Showing posts tagged “Todd Frazier”
Adam Sobsey ·
12 Sep 2009, 5:00 AM ·
6 Comments
Luck. Did it even itself out last night in the Bulls’ achingly difficult, teeth-gnashing 4-3 win at Louisville? The Bulls scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning with help from two walks and two singles that might easily have been outs: they weren’t hit hard. Down 4-1, the Bats chipped away, scoring a run on a Yonder Alonso homer in the sixth inning off of Jason Cromer (it was disputed by Justin Ruggiano, who claimed that the ball hadn’t cleared the wall but had been interfered with by a fan), and then getting a pair of cheap infield hits by Todd Frazier and Juan Francisco to push across their third run in the seventh off of Joe Bateman, who pitched well and can be faulted only for a leadoff walk, really. The rest was just rotten luck. Note, however, that Cromer, who has earned the nickname “The Strandman” from the folks at Draysbay, allowed none of the seven men who reached against him to score, save the two guys who hit homers. Over 115+ Triple-A innings, opponents are hitting .155 against Comer with runners in scoring position. With RISP and two outs, .085. Wow.
Julio DePaula did a good job of stranding a leadoff single in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Justin Ruggiano singled (it was his third hit of the game) and took off for second on a pitch to Elliot Johnson, which Johnson hit to center field. Chris Heisey came on and made a good running catch; he fired to first to nail Ruggiano for an (un)lucky double play. That twin-killing loomed large when Michel Hernandez followed with a double to right that might have scored Ruggiano from first. Henry Mateo then smacked a line drive near first base, and Yonder Alonso made a nice grab to end the inning. Luck.
Winston Abreu came on in the ninth and fanned Heisey and Jay Bruce on six pitches. He got Frazier down in the count 0-2 before Frazier reached on an infield single, his second in two innings. Then Juan Francisco fell behind 0-2 before he reached on another infield single, his second in two innings, dribbling one down the first base line and simply getting lucky that it was timed so that he managed to elude Joe Dillon’s tag.
It seemed as if fortune was simply favoring Louisville. Chris Valaika stepped in—and he, too, had had an infield single the night before in Durham, driving in the Bats’ fifth run—but this time Abreu finished the job, getting a swinging strikeout from Valaika and earning a save while giving Cromer a well-deserved win. The Bulls are a victory away from winning the series.
If they’re to win it on Saturday, they’ll have to do it behind Rayner Oliveros, who has made all of two appearances for Durham, one good, one eh, since his callup from Double-A Montgomery in late August. Oliveros spent over four months in the Southern League this season, but missed pitching in the Biscuits’ series against the Mudcats, several of whom are now with Louisville. So he’s as blind as the Bats are.
Lest that seem totally unfair, which it is, consider the Bats’ counter-move: Tom Cochran, a 26-year-old lefty (better against righties, oddly) who has made all of three appearances for Louisville, two good, one eh, since his callup from Double-A Carolina in late August. Not too long ago, Cochran was pitching for the Worcester (MA) Tornadoes in the independent Canadian-American Association. Cochran spent almost three months in the Southern League this season, but missed pitching in the Mudcats’ series against the Biscuits, two of whom are now with Durham.
In other words, take your pick. The Bulls have played five games at Louisville this season, and all five of them have been decided by a single run. One went 13 innings, another went 16. Here’s my only prediction: after hitting no home runs in the first three games of the series, the Bulls—who led the league in homers this season—will hit at least one on Saturday. And here’s something I won’t predict but will suggest: Saturday could be a slugfest. (Hey, that rhymed!) The game is at 6:05 p.m.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Chris Denove, Jason Cromer, Joe Bateman, Juan Francisco, Julio DePaula, Justin Ruggiano, Louisville Bats, Luck, Rayner Oliveros, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Winston Abreu
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 ·
31 Aug 2009, 8:47 PM ·
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Former Carolina Mudcats southpaw Travis Wood has been named the Southern League’s pitcher of the year in a vote by the league’s field managers, radio broadcasters and print media.
Wood is joined on the SL’s post-season All-Star team by former Mudcats teammates Juan Francisco at third base and Todd Frazier as the top utility man. All three of the former Mudcats are now playing for the Louisville Bats, who are poised to win the International League’s West Division.
Montgomery Biscuits center fielder Desmond Jennings, who now plays for the Durham Bulls, was named the circuit’s most valuable player while Ever Magallanes, who has skippered the Birmingham Barons to the dominant best record in the league, was named manager of the year.
Matt Young of the Mississippi Braves was named the league’s best hustler. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Birmingham Barons, Blake Lalli, C.J. Retherford, David Cook, Desmond Jennings, Ever Magallanes, Ezequiel Carrera, Greg Halman, John Ely, Juan Francisco, Louisvile Bats, Matt Peterson, Matt Young, Mississippi Braves, Pedro Ciriaco, Stefan Gartrell, Todd Frazier, Travis Wood, Tyler Flowers
Mike Potter ·
22 Aug 2009, 11:37 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats return home for the opener of a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies that will comprise the entire homestand.
It’s bordering on time for the end-of-season “death watch” for the Mudcats, as their tragic number for elimination from playoff contention is down to seven with 15 games left in the season. Carolina would just about have to run the table and get help from at least three teams.
The Cincinnati Reds’ organization is acutely aware of the situation, so any Mudcat who deserves promotion to Triple-A is headed for Louisville to help the Bats try to win a Governors’ Cup. Todd Frazier (pictured) is the latest to make the jump, making the number 11 of current Bats players I have covered as a home beat writer at some point.
The Bats really may have about 1/3 of this season’s Southern League post-season all-star team on their roster, since they already had SL home-run leader Juan Francisco, the SL’s best pitcher in Travis Wood and perhaps the SL’s best player in Chris Heisey in the clubhouse. If you think I don’t want Louisville to visit Durham in the playoffs this season, try again.
Anyway, it’s dark and rainy all the way over here from Brier Creek, but the game starts a reasonable 23 minutes late.
Grab an Italian sausage and let’s go.
Tennessee, which eventually wins this one 5-4, takes the early lead with a two-run second inning off Luis Montano. Tyler Colvin leads off with a double to left, moving to third on Ty Wright’s sacrifice bunt to third. Tony Thomas scores Colvin on a two-out double off the wall in left, followed by pitcher Chris Carpenter’s RBI double to right.
Carolina goes ahead with a three-run rally in the fourth.
Jose Castro leads off with a single to left, and after a Shaun Cumberland single to left and a walk to Zack Cozart the bases are literally full of “Cs.” With one out, Logan Parker hits a two-run single to right, and then Carson Kainer puts the home team ahead with another single to right.
Tennessee takes the lead again with a two-out rally in the sixth. Wright doubles to left, followed by Welington Castillo’s RBI single to left. Thomas then smacks an RBI single to left.
The Mudcats tie it in the bottom, as Cozart walks, steals second, advances on Alex Maestri’s wild pitch and scores on Kainer’s one-out sac fly to center.
But Tennessee takes the lead again in the seventh, as Jim Adduci reaches on a fielder’s choice following Jonathan Mota’s single, followed by Starlin Castro’s RBI double to right for the game-winning run.
Here’s what they said …
Mudcats manager David Bell: “Montano was good. In several of his outings he’s struggled for the first couple of innings and then settled down and gotten the job done. It was a good game, but we just didn’t win. There should always be enough motivation to go out and try to win every game, no matter what the standings say.”
Parker: “When you’re in this position (in the standings), you just have to forget about how the team’s doing and motivate yourself every day. We had a great team in the first half and didn’t make the playoffs because we lost the last series to Tennessee. That’s something we need to be thinking about when we play them.”
Cozart: “It’s always important to finish the season strong, even if the team hasn’t been winning. And if you go out and play a good game yourself, that’s going to give the team a better chance to win.”
What does it all mean?
That the tragic number is now five, while Tennessee is a game behind West Tenn for the division lead.
Stars of the game
1. Thomas, with three hits including a double for two RBI.
2. Parker, for two hits and two RBI.
3. Carpenter, for a respectable start and a clutch hit.
Play of the game
Starlin Castro’s game-winning double.
Season series
Tennessee leads 15-11.
Streaks
Carolina: Lost 2.
Tennessee: Won 1.
Transactions
Carolina: Outfielder Todd Frazier promoted to Louisville. Infielder Kristopher Negron promoted to Carolina from Sarasota.
Tennessee: none.
On deck
Tennessee at Carolina, Sunday, 2 p.m.
Jeremy Papelbon (L, 4-5, 3.26) vs. Tom Cochran (L, 4-5, 3.29)
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Alex Maestri, Carson Kainer, Chicago Cubs, Chris Carpenter, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, International League, Jeremy Papelbon, Jim Adduci, Jonathan Mota, Jose Castro, Juan Francisco, Kristopher Negron, Logan Parker, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Sarasota Reds, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Starlin Castro, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Tony Thomas, Travis Wood, Ty Wright, Tyler Colvin, Welington Castillo, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
14 Aug 2009, 11:59 PM ·
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FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON Time for Game 3 of the Carolina Mudcats’ five-game home series against the Birmingham Barons, and the hole seems to be getting deeper all the time for the home team.
The Barons are the Southern League’s best team with over twice as many wins as losses, while Carolina is in last place in the North Division, nine games behind the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts with a “tragic number” of 15 for elimination from the playoff race.
This is a crazy stat. Two teams out of the 10-team Southern League have records over .500, and the season may well finish that way. Birmingham comes into the contest 40 games over the break-even mark. And things don’t get any better for the red, black and white tonight as Birmingham wins 11-6.
It’s a bit of a saga for me to get over here from Brier Creek tonight. I-540 is a parking lot in Western Wake county, and there’s a pretty heavy thunderstorm in the middle of my trip.
But all of that means I get to the park 40 minutes before first pitch instead of about 75, and the game is going to start on time.
Grab a cheeseburger and let’s go.
Birmingham wastes no time getting on the board against Zack Ward, as C.J. Retherford draws a one-out walk and scores on David Cook’s two-out single to left center.
The Mudcats really get it going in the bottom of the second off John Ely. Todd Frazier draws a one-out walk and scores on Carson Kainer’s two-out double that goes off the glove of diving center fielder Jordan Danks. Logan Parker (pictured) adds an RBI double, and after Jason Bour walks Sean Henry hits an RBI single to left center and the homeboys are up 3-1. Continue reading »
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Adam Ricks, Andy Tomberlin, Birmingham Barons, C.J. Retherford, Camilo Vazquez, Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, David Bell, David Cook, Ever Magallanes, J.R. Pedew, Jason Bour, Jerry Gil, Jim Gallagher, John Ely, Jordan Danks, Justin Tordi, Kyle McCulloch, Lee Cruz, Logan Parker, Matthew Zaleski, Sean Henry, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Todd Frazier, Zack Ward
Mike Potter ·
9 Aug 2009, 7:54 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats have forced a rubber game in their five-game road series with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
Todd Frazier (pictured) followed Juan Francisco’s single off Luis Villereal (0-1) with a three-run homer in the ninth, leading the Mudcats to a 6-4 victory over West Tenn that was their second straight win.
Greg Atencio (1-0) earned the win in his first game as a Mudcat, pitching a perfect eighth inning before Sean Watson pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season and first since June 18.
Travis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the first for West Tenn the early lead, before each team scored twice in the third.
Before Zack Cozart’s single in the ninth, Steve Bray had worked six perfect innings for West Tenn.
The Mudcats are now seven games behind first-place Chattanooga, which leads West Tenn by two games in the Southern League’s North Division.
Carolina’s 10-game road trip as well as the season series with West Tenn ends tonight, with Jeremy Horst (0-2, 9.31) taking on West Tenn’s Nick Hill (3-4, 3.02) at 8:05 p.m. (EDT).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, Greg Atencio, Jeremy Horst, Luis Villareal, Nick Hill, Sean Watson, Seattle Mariners, Southern League, Steve Bray, Todd Frazier, Travis Garcia, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Zack Cozart
Mike Potter ·
7 Aug 2009, 2:28 AM ·
3 Comments
The knockout punch came in the first inning.
The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx tagged Luis Montano for six runs in the opening frame, giving them all they needed in a 7-4 win over the visiting Carolina Mudcats in the opener of their five-game series at Pringles Park on Thursday night.
The big blow in the first was from N.C. State alumnus Matt Mangini, who doubled the home team’s early lead with a three-run homer.
Montano (0-2) got a chance to continue and did well from then on, hurling four scoreless innings.
Danny Christensen (1-6), who had last won a game 349 days earlier in the Eastern League, pitched five scoreless innings for West Tenn before the Mudcats’ offense got going. The Mudcats scored three runs, those coming on a Todd Frazier double and a two-run homer from Shaun Cumberland.
Carolina added its last run in the seventh on Juan Francisco’s third hit of the game.
The Mudcats are now eight games behind first-place Chattanooga with 29 left in the second half.
Game 2 is tonight at 8:05 EDT, with Zach Ward (0-1, 18.00) starting for Carolina against Luis Muñoz (4-6, 4.48).
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, N.C. State Cincinnati Reds, Danny Christensen, Luis Montano, Luis Muñoz, Matt Mangini, Seattle Mariners, Shaun Cumberland, Southern League, Todd Frazier, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
Mike Potter ·
3 Aug 2009, 11:39 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats haven’t had much success over the last few nights, and after tonight’s contest things are even worse.
Doug Deeds (pictured) blasted a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning, giving the Tennessee Smokies all the insurance they needed in a 7-2 victory over visiting Carolina.
It was the eighth straight win for Tennessee, while the Mudcats have lost five straight. Carolina is in last place in the Southern League’s North Division, 7 ½ games behind first-place Chattanooga, while the Smokies and just half a game out of the lead.
Tom Cochran (3-4) look the defeat despite a quality start, allowing three runs on nine hits in his six innings. He didn’t get off to a good start, though, as the first three Smokies all hit safely with Tyler Colvin’s single making it 2-0.
Carolina scored an unearned run in the second against winner Andrew Cashner (2-1).
Todd Frazier had his second straight two-hit game for Carolina.
Game 4 of the five-game set is Tuesday night at 7:15, with Camilo Vazquez (2-3, 5.44) taking on Tennessee’s Casey Coleman (10-5, 3.26).
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Andrew Cashner, Camilo Vazquez, Casey Coleman, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Doug Deeds, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Tyler Colvin
Mike Potter ·
2 Aug 2009, 9:37 PM ·
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Tyler Colvin isn’t having any trouble with Carolina Mudcats pitching.
The Tennessee Smokies’ slugger out of Clemson blasted a three-run homer in the fourth inning - tying a Southern League record with a hit in his 11th consecutive at bat before failing in his next plate appearance - to lead his team to an 11-1 rout on Sunday.
That was the visiting Mudcats’ fourth straight loss.
Carolina scored its run in the first on a Todd Frazier triple before the dam broke.
Zach Ward lasted just three innings in his Mudcats debut, giving up six runs on eight hits.
Chris Kelly then came on for two innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
Jeremy Papelbon (4-4) picked up the victory.
Frazier, who had two hits after enduring a 1-for-19 slump coming into the contest, led Carolina’s five-hit offense.
The Mudcats are now 6 ½ games behind the first-place Chattanooga Lookouts in the North Division.
Tom Cochran (3-3, 3.24) will start Monday’s 7:15 contest against the Smokies’ Andrew Cashner (1-1, 1.09).
The Mudcats’ transactions list continued to grow, as catcher Chris Denove has been promoted to Louisville to make his Triple-A debut, while fellow catcher Jake Long is up from Sarasota.
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Andrew Cashner, Chattanooga Lookouts, Chicago Cubs, Chris Denove, Clemson, Florida State League, International League, Jeremy Papelbon, Louisville Bats, Sarasota Reds, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tom Cochran, Tyler Colvin, Zach Ward
Mike Potter ·
2 Aug 2009, 12:25 AM ·
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Tyler Colvin did most of the damage for the Tennessee Smokies as they dealt the visiting Carolina Mudcats their third straight loss, 4-1 on Saturday night.
Colvin (pictured) hit his eighth homer of the season and also added a double and a single as the Mudcats’ Luis Montano dropped his Double-A debut.
Carolina scored its run in the first when Sean Henry singled, stole second and later scored on a Todd Frazier groundout.
Tennessee, which won its sixth straight, tied it in the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Colvin and Wellington Castillo.
The Smokies finished the scoring in the fifth as Jim Aducci tripled to center and scored on a Blake Lalli grounder. Two batters later Colvin blasted a two-run homer, his fifth against Carolina this season.
David Patton, made a major-league rehab start for Tennessee, leaving the game after three innings with a possible groin injury.
Marco Carrillo (2-1) got the win in relief while Brian Schlitter picked up his 15th save.
Zach Ward, who like Montano was called up from Sarasota on Saturday after Lee Tabor and Matt Klinker were called up to Louisville, will make his Carolina debut today 5 p.m. against Jeremy Papelbon (3-4, 3.52).
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Blake Lalli, Brian Schlitter, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Clemson, David Patton, Jeremy Papelbon, Jim Adduci, Lee Tabor, Louisville Bats, Luis Montano, Marco Carillo, Matt Klinker, Sarasota Reds, Sean Henry, Southern League, Tennessee Smokies, Todd Frazier, Tyler Colvin, Wellington Castillo, Zach Ward
