It’s May 19, 2019 and here’s a look at what’s been going on lately on the path 400 miles to Toronto.
Vs. Reading (Road)
Monday, May 13 (Game 1) – Postponed: Rain
Monday, May 13 (Game 2) – Postponed: Rain
Tuesday, May 14 (Game 1) – New Hampshire 4, Reading 0 (7 inn.)
Tuesday, May 14 (Game 2) – Reading 8, New Hampshire 1 (7 inn.)
Wednesday, May 15 – New Hampshire 9, Reading 3
Vs. Hartford (Road)
Thursday, May 16 – Hartford 4, New Hampshire 3
Friday, May 17 – New Hampshire 4, Hartford 2
Saturday, May 18 – Hartford 5, New Hampshire 3
Sunday, May 19 – Hartford 6, New Hampshire 4 (10 inn.)
Still Behind the Pack
One month remains in the first half of the Eastern League’s new split-season playoff format, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats have some work to do if they want the Eastern Division’s first-half playoff spot.
Following the conclusion of their series in Hartford, the Fisher Cats stand 5 ½ games back of the division-leading Binghamton Rumble Ponies. They lead last-place Portland, but find themselves still behind the division’s other three other teams in the division closely clustered behind Binghamton.
One streak of victories over a homestand or road trip could put the Fisher Cats into that playoff equation, but the defending Eastern League champions will need to build on the innate talent that they’re shown in fleeting glimpses so far this season.
“We just haven’t gotten on a hot streak yet. We’ve been fortunate in some games where other teams have beaten themselves for us,” said Fisher Cats manager Mike Mordecai. “But as far as us taking it to these other teams on a regular basis, we haven’t done it. I think it’s in us. When we’re going to do it? I don’t know.”
Willy or Won’t He
One player looking to build on unfulfilled innate talent is reliver Willy Ortiz.
Since being signed as an international free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays in June of 2012, the 23-year-old has shown glimpses of promise in the lowest levels of professional organized baseball.
Ortiz took home Florida State League Pitcher of the Week honors last July but still could not get a contract extension from Tampa Bay, signing as a minor league free agent with Toronto in December.
Following time in extending spring training, Ortiz allowed just one baserunner over his first two Double-A appearances before blowing a save opportunity against Portland last week.
Two more tough outings this week against Reading and Hartford saw his ERA jump from 3.38 after the Portland game to 10.03 following the end of the Hartford series.
“Ortiz didn’t get to throw a whole lot during extended spring training so he was sent to us. We’re trying to build up his arm so we can extend him out inning-wise, and that’s tough to do in Double-A baseball,” said Mordecai. “He’s just not there yet, still building up his stamina. He’s still going out there and starting to pace himself a little bit. The consistency we want is still not there, but he’s continuing to work on it.”
Let’s Go Mineo
If there was a polar opposite to the forgettable week of Ortiz, it probably belonged to catcher Alberto Mineo.
Although he went hitless during the first two games of the Hartford series, snapping a seven-game hitting streak, the Italian-born Mineo reached base twice in each of the final two games of the series.
On May 15 against Reading, Mineo went 4-for-4 with five RBI, the third time he’s recorded multiple RBI so far this season.
Welcome, Patrick
This week also saw the Fisher Cats debut of outfielder Patrick Klievan, acquired last week by Toronto in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Klievan played for six separate organizations since 2012, primarily at the Triple-A level before getting 178 plate appearances for Cincinnati in 2017.
Before coming to New Hampshire, Klievan appeared in 24 games this season for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, putting up a .211/.273/.421 slash line with nine RBI and four home runs.
A Case of the Mondays
The Fisher Cats return to Manchester on Tuesday, beginning a homestand including three games against the Altoona Curve and four more games against Hartford.
New Hampshire has one at least one game on every day of the week so far except for Monday. If the Fisher Cats can’t win the final game of the Hartford series, the next chance they’ll get comes on June 24, when they travel to Hadlock Field for the first game of a three-game set against Portland.
Fisher Cats of the Week
Batting: Alberto Mineo: 8-for-21, 4 R, 6 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB
Pitching: Yennsy Diaz: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 Ks
