Touch 'Em All Time

Adam Lawson caught up with Rocco Baldelli in Princeton:

You can still find Baldelli in the Tampa Bay organization though. His new title as special assistant of baseball operations has him traveling to all the minor league affiliate teams of the Rays. Baldelli spent the majority of the P-Rays' six-game homestand of July 18-23 in Princeton, the place where he started his professional baseball journey eleven years ago.
...
"Over the course of the year, my typical week changes," Baldelli said. "It has to do with anything going on with the on the field happenings of the organization. Early in the year I do a lot of amateur scouting. After that, it's seeing all the affiliates firsthand."

What goes into broadcasting a game? Benjamin Hill went behind the scenes in Durham:

And perhaps nothing embodies the innovation and optimism of the "new" Durham Bulls than the Explorer Post 50 Program, started by Bulls owner (and Capitol Broadcasting CEO) Jim Goodmon in 1998. The program provides area students between the ages of 14 and 20 hands-on experience in the field of broadcasting.

And "hands-on," in this case, is meant literally. The Bulls broadcast their games in HD (locally on Time Warner Cable and online through MiLB.com), and students from the program comprise the production and camera crews. There are 110 chosen each year to participate, working 10-15 games a season as part of a crew of 16.

Moves: LHP Cesar Ramos optioned to Durham; RHP Jay Buente called up to Tampa; RHP Adam Russell assigned to Durham after he cleared waivers.

Oscar Watch: 1 for 4 with a single on Monday; 2 for 3 (both singles) and a HBP on Tuesday.

Malm Watch: 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts on Monday; no game Tuesday. Hitting .301/.430/.618 with 11 homers in 35 games.

Stat 'O The Day: Record books. Rays single-season minor league records with 2011 challengers below.

Home runs:
Kevin Witt (2006) - 36
Scott McClain (1998) - 34
Dan Johnson (2010) - 30
Ryan Royster (2007) - 30
Jonny Gomes (2002) - 30

2011: Oscar Hernandez has 19, but the VSL Rays only have 11 games left on the schedule. Next is Derek Dietrich with 14 for Bowling Green.

RBI:
Steve Cox (1999) - 127
Delmon Young (2004) - 115
Scott McClain (1998) - 109
Scott McClain (1999) - 104
Ozzie Timmons (1999) - 104

2011: Stephen Vogt has 85 for Montgomery, next is Greg Sexton with 66.

Hits:
Steve Cox (1999) - 182
Delmon Young (2005) - 176
Joey Gomes (2005) - 172
Matt Diaz (2001) - 172
Matt Diaz (2003) - 170
Carl Crawford (2000) - 170

2011: Stephen Vogt has 116, followed by Hak-Ju Lee with 113 for Charlotte.

Batting average (minimum 316 PA):
Jason Pridie (2002) - .368
Matt Diaz (2003) - .354
Stephen Vogt (2010) - .345
Steve Cox (1999) - .341
Toby Hall (2001) - .335

2011: Oscar Hernandez leads at .403 in 251 plate appearances, but with only 11 games left he will not reach the required 316 PA cutoff. Hak-Ju Lee is already qualified and is hitting .327.

Runs scored:
Fernando Perez (2006) - 123
Steve Cox (1999) - 107
Scott McClain (1999) - 106
Jason Pridie (2004) - 103
Jonny Gomes (2002) - 102

2011: Tyler Bortnick has scored 72 for Charlotte, followed by Hak-Ju Lee with 71.

Stolen bases:
Alex Sanchez (1997) - 92
Joey Gathright (2003) - 69
Ty Morrison (2010) - 58
Fernando Perez (2005) - 57
Carl Crawford (2000) - 55

2011: Tyler Bortnick leads with 31 steals, followed by Ismel Antunez with 26 in the GCL.

Wins:
Heath Rollins (2007) - 17
Chris Mason (2007) - 15
Andy Sonnanstine (2006) - 15
Richard De Los Santos (2010) - 14
Jeremy Hall (2009) - 14
Andy Sonnanstine (2005) - 14
Chris Seddon (2004) - 14
Scott Autrey (2003) - 14

2011: Alex Colome, now in Montgomery, and Victor Mateo in Bowling Green are tied with 10 wins.

ERA (minimum 130 IP):
Chad Gaudin (2003) - 1.81
Jason Standridge (1999) - 2.02
Darin Downs (2009) - 2.23
Chad Gaudin (2002) - 2.26
Todd Belitz (2002) - 2.42

2011: Matt Moore has a 2.18 ERA in 107.1 innings, followed by C.J. Riefenhauser at 2.29 through 106.1.

Innings pitched:
Pablo Ortega (1997) - 188.2
Andy Sonnanstine (2006) - 185.2
Jim Magrane (2001) - 182.0
Dan Wheeler (1998) - 181.0
Andy Sonnanstine (2005) - 180.2

2011: Alex Colome has 111.0, followed by Matt Moore at 107.1 and Shane Dyer at 107.0.

Strikeouts:
Matt Moore (2010) - 208
Andy Sonnanstine (2005) - 178
Matt Moore (2009) - 176
Jake McGee (2007) - 175
Neal Frendling (2000) - 174
Jake McGee (2006) - 171
Wade Davis (2007) - 169
Wade Davis (2006) - 165
Seth McClung (2001) - 165
Mark Malaska (2001) - 165

2011: Of course Matt Moore leads the way with 138, followed by Alex Torres with 104.

Saves:
Evan Rust (2002) - 31
Lee Gardner (2003) - 30
John Daniels (1997) - 29
Josh Parker (2003) - 28
Eddy Reyes (1999) - 27

2011: Zach Quate has 16 for Montgomery and Chris Rearick has 15 for Bowling Green.

Name That Minor Leaguer ===>

Hint #1: Hat is correct.

Hint #2: Lefty.

Hint #3: Born in Illinois.

Hint #4: College ball at Eastern Illinois University.