Bus Leagues Express: August 12

Sorry for no Express yesterday, I just wanted to take a break. There won’t be one tomorrow either.

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Rays affiliates have a long day: Rays front office personnel are going to be busy at work tomorrow with the extended minor league reports sent in from their affiliates Saturday night. Three of their affiliates combined to play 16 extra innings, and one more played a doubleheader. Durham dropped a pair of games to Toledo, a continuation of a disappointing season that should end their five year streak of making the playoffs. Charlotte was also supposed to play a doubleheader, but when the first game ran long, the second game was postponed. They ended up winning 2-1 in 13 innings, one inning short of what they would’ve played in a regulation doubleheader. Bowling Green also won 2-1 with six extra innings, this time lasting 15 total because it was a regular nine inning game. Hudson Valley lost 6-5 in the 13th inning due to a Deven Marrero homer.

Arenado heating up: After a solid start to the season, Nolan Arenado went into a slump that had his ceiling and makeup called into question. That slump culminated in a horrible July with a .165 average, only one home run and a .524 OPS. Through the first four months, only Arenado’s April was above his usual .300 average, the mark he’s sat around nearly his entire career. He’s begun to turn it around in August though, collecting at least one hit in 10 games so far, and he’s already tied his monthly high for extra base hits this season with 10. Hitting for power is going to be one of his biggest challenges as he tries to maintain a third base profile.

DeShields steals first Cal League base: Delino DeShields Jr. is experiencing a tremendous rebound season after struggling for much of his first full professional season. His OPS in his second year at Lexington was 212 points higher than the previous season, and he was really letting his athleticism show with 83 steals in 111 games. He’s on pace to hit 100 steals on the nose at the moment, and in a normal year, that would be getting a lot of attention. This season, he’s completely overshadowed by Billy Hamilton‘s pursuit of 146 to set the minor league record. Even in Hamilton’s shadow, the strides DeShields has made this year are clear, and as a 19 year old in high-A, the Astros are getting what they hoped for when they drafted him 8th overall in 2010.

Soler grand slam the difference in Peoria win: In his first career at-bat with the bases loaded, Cubs prospect Jorge Soler made it count. His 3rd inning grand slam was his first home run since his promotion to Peoria and decided the game, a 5-3 Peoria win over Beloit. Soler has only played two games in the Midwest League, and he’s gone 1/4 in both of them with six RBI. There are still 22 games left in second half competition, and they’re six games behind a trio of teams tied for the MWL East’s second half wild card spot. The odds seem to be against them, but Soler’s bat certainly helps them compensate for the loss of Javier Baez to Daytona.

Correa and Ruiz collect one hit each in Appy debut: Days after Byron Buxton made his Elizabethton debut, the Astros bumped up two of their big dollar 2011 picks, #1 overall Carlos Correa and Rio Ruiz. Ruiz was hitting pretty well for a player who missed most of the spring, and although Correa wasn’t, spending the last few weeks out of a complex league could better prepare him to start next year in low-A with Lexington. Each entered the game late, Correa as the shortstop and Ruiz at DH. They both went 1/2 with a run scored, and Correa added a stolen base and strikeout. Along with Jean Carlos Batista and Ariel Ovando, Greeneville has some big hitters to rely on down the stretch.

On tap today

MiLB.TV schedule

Trevor Bauer takes on Albuquerque

Todd Redmond faces former organization

Brandon Workman makes AA debut

David Holmberg looks for second straight strong start

Carl Pavano makes second rehab start

Turley, Jungmann meet in top FSL matchup

Kevin Gausman makes second start