The Detroit Tiger Weblog » audy ciriaco

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.31.2010

billfer — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:40:23 +0000

There’s only one game to cover with Toledo and West Michigan getting washed out and Lakeland having a normal day off.

Harrisburg 9 Toledo 11
Audy Ciriaco continues to hit well since his return from the disabled list picking up a homer, a single, and a walk. Cale Iorg went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles. Wilkin Ramirez had 2 doubles. Jon Kibler allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings. Luis Marte allowed a run on 2 hits and a walk while striking out the side. Anthony Shawler made this a close game by allowing 4 runs in his inning of work.

Tigers Minor League Wrap 04.21.2010

billfer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:32:12 +0000

Toledo 1 Louisville 3
Enrique Gonzalez had a nice start allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits, a walk, and 6 strike outs in 6 innings. Daniel Schlereth allowed 2 hits and 2 walks but fanned 3 and nobody crossed home plate on his watch. Offensively Ben Guez led the way with a double.

Bowie 5 Erie 3
Audy Ciriaco homered. Josh Burrus had 2 hits and a walk. Duane Below gave up 2 homers amongst 6 hits in 3 innings. It was another short outing for Below who is coming off of TJ surgery.

Clearwater 2 Lakeland 6
Brayan Villarreal continues to shine. He surrendered a solo homer, but he also fanned 9 and walked only 1. He has 26 strike outs and 2 walks in 15.1 innings this year. Billy Nowlin doubled and singled. Daniel Fields added 2 hits, a walk, and 2 stolen bases.

West Michigan 2 Dayton 5
Jamie Johnson went 3 for 3 with a walk and his OBP sits at .475. Mike Gosse added 2 hits and Wade Gaynor drove in 2 runs. Giovany Soto allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, no walks, and 3 K’s.

In other Whitecaps news, Jacob Turner’s start last night was pushed back due to forearm stiffness which doesn’t sound serious. Then again the organization has been down playing the Cody Satterwhite situation as well.

Tigers add 4 to the roster

billfer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:36:45 +0000

The Tigers have added Scott Sizemore, Ryan Strieby, Brennan Boesch, and Audy Ciriaco to the 40 man roster, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft. The roster was at 42, but with the 6 free agents off the roster, and the addition of these 4 players it is now full at 40.

The additions of Sizemore and Strieby are not the least bit surprising. Strieby was one of the best hitters in the Eastern League last year while he was healthy. He’s seemingly blocked at first base and will see increased work in the outfield, but regardless he is too good of a hitter to let walk. Sizemore of course is the heir apparent at second base with the likely departure of Placido Polanco.

After those two though there was a larger pool of players on the bubble. The Tigers decided to stick with the toolsy (and hopefully starting to translate to production) Ciriaco and the power of Brennan Boesch. Ciriaco finally started to tie those tools into some production late last year where he got his line drive rate up to the teens from June forward. And despite Boesch’s struggles controlling the plate (127 K’s and 34 BB’s last year) he did slug at a .510 clip. It’s interesting though that as Dave Dombrowski talks about improving plate discipline throughout the organization they protected two players who have the strike out and walk rates that Ciriaco and Boesch do.

Among those left off the roster were a handful of pitchers including Luis Marte, Bryan Villarreal, Scot Drucker, and Brett Jensen. I’m not necessarily surprised by the absence of any one of those pitchers, but that none were protected is a little surprising.

Things are likely to change yet as trade rumors swirl and the Tigers have to decide on a shortstop.

Tigers Minors News

billfer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:08:09 +0000

Just because the regular minor league seasons are over doesn’t mean there isn’t news coming out about the Tigers prospects. The instructional league is in full swing, the Arizona Fall League is starting, and post season awards are being handed out.

Instructional League

Jacob Turner

The IL games are underway. Mark Anderson of TigsTown is on site and filing daily reports. The first one was free, but the subsequent ones are premium content. Based on the 2 reports so far Audy Ciriaco has been a star.

The IL is also a chance to see many of the Tigers 2009 draftees in Tigers uniform for the first time. Lakeland resident Roger DeWitt has been hanging around the fields and posting his pictures on Flickr. As has been the case the last few years, Roger was the first to get shots of the Tigers first round picks in action and he has Jacob Turner throwing on one of the practice mounds.

Arizona Fall League

The Tigers have had to make some adjustments to their AFL roster due to the arm problems of Cody Satterwhite and the lingering wrist problem of Ryan Strieby. In a surprise move (at least I was surprised), 2nd round pick Andrew Oliver will take Satterwhite’s spot.

What isn’t known is if Oliver is going because he has really impressed so far and the Tigers want to see what he does against advanced competition in preparation for an aggressive assignment next year, or if he is going by default.

Casper Wells will take Strieby’s spot, but that isn’t so much of a surprise.

Player of the Year Honors

Congratulations to Scott Sizemore and Casey Crosby who took home organizational Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors. (As predicted by Take 75 North).

Both had outstanding seasons. Crosby was kept on the 75 pitch limit which did hold down his innings but he still managed 117 strike outs in 104.1 innings. I’d imagine he’d start out in Lakeland next year with an 85-90 pitch limit but he could very well end up at Erie before the year is out.

Sizemore just raked the ball all season. He hit in Erie and continued hitting as he spent the 2nd half of the year in Toledo and he may be pushing Placido Polanco out the door.

Junkballing: Zach Miner, Tiger Stadium, and injured shortstops

billfer — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:35:03 +0000

Zach Miner starts again

The question of the 5th starter has been answered – for now. Zach Miner will take the spot formerly occupied by Eddie Bonine and before him Dontrelle Willis. Miner had some struggles with control out of the pen this year. But in two “stretch-out” starts for Toledo he has posted a 12:2 strike out to walk ratio in 8.1 innings. I’m in favor of giving Miner a shot, but I think there will be a pretty quick switch if he starts running every count full and walking people.

Is Tiger Stadium saved?

There have been deadline extenstions, and votes to keep some parts, and votes to knock the whole thing down. But now the Daily Fungo points to a news release on Carl Levin’s web site that there is $4 million earmarked for Corktown preservation and redevelopment. Presumably this is the money that the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is hoping to obtain to save a portion of the stadium.

Injured middle infielders littered throughout the system

When the Tigers traded away their stud centerfield prospects middle infield became the organizational position of strength. Instead it’s become the organizational position of DL stays and ibuprofen. Edgar Renteria is battling a hamstring injury that he reagravated tonight.

Cale Iorg, the Tigers big time bonus pick from last year just hit the DL for Lakeland. His keystone partner Scott Sizemore has missed a big chunk of the season with a broken bone in his hand. Danny Worth, another draft pick from last year who has been a defensive whiz for Erie is now missing time. And high ceiling shortstop Audy Ciriaco just went on the DL for West Michigan.

And while they are health now, both Ramon Santiago and Mike Hollimon missed time this season due to separated shoulders.

It must be something they are putting in the water at second base.

Tigers Minor League Warp 5-16-08

billfer — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:50:26 +0000

Toledo 3 Durham 9
It wasn’t a good night for Virgil Vasquez who allowed 6 runs on 3 homers in just 3 innings. Yorman Bazardo came on in relief and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 4.1 innings while fanning 5 and walking none. And in an odd night, Hessman, Larish, and Hollimon didn’t homer. But Erick Almonte did.

Erie – PPD

Dunedin 1 Lakeland 4
Rick Porcello went 5.2 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits, a walk, and 5 K’s. Brennan Boesch had a 3 hit game while Cale Iorg and Scott Sizemore had 2 hit games. Jeramy Laster homered and singled.

Lansing 3 West Michigan 6
Joe Tucker had 3 hits. Audy Ciriaco and Justin Henry had 2 hits each. Alredo Figaro allowed 3 runs on 6 hitsand 3 walks while fanning 5.

Lansing 5 West Michigan 0
Only 3 hits for the Whitecaps in this half of the DH. Manny Miguelez didn’t make it out of the first inning surrendering 4 runs and only recording 2 outs.

Talking Tigers prospects with Jonathan Mayo

billfer — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:00:36 +0000

Jonathan Mayo covers the minor leagues and the draft as a senior writer for MLB.com. Mayo also has a book coming out that has some remarkable timing. It is a look at what it is like to face Roger Clemens and is appropriately titled Facing Clemens. The book was written and put to bed prior to the release of the Mitchell Report and will be available on March 1st, though you can pre-order it now.

Regardless of your feelings about Clemens, steroid users, and their place in history, the book looks to be a fascinating read. Mayo interviewed many of the great hitters about what it was like to dig in with Clemens on the mound. Whether or not Clemens did it naturally doesn’t change what the batters experienced when squaring off against the Rocket.

Mayo was kind enough to answer some questions about the now-depleted Tigers farm system as well as a look forward to the 2008 draft.

Detroit Tigers Weblog: After the trades this off-season, the Tigers seem to be deepest in the middle infield. Of Scott Sizemore, Mike Hollimon, Danny Worth, Cale Iorg, Tony Giarratano, and Audy Ciriaco who do you see having the highest ceiling, and who is most likely to make it to the majors?

Jonathan Mayo: From a pure upside standpoint, I think Ciriaco is still the guy. I know he only hit .224 in his full-season debut, but he’ll still be just 20 when the season starts. I think he has to start taking the raw tools and turn it into performance this year. As for “most likely to succeed,” I’d probably go with Worth or Hollimon at this point. I’ve seen Hollimon play several times and he just looks like a big leaguer to me. He also has the best bat of this group as of right now. Those kinds of offensive skills will play at 2B in the bigs. Worth, even though he hit when he got pushed up to Erie, will be a big leaguer more because of his glove. How much he can hit will determine whether he’s an every-day shortstop or a utility guy.

DTW: James Skelton had a great season for West Michigan, yet there is still concern about his size. How big of a concern is this, and if he does prove to be too small to play catcher is his offense enough to warrant moving him somewhere else?

JM: I sometimes think that too much is made of size when assessing prospects. That being said, catching is one of the few places where it can be a concern – more strength than pure size, actually. It all comes down to how durable he is. Skelton shared catching duties in West Michigan – the Tigers clearly didn’t want to run him into the ground – catching 84 games and picking up 353 ABs along the way. Still, his numbers did decrease in the second half – not precipitously, but enough to make you wonder. I think if he were going to move, it would have to be to the outfield, where his speed, athleticism and arm strength would play well. He doesn’t have the pop to play a corner infield position, in my opinion. For now, I’d leave him behind the plate and take advantage of the arm that threw out 42.5 percent of would-be basestealers and make him prove that he can’t handle the rigors of catching at higher levels.

DTW: Rank Yorman Bazardo, Jordan Tata, and Virgil Vasquez

JM: I’ll go: Vasquez, Bazardo, Tata.

DTW: With Maybin and Hernandez gone, who do you see as the Tigers top outfield prospect?

JM: Well, if they take my advice and move Skelton out there… In all seriousness, it’s slim pickings, isn’t it? I’d probably say Brennan Boesch, though I like Deik Scram, not necessarily as a high-ceiling prospect who’ll wow you. I just like the way he plays. I’m operating under the assumption that Ryan Raburn no longer qualifies as a prospect because of his big-league time.

DTW: Ilitch/Dombrowski/Chadd have ignored the draft slotting system with great results and it’s widely accepted that they’ll replenish the system with the same methodology. Do you think that this will still be an advantage going forward, or will other teams learn from Detroit’s example and finding “signability” guys will become more difficult?

JM: Sure, it will be an advantage for as long as that loophole of sorts is open. Other teams might learn from Detroit’s example, but few will be able to do much about it. Most of the teams who pass on the Rick Porcellos of the world do so because they can’t afford the price tag. Or, more importantly, they won’t. So as long as the Tigers braintrust doesn’t mind getting a scolding now and again, there will always be opportunities to pick up high-end talent that others feel they can’t sign.

DTW: How does the 2008 draft class look at this point? Where is it deepest?

JM: It’s so early to tell, but right now, it’s looking kind of balanced. If there is one strength right now, I think there’s a slight edge towards college bats at the high end, but there are some good college arms as well. But at the same time, there are some interesting high school players who’ll be interesting to watch how they progress once the season gets under way. But if you’re going to force me to go in one direction, especially at the top of the draft, I’ll go with the college bats.