Week 10: The Hops went 2-4 against the Tri City Dust Devils on the road.  They still have yet to dominate an opponent in a series this year.  Their best showing so far has been back to back 3-2 series wins with a rain cancellation each week.  Their worst?  A six game sweep by the Eugene Emeralds.  Their overall record dropped to 24-34.

Week 10

The consistent inconsistencies of wins and losses is to be expected as most minor league teams run two platoons with only a few prospects playing in every game.  This week was no different.  The most noticeable shift however was the shift down in batting average and the shift up in power.  The comparisons tell the story.  Last week, the team batted ,233 while this week they fell down to .212 by contrast.  The difference in hits dropped two hits for the week but the plate appearance increased by eight.  Therefore, the large decrease in batting average.

One reason might be the increase in more power to the plate.  It is common knowledge that power hitting will decrease batting average but hopefully will be supplemented by an increase in total bases and RBIs to make up for it.  In this case, runs and RBIs increased by four each.  Total bases increased even more significantly, from 64 to 70.  So, the team has decreased in average but increased in scoring efficiency.

Power Boost

It also shows individually.  The number of doubles decreased from eight to five but home runs increased from four to eight.  That is a net increase of ten total bases on that comparison alone.  Triples stayed the same at one triple each week.  This week, four different batters doubled with Dom Canzone doubling twice.  Last week, Reece Hampton tripled while this week it was Jorge Barrosa.  Impressively, seven different Hops homered this week with Andy Yerzy leading the way with two homers.

Back to averages, while the overall average dropped, several Hops were hot at the plate.  Leading them all was Nick Dalesandro who went 5 for 13 and a .384 average.  Following close behind were Dom Canzone (6 for 18, .333), Andy Yerzy (4 for 13, ,307) and Reece Hampton (3 for 10, .300).  Nick is now the team leader among current players at a .248 average.

Slade Cecconi Shows Future

With only two wins for the week, there wasn’t much to go around.  Mailon Arroyo and Slade Cecconi both got a win for the week.  The good news is youngster Cecconi showed his potential in his last appearance.  I’ve got the feeling that the best is yet to come for this young man.

On the other end of the scoreboard, both Yaramil Hiraldo and Denson Hull earned a save.  Hiraldo’s end of the game presence was already known and it is nice to have him back after a visit to the injured list.  Hull is becoming a good second option.

Now, here is a look at each game this week:

Week 10: Game#1 Hops lose 2-3

Pitching ruled the game in this week’s first encounter.  Along with strikeouts outnumbering all other results at the plate.  Starting pitcher Drew Jameson kept tight control over the Dust Devils just like Ryan Smith controlled the Hops’ bats.  The star of the game was Dust Devil lead off man Livan Soto who started the game with a first inning home run and ended the scoring by doubling and scoring in the seventh.  For the Hops’ part, Spencer Brickhouse smacked his second home run of recent times and Eduardo Diaz walked and worked his way around the bases for the Hops’ second score.  Dust Devils lead the series 1-0.

Week 10: Game#2 Hops win 9-7

Dom Canzone left no stone unturned in his effort to help his team win.  He went 3 for 5, doubled, homered, 2 RBIs and scored twice in his quantum physical effort of being in more than one place at a time.  Hops tie the series at 1-1.

Week 10: Game#3 Hops lose 3-8

Andy Yerzy smacked his team leading seventh home run of the season but the Hops lost after not being able to score past the fifth inning.  Instead, the Dust Devils’ Brendon Davis continued storming along with a double, homer, two RBIs and scored three times, putting his team on his back for the game.  Tri City leads the series 2-1.

Week 10: Game#4 Hops win 5-2

The middle of the order did the damage this time around.  Andy Yerzy, Reece Hampton and Nick Dalesandro teamed up for six hits, three runs and three RBIs.  Spencer Brickhouse and Blaze Alexander threw in a couple more runs and newcomer Roman Ruiz accounted for two RBIs himself.  Whenever the Hops needed a run to stay ahead, they had no trouble finding it tonight.  Hops tie the series 2-2.

Week 10: Game#5 Hops lose 6-8

In a game highlighted by 14 runs, 25 hits, six doubles and one home run, the triple play stood out as the most memorable play of the night.  And, it was one of the Hops biggest strengths, the stolen base, that set them up for the inning ending play with two men on base and no outs.  Tri City leads the series lead 3-2.

Week 10: Game#6 Hops lose 3-4

Hoping to earn a split with the Tri City Dust Devils, the Hops came away with a loss in the game, 3-4,  and the series, 2-4.  The game was tight through the end with the lead no larger than two at any one time.  After the Hops holding a 3-2 lead for 50 batters, Franklin Torres singled home two runs to put the Dust Devils ahead for the first time tonight and held on for the win.  Tri City wins the series 4-2.

Season to Date

Not much changed in the season totals as far as leaders go.  There were a few changes to note though.  Not changed is Blaze Alexander’s mastery of the multiple categories.  Blaze continues to lead in games (40, along with Spencer Brickhouse), At Bats (156), runs (25), hits (35), doubles (9) and total bases (56).  A new category that Blaze is leading in walks (21, former leader Reece Hampton).  In balance to the universe, Blaze lost his lead in triples (3) to Reece Hampton.

In other categories, we have the same leaders in RBI (Andy Yerzy, 19), OPS (Reece Hampton, .792) and home runs (Andy Yerzy, 7).  We have a new leader in batting average (Nick Dalesandro, .248).

Week 10: Transactions

LHP Bryan Valdez was promoted to the Amarilla Sod Poodles.  To replace him, the Hops gained RHP Bobby Ay from the Visalia Rawhide.  Also, RHP Conor Grammes had his stay on the injured list extended to 60 days.

7/6 LHP Bryan Valdez promoted to Amarillo Sod Poodles

Originally signed as a free agent on 6/14/2016, Bryan was first assigned to the Hillsboro Hops on 6/29/2018 when the Hops were still a Short Season A ball club.  Bryan came back to the Hops as a High A team on 2/12/2021.  He never got a chance to play for the Hops, so far, in 2021.  At the beginning of the season, Bryan was promoted to the Amarillo Sod Poodles only to end up on the Hops 7-day injured list the next day.  Transferred to the 60-day list on June 21st, Bryan was sent down to the ACL-Dbacks eight days later on a rehab assignment.  When finished, Bryan transferred to the Sod Poodles this last Tuesday.

7/9 RHP Conor Grammes moved from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day list.

Conor was drafted (round 5, 152 overall) in 2019 out of Xavier University.  His first professional assignment came with the Hops on 7/19/2019.  So far, in his young career, Conor has only worn a Hops uniform.  Conor was placed on the 7-day injured list on 6/30/2021 and moved to the 60-day this last Thursday.  So far this year, Conor has appeared in eight games with an 0-2 record as a reliever.  In his 25.1 innings, he has struck out 32.

7/12 RHP Bobby Ay moves up to the Hops from the Visalia Rawhide.

Bobby Ay was drafted in 2019 (9th round, 272nd overall) out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  Spent 2019 with the Missoula Osprey.  Started 2021 out with the Visalia Rawhide.  In Visalia, he appeared in 13 games, three of them starts for a 6.00 ERA in 24 innings and a 2-2 record.  Gave up a home run for every eighth batter.  Hit a batter with a pitch every sixth inning.  Struck out 32 batters or 1.3 every inning.  Threw a wild pitch every fourth inning.  Has a strong strikeout ratio.  Pitching coach Shane Loux can help with the control.

The Community Champions Program

The Hops and Lam Research are teaming up to honor the local heroes of the past year.  You can nominate your choice for community hero by clicking on this link 

“There have been many challenges that have impacted our beloved communities this past year, but these challenges have also put the spotlight on the amazing individuals who have put others before themselves,” said Hillsboro Hops Senior Director, People and Culture Jen Anderson. “In partnership with Lam Research, the Hillsboro Hops wanted to develop a program that would allow us to share the work of these selfless people and remind everyone that there are ‘Champions’ among us”

Nominations can be “community members including, but not limited to, medical staff, first responders, teachers, counselors, delivery drivers and more.” according to the Hops.

Prizes

Those champions who are selected will receive the following: 

1. “digital baseball card that will be shared via the Hops’ social media platforms”
2.  “tickets to a future Hops’ game where they will receive in-game recognition for their contributions.”

Nominations must be in by August 10th, 2021.

Any questions can be forwarded to Hops’ Community Engagement Coordinator, Hannah August (HannahA@hillsborohops.com). 

That is our look back at week 10.  Come back in a week when we can look back at week 11 with the Vancouver Canadians.  In the meantime, take a look back at week 9.

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker