Thursday Motivation (1/31)

Thank you despair.com and your diy. So, the diy motivational poster is from The Office, the original British version. David Brent is the boss at Wernham Hogg and here is a little gem from him.

A reminder

BaseballAmerica.com is going to post their Top 10 Mariner Prospects list on February 1. No link yet, I just wanted to throw up a reminder. Why?

No reason. Just the fact that I forgot about the on-line Jeopardy test last night even with a reminder right at my computer. That was classic.

It's the turn of the rotation

The main Mariner site has the latest weekly writing assignment. This one is on the starting pitching rotation. Guess what is brought up within the first two paragraphs.

The top of the Mariners starting rotation already has one No. 1 pitcher in right-hander Felix Hernandez.

But a No. 1A sure would be nice.

That's the thinking of general manager Bill Bavasi, who has been trying for more than two months to acquire hard-throwing left-hander Erik Bedard from the Orioles. However, just three weeks from when pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz., the proposed trade remains on hold and no one seems to know when -- or if -- a deal will be finalized.

As of now, there will be 12 potential starting pitchers in camp vying for five spots.

"It is going to be an interesting Spring Training," said new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. "I don't know the guys real well, and they don't know me real well. But we will have six weeks together to get on the same page.

Here are Stottlemyre's thoughts on the ex-Rattler in the rotation:

RHP Hernandez: "Felix is at the top of the rotation. He's a young pitcher that's shown a lot of progress and we're hoping he can step it up and go to the next level. He certainly is capable of it, stuff-wise. He has as good of stuff as anyone in the American League and his future has barely been tapped. He has a lot to give us and we look forward to getting as much out of him as we can."

The Saga continues

Sides stay quiet as trade talks persist

The Mariners equipment truck leaves Safeco Field for Peoria, Ariz., on Friday, a concrete illustration of just how quickly spring training is creeping up.

Whether there will be a locker in Peoria for left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard when the pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14 remains unknown.

After a turbulent week of tense negotiations, the final impediment to a trade bringing Bedard to the Mariners could be a last-ditch effort by the Baltimore Orioles to sign the 28-year-old to a long-term contract.

In exchange for Bedard, who last season set a Baltimore franchise record with 221 strikeouts, the Mariners would send the Orioles outfielder Adam Jones, left-handed reliever George Sherrill and 19-year-old pitcher Chris Tillman.

The M's are likely to add one more prospect, possibly pitcher Kam Mickolio or pitcher Tony Butler, to the package.

The Mariners, always cautious to speak about impending deals, were especially closemouthed on Wednesday, perhaps fearful of any comments that might displease the Orioles as talks reached a sensitive final stage.

In an e-mail to The Seattle Times, general manager Bill Bavasi declined to comment.

This we know. What else is there?

MLB.com, citing multiple major-league sources, said the teams are close to finalizing a deal.

But MLB.com, in a separate article later in the day, reported that Orioles owner Peter Angelos wants to retain Bedard and called him last Sunday to discuss a five-year contract.

Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail was noncommittal to The Baltimore Sun in assessing the status of trade talks.

"There's really been no change in our circumstance," he told The Sun. "We'll always keep an open mind, regardless of what time of year it is."

What time of year is it? Time to talk extension?

In last Saturday's Sun, MacPhail said the Orioles wanted to talk to Bedard's representatives about a multiyear deal during the winter, "and they suggested that they just do a one-year deal."

But in the same article, Bedard expressed disappointment that the Orioles haven't made a greater effort to sign him to an extension. At the same time, Bedard said he didn't want to be part of a rebuilding process. MacPhail appears to be doing just that in Baltimore after trading Miguel Tejada to Houston for five prospects, with all-star second baseman Brian Roberts also on the trade block.

According to MLB.com, MacPhail was recently told by Pieper that it would take a seven-year, $100 million contract to retain Bedard in Baltimore. Angelos has been known to be reluctant to commit to such a long-term deal for a pitcher.

Head over to Geoff Baker's latest blog entry for more of an update. The main one being a rumor that can only be called "crazy"

Those crazy rumors out of Baltimore yesterday that Adam Jones has a degenerative hip condition? Toss them out the window. Not a touch of truth to it. Both sides are laughing that one off emphatically. Yes, Jones was being brought in for a physical. But it wasn't for a serious type of injury or anything that would be a deal-breaker. So, there's nothing on that front that would impede a trade.

Then, what is the holdup?

I heard on Sunday night, within moments of his being told, that Orioles owner Peter Angelos was furious to learn that news of the impending deal had broken. He was about to head into the hospital for a minor procedure the next day and could not believe Adam Jones had spilled the beans. Would it be beyond Angelos to hold things up another 48, or 72 hours before giving his go-ahead and making everyone sweat a little? Nope.

None of the usual Mariner fan blogs, have anything more on the "trade". Must be holding their collective breath.

More on Randy

The Hawkeye of Burlington, Iowa has a good follow-up on the announcement of Randy Wehofer moving on from the Bees to the Iowa Cubs.

Wehofer off to I-Cubs

There is plenty of good stuff in the story and here is just a taste:

Wehofer's first season turned out to be the most memorable overall. The Bees won the 1999 Midwest League championship.

"It was so exciting when we were on that 13-game road trip. Every guy stopped at my seat on the bus and asked if Quad Cities had won," Wehofer said, adding that only top draft picks had cell phones in those days. Now, every player on the roster is rarely seen without a phone stuck to his ear. "I'll never forget what it was like going through that process and getting into the playoffs. I learned so much that first year. I walked into the clubhouse after the championship game and remember getting stuff dumped over my head. It was a great way to start."

Since then, Wehofer has ridden in a limo with George Brett, watched a perfect game thrown by Chris Coughlin and jumped out of his seat when James Shanks made a leaping catch and Brian McFall hit a grand slam. He has coached first base and lost equipment. He has had future Major Leaguers ask for $100 on road trips.

"Why he thought I'd have $100 and then an extra $100 to give to him," Wehofer said of Runelvys Hernandez's request. "Everything has its memories and personality."

Susan Denk, the Bee beat writer for The Hawkeye, has a blog and a few more thoughts about Randy in this post.

Randy knows baseball. As the media relations person for the Bees, there was rarely a question Randy could not answer. He easily recalls games that happened years ago and circumstances surrounding those games. And he was a blessing for me throughout my eight seasons covering the team. Randy spent countless hours researching statistics and facts to put together a Bees media guide. His game notes are legendary, containing more stats than even most baseball people want to know. What will I do without Randy’s game notes and his wacky, witty headlines?

I'll have a few thoughts on Randy and on former Dayton announcer Mike Vanderwood before the season starts.

63 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 63 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories Volume I by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The excerpt is from A Study in Scarlet and it is unlike any Holmes story. It is unlike any other Holmes story for the following reasons: the narrator of this section is not Dr. Watson, this action is taking place in the United States, and there is no mention of Holmes.

“On, on to Zion!” cried the crowd of Mormons, and the words rippled down the long caravan, passing from mouth to mouth until they died away in a dull murmur in the far distance. With a cracking of whips and a creaking of wheels the great wagons got in motion, and soon the whole caravan was winding along once more. The Elder to whose care the waifs had been committed led them to his wagon, where a meal was already awaiting them.

“You shall remain here,” he said. “In a few days you will have recovered from your fatigues. In the meantime, remember that now and forever you are of our religion. Brigham Young has said it, and he has spoken with the voice of Joseph Smith, which is the voice of God.”

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Wednesday Baseball Movie Clip (1/30)

Three things before getting to the clip for Fear Strikes Out.

1. Anthony Perkins plays Jimmy Piersall as crazier than Norman Bates.
2. Anthony Perkins did not make for a realistic ballplayer.
   
3. This is the second day in a row in which Karl Malden makes an appearance in a post. That is just...crazy?
   

Now, on to the clip.



Is that good enough? Was that good enough?

Let's go through this again

Update: Edited. Because the largest possible font on Angelos was kind of creepy looking.

Still no deal between the Mariners and the Orioles. Why?

Orioles owner has nixed deals before

High-powered attorney Peter Angelos was hailed as a hero when he purchased the Baltimore Orioles in 1993 from the bankruptcy-laden Eli Jacobs, heading a group that spent $173 million to restore local ownership.

Now, to some Baltimore fans, Angelos is a pariah. Under his hands-on ownership — heavy handed, many would say — the Orioles have had a revolving door of managers and general managers. Their front-office operation has been viewed as largely dysfunctional, and they haven't posted a winning season in 10 years.

Angelos, 78 and still feisty enough to put in six-day work weeks at the Baltimore law firm that made him a multimillionaire defending asbestos victims, apparently looms at the crux of the stalled trade talks between the Mariners and Orioles.

With Adam Jones heading home from Venezuela to Phoenix on Tuesday, discussions continued between the two teams. The proposed deal would bring left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard to Seattle for outfielder Jones, reliever George Sherrill and an undetermined number of Seattle minor-leaguers.

However, there was new word Tuesday that the Mariners might not be the only team in the hunt for Bedard.

Geoff Baker's Blog has made for interesting reading over the last few days.

First there was Angelos strikes again

Just when you think it's safe to tell your players they're being traded, the Mariners have seen Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos step back into the fray to remind everyone who's really running things. Today has been one of those days that reminds writers just how frustrating it can be to cover some of the comical personalities in this game. The latest from the Baltimore Sun is that an O's club source confirmed Jones was supposed to be in Baltimore today for a physical, but that's been scuttled.

You know what? This situation is now becoming a circus and Angelos is far from the only clown. Let's look at what Adam Jones, who let the cat out of his equipment bag about the deal in Venezuela on Sunday, is now telling people, as per KOMO 1000 radio reporter Shannon Drayer's blog.

"He says that he said nothing about being traded to the Venezuelan press,'' Drayer writes, relaying details of an email conversation with Jones. "Something may have been lost in translation somewhere."

Ah yes, if all else fails and you've dug yourself a gigantic hole, just cover it up by shovelling a bunch of manure into it and blaming the Spanish-speaking reporter from the South American country. Here's the problem with Jones's first attempt at a media coverup of what he told reporter Augusto Cardenas from Diario Panorama on Sunday. My first language is English and Cardenas, well, he happened to make an audio recording of the conversation with Jones.

I just had the tape played for me over the phone from Venezuela and, yes, Jones definitely said he was off to Baltimore this morning for a physical and that he'd been traded to the Orioles. Talked all about looking forward to meeting his new teammates in Florida this spring. So, nice try. But Jones should stick to baseball and leave the backpedalling to football players.

Anyhow, I don't want to go off on Jones too much. He's just a 22-year-old who probably feels terrible about what's happened and been told to keep his mouth shut from now on. But I don't like it when baseball players and management types try to pass off their mistakes on to the shoulders of reporters from other countries whose language skills make them an easy target.

Then, there was this Jones not the scapegoat

Just got caught up on all my reading from last night and it seems we've had ourselves quite the journalistic debate on this baseball blog. Hey, that's OK. Whatever turns your crank. Let's just make a few things clear this morning, so we can all move forward:

1. The Erik Bedard-Adam Jones deal is not dead
2. Jones is not to be blamed for the deal being hung-up

OK, so it's only a couple of things. About Jones, no I was not happy with him yesterday for implying that Augusto Cardenas of Diario Panorama had lost something in translation and misquoted him about going to Baltimore for a physical. Here is last night's game story by Cardenas from Venezuela. He is a professional reporter -- not some creative writing supermarket tabloid type. The audio of the Jones interview shows it was not off-the-record. It was legit. And as I said, I don't like it when people try to cover mistakes by throwing someone else, and their credibility, to the wolves.

That said, Jones is not a bad person. He was trying to be as helpful as he could to Cardenas and inadvertently set off a chain of events that the Mariners are now unable to stash away from view. Jones is only 22 and, like I said, as a media member, I like that he takes the time to speak to Cardenas honestly and that he emails Shannon Drayer with updates for her blog.

In this case, he made a mistake by talking too soon. He made another one by trying to pass the blame off to Cardenas instead of saying "no comment". And I called him on it. But he is not a "clown" as a person, he's actually fairly mature for his age. Jones comes off looking funny and clown-like in this particular instance, as do the three other main players -- Peter Angelos, Bill Bavasi and Andy MacPhail -- trying to cover-up a trade that was obviously about to happen.

Read both posts in their entirety.

The silence of some of the Mariner blogs...concerns me.

Movin' on up

Randy Wehofer, the radio announcer for the Burlington Bees, has been a friend of mine since I've been in the Midwest League. This could not have happened to a better guy.

"Voice of Bees" to Join Iowa Cubs

After nine years in the front office at Community Field and doing play-by-play on KBUR and KBKB, "Voice of the Bees" Randy Wehofer will be moving on. Last week, Wehofer accepted an offer to join the front office staff of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs as a broadcaster and account executive on their sales staff. Wehofer will remain with the Bees through February 15th.

"This is a great opportunity both professionally and personally for me and my family," Wehofer said. "I get the chance to advance to Triple-A without our family having to go half-way across the country. I'll be joining one of the most respected organizations in Minor League Baseball, I'll get to broadcast with Deene Ehlis and learn from his over 20 years of experience in this business, and Des Moines is a growing community where Joanie and I already have good friends and can feel comfortable raising our family."

Good luck, Randy.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara lost Game Six 9-2 to Aragua. This ends the Venezuela Championship Series and Aragua wins.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Ivan Blanco ('05): IP, H, 2R, BB
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): 1-1/3IP, 4H, R

64 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 64 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson. This is a book about the Peloponnesian War, the war between Sparta and Athens.

Later in the war Alcibiades would exhibit a strong desire for the offensive, perhaps as a reaction to the senseless war of attrition in Attica that marked his first years of service. Some eighteen years after the Spartans first marched out to cut down the trees of Attica, a much older and by then treasonous thirty-seven-year-old Alcibiades, ensconced in Sparta, would advise his former enemies that such annual incursions were no way to wreck his homeland. Better, he told his new hosts, to create a permanent fort, thirteen miles from the walls of Athens at Decelea, and thus destroy Alcibiades’ own native soil year-round.

But all that was well into the future. For now, the teenager rode into battle against ravagers full of zeal and hope, confident after the first year’s assault that Attca had taken the best punch Sparta could offer – scarcely aware that both his country’s and his own greatest tragedies lay just months ahead.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

I may never leave the trailer again

Sick of all that trade talk. Don't want to deal with the weather. Car troubles got you down?

Hello, Retro Television Network up in the HD tier on Time Warner.

They have this guy:

And this guy:
And this guy along with all his buddies:
This guy is there, too:

So is he:
This guy is still running:
These guys are there:
The gang is all there.
And much, much more.

Summing up. Never leaving the trailer again.

What the...?

From the Seattle Times

M's would-be deal for Bedard is stalled

The Mariners' efforts to obtain Baltimore's ace left-hander Erik Bedard, seemingly on track over the weekend for a blockbuster trade centered on Seattle outfielder Adam Jones, have hit a snag.

Jones was reported Monday afternoon to still be in Venezuela, rather than heading to Baltimore for a physical exam originally scheduled for Monday or today, but then canceled.

Meanwhile, there is widespread speculation Orioles owner Peter Angelos is threatening to squelch the trade, after the teams reportedly had agreed to the basic structure of a deal that would have sent Jones, reliever George Sherrill, 19-year-old pitcher Chris Tillman and one or two other prospects to Baltimore for Bedard.

"We are where we were last night," Andy MacPhail, the Orioles' president of baseball operations, told The Baltimore Sun on Monday. "We have no agreement."

But, here is the really, really interesting part, in bold below:

On Sunday, Jones was pulled out of the winter-league playoffs in Venezuela by the Mariners and told to return to the United States. He indicated to a reporter from the Diario Panorama newspaper of Maracaibo, Venezuela, that he was headed to Baltimore for a physical as a prelude to a Bedard trade.

"I've got to go to Baltimore this morning and handle things there," Jones said on Sunday. "I'm the centerpiece of the deal on the Mariners' side. It's an honor to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is."

But on Monday afternoon, Jones sent an e-mail to KOMO radio reporter Shannon Drayer saying that he was still in Venezuela.

Drayer reported on her KOMO blog that Jones was "obeying orders from his MLB team and not playing. He said he said nothing about being traded to the Venezuelan press ... Adam says he does not know what is going on, and that with his winter-league team in the finals, it sucks to not be able to help them."

The Seattle Times listened to the tape of Jones' interview with the Venezuelan newspaper via telephone, which revealed he was quoted accurately throughout.

The Mariners had confirmed on Sunday that Jones was told by them to come home. On Monday, Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly said, "We've asked him to come home. That hasn't changed."

Over at the M's site there is this:

O's denying reports of Bedard deal

The Erik Bedard-to-Seattle rumors continue to have a life of their own, and the Orioles continue to deny any semblance of accuracy in the various reports.

Andy MacPhail, Baltimore's president of operations, reiterated on Monday afternoon that there is no trade in place and that he's not sure where the rumors originated. That denial, issued in the face of repeated requests for comment, lends new perspective to a story that has steadily built over the last 36 hours.

"As I said last night, we don't have an agreement with Seattle or any other team," he said. "I'm not expecting anything in the next few days and I'd be surprised if anything developed in the next few days."

Lookout Landing just wants it to be over.

We've been talking about Erik Bedard since the beginning of December.

This is so stupid.

That LL post has a link to a Ken Rosenthal story at FOX. The first sentence tells the whole story, but do follow that link to gaze deeply into why the Orioles haven't had a winning season since...

As usual with the Orioles, confusion reigns.

M's Mailbag

Jim Street, the Mariner beat writer at MLB.com dives into the mailbag again. Rattler related questions below.

What is the status of pitcher Mark Lowe?

-- Brett H., Moses Lake, Wash.

Lowe, who had right elbow surgery nearly one year ago and missed most of the 2007 season, has been working out at the Spring Training complex in Peoria and will report to camp with other pitchers and catchers on Feb. 13. He worked out at Safeco Field recently, and head trainer Rick Griffin was impressed with what he saw. Lowe will be monitored closely during Spring Training, but he has a good chance of earning a spot on the Opening Day roster.

How many years until Adam Jones is eligible for salary arbitration?
-- Katie H., Sunnyside, Wash.

Jones has 139 days of Major League experience under his belt, which leaves him 48 days short of one full season. A player needs three full Major League seasons to qualify for salary arbitration, but those in the upper 17 percent with less than three full seasons fall into the "Super Two" category, becoming eligible for salary arbitration. Mariners reliever George Sherrill was a "Super Two" player this offseason.

Do you think there's a chance the Mariners can pick up another quality pitcher without trading Jones? And, what ever happened to Carl Everett?
-- Gary W., Issaquah, Wash.

To acquire the caliber of pitcher the Mariners desire, it will cost them Jones, among others, and there is no getting around that. As for Everett, he currently is on the roster of the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The White Sox and Angels have expressed interest in the veteran slugger, but he remains unsigned.

This one isn't exactly a Rattler related question, but it is interesting.

The Mariners added a farm team at Pulaski in the Appalachian League. Is this a lower league than the Northwest League? What is the reason for the Mariners to add another team?
-- Phil M., Philadelphia

The Appalachian League is regarded as a "Rookie-advanced" caliber league, and the Mariners view it as an opportunity to place some of their Latin American players as well as some of the top high school players that aren't quite ready for Class A Everett, which is more of a college-level team. So instead of sending certain players to Arizona, they will be sent to Pulaski, "so they can play under the lights and in front of people," farm director Greg Hunter said. Seattle and Pulaski signed a one-year working agreement.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara lost 3-1 to Aragua in Game Five of the Liga Venezuela Championship Series. The Cardenales trail the series 3-2.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1-2/3IP, H, R, BB
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1-1/3IP, 2H, 0R

Game Six is tonight at Lara. Lara needs to win to force Game Seven.

65 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 65 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is A Taste for Death by P.D. James. This is an Adam Dalgliesh novel. James is describing police pathologist Miles Kynaston in the passage below.

He never wasted time. Even as he greeted Dalgliesh he was taking off his jacket and drawing his fine latex gloves over his stubby-fingered hands which looked unnaturally white, almost bloodless. He was tall and solidly built, giving an impression of shambling clumsiness until one saw him working in a confined space, when he would seem physically to contract and become compact, even graceful, moving about the body with the lightness and precision of a cat. His face was fleshy, the dark hair receding from a high speckled forehead, the long upper lip as precisely curved as an arrowhead, and the full, heavily lidded eyes dark and very bright, giving his face a look of sardonic, humorous intelligence.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

"Done deal"?

You may have noticed that Adam Jones ('04) was not in the Rattlers in Venezuela post below. I was curious. Now, you don't have to be:

Is Jones-Bedard trade a done deal?

A winter-long quest by the Mariners to obtain Baltimore Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard is expected to play itself out later today.

The oft-rumored trade between the teams is said to be close to completion, with Seattle having called outfielder Adam Jones home early from his winter-ball stint in Venezuela. Jones told a reporter in Venezuela that he was headed to Baltimore for a physical and that Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi had made him the centerpiece of a deal for Bedard.

"We've told him to come home to the U.S.," Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly said of Jones leaving his team in the middle of the Venezuelan winter league's championship series. "I can't say anything beyond that."

The Orioles spent much of Sunday denying that a deal had been finalized.

A few quotes from one of the tradees:

"[Bavasi] called me [Saturday] and told me the news," Jones told the Venezuelan newspaper. "I've got to go to Baltimore [this] morning and handle things there. I'm the centerpiece of the deal on the Mariners' side. It's an honor to get traded for such a highly talented pitcher as Bedard is.

"He's one of the best. Last year, he finished up as arguably one of the top candidates for the Cy Young. He's that good, so for me, it's an honor. You know, I like Seattle, but if I am in Baltimore, as I think I am now, I'm going to embrace it and have the best time of my life in Major League Baseball."

Best guess, Geoff Baker's Blog or SeattleMariners.com or mlb.com is where the story will break. Shortly thereafter, checkout Lookout Landing. They are already at it...just go over there.

Prospect Insider has a report on the minor leaguers involved. Recognize any names?

What I am getting is that it’s Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Tony Butler and Kameron Mickolio going to Baltimore.

So far, no word on anyone but Erik Bedard coming back to Seattle in the deal, and still no word on whether the two sides were allowed to get extension talks started pre-deal.

USS Mariner has some reaction as well. Posts titled Zero days since a bad move and 22 Things I believe about this trade are worth checking out. And there are already over 200 comments on the 22 Things post.

Mariner Minors will probably have a few notes on the minor leaguers involved in the trade.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara evened up the Liga Venezuela Championship series (which is best-of-seven not best-of-nine according to some people who would know) with a 5-3 win over Aragua. Look at the winning pitcher.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Rich Dorman ('03): 5-2/3IP, 5H, R, BB, 5K, Winning Pitcher
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1-1/3IP, 0H, 0R, K

Game five is tonight.

66 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 66 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Triathlon Training by Michael Finch. This is from Chapter 4, Tackling Your Training.

The question is, how do triathletes keep up interest levels in such strenuous activity? The secret is to listen to any of the world’s most successful sportsmen and women – almost all of them will tell you that the secret to their success is the continuing enjoyment of their particular sport. Even in sports that offer their stars huge financial returns, people like golfer Tiger Woods, for example, attribute their success to a love of the sport rather than the financial rewards.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Light posting advisory

Sorry for the lack of posts this weekend. There is a lot to do and I have to get going in a little bit.

I may do some later tonight. Or, I may have some up on Monday morning.

Have a great day, everyone.

67 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 67 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is The Seventy Great Battles in History edited by Jeremy Black. Liegnitz, a battle during the Mongol invasions of Europe, took place in Poland in 1241.

Baidar thrust into Poland, burning as he went, lured out and massacred the garrison of Cracow, which was sacked, then advanced towards Breslau where he joined Kadan. Henry of Silesia was awaiting the army with 50,000 Bohemians, but as the Mongols approached, he chose to give battle, not realizing that Wencelas was only a day’s march away. Accounts of the battle are confused. It seems that Henry divided his army into four divisions: the Bavarian gold-miners and other peasants; the forces of Greater Poland; the forces of another Polish principality, Opplen, with the Teutonic Knights; and his own Silesian troops and mercenaries perhaps numbering 10,000.

The Mongols seem to have attacked by surprise, disordering the Silesians and drawing the allied troops into an ambush. Duke Henry, seeing what he thought was a small enemy army, sent his cavalry forward against their centre, but the wings of the Mongol army now revealed themselves and swept around the attacking knights, separating them from the rest of their army. Accounts refer to the Mongols using smoke to confuse the westerners and this may be true, since gunpowder was known to the Mongols from China. Duke Henry was killed in the rout of his army and most of his troops were slaughtered. The Mongols cut off ears to count the enemy dead and after Liegnitz are said to have sent home nine bags full of this gory evidence.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Game three of the best-of-nine championship series in Liga Venezuela was last night. Aragua beat Lara 5-4 in thirteen innings. Aragua scored in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and in the bottom of the thirteenth on an RBI single by former Cedar Rapids Kernel Alberto Callaspo.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 0-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and two K's
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1-1/3IP, H, 0R, K
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 2/3IP, 0H, 0R

Aragua leads the series 2-1. Saturday is an off day for the series before it resumes on Sunday.

68 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 68 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is The American System of Government (8^th Edition) by Ferguson and McHenry. It’s a civics textbook first written in 1947. The 8^th Edition is from 1965 and the excerpt is from a chapter on the U.S. Constitution.

Criticisms: The Federalists stressed the weaknesses of the Articles and labored to convince the people that the choice was the proposed Constitution or anarchy, chaos, and possibly civil war. Complaints were heard concerning almost every provision of the proposed document. The pious complained that the Constitution nowhere recognized the existence of God. Many who otherwise favored a stronger government strenuously objected to the fact that they must accept or reject the document with no opportunity to amend it prior to final action. Others were opposed because the Convention had exceeded its instructions and recommended adoption contrary to the method required by the Articles. Many contended that the President would become a monarch because he would serve an indefinite number of terms.

Patriots like Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee, noting that the document contained no bill of rights, dwelt upon dangers to liberty. The courts, it was feared, would usurp the powers and functions of state judiciaries. Paper-money advocates believed that the central government would upset the gains they had made through their state governments. Southerners were alarmed lest commercial interests of the North dominate the Congress and use the treaty, tax, and commerce powers to the detriment of their sectional interests. Northerners made a moral issue of concessions to the slave trade; while residents of larger states argued that too much had been conceded to the small states. The most persistent theme was that the states would be destroyed and the central government would become a tyrannical overload. To offset these objections, the Federalists yielded to the extent of promising the addition of a bill of rights as soon as the new government was organized. Without this concession, the Constitution might never have been adopted.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Outfield writing assignments are in

Each team website in MLB has a story about their outfielders this week.

Guess who prominently figures into the Seattle story...

As he prepares for his first season as the Mariners' first base/outfield coach, Eddie Rodriguez knows that any outfield that includes Ichiro Suzuki is awfully good, and having him right in the center of all the action makes it even better.

"The way he gets to balls makes it easier on everyone else," Rodriguez said. "The guy is a superstar in every facet of the game."

A few players with Appleton ties are included...

But things aren't as solidified at the corners. Standing to Ichiro's right most of time in 2008 will be the veteran Raul Ibanez, recognized more for his bat than his glove, but more than just a decent defender. And standing to Ichiro's left -- for the moment, at least -- is Adam Jones.

The trade talk about Jones is briefly recapped. Then, there is a bit on Ibanez (Appleton Foxes '94).

Ibanez, entering the final year of his contract with Seattle, had 10 assists last season, one of only nine American League outfielders to reach double-digits in that category.

"He has done a real fine job out there," Rodriguez said, "but he's better known for his offensive prowess."

After a sluggish start caused by a shoulder injury sustained during Spring Training, Ibanez finished strong, batting .357 with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs in August and September. The splurge enabled the 35-year-old to surpass 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season and third time in his MLB career.

And look who else is in there

The list of potential backups is pretty long, though one of those candidates would move to the forefront if Jones is traded.

Wladimir Balentien, selected as the Pacific Coast League's Rookie of the Year in 2007 after batting .291 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs, would seemingly be in line to move right in. He's the same age as Jones (23), has about the same amount of pop in his bat and strikes out almost as often.

The biggest difference is foot speed. Jones is much faster.

Soriano gets paid

Rafael Soriano (WI '00) avoided arbitration with the Atlanta Braves and gets a nice payday.

ATLANTA -- The Braves won't be going to arbitration with Rafael Soriano next month -- and they no longer have to worry about having to bid for his services next offseason.

Braves general manager Frank Wren announced on Thursday afternoon that the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with Soriano, who would have been eligible for free agency at the end of the 2008 season. The right-handed reliever had been the Braves' only remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player.

Soriano's two-year contract is worth a guaranteed $9 million, which includes a $500,000 signing bonus. He will receive $2.4 million in 2008 and $6.1 milllion in 2009.
There are some incentives in the deal that could bump that up a few bucks.

Now, why would the Braves want to make this deal?

"We went into the arbitration discussions with the strategy that we'd love to keep Rafael for multiple years," Wren said. "The last two years, Rafael has been one of the best relievers in baseball."

Other than the injury risk that every team assumes with every contract, the only evident pitfall with the deal would come if Soriano doesn't live up to expectations as he prepares for his first full-time venture as a closer. He assumed the role for Atlanta after Bob Wickman was released in late August.

Lunch with the Rattlers

Geoff Baker has a post about the Seattle Mariner Spring Training Luncheon at his blog. General Manager Bill Bavasi, Manager John McLaren, closer (and former Rattler) JJ Putz, and bullpen coach Norm Charlton were all there on Thursday and there is plenty of stuff to read. So just head over there.

But, from the Rattler perspective, here are two things to pull out of the article.

1.) The trade

Bavasi still expects to get a deal done for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. He never mentions names, but it's clear he was talking about Erik Bedard. It's also clear that Bavasi feels this team is ready to challenge for a playoff spot and is ready to give up Adam Jones and plenty of other names to get a deal done.

"We're in a position now where we have to do our best to make those moves for a top-of-the-rotation guy so we can slot the rest of the rotation where it should be,'' he said. "We feel we have to make a move -- one more move."

Bavasi says he's already put his best offer on the table and that it's now a waiting game. He says there's been a genuine reluctance by some clubs to part with young prospects, but "we're not one of those clubs. We're prepared to move...but there is a limit.''

What would that be?

"I don't think you can give a club its terms and its price,'' he said. "We can move a premier prospect and numbers (of players), but we're not going to move a number of premier prospects."

So, what's going to happen now?

"As I'm sitting here today, I think we will (get a deal done),'' he said. "I think there's a good chance of that."

2.) The bullpen -- with a lot of ex-Rattlers

All of the people in attendance -- Charlton, McLaren, Putz -- seemed to agree that the lack of experience amongst most of the bullpen members finally caught up to them down the stretch. Charlton wouldn't flat-out suggest some of the younger relevers were nervous, though he did admit he was nervous at times as a young pitcher in similar circumstances.

Putz suggested some of his younger teammates may have learned the hard way that it's OK to take a day off late in the season.

"I think the only problem was that they were young and a lot of these guys, it was their first time pitching in September and they didn't realize what kind of a toll that takes on your body in the major leagues,'' Putz said.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara evened up the best-of-nine series with Aragua at a game each with a 5-2 win on Thursday.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:

Adam Jones ('04): 3-for-3, RBI, run scored
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1-2/3 IP, 0H, 0R

Game three is tonight.

69 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 69 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is 69 A.D.: The Year of the Four Emperors by Gwyn Morgan. This is a book about a turbulent time in the history of the Roman Empire.

According to Tacitus, Otho’s main goal was to induce his audience to take the next step and kill their legal emperor. So he pointed out, first, that the welcome they had given him bound them together indissolubly. Now they must finish the job or submit to punishment by Galba, when his record proved that there was no hope of leniency. The emperor had put to death men of high rank and low, soldiers and civilians, individuals and groups, not only in Rome but in every camp and province of the empire, and each time he masked his ferocity with claims to have “restored discipline.” Although Icelus and Vinius in a mere six months had managed to amass fortunes larger than those accumulated by all Nero’s favorites put together, Galba prated about “economy” to cover up his tight-fistedness, and refused to pay the troops the donative promised by Nymphidius. Nor, finally, was the situation going to change for the better. Galba had picked as his successor a young man embittered by exile, a man who, in the emperor’s opinion, best matched his own grim disposition and meaness. And the gods had shown their displeasure with the storm that attended the announcement of the adoption.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Thursday Motivation (1/24)

A late start and a lot of stuff to do means a limited posting time this morning.

Here is a little something from Chris Carter's Millennium for your Thursday motivation.

Peter: His body is covered with tattoos. I look at this man and I wonder. He fought the same fight we waged today. Did he have the knowledge that we lack? The knowledge to overcome the evils of the millennium? And did he have the foresight to pass that information on to us? Are these tattoos merely decorations or, are they secrets to be deciphered? What does he say to you, Frank?

Frank: He had the knowledge, Pete, but it's inside him. And I think that's what he's saying... It's inside us. We just have to find it for ourselves.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara lost 4-3 to Aragua in Game One of the best-of-nine Liga Championship Series.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 0-for-4, 2Ks.
Ivan Blanco ('05): 2-2/3IP, 3H, 0R, 2K
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): 0.0IP, H, 0R

Game Two is tonight at Lara.

70 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 70 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. New York in this passage isn't New York. It is ... difficult to explain. Read the book.

“Then we can get to New York.”

“Can we, Pieter? Have you ever tried to walk across four kilometers of ice?”

“Oh – I see what you mean. Just imagine what Stores would say if we asked for a set of skates! Not that many of us would know how to use them, even if we had any aboard.”

“And there’s another problem,” put in Rodrigo. “Do you realize that the temperature is already above freezing? Before long, that ice is going to melt. How many spacemen can swin four kilometers? Certainly not this one.”

Dr. Ernst rejoined them at the edge of the cliff, and held up the small sample bottle in triumph.

“It’s a long walk for a few cc’s of dirty water, but it may teach us more about Rama than anything we’ve found so far. Let’s head for home.”

They turned toward the distant lights of the hub, moving with the gentle, loping strides that had proved the most comfortable means of walking under this reduced gravity. Often they looked back, drawn by the hidden enigma of the island out there in the center of the frozen sea.

And just once, Dr. Ernst thought she felt the faint suspicion of a breeze against her cheek.

It did not come again, and she quickly forgot about it.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Wednesday Baseball Movie Clip (1/23)

Action...Reaction

I saw this column over the weekend and thought about doing something here. But in the end, I thought, eh, not interesting enough. But, the reader reaction is amazing and screams for some attention.

So, here is the original column by David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press

Inge plays role of cowardly Tiger

Brandon Inge might become all accountable and forthcoming when he grows up someday, though that day was not Friday.

The Detroit Tigers third baseman, or utility infielder, or would-be catcher -- or perhaps soon-to-be-ex-Tiger, if the Tigers have their way -- hasn't uttered a public peep all winter.

Not a word since last month's Miguel Cabrera trade with Florida brought the Tigers a top-shelf third baseman, which Inge assuredly isn't.

See where this is going?

He signed autographs for several hundred fans at a Grand Rapids Griffins game, but as for speaking to the masses, he opted out.

For a brief moment, he turned the northeast corner of the arena, started to chat upon seeing familiar reporters -- Tom Gage of The Detroit News, Jason Beck of mlb.com and myself -- shook hands with Whitecaps executive Jim Jarecki, and was considering a question about when he might grant an interview, when that thought was terminated.

Sean Wright, senior director of advertising at Van Andel Arena, quickly wrapped an arm around Inge, declared "No media tonight," and set into motion a sequence of events that led to the reporters' removal from the area.

I'm not sure who seemed pettier at the moment, the man who wouldn't stand up and answer for himself, or the man who prohibited it.

Or the man who writes about being snubbed in a newspaper column?

From there we go into the realm of what Inge might have said in response to probable questions. Then, there was this wrap up to the column.

In lieu of a players-only room in the clubhouse to hide in, which is Inge's usual trick, he orchestrated Friday's media boycott long before his arrival. The Griffins, citing information gained from Inge's agent, sent out an e-mail informing media the player would not grant interviews.

The Griffins advertised his presence and asked for the publicity, and Inge presumably cashed the check for his appearance fee, all without granting answers to a single question the larger masses want answered.

We've seen this lack of accountability before. It was on full display during Inge's ridiculously bad second half last season, when he hit three home runs after June 12.

Look at that bold text again. Remember it. This will be important in a minute or two.

Now there is this: Readers come to the defense of Inge

When Press columnist David Mayo took exception to Brandon Inge's refusal to grant interviews during a promotional stop Friday at Van Andel Arena, it struck a nerve with baseball fans.

Mayo was highly critical of Inge ("Inge plays role of cowardly Tiger," Saturday, Jan. 19). The Detroit Tigers third baseman has refused interviews since he told team officials last month he wants to be traded, after the Tigers acquired All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera. The popularity of Inge, a former West Michigan Whitecaps player, remains strong, according to these letters.

Inge not obligated
What a sorry job of reporting by Mr. Mayo. Or maybe I should say whining. I'm not sure where it is written that an athlete like Brandon Inge has to give an interview. Inge was invited by the Griffins to meet the public and sign a few autographs. Mr. Mayo even stated he knew there would be no interviews granted in advance of showing up. What is it about "no interviews" he didn't understand? Attacking someone for wanting a little privacy just doesn't seem right to me. Getting paid to do it is even worse!
-- MIKE O'DONNELL/Grand Rapids

Criticism unwarranted
It appears David Mayo had his nose bent out of shape because he was not able to talk to Brandon Inge at the Griffins' event, even though he had been notified in advance that Mr. Inge would not be available to the media. The vitriol spewed by Mr. Mayo was completely inappropriate and not worthy of a newspaper as fine as The Press.

Tom Gage, of the Detroit News, covered the same incident in a fair and balanced manner that did not reflect any of the rage expressed by Mr. Mayo. Since when did it become a duty for anyone to speak to the press? Mr. Inge has every right to not share his thoughts and feelings about his situation with Mr. Mayo, and for him to call Inge a coward for not doing so is just plain wrong. Mr. Mayo's immature outburst should have never made it passed the sports editor's desk.
-- ALAN MILLAR / Jenison

Oh, one more.

Story is disgusting
The Saturday sports edition contained an article by Press Columnist David Mayo entitled "No Media Tonight." Below that headline were the comments, "Inge plays role of cowardly Tiger in Grand Rapids appearance." I can only describe my feelings as totally disgusted about this article. All because Mr. Mayo did not get his way so that he could interview the guest of the Griffins. Poor baby!

The Detroit News also reported this story by Tom Gage, who also was denied access for an interview. However, Mr. Gage only reported this happening. He did not proceed to rant on like a spoiled child about not being granted access for an interview. Mr. Gage also said that "Inge was a smash at the meet and greet." He also mentioned that at one time it was estimated that 1,000 people were in line to greet Brandon and get an autograph or a photo taken. I think this comment speaks for the reason Brandon was in Grand Rapids.

My advice to Mr. Mayo is wake up, not write trash like this when you do not get your way. You struck a nerve on this one!
-- JAMES GILBERT/Hastings

There are plenty more at the link.

Rattlers in Venezuela

No game for Lara yesterday. Also, no Caribbean World Series just yet. The Cardenales start a best-of-nine Championship series against Tigres de Aragua tonight.

The Cardenales web site will get you ready. It looks like Rich Dorman (WI '03) is the scheduled starter in Game Four for Lara.

71 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 71 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Accusations by Lois Tilton. This is a book based on the J. Michael Straczynski series Babylon 5.

Sheridan was alone. Alone with Wallace’s report on his desk.

A lot of hard things he’d had to do in the course of his career. Writing those letters to the families of the men killed under his command – that was the worst, hands down. But this wasn’t much far behind.

He’d read the report. Read it, as Wallace intended him to, the way Earth Central would certainly read it when it showed up on their desks. It twisted the facts. Twisted them until they bent backwards in both directions, sometimes. But – the facts were there. Indisputable. Ivanova was – compromised.

His link chimed softly. “Captain? This is Ivanova. You wanted to see me?”

Sheridan forced himself to meet her eyes when she came into the command office. The anxious look on her face – she knew what this was about.

“Sit down, Commander. I won’t keep you hanging. I’m not happy about it, but Commander Wallace’s report really leaves me no choice. Until further notice, you’re suspended from all duties as a member of the command staff of Babylon 5.”

It hurt her. He could see it. Her face went white and she remained on her feet, eyes front, almost at attention. No matter how much she thought she was prepared, it hit her hard.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 22 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 4:00pm on 1/22/08.



That was an interesting shade of blue yesterday.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara looks to have wrapped up its Venezuelan post season with a 9-1 win over La Guaira. The winning and losing pitchers were both Rattler alums.

First, the Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 2-for-5, 2 2Bs, 2 RBI, run
Rich Dorman ('03): 6IP, 3H, 0R, BB, 5K (win)
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1/3 IP, 0H, 0R
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): .2IP, H, 0R

Ex-Rattler for La Guaira:
Nibaldo Acosta ('04): 3IP, 4H, R, 2BB, 2K (loss)

According to this page -- scroll down a bit -- de Cardenales finished 12-4, tied with Aragua after the round robin. Keep scrolling for the stats.

I'm not sure, but I think that Lara is now headed for the Caribbean World Series. If they are, I'll keep updating. If not, I'll figure something out.

Mariner Mail Call

Here's Jim Street's latest Mailbag at Mariners.com. The Rattler related Q & A's are below:

Do you feel that Felix Hernandez is ready to take the next step this season and become one of the top pitchers in baseball?
-- Jason G., Deshler, Ohio

If Hernandez improves as much in 2008 as he did in '07, which I believe is extremely possible, he would become one of the top hurlers in baseball. He has everything it takes, including the desire, to become a perennial All-Star pitcher. I would be more surprised if he isn't an All-Star this season than if he is.

Is there any chance Yung Chi Chen can be the main second baseman this year?
-- Steve Y., Taipei, Taiwan

As long as incumbent Jose Lopez performs close to his ability, which is All-Star caliber, Chen figures to receive more seasoning in the Minors, most likely with Triple-A Tacoma. But if Lopez falters and recently signed Miguel Cairo is too valuable as a versatile backup, you could see Chen in Seattle.

Is Phillipe Aumont, the young prospect out of Canada, still in the Mariners organization and if so, how is he doing?
-- James A., Van Nuys, Calif.

Aumont, the Mariners' first-round Draft choice last June, signed shortly before the Aug. 15 deadline and pitched for the Canada Junior National Team in the World Cup instead of a Seattle Minor League club. He will report to Spring Training on Feb. 13 with the remainder of the pitchers and catchers invited to camp. I would expect him to start the season at either Class A High Desert (California League) or Class A Wisconsin (Midwest League).

Who was the player traded to the Indians for Ben Broussard?
-- Hayoto U., Beaverton, Ore.

The Mariners traded outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and a player to be named later (Shawn Nottingham) to the Indians for Broussard on July 26, 2006.

72 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 72 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Seasons in Hell by Mike Shropshire. He chronicles his time as a Texas Ranger beat writer in this book. This passage is a snapshot of the times late in the 1973 season.

David Clyde’s resounding, albeit improbable, triumph on the banks of the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike elevated the morale of the whole state. When Clyde’s stats were flashed on the garish scoreboard in the Astrodome, Houston fans responded with a standing ovation.

In truth, the spirits of most Texans were already stimulated by a long-awaited even in Austin, the signing of the bill that reinstated the death penalty. Unrestrained joy not seen since the repeal of Prohibition greeted this measure. That same year, somebody was campaigning for the governorship of Alabama with the slogan: “I want to fry ‘em until their eyeballs pop out and green and yellow smoke comes out of their ears.” Texas’ own governor, Dolph Briscoe, clearly lacked the zeal of the Alabama politician. But Briscoe did sign the bill with the same pen that a deputy sheriff in San Antonio was using to write a traffic ticket when some goon gunned him down. Briscoe would be re-elected the next year, and overwhelmingly.

In Atlanta, the same week of David Clyde’s celebrated launch, Hank Aaron was belting career homerun numbers 696 and 697. In California, Nolan Ryan was pitching his second no-hit game of the season. And in Luckenbach, Texas, Willie Nelson and other notables of what was then known as the progressive country music movement performed an outdoor concert before thousands of adoring “dope smokin’ goat ropers.”

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 21 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats at a little before 4:00pm on 1/21/08



It was a crummy day yesterday.

Debating Society

Larry Stone has a column in the Seattle Times about how the off-season debate about trading or not trading Adam Jones to the the Baltimore Orioles is keeping things interesting in the Northwest.

As hot stove debates go, the one currently raging among Mariners fans is close to perfection.

So, without further ado, here's a heartfelt thank you to Adam Jones, Erik Bedard and that multitude of Seattle minor-league prospects who, perhaps unbeknownst to them, have enlivened what otherwise has been a largely uneventful offseason for the Mariners.

At issue, of course, is whether the Mariners should trade Jones and an amorphous, ever-changing group of potential future stars (or busts) for Bedard, an emerging ace for the Baltimore Orioles.

This imponderable is loads of fun to ponder. Delve into it long enough, and almost every aspect of baseball analysis comes into play: statistical breakdowns; how to quantify the importance of defense; the efficacy of predicting future performance; the salary structure of baseball; the pros and cons of playing to win now versus building for the future.

To cut the suspense, my position on making a deal for Bedard is a qualified yes — the qualification based first on just what, precisely, the final package sent to Baltimore for Bedard would end up being, and second, on what is general manager Bill Bavasi's plan to replace Jones in right field.

To the quick:

Any trade of prospects is rife with the potential for it to blow up in a team's face. But for every such instance, one can point to a corresponding trade where the so-called can't-miss prospects did indeed miss. Or, alternately, said prospects were so coveted by an organization that they refused to include them in any deal, only to never reap the benefits of those alleged phenoms (cough, cough, Ryan Anderson).

I don't expect Jones to be a bust. I think he will develop into a quality major-league player with a long and fruitful career. Torii Hunter-like, perhaps, or maybe even Jim Edmonds-esque. He could also be Ricky Ledee, Corey Patterson or Ruben Mateo — highly touted outfield busts — but I'd be surprised.

Whether Jones is ready to take the step to productivity in 2008 is a little murkier. Some growing pains are likely. Still, it would be difficult for the Mariners to give up on that kind of potential, especially considering that Jones is under club control for another six years, compared to two for Bedard.

I would admittedly feel better about this prospective deal if the Mariners locked up Bedard to a multiyear extension. But top-of-the-rotation pitchers come with a high price tag. The Mariners should swallow hard and include Jones.

Any number of names have been bandied about in the rumor mill as accompanying Jones to Baltimore. Brandon Morrow. Jeff Clement. Chris Tillman. Wladimir Balentien. Carlos Triunfel. Matt Tuiasosopo. Tony Butler. Et al.

All have tremendous upside. Some will likely make it big; others will likely be serviceable; a few are likely to make no impact at all. While minor-league numbers have proven to be indicative of major-league performance, any follower of player development will attest to the ultimate unpredictability of assessing how good a prospect will pan out to be.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara beat Bravos 8-3. A six-run fourth inning broke a 2-2 tie and gave de Cardenales the win.

Ex-Rattler for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 0-for-2, 2BBs, run

Lara is at La Guaira tonight.

He's not called 'The Mad Hungarian' for nothing

The Burlington Bees had their Winter Banquet over the weekend. Long-time St. Louis Cardinal pitcher and current Cardinal broadcaster Al Hrabosky was the guest speaker. He jumped right in with both feet to keep the Cub-Cardinal rivalry alive.

"We have Cardinals fans here tonight, we have Royals fans here tonight," the former St. Louis Cardinals reliever and current broadcaster said to the crowd at the Great River Convention and Events Center. "And we have born losers here tonight."

Then, he had a word or two for supporters of the Bees and minor league baseball.

"Minor league baseball is the backbone of what this sport is about," Hrabosky said. "That is the neat thing about minor league baseball. You have the chance to see these young men close-up as they come through here, and make an impression on them.

"You are the stars to them."

Then, he took some questions. What do you think one of them was?

On the Mitchell Report concerning steroid abuse in baseball: "I didn't expect much. Everything in there had already been reported, or, being around the game, you heard a lot of the rumors.

Hrabosky said he understood why some players succumbed to the temptation of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

"It would be hard sitting there and watching guys you were competing against taking something that was giving them an edge, and you weren't doing it," he said. "It would be easy for someone to take something that they were told, in some cases by a doctor, would help them heal faster or recover faster.

"It's easy for guys these days to get designer drugs. But the reason you have to eradicate this system is because it's trickling down to our youth. These kids aren't taking the designer drugs, they're sharing needles. You have to get rid of steroids in baseball."

Hrabosky placed most of the steroid era's blame on the players' union.

"That's their constituency who is using it," he said. "The testing? I don't know about these things, but guys tell you it's a joke.

"We're going to see a lot of guys break down, and you'll know why."

Go over there to find out if he prefers Old Busch Stadium or New Busch Stadium.

73 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 73 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is The Wounded Land by Stephen R. Donaldson. This is book one in The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.

The old man stood in the center of the room, still clutching his torch though a bright fire blazed in the hearth beyond him. He peered at Covenant with trepidation, ready to cringe, like a child expecting punishment.

Covenant stopped. His bruises ached to be near the fire; but he remained still to look around the room.

At once, a pang of anxiety smote him. Already, he could see that something had changed in the Land. Something fundamental.

The dwelling was furnished with an unexpected mixture of wood and stone. Stoneware bowls and urns sat on wooden shelves affixed to the sidewalls; wooden stools stood around a wooden table in one stone corner. And iron – there were iron utensils on the shelves, iron nails in the stools. Formerly, the people of stone and wood, Stonedownor and Woodhelvennin, had kept to his own lore – not because they wished to be exclusive, but rather because their special skills and knowledge required all their devotion.

For a moment, he faced the man, bore the old, half-wild gaze. Linden, too, studied the old man, measuring him uncertainly. But Covenant knew she was asking herself questions unlike the ones which mobbed into his mind. Had the Stonedownors and Woodhelvennin grown together, blended their lore? Or had -- ?

The world is not what it was.

A raw sickness twisted his heart.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Lots to do

There were a lot of things to do this morning and a lot of things to do this afternoon. Then, there is the matter of a certain game up in Green Bay later tonight.

According to this at weather.com, it's -7 degrees up there at 10am. The wind chill makes it feel like -28 degrees. Now, I gotta go get my run in for the day. Believe it...or not.

This is going to be all for posting today...Well, there may be one post around 8:30 or 9:00 tonight depending on how things go up at Lambeau.

Have a great day and stay warm.

Back in the morning.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara beat LaGuaira 5-4 in 13 innings.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 2-for-6, run
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1-1/3IP, H, 0R, BB, Blown Save
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1-2/3IP, H, 0R, 2K, Winning Pitcher

Action today:
Bravos at Lara

74 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 74 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This is book two in the DragonLance Chronicles.

The third day, they continued their journey, flying into the sunrise. They had lost the dragons, apparently, although Tika, keeping watch behind, thought she could see black dots upon the horizon. And that afternoon, as the sun was sinking behind them, they neared the river known as Thon-Thalas – Lord’s River – which divided the outside world from Silvanesti.

All his life, Tanis had heard of the wonder and beauty of the ancient Elven Home, though the elves of Qualinesti spoke of it without regret. They did not miss the lost wonders of Silvanesti, for the wonders themselves became the differences that had developed between the elven kin.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Checking in on Harrison Square

Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball has a pointer to an article about the Harrison Square Development in Indiana Business Magazine.

SITE WORK IS UNDER WAY and the bases about to be loaded at the 16-acre, $125 million Harrison Square development along Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street in downtown Fort Wayne

Soon to be on first base: a minor league stadium for the Fort Wayne Wizards, With a condominium/retail building at second and a Courtyard by Marriott hotel on third.

The L-shaped, multi-block development will be a home-team success long in planning, says Greg Leatherman, redevelopment director for the city of Fort Wayne.

"It was extremely challenging," he says. "In the last four to five years, we've been working hard to create an environment downtown that is receptive and inviting to private investment. We were planning for growth and development when the Wizards went up for sale."

Approached by a group With interests in both baseball and urban development, "need met opportunity," Leatherman says. Plans took shape, "and here we are today."

...

The ballpark, condo/retail project and a 900-space, $14 million parking deck with stadium seating on top are slated to open in April 2009. Construction of the hotel is scheduled to begin in spring 2008 and take 16 months to build.

Not just for baseball. "This will be the most innovative minor league stadium in America," says Jim Irwin, project manager for Harrison Square and a principal in Barry Real Estate. "The owners have visited over 60 minor league stadiums and are putting all the best ideas into this one stadium."

Hardball Capital is contributing $6 million toward the $31 million, city-owned stadium and will operate it for the city Its 16 private suites have already sold out, to buyers such as Indiana Michigan Power, Edy's Grand Ice Cream and Ratheon[.]

Check out the article. Then, check out DFWB. There is a cartoon currently at the top from what I guess would be the anti-Harrison Square camp.

A review of Louie

The Sports Logo Pundit has his thoughts on the new Louie the LumberKing.


Whoops. I meant to put this one up there. It was kind of confusing looking at both of them:


What says the SLP?

I don't know this for sure, but I'm pretty sure that this new Clinton LumberKings logo (left) is the first foray into logo design that the New Era Cap company has taken on. Perhaps they should stick to making baseball caps more and more expensive instead, since that's what they do best.

While I agree that Louie could've used a little bit of a tweak, perhaps just an upgrade to a more contemporary style of artwork, why they needed to make him so creepy is beyond me. In a sensitive time for baseball on all levels, there are just far to many cheap steroid jokes that one can make about the new Louie.

Seriously though, you can say that I'm reading to much into it, but I really think that this logo is an unintentional commentary on how different we think baseball players look now than we used to. Let's be honest with ourselves, thanks to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, we now think of baseball players, especially sluggers, as being barrel chested, monstrous armed, razor sharp jawboned, aggressive monsters.

But, here is what really disappoints him:

Not to mention that they felt the need to get rid of the board with the nail. That's arguably the best part of the old logo. It definitely loses a great deal of it's charm with a plain baseball bat in his hand.

Team #31

Baseball America's 2008 Prospect Handbook is due out soon. As a kind of preview, they have a list at BaseballAmerica.com of 41 players who did not make it on to the respective Top 30 list of their team.

Here are the two players with Rattler ties who made the list:

Cesar Jimenez, lhp, Mariners

Born: Nov. 12, 1984. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 180. Signed: Venezuela, 2001. Signed by: Emilio Carrasquel.

Jimenez has bounced back and forth from starting to relieving in six years in the Mariners system. He operated out of the rotation for most of 2006 and seemed to turn a corner, but he wore down, just as he had as a starter in the past. He spent three weeks on the Triple-A Tacoma disabled list in August 2006 with a sore elbow, and he worked in just 26 innings for the Rainiers last year as he again missed time with elbow problems. Jimenez' best pitch is his changeup, making him effective against righthanders. His fringe-average fastball has some cutting action and sits at 88-89 mph. He can touch 92 mph when he comes out of the bullpen. His ultimate role likely will be as a reliever because he holds up better and retains the arm speed on his fastball. He does a better job of throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in relief, too, and he'll return to that role in Triple-A this year.


Fabian Williamson, lhp, Mariners

Born: Oct. 20, 1988. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Drafted: HS—Sun Valley, Calif., 2006 (22nd round). Signed by: Phil Pote/Greg Whitworth.

Williamson signed too late in 2006 to make his pro debut, but he made a positive first impression last year. He spent the bulk of his time in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he got better as the year progressed. He can pitch backward—his curveball and changeup are both solid average—but he has supreme trust in an 85-90 mph fastball that he locates well against righthanders. The natural deception in his delivery makes the pitch even more effective. Williamson's fastball command is advanced for a young pitcher, especially one taken in the 22nd round. He'll move up to low Class A in 2008.

Jimenez was a Rattler in 2003. Williamson, who will probably be starting the season with the Rattlers, made the start on Labor Day, 2007 for Wisconsin against Kane County and pitched six shutout innings.

Checking in on Choo

The Akron Beacon-Journal has the latest on Shin-Soo Choo (WI '02).

Indians prospect gets back in swing

Shin-Soo Choo attends winter program as he recovers from surgery

Left-hander Shin-Soo Choo once pitched five games in seven days during a tournament for Busan High School in his native South Korea — totaling a whopping 44 innings.

That's quite a strain on a teenage arm that's still developing. Not to mention a daunting load that no one would allow a veteran major-league pitcher to consider.

''Korea don't care about players' bodies,'' said Choo, who signed with the Seattle Mariners for $1.35 million shortly after being named the Most Valuable Player and best pitcher in the 2000 World Junior Championship held in Edmonton, Alberta. ''It's just, make the championship.''

That kind of overload might have been the beginning of what went wrong with the converted outfielder's left elbow, as Choo opted to have Tommy John (ligament replacement) surgery last fall.

As one of a handful of top Tribe minor-league prospects attending the Indians Winter Development Program, Choo, 25, spent Thursday morning working out with the group at Case Western Reserve University's Veale Center.

Four months after having surgery in September, Choo just started swinging a bat lightly Wednesday, with the goal of graduating to soft-toss next week if all continues to go well.

His timeline has him getting ready to go just before Spring Training starts.

This had to be fun for everyone involved

Imagine you have made the major leagues as a pitcher for your favorite team. Imagine that said team selects you to be part of its winter caravan. Imagine that the caravan makes a stop in your home town. If you are Eric O'Flaherty (WI '04, '05), you do not have to imagine.

M's O'Flaherty dares kids to dream

The Walla Walla native came home Wednesday with the Mariners Caravan, living proof that dreams do come true

The Mariners Caravan made a stop at Sherwood Center on the Whitman College campus Wednesday afternoon, and for Mariners pitcher and Walla Walla native Eric O'Flaherty, the experience brought him full circle.

"I remember when I was 10 or 11 and I was siting in those stands listening to (former Mariners) Charles Gipson and Carlos Guillen," O'Flaherty recalled. "They said that there would be some of us in the crowd who might get to wear a Mariner jersey someday, and for me it came true. It goes to show that if you have a dream, go or it."

Also along on the trip were former Rattler Mark Lowe and frequent Appleton visitor Norm Charlton.

Lowe is looking forward to getting back out there.

For Lowe, the anticipation for the upcoming season has been unbearable after spending much of last season on the disabled list a year after he set a Mariners record for consecutive scoreless innings.

"That was some of the most fun I've had in my life," Lowe said of his record-breaking season. "But we're focused on this season. A bunch of us have moved down to Arizona to train and keep each other in line. We just keep pushing each other to get better."

Charlton is looking forward to having both ex-Rattlers in the Seattle bullpen and comments on O'Flaherty to the hometown newspaper.

"Both of these guys work very hard," Charlton said of his new pupils. "Mark and I are both from Texas, and the first time I saw him pitch I was impressed. Eric's a lefty and a guy who has worked extremely hard. They both throw 90 with their hair on fire, which is a lot like me."

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara's game on Thursday was not reported when this blog was updated yesterday. It has been since that time. They lost 7-5 to Caribes.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-4, HR, 2RBI
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): 1-2/3IP, H, 0R, 2BB, 2K

Lara did not play on Friday. They are scheduled to take on La Guaira tonight.

75 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 75 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Blame it on the Rain: How the Weather Has Changed History by Laura Lee. The chapter Lost Siberians is the story of how North America got its people, but the passage is an interesting side note from that wacky decade we know as the ‘80s.

As the ice age gave way to warmer temperatures around 13,500 BC, small bands of humans moved into the extreme northeastern part of Asia. Some of them wandered into a piece of real estate that no longer exists, the land the archaeologists call Central Beringia. This land bridge connected Asia and North America across what is now the Bering Strait.

Even today the gap between Alaska and Siberia is small enough – only 2.5 mi at its closest – that deep freezes sometimes make it possible for people to walk from one side to the other. Of course, what the atmospheric climate makes possible the political climate has generally not permitted, as John Weymouth of San Francisco discovered in 1986. When he walked across the frozen Bering Strait from the United States into the USSR, Weymouth found himself the focus of an international incident. After two weeks of interrogation and negotiations between the U.S. State Department and the Kremlin, the wanderer managed to convince the two governments that he was not a defector or a spy, just a curious guy who thought it would be fun to walk to another continent. He was finally sent back to America in a military helicopter.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 18 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats at a time during which it was pretty cold on 1/18/08.



Seriously, I can't remember what time I took this picture yesterday. Judging by the shadows, it was before noon...I think...At least judging by the shadows, you can tell that the Sun was out.

They got invited

The Mariners have handed out invitations to 18 non-roster players for Spring Training.

Right-hander Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners' first selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, is among the 18 non-roster players invited to Spring Training this year.

Veteran relievers Chris Reitsma and Arthur Rhodes, both coming off injuries, are among the 11 pitchers invited to camp, which begins Feb. 13, when pitchers and catchers report to the Peoria Sports Complex.

Seven of the invited players, including pitchers Philip Barzilla, Roy Corcoran, Jake Woods, Reitsma and Rhodes, have prior Major League experience. Infielder Mark Kiger and outfielder Bronson Sardinha have limited big league experience.

Aumont, the 11th overall pick in June, has yet to make his professional debut. He pitched for the Mariners during the Instructional League in Peoria and then played for his native Canada during the 2007 World Cup, being named the Canadian Junior National Team MVP.

Others of note -- meaning ex-Rattlers, include:

C Jair Fernandez: The 21-year-old catcher from Cartagena, Colombia, spent last season at Class A Wisconsin in the Midwest League, batting .260 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs.

RHP Stephen Kahn: He did not appear during the regular season in 2007 while recovering from ACL surgery on his left knee. Kahn pitched for Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, going 1-2, with a 5.23 in 10 relief appearances this offseason. Kahn has compiled a 6-3 record with a 4.29 ERA and 20 saves in 69 career Minor League appearances.

C Adam Moore: Named a California League All-Star in 2007 at Class A High Desert, Moore batted .307 with 30 doubles, 22 home runs and 102 RBIs. He ranked third in the California League in RBIs and fifth in slugging percentage (.543). Among Mariners Minor Leaguers, Moore ranked second in RBIs, third in batting average and fifth in home runs.

LHP Robert Rohrbaugh: Selected as the Mariners Triple-A Pitcher of the Year, Rohrbaugh split the 2007 season between Triple-A Tacoma and Double-A West Tennessee. He led the Mariners Minor League system with 13 wins and ranked fifth in the organization with 111 strikeouts. Rohrbaugh went 6-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 starts at Tacoma last year and tossed back-to-back shutouts -- July 28 (at Oklahoma) and Aug. 2 (vs. Memphis).

RHP Chris Tillman: Selected as the Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, Tillman split the season between Class A Wisconsin and Class A High Desert, going 7-11 with 4.84 ERA in 28 starts. He led all Mariners Minor Leaguers with 139 strikeouts over 135 2/3 innings and was named the No. 3 prospect in the California League by Baseball America. He was selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

INF Matt Tuiasosopo: He spent the entire season 2007 at Double-A West Tennessee, earning Southern League All-Star honors. Tuiasopop batted .260 with 74 runs, 27 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 57 RBIs in 129 games. The Mariners' first selection in the 2004 Draft was also a non-roster invite to Major League Spring Training in 2005, '06 and '07. He ended the '07 season by playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, batting .293 in 23 games.

Not that far away.

76 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 76 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is A Season of the Brink by John Feinstein. A look inside Indiana University Basketball’s 1985-86 season with Bobby Knight at the helm. This passage covers the second half of an exhibition game.

“Let’s put them away quickly,” Knight said. “Let’s jump on them and get a big lead. Don’t let them get back in this thing.”

They didn’t. A Harris dunk really got the crowd wound up and built the lead to 55-43. The lead eventually was more than 20, and the final score was 94-74. No contest. Still, there were moments. When Morgan threw a foolish pass, Knight screamed in his face during the next time-out. The two were literally nose to nose, one giving, the other taking. Did Morgan resent this treatment? “I was thinking,” he said later, “that I screwed up again.”

The screwups were balanced, though, by the potential that showed in flashes. Alford finished with twenty-three points; Harris had sixteen and nine rebounds. Thomas also had sixteen. It was, after less than four weeks of practice, a good beginning. Knight knew this. He also knew there was a lot more to do before this team could beat Notre Dames and Kentuckys. But they were not that far off. As the players congratulated one another after Knight had reminded them one more time “November 9 to March 9, keep that in mind,” they had little idea that they were about to enter the most difficult three weeks of the season. Over the next twenty days, they would have one day off. They would practice twenty-four times, look at endless hours of tape, and receive absolute hell from their coach.

After that, if they survived, they would play their first game.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 17 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 11am on 1/17/08.



It snowed yesterday.

Thursday Motivation (1/17)

Courtesy of Curly from City Slickers:



Kind of baseball related with the baseball hat.

January 16 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 11:30am on 1/16/08

Good luck, Brad. Odd choice? Way to go, Marte.

I'll credit commenter Lance at Mariner Minors for this piece of news.

Brad Holman, the pitching coach of the Timber Rattlers from 2002-2005, has landed a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

The Altoona club will be managed by Tim Leiper for the third straight year. Leiper, who has managed the Curve to back-to-back winning seasons, will again be joined by coach Brandon Moore, as well as new pitching coach Brad Holman. Holman, who has six seasons as a Minor League pitching coach under his belt, spent the previous two years coaching for the Mariners Double-A affiliate.

Altoona is the Double-A affiliate of the Pirates and they are in the Eastern League.

In a non-Timber Rattler related note about the Pirate's minor league hires, this one for State College of the New York-Penn League was very, very interesting:

Filling out [Brad] Fischer's staff will be former Pirate Sid Bream as the team's new hitting coach and Wilson Alvarez as the team's pitching coach for the second straight year.

Interesting because, while Bream is a former Pirate, he is best known for the video tagged 1992 over at MLB.com.

Lastly at that same story there was another ex-Rattler mentioned:

Marte aids with no-no: Pirates reliever Damaso Marte found himself in the middle of a no-hit bid on Monday when he came into the seventh inning of a Dominican Winter League playoff game. Marte relieved Ervin Santana (Los Angeles Angels) and kept Santana's no-hitter intact by inducing a groundout, a popup and three strike outs before handing the ball over to Carlos Marmol (Cubs), who finished the no-hit feat for the Licey club.

Marte was a Rattler in 1996.

Up the middle at MLB.com

Time for the middle infielders to get the treatment at every team website. This article at MLB.com kicks off the flood the zone coverage.

DP Combos thriving throughout MLB

You have to go down a bit to find this an ex-Rattler:

The real deal?

Three shortstops who may find their own 2007 splashes tough acts to follow:

• Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies -- Now that people know him, can he be as good with everyone watching?

• Orlando Cabrera, White Sox -- In his 11th season, he hit .300 for the first time, yet the Angels still dealt him away. Can he prove that was a mistake?

• Ryan Theriot, Cubs -- First he made Cesar Izturis disappear from the lineup, then he made him disappear from Chicago. Can the Cubs' fifth different Opening Day shortstop in as many years make himself at home?

And three second basemen:

• Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians -- May rank pretty low on the AL Cabrera totem pole (behind Miguel, Orlando, Melky, perhaps even Daniel), but the Tribe went 28-12 with him in the starting lineup.

• Aaron Hill, Blue Jays -- His offensive numbers increased across the board for a third straight season, and he topped MLB at the position in assists.

• Placido Polanco, Tigers -- Zero errors in 141 games ... good luck trying to top that.

Cabrera ('05) figures more prominently in the story at the Indians site.

The 22-year-old Cabrera, meanwhile, will try to avoid the sophomore struggles that hamstrung both Peralta and Barfield. His .283 average and 22 RBIs in just 45 games down the stretch of the '07 season -- to say nothing of his outstanding defensive play at both second and short -- were major sparks to an Indians team locking up a division title. Not only did Cabrera take over second base, he took over the No. 2 spot of the lineup, as well, putting together a .354 OBP.

Of course, having seen what's happened to [Jhonny] Peralta and [Josh] Barfield the past two seasons, the Indians know they must temper their expectations for Cabrera in '08.

"We certainly understand," Shapiro said, "that there's some volatility to be expected in a player that doesn't have that much experience."

The trade another perspective

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times has a thought or two about the rumored trade of ex-Rattler Adam Jones to Baltimore for Erik Bedard.

Keeping Jones is Mariners' best move -- for now and the future

The Mariners should bow out while they can. Three words to live by: Keep Adam Jones.

General manager Bill Bavasi should tattoo "K.A.J." on his hand so that whenever he picks up the phone to talk trades, he resists temptation.

Keep Adam Jones.

He is the Mariners' future, and he just might be awfully good in the present. At last, he is primed to get his chance this season as the team's starting right fielder — unless the Mariners sacrifice him, along with several other prospects, for a chance at short-term success.

Baltimore doesn't want to include Bedard in a trade. The Orioles want to include him in a heist. They want to flash their shiny lefty as a distraction and then fleece a team starved for pitching. They're reportedly asking for three to five significant young players for Bedard, who is coming off an amazing 2007 season.

...

Bedard, who turns 29 in March, is a really good pitcher with many years left in him. The thought of putting him with Felix Hernandez in the front of the starting rotation is intriguing. The thought of a complete rotation without a glaring weak link on the back end is wonderful.

The problem? The offense would take a hit. And more important, without Jones, the defense in the outfield, which aids those pitchers, would take a hit, too.

The Mariners survived some of their starting-pitching woes last season by turning to an offense that generally produced. It was an interesting lineup that required a little production from everyone because it lacked a dominant power hitter and run producer. But the offense has already lost right fielder Jose Guillen, a huge key last season, to Kansas City in free agency.

The danger now is that the Mariners will be back to depending too much on Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, who can't carry an offense and wilt under that pressure. If Jones is around, he's a nice wild card who could soften the loss of Guillen's production.

There is more over there.

A Sickels Sneak Peek

John Sickels has a post up over at MinorLeagueBall.com that has a preview of his 2008 Prospect Book. Look at who one the previewees is.

Tony Butler, LHP, Seattle Mariners
Bats: L Throws: L HT: 6-7 WT: 205 DOB: November 18, 1987

A third round pick from a Wisconsin high school in 2006, Butler was one of my favorite sleeper prospects entering 2007. He had a very strange season. He pitched poorly in April and May, with a 7.02 ERA in his first nine starts and horrible peripheral numbers. The Mariners shut him down in June, rested him for a couple of weeks, and rebuilt his mechanics. This worked wonders: he came back in July and pitched brilliantly at times down the stretch, with a 3.29 ERA and a 44/16 K/BB in his last 52 innings. I saw him throw a brilliant, old-fashioned nine-inning complete game shutout against Burlington on August 26th. At his best, Butler features a 90-92 MPH fastball and a very good curve. His changeup is erratic, but it looked good late in the year. He's also a very intelligent and well-spoken young man. Although we need to see more at higher levels, I'm optimistic about his chances, provided he remains healthy. Grade B- right now, but I expect that to rise if he stays healthy.

Kind of missed this one yesterday

The Red Smith Banquet was Tuesday. The new manager of the Rattlers was there. Also, the question was asked of Greg Hunter.

It's all in the notebook.

Terry Pollreisz was told he was needed inside the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dugout this season.

The 61-year-old thinks he knows why.

"I love teaching baseball," he said with a smile. "I expect the players to learn how to play the game well. And when they said we want your presence there, I think that's what they meant. That's what they're getting."

...

"It was just a good fit," said Mariners director of player development Greg Hunter, also on hand for the banquet. "We've had some inexperienced (managers) here in the past, and I think the stability of having him here is going to be a good thing. He's a very good baseball person."

Pollreisz has worked at nearly all levels of the Mariners organization, serving as the hitting coach at Triple-A Tacoma, Wash., the past four seasons.

His experience should be a bonus for the Rattlers, especially if they are handed a youthful roster filled with players entering their first full season of professional baseball.

Among those Hunter said could find himself beginning the season in Wisconsin is pitcher Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners' 2007 first-round draft pick.

"I love the game," Pollreisz said. "I expect the game to be played well and the right way. I'm into making them better, not worse. I pride myself on developing the players."

On to the question:

Hunter said the Mariners are interested in inking a new player development pact with the Rattlers. The current deal expires following the upcoming season.

"It's a good situation for the full season (Class) A level," said Hunter, who's in his first year in his current role. "It's excellent for our development. The city, the community, the ballpark, the people. They're fabulous. I think it's first-class, first-rate."

Whether or not the Rattlers want to remain with the Mariners is another question. Wisconsin has served as Seattle's low Class A Midwest League affiliate since 1993 but has struggled under the Mariners' watch in recent seasons, finishing 57-82 in 2004, 54-86 in 2006 and 53-85 last season.

Hunter said discussions with the Rattlers have been broached but a new deal isn't imminent.

"I think they want to see me being the director of player development now, what things are going to be like," Hunter said. "And I don't blame them for that at all. I'm looking forward to doing what they'd like to see done. And we have some things we'd like to see done. We value the relationship here."

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara won again with a 5-4 win over LaGuaira.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 0-for-3, run scored
Rich Dorman ('03): 5IP, 2H, 2R, 2BB, 5K
Ivan Blanco ('05): IP, 0H, 0R, BB
Cesar Jimenez ('03): IP, 0H, 0R

Lara hosts Caribes tonight.

77 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 77 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Final Rounds by James Dodson. In this passage, Dodson and his father, a World War II veteran, are playing a round of golf at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s.

On the plus side, Dad showed no indication of fatigue whatsoever. There was even a discernible lilt in his step. At the frighteningly bunkered par-three fifth, he made a beautiful swing with his Big Bertha three-wood and caught an awful break – his ball striking the front of the green and kicking off into the right front trap. Mine reached the green, my first shot to reach in regulation. He followed next with an exquisite sand shot that left him a mere tap-in for par, his first par. I holed a ten-footer for par to prove I hadn’t only just taken up playing the game. The day was getting better in several respects.

“Did you wear your uniform when you played?” I asked him as we walked off toward six.

“Of course. Every time. We all did. It was wartime.”

I could picture him swinging in his staff sergeant’s uniform…

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Wednesday Baseball Movie (1/16)

Roy: That day in Chicago, why did you stand up?

Iris: I didn't want to see you fail.

Jay's review of Timber Rattler pitchers from 2007

Jay at Mariner Minors has posted his review of the '07 Rattler pitching staff.

While the offense was rather erratic and young, the pitching staff very often had a veteran look. Of the six players logging ten or more starts (so, Tillman excluded), four of them had college experience, while the remaining two were fresh out of high school as of the ’06 draft. The bullpen was much the same, featuring only a couple of players even drafted out of high school, both of whom have been in the minor leagues since the ’04 season. That’s not to say that they are finished products, however, as they gave out the third most walks in the league and were the only team in triple digits for home runs allowed. Many have aspects of their game they are continuing to work out, so in the world of prospects, they aren’t exactly high on anyone’s charts.

Here is the Wisconsin native:

A year has made quite a difference for Tony Butler, though not as positively as we had hoped. Though some claimed he would have been taken in the first round had the draft been done again, fellow prep left-handers Brett Anderson, Kasey Kiker, and Clayton Kershaw have all sprinted out ahead of him. It would be too cruel to dismiss him, and a serious error in judgment at that, and I say that as someone who categorized him as a disappointment early in the year, so let’s look at the circumstances involved. For one thing, the player development folks, often eager to tinker, had him try throwing more over the top to get better downward movement on his pitches early in the year. This went badly and between April and May, he was walking nearly nine men per game and slowly slipping up when it came to putting hitters away. This eventually culminated with a trip to the DL. I don’t know what happened once he came off, whether the M’s came to their senses and let him go back to the traditional three-quarters slot he was using or he merely adjusted to it, but after coming off, his overall walk rate was a third of what it was before, and would’ve been the best on the team given a full year. His strikeouts also eventually dropped a little, and his earlier groundballs vanished in favor of his old flyball tendencies, but neither are damning. It wasn’t the year we expected from him, nor was it one that was entirely lost. The injuries, we can expect, were largely the result of aforementioned tinkering, and if the M’s wanted him to experience some adversity before making the climb, well, they certainly got it. As a flyball pitcher, next year in High Desert could prove somewhat unsettling for him, but there’s some good that could come of it too, as a solid performance would put him right back on the charts.

Head over there for Jay's take on the whole bunch of hurlers...Even those who aren't in the organization anymore.

Interesting

Ballparkdigest had this last week and I missed posting it then. But, it was still interesting, so:

Schumer: Syracuse Can Get Mets

The New York Mets are showing "very real interest" in relocating their top minor league team to Syracuse, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, who is actively lobbying for the move.

The senator said he spoke with Mets owner Fred Wilpon about the potential move of the baseball team's Triple-A affiliate from New Orleans to Syracuse for the 2009 season.

He said Wilpon agreed it seems like a perfect fit.

Did he now?

New York's senior senator, who has long lobbied for businesses in New York City to expand Upstate, said nobody has asked him to provide assistance from the federal government.

Schumer said he simply used his influence in a way that could give Mets fans in Central New York what they have clamored for since the New York Yankees ended their affiliation with the Chiefs after the 1977 season - a chance to root for the young stars of a New York major league baseball team.

But, what about some of those pesky rules?

No deal between the Mets and Syracuse can be signed until after the upcoming season, during a two-week window in September. That is also when the Mets' agreement with the New Orleans Zephyrs expires.

The Chiefs are barred under baseball's tampering rules from talking to another major league team while under contract with the Blue Jays.

Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz declined to discuss the potential move Thursday, citing the same tampering rules.

Does Syracuse have anything to say?

John Simone, general manager of the Syracuse Chiefs, was also cautious.

"I can't really comment on work agreements until the end of the year," Simone said Thursday. "But people like Sen. Schumer, who are not affiliated with the team, can do what he wants as a Mets fan, a friend of our ball club and as a senator. We've told him we would definitely welcome his help."

Simone said the team has enjoyed a long and good relationship with Schumer.

Simone also said everyone in minor league baseball is aware of the rare opportunity to serve as the long-term host of the Mets' top affiliate.

Before moving to New Orleans last year, the Mets had their Triple-A team in Norfolk, Va., for 39 years, and owned the franchise until about 15 years ago, Simone said.

New Orleans Zephyrs, what say you?

Mike Schline, general manager of the New Orleans Zephyrs, said the Mets have not approached the team to discuss the possibility of ending their agreement.

"From our standpoint - being three months away from opening day, and trying to get our momentum going for the season - it's disappointing to hear some of these discussions are going on," Schline said.

Schline said the Mets have been part of the revitalization of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The Zephyrs added a new scoreboard, sound system and lights after Katrina, he said.

Go read the whole thing.

Heading south

The Richmond Braves have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves for a long, long time. But, in 2009 that is going to change:

Braves moving Triple-A team in '09

Team accepts stadium offer from nearby Gwinnett County

Braves executive vice president of business operations Mike Plant has spent the past four years attempting to find a suitable facility for the club's Triple-A affiliate.

After countless battles with the city of Richmond, Va., and an untold amount of hours evaluating other potential locations throughout the United States, he came to the realization that his best solution would be in his organization's backyard.

Gwinnett County isn't exactly next door to Turner Field. But it is just about 30 minutes away and in the eyes of the Braves, this proximity won't prove to be a detriment as much as it will be a positive when they move their Triple-A team there from Richmond for the start of the 2009 season.

"It's going to be really successful," Plant said on Tuesday afternoon, after the Gwinnett County Commissioners unanimously approved the construction of a $40 million stadium that will be ready for the Braves around this time next year.

...

Richmond has been home for the Braves Triple-A affiliate since the 1966 season and in 1985, when they opened The Diamond, the city possessed one of the country's best Minor League stadiums. But, the stadium has become outdated and a cause for concern for most of this decade.

A combination of extended heavy rains and a bad drainage system forced the Richmond Braves to play each of the 2004 playoff games on the road. They ended up losing to Buffalo in the Governor's Cup finals.

"There just was never any clarity that the financial structure was going to work in Richmond," Plant said. "That left me with a lot of concern I knew what we were willing to put on the table and nobody else made any commitments."

I'll take a look for the reaction in Richmond later today.

Don't worry, Congress is on it!

MLB.com has the story:

House members query Selig, Fehr

Commissioner, union chief accept share of responsibility

WASHINGTON -- The Commissioner of Major League Baseball and the head of the Players Association both conceded to a Congressional committee on Tuesday that they were slow in recognizing the impact of performance-enhancing drugs on the sport.

"I'll take the responsibility," Bud Selig said during a nearly 55-minute session in which he and Don Fehr, the executive director of the union, were cross-examined by members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "That's why I wanted this report."

"Certainly, we didn't pay attention soon enough," Fehr said.

In the wake last month of the report issued by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell analyzing the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, the same Committee that bashed the sport nearly three years ago for its pace in dealing with the drug issue called some of the same people back together on Tuesday.

Mitchell testifies, stands by McNamee

Calls former trainer for Clemens, Pettitte a 'truthful witness'

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and gave virtually the same rendition of his report on Major League Baseball's steroid era to a Congressional committee as the one he rendered to the public on Dec. 13, when it was released.

With one addition: Mitchell stood behind the testimony of Brian McNamee, the former personal trainer for Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, who told Mitchell and federal investigators that he had injected both pitchers with performance-enhancing drugs.

Head over to the links for the full stories and for some video.

M's Mailbag

Jim Street dives into the latest Q's from Mariner fans and gives some A's.

Rattler related Q's:

As of now, whom do you project to make the Opening Day roster as part of the bench? I like Jamie Burke, Willie Bloomquist, Jeff Clement and Mike Morse. Also, how will the signing of Cairo affect this situation?
-- Angelo M., Seattle.

The makeup of the 25-man Opening Day roster will be determined during Spring Training, but as we speak, there is a good chance that one of those five -- Burke, Bloomquist, Clement, Morse and Cairo -- probably won't be on the roster when the Mariners begin the regular season on March 31 against the Rangers at Safeco Field. Manager John McLaren presumably could carry 12 pitchers, three catchers, five infielders, four outfielders and designated hitter Jose Vidro. Some tough decisions loom.

How does Robert Rohrbaugh fit into the Mariners' plans?
-- Eldon M., Hanover, Pa.

The Mariners are extremely high on the 24-year-old left-hander, who was selected as the Most Valuable Pitcher for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in 2007. He split the season between Double-A West Tennessee and Tacoma, posting an overall record of 13-8 with a 3.12 ERA, 111 strikeouts and 47 walks in 170 1/3 innings.

Seattle Sports Star of the Year is a Rattler

The Post-Intelligencer has named their Sports Star of the Year for Seattle and you may have heard of him.

In a roller-coaster 2007 season, the Mariners had one thing they could always count on: J.J. Putz.

In the first season of his first multiyear contract, the closer gave the Mariners more than their money's worth and earned a little something extra, as a Seattle P-I Sports Star of the Year award winner.

Putz, 30, converted 40 of 42 save opportunities last season, a dominating force as Seattle went 87-1 in games it led after eight innings.

Had it not been for the Mariners' late-season collapse, Putz, who didn't get a save opportunity between Aug. 24 and Sept. 13, would likely have broken the club's season saves record of 45 held by Kazuhiro Sasaki. Putz had more saves (40) than hits allowed (37) and limited opponents to a major league-low .202 on-base percentage (minimum 50 innings).

...

Though he's been the closer for less than two seasons, Putz's 86 saves place him third on the club's career list. He needs just 13 to catch Mike Schooler for second and 43 to catch Sasaki for No. 1.

If Putz's 2008 is anything like his 2007, don't bet against him being on the top of that list a year from now.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara topped Caribes 10-2.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:

Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-3, 2BBs, 4 runs
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 1-2/3IP, 2H, BB, K
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): IP, 0H, 0R, K

Tonight Lara is at La Guaira

78 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 78 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo D’Este. This passage is from Patton’s time at West Point

Patton’s letters to Beatrice and his parents in the autumn of 1904 focused almost exclusively on his academic difficulties. West Point required extensive memorization, which turned out to be the only means by which Patton could keep pace with the demands of his instructors. The technique of memorizing he had learned from Nannie and Papa at Lake Vineyard now benefited him.

Although Patton struggled with academic subjects, he had no such problems on the parade ground, where he was far more comfortable. “I have been perfect so far in drill regulations,” he proudly informed Papa.

The grind was interrupted in mid-September by a welcome visit from his mother, Aunt Nannie, and his sister, Nita. “They were all looking splendidly and Nita seems to be quite grown up. I don’t believe I ever will be.” Little has been written about Patton’s loving relationship with his sister, which was devoid of jealousy or envy. To the end of his life he was protective and gentlemanly, and once said of her that while some varnishes “can hide the flaws in base wood, it cannot improve that which is already perfect.” Nita Patton fully reciprocated her brother’s love and admiration. She lived most of her life in the Patton ancestral home at Lake Vineyard, and later turned it into a shrine dedicated to her famous brother. Swords, pistols, rifles, and machine guns, and a large portrait dominated the main room of the house.

Throughout most of Patton’s years at VMI and West Point

either his mother or his doting Aunt Nannie lived in nearby lodgings. They wanted to be near “the boy” in case he needed anything. There are some pathetic letters between Georgie’s parents, written during that time, telling each other how they miss each other, and how someday, when the children are grown, they will be together, never to part. There are many references to “walking hand-in-hand into the sunset.” But in the meantime, they encouraged each other to stay near “the boy”…and bear their mutual loneliness as best they could.

There is, however, no evidence in any of Patton’s voluminous correspondence that their presence either reassured or inspired him, and his innermost feelings continued to be revealed mainly in his intimate letters to his beloved Papa, who rarely left California.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Now that is a banquet

The five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time Midwest League Champion West Michigan Whitecaps know how to throw a party. The Detroit Tiger Caravan stopped in Grand Rapids on Sunday, helped raise a little money, and got the locals fired up:

The Whitecaps 14th annual Winter Baseball Banquet raised more than $42,000 for charity, marking the second highest total in the event’s history. Detroit Tigers President/CEO, General Manager David Dombrowski, Whitecaps Manager Joe DePastino and Tigers first base coach Andy Van Slyke addressed the crowd of 850 people at DeVos Place Sunday night. Also in attendance from the Tigers were players Carlos Guillen, Vance Wilson, Zach Miner, Jordan Tata, first-round pick Rick Porcello, FSN Detroit broadcaster Mario Impemba and infield coach Rafael Belliard.

The Whitecaps held a silent and live auction along with a raffle during the event that raised $42,107 for the Whitecaps Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and the Detroit Tigers Foundation. The banquet, sponsored by Varnum Riddering Schmidt and Howlett, LLP, raises money for underprivileged children to play baseball.

You may have noticed

Adam Jones, who has been the subject of many posts about a possible trade, played for Lara for the first time in quite a few days yesterday.

Jones was also the topic of the following story in the Seattle Times today.

Trade winds hit Jones

Adam Jones is still a bat-carrying member of Cardenales de Lara, the team from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, that is battling for its country's winter-league championship.

More importantly to Seattle fans, Jones is still — for now — a member of the Mariners, despite a two-day layoff over the weekend at the behest of M's management that awakened speculation of an impending trade.

Lara management was requested by the Mariners to hold Jones out of games Saturday and Sunday. But on Monday, Lara received the all-clear from the Mariners for Jones to return to action. He was in the lineup Monday against Tiburones of Laguaira.

Here is Jones' reaction to the whole kerfuffle:

In an interview with XM Radio on Sunday, Jones said he was mystified by being pulled from the lineup.

"I try to keep contact with our organization," Jones told XM, "but, the last time I talked with our GM, he just said, 'You're not going to play for a couple days. We are in the process of doing all this, we don't know what's going on yet. So, hang tight for a couple days, and we will get back to you.'

"So, hopefully, I can play Monday, 'cause we are in the playoffs and we are in first place, and I wanna be there for the guys. But if I'm not there physically, I am definitely there emotionally on the bench."

In the same interview, Jones addressed the ongoing trade rumors.

"It's pretty cool to be involved in a trade for such a high-profile player [Bedard]. I'd rather be playing. I like Seattle [but] whatever move is made, I can't do anything about it. I'm here to play baseball. If I'm playing baseball for anybody, as long as I'm in the big leagues playing baseball, having fun, that's all I can really ask for."

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara lost 5-2 to La Guaira yesterday.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:

Adam Jones ('04): 0-for-4
Ivan Blanco ('05): 3IP, 2H, 0R, 3K

Lara is at Caribes tonight.

79 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 79 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathon Swift. This passage is from Gulliver’s trip to Brobdingnag, a land of giants.

It is the custom, that every Wednesday, (which as I have before observed, was their Sabbath) the king and queen, with the royal issue of both sexes, dine together in the apartment of his Majesty; to whom I was now become a favourite; and at these times my little chair and table were placed at his left hand before one of the salt-sellers. This prince took pleasure in conversing with me; enquiring into the manners, religion, laws, government, and learning of Europe, wherein I gave him the best account I was able. His apprehension was so clear, and his judgement so exact, that he made very wise reflections and observations upon all I said. But, I confess, that after I had been a little too copious in talking of my own beloved country; of out trade, and wars by sea and land, of our schisms in religion, and parties in the State; the prejudices of his education prevailed so far, that he could not forbear taking me up in his right hand, and stroaking me gently with the other, after an hearty fit of laughing, asked me whether I were a Whig or a Tory. Then turning to his first minister, who waited behind him with a white staff, near as tall as the main-mast of the Royal Sovereign; he observed how contemptible a thing was human grandeur…

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 14 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats at 11am on 1/14/07



More tomorrow.

Johnny Podres

The MVP of the 1955 World Series has passed.

Johnny Podres, Series Star, Dies at 75

Johnny Podres, who became a celebrated figure in the storied history of the Brooklyn Dodgers in October 1955, when he pitched them to their only World Series championship, died Sunday at a hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y. Podres, who lived nearby in Queensbury, N.Y., was 75.

Podres was hardly a star on a team with Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider in the lineup and Don Newcombe and Carl Erskine on the pitching staff. He had been injured twice during the ’55 season and he had a modest record of 9-10 for a team that won the National League pennant by 13 ½ games.

But at 3:43 p.m. on Oct. 4, 1955, Podres proved the man of the hour for Dodgers fans, whose unrealized quest for a World Series championship had been embodied in the refrain “Wait til next year.”

In a duel of left-handers, Podres was matched against Tommy Byrne in Game 7 at the Stadium. The Dodgers had a 2-0 lead, both runs driven in by Hodges, but in the sixth inning the Yankees had runners on first and second with nobody out when Yogi Berra hit a fly ball toward the left-field line that seemed about to drop for a double. Sandy Amoros, who had just come into the game, replacing Jim Gilliam in left field, saved the day for Brooklyn. After a long run, he reached out for a one-handed catch, then made a relay to Reese, the shortstop, who threw to Hodges, doubling Gil McDougald off first base.

Podres had been effective with his changeup early in the game. As the autumn shadows began to approach home plate, making it tougher for batters to see the pitches, he turned to his fastball. He stopped the Yankees the rest of the way, completing an eight-hitter by retiring them in order in the ninth inning. When Elston Howard grounded to Reese for the final out, Podres was mobbed, and Brooklyn erupted in ecstasy.

“There was a hell of a party that night at the Hotel Bossert in Brooklyn,” Podres told Donald Honig in “The October Heroes.” As Podres recalled it: “Boy, the champagne! There was one guy there who kept telling me he’d been waiting for this since 1916.”

The unbearable lightness of being Rhubarb

The Tacoma Rainiers held tryouts for their mascot this past weekend. The Tacoma News-Tribune was there.

They wanted to see Rhubarb cheer a game-winning home run, and he waved his arms as he bounded across the room.

They wanted to see Rhubarb upset with a tough loss, and he collapsed and pounded his fists against the door.

They wanted to see Rhubarb react to a cute girl in the stands, and he flashed his best come-hither look.

They wanted to see Rhubarb interact with a muscle-bound jock, and he flexed and pointed to his noticeably flat biceps.

The judges selecting the Tacoma Rainiers’ next mascot threw almost every kind of scenario at Rhubarb – how to act shy, flirt with a girl several sections away, dance to funk and calm a scared child – and when the audition was almost over, Payton Foutz removed the oversized reindeer head, wiped the sweat off his brow and flashed a bright smile.

“Man,” he said, “that was fun.”

Well, its always fun when you win. What is that like?

Future Whitecap

They just reload in West Michigan

A chance to see the future face of the Tigers

Rick Porcello could be the next top draft pick of the Detroit Tigers to begin his pro career with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

That's what the 6-foot-5, 190-pound right-handed pitcher from Seton Hall Preparatory High School in New Jersey, hopes will happen.

Porcello, who turned 19 on Dec. 27, found the media and fan attention Saturday at Comerica Park during TigerFest overwhelming -- and also exciting.

An estimated 8,500 fans attended Saturday's event, many of them in line long before the gates opened at 11 a.m.

Porcello was the 2007 Gatorade High School Pitcher of the Year. He received a $3.58 million signing bonus after being drafted 27th overall.

He was in Grand Rapids last night for the Whitecaps winter banquet.

It's going to stay?

Yes, the Cougars will be able to sell naming rights to Elfstrom Stadium. But, Elfstrom will remain a part of the complex:

Elfstrom name to stay

Philip Elfstrom brought minor league baseball to Kane County, and to some it may seem like heresy to sell the naming rights to Elfstrom Stadium to the highest bidder.

But Kane County Forest Preserve officials Tuesday emphasized that allowing the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball team to sell the stadium naming rights will not push out Elfstrom's name.

The complex that includes the current Elfstrom Stadium and the Roberta Campbell Center behind it still will bear the Elfstrom name. The entire complex will be called the Philip B. Elfstrom Events Center, even when the stadium takes a different name.

It doesn't sound like it will be Something Something Field at Elfstrom Stadium. Instead it would be Something Something Stadium at Elfstrom Events Center?

You can't please everyone

BallparkDigest.com has this awesome story about the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

When Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski sat down to breakfast Nov. 8, what he read in the newspaper ruined his appetite.

Right there, in the local section, was a story detailing how the Lehigh Valley IronPigs had inked a deal to have visiting teams that would play in the soon-to-open baseball stadium in east Allentown stay in a downtown Bethlehem hotel.

It was the latest setback for Pawlowski in four years of attempts to have minor league baseball drive economic development in downtown Allentown.

Oh, it gets better.

So, when the first pitch is thrown March 30, Pawlowski will be there cheering for the home team. But he'll be doing it believing the Triple-A team and $49.4 million Coca-Cola Park will provide little benefit to anyone from Allentown who isn't in the stands with him.

''No tax revenues, no team name, no economic benefit to the downtown and now, even the opposing teams are going somewhere else,'' Pawlowski said this week. ''So what does Allentown get? Zero, zip, absolutely nothing. That hotel deal really put a sour taste in my mouth.''

Lehigh County Administration Director Tom Muller had little sympathy for the mayor. The county floated $17.5 million in bonds to help build the stadium -- bonds that baseball would pay back only if the stadium remains open for 29 years.

''None of us can collect taxes or revenues here, yet we've taken all the risk and Allentown hasn't invested a penny,'' Muller said. ''If this thing collapsed in three years, [County Executive] Don Cunningham's rock band better get real good real fast. We have all the skin in this game and Allentown's got none.''

Wow. More?

Still, Pawlowski on Wednesday spent 45 minutes in his office with IronPigs general manager Kurt Landes, trying to devise some way his city could get its slice of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs pie.

Maybe, Pawlowski proposed, the IronPigs and the city can agree on how to lure some of the 500,000 fans at the stadium to travel the three miles to the downtown.

Pawlowski said he's happy the stadium and team are in his city, and said they help bring a sense of pride and raise the quality of life for people Valleywide. But even as euphoria builds toward opening day, it nags him that he couldn't persuade people to make Allentown a bigger part of the deal.

Consider Pawlowski's losing streak with the stadium:

Sorry. You are going to have to go to the link for the whole list. But, I will bring this one to the party:

No ticket tax. Pawlowski suggested the city be permitted to charge a ticket or amusement tax. But Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, said team owners would only agree to a $1.3 million-a-year stadium lease if lawmakers agreed there would be no ticket tax.

So, when Pawlowski floated an amusement tax as an option for the city to raise money from baseball, local lawmakers in Harrisburg quickly passed a law prohibiting Allentown from collecting one at the stadium -- ever.

''We had to do it,'' Boscola said. ''A deal was made, and we couldn't allow the mayor to betray it. You don't go back on your word.''

So, why did the IronPigs go with a hotel outside of Allenton?

''Actually, the Crowne Plaza was the first hotel we approached, but they weren't interested in meeting the room rate we required,'' Landes said, noting that International League criteria require a guaranteed room rate of about $75 to $85 per night. ''We consider ourselves partners with Allentown. We didn't try to avoid the city.''

Head over to the read the whole story.

New Look Louie

This has been out there for a bit.

LumberKings Unveil New "Louie" Logo

On Opening Day 2008, a new crop of players will not be the only fresh look for the Clinton LumberKings. The classic "Louie the LumberKing" logo that adorns Clinton's hats and helmets is getting its first facelift since its creation in 1994.

Thanks to New Era's design team, Louie has toned up, changed his facial hair and is even equipped with some new gear. Gone is the handlebar mustache, silver crown and green wood plank that epitomized the mascot for 14 seasons. Nowadays, Louie is sporting a new slick goatee, a shiny golden crown, and swings a more conventional wood baseball bat. With all the changes, he has still maintained the scrappy attitude that made him a fan favorite - arching his eyebrow and sporting his classic grin.

Old Louie:

New Louie:


I think that someone at New Era could possibly be a fan of Clerks: The Animated Series

Maybe you can tell a bit better in this picture from Clerks II.



Or, maybe I just need to get more sleep.

80 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 80 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s book is 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke.

A hundred million miles beyond Mars, in the cold loneliness where no man had yet traveled, Deep Space Monitor 79 drifted slowly among the tangled orbits of the asteroids. For three years it had fulfilled its mission flawlessly – a tribute to the American scientists who had designed it, the British engineers who had built it, the Russian technicians who had launched it. A delicate spider’s-web of antennas sampled the passing waves of radio noise—the ceaseless cackle and hiss of what Pascal, in a far similar age, had naïvely called the “silence of infinite space.” Radiation detectors noted and analyzed incoming cosmic rays from the galaxy and points beyond; neutron and X-Ray telescopes kept watch on strange stars that no human eye would ever see; magnetometers observed the gusts and hurricanes of the solar winds, as the Sun breathed million-mile-an-hour blasts of tenuous plasma into the faces of its circling children. All these things, and many others, were patiently noted by Deep Space Monitor 79, and recorded in its crystalline memory.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Saturday's game between Lara and Bravos went 15 innings and Lara won 4-3. de Cardenales scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Ivan Blanco ('05): IP, 2H, R, 2BB, K
Cesar Jimenez ('03): 2IP, 0H, 0R, 2K

Lara is off on Sunday.

81 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 81 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s passage# is a series of reviews for some with the word “blind” in the title from VideoHound’s Golden Movie Retriever 1996: The Complete Guide to Movies on Videocassette, Laserdisc, and CD##. Notice anything missing? Notice how it is now 12 years out of date. Yeah, I may need a new one of these. Also, where you see * in the ratings think of them as a picture of a bone because that’s the rating system of the Video Hound. It may be coincidence, but Rutger Hauer is in two of these movies.

Blind Ambition: Television mini-series docu-drama traces the career of John Dean, special counsel to President Richard M. Nixon. Focuses on his fractured personal life and touches on virtually all of the Watergate headlines.

1982 95 minutes Martin Sheen, Rip Torn **1/2

Blind Date: A blind date between a workaholic yuppie and a beautiful blonde starts off well, but when she drinks too much at dinner, things get out of hand. In addition to embarrassing her date and destroying the restaurant, she has a jealous ex-boyfriend to be dealt with.

1987 (PG-13) 95 minutes Kim Basinger, Bruce Willis, John Larroquette, William Daniels, George Coe, Mark Blum, Phil Hartman D: Blake Edwards **

Blind Fury: A blind Vietnam vet enlists the aid of a Zen master and a sharpshooter to tackle the Mafia. Hauer works well in the lead, but unfortunately, the movie doesn’t.

1990 (R) 86 minutes Rutger Hauer, Terry O’Quinn, Brandon Call, Lisa Blount, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Noble Willingham, Meg Foster, Sho Kosugi D: Phillip Noyce **1/2

Blind Side: DeMornay and Silver are a married couple whose Mexican vacation turns into trouble when they get into a hit-and-run accident, which they don’t report. Back home, they’re frightened by the sudden appearance of Hauer, who’s also just back from Mexico. They think he’s after blackmail, but he’s really just a run-of-the-mill psycho intrigued by DeMornay, who at least keeps her character in control. Silver and Hauer have a great time chewing the scenery. Made for cable television. Also available in an unrated version which run 98 minutes.

1993 (R) 92 minutes Rebecca DeMornay, Ron Silver, Rutger Hauer D: Geoff Murphy *1/2

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

# The excerpt is from page 216 in the book, but it is from page 81 of the movie reviews. Page 81 of the book is a list of songs and the movies they are from.

## The cover image is from the 2005 book. I mean, who really still has a book of video reviews from 1996? Please, don’t answer that question.

That's all?

It was a rough week. So, light posting today because I'm just not feeling it today.

Plus, there are things to do before the Packers play the Seahawks.

Have a good Saturday, everyone. I'll try to be back on form tomorrow...or Monday.

A little help...

This one is for any of the local readers of Rattler Radio or for any collectors.

The team has received a few requests for Rich "Goose" Gossage photos from his time with the Foxes. Oddly, we are missing -- or just don't have -- the programs from the seasons that Gossage played with the team.

If anyone has any pictures of Gossage in a Foxes uniform or programs from 1970, 1971, or 1974, please e-mail me and we can talk about getting copies or borrowing them.

On a related note: There is another project that we will be working on in the near future. It is about Goodland Field. If you have any pictures of the former home of the Timber Rattlers, please e-mail me and we can....well, you know.

Thank you for any help that you might be able to provide.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara's game on Thursday was rained out. They played a doubleheader on Friday and swept Bravos with a pair of shutouts.

Game one was 2-0:

Ex-Rattler for Lara:
Rich Dorman ('03): 5IP, H, 0R, 3BB, 5Ks, Winning pitcher

Game two was 1-0:

Ex-Rattler for Lara:
Cesar Jimenez ('03): IP, H, 0R, Save

Lara and Bravos play again tonight.

82 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 82 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

It was pointed out recently that J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday was last week -- January 3. To make up for missing that anniversary, the rest of the week is Tolkein Week on the countdown to opening day.

Today’s passage is from Tolkien, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia by David Day. Wondering what Formenos, from yesterday’s entry, is all about? Wonder no longer:

Formenos – After the Noldor prince Fëanor created those great jewels the Silmarils, he built a fortress and treasury in the north of Valinor in the Undying Lands. This stronghold was built upon a fortified hill and was named Formenos which in the High Elven tongue means “north citadel”. Formenos was the home of Fëanor’s clan during his years of exile from Tirion. After the destruction of the Trees of Valar, Morgoth came to the doors of Formenos and slew Fëanor’s father Finwë, the High King of the Noldor, then broke into the treasury and stole the Silmarils.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Off to Scranton

Dragons announcer Vander Wood, and his stories will be missed

When Mike Vander Wood gets going, he's like Sports on Tape. You start listening and you can't turn off the sound.

He's got the good voice, and he remembers everything. I'm trying to remember who batted last inning, and he's remembering the reserve second baseman from the 1998 Lansing Lugnuts who stole a base in an obscure regular-season game that meant nothing in the standings.

We're going to miss that guy, although the former — as of the end of today — Dragons announcer and media guru points out he will return to nearby stadiums in Columbus, Toledo and Indianapolis as voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees next summer.

There are a few of his favorite stories at the link, but this one from Pohlman Field in Beloit is my favorite:

"It was 105 degrees in the booth, so I went into the stands, where it was only 96," Vander Wood said. "All of the sudden, during batting practice, all the players are looking up into the stands and pointing. A concession stand caught fire. The next night, there was yellow tape around everything, but the announcer for Beloit said he thought there was a big weather change coming. It was still about 95 where we were, but only 71 in Madison, about an hour away."

The resulting storm wiped away the game and most of the grounds crew that had to stand on the tarp so it wouldn't blow away.

Good luck, Mike. Stop by Poor Richard's and say hello to the folks from Dunder-Mifflin while you are out there.

All-Star Festivities

Big plans in Midland for the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game.

The Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce an extended partnership with Dow Corning for title sponsorship of the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game, powered by Dow Corning. The game will be held at Dow Diamond on June 17, 2008.

Dow Corning will additionally have title sponsorship of three other key events associated with the game: The All-Star FanFest, powered by Dow Corning; The Hometown Hitter, powered by Dow Corning and The All-Star Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning.

Welcome to the rest of this post, powered by Dow Corning. What happens at a FanFest, powered by Dow Corning.

The 2008 All-Star FanFest, powered by Dow Corning, is a three day event, June 15-17. Admission will be free.

During the All-Star FanFest Powered by Dow Corning, visitors can take part in a multitude of events such as live concerts, skills challenges, photo opportunities and exhibits about our national past time.

Home Run Derby I, powered by Dow Corning, get. But, I'm a bit foggy on the whole Hometown Hitter.

Titled the Hometown Hitter, powered by Dow Corning, this unique event will enable high school athletes to vie for the opportunity to compete alongside the pros in the Midwest League Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning, June 16. Local high school varsity baseball coaches will be asked to nominate one player per high school to compete in the event. Qualifying events will take place at Dow Diamond in the weeks and months leading up to the Midwest League All-Star Home Run Derby. One high school hitter will emerge as the winner and will compete as the ninth contestant on June 16.

Will the high school contestants be allowed to use aluminum bats in qualifying, powered by Dow Corning? Will the winning high school contestant be allowed to use an aluminum bat, powered by Dow Corning in the Home Run Derby, powered by Dow Corning? That doesn't seem right...or powered by Dow Corning.

83 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 83 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

It was pointed out recently that J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday was last week -- January 3. To make up for missing that anniversary, the rest of the week is Tolkein Week on the countdown to opening day.

Today’s passage is from The Silmarillion. Consider this the prequel to the whole Lord of the Rings saga. The chapter is The Darkening of Valinor.

One thing only marred the design of Manwë. Fëanor came indeed, for him alone Manwë had commanded to come; but Finwë came not, nor any others of the Noldor of Formenos. For said Finwë: ‘While the ban lasts upon Fëanor my son, that he may not go to Tirion, I hold myself unkinged, and I will not meet my people.’ And Fëanor came not in raiment of festival, and he wore no ornament , neither silver nor gold nor any gem; and he denied the sight of the Silmarils to the Valar and the Eodar, and left them locked in Formenos in their chamber of iron. Nevertheless he met Fingolfin before the throne of Manwë, and was reconciled, in word; and Fingolfin set at naught the unsheathing of the sword. For Fingolfin held forth his hand, saying: ‘As I promise, I do now. I release thee, and remember no grievance.’

Then Fëanor took his hand in silence; but Fingolfin said: ‘Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart will I be. Thou shalt lead and I will follow. May no new grief divide us.’

‘I hear thee,’ said Fëanor. ‘So be it.’ But they did not know the meaning that their words would bear.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 10 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 11:20am on 1/10/08



A bit off kilter and out of focus. Kind of like the day.

Thursday Motivation (1/10)

Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back.

This week's MLB.com writing assignments are in

I was checking the Mariner website for something else this morning and found this story:

Mariners are power-packed at the corners

A quick story about Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre.

Then, I checked the Yankee site for something else and found this:

In this corner, A-Rod; Giambi leads way in other

I sense a trend of first and third basemen being featured in stories.

Let's randomly pick another team:

Veterans tapped to man Baltimore's corners

Oh, yeah. It's on.

A-Rod, a former Appleton Fox, featured in the Yankees corners preview. Does Greg Dobbs, a former Rattler, get a mention in the Phillies' story?

Howard a force at first, but hot corner uncertain

Third base could remain a trouble spot for the Phillies, with Greg Dobbs and Wes Helms forming a platoon and newcomer Eric Bruntlett occasionally getting in the mix. The Dobbs/Helms duo combined for 39 doubles, 15 homers and 91 RBIs, the lowest production at third in the National League in 2007.

Check out the site of your favorite team for the preview of the corner infielders.

The next election

One of the things that I hate about politics is that within thirty minutes of a winner being declared in one election, someone is talking about the next one. Give it a break.

So, with the election of Goose Gossage to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, talk turns to the 2009 election. It kind of bothers me a bit, but not enough to not blog about it.

The 2009 ballot is months from being formulated, of course, but the previous election is always a starting board. After all, 13 players from this year's ballot will be on the 2009 ballot, including two players who will be getting their last shot at making the Hall.

Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice and 288-game winning pitcher Tommy John will each be on the 2009 ballot for the 15th time, the limit a player may remain in consideration provided he is named on at least five percent of the ballots cast annually by 10-year members of the BBWAA.

A 75-percent plurality is required for election, and Rice drew very near that lofty neighborhood in the most recent election. With 543 ballots submitted, 408 votes were necessary to gain election. Rice fell just 16 votes short at 392 for 72.2 percent, which bodes well for him in 2009. Gossage, for example, had 71.2 percent of the vote in the 2007 election and gained 14.4 percent this year to win election with 466 votes (85.8).

As for newcomers on the 2009 ballot, that is the call of the BBWAA's six-person screening committee that helps shape the ballot. The process begins in April when the committee is presented the list of players who fit the first criterion, that they played in at least 10 Major League seasons and have been retired for five years. Any player approved by two or more screening committee members is placed on the ballot.

By mid-July, the ballot is set, but it is not announced until late November while the Hall, with assistance from the Elias Sports Bureau of statisticians, put together biographical sketches of the candidates that accompany the ballot in the Hall of Fame packet to voters.

Who are some potential first timers on the ballot for '09?

If he had not decided to keep playing in the Majors into his mid-40s, Rickey Henderson might be in the Hall of Fame already. However, if he does not stage yet another comeback, Henderson will be eligible for the ballot for the first time in 2009. The career leader in runs scored and stolen bases will be a strong contender to join 43 other Hall of Famers who were elected in their first year of eligibility.

Rickey likes Rickey's chances. Others?

Also likely to make their Hall of Fame ballot debuts in 2009 are pitchers David Cone and Jesse Orosco, first basemen Mo Vaughn and Mike Grace and third baseman Matt Williams.

That's all? There has to be more, right?

Others with a shot at making the ballot include pitchers Steve Avery, Charles Nagy, Denny Neagle and Dan Plesac; infielders Jay Bell, Mike Bordick and Dean Palmer; and outfielders Ron Gant and Greg Vaughn.

Wow.

Rattlers in Venezuela

Lara lost 6-0 to Aragua on 1/9.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:

Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-4
Renee Cortez ('02, '03): IP, H, 0R, K

Tonight's game:
Lara at Bravos

84 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 84 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

It was pointed out recently that J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday was last week -- January 3. To make up for missing that anniversary, the rest of the week is Tolkein Week on the countdown to opening day.

Today’s passage is from The Return of the King as Gandalf gets news of Frodo and Sam from Faramir. Lord Denethor of Gondor is not happy with his son or with Gandalf (aka Mithrandir).

‘I parted with them in the morning two days ago,’ said Faramir. ‘It is fifteen leagues thence to the vale of the Morgulduin, if they went straight south; and then they would be still five leagues westward of the accursed Tower. At swiftest they could not come there before today, and maybe they have not come there yet. Indeed I see what y0u fear. But the darkness is not due to their venture. It began yestereve, and all Ithilien was under shadow last night. It is clear to me that the Enemy has long planned an assault on us, and its hour had already been determined before ever the travelers left my keeping.’

Gandalf paced the floor. ‘The morning of two days ago, nigh on three days of journey! How far is the place where you parted?’

‘Some twenty-five leagues as the bird flies,’ answered Faramir. ‘But I could not come more swiftly. Yestereve I lay at Cair Andros, the long isle in the River northward which we hold in defence; and horses are kept on hither bank. As the dark drew on I knew that haste was needed, so I rode thence with three others that could also be horsed. The rest of my company I sent south to strengthen the garrison at the fords of Osgiliath. I hope that I have not done ill?’ He looked at his father.

‘Ill?’ cried Denethor, and his eyes flashed suddenly. ‘Why do you ask? The men were under your command. Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds? Your bearing is lowly in my presence, yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel. See, you have spoken skillfully, as ever; but I, have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir, seeking whether you said well or too much? He has long had your heart in his keeping.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 9 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats at about 10:50am on 1/9/08:



What do you know...the sun did come out today.

Minor League Hall of Fame?

Jonathan Mayo has this story at MiLB.com that brings up the possibility of a hall of fame for the minor leagues.

On a day when the National Baseball Hall of Fame took center stage and Goose Gossage was deservedly elected to be enshrined in Cooperstown's halls, I started thinking about the storied history of Minor League Baseball and how it would be amazing to have a place where the treasures of that aspect of the national pastime were kept.

Yes, Cooperstown does have some Minor League displays based on individual achievements. But there isn't a wing devoted permanently to the game played down on the farm. And there certainly isn't a separate museum to honor former Minor League greats.

There has been some effort in this regard. Minor League Baseball has been exploring building something in Durham to celebrate its brand of the game. Described more as an interactive fan experience than a museum, it certainly would not ignore the past.

"We wouldn't tread into the Hall of Fame waters, so to speak," said Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner, who hoped to have a soft opening of this "experience" at the old Durham ballpark in late 2008, with an official opening in 2009 and the fan interaction part really getting going around 2010.

"I'm a traditionalist. There are two things there is one of: there is one commissioner of baseball and there is one Hall of Fame. Anything we do would obviously pay honor and tribute, but it will not head down the Hall of Fame road."

Some feel that road isn't right for Minor League Baseball anyway. Being enshrined in such a place could be, as Crash Davis explains in "Bull Durham," like setting the all-time Minors home run record -- a dubious honor. Dave Chase, the president and general manager of the Memphis Redbirds, is among those who feel a Minors Hall doesn't make that much sense.

"Especially now, people don't want to be known as great Minor League players," Chase said. "It doesn't resonate nationally."

Mayo has a list of ten players who would potentially be in an inaugural minor league hall of fame class.

The Goose Meets the Media

MLB.com has a couple of Goose Gossage in the Hall of Fame posts up tonight.

One team doesn't define Gossage
Hall of Fame inductee will enter Cooperstown as a Yankee

Gossage played for nine teams, including the Yankees twice. But even though the argument can be made that he had more of an impact in San Diego, where he took a formally moribund franchise to respectability during his four years playing for the Padres (1984-87), Goose said he was tickled to join the even more select fraternity of players in the Hall who have played at least part of their careers in the Bronx.

Seventeen players now, including Jackson, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle, sport Yankees caps on their Hall of Fame plaques. Thirty-three former Yankees are in the Hall, including Yogi Berra, who is not wearing a cap. Twenty-five of them, like Gossage, played at least some significant portion of their careers for the Yankees.

These are all Hall records for the most players inducted from any single franchise.

"This is from my heart," said Gossage, now 56, who was elected with nearly 86 percent of the vote on his ninth attempt on the ballot. "I had the privilege and the honor to play for nine different teams in the big leagues, and I loved every moment on every team. Playing in San Diego and turning around baseball in that city for the first time holds a warm spot in my heart. We turned that city on.

There are some links at the story that will let you see the press conference and his sit-down with MLB.com. Enjoy.

Lots of ex-Rattlers in this story

A few posts down, there was mention of the potential trade between Baltimore and the Mariners. Larry Stone has this story from the Seattle Times on some of the names Seattle might send to the Orioles for Erik Bedard.

Outfielder Adam Jones would likely have to be included in any Mariners' offer. The question is how much more young talent it would take to land Bedard. Foxsports.comreported that the Mariners are willing to include catcher Jeff Clement and third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.

Also mentioned in a potential package were names such as left-handed pitcher Tony Butler, right-hander Chris Tillman, and highly regarded 17-year-old shortstop Carlos Triunfel, who hit .309 in 43 games for Wisconsin last season and .288 in 50 games for High Desert.

Let's see that's one, two, three, four, five, six former Rattlers, including three from the 2007 team on that list.

Geoff Baker has a couple of posts on the topic. It is interesting reading and I won't excerpt from them. Just head over to both and make sure to check out the comments. Mariner fans are buzzing about this.

The first post is Bedard and market value. The second post is More on Jones-Bedard debate.

Last on this topic, USS Mariner has this post Adam Jones and Erik Bedard, Quantified.

Wednesday Baseball Movie (1/9)

Goose Gossage never had entrance music, but he loved situations like this. Most of them ended up exactly like this one from Major League ends.

Before clicking, remember that there is a language warning in this clip. First from the owner about her feelings for 'Wild Thing''s song. The other is for Roger Dorn's pep talk to Vaughn.



Lord, that scoreboard at old County Stadium was horrible.

A bit more of the Goose

MLB.com points out that with Rich "Goose" Gossage now in the Hall of Fame, there are a pair of Geese in Cooperstown.

Rich "Goose" Gossage was the lone player voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday afternoon, joining Leon "Goose" Goslin as inductees bearing that nickname. And that's a good thing, because geese usually are found in pairs.

Goslin was an outfielder who played all or part of 18 seasons in the American League, from 1921 to 1938. That "Goose" finished with 2,735 hits, 248 homers and a .316 career average. He played in five World Series, helping the Washington Senators to the 1924 title by hitting three homers and batting .344 against the New York Giants, and he also won a title with Detroit in 1935.

It goes on for some other bird nicknames in the Hall, like "Chick", "Ducky", and "The Grey Eagle".

It also notes that there could have been a "Hawk" joining Gossage in this class.

In one of the stories yesterday, it was pointed out that Gossage's career ended in Seattle in 1994, the year of the strike. The Post-Intelligencer has a bit more on that final season.

Goose Gossage certainly didn't reach the Hall of Fame based on his one year with the Mariners. But for John McLaren, who was the bullpen coach in 1994, Gossage's final season in the big leagues, having the Goose around was a special treat.

"It was the end of his career, a great career, but he was such a class act," McLaren, now the Mariners manager, said Tuesday, minutes after Gossage was announced as the only player to be voted into Cooperstown this year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

He was also a leader...

What McLaren remembers is Gossage's way of leading by example and getting in a player's face if he thought that player was being unprofessional.

McLaren talked about a game in Kansas City in which all the potential relief pitchers were in the bullpen to start the game that day except one, rookie starter Roger Salkeld. Gossage was a big believer in being on time and took notice.

"He came to me and asked if I minded if he said something to Roger," McLaren said. "He said he wanted to get on him a bit, and I said OK. So he went up to Roger and said, 'Do you mind if I ask you a question? I've been in the big leagues 25 years and I don't remember when you won the Cy Young.'

Apparently, Salkeld was never late again.

Gossage deserved to go out in style in his final season, but that didn't happen. It was 1994, and mid-season the roof at the Kingdome suffered damage that forced the Mariners on the road for the rest of the season.

In early August, players went on a strike that lasted into spring training of 1995. Gossage's farewell tour in Seattle wound up being a farewell without a tour.

"Everybody scattered after the strike, and that was it for Goose," McLaren said. "We were vagabonds, and then after the strike was called, we had that last game in Oakland, and it was over."

Well, it's over now. In Cooperstown.

How did Gossage wind up in Seattle to begin with? Larry Stone has the answer.

It was a curious marriage, Goose Gossage and the Mariners back in 1994.

The Mariners were a young team brimming with talent, on the brink of a breakthrough that would come so dynamically the next season.

Gossage, meanwhile, was 43 years old and well into the journeyman portion of his career, having played for six teams in six years, including the Daiei Hawks in Japan.

Gossage knew he was at the end of the line. But when the Oakland Athletics released him near the end of spring training, and his old Yankees running mate, Lou Piniella, called to tell Gossage he wanted him to help teach the young Mariners staff how to pitch, Goose jumped at the chance.

There are also a few words from Gossage on the current topic of interest in baseball.

"If you did performance-enhancing drugs, you need to come clean and put an end to this because of the history of the game and because of how great baseball has been over such a long period of time," Gossage said. "What we have at stake is the greatest part of the game, the history of it, and they can't allow steroids or anything to get in the way of the history of the game.

"I think the best thing to do is come clean. Just 'fess up, and life will go on."

Story on Feierabend

From the Everett Herald comes this story on ex-Rattler Ryan Feierabend ('04):

M's Feierabend seeks redemption

Ryan Feierabend can't wait to begin spring training and purge the memory of a 2007 season that went horribly wrong. Most of all, the 22-year-old left-handed pitcher needs to make the Seattle Mariners forget.

His season was a mix of a few decent outings offset by early exits and questions about how effective he can be as either a starter or reliever. Feierabend finished 1-7 with a 6.92 earned run average in 11 starts, including losses in his last two games when he didn't make it past three innings in either.

With a place on pitching staff at stake -- either as a starter if the M's don't acquire someone or as a reliever if they do-- this will be an important spring training for Feierabend.

"Every spring training is important, but this one is especially because of the way my season ended up last year," Feierabend said Tuesday, where he and M's reliever Sean Green appeared at Columbia Elementary School on the first day of the annual Mariners Caravan. "My starts toward the end of the season, I didn't show anything. I gave up a lot of runs early in the game and, with us still in the pennant race, you can't do that."

What happened?

Short story. Ken Griffey, Jr happened. Longer story. Go read the article.

Plenty of time

There is a new lease for the Kane County Cougars.

Cougars ink deal to stay

The Kane County Cougars and Kane County Forest Preserve District have agreed on a new deal that will keep the Class A Midwest League team at Elfstrom Stadium for another 20 years.

As part of the deal, the Forest Preserve District agreed to put $8 million toward an estimated 10.5 million stadium expansion. The Cougars will pay the additional $2.5 million, and the expansion is scheduled to be completed by the opening of the 2009 season.

That's a good deal. This makes it a bit better.

Additionally, the new deal gives the Cougars the rights to sell the name of the stadium to a sponsor. The overall property will still be called the Philip B. Elfstrom Kane County Events Center, but the stadium name will be open to sponsorship.

UPDATE: Whoops. Posted this before I got to the Chicago Tribune story about this. It goes into a bit more detail.

Like this:

District officials have been conferring with team owners for the last few months on ways to keep the renovation project on track despite a "low bid" that topped $12 million.

Construction plans call for the addition of a concourse overhang, upper-deck suites, increased seating and expanded service and office amenities to the 17-year-old stadium.

Hoscheit said the district and team officials "believe it could be done for $10.5 million."

and this:

Efforts are under way to obtain a $400,000 state grant to help offset the cost of the project's architectural fees, Hoscheit said. In addition to installing a plaque honoring Elfstrom, the former forest district president credited with bringing minor-league baseball to Kane County in 1991, the district plans to rename the events center in his honor.

"I'm happy that everything is done and it gives us an opportunity to get the ballpark finished and give the fans what they need," said Cougars general manager Jeff Sedivy.

85 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 85 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

It was pointed out recently that J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday was last week -- January 3. To make up for missing that anniversary, the rest of the week is Tolkein Week on the countdown to opening day.

Today’s passage is from The Two Towers as Pippin and Merry try to figure out Treebeard and the Ents.

‘I wonder where Isengard is?’ said Pippin.

‘I don’t know quite where we are,’ said Merry; ‘but that peak is probably Methedras, and as far as I can remember the ring of Isengard lies in a fork or deep cleft at the end of the mountains. It is probably down behind this great ridge. There seems to be a smoke or haze over there, left of the peak, don’t you think?’

‘What is Isengard like?’ said Pipin. ‘I wonder what Ents can do about it anyway.’

‘So do I,’ said Merry. ‘Isengard is a sort of ring of rocks or hills, I think, with a flat space inside and an island or pillar of rock in the middle, called Orthanc. Sauruman has a tower on it. There is a gate, perhaps more than one, in the encircling wall, and I believe there is a stream running through it; it comes out of the mountains, and flows on across the Gap of Rohan. It does not seem the sort of place for Ents to tackle. But I have an odd feeling about these Ents: somehow I don’t think they are quite as safe, and well, funny as they seem. They seem slow, queer, and patient, almost sad; and yet I believe they could be roused. If that happened, I would rather not be on the other side.’

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 8 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 11am on 1/8/08

Baskerville Hall, October 13th.


My dear Holmes:


My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well up to date as to all that has occurred in this most God-forsaken corner of the world. The longer one stays here the more does the spirit of the moor sink into one's soul, its vastness, and also its grim charm. When you are once out upon its bosom you have left all traces of modern England behind you, but, on the other hand, you are conscious everywhere of the homes and the work of the prehistoric people. On all sides of you as you walk are the houses of these forgotten folk, with their graves and the huge monoliths which are supposed to have marked their temples. As you look at their gray stone huts against the scarred hillsides you leave your own age behind you, and if you were to see a skin-clad, hairy man crawl out from the low door fitting a flint-tipped arrow on to the string of his bow, you would feel that his presence there was more natural than your own. The strange thing is that they should have lived so thickly on what must always have been most unfruitful soil. I am no antiquarian, but I could imagine that they were some unwarlike and harried race who were forced to accept that which none other would occupy.

I would be remiss....

If I did not say,

Happy Birthday, King.

Remember, Elvis is everywhere:

Here's to the Goose

Photo Credit John Leyba, Denver Post

Going to the home state newspaper for this one.

Gossage in Hall of Fame

Goose bumps replaced disappointment.

Rich "Goose" Gossage, Colorado's greatest baseball player, finally earned entrance into baseball's Hall of Fame today after an eight-year wait. The Baseball Writer's Association of America said he had received the required votes.

What do you think, Rich?

"Oh my God, I've been elected," said Gossage, as he took the call at 11:43 a.m. this morning. "I can't believe this. It finally happened."

That it has taken to this point is even harder to understand. To listen to voters and critics, Gossage's career was diminished by his longevity. He hung on for 22 seasons, the final 12 after his days as a dominating closer were over. To some modern voters, he is remembered as a pedestrian setup man who bounced from team to team.

"It's long overdue, Goose you deserve to be there," commissioner Bud Selig told Gossage. The former pitcher choked back tears in his Colorado Springs living room.

"My heart was pounding waiting to hear if you got in. It's better late than never," Selig added.

What caused one of the most intimidating relief pitchers ever to fight back emotions.

Gossage had long had urgency to get in while his mother was still alive. She passed away 15 months ago. And Gossage's father didn't live long enough to see his son pitch in the big leagues.

Thinking of his parents, Gosssage fought back tears today.

"Without their support, none of this would have been possible. I know they're looking down and they're proud."

An interesting conversation on the stage at Cooperstown next year will be the one between Gossage and George Brett about this game.

The Goose is in

Former Appleton Fox Rich "Goose" Gossage is headed to Cooperstown.

Hall welcomes Gossage into its doors

The "Goose" is on the loose in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

A year after Tony Gwynn was a first-time electee, along with Cal Ripken Jr., the induction ceremony on July 27 in Cooperstown, N.Y., will again have a distinct Padres flavor.

Rich "Goose" Gossage, who may be better known for his first tour with the Yankees (1978-83), was elected on Tuesday in his ninth year on the ballot. He'll join his former Padres manager, Dick Williams, on the stage behind the Clark Sports Center this coming summer.

MiLB.com has this:

Gossage's game emerged in Appleton

The argument that Rich Gossage's career began to flourish when Chuck Tanner made him a full-time closer in 1975 is certainly a valid one.

After all, he was a dominant figure that season, leading the Majors in saves as a member of the White Sox.

The fact, however, that Chicago's brain trust, sans Tanner, put him back in the rotation for the '76 season suggests they weren't entirely sold on his value out of the bullpen, despite his 26 saves and 1.84 ERA the previous year. So, a more accurate turning point in Gossage's career -- and one to which he readily points -- may have occurred back in the spring of 1971 when Tanner and then-White Sox pitching coach Johnny Sain taught him the merits of adding a breaking ball to his repertoire.

Gossage was 18-2 in 1971 and he remembers it well:

"It was just one of those seasons," Gossage said. "Johnny had shown Chuck Tanner a few things to show me, and Chuck came down and worked with me one day on the side early in the year. It was the first time I had an off-speed pitch to go with my fastball.

"I picked it up immediately and that's where my career took off. I had certainly thought about a breaking ball before that, but I had never been taught one. He [Sain via Tanner] taught that slurve that was bigger than a slider and not as big as a curve, and it was just a nasty, nasty pitch. That changeup got me to the big leagues. I could not have gone to the big leagues had I not picked it up."

There is a game-by-game of his 1971 season at the story. Check out the 15-0 streak over 17 starts.

I'll have more later tonight.

Venezuela Playoffs

Lara continued their post-season roll with a 10-9 come-from-behind win over Aragua last night.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 3-for-5, run, RBI
Caesar Jimenez ('03): 1-2/3IP, 3H, R, 2K

Jones scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 9-9 in the bottom of the eighth.

Lara is off on Tuesday.

Two from Jason Churchill

First, there is this from ProspectInsider.com. It is about the long-talked about Erik Bedard trade to the M's. It involves some former Rattlers. One is not a surprise. The other is. Guess which is which.

I have it on pretty good authority that the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles may very well be making significant progress on a trade involving left-hander Erik Bedard.

Unfortunately, if you are an M’s fan, the word is that the Mariners may agree to include Carlos Triunfel in a deal along with Adam Jones, and perhaps one other player (George Sherrill, most likely), due to their stance on trading Brandon Morrow.

I did not get this info from a source directly involved in the talks, but it was relayed to me through a mutual source of one more directly involved.

If the Mariners send Jones, Triunfel and Sherrill to Baltimore and the return is simply Erik Bedard without Brian Roberts or other valuable pieces, the Soriano-Ramirez trade will be buried by this monster of a mistake.

Jason is mild in his reaction compared to some of the commenters. Just a hint. WTF does not stand for Waffles That Fly.

The other link to a piece by Jason is this over at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Young prospects to watch in '08.

Plenty of Ex-Rattlers on the list, including Triunfel at #1. But, I'll focus on those who may be Timber Rattlers in 2008:

5. Philippe Aumont: The Mariners' first-round pick last June did not pitch last summer after being the 11th overall selection, and instead reported to the Instructional League in Peoria, Ariz., in the fall before heading off to play for Team Canada.

The right-hander, 19, tossed just two innings in the World Cup last month, but got in plenty of work at the Mariners spring-training facility before he joined his countrymen in Taipei.

Aumont should make his professional debut in April, and is likely slated for Class A Wisconsin to start the season. MLB ETA: 2011.

8. Juan Ramirez: Ramirez, 19, had a strong showing in his first year in the U.S., despite winning just three of his 10 decisions. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander flashed a 90-94 mph fastball, a solid breaking ball and a developing changeup.

His command needs work, but he's already adept at finishing off hitters when he gets ahead, as evidenced by his 73 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings.

The Northwest League, comprised of much more experienced hitters, batted just .211 off Ramirez in his debut season.

"You have to love his live arm," said an NL West scout. "If he develops a few average pitches and commands them, he's going to pitch in the big leagues."

Look for Ramirez to begin the season at Class A Wisconsin. MLB ETA: 2011.

Sounds about right

Benjamin Hill has a post at Ben's Biz Blog that made me feel a bit better about myself for a moment. He scours the blogosphere and finds that Champ, the mascot of the Vermont Lake Monsters, admits on his blog that he has already broken his resolution.

I've already broken my core New Year's resolution of not mixing beans, onions, caviar and avocados in the same breakfast burrito, so my only hope is your goals for amelioration are going much better.

Should I feel better that my resolution has lasted longer than an anthropomorphic American Nessie? I guess I can give up now.

Then, at the tail end there is this ringing endorsement:

Last but certainly not least, Rattler Radio (the blog of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers broadcaster Chris Mehring) is always worth checking out. Mehring posts several times a day, including a long-running "Countdown to Opening Day" feature.

Thanks, Ben. I'm used to the whole last thing. Long-running? Like Gunsmoke and Law & Order long-running? Or, like Mack Bolan the Executioner long running?

Larry Stone: Hall of Fame voter

Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone has this entry today that is well worth the read.

Specter of drug abuse taints Hall voting

Back in more innocent times, Hall of Fame voting was one of the most joyful aspects of being a baseball writer.

I still remember the thrill of casting my first Hall of Fame vote, back in 1995, when I reached the requisite bench mark of being a 10-year member in the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Sure, right from the start I agonized over names like Don Sutton and Tony Oliva and Jim Rice and Steve Garvey (the verdict was yea, nay, yea, nay, if I recall; a dozen "yeas" later, Rice is still around to confound voters, this being his 14th and penultimate crack at reaching the 75 percent mark for election).

One thing I had not fully anticipated, but should have, was just how many players straddled the border between immortality and close-but-no-induction.

While it is a true pleasure to coronate the no-brainers — Mike Schmidt back in 1995, and the George Bretts, Nolan Ryans and Ozzie Smiths in future years — the real chore was (and still is) deciding among the vast group of all-brainers.

Those are the borderline candidates, the ones who inspire the passionate barroom (and now chat-room) debates, and keep voters like me up at night agonizing over their qualifications.

I'm talking about not just Rice, who finds out today, when the 2008 Hall of Fame results are announced, if he finally gets to Cooperstown; but Jack Morris, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Goose Gossage, Dale Murphy, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Tommy John. It's the annual parade of migraine headaches that confronts a Hall voter.

But the new wrinkle, of course, the one that has knocked some of the unqualified joy out of the assignment, is the omnipresent specter of performance-enhancing drugs.

The usual names pop up here...McGwire, Sosa, and Palmeiro. Add in Bonds and Clemens and Stone is starting to get "the cold sweats already".

There is also the following development:

One other aspect facing the 21st-century voter, scarcely imaginable when I began this process 13 years ago, is the vast and vigilant army of Internet analysts, armed with new-wave statistics (who knew of win shares, VORP and EqA in the innocent '90s?) and poised to ridicule any voter who makes public a ballot that's lazily defended.

I don't mind the scrutiny, mind you; the Web watchdogs, on more than one occasion, have made me rethink my reasoning. They have even put forth arguments that have changed my mind. I voted for Tim Raines this year partly because of persuasive cases on his behalf on baseball sites.

In this column there is also a prediction:

When voting results are announced today, I predict that just one player will pass muster.

That would be the long-overdue coronation of Goose Gossage, poised to become the second ex-Mariner in the Hall. Just like No. 1, Gaylord Perry, Gossage's Seattle incarnation was short-lived and occurred well past his prime — a 36-game stint in 1994, at age 43, that ended (as did Goose's career) with the strike that wiped out the season in August.

Gossage's vote totals have been creeping ever closer to the 75 percent line, and he benefits this year from the fact that none of the new names on the ballot are definitive choices (Raines is the only one with a prayer), as were Tony Gwynn (97.6 percent of the votes) and Cal Ripken (98.53 percent) last year.

Such gaps historically tend to boost the chances of players who have been lingering close to election. That will no doubt be the hope of other holdovers who, like Gossage, warranted my vote: [Bert] Blyleven, [Jim] Rice, [Andre] Dawson, [Jack] Morris and [Lee] Smith (the latter barely passing my muster, perhaps for the final time; the anti-Smith zealots are starting to hit home).

Go check it out.

Remember that one movie

The one that was shot in Davenport and Burlington?

Well, it has a title and a world premier date.

Sugar is the name of the movie and:

Sugar follows Miguel Santos, a Dominican baseball player struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull his family out of poverty. He gets his break at age 19, when he advances to the United States's minor league system and travels from his tight-knit community to a small town in Iowa. Miguel struggles with the new language and culture despite the welcoming efforts of his host family. When his play on the mound falters, he begins examining more closely the world around him and his place within it, and ultimately questions the single-mindedness of his life's ambition.

That is from the Sundance Film Festival website's description of the movie.

The first showing of the movie is Monday, January 21 in Park City, Utah.

Bees radio announcer Randy Wehofer shot some scenes in the movie. Some Timber Rattler jerseys were used for the filming as well. I'm guessing that Randy did a better job than the uniforms.

See the boss

No, not that boss. This boss.

Zerjav to appear on The Dennis Krause Show

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav will appear on The Dennis Krause Show this week. The Dennis Krause Show is a weekly interview show with sports personalities that airs on Time Warner Sports (channel 32 for Time Warner Cable subscribers). The show will be airing at the following times:

Monday January 7 - 10 PM

Tuesday January 8 - 8:30 AM and 7 PM

Wednesday January 9 - 4:30 PM and 11 PM

Thursday January 10 - 9 AM and 9 PM

Friday January 11 - 10 PM

Saturday January 12 - 3:30 AM, 3:30 PM, 10 PM

Sunday January 13 - 5 AM, 8:30 AM, 7 PM, 11:30 PM

86 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 86 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

It was pointed out recently that J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday was last week -- January 3. To make up for missing that anniversary, the rest of the week is Tolkien Week on the countdown to opening day.

Today’s passage is from The Fellowship of the Ring and Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry have just started their journey…Not knowing what is ahead

The shadows of the trees were long and thin on the grass, as they started off again. They now kept a stone’s throw to the left of the road, and kept out of sight of it as much as they could. But this hindered them; for the grass was thick and tussocky, and the ground uneven, and the trees began to draw together into thickets.

The sun had gone down red behind the hills at their backs, and evening was coming on before they came back to the road at the end f the long level over which it had run straight for some miles. At that point it bent left and went down into the lowlands of the Yale making for Stock; but a lane branched right, winding through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. ‘That is the way for us,’ said Frodo.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

January 7 Field Photo

Taken from the left field grass seats around 10:45am on 1/7/08:



Did I mention that it rained most of the weekend...and today...and the snow is almost all gone?

Ryno Ticket Package

The Timber Rattlers have announced a new ticket package. This one is a 'Build your own' built around the hall of famer who manages the Peoria Chiefs. Remember, the Chiefs are in town June 1, 2, 3, & 4 and July 1, 2, 3, & 4.

Hhhhheeere's the deal.

Pick any 3 games that you wish to attend for just $25.50 per box seat and $21 per reserved (bleacher) seat. Package allows you to purchase available seats closest to the Peoria dugout before individual tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, March 8^th! As an added incentive, gates will open up 15 minutes early for Sandberg package and season ticket holders only!

Contact the Timber Rattlers to order your package.

Of course, I missed it....

Lara is in the playoffs down in Venezuela.

On 1/2, they won 5-3 over Aragua.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-4, run, RBI
Ivan Blanco ('05): 0.1IP, 3H, 3R

On 1/3, Lara was off.

On 1/4, they beat Caribes 5-2.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-5
Caesar Jimenez ('03): 1.2IP, 0H, 0R, K

On 1/5, they beat Caribes 3-2.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Adam Jones ('04): 2-for-4 run scored
Rich Dorman ('03): 5-2/3IP, 6H, 2R, 2BB, 6K, Winning pitcher

They lost 3-2 to Aragua on 1/5.

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:

Adam Jones ('04): 1-for-4, run scored
Ivan Blanco ('05): 2IP, H, R, BB

Lara and Aragua are playing right now. Update tomorrow.

M's Mailbag

Jim Street takes another dive into the mailbag at the Seattle Mariner site.

Rattler related questions:

With the signing of [Carlos] Silva, won't the Mariners be content to give Cha Seung Baek, Brandon Morrow, and Ryan Rowland-Smith a chance for that fifth starter role?
-- Daryl S., Mesa, Wash.

A team never is "content" with the pitchers and position players it has and is continuously seeking ways of improving. As it stands right now, Morrow is penciled in as the fifth starter, while Baek and Rowland-Smith will report to Spring Training trying to land a job on the projected 12-man Opening Day pitching staff, either as starters or long relievers.

On to a catcher in the system who wasn't mentioned in the three way dance post earlier today.

With the strong play from Class A High Desert catcher Adam Moore, where does he rank in the Mariners' future plans? He looks like the real deal.
-- Cody M., Seattle

Moore, the Mariners' sixth-round selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, had a solid season for the Mavericks last season, hitting .307 with 22 home runs and 102 RBIs. The right-handed batter currently is on the High Desert roster, but a good camp might garner a promotion to Double-A West Tennessee.

More good questions and answers at the post.

Rule Change...What does it mean?

This was in the Everett Herald on Saturday and I wanted to get to it at some point. Mainly because it may affect the Rattlers in the players that may come to Appleton after the 2008 draft.

New NCAA rule puts scouts in a jam

With the holidays behind them, this is the month when baseball scouts usually hit the road to evaluate college players for the June draft.

Not this year.

Because of a rules change by the NCAA, the college season won't start until Feb. 22. That's about a month later than many schools -- especially those in the warm-weather states -- have opened their seasons in the past.

That means the scouts have less time in an already tight schedule to prepare their reports for the draft.

"The Arizona schools would start playing in January, but the NCAA thought it was a disadvantage to the Northern teams," said Jim Fitzgerald, who scouts the Northwest for the Mariners. "It doesn't give us a lot of time. Usually we could pick off a few schools in January and February."

Also in the article is this bit about ex-Rattler Caesar Jimenez ('03)

Jimenez unbeaten: The most impressive Mariners pitcher in winter ball has been left-hander Cesar Jimenez, who is 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 21 relief appearances for Lara.

Jimenez pitched in 16 games last year for Class AAA Tacoma after coming back from elbow surgery and could compete for a spot in the Mariners' bullpen at spring training.

"He's left-handed and he's been to the big leagues, so I don't see why not," said Greg Hunter, the Mariners' director of minor league operations.

While not considered a true left-handed specialist, Jimenez has held left-handed hitters to a .083 average in winter ball.

"He doesn't have the real true left-on-left breaking ball to be that kind of guy, but he's got a really good changeup," Hunter said. "A lot of it depends on what happens with our whole staff."

Three Way Dance

Bleeding Blue and Teal has a look at three Seattle Mariner catching prospects, who also happen to be Timber Rattler alums.

Clement vs. Johnson vs. Moore

Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson and Adam Moore are the top three catching prospects in the Mariners organization, but not necessarily in that order. You all know Clement and have heard of Johnson, but Moore may be a bit of a mystery to you. Hopefully this will have you well acquainted with all three.

The golden boy of the trio, Jeff Clement was taken with the third overall pick in the 2005 draft ahead of Troy Tulowitski, Ryan Zimmerman, Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Braun. If not from the extensive coverage directed towards him following the draft, you may know Clement by his memorable home runs during his September callup last season, or the reoccurring mention of his name in trade rumors this offseason.

...

Rob Johnson is about the opposite of Jeff Clement. The two have split time in AAA between catcher and DH, showing off different skill sets. If the two could be melded into one, you would have the perfect catching specimen. Johnson has less offense, more defense and more speed than his power hitting teammate.

Tacoma's team captain last year, Johnson can call a good game, block tough pitches and is nimble behind the plate. He was drafted as a defensive catcher with some offensive upside, but he has yet to break out as a hitter. He still has the makings of a starting catcher, but will have to compete for every job he gets in the majors. Right now he projects to be an average major league hitter, hitting in the bottom third of the order. The power could still come, but for now he is predominately a singles hitter, muscling out the occasional home run while hitting few doubles.

...

Adam Moore, Seattle's second best catching prospect, was drafted in 2006 and is 23 years old. Fairly new to the organization and unknown to most Mariners fans, he projects to be slightly above average defensively and slightly more above average offensively, but doesn't stand out on either side of the ball the way Johnson and Clement do.

Taking a quick look at the stat sheet, it is easy to be impressed by Moore's 2007 numbers. He hit .307 with 22 home runs and 102 RBIs in 433 at bats for High Desert. Some great stats, but keep in mind that he was playing his home games in the most hitter friendly ballpark of the very offensive California League. I've seen him compared to Michael Barrett offensively, and we should be able to better tell where he stands after next season.

Much more on each player at the post.

How things develop

Stephen Smith of FutureAngels.com has a little happy ten years post that includes a story of how his first trip to Cedar Rapids gave him an idea.

During that summer of 1998, I made my first trip to another affiliate. The 1999 Storm players would come from Cedar Rapids, so I went out to Iowa to shoot photos of the 1998 Kernels.

The Kernels opened their door, just as did the Storm. Broadcaster John Rodgers put me on the radio with him, peppering me with questions about Kernels alumni who'd moved up to Lake Elsinore. Many fans approached me to ask about their favorite players and how they were.

That was when the cartoon lightbulb lit over my head.

If the fans in Cedar Rapids wanted to follow their kids after they left, if Storm fans wanted to know who'd be in Lake Elsinore next year, and if Angels fans wanted to know more about the farm system in general, then wouldn't the Internet be a great way to deliver that information?

I called the other affiliates, explained the concept, and everyone was supportive. No one ever really gave much thought to their sibling affiliates, because each team is its own operation. They're not owned by the Angels, but independent business people (or corporations such as Mandalay Sports Entertainment, which at the time owned the Storm). The basic deal was that, in exchange for access, I'd post their press releases and schedules on-line, shoot photography for them for free, do some writing for their game programs and provide them with photos from the other affiliates. Done deal.

In early 1999, I registered the name FutureAngels.com and started building the site. The official opening day was April 1, 1999. No foolin'.

Remember what the internet was like in '99? Stephen does.

Back then, most people accessed the Internet by dial-up modem. Many site visitors were people in rural areas or folks who didn't have a lot of money, so the site wasn't loaded up with a lot of whiz-bang special effects. The regulars told me they didn't care about effects, they wanted content, so I've always kept that in mind as the site has evolved.

Dial up? What's that?

What to do for an encore

The Bay City Times asks "What's next?" for the Great.Lakes.Loons. in season number two.

The business of baseball

Its first season was nothing short of a home run. Now mid-Michigan's Great Lakes Loons baseball team hopes to build on that success in its sophomore year.

''To this point, things are looking really exciting and strong for next year,'' said Paul Barbeau, president and general manager of the Loons.

Advance ticket sales are running about the same as last season, a sign that people continue to support the new Midland franchise, he said.

The Looooooooooons are also hosting the 2008 MWL All-Star Game.

''Having the all-star game is a big new thing and our signature event of the year,'' said Chris Mundhenk, assistant general manager and manager of marketing and promotions for the Loons.

Mundhenk said another area of growth for the organization is renting Dow Diamond suites and the stadium's 14,000-square-foot enclosed concourse for dinners, receptions and meetings.

''That's a revenue stream a lot of other teams don't have, because they are outdoor facilities and when winter hits, you shut them down,'' Mundhenk said.

Check it out.

87 Days to Opening Day

Opening Day 2008 for the Timber Rattlers is April 3. That is 87 days from today. This off-season, the countdown will be based on books. Each day between now and Opening Day 2008, I will pick a random book out of my library and excerpt a passage off the page number corresponding with the number of days remaining to the first pitch of the new season. I will try not to repeat a book during the countdown.

Today’s excerpt is from Dark Mirror by Diane Duane. This is a Star Trek: The Next Generation novel. It is based on the classic Star Trek episode Mirror, Mirror. You remember…The one where Kirk, Scotty, Bones, and Uhura wind up in an evil universe. The one where Spock looks like this:

On to the excerpt: Data and Riker gets a glimpse of the evil universe. And they do not like the décor of the evil Enterprise.

It is not in the passage below, but both Rikers have a beard. Which is odd, because Riker didn’t have a beard in the first season of the show. Which would have made him evil after he grew the beard in season two…oh, I’ll just stop now.

“I’m uncertain whether the scan we are seeing is being directed by someone aboard the ship or is an automatic function,” Data said. “But one thing is certain: this Enterprise has many more internal video pickups than our own does. There are the usual visual pickups associated with personal viewscreens and data readout locations, as well as the basic security surveillance system in high-security areas like engineering and the computer cores…but also many more, spread throughout the ship, even in crew quarters. Moreover, those appear not to be under the control of the occupants. The implications are…distressing.”

“No kidding,” Riker said softly as the view changed again, engineering this time. Crewmen moved about their work with what seemed to him more intensity than necessary. No one he had so far seen on this ship seemed able to move with any kind of ease. But why should they? Riker thought then. When anyone might be looking at you, anytime, to see if you’re doing your job—and if you’re not…He shook his head, thinking about the fear of punishment that Deanna had reported in “Stewart”.

“You’re keeping tabs of the names and ranks of anyone who shows up in this scan, of course,” Riker said.

“Of course. So far we have seen forty-four crewmen whose presence is duplicated aboard our own ship, and only five who are unknown. This would closely approximate—“

The view changed, and Data broke off in midsentence, staring along with everyone else. It was the bridge. At least, the shape was the same, and the general structure of it. But there were differences.

It was darker. Their night? Riker thought, then shook his head, doubting it. Paneling and furnishings were in the same sort of gunmetal gray as the exterior of the ship, with lines of paler gray being used more as highlighting than anything else.

Put today’s excerpt in a baseball context.

Mariner '08 Preview

Jim Street has a look ahead to the Seattle '08 season at the home page of the Mariners. The main focus is the rotation. Spot the former Rattlers in the following paragraphs:

If all goes according to plan during Spring Training, right-hander Felix Hernandez will be on the Safeco Field mound come March 31 to face the Rangers in the regular-season opener; left-hander Jarrod Washburn probably would start Game 2 of the three-game series, with either [Carlos] Silva or right-hander Miguel Batista starting the series finale.

But the rotation could change even more if the Mariners acquire left-hander Erik Bedard from the Orioles -- one of the hot rumors making the rounds on the Hot Stove circuit. As backups, the Mariners have left-hander Horacio Ramirez and right-hander Brandon Morrow competing for rotation spots, along with lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith.

The deal or no deal for Bedard may also affect another ex-Rattler:

Barring a trade for Bedard, the Mariners will feature a new right fielder this season in Adam Jones, who takes over for Jose Guillen. Jones, the organization's first-round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, has a tough act to follow as Guillen batted .290, hit 24 home runs and drove in 99 runs last season.

There are plenty of Jones supporters on Mariner blogs out there who are looking forward to the change in right field.

Others on the ballot

MLB.com turns attention to three pitchers up for Cooperstown.

Bert Blyleven

It's become an annual tradition, of sorts, for Bert Blyleven at this time of year.

That is to wait and see if this will indeed be the year that his long wait to get into Cooperstown has finally ended.

In his 11th year on the Hall of Fame ballot, Blyleven is still hoping for the one honor that is noticeably missing from his 22-year career.

There are many people who have wondered why Blyleven has yet to receive enshrinement in Cooperstown. In a career that spanned from 1970-92 with the Twins, Rangers, Pirates, Indians and Angels, he's in the top end of almost every all-time pitching category.

That includes 287 wins, which is 25th on the all-time list. Blyleven is fifth in career strikeouts with 3,701. He is ninth in games started with 685. His 60 shutouts are also ninth all-time.

Blyleven also ranks in the top 20 in games pitched, and he is 13th all-time in innings pitched with 4,970.

But despite the long list of accomplishments, Blyleven's highest vote total was 53.3 percent in 2006. A candidate must get 75 percent of the vote to gain election.

Tommy John

At some point, having more wins than anyone not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame loses its distinction and becomes just a festering frustration.

Tommy John, winner of 288 games, reached that point a long time ago. And he still appears a better bet to make the American Medical Association's Hall of Fame than baseball's.

As a pitcher, consistency was his chief asset. He won 13-plus games 11 times, with an amazing 22 seasons spanning the first (1965) and last (1987).

As a Cooperstown candidate, John has been just as consistent, which, in this case, isn't such a good thing.

The left-hander is in his 14th year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot, making this his next-to-last shot at being voted in by the writers. He reached his highest vote total percentage of 29.61 in 2006, but his annual support has been in that same range since his first year of eligibility, in 1995.

Jack Morris

Jack Morris knows his sometimes cantankerous mood around reporters as a player might have hurt his chances at getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It would bother him more if it was something else.

"I think my relationships with the press probably had something to do with it," Morris said a couple of years ago. "And I regret that. That was then. I was an ornery crank, no question about it. I did it to protect my players. I wish I could go back and do it over. But if you're voting on my personality, I can understand your argument."

But that's not really the debate regarding Morris' chances. Ironically, it has less to do with the subjective evaluation of his personality and more to do with the normally objective job of analyzing stats.

His regular-season statistics are very good, but his postseason stats are sterling. Thus, when looking at Morris' statistics, one question always arises: Were his teams great because he pitched on them, or was he great because of his teams?

Morris' aura was built on winning. He won more games than any other pitcher in the 1980s, and it carried over to the game's greatest stage. He won three World Series with three different teams and started the series opener for each of them. His Game 7 performance for the Twins in 1991, dueling John Smoltz in a game that went scoreless into the 10th inning, still stands as one of the greatest single-game performances in the history of Fall Classic.

My thoughts on the three. None will get in this year. Blyleven and John may get in when the voting gets around to the Veteran's Committee. Morris will probably get in on the writer's ballot in a few years.

Watch out!

It doesn't matter if you go to a Timber Rattler game, a Packer game, or a Milwaukee Bucks game. At all times, keep you head swiveled to the action. Or else:




Thanks to Awful Announcing again.

I'm guessing that she at least isn't a native from Wisconsin. The spilled beer or the lack of turning around to head back to the concession stand gives it away.

Elfstrom Expansion

A pair of stories from the suburban Chicago papers about another attempt to renovate the Elf.

First, the Kane County Chronicle:

Stadium options on deck

Kane County Forest Preserve officials say they’re working to fix a $6 million funding gap that has held up construction on Elfstrom Stadium since 2006.

The goal is to send the project out for a third set of bids within the next two weeks.

John Hoscheit, the forest preserve commission president, said officials were considering ways to finance expanding the home of the Kane County Cougars, including state grants. He declined to discuss specifics.

“We’re open to options,” Hoscheit said.

...

Two bids on the project have come back with a price of $11 million. The forest preserve has committed $5 million to the project. That leaves a $6 million deficit to be made up.

“The concern is that the longer you wait, the more your construction costs are going to be,” Hoscheit said. “Obviously, someone has to pay for it.”

Obviously.

Now, the Aurora Beacon

Forest District seeks expansion of Elfstrom Stadium

Kane County Forest Preserve and Kane County Cougars officials are hoping the third time is the charm.

The Forest Preserve District will go out for a third round of bids on the expansion of Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Cougars Class A Midwest League Oakland A's affiliate.

Forest Preserve President John Hoscheit, R-St. Charles, said Friday both sides still are negotiating changes in the expansion after two previous rounds of bids came in at more than twice as much as expected.

The changes are small, he said -- like what kind of glass will be used, and how electricity will be distributed. That means the differences between the two versions are small, too, he said.

"We're close," he said. "I don't think any of the amenities will change."

Those amenities include a second deck of seats and an overhang, more concession stands, more restrooms and more private skyboxes.

The hope is to have these renovations done by the start of the 2009 season.

Odd headline for a story with baseball in it?

Maybe not. The Jackson Sun has a story about a State of the City and County forum in Jackson, Tennessee. It is headlined thusly:

Forum highlights crime, growth

The baseball tie-in is in the following comment from Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist:

Gist said he was happy with the new owners of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, saying Jackson will have to "fight harder" to keep the baseball team long term.

And that's all there is about Seattle's Double-A affiliate.

Fenway Freezer?

According to SelfLaugh.com, the success of the Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo