Both Adam Eaton and Jake Elmore have been named Topps Triple-A All-Stars this week. Eaton, a 2010 member of the Missoula Osprey, and Elmore, a 2008 Osprey alumnus, both made the squad for their efforts this past season for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Read the full story on Eaton and Elmore here, and more on the Triple-A All-Star Team here.
Former Missoula Osprey outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (2003) has earned his second National League Gold Glove award of his career. The best defensive players at each position were announced earlier at each position by Major League Baseball and Rawlings, the long-time sponsor of the award.
Gonzalez also earned the honor during his breakout season in 2010, which he also earned in left field.
We’ll have more information on this on Wednesday on MissoulaOsprey.com.
by Ben Catley
(NOTE: I apologize for the delay in getting this out. Let’s just say that I’ve run into problems with (1) Getting back into the blog (and, of all things, it was a missing 1 in the land of 1s and 0s that solved the problem!) and (2) the audio accompaniant … which will get added soon.)
Ahh … now the debate is sure to begin. We have already revealed the five nominated games that did not make the top two, including the No. 3 game as selected by our fans and a panel of experts. Now it’s time to reveal the order of the other two.
If you missed it, the two games we have not revealed in our countdown – September 5, 2012 and September 14, 2012. The fans split on these two – the Bird Droppings poll had September 5 come out on top, while the MissoulaOsprey.com poll went to September 14. Continue reading
The votes are in and have been counted, and we have our Top 3 Games of 2012. While the highlights will be uploaded to the website at MissoulaOsprey.com later tonight and tomorrow, we figured we’d at least let most of the cat out of the bag, so to speak.
The games that were voted on that did not make the grade:
4. June 25 (Mondesi-gate … the night Raul Mondesi Jr. missed home plate on what would have been a game-tying two-run home run in Helena, giving the Osprey a 2-1 win in 10 innings)
5. June 22 (Home opener, tied in extra innings on a Jake Lamb RBI triple, and won in the 13th on a walk-off double by Lamb)
6. June 27 (The 20-0 win over Helena in which Danny Pulfer hit for the cycle and Michael PErez came close to doing the same)
7. August 30 (The rally from 6-0 down to win 9-6 in Billings) Continue reading
The polls are now closed for the voting on the Best Osprey Game of 2012. Don’t worry, if you have voted (even the “other” vote was counted, which was for June 25, by the way), it has been counted. And the results will be interesting, to say the least.
How it will work is, we’ll take the ballots from the esteemed panel and use them as one portion of the vote. The other parts will come from the polls, both on MissoulaOsprey.com and here on the blog. We can also now tell you the panel – Osprey President Mike Ellis, Executive Vice President Matt Ellis, Vice President/General Manager Jeff Griffin, GM-Operations Jared Amoss and Missoulian reporter Michael Heinbach.
We will announce the results over the next three days, beginning tomorrow afternoon/evening with No. 3 …
by Ben Catley
Just a couple of things on this Sunday …
– Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey) is out for the rest of the season after getting hit by a pitch in his right hand during the 7th inning of Saturday’s 8-2 Arizona Diamondbacks’ win over the Chicago Cubs. X-rays showed a broken bone in the hand, so Eaton’s season is done four days earlier than planned. Eaton hit .259 in 22 games after his promotion from Triple-A Reno, with a .382 on-base percentage, three doubles, two triples, two home runs and five RBIs, plus a pair of stolen bases.
On a personal note, I finally managed to see Eaton in a D-backs’ uniform for the first time on TV on Saturday night. He had hits in his first two at-bats, which I missed, then was retired in his next two at-bats, which I managed to watch. I missed the HBP in the 7th, so go figure.
We shall see what the D-backs do with Eaton in 2013. Once he was promoted, he became an everyday player at the top of the lineup – something the D-backs sorely needed. It will provide plenty of great off-season hot stove talk, I’m sure.
– Wanted to see four former Osprey in the D-backs’ lineup last night, but Paul Goldschmidt (2009) was out of the lineup with a stiff back. Nothing serious, though, which is good news. By the way, the other two who were in the lineup – catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03) and outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006). Montero has put together quite a 2012 season, a solid follow-up from his breakout 2011 campaign, and Parra is Parra, hitting enough, playing great defense and getting plenty of chances to play, despite being the fourth outfielder.
– Finally, want to remind you to vote (even if you have already, you are allowed to vote again) on your favorite game of the 2012 Osprey baseball season. Beginning on Tuesday, October 2 (I had to push it back a day due to life happening), we will announce the top three games, and post audio highlights of each game to our website at MissoulaOsprey.com. The results will come from three sources:
*Voting on the Bird Droppings blog
*Voting on MissoulaOsprey.com
*The results from our esteemed panel of Osprey baseball experts – which may surprise you. Or not …
The top three will be announced beginning on Tuesday. In the meantime, it’s back to the lab to figure out what poll to come up with next …
Fans can now vote on their favorite games of the 2012 Osprey baseball season. The results will be announced on October 1 both here (with a write-up) and on MissoulaOsprey.com, with audio highlights of each game that makes the cut. Tentatively, it will be the top three games, but that could change, so stay tuned.
The poll on the blog will allow for more than one game to be voted for, but the poll on MissoulaOsprey.com does not allow for multiple selections. You can vote on each if you so desire, however. have fun and the results will be announced beginning October 1! Continue reading
This is it. The last game of the year. And it means the whole marbles are on the line. Every last color, style and size in the pack is on the line tonight.
And have the Missoula Osprey have made this their stick over the last week-plus, or what?
They have played in a must-win situation three prior times to tonight – Sept. 6-7 vs. Billings, and in the decider Sept. 9 at Great Falls – and won them all. So tonight’s Pioneer Baseball League Championship Series Game 3 with the Ogden Raptors at Lindquist Field enters that realm.
However, to be fair, there are some things to point out on both sides:
– The Osprey have won 2 of 5 Game 3s played in during the post-season, but won their last one. Both of those Game 3 wins came against Great Falls.
– The Raptors hadn’t won a Championship Series game until last night, dropping their first nine tries.
– Both teams are looking to end a title drought of sorts. The Osprey haven’t won since 2006, while Ogden last won a Pioneer League title before there was a playoff system in place, in 1969.
– Incidentally, that 1969 title – all of 43 years ago – came on the tail end of a four-year reign as PBL champs for Ogden, a record that has been approached but not equaled since.
– Little-known fact – the Osprey have made the playoffs now in four of the seven seasons there has been an Arizona League team in existence at the same time (1999, 2001, 2011 and 2012).
So what does that all mean for tonight? Likely … nothing, unless you make it into something to grab on to. Which, of course, is why we point it out.
Enough delving into stuff … on to the lineups, which will follow the usual radio stuff. Pre-game will be at 6:45 tonight, first pitch at 7:00 on AM 930 and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. At the moment, pre-game interview is TBA.
Anyway, here’s who both managers are starting tonight:
Missoula (41-35)
14 Pedro Ruiz SS
9 Danny Pulfer 2B
18 Jake Lamb 3B
7 Michael Perez C
19 Socrates Brito RF
21 Breland Almadova CF
15 Alex Glenn LF
26 Yosbel Gutierrez DH
30 Tyler Bream 1B
48 Yoimer Camacho RHP
Ogden (44-32)
12 Delvis Morales 2B
40 Noel Cuevas LF
33 Jeremy Rathjen RF
17 Jesus Valdez 1B
46 Corey Seager SS
34 Paul Hoenecke DH
10 Jose Capellan C
27 Bladimir Franco 3B
5 Malcolm Holland CF
36 Ross Stripling RHP
Well, the lineups are posted and it’s getting closer to the start of Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series, with the Osprey holding a 1-0 series lead over the Ogden Raptors. Ross Gerdeman gets the call to make the start in Game 2 for the Osprey, while Lindsey Caughel will get the ball for the Raptors.
The pre-game show will start around 6:40 – we’re moving it up to get everything in – with the first pitch slated for 7:00 on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. Danny Pulfer (yes, the interview we didn’t get to air in Missoula) will be the pre-game show guest.
Anyway, here are tonight’s lineups …
Missoula Osprey (41-35)
14 Pedro Ruiz SS
9 Danny Pulfer DH
18 Jake Lamb 3B
7 Michael Perez C
19 Socrates Brito RF
21 Breland Almadova CF
15 Alex Glenn LF
33 Rudy Flores 1B
38 Andrew Velazquez 2B
24 Ross Gerdeman RHP
Ogden Raptors (44-32)
12 Delvis Morales 2B
25 Eric Smith C
33 Jeremy Rathjen RF
17 Jesus Valdez 1B
46 Corey Seager SS
40 Noel Cuevas LF
34 Paul Hoenecke DH
27 Bladimir Franco 3B
5 Malcolm Holland CF
47 Lindsey Caughel RHP
OK Osprey faithful … here we go.
Game 1 of the Pioneer Baseball League Championship Series between the Osprey and the Ogden Raptors is getting closer to starting here. In a little over an hour, it’s go time.
More on the matchup in the notes below. Danny Pulfer is our Pre-game show guest. We’re on the air at 6:50, with the first pitch slated for 7:15 on AM 930 KMTP and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.
To the lineups and beyond …
Missoula Osprey (41-35, North Division winner)
| 1 | 14 Pedro Ruiz | SS | |
| .313, 2 HR, 19 RBI | |||
| 2 | 9 Danny Pulfer | DH | |
| .285, 2 HR, 27 RBI | |||
| 3 | 18 Jake Lamb | 3B | |
| .329, 9 HR, 57 RBI | |||
| 4 | 7 Michael Perez | C | |
| .293, 10 HR, 60 RBI | |||
| 5 | 19 Socrates Brito | RF | |
| .312, 4 HR, 39 RBI | |||
| 6 | 21 Breland Almadova | CF | |
| .306, 1 HR, 28 RBI | |||
| 7 | 15 Alex Glenn | LF | |
| .300, 6 HR, 17 RBI | |||
| 8 | 33 Rudy Flores | 1B | |
| .296, 3 HR, 32 RBI | |||
| 9 | 38 Andrew Velazquez | 2B | |
| .220, 0 HR, 4 RBI |
|
||
| P | 8 Chris Thomas | P | |
Ogden Raptors (44-32, South Division winner)
| 1 | 12 Delvis Morales | 2B | ||
| .341, 0 HR, 15 RBI | ||||
| 2 | 25 Eric Smith | DH | ||
| .336, 3 HR, 55 RBI | ||||
| 3 | 33 Jeremy Rathjen | RF | ||
| .324, 9 HR, 53 RBI | ||||
| 4 | 17 Jesus Valdez | 1B | ||
| .324, 9 HR, 62 RBI | ||||
| 5 | 46 Corey Seager | SS | ||
| .309, 8 HR, 33 RBI | ||||
| 6 | 18 Devin Shines | LF | ||
| .304, 8 HR, 34 RBI | ||||
| 7 | 10 Jose Capellan | C | ||
| .338, 1 HR, 20 RBI | ||||
| 8 | 27 Bladimir Franco | 3B | ||
| .282, 2 HR, 12 RBI | ||||
| 9 | 5 Malcolm Holland | CF | ||
|
||||
| P | 22 Miguel Sulbaran | P | ||
| The Skinny: Game 1 of the Best-of-3 Pioneer League Championship Series will take place tonight, with the Osprey looking to make it three straight teams from the North to win a PBL title, and chasing their first since 2006. Ogden is seeking its first title since the two-division format began, not having won a title since 1969. How They Got Here: The Ogden Raptors fended off the Grand Junction Rockies in three games to advance to their second straight Championship Series. Eric Smith (.583), Heremy Rathjen (.462) and Corey Seager (.444) paced the batters, while Lindsay Caughel putched eight innings in a no-decision in Game 1 (2.25) ERA. The Raptors hit .280 against the Rockies, while their pitchers finished with a 5.23 ERA in a high-scoring series. Team records set for hitting, postseason and attendance: On the Mound Tonight: The Raptors will go with left-hander Miguel Sulbaran, who had made just one prior start in the Pioneer League, but has had plenty of success on the mound this past summer. Sulbaran (0-1, 5.40) allowed five hits and three runs, with one walk and four strikeouts, in five innings of work in a loss at Grand Junction last Wednesday. Sulbaran spent the rest of the season in the Arizona League, going 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA for the AZL Dodgers. Sulbaran struck out 62 batters in 57 1/3 innings pitched, and was better on the road (2.10) than at home (2.84). His best month was in July, (2-1, 1.05), holding opponents to a .225 average. The lefty was better against right-handers (.243) than lefties (.278 during the season. (GJ lefties were 0-for-4). |
Pitching Probables Game 3 – Friday, Sept. 14 at Ogden (if necessary) MIS RHP Yoimer Camacho vs. OGD RHP Ross Stripling Pioneer League Champions (since 1999) NOTE: Ogden won four titles from 1966-69.
|
By The Numbers (2012 Regular Season):
| Current Streak: |
W4 |
Extra Innings: |
6-4 |
Team Hitting: |
.288 |
| First Half: |
18-20 |
Lead After 5: |
24-7 |
PL Rank: |
3rd |
| Second Half: |
23-15 |
Tied After 5: |
11-2 |
Team Pitching: |
4.68 |
| June: |
7-6 |
Trail After 5: |
6-26 |
PL Rank: |
3rd |
| July: |
13-15 |
One-run games: |
12-10 |
Longest Winning Streak: |
5 games |
| August: |
17-12 |
Two-run games: |
6-6 |
Longest Losing Streak |
6 games |
| September: |
4-2 |
Three-run games: |
9-1 |
HR total at home: |
23 |
| Score First: |
23-10 |
+3-run games: |
14-18 |
Pitching K total: |
683 |
| Score Last: |
20-11 |
Shutout Record: |
5-4 |
Pitching K/9IP Ratio: |
8.97 |
| Reaching 11-hit Mark: |
24-5 |
|
Peanut Inning Success: |
17/38 |
PBL Championship Series Comparison:
| Reg. Season |
Missoula |
Ogden |
| Home Record |
21-17 |
23-15 |
| Road Record |
20-18 |
21-17 |
| Hitting |
.288 |
.292 |
| Lg. Rank |
3rd |
2nd |
| Pitching |
4.68 |
4.93 |
| Lg. Rank |
3rd |
4th |
| Home Runs |
51 |
55 |
| HR Allowed |
68 |
58 |
| Team OBP |
.361 |
.378 |
| Team Slug. % |
.428 |
.436 |
| Team OPS |
.789 |
.814 |
| Head to Head |
Missoula |
Ogden |
| Home W-L |
1-2 |
3-1 |
| Road W-L |
1-3 |
2-1 |
| HTH Avg. |
.285 |
.316 |
| HTH ERA |
6.82 |
4.50 |
| HTH OBP |
.359 |
.396 |
| HTH Slugging |
.419 |
.500 |
| HTH OPS |
.779 |
.896 |
| Head-To-Head Team Leaders |
Missoula |
Ogden |
| Hitting |
Gutierrez, .500 |
Franco, .538 |
| Home Runs |
Four with 1 |
Rathjen, 3 |
| RBI |
Brito, 7 |
Valdez, 11 |
| Pitching W-L |
Spilker, Triana 1-0 |
Five with 1 |
| Pitching ERA |
Blake, 3.00 (6 IP) |
Caughel, 0.00 (7 IP) |
Missoula Osprey Playoff History
| Year | Opponent | Score |
| 1999 | @ Helena | W 4-2 (11) |
| Helena | Won | |
| @ Billings | Won | |
| Billings | Won | |
| 2001 | Billings | W 4-3 |
| @ Billings | L 2-6 | |
| @ Billings | L 5-12 | |
| 2006 | Billings | W 6-4 |
| @ Billings | W 10-2 | |
| Idaho Falls | W 4-0 | |
| @ Idaho Falls | W 7-2 | |
| 2009 | Great Falls | W 3-2 (11) |
| @ Great Falls | L 2-3 | |
| @ Great Falls | W 16-7 | |
| @ Orem | W 7-6 | |
| Orem | L 0-10 | |
| Orem | L 10-13 | |
| 2011 | @ Great Falls | L 3-8 |
| Great Falls | W 11-1 | |
| Great Falls | L 2-12 | |
| 2012 | Great Falls | W 8-3 |
| @ Great Falls | L 4-5 | |
| @ Great Falls | W 4-2 | |
| Ogden | ||
| @ Ogden | ||
| @ Ogden* |
*- if necessary
Overall Playoff Record: 15-8 .652
Home Playoff Record: 8-3 .727
Road Playoff Record: 7-5 .583
Divisional Round Record: 10-6 .625
Championship Round Record: 5-2 .714
Postseason Record vs. Ogden: First meeting
Bird Droppings 