Might be my new Fav prospect.

 That is not a good sign for a sub par defensive major league team like the A’s. The biggest thing I took away from both the Gients & Dodgers series were how much better there team, (out field in particular) defense was. Both teams have CF’s at all out field positions, (even Ethier although he has not played CF) and they ran down so many fly balls that are hits when they are hit against the A’s. I like Holliday in LF but our CF & RF positions with Cust out there are a joke. I am so happy this is the last game in a NL park because we need to get some speed in the RF spot.

Saw the Friday and Sat games against San Antonio Missions, who are loaded with top Padres prospects. But the best part first. Friday night after the game, we went to Chili’s for a late meal. As we left, my wife asked some familiar-looking guys if they played for the Rockhounds. Yep.

So we met Jared Lansford, Carlos Hernandez, Bobby Cramer, and some tall skinny kid who just said, “I’m Ben.” I answered, “Oh, the new guy,” and he grinned. Ben Hornbeck is one lanky pitcher.

Saturday night, Hornbeck was sweating from nervous energy during early warmups. He looked nervous in the game, but maybe adrenaline got him through the first 3 innings. After that, he looked nervous, exhausted, was pressing too hard, and generally fell apart. He was throwing way too hard and into the dirt. Tough AA start. Just looking at him and his good pitches, he’ll get better. And he was promoted because Cramer is hurt and Midland needed a starter.

Hornbeck left with the bases loaded, and Lansford immediatedly allowed 2 straight hits to empty the bases. Lansford throws the ball from just behind his right ear, like a catcher. Was his delivery like that last year?

Arnold Leon came in. Leon has a fast breaking slider, but could not control it. His 90 mph fastball was dead straight, no action at all and very hitable. Leon must get better. By the end, he was pretty down. It was a tough night.

Josh Horton: I said a few days ago that I would pay close attention and report. I was wrong about Horton’s size. He is as advertised, about same as Cardenas, but not as strong. However, I was right about his defense. Only charged with 1 error, I counted 5 plays that Horton misplayed. All should have been made. Horton is slow to react to the batted ball, so the range is below average.

Chris Carter is making a very good 1B. With his long wingspan, he gathered in several errant throws. On one terrible throw from Alex Valdez at 2B, Carter flew through the air like Michael Jordon, pulled the throw down, spun and made the tag. Quite acrobatic.

Adrian Cardenas made more good plays at 3B than misses. Getting better, but needs time, probably the rest of this season at Midland at 3B.

Before the game, Cardenas, Horton, and Matt Spencer were doing their Harlem Globetrotter imitation, passing baseballs around in a circle. Sweet Georgia Brown. Mike Affronti joined them and they had 6 balls going at once. Incredible. Who had the fastest hands? Cardenas.

The Rockhounds really miss Corey Brown. Archie Gilbert does not have the range in CF that Corey Brown has. Archie’s path to fly balls is sometimes slow to develop.

We won’t be back to Midland for a few weeks, so good luck Rockhounds.

You get your ass back to Midland NOW!

Everyone’s already done today, couple other notable lines for shits and giggles:

-Sacramento 5-4 W:
Eric Patterson 0-4
Tommy Everedige 2-4 HR (26 years old already, but he (I guess?) plays 3B, or at least winds up there in the box score pretty often, .306/.380/.489/8 HR at Midland, .333/.423/.533 BEFORE today in Sac in 45 AB)
Simmons 6 IP, 3 K, 0 BB, 6 H, 2 ER

-Midland 8-5 L:
Horton 2-4, 2B
Spencer 2-4
Donaldson 1-4, 2B
Carter/Cardenas combined 0-7, BB
Demel 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 0 ER

Is Ellis able to make the same range now that he’s healed up now? he’s going to have to return to his defensive wizardry if he’s going to supplant Kennedy at 2B.