Chiefs Crash Tides on Frigid Saturday

Story and photo by Corey Crisan

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A chilly Saturday of matinee baseball resulted in a solid offensive day for the Syracuse Chiefs against the Norfolk Tides. The Chiefs earned at least a four-game series split with Norfolk as they cruised to a 6-1 win at NBT Bank Stadium.

Chiefs starter Edwin Jackson was very effective in his second start of the young season. The 34-year old veteran logged two perfect innings before Norfolk No. 8 hitter Joey Rickard singled in the third inning. Jackson went on to throw five innings of two-hit baseball while walking two and striking out four against his former team.

“He’s battling the cold just like everybody else,” Chiefs manager Randy Knorr said after the game. “He’s never going to give in, he’s going to be there, and he showed it today."

The Chiefs were the first to score on Saturday, doing so in the third inning. Rafael Bautista led off with a single and Andrew Stevenson was hit by a pitch. As Syracuse attempted a hit-and-double steal, Adrian Sanchez grounded to Tides second baseman Anderson Feliz. Feliz went to touch the base to induce a force out but Stevenson beat the play and was called safe. Sanchez was out on Feliz’s throw to first.

With runners on second and third and one out, Jose Marmolejos grounded to short and Bautista scored the game’s first run.

Norfolk responded in the top of the fourth. Michael Saunders walked, advanced on a groundout and stole third base. DJ Stewart then knocked him in with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth.

Marmolejos reached on a fielding error by Feliz. Tides starter Jayson Aquino, who replaced the last-minute scratch David Hess, surrendered walks to Chris Dominguez and Alejandro De Aza to load the bases with no outs.

Irving Falu stepped in and ripped a 1-1 double over the head of Stewart in left field, clearing the bases and giving the Chiefs a 4-1 lead. Two batters later, Chiefs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch lofted an RBI double down the left field line to bring in Falu, extending the Chiefs lead to 5-1 with one out in the sixth. After Bautista struck out looking, Stevenson and Sanchez walked to load the bases, Marmolejos grounded out to Tides first baseman Garabez Rosa to end the inning. The Chiefs scored four runs on just two base hits in the sixth inning.

“Every pitch, he threw me a changeup,” Falu described his at-bat. “I think I hit the changeup.”

Norfolk failed to advance a runner past first base in the seventh, and they went in order in the eighth as Syracuse added a bonus run thanks to an RBI single from Sanchez.

The Tides offense was quiet on Saturday. The only runner to advance past second base was the only run scored. Only six runners reached base.

The Chiefs (6-3) maintain at least a share of first place in the International League North Division with its win on Saturday. A total of 1,535 were in attendance on the 40-degree day in Syracuse.

From the Manager

Chiefs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch started his first game – Major or Minor League – on Saturday. He finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI at the plate.

“I was surprised offensively with Tuffy because he hasn’t done anything in a couple of weeks,” Knorr said. “I wanted to get him in there, get him going a little bit, I don’t want him sitting there too long.”

Chiefs No. 3 and No. 4 hitters Jose Marmolejos and Chris Dominguez scored a run each on Saturday. Marmolejos drove a run in, and Dominguez extended his batting average to .303 on the season.

“They protect each other as hitters,” Knorr said. “We’re going to keep it like that for a while. They talk a lot in between at-bats, they have a good rapport with each other.”

What’s Next

The Chiefs and Tides conclude their series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at NBT Bank Stadium. The Chiefs begin a three-game series with the Indianapolis Indians on Monday evening in Syracuse.

Chiefs Defeat Tides in Opening Day Shootout

(c) Corey Crisan 2018

Story and photo by Corey Crisan

Syracuse, N.Y. – The first place Chiefs (5-2) played through a delayed start time, a rain delay, and extra innings to earn a 9-8 win in its home opener against the Norfolk Tides

It was almost a canceled first day of baseball in Central New York, but Mother Nature quieted down long enough for the Syracuse Chiefs to kick off its home schedule on Thursday.

“Syracuse has always been great for me,” Chiefs manager Randy Knorr said regarding his first game managing in Syracuse since the 2011 season. “The people have always been great for me. Even when the Simones were here, they took care of me… I got to know (current Chiefs GM Jason Smorol) a lot when I was roving, and he’s such a great person.”

Wasting No Time

The Chiefs displayed power in the bottom of the first inning. Chiefs designated hitter Jose Marmolejos launched an estimated 430-foot blast down the right field line to give the Chiefs a quick 1-0 lead. Two pitches later, Chiefs first baseman Chris Dominguez cleared the left-center field fence to extend the Chiefs lead to 2-0 after the first inning.

The Chiefs lead did not last for long. Norfolk responded with three runs in the top of the second inning. Austin Wynns walked and DJ Stewart singled to start. Then, Luis Sardinas reached on a bobbled grounder by Chiefs third baseman Adrian Sanchez to load the bases. Jaycob Brugman knocked in Wynns with a sacrifice fly to put the Tides on the board, and Stewart moved to third. Tides Anderson Feliz then singled, scoring Stewart. Joey Rickard followed with a ground out, scoring Sardinas. 

Milone appeared to be on track for a 1-2-3 third inning but suspects responsible for Norfolk’s scoring in the second came around again. Wynns and Stewart knocked consecutive two-out singles off Milone. Both scored on a double from Sardinas to extend the Tides lead to 5-2 at the time. 

Fighting Back

The Chiefs responded in the bottom half. After Andrew Stevenson flew out to left, Sanchez ripped a double. Marmolejos and Dominguez walked to load the bases, and that’s when the Chiefs seized the opportunity.

Alajandro De Aza brought in Sanchez with a sacrifice fly to left. Spencer Kieboom doubled to the left-center field wall to score Marmolejos and Dominguez, tying the game at 5-5.

Milone settled in during the fourth and fifth innings, retiring the Tides in order in each inning. He took 25 pitches combined to do so, and he was pulled in favor of Jaron Long to start the sixth. Milone finished after five innings. He gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out five. He did so on 78 pitches and 53 strikes.

“He was having trouble throwing his cutter where he wanted to,” Chiefs manager Randy Knorr said of Milone’s start. “He was having a tough time getting the ball to (the left) side of the plate. Once he got it, it gets him off his changeup and his other pitches.”

The Tide is High

Chiefs center fielder Andrew Stevenson was ejected in the bottom of the sixth for slamming his bat after disagreeing with home plate umpire Charlie Ramos and his called third strike.

Norfolk regained the lead in the top of the seventh with more two-out magic. The Tides mustered four consecutive hits off Chiefs reliever Jaron Long to score two runs and take a 7-5 lead.

Syracuse erased Norfolk’s newfound lead in the bottom of the seventh. Alejandro De Aza singled and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Spencer Kieboom reached on a fielder’s choice, as Tides shortstop Luis Sardinas went to third on a grounder, but De Aza beat the tag. The Tides and Chiefs were tied at 7-7 as Marmolejos scored.

Just as the Chiefs responded, Norfolk did the same in the top of the eighth. Feliz and Joey Rickard knocked back-to-back one-out singles, and Ruben Tejada loaded the bases as Chiefs first baseman Spencer Kieboom, who started as catcher and moved to first after the Stevenson ejection, committed a throwing error when trying to start a double play. Rosa followed with a dribbling grounder to third that scored Feliz, giving the Tides the lead.

Syracuse had a scoring chance in the bottom of the eighth, but they could not capitalize with runners on the corners and two outs. Norfolk went quietly in the top of the ninth, and Syracuse seized its opportunity to extend the game.

Chris Dominguez took Norfolk reliever Jhan Marinez’s first pitch to the right-center field gap for a leadoff triple. Alejandro De Aza then rocketed a single off the glove of Tides first baseman Garabez Rosa. Dominguez scored to tie the game at 8-8. 

New Rules!

The new Minor League Baseball rules for extra innings came into effect for the first time in the Chiefs’ young season. Norfolk began the inning with a runner on second base in the form of Luis Sardinas, who was the batter to end the ninth inning for the Tides. Norfolk couldn’t bring him home.

The Chiefs began the tenth with Rafael Bautista on second base.

Alex Dunlap, who replaced Stevenson after his ejection, laid a bunt down the third base line that died in the grass down the line. No play was made and the Chiefs had runners on the corners with nobody out.

Adrian Sanchez then smoked an 0-1 ground ball past Sardinas, scoring Bautista.

The Chiefs survived to earn the 9-8 extra inning victory after an hour and 26-minute long rain delay. A crowd of 3,559 entered the gates of NBT Bank Stadium to witness it, and it took three 3:14 to play.

“(Adrian) was swinging the bat good all night,” Knorr remarked about Adrian Sanchez’s walk-off single. “I felt really comfortable, especially when Alex (Dunlap) put the ball down. He couldn’t put a better bunt down. You got two guys on… I felt really good about us getting that run in.”

From the Manager 

The Chiefs moved above .500 on Tuesday with its win over Rochester. It was the first time the Chiefs held a record above .500 since April 23, 2017 when the Chiefs were 8-7. Syracuse’s win on Thursday moved its record to 5-2.

“They all like each other, they push each other, and they root for each other,” Knorr said of the team’s camaraderie. “We got walked off a couple times in Scranton. They never gave up. They came back in the Rochester series. Losing a couple games like that (6-5 and 5-4 walk-off losses at Scranton/Wilkes Barre), you never know which way they’re going to go. They all got back on it and had a good series against Rochester.”

What’s Next

Syracuse and Norfolk continue its series into the weekend at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse RHP Erick Fedde opposes Norfolk RHP David Hess on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EST.

Syracuse Chiefs Prepare for 2018 Season

Story and photo by Corey Crisan

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Optimism is high in Central New York as the Syracuse Chiefs open its season on Friday. A 2017 season that included a last-place finish in the International League North Division goes from forgettable to forgotten as new expectations flow throughout a new clubhouse and new leadership.

Randy Knorr replaces Billy Gardner, Jr. as the Chiefs manager. Knorr is entering his second stint in Syracuse. He previously managed the Chiefs in 2011. That season, Syracuse finished with a 66-74 record en route to a fourth place finish in the IL North.

Knorr spent 2012 through 2015 as the parent Washington Nationals’ bench coach under former managers Davey Johnson and Matt Williams. In 2016 and 2017, Knorr spent time in the Nationals system as a player development advisor. Despite having a job that required a lot of travel and interaction with the front office, Knorr missed being in the dugout.

“I like it so much better on the field,” Knorr said at the Chiefs media day on Wednesday. “I like to communicate with the players. I like the development part. When I was in the big leagues as a bench coach, I still did develop… I missed that… I like to be around the players and talk to them.”

Syracuse has the expectation to improve from its prior season.

“In Spring Training, when we got the guys together, I really liked the chemistry,” Knorr said. “The all get along with each other, they push each other, and for that reason, I think it’s going to be a better year.”

Knorr also noted his perspective on what his roster is capable of this season.

“We can do a lot of things,” he said. “We have speed. I like our starting pitching – the bullpen guys all have experience.”

A Polished Prospect

As does every other regular Minor League season, the Chiefs Opening Day roster expects to feature new faces that are making their progressions towards either 40-man roster spots, to their Major League debuts, to return to the Washington Nationals’ roster, or a combination of the three. The main event on this roster is outfielder Victor Robles. 

Robles is one of the top prospects in all of Major League Baseball. MLB Pipeline says Robles is the No. 6 overall prospect, and Baseball America says he is the No. 5 overall prospect in the minors. Expectedly so, he is ranked first in the Nationals organization by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. He is on the cusp of returning to Washington and could do so with a hot start in Syracuse.

“He’s a special player; he really is,” Knorr noted about Robles. “He can do a lot. They talk about five tools, and I like to talk about the sixth tool, and that’s mentally, how you play the game. He’s not far from that, either, and I think that’s the last step for him… Once he gets that, he’ll be well on its way.”

Robles spent time in Washington in 2017. He made his Major League debut on September 7th  against Philadelphia and made the Nationals’ NLDS roster versus Chicago. Robles appeared in two games and scored a run in the NLDS.

As far as development is concerned, Robles recognizes he still has some work to do.

“Base stealing, getting good jumps,” Robles put into basic terms through translator and teammate Chris Dominguez. “The (offseason) work that I did flourished in Spring Training. They’re depending on me to do the job during the spring, and I just did the best I could.”

Robles succeeded in 2017 and made his Major League debut without logging a single inning of playing time at the Triple-A level in Syracuse. He hit for a .324/.394/.489 batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage slash line with 16 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases, and an .883 OPS in 37 games with Double-A Harrisburg. He also logged some time in Advanced-A Potomac, where he hit .289 and stole 16 bases in 77 games. By the way, he’s only 20 years old.

Familiar Suspects

Robles is not the only show in town this season. Fellow Nationals center field prospect and 2017 Syracuse Chief Andrew Stevenson is returning by virtue of a logjam in Washington’s outfield. The Nationals currently list Bryce Harper, Adam Eaton, Michael Taylor, Brian Goodwin, and Howie Kendrick as its outfielders on the 25-man roster. Taylor, Harper, and Goodwin logged over 70 games played each in 2017, and Kendrick signed a two-year deal worth $7 million after playing 52 games with the Nationals last season. 

Stevenson slashed .272/.326/.344 in 99 games between Syracuse and Harrisburg. He’s entering his age-24 season, so he’ll have plenty of time to polish his skills alongside Robles in the outfield while the Nationals organization deals with this good problem of an outfield overload. He will also have plenty of chances to make more amazing catches like this in Syracuse.

Another returning face to the Chiefs roster is starting pitcher Erick Fedde. Ranked the top pitching prospect in the Nationals organization by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Fedde was called up for a cup of coffee with the Nationals last season due to some injuries. He started three games in Washington and gave up 16 earned runs, including five home runs, in 15 1/3 innings. Considering he spent time across three levels (AA, AAA, MLB) last season, his return to Syracuse to continue developing should not be too surprising.

“We pushed (Fedde) pretty hard last year,” Knorr said. “We’re going to keep an eye on him. There might some games where we keep him short. He might go five innings and unhittable, but we’re looking at the future, because we think at some point, he’s going to be back in the big leagues, and he needs those innings for the stretch (postseason) run.” 

In addition to Stevenson and Fedde, other returning Chiefs players from last season include pitchers Austin Adams, Edwin Jackson, Jaron Long, John Simms, and Austin Voth. Position players Spencer Kieboom, Jhonatan Solano, Michael Almanzar, Irving Falu, Adrian Sanchez, and Alejandro De Aza will also return to Syracuse to begin the 2018 season.

Power Potential

First baseman/outfield hybrid Jose Marmolejos is the No. 22 overall prospect in the Nationals system, and he projects to make an impact in Syracuse this season. Marmolejos spent the 2017 season in Harrisburg, and he has some power to boot. Scouts list his power tool to be around a 45 on the 20-80 scale (explained here), which equates to around 12-15 projected home runs per season. Syracuse is used to seeing power come from the first base position. Three of the top four home run hitters in 2017 were first basemen by trade: Clint Robinson (18 HR), Neftali Soto (14), and Matt Skole (11). Robinson and Soto are now free agents, and Skole is a member of the Chicago White Sox organization, leaving room for Marmolejos to step in. Marmolejos slashed .288/.361/.458 with 14 home runs and 18 doubles in Harrisburg last season.

Another power threat comes from newcomer Moises Sierra, who signed with Washington as a free agent on January 10. Sierra spent 2017 in the Pacific Coast League with the New Orleans Baby Cakes (and its logo), an affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Sierra slashed .294/.361/.438 and hit 11 home runs in 123 games for New Orleans. Sierra is a veteran on this Chiefs roster; he’s entering his age-29 season.

Veteran Leaders

As the Minor Leagues are typically meant for growth of Major League prospects, sometimes that is not the case. Three players on the Chiefs roster – all returning from 2017 stints in Syracuse – have a combined 28 seasons of Major League service time. They also combine for a youthful age of 101 years old. Those players are starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, infielder Irving Falu, and outfielder Alejandro De Aza.

“De Aza is a great human being,” Knorr said. “I think (De Aza and Moises Sierra are) going to help (Robles) out quite a bit… They’re unbelievable with him.”

De Aza embraces the role as a veteran mentor to the rest of the team, and especially to the 20-year old Victor Robles.

“My role is to play the game right and try to help him in any way that I can,” De Aza said. “If there’s anything I can help him with, then I’m more than welcome to do it.” 

Edwin Jackson has 15 years of Major League experience under his belt, dating back to 2003 when he was a teenager with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Once it gets old, that’s probably when I’ll go home,” Jackson said. “I’ve been from the bottom of the game to the top of the game. I’ve experienced a lot in my career, both good and bad. That helps, passing information (to younger players) and being able to help them get through different situations that they’re in (and) that I’ve already been through.”

Getting Underway

The Chiefs open its season on a six-game road trip. They will play the first three in Scranton, PA versus the IL North Division defending champion RailRiders, then they will travel to Rochester to face the Red Wings before returning to Syracuse for its home opener on Thursday April 12 versus Norfolk.

As far as pitching probables are concerned, manager Randy Knorr mentioned a temporary rotation of Austin Voth, Tommy Milone, Erick Fedde, Edwin Jackson and Cesar Vargas. Much like the Opening Day roster, that is subject to change as of Wednesday’s media day.

Follow Corey on twitter @cdcrisan.