Royals on the Farm 9/6 -- NWA swept

AA - NW Arkansas: Arkansas 6, Naturals 3 (11)

SS Lisson 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K, 2 RS -- .250
RF McFall 2-5, SB (2) -- .364
CF Duarte 0-5, 2 K -- .083
1B Richardson 0-3, BB, HBP -- .100
LF Lucas 1-4, BB -- .100

Hardy 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, K, HRA -- 5.40 ERA
Atencio 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Hamulack 2 IP, 3 K -- 0.00 ERA
Crist IP, 3 ER, 3 H, BB -- L, 0-1, 27.00 ERA

*** The teams were scoreless for 6 innings before Kyle Crist faltered in the 11th and Arkansas got the 3-game sweep to put an abrupt end to the Naturals' first season in Springdale. The Travelers got started with 2 runs in the 2nd on 4 hits off Rowdy Hardy. Mario Lisson proved equal to the task, however, as he smoked a 1-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Hardy served up a solo homer in the 4th but Lisson cranked his 2nd homer of the game in the bottom of the inning to keep the Nats tied. Neither team threatened until NWA stranded 2 in the bottom of the 9th, and the Naturals stranded 2 more in the 10th. Kyle Crist came on for the 11th and had 2 on with 2 out when a double and 2-run single gave Arkansas a 6-3 lead. Rafael Rodriguez pitched a perfect inning for the Travs for his 3rd save of the 3-game series. RP Doug Brandt got the win after recording only 1 out on 1 pitch. Starter David Austen worked 9 innings of 3 ER allowed. DH Hank Conger was the offensive standout for the Travs with a 3-5 night with a double, HR, 4 RBI and 2 RS. SS Wilberto Ortiz also had 2 hits for the Travs.

The Naturals' season is over with the 3-game sweep. They finished the regular season 42-28 in the second half and 75-65 overall.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: done at 69-71 overall

Tops in OPS (min. 150 ABs)

OF Cody Strait .296 BA/.362 OBP/.571 SLG, .934 OPS, 39 RS, 13 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR (led team), 35 RBI, 19 BB/40 K, 11/13 SB, 2 E in 54 games and 196 ABs -- was playing at AA in Reds' organization, don't know why he didn't get chance at NWA this season
1B/DH Brad Correll .277/.365/.497, .863 OPS, 34 RS, 18 2B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 26 BB/35 K, 9 E in 52 games and 191 ABs -- former T-Bone really tailed off late after starting out hot with Rocks
OF Joe Dickerson .297/.376/.442, .818 OPS, 39 RS, 10 2B, 10 3B (led team despite Orlando having more), 5 HR, 45 RBI, 31 BB/48 K, 24/38 SB, 2 E in 87 games and 310 ABs -- Rocks could have used his bat in playoffs, finger injury cut season short
IF Kurt Mertins .282/.351/.400, .751 OPS, 60 RS, 27 2B, 7 3B, 3 HR, 46 RBI, 36 BB/91 K, 28/33 SB, 13 E (2nd on team) in 118 games and 425 ABs -- flirted with .300 midway through season
IF Josh Johnson .253/.399/.337, .736 OPS, 49 RS, 13 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 85 BB/76 K (nice), 14/26 SB, 11 E in 118 games and 359 ABs -- good at getting on base but has trouble hitting for much power

others of note.... OF Paulo Orlando .732 OPS (would have led team in several categories but accrued most stats with Winston-Salem, 136 H, 84 RS, 20 2B, 14 3B, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 30 BB/116 K, 29/42 SB, 3 E in 130 games and 522 ABs, as you can see, getting on base can be a problem at times, but he does have some pop).... IF Jeff Bianchi .732 OPS (only .290 OBP, 57 RS, 34 2B (led team), 5 3B, 10 HR, 61 RBI (led team), 20 BB/95 K, 13/17 SB, 7 E in 104 games and 396 ABs, salvaged season after poor start, streaky hitter who needs to learn to get on base more, at least he stayed relatively healthy).... OF Adrian Ortiz .786 OPS (only 28 games/103 ABs, 7 XBH, 12 RBI, 9 BB/11 K, 5/10 SB, .388 OBP, assume he'll lead off in Wilmington or NWA next season).... SS Chris McConnell .659 OPS (led team with 28 E, only slugged .325, 29 2B, 48 BB/71 K, 23/39 SB in 120 games and 461 ABs).... OF Derrick Robinson .638 OPS (62/79 SB (led league), 69 RS led team (non-Orlando), only .316 OBP and they led him off all season, 122 H led team (non-Orlando), 22 2B, 8 3B, 51 BB/97 K, 6 E in 124 games and 497 ABs, reminds me of Gathright)....

Tops in WHIP (min. 40 IP and still on roster)

Henry Barrera 0-3, 2.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4 SV, 2 HRA, 24 BB/78 K in 42 games and 57 2/3 IP -- other than delivery problem, had good season
Aaron Hartsock 12-5 (led team and tied league lead in wins), 3.46 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 1 SV, 4 HRA, 22 BB/58 K in 42 games and 78 IP -- nice year out of pen
Everett Teaford 8-6, 3.80 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 1 SV, 15 HRA (tied team lead), 46 BB/116 K in 28 games (23 starts) and 144 1/3 IP (led team) -- arguably could have been Rocks pitcher of year, gave up too many HR
Greg Holland 4-5, 3.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4 SV, 4 HRA, 35 BB/96 K in 32 games (7 starts) and 84 1/3 IP -- started out in rotation but moved to pen after injury probs
Ed Cegarra 6-7, 4.67 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 15 HRA (tied team lead), 21 BB/59 K in 18 starts and 106 IP -- tore up Burlington, then struggled at times in Wilmington, but also excelled some, won one league pitcher of week award

others of note.... Matt Kniginyzky 1.30 WHIP (shared team lead in losses at 9-8, 3.57 ERA, 7 HRA, 51 BB/113 K -- HRA and ERA won him team pitcher of year award).... Blake Wood posted an 0.82 WHIP in 57 1/3 IP before getting his chance at NWA.... Mario Santiago 1.37 WHIP (also led team in losses at 8-8, only 3.43 ERA, 9 HRA, 39 BB/86 K in 27 starts and 141 2/3 IP, had flashes of very good stuff).... Ben Swaggerty 1.42 WHIP (only 2.66 ERA in 47 1/3 IP).... Jason Godin 1.43 WHIP (2-7, 5.33 ERA, 5 HRA, 24 BB/44 K in 14 starts and 72 2/3 IP before getting jaw broken by liner)... Ray Liotta 1.47 WHIP (1.80 ERA, 8 BB/10 K in 4 starts and 15 IP as comeback from surgery continues).... Tyler Chambliss 1.55 WHIP (24 saves nearly tied team record, 6 HRA, 32 BB/45 K in 59 1/3 IP, had his troubles in last couple months).... Russ Haltiwanger 1.58 WHIP (God bless him, but I can't get over the fact this is what we got for Jeff Keppinger)

A - Burlington: Bees 4, Cedar Rapids 2 (11)

SS Martin 2-4, 2B, 2 E -- .500
RF Van Stratten 1-4, HBP, 3B, 2 RBI, K -- .167, triple was very big
LF Francis 1-5, HR, RBI, K, RS -- .200
2B Giavotella 1-5, K, CS, E -- .214
3B Moustakas 0-4, BB, RS -- .091
1B Taylor 1-4, BB, 2B, K -- .333
DH C. Robinson 1-2, BB, HBP -- .500

Herrera 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 K, E -- .300 ERA, solid start
Fisher 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA
Z. Peterson IP, K -- SV, 1, 5.40 ERA

*** The Bees continued to roll but worked hard for the win with a run in the 9th and 2 in the 11th to take the pivotal game 1 of the best-of-3 with Cedar Rapids. Kelvin Herrera gave up a run on 2 hits in the 2nd and, after Burlington stranded 2 in the 4th, Herrera worked through trouble that inning as the Bees committed 3 errors but threw out a runner at the plate and got another one on the basepaths to escape a jam. Nick Francis led off the 5th with a homer to tie it for the Bees but the Kernels regained the lead with a run on 3 hits in the bottom of the inning off Herrera. Clint Robinson took a leadoff walk in the 9th and the Kernels brought in RP Eddie McKiernan to finish it. Nick Van Stratten was hit by a pitch and pinch runner Juan Rivera (for Robinson) stole third before a Francis double play ball scored Rivera to tie the game. Brent Fisher stranded 2 Kernels in the 10th and, with 2 on and 1 out in the 11th, Van Stratten ripped a 2-run triple to right and the Bees took the 4-2 lead. Zach Peterson set the Kernels down 1-2-3 in the 11th for the save. McKiernan took the loss and blown save with 2 ER allowed over 3 IP. Starter Robert Fish pitched well with only 1 ER allowed over 7 IP. 2B Hector Estrella had 3 hits for the Kernels.

The Bees lead the best-of-3 1-0 going into today's game 2 at home. Luis Cota starts for Burlington vs. Kernels SP Michael Davitt. South Bend and Dayton are squaring off in the MWL Eastern finals.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: done at 33-43 overall

Tops in OPS (min.150 ABs)

OF Carlo Testa .304 BA (led regulars in hitting)/.395 OBP (also led team)/.462 SLG, .857 OPS, 37 RS, 6 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 25 BB/51 K, 12/16 SB, 2 E in 51 games and 171 ABs -- stood out among KC '08 draftees
IF Devery Van De Keere .280/.358/.465, .823 OPS, 34 RS, 17 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 22 BB/39 K, 5/7 SB, 14 E in 61 games and 200 ABs -- DVDK had his great moments this season
SS J.D. Alfaro .266/.300/.504, .804 OPS, 41 RS, 22 2B (led team), 5 3B (tied team lead), 9 HR (led team), 55 RBI (led team), 10 BB/72 K (weakest point), 9/11 SB, 15 E in 59 games and 248 ABs -- also stood out among draftees, didn't get on base very well but did everything else pretty well
OF Shawn Griffin .249/.346/.389, .735 OPS, 41 RS, 15 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 38 BB/83 K, 14/19 SB, 4 E in 69 games and 257 ABs -- ho-hum
C Sean McCauley .278/.347/.385, .732 OPS, 26 RS, 12 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 17 BB/28 K, 7 E in 45 games and 169 ABs -- not great numbers for team player of year, I woulda gone with Alfaro or Testa

others of note.... Eric Hosmer hit for a 1.079 OPS in his whopping 11 ABs before Boras and Alvarez screwed the Royals out of any more playing time from Hosmer this season.... C Salvador Perez also impressed by hitting for a .994 OPS in 12 games late in the season, and is younger than Hosmer.... OF Nick Francis hit for a .978 OPS in 31 games prior to his call-up to Burlington.... IF Antonio Jimenez .709 OPS (led team with 18 E, 81 H, and 86 Ks).... OF Patrick Norris .706 OPS (led team with 58 RS, also hit .263, 44 BB/67 K, 33/39 SB (led league), also solid defensively).... 1B Tito Espinosa .572 OPS (10 2B, 16 BB/45 K, 9 E in 56 games and 199 ABs in pro debut, may repeat the level?)

Tops in WHIP (min. 20 IP)

Justin Garcia 4-1 (tied team lead in wins), 3.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 3 SV, HRA, 5 BB/35 K in 18 games and 42 IP -- solid out of pen
Blaine Hardy 1-0, 4.15 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 4 SV (led team), 5 HRA, 8 BB/34 K in 21 games and 34 2/3 IP
Bryan Casey 3-5, 3.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 6 HRA, 26 BB/66 K in 16 starts and 72 1/3 IP (led team) -- team pitcher of year, pretty easy pick
Ivor Hodgson 3-6 (led team in losses), 3.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 1 HRA, 33 BB/67 K in 15 starts and 71 2/3 IP -- challenged Casey down stretch
Tim Huber 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3 HRA, 13 BB/18 K -- peripherals not impressive, but seemed to do OK for IF

others of note.... Colby Beach 1.40 WHIP (4-4 shared team lead in wins, 6.00 ERA belies some good work late, 10 HRA led team, 16 BB/51 K in 15 games (7 starts) and 48 IP).... Derrick Saito 1.61 WHIP (3 HRA, 19 BB/37 K in 33 IP in pro debut).... Aneidy Toribio 1.65 WHIP (led team with 68 K, 7 HRA, 33 BB/68 K in 16 games (15 starts) and 61 2/3 IP).... Ryan Morgan 2.05 WHIP (34 BB/32 K in Rockhurst product's pro debut, yeesh).... Stephen Gilgenbach 2.21 WHIP (another poor debut for '08 draftee, but improved late)