Posts belonging to Category Prospects/Rookies

Top 1: Jason Pridie struck out swinging against Brandon Beachy

Top 3: struck out swinging against Beachy

Top 4: struck out swinging Beachy

Top 7: grounded out to second base against Eric O’Flaherty

Top 9: struck out swinging against Craig Kimbrel

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K

Notes: Pridie collected his first golden sombrero of the 2011 season – and first of his career – on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.  Although the Mets won, he contributed absolutely nothing towards the win by fanning four times and committing an error in center.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 118

–  Who does Shelley Duncan think he is?  He must think he is the man he makes sure all bad things happen in 3’s.  Bad joke…maybe.  But bad defensive outfielder…not last night.

–  Why in the world was Clayton Kershaw ejected for that pitch the other night?  And I better not hear the argument that he was attempting to seek revenge on Parra, either.  That means that you are telling me one of the best pitchers in baseball, a Cy Young frontrunner if you will, wanted to hit a guy and couldn’t do it?  That’s crap.  And so was his ejection.

–  You know Joe Maddon is cooler than a New Mexico winter when he doesn’t mind playing tricks like this…in the middle of a chase for a playoff spot.  And to think, that was poor little Matt Moore making his MLB debut.  Was it the trick that gave up this shot though?

–  The Astros lose again. Weird.  At least Bud Norris made this play; otherwise it was just another day at the corral for Doc Halladay.  You know the kind, one where he goes the distance, throws a shutout, only issues one walk mixed in with a healthy helping of strikeouts, and makes it look easy.  Man that guy is good.   On a short aside, I am hoping the Astros lose every single game from here on out.  Might as well make history, right?

–  Is there any pitcher more frustrating than Ricky Nolasco right now?  His yo-yo season is down right confusing.  How can a guy with that good of stuff- and it is legit stuff- not be worth the dingleberries on his own ass for half his starts?

–  Here is an outstanding article from SBNation’s baseball blog Baseball Nation.  Make sure to waste some work time and read it.

A year ago at this time, Johnny Eierman was in the midst of an arduous recruiting process, weighing which school would provide the best opportunity to extend his career.

These days, the former Warsaw High School (MO) standout is fresh off his first professional season and starting instructional league in Port Charlotte, Florida as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Drafted in the third round (119^th overall) by the Rays in June’s MLB Draft, Eierman (right) ultimately decided to begin his professional baseball career and forgo a scholarship to collegiate baseball powerhouse Louisiana State in the process.  As a junior, the shortstop hit .574 with five home runs, 10 doubles, six triples, 36 RBI and 17 stolen bases on his way to Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association First Team All-State honors.

In the wake of an eye-opening showing at the Area Code Games last summer, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound shortstop hit .571 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles, 33 RBI and 24 stolen bases as a senior, and garnered MHSBCA First Team All-State and Prep Baseball Report Missouri Player of the Year honors.

For Eierman, however, the decision to begin his professional career was merely a matter of following his heart, even with a scholarship to LSU on the table.

Continue reading the article at Prep Baseball Report Missouri

Top 2: Paul Goldschmidt struck out swinging against Clayton Kershaw

Top 4: called out on strikes against Kershaw

Top 7: struck out swinging against Josh Lindblom

Top 9: struck out swinging against Kenley Jansen

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Playing in his 38^th game since being called up by the Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt tallied his second golden sombrero of the season against the Dodgers on Wednesday night.  One would have thought that Kershaw’s ejection might have prevented his sombrero, especially considering that Goldschmidt fanned in both of his at-bats against the southpaw.  But the big man stayed true to his power-hitting form, fanning in his final two at-bats to finish the job.  Be sure to check back for an awesome Paul Goldschmidt-inspired graphic when he makes his inevitable postseason debut in October. That’s the most I can divulge without totally giving it away – Dee and our friend Eat-A-Ton might know where I’m going with this.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 114