Kenley Jansen was a 19-year-old catching prospect within the Los Angeles Dodgers group when he performed for the 2007 Nice Lakes Loons. Sixteen years and 417 saves later, he seems to be again at his time in Midland, Michigan fondly. The All-Star nearer didn’t hit a lot — his conversion to the mound in 2009 got here for a motive — however the general expertise formed who he’s in the present day.
“I beloved every part about that metropolis, man,” mentioned Jansen, a local of Curaçao who additionally known as Midland residence in 2008. “It was chilly, however most likely additionally my favourite metropolis from my time within the minor leagues. We performed at Dow Diamond and that place was packed each evening. The followers had been nice. I lived with Rob Wright and Lori Wright — Danny Wright, too — and I don’t even contemplate them my host household anymore; they’re a part of my household now. I didn’t play very properly, however numerous good issues got here out of that entire expertise. Nice Lakes helped transition me from being a child to being a person.”
The 2007 season was additionally notable due to his supervisor and a pair of teammates. Longtime Detroit Tigers backstop Lance Parrish was on the helm of the Midwest League affiliate, the membership’s main catcher was Carlos Santana, and a teenage left-hander was the most-prominent member of the pitching workers.
“We knew he was going to be within the huge leagues,” Jansen mentioned of three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who toed the rubber 20 occasions as a Loon. “A 12 months later, he was within the huge leagues. He was method forward of all of us. His stuff was actually good. He was a fastball/curveball man after which Rick Honeycutt helped him develop that slider. He’s going to be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer.”
Santana made his MLB debut in 2010 after being traded to Cleveland, and some years later made a place swap of his personal. By no means a stalwart behind the dish, he’s gone on to see the majority of his big-league motion as a slugging first baseman. By way of prospect profile, he was the polar reverse of Jansen.
“Once I see guys like [Carlos] Delgado and Santana with their offense… all you’ve obtained to do is play catcher first rate and also you’re going to be within the huge leagues,” mentioned Jansen. “That’s as a result of your offense goes to take off. For me, it was attempting to determine my offense. I knew my catching would most likely put me within the huge leagues — my protection was good — however my offense wasn’t good. It didn’t occur, and thank god, man. I most likely would have been a backup catcher, and wouldn’t be having this unbelievable profession. It was an awesome resolution.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Bobby Del Greco went 4 for five in opposition to Bubba Church.
Thurman Tucker went 5 for six in opposition to Bubba Harris.
Bubba Phillips went 5 for five in opposition to Steve Gromek.
Bubba Morton went 6 for 9 in opposition to Sparky Lyle.
Bubba Trammell went 4 for six in opposition to Joe Kennedy.
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Triston Casas’s full-count numbers caught my eye not too long ago. In 69 plate appearances that ended on a 3-2 pitch (as of Thursday), the Pink Sox rookie both walked or fanned 56 occasions. Furthermore, his slash line was an OBP-heavy .135/.536/.265.
How excessive is a 401-point hole between batting common and OBP? My colleague Ben Clemens is a wizard with regards to unearthing information of this ilk, so I reached out to him for a solution. It seems that Casas is certainly an excessive case.
With 50 plate appearances because the low-end cutoff, solely Ryan Noda has a wider hole. In 85 full depend PAs (once more as of Thursday), the Oakland A’s rookie has an .044 BA and a .482 OBP, a distinction of .438. The third-highest hole belongs to one more rookie, Minnesota Twins infielder Edouard Julien, at .118/.508 for a 390 level distinction.
Much more excessive, however wanting the aforementioned cutoff, are Miguel Cabrera and Anthony Rendon, neither of whom has recorded a full-count hit. Due to free passes, the previous has a .441 OBP in 34 PAs, the latter a .472 OBP in 36 PAs..
After which there’s the other excessive. The gamers with the smallest gaps and no less than 50 full-count PAs are Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.163/.280 for a 117-point distinction) and Cody Bellinger (268/.400 for a 132-point distinction). Jon Berti, who has 37 PAs, is .313/.405 for a 92-point distinction.
As for the league averages on full counts, the BA is .190 and the OBP is .454. a 264-point distinction.
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A quiz:
Who was the opening-day second baseman for the 1967 “Unimaginable Dream” Pink Sox? A touch: He went on play the overwhelming majority of his profession as an outfielder, making seven All-Star groups and ending with a 137 wRC+ and 64.6 WAR.
The reply may be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The South Atlantic League’s Rome Braves introduced this week that they are going to dropping their dad or mum membership’s nickname on the finish of this season. The Low-A affiliate will stay with Atlanta.
Fargo Little League grew to become the primary group from North Dakota to advance to Williamsport within the 76-year historical past of the Little World Collection after they captured the Midwest area championship on Friday. Fargo defeated South Dakota’s Sioux Falls Little League 9-7
Mel Roach, an infielder/outfielder whose profession spanned the 1953-1962 seasons, died on July 31 at age 90, 70 years to the day after making his big-league debut. Primarily a utility participant with the Milwaukee Braves, he had his finest 12 months in 1960 when he batted .300 with three residence runs.
Jim Price, who caught for the Detroit Tigers from 1967-1971 and went on to function one of many group’s broadcast analysts for 3 a long time, died earlier this week at age 81. Folksy behind a microphone, and the co-founder of Tigers fantasy camp, Value gained a World Collection ring with Detroit in 1968 and hit a career-best 9 residence runs in 1969.
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The reply to the quiz is Reggie Smith, who began the primary six video games of the 1967 season at second base earlier than transferring to the outfield when common second-sacker Mike Andrews returned from an harm. They had been the one appearances at that place for Smith, who performed in 1,875 video games over his 15-season MLB profession.
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Left on the cutting-room flooring from Friday’s interview with Justin Turner had been his ideas on two of baseball’s hardest throwers. With high-velocity heaters the topic at hand, I requested the veteran infielder how Hunter Greene and Spencer Strider evaluate on the mound.
“I feel Strider’s slider could be a bit bit higher than than Hunter’s,” opined Turner, who has confronted each pitchers. “Each have actually good fastballs. Each have actually nice stuff. I feel they’re the way forward for the sport so far as pitching goes, so long as they’ll, knock on wooden, maintain up and keep wholesome.”
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For the previous few years I’ve routinely closed interviews with the next query: “What haven’t I requested you that I ought to have?” Doing so not too long ago with Kansas Metropolis’s Nick Wittgren elicited a response that ranks proper up there with probably the most distinctive. The Royals reliever instructed that I ask what occurred to his lacking tooth.
“It’s sort of the one trademark that numerous umpires and gamers know me by,” added Wittgren, who has pitched for 4 groups over eight big-league seasons. “A number of individuals have requested me about it, however I don’t suppose anybody has ever put it on the market.”
The story will now be advised.
“Eighth grade soccer and I wasn’t carrying a mouthguard underneath my face masks,” defined Wittgren. “I obtained my tooth pushed up. It really fused into my jawbone. The total tooth continues to be there, however all you see is the little nub.”
Ever thought of getting it mounted?
“Nah,” Wittgren mentioned of that risk. “I’m married with two youngsters. I don’t have to please anybody else. They like me as I’m.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Hanshin Tigers have gained 9 of their final 10 and at 61-38 have one of the best document in NPB. The Chunichi Dragons are 40-61 and have the worst document in NPB.
Trevor Bauer is 8-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 104-and-two-thirds innings for the NPB’s Yokohama BayStars. The erstwhile MLB hurler has surrendered 93 hits and points 24 free passes.
Shunpeita Yamashita is 9-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 83 innings for the NPB’s Orix Buffaloes. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed 64 hits and issued 26 free passes.
Si Hwan Roh leads all KBO batters with 27 residence runs. The 22-year-old Hanwha Eagles third baseman is slashing .308/.394/.576 in 434 plate appearances.
Hye Seong Kim leads all KBO batters with 134 hits. The 24-year-old Kiwoom Heroes second baseman is slashing .321/.381/.431 with 5 residence runs in 467 plate appearances.
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Mark Gubicza made two begins in opposition to the Detroit Tigers throughout his 1984 rookie season and allowed 10 hits and 9 runs in 10-and-a-third innings. He’s not the one pitcher who struggled in opposition to the Sparky Anderson-managed membership that 12 months. Detroit led all MLB groups in runs scored (829) and residential runs (187) on their technique to successful the World Collection.
“Once I return and replicate, I feel the ’84 Tigers had been one of the best group ever,” Gubicza mentioned of that season’s champs. “It appeared like that they had a 40-man roster when everybody else had a 25-man roster. They platooned guys. They’d nice beginning pitching led by Jack Morris. Willie Hernandez was the MVP as a better. Alan Trammell. Lou Whitaker. Chet Lemon was in middle. Parrish was behind the plate. They’d some nice gamers. That group was good as any I’ve ever seen.”
The ’84 Tigers had 10 gamers with no less than 200 plate appearances and a wRC+ of 100 or higher (5 had been 130 or higher), whereas two others had been at 99 and one was at 97. One other had 168 plate appearances and a 129 wRC+. Detroit completed the common season 104-58, then gained seven of eight video games within the postseason.
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FARM NOTES
Walker Jenkins is 10-for-26 with one residence run in 27 plate appearances within the Florida Complicated League. The 18-year-old outfielder was drafted fifth general this 12 months by the Minnesota Twins out of South Brunswick Excessive Faculty in Southport, North Carolina.
Wyatt Langford is 15-for-38 with two residence runs in 47 plate appearances between the Arizona Complicated League and Excessive-A Hickory. The 21-year-old outfielder was drafted fourth general this 12 months by the Texas Rangers out of the College of Florida.
Max Clark is 6-for-20 with two residence runs in 23 plate appearances within the Florida Complicated League. The 18-year-old outfielder was drafted third general this 12 months by the Detroit Tigers out of Franklin, Indiana’a Franklin Group Excessive Faculty.
Dylan Crews is 11-for-33 with two residence runs in 34 plate appearances between the Florida Complicated League and Low-A Fredericksburg. The 21-year-old outfielder was drafted second general this 12 months by the Washington Nationals out of LSU.
Paul Skenes made his skilled debut within the Florida Complicated League on Thursday and retired all three batters he confronted, one through strikeout. The 21-year-old right-hander was drafted first general this 12 months by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of LSU.
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Johnny Doskow is likely one of the finest tales of the 2023 season. A minor league broadcaster for 3 a long time, the 56-year-old veteran of 4,000-plus video games is now behind a microphone on a full-time foundation for the Oakland Athletics. I had the pleasure of assembly him this summer time, and took the chance to ask for a number of snapshot reminiscences of his time on the farm.
Doskow advised me Johnny Damon, then with the Low-A Rockford Royals, was the primary participant he thought can be “actually particular.” That was in Doskow’s first 12 months in professional ball, with the Midwest League’s Cedar Rapids Kernels in 1993.
His first sport within the sales space included a mistake he rapidly discovered to not make.
“I butchered a house run name,” Doskow recalled. “It was a fly ball to left, I mentioned playable, and it went 40 ft over the fence. The left fielder had deked everyone, together with me. I didn’t know they did that, so I botched the decision.”
His three years with the Kernels included a choice that claims rather a lot about life within the low minors again within the Nineties. There have been solely 4 individuals on the workers, they usually had to decide on between a fax machine or a mascot. They voted to get the mascot, Mr. Shucks.
A handful of years later, calling video games for the California League’s Excessive Desert Mavericks, he noticed the group’s mascot given the heave-ho by an umpire. “Wooly Bully was taunting him,” defined Doskow. “I suppose the umpire had had sufficient.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
MLB.com’s Sarah Langs introduced us with 10 mind-blowing notes from the final week in baseball.
At Sportsnaut, Dan Connolly looked at how Orioles managing companion “John Angelos and his individuals simply preserve opening up the circus tents.”
At Venture Muse, Anne R. Keene advised the story of Tom Carroll, the one MLB participant to earn a World Collection ring and in addition the CIA’s Medal of Advantage.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Houston’s Dusty Baker obtained his 2,159th managerial win on Wednesday, transferring him forward of Bucky Harris and into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time record. All six managers with extra wins are within the Corridor of Fame.
JP Sears’s 14 HBPs are an Oakland Athletic’s single-season document. The franchise document is held by Chick Fraser, who plunked 32 batters with the Philadelphia A’s in 1932. Frasier tossed 331 innings that 12 months. Sears is at 125-and-two-thirds innings.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is mixed 15-for-40 with 10 residence runs in opposition to the Blue Jays and Pink Sox this season. He’s a mixed 4-for-38 with no residence runs in opposition to the Oakland A’s and Texas Rangers.
Freddie Freeman has 23 residence runs in 528 plate appearances. Jose Siri has 23 residence runs in 284 plate appearances.
The Arizona Diamondbacks recorded eight stolen bases and one residence run of their 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins final Sunday.
The Kansas Metropolis Royals recorded three residence runs and 6 stolen bases in opposition to the Boston Pink Sox on Wednesday evening. It was the primary time a group, residence or away, had completed that feat within the 112-year historical past of Fenway Park.
Rudy Pemberton went 21-for-41 for the Pink Sox in 1996. All advised, the outfielder from San Pedro de Macoris slashed .336/.395/.515 in 147 plate appearances over components of three big-league seasons.
On in the present day’s date in 2006, Russell Martin took Vinnie Chulk deep within the tenth inning to provide the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0, walk-off win over the San Francisco Giants. Greg Maddux and Jason Schmidt labored eight scoreless frames for his or her respective golf equipment, the latter throwing 115 pitches, the previous simply 68 pitches.
Mule Watson was a veritable workhorse on in the present day’s date in 1921, recording complete-game wins in each ends of a doubleheader in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Boston Braves right-hander scattered 10 hits in a 4-3 win within the opener, then tossed a two-hit shutout within the 8-0 finale.
Gamers born on in the present day’s date embody Odie Davis, an infielder who went 1-for-8 whereas getting a cup of espresso with the Texas Ranger in 1980. One in all two gamers in MLB historical past along with his given first title — Odie Porter performed for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902 — Davis had a pinch-hit single off of Milwaukee’s Mike Caldwell in his first big-league plate look.
Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Vinegar Bend Mizell, a southpaw whose big-league profession spanned the 1952-1962 seasons and included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and first-year New York Mets. Mizell went on to serve in Congress, representing North Carolina, and later maintain positions within the Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush administrations.
