JPN366

Big time Mojo needed tonight for the Warthogs as they begin their divisional series with Myrtle Beach. Matt Long is scheduled to start for W-S, Scott Diamond goes for the offensively stout Pelicans. Listen to the game on MiLB.com if you can, the team needs as much support as possible. Feel free to e-mail Ed Collari, the Warthogs announcer. Go Hogs! GFalls is at home against Missoula Cody Allen goes for the Voyagers, while Taylor Sinclair toes the rubber for Missoula. The Voyagers have clinched a spot in the playoffs, but have a few games left in their regular season.

Great Falls clinches a playoff spot. So, 3 out of 6 teams in the organization make the playoffs.

The Barons finished the second half tied for second place and with an above .500 mark. Just to flesh out your excellent preview, Victor Mercedes is clutch, and clutch is everything. With two outs, a full count, and the team's back against the wall, he's the man you want at the the plate. His nickname is "Mr. Magic." That's why he hits out of the two hole, he is in no way a prototype two hitter. Big BA is a a beast. In 41 games, he hit 14 HR and had 31 RBI. He almost equalled his numbers at W-S in dramatically less time. And, he went from a hitters park to a pitchers park. Granted, he did a lot of damage on the road, which bodes well for a playoff run. And honorable mention to Lee Cruz, who had a forgetable first half in W-S & Kanny. He came to B'ham in June and absolutely raked. He went from fourth outfielder to cleanup hitter.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 10:53 AM) Hmm, I was unaware of this second base dilemma. Haven't been following the minors. Now I feel like a damn momo. Charlotte's final game, call ups made them shorthanded. One game fill in. Actually, Oney had to drive three and a half hours overnight from West Virgina to Charlotte, whose game started at Noon Eastern time. Still, Kenny Jr. there is no excuse for. He hasn't played since June by the way.

QUOTE (scenario @ Sep 1, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) Funny... as soon as I read that, I remembered it. I remember some of the players from Helena in the Pioneer League last year.... and that's a Brewers' farm club. Thanks for straightening me out JPN. I don't know what I was thinking. Picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines?

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Sep 1, 2008 -> 04:19 PM) Regardless of what the reason is, the fact he's in triple a makes me want to weep. He was up to Charlotte because Paul Phillips, Johs Fields, Chris Getz, Jerry Owens, Mike MacDougal & Ehren Wassermann were called up to Chicago. Nobody from W-S or B'ham would have gone up anyway. Not even the Butcher, who is still suspended. Still, seeing his name in the box score was a WTF moment.

QUOTE (scenario @ Sep 1, 2008 -> 02:34 PM) Kannapolis @ West Virginia Jason Rice pitching The Twins A-league team beat us 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th by scoring a guy from 3rd on an infield grounder (after two guys singled). Damn Piranhas. They start 'em young, don't they? West Virginia is a Brewers affiliate.

QUOTE (scenario @ Aug 31, 2008 -> 03:34 PM) Birmingham @ Mobile Canceled due to hurricane Good thinking since most fans have probably evacuated. As well as the Labor Day regular season finale.

QUOTE (scenario @ Aug 31, 2008 -> 03:34 PM) Great Falls @ Helena Joshua Billeaud (3-1, 3.21) starting GF losing in the 5th 3-1 Game is currently in rain delay. I bet that doesn't happen very much.

Aaron Poreda will make at least one more start for B'ham in the playoffs, possibly two or even three depending on how far they go.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Aug 30, 2008 -> 06:40 PM) Brandon Allen didn't play in AA long enough to warrant an all star selection even though he tore it up in the few games he did play 14 HR and 31 RBI in 40 games, he was snubbed.

...have been cancelled due to the threat of Gustav possibly hitting Mobile.

Justin Cassel had the best ERA, plus Brandon Allen and Victor Mercedes were snubbed.

Shelby's numbers in the minors have been consistent. 15-16 HR & 70 RBI.

Brandon Allen just hit a 3 run homer with two outs.

The Hogs did it! They whooped Frederick 12-4 and clinched as spot in the playoffs. Plus Brandon Allen just hit a 2 out grand slam.

Pimps.

Winston-Salem split the series with Kinston with a double header sweep today. They have a 3.5 game lead with 4 games left to play. Go Hogs!

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 28, 2008 -> 04:25 PM) He's out of the system in 2009 anyway, I'd bet on it. God, I hope so. That guy has more attitude than talent, skill or brains all rolled into one.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Aug 28, 2008 -> 04:28 PM) Valido get desperate and go back on the roids? Maybe he got mad about the demotion. Wouldn't be the first time this year, Collaro got released immediately after being demoted from Charlotte. Doesn't hurt my feelings, he wasn't going to start in the playoffs, at most he would have been a late inning pinch runner but not a defensive replacement.

Here's the chain of events over the last 24 hours...Robert Valido demoted to B'ham, Erick San Pedro placed on B'ham DL, Carlos Torres activated from B'ham DL and promoted to Charlotte, Robert Valido suspended, Erick San Pedro activated from B'ham DL. HA! Don't know the suspension details.

QUOTE (scenario @ Aug 28, 2008 -> 08:11 AM) I think so. He's having a bad month. (0-3; 6.92 ERA; and over half of his blown saves for the season have come this month). Too bad. He's had such a great year otherwise... not the way to end it. He had 3 blown saves at the beginning of August. Now he has 8. They started bringing him into games in the 8th at first, that's when he got off track. Then they were trying to get him the save record. So, I think either himself or the coaches are pushing him too much. Hopefully he'll get his focus back for the playoffs. The Barons need him to be lights out again.

I hate rain. Plus, B'ham got swept in J-Ville.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Aug 25, 2008 -> 07:10 PM) I am fairly certain that if Beckham performs well the rest of the year, he will start in AA. Paiml might deserve it, but you want your star prospect to face the best competition possible to prepare for the Bigs. Good point, my money's on Paiml though. We'll see in 2009. It does depend on what the White Sox have in mind long term for Paiml. He's already 24, he's from B'ham too. I think Danks is on a faster track than Beckham. The White Sox seem to see Quentin, Swisher & Danks as their future outfield. Beckham will probably be in Chicago by the middle of 2010. Chicago has more options in the middle infield to see how things shake out. Dye is just keeping things warm for Danks.

With Paulo Orlando gone now, Danks has the inside track to start in CF for B'ham in 2009. Shelby will be in LF for B'ham in 2009. Greg Paiml deserves the starting job at SS for the Barons in 2009. So, I think Beckham will start in W-S in 2009.