yandro

Congrats to the following players for making their respective All Star teams: Florida State League: 1B Logan Morrison RHP Kyle Winters LHP Graham Taylor RHP Adalberto Mendez South Atlantic League RHP Corey Madden RHP AJ Battisto RHP Garrett Parcell Also, congrats to the Grasshoppers' manager, Edwin Rodriguez, and trainer Julio Hernandez. I'm guessing Matt Dominguez didn't qualify since he's only played in 18 of 66 games. The Florida State League All Star game will be June 14th, while the SAL All Star Game will be June 17th.

Anyone have any info on this guy? He's one of the relief pitchers on the Grasshoppers and so far on season has a 4-0 record with a 0.95 ERA. Walk to strike out ratio is 11:61 and opponents are batting .164 off of him. He's been selected to the Sally League All Star team (along with AJ Battisto and Garrett Parcell).

NEW YORK -- Chris Aguila still remembers the last time he was at Shea Stadium, in town for four games with the visiting Marlins. When his club dropped the first game in an otherwise unremarkable 4-0 defeat, the Mets officially clinched their first division title in 18 years. Aguila, stuck in a reserve role for the Marlins, didn't play. "I got a nice whiff of champagne as I walked out to the bus," he said. Now, he's back, but in a different dugout. The Mets recalled Aguila from Triple-A New Orleans on Wednesday to fill their final bench spot, and perhaps to provide some added pop. With Moises Alou possibly headed back to the disabled list and Ryan Church already there, the Mets needed a quick outfield fix. Aguila provides just that. Aguila, 29, had just completed perhaps the most productive stretch of his professional career, hitting .528 with seven home runs over nine games. Overall, he was hitting .308 for the Zephyrs, with 17 homers and 40 RBIs in 221 at-bats. In parts of three seasons with the Marlins, most recently in 2006, Aguila hit .234 with three home runs. He never elevated his status to much more than a pinch-hitter, though this most recent power binge earned him what he called a "surprise" promotion. "I wouldn't look at myself as a big home run guy," Aguila said. "I was swinging the bat pretty good, and happened to hit some home runs. But I wasn't out there trying to do that. It just kind of happened." The Mets designated infielder Abraham Nunez for assignment after Tuesday's game to make room for Aguila. Nunez went hitless in two at-bats for the Mets. Aguila bounced from the Marlins to the Pirates following his 2006 season, though he could not crack the Majors for a fourth straight year. Then, last winter, he filed for Minor League free agency and landed with the Mets. He's been in New Orleans since, playing mainly left field, but capable of manning any outfield spot. "This is what you play for," Aguila said. "This is where everyone wants to be who's in Triple-A. Obviously, I'm happy to be here." http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/ar...b&fext=.jsp Very happy for Chris to get another shot, even if it's with the Mutts. He's been absolutely killing the ball recently so definately a well deserved promotion.

Today was the 6th walk off victory. Here they are: 4/1 HR by Andino 4/4 HR by Jacobs 4/19 Single by Helms 5/25 Single by Uggla 6/7 HR by Ross 6/11 HR by Uggla

If Matt keeps up his production for the next month or so, I'm sure you will see him in Carolina.

DETROIT -- The Tigers had seen enough. In a direct response to his rough outing on Monday, Detroit on Tuesday optioned left-hander Dontrelle Willis to Class A Lakeland. "Our objective is to get Dontrelle back to being Dontrelle," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said at a pregame press conference. "We don't want to put a timeframe on this; we want to get it right. The arm strength is still there on occasion, the breaking ball is still there, but we want to get him back to being comfortable throwing strikes." Dombrowski said that the team has not decided how to fill the void in the rotation, with Willis' spot coming around on Saturday, against the Dodgers. The Tigers have candidates in the Minors or they could stretch out a reliever on the current roster. The roster spot will remain open until reliever Aquilino Lopez returns from the bereavement list on Wednesday. On Monday night against the Indians, his first full start after recuperating from a hyperextended right knee, Willis had one of the worst outings of his career. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving up eight earned runs on three hits and five walks. Willis, part of the December trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit, has struggled with his control since Spring Training, walking 21 batters this season in 11 1/3 innings. http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article...sp&c_id=det Who didn't see this coming? What were the Tigers thinking? The guy comes back from the DL and rather than get some work down in the minors, is put in to pitch at the big league level.

Cameron Maybin was just named player of the week for the Southern League for the week ending June 9th. Southern League Cameron Maybin, Carolina .400 (10-25), 6 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 SB, 1.000 SLG The Marlins blue-chip prospect is enjoying a nice two weeks, with his batting average up to its highest point since April 23. He has done so by hitting safely in 13 of his last 14 games, including all six contests on the week. Maybin's week started in prime fashion last Monday, when the center fielder fell just a double short of the cycle in a Mudcats loss to Montgomery. Maybin got his double, and another single the next day, and then closed out the series against Montgomery with another triple on Wednesday. Moving back home against Jacksonville over the weekend, Maybin continued his brilliance, with home runs Friday and Sunday and a double on Saturday to keep his nine-game hit streak alive. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/ar...b&fext=.jsp

Even if Posey were still available, the Marlins would have picked Skipworth for signability reasons. Skipworth has a higher ceiling anyway. Only difference is, Posey is a little safer of a choice. There was talk about him asking for $12 million and a ML deal. That's crazy. But then again, he's a junior and he still has the option to return to FSU next year.

Hey everyone, just got to my hotel room from the draft. I can honestly say I'm happy with the Skipworth pick, although a bunch of us Marlins fans were holding our breath when they mentioned the #5 pick (Buster Posey). Turns out Buster is his nickname and his real name is Gerald Posey. We heard "the Giants select Gerald..." and we're like who the hell is Gerald? YEA! we're getting Posey! But then we heard the last name.... Anyway, I'm happy with our pick. The atmosphere was really cool and I hope to go to next year's draft as well!

Yes, :hug Who are you? lol. I just love baseball. btw: I have Sunday night baseball on right now. GOOO DODGERS!! I'm Puma :cool . Puma is my last name. And I love baseball as well. And I also have sunday night baseball on now. And I agree, go Dodgers PLEASE not Skipworth. Tall high school catchers are a terrible choice...even if they can hit, they rarely stay behind the plate. We passed up Hank Conger in the middle of the first round a couple of years ago, that would've been the time to roll the dice on a HS catcher in the first round. Posey is the obvious choice if he is somehow still on the board. Otherwise, I'm pretty content with just about everyone mentioned. Posey, Hosmer, then Alonso or Crow would be my preference. I agree. I'm not a fan of taking high school players in the first round all together, let alone a catcher. Sure there are some nice talents that come out of the high school ranks, but college players have a higher rate of making it to the majors than high schoolers. And since we are one of the poorer teams in baseball, I think the organization is much better off taking college players. That's why I think we should pass on Skipworth. If Posey falls in our laps at 6 (which he probably won't) we nab him. If not, we take a college pitcher or a college position player and wait until the 2nd round to grab a catcher. Agreed. We would absolutely love to see Posey still available, but it looks like the furthest he will drop (signability concerns aside) will be 5th to the Giants. In that case, it looks like the fish will pick between Crow, Matusz, or Yonder Alonso. By the way, I'm planning on going to the draft!! I can't wait!

The Hammerheads will be facing last year's top draft pick, David Price. Whoever can make it, would be in for a treat. Price has yet to allow a run in his pro career (11 IP).

Anyone see Edmonds catch last night in CF. He is just sick! That is what a good defensive CF looks like, smooth as silk. While I like Edmonds... he makes a lot of stuff harder than it should be, I haven't seen the play in question, but I'm willing to assume it would meet my criteria there... I happen to agree that Edmonds is overrated but that catch was a good play, he got a perfect jump and took the best angle to the ball and robbed a hit. He may have had a good jump but it looked to me like he overran the ball and came back to catch it.

Oh ya, I won a bat signed and authenticated by MLB. Definetly worth my time. I started really late into the contest too. No internet ballots. Are you manually punching in the ballots or are you using other means?

as a proud Heritage alumni who was the PA announcer in Hosmer's freshman year, I want us to pick up Hosmer. He is local, he is an infielder, and he is good! Plus, doesn't that kind of show a commitment to this area by picking up a local kid? Why do we need to show a commitment to the area? Especially by spending millions of dollars for a Scott Boras client? That's ridiculous. I think Hosmer would drop Boras if he gets drafted by the Marlins...think of it, he doesn't need to worry about money as much if he's playing at home. I really don't see him demanding too much to play for the Marlins, but you are right about him being a Boras client. I know I just did a complete 360, so I'll put it simple: If he's still on the board, take him! Local boy + great talent = cornerstone for the 2011 season! I'll take Yonder Alonso over Eric Hosmer. I think its a safe bet Alonso won't be picked 6th It looks like the Marlins are keeping a close watch on Skipworth, and it looks like that's who they will draft. Did anyone see the UM game last night? What a slam by Alonso! (Oh yea, and opposite field too!)

I know how you feel. I've been looking on the net to see if there are any updates on his progress. Nothing yet. If I do find anything, I'll post on here.

as a proud Heritage alumni who was the PA announcer in Hosmer's freshman year, I want us to pick up Hosmer. He is local, he is an infielder, and he is good! Plus, doesn't that kind of show a commitment to this area by picking up a local kid? Why do we need to show a commitment to the area? Especially by spending millions of dollars for a Scott Boras client? That's ridiculous. I think Hosmer would drop Boras if he gets drafted by the Marlins...think of it, he doesn't need to worry about money as much if he's playing at home. I really don't see him demanding too much to play for the Marlins, but you are right about him being a Boras client. I know I just did a complete 360, so I'll put it simple: If he's still on the board, take him! Local boy + great talent = cornerstone for the 2011 season! I'll take Yonder Alonso over Eric Hosmer.

First time I ever went to Vegas, all I played was roulette. I lost $600 in two days. I went back to Vegas a second time (roulette again) and won over $1600 over four or five days. Strategy: bet on colors and bet low. If you lose, you double up on your bet and eventually you'll make a nice killing!

George Lombard? When did the Fish pick him up??? :mis2 He was signed by the 'topes on 5/11, to fill the roster spot created when P Daniel Barone went on the DL. I used to follow the Braves in the 90s so I remember this guy being a top pick of the Braves that never stuck. He got called up several times until the Braves got tired of him and traded him to the Tigers.

The only two I am assuming will be gone by the time we pick are Alvarez (please let the Rays screw up and not take him) and Tim Beckham. There's a pretty good chance the Rays will pass on Alvarez, unless they plan on trading the desperate housewife (Evan Longoria) or he switches positions. I think the people at the Mock Draft got it right in that the Rays will pass on Pedro and Posey is a beast at catcher. By the time the Fish pick, if Smoak or Yonder are available, then they should go that route. Although I'm a big UM fan, I would probably prefer Smoak. Although I agree we need a catcher, drafting so early in round 1, you pick best player available so I'd pick one of the first basemen instead of Skipworth. And by the way, Hosmer thinks he's "God's gift to the world". I wouldn't like to have such a cocky player, especially a high schooler.

The starfish-shaped conference-call module sat in the middle of the large oval table in a conference room at Major League Baseball's Manhattan headquarters, and the immediate future of the sport spilled through its speakers. It was early on the morning of June 7, 2005, and the dispersed representatives of MLB teams alternately voiced their clubs' selections in the opening round of the First-Year Player Draft. "With the first choice in the 2005 Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks select Justin Upton, shortstop, Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake, Va." "The Kansas City Royals select Alex Gordon, third baseman, the University of Nebraska. ..." "The Seattle Mariners select Jeff Clement, catcher. ..." "The Washington Nationals pick Ryan Zimmerman ..." "The Brewers choose Ryan Braun. ..." With those five picks within an hour, one of baseball's most seminal mornings was under way. After that opening quintet, the remainder of the first round lost some steam, but the startling short-term outcome is that the top five, eight of the top 10 and altogether 16 first-round choices appeared in the Majors within 27 months of their selections. Of course, they have done much more than merely make the scene. In the short version, they include a National League Rookie of the Year (Braun), a franchise player (Zimmerman) and 2007 World Series rivals (Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki and Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury). So just subtitle the 2005 Draft "Sudden Impact," and keep it in mind as the countdown progresses to the June 5, 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Deferred satisfaction? Not necessarily. But neither is the payoff from the 2005 Draft routine, at whatever pace. Overall No. 1 choices, the results of months of analysis and brainstorming, are slam-dunks; allowing for development time, the game hasn't muffed one since 1991 and the Yankees' pick of prep pitcher Brien Taylor. But five out of five, within a presidential term? Unheard of. In fact, from all the other Drafts since 1998, there has been at least one top-five pick who didn't make the Majors at all, not even for a September cameo. The first 2005 Draftee to arrive was pitcher Joey Devine (No. 27), who joined the Braves' bullpen on Aug. 20, fulfilling Atlanta scouting director Roy Clark's prophecy when he had been drafted 10 short weeks earlier: "He's a very advanced relief pitcher who we feel can advance quickly and successfully." Next came Zimmerman, who on Sept. 1, 2005 fulfilled the destiny implied by his decision to sign within minutes of the Draft. "I didn't want to be one of those guys that sits out the whole summer," Zimmerman had said, valuing actual hardball over negotiating hardball. "I don't know how I could deal without a summer of baseball." Washington general manager Jim Bowden's Draft-day proclamation: "This will be a player on the fast track to the Major Leagues." Then, a couple of weeks later, came pitcher Craig Hansen (No. 26), who found himself in Boston's bullpen only 13 Minor League appearances removed from St. John's University. Three "graduates" within weeks of the Draft: Clearly, something special was afoot. In turn, the Mets' Mike Pelfrey (July 8), the Twins' Matt Garza (Aug. 11) and Tulowitzki (Aug. 30) arrived in 2006. And the rush was on last year for the rest: Gordon, Travis Buck (No. 36 by Oakland), Cameron Maybin (No. 10 by Detroit), Braun, Lance Broadway (No. 15 by the White Sox), Garrett Olson (No. 48 by Baltimore), Clement, Ellsbury, Upton and Clay Buchholz (No. 42 by Boston) formed a long procession into The Show. None brought the house down as did Braun -- who did not take his first big league cut until May 25, yet finished his rookie season with 34 homers, along with 97 RBIs and a .324 average. Braun had arrived pumped: "I'm extremely confident in my ability. As long as I continue to go out there and work hard on a daily basis, then I should continue to be successful." And he has raked ever since, campaigning for that future honor, being the answer to the question: "Who was the best player selected in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft?" That should be a lively debate. Incidentally, the Boston Red Sox deserve special commendation for the successful way they unraveled the mysteries lurking beneath the blue-chip layer of the Draft. This was the Draft following the end of the Red Sox's 86-year World Series championship drought, so their first pick did not come until No. 23 (compensation from the Angels for signing away free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera). Yet Boston led the way with three choices (including supplemental picks) in that first round who have already appeared in the bigs: Ellsbury, Hansen and Buchholz. Boston clearly made the most of other compensation picks acquired for also letting free agents Derek Lowe (Dodgers) and Pedro Martinez (Mets) sign elsewhere. "It was the right thing to do," Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said in the aftermath of the '05 Draft. "Because of their age, and also to get those Draft picks and rebuild our system. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we feel like our [picks] all have a chance of being big league players. And if two or three of those guys reach their ceiling, it has a chance to be a franchise-changing Draft." Franchise-changing? Check. History-making? Check. All in a Draft day's work. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...8&fext=.jsp Can you guys imagine when Volstad and Tucker come up to the majors in the next year or so? They would challenge Pelfrey for top pitcher of the class.

I feel so bad for him. The bullpen blew another game for him tonight. He was in line to get his first win in quite some time. He's 0-4 but with a brilliant 1.60 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Let's hope he does not get hung up on his W-L record and focuses on how he actually performs (ERA, WHIP, BAA)

He's just tearing it up right now. His last five starts he's pitched 30 1/3 IP, 13 H, 1 ER (0.30 ERA), 32/13 K/BB ratio, 0.86 WHIP Simply amazing.

I bought mine on ebay about 3 years ago. I don't know if you've checked already....

I was wondering if that was you when they said yandro. Good stuff, congrats on getting your email read. Heck yea!! That was pretty cool...

Last week I had emailed him when they talked about the formula to calculate the speed of Jake's homer (the one that got out in a little over three secs). Anyway, it was nice to hear my name mentioned. I didn't know if they had received my email because I had gotten an automated reply when I sent in the email. :thumbup