The Tampa Bay Devil Rays picked Montgomery's Wade Davis as their minor-league pitcher of the year and Class A Columbus' Ryan Royster as the organization's player of the year.
Davis was a combined 10-3 with an organization-best 2.50 ERA in 158 1/3 innings between Vero Beach and Montgomery this year. Royster won the organizational Triple Crown: .329 average, 30 home runs and 98 RBIs.
The individual team awards ...
Durham -- pitcher Jeff Niemann, outfielder Justin Ruggiano
Montgomery -- pitcher Chris Mason, third baseman Evan Longoria
Vero Beach -- pitcher Jake McGee, first baseman Rhyne Hughes
Columbus -- pitcher Heath Rollins, center fielder Desmond Jennings
Hudson Valley -- pitcher Alex Cobb, center fielder Emeel Salem
Princeton -- pitcher Jeremy Hall, infielder Omar Luna
inaugural Erik Walker Community Champion Award -- third baseman Patrick Cottrell, who was with Vero and Montgomery this year
(award named for Erik Walker, the pitcher who died last October in a canoeing accident, to recognize teamwork, sportsmanship and community involvement)
Tampa Bay included its Dominican and Venezuelan teams.
Dominican -- Juan Santana (3-4, 1.05 ERA), Ramon Novas (.313, 33 RBIs)
Venezuelan -- Omar Bencomo (2-3, 2.89 ERA), Julio Cedeno (.300, 32 RBIs)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Bankston rides pipeline to Royals
Wes Bankston was claimed off waivers Friday by the Kansas City Royals, making him at least the fifth Biscuit to reach that organization. Joey Gathright and Fernando Cortez went to the Royals last year in a trade, Jason Cromer signed with them last offseason, Jose Diaz landed there before going to Japan this year and now Bankston.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Rays to name minor-league award winners
The Devil Rays are scheduled to announce their organizational minor-league awards next week. They pick the system's top hitter and pitcher, plus a hitter and pitcher for each of their farm teams. To spread the love, the system's top players won't also be a team MVP.
If I had a vote, here's how it would read:
(As always, feel free to tell me where I'm wrong, just provide an explanation of your view.)
SYSTEM MVPs
Pitcher Heath Rollins, Class A Columbus -- 17-4, 2.54 ERA, set Rays minor-league record for wins, was 9-1 with a 2.09 ERA after July 1, also won two postseason starts.
Outfielder Ryan Royster, Class A Columbus -- won organizational Triple Crown with a .329 average, 30 home runs and 98 RBIs.
CLASS AAA DURHAM
Pitcher J.P. Howell -- was 7-8 with a team-best 3.38 ERA and a league-best 145 strikeouts, held hitters to a .229 average.
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano -- led Bulls in average (.309), homers (20), RBIs (73), runs scored (78), stolen bases (26). Jason Pridie was also a tempting choice. Pridie hit .318 but didn't have enough at-bats to qualify for the league leaders.
CLASS AA MONTGOMERY
Pitcher Chris Mason -- 15-4, 2.57 ERA, named Southern League's top pitcher.
Third baseman Evan Longoria -- .307, 21 homers, 76 RBIs, Southern League MVP.
CLASS A VERO BEACH
Pitcher Jake McGee -- despite a 5-4 record and an early-August promotion to Montgomery, his 2.93 ERA ranked second in the Florida State League and he totaled a league-best 145 strikeouts.
First baseman Rhyne Hughes -- won the FSL batting crown with a .329 average, also had 12 homers, 57 RBIs and 65 runs scored. This was the toughest choice of the ballot because Sergio Pedroza hit .286 with 22 homers, 70 RBIs and 59 runs scored. Their OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) were identical .907s.
CLASS A COLUMBUS
Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson -- was 13-3 with a 2.67 ERA, lost only once in the season's final two months when he allowed four hits and one run in six innings.
Center fielder Desmond Jennings -- had a .401 on-base percentage, scored 75 runs and was 45-of-60 on steals, played in one game in the last month due to a knee injury.
SHORT-SEASON HUDSON VALLEY
Pitcher Jason Ragan -- 5-6 record, 2.80 ERA in 11 starts, .224 average against.
Outfielder Emeel Salem -- led team with .311 average, was 28-of-36 on steals and scored 41 runs.
ROOKIE PRINCETON
Pitcher Jeremy Hall -- was 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in 12 starts, walked 11 and struck out 59 in 69 1/3 innings.
Shortstop Omar Luna -- .289 average was tops among Rays who played at least 20 games. Tough choice for all the wrong reasons.
If I had a vote, here's how it would read:
(As always, feel free to tell me where I'm wrong, just provide an explanation of your view.)
SYSTEM MVPs
Pitcher Heath Rollins, Class A Columbus -- 17-4, 2.54 ERA, set Rays minor-league record for wins, was 9-1 with a 2.09 ERA after July 1, also won two postseason starts.
Outfielder Ryan Royster, Class A Columbus -- won organizational Triple Crown with a .329 average, 30 home runs and 98 RBIs.
CLASS AAA DURHAM
Pitcher J.P. Howell -- was 7-8 with a team-best 3.38 ERA and a league-best 145 strikeouts, held hitters to a .229 average.
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano -- led Bulls in average (.309), homers (20), RBIs (73), runs scored (78), stolen bases (26). Jason Pridie was also a tempting choice. Pridie hit .318 but didn't have enough at-bats to qualify for the league leaders.
CLASS AA MONTGOMERY
Pitcher Chris Mason -- 15-4, 2.57 ERA, named Southern League's top pitcher.
Third baseman Evan Longoria -- .307, 21 homers, 76 RBIs, Southern League MVP.
CLASS A VERO BEACH
Pitcher Jake McGee -- despite a 5-4 record and an early-August promotion to Montgomery, his 2.93 ERA ranked second in the Florida State League and he totaled a league-best 145 strikeouts.
First baseman Rhyne Hughes -- won the FSL batting crown with a .329 average, also had 12 homers, 57 RBIs and 65 runs scored. This was the toughest choice of the ballot because Sergio Pedroza hit .286 with 22 homers, 70 RBIs and 59 runs scored. Their OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) were identical .907s.
CLASS A COLUMBUS
Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson -- was 13-3 with a 2.67 ERA, lost only once in the season's final two months when he allowed four hits and one run in six innings.
Center fielder Desmond Jennings -- had a .401 on-base percentage, scored 75 runs and was 45-of-60 on steals, played in one game in the last month due to a knee injury.
SHORT-SEASON HUDSON VALLEY
Pitcher Jason Ragan -- 5-6 record, 2.80 ERA in 11 starts, .224 average against.
Outfielder Emeel Salem -- led team with .311 average, was 28-of-36 on steals and scored 41 runs.
ROOKIE PRINCETON
Pitcher Jeremy Hall -- was 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in 12 starts, walked 11 and struck out 59 in 69 1/3 innings.
Shortstop Omar Luna -- .289 average was tops among Rays who played at least 20 games. Tough choice for all the wrong reasons.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Bankston taken off 40-man roster
Wes Bankston came off Tampa Bay's 40-man roster to make room for Justin Ruggiano.
Bankston hit just .238 this year with Class AAA Durham with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs.
With Evan Longoria's emergence at third base pushing Joel Guzman into more time at first base, Bankston wasn't as valuable.
Bankston hit just .238 this year with Class AAA Durham with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs.
With Evan Longoria's emergence at third base pushing Joel Guzman into more time at first base, Bankston wasn't as valuable.
Ruggiano joins Devil Rays
My two-day slumber finally ended today and I find that outfielder Justin Ruggiano has joined the Devil Rays after Carl Crawford was hurt.
Ruggiano hit .309 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. He also stole 26 bases and scored 78 runs. The Rays have to also add the 25-year-old to the 40-man roster.
In my sleepy stupor last night, I even watched a little of Chris Seddon's second major-league start. The Florida Marlin took the loss at Atlanta.
Ruggiano hit .309 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. He also stole 26 bases and scored 78 runs. The Rays have to also add the 25-year-old to the 40-man roster.
In my sleepy stupor last night, I even watched a little of Chris Seddon's second major-league start. The Florida Marlin took the loss at Atlanta.
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