Tag Archives: Bakersfield Blaze

LATE ACTION

Posted on April 25, 2015 by | Comments Off on LATE ACTION

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.

Continue reading →

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BAKO TO SALINAS MOVE HITS SNAG

Posted on December 6, 2014 by | Comments Off on BAKO TO SALINAS MOVE HITS SNAG

Bakersfield has long been a California League town, indeed, 73 years, but the outdated conditions of Sam Lynn Ballpark have put a great strain on the relationship between the city and the league.

Bakersfield is an ideal location for minor league baseball with the size of the city and the environment for baseball, basically warm weather all season long. But the stadium is a huge drag on attendance, both with its outdated design and its location in the metropolitan area.

A move to Salinas, a previous Cal League city, has been rumored, but any plans to move north have been put on hold. The familiar issues that arise in any talks of a new ballpark, like Salinas would need, have reared their head and any plans to move forward have stalled.

So the Blaze stay, for now.

SOURCES

BLAZE IN BAKERSFIELD- FOR NOW by Kevin Riechard at BallparkDigest.com
BLAZE EYE SALINAS… by John Harte at BakersfieldCalifornian.com

 

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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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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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NORTH FINALS: VISALIA WINS IN BAKO, UP 2-0

Posted on September 8, 2014 by | Comments Off on NORTH FINALS: VISALIA WINS IN BAKO, UP 2-0

The Visalia Rawhide won the second game of the South Division Finals in Bakersfield on Sunday, and now will go home to Recreation Park to try to secure a berth in the Championship Series. Visalia’s 7-5 win over the Blaze put the Rawhide up 2-0 in the best-of-five series.

Visalia starter Spencer Arroyo got knocked around early, not making it out of the fourth inning as the Blaze took a 5-4 lead. But the Rawhide scored three runs in the top of the sixth and six relievers kept Bakersfield off the board the rest of the way.

VISALIA – 7
BAKERSFIELD – 5

John Omahen (VIS) – W, 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Kevin  Medrano (VIS) – 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
Andrew Velasquez (VIS) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Jeff Gelalich (BAK) – 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI

The series resumes tonight in Visalia with Bakersfield’s LHP Wandy Peralta facing the Rawhide’s RHP Brandon Sinnery.

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NORTH FINALS: RAWHIDE OVER BAKERSFIELD 10-5

Posted on September 7, 2014 by | Comments Off on NORTH FINALS: RAWHIDE OVER BAKERSFIELD 10-5

VRThe Visalia Rawhide took the opening game of the Division Finals with a 10-5 road win over Bakersfield. Rudy Flores hit a pair of homers and Alex Glenn, George Roberts and Jose  Queliz all went deep as the Rawhide struck first in the series.

The Blaze held a 5-4 edge going to the top of the seventh innings, but Visalia put up six runs over the last three innings to get the win. Blayne Weller went 5 1/3 innings and four Rawhide relievers were not scored upon the rest of the way.

VISALIA – 10
BAKERSFIELD – 5

Joey Krehbiel (VIS) – 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Rudy Flores (VIS) – 3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
George Roberts (VIS) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Sean Buckley (BAK) – 2-for-5, HR
Zach Vincej (BAK) – 2-for-5, 2B, RBI

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VISALIA, INLAND EMPIRE SWEEP

Posted on September 5, 2014 by | Comments Off on VISALIA, INLAND EMPIRE SWEEP

The Visalia Rawhide finished off a mini-series sweep of the powerful Stockton Ports with a 2-1 win Thursday night to advance to the Division Finals against Bakersfield.

The Inland Empire 66ers did the same as they went 13 innings to pull off a 5-4 win over Lake Elsinore and advance to the Division Finals against Lancaster.

VISALIA – 2
STOCKTON – 1

Andrew Barbosa (VIS) – W, 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Rudy Flores (VIS) – 2-for-4, HR (2)
Socrates Brito (VIS) – 2-for-4, 1 Run
Chris Lamb (STK) – 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Brendan McCurry (STK) – 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Jaycob Brugman (STK) – 2-for-3, 1 Run

LAKE ELSINORE – 4
INLAND EMPIRE – 5

Clint  Sharp (IE) – 6 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Danny Miranda (IE) – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Anthony Bemboom (IE) – 3-for-6, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Dennis Raben (IE) – 2-for-5, 1 Run
Elliot Morris (LE) – 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Alberth Martinez (LE) – 3-for-6, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 Runs
Benji Gonzalez (LE) – 2-for-5, RBI, 1 Run scored

The Division Finals start on Saturday:

INLAND EMPIRE @ LANCASTER – 6PM
VISALIA @ BAKERSFIELD – 7:15PM

 

 

 

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