Jacksonville Hickories: Talkin' softly, but carrying big...

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Sep 11, 2013 6:39 am

Do I owe you royalties, Mr. Wolf?

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:41 am

APRIL IN REVIEW

AWARDS

Robert Plant

LF/DH Jack Cust and second baseman Robert Plant

TEAM STANDINGS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Closer Enigo Montoya

Second baseman Robert Plant

Geordi Leforge

TEAM COMMENTS

Art Vandalay's (DDDDEE)

shortstop Way Cool Junior (FDCCCE),

catcher Crash Davis (FDFCEE),

third baseman Jeff Lebowski (ECECFD)

right fielder David Banner (FCDCEE),

centerfielder Mays Hayes,

Mickey Shuler,

Jack Cust (313, 11 HR, 21 RBI)

Josh Fields (238, 4 HR, 10 RBI)

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Sep 29, 2013 2:39 pm

Game Summary

5/1/2008: Hickories Cohen (98 GB 2SF – one, HSL – two, SCB – one, CCH – one) versus Rangers Ponson (93 EB SL – two, CB – two, CH – two): In the makings of a blowout, the Hickories did not record their first out until the Rangers sixth batter, but the Rangers starter had trouble finding the plate and the Hickories scored runs on an RBI double from Fields, a wild pitch, and a Lebowski opposite field single. The Hickories tied the game in the fourth when they bunched together four singles. When the Rangers Michael Young led off with a single and moved to third on a Hamilton single, he scored the go-ahead run when Bradley hit into a 5 – 4–3 double play. The Hickory's tied the game, again, in the seventh when Vandelay reached and moved to second on a error by the Rangers third baseman, ultimately scoring from third on a shallow single from Fields with two out, but when the Rangers first batter led off the eight with a triple, he ultimately scored the go-ahead run. The Hickories, again, tied the game with three singles in the bottom of the eighth, but for the third time today, stranded the go-ahead runner in scoring position. In the bottom of the 10th, the Hickories led off with two singles and then loaded the bases when their backup outfielder pinch hit a shallow single to center field, bringing up the Hickory's backup catcher, who entered the game earlier when the hickories pinch ran for Crash Davis. Their backup catcher, Quintero, hit the ball softly, just out of reach of the Rangers shortstop, who was playing in shallow, and the winning run crossed the plate. Final score: 8–7 (10), Hickory

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:28 am

Indians-Hickories Game Summaries

5/2/2008: Hickories Madison (92 FB 2SF – one, SCP – one, FOS – three, SK – two) at Indians Westbrook (93 CA CU – two, CB – three, CH – three, HSK – four):

Interviewer:

Jeff Lebowski:

Crash Davis:

Interviewer:

Jeff Lebowski:

Crash Davis:

Interviewer:

Jeff Lebowski:

Interviewer:

the Hickories enjoy a blowout of the Indians, 17–5.

Comments: This offensive onslaught saw nine Hickories homeruns, including Crash Davis' first career major-league homerun, Jeff Lebowski's first and second career home runs, and Cust and Fields also hit two apiece. Defensively, neither teams' first baseman initiated an out, and this may be the first game where no Hickories batter popped out to the catcher.

5/3/08: Hickory's Hobbs (94 EB HSL – two, SCV – one, – one, HSA – two) At Indians Byrd (90 BA 2SF – two, SL – two, CB – two, CH – two)

a Johnny Peralta homerun in the bottom of the second got things going for the Indians, but the Hickoryies tied the game on consecutive singles from Davis, Alfonso, and Plant, and then Cust put them up one out later with a three run homerun. Two batters later, Lebowski hit his third homerun of the season (and his third homerun in the last two days), this one is a towering three run shot that sent Bird to the showers and gave the Hickories a six run lead. The Indians had their own big inning in the bottom half, capped by a Peralta two run homerun that trimmed the Hickories' lead to a single run. A two run homerun by Vandelay in the fourth highlighted a 4-run inning that also included a solo shot from Fields, but the Indians, again, crawled to within a run. The Hickories scored two more in the sixth, but the Indians tied the game with a three-run homerun. Jack Cust highlighted the top of the seventh with his third homerun of the day – this one with two runners on base. Montoya started the bottom of the 8th and recorded the final six outs uneventfully.

Final score: 18–13, hickories

Comments: as good as this game was, offensively, it was equally poor from a pitching standpoint. The Hickories used all of their relief pictures, and if they do not get a quality start from tomorrow's starter, they will be in trouble. The same can be said for the Indians.

5/4/2008: hickories Kotter (92 GB 2SF – two, HSL – two, VSL – three, CCH – two) at Indians Carmona (97 CA SL – one, CH – one, HSK – five)

Interviewer:

Crash:

Interviewer:

Crash:

Interviewer:

Crash:

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Crash:

Interviewer:

Crash:

Final score: 10–1, Hickories

The weekly MVPs for the week ending 5/4 were announced, and even though the Hickories won 5 of 7 games that week, they did not have a player named

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:20 pm

May Results

5/5/08: Hickory's McClain at Ray's Jackson. Final score: 9–6, Rays

5/6/08: Hickory's Cohen (98 GB 2SF – one, HSL – two, SCB – one, CCH – one) v Rays Shields (93 CA CU – two, CB – two, CH – two): In a well pitched game, David Banner hit his first major league homerun and a pinch hit triple by LaForge in the seventh gives the Hickories a lead they would not relinquish. Final score: 4–2, Hickories

5/7/08: Madison v Kazmir: The Rays hit BJ Upton hits two homeruns and Kazmir goes 8–2/3, innings, allowing two hits through the 1st six innings. Final score: 5–3, Rays

5/9/08: Hickories Fernandez (88 EB HSH – two, SP – two, DCB – one, HSL - two) v Indians Sabathia: 7–4, Jacksonville

5/10/08: Final Score: 7–2, Hickories

This win, coupled with an Orioles loss to the Blue Jays, takes the Hickories out of last place their division, and moves them up to fourth place, ahead of the Orioles.

5/11/08: Final Score: 3-1, Indians

5/13/08: Final score: 7-1, Blue Jays

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:42 am

May Results

5/14/08: Final score: 4-2, Jays

5/15/08: A two – one Jay's lead in the sixth is spoiled by a three run homerun from Josh Fields in the eighth. Final score: 6–3, hickories

5/16/08: in Jack Cust's first game against his former team, Jack hits 2 homeruns, 1 estimated to be 505 feet, and an RBI double while Fields, Lebowski, and Banner also homer. Final score: 10–4, Hickories

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:01 am

Trade announcement

The Hickories announced a trade with the Houston Astros, sending minor-league third baseman Angel Chavez (EEDBEE) to the Astros in exchange for the Astros backup catcher JR Towles (GEEBCC). The 24-year-old catcher is in the 2nd year in the majors, and many expect that if he is not able to win the starting catching job, he has the athleticism to make a good utility infielder. Chavez, who will turn 27 on July 22, is in his in his first year in the majors, and gives the Astros some youth at third-base behind Ty Wiggington (30) and Geoff Blum (35). Chavez, Who will be the only infielder younger than 30 in the organization, has the strongest arm of those three, but is unlikely to be more than a bench player for now. As for Towles, most expect him to serve as the primary backup catcher, making Humberto Quintero (who will turn 28 in August) expendable.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Oct 17, 2013 5:49 am

MAY GAME SUMMARIES

5/17/08: The Hickories score at one run in each of the first five innings and then score 5 in the next two as Cust, again, has a multi-homer game. Final score: 10–3, Hickories

5/18/08: Cohen gives a great pitching performance (allowing 6 hits in 7–2/3 innings, and losing the shutout only upon leaving after a batter taps the ball down the first baseline and the catcher, first baseman, and pitcher seemed immobilized, requiring the second baseman to come and pick up the ball, by which time the runner had reached second, and then scored when the next batter singled off of a Hickories reliever), and Vandelay shows signs of coming out of his slump, going 3/4 with a two run homerun. Final score: five – one, Jacksonville

5/20/08: Jack Cust drove in the first 4 runs of the game (1 on a single and 3 on a homerun) and was also thrown out at second and later 3rd, while the Hickories get another strong starting performance, this time from Oscar Madison (5 IP, 3H, 0R). Final score: 4–2, Jacksonville

5/21/08: another solid pitching performance from the Hickories, this one from Syd Fernandez (5 IP, 6H, 8K, 3R), gave the Hickories time to scrape together enough runs against Roy Halladay to keep the game close, but the wheels fell off in the seventh as the Jays scored four runs, one on a bunt base hit with the bases-loaded. Final score: 10–4, Blue Jays

5/22/08: Hickories Buttermaker (88 FB HSL – two, SLV – three, FOS – two, SCV – three) Blue Jays Burnett (98 D.A. KN C – five, CH – four, HSK – four): In the bottom of the second, Burnett did a good job of closing out an inning that began with Hickories on first and second with no out, and limiting the damage to a single run. Final score: 3–2, Blue Jays

5/23/08: Hickory's McLean (90 EB HS – two, DCB – one, SP – two, SK – two) v Athletics Blanton (92 BA to SF – one, SL – three, CB – two, CH – two): in Mayes-Hayes' first game back from his extended absence due to a broken collarbone, the Hickories slotted him to bat second. In his first at-bat, he singled, stole second, and scored two batters later on a single, But the A's scored seven times in the 3–5 innings, and the Hickories could not recover until the Athletics relievers entered the game. Down 11–5 in the ninth, the Hickories launched a furious comeback, highlighted by a three run homerun from Jack Cust that pulled Jacksonville to withan a run, and then the winning, walk off three run homer from David Banner with two outs. Final score: 13–11, Jacksonville

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Sat Oct 19, 2013 9:35 pm

Memorable performances from the end of May

5/24/08: David Cohen pitches eight strong innings against the Athletics, allowing three runs on just six hits with three strikeouts, as the Hickories win 7-3

5/26/08 Behind solid pitching and timely hitting, the Jacksonville Hickories take a 7–0 lead into the bottom of the fourth when disaster strikes, as the Yankees score 6 in the fourth and then three in the sixth, with the help of two homeruns accounting for four RBIs from Alex Rodriguez. Final Score: 9–8, Yankees

5/26-29/08: Coming off 7 wins in their last 10 games, Jacksonville heads to play the Yankees, being very confident, but after allowing Yankees to come back from behind and win the first two games (9–8 and 10–6), the Yanks sweep the series with a game that they Hickories were never really in contention to win (9–4), showing that they really do not have the pitching to stay with the first-place Yankees.

5/30/08: David Cohen pitches five strong innings against the Royals, allowing one run on seven hits over five innings (3K), and Roy Hobs shuts the Royals down over the final four innings, striking out one while only allowing three batters to reach base, as the Hickories win, six – one

5/31/08: in a game where half the Hickories RBIs came from their backup catcher, Sid Fernandez pitched the first complete game in Hickories history, shutting out the Royals on three hits with four strikeouts. He generally kept the ball low and in the corners, as 38 of his 66 pitches were to the low inside and outside corners, and only seven balls put in play by the Royals made it to the outfield, as the Jacksonville Hickories won 4–0

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:05 pm

May Month in Review

The Jacksonville Hickories had a promising May, but inconsistencies with their pitching and a sharp drop off from one of their most productive players prevented them from doing even better.

RECORD

The Hickories are in fourth place in the AL east with a 27 and 28 record. The Blue Jays are in third place with a 32/23 record. The Red Sox are one game up on the Blue Jays at 33/22, and the Yankees are in first place at 36/19, which is the second best record in baseball behind the Atlanta Braves (37/18).

The Hickories 16/11 record in May is better then more than half the teams in major-league baseball, and only the Blue Jays and Yankees did better in the AL East.

The Hickories might be doing even better if they did not play in the tough AL east. They are 8/19 in intra-division games, and 19/9 against AL Central and Western division foes

AWARDS

For the month of May, Hickory's second baseman Robert Plant was named rookie of the month. During this month, he batted 418 with 15 RBIs and numerous stolen bases. He also won that award last month, when he batted 377 with 13 RBIs. The Tigers took home player (SS Renteria, 469, 10 HR, 36 RBI) and pitcher (Verlander, 5 W., 1.62 ERA, 33K) of the month awards.

Jack Cust was named player of week eight (ending May 25). He hit 583 with 5 homeruns and 13 RBIs that week.

OFFENSE

Their offense has been impressive, with their 79 homeruns being second in the majors behind the Atlanta Braves, and their 174 runs scored during this month was better than all teams except the Red Sox, Braves, and Tigers.

2 batters who struggled at the start of the season - 3b Jeff Lebowski and right fielder David Banner - have picked up their production significantly, while Art Vandelay, the left-fielder who batted over 300 and hit 9 home runs the first month of the season, struggled significantly. Vandelay's batting average dropped to 259, with only 2 homeruns in May. Lebowski's 288 average is up from 229, while Banner's improvement to 301 with five HR from 226 is even more impressive. If Mays Hayes had remained healthy, it is likely that Banner would have been on the bench (or the minors) and Vandelay shifted to right field, but with Banner's increased production, his solid RF glove and arm, and Vandelay's dropoff, absent a change in personnel, Vandelay has likely lost his starting spot in left field now that Mays Hayes has returned to center, and Jack Cust (LF), Josh Fields (who plays 3b and LF), and Lebowski will rotate among DH, LF, and 3b.

The Hickories starting shortstop and catcher, expected to be solid in the field, but struggle at the plate, continue to surprise, with Crash Davis batting 429 with 13 RBIs and 14 runs scored, and Cool, Junior hitting 324 with six RBIs and 21 runs scored.

The Hickories tend to get thrown out on the base paths more than any other team, but also seem poised to steal more bases than any team in recent history, with Robert Plant leading the team with 24 steals, followed by cool junior with 17, and Mays Hayes, who missed more than half the season so far with a broken collarbone, having 13 steals

PITCHING

The Jacksonville Hickories have had some solid pitching performances, but have also had some stinkers. David Cohen seems to have emerged as a consistent pitcher who can consistently give at least five solid innings per start, which is more than can be said for the rest of the starters, although Gabe Kotter and the rest of the staff seem likely to be able to mature into a solid rotation if they continue to develop.

Montoya seems to have settled down into the closers role and has not blown a save opportunity since the end of April.

Their 135 runs allowed in May puts them around the middle of the pack in the majors, although their 47 home runs allowed this season is only bettered by the Braves & Cardinals.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:54 pm

June Game Summaries

6/2: against a powerful Phillies lineup boasting five players with level B or A power, and facingthe ageless Jamie Moyer, Gabe Kotter matched Moyer's zeros and took a scoreless game into the bottom of the sixth, when singles from the Hickories 9–2 hitters brought Jack Cust to the plate with the bases-loaded, and he hit the first Hickories grand slam. Final score, 5–2, Hickories

6/3/08: Against the Phillies Adam Eaton, the Phillies take and maintain a 1–0 lead from the third inning through the bottom of the sixth, when a two out solo homerun from Josh Fields ties the game. The Phillies score the next inning when the number nine hitter gets an infield hit against a drawn in infield, but the Hickories' Plant hits the game-tying single against a tiring Eaton. An RBI double by the Phillies number eight batter in the 9th against reliever Fernando Hernandez would stand as the game winner, spoiling a solid starting performance from McLane (5 IP, 1 R, 5 H., 4K). Final score: 3–2, Phillies

6/4/08: in a seesaw battle pitting the Phillies Kyle Kendrick against the Hickories David Cohen that saw three lead changes in the first five innings, the Hickories took a 6–5 lead on a two out, two run homerun by Buck Rogers that would stand as the game winner. Final score: 6–5, Jacksonville

6/6/08: Against the New York Mets' John Maine, the Hickories Oscar Madison left for a pinch-hitter in the top of the fifth with the Hickories clinging to a one run lead that was extended by Robert Plant's first homerun. In the ninth, a stolen base by David Wright set up a Damon Easley game-tying RBI single that was Enigo Montoya's first blown save in just over a month, and then in the bottom of the 10th, Carlos Beltran hit a walkoff homerun against Felix Hernandez. Final score: 4–3, Mets[/color]

6/7/08: David Banner got things started for the Hickories against the Mets when he singled in the second, stole a base and then scored on a soft opposite field hit from Crash Davis. Other than that, Orlando Hernandez held the Hickories in check, but Sid Fernandez, who pitched a complete game in his previous start, was solid through four innings before allowing three hits and the tying run in the bottom of the fifth. The score remained tied at one entering the ninth inning, when the Mets reliever started Jack Cust off with three straight balls and then laid a changeup right down the middle of the plate that Cust put over the right-field wall. Montoya entered the game in the bottom the ninth and quickly retired Angel Pagan, who entered previously has a pinch runner, and Jose Reyes, before Beltran belted a high inside hard slider for the game-tying homerun. In the top of the 10th, the Hickories scored two runs on an RBI single from pinch-hitter Remington Steele and a sacrifice fly from Jack Cust. Final score: 4–2, Jacksonville

Notes: a number of hickories position players have been improving their contact rating, with Crash Davis, Cool, Junior and Buck Rogers improving from level F to level E, and Jack cost improving from level E to D. Today, David Banner's stolen base boosted his run speed from level D to level C, and he seems poised to increase his contact level to B any day now, which would put his abilities at FCCCEE.

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:21 am

6/8/08: Trade announcement

the Hickories and Mets announced a trade, with the Hickories sending the Mets pitcher Felix Hernandez (90 GE SL – two, CB – four, CH – one) and catcher Quintero (FFECED) in exchange for minor league starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (96 EB 2SF – two, SL – two, CH – two) and short reliever Joe Smith (95 CE SL – two, CH – two, SFB – two). All players involved in this trade are earning league minimum. Both Pelfrey and Smith are 24 years old, and Hernandez, 23 years old, becomes the youngest player on the Mets

Analysts say that the Hickories did not improve their team so much as add depth, as Smith for Hernandez seems like an even swap and Pelfrey is another young pitcher to add to the stables in place of Quintero, who had lost his spot on the roster when the Hickories acquired JR Towles.

Said the Hickories GM "Hernandez pitched very well for us, but with Shuler finally coming around to potentially serve as a set up man, we decided we liked the added miles per hour that Smith provides over the slower throwing Hernandez. With Shuler's improvement, he and Smith should solidify our bullpen for the 6–8 innings and make us less reliant on our long-relievers. As for Pelfrey, we will see what he's got, but it wasn't right to keep a player like Quintero down in the minors, and we hope the Mets give him a shot.

Analysts looking at the Mets see Smith for Hernandez as a pretty even swap, but do not understand why the Mets would part with a promising young starter (Pelfrey) in exchange for a 28-year-old catcher. He has solid defensive skills, but Quintero becomes the sixth catcher on the Mets roster. Said the Mets GM: "frankly, we have never seen a player in his first year with such a great curveball. We just had to get Hernandez. The price was high, but you can never have too many backstops on your team."

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:00 am

June Summaries

6/9/08: The Marlins took advantage of some shoddy Hickories fielding to take a 5–0 lead entering the bottom of the third. The Hickories were able to pull to within two runs against the Marlins' mediocre pitching with the help of a David Banner three run homerun in the sixth, and then tied the game on Vandelay's eighth inning RBI triple, followed by a Buck Rogers pinch-hit single up the middle. In the bottom of the ninth, a Lebowski double over the Marlins centerfielder's head set up David Banner for the walk off single. Final score: 9–8, Jacksonville

Note: Banner's contact rating increased from F to E, and long reliever Glass Joe's stamina increased from level C to level B

[DRAFT]

6/10/08: The Marlins are only carrying four pitchers on their major-league roster with stamina of level B or higher, and with those pitchers still recovering from prior starts, the Marlins had to trot out several middle relievers. The relievers actually pitched relatively well, considering the circumstances, but the Hickories David Cohen was too strong, having emerged as the Hickories top starter. Final score: 4–3, Hickories

RESTRAINT NOTICE: apparently, the Brewers rate a trade of their Ryan Braun (age 24, CA contact and power) in exchange for one of my young long relievers as a three star trade. I'm trying my best not to pull the trigger on that – it would seem to be just plain unfair

ERISA Dude · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:10 am

DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - 2008

The Jacksonville Hickories won the coin toss with the other expansion team - the Sacramento Dukes - giving the Hickories the 1st position in the draft. From that spot, Jacksonville Picked the following players:

Pick 1: Enochs (age 21) SS D8 E98 D8 D9 D9 D8 – one
Pick 2: Manzanilla (age 22) P 92 149 108 SL – 2, 2SF-1, CB – 4, FO – 3

Reporter question to Hickories GM: "Since the Hickories already have a sold shortstop, who is defensively gifted, is batting over 300 and is a good base stealer, shouldn't the Hickories have picked 2 pitchers, since that has been their weakest position all year long?"

GM: although pitching has been a weaker spot for us, we thought we could get better value with a position player in the 1st and a pitcher in the second, and we are thrilled with how things turned out.

Reporter: So...will there be a battle at SS?

GM: every player is always playing for their job every day. That being said, Enochs is not likely to be brought up this year. We see a lot of offensive and defensive potential here. A complete player who will play solid defense, get on base, and use his speed in both phases. However, right now, he does not have the range or arm that Cool, Jr has, and defense at short is a priority.

Reporter: Will we see Manzanilla this year?

GM: You are more likely to see Manzanilla this year, but that will be the coach's decision. And while pitching failures have cost us some games - both from the starters and the relievers - we've seen solid improvement in all phases.

Reporter: can you elaborate? I mean, starters still aren't consistently getting to the 7th inning.

GM: We expect 5 solid innings from our starters. They're still young and need to be stretched out, and we actually made a decision to focus on breaking ball improvement over stamina at this point. David Cohen is consistently getting to the 6th inning; Gabe Kotter generally gives us a solid start; and Sid Fernandez threw a complete game.

Reporter: and relief? The Hickories' closer still has more blown save opportunities than any other closer in the league.

GM: He also has a lot of saves! Montoya's a rookie, just like most of our team, and there will be a learning process. Take Mickey Shuler for example. He struggled mightily early on, so we sent him down, but since getting called up, he's been a great lead-in to Montoya. Plus, we recently picked up Joe Smith, and expect good things from him. Anybody we picked up in the draft would be a rookie and likely would need time to develop. The guys on our staff since day one have had a little more time, and regardless of what position we drafted, we did not expect them to immediately replace any of our starting players.

GM: Thank you. That's all the questions I'll be taking at this time.

ZeroGibson13 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:23 pm

Wow! That's quite a good pitcher for the second round!

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