Month: July 2010

Saturday Links: Austin Kearns trade breakdown

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Reaction to the Friday trade of Lafayette High School alum Austin Kearns from the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees:

  • Kearns tells John Paul Morosi of MLB.com that this trade was easier for him that when he was traded from Cincinnati to Washington because his family could drive from Lexington Cincinnati to watch him play. About living in New York City, Kearns said, “I’m sure it’ll be a little different speed for me. But I’ll make the adjustment.”
  • Joel Sherman and Tim Bontemps of the New York Post report Kearns will serve as a right-handed bat off the bench. When a left-handed pitcher is starting Kearns will start in left field with Curtis Granderson moving to the bench.
  • Indians manager Manny Acta told James Hall of MLB.com of Kearns, “We wish him the best. I think this guy has paid his dues and he deserves to go to a contender at this time in his career and maybe a chance to win a ring.”
  • Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that Kearns’ veteran presence will be important for the Yankees, who have been counting on many youngsters in bench roles.

Indians trade Austin Kearns to Yankees

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

For the second consecutive season a Kentuckian has been traded just before the MLB trade deadline. Multiple sources are reporting that Lexington native and Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns has been traded to the New York Yankees. The deal was first reported as close by John Heyman of Sports Illustrated via Twitter. Kearns is batting .268 with eight home runs and 42 RBI for Cleveland on the year.

The Lafayette High School alum has enjoyed somewhat of a career renaissance in 2010 after signing with the Indians on a minor league deal during the offseason. Kearns played in less than 90 games in each of the last two seasons for the Washington Nationals due to injury. Heyman later tweeted that the Yankees plan to use Kearns to balance out their left-handed heavy lineup off the bench. The Indians will receive a player to be named or cash in the deal.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods all win; Ross wins third straight; Newton, Shaffer each drive in four

Minor League Baseball

Jordan Newton; Photo by MWLguide via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Louisville Bats right-handed pitcher Matt Maloney earned his third consecutive win in three starts after pitching seven shutout innings in Louisville’s 2-0 win over Charlotte. Maloney surrendered just two hits and struck out five batters while walking none.
  • Lexington Legends left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz struck out ten batters and surrendered just one run in seven and two-third innings to lead the Legends to a 4-1 win over Delmarva. Left fielder Jacob Goebbert was 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the win.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods finished the perfect night for Kentucky minor league teams with a 6-3 win over Dayton. Left fielder Cody Rogers and designated hitter Bennett Davis both homered for the Hot Rods.
  • LCA alum Robbie Ross picked up his third consecutive win for high A Baskersfield after surrendering two runs on three hits in seven innings. Ross struck out five and walked two.
  • Boyle County native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper was promoted to low A West Michigan where he took a no decision in his first start after surrendering one run in five innings.
  • Former UofL infielder Justin McClanahan slugged his third home run of the season for high A Dunedin.
  • Former WKU catcher Jordan Newton was 3-6 with four RBI for high A Bradenton.
  • Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 3-5 with a double and four RBI for high A High Desert.
  • Former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee extended his hitting streak to 11 games for rookie-level Bristol.
  • Paducah native and Shawn Roof was promoted to AAA Toledo where he went 2-4 in his debut.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=571576

Rauch to set-up after trade; Hart off the block; Cook may be on it; Composite bat controversy profiled

Uncategorized

Jon Rauch; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Thursday was a big day for trades in Major League Baseball and while no Kentuckians were directly involved in the transactions there was plenty of fallout relating to Kentucky players. Check out those stories and more in some Friday morning hot links:

  • La Velle E. Neal of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports the Minnesota Twins will move Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch back to a set-up role after acquiring former Washington Nationals closer Matt Capps.
  • Keith Law of ESPN.com reports the Brewers have decided not to trade Bowling Green native Corey Hart. A move would have been difficult anyway since Hart has missed most of this week with a wrist injury.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports the Colorado Rockies are quietly shopping right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell.
  • Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today examines the rising controversy over metal baseball bats, which of course has huge implications for Louisville Slugger. In the story Ortiz interviews Jim Fox of Florence, whose son Aaron, a 13-year-old pitcher, spent nine days in coma after being struck in the head by a ball hit with a composite bat.
  • Ben Badler of Baseball America examines 10 prospects who have significantly helped their stock since June 1, including recently promoted Lexington Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez. (Subscription required)
  • Also I want to correct an errant tweet I sent out earlier regarding Astros shortstop prospects Jonathan Villar, acquired in the Roy Oswal deal. While MiLB.com still lists him as a Lexington Legend, he will actually report to high A Lancaster.

Bunning mocks Strasburg; Webb hits snag in rehab, may comeback as a reliever if he pitches in 2010

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Republican U.S. Sen. and Kentucky Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning has decided to weigh in on the Washington Nationals decision to hold Stephen Strasburg from his last start. Bunning told Jonathan Allen of Politico “Five-hundred twenty starts, I never refused the ball. What a joke.” Bunning went on to clutch his arm sarcastically and cry “My arm!”
  • Bunning’s comments led to this hilarious tweet from the “OldHossRaburn” Twitter account, which is supposed to be the modern incarnation of the 1880s pitcher of the same name: “Dear Sen. Bunning, I am not impressed by your inability to complete 368 of your 519 starts. Ouch, my arm! Yrs, Hoss.”
  • In part two of the Mobile Press Register‘s examination of the off-the-field life of minor league baseball players, Jared Macarin focuses on players’ fear they won’t ever make the big leagues. Former UK outfielder and Mobile BayBears slugger Collin Cowgill told Macarin “It’s like you’re interviewing for a job every single day.”
  • Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports Ashland native and Diamondback’s right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb had to cancel a bullpen session after failing to get lose Wednesday.
  • In a separate story Piecoro reports Webb may consider coming back as a reliever if he wants to pitch this season.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Hot Rods win; Cowgill homers; Richmond perfect at plate; Lee’s streak hits 10 games

Minor League Baseball

Drew Lee; Morehead St. photo

Highlights from Wednesday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Three different Louisville Bats homered in the team’s 7-5 win over Charlotte. First baseman Yonder Alonso, third baseman Juan Francisco and designated hitter Wladimir Balentien each launched a long ball for Louisville.
  • Bowling Green Hot Rods left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein earned his seventh win of the season in the Hot Rods’ 5-3 win over Dayton. Lobstein surrendered three runs in seven innings and struck out five while walking none.
  • The Lexington Legends were off Wednesday.
  • Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin took  a no decision for high A Daytona despite surrendering just two unearned runs in five innings. Rusin struck out five and walked none.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill slugged his 13th home run of the season for AA Mobile.
  • Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin was 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for AA Mobile.
  • Former UofL left-handed pitcher and 2010 Cardinals draftee Bob Revesz earned his second win of the season with three scoreless innings of relief for rookie-level Johnson City.
  • Former UofL outfielder and 2010 Rangers draftee Josh Richmond was 3-3 with a walk and two runs scored for short-season Spokane.
  • Former NKU left-handed pitcher and 2010 White Sox draftee Jarrett Casey recorded his longest outing of the season since being moved to the rookie-level Bristol starting rotation but still took a loss after surrendering one earned run in six innings.
  • Also playing for rookie-level Bristol, former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee extended his hitting streak to ten games with a 2-3 performance.

Boyle Co. prospect’s stock soaring; Bats pitcher arrested for public intoxication; Wright impresses USA coach

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Mike Marsee of the Danville Advocate-Messenger profiles Boyle County High School pitcher Jacob Bodner and his rise up the recruiting rankings.
  • Jared Macarin examines the life of minor league baseball players off the field in the first half of a two-part story for the Mobile Press-Register. Macarin’s story’s relies heavily on the off-field exploits of Lexington native and former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill.
  • Jason Stella of the Louisville Bats media relations department profiles relief pitcher Jared Burton, who he reports is regaining his major league form.
  • Matt Thacker of the Evening News and Tribune reports Bats left-handed reliever Daniel Ray Herrera was arrested in Clarksville, Ind., early Wednesday morning for public intoxication.
  • Kendall Rogers of Yahoo! Sports and Rivals.com talks with collegiate Team USA head coach Bill Kinneberg, who lists University of Louisville infielder Ryan Wright among the most impressive players on the roster this summer.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends combine for 32 runs in wins; Jones loses despite strong effort; Bynum homers again

Minor League Baseball

Seth Bynum; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Highlights from a short schedule Tuesday Kentucky MiLB action as many teams had the day off:

  • The Louisville Bats pounded out 22 hits and scored 19 runs in a 19-6 blowout win over Charlotte. Four bats homered, four recorded at least three hits and first baseman Yonder Alonso was 4-6 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.
  • Rehabbing Reds center fielder Chris Dickerson, outfielder Wladimir Balentien, designated hitter Daniel Dorn and second baseman Chris Valaika each homered for Louisville. Shortstop Zach Cozart, left fielder Todd Frazier and Balentien each tallied three hits in the game.
  • After being shutout in back to back games, the Lexington Legends offense exploded for 13 runs in a 13-6 win over Savannah. Right fielder Jacob Goebbert was 2-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods were off Tuesday.
  • Former WKU infielder and 2010 Phillies draftee Matthew Payton was 2-4 with a walk, three runs scored and one RBI for the rookie-level GCL Phillies.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones took the loss for high A Winston-Salem despite surrendering just one run in six innings.
  • Louisville native Seth Bynum homered for the second consecutive game for AAA Syracuse.

MiLB Roundup: Legends, Hot Rods shutout; Glad, Cregar, Bynum homer; Marks, Webb lose; Clark perfect at plate

Minor League Baseball

Gunner Glad, left; UK Athletics photo

Highlights from Monday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Lexington Legends were shutout for the second consecutive night with their second straight 3-0 loss to Savannah. Right-handed pitcher Juan Minaya suffered his tenth loss of the season despite surrendering just one unearned run in six innings. Minaya struck out seven batters and walked three.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods made it a scoreless night for Kentucky minor league teams with a 6-0 loss to Cedar Rapids. Right-handed reliever Scott Shuman recorded all six out in two innings pitched via strikeouts.
  • The Louisville Bats game at Gwinnet was rained out.
  • Former UK infielder and 2010 Twins NDFA Gunner Glad slugged his first professional home run for rookie-level Elizabethton.
  • Former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll slugged his sixth home run of the season for AA San Antonio.
  • Former UofL first baseman and 2010 Rangers draftee Andrew Clark was 2-2 with two walks and two runs scored for short-season Spokane.
  • Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks experienced his first poor start in July for low A Kane County after surrendering five runs in six and two-third innings. Marks fell to 3-12 on the season.
  • Former WKU outfielder Chad Cregar slugged his twelfth home run of the season for low A Greensboro.
  • Former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee shortstop Drew Lee was 3-5 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored for rookie-level Bristol.
  • Former Bellarmine infielder and 2010 Mariners draftee Patrick Brady was 3-4 with a run scored for the rookie-level AZL Mariners. Brady was 1-26 on the season entering the game.
  • Louisville native Seth Bynum slugged his ninth home run of the season for AAA Syracuse and fifth since returning from a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
  • Paducah native Daniel Webb fell to 0-4 on the season after surrendering six runs in four innings for short-season Auburn.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Sawyer%20Carroll&pos=OF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=518532

Downs to Red Sox looking less likely; Williams explains decision to stay at UofL; Ruth was horse racing fan

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Babe Ruth statue; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Rob Bradford of WEEI Radio in Boston reports trade talks between the Blue Jays and Red Sox regarding Louisville native and former UK left-handed pitcher Scott Downs have hit an impasse but could be revived before Saturday’s trade deadline.
  • Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal talks to University of Louisville pitching coach Roger Williams about his decision to turn down defending national champion South Carolina’s job offer to remain at UofL.
  • Grant also profiles new Louisville Bats reliever and former major league pitcher Russ Springer, who he writes gives the Bats a veteran presence on the pitching staff.
  • Jason Stella of the Bats’ media relation department writes the team’s recent power surge has kept it on the winning track.
  • Morehead State University will hosts two high school baseball showcase camps on Sept. 26 and Oct. 24.
  • As part of my day job I work on a project in the University of Kentucky Special Collections Library with the 19th and 20th century Daily Racing Form. I recently stumbled upon this story from 1936 that should interest baseball history buffs about Babe Ruth’s trip to the Bluegrass State for the Kentucky Derby.