Man, I’m off to a slow start for this California League season. I’ve got excuses all over the place but if I was trying to win a job, I got sent down. Or released. Let’s talk California League baseball.
RAWHIDE AND QUAKES OUT FAST
Eight of the 10 Cal League teams are either 9-7 or 6-10, as can be expected in a 10-team league this early. But the Visalia Rawhide have jumped out to a 13-3 mark to pace the North while the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have stepped up just slightly in the South at 10-6. Rancho’s lost three of its last four and has a tenuous 1-game lead on Inland Empire and Lancaster.
But the ‘Hide have some breathing room in the North with a six-game winning streak and a four-game lead over Bakersfield. Visalia found another way to win tonight, coming back from down 2-0 in the sixth to post a walk-off 3-2 win in the bottom of the ninth.
MODESTO’S BENJAMIN HAS A NIGHT
Nuts’ infielder Michael Benjamin filled up the boxscore on Thursday night with a bunch of numbers that look like they were posted in a video game. Four hits, two homers, six RBI, three runs scored….that’s big-time production in any league. MiLB.com’s Tyler Maun chronicled the epic performance and alluded to Benjamin’s big-league veteran father as a steadying influence. The younger Benjamin had a breakout year in 2014 at Class A Asheville.
TOUGH CALL
It’s close to 11PM on Friday night and I know I’m going to a Cal League park on Saturday, but I don’t know which one. It’s Bakersfield or Visalia, due to logistics. The choices:
The hot-starting Rawhide vs. the Stockton Ports – 3-0/1.59 ERA RHP Zack Godley for Visalia against the Oakland A’s #19 prospect, RHP Dylan Covey
OR
The Bakersfield Blaze and San Jose Giants with two highly regarded pitching prospects – LHP Ryan Yarbrough, the Mariners’ #9 prospect (Baseball America) and LHP Luis Ysla, the Giants’ #21 prospect (BA).
It’s definitely a tough call. I’ll decide in the morning. Let’s see…I love to see the lefty pitchers lock horns…I’ve got my boot mug for the Visalia Saturday night special…the ‘Hide are on fire, winning any which way…the Blaze have won 7 of 8, trying to keep pace with the streaking Rawhide.
I can’t go wrong this weekend. Let’s see how far down Hwy 99 I go.
