Down On The Farm

I'll try to update this everyday. For now.. here is a review of the past week in the Sox minor league system:

Charlotte Knights (AAA - International League) - in 2005 the Knights were among the worst teams in organized baseball. No place to go but up. The 2006 season open for the Knights in Toledo. In that game, Redding got the win, striking out 6 in 7 IP. Fields was 2 for 4. The Mudhens won game 2, but Fields had a double and Lubisich struck out 6 in 5 IP, also giving up 3 ER. The Knights won the rubber game. Rogo was 2 for 4. Haeger gets the win, striking out 6 in 7 IP. Sean Tracy struck out 2, but also walked 2 in his lone inning of work

Birmingham Barons (AA - Southern League): The Barons finished well in 2005. The big news, for me at least, at the beginning of the 2006 season, is that Tom Collaro starts the season on the roster. I've been a huge fan of Collaro since I saw the monster numbers he was posting at Great Falls at the end of 2004. At that time, Sox fans told me he was 1) too old (he just turned 22) and 2) strikes out a lot (true, but getting better). Here is an interview of his I posted from last season. Opening day lost at West Tenn. But guess what? Collaro homers. Valido was 2 for 4. Little lost it by giving up 3 ER in the 8th. Game 2 was a 2-1 loss, though Collaro had a single, the real story was Lance Broadway who struck out 10 in just 6 innings of work. The Barons salavage game 3 thanks to - SURPRISE - Tom Collaro, who homers. Lumsden strikes out 7 in 6 IP.

Winston-Salem Warthogs (High A - Carolina League): Hogs won the opener vs Kinston 4-3. Lucy was 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. In 5 IP, Egbert gives up 3 ER, strikes out 3 and walks 3. Kinston won game 2, 9-3. Whisler gives up 5 ER in 5 IP. The Hogs drop game 3 as well, 8-6. Kelly was a bright spot, going 3 for 5. The pitching lines continue to be full of numbers: Torres, 4 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 2 walks, 3 K. Hurd, 1/3 rd IP, 4 hits, 3 ER.

Kannapolis Intimidators (Low A - South Atlantic League): This team won their league in 2005. But based on the 06 results, the guys that helped win that title must all have been promoted to Winston-Salem. Opening day was a 6-5 loss at Rome, who scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win it.. Castillo was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs. Hernandez, Sanchez and Orlando also collected 2 hits apiece. Santeliz give up 3 ER in just 1/3rd of an inning pitched. Each team committed 3 errors in a sloppy affair. Rome won again the next day, 5-3. Sanchez homered and drove in 3. A couple of errors doomed the Intimidators. Game 3 was also a Rome win. Roberts was 2 for 4. Oh, the Intimidators had 5 errors. Yes 5.... in one game. So over the 3 game series, the Intimidators are 0-3 and have comitted 10 errors. Maybe some extra fielding practice would be in order....