Adopted: Eric Beaulac

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Because there's room in my heart and hearth for more than one big-ass skinny righty (6'5", 190)... especially if he can dial up a fastball con queso (mid-90s, as a reliever) and a slider con chispa (that's Lidge-like bite, gringo). He's moved to the pen, thanks in part to a crowded Savannah rotation... but due largely to the fact that he's got a real shot at the majors there if his strikeout-y goodness (28.8% K rate!) holds up and the control (4.31 BB/9 as a starter... and 2.3 as a reliever) can hold up.

http://www.scoutingthesally.com/2009/08/scouting-report-eric-beaulac-p-mets.html

[Edgy MD]

Notice how the only ones paying attention to the game are the ones in uniform.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Maybe that kid in the orange shirt is commenting on the positioning of the outfielders.

More likely, he's pointing to the zany antics of the costumed litter patrol guy running through the stands with a trash bag.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe.

I don't think the existence of decent-sized-but-disengaged-crowds at minor league parks is a direct consequence of sideshow antics. I just think the reality of affiliated ball keeps people from getting emotionally involved in the game. If it's all for the glory of a team representing a city we may never visit, and any successful player is busting his ass not for the glory of the town on his jersey, but to get the hell out of that town, well, I might be more interested in the antics of the costumed litter patrol guy, too.

My wife enjoys me bringing her to minor league parks much more than major league ones.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Even if you're into the game, you're into it from a player-development standpoint. Because if you get too attached to anyone but the ne'er-do-wells, you're just kicking yourself in the emotional testes. The better the litter patrol guy does, the more likely it is that he's brought back the next game, or week, or year. The better Beaulac does, the more likely it is that he's gone, tout suite.

(Also, stop scap-loading, Junior-- you'll kill your elbow, and then Daddy will never get to yell about how Jerry Manuel overworks you!)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

A little catch-up:

-- Named the #30 prospect in the system at year's onset by Metsminorsologist Toby Hyde:

2009: Beaulac finished eight in the SAL in strikeouts and tenth in ERA in a fine campaign. He began the year piggybacking with Kyle Allen, alternating starts with his younger rotation mate in April, before starting in every one of his appearances in May. Moved to the bullpen in June, Beaulac was simply untouchable in the month, putting up a 0.53 ERA in 17 innings with 20 strikeouts against just four walks. Returned to the rotation for the duration of the season, Beaulac put up good numbers, but averaged under five innings per start indicating a lack of command. Dr. Pangloss Says: Beaulac will be a key part of a strong MLB bullpen where, working all-out, he velocity will stabilize in the low 90s and his slider will be a nasty, plus pitch. Debbie Downer Says: Fastball/slider righties are dime a dozen.

-- Back in the Sally again: Assigned to St. Lucie, along with Allen, Familia and Moviel. Not bad in his debut, starting and going 3 innings, allowing three baserunners (1 H, 2 BB), one run, and striking out two in a 9-6 MiniMets win.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

2 1/3 innings, 2 hits, 4 walks, no Ks, 2 ER. Basically, all over the friggin' place against the Palm Beach Cards last night.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Since it was a win, Beaulac scattered 9 hits and a walk in five innings on Monday at Brevard County (helped by two DPs and 4 Ks), rather than getting hammered or touched for the same.

He's puttering along with a 5.23 ERA over six starts, which is pretty remarkable, considering he's got five more walks than Ks and is scattering more than two baserunners per inning. Monday's five-inning outing marks BeauLank's longest start of the season.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

7 2/3 IP and the win against Jupiter on May 15, with 6 baserunners (4 H, 2 BB) and 1 ER allowed.

Then, last Thursday, 3 ER and 7 H in a ND, 5-inning stint at Lakeland... with 4 walks versus 1 K.

He's lowered the ERA to 4.28, but he's at 23 BB and 15 K for the season (blecch); but he just may be not doing what he's best suited to-- relieve.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

6 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.

He's cruised his ERA/WHIP down to 3.86/1.54, respectively. A few more outings like this, and he may be cruising for a midyear promotion.

[Edgy MD]

Is he still "scap-loading"?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Is he still "scap-loading"?

Dunno, smartie. Haven't seen any vid, really, and none of the pics I've seen have him in mid-motion like this one. No shoulder injuries, either. (As yet.)

[Edgy MD]

I didn't mean to be smart. I'm not quite sure what the term means, though I gather it has something to do with generating force from a biomechanically unsustainable source.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I didn't mean to be smart. I'm not quite sure what the term means, though I gather it has something to do with generating force from a biomechanically unsustainable source.

It's heavy-shoulder-pressure in a motion, usually resulting in hyperextension of your shoulder backward and giving the motion in question that catapult-y feel (the prelike he's doing up top).

Over the top, it looks a little like Gallardo/Lincecum:



Where at a slightly-different angle, the motion comes sidearm-y...



... or slingshotted/knuckle-scraping.



Anyway you cut it, it seems a pretty good indicator for future shoulder wear-and-tear.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

6 2/3 workmanlike IP (4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) against the Palm Beach Cardinals for the win.

He may be moving to the bullpen, however, with Brad Holt's demotion from AA.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Lanky Rodriguez over here ain't doin' too tur'ble. Struck out eight against the Clearwater Threshers in a St. Lucie win while allowing 7 baserunners (4 hits, 3 walks) and 4 ER over 6 innings.

He's at 5-2, 3.48 ERA/1.42 WHIP, with 53 Ks and 40 BB over 77.2 IP, with just 2 HRs and a .234 BA allowed.

The K/BB ratio's a little unsightly, but it's a lot better (41-23) over his last 10 starts, as is he (4-1, 2.84 ERA/1.19 ERA over 57 IP, w/a GB-to-FB ratio approaching 2).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Big Chief Longbow was "effectively wild" in an extra-inning win over Charlotte: 5 IP, 2 ER (plus 1 unearned), 5 H, 3 BB, 9 K (!), 3 WP.

(On the season: 5-4, 3.35 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, with 72 K/52 BB in 96.2 IP, 3 HRs and .235 BAA. He's been really good against righties-- 2.55 ERA, 2-to-1 K/BB ratio, .217 BAA.)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, lookee-here-- Thin Lincecum over here done won hisself a late-season toe-dip in AA, debuting last night in Reading.

T'was a littlerough-- 12 baserunners over 5 innings (6 of them via free pass) will wear on a guy.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bumped down to PSL to start the year... as a 24-year-old. In a suddenly-crowded minor-league relief corps... he'll need to impress, and soon, to stay in the system.

Caddying for Matt Harvey in his auspicious pro debut, he chips in a sterling 2 innings of relief (2 K/0 BB/0 H).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ol' Elaine Stretch over here continues to look good, pitching in another 2 scoreless (1 H, 2 K) in an 8-4 PSL win over New Britain.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

3 baserunners-- including a 2-run triple-- over 2/3 of an inning in relief of Jeurys Familia breaks up Huey Long's season-opening scoreless streak. He's at 3.86 ERA/0.86 WHIP over 3 appearances spanning 4-plus innings.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

2 scoreless, with 3 H and 0 BB allowed, along with 1 K.

Limby Walker has been demi-dyn-o-mite: 7 games, 10 2/3 IP, 11 K, 2.33 GO/Fly Out ratio, 2.53 ERA/1.50 ERA. Mostly, he's been keeping his head above water by keeping his BB rate/HR rate down (11-to-5 K-to-BB ratio, but with 3 of those coming in one misbegotten outing).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Apparently injury-rehabbing in the Gulf Coast: 2/3 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 5 ER against the Junior-junior Bravos. Yiiiiiikes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Rather, he's injury-rehabbing at Coney Island-- 2 scoreless, runnerless innings (2 K) last night brings his toteboard up to:

5 G
7 2/3 IP
7 H
7 K
4 BB
2.35 ERA
1.43 WHIP

Get that boy some control and chili-cheese dogs.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Final totes for Sonny Blisters (between Rook League, Brooklyn, and PSL):

20 G (3 GS, 7 Games Finished)
32 1/3 IP
8.6 K/9
4.2 BB/9
4.18 ERA
1.61 WHIP

Amazin' Avenue's Rob Castellano sums up:

Last winter was a big one for the 6'5" sinkerballer who was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his hip and underwent a procedure to have his hip bone shaved down to eliminate the problem -- much like Reese Havens with his rib. The fix was meant to clear up his lingering health issues but like Havens, he too ended up on the DL in 2011. Although for Beaulac it was just blisters. And when he pitched the '08 ninth rounder from Troy, NY continued to be relatively effective, striking out nearly a batter an inning, forcing a good amount of ground balls and posting a strong ERA against A-ball hitters for the fourth straight season. That's part of the issue though with Beaulac as the four year college grad is already 25. Like Aldama, 2012 may be the right time for a full-time move to the 'pen where he can begin to move quicker.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Still in PSL, working in extended ST. Short-season ball again?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Nope. Apparently, he's a Bird, down in the Sally with Delmarva.