Down On The Farm: Two More Farmhands Take Home Awards

Montgomery 4, Birmingham 3. Wade Davis allowed only one base runner (a walk) and faced the minimum over the first 6 innings, taking a no-hitter into the 7th, before giving up a lead-off single. He struck out 5 and walked 1 in 6.2 innings to pick up his 5th win. He allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and his ERA now sits at 3.16. Reid Brignac was 1-3 with an RBI.

Palm Beach 9, Vero Beach 2 (game 1). In the first game of his most recent rehab assignment, Rocco Baldelli DH’d and went 0-2, flying out to center twice and had a walk. Derek Feldkamp allowed 2 runs in 5 innings, leaving with the score tied at 2-2.

Vero Beach 6, Palm Beach 1. Rocco Baldelli did not play in the second game. Mike Kamrath pitched a complete game, striking out 7 and allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks. He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. Sergio Pedroza hit 2 home runs and drove in 3. He has 3 home runs in the last 2 days and 22 on the season.

Princeton 3, Kingsport 1 (11 innings). Chris Andujar gave up 1 run in 5 innings. Omar Luna broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI double in the 11th.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• The Durham Bulls and Columbus Catfish had a scheduled night off, while Hudson Valley was postponed due to rain.
• The say many pitchers don’t learn how to pitch until they have had their first major surgery. That may be the case for Doug Waechter as he continues on his comeback trail down in A-ball. [MiLB]

“My fastball is getting back to where it was pre-surgery and I’ve started throwing a cut fastball, which is not only helping me stay consistent with my delivery, but it’s also allowing me to get quicker outs.”

While quicker outs ultimately will lead to more favorable results, Waechter has his eyes set on a much bigger prize.

“My goal is to get back to the Major Leagues as soon as possible. If this is the year, so be it, but I’m just going to continue to go out there, show that I’m healthy and just leave the rest up to the team to decide,” he said.

• Jake McGee was named the Southern League’s pitcher of the week. [Stacy Long’s Riverwalk Talk]
  
• Heath Rollins was named the SAL pitcher of the week for the third time this season. He is 15-4 with a 2.57 ERA. [Basil’s Blog]

Down On The Farm: BJ Upton Makes Final Rehab Start For Vero Beach

Buffalo 3, Durham 1. JP Howell made a spot-start for Durham with Joe Maddon deciding to skip him the first time through the rotation. He struck out 5 and walked none while allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. Michel Hernandez hit a solo home run to drive in the only run for the Bulls.

Mississippi 1, Montgomery 0. James Houser struck out 9 in 6 innings. He was only touched for 2 hits, but one was a second inning solo home run that proved to be the game winner. The Biscuits only managed six hits. Reid Brignac and Evan Longoria were both 1-4. Longoria had a double, his 17th.

Dunedin 6, Vero Beach 4. Doug Waechter made his first rehab start with Vero Beach after making 2 with Hudson Valley. He gave up 9 hits an 5 runs in 4 innings including 1 home run. Rhyne Hughes was 2-4 with his 12th home run. He is now hitting .333. BJ Upton was 1-3 with a walk. He played center field and batter third. Shawn Riggans, who is also on a rehab assignment with Vero Beach was 2-4 as the Rays DH.

Charleston 3, Columbus 0. Wade Townsend dropped to 5-8 on the season, giving up 2 runs in 6 innings. He struck out 3 and walked 3. The Catfish managed only a single hit, a first inning single by Cesar Suarez. Only one other batter would reach base, in the 4th inning when Suarez was hit by a pitch.

Hudson Valley 9, Jamestown 5.

Elizabethton 5, Princeton 4.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Baseball America’s list of top 100 prospects for 2008 will not come out until March, but Evan Longoria will have a very good shot at being #1. [Tulare Advance-Register]

“I think they’ll both [Evan Longoria and Justin Upton] be in the top five,” Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis said. “When you talk about the best players [in the minor leagues], Upton, Longoria, [Detroit Tigers prospect] Cameron Maybin and [Cincinnati Reds prospect] Jay Bruce are going to be included, and you could make an argument to put those players in any order.”

Down On The Farm: Jeff Niemann Is Getting Closer To The Devil Rays

Daytona 7, Vero Beach 6 (gm 1). Jake McGee struck out 11 in 6 innings but gave up 3 runs on 3 solo home runs. Greg Dupas gave up 4 unearned runs in the 7th to blow the lead, the final 3 coming on a 3-run home run with 2 outs. Sergio Pedroza had a 3-run home run in the first and Shawn Riggans was 2-3 in the third game of his rehab assignment.

Daytona 14, Vero Beach 13 (gm 2). Aaron Sisk was 2-3 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI. He now has 7 home runs on the season. Rhyne Hughes was 3-5 with his 11th home run. He is now hitting .331. Jackson Brennan was 2-3 and hit his 5th home run.

Columbus 3, Rome 1. Heath Rollins picked up his third straight win in his past four starts to move to 9-3 on the season. He gave up 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 in 6 shut out innings. Cesar Suarez was 3-5 and stole 2 bases. He is hitting .298 with 20 steals on the year.

Oneonta 6, Hudson Valley 2.

Bristol 5, Princeton 3.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Jeff Niemann is trying to remain patient. One reason he is yet to join the Devil Rays is the need to further develop his new split-finger fastball. Still, he is 5-1 with a 2.80 ERA in his last 6 starts and his time may be sooner rather than later. [St. Pete Times]
  
• Doug Waechter has finished his rehab assignment with the Hudson Valley Renegades and will now move on to Vero Beach to continue his recovery from shoulder surgery. [Hudson Valley Renegades]

It got better every outing…My slider definitely got better every outing. I can feel the velocity — it was there then it wasn’t there then it was back — and that’s a rehab kind of thing.

Down On The Farm: Who Is This Doug Waechter You Speak Of?

Durham 1, Richmond 0. Jae Seo piched 7 innings of 1-hit shutout ball. He struck out 5, walked 1. Chad Orvella allowed only his second base runner, a walk, in one inning of work to pick up his 7th save. Joel Guzman was 2-3 with a double and Ben Zobrist was 2-5. Brent Butler drove in the only run with a single in the 8th.

Montgomery 10, Mobile 0. Mike Prochaska pitched a complete game 6-hit shutout. He struck out 6 and walked 1. Evan Longoria was 2-4 with his league-leading 17th home run and 3 RBI. He is second in the Southern League with 54 RBI and second with a .940 OPS. Reid Brignac was 1-5 and stole his 9th base.

Vero Beach 6, St. Lucie 3. Jake McGee struck out 6 and walked 1 in 6 innings. He allowed 3 runs to move his record to 5-2. Rhyne Hughes continues his hit season, going 3-4 with his 8th home and 4 RBI. He is hitting Florida State League best .342, 17 points higher than the next best hitter.

Columbus 17, Savannah 2. Woods Fines allowed 2 runs in 6 innings for his 5th home run. Desmond Jennings had 4 of Columbus’ 18 hits, including his 11th double, 5th home run and 4 RBI. He also stole his 29th stolen base good for 3rd in the SAL.

Brooklyn 3, Hudson Valley 0. Doug Waechter began a rehab assignment with the Renegades and gave up 2 runs in 3 innings. He did not strike out or walk a batter.

Kingsport 6, Princeton 0.

Down On The Farm: Wade Davis Promoted; Rocco Baldelli Homers In Return

Durham 7, Indy 3. Rocco Baldelli didn’t waste anytime getting his bat warmed up. In just the second at bat of his first live action in over a month, Baldelli hit a solo home run. He finished the game 1-3 with a walk as the Bulls’ DH. Justin Ruggiano went 3-4 and is now hitting .296. He also stole his 11th base. Ben Zobrist was 0-4 and committed his 9th error…On the mound, some guy name Jae Seo made his second minor league start giving up 3 runs in 5 innings.

Jacksonville 5, Montgomery 4. James Houser returned from a strained quad and gave up 3 runs before being pulled with 2 outs in the 5th. Reid Brignac was 1-4 and Evan Longoria was 1-2 with an RBI. John Jaso hit his 6th home run.

Greenville 12, Columbus 7. Heath Rollins was pounded for the 3rd straight start. This time he allowed 9 runs (8 earned) in 3 innings on 8 hits and 2 walks. Desmond Jennings was 4-4 with 3 doubles to raise his average to .297.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Wade Davis has been promoted do AA Montgomery. Davis was 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 starts with Vero Beach. He struck out 88 in 78.1 innings.
• Doug Waechter will join the short-season Hudson Valley Renegades for a rehab assignment.
• Juan Salas will join AA Montgomery in order to prepare for his return from his 50-game suspension.
• An interview with Ben Zobrist on his demotion to Durham.
• Evan Longoria hit his 15th home run on Saturday.
• Jeremy Hellickson gave up 5 runs in 6 innings on Saturday.