Minor League moves

First of all, there was a couple of roster moves on the Timber Rattler off day.

Outfielder Calvin Beamon retired. Beamon joined the Rattlers just before the end of the first half in 2007 after signing as a fifth-year senior out of UNLV. He was hitting .243 with no homers and 20 RBI this season.

Pitcher Joe Kantakevich has joined the Timber Rattlers. Kantakevich was an All-Star reliever for the Rattlers in 2007, but struggled (11 games, 2-2 with a 26.04ERA and 11 walks and six strikeouts in 9-1/3 innings pitched) in High Desert in 2008.

Also, if you clicked through on any of the stories in the Mariner System Report post for today, you may have noticed a few moves.

The big one you should have noticed was Rich Dorman ('03) making the start for Triple-A Tacoma at Las Vegas after a promotion from West Tennessee.

The Jackson Sun game story had this:

The win could be the last in a Jaxx uniform for Saunders as he was called up to Class AAA Tacoma along with pitcher Rich Dorman, who had already flown out to the team.

That Saunders is Michael Saunders ('06).

So, Saunders goes up to Tacoma. Corresponding move at Tacoma? You could have found it at the bottom of Mike Curto's story at the Tacoma News-Tribune site.

Dorman was added to the Tacoma roster along with outfielder Wladimir Balentien and catcher Fleming Baez while outfielders Nick Blasi and Josh Womack were released. These moves followed catcher Jeff Clement being called up by the Seattle Mariners on Monday. ... Balentien was in the Rainiers’ starting lineup, but was scratched once it was determined that he would not arrive in time for the game.

Womack was a Timber Rattler in 2004 and 2005. He had a 23-game hitting streak in 2005 that is tied for the club record.

That seems to be one move off if Saunders is heading to Las Vegas to play for the Rainiers. I don't think that the changes are over in the Seattle system.