L.
Harrisburg 6 Portland 3
• Tolman 3⅔ IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K, HR
• Huff (W, 1-2) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 2-1 IR-S
• Acosta (SV, 3) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 6K
• Glasser 3-4, R, BB, 2RBI, OF assist @ 3B
• S. Brown 2-2, R, BB, SF, RBI, SB
• Boisserie 1-4, R, 3B, RBI
The Senators put up crooked numbers in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th innings and doubled up the Sea Dogs, 6-3. Erik Tolman found out as many have before him that the jump to AA is the hardest as the Portland batters sent him packing after three and 2/3rds innings, all three runs on three hits (one HR), and two walks. Chance Huff let in one of two inherited runners but got nine outs to get the “W.” Daison Acosta struck out the side twice in two perfect innings to get the save. Phillip Glasser led the Harrisburg hit column with three singles, followed by Sam Brown with two; both scored a run and walked.
Aberdeen 7 Wilmington 3
• Da. Garcia (L, 1-2) 3IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 2K
• Simpson 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Dugas 2-3, R, BB, RBI
• Banks 1-3, 2B, RBI, SB, E
Wilmington was never in this one, falling behind 6-0 after four and losing 7-3 to Aberdeen. Davian Garcia lost for the second time in three High-A starts, charged with four runs on six hit and four walks over three innings. Gavin Dugas singled twice, walked once, scored a run, and drove in a run while Teo Banks doubled in a run and stole a base to lead the Blue Rocks offense.
Fredericksburg vs. Myrtle Beach – PPD
The FredNats and Pelicans were rained out after a prolonged rain delay. They’ll shoot to make this one tonight with a pair of seven-inning games. ESPN has learned this is known as a doubleheader.
Congrats to Cavalli. Almost 3 years ago, he debuted in the majors, going 4.1 IP, while striking out 6. Yesterday, he also went 4.1 IP with 6 Ks, except this time, instead of allowing 7 ER, he allowed none. A very strong 2nd start in his winding career.
Crews looks ready. He’s now hitting .400/.455/.600 in 7 games, including going 7 for 11 in his past 3 games.
I’d guess Young is the odd man out. Unfortunately, we’d be carrying 3 LH OFs and only one 1 RH, which wouldn’t really allow us to play the 4 OFs according to platoon splits. But we could find more playing time for Hassell and Lile by having Wood play more DH and occasionally sit (need to try something to break him out of his slump!).
Why Young? Why not Tena? DeJong can be true utility guy, plus we keep another right handed batter.
Good point. Tena NEVER plays. Realize he’s not much of a prospect, but getting 2 ABs a week is no bueno.
The thing is about keeping 5 OFs is that means at least one guy, maybe two aren’t going to play much. Would be fine cutting way back on Josh Bell’s DH ABs, particularly against LHP. His numbers as a right handed hitter are beyond awful. Let Hassell and/or Lile get more comfortable against lefties.
Cavalli’s final pitching line was good, but his stuff was electric. He hit 100 multiple times, and the A’s could not handle his change-up or slider. Really encouraging, in an otherwise discouraging season. Cavalli’s velo dipped after two innings, but he clealy has the talent. Hope to see Cade back that performance up with several solid starts.
Yeah, it would limit OF playing time, and leave us extremely thin in the infield.
Speaking of Tena, I don’t really get why he isn’t considered more of a prospect. He just hit .294/.390/.480, 133 wRC+ in AAA this year, and across 4 partial seasons in AAA is batting .297/.362/.504, 125 wRC+, and he only turned 24 in March. His defense is problematic, but that’s never been an impediment to Abrams and Garcia’s playing time…
DeJong is a better defender, but a way worse hitter with no future at the club. Why isn’t Tena getting DeJong’s playing time? We’re still rebuilding. Why are we wasting playing time on bad impending free agents?
Because he’s exhausted his rookie status. Sorry, but that’s the immutable definition of a prospect. I agree though on playing him over DeJong.
What tool does Jose Tena possess that translate to ever being a MLB player?
Power: hard no
Defense: hard no
Speed: not really
Arm: average
Bat: maybe (Tena was decent at Rochester, but not enough to think that it makes up for the other lack of skills)
Sure. DFA DeJong, but even if that happened, House and Garcia are playing 3B/2B, and the thought of Tena at SS is scary. Nasim Nunez is arguably a better prospect if the idea is to dump DeJong and go with prospects only. Nunez is an elite defensive player and can run.
On what basis are you coming to these conclusions?
Power: He hit 18 HR in the minors last season. And he has a career SLG of .443 and .158 ISO in 556 minor league games. That’s very good for a middle infielder. By comparison, Brady House has a career MILB SLG of .453 and an ISO of .173.
Defense: definitely an issue in the small sample size I’ve seen of him. But it’s perplexing because the scouting reports of Tena all said he should’ve been a plus defender at 3B or 2B, but iffy to stick at SS. So is it that Tena just hasn’t gotten any rhythm in the majors? Or were the scouting reports all very wrong?
Speed: he’s probably above average. His sprint speed last year was 71st percentile, and is 56th percentile this year. He’s no Rickey Henderson, but his speed is not a liability.
Arm: also above average. Arm strength rated 69th percentile this year and 74th percentile last year.
Bat: again, he has a career minor league AVG of .284. That’s very good. His weakness is his patience, usually maintaining a walk rate well below 10%, but then this season he posted a 13.6% BB% in AAA, so maybe it’s something he’s been working on?
All this depends on whether he can translate his minor league success to the majors, but his minor league performances and at consistently comparatively young ages should’ve merited a lot more hype in my opinion. I think there’s definitely way more value to get here than trotting out the rusting hulk that was Paul DeJong. And while his defense might not be so silky smooth, he’s shown an ability to hit above the Mendoza line, unlike Nunez.
Debut jitter butterfly debuts for the two Tigers from Finnegsn deal
Carlos Romero good fortune onward
Somebody should pick you up quick
Does anyone think that the scouting staff saw a bit of Ian Desmond at Wake Forest using aluminum bats ?
He is a demon deacon on the base paths though . lol .
Paul I left with the rain drops as the cloud cover thickened .
3 am wake up this morning .
Too bad we missed OH Susana last night
I still wonder what type of damage he could on the Palumbos menu on second street !!
Here’s hoping that Lara can figure some things out after never really even having a chance at AAA before being rushed to the majors. It will be interesting to see if they keep him in relief or stretch him back out as a starter. If the latter, he really needs to log some innings as he’s only thrown 50 this year after 134 last year.
He’s only 22, so there’s still plenty of time for things to click.
The paralles to Joan Adon in 2021 are myriad.
Jarlin Susana has been reinstated from the injured list and is back on the H’burg active roster.
Jarlin should warm up wearing the Uncle Sam hat !