Baseball History -- January 23

Complete entry for January 23 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1981
Faced with the possibility of losing star OF Fred Lynn to free agency because of a front-office blunder, the Red Sox trade Lynn and P Steve Renko to the Angels for pitchers Frank Tanana and Jim Dorsey and OF Joe Rudi. The Players' Association contends that Lynn and C Carlton Fisk are free agents because the Red Sox failed to mail their new contracts by the deadline provided for in the Basic Agreement. Lynn signs a 4-year deal with the Angels and agrees to drop his case. Fisk's case will go to arbitration.

Blunder is the right word.

Some Hall Of Fame induction classes:

1979
Willie Mays receives 409 of 432 votes in the BBWAA election to earn enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

1975
Ralph Kiner earns Hall of Fame membership by a single vote.

1968
Joe Medwick is voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1962
Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson are selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Also from 1962

Lawyer Melvin Belli wins a breach-of-warranty suit against the San Francisco Giants on the grounds that his box seat at Candlestick Park is too cold. Belli's suit contends that the seat he bought in 1960, at the cost of $1,597, was supposed to have radiant heating.

73 days to Opening Day

April 5, 2007 is Opening Day at Fox Cities Stadium for the Timber Rattlers. That is 73 days from today.

I've debated using this guy or not using this guy for the number 73, but finally said "Might as well." at about 2:30 this morning.

The number 73 is represented by Barry Bonds:
Bonds had 73 home runs in 2001.

The picture is taken from the page with his 2001 home run log at the Baseball Almanac.

Why wait until later this week

Checking in on the votes as of this morning for the slogan for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx poll at jacksonsun.com:

Back the Jaxx leads with 51.3% of the 76 votes cast so far
Take Me Back to the Ballgame is next with is 35.5%
Take Me Back to the Jaxx is last at 13.2%

Not baseball, but worth it

Watched the producer's cut of The Return, the most recent new episode of The Office, on nbc.com last night. Not going to spoil it with quotes or exactly what happened for any who haven't seen it. But, here are a few of the things that did not make it to the for air episode:

Michael's interesting car trouble
Two special Creed moments
Kelly tells Oscar to learn more about his culture
Michael with a disturbing childhood story
Angela opening up to Pam...in her own unique way
Phyllis with a disturbing display
What happened to Andy

I really like that show.

I'm sensing a disturbance in the force

There has been something bugging me since about 5pm yesterday. It's like 7 million Packer fans screamed out in pain and were suddenly silent. Maybe a quick trip to the Chicago Tribune will help me figure it out...

Nothing to be done. Besides, we are coming up on Alderaan.

Baseball History -- January 22

Complete entry for January 22 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1988
As a result of the Players' Association's 1985 collusion suit against the owners, arbitrator Thomas Roberts declares seven players no-risk free agents until March 1st, giving them a chance to sign with other clubs despite already having contracts. The seven are Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk, Donnie Moore, Joe Niekro, Butch Wynegar, Tom Brookens, and Juan Beniquez.

This is how Gibson wound up with the Dodgers.

1929
The Yankees announce they will put numbers on the backs of their uniforms, becoming the first baseball team to start continuous use of the numbers. The first numbers are based on positions in the batting order; thus, Babe Ruth will wear number three and Lou Gehrig 4. In a few weeks, the Indians announce that they, too, will put numbers on the uniforms and by 1931 all American League teams will use them; it will be 1933 before all National League players are numbered.

The Yankees knew their batting order for the 1929 season in January?

1913
The Giants give the Yankees permission to use the Polo Grounds for the 1913 season only, as the lease on the Hilltop grounds has expired. The Yankees will remain as tenants through 1922.

So, the Yankees were like the guest that wouldn't leave?

74 days to Opening Day

April 5, 2007 is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium. That is just 74 days from today.

The Rattlers will be playing the Peoria Chiefs that Thursday. The manager of the Chiefs is Ryne Sandberg and the number 74 is represented by Sandberg.


During his MVP season in 1984, Sandberg had 36 doubles + 19 triples + 19 home runs = 74 extra base hits.

That is his plaque from the Baseball Hall of Fame, by the way.

Sunday Flashback

This week's Sunday Flashback is to Tuesday, August 29 at O'Brien Field against the Peoria Chiefs.

The Rattlers got seven innings of three-hit, shutout pitching from Marwin Vega and a pair of RBI from Travis Scott in a 3-0 win over the Chiefs. This is the type of game that mkaes the Mariners and the minor league system watchers drool when they talk about Vega.

The boxscore of the game is HERE. To listen to the game, just copy and past the code below into your browser window. What are you going to do? Watch the Bears today?

Click HERE to go to the Rattler Audio archive and find your way back to August 2006 or copy and past the code below into your browser to listen to the game...or select parts of the game.

javascript:mp.play({ w:'http://web.servicebureau.net/conf/meta?i=1112701389&c=14667&m=was&u=/w2.xsl', w_id:'26960', pid:'milb_ga', type: 'a_free'} );

Gehrig's Contract

On Sunday's during the off-season, there are excerpts of Jonathon Eig's biography of Lou Gehrig, Luckiest Man here on Rattler Radio.

This week's excerpt is from the start of the chapter titled Goodbye, Mr. Pipp. It is the story of how Gehrig spent his time between the 1923 and 1924 seasons and receiving his 1924 contract.

The sunshine and glory of the summer faded fast for Gehrig. As the grass turned brown and autumn leaves grew stiff and fell, his mood darkened. He took a job in the fall of 1923 as an office clerk at the New York Edison Company -- in part because his family needed the money, and in part because he feared the Yankees might lose interest in him at any moment.

He should have known better. He should have known that Jake Rupert and Miller Huggins viewed him as one of their brightest young discoveries, and a bargain, too. If he'd made any close friends on the team, they probably would have told him as much. Yankee management fully intended to re-sign him, but they were hoping to do so at the lowest possible price. In the meantime, it didn't hurt to keep him guessing.

"The fall dragged along," Gehrig recalled in an interview eight years later, "and I didn't hear anything from the Yankees. I didn't know how baseball business was done or when contracts were sent out. Now and then I'd see in the papers that this club or that had signed some of its players and I began to wonder if the Yanks were going to sign me again....I began to pay more attention to my work with the Edison Company and to hope for a raise."

As for baseball, he said, "I figured I'd had my fling."

Finally, at the end of January, the mail brought a new contract, offering him $2,750 for the 1924 season. Gehrig was so pleased that the thought of asking for more never seriously occurred to him. "I signed it and sent it back in a hurry for fear they'd change their minds." he said. For the first time, though certainly not the last, the Yankees took advantage of Gehrig's timidity and his overarching desire to please. Ed Barrow, the team's general manager, knew that several big-league clubs had expressed interest in trading for Gehrig. If the first baseman had appreciated his value he might have negotiated a better deal. But he was not the sort to spy an opening and make a run for it. His approach was to tiptoe, taking care not to step too quickly and fall.

Now, I remember where I saw this

Okay, remember a few days ago when the Memphis Redbirds unveiled their new logo and uniforms?

At the time there was something familiar about their 'M'. Really familiar about the one in the middle of this picture.
Now, remember one of the reasons they wanted a new logo?

"I remember we were at one of the Minor League seminars a few years back and someone was talking about logos," said Chase. "And they hauled our 'M' up there as an example of a logo that was not a very good one, primarily because it would be impossible to trademark. But don't get me wrong, the old logo worked very well for us."

Someone in our office pointed out immediately after I mentioned it where my feeling of deja vu came from.
What was that about trademarks? Kidding. Kidding. The Brewer trademark probably includes those barley thing-a-mah-jigs below their 'M'. There is nothing like that below the Memphis 'M'.

Plus, I haven't seen a good close up of the Memphis 'M'. Once there is one available, I will probably be able to see plenty of differences between to two logos. Think of it as a baseball edition of Slylock Fox presents 6 differences.

Vote on a Slogan for the Jaxx

There is a poll at the Jackson Sun. It is for the new slogan of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the new Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Here are the choices, without comment for once...Well, for a while anyway:

Take Me Back to the Ballgame
Take Me Back to the Jaxx
Back the Jaxx

Current results have Back the Jaxx leading with 45.8% of the 59 votes cast so far. Someone remind me to check on this later this week.

Fun with Sabermetricians

I was checking Brew Crew Ball this morning and there was a pointer to this post at Beyond the Boxscore. I tried not to go in too deep.

Obscure and Invented Statistical Records from 2006

I'll begin by asking you all this question. Have you ever been at the ballpark and seen a player crack a double off of the wall in the gap, and then be surprised when he has to slide into second base? If so, there's a chance you were watching some baseball in the midwest in the last few years.

In the history of the game, there have been just 24 players who managed have a season where they hit 30 or more doubles and failed to steal a single base or record one triple. Now, I'm not calling them slow, but I am going to call them... unique.

I can honestly say that, "Yes, I have been at the ballpark and seen a player crack a double off of the wall in the gap, and then be surprised when he has to slide into second base."

I can also honestly say that I have never looked through 125 years of statistics to find 24 players who hit blahblah with blahblahblah and blahed the blahblahs. But, click on the link above to find the list of the 24.

The guy at the top of the list is John Olerud. In 2000, Olerud had 49 doubles without blahblah or blahing a blah.

Also, at the post is this little sentence that kind of gives away the game of Sabermatricians everywhere:

[Albert] Pujols has tied an MLB record that I may have just invented (it's so easy to do, just set some arbitrary parameters, throw in a little cherry-picking of stats, bake at 350 for 15 minutes, and BAM: new record.)

Emphasis mine. They just make it up?

The made-up record that Pujols just tied. His 2006 season had more than 40 home runs (49), a batting average of over .305 (.331), and 50 or fewer strikeouts (exactly 50).

Of course, this record goes out the window if the parameter is changed to fewer than 50 strikeouts. Because last time I checked exactly 50 is not fewer than 50.

One more. Pitchers who struck out more batters than their weight. There were four of them in 2006. The numbers by the pitcher are in this order Weight, Strikeouts, Difference.

Johan Santana: 210--245--90
Jake Peavy: 180--215--35
Bronson Arroyo: 180--184--4
John Smoltz: 210--211--1

Godspeed, Sabermatrcians. You go where I fear to. Because, I have too little of a life as it is anyway. If I went down that road, there really would be no hope. Because all the fun would be sucked out of the game because I'd be having flashbacks to Mr. Kelm's Advanced Math class. Not the good flashbacks of Raquel Scherrer sitting next to me for the whole semester though. The bad flashbacks of having no idea what the heck Mr. Kelm was talking about and sweating out a Gentleman's 'C'.

Have fun at the 37th annual Society for American Baseball Research convention in St. Louis July 25-30. I'll be having fun with an actual off day, a four game home series against the Great.Lakes.Loons., and a bus ride to Dayton for a series against the Dragons.

Looooooooons News

Item #1: The Great.Lakes.Loons. manager has a press conference coming up this week.

Lance Parrish will make his first public appearance as the Great Lakes Loons’ manager at a news conference Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Delta College Planetarium at 100 Center Road in downtown Bay City.

The news conference is open to the public.

A news conference at a Planetarium? Will this happen before or after Ring World or Journey to the End of Space and Time? Will there be a laser light show to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon? If there is, I am taking a little day trip to Bay City this week.

Item #2: This update on Dow Diamond was published on January 12, which was before the recent cold snap in the Upper Midwest.

Warm weather speeds progress at Dow Diamond

The unusually mild winter hasn't been good news for skiers and snowmobilers. But it's been a home run to those trying to build a baseball stadium.

Progress on Dow Diamond is moving ahead smoothly because of the warmer temperatures.

"It's been fantastic," Loons' General Manager Paul Barbeau said of the weather. "We had the one storm in early December. After that, it's been about as perfect as it can be. On this timeline that we're on, every small advantage helps."

Workers have three months to complete the stadium. The Loons play their inaugural home opener on April 13 against the Lansing Lugnuts.

Plenty of information about the progress of the stadium in the story. But, how are ticket sales going?

As for season tickets, sales continue to be strong.

"Based on total tickets, we've sold between 130,000 and 140,000 tickets," Barbeau said. "There's still so much excitement. We still have a lot more people to talk to. There's still opportunity to get on board with tickets. Every seat in our stadium will have a great view."

Well, okay then.

Item #3: Meet the Voice of the Loons: Golder, 25, grew up on Atlanta Braves' baseball

One week after arriving in Midland, Brad Golder is realizing just how exciting an endeavor he has joined.

"I go to the grocery store and I tell people that I'm going to be broadcasting for the Loons, and their eyes get big and they can't believe it," said Golder, who has been hired as the Great Lakes Loons' first radio play-by-play broadcaster and director of broadcasting and media relations.

I go to the grocery store and tell people that I'm the broadcaster for the Timber Rattlers and their eyes get big and they say, "You're Tim McCord?!" That's a joke. I never tell people what I do unless they ask. Then, after I tell them, they say, "Oh, we love the way you announce the starting lineups." Because they think I'm the PA announcer at Fox Cities Stadium. That is the the truth.

"We wanted someone that was professional and enjoyable to listen to, and also someone that could handle the media relations portion of the job," Barbeau said. "Brad really fit that whole package and carried himself well, and was a good fit for us."

What team [Timber Rattlers in 2000 aside] has ever hired someone who is unprofessional and unenjoyable to listen to?

Whitecap kudos

Brian VanOchten is the West Michigan Whitecap beat writer for the Grand Rapids Press and he also has a blog. This is the post about the Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet from last week.

A doubleheader championship celebration

It was a spectacular night for Detroit Tigers fans on Wednesday night in Grand Rapids. Yeah, sure, the West Michigan Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet (see photos) is a nice, little gathering of passionate baseball fans every January, where the Tigers send along a few representatives to say a few new nice words, sign a few autographs and tell a few stories. It's always a nice event. Except, this year, it was buzz unlike any other flowing through DeVos Place, which was packed with Tigers fans who've fallen in love with their team all over again.

It helped big-time that Tigers manager Jim Leyland was the keynote speaker. (read story) He could've run for governor and out-polled both Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos in the last election. No doubt about it. There's no one else more popular in this state right at this moment than the 62-year-old, no-nonsense, chain-smoking Leyland, who was a big hit with the crowd at the banquet.

More at the post including some nice words for members of the Whitecap front office.

New Fort Wayne Stadium...or not.

Two stories at fortwayne.com about resistance to a new downtown stadium for the Fort Wayne Wizards.

From January 18 there was this Some on council aren’t buying and from today there is this Poll backs downtown, not stadium.

Excerpt from the first story:
Five million dollars is a lot of money. But to City Councilman Tom Smith, it’s not enough to justify the city’s plan to spend $25 million more on a new baseball stadium.
“If building stadiums downtown is a trend, the funding pattern should be a trend, too,” said the First District Republican, noting that Atlanta-based Hardball Capital’s proposed contribution represents a considerably lower percentage of the total cost than private investors have contributed to other minor-league stadiums built in recent years. “The city should ask for more money (from Hardball), and if we don’t see it, I’ll have a problem (voting for the project).”
...
In contrast to Hardball’s $5 million commitment (17 percent of the $30 million cost of Fort Wayne’s proposed Harrison Square stadium), private investors paid 70 percent of the cost in Peoria, Ill.; 62 percent in Round Rock, Texas; 53 percent in Nashville, Tenn.; and at least 50 percent in Charlotte, N.C. Many other recent stadiums included a percentage of private investment far in excess of 17 percent.
But advocates of Harrison Square – which would also include a hotel, parking garage, condominiums and shops – insist those figures tell only part of the story.
“We’ve said that when you total all private investment in Harrison Square, it will be at least 50 percent private, and that’s not a misrepresentation,” said Greg Leatherman, city deputy director of development. “One criticism of downtown ballparks is that they don’t always attract other projects, but this one will because other things will be done at the same time.”
That’s the plan, anyway. Under the city’s proposal, Hardball would invest an additional $18 million in new condominiums and shops, and a still-to-be-named developer would invest $48 million more in a new hotel. The city would also spend $10 million on a 900-space parking garage.
What's the saying about plans. You can forget about them once there is contact with the enemy.

Click on the poll to see all the questions and the answers. The questions and answers related to the stadium and the Wizards have been pulled and placed below:

Q2. Do you believe a downtown baseball stadium should be built, or not?

Yes 15%
No 71%
Refused/don’t know 14%

OUCH!

Q4. If another use could be found for Memorial Stadium, current home of the Wizards baseball team, would you be more likely to support a downtown stadium or not?

Yes 37%
No 53%
Refused/don’t know 10%

Another use, like the world's largest skatepark to become the new permanent home of The X Games?

Q10. As proposed, Wizards’ owners would pay $5 million of the cost for a $30 million new stadium. Is that too much for the owners to pay, too little, or about right?

Too much 3%

Too little 67%

About right 30%

I haven't check, but if I won POWERBALL last night, would that be enough?

Q11. Has anyone in your household attended a Wizards game in the last year?

Yes 47%
No 53%

Q12. Would you or your family attend a Wizards game in a new ballpark downtown?

Yes 45%
No 55%

According to this poll, attendance at Wizard games would drop by 2% if they moved to a downtown stadium. At least among the people responding to this poll. That is if I am reading this right.

Now, the analysis of the poll:

Seven of 10 Allen County adults believe it is important to revitalize downtown Fort Wayne, but a similar percentage thinks a downtown baseball stadium isn’t needed, according to a poll commissioned by The Journal Gazette and Indiana’s NewsCenter.

The telephone poll of 400 county adults, scientifically selected through a random sample, was taken Jan. 8, 9 and 11. It found more support for additional parking and shopping downtown than for more downtown housing, a third downtown hotel or a stadium.

The numbers didn’t come as a surprise to city officials, who said they must do a better job selling the Harrison Square project. The $125 million private-public downtown investment includes a new hotel, retail, housing and a city-owned minor-league baseball stadium. It would be in the area bounded by Harrison, Brackenridge and Ewing streets and West Jefferson Boulevard.

Yes! That's it! If 70% of the voters don't like something, just sell it harder. Just punch a hole in the drywall, too. Hopefully you won't hit the spot with the stud and break your hand.

For the Harrison Square project to succeed, Mayor Graham Richard has to be its lead salesman, Talarico said. The councilman said he is often faced with opponents to Harrison Square, but after he explains that no general property taxes will be used, opponents begin to soften their position.

“Immediately everyone thinks they’re going to be hit in their property taxes,” Talarico said. “We’ve got to do a better job explaining the background.”

Why would anyone think that they would be hit in their property taxes after talking to a politician? I mean, really. The idea that this would happen is so foreign as to be almost unbelievable. How can it be explained any better that NO property tax money would be used to the people? Maybe if they speak slowly enough people will understand. Or am I just being cynical?

Baseball History -- January 21

Complete entry for January 21 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1971
The BBWAA fails to elect anyone in the annual Hall of Fame election. With 270 votes required, the nearest finishers are Yogi Berra (242) and Early Wynn (240).

Both Berra and Wynn would get in eventually.

1969
Stan Musial and Roy Campanella are voted into the Hall of Fame by BBWAA members.

Good induction class here.

1960
Stan Musial asks for, and receives, a pay cut from $100,000 to $80,000 a year. Musial says he was overpaid in 1957 and 1958, and his salary should be cut, based on his performance in 1959.

Picture this happening now.

1953
The Hall of Fame passes over Joe DiMaggio in his first year of eligibility and elects P Dizzy Dean and OF Al Simmons to Cooperstown. Dean gathers 209 votes while Simmons' total of 199 is one more than needed. Also joining DiMag, who finished 8th in the voting, are in order Bill Terry, Bill Dickey, Rabbit Maranville, Dazzy Vance, Ted Lyons, Chief Bender (9th) and Gabby Hartnett (10th). All will eventually make it.

DiMaggio not making it on a first ballot makes less sense than not voting for Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken.

75 days to Opening Day

April 5, 2007 is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium. That is 75 days from today.

The number 75 is represented by Yogi Berra.

From Baseball Hall of Fame

Berra played in 75 World Series games in his career. The list of the Fall Classics he played in can be found at his Baseball Hall of Fame page.

Homer at the Bat

Going to stay in the world of animation for this week's Baseball on TV post. The Simpsons has been known for their use of guest stars over the years:

Johnny Carson and Donald Sutherland pictures from Springfield Weekly.

Homer at the Bat was a third season episode (aired on February 20, 1992) of the show. Mr. Burns bets $1 million that his power plant team will win the championship.

The fair-minded Mr. Burns goes out and brings in the following ringers: Darryl Strawberry, Ken Griffey, Jr., Steve Sax, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs and Mike Scioscia

The Springfield Nuclear Power Plant rolls through the competition, but as the Championship game approaches, the ringers begin going down one by one. My personal favorites were Mr. Burns suspending Mattingly for having his sideburns too long and Smith getting lost in the Springfield Mystery Spot.

By the time the bottom of the ninth inning in the Championship Game rolls around, Strawberry is the only ringer left standing. The game is tied, the bases are loaded, and the Straw is due up. But, Mr. Burns sends in Homer as pinch hitter because the pitcher is a lefty and it just makes sense to send in a righty to hit for a guy who has nine home runs on the day.

Anyway, someone posted this on Youtube to make this recap both make more sense and more entertaining.

Also, here is a the song that played over the end credits of that episode, Talkin' Softball.

Memories

BleedCubbieBlue continues to countdown their top 100 Chicago Cubs of all-time.


Some posts worth taking a look at include:

#43 Don Kessinger

#38 Rick Suttcliffe

#36 Lee Smith

#35 Bill Buckner

#30 Rick Monday


But, the one I wanted to highlight today was #31 Rick Reuschel. Not so much for what written about Reuschel, but for the fan picture that was posted along with the story. The picture is from 1984 and was taken by a BleedCubbieBlue reader.
Wow.

Philadelphia stories

While checking on some information on Greg Dobbs joining the Phillies at their website, there were a couple of other stories that caught my eye.

The first has to do with Chris Coste. Coste was a catcher for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks when I worked for the Duluth-Superior Dukes. He is responsible for one of the more disgusting stories to ever be aired on a pre-game show that I presided over. (Nope. Not going to tell it here.) You'll have to find a copy of his book Hey... I'm Just the Catcher: An Inside Look at a Northern League Season From Behind the Plate and guess which one of the stories in there is the one that actually put me off food for a couple of days...which was pretty tough to do when I worked for the Dukes.

For Coste, coast is not clear
Phillies catcher likely to be relegated to reserve role

PHILADELPHIA -- Sitting at a table marked for him as a guest on the Phillies' Winter Tour, Chris Coste rehashed stories about his year of personal satisfaction and the subsequent calm offseason.

For the first time since 1999, the Phillies catcher could spend the winter months with family in Fargo, N.D., rather than playing in Mexico and wondering when or if his Major League chance would arrive. Thankfully, he didn't have to wonder this winter, because his chance came after 11 years of battling in independent leagues, the Minors and surviving through winters closer to the equator.

"My path of getting to the big leagues definitely shaped who I am and made me appreciate being in big leagues," Coste said. "Whether it's something simple like a $50 room service, I appreciate that. It's a great thrill being here, and I want to make it last as long as possible."

The 34-year-old's fortitude is being tested once again. Despite catching the majority of the team's games down the stretch, while hitting .328 with seven homers, it appears Coste will be the third-string catcher and pinch-hitter with the offseason signing of free-agent backstop Rod Barajas to a one-year deal.

And Greg Dobbs isn't the only player on the Phillies with ties to Appleton baseball. Here is a Q & A with a former member of the Appleton Foxes.

At home with ... Tom Gordon
Phillies closer feeling good, pleased with offseason moves

Q. How has the offseason been treating you?

A. It's been really good. I've actually gone over to Clearwater from my home in Avon, Fla., a few times this week to get prepared and to stay in shape. I'm feeling good about my shoulder. I've been following the strengthening program that I received at the end of the season.

Q. What have you been doing to kick back when you're not working out?

A. I spend a lot of time fishing. That's a real relaxing time for me when I can go out on the water and throw out a line.

Q. Are you catching or just fishing?

A. Actually, I've caught a lot of bass and crappie. Just to go out there for four or five hours and reel in around 50 fish is really a thrill for me.

Later in the session, we find that Gordon is a Clint Eastwood fan, likes the acquisition of Freddy Garcia, and he is looking forward to Spring Training.

Around the MWL

Checking in on the other Midwest League Websites, I found these:

Terry Ryan to Speak at Snappers Hot Stove Banquet

Minnesota Twins Vice President, General Manager Terry Ryan is scheduled to appear at the Beloit Snappers third annual Winter Hot Stove Banquet, Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at the Country Club of Beloit. Joining Ryan at the banquet will be Minnesota Twins Hitting Coach Joe Vavra and former Snappers first baseman Erik Lis.

Ryan, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin and a 1972 graduate of Parker High School, is the fourth General Manager in team history.

New Jerseys Unveiled During Winter Banquet
Oh Say Can You Sing?

The 2007 National Anthem Tryouts [for the Dayton Dragons] will be held at the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons on March 10 and 11. Each mall will have a different date; exact locations and times are to be determined.

In order to sign up to audition, you must pre-register by filling out a registration form in the Dayton Daily News. Signing up through the Dayton Daily News is the only way to pre-register.

Day to Replace Calhoun as Lugnuts' GM

LANSING - Lansing Lugnuts general manager Jeff Calhoun is leaving the team after seven seasons and will be replaced by Patrick Day, a minor league baseball executive with eight years of experience.

At the same time, Lugnuts Director of Sales Nick Grueser has been named Assistant General Manager.

Calhoun had been the Lugnuts' General Manager since September, 2003. The Indiana native has accepted an executive position in the Lansing area.

"It was obviously a heart-wrenching decision to leave the Lugnuts," Calhoun said. "I will always treasure the years that I have spent here and the smiles that I've seen on the faces of Lugnuts fans. I want to thank all of the people that contributed to those wonderful years.

"Also, I am very confident that Patrick Day has all of the training and skills to take over the reins of the Lugnuts and guide this team in the right direction."

Winter Banquet Raises $43,000; Leyland and Tigers Players Excite Crowd

COMSTOCK PARK, MI — The Whitecaps 13th annual Winter Baseball Banquet raised more than $43,000 for charity, breaking the highest total from 2003 of $31,000. Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland, Whitecaps Manager Tom Brookens and Tigers broadcaster Dan Dickerson addressed the crowd of 976 people at DeVos Place Wednesday night. Also in attendance were Tigers players Justin Verlander, Brandon Inge, Placido Polanco, Craig Monroe, Vance Wilson and Chris Shelton and coaches Gene Lamont and Lloyd McClendon.

The Whitecaps held a raffle, silent and live auction during the event that raised $43,312.40 for the Whitecaps Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and Detroit Tigers Foundation. The banquet, sponsored by Varnum Riddering Schmidt and Howlett, LLP, raises money for underprivileged children to participate and have uniforms and equipment to play baseball.

The top-selling item in the silent auction was a Gerald R. Ford signed baseball and four Ford museum passes that went for $800.

Silver Hawks New Website Coming Soon!

Friday of a salesman

When I am out speaking to groups as part of the speakers program that the team has, someone will ask about a typical day for me in the off-season. Plus, one of the mission statements of this blog was to give an idea of what it was like to work in minor league baseball. Yesterday was somewhat typical;

8:00am -- Arrive at office.
8:05am -- Check appointment schedule
8:15 -- Head to meeting with potential sponsor
8:30am -- Meeting with potential sponsor
9:12am -- Arrive back at office.
9:15am -- Call potential sponsor. Leave message.
9:16am -- Call potential sponsor. Leave message.
9:17am -- Call potential sponsor. Leave message.
9:18am -- Call potential sponsor. Get through. Get turned down for meeting.
9:19am to 9:30am -- Call potential sponsors. Leave messages.

9:31am to 9:45am -- Go out to radio booth. Look at the field. Look at the wall signs. Head down to the picnic pavilion. Let out a scream. Feel a little better.

9:45am to 10:00am -- Return e-mails from clients
10:00am to 10:15am -- Return voice mail messages
10:15am -- Grab a drink of water
10:30am -- Conference call potential sponsor
11:15am -- Take a look through the paper to prospect
11:30am to Noon -- More calls. More messages.
Noon-12:30 -- Lunch at desk.
12:15pm -- Help a potential sponsor who walked into the office and asked for information.
12:30pm-1:00pm -- Check milb.com, baseballamerica.com, mlb.com, and various other websites and blogs.
1:00pm -- Get in touch with sponsor from last year. Find out they are not coming back.
1:03pm -- Back out to the radio booth and picnic pavilion.

1:05pm to 1:45pm -- More calls, more e-mails, more messages.
1:45pm -- Head to appointment.
2:00pm -- Arrive at appointment. Discover that the meeting is not going to happen.
2:15pm -- Back at the office. Back to the radio booth and picnic pavilion.

2:20pm to 2:45pm -- Straighten up my desk. More calls. Mostly messages. Somehow, a future appointment is scheduled.
2:45pm -- Head to an appointment with potential sponsor.
3:00pm -- Arrive at appointment. This one happens and somehow goes well.
3:20pm -- Notice car is almost out of gas. Head to gas station.
3:40pm to 3:50pm -- Check appointment schedule for Monday.
3:50pm -- Head to final appointment of the day.
4:00pm to 4:25pm -- Meet. Talk. Listen. Think.
4:30pm -- Call it a day.

So, you want to get into baseball.

More later.

The 75 days to Opening Day post, Baseball on TV post, and various other rambling stabs at therapy will be posted later today.

Calling all Sloganeers

Ballparkdigest.com a link to this story yesterday

Help the Jaxx select a slogan
PR firm has been hired to promote the baseball team

Hoping to generate a storm of excitement over the Diamond Jaxx and improve attendance, the Jaxx have hired an advertising/public relations firm to help promote the product, along with help from the city of Jackson.

"There's a cloud we've got to blow out of the way," said Seth Chandler, of Jackson, a chief executive with the firm of DCA/DCPR. He spoke to a group of 33 community leaders, city officials, Jaxx personnel and media representatives at City Hall on Thursday. It was the second "Save the Jaxx" meeting aimed at increasing attendance at Jaxx games and keeping the franchise in Jackson.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate," Chandler said. "Ultimately, all we're going to try to do is preach a better sermon. We're going to provide uplifting messages to reach every single person in West Tennessee."

Yep, quoting Strother Martin in Cool Hand Luke is uplifting and not outdated at all. I mean Guns 'n Roses did that in Civil War off one of those Use Your Illusion albums. You know, they released two mediocre albums when they could have released one great one. But, that's another post.

The story also has updates on what the different committees of the Save the Jaxx have been up to lately. Stuff like:

*On April 3, a public luncheon is scheduled with the new Jaxx players at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. The Jaxx are playing host to the Memphis Redbirds in an exhibition that night. Game time has not been determined. Tentatively, all seats are $2.

*For the Jaxx home opener on April 16, a tailgate party at Pringles Park involving high school bands, food vendors and other entertainment is being discussed. A downtown parade is also a possibility.

*Chandler said a marketing campaign will include Jaxx players signing autographs at the new youth baseball-softball complex beside Pringles Park, free tickets for players competing at the youth complex, and the forming of the "Jaxx Rowdies," a group of crazies who cheer the Jaxx and make clean fun of the opponent.

*Each city in West Tennessee will have Jaxx promotions in its local media.

It took committees to come up with this stuff?

He's warning you...

Baseball owners get warning on steroids

PHOENIX — Baseball owners heard a clear warning from former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on Thursday. Mitchell, who is investigating steroid use in the sport, said the chances of government involvement will "significantly increase" if they don't cooperate with him.

Speaking to owners on the final day of baseball's quarterly meetings, Mitchell said he intends to interview active players and raised the possibility that Congress or other government authorities could compel testimony.

"I believe it will be in your best interests, and the best interests of baseball, if I can report that I have received full cooperation from your organizations, and from others, in conducting this investigation," Mitchell said in remarks that were released to reporters.

Best interests of baseball? I have seen those words before in that order, but I'm a little foggy on the meaning.

Welcome, Cub fans. Welcome, Irish fans?

Not sure if this has been stressed enough on this blog but, Ryne Sandberg is going to be the manager of the Peoria Cubs this season and will be making his managerial debut on April 5 at Fox Cities Stadium.

But, now there is this potential addition to the star power of the Chiefs this season:

Cubs' Samardzija commits to baseball
Standout wide receiver at Notre Dame forgoes football career

CHICAGO -- Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to commit fully to baseball, and on Friday signed a five-year, $10 million Major League contract with the Chicago Cubs, who selected the pitcher in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

The deal includes two option years -- both club options -- and it could pay the right-hander $16.5 million. It also includes a $2.5 million signing bonus that Samardzija will return to the Cubs if he decides at any point to pursue another sport -- whether it's football, lacrosse, soccer, whatever.

What about bowling? Can he join the PBA Tour if he wanted?

Samardzija had been projected as a mid-first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Instead, he'll likely be toeing the mound at Class A Advanced Daytona.

Samardzija pitched two games for the Chiefs last season. The question is: Will the Cubs push him past Peoria to start the 2007 season and get him to the warmer weather in the Florida State League?

That decision will be made sometime in spring training.

Baseball History -- January 20

Complete entry for January 20 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1984
In a move that stuns New York fans, the White Sox draft Tom Seaver as compensation for losing Type A free agent Dennis Lamp to the Blue Jays. The Mets left Seaver off their protected list assuming —- wrongly — that no team would want to select the aging star, who finished 1983 with a 9-14 record and a 3.55 ERA.

This was the second time that the Mets lost Seaver and this is the reason that Seaver won his 300th game as a member of the White Sox.

1966
The BBWAA voters elect Ted Williams to the Hall of Fame. Williams receives 282 of a possible 302 votes.

Wonder how many Boston members of the BBWAA were in the 6.6% who did not vote for Williams.

1906
The Giants sign Christy Mathewson's untalented 19-year-old brother Henry Mathewson.

This is either the most insulting entry or the most truthful entry in the BaseballLibrary.com library.

76 days to Opening Day

April 7 is Opening Day at Fox Cities Stadium. That is 76 days from today.

The number 76 is represented by the 2005 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

That team won 76 games in the regular season.

Not baseball, but funnier

The Office has a producer's cut of Thursday's episode, The Return, on nbc.com. Guess how I'm spending Friday night? Or lunch today? Or about 3pm when I need to kill a little time in my cubicle?

Those last two are jokes, by the way.

Cubs Caravan in Peoria

The Cubs Caravan stopped in Peoria the other night. New Peoria Chief manager Ryne Sandberg was the headliner.

From milb.com

Sandberg a crowd-pleaser in Peoria
Hall of Famer woos caravan crowd in city where he'll manage

Wednesday night was a Sandberg love fest in this Illinois city about 160 miles downstate from Chicago. The people of Peoria are giddy to be part of the longtime Cubs second baseman's new career.

"This is big," said Rocky Vonachen, Peoria Chiefs team president and general manager.

"It's exciting every day. People are talking about it -- the buzz is unbelievable around town."

Sandberg, 47, may be the first Hall of Famer to manage the Chiefs, but he isn't the first Cub. He follows former teammate Jody Davis, who led the Class A team to a 75-64 record in 2006, his first year as manager. The Chiefs won the first half with a 41-28 record, and finished second in the second half.

"He was one of my first phone calls," Sandberg said of Davis. "He said he enjoyed the experience much more than he thought he would, whatever that meant. He said the league was terrific, great towns, and most have new facilities, which is a plus."
...
The city's convention and visitors bureau is more interested in touting the Chiefs' new skipper, and is creating travel packages for Chicagoans who might want to spend a weekend in Peoria to see the Hall of Famer and watch some games at picturesque O'Brien Field. It's a beautiful ballpark, complete with palm trees, suites named after alums Greg Maddux and Mark Grace, and a berm for picnic-type seating. Some suite holders like the place so much, they have personalized their boxes with everything from chandeliers to golf souvenirs.

I'm guessing that the writer has never been to O'Brien Field before.

From the Peoria Journal-Star:

Always alive in dead of winter

Next year is here for Cubs fans
New Chiefs manager, big-league pitching hot topics at annual caravan

Prospect Insider, um, Prospect Inside stuff...

Jason at Prospect Insider has released his names for his Mariner prospects from 31-40. Again they are not ranked. These players could be in any of those slots.

Doug Fister
Marshall Hubbard (WI '05)
Gerardo Avila (WI '06)
Jose Escalona (wi '06)
Edgar Guaramato (wi '06)
Andy Baldwin
Steve Uhlmansiek
Nathan Adcock
Travis Chick
Doug Salinas

Fister, Avila, Uhlmansiek, Adcock, and Salinas all have a chance to be with the Rattlers next season.

Go to the link for Jason's scouting reports.

M's Mailbag

Corey Brock's M's latest mailbag is at the Mariner website. Here are the Q & A's involving ex-Timber Rattlers:

What are the Mariners going to do when Jeff Clement comes up to the Majors? Rene Rivera has the potential of being a star player, the same with Clement. What are they going to do with these two young stars with Kenji Johjima staying with the team? -- Andrew K., Bellevue, Wash.

The Mariners certainly aren't in a big hurry to push Clement to the Major Leagues -- not with Johjima having two more seasons left on his contract. Clement split the 2006 season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma. Clement hit .288 at San Antonio and .257 in 67 games with Tacoma. He'll likely start the season at Tacoma, where he will catch and also serve time at designated hitter. Clement hit just .189 in Hawaii Winter Baseball. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he has. As for Rivera, he's a nice fit as a backup to Johjima, but from what I hear, he doesn't project as a frontline catcher.
Do you think Bryan LaHair will or should get a shot this year at first base? He has shown signs of power and doesn't make too many errors. -- Bill J., Seattle

On the prospect meter -- well, if there truly was such a thing -- LaHair isn't regarded as one of Seattle's top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America. But LaHair has certainly opened some eyes with his performance the last two seasons, especially in 2006, when he hit a combined .309 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs in 424 at-bats between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tacoma. LaHair even played last summer with Team USA in the Olympic qualifier tournament. Not too bad for a guy who was a 39th-round draft pick. He'll start the season with Tacoma and from there, who knows? The guy has surprised just about everyone.

MIssed this one yesterday

What would you do if this headline was going to appear in the paper about you?

Putz dials up 3-year deal for $13.1 mil

The first three phone calls J.J. Putz made after hitting the big money this week were to his parents, his wife and his brother.

The fourth call went to Eddie Guardado, to whom Putz gives considerable credit for teaching him how to be a closer. Putz's performance in that role for the Mariners earned him the three-year, $13.1 million contract announced Wednesday, which includes an option for a fourth year.

That Putz got the job when Guardado was demoted in May, and later traded to Cincinnati, and that his friend and former teammate now finds his career hanging in the balance after major arm surgery, only added to the poignancy.

"Eddie was kind of like a big brother to me," Putz said at a news conference at Safeco Field. "He took me under his wing. We still talk every couple of weeks. More than anything, he taught me the mental side of this job."

Putz shined after replacing the struggling Guardado on May 6. He saved 36 games (in 43 tries), while leading all American League relievers with 104 strikeouts in 78-1/3 innings, and compiling a 2.30 earned-run average.

I can't confirm this, but JJ's fifth phone call was to the Michigan Football office to see what they needed to beat Ohio State in 2007.

Though Putz and the Mariners exchanged arbitration figures on Tuesday, that was merely a formality, it turns out. Lee Pelekoudas, the Mariners' assistant general manager, said that Putz's agent, Craig Landis, and Mariners chief negotiator Bart Waldman had already reached agreement on the multiyear deal. It didn't become official until Putz passed his physical Wednesday.

The 29-year-old reliever — he'll turn 30 next month — had submitted a salary request of $3.6 million on Tuesday, while the Mariners had countered at $2.6 million. But the two sides had begun discussing a long-term contract in November, and it came together over the last 10 days, Pelekoudas said.

Why do I have the feeling that if I traded arbritration numbers with the Rattlers, I would wind up working at Staples.

Quick JJ story.

He was with the Rattlers in 2000. I had met him at the Welcome Home Banquet and got the correct pronunciation of his name. A few days later before his first start as a Rattler at Fox Cities Stadium, there was a knock at the door to the home radio booth. I turned around and JJ opened the door halfway, stuck his head in and said, "How do you say my name?" I said it correctly. He said "Good." and left.

There are a few others, but I'll save those fr the book.

Baseball History -- January 19

Complete entry for January 19 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:
Now THESE are induction classes.

1978
The BBWAA elects Eddie Mathews to the Hall of Fame. The former 3B is named on 301 of 379 ballots.

1977
The BBWAA elects Ernie Banks to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

1972
The BBWAA elects Sandy Koufax (344 votes), Yogi Berra (339), and Early Wynn (301) to the Hall of Fame. Koufax makes it in his first try and, at 36, is the youngest honoree in history.

1937
Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, and Cy Young are voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA.

One non-HOF entry:

1953
The Augusta, GA club (South Atlantic League) announces that it is changing its nickname from the Tigers to the Ikes. Because of fans nixing the presidential name, it will changed again on February 9th to the Rams.

They are the GreenJackets now. Much better nickname.

77 days to Opening Day

April 5, 2007 is Opening Day for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium. That is 77 days from today.

The number 77 is represented by Robin Yount:

Yount had 77 RBI in 1990, 1991, and 1992.

Dirty Job in Bowie

Baysox featured on Discovery's 'Dirty Jobs'

If you have ever had a chance to watch Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, you have probably been made sick to your stomach...in an entertaining way.

Not sure what is so dirty about working for the Bowie Baysox, but host Mike Rowe tackled some baseball jobs:

Dirty Jobs host and Baltimore native Mike Rowe, was put to the test by the Baysox on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, as the Bowie Baysox hosted the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in a double header. Discovery Channel's #1 rated show, Dirty Jobs, cast and crew spent nearly 14 hours at Prince George's Stadium capturing all of the action for this episode.

Show host Mike Rowe will be seen doing a variety of different jobs including; mowing the outfield grass, assisting the Grounds Crew in preparing the infield dirt and warning track for play, washing players uniforms and cleaning their shoes, learning the basics of stealing bases, learning the art of hitting a baseball in the batting cages from Baysox Hitting Coach Moe Hill and even singing the National Anthem. Rowe's 14-hour day with the Baysox was capped off with a well-earned and relaxing dip in the clubhouse whirlpool. All of Rowe's grueling tasks will come to fruition in an episode titled "Well Digger" on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

We laugh at a 14-hour day during the season. Plus, my day usually ends with a relaxing trip through a drive-thru and falling asleep on the couch watching the History Channel.

Not sure if this is new or not

BA.com had a story about the SWING sale and it mentions that the Quad Cities Times reported it. However, the last time that I can find the sale being written about is from late December in this story:

Florida group buys Swing of Q-C

Here is the BA.com story:
Swing Lands New Ownership
Deal is still contingent on league, Minor League Baseball approval

A future owner of the Swing of the Quad Cities said major changes are in store at John O'Donnell Stadium and that he expects the team to improve upon recent unimpressive attendance figures.

The ownership group Main Street Baseball, which currently operates the Columbus Catfish (South Atlantic League) and is headed by Dave Heller and Bob Herrefeldt, reached a purchase agreement for The Swing from Seventh Inning Stretch, which has owned the club since 1998. The sale must get approval from various levels of Minor League Baseball before it is completed. Terms of the deal were not revealed, but the Quad Cities Times reported that the team sold for a typical Midwest League team price--around $7 million.

Seventh Inning Stretch, run by team president Kevin Krause, leaves Quad Cities after a contentious relationship with the Davenport City Council. Krause said the group put $2 million into stadium renovations and was unsatisfied with the assistance from the council. Krause also said the terms of the stadium lease with Davenport made it difficult to turn a profit--Main Street Baseball has negotiated a new 25-year lease for roughly $100,000 less annually.
...
"The political climate here wasn't conducive to operate a franchise," Krause said. "The prospective company has no ties to the community and they were offered a lease at least $100,000 better than our arrangement . . . We put a substantial amount of money into the ballpark and did not get corresponding assistance."

Heller said they expect to take advantage of a scenic ballpark and supportive community to make The Swing a success. Last season, Quad Cities ranked 10th in attendance in the 14-team low Class A Midwest League after drawing 146,688 fans.

Baseball History -- January 18

Complete entry for January 18 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries include:

1994
Major league owners approve a new revenue-sharing plan keyed to a salary cap, which requires the players’ approval.

That approval was easy to get. It's not like there was be a strike that would wipe out the end of the season and the World Series, right?

1950
The Indians' Bob Feller, whose 1949 record was a lackluster 15-14, takes a $20,000 salary cut to $45,000. The pay cut was Feller's own suggestion.

Would this happen today?

1947
The Pirates buy 1B Hank Greenberg from the Tigers for a reported $25,000 to $35,000 (The Baseball Encyclopedia lists $75,000). The veteran Greenberg led the American League in home runs with 44 in 1946 and the Pirates will pair him with young slugger Ralph Kiner, the National League home run leader.

Would this happen today?

78 days to Opening Day

April 5, 2007 is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers. That is 78 days from today.



The number 78 is represented by the 2007 MLB All-Star game in San Francisco:




This will be All-Star Game number 78 for Major League Baseball.

Brett returns to the Rattlers

Timber Rattler beat writer Brett Christopherson has a piece on the Rattlers at PostCrescent.com.

The headline and lead note are about what you expect:

Rattlers excited for Sandberg's visit

Wisconsin, a Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, launches its Midwest League slate on April 5 at 6:35 p.m. at Fox Cities Stadium against the Peoria Chiefs, a Chicago Cubs affiliate that will be managed by rookie skipper and former Cubs great Ryne Sandberg.

Needless to say, Zerjav and his staff are anticipating a good showing at the gates given Sandberg's Hall of Fame status and the fact he will be making his professional managerial debut in Grand Chute.

"Obviously, this isn't going to happen every year, but we really want to take this and run with it," Zerjav said prior to Tuesday's annual Red Smith Sports Award Banquet. "Is ESPN going to show up? I'm sure there's going to be a lot of media from Chicago and Illinois coming up this way, so we're getting prepared for that. We're getting ready for the media onslaught that's going to take place because this is a big deal."

Zerjav is hoping Sandberg's star power will be strong enough to attract a crowd of close to 4,000 for the opener, which would easily surpass the Rattlers' Opening Day average of approximately 2,000.

According to Rattlers director of ticket operations Aaron Hahn, a total of 61 specially-designed Sandberg ticket packages had been sold through mid-Tuesday. The packages include single-game tickets to three Rattlers-Chiefs contests at Fox Cities Stadium — April 5, May 13 and Aug. 22 — and cost $21 for reserved seats and $25.50 for box seats.

Also, there are a few notes from manager Jim Horner and Mariner director of player development about the potential makeup of the Rattler roster:

Adding to the Opening Day buzz is the possibility that Tony Butler, a left-hander pitcher and Oak Creek native, could earn the start for the Rattlers.

Selected by the Mariners in the third round of last June’s annual draft, Butler is considered by Baseball America as the Mariners’ fourth-best minor league prospect.

Although Mariners director of player development Frank Mattox wouldn’t say if Butler will indeed begin the 2007 season at Wisconsin, he admitted it would make sense given how the organization has handled its younger pitchers in the past.

“He finished in (short season) Everett (Wash.) and threw the ball very well. Normal progression for our pitchers, this is normally their next spot.”
...
Although nothing has been finalized in terms of an official roster, Mattox and Horner anticipate a solid showing out of the Rattlers this season, especially from what they feel will be a deep and talented pitching staff.

And finally there was this:

The Mariners have altered their player development contracts this off-season, moving their high Class-A affiliate from Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Calf.) to High Desert (Adelanto, Calif.) and their Double-A affiliate from San Antonio to Jackson, Tenn., home of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

Mattox said talks have not yet begun with the Rattlers in renewing their player development deal, which expires following the 2008 season, but he expressed hope that the two sides would extend their relationship.

Wisconsin has served as a Mariners affiliate since 1993.

“I can tell you, we’re very happy working with Rob and the Timber Rattlers,” Mattox said.

Good night last night

The Red Smith Banquet was last night and the Post-Crescent had coverage of award winners Gilbert Brown and Jack Bennett. Main speaker Bill Raferty has a thought or two to share about Wisconsin basketball HERE.


Rattler manager Jim Horner was there, spoke to the audience, and wore a suit. Mike DeSisti of the Post-Crescent has photgraphic proof -- actually proofs.

Swiping from Mariner Minors

Plenty of stuff in one post at Mariner Minors.

There is a link to an ESPN.com article about some top prospects. Mainly about Royal farmhand Alex Gordon, but ex-Rattler Jeff Clement (WI '05) gets a sidebar.

Jeff Clement was the third pick in the 2005 draft, ahead of big leaguers like Ryan Zimmerman (nearly the NL Rookie of the Year in 2006 for the Nationals) and Troy Tulowitzki (already in the majors with the Rockies) as well as top prospects like Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox), Cameron Maybin (Tigers), and Andrew McCutchen (Pirates). Clement went that high because he has big pull power and was expected stay behind the plate, although he was never pretty back there. Now he's already had his first knee surgery, he didn't hit for power in the power-friendly Cal League, and was awful in the Hawaiian Winter League.

At 23, he has plenty of time to put his career back on track, but it looks likely that he's more evidence that drafting for need is usually a bad strategy in the first round.

Greg Dobbs (WI '02) is no longer in the Mariner system. The Phillies picked him up off waivers.

Dobbs, 28, split last season between triple-A Tacoma and Seattle. He hit .370 (10-27) with three doubles, one triple and three RBI in 37 games with the Mariners. As a pinch-hitter, he went 5-for-17 (.294).

Dobbs began the season at Tacoma and hit .314 with nine home runs and 55 RBI in 99 games. With the addition of Dobbs, the Phillies' 40-man roster stands at 38 players.

Matt Tuiasosopo (WI '05) gets a mention in this post by John Sickels at MinorLeagueBall.com. It isn't flattering.

Lastly, Michael Saunders (WI '06) has this bit of news in the off-season:

Ballplayer named MVP

Mike Saunders of Victoria thought he knew all about inspiration until he put on a Team Canada baseball uniform last year for Olympic qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

"I took a lot of pride in playing those games for my country," said Saunders, whose blazing .448 average at the plate helped Canada finish fourth in the Americas regional tournament last fall and advance to the next round of qualifying in 2008.

Saunders was named 2006 Senior National MVP. Infielder Brett Lawrie of the Langley Blaze was honoured as the the junior national MVP by Baseball Canada at its annual awards banquet Saturday in Toronto.
...
Saunders, who pitched during his formative years with the Victoria Mariners in the B.C. Premier League before being selected as a position player by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2004 draft, said he hopes to graduate from the low-A Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League to play this year for the Mariners' high-A minor-pro High Desert Mavericks of the California League.

"I want to move up each year and not be stuck on any level," said Saunders, who said he underperformed and wasn't satisfied with his .240 average in Wisconsin.

Asked if he has a target date in mind for the majors, Saunders replied "by age 23 or 24."