Sunday, April 05, 2009

Getaway day for minor-leaguers

Unofficial final lines ...
Niemann: 6 innings, 9 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 5 Ks
Hammel: 6 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 3 Ks

Joe Smith of the St. Pete Times is here and had Upton 4-for-12 with a home run in his multi-game travels (homer off Andy Sonnanstine in the Class A game).

Triple 6th: F-7, Kc, 3-1, K. Heck, they're all done. Game over, 4-4 tie.
Double 6th: 1b, Rhyne Hughes HR, 4-3, 1b, RBI 2b, inning called to end. Niemann 89 and 58 and appears done.

Triple 5th: 4-3, 3-1, 4-3. Hammel 77 and 48.
Double 5th: F-6, 1b, 6-3, wild pitch, 4-3. Niemann unofficially 76 and 50.

Triple 4th: F-7, groundout, 1b, F-7. Hammel 59 and 38.
Double-A 4th: F-9, P-4, F-9. Niemann 62 and 40.

Triple 3rd: F-9, 4-3, HR by Reid Brignac, U-3. Hammel: 42 and 29.
Double 3rd: FO-3, 1b, 1b, RBI 2b by Upton, Kc, BB, 1-3. Niemann: 52 and 34.

Triple 2nd: BB, 1b, Upton two-run 2b, F-7, F-8 sac, Kc. Hammel unofficially: 33 pitches, 22 strikes. (And Upton is also taking at-bats in the Class A game on a neighboring field.)
Double-A 2nd: Hughes 1b, Kc, Kc, Upton FC 6-4. Niemann's unofficial total: 26 pitches, 17 strikes.

Triple-A bottom 1st: Hammel perfect, 10 pitches, 7 strikes. FO-5, 4-3, 1-3 on Upton.
Double-A top 1st: Niemann perfect inning, 10 pitches, 7 strikes. K, F-8, Kc of B.J. Upton.

8:56: Niemann starting for Triple-A. Hammel for Double-A and faces more-accomplished hitters.
8:50 CDT: Surprising news, the Rockies have a scout here.

**
Minor-league camp breaks after an intrasquad game this morning. Major-league pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann are throwing today and one will be Tampa Bay's No. 5 starter. The other likely won't be in the organization, with Hammel possibly traded to the Colorado Rockies.

Those two needing their work and the usual minor-league spring getaway procedures conflict. Today usually isn't a day for studious pitch selection. Last year, one pitch bounced well in front of home plate, the umpire called it a strike, everyone laughed and the batter smiled but never said a word.

The major-league roster deadline is 2 p.m. CDT.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So after the HR today by Hughes, that would make his 6th of the Spring. Who led the spring in HR's and why isn't that guy at triple A?

Stacy Long said...

Not sure who led the minor-leaguers in spring homers. As far as Hughes, if he continues to show such power in the regular season, they'll find room for him at Triple-A.