Randal Grichuk Puts 66ers on Verge!

by Rev Halofan on Sep 8, 2011 1:22 PM PDT in Minor Leagues

Sent from the Angels High-A Cal League affiliate Inland Empire 66ers press office...

The Inland Empire 66ers are one win away from their first trip to the California League Division finals since 2006 after a 4-3 victory on Wednesday night over Lake Elsinore. The 66ers used a strong start from Johnny Hellweg and a clutch hit from Randal Grichuk to secure the franchise's first post season win since 2007.

Johnny Hellweg got a couple nice plays from his defense (especially Jean Segura at short) but overall it was his night to shine. He pitched a season long 6 1/3 innings and struck out eight storm hitters on his way to the post season opening win. Hellweg is now 4-0 in games he's pitched against Lake Elsinore this year.

At the plate the biggest hit of the night was a two out, two run single from Randal Grichuk to give the 66ers a 4-1 lead and the breathing room they would need to hang on for a victory. Jean Segura added a multi-hit game including a run scored and one driven in, and Steven Irvine celebrated his 24th birthday with a multi-hit game of his own.

Inland Empire will have a chance to clinch the series win on Thursday night ...TONIGHT... at Lake Elsinore.

Ariel Pena, the 66ers leader in strikeouts with 180, will go up against former Padres' first round pick Nick Schmidt in the elimination game for the Storm. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. All the action can be heard on AM 1050 KCAA and 66ers.com beginning at 6:55 PM. Playoff tickets are on sale now both at the 66ers box office and online at www.66ers.com.

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Will Randal be a non-roster invitee to Spring Training next year?

It would be kind of cool to see him out in Tempe.

by JeffJoiner on Sep 8, 2011 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Hellwig's a name that many Halo fans may be unaware of.

But he’s intriguing.

He’s one of the experiments that the Angels organization has been conducting in converting relievers to starters this season, and they’ve had good results with Hellweg.

The guy is 6’9" and as a reliever had a fastball in the upper 90s, and little command or control to go with it. As a starter, he’s working in the low-to-mid 90s and developing his change and a good power curve.

Dig these stats at Inland Empire:

As reliever in 14 games this season: 7.71 ERA, 33Ks and 31 BBs in 25.1 IP.

Hellweg literally had no idea where the ball was going, and hitters were clearly either scared shitless, or just waited it out and worked the walk.

But as a starter over 14 starts? 2.12 ERA, 80 Ks and 28 BBs in 63.1 IP.

Holy crap, right? Still some control issues to work out, but he actually walked fewer in 14 starts than in 14 relief appearances. And those strikeouts!

And then there’s this: Across those 14 starts? No HRs. In the friggin’ Cal League. And why is that? He has a 5.00 GO/AO ratio. That’s simply an obscene groundball rate.

He’ll be 23 in Arkansas next year.

Yep, Johnny Hellweg is pretty interesting.

by Turks Teeth on Sep 8, 2011 7:14 PM PDT reply actions

And tonight's Travelers game showcased the other reliever-convert success story:

Chris Scholl.

Eight innings pitched, two hits, no runs allowed in the Arkansas Travelers’ second consecutive playoff victory. They only need to win one of the next three games to graduate to the championship round. (And they’re doing it Troutless. And Richards-less.)

Scholl hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts (inclusive this one). His success as a reliever has thusfar translated nicely to his starting roll. His strikeouts are down a bit as he stretches out, but his command is every bit as good as it was as a reliever (and his command is great).

Hellwig, Scholl, and Carpenter are the unheralded arms that we might be talking a lot about next season.

by Turks Teeth on Sep 8, 2011 8:33 PM PDT reply actions