Isaiah Howes

Webb to throw simulated game; McDonnell apologizes for UofL play; Revere to open season with AAA Rochester

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb felt good after throwing 65 pitches on Thursday and will likely throw a simulated game on Monday.
  • The Courier-Journal reports University of Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell apologized to fans for his team’s performance in a Friday loss to West Virginia.
  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock talks to the The News-Enterprise about his major-league debut.
  • Jim Mandelaro of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere will open the season with AAA Rochester barring any unforeseen trades or injuries with the Twins.
  • WAVE3-TV reports former University of Louisville baseball player Isaiah Howes will not face charges in the shooting death of former UofL football player Daniel Covington.

Ellis has outside shot at Dodgers backup catcher job; Marlins release former UK infielder; Webb to throw long toss today

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Chris Wade; Photo: UK Athletics

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis may be back in contention for the backup catching job with the Dodgers after an injury to Dioner Navarro and Thursday home run but is still likely to begin the season at AAA Albuquerque.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb will try to throw long toss today after canceling a live batting practice throwing session early this week after he failed to get loose.
  • Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports the Florida Marlins have released former UK infielder Chris Wade, who batted .218 with two home runs, 24 RBI, 26 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 81 games between low A Greensboro and high A Jupiter last season.
  • Nick Gonnella of the Greensburg Daily News in Indiana, profiles University of Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer, a Greensburg native and 2008 Indiana Mr. Baseball.
  • WAVE-3 TV has an update on the legal case against former UofL baseball player Isaiah Howes, who is claiming self defense in the shooting death of a former UofL football player

Reds win NL central on walk-off HR; Kearns, Yankees clinch playoff spot; Revere could be on Twins postseason roster

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Jay Bruce; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Links from around Kentucky baseball fans as Reds fans come back down from last night’s euphoria:

  • The Cincinnati Reds clinched the NL Central on a walkoff home run from former Louisville Bats outfielder Jay Bruce. The Reds currently have 24 former Bats on their active roster. Six former Bats played in the division clinching win, and 2010 Bats left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman got the win.
  • Lexington native Austin Kearns and the New York Yankees clinched an AL playoff spot with a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays. The Yankees remain one-half game back of the Rays in the AL East.
  • Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, born in Louisville, tallied his 100th RBI of the season after slugging his 32nd home run in a 3-2 loss to Atlanta.
  • Eric Nelson of WCCO reports Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere is grateful for his chance to play for the Twins this season.
  • Aaron Gleeman of the Minnesota Post reports, despite being called up on Sept. 1 Revere is still in the running for the final bench spot on the Twins playoff roster thanks to some disabled list roster maneuvering.
  • Sam Schreiber of WAVE reports former University of Louisville baseball player Isaiah Howes has made his first public comments since shooting former UofL football player Daniel Covington.
  • David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News projects former UK right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton would start game four of the NLCS and World Series if the Phillies were to advance that far.

Kipnis cycle leads Columbus to IL title; Lueke, Rainiers clinch PCL title; Jones, Dash eliminated in finals loss

Minor League Baseball

Jason Kipnis; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball, including a cycle from one of Kentucky’s best minor league alumni:

  • One-time Kentucky outfielder Jason Kipnis, promoted to AAA Columbus for the International League finals, hit for the cycle to lead Columbus to a championship-clinching 13-2 win over Durham.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke closed out AAA Tacoma’s Pacific Coast League championship clinching 10-6 win over Memphis with a scoreless inning.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones took the loss despite surrendering just two runs in six innings in high A Winston-Salem’s 2-1 loss to Potomac. The Nationals clinched the Carolina League championship with the win.
  • Zachary Levine, writing for Baseball America, selected 2010 Lexington Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez the Astros’ best MiLB player. Levine named 2009 Legend Jordan Lyles the organization’s best pitcher and 2009 Legend Patrick Urckfitz “one to watch” in the system. (Subscription required)
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere received his first MLB start for the Minnesota Twins Friday but went 0-3 with a walk in the leadoff spot.
  • Eric King of WLKY in Louisville reports former University of Louisville baseball player Isaiah Howes has been identified as the shooter that killed former UofL football player Daniel Covington. Police believe the shooting was in self-defense.

Where Are They Now? 2007 UofL Cards

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Dan McDonnell

Last week we looked at the 2006 SEC Champion UK baseball team and where in the minor leagues the members of that team were playing.  In the interest of fair coverage today we’ll look at the 2007 College World Series final eight and Big East Champion UofL Cardinals team.

  • RHP Trystan Magnuson — AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats — 4-1, 2.55 ERA, 41 games, 48 SO, 67 IP — 2007 Stats — 3-3, 1.83 ERA, 36 games, 58 SO, 59 IP
  • OF Isaiah Howes — Rookie GCL Yankees — Hasn’t played since being drafted in 2007 after shoulder surgery — 2007 Stats — .396, 18 home runs, 69 RBI
  • C Logan Johnson — High A Winston-Salem Dash — .257, 10 home runs, 33 RBI — 2007 Stats — .364, 16 home runs, 64 RBI
  • OF Boomer Whiting — High A Potomac Nationals — .255, 62 runs, 50 SB — 2007 Stats — .373, 80 runs, 73 SB
  • RHP Zach Pitts — Short-Season Batavia Muckdogs — Hasn’t pitched in 2009 — 2007 Stats — 10-3, 2.52 ERA, 91 SO, 121.2 IP
  • SS Chris Cates — High A Fort Myers Miracle — .244, 38 runs, 8 stolen bases — 2007 Stats — .298, 74 runs, 17 stolen bases
  • C Derrick Alfonso — Low A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers — .211, 5 runs, 3 RBI — 2007 Stats — .276, five home runs, 31 RBI
  • 3B Chris Dominguez — Short-Season Salem-Keizer Volcanoes — .273, 11 HR, 35 RBI — 2007 Stats — .266, 15 home runs, 61 RBI
  • LHP Justin Marks — Rookie AZL Athletics — 1 game, 0 IP, 6 R — 2007 Stats — 9-2, 2.67 ERA, 87 SO, 104.2 IP
  • 2B Justin McClanahan — Low A Lansing Lugnuts — .265, 13 home runs, 52 RBI — 2007 Stats — .250, 5 home runs, 24 RBI