Three Stars of the Day 6/27/09


1. Steven Johnson - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

In a game overshadowed by the presence of one Manny Ramirez, Steve Johnson pitched one of his better games of the season. Johnson pitched seven shutout innings to earn his sixth win of the season. Johnson struck out seven batters while walking just one and giving up just three hits. Johnson pitched three and two/thirds innings of shutout ball in a relief stint in his last appearance. So he is working on a 10.2 scoreless innings streak. Johnson lowered his ERA to 3.87 on the year and he a struck out 86 batters in 79 innings. His record moves to 6-4 on the year. Could we see Johnson in Chattanooga soon?

2. Tommy Giles - RF - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

After struggling early on in his Southern League career, Giles picked up his play of late and he sports a very solid slash line of .297/.404/.568. It's important to note that Giles only has 74 at-bats in the Southern League but still it's promising. In his latest outing, the Miami Hurricanes product had a perfet day at the plate. Giles was 3-3 at the plate and he also drew a walk. Two his hits were round-trippers, Giles' fourth and fifth of the season. Giles' two RBI gave him eleven in Double-A.

3. Pedro Baez - 3B - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Baez has his second two-hit game in a row with a 2-4 effort at the plate in support of Steve Johnson's brilliant start. Baez's two hits were doubles, giving him 15 for the season. Baez had two RBI, upping his total to 46 on the year. Baez been solid in the hitter friendly Cali League, OPSing .830. This coming after a season in which he was demoted to short season rookie ball in Ogden.

Three Stars of the Day 6/25/09


1. Scott Elbert - LHP - Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)

Elbert made his debut start for the Isotopes a memorable one. In a rain shortened game, Elbert pitched six shutout winnings for his first win in AAA. Elbert was in dominant form, he struck out seven batters and walked just one. He allowed only one hit a single and both base runners were called out on the basepaths. Elbert induced seven groundouts against only two flyouts. He threw 82 pitches, 51 for strikes. Including his numbers in Double-A, Elbert has struck out 94 batters in 68.1 innings.

2. Clay Calfee - 1B - Arizona League Dodgers (Rookie A)

Calfee is a big first baseman from Texas drafted last year from Angelo State. After signing last year, Calfee was assigned to Ogden and he showed his propensity for power OPSing .757, an OPS carried mostly by his slugging percentage. This year, the Dodgers have assigned him to the Arizona Rookie League and he has been mashing very early in the season. In his last game, Calfee had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-3 with a Home Run and a double. Calfee also walked and scored twice. The Home Run was his second of the year and he has recorded a hit in each of the four games he has played in thus far. Nick Akins also hit his third Home Run in the 7-5 losing effort.

3. Jerry Sands - CF - Ogden Raptors (Rookie A)

Sands has a five game stint with Great Lakes earlier this season but struggled hitting just .118. He was demoted and was re-assigned to Ogden when short season ball started up. In his most recent game, Sands went 2-3 at the plate and he hit his second Home Run of the year. Sands also drew a walk and scored a run. Sands' Home Run was his second of the year and his two RBI gave him three on the year.

Three Stars of the Day 6/19/09


1. Kyle Russell - RHP - Great Lakes Loons (A-)

After a game in which he was 0-5. Russell had a perfect day at the plate, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. Russell homered, doubled twice, and walked twice in the Loons 10-1 blowout win. Russell finished the day with three RBI and two runs scored. Russell's 17 Home Runs lead the Midwest league. With his thee RBI, Russell also reclaimed the RBI lead with a season total of 55. The former Longhorn also leads the circuit in slugging percentage checking in at .579. Other than his infamous strikeout rate, another knock on Russell are his lefty/righty splits. The southpaw has struggled heavily against lefties this year, OPSing just .948. Nick Buss also had a great day at the plate hitting his fifth Home Run of the year and driving in four runs. Geison Aguasviva picked up his first win in his first start of the year throwing five shutout innings and striking out four.

2. Scott Elbert - LHP - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

Elbert lost his third game of the year dropping his record to 2-3 but he continues his impressive strikeout rate. Elbert K'd ten batters in five innings, however he did walk five men. He gave up three earned runs on three hits. Elbert has struck out 47 batters in his last 29 innings (five starts). Overall Elbert has struck out 87 batters in 62.1 innings of work. Elbert who is perhaps working with a 100 pitch limit has yet to reach seven innings pitched in any of his eleven starts.

3. Pedro Baez - 3B - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Baez extended his modest hitting streak to five with a three hit effort in the 66ers 6-4 win. Baez smacked two doubles and singled. He also walked giving him a 3-4 day at the dish. Baez drove in two runs and scored twice. The two doubles gave Baez twelve on the year and his 43 RBI give him a tie for first on the team with Scott Van Slyke. Alberto Bastardo struck out eight batters in six and two-thirds innings but he earned a no decision for his efforts.

Three Stars of the Day 6/18/09


1. Jon Michael Redding - RHP - Great Lakes Loons (A-)

Redding earned his ninth win of the season by throwing eight strong innings against Lansing. Redding struck out nine batters while walking just one. One unearned run crossed the plate on Redding's watch. Redding gave up four hits, all singles. Redding is unbeaten in his last five starts, his last loss coming on May 22nd. Overall Redding is 9-2 on the season. Redding's nine wins ranks second in the Midwest League and leads the Loons. In his last three starts Redding has given up just three earned runs. With his latest effort, Redding lowered his ERA to 4.46 on the year. Redding induced four double plays that helped him get out of jams. Alfredo Silverio hit his third Home Run and was 3-4 overall in support of Redding. The Loons won 6-1.

2. Josh Bell - 3B - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

Bell's three hit night helped the Lookouts beat the Mississippi Braves 6-2. Bell extended his modest five game hitting streak by smacking two doubles and stroking a single. Bell had an RBI giving him 36 for the season and scored a run. He also stole a base giving him two stolen bases for the year. Bell has 16 doubles on the year. Eduardo Perez also contributed, hitting his third Home Run in Double-A and driving in two runs.

3. Tim Sexton - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

After dropping six straight decisions Tim Sexton finally earned his second win of the year. Sexton gave up three earned runs over seven innings. After giving up two runs in the first inning and a run in the second inning, Sexton settled down and shutout the High Desert Mavericks over the next five innings. Sexton gave up eleven hits but he struck out five batters and didn't walk one. True to form, Sexton induced twelve groundouts against just three flyouts. The 66ers won 7-4.

Three Stars of the Day 6/17/09


1. Scott Van Slyke - RF - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Van Slyke homered and doubled in the 66ers 7-5 loss. Chris Withrow took his fifth loss of the year. Van Slyke's Home Run was his second in as many games. Van Slyke's solo Home Run was his tenth of the season. Van Slyke also scored two runs and stole his sixth base of the year. Van Slyke who is a bit old for Class A - Advanced could be a candidate for promotion this summer. Here is his current slash line: .302/.360/.527.

2. Russell Mitchell - RF - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

Mitchell put up pedestrian numbers in Double-A last season but has had a putrid start to the 2009 season, Mitchell has an OPS of .558. But yesterday, Mitchell had his day in the sun. Mitchell homered and hit two singles in five at-bats for his first three hit game of the season. It was Mitchell's sixth Home Run of the year. Mitchell also drove in three runs giving him 26 on the season. The Lookouts won in a rout 13-3 with Josh Bell hitting his eighth Home Run of the year.

3. Pedro Baez - 3B - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Baez was 2-4 with two doubles and two runs driven in. Baez also crossed the plate for a run scored. The two doubles gave Baez ten on the year and his 41 RBI are second to Scott Van Slyke for the team lead.

Three Stars of the Day 6/16/09


1. Trayvon Robinson - CF - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Robinson hit his ninth Home Run and his 19th double to help the 66ers beat Lancaster 10-5. Robinson was 2-5 overall with a run driven in an two runs scored. It was Robinson's 30th RBI of the year. The switch-hitter from Los Angeles has been a consistent performer for the 66ers. It is his second year in the Cali League and he has already surpassed most of his numbers from last year or is on pace to.

2. Jamie Ortiz - 1B - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Ortiz hit his first Home Run of the season and drove two runs to give him a total of three on the year. Ortiz was recently assigned to the 66ers on May 30th. Ortiz has hit poorly thus far in limited ABs but he has shown pretty good plate discipline, he has walked nine times and K'd 13 times.

3. Scott Van Slyke - RF - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Van Slyke was 1-5 but his only hit was his ninth Home Run of the season. Van Slyke's homer was a two-run shot giving him 41 RBI on the year, good enough for the team lead.

Three Stars of the Day 6/15/09


1. Steven Caseres - 1B - Inland Empire 66ers (A+)

Caseres had a perfect day at the plate. Caseres went 3-3 with five runs driven in and two runs scored. Caseres had two Home Runs to go along with his RBI single. The homers were his 9th and 10th of the season. Caseres' 5 RBI gave him a total of 24 for the year. Caseres has a modest five game hitting streak, during this streak Caseres has homered four times. Caseres a lefthanded slugger was drafted last year out of James Madison in the 9th round. He has destroyed right handed pitchers this year posting up a slash line of .331/.408/.624. He has struggled against southpaws though .136/.291/.318.

2. Jason Repko - CF - Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)

Repko, the 'Topes lead-off hitter hit two Home Runs in a losing effort. Repko accounted for all the offense for the Isotopes with his 10th and 11th Home Runs of the season. Repko's three RBI gives 26 on the year. Repko has struggled this season, posting up a .325 OBP in one of the more hitter friendly parks in the PCL.

3. Andrew Lambo - DH - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

After a hitless day at the plate, Lambo went 2-4 at the dish. Lambo's hits were his 18th and 19th doubles of the year. After a fast start to the year Lambo hit a rough patch May OPSing .591 and he has continued to struggle in June, although his numbers are up from May. Putting things in context though, Lambo is 20 years old, young for AA.

Three Stars of the Day 6/14/09


1. James McDonald - RHP - Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)

McDonald had his second superb start in a row for the 'Topes. McDonald followed up his seven inning ten K performance with seven innings of shutout ball. McDonald struck out 13 in his latest performance. He walked one and gave up just two singles. McDonald earned his first win for the 'Topes giving him a record of 1-0. McDonald threw 106 pitches, 70 of which were strikes. McDonald has struck out 40 batters in 31.1 innings of work at the Triple-A level. Claudio Vargas pitched two innings of scoreless relief to preserve the shutout. The 'Topes won the game 4-0.

2. Scott Elbert - LHP - Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)

Elbert has been a strikeout machine for the Lookouts lately, racking up Ks by the handful. In his last four starts Elbert has struck out 9, 10, 9, and 9 batters respectively. In his latest outing, Elbert lasted five innings and gave up three earned runs. Elbert took the loss which balances his books for the year (2-2). Elbert 93 pitches, 57 for strikes. The Lookouts lost a close one 3-2, Josh Lindblom, Victor Garate, and Francisco Felix combined to throw three innings of scoreless relief but the bats could not come up with an equalizer.

3. Nathan Eovaldi - RHP - Great Lakes Loons (A-)

Eovaldi pitched four innings of scoreless relief behind Ethan Martin to earn his first save of the year. Eovaldi's four shutout innings extended his scoreless innings streak to 17.1 innings. Martin gave up a run in five innings while striking three and walking three. Eovaldi struck out one, walked one, and gave up just one hit. Eovaldi lowered his ERA to 4.66 on the season.

Three Stars of the Day 6/12/09


1. Devaris Gordon - SS - Great Lakes Loons (A-)

The Midwest League all star had his seventh multi-hit game of the season. Gordon's three hits included his seventh and eighth triples of the year. Gordon scored a run and also walked. Gordon has a modest three game hitting streak and he has a current slash line of .287/.352/.385

2. Chris Withrow - RHP - Inland Empire 66ers (AA)

Withrow earned his fifth win of the season, pitching five innings and giving up just a single earned run. Withrow now pitched in five consecutive games in which he has given up just one earned run. Withrow stuck out five batters in his most recent start but he walked four. Withrow limited Lake Elsinore to just two hits in his five innings of work. Withrow's record stands at 5-4 on the year.

3. Cole St. Clair - LHP - Great Lakes Loons (A-)

St. Clair earned his second save of the year, pitching two innings scoreless relief to secure the win for the Loons and Bobby Blevins who pitches seven solid innings to earn a win. St. Clair struck out four batters and walked none. After giving up two runs in his first appearance of the season, St. Clair has yet to surrender a run in his next four appearances.