Showing posts tagged “Logan Ondrusek”
Adam Sobsey ·
13 Sep 2009, 5:00 AM ·
1 Comment
We got the slugfest we were due for, and the Bulls’ first homer of the series as well (by Michel Hernandez, of all people—his first as a Bull this year and his second overall); but the Bats lived up to their name and outhit Durham, 10-7, on Saturday night. The win forced a fifth and final game of the divisional series.
Both starters fared poorly—Durham’s Rayner Oliveros and Louisville’s Tom Cochran were gone by the third inning, having allowed 11 runs between them in just 3 1/3 innings combined. The difference in the game was probably the two guys who followed them. The Bulls’ Heath Rollins allowed three runs on four hits, including Danny Dorn’s sixth-inning home run, in 4 2/3 innings; by contrast, the Bats’ Lee Tabor threw four scoreless innings of two-hit ball in relief of Cochran. By the seventh inning, it was 8-6, Louisville.
The Bulls mounted rallies late, but they managed only one run during the seventh and eighth innings, when they had two hits and two walks, plus a pair of errors on Louisville pitchers to help move runners around the diamond. The final Durham reliever, Mike Wlodarczyk, surrendered two more runs to Louisville in the eighth to provide the final three-run margin.
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Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Camilo Vazquez, Heath Rollins, Lee Tabor, Logan Ondrusek, Louisville Bats, Michel Hernandez, Mike Wlodarczyk, Paul Phillips, Rayner Oliveros, Tom Cochran
Adam Sobsey ·
8 Sep 2009, 12:39 PM ·
3 Comments
Triple-A baseball teams are subject to a variation on the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the one you may have run across in the movie The Man Who Wasn’t There or in the play Copenhagen. Basically, it says that you can’t determine both the velocity and position of a particle at the same time. It’s possible that we’re really talking about the Observer Effect here, or possibly Schrödinger’s cat, or even quantum superpositions. All I can say is, don’t do what I did; don’t go look them all up, because the next thing you know you’re lost in something very like the Uncertainty Principle yourself: you think you know what you’re looking for, and then as soon as you think you’ve found it, it turns into something else. Eventually you wind up desperately lost in a terrible, mountainous region, overrun by wild beasts and full of tar pits, known as Verschränkung. Just don’t go there, kids.
Instead, do what Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo does before each series—or rather, don’t do what he doesn’t do: pay any attention to the opposing team’s record, or to what happened the last time the Bulls played them. Montoyo has said several times this year that all he looks at is how they’ve been playing the last couple of weeks.
That’s because, as you probably know if you’re a Bulls fan, minor-league teams change constantly. The last time the Durham Bulls played the Louisville Bats was July 19 at Louisville. Thirty-two players saw action in that game, and only half of them remain on the teams’ rosters. Both starters, each team’s leading home-run hitter, four of Durham’s five pitchers that night, the league’s Most Valuable Pitcher (Justin Lehr) and the Bats’ leadoff man: all gone.
So take the following preview as a thought experiment, a la Schrödinger’s cat—until Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., when the cat (the Durham Bulls) actually goes into the box (the DBAP) with the flask of poison (the Louisville Bats) and the radioactive substance (Jeremy Hellickson’s first pitch, let’s say). Then we’ll see if the beast lives or dies.
If my colleague Mike Potter, who for most of the season has covered the Reds’ Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats, feels inspired to chime in, the cat will get at least partway out of the bag/box: more than half of the current Bats’ roster has seen time in Zebulon this year.
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Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Ben Jukich, Charlie Montoyo, Chris Heisey, Chris Nowak, Chris Richard, Jason Cromer, Jay Bruce, Jeremy Hellickson, John Jaso, Logan Ondrusek, Louisville Bats, Mitch Talbot, Paul Phillips, playoffs, Sam LeCure, Schrodinger's Cat, Sean Rodriguez, Travis Wood, Uncertainy Principle, Yonder Alonzo
Mike Potter ·
7 Sep 2009, 5:52 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON One last trip across Wake County for the Carolina Mudcats’ rainy season finale.
And the team just got hot too late.
David Bell’s club comes into its 139th game on a seven-game winning streak, despite the depletion of the team for much of the second half. Early on in the half there were players who absolutely had to go to Triple-A after making mincemeat of the Southern League, while over the past couple of weeks the Cincinnati Reds have been bolstering their Louisville roster in preparation for the Governors’ Cup Playoffs.
Louisville is at Durham in the first round on Wednesday and Thursday, so if you’re going to be suffering from Mudcats withdrawal it’s a last chance to see a whole lot of Carolina’s best 2009 players this season. SL All-Stars Travis Wood, Todd Frazier and Juan Francisco are playing for the Bats as is Chris Heisey, who was simply the best player in the league this year.
In case you’re interested, I’m scheduled to cover those games for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
The game starts 36 minutes late because of rain. And they’ve shut down the Italian sausage, so I’ll be having chicken on the last getaway day. The Braves win 5-0 to make that long bus ride home seem a little shorter. Everybody is on fast forward today as game time is 2:01.
Mississippi doesn’t take long to get started, as Jon Owings launches Jeremy Horst’s first pitch of the game out of the yard about 20 feet inside the left-field foul pole.
The score stays right there until the seventh, when the visitors strike for two.
Brandon Hicks leads off with a double to right, scoring on Greg Creek’s one-out double to left. Creek then comes home on Travis Jones’ two-out single to right.
Mississippi scores another in the eighth, as Chris Anderson slaps a leadoff double to left, followed by pinch-hitter Stephen Marek’s single to left and a ground ball from Owings to score the run.
The Braves get their last one in the ninth off Josh Beal, as Hicks leads off with a homer to left.
After the game Mudcats slugger Yonder Alonzo (pictured) gets the call to Louisville for his Triple-A debut. That makes for 17 current Bats who played at least part of the season for Carolina. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Arizona Fall League, Birmingham Barons, Brandon Hicks, Chris Anderson, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Greg Creek, International League, Jeremy Horst, Jon Owings, Josh Beal, Juan Francisco, Korey Feiner, Logan Ondrusek, Louisville Bats, Mississippi Braves, Peoria Saguaros, Phillippe Valiquette, Sean Watson, Southern League, Stephen Marek, Todd Frazier, Travis Jones, Travis Wood, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
22 Jul 2009, 1:39 AM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats had to wait out a rain delay of over an hour to start the opener of their five-game road series with the Huntsville Stars on Tuesday night.
Turns out it was worth it.
Todd Frazier (pictured) hit a solo homer in the eighth to break a tie, giving the Mudcats a 4-3 win at Joe Davis Stadium.
It was the third straight victory for the Mudcats, who got the decision for reliever Sean Watson (3-4) before Logan Ondrusek came on for his sixth save.
Carolina scored a run in the first on a Juan Francisco single.
After Huntsville got to Lee Tabor for two in the bottom of the frame, Stephen Chapman ripped a solo homer in the second for a 2-2 tie.
Carolina took the lead in the third when Sean Henry scored on Mike Jones’ wild pitch, but Vinny Rottino tied it with a solo homer in the fourth.
Game 2 of the series is tonight at 8 (EDT), with Matt Klinker (3-1, 2.52) going against the Stars’ Sam Narron (0-0, 5.40).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Cincinnati Reds, Huntsville Stars, Juan Francisco, Lee Tabor, Logan Ondrusek, Matt Klinker, Mike Jones, Milwaukee Brewers, Sam Narron, Sean Henry, Sean Watson, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Todd Frazier, Vinny Rottino
Mike Potter ·
19 Jul 2009, 2:07 AM ·
1 Comment
It might have taken two tries, but the Carolina Mudcats were able to stop their losing streak late Saturday night.
Pinch-hitter Steven Chapman (pictured) ripped a two-run homer in the fifth inning, giving the Mudcats a 2-1 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts to end a four-game slide.
Chattanooga won the first game at Five County Stadium 11-2.
In the nightcap, southpaw Tom Cochran (2-3) went five innings and struck out six while allowing one unearned run. Logan Ondrusek picked up his fifth save of the season.
In the opener, Ramon Nivar doubled and singled for three RBI to lead five Lookouts with multiple-hit performances.
Camilo Vazquez (2-2) allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings for Carolina in the opener. James Adkins (4-6) was the winner for Chattanooga.
The finale of the five-game set is today at 2, with ace Travis Wood (8-3, 1.29) going for Carolina against fellow left Alberto Bastardo (2-1, 4.05).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alberto Bastardo, Camilo Vazquez, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, James Adkins, Logan Ondrusek, Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramon Nivar, Southern League, Tom Cochran, Travis Wood
Mike Potter ·
14 Jul 2009, 1:22 AM ·
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Starter Travis Wood (pictured) and Logan Ondrusek of the Carolina Mudcats each pitched a perfect inning for the North Division in a 7-0 rout over the homestanding South in the Southern League All-Star Game on Monday night at Birmingham.
Ten pitchers appeared for the North in a four-hit shutout, in which no South Division player safely touched third base.
Josh Bell of the Chattanooga Lookouts was the offensive hero, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI to earn the game’s Star of Stars honor.
In other Carolina news, former Mudcat Chris Heisey - now playing for the Louisville Bats - was named International League player of the week for games ending Sunday.
The Mudcats return home on Wednesday night at 7:15 to take on Chattanooga in the opener of a five-game series.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Birmingham Barons, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, International League, Josh Bell, Logan Ondrusek, Los Angeles Dodgers, Louisville Bats, Southern League, Travis Wood
Mike Potter ·
11 Jul 2009, 11:45 PM ·
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If you love pitchers’ duels, it’s too bad you probably haven’t been in Jacksonville, Fla., for the Carolina Mudcats’ last four games against the Suns.
Neither team scored three runs in a game in their series that just ended, and that pattern continued perfectly tonight in a doubleheader at The Baseball Grounds.
The Suns got just two hits - one in each game - in 13 innings, as the Mudcats won the opener 2-0 before dropping the nightcap 1-0.
Carolina is 7-13 in the second half while Jacksonville is 13-7.
Matthew Klinker (3-0) went six innings in the Mudcats’ win in the opener. All-Star selection Logan Ondrusek worked a perfect seventh to pick up the save.
Todd Frazier went 3-for-4 on the opener for Carolina, which gave Suns ace Cristhian Martinez (7-3) his first loss since May 4.
In the nightcap, Brad Stone (2-1) and two relievers combined on the three-hit shutout for Jacksonville.
Tom Cochran (1-3) took the loss, giving up one unearned run in the third inning.
The Mudcats now take a three-day All-Star Break before opening a five-game series on Wednesday night at Five County Stadium against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Carolina’s Travis Wood has been named the starter on the mound for Monday night’s Southern League All-Star Game, while the Mudcats’ Frazier and shortstop Zack Cozart are also in the starting lineup with Ondruzek, James Avery and Jordan Smith in the bullpen.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Birmingham Barons, Brad Stone, Cincinnati Reds, Cristhian Martinez, Florida Marlins, Jacksonville Suns, James Avery, Jordan Smith, Logan Ondrusek, Matthew Klinker, Southern League, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Travis Wood, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
30 Jun 2009, 1:02 AM ·
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Finally.
Michael Griffin (picured) had two hits including a homer, Juan Francisco added three hits including a double with an RBI, and six Carolina Mudcats had extra-base hits Monday night in a 7-6 road win over the Chattanooga Lookouts.
The result ended Carolina’s five-game losing streak.
Steven Otterness, who was just called up from Dayton as Dallas Buck went on the DL with a sore arm, was the winning pitcher in relief.
But the big plays came on defense in the ninth, as two Lookouts were tagged out at the plate trying to score the tying run.
In the Chattanoooga ninth, Ramon Nivar led off with a double. Josh Bell then singled down the left-field line, but Todd Frazier cut off the hit and gunned down the lead runner.
After a wild pitch, catcher Brian Peterson blocked a pitch that headed up the first-base line. Bell tried to score on the play, but pitcher Logan Ondrusek caught Peterson’s toss and tagged him out.
Andrew Lambo grounded to second baseman Jose Castro to end the game.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Andrew Lambo, Brian Peterson, Chattanooga Lookouts, Dallas Buck, Dayton Dragons, Jose Castro, Josh Bell, Logan Ondrusek, Los Angeles Dodgers, Michael Griffin, Ramon Nivar, Southern League, Steven Otterness, Todd Frazier
Mike Potter ·
24 Jun 2009, 11:21 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Back for Game 3 of the Mudcats’ first series of the second half, and it’s already been a very crazy day. And that’s just the baseball part.
I had already planned out the trip from USA Baseball’s National Training Complex to Zebulon, but in about the fourth inning of the game involving uberphenom Bryce Harper I get one of many, many unrelated cell phone calls during the game.
It’s Durham Bulls publicist Matt DeMargel, reminding me of a commitment to talk about my career with a group of students from a journalism class he teaches. At 4:30 p.m., with the Mudcats’ game at 7. Fortunately there are five and not 20, so everyone gets to ask questions. I hope they got an object lesson in what 31 years of this all means.
Anyway, it means I now need to do by best impersonation of a moonshine runner to get to the game in time. Not on time, but in time. That means about an hour before the game. I need to decompress.
Go get some more fried chicken and French fries, and it’s time to get it all started.
(Former Mudcat Scott Cousins, pictured, ends up having a great night in a 10-5 comeback victory.)
I promised another Theron Todd story, and that will come later this week. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls, USA Baseball Aaron Thompson, Brad Davis, Brandon Hyde, Bryan Petersen, Bryce Harper, Chris De La Cruz, Chris Hatcher, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, Florida Marlins, Jacksonville Suns, Jose Castro, Kasey Olenberger, Kevin Randel, Kinston High School, Lee Mitchell, Logan Morrison, Logan Ondrusek, Mike Stanton, Ramon Geronimo, Ruben Medina, Scott Cousins, Sean Henry, Southern League, Theron Todd, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, UNC Wilmington, USA Baseball
Lisa Sorg ·
19 May 2009, 2:24 PM ·
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I blame physics. Or meteorology. Or both. The Carolina Mudcats pounded the hell out of the ball Monday night, pummeling it down the first and third base lines, nailing line drives into fielders’ gloves that seemed to smoke from the friction, powering it deep into the warning track. But only one of the five hits sailed out of the park—Sean Henry’s homer in the bottom of the second—as the ball met some unseen force that felled it as if someone had shot it at skeet practice.
The result of the invisible hand of physics: A 4-1 loss to the Jacksonville Suns in the second game of a doubleheader that lasted past 11 p.m. (Here’s the box score.)
[Pictured: Pitcher Federico Baez, who was promoted to Triple-A Louisville.]
The folks in the press box debated whether it was the wind blowing into the park. Nope, the breeze was too gentle. I’ve sneezed with greater force. The dry, 52-degree air: Is it heavier or lighter than humid air? And if it’s heavier, then the weather’s the culprit and everyone knows there’s not a thing anyone can do about the weather except talk about it. A Google search ensued. One of the media folks who had experience as a chemical engineer noted that nitrogen in dry air is heavier than water vapor in humid air. Voila! Dry air is denser; it robbed the ball of some of its lift. It was the weather.
Or just as likely, it was the Mudcats’ bullpen.
Right-hander Justin Mallett entered the game at an unimpressive 0-2, but stymied the Suns in five impressive innings. He threw just 72 pitches, striking out the side in the top of the second for a total of six strikeouts and two walks and three hits.
Reliever Ruben Medina held his own in the sixth, but allowed the tying run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh—ostensibly the last inning of the game. (Doubleheaders are shortened.) The beer taps had been turned off, a sure way to end a party. The stands, already sparsely populated because of the cold and the fact the game was held on a weeknight when the Hurricanes were on TV, had begun to empty out. I walked the concourses to see who was left. Behind the plate, men with radar guns aimed at the pitcher. (Like a thirsty woman in the desert who sees a mirage, I envisioned the guns were hair dryers that would thaw out my bones.) I counted the fans. Section 206, three; Section 207, 14; Section 213, Row F, the sound of one fan clapping.
Knotted at one run a piece, what was supposed to be a shortened game went into extra, extra innings. Camillo Vazquez took the mound in the top of the 10th, which should have given the lingering Mudcats’ fans pause. His control issues were foreshadowed April 22 against Huntsivlle, when he pitched 10 consecutive balls and faced just three batters—including one he nearly beaned—before being yanked. I know, I know, it’s been a long day. The bullpen is running low. But when the game’s on the line, who do you turn to? Vazquez?
He walked four, threw a wild pitch and allowed three earned runs in one inning.
The Mudcats had no answers in the bottom of the 10th. Game over.
Tonight’s meterological forecast: another dry, chilly night with the wind blowing into the park. Jordan Smith (2-0, 2.96 ERA) is on the mound for the Mudcats, facing Jacksonville’s Kyle Winters (0-0, 4.09 ERA).
Transaction note: Mudcats’ right-hander Federico Baez has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville, with the statuesque Logan Ondrusek joining the Mudcats from High-A Sarasota. Baez, a reliever, has been the winningest pitcher on the Mudcats’ staff, compiling a record of 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA over 13 games.
Ondrusek, 24, becomes the tallest Mudcats player at 6’8.” Ondrusek dominated the Florida League this season, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.96 ERA over 13 bullpen appearances.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Federico Baez, Jacksonville Suns, Justin Mallett, Logan Ondrusek, Sean Henry
