Yardbarker: Rob Mackowiak

Minor Issues: Aeros, Clips, K-Tribe Losers in Offensive Slug-Fights

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:59:00 -0500

WHAT'S THE NEWS

The retread purge is on!

Rob Mackowiak and George Lombard have been released. Both were on the DL for like, ever. Well Lombard was, Mackowiak wasn't. But they both have been on the DL.

With the trio in the outfield, Stephen Head and Wes Hodges back, and Jordan Brown, no need for either of them.

The Indians did sign a few people, one is going to be filling some innings until Eric Berger is ready for his promotion to Double-A.

They signed pitcher Micheal Tejera, a starting pitcher from the Triple-A Mexican League? Okaaaaaaay. Tejera spent some time in Triple-A Pawtucket last year. Tejera started for the Aeros last night.

They also picked up undrafted free agent Justin Toole, an infield product from the University of Iowa. He'll be with the Scrappers.

Finally, because Hector Rondon was promoted to Columbus, he won't partake in the Double-A All-Star game. So they needed a replacement. How about the guy who's been just as good as Rondon for the Aeros? Sure! Jeanmar Gomez was picked to replace Rondon on the All-Star roster.

That gives the Aeros 6 All-Stars, would have been seven if Lofgren stayed if you ask me, har.

You'll see Betancourt pitched for the Clips yesterday. Carmona is going to go one more time for them on Friday.

COLUMBUS

Columbus didn't stand a chance last night.

Ken Ray sucked from the get-go and he sucked at the end. He gave up nine earned in 4.2 innings, five of them in the first, off ten hits and three walks.

Rafael Betancourt pitched 1.1 innings last night, striking out one and not giving up a hit or a walk.

The Clippers did get some hits though. Mike Brantley was 3-5 with a double, Trevor Crowe scored one and knocked in two with one hit, and Matt LaPorta was 2-4 with two runs batted in. Josh Barfield and Tony Graffanino had two hits and a run batted, Graff had two doubles. Jordan Brown had two hits, including one double and Marte doubled as well.

Wes Hodges struck out three times, looks like he's having some issues since returning.

AKRON

More offensive barn-burning down in Akron with the Aeros out-hitting Reading, but not out-scoring them.

Run production by Nick Weglarz with a two-run home run, John Drennen with two hits and two RBI, and a RBI for Beau Mills and Jared Goedert each, who also had two hits.

Jose Constanza had two hits including a triple and Carlos Rivero had three hits including a double.

Michael Tejera made his Akron debut and was shelled pretty much like Ray was. In 4.2 innings, he gave up eight runs, seven earned, off nine hits and five walks.

The Mascot, Zach Putnam, gave up one earned in two innings of work.

The Aeros committed four errors as a team.

KINSTON

This offensive theme would continue with Kinston's game against Frederick on Tuesday, and they too would lose.

Lucas Montero, Tim Fedroff, Ole Sheldon, and Ron Rivas all with two hits. Montero and Sheldon with the RBIs of that bunch. Cord Phelps and Ryan Blair knocked in the other runs.

Mike McGuire got the start and gave up six runs off eight hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of work.

Bryce Stowell went four innings and gave up three runs off six hits. Dallas Cawiezell went one scoreless inning.

LAKE COUNTY

The Captains broke the streak with a 4-2 win over Greensboro yesterday.

Michael Valdez and Karexon Sanchez both hit solo home runs, and first baseman Chris Nash knocked in the other two runs. Every Captain starter minus Nate Recknagel and Delvi Cid had hits.

Danny Salazar picked up the win after going six innings and giving up just one run off three hits and one walk. He struck out nine. Matt Langwell pitched a perfect eighth and Steve Smith did the same for save number 15.

MAHONING VALLEY

The Valley doubled up on Auburn last night with an 8-4 victory.

Ben Carlson and Rafael Vera with doubles and runs batted in, Jordan Henry also scored a run and knocked one in with a hit.

Two hits for Tim Palincsar and Greg Folgia, with Folgia knocking in three runs.

Preston Guilmet gets his first professional win with five innings of work. Two runs off two hits and two walks and he struck out four.

Cory Burns picked up save number three with two scoreless frames.

ARIZONA LEAGUE

The AZL Indians picked up a win over San Diego with a bunch of hits and some more runs.

The first six hitters in the lineup all had multi-hit games.

Trent Baker - 4 hits, 2 runs, 2B
Argenis Martinez - 2 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 SB
Chris Kersten - 2 hits, 1 run, 2 RBI, 3B, 1 BB, 1 SB
Jesus Brito - 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 RBI, HR, 2 BB
Jose Camargo - 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2B, 1 BB
Joel Torres - 3 hits, 1 RBI

Kirk Wetmore started and went four innings, giving up one earned off six hits. Francisco Jimenez picked up the win after he pitched three innings and gave up one run.

Juan Lara pitched a scoreless frame with no hits or walks.

Mack released....

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:46 -0500

The Buffalo Bison's are reporting that Rob Mackowiak was released to make room for Brandon Knight who was re-assigned to AAA. A few years ago I thought Mackowiak would be a good signing as a AAAA super utility player who could be called up to play any position in a pinch but the team has better versions this year in Cory Sullivan and Bobby Kielty.The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, today announced that RHP Brandon Knight has been activated from Brooklyn (A). He is...

Four more to minor league camp...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:00:36 -0500

No real surprises here, but it does seem early to be sending this many players to the minor league side especially with the players in the WBC.The four who were sent down are Rob Mackowiak, Eddie Kunz, Valerio De Los Santos and Josh Thole. I said all along Rob Mackowiak would be in Buffalo hoping for a call-up. The guy is extremely versatile but other then a few years in Pittsburgh, hasn't shown he can hit regularily in the majors. This spring he hit .182 in 11 AB. Valerio De Los Santos w...

Three Up and Three Down

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:07:38 -0500

It's so hard to make sense of the latest Mets wins and losses because most of the roster is off to the However, there are still jobs to be won and Today the Mets split a pair of games, they had a 8-3 loss to the Nationals and then beat the University of Michigan 18-7. ...

Santana Aces His Latest Test

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:35:13 -0500

Johan Santana cleared another major hurdle after throwing a 36 pitch simulated game this morning at Tradition Santana threw a variety of pitches under the watchful eyes of the media, pitching coach Dan Warthen, Omar Minaya and even Fred Nick Evans, Rob Mackowiak, Rene Rivera ...

The Battle for the Bench: Bobby Kielty

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:14:16 -0500

Over the next few weeks many players will battle it out in Port St. Lucie to try to win a spot on the New York Mets? bench. For the next few days we will look at some of those competing for the spot and analyze their chances at winning the job. The first player we will profile is a former top Minnesota Twins prospect, Bobby Kielty. Kielty, who was signed by the Twins in 1999, began his major league career in 2001. Kielty was not very successful in his first year in the majors, hitting only .2...

A baseball fan in the steroid era

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:18:56 -0500

I still remember the day the Ken Caminiti news broke. June, 2002. Without the internet as a major vehicle to drive the news at that time, the allegations hit the airwaves early in the week and on Thursday, Sports Illustrated came out with its memorable cover, a baseball crossed by syringes. I ...

The Debut of Mike's Mets Interviews

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:14:39 -0500

After about three and a half years of doing this blog, I thought that I needed to start doing some different things to keep the blog (and its main writer) Interviews are something I've considered doing in the past, but I've shied away from them for a couple of reasons. The first was ...

Buffalo isn't New Orleans.....

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:53:31 -0500

The Mets held the second longest affiliation with a AAA club, from 1969 until 2006 the Norfolk Tide was home to the Mets Triple Aers. During that time the Tide went to nine Championship games and won five of them. But the Tide hadn't been to the Governor's Cup since 1995 and hadn't won since ...

Mets sign Mackowiak..........

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:05:37 -0500

The Mets sign another left handed bat yesterday in the form of utility man, Rob Mackowiak. If Mackowiak makes the team he will have a base salary of $600,000 and he has a chance to earn an additional $200,000 in bonuses depending on plate appearances between 250 and 500. Mackowiak, 32, played in just 38 games with the Nationals before being released. He hit .132 for Washington. He finished the season playing 49 games for the Reds' Triple-A affiliate. Mackowiak has played m...

Mets sign Mackowiak....

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:53:01 -0500

This is something Omar didn't do last off-season was stock pile players. The NY Post is reporting that the Mets have signed Rob Mackowiak to a minor league deal with incentives based on plate appearances if he makes the team or gets called up. I'm not really sure what the Mets will do with ...

Mets Sign Another Outfielder, Rob Mackowiak

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:15:25 -0500

The New York Post is reporting that the Mets have signed lefthanded outfielder, Rob Mackowiak. In a continuing collection of lefty-hitting outfielders, the New York Mets have signed Rob Mackowiak to a minor league contract, the Post has learned. If Mackowiak makes the team he will have a base salary of $600,000 and he has a chance to earn an additional $200,000 in bonuses depending on plate appearances between 250 and 500. Mackowiak, 32, played in just 38 games with the Nationals before bein...

Reds Sign Rob Mackowiak

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:41:59 -0500

Walt Jocketty said after the game that the Reds have signed Rob Mackowiak, an infielder/outfielder that Washington released. He'll play in Triple-A Louisville. Normally its the Nationals signing former Reds, but oh how the tables have turned!

Padres Offense Has A "Little" Problem

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:47:29 -0500

A few words come to mind when I think of the San Diego Padres offense. Punchless, anemic, hapless, weak, maybe even effete or feminine. But as I was sitting here watching Joel Pineiro - Joel "FREAKING" Pineiro - toss seven shutout innings while only allowing four hits in a 5-0 Cardinals win, I could only think of one thing to describe it: Impotent. Yes, one night after Kip "FREAKING" Wells (the same Kip Wells who currently owns 13 losses and a 5.27 ERA) threw seven innings without giving up an earned run in a 2-1 Cardinals win, the Padres were stifled once again. This is getting ridiculous. Going into last night's game, their pitching staff currently has the lowest ERA in the majors, at 3.49, that's 0.32 better than second place. They've combined for 16 shutouts this season, which is seven more than the second place team. With pitching like that they should be running away with the National League West and be favored to win the World Series. But their offense is laughable. Entering last night's game they ranked last in the majors in batting average (.244) and on base percentage (.312), are next to last in hits (943) and are three from the bottom in slugging percentage (.392). To give you some reference, the Yankees are currently first in batting average at .291. Hell, the Orioles are at .274, the Devil Rays are at .269 and even the Royals are at .266. If the Padres had any of those offenses, they'd be far and away the best team in the National League and one of the best in baseball. As of now, they're middling around with a .535 winning percentage, three games behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West. It's awful, of the hitters that qualify (351 plate appearances) Adrian Gonzalez leads the team with a .266 average, Mike Cameron is second at .252 and Khalil Greene is third at - prepare yourselves - .228. Read that again, I'll wait. So what did they do to punch up the offense as the deadline approached? Added Rob Mackowiak (.273), Morgan Ensberg (.231), Scott Hairston (.240) and Michael Barrett (.247). Nice work guys, problems solved, let's get a sandwich and watch the wins roll in. So I'm suggesting a solution. Every Padre hitter must take at least one tablet of Viagra, Cialis or their erectile dysfunction medication of choice, before each game. Cialis would work better for the bench players, so when the moment is right, they'll be ready. Sure it'll lead to some awkward shower time after the game, especially with the Giles brothers and Greg Maddux around, but hey it just might work. Couldn't possibly be worse than it is. By the way, I thought about making a "ring-toss" joke about the aforementioned Giles bros. but we try to keep things classy around here. Normally I'd just suggest they look at a picture of Jessica Alba to add some potency to their bats, but with the recent Jeter-induced herpes rumor going around, that might not do the trick. But honestly, even knowing that, we'd all still hit it. Repeatedly.