By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
There is an old saying about signing bonuses ... how once the cheque has been deposited, it really doesn’t matter how many numbers are after the $-sign.

Because the opposing pitcher doesn’t know your signing bonus ... he is going to try to throw the ball past you for strike three whether your club gave you a $2 million signing bonus US or $2,000 signing bonus.

Take for example C Andrew Yerzy, who the Arizona Diamondbacks gave $1,214,100 for a signing bonous last June.

And then look for example at INF Daniel Pinero selected from the University of Virginia $in the ninth round and given a $169,600 US signing bonus.

Both Yerzy (North York, Ont.) a Toronto Mets grad and Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) an Ontario Blue Jays grad each hit exactly the same .474 (9-for-19) to share Canadian Baseball Network co-Player of the Week honours. Yerzy knocked in one run at rookie-Class Missoula Ospey, while Pinero drove in five for the class-A West Michigan Whitecaps.

How the week that was went for Pinero as he had:

_ Two hits hitting fourth and playing third base in a 6-0 win over the Great Lakes Loons before 6,300 at Fifth Third Ballpark. He singled in the third and hit his 20th double in the fifth. Cole Bauml (Meunster, Sask.) had two hits with his 23rd doubled to right in the first and singled in the fifth.

_ Singled batting clean-up and playing shortstop, in a 3-0 loss to the 9,016 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark. Bauml singled.

_ Singled playing first base and hitting fourth, in a 6-1 victory over Great Lakes before 6,702.

_ Hit his 22nd double batting clean up and playing first he hit his 22nd double in a 7-4 loss to the Dayton Dragons before 8,144 fans at Fifth Third Field. Bauml hit his 24th double and singled.

_ Had four hits playing third base and batting in the No. 4 spot he went 4-for-4 and drove in a run in a 7-5 win over Dayton before 7,591. Pinero doubled to left in the second, his 23rd, and stole third, his fourth in the second, hit a run scoring fly ball in the third, hit a solo homer to left centre in the fifth, singled to left centre in the seventh and singled to centre in the ninth. Bauml singled in the third, hit a run-scoring single to centre in the fifth, but was thrown out at second, Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) singled for Dayton.

And how the week went for Yerzy as he had:

_Two hits batting fourth and hitting clean up as Missoula fell 5-3 to the Orem Owls before 1,612 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Yerzy singled to centre in the sixth and reached on an infield single in the ninth. RHP Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) worked a scoreless ninth allowing two hits and striking out one for the save.

_ Two hits batting fourth and DHing as Missoula beat Orem 6-3 before 1,529 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Yerzy singled to centre in the first and singled again in the fourth to right field.

_ Singled batting fourth and catching in a 15-2 loss to Orem before 1,907. He singled to left in the sixth.

_ Had three hits batting third and DHing in 6-5 Missoula win over the Grand Junction Rockies in front of 1,949 fans at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Yerzy doubled to centre leading off the fourth, singled to centre in the fifth and singled to right field in the ninth.

_ Doubled batting fourth and hitting clean up in a 13-7 loss to Grand Junction before 1,688 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. He hit his 11th double in the first to drive in a run.

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player Affilite AB R H HR RBI Avg.
Daniel Pinero - A West Michigan 19 3 9 1 5 .474
Andrew Yerzy - Rkie Missoula 19 3 9 - 1 .474
Cole Bauml - A West Michigan 27 3 10 - 6 .370
Miles Gordon - Rkie Billings 19 6 7 1 5 .368
Michael Saunders - AAA Buffalo 19 4 7 - 2 .368
Jim Adduci - AAA Toledo 14 2 5 - - .357
Ben Pelletier - Rkie GCL Phillies 23 2 8 - 2 .348
Vladimir Guerrero - A Dunedin 26 4 9 - 4 .346
Morgan Lofstrom - Rkie Billings 12 4 4 - 4 .333
Raphael Gladu - Rkie Kingsport 12 1 4 - 1 .333
Matt Hague - AAA Rochester 19 5 6 - 8 .316
J.D. Osborne - Rkie GCL Marlins 16 2 5 - 2 .313
Connor Panas - A Dunedin 29 5 9 1 5 .310
Jordan Procyshen - AA Portland 13 - 4 - 1 .308

Lachlan Fontaine - IND Quebec 16 3 7 - 5 .438
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa 22 3 9 1 7 .409
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec 20 5 7 - 4 .350
Phil Craig-St. Louis - IND Quebec 27 6 9 - - .333
David Glaude - IND Trois Rivieres 12 3 4 1 2 .333
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec 16 6 5 - 2 .313
(Minimum 10 At Bats required.)

BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
ROWAN WICK RHP - AA SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
3 4.0 3 - - 2 3 - 1 1.25 0.00

Recently off the Disabled List Rowan Wick is showing that he is now fully recovered, and this week made three solid appearances for the Springfield Cardinals. On Aug. 9th in a 2-0 shutout of San Antionio Missions he threw one scoreless inning, gave up zero hits while striking out one batter to earn his fifth save of the season. On Aug. 11th in a 7-0 win over Corpus Christi Hooks he pitched one scoreless inning, gave up one base hit but was not involved in the decision. On Aug. 15th in a 7-2 victory over San Antonio he tossed two scoreless innings, surrendered two base hits while striking out two Missions hitters, but again was not involved in the decision. His Double A Texas League record in 11 appearances for Springfield, is now 0-0, 5 Saves and a 2.45 ERA.

ANDREW CASE LHP - AA NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
3 2.2 3 1 1 - - - 1 1.36 4.09

Andrew Case has pitched very well this season, and particularly well for the Fisher Cats in recent weeks. On Aug. 9th in a 9-4 win over Akron Rubberducks he tossed one inning, gave up two base hits and one earned run but was not involved in the decision. On Aug. 10th in a 9-6 victory over Akron he pitched
2/3 scoreless of an inning, surrendered no hits to earn his sixth save of the season. On Aug. 15th in a 6-1 loss to the Hartford Yard Goats he threw one scoreless inning, gave up one base hit but again, was not involved in the decision. His record in 25 appearances with New Hampshire in the Double A Eastern League now stands at 4-0, with six Saves and a 1.41 ERA.

CONOR LILLIS-WHITE - LHP AA MOBILE BAY BEARS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 2.1 3 3 3 2 3 1-0 - 2.38 12.86

Conor Lillis-White made two relief appearances for Mobile this week, and the results were satisfactory. On Aug. 10th in a 10-9 victory over Pensacola Blue Wahoos he threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, gave up one base hit and no runs while striking out two Pensacola hitters, to earn the win. On Aug. 14th in a 9-7 loss to Pensacola he pitched 1/3 of an inning surrendered two base hits and three earned runs while striking out one batter and, although a bit shaky in this outing, he was credited with his second hold of the year. His overall record with Double A Mobile in the Southern League in twenty two appearances, now stands at 2-3, with 2 Saves, 2 Holds and a 3.23 ERA.

PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) - Traded by Atlanta Braves from Triple A Gwinnett Braves to the Seattle Mariners, assigned to Triple A Tacoma Rainiers. Did not appear in a game with Tacoma, and was called up to the Major League roster by Mariners.

OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) - Optioned by the Detroit Tigers back to Triple A Toledo Mud Hens.

OF Jonathan Lacroix (Montreal, Que.) - 2017 12th Round Draft Pick activated by the Houston Astros at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Astros.

SS Louis Boyd (North Vancouver, BC) - Moved by the Seattle Mariners to Single A Everett Aquasox from Rookie Class AZL Mariners. Appeared in six games with Everett and was moved to Single A Clinton Lumber
Kings.

C Chris Shaw (Winnipeg, Man.) - Sent out on a Re Hab Assignment by Baltimore Orioles at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Orioles.

OF Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) - Activated from the Disabled List by the Toronto Blue Jays at Triple A Buffalo Bisons.

C Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC) - Activated from the Disabled List by Milwaukee Brewers at Double A Biloxi Shuckers.

LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by Texas Rangers at Triple A Round Rock Express.

RHP Owen Boon (London, Ont.) - Activated from the Disabled List by Trois Rivieres Aigles IND Can Am League.

LHP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) - Released by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.

2017 Canadian Baseball Network Players of the Week

Week I _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week II _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Lehigh Valley (Phillies).

Week III _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week IV _ 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Lake Elisnore (Padres).

Week V _ OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).

Week VI _ OF Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) Clinton Lumberkings (Mariners).

Week VII _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays).

Week VIII _ 1B Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) Dayton Dragons (Reds).

Week VIV _ LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs)

Week X _ INF Danny Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers)

Week XI _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Mississippi Braves (Braves).

Week XII _ OF Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) Rookie-class Billings (Reds)

Week XIII _ RP Dylan Rheault (Garson, Ont.) class-A San Jose (Giants).

Week XIV _ OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers).

Week XV _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Mississippi Braves (Braves).

Week XVI _ 3B-C Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que.) Tri-City ValleyCats (Astros.)

Week XVII _ CF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) triple-A Memphis Redbirds (Cards) and LF Brett Siddalll (Windsor, Ont.) class-A Stockton Ports (A’s).

Week XVIII _ LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) triple-A Gwinnett (Braves.)

Week XIX _ INF Danny Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) class-A West Michigan (Tigers) and Andrew Yerzy (North York, Ont,) Rookie-class Missoula (Diamondbacks).

Pinero, Yerzy Co-Players of the Week, Plus Moves