Hughes isn't having pitch count issues as much as it is that the Yankees have capped him at 5 innings or 80 pitches, whhchever comes first, for the remainder of the season. He typically throws around 14-15 pitches an inning.

Clippard's numbers over his last 7 starts: 45.1 IP, 26 H, 8 ER, 13 BB, 55 Ks, 1.58 ERA. The difference for him has been the development of his changeup from a show me pitch to a plus, swing and miss, type pitch.

Great post, Mike. I'm surprised the Rays new management hasn't done anything about those problems you speak of, as they seem to have their eye on the ball in other areas.

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I'm thinking about trying to start up a wiki for minor leaguers. Allow folks who see lots of minor league games to post their opinions, pictures, videos etc, as well as being able to share things like radar gun speed, arm slot, what pitches a guy throws, how well he fields, if he runs well, etc. Does that sound like a good idea? What other types of things should something like that have?

Thanks, Mike. I love your stuff.

Durham had some embarrasing defensive escapades last night. Upton two minor mishaps...he didnt come up with a squib near the mound he tried to barehand but it was a tough play. Then he watched a roller go foul and instead of picking it up he watched it roll back fair.

Catching prospect Shawn Riggans had the rougher night. Doug Waetcher pitched well for 5 innings but in the 6th he was all over the place and Riggans was having a horrible time trying to catch it. I'm not sure how many he was acutally charged w bc some were w. none on. Waetcher didn't make it easy on him but there were several catchable WPs and PBs that Riggans should have had and will need to get to make it in the bigs. He also airmailed a throw waaaay high and into CF. Darnell McDonald proceeded to pick up the throw and throw it 10 feet over Uptons head at third and almost into the dugout...it bounced on the dugout screen.
Riggans does have a good defensive rep usually so hopefully it was just a rough night.

Seth McClung was blowing it by folks but got ahead of 2 guys and then hit one and walked another. So a mixed bag there. His mechanics are pretty inconsistant causing him to miss high or low too much, sometimes doesnt follow through right. His breaking ball fooled guys cos its so much slower than his bigman big heat but he kind of telegraphs it coming in his delivery

Elijah Dukes restrained his anger last night. He got hit in the helmet when he tried to duck from an errant curveball that wound up dropping right into his head. You could see from his face he was PISSED and in pain but didn't do anything.
Shawn Riggans OTOH almost went at it with Ryan Cameron after Cameron hit him. It was the second HBP of the night and was soon after Dukes' but it was in a pitchers count IIRC and looked like a ball that just got away. Riggans was glaring at Cameron and slowly marching down to first when Cameron said something like "get going" and Riggans started walking at him. Benches half-cleared but nothing came of it.

Phils' prospect Scott Mitcheson looked pretty good, alot better than his final line. He pitched well til the 8th inning and held good velo (94, 95 hit 96 a couple times) throughout but was pretty obviously gassed when he came back for the 8th and let 2 on then Darnell McDonald blasted one way over the left field (Blue Monster) wall.

As for Michesons velo the DBAP gun seems fast so maybe he was really at 92-94 but McClung was OBVIOUSLY throwing harder and the stadium gun was only giving im 94-96...same as Mitcheson.

and was later suspended for a longer period after another altercation with then-teammate Ryan Knox, who was ‘coincidentally’ (according to the Bulls) shipped to Montgomery the day that Dukes returned.

In the Bulls defense Knox was a 27 yo LF/DH that couldn't hit so its not like he woudln't've earned it eventually anyway..though im sure the Dukes thing played a part

Mike--
Great stuff...I can't wait to see Gallardo for myself. BTW...don't know if you're doing the linking by hand, but I just put up a player linker tool on Minor League Splits...(of course, the links go to my page :) ) ...it's here:


Linker