end of an era

It hasn't been officially announced yet, but Lance Berkman is gone from Houston. He'll be suiting up for the New York Yankees possibly as soon as tonight. And so ... the last former Jackson General still playing for the Astros has moved on. Kinda sad, in several ways. Berkman, arguably the best position player produced in Jackson's 25-year Texas League era, looked to be one of the those rare players who would finish his career with the organization he came up with. It's hard to imagine him in a uniform other than the Astros'. "I'm from Texas. Heck, I played at Rice. This city is like the womb. ... To think about the possibility of going anywhere else is kind of scary," Berkman told The Associated Press on Friday. He has had a sluggish season to date, but don't be surprised if the Big Puma picks it up with the Yankees.
P.S. On this date in 1997, McComb native Blake Stein, an otherwise obscure big league pitcher, was involved in a trade that may forever keep his name in the news on deadline day. He and two others were shipped from St. Louis to Oakland for Mark McGwire. ... Keep an eye out for Corey Wimberly's big league debut. The former Alcorn State star is leading the Pacific Coast League in stolen bases and hitting .290 for Oakland's Triple-A club. As the A's fade from the American League West chase, they may want to take a look at Wimberly, who plays the outfield and second base.

going places

Mason Robbins of George County High and Brandon Woodruff of Wheeler are on the rosters (on opposing teams) for the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. Robbins, an outfielder/left-handed pitcher who is committed to Southern Miss, and Woodruff, an outfielder/right-hander headed for Mississippi State, are rising seniors. The Under Armour game is set for Aug. 14 at noon CDT and will be televised by MLB Network.

remember the time

Freddy Garcia and Ramon Castro got back in sync on Thursday night, when Castro hit a pair of homers and Garcia went six innings for the win as the first-place Chicago White Sox beat Seattle 9-5. Castro has become Garcia's personal catcher this season, reestablishing a relationship spawned when both were coming up in the Houston system. They were paired together with the Jackson Generals in 1998, when both showed their big league potential. Garcia is 10-4 in a bounce-back year. With Castro calling his games, Garcia won six straight starts before suffering a couple of rough outings on July 18 and 24. On Thursday, the big right-hander was sharp again (7 hits, no walks, 3 runs and 3 strikeouts). Castro is hitting .327 with five homers in limited time. ... Former Jackson Mets star Gregg Jefferies is among the featured athletes in Sports Illustrated's latest "Where Are They Now?" issue (Aug. 2-9). Jefferies is a hitting instructor and high school coach in his native California. His 1987 season with the OJMs still rates as one of the best by any who have played for the JaxMets, Gens or M-Braves. Jefferies, then a shortstop, batted .367 with 20 homers, 48 doubles and 101 RBIs. He was the Texas League MVP and Baseball America's minor league player of the year for the second year in a row. It still must gnaw at OJMs fans that Jefferies was summoned to New York before the TL Championship Series, which the Mets lost.
P.S. Mississippi State alumnus Mitch Moreland got a single in his first major league at-bat Thursday night and went 2-for-4 for the Texas Rangers.

debut alert

Former Mississippi State standout Mitch Moreland was promoted to the big leagues by Texas late Wednesday. The Rangers play the Oakland A's tonight, and Moreland reportedly is in the lineup. “Since I could walk, this is what I’ve wanted to do,” he told The Associated Press. Moreland, a first baseman, was drafted by the Rangers in the 17th round in 2007 and has zipped through their system. He was their minor league player of the year in 2009 and was hitting .289 with 12 homers at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. MSU's sports information office reports that Moreland will be the 46th Bulldogs alumnus to play in The Show. Moreland's status was clouded a bit today when the Rangers traded for Florida's Jorge Cantu, who can also play first base, a position of need in Texas.
P.S. Philadelphia's acquisition today of former Holmes CC star Roy Oswalt was bad news for Atlanta in its quest to win the National League East. The race just got a whole lot tougher. But there is this ray of sunshine for Braves fans: Oswalt is 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves.

watch closely now

The window is still open for Jordan Schafer. But he has reached a critical stage in his career, to be sure. He's going to play everyday in left field — not center, where Antoan Richardson is entrenched — for the Double-A Mississippi Braves, where Atlanta sent the former No. 1 prospect after he hit .201 in 52 games at Triple-A Gwinnett. Schafer is 2-for-8 with a pair of RBIs in two games here. M-Braves manager Phillip Wellman said Schafer's attitude is good. "He told me, 'I've got to get back on track,'" Wellman said. "Sometimes a change of scenery helps. I told him that I'll make him one promise: We, as a staff, will do everything we can to get him back where he needs to be." Schafer helped the M-Braves win the 2008 Southern League title with a good if unspectacular season that was disrupted by a 50-game drug policy suspension. All seemed to be good when Schafer made Atlanta's opening day roster in 2009 and homered in his first at-bat. But a steady decline followed, then a demotion to Gwinnett, then wrist surgery in September. After a slow recovery, Schafer went 5-for-17 in a rehab stint with the M-Braves in May. In hindsight, he probably should have remained in Double-A. The M-Braves needed a center fielder at that time. But he went to Gwinnett. And now he's back, hoping to regain his prospect status against Double-A pitching, which is only somewhat less sophisticated than the Triple-A variety. At 23, Schafer's still young. He can run and throw. If he starts to hit again, he could still help the Braves, who need a center fielder. It doesn't look like it'll happen this year, but you never know. The window is still open.
P.S. Schafer's arrival in Mississippi means less playing time for another scuffling prospect, Cody Johnson, the erstwhile left fielder. Johnson came off the disabled list Sunday and promptly notched his 100th strikeout of the season. He fanned again Monday as a pinch hitter.

curses!

Sent down to Triple-A Norfolk by Baltimore on Saturday, Craig Tatum didn't like it one bit. "It (stinks)," the former Mississippi State star from Hattiesburg told mlb.com. "But what can you do?" Tatum was hitting .271 and by all accounts had played good defense, which is his forte. The lousy Orioles actually were better, record-wise, in games Tatum started. But when No. 1 catcher Matt Wieters came off the DL, Tatum was the odd man out. He could be optioned to the minors without passing through waivers. The other catcher, Jake Fox, could not. So the O's kept Fox. Tatum likely will get another chance. Maybe he can blame his bad fortune on the Sports Illustrated jinx. Tatum wasn't on the cover, but he did make an inside photo spread in the current (July 26) issue. The pic shows him catching a bat flung by former Mississippi Brave Yunel Escobar. One question: What does that tattoo on Tatum's left arm spell out?

crowded yard

Leave town for a few days and all heck breaks loose with the Mississippi Braves' roster. A recent flurry of moves has seen the addition of two Top 10 pitching prospects — Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado — plus outfielders Yasser Gomez and Jordan Schafer. As of this moment, the M-Braves have six active outfielders plus prospect Cody Johnson on the DL. Double-A clubs can get by with four outfielders; six is way too many. Where will Schafer, the former No. 1 prospect, play? Center? Why didn't Atlanta just leave him with the Mississippi club after his rehab ended? He played really well in that brief stint, then scuffled at Triple-A Gwinnett. What happens to Antoan Richardson, who has done so well out there since being re-signed? Gomez, a Cuban defector, is considered a player on the rise. He's gotta play. Willie Cabrera is having a standout season; he needs to play, too — or get promoted. And the power-hitting Johnson needs to get back on the field soon. Michael Daniel and Concepcion Rodriguez must be on edge. There's not room for all those guys.

prospect sighting

The Mississippi Braves — and the Atlanta minor league system — needed a young shortstop with a high ceiling, and they may have landed one: Tyler Pastornicky. Acquired from Toronto in the Yunel Escobar deal, Pastornicky made his M-Braves debut on Friday night at Huntsville and got a pair of hits. Luis Bolivar is a capable shortstop, sure, but he's 29 years old. Pastornicky, only 20, a fifth-round pick in 2008, has a future in the system. He's small at 5 feet 11, 170 pounds, but he showed some pop at Class A Dunedin, hitting six homers in 77 games this season. And he figures to get stronger. He's a .264 career hitter and a good glove man from all indications. Plus, his dad, Cliff, played in the big leagues with Kansas City. Tyler's progress will be interesting to watch over the rest of the summer at Trustmark Park.
P.S. If you get a chance, check out the Hattiesburg Black Sox team playing in the state semi-pro tournament at Smith-Wills Stadium this weekend. The Black Sox are loaded with talent, including former pros Tony Phillips, Tootie Myers and Walter Young. They play at 4 p.m. today in a winners bracket game.

just win, baby

Meridian Community College might be the closest thing the state has to a baseball dynasty. The Eagles have been to the junior college World Series seven times. They've won 11 Miss-Lou Conference titles (including 2010) and 10 region titles. They also won the MACJC championship three times during the six years they played in the state association. Regardless of whatever recruiting advantages MCC might enjoy over other state schools, this is an impressive resume. And now Chris Curry sits in the captain's chair. The former MCC and Mississippi State standout was named as Chris Rose's replacement today. Rose, 186-93 in five years at the helm, took the East Mississippi CC job in June. Rose succeeded Scott Berry, now the Southern Miss coach. Berry followed Corky Palmer at both MCC and USM. Curry, who had been an assistant at SEC power Arkansas, has a powerful legacy to uphold in the Queen City.

life's a beach

Atlanta Braves fans might want to remember the name Brandon Beachy. He's coming. The Mississippi Braves right-hander was brilliant again on Thursday night, though he got no decision when the bullpen blew a lead. For the record, Beachy, moved from the pen to the rotation on June 18, is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his five starts for the Double-A club. He has 44 strikeouts — 13 on Thursday vs. Huntsville — in 30 innings and just six walks. He's got three quality pitches, nothing overpowering but everything sharp. Manager Phillip Wellman has already forecast that Beachy, 23, will make The Show. It's only a matter of time, really. The M-Braves can only hope he stays the rest of this summer. Remarkably, the 6-foot-3 Indiana native was undrafted out of Indiana Wesleyan. He was a third baseman/first baseman who closed on occasion in college. Atlanta signed him after seeing him pitch in the Virginia Valley League, a college summer loop, and he pitched mostly in relief his first three years in the system. Shades of Kris Medlen in 2008, Beachy has emerged as an ace since shifting to the rotation last month.

'bout time?

Yunel Escobar's antics may finally have caught up with him. Atlanta has traded its enigmatic shortstop, getting veteran Alex Gonzalez from Toronto as part of the five-player deal. Though he was slumping this season, Escobar can play, no doubt. But his showboat habits were always troubling, even when he was with the Mississippi Braves in 2006. He'd double-pump on ground balls just to show off his arm, snatch throws with his bare hand, nod in agreement or disagreement about ball-and-strike calls, chirp and whistle in the infield and sulk when things weren't going his way. He was never Bobby Cox's kind of player. But his talent had won the Braves over. Remember, they traded away Elvis Andrus in part because they had Escobar already producing in the big leagues, apparently entrenched. Now he's gone. Maybe the time was right for this move. The Braves could be better this year with Gonzalez. But what about 2011? Brandon Hicks?

more than a feeling

As ridiculous as it is that the MLB All-Star Game "counts," we shouldn't diminish the significance of Brian McCann's game-deciding hit on Tuesday night. MVP of the Midsummer Classic is a big deal. And it would be only fitting if McCann's clutch knock translates into home-field advantage for the Atlanta Braves in the World Series come October. If the Braves get there, he'll be a main reason why. Beyond that, McCann is a star who doesn't act like one, unfailingly polite but driven to succeed. In one of his first interviews after arriving in Mississippi in 2005, he said that he wasn't overly concerned about adjusting to Double-A pitching because the Double-A pitchers would also have to adjust to him. And he was right. In his short stay with the M-Braves (48 games), he demonstrated a sweet swing that you just knew would work at any level. He batted only .265 here, but had he stayed all year, he'd have been up around .300. And among the six homers he belted as an M-Brave was a ninth-inning, walk-off blast onto the cafe roof in right field that broke up not just a shutout but a no-hitter, as well. It will always stand as one of the great moments in Trustmark Park history. Afterward, he apologized for taking so long to get out of the shower room; his devious teammates had trapped him inside as a joke. McCann was the first M-Brave to be promoted to Atlanta and had two hits in his June 10, 2005, debut while catching John Smoltz. We never saw him again here. There was a strong sense when he left that he was headed for bigger and better things. So true. And he's not nearly done yet.

celestial ponderings

In a year when there are no Mississippi-born players in the major league All-Star Game, it might be a good time to remember how many great MLB players the Magnolia State has produced. You could win a lot of games with this all-time squad of Mississippians: Leading off and playing center field Chet Lemon (Jackson); batting second and playing shortstop Buddy Myer (Ellisville); hitting third in left field Ellis Burks (Vicksburg); the cleanup batter and right fielder Dave Parker (Calhoun City); in the 5-hole playing first base George Scott (Greenville); batting sixth at third base Bill Melton (Gulfport); hitting seventh and playing second base Frank White (Greenville); hitting eighth and catching Jake Gibbs (Grenada); and batting ninth and pitching Guy Bush (Aberdeen). Boo Ferriss (Shaw), Claude Passeau (Wayneboro), Roy Oswalt (Weir) and Oil Can Boyd (Meridian) would round out the rotation. Joe Gibbon (Hickory) could close. On the bench you'd have the likes of Harry "The Hat" Walker (Pascagoula), Gee Walker (Gulfport), Don Blasingame (Corinth), Sam Leslie (Moss Point), Charlie Hayes (Hattiesburg), Barry Lyons (Biloxi) and Herb Washington (Belzoni). If we made Negro Leagues stars eligible, then you could throw in Cool Papa Bell (Starkville), Howard Easterling (Mount Olive), Luke Easter (Jonesboro) and Sam Hairston (Crawford). That is a star-studded group that stacks up with any state's all-time squad.

gimme fever

Too early for pennant fever? Nah. It's the All-Star break and temperatures are rising. Mississippians look to be at the center of several title chases, and a horde of ex-Mississippi Braves are contributing in Atlanta, which has the best record in the National League. But let's start in Colorado, where the surging Rockies have joined the NL West race. Jackson's own Seth Smith, the early leader for the second annual Cool Papa Bell Award (see previous posts), has helped fuel Colorado's rise, hitting .287 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. The Rockies like his pinch-hitting abilities, but they might be wise to give him more starts in the outfield. Also in the NL West race is former Delta State star Eli Whiteside, still getting plenty of at-bats as the backup to Buster Posey at catcher for San Francisco. In the NL Central, surprising, first-place Cincinnati recently called up Ole Miss alum Matt Maloney, who pitched well enough in his two starts (3.09 ERA) to merit sticking around in the second half. In the NL East, former Rebels star Chris Coghlan (.268) has overcome a slow start and is one of the reasons Florida has hung within shouting distance of Atlanta. The return of Vicksburg native Taylor Tankerlsey to the Marlins' bullpen hasn't hurt their cause. Texas has suddenly become the sexy team in the American League. Forget Cliff Lee's ragged first start for the Rangers on Saturday; the Meridian Community College product will play a huge role down the stretch, as will Starkville native Julio Borbon (.280 after a slow star). Ole Miss alum Matt Tolbert should get another chance to contribute in Minnesota, with the Twins in a heated battle with Chicago and Detroit in the AL Central. In the AL East, Nettleton's Bill Hall, now starting at second base, has begun to hit a little more for injury-ravaged Boston, and former Mississippi State star Jonathan Papelbon has been his usually reliable self with 20 saves for the Red Sox. Former Gulf Coast CC standout Fred Lewis (.276) has been a revelation as Toronto's leadoff batter. And East Central CC product Marcus Thames homered and drove in two runs for the first-place New York Yankees on Sunday. If he can just avoid stepping on his own bat and stuff, Thames can provide the Bombers with power off the pine. And let's not forget the wild card, Weir's Roy Oswalt, who'll impact a division race wherever he lands in the inevitable trade by Houston.
P.S. Ex-Itawamba CC star Desmond Jennings went 0-for-3 in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game but managed to get on base three times and score three runs. He can make things happen. Former M-Brave Mike Minor threw a perfect inning for the victorious U.S. stars. ... Ex-M-Brave Anthony Lerew played an unwitting part in a milestone on Sunday, serving up Andruw Jones' 400th career home run as the White Sox shelled Kansas City.

a prediction or two

Roy Oswalt twirled his second career one-hitter on Thursday night, beating Pittsburgh 2-0. The former Weir High and Holmes Community College star was a part of one of the oddest no-hitters in history — when six Houston pitchers combined to no-hit the New York Yankees in 2003 — but has never tossed one of his very own. In a season when no-no's seem to be practically falling off trees, here's a bold prediction: Oswalt will get one this summer. If his body is sound, as it appears to be, he's got nasty, no-hit caliber stuff. It's noteworthy that no Mississippi native has thrown a solo no-hitter in the big leagues. Another prediction, less bold: When Oswalt gets the no-no, it'll be for a team other than the Astros. Though the trade rumors have cooled a bit lately, it's still a safe bet Oswalt will be dealt before the July 31 deadline. And he'll be pumped to be working for a team in a pennant race.

flair for the dramatic

Seth Smith established himself as a clutch hitter last season, when he led the National League with 17 pinch hits. But the former Ole Miss standout set a new personal standard for high drama on Tuesday night. His first walk-off home run — a three-run shot — capped a Colorado record nine-run ninth inning as the Rockies beat St. Louis 12-9. Smith, who was in the Rockies' lineup, had made an out his first time up in the ninth and told mlb.com that his mindset when he came to bat the second time was simply not to make another one. No worries. He crushed a Ryan Franklin pitch into the right-field seats to trigger a crazy celebration at Coors Field. Though there were no Mississippi-connected position players (natives or collegians) selected to the MLB All-Star Game, Smith might be the most deserving among that group. Playing more frequently in the Rockies outfield this season, he is hitting .291 with 12 home runs.

this we know

Where will Cliff Lee wind up? Rumors are rampant about the former Meridian Community College star's trade destination. Seattle may be shipping its left-handed ace to Minnesota. Or New York. Both the Yankees and Mets are interested. Then there's Tampa Bay. The Chicago White Sox. Even Philadelphia might be bidding to get him back. As many as 15 teams are said to be interested. We do know that he's headed to Anaheim next week for the All-Star Game. And he should be the American League starter, without question. Lee's numbers are amazing: He is 8-3 for a mediocre club with a 2.34 ERA and five complete games. When you consider his strikeouts-to-walks ratio, Lee enters another realm: 89 K's and just six walks in 103 2/3 innings. Give him the ball next Tuesday night.
P.S. The Mississippi Braves' roster shuffle continued on Monday when infielder Dan Nelson was promoted from Class A Myrtle Beach. He might help with his bat — he homered in his first game — but, sadly enough, he's not a prospect, just another recycled veteran on a club filled with them. Nelson is 26 and with his fourth organization. The loss of right-hander Jeff Lyman to Oakland on a waiver claim last week was a blow to the bullpen, but it might be offset by the return (from two months on the DL) of Kyle Cofield, who will pitch in relief for a couple weeks before moving back into the rotation. Cofield has quality stuff, as he showed last year. A rotation of Cofield, Brandon Beachy, Scott Diamond, Erik Cordier and Tim Gustafson would be pretty strong. Now if they can just get Brett Butts back (from injury) into the bullpen mix ...

happy tater day

George Scott, the Greenville native and onetime Boston Red Sox slugger, lovingly called his home runs "taters." Everybody, save for the pitchers who throw them, loves taters. Every true fan knows the significant home run numbers: 60, 61, 70, 73, 714, 755, 762. There's another, lesser publicized tater number of note: 62. On July 2, 2002, major league players launched a single-day record 62 homers. Considering the recent decline in home run numbers, this is a record that very well may stand forever. Of course, Mississippi-connected players hit their fair share that day. Vicksburg native Dmitri Young, playing for Detroit, hit two, as did former Jackson General Lance Berkman of Houston. Gulfport's Matt Lawton, then with Cleveland, hit one, off Roger Clemens, no less. Also taking the trip around the bases that day were ex-Mississippi State star Rafael Palmeiro (Texas), Hattiesburg native Wendell Magee (Detroit) and former Southern Miss standout Kevin Young (Pittsburgh). If we were to honor the home run by naming a day in its honor, today would be it.

first step

Passed over in the major league draft, former Mississippi College standout Tyler Seaman has launched his pro career in independent ball. The 6-foot-4 right-hander won his debut on Monday with Fargo-Moorhead of the Northern League. Seaman, a Pascagoula native and Jones County Junior College alumnus, went 15-4 in two years at MC, often dominating hitters at the NCAA Division III level. If bloodlines count for anything — and it seems they do in baseball — Seaman has a chance to get into affiliated ball and even make the big leagues. His father is former Jackson Mets left-hander Kim Seaman, who appeared in 27 big league games (3.16 ERA) with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979 and '80. The elder Seaman was 10-4 with a 2.13 ERA for the 1978 OJMs.