Mike Blanke, CBN POW, Week XXIII

C Mike Blanke (Granby, Que.) of the Long Island Ducks had a good week as the regular season in the Atlantic League draws to a close.

By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

Well, almost except for post-season play.

In Week XXIII, basically the final week of the regular season, only eight of the 146 Canucks appearing in the minors saw action:

_ Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) of the Missoula Osprey, Morgan Lofstrom (Kelowna, BC) of the Billings Mustangs and Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) of the Helena Brewers played in the Rookie Class Pioneer League action.

_ RP Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC) of the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese Central League and RHP Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC) of EDA Rhinos in Taiwan were on the mound in foreign leagues.

_ And Mike Blanke (Granby, Que.) of the Long Island Ducks, Mike Crouse (Port Moody, BC) of the New Britain Bees and Rene Tosoni (Coquitlam, BC) of the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League saw action.

Blanke had the best week to earn Canadian Baseball Network Player of the week honors. 

How the week went for the former 14th round of the Chicago White Sox in the 2010 draft from the University of Tampa Spartans.

_ Was 1-for-2 with a run-scoring single in a 2-0 win over the Bluefield Bluefish before 4,229 fans at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, NY. Bluefield’s Jesse Litsch, the former Blue Jays right-hander was ejected for arguing ball-strike calls.

_ Was 1-for-4 with a double in a 9-4 loss to the York Revolution in front of 6,802 fans. 

_ Was 1-for-3 knocking in a run as Long Island beat the Sugar Land Skeeters 11-3 before 3,239 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Tex. Tosoni doubled and singled.           

_ Was 2-for-4 in a 6-4 loss to Sugar Land in front of 3,489 fans. Tosoni doubled, singled and knocked in a run for the Skeeters. 

The Atlantic League attracted 2 million fans in season and has now hosted over 36 million since its inception in 1998.
 
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
Mike Blanke IND Long Island 13 3 5 - 2 .385
Rene Tosoni IND Sugar Land 22 3 8 - 2 .364
(Minimum 10 AB’s required.)
 
Some of the other highlights this week included ... 
_ Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) being named Baseball America’s Double Player of the Year and named the Double-A All Star Team.
  
_ Vladimir Guerrerro (Montreal, Que.) earned a spot on to Baseball America’s Rookie Class, All Star Team.
 
Next up will be our Minor League Top 10 Lists and our player and pitcher of the year honors. 

PLAYER     MOVEMENTS     AND     TRANSACTIONS
RHP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) - Moved by Cleveland Indians to Single A, Harrisburg Hillcats from Single A, Lake County Captains.
 
LHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) - Activated from the Disabled List by the New York Yankees at Double A, Trenton Thunder.
 
 
RHP Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) - Released by Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.

Weekly Winners

Week XXIII _ Mike Blanke (Granby, Que.) Long Island Ducks.

Week XXII _ RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) Astros

Week XXI _ Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) Reds.

Week XX _ OF Ismael Pena (Montreal, Que.) Mariners

Week XIX _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Blue Jays

Week XVIII _ LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) Cubs

Week XVII _ LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Cubs

Week XVI _ C Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.) Red Sox and OF Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) A’s.

Week XV _ 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Marlins.

Week XIV _ RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) Reds.

Week XIII _ OF Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) Mariners and OF Cole Bauml (Meunster, Sask.) Tigers.

Week XII _ Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week XI _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Phillies.

Week X _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week IX _ OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week VIII _ RHP Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) Blue Jays

Week VII _ LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Cubs

Week VI _ LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) Astros

Week V _ RP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) Cardinals.  

Week III _ LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) Mariners.

Week II _ OF Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) A’s. 

Week I _ C Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC) Brewers.