CUP O' JO: Monday, June 29, 2009

JONNY GOMES (OF,Cincinnati Reds, MLB):
1-for-4 with a 2 run home run in yesterday's 8-1 win over Cleveland to take the Governor's Cup and close to within 2.5 games of Milwaukee and St. Louis who are tied for the Division lead.  I tell you what, these Reds' fans are a tough crowd.  With Jonny hitting .343 and slugging .600 (.529 vs. RHP) they are not exactly singing his praises.  Now that interleague action is over, they're already predicting a big cooldown as he returns to a platoon role despite his recent success versus RHP.  He went 11-for-29 as the DH during the recent interleague stretch and is batting .063 points higher than the next best hitting outfielder.  I'd love to the output of a Bill James equation that looks at all those inputs to see how good another OF's defense needs to be to overcome the edge that Gomes has offensively.  If the Reds' starting pitchers continue to struggle and wins hinge on run production, I don't know how they can afford to keep Jonny out of the lineup.  Dickerson in CF and Gomes in LF is more potent than Taveras (.237) in center and a platoon in left with either Nix (.259) or Dickerson (.279) and saving Jonny's hot bat only for lefties. But what do I know.

JOEY GOMES (DH, Edmonton Capitals, Golden League - IND)
2-for-5 with an RBI single in last night's 11-3 win over Victoria to regain second place.  If you can work a mid-week game in Chico into your schedule, Joey's team opens their 4 game series against the Outlaws tomorrow night.  Click here for ticket info and here for directions. The gates open at 6:00 and the Caps take infield during BP which usually begins around 5:30.  But the nice gal in the Outlaws front office said it shouldn't be a problem if a few PTown fans show up and want to get in early to send some love Joey's way.  And get this week's edition of Sports Illustrated signed.  BYOS (Bring Your Own Sharpie).

LOUIS OTT (A Jupiter Hammerheads, Florida Marlins Organization)
0-for-3 last night at second base as the Threshers won the sharkfight 5-4 over Louis' Hammerheads.
BRANDON MORROW (P, Seattle Mariners, MLB):
Next start:  tomorrow night in NY vs. Joba.

TOMMY EVERIDGE (IF, AAA Sacramento River Cats, Oakland Athletics Organization)
3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in a 6-3 loss to Las Vegas last night.  Batting .357. Man!

KONRAD SCHMIDT (C, High A Visalia Rawhide, Arizona Diamondbacks Organization)
0-for-4 in last night's loss to Bakersfield.

STEVE PEARSON (1B, Wichita WingNuts, IND)
2-for-3 with an RBI in a 2-1 win over St. Paul last night.  And our beat reporter Not So Anonymous reports that he is planning a trip to Sioux Falls, in part, to report back on those Fowl Balls.  Take a video cam NSA... we gotta see these things to believe 'em. 

DJ GENTILE (OF, Matsu Miners, Alaska)
2-for-4 with two doubles in last night's 5-4 win over The Fire.  Batting .344 with 4 extra base hits in 9 games played.  DJ is working on his outfielding skills in hopes of inking a deal with the Cleveland Indians who selected him in the draft earlier this summer. So far, so good as far as fielding stats go.