News of the Midwest League

A few stories that caught my eye over the last few days.

Consider this one from Fort Wayne a minor surprise:

TinCaps extend pact with Padres

The baseball club announced Thursday it signed a two-year extension to be the Low-A affiliate of the Padres’ organization.

TinCaps President Mike Nutter said he was excited to continue the relationship as the club nears the end of its 12th season with the Padres. During that time, the team is 830-828, according to the Padres.

“They have been a big part of this franchise’s success over the last several years, and we’ve really enjoyed working with the player development staff,” Nutter said.

What kind of decision was it?

Randy Smith, Padres director of player development, said re-signing with the TinCaps was a “no-brainer.”

“The entire environment, including Mike Nutter’s staff, Parkview Field and the city of Fort Wayne, is conducive to player development,” he said.

Minor league teams are allowed to sign two- or four-year contracts with major league affiliates, Nutter said. While the Padres initially wanted to sign a longer deal, Nutter said the team felt the two-year extension provided the most flexibility.

Why was this a minor surprise?

Recent speculation centered on the possibility the team might look to sign with a more regional affiliate, but when the Chicago White Sox opted to stay in North Carolina after signing a four-year deal with Kannapolis on July 2, there were not many regional options left for the TinCaps.

Turning the affiliate page to Kane County.

Among the select merchandise recently on super sale at the Cougars’ Elfstrom Stadium team store is a green and gold Oakland A’s visor for $2.

Fans of Kane County’s parent club might be wise to snatch the almost-hats up. They could be a collector’s item by Opening Day 2011.

The Cougars still are pondering an affiliate change for the first time since leaving the Florida Marlins for the A’s before the 2003 season. General manager Jeff Sedivy and other club officials continue to mull their options and expect to make a final decision in the next few weeks.

“We’re not ruling anything out as far as going back with Oakland,” Sedivy said, “but we’re still exploring what’s out there.”

A tampering clause prevents Sedivy from naming names, though fans should know the Cougars are guaranteed Major League affiliation as they conclude their 20th season in Geneva.

Suspend any hopes of seeing the newest Cubs and White Sox in training, however. The Cubs are in bliss with Peoria – the Cougars’ in-state rival in the Midwest League – while the Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators announced in July a four-year extension as the White Sox Low-A affiliate.

Cedar Rapids is in its 18th season as a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim farm club, representing the longest partnership in the Midwest League.

Speaking of the Kernels...Here is a look at their playoff chances.

[W]ith the Midwest League playoffs next week, how are the Cedar Rapids Kernels playing and what are their postseason chances?

Let’s give the wishy washy answer in both cases of “so-so.”

The Kernels beat the Burlington Bees last night, 4-1, to go 2-0 in September. On the other hand, both wins came again a Burlington club that has the second-worst record in full-season minor league baseball.

And the Kernels’ August record was a less-than-awe-inspiring 13-18.

“It is what it is,” said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. “We’ve been where we’ve been, and now we’ve got to play better.”

Against whom is yet another good question. Cedar Rapids has home-field advantage in the first round because of its first-half championship, but doesn’t know what Western Division club it will face in a best-of-3 series that begins on the road Wednesday night.

It could be Clinton, Kane County or Beloit. Quad Cities also is in the playoffs via its second-place division finish in the first half, and has all but wrapped the best overall record, which is significant because that’s worth home-field advantage in the second round.

But there’s a LONG way to go before that.

Finally, from Dayton, there is this note:

When new third baseman David Vidal took the field Thursday, Sept. 2, the Dayton Dragons set a single-season franchise record for players used. Fifty-five have appeared, five more than last season.

They have made 81 roster changes and just five players — catcher Mark Fleury, third baseman Frank Pfister, outfielder Alex Oliveras and pitchers Jacob Johnson and Junior Martinez — have been on the roster all season.

Some, such as relief pitcher Donnie Joseph and first baseman Chris Richburg, outgrew this level and were gone quickly. Others, such as shortstop Didi Gregorius and second baseman Henry Rodriguez, hung around until the final week before receiving their promotions to Lynchburg.

“You look at Lynchburg and who’s playing up there and you’re like, ‘Wow, that’s a pretty talented team.’ And most of them were here in Dayton — this year,” Dragons manager Todd Benzinger said.

The Dragons were 30-39 in the first half, then fell apart in the second half partially due to the many call-ups.

See a game, Win $10,000

It was just that simple in Cedar Rapids last night.

There are grand slams, then there’s what Terrell Alliman hit Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Call it a 10-grand slam.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder capped off an 11-run fifth inning with a granny that helped his team to a 15-3 win over the Burlington Bees. This just happened to be the final Winning Wednesday of the season, and, yes, it was a winner.

The two-year-old promotion pays off $10,000 to a lucky fan if the Kernels achieve a particular feat in an inning. Last night’s fifth-inning feat was a grand slam.

That’s where Alliman comes in. Mike Schweitzer of Cedar Rapids was watching the game with a bunch of buddies and had his name randomly drawn by Kernels General Manager Jack Roeder as the grand winner of this 10-grand slam.

“Holy (cow!),” Schweitzer said, moments after learning of his payday. “Did I know I could (win)? Yeah. But you never think you will. What are the odds of this? Pretty cool.”

Nice editing with the Holy (cow)!, Jeff Johnson.  I can't guess what that word (cow) replaced would be.  And...Pretty cool? That's all you can come up with, really? Dude.

“Heck, I don’t care,” Schweitzer said, when asked if he was going to buy a celebratory round for the house of 1,713. “Set ‘em up.”

Now THAT'S more like it!

A couple from Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson is the Kernels beat writer for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  He has a couple of post available:

The first is Jeff's own foray into the dugout. He spent an entire game in the Kernels dugout.  Here is the result:

Leave it to Cedar Rapids Kernels batboy Jon Teig to ease my trepidation and make me feel so welcomed.

“Jeff, what are you doing here?” Jon-Jon asked me a few minutes before the first pitch of last Wednesday night’s Kernels-Kane County game at Memorial Stadium.

I kind of wondered that myself. Earlier in the season, I casually asked Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello if it would be OK to observe a game from the dugout and write a story about the experience.

I didn’t really expect him to say yes. He did.

Read on.

Jeff drew the tough assignment with this post. It is titled. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (video)
I won't swipe the video. Just head over there are take a gawk...er, leer, er, look.

Change a couple of words and it's more accurate

The headline that needs changing:

Trout happy to move up

I think that it should be:

Midwest League happy Trout moves up

Michael Trout really wanted to win a batting title in the Midwest League in his first full season as a professional. He was hitting .362 in 81 games so that looked like a realistic goal. But he's not going to get that chance.

The highly touted Angels prospect, just a year removed from high school, got something even better - a promotion. He made his debut with the Quakes on Wednesday, connecting for a line-drive single in his first at-bat and finishing 1for4 in a road game against the Bakersfield Blaze. He batted leadoff and played center field in the Quakes' 3-1 victory.

"I really wanted to win that batting title but I got a promotion so it's all good," he said. "In some ways that is even better because I'm another step closer."

Another MWL Blog

John Rodgers, the long-time voice of the Kernels is blogging now.

Check out Rodgers Reflections.

I heard the news today.

Yesterday, Andy Pantini from the Cedar Rapids Kernels sent me the Kernels probable starters for the series against the Rattlers that starts on Friday night.

It was going to be:

LHP Patrick Corbin (8-0, 3.86)
LHP Tyler Skaggs (3-2, 2.37)
RHP Orangel Arenas (4-5, 2.01)
RHP Garrett Richards (3-2, 3.54)

I jokingly sent an e-mail that asked if there was any chance that any and/or all of them might be promoted in the next two days.

The news from CR from an e-mail: Corbin and Arenas were promoted to Rancho today.

Oh, boy.

The odd thing is that, the Rattlers knocked Corbin around pretty good in their one appearance against him and should have handed him his first loss.

Arenas beat the Rattlers at Miller Park, but Wisconsin beat him on April 21.

Skaggs has a no decsion against the Rattlers.

Richards...well, he pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts at Time Warner Cable Field.

Once the Kernels have their starters for Corbin and Areans, I'll have it here.

Two no-hitters, one night (IMPORTANT UPDATE)

If you clicked on either the Peoria or Cedar Rapids story in the Midwest League post this morning, you saw that right. Two no-hitters in the MWL last night.

The last time I remember two no-hitters on the same night was June 29, 1990.

Dave Stewart of the Oakland A's no-hit the Blue Jays in Toronto. Later that night, Fernando Valenzuela pitched a no-no for the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals in Los Angeles.

The fact-checkers in Peoria found this little gem and put it up on their twitter feed...before the Kernels no-hitter was official:

The only other time in MWL history there were 2 no-nos on the same day it was also the Chiefs and @CRKernels. 7/10/87. Finish it off CR!

Of course, @CRKernels (and @jeje66) spat in the face of baseball tradition by continually mentioning the no-hitter. Maybe that's what I did wrong in Burlington earlier this month.

The pitchers of those no-hitters on July 10, 1987 were:

CR: Mike Converse (vs. Kenosha)
PEO: Jeff Schwarz (vs. Kenosha)...

...
.......

What?

That Cedar Rapids information is from this post at Jeff Johnson's blog. The Peoria information is from MWL Guide's 1987 Highlight's. Joel's entry mentioned nothing about two no-hitters on the same day.

My MWL Record Book is at the ballpark. I'll be over there in about an hour and I will try to get to the bottom of this mystery. Consider this post to be updated by 11:30.

Meanwhile, just enjoy the final out from Cedar Rapids as the Kernels no-hit Kane County.


My favorite things about the video.

The crowd noise
The pitcher coming out of the dugout for the handshake line who give the fist pump
The player who does the double take after realizing that he just slapped five with a man dressed up as an ear of corn.

UPDATE: 11:15am.

I just checked my Midwest League Record Book. It has the following entries under the NO-HIT GAMES

Mike Converse, Cedar Rapids vs. Kenosha, 4-0, July 10, 1987
Jeff Schwarz, Peoria vs. Kenosha, 4-0, July 10, 1987

The Baseball Reference entry for Schwarz has him as a Peoria Chief in 1987. He was on his third time through the Midwest League. Schwarz did make the majors with the White Sox in 1993-1994. He also pitched for the Angels in 1994.

The Baseball Reference entry for Converse has him as member of the Cedar Rapids Reds, but in 1986. The 6'-9" righty was 7-13 for the Reds in '86. He would pitch for Tampa in the Florida State League in 1987, but was let go after the season.

The mystery is solved. I went back to the 1986 Highlights at Joel's Midwest League Guide and found this entry:

• June 6, 1986
  • Mike Converse (Cedar Rapids) No hitter; Beloit, 2-0

Great story from last night, but now - thanks to a typo/mistake in the media Guide - we know that it's even better. Last night was the first time there have ever been two no-hitters thrown on the same date in Midwest League History.

Lesson learned

The lesson. Put 10 players on a Baseball America Top 30 prospect list on one team. There will be a Baseball America blog post on that team pretty early in the season.

Attention to the Kernels' offense typically centers on 2009 first-round picks Randal Grichuk and Mike Trout, a pair of prep outfielders who punched their tickets to the MWL with strong pro debuts last season. But don't lose sight of second baseman Jean Segura and third baseman Luis Jimenez. At ages 20 and 22, respectively, they may not be as wet behind the ears as Grichuk or Trout, but both righthanded batters have an advanced feel for hitting.

Mosiello deemed Jimenez perhaps the club's most overlooked player. "He's going to be a special hitter," he said. "He's got very strong barrel awareness, but right now he needs to be a bit more patient. He thinks he can handle every pitch out there."

With a 5-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio, Jimenez's play backs up his manager's assessment. Though he had yet to homer in the MWL, he led the Rookie-level Pioneer League in dingers and doubles in 2008.

In the early going, Jimenez is playing a rotation of two games at third followed by one at DH as he makes his return from shoulder surgery that wiped out his ’09 season. Through 16 games, Jimenez had batted .297/.343/.438 with seven doubles, a triple and 16 RBIs.

As if you didn't get enough Arizona talk

Jack Roeder, the GM of the Cedar Rapids Kernels is down there now.

Entry One

Entry Two

Entry Three

The one that most interest me is the second one. It's about, well, I'll let Jack take it away.

There is a buzz around spring training about the talent that will be headed to Cedar Rapids in less than three weeks. No matter what coach, instructor or front office person you talk to, they are all in agreement on the talented team heading to the City of Five Seasons.

I’ve been thinking and saying that all winter, and I’m glad they agree. This should be an exciting year for the fans as this team will have a good combination of hitting and pitching. If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs this year, it will be the fourth consecutive year. That’s only happened one other time since the team entered the Midwest League in the early 60’s, so we will keep our fingers crossed.

As a reminder, the Kernels and the Rattlers play at Miller Park on May 7.

This is a great idea

Why doesn't someone else do this?

Kernels general manager Jack Roeder is heading to Angels spring training in Tempe, Ariz. — and you can read his daily updates right here at GazetteOnline!

Starting Monday morning, Jack will provide daily updates on what he’s seeing...

I am guessing that updates would be here.

New head Kernel

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have a new president.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Wednesday that Tom Barbee has resigned as president of the club’s board of directors and is being replaced by longtime board member Gary Keoppel.

Barbee led the Kernels for six years. He cited a “busy schedule, including increasing travel demands,” as his reasons for stepping down.

“Walking through the stadium throughout the summer, meeting the fans and listening to what they have to say, has been and will remain a wonderful experience,” he said.

Under his sted, the Kernels were honored with Minor League Baseball’s John H. Johnson Award in 2008, as MiLB’s top organization. Keoppel has served the Kernels as club vice president and president of the Kernels Foundation.

So, it's not like they have to get someone else up to speed in the next 10 weeks.

We all have our windmills

Everybody has that one topic that make them rage at the unfairness of it all.

Well, not me...I have several.



But, nothing gets Jeff Johnson from the Cedar Rapids Gazette going with a full head of steam like the Kernels-Angels partnership.

OK, we get it, Cedar Rapids Kernels. You like the Los Angeles Angels.

No, you absolutely LOVE the Los Angeles Angels. This is a bro-mance of the strongest kind.

The Kernels recently renewed yet again their Player Development Contract with the Angels, extending the Midwest League’s longest marriage. The Kernels’ PR machine has cranked out more and more press releases on the Angels in the past few months.

Then there’s the upcoming Hot Stove Banquet. Former big leaguer Bobby Grich is the featured speaker. Oh, yeah, he used to play for the Angels.

Two of four members of the club’s 2010 Hall of Fame class are Angels: second baseman Howie Kendrick and GM/former minor-league head Tony Reagins. Enough already, Kernels. No matter how hard you try, Cedar Rapids will never be an Angels town. Not now, not ever.

Terrific organization, but very few around these parts care about it.

The fact that you are inducting Reagins and Kendrick into your Hall of Fame ahead of some very obvious omissions is laughable. Not nearly as laughable as Shawn Wooten going in in 2002, but that’s another blog post for another time ….

Read on for some omissions and for all the members of the Cedar Rapids Kernels Hall of Fame.

Let me be clear...Jeff is a very good writer and it is always a treat to talk to him when the Rattlers are in Cedar Rapids. In fact, he just helped me with a little research project on why a 1960's Foxes game in Cedar Rapids was postponed...(Football...Canadian Football was involved).

That's why I am using the 'mehring the jerk' tag on this post.

Kernels & Angels

If you have read any of Jeff Johnson's articles about the long-standing relationship between the Cedar Rapids Kernels and their parent club in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, you will -- perhaps -- remember that he is not a fan of the partnership.*

Get ready for a few more years of those articles.

Kernels, Angels continue love affair (PDC) thru 2012

In a manner of speaking you could call it a going-away present for Jack Roeder.

As expected, the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Los Angeles Angels met at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Indianapolis this week and hammered out a Player Development Contract extension. This one’s for another two years, through 2012.

“From the Kernels’ standpoint, we think the Angels are a very special organization,” said Roeder, the longtime Kernels general manager, who will retire after the 2010 season. “The fact that we’ve been together so long I think maybe shows what the Angels think about us, too.”

It’s been a mutual admiration society between the pair since they first became wed, so to speak, in 1993. The current PDC between the Kernels and Angels expires at the end of this coming season, but Roeder always said he expected the sides to discuss another extension at the Winter Meetings.

*-This takes nothing away from Jeff's coverage of the Kernels, which is excellent. It's just that anytime the Angels/Kernels thing comes up...it just...well, you kind of know where it's going.**

**-Notice how I didn't shrink that last footnote down? It was on purpose so that you didn't miss it.

Yes. Another hockey story

It's been a tough season...so far for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL. For the whole story go here. But, I am just pulling this little promotion out because it refers to a something they will try to do with their neighbors.

There’s an upcoming promotion with the next-door Cedar Rapids Kernels for pregame tailgating that sounds like a great deal.

Intrigued, I went to the Kernels site and found this.

All-you-can-eat and drink package served for 90 minutes (ie: Served from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm with game time at 7:00 pm).

Is this for every game? I think so, but I couldn't tell.

Is this outside or in the stadium?
All-you-can-eat and drink package, including game ticket for:

Green Zone: $25 Adults / $20 Children
Blue Zone: $27 Adults / $22 Children
Red Zone: $30 Adults / $25 Children
VIP Suites: $40 Adults / $35 Children

If there are VIP Suits, I am guessing inside.

Off the grid

Sorry. No internet until now.

A couple of things and then, I have to go again.

First, the San Diego Padres have named the staff of the Fort Wayne TinCaps for 2010.

Jose Flores will manage the 2010 Fort Wayne TinCaps. Pitching coach Bronswell Patrick comes to Fort Wayne from Short-A Eugene while Tom Tornincasa returns for his seventh season as hitting coach and athletic trainer Nate Stewart is back after a brief stopover in 2009.

Bronswell Patrick is a former Milwaukee Brewer and made his major league debut with the Crew in 1998. He also pitched for the Madison Muskies in 1988 and 1990. The MWL has changed a little since that time.

Also, if you go to that link for the TinCaps, you will notice that they have now joined the MLBAM fam. Also, the Cedar Rapids Kernels are now part of MLBAM.

I believe that makes everyone in the MWL -- except for Lansing and Kane County (wherever that is) -- now with MLBAM for their website.

Back tomorrow with more.

No changes in CR

The Kernels have announced that their coaching staff from 2009 is back in 2010.

They said immediately after last season that they’d probably be back together, and the Los Angeles confirmed that Tuesday.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels will once again be managed by Bill Mosiello in the 2010 season, with hitting coach Brent Del Chiaro and pitching coach Brandon Emanuel also returning.

The Kernels made it to the Western Division Finals, but lost to Burlington.

What?

That was my reaction when I read this headline. Because, frankly, I did not see this day anywhere on the near horizon.

Roeder stepping down as Kernels GM

They essentially are 12 to 16-hour days, seven days a week, 365 days a year. And Jack Roeder has had his fill.

The longtime Cedar Rapids Kernels general manager Jack Roeder will step down from his position after the 2010 season and be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Doug Nelson.

Roeder, 58, came to Cedar Rapids from the Wausau Timbers of the Midwest League in 1991. Perhaps the most well-liked GM in the MWL, he was instrumental in helping get the newer Memorial Stadium built in 2002. He has been a minor league general manager or assistant general manager for 30 years.

The Kernels won Minor League Baseball’s John H. Johnson Award last year as the top MiLB organization.

“I’m very content with my decision,” Roeder said Monday. “It’ll be 20 years (in Cedar Rapids) this summer. That’s a long time in this business. We’ve done a lot, and we’ve got a lot to do, yet.

"I want to go out with 200,000 (yearly attendance). And I’ve got one more chance to get a (Midwest League) championship.”

I'll apologize to Jeff Johnson here for swiping the whole post. That August, 2010 trip into Cedar Rapids just got a little bit more interesting.

Kernels...Attention, Kernels...Get on this bandwagon

I don't give advice often to other teams in the Midwest League....What? I don't!

But, if I were the Cedar Rapids Kernels, this guy would be a bobblehead so fast it would make your head pop.

Cedar Rapids native Michael Emerson wins Emmy for Supporting Actor

Apparently he is an actor on this series called Lost. I think that I watched five minutes of an episode once. But, the people around the office that watch it seem to like it.

He was also the villain in Phantom, one of the best early episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

No charge, Kernels. No charge.

And this is for a playoff team

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are making some moves today. Did I say some? I meant a boatload...

You can expect the Cedar Rapids Kernels to receive five players from the Arizona Rookie League Angels and other places in the parent Angels’ farm system sometime today.

It is believed outfielder Mike Trout, one of the Los Angeles Angels‘ No. 1 draft picks this past June, is one of those coming to town.

Manager Bill Mosiello would not say after Monday night’s game against Peoria who the players are joining his club or who they are replacing, though a couple of guys are headed to the disabled list. He hopes the newbies all will be here in time to make the trip Wednesday to Wisconsin for the final three-game road series of the Midwest League season. Reliever Francis Cabrera said Monday night he is going to Double-A Arkansas to pitch.

Cedar Rapids is in town for three games starting on Wednesday.

An epidemic of shaving cream

In the words of the poet...What was the deal yesterday?

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette story of yesterday's doubleheader...which featured free admission to the day game...which was pretty cool by the way...

The towel full of shaving cream to the face caught him offguard.

“Got some in my mouth, too,” Cedar Rapids Kernels third baseman Jon Townsend said. “Actually got a lot in my mouth. That was bad.”

It’s a baseball thing. Sometimes a guy goes in front of a television camera for a postgame interview, a teammate sneaks up behind him and whammo.

The good thing is it means the guy creamed did something outstanding.

From the Midland Daily News story on the Loooooons game:

Shaving cream pies in the face are normally reserved for players, but the Great Lakes Loons made an exception for manager Juan Bustabad Saturday night after he earned his 600th career win with a 10-2 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps.

“The players want to have fun and I want to have fun,” said Bustabad as he wiped shaving cream out of his hair and face. “It’s been a good chemistry on this team. I owe (the win total) to the players I’ve had over the years and the hard work and devotion they’ve put in.