Rattler Alums

Here are a few items involving ex-Rattlers.

Greg Halman ('07) is profiled by milb.com.

Halman looking for road to Seattle

It's never easy to turn down an honor such as being asked to represent your country in the Olympics, so Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Greg Halman had to weigh his options carefully.

But when he looked at the big picture, the 20-year-old Netherlands native knew that his first priority was to get to the Major Leagues.

With that in mind, Halman respectfully turned down the invitation from the Dutch Olympic baseball squad, and spent the second half of his summer traveling with his new teammates at Double-A West Tenn around the Southern League, instead of going for the gold in Beijing, China.

"It would have been a great experience, but I had just gotten to Double-A," Halman said. "My dream has always been to get to the Major Leagues, and I wanted to set myself up to get there."

Justin Thomas ('06) has a diary entry at the Mariner site as he gets ready to play in Venezuela.
Thomas shares winter ball experience
Lefty hurler details activities before Venezuela in first diary entry

After an amazing 2008 season, when I started in Double-A West Tennessee's starting rotation, getting promoted to Triple-A Tacoma in late August -- where I was in the bullpen -- and ending as a Seattle Mariner, I am finally home in Peoria, Ariz., with a chance to relax for a week or so before heading to Venezuela.

I will be starting my next adventure in the Venezuelan Winter League as a part of the Cardinales de Lara bullpen. Even though I am home, things are still very busy for me. Between spending time with my fiance Theresa and dog Lilly, taking care of a few odds and ends for our upcoming wedding -- which will be taking place in November -- getting in a little golf and getting over to the Peoria Sports Complex to get in some work, it has been pretty hectic around here.

Joe Woerman checks in on his blog

Since the team got off on a hot 3-0 start, a lot of Pig pride was circulating. The dugout was flooded with pig calls and swine sounds when a baseball went over the wall one night. "Oink Oink Bro" and a fist pound. Like nothing anyone has ever seen before. All this Javelina Pig uproar has actually prompted and anonymous source to buy a Guinnea Pig as a team mascot. Ive never laughed so hard when I saw "Chuckie" for the first time. He has a nice cage, with private "pigloo" as sleeping quarters. His black and white spotted fur makes him look more like a cross between a cow and TeddyBear hamster, rather than a pig. He has not helped deliver a win yet, but his positive energy keeps the team glued.

As for how the results have been, us Seattle crop of guys have shown much. Greg Halman and Carlos Truinfel have been torching the ball at the plate. Rob Johnson has been lethal on base runners. I saw him hose a few runners one game, making the attempted stealers look full of shame.

Oink Oink, Bro. Whatever gets you motivated.