danman31

Torres also 42 stolen bases in 54 attemps in 115 game for AAA Toledo in 2002 and 27 steals in 38 attempts for Toledo in 2003. He is not a guy that is supposed to hit the ball, but he damn well better run well. He could be a decent 40 man call up for some extra speed.

What has made you better this year as compared to last year?

For the fans it's the Cubs. For the team it's the Twins.

If I were a skeptic I would be laughing at the cover up. That's weak. That's like Men In Black when they say it was light that deflected off of Venus.

wtf is with all the high school references from you lately? Spartans are bad as mascots. I mean just look at Michigan St.'s mascot and tell me you aren't laughing.

I joined the 2000 post club last week, but you don't see me making a thread about it. :headshake

Kannapolis Beginning to Put Things Together Intimidators showing improvement and looking to break through By Danny Santaromita The Kannapolis Intimidators are a team with so much talent that all they have to do is simply put everything together and the wins will come. Standing at 19-18 overall, 4 games out of first place in the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division, the Intimidators’ record isn’t spectacular, but the team is hitting a corner. Just this past week the team pulled off a 4 game road sweep of the Greensboro Bats, a Florida Marlins affiliate, while outscoring the Bats 28-5 in the series. In May Kannapolis has been averaging just over 5 runs per game while giving up 3.61 runs per game. Both are improvements since April and show the progress the team has been making. Thomas Brice continues to lead the way for the Intimidators’ hitters with a .347 average. Brice has cooled down from the beginning of the season when he was just short of .400, but has remained one of the best hitters in the league. Brice is definitely deserving of a promotion to Winston-Salem, but there simply isn’t any room for him there with three top prospects sitting in the Warthogs’ outfield. With Brian Anderson tearing it up he could be promoted to Birmingham sometime soon which would open up a spot for Brice. Also hitting well for Kannapolis are in-season additions David Cook, Cory Haggerty, and Leo Daigle. However, not everyone in the lineup has been doing well. Antoin Gray’s batting average was as high as .346 after May 2nd. As of today he is batting .269. That is quite the slump from Gray. During this stretch Gray has more strikeouts (10) than runs (9). This is not the kind of production you want from your leadoff hitter. Gray began to get more playing time when Andy Gonzalez got promoted to Winston-Salem. The other middle infielder for the Intimidators, Robert Valido, has also cooled down since a solid start. Since May 3rd Valido has hits in eight of his last 54 at bats, a batting average of .148 during the stretch. Valido, who has been the team’s number two hitter in most games, will need to step up along with Gray if the team is going to win consistently. Highly touted third baseman Micah Schnurstein had also hit the skids in May. From May 6th to the 12th he managed only two hits in 23 at bats. Since then he has heated up with a 4-5 performance on the 13th and a two hit outing on the 15th. Schnurstein has the talent and ability to be a Major Leaguer and he is the best third base prospect within the Sox organization. The Kannapolis rotation has been headed by Brandon McCarthy and Daniel Haigwood. The duo has been rock solid all season for the Intimidators. McCarthy has a 3.50 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 14 walks. He also has 2 complete games and 43.2 IP, the most on the team. According to McCarthy, Haigwood has “electric stuff” and has showed this since a bit of a shaky start. He has gone 4-0 since losing his first start. He has a 3.15 ERA, best among the starters, as well as a very impressive 1.025 WHIP. Ryan Rodriguez has shown improvement with two quality starts in a row. Meanwhile, Brian Miller has shown the stuff that had him as the preseason ace for the Intimidators with four straight quality starts. 20 year-old Rafael Flores has been a pleasant surprise since joining the team early May. In three appearances, two starts, he has pitched 10 innings and has a 2.70 ERA. Tim Tisch’s struggles have moved him to the bullpen. It remains to be seen whether or not the move is permanent. Out of the bullpen Ehren Wasserman has been solid as a closer. He has converted all six save opportunities to go with a 2.37 ERA. Todd Deininger has the best ERA on the team at 1.69, but has a 1.59 WHIP with seven walks in 10.2 innings. Fabio Castro and Michael Moat have also been reliable out of the bullpen. Orionny Lopez has been a huge disappointment since joining the team late April. He has a 12.71 ERA and is showing why the Sox have shown patience with him despite pitching well in rookie ball. If the Intimidators are to become a more consistent ball club they are going to need to get the top of the lineup hitting. Gray and Valido can’t slump if the team is going to win. The rotation has been very good of late and the bullpen has gotten the job done. Expect some possible changes soon in the roster. Brice is hitting so well and if a spot opens up in Winston-Salem he will be there in a heartbeat. Also look for McCarthy or another starter to be headed to the Warthogs sometime this season. The Intimidators have a huge chance to gain ground in the standings as they have a series at first place Charleston, WV. Upcoming Schedule May 17 @ Asheville May 19-21 vs. Hagerstown May 22-23 @ Hickory May 24-26 @ Charleston, WV

Over-rated!!!!!

What's really impressive is the fact that Allen had 4 innings of hitless ball. Winston-Salem won 3-2 in 13 innings. Sweeney 4-6, all singles. Anderson 1-6 with 2 RBI. Nanita 1-4 with a K. Lubisich was great in the start, but the Hogs couldn't score. The bullpen was impressive. Box Score

Yeah the Brewers are surprisingly decent. Lyle Overbay batting .364 with the MLB lead in RBI.

Charlotte 4-2 over Pawtucket (Red Sox). Reed 0-4. Borchard 1-3 with a 2-run HR. Bobby Smith also had a solo HR. Nelson added 2 hits with an RBI. Ulacia went 6.1 with 4 Ks, 0 BBs, 6 hits, and just 1 run on a solo HR. Majewski solid for the save. Box Score Kanny lost 9-7. Chris Young had 2 hits and a HR. Seth Morris had 2 HRs. Rodriguez pitched well, but got a no decision. Lopez got shelled. Tisch also got shelled out of the bullpen. I wonder why he got moved from the rotation. Box Score

Also I'm listening to the Warthogs game, they are up 2-0. When Nanita went to bat the announcer mentioned how he has been struggling and that Normand Martel has been doing better. He said that's how Minor League Baseball is, the prospects get playing time. The thing that got me was that he was talking as if Nanita were hurting the team. It doesn't sound good. I'm worried that Nanita was simply hitting younger pitching in rookie league and isn't going to turn out. I was talking to Jason (Chisoxfn) and he got the same feel. Thoughts?

The only message this team can send is that they can actually beat the Twins. If they do that today I'll feel a lot better about this season. The next step would be to win a game in the house of horrors, the Twinkie Dome.

Through 3 innings Ulacia has only given up 1 hit, but it was a HR. 1-0 Pawtucket. He has 2 Ks and no walks. I'd be impressed, but not surprised, if he can step it up and pitch well in his Charlotte debut this season.

Yeah normally. Sometimes I slack off and glance over it and do a half assed job.

I think you are developing an unhealthy obsession.....

The 7 3/4 lengths the 2nd place horse was behind Smarty Jones was a record......

Pfft. I already posted the links. You are just spamming to get your post total up.

Charlotte won 9-4 behind Jon Rauch. Other than 2 HRs Rauch's stats are impressive. In 6 innings only 2 ERs, 6 Ks, 1 BB, 4 hits. Santiago closed out the game K'ing 2 while only giving up 1 hit in an inning of relief. Reed 1-3 with a walk, a run, and an RBI. Borchard 1-3 with a run and an RBI. Box Score Birmingham lost 1-0. The Barons only had 2 hits, both by Rob Sasser. Heath Phillips' great outing was wasted. He pitched 7.2 innings with 2 Ks, 0 BBs, 1 run, 6 hits. Box Score The Warthogs also got shutout...The top 3 hitters in the lineup 0-12 with 2 Ks. Anderson 0-3 with a walk. Chris Amador managed a 3-3 night, half of the Warthogs' hits. Sean Tracey struck out 8 in 6 innings. Box Score Kanny lost 4-3. Schnurstein had 2 hits and Brice had a hit and a walk. Haigwood is on a roll. 7 IP, 5 Ks, 2 BB, 1 R, 2 hits. The bullpen sucked. Box Score

Well I'd be crying, we only scored 1 off him.

On the upside Torii Hunter is on my fantasy team. At least I have something to be happy about. I'm hoping for a rally, ok maybe not.

I still can't believe Carlos did that. Way to go Carlos! I hate you, but that deserves major props!

If I go to Hell my torture will be to watch the Sox play the Twins over and over again. This is torture at its finest. Meanwhile that call sucked. Have I mentioned I hate watching the Sox play the Twins? :banghead