TheCrew07

Prospect Hot Sheet Chat With Ben Badler

Prospect Hot Sheet (April 26): Jesse Biddle’s 16 Strikeouts Stand Out

Cubs RHP prospect Pierce Johnson... Cougars' Johnson warming to the task

Early Whitecaps runs crash in on Timber Rattlers Stewart's 3-run homer paves the way to a 5-1 West Michigan win By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The West Michigan Whitecaps beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-1 on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jake Stewart hit a three-run home run in the first inning for the Whitecaps. Hudson Randall and a pair of West Michigan relievers made those early runs hold up to end Wisconsin's modest two-game winning streak. Wisconsin starting pitcher Tyler Wagner retired the first two West Michigan batters of the game on ground outs. But, the next two batters reached on seeing-eye singles. Then, Stewart lined a home run to the West Michigan bullpen in left-center for a 3-0 lead. Those were the only runs that Wagner would give up on the evening. He pitched six innings allowed a total of five hits. Randall was a puzzle the Timber Rattlers (7-10) could not solve until late in the game. Randall was scoreless through 6-2/3 innings and had allowed just three hits. Then, Clint Coulter tripled to the base of the wall in right-center. Adam Giacalone followed with an RBI single to get Wisconsin on the scoreboard. West Michigan reliever Brennan Smith came on to get the final out of the seventh to protect the 3-1 lead. West Michigan (9-10) added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Mike Strong struck out Stewart to start the inning, but a wild pitch on strike three let Stewart reach first. Zach Kirksey followed with a triple to drive in Stewart. A two-out single by Austin Schotts drove in Kirksey for the final run of the game. Wisconsin did put a pair of runners on base with walks in the bottom of the ninth against Jose Valdez, but the tying run never got to the plate for the Timber Rattlers. Giacalone led the Timber Rattlers offense with a pair of hits and the only RBI in the game. The final game of the three-game series is Saturday afternoon. Damien Magnifico (2-0, 2.57) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. West Michigan has Jordan John (0-2, 6.00) as their starter. Game time is 1:05pm. Saturday is a Fly Away Saturday presented by Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel. A lucky fan will win charter airfare for two at this game. Saturday is Ladies' Day at the ballpark, too. Some of the prizes available to win are: A diamond pendant from Rogers and Holland Jewelry, a set of luggage from Fox World Travel, flowers from Memorial Florists, and gift cards from Fox River Mall. There will also be wine & cheese sampling and drink specials. If you can't make it out to the stadium, tune in for the game on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Saturday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV. HOME RUN: WMI: Jake Stewart (1st, 2 on in 1st inning off Tyler Wagner, 2 out) WP: Hudson Randall (2-2) LP: Tyler Wagner (1-1) TIME: 2:16 ATTN: 2,950 Rattler Radio Wisconsin Boxscore Wisconsin Recap Wisconsin Gameday

With the first really nice spring evening I'm going to go watch some baseball. I'll catch up on the prospect updates and WI when I get home late tonight or early tomorrow morning, there's no need to cover WI if it's not done tonight, I'll get it.

For me it's either the Sandlot or Field of Dreams but I'm not able to decide which. Field of Dreams has the "catch" moment at the end which gets me every single time. I quote the Sandlot more than any other movie.

Final: Wisconsin 7, West Michigan (Tigers) 4 Big inning helps Rattlers to big win McFarland and Sermo go deep in 7-run second inning By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers cracked a pair of home runs in a seven-run second inning on their way to a 7-4 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Chris McFarland and Jose Sermo each hit long homers in Wisconsin's big inning to lead the Rattlers to their second straight win. McFarland started scoring for the Timber Rattlers (7-9). Victor Roache extended his hitting streak to four games with a leadoff single in the second. McFarland crushed a 2-0 pitch from Montreal Robertson over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Robertson gave up a walk, a double, and another walk with one out to let Wisconsin load the bases. Adam Giacalone scored from third on a wild pitch by Robertson. Then, Sermo launched a long home run to right-center. The three run dinger put the Rattlers up 6-0. Later in the inning, Orlando Arcia scored from second after a miscue on a grounder off the bat of Roache to put the Rattlers up 7-0. West Michigan (8-10) got on the scoreboard against Wisconsin starting pitcher Eric Semmelhack in the top of the fifth. Zach Kirksey homered to right to lead off the inning. That would be the only mark against Semmelhack. He went five innings, scattered six hits, walked two, and struck out two before turning the game over to the bullpen. Preston Gainey took the mound in the top of the sixth inning and worked two scoreless innings. But, the Whitecaps made it interesting in the top of the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out on a hit batsman, a double, and a walk. Jake Stewart drove in a run with a single. Then, Kirksey singled off the glove of a diving Adam Giacalone at first base and two more runs scored to make the score 7-4 and bring the potential game-tying run to the plate for West Michigan. But Gainey recorded a strikeout and a routine fly out to center to get out of the eighth. Rodolfo Fernandez came on for the top of the ninth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the Whitecaps and to earn his first professional save. The Timber Rattlers and Whitecaps continue their series on Friday night. Tyler Wagner (1-0, 4.09) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Hudson Randall (1-2, 0.64) is set to start for West Michigan. Game time is 6:35pm. Friday night is a North Shore Bank Family Night. Children 12 and under receive a voucher good for a free hotdog and soda. Children 14 and under may run the bases after the game courtesy of Molina Healthcare. If you can't make it out to the stadium, tune for the debut broadcast of Timber Rattlers baseball on My NEW32's Sports Showdown. The game is also available on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Subscribers to MiLB.TV may also catch Friday's action. HOME RUNS: WMI: Zach Kirksey (1st, 0 on in 5th inning off Eric Semmelhack, 0 out) WIS: Chris McFarland (2nd, 1 on in 2nd inning off Montreal Robertson, 0 out) Jose Sermo (2nd, 2 on in 2nd inning off Montreal Robertson, 2 out) WP: Eric Semmelhack (1-0) LP: Montreal Robertson (1-2) SAVE: Rodolfo Fernandez (1) TIME: 2:36 ATTN: 1,029 Wisconsin Boxscore This was a fun game to watch, I didn't get home until the middle of the 1st but thanks to the good ole DVR I didn't miss a pitch. For those of you who skip the boxscore link, Tyrone Taylor returned to action with a pinch running appearance late in the game. I'm intrigued by the movement on Rodolfo Fernandez' pitches, I wish I had firm number for where he was velocity wise during the 9th. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I still am, by Chris McFarland's power, he could be a double digit HR guy if he pans out. I just really like the athleticism of this team and I want to believe the batting averages/offense will come around as the younger players settle into full season ball. Wisconsin Recap The Rattler 2nd in all its glory. Wisconsin Bottom of the 2nd Victor Roache singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jake Stewart. Christopher McFarland homers (2) on a fly ball to left center field. Victor Roache scores. Clint Coulter strikes out swinging. Adam Giacalone walks. Mike Garza doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Jake Stewart. Adam Giacalone to 3rd. Michael Reed walks. With Jose Sermo batting, wild pitch by Montreal Robertson, Adam Giacalone scores. Mike Garza to 3rd. Michael Reed to 2nd. Jose Sermo homers (2) on a fly ball to right center field. Mike Garza scores. Michael Reed scores. Orlando Arcia walks. Mitch Haniger grounds out, third baseman Mario Martinez to first baseman Lance Durham. Orlando Arcia to 2nd. Victor Roache reaches on a throwing error by shortstop David Gonzalez. Orlando Arcia scores. Christopher McFarland strikes out on a foul tip. Wisconsin could have tacked on runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th but came up empty. Wisconsin Bottom of the 6th Adam Giacalone walks. Mike Garza strikes out swinging. Michael Reed doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Jeff Holm. Adam Giacalone to 3rd. Jose Sermo grounds out, second baseman Devon Travis to first baseman Lance Durham. Orlando Arcia strikes out swinging, catcher Bennett Pickar to first baseman Lance Durham. Wisconsin Bottom of the 7th Pitching Change: Logan Ehlers replaces Chad Smith. Mitch Haniger walks. Victor Roache flies out to center fielder Jake Stewart. Christopher McFarland doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Jeff Holm. Mitch Haniger out at home on the throw, right fielder Jeff Holm to second baseman Devon Travis to catcher Bennett Pickar. Christopher McFarland to 3rd on the throw. Clint Coulter grounds out, shortstop David Gonzalez to first baseman Lance Durham. Wisconsin Bottom of the 8th Adam Giacalone doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Danry Vasquez. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor replaces Adam Giacalone. Mike Garza pops out to second baseman Devon Travis. Michael Reed strikes out swinging. Jose Sermo grounds out, pitcher Logan Ehlers to first baseman Lance Durham. Wisconsin Gameday

It's early in the season, but Chris McFarland is ascending on my prospect list.

A more in depth look at Josh Bell SAL notes: Bell back with authority

Interesting... High School Velocity: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Josh Bell of the Pirates draws a mention today. Thursday Prospect Notebook

I like this, no messing around, play the game... I hope it trickles over to affiliated ball Atlantic League Makes Big Push To Speed Up Baseball

Already posted 2 Days ago on this forum.

Spring Top - Top Prospects

MLB Draft Preview: Alabama

Jim Callis Draft And Prospects Chat

not division related but I still enjoy reading this stuff New Developments In Player Development, East Organizations

Micahel Wacha of the Cardinals getting more run... *sigh* Wednesday Prospect Notebook

Draft Tracker: Three Catchers Gaining Traction

I still really like the MWL but the start of this season has been miserable, the article's picture on the main page is of TWC Field. Midwest League Endures Frigid Start To Season

And the link report for Wednesday is... Minigoon! No pressure my man!

Wisconsin bats get a wake-up call Timber Rattlers bang out 15 hits in 9-1 win over the River Bandits By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - In their first five home games of the 2013 season, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers offense had scored fifteen runs as the team compiled a 1-4 record. The bats woke up on Tuesday afternoon for 15 hits in a 9-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jose Sermo and Mitch Haniger led the way with three hits and two RBI each for the Wisconsin offense. The Rattlers (6-9) scored first. Parker Berberet doubled to start the bottom of the third inning. He scored when Michael Reed's grounder to short snuck under the glove of Carlos Correa. Wisconsin starting pitcher Ryan Gibbard held the River Bandits (11-6) off the scoreboard on two hits through 5-2/3 innings. But, a solo home run by Chase Davidson tied the game 1-1 in the sixth. The Rattlers answered back in a big way in the bottom of the sixth. Haniger and Victor Roache started the inning with consecutive singles off River Bandits reliever Colton Cain. Chris McFarland would follow with a double to right that drove Haniger home for a 2-1 lead. Colton walked Adam Giacalone to load the bases with no outs. But, Cain struck out the next two batters and appeared to be primed to escape the inning with no more damage as he got ahead of Michael Reed. But, Reed smacked the next pitch for a two-run single the give the Rattlers a 4-1 lead. Sermo was next and he extended Wisconsin's cushion to 6-1 on an two-run double. Sermo had entered the game to replace Rattlers centerfielder Tyrone Taylor in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor fouled a pitch off his left leg during his at bat. Taylor was tended to by the training staff for a few moments before walking off the field with a little assistance as he favored his left leg. Gibbard turned the game over to Taylor Mangum for the seventh inning. Gibbard, in his first start of the season, allowed a run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Wisconsin tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Orlando Arcia singled in a run to make it 7-1. Haniger was next and he doubled off the wall in center to drive in two runs for a 9-1 lead. Mangum wrapped up his three scoreless innings by getting a game-ending 5-4-3 double play. Mangum struck out three and earned his first save of the season. Wisconsin is off on Wednesday. They return to Midwest League action on Thursday when they host the West Michigan Whitecaps at 6:35pm. Thursday is an Arty's Old Fashioned Thirsty Thursday presented by 95.9 KISS FM. There is also a Dunkin Donuts Player Poster Giveaway on Thursday night. The first 1,000 fans to attend the game against the Whitecaps will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers pitcher Tyler Wagner courtesy of Dunkin Donuts. All fans can enjoy 16oz soda, beer, or Arty's Old Fashioned drinks for just $2 as part of Thirsty Thursday presented by Arty's Old Fashioned and 95.9 KISS FM. If you can't make it out to the ballpark, the game will be available on television to Time Warner Cable subscribers on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel; on the internet through MiLB.TV, or on the radio beginning with the Miller Lite Pregame Show on AM1280, WNAM at 6:15. HOME RUN: QC: Chase Davidson (1st, 0 on in 6th inning off Ryan Gibbard, 2 out) WP: Ryan Gibbard (1-0) LP: Colton Cain (0-2) SAVE: Taylor Mangum (1) TIME: 2:34 ATTN: 416 In case you haven't watched a game yet Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is the old TWC32... same channel, different name. Mehring's usual assortment of post game fun including pictures, highlights, and a Tyrone Taylor update. Wisconsin Boxscore I don't have much to add as I didn't get to listen to Chris today and was having a heck of a time trying to follow the game on Gameday as MH noted earlier. For example I looked around 2:45 local time it was supposedly 2-2 in the 9th but came back 5 minutes later and it was 6-1 Ratters in the bottom of the 6th. In the first edition of Field Pass Rattler manager Matt Erickson mentioned that some days in spring training the boys looked awful but then some days they played extremely well. I think that's an accurate assessment of the start of this season as well, lots of inconsistency, though in the team's defense it's been extremely hard to get into a routine when you aren't able to play game on a regular basis. I think this team could make a nice run in the 2nd half pending promotions and health. Wisconsin Recap T-Rats could have added more in the 5th before breaking out in the 6th. Wisconsin Bottom of the 5th Parker Berberet singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jordan Scott, deflected by third baseman Rio Ruiz. Michael Reed flies out to right fielder Terrell Joyce. Jose Sermo singles on a ground ball to right fielder Terrell Joyce. Parker Berberet to 3rd. Orlando Arcia grounds into a double play, third baseman Rio Ruiz to second baseman Joe Sclafani to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Jose Sermo out at 2nd.

Javier Baez of the Cubs discussed Tuesday Prospect Notebook: Biddle Dominates

Final: Quad Cities (Astros) 7, Wisconsin 2 (11 Innings) Quad Cities gets five in the eleventh to top Wisconsin River Bandits rally with two out in 11th to take second straight from Rattlers By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Quad Cities River Bandits took advantage of three two-out walks in the top of the eleventh inning to score five times in the extra inning to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7-2 Monday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jordan Scott put Quad Cities in front with an RBI single and Teoscar Hernandez expanded the lead with a bases-clearing triple in the eleventh. Tyrone Taylor started Wisconsin's first inning with a single. He stole second and tagged on a fly out to deep left to take third with one out. Mitch Haniger drove in Taylor with an RBI grounder to short for a 1-0 Timber Rattlers lead. Quad Cities (11-5) tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Rio Ruiz singled in a run with two outs to even the game 1-1. An odd sequence gave the River Bandits the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Austin Elkins reached on a single and took second on a passed ball. A ground out allowed Elkins to take third base. Terrell Joyce was at the plate and that's when the weirdness started. Joyce swung at a pitch and made contact with the glove of catcher Clint Coulter. The ball trickled to the mound and Elkins broke for the plate. He beat the throw to score the run as Joyce eventually made it to first ahead of the throw. The River Bandits turned down the catcher's interference call on Coulter and took the result of the play, a fielder's choice to let the run score and put them ahead 2-1. Their lead did not last long. Taylor drew a walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning. A ground out moved Taylor to second base, but he was still there with two outs. Then, Victor Roache lined a 2-2 pitch off the base of the wall in center for an RBI double to tie the game. The Rattlers (5-9) almost won the game in the bottom of the tenth. Taylor was on second with two outs. Mitch Haniger sent a grounder up the middle, but Quad Cities shortstop Carlos Correa ranged far to his left to keep the ball from getting to the outfield, but Correa had no play on Haniger at first and Taylor raced for home. Correa's throw arrived just ahead of Taylor and the speedy Wisconsin outfielder was ruled out on a close play. Rattlers reliever Martin Viramontes retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the eleventh inning. Then, he walked the next three batters to load the bases. Scott singled to right to drive in the first run. Hernandez tripled to left-center to drive in three more runs. A wild pitch by Viramontes let Hernandez score the final run of the inning as the score suddenly went to 7-2. The Rattlers did not score in their half of the eleventh despite a catcher's interference that let Roache reach base and singles by Clint Coulter and Alfredo Rodriguez. Tuesday is the final meeting of the series between the Rattlers and River Bandits. Game time is 12:05pm. Ryan Gibbard (0-0, 0.93) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has Mike Hauschild (1-0, 4.35) set to start. Tuesday is a Baker Tilly Business Person & Senior Citizens Special presented by WVBO and AM1280, WNAM. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to senior citizens (55 & older). If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the action on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. WP: John Neely (1-1) LP: Martin Viramontes (0-1) TIME: 3:02 ATTN: 489 Wisconsin Boxscore For the record I thought Tyrone Taylor was in under the tag in the 10th watching it live and after watching it 3 times on the DVR my opinion didn't change. The throw beat him, but the tag was slow and he actually knocked the catcher's foot away from home plate. My only other thought is that Victor Roache hasn't exactly been smooth in the OF through 2 games, though when he makes contact he hits the ball with authority. Wisconsin Recap Wisconsin Gameday

Well there's top tier guys who work 95+ Then there is second tier guys who work 91-94. Then there is everyone else... command pitchers. Pitchers that rely totally on control can definitely be successful but they also tend to have extreme drop offs in production because if they aren't commaning the strike zone, they don't enough stuff to get hitters out. Obviously having at least 1 legitimate secondary offering, some plus type out pitch, is a tremendous advantage, but isn't always necessary, especially for relievers. I don't want to restart the entire Fiers debate from last season but after spending enough time in the big league teams are going to figure a guy out. Most of the debate surrounding "control pitchers" is regarding their secondary stuff, and the secondary stuff isn't limited to averagish velocity guys, Tony Cingrani who just came up from the Minors for the Reds has that label and he's a LHP topping out in that 95 range... the "he doesn't have the secondary stuff to get MLB hitters out as a starter" label. If I'm forced to take one or other, I'll take command over stuff, but when we're talking about trying to predict future success of a MiLB pitcher "stuff" is always going to be a key component of that discussion. I wish Hiram all the success in the world, I'm pulling hard for him, but history isn't on the side of pitchers like him having a long career as a top of the rotation type starter, guys like Marcum are the exception rather than the rule.