Author: scott

By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of April 16-22, 2018: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Zach Borenstein OF Zach Borenstein* (Mets/AAA) is making a strong case for a call-up this season. Last week, he hit .348 (8-for-23) with a home run, 5 doubles and 6 walks. For…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ryan Braun is nursing a sore calf and so did not start for the Milwaukee Brewers (11-9), but he did deliver a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the sixth, part of the seven runs the Brew Crew put up in the frame (so he didn’t have to run very hard). It…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Danny Valencia, serving as the DH and batting fifth, drilled his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the second. But his Baltimore Orioles (5-13) lost again to the host Detroit Tigers, this time on a walk-off home run by Dixon Machado (his first of the year). Richard Bleier lowered…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor The Toronto Blue Jays (11-5, second in AL East) swept their doubleheader against the visiting Kansas City Royals, 11-3 and 5-4, the latter game taking 10 innings. In the opener — with both teams wearing uniform number ’42’ since they were rained out of the festivities on Jackie Robinson Day on…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman was 0-for-4 as the Houston Astros (10-7) dropped a tough one to the host Seattle Mariners, 2-1. Joc Pederson walked as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning for the LA Dodgers (6-9) in their 10-4 win over the host San Diego Padres. He remained in the game and went 0-for-1 with…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor It’s always a dilemma when a Member of the Tribe plays against my Mets. On the one hand, I want him to do well. On the other hand, I want the Mets to win. I got the best of both worlds on Friday when Ryan Braun hit one out (see video), but his…

By Scott Barancik, Editor Welcome to the first edition of Minor-League Monday for the 2018 season. Here are your highlights from April 5–15, 2018: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Cody Decker 1B Cody Decker* (Diamondbacks/AAA) began the season in Double-A but was wisely promoted. In 26 at-bats at the Triple-A level, he hit .269 with…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ian Kinsler returned to action in style as the LA Angels (11-3) defeated the host Kansas City Royals, 7-1. Kinsler — who had been on the disabled list with a pulled groin — launched the second pitch he saw into the stands for a lead-off home run, the 47th of his career…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman had his breakout game of the young season, going 4-for-6 with a double, home run, and an RBI (see video below), but the Houston Astros (9-4) nevertheless lost to the host Minnesota Twins, 9-8. Richard Bleier earned his second hold of the season with one shutout inning as the Baltimore Orioles…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Kevin Pillar was 2-for-4 as the Toronto Blue Jays (8-4) beat the host Baltimore Orioles (4-8), 2-1, behind the strong pitching of Aaron Sanchez, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Neither Richard Bleier nor Danny Valencia appeared for the Os. Alex Bregman (see article) singled in three at-bats and walked as the Houston…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ryan Braun was 1-for-5 as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the host St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, in 10 innings. He also tossed out a hitter trying to stretch a double into a triple (see below). According to ShepherdExpress.com, “Braun needs five more runs batted in to become the 285th player in MLB history, the…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Crazy weekend for the boys. How about Alex Bregman‘s game-winning “hit” on Saturday for the Houston Astros (8-2)? Bregman’s single gave the team a 1-0 win in 10 innings. He had two of the Astros’ six hits, but they were his only ones in 13 at-bats from April 6-8 as Houston…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ryan Braun had his first double and first stolen base of the season as the Milwaukee Brewers (4-3) lost to the visiting Chicago Cubs, 8-0. He basically walked to second against Jon Lester, who is notoriously bad at holding runners on. But when Braun tried stealing third, Lester threw a well-practiced bounce…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman gave the Houston Astros (6-1) the 3-2 win with his tie-breaking single in the seventh over the visiting Baltimore Orioles (1-5). It was his sole hit in three at-bats (plus a walk). Danny Valencia got the start, playing left field and batting sixth. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and scored a run….

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Mazel Tov of the day goes to Ryan Braun, whose solo home run provided a 5-4 walk-off win for the Milwaukee Brewers (4-1) over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals (2-3), who took a 4-0 lead going into the fifth. The blast — Braun’s second of the season — came with two outs…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman had a double in three at-bats, drove in a run, and walked twice to help the Houston Astros beat the visiting Orioles, 6-1, on April 2. Baltimore reliever Richard Bleier gave up a run on two hits and struck out one in one inning. Fellow Oriole Danny Valencia did not appear in the…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor The first weekend of the season saw an interesting mix of drama. Mostly ups, thank goodness, but a couple of downs. Let’s get the downs out of the way… The Cincinnati Reds demoted pitcher Zack Weiss before he had a chance to make his Major League debut, sending him to the Louisville…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Let the games begin! Richard Bleier picked up the win for the Baltimore Orioles, who beat the visiting Minnesota Twins, 3-2, in 11 innings thanks to a walk-off home run by cleanup hitter Adam Jones. Bleier gave up one hit in his single inning of work. Danny Valencia appeared as a pinch…