The ex-Vancouver Canadians were out in force at Banner Island
Ballpark in Stockton yesterday as the High-A Stockton Ports took on the
AAA Sacramento Rivercats in a battle of the recently promoted.

Mantecan As Fan, from AthleticsNation, was at the event and posted a great game report describing what went down (year played in Vancouver noted in brackets):

The game started off lightning fast with Vince Mazzaro
pitching for the Ports having a little control problem. He walked
Mellilo (’04) and then a passed ball had mellilo at second. A single to
center followed but no run as Mellio was nailed at the plate by a great
throw for [Javier] Herrera (’04).. That guy has a cannon of an arm!!!
However Barton made up for it with a 2 run shot to left field in the
top of the first. The Ports replied in the bottom of the first with
Lloyd Turner (’02-’03) hit a towering solo shot to center field out
over the 389 mark and then Herrera followed up a couple of batters
later with a RBI single to tie the game.

Worth noting is that Javier Herrera just came out of Tommy john
surgery a short time ago and A’s farm director Keith Lieppman has
recently said that he didn’t think Herrera would be allowed to throw
hard in the field for a while, just to be sure.

That Herrera
unleashed a hard one in an exhibition game with nothing on the line is
worrying, though absolutely in line with his prior history of not
listening to coaches who tell him to take it easy. This is, after all,
a kid who ran into an outfield wall so hard while playing in Arizona
that healmost broke his neck, and put himself out of the game for nearly a year - and then got suspended for steroid use a year after his return. 

The game settled down with some good pitching on both
sides, with Mellilo’s solo HR to left field in the 3rd the only
scoring for a while. The Ports finally got more runs with a 2 run HR in
the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Unfortunately i do not have
his name only his number #31, as he was a pinch hitter and the PA
system is not the greatest.

For the record, that dinger came from Anthony Recker, Vancouver catcher from the 2005 season.

It did give the lead back to the ports at 4-3 and that was
the final score at the end of the game. Brad Davis (’05) came in and
pitched the last 2 innings for the save. (wow a two inning save,
wouldnt that be nice?)

I’ve been saying ever since he used to throw in Vancouver that
Dangerous Bradley Davis is my pick for a darkhorse Major Leaguer-to-be.
Kid can throw, and though his stats haven’t jumped out and smacked
Oakland’s farm honchos between the eyes just yet, those who ventured
out to Nat Bailey Stadium in 2005 will remember PLENTY of 2-inning
saves from The Dangerous One.

The only other notable higlight came from Jason Perry in
the 8th inning. With 2 on and 2 out, Tommy Everidge (’04) hit a slicing
shot deep down the right field line with Perry chasing after it running
sideways and backwards. He caught the ball and promptly slammed
straight into the wall. He kind of bounced off and collapsed to the
ground… incredibly he hung on to the ball to end the inning. He was
seriously shaken up so i was happy that he was able to get back up and
half walk, half jog back to the dugout…

Jason Perry never played in Vancouver as he was drafted by the Blue
Jays originally, but he did play for Medicine Hat back when they had a
ballteam. Prairie represent!

Barton looked good, especially on his home run to opposite
field, Suzuki (’04) had a good game with a couple of good at bats,
worked an 0-2 count for a walk and laced a double late in the game.

Bold prediction time: If Jason Kendall or Adam Melhuse go down with
injury late this season, I’m picking Suzuki to get a September call-up
to Oakland - especially if Landon Powell excels in AA ball (which is
likely, if reports of his trimming down are accurate).

Something else i noted was about the much vaunted and
crticised SS Cliff Pennington… it appears he has been moved to 2nd
base although i am not sure yet if this is permanent. Still waiting for
more info.

This is perhaps the hugest news to come out of this game. It means
two things and explains one other. First, it means Pennington’s
bargaining power is gone - when he signed with Oakland, he did so
saying he was fine to play anywhere, but with word on the street saying
he wanted to play shortstop - period. Second, it means Justin Sellers
(’05 - seen right) will start in shortstop for Stockton this year, which suggests he
might be considered a better bet than the one-time ’sure thing’
first round pick.

It also explains why Gregorio Petit (’04) is
playing in his usual shortstop position in AA ball - a spot he was
booted out of to make room for Pennington over the last two seasons…
which means Petit might ALSO have jumped Pennington on the prospect
lists.

Bad news for Moneypenny, great news for a couple of V-Town infield maestros.

Final score: Stockton 4, Sacramento 3.

But let’s face it, the game was the big winner.

NOTE: Scout.com’s Oakland Clubhouse has a ton of interviews with players mentioned above posted online, including Kurt Suzuki, Anthony Recker, Chad Boyd, and a funny, informative, ongoing journal series with Scot Drucker (’04). They also posted a report on the Ports/Rivercats game, and a picture gallery, which is where we stole the pictures of Ben Jukich and Justin Sellers seen above from. :)

Random YouTube clip of the day: BORAT ON BASEBALL