Hagerstown made a corresponding roster move when Martinez was activated, but they haven't posted it yet. My educated guess is that C Joan Martinez was sent back to Kingsport.

-- MWE

Mike:

My understanding is that the move with Mark Rogers is more precautionary then anything else. But then that could be the organization blowing smoke.......

Double A Tennessee Smokies (ARZ) Catcher Miguel Montero has been promoted to Triple A Tucson. The move will probably have a chain-effect as Tennessee only has 1 catcher on the roster at the moment.

For those of us who thought that Fernando Martinez had been activated from the DL:

It turns out that Hagerstown's box score from Sunday was in error, and that Joan Martinez was actually the DH, not Fernando. The box score has since been corrected, and F. Martinez remains on the Suns' DL.

-- MWE

Some short-season moves:

Greeneville (Appy) sent C James Goethals to Tri-City (NY-P) for a couple of games to fill in; he's now back in Tennessee.
The other Tri-City (NWL) activated P Pedro Chivilli from the DL.
Aberdeen (NY-P) received P Tim Byrdak from Orioles on ML rehab. The IronBirds also added INF Pedro Silveren from Bluefield and received OF Brandon Tripp (2006 #12 draft pick). Tripp was 0-3 with 3 Ks and 2 HBP in his debut.
Williamsport (NY-P) received OF Albert Laboy and 1B Daniel Rios from the GCL Pirates.
State College (NY-P) activated P Eddie Degerman (2006 #4 draft pick).
Tim Lincecum has reported to Salem-Keizer (NWL); he may get into a game later this week.
Billings (Pio) received P Josh Roenicke (2006 #10 draft pick) from GCL Reds.
Bluefield (Appy) received INF Ryan Adams (2006 #2 draft pick).
Orem (Pio) received P Brok Butcher from AZL Angels.

-- MWE

The Memphis folks told me that John Gall is headed to Korea to play. Maybe I should give him my Sung Jung cards to get signed for me because according to some players in the Braves system he has this year and next year to serve in the military and probably won't return after that. The Gall move is what made room for Shawn Garrett.

Aw, is that what happened to Jung? I remember seeing him in Rome and liking him and then looking at his numbers and wondering why i hadnt heard of him before and then the next year wondering what happened to him.

So how can some guys play pro ball and others can't get out of military service over there? How does the system work.


And speaking of mystery Asian pitchers...anyone know anything about Jung Ji Cho? He was phenomenal (0.97 ERA, 35/6 K/BB in 28 IP w no HRs) at Danville last year but was way too old (22) for the Appy league. I cant find him playing this year and i know literally nothing else about him

The Memphis folks told me that John Gall is headed to Korea to play.

Confirmed by the Commercial-Appeal (one of the better newspapers for minor league coverage).

-- MWE

So how can some guys play pro ball and others can't get out of military service over there?

According to this link:

Under the law, all fit Korean males are bound to serve two years of military duty. However, the law exempts athletes who bring home a gold in the Asian Games and any kind of medal in the Olympics.

Korean baseball players have benefited three times with victories in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998, Pusan Asian Games in 2002 and the Sydney Olympics in 2002.

-- MWE

And according to this link, the WBC players this year were also exempted from the service requirement. This allowed Hee-Seop Choi, Sun-Woo Kim, and Jung Bong, among others, out of the requirement.

-- MWE

Tony Schrager(former Cubs and Dodgers farmhand) was signed by the Marlins and assigned to class AA Carolina. He was playing independent ball.

The Diamondbacks have assigned 22 year old C Wilkin Castillo to AA to fill the roster spot left by Montero. Castillo has spent time with A Lancaster and AAA Tucson this year.

Tony Schrager(former Cubs and Dodgers farmhand) was signed by the Marlins and assigned to class AA Carolina.

Boston, too. His overall minor league numbers aren't too bad, actually - decent power, pretty good OBP - but it took him two years to get out of the FSL, and then he hit just .229 in his first shot at AA in 2002 (albeit with a lot of walks and good ISO). My take from last night (yes, it's one game) is that he's good enough defensively at SS so that he probably could have helped someone as a utility infielder. At age 29 now, though, he won't get even that chance.

-- MWE

Jung Ji Cho got hurt toward the end of last season and was expected to miss this year with a surgery (TJ, I think).

The Marlins have been scouring the indy leagues for infielders, largely because of an organization-wide shortage of even half-decent ones. McCallum is an indy ball veteran who got one year in the affiliated minors for Seattle, hitting poorly at what is now Inland Empire. Varela was drafted by the White Sox out of Long Beach in 2002, went to the Diamondbacks organization a year later in a trade for Nate Murphy (a career organizational soldier), and was released by Arizona this spring despite a decent season for Lancaster a year ago - perhaps one of the D'back mavens can explain.

-- MWE

Burlington (Appy) received C Richard Martinez and P Felix Heredia - no, not TRF (TM) - from GCL Indians.

-- MWE

Schrager did look pretty good last night. So I am guessing we will see Rex taking to coaching 1st some more. Now, if only the Marlins would look again at Tucker and get him back with us.

Jason Phillips' contract bought by Blue Jays from AAA Syracuse. does this make room for Rosario coming off the DL or does this leave 'Cuse a man down?

I should add of course that Phillips' promotion takes the roster spot at the major league level from Hillenbrand after he was DFA'd

Omaha sent P Runelvys Hernandez to KC, the Royals have yet to make a corresponding roster move.

Wichita activated IF Justin Gemoll from the DL.

The Tucson Sidewinders have signed OF Jon Weber, who was released by the Las Vegas 51s earlier this week. Weber will take the place of Carlos Quentin who will make his major league debut tonight with the D'Backs

Jason Phillips' contract bought by Blue Jays from AAA Syracuse. does this make room for Rosario coming off the DL or does this leave 'Cuse a man down?

Actually, the guy that replaced Phillips was Eric Kratz, called up from New Hampshire. Rosario took Jordan DeJong's roster spot.

-- MWE