What is the Winningest Pitcher in Legends' History Up To?

Luis Cruz, whose name dominates the Lexington Legends' career pitching records page,  is off to an impressive start this season with Corpus Christi.  As April concludes, Cruz, 23, has an ERA of 1.69 in  six appearances with Houston's AA affiliate.  The left-hander has 20 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings so far in 2014. 

Cruz, who was drafted by the Astros in 2008, spent all of 2010 and 2012(and part of 2011) in Lexington.  He is the Legends' franchise leader in career wins(22), strikeouts(315), games started(54), and innings pitched(337 1/3).

More Top 25 College Baseball Coming to Houston This Weekend

Once again this weekend, two top 25 college baseball teams are slated to face off in Houston.  This time the matchup is taking place at Cougar Field. 

The University of Houston and the University of Central Florida will meet three times over the weekend in an American Athletic Conference series.  Houston(31-12) is #16 in the latest Baseball America poll.  Central Florida(28-16) is #23.

The first two games will take place at night- 6:30 p.m.(Houston time) Friday and Saturday.  Sunday's afternoon finale begins at 1:00 p.m.

Another One Returns to Affiliated Baseball from Constellation Field

Beginning their third year of existence, the Sugar Land Skeeters have had their share of players plucked back into affiliated baseball.    Earlier this month, one pitcher merely had to practice with the club at Constellation Field before they earned another chance with a Major League organization.

Right-handed pitcher Clay Schrader, released by Baltimore on March 28, was a non-roster invite to Sugar Land's spring training, which was held the week of April 15.  Schrader, 24, was signed by the Atlanta organization and made his debut with their High A club, Lynchburg(VA), on April 25. 

Schrader was drafted in 2010 out of San Jacinto College North by the Orioles.  He reached the AA level in the Baltimore system.

Jason Lane to Claim Special Spot in Chihuahua History

How Jason Lane's attempt to return to the big leagues as a pitcher will turn out is still unclear.  However, after Monday night, his place in El Paso Chihuahua history will be a certainty.  Lane is slated to be the starting pitcher tonight in the first home game in Chihuahua history.

Lane, 37, who spent several years in the majors as an outfielder, is in his third full season as a pitcher.  He has made four starts thus far for El Paso, the Padres' AAA affiliate. 

The game begins at 7:05 pm(El Paso time) at Southwest University Park.  The contest marks the return of affiliated baseball to El Paso.  The last affiliated team left the city after the 2004 season.

Meet the Skeeters- Opening Day Roster

The Sugar Land Skeeters opened their regular season Thursday night.  Here is their opening day roster:

Pitchers(14)
Brian Broderick
Roy Corcoran(2nd year with Skeeters)
Ramon Delgado
Clint Everts(2nd year with Skeeters)
Steve Hammond-Inactive
Clay Hensley(2nd year with Skeeters)
Ben Kozlowski(2nd year with Skeeters)
Gary Majewski(3rd year with Skeeters)
Tracy McGrady
Dan Meadows
Michael Nix(3rd year with Skeeters)
David Pauley(2nd year with Skeeters)
Chris Smith
Jared Wells(2nd year with Skeeters)
Matt Wright(3rd year with Skeeters)

Catchers(2)
Koby Clemens(3rd year with Skeeters)
Travis Scott(2nd year with Skeeters)

Infielders(6)
Chase Lambin(2nd year with Skeeters)
Alex Nunez
Dominic Ramos(3rd year with Skeeters)
Rusty Ryal
Nick Stavinoha
Brandon Wood

Outfielders(5)
Ryan Langerhans(Disabled List)(2nd year with Skeeters)
Dustin Martin(2nd year with Skeeters)
Neil Medchill
Steve Moss(3rd year with Skeeters)
Michael Rockett(2nd year with Skeeters)
Delwyn Young

Jason Lane and the Chihuahuas Tour Reaches Las Vegas

If this is Monday, Jason Lane must be pitching in Las Vegas.  Former big league outfielder Jason Lane is scheduled to make his fourth start in as many cities for the El Paso Chihuahuas Monday night in Las Vegas.  Lane, who is attempting a return to the major leagues as a pitcher, has a 1.00 ERA in his first three starts for San Diego's AAA affiliate.

The Chihuahuas are a team without a home until their new stadium in El Paso opens next Monday.  Lane has made starts at Reno, Tucson(technically a home game) and Albuquerque thus far in 2014.

"A" League West World

As the poet of the Farmstros Village, I established a tradition of creating and posting a poem about a fictitious baseball team known as the Dukes every Good Friday. I enjoyed being able to share these poems with my readers as a way to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.  When I departed the Farmstros offices, I wasn't sure if Dukes baseball would continue to be a part of my experience. I hoped it would.

Therefore, it was a pleasant surprise this spring to discover that the Dukes are indeed still playing baseball in 2014. It was an even greater treat to learn that the Dukes' media relations office was willing to grant me access to the club so that I could chronicle their activities once again.

“A” League West World

A slight breeze was blowing on opening day

The foul lines were chalked, the field ready for play

The Dukes had a cutting edge plan for the year

Their strategy I will now try to make clear

Their GM, an egghead, (he’d say, “I’m a geek.”)

Had cobbled a roster completely unique

Each player he’d signed up to don a Dukes’ hat…

Each one was a robot who could throw and bat

“I programmed our players precisely to be

A fantasy team for all our fans to see.

I can’t wait to watch them perform for this town

My formulas show the team won’t let us down.”

The crowds came to watch, and those robots WERE great

They outplayed their rivals both early AND late

They won almost always and lost just a few

Their “A” League opponents knew not what to do

The Dukes were the toast of the nation by June

They had their fans singing a robotic tune:

“We love to watch our Dukes each night,

Inhuman though they are

They win so much we truly call

Each one a superstar

Go robot players, robot players

Round and round to home

You make each play like clockwork

From you our hearts will not roam

We love to watch our cyborg nine

The Masters of The Game

Our love of baseball and the Dukes will never be the same.”

The cheers reached a crescendo in the last week of July

Then August came and in the heat,

The Dukes’ plan went awry

Most people think the circuits overheated in the sun

Whate’er the reason they went south quite quickly one by one

Some ran the bases backwards

Some swung on 3 and 2

The robots were a clinic of the

Things you should not do

They ran through stop signs

Balked and lost

Some ground balls in the light

They missed the cut-off man on throws

From left field and from right

The final straw was broken when

The robots seized the day

And voted that the GM should be sent to Triple A.

Of course, that never happened

As the GM was too smart

To let some robots he’d created

Force him to depart

Before the players had a chance to shove him on that train

He used a gizmo he’d designed to shut down all their brains

Those cyborgs were demoted then before they could do harm

Then quickly were replaced by robots called up from the farm.

c2014 by Mike Tauser

Thanks to my old college classmate at Marquette University Robert Kempe who introduced me to West World 25 years ago

For your convenience here are links to the first six installments:

The Golden Sombrero Wearer(2008)

Three Day Journey from Worst to First(2009)

The Second Baseman Rides into the Sunset(2010)

Ballpark Time Machine(2011)

The Sword-Bellied Dukes' Fans Shirts Held Scimitars(2012)

#DukesForFree(2013)

Jason Lane Goes For Win Number Three Tonight

Jason Lane takes the mound tonight for the El Paso Chihuahuas looking for his third win in as many 2014 starts.  Lane, who appeared in the 2005 World Series as an outfielder for Houston, is attempting a return to the Major Leagues as a pitcher.

In his first two starts for San Diego's AAA affiliate this season, Lane has allowed a total of 10 hits and one run in 12 innings pitched.  While his first two outings were against Reno, Lane pitches tonight in Albuquerque against the Isotopes.

Meet the Skeeters

The Sugar Land Skeeters begin their third season in the Atlantic League next Thursday(April 24).  The club is preparing for the 2014 season with Spring Training at Constellation Field this week.

Following is the Skeeters' Spring Training roster:

My understanding is that the Skeeters opening roster can include 27 players.

Name/2013 Team(s)/Highest Level previously played/Texas connection HS and/or College(if applicable)

Pitchers
Brian Broderick/GCL Nationals,Harrisburg/MLB
Roy Corcoran/Sugar Land/MLB
Ramon Delgado/Springfield, Memphis/AAA
Clint Everts/Sugar Land, New Hampshire, Buffalo/AAA/Cy Falls HS
Steve Hammond/Orix(Japan)/AAA
Clay Hensley/Sugar Land, Nashville, Louisville/MLB/Pearland HS, Alvin CC, Lamar University
Ben Kozlowski/Sugar Land, Somerset/MLB
Gary Majewski/Sugar Land/MLB/St. Pius X HS
Jay Marshall/Sugar Land/MLB
Dan Meadows/Brevard County, Huntsville/AAA/Cinco Ranch HS, Temple College
Michael Nix/Sugar Land, Birmingham, Charlotte/AAA
David Pauley/Sugar Land, Reno/MLB
Chris Smith/Wichita/MLB
Jared Wells/Sugar Land/MLB/Columbia HS, E. Texas Baptist U, San Jacinto JC, Tyler JC
Matt Wright/Sugar Land, Reno/AAA/Robinson HS

Catchers
Koby Clemens/Sugar Land/AAA/Memorial HS
Travis Scott/Sugar Land/AA

Infielders
Chase Lambin/Sugar Land, Omaha/AAA/Cy Falls HS
Alex Nunez/Worcester(2012)/High A
Dominic Ramos/Sugar Land/High A/Texas St.
Rusty Ryal/Salt Lake City, Albuquerque/AAA
Nick Stavinoha/Hiroshima/MLB/Jersey Village HS, San Jacinto JC
Brandon Wood/Norfolk, Omaha/MLB
Delwyn Young/Camden/MLB

Outfielders
Ryan Langerhans/Sugar Land, Buffalo, Toronto/MLB/Round Rock HS
Dustin Martin/Sugar Land, Mobile/AAA/Burnet HS, Sam Houston St. University
Steve Moss/Sugar Land, Mexico/AAA
Michael Rockett/Sugar Land/AAA/UTSA

Non-Roster Invitees
Danny Lehmann, C/New Britain, Rochester/AAA/The Woodland HS, Rice
Tracy McGrady, P/ DNP/NBA
Neil Medchill, OF/Trenton, Scranton-Wilkes Barre/AAA
Wynn Pelzer,P/Bridgeport,Long Island(2012)/AAA
Clay Schrader, P/Bowie/AA/Atascosita HS, San Jacinto JC
Cory Van Allen, P/Harrisburg, Syracuse(2012)/AAA/Clements HS, Baylor

Lane Improves to 2-0 with the Chihuahuas

Jason Lane picked up his second win in as many starts for El Paso with another solid six inning outing against Reno.  Lane who knocked off Reno in Reno on April 5 with six scoreless innings, allowed one run and five hits in six innings against the Aces at Tucson(El Paso's temporary home field) on Friday night.  El Pason won the contest 2-1.

Lane, who spent six years in the major leagues as an outfielder, is attempting a return to baseball's top level as a pitcher.  If the Chihuahuas' rotation holds, Lane would be in line to take the mound again on Wednesday at Albuquerque.

Top 10 Showdown Kicks Off at Cougar Field

Louisville dropped the University of Houston 4-2 Friday at Cougar Field in the first game of a three-game series between the two top 10 ranked programs.  Houston(26-7) is ranked #7 nationally.  Louisville(25-8) is #10.

The AAC showdown continues with a game on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. The concluding contest of the series will take place at noon on Sunday.

If He Keeps this up, Jason Lane May not be a Chihuahua for Long

Jason Lane, 37, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only five hits in his 2014 debut for the El Paso Chihuahuas.  The former big league outfielder is in the third full season of his attempt to return to the Major Leagues as a pitcher.  However, this is the first of those three in which he has commenced the year in the starting rotation of an affiliated team.

Lane began 2012 in the bullpen for Reno(Arizona's AAA affiliate).  He made 15 appearances for the Aces before being released in June.  He completed the season as a starter for Sugar Land's Skeeters.

He continued as a starter for Sugar Land in 2013 until he signed with the Padres in July.  In 35 games(34 starts) with the Atlantic League Skeeters in 2012-13, Lane posted a 3.08 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 216 1/3 innings pitched.

Lane spent six seasons in the big leagues as an outfielder.  All but three games of that career were spent with Houston.  He had 61 home runs and 189 RBI as an Astro.