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Muckdogs: New Faces, New Places

By Mollie Radzinski

The Muckdogs saw six players leave Batavia today as seven new players came in to town.  Here’s a breakdown of the transactions:

Pitcher Eric Fornataro, first baseman Xavier Scruggs, and outfielders D’Marcus Ingram and Ryde Rodriguez move up to Quad Cities.  Fornataro went 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his eight games (five starts) while in Batavia.  Scruggs was batting .234 with seven doubles, 26 RBI and was second in the league with seven homeruns.  Ingram had a .290 batting average and led the league in stolen bases with 18.  Rodriguez rejoins Quad Cities after starting his 2009 season there.  He leaves the Muckdogs with a .311 batting average and league-best 30 RBI.

Both pitcher Dan Richardson and outfielder Jairo Martinez were released by the Cardinals organization.  In his second year as a Muckdog, Richardson leaves with a 6.28 ERA in 11 appearances this season.  Martinez was batting .177 with one homerun in Batavia this year.

New Faces:

Jesse Simpson:

Position: RHP

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Last Played: Johnson City

Acquired: 2009 Draft, 40th Round

2009 Stats: 3-0, 1.24 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 29 innings

 

Justin Smith:

Position: RHP

Hometown: Pleasant Grove, Utah

College: Utah Valley University

Last Played: Johnson City

Acquired: 2009 Draft, 36th Round

2009 Stats: 1-1, 3.70 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 24.1 innings

Matthew Adams:

Position: Infield

Hometown: Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

College: Slippery Rock University

Last Played: Johnson City

Acquired: 2009 Draft, 23rd Round

2009 Stats: .378 BA, 6 2Bs, 6 HRs, 24 RBI, .595 OBP

Kyle Conley:

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Richland, Washington

College: Washington

Last Played: Quad Cities

Acquired: 2009 Draft, 7th Round

2009 Stats: .200 BA, 3 doubles

Jon Edwards:

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Last Played: Quad Cities

Acquired: 2006 Draft, 14th Round

2009 Stats: .191 BA, 9 2Bs, 11 HRs, 32 RBI

Travis Mitchell:

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Creve Couer, Missouri

Last Played: Quad Cities

Acquired: 2006 Draft, 13th Round

2009 Stats: .254 BA, 8 2Bs, 9SBs

Michael Swinson:

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Douglas, Georgia

Last Played: Johnson City

Acquired: 2008 Draft, 12th Round

2009 Stats: .343, 3 HRs, 6 SBs

Bea McManis

The only one that surprised me was Scruggs. I knew it was time for Eric, D'Marcus and Ryde to move up.
Wishing Dan Richardson and Jairo Martinez the best in whatever the future holds for them next.
Welcome to the Muckdogs Jesse Simpson; Justin Smith; Matthew Adams; Kyle Conley; Jon Edwards: Travis Mitchell;
and Michael Swinson.
Why does Jon Edwards' name sound familiar? Did he play for the Muckdogs before?

Aug 3, 2009, 4:47pm Permalink
Susan Kennelly

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! I figured you were going to have one of those...Oh yeah! old lady moments... it's after 5. dinner was an hour ago... go to bed. :) LOL

Aug 3, 2009, 5:41pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

How do these numbers not get you a call up
0.63 ERA - Far better than Fornataro
33 Strikeouts in 28.2 innings - Far better than Fornataro's 14 strikeouts in 37.2 innings
Slightly worse hits per 9 innings of 5.7 compared to Fornataro's 5.5

Both of them are rookies and both right handers.

Why is Fornataro? Because for some reason 6th round pick vs 20th round means more than performance.

Its a world gone mad from politics all the way down to sports.

Now I don't get to see these kids on a daily basis and I don't have the interaction with the trainers that they do so there could be more, but numbers are numbers.

Aug 3, 2009, 5:52pm Permalink

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