better late

The Mississippi Braves scored three runs in the eighth inning and five in the ninth to beat host Mobile 8-6 on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. Big deal. The M-Braves have done this kind of thing all year. Through 48 games, they've scored 214 runs — an amazing 80 of them in the eighth and ninth innings. That's 37 percent of their runs in the final two frames. It's not the best way to win games; research has shown that early runs are key there. But the M-Braves have carved out a 24-24 record with this strike-late approach. They've won nine times when they've trailed after six innings, six times when they've trailed after seven.
P.S. Antoan Richardson, the M-Braves' new center fielder and leadoff batter, has five hits in his two games. Maybe they've found something. Of course, there is another possible candidate lurking in the weeds. Atlanta has signed 30-year-old Cuban outfielder Yasser Gomez, and it's possible he could be in the Mississippi lineup by the end of June. Stay tuned.

good news, bad news

For the first time in almost two years, Taylor Tankersley pitched in a big league game on Thursday. The former Warren Central star, whose 2009 season was wrecked by surgery on his left elbow, came on in a jam and got two big outs for Florida against the Atlanta Braves in a game the Marlins would lose. Tankersley struck out a batter and walked one. Tankersley was an effective reliever for the Marlins in 2006 and '07 before suffering a tough 2008 and winding up in the minors in midseason. He missed virtually all of last season and began this year at Triple-A New Orleans, where he posted a 4.19 ERA before getting the call-up on Thursday. ... The bad news belongs to former Ole Miss and Hillcrest Christian standout Cody Satterwhite, a rising star in the Detroit Tigers' system. According to reports, Satterwhite will have surgery on his right shoulder next week and miss the season. The former second-round pick was 4-6 with a 3.47 ERA at Double-A Erie in 2009 and received an invitation to the Tigers' big league camp this spring. Then, the shoulder problem cropped up. But he's young — just 23. He'll be back.

this just in

Suddenly, the Mississippi Braves have yet another center field candidate — Antoan Richardson. The Double-A club announced today that Richardson, a former San Francisco farmhand who originally signed in the off-season, has been assigned to the roster. He was expected to open the season in Pearl but was released in spring training; now he's back. Richardson, 26, a former Vanderbilt star, is a 5-foot-8 switch-hitter with great speed but a light bat.

so far ...

It wasn't exactly Jason Heyward going yard on opening day for the big club, but Michael Daniel made his Mississippi Braves debut on Wednesday night with a home run in his first at-bat. A one-day case of catching lightning in a bottle? We'll see. Daniel, 25, was released by Washington earlier this month after hitting .182 at Double-A Harrisburg. The Braves signed the North Carolina alum and sent him to Class A Myrtle Beach, where he was hitting .143 when summoned to Mississippi (see previous post). Daniel was once considered a prospect with the Nationals. He can play center field, has some pop in his bat and reportedly runs well. Maybe he'll help the M-Braves, but doesn't it seem like Atlanta is just sticking gum on the many leaks in its minor league system? Where is the young talent Braves fans have grown accustomed to seeing in Pearl?
P.S. In his first start since making a trade request, Weir's Roy Oswalt was lights out for Houston on Wednesday night. He threw eight shutout innings and got the win (a rarity) in the Astros' 5-0 victory over Milwaukee. For the year, the former Holmes Community College star is 3-6 despite a 2.35 ERA. It's no wonder, really, that he wants out. Whoever gets him will be significantly improved. He can pitch, obviously, and he battles to the end, a nice combination to have.

ripple effect

Brent Clevlen goes on the disabled list in Atlanta. Gregor Blanco is promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett. And just like that, the Mississippi Braves lose their center fielder and leadoff batter. Alex Romero, a onetime big leaguer who didn't really belong in Double-A to begin with, moved up to Gwinnett today to fill Blanco's spot. Romero was also out of place in center and at leadoff, but he served well in those roles. Now who does M-Braves manager Phillip Wellman turn to? Michael Daniel, a .143 hitter in 11 games at Class A Myrtle Beach, takes Romero's roster spot, but he's not likely to start. Look for Willie Cabrera in center perhaps, with Cody Johnson trying right field while the versatile Eric Duncan plays left. Juan Gonzalez might be the best option at the top of the order. In other moves today, backup second baseman Travis Jones went down to Myrtle Beach. He needs to play and the Pelicans, who lost three players to drug suspension last week, need bodies. Also, backup catcher Benji Johnson was released and Chris Anderson, on the DL since the season began, was activated. Bottom line: The club got a little weaker.

routes

A fourth of the major league season is in the books, and a pair of Atlanta Braves — both Mississippi Braves alums — have emerged as viable All-Star candidates. Martin Prado, in just his second season as a regular, leads the National League in hits, and the amazing rookie Jason Heyward ranks in the top 10 in RBIs while leading the Braves in homers. These homegrown standouts took very different routes to The Show. Heyward was the 14th overall pick in 2007 and was a top-rated prospect from Day 1. He moved smoothly through two levels in each of his first two pro years, bolted through three in 2009 (hitting .352 with seven homers for the M-Braves) and made the Braves' opening day lineup this spring. Then he homered in his first at-bat. He's the kind of player Braves officials knew would make the big leagues, the kind you just don't want to mess up along the way. Prado, on the other hand, is a prime example of a player who was developed into a major leaguer. No one had heard of him when he signed out of Venezuela at age 17 in 2001. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and another in the Gulf Coast League, the lowest levels of the minors. Placed at low Class A Rome in 2004, he hit .315. He started '05 at high A Myrtle Beach and showed enough in 75 games that he was bumped to Double-A Mississippi, where he fit like a glove. Then M-Braves manager Brian Snitker raved about Prado. He started '06 in Pearl and was called to Atlanta in April, getting a triple in his first game. He stuck in the majors in 2008 and finally became a regular at second base last summer, displacing Kelly Johnson. As much hubbub as Heyward has generated the first two months, the soul of this Braves club so far has been Prado.

time trippin'

Greg Olson, who is being feted by the Mississippi Braves on Monday, is remembered by the Braves fans among us as the light-hitting, defensive-minded catcher on Atlanta's 1991 and '92 World Series clubs. Who can forget the Sports Illustrated cover of Oct. 28, 1991, depicting an upside-down Olson and a sliding Dan Gladden, the Minnesota outfielder who upended Olson at the plate? Of course, the Mets fans among us — and there are still some out there — will remember Olson as a key player on the Texas League champion Jackson Mets of 1984 and '85. Those were two great teams, managed by Sam Perlozzo (now the Philadelphia Phillies' third-base coach) and featuring a slew of future big leaguers. Olson, who also played part of the 1986 season at Smith-Wills Stadium, never made it to the big leagues with the Mets; he broke through with Minnesota in 1989. He played the next four years with the Braves, making the All-Star Game in 1990. But his big league career was short, only 414 games all told, and he finished his playing days in independent ball in his native Minnesota. Still, Olson made his mark on the game, with two groups of fans.
P.S. Hinds Community College will play LSU-Eunice today for the NJCAA Division II Region 23 title. Play starts at 2 p.m. at Raymond. LSU-E has to beat the Eagles twice to claim the crown. Hinds is seeking its first trip to the Juco World Series since 1989, when the Rick Clarke-coached Eagles became the first Mississippi juco to reach the national finals.

live from san diego

Saw the Giants-Padres game at Petco Park on Tuesday night. Nice place. Great atmosphere around the park on game night. Crowd was small but enthusiatic, including the Giants fans in attendance for this National League West showdown. Eli Whiteside, the pride of New Albany, had a big game for San Francisco, which won 7-6 in 12 innings. The Delta State alumnus had a pair of hits, an RBI and scored one of the three runs the Giants pushed across in the 12th. Matt Downs (met him in the Omni elevator on Monday) got the big hit, a two-run double in the 12th. Mississippi State alumnus Brandon Medders pitched a scoreless inning for the Giants. Plus, Mississippi native Andy Fletcher was umpiring behind the plate. Felt like home.
P.S. You might call this a double reversal of fortune: On Monday, East Central Community College alumnus Marcus Thames hits a game-winning homer for the New York Yankees off of former MSU star Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox. The next night, Thames botches a fly ball in right field that helps the Red Sox rally from a big deficit and steal a win. Papelbon, of course, got the save, his 10th. Reports of his demise are way off base.

the river wild

The unexpected is almost expected in baseball. Stuff happens, especially in the postseason when everything's on the line. Take Pearl River Community College's recent exploits as a prime example. The River was eliminated from the MACJC Tournament late Friday night — the Wildcats will play on next week in the NJCAA Region 23 event — by an 8-7 loss to East Central, a game the 'Cats led 6-3 going to the ninth. But consider how PRCC got there. The Wildcats had a losing record (24-25) when the regular season ended, but they managed to tie for fourth place in the highly competitive South Division race. So, they got to play rival Gulf Coast in a play-in game. PRCC won. That earned the Wildcats a trip to Fulton to play North champion Itawamba in the best-of-3 playoff round. PRCC won, scoring 23 runs in a two-game sweep against a formidable pitching staff. On to the state tourney at Smith-Wills Stadium, where the 'Cats were beaten 4-0 by Hinds in their opener. That put them in an elimination game on Friday against nationally ranked South Division champion Jones County, which was playing for its postseason life. PRCC won a 5-4 thriller behind the pitching of a freshman lefty named Buck Bernard. The magic ran out against East Central later that night. But PRCC will get a crack at the Region 23 crown next week with a trip to the national tournament on the line. Don't bet against the 'Cats. Stuff happens in baseball.
P.S. Hinds and East Central meet in the championship round today, starting at 1 p.m. at Smith-Wills. ECCC must beat Hinds twice to win the title. Hinds won a 12-9, 10-inning, 4-hour game with the Warriors on Friday.

ned gets the nod

Former Jackson Mets catcher Ned Yost is getting another crack at managing in the big leagues. He was hired to replace Trey Hillman, who was fired by the Kansas City Royals after today's win over Cleveland. Yost was 457-502 from 2003-08 as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers; he was fired on Sept. 15, 2008. He had been working with the Royals since January as a special adviser. Yost spent parts of two seasons in Jackson, 1976 and '77, on his way to a brief big league career. The Royals are a mess; Yost has his work cut out for him.
P.S. The San Francisco Giants got one hit today in a 1-0 loss to San Diego — and Delta State alum Eli Whiteside got it. His sixth-inning infield single ended Mat Latos' perfect game, and Whiteside was the only Giants batter to reach. Whiteside caught a no-hitter by Jonathan Sanchez last year That's a pretty neat double to have on a baseball card.

a madding crowd

The winner of the Ferriss Trophy, recognizing the state's top college player, will be announced May 24. The list of candidates is long and impressive. Ole Miss left-hander Drew Pomeranz is the state's top draft prospect and has posted a 6-1 record, 2.17 ERA and 112 strikeouts for an NCAA-bound club. But where would the Rebels be without Matt Smith's bat? He's hitting .367 with 12 bombs. At resurgent Southern Miss, closer Collin Cargill has eight saves and a 1.57 ERA and young shortstop B.A. Vollmuth is hitting .363 with 8 homers, 16 doubles, 46 RBIs and 54 runs. Mississippi State has scuffled but Connor Powers has not disappointed in his senior year with 14 homers, 63 RBIs and a .367 average. Willie Wesley is a weapon at red-hot Jackson State, hitting .359 with 45 steals and 61 runs. And Tigers ace Quintavious Drains is 11-2. Belhaven pitcher Brandt Hinton went 11-0 in the regular season and was named the GCAC player of the year. The NAIA tourney-bound Blazers' most feared hitter is Timmy Foster (.394, 7 homers, 27 doubles, 61 RBIs). At Mississippi College, which is going to the NCAA D-III postseason, Tyler Seaman and Bo Bell were named ASC East pitcher and player of the year. Delta State had a disappointing finish to its season, but Josh Gordon, who hit .431 with 10 homers in the regular season yet somehow didn't make All-GSC, deserves some Ferriss consideration.

he's back (briefly)

The Mississippi Braves had a new center fielder and leadoff batter in their 5-0 win at Chattanooga tonight. Yes, Jordan Schafer is back with the Double-A club — but only through Friday. The former Atlanta top prospect, who played for the M-Braves' 2008 Southern League title team, is scheduled to move to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday for the next phase of his rehab assignment. The M-Braves return home on Saturday. Schafer, coming back from a wrist injury that curtailed his meteoric 2009 season, went 2-for-5, scored a run and fanned twice tonight, helping Mike Minor get his first Double-A win. The M-Braves could certainly use Schafer, but with the way Nate McLouth is scuffling in Atlanta, the big club may need him more. ... Infielder Juan Gonzalez also returned to active duty with the M-Braves, though no announcement was made regarding roster moves.

head games

When he was drafted in the second round in 2005, it seemed only a matter of time when Stephen Head would make the major leagues. Now it seems to be a matter of if. And the odds aren't good. Head, the former Hillcrest Christian star and Ole Miss All-American, was cut loose by the Cleveland Indians after hitting .246 with six homers at the Triple-A level in 2009. He has landed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League. Players have made it to the majors after detouring through indy ball, but it's a short list. Head starts on his new road on May 20, when the Miners open their season. Wish him luck.

'pen notes

The Mississippi Braves' bullpen, so brilliantly effective through the season's first month (10-3 record, 8 of 10 saves converted, sub-2.00 ERA), suddenly has a very different look. Stephen Marek, the closer, has gone to Triple-A, probably for good. Jacob Thompson has moved into the rotation, and Michael Broadway has gone on the disabled list. Right-hander Jon Huber, a former big leaguer, joined the M-Braves' pen last Thursday. Jaye Chapman, a young and unproven right-hander, came up from Class A Myrtle Beach on Saturday, and Juan Abreu, a prized righty plucked from Kansas City's system in the Rule 5 draft last December, moved up on Sunday. The M-Braves start a five-game road trip in Chattanooga tonight, and it'll be interesting to see how the pen holds up. Will the chemistry be the same? Manager Phillip Wellman said Lee Hyde and Brett Butts would likely share the closer duties in Marek's absence. Both converted in their first chances after his departure. Huber made his second appearance on Sunday and allowed a run in the 5-4 loss to Birmingham. Chapman and Abreu made their debuts Sunday and worked a scoreless inning each. ... On a side note, don't expect former Terry High and Meridian Community College star Van Pope to be joining the M-Braves' bullpen anytime soon. The converted third baseman has made six appearances as a reliever at Myrtle Beach and has some ugly numbers: 0-2, 8.31 ERA, 8 hits (3 homers) and 11 walks allowed in 8 2/3 innings, plus 2 hit batsmen and 2 balks.
P.S. Through 15 games (roughly a fifth of the home slate), the M-Braves are drawing an average of 2,690 per game. Last year's average was 2,997. Attendance at Trustmark Park has dipped every year since the club drew an announced 3,847 in 2005, the inaugural year.

ten years after

Few may remember this — few may want to remember, actually — but today is the 10th anniversary of the first home game played by the Jackson Diamond Kats. That was the one-and-done independent league club that rushed into Smith-Wills Stadium the year after the Generals left. A crowd announced at 2,389 (not that many were there) heard the team introduced as "your Jackson Bandits" when they ran on the field for the first time. Oops. The crowd then saw the D-Kats commit four errors and get out-hit 10-7 but beat the Alexandria Aces 5-4. The D-Kats scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a base hit by Willie Gardner (who would be kicked off the team a short time later). Tupelo native Gardner was one of 18 players with Mississippi connections on the D-Kats' initial roster. Mississippi State alum Brian Compton started that first home game. Southern Miss alum Danny Shupe got the save and William Carey product Mark Davis the win. Former Delta State standout Casey Myrick had a hit, scored a run, drove in a run and put down a key sac bunt in the eighth. Ole Miss alum and ex-big leaguer Steve Dillard was the manager, and he would endure a horrible year. The team was bad, setting all kinds of Texas-Louisiana League records for losing in finishing 38-74. Things were also rough off the field under first-time general manager Tim Bennett. The club, owned by the league, drew about 700 per game (if that) for the 2000 season and ultimately folded after falling behind on their lease payments. So ... if a toast is in order for the 10th anniversary of the D-Kats' home opener, do it with a flat beer.

perception vs. reality

It's all relative, really. Tougaloo's season ended Wednesday with a loss in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs went 2-47. And yet, they made progress. They won a GCAC game for the first time ever and were competitive in more games. They've upgraded their talent. There's cause for optimism. Then there's Delta State, which is nationally ranked and has won 34 games, including two of three from the No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division II just a few days ago. But all is not well in Cleveland. The Statesmen went 0-2 in the Gulf South Conference Tournament — at Ferriss Field — by blowing late leads both times. They may miss the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. Not good. DSU fans have high expectations. Which brings us to Mississippi State, another proud program. The Bulldogs have had a disastrous week already. They got bombed by Ole Miss in Starkville on Sunday, completing a sweep by the Rebels. They were humbled by Jackson State on Tuesday, getting just three hits in a 3-1 loss. Stuff happens in baseball, but an SEC school losing to a SWAC school in that fashion should expect fan backlash, which State has received in abundance. Another humbling loss to Southern Miss on Wednesday fueled the fire. State is 20-25 and has won just five SEC games. Bulldogs coach John Cohen keeps saying that this is a rebuilding year, or the second of two rebuilding years, which may be true. But fans don't care. They want wins. And they're not getting them, which makes them angry. That's the only reality here. Don't forget that Cohen wasn't former coach Ron Polk's choice as his replacement. So for some fans, he had a strike against him before he ever got to the plate. So what's the count now?
P.S. Former Mississippi Brave Brandon Hicks made his big league debut — he's No. 44 on the alumni list — and scored the game-winning run for Atlanta on Wednesday. Relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel, another ex-M-Brave, is with the big club now, eager to become No. 45 on the alumni list. ... Lest there be any lingering doubt about how tough it is to hit home runs at Trustmark park, consider this: Current M-Brave Cody Johnson hit five home runs on a 10-game road trip that ended Monday. He has one homer in 11 home games, and that came on opening day. This from a guy who hit 32 bombs in A-ball in 2009. ... Give it up for Fred Lewis, who had three hits on Wednesday to raise his average with the Toronto Blue Jays to .273. Unwanted in San Francisco, the former Mississippi Gulf Coast CC star from Wiggins has been rejuvenated with the Jays, who are hitting him leadoff.

the horror

Heartbreaking. Gut-wrenching. Morale-crushing. Take your pick. Delta State's loss to Valdosta State late Monday night in the Gulf South Conference Tournament may have been all of those. And the worst part is, they've seen this type of thing so many times before during this uneven season. In case you missed it, here's the recap: Bottom of the ninth. Two-run lead. Unbeaten pitcher on the mound. Playing in front of the home crowd. Valdosta gets a leadoff hit. Then an out. Then an error. Yikes. An RBI double. One-run lead. Intentional walk. A force out at the plate. Maybe ... no, a wild pitch. Tie score. A base hit. Game over. DSU, which really needs a good showing in the tourney to make a Division II regional, faces an elimination game at 1 p.m. today against Alabama-Huntsville. Can the Statesmen get up for it?
P.S. Catching up: Pearl River Community College whipped Mississippi Gulf Coast CC 14-6 Monday to earn the 4-seed in the MACJC South and a trip to Itawamba on Friday in the best-of-3 round of the postseason. ... Former Mississippi Brave Brandon Jones, who cleared waivers, went 0-for-2 Monday in his first game back with Pittsburgh's Triple-A Indianapolis club. ... The current M-Braves lost shortstop Luis Bolivar to Triple-A Gwinnett — which may send Brandon Hicks to the big leagues today — and added journeyman shortstop Amadeo Zazueta, a .190 hitter at Class A Myrtle Beach who played independent ball last year. ... The Boston Red Sox hit four home runs in a breakout game Monday; included was Nettleton native Bill Hall's first of the year. He's up to .250. ... Former Jackson General Billy Wagner, now with Atlanta, announced he'll retire after this season. That news might put a bounce in the step of the closer-in-waiting, Craig Kimbrel, the ex-M-Brave now at Gwinnett.

m-braves buzz

If Atlanta places former Mississippi Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar on the disabled list, ex-M-Brave Brandon Hicks may get the call to The Show, according to a report on mlb.com. Hicks would become the 44th M-Braves alum to make the big leagues since the club arrived in Pearl in 2005. Hicks hasn't hit much at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he has demonstrated the last two springs that he can play big-league defense. He'd likely back up Omar Infante until Escobar can play again. What Hicks' promotion might mean for the M-Braves' roster, who knows? Luis Bolivar, a Triple-A vet, could go up, but who would replace him? ... Another interesting note: Ex-M-Braves center fielder Jordan Schafer is supposed to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Rome today. When he's ready to play full-time, it's possible he could come to Mississippi rather than Gwinnett. The G-Braves have Gregor Blanco, and the M-Braves need a center fielder. It wouldn't hurt Shafer to retool his game at the Double-A level. After all, he has missed a ton of time the previous two years because of suspension and injury.

on their marks

The state junior college playoffs are set — almost. Pearl River Community College and Mississippi Gulf Coast CC meet today in a one-game playoff to determine the 4-seed from the MACJC South Division. The winner earns a trip to Fulton to face North No. 1 Itawamba in the best-of-3 playoff round. The other matchups: South No. 1 Jones County will host Northwest; South No. 2 Hinds greets Northeast; and North No. 2 Holmes welcomes East Central. The first game in each series is Friday, Games 2 and 3 on Saturday. The winners advance to the state tournament next weekend; the NJCAA Division II Region 23 Tournament follows a week later. The survivor of all that is a worthy champion.
P.S. Delta State, just a 3-seed in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, might be considered the favorite now that the event has been moved to Ferriss Field. The bad weather in Millington, Tenn., necessitated a move, and DSU was happy to accommodate. The Statesmen might need to win the tournament, for the 12th time, to make the NCAA Division II tourney field and having their fans behind them will be a big lift.

an indy jones

What do Dewon Day, Bryan Dumesnil, John Halama, Kenny Rayborn and Kody Kirkland have in common? Well, apart from playing for a Mississippi school or pro team in the recent past, they are currently teammates on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League. The APBL is generally considered the best of the unaffiliated minor leagues, and its ranks include a large number of Mississippi-connected players in addition to many other familiar names. Among the others in the league this spring are former Mississippi Braves Jerome Gamble, Matt Esquivel, Macay McBride, Jason Perry and Michael Nix. Ex-Jackson Generals Daryle Ward and Bryant Nelson, former Copiah-Lincoln CC star Nook Logan and Hattiesburg native Dustan Mohr are also still hanging on, hoping for another shot at affiliated ball.
P.S. On the subject of indy leagues, heard from former Jackson Senators manager Dan Shwam the other day. He is going to manage a college summer league team in Elmira, N.Y., this year. Shwam confirmed a second source's information that Jackson was very close to having another independent team (in the Continental League) at Smith-Wills Stadium this season, but some things fell through. Don't be surprised if the idea resurfaces.