*** This Week in Minor League Baseball - August 27th *** From The My Sportsbook
By Kevin Spiegel, Contributing Editor
Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Home runs seem to attract the most attention in Minor League Baseball, as last week we featured Ryan Howard. So in keeping with that theme, we're shining the spotlight on Mitch Jones this week.
The Trenton Thunder outfielder is tied for the Eastern League lead with 37 home runs with a little more than one week remaining in the season. Jones is in search of the league record of 41 set by Ken Strong of Hazelton in 1930 and tied by Rick Lancellotti of Buffalo in 1979.
Tied with Howard, who is currently with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jones cracked his 37th on August 22nd, completing a streak of six homers in eight games. During that time, Jones went 15-for-36 with 17 RBI.
For the season, Jones is second in runs batted in (95), fourth in slugging percentage (.572), first in total bases (261) and third in runs scored (85).
Drafted by the New York Yankees in 2000, Jones has played in 125 games this season, was a Eastern League All-Star and won the EL Home Run Derby.
By the way, the Howard home run watch remains at 45, with his last round tripper on August 21st.
STREAKS COME TO A CLOSE
Two of the longest hitting streaks in Minor League Baseball came to an end on Wednesday, as Enrique Cruz and Pablo Ozuna both took the collar. Cruz, playing for High Desert in the California League, saw his 28-game streak snapped, as he went 0-for-3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. Cruz's streak was second only to Fresno's Dave Doster who hit safely in 32 consecutive games earlier this season.
Ozuna, who's 27-game hitting tear was the third longest this season along with Lansing's Brian Dopirak, batted seven times in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 13 inning win over Ottawa. Ozuna, who raised his average from .267 to .309 during the streak, went 0-for-5 with two walks in the 11th and 13th innings.
AND THE WINNER IS...PORTLAND
The 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game has been awarded to Portland. The Sea Dogs will host the game on Wednesday, July 13th at Hadlock Field, as the Northern Division will battle the Southern Division All-Stars.
Each team will feature 24 players with all Eastern League team's represented by at least one pitcher and one position player.
This year, the Southern Division defeated the Northern Division, 4-1, at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Md. Jeff Keppinger led the Southern Division with three hits - a double and two singles - and was named the games Most Valuable Player.
BOMBS AWAY IN TACOMA
Tacoma first baseman A.J. Zapp completed an amazing stretch on August 20th by belting his second grand slam in five days, as the Rainiers extended their winning streak to six games.
The Seattle Mariners prospect belted his first slam on August 16th, as Tacoma knocked off Edmonton, 9-6. On the 20th, Zapp went 5-for-5 with a double, two homers and a career-high nine RBI, as the Rainiers beat Fresno, 11-7. Zapp was named Player of the Week after batting .519 with 16 RBI and a 1.074 slugging percentage.
VARGAS DEBUT A HIT
Jason Vargas, the 21-year old who was recently promoted from Jamestown in the New York-Penn League, pitched spectacularly in his SALLY LEAGUE debut last week. The southpaw delivered a 2-0 record and a 0.60 ERA in his first starts with the Bats, allowing just three hits and one earned run in 15 innings of work. He held opponents to a .065 batting average, striking out 14 and walking but two and combined on a no-hitter to cap his week.
Vargas made his first SALLY LEAGUE start last Saturday, defeating the Savannah Gnats, 2-1. In that game, Vargas surrendered just three hits and one earned run in eight solid innings of work. He fanned four Gnats and walked none.
On Thursday, Vargas improved upon his initial outing by combining with Nathan Nowicki and Carlos Martinez on a no-hitter. Vargas pitched the first seven innings, striking out 10 and walking two. The only players to reach base were Rogearvin Bernadina, who walked in the second inning, and Kory Casto, who drew a walk in the seventh inning. Vargas left both runners stranded.
Drafted in the second round, 68th overall, of the 2004 draft by the Florida Marlins, Vargas went 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA in seven starts, allowing 30 hits in 36 1/3rd innings of work for Jamestown of the New York-Penn League before receiving his promotion last week.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Triple-A
International League: Pitcher - Buddy Carlyle, Columbus; Player - Ryan Ludwick, Buffalo. Pacific Coast League: Pitcher - Chris Young, Oklahoma; Player - A.J. Zapp, Tacoma.
Double-A
Eastern League: Pitcher - Dave Crouthers, Bowie; Player - Mitch Jones, Trenton. Southern League: Pitcher - Ricky Nolasco, West Tenn; Player - Josh Willingham, Carolina. Texas League: Pitcher - D. J. Houlton, Round Rock; Player - Jason Botts, Frisco.
Single-A
California League: Pitcher - Brian Burres, San Jose; Player - Enrique Cruz, High Desert. Carolina League: Pitcher - Derrick Van Dusen, Kinston; Player - Pat Osborn, Kinston. Florida State League: Pitcher - Anderson Tavarez, Daytona; Player - Brandon Moss, Sarasota. Midwest League: Pitcher - Garrett Mock, South Bend; Player - Baltazar Lopez, Cedar Rapids. NY-Penn League: Pitcher - Blair Johnson, Williamsport; Player - Arturo Rivas, Aberdeen. Northwest League: Pitcher - Darin Downs, Boise; Player - Javier Herrera, Vancouver. South Atlantic League: Pitcher - Jason Vargas, Greensboro; Player - Lastings Milledge, Capital City.
Rookie
Appalachian League: Pitcher - Phillip Andersen, Johnson City; Player - Derrick Peterson, Burlington. Pioneer League: Pitcher - Bill Edwards, Provo; Player - Geraldo Valentin, Idaho Falls.
