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'Topes Home Opener (Recap) |
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Written by Phillip Lopez
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Thursday, 07 April 2011 21:08 |
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Isotopes: 10
Storm Chasers: 5
WP: Dana Eveland
LP: Mike Montgomery
Isotopes Park played host to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Thursday evening - triple A affiliate to the Kansas City Royals. The Storm Chasers are part of what many experts around the baseball world consider to be the best farm system in baseball. Such prospects in this system include first baseman Erick Hosmer and left handed hurler Mike Montgomery, who started the game on the hill for the Storm Chasers opposite veteran Dana Eveland for the ‘Topes.
Montgomery went 5 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 6 Isotope hits. Top Royals prospect Hosmer finished the game going 2-5 and scoring a run.
The Dodgers have some fine prospects of their own, including three young position players who started the year in Albuquerque – Short Stop Dee Gordon, Outfielder Jerry Sands, and Outfielder Trayvon Robinson. All of which had a great opening day, Sands flashed some range from left field in the first inning when he came on to catch a fly ball, then showed a very impressive arm as he nearly doubled up a runner at first base. Gordon also showed his wide range at Short Stop, but then gave fans a glimpse of his inconsistent defense when he dropped a double play chance at second base. “Mental errors happen, but the error he (Gordon) had can’t happen, that’s just playing catch,” Coach Bundy said.
At the plate Gordon went 2-5 driving in 3 runs and scoring another. Sands looked very comfortable at the plate finishing 2-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored. After being hit by a pitch in his first at bat, Trayvon Robinson managed to get a hit on three chances while scoring a pair of runs as well.
Veteran Jay Gibbons started the year with the Isotopes to correct some vision issues that plagued him this off-season. “It is going to take time, I just need to get out here and become a baseball player again – get my confidence back,” said Gibbons after the game. Bad eyesight or not Jay is a ball player and showed it again tonight with a bases clearing 3 run double in the 6th inning to cap a 5 run inning for the Isotopes.
Dana Eveland managed to hold the Storm Chasers to 3 earned runs (2 unearned.) “I knew he (Eveland) was going to compete, that’s why I gave him the ball today,” Coach Lorenzo Bundy said about his starting pitchers effort after the game. It took three Isotope relievers to finish off the game -- Steven Shell, Blake Wood and Greg Holland. Shell really struggled allowing 5 runs in just one full inning, while Wood and Holland each pitched scoreless inning to close out the game.
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Last Updated on Friday, 08 April 2011 08:48 |
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Written by Phillip Lopez
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Tuesday, 05 April 2011 16:17 |
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23 year old Dee Gordon is the Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect. The slim figured and extremely athletic Gordon will start the 2011 season in Albuquerque with the Isotopes. Gordon is known for his incredible speed and is touted as the best hitter for average in the Dodgers organization. Gordon has great range while fielding the shortstop position, but has had a track record of commiting a few to many errors. “That is not going to be a problem, I have worked out any kinks I had,” Gordon stated to me when asked how much his defense has been addressed this spring.
Gordon has played in 324 minor league games holding a career average of .297 and has a very impressive 144 stolen bases. "He can run, he can really run; unlike his father," Manager, Lorenzo Bundy joked when asked about Gordon.
Dee Gordon has the potential to be a face of the franchise type of guy, as he possesses all the tools you want in that kind of player, as well as the mental make-up it takes to accept that kind of title. With the current state of the shortstop position for the Dodgers, Gordon likely won’t make a huge impact for the big club this year, but with Raphael Furcal now 36 years old – Gordon has a great chance of starting the 2012 season a Dodger.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 16:24 |
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Written by Phillip Lopez
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Tuesday, 05 April 2011 14:25 |
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Outfielder Jerry Sands is one of three top ten prospects that made the Isotopes opening day roster. Sands -- a 6’4” right handed power bat who is 23 years old was named the 2010 Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year, as he blasted 35 homeruns in his time with single-A Great Lakes and double-A Chattanooga.
In 256 career games Sands boasts a .290 batting average with 64 homeruns and 184 RBI. According to Baseball America, Sands is the 6th best prospect in the Dodger organization and is acclaimed as the best power hitter.
After an impressive spring with the Dodgers, many fans around Los Angeles were hoping Sands would make the Dodgers opening day roster. The Dodgers made the right move by having Sands start the year with the Isotopes; he will get plenty of at-bats and could use the experience at triple A. That being said, out of the three big time prospects starting the year in Albuquerque, in my opinion Sands has the best chance at an early call up as the Dodgers have no true everyday left fielder.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 15:04 |
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New Isotope: Trayvon Robinson |
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Written by Phillip Lopez
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Tuesday, 05 April 2011 15:23 |
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During the 2011 annual Albuquerque Isotopes media day there was one event that stood out amongst the rest – watching Trayvon Robinson take batting practice. Robinson was spraying baseballs over the fence at Isotopes Park consistently and more impressively, he was doing so to all fields. He comes into the 2011 season as the 10th best prospect according to Baseball America. Along with some impressive power potential Robinson also has plus speed as shown last year in Chattanooga as he stole 38 bases
Robinson is a switch hitter and is slightly better from the right side of the plate (his natural side). Last year in Double-A Robinson had 9 homers whereas the year before with Single-A he blasted 15, I look for Robinson to be right around 20 home runs this year as he calls hitter friendly Isotopes Park home. Robinson has made strides each year as he develops through the Dodgers organization and perhaps his most impressive improvement has been his plate discipline.
Robinson has tremendous potential and can be a good player for a long time in the Dodgers organization.
 Trayvon and myself.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 15:42 |
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Lobos Advance to Round 2 of NIT |
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Written by Phillip Lopez
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Tuesday, 15 March 2011 20:03 |
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UTEP came into the PIT with a lot of emotion after a heartbreaking 1-point loss to Memphis just three days ago. The Miners started hot and showed no signs of an emotional hangover as they went 9-12 from the field to open the game.
Take nothing away from the Lobos as they also had a lot to prove tonight after losing vocal leader and team captain Dairese Gary to a knee injury in the semi-final game of the MWC tournament. New Mexico showed a lot of guts as they never let the game get away from them early, and once they became settled shortly before halftime it seemed the Lobos were going to control the remainder of the game – and they did.
UTEP did make a final run coming within 4 points of the Lobos with 9:47 left in the game. Veteran Lobo Phillip McDonald then caught fire as he hit three straight 3-point baskets leading the Lobos to a 9-2 run.
New Mexico then closed out the game hitting 15 of 17 of their free throw attempts in the final four minutes of the game.
The Lobos dominated the boards as they pulled down 41 to the Miners 26. UNM had 16 assists including a behind the back gem from Jamal Fenoton as he drove the hole drawing a double team and found a wide open Drew Gordon for an easy dunk.
New Mexico now looks ahead to a matchup with Alabama, the number 1 seed in their portion of the NIT bracket. Alabama finished the regular season 22-11 including an impressive 12-4-conference record.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 March 2011 20:24 |
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