Diamond dazzles tonight

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 19, 2005 9:07 PM CDT in News

Check out the box score for tonight's Bakersfield/High Desert matchup...

Incredible outing for 2004 1st rounder Thomas Diamond, who probably has just pitched his last game in A-ball.

He faced the minimum tonight -- 27 batters. Diamond posted a complete game shutout, giving up 1 hit, walking no one, and striking out 14.

Incredible outing for Diamond, who should be joining Edison Volquez and John Danks in Frisco this week.

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Diamond's game tonight

Here's how he pitched:

High Desert Bottom 1st

* Alan Moye called out on strikes.
* Angel Sanchez lines out to second baseman Abigail Sandoval.
* Adam Keim pops out to second baseman Abigail Sandoval.

High Desert Bottom 2nd

* Kila Kaaihue strikes out swinging.
* Brandon Powell called out on strikes.
* Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.

High Desert Bottom 3rd

* Bernard Stephens strikes out swinging.
* Jared Price singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mahar.
* Darwinson Salazar strikes out swinging and Jared Price was picked off 1st, catcher Justin Hatcher to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.

High Desert Bottom 4th

* Alan Moye strikes out swinging.
* Angel Sanchez grounds out, shortstop Craig Ringe to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.
* Adam Keim grounds out, pitcher Thomas Diamond to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.

High Desert Bottom 5th

* Kila Kaaihue strikes out swinging.
* Brandon Powell strikes out swinging.
* Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.

High Desert Bottom 6th

* Bernard Stephens bunt grounds out, catcher Justin Hatcher to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.
* Jared Price flies out to left fielder Vincent Sinisi.
* Darwinson Salazar pops out to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.

High Desert Bottom 7th

* Alan Moye flies out to left fielder Vincent Sinisi.
* Angel Sanchez grounds out, third baseman Travis Metcalf to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.
* Adam Keim pops out to catcher Justin Hatcher in foul territory.

High Desert Bottom 8th

* Kila Kaaihue called out on strikes.
* Brandon Powell grounds out to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.
* Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.

High Desert Bottom 9th

* Bernard Stephens flies out to center fielder Kevin Mahar.
* Jared Price strikes out swinging, catcher Justin Hatcher to first baseman Josh Kreuzer.
* Darwinson Salazar strikes out swinging.

by Delamare on Jun 19, 2005 9:25 PM CDT reply actions

Diamond

When do you think Diamond will get called up to the show? This September? I think I would take him over the ho or Wilson right now.

by JMcGee on Jun 19, 2005 9:36 PM CDT reply actions

Diamond

I'd be surprised to see him in September. He's not Rule 5 eligible until after next season, so there's no need to add him to the 40 man roster after the season, which would suggest to me that, unless he's dominating in AAA by August, he's not going to be up this year.

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 19, 2005 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I would not want to rush him....

He needs time to develop and its just A ball, we will see how he does in AA.

Its coco time

by miles on Jun 19, 2005 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow...

Have the Rangers ever had as promising a pitching trio as Diamond/Danks/Volquez?

by Mahon on Jun 19, 2005 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

Yep...

Witt, Guzman and Correa.

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 19, 2005 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I wasn't really old enough to remember...

How highly regarded were Benoit and Cedeno when they were touted prospects?

by Mahon on Jun 19, 2005 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Benoit and Cedeno

Never that highly regarded...

Witt, Guzman and Correa, though, were extremely highly regarded.

Go check out what Eddie Correa did in his rookie season. He held his own, in the majors, when he was younger than Volquez or Diamond are now, and the same age as Danks.

The guy could have been incredible, if Bobby V. hadn't torn up his arm.

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 19, 2005 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions

What year was that??

Its coco time

by miles on Jun 19, 2005 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Bobby Valentine (sic?)

I recall the media buzz about Bobby ball. It may have been before '83 but after '77. That is only a guess. The reason I pegged these dates, because it was before the internet took off. I remember surfing on the gopher net in the late 80's. I'm hoping if I guess wrong some one more knowledge-able will jump on it. Barring no jumpers you may look up individual stats on MLB dot com and impress us all with your find.

Fight judicial tyranny - consider the Equal Justice Amendment

by Iaanmte on Jun 19, 2005 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions

The year was 1986

And the Rangers went with a huge youth movement...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/1986.shtml

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 20, 2005 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

1986...

The best year ever to be a Ranger fan. Could have been that I was 14 that summer though and full of enthusiasm about baseball, but "V" Ball along with Witt, Guzman, and Cordero was very exciting to everyone in Rangerland I'm sure.

by Chris Hanes on Jun 20, 2005 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I wasnt born yet...

I was born in 1990

Its coco time

by miles on Jun 20, 2005 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Witt, Guzman and Correa

Kevin Brown was also in the organization at the same time that Correa, Witt and Guzman were. I believe he was taken with the 4th overall pick the year those three guys were rookies.

By the way, Correa is the guy is thought of most often when watching Volquez pitch.

by BurntOrange on Jun 20, 2005 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

14 Ks and 1 hit

A ball or not that's a great game.

I have no idea how the high desert hitters are doing, so it could be like Volquez's outing against CC. Either way a fantastic outing.

by texasraider on Jun 19, 2005 10:40 PM CDT reply actions

pitch count

Does anyone know how many pitches he threw? Hopefully not many more than 100. Good news is that giving up one hit and no walks is generally a good way to keep pitch count down.

Awesome performance. Time for AA and see if how he fares there.

Also, thank goodness we got rid of Grady Fuson who was screwing our drafts so badly.

by alon91 on Jun 19, 2005 11:23 PM CDT reply actions

100 pitches

And 73 for strikes. I'm about to send out a short report about the game.

by Jamey Newberg on Jun 20, 2005 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Robert Horry

That guy is just beyond ridiculously clutch.

I realize that has nothing to do with Rangers baseball, but I'm sure it's something we can all appreciate.

by alon91 on Jun 19, 2005 11:26 PM CDT reply actions

Greatness...

That was an awesome game. I'm from SA and I was nervous as hell.

by Andrew F Medina on Jun 20, 2005 12:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Hes 34 years old...

and hes still hitting the game winning 3's. I said if before and im sticking with it, Spurs in 6

Its coco time

by miles on Jun 20, 2005 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Promotion to AA for Diamond

Today Jamey Newberg (link beow) says 100 innings required in high A ball before jumping to AA. Diamond has 81.1 innings to date.

Mercy on Rangers fans who see no need to wait for those nineteen innings for Thomas Diamond to complete for his promotion to AA.

http://dallasbaseballhome.com/news/newbergreport.php?p=799&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more 799

A semi-active Rangers fan since '95

by Iaanmte on Jun 20, 2005 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

Diamond promoted to AA

Per Jamey, who just sent out the news flash a few minutes ago. Congrats to Diamond. And I think the RoughRiders can expect brisk ticket sales for the rest of the summer...

by RCCook on Jun 20, 2005 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions