As I was checking boxscores from around the minor leagues tonight I noticed that Andy Tracy made his second start of the year for the Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League. What really surprised me was that he started the game at third base. In 3 years with the Ironpigs I believe Andy only played the hot corner one time. Perhaps it was because the Aces regular third baseman Cody Ransom has just 1 hit in 11 at bats with that 1 hit being a homerun. Andy is now 2-6 on the year and both of his hits have been doubles.
Also of interest, outfielder Wily Taveras is 8-23 .348 at Colorado Springs, pitcher Brandon Duckworth has 1 start with Pawtucket and is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 5 innings of work. Ryan Vogelsong is in the starting rotation for the Fresno Grizzlies and is 2-0 1.59 in his 2 games. In 11 1/3 innings he has 17 strikeouts. Oscar Villarreal is 0-0 6.75 for Albuquerque and outfielder Chris Aguila is 2-4 .143 for the New Orleans Zephyrs. I could find no 2011 statistics for Michael Taylor other than finding him listed with the Sacramento River Cats.
I’m not sure anyone mentioned this before but the Red Sox sent one of Noise Nation’s favorite visiting outfielders, Bubba Bell to the Indians for cash considerations. Bubba is now playing for the Columbus Clippers and is 4-9 .444 after 4 games.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
“I could find no 2011 statistics for Michael Taylor other than finding him listed with the Sacramento River Cats. ”
Taylor sprained his wrist and is currently rehabbing it in extended spring training. After that he’ll be assigned to AAA. Unless he finds some plate discipline and his power stroke he’s got no chance at playing in Oakland this year.
Tracy has played over 300 games of third in his long minor league career.
So while it is suprising it certainly is not unheard of.
Also of note, Mike Cervenak is 0 for 12 in 4 games with New Orleans.
He’s toast either after or before the end of this year.
He’s looked very, very old/bad since leaving the Pigs.
Reno is playing a day game today and Cody Ransom is back at third base while Andy Tracy is on the bench.
Familiar names in Rochester for the series beginning tonight: Trevor Plouffe, Chase Lambin (2010 IL Allstar), Jeff Bailey (2008 IL MVP with PawSox), Brian Dinkelman, Dustin Martin (2010 IL Allstar) , & Anthony Slama (2010 IL Allstar, currently on the DL).
Tracy on the bench?
In the hitter-friendly PCL???
Reno Aces must be loaded…
🙂
Reno Aces scored 13 runs on Thursday and lost by 5 at Colorado Springs. Andy Tracy played third base and first base (not at the same time) and went 2-4 with a double and a homerun. Cody Ransom played shortstop and third base (not at the same time) and went 3-6 with 2 doubles, a homerun and 3 RBI. Their starting pitcher allowed as many earned runs in 1 game as the entire Ironpigs pitching staff allowed all season. He left the game after 5 innings pitched and a chance to win the game as the Aces were ahead 11-10 at the time. The 2 teams combined for 36 hits (5 HR) in the 3 hour 12 minute game in front of 3,072 people. Temperature at gametime was 40.
Reno has two 3B on the DL currently in Robby Hammock and Ed Rodgers so I would imagine that Tracy won’t be getting many more reps at third once at least one of them return.
Reno’s infield is very old.
It’s not the Stonehenge-like infield that the Pigs started two years ago when they had Tracy (35), Ozuna (34), Cairo (35), and Cervenak (32) but with Tracy (37), Ransom (35), Burroughs (30), Hammock (33), and Rodgers (32) it’s a very geriatric crew in Reno.