Minor
League BaseballTuesday, May 24, 2005
High Desert Mavericks at Stockton Ports
eating contest | joseph pickens
| the big lubanski
recap | game log | boxscore
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Brother Nuts, Designated Eater, with his lady friend. |
While Vasili Spanos made his slow
motion march to the dug out, Biker Dave vainly struggles to keep up. |
Throck wins in a dramatic comeback,
while Brother Nature nurses a giant bag of popcorn. |
Raw Score |
||||||||
| Rank | Athletes | Popcorn |
Peanuts |
Hotdog |
Hamburger |
Raw Total |
Total
Points |
Bonus |
| 1 | Throcksmorton | 0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
56.37 |
7 |
| 2 | Ahchie | 0 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
44.66 |
1,4,7 |
| 3 | The Diesel | 0 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
33.10 |
4,7 |
| 4 | Biker Dave | 0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
19.93 |
|
| 5 | Brother Nature | 1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
12.81 |
7 |
| Raw
Total |
1 |
6 |
13 |
10 |
30 |
166.87 |
||
| Scoring | Raw Score Multiplier |
||||
| # Completed | Popcorn | Peanuts | Hotdog | Hamburger | Bonus Key |
| 1 | 1.54 |
1.99 |
3.07 |
3.25 |
1-Circle of Life 3.91 |
| 2-3 | 2.11 |
2.79 |
4.25 |
4.72 |
2-Grand Slam (1 of each item) 4.32 |
| 4-5 | 2.75 |
3.78 |
5.56 |
6.35 |
3-Eating off Ground +20% to item |
| 6-7 | 3.53 |
4.59 |
7.19 |
7.81 |
4-Ask Neighbor +5% to item |
| 8+ | 4.44 |
5.93 |
8.44 |
9.58 |
5-Heaving -10% to last item |
6-Barfing -15% to last item |
|||||
| 7-Category Leader 3.79 | |||||
The night for Joseph Pickens, #14, went something like this: warm up in front of the mound, warm up behind the mound, warm up from the mound, give up home run to first batter, hit the second batter, get ejected from game.
NOTES:
2004: Lubanski was Burlington's Player of the Year, batting .275
with nine homers, seven triples, 26 doubles and 56 RBIs.
2003: Lubanski was the national prep player of the year in baseball, making him a nominee for National Prep Athlete of the Year (which was won by LeBron James)
The Big Lubanski is the #1 draft pick (2003) of the Kansas City Royals. He received a $2,000,000 signing bonus.
Website: http://www.chrislubanski.net/
February 7, 2005 - Dick Kaegel answers Royals fans' questions on MLB.com
Will we get to see Chris Lubanski in the the Major Leagues this year?
-- Amy J.
Not likely. Lubanski is one of the Royals' top outfield prospects and hit .275 with nine homers and 56 RBIs in 127 games for Class A Burlington. He was named the Bees' Player of the Year and made the Midwest League All-Star team. He's not yet 20 and is likely headed for a higher Class A club at High Desert.
April 23, 2004 – Royals not rushing Lubanski
ESPN, John Sickels
Bill from Bozeman, Mont., writes: Hi John. Chris Lubanski is off to a nice start at Burlington for the Royals. Do you suspect that KC is committed to leaving him in low A for a full year, or can we expect him to play in Wilmington before the year is out? Thanks.
I saw Lubanski play this past weekend for Burlington, and had a chance to talk with him for a few minutes after Saturday's game. He is a very personable and focused young man. On background, he was the Royals first-round pick last year, out of high school in Pennsylvania, and the fifth player picked overall.
A left-handed hitting center fielder comparable to a young Johnny Damon, Lubanski has very good speed, gap power, and good strike-zone judgment. He works hard to control the strike zone, and he told me that's the main thing the Royals want him to work on: plate discipline. He's off to a decent start, hitting .268 through 12 games, but with a .423 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging percentage. He's drawn 10 walks in 12 games.
Lubanski is rather lanky, and has broad shoulders. He has plenty of bat speed, and I think he will develop more power than Damon in time. He's already a fine defensive player in center field as well. I asked him about his timetable, and he said the Royals want him to get comfortable in pro ball, refine the strike zone, and just basically get experience. Unless he starts hitting .400 or something, I imagine he'll spend this year at Burlington. The Royals see him as the long-term replacement for Carlos Beltran, but they don't intend to rush him. David DeJesus (off to a fast start in Triple-A) will get first crack at Beltran's job, then eventually move over to left field once Lubanski is ready. That would be 2006 at the earliest.
February 11, 2003 - Speed, attitude put Lubanski near top of list
Baseball America, Alan Matthews
It is somewhat of a foregone conclusion today. The biggest, fastest and strongest
high school athletes seem to be found more often strapping on shoulder pads
and lacing up high-tops than slipping on a pair of spikes and tightening their
stirrups.
But Schwenksville, Pa., remains one place where the best athlete around still lives for early-morning batting practice and late-afternoon fielding drills.
Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High’s Chris Lubanski is the top-ranked baseball player in the Northeast and considered one of the top high school prospects in the Class of 2003. His combination of speed, size and skill make the Florida State signee one of the gems of this year’s draft.
Lubanski’s trump card, however, can’t be calculated by a stopwatch or gauged with a radar gun.
"(Scouts) might overlook Chris from time to time but what separates him from the rest is character," Lubanski’s high school coach Steve Carcarey said. "He works harder and shows more determination than any player I’ve been around in 14 years of coaching."
Lubanski’s work ethic, combined with a healthy dose of natural ability, has put him on the must-see list for scouts this year. Without his makeup, however, Lubanski’s name would rarely find its way into comparisons involving some of the talented players in the 2003 prep class.
Though he has always possessed grace and skill, he drew little attention as an underclassman due to an unimposing frame.
"I can remember as a sophomore, my first Perfect Game showcase," Lubanski said. "I was a small kid with good tools, but nothing like I have now. I have always wanted to be one of the top guys and I’ve worked hard to get where I am."
Strong Outfield Crop
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Lubanski is just one player in an exceptional class
of high school outfielders that includes Florida’s Ryan Harvey and Lastings
Milledge and California’s Delmon Young.
"It’s great to be mentioned in that group," Lubanski said. "They are probably physically stronger, but my work ethic, love for the game and all the (intangibles) I have are there. I’m a hard worker and with that I know I’ll make it."
A caveat to Lubanski’s development is the challenge that comes with playing baseball where March mornings more often offer snow flurries than warm sunshine. Lubanski is one of just 11 players from north of the Mason-Dixon line to be ranked among the top 100 high school draft prospects this year.
"Being from the Northeast, I know I have to run when it’s 10 degrees and take swings in the morning, all the little extra things," he said.
But Lubanski isn’t a prospect just because of his attitude and work ethic. He also has a skill that’s impossible to teach: blazing speed. He has run the 60-yard dash in 6.35 seconds, a faster time than anyone in this year’s high school class. His speed enables him to cover an exceptional amount of ground in center field and also runs the bases with aplomb.
Furthermore, he hits from the left side and has a fluid, smooth stroke. While speed has been his most overwhelming tool in high school, some scouts feel he may have the makings to become a 30-30 player, with his power coming as he continues to mature.
"He can do it all," Carcarey said. "He not only hits for power but uses the gaps and drives the ball to all fields. And if you play the third baseman back, he’ll lay one down."
Lubanski showed off his tools as a junior, hitting .592-9-44 with 18 stolen bases in a 26-game schedule. In a standout summer with USA Baseball’s junior national team, he hit .415-8-35 with seven doubles, six triples and 13 stolen bases in 106 at-bats.
The College Option
Florida State recruiting coordinator Jamey Shouppe is happy to land a player
of Lubanski’s ability, but is resigned to the fact that the talented
outfielder may never set foot on the Tallahassee campus.
"We are very excited, obviously," Shouppe said. "But (it’s) guarded optimism because we knew it was a gamble because of the fact he might sign (professionally)."
Lubanski joins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the stars of the Seminoles’ recruiting class. It follows on the heels of a 2002 recruiting class that Shouppe called one of the Seminoles’ best classes ever. That class was highlighted by righthander Mark Sauls (Twins) and third baseman Eddy Martinez-Esteve (Mariners), a pair of unsigned third-round picks.
With one season of prep play remaining, Lubanski is on track to be drafted in the first round–perhaps even among the top five picks.
Like seemingly every other challenging situation that Lubanski has encountered, he shows little ambivalence toward making the choice of pursuing a professional career or heading to college.
"My goal down the road is to play in the big leagues and I am eager to continue that path," Lubanski said. "I know I can still play as a pro in three years, too."
One thing is for certain. Wherever you see him playing next, he’ll be playing every bit as hard or harder than any player on the diamond.
High Powered Night for High Desert
Stockton Ports, Patrick Larsen
The
High Desert Mavericks (23-21) dominated the Stockton Ports (21-23) 14-4 Tuesday
night in front of 1,896 fans at Banner Island Ballpark. The Mavericks blasted
seven home runs and pounded out 20 hits en route to victory in the first game
of a three game set.
The Mavericks started the scoring early and never let up. Billy Butler smashed a two run home run to left center field to give High Desert a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
The Mavericks were shut out in the second inning, and then proceeded to score at least one run over the next five innings.
In the third inning Kila Kaaihue drove in Bernard Stephens with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to center to extend the Mavericks lead to 3-0.
The Ports responded by tying the game in the bottom of the third. Eddie Cornejo led off the inning with a single, and Dustin Majewski reached on an error by the second baseman Walter Sevilla. Sevilla then threw the ball away which allowed the runners to advance to second and third base. Kurt Suzuki drove in a run by grounding out to the shortstop to cut the Mavericks lead to 3-1. Ports third baseman Vasili Spanos then laced a double off the wall in left field to add another run and make the score 3-2. Daric Barton, doubled down the left field line to drive in Spanos and tie the game at 3-3.
Barton led the Ports offense going 2-4 with a double and one RBI.
After that it was all Mavericks. The Mavericks scored two runs in the top of the fourth on a Brandon Powell two run home run to make the score 5-3.
The Mavericks added two more in the fifth, two runs in the sixth, and three runs in the seventh inning to make the score 12-3.
Butler was nearly unstoppable at the plate going 4-5 with two home runs and four RBI.
The Ports were able to push across one run in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 12-4.
The Mavericks scored two more runs in the 9th inning to give them a ten run victory.
Port’s starter Trent Peterson pitched 4+ innings allowing 7 runs. The loss dropped Peterson’s record to 3-4 on the season.
Maverick’s reliever Steve Chamberlain earned the win improving his record to 2-0 on the year. Eric Ackerman pitched the final three innings allowing just one run to earn his first save of the season.
Mitch Maier had five of the Mavericks 20 hits on the night. Brandon Powell was one of four Mavericks to have at least three hits. Two of Powell’s hits were home runs and he drove in three runs.
| R | H | E | |
| Mavericks | 14 | 20 | 3 |
| Ports | 4 | 7 | 3 |
W: Chamberlain (2-0)
L: Peterson (3-4)
S: Ackerman (1)
Attendance: 1,896
Game time: 3:28
High Desert Top 1st
• Angel Sanchez grounds out, third baseman Vasili Spanos to first baseman Daric Barton.
• Bernard Stephens walks.
• Billy Butler homers (11) on a fly ball to left center field. Bernard Stephens scores.
• Mitch Maier flies out to center fielder Dustin Majewski.
• Kila Kaaihue grounds out to first baseman Daric Barton.
Stockton Bottom 1st
• Dustin Majewski called out on strikes.
• Danny Putnam grounds out, shortstop Angel Sanchez to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
• Kurt Suzuki doubles (9) on a ground ball to third baseman Billy Butler.
• Vasili Spanos flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.
High Desert Top 2nd
• Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.
• Damaso Espino grounds out, third baseman Vasili Spanos to first baseman Daric Barton.
• Brandon Powell reaches on fielding error by first baseman Daric Barton.
• Walter Sevilla grounds out, shortstop Benjamin Winslow to first baseman Daric Barton.
Stockton Bottom 2nd
• Daric Barton flies out to left fielder Bernard Stephens.
• Richie Robnett lines out to pitcher John Gragg III.
• Luke Appert walks.
• Benjamin Winslow called out on strikes.
High Desert Top 3rd
• Angel Sanchez grounds out, pitcher Trent Peterson to first baseman Daric Barton.
• Bernard Stephens singles on a ground ball to right fielder Richie Robnett.
• Billy Butler singles on a line drive to left fielder Danny Putnam. Bernard Stephens to 2nd.
• Mitch Maier singles on a line drive to left fielder Danny Putnam. Bernard Stephens to 3rd. Billy Butler to 2nd.
• Kila Kaaihue out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Dustin Majewski. Bernard Stephens scores.
• Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.
Stockton Bottom 3rd
• Eduardo Cornejo singles on a line drive to left fielder Bernard Stephens.
• Dustin Majewski reaches on fielding error by second baseman Walter Sevilla. Dustin Majewski to 2nd. Eduardo Cornejo advances to 3rd, on throwing error by second baseman Walter Sevilla.
• Danny Putnam pops out to shortstop Angel Sanchez.
• Kurt Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Angel Sanchez to first baseman Kila Kaaihue. Eduardo Cornejo scores. Dustin Majewski to 3rd.
• Vasili Spanos doubles (11) on a fly ball to left fielder Bernard Stephens. Dustin Majewski scores.
• Daric Barton doubles (7) on a fly ball to left fielder Bernard Stephens. Vasili Spanos scores.
• Richie Robnett walks.
• Luke Appert grounds out, second baseman Walter Sevilla to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
High Desert Top 4th
• Damaso Espino walks.
• Brandon Powell homers (3) on a fly ball to center field. Damaso Espino scores.
• Walter Sevilla flies out to center fielder Dustin Majewski.
• Angel Sanchez grounds out, third baseman Vasili Spanos to first baseman Daric Barton.
• Bernard Stephens called out on strikes.
Stockton Bottom 4th
• Benjamin Winslow walks.
• Eduardo Cornejo reaches on force attempt, missed catch error by second baseman Walter Sevilla, assist to shortstop Angel Sanchez. Benjamin Winslow to 2nd.
• Dustin Majewski flies out to left fielder Bernard Stephens.
• Danny Putnam singles on a line drive to left fielder Bernard Stephens. Benjamin Winslow to 3rd. Eduardo Cornejo to 2nd.
• Kurt Suzuki pops out to catcher Damaso Espino in foul territory.
• Pitcher Change: Stephen Chamberlain replaces John Gragg III.
• Vasili Spanos flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.
High Desert Top 5th
• Billy Butler homers (12) on a fly ball to center field.
• Mitch Maier singles on a ground ball to right fielder Richie Robnett.
• Kila Kaaihue singles on a ground ball to third baseman Vasili Spanos. Mitch Maier to 2nd.
• Chris Lubanski reaches on force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Trent Peterson. Mitch Maier scores. Kila Kaaihue to 2nd. Throwing error by pitcher Trent Peterson.
• Pitcher Change: Elvis Avendano replaces Trent Peterson.
• Damaso Espino grounds into double play, pitcher Elvis Avendano to shortstop Benjamin Winslow to first baseman Daric Barton. Kila Kaaihue to 3rd. Chris Lubanski out at 2nd.
• Brandon Powell strikes out swinging.
Stockton Bottom 5th
• Daric Barton grounds out, shortstop Angel Sanchez to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
• Richie Robnett walks.
• Luke Appert grounds into double play, second baseman Walter Sevilla to shortstop Angel Sanchez to first baseman Kila Kaaihue. Richie Robnett out at 2nd.
High Desert Top 6th
• Walter Sevilla singles on a ground ball to left fielder Danny Putnam.
• Angel Sanchez flies out to center fielder Dustin Majewski.
• Bernard Stephens homers (5) on a fly ball to right field. Walter Sevilla scores.
• Billy Butler walks.
• Mitch Maier singles on a ground ball to right fielder Richie Robnett. Billy Butler to 2nd.
• Kila Kaaihue grounds into double play, shortstop Benjamin Winslow to second baseman Luke Appert to first baseman Daric Barton. Mitch Maier out at 2nd.
Stockton Bottom 6th
• Benjamin Winslow grounds out, second baseman Walter Sevilla to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
• Eduardo Cornejo walks.
• Dustin Majewski walks. Eduardo Cornejo to 2nd.
• Danny Putnam lines into double play, second baseman Walter Sevilla to first baseman Kila Kaaihue. Dustin Majewski doubled off 1st.
High Desert Top 7th
• Pitcher Change: Manuel Enrique Rodriguez replaces Elvis Avendano.
• Chris Lubanski homers (8) on a fly ball to right field.
• Damaso Espino homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
• Pitcher Change: Joseph Pickens replaces Manuel Enrique Rodriguez.
• Brandon Powell homers (4) on a fly ball to center field.
• Walter Sevilla hit by pitch.
• Pitcher Change: Justin Crowder replaces Joseph Pickens. (Pickens ejected)
• Angel Sanchez grounds out, pitcher Justin Crowder to first baseman Daric Barton. Walter Sevilla to 2nd.
• Bernard Stephens reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Justin Crowder to third baseman Vasili Spanos to shortstop Benjamin Winslow. Walter Sevilla out at 3rd.
• Billy Butler flies out to right fielder Richie Robnett.
Stockton Bottom 7th
• Kurt Suzuki hit by pitch.
• Pitcher Change: Eric Ackerman replaces Stephen Chamberlain. (Chamberlain ejected)
• Vasili Spanos strikes out swinging.
• Daric Barton walks. Kurt Suzuki to 2nd.
• Richie Robnett doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Bernard Stephens. Kurt Suzuki scores. Daric Barton to 3rd.
• Luke Appert grounds out, pitcher Eric Ackerman to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
• Benjamin Winslow flies out to right fielder Mitch Maier.
High Desert Top 8th
• Defensive Substitution: Jed Morris replaces catcher Kurt Suzuki, batting 3rd.
• Mitch Maier singles on a ground ball to left fielder Danny Putnam.
• Kila Kaaihue flies out to left fielder Danny Putnam.
• Chris Lubanski pops out to third baseman Vasili Spanos in foul territory.
• Damaso Espino grounds out, shortstop Benjamin Winslow to first baseman Daric Barton.
Stockton Bottom 8th
• Eduardo Cornejo grounds out, shortstop Angel Sanchez to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
• Dustin Majewski strikes out swinging.
• Danny Putnam grounds out, third baseman Billy Butler to first baseman Kila Kaaihue.
High Desert Top 9th
• Brandon Powell doubles (13) on a fly ball to left fielder Danny Putnam.
• Walter Sevilla grounds out, third baseman Vasili Spanos to first baseman Daric Barton. Brandon Powell to 3rd.
• Angel Sanchez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Danny Putnam. Brandon Powell scores.
• Bernard Stephens singles on a line drive to center fielder Dustin Majewski. Angel Sanchez to 2nd.
• Billy Butler singles on a line drive to center fielder Dustin Majewski. Angel Sanchez scores. Bernard Stephens to 2nd.
• Mitch Maier singles on a line drive to center fielder Dustin Majewski. Bernard Stephens to 3rd. Billy Butler to 2nd.
• Kila Kaaihue pops out to third baseman Vasili Spanos on the infield fly rule.
Chris Lubanski strikes out swinging.