Let’s go back and revisit the 2006 MLB First Year Player Draft. We Dodger fans remember all too well that Clayton Kershaw was selected as the #7 overall pick that year. But that draft had some other players selected that have gone on and had good ML careers, and potentially another potential HOF pitcher to go with Kersh.
1 – Luke Hochevar
3 – Evan Longoria
5 – Brandon Morrow
6 – Andrew Miller
8 – Robert Stubbs
10 – Tim Lincecum
11 – Max Scherzer (I bet Arizona would like to have him back)
12 – Jeremy Jeffress
21 – Ian Kennedy (He was the big return in the Scherzer trade with Detroit/NYY)
30 – Adam Ottavino
Now that is a pretty impressive 1st round in 2006. There were several others that had decent careers drafted in the round but not identified above. One of those players was selected #20 overall by the Minnesota Twins…LHH OF/1B Chris Parmalee.
Chris is now a member of the Dodgers AA affiliate, the Texas Drillers. We just learned that the 31-year-old was just named to the Texas League North Divisions AS team. Through Thursday’s game, Chris is slashing .257/.381/.531/.912 with 8 HRs. He is tied with DJ Peters for #3 on the Drillers roster behind Gavin Lux (13) and Cody Thomas (10) and tied for 10th in the Texas League.
It will not be Chris’ first ASG appearance. Parmalee was named to the 2009 Florida State League (A+ League) Southern Division All Stars while with the Fort Myers Miracle. Of special note was that Chris won the Home Run Derby held before the game. 10 years later he is back on an AA All Star roster. If that isn’t perseverance…
But who is Chris Parmalee. After finishing his HS career at Chino Hills FS, Chris was drafted by the Twins. He spent his first 5 years of professional baseball in the Twins system. He was first called up to the MLB team in September 2011 and made his ML debut on September 6 in fine fashion. He got his first ML with his first ML AB with a single off Jake Peavy. On September 7, Chris got his first two ML RBIS with a double to center off John Danks. On September 17 against Josh Judy and the Cleveland Indians, Chris went 3-3 and hit his first ML HR. He finished his first ML campaign by slashing .355/.443/.592/1.035, 4 HRs, and 14 RBIs, in 88 PA.
He was destined to star with Justin Morneau and Joe Maurer in the Twins resurgence. It just never came to fruition. After a slow start in 2012 he was optioned to AAA and bounced back and forth over the next three years. On December 13, 2014 Chris was DFA to make room for Ervin Santana.
Parmalee signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2015 season. On June 16, 2015 Parmalee was recalled and proceeded to go 4-6 with 2 HRs against the Phillies. One of those Hr’s was off his current Drillers teammate, Justin DeFratus. On June 17, he went 1-3 with another HR. On July 31, unfortunately Chris was once again DFA to make room for another player. This time for Gerardo Parra.
Chris signed a minor league contract with NYY for the 2016 season which proved to be a boon for him. On Wednesday, June 8, Parmelee became the first player since Roger Maris in 1960 to hit two homers in his first start with the Yankees. Parmelee also had a double and three RBIs in the victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The next morning New York columnists asked themselves whether Chris could be the answer, or at least an answer, to the Yankees struggling lineup.
His next game, June 9, Chris left the game with a pulled hamstring while doing the splits to dig out a ball thrown to first. Parmelee could not put any weight on the leg when he got up. He was helped off the field, his arms wrapped around the shoulders of manager Joe Girardi and a trainer. After the game Girardi said “I would be completely shocked if he’s a player for us” going forward as he joined three other Yankees first baseman on the disabled list; Mark Teixeira, Greg Bird and Dustin Ackley. He never reached ML again. He spent 2017 in Triple-A but suffered a broken hamate bone late that season with Miami Marlins affiliate New Orleans Baby Cakes.
After not being offered a contract by any major league team in 2018, Parmelee is thankful to be in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization with the Drillers, looking for another shot at the majors.
“Whether someone takes it away or the game is taken away from you, it gives you a whole different perspective on the game,” Parmelee said. “The appreciation that you have for it, the love, you look at the game differently — in a good way.”
“It didn’t work out for a reason, because if it did I wouldn’t be here (with the Drillers),” Parmelee said. “It was hard not playing last year. I had been playing baseball since I was 5, as a pro since 2006, and when you play that long, it’s part of your routine. Half the year you’re doing this, and the other half you’re training to do this.”
Chris is more than just an OF/1B for the Drillers. Drillers’ manager, Scott Hennessey had this to offer about the value of Chris Parmalee.
“He brings to the team leadership in the clubhouse, his work ethic every day, how to be a professional. How he conducts his at-bats is helpful for our young guys. He’s done a great job. The leadership he has is invaluable.”
Parmalee did for the Drillers what he has done for so many teams he has previously played for…he homered in his first game on opening night.
Parmalee seems to be destined to becoming a coach, and seems to be a perfect fit for minor league “kids” struggling to make it to the pinnacle, with a never quit attitude.
When asked about that possibility, Chris said,
“I wouldn’t count it out, I love the game. I like being a student of the game. I love learning so I feel like if coaching was an option down the road I feel I have a lot of knowledge to pass down to the younger guys.”
“After last year (2018), I have much more appreciation for it. The small things that used to bother you don’t really get under your skin as much, because at the end of the day, you are still playing a kid’s game for a living.”
One of the many downfalls of MiLB is that some of the “older” players have families that live away from their husband/father for much of the year. Especially those families with school age children. Sometime today Chris will be joined by his wife, Amanda, and sons Jack (6 years old) and Ty (4) for the remainder of the summer. They will be together as a family at his new home ballyard for his Texas League AS game, which will be played one week from Tuesday. How special is that.
What would be even more special would be if Chris Parmalee got an ML invite by LAD and he could become the third 2006 MLB draft first round pick to play for the Dodgers, after Clayton Kershaw and Brandon Morrow.
MINOR LEAGUE RECAP by AC
OKC Dodgers 11 – El Paso Chihuahuas 3 (Padres)
Brock Stewart was staked to an 8-0 lead after 2 innings and the rout was on. Connor Joe led off the game with a double (10) and scored on Zach Reks’ HR (8). Will Smith and Edwin Rios followed with singles, and after Cameron Perkins grounded into a force out, Shane Peterson singled to score Smith. Angelo Mora reached 1st on a fielding error while Perkins went to 3rd and Peterson to 2nd. Errol Robinson singled to score Peterson and Perkins, while Mora scored on the third error of the inning. Connor Joe walked before the inning was done. In the second, two singles by Edwin Rios and Cameron Perkins put runners on 1st and 2nd. A ground moved the runners up, and both Rios and Perkins scored on a WP and throwing error. After 2 innings, the Dodgers scored 8 runs on 8 hits, 1 walk, 1 WP, 1 PB, and 4 errors.
Stewart went the first 5.2 allowing all three runs, 2 on solo HRs. Adam McCreery, JT Chargois, and the Dodgers future closer Zac Rosscup finished the game with 3.1 scoreless innings. Connor Joe went 2-4 with a double (10). Zach Reks went 2-5 with his 8th HR. Will Smith went 2-4 with his 11th HR, and Shane Peterson had the big night going 4-5 with his 5th HR and 8th double.
Tulsa Drillers 6 – Amarillo Sod Poodles 11 (Padres)
Thus far AA seems to be overwhelming Edwin Uceta. He suffered his third very poor start in a row. This time he gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits and 1 walk. He did get two Ks. Ryan Mosely picked up for Uceta and went a perfect 2.2 IP with 2 Ks. However, Nolan Long and Michael Boyle proved to be no relief when they allowed 6 runs in 3 IP. Chris Nunn pitched a scoreless 9th even while allowing 3 hits.
The offense was primarily provided by a grand slam HR (7) by Cristian Santana, and newly assigned 2B Eric Peterson got his first AA hit and his first AA HR.
RC Quakes 8 – Lake Elsinore Storm 3 (Padres)
In the last game of the night, the Quakes scored 2 in the 1st, 1 in the 2nd, 2 I the 3rd and 4th, and 1 in the 5th for their 8 runs. Jeren Kendall led off the home half of the first inning with his 5th HR on the season. The HR was followed by 4 walks for a 2nd run, and the Quakes were off. Nick Yarnall (7) and Jeter Downs (12) both hit solo HRs in the 4th. Drew Avans was the big hitting star for the Quakes with three hits including his 2nd double. Jeter Downs, Jeren Kendall, and Deacon Liput each had 2 hits with Downs (12) and Liput (5) both hitting doubles.
Andre Jackson started and pitched the first 4.2 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, with 6 Ks. Max Gamboa relieved Jackson and finished the 5th with 2 strikeouts and a hit batter. Connor Mitchell kept the Storm off the board in his 2.0 innings of work. While Connor Strain pitched the final 2 innings while allowing a run in the 9th.
Great Lakes Loons 4 – Dayton Dragons 5 (Reds) in 10 innings
Jose Martinez went an outstanding 5 innings with allowing only 1 hit and no walks. And then the roof caved in. Double, error on sac bunt, double, double, single before one out in the 6th and Martinez was gone. He finished his night with 5.0 IP with 4 runs (3 earned), 5 hits, no walks, and 6 Ks.
Guillermo Zuniga finished the 6th with no further harm and pitched a scoreless 7th. He did issue 2 walks but registered 5 Ks in 2 innings. Nathan Witt pitched a scoreless 8th.
Down 4-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, Chris Roller led off with a single and was followed by a Leonel Valera single and walk to Dan Robinson to load the bases. Gersel Pitre plated Roller with a sac fly. Miguel Vargas singles in Valera, and Jacob Amaya scored Robinson with a game tieing single. Brett de Geus came on to throw a scoreless 9th. In the 10th with a runner on 2nd to start the inning, a sac bunt and ground out scored the eventual winning run. In the home half of the 10th, Dan Robinson started at 2nd and was stranded while 2 strikeouts and a fly out ended the game for the Loons.
Ogden Raptors 12 – Grand Junctions Rockies 11
In a sloppily played slugfest, the Raptors scored 4 in the 8th to take a 12-11 lead. Darien Nunez pitched a scoreless 9th for the win. There were a total of 7 errors in the game, 3 by the Raptors. We do not need to discuss the pitching. Suffice to say it was missing tonight.
Down 11-8 going into the bottom of the 8th, Jeremy Arocho reached second base on a fielding error. Tre Todd singled for his third hit on the night to score Arocho. Kenneth Betancourt reached base on the 2nd error of the inning. After a strikeout, Andy Pages stroked his first 2019 double to score PR Rolando Lebron. Josh McLain then hit his first double of the season to score Betancourt and Pages to make the score 12-11 and set the stage for Darien Nunez to register the 2nd win of the 2019 season.
Tre Todd was 3-4 with his first HR, and Josh McLain went 2-5 with his double (1). However, Justin Yurchak had an off night (compared to yesterday). He only went 2-4 and one HR (3).
DSL Dodgers Bautista 6 – DSL Red Sox 7
The Red Sox scored 2 in the top of the 1st and the Bautistas came back with 2 of their own. After a leadoff single by 2B Ender Avendano, Diego Cartaya tripled him home. Cartaya scored on a Jorge Ramos sac fly. After going down 4-2, the Bautistas scored 2 more in the 5th to tie. Diego Cartaya hit his 2nd triple to score Gregory Pereira. Cartaya scored the tieing run on a single by Jorge Ramos. The score stayed knotted at 4-4 going into extra innings. The Red Sox scored three in their half of the 10th. With 18-year-old RHP Jesus Turizo pitching and a runner starting at 2B, the next batter walked. After a pop up, the next batter singled in one run and both runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd on a throwing error. 19-year-old RHP Wilkin Baez relieved Turizo inheriting 2 runners. Both runners scored on a single and sac fly, giving the Red Sox a 3-run lead.
In the bottom half of the 10th, Diego Cartaya started at 2B. With one out 1B Kiumel Bastardo doubled (2) Cartaya home. SS Carlos Santiago singled Bastardo to third. Bastardo scored on a ground ball fielder’s choice. After a walk put runners on 1st and 2nd, the final batter hit a fly ball for an out to end the game.
Diego Cartaya was 2-5 with the two triples. Jose Ramos was 2-3. Kiumel Bastardo was 2-5 with his 2nd double. Francisco Feliz also had a two-hit day.
18-year-old RHP Abel Moya started and went 4.2 innings. He allowed 4 hits and three run (2 earned), 0 walks and 3 Ks. 19-year-old LHP Cristian Peralta was not effective in his .1 IP. 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk. 19-year-old LHP Andrew Budier was the most effective pitcher on the day going 3.0 innings. He did not allow a run on 2 hits, no walks and 1 K.
DSL Dodgers Shoemaker 1 – DSL Rangers 12
The Shoemakers hit three singles and one double by Juan Diaz (2). None of the three pitchers were very good on the day….and we will move on.
The Chris Parmalee’s of the minor leagues would seem to be a very important piece of the player development system and should be paid extra for it. It’s a little like having a veteran on the Dodgers like Utley because players watch and listen to Utley differently than they do with coaches.
Tough loss last night and those kind of losses sure brought out the ugly from a few that comment here.
Bumsrap-I agree with your last paragraph.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
You don’t have First Amendment Rights here, especially if you are trying to offend or maybe not trying but being offensive anyway. Cross the line too much and you will find you are unable to post here. Play nice.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Mark
I didn’t post here last night, but I feel bad about our exchange back and forth about Joc Peterson on Friday night, I could have handled that better and I didn’t. Sorry about that.
We’re fine, but it did prompt tomorrows post. 😉
Great
You should appreciate it too.
This is a crack up. Some of you can be so offended by so little. You do know that I am offended by this post. So I think I deserve an apology. In the military, you people would be considered weak of mind. Just saying. Over and out for now. I am off on a road trip. You all enjoy being unoffended for a short time.
Well done Mark.
Thanks AC. Great story and so well presented. Chris one of the many who form the foundation of minor league baseball and by extension MLB. They have played against incredible odds which they could not overcome for a variety of reasons but persevere and play on giving everything they have to give every time. I am so pleased Chris has been named an All-Star and pleased for him that his family is joining him.
You are so right that he is a coach in the making.
Thanks for a nice post on a good man!! Living not far from Chino Hills, I was familiar with Parmalee when he came out of HS. He was a Cal State Fullerton commit who I thought would be a shoo in to make majors. He had a sweet swing and could absolutely rake the ball.
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers that post and read here regularly!!! Don’t know about all of you but many of my most memorable moments as a father involved baseball and the Dodgers., whether just playing catch, going to Dodger Stadium or watching a game on TV.
My Dad was basically a one sport man, baseball, and while we watched games on TV together or sat in the back yard listening to Vin Scully on the radio in the evening, or getting to swing the bat as a 2 and 3 year old with him lobbing pitches to me are great and warm memories, I mostly remember him for patiently letting me be me growing up.
I have three boys between the ages of 44 and 34 and while all have degrees and careers, I am warmed by the basic good inside them and their ability to make me feel their love.
You are a blessed man!
A wish for a very fun and relaxing Father’s Day to all you fathers and grandfathers out there.
I had no idea who Chris even was, thanks for bringing his story to our attention. I agree with others he would make a great coach someday and he is an asset to any team he plays on. Pretty timely for Father’s Day and I hope all the fathers here have a great day today!
These last 3 Cub games really have a playoff feel, seems like a preview of things to come. Buehler is emerging as a co-ace with Ryu but has not gotten much run support his last few starts. The bullpen has been pitching better lately, every closer has a blown save occasionally. Kike and CT3 need to pick it up, pretty late in the season to be barely above the Mendoza line. That’s another mental error by Kike, wandering way too far off 1st and costing the team a run and an out. Ryu against the leftie Quintana tonight on Sun Night Baseball for the series win.
In between the grand slam Kenley gave up in San Diego and last night’s hr to Rizzo, Kenley has been dominant. I think he saved 8-9 in a row in between.
If anyone is expecting perfection fro Kenley, or any closer for that matter, good luck. There are no Gagne’s in this league anymore.
We got the ace going tonight. Win this one, and we take 3-4 from maybe the 2nd best team in the NL; it really is all you can ask for.
Ryu can’t pitch any better than Buehler did last night. If we don’t score any runs it’s tough to win. There are a lot of black holes in this lineup right now. When everyone gets healthy and comes back there is no starting role for Kiki, Taylor or Barnes!
Great posts the last couple days AC…
I remember Chris at Chino Hills, a man among boys with his skills… Heck you just never know with the draft…
I got a 9 1/2 gm. lead and Walker pitched a gem..
I wanted to get in last night but by the time I got in there, it was in his mind, the Hamchuck Show… His diatribe reminds of a bowel preparation agent you take the night before a colonoscopy…
I’ll take Ryu this afternoon…
Happy Father’s Day to all…
Mark, even the first amendment is not absolute. As we famously know, no one has the right to falsely shout fire in a theater. And certainly we all know that offensive remarks on this site create a clear and present danger of riotous behavior 🙂 . You are within your constitutional rights to limit offensive behavior.
As for last nights game, it’s easy to get critical. But until Kenley starts making a habit of blowing saves, I for one am willing to accept that he’s not perfect, and that last night he served up the HR ball to one of the best hitters in the game. In fact, I was mostly upset that he hit the previous batter, and that the Dodgers were unable to generate only one run all night.
First amendment rights don’t apply in a blog forum like this.
Mark can do what he likes; it’s his blog. If someone is acting rudely, then, as Kobe would say, “ship his ass out” Unless it’s me, in which case I’ll just yell racism at Mark, and he has to let me stay
Also, I sure hope MJ is ok!
If Mark DFA’s Chipmunk you might well see MJ back.
Did you make contact with her?
No Mark, no reply to a couple of Emails I’ve sent.
I’m a bit concerned because I’m sure she would respond if everything was ok.
I noticed a certain poster trying to rile her up. She rose above it of course, but maybe she decided to take a break for a while.
Also, She had mentioned about feeling a little unwell previously, so hope it’s nothing to do with that.
Either way, I hope she is ok, and posts again soon. She is missed here.
The last day she posted there was no evidence of anything that would upset her.
Here’s when she last posted:
https://ladodgertalk.com/2019/05/05/dodgers-22-13-on-cinco-de-mayo/#comment-43841
You all blame me for MJ being off this site. GO Back to the beginning. I dare all of you to go back and see how this all started. MJ was the instigator and Mark, along with his band of followers just took it upon themselves to treat me like crap. But you all are so clean and proper with no stones to throw, especially Mark.
Dodger lineup v. Quintana today:
Kike (cf)
JT
Freeze
Belly
CT3
Muncy
Martin
Garlick (lf)
the Ace
I get that a closer blows a save here and there. What irks me about Jansen is that he lobbied against a possible Kimbrel signing. The Cubs are only on the hook with him through 2021, so if he is a bust (which I VERY MUCH doubt he will be) it’s not a big deal. Plus it only cost the Cubs money. Kimbrel has a career 485 OPS against. I challenge anyone to name someone with a large enough sample size that has a career 500 OPS against or below. Considering the Dodgers need a reliable reliever or 2, the Dodgers missed out on this one.
This has nothing to do with last night specifically. I know some of you like Verdugo towards the top of the lineup. I’m bringing this up because I believe, and this is just my opinion, that the Dodgers need a contact hitter who drives in runs in the 6th or 7th spot in the lineup before the catcher and pitcher come up and before Taylor or Hernandez come up if they are put in the 7th spot. Obviously you don’t put Bellinger there, same goes for Peterson and Muncy because they are more home run/walk guys. The guys that fit this spot are Verdugo, Turner, and Freese. I don’t remember (and I may be wrong) Roberts putting Turner in that spot ever this season so that leave Verdugo who has been in that spot a lot this season and has produced in that spot a lot, and Freese.
Anyways about last night’s game. If Hernandez doesn’t get picked off he eventually scores after hits from Freese and Taylor. Also with Barnes up and Hernandez on first why not bunt Hernandez to second considering Barnes is in a hitting slump.
Bunting, if not for a base hit, is not and almost never, ever a smart play according to today’s thinking.
Kike has had some real mental gaffes this year. One game not knowing how many outs, another not covering on a dp ball, and now getting picked off. Those are just ones I am aware of. This is easily his worst year in a while. There may be something personal we don’t know about. He is better so hopefully he turns it around starting today.
Your closer is going to blow games. Last night stung worse because buehler pitched great. Baez got through but I am always squirming when he is in because he works behind in the count a lot. We will not make it through the World Series with him as the 8th inning guy.
We could win it all with the guys we have now but all will have to be healthy and playing at the top of their game. The bullpen improvement appears to be the priority. But, with that our offense can Ill afford slumps or injuries to turner, seager, and/or bellinger. Houston or the Yankees have to be favorites at this point.
This is our year to finally get a WS title and AF has to be all in on an all star reliever. I think he gets it done and if not have Pelinka do it!
I think the Lakers are a disaster. Pelinka will not last half of next season.
Kyrie Irving is going to the Knicks. You heard it here first!
They could be a 3 all stud team, a couple of role players, with a weak bench
Mark…Mark…Mark…Pacer fans should never throw stones in a glass church…
The Lakers will be fine and will be in playoffs thankfully for the first time in awhile… Now the dreaded Pacemakers should worry about their 6 possible FA’s and having pick #18 & 50…
I would like Kemba Walker or Butler… The threesome of James, Davis and Kuzma will bring a big buzz back to the Staples Center…
Le Bron will need a fast wheelchair. The dude is old.
Ok I hate to be a negative nelly but this6th inning is exactly what Roberts does in a tight game totally out managed. If he was going to pinch hit it should have been for Martin. Madden totally outmaneuvers him.
I agree. If Maddon were playing Roberts in bridge, I would say that Roberts had better cards, but Maddon was a couple steps ahead and outplayed Roberts. Result. 2nd and 3rd with no one out in a tie game and the Dodgers fail to score.
He’s really bad at the managing part of being a manager. Madden played him like a fiddle. Furthermore, Garlick’s splits are pretty much dead even so there was absolutely no need to try to get a “platoon advantage” by putting Verdugo in there.
No need to pinch hit for Freese. Look up Freese OPS vs righties. Better than Bellinger. Yes the best on the team.
… and Roberts knows that.
Cubs blogs are saying that Roberts is kicking Madden’s ass. I guess it depends upon your perspective and biases.
Quite the Father’s Day.
My eldest son flew in from NYC to surprise me and I spent the day with my boys. Both of my son-in-laws have lost their Dads so they call me Dad too. It’s quite a blessing.
That’s wonderful Mark! I have 4 daughters and my only son is a Pekingese named Caesar! One thing about it though is no one will ever set my son on the bench lol! Great win tonight for our Dodgers rather be lucky than good!
Wow Mark, another well done. It’s good to see you with your boys.
Good for you. You’re a fortunate man.
Wow the callers on Dodger Talk after the games are horrific, so is the host.
Yes and they stole my name.