Lamb and Duffy move to Texas League

Wilmington, DE - It is official now, John Lamb and Danny Duffy are both heading West to the Texas League affiliate, Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Just as noted regarding the Lamb move a couple of days ago, John is currently in route to another Royals farm team. According to a press release on the Naturals website, John Lamb is now the youngest player to ever wear a Northwest Arkansas Naturals uniform.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

Hope this official announcement on both the Carolina and Texas League transactions list puts an end to some of the bull that was spreading around about the AA jump for my son. Any doubt about the integrity of this family will continue to be challenged with complete honesty during his professional baseball journey. We have no reason to spread rumors, lies of deceptions about the wonderful opportunities that the Kansas City Royals have continued to provide John Lamb.




This move marks his fifth since his “Opening Day” start in the Appalachian League with the Rookie affiliate, Burlington Royals, for the 2009 season.



Not sure when John will be placed in the Naturals rotation, but a text message from him earlier today, indicated it will be in the Springfield Cardinals series on the road in Missouri. Lamb will have some familiar faces in the crowd when he arrives in Springfield, MO. Tony Piazza, a previous coach of John in the Southern California area, whom now lives in the immediate area of the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas League affiliate, is planning to check on his hearing from the stands. Also, with some luck members of Colleen’s family might make the trip down from the St. Louis area to say “hi” and be supportive of his recent move.

Lamb matches his shortest Carolina League start

Wilmington, DE - John Lamb might not have been at his best tonight, or missed many bats, during the opening game of the important series with the Potomac Nationals, but he managed to survive the abuse without much damage to his combined Minor League Baseball leading ERA. Lamb reached his pitch totals earlier than most of his previous starts and was removed from the game following the fourth inning of work.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

The Wilmington Blue Rocks hitters were baffled throughout the game by a fantastic pitching performance from the Nationals starter, Daniel Rosenbaum, who spread out 5 hits over eight shut-out innings.



The Blue Rocks bull-pen was called to maintain the 2-0 deficit in the fifth, but failed to keep the game close by allowing another eight runs to cross before the nightmare was over.



Lamb finished the night with 70 pitches, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 5 strike-outs, and 0 walks. John also had a throwing error in the 1st inning on an attempted pick-off play at first-base. My conversation with John after the game confirmed his bad decision to even attempt the pick-off during that time of day at Frawley Stadium, due to the effects of the setting sun.



Professional baseball is a series of constant adjustments during a player’s career and development. John Lamb has plenty of adjustments ahead through this journey to his third team of the season. Three different hats this season has him grinning from ear to ear, tonight.



Sincere thanks to the entire Kansas City Royals organization for the continued challenges and opportunity they have provided my son with his recent promotion to Class AA level in the Texas League with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The official announcement will more than likely be public before tomorrow night's game for game two against the Potomac Nationals.

John Lamb pitching in last 2010 Spring training game

A little look at the past for John Lamb before he shipped off to Burlington, IA to join the Bees of the Midwest League in the Class A level of professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization.As many of you know, John is currently playing for the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League at the Advanced Class A level. Next start is set for Monday when the Blue Rocks return home in Wilmington, DE.

Wife finds a nice article about John Lamb

My wife Colleen, found a nice short list for pitchers during the 2010 season that was written by a well respected Major League Baseball employee, Jonathan Mayo. I only have one thing to say about the following article…wow!

Article was posted July 22, 2010 by Jonathan Mayo on his B:3 Big, Bald and Beautiful MLBlogs site.

We're on a roll here now and I wanted to keep the momentum going. Over the last two days, I provided 10 potential candidates for Player of the Year in the Minor Leagues. Now it's time to move on to pitchers.

Once again, here's the disclaimer: Pitcher of the Year does not necessarily mean prospect of the year. I'm looking at performance, not status. With that in mind, here are three nominees for your consideration. As always, please interact and give suggestions in comments.

Joe Gardner, RHP, Indians: Not a bad first season for the 2009 third-round selection. The right-hander has held hitters at two levels to a .188 BAA, fourth lowest in MiLB. At the same time, he's been a ground ball machine, topping MiLB with a 3.50 GO/AO ratio. He's struck out 113 in 104 innings and has a 1.07 WHIP to go along with a 2.77 ERA.

John Lamb, LHP, Royals: Other arms in this system may get the attention (Crow, Montgomery), but that should change now. The 2008 fifth-round pick just turned 20 this month and has already jumped a level, from Class A to Class A Advanced ball. And he's pitched better up a level. Overall, he leads Minor League Baseball with a 1.38 ERA and hitters have hit just .197 against him (good for seventh lowest in MiLB). His 0.98 WHIP is eighth lowest. He's seventh overall with 128 K's, doing that while walking just 32 in 110 2/3 IP.

Michael Pineda, RHP, Mariners: Just 21 years old, he's already in Triple-A. Combined, he's gone 11-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 18 starts. Over 106 IP, he's struck out 109 while walking just 26. The right-hander has held opposing hitters to a .219 batting average against (just .196 in his five Triple-A starts thus far).

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

 

With yesterday’s Wilmington Blue Rocks game being postponed due to heavy rains the Blue Rocks will try to play a double-header today in Kinston versus the Indians, Advanced Class A team on the Cleveland Indians.



Next start for John Lamb is set for Monday when the Blue Rocks return home to Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, DE.

Lamb has longest start but Blue Rocks lose in 13 innings!

Myrtle Beach, SC - Wilmington Blue Rocks lost the series and the game tonight following a 27 minute rain delay and a 13 inning contest with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Atlanta Braves Advanced Class A team. Despite the solid pitching by Lamb the Blue Rocks suffered from errors and missed opportunities with runners on base.

John Lamb tossed a career-best 7.1 innings and allowed just one earned run, his first in six outings and 35.2 innings. (Photo credit - Brad Glazier)

John Lamb was solid again with his longest outing of the year, as he took the ball to the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 3-2 advantage. Lamb was at 81 pitches to start the inning but gave up a lead off single for the third of the night. On a 1-0 count a sacrifice bunt moved the lead off runner to second with the put out throw from Lamb to first base. Lamb finished with 88 pitches, 69 percent in the strike zone, 18 first pitch strikes, 8 first pitch balls, 13 ground ball outs and did not have any fly ball outs. The lack of fly ball outs was really a little unusual for most of his past performances, but still effective none the less.



Blue Rocks went to the bull-pen for Harold Mozingo who promptly surrendered a hit allowing the first earned run to be tallied against Lamb in his last six starts. Mozingo continued to pitch well on his own accord until his removal in the 13th by Barry Bowden.



Lamb finished the longest work of his second professional baseball season with 7-1/3 innings, 3 runs, 1 earned run, 3 hits, 8 strike outs and 0 walks. He managed to shave a little off his current earned run average and continues to lead all levels of Minor League Baseball.



Blue Rocks had plenty of hits through the game put just didn’t get the timely ones needed to blow the game open. Four different Rocks had multiple hits during the extra inning game, including Navarro, Colon, Mejia and Francis. Salvador Perez was the only Blue Rock with a single hit for the night, although there were a few that did not get a hit during the game. The team finished the night going 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
 
 
 
Pelicans grabbed the win and the three game series in the bottom of the fourth extra inning. The Blue Rocks suffered only their third loss in an extra inning contest for the Carolina League Northern Division, as the current first place team. Tonight’s blow also put the Blue Rocks back into an even .500 level of wins and losses as they climb into the bus and head for Kinston to play the Indians.

Lamb featured in Baseball America...

We all have routines we seem to follow and one way to open your eyes quicker than that 3rd cup of coffee is to see your son's picture on the front page of the Baseball America website. John Lamb has received a little attention from his recent string of scoreless innings in the Advanced Class A level Carolina League playing for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. As of adding this post, the article can be found on the "quick links" portion of the Baseball America site or by using the link below the picture of John.

Baseball America - Prospect Hot Sheet

This year has provided his family and friends plenty of opportunity to smile during Lamb's first full season of professional baseball competition. Sure, he played last year in his first professional season after the 2008 auto accident injury that prevented him from playing his senior season in high school, but it was a short Rookie level year. We have smiled ever since his phone call home earlier this year which indicated the Kansas City Royals were allowing him to "break spring training camp" and similar smiles continue today with his name sitting on top of the ERA leader board throughout Minor League Baseball.



Getting brutally honest though, it really doesn’t matter where he is on the statistic boards or what uniform he is wearing today because my smiles are generated from knowing that my son is living his childhood dream of playing professional baseball, thanks to the Royals selection in the 2008 MLB draft.




Next Wilmington Blue Rocks start for Lamb is set for this Wednesday in Myrtle Beach against the Pelicans at 7:05 ET. Go catch the radio broadcast on the Blue Rocks website.



GO BLUE ROCKS!

Lamb does it again...Blue Rocks win both games!

Wilmington, DE - Buddy Baumann and John Lamb, both had fantastic starts tonight in the Carolina League double-header against the leagues best hitting team, the Baltimore Orioles Advanced Class A level, Frederick Keys. Both Wilmington Blue Rocks lefties did exceptionally well against a very good hitting club. The Blue Rocks won the first game 10-1 and the second game 2-0, making it their first twin bill sweep of the 2010 season.

John Lamb is 6-2 with a 1.28 ERA in 11 starts for Wilmington. (Keith Lovett/MiLB.com)

John Lamb has now extended his consecutive scoreless frames to 30 and continues to pile up the strike-outs in the process. Lamb only allowed 1 hit during his 6 innings of work including 8 Ks, 1 BB and hit 1 batter that seemed to excite the Keys dug-out following previous warnings to both teams. The Keys batter was struck by a 1-2 count curve-ball, which was obviously not intentional as deemed by the home plate umpire.

My son was interviewed following the game, as the "Player of the Game," and provided a clear perspective that my son continues to work hard and have fun during his second season of professional baseball. He is having a wonderful season and we are very blessed to share the highlights through the Blue Rocks radio broadcast. The only word that comes to mind is...wow!

Lamb set for second game of tonight's DH in Wilmington...

Wilmington, DE - The Wilmington Blue Rocks are scheduled to play a double-header today at Frawley Stadium to make-up yesterday’s game that was postponed due to bad weather.

Buddy Baumann is set to start the first game at 5:05 ET against the Frederick Keys and John Lamb will take the ball in the second game of the Carolina League contest.



Tonight’s start for John Lamb, first as a 20 year-old, should easily accomplish the 100 inning mark for the first time in his young professional baseball career, following his move from Burlington, IA earlier this season.
 
 
 
GO BLUE ROCKS!
 
 
 

John Lamb 2010 statistics!

Future's Game thoughts...

Southern California - Okay…we had some mixed emotions in the household on Sunday about John Lamb and his absence in the “Future’s Game” at Anaheim, CA. Yesterday, before a game that I was coaching in the San Diego area I was approached by a number of associates in the game. A college coach I know, a couple of scouts and a parent of a player recently signed by the Chicago White Sox organization that was taken in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, all of whom had some kind words about John Lamb and his current performance in his professional career. Sure, they fired up some emotions with the recognition of following my son’s professional baseball career but none more than an overwhelming sense of pride.




All of them asked the question about the organizations decision to not allow John to participate in yesterday’s “Futures Game.,” at Angels Stadium. My answers were very short and to the point that I had no idea why he was not given the honor to play based on his current statistics, but those decisions were not mine and I’m not comfortable trying to speculate or second guess the choices of the Royals.

Sure it would have been nice to see my son pitch in an honorary game, less than 30 minutes from the house, but organizational decisions always have a purpose. I am simply the father of a Royals prospect that continues to feel blessed with my son’s opportunity to embark on living his dream. Watching him have success during the process and get the media recognition during the process can always put a smile on my face.



Not a day goes by that I don’t have tremendous gratitude for the Kansas City Royals taking John Lamb off the board in the 5th round of the 2008 MLB draft. I fully believe in my son, his talent, his work habits and his burning desire to play in the big leagues.



I would like to congratulate Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer for their nominations and performances during yesterday’s game that displayed the future of professional baseball. There is a lot of talent in the game throughout the minor league baseball system right now and the Royals are one of many that have done a fantastic job, scouting, signing and developing players.
 
 
 
Personally, as a baseball fan, I am looking forward to the display of big league power during tonight’s “Home Run Derby” contest, but slightly disappointed that I will be forced to watch the All-Star game on tape, due to a ridiculous schedule set by the summer league I coach within. Obviously, the director/organizer is not a baseball fan of they would never have committed to such a brainless decision.

Happy Birthday son...keep up the good work!

My son, John Lamb, celebrates his birthday today and is officially no longer a teenager in professional baseball. We all had the chance to talk with him earlier today and wish him him well on this special day. It is always great to hear his voice and know that he is still enjoying the rigors of his career playing for the Kansas City Royals organization.

Wilmington Blue Rocks game against the Mrytle Beach Pelicans today was postponed due to rain, so they all get an extra day of rest. Enjoy the extra day off guys and continue your push during the second half of the Carolina League season.


GO BLUE ROCKS!

Last win for the teenager Lamb...Blue Rocks sweep series!

Lynchburg, VA - Three Wilmington Blue Rocks pitchers combined on a shut out performance to make a clean sweep of the Lynchburg Hillcats series and allowing only four hits. John Lamb, Harold Mozingo and Barry Bowden kept the Hillcats from scoring despite the threat when Lamb was pulled from the game with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with no outs and two runners on base.

 

Although the Blue Rocks bats were much cooler than last night, they proved more than adequate in helping Wilmington achieve a 43-43 record. The Rocks finished their road trip with a 5-2 mark and sole possession of first place. Nick Francis, Jarrod Dyson, Christian Colon and, the legitimate youngster of the team, Wil Myers drove in all the Rocks runs. Timely hitting, solid defense and good pitching again prove to be the simple formula to win baseball games even with a little moisture falling from the sky.



With John Lamb turning 20 tomorrow, he finished his teenage professional baseball stats on a high note by picking up his fifth win in the ten starts since being called up to the, Advanced Class A level, Carolina League. Lamb threw 75% of his 72 pitches for strikes while allowing 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk and striking out 4.



The Blue Rocks return home for an eight day home stand and a day off between the next two series. They will play Myrtle Beach Pelicans for three games starting tomorrow and a four game series against Frederick Keys following a day off the schedule.



GO BLUE ROCKS!

Lamb and Blue Rocks try to sweep Lynchburg...tonight.

 John Lamb will get the ball tonight against the Lynchburg Hillcats for his 18th start of the season at 6:05 ET. The Wilmington Blue Rocks are also attempting a series sweep to end the current Carolina League road trip. Tonight will also mark the end of Lamb being a teenager during his professional baseball career.




A few more nerves floating around my stomach over tonight's game. Last nights 21 hit pounding on Lynchburg found the Blue Rocks 2.5 games in first place. Bats seem to have a tendency to get quiet after big outings and I can only hope there are just enough hits, catches and solid pitching to give the Blue Rocks the series.



GO BLUE ROCKS!

Night at the show with the Marlins in town!

Nothing beats a night at a Major League Baseball game...especially when the "fish" win!

Last night's game with the Florida Marlins taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the wife and friends was a real pleasure. Mike Stanton and his raw power was on display as the Marlins beat the Dodgers. Josh Johnson pitched another gem by holding down the Dodgers to no runs. There were plenty of smiles in the Marlins section of the crowd during the game, despite having to endure a couple of staircase falls in our section.

It is always great to see the big boys playing in the show and we are looking forward to the next Southern California trip by the Marlins, down in San Diego, later in the month.

Five Royals farm hands get "POW" honors!

Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals organization and the farm hands that received the current “Pitcher/Player of the Week” honors. The Royals organization had a total of 5 minor league prospects receive the weekly award for the June 28 to July 4 periods.

Mario Santiago in the Class AA, Texas League, with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Jamie Romak in the Advanced Class A, Carolina League, with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (current teammate of John Lamb)

Rene Oriental in the Class A, Midwest League, with the Burlington Bees



Dusty Odenbach in the Class A, Midwest League, with the Burlington Bees

Leonel Santiago in the Rookie level, Appalachian League, with the Burlington Royals



The players and families should all be very proud of the recent accomplishment and the Lamb family wishes you all continued success during your professional baseball careers.
 
 
- - - James Lamb

Blue Rocks and Lamb sit on top...for now.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks win yesterday helped them take the top spot in the Carolina League standings and the performance by John Lamb earned him a nice spot, also.




John Lamb sits on the top of the leader board for his current Earned Run Average that sits at 1.56. With these categories changing daily, it is an unbelievable feeling of pride to see your son’s picture leading the way throughout the Minor League Baseball system in one of the most important areas of pitching.

Although we have not yet connected, through a phone call, following last night’s game, I look forward to reminding him of the left coast pride in his second year of professional baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization. Knowing John, he will be happy but I am sure he will be driven to continue to work hard and get the promotion to the next level of competition.


- - - James Lamb

Rocks bats and Lamb arm spark win in Virginia...

Woodbridge, VA - John Lamb and the Wilmington Blue Rocks had a game full of bang and glitter as they squared off against the Potomac Nationals. The Blue Rocks set the pace early by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, which proved to be more than enough runs support for the teenage lefty, Lamb.

Lamb matched a season high for the length of his performance last night while he allowed only 3 hits, 0 runs, 10 strike-outs and 0 walks. The 10 Ks also matched his professional baseball career high totals and seemed to put an exclamation point on his recent acknowledgement by Baseball America’s mid season All-Star “honorable mention” award. The Kansas City Royals were the only Major League Baseball team to have 4 players mentioned by the Baseball America honor.



All but a couple of Blue Rocks had hits on "Independence Day" as they pounded the Nationals pitching staff to win by the final score of 13-4. The standouts were Eric Hosmer with two home runs and Salvador Perez with a 4-for-5 effort and a game high 4 runs batted in. Jamie Romak also had 4 hits as the Rocks sent a total of four out of the ballpark. Colon, Francis and Myers all had multiple hits during the lopsided game which allowed for some extra players to get involved, as well.
 
 
The Advanced Class A Carolina League contest was seen by more than 9,000 minor league baseball fans and surely most were happy to see it end for the second phase of fireworks following the game. Tonight’s win has positioned the Rocks on top of the standings and with their amount of talent it should be a productive balance to the season.

Lamb will have his last scheduled start as a teenager on Friday, July 9 at the Lynchburg to conclude the recent seven day road trip by the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
 
 
- - - James Lamb

Royal seats for the baseball family...

Friday, July 2nd, we were blessed with the VIP treatment by my son’s agency that represents him in the business of professional baseball. Earlier in the week we were contacted by the West Coast Sports Management, Inc. side of the Gersch Agency and invited to the opening night game of the Kansas City Royals series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.




We had no idea of the VIP suite involved until the confirmation phone call indicated our seating arrangements. My wife, Colleen, John Valek, III, the young man staying with us from Florida, his new friend, Brooke Nelson and myself were overwhelmed with the gracious accommodations offered by the recent merger of the two sports agencies. We were also blessed with the opportunity to spend the evening with Bret Saberhagen, his family and some friends during the game.

We really appreciated the “royal” treatment for our family and friends. Thanks again to the Gersch Agency and the West Coast Sports Management group for their graciousness.



During the game it was announced on the Major League Baseball site by Dick Kaegel that John Lamb and recently called up teammate Wil Myers were accorded as honorable mentions to the Baseball America’s midsummer Minor League all-star game. With Lamb, Myers, Hosmer and Moustakas representing the Royals this makes the Kansas City organization the only team with four honors.




As of Friday, Eric Hosmer was batting .351 with 43 RBIs and 36 extra-base hits for Class A Wilmington. Mike Moustakas was batting .343 with 19 homers and 67 RBIs for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. John Lamb was 3-2 with a 1.77 ERA for Wilmington after being 2-3 with a 1.58 ERA for Class A Burlington. Wil Myers had 10 homers and 45 RBIs with a .289 average for Burlington and was just promoted to Wilmington.



Great job Royals farm system…the future looks very bright for the Blue Crew!
 
 
 
- - - James Lamb
 
Baseball Prospect Guide

Night at the show with the Royals in town

The view of a professional baseball family from the agents VIP suite!