Royals on the Farm 9/10 -- NWA strikes back

The Royals have signed former West Virginia and Dolphins QB Pat White to a minor-league deal. He was a 4th round pick by the Angels out of high school before concentrating on football. Hey, it's a nice publicity move and if they get any upside out of him at all, it's a win.

In other news, Mike Moustakas won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award as the minors' best HR hitter this season.

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 5, Springfield 2 (best-of-5 tied, 1-1)

1B Hosmer 2-4, 3B, HR (2), 2 RBI (3), K, 2 RS -- .333, like how he's stepped it up in playoffs thus far
2B Giavotella 2-2, BB, SF, RBI, RS, CS -- .375
3B Seratelli 1-3, HR, RBI, RS -- .500
CF D. Robinson 1-4, 2 K, RS -- .333
DH C. Robinson 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .333

Teaford 7 IP, 3 H, BB, 6 K -- W, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, ah yeah
Barrera 2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB -- 9.00 ERA, ah nooooo

* Everett Teaford pitched like one of the best hurlers in the TL, which he looked to be this season, and the TL semifinal series is down to a best of 3. Derrick Robinson led off the NW Arkansas 1st with a single and made it to third on an error to set up a Johnny Giavotella sac fly to spot the Nats the lead early. Anthony Seratelli clubbed a solo homer in the 2nd and Teaford held it down. Eric Hosmer led off the NWA 6th with his 2nd homer of the postseason and then tripled home a run in the 7th and scored on an error to make it 5-0. Henry Barrera came on in the 8th and stranded 2 but then gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in the 9th before closing it out. The series shifts to Springfield tomorrow for game 3.

Rookie - Idaho Falls: The Chukars won the series finale, 9-5, to finish 11-27 on the second half and 27-49 overall.

Idaho Falls' OPS leaders
Murray Watts .895 -- .279/.389/506, 37 RS, 13 2B, 3B, 14 HR (more than triple anyone else on the team), 57 RBI (28 better than any other Chukar), 45 BB*/75 K*, 2/2 SB, 3 E in 69 G*/251 ABs -- good enough to see what he can do in A-ball next year surely
Jake Kuebler .888 -- .330/.366/.521, 9 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 6 BB/26 K, 3/5 SB, 3 E in 23 G/94 ABs -- worthy of mention even if he did finish with the Bees
Kevin David .758 -- .277/.342/.415, 14 RS, 12 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 10 BB/29 K, 2/3 SB, 4 E in 37 G/130 ABs -- solid pro debut
Lane Adams .747 -- .282/.347/.400, 31 RS, 8 2B, 3 3B*, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 18 BB/38 K, 8/8 SB, 1 E in 41 G/170 ABs -- had his moments
Reggie Taylor .743 -- .242/.354/.389, 15 RS, 5 2B, 3 3B, HR, 9 RBI, 15 BB/27 K, 4/4 SB, 6 E in 32 G/95 ABs -- finished in Appy League

Others....Cameron Monger .731 (Pads product played 14 games then dropped off the map), Cheslor Cuthbert .715 (only .281 OBP, got in 14 G then dropped off the map), Tim Ferguson .706 (coulda used a little more pop but will likely start 2011 with the Bees), Justin Trapp .669 (led team with 33 E, 39 RS, 14 2B, 21/27 SB), Yowill Espinal .651 (24 E, 26 BB/61 K, 16/22 SB, not much to brag about in 2010), Tom Zebroski .618 (struggled with Chukars), Malcom Culver .618 (pro struggles continued), Dale Cornstubble .614 (.265 BA was pretty empty, only slugged .294)

Chukars WHIP leaders
Mike Mariot 1.18 -- 2-2, 3.54, 4 HR, 16 BB/64 K in 15 G/56 IP -- that's why he was IF pitcher of the year
Edwin Carl 1.38 -- 1-1, 7.02, 2 SV*, 4 HRA, 6 BB/28 K in 10 G/16 2/3 IP -- latecomer to Chukars had his struggles
Brennon Martin 1.45 -- 4-3, 4.36, 8 HRA, 5 BB/45 K in 12 G/43 1/3 IP -- gotta like the K/BB
Starling De La Rosa 1.45 -- 0-3, 6.10, HRA, 5 BB/22 K in 6 G/20 2/3 IP
Greg Billo 1.47 -- 4-8, 5.17, 11 HRA*, 23 BB/79 K* in 17 G/78 1/3 IP* -- worked way into top 5, led team in both wins (along with Martin) and losses, posted good K rate, could see numbers improve in A-ball

Others...Nick Graffeo 1.50 (4.05, HRA, 14 BB/46 K in 33 1/3 IP, posted great K rate in pro debut), Eric Cantrell 1.50 (only 2 IP in pro debut), Chad Blauer 1.52 (6.14, 9 BB/47 K in 51 1/3 IP), Leondy Perez 1.57 (5.70, 7 HRA, 28 BB*/75 K in 66 1/3 IP, good enough to get to Burlington, I guess), Jordan Roualdes 1.63 (8 BB/13 K in 22 2/3 IP, meh), Scott Alexander 1.73 (5.73, 6 HRA, 22 BB/41 K in 55 IP), Jason Mitchell 1.83 (13 BB/19 K in 23 IP), Brian Peacock 1.93 (6.86, 3 HRA, 18 BB/30 K in 39 1/3 IP, hey, was part of a no-hitter), Tyler Graham 1.96 (20 BB/27 K in first 30 2/3 pro IP)