Mormon Baseball

Sometimes coming back from a break is a good thing; other times, not so much. It might seem like a break should help players get their heads together, but it can also get them out of the habits and the way of thinking that gives them success. At least that seems plausible to me. And after the all-star break some players did better, and others worse. But that isn’t very different from most weeks.

Still, there are some remarkable ups and downs. After weeks of poor play, Darwin Barney is suddenly hitting .400 and John Buck hit over .200 for a change. Kyle Farnsworth was lights out again, after a rocky return from the DL. And, back from the DL, Jacoby Ellsbury was back to his old form, hitting .429.

On the down side, the whole All Star Game experience didn’t seem to help Bryce Harper who, after playing like, well, a rookie in the midsummer classic, played even worse since the break. If he hits 1 for 12 for much longer we’ll have to call it a slump.

He has company: Jeremy Guthrie gave another poor start, making me wonder how long the Rockie’s will keep him around. The Rays’ Elliott Johnson hit just .200 for the week, and his brother, Josh, gave up 5 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings for the Marlins.

In the minors, the Iron Pigs’ Tyson Brummett, who has been fantastic so far this year, posted one of the worst era’s for a single appearance I’ve seen: 135.00!! That’s 5 earned runs in just 1/3rd of an inning! Fortunately he was pulled before he damaged his record further — his era for the year so far is still just 2.83.

He is joined by others who are struggling: Bryan Harper, whose 9.00 era for an inning’s work still decreased his era for the year so far; Mitch Maier, who is 0 for 3 since being sent down to AAA from the majors; and Jordan Whatcott, who earned a 54.00 era for 2/3rds of an inning of work.

Adam Rosales is still looking ok, although his average dropped to .200 this week, but he still managed to get 2 runs and 2 rbi, which help make his case to return to the majors. Cale Iorg also had a good week, for a change, hitting .333 and scoring a run, which raised his batting average for the season to .171. And Clayton Mortensen continues to make the case that the Red Sox’s should put him in the major’s permanently — this time with 5.0 innings of 0.00 era ball, although he lost one of his two games this past week due to an error.

.

Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  4 for 10 (.400), 2 runs, 3 rbi, 1 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 1 so.
  YTD: .264, 38 runs, 26 rbi, 4 hr, 18 bb, 6 sb, 29 so in 303 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  2 for 9 (.222), 0 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .178, 18 runs, 26 rbi, 8 hr, 39 bb, 0 sb, 64 so in 213 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  Back from the  DL !
  6 for 14 (.429), 1 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD: .250, 5 runs, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 5 so in 40 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-0, era 0.00, 0 hit, 2 k, 0 bb, in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, era 8.10, 2 hits, 3 er, 5 k, 5 bb in 3.1 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Colorado Rockies
  0-1, 7.71 era, 7 hits, 4 er, 2 bb, and 3 k in 4.2 innings
  YTD: 3-9, era 6.14 116 hits, 60 er, 30 bb and 44 k in 88.0 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  15-day DL — Shoulder. Out until at least mid-July.
  YTD: 4-5, era 3.98, 69 hits, 32 er, 14 bb, 56 k in 72.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  1 for 12 (.083), 1 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .273, 44 runs, 25 rbi, 8 hr, 28 bb, 11 sb, 57 so in 264 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  2 for 10 (.200), 0 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .272, 26 runs, 23 rbi, 4 hr, 20 bb, 15 sb, 58 so in 217 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-1, 8.44 era, 11 hits, 5 er, 6 k, 0 bb in 5.01 innings.
  YTD: 5-6, 4.28 era, 119 hits, 51 er, 91 k, 34 bb in 107.1 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 3.38 era, 3 hit, 1 er, 1 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.61 era, 21 hits, 6 er, 17 k, 8 bb in 20.2 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Houston Astros
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 0 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 0-2, 3.15 era, 36 hits, 12 er, 35 k, 9 bb in 34.1 innings.

Minor League Players who may make the majors:

• Tyson Brummett — right handed closer — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League – AAA)
  0-1, 135.00 era, 4 h, 5 er, 1 hr, 0 so, 2 bb in 0.1 innings.
  YTD: 4-2, 2 sv, 2.83 era, 46 h, 18 er, 4 hr, 54 k, 16 bb in 57.1 innings.
• Taylor Cole — right handed starting pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League – A)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 2 so, 2 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 0.64 era, 10 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 11 k, 5 bb in 14.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 13.50 era, 7 hits, 4 er, 0 hr, 0 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 7.50 era, 24 hits, 15 er, 2 hr, 8 k, 11 bb in 18.0 innings
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  0-0, 1.59 era, 7 h, 1 er, 1 hr, 6 k, 2 bb in 5.2 innings
  YTD: 8-2, 3.35 era, 106 h, 39 er, 12 hr, 90 k, 302 bb in 104.2 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Texas Rangers organization (currently with the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 0 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 1-3, 6.63 era, 45 h, 28 er, 3 hr, 32 k, 18 bb in 38.0 innings
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  0-1, 0.00 era, 4 h, o er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-1, 5.06 era, 14 h, 6 er, 1 hr, 11 so, 6 bb in 10.2 innings
  
• Bryan Harper — left field — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League – A short-season)
  0-0, 9.00 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 12.91 era, 22 hits, 11 er, 0 hr, 8 k, 6 bb in 7.2 innings
• Blaine Howell —left handed bullpen pitcher — Cincinnati Reds organization (currently with the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 1 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 4.70 era, 23 h, 8 er, 2 hr, 6 k, 7 bb in 15.1 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 3.86 era, 4 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 4.2 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 9.82 era, 22 h, 16, er, 3 hr, 12 k, 8 bb in 14.2 innings
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  3 for 9 (.333), 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 2 k.
  YTD: .171, 8 run, 3 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 25 k in 82 at bats
• Marcus Littlewood — Shortstop — Seattle Mariners organization (currently with the Everett WA AquaSox of the Northwest League – A)
  2 for 15 (.133), 3 run, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 3 bb, 0 sb, 6 k
  YTD: .217, 14 runs, 10 rbi, 3 hr, 18 bb, 26 k
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0 for 3 (.000), 0 runs, 0 rbi, o hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 2 so in 3 at bats.
  MLB YTD: .175, 7 runs, 6 rbi, 2 hr, 8 bb, 2 sb, 24 so in 63 at bats.
• Taylor Mangum — right-handed relief pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona League – Rookie)
  Did not play this week
  YTD: 1-1, 1.04 era, 9 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 9 k, 4 bb  in 8.2 innings
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of International League – AAA)
  0-1, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 4 k, 2 bb, 0 hr in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 4-3, 2.01 era, 16 hits, 7 er, 28 k, 14 bb, 2 hr in 31.1 innings
  MLB YTD: 0-0, 1.33 era, 12 hits, 3 er, 16 k, 4 bb, 2 hr in 20.1 innings
• Matthew Neil — right handed starting pitcher — Miami Marlins organization (currently with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League – AA)
  0-1, 3.18 era, 5 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 1 bb in 5.2 innings.
  YTD: 7-5, 4.02 era, 97 h, 42 er, 8 hr, 59 k, 20 bb in 94.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  2 for 7 (.286), 1 run, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 4 k
  YTD: .254, 32 run, 31 rbi, 6 hr, 25 bb, 4 sb, 69 k in 229 at bats
  
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  2 for 10 (.200) 2 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 2 so
  YTD (minors): .290, 36 run, 40 rbi, 7 hr, 18 bb, 4 sb, 45 so in 213 at bats
  MLB YTD (majors): .167, 2 run, 3 rbi, 9 bb, 0 sb, 3 k in 24 at bats.
• Chris Shelton — first base — New York Mets organization (status unknown, was with the Buffalo NY Bisons of the International League – AAA)
  Doesn’t appear to be active, even though MiLB.com reports that he is. Hasn’t played since 2010.
• Jordan Whatcott —right handed bullpen pitcher — Philadelphia Phillies organization (currently with Reading Phillies of the Eastern League – AA)
  0-0, 54.00 era, 2 h, 4 er, 1 hr, 2 k, 2 bb in 0.2 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 4.01 era, 63 h, 27 er, 6 hr, 48 k, 23 bb in 60.2 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  0-0, 10.13 era, 3 h, 3 er, 0 hr, 0 k, 6 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 9-1, 3.55 era, 85 h, 35 er, 4 hr, 36 k, 31 bb in 88.2 innings

Players who may be Mormon:

• Rick Anton – pitcher – LA Dodgers organization
• Eric Byrnes — left field — Seattle Mariners
• Tyler Hanks — pitcher — Washington Nationals organization
• Kam Mickolio — pitcher — Arizona Diamondbacks organization (apparently not Mormon, but I don’t have evidence either way)
• Brad Thompson — pitcher — Houston Astros organization
• Other remote possibilities: Jay Brossman, Brian Budrow, Tyler Chism, Dallas Christison, Stephen Fife, Steve Hirschfeld, Zachary Jones, Ryan Khoury, Cole Miles, A. J. Murray, Jordan Taylor Pratt, Tanner Robles, Braeden Schlehuber, Justin Smith, Matt Spring

Non-Mormons who may be confused for Mormons

• Matt Carson — left field — Minnesota Twins organization (currently with the Rochester NY Red Wings of the International League – AAA) — ??non-Mormon who went to BYU??
• Derek Christensen
• Egan Smith — left handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays organization (currently with the Dunedin FL Blue Jays of the Florida State League – A)
• Jordan Smith — right handed bullpen pitcher — Cinncinnati Reds (on 15-day DL, likely will be assigned to the Louisville Bats of the International League – AAA)

6 Responses to “Weekly Player Update: July 16”