Real emotional blast

Photo credit - James Lamb

Orange County, CA – It’s been quite some time since sharing any ideas or experiences around professional baseball. No excuse is probably good enough, so no reason will be offered. All emotions attached to the full season minor league games within the Kansas City Royals farm system stay relatively calm until every fifth or sixth day. Sure we pay attention to every game for the team John Lamb (2-2, 3.32) plays with but the real emotional blast only surfaces whenever he “toes the slab.” Fortunately, he continues to serve his fellow Wilmington Blue Rocks, Advanced Class A affiliate of the Royals, as a starting pitcher which gives his friends and family time to recuperate along with his arm between appearances.

Anyone that enjoys the game appreciates the wide spectrum of emotions during the slow tendencies involved with play. An eager anticipation is experienced by coaches, players and fans alike. The variety of blood pressure levels attached to every pitch, ball in play, catch or throw is uniformly shared throughout all whom love the game. A pitcher trying to throw a quality pitch with a batter in the box clearly begins the entire emotional process. This simple example of anxiety, one pitch at a time, can be magnified to unbelievable levels when your son pitches.

Photo credit - Brad Glazier

John has had four starts in the Carolina League this year. He missed an appearance due to the club directing him to skip a start for additional arm rest. This is his first full season effort since undergoing elbow surgery in June 2011 when he was playing for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double A affiliate in the Texas League. Any major mid-season injury can make an athlete feel like time stands still during the process of recovery. Watching one season end and another begin without participating can be a challenge on any player. The positive note during this past off-season was that the Kansas City Royals management placed John on the 40 man roster. Lefty sounded to be a little closer to expectations this past Tuesday night in Wilmington, DE as he helped with the fantastic team effort of ending a seven game slide.

The kid is set to hold ball again this Saturday in Lynchburg, VA against the Hillcats, Atlanta Braves affiliate, based on the team’s current forecast of starting rotations. Listen in on the game’s broadcast for free at BlueRocks website and get a little taste of professional minor league baseball. The Lamb’s will positively be connected for another real emotional blast of adrenaline. 

Quiet time around the house this time of year

Laguna Hills, CA – A professional baseball season is commonly referred to as a grind due in part to the overall length of the entire schedule. From early February to October if your team is competing in the World Series is a long time to play professionally in any sport. Baseball players generally have a small window to decompress from the game if they really want to remain on a roster spot. The off-season is filled with an enormous amount of business surrounding the game but most if not all players continue to prepare their bodies and minds for the grind of another season. The few times that my son John Lamb has popped into town recently has afforded some quiet time around the house this time of year. Despite his Tommy John surgery earlier this year in June he has continued his rehabilitation at the Kansas City Royals spring training facility under the watchful eyes of staff. Therefore anytime my son comes home it is special due to the high demands of a professional baseball lifestyle.

This recent trip home for Thanksgiving was embraced for the obvious but enhanced last Wednesday for the simple reason of having lunch with both my kids. Professional baseball may keep my son away from home for plenty of good reason, but getting the limited opportunity to spend any time with my daughter is always cherished. Having both of my kids together is extra special to me, as many fathers would agree. Our lunch together was simple in idea but heartfelt none the less due to a complicated situation that evolved before my daughter’s first birthday. So I think you might understand the overall excitement with having them together now that she’s an adult with a few more liberties away from her mother. The day was eclipsed by John and I continuing our way to the Los Angeles Auto Show to dream a little about fancy cars.

My son is healing up well from his elbow surgery and set to begin a throwing program in January to prepare for the 2012 professional baseball season with the Royals. No exact time tables or details have been provided by my son to share on this platform. The family and close friends are genuinely ecstatic over his progress, as I’m sure many Royals fans that are keeping a watchful eye on the minor league system of the organization. We are eager to see him throw this coming spring in Surprise, AZ at the Kansas City complex which is shared with the Texas Rangers club.

I’m not willing to share any opinions of the evolving baseball business issues that are typical during the break from the grind of the season. The one thing which has made this fan extremely happy was the 5-year deal attached to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players Association. It’s good for baseball not to jeopardize the growing fan-base rather than experience a labor dispute similar to the National Basketball Association. Many of the details can be argued but the most important thing to me is there will be no work stoppage of America’s pastime for at least another 5 years.

So for now, the household will continue to enjoy all the extra time around John Lamb during the off-season from professional baseball. Next break of time with him is set for this coming weekend due to a scheduled autograph session at a local vendor in South Orange County. John will be at the MVP Sports Cards shop in Laguna Hills this coming Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 2pm. He will be available to sign for an hour leading up to the raffle of a 1958 Mickey Mantle card by the owners of the well- established sports card trading store. Even though his return from Arizona this weekend will be short, the family always enjoys his presence while trying to take a quiet break from the grind of professional baseball. 

For many this time of year in baseball is much tougher than normal

Laguna Hills, CA - Tomorrow will mark the day that Major League Baseball clubs can increase their rosters to 40 men rather than the usual 25. Some professional baseball players will get their first taste of the big league life. However, for many more this time of year in baseball is much tougher than normal life around the game. Lack of promotion, injury, trades or releases are common place during the end of a long minor league and major league season. Hard decisions are made around the game everyday but they are simply magnified at the close of another summer marked by the Labor Day holiday weekend and they are all driven by perceived value.

The new crop of signed players from the most recent MLB First-Year Player Draft will always be one of the greatest pressures in the game for players. Fresh investments and projection of the new players with limited roster spaces available throughout the pro baseball system only make it tougher on more than others. Players that continue to improve and make the necessary adjustments to maintain value have a much greater chance of staying in the game. Those that don’t increase their value are likely to be mere statistic of merely having only played professional baseball and not making it a career.

Any hick-up from injury can cause some fans, players, families and friends to discuss the hypothetical situations. Our family has become entangled with the injury bug since my son, John Lamb, went down earlier this season which required a ’Tommy John’ surgery back in June. Not his first run with injury but his first since signing out of high school following the Kansas City Royals 5th round selection of the 2008 draft. It serves nobody any value to fret over what-if it didn’t happen. A dreaming discussion serves no purpose around a true baseball household. I have been associated with the game long enough to realize the swift changes to the perception of value and  both he and I continue to be grateful for our opportunity to be around the game we love. I have confidence he will play again through the same principles that started his professional career and the displays of his ability to compete, improve and make adjustments to maintain value.

Trades and releases will always be part of the professional game and all the more reason for players to take their opportunity as serious as possible during their time of wearing a uniform. Value drives the majority of these decisions throughout a long season. Both types of these moves come without warning and can be very difficult to understand and digest for those entangled. It’s not always the end of a career around the game. Actually, many stories can be told of positive experiences from the players that simply continue to work hard at perceived value with the new organization.

There is nothing easy about playing professional baseball or being associated with a player involved in this extremely competitive environment. No need to worry about the things controlled by others perceived value. Many will leave the game with a bad taste in their mouth based on decisions by others, rather than working their way to another perception of higher value elsewhere. While this year’s full-season schedule in minor league baseball draws closer to an end for most of the players and their families, some are already looking forward to a playoff series in their respective leagues. A few might be heading into their off-season not knowing if their done playing the game for the current organization. One thing is for certain, 450 players will be getting a chance of their life to play in the show. Only time will tell if their perceived value will keep them there to make a career of playing professional baseball in the Major Leagues.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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.

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

Lamb good again...Rocks take the series!

John Lamb gave his Wilmington Blue Rocks a chance to win with his 8th start of the year in the Carolina League. It is can always be somewhat of a challenge to pitch on the road, but Lamb continues to be steady with the numbers home or away during his first full season in professional baseball.

Lamb had a high pitch count during his work tonight due to patient Frederick Keys hitters and again the high strike-out count. The line on Lamb was 4 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 1 walk and 7 strike-outs in 86 pitches. When Lamb handed the ball to the bull-pen the Blue Rocks had a 3-1 lead, but unfortunately could not qualify for the win.




Hodgson and Mozingo both teamed up to hold off a late inning surge in the bottom of the 9th to take the series from the Keys in Frederick, MD. Ivor Hodgson had a very solid performance into the 9th and qualified for the win, while Harold Mozingo came in and got the save.



Adrian Ortiz hit his first Blue Rocks home run during his 4-for-5 night at the plate. Another note, worth mentioning was the Christian Colon debut that was very quiet at the plate. He finished the night 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. It is very safe to say that this will not be the only night he has nothing to show at the plate, during his career, but the kid can simply play the game and he is a wonderful addition to the organization.

The Blue Rocks return home to fend off the Lynchburg Hillcats, Advanced Class A team of the Cincinnati Reds organization, for a short 3 game stand. The current rotation has Lamb pitching the next two starts on the road and he will not be throwing at home until July 15. At least he won’t be a teenager the next time he pitches in front of the Wilmington crowd.
 
 
- - - James Lamb
 
Baseball Prospect Guide

Lamb grabs his 2nd "POW" honor...

Very proud of my son, John Lamb, and his second "Pitcher of Week" Award during his young professional baseball career. The weekly honors were announced much earlier today on Minor League Baseball and throughout all of the leagues.

Lamb will get the ball tomorrow night in Frederick, MD against the Keys, Advanced Class A team of the Baltimore Orioles organization. Tuesday's start will be his 16th of the season and just another day at the ballpark for him, I am sure. However, it will match his number of starts in the Midwest League earlier this year prior to his call-up to the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Congratulations again to all of those minor league players that received the honors today for their recent performances.



- - - James Lamb

Baseball Prospect Guide

Lamb good in Salem, but not not enough for the win...

With John Lamb getting the ball tonight on the bump against the Salem Red Sox in Salem, VA he has matched last year’s effort of 14 starts. Although still a pup by most professional baseball standards, Lamb continues to perform at all levels in the minor leagues.





Wilmington Blue Rocks versus Salem Red Sox was seen by more than 3,763 fans with two of the league’s best pitchers. Lamb and Huntzinger both did their jobs entertaining the crowd and giving their respective team an opportunity to win.

The Rocks have struggled all year to beat the Sox and tonight was no different. Lamb pitched well to hold the Sox to only 2 runs, 1 earned, 6 hits, 6 strike-outs and 1 walk during his six innings of work. Lamb handed the ball to Mozingo with a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the 7th. Mozingo took the loss later in the game when the Sox took back the lead in the 8th inning.




Huntzinger pitched exceptionally well for his seven inning performance. Without taking anything away from his strike throwing ability, it must be mentioned that the Blue Rocks continued aggressive approach at the plate allowed Huntzinger to use only 56 pitches to get his 21 outs. Not sure why he did not continue to throw in the 8th inning with such a low pitch count, but surely a surprise when the Sox went to their bull-pen.




Adam Frost who was just recently called up from Burlington, IA tied the game with a solo home-run in the top of the 8th inning for the Blue Rocks. However, the lead was short lived due to the Sox taking back the lead in the bottom of the same inning. The Rocks lost the game and were swept in the series to put an end to the eight day road-trip.




The Blue Rocks return home tomorrow for a short series and the All-Star break before another short series with the same Salem Red Sox in Wilmington, DE to start off the second half of the professional baseball season in advanced a level.




LETS GO ROCKS!

 
 
- - - James Lamb

 
https://baseballprospectguide.com

Tonight, Lamb will be pitching on six days of rest!

John Lamb is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for tonight’s game in Salem, VA against the Red Sox. This start will match last year’s efforts for Lamb with his 14 appearance on the mound. With an extra day off between starts due to an off day this past Monday, we are looking forward to hearing the game on the Blue Rocks radio broadcast starting at 7:05 ET.

Kansas City Royals affiliates page!

Wilmington has struggled in all of the previous games versus Salem this year. The Sox have taken eight of their nine meetings with Wilmington this season. The lone loss for Salem came in the first meeting, by one run. Two of its subsequent seven straight successes also saw a one-run final margin. Salem has averaged 7.6 tallies per game against the Blue Crew in nearly doubling Wilmington's scoring output, 68-35.


The Lamb family wishes all the Blue Rocks the best tonight as they conclude their last road trip before the All-Star break.
 
GO ROCKS!
 
 
- - - James Lamb

Lamb runs into 1 tough inning and suffers loss...

Road starts for my son always seem to ignite more nerves than usual. Following the Blue Rocks Thursday night beating, of the Dash, only added to my fears based on a typical occurrence that bats seem to sleep after those types of performances.

A large crowd was not an issue for John Lamb in North Carolina Friday night, I am sure. The challenge of a successful minor league line-up turned into some reality in the 2nd inning, as witnessed by more than 6,000 fans. The Winston-Salem Dash, High A team of the Chicago White Sox, has the 3rd highest team batting average throughout all levels of professional baseball and they simply proved that stature in one inning.


Lamb was unscathed in the first inning, but needed every bit of the 33 pitches in the second inning to get three outs for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The four earned runs matched all runs allowed in four previous outings by the 19 year-old since coming to the Carolina League. Despite giving up the runs, Lamb did record 3 strike-outs in the frame. The second inning was the only blemish of the lefty's five inning performance, but certainly nothing to be ashamed of by most standards.


During the shortest start of his Carolina League career, Lamb threw 84 pitches with seventy percent as strikes. He allowed 7 hits, 2 walks, 4 earned runs and struck out 5 before handing the ball off to the bull-pen to finish the game.


The Blue Rocks 4-3 loss also witnessed the hitting streak for Jamie Romak come to an end, at 18 straight games. Romak is now a single game shy of equaling the longest hitting streak in franchise history. Corey Hart established the franchise mark by hitting safely in 19 straight from July 30-September 1, 2001. His streak was matched by Justin Cowan from June 29-July 26, 2002.
 
 
Good luck Blue Rocks trying to stay alive for a first place finish in the first half of the season.
 
 
 
- - - James Lamb

Blue Rocks and Lamb lose the last game of series against the Keys.

John Lamb might not have had his best stuff on the mound today against the Frederick Keys but his ERA didn't move. His Carolina League efforts to give his team the chance to win continued in front of a 5,743 fans at Frawley Stadium, earlier today. The sun was out and the humidity was up along with the temperature, but the bats of the Wilmington Blue Rocks were cold.

Lamb was pitching to contact today, during his six innings of work, rather than the typical pile of strike outs during previous professional baseball appearances. Not the end of the world, but while throwing to contact the defense needs to play catch behind you. Errors allowed 2 of the 3 total runs to cross the plate while Lamb continued to pound the strike zone with 68 percent of his thrown pitches. Lamb also struck out 3, walked 1 and allowed 8 hits during his 79 pitch count performance.

I'm sure if you asked John Lamb he would say it was a bad day, but I beg to differ. Throwing strikes and giving your team a chance to win is all a starting pitcher can really do when he gets the ball every 5 days. You need a little defense and run support to win ball games along with pitchers that throw strikes.

The Frederick Keys starting pitcher, Zagone, did a good job going the distance. However, the cold, aggressive bats of the Blue Rocks hitters enabled the 2008 draft pick to throw his first complete game in a very long time. He recorded his three outs in one of the innings on just five pitches. Need I say more.

I have way to many opinions on the approach at winning ball games to comment, but as a dad I remind myself regularly that minor league baseball is about development and the process of elimination. Most of the minor league professional baseball games I see encompass the lack of patience at the plate.

For now, the Blue Rocks will have the day off tomorrow and start a road trip on Friday. John Lamb will ring the bell for the third time on the road in 6 days with the mentioned day off.

GO BLUE ROCKS!


- - - James Lamb

Baseball Prospect Guide

Lamb will debut in Carolina League Friday night in Wilmington, DE...

Tomorrow nights game for the Wilmington Blue Rocks will have some excited listeners from the West coast tuned in for the recently called up southpaw John Lamb and his debut start. It has been said on the Minor League Baseball site that Lamb is officially the youngest player in the High A level Carolina League, just by a couple months of another Royals prospect, Salvador Perez. Might get the chance to see/hear both young men playing together, as the battery, on the first game of the six game home stand.

All our family and friends are extremely proud of this new challenge for Lamb to wear his 4th hat in less than twelve months of playing professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization. He missed the entire 2008 season following the 5th round draft selection while he continued to rehab his throwing arm from the injury suffered in an automobile accident in February, prior to the draft.

Good luck Blue Rocks and son!


- - - James Lamb

Lamb and staff shut-out Peoria on special night!

There was a ceremony for our Nation's Armed Services men, and women, Saturday evening in Burlington, IA at the Bees ballpark before their game against Peoria. Prior to last night, the Burlington Bees hadn't had much success against the Peoria Chiefs this year.

John Lamb erased that fact last night with his own artillery by pitching 7 scoreless innings in his longest start of his first Midwest League season. Lamb was supported by the Bees offense that produced four runs while he spread out 4 hits, 3 strike-outs and 1 walk. The Bees bullpen did a fine job of shoring up the Chiefs and preserving the first shut-out of the 2010 season for the club.

Not a typical performance of strike-outs for Lamb, but effective nonetheless. He picked up his second win of the season and lowering his overall ERA to 1.58, which must have put a nice smile on his face following the last out of the game. A good team effort to get the Bees another win as they close in on their second scheduled day off of the season.

However, that smile was not nearly as big as mine following his phone call home with a wonderful update. The news will be posted soon on the Midwest League transactions, which can be found on the Minor League baseball site. For those of you that can read between the lines, it was definitely worth a grin of excitement for his progress. Good news travels fast and our phones continued to ring late into the night on the West coast.

There is nothing guaranteed in professional baseball. The only given is the necessity of having to make adjustments along the way of getting an out, finishing a game or a move in a career.

GO BEES!



- - - James Lamb
 
http://www.4-domain.com/