Ship, Church, Track & Field Roundup

SHIPMAN NORTHERN PITCHER OF THE WEEK


GARY, Ind. — Seventh year pro ANDY SHIPMAN’s 2009 season didn’t begin the way the former Triple-A reliever had planned, with a rocky start followed by an unceremonious release from the Kansas City T-Bones.

Signed by the Gary SouthShore RailCats days later, Shipman has been perfect in a ‘Cats uniform and was named the Northern League’s Pitcher of the Week for June 15-21.

Shipman closed out victories June 15, 17 and 21 with three scoreless innings, notching two of those saves against his former club. In eight appearances with the RailCats, Shipman has an unblemished 0.00 ERA and four saves, allowing only eight hits and striking out 10 in 9.0 innings.

Shipman, 27, helped the T-Bones beat the RailCats for the Northern League Championship in 2008, earning the win in Game Two of the Championship Series after holding opposing hitters to a .193 average during the regular season.

An All-Star in the Florida State League (A) in 2004 and Southern League (2005), Shipman made 46 appearances and had a 3.81 ERA with the Iowa Cubs (AAA) in 2006 before being plucked away in the Rule 5 Draft by the Oakland Athletics. Shipman was released by the Athletics midway through the 2008 season before signing in Kansas City.

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CHURCH UNABLE TO PLAY

NEW YORK ---New York Met outfielder RYAN CHURCH was a late scratch from the lineup Sunday evening due to illness.

Originally scheduled to bat fifth and play right field, Church bowed out of the lineup roughly one and a half hours before the start of the Mets' 8:05 p.m. ET game against the Yankees. Fernando Tatis replaced him in the same lineup spot and position.
Church, 30, was batting .267 with two home runs in 57 games, starting regularly in right field for the Mets all month. Earlier in the series Church went 0-for-3 Friday and O-=for-4 Saturday.

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LOMPOC SHUT OUT AT U.S.A. TRACK & FIELD

At the United States Track & Field championships in Eugene, Oregon two Lompoc entries went unrewarded.

In the 800 DUANE SOLOMON, who placed third in the finals of this race two years ago to qualify for the Pan Am Games, ran a 1:49.85 on Thursday and did not qualify for the semifinals.

MICHAEL COE of the University of California, the nation’s fastest 1500 runner earlier in the season was unable finish in Thursday’s preliminary race.

Duffy Humbled

OUCH!

Just three days after a flawless performance in his league’s All-Star Game and just one day after being named to Major League Baseball’s prestigious Futures Game DANNY DUFFY was rapped soundly Friday night by the Potomac Nationals.

In three and one-third innings Duffy’s pitches were laced for eight hits and six earned runs. He departed losing 6-5 but he avoided being saddled with a loss when his Wilmington mates later scored three runs to win 8-7. It was his shortest outing since 2007.

In the very first inning Duffy gave up four singles and a walk for three runs.

He got through the second and third without score but in the fourth after one out a single, a walk, a double steal, and a two-run single plated two more Nat runs. Duffy was relieved of his responsibilities at that point but a triple off his reliever brought in run #6.

Duffy’s short 3.1 innings was his shortest outing with Wilmington. It was also the 20-year-old left-hander's briefest appearance in a game since 2007, when he was limited by a strict pitch count on the Surprise Royals of the Arizona Rookie League.

Duffy’s earned run average jumped from 2.85 to 3.43.

Church Bats Cleanup, Mets Win Big

NEW YORK -- The Mets' peculiar June -- exasperating at times, exhilarating in other moments -- continued Wednesday night at Citi Field.

One night after they were shut out on two hits, they amassed 16 hits and produced a season-high run total and a lopsided shutout of their own, steamrolling the Cardinals.

With No. 4 hitter RYAN CHURCH driving in two runs, Fernando Tatis driving in three and David Wright producing four hits, the Mets won, 11-0.

The Mets' offense produced one home run, by Nick Evans in the fourth inning, and four doubles, two by Church, who batted cleanup for the second time in his tour with the Mets. Wright had a double as he equaled the highest hit total of his career.

The Mets scored three times in the fourth when Evans hit his third big league home run, his first since his promotion from Double-A last week. Wright led off with a single and advanced to third when Church doubled to left field.

So lopsided was this game that the Mets used Livan Hernandez as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.

Duffy Aces All-Star Inning

LAKE ELSINORE-- DANNY DUFFY did his part Tuesday night but it wasn't enough for the Carolina League All-Stars who went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the California League Stars at the 2009 Class A All-Star Game.

Duffy pitched the sixth inning for Carolina and drew the heart of the Cal order, but they went down 1-2-3. Duffy did not give up a hit or a walk or, well, anything.

Right fielder Roger Kieschnick, a .304 hitter for the San Jose Giants, struck out swinging.

First baseman Joseph Dunnigan, a .336 hitter for the High Desert Mavericks, a Seattle Mariner affiliate, went out on a fly ball.

And third baseman Logan Forsythe, a .322 hitter for the home town Lake Elsinore Storm, a San Diego Padre farm team, grounded out.

1-2-3....... against the best in Class A- Advanced. Duffy now returns to Wilmington, Delaware where he has posted a 2.85 ERA for Kansas City's third highest-ranked minor league affiliate. Keep in mind Danny is still just 20 years old.

Dodgers, Ship, Duff, Duane, Coe, Parade Route

The VILLAGE HILLS DODGERS will appear on Lompoc Locker Room TV Monday at 5:30 p.m. The Dodgers went 22-1 to win the VH Little League title

SHIP'S SEVENTH


ANDY SHIPMAN reeled off his seventh straight clean appearance Sunday afternoon in Schaumburg, Illinois as the Gary South Shore Rail Cats slipped past the Schaumburg Flyers 3-2 before 4,090 in a Northern League game.

Shipman, whose earned run average over seven games with Gary is 0.00 worked one inning retiring his first two batters on a called third strike and a fly out. He allowed a two-out single before ending the game on a ground ball to first base. He received credit for the save, his fifth with Gary.

Statistically, Shipman ranks No. 3 in the independent Northern League in saves. Only 27, the Cabrillo grad could still get a look from major league scouts with a good season.



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Duffy to California



DANNY DUFFY takes a transcontinental flight from Delaware to California tomorrow for the Carolina League/California League All-Star Game on Tuesday. The contest will be played in Lake Elsinore, home of the Lake Elsinore Storm. The two leagues are Class A-Advanced leagues, midway up the professional baseball hierarchy. Duffy comes in with a 6-2 record and an earned run average of 2.85, among the top five in the Carolina League. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

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Track & field

DUANE SOLOMON and MICHAEL COE will both be in Eugene, Oregon Thursday through Sunday at the USATF national track and field championships.

Each has qualified in his specialty, Coe in the 1500 and Solomon in the 800.

More on each of them in the coming days.

Locally the next big race is the 5K Parade Route Run Saturday morning beginning in the AAA parking lot on North H Street.

Church Plates Extra Run

Hot 5-for-11 over 3 games

NEW YORK -- A single back up the middle to plate an insurance run doesn't make the headlines or even jump out of the agate type of the box score.

But Ryan Church's RBI base hit off left-hander J.P. Howell with two outs in the eighth inning gave the Mets a much-needed insurance run in their 5-3 win over the Rays on Friday.

It wasn't the biggest hit of the game, or even the most important. But if the Mets want to get back to playing winning baseball after a tepid first half of June, they'll need that kind of clutch hit the most.

With a bullpen that has become more adventurous than automatic, the Mets could sorely use late-inning offense -- something that has been missing for much of the season.


"That was huge, especially against the lefty," Church said. "In that situation, I've had times where I've gotten guys on base and haven't gotten through with the hit with two outs. It's a great confidence-booster."


The Mets have shown more confidence in Church over the last week, as he has now started seven consecutive games in right field. His spot in the everyday lineup was further solidified when the team sent outfielder Fernando Martinez to Triple-A Buffalo before the game.
In those seven starts, Church is 9-for-28, with seven RBIs.


"If you go out there and know you're going to get the at-bats, and not worry about going 0-for-3 and not being in the next day, it just helps your confidence," he said. "The more at-bats you get, the more pitches you see, the more you can get in a groove."


Hitting in the six-hole, Church also provides the Mets with more depth, and gives Gary Sheffield or David Wright some protection in the lineup. Since Carlos Delgado was injured on May 11, the Mets' lineup has often been a three- or even two-man show.


"Ryan can add some length to our lineup along with some power," manager Jerry Manuel said. "He's a guy that can really take us to another level."

Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Village Hills Champs on TV Monday

Dodgers 22-1

Lompoc Locker Room TV will host the Village Hills Little League champion Dodgers at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Despite their impressive record they found themselves in danger in theVHLL title game when they trailed by a run entering the last of the final inning.

"This is a special team," said manager Gary Miller.

Duffy Rocky, Church Doubles, Ship Clean

Duffy's Rockiest Outing since April

DANNY DUFFY avoided his third loss of the Carolina League season Wednesday night thanks to the Wilmington Blue Rocks’ late inning batsmanship as they overtook the Potomac Nationals 7-5 in 10 innings at Potomac, Maryland.

Duffy departed after 5 2/3 innings trailing 5-2 and remained on the hook for the loss until the end.

His evening began more or less as usual— successful in other words.

Duffy gave up a run in the first inning but it was unearned after a batter reached base on an infield error. Then the Lompoc lefty sailed through the second, third and fourth allowing a single in each frame but easily escaping harm. He picked the runner off base in two of those innings.

But in the fifth a double and a home run, only the fifth roundtripper Duffy has allowed this season, messed up the scenario.

And in the sixth three singles loaded the bases with two outs. Duffy gave way to reliever Zach Peterson who gave up an RBI single and an error gave Potomac its fifth run.

Duffy’s three earned runs allowed on nine hits represented his rockiest outing since April 26 when he gave up six earned runs in five innings at Winston-Salem.

Still, his earned run average rose only to 2.89, he did not incur a loss, and his strikeout to walk ratio (66-20) remains impressive as he fanned six and walked none.

Potomac’s home run came off the bat of Aaron Seuss of Riverside. It was his first of the season. Seuss is batting only .229 The Nationals are affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

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Church 2-for-4

In Baltimore RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-4 with a double but the Mets lost 6-4 to the O’s.

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The Ship is Still Clean

In Gary, Indiana ANDY SHIPMAN notched his sixth perfect performance in a row as he saved a 4-3 victory for the Railcats over the Kansas City T-Bones in the Northern League. The Ship gave up a single and a walk in the ninth but two strikeouts allowed him to escape damage.

Shipman Rediscovered in Indy Ball

LOSE TRACK OF ANDY SHIPMAN? SO DID WE

Thanks to alert reader Russ Casper we bring you this story from the Gary, Indiana newspaper. The Ship has allowed no earned runs in five games with the Gary South Shore Rail Cats of the independent Northern League.

On every team that ANDY SHIPMAN joins, he knows the subject will come up in the first few days.

Someone will ask the first question, a crowd will gather to hear the answer, then more questions and more explanations will follow. Shipman, a RailCats right-handed pitcher with a resume that includes a season in the Cubs Triple-A farm system, was about a year-and-a-half old when, in a bout of mischief, little Andy pulled an empty fish tank on top of himself. Glass went everywhere, and he suffered three deep cuts in his face and one in his left eye.The doctors couldn't save his eye, but fitted him with a glass replacement.

While in the hospital recovering from the fish tank disaster, Shipman ripped out all of his IVs, climbed out of his crib and alarmed the nursing staff with the sight of a small, bleeding child walking down the hall.With that, a closer was born.

"I was a hell child," Shipman said. "They had to build a cage to keep me in the hospital. That's how I grew up. Out here, this is why I'm in baseball. I love the adrenaline rush of the ninth inning with three outs to go. You step out there and think, 'Here we go.' There's nothing like it."

Shipman was undrafted out of the University of Missouri because of MLB draft requirements that stipulate a draftee have "all paired organs." He went first to a league in Alaska before the Boston Red Sox signed him as a free agent.

The RailCats found him last season, when he was released by the Oakland Athletics and almost immediately picked up by the Kansas City T-Bones, a team that relocated him closer to the family of his wife, Melissa. He won a Northern League title with K.C., beating the RailCats in Game 2 and pitching in all three of the T-Bones' wins during the championship series.He played in five games in Kansas City this season, earned a save and then pitched in 2/3 of an inning on May 24 against Winnipeg when he allowed a hit and a run, took the loss and then was released.

That was 10 days after he and his wife bought a house in the northern suburbs of K.C. The RailCats grabbed him up immediately, but Shipman was considering retirement. Instead, his wife said she'd be fine making the move by herself and insisted her husband continue his career.

"She really locked into my career," Shipman said. "She's like a second pitching coach. I'll call and she'll ask me about second pitches and she told me to keep going.

""He's someone that everyone wanted," RailCats manager Greg Tagert said. "Not only do we think highly of him, but he puts us in a situation to be comfortable to play him whenever we need to use him."

It didn't take long for the questions to start in the RailCats' clubhouse or for shortstop Jay Pecci to take Shipman's left eye in his hand and scare the bejesus out of third baseman Jeff Beachum."This is such a good situation," Shipman said. "They remembered me from last year, and they welcomed me right away. I couldn't be luckier."

Duffy Grinds Out #6

Wins Without his Best Stuff

DANNY DUFFY did not have his best stuff Friday night, but no matter. He ground his way to his sixth victory of the season in a 3-2 decision in favor of his Wilmington club at Winston-Salem, NC.

Duffy did not have his strike out machine operating—he fanned but two over six innings while walking two. And he gave up six hits including two doubles and a triple.

Still he worked his way out of trouble most of the time and allowed just two runs. By doing that he held his earned run average to 2.69—sixth best in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.

Duffy relinquished a leadoff double in the first inning. A single and a double play ground ball scored the run.

The Lompoc lefty retired the side in order in the second but in the third a triple and a ground out plated another run to allow the home team to tie the score at two-all.

In the fourth Duffy again retired the Dash in order, but in the fifth he had to juggle a single and a base on balls but he did it with aplomb by striking out the #2-hole hitter Greg Paimi.

In the sixth Duffy gave up another single and walk, but a double play and a pop up of heavy-hitting Christian Marrero (.300) retired the side.

Winston-Salem is an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Wilmington works with the Kansas City Royals.

Also Friday the Royals announced that Everett Teaford, a 25-year old lefthanded pitcher, with Duffy the other half of Wilmington’s two-lefty aces combination, has been promoted to AA. Teaford’s record is 7-1 and 2.39 compared to Duffy’s 6-2 and 2.69. Teaford’s strikeout-to-walk ratio is 49-12 while Duffy’s is comparable at 60-20. Duffy at 20 years old is four and one-half years younger than Teaford.

Church Homer Wins It

Second Round-tripper of the Season

RYAN CHURCH's home run Tuesday night against Chad Durbin in the seventh inning, provided the decisive run in a 6-5 victory over the league-leading Phillies. It also created another Citi Bank Park first, landing, as it did, in the apple basket beyond center field. It made Church an honorary member of the frequently-cited Core of the Mets.

"To drop it in their from that distance," Church said, "it ought to be worth three points."

Church went 1-for-3 and raised his batting average to .278.

White Gets Plus-Side Report

Scouting Report Promising

We all know the big league potential of Danny Duffy, but what about CHRIS WHITE? Apparently it looks pretty good too, his so-so .242 batting average at Lakeland notwithstanding.

Here's the assessment of Mark Anderson, editor of a blog called TigTown.

White is a toolsy player that has started his career at a very young age despite one year in college. If he were coming out of college at this point as a junior or senior, he would likely be very well regarded.

Defensively, White has very good instincts in the outfield. He gets good jumps on balls hit to all parts of the field, even those hit directly over his head, and he takes good routes to the ball. He has above-average speed, and that combined with his instincts enables him to be a plus defender at all three outfield positions. He has an average Major League arm that could play anywhere.
White is a switch hitter with good bat control from both sides of the plate, and comparable power from both sides as well. He is still learning to use the entire field as a hitter, but he has made strides in that area since turning pro. He has gap power now, and could develop some modest home run power as he refines his approach and adds strength to his thin frame.
Chris still needs to improve his pitch recognition, but he has improved in just a short time at Lakeland this season. When he’s locked in and seeing the ball well, the ball jumps off his bat to all fields, and he thrives in tight game situations.

As a player that loves the game and simply loves to play, White has an excellent work ethic and he enjoys being on the field for both practice and games. He has the makeup and ability to be a potential fourth outfielder at the big league level.

White’s career has not been hampered by injuries to date. He plays aggressively but not recklessly, and his baseball actions are smooth enough that he could avoid injury in most cases.

White has performed well since given a challenging assignment after starting the year in extended spring training. His defense, love of the game, and improving offensive ability have made him a player worth watching in Lakeland, and according to Manager Andy Barkett, he has made himself into an interesting prospect.

With some power development and a more refined offensive approach in each at-bat, White could solidify his status as a legitimate fourth outfield prospect. Without that development, there is still a solid chance he will earn a chance in the big leagues some day. Despite being in the midst of his third season in the organization, White is still only 21-years old and playing in High-A, a combination that bodes well for his future.

Mark Anderson is TigsTown's Managing Editor and feature Minor League writer. He can be reached at Mark@TigsTown.com.

Duffy Named to All-Star Game; Church Returns

DUFFY ACES AGAIN

DANNY DUFFY was in lockdown mode Saturday night as he handcuffed league-leading Lynchburg and lowered his stellar earned run average to 2.66.

The Lompoc lefty shackled the Pittsburgh-affiliated Hillcats on two hits though he did not receive credit for the 1-0 victory since when he left the mound the score remained 0-0.

Duffy allowed just two singles but walked three, all in one inning. He struck out five.

Now after 61 innings in Class A-Advanced Duffy has allowed just 48 hits. He has a strikeout –to-walk ratio of 58-18.

Meanwhile the Carolina League announced that Duffy has been named to the CL All-Star team which will face the California League on June 23 in Lake Elsinore. Duffy, 5-2, ranks #2 in the league in strikeouts and #5 in ERA. He is younger by at least a year than the other top starting pitchers in the league.

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CHURCH BACK IN ACTION

RYAN CHURCH returned to the lineup for the first time Sunday since straining his right hamstring May 23. He started in right field for the New York Mets and went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. His batting average is now .277.

White Wins One, Duffy Loses

Raps Clutch Hit in 10th Inning

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida--- Right fielder CHRIS WHITE singled home the winning run in the top of the 10th inning to lift the Lakeland Flying Tigers to a 7-6 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals Saturday in Florida State League action.

The Flying Tigers finished with 10 hits, and White's hit salvaged the victory after the Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the eight to tie the score, 6-6.

After 100 at-bats White is batting .250 for the Class A-
Advanced Detroit Tiger affiliate. He was selected by Detroit in the 12th round of the 2007 draft out of Sacramento City College.

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Duffy Takes Second Loss

Meanwhile, in the Carolina League, DANNY DUFFY suffered his second defeat of the season Sunday night when his Wilmington Bue Rocks fell to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Duffy (5-2) was near-flawless in six of his seven innings pitched. The problem was, he got victimized for three runs in the fourth.

Myrtle Beach, which had managed only one base runner in the game's first three innings, had four straight men reach cleanly in the fourth on a single, a walk, an RBI single and an RBI double.

Then, with runners at second and third, the inning turned bizarre.

Benji Johnson hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Jeff Bianchi. Bianchi looked the lead runner back to third, and then caught Cody Johnson cheating too far from second base. He threw behind Johnson at second, where Johnny Giavotella immediately chased Johnson towards third and tagged him out. Then Giavotella tried to turn and throw back to second because Benji Johnson (the man who had hit the ground ball) was trying to advance into scoring position. Giavotella's throw sailed wildly into right field though, which allowed Linares to come home with the inning's third run. Jamar Walton, who was backing up in right field, tried to throw Linares out at the plate, but his throw went well over Eigsti's head. The play's second errant toss let Benji Johnson move all the way to third.

Duffy escaped the inning without further damage, but the Rocks had given too much ground. It was only the second time Duffy had lasted seven innings in 38 career professional starts. The only other occasion came when he was pitching for Burlington on June 23, 2008.

Duffy's numbers now this season after 55 innings show he has given up far fewer than one hit per inning-- only 46. His earned run average is a first rate 2.95 and his strikeout-to-walk ratio is a stellar 53-15.

Duffy was a third round selection of the Kansas City Royals in 2007.