Minor Notes

J2 Front

Per Jorge Arangure, Jacob Beltre, the top power bat remaining in the J2 signing period, has been removed from the bidding tumult and will be showcased some more. His agent was not satisfied with his sub-7 figure offers and will try to drum up more interest. TX was rumored to be interested in him some months before the signing period began.

Per Kiley McDaniel, TX beat out the Mets for VZ SS Luis Sardinas. They have now turned their interest to Jairo Kelly. Suck it New York!

A lot of good arms still on the market, and with the rumored disatisfaction expressed by Beltre's agent, I can only assume that they are all holding out for 7-figures while none are likely to receive that much save for the 2 cubans. With some luck, a nice arm falls to us at a bargain price.

TEXAS

Padzilla has reportedly committed to starting on Wednesday.

AAA

Warner Madigral has been unscored upon in his last 7 appearance since being optioned from TX: 6.1ip/2h/0bb/5so.

Nice article by Hersom on the Davis demotion. There is an oddly complicated plan for Davis, Smoak and German to split time at various positions while Boulanger, the roving hitting instructor thinks Davis can quickly work through his problem though you have to wonder why he wasn't able to do it working with Jaramillo:

Texas demoted Davis to Oklahoma City just two days after promoting Justin Smoak to the same place. Both players are first basemen, but Davis has also played third base. So, the RedHawks' weekly plan is to play Davis three games at third, two games at first and two games as DH, with Smoak playing five games at first and two as DH.

"They'll be going back and forth," RedHawks manager Bobby Jones said. "We're a better club right now with them both being here."

With both Davis and Smoak on the roster, PCL All-Star third baseman Esteban German figures to play about four games a week at third and three games as DH.

Mike Boulanger, the Rangers' roving minor league hitting instructor, said he'll work with Davis' swing. And Boulanger said it shouldn't take long.

"I think C.D. will be an easy fix," Boulanger said. "There are a couple things with his swing for him to look at on video, and he'll pick it right up."

Frisco

Kasey Kiker took a no-hitter into the 7th inning but then lost it on a lead-off single.

Blaze

Tatusko started tonight so, coupled with Hyatt's most recent start, it appears that Roark will go to the pen. Tatusko, was working on his second consecutive 1 hitter when he fell apart in the 6th. I'm not going to get too excited about the kid as he is old for the league at 24 and he sucks at the role he will likely have to master to have any shot at the majors: relief. His numbers as a starter this year and last year are quite good while his numbers in relief are quite bad. He sits low 90s+94, curveball and inconsistent mechanics.

Spokane

Per J.Cole, Robbie Ross sat in the low 90's+94 in his Sunday start which has been his consistent velo throughout his debut season.

AZL

Per the BA transaction list, Justin Gutsie, Alejandro Selen and Cliff Springston were all transferred to the DL in mid-June. So Gutsie has not been released as I speculated early in the season due to his absence from any of the system rosters. I could be that he has a serious injury since he hasn't appeared at all this year. He throws low 90's+95 at his best (which isn't often) with poor command and little feel for pitching if you believe his pre-draft scouting reports. I don't have any info on the injuries to Selen or Springston.

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