There has been some discussion about Randolph’s work at AAA. Now, I admit that I don’t watch the Express games, and the only info I have to go on is the data from MILB.com and the Express Web site – neither of which has box scores or playbyplay as do sites that report MLB.
From reading the recaps of every game on the Express web site (yeah, I know) it seems to me that Randolph was used as a mopup guy and a long reliever, mostly, and not a LOOGY. Because I don’t have box scores or playbyplay, I can’t tell exactly when he entered games unless the recaps specifically say so.

Because I have noticed that Phil really prefers to use leftys as LOOGYs (as he has done with BOTH Gallo and Miller and – shudder – Franco) I wanted to see how Randolph might do IF he would be used in the role that Phil usually prefers. (Yes, I KNOW Phil said he is going to use Randolph in the same way he uses Borkowski – several innings at a time if need be, but I’ll believe it when I see it. It’s REALLY unusual to see people act in a way that is opposite from their inclinations, and especially if Miller continues to, uh, not get the job done, I would find it REALLY hard to believe that Randolph wouldn’t find himself the new LOOGY)

Therefore, I would worry about how he does against leftys and pitching from the stretch. Based on comments in the previous entry on Randolph as well as emails I have received, opinions of fans who watch the Express and go to games is divided on how Randolph pitches if he is not used to mopup.

So, here are the game recaps of the 6 games Randolph won (from www.roundrockexpress.com)
6/9:
Two innings later, after Oklahoma had regained the lead 5-4, Ransom belted a 0-1 pitch over the left field fence, driving in Jason Lane but more importantly helping his club regain the lead.
Stephen Randolph closed out the ninth while just allowing one hit…
(looks as if he came in when the Express was behind and pitched the inning when his team took the lead)

6/2
With a two-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, trusty reliever Stephen Randolph was sent on to secure the victory, but Sacramento had other ideas for the packed crowd of 14,197. First baseman Jeremy Brown came up to bat with two out in the inning and a man on first, having just nine extra base hits to his record this season. But with one swing of the bat, Brown had his 13th and 14th RBI and just his second home run, and game that was forced into extra innings.
(Blown Save – a stat not recorded in the minor league stats I can find)

After a scoreless 10th, Cody Ransom knocked a two-out, line drive single to left field that allowed Burke and Eric Bruntlett to score, giving them a two run lead to once again hand over to Randolph.
This time the lefty delivered, striking out the side with a base hit in between, but never a serious threat against the Express’ hard earned lead. Randolph earned his fifth win on the season and it couldnít have come at a better time as the clubís six game losing streak came to a halt and moved to within two games of the division lead.
(so he was pitching when his team came back and took the lead)

5/15
After tossing a scoreless eighth, Stephen Randolph entered the ninth with a 7-3 lead and immediately picked up his second strikeout for the Express. But Paul McAnulty dropped a single into center field and Luis Cruz followed with a single to left.
Vincent Sinisi lined out to shortstop Jesse Garcia, but Craig Stansberry drew a walk and Laforest turned on the second pitch he saw ñ a 92-mph fastball and evened the game at 7-7.
(another Blown Save)
Garcia struck out to open the bottom of the frame before Conrad drew a walk and Munson deposited a 1-2 delivery just over the wall in right field, saving Round Rock from its first extra-innings game of the year.
(but the team came back and won in the inning in which he was pitcher of record)

5/8
Left-hander Mark McLemore allowed just one hit on six strikeouts over four innings in the start and Stephen Randolph picked up win number three, working three hitless innings. Paul Estrada closed out the one-hit victory by fanning two over the final six outs.
(here he wins by pitching the 5th inning when McLemore was pulled after 4 – must have been a pitch count thing, as it sure looks as if he was dominating)

4/9
Left-hander and former Longhorn Stephen Randolph worked three innings of scoreless relief for his second win with the Express, who cranked out a season-high 10 hits.
(there aren’t any details in the game account that gives me any clue about when he came into the game and what the score was)

4/5
Fernando Nieve scattered five hits, three walks and three strikeouts over four innings in the start, allowing one earned run and University of Texas alum Stephen Randolph (1-0), Philip Barzilla and Paul Estrada combined to shut the Cubs out for the final five innings.
(looks as if Randolph pitched that all important 5th inning in a game in which they were ahead)

Tags: Houston Astros, MLB

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 21st, 2007 at 6:25 pm and is filed under Stephen Randolph. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.