Mike Kaffee, Community News Canes Baseball reporter.
CORRECTION: In reviewing my scorecards for the past two games I became aware late last night that the running scores I had inadvertently assigned the wrong score to the opposing team. As of the end of two games, it is tied at three innings apiece with the tiebreaker of cumulative runs tied at 5 according to my numbers. Scoring is a point for each inning won throughout the series regardless of the score. The score is entered into the final decision only if the innings won are the same. I apologize for the confusion. In Game One, Team Orange got off to an early start winning the first three innings. It was scoreless for the next three innings until Team Green captured the 7th and 8th inning. At the end of Day One, Team Orange led in points 3-2. Team Green picked up the sole point on Day two to tie the series at three. I am sorry for the confusion and hope the record is now straight.
SCRIMMAGE: FRIDAY 1 NOV 24
Game 3 to the Green and Orange World Series continued with therunning score format tied at 3 points apiece. Unlike yesterday when the bats were for the most part silent by quality pitching, a redemption of sorts with the bats having a bit more sting while defensive play dropped off. When looking at the box score it should be noted that of the 19 strikeouts 13 were committed by Team Orange. Reading between the lines it should be noted that Orange capitalized when it counted with key hits and Green got sloppy at the wrong time. The big hits where it counted came from Orange not Green to give them a one-point edge in the running cumulative.
Seven Innings were played today, with the starting pitchers, Jackson Cleveland and Carson Fisher each throwing 4 innings. Carson pitching for Team Orange didn’t run into problems until his final inning. In the first, he gave up a two-out double to Dorian Gonzalez who left stranded at second. The second inning 3up/3down striking out Todd Hudson and Ethan Puig. The third only gave up a single to Evan Taveras who never got beyond first. In the 4th and final inning, the world of Jackson Cleveland dissolved. Whether it was the batters getting their second look, it didn’t fare well with his first 4 batters faced. Jake Ogden who struck out the first time around laid down a bunt beating it out to first. Dorian who had Jackson’s number in the first with a double, singled advancing Jake to 3rd. Runners on the corners, Max Galvin got the third consecutive hit with an RBI single. Runners on 1st and 2nd Derek Williams hit by pitch to load the bases, no outs. The one person from a pitcher’s standpoint you don’t want to see steps up to the plate: Todd Hudson. One of the preseason’s top hitters does the unthinkable; strikes out for the second time today. Ethan Puig, also a very prolific hitter this preseason does one better than Todd with the BL: hits into a 4-6-3 DP. The one run Green did score in the 4th was enough for them to earn a point.
Opposite Jackson sharing the mound through the first four innings Carson Fisher. In three of Jackson’s four innings pitched, he was light’s out recording a pair of strikeouts per inning. However, in the 2nd inning his lights were punched out by Team Orange slamming him for 4 runs and earning them a point for their efforts. In the 2nd inning a lead-off walk to Renzo Gonzalez readily took advantage of the throwing arm of Evan Taveras easily stealing second. Nolan Smith followed also with a walk, bringing Bobby Marsh to the plate. Bobby laid down a SAC in front of the plate retrieved by Evan who was confused on whether to throw to get the lead runner at third or to first. I Partially blame this on the pitcher for not shouting out which base. By the time Evan decides to throw to first it didn’t reach there until the 3rd bounce. This has been consistent with Evan all season in not being able to throw the ball to any base. BL Gaby reaches first on a FC 5-2. Bases still loaded Jake Kulikowski strikes out. On the throwback to the pitcher, Carson mishandles it, and Nolan Smith seeing this scampers home for the point-earning run. Runners advance. With the run in and runners on 2nd and 3rd, WP/PB (?) for the 2nd run. With everything going crap in a handbasket, Amaury De Jesus just adds to Carson’s disintegration with a triple, clearing the bases. Four runs on just one hit.
Each of the pitchers picked up a point for their respective team but Orange claimed 4 runs to that of 1 for Green in the tiebreaker.
The second set of pitchers Slaide Naturman for Orange and Jake Dorn for Green. Each threw 3 innings. Slaide with his submarine style of pitching had only one hitter (Edgardo Villegas) not fooled by the side-arm delivery. Eddie delivered a single in the 6th only being thrown out 6-3 on the next play. Slaide only had a single strikeout but his effectiveness on the different types of delivery should deceive the opposition should he be used as our Closer.
The final pitcher of the day for Green was Jake Dorn. Jake’s only blemish came with the first batter he faced, Gaby Gutierrez. Jake only gave up two hits but the one to Gaby cost Green the point and added a run to Orange’s total. Gaby took the ball downtown hitting off the scoreboard. Jake finished off the day with 5 Ks and a trio of walks.
The hitting is still not at the level you would want it this late in the preseason with the number of strikeouts at an all-time high; 15 yesterday and 19 today. Either the hitting coach is not doing his job or they are just not seeing the ball. A few have been hitting well Mostly your return players with Ethan Puig leading the freshman. The biggest disappointment has been Daniel Cuvet who had a great summer but has cooled down considerably. His strikeouts are up and if I was keeping averages it would be close to the Mendoza Line if not below. On the other hand, Todd Hudson has been a Killing Machine except for today striking out twice; once with the BL. Today one player with multiple hits: Dorian Gonzalez 2-3(double). Triple: Amaury De Jesus. HR: Gaby Gutierrez (RBI).
Defensively, still the biggest concern is behind the plate. With the addition of Ethan Puig, this had been a bonus for behind the plate. Arm strength needs developing but his accuracy to any bag is thrown with precision. Tanner Smith from the early days of preseason to now has shown a remarkable improvement with his accuracy. He returned to hitting just yesterday wondering what type of injury he sustained The past couple of weeks, catching only. Hopefully, Nolan Johnson will be healthy come spring. Ethan has upgraded to the #2 catcher as related in previous writeups. As for Evan Taveras, I see no future as a catcher on this team. He has absolutely no throwing arm not able to reach any base with accuracy 99% of the time. I don’t know if it is psychological, but I have never seen pure inconsistency at this level. On the other hand, if there is room on the roster, he can most definitely hit. However, we have a team that have the potential to hit plus what they have that he doesn’t: the ability to field.
It all comes down to tomorrow to determine the Best of the Best: Orange or Green. Currently, Orange added two more points today to Green’s one to give them the slight edge 5-4. In the Tie-breaker Orange leads 10-6. Again, this only comes into play if the running score is tied at the end. Be at the Light tomorrow for the final game of the Fall Classic with the first pitch at 10AM.
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It all comes down to tomorrow to determine the Best of the Best: Orange or Green. Currently, Orange added two more points today to Green’s one to give them the slight edge 5-4. In the Tie-breaker Orange leads 10-6. Again, this only comes into play if the running score is tied at the end. Be at the Light tomorrow for the final game of the Fall Classic with the first pitch at 10AM.
