Mehring Monday Veterans Day edition (Bumped)

I posted this on Monday, but this post has been bumped for Veterans Day. If you don't, just read this story about Dick Williams, an Appleton Papermaker from 1940.

Williams entered military service with the Army on July 25, 1942 at Kalamazoo , Michigan. He served with the 82nd Field Artillery Battalion of 1st Cavalry Division in the Pacific and was killed in action during the battle for the Philippines on February 21, 1945.

Technician Fifth Grade Williams was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and is buried at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort Bonifacio in Manila , Philippines.

That's Joe Tipton. He played for the Appleton Papermakers in 1941. He went off to war and returned to play for the Indians, White Sox, Athletics, and Senators over a seven year major league career.

He is one of the veterans covered in this week's Mehring Monday.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 10, 2009

Arizona Fall League

@Javelinas 9, Saguaros 5

Javs:
Lorenzo Cain ('09): 1-for-5, RUN, RBI
Joe Dunigan ('08): 2-for-3, RUN, RBI
Carlos Triunfel ('07): 1-for-4, RUN

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

@Lara 12, Zulia 4

Lara:
Oswaldo Navarro ('05): pinch hitter, 1-for-1, RBI
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-5, RUN
Michael Saunders ('06): 0-for-5

Magallanes 6 @Caribes 1

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 0-for-2

Wednesday's Schedule:
Javelinas at Saguaros 1:35pm CST
La Guaira at Lara 6:00pm CST

This caps a really good season

Congratulations, Adam Jones. You're a Gold Glove Award winner.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones added a fitting coda to his breakout season Tuesday, when he was awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove in recognition of his stellar defensive play.

Jones, who was also elected to the All-Star Game, established himself as one of the American League's most dynamic two-way players in 2009.

The 24-year-old distinguished himself with several catches at the wall and recorded nine assists in 2009, and the award carries special meaning because it's voted on by the league's managers and coaches. Jones had more putouts (349) than he did in 2008 (336) despite playing in 11 fewer games and nearly 100 fewer innings.

This part freaks me out...

Jones, who was acquired from Seattle as part of a five-player haul for Erik Bedard before the '08 season, helped erase some sordid recent history for the Orioles.

Oh, wait. That's the part that freaks out Mariners fans. Here is the part that freaks me out.

[The Orioles] hadn't seen an outfielder take the award since Paul Blair in 1975.

John Lowenstein and Gary Roenicke didn't win one in 1979?

Jones was a shortstop for the Rattlers in 2004. He is the first Timber Rattler Alum to win a Gold Glove Award. Alex Rodriguez, an Appleton Fox in 1994, won as a shortstop with the Texas Rangers in 2002 and 2003.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 9, 2009

Arizona Fall League:

@Javelinas 4, Phoenix 3

Javs:
Lorenzo Cain ('09): 1-for-3, RUN, 2B
Taylor Green ('09): 0-for-4
Joe Dunigan ('08): 1-for-4, RUN, 2RBI, HR #3
Phillippe Aumont ('08): IP, H, 0R, BB, K
Anthony Varvaro ('07): IP, 0H, 0R, K, SAVE #2

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

Estrellas 6, Toros 4

Estrellas:
Juan Sandoval ('03): 0.0IP, 3H, 3R, ER

Tuesday's schedule:
Saguaros at Javelinas 5:35pm CST
Zulia at Lara 6:00pm CST

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 8, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Aragua 4 @Lara 2

Lara:
Michael Saunders ('06): 1-for-4
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-3
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1.2IP, H, 0R

Caracas 8 @Magallanes 6

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-3, RUN

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

Aguilas 7 @Toros 2

Aguilas:
Edward Paredes ('08): .2IP, 0H, 0R, WIN

Monday's Schedule:
Phoenix at Peoria Javelinas 5:35pm CST

He's free

JJ Putz ('00) was involved in that big three-team trade last year that sent him from Seattle to the New York Mets...an injury-shortened 2009 with the Mets.

There are a pair of new items over the weekend that pertain to the former Rattler. Neither are surprising.

Item #1

As expected, the Mets declined reliever J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option for 2010 on Friday, opting instead to buy out his contract for $1 million. The move makes Putz eligible for free agency, though the Mets can still negotiate a new deal with him.

...

After coming to the Mets in a three-team, 12-player trade last winter, Putz was limited to just 29 games because of injuries. His agent, Craig Landis, said Friday that Putz is healthy and playing catch. But $9.1 million would have been a hefty price to pay for a setup man coming off elbow surgery.

The Mets might be interested in re-signing him at a lower price, but Putz's first preference will likely be to sign as a closer somewhere.

Item #2

On the third day of MLB free agency filings, two more players have joined the ranks.

J.J. Putz, who the Mets declined their club option on Friday night, and the Twins Carl Pavano were officially added to the ranks today, it was announced by the MLBPA.

A few sites have chimed in with who they think should sign the former All-Star closer

JJ Putz to Detroit Tigers Makes Too Much Sense Not To Happen

Last off season, JJ Putz was the best move the Tigers didn't make.

If not for an injury to Fernando Perez that killed a three-way deal involving the Rays, JJ Putz may have been hamstringing Detroit in 2009 and not the Mets, and Edwin Jackson may have formed a dominant pitching tandem with Felix Hernandez instead of Justin Verlander.

Putz became a free agent today when New York declined his nine million dollar option. This time around, the Tigers have much less to lose in taking a shot on the Trenton native and former Michigan wolverine.

The Quest For Relief Revisits J.J. Putz

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski sounds as if he'd prefer a veteran closer for next season. Re-signing Brandon Lyon or Fernando Rodney is a possibility, but the free agent market could end up pricing both of them out of the Tigers' range. (Rodney has already said he's hoping for a three-to-four-year deal.) If that's the case, Detroit will have to look elsewhere, so we're dusting off The Quest For Relief for yet another offseason.

Developing.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 7, 2009

Arizona Fall League

Rising Stars Showcase: @West 8, East 7

Neither Phillippe Aumont nor Mark Rogers pitched in the game.

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

@Aragua 6, Lara 2

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 0-for-4
Michael Saunders ('06): 0-for-3
Ricky Orta ('07): 1.1IP, H, 0R, 2K
Juanj Ovalles ('04): IP, H, 0R, 2BB

@Magallanes 2, La Guaira 1

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-3

@Zulia 7, Margarita 5 (Game 2)

Margarita:
Tim Harikkala ('95): 4.2IP, 7H, 5R, 4ER, 2BB

Sunday's Schedule:
AZL -- Off Day
Aragua at Lara 2:30pm CDT

I really think that MLB Network only wants a certain type of person watching today

I'm sensing a pattern at MLB Network today.

• 6:30 a.m. World Series Highlights 1943-The NY Yankees Look for Their 6th Title in Eight Years as They Take on the St. Louis Cardinals

• 7:00 a.m. World Series Highlights 1947-Joe DiMaggio and the NY Yankees Face Off Against their Crosstown Rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers

• 7:30 a.m. World Series Highlights 1949-Yogi Berra and the NY Yankees Take on Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers

• 8:00 a.m. World Series Highlights 1950-Manager Casey Stengel Leads the NY Yankees Against the "Whiz Kids" from Philadelphia

• 8:30 a.m. World Series Highlights 1951-NY is the Center of the Baseball World as the Yankees Take on the Giants for the World Title

• 9:00 a.m. World Series Highlights 1952-Mickey Mantle's NY Yankees Battle Duke Snider and the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 7-Game Classic

• 9:30 a.m. World Series Highlights 1953-NY Yankees Face the Brooklyn Dodgers in a Rematch of the 1952 Fall Classic

• 10:00 a.m. World Series Highlights 1956-Don Larsen Makes History in this Classic Series Between the NY Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers

• 11:00 a.m. World Series Highlights 1958-The NY Yankees and Milwaukee Braves Square Off for Baseball's Ultimate Prize

• 12:00 p.m. World Series Highlights 1961-The NY Yankees and Cincinnati Reds Square Off for Baseball's Ultimate Prize

• 12:30 p.m. World Series Highlights 1962-The NY Yankees and San Francisco Giants Square Off for Baseball's Ultimate Prize

• 1:00 p.m. World Series Highlights 1977-NY Yankees "Mr. October," Reggie Jackson, Lives Up to his Nickname Against the L.A. Dodgers

• 1:30 p.m. World Series Highlights 1978-Reggie Jackson and the NY Yankees Take on Steve Garvey and the Los Angeles Dodgers

• 2:00 p.m. World Series Highlights 1996-Rookie of the Year Derek Jeter Leads the Yankees Against Cy Young Winner John Smoltz and the Braves

• 3:30 p.m. World Series Highlights 1998-Joe Torre's Yankees Look To Complete One of the Greatest Regular Seasons Against the Padres

• 5:00 p.m. World Series Highlights 1999-The NY Yankees Seek their 3rd Championship in Four Years as They Face the Atlanta Braves

• 6:30 p.m. World Series Highlights 2000-The Subway Series Returns as the NY Mets and NY Yankees Oppose Each Other in the Fall Classic

I'm a big history buff, but...Sweet Georgia Peach...that may be just a little overkill. Maybe?

Whitecaps about to seen an uptick in mail...

...from radio announcers.

One and done.

Steve Lloyd-Jones, the radio voice of the West Michigan Whitecaps who worked his first season in 2009, decided not to renew a contract with the Detroit Tigers' Class A minor league affiliate after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on his on-air schedule for 2010.

One of the radio voices for sports at Grand Valley State University, Lloyd-Jones, 36, has three children younger than 5 and cited family as his reason for leaving the job.

The Whitecaps play a 140-game regular-season schedule, 70 games on the road. It's not uncommon in minor league baseball to be on the road for a week or more.

"Based on my family needs, my career needs to take a back seat right now. I have very young kids and they need their dad," Lloyd-Jones said. "I underestimated the toll of being gone on my kids, and we couldn't reach a compromise on a more family friendly schedule and my needs and their needs as an organization.

"Working with the Whitecaps was great. They are a Triple A organization in every way, and I'm going to miss calling baseball games and the Whitecaps people. Whoever comes in will have a great opportunity, but I won't have any regrets because of my decision."

Was the 'One and done.' lede really necessary? Especially since Steve worked with Rick Berkey for a summer or two before Dave Skoczen's run in west Michigan.

I don't understand a word he is saying in that fifth paragraph.

Seriously though...Good luck, Steve.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 6, 2009

Arizona Fall League

@Javelinas 6, Saguaros 3

Javs:
Lorenzo Cain ('09): 3-for-4, RUN, RBI
Carlos Triunfel ('07): 0-for-4

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Caracas 4 @Lara 3

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 2-for-4, RUN
Michael Saunders ('06): 1-for-4, RBI
Jose Escalona ('08): 0.0IP, 2H, 2R, Blown Save, Loss
Ivan Blanco ('05): IP, H, R, 2BB, K

@Magallanes 3, Caribes 1

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-3

Saturday's Schedule:
AFL Rising Stars Showcase on MLB Network @ 7:15pm CST
Lara at Aragua 4:00pm CST

Flashback Friday for November 6,2009

The below images are clues to this week's flashback. Click to enlarge. Then, click here to read Flashback Friday.


Special appearances by Freddy Garcia, Big Papi, and Damaso Marte. Enjoy.

Big writeup on the Rattlers

Josh Levanthal of Baseball America has an article titled Some Teams Thrived In Tough Economy up at the BA.com website.

The worst economy since the Great Depression didn't stop a handful of teams from welcoming a record number of fans to their ballparks in 2009.

Minor league baseball failed to set an attendance record for the first time in six years, as 102 of 160 teams saw a decrease at the gate in 2009 compared to 2008. Bad weather was partly to blame, but those overall numbers would have been even worse if not for the debut of six new ballparks (which accounted for an additional 920,000 spectators in those markets).

However, even amid such gloom and doom, several teams saw a significant resurgence at the gate. Among those setting club records were the Tacoma Rainiers, New Britain Rock Cats, San Jose Giants, Visalia Rawhide, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Hudson Valley Renegades. The secrets to teams' success varied from improved ownership (Lancaster) to ballpark renovations (Harrisburg, Visalia) to better weather (Iowa, Quad Cities) to first-place teams (San Jose, Tacoma).

There are a few more paragraphs and then, the good stuff...

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' record-breaking season had little to do with how they played the game, but rather who played it. It also proved once again, just like in Peoria and West Michigan, that affiliating with the hometown team pays off—quite literally.

In their first season since inking a player-development contract with the Brewers, the Timber Rattlers saw a 33 percent increase at the gate while drawing a club record 253,240 fans—all while fielding a team that finished third from the bottom in the Midwest League standings.

Losing had never been so much fun.

"This blew away our expectations," Wisconsin general manager Rob Zerjav said. "We anticipated a nice bump in attendance after signing the agreement with the Brewers, but we didn't expect to break an attendance record and all the things that came with it."

An interest in the team never before seen in Appleton, Wis., is what accompanied a partnership with the major league team located roughly 120 miles away. More than 100 fans showed up at Fox Cities Stadium last fall to cheer news of the affiliation at a joint Brewers-Timber Rattlers press conference—that wasn't open to the public. Offseason ticket sales were brisk, even though minor league baseball was approaching its first full season in the current economic downturn.

I would argue with the editorial aside that 'losing had never been so much fun' because losing stinks. Trust me on that. But overall, well worth the read.

Something off in the future

There will -- at some point -- maybe -- quite possibly -- if someone steps up -- be a new name for Oldsmobile Park, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts.

But, it's not going to be easy.

Lansing mayor Virg Bernero told me Wednesday before he leaves office, with another four year term about to begin, the Oldsmobile Park name will change. No more General Motors money is coming in-- it was $100,000 per year for the 15 years the stadium has existed. Bernero says there are no new prospects to take over the naming rights and he is inviting anyone to step forward and negotiate a new deal. Bernero says a final decision on a name change will be made jointly by the City and the Lansing Lugnuts. The park will remain Oldsmobile Park until a new deal is struck and the Mayor told me the City will not just give the name away for revenue that is considerably beneath what the City has received over the past years.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 5, 2009

Arizona Fall League

@Mesa 8, Javelinas 1

Javs:
Lorenzo Cain ('09): 2-for-4, RBI
Anthony Varvaro ('07): IP, H, 0R, K

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional:

@Lara 11, Margarita 8

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 2-for-3, RUN, RBI
Michael Saunders ('06): 1-for-4, 2 RUNS, 2RBI
Oswaldo Navarro ('05); Pinch hitter, BB
Jose Escalona ('08): .2IP, H, 0R
Ivan Blanco ('05): .1IP, 0H, 0R, BB

@Zulia 6, Caracas 4

Caracas:
Carlos Maldonado ('98): 0-for-2

@La Guaira 7, Magallanes 3

La Guaira:
BOBBY! Livingston ('03); 5.2IP, 3H, 3R, 2BB, 3K, WIN

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 0-for-3, RUN

Friday's Schedule:
Saguaros at Javelinas 7:35pm CST
Caracas at Lara 6:00pm CST

Rattler Alumni Report: 2009 World Series Game Six

@Yankees 7, Phillies 3

Yankees:
Alex Rodriguez (Foxes, '94): 1-for-2, 2 RUNS, RBI, 2 BBs
Damaso Marte ('96): 0.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K

Phillies:
Raul Ibanez (Foxes, '94): 2-for-3

Final Stats for the Appleton Baseball Alumni:
Rodriguez: 5-for-20, HR, 6RBI
Ibanez: 7-for-23, HR, 4RBI
Marte: 4 games, 2.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K

Crown was a long time coming for A-Rod

Now that Alex Rodriguez has his first championship, Brian Cashman says A-Rod can just play to further his own legend.

“I think the rest of his career now he can just write history,” Cashman said after last night’s World Series championship. “He doesn’t have anything that he has to answer for anymore. He obviously has to produce, there’s no doubt about that. But he doesn’t have to be told he can’t do anything. He’s done everything now.

“And so now, he can sit back, and his work ethic and his play will take him just wherever it’ll take him.”

Rodriguez’s seasons had always ended too early. He never took home the championship. He never even came close with the Yankees. This postseason, however, ended far differently.

Just a reminder of where it started.

Thoughts on Catchers

Jim over at Bernie's Crew had ranked his top five catching prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

In order they are:
1.) Jonathon Lucroy
2.) Angel Salome
3.) Cameron Garfield
4.) Shawn Zarraga
5.) Tyler Roberts

Click on the link for his explanations and reasonings.

Meet the new guys in Quad Cities...

From the Bandits:

Baseball veteran Johnny Rodriguez will take over as the 32nd manager in franchise history and will be joined by 28-year-old pitching coach Tim Leveque. While the River Bandits' hitting coach and strength and conditioning coach have yet to be named, Manabu Kuwazuru will take over as the team's athletic trainer.

How veteran is Rodriguez? Well, last year he was the hitting coach of Johnson City in the Appalachian League. Before that...

...the 53-year-old Miami resident spent time as a manager or coach with the Florida Marlins (2002-2008), Montreal Expos (2000-2001) and New York Yankees at the professional level, and the University of Miami, Miami Dade Community College and Westminster Christian (FL) High School at the amateur level. He has also spent time as a scout for the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers.

Welcome to the party, pal

I am speaking to you, West Michigan Whitecaps. You and your new redesign on your website.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 4, 2009

Arizona Fall League

Mesa 8 @Javelinas 5

Javs:
Joe Dunigan ('08): 1-for-4
Taylor Green ('09): 1-for-3, RUN

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

@Lara 10, Caribes 0

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-3, RUN, RBI
Oswaldo Navarro ('05): Pinch hitter, 1-for-1, RUN, RBI, HR #1
Michael Saunders ('06): 1-for-3, 3 RUNS
Juan Ovalles ('04): IP, H, 0R

@Magallanes 6, Margarita 3

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-4, RUN, RBI

Caracas 14 @Zulia 8

Zulia:
Luis Oliveros ('02): 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RUNS, 2RBI

Thursday's schedule:
Javs at Mesa 1:35pm CST
Margarita at Lara 6:00pm CST