Thursday Pebble Report:

So my Internet didn't come back online until about midnight last night, and because my neighborhood's not really big on the whole unsecured network thing, I had to go a bit out of my way (the parking lot at Bruegger's Bagels, yes, I am that cheap) to pirate some Wi-fi to put the game thread up. At any rate, one of several things I wasn't able to do yesterday was update the Pebble Report with a link to my last entry at the RMN, which is a somewhat skeptical look at Chris Nelson, but with one MLB comparison that leaves the door open for a possibly big turnaround. Another comparison I don't mention in the piece, but may at this point be a more likely scenario for him is a player like Josh Barfield.

Colorado Springs: L 5-11

Franklin Morales should be hitting the disabled list any day now for whiplash if nothing else. He allowed five of the first six batters he faced to reach base, two hits, two walks and an HBP and the start didn't get any better after that as he gave homers in each of the next three innings after that. Morales gave up eleven runs in all, pitching just four innings.

Ian Stewart homered and doubled and Cory Sulllivan also hit a three run homer in the loss.

Tulsa: Off

Modesto: W 3-1

Simon Ferrer's knuckleball was apparently pretty effective last night, as the box score indicates that the Dodgers Inland Empire affiliate couldn't generate any power off of contact. In six innings he allowed five hits, all but one of which were singles. Victor Ferrante doubled twice and scored two of the Nuts three runs.

Asheville: W 6-5

Darin Holcomb should get a lot of credit for the success the Tourists have had this season, yesterday he was involved in five of the six runs as the T's rallied from a 5-1 deficit. Holcomb started the five run rally with a leadoff double in the seventh, and he would subsequently score along with David Christensen on a Lars Davis double. In the eighth, with the T's still down two runs, Holcomb singled in Kevin Clark and Michael Mitchell to tie the game, then stole second and scored the eventual winning run on a Christensen single. In all he had three hits, three runs, two RBI, a stolen base and his eleventh error. Christensen also had three hits and an SB. The Tourists took advantage of a weak battery with five stolen bases, four of which came in that three run eighth inning rally.

Tri-City: W 6-1

False alarm. Christian Friedrich didn't start again last night, instead it was Juan Nicasio, who came back from a rough outing with six strong innings. Nicasio struck out eight and allowed just three hits and two walks. Chad Lembeck homered and doubled and drove in two of the Dust Devil runs, Johnny Bowden, Patrick Rose and Leonardo Reyes each also had two hits for Tri-City.

Casper: W 7-3

Often times there's not really a line between just good enough for a league and too good, but more of a high speed elevator. If a player is better than their competition it's usually not an iffy call, but rather easily clear. Dan Houston in the Pioneer League is a good example, with a 28/1 K/BB ratio and just 16 hits allowed in 21 innings. Houston struck out ten in seven innings yesterday to go to 3-0 on the young season. Kane Simmons doubled and tripled in a four for five day and also drove in four. Wilin Rosario had three singles in the win.