4/14: Minor League Minute

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 14, 2008 7:00 AM EDT

AAA Durham Bulls (5-6)

BULLS 2, Scranton/WB 0-CF Fernando Perez doubled in the Bulls' only two runs of the ballgame in the fifth inning off of Yankees LHP Kei Igawa, but it would prove to be enough as the Bulls shut out Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to break a three game losing streak.

BULLS 2, Scranton/WB 0
CF Fernando Perez	1-3, 2B (2), BB, 2 RBI (8), SB (3)
3B Joel Guzman	1-4
RP Calvin Medlock	W (1-0), 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 7 TBF, 35 Pitches
RP Grant Balfour	SV (1), 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 9 TBF, 32 Pitches

BULLS Up Next-at Scranton/WB, 11:05 ET (RH Mitch Talbot)

AA Montgomery Biscuits (3-7)

News-Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Biscuits LHP Jon Barratt has gone on the voluntarily retired list, ending (for now, at least) his baseball career.

"It's something that he's been thinking about," manager Billy Gardner said after today's loss at Carolina. "He said he just didn't have the passion anymore."

There could be any number of reasons behind Barratt's retirement, and as he enters private life you hate to speculate on what those reasons might be. Maybe he really did lose his passion for baseball and wanted to pursue something else, in which case I commend him and wish him the best luck in the world. Scott Autrey did something very similar several years ago. Still, Barratt was only 23 years old and a fifth round draft pick just five years ago. He most recently found success in with A+ Visalia in 2006, when he posted a 2.93 ERA in 110.2 innings for the Oaks. He regressed to a 5.46 ERA last year with Montgomery, but he fared far worse in 2005, when he posted a 6.59 ERA in Visalia. Still, if you're an ex-fifth round pick retiring from baseball at 23, it probably isn't performance-related. Here's wishing Barratt the best of luck wherever life takes him.

Carolina 9, BISCUITS 2-LHP Mike Wlodarczyk struggled in his second start of the year for Montgomery, but he was far from alone as the Biscuits dropped their third in a row at the hands of the Carolina Mudcats.

Carolina 9, BISCUITS 2
RF Sergio Pedroza	2-4
3B Chris Nowak	1-4, CS (1)
1B Rhyne Hughes	1-4, 2B (2), RS
DH Gaby Martinez	1-3, BB
C Matt Spring	2-4, 2B (1), GIDP
SP Mike Wlodarczyk	L (0-1), 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 23 TBF
RP Jeff Kamrath	0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR, 7 TBF, 1-1 IRS
RP Wade Townsend	1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3 TBF

BISCUITS Up Next-at Tennessee, 7:15 ET (LH Jake McGee)

A+ Vero Beach Devil Rays (3-7)

Yesterday-OFF

V-RAYS Up Next-at Daytona, 7:05 ET (RH Heath Rollins)

A- Columbus Catfish (4-7)

Savannah 11, CATFISH 7-The Columbus offense pounded out ten hits and the Catfish took a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but the bullpen was unable to hold it as they were downed by the Sand Gnats.

Savannah 11, CATFISH 7
CF Emeel Salem	0-4, RS, BB, GIDP, SB (9)
RF Maiko Loyola	2-4, 2 RS, SB (3)
LF Stephen Vogt	2-3, 3 RS, 2B (2), 3B (1), BB, 3 RBI (7), SB (2)
1B Henry Wrigley	2-4, 3B (2), RBI (5), SB (1), E (1, fielding)
SP Jeremy Hall	5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 22 TBF

CATFISH Up Next-at Savannah, 7:00 ET (LH Glenn Gibson)

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Comments

Has anyone noticed that Fontaine has committed 6 errors already?

by bobr on Apr 14, 2008 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I'm not sure what the problem is there

But he's made six errors and one error in five straight games. That's getting pretty ridiculous.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 14, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Man, sorry to hear Barratt is calling it quits. Very surprising.

by RATW on Apr 14, 2008 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

I always feel bad when I see someone that young hang it up

You think about how much of their lives they devote to baseball, and how successful they were for so long at it, only to retire at that young an age. I can't imagine how that must feel.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 14, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Andrade activated

and sent to Montgomery to take Barratt's spot.

Seems a LRP Henderson demotion back to AA made more sense, but with Birkins on the DL there no lefty in Durham. But with 3 HR's and 10 hits allowed in 5+ IP, Henderson could use a step back to catch his breath.

Not to be snippy, but I guess that Ridgeway deal for Aybar and Fontaine makes slightly more sense now. I'd still call it a great deal for you guys - Ridgeway's only so-so in AAA so far, and the Braves have 2 lefties up and Gonzalez rehabbing so how much do they really need him?

by nyyfaninlaaland on Apr 14, 2008 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

I'd give Henderson a little while longer in Durham

After all, it has taken him like three years to get there from Montgomery. And the Ridgway/Aybar deal is looking good. Fontaine isn't going to be much, IMO, but Aybar could be very useful as a bench bat once he gets off the DL, and Riggans was never going to be anything.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 14, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions