Royals on the Farm 9/12

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

Midland finished off the TL South Division Series so will face NWA for the best-of-5 TL Championship Series starting Tuesday in Midland. The Naturals were 3-9 against the RockHounds (78-62, AA Athletics) this season.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: Lynchburg 5, Blue Rocks 2 (best of 5 tied, 2-2)

2B Giavotella 3-4, HBP, 2 RS, 2 SB (3) -- .389
C Eigsti 2-3, BB -- .250
3B Moustakas 1-4, SF, 2B (3), 2 RBI (3), K -- .267
CF D. Robinson 0-5, 2 K -- .158, has really set the table in leadoff spot this series (sarcasm)
DH C. Robinson 0-2, 2 BB, HBP -- .071
1B Hosmer 0-5, E -- .111, grounded into 2 DPs
RF Van Stratten 1-3, BB, K -- .125
LF Stovall 0-4, K -- .000, Rocks debut
* The Rocks stranded 12.

Caldera 5 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, K -- 1.59 ERA
Rivas 1 2/3 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, WP -- BS, 1, L, 0-1, 5.40 ERA
Z. Peterson 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, BB, K, 2 HRA -- 4.91 ERA

*** Wilmington lost a 1-run lead in the 6th and the Hillcats scored 3 late runs to force the series to its limit. Mike Moustakas hit an RBI double in the 1st but the Rocks stranded 2. An Eric Hosmer error allowed the tying run to score in the 2nd but Moustakas hit a sac fly in the 3rd to make it 2-1 Wilmington. Carlos Rivas came in with 2 on and 2 out in the 6th and allowed the tying single before the Rocks escaped the jam. The Rocks stranded runners here and there and Zach Peterson served up a 2-run homer to the first batter he faced -- Pirates '09 first rounder C Tony Sanchez -- in the 8th. The Rocks stranded 2 in the 8th and Peterson gave up a solo homer in the 9th and the Rocks didn't rally.

The deciding game 5 is tonight in Lynchburg as Kelvin Villa (6-8, 3.38) makes only his 2nd start of the season versus Hillcats righty Bryan Morris (4-9, 5.57).

A - Burlington: Bees 3, Cedar Rapids 2 (Bees lead best-of-3, 1-0)

DH Griffin 1-3, HBP, 2 RBI (3), K -- .231
LF Ortiz 1-3, BB, RBI (3), K, RS, SB (2) -- .615
CF Norris 0-3, BB, K, OF assist at home -- .250
1B Taylor 0-3, BB, 2 K -- .545
3B Morales 0-4, 3 K -- .429
SS R. Wood 1-2, BB, K -- .200, left with leg injury in 7th
* RF David Wood had an OF assist at home.

Baez 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K, WP -- W, 1-0, 1.80 ERA
Lafferty 2 IP, 3 H, 2 K -- 0.00 ERA
B. Hardy 2 IP, 2 K -- SV, 1, 0.00 ERA

*** A 3-run rally did the trick for Burlington in the division series opener with Cedar Rapids. Manauris Baez got off to a rough start as the Kernels scored 2 in the 1st, but that was all the damage he'd allow. The Bees left the bases full in the 2nd and Cedar Rapids did the same in the 3rd as David Wood gunned down a runner at the plate in the inning via relay man Ryan Wood. The Bees' rally came with 2 out in the 5th as Adrian Ortiz singled home a run and Shawn Griffin came through with a bases-loaded, 2-run single to make it 3-2 Bees. Patrick Norris nailed a runner at the plate from center to end the Kernels 7th and Blaine Hardy pitched 2 perfect innings for his 1st playoff save.

Game 2 is already under way this afternoon in Cedar Rapids as Sam Runion (5-11, 6.60) faces Kernels righty Manaurys Correa (8-10, 4.47).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: done at 43-31

OPS check (* - led team)

> C Wil Myers 1.223 OPS -- .426/.488/.735, 18 RS, 7 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 9 BB/15 K, 2/2 SB, 1 E in 18 G/68 ABs -- had to make note, surely he'll be in Burlington (A) to start 2010, got a fan's hopes up in ways neither Moustakas or Hosmer did right off the bat, hit for 1.375 OPS in 11 Sept. games, 1.025 OPS in 24 ABs with runners in scoring position
> OF Carlo Testa .973 OPS -- .305/.388/.585*, 22 RS, 11 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 16 BB/32 K, 9/12 SB, E in 32 G/118 ABs -- season cut short by injury, had good season last year at IF and hit for more than 100 points more in OPS this year, should be in Burlington (A) to start 2010, turns 23 in December
> IF/OF Ryan Stovall .834 OPS -- .323*/.358/.476, 23 RS, 15 2B*, 2 3B, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 8 BB/27 K, 2/5 SB, 8 E in 37 G/124 ABs -- defense is a definite ?, but the '09 draftee showed he can hit, also turns 23 in December, should be a Bee next season
> OF Hilton Richardson .819 OPS -- .313/.392*/.428, 34 RS, 12 2B, 2 3B, HR, 17 RBI, 19 BB/44 K, 20/21 SB*, 4 E in 48 G/166 ABs -- earned callup to Burlington, likely where he'll start 2010...
> IF Deivy Batista .809 OPS -- .262/.309/.500, 50 RS*, 8 2B, 6 3B*, 13 HR*, 56 RBI*, 19 BB/68 K*, 9/14 SB, 19 E* in 61 G/248 ABs -- led the team in several categories, good and bad, turned 21 in May, faded as season progressed, showed some pop, tho...he's a free swinger...likely '10 Bee

others...
> C Salvador Perez .777 OPS -- .309/.357/.421, 35 RS, 14 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 38 RBI, 19 BB/25 K, 0/1 SB, 3 E in 59 G/233 ABs -- started season with .466 OPS in 36 games with the Bees, then hit OK at Idaho Falls, good average, not a ton of pop yet, but can get on base, doesn't K a lot...had down July but good August and decent September, turned 19 in May, so he's still young, should get another shot at A-ball in 2010
> IF Angel Franco .760 OPS -- .301/.372/.387, 42 RS, 7 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 28 BB*/42 K, 17/25 SB, 11 E in 67 G*/266 ABs* -- also flailed at Burlington for .484 OPS in 16 games, also only 19 as of May, came on late with .903 OPS in August and 1.044 OPS in September, hopefully can duplicate this in second chance at A-ball in 2010
> C/1B/DH Joey Lewis .760 OPS -- .275/.354/.406, 8 RS, 6 2B, HR, 9 RBI, 8 BB/25 K, 2 E in 20 G/69 ABs -- pro debut was OK, hit for 1.018 OPS at home, .448 OPS on road, also only .601 OPS in night games, .408 OPS in September, don't know where he'll be come 2010
> C Ben Theriot .744 OPS -- .290/.389/.355, 15 RS, 4 2B, 3B, 15 RBI, 14 BB/16 K, 1/2 SB, 4 E in 30 G/93 ABs -- season cut short by injury, hit better on road, hit for 1.116 OPS with RISP...Bees C is gonna be a log jam if Perez, Theriot, Myers and Fernando Cruz are all in the mix...
> 1B Tito Espinosa .739 OPS -- .271/.355/.384, 25 RS, 14 2B, 3 3B, HR, 27 RBI, 23 BB/45 K, 2/4 SB, 9 E in 57 G/203 ABs -- turns 23 this week...hit much better in second time around at Idaho Falls, hit for over .800 OPS in July and September, may be a Bee in 2010, was consistently mediocre...
> IF Jason Morales .731 OPS -- turns 24 in December, so maybe that's why he got a shot at Burlington, which he's made count, nothing really spectacular to note at IF
> IF J.D. Alfaro .711 OPS -- turned 21 in April, hit for .423 OPS in 27 games with the Bees, then undershot his 2008 OPS in Idaho Falls, got on base better than last season in IF but contact and power dropped...only hit for .562 OPS at home, OPS was in the .500s in July and August...it was a tough season for J.D.
> IF Malcom Culver .563 OPS -- first taste of high-rookie ball, will likely be back in 2010
> OF Alex Llanos .529 OPS -- .223/.252/.277, 12 RS, 5 2B, 5 BB/42 K (!), 3/7 SB, 3 E in 32 G/130 ABs -- hit well enough in AZL to earn call up but struggled in the Pioneer League, look at that BB/K!....turns 19 Sept. 21...probably a Chukar again in 2010
> OF Jovan Pickett .501 OPS -- NDFA got late season shot at Idaho Falls and didn't do much with it, turns 22 in November, will probably start 2010 in Idaho Falls...but might get a shot at Burlington since he's the speedy, low-contact type guy the FO loves...

WHIP check

> RP Scott Kelley 0.87 WHIP -- 1-0, 0.00, 2 SV, 5 BB/19 K in 5 G/15 IP -- .163 OAV, made short stops in Burlington (R) and IF before moving on to help Wilmington in the playoffs, struggled in first A-Adv. appearance, tho
> RP Patrick Keating 0.99 WHIP -- 5*-1, 1.78, 8 SV*, HRA, 10 BB/46 K in 22 G/30 1/3 IP -- great K rate and K/BB, .187 OAV, earned trip with Kelley to Wilmington
> SP John Lamb 1.06 WHIP -- 3-1, 3.70, 4 HRA, 11 BB/46 K in 8 starts/41 1/3 IP -- also good K rate and K/BB, .217 OAV, had great August, 3-0, .186 OAV before being shut down for season because of workload, should be in Bees' rotation to start 2010, turned 19 in July
> SP Ivor Hodgson 1.11 WHIP -- 2-0, 2.49, HRA, 7 BB/16 K in 5 starts/21 2/3 IP -- has served himself well after callup to Bees, even if OAV has jumped from .213 at IF to .285 with the Bees, already 23, so should be with Bees or Blue Rocks to start 2010
> RP Cole White 1.33 WHIP -- 3-2, 1.29*, 3 SV, HRA, 13 BB/23 K in 12 G/21 IP -- .205 OAV, got call to Burlington, where he hasn't done as well but has held his own

others...
> P Nick Wooley 1.35 WHIP -- 3-2, 4.78, 4 HRA, 10 BB/40 K in 13 G (9 starts)/49 IP -- turned 21 in April, .279 OAV, had good July and better September, much better numbers in relief
> P Brendan Lafferty 1.40 WHIP -- 4-1, 2.85, 4 SV, 4 HRA, 15 BB/48 K in 15 G (2 starts)/53 2/3 IP -- '09 draftee from UCLA pitched better than WHIP looks, but had .284 OAV, turned 23 in May...got late call to Bees pen
> P Santiago Garrido 1.50 WHIP -- 5.01 ERA, 6 HRA*, 31 BB*/44 K in 14 starts/64 2/3 IP* -- .264 OAV, had brutal 8.10 ERA in June, did better thereafter...turns 20 in October, may need to move to pen?
> P Bryan Paukovits 1.52 WHIP -- 6 HRA*, 18 BB/57 K* in 13 G (12 starts)/56 IP -- good K rate and K/BB, .293 OAV tho, lefties hit .329 off him, horrid July followed by mediocre August and good Sept., turned 22 in June
> P Richard Folmer 1.52 WHIP -- 8 SV*, 4 HRA, 15 BB/42 K in 23 G*/33 IP -- good K rate, K/BB, .278 OAV, had bad August to bump what were good numbers...
> P Mitch Hodge 1.69 WHIP -- 2 SV, 13 BB/24 K, 1 HRA in 20 G/32 IP -- .313 OAV, OK July, good Sept. but bad June and August...still isn't getting it done...
> P Ryan Dennick 1.77 WHIP -- only 3 appearances in late callup from B-Royals...
> P Chris Dwyer 2.31 WHIP -- 0-0, 4.15, HRA, 8 BB/15 K in 4 starts/8 2/3 IP -- not a great debut, .324 OAV, likely to start 2010 with Bees, tho