Tag: Darren Dreifort

TWIWBL 23.1: AA & AAA All-Star Rosters

On February 9, 2022

Because they deserve some love, too …

Note that these are all AI selections, so some may be weird (like Joe Harris playing 2B at AAA). The first time an affiliate is listed, I’ve also listed their WBL organization. All-Star Game starters are bold.

AAA All-Star Rosters

In a rich-get-richer moment, the New York Black Yankees lead the way, with 6 selections for the visitors coming from the Newark Eagles. For the Home team, the Memphis Red Sox affiliate, the New Orleans Pelicans, send 6 players and the Cincinnati Tigers (Indianapolis ABC’s) have 5.

Visiting Team

C: Smoky Burgess (Newark/New York Black Yankees); Andy Etchebarren (Buffalo/Cleveland Spiders); Butch Wynegar (Norfolk/Philadelphia Stars).
1B: Cecil Cooper (Norfolk); Carlos Peña (Orlando/Miami Cuban Giants).
2B: Bobby Knoop (Buffalo).
3B: Chris Brown (Newark); Art Devlin (Hartford/New York Gothams).
LF: Matt Holliday (Queens/Brooklyn Royal Giants); Joe Rudi (Atlanta); George Van Haltren (Montréal).
CF: Curt Flood (Queens); Benny Kauff (Hartford); Andy Pafko (Atlanta/Birmingham Black Barons); Chick Stahl (Washington/Baltimore Black Sox).
RF: Joe Harris (Newark); Jackie Jensen (Montréal/Ottawa Mounties); Aaron Judge (Norfolk); Al Kaline (Toronto/Detroit Wolverines); Merv Rettenmund (Washington).

SP: George Blaeholder (Washington); AJ Burnett (Newark); Jim Clinton (Newark); Bill Laskey (Norfolk); George Mullin (Toronto); Johnny Podgajny (Montréal).
RP: Darren Dreifort (Queens); Mike Griffin (Toronto); Bryan Hickerson (Newark); Mickey Lolich (Toronto).

Home Team

C: Gabby Hartnett (Columbus/Wandering House of David); Hal King (Milwaukee/Chicago American Giants); Cliff W. Lee (Seattle/Portland).
1B: Wally Joyner (Las Vegas/Los Angeles Angels); Anthony Rizzo (Columbus); Joey Votto (Cincinnati/Indianapolis ABC’s); Kevin Young (Louisville/Homestead Grays).
2B: Ron Hunt (San Jose/San Francisco Sea Lions); DJ LeMahieu (San Antonio/Houston Colt 45’s).
3B: Sal Bando (San Jose); Jung Ho Kang (Columbus)
SS: Francisco Lindor (New Orleans/Memphis Red Sox)
LF: Bob Watson (Milwaukee)
CF: Charlie Hemphill (Cincinnati)
RF: Dwight Evans (New Orleans); Pete Rose (Cincinnati); Paul Waner (Louisiville).

SP: Nick Altrock (San Jose); Joe Blong (St. Louis/Kansas City Monarchs); Bob Friend (Louisville); Joe Kelly (New Orleans); Jock Menefee (St. Louis); Billy Pierce (Louisville); Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati); Frank Smith (Milwaukee); Virgil Trucks (Cincinnati).
RP: Bill Doak (New Orleans); Luke Gregerson (San Antonio); Tug McGraw (San Antonio); Mike Timlin (New Orleans).

Joe Rudi would lead the visitors to a 6-2 victory with a 3-run homerun.

Visitors 6 (Lolich 1-0; Blaeholder 1 H) @ Home 2 (Timilin 0-1, 1 BSv)
HRs: Home – Rudi (1); Visitors – Lee (1)
Box Score

AA All-Star Rosters

The Sacramento Solons (San Francisco Sea Lions) dominate the AA team for the visitors, with 7 players, while the Albuquerque Isotopes (Wandering House of David) have 6 and the Jersey City Skeeters (Brooklyn Royal Giants) 5. For the home team, both the Oklahoma City Redhawks (Kansas City Monarchs) and Montgomery Biscuits (Birmingham Black Barons) have 7 players in the game and the Austin Black Senators (Houston Colt 45’s) 5.

Visiting Team

C: Frankie Hayes (Vancouver/Portland Sea Dogs); Phil Lombardi (Jersey City/Brooklyn Royal Giants); Steve O’Neill (Troy/New York Gothams); Mark Salas (San Diego/Los Angeles Angels).
1B: Jimmie Foxx (Sacramento/San Francisco Sea Lions); Charlie Grimm (Rochester/Cleveland Spiders); Tim Harkness (Syracuse/Homestead Grays); Buck Jordan (Vancouver).
2B: Wally Backman (San Diego); Dick Green (Sacramento); Cookie Lavagetto (San Diego); Tyler Pastornicky (San Diego); Ed Romero (Jersey City).
3B: Xander Bogaerts (San Diego); Ken Keltner (Rochester); Hank Majeski (Jersey City); Mike Moustakas (Sacramento).
SS: Luis Aparicio (Albuquerque/Wandering House of David); Bert Campaneris (Albuquerque); Jack Wilson (Syracuse).
LF: Morrie Arnovich (Jersey City).
CF: John Briggs (Jersey City); Otto Briggs (Edmonton); Kevin Pillar (Hudson Valley).
RF: Danny Green (Albuquerque); Don Mueller (Troy).

SP: Dwight Bernard (Hudson Valley); Larry Dierker (Albuquerque); Matt Guerrier (Vancouver); Don Hood (Hudson Valley); Lew Krausse, Jr. (Troy); Jack Neagle (Rochester); Joe Nuxhall (Albuqueque); Al Spalding (Troy).
RP: Matt Barnes (Sacramento); Chad Gaudin (Sacramento); Joe Klink (Sacramento); Marty Kutyna (Jersey City); James Russell (Albuquerque); Turk Wendell (Sacramento).

Home Team

C: Josh Billings (Madison/Chicago American Giants); Rick Cerone (Austin/Houston Colt 45’s); Phil Masi (Charlotte/Baltimore Black Sox); Abe Wolstenholme (Nashville/Indianapolis ABC’s).
1B: Prince Fielder (Atlantic City/Philadelphia Stars); Greg Norton (Oklahoma City/Kansas City Monarchs); David Ortiz (Tulsa/Memphis Red Sox).
2B: Ken Boswell (Tulsa); Dave Cash (Oklahoma City); Charlie Gehringer (Fort Wayne/Detroit Wolverines); Jorge Orta (Fort Wayne); Kolten Wong (Oklahoma City).
3B: Joe Crede (Madison); Butch Hobson (Tulsa); Billy Nash (Fort Wayne); Candy Jim Taylor (Montgomery/Birmingham Black Barons).
SS: Woody English (Montgomery); Zoilo Versalles (Havana/Miami Cuban Giants).
LF: George Foster (Nashville); Pete Hill (Austin); Johnny Jeter (Fort Wayne).
CF: Richie Ashburn (Atlantic City); Bama Rowell (Austin).
RF: Adam Dunn (Nashville); Tommy McCarthy (Oklahoma City); Larry Sheets (Charlotte).

SP: Frank Bertaina (Charlotte); Lefty Clarke (Montgomery); Dick Jones (Montgomery); Jim Kaat (Austin); Kyle Kendrick (Austin); Andrew Miller (Tulsa); Bill Singer (Oklahoma City); Jeremy Sowers (Fort Wayne).
RP: John Anderson (Montgomery); Dick Coffman (Montgomery); Al Hrabosky (Oklahoma City); Ben Johnson (Montgomery); Mike Kume (Oklahoma City); Dave Smith (Charlotte).

Bama Rowell drove in 3 runs with a bases-loaded triple, leading the home team to a 10-2 victory in the All-Star Game. Richie Ashburn had 2 hits as well.

Visitors 2 (Nuxhall 0-1) @ Home 10 (Kendrick 1-0)
HRs: Visitors – Danny Green (1), Foxx (1); Home – Boswell (1)
Box Score

TWIWBL 9.0: AAA Roundup

By mknn

On June 25, 2021

In TWIWBL, WBL Minor Leagues

{On the first of every month, we’ll take a trip through the two levels of the WBL Minor Leagues.}

Featured Team: The Atlanta X-Giants

The Atlanta X-Giants (Birmingham) are off to a spectacular start, with a 22-3 record, best in AAA by 8 games in the young season. They opened the season with a 4 game sweep of Washington, “struggled” to a 5-3 record, and have since then reeled off 13 straight victories, including series sweeps of Milwaukee, Seattle, Orlando, and Louisville. That puts them 8 games ahead of second-place Hartford after only a month of play.

Larry Benton (4-0, 1.44 ERA) and Tim Hudson (3-0, 2.78 ERA with a WHIP of 0.84) have already been called up to Birmingham. John Malarkey is the current ace of the X-Giants’ staff, at 4-1, 2.85. Peter Moylan has been hit hard, but has still managed a half-dozen saves despite an ERA over 6.

Offensively, Birmingham has already raided Atlanta’s outfield for Bob Nieman (293/379/569) and Curtis Granderson (340/358/660), leaving their best hitters as 1B Jake Beckley (299/398/536) and 3B Pie Traynor (351/361/468). SS Herman Long (381/395/762) has been on an extreme hot streak, but has started only 9 games so far. Beckley and C Del Crandall (206/247/485) lead the X-Giants with 19 RBIs each.

Given how Birmingham is struggling across the board, any of these players could find themselves in the WBL soon. But the best actual prospect may be OF Joe Rudi, who at 22 was just promoted to AAA.

AAA Leaders

Robinson Cano (423/461/634) has already been called up to the WBL. There are four other batters whose performance is crying out for a chance with their big league clubs:

Quebec’s Hi Myers is leading AAA with a .452 average, slashing 452/462/808. Given the struggles of Ottawa’s OF, Myers should be given a chance soon.
New Orleans’ Freddy Lynn is slashing 415/465/908, and while Memphis’ OF looks full at the moment, at some point that level of production is impossible to ignore.
Joey Votto, playing for Indianapolis’ AAA affiliate in Cincinnati, is slashing 370/500/630, and likely to to be the next player called up to the ABC’s.
Finally, Orlando’s Gary Sheffield is pounding along at a 357/449/655 clip, and may find himself in Miami sooner than later.

In addition to the Atlanta pitchers mentioned above, San Jose’s Carlos Carrasco was pounded with San Francisco, but has been almost unhittable at AAA, posting a 1.90 ERA. Cincinnati’s Doc White has been stellar over 3 starts, allowing a WHIP of only 0.85, just slightly behind Hudson.

From the bullpen, the most dominant performer has been Quebec’s Darren Dreifort, who has gotten a decision in each of his 12 appearances, sitting at 2-1 with 9 saves. Non-prospect, 39 year-old, Doug Jones is 1-0 with 2 saves and 4 holds, and has yet to give up an earned run.

Awards

AAA Player of the Month: Freddy Lynn (New Orleans/Memphis)
AAA Pitcher of the Month: Darren Dreifort (Quebec/Ottawa)

AAA Players of the Week: Joe Cronin (New Orleans/Memphis), Lynn, Al Kaline (Toronto/Detroit), Marlon Byrd (Norfolk/Philadelphia).

Hottest Prospects

SP: Hardie Henderson (20, Buffalo/Cleveland): 4-1, 2.73 ERA; Jock Menefee (24, St. Louis/Kansas City): 2-1, 2.20 ERA, 3 CG.
RP: Darren Dreifort (24, Quebec/Ottawa): 2-1, 9 Sv, 1.42 ERA; Matt Anderson (24, Toronto/Detroit): 1 H, 0.87 ERA.
C: Mike Scioscia (25, Norfolk/Philadelphia): 303/425/485
1B: Anthony Rizzo (22, Columbus/House of David): 302/371//698, 10 HR.
2B: Robinson Cano (23, St. Louis/Kansas City): 423/461/634 [*]
3B: Gary Sheffield (23, Orlando/Miami): 357/449/655
SS: Cal Ripken, Jr. (21, Washington/Baltimore): 247/350/461
OF: Paul Waner (23, Louisville/Homestead): 326/413/640; Sandy Amoros (24, Orlando/Miami): 299/408/644, 15 ExBH; Yasiel Puig (22, Hartford/New York Gothams): 323/413/624.

Bold indicates league leader; * indicates already recalled to WBL team.

Spring Training Preview: Brooklyn

By mknn

On June 20, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

The back end of the rotation is up for grabs, with Frank Knauss and Fernando Valenzuela having the inside track on the #3 and #4 spots, with 1 out of Don Sutton, Jordan Zimmerman, and Smokey Joe Williams likely to hold the final slot.
- Only Dutch Leonard and perhaps Orel Hershiser have been solid as SP, with Knauss and Valenzuela being downright horrible. It’s early, but look for Sutton, Dick Redding, and Brickyard Kennedy to get looks as well.
  - Four slots are set, with Sutton, Don Drysdale, Leonard, and Hershiser earning starting slots. Kennedy, Redding, and Williams are vying for the last spot, with Valenzuela heading to AAA.
Dave Von Ohlen, Trevor Hildenberger, Darren Dreifort, and Terry Forster are battling for the middle of the bullpen.
- The bullpen has been very strong through 10 games, with only Watty Clark‘s role as closer settled.
There’s no question Jackie Robinson can contribute, the question is at what position. 1B is blocked by Dan Brouthers, leaving the challenge of Hobe Ferris at 2B.
- Robinson has performed well, for sure. Davey Lopes, called up when Sandy Koufax went down injured, hasn’t done much to change the situation at 2B, where Ferris’ glove still probably gives him the edge.
  - Lopes–and Tommy Corcoran–have hit better than any other middle infielders, so it’s pretty unsettled up the middle, especially since neither Dickie Thon nor Pee Wee Reese have been able to crack the Mendoza line..
It’s possible that 1 of Michael Brantley, Matt Holliday, Jeffrey Leonard, Curt Flood, and Art Griggs forces their way onto the roster.
- Flood, Brantley, Hi Myers, and Griggs have been totally overmatched in the early going, with Holliday and the surprising Jermaine Dye moving up the roster.
  - Griggs, Flood, Myers, and Brantley have all headed down to AAA (along with C Hank Gowdy). Todd Walker, Morrie Arnovich, and Raul Mondesi have been recalled for some OF flexibility.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers		Dutch Leonard Orel Hershiser Don Sutton Don Drysedale	Dick Redding Smokey Joe Williams Brickyard Kennedy	~~Sandy Koufax~~ Frank Knauss Jordan Zimmerman
Middle Relievers		Dave Von Ohlen Darren Dreifort		Kyle McPherson
Setup		Erig Gagne Trevor Hildenberger Terry Forster
Closer	Watty Clark
C	Mike Piazza		Steve Yeager Duke Farrell
1B	Dan Brouthers		Jackie Robinson	Todd Walker
2B		Hobe Ferris	Davey Lopes
3B		Ron Cey	Jim Delahanty
SS			Dickie Thon Pee Wee Reese Tommy Corcoran
OF		Roy White Duke Snider Matt Holliday	Jermaine Dye John Briggs Beals Becker Jeffrey Leonard	Morrie Arnovich Raul Mondesi