I don't know how he pronounces his name, but when I read Seung Song, my brain hears Sing Song... and I smile.

Seung...Seung a Song...
Make it simple...to last all season long...
Don't worry if he's not good enough
To make it to the major leagues...
Just Seung...Seung a Song...

Phil Hughes, 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 13 Ks. Arguably baseball's best prospect?

I think it's safe to say that Philip Hughes is too good for the Eastern League.

Phil Hughes, 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 13 Ks. Arguably baseball's best prospect?

And he's still going to lose.

Here's what I don't like about the affiliated minor leagues:

The Toledo Mud Hens have a chance to defend their Governors' Cup title. On the eve of the postseason, the Tigers call up Toledo's starting SS (Ramon Santiago) and his backup (Kevin Hooper). To make room for the latter on their 40-man roster, they designate the starting SS at AA, Don Kelly, for assignment. Now the Mud Hens need someone to play SS - so they have to call up Brent Dlugach from Lakeland. Dlugach is a 23-YO who hit .256/.299/.366 with 144 Ks in 125 games in the FSL. Kelly is unavailable until he clears waivers. Meanwhile, the Tigers now have "five" middle infielders on their active roster (although Carlos Guillen is apparently hurting again). Hooper's pinch-run and pinch-hit (to bunt). Couldn't the Tigers at least have waited until Toledo's season was over before calling Hooper up? Kelly would have served the purpose that Hooper is apparently serving at the moment - insurance.

Today, the Tigers did it again. They needed a 40-man spot for Mike Maroth. Humberto Sanchez is on Toledo's DL and is not going to pitch again this year; he could easily have been called up and placed on the 60-day DL. Instead, Chris Spurling was designated for assignment. Spurling has been a key member of Toledo's bullpen, setting up for Lee Garnder since being sent down. Now he's unavailable as well.

This is a fact of life with the affiliated minors, but sometimes it makes you wish for an alternative system.

-- MWE

Trent Peterson is listed as Stockton's starter tonight; he's pitched in relief almost all season, until a handful of late starts.

Arturo Lopez, who spent most of this season on loan to the Mexican League, will start for Lake Elsinore.

Rome started Jairo Cuevas.

-- MWE

And he's still going to lose.

No, he's just not going to win.

-- MWE

Not to put too fine an edge on it, but Portland has very little offense after Ellsbury and Jimenez.

-- MWE

Phil Hughes, 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 13 Ks. Arguably baseball's best prospect?

Clay Buchholz farts in your general direction:

6.0 3 1 1 1 10

West and Moss can hit a little.

Clay Buchholz farts in your general direction

Yeah, except Buchholz is two years older and level behind Hughes. He does look like a very good pitcher, though.

West and Moss can hit a little.

A very little. That's what I said.

And Buchholz was facing an offense that's even worse than Portland's.

-- MWE

I agree with you Mike. The Red Barons have lost Carlos Ruiz, Joe Thurston, Danny Sandoval, Michael Bourn, Scott Mathieson, Eude Brito, Brian Sanches and Clay Condrey to September call-ups. The opposing Rochester Red Wings are staffed with two AA catchers.

And for some real fun, Francisco Liriano will start Saturday's game.

The Red Barons have lost Carlos Ruiz, Joe Thurston, Danny Sandoval, Michael Bourn, Scott Mathieson, Eude Brito, Brian Sanches and Clay Condrey to September call-ups.

and their affiliation, and quite possibly their franchise, depending on how the Ottawa/Allentown situation shakes out.

-- MWE

I KNEW the Southern League didn't start until tomorrow, but put the probables up anyway. Oh well.

-- MWE

Frederick opted for Luis Ramirez, who had gone just two innings four days ago, instead of Kevin Hart.

-- MWE

If the offenses are so bad, Mike, why are they all in the post-season?

Isn't part of that the evvironment? The Carolina League is a tough place to hit.

Tucson came back from a 3-0 deficit to win its first playoff game agaist Salt Lake, 4-3, in 11 innings. Callaspo (!) drove in the winning run. Micah Owings pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits, and struck out 6. Mike Emeigh's favorite minor leaguer Bill Murphy pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief for the win.

How many HRs did Owings hit at the plate?

Owings didn't bat; Chris Carter was the DH. Not sure why the game had a DH, in Tucson.

Not sure why the game had a DH, in Tucson.

The rule in AA and AAA is that the DH is used whenever an AL affiliate plays an NL affiliate, or two AL affiliates play. Pitchers bat only when two NL affiliates play. Home field is not considered.

-- MWE

If the offenses are so bad, Mike, why are they all in the post-season?

In the case of Frederick and Wilmington, it's because two teams had to make it out of the North Division. All four teams in the North were under .500 for the season. Wilmington won the first half with a 35-35 record, Frederick the second with a 35-34 record (after they went 26-43 in the first half).

Really, if you look at the Carolina League this year, there was Kinston, and then there was everyone else. Salem had a 14-game winning streak late in the season, mostly against two teams, Winston-Salem - whose three best pitchers had been called up to AA - and Potomac - which didn't have a stable roster basically all year. Kinston had a mostly stable roster and a mostly stable pitching staff; their top three starters were there all season. That makes a difference.

-- MWE

The New York-Penn postseason lineup is virtually decided.

Staten Island (McNamara), Auburn (Pinckney), and Tri-City (Stedler) are in. Aberdeen gets in as the wild card with a win or Brooklyn loss.

-- MWE

Does it seem ###### up to anyone else that Hideki Matsui batted cleanup in the Trenton series?

Someone here at work is interested in the specifics of the working agreement bewteen MLB teams and their minor league affiliates. Can he be directed to a source that might spell out such an agreement?

Thank you in advance.

Someone here at work is interested in the specifics of the working agreement bewteen MLB teams and their minor league affiliates. Can he be directed to a source that might spell out such an agreement?

You're looking for the Professional Baseball Agreement, I believe, but I don't know where to find the text of this document.

I'll google it. Thanks.

Yup, Wiki has a nice piece.

glad to see matt torra is having a nice comeback, levski. here's to his success as a d-back. btw, that guy who was ridiculing micah owings a few months back, where's he now? very nice season from micah, even if he is only a good reliever at the mlb level.

Since we're talking Carolina League, I hopped over to Salem last night to catch the game. Kinston looked more impressive than Salem. Lofgren pitched very well until he misplayed a swinging bunt in the 6th and couldn't get a throw off, which turned into Salem's first hit. He started to come apart then, but Sarbaugh pulled him. Kinston's bullpen looks like their primary weakness. They have mostly solid hitters, decent starters in Lofgren, Ness and Lewis. Salem had opportunities, but misplayed so many balls in the top of the 4th that Kinston couldn't help but score, even without any extra base hits. What makes me think Kinston will win the Carolina league title is the fact that they will throw Lewis tonight, then Ness if necessary in Game 3 (I guessing here), which would mean Lofgren might go again on 3 days rest Saturday night for the opening of the Finals.

Mike E was right. Kinston was about the only team in the league this year that wasn't pillaged for decent players by their major league affiliates. Potomac, Kinston and Wilmington had most of their decent players promoted by the middle of the second half, and Salem picked up some decent guys, but no of them seem to have much in the power department (Ole Sheldon), or in Winston Salem's case they just got a bunch of fading players down from Birmingham (see Robert Valido). Not a stellar year for the Carolina League.

This is a fact of life with the affiliated minors, but sometimes it makes you wish for an alternative system.

As Bill James said in the BJHBA (in the voice of the MLB owner who just took a minor league team's star player): "We don't care about your damned little pennant race."

The only solution seems to be to end the minor league playoffs by Sept 1, or move the MLB 40-man date ahead.

Or, free the minors.

Akron put up 11 runs in the first inning tonight, and hung on to beat Altoona 12-0.

-- MWE

Dustin Nippert pitched a one hitter through 7 innings before allowing two unearned runs in the 8th, and the BabySnakes beat Salt Lake 4-2 in Tucson tonight. Bajenaru, Bill White and Koplove got the last 5 outs for the win. The BabySnakes are up 2-0 in the series.

NY-P playoffs are set. Brooklyn picked up the wild card spot with a 4-3 win in 12 innings over Vermont, while Aberdeen was losing 6-1 to Lowell. The first round (best-of-threes) opens on Saturday with defending champ Staten Island at Brooklyn and Tri-City at Auburn. Games 2 and 3 will be Sunday-Monday at Staten Island and Tri-City. The best-of-three final series will be played next week, with Staten Island having home-field advantage if they make it.

-- MWE

Mike Rozier apparently took a liner off the coconut tonight in Wilmington, departing in the third.

-- MWE

In the Tulsa - Wichita game, Luke Hochevar, making his Double A debut, worked 5 1/3 no-hit innings as the Wranglers jumped out to their 7-0 lead. Hochevar retired 14 straight batters after a 1st inning walk before his no-hitter was broken up.

The Biscuits are going to be tough to beat in the Southern League playoffs. Niemann-Sonnanstine-Talbot is a hell of a top three in the rotation and the rest of the team is pretty good too.

Well, the game in which Francisco Liriano started for the Red Wings turned out to be the series-clinching game...he only pitched 3 innings, but they still won. Still, it seems somehow unfair.

The Biscuits swept the opening series of the playoffs from the Suns. Mitch Talbot threw a complete game (no-hitter though five) giving up only five hits and striking out 14. It was scoreless going into the bottom of the ninth but Evan Longoria hit a two-run walkoff homer to win it.

Idaho Falls and Orem were rained out tonight. The two teams will play Game 2 of their best-of-three at Orem tomorrow, with Game 3 to follow immediately if the Owlz beat the Chukars.

-- MWE

I think the loser of that series should be forced to have their nickname end with a "Z" instead of an "S" for the next season.

Took a quick road trip down to Wichita to see Hochaver throw; dominent stuff. Tulsa couldn't even hit a foul ball hard against the guy. Alex Gordan had two home runs including the farthest ball I've seen hit; hit the top of the light pole in right center field. KC has some nice offensive talent down there. Not much pitching though.

Tuscon jumped out to a 10-0 lead after 2 innings last night, then held out for a 10-8 win, with Bill White getting the last 5 outs for the save. The BabySnakes eliminated the BabyAngels, and are waiting for the winner between Nashville and Round Rock...

#1 draft pick Brandon Morrow, who threw three no-hit innings against Lake Elsinore in his Cal League debut 9 days ago, could get the start for Inland Empire Monday night; I haven't been able to confirm the 66ers' probable yet.

-- MWE

'Twill be Bello vs Lopez:

Link.

-- MWE

Tucson added Jesus Cota from Tennessee to their roster for the first two games of the PCL final series. He replaces Donnie Sadler, who is on bereavement leave due to the death of his grandmother. Sadler is expected back for Game 3 of the series.

-- MWE

Rochester added P Kevin Slowey from New Britain, deactivating INF Donaldo Mendez. Slowey has pitched in the FSL and EL this year and would be making his AAA debut if he gets into a game.

-- MWE

Staten Island actually started Ian Kennedy, in just his second professional appearance, while Tri-City went with Bryan Hallberg (4-3, 2.44) in Game 1 of their best-of-three final series. Kennedy lasted four innings, allowing two runs but fanning six, and got a no-decision in the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Valley Cats. Reyes and Hudspeth will pitch Game 2 tomorrow on the Island.

-- MWE

Gothreaux of Round Rock had a no hitter (no walks either) through 6 2/3 innings against Tucson tonight until Barden singled in the 7th. The BabySnakes then scored 3 runs in the 8th on 3 hits, including a clutch 2 out two run single by Chris Carter, to win Game 1 of the PCL Series 3-1.

Micah Owings was excellent again, striking out 7 over 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks. Over his last 6 starts (final 4 games of the regular season and 2 playoff games), Owings has been just great, pitching 39 innings, allowing 8 runs, with 39 strikeouts versus 4 walks.

While it's pretty unlikely that Owings will start next year in AZ's rotation, it now appears that AZ's decision to keep him as a starter instead of making him a reliever (as some had suggested following his success as a reliever in Lancaster last year) was an excellent move.

Tucson's changed from Ohlendorf to Dustin Nippert (13-8, 4.87; 1-0, 0.00 postseason).

-- MWE

Ohlendorf got hit on the hand during bunting practice, so he's pushed back.

Nippert pitched 7 solid innings, allowing 1 run on a solo homer to Gimenez (one of only 4 hits) and struck out 6 as the Baby Snakes beat Round Rock 6-3. Tuscon now leads 2-0 in the series. Callaspo went 2 for 4 and drove in 2 runs, and Jesus Cota hit a bases clearing double to put the BabySnakes up 6-1.

I had heard that Gallardo would not be pitching any more in the postseason because the Brewers were concerned about his innings total, but both the Montgomery press release and the Huntsville press release list him as the probable starter.

-- MWE

Gallardo did go tonight but it didn't do Huntsville any good. Mitch Talbot was dominant again, getting another complete game shutout as the Biscuits win 7-0. Talbot in the postseason:

18 IP, 0 R, 10 H, 2 BB, 24 K, 0 HR, 2 CG shutouts

Biscuits lead the series 2-1 now but it'll be tougher in the next two games with lesser pitchers taking the mound.

For those who don't already know:

The IL and PCL winners will meet in a single-game shootout in Oklahoma City next Tuesday. The game will be on ESPN2.

-- MWE

Took a quick road trip down to Wichita to see Hochaver throw; dominent stuff. Tulsa couldn't even hit a foul ball hard against the guy.

Corpus Christi figured Luke out. Six runs in two innings on six hits and two walks. Ouch. Corpus Christi has a 2-1 lead over Wichita and can clinch their first championship in forty years tonight.

Biscuits lead the series 2-1 now but it'll be tougher in the next two games with lesser pitchers taking the mound.

Cromer's AA numbers were pretty decent, and Mike Prochaska (who pitched well in his last few starts) will probably get the ball for Game 5 with Tony Peguero in reserve. Granted, Parra and Steve Hammond (the Stars' likely Game 5 starter) have an advantage, but I don't think it's huge. Evan Longoria (.360, 9-25, 2 2B and 2 HR) has been outstanding in the postseason, as has Michael Coleman (6-18, 3 HR).

-- MWE

Salamida vs Kontos should be an interesting matchup in the NY-P game. Salamida was drafted out of Oneonta State in the 13th round this year by the Astros; as a local kid (from Troy, one of the three cities in "Tri-City"), he's attracted a heavy following all year, and his performance has disappointed no one. He doesn't throw especially hard (upper 80s/low 90s) but his pitches move, and the Astros are working with him to add a cut fastball to his repertoire.

Kontos was picked up by the Yankees in the fifth round, out of Northwestern. He had an off year for the Wildcats after an outstanding 2005 summer season in the Cape Cod league, but his hard stuff (fastball, hard slider) is excellent, and he's developing a change to go with them.

-- MWE

Still raining in NYC, not looking good to get in the NYP game. Rain is supposed to continue through tomorrow, but maybe it'll ease up enough to get the game in tomorrow night. Apparently if it's pushed back any farther than that, the two teams are just named "co-champions."

Tucson came back from a 3-0 deficit to win 6-3 tonight, scoring 5 runs in the 7th. Ohlendorf allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in 5 1/3 innings; he struck out 6. Hammock and Barden homered in the 7th.

Tucson swept the series 3-0 and ended a 13 year PCL draught. The BabySnakes will play the winner of the INT league on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. My guess is that Micah Owings gets the start.

Congrats to the BabySnakes. They lost three of their most productive hitters (Drew, Quentin, and Young) and a couple of solid pitchers, and continued to dominate the PCL.

Using a starting pitcher outside of their outstanding trio didn't matter much to the Biscuits tonight. Cromer gave up four runs in six innings while walking five to only three strikeouts but that was easily good enough for the win. Led by Elliot Johnson hitting for the cycle and aided by homers from Longoria, Coleman, and Owens the Biscuits whipped Huntsville 12-4 to capture the Southern League title.

It's great to see something like this for an affiliate, particularly since there are a number of good prospects on that team.

The Tigers and Diamondbacks both get two league champs, and either the Indians or Red Sox will join them this afternoon.

-- MWE

It's going to be interesting to see who starts for Toledo on Tuesday night. Colby Lewis would have been in line to start the game for the Mud Hens, but he was desginated for assignment by the Tigers today, so he's probably not going to be eligible. Chad Durbin would have been next in line, but (guess what) the Tigers called him up. (Why couldn't they have waited two more days?)

If I had to guess right now, my guess would be Virgil Vasquez, who made his AAA debut in Game 2 of the final series against Rochester with 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings after going 7-12, 3.73 in 27 starts at Erie. Lance Davis would be the other option, if Larry Parrish would rather have a veteran out there.

-- MWE

Portland bombed Bear Bay for eight runs in the second and third, then hung on to defeat Akron 8-5 and claim the EL title. Devern Hansack pitched eight solid innings, allowing three runs, and Jon Searles survived a two-run ninth to close out the Aeros. The big offensive blows were a 2-run HR by Brian Myrow and a bases-loaded triple by Keoni DeRenne.

-- MWE

The Tigers and Diamondbacks both get two league champs, and either the Indians or Red Sox will join them this afternoon.

The Rays also have a shot at two champions today with Visalia up 2-1 in their series.

Micah Owings will start tomorrow's Bricktown Showdown for Tucson against a Toledo pitcher to be named.

-- MWE

Visalia at Inland Empire (best-of-five series tied 2-2): Derek Feldkamp (8-6, 6.41; 1-0, 4.50 postseason) vs Mumba Rivera (5-4, 4.19; 0-0, 0.00 postseason)

Mumba Rivera (great name!) is a 25-YO right-hander from the Virgin Islands, a 21st-rounder by Seattle in 2004 out of Bethune-Cookman, who was a full-time starter a year ago (except for one relief appearance) but who has pitched exclusively in relief this season. He is starting only because Seattle didn't want to extend Brandon Morrow any further, so they shut him down. That decision left the 66ers with only four full-time starters.

-- MWE

The minor league season comes to a close tonight (game is on ESPN2). Larry Parrish has opted for Eulogio de la Cruz, who spent most of the season at Erie and had one good outing and one poor outing for the Mud Hens, against Micah Owings, who has yet to lose a AAA start. On paper, Tucson has the advantage, as the Tigers have pretty much decimated the Mud Hen roster in the month of September. But then again, on paper, Toledo shouldn't have gotten this far, anyway. I don't usually take sides, but I'd like to see the Mud Hens win this one.

-- MWE

I don't usually take sides, but I'd like to see the Mud Hens win this one.

boo!

:)

micah owings for president.

tucson won't have callaspo either, who got called up last week. i have no idea who'll start at 2b or ss for them. in fact, i have no idea what their lineup will look like...

tucson won't have callaspo either, who got called up last week. i have no idea who'll start at 2b or ss for them. in fact, i have no idea what their lineup will look like...

Matt Erickson or Donnie Sadler will start at 2B, Alberto Gonzalez (called up from Tennessee last week) at SS.

-- MWE

And the rest of Tucson's likely starters:

C Juan Brito
1B Chris Carter
3B Brian Barden
LF Scott Hairston
CF Jon Weber
RF Robby Hammock
DH Jamie D'Antona

For Toledo:

C Max St. Pierre
1B Josh Phelps
2B Jack Hannahan
SS Brent Dlugach
3B Mike Hessman
LF Ryan Raburn
CF Dustan Mohr
RF Ryan Ludwick
DH David Espinosa

-- MWE

Is it just one game for the title?

Is it just one game for the title?

Yep. It's not really "for the title", either. Larry Parrish was quoted as saying that it's like an All-Star game.

Oklahoma City has signed a three-year contract for this game. There's some hope of turning it into a series, but I can't see that there's enough interest to do that, and I'm sure MLB would balk at the prospect of even more innings for their AAA pitchers. The AAA WS was discontinued after 2000 for those reasons.

-- MWE

Tucson won 5-2 on a game shown on ESPN2. Owings got the win, allowing 1 run over 5 innings, on 5 hits and 4 walks; he struck out 6. During the interview toward the end of the game he said he had a hard time gripping the ball, which may help explain his subpar control. The Dbacks added much needed 3 insurance runs in the 9th and Koplove pitched 2 innings for the save.

All in all, a great year for Tucson.