Lineups for August 15 and News to Know

It’s signing day … the last day MLB clubs can sign plyers from the 2011 MLB Draft. A number of D-backs’ picks remain unsigned, but that could change as the day rolls along. The deadline is 10:01 p.m. MT.

Here’s tonight’s starting lineups for the opener with the Orem Owlz:

Orem Owlz (10-4, 32-20) starting lineup:
Taylor Lindsey (2B)
Jerod Yakubik (LF)
Ryan Jones (RF)
Frazier Hall (1B)
Abel Baker (C)
Kaleb Cowart (3B)
Gary Mitchell (DH)
Brandon Brewer (SS)
Drew Martinez (CF)
Daniel Vargas-Vila (P)
Missoula Osprey (8-6, 33-19) starting lineup:
Fidel Pena (2B)
Tom Belza (RF)
Eric Groff (3B)
Jon Griffin (DH)
Ryan Court (1B)
Stephen Cardullo (SS)
Roidany Aguila (C)
Ty Linton (LF)
Justin Bianco (CF)
Conrad Flynn (P)

News and Notes:
– Enrique Burgos will miss his next turn in the starting rotation due to inflammation in his right elbow. It’s not seen as serious with Burgos, and he could make his next start as soon as next Monday in Orem. We’ll know more by the weekend.

– Burgos getting a break has re-set the Osprey rotation – left-hander Taylor Siemens will pitch on Tuesday, right-hander Dexter Price goes on Wednesday, righty Raymond Hernandez gets the nod on Thursday, and right-hander Robby Rowland will open the series against the Ogden Raptors on Friday. Jesse Darrah will pitch on Saturday, and Siemens will close out the homestand on Sunday.

Now to tonight’s Game Notes:

The Skinny: The Osprey, winners of the Pioneer League North Division First-Half title, begin a 14-game swing against South Division foes Orem and Ogden with a four-game series at home against the South Division-leading Owlz. It matches the two best teams in the Pioneer League against each other.

Another Streak In a Season of them: The 2011 season has become a historic one for the Osprey, and while it does not look like they will close in on the 52-win team in 2001, they have managed to achieve something that they, nor any other team in Osprey history, has been able to do. The last time the Osprey lost back-to-back games was June 27-28, when they fell to 3-6 on the season. Since then, they have compiled a 30-13 record, and they have not lost back-to-back games in close to seven weeks.

These Owlz can hit: Entering this series, the Orem Owlz offense is dominating the Pioneer League. Orem leads the Pioneer League with a .314 batting average – 20 points better than second-place Ogden, and 31 points better than the Osprey. They have scored more runs (364) than anyone else, are the lone PBL team with over 900 total bases, and lead the league in team slugging percentage (.492). In addition, the Owlz also have three of the top four individuals in batting – Jerod Yakubik (.395/1 HR/22 RBI) leads teammate Frazier Hall (.391/6/36), while Taylor Lindsey (.362/8/28) is currently fourth in the league. Ryan Jones (.341/9/44) is currently seventh in hitting. It will be a matchup of the “irresistible force” meeting the “immovable object”, as the Osprey are tops in the PBL in ERA (4.35) as well as tops in the league in least runs allowed (256).

On the Mound Tonight: Missoula will send out right-hander Conrad Flynn to the mound as he will look to improve on his outings as a starter. Flynn (3-1, 4.62) has allowed three or more runs in each of his three prior starts, including eight in 4 1/3 innings at Idaho Falls on July 19. However, Flynn is 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA in five home appearances (two starts). The free-agent signee has been stellar in relief, posting all three of his wins and a 1.85 ERA in eight appearances out of the bullpen.

The Owlz will counter tonight with right-hander Daniel Vargas-Vila, who will make his 10th straight start after making his initial appearance of the season out of the bullpen. Vargas-Vila (1-2, 3.53) has gone over a month without allowing more than two earned runs in a start (or three runs – which he did against Billings on July 24, but only one was earned). He has also pitched at least five innings in five of his last six starts – the lone start in which he didn’t make it through five innings was his last loss – July 30 at Casper. All five of his decisions have come in road starts (3.80 ERA).

The Legend Grows: Former Osprey first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (2009) went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a run scored and a RBI to help the D-backs beat the NY Mets at Chase field on Sunday, 5-3.

By The Numbers:

Current Streak:

W1

 Extra Innings:

1-5

 Team Hitting:

.283
First Half:

25-13

 Lead After 5:

28-4

 PL Rank:

3rd
Second Half:

8-6

 Tied After 5:

2-3

 Team Pitching:

4.35
June:

4-7

 Trail After 5:

3-12

 PL Rank:

1st
July:

21-7

 One-run games:

9-8

 Longest W Streak:

7 games
August:

8-5

 Two-run games:

3-1

 Longest L Streak:

3 games
September:

0-0

 Three-run games:

9-4

 HR total at home:

33
Score First:

26-9

 +3-run games:

12-6

 Pitching K total:

512
Score Last:

17-7

 Shutout Record:

2-0

 K/9IP Ratio:

9.82


D-backs Minor League Report/Osprey Alumni Update:

AZL D-backs Alumni Briefing: Former Osprey pitcher Charles Brewer (2009) made a rehab start for the AZL D-backs, pitching three innings of three-hit, four-strikeout baseball in an 8-3 loss to the AZL Giants. Domingo Soriano (2010) singled, doubled and scored a run in the setback.

 
Record: 13-31
Next: off-day
DSL D-backs Alumni Briefing: Alan Santiago (2009) went 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI, as well as drawing three walks, in an 11-8 win over the DSL White Sox on Sunday. Santiago is hitting .262/0/36, with a .699 OPS.

 
Record: 23-42
Next: vs. DSL Cubs
SS-A Yakima Alumni Briefing: In a 7-3 loss to Vancouver on Sunday, Henry Zabala (2009) singled, doubled and drove in a run, while Jae Yun Kim (2009-10) added two hits and Westley Moss (2011) plated a run. Miles Reagan (2008-09) tossed two innings of scoreless relief.

 
Record: 8-11, 21-36
Next: vs. Spokane
Class A South Bend Alumni Briefing: Ramon Castillo (2009) doubled, scored a run and drove in a run, while David Narodowski (2009) continued his hot hitting with a hit and a RBI, but the Silver Hawks lost to Bowling Green, 10-5. Narowodski is hitting .340 since being promoted from Yakima. Jeremy Erben (2010) and Keith Cantwell (2009) provided three innings of scoreless relief behind JR Bradley (2010) who took the loss and fell to 5-14 on the season.

 
Record: 21-28, 55-63
Next: at Bowling Green
Class A Advanced Visalia Alumni Briefing: David Holmberg (2010) had one of his better starts for the Rawhide on Sunday, but he received virtually no offensive support in a 6-1 loss to Inland Empire. Holmberg allowed five hits in six innings, fanned nine batters and allowed just an earned run. Chris Owings (2009) provide all of the offense for the Rawhide, hitting a solo home run and collecting two of the five hits. Keon Broxton (2009) added a triple, while Bobby Borchering (2009) chipped in with a hit.

 
Record: 24-25, 55-64
Next: at Bakersfield
Double-A Mobile Alumni Briefing: Taylor Harbin (2007) had three hits and two runs scored, while Jake Elmore (2008) singled, scored a run and stole a base in the BayBears’ 5-4 win over Mississippi on Sunday. Ollie Linton (2008) added a single. Yonata Ortega (2007) picked up his first Double-A win with a perfect inning of relief.
Record: 34-15, 72-47
Next: off-day

 
Triple-A Reno Alumni Briefing: The Aces have won just three of their past 10 games, dropping a 4-0 setback to New Orleans on Sunday. Tom Layne (2007), back to a relief role at the moment, allowed just one hit, a home run, but surrendered three unearned runs in the eighth inning.
Record: 67-54
Next: at New Orleans

 

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