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Jammers at Scrappers Lineups
Game No. 3. Jamestown (1-1) at Mahoning Valley (1-1)
JAMESTOWN
1. Cameron Flynn (RF)
2. Anthony Gomez (2B)
3. Viosergy Rosa (1B)
4. Matt Juengel (DH)
5. Kentrell Dewitt (LF)
6. Austin Nola (3B)
7. Jose Behar (C)
8. Yeison Hernandez (SS)
9. Juancito Martinez (CF)
SP — Mason Hope
MAHONING VALLEY
1. Jairo Kelly (SS)
2. Tyler Naquin (CF)
3. Hunter Jones (LF)
4. Charlie Valerio (DH)
5. Joseph Wendle (2B)
6. Erik Gonzalez (1B)
7. Evan Frazar (3B)
8. Juan Romero (RF)
9. Mitch Nilsson (C)
SP — Luis DeJesus
Fermin Redesigns Career As Relief Pitcher
Miguel Fermin last played for the Jamestown Jammers on Sept. 14, 2008. It was Game 2 of the Nader Cup, the championship of the New York-Penn League between the Batavia Muckdogs and the Jammers, a game Batavia won 9-3 to claim their first championship in 45 years.
But it was a bittersweet day for Fermin. Sure, the Jammers had lost the championship and Fermin went 0-for-4, but the 23-year-old catcher had just finished up one of the best seasons ever seen at Jamestown. He hit .347, clubbed 17 homeruns (both of which led the league) and had an OPS over 1.000. And on top of it all, he was a stout defensive catcher with a cannon for an arm.
Surely, he was on the radar of the Florida Marlins and was moving on to bigger and better things next year. Whatever the case, it was certainly the last time he had seen Diethrick Park and Jamestown.
Now fast-forward three years and nine months. After playing in Jamestown’s final game in 2008, he’s now playing in Jamestown’s first game in 2012. Now 27, after reaching as far up as AAA New Orleans, Fermin has been relegated to using that power right arm of his on the mound, instead of throwing back to it, because of injuring his left knee.
“I focus, I just try to do my job,” said Fermin through translator and Jammers first baseman Viosergy Rosa. “I try to work as hard as I can with every pitch.”
His work ethic showed on Opening Day, as did his arm. Fermin’s pitching debut was about to come against the 3-4-5 hitters for Mahoning Valley who had wreaked havoc all day long.
He got Aaron Siliga to pop softly to right field before striking out Charlie Valerio. Then, after getting ahead of Hunter Jones, Fermin got him to hit a broken-bat grounder back at the pitcher, before flipping to Rosa for the out. Not a bad trip through the heart of the order.
“I just try to stay ahead of hitter,” Fermin said. “Throw strikes and keep the ball down.”
The eighth was seemingly just as easy with another soft grounder to third followed by Fermin’s second strikeout. But he got a lesson from Juan Romero, who hit a first pitch fastball over the leftfield wall.
Still, it was the only hit Fermin allowed through two innings of work. Surely a guy with this arm, whose been playing baseball ever since growing up as a youngster in Samana, Dominican Republic, had thrown before, though, right?
“Three months,” Fermin said in English, while laughing. “Pitching for three months.”
He had a hard fastball moving, which seemed to set up his out pitch, a slider. Fermin said the slider has been the easiest pitch to pick up since redesigning his career on the mound.
“It’s just natural,” he said.
Fermin, who was also an all-star in 2009 and 2011 in the Florida State League for Jupiter, isn’t too thrilled to give up the bat, but is looking forward to helping Jamestown win this season.
“I feel good to be here (in Jamestown),” Fermin said. “I’m here to make the team win and help out as much as possible.”
But don’t think Fermin will be here for long. Although it’s been just one game, if he continues to throw like this, he’ll be moving through the system just like he’s already done so before.
“It definitely gives me confidence to know what it takes to climb through the system,” Fermin said. “No question about it.”
Around the NYPL: June 20
I’ll try to do this segment at least once a week. In the future, they’ll be a little bigger, but tough to get a real read on players or teams after just two days in the books. Common themes will be Players/Pitchers of the Week along with updated standings.
The long ball is back. Four guys have already hit more than one homerun this year, led by a guy Jamestown fans are happy to see leaving town in Juan Romero, who clubbed three in these first two games. Torsten Boss (Aberdeen) Brandon Miller (Auburn) and Jesus Montero (Batavia) have two.
Not much out of staring pitchers yet (as is to be expected) but Luis Mateo threw a nice game for Brooklyn on Tuesday. He went 5.2 and struck out nine while allowing just two hits and a run. Only four pitchers (out of 28) have finished the sixth inning so far.
It’s brutally early, but Jesus Montero is the MVP of the league, and he’s doing it for a winless team. Montero is 7-for-8 with the aforementioned two homeruns. He has 14 total bases in eight at bats. Yowza.
| New York Penn League Standings | ||||
| (Through Tuesday, June 19) | ||||
| McNamara | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – |
| Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| Staten Island Yankees (NYY) | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 2 |
| Pinckney | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Auburn Doubledays (WSH) | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – |
| Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| Jamestown Jammers (MIA) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| State College Spikes (PIT) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| Batavia Muckdogs (STL) | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 2 |
| Stedler | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Lowell Spinners (BOS) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 0 |
| Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 0 |
| Connecticut Tigers (DET) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 0 |
| Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | 0 |
Jammers 3, Scrappers 1 — Recap
With a complete contrast of lineups from Game 1 and Game 2, perhaps it’s only fitting it was a complete contrast in games from Monday and Tuesday. After a fairly sloppy performance Monday, Jamestown held Mahoning Valley to three hits en route to a 3-1 victory for their first win of the 2012 season.
The good: Jamestown’s bullpen. After a rough outing Monday, three Jamestown relievers combined to throw five innings of no-hit ball while walking just one. Jheyson Manzueta was the most impressive, retiring all six batters and striking out five. Brian Dice also went 3-for-3 in his 2012 debut out of the 6-hole.
The bad: Not much to complain about tonight. The two errors came from the pitchers and the Jammers pounded out nine hits. 3-for-12 with RISP isn’t terrible enough to complain about, but leaving 12 on is.
Game was over when: Well to be fair, this one wasn’t over until Nick Wittgren got Richard Stock to fly out for the 27th out. But, looking back on it, Mahoning Valley had the bases loaded with nobody out in the third. Del Orbe got the No. 3 hitter to strike out before getting a double play out of the cleanup hitter. The Scrappers didn’t have another chance — or another hit — the rest of the night.
Grades
Cameron Flynn (RF) B+ — 0-for-3 out of the leadoff spot, but walked twice. That’s all you want out of a leadoff hitter, no? Also was his first pro game for the rookie out of Kentucky.
Jesus Solorzano (CF) C+ — 0-for-4 with a walk and I could be wrong about this, but didn’t touch the ball at all defensively except for the final out. Weird night.
Felix Munoz (1B) B+ — Couple of singles from Munoz and it will be interesting to see how Espada uses his first baseman going forward. Rosa and Munoz are both lefties. It looked like Rosa (not just because he played Opening Day) was the guy but if Munoz keeps hitting, he’ll have to be in the lineup somewhere. Tough break when he lined into a double play to end the eighth.
Austin Nola (3B) B — First and foremost, the infield defense was great all around. 10 ground ball outs from Del Orbe and four more from the bullpen. Nola was busy down at third and showed he can play both positions on the left side of the infield. Started the fifth innings rally as well with his first hit as a pro.
Kentrell Dewiit (LF) A- — Another two hits from Dewitt, including his third double of the young season. Really fueled both rallies in the fourth and fifth, even though he only came around to score once. 4-for-7 with a walk this year.
Brian Dice (DH) A — Probably the least known player on this team — at least for me. But Dice, who I assumed wouldn’t see much time this year, went 3-for-4 with a double. He’ll be in the lineup again soon, I can promise that.
Sharif Othman (C) B — Went 1-for-3 with a walk and also had an RBI. I think Behar is the everyday catcher for this team, but Othman had a nice day.
Rony Peralta (SS) B — Like Nola, he was a busy man defensively. Also laid down a nice sacrifice bunt that helped things out in the fourth. Jamestown has plenty of options at short, so we’ll see if he impressed.
Yefri Perez (2B) C — He was actually the only Jammer not reach base tonight, but the infield did such a great job, you have to bump his rating up.
PITCHERS
Ramon Del Orbe (SP) C+ — It may just be a pitch count thing, but Del Orbe only got them through four. Three hits and two walks, but he scattered them effectively. Pitched out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam that preserved the game. Just need another inning or two in the future to be a quality start.
Sean Donatello (RP) A — Started the run of greatness by relievers by throwing two hitless innings. Walked one, struck out two. Got the win.
Jheyson Manzueta (RP) A+ — 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K. Enough said.
Nick Wittgren (RP) A+ — 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Struck out one.
Jammers return the favor to the Scrappers as they travel to play Mahoning Valley for two in Niles, Ohio. First pitch tomorrow is at 7:05 p.m.
Game 2: Jammers-Scrappers Lineups
JAMESTOWN
RF Cameron Flynn — 1st game
CF Jesus Solorzano — .333
1B Felix Munoz — 1st game
3B Austin Nola — .000
LF Kentrell Dewitt — .667
DH Brian Dice — 1st game
C Sharif Othman — 1st game
SS Rony Peralta — 1st game
2B Yefri Perez — 1st game
SP Ramon Del Orbe — 1st game
MAHONING VALLEY
SS Jose Ramirez — .400
CF Mark Bradley — .000
LF Aaron Siliga — .000
C Charlie Valerio — .250
2B Joseph Wendle — 1st game
3B Erik Gonzalez — .333
DH Richard Stock — 1st game
RF Juan Romero — .500. 2 HR
1B Mitchell Nilsson — 1st game
SP Jake Sisco — 1st game
Opening Day Wrapup
It wasn’t pretty, but certainly to be somewhat expected, as some sloppy baseball from both teams ended in an 8-5 win for Mahoning Valley. Playing from behind most of the night, Jamestown erased deficits of 3-0 and 4-3 before finally falling short on Opening Day.
The good: Kentrell Dewitt went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBI and rookie Anthony Gomez also had two hits in his professional debut.
The bad: Jamestown allowed 10 hits, walked seven and allowed three errors.
Game was over when: Juan Romero broke a 4-4 with a 3-run homerun that really looked like a routine fly that carried out of the park.
Grades
Yeison Hernandez (2B) C+ — Sure he went 0-for-5 but Hernandez hit the ball hard, just happened to not be in the right places. He led off the game with a shot up the middle, but was absolutely robbed by Jose Ramirez who went to his right and threw across his body all in one motion to nab Hernandez. Hit the ball on the ground, he’ll be fine.
Anthony Gomez (DH) B+ — Had two hits in his pro debut including an RBI double that scored Dewitt in the third. Also scored a run.
Austin Nola (SS) C- — 0-for-4 with a walk and also had an error. Tough to be too hard on the kid, didn’t arrive in Jamestown until two days ago. Should be the No. 3 hitter and played fine at short otherwise.
Matt Juengel (3B) B- — 1-for-5 with a nice piece of hitting in the fifth when Angel Espada put the hit-and-run on. Juengel ripped one into center with Gomez running. Mahoning’s CF Aaron Siliga’s throw to third was errant, allowing a run to score and moved Juengel to third.
Viosergy Rosa (1B) B — Rosa worked two great at bats for walks in his first two plate appearances. Did pretty well on two tough grounders, but did boot one to his right then went down for an error, but didn’t come back to haunt Jamestown.
Jesus Solorzano (RF) B — Went 1-for-3 and was also hit by a pitch. Came around to score twice. Wasn’t tested defensively.
Jose Behar (C) B- — A lot of good and not so good from Behar. Did a nice job behind the plate early as Helpi Reyes was rather wild. Threw out a runner on a wild pitch and also picked a runner off trying to steal third. Also allowed a passed ball to let a run score and went 0-for-3 at the plate. Overall, Behar looks like a fine defensive catcher. Jamestown will take any offense they can get from him.
Kentrell Dewitt B — Same goes for Dewitt. He cracked two doubles, knocked in two runs, walked and scored. But he badly misplayed a ball in the top of the fifth that probably could have been kept to a single, but he dove and the ball got by him moving the runner to third. Would have been an A+ if not for that.
Juancito Martinez (CF) C — Went 1-for-4 with a RBI. Didn’t notice defensively.
Helpi Reyes (SP) D — I don’t like to give F’s, especially not on Opening Day, but Reyes simply didn’t have it today. 5 hits, 1 walk in three innings for three earned runs. A two out walk to Siliga on four pitches in the first (with nobody on) derailed him early.
Jake Esch (RP) B — One inning of work, allowed a single, which turned into a double play one batter later.
Beau Wright (RP) D+ — Wright took the loss but was the victim of bad luck and was probably left in a bit too long. Also wasn’t helped out by his defense who committed three errors in his two innings. Allowed a three-run homerun to Juan Romero, but that was a routine fly ball that carried out. Wright can throw, but has to cut down the walks.
Miguel Fermin (RP) B+ — Fermin looked outstanding retiring the first five he saw with ease, but then grooved a fastball to Romero, which was crushed for a homerun. Still, he’s been pitching for three months. He might have a future as a short reliever.
Bryan Berglund (RP) B — Berglund came on in the ninth and threw a scoreless inning, while walking one.
Jammers-Scrappers Lineups
Opening Day here at Diethrick Park with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Here are today’s lineups.
Jamestown
1. Yeison Hernandez (2B)
2. Anthony Gomez (DH)
3. Austin Nola (SS)
4. Matt Juengel (3B)
5. Viosergy Rosa (1B)
6. Jesus Solorzano (RF)
7. Jose Behar (C)
8. Kentrell Dewitt (LF)
9. Juancito Martinez (CF)
SP — Helpi Reyes
Mahoning Valley
1. Jose Ramirez (2B)
2. Mark Bradley (DH)
3. Aaron Siliga (CF)
4. Charlie Valerio (C)
5. Hunter Jones (LF)
6. Evan Frazar (1B)
7. Erik Gonzalez (3B)
8. Juan Romero (RF)
9. Jairo Kelly (SS)
SP — Geoffrey Davenport
Monday’s Transactions
Fairly common in the New York Penn League for constant shuffling and Monday — Opening Day — was no different for the Jammers.
Added:
Michael Vaughn (C) — Vaughn’s the fourth catcher in Jamestown now. He was a 14th round pick out of Fresno Pacific University and was actually signed yesterday, June 17. He’s listed on the 7-day DL.
Leaving:
Blake Logan (RHP) — No official transaction listed yet, but Logan is off the roster, which made sense. I hadn’t seen him yet and he wasn’t issued a number.
Injury:
Pedro Mendoza (INF) — Placed on the 7-day DL.
That gets the Jammers to the required active roster of 30 players — 15 pitchers, 15 hitters.
Reyes Named Opening Day Starter
Quick note here, Helpi Reyes will be on the mound tonight for the Jammers on Opening Day. Reyes, a 20 year old from the Dominican Republic spent all of 2011 with the Jammers and went 1-6 with a 5.37 ERA in 12 starts and 15 games overall.
He’ll be opposed by Geoffery Davenport, a 43rd round pick out of Arkansas in 2011. Davenport had Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left throwing elbow and will making his professional debut.
I’ll post the starting lineups once I get to Diethrick Park later on today.
Pre-game festivities and fireworks tonight. Should be a great night in Jamestown.
Elsewhere in the NYPL
Aberdeen @ Hudson Valley 6:35 p.m.
Staten Island @ Brooklyn 7 p.m.
Auburn @ Batavia 7:05 p.m.
Connecticut @ Lowell 7:05 p.m.
State College @ Williamsport 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City @ Vermont 7:05 p.m.
Jammers Announce Opening Day Roster
I broke down a preliminary roster yesterday for pitchers. Today, the Jammers have released their full roster. Added to the pitching staff are Bryan Berglund, Ramon Del Orbe and Blake Logan, giving the Jammers 16 pitchers.
Jamestown will also have 16 hitters for a rather large 32-man roster to open the year. Don’t worry, that will certainly change quick.
Pitchers (16) — Bryan Berglund, Ramon Del Orbe, Sean Donatello, Brian Ellington, Jacob Esch, Miguel Fermin, Mason Hope, Blake Logan, Jheyson Manzueta, Matt Milroy, Ryan Newell, Frankie Reed, Helpi Reyes, Drew Steckenrider, Nick Wittgren, Beau Wright.
Catchers (3) — Jose Behar, Brian Dice, Sharif Othman
Infielders (9) — Anthony Gomez, Yeison Hernandez, Matt Juengel, Pedro Mendoza, Felix Munoz, Austin Nola, Rony Peralta, Yefri Perez, Viosergy Rosa
Outfielders (4) — Kentrell Dewitt, Juancito Martinez, Jesus Solorzano and Cameron Flynn
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