Results tagged ‘ John Mayberry Jr. ’

Mayberry delivers on first Opening Day

Former LumberKing John Mayberry Jr. (’06) certainly made the most of his first Opening Day experience, lining a pinch-hit walk-off single over the head of Houston centerfielder Michael Bourn’s head to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-4 win over the Astros today.  Mayberry, who made his big-league debut with the Phillies in 2009 but had never made the Opening Day roster, delivered the most memorable hit of a three-run comeback against Brandon Lyon.

Check out the story and the video of Big John Jr.’s big hit here:  http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_01_houmlb_phimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=phi#

-DL

Kings in Spring (March 14)

This may be old news to some, but I was back home in Milwaukee and unable to post it until now.  Right-hander Blake Beavan (’08) made his first Spring start as a Mariner on Saturday against Oakland and earned the win, limiting the Athletics to a run on three hits over 3.0 innings.  Shortly thereafter, Beavan was re-assigned to Minor League camp.  Right-hander Yoervis Medina (’10) also saw his time in big-league camp end as he was optioned to the High Desert spring roster.

In that Beavan start, a 10-2 win over the A’s, first-baseman Justin Smoak (’08) finally woke up his bat with a 2-for-2 game including a two-out two-run single in the fourth inning and a two-run homer to left-center in the sixth.  The blast was Smoak’s first in Cactus League action.

The Mariners’ roster still includes Smoak, right-handers Josh Lueke (’07-’08) and Tom Wilhelmsen (’10) and catcher Steven Baron (’10) at this time.  I have to say, I’m still surprised Baron is there.

Over in Surprise, the Texas Rangers sent outfielder Engel Beltre (’08), right-hander Fabio Castillo (’08) and left-hander Zach Phillips (’06-’07) back to Minor League camp on Saturday.

Continuing with Rangers camp, Ian Kinsler (’04) is hitting a healthy .367 with a .933 slugging percentage…the former Clinton infielder has a team-high five homers and nine RBI in 11 games.  While Chris Davis continues to assert his value to the team as a corner infielder, Mitch Moreland (’08) keeps fighting to hold onto the first-base spot…he’s hitting .375 with a .719 slugging percentage, five doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 12 games.  Aside from catcher Jose Felix (’08), who is 5-for-5 with a double in big-league action, the group of former Kings that includes Chad Tracy (’07), Craig Gentry (’07), Marcus Lemon (’07) and others has been largely quiet offensively.

Left-hander Derek Holland (’08) is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA, no walks and six strikeouts in his two starts, totaling 5.0 innings.  Right-hander Neftali Feliz (’08) has pitched just twice in camp, including one start…the flamethrower has not allowed an earned run over 5.0 innings, but has walked three and has hit a batter in that span.  Lefty Michael Kirkman is carrying a 3.00 ERA in three outings and has struck out eight over 9.0 innings.

Scanning other camps, outfielder John Mayberry Jr. (’06) continues to look impressive in a bid for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Phillies…he’s hitting .324 with three doubles, four homers and nine RBI in 14 games.  Right-hander Maikel Cleto (’09) has had two outings with the St. Louis Cardinals and is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA, one save, four walks, three strikeouts and a home run allowed over 4.0 innings.  Right-hander Thomas Diamond (’04) is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA over four relief outings as he attemps to make the Chicago Cubs’ Opening Day roster.  Catcher Manny Pina (’07) and outfielder Tim Smith (’08) have both seen minor action in Kansas City Royals’ camp…Pina is 4-for-16 (.250) with a home run and three RBI in 10 games, while Smith is hitless in two at-bats. 

There’s plenty more players to track, but I’ll leave it at that for now.

-DL

Following Former Kings in the MLB Playoffs


Volquez ('04).jpgThe 2010 Major League Baseball Postseason begins in just about 40 minutes as the Texas Rangers start things off with the opener of their ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays.  With Texas’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 there’s an extra-high volume of former LumberKings to watch this postseason.  Not all of them, however, are Rangers.

The 25-man playoff roster for the Rangers includes former LumberKings second-baseman Ian Kinsler (’04), first-baseman Mitch Moreland (’08), right-hander Neftali Feliz (’08) and left-hander Derek Holland (’08).  Left-hander Michael Kirkman (’06-’08) was left off the playoff roster but will probably still be with the club in Tampa in case of injury.

The man traded for four former ’08 LumberKings (Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Matt Lawson and Josh Lueke) in Cliff Lee gets the game one start for the Rangers, who have never won a playoff series.

Over in the NL, the Central Division Champion Cincinnati Reds also begin their NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies today.  They’ll start a former LumberKing in right-hander Edinson Volquez (’04, pictured left as “Edison Volquez”) against the defending NL Champs.

The Reds also have right-hander Nick Masset (’03) on their playoff roster, while the Phillies decided not to include their only Clinton alumnus, outfielder John Mayberry, Jr. (’06) amongst their 25 players.

To my knowledge, there’s no former LumberKings with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays or Minnesota Twins.  I could be wrong.

Given the high volume of former recent Kings with Texas, the Rangers have my backing this year.  Feel free to weigh in on the 2010 MLB Playoffs (and all your old favorite Kings) by commenting below!

-DL

 

Congrats, Yanks

Well, no World Series ring for former LumberKing John Mayberry Jr. (’06) this time around, but still, congrats to the New York Yankees on behalf of The LumberBlog (aka me).

I was just in the Bronx in September of 2008, visiting old Yankee Stadium during its final homestand.  I’m not a Yankees fan, in fact I’ve hated the Yankees in the past like many folks out there, but going to that ballpark puts things in a different, historical perspective.

yankee stadium.JPG

My view from the left-field bleachers at Yankee Stadium on September 18, 2008.

Flat out, the Yankees winning the World Series every once in a while seems to help baseball achieve a historical balance.  Especially their first year in a new place, it’s only fitting that they win it.  Say what you will about the guns for hire and the huge payroll, but it still comes down to Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera playing the game the right way.

With that being said, let’s see someone else win it in 2010.  Next year begins now.

-DL

Former Kings in the MLB Playoffs (Update)

An update on former LumberKings in the MLB Playoffs:

Jason Bay (’01) was a disappointing 1-for-8 with three walks and three strikeouts for the Red Sox as they were swept by Mike Scioscia’s (’77) Angels.  Gary Matthews (’95) went 0-for-1 in the series.

If the Phillies get by Jim Tracy’s Colorado Rockies and on to an NLCS matchup with the Dodgers, it still looks like it will be without John Mayberry, Jr. (’06).  Matt Stairs and Ben Francisco probably have the reserve outfield spots on lockdown barring injury despite going a combined 0-for-2. 

That’s it and that’s all for now.

-DL

Former Kings in the MLB Playoffs

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for 09 postseason.JPGWhen the 2009 MLB Playoffs officially kick off this evening, the Midwest League will be well-represented.  Rather than dig up every Postseason participant that ever spent a day in the league, I’ll focus on former LumberKings (or Clinton players in general) that will vie for the World Series trophy this year:

Phillies:  None Active (John Mayberry, Jr. (’06) left off playoff roster)

Red Sox:  Jason Bay (’01)

Angels:  Manager Mike Scioscia (Clinton catcher in ’77), Gary Matthews, Jr. (’95)

That appears to be it.  I won’t do a full playoff prediction for the big leagues like I did the Midwest League, but my support will be behind the Colorado Rockies.  Manager Jim Tracy never played for a Clinton squad, but his son Chad Tracy was a LumberKing in ’07. 

-DL

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