Results tagged ‘ Ryan Houston ’

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (8/13 – 8/19)

BATTER OF THE WEEK: OF Chad Mottola put together a historic week for the Chiefs. Mottola belted two home runs Thursday in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre which were homers number 99 and 100 in his Chiefs career. Mottola became the second member of the century club joining Dutch Mele and his 111 career Chiefs home runs. Other than the longballs, Mottola had four two-hit games in five games played. Mottola went 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, a triple and two home runs with four RBI.

HONORABLE MENTION: OF John-Ford Griffin hit two home runs in the past seven days which were his 25th and 26th jacks of the season. With homer number 25 Griffin became the first Chief ever to register two 25 or more home runs seasons with the Chiefs. Griffin his 30 dingers back in 2005.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: It hasn’t been a pretty week for Chiefs hurlers since the team has yet to pick up a win. But reliever Ryan Houston made two scoreless appearances. Houston threw three innings giving up only one hit and striking out one.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (7/2 – 7/8)

BATTER OF THE WEEK: Chiefs 1B Kevin Barker drove in seven runs in the six games this week. Barker hit .348 (8-for-23) with a double and two home runs. He helped celebrate our nation’s independence with a fireworks display of his own on the Fourth of July and homered again the next night. His home run on July 5th came in the 10th inning in an 8-7 Chiefs victory.

Honorable Mention: OF Chad Mottola put together the best performance with a 4-for-4 night on July 6th where he scored four runs and socked a game-winning home run in the 10th inning. Mottola was 6-for-15 (.400) for the week.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: RHP Ryan Houston earned the distinction this week. Houston went 1-0 with a save in three relief appearances. The hard-thrower gave up just one hit and one walk in 4.1 innings while striking out five.

Honorable Mention: RHP Lee Gronkiewicz made two relief appearances over the past seven days. Gronkiewicz earned a win and tossed three scoreless innings. He struck out four batters while giving up just two walks.

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 AND LYNX TIE

The Syracuse Chiefs and Ottawa Lynx played to a 4-4 tie on Sunday in Dunedin, Florida.  The Chiefs lineup included many players just sent down by the parent Toronto Blue Jays.  They included:  Russ Adams 2B, Sergio Santos SS, Adam Lind LF, John Hattig 3B, David Smith RF, Rob Cosby 1B, Chip Cannon DH, John Schneider C, Justin Singleton CF.

The Chiefs scored three runs in the first inning and one more in the sixth.  Rob Cosby went 2 for 4 with an RBI and David Smith went 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the first inning.  Manny Mayorson replaced Sergio Santos in the 6th inning and picked up two singles in his only two at bats.

Ismael Ramirez went three innings allowing only 1-run, while Josh Banks gave up three runs in 3-innings of work.  Jason Scobie pitched two scoreless innings and struckout 3.  Ryan Houston finished in the ninth with one scoreless inning.

Chiefs are off to Tampa today to take on Scranton at 1:00 PM.

Don’t forget to listen to “Inside Pitch” in drive time on 1260 AM ESPN Radio today and all week from Dunedin, FL.  Bob McElligott will be at Knology Field today covering the Yankees vs Jays game and will have his report.

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.

THE GAMES BEGIN

The Blue Jays opened the spring schedule this afternoon with a 4-1 win versus the Boston Red Sox. 

Many of the players expected to be in Syracuse when the regular season opens performed well for the Jays.  Adam Lind started in left-field and went 1-2 with a triple before being replaced by John-Ford Griffin who went 1-1 with a double.  John Hattig was 1-2 with an RBI, Kevin Barker was 1-3. Non-roster invitee Jeff Duncan replaced Vernon Wells in center-field in the third inning and was 1-1 with a walk and a run scored.

On the mound Ty Taubenheim pitched a perfect 8th and Ryan Houston pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save.

The most interesting part if the box score is accurate is that Ryan Roberts, primarily a second-baseman, played shortstop in relief of Royce Clayton while Rey Olmedo, a natural shortstop, relieved Aaron Hill at second base.

The Jays travel tomorrow to take on the Boston Red Sox in Ft. Myers at 12:30 PM.  Gustavo Chacin is scheduled to start for Toronto.

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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