Here is the post with a quite recap of the Winter Banquet down in Clinton.Our speakers included team president Paul Schnack, assistant General Manager Nate Kreinbrink, "Friends of Riverview" vice president Judy Dennis, Clinton mayor Rodger Holm, and our keynote speaker John Boles.The first -- and only -- regular season trip into Clinton for the Timber Rattlers is April 16-19. The LumberKings will be coming to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium May 16-19 and June 30-July 3.
For a longtime follower of the Florida Marlins like myself, it was an honor to be able to introduce Mr. Boles, a man who formed young talent like Edgar Renteria, Charles Johnson, Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, etc. into World Champions in 1997 and 2003. As one of the great baseball minds and the special assistant to Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik, Boles used his speech to familiarize the fans (and myself) with what the Seattle system is all about.
He talked about the Mariners' philosophy of finding players with character in addition to ability, something that can be lost in today's sports culture. A player has to be well-rounded and mentally strong, not just talented to succeed in the Seattle system. I think that certainly fits well with this community. Boles also had high praise for the character and leadership of manager Scott Steinmann, who takes over the LumberKings after managing in double-A last season.
In talking with Boles after the banquet, it was easy to get a sense of the optimism surrounding this organization. It reminded me of our first meeting with the Mariners' brass at the 2008 MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Building this franchise back into a powerhouse through the draft and international scouting unlike any other in baseball is what they are about. It is certainly a philosophy that is going to help us put a great team on the field in Clinton.
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