Sean Coughlin

MiLB Playoff Roundup: Bats eliminated in loss; Lueke gets save as Tacoma advances; Mobile, Spokane eliminated

Minor League Baseball

Sunday playoff highlights from Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats season ended with a 4-2 elimination loss to Durham in the International League playoffs. Left-handed pitcher Jeremy Horst surrendered just two unearned runs in four innings for Louisville in the start.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke earned his second save of the series in AAA Tacoma’s series-clinching 4-1 win over Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill and catcher Sean Coughlin were a combined 0-5 in AA Mobile’s elimination loss to Jacksonville in the Southern League playoffs.
  • London native Jon Townsend was 1-3 with two RBI for high A Rancho Cucamonga in the team’s 7-5 win over Lake Elsinore in the California League playoffs.
  • Former UofL first baseman Andrew Clark and outfielder Josh Richmond, both 2010 Rangers draftees, were a combined 1-6 in short-season Spokane’s elimination loss in the Northwest League finals.

Kentucky in MiLB Playoffs

Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

League playoffs from across Minor League Baseball are set to begin this week. Last week we looked at the Kentucky alumni participating in rookie league playoffs, so I thought I’d do the same for the other minor leagues:

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

  • Tacoma Rainers — Josh Lueke

International League (AAA)

  • Louisville Bats — Matt Klinker
  • Columbus Clippers — Jeremy Sowers (DL)

Texas League (AA)

  • Springfield Cardinals — Antone DeJesus

Eastern League (AA)

  • New Hampshire Fisher Cats — Trystan Magnuson
  • Harrisburg Senators — Zach Dials

Southern League (AA)

  • Tennessee Smokies — Chris Rusin (DL)
  • Jacksonville Suns — Graham Taylor (DL)
  • Mobile BayBears — Collin Cowgill, Sean Coughlin, Josh Ellis

California League (High A)

  • Stockton Ports — Justin Marks
  • High Desert Mavericks — Jake Shaffer
  • Ranch Cucamonga Quakes — Jon Townsend

Florida State League (High A)

  • Dunedin Blue Jays — Justin McClanahan
  • Bradenton Marauders — Jordan Newton, Nathan Adcock

Carolina League (High A)

  • Winston-Salem Dash — Logan Johnson, Nathan Jones, Greg Paiml
  • Kinston Indians — Marty Popham

Midwest League (Low A)

  • Great Lakes Loons — J. B. Paxson
  • Quad City River Bandits — Dean Kiekhefer, Daniel Calhoun
  • Clinton Lumber Kings — Tyler Blandford (DL)
  • West Michigan Whitecaps — Wade Gaynor, Patrick Cooper

South Atlantic League (Low A)

  • Hickory Crawdads — Jonathan Roof

Northwest League (Short-Season)

  • Spokane Indians — Andrew Clark, Josh Richmond

Pioneer League (Rookie)

  • Great Falls Voyagers — Thomas Royse

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods lose; Cowgill, Coughlin homer for Mobile; Ramos, Kuhn each tally 3 hits

Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Friday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats couldn’t finish a four-game sweep of Syracuse after suffering an 8-1 loss in the series finale. Rehabbing Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Aaron Harang took the loss after surrendering six runs in six innings.
  • The Lexington Legends couldn’t secure a series victory against Greenville after a 4-3 loss Friday. Right fielder Renzo Tello was 3-4 with a home run, double, RBI and run scored.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods dropped the rubber game of its three-game series with Lake County with a 5-3 loss Friday. Right-handed pitcher Wilking Rodriguez took a no decision after surrendering three hits in four shutout innings.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill slugged his 14th home run of the season for AA Mobile.
  • Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin also homered in the game for Mobile.
  • Former UK first baseman and 2010 Twins draftee Lance Ray was 3-5 with a double, RBI and run scored for low A Beloit.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones surrendered five runs in four and two-third innings for high A Winston-Salem but escaped with a no decision.
  • Former Union College infielder Kevin Ramos was 3-4 with a RBI for high A Rancho Cucamonga.
  • One-time Madisonville resident Matt Klinker earned a win for AA Carolina after surrendering four runs in six innings.
  • Trinity High School alum Tyler Kuhn was 3-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored for AA Birmingham.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Rusin injured; Green returns to mound; Holland gets win

Minor League Baseball
Chris Rusin; Photo by UK Athletics

Chris Rusin; Photo: UK Athletics

Very late highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Catcher Devin Mesoraco launched his second grand slam in as many games to lead the Louisville Bats to a 6-2 win over Syracuse. Third baseman Juan Francisco also homered.
  • The Lexington Legends scored four runs in the seventh inning to earn a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Greenville. Right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero took a no decision despite surrendering just two runs in six innings.
  • Lake County scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a 5-4 last at-bat loss. Right fielder Brett Nommensen and first baseman Kyle Wiegand each homered for the Hot Rods.
  • Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin surrendered two unearned runs in two innings before leaving with an injury, thought the Cubs have since said it was a precautionary move.
  • Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer slugged his 14th home run of the season for short-season Tri-City.
  • Pitching for the first time this season former UK right-handed pitcher Scott Green struck out two in a scoreless inning on a rehab assignment for the rookie-level GCL Tigers.
  • Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin was 3-4 with two RBI for AA Mobile.
  • Former UofL right-handed pitcher and 2010 Nationals draftee Neil Holland earned his third win of the season with three scoreless innings for short-season Vermont.
  • Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers slugged his fifth home run of the season for AAA Lehigh Valley.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Hot Rods lose; Nidiffer hits 2 HRs; Gatrell, Broadway, Klinker, Jones, Revesz get wins

Minor League Baseball

Marcus Nidiffer, center; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Saturday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats dropped consecutive games for the first time since the end of June and were shutout first the first time since July 1 with a 1-0 loss to Columbus. Left-handed pitcher Matt Maloney surrendered just one run in six innings of relief of Travis Wood.
  • Great Lakes scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to break open a tied game and hand the Bowling Green Hot Rods a 10-5 loss. Shortstop Tyler Bortnick was 2-6 with a home run.
  • The Lexington Legends‘ game with the West Virginia Power was rained out.
  • In his second game for short-season Tri-City, former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer was 3-4 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored.
  • Former UK outfielder and 2010 Twins draftee Lance Ray was 3-4 with a double for low A Beloit.
  • Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin slugged his fifth home run of the season for AA Mobile.
  • Former UofL left-handed reliever and 2010 Cardinals draftee Bob Revesz earned his third win of the season for rookie-level Johnson City.
  • Former UofL infielder and 2010 Rays draftee Phil Wunderlich was 3-4 with two doubles for short-season Hudson Valley.
  • Former WKU infielder Wade Gaynor was 3-6 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored for low A West Michigan.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones earned his ninth win of the season after surrendering one run on five hits in seven innings for high A Winston-Salem.
  • One-time Madisonville resident Matt Klinker picked up his 10th win of the season for AA Carolina with seven innings of one-run ball. Klinker struck out seven and walked none.
  • Paducah native Michael Broadway picked up his third win of the season for AAA Gwinnett.
  • Boyd County native and 2010 Royals NDFA Tyler Gatrell picked up his first career win for the rookie-level AZL Royals.

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.

Webb throws off mound; Wellemeyer to get look as long-reliever; Ky. alums get NRIs

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Check out several major league updates below plus a minor league and college link. Also, remember Bowling Green-native Corey Hart has an arbitration hearing scheduled with the Brewers today.

  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports Ashland-native and University of Kentucky alum Brandon Webb threw off the mound for the first time since having shoulder surgery Tuesday.
  • Chris Haft of MLB.com reports the Giants will primarily look at Louisville-native and Bellarmine alum Todd Wellemeyer as a long-reliever.
  • UK alums Collin Cowgill and Sean Coughlin, and Paul Laurence Dunbar alum Josh Ellis have been given non-roster invitations to Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training.
  • Michael Grant of the Courier Journal talks to 2010 Louisville Bats manager Rick Sweet about the upcoming season.
  • UK Athletics reports BoydsWorld.com has ranked the Cats’ 2010 schedule as the 22nd most difficult in the nation. Western Kentucky University checks in at No. 82 on the list and the University of Louisville checks in at No. 117.

Bluegrass connection to three-team blockbuster

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Joe Blanton; UK Athletics Wallpaper

The Hot Stove is abuzz with news of the three-team blockbuster between the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, and if you look hard enough there is a Bluegrass angle to the story. For Kentucky fans the real question is what does the trade do for Phillies starting pitcher and University of Kentucky alum Joe Blanton?

  • John Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com tweets that for now Joe Blanton appears likely to stay in Philadelphia.
  • 2009 Louisville Bats Zach Stewart and Josh Roenicke, traded by the Reds for Scott Rolen, were named the No. 1 and No. 7 prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays system by Baseball America. Of course this is before the Blue Jays pick up several prospects in the Roy Halladay trade.
  • UK Athletics reports Futurebacks.com has named former University of Kentucky catcher Sean Coughlin the Arizona Diamondbacks Offensive Position Player of the Year.
  • Jeff Arnold and Adam Duvall were named captains of the 2010 University of Louisville baseball team.
  • Finally, in the category of fail by the World Wide Leader (ESPN) super-agent Scott Boras was on The Scott Van Pelt Show this afternoon and Van Pelt failed to ask him anything about the James Paxton case or the college no-agent rule in general.

All BluGrass Baseball Team: Ky. Alumni

Minor League Baseball
Sawyer Carroll; Photo: UK Athletics

Sawyer Carroll; Photo: UK Athletics

In the second installment of the 2009 “All BluGrass Baseball Team” we’ll look at alumni of Kentucky schools in the minor leagues.

  • Catcher — A. J. Ellis — PLD HS — AAA Albuquerque — .314, 48 runs, 39 RBI, .438 On-Base
  • First Base — Ryan Strieby — UK — AA Erie — .303, 19 HR, 58 RBI
  • Second Base — Seth Bynum — Louisville, Ky. — AAA Syracuse — .267, 20 HR, 69 RBI
  • Third Base — Tyler Sellers — EKU — AA Reading — .317, 17 HR, 86 RBI
  • Shortstop — Chris Burke — St. X — AAA Richmond — .279, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 15 SB
  • Left Field — Tyler Kuhn — Trinity HS — High A Winston-Salem — .289, 55 R, 46 RBI, 26 SB
  • Center Field — Ben Revere — Lexington, Ky. — High A Fort Meyers — .311, 2 HR, 48 RBI, 75 Runs, 45 SB
  • Right Field — Sawyer Carroll — UK — AA San Antonio — .317, 8 HR, 96 RBI
  • Designated Hitter — Michael Bertram — UK — AA Erie — .282, 18 HR, 77 RBI
  • Starting Pitcher 1 — Christian Friedrich — EKU — High A Modesto — 6-5, 2.41, 159 SO, 119.2 IP
  • Starting Pitcher 2 — Robbie Ross — Lexington, Ky. — Short-Season Spokane — 4-4, 2.66, 76 SO, 74.1 IP
  • Starting Pitcher 3 — Chaz Roe — Lexington, Ky. — AA Tulsa — 7-3, 3.15, 77 SO, 117 IP
  • Starting Pitcher 4 — Daniel Calhoun — Murray State — Short-Season Batavia — 2-0, 1.86, 42 SO, 48.1 IP
  • Starting Pitcher 5 — Marty Popham — Union — Short-Season Mahoning Valley — 6-1, 2.76, 83 SO, 75 IP
  • Closer — B. J. Rosenberg — UofL — AA Reading — 7-3, 1.18, 22 saves, 73 So, 61 IP

Notes: As with the KY minor league team, relief pitcher was the most competitive spot. In addition to Rosenberg, who was selected to represent the U.S. on the World Cup team, Zach Dials, Scott Green, Trystan Magnuson, Nathan Jones and Keith Butler also posted excellent numbers out of the bullpen. Collin Cowgill and Sean Coughlin are probably better prospects at their positions than the representative on this team, but both missed significant time due to an injury.

2006 Cats: Where Are They Now?

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball
UK Athletics Wallpaper

UK Athletics Wallpaper

The 2006 season was the crowning achievment in the revitalization of UK baseball.  The Cats won the Southeastern Conference Championship and featured the 2006 SEC player of the year in 1b Ryan Strieby and national coach of the year John Cohen.  The 2008 minor league sesaon has seen a reunion of Strieby and 3b Michael Bertram at AA Erie.  With that reunion in mind I thought we’d look at where the members of the 2006 championship team are in the minor leagues.

  • 1B Ryan Strieby — AA Erie Sea Wolves — .302, 14 home runs, 53 RBI — 2006 Stats — .343, 20 home runs, 77 RBI
  • 3B Michael Bertram — AA Erie Sea Wolves — .282, 12 home runs, 55 RBI — 2006 Stats — .340, 5 home runs, 37 RBI
  • C Sean Coughlin — AA Mobile BayBears — .287, 11 home runs, 40 RBI — 2006 Stats — .325, 17 home runs, 55 RBI
  • OF Antone DeJesus — AA Springfield Cardinals — .229, 1 home run, 19 RBI — 2006 Stats —.323, 5 home runs, 36 RBI
  • OF John Shelby — AA Birmingham Barons — .242, 8 home runs, 46 RBI — 2006 Stats — .291, 18 home runs, 56 RBI
  • OF Collin Cowgill — High A Visalia Rawhide — .277, 6 home runs, 36 RBI — 2006 Stats — .298, 16 home runs, 61 RBI
  • RHP Zach Dials — AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats — 1-4, 2.36 ERA, 28 SO, 42 IP — 2006 Stats — 1-1, 3.97, 25 SO, 34 IP
  • LHP Chris Rusin — Short-Season Boise Hawks — 0-3, 2.74 ERA, 20 SO, 23 IP — 2006 Stats — 5-0, 4.03 ERA, 25 SO, 38 IP
  • RHP Greg Dombrowski — Rookie GCL Reds — Disabled List — 2006 Stats — 10-2, 2.83 ERA, 54 SO, 101.2 IP
  • LHP Andrew Albers — Rookie AZL Padres — Disabled List — 2006 Stats — 3-3, 5.40 ERA, 28 SO, 30 IP