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Matt Tomshaw has been the man for the Miracle everytime they fall into a losing streak. He has pitched very well in his last 2 outings and I would expect he will probably be one of the first pitchers to move up (AA) when that time comes (considering his age and performance). Great start last night and huge win in road trip opener. Solid middle reliever as he moves up. FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 5, 2014) - Miracle starter Matt Tomshaw delivered six quality innings and Fort Myers edged the Bradenton Marauders, 3-2, on Monday evening at Hammond Stadium. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140505&content_id=74450346&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t509

The Miracle are the only affiliate not to have Video and/or Photos on their website from this season. We are 30+ game in to season and fans have no way to evaluate their prospects other than the written material they read on website. I would love to see what some of these guys look like (even an occasional photo). Despite new ownership move - what is the excuse for limited news coverage? How awesome would it have been to see Buxton score from 2nd on a wild pitch? Etc. Etc. Any thoughts?............................

What happens with a crowded Miracle outfield when Dalton Hicks comes off DL and Kepler goes back to OF? and Lance Ray; Nate Roberts; come off DL and JD Williams leaves CR?

I say he stays to Mid season all star game. Why not help Miracle get to 1st half playoff spot. Rock Cats aren't going anywhere this half. Besides he hasn't had any live hitting this year (not really).

Still struggling this early part of season. Still tops on team in HRs / RBIs / & Stolen Bases. When Walker starts to figure it out - I expect the Miracle to take off in their expected winning ways. Buxton should help with that as well (Lol) http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa621791&position=OF

Despite only 2 hits by the Miracle - Tomshaw was able to keep the Bradenton bats silent and limited to 1 unearned run. Great outing. That was a much needed win for the Miracle as they ended a 4 game skid. He utilized 4 to 5 different pitches tonight to keep his opponent of balance. His knuckler was said to be the biggest utilized pitch of the night. Miracle Matters FORT MYERS 3, BRADENTON 2 Box Score Day 2 of Return of the Buxton was identical to Day 1: 0-for-3, two strikeouts. (He did have an outfield assist.) The Miracle pick up the win despite only getting two hits (including a Mike Gonzales double) and a walk on Monday. It helped that that all came in the first inning. They added an insurance run in the third as the result of an error. The Miracle were facing Tyler Glasnow, a top prospect who was throwing 98 mph cheese. Matt Tomshaw is credited with the win. He pitched six innings, gave up six hits, allowed an unearned run and struck out two.

I'm more concerned with Minor League roster moves. *What is the organizational plan for outfielders (8) in Fort Myers with so many guys coming off the DL and all targeted for the Miracle? Lance Ray (playing soon but where?) Nate Roberts (playing soon but where?) Byron Buxton (just activated with Miracle) JD Williams (activated to Cedar Rapids but you have to assume he is headed to Ft. Myers soon) Travis Harrison (appears to be set to play LF all season and doing it well) Max Kepler (Should be back in OF when Dalton Hicks (1B) comes off DL) Adam Brett Walker (Has played all but 1 game in RF this season) Jonathan Murphy (argueably the second best defender of group)

Sounded like some very hard hit balls at Hammond field tonight (per radio sound). Mejia makes the Miracle a very dangerous team with his solid hitting. Does this mean Polanco plays more 2B now or does Mejia continue to move around the infield?

With Buxton said to be headed to Fort Myers for his rehab starts or until he shows he's ready for AA: Do you think the organization is partly doing this to help the Miracle make the playoffs with a solid first half record and have Buxton help New Britain in the second half since they are a very poor team thus far this half? Basically do you think there is a method to their madness?

With Polanco playing so well at High A - Do you see him moving up to AA with Rosario possibly headed there as well, some time this year? Congrats to Tyler Duffy as he moves up to New Britain and gets his first start tomorrow. Nice start by Tomshaw today in his replacement start for Duffy.

Matt was assigned to Elizabethton Twins roster to make room for Tyler Jones it appears. Not sure what the expectations are for Tomshaw moving forward. He had one of the better spring trainings for pitchers in the minor leagues this past March. I hope the Twins give him a chance to prove himself further as I believe he has great stuff and can serve as an excellent situational pitcher as a LHP. [TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: dataRow even] [TD=class: currSortDataCell, align: left]04/17/2014[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left]Assigned[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left]Elizabethton Twins[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left]Matt Tomshaw[/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left]Matt Tomshaw assigned to Elizabethton Twins from Fort Myers Miracle.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Since April 13th - Walker has really struggled at the plate. He is hitting a horrid .125/BA (5 for 40) with 13 K's / 0 HRs / 1 2B / 3 BBs / .186 OBP / & .150 Slug%. He has shown little power and can not seem to get the ball out the infield when he does make contact. He received his first day off for the season yesterday (after 19 straight games). Hopefully this day off can re-energize his motor and get him going. The good part for Walker is that the season is still early. The Miracle however, are going to need him to step up their game if they are to achieve the hyped success they are expected to achieve this season. Hopefully it is a feeling out process for Walker as he learns to recognize more pitches in this league. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=509&stn=true&sid=t509

What goes into making a Minor League Line up? As I watch minor league lineups progress thru their respective seasons - I often wonder do the same particulars matter in making a lineup? Does the same reason people cried for Mauer to bat 2nd in MN translate to the development of prospects at the minor league level. Simply put - Are prospects groomed for roles at the higher levels? What and Why do we want particular prospects batting where in the lineup and how does that placement help their development? Are they spoken to in terms of roles in the batting order? Example 1: Byron Buxton is an excellent candidate to bat Lead Off for the Twins because he makes great contact and is so incredibly fast. Question A: Are you better off having your best hitter batting Second when in fact he should receive more fast balls because of the threat to steal by the Buxton type hitting in front of him? OR Are you better off having that Power Hitter who has trouble with off speed pitches (junk pitches) batting Second because he will probably receive more fast balls because of same stolen base threat? Which scenario provides the better logic and better overall long term opportunities to score? If you can guarantee more off speed pitches to your #2 hitter - wouldn't that provide more stolen base opportunities for your lead off man? If the opposite occurs (more fast balls) - wouldn't that provide more true power opportunities for that #2 hitter to do damage? Question B: If the object is to have the lead off batter get into scoring position - Wouldn't it serve better to have that true / pure hitter bat 3rd and provide protection for the #2 Power Hitter and generate more RBI opportunities for your best hitter (ala Joe Mauer)? My thoughts on a Deep Miracle Lineup 1) Levi Michael is having a great season as the Miracle leadoff man. Despite average has only attempted 2 stolen bases. 2) Adam Brett Walker chases too many off speed pitches and the Announcers have stated that teams are throwing him and Kepler the kitchen sink in their early season at bats. Why not assure his chance to see more fastballs? 3) Jorge Polanco almost never strikes out. His ability to make strong contact and show gap power consistently would make him a RBI machine. He would also serve a protection for Walker. 4) Max Kepler does an excellent job of getting the ball in the air to all fields and makes consistent contact in his ABs. His sac fly RBI totals would soar and his RBI opportunties would soar as well. He also provides 4 legitimate base running threats at the top of the order. 5) Travis Harrison is an excellent line drive hitter who serves as your typical middle of the lineup threat. Power potential with strong contact make up. 6) Dalton Hicks could hit anywhere in the order, but provides the same high RBI threat at this place in the order. His lack of speed also doesn't clog the base paths for the hitters in front of him. His big body and lefty swing provides stolen base protection. His ability to hit the other way also opens up hit and run opportunities. 7) Mike Gonzalez (DH) provides the same assets as Hicks. 8) Stuart Turner has shown he does know how to hit and is the perfect late in the line up hitter. He takes good swings and has as many walks as he has srikeouts. Whatever he gives a team at the spot in the order is a bonus. He is an excellent catcher and his role is defined there. 9) Niko Goodrum is having a great season thus far and his ability to serve as a lead off hitter in the 9th spot is an added bonus. Am I way off or do you see any logic in my line up thoughts? What would you do with this line up?

With the great start Jorge Polanco is having, do you see Rosario becoming more expendable? With start Kepler and Walker are having, which is more concerning if either? Consider Andrew Toles who led the Midwest League in hitting in 2013 is hitting only .234 thus far.

Walker has 4 home runs thru 10 games, but needs to get his average up (.231 BA) and strikeouts down (12 in 39 ABs) if the Miracle are going to benefit from his production long term this season. That being said - He is on pace for 56 Homeruns and 140 RBI (10 RBI thru 10 games) Walker also had a milestone come to an end this week as he was caught stealing for the first time in his professional career. Actually he has been caught stealing only twice since 2010 (college and professional career / 56 for 58 in stolen base attempts). He did bounce back and stole a base on Saturday April 12th. [1 for 2 in 2014]. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa621791&position=OF

Runner on first and third. Lefty pitcher throws to first for pick off and Murphy breaks from third on his initial move to first. Murphy is extremely fast and excellent defender as well in all 3 OF positions.

DOWN GOES WALKER DOWN GOES WALKER IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF THEM BIG GUY "Yes Run Forrest Run" 96% Stolen Base success rate - (54 for 56) since 2010 Great catch Jeremy - Not many take notice

Love the Miracle Line up 1-9

I agree that Walker needs to improve his plate discipline in order to improve his OBP, but that being said: The object of the game is to score runs. He is second on the team in runs scored, so he must be getting on base at the right times. "Great is always better, But Good aint bad". He was second in the MWL last year in runs scored, even with his lowish OBP. That's pretty good. "I would love Great too, but won't shoot down Good". Despite slow start - Walker is on pace for 140 RBI and 46 HRs through 6 games. Hopefully he finds a way to adjust. Just Joking - Truly. He does need to improve his OBP and I'm excited to see what becomes of him when he does figure it out. Great start Miracle.

Announcers have stated that he looks good in the box. They stated that he is a lot more aggresive in the early part of count this year. Last year he took too many pitches and seemed to hit with 2 strikes all the time. He also seemed to hit with more 3-2 counts than anyone on the Kernels last year. Going that deep in a count only benefits the team in terms of making opposing pitchers go deep in their pitch count. It doesn't do much for a batter unless you're Joe Mauer. The Twin were critical of their players this spring for taking strikes and not being aggresive in the box. Especially guys with high K rates. Don't waste pitches.

POST SHOW COMMENTS In terms of Polanco and Goodrum playing new positions: As I think about it - I believe that they are playing SS and 3B respectively until another outfielder comes off the DL. Its the organizations opportunity to get them extra reps elsewhere without hindering any higher level prospects (Harrison). Once Buxton or JD Williams or Roberts gets back I would imagine Harrison going back to the infield (3B) more regularly. The OF would be to crowded at that point. Right now the moves are Win Win and make sense.

POST SHOW COMMENTS With guys coming off the DL in the OF position soon, what are the forseeable moves IYO.

The Miracle look very good in their first few games. Harrison is doing a nice job in LF and I agree with Seth in the move for Polanco and Goodrum as being good for both of them. I expect they will both switch back by mid season as well. My question becomes: What will happen to the outfield rotation when Lance Ray, Byron Buxton, Nate Roberts and J.D. Williams get off the DL in Fort Myers? Who is expected to come off the list first and what will be the trickle down affect throughout the organization? There are a lot of quality OF prospects in this system above High A level. Ortiz - Krisvnicka - Mitchell - Mastrioni - Etc.

This is such a great read and should be passed on to every prospect in the A+ and AA and AAA level. It would give players a great awareness as to how to grow as a hitter. Awesome interview and article.

I'm loving the start Goodrum and Stuart Turner are having. That Miracle Lineup can be a nightmare for teams. If one man is struggling - there is always someone within the Lineup who can change the game with one swing. You know its going to be a fun season when your number #6 and #9 hitters are amongst the top in the league in RBI. One never knows