From about a week ago, found at flickr.com

Michael Main ...

(via emjsmith)

7-10-08 Clinton Michael Main (via whitecapwendy)

Engel Beltre ...

(via emjsmith)

7-04-08 Clinton Engel Beltre (via whitecapwendy)

Cristian Santana - gonna be a BEAST ...

7-04-08 Clinton Cristian Santana (via whitecapwendy)

Back to front - Andres James, Cristian Santana, Miguel Alfonzo ...

7-04-08 ClintonTim Smith Miguel Alfonzo James Andres (via whitecapwendy)

Wee Joseph Ortiz ...

7-04-08 Clinton Joseph Ortiz (via whitecapwendy)

5-7 Joseph Ortiz, 6-7 Aldaberto Flores, Chris Dennis ...

7-04-08 Clinton Bullpen (via whitecapwendy)

Fabio Castillo - note signature hacky-sack back leg ...

7-11-08 Clinton Fabio Castillo_2 (via whitecapwendy)

Blake Beavan ... 

(via emjsmith)

If you wanna look thru the rest ... SET ONE ... SET TWO

Neftali Feliz vs Craig Italiano - tonight, the battle for the MWL Western Division crown reaches the temperature of red hot molten magma.  Momma.

Kasey Kiker starts for BAK - In 21.2 IP at home Kiker has a 1.25 ERA.  In 31.1 IP on the road Kiker has a 6.61 ERA.  Uh-oh, game's in San Jose tonight.  Time to turn that road frown upside-down.

Michael Schlact goes for Frisco.  This means he's likely who we get to see on TV this Saturday.  Maybe Andrus will be back at SS by then.  And maybe Borbon will be called up by then ... seeing how Scott Lucas has declared BAK's pennant drive a virtual mathematical failure. 

Dustin Nippert starts for OKC - Would a sparkling performance make him a dark-horse candidate for a Saturday start with the Rangers?  Mayberry is hitting .217 for June - .243 over his last 10 games.  Everybody can calm down now.

CLN-7:00- Feliz
BAK-9:00- Kiker
FRS-7:00- Schlact
OKC-7:00- Nippert

8th-round pick Mike Bianucci on June 3rd - pre-draft -

Bianucci stuck around, too. He was selected [in 2007 - ed.] as a draft-eligible sophomore in the 23rd round by the Los Angeles Angels, but returned to Auburn to improve his contact rate, hit home runs and stay healthy.

He's satisfied he did all three, and says he won't come back for his senior season.

"If you don't come out this year, you've got no leverage next year," Bianucci said.

8th-round pick Mike Bianucci on June 6th - post-draft -  

Five Auburn baseball juniors and one sophomore were chosen Friday in the major league baseball draft.

At least one wasn't thrilled with the way it went down.

"I really didn't go as high as I wanted to go, but that's how it goes," outfielder Mike Bianucci said after being chosen in the eighth round by the Texas Rangers. "The draft is a funny thing. I heard things all day yesterday. From the second round until the sixth round closed out, teams were asking 'will you sign here, will you sign there?.' It is what it is."

Bianucci, a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection who hit .320 last season with a team-high 13 home runs. He said he will keep a close eye on who is named to replace Tom Slater as Auburn's coach.

"That will play a role in whether I decide to come back," Bianucci said. "Yeah, that will definitely play a big part in it."

4th-round pick Joe Wieland told Jason Cole he's being assigned to the AZ Rookie League team and is leaving for Surprise next Sunday.  From the interview:

Wieland: I throw a four-seam and a two-seam fastball. I’m usually about 89-91 or 92. I throw a curveball and a changeup. When I’m up there, my goal is to go out and I’m going to get you out. That’s my mentality out there. If I’m not confident in what I have, then I’m not going to be able to make pitches and go with the plan.

Heads-up - John Sickels plans on discussing "Controversial Prospect " Engel Beltre this Wednesday. 

Sharpen your swords.

And finally ...

Josh Hamilton - 26

David Murphy - 26

Ian Kinsler - 25

Brandon Boggs - 25

Taylor Teagarden - 24

John Mayberry - 24

Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 23

Max Ramirez - 23

Julio Borbon - 22

Chris Davis - 22

Justin Smoak - 21

Elvis Andrus - 19

Ruddy Yan - 26

To quote Mike Bianucci - "It is what it is."

Today's sked:

CLN-6:30- Feliz
BAK-9:30- Reed
FRS-7:00- Schlact
OKC-7:00- Murray

The white zone is for loading and unloading only.  If you gotta load, or if you gotta unload, go to the white zone.

Clinton Herald article - 5/22 quotes:

Beavan did however face the minimum as Singleton was caught stealing second. Beavan on the night went five innings, struck out three Snappers and gave up the lone hit. Beavan was pulled out before the sixth, but after his warm up pitches.

"I’ve been working on stuff in the bullpen on the side with DC (Danny Clark). My lower back was getting stiff on me I went out and threw a few pitches and with us having a lead they thought it was better to be on the safe side" said Beavan.

...

Santana would have to be taken out of the game after sliding awkwardly into second, he would be replaced by Miguel Alfonzo.

"He rolled his ankle and we put Fonzy in. As of right now we’ll have to reevaluate and see where he is at" said Mike Micucci.

 Santana was later spotted with crutches.  I have this feeling he's going to be down for a while.  Bummer.

Daily Oklahoman  - besides news that Botts missed 3 games after suffering a mild strained oblique [might return today], they wrote up Eric Hurley's nice outing yesterday ...

Hurley (2-3) hadn't tasted victory since April 18. In between wins, he had pitched well, and not so well, at times. He scattered six hits over seven innings with three strikeouts Thursday after spending the last week tweaking his delivery. "It's been a grind," he said. "Some things needed to be changed. I definitely made some good adjustments. I've been working on that for the past six days, changing my delivery, wind up and the stretch and it worked out pretty well."

Part of Hurley's struggles involved his form, something that he hasn't felt comfortable with all season. "We're trying to get my body in a little better position so I can hold my form all the way down the hill," he said. "It's something I wanted to do. Everybody liked it today, so I'm going to keep working on it."

 My understanding is that Eric is going back to his early years in the minors with going over his head, basically slowing his motion down to  enable him to both locate his fastball down and throw his splitfinger more effectively.  Good start to the delivery changes.  Rinse and repeat.

BA's prospect blog mentions that some primo Oakland prospects are headed to the D.L.  Athletics fans have got to be nervous:

Bret Anderson - left thumb strain

James Simmons - dead arm

Faustino De Los Santos - sore elbow

Z and UT mentioned never seeing Fabio Castillo pitch in a fanpost down below.  There is an archive at the Boise Hawks' website  that has free video of several '07 Spokane starters -  here's Fabio's start - right click on picture to select full screen.

Thomas Diamond speaking with Jason Cole after his '08 debut w/Frisco:

“Hopefully in September I’ll have low enough innings that they’ll give me a chance to make a few starts in the big leagues.”

Stay optimistic, kid.