Saturday, March 17, 2012

Game Photos: Spring Training Hot Rods vs Shorebirds

This afternoon I headed over to Charlotte Sports Park to work a few innings of MiLB spring training into my schedule. Today the Rays A hosted the Orioles A squad. My goal was to try and catch one time through the lineup for each game, however I got called off after about a half-hour at the park.

During the short time I was there, Fernando Rodney got his work in during the Advanced-A game while Joel Peralta and Burke Badenhop worked the A game.

I was able to catch 2 innings of the Hot Rods/Shorebirds game. Peralta made the start for the Hot Rods. He pitched just one inning and struck out the side in the first inning.

Then in the Hot Rods were retired in order in the bottom half of the first. Craige Lyerly flied out to right, Kes Carter flied out to center and Tyler Goeddel flied out to left to end the inning.

Burke Badenhop then took over the mound to start the second inning. He worked a 1-2-3 inning, recording 2 ground-outs and a strikeout.

The Hot Rods collected the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Travis Flores popped out to first to lead off the inning. Then James Harris singled up the middle for the first hit of the game. But the hit was quickly erased as Tyler Goeddel hit into a double play to end the inning.

Badenhop went out on the mound to start the third inning but that's when I got the call to leave. I would have loved to see a little more of the games as I was interested in seeing Oscar Hernandez hit and Taylor Guerrieri was warming in the bullpen as I was walking out to the truck.

A couple brief observations from my perspective:

  • Peralta pitched a very strong inning. He commanded the inning and breezed through the hitters. Its not a good measure seeing these were Class-A hitters but he seemed to be in control. 
  • On the opposite end, Badenhop seemed to struggle in his inning. He worked most of the counts deep and didn't seem to be in command of his pitches. 
  • Harris hit was a hard hit ground ball right over second base into center. I was impressed with Harris last year in the GCL and look forward to seeing what he can do at the higher levels. 

Below are photos from today's game between the Hot Rods and Shorebirds.


19 comments:

  1. I must have just missed you, Badenhop & Howell pitched the first inning I was there.

    Gurrieri cruised, K, E-5, flyout to cf and another K. Big breaking ball and good fastball, he seemed very comfortable out there and drew quite a crowd of teammates to that game for his first inning.

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  2. That's it, nobody else did anything? It would be nice to hear about how the other players did.

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    1. dude seriously? they both just said they were only there for a few innings. And I do believe they mentioned several players name above. (In the actual story) If memory serves me correctly i do believe only 9 players play in a game (Well 10 including the dh). And they mentioned at least 9 different guys in the story (even if it was just to point out they wished they could have seen them more) so i think i would just appreciate the info you got. it is definately better than nothing. i am extremely grateful for the few pictures we get and the information they do give.

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    2. Relax. It was just a question.

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    3. If you have players that you want pictures of and/or info about then let me know and I will do what I can.

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    4. Trevor Shull please!

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  3. Not relevant to this post but I'm trying to plan my schedule for the season, mostly away games. Is anyone going to see the Hot Rods in Lake County April 12th-15th? The 12th is the Captains home opener so I'll probably skip that one. The other 3 shouldn't be sold out, so think I'll wait to get tics until day of to avoid rainouts like last year. They won't be back until August 29-31.

    It's an even number year so Hudson Valley won't travel to Mahoning Valley. Durham visits Columbus in August for 4 games, hoping to see 2, and I could make a game in Toledo. Other than that it's drive to WV to see Princeton, probably stay a couple of days since it's a long drive.

    Anyone else mostly see the teams on the road?

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  4. Good to see Flores and Carter is playing.

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  5. Any Jesse Hahn sightings in minor league camp? Not just in games, but in camp overall?

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  6. I have been over there most days and have not seen Jesse Hahn in uniform, but tough to recognize most of them out of uniform so I cannot say definitively.

    I posted some of the pictures I took today over at Rays Country:

    http://rayscountry.blogspot.com/2012/03/rays-minor-league-st-games-311-17.html

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  7. Would love pix and news of McEachern, Partridge, Bellatti, Swilley, CC, and Floethe. thanks

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  8. would love pictures of craige lyerly, drew leary, taylor motter, and Mceachern. thanks

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  9. Would like to see pictures of Alexander and Faria. Thanks

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  10. If possible Matthew Spann. Any word

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    1. Spann pitched today for the Rays in the exhibition game against the Netherlands.

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  11. I saw Hahn working out when I was there a week ago.

    Thanks for the updates!

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  12. There are some pictures of McEachern in this gallery over on Rays Digest.

    http://rays.scout.com/2/1168577.html

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  13. WoW!
    We really outa pay this guy for his wonderful work he's doing for us!
    Thank you Jim!

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  14. I heard Floethe is really pitching well!

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