Royals on the Farm 9/18 -- NWA makes its last stand

11-0 Royals wins will always hold a special place in my heart.

It feels like the Royals have been playing like the '27 Yanks recently, and they're only 10-6 this month. Tells you how the season has been going in KC.

AA - NW Arkansas: Midland 9, Naturals 7 (Midland leads best-of-5, 2-1)

LF Lough 2-4, BB, 2B (2), HR (2), 2 RBI (4), K, 2 RS -- .500
CF Dyson 2-5, 2B, K, RS, OF assist at home -- .333
DH V. Wilson 2-4, 2B (3) -- .429
2B Maddox 2-4, 2B (2), RS -- .292
1B C. Smith 1-4, HR, 3 RBI (4), K, RS, E -- .360
3B Mertins 0-4, SF, RBI (8), K -- .192
SS Bianchi 0-4, BB, 3 K -- .296

B. Johnson 2 1/3 IP, 6 R (4 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HRA, WP -- L, 0-1, 20.25 ERA
B. Wood 1 1/3 IP, H -- 0.00 ERA, left after taking hard grounder off foot
Castaneda 4 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 3 K, 3 HRA -- 6.75 ERA, home run derby
Orvella 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K -- 6.75 ERA

*** Midland flexed the offense Friday as the RockHounds took a 7-0 lead and held on to move within a game of a Texas League crown. Blake Johnson had a rough 1st as Corey Smith made a 2-run throwing error at first and Midland scored 3 times in all in the frame. Johnson stranded 2 in the 2nd but wouldn't survive the 3rd as Midland scored 3 more runs to bring Blake Wood in, down 6-0. Meanwhile, the Naturals had 1 hit through 3 innings off Midland SP Kyle Middleton. Wood left after taking a hard grounder off his foot in the 4th and, after NWA stranded 2 in the 4th, Federico Castaneda gave up a solo homer in the 5th to make it 7-0 Midland. Marc Maddox doubled and scored on a Kurt Mertins sac fly to get the Naturals on the board in the 5th but Castaneda served up another solo shot in the 6th before stranding 2. David Lough slammed a 2-run homer in the 6th for his 1st of the playoffs but Castaneda gave up another solo homer in the 8th to make it 9-3 Hounds. Corey Smith made it more of a ballgame in the 8th with a 3-run blast for his 1st of the playoffs and Jarrod Dyson doubled and scored on an error in the 9th to cut the lead to 2 but that was all the Naturals could do. Middleton got the win with 3 ER allowed over 6 1/3 IP and SS Josh Horton had 2 HR in the win. Four Hounds had multiple hits in all, with 3 having 2 RBI.

Game 4 is a matinee today as NWA is in a must-win situation. Everett Teaford (3-7, 5.11) faces Midland righty Tyson Ross (5-4, 3.96). Castaneda and Wood have both been added to the Royals' AFL contingent.

A - Burlington: stat wrap

OPS check (* - led team)

> OF Nick Van Stratten .840 OPS -- .318*/.393*/.447, 50 RS, 20 2B, 5 3B*, HR, 38 RBI, 28 BB/32 K, 15/21 SB, 2 E in 69 G/255 ABs -- earned call-up he got, will be in either Wilmington or NWA to start 2010, I'd bet...turned 24 in May
> IF Jason Morales .824 OPS -- .300/.338/.486, 12 RS, 6 2B, 2 3B, HR, 12 RBI, 3 BB/13 K, 2/3 SB, 4 E in 20 G/70 ABs -- turns 24 in December, .731 OPS in hitter-friendly Pioneer League somehow got him call to Burlington, but he stepped up to post best numbers of season there. Hit for 1.022 OPS with RISP.
> OF Nick Francis .787 OPS -- .275/.320/.467*, 59 RS*, 24 2B, 4 3B, 16 HR* (only one in double digits), 66 RBI*, 28 BB/122 K* (yikes), 13/19 SB, 8 E in 113 G/415 ABs* -- tumultuous season for Nick, hit for over 1.000 OPS in April, was suspended a couple games at one point for team rules stuff, went through bad June-July swoon, then picked it back up in August to hit for over 1.000 OPS only to get a 50-game drug suspension. We'll see if he's still in organization in 2010. If not for his June/July, plus maybe his attitude???, he probably would have ended up in Wilmington, too. Still only 23.
> OF Shawn Griffin .749 OPS -- .285/.335/.414, 19 RS, 13 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 14 BB/52 K, 1/7 SB (yikes), 2 E in 53 G/186 ABs -- turned 23 in August, got 1 whole game in IF before getting called up to Bees, hit for only .378 OPS against lefties, only .705 OPS on road, had strong July and decent August but not so good in short September. Did hit for .877 OPS with RISP. Probably Wilmington-bound in 2010.
> IF Jason Taylor .748 OPS -- .272/.357/.391, 29 RS, 14 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 26 BB/31 K, 17/27 SB, 12 E in 57 G/202 ABs -- turns 22 in January, came back from drug suspension at start of season to do OK in audition at Idaho Falls and get off to slow start back with Bees...hit for only .675 OPS versus righties, better BA, worse OBP and SLG than '08 numbers with Bees. Will he get shot at Wilmington in 2010?

others

> I left out OF Jarrod Dyson, who posted an .800 OPS in 17 games, and Chase Fontaine, who spent time in Wilmington after hitting for a .779 OPS in 27 games in Burlington.
> IF Fernando Garcia .737 OPS -- .260/.392/.345, 50 RS, 12 2B, 5 3B*, 61 BB*/56 K, 29/44 SB, 17 E* in 96 G/296 ABs -- best plate discipline on team, turned 21 in July, hit better off lefties as switch-hitter, .483 OPS in July was easily worst month...didn't hit for worse than .738 OPS in any other month, other than Sept. Numbers dropped off big-time after all-star break, but he showed good improvement from '08 numbers with IF and should be in Wilmington in 2010.
> 1B Eric Hosmer .734 OPS -- .254/.352/.382, 31 RS, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 49 RBI, 44 BB/68 K, 3/5 SB, 4 E in 79 G/280 ABs -- already covered in Wilmington wrap, arguable whether it was worth a call-up, but I'm all for pushing prospects a bit...
> 1B/OF David Wood .724 OPS -- .270/.318/.406, 55 RS, 26 2B*, 3 3B, 8 HR (second on team), 62 RBI, 29 BB/70 K, 7/11 SB, 6 E in 112 G/411 ABs -- turns 25 in December, was nice surprise, but numbers aren't really spectacular, hit for only .544 OPS off LH, had great May and August but was otherwise pretty mediocre, couldn't consistently produce. Probably in Wilmington to start 2010.
> C Juan Graterol .710 OPS -- .310/.354/.356, 4 2B, 6 BB/12 K in 29 G/87 ABs -- best C numbers at Burlington, only 21 in this coming February, hit for .890 OPS on road, showed improvement from '08 with IF.
> IF Ryan Wood .699 OPS -- .237/.327/.371, 19 RS, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 13 BB/20 K, 1/1 SB, 9 E in 33 G/97 ABs -- turned 22 in May, struggled in pro debut in rookie Burlington but did markedly better with Bees, showed good plate discipline, hit for over 1.100 OPS in 13 home games, only .367 OPS on road, probably part of Wilmington IF in 2010.
> C Jose Bonilla .591 OPS -- .217/.281/.311, 43 RS, 12 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 29 BB/92 K, 6/10 SB, 9 E in 100 G/351 ABs -- only turned 21 in August, disappointment, maybe jump was too great after OPS over 1.000 in AZL last year, only .462 OPS off LH, got worse in July and August, numbers may show he needs to get in better shape to endure season...
> C Sean McCauley .584 OPS -- .222/.284/.299, 10 XBH, 14 BB/29 K, 4 E in 51 G/167 ABs -- injury plagued season, turned 20 in May, probably back with Bees for 2010
> OF Adrian Ortiz .580 OPS -- already covered in Wilmington, stunk both places, only 24 points of OPS better at lower level, another Bonilla-type disappointment, only he's 23 in January. Contact numbers fell off table this year, and he doesn't walk a lot so has to hit .300 or better to produce.
> OF Patrick Norris .576 OPS -- .244/.304/.272, 54 RS, 7 XBH, 22 RBI, 31 BB/80 K, 45/54 SB*, 3 E in 116 G*/393 ABs -- can draw a walk better than Ortiz, but less power, turned 23 in March, numbers dropped from '08 in IF, switch hitter hit for only .383 OPS off LH, maybe needs to stick to batting lefty, had marginal June and good July but was otherwise putrid, numbers are Gathright-tastic, only Joey hit for better contact.
> IF Yeldrys Molina .542 OPS -- turns 21 in January, was horrible in rookie Burlington, so of course got moved up to A-ball, where he was better but nothing great, also didn't come close to matching his '08 rookie-ball stats.
> C Salvador Perez .466 OPS -- .189/.230/.236, let's hope he does better in second try next season, only turned 19 in May
> OF Hilton Richardson .416 OPS -- only 26 ABs, not good in first taste but will be back in Bees OF in 2010

WHIP check

> RP Tony Pena Jr. 0.91 WHIP -- 1-2, 3.14, HRA, 5 BB/14 K in 7 G (1 start)/14 1/3 IP -- K rate was nice, did his part in A-ball, I'll give him that. We'll see where he starts 2010.
> RP Blaine Hardy 0.95 WHIP -- 4-4, 2.05*, 9 SV, 3 HRA, 17 BB/94 K (second on team) in 36 G (3 starts)/92 1/3 IP -- had great season, .215 OAV, .186 as reliever, awesome BB/K, great K rate, was lockdown from July on, only 0.98 ERA after ASB, should ease way into Wilmington pen in 2010, turns 23 in March
> RP Barry Bowden 1.01 WHIP -- 3-2, 2.28, 10 SV*, 2 HRA, 22 BB/64 K in 38 G/51 1/3 IP -- earned call to Wilmington after posting .168 OAV, turns 25 in Nov., tho, should start 2010 in AA, hopefully
> SP Mike Montgomery 1.14 WHIP -- 2-3, 2.17, HRA, 24 BB/52 K in 12 starts/58 IP -- turned 20 in July, .206 OAV in Burlington got better in Wilmington, may start 2010 in AA
> RP Zach Peterson 1.18 WHIP -- 3-2, 3.63, 6 HRA, 10 BB/21 K in 10 G (6 starts)/39 2/3 IP -- turns 25 in Nov., .250 OAV, finished better in Wilmington

others

> I left out Louis Coleman, who led with a 0.41 WHIP but only threw 7 1/3 IP before moving up, rightfully, and Kelvin Herrera, who was put on the shelf after a 0.60 WHIP in 5 IP
> SP Tim Melville 1.36 WHIP -- 7-7, 3.79, 10 HRA, 43 BB/96 K* in 21 starts/97 1/3 IP -- room for improvement but solid pro debut, should be in Wilmington in 2010...turns 20 in October, .245 OAV, had his ugly starts and great starts, but that's to be expected. Pitched much better in home games. Better in most stats after all-star break.
> Position player David Wood had a 1.36 WHIP in 7 1/3 IP, which is remarkable
> SP Manauris Baez 1.39 WHIP -- 8*-6, 3.41, 1 SV, 6 HRA, 48 BB/85 K in 30 G (20 starts)/132 IP -- turned 24 in August, .269 OAV, lefties hit .332 off him, had up-and-down season, probably in Wilmington mix in 2010
> P Luis Cota 1.42 WHIP -- 0-2, 4.26, 5 BB/15 K in 4 starts/19 IP -- injury derailed another season for once-hot Royals prospect, turned 24 in August. Still time for comeback...
> P Dusty Odenbach 1.46 WHIP -- 2-1, 3.97, HRA, 10 BB/22 K in 11 G/22 2/3 IP -- nice K rate in pro debut, .267 OAV after great pro debut in rookie Burlington, either back with Bees or in Wilmington for 2010, turned 22 this month
> SP Ivor Hodgson 1.48 WHIP -- 3-1, 3.98, 2 HRA, 15 BB/37 K in 9 G (7 starts)/40 2/3 IP -- turned 23 in April, did better than I thought he would with Bees, .285 OAV, much better on road than in Burlington, also much better at night than day, had decent finish to season, should be back in rotation to start 2010
> RP Cole White 1.50 WHIP -- 0-0, 2.16, HRA, 9 BB/13 K in 8 G/16 2/3 IP -- turns 22 in January, .258 OAV after good pro debut in IF, may be in Burlington or Wilmington to start 2010
> RP James Thompson 1.55 WHIP -- 5-3, 2.71, 8 SV, 5 HRA, 51 BB/79 K in 44 G*/66 1/3 IP -- turned 22 in August, .219 OAV, did best work at home and at night, July was only down month, should be in Wilmington in 2010
> SP Mike Lehmann 1.72 WHIP -- 5-7, 5.85, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 9 HRA, 56 BB/51 K in 22 G (18 starts)/95 1/3 IP -- never good when you have more BB than K as a pitcher, turned 20 in May, .298 OAV, numbers fell apart in August and Sept., probably back for 2010
> SP Sam Runion 1.76 WHIP -- 5-11*, 6.60, 17 HRA*, 193 hits allowed, 45 BB/62 K in 28 starts*/135 IP* -- I really don't mean to pick on the kid with all the comments I've made this year, but I had to note this line. Plus the fact he led the team in starts and IP! It's like Lima-Time all over again, only I know they're only hoping he'll develop. Turns 21 in Nov, .337 OAV, showed 0 improvement over 2008, lowest OAV in any month was .315, the Royals release pitchers like this every season, but I assume he's getting more rope because the Royals (and Dayton) picked him in the 2nd round in 2007. I also forgot to note, he got some playoff starting action, too.