The story of Tom Wilhelmsen

Last night, Tom Wilhelmsen made his first Midwest League start since he was a member of the Beloit Snappers in 2003.

This story from Larry Stone of the Seattle-Times was written just after he signed with Seattle this spring.  It should catch you up on the background. A primer:

Tom Wilhelmsen still knows how to be the life of the party.

That's what the folks at The Hut, a tiki lounge in the college district of nearby Tucson, say about the head bartender who walked out on his baseball dream five years ago. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder, who once lit up radar guns with a 97 mph fastball his first and only season of professional baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers system, is a bit of a local legend.

It's not so much the drinks he's spent years mixing there. More the engaging, laid-back personality that draws people in and keeps the party going. These days, the party is more about others than Wilhelmsen, who was a little too carefree with marijuana and having fun his first go-round in pro ball and wound up suspended for an entire season, burned out and looking for other ways to earn a living.

But now, nearly seven years since he last pitched in Class A, the onetime minor-league all-star is back for another try. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, who was with Milwaukee that lone season Wilhelmsen pitched back in 2003, has signed him to a minor-league contract in hopes there is still life in that arm.

"I've changed a lot of things about my life and thought a lot about what my priorities are," Wilhelmsen, still only 26, said Monday on his first full day here. "One of them is I wasn't sure I wanted to be a bartender for the rest of my life."

Wilhelmsen doesn't say this with malice. He loved the bartending job during the years he sought fulfillment after deciding baseball wasn't for him.

Despite being touted as one of the top arms in the Brewers' system at age 19, he insists he has no regrets about quitting. He simply wasn't ready to handle baseball as a full-time job.

Jim Oskola of the Post-Crescent caught up with Wilhelmsen last night after the game.

"This go-round is a much better experience than it was seven years ago," Wilhelmsen said. "I'm a lot more mature and better understand how baseball works at this level. I'm having a lot more fun because I'm more responsible and understand it."

Coming out of Tucson Magnet High School and becoming a professional baseball player was more than the then-teenager could handle.

There were two suspensions for failed drug tests when Wilhelmsen was in the Brewers system. Then in 2005, he retired from the game.

Before rediscovering his love for baseball, Wilhelmsen bartended and backpacked but found he missed the game.

Go read both...if you are interested.

Midwest League at SI.com

SI.com has this article available:

Fans flocking back to minor league ballparks

Where does the Midwest League come into play?

Eleven of the 15 minor leagues affiliated with the majors have reported increased crowds through June compared to 2009.

In tiny Clinton, Iowa, home of the Class-A LumberKings of the Midwest League, group sales have help drive a marked increase in attendance. General manager Ted Tornow said the team has sold 79,162 tickets through 42 dates this season, as opposed to just 58,899 through 41 dates in 2009,

It's a jump so large that Tornow has trouble putting his finger on exactly how it's happened. He pointed out that he's seen more local companies and organizations buying groups tickets than ever before.

Tornow believes that businesses might be looking at LumberKings games as an inexpensive way to boost employee morale.

"Are we printing money? Are we lighting the world on fire? No. But at the same point, we're not doing terribly bad either,'' Tornow said.

Right there. That's where.

Developing

That last story was intriguing. This story is...interesting.

Couple eyes more shares of L’Kings
Washington family may be seeking majority stake in club

The owners of a North American Hockey League team in Washington have sent letters to Clinton LumberKings shareholders seeking to buy up their shares of stock in a move that could signal an attempted takeover of the Single-A baseball team.

Carla and William Stewart, owners of the Wenatchee Wild and current LumberKings shareholders, sent letters to each shareholder saying they would pay $200 for shares that were originally sold for $10 per share.

However, the proposed deal has met resistance from LumberKings officials. In response to the measure, the Clinton Baseball Club sent its own letter to shareholders recommending they decline the offer.

The letter states that the proposed amount would be a significant increase from shareholder’s initial purchase but they could not assure the price was at fair market value because the overall value of the team has never been determined.

Ted Tornow, general manager of the LumberKings, said any attempt to purchase the team and move it out of Clinton would be challenged.

“Any efforts to snatch it, rip it, grab it or tear it away from Clinton, at least from my staff and I’s position, would be strongly resisted,” Tornow said. “We’re not saying shareholders can’t sell their shares or move them around. But it’s such a large amount and quite frankly it’s a community-owned franchise, and I would say the majority want to see the team stay in Clinton.”

Go read the whole thing for a little of that business of baseball.

A little appetizer

I'm not going to complain about a 2:33 minute rain delay before the game started last night. I could have been in Clinton...

A freak miscue gave Beloit a lead prior to the rain, and after a three-hour delay the Snappers added two more runs to send the Clinton LumberKings to a 5-2 loss at Alliant Energy Field.

Did he say three-hour delay?

and after a three-hour delay the Snappers.

Yes. Yes, he did. But, that can't be right. Boxscore?

This would be funnier if I could post a screen cap. Because at the bottom of that boxscore it shows this. I have bolded the important part.

Umpires: HP: Keith Rogowski. 1B: Shaylor Smith. 2B: . 3B: .
Weather: 67 degrees, overcast.
Wind: 9 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:14 (3:07 delay).
Att: 552.

Let's see..7:00 start....game delayed after the fifth inning...say....1:15 in to make it around 8:15...Game restarts at 11:22pm...another :59 minutes and it finished up around...12:21 this morning? Wow.

One of those other rosters

Just arrived in my e-mail.

Clinton LumberKings

The Seattle Mariners era has officially begun in the city of Clinton. The new parent club of the LumberKings unveiled the 2009 roster today, filled with familiar names that have passed through the Midwest League before. Twelve of Clinton's newest 25 players - anchored by prospects like Dan Carroll and Denny Almonte - have suited up with Seattle's former affiliate in Wisconsin.

Other ex-Timber Rattlers that can be found in that release from Clinton are:

Nolan Gallagher, Cheyne Hann, Jose Jimenez, Brett Lorin, Keith Meyer, Ryan Moorer, Walter Suriel, Maximo Mendez, and Kalian Sams.

Quietly and with little Fanfare

The Clinton LumberKings are a topic in a column by John Carlson of the Des Moines Register today. The open...

Finally, the official end to a rugged winter.

It's time for the crack of the bat. The fastball popping the catcher's mitt. The perfectly executed double play. A game that, according to the rules, could continue forever. The first pitch of the season is so close — mere hours away — you can smell the hot dogs, popcorn and warm peanuts.

Naturally, some busybodies are trying to wreck it.

No, they're not trying to outlaw the hanging curve, although I know some Cubs fans who think that would be a pretty good idea.

I'm referring to a doctors' organization in Washington, D.C., whose members spend their time trying to keep the rest of us from eating what we like. They now have announced disapproval with one of the newest and most interesting food items being shoveled onto platters anywhere.

That would be the oft-posted upon Fifth Third Burger. However, the point Mr. Carlson would like to make is that the LumberKings were light-years ahead of the rest of the Midwest League in unhealthy food technology.

"That Michigan burger is getting all the pub" (meaning publicity), said Nate Kreinbrink, assistant general manager of the LumberKings. "I think we have them beat."

I have known about -- and I will freely admit before this committee that I have eaten it more than once -- this item for years. The humble people of Clinton never thought to pub it though.

So, how did Mr. Carlson pick up on it? By talking with former Battle Creek inmate...I mean front office member Scott Sailor. Scott is currently in the Iowa Cubs front office. They are located in Des Moines...Geez, do I have to do one of the conspiracy walls like Charlie Crews has on Life?

The I-Cubs have a comprehensive, but rather traditional menu. It's not likely to change.

"It's successful," Sailor said, referring to the normal-sized hot dogs and brats, normal-sized burgers and other normal-sized items. "Our fans like it."

Then he directed me to the kitchens of Clinton's ballpark, on the banks of the Mississippi River and the famous — possibly soon-to-be-infamous — "Garbage Pail."

Garbage Pail...Let that roll around in your brain and your taste buds for a moment. Okay. Continue...

What it is, well, it's pretty much an assortment of every fried food we serve," Kreinbrink said. "It's very popular. It has seasoned fries, chicken strips, cheese balls, onion rings, mini tacos and jalapeno poppers."

Anything else?

"Oh, yes, there is," he said. "I forgot the mini corn dogs."

You had me at cheese balls.

Two or three of each delightful selection is placed in what Kreinbrink calls a 5-pound food boat. Some people pour salsa all over everything. Others choose ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, ketchup or mustard. Or any or all of the above. He compares it to the sampler platter at a fine restaurant.

So the next time you go out to that fancy French or Italian restaurant, just ask for the Garbage Pail.

"It's our signature dish," he said. "It was on the menu when I got here seven years ago. We sell hundreds of them on a busy night at the ballpark. It's a heck of a deal."

As I said, light years ahead of the rest of the league in unhealthy food technology.

Steinmann Says

Dave Lezotte, the radio voice of the Clinton LumberKings, is down at the Peoria Sports Complex. He has a blog post that includes an interview with Scott Steinmann, the former Timber Rattler player, coach, and manager. Steinmann is getting ready to return to the Midwest League as the skipper of the LumberKings.

A taste:

DL: With Jack Zduriencik and Pedro Grifol running the show, has there been any change in philosophy for the Mariners' system?

SS: The overall philosophy of player development has never changed throughout time: "Never sacrifice a player's development for a win!" We in the Minors are all about developing players that are going to make it in the Majors.

Dave has a picture of a bullpen session at the blog. Steinmann and former Timber Rattler pitching coach Lance Painter are watching. Is that Rob Harmon in the picture, too?

Who wants to be a LumberKing?

Dave Lezotte takes a run at a possible Clinton LumberKing roster at his new LumberBlog.

First up:

During our Hot Stove banquet in January, Mariners' special assistant John Boles didn't bring up a lot of names when it came to possible players, but did toss out two in specific, former Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outfielder Daniel Carroll and 20-year-old third-base prospect Mario Martinez.

Interesting.

Next:

Could Carroll be one of two former second-round picks roaming the Clinton outfield? Dennis Raben (second round in '08) had some nice power numbers from the left side of the plate last year in short-season Everett. He slugged five homers and drove in 14 RBI while hitting .275 (.560 slugging, .411 on-base) in 27 games. Bound to be a LumberKing? Hopefully.

What about pitching?

Could we see a third stint out of righty Nathan Adcock (2-5, 3.72 ERA in 2008), whose curveball was ranked the best in the system by BA? How about second seasons out of Donnie Hume (6-2, 2.44), Edward Paredes (7-11, 4.63) and Keith Renaud (1-5, 5.14), all who made at least 11 starts with Wisconsin last year?

I'll answer those in order with educated guesses: Maybe, No, Yes, No.

Or, it could be newcomers. Pulaski boasted solid arms like Nick Czyz (6-5, 4.08), Brooks Mohr (6-4, 3.27) and Fabian Williamson (4-3, 4.10) last season. In Everett, there weren't too many starters with ERA's under four, but Nolan Gallagher (1-1, 2.94), Bobby LaFromboise (2-2, 3.46) and Brett Lorin (1-0, 2.82) fared well in limited action. Lorin ended up making six starts with the Rattlers by season's end. Then there's high-rounders Ben Pribanic (1-2, 15.43 in AZL) and Steven Hensley (2-1, 5.22) who both struggled after being selected in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.

I'll only point out that Williamson is unlikely to be a LumberKing this season...or any season in the near future.

The Red Sox acquired left-hander Fabian Williamson from the Mariners in exchange for right-hander David Aardsma on Tuesday[, January 20].

The rest of those are possible.

Remember that the first time the Rattlers face the LumberKings is at the start of a series in Clinton on April 16.

Bringing the Lumber

Dave Lezotte is the radio announcer for the Clinton LumberKings. He has a new blog. He calls it The LumberBlog. Sorry. I'll use the graphic....

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.

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.

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.

59 dies insquequo Oris Dies

And it's back to the other station

No. Not us. The Clinton LumberKings are back on KCLN.

The Clinton LumberKings are proud to announce a new partnership with KCLN-AM 1390 to air all games on the Clinton-based station through 2013. The agreement includes a tie-in with KCLN's FM affiliate, KMCN-FM 94.7 ("Mac FM") that allows the LumberKings the opportunity to advertise to new audiences in Clinton and as far as the Quad Cities.

The "Voice of LumberKings Baseball" on KCLN will be a familiar one. Dave Lezotte, who has handled the radio duties on the road each of the last three seasons will take over the play-by-play for all 140 regular-season games, the 2009 Midwest League All-Star Game and any post-season play.

The LumberKings were on KROS for many years, but when I started in 2000, they were on KCLN. That changed after the 2005 season and they went back to KROS and stayed there for three years. Now, it's back to KCLN.

The only thing that I'll add to this story is the tag-line to KMCN...We play everything!

Everything?

Everything!

Clinton Report

Last night was the Hot Stove Banquet in Clinton. Nothing on the event except this preview of the event from Friday. That's Rattler Radio for you, a link to a story that's two days old....Oh, just get to the story.

In some ways, Saturday’s Hot Stove Banquet is the beginning of the baseball season for the Clinton LumberKings. Despite a sluggish economy, LumberKings general manager Ted Tornow is upbeat.

“We’re not seeing it like other entities … and we hope we won’t,” Tornow said of a business downturn during the recession. “We see us having another good year unless the bottom drops out. We’re losing some accounts but gaining some others. That’s no different than the past 10 years. I can only pinpoint about six accounts that have said they can’t do it (continue their business support of the LumberKings because of the economy).”

Season-ticket sales remain steady, too, he added.

“We’re literally about as even as last year,” he said. “You hear about layoffs and the economy being bad, but we’re not seeing it.”

Some of the reasons for that, according to Tornow, are that Clinton is a small, tight-knit community with a long history of professional baseball and that the franchise has kept prices lower than many others in the business.

“It (the comparatively good times for the franchise) surprises me because you read the national headlines, then you realize that this club has been around for 72 years and has been through a lot of turbulent times and is still surviving,” Tornow said.

John Boles, who was the keynote speaker at a Welcome Home Banquet a few years ago in Appleton, was the main speaker for the L-Kings last night.

If there is a report on the event, I'll have it for you by next Sunday.

Ch-ch-changes

There was some switching up of coaching staffs in the Midwest League late last week.

It looked like the manager in Cedar Rapids was set. It's not.

Keith Johnson, the Kernels’ manager last season who was originally scheduled to return to Cedar Rapids in 2009, has been selected to take over the managerial position at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. An announcement on the Kernels’ new manager will be forthcoming.

The restructuring of the Angels’ minor league field staffs became necessary after longtime Angels’ Field Coordinator Bruce Hines took a position with the Seattle Mariners. Former Kernels hitting coach Eric Owens, who had initially been tabbed to manage the Quakes, has been named the Angels roving instructor for outfield, bunting and base running, and Johnson has been assigned to take Owens’ spot in Rancho Cucamonga.

Speaking of the Mariners, Eddie Menchaca ('02, '04) was going to be the hitting coach at Clinton.

The Clinton LumberKings, in conjuction with the Seattle Mariners have announced the addition of coach Jesus Azuaje to the field staff for 2009. Azuaje, a coach with Seattle's rookie affiliate in Pulaski last year, takes over the spot vacated by Eddie Menchaca. Menchaca will fill a similar post with short-season Everett.

One of these days I need to go through the league and figure out who all the managers and coaches are.

But, not today. Today, I'll just post a David Bowie video!

A little news for Clinton

On Saturday, Lookout Landing and USS Mariner hosted a meetup for their readers and members of the Seattle Mariner Front Office. It lasted three and a half hours.

USS Mariner has a bit of a recap here.

Here is the news for our friends in Clinton from their new parent club.

Draft: draft the best guys. College/high school, pitcher/hitter, doesn’t matter. I asked about Bavasi’s “two sets of eyes on every prospect” and the massive investment in infrastructure the team’s made during his time. They’re pro-that.

On this draft: they didn’t say much. No hand-tipping.

...

Player dev: sounds like it’s going to slow a little, and the push-until-dramatic-failure philosophy’s been at least relaxed. On position switches: as much as possible, they don’t want to move someone until it’s clear that they’ll be switching to the position they’ll be at long-term

Sounds like it was an interesting Saturday in Seattle.

Introducing...

THE logo for the 2009 Midwest League All-Star Game


Well...I see Louie, Lumber, Stars, the Mississippi River, and the Green paddlewheel of a steamboat.

And if you unfocus your eyes, there you can see Louie in 3-D!*

*I am probably making that last part up. I could never get those stupid posters to work.

Missed this one

Blogs. They can be your friend and they can be your enemy.

The only place the Clinton LumberKings are going is to the upcoming Midwest League playoffs.

Ted Tornow, in his 10th season as the general manager of the league’s oldest franchise, bristles at the suggestion in multiple items posted recently on a baseball blog that the team might be on the market and might be contemplating a move up the Mississippi River to Dubuque, Iowa.

“We didn’t put $4.5 million into our ballpark to pack up and move. The club is not for sale, and it never has been for sale,’’ Tornow said.

“In my time here, we’ve probably heard from 250 people inquiring about the possibility, and the answer is always the same. This team is not for sale.’’

A link to said baseball blog with the rumor on it would be helpful and I can't find it in a internet search. Anyone else know where it popped up?

Catching up with...

the Clinton LumberKings.

July 8:LumberKings swarmed by Bees 15-0

The Burlington Bees ended the Clinton LumberKings four game win streak on Monday as they handed the L-Kings their worst loss of the season in a 15-0 drubbing. The Bees pounded out 18 hits on the night while limiting Clinton to three.

The Bees scored 15 runs on eight extra base hits, including five doubles and three triples.

The first one to go negative lost? Shocking!

Color me surprised -- well, not really. The Clinton LumberKings are on to the Final Four in that logo contest over at CNBC. They advanced, despite -- or, perhaps because of -- a negative attack by their opponents, the Quad Cities River Bandits.

The Wichita Wingnuts are up next for Clinton. Game starts at 8AM on Monday morning.

Ain't it fun to sling some Mississippi River mud?

The Elite Eight matchup in the CNBC logo contest between the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Clinton LumberKings just got interesting.

A pre-emptive strike was launched by the Bandits. They brought up -- in fun I'm sure -- performance enhancers. Starting with the headline:

LOUIE THE LUMBERKING: PLAYING FAIR?

As the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Clinton LumberKings prepare for their much-anticipated Elite Eight match-up on Thursday in CNBC.com's March Madness-style Minor League Baseball logo tournament, questions have surfaced regarding an apparent change in the appearance of Louie the LumberKing.

"I'm not going to point fingers, but I've had a lot of people asked me if I've noticed a change," said River Bandits Vice President and General Manager Kirk Goodman. "I really don't think it's fair to comment on the issue. I haven't spent much one-on-one time with Louie so I'm not going to speak to his personal habits or the obvious change in his physique, head size, and appearance."

A quote from a raccoon that includes references to HGH and Barry Bonds follows that.

The LumberKings fired back with this salvo:

Louie Responds to Bandits Accusations

Shortly after asking for a partnership with the Clinton LumberKings to make it to the Elite Eight of CNBC.com's Minor League Logo Contest, the Quad Cities River Bandits have apparently made Louie the LumberKing the center of an election-style smear campaign.

Louie, who will face the River Bandits and their as-of-yet unnamed mascot tomorrow, received word of the slanderous comments and the false quotes this afternoon, and had this to say in response:

"I'd like to say to all Clinton LumberKings fans, Minor League Baseball fans, and the public in general that not at any time did I take any performance-enhancing drugs. Yes, I do look a little different this year, but all I did was change my facial hair and roll up my sleeves. I've always been muscular, and I have been subjected to the same drug tests as all players and mascots throughout baseball. I have even been tested all throughout high school and my college years at Paul Bunyan University."

That's not the most delicious part. This is:

"As the chairman of the Clinton Substance Abuse Council, I take the issue of drugs or performance-enhancers very seriously. Louie has been tested and has always passed with flying colors. Our fans, especially the children of Clinton and eastern Iowa in general need to know that their role models are clean, and Louie is as clean as they come."

The chairman of the Clinton Substance Abuse Council who is speaking in that quote...Just the LumberKing general manager Ted Tornow.

That regional final just got interesting.