Bulls Below the Border

And out in Arizona ...

Inspired by some of the posts over on Rays Prospects I started digging around in the Winter League data, going from team to team looking for guys who played for the Bulls last year. I found several of our guys scattered around the Caribbean and Arizona and made up a list of how they’re going. Then, of course, I found a link that pretty much summarized everything I’d been looking for and more. Here’s all the Rays players currently playing Winter league baseball.

Of the position players listed, we saw Ray Olmedo and Henry Mateo last year. Neither are on a major league contract, so there’s no guarantee they’ll be back. The oddity is Tampa Bay infielder Willy Aybar. Hard to guess why he’s playing winter ball. Shouldn’t be for the money.

A bunch of the pitchers we saw last year are down south and out west: Bateman, dePaula, Medlock, Oliveros, Phillips, Rollins, and Talbot. One to watch is Mitch Talbot since he spent so much time on the DL last year. Seems to be doing OK.

Missing from any of the stats (although initially on rosters) are Justin Ruggiano and Jon Weber. Don't know what the story there may be.

The Best Team in AAA — Your Durham Bulls

Durham Bulls 5, Memphis Redbirds 4

Wrap, Box

I figure that almost anyone who reads this blog watched the game, so don’t expect anything new here. Still, a lot of things happened that deserve more than the cursory comment I was able to provide last night. And there are a few odds and ends certainly worth mentioning.

Jeremy Hellickson pitched a terrific five innings. He left the game with a decent 4-0 lead and I thought he was in line for the win. He was also, in spite of what I said last night, deserving of the MVP award.

Jason Cromer had a bad night. Joe Bateman wasn’t much better in his 1 ⅓ innings. If not for three spectacular catches of pitches behind the batters’ backs, it would have been worse. He left the bases loaded for Calvin Medlock and we were lucky to get away with a tie game. Calvin did fine through the 8th. Julio DePaula struck out the side in the 9th, but the 10th got really scary. Bases were loaded with one out when he got a dribbler right back to the mound that allowed him to start a 1-2-3 double play. Mitch Talbot slammed the door in the 11th, setting up the win.

Here’s a tidbit: Mitch Talbot got the first (April 9th) and last (September 22nd) wins of the season. He and I may have been the only guys who knew that before it went up here.

Offensively, the guy who stands out is the veteran Ray Olmedo. Two doubles his first two times at bat (one for a RBI). Two runs scored, the second being the hallmark of a veteran ballplayer and baserunner. Olmedo had doubled in Elliott Johnson and was on second base. Jennings beat out a bunt that moved Ray to third. The Memphis pitcher, who had made the play at first, had his back to the field and Ray (with Montoyo’s encouragement) took off for home.

In the end, Memphis’ manager allowed chaos to reign (or created it?). Michel Hernandez doubled, was pinch run for by Rashad Eldridge, who was then wild pitched to third. Ray Olmedo was intentionally walked, a new pitcher came in, and an outfielder was brought in to the infield to set up a five-man defense because there were no outs and not even a double play would save the game. But the pitcher hadn’t pitched in something like two weeks. The catcher had just come into the game. A wild pitch brought Eldridge home for the win.

Counting last night, the Bulls won five games in a row in the playoffs (and 7 for 9 overall). That’s pretty spectacular.

Six different pitchers won playoff games. Talbot, Hellickson, Cromer, Phillips, and Medlock each won a game. The winner of two games (are you ready for this?) was Joe Bateman.

Don’t know what you may have thought of it, but I thought the ESPN2 coverage of the game was pretty awful. Camera angles were poor; commentary, with a couple of exceptions, just didn’t say much. And Wool E. Bull got no camera time at all!

On the other hand, Neal Solondz and his counterpart from Memphis were doing the broadcast for 99.9 and that was terrific. Once I discovered them about the 5th inning I turned down the TV volume and had a decent night of it.

Other commentary on the game:

Indy Week was at Tyler’s Taproom. MiLB had this story. Marc Lancaster of The Tampa Tribune had this, with some Joe Maddon comments. And the AP, as reported by WRAL had a good story with some good quotes from Charlie Montoyo.

I’ll try to do a retrospective on the season soon. It was a great one. And it has been an enjoyable experience interacting with all the Bulls fans out there. Thanks for looking in, commenting, and keeping me honest (or at least trying to).

Bulls Beat Bats — Now For the Yankees

Durham Bulls 5, Louisville Bats 3
Wrap, Box

Now I know where I’m going to be Tuesday and Wednesday — at the DBAP cheering for the Bulls. We have won the first round of the playoffs with superb pitching performances by the relief crew and scrappy play by everyone else. The Bulls are on their way home and will be playing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for the Governor’s Cup beginning Tuesday.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Paul Phillips was a starter. But in a couple of hundred professional games he’s made exactly two starts, one of them tonight, the other on September 6th against Norfolk. Nevertheless, he was exactly what we needed to win. He got through five solid innings.

We were up 4-3 when Medlock came on, so Phillips got the win. He deserved it. On the other hand, Calvin Medlock was really shaky, hitting a batter, walking two and enduring a muffed double play. But Charlie was quick with the hook. Julio DePaula set the Bats down to finish the 6th, had a 1-2-3 7th, but gave up a one-out walk in the 8th. So on came Winston Abreu for his third appearance in this five-game series. Winston got two outs to finish the 8th. A bunt single was all that happened in the 9th. The next three batters were out and the Bulls are now catching a plane back to Durham to play some more baseball.

On offense the Bulls played smart, effective baseball all night long, only making one mistake in the 8th (Jennings got picked off). Twelve hits, four walks, four stolen bases, it was basic heads up ball. Nevertheless, we scuffled for every run. As an example, Matt Joyce tripled to lead off the 4th, but it took a broken bat single by Justin Ruggiano to get him home. Ruggiano, by the way, has had a terrific series. And he was 3 for 4 tonight, two singles and a double, and two RBIs.

I think I said at the beginning of this playoff series that a lot was going to depend on the ability of Charlie Montoyo and Xavier Hernandez to manage the pitching staff. I still think that’s true and still think that is how we managed to win this round. Thank you, Charlie and X!

Oh, yeah. Jeremy Hellickson is supposed to start on Tuesday.

Durham Bulls Clinch Post-Season Spot; Jennings Sets Record

Game 140: Durham Bulls 14, Charlotte Knights 3
Season: 80-60
Games Left in Season: 4; Home Games: 3
Wrap, Box, Indy Week

In a game of superlatives played in Fort Mill, South Carolina, the headline emerges from Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Syracuse Chiefs lost to Lehigh Valley. With the Bulls’ win in Fort Mill we now have a lock on a playoff spot as either the Southern Division champs or as the Wild Card team. So, next Wednesday, at the DBAP, first game of the first round.

Desmond Jennings kept up with his hot hitting, this time setting a Durham Bulls AAA record of 7 hits in 7 at-bats. Really hard to do in a 9-inning game. Really hard to do, period. Six singles and a double, three RBIs and he scored four runs. In fact, the top of the order did much of the damage since Rashad Eldridge, playing right field in place of injured Matt Joyce, was 4-6 with a walk and two RBIs. The Bulls as a team had 17 hits and drew 12 walks against a Charlotte team that has simply been decimated by September call ups and World Cup team assignments. Further, the White Sox have wanted to keep their AA and A teams in contention, so some of the players last night were true rookies getting their first experience at pitching to AAA hitters or facing AAA pitchers.

But I don’t want to take anything away from Calvin Medlock. A superb game in a spot start situation. He was touched for a home run in the 1st and the 3rd (Charlotte’s only runs), but went 4 ⅔ and struck out 9. Joe Bateman got the win and Dale Thayer pitched the 9th.

Norfolk beat Gwinnett last night, so we’re two games ahead of the Braves in the Southern Division with four games left to play. Things are looking pretty good.

Team USA 6, Canada 4 (exhibition)
Indy Week, Box

Jon Weber played left field and went 1-3 with a walk. Jason Childers pitched a scoreless inning.

Childers Does a Bateman

Game 107: Bulls 3, Yankees 1
Season: 61-46
Wrap, Box, Indy Week

A while back I mentioned that Joe Bateman on the mound was good for those who’d missed out getting their cardio workout for the day. Well, yesterday I did make it to the gym, so I wasn’t in need of getting the ol’ heart above 130 for an extended period. Apparently, Charlie Montoyo didn’t need it either. Bateman did not get the word.

Here’s what happened. Carlos Hernandez did a fine job through five innings, only letting in one run on two hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Then Calvin Medlock kept things on track through two innings, no runs, 1 hit, two strikeouts. In the meantime, the Bulls played small ball and put across three runs, one each in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.

Then came Joe. Single, line drive out, walk, walk, bases loaded. Typical Joe. Heart rate well above 120. But it’s not spring or even early summer. Charlie Montoyo, who usually is more than willing to let pitchers twist in the wind, yanked Joe and put Jason Childers in for another save opportunity. Jason did his thing, pop up, ground out, inning over.

In the 9th, however, Jason decided to do a Joe Bateman imitation by giving up two singles on two pitches putting men on first and second and the winning run at the plate. To continue in Bateman style, he followed with a strikeout, line out (apparently great play by Ray Sadler in center), and a ground out. Game over. Fifth save in a row for Jason. Bulls beat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3 out of 4.

So the Bulls remain in first place in the South and now (unlike the last time I said so) they have the best winning percentage in the International League.

Seems like every time the Bulls go on the road, the Rays decide to shuffle the roster. Lots of changes, and more to come. Here’s what we know so far.

• Rehabbing catcher Shawn Riggans should show up in the lineup soon.
• Dale Thayer is back and had one appearance against Scranton/WB.
• Justin Ruggiano should be back and handing out cigars in celebration of his new son.
• Tampa Bay reliever Joe Nelson has been sent down to Durham.
• Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings has been sent to the Bulls.

For the Jennings and Nelson moves, see The Rays Party, Marc Lancaster, Stacy Long with the Montgomery Advertiser, and Adam Sobsey at the Indy Week link above. My only comment is that Jennings should bring some speed to our offense, which could make things interesting.

For how the Bulls roster will change as a result, your guess is as good as mine.

Lastly, friends of ours had the nerve to celebrate their wedding without checking the Bulls schedule. Hard to believe that could happen, but it did. So I won’t be able to make tonight’s game. Worse, I’ve been told that I cannot stroll around the reception with a radio earpiece since I’m a bit too old to act as if I’m a Secret Service agent. Maybe I can sneak out while they’re being prayed over, or toasting the bride, to check the score.

Durham Bulls Come Home

Game 99: Bulls 3, Indians 4
Season: 54-44
Wrap, Box

Well, the Bulls are home. For the first time since July 9th they (and we) will be in the DBAP. It was a long haul, finished off by a 10 inning affair last night when Medlock and Jaso combined to let a runner home after the Bulls outhit the Indians 13-9.

Let’s call it an eleven-game road trip, even though a few of the Bulls came home during the All-Star break. We won 4 and lost 7. Ten of the eleven games were decided by one or two runs (the other we won in Norfolk 9-2). Three went extra innings (16, 13 and 10). Of those we won one and lost two.

The persistent problem on the trip was bringing home runners in scoring position. Adam Sobsey took a look at that yesterday.

Unlike previous trips, not too much turmoil among the players. John Jaso got called up to sit on the bench for a couple of days and come back. Andy Sonnanstine went on the disabled list when we were in Norfolk and came off yesterday for a pretty good outing. Dale Thayer got called up yesterday and pitched a solid inning in the Rays’ loss to the White Sox. Jeremy Hellickson came to the Bulls from Montgomery and will be starting tonight.

Meanwhile, Norfolk has been waiting on us. They’ve lost four in a row and are only a half game ahead of us. Gwinnett isn’t. They’ve won six in a row and are only a half game behind us in the division.

We’ve got five games with Norfolk over the next four days, then it’s off to Scranton, who we haven’t played this year. These are going to be important series. The Bulls need to be on their game.

How Saturday is going to work:

• They are going to be 9 inning games, unlike the usual International League double headers that go 7 innings.
• First game at 1:05. Kids under 12 get a voucher for hot dog, chips & drink.
• Park will be cleared after first game.
• Second game at 7:05.
• So, for season ticket holders we’ll have to find a way to kill a couple of hours between games or (heaven forbid) skip one of the games.
• Guess I’ll have to listen to Neil tonight and see if he puts out any more details. Won’t even try to guess at who’s pitching on Saturday, but it won’t be Sonnanstine or Davis. Assuming Hellickson starts today, it will have been more than five days or more for Houser, Hernandez, and DeSalvo.

Webworld:

Over at Rays Index an outspoken look at yesterday’s perfect game in Chicago.

Update:

Probable rotation

• Today: Hellickson
• Saturday afternoon: Houser
• Saturday night: Hernandez
• Sunday: Cromer
• Monday: Davis

All-Star Break — Pitching

(click on chart for larger image)

For AAA the All-Star break comes at a point well past mid-season. We’re at 90 games, 18 past the 72 games that mark the first half of the season for us. And we only have 27 home games left before the playoffs begin.

Although we looked at these numbers recently, thought they might be worth another look before things start up again.

What jumps out at me in the pitching chart is the lack of depth. Of the five, only three have seen very many starts as Bulls (Davis 18, Hernandez 17, and Cromer 9). Of course, Sonnanstine had a bunch of starts with the Rays and if his mononucleosis is under control he will be a huge asset the rest of the season. I have no idea of Mitch Talbot’s status. He had 10 starts before he went on the disabled list and were he to come back, we could certainly expect a lot from him. So, that leaves only Matt DeSalvo as a weak starting pitcher.

Childers, DePaula, Bateman, and Thayer are obviously the core of our relievers and they are all doing credible jobs. It’s hard to tell how James Houser might work out as a reliever, but not bad so far. Similarly, Medlock’s status is uncertain. There’s something going on with him that appears to have nothing to do with Bulls as a team, but with roster juggling. Certainly his numbers are just fine and we’d be better off with him available in the bullpen all the time. We’ve only seen 3 innings from Meloan, so he’s impossible to judge. Julio is unimpressive.

So what do we have to worry about? Well, that’s pretty simple, the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays 40-man roster has five of our pitchers on it: Talbot, Davis, Sonnanstine, Houser, and Thayer. The Rays also have three pitchers on their disabled list, all relievers, but only one that appears to be coming off any time soon (Brian Shouse). For the Bulls that should mean that, except for Dale Thayer, our current crop of relievers should be safe from call up. Among our starters, my guess is that it would be a coin toss between Sonnanstine and Davis.

Are any of our pitchers trade bait? Hard to tell. The Rays’ problem at the moment appears to be the bullpen. Would they trade a promising starter for a proven reliever? Maybe, but this is the team that has already traded two proven pitchers off this year (Jackson and Hammel), so while it could surely happen, doesn’t seem likely. If they needed a position player, then maybe. But other than the catcher position, the Rays don’t seem to have any glaring weaknesses among their position players (and they’ve always got Joe Dillon). So, could they do something? Yes. Will they? What do you think?

I don’t have a good sense of who’s pitching in Montgomery this year, especially among the starters. So no idea who the Rays might want to have some AAA time. But that could add some interesting variables to the mix.

Roster Changes

Andy Sonnanstine to disabled list; Calvin Medlock “recalled” from Hudson Valley. That’s all I know. I wasn’t able to listen to the game tonight, so don’t know if anything else was reported. If a reader did hear, please chime in.

Update: Have two reports so far, so must be right. Andy has mono, so Bulls will go with "starter by committee" on Sunday. Carlos Hernandez on for tonight. We sometimes forget how young most of these guys are. Here's hoping it doesn't take Andy out for too long.

Arrivals and Departures

Here’s the bare bones of it: Chris Nowak to Montgomery and Calvin Medlock to Hudson Valley (wonder if he’ll be there in time for the “Ball-less Baseball game”?). Elliott Johnson is off the disabled list and reliever John Meloan has apparently joined the team.

Looks like Adam Sobsey over at Triangle Offense/Indy Week called the Nowak move correctly, and it makes sense to me.

Moving Medlock makes much less baseball sense, so has to be more about the business of baseball than the playing of baseball. Something we have to live with, I suppose. But even with his limited appearances he was clearly a better pitcher than at least two of the other relievers on the squad. Hope we see him back before too long. As Adam points out, the guy in the grey sweatshirt on the Bulls bench just might be Calvin.

Don’t know if Elliot will be in the lineup tonight. We’ll have to wait for Neil Solondz or Gameday to tell us.

Hair!

Game 80: Bulls 8, Knights 6
Season: 46-34
Wrap, Box

Really, really nice to see the Bulls back in town, even if it’s only for a couple of days. Six in a row!

We got our first look at Andy Sonnanstine in a Durham Bulls uniform. The first time in a couple of years. He did a decent job over six innings — 2 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strike outs. Jorge Julio came on in the seventh …

Rant Alert!

The Rays/Bulls dumped Dewon Day today. Someone had to go once Sonnanstine came on the roster. I understand that. But why Day and not Julio? Day isn’t exactly a standout. In 22 appearances he pitched 18 ⅓ innings, had a 3-1 record and an ERA of 3.95 and Opponents On Base Percentage (OBA) of .386. But Julio, who came to us from Milwaukee in early June over 9 appearances (9 ⅔ innings) has an ERA of 9.31 and OBA of .404. Makes no sense to me. In fact, the only thing that makes any sense at all is that there’s something in the fine print of their contracts that made it easier to dump Day than Julio.

... and gave up three runs on a double, a walk, and a homer. Medlock (he’s looking pretty good since he joined us) and Thayer finished it up, although Dale did give up a rare home run to make it exciting.

But the hitting, that was really pretty. Home runs by Joyce, Weber, and Richard. Doubles by Joyce, Weber, and Richard. RBIs by those three plus Ruggiano. And extraordinary plate discipline by Henry Mateo resulting in 2 hits, a walk, and 2 runs scored.

Now to the really important stuff.

• Hirsuteness changes: Jon Weber has sprouted some hair around his head. Looks good, Jon. Dale Thayer shaved his ‘stach and sideburns. Since both had good nights, maybe a good thing.
• Jon Weber launched his fourth bat in my direction tonight. This is the Tar Heel State, Jon. Gotta be some pine tar around here somewhere — assuming that’s still legal. I’ve still got more hair than you, Jon, but you’re catching up.

The Bulls have updated their roster, but Joe Bateman’s still not on it.

Over at The Rays Party he’s got some interesting stuff on soon-to-arrive John Meloan, including pitch f/x charts. (What are pitch f/x charts, you ask? Got me.)

Rant Alert!

The Rays certainly did a number on Winston Abreu. It probably won’t cost them too much since the Rays can’t beat the Indians in the best of times. But it’s gonna be even more embarrassing if Abreu beats them sometime later this year. Especially with the experience they’ve had with Isringhausen and Percival.

By my count, two more pitchers are gonna have to go soon. One when Meloan shows up, another when Mitch Talbot comes off the DL. Maybe, Julio will go. If this year’s numbers mattered Houser would be next, but I’m guessing DePaula is not long for the Bulls. Notice Houser strolling down toward the bullpen tonight. Assume he’s out of the rotation. Are they going to try him as a reliever?

Now That’s a Lot of Ball

Game 77: Bulls 8, Clippers 7 (13 innings)
Season: 43-34
Wrap, Box, Indy Week Story

I’ve always thought that relievers had the easiest job in baseball, if a bit boring. How hard could it be to show up every day, maybe play a little catch, and hang out with the guys chewing sunflower seeds out in the bullpen? Probably not a good thing to be sitting in the bullpen with your iPod plugged in and your head bobbing, or working out your thumbs on Twitter, but otherwise, not a bad job. Every 3 or 4 days you warm up, take a look at the situation (or get told about it by your catcher), and stroll/trot out to the mound and do your thing.

On the road sometimes it’s even easier, since the home team doesn’t even come to bat in the 9th when they’re ahead.

Until you trek up to Ohio and in the first six games three of them go into extra innings (13, 15, and 13). Then you have to go to work.

In the last six games:

• Jason Childers: 3 appearances, 18 batters faced, 5 innings
• Julio DePaula: 3 appearances, 24 batters faced, 6 innings, 1 win, 1 save
• Dale Thayer: 3 appearances, 21 batters faced, 5 innings, 1 save, 2 blown saves
• Joe Bateman: 3 appearances, 28 batters faced, 7 innings, 1 win
• Calvin Medlock: 2 appearances, 14 batters faced, 4 innings
• Jorge Julio: 3 appearances, 21 batters faced, 5 ⅔ innings
• Chad Bradford: 2 appearances, 11 batters faced, 3 ⅓ innings, 1 win
• Dewon Day: 3 appearances, 18 batters faced, 3 innings, 1 loss
  

Some very complicated math reveals that the starters pitched 28 innings over the last six games and the relievers pitched 39. Which leads me to a picture of what might be going on in the locker room or out on the field prior to today’s game. Something like this.

Relievers to Starters: “Look guys, we’re getting tired and way, way behind on our tweets. Do you think you could last, oh say, 6+ innings or so?”

Starters to Relievers: “We’re doing our job. If you can’t hold them in check it ain’t our problem (OK, maybe Matt DeSalvo isn’t part of that conversation — in two games he’s only lasted a total of 6 ⅔ innings).”

Position players (especially the catchers) to all of them: “Just stop the bleeding guys. Justin can’t save the game every day. How about a full 9 innings of baseball and we go back to the hotel with another win?”

Odds and Ends

• The Bulls are in first place in the South!
• Dan Johnson is playing for the Yokahama BayStars
• Joel Guzman is playing for the Nationals’ AA team in Harrisburg, PA
• Andy Sonnanstine is set to open the Bulls home stand on Thursday.

Hitters Hit; Pitcher Pitches

Game 76: Bulls 12, Clippers 5
Season: 42-34
Wrap, Box

Great night for Bulls at the plate. Lets just list them:

• Henry Mateo: 2 for 5, 2 homers, 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Reid Brignac: 3 for 5, 1 homer, 2 singles, 1 RBI, 2 runs
• Matt Joyce: 2 for 5, 2 doubles, 2 runs
• Justin Ruggiano: 3 for 5, 3 singles, 2 RBI, 2 runs, no strikeouts (he leads team with 41 RBIs)
• Chris Richard: 0 for 5, 1 run scored (he reached first on an error)
• John Weber: 2 for 5, double, single, 1 run scored
• Ray Sadler: 1 for 5, single, RBI (Sadler has 40 RBIs on the year)
• Ray Olmedo: 0 for 3, 2 walks, 1 run scored
• Craig Albernaz: 1 for 4, double, 3 RBIs

Now, that is a great night. Our best at the plate since a 13-2 blowout of Rochester on May 27th.

Yesterday I wrote that when the starting pitching situation sorts itself out, James Houser was the leading candidate to move elsewhere. So what does he do? He throws 6 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits, 2 walks, and he hit one batter. A good night, and much, much better than his last three starts.

I guess relievers respond to pitching with only a day off differently. Calvin Medlock pitched two innings and only let one guy on base. Dewon Day pitched one inning and got hammered: 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 runs (3 earned).

Webworld

• Thanks to a hint from Stacy Long over at the Montgomery Advertiser, I’ve found Elliot Johnson. He’s playing on the Rays’ Gulf Coast League team. Four games so far. All at 2nd base or as DH. 12 AB, 3 hits (2 doubles), 2 walks.
• Rays Prospects has catcher stats for all in the Rays system. Can’t say that our guys look all that good in comparison. But no worse, either.
• We all saw Chad Bradford pitch while he was with Durham. The Rays Party has an interesting chart of how his ball loops toward the plate.
• Marc Tompkin with the St. Petersburg Times has some thoughts on why Andy Sonnanstine was picked to come to the Bulls.

On the Mound — Wade Davis

Game 73: Bulls 4, Mud Hens 2
Season: 40-33
Wrap, Box, Indy Week

His won-loss record (6-4) doesn’t jump out at you, but Wade Davis has established himself as the premier starting pitcher of the Durham Bulls. Today was a good example. Davis went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks. He had six strikeouts. I won’t get into some of the more arcane stats, but his ERA is 2.89 (the team’s ERA is almost 4) and his OBA (opposing batters on base percentage) is .293 (the team’s is .329). Among the starters, Jason Cromer has better numbers, but he’s only been in 6 games and Davis has been in 15. Of Davis’ five no-decisions the Bulls won 3 (including today) and lost 2.

Although I am sure that he’s being watched very closely within the Rays system, to be honest I’m happy that he hasn’t undergone the media scrutiny that David Price has. In fact, the comet-like rise of Price last year and this seems to have kept Davis out of the light. A good thing, in my opinion. And good for the Bulls. I think that there’s every hope that we will be able to keep this young man with us all year and that he’ll be with us on into the playoffs.

Without Davis, today could have been a disaster. We used six of our relievers in last night’s 13 inning marathon. We had a grand total of two relievers left, Calvin Medlock and closer Dale Thayer. As it turned out, however, Davis got through 6 innings and Chad Bradford’s rehab schedule called for him to pitch back-to-back games. So, even though Bradford had a crappy outing last night, he got in an inning (and, thanks to Justin Ruggiano’s homer in the 8th) a win. Then Dale Thayer did a two-inning save (his 10th). So Medlock’s available tomorrow, along with anyone else who can work on one day’s rest.

Defense was not good in the early part of today’s game. Ray Olmedo needs a new glove, I think. Or maybe he has a new glove and needs to go back to the old one. At any rate, he’s been snakebit the last couple of weeks.

Matt Joyce finally got a hit, a 2-run homer in the first inning. Justin Ruggiano collected two more strikeouts before his game-winning home run. Bulls stole 3 bases: Eldridge, Joyce, and Ruggiano. And no pickoffs or other baserunning problems today. Good news.

Really nice to see us win a close game. Really, really nice. Good way to start the second half of the season.

Down on the Bay:

The newspapers and webworld are abuzz with speculation regarding the return of Scott Kazmir to the starting rotation. To summarize: David Price went to the Rays when Kazmir went on the DL. With Kazmir back (maybe) the Rays have six starters, so one needs to go. Before Price got his head handed to him last night the general consensus was that either Andy Sonnanstine or Jeff Neimann would be sent to the bullpen and work there. Now Price has been added to the mix. What does it mean to the Bulls? Here’s a few possibilities.

• David Price could come back. Not very likely, but possible.
• Sonnanstine could come down for a visit. Also not very likely.
• Either Niemann or Sonnanstine sent to bullpen and one of the Rays’ current relievers (Choate or Abreu) could come back. Although I'm sure they would not agree, I'd be happy to see Winston or Randy back.

Let’s Talk About a Pitcher

Game 57: Bulls 4, Red Sox 4
Season: 36-21
Wrap, Box

A thriller. The Durham Bulls go 1 run up in the 4th, give up 4 runs in the 7th, score 4 in the top of the 9th, and Abreu (after a few thrills) slams the door in the bottom of the 9th.

The wrap discusses some of the batting heroics. As far as pitching goes, Matt DeSalvo had a fine day. Joe Bateman and Dale Thayer didn’t. Calvin Medlock had his first appearance, one inning, one win.

But I want to talk about Winston Abreu and what he’s meant to us this year.

Abreu has appeared in 22 games this season. He’s faced 114 batters over 31 innings: 12 hits, 10 walks, 47 strikeouts, ERA of 1.45. Fabulous numbers, but look at these: 3 wins, 10 saves, 7 holds. In fact, in the 22 games he’s appeared in, the Bulls have won 21 of them! The one game lost was back on May 12th. You all remember that one don’t you, when Louisville came up with 5 runs against Dale Thayer in the 9th and ruined his ERA for a long, long time? Abreu pitched a scoreless 8th.

Winston is the most dominant reliever I’ve seen in a Bulls uniform. Here’s hoping he stays here all year. If he does, and the Bulls keep up these late inning rushes — something my heart could do without; however, consider the alternative — then we are in very good shape.

Other notes:

• Joe Bateman takes the lead among Durham pitchers in the hit batsman category with four. I’m too lazy to check if they were all right-handed batters too dumb to get out of the way of a sidearmer’s curveball.
• Pawtucket, by the way, leads the league in pitchers who hit batters with 28, Durham is a distant seventh with 21, one of them in today’s game.
• Norfolk lost! We’re tied for first place in the division (actually we’re a couple of percentage points back since they’ve played two less games than we have. Both of us are 15 games over .500).

Player Move — Calvin Medlock

According to Stacy Long over in Montgomery, Calvin Medlock is coming to the Durham Bulls.

Medlock started last season with the Bulls and stayed with us all season (he had 9 appearances with us in 2007). According to my numbers he appeared in 41 games (including two playoff games), 0-3, 63 innings, with a season ERA of 4.57. It looks like he’s been Montgomery’s closer this year, and has done an impressive job. He’s appeared in 23 games and has 13 (!) saves. Since Montgomery has won 26 games Medlock appears to have had a hand in half of those wins. Overall record 0-1, ERA 3.52. [Just found this article on Medlock's move, also in Montgomery Advertiser]

Don’t know why he started the year in Montgomery and not quite sure how he fits into a bullpen that already has two closers (Thayer and Abreu). And it sure looks like it punches a big hole in Montgomery’s pitching staff. On the other hand, maybe it’s his time. We need some depth among our relievers and we can hope he’s our man.

Could this mean that another one of our guys is on the way back to the Rays?

How They’re Doing #3

The Rays are now 6-6 in the spring.

Several prospective Bulls are doing very well. Jon Weber leads the non-roster list with 22 at-bats, an average of .364 and leads the team in RBIs with 10. Elliot Johnson is also doing well with an average of .333 in 21 at-bats, 6 RBIs, and 3 homers. Chris Richard is getting a good bit of playing time with 19 at-bats, an average of .316 and 3 RBIs. Reid Brignac finally got a couple of hits, bringing his average up to .130 in 23 at-bats. And Fernando Perez (more later) is hitting .211 in 19 at-bats, with 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Complete stats here.

In yesterday’s game Perez hurt his wrist going after a fly ball. He could be out for at least a week, according to the Rays website. Reporting in the St. Petersburg Times discusses the impact that may have on where he goes at the beginning of the season.

In the same article we hear that several players have been taken off the Rays roster and sent to minor league camp. Since it's in the same location (Port Charlotte), guess that means moving your gear out of one locker and into another nearby. Of interest to Bulls fans are two pitchers, Chad Orvella and Calvin Medlock. Neither pitcher got much time with the Rays this spring. Orvella got 2.2 innings and Medlock got 2.1.