It’s raining this morning at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, but I know it’s going to stop or be reduced to a slight drizzle. They’ll play. Always do. The weather didn’t look promising before last night’s game between the Fisher Cats and Sea Dogs, then a window of opportunity opened before game time, and they played.
Right-hander Junichi Tazawa of Japan, one of the Red Sox’ top prospects, pitches this afternoon for the Sea Dogs. Should be interesting. He was given a $1.8 million signing bonus despite never pitching professionally. The 22-year-old could be a bargain.
Boston’s far-reaching scouting department beat four of five other teams in signing Taz. I asked Toronto farm director Dick Scott if they were in the running to sign Tazawa, and he just kind of chuckled at me. The Blue Jays don’t have the resources to scour the Far East and sign players like that.
– Tazawa was the real deal, going five innings in tough conditions, allowing three hits and striking out seven. He retired eight straight before Adam Calderone homered in the third. Calderone later supplied a run-scoring double off Taz.
You know it’s a big deal when a TV camera is waiting for player arrivals at 2:45 p.m. Future Hall of Famer John Smoltz is pitching tonight for the Sea Dogs, who play a three-game set at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.
Standing-room only tickets are available for the 7:05 p.m. game. It’s Smoltz vs. Randy Boone (3-1, 4.50 ERA). Boy, Boone will be telling his grandkids about this one.
Many of the Fisher Cats were not yet born when Smoltz (age 42) was drafted in 1985. Blue Jays first-round pick David Cooper was 1 year old when Smoltz notched his first big-league win for the Braves.
Smoltz, on the comeback from shoulder surgery, is the only pitcher in big-league history with more than 200 career wins and 150 saves. He’ll likely add to those numbers when joining the Red Sox next month.
The former Atlanta Braves ace exited with a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning after throwing his 60th pitch. Smoltz (three hits, two strikeouts, no walks) tipped his cap to a standing ovation and met with the media shortly thereafter.
“Another rung on the ladder,” said Smoltz, who pitched for Class A Greenville on May 21 and tossed three scoreless innings. “I didn’t have as good a stuff at times. When you get into these situations, I’m trying to force pitches like in spring training games, trying to make pitches that I probably wouldn’t make in regular-season games. Overall, no pain … Overall, very pleased.”
Attendance of 8,903 set a single-game Fisher Cats record. The previous record at the Merch was 8,762, set last year in the EL All-Star Game.
– Todd Donovan went 2-for-2 (two singles) off Smoltz and is 3-for-3 in his career against Smoltz, including a spring training game.
– Smoltz pitched with official Major League Baseballs, eschewing the Eastern League ball. Apparently the MLB ball has slightly raised seams, and Smoltz brought his own bucket.
– Smoltz bought steaks from The Outback for his Sea Dogs teammates … He is expected to pitch Sunday against Class A Greenville while continuing the rehab program.
Hall of Fame-worthy John Smoltz, the only pitcher in big-league history with 200 wins and 150 saves, will be pitching against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday night.
The eight-time All-Star plans to join the Portland Sea Dogs and make a rehabilitation start at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, Smoltz confirmed yesterday at Fenway Park.
So get your tickets to the 6:35 p.m. game. Smoltz, on the road back from shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, will make his second rehab start for the Red Sox. The 1996 Cy Young Award winner is the latest big-game player to appear in Manchester.
Toronto’s A.J. Burnett, Lyle Overbay and Greg Zaun all made rehab appearances for the Fisher Cats. More recently, Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero made a visit to Manchester and started for the Fishers.
Smoltz, 42, signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox worth about $5.5 million in base salary.
Fisher Cats graduate Robert Ray pitched eight scoreless inning to pick up his first major league win today. How are the Jays (25-14) doing it? Rookie pitchers Scott Richmond, Brett Cecil, Ricky Romero and Robert Ray — all New Hamphire alumni — have a combined record of 10-3 with a 3.00-ish ERA.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi wants to ride the “hot hands” in the rotation, meaning there is no rushing back RHP Casey Janssen and LHP Ricky Romero, who made rehab starts for the Fisher Cats last week. Janssen pitches tomorrow for the Fisher Cats in Norwich, Conn. Romero will join Triple-A Las Vegas. Romero wore No. 30 in his 52nd career start for NH last week, prompting Binghamton Mets hitting coach Bill Masse to say, “Is he wearing No. 30 in honor of me?” Masse wore the number while managing the Fisher Cats and Romero in 2007 … LHP Marc Rzepczynski (6-2, 2.93 ERA) is the Eastern League’s first six-game winner and leads all pitchers with 52 strikeouts.
Pitching matchups for the upcoming Blue Jays-Red Sox series at Fenway Park:
Tues — Tallet (2-1) Wakefield (4-2)
Wed — Cecil (2-0) Penny (3-1)
Thu — Ray (1-1) Lester (2-4)
Can you feel the Fisher Cats fever? They won again tonight, 5-4, on Brian Dopirak’s walk-off double in the ninth. LHP Ricky Romero returned on a big-league rehab assignment and looked strong, going 5-1/3 innings, 3 hits, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 W, 4K. 85 pitches.
Romero on coming back from an oblique strain: “It feels pretty good. Right now, everything seems to be going according to the plan. We’ll see where we go from here.”
On walking five batters: “I felt like we were close on some of the pitches. For some reason, the strike was actually a little smaller here than it is in the big leagues for some reason. Other than that, there’s no excuse for walking five guys.”
On making his 52nd career start for the Fishers, a club record: “Just trying to go out there, forget where you’re at and compete for your team.”
Catcher Brian Jeroloman on Romero: “The first three innings were smooth. He ran right through it like it was nothing. Everything was there. In the fourth inning, the umpire started to squeeze him a little bit. Ricky’s stuff was still just as good. We weren’t on the same page as the umpire. Things didn’t happen the way they should’ve. I think he should’ve had one walk, maybe. That’s not the way he pitched today … Everything was sharp today. It was big-league stuff.”
– Anxious to watch the Red Sox tonight and maybe see the debut of RHP Daniel Bard, who popped 100-mph several times in Manchester last season.
Casey Janssen’s rehab outing for the Fisher Cats was a success: 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, 81 pitches. His fastball registered 89-91-mph, and he kept the Binghamton Mets off-balance with an array of off-speed stuff. Fishers wins, 2-1, on David Cooper’s homer in the seventh.
After the game, Janssen, who earns $413,900 this season, treated the players and staff to steaks and cheesecake from the Outback Steakhouse. And let me tell you, those steaks looked delish!
“He’s a hell of a guy. Great thing for him to do,” catcher Brian Jeroloman. “It’s not expected. Casey’s a phenomenal person and phenomenal guy on and off the field. I know the way he is, so this doesn’t surprise me.”
Now if Ricky Romero only buys dinner Wednesday …
“I don’t know. He’s a little sketchy,” Jeroloman said, jokingly.
The hot part: The Fisher Cats scored 30 runs in two games, including an 18-6 win over Connecticut to open the homestand.
Now the cold: They were shut out on Sunday and went scoreless for 24.2 innings before getting on the scoreboard in the eighth inning tonight against Binghamton. The B-Mets won, 3-2, behind Tobi Stoner’s seven scoreless innings.
RHP Rey Gonzalez gave another nice start (six innings, two earned runs) for the Fisher Cats but took the loss. Gonzalez owns a pretty 1.88 ERA and 1-1 record.
“Just about every outing has been a quality start,” NH manager Gary Cathcart said. “We’re sputtering right now offensively. Guys are probably trying to do too much. When we do get a chance to score, we’re not putting that big at-bat together.”
RHP Casey Janssen pitches Tuesday night in a rehab start for the Blue Jays. The big question? Will he pay for a clubhouse food spread? It’s customary for big leaguers to buy a nice meal for the minor leaguers. Janssen makes more than $400,000 per year. It’s not the $55 million contract A.J. Burnett had with the Jays when he pitched in Manchester and bought a surf-and-turf spread.
I say Janssen buys Dunkins and he’s off the hook.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll think of something,” he said.
Who wants to be a sportswriter?
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are seeking kids ages 6-to-16 to participate in Citizens Bank Kids Run the Show at Merchantsauto.com Stadium on Saturday, June 6. The specially-selected youngsters will have the opportunity to run the stadium for the Fisher Cats/Reading Phillies 7:05 pm game, serving as general manager, radio broadcaster, sportswriter, scorekeeper and more.
Children ages 6-to-16 can sign up for the Citizens Bank Kids Run the Show in person at Merchantsauto.com Stadium during regular business hours (9:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday); they can register at Fisher Cats’ games by visiting the State Farm Guest Services Center during the current homestand or sign up online at www.nhfishercats.com.
“Citizens Bank Kids Run the Show is sure to be the highlight of any youth’s baseball experience this season,” said Cathleen A. Schmidt, president, Citizens Bank. “We are extremely excited to partner with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to give kids across the state the opportunity to help run the ballpark and be a part of the action.”
All entries are due by 11:59pm on Sunday, May 17. Selected kids will receive four free Fisher Cats’ tickets to the Saturday, June 6, game and must be available to participate that day from 5:00pm-9:00pm. For more information, contact the Fisher Cats at (603) 641-2005.
Big leaguers are coming to Manchester this week. Toronto RHP Casey Janssen will be making a rehab start for the Fisher Cats on Tuesday, and LHP Ricky Romero will start Wednesday at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Both games are against the Binghamton Mets at 6:35 p.m.
Janssen, who had shoulder surgery in March, has appeared in 89 games for Toronto and posted an 8-13 record (3.89 ERA) with six saves. He finished the ’05 season with NH during a rapid rise to the majors.
Romero pitched in three seasons for the Fisher Cats and had a breakthrough 2008 campaign, leading to a roster spot with the Jays this season. He opened the year with three impressive starts, going 2-0 (1.71 ERA) but landed on the disabled list with an oblique strain.
If all goes well, they’ll return to Toronto after making a Double-A start.
“We’ll see how they feel, and, more importantly, how they feel the day after pitching,” Toronto farm director Dick Scott said.
The was a possibility LHP B.J. Ryan would be joining the Fisher Cats as well, but the former Orioles All-Star will remain in Florida for more rehab work.
The arrival of Janssen marks the first big leaguer in Manchester since Lyle Overbay joined the club for two games in 2007. Previously, A.J. Burnett, Brandon League and Gregg Zaun were among major leaguers make a brief visit while on the mend from injury.
