Sorry that I've been slacking again on updating this, lots of interesting moves around the Tampa Yankees team in the past week. The biggest news is that we received prospect catcher J.R. Murphy from Charleston. I've only seen him get one hit and a walk but in Friday nights game he sent 2 balls to the wall in left field that were caught, unfortunately for him, the wind was blowing in both times he came to the plate.
We also received Rob Segedin from Charleston as Rob Lyerly got promoted up to Trenton. Segedin has played 5 games for the Tampa Yankees and already has 4 errors. Tonight's game was his first without an error which is just really not great. Unfortunately all these moves up meant that someone had to move and Kevin Mahoney and Kyle Higashioka got sent down to Charleston. That is a total bummer for me because I normally sit with Kevin's wife at away games and some home games if the boosters don't show up. The good thing is that Kevin will get more playing time down there as he was blocked up here. We also received Kyle Roller and Slade Heathcott though I haven't seen Slade, I heard that he was still on the DL but working out at the minor league complex.
On Monday I went to the GCL game for a little bit after work. I got there around the 5th inning and stayed through the 8th but as soon as my water was gone I knew I had to leave. The bank down the street from the field said it was 100 degrees out and I believe it. I put some sunscreen on my face but not on my legs and arms and I got some color which I needed. I was there for about an hour which was enough. I am going again this coming Saturday as long as it doesn't rain. I got some videos, if you want you should check them out on my Youtube to the right of the page. I got to see Dante Bichette Jr. hit but there wasnt a ball hit to him while I was out there so I can't tell you how he fields.
Ravel Santana
On Monday night I went to Clearwater to see the first game in a 3 game series between the Tampa Yankees and the Clearwater Threshers. It was a great game, Josh Romanski pitched for the TY and was just dominant. He pitched 7 innings and struck out 11. He got 8 of his strikeouts on his offspeed pitches, he had the Clearwater batters practicing their golf swing as they swung at a ton of balls in the dirt. They touched him up for a 2 run home run in the 4th inning but that was it.
The TY were on fire this game(actually in this whole series) as Walter Ibarra and Kyle Higashioka both hit home runs. Kyle's home run was actually a broken bat home run over the left field wall which was amazing because the wind was blowing out to right. Walter Ibarra, Luke Murton and Emerson Landoni had 3 hits each, Kyle went 4-4 with a walk. The only TY batter with no hits was Taylor Grote who went 0-5 with 1 strikeout. The TY won that game 10-3. They had 17 hits which is just ridiculous.
On Wednesday the Tampa Yankees played at home against Clearwater again in the last game of the first half. The TY were being dominated by all-star Trevor May. He struck out 13 or 14 in 8 innings. Sean Black was all over the place but he limited the Threshers to just 2 runs over 7 innings. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the TY tied the game up but in the top of the 10th the game got suspended due to really bad weather. They are not going to finish that game because it was the last game of the first half so it doesn't matter anymore. In the stand on Wednesday was 2010 FSL Player of the Year, Melky Mesa. I ended up talking with him with one of the other boosters and he told us he would be down here for about a week. It was cool to see him at a game, we told him he needs to give some tips to our outfielders so they can be as good as he was. During part of the game, he was sitting around some of the players families and one of the boosters kids were surrounding him, everywhere he went they would follow him, it was really cute.
Melky entertaining the kids
On Thursday I got to the Tampa Yankees game late because I went to visit my friend who had just had her baby. I got there in time to see the TY score 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th. It was the first game that J.R. Murphy played in and he had 2 hits, the last hit was a double to left field and I got a video of that which you can see right here or on my Youtube. The TY had that game in the bag the whole night as Jairo Heredia continued pitching well and earned his 8th win which is best in the Yankees minor league organization. It seems to me that when Jairo pitches, the TY always hit and field well which is good for him.
On Friday I had a busy night. I read in the program over in Clearwater that they were having a blue jersey giveaway to promote prostate cancer awareness. I LOVE giveaways so I knew I just had to get over there and get myself one. I headed over to Clearwater and got there just after 6pm. I got my jersey for just the price of parking($2) and a ticket ($6.50) The jersey is made of a nice mesh and it is great quality. I am probably the only person who would drive to Clearwater to get a free giveaway but I don't care. I walked around a bit and looked in their amazing team store and left around 6:20. I got to the Tampa Yankees game by 6:50, perfect timing. Brett Marshall had the start for the Tampa Yankees and he did well. I actually sat with his brother while he was pitching because I was the only booster there(as I sit with the boosters during the games) and didnt want to sit by myself. Brett pitched 7 innings, he gave up 8 hits, 1 run with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. He left with a 1-1 tie and Chase Whitley relieved him. Chase got shafted as his infield combined for 2 errors, he ended up getting the loss on 3 hits and 3 unearned runs. The TY lost 4-1
While sitting with Brett's brother, we found out that J.R. Murphy's parents were sitting in front of us. His mom actually mentioned something about Brett and his brother chimed in about him. I got to talking to her about how I have heard that the crowd in Charleston is so much better and bigger than the crowd in Tampa. She explained that they live in Bradenton so they were very excited not only that he got promoted but that he got promoted so close to where they live so they can see him play more often. I invited her to the booster club players dinner at the end of July which she seemed excited about. His parents seemed really nice and down to earth.
Bimmer enjoying the game
On Saturday it was Bark and the Ballpark and I brought my dog with me. They had a pregame dog fair where they had booths set up that gave out free stuff for your dog. My dog came home with some pretty awesome swag. July 9th the Clearwater Threshers are having a Bark at the Park and since the TY are away that day I am going to bring my dog to that one too. The weather was hot and humid and it sprinkled throughout the game but never really rained. Starting for the TY was Josh Romanski. He only pitched 3 innings which was weird, he gave up a run and a 2 run home run but that was it. His command was there and I didnt think he threw so many pitches. They may have pulled him because I just saw on his Twitter that he is being promoted to Trenton. Good for him. We also got a great treat as Melky Mesa started in Center Field as part of his rehab. He will probably spend the next few days with the TY and then head back up to Trenton. He went 1-3 with a double, walk, groundout and strikeout. He only caught 2 balls in center but on a ball hit to right center he covered double the ground than Zoilo Almonte and had he not been called off he could have caught it. That is just how good of a defender he is out there. I am hoping he makes it to the majors and is able to show off his range. The TY won this game 7-4 as Luke Murton homered and Abe Almonte tripled and doubled. Overall it was a good week of baseball. The TY are away until Wednesday when they will come back to play Brevard County and Daytona through the weekend.
Melky!
On Tuesday night I am going to see the Rays and Reds. I am looking forward to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment