TODAY’S GAME: The Generals (4-1) open a five-game series tonight against the Tennessee Smokies (4-1) at Smokies Park, in Kodak, TN. The Generals were 3-7 against Tennessee last season The two teams are tied atop the North Division standings.

GENERALS RECAP:  – Taijuan Walker struck out eight batters over five innings and won his Double-A debut as Jackson defeated Birmingham Monday at Pringles Park, 3-2. Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor provided four scoreless innings of relief behind Walker to preserve the victory. The Generals took four of five from the Barons to open the season 4-1. Nick Franklin upped his hitting streak to five games with a double on Monday.

Today’s Matchup: Jackson Generals (Mariners) (4-1) at Tennessee Smokies (Cubs) (4-1)
Site: Smokies Park, Kodak, TN
Pitching Match-up: RHP Andrew Carraway (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Nicholas Struck (1-0, 1.50)
Time: 6:15 p.m. CDT
Radio/TV: NewsTalk 101.5 FM/Online broadcast available by clicking HERE / MiLB.tv is available by clicking HERE
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on the Generals website by clicking HERE.
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-10 vs Smokies

Generals Roster | 2012 Regular Season Statistics | SL Standings | SL Leaders | Generals Promotions | MLB Game Notes

INF LEURY BONILLA TO AAA TACOMA, OF MARIO YEPEZ TO JACKSON

Yepez active for tonight’s game with the Tennessee Smokies

JACKSON, TENN. (APRIL 10, 2012) – The Seattle Mariners have made the following roster move that affects the Jackson Generals roster. INF Leury Bonilla has been promoted to AAA Tacoma today and OF Mario Yepez has been added to the Generals roster from AAA Tacoma.

Transferred to AAA Tacoma:

• INF Leury Bonilla

Transferred to Jackson:

• OF Mario Yepez

BONILLA, 27, played in two games for the Generals this season, batting .286 (2-for-7). Bonilla was signed by the Mariners in 2007 and has played at every level of the organization. Last season, Bonilla played in 24 games for AAA Tacoma, batting .205 with five RBI.

YEPEZ, 22, played in two games for Low-A Clinton this season and one for Tacoma, batting .300 (3-for-10) combined. Jackson will be already his third stop in the Mariners system this season. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 by Seattle he spent most of 2011 with Short-A Everett of the Northwest League. He appeared in 66 games with Everett, leading the team with 17 doubles and recorded 25 multi-hit games.

With all the hype around the “big three” of Danny Hultzen, James Paxton and Taijaun Walker, none of those where the most feared by Birmingham hitters this week. Mariner fans meet Carter Capps. No, he is not a highly rated prospect or getting story after story written about him, but he may be the first General pitcher to throw a major league pitch. In two outings and 4 2/3 innings he has struck out 6.

After Justin Greene struck out against Capps on Friday night he told fellow teammates he did not see the  97 MPH fastball until it had sailed by him. Capps was the Division II NCAA pitcher of the year while at Mt. Olive College in North Carolina. He was the M’s third round pick in the 2011 draft.

His biggest strength is deception. Of course, a 97 MPH fastball does not hurt. Observe the sequence of photos that show you the low arm trajectory. One Baron hitter said he thought the ball came out of Capps’ stomach.

Tuesday is a travel day for the Generals and we open a series against the Tennessee Smokies tomorrow night at 6:15 CDT.

-CH-

TODAY’S GAME:The Generals (3-1) and Birmingham Barons (1-3) wrap up this five-game opening series this morning at 11:05 a.m. at Pringles Park. The two teams will not meet again until July 29 at Birmingham’s Regions Park. Today the Mariners No. 1 prospect, according to

Baseball America, Taijuan Walker is on the mound. He ranks as the No. 18 prospect in all of baseball.

GENERALS RECAP:  – After starting the season 3-0, the Generals were stymied on Easter Sunday by the Barons 9-2. Nick Franklin smacked a two-RBI double in the bottom of third, giving Jackson a 2-0 adnvantage, but Birmingham scored nine-straight runs to win their first game of the season. Franklin was 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to four games. Danny Hultzen suffered the loss for the Generals in his much anticipated minor league debut. Hultzen surrendered five runs on four hits over four innings Sunday. He struck out seven and walked three in the start. The Barons plated two in the top of the fourth inning knotting the game at 2-2, and four in the fifth. Andy Wilkins belted a three-run homer to right that pushed the Birmingham advantage to 6-2. The Barons added three more runs in the eighth inning to make the final 9-2.

Opponent: vs. Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Site: Pringles Park
Pitching Match-up: RHP Taijuan Walker (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Pedro Hernandez (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 11:05 a.m.
Promotions: School Day #1
Radio: The game will be broadcast online by clicking HERE and on  NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on the Generals website by clicking HERE.
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-9 vs Barons

Generals Roster | 2012 Regular Season Statistics | SL Standings | SL Leaders | Generals Promotions | MLB Game Notes

TODAY’S GAME: The Generals (3-0) and Barons (0-3) meet for game four of the opening five-game series this afternoon at 2:05 at Pringles Park. The Generals look to go 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.

BEST START SINCE 03: The 3-0 start by the Generals is the best start to a season since 2003. The Jackson franchise has never started a season 4-0. The best starts in recent years was 2009 (4-1), 2005 (5-1).

OPENING WEEKEND ATTENDANCE: The opening night attendance of 4,645 was the largest opening night crowd since April 6, 2000. During the first three nights 9,461 fans have taken in Generals baseball.

Opponent: vs. Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Site: Pringles Park
Pitching Match-up: LHP Danny Hultzen (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Cameron Bayne (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 2:05 p.m.
Promotions: Sarge’s Easter Egg Hunt at 1:00 p.m. and Church Bulletin Sunday (BOGO)
Radio: The game will be broadcast online by clicking HERE and on  NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on the Generals website by clicking HERE.
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-8 vs Barons

TODAY’S GAME: The Generals (2-0) and Barons (0-2) meet tonight at 6:05 for game three of the five-game opening series of the season. A win tonight for Jackson will clinch the series. The Generals face their now North Division foe Barons, just 10 times this season. This is the lone series occuring at Pringles Park.

RECORD OPENING NIGHT: The opening night attendance of 4,645 was the largest opening night crowd since April 6, 2000. During the first two nights 6,936 fans have taken in Generals baseball.

Opponent: vs. Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Site: Pringles Park
Pitching Match-up: RHP Brandon Maurer (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Simon Castro (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 6:05 p.m.
Promotions: Postgame Fireworks, presented by NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Radio: The game will be broadcast online by clicking HERE and on  NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on the Generals website by clicking HERE.
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-7 vs Barons

 

TODAY’S GAME: The Generals (1-0) and Barons (1-0) meet again tonight at Pringles Park for game two of the opening five-game series, with first pitch set for 7:05. The North Division foe Barons are looking to even the series at one game apiece. The Tennessee Smokies and Generals were the only North Division teams to win their opener last night.

Opponent: vs. Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Site: Pringles Park
Pitching Match-up: LHP James Paxton (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Radio: The game will be broadcast online by clicking HERE and on  NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Live Stats: Live pitch-by-pitch coverage will be available on the Generals website by clicking HERE.
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-6 vs Barons

The Generals (0-0)  open the 15th season of pro baseball in Jackson tonight. Game one of a five game series with Birmingham( 0-0)

Opponent: vs. Birmingham Barons
Site: Pringles Park
Pitching Match-up: RHP Andrew Carraway (0-0, 0.00) vs.  RHP Nester Molina (0-0, 0.00)
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Radio: The game will be broadcast online by clicking HERE and on  NewsTalk 101.5 FM
Game Information:  | Game Notes 4-5 vs Barons

LINKS:

Generals named the most talented team in minor league baseball.

Jackson packed with talent to start the season

While the Mariners have not released the official Generals roster, pitching coach Lance Painter did pass along the Generals starting rotation.

Tentative Starting Rotation:

1. April 5 vs. Birmingham – RHP Andrew Carraway
2. April 6 vs. Birmingham – LHP James Paxton
3. April 7 vs. Birmingham – RHP Brandon Maurer
4. April 8 vs. Birmingham – LHP Danny Hultzen
5. April 9 vs. Birmingham – RHP Taijuan Walker

Really happy that Andrew Carraway is getting the opening day start. He had an All-Star season in 2011 and is one of the nicest guys you will meet.

Today several pitchers tossed a simulated game at Pringles Park. While I was busy doing many other things preparing for opening day, I did step out and watch a little bit. Taijuan Walker and Carter Capps to me were the most impressive that I saw. Capps blew me away with his velocity and the odd low arm angle he has. They are really high on this kid out of Mt. Olive College in NC.

Tomorrow night is FanFest with gates opening at 5pm and opening night is Thursday night at 7:05 against the Birmingham Barons. You can buy tickets online HERE or call 731.988.5299.

On a day when records were set in Jackson for the heat, the (not quite) Generals as the roster is not quite official, arrived in the Hub City. Looking at the scroll on a local bank the temperature in Jackson was 91 degrees at 3 p.m. Wow. Of course, if you look at the extended forecast the weather is supposed to get a little cooler and possible storms the next few days.

Today, the team arrived at Nashville International Airport around 12:30 and a bus and U-haul was there for pick up. C.J. Fedewa, the home clubhouse manager drove the U-haul that toted equipment, bat bags, etc. that the bus would not handle.

The team stopped for a quick bite to eat in Lebanon, TN then made the 120 mile trek to Jackson. Here is where it gets interesting for me. One of my responsibilities is team travel. While we are on the road I check the team in and pass out room keys, etc. Make sure bus transportation is taken care of and book hotels. As the team arrived today, I was going to be there at the team hotel in Jackson, the Double Tree. Driving down highway 45 from a visit with a sponsor in North Jackson  my back right tire blew out and I was stranded for a little over an hour. Of course, I did not have a spare, but the good folks at Best One Tire took care of me.

To make a long story short, the team arrived, they got checked in fine without there tireless travel secretary/broadcaster/media guy. WBBJ, the local CBS affiliate was there at the team hotel and  they gave me some screen shots from arrival footage below. Photos courtesy of Greg Hammond and Tabatha Hampton with WBBJ.

Things are rolling well at the ballpark. The field is greening up nicely, the newly remodeled suites look great and the project on the interstate side is rolling right along. By the way, kids (and overgrown kids like me) will enjoy the new arcade-like basketball hoops game we have for the KidsZone. A few of us took a break today and tested our luck, seeing how many shots we could make in a minute. GM Jason Compton made 35 and I made 46. So, I will open a challenge to anyone. Taijuan Walker and Brandon Maurer were walking around the park checking things out and Taijuan said he was down for Generals competition.

Hopefully the roster will be made official on Tuesday and we can talk about all this talent the Generals have in town. It has just been a bizarre few weeks with Seattle opening in Japan and re-opening the season on Friday. Still a few roster questions with the major league team keeping the MiLB rosters in limbo. I think the Generals roster is as firm as any now, but once they settle on 25 at the major league level, we will wait. It is what it is. That is why we are the minors.

Tuesday the Generals will have a simulated game during the late afternoon if weather permits. Manager Jim Pankovits said today that a few pitchers needed to get some work in.

Wednesday morning I will be taking a few players around town on my radio tour promoting FanFest and Opening Night. We will tour the Thomas Media stations 107.7, Kix 96, WYN 106.9 and 102.3 The Rocket  from 8:30-9:30, then head to Grace 97.7 at 10:30 and finally to the Generals flaghship station NewsTalk 101.5 FM to be on the Dan Reaves show from 12-1.

Wednesday night is Media Day and FanFest. Pringles Park gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with players being introduced and signing autographs for fans.

Thursday is opening night against Birmingham, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

-CH-