Venezuelan Winter League Recap from 11/12

Margarita 12, Aragua 7
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Phoenix Desert Dogs snap losing streak with 12-3 win over Scottsdale

The Game: Nevin Ashley lead the offense as the Phoenix Desert Dogs defeated the Scottsdale Scorpions 12-3 on Wednesday in Scottsdale. With the win, the Desert Dogs put an end on their losing streak.

Phoenix took the lead in the first inning and never looked back. Matt Angle drew a walk to lead off the inning. Angle then stole second and later advanced to third on a fly ball by Danny Espinosa. Brandon Waring then drove him home with a sac fly to put the Desert Dogs ahead 1-0.

The Desert Dog’s offense heated up in the second inning, striking for four runs. Nevin Ashley got things started with a triple to center. Brad Emaus followed with an RBI single to score Ashley. Jemile Weeks then reached on an error, moving Emaus to third and Weeks took second on the play. Darin Mastroianni drove home two runs with a sac fly that was misplayed in right, allowing two runs to score and Mastroianni to reach third. Matt Angle drove home the fourth run of the inning with a sac fly to left, giving Phoenix a 5-0 lead.

Scottsdale reached the scoreboard in the third inning. Brian Friday and Chase d’Arnaud both scored on a single by Domonic Brown as the Scorpions pulled to within three runs of the lead 5-2.

Phoenix matched the Scorpions with two runs of their own in the next inning. Nevin Ashley led off the inning with his second triple of the game. Brad Emaus then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Jemile Weeks hit into a force out, scoring Ashley but losing Emaus at second, Weeks then advanced to third on a throwing error on the double play attempt. Darin Mastroianni followed with a single that score Weeks and increased the Phoenix lead to 7-2.

The Desert Dogs struck for four more runs in the seventh inning. Matt Angle led off the inning with a single to center. Danny Espinosa then cleared the bases with a two run homer. Grant Desme later drew a walk to put another runner on the bases. Nevin Ashley drove Desme home with a double to center. Ashley later scored on a double by Brad Emaus and the Desert Dogs now held a 11-2 lead.

Phoenix scored their twelfth and final run of the game in the eighth inning. Grant Desme drew a two out walk to get things going. Desme then advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on an RBI double by Josh Bell to increase the lead to 12-2.

Scottsdale added a run to their total in the bottom of the ninth. Brian Friday singled to center to get the scoring play started. Friday then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jose Tabata followed with an RBI single that scored Friday. But the run wasn’t enough as the Desert Dogs held on for a 12-3 win.

Reidier Gonzalez earned the victory for the Desert Dogs, improving to 2-0 on the season.

Phoenix Desert Dogs Player of the Game: Nevin Ashley; 3 for 5 with all hits being for extra bases (1 double, 2 triples), 1 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Rays Organization Stats:
Nevin Ashley; 3 for 5 with a double, 2 triples, 1 RBI and 3 runs scored
Matt Gorgen; 1 run on 3 hits in 1 inning pitched.
Heath Rollins; 1 no-hit inning with three strikeouts and a walk.

A Look Ahead: The Phoenix Desert Dogs head to Mesa to play the Mesa Solar Sox on Thursday.

Puerto Rico League Preview

The Puerto Rico League begins play tonight. The league consists of six teams and a 42 game schedule. The Tampa Bay Rays organization are being represented by:

Criollos de Caguas
Eduardo Morlan

Gigantes de Carolina
Shawn Riggans

Indios de Mayaguez
Elias Otero

Leones de Ponce
Fernando Cortez

Mexican Pacific League Recap from 11/11

Mazatlan 11, Obregon 4
Jon Weber; 3 for 5 with 2 double and 2 runs scored.

Dominican Winter League Recap from 11/11

Licey 2, Toros 1
Willy Aybar (Licey); 0 for 2 with a walk.

Venezuelan Winter League Recap from 11/11

Aragua 5, Margarita 0
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 0 for 4

Caracas 10, Zulia 4
Joe Bateman (Caracas); picked up his fifth hold of the season, 1 no hit inning with 2 K’s and a walk.

Mexican Pacific League Recap from 11/10

Obregon 5, Mazatlan 4
Jon Weber; 1 for 3 with a double and 1 K

Dominican Winter League Recap from 11/10

Gigantes 5, Estrellas 3
Julio DePaula (Gigantes); earned second hold of season, allowed 1 run on 1 hit with a strikeout and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.

Toros 5, Licey 4
Willy Aybar (Licey); 0 for 3 with 1 walk and run scored

Venezuelan Winter League Recap from 11/10

Margarita 1, Aragua 0
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 0 for 3 with 2 K’s and a walk.

Magallanes 6, Caribes 1
Carlos Hernandez (Magallanes); improved to 2-1 with the win, 6.0 IP, 1 run on 4 hits with 2 K’s and a walk.

Top 30 Prospects in Review: 1-15

We looked back at the lower half of our 2009 pre-season top 30, now let's see how we did in the first 15. They were:

1. David Price
2. Wade Davis
3. Tim Beckham
4. Jeremy Hellickson
5. Jeff Niemann
6. Reid Brignac
7. Mitch Talbot
8. Desmond Jennings
9. Nick Barnese
10. Matt Moore
11. Heath Rollins
12. Jake McGee
13. Fernando Perez
14. Alex Cobb
15. John Jaso

Everybody and their brother had David Price as the #1 guy, but it was #5 Jeff Niemann who had the better rookie season in the Rays rotation. Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson are the next wave of arms to arrive, and I expect they'll occupy the #2 and 3 spots in most 2010 lists, but it'll be a split decision on which to rank higher. Neither of the Tim Beckham and Reid Brignac shortstop brigade did a whole lot to help their stock, but neither was so bad they'll fall far in the rankings.

Mitch Talbot at #7 is the first real over-rank, and after an injury-plagued 2009 season he might be out of the Rays organization as he's out of options and would have the make the team out of spring training or be exposed to the waiver wire. Desmond Jennings is obviously the big riser, staying healthy for the first time as a pro and catapulting his way into the conversation about the game's best prospect.

Matt Moore vs. Nick Barnese was a toss-up heading into the season, but Moore made SAL hitters look silly and figures to rise into the top 5, while Barnese fought shoulder tendonitis and treaded water in terms of prospect status. #11 Heath Rollins, #13 Fernando Perez, and #15 John Jaso all had rough 2009 seasons. Rollins' fringy stuff was exposed somewhat at the higher levels, Perez suffered a major shoulder injury and missed of the year, while Jaso just plain didn't hit. Perez is no longer has prospect eligibility, while Rollins and Jaso will likely slide to tail-end of the list.

It's tough to get a read on Jake McGee, who pitched limited innings returning from Tommy John surgery. His strikeout rate was in line with his career average, but he got hit around in Charlotte to the tune of a 6.45 ERA. Alex Cobb continued to post solid numbers, but neither his stats or stuff jump out at you. I think he's one of the more interesting prospects in terms of how much the opinion on him varies.

Tomorrow: Personal top 30 lists!

Phoenix Desert Dogs shut out by Scottsdale Scorpions

The Game: The Phoenix Desert Dogs dropped their third game in a row as they were shut out by the Scottsdale Scorpions on Tuesday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Scottsdale picked up their first run in the first inning. Pedro Ciriaco led off the game with a double to left field. Ciriaco later scored on an RBI single by Domonic Brown to give them a 1-0 lead.

The Scorpions added another run in the next inning. Steve Susdorf drew a walk with one out to get things started. Hector Gomez followed with an RBI double to left that scored Susdorf and gave Scottsdale a 2-0 lead.

The Scottsdale pitching staff worked to keep the Desert Dogs off the board as they picked up the four hit shut-out victory.

James Simmons suffered the loss for Phoenix, falling to 1-3 on the season.

Phoenix Desert Dogs Player of the Game: Nevin Ashley; 1 for 3 with a stolen base.

Rays Organization Stats:
Nevin Ashley; 1 for 3 with a stolen base.
Shawn O’Malley; 0 for 3 with a walk, turned a double play in the field.

A Look Ahead: The Phoenix Desert Dogs (13-11) travel to Scottsdale Stadium for a rematch against the Scottsdale Scorpions (10-13). Brandon Erbe (0-0, 2.00) will be on the mound for Phoenix facing Michael Cisco (0-1, 3.86) for Scottsdale.

Phoenix Desert Dogs fall to Peoria Javelinas 4-3

The Game: The Phoenix Desert Dogs lost to the Peoria Javelinas 4-3 on Monday at the Peoria Sport Complex.

The Desert Dogs took an early lead, striking for two runs in the first inning. Brandon Snyder got things started with a two out double to right. Chris Marrero followed with an RBI double to left. Marrero then scored on a single by Grant Desme and Phoenix took a 2-0 lead.

The Phoenix lead held until the seventh inning when Peoria struck for four runs to take the lead. Brent Morel singled to left to put a runner on the bases. Joseph Dunigan then delivered a two run home run to tie the game. Justin Seller followed with a single. Lorenzo Cain then drew a walk to put another runner on the bases for Peoria. Sellers then advance to third on a wild pitch and Cain took second with a steal to put both runners in scoring position. Jonathan Lucroy then struck a two run double to give the Javelinas a 4-2 lead.

The Desert Dogs tried to mount a comeback in the eighth inning. Grant Desme was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Desme then advanced to third on a single by Corey Brown and then later scored on a wild pitch. But Phoenix would strand the runner in scoring position and were not able to pick up a run in the ninth as they fell 4-3.

Josh Wilkie suffered the loss, surrendering all four of the runs in the seventh.

Rays Organization Stats:
Mitch Talbot; pitched a no-decision in the four inning start, allowing no runs on 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking 1.

A Look Ahead: The Phoenix Desert Dogs return home to face the Scottsdale Scorpions on Tuesday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Dominican Winter League Recap from 11/9

Estrellas 6, Toros 4
Henry Mateo (Estrellas); 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts.

Mexican Pacific League Recap from 11/8

Mazatlan 13, Mochis 3
Jon Weber (Mazatlan); 2 for 5 with 4 RBI’s and a run scored.

Dominican Winter League Recap from 11/8

Gigantes 3, Escogido 2
Julio DePaula (Gigantes); 1 1/3 no hit innings with a strikeout.

Venezuelan Winter League Recap from 11/8

Margarita 13, Zulia 7
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI’s, 3 runs scored

Caracas 8, Magallanes 6
Jose Lobaton (Caracas); 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

East All-Stars lose lead and game 8-7

The Game: Despite posting a seven run first inning, the Eastern Division All-Stars could not hold on to win. The West Division rallied to win the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game 8-7.

The East All-Stars came out of the gates swinging, collecting seven runs in the first inning. Jose Tabata and Starlin Castro delivered back to back singles to lead off the inning. Grant Desme then singled home Tabata for the first run of the inning. Brandon Allen followed with the East’s only home run, a three run shot to increase the lead to 4-0. The bases did not remain empty long as Buster Posey delivered a single followed by a double by Domonic Brown to put runners back in scoring position. Brown then scored on an error on a pick-off attempt. Jose Tabata then delivered his second hit of the inning, an RBI single to push the East’s lead to 7-0.

The West followed with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Dustin Ackley led off the inning with a walk. Chris Heisey then hit a two run home run to put the West on the board 7-2.

The West pulled closer to the lead with a three run third inning . Carlos Triunfel led off the inning with a solo home run to left. Mike Moustakas later delivered a single to right followed by back to back to back doubles by Chris Heisey, Yonder Alonso and Daryl Jones. Matt Gorgen took over the mound and worked out of the jam but the damage was already done as the West pulled to within a run of the lead 7-6.

The West took the lead in the eighth inning. Lance Zawadzki lead off the inning with a single to second. Then Matt McBride delivered a two run homer to left to give the West All-Stars a 8-7 victory.

Michael Dunn earned the win for the East and Drew Storen the loss for the West.

Rays Organization Stats:
Matt Gorgen; earned a hold by pitching 1 1/3 no hit innings with a strikeout and a walk.

Mexican Pacific League Recap from 11/7

Mazatlan 9, Mochis 2
Jon Weber (Mazatlan); 2 for 5 with a double, 2 RBI’s and a run scored.

Dominican Winter League Recap from 11/7

Toros 8, Estrellas 6
Henry Mateo (Estrellas); 1 for 2 with a home run, 2 RBI’s and a run scored while drawing 2 walk.

Venezuelan Winter League Recap from 11/7

Game One: Margarita 4, Zulia 3
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Game Two: Zulia 7, Margarita 5
Ray Olmedo (Margarita); 1 for 3 with a strikeout.

Caracas 9, Caribes 7
Rayner Oliveros (Caracas); no decision in the start, pitched 3 innings allowing no runs on 4 hits with 3 K’s and a walk.