Winter Ball

How do you measure real baseball fanaticism? Well, maybe take a look at Jim Donten’s work over at Rays Prospects He is diligently tracking down once and future Rays who are playing elsewhere this Fall and Winter. As each league opens up, he posts a list of players he's found on the rosters. Then he’s been doing daily updates. That's real dedication and we thank him for it.

Players of immediate interest to WDBB:

Arizona Fall League (Surprise Saguaros)

• SS Tim Beckham
• RHP Marquis Fleming

Venezuelan Winter League

• C Robinson Chirinos (Navegantes del Magallanes) (Note: Robinson has reportedly broken a wrist)
• C Jose Lobaton (Leones de Caracas)
• IF Daniel Mayora (Leones de Caracas)
• LHP Alex Torres (Aguilas de Zulia)
• C Stephen Vogt (Leones de Caracas)
• IF Ray Olmedo (Tiburones de la Guaira)
• RHP Rob Delaney (Bravos de Margarita)

Dominican Winter League

• RHP Richard De Los Santos (Estrellas de Oriente) (Happy to see him pitching after last year’s troubles)
• IF Omar Luna (Aguilas Cibaenas)
• C Nevin Ashley (Gigantes del Cibao)
• IF Elliot Johnson (Gigantes de Cibao) (Note: Why would he he playing winter ball? Caribbean vacation?

Keep an eye on Rays Prospects (maybe add the RSS feed) to keep up).

Another ex-Bull to keep an eye on this winter:

Jon Weber is playing for Venados dos Mazatlan, as he has for several winters. Turns out that the 33-year old Weber returned to professional baseball with the Indy League Winnepeg Goldeyes last summer and had a decent year.

Update, 18 Oct: Rob Delaney in Venezuela (Thanks, Anon!)

Roadkill

Game 137, Wednesday, August 31, Knights Stadium, Fort Mill, SC
Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 10, Durham Bulls 2
Season: 78-59, Games Remaining: 5
Wrap, Box, Indy Week

My road game ritual goes like this:

Go to Bulls website. Click on "Listen Live" link and adjust volume. Click on "Watch Live" link and go through the MiLB TV sign-in and see what's there. In the case of Charlotte it's nearly pointless since the "TV" is a single camera set high over home plate. Click on "game day" to get the running pitch/box score.

Last night I went through all of the above. Got a bit of Neil Solondz's update (more later). Bulls end the first inning with two men on base. Charlotte comes to bat with Andy Sonnanstine starting.

First batter reaches base on a Daniel Mayora throwing error. Second batter reaches base on a fielding error by Ray Olmedo. Single, run scores. Single, run scores. Fly out (out #1). Double, run scores. Single, two runs score. Ground out. Strike out. Five runs on four hits and two errors.

Close web browser. Go watch regular TV.

* * * * * 

Outside the game, a good bit was going on.

Justin Ruggiano, Brandon Guyer, and Andy Sonnanstine are going to the Rays.

If I'm candid, I'm pleased to see Justin go back. He got a few hits while he was here, but his injury apparently kept him from putting in much of an effort on the bases or in the field. Setting himself apart by wearing the long trousers seemed to be a thumb in the eye of his teammates. Mostly he seemed to be taking up space on the roster.

As for Brandon Guyer, he's worked very hard for this chance in the majors. Good luck. The Bulls will be fortunate to get him back for at least the beginning of next season. Indy Week reports that John Matulia from the Biscuits will be his replacement. Welcome back, John.

Cannot imagine why Andy Sonnanstine was recalled, but his departure may help the Bulls. His ten appearances led to 3 wins and 6 losses and he carried a not-very-stellar 5.46 ERA. As fans, however, it probably won't make much difference in whom we see this year. It might have been more fun, however, to have taken a look at another Biscuit.

Congratulations are in order for Matt Moore and Stephen Vogt. They were named to the Southern League All-Star Team. More info here and here.

Elsewhere, the Gwinnett Braves split a semi-double header with Norfolk. Lehigh Valley lost (troubles up in Pennsylvania, here and here). So the Braves moved into the wild card spot and gained a half game on the Bulls. Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew, in the meantime, weren't much help to the Pawtucket Red Sox, who were swept by the Red Wings.

Jennings Hits Bull, Wins Steak, Dings Finger

Durham Bulls 5, Norfolk Tides 4
Game 87, July 7, DBAP
Season: 48-39; Streak: W3
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun, Indy Week

Sometimes the chatter in our part of the stands is only tangentially connected to the winning-losing aspects of the game. Last night, for example, here were the top topics for comment and discussion:

• Craig Albernaz being officially on the roster,
• That odd 5-6-3 double play to end the 2nd inning,
• Norfolk third baseman Josh Bell’s amazing dodge of Robinson Chirinos’ bat shards while fielding and throwing the ball to first for an out,
  
• and how come Jennings didn’t come out for the 7th inning?

We'll get to those, but first how the game was won.

Alex Cobb gave up three runs with the first three batters, hitting the first one, walking the second, serving up a home run to the third. He never quite settled down after that, but, except for homer in the 4th, he kept the Tides in check. He did hit a couple of high (or low) points, however. He doubled his home runs allowed from 2 to 4 (in 65 innings). He doubled his hit batsmen, from 1 to 2. He has pitched exactly 1000 pitches as a Durham Bull this year.

Meanwhile, the Bulls got the three runs back in their part of the inning with a Bull shot by Desmond Jennings, and a two run shot by Russ Canzler.

About that double play. With one out, runners on first and second, a hard grounder came to third baseman Daniel Mayora. He appeared to only have a play at first, but he then saw shortstop Ray Olmedo heading for second base and they were able to pull off the 5-6-3 double play. I'm sure it happens from time to time. I just don't recall seeing one before.

It was Daniel Mayora's triple in the 7th that set up the winning run. Mr. Mayora is showing some real strength. He had two long opposite field shots (one caught) last night and a homer the night before. His release may not be as quick as some third basemen we've seen, but his strong arm makes up for it. Gonna be fun watching him for the rest of the year. J.J. Furmaniak sent him home with a short fly ball over the drawn-in infield.

Jay Buente, who has not exactly garnered accolades from WDBB, got the win in relief. My guess is that he would be the first to say that he's a better reliever than starter. Maybe he's going to work out after all.

Looks like I've covered two of the bullets at the top. I think I'll put off a more substantive discussion of Craig Albernaz for another post, which will be something along the lines of:

FREE CRAIG ALBERNAZ!

Now that he's officially on the Bulls roster, how about putting him in the game Charlie?

Then there was that terrific play by Norfolk's Josh Bell in the bottom of the 7th. Robinson Chirinos (on something of a tear, by the way) sent the ball and a big piece of his bat right at Bell. Did the bat go over Bell's head, between his legs or just past him? Did not see it that well. At any rate, he kept his concentration, fielded the ball, and made the play at first. Good baseball.

In the 7th inning the Bulls went through an atypical defensive shuffle with Jennings coming out, Lopez coming in at second, Furmaniak moving to left, Guyer to center, Anderson to right. (Confused? So were we.) Of course, the rumble in the stands was that maybe Jennings had been called up to the Rays. From the Herald-Sun report, however, he dinged a finger in a bunt attempt earlier on and will now be day-to-day.

Note: Tonight is your last chance to see the Bulls until July 22nd! Have I mentioned that this year's schedule is nuts?

[Update: 9:03, bunch of typo's fixed, awkwardnesses, and more. Sorry, folks. There's probably more.]

Rainy Win

Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) 11, Norfolk Tides (Baltimore) 5

Game 86, July 6, Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Season: 47-39; Last 10: 5-5

Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun, Indy Week

Midway through the 7th inning it looked like the new guys, pitcher Matt Torra and third baseman Daniel Mayora, were going to be the goats of the game. Torra had let three runs across in the first inning and Mayora's two errors in the 7th had let the Tides get to a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, it all changed.

Before getting to the bottom of the 7th, however, I've got to bring up the tag team of Brandon Guyer and Dan Johnson. In the 1st Guyer doubled and Johnson singled him home. In the 5th Guyer doubled, stole third base, and Johnson singled him home. In between, Robinson Chirinos hit a home run. As a result, the Tides and Bulls were tied going into the 6th. Lance Cormier served up a home run ball to Rhyne Hughes and then Norfolk, surely watching storm clouds swirling, went into a full-court stall.

I lost count of how many times catchers, managers, and coaches came out to the mound over the next inning and a half all apparently in hope that lightning would strike and the tarp would get pulled before Norfolk's bullpen got exposed to the stadium lights.

Norfolk was ahead by two runs and had one out in the 7th and it was raining. What could go wrong? Walk, walk, RBI single, fly out, walk (bases loaded), new pitcher, RBI walk (score tied), RBI single, RBI single. Bulls ahead by 2, all was right with the world. Rain lessened.

The four-run 8th was icing on the cake, and included a two run homer by prospective goat, Daniel Mayora. What about the other new guy, Matt Tora? Not bad. Could be what the Bulls need to get through this season. 

Here's an odd number: the current crop of pitchers (starters and relievers) account for only 69% of the innings pitched for the Bulls this year. 

Other odds and ends:

• Rays Index has stirred up a minor storm by suggesting that the Rays might trade Desmond Jennings. |Rays Index|
• Meanwhile, Desmond gets a nice article by Kelly Parsons over at the Bulls website. |Durham Bulls|
• Another blog took a close look at the Rays bullpen. Possible implications for the Bulls if they start moving folks around. |DRaysBay|
• Speaking of moving people around. The folks over at Rays Prospects have some opinions on who in the Rays farm system should be moving up and around. |Rays Prospects|
• With all the threatening weather we've been happening, remember that the DBAP has an always on stadium cam that can be checked to see if the tarp is on the field. For your planning, it's about 30-45 minutes from pulling the tarp to baseball. |Stadium Cam|

Chart of the Day — Hitting

The last time we looked at hitting was June 23. Here's how it looks today. This table is sorted by wOBA, which is a stat that does a better job of showing a hitter's contribution to the team than just about any other.

The big guns continue to be Lobaton, Guyer, and Canzler. Picking things up are Lopez, Chirinos, and Anderson.

click on table for larger image

Sources: Stat Corner and Baseball Reference

10,000 at the DBAP

Game 82, July 2, Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta) 4, Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) 1
Season: 44-38; Last 10: 4-6
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun, Indy Week

As I was settling in for the game last night a friend of mind pointed out that I had been ranting a lot lately. On reflection, I realized he was right. I pledged to myself that I would just sit back, enjoy the game, and write about the interesting and positive things going on. After all, the unbeaten Alex Cobb was the starting pitcher.

And then there was the 1st Inning ...

Well, I'm going to stick with my pledge, so here goes:

After an unfortunate 1st inning, Alex Cobb gave up only two more hits in the remaining five innings that he pitched. He was followed by Rob Delaney and Jay Buente who combined to no-hit and shut out the Braves for the rest of the game. The Bulls, however, were not able to generate much offense against an excellent Gwinnett pitching crew.

The Bulls dropped one game behind the Braves in the South Division. However, they will be playing each other three more times in the next three days, so there's plenty of time to come back.

How's that?

* * * * *

Let's review all the roster changes of the last several days, just to get the record straight:

• Pitcher Chris Bootcheck has been released.
• Infielder Omar Luna was sent to the Charlotte Stone Crabs
• Infielder Daniel Mayora was called up from Montgomery
• Pitcher Ryan Reid was sent to Montgomery
• Pitcher Matt Torra was acquired from the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks)
• Pitcher Jay Buente came off the DL

I don't think that I've mentioned that Desmond Jennings, Brandon Guyer, and Russ Canzler were picked for the IL All-Star team. The Bulls' Neil Solondz was named to call the game that will be played in Salt Lake City on July 13. Congratulations to all.

Brandon Guyer was reported to be day-to-day from a back injury. He did not play last night.

Bulls fans should be pleased with the 6th inning of yesterday’s Rays-Cardinals game. The Rays loaded the bases mostly former Bulls: Damon (the sole exception), Matt Joyce, and B.J. Upton. Casey Kotchman (remember he started the season with the Bulls?) cleared the bases with a double. Justin Ruggiano hit a home run to bring Kotchman in. Win was recorded for former Bull Jeff Neimann. As an aside, Ruggiano is looking good at the plate and in the field. Sure is nice to see him doing well.

16 Innings of Not Very Good Baseball

Game 79, June 30, Knights Stadium
Charlotte Knights 6, Durham Bulls 3, 7 innings
Box

Game 80
Durham Bulls 7, Charlotte Knights 4, 9 innings
Season: 44-36; Last 10: 5-5; Trip: 2-1
Wrap, Box, MiLB.com

There’s so much not to like about these two games that it’s hard to know where to start.

Probably the best thing to do is to find at least a couple of good things to say about the game(s). Then go on to the ugly stuff.

Hmmmm.

Well, they tied the second game up in the 7th and R.J. Swindle, working much harder than he usually does, got the Bulls through the end of the inning and set up the extra innings.

And then there was just the sheer hanging in there for 16 innings of baseball until Jose Lobaton walked in the 9th and scored the go-ahead run all the way from second base on a Knight’s errant throw. Says something about the character of the team that they hung in there so well.

New guy Daniel Mayora got his first hit(s) and Leslie Anderson had a good night.

That’s about it.

On the other side of the ledger is the bottom of the 5th in the first game where the Bulls gave away a three run lead; the 11 strikeouts in the second game; the struggle to take advantage of the gifts of Charlotte pitching in the second game (12 walks, 5 in the 9th inning); the combined 5-21 with runners in scoring position in the two games; and the two home runs given up by Chris Bootcheck, his 8th and 9th of the year (is that why the Rays didn’t bring him up?).

These opt-outs are messing with my mind. Wonder if they are messing with the team’s mind as well.

Tied for first place. Could have slipped into second place without the late night win.

Turn the page. A new day.

Dirk Hayhurst — “Efficient” Win?

Game 78, June 29, Charlotte Knights Stadium
Durham Bulls (Rays) 2, Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 1
Season: 43-35; Trip: 1-0
Wrap, Box, Rock Hill Herald

Although the Bulls won this game, with the rainout on Tuesday and the Gwinnett Braves on a 5-game win streak, they are only 1/2 game in front of the Braves in the South. Looks like the South Division is going to keep on being a tight race all year.

To be honest about it, I forgot that it was a day game and missed all of it. So what I know is from the wrap and the box score. Still, a look at those results is pretty interesting. Dirk Hayhurst had a six-inning, shut-out, one-hit appearance. Time to acknowledge that he is having a very good year and winning a lot of games for the Bulls. Even with his stretch on the disabled list, he is just behind Alex Cobb in a number of pitching metrics for the Bulls.

New guy Daniel Mayora played third base, drew one walk, but was hitless. That was true of almost all of the Bulls. Only three hits, but a bunch of walks (7). In fact, the winning run was walked in after Leslie Anderson walked, Brandon Guyer singled, Dan Johnson walked, and Felipe Lopez walked. Along with his home run, Lopez was the offensive star of the game. Desmond Jennings came in the game in the 8th for Anderson. I didn’t hear any commentary on his injury status.

The Bulls play a double header today with the first game starting at 6:15.

* * * * * 

The other day I mentioned a Dirk Hayhurst blog posting that mentioned, somewhat in passing, the idea of pitching efficiency being a good thing and that there didn’t seem to be a metric for that idea.

I’m certainly no sabermetrics guy, but it seemed to me that it should be fairly easy to come up with a metric that measures efficiency, fuzzy as it might be.

First, lets agree on what “pitching efficiency” means. Essentially, for this item, I’m just going to say that the fewer pitches a pitcher has to throw, the better. That is, if a pitcher can get out of an inning in three pitches (popups, grounders, etc.), he is as “efficient” as he can possibly be.

So, a metric for pitching efficiency is pitches per out. A perfectly efficient pitcher would have an efficiency rating of 1.00. We’ve got those numbers in every box score. And I already have 90% of those numbers in a spreadsheet.

Chart of the Day — Pitching Efficiency

This is a fairly simple measure. Alex Cobb, for example, has thrown 807 pitches over 53 1/3 innings this year. 807/(53 1/3*3)=5.04. As with any metric like this, sample size can be a problem. However, to look at two extremes, Alex Torres has thrown 1,326 pitches and his “efficiency” rating is pretty high (i.e., not good). Also very high is Lance Cormier, but we only have the 14 inning/259 pitch sample to look at.

Nevertheless, this is a pretty interesting measure. From this it would look as if the otherwise questionable Ryan Reid has more promise that I would have thought, whereas Brandon Gomes is not quite the star I thought he was. I’ll keep at it for the year to see if something jumps out.

To answer the question in the headline: At an efficiency rating of 4.89 for the game, you bet it was!

For you real sabermetricians out there: surely this has been looked at by you guys. What am I missing?

click on chart for larger view

Oddity of the day: A family down in Florida has put 300,000 votes into the major league all-star voting system.

Luna to Stone Crabs; Mayora to Bulls

Several sources are reporting that Omar Luna has been sent to the Charlotte Stone Crabs, the Rays’ A+ team in Port Charlotte, Florida. Coming up to the Bulls from the Montgomery Biscuits will be 25 year-old infielder Daniel Mayora.

Not on anyone’s prospect list, Mayora spent several years in the Colorado Rockies’ system until signing on with the Rays this year and being assigned to AA Montgomery. Primarily playing third base for the Biscuits, he’s bringing a very respectable line of .305/.388/.482 and a wOBA of .388 (best on the Biscuits) to AAA. He’s never played AAA ball, so could be interesting. Career stats are here. He was part of the big spreadsheet done on Rays' minor leaguers over on Rays Prospects a couple of days ago.

He recently played third base in the Southern League all-star game where he got some attention from the Montgomery Advertiser’s Stacy Long.

Of interest to trivialists is that he had a season with the Asheville Tourists (2007). That means he has played in the legendary McCormick Field, the place where Crash Davis hit his record-breaking home run (run that one down film trivia buffs!). Thus, if he hangs around long enough and the Bulls go back to the DAP, he will earn a place in obscure Durham Bulls/Bull Durham trivia history.

Quite a few errors on the season (10), so doesn’t look like the Bulls are getting a great glove.

On paper, he looks like an improvement in our infield, given Luna’s year to date. To keep track of Omar Luna, keep an eye on Jim Donten’s Blog, Claw Digest.

At a guess he will join the Bulls in Charlotte tonight.