MARINERS BACK TO BAKERSFIELD

Posted on September 20, 2014 by | Comments Off on MARINERS BACK TO BAKERSFIELD

BlazeWith the Reds moving out of Bakersfield for Daytona, the Seattle Mariners are moving back in to a place they called home in 1982 and 1983. On Friday, the Blaze and Mariners announced an agreement on a Player Development Contract that runs through the 2016 season.

With the move, High Desert is now the only Cal League team without a PDC. The Mariners move from Adelanto to Bakersfield, while the remaining major league clubs looking for High A affiliations are the Rangers and Braves. The Carolina Mudcats will get one of the, HD will get the other.

AFFILIATE DANCE: 2014 – BallparkDigest.com

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BAKERSFIELD, HIGH DESERT WITHOUT PDCs

Posted on September 19, 2014 by | Comments Off on BAKERSFIELD, HIGH DESERT WITHOUT PDCs

There are just three High A teams that don’t have Player Development Contracts at this point and two of them are in the California League. The Bakersfield Blaze and High Desert Mavericks are joined by the Carolina Indians Mudcats of the Carolina league as the shuffling nears its conclusion. The Reds have moved on from Bakersfield to Daytona of the Florida State League.

On the MLB side, the Mariners didn’t extend their PDC with High Desert and the Rangers and Braves are still looking for High A homes. (The Rangers were affiliated with Bakersfield from 2005-2010).

Here’s where look at where everybody stands as of tonight:

Club 2014 Org 2015 Org Expires Extended
Bakersfield Reds ? ? ?
High Desert Mariners ? ? ?
Inland Empire Angels Angels 2016 12/6/2013
Lake Elsinore Padres Padres 2016 9/16/2014
Lancaster Astros Astros 2016 8/28/2014
Modesto Rockies Rockies 2016 9/12/2014
Rancho   Cucamonga Dodgers Dodgers 2016 9/16/2014
San Jose Giants Giants Never Owned by SF Giants
Stockton A’s A’s 2016 8/20/2013
Visalia D-Backs D-Backs 2016 6/13/2012

And beyond 2015, there are reports that the ownership of the Bakersfield Blaze is looking to Salinas as a possible future home:

SALINAS HAS EYES ON BAKERSFIELD’S BLAZE – by Zach Ewing/Bakersfield Californian

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PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS

Posted on September 17, 2014 by | Comments Off on PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS

Last Thursday was the last date for teams to notify MiLB if they intend to terminate a player development contract. From Sept. 12-15th, teams were notified which affiliations are open.

Now, from September 16th through October 7th, teams can negotiate new PDC’s and the game of musical chairs is on.

In the California League, only two teams are not renewed at this time: High Desert (Mariners) and Bakersfield (Reds). The rest of the teams are in agreements through 2016, except for San Jose, which is owned by the parent club.

So, what happens if October 7th comes and goes and there are still teams out there seeking affiliation? MLB and MiLB will step in and pair up whoever is still on the table.

There are numerous places where you can follow along, here are a few that I watch:

MinorLeagueSource.com
BallparkDigest.com
BaseballAmerica.com

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JETHAWKS TAKE 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted on September 16, 2014 by | Comments Off on JETHAWKS TAKE 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP

lancasterjethawksnewThe Lancaster Jethawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and pulled away with a five-run sixth inning to clinch the California League championship Monday night with a 10-2 victory over Visalia at The Hangar. Leadoff man Brett Phillips went 3-for-4 and scored three runs while driving in two to be the catalyst for the Jethawk attack.

If was a 4-2 game after four innings. Visalia’s starter, Blake Perry, had been lifted after 3 2/3 innings and Lancaster’s starter, Kyle Westwood, came out after allowing the first two Rawhide hitters to single in the top of the fifth. From there, Tyler Brunnemann and Daniel Minor went five scoreless innings out of the Jethawks bullpen.

Alex Glenn and Socrates Brito each went 2-for-5 for Visalia while Rudy Flores and Ryan Gebhardt each added a pair of hits.

Minor took to the hill in the bottom of the ninth with a 10-2 lead and allowed a one-out single to George Roberts. He then induced a lineout to center from Glenn before striking out Brito swinging to end the game and the season, clinching Lancaster’s second league championship in three years. 1,861 fans were in attendance.

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RAWHIDE EVEN SERIES, WINNER DECIDED TONIGHT

Posted on September 15, 2014 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE EVEN SERIES, WINNER DECIDED TONIGHT

CLThe Visalia Rawhide pounded out 13 hits for an 11-3 win Saturday night in Lancaster to force a deciding Game 5 tonight against the Jethawks. Alex Glenn and Raul Navarro homered and knocked in three runs apiece as the Rawhide staved off elimination.

The 2014 California League champion will be crowned tonight. Lancaster is looking for its second title in three years while Visalia is trying to Reverse The Curse, which goes all the way back to 1978.

The Jethawks held a 2-1 lead through five innings before the Rawhide started hitting the ball all over the yard. Two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh put Visalia up 5-2. Then the game was blown open with a six-run seventh inning. Spencer Arroyo went 6 2/3 innings for the win while Keith Hessler and Enrique Burgos finished it off.

Tonight’s deciding Game 5 starts at 6:30PM at The Hangar in Lancaster.

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10th INNING WALKOFF FOR RUIZ, JETHAWKS UP 2-1

Posted on September 14, 2014 by | Comments Off on 10th INNING WALKOFF FOR RUIZ, JETHAWKS UP 2-1

lancasterjethawksnew3B Rio Ruiz led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run to give the Lancaster Jethawks a 4-3 win over the Visalia Rawhide in the California League Championship Series Saturday night. Lancaster will go for the championship-clinching win tonight at The Hangar at 5PM.

Brandon Sinnery of Visalia and Vincent Velasquez of Lancaster each pitched six strong innings while allowing two earned runs. The Rawhide got two first-inning runs, one of them unearned, before Lancaster came back with single runs in the third and fourth innings.

Velasquez was chased from the game in the top of the seventh after allowing two singles and a double to give the Rawhide a 3-2 lead. But the Jethawks came back in the bottom of the seventh with an unearned run that tied the game until Ruiz’ blast finished it in extra innings.

Tonight’s game is a 5PM start. It’s must-win for Visalia, down two games to one in the best-of-five series. Lancaster is looking for its second Cal League title in the last three years.

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JETHAWKS EVEN SERIES

Posted on September 13, 2014 by | Comments Off on JETHAWKS EVEN SERIES

lancasterjethawksnewThe Lancaster Jethawks shut out the Visalia Rawhide 3-0 Friday night to even up the California League Championship Series at a game apiece. RHP Lance McCullers went six innings and allowed seven hits but no runs while 1b Tyler White launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

The Jethawks were outhit by the Rawhide, 9-7, but Visalia pitchers walked seven batters, to only two free passes issued by Lancaster pitching.

The series shifts to Lancaster for tomorrow night’s 6PM game, and any other games needed in the best-of-five format.

Visalia was 6-1 in the playoffs going into the night and they had their chances playing in front of the home fans for the last time in 2014. But trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh with the first two runners aboard,  Alex Glenn was thrown out at the plate and the rally fizzled.

Jethawks reliever Daniel Minor came on in the seventh in relief of McCullers and went two eventful innings without allowing the Rawhide to score. Minor inherited the two 0n/no out jam and allowed a single to Socrates Brito, but CF Brett Phillips gunned Glenn down for the first out. A walk to Breland Almadova loaded the bases but Minor struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

After a one-out Ryan Gebhardt single in the bottom of the eighth, Minor K’d Rudy Flores and Glenn, ending any threat.

The Jethawks added a run in the top of the ninth, then Andrew Walter struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

It was a tense contest throughout, very worthy of a championship series game. After two games, neither team has the upper hand.

Tomorrow night’s pitching matchup is a beauty: Brandon Sinnery vs. Vincent Velasquez.

RELATED

MCCULLERS SHINES AS JETHAWKS EVEN UP CAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – by Eric Smith

MISSED CHANCES HAUNT RAWHIDE IN GAME 2 LOSS – Visalia Rawhide

 

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RAWHIDE TAKE GAME 1 WITH DRAMATIC WALK OFF

Posted on September 12, 2014 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE TAKE GAME 1 WITH DRAMATIC WALK OFF

VRBreland Almadova scored from second base on a would-be double-play grounder in the bottom of the ninth to give the Visalia Rawhide a 3-2 win over the Lancaster Jethawks in Game 1 of the California League Championship Series Friday night. George Roberts went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer and five Rawhide pitchers held the Jethawks to five hits and two earned runs in front of a crowd of 1,478 at Recreation Park.

Almadova was having a big night already, having thrown out a runner at 3B from CF to end a Lancaster threat in the fifth inning to go with a sac fly to get the Rawhide on the board and tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning.

He led off the ninth with a double and, one out later, pinch-hitter Raul Navarro was intentionally walked. Kevin Medrano then hit a ground ball to second baseman Austin Elkins who went to SS Chan Moon for the second out of the inning. With Medrano running, the out at first was not assured, so Moon pivoted and threw behind Almadova, who had rounded third aggressively. 3B Rio Ruiz received the throw, but Almadova wasn’t heading back to the base, he was headed home. And he beat Ruiz’ throw to the plate, scoring the winning run.

Visalia’s Enrique Burgos got the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, striking out three. Rawhide starter Blayne Weller went 5 2/3 innings, allowing all five Lancaster hits and both runs, striking out five without walking a batter. Visalia’s Keith Hessler, Will Locante, Joey Krehbiel and Burgos all held the Jethawks hitless the rest of the way and combined for seven strikeouts.

Game 2 of the Championship Series is tonight at 7PM before the best-of-five-series shifts to Lancaster for the remaining games. Joe Charboneau, a member of the last Visalia team to win the California League title, will be on hand as will a live alligator as the Rawhide attempt to Reverse The Curse. Charboneau was a member of that 1978 championship team and went on to be named American League Rookie of the Year in 1980 with the Cleveland Indians.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFF PAGE

 

 

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RAWHIDE ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Posted on September 10, 2014 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

VRThe Visalia Rawhide broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the fourth inning and went on to a 7-2 win Tuesday night, earning a spot in the California League Championship Series. The home win gave the Rawhide a 3-t0-1 series win over the Bakersfield Blaze in the North Division Finals.

RF Socrates Brito doubled in a pair of runs and Andrew Velazquez doubled in another, all in the fourth inning. LF Alex Glenn hit a 2-run homer in the fifth and Kevin Medrano singled in a run in the sixth.

LHP Andrew Barbosa pitched two scoreless innings for the Rawhide, striking out three, but left before the start of the third inning with an injury. LHP Henry Garcia came on for two more scoreless innings, earning the win. Three more relievers followed.

The championship series starts  Thursday night at 6PM in Visalia. Game 2 is also in Visalia Friday, with Games 3-5 scheduled for Friday-Monday in Lancaster.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFF PAGE

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LANCASTER EARNS TRIP TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Posted on September 9, 2014 by | Comments Off on LANCASTER EARNS TRIP TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

lancasterjethawksnewThe Lancaster Jethawks got out to a 3-0 lead after three innings Monday night and made it stand up, beating Inland Empire 4-2 to sweep the South Division Finals. Kyle Westwood allowed two fifth-inning runs to the 66ers and four Jethawks relievers threw zeroes the rest of the way as Lancaster, the 2012 California League champions, returned to the Championship Series.

The 66ers swept a season-ending four game series at Lancaster to win the second half championship, while the Jethawks were first half champions. But in this post-season series, it was Lancaster who did the sweeping, and they await the winner of the Visalia-Bakersfield series in the North Division Finals.

RF Ronnie MItchell went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI for the Jethawks, finishing the series batting .455 (5-for-11).  Westwood went 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and two walks, but just the two runs.

BAKERSFIELD STAYS ALIVE

The Bakersfield Blaze staved off elimination with a 7-3 win at Recreation Park in Visalia Monday night. The North Division Finals now stand at 2-1 in favor of the Rawhide with game four set for 6PM tonight.

Wandy Peralta went six innings for the Blaze, allowing four hits, two walks and two earned runs and OF Jeff Gelalich knocked in four runs. It was a 2-1 game through five when Bakersfield added to their lead with a three-run sixth. Single runs in the eighth and ninth offset Visalia’s comeback attempts.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYOFF PAGE

 

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