Baseball History -- April 6

Before getting started, just noting how much I like the new look of BaseballLibrary.com. Good job redesigners.

Complete entry for April 6 is HERE.

Highlighted entries:

2001
A crowd of 42‚ 024‚ including President George Bush is on hand for the first game ever played in Milwaukee's Miller Park. After Bush tosses out the first ball‚ the Brewers come from behind on Richie Sexson's 2-run HR in the 8th to defeat the Reds‚ 5-4. Reliever David Weathers takes the win.

1977
The Seattle Mariners make their debut‚ losing to Frank Tanana and the Angels 7-0. Joe Rudi is 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBIs. The loser for the M's is Diego Segui‚ who pitched for the Seattle Pilots Opener in 1969‚ a 4-3 loss at Anaheim. Segui is the only player to appear for both the Pilots and the Mariners.

An Opening Night picture

Look. I'll be honest. My brain is frozen. I've been awake since about four this morning. I've got nothing right now and I just want to go home and hope that the VCR managed to tape The Office tonight.

The boxscore of tonight's game, a 9-5 loss to the Chiefs, is HERE.

And here is a picture of Opening Day as the National Anthem is being sung is below


Have a good night, everyone. Game # 2 of 140 is set for tomorrow night.

Radio Broadcast tonight...

For you first timers, just click on this LINK RIGHT HERE. Then, click on WJMQ. You may need to register.

The link on the left is not the right one. I'll be changing that at some point. Just over an hour to game time...I'll be back after the game.

Enjoy it and don't judge me too harshly.

Mariners: April 5, 1997

Not a lot of time to run through the whole Mariners 8-6 loss to the Red Sox on this day in 1997. The box score and play-by-play are HERE.

Let's just say that Randy Johnson got the start and left with the lead after six innings. Then, the Sox scored four in the top of the ninth off Charlton and Manzanillo for the victory. The loss was the third in a row for the M's and they fell to 1-3 on the season.

Starting lineup for tonight

For those of you interested

PEORIA
Matt Camp-2B
Valerio Heredia-CF
Josh Lansford-3B
Russ Canzler-1B
Alfred Joseph-LF
Yusuf Carter-RF
Dylan Johnston-SS
DJ Lewis-DH
Wellington Castillo-C
--
Billy Muldowney-P

WISCONSIN
Gavin Dickey-CF
Carlos Triunfel-SS
Greg Halman-RF
Gerardo Avila-1B
Alex Liddi-3B
Kuo Hui Lo-LF
Kalian Sams-DH
Jair Fernandez-C
Luis Nunez-2B
--
Ricky Orta-P

Game Notes 4/5

Game on for tonight and here are the game notes:

WELCOME TO 2007: Tonight, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers open their 13th Midwest League season with a three-game series against the Peoria Chiefs. The Timber Rattlers have made the Midwest League playoffs in all but four of those seasons (1995, 2002, 2004, and 2006). Wisconsin has not won a Midwest League Championship, but they have made it to the Championship series three times (1996, 1999, and 2005).

MEET THE MANAGER: Jim Horner is beginning his second season as the skipper of the Timber Rattlers. Last year, his first with the Rattlers and his first as a manager, saw Wisconsin go 54-86. Horner spent nine seasons as a catcher in the Seattle minor league system and reached as high as Triple-A Tacoma. He played 47 games for the Timber Ratters in 1997 and hit .248 with 5 homers and 27 RBI before being promoted.

MEET THE STAFF: Hitting Coach Dana Williams returns to the Rattlers after two seasons as the manager of Seattle’s affiliate in the Arizona League. Williams was the Timber Rattler hitting coach from 2002-2004. He made it to the major leagues as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 1989. Pitching Coach Lance Painter is back for his second consecutive season with Wisconsin. Painter, a native of Bedford, England, played high school baseball at Milwaukee Nicolet and was a member of one of the last baseball teams at the University of Wisconsin. Painter pitched in the Midwest League for Waterloo, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, in 1991 and pitched for St. Louis, Colorado, Toronto, and Milwakee in the majors.

PROSPECTING THE RATTLERS: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook puts six members of the Timber Rattlers opening day roster on their list of Seattle’s Top Thirty Prospects. Those players are: Pitcher Tony Butler (#4), pitcher Chris Tillman (#6), shortstop Carlos Triunfel (#11), pitcher Anthony Varvaro (#19), outfielder Greg Halman (#25), third baseman Alex Liddi (#26).

THE RETURNEES: Four current Rattler players spent time with the team in 2006: Pitcher Rollie Gibson, infielder Gerado Avila, outfielder Kuo Hui Lo, and Liddi

DRAFT CLASS: There are eight members of Seattle’s 2006 draft on the Rattler opening day roster, seven of those picks are pitchers. The pitchers are: Tillman (2nd round), Butler (3rd), Ricky Orta (4th), Nathan Adcock (5th), Justin Souza (9th), Joe Kantakevich (13th), and Robert Harmon (33rd). The lone position player on the roster from the ’06 draft is outfielder Gavin Dickey (12th).

FAMILY TIES: Rattler infielder Andy Hargrove is the son of Seattle Mariner manager Mike Hargrove.

A LITTLE HISTORY: This is the third consecutive season in which the Timber Rattlers have opened their season at home against the Chiefs. On April 7, 2005, the Rattlers beat Peoria 3-1. On April 6, 2006, the Rattlers won 4-2. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Rattlers have opened their season at home.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Last season, Peoria went 75-64. They won the first half Western Division Championship with a record of 41-28, but lost to Beloit in the first round of the playoffs. Peoria is managed by baseball hall of fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who is making his managerial debut tonight against the Rattlers.

OPPOSING STARTER: Right hander Billy Muldowney was selected by the Cubs in the 8th round of the 2006 draft out of Pittsburgh. In his final season with the Panthers, Muldowney went 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA in thirteen starts. After signing with the Cubs, he made his pro debut for the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League and was 1-3 with a 2.68ERA in eleven appearances (eight starts).

LAST YEAR: Wisconsin and Peoria played eighteen times last season. The Rattlers were 8-10 against the Chiefs in 2006. At home, the Rattlers were 5-6 against Peoria.

PROSPECTING THE CHIEFS: There are four members of the Cubs’ Top Thirty Prospect list on Peoria’s opening day roster. Pitcher Mark Pawelek is the highest rated on the list at #10. The others on the list are: shortstop Dylan Johnston (#19), third baseman Josh Lansford (#20), and pitcher Rocky Roquet (#26).

FAMILY TIES II: Lansford is the son of former major league Carney Lansford and the brother of former Kane County Cougar pitcher Jared Lansford.

Sunrise over the field

Actually the sun has been up for a while, but it did come out today for Opening Day.



More later as time allows.

12 hours to first pitch

According to the computer clock, it is 12 hours to the first pitch of Opening Night as I begin to write this.

There will probably be a few more posts during the day (Mariners '97 post and the game notes post are heavy favorites) But, I won't be counting down the hours, because there is so much to do...like start working on the dome for the radio booth, I mean ballpark.

Have a great Opening Day, everyone. Come out to the game tonight. The more people who are there, the warmer it will be....That made some kind of sense at 4am this morning.

Baseball in Music Video (4/5)

Not a music video. But appropriate for today...

Around the Mariner System

The other teams in the Mariner minor league system open their seasons tonight:

Inland Empire at High Desert 9:05pm CDT
West Tennessee at Montgomery 7:05pm CDT
Tacoma at Sacramento 9:05pm CDT

And a preview article on High Desert and Tacoma.

Mavs look to continue their winning ways
Talking about winning last season’s California League title as part of the Inland Empire 66ers brought back fond memories and a smile to outfielder Josh Womack’s face. “It was the world to me,” Womack said Monday at the team’s first practice in Adelanto. “I had so much excitement. It was a blast. One of those things coming back to the same league, it would be great to repeat.” Those memories were re-lived during spring training last week when Womack and his teammates received their championship rings.

Rainiers ready to open season tonight
While Major League Baseball is four days into its season, minor league baseball teams across the country open the 2007 campaign today, including the Tacoma Rainiers, who will open Pacific Coast league play at 7:05 tonight in Sacramento against the River Cats.
New manager Daren Brown and the rest of the Rainiers made the trip from spring training in Peoria, Ariz., directly to Sacramento.
“We’re ready to get going,” Brown said last week.
Up until this week, Brown didn’t know who would be accompanying him on the first trip.
The Rainiers finalized their opening day, 24-man roster on Thursday. As expected, several players from last year’s 74-70 team return for another season in Triple-A.
Leading the list of returnees is today’s starter, Cha Seung Baek (12-4, 3.00 ERA with Tacoma in 2006), who will be the team’s No. 1 starter. Joining Baek in the rotation is Ryan Feierabend, who finished last season in Tacoma after spending most of the summer with Double-A San Antonio; he will start the second game on Friday.

Thursday Motivation (4/5)

Just the successories version. The despair.com version is there, but I don't feel like bringing anyone down on Opening Day.

"Commitment drives you to aim out of the ballpark and adds significance to all that you do."

From RattlersReport.com

Links only again...

Wisconsin native to play for Rattlers (This may be a story about Tony Butler. I haven't read it yet.)

Midwest League showcasing Sandberg

Former Fox Trout remembers baseball in Valley fondly

Midwest League Preview Articles

Links only

From Beloit:
Snappers' '07 roster has some familiar faces

Ex-Notre Dame ace gets nod in opener

From Clinton:
Clinton has a lot to prove

From Dayton (There's a lot right HERE):
Get to know the Dragons

Starting pitcher turned pro after being drafted twice

Everybody believes they're contenders on Opening Day

Wintry weather is nothing new (well, except for the Californian)

Top pick sore, but Dragons still solid

From Fort Wayne:
Wizards manager has basic goals

Wizards bring summer to the city

From Great Lakes:
Loons ready for action

Parrish: Dow Diamond a 'beautiful facility'

From Kane County:
Talent no stretch for Cougars

From Lansing:
First-round draft pick shows great patience

From Peoria:
Will Billy be a hero for Chiefs?

Chiefs charge into '07 with Ryno

New Chiefs find Peoria pretty cool

A talented roster heading north

From Quad Cities:
Back in Swing

From South Bend:
Silver Hawks set to kick off at Cove

From West Michigan:
Whitecaps' 2007 goals: more wins, more fans

'Tap on steroids' ready to pour at 'Caps games Should they really use steroids in a quote about a beer tap?

Cedar Rapids and Burlington may have something later today.

Rattler Alum of the Day

For action on 4/4 we'll go with Rafael Soriano (WI '00).

He pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning with a strikeout against the Phillies after the Braves scored two runs in the top of the ninth off former Appleton Fox Tom Gordon to tie the game. Atlanta went on to win the game 3-2 in eleven innings.

A's 9, M's 0

The Mariners dropped their first game of the regular season. Oakland shut them out 9-0.

M's off to a balky start

The Mariners' two-day festival of good vibes and avenging victories came to a crashing halt Wednesday in a 9-0 loss at Safeco Field.

While Rich Harden, Oakland's version of Felix Hernandez by way of Victoria, B.C., was shutting Seattle down with authority, Miguel Batista had a nightmare Mariners debut.

In his first start since signing a three-year, $25 million free-agent contract in December, Batista entered the game laden with expectations that he will help solidify Seattle's rotation.

He left in the fifth inning laden with a 15.43 earned-run average. In 4-2/3 innings, before giving way to the credible major-league debut of Sean White, Batista allowed the A's 10 hits — four of them doubles of the booming variety — and eight runs.

Ouch.

Answers to some questions....

I'm just fitting this one in here hoping that a quick personal post doesn't take up too much space. This will never be mentioned again.

At FanFest on Tuesday and at the Welcome Home Banquet last night, there were a few questions. If you are interested, click and drag below and the answers will be revealed:

1.) Yes
2.) About 40lbs so far
3.) No
4.) Nothing special
5.) No reason
6.) Trying to keep it off during the season

Back to baseball.

Baseball History -- April 5

Complete entry for April 5 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1977
The White Sox trade SS Bucky Dent to the Yankees for OF Oscar Gamble‚ and minor league pitchers LaMarr Hoyt and Bob Polinsky‚ and an estimated $200‚000. Gamble will have a fine season in Chicago and Hoyt will blossom into the ace of the White Sox staff in the early 1980's.

Dent was a former Appleton Fox. Hoyt would pitch for the Foxes in 1978.

1923
Reflecting the strength of corporate baseball teams‚ an article (noted by Carlos Bauer) in today's Beloit Daily News reports that "Beloit Fairy pitchers (Hippo) Vaughn‚ Cashion‚ (Win) Noyes‚ (Zip) Zabel‚ and Dave Davenport (all ex-major leaguers) leave Beloit today for Hot Springs‚ Arkansas‚ where they will take a week-long conditioning drill before being joined by the remainder of the factory squad‚ due to leave for the southland April 11. Manager Chubb will accompany the pitchers to Hot Springs‚ and will be on hand to pray for less rain at that resort than has een the portion of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox-which clubs have been wallowing through three weeks of soggy weather there."

I wonder if that was considered a paid vacation.

1823
As noted by historian George Thompson‚ a mention of the word "base all" appears in the National Advocate relating a game played today. "I was much pleased in witnessing a company of active young men playing the manly and athletic game of 'base ball' at the Retreat in Broadway (Jones). I am informed they are an organized association‚ and that a very interesting game will be played on Saturday next at the above place."

Good thing they put those two words together 'base ball' doesn't look right.

Mariners: April 4, 1997

The Mariners didn't get going until late in their third game of the 1997 season. By then it was too late and they dropped a 10-5 decision to the Red Sox.

The Sox scored four times off Seattle starter Bob Wolcott in the very first inning. A Tim Naehring three run homer was the big shot.

Ken Griffey homered in the bottom of the first inning off Sox starting pitcher Aaaron Sele. But, Boston added three runs in the fourth inning to chase Wolcott. Wil Cordero homered to start the inning. Then, came a single. Then, a Darren Bragg home run and it was 7-1.

Seattle got to within 7-5 on a three-run homer by Edgar Martinez in the fifth and a run scored on an error by Nomar Garciaparra.

But, the Sox put the game away with three in the top of the ninth off Bobby Ayala, two of those runs scoring on a homer by Mike Stanley.

Alex Rodriguez was 1-for-5 with a run scored for the M's.

Box score and play-by-play are HERE.

Just to note April 9 will be the first day of the posts about the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers and April 16 will be the first day of the posts about the 1957 Milwaukee Braves.

Rattler Roster Analyzed

Jay at Mariner Minors has an in-depth, player-by-player look at the Opening Day roster for the Timber Rattlers.

Too much to just excerpt one thing about one player. Just click on the post title below. What would be called the executive summary is below that. I have highlighted a sentence clause in that passage that I am positive has never, e-e-e-e-e-vvvvv-errrrr been written before.

‘07 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Preview

I can’t recall seeing a roster with the same kind of frightening potential, but that often translates to a lot of growing pains. The two college starters in the rotation have their own issues, with Orta still trying to harness his pitches and Varvaro trying to build up endurance while getting his stuff back. Tillman and Orta will have to deal with getting loose in the cold weather, something the others are mostly familiar with. The field otherwise seems fairly even throughout, though any one of them could take off. The bullpen should remain strong, and provides a decent fallback should there be the occasional bad game. I don’t know how much work they’ll see, but it’s a good mix of guys who can provide innings of solid relief and guys who can shut the door immediately if needed. They should help ease in some of the younger pitchers in the rotation.

On the field, there just isn’t that kind of experience. While previous years might have seen a college drafted backstop or middle infielder, the closest thing the T-Rats have to that kind of presence is Dickey in the outfield, coming from three years in college where baseball wasn’t always his focus. Dickey, Hargrove, and maybe Lo are the only ones who have shown some ability to get on without getting a hit, and as a sum they may represents a fairly streaky offense. Threats for power throughout the lineup should help score some runs, but manufacturing one or two in key situations may prove more difficult.

I don’t expect it to be a smooth ride straight to the top with this squad, but I’m fascinated by the idea of how it might turn out, both for the individuals and the whole. I’m really quite jealous of Chris Mehring, who will be able to see the whole season play out from up in the press box.

High Desert Exhibits Offense

Their roster may not be up on their website yet, but the High Desert Mavericks pounded the heck out of Victor Valley College last night.

Mavs tune up vs. Rams

ADELANTO — Jeff Dominguez went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, pitcher Aaron Cotter threw three no-hit innings and the High Desert Mavericks entertained a gathering of 1,805 fans in a 16-0 exhibition win over Victor Valley College on Tuesday night at Stater Bros. Stadium. Most important for the Mavericks, who became an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, it gave the players a chance to get a feel for the Adelanto stadium.

“We got a lot of guys on base,” Mavericks manager Scott Steinmann said. “They got to see the ball in the lights and the background for the first time in their life, except for the guys who played in the league last year. Just getting a feel for the ballpark gives them an advantage for Thursday night.”

High Desert jumped out to a 9-0 lead through three innings on four hits, with four of the runs being unearned.

VVC committed eight errors and their pitchers walked fifteen. The Mav offense had eleven hits.

After Cotter, all the High Desert pitchers were ex-Rattlers.

Cotter combined with Jon Lockwood, Roman Martinez, Jason Snyder and John Sullivan for the shutout.

Plenty of ex-Rattlers on this list, too:

NOTES: Ten players on the Opening Day squad for the Mavericks played at least a game for the California League champion 66ers last year: J.B. Tucker, Reed Eastley, Johan Limonta, Craig Colton, Casey Craig, Josh Womack and pitchers Aaron Jensen, Lockwood and Sullivan.

1 day to Opening Day

Tomorrow is Opening Day!

The number 1 is represented by Billy Martin.

Baseball Movie Quote (4/4)

I know that I just did a few quotes the other day, but come on, I didn't use them all up.

Pop Fisher: Batting practice tomorrow, be there!
Roy Hobbs: I have been. Every day.

Rattler Articles

Rattlers Report has a few articles today: And a typo in the headline... CLick on it before they fix it.

Inside FanFast

Manager Jim Horner and pitching coach Lance Painter, meanwhile, feel as if they have an entire staff that's capable of producing a consistent string of solid outings and arms that can throw an array of quality pitches.

But for now, both said patience is needed as the majority of their hurlers ease into their first full season of professional baseball.

The Rattlers open the Midwest League campaign on Thursday against the Peoria Chiefs at 6:35 p.m. at Fox Cities Stadium.

"We've got a lot of live arms, but they're very young," Painter said, referring to a Rattlers staff that averages 22 years of age. "Some are rawer than others. It's going to be a building process. There's no one here where you can say they're polished and they'll be in the major leagues next month.

"As long as they realize they need to work and strive to get better, everything should go well."

Fun at the ballpark
Despite less than ideal weather conditions, FanFest saw a steady stream of fans walk through the gates.

Among those watching the scrimmage were Gary and Heidi McGeough of Appleton and their sons Tyler, 6, and Austin, 2.

For Tyler, it was his first live baseball game since attending an Albuquerque Isotopes contest as a baby.

"Baseball's good," Gary said. "We like baseball. Tyler's into sports, so we thought we'd give it a try."

The McGeoughs recently moved to Appleton from Virginia and were making their first visit to Fox Cities Stadium.

Based on what they saw and experienced on Tuesday, they plan on making a return trip or two.

"We're looking forward to doing some more games," Heidi said.

Rough travels
Rattlers players and coaches found getting from their spring training site in Arizona to the Appleton area a bit trickier than expected.

The team first endured a three-hour delay trying to fly out of Phoenix on Monday morning, causing it to miss its connecting flight in Minneapolis.

Once Wisconsin finally arrived in Minneapolis, it then had to sit through a four-hour layover before it could hop on a plane to finish off the trek.

Lawrence team helps Rattlers get used to Wisconsin spring

GRAND CHUTE — It seemed like the flight of the ball vanished every time it pressed against the foggy sky.

The temperature was chilly and the air was damp. It was just the kind of dreary weather Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Jim Horner had hoped for.

"I wanted them to know that it doesn't matter. We still play in that stuff here," Horner said on Tuesday after his club earned a 4-0 victory over the Lawrence University men's baseball team during a scrimmage at Fox Cities Stadium.

Baseball in Music Video (4/4)

I would really like to post the video to Trace Adkins Swing, Batter, Swing or whatever it is called, but it's not on YouTube. However, a fan put Baseball Bugs to the song and the results are, um interesting.

Rattler Alum of the Day

Light day in the big leagues yesterday. Mateo got the win, but blew a save to get that "W".

Going with Brian Fuentes (WI '97).


Pitched a scoreless inning as the Rockies beat Arizona in extra innings.

Diamond Jaxx Notes

West Tennessee, Seattle's new Double-A affiliate, lost 5-0 in eight innings to Memphis, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cardinals last night at Pringles Park. The boxscore is out there somewhere. If I find it, I'll put it at the tail of this post later today.

The focus of this story isn't on the game, though.

Debut of new era for Jaxx in exhibition game

In the big picture, Tuesday's exhibition game meant little. No playoff spots were won or lost. Sure, the 5-0 loss was frustrating for the Jaxx - whose owners have two years remaining on their lease with the city. But this season is about more than just wins and losses, especially after all the talk in Jackson over the past few years about leases and possible moves.

This season is an opportunity to breathe some much-needed life into a franchise that has suffered from lagging attendance - and for the most part, lagging interest in West Tennessee - for the past few years. Attendance for Jaxx games exceeded 300,000 each of the first three seasons, but has declined from 197,226 in 2003 to 95,486 last season.

David Lozinak, vice president of administration for the Jaxx, said the turnout for Tuesday's exhibition game was a positive sign. No official attendance numbers were announced Tuesday, but there were at least 2,000 people in the stands at Pringles Park before heavy rain ended the game in the eighth inning.

"For a Tuesday it was great," Lozinak said. "It tripled what we usually have on Tuesdays."

Can you say, "Bang for your Buck?"

Before the game, there was the luncheon.

Jaxx sign for a crowd

"We planned for 300 and had to put out 100 more seats and cook more hot dogs," Jaxx General Manager Jeff Parker said. The franchise is looking to improve its performance at the gate with a bigger civic push this season. "That's a great turnout, and if we can run into that situation 70 more times this season, great," Parker said.

The crowd was introduced to the new Diamond Jaxx, now the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The past nine seasons they were the Chicago Cubs' Double-A affiliate.
...
Pitcher Justin Thomas, an Ohio native, said, "I like it. This feels more like home after six weeks of spring training in the Arizona desert. I'm used to green grass and trees.

"The people have been nice so far,'' he said. "I like the ballpark, and I'm looking to get started."

Here is the preview article with information about the new manager and some of the players on this year's Diamond Jaxx:
New-look team has manager with an array of experience

[Eddie] Rodriguez, 47, will be expected to use his past experience this season to help guide the Diamond Jaxx, now the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in the Southern League after spending the previous nine years with the Chicago Cubs. The Mariners' Double-A team had previously been affiliated with the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League since 2001.
...
Plagued by high-player turnover last season, the offensive-starved Missions were 60-78. Among the prospects opening the season with the Jaxx are catcher Rene Rivera, outfielders Michael Wilson and Sebastien Boucher, third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo and left-handed starter Justin Thomas.

Rivera saw limited action with the parent Mariners each of the last three seasons, while Thomas (No. 12), Wilson (No. 14) and Tuiasosopo (No. 17) are all ranked among the Mariners' top prospects by Baseball America.

M's 8, A's 4

The Mariners are off to a 2-0 start after their 8-4 win over the A's last night.

Balancing act yields victory for M's

"Everybody on our offense did their jobs tonight," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "Whether it was moving runners over, or driving in a two-out run as Ichiro did, or a sac fly as Adrian Beltre did — a lot of the things we worked on in spring training, these guys put into effect tonight."

Let's not forget a two-run homer in the second inning by Richie Sexson. Or an even bigger, two-run blast to left by Yuniesky Betancourt off A's reliever Kiko Calero to snap a 4-4 tie in the seventh.

Julio Mateo (WI '00) got the win, but only because he allowed two runs in the top of the seventh inning to let the A's tie the game 4-4.

Baseball History -- April 4

Complete entry for April 4 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

2004
The Mariners get IF Jolbert Cabrera from the Dodgers for pitchers Aaron Looper and Ryan Ketchner.

Ketchner was a Rattler in 2002.

1994
Cubs OF Tuffy Rhodes becomes 1st NL player to hit 3 HRs on opening day when he connects off Doc Gooden at Wrigley Field‚ but the Mets beat the Cubs 12-8‚ with Gooden getting the win over Mike Morgan. Tuffy's three HRs are consecutive and he adds a single.

Rhodes hit eight home runs total in 1994.

1974
At Riverfront Stadium‚ in his first swing of the season‚ Hank Aaron hits a 3-run HR off Jack Billingham as the Braves lose to the Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. It comes on a 3-1 pitch. It is HR 714 for Aaron to tie him with the Babe and Hank is greeted by Bowie Kuhn and Vice-president Gerald Ford. The Reds‚ trailing 6-2 in the 8th‚ get a 3-run homer from Tony Perez‚ tie in the 9th on Pete Rose's RBI-double‚ and win it in the 11th when Rose scampers home from second on Buzz Capra's wild pitch.

Oh, Henry!

1879
The Providence Grays vote to establish a "bull pen" in CF for which 15¢ admissions can be purchased starting in the 5th inning. This would be a very popular ticket‚ with a daily rush in the 5th.

Even then it was all about marketing.

If you haven't had enough...

exhibition/pre-season baseball, the Diamond Jaxx game against the Memphis Redbirds is on the internet right now....

Click HERE and follow the directions to listen to tonight's game.

It's 1-0 Memphis in the top of the 4th as of right now.

Mariners: April 3, 1997

Whew, that was close. I forgot about the post on the '97 Mariners until now. But, it turns out that things worked out. The '97 Mariners had an off-day on April 3. Their next game is April 4 against the Red Sox.

Scrimmage Live Blog

3:03pm.

The Rattler starting pitchers will pitch for the Rattlers. The Rattler relievers will pitch when Lawrence is on defense.

Tony Butler gets the start for the Rattlers.

Rob Harmon will be the first pitcher for the Vikings.

3:12
Lawrence Top of 1st
Butler sets down the Vikings in order. Two 3-1 groundouts and a strikeout looking to end the frame.

3:20
Rattler 1st inning
Gavin Dickey with a leadoff single, steals second, moves to third on an error, and scores on a sacrifice fly by Greg Halman.

3:26
Lawrence 2nd inning:
Another 1-2-3 inning for Butler. He struck out the first two batters and retired the third batter on a 1-3 grounder.

3:38
Rattler 2nd inning:
Liddi reached second on a dropped flyball, moved to third on a flyball to right, and scored on a single by Kalian Sams.

2-0 Rattlers. Anthony Varvaro is on in relief of Butler.

3:48
Lawrence 3rd inning:
Varvaro walked one and struck out two before the inning ended on a pitch count, I guess. Justin Souza is coming on to face the Rattlers in the bottom of the inning.

3:58
Rattler 3rd inning
Gavin Dickey reached on an error. Ogui Diaz singled. Dickey scored all the way from second on a broken bat grounder of the bat of Greg Halman and the inning ended on the pitch count. 3-0 Rattlers. Nathan Adcock is on the hill to face the Vikings in the top of the fourth.

4:06
Lawrence 4th inning:
Adcock got out number one on a ground out to third, walked the next batter, and struck out the next batter. Then, he stepped off to pick off the Viking runner headed for third base for the final out. Andy Barb is on the hill for Lawrence now.

4:13
Rattler 4th inning:
Liddi tripled into the fog and scored on a single to right by Kuo Hui Lo.
4-0 Rattlers. Rollie Gibson is on in relief for the Rattlers.

4:22
Lawrence 5th inning:
Gibson allowed a leadoff single to Billy Bodle, but got a double play ball, got teammate Juan Beltran to ground out, and struck out another Viking for four outs in the inning.

Natividad Dilone is now pitching for Lawrence.

4:34
Rattler 5th inning.
A single for Jair Fernandez is followed by a fielders choice, a flyball to right, and a strikeout to end the game.

Rattlers 4-0 is the final. Details later.

Attempting something different

The scrimmage against Lawrence starts in about 45 minutes.

Since I have to score the thing, I'm going to try a live blog of it as well.

We'll see how this goes.

Meet the Press

Jim Horner, Rollie Gibson, and Tony Butler got to meet the electronic media today during FanFest:

Other Mariner System News

Here is one from Sunday about former Rattler manager Daren Brown and his move up to Tacoma this season:

New Tacoma skipper is no stranger to many Rainiers

When Daren Brown slips on his Tacoma Rainiers uniform and cap on April 5 and submits his opening day lineup card — his first as new manager of the Rainiers — he will do so without ever having set foot in Cheney Stadium or even spending a moment in the South Sound area.

“I’ve never actually been there,” Brown said over the phone from spring training in Arizona. “I’ve been to Seattle, but never Tacoma.”

Because the Rainiers open the season in Sacramento against the River Cats, Brown and the players will stay at the Mariners’ minor league camp in Peoria, Ariz., and head directly to Sacramento for the start of the 2007 season. Consequently, Brown, who is the third manager in three seasons for the Rainiers — replacing Dave Brundage – won’t actually get to see the place where he’ll be spending the bulk of his spring and summer until a week later when they head back for the April 13 home opener.

But like most of his players, Brown finds himself giddy with excitement about the upcoming season for a multitude of reasons.

“After five weeks, you’re ready for the season to get started,” said Brown, who managed at Double-A San Antonio last season. “It’s exciting to be in the Pacific Coast League for the first time. I’m really looking forward to the league and managing Triple-A baseball.”

Daren Brown is many things. But, "giddy" is not one of them.

Here is a link to the PDF of the Diamond Jaxx'seseszzz Opening Day Roster. I count sixteen former Rattler players on that roster.

First Workout Photos

Any day with baseball at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium is a good day.

Pitching Matchups for Peoria Series

I really don't want to say this, but it needs to be done....Weather Permitting.

THU 4/5: RHP Ricky Orta vs. RHP Billy Muldowney
FRI 4/6: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Al Albuquerque
SAT 4/7: RHP Anthony Varvaro vs. RHP Rafael Dolis


Sunday is an off day for the Midwest League.

Tony Butler is scheduled to start on Monday against Clinton and Nathan Adcock will get the ball on Tuesday against the LumberKings.

There is your Rattler rotation to start the season.

In case you haven't noticed...

The roster for the 2007 Timber Rattlers can be found HERE. Go to the link for complete details. Names and numbers are below: Click on the player name for their MiLB stat page.

Pitchers:
29 Nathan Adcock
33 Andrew Barb
22 Anthony Butler
5 Natividad Dilone
19 Rollie Gibson
39 Robert Harmon
20 Joseph Kantakevich
13 Ricky Orta
24 Justin Souza
9 Christopher Tillman
10 Steven Uhlmansiek
12 Anthony Varvaro

Catchers:
11 Juan Beltran
23 Leury Bonilla
18 Jair Fernandez

Infielders:
34 Gerardo Avila
1 Ogui Diaz
40 Andy Hargrove
14 Alex Liddi
7 Luis Nunez
4 Carlos Triunfel

Outfielders:
17 Gavin Dickey
26 Gregory Halman
8 Kuo Hui Lo
36 Kalian Sams

2 days until Opening Day

Thursday is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers. That is just two days from today.

The number 2 is represented by Tommy Lasorda:

Baseball in Music Video (4/3)

I know this has turned into more of a baseball song entry, but most of the videos (Small Town, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard) I want aren't on You Tube. So today, is a kinda country song about Willie Mays, called Home Run Willie

Hello?

I'm not sure why there was such a big spike in attendance yesterday, but thanks for stopping by. Monday was the first time Rattler Radio actually went over 100 visitors for a single day. It looks like the site meter topped out at a bit over 110.

Now, I guess I'll have to try and keep you visiting by being interesting.

Rattler Alum of the Day

Gil Meche (WI '98) outpitched Curt Schilling and picked up a win in his Royals debut by allowing one run over 7-1/3 innings.

However, the alum of the day for Opening Day can't be anyone other than Felix Hernandez.

Photo credit: Rod Mar/Seattle Times

Eight shutout innings against your main division rival will do that for you.

Seattle 4, Oakland 0

Felix Hernandez (WI '03) tossed eight shutout innings and the Mariners beat Oakland 4-0.

Starry start for Hernandez, M's

It was a day of knee-knocking, sweat-trickling moments, and Felix Hernandez finally had his in the sixth inning.

The first five frames had been a dry run, the equivalent of early spring pitchers' practice as the 20-year-old Mariners ace mowed through a flailing Oakland Athletics lineup. But a runner on third with one out in a scoreless game tends to focus the mind, and never was a fist-pumping Hernandez more zoned in than when facing the final two hitters that fateful sixth.

Hernandez struck out both hitters and Seattle went on to a 4-0, season-opening win Monday in front of a packed house of 46,003 at Safeco Field. In the end, the Mariners prevailed largely because, just like baseball's youngest opening-day starter in two decades, they were mistake-free when it mattered most while their opponents were not.

Raul Ibanez (Foxes '94) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and JJ Putz (WI '00) pitched a scoreless ninth for Seattle.

Boxscore is HERE.

Baseball History -- April 3

Complete entry for April 3 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1996
The College of St. Francis sets 71 records with a 71-1 four-inning defeat of Robert Morris College. The Fighting Saints score 26 runs in the 1st inning‚ 22 more in the 2nd‚ 4 in the 3rd and 19 in the 4th‚ collecting 44 hits along the way. 1st baseman Brian Mazurek hits for the cycle‚ while freshman SS Mike Palermo ties an NAIA record with 7 hits. LF Mike Holcomb sets a NCAA mark with 9 runs scored.

How did they score one? It's a miracle!

1984
After rain washes out yesterday's Opener at Royals Stadium‚ Yul Bryner tosses out the first ball and Kansas City opens with a 4-2 win over the Yankees. The threat of snow holds the crowd to just 10‚006. Bud Black‚ with relief help from Quisenberry‚ tops Ron Guidry‚ still winless in openers. Onyx Concepcion hits Guidry's first pitch of the game for a homer‚ while Dave Winfield has a two-run homer for New York.

Yul Brenner? In Kansas City? At a baseball game?

1961
Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia is sold to J. Schleifer Properties. The park is to be torn down after the 1963 season and replaced by bowling alleys.

I like baseball. I like bowling. But, this just seems cruel.

Infomercial on ESPN2 last night

I was watching the Cardinal-Met game on ESPN2 last night. There were enough promos of The Natural last night to interest me. My thought was that they would show the movie and cut in before and after commercial breaks with comments from current major league ballplayers and why they liked the movie.

Then, I watched it. They weren't showing the movie. They were showing players were quoting the movie. They were showing players were watching the movie. They were showing players quoting the movie while watching the movie. If I want this, I can pop in my DVD of Red Dawn at the trailer. If I want this done well, I'll watch any episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in my collection.

Next, was the first commercial. There is a new 2-DVD release of the director's cut of The Natural. That will be tomorrow. They could have saved everyone a lot of time and money by saying just that and I would be in line right now...well, maybe after work tonight, or if I can sneak away during FanFest tomorrow.

Anyway here are my top five lines from The Natural...in reverse order:

5.
Bump: I lost it in the sun.
Pops [looking up at an overcast sky]: Blinding

4.
Pops: My mom wanted me to be a farmer.
Roy: My dad wanted me to be a baseball player.

3.
Roy: Pick me out a winner, Bobby.
Bobby: O-okay.

2.
Roy's Dad: You've got a gift, Roy. But, it's not enough.

1.
Roy: That day in Chicago...Why did you stand up?
Iris: I didn't want to see you fail.

Oh, and you better believe that DVD is in my collection before the first road trip of the season.

Best Opening Day ever

During Baseball Tonight last night, they ran a package on the greatest moments in Opening Day history. Moments like: Bob Feller's Opening Day no-hitter for the Indians, Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, Hank Aaron tying the Babe with homer number 714, and Frank Robinson's debut as the first black manager in baseball history and hitting a home run in the same game.

Heck, Tuffy Rhodes' three home runs for the Cubs made the package. But, my favorite Opening Day moment probably wasn't even on the mind of the folks at ESPN.

April 10, 1980. Brewers vs. Red Sox at Milwaukee County Stadium.

JSOnline.com still has something in their Brewer scrapbook about that game.

Lezcano's slam capped emotional opener in 1980

Excitement was already guaranteed because it was opening day for a Milwaukee Brewers team that was coming off two straight seasons with more than 90 victories. The Brewers had become contenders in the American League East under manager George Bamberger, and there were high expectations for "Bambi's Bombers" as 53,313 fans filled the stadium for the game against Boston.

The Bombers didn't disappoint anyone that day. Sixto Lezcano capped things off with a ninth-inning grand slam -- his second home run of the day and the team's fifth -- that gave the Brewers a 9-5 victory.

But there was something missing, too: Bambi himself.

The manager had suffered a heart attack and undergone bypass surgery in March, and he was recuperating at his Florida home as interim manager Buck Rodgers ran the team. But in a poignant prelude to the game, Bamberger appeared on the scoreboard video screen -- making its debut that day -- to assure the Brewers and their fans that he he would be back by June.

"I'd like to thank the fans," the 54-year-old manager said as the crowd fell silent. "I'd like to wish the ballplayers much success. . . . We've got very capable coaches who know their business."

And then, in a classic Bambi moment, he said, "So sit back, enjoy the game and have a beer on me."

I miss Bambi.

The Brewers trailed 3-0 early as the Red Sox knocked Jim Slaton around a bit. But, the Crew tied the game on a solo home run by Ben Oglivie and a two-run homer by Sixto Lezcano. Later in the game, Paul Molitor and Don Money homered and it was 5-3 Brewers. Slaton cruised until the ninth inning.

That was when Carl Yastrzemski and Butch Hobson both homered for the Sox to tie the game 5-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, Molitor started out with a walk. Cecil Cooper sacrificed him to second, but with two out Molly was still at second. The Sox chose to walk Oglivie intentionally to get to a Dick Drago vs. Gorman Thomas matchup. Thomas coaxed a walk to set the stage for Lezcano.

"I was just thinking some way, somehow to get that run across the plate," he said. "I was trying to hit the ball where they couldn't catch it, and that's hard."

Not this time. Drago threw a fastball, low and away, and Lezcano belted it deep to right. He was still a couple of strides from first base when he threw his hands up in triumph as the ball sailed over the wall.

"I thought I was going to have a stroke," he said amid the clubhouse celebration. And then he lifted a can of beer and said, "This is for Bambi."

The Opening Day slam was nothing new for Lezcano. He had hit one in 1978 for the Brewers. To this day, I don't think Lezcano has to buy a beer when he visits Milwaukee.

Mariners: April 2, 1997

Game two of the 1997 season for the Seattle Mariners was a 16-2 loss to the Yankees at the Kingdome.

Scott Sanders got the ball for the M's and he was facing Andy Pettitte and an apparently angry Yankee lineup.

New York got off to a fast start with three first inning runs. With one out, Sanders walked Wade Boggs and Bernie Williams. Then, Tino Martinez cranked a three-run homer.

Seattle got a run back in the bottom of the first on a Jay Buhner RBI single.

But, Martinez struck again in the top of the third. Williams walked to start the inning and Martinez hit his second home run of the day.

A Dan Wilson single in the bottom of the third got the M's to within 5-2, but that was if for their scoring on the day.

Martinez finished off his power spree with a solo home run in the fifth off Sanders. When all was finished on this day, Tino was 4-for-6 with seven RBI and five runs scored against his former team.

Former Appleton Fox Alex Rodriguez was 1-for-5 on the day for Seattle.

Complete boxscore and play-by-play are HERE.

Seattle 1-1 (2nd; 0.5 GB)

3 Days to Opening Day

April 5 is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers. That is three days from today.

The number 3 is represented by the Babe:

More later....

On the menu for later:

There will be a post on the new Rattler Roster and the pitching rotation.

A look at the other rosters around the Midwest League.

If the team works out tonight, I'll have some pictures.

Much, much more.

Check back later.

Baseball in Music Video (4/2)

You are gonna hate me for this one today. The Oak Ridge Boys with The Nolan Ryan Express.



From New York to California
and back to Texas, too
7 no-hitters
his momma didn't raise no fool

I DARE you to click play on this you tube video.

Somewhere Charlie Parker and John Coltrane are planning to do very mean things to the sax player in this video.

By the end of the video, you will realize that they are talking 'bout the Nolan Ryan Express.

Rattlers Report Returns

A couple of stories at RattlersReport.com to get you ready for the season:

Guide to Fox Cities Stadium

Someone once said a baseball park is the one place where a man's wife doesn't mind his getting excited over somebody else's curves.

"That's a good one," said Veronica Herzberg, whose own passion for the game began as a teen. It took husband Don, however, a little longer to appreciate baseball.

"I always have been interested in baseball; my whole family was," the 74-year-old Menasha woman said. "I don't think Don liked it as well as I did back then. But now he does."

The Herzbergs have been Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season ticket holders since 1986, back when the team was the Appleton Foxes.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will host its ninth annual Fan Fest from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the newly renamed Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. The free event gives fans the opportunity to watch the team practice and play a 3 p.m. scrimmage against Lawrence University. Stadium tours, free hot dogs, soda and popcorn and a chance to get player autographs will highlight the day. The T-Rats will hold its season opener against the Peoria
Chiefs at 6:35 p.m. Thursday.

More at the link.

Baseball History -- April 2

Complete entry for April 2 is at BaseballLibrary.com is HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1982
In an exhibition game against the Padres‚ A's pitcher Steve McCatty steps to the plate wielding a 15-inch toy bat on the instructions of manager Billy Martin‚ who was upset that his club was not allowed to use a DH in spring training games at NL parks. Home plate umpire Jim Quick refuses to let McCatty use the bat‚ and McCatty takes 3 called strikes.

Stay classy, Billy Martin.

1942
The Sporting News raises its price to 15 cents a copy‚ $7 per year. For the first time in nearly 70 years there will be no Spalding or Reach guides. The Sporting News takes over the role. Its first edition has some improvements but also some flaws: Additional AL pitching records are missing‚ and so is Lou Boudreau's entire batting record.

$0.15?!?! Outrageous!

1886
Capitol Park is opened in Washington with an exhibition game. The team will be called the Senators or Statesmen. The new park will carry the nickname "Swampdoodle Grounds."

I miss nicknames like that. If you are in a bad mood at some point today, just say "Swampdoodle".

1884
The AA eliminates the rule allowing batters hit by pitches to go to 1B‚ instead giving umpires the authority to fine offending pitchers between $5 and $10.

That fine thing could get expensive. Good thing they changed it.

Final Seattle Opening Day story and Roster Moves

Seattle's Opening Day is today at 5:35pm CDT. Former Rattler Felix Hernandez (WI '03) will get the start for the M's and the Seattle Times website has the story.

Felix Hernandez, still six days shy of his 21st birthday, will stride to the mound at about 3:35 this afternoon to begin a season the Mariners hope will launch him to the baseball stratosphere.

No one has ever doubted the thunder that lies within his right arm. It is the maturity and focus Hernandez displayed in spring training that has the team quietly anticipating a breakout year.

If that happens, then the outlook for this most potentially volatile of Mariner seasons brightens considerably.

"If he can do what he's capable of, it's going to be huge for our team," said outfielder Raul Ibanez at Sunday's Safeco Field workout. "He can be one of those great pitchers where every time he takes the mound, he can stop the bleeding. He can be that guy. He can be a bona fide ace."

The Athletics are sending former Peoria Chief Dan Haren to the mound today at Safeco Field.

To get to their roster limit, Seattle made the following moves. Ex-Rattlers in bold:

Acquired OF Jason Ellison from San Francisco for LHP Travis Blackley; reassigned INF Rey Ordonez to Minor League camp; optioned OFs Mike Morse and Adam Jones and LHP Jake Woods to Triple-A Tacoma; selected the contracts of RHP Brandon Morrow, LHP Arthur Rhodes and catcher Jamie Burke from Tacoma; placed RHP Mark Lowe and LHP Cesar Jimenez on the 60-day disabled list; designated INF Michael Garciaparra for assignment.

4 days to Opening Day

April 5 is Opening Day for the Timber Rattlers. That is just four days from today.

If you have read Rattler Radio for any amount of time, you know who will be representing the number 4. I could say that I planned this way back in December when I started doing excerpts from Luckiest Man on Sundays. But, I'm not that smart.

But, things have a way of working out...sometimes:

This was the only picture I could find with Gehrig's #4 showing. Of course, the spotlight is on the guy he is congratulating.

Here is a happier picture of Gehrig:

From lougehrig.com

Baseball in Music Video (4/1)

To make up for the language in the video the other day from The Warriors here is The Greatest by Kenny Rogers:

Mariners: April 1, 1997

It's the ten year anniversary of the '97 Mariners and their run to the AL West Championship. Rattler Radio will be going back through that season with a look at every game that season.

April 1, 1997 was an Opening Day victory over the defending World Champion Yankees at the Kingdome.

The pitching matchup was Jeff Fassero for the Mariners against David Cone for the Yankees.

New York scored a run in the top of the first on a Cecil Fielder sacrifice fly. Seattle tied the game in the bottom of the first on a two-out home run by Ken Griffey.

But, the Yanks scored another run in the top of the second inning. Joe Girardi's two-out RBI single gave them the lead.

Seattle got to Cone in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Russ Davis tied the game with a leadoff homer. Later in the inning, Griffey homered again and it was a 4-2 Seattle lead.

That was it for the scoring. Fassero gave up one hit over his final five innings and struck out a total of six.

Norm Charlton, an occasional visitor to Appleton these days, got the final two outs of the game for the save.

Alex Rodriguez, the only former Appleton Fox in the lineup that day for the Mariners, was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Seattle 1-0 (T-1st)

Complete boxscore and play-by-play HERE.

Non-Mariner Appleton baseball alums

Here is a quick look at the rosters of other major league teams and the former Rattlers on them

Atlanta -- Rafael Soriano (WI '00)
Boston -- David Ortiz (WI '96)
Boston -- Joel Pineiro (WI '98)
Chicago (AL) -- Matt Thornton (WI '00)
Colorado -- Brian Fuentes (WI '97)
Kansas City -- Gil Meche (WI '97, '98)
New York (AL) -- Alex Rodriguez (Foxes '94)
Philadelphia -- Greg Dobbs (WI '02)
Philadelphia -- Tom Gordon (Foxes '88)
San Diego -- Terrmel Sledge (WI '00)
St. Louis -- Ryan Franklin (Foxes '94)
Washington -- Chris Snelling (WI '00)

May check the minor league rosters when they are available.

Getting Ready in Jackson

Seattle's new affiliate in the Southern League is set to go.

Baseball season returns with fresh start for Diamond Jaxx

Word has it that everyone who attends the "Meet the Diamond Jaxx Players Luncheon" on Tuesday at Carl Perkins Civic Center will be given unlimited free food all season at Pringles Park.

And everyone who attends the exhibition game Tuesday night between the Jaxx and the Memphis Redbirds will receive a new car.

Wait a minute. Surely you're not falling for that on this April Fools' Day. But it is fun to realize that baseball season is here, and there's a fresh approach with the Diamond Jaxx in this 10th year of play at Pringles Park. The Jaxx are the new Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, which means different players and coaches will become part of our community. The Chicago Cubs' affiliate, formerly in Jackson, is now in Kodak, outside Knoxville, with the Tennessee Smokies.

The city of Jackson renewed its efforts to help the Jaxx this year, which led to the luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. The event is free if you just want to meet the players, manager and coaches and get autographs. If you eat, it's $6.
...
The team expects to arrive in Jackson from spring training Monday and work out under the lights at The Big Chip that night.

Next comes the luncheon, which is the start of a busy day for the Jaxx organization. At 6:05 p.m., the Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, will play an exhibition game against the Jaxx. Admission is only $2 for any seat in the stadium, and parking is free. There is also a pre-game concert by Memphis Jones, who plays several instruments and does impressions, while playing and singing hit tunes.

The Jaxx have Wednesday off before opening their season Thursday at Montgomery, Ala. Their first home game is at 7:05 p.m. April 16 against the Mississippi Braves.

West Tennessee is starting the season with a 10-game road trip? Wow. Welcome to AA, guys.

Ex-Rattlers get column treatment

Felix Hernandez and Matt Tuiasosopo are both subjects of columns in the season preview at the Seattle Times website today.

Boy wonder has become the Mariners' main man

"Whatever they ask of me," Hernandez says, "I want to do."

That's good, because the Mariners need King Felix to be King Felix. Lean Felix is a nice step in that direction.

Six days shy of age 21, Hernandez will be the youngest opening-day starter since the New York Mets gave Dwight Gooden the responsibility in 1985. The difference is, Gooden won 17 games as a 19-year-old, then 24 games (and a Cy Young Award) at age 20.

Hernandez is on a different growth curve. He is 16-18 in 43 starts with a 3.96 earned-run average. He is not Doc Gooden, but by today's more cautious standards, he's developing at a nice pace.

The travails of Tuiasosopo

Matt Tuiasosopo talks freely about last year, because he is confident that it is in the past.

It's what motivated him to hire a personal trainer and to work harder than he ever has in the offseason.

Failure can do that to you.

"That was definitely on my mind, that .150 batting average," said Tuiasosopo, a Woodinville High School graduate and former Washington football recruit. "It was a constant motivation."

It wasn't quite as bad as he remembered. But after hitting .306 in 232 at-bats at Class A Inland Empire, Tuiasosopo was promoted to Class AA San Antonio, where he hit .185. He followed with a .167 average in the Arizona Fall League.

Tuiasosopo knows this is an important season. Perhaps no one in the organization, though, needs a fresh start as much Tuiasosopo. The better competition at Class AA led to some of his struggles, but part of the problem was within.

Meet the M's

There is a big season preview for the Mariners at the Seattle Times website today.

Plenty of good stuff there. For example, they have a meet the M's section broken down by Pitchers, bench, and starting lineup.

Of note in that section:

Felix Hernandez (WI '03):
Mariners need ... Felix to prove he's the ace everyone has predicted he will be. And he needs to prove it this season. There's no doubt he has the stuff — serious heat on his four-seam fastball, a two-seamer with great movement and a nasty curveball.

How bad do the Mariners need Felix to be an ace? Well, the four other starters in the rotation were a combined 32-41 last season. Each could improve slightly, but there's no reason to think any of the four will be much better than a .500 pitcher.

Julio Mateo (WI '00):
Mariners need ... Mateo to stay healthy (a familiar story in the bullpen). Mateo spent time on the disabled list twice last season but was his usual, solid self otherwise. Mateo was in the right place at the right time often enough to win nine games last season, most of any American League reliever.

JJ Putz (WI '00):
Mariners need ... Putz to be healthy. If he is, there's not much doubt about his ability. He was one of the best closers in baseball last season. But, if the sore elbow that acted up this spring is a problem, the Mariners will have to turn to Rafael Soriano to close games. Oh wait, he was traded to Atlanta. Uh-oh.

Pronunciation guide: It's "puts" — like "J.J. puts up with people calling him putz, but he'd really prefer they wouldn't."

Raul Ibanez (Appleton Foxes '93-'94):
Mariners need ... another season like 2006, when Ibanez put up career bests in home runs, RBI, hits and runs.

Good company: Ibanez became the sixth Mariner to have at least 30 home runs, 100 RBI and 100 runs in the same season last year. He joined Ken Griffey Jr. (did it five seasons), Alex Rodriguez (four), Jay Buhner (two), Bret Boone (two) and Edgar Martinez.

Spring things: Maybe there's more of this to come, if his Cactus League play is any indication. Ibanez crushed the ball this spring, leading the Mariners in home runs (five) and RBI (15) before they left Arizona for the final spring games in San Francisco and Las Vegas.

M's 2, Cubs 1

In the final exhibition game of the Spring for the Mariners, they beat the Cubs 2-1 in Las Vegas.

Ex-Rattlers in action for the M's:
Adam Jones (WI '04): 2-for-3, run, RBI
Chris Minaker (WI '06): 0-for-2
Sebastien Boucher (WI '05): 0-for-1
Luis Oliveros (WI '00): 0-for-0 (pinch runner)
Michael Saunders (WI '06): 0-for-2

Former Appleton Fox Raul Ibanez was 0-for-1

Baseball History -- April 1

Complete entry for April 1 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:

1970
The Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, headed by Bud Selig, purchases the Seattle Pilots for $10,800,000. Although negotiations were conducted over a period of months, it was not until March 13 when a federal bankruptcy referee declared the Pilots bankrupt. Brewers tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Brewers.

1950
The Hollywood Stars (PCL) open their season clad in shorts and rayon shirts.

Okay. What day is it?

1911
NL president Tom Lynch reveals he had asked all umpires to produce certificates as to their eyesight; tests showed all have perfect vision.

Again. What day is it?