7/18 ML Gameday Thread: Drive and GCL Sox play 2

Pawsox.com now lists wright as tonight's starter. I'll be there tonight and also tomorrow to see Rubby

Ramos continues his power surge with a double and a walk. That gives him 4XBH and 4BB in his last 4 games.

So they are, my bad. Really wish there was a site that sorted players by age better.

His teammate Raymel Flores is also younger by two weeks. Weak BA so far, but nice OBP.
Rijo's walk to K ratio of 13/8 is outstanding. Now that he's on the radar big time he should be in the 38-45 range in a couple of weeks.
Alixon Suarez is also making a mark in the GCL.

If you meant that Flores is older by just under a year when you said "younger by two weeks", you'd be correct. Unless 1994 and 1995 mean the same thing and nobody told me.

Bit annoying because you then need to check each player's page, but I like using these: www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=9242f9c6; www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=9242f9c6

There's also rough estimates here, except they're not totally accurate sometimes: minorleaguecentral.com/youngest

Also, I'd note that hitting well for two weeks does not rocket one up the site rankings. (6/21-7/5: 40 PA, .167/.342/.167, 7 bb, 8 k; 7/6-7/17: 39 PA, .452/.539/.645, 5 bb, 0 k) He's been impressive, and yeah, he'll at least get back in the top 60 soon most likely, but he's not going to just catapult into the top 40.

Per Mike Antonellis, Stephen Drew is starting his rehab assignment with Portland tonight.

Just got back from catching the GCL Sox double header at Baltimore's Ed Smith complex.

Some observations:

Overall, this group looked to be the most athletic and fit of any GCL bunch in memory.

At the plate I was amazed at how disciplined this group of hitters is. I don't recall any wild swings at balls in the dirt or way out of the zone. Lots of walks and good at bats.

Edwar Garcia went the first 5 innings of game two and was the most impressive pitcher on either side. This guy is 6'4" 175 (program) and has a very smooth, liquid delivery....easy, effortless looking heat. Sox players charting pitches were getting 94, 95 on his FB and he kept the curve low for the most part. He had good control throughout. Very polished looking outing especially for this level.

Raymel Flores, a small but quick SS made several very nice plays. He looks very confident and comfortable.

Other athletic looking players are Wendell Rijo, Joseph Monge, Iseha Conklin. Jordan Austin, Alixon Suarez and Jon Denney.

Sox are carrying 4 catchers the smallest of which is listed at 6'1" 180 lbs. They are big.

Suarez almost threw out a base-stealer from his knees after catching a slow curve. A big, sturdy dude, he appears to have an above average arm. He hit several balls hard.

Jon Denney did not play in either game but warmed up pitchers b/t innings. I know that is not much of a test but he seemed so at ease and natural receiving the ball...as if he had very soft, quick hands.

Conklin is hitting .132 and still striking out a lot (33%), but on this day he looked much improved from last year. Coach Raul Gonzalez agreed and said he has been working very hard.

Stephen Williams relieved in game 2 and threw 91-92 with only fair command.

KJ Trader looked like he was throwing hard but the gun sat 87-89. He did retire the side on three short flies.

Wendell Rijo was the one player who stood out a bit more than the rest this day. Not yet 18, he is 5'11" 175 lbs and already looks as though he is muscular. He made the most consistently hard contact at-bat to at-bat of anyone. I could easily see this guy developing into a power threat.

A final note, Coach Goose Gregson indicated that Trey Ball would pitch near the end of July.

I thought Dick Such was their pitching coach now?

I'm at the pawsox game in Durham. Pawsox go down 123 with Ks of JB (all three swinging on 3-2) and WMB (swinging on 3-2). Durham p is Odorizzi who is pretty good. Wright is the pawsox starter and throws in the 70s and walks first batter

I don't know Dick Such or his capacity but I do know "Goose" having seen and talked to him multiple times over the years. He is a very visible person, is in and out of the dugout frequently and rivets one's attention. I asked him directly at the dugout and b/t games when Ball would see action. His reply, as stated above, was "before the end of July".