THESE ROCHESTER WINGS ARE RED HOT
Have you heard or noticed? The Rochester Red Wings are on an impressive role. They’re 12-1 in their last 13 games after a 3-2 win Tuesday night at Buffalo’s Coca-Cola Field.
The Wings have boosted their record from 29-33 to 41-34 -- In the span of two weeks.
Zack Granite was 3-for-5 Tuesday night to boost his International League-best batting average to .371. Mitch Garver also had three hits and ByungHo Park had two hits.
The Bisons had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Michael Tonkin struck out three straight Bisons to end the game.
The Wings play in Buffalo Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, and then will play four games at the tough Lehigh Valley IronPigs Friday through Monday.
The Wings return to Frontier Field Tuesday, July 4 against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Watching the home team could be a fun way to spend the holiday.
HOW ARE THE RED WINGS DOING IT?
When this season began, Rochester appeared to be stacked on offense. 2015 IL Most Valuable Player Matt Hague was an exciting addition. He hasn’t disappointed. But the power trio of ByrungHo Park, Ben Paulsen and Daniel Palka has disappointed. They were expected to combine for at least 60 home runs. They’ve combined for 14 HRs. Paulsen was released after 22 games. He hit HRs in the first three games this season and didn’t hit another one. Palka has 8 HRs and is on the disabled list with a hand injury. The slow-starting Park has lifted his batting average of late but has only 3 HRs in 184 official at-bats.
The offense hasn’t been awesome but it has been decent. Rochester ranks third in batting average (.264) and sixth in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Wings also have the second-fewest strikeouts. Making contact is good. On the negative side, Rochester ranks 11th in runs (311) and HRs (53), and 12th in stolen bases (31).
The pitching staff has been the big surprise. Despite the promotion of staff ace Jose Berrios to Minnesota – for good, this time – Rochester leads the 14-team International League with a stingy 3.46 earned-run average.
Manager Mike Quade and coach Stu Cliburn have done a masterful job of mixing and matching with an ever-changing pitching staff. Ex-Met Dillon Gee is scheduled to start Wednesday night in Buffalo. He’ll become the 33rd pitcher for the Wings this season.
The Red Wings have allowed the fewest runs (the Wings have outscored opponents 311-282; +29) and the fewest walks (183) in the IL.
The bullpen has been a huge factor in this run of success. It includes Michael Tonkin, Ryan Pressley, Trevor Hildenberger, Jake Reed and John Curtiss.
Rochester is the only IL team with winning records in each of the past four seasons. The current Wings are playing like a fifth consecutive winning season is highly possible.
BUFFALO BILLS ROSTER RANKED 27TH IN THE 32-TEAM NFL
Here’s another clue that most people in Western New York – including the Pegulas, the fan clubs, some of the media* and many of the frustrated but ever-loyal supporters – overrate the Buffalo Bills –
*--including me; I picked the Bills to make the playoffs:
Pro Football Focus in Tuesday’s ESPN Insider ranked the current rosters of all 32 NFL teams, focusing on the projected starters for every team. PFF’s database grades every player on every play of every game.
The Bills rank 27th.
The top 10 teams (in order): 1-Atlanta...2-New England...3-Tennessee...4-Green Bay...5-Pittsburgh...6-Oakland...7-Dallas...8-Los Angeles Chargers...9-Kansas City...10-Carolina.
Selected other teams: 11-Seattle...16-New York Giants...22-Miami...25-Denver...29-Cleveland...32-New York Jets.
The article’s Comments on the Bills:
Biggest strength – Running game is one of the best in the league free-agent fullback signing Patrick DiMarco should make it even better. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has 1,148 rushing yards over the past two seasons, while LeSean McCoy is one of the league’s most dynamic backs.
Biggest weakness – The linebacker corps is a big unknown.
By the numbers – QB Tyrod Taylor’s 80.1 passer rating under pressure ranked sixth in the league last season, one spot behind Tom Brady. He ranked fifth in 2015 (87.6).
BASEBALL FANS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB FOR ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS
Fan balloting for the starting lineups for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game July 11 ends Thursday at 11:59 p.m.
I believe the fans are doing a very well in the balloting so far. Not perfect – but better than usual.
American League:
First base – Eric Hosmer (Kansas City) has a narrow lead over Justin Smoak (Toronto). I prefer Smoak but Hosmer wouldn’t be a bad pick Miguel Cabrera (Detroit) is a distant fourth and deservedly so.
Second base – Jose Altuve (Houston) rightfully has a huge lead over Starlin Castro (Yankees).
Shortstop – Carlos Correa (Houston) has a slim lead. A loaded position but the right one is comfortably ahead.
Third base – Miguel Sano (Minnesota) has a slight lead over Jose Ramirez (Cleveland). I won’t be surprised if Ramirez nips Sano in the late balloting, but Sano merits a spot on the AL roster.
Outfielders – The three leaders are Aaron Judge (Yankees), Mike Trout (Angels) and George Springer (Houston). Judge and Springer are worthy picks. Trout figures to miss the All-Star Game because of injury. The third starter should be Mookie Betts (Boston) or Avisail Garcia (White Sox).
Catcher – Salvador Perez (Kansas City) is the landslide leader and deserves to start. Gary Sanchez (Yankees) deserves a spot on the AL roster.
Designated hitter – Nelson Cruz (Seattle) is the leader. I get it, but I’d prefer Corey Dickerson (Tampa Bay).
National League:
First base – Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona) might be the most-underrated great player in MLB today. He’s third in the balloting behind Ryan Zimmerman (Washington) and Anthony Rizzo (Cubs). He deserves to start.
Second base – Daniel Murphy (Washington) has a huge lead and obviously deserves the nod.
Shortstop – Zack Cozart (Cincinnati) has a slim lead over Corey Seager (Dodgers). I expect Seager will overtake Cozart, who deserves a spot on the NL roster.
Third base --Kris Bryant (Cubs) has a narrow lead over Nolan Arenado (Colorado). My vote would go to Arenado, with Justin Turner (Dodgers), Jake Lamb (Arizona) and Anthony Rendon (Washington) all ahead of Bryant – a great player not having a great season.
Outfielders – Bruce Harper (Washington) and Char lie Blackmon (Colorado) are 1-2 in the voting and deserve to start. I’m glad Marcell Ozuna (Miami) finally overtook Jason Heyward (Cubs) for the t hird spot.
Catcher – Buster Posey (San Francisco). The runaway leader and no contest.
WHO ARE YOUR TEN BEST BASEBALL PLAYERS?
ESPN’s Buster Olney this week posted his “Ten Best Players in Major League Baseball.”
My list is different. I’m sure your list would be different.
And no one is absolutely correct. These are merely opinions.
Buster’s list: 1-Mike Trout...2-Paul Goldschmidt...3-Mookie Betts...4-Chris Sale...5-Max Scherzer...6-Nolan Arenad0...7-Clayton Kershaw...8-Manny Machado...9-Joey Votto...10-Corey Seager. H’s “toughest omissions” were Buster Posey and Carlos Correa. He said it is too early to rank Aaron Judge (and I assume Cody Bellinger) because he is “waiting to see how pitchers adjust to the rookie’s huge strike zone.”
My thoughts on Buster’s list: I was glad to see him rate Goldschmidt so high...I think three pitchers on the list is too many...I prefer Correa over Seager at shortstop...Judge has done enough to earn a spot on my list. I believe he has been baseball’s best player so far this season. The future? Who knows.
My Top Ten list: 1-Mike Trout...2-Clayton Kershaw...3-Paul Goldschmidt...4-Bryce Harper...5-Carlos Correa..6-Nolan Arenado...7-Manny Machado...8-Mookie Betts...9-Buster Posey...10-Aaron Judge.
You can fax or call 222-1180 with your Ten-Best Baseball Players list Wednesday night 6-to-8 on my show on WHAM 1180.
A SURPRISE BOOST FOR LEGAL SPORTS BETTING?
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday surprisingly announced that it will hear New Jersey’s appeal to offer legal sports betting.
Many other states will be watching as proceeds from legalized sports betting could help pay for entitlements. Legal sports betting might offer some tax relief. Betting on sports is voluntary. Paying taxes is not.
A victory for New Jersey would allow legal sports betting at the state’s casinos and racetracks. It might eventually expand to a variety of other outlets.
The Supreme Court reportedly could hear this case as early as this fall but this winter is considered more likely, with a decision by early summer.
Most of the major sports leagues have softened their stance on resistance to legalized gambling. They’d get a slice of the profits, of course.
HOW ABOUT RETIRING NO. 3 TO HONOR BABE RUTH
A move is afoot to retire Roberto Clemente’s No. 21 from baseball – a la Jackie Robinson’s No. 42.
I’m all for it.
Robinson’s number was retired because he courageously broke Major League Baseball’s disgusting color barrier in 1947. He also happened to be an excellent player.
The suggestion that Clemente’s number be retired is that he was the first Latino superstar and died in a plane crash on a mission of mercy just months after recording his 3,000th hit.
So why not retire No. 3 to honor Babe Ruth – the best baseball player who ever lived?
RIP ANTHONY YOUNG
Former New York Mets pitcher Anthony Young died Tuesday in Houston at age 51. He was suffering from a brain tumor. The right-hander was best-known in baseball for a major-league record 27 consecutive losses. He passed away on the 24th anniversary of his 234th consecutive loss June 27, 1993.
His career MLB record was 15-48 despite a decent 3.89 ERA. He pitched in the International League for Tidewater, Norfolk and Buffalo (his final pro team in 1998).
SHORT SHOTS
If you can’t beat them, break them up. More than a half-dozen NBA teams reportedly will pursue Golden State Warriors Andre Iguodala when he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Good luck to former Amerk forwards Jean Dupuy and Justin Kea, who became unrestricted free agents this week when the Buffalo Sabres declined to give them qualifying offers. In 120 games with Rochester, Dupuy had 11 goals and 22 assists. In 71 games with Rochester, Kea had 4 goals and 3 assists. In 85 games with the Elmira Jackals, he had 18 goals and 16 assists.
2016 Rochester Red Wings Most Valuable Player Adam Brett Walker is back in the International League. After tearing up the Double-A Eastern League for three weeks with the Bowie Baysox (.426 batting average; 20-for-47; 5 doubles; 6 HRs; 12 RBI), he was promoted to the Norfolk Tides. In his first game Monday night, he was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. On Tuesday night, he hit a 2-run HR and had one strikeout.
Abby wasn’t at Finger Lakes Race Track Tuesday to see Wambach win the second race at odds of 11-to-1. The horse returned $25.60 for a $2 win bet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Wednesday, June 28 – Bradley Beal (24)...Brandon Phillips (36)...Greg Keagle (46)...Bobby Hurley (46)...Jay Schroeder (56)...John Elway (57)...Don Baylor (68)...Al Downing (76). John Cusack (51), Kathy Bates (69) and Mel Brooks (91) are invited to the birthday party.
Thursday, June 29 – Kawhi Leonard (26)...Joe Johnson (36)...Martin Truex Jr. I37)...Theoran Fleury (51)...Pepper Johnson (53)...Pedro Guerrero (61)...Rick Honeycutt (63)...Dan Dierdorf (68). Gary Busey (73) is invited to the birthday party.