CalL Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Grizzlies/Tacos Game Notes vs Stockton

Published on July 22, 2022 under California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


The Tacos and Ports start a three-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 pm PT from Chukchansi Park. Tacos RHP Case Williams and Ports RHP Kyle Virbitsky are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.

Tonight's promotion:

7/22 (Friday, July 22nd) - Fresno Tacos & Friday Night Fireworks!

First Pitch: 6:50 pm vs. Stockton Ports

Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!

Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!

Promotion: Friday Night Fireworks Presented by Toyota

Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!

LET'S TACO BOUT IT: The alter ego that started it all, the Fresno Tacos, returns to Chukchansi Park this series for "Tacos Weekend." This year's Tacos colorway features purple and black as a tribute to both the Colorado Rockies, Major League affiliate of the Grizzlies, and the team's original 1998 branding. Come down to the ballpark to get your Tacos gear, enjoy some tacos around the ballpark and of course, watch your playoff-bound team.

STOCK-PILING SOME FACTS: The Fresno Grizzlies and Stockton Ports (Athletics Single-A affiliate) start a three-game series tonight at Chukchansi Park. This is the fifth series between the clubs in 2022 and the third meeting in Fresno. One name on Stockton's coaching staff that may seem familiar to Fresno fans is hitting coach Kevin Kouzmanoff, who played seven MLB seasons and played against Fresno from 2011-2014. The Ports are managed by Franklin Font, who was initially tabbed to be the assistant hitting coach. Font will continue his managerial career at the helm in Stockton, coming back to the states from France where he served as the manager for the Aigles of France in 2021, an independent team of the ESBL (European Super League of Professional Baseball). He was a part of the Chicago Cubs organization for over 10 years where he started as a development manager and minor league rover instructor in 2008 before being promoted to the major league staff as the assistant hitting coach in 2012 and ultimately a staff assistant from 2013-2020. Finally, Stockton broadcaster Alex Jensen coached Grizzlies righty Cullen Kafka when he played JV baseball at De La Salle High School.

STATEMENT AGAINST STOCKTON: The Grizzlies have found success against the Ports over the past two seasons. Thanks to July 3rd's 8-3 win, the Grizzlies improved to 18-3 (+100 run differential, 180-80) against the Ports this year, 35-10 against Stockton over the past two seasons and 22-2 at Banner Island Ballpark (117-39 run differential this year). In the previous six-game series at Banner Island Ballpark, the Grizzlies offense plated 67 runs on 87 hits with 21 of them leaving the yard. Fresno has mashed 52 homers over their 21 affairs against Stockton this season, with four contests of five taters or more. On the other side of the ball, the Grizzlies pitching staff has struck out 189 batters over the past 17 contests against the Ports.

BRITO WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Grizzlies second baseman Juan Brito was named by Minor League Baseball as the California League Player of the Week for July 11-17. During the week, Brito went 13-for-25 (.520) with one homer (off of MLB rehabber Andrew Heaney), one triple, three doubles, seven RBI, 10 runs, five walks and three stolen bases over six games. Brito finished the series with a .600 OBP, .840 slugging percentage and 1.440 OPS. The switch batter hit safely in all six games and had four multi-hit contests in that span. On Friday, July 15, Brito had four hits and was a clout shy of the cycle. Brito became the seventh different Grizzlies player (Hunter Goodman won twice) to earn California League Player or Pitcher of the Week honors this season. He signed with the Rockies as an international free agent in 2018.

DON'T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies rank second in all of Minor League Baseball with a .279 batting average (El Paso, .289). They also rank second with 81 hit-by-pitches (Great Lakes, 85), third with an .829 OPS, third with a .463 slugging percentage, fourth with 572 runs, fourth with 181 doubles, fourth with 844 hits, tied for fourth with a .366 OBP, fifth with 1,401 total bases and seventh with 502 RBI.

CASE CLOSED: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to righty Case Williams. The 20-year old is first in the California League in wins (8), third in ERA (4.50), tied for fourth in batting average against him (.267), fifth in innings pitched (78.0), tied for sixth in WHIP (1.41) and 11th in strikeouts (77). Williams enters his third professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization despite starting last year in the Cincinnati Reds system. In 2021, he split the season between the Daytona Tortugas (Cincinnati Reds) and Grizzlies. Williams started 2021 in Daytona, appearing in 12 games, 11 for starts. He went 2-5 with a 5.74 ERA over 47 innings. Williams was traded back to the Colorado Rockies on July 28, 2021. The Reds received RHP Mychal Givens and the Rockies got Williams and RHP Noah Davis. He was assigned to Fresno and finished the season with the Grizzlies. Williams went 1-3 with a 5.72 ERA over seven games with six going for starts. In 28.1 frames, he fanned 17 batters and had a good overall second half of the season. Read more about Case Williams' bio on Page 2.

BUSTER BOBBLEHEAD: The Grizzlies announced earlier this week that the organization will honor Buster Posey's retirement from professional baseball with an exclusive bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, September 3. This giveaway, presented by Healthy Fresno County, will be the organization's fourth time producing a bobblehead for the San Francisco Giants legend and can be picked up by being one of the first 3,000 fans in attendance at the game. Prior to starting his illustrious Giants career, Buster Posey spent parts of two seasons in a Fresno Grizzlies uniform. Posey played 82 games with Fresno, batting .337 with a .535 slugging percentage and .956 OPS. He blasted 11 homers and drove in 54 runs over those 82 games before making the Bay Area his permanent home. Fans can purchase tickets to the September 3 game starting at $15 at FresnoGrizzlies.com, at the Chukchansi Park Ticket Office, or by calling the Grizzlies at 559-320-8497(TIXS). The team is also offering a limited number of Buster Posey Tribute ticket packages. Purchasing this bundle will guarantee a bobblehead and also includes tickets to 2 Friday Night Fireworks games (July 22 & August 5) and the Buster Posey Bobblehead Giveaway game (September 3) for only $37, a nod to Posey's .337 batting average with the Grizzlies. This special 3-game package can be purchased at FresnoGrizzlies.com/Offers.

WEAR THE BEAR: Red (12-14), Beige (7-3), Black & Gold (9-1), Gray (19-14), Specialty Promo (1-2), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 3-0), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (0-1), Red Pants (2-2).

NEW RULES IN 2022: Major League Baseball announced in March that experimental rules will expand in the California League for the 2022 season. The following rules include the return of the pitch clock and pickoff limits. Pitchers must deliver a pitch within 14 seconds with the bases empty and 18 seconds with runners on base. Hitters must be in the batter's box and be alert to the pitcher with nine seconds left. Pitchers will also be limited to two pickoff attempts or step-offs per plate appearance; any more without retiring the baserunner will effectively function as a balk. The league also added larger bases, increasing the size from 15 to 18 inches, a rule in place at Triple-A during the 2021 season. The increase is aimed to provide more room for players to operate around the bases, while modestly shrinking the distance between bases themselves. Additionally, the larger bases are composed of material that is expected to perform better in wetter conditions. Finally, teams must have a minimum of four defensive players on the infield when a pitch is delivered, with at least two infielders on either side of second base. The penalty for violation is an automatic ball, but if the hitter swings and gets a better outcome, the offensive team can take that. Goal is to increase batting average on balls in play.

PLAYOFF BOUND IN THE "GROWL"IFORNIA LEAGUE: For the second straight season, the Fresno Grizzlies are headed back to the playoffs after a 4-2 win over the Modesto Nuts on June 22nd from Chukchansi Park. Over those two years, Fresno has clinched both times against Modesto. The Grizzlies claimed the California League Northern Division and the best first half record among the eight teams (41-25). This is the first time in Grizzlies history that the team has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The last time Fresno baseball made it to the postseason in back-to-back years were the Fresno Cardinals in 1955-1956. With the California League being split into two halves, the Grizzlies will not know their playoff opponent until the second half ends on September 11th. If the Grizzlies were to also win the second half, the team with the next best record in the Northern Division will play Fresno in the playoffs. The first (Grizzlies, Northern and Lake Elsinore Storm, Southern) and second half (to be determined) division winners will meet in a best-of-three game series. The winners of those series will meet for a best-of-three championship series. Similar to 2021, each Monday will be a day off in the league except for July 4th. All but two series will be six-game series this season. The break for players and coaches will be four days long from July 18th to July 21st.

JULY 23, 2022 VS. STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT

TBA vs. RHP McCade Brown (2-4, 4.75)

JULY 24, 2022 VS. STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 5:05 PM PT

TBA vs. RHP Jarrod Cande (3-2, 3.30)

JULY 26, 2022 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD- 7:05 PM PT

RHP Cullen Kafka (3-2, 3.83) vs. TBA

JULY 27, 2022 @ MODESTO NUTS (SEATTLE MARINERS): JOHN THURMAN FIELD- 7:05 PM PT

RHP Brayan Castillo (1-4, 6.06) vs. TBA

Recent Transactions:

7/21: INF Aiverson Rodriguez: Assigned to ACL Rockies from Fresno

7/17: RHP Raymells Rosa: Assigned to ACL Rockies from Fresno

7/16: LHP Ever Moya: Reinstated from Suspended List

7/16: RHP Juan Mejia: Reinstated from Suspended List

Upcoming promotions:

7/23 (Saturday, July 23rd) - Fresno Tacos Weekend

First Pitch: 6:50 pm vs. Stockton Ports

Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!

Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!

Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!

7/24 (Sunday, July 24th) - Fresno Tacos Weekend, Save Mart Sundays & Kids Run The Bases w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!

First Pitch: 5:05 pm vs. Stockton Ports

Promotion: Fresno Tacos Weekend, presented by Fresno / Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team taking field in special Taco themed jerseys!

Promotion: Taco Trucks from all over the Valley!

Promotion: Save Mart Sundays w/ Kids Run The Bases Post-Game w/FREE Ice Cream from Producers Dairy!

Promotion: Pre-Game Catch on the Field! Play catch on the field from 4:05pm - 4:35pm, on the right field line.

Other Details: Taco Trucks, Splash Park, Bounce Houses & More!

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics

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California League Stories from July 22, 2022


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