Not everyone is taking time off from baseball

[Tobywan]

Of course there are the kids playing in Arizona, most notably Tim Beckham and Mike Mahtook.

Robinson Chirinos went to his native Venzuela to play in Winter League but was sidelined quickly when he broke a bone in his right wrist.

Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton and Chris Westmoreland the team’s home clubhouse and equipment manager have joined the ML All-Stars traveling to Taiwan in November to play against the Chinese Taipei national team in the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series.

[Tobywan]

The AZ fall league team that includes the Rays minor leaguers is doing very well in the season with a 12-4 record for the Surprise Saguaros.


The watch is mostly on Tim Beckham touted as the future SS for the Rays though he hasn’t developed as quickly as hoped. He had a very good 2011 between the lower minors, Montgomery and Durham. In 10 games for the AFL he is hitting .261 with 2 homers, 9 ribbies and 9 walks, 13 Ks and a .964 OPS.


Another player being looked at is Mike Mahtook, taken in this year’s draft. He has been in 9 games with a .257 BA, 6 ribbies, 4 SB, 2 walks and 7 Ks. The OBP is .325 but his OPS is just .582, however this is his first stint in the pros.



Second Basemen Tyler Bortnick is hitting .240 in 7 games, one homer, one RBI, 2 SB with a .428 OBP and a .860 OPS.

Pitcher Shane Dyer has a 5.40 ERA with a 1-1 record in four games and 15 innings


Marquis Fleming has a 4.91 ERA in four relief appearances, pitching 7.1 innings with 8 Ks, but has also given up six walks.

Reliever Adam Liberatore has made four relief appearances, pitching 6.2 innings

Kirby Yates also has four relief appearances, posting a 9.00 ERA in 3 innings, with 4 Ks and 3 walks.

[Tobywan]

Beckham homers for a Surprise win.

Tim is having a decent AFL season, batting .263 with 13 RBIs and a .961 OPS in 14 games.



The exhibition game of the MLB/Taiwan series was called due to rain at the end of the 6th with the MLB players leading 7-0. Curtis hit a GRANDerson that drove in LoMouth, Bonifacio and E. Aybar.

The series will air on MLB Network starting tonight.

[Tobywan]

MLB All-Stars/Taiwan series…

Game 1 MLB 7 Taiwan 0.…..game shortened in the 6th, grand slam for Granderson.

Game 2 MLB 5 Taiwan 3.… an RBI double for Robbie Cano.

Game 3 MLB 6 Taiwan 2 ……an RBI double and a solo homer for Nats 1B Michael Morse.

Game 4 MLB 3 Taiwan 2.… 2 run single for Morse.

Game 4 will air at 5 pm EST. and the final tomorrow at 9 pm EST on MLB Network.





Rays prospects Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Bortnick have been chosen for the AFL Rising Stars game that will air tonight on MLB Network at 8 pm EST.