Ready, Beavers set pitching rotation

Published on April 2, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Beavers manager Randy Ready today announced his season-opening pitching rotation. The Beavers begin the 2008 season against the Fresno Grizzlies at PGE Park on Thursday. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

The talented, season-opening rotation includes top pitching prospects Cesar Ramos, Wade LeBlanc and Josh Geer, three key contributors in the Class AA San Antonio Missions Texas League title season in 2007. The opening rotation also includes Shawn Estes, a former National League All-Star and veteran of 276 major league games, and left-hander Arturo Lopez.

All 144 games in 2008 can be heard live on KKAD AM-1550 and at www.portlandbeavers.com. Thursday's KKAD broadcast has a special 6 p.m. start time. Thursday's opener is the first of 20 games televised this season on FSN. The next FSN broadcast is Sunday as the Beavers close out their four-game series with Fresno at PGE Park.

Thursday, April 3 - vs. Fresno (7:05 p.m.) Josh Geer (RHP) vs. RHP Matt Palmer (Fresno) Geer, the Texas League Pitcher of the Year and Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, gets the call in the season opener, becoming the eighth different Opening Day starter in as many season. Geer was 16-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts for Class AA San Antonio last season, helping lead the Missions to the Texas League title. His 2007 campaign was interrupted with a brief promotion to Portland, where he pitched six strong innings for the victory in his Triple-A debut July 28 at New Orleans. Geer was a third-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2005.

Friday, April 4 - vs. Fresno (7:05 p.m.) Shawn Estes (LHP) vs. RHP Julio Mateo (Fresno) A veteran of 12 major league seasons, Estes has a 99-90 record over 274 games (273 starts) in the big leagues. The left-hander joins the Beavers for a second season after making four appearances (2 starts) with the club in 2007.

Saturday, April 5 - vs. Fresno (7:05 p.m.) Cesar Ramos (LHP) vs. LHP Patrick Misch (Fresno) Regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the Padres organization, Ramos is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut in the third game of the Fresno series. Another left-hander, Ramos was 13-9 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts for Class AA San Antonio last season. The left-hander was a supplemental first-round draft pick (35th overall) of the Padres in the 2005 draft.

Sunday, April 6 - at Fresno (2:05 p.m.) Wade LeBlanc (LHP) vs. RHP Victor Santos (Fresno) Rated as the Padres' No. 4 prospect entering the season, LeBlanc, too, is coming off a strong season in 2007. He split the campaign between Class A Lake Elsinore and Class AA San Antonio, combining for a 13-8 record, a 2.95 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 28 appearances (27 starts). LeBlanc was a second-round draft choice of the Padres in 2006.

Monday, April 7 - vs. Sacramento (7:05 p.m.) Arturo Lopez (LHP) vs. RHP Chad Gaudin (Sacramento) Rounding out the season-opening rotation is Arturo Lopez, the fourth left-hander in the rotation and a veteran of seven previous professional seasons. Lopez split the 2007 campaign between San Antonio and Mexico City, making 39 appearances (3 starts).

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 2, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central