Results tagged ‘ Jamie Vermilyea ’

CHIEFS BEAT YANKEES IN 9TH INNING

The Syracuse Chiefs defeated the Scranton Yankees on Tuesday 6-4 with a two-run rally in the 9th inning capped by a Robinzon Diaz two-run single.

The Chiefs banged out 12-hits, two each by Buck Coats, Ryan Klosterman, Sergio Santos and Joe Inglett.  Coats two hits were doubles.

The Chiefs line-up consisted of: Buck Coats CF, Curtis Thigpen C,  Adam Lind LF, David Smith RF,  Russ Adams ss, Chip Cannon 1B, Sergio Santos 3B, Joe Inglett 2B and Robinzon Diaz DH.

On the Mound RHP Kyle Yates pitched 3-innings giving up 1-earned run.  he was followed by Jordan DeJong who pitched two innings giving up 1-unearned run and Jamie Vermilyea who tossed two shutout innings.  Bubba Nelson gave up 1-run in 1-inning of work and Tracy Thorpe finished up with a scoreless inning.

The Chiefs will take on the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) on Wednesday in Dunedin at 1:00 PM

JAYS MAKE FIRST CUTS THIS WEEK

The Toronto Blue Jays returned three non-roster pitchers to their minor league complex this week, righthanders Jeremy Cummings and Jamie Vermilyea and Lefthander Ryan Ketchner.

Cummings, 31, was 6-8 with a 4.11 ERA in 22 starts split between Syracuse and Rochester last season.  The veteran righthander has spent the past three years at the AAA-level with Scranton, Rochester and Syracuse.

Vermilyea, 26, was 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 22 appearances, mostly in relief last season with the Chiefs.  He also appeared in 2-games with the Blue Jays.

Ketchner, 25, was 1-11 with a 5.62 ERA in 19-starts for Portland (PCL) in the San Diego Padres organization.  The Wellsville, New York native was born partially deaf and has roughly 10% of his hearing and is a talented lip reader.

Ketchner was the Seattle Mariners 10th selection in the June 2000 draft out of High School.  In 2003 he was a California League All Star at Inland Empire when he went 14-7 and led the league with 159 strike outs.

He was traded to the Dodgers in 2004 and spent that season at AA-Jacksonville where he went 8-7 with a 3.02 ERA.  He was injured much of 2006 and returned to action half way through the 2007 season.

Withe the Chiefs scheduled to begin spring training games this week, look for the Blue Jays to make further cuts this weekend.

NON ROSTER INVITEES ANNOUNCED

The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they have invited 19 players to Spring Training in Dunedin, Florida that begins on February 16th.

Returning organizational players include Jesse Carlson (New Hampshire ’07), Jeremy Cummings (Syracuse ’07), Jamie Vermilyea (Syracuse ’07), Sal Fasano (Syracuse ’07), J.P. Arencibia (Auburn ’07), Brian Jeroloman (Lansing ’07), Chip Cannon (New Hampshire ’07), Hector Luna (Syracuse ’07), Wayne Lydon (Syracuse ’07), Ryan Patterson (New Hampshire ’07) and Travis Snider (Lansing ’07).

Players signed by the Blue Jays as minor league free agents include pitchers Shawn Camp, Lance Carter, Kane Davis, Mike Gosling, Ryan Ketchner, John Parrish, infielder Pedro Lopez and outfielder Matt Watson,

In addtion three Chiefs from last years squad have also been invited to big league camps.  John-Ford Griffin (Dodgers), Ryan Roberts (Rangers), and Howie Clark (Twins).

Other former Chiefs in camps include Chad Hermansen (Angels), Tomas Perez and Jose Cruz (Astros), Scott Cassidy (Brewers), Josh Phelps, John Wasdin, and Hugo Castellanos (Cardinals), Mike Smith and Luis Figueroa (Cubs), Adam Melhuse (Rangers), Kevin Cash (Red Sox), Ken Huckaby (Royals) and Aquillino Lopez (Tigers).

FINAL ROSTER DECISIONS MADE

The Toronto Blue Jays made their final few decisions and the result caused a ripple effect on their minor league system.  The Blue Jays decided to send down to the Chiefs pitchers Geremi Gonzalez and Brian Tallet, catcher Sal Fasano and designate pitcher Francisco Rosario for assignment.

The Chiefs roster currently looks like this with still a few decisions to be made:
STARTING ROTATION:  Four kids and a veteran.  Dustin McGowan, Josh Banks, Ty Taubenheim and Ismael Ramirez made 60 AAA-starts in 2006.  They all should be improved in their second season.  Gonzalez a veteran will anchor the staff with Jamie Vermilyea and Jason Scobie also available for long relief or spot staring.

BULLPEN:  Tallet is the lone lefty and will be used in situational roles, while newcomer Blaine Neal assumes the closer role.  Set-up men include former Red Wing Beau Kemp, who helped Rochester to the I.L. Governors Cup Finals, Matt Roney who recorded an ERA under 3.00 with Sacramento last season, Ryan Houston who pitched exceptional from April-June last year before a terrible month of July balooned his ERA and newcomer Brain Wolfe, who was acquired in the Corey Koskie trade last season and bounced around from A-Dunedin and AA-New Hampshire in 2006.  Wolfe could be the sleeper in this group.

CATCHING:  Veteran Sal Fasano backs up big league catching prospect Curtis Thigpen.  A major improvement over last seasons defensively challenged duo of Mike Mahoney and Jason Phillips.

INFIELDERS:    Kevin Barker returns for his third season at 1B, Russ Adams returns to Syracuse this time to play second base, Slick fielding Ray Olmedo takes over at shortstop while John Hattig returns for his third season at 3B.  Ryan Roberts will man the utility role and is very good at all three positions 2B, SS and 3B.   The Chiefs should be very much improved up the middle with Olmedo and Adams, both have played in the major leagues, while Barker is very good around the bag at first.  Hattig’s range is average at best, but should make up for it with his bat (.277 with 30 doubles last season).  Roberts had a great spring and will see plenty of action.

OUTFIELDERS:  Three spots with five quality players.  Jeff Duncan will see most of the action in center field and can play defence.  His speed on the turf at home should make him a .300 hitter.  Super prospect Adam Lind will play left field while veterans Mike Vento (AAA All-Star at Columbus two years ago) and Chiefs Fan Favorite Chad Mottola share time in rightfield.  2005 MVP John-Ford Griffin is healthy and will get most of the DH at bats.

The Chiefs still need to drop one pitcher and will add Francisco Rosario and Brandon League at some point in early April with more changes yet to be made.

CHIEFS GET FIRST WIN

The Syracuse Chiefs picked up their first spring training victory on Saturday 4-1,  with the help of former Cy Young pitcher Roy Halladay.  The Chiefs took on the Ottawa Lynx (Phillies farm team) and with the Jays major league club playing the Tigers, the Jays brass thought it would be better if Halladay got his work in a AAA-game instead.  The Phillies countered with big league righty Jon Lieber who pitched against the Chiefs.

The lineup for the Chiefs included:

Jason Phillips C, Russ Adams 2B, Sergio Santos SS, Chip Cannon 1B, Ryan Klosterman DH, Dustin Majewski RF, Justin Singleton CF, Luke Hetherington LF and Brad Hassey 3B.

The Chiefs scored two runs off Lieber in the 4th on solo home runs by Jason Phillips and Sergio Santos.  They scored two additional runs in the 10th-inning (the teams agreed to play 10) on a fielders choice and error.

Halladay went 5-innings allowing only 3-hits and struckout 7 batters and threw only 56 pitches.  Mike MacDonald followed that up with 2-shutout innings with relievers Jamie Vermilyea and Lee Gronkiewicz tossing one shut out inning each.  Jean Machi also pitched one-inning and allowed one un-earned run.

The Chiefs did committ 4-errors in the field, two by shortstop Sergio Santos. The Chiefs take on the Phillies (Ottawa) again today in Dunedin.

JAYS ADD ROONEY LOAD UP ON PITCHING

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to load up on pitching by adding righthander  Matt Rooney to their 40-man roster.  Rooney, 26, signed as a free agent after spending most of the 2006 season at Sacremento (PCL) when he recorded a 2.95 ERA in 47-relief appearances. He also appeared in 3-games with Oakland.   Rooney pitched in the IL with Toledo in 2004 and 2005.  Rooney joins a group of off-season free agent pitching help that includes Germi Gonzalez, Beau Kemp, Blaine Neal, Jason Scobie and Jean Machi.

That list will join Blue Jays prospects (starters) Josh Banks, Casey Janssen, Dustin McGowan, Ty Taubenheim, Ismael Ramirez, David Purcey, Michael MacDonald, Kyle Yates, Ricky Romero and veteran Josh Towers and relievers Ryan Houston, Davis Romero, Francisco Rosario, Jamie Vermilyea, Lee Gronkiewicz, Jordan DeJong, Tracey Thorpe and possibly late season acquision Jermey Accardo.

That’s alot of pitching to choose from with a whole off-season to go.

For more information on Free Agent signings make sure to listen to “INSIDE PITCH” this Saturday, November 18th at 9:00 AM on ESPN Radio 1260 AM when Chiefs GM John Simone and Bob McElligott talk to Chad Mottola and Kevin Barker who will both return to Syracuse in 2007 and take your calls on anything baseball.

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