Mormon Baseball

With the trade deadline approaching, it should be no surprise that two Mormon players were involved in trades this past week. First, the Colorado Rockies traded pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to the Kansas City Royals, and then the Houston Astros traded Brandon Lyon to the Toronto Blue Jays. Besides these trades, the outlook for Mormon players was brightened by the return of future Hall-of-fame pitcher Roy Halladay from the DL.

Guthrie has had a tough year so far, earning a 3-10 record and a 6.49 era, as batters seem to have their way with him. His two appearances this week were split between the Rockies and the Royals, but the move hasn’t, at least not yet, made any difference in his pitching. At this point neither the Rockies nor the Royals seem to have much of a shot at even a wild card birth, which makes me wonder if this trade is basically financial in nature. Guthrie was traded for a pitcher whose number this year are significantly works than his generally poor stats.

In contrast, Toronto is just three games out of a wild card spot while Houston is in the bottom of the rankings, leading Toronto to want a reliever putting up good numbers, like Brandon Lyon (3.16 era, 3-1 k to bb ratio). It will be interesting to see if adding Lyon can make a difference in Toronto’s attempt to make the post season.

Halladay’s first game back went reasonably well, even though he ended up with a no decision. In 5 innings of work he gave up 2 earned runs but struck out 6. While he is capable of better play, the Phillies will take this level of performance — its better than they’ve been able to get while Halladay was away. I suspect, however, that it will take more than this level for the Phillies to climb out of their deficit in the National League East.

The clear best performance for the week among players in the majors was Matt Lindstrom, who knocked his era down to 2.42 with  an inning and 2/3rds of shutout ball.

In the minors, in clear contrast to the majors, Mormon pitchers were turning in great performances with few exceptions. Taylor Cole shut out opponents for four innings during the week. Derek Cone also turned in a 0.00 era, as did Brandon Duckworth, Blaine Howell, Taylor Mangum and Clayton Mortensen. Nearly 1/2 of the active Mormon pitchers in the minors all shut out their opponents for the week. Add Tyson Brummett’s 2.7o era, Austin Hall’s 1.13 era and perhaps even Willie Eyre’s 3.00 era, and you had a great week for the active pitchers in the minors who are Mormon.

As baseball gets closer to the annual move to the expanded roster on September 1st, these kind of performances by those at the AAA level will be increasingly important.

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Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  5 for 17 (.294), 2 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 1 sb, 1 so.
  YTD: .266, 40 runs, 27 rbi, 4 hr, 19 bb, 6 sb, 30 so in 320 at bats.
• John Buck — starting catcher — Miami Marlins
  3 for 16 (.188), 0 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD: .179, 18 runs, 26 rbi, 8 hr, 39 bb, 0 sb, 70 so in 229 at bats.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — starting outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  8 for 26 (.308), 6 runs, 1 rbi, 1 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .288, 11 runs, 4 rbi, 1 hr, 4 bb, 1 sb, 8 so in 66 at bats.
• Kyle Farnsworth — closer — Tampa Bay Rays
  0-1, era 4.91, 3 hit, 2 er, 4 k, 1 bb, in 3.2 innings
  YTD: 0-2, era 6.43, 5 hits, 5 er, 9 k, 6 bb in 7.0 innings
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  0-1, 10.57 era, 10 hits, 9 er, 4 bb, and 5 k in 7.2 innings
  YTD: 3-10, era 6.49 126 hits, 69 er, 34 bb and 49 k in 95.2 innings
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  0-0, era 3.60, 5 hits, 2 er, 0 bb, 6 k in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 4-5, era 3.96, 74 hits, 34 er, 14 bb, 62 k in 77.1 innings.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  7 for 30 (.233), 4 runs, 1 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 1 sb, 4 so
  YTD: .269, 48 runs, 26 rbi, 8 hr, 30 bb, 12 sb, 61 so in 290 at bats.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Tampa Bay Rays
  2 for 18 (.111), 0 runs, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 0 bb, 1 sb, 5 so
  YTD: .260, 26 runs, 25 rbi, 4 hr, 20 bb, 16 sb, 63 so in 235 at bats.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Miami Marlins
  0-1, 5.68 era, 5 hits, 4 er, 5 k, 1 bb in 6.1 innings.
  YTD: 5-7, 4.35 era, 124 hits, 55 er, 96 k, 35 bb in 113.2 innings.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed bullpen pitcher – Baltimore Orioles
  0-0, 0.00 era, 3 hit, 0 er, 0 k, 0 bb in 1.2 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 2.42 era, 24 hits, 6 er, 17 k, 8 bb in 22.1 innings.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — Toronto Blue Jays
  0-0, 3.37 era, 1 hits, 1 er, 1 k, 2 bb in 2.2 innings
  YTD: 0-2, 3.16 era, 37 hits, 13 er, 36 k, 11 bb in 37.0 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)
  0-0, 2.70 era, 3 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 so, 2 bb in 3.3 innings.
  YTD: 4-2, 2 sv, 2.88 era, 49 h, 19 er, 4 hr, 56 k, 17 bb in 59.1 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, 6 so, 2 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 0.50 era, 12 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 17 k, 7 bb in 18.0 innings
• Derek Cone — right handed starting pitcher — Los Angeles Dodgers organization (currently with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 0 k, 0 bb in 2.0 innings
  YTD: 1-0, 6.75 era, 24 hits, 16 er, 2 hr, 8 k, 11 bb in 20.0 innings
• Brandon Duckworth — right handed bullpen pitcher — Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League – AAA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 4 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 3 k, 3 bb in 6.0 innings
  YTD: 9-2, 3.17 era, 110 h, 39 er, 12 hr, 93 k, 35 bb in 110.2 innings
• Willie Mays Eyre — pitcher — Texas Rangers organization (currently with the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  0-0, 3.00 era, 3 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 2 k, 0 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 1-3, 6.37 era, 48 h, 29 er, 3 hr, 34 k, 18 bb in 41.0 innings
• Austin Hall — right handed pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Leauge – Rookie)
  2-0, 1.13 era, 6 h, 1 er, 0 hr, 11 k, 4 bb in 8.0 innings
  YTD: 2-1, 3.38 era, 20 h, 7 er, 1 hr, 22 so, 10 bb in 18.2 innings
  
• Bryan Harper — left field — Washington Nationals organization (currently with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League – A short-season)
  Did not play this week
  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, 2 h, 0 er, 0 hr, 5 k, 1 bb in 3.0 innings
  YTD: 0-0, 3.93 era, 25 h, 8 er, 2 hr, 11 k, 8 bb in 18.1 innings
• Kyle Hurst — right handed bullpen pitcher — Los Angeles Angels organization (Inland Empire 66ers of the California League – A+)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 5 h, 2 er, 0 hr, 4 k, 3 bb in 4.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 8.68 era, 27 h, 18, er, 3 hr, 16 k, 11 bb in 18.2 innings
• Cale Iorg — Shortstop — Detroit Tigers organization (currently with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League – AAA)
  On 7-day DL
  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)
  8 for 23 (.348), 2 run, 9 rbi, 2 hr, 4 bb, 0 sb, 8 k
  YTD: .255, 17 runs, 19 rbi, 5 hr, 22 bb, 0 sb, 34 k in 102 at bats
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Kansas City Royals organization (currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  1 for 13 (.077), 2 runs, 0 rbi, o hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 3 so
  YTD: .063, 2 runs, 0 rbi, 0 hr, 2 bb, 0 sb, 6 so in 16 at bats
  MLB YTD: .172, 8 runs, 7 rbi, 2 hr, 8 bb, 2 sb, 24 so in 64 at bats.
• Taylor Mangum — right-handed relief pitcher — Milwaukee Brewers organization (currently with the AZL Brewers of the Arizona League – Rookie)
  0-0, 0.00 era, 0 hits, 0 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 1.0 innings
  YTD: 1-1, 0.93 era, 9 hits, 1 er, 0 hr, 10 k, 5 bb  in 9.2 innings
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed bullpen pitcher —Boston Red Sox organization (currently with the Pawtucket Red Sox of International League – AAA)
  1-0, 0.00 era, 1 hits, 0 er, 5 k, 1 bb, 0 hr in 2.1 innings
  YTD: 5-3, 1.87 era, 17 hits, 7 er, 33 k, 15 bb, 2 hr in 32.2 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)
  0-0, 4.50 era, 7 h, 3 er, 2 hr, 6 k, 0 bb in 6.0 innings.
  YTD: 7-5, 4.05 era, 104 h, 45 er, 10 hr, 65 k, 20 bb in 100.0 innings
• Stephen Parker — 3rd base — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  3 for 16 (.188), 1 run, 2 rbi, 0 hr, 1 bb, 0 sb, 5 k
  YTD: .250, 33 run, 33 rbi, 6 hr, 26 bb, 4 sb, 74 k in 252 at bats
  
• Adam Rosales — 2B — Oakland A’s organization (currently with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League – AAA)
  7 for 27 (.259) 4 run, 2 rbi, 1 hr, 5 bb, 0 sb, 6 so
  YTD (minors): .288, 40 run, 42 rbi, 8 hr, 23 bb, 4 sb, 51 so in 240 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, 7.20 era, 6 h, 4 er, 0 hr, 1 k, 1 bb in 5.0 innings
  YTD: 3-3, 4.25 era, 69 h, 31 er, 6 hr, 49 k, 24 bb in 65.2 innings

Foreign Leagues:

• Mitch Talbot — starting pitcher (right handed) — Samsung Lions (Korea)
  Did not pitch this week
  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
• 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)