minor matters

The recent 50-game suspension he served for a drug of abuse violation may have been a lesson learned for JaCoby Jones. In eight games since he returned to the field with Double-A Erie, the former Richton High standout is batting .343 with three homers (all in his last three games) and nine RBIs. Jones, a top 10 prospect in Detroit’s system, worked out in extended spring camp in Florida while serving the suspension, imposed last fall. Primarily a shortstop during his four-year pro career, he has been playing center field of late. … Ole Miss product Chris Ellis, coming off his first loss of the season, goes to the bump for the Mississippi Braves tonight against Jacksonville at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Ellis is 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA in nine starts; he has a win against the Suns under his belt. … Despite a recent slump, Bobby Bradley, the ex-Harrison Central High star, still leads the high Class A Carolina League in home runs and RBIs. Bradley, playing for Lynchburg in Cleveland’s system, is batting .228 with 10 bombs and 40 RBIs. He has hit just .167 with one homer over his last 10 games. … Longtime Jackson-area fans will remember Joe Mikulik, who starred on the first Generals team at Smith-Wills Stadium back in 1991. Now a minor league manager known for his epic tirades, Mikulik, currently in Frisco (Texas Rangers), went on another after a disputed call on Tuesday. If you haven’t seen the video, you must find it. The Washington Post called Mikulik “the Laurence Olivier of minor league freakouts.” Wonder if former M-Braves manager Phillip Wellman, also managing in the Texas League at San Antonio, is jealous?