Results tagged ‘ Dustin McGowan ’
CHIEFS OPENER THURSDAY
The Chiefs open the 2007 season tomorrow night in Durham. Dustin McGowan will take the ball for Syracuse against Jason Hammel for the Bulls.
Chiefs’ GM John Simone traveled to Durham for the Opener and to take the team out to dinner tonight. John reports that the team is a good bunch of guys and especially commented on how nice veteran catcher Sal Fasano is.
John will be calling the Chiefs Office tomorrow once the Opening Day lineup is posted and we’ll have it for you right here on Inside the Chiefs blog as soon as we receive the call.
It seems the only major decisions new Manager Doug Davis will have to make will be in RF and DH. He will have to choose from John-Ford Griffin, Mike Vento and Chad Mottola in right with the other two will be candidates for DH along with extra infielder Ryan Roberts.
While plans continue for the Chiefs home opener on Saturday April 14th, we would like to hear what you the fans would like to hear for music played at the stadium this season. If you have a song that you think should be played at the stadium this season, email us at baseball@syracusechiefs.com.
THOMSON GIVES UP SIX RUNS IN CHIEFS DEFEAT
The Toronto Blue Jays had two pitchers battling for a starting rotation spot pitching on Monday against the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguers. Righthander Tomo Ohka was solid as he shut down the Yankees over five innings allowing only 1-run in a 9-1 victory. Fellow righty John Thomson was not as sharp as he gave up 6-runs, in 5-innings of work against the Phillies AAA-Ottawa team that defeated the Syracuse Chiefs 7-2.
The Chiefs lineup today included: Ryan Klosterman 2B, Sal Fasano C, Adam Lind LF, John Hattig 3B, Chip Cannon DH, David Smith RF, Dustin Majewski CF, Erik Kratz 1B, Manny Mayorson SS.
The Chiefs scored single runs in the 4th on a RBI single by Chip Cannon and one-run in the 6th on a RBI single by Adam Lind. The Chiefs banged out 8-hits off of five Scranton pitchers. Sal Fasano and Adam Lind each had two hits, while Erik Kratz had a two-out double in the ninth.
After Thompson departed in the fifth, Dustin McGowan pitched three innings giving up 1-run (solo home run) in the sixth and righthander Beau Kempwho pitched for Rochester last season tossed one scoreless inning, striking out one.
The Chiefs are off to Tampa to face Scranton on Tuesday with Ty Taubenheim expected to pitch for the Chiefs.
Don’t forget to listen to “Inside Pitch” on 1260 AM ESPN Radio on Tuesday live from Dunedin, Florida as Chiefs radio announcer Bob McElligott moves over to the Blue Jays minor league complex and talks with Chiefs skipper Doug Davis and Director of Player Development **** Scott. Today Bob took in the Jays vs Yankees game at Knology Park and talked with Jays catcher Greg Zaun, Second Baseman Aaron Hill and pitcher Josh Towers and Brandon League.
MORE PLAYERS SENT TO CHIEFS
In just two weeks the major league baseball season begins and clubs are now beginning to set their rosters. After three weeks of playing minor league prospects and invitees to their camps, big league teams need to get serious and start playing their starters at least 7-innings.
Yesterday the Blue Jays sent the Chiefs four more players who will begin the season in Syracuse. One of them, Adam Lind will be welcomed BIG TIME. Lind has captured MVP honors in two different leagues on his way up and will likely continue his early career success in Syracuse this season. Hopefully, he’s here for more than just a month. Two of the Blue Jays other top prospects Alex Rios and Aaron Hill never saw June.
Also sent to the Chiefs was Russ Adams who will play everyday at Second base and corner infielders John Hattig and Rob Cosby. Hattig who can play 3rd base and 1st base batted .277 for the Chiefs last season – his first in AAA with 32 doubles. The line driver hitter with gap power needs ro improve on his power numbers (only 4 HR’s last season) to make the next jump.
Cosby not only played 3rd base and 1st base but also right and left field for the Chiefs last season and after hitting 18 home runs in his rookie season at AAA.
Also sent to the Chiefs was righthanded pitcher Ty Taubenheim who came over from the Brewers last season and was impressive early as a starter and earned a promotion to Toronto in June.
Taubenheim now joins Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, Dustin McGowan and youngsters Michael MacDonald, Kyle Yates, David Purcey and Ricky Romero in a crowded fight for five or six spots in the Chiefs rotation.
Still with Toronto are righties Casey Janssen, Shaun Marcum and Josh Towers who are all battling Tomo Ohka and John Thomson for the final two spots in the Jays rotation.
Sounds like no matter what happens the Chiefs will be stacked with starting pitching.
Don’t forget that on Monday 5-6 PM The Voice of the Chiefs Bob McElligott will be broadcasting live from Dunedin, FL on 1260 AM ESPN Radio.
All week look for up-to-the minunte reports from Spring Training.
CHIEFS STARTING PITCHING TAKING SHAPE
The Syracuse Chiefs starting pitching is beginning to take shape as righthanders Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez and Dustin McGowan all returned to the Chiefs minor league complex this week.
Banks spent all of the 2006 season in Syracuse and finished with 10-wins in his rookie season in AAA. On the positive side Banks made 29-starts, pitched 171-innings and walked only 28-batters and struck out 126. He was also 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA in his final 12-starts and allowed only 14-home runs during that period. On the negitive side he did give up 35 home runs and recorded a 5.17 ERA. In his second season at AAA Banks should improve on those numbers.
Ramirez begin the season at AA-New Hamphsire and was 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA before an injury forced him to miss a month of the season and a trip to AAA-Syracuse, most likely in July.
He did join the Chiefs in late August and was 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 3-starts. Ramirez now 26 should be ready for the International League after three really good years at A-Dunedin and AA-New Hamshire.
Three years ago Dustin McGowan was the Phillip Hughes of the Blue Jays organization. With AA-New Haven in 2003, McGowan was 7-0 with a 3.17 ERA in his first 14-starts. During his last appearance with New Haven he injured his arm and needed Tommy John surgery. Missing almost all of 2004, and still not sharp in 2005, Dustin returned last season and split time between Syracuse and Toronto.
Bounced around from the bullpen to starting and back to the bullpen in 2006, McGowan should return to the Chiefs starting rotation this season.
Still in major league camp that could bolster the Chiefs rotation are righties Ty Taubenheim, Shaun Marcum and Casey Janssen. Those three would provide the Chiefs with six solid starters to begin the season.
Tomorrow the bullpen.
JAYS BEGIN TO DELETE ROSTER
The Toronto Blue Jays minor league camp opened last week and games for their four affiliates will begin on Wednesday vs the Philadelphia Phillies organization. At the major league level, the parent club has begun sending down players including seven pitchers. Lefty Jo Matumoto joins righthanders Beau Kemp, Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, and yesterday Ryan Houston, Jean Machi and Tracy Thorpe found their way back to the Englebert Complex.
Only shortstop Sergio Santos and catcher Erik Kratz have been assigned from the group of non-pitchers.
First glance at the Jays pitching staff only Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, and Brian Tallet seem to be locks. That leaves probably five spots available and righthanders Jeremy Accardo and Brandon League if healthy will take up two of those. The other three spots, two are starting pitchers and one long reliever.
The candidates, Tomo Ohka, John Thomson, Josh Towers and Shaun Marcum are leading contenders with Victor Zambrano, Pete Walker and Geremi Gonzalez also in the mix. Francisco Rosario is out of options and can’t return to Syracuse.
Pitchers most likely left out and headed back to Syracuse include Dustin McGowan, Davis Romero, who was injured early in camp, Matt Roney, Ty Taubenheim, Lee Gronkiewicz, Blaine Neal, and Brian Wolfe.
SPRING FLINGS
The Blue Jays pitchers and catchers officially reported on Sunday. In folloiwng the Toronto papers and BlueJays.com here are some of the early topics:
* Manager John Gibbons was given a one-year contract extension.
* Gibbons believes that should Shaun Marcum not win a spot in the rotation, he would make the Blue Jays as a reliever. Other young pitchers vying for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation, Casey Janssen, Dustin McGowan and Ty Taubenheim would all be sent to Syracuse to start.
* Another rotation candidate Josh Towers worked hard in the off-season with teammate Reed Johnson in Las Vegas and vows to take better care of his body this season.
* Victor Zambrano didn’t arrive in Dunedin until Monday due to visa problems. He is ahead of schedule progressing from elbow surgery but isn’t expected to be ready to pitch in the Majors until May or June.
