7/13/2014 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 5, Louisville Bats 2

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Game 4 of 4

This game wasn't on my schedule, but as I had no Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs games this season and I had a couple of tickets to redeem, I chose this one because...well, it's the Iron Pigs!! Too bad it wasn't a Saturday, or I could have worn by Saturday Bacon cap...but Sunday was the only redemption date available for the Iron Pigs series.

And yes, that's Sean O'Sullivan, appearing in the game as a Pinch Hitter, against Ryan Dennick! It's the second time this season O'Sullivan has been used as a pinch hitter (the first time was in May, and he struck out). O'Sullivan walked in the 8th, but in the 6th (same spot in the order) former Diamondbacks and Angels farmhand RHP Barry Enright also made a pinch-hitting appearance, flying out to center field to end the inning.

Enright was released by the Phillies just a few days later. He was one of my early baseball player twitter follows.

The Iron Pigs had former Bats LHP Jeremy Horst starting today (Horst was traded by the Reds in early 2012 for Wilson Valdez, 2 years later he's nearly faded away, but not quite). Fun fact: jason Marquis was originally scheduled to start! The Bats struck early, with a leadoff double by Hernan Iribarren, and RBI triple by Thomas Neal, and an RBI groudount by Felix Perez.  Mysteriously, Horst only lasted 3 innings, and was replaced by Ethan Martin. For the Bats, David Holmberg started and quite unexpectedly went 5 excellent innings, only allowing one earned run, and left the game with Louisville enjoying a slight lead of 2-1.

Enter Pedro VillaERAreal, who quite expectedly allowed 3 ER in 1.1 innings to give the Iron Pigs a lead that the Bats couldn't reverse. LHP Ryan Dennick gave up one more run in the top of the 9th, courtesy of a SAC fly RBI by Darin Ruf (his 2nd RBI of the game), but the Bats went in order against RHP Luis Garcia in the bottom of the 9th and lost the game with a whimper.

I went solo today, so I got to hang out with our pal Jimmy, who sits in the row in front of us. I'm squinting because THE SUN that's why.

Jimmy and I usually chat on and off during games, but this is the first time since I've been coming here, in these seats, that I've had the opportunity to converse with Jimmy alone. He's one of my favorite people to talk baseball with...Jimmy's understanding of the game and the players who come through these parts is incredible. He should be a scout!!

RHP Ethan Martin faces switch hitting SS Rey Navarro in the 4th inning. Martin is listed as #7 among the Phillies' top 10 prospects.

Navarro flies out to LF Darin Ruf

Martin vs. RF Steve Selsky in the 4th. Selsky is a relative newcomer to the Louisville squad, who is hitting .298/.431/.383 in 19 games.

Louisville LHP David Holmberg, holding his own for now but at the age of 22 he still needs some seasoning, facing Darin Ruf in the 5th inning.

Prior to Ruf's AB, Lehigh Valley 2B Tyler Henson walked and is being held at 1B by Bryan Anderson.

Holmberg's pick-off throw to Anderson...Henson beats it.

Ryan Dennick faces Iron Pigs 3B Russ Canzler in the 9th; again Tyler Henson is at first. Canzler is another International League stalwart who'm I've seen plenty over the years and often with a different team each time (Durham 2001, Columbus 2012, Norfolk and Indianapolis 2013, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Valley 2014). Canzler hits a chopper to Navarro...

Navarro fields the ball...

...makes the toss to 2B Hernan Iribarren...

...who fields it to Anderson, a 6-4-3 inning ending twin killing!!

SCOREKEEPER'S NOTE: This is one of those games where 3 slots for each player in the batting order just isn't enough. With the Iron Pigs pinch-hitting in the #6 spot twice by the top of the 8th inning, another substitution was made in the bottom of the 8th. So where does that 4th man go?

If you are using my customized scoresheets, then you've noticed by now that there are two "open slots" underneath the slots allocated for the #9 batter. They are seldom used, and often under-appreciated, but this is a situation where you can show them some love.  As Nate Spears comes into the game, playing 2B, and in O'Sullivan's spot in the batting order, just enter that info into the first of those 2 open slots, and jot down the batting order number to the left:

Life is good!!!

My Mystery Rookie Card pick was this 2004 Topps Matt Bush #T71. Bush was the 1st overall pick in the 2004 draft by the Padres, out of Mission Bay HS in San Diego.  

The Padres had been infamous for picking "busted" shortstops in the first round, and in 2006 Baseball Prospectus projected that Bush (who was also a pitcher) would continue the tradition. Bush spent most of his early years beset by injuries (including Tommy John surgery in 2008), and developed a bad reputation as a heavy drinker, bar fighter, and the subject of many assault incidents. He was DFA'd in early 2009, and picked up by the Blue Jays in February of that year, who notoriously installed a "zero tolerance" policy for his behavior...a policy that took Bush only just over a month to violate, as the Blue Jays released him on March 30th after he threw a baseball at a woman's head during an altercation. The Tampa Bay Rays signed him to a Minor League deal in 2010, but the injuries again became a problem and eventually Bush's behavior would seal his fate. In March of 2012, Bush ran over and nearly killed a 72-year old man in Port Charlotte, FL (while driving Brandon Guyer's car!) and faced multiple DUI and felony injury charges, for which he would receive a 4-year prison sentence. He'll be released in the summer of 2016. It will be difficult for anyone to top Matt Bush's claim to fame as the Biggest 1st-Round Bust in Baseball History.

Well, that was depressing...but HEY!! I picked up a few more Astros cards!!!

2013 Bowman Chrome George Springer #TP-20, 2013 Bowman Platinum #BPP38 (same pic, still #sexy), and this stellar 2014 Topps Jose Altuve #210, numbered 50 out of 63!

2014 Topps Jarred Cosart #89, this FINE looking 2012 Bowman Sterling Jon Singleton AUTO #BSAP-JS, and 2013 Bowman Platinum Jon Singleton #BPCP24 round out today's hauls!

My scoresheets, using my new pitch-counting method! Read about it HERE, download the scoresheets for free HERE!

Official Program (featuring Tucker Barnhart) and Scorecard

My actual game ticket...

...and this is the Ticket that I swapped, featuring Josh Fellhauer, a fan favorite here last year who only appeared in 9 games in Louisville this season, was demoted to AA Pensacola early on, and is currently with the Milwaukee Brewers system in AA Huntsville.

Bat Chat and Gameday Stats

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9/20/11 Omaha Storm Chasers 3, Columbus Clippers 9

Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, NM
Triple-A National Championship Game

Who has the power to silence the Storm Chasers? …you’re looking at him!


One of the strongest teams in Minor League Baseball that features some of the finest prospect talent in any organization, the Omaha Storm Chasers making it to the AAA Playoffs certainly didn’t surprise me. That being said, this year’s Columbus Clippers team is a lot like last year’s team…also strong, also from a decent farm system, and last year’s returning champions.



In a one-game playoff, the principles of “Tournament Baseball” are key to success. I won’t sugar-coat my ham-handed analysis one single bit: Mike Jirschele didn’t demonstrate a respect for the Clippers’ ability to rally exponentially, and left his hand-picked SP (the well-baked Sean O’Sullivan) in for one inning too many.

The Storm Chasers got on the board in clever fashion in the first inning, fueled by a 2-RBI triple off the bat of Lorenzo Cain. They scored 3 in that frame against Martinez, but ended their pre-emptive rally right there; Martinez demonstrated an amazing command performance, handcuffing the Storm Chasers for his remaining 6 innings of work and turning Omaha’s finest into chicken feed for the formidable Clippers.

O’Sullivan’s career has been a decidedly rocky one…he hasn’t been able to perform that well in the Majors, as many Royals fans are well aware of. Is O’Sullivan nothing more than a AAAA pitcher? Let’s consult Baseball-Reference and see if there’s an answer hiding somewhere…

Here are some key pitching stats (flush the W-L and ERA down the toilet for now):

SOS Career (MLB and MiLB)
This certainly isn’t überstatistical breaking news, but yes, O’Sullivan seems to pitch better in the Minors than in the Majors. Most of us would agree that 6.6 SO/9 and 1.271 WHIP isn’t really horrible, even if it is in the Minors. In fact, these numbers are really close to Joe Martinez’ 7.4 SO/9 and 1.244 WHIP in his 7 seasons in MiLB. So, what’s happening to Sean O’Sullivan?

Let’s look at O’Sullivan’s MiLB career, year-by-year:
Here, we can see some regression in the Minors…improved WHIP and SO/BB in 2011 from 2010, but overall SO/9 is somewhat stagnant, WHIP overall is increasing. Martinez’ WHIP by comparison is holding steady overall, as is his SO/9. Comparison to Martinez is only valid in that this is who O’Sullivan is facing; the bigger question is: how can we expect O’Sullivan to be a Major League ready pitcher anytime soon? He’s choking at the MLB level and MiLB hitters are figuring him out, and it shows.

Here’s my point: Mike Jirschele is a very good manager; we’re talking about Tournament Baseball here, O’Sullivan had a great 3 groundout 1st inning…after the Clippers’ 3-run 2nd inning, he should have given O’Sullivan the hook when he had the chance and brought in some of the Storm Chasers stellar relief. The bullpen allowed 2 runs after O’Sullivan’s 3IP, 6ER exit; would the Clippers have still won? Probably, yes. Would the Storm Chasers have been working so hard to make up for a 3-run deficit to start the 4th inning? Not at all. The formula is simple: 1 game playoff = don’t let questionable pitchers stay in the game…it just isn’t necessary. Particularly with Sean O’Sullivan on the mound and failing so early.

It’s more than stingingly ironic that in this single playoff game, starting pitching helped bury the Storm Chasers…just as it did for the Royals all season long!

As for Joe Martinez…let’s hope this isn’t the game of his career (which isn’t over yet, by any means), but this certainly was a definitive highlight of his MiLB career so far. I was fortunate enough to meet Joe after a Clippers/Bats game here in Louisville this past summer, and the Storm Chasers loss aside, it was great to see him pull through in this game and not only lead the Clippers to a Triple-A Championship victory, but also end up as the recipient of the esteemed Bobby Murcer Memorial MVP Award after the game…something I’d much rather remember him for than a Mike Cameron line drive in 2009 that nearly took his head off.

I watched this game on MLB Network, courtesy of a feed from Versus (the game was called by Robert Portnoy and former Omaha Royals manager Bucky Dent, who is also known for a few other baseball moments). The folks at Versus were apparently mesmerized by Lance Zawadzki; not so much by his performance as a player, but moreso by his interesting last name.

For starters, Versus spelled his name accurately upon his appearance in the Storm Chasers’ starting lineup:

Zawadzki’s first plate appearance, in the 1st inning…his name is still spelled correctly:

5 innings later, Lance is suddenly “Zwadski” without realizing it:

Someone sends a text message to the Versus folks operating the character generator (Cheech and Chong, perhaps?) and they do their best to correct the error…but don’t quite make it right; Lance is now “Zawadski” in the 8th inning:

The Clippers win the championship; Lance Zawadzki and Kila Ka’aihue were released by the Royals soon after this game. Sean O’Sullivan remains with the Royals and as of December 2011 is still on their 40-man roster.





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5/12/11 Kansas City Royals 11, New York Yankees 5

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Game 3 of 3

Hello, Eric Hosmer…welcome to Major League Baseball!
This was my first “official” look at Hosmer in a Royals uniform. I already had this broadcast dialed in a few weeks prior, as an out-of-market fan I try to catch every Royals TV broadcast I can manage to (except for those on ESPN, my boycott is still in full force). When Hosmer was called up by the Royals to appear in his first MLB game ever on May 6, 2011, I was sure to be watching this broadcast, even though it was against the high-media-profile Yankees.

I was certainly not disappointed.



On gameday, the Yankees series is tied 1-1 and the Royals were 20-17, in 2nd place in the AL Central and 3-1/2 games behind the surprising Cleveland Indians. Hope springs eternal! Calling up Hosmer as early as they did controversially reduced his definitive playing time for the Royals by one year. Will the callup improve the Royals’ chances for an AL Central crown, or even anything beyond that? Only time will tell.

After a rocky start for the year (1-2 in 4 starts and 2 relief appearances, including a blown save, 3.41 ERA) Sean O’Sullivan’s outings are getting longer (5 innings on his first start, 8 innings in his last start) and he’s boasting a consistent, yet unformidable average Game Score of 58 over those 4 starts. His opponent today, Ivan Nova, is faring somewhat better in the W-L category, but is a bit inferior in ERA and Game Score, mostly hampered by a few rough starts; when the Yankees need him the least, he’s starting to catch up. But not tonight.

Nova is roughed up “right off the bat” (pun totally intended) as the Royals clobber little Ivan during a ferocious 6-run 2nd inning. Nova would leave the game in the 4th without recording an out, allowing 10 hits total and 8 runs (4 ER) buffered by 19 total bases (including 3 doubles and 2 HRs). Amaury Sanit makes his MLB Debut and attempts to keep the lid on the Royals, he lasts through the 8th with 3 more ER to his credit, with the Royals up 11-4 on the Yankees.

Hosmer’s family is in attendance, and gets to see him plunk his 2nd HR in as many series (not to mention his 2nd MLB career HR), he finishes the game going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 7 total bases.

This is the Royals’ first series win in New York since August of 1999, ending the longest winless road series in MLB. The Royals are rubbing their eyes with a season-high 16 hits. The amazing item of note is, despite the final linescore you see above, consider the following:

Royals: Team LOB = 12, Team RISP = 6-15 (.400)
Yankees: Team LOB = 5, Team RISP = 2-6 (.333)

It’s hard to put one’s finger on ‘what went wrong’ here, other than kudos to O’Sullivan and Blake Wood in relief for handcuffing the Yankees where it counts the most…and caveat to the Royals for producing such a level of offense (against such a flaccid pitching staff) yet stranding so many baserunners in the process. The ‘glass half full’ analysis is: the Royals beat the crap out of inferior pitching performance. The ‘glass half empty’ analysis is: the Royals stand the chance of being shelled in return should they face a pitching squad just a few percentage points better than this one, in similar circumstances.

An early Eric Hosmer callup isn’t going to sway the risk of the latter in having an effect upon their season.




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