7-21 CUP O' JO

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Recapping yesterday's action:

JOEY GOMES (DH, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League IND):
7/20: 1 for 4 as Joliet's held Gary to just 2 runs in the 9th to eek out a 12-11 win. Joey hit his 9th double of the season, reached on an error and later scored and drew a walk hitting in the 5 spot. .262 Avg.

Joliet is 4-6 in their last 10 with a 1 game win streak, and 6.5 games back of Fargo in 5th place in a 6 game division. They have a day off today then 3 games at neighboring Schaumberg where someone always seems to be ejected and where Joliet can't afford to give up any ground to the trailing Flyers. After that, another roadtrip to Fargo where, ya know, they could really make up some games in the standings against the league leader.

CHAD FILLINGER - P, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League - IND:
7/19: Another rough night for Chad who left a couple up enabling Gary to tie things up with a home run in the 8th and take the lead with a home run in the 9th. They were the only two hits he surrendered in two innings pitched. His record is now 3-2 with a 2.91 ERA.

Jackhammer Chatter: Signed a new LHP fresh out of Northern Illinois University and released one of the newbie RHPs.

LOUIS OTT (DH/INF Detroit Tigers Organization - Erie Seawolves, AA):
LOUIS PROMOTED TO THE AA EERIE SEAWOLVES ON 7-9-08
7/20: Whew Lou! 2 for 3 as the Seawolves LF with a single, a double and a K. Recap .231 Avg. Erie is 20.5 games back, 5-5 in their last 10 with a 1 game win streak.

TOMMY EVERIDGE (1B, Oakland A's Organization - Midland Rockhounds, AA):
7-20: 0 for 4 with a walk and 2 Ks at 1B in a 3-2 win over San Antonio. .255 Avg. Recap
Midland is 6-4 in their last 10 with a 1 game win streak and 5 games back of Division Leader, Frisco.

KONRAD SCHMIDT (C, Arizona Diamondbacks Organization - Visalia Oaks, High A): PROMOTED TO CLASS A ADVANCED VISALIA OAKS 7-11-08
7-20: Did not play as the Bakersfield Blaze smoked the Oaks in a 0-9 shutout.
7-19: 0 for 2 with a run scored as Visalia was thumped 2-11 by Bakersfield. .333 Avg. Recap
The Oaks are 5-5 in their last 10 with a 1 game losing streak and 3 games back of Division leading Modesto.

STEPHEN PEARSON (1B, American Assn-Wichita Wingnuts, IND):
7-20: Lost a close one in 10 innings. Sioux City edged them 3-2, but Stephen hit his 12th double of the season in a 1-4 effort. .301 Avg. Wichita is in the cellar, 4-6 in their last ten with a 2 game losing streak and 3.5 games behind Lincoln, the Northern Division leader.

Wingnut Chatter: EBay bidding on the famed jersey worn by the Wingnuts Manager Kash Beaucamp during his sensational and nationally televised temper tantrums last week has stalled at $104.15 with 1 days and 21 hours and 58 minutes to go. PTownFan has shamelessly requested the donation of the infamous batting ring "binoculars" to the CampForACure Silent Auction...
The video courtesy of the Associated Press.
The story by John Marshall of the Chicago Tribune.

JONNY GOMES (DH, Tampa Bay Rays):
7-20: Got a nice warm up in his first of 4 consecutive games. Jonny was 1-4 in RF with a 2 out double, a walk and 2 Ks in the Rays 4-9 loss to Toronto yesterday. Tonight the Rays take on the A's in the first of a 3 game series at home. Jonny will get three starts against the A's LHPs.

Rays Chatter: Is Jonny pumped about 4 consecutive games? Here's what he had to say about it.

There's lotsa trade talk swirling about the Rays as a team in playoff contention needs to take a hard look at it's weaknesses. Corner OFs hitting for average is one of them, specifically a Right Fielder as LF Carl Crawford, though struggling, isn't going anywhere... including CF... which is another topic for another time. Tampa Bay is not willing to deal the chips required to get a big name. Everyone wants David Price and he's not available so look to see a relative unknown or perhaps a head scratching trade by the end of the month. After all, the Stu Crew has done pretty well with Carlos Pena, Eric Hinske, and even Gabe Gross, though they may regret the expensive 3 year deal extended to Pena after last year's Cinderella season.

BRANDON MORROW (P, Seattle Mariners):
7-19: Got three quick fly outs in the 9th to end a painful game in Seattle which was really over in the 3rd inning. The Mariners lost 9-6 to the Cleveland Indians. The regular Seattle Closer, JJ Putz, is due back from the DL shortly. It's not clear whether he and Morrow will share the closer role, which Brandon has excelled at during his absence.

PTOWN's UP AND COMERS:

DJ GENTILE (OF, Mat-Su Miners (Palmer, AK), Alaska Baseball League, Amateur):
7-20: Singled and doubled in the Miner's 1-7 loss to the Anchorage Bucs. Recap.

PETALUMA VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE 12 Y.O. ALL-STAR TEAM
District 35 Champs, Petaluma Valley Little League, were undefeated entering the Championship Game last night, but Alameda managed a win forcing another game tonight in Woodland. The winner will advance. The next stop on the Road To Williamsport for the Little League World Series is the Division II tourney in Alameda so you can bet Valley's competition will be fired up about the chance to take it home. Good luck Petaluma!

Here's a YouTube video of the dramatic finish of last Friday night's semi-final game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jxJIaJyv-a8