Midwest League Preview

There is plenty to digest courtesy of MiLB.com.

First, there is the Preview. with this capsule on the Rattlers:

2007 Results: 53-85
2008 Manager: Terry Pollreisz
Things to look forward to: Rattlers players will wear 1950s throwback jerseys and stick around for postgame autograph sessions with fans on Sundays beginning April 13. ... A series of pint glass giveaways, featuring past Rattlers players, will begin on May 15 with Alex Rodriguez. Other pints will feature Harold Baines, Goose Gossage and David Ortiz. ... A pair of the Mariners 2007 Draft picks, Nolan Gallagher (fourth round) and Keith Renaud (10th round) should begin the year with Wisconsin.

Pint glasses in Wisconsin. What is supposed to go in those? The rest of the teams get similar treatment.

Second, 10 Names to know. Looking down the list I seeeeeee, ah, yes.

2. Phillippe Aumont, RHP
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Mariners)

The Quebec native was taken No. 11 overall in last June's Draft and the big (he's 6-foot-7) right-hander is all projection. Without a high school team to play on, he hasn't pitched all that much. One thing is certain: his stuff is down-right nasty and he's sure to make Midwest League hitters mutter as they return to the dugout time and time again. The only thing he needs is experience to refine his repertoire and improve his overall command. The sky is the limit, and some feel he may end up being the best pitcher from the 2007 Draft. Head to Wisconsin so you can say you saw him way back when.

Technically, this should be 12 Names to know, because they double up entries from Clinton and Fort Wayne. But, 10 is a good, round, solid number.

Also, I don't think that this guarantees that Aumont or any of the players on this list will be in the Midwest League this season. But, I like the chances if MiLB.com is working on it.

Third, MWL By the Numbers. They go from 0 to 30,000,000.

Fourth, Old meets new in the Midwest League.
Lots on Quad Cities. Some on Clinton's new logo. There are two things that I want to make sure are highlighted somewhere.

This one:

The voice of summer
John Rodgers is back for his 13th consecutive season behind the microphone as the play-by-play man for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, making him the dean of Midwest League broadcasters.

and this one:

New year, same team
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Cedar Rapids Kernels are tied for the longest continuous affiliation in the Midwest League. The Timber Rattlers have been affiliated with the Seattle Mariners, and the Kernels with the Los Angeles Angels, since 1993.

Fifth, Q & A with President Spelius. You may be able to tell that our league president is a man of few words. Example:

What are you most looking forward to in the 2008 season?

Having halfway-decent weather for our games in April and May.

Eleven word Q. Eleven word A. The South Atlantic League president answered the same question in 25 words, 26 if you count a hyphenated word as two words.

Here's a little known fact for those outside the MWL.

What would you be doing if you didn't work in baseball?

I'd probably be working as a florist -- the Beloit Floral Co. has been operated by our family since 1916.

It's not that far from Pohlman Field.