Limited environment of professional baseball

Laguna Hills, CA - Being the family of a professional baseball player brings tremendous excitement the days leading up to games. If it’s a text or phone call leading up to another pitching start they are usually brief in nature and reassuring that everything is okay. There are a limited number of families that have the experiences associated with the Double-A or higher level of this great game and the Lamb family is simply one of about 2,250 that currently have the opportunity to physically and emotionally experience game day events of their son, grandson, uncle, cousin or brother. Pretty cool stuff most of the time during these unique journeys of minor league baseball, but one thing is certain, whenever a player reaches Double-A level they are in a very limited environment of professional baseball. There are only 30 Double-A, 30 Triple-A and obviously only 30 Major League Baseball clubs currently in the United States of America. We know where the show is and players throughout the world strive to get on one of these 90 rosters involved in professional baseball here in North America.

The physical demand of being a Dad of a professional baseball prospect is really nothing worth noting. Sure I currently have plenty of issues to discuss regarding my physical limitations due to my injury, disability from work on December, 2009 but I’m likely to get a tongue lashing from one of many attorneys helping me navigate the legal maze with being injured on the job by a large corporate entity in the state of California. Ridiculous is an understatement with the speed of the legal process when dealing with denial of accountability. The weather has more of an impact on my spinal disability than my son John Lamb starting in his 6^Th game of the season for his fellow Northwest Arkansas Naturals team in the Texas League. The normal anticipation of another professional start for my son can add to the usual insomnia symptoms while taking my pain relief medicine, but he only throws every 5-7 days, so it is well worth the lack of winks. Special territory for few families to experience and the Lamb’s take every one in stride with gratitude.

The emotional activity is very diverse throughout the family of John Lamb (0-2, 3.22). I spend more time with weather concerns in the Midwest than I do over his baseball starts. I express my feelings about his performances with reserve based on my continued involvement with the Florida Marlins as a scout in the Southern California area. I firmly believe that every Father of a pitcher deals with similar emotions while watching their son’s action during a game and most of it is plain anxiety. The obvious desire to grin is the joy of watching your son control the game from the mound, but the blank stare can be triggered by a tight strike zone to an error recorded following the ball being placed in play off a bat. The game of baseball can be referenced by some as a roller coaster of emotions and those same feelings are just magnified as a proud Dad of a professional baseball player. Strike outs are highs and leaving base runners on base during an exit from the game is definitely one of the low points of a game. Making every attempt to control emotions during a game can be challenging every time my son pitches, but it has gotten much easier over the years and I’m sure will continue to progress with every professional start.

The physical and emotional paths of professional baseball are very personal on many levels during a career. It is much easier to address questions about these experiences rather than provide content rich material for readers. My wife is much more intense than I within the household during John Lamb performances and today she finally gets a chance to listen to the broadcast of the Naturals game against the Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies at 7:00 CT from Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR.

A quick pinch of reality can return a smile to my face regarding the opportunity my son has had with the Kansas City Royals organization since his 5^Th round draft selection back in 2008 no matter how bad the game may evolve.

A limited number of families will experience professional baseball above the Double-A level and statistically more stories can be shared over failure during their journeys. Everyday my son continues to play the game he loves, I am literally excited knowing that he is still living out his dreams and remain happy with his progress and development.

* Little side note from the last start by John Lamb on May 4th against the Springfield Cardinals affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals organization:

Innings pitched - 6.0 (longest of the season)

Batters faced - 22

First pitch strikes - 13

Total pitches - 81

Strikes thrown - 45

Ground ball outs - 5

Fly ball outs - 9

Pick offs - 0

Stolen bases - 2

Strike outs - 3

Walks - 3

Hit by pitch - 0

Earned runs - 1

Hits - 2

Home runs - 0

Lowered ERA - 3.22

Today will offer another start of my son’s young professional baseball career and no matter how high, or low, the experiences may germinate we realize the limited number of people that get to personally attach themselves to the results of a Texas League game. The Lamb family is raring to go with the 48^Th start of the John Lamb professional baseball story. Don’t hesitate to offer comments or ask any questions you might have about our experiences associated with being a family of a professional baseball prospect.

Counting down the minutes

Laguna Hills, CA - My son John Lamb will start today for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, against the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at 7:05PM CT from Whataburger Field in Texas. This marks the third start of the 2011 season for my son in the Texas League. Some of those close to John, like the household, are counting down the minutes for the first pitch.

Today I will take a break from my Development Baseball instruction and scouting responsibility with the Florida Marlins to be a nervous Dad of a professional baseball prospect. Nervous only in the sense that my son is better than the early season statistics expose with the Naturals. The number of walks and hits allowed during his first two starts have some concerned with his overall health, but John insists he feels great and ready to take the ball every 5 days to try and help his team win.

Last outing had a lopsided number of walks for the 3.2 innings of work and an untypical low percentage of strikes thrown during the game. Baseball is a continuous effort of adjustments to succeed and much more evident through the professional levels. John Lamb (0-0, 4.05) is fully aware of the necessity to make adjustments during games and between starts. While his first two appearances have been less than dominating, we are eager to see what today will bring for this young professional baseball player.

Our recent subscription to MiLB was initiated over the televised game schedule and the fact that John Lamb will be on the mound for the Naturals (7-4) against the Hooks (3-8) in the coastal town of Corpus Christi, TX. Seeing him play has always been a challenge during his career and getting the opportunity to watch the game today has merely added to this Dad’s excitement for this Texas League game. Now we simply stare at the clock and continue to count down the minutes leading up to the broadcast.

Time to start the 2011 baseball season

Laguna Hills, CA - The Lamb family has been patiently waiting for the next professional baseball season for sometime now. My direct attachment started as has many others by simply being a fan of the game when I was very young. My adherence has grown over the years as a player, coach, scout and now a Dad of a professional baseball prospect. The affection to the game of baseball comes from within and is merely exemplified thru the personal experiences our family has been blessed with. Today our family will get the opportunity to assume the position since it is time to start the 2011 season for John Lamb and his fellow teammates on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

Opening Night for the Naturals ended with the defending Texas League Champions taking their first lost of the season. The game had ceremonies to celebrate the 2010 Championship for the returning players and fans of the Springdale, AR affiliate of the Royals. The game ended as a pitching duel between the Naturals and visiting San Antonio Missions, Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Naturals fell short by a final of 3-2 with Christopher Dwyer talking his first loss as the opening day starter.

Following the Naturals Opening Day game we received a rather unusual call from John Lamb about baseball, cars, apartment and general stuff. Not uncommon in content but duration only. It’s not every time we get more than just a few minutes based on time zones and work schedules. Professional baseball has some strange work hours, both on and off the field, for all involved in the game. Late night calls during the season are common place within the Lamb household with my continued scouting position with the Florida Marlins and coaching with the Orange County Giants. Last night’s call was satisfying while discussing baseball with my son and I’m happy to hear that he feels good and he’s ready for his first start of another season in professional baseball. He has a tremendous awareness about his abilities and typically stays within his strengths to get outs for his team.



Last night was what has been a normal occurrence for many years the night before my son’s games as a pitcher. Not the case during his amateur days of playing baseball as a position player also. Surely due in part by the frequency of games John Lamb played during his youth because he really does love the game. I firmly hold on to the hope that I’m no different than any other dad that suffers from a little anxiety when their kids play. The fact I continue to experience some additional insomnia the night before his professional baseball starts simply confirms my personal passion for the game.



My anxiety over my son’s career will continue until the day he stops playing or I stop breathing. Playing in Major League Baseball is not an easy task and staying in the big leagues is even tougher. Every game has an important role in the development of a professional baseball pitcher or position player based on the player’s preparation, work and ability to execute. Careers can end in an instant as history has shown, so there lies the basis for the added stress by this professional baseball prospect dad.



Today marks another special day for the Lamb family out on the West coast as my son takes the ball to start game 2 of the season’s first series against the San Antonio Missions in a Texas League game. The Naturals schedule indicates a 8:00PM E.T. first pitch from the beautiful Arvest Ballpark. Game can be heard on the web at ESPN 92.1 The Ticket for anyone unable to pass thru the ballpark gate. My wife Colleen, my mother Judith and a couple of Yorkshire Terriers will be listening with heartfelt attention. In reality I’m sure the dogs have no clue about the radio stuff or John playing baseball. That wasn’t the case when he was young and dressing up in his various baseball uniforms before leaving the house to play. The computer will be connected to external speakers to officially anoint the 2011 professional baseball season for John Lamb and his fellow farm-hands with the Royals organization. The Lamb’s are very close to notching up another professional baseball start by our dearest John Lamb living out his dream.

Only a few

The video above was the fourth out recorded by John Lamb during a simulated game on March 24, 2011 in Surprise, AZ. The out was recorded against a future teammate Mike "Moose" Moustakas. Fairly certain that John and Mike have not played on any teams together during their Royals careers. All players in the video are deemed by many to be the Kansas City Royals top prospects in a talented farm system.

Laguna Hills, CA - The 2011 professional baseball Spring training days are dwindling down. Some teams have already left the Cactus of Grapefruit League facilities based on their schedules for their opening series. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are scheduled to play at Dodgers Stadium tonight in the customary Freeway series here in Southern California. Some guys are continuing to compete for last minute roster spots on the 25 and 40 man rosters with only a few days left for the opening day of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. All teams are equal in the beginning throughout professional baseball. Just about everyone within the rookie level, class A, double A, triple A and the big leagues, whom are scratching and clawing their way up the ladder, is a bit on edge right now while they wait for their official assignments.

My son John Lamb is more than likely to be assigned to the Double A level, in the Texas League, with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to further develop his professional baseball career. John got a taste of the big league camp this Spring as a non roster invitee for additional opportunity to learn and grow around the game. My son has made me smile throughout these early stages of his professional career path and we are looking forward to many more throughout this and coming seasons. So for now, nothing official, other than a current Naturals roster spot, can contradict my position on where John will begin the season for the Royals organization. Believe me when I say that there are plenty of things a 20 year-old could be doing other than playing at the Double A level in professional baseball and we are grateful for his opportunity and baseball development.

It was nice to get my first live action of my son playing in his third Spring training with the Royals since signing out of Laguna Hills High School following the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft. Life does not permit staying out in Arizona during his work but whenever the stars line-up to get a peek I make every effort possible to watch him throw. Travel has been a serious challenge for sometime now since my spinal injury back in 2009 and has drastically impacted my ability to see my son pitch during his professional baseball career so far.

John should be up again today following his last start in another minor league assignment, per his indication during our last visit. Despite the struggle of my painful spinal condition I managed to see him throw for the first time this year during game speed this past Thursday against and with other Royals prospects. I could not stop grinning with pride and excitement to see him work and throw against his fellow teammates. Good, bad or indifferent it was a good first for this Dad to see this year while his son continues living his dream around the game of professional baseball. Of course the recorded game where he pitched one inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a big league game gets an occasional replay on the home television for a smile, but nothing beats a live performance to fully appreciate his special experiences during his young career.

He physically looked great and said he feels good going into another full season assignment for the Kansas City Royals along side a large number of very talented prospects in the farm system. No mystery why there is a genuine buzz throughout the Royals camp with all the talent from top to bottom levels of development. With only a few days to conclude the 2011 Spring training work the Lamb family patiently waits for a call regarding work and the official announcement of John Lamb and his fourth year of assignments by the Kansas City Royals baseball club.

Time for ring

Laguna Hills, CA - The 2011 Spring training work for the Kansas City Royals took pause today to acknowledge their Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals captured the Texas League Championship last year by defeating the Midland Rockhounds, affiliate of the Oakland A’s organization, in the best of a five game series. Players and staff will celebrate during a ceremony at the Surprise complex this morning to collect their hardware for a successful professional baseball season. This special time for ring presentation should serve as proof to the Royals fan that winning ways are brewing though the farm system.

Photo credit - Dina Wathan Blevins

John Lamb continues his third Spring training assignment in the Cactus League, while having just recently been sent to the minor league portion of camp. Although we have had limited communication, I’m confident he is filled with excitement to collect another ring for his contributions on the baseball field. I share the joy from the West coast, during this celebration, as these young men take pause and continue to prepare for the next step in their professional baseball careers.



Unfortunately, my scouting schedule and ongoing health issues prevent me from being in the desert today to see my son and his fellow Naturals teammates receive their well deserved hardware. I’ll simply wait for the next ring ceremony with confidence that additional rings are in the future for the Kansas City Royals organization much sooner than most have predicted. Maybe it is parental optimism but only time will tell.

Lamb and Naturals nearly get no-hitter

Springfield, MO - Last night the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, John Lamb and Rowdy Hardy took a combined no-hit bid into the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and a 3-2 count on Andrew Brown. The pitch was deposited over the home run fence by Brown to spoil what would have been the first no-hitter in Naturals history. That record is safe for another game now.

John Lamb (1-1, 5.79, 9-7, 2.22) did exceptionally well last night over his six and one-third innings of work. Not uncommon for young pitchers to come out of the game whenever they reach their pitch count, no matter what is currently happening. Lamb handed the ball over the Rowdy Hardy without having allowed a single hit, striking out five and walking three during his 86 pitch performance. Hardy took the special evening into the 9th before his focus shifted into maintaining the 6-1 win.

Photo credit - Tony Piazza

Lamb picked up his first win since being called up to the Double-A level Naturals. His first four starts in the Texas League were far form the same type of result, but he insisted through phone calls home that he was making the necessary adjustments to improve his starts. That became very clear on Thursday night against the Springfield Cardinals, Texas League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Clint Robinson may have been overshadowed slightly by the no-hit bid, but surely shouldn't have based on his franchise record performance at the plate. Robinson provided nearly all the run support for the Naturals by driving in 5 runs off of his two home-runs and a triple. Robinson now holds the record for the Naturals single season mark of 27 homers with a few more games left to the regular season schedule.

The exhale from the Lamb family is the result of holding our breath during the past few starts in the Double-A level for my son. He's young but adamant that he knows he can compete at this level and last night he clearly proved to a few skeptics he belongs in the Texas League at this early stage of his professional baseball career. Thanks again to the Kansas City Royals for the continued support and opportunity they have provided my son, John Lamb.

Naturals loss sweep on short start by Lamb

Frisco, TX - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals plated six runs with the first seven players to start the game before recording the first out Friday night against the Frisco RoughRiders. A shocking way for John Lamb to take the ball wearing his shortened sleeves to start the game attempting to stay cool during the Texas evening heat. Lamb promptly walked the lead off hitter on four consecutive balls out of the zone. Yet another first of his career but I'm sure will not be the last of his career.




The text message earlier on Friday indicated John’s upbeat attitude about the game and honestly came at a shock to us out here on the West coast. More than likely it was the surprise he had received from the Naturals staff about the opportunity to wear shorter sleeves and expose his arms filled with tattoos at an attempt to stay cool.
 
 

 

 
 
 
The night for the Naturals continued to shock the 10,207 Frisco fans at Dr. Pepper Ballpark with the less than average performance during the third Double-A start for John Lamb. The Naturals could not collect another run throughout the game and Lamb was tagged with his shortest professional appearance of his young career. Lamb faced four batters in the 3rd inning without recording an out. Rowdy Hardy inherited 3 runners whom all scored tying the game at 6-6.




Lamb finished his shortest evening ever in professional baseball with 2 plus innings. He faced a total of 15 batters, threw 56 pitches, 29 strikes, 3 ground-ball outs, 2 fly outs, allowed 7 hits, 6 runs (6 earned runs), 3 walks and 1 strike-out before handing the ball to the Naturals bull-pen.



Rowdy Hardy did a great job for 5.0 innings after allowing the 3 inherited runs to cross in the 3rd. The recently returned Naturals pitcher, Barry Bowden, took the loss following the 8th inning earned run by the RoughRiders who went on to win 7-6. The Naturals did however win the series as they head out of town to Midland, TX to take on the Rockhounds, Texas League affiliate of the Oakland A’s, Saturday evening.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

 
 
The following paragraphs are going to be extremely difficult to write because it will be filled with some gut instincts about the three Double-A appearances from my son.





The first batter he faced in this recent promotion to the Texas League he struck out, yet he hasn’t had more than a handful since. The first three innings, in that same debut, Lamb didn’t allow a run and than the wheel seemed to be reinvented. Why?




I have heard enough accounts of his performances from scouts and professional baseball minds to know something is wrong. The last time I checked a box score, the pitcher’s name is listed for the win, or loss, and there lies the basis for the active opinion with how to get outs for his team.




I am convinced that the recent results are not due to any changes in his mechanics, but rather the approach at attacking professional minor league hitters. Some guys can get outs by working off of a fast-ball, while others work backwards, as some might say. Both ways get outs and that is the ultimate goal for a pitcher. Right?





If you can’t tell I am losing my mind over the recent results of John Lamb, than you aren’t very perceptive. The sad thing is I know exactly what is happening and there is nothing I can do about the ongoing problem in the Texas League. All I can do is watch an unbelievable second professional minor league season turn to _ _ _ _ over changes in a pitching approach.





I believe with all my heart the Kansas City Royals management and John Lamb will determine the problems…I can only hope sooner, rather than later.

Clearly an unlikely Lamb start in AA home debut

Springdale, AR - John Lamb had an unlikely performance, in comparison to early starts this year, during his Northwest Arkansas Naturals home field debut at Arvest Ballpark Sunday night. It has never been easy to digest a broadcast, or game, that exposes the human side of sports. Defensive errors and balls put into play, as hits, can be a bad formula if a pitcher is not missing bats. Lamb has not experienced many of these types of games during his career, let alone back-to-back performances since his promotion to the Texas League, Class AA level. I can’t remember the last time Lamb pitched without a single strike-out.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

Lamb finished his five innings of work with a 5-3 deficit and allowing 10 hits, 5 runs (2 earned runs), 1 walk, 0 strike-outs, 0 home-runs and lowers his Texas League ERA to 4.50. Ben Swaggerty and Henry Barrera followed Lamb with two scoreless innings each and Brandon Sisk took the loss during his two innings of relief to conclude the extra inning contest with the Arkansas Travelers.



Although the Naturals banged out a total of 11 hits during the extra inning game and pretty much negated my theory of concern following last night’s slug fest, the Royals Class AA level team struggled playing catch with the start of the game. Both runs that were allowed by Lamb in the first inning were unearned based on two errors. Not sure who committed the errors based on the fact that the box and article on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals site have conflicting accounts of the miscues.



Johnny Giavotella, Manuel Pina and Chris McConnell were the only multiple hit Naturals for the night. Giavotella provide some ninth inning heroics with a two run big fly that tied the game and sent the game into extra innings. Arkansas went on to win the game in the eleventh with a couple of extra base hits which plated one run. The Naturals were not up to the challenge of any more runs during the bottom half of the inning.



I realize that the game of baseball is not fair, at times. I also understand that pitchers are not going to dominant every time they touch the mound. Anyone that thinks otherwise has not watched enough baseball. However, I can say with complete confidence this will not be his last unlikely performance of his professional baseball career. The only time to start worrying is if, and when, a player can’t make the adjustments necessary to eliminate multiple and consecutive below average outings. It is clearly not time to start freaking out over the last couple of starts, at least not for this baseball prospect’s dad.

AA debut by Lamb...not great, but okay

Springfield, MO - The Texas League debut might not have been what Lamb had hoped for, but I know he is fully aware of the complexity of the game despite his young age. You’re not always going to miss bats, prevent runs or dominant the competition as a pitcher and my son realizes that, I’m sure.

Photo credit - Tony Piazza

John Lamb started the game tonight against the Springfield Cardinals, Texas League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, by striking out two of the four batters faced in the first inning. The uneventful second and third innings were followed by a two run fourth and another two run fifth before giving the ball to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals bull-pen. Both innings that produced runs for the Cardinals included errors, one was at the hand of John and the other was the inability to catch a fly ball.



The lack of Naturals offense, due in part to a sound starting performance by the 23 year-old Scott McGregor who spread out 3 hits over his 7 innings of work and allowed only 1 earned run in the second inning. The last inning against Cardinals pitcher, Jason Buursma was a good example of the Naturals evening at the plate. All three 9th inning outs were recorded on just four pitches while chasing a seven run deficit.



John Lamb spread out his 86 pitches by throwing 56 in the strike zone, allowed 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned runs), 1 walk, 4 strike outs and 1 home-run throughout his 5 innings of work. Christopher Chavez and Walter Swaggerty came in form the bull-pen but Chavez just couldn’t hold off the Cardinals bats as he gave up 4 more earned runs during his 2 and two-thirds innings in front of 8,484 Springfield home fans.
 
 
 
I would like to blame something else for the results of my son’s Texas League debut, but as a baseball man for many years I can’t. I wish I could blame the new low number on his back, the throw-back uniforms, not having a new profile picture on his bio page, sleeping too much last night or not being able to listen to the game from the house due to another baseball commitment that required my attention during his AA debut, but none of that mattered.




The game of baseball is failure base on many levels and those that make the adjustments to minimize failure will succeed. Tonight’s game was a learning experience for my son and I have utmost confidence that he will take something away from this start that will benefit his professional baseball career in the long run.
 
 
 
Today, after an early morning game I worked inside the dugout with a Connie Mack age team from Orange County with the kid we are hosting from Florida, John Valek, III, my wife jumped on the Internet. My wife found a couple of nice articles about John Lamb and last night’s game. We already know the results from his debut but it is always nice to see some positive comments about his performance.
 
 
 
One of the clips from an article by Kary Booher, that helped me smile, was quote from the Naturals manager Brian Poldberg about his new left-handed pitcher's outing in Springfield in front of this year’s largest crowd. Manager Poldberg said, “I’m anxious to see him five days from now. He showed some presence out there. He went after guys."




Now that John has been nudged off the Minor League Baseball ERA leader board by his Texas League debut and currently sits in the second spot, trailing by a mere 0.05, we are all eager to see him throw at his new home ballpark, just like his new Manager.


 
 
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals split tonight's double-header in Springfield by winning the first game and losing the second. Another good lefty from the Kansas City Royals farm system, Danny Duffy, is set to start tomorrows final game of the series against the Cardinals.

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.