10:30? Really? Around the Minors, 5/12

by biggyv on May 12, 2010 12:04 PM EDT

So, I figured I'd start at minor-league thread for today, since Altoona is already at it with Harrisburg (Nats), and Bradenton and WV are playing tonight, a few hours after the Bucs put up three hits and go out meekly to Cincinnati.

Altoona and Harrisburg are scoreless through five. Justin Wilson going for the Curve, giving up just two singles while striking out 4 and walking 2.

Brad Lincoln takes the hill for Indy against Rochester (Twins) at 1:00, Aaron Pribanic pitches for Bradenton against Daytona (Cubs) at 7:00, and Nathan Baker goes against Hagerstown (Nats) at 6:35.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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No game thread today?

Guess it wont matter, already down 2-0 in the first

by dulciusXasperis on May 12, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

Hey

That’s what I was going to say.

But seriously, if they can’t score off Homer frigging Bailey…

by Schide on May 12, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Well . . .

If they’re going to see 7 pitches in the first from a guy that’s walked 18 in 32 innings, that’s all you really need to know.

by biggyv on May 12, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah we better have more than 1 freakin hit today

by dulciusXasperis on May 12, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I usually give JR the benefit of the doubt....

But, why in the holy hell, is Andy Laroche, one of only 2 batters above .265, batting 7th, with Iwamura, Crosby, and Milledge all hitting in front of him?

Sometimes, it is as if Russell does lineup changes for the appearance of trying something. In this instance, it just looks stupid.

Also: Aki Iwamura needs to be benched. If we are persistent and stubborn on playing him, he needs to bat 8th. He sucks…..at least right now.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I'm fed up with Aki

First at bat swinging at the first pitch…

by dulciusXasperis on May 12, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

laroche

batting 7th for his baserunning blunder a year ago!

by BurgherKing on May 12, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Duke needs to worry about the batter

he can barely handle that today, let alone worry so much about the baserunners

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on May 12, 2010 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

If Duke continues to pitch like this....

He won’t make it out of the 3rd inning.

He has no velocity, no placement, and no bite to his pitches. Pretty much the same story over his last three starts.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

Is it still being too pessimistic if I say the game is now likely over?

It wouldn’t even be typical pessimism, they just don’t score more than 3 runs the majority of the time.

by Schide on May 12, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

not even

the way these guys have been playing. Pitchers blow, batters can hit. Be lucky to get 2 guys on base….all game lol.

This shit is getting old real fast. Hold another one of those team meetings. That seems to be the only way these guys get fired up.

by dulciusXasperis on May 12, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

another

ridiculously hung breaking ball actually goes for a GIDP

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on May 12, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Wait, what the hell are those?

Baserunners? Oh yeah, I remember those.

by Schide on May 12, 2010 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Milledge

does his best José Castillo impression on those down and out breaking pitches

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on May 12, 2010 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

honestly

why throw him anything else? it simply doesn’t fail.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on May 12, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think a hitting coach's influence is that much....

in either direction, but, is it time to start wondering if there is a better option than Long? I know he doesn’t have a whole lot to work with, but, the same damn ‘swing at everything’ approach has been consistent since he has gotten there. That tells me that either he isn’t getting through to them in what he tells them (ineffective) or he is preaching an overly aggressive posture (incompetent). I lean, obviously, toward the former, which, as much as the latter, is worth getting axed for.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Walker with a 2B in first at bat...

Line drive to CF.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

One interesting thing I've noticed

Walker is no longer moving around positions. He has played 2B exclusively for a couple weeks now I think.

by MarkInDallas on May 12, 2010 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

a sign of the position he would play if he were called up?

by C Shint on May 12, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s what I’m thinking.

by MarkInDallas on May 12, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

how much longer until you think he gets the call?

by C Shint on May 12, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

May 22 or there abouts.

by MarkInDallas on May 12, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s played the last 4 at 2nd, before that he was pretty evenly spread in left, first and second.

by MDBuc on May 12, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

justin wilson

takes another tough-luck loss, 6IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 6K

The Curve were 3 hit… learning from the parent club

Indy wins as Lincoln goes 8IP, 2ER.

by BurgherKing on May 12, 2010 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Walker to get a chance at second base in a few weeks,

with Tabata, Lincoln, and Alvarez on the way as well.

Sounds good to me.

by patthatt on May 12, 2010 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

PEDRO...

with a 2B and a HR today. 3 RBI. Great to see.

by mspirate on May 12, 2010 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Hitting .312 in the last 9 games, but still 31% K/AB during that stretch. So there’s good and bad.

If he can at least bring the average up for an extended period, maybe it would be worth bringing him up for a look to see how much the Ks will hurt him and then send him down if they see he’s over-matched.

Walker seems to have benefited from his short look and failure from last year.

by MarkInDallas on May 12, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Once Pedro is up, he isn’t going back down. He might get the call-up a little later than expected, but he will stay once he’s up, IMO. Lord knows we need some freakin’ offense. And why are they waiting with Tabata? Is it an arbitration clock deal where the earliest he will be brought up is June? There’s no reason for him to still be at Triple-A.

by mspirate on May 12, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

His rights/contract is definitely one consideration....

But, I still think they want him to walk more, especially if he is going to be slated to either lead-off or bat 2nd (which seems likely based on his lack of power/great average), and, I think they are hoping that he starts/somewhat continues to hit for gap-power, a la Cutch.

Once his BB rate improves and his hits start going further, I think he is up….and I would assume that will be in late-June or early-July.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

If he's going to develop power...

he’s going to develop it in the majors just as much as he would develop it in Triple-A. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at. Power is power.

by mspirate on May 12, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Tabata

His ground ball and line drive rates are similar to Lastings’ MLB numbers this year, so he’s a bit smoke and mirrors right now.

by Slizeezyc on May 12, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it is next to impossible....

that they would bring him up and then send him down.

Once he arrives, he is here to stay, in my eyes. That is why, if he continues to ‘struggle’ (re: not dominate), I think they will hold off on bringing him up until they are convinced he is most assuredly ready. Because, as I said, he isn’t being sent back down, good or bad. If bad, that probably just means that Huntingdon and/or Russell are on their way out as well.

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on May 12, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions