Showing posts tagged “Travis Wood”
Adam Sobsey ·
10 Sep 2009, 4:00 AM ·
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DBAP/ DURHAM—Only one thing about the Durham Bulls’ 8-4 win over the Louisville Bats last night made it seem like a playoff game: the size of the crowd. The attendance, 1,809, must have been the smallest of the year to date, and that’s about normal for a playoff game at the DBAP. It’s as if fall comes along and snatches four out of every five spectators from the stands. You can pretty much sit anywhere you want for the most important games of the season each September. Not sure if it’s the playoffs? Just cock your head and listen to the unsettling silence all around you, occasionally disrupted by the home plate umpire saying “Ball Two!” so loudly that you’re startled by it.
But the fans who came were into the game in a way that regular-season crowds at the DBAP rarely are, and their intensity made up for their fellow citizens’ abandonment of their team. It was fun to watch the game with them. They cared. They were in it. The Bulls rewarded them by taking a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five series.
But they did it in a game full of bad baseball. Yes, there was clutch hitting and good fielding, another double-digit strikeout game by Jeremy Hellickson, and a fine performance by his counterpart, the Bats’ highly regarded left-hander Travis Wood. But both starters’ performances had substantial flaws, as well; there were seven errors (and could easily have been an eighth—games at the DBAP have lately been plagued by poor glovework); there were three errors by Sean Rodriguez alone; a total meltdown by a Bats reliever; a lot of pitchers struggling to get ahead in the count and hitters failing to make them pay for it—and also pitchers getting ahead in the count and then failing to finish off hitters, who did make them pay for it. The Bulls took a comfortable lead into the ninth inning, but for a moment, it suddenly looked to be in grave danger, and a game that should have been over-and-done managed to get sticky at the end.
And for the first three innings, it barely seemed like we were watching an official game at all. When Juan Francisco creamed a Jeremy Hellickson fastball off the Triangle Orthopedics sign way out in left-center field for a two-run homer, you felt like you were watching a big strong young prospect take batting practice. “Wow,” you said to yourself, “that kid can really hit.” The ball thwacked off the sign with a resounding crack and landed back on the outfield grass. Justin Ruggiano trotted over to it as though he was just out there shagging flies.
But in fact it was 2-0, Louisville, in Game One of the playoffs. Bats, of course, are nocturnal, and dusk was fading to dark when Francisco hit his homer. But apparently, your late-inning Bulls are creatures of the night, too. They awakened in the middle innings, first needing some tapping on the shoulder from the Bats, who should have let sleeping Bulls lie.
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Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, Durham Bulls Charlie Montoyo, Federico Baez, Jeremy Hellickson, Juan Francisco, Louisville Bats, Mitch Talbot, playoffs, Ray Olmedo, Sean Rodriguez, Travis Wood, Winston Abreu
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 ·
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 ·
25 Jul 2009, 3:48 PM ·
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The Carolina Mudcats’ ace pitcher finally got his promotion.
Southpaw Travis Wood has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville, and scheduled to make his International League debut at Syracuse tonight at 7.
Wood is currently leading the Southern League in ERA (1.21) and strikeouts (103), and is on a nine-game winning streak. The win streak is the longest in Mudcats history, while the ERA is by far the best for any Mudcats pitcher throwing over 90 innings. Ryan Tucker had a 1.58 ERA last season.
Southpaw Lee Tabor has been reinstated from the temporary inactive list and is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener against Chattanooga at Five County Stadium.
Catcher Chris Denove has also been actvated, with catcher Korey Feiner going onto the disabled list.
Also, infielder Jose Castro has been placed on the seven-day DL after straining his right calf muscle on Friday night at Huntsville.
Baseball, Carolina Hurricanes, Uncategorized Chattanooga Lookouts, Chris Denove, Huntsville Stars, International League, Jose Castro, Korey Feiner, Lee Tabor, Louisville Bats, Ryan Tucker, Southern League, Syracuse Chiefs, Travis Wood
Mike Potter ·
19 Jul 2009, 10:59 PM ·
1 Comment
The Travis Wood Express continues for the Carolina Mudcats.
The Mudcats’ homestand ended on a high note behind the left arm of Wood (pictured), as Carolina whipped the Chattanooga Lookouts 6-1 at Five County Stadium for its second straight win.
Wood (9-3) has now won a club-record nine straight decisions. In today’s game, he fired seven shutout innings, striking out eight without a walk. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second inning.
Carolina had a balanced offense, led by Carson Kainer who went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI singles, while Korey Feiner and Todd Frazier each chipped in an RBI hit. Stephen Chapman went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Following an off-day on Monday the Mudcats - who are currently seven games out of first place in the Southern League’s North Division - travel to Huntsville for a five-game series with the first-half champion Stars beginning Tuesday night.
Baseball, Carolina Mudcats Carson Kainer, Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds, Huntsville Stars, Korey Feiner, Los Angeles Dodgers, Southern League, Stephen Chapman, Todd Frazier, Travis Wood
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
