Thursday, April 19, 2012

Deck dealing

Deck McGuire put everything together against the Binghamton Mets on Thusday, pitching 6.2 innings scoreless innings and allowing one hit, striking out three with three walks. He kept the ball down, moved in and out, and was "12-for-19" on throwing his slider, according to Fisher Cats pitching coach Tom Signore. Deck's postgame thoughts and the importance of "staying on top" of the ball and downward plane -- and all that:

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A conversation with Brett Cecil -- and "Jero"

Brett Cecil says he'd "rather pitch anywhere" than Las Vegas and talks about his struggles of last season, mechanical issues, returning to Toronto -- and why he lost all that weight. Cecil, who starts Thursday at New Britain, topped out at 87-mph in his most recent start for the Fisher Cats. (That's an improvement of a few mph.) Catcher Brian Jeroloman also provides some insight during today's interview with "Squints."




"Flames then frost" here in New Hampshire

RHP Chad Jenkins has a shot at joining the Blue Jays next week when a need for a fifth starter arises. Here at Double-A New Hampshire, the only candidates are Jenkins, Drew Hutchison and Brett Cecil. In this video, Jenkins talks about his most recent start against New Britain. Jenkins pitches tonight against the Binghamton Mets ... RHPs Clint Everts and Yohan Pino were sent to New Hampshire from Triple-A Las Vegas, and RHP Fernando Hernandez was placed on the disabled list ... Nobody sums up the weather here like Justin Jackson: "Flames then frost the next day," tweeted @JaxChillinOne ... Fisher Cats now have four No. 1 draft picks on the active roster: Jackson, Everts, Jenkins and Cecil. Jackson's .400 average ranks fourth in the Eastern League. However, this is a weak at-bat from a homer-hungry JJax.


Fisher Cats starting pitcher Chad Jenkins delivers a fastball at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Kevin Littlefield/Staff

Monday, April 16, 2012

Granite State Gamers notch milestone win

The Granite State Gamers 13u baseball team won its first game in program history, defeating the New Hampshire Knights in a 7-5 comeback win at Hollis on Saturday.

Starting pitcher Jeff Bell of Hooksett worked into the fourth inning, striking out six, and Mitchell Fama of Derry earned the win by pitching three innings without issuing a walk. The Manchester-based Gamers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, sparked with hits by Ryan Forkey of Derry, Brian Sutton of Hooksett and Mike Montembeault (two RBIs) of Manchester. Andrew Branchina of Derry ripped a single, and Riley Desmarais of Hooksett picked up a key RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

RHP Jeff Bell, Granite State Gamers
In the first game of the doubleheader, the host Knights defeated the Gamers, 14-9, despite three hits by Forkey and quality at-bats from Chase and Cole Dunajski of Derry and Matt Pinault of Manchester during a four-run rally by the Gamers. Righty Matt Reynolds of Manchester pitched four innings (seven strikeouts) in the tough-luck loss. Noah Wojtkowski of Nottingham and Branchina pitched in relief. The first-year Gamers play at Baseball Heaven in Long Island, N.Y., this weekend. The team owns a 1-1 record in the New England AAU open division standings.