May 12, 2009 Game Notes

Just a reminder, the probable pitching match-ups for the Cedar Rapids series may be found at this link to this post. To the GAME NOTES!!!!

ABOUT SUNDAY: The Timber Rattlers defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 4-1. The Rattlers scored twice in the second and twice in the third inning to build the lead. The win was Wisconsin‘s first road victory of 2009.

DÉJÀ VU: Corey Kemp walked to start the Rattler half of the second inning. He scored on a two-run single by Michael Vass later in the frame. Kemp lead off the top of the second inning in all three games of the South Bend series. He also led off and eventually scored in the second inning in first two games at South Bend.

MEADOWS LAND: Meadows made his first Timber Rattler start of the season on Sunday. He tossed five scoreless innings without giving up a walk for the win. Meadows is 4-0 on the season and also earned the Midwest League Pitcher of the week award.

SCORER’S DECISION: After Sunday’s game, an error on a hard hit ball off the bat of Kemp in the top of the ninth inning was changed to a hit. Kemp’s day went from 0-for-3 to 1-for-3. That switch allowed Kemp to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Kemp is 10-for-29 (.345) during the streak.

ASSISTS FROM THE OUTFIELD: Erik Miller picked up a pair of outfield assists on Sunday. He is third in the league in that category. Matt Crawford of Cedar Rapids and Angel Morales of Beloit are tied for the league lead with seven outfield assists on the season.

DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM: Rattler closer Jim Henderson pitched the final 1-1/3 innings to earn his eighth save of the season. He is 8-for-8 in save situations this season.

UNDER CONTROL: The three Rattler pitchers on Sunday – Meadows, Brandon Ritchie, and Henderson – did not walk a batter in the game. This was the first time since April 29 Rattler pitchers did not give out a free pass in a game. Wisconsin hurlers have two walk-free games in 2009.

TOUGH SERIES: Rattler second baseman Brett Lawrie went 0-for-10 in the series with the Silver Hawks. First baseman Brock Kjeldgaard was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. Miller was 2-for-11 with five strikeouts. As a team the Rattlers committed seven errors.

MEET THE NEW GUY: Before Sunday’s game, the Timber Rattlers made a roster move. Pitcher Michael Bowman was transferred to the roster of the Helena Brewers. Pitcher Nick Tyson joined the Timber Rattlers from extended spring training. Tyson was a 36th round pick of the Brewers out of Lake City Community College in Florida in the 2006 draft. In his two seasons in the Milwaukee organization, Tyson is 7-6 with three saves and a 4.65ERA in 46 games (nine starts).

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They are managed by Bill Mosiello, who is in his first season as the manager of the Kernels. Mosiello managed the final 108 games of the 2004 season for the Battle Creek Yankees. The Kernels went 32-36 in the first half of the 2008 season, but they went 40-30 in the second half and made the playoffs as the second half Western Division Wild Card. Cedar Rapids won in the first round with a sweep of Clinton, but they were swept by the Burlington Bees in the Western Division Finals. The Kernels are 13-17 and in fifth place in the Western Division. In their most recent series, Cedar Rapids dropped two out of three games at Modern Woodmen Park against the Quad Cities River Bandits.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .243 as a team. They have scored 116 runs (4.0/game) and hit 16 home runs. The Kernels are hitting .248 as a team. They have scored 134 runs (4.5/game) and hit 15 homers. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 4.59 while allowing a total of 163 runs (5.6/game). Cedar Rapids pitchers have a team ERA of 4.19 while allowing 139 runs (4.6/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 44 errors. The Kernels defense has committed 39 errors. Wisconsin is 1-9 in road games this season. The Kernels are 9-4 at home this season.

PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed four players on the current Kernel roster on their list of top 30 Angels prospects. All four are pitchers. Tyler Chatwood is the highest rated at number 11. Will Smith (#12), Manuarys Correa (#19) and Ryan Chaffee (#21) are also on the list.

OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The Angels have placed 13 members of their 2008 draft class on the Cedar Rapids roster. Pitchers Chatwood (2nd), Chaffee (3rd), Smith (7th), and Christian Scholl (8th) and infielder Gabe Jacobo (10th) were all selected in the first ten rounds of the ’08 draft. Pitchers Mike Kohn (13th), Kevin Nabors (26th), and Jeremy Thorne (29th); catcher Beau Brooks (20th), infielders Adam Younger (18th) and Dwayne Bailey (21st); and outfielders Ryan Groth (22nd), Matt Crawford (23rd), and Roberto Lopez (25th) were also picked in last year’s draft.

RETURNING ALUMNI: Five players from last year’s Kernels team are back with Cedar Rapids are back again in 2009. Catcher Anel De Los Santos, infielders Jacobo and Alexi Amarista, and outfielders Groth and Angel Castillo were all with the Kernels last season.

CEDAR RAPIDS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Ryan Chaffee was a third round pick of the Angels in the 2008 draft out of Chipola (FL) Junior College. Chaffee turned down a scholarship to LSU to sign with the Angels, but he did not pitch as a professional in 2008. Chaffee broke his foot early in the Junior College season, but came back and helped pitch Chipola to the Junior College World Series. But, he broke the foot again at the JCWS. So far in 2009, Chaffee is 0-1 in three starts for the Kernels. In his last start, Chaffee lost at South Bend on May 6. He allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits, three walks, and a hit batsman. Chaffee struck out one and threw a wild pitch in five innings. Chaffee has never faced the Timber Rattlers or an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.