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fmmiraclegal
05-17-2004, 12:26 AM
The Swing downed Western Michigan 4-2 in a late inning rally. Part of the nine-hit attack was led by three hits from third baseman Ben Pattee.

In the last seven Class-A games, outfielder Denard Span raised his average from .194 to .250.

Some scarey stats in Quad City: J.R. "Sam" Taylor leads the team with 11 errors. Matt Moses and Alex Garcia follow with six each and Steve Whitrock and Dusty Goman have been charged with five each.

On the shallow end, Span, Kyle Phillips and Mark Zamojc have one each.

Phillips who was leading the team early on in batting percentage has dropped to 1.77 in 24 games. He's had 8 runs on 14 hits, 4 RBI's with one homer. He's been struck out 20 times, and walked 14.

***

You're a catcher worth five million dollars, but your on the disabled list. What do you do on a Saturday night?

Well, if your name is Joe Mauer, you hang around at the ball park and watch your former team get clobbered.

The Fort Myers Miracle suffered their 10th shut out in just 37 games (27%) following a 5-0 loss to the Clearwater (Philly) Threshers.

Miracle starter Jeff Randazzo pitched well, but ran into trouble in the fifth. After hitting Vince Vukovich to lead off the inning, Mike Floyd followed with a single. Chris Cosbey then laid down a sacrifice bunt that Randazzo played, but his throw to third was high and went off the glove of Omar Burgos.

Randazzo got the next hitter on strikes, but Ralph Santana, who finished 7-for-8 in the two-game series, singled in a run. Floyd was thrown out trying to score from second. Randazzo then walked Carlos Leon to load the bases and walked Sean Walsh to force in a run. Ryan Barthelemy finished the scoring with a two run single.

Nice play from Ron Perodin in center to home plate to get one runner out, but it was only the second out of the inning, so it did not invalidate the runner that crossed the plate previously.

That was the play of the game for the home team.

Mauer, who is recovering from left knee surgery, was supposed to DH a couple of extended spring training games. But the medical staff wants him to be able to run comfortably before putting him in games, so Mauer will wait.

The next home spring training game is Wednesday, May 19th at 12:30 pm at the Lee County Sportsplex. It's unclear if Mauer will make an appearance in that game.

***

Rick Helling, on a rehabilitation assignment on Saturday with Class AA New Britain, gave up two homers and four earned runs in six innings. The Erie Sea Wolves went on to win the game, 7-5.

He gave up five hits and walked three while throwing 99 pitches. He hit 89 miles an hour on the radar run but settled in around 87. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan was in attendance.

The Twins have received indications that Helling, who was signed to a minor league contract, would prefer to become a free agent rather than remain in the minors. The team also would have to clear room on its 40-man roster to make room for Helling. Ryan, who has made three such moves this season, said late last week that all of the 40-man roster moves are a concern, because players who are removed are subject to waivers and could be snatched up by other teams.

Meanwhile, Rock Cats' second baseman Luis Maza, has never hit more than .290 in three full minor league seasons. He's made 23, 32 and 13 errors in those seasons. Not only is he batting .346 at Class AA New Britain, but he has no errors.

Pitcher J.D. "The Real Deal" Durbin missed a start with persistant pain in his shoulder. If his discomfort continues past this weekend, the team will have an MRI done on him to determine the extend of his injury.

***

The Red Wings romped over the Indianapolis Indians, 11-3 Saturday night. Brian Simmons and Augie Ojeda each had three hits and two RBI in the 15-hit attack. Wings first baseman Justin Morneau, who turned 23 on Saturday, went 2-for-4. Former Miracle man Josh Rabe had a single.

Third baseman Terry Tiffee has returned to action after recovering from a sore lower back. Tiffee was off to a great start for Rochester, slugging three home runs and driving in nine runs in the first week of the season before being sidelined.

Chris C2
05-17-2004, 12:30 AM
Wow, very nice!

fmmiraclegal
05-17-2004, 10:47 PM
J.D. Durbin was placed on the 7-Day IR. Scott Baker was recalled from Single A Fort Myers to replace him in the starting rotation.

Tommy Watkins hit his first Double-A home run and drove in three runs as the Rock Cats erased an early three-run deficit to snap the SeaWolves’ 10-game winning streak, 9-5, before 5,408 sun fanciers at New Britain Stadium.

Garrett Jones lashed a two-run double in the home half of the first inning to give New Britain a 2-1 lead. It is reported that Billy Munoz, who Jones is replacing on the Rock Cats roster should be back in action sometime this week. No word on Jones' status with the Cats once that happens.

Kevin West extended his hitting streak to 18 games.

Luis Maza went 3-for-3, scored three times and reached base in all five plate appearances to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning and walked in the eighth. Maza is hitting .407 in his last 28 games after starting the season 5-for-30 (.167).

Jason Kubel was back in action after taking a ball to the head the other day. He had two hits and batted in three runs during his five at bats as designaed hitter. James Tomlin had one run on three hits during three at bats for the Cats.

Magus Relmyn
05-17-2004, 11:54 PM
Any word on Mauer's condition?

fmmiraclegal
05-19-2004, 05:37 AM
Any word on Mauer's condition?

See following, but he is expected to catch tomorrows's SIL game and may be designed for a Minor League assignment by this weekend. I'm going to watch the game tomorrow, so I will have a naked eye report afterward.

L-Tigers Double up Twins

The Lakeland Tigers took a 6-3 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle in, what was not really a bad game, but a game notable for it's mistakes.

Josh Grey pitched well except for some problems in the second when he was thrown to the Tigers by our defense. He walked Mike Rabelo, who then advanced to third on an infielding error (cough, cough, Koolie).

It was Wilton Reynolds single to center, a ball which I felt Trent Oeltjen should have had that scored Rabelo. That hurt, but then Grey turned around and walked Victor Mendez.

This loaded up the bases again. Nate Doyle hit down the infield line to Ron Perodin, again, another ball I felt should have been caught by the outfield. Didn't matter, Ron was late getting to it and Chris Maples and Reynolds both had time to come in.

Next up - the miscue of the game: Gilberto Mejia laid down a nice bunt but both Danny Matienzo and Grey went to play the ball on the infield and there was no one on first to cover the base. Jesus Merchan was in transit from second, but Danny should have let Josh handle the ball and should have covered first. That's his position and well...we've practiced that drill often enough.

Bases loaded again, Anderson Hernandez doubles down the infield like to score both Doyle and Mendez. With Travis Bowyer warming up in the bullpen, Grey managed to get out of the inning after he caught Scott Moore swinging and Oeltjen picked off a Rabelo fly out.

The Miracle used their speed, but Oeltjen was not paying attention at one point and did not move when field manager Jose Marzan wanted him to which may have cost us a run.

Brent Tamburrino played at third tonight. Good. Great. His bat is equal to his defense and he had a few things that Omar Burgos would have missed. Keep Boomer at third. He's good there and turned in a better performance then Michael "Sandy" Sandoval or Burgos have managed.

So we were trailing 5-3 up until the 8th. Aside from two walks, Bowyer kept his pitch count in line and did a great job picking off a stealing attempt by Mejia. That's what a like about Bowyer. He's got good movement on his pitches, but he also plays good defensive ball.

In the eight though, Moore singled and Bowyer tossed to first to get him out but it went over the mitt of Matienzo. I think Garrett Jones would have it, but Jones has a longer reach. So it was questionable error charged to Bowyer, but Moore advanced to second and then to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Reynolds then singled to left center which drove in Moore for an unearned run.

Aside from that Travis put in a masterful perfomance on the mound.

Gray picks up the loss with the mess in the second. "Big Bad" John Thomas finished off the game on the hill for the Miracle with one strike out and two fly balls.

Jose Morales had a nice throw to second to end off the fifth inning, picking off Maples in a steal attempt.

We can't hit, and as I know we can't hit, I can't say I was really disappointed by the lack of production. At this point, you just try to find the positives in the game.

Useless info:

I was made an honorary member of the "Old Phartz Club":
Baseball, Brats, Beers and Buddies...
We've worked a lifetime to achieve a goal we've forgotten.

I wish to appologize to Erin Blank for thinking she had designed the mascot. Rather Miracle president Linda McNabb is to blame. It makes sense. Now I know where the whole mascot program when wrong.

It was also Chris Milewski who was in the suit the one day it showed any personality. Unfortunately, the nice lady with the heart of gold who generally portrays the mascot, has a contract, so the mascot shall be banal for the remainder of the season.

Sean Fox is back at the Hammond Stadium mike. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least he knows how to play music.

Pitcher Josh Hill was not actived this last week from the IR because he is still stuck in Australia with visa problems.

Joe Mauer homered today during his DH stint with the extended spring training (Spring Instructional League) program.

And finally former Miracle pitcher Scott Baker threw a 7 inning 1-hitter to win 1-0 on the second game of a Rock Cats twin-bill. He was two outs away from a perfect game before giving up a single. What a way to create a first impression at the AA level!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores104/104139/20040518EAST-NEWBRITAIN2.htm

My buddy "the bowing pitcher" Ryan Cameron suffered the loss for the Sea Dogs (Boston).

The Rock Cats dropped the first game of the double header 4-1. Henry Bonilla took the loss for the Rock Cats.