Two more Tigers named to All-star Team

Lakeland Flying Tigers catcher Jeff Kunkel and first baseman Ryan Strieby have been named to the Florida State League Western Division All-star team.

The pair will join shortstop Cale Iorg and right handed pitcher Matt O’Brien and right handed reliever Rick Porcello Saturday, June 14, in Viera, Florida, for the Annual Showcase.

Catcher James Skelton and second baseman Scott Sizemore, who were named to the team earlier in the week are unable to participate due to injuries. Also selected to the team was Luis Marte, who has been promoted to the Tigers Double A affiliate in Erie, Pa.

Kunkel is hitting .241 in the year, with 20 hits on 83 at bats in 27 games. He has collected 9 runs and 7 RBIs, walked 6 times and struck out 15 times. He has hit for extra bases five times, all doubles. The 25-year old was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the l7th round of the 2005 First-year Player Draft out of the University of Michigan. He split time last year between the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League and the Lakeland club.

Strieby has 49 hits for 198 at bats, good for a .247 average. He has 25 runs, and 35 RBIS, has walked 25 times and struck out 57 times. 19 of his hits have been for extra bases including 11 double, 1 triple and 7 home runs. A native of Seattle, Washington, the 23-year old was selected by Detroit in the 4th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Five members of the Whitecaps have been named to the Midwest League All-star game in Midland, Michigan. First baseman Chris Carlson, outfielder Casper Wells, infielder Joe Tucker, right handed pitcher Alfred Figaro and left handed pitcher Jon Kibler will represent the Tigers' farm on the Eastern Division squad.



The announcement comes after the addition of catcher Wilson Ramos from the Fort Myers Miracle. Ramos was named to the team to replace Lakeland catcher James Skelton.

Ramos, a 21-year old native of Valencia, Venezuela, has compiled a .236 batting average, a team-high eight home runs and 38 RBI. Signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent, Ramos is in his first season with Fort Myers.

Last season, he hit .291 with eight home runs and 42 RBI for Beloit of the Midwest League.

The officials for the All-star game have also been released. Adam C. Hamari will be calling the balls and strikes behind the plate at the All-star classic. Jeffrey C. Gosney, Hal H. Gibson III, and Sean M. Barber will be working first, second and third bases respectively. The All-star Umpires will be included in the All-star Game festivities.

Other players selected to the West Division All-star game are as follows:

From Dunedin: Catcher J.P. Arencibia, right handed reliever Connor Falkenback and 1st baseman Brian Dopirak.

From Sarasota: Outfielders Drew Stubs and Chris Heisey, right handed reliever Ramon Geronimo and designated hitter/3rd baseman Juan Francisco. Right handed pitcher Jordan Smith and shortstop Chris Valaika were also named to the team, but are unavailable due to promotions.

From Clearwater: Right handed pitcher Edgar Garcia and left handed reliever Matt German, and outfielder Gus Milner. It was a no brainer to select the Thresher's lefty pitching pheonom Antonio Bastardo, but - of course - he has been called up to AA Reading and will be unable to play in the showcase.

From Tampa: Righthanded pitcher Ryan Pope, catcher Kyle Anson and outfielder James Cooper. Right handed pitchers Eric Hacker and Alfredo Aceves were also selected but have already recieved promotions to Trenton of the AA Eastern League.

From Fort Myers: 2nd baseman Brian Dinkelman, 3rd Baseman Danny Valencia, right handed pitcher Jeff Manship, and right handed relievers Anthony Slama and Rob Delaney. Outfielder Rene Tosoni was also named to the All-star team but is sidelined with an injury and will not be available for the game.

Flying Tiger Layouts

Tyler says "Oh, you're doing their guys too?" Well, yeah, some of them. I like the Tigers. They're my second favorite team.

These use the Baseball Grunge Paper Mini from Scrap Girls. The Tiger's logo is a hand made gif from their masthead, and the little gold brads on the Below piece are from Raspberry Road Designs' Freedom Rings kit.

The Metal Alpha are from Scrappin' Dead Girls, and while it includes upper and lower, I only used the upper on these pieces.

These are all created to 8 x 10 so I can get them printed out and signed. As with any of the pieces on this blog, if you click on them, you can see a bigger version.

Jupiter's Sinkbeil sinks Beach Boys

(Photo courtesy Missouri State)

Waikiki 1 at North Shore 8

W: B. Sinkbeil (2-0, 1.13); L: J. Sullivan (0-2, 6.75); SV: S. Walker (1)
HR: None.

Who ever said Threshers and Manatees don't play nice together? In the Hawaiin Winter League, members of both teams are playing side by side on North Shore Honu.

The Hanu picked up a win Friday over the Waikiki Beach Boys, but it was neither a Manatee nor a Thresher that was the story of the game.

Rather, Jupiter Hammerhead's ace Brett Sinkbeil picked up his second win of the season, allowing only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 over 5 innings. He holds a stellar 1.13 ERA in Hawaii, having worked 16 innings in 4 games.

Waikiki's only run came in the fifth when Jermaine Mitchell (Oakland) reached on a fielding error by Lakeland Flying Tigers' shortstop Danny worth. Lucas Duda's (NY Mets) single moved him to second before Sinkbeil walked Oakland's Justin Sellars to load the bags. Mitchell would score on Sean McCraw's (NY Mets) force out, but Sinkbeil would then get Antoan Richardson (San Francisco) to strik out and Hector Pillot (NY Mets) to fly out to end the inning.

Steve Chapman (Milwaukee) walked with 2 outs in the 1st lead of North Shore's offense. Lou Santangelo (Houston) also drew a walk before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) reached on a fielding error and Jamie Romak's (Pittsburgh) double served to bring all three in.

Shintaro Yoshida (F/A) singled his way onto base in the bottom of the second and was followed onto the bags by Michael Griffin (Cininnati) before Chris Valuika (Cincinnati) walked. Michael Champman's (Milwaukee) ground ball to right brought in Yoshida and Griffin, although Chapman would find himself out at 2nd as he tried to strech the single into a double. Santangelo's ground ball to left brought in Valaika before Mat Gamel (Milwaukee) would pop out to end the inning.

Hanu's production fell off after that though, and North Shore would not add the final 2 runs until the 8th inning. Gamel walked to lead off, but Jamie Romak (Pittsburgh) hit into a force out to nab him at 2nd. Dusty Ryan's (Detroit) walk pushed Romak to 2nd and Worth would push Romak over the plate when he reached on a throwing error by Waikiki's Sellers. Yoshida hit a sac fly to score Ryan, but Griffin would pop out to end the inning.

Milwaukee's Kevin Roberts pitched 1 inning of relief for North Shore, striking out 2 before Houston's Sean Walker came in to close the game, walking 2 and striking out 4 in 3 innings.

Colorado's Josh Sullivan suffered the loss, lasting only 3 innings and giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, and 3 walks while striking out 1. Kyohei Muranaka (F/A) finished off the game, both his runs were unearned. He gave up 1 hit, walked 2 and struck out 5 in 5 innings.

The two teams rematach Saturday at 6:30 PM Hawaiin Time,

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Tigers prospects lead Saguaros to 3-2 win

Cameron Maybin batting against the Miracle

Phoenix 2 at Peo Saguaros 3

W: B. Badenhop (1-1, 4.50); L: J. Gray (0-1, 9.00); SV: N. Jamison (2)
HR: PES: C. Maybin 2 (2).

Former Lakeland Tigers ace Burke Badenhop (Detroit) picked up the win for the Peoria Saguaros Monday night, downing the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 3-2.

Cameron Maybin (Detroit) hit a pair of the over the wall, and recorded all 3 runs for Peoria, to lead the Saguaros attack.

Maybin's first yarder came off former Miracle pitcher Anthony Swarzak in the first inning, a long line drive out to left.

Maybin walked in the 3rd inning, stole 2nd, then came home on Will Venable (San Deigo) double off James Johnson (Baltimore) who took over for Swarzak in the third.

Swarzak's final line would be 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2 innings.

The Dogs managed to tie the game up on 4th, when Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) singled and Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) tripled him in. A wild pitch by Peoria's Wesley Wright (LA Dodgers) would serve to bring McCutchen over the plate.

Maybin's second homer, this one over the right field fence, came off Jeff Gray (Oakland) in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Former Miracle short stop Trevor Plouffe was 1-for-3 at the plate, getting stranded on first in the top of the 7th.

The two teams rematch Tuesday as the Dogs host the Saguaros for a 12:35 M.S.T. game.

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Saguaro's prospects by team (FSL affiliated only):

Detroit (Lakeland): Burke Badenhop, Eddie Bonine, Jeff Gerbe, Macay McBride, Mike Holliman, Jeff Larish, Cameron Maybin

Philladelphia (Clearwater): Joe Bisenius, Josh Outman, Pat Overholt, Joe Savery, Tuffy Gosewisch, Mike Constanzo, Greg Golson

Florida (Jupiter): Craig Molldrem, Scott Nestor, Ricky Nolasco, Ross Wolf, Brett Hayes, Chris Coghlan, Jai Miller