Meanwhile, over at the Main site

Voting has begin for the position of shortstop on the 15th Anniversary team.

The candidates are:

Ramon Vazquez ('97)
Ramon Valera ('98)
Adam Jones ('04)
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05)

Please click the link and read all the way through the profiles before voting at the home page. I am thinking of one person in particular.

Bo Robinson won the voting as the third baseman on the 15th Anniversary team.

They are with the Phillies now

Deal completed.

Only eight days before nailing down ace Cliff Lee for their rotation, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and confidants sat in an Indianapolis hotel suite contemplating a serious setback in their pursuit of pitching.

It was Dec. 8, near the end of the second day of baseball's winter meetings, and Zduriencik and company had just heard that Texas had outbid them for free-agent pitcher Rich Harden.

It shot down one of the team's top pitching targets, and the Mariners suddenly knew their goal of landing a starter was not going to happen at the meetings.

But the next day, a conversation with Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. dramatically altered Seattle's fortunes and started the wheels turning toward the blockbuster deal announced Wednesday

The "they" going to the Phillies referred to in the title of the post are former Timber Rattlers Phillippe Aumont and JC "You remember him as Juan" Ramirez. The pair were teammates on the '08 Rattlers.

Baseball America, we turn our lonely eyes to you...woo, ooo, ooo.

Aumont throws across his body slightly, which gives his pitches above-average life but places additional strain on his shoulder. His heavy sinker ranges from 92-95 mph with plus-plus life down in the zone. He dials his four-seamer up to 98. His mid-70s curveball features occasional plus 12-to-6 break, especially when he repeats his high three-quarters arm slot and gets extension on the front side of his delivery. The biggest thing holding Aumont him back is an overall lack of command in the zone, but if he discovers it he has true closer potential.
...
Ramirez has mid-rotation potential if he can improve his concentration on the mound and learn to repeat his delivery and arm slot. He's a physical, durable righthander who has proven capable of handling increased workloads each season. Though Ramirez's command wavers, his stuff is top-shelf, beginning with a lively 92-94 mph fastball that he also four-seams at 96-97 when necessary. He can spin a quality, high-70s slider, but the pitch lacks consistent tilt because he often drops his hands during delivery, which lowers his arm slot.

These are the most positive things I've read about these two since discussion of this trade began. Also, I can't wait until the next Ask BA with Jim Callis. Because you know he's going to get the "Where does [insert prospect name here] fit in your top 10 of [insert organization name here] after the trade?

So much right, so much wrong

The Timber Rattlers have had 'Bang for your Buck' Nights for a while now. Tuesday nights are big attendance games at Time Warner Cable Field.

Last night the Sacramento Kings tried their own...well, I'll let this preview article explain what it was called.

Spread the Kings Cheer With Dollar Beer

Cynthia Hubert of the Sacramento Bee wrote the story and gets quotes from MADD and Sacramento Law Enforcement, but there is a glaring error. See if you can spot it:

"It's a high-profile promotion and we'll be monitoring it," said Jon Carr of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "The Kings just need to make sure that IDs are checked, and that they don't serve anyone who is intoxicated."

Discount beer promotions, long a part of the sporting landscape, have become less common because of concerns about overconsumption, crowd misbehavior and drinking and driving, observed sports fan researcher Christian End of Xavier University in Cincinnati.

End recalled a notorious "Nickel Beer" promotion 35 years ago in which the minor league Lake County Captains baseball team in Ohio had to forfeit a game after drunken fans went bonkers.

"This is sort of a throwback idea, and it's one of those things you could potentially see backfiring," End said of the Kings promotion. "I don't want to condemn the Kings, but I hope they are encouraging people to drink responsibly because that's a lot of people and there could be quite a lot of beer consumed."

The Sacramento River Cats have offered similar discounts, including $2 beers at their annual "barbecue and brew" event, said spokesman Gabe Ross. The team typically offers cheap brews only at select locations within Raley Field, and usually cuts the promotion off in the seventh inning, he said.

Did you see it?

Okay. I'll pull it down

End recalled a notorious "Nickel Beer" promotion 35 years ago in which the minor league Lake County Captains baseball team in Ohio had to forfeit a game after drunken fans went bonkers.

The Lake County Captains -- who were not even around 35 years ago -- held their Nickel Beer Night this past season. That was part of an anniversary celebration of the Cleveland Indians Nickel Beer Night in which the Indians fans got too "bonkers" and the game was forfeited.

The Captains Nickel Beer Night? Oh, it went off without a hitch.

Beer was only served from when the game opened (6 pm) to when the game started (7 pm). Each cup of beer was five ounces and fans could only get two cups per person.

The team served 2,000 cups of beer, according to Jonathan Levey, the team’s director of promotions. But it appears like lines were long enough so that it would be physically impossible for an average adult to get drunk.

To the team’s credit, they actually had some acceptable draft beers being offered for the nickel. Fans could choose from Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite and Labatt’s.

I can see how Mr. End would be confused by that, but it's close enough for government work.

Oh, how did things go for the Kings last night?

Well, they won and they drew 16,579. They entered the game at 10-13. With the bump from last night, they are now averaging 12,424 which is still 29th in the 30 team NBA.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 16, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Caracas 11 @Caribes 5 (12 innings)

Caracas:
Carlos Maldonado ('98): pinch hitter 0-for-1

@Lara 6, Aragua 5

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-3, 2 RUNS, 2 RBI, HR #5
Jose Escalona ('08): 0IP, H, R

Magallanes 11 @Zulia 4

Zulia:
Gerardo Avila ('08): 1-for-4
Luis Oliveros ('02): pinch hitter, 0-for-1

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Mayaguez 7, Caguas 3

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 1-for-2, RUN
Martin Maldonado ('09): 1-for-3
Mumba Rivera ('05): 2IP, H, 0R, BB, K

@Arecibo 8, Ponce 1

Ponce:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 0-for-4
Rene Rivera ('03): 1-for-3, 2 RUNS, RBI

Three things about "The Trade"

First: MLB.com has a bit about the prospects involved in the "any minute now blockbuster" between the Mariners/Phillies/Blue Jays.

Here are the parts about the ex-Rattlers:

Phillippe Aumont ('08):
The Mariners, partially because of durability concerns and partially because his two-pitch power mix seemed perfect for the role, turned Aumont into a full-time reliever in 2009. After pitching very well for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, he saved 12 games and had a .195 batting average against while pitching in a very hitter-friendly High Desert park in the California League. That led to a promotion to Double-A. He was a bit more hittable there, though he still finished the season with 16 combined saves and 59 strikeouts in 51 innings. He did miss time with a broken left hand when he punched a wall following a blown save. He made up some time in the Arizona Fall League, where he gave up 19 hits and eight walks in 12 innings, but also struck out 18.

Juan Ramirez ('08):
Ramirez still has some projection and upside to him at 6-foot-3. He's already got a pretty good fastball he can crank as high as 97 mph to go along with a very good hard slider. His changeup lags behind, never surprising for a young pitcher, and it's possible he could be a dynamo short reliever when all is said and done.

Second: The usual suspects are giddy about Cliff Lee and not that broken up about losing three prospects.

Third: You do realize that if Aumont and Ramirez start at their careers in the Phillies organization they will be playing in Reading...for former Timber Rattlers manager Steve Roadcap...don't you?

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of Decembher 15, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Caracas 4 @Caribes 3

Caracas:
Carlos Maldonado ('98): pinch hitter 0-for-1

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Ponce 3, Mayaguez 0

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 2-for-4

Ponce:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 0-for-3, RUN

Quick Update

I had this story from Philly.com open when I was writing that last post, but didn't look at it until after I had posted. The details.

The Halladay/Lee deal is "very unlikely" to be finalized today, according to a person familiar with the talks. An official announcement could very well come tomorrow. The two sides are likely still working on the specifics of a contract extension.

There has been some unrest in my inbox this morning about reports of this trade. The widely reported deal is a good one for the Phillies, but your concerns are understandable. Reports varied yesterday evening, but the framework has now come into focus as pretty much this:

Phillies get: Roy Halladay from Toronto, 20-year-old righthander Phillippe Aumont form Seattle, 21-year-old righty J.C. Ramirez from Seattle, and 21-year-old outfielder Tyson Gillies from Seattle.

Click the link to see the rest of the deal. But I did want to share this beautiful sample of Philadelphia optimism...

Will either Aumont or Ramirez become major league stars? Not likely. It is never likely that pitching prospects will become solid major leaguers. But they do help ease the hit to the farm system caused by this trade.

Always look on the bright side of life, my friend.

On sale now

The phones have been ringing pretty good for the last 45 minutes because the tickets for the Donald Driver Charity Softball Game went on sale at 10am this morning.

If you do not want to wait on the phone, you can order that Christmas gift for the Packers fan on your list over the internet.

Click here to do that.

What we know so far

You may have heard about the potential 3-team trade that is on the verge of being finalized. It does have a Timber Rattlers connection.

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times pointed to this Jayson Stark article at ESPN yesterday. The Stark article was updated this morning, so that is where I'll link.

A couple of companion deals that would send Roy Halladay to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee to Seattle are "close" but "not done," according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.

As part of the deals, Halladay would agree to a three-year extension through 2013, with a vesting option that could lengthen the deal by another year or two, one source said. The extension is expected to guarantee Halladay in the neighborhood of $60 million, plus the $15.75 million he would make in 2010, the final year of his current contract.

The specifics of the trades took some twists and turns on Monday. The latest structure would send three Phillies -- outfielder Michael Taylor, catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and pitcher Kyle Drabek -- to Toronto, sources said.

Under that scenario, the Phillies would not have to include their top position-player prospect, Domonic Brown, and they would receive Seattle's top pitching prospect, Phillippe Aumont, who originally appeared ticketed for Toronto.

Why is Aumont, a Rattler in 2007, included in this deal? Baker explains here:

Aumont had several closer-type candidates either right with him or ahead of him, including David Aardsma, Mark Lowe, Shawn Kelley and Josh Fields.

Baker also throws out some other potential farmhands that could be part of the deal in that post. There is also this post that is about Aumont's '07 Rattler teammate, Juan Ramirez. Well, at least, that's how Rattlers fans remember him. He now goes by JC or Juan Carlos Ramirez.

We're seeing all kinds of names thrown about as some of those who could be dealt in the Cliff Lee blockbuster. Here's another to add to your list that I've now heard from a couple of places.

Class A starting pitcher J.C. Ramirez (also known as Juan Ramirez).

Ramirez was recently added to Seattle's 40-man roster and was listed by Baseball America's as the No. 5 overall prospect in the organization heading into this coming season. He was a part of that Class A High Desert juggernaut we told you about from this past season. The native of Nicaragua is only 21 and went 8-10 with a 5.12 ERA last season.

But like I said, he's only 21. And at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he's a big, imposing guy with a lot of appeal. He struck out 111 guys in 142 1/3 innings while walking 53.

He's a name I'm hearing now. Not the only name, but one of them.

For the amount of time it took me to put this post together, the deal is probably finalized by now, but if there are updates, I'll pass them along later today.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 14, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Lara 8 @LaGuaira 5

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 2-for-4, RUN, 2RBI

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Mayaguez 6, Carolina 1

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06) 1-for-3, RBI
Mumba Rivera ('05): IP, H, 0R, BB

This week's Mehring Monday deals with...

Packers and Bears and reactions and history and pre-game shows and a little project that has been mentioned before on this blog, but it's about time I get around to actually doing something about it.

Mehring Monday: History Lesson

Status report

Here are some pictures from around the ballpark today.

First, an untouched photo from the home run porch.



Next, a photo that has been brightened quite a bit. I can't tell where the bottom of this picture is.



Last, a field level shot.

I don't know how that round-headed kid keeps getting into the stadium.

Just in time for Christmas

Tickets for the Donald Driver Charity Softball Game...presented by Kwik Trip...go on sale Tuesday morning.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have announced that tickets for the 2010 Donald Driver Charity Softball Game presented by Kwik Trip will be available beginning at 10am on Tuesday, December 15.

The game - hosted by the Green Bay Packers wide receiver - will be held at Time Warner Cable Field on Sunday, June 6 at 1:05pm. Driver, who set the Packer record career receptions earlier this season, will be hosting the event for the third consecutive year. The game between the offense and the defense raises money for the Donald Driver Foundation.

The Donald Driver Foundation was started by the Green Bay Packer great and his wife Betina. The foundation's goal is to help homeless families and improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

Eating right

Duk over at Big League Stew has a post that points elsewhere on the eating scale after the news about The Beast.

That post over at BLS has a link to a Wall Street Journal article that covers healthy eating in baseball in about the way that you would expect the Wall Street Journal to cover healthy eating in baseball:

Baseball's War Against Hamburgers
As Players Get Health Conscious, Teams Banish Clubhouse Junk Food; Edamame Anyone?

The doughnuts, fried chicken and candy bars that have long populated baseball's clubhouses—where players eat the majority of their meals—are being banished.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will ship their players to Arizona next week for a six-day health-food boot camp. The Kansas City Royals are planning to put up posters in the clubhouse offering nutritional advice. And the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays both say they're experimenting with the idea of preparing foods for the players that are rich in antioxidant grains like quinoa, teff and spelt.

At baseball's just-concluded winter meetings in Indianapolis, major and minor league strength and conditioning coaches devoted 12 hours on Saturday—about half of their total meeting time—to discussing matters such as including edamame and snow peas in the postgame buffet to whether teams should order "fun size" candy bars rather than the odious regular-sized variety.

"There's nothing wrong with a Reese's peanut butter cup every now and then," says Perry Castellano, the Minnesota Twins' strength and conditioning coordinator. "The issue is when somebody eats eight at a time."

This may seem like another case of paternalistic owners and team executives trying to maximize their multimillion-dollar payrolls. But in many cases, it's the players who are demanding healthier options: This past season, six members of the Los Angeles Angels approached the team's dietician, without prompting, to ask her to write them "food plans" to improve their diets. Heath Bell, a relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres, says he gets irritated on the road when teams set out buckets of cookies in the clubhouse while leaving the fruit and vegetables tucked away in refrigerators in side rooms. When teams do put fruit out, he says, they often don't even bother to clean or cut it. "If the fruit is out and set up well, I'll eat it," Mr. Bell says. "But if the cookies are there, I'm taking them. That's my downfall."

Awesome Del Amitri song, by the way.

Back to the story with something two things that might put you off your breakfast.

The baseball season doesn't do many favors for healthy eaters. Since games are mostly played at night, players generally eat late, go to bed late, sleep late and arrive at the ballpark in the early afternoon—sometimes before eating lunch. The players' Collective Bargaining Agreement actually requires that they receive $89.50 a day in meal money when the team is on the road, but many players pocket the money in favor of eating for free at the clubhouse. With 162 games per season, the volume of junk can add up in a hurry.

For decades, the clubhouse menu paid little attention to nutrition. Staples included steak, french fries, omelettes, bacon, and at least one gigantic tub of ice cream. In the 1930s, the Chicago Cubs served their players chipped beef for breakfast.

$89.50 a day????

Chipped beef for breakfast???

Where is that WSJ coverage...Oh, here it is.

One of the reasons junk food is so popular in baseball is because it's cheap. Cynthia Sass, a nutritionist for the Rays and Phillies, says organic foods cost up to 50% more than their regular counterparts. "It's a costly jump for teams to invest in good food," says the Padres' Mr. Malone.

My feelings on this move to healthy eating...which is embraced by the brewers at the minor league level, by the way...go ahead. More of the good-tasting stuff for me!

Another one? Yes. Another one

Ben Hill has this monster...or Beast...if you will.

I would like to draw everyone's attention to the blog of CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell. Specifically, Rovell wrote today about an attention-getting concession item that will be served up next season by the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League.

It's called "The Beast", and it's 15 burgers stacked atop one another.

There is a picture in the article that I will not show here. It looks like -- oh, I don't know -- if Jenga were made out of hamburgers.

Lowe-down

Sorry about that headline. It's early. And it's a story about Mark Lowe ('05).

Lowe said he hasn’t noticed his name in any of the speculation this offseason, although it did surface briefly during rumors of a proposed deal between the Mariners and Tigers.

“I don’t want to go anywhere,” Lowe said. “I love what we’ve got going on and what we’ve got as a team. And I’m home grown. From the day I was drafted in 2004, I’ve spent my whole career with them. I feel comfortable here. Trades are the nature of the beast and we can’t think about it. If you get traded, you get traded. But I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Lowe pitched a career-high 80 innings this year, going 2-7 with a 3.26 ERA and three saves in a team-high 75 appearances. It was a season that put to rest any concern about the health of his right arm after major surgery in 2006 to repair a cartilage defect. The surgery was so comprehensive that doctors originally feared Lowe might not pitch again.

It starts out with stuff about the internet.

"We’re developing a sisterhood in there."

The New York Times takes a look at the just completed Winter Meetings...in about the way the New York Times would take a look at the just completed Winter Meetings.

The old boys of winter were in full stride, standing in a hotel lobby discussing this pitcher’s slider or that outfielder’s arbitration figures.

At the same moment, across the street from where all the scouts, agents, executives and reporters were dealing, gossiping and networking at baseball’s winter meetings, about 90 female baseball employees gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities available in their male-dominated profession.

It was the second annual Working Women in Baseball conference. Female baseball employees, mostly from the minor leagues, attended the 90-minute seminar to exchange ideas, offer support and encouragement, and build a growing network of women in the sport.

“I love this event,” said Amy Venuto, the executive director for professional baseball at Ripken Baseball, which owns three minor league teams. “It helps to build relationships with other women in the industry. We’re developing a sisterhood in there.”

Anyone see this question coming down the pike?

The conference was the idea of Heather Raburn, a senior account manager for marketing at the Minor League Baseball headquarters in St. Petersburg, Fla. With more and more women joining the workforce, Raburn initiated the first Working Women in Baseball conference at last year’s winter meetings in Las Vegas, and it was enough of a success to conduct one this year, too.

Topics included career and family, leadership qualities and workplace etiquette.

A former softball player at New Mexico State, Raburn said she had not felt direct discrimination or been the victim of harassment during her 12 years in minor league baseball, and did not organize the event to combat oppressive working conditions.

“It’s more of a networking event,” she said. “It’s a chance to talk to other women in the same position and find out how they are handling situations and hear their insights on different topics.”

Then there's this from a Midwest Leaguer:

As the conference was breaking up, Sonya Masse, the director for entertainment and sales with the Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels, talked about how much she adored her sales job and considered her long hours at the ballpark therapeutic. She also considers her co-workers, male and female, like family.

She has experienced no discernible inequity, she said, but at times she has had difficulty convincing men that she knows as much about baseball as they do.

“It can be intimidating when you are the only woman among 30 men,” she said. “This is my third winter meetings, and at the first one I was afraid to ask any questions because there were all these guys around me.

“I’d love to see more women working in baseball because a lot of times there’s only one woman in the office besides the secretary. People think of baseball as being run by men, and I don’t want it to be that way anymore. That’s why this conference is so important.”

Here is our front office roster.

Crystal, right?

The Lansing Lugnuts have announced -- on their newly renovated website (which looks very familiar, yet just a bit off) -- their plans for a 15th anniversary celebration. The big news is this:

The Lugnuts Hall of Fame will be open for fan voting until the end of January. Carlos Beltran, Corey Patterson, Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Marmol, and Brian Dopirak are on the ballot for the 2010 season. These five candidates were selected for fan voting based on their performance with the Lugnuts or an outstanding Major League career. All candidates played at least 10 games in a Lansing Lugnuts uniform.

Detailed information on each of the inductees can be found here. The top 3 winning inductees will be announced on Opening Day, April 14th, 2010, with a pre-game ceremony and unveiling of the Hall of Fame display.

Pretty good candidates.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 13, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

@caribes 7, Lara 4

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-2, 2BBs, RBI
Juan Ovalles ('04): 0.0IP, H, 2BBs, 2 RUNS

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Ponce 2, Caguas 0

Ponce:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 2-for-4, 2B, RUN

Carolina 7, Mayaguez 3 (Game one)

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 1-for-4

Carolina 8 @Mayaguez 1 (Game two)

Mayaguez:
Limonta: 1-for-2

Not today

Back tomorrow. Either before the Packer game against the Team of All Lies or after the game.

Flashback Friday is about family

The Jim Eisenreich Story from a 1987 PC column.

The story of Jim Eisenreich is a good one: A hot prospect has his rookie year derailed by a misdiagnosis. Toss in a classy act (being sarcastic here) by Boston Red Sox fans, a couple years out of professional baseball, and a comeback that has a very happy ending and you have a biography worthy of a Hollywood movie.

Eisenreich's story has a local tie to it as well. Charlie Eisenreich, Jim's younger brother, played for the Appleton Foxes in 1987 and Gary Shriver's Foxes Notes column from the June 21, 1987 edition of the Post-Crescent covers the details. It is also this week's Friday Flashback.

Plus, later in the column, discover a lost member of the Appleton Baseball Honor Roll.

There's JJ

Ex-Rattler JJ Putz ('00) has signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Check off 'Add a significant bullpen arm' from the Hot Stove list of things to do for White Sox general manager Ken Williams.

One year to the Dec. 11 date of J.J. Putz being part of a three-team deal involving the Mariners, Indians and Mets, sending him from Seattle to New York, the right-hander agreed to terms with the White Sox on a one-year, $3-million contract, with up to $3 million in incentives for games finished. Putz, who turns 33 in February, is 23-19 with a 3.24 ERA, 103 saves and 356 strikeouts covering 337 career relief appearances and 352 1/3 innings pitched over seven Major League seasons.

Putz figures to take over Octavio Dotel's role as part of the late-inning setup crew, but when healthy, he also gives the White Sox yet another option to close behind Bobby Jenks.

It should be mentioned that one of JJ's Timber Rattlers teammate in 2000 was Matt Thornton. The two are teammates with the White Sox now.

The #2 deal

Big League Stew rates Tampa's pick up of Rafael Soriano ('00) as the #2 deal of the Winter Meetings.

Rays' general manager Andrew Friedman turned depth at second base — Akinori Iwamura(notes) — into [Jesse] Chavez, who came from the Pirates. Friedman settles his team's closer issue with Soriano, who was one of the best in the majors last season. Atlanta gets something for Soriano, a player they weren't expecting back but surprised them by accepting arbitration.

He also rates the two moves by the Brewers at #6 & #7.

Rule #5

The only player with a tie to the Timber Rattlers involved in the Rule 5 Draft yesterday was taken in the Triple A portion of the, um, Rule 5 Draft.

Later in the Triple-A Phase of the Draft, the Mets picked 27–year-old 1B Marshall Hubbard, who had been stuck in Double-A the last four seasons.

Hubbard, a Rattler in 2005, has been stuck at Double-A for -- technically -- the last 3-1/2 years. A half season in San Antonio in 2006 and the last three years at West Tennessee. He had a pair of 5-hit games with the Rattlers in '05 and was the everyday first baseman during that near-championship season.

I have a feeling that he will get a shot with Buffalo, the Mets International League affiliate, in 2010.

Beloit's turn

Bowling Green introduces the Beloit Snappers to their fanbase.

Beloit seems to be a rarity in the Midwest League in that it had just one team in one league for one season before the Midwest League arrived. That team played in the Wisconsin Association in 1905; after that, baseball was gone until the Midwest League placed an expansion franchise into brand-new Pohlman Field for the 1982 season.

More at the link.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 10, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Lara 13 @Zulia 3

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 2-for-3, 2 RUNS, 3RBI
Oswaldo Navarro ('05): pinch hitter 1-for-1

Zulia:
Gerardo Avila ('08): 0-for-4
Luis Oliveros ('02): 0-for-3

Caracas 5 @Aragua 2

Caracas:
Carlos Maldonado ('98): 0-for-2

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

Licey 4 @Escogido 1 (12 innings)

Licey:
Jorge Sosa ('01): 5IP, 5H, 0R, 5BB, K

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

Caguas 9 @Arecibo 4

Arecibo:
Jeffrey Dominguez ('06): 1-for-4

Carolina 11 @Mayaguez 8

Mayaguez:
Limonta ('06): 1-for-4, 2RBI

Premier Episode

It's called The Offseason. It stars Fang and the front office crew. The credits may be a bit familiar.

Also from the 2000 starting rotation

Rafael Soriano ('00) is now (almost) with the Tampa Bay Rays.

At the end of the third day of meetings, exchanging phone calls and texts, the Rays appear to have acquired the much-needed piece for their bullpen in closer Rafael Soriano.

According to SI.com, the Rays agreed to trade right-hander Jesse Chavez to the Braves for Soriano. The completion of the deal is pending on medical evaluations and is expected to be announced Thursday, the final day of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings.

Soriano, 29, converted 27 out of 31 save opportunities for the Braves in 2009 while posting a 1-6 mark with a 2.97 ERA in 77 games. Perhaps most impressive from the 29-year-old right-hander's 2009 resume were his 102 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings. Soriano has an 8-18 record with a 2.92 ERA and 43 saves in 278 career appearances with Seattle and Atlanta.

Soriano accepted the Braves' arbitration offer on Monday, which foiled the idea of the team receiving 2010 First-Year Player Draft pick compensation for Soriano, who was classified as a Type A free agent. Soriano will make at least $6.5 million via the non-guaranteed one-year contract he secured when he accepted arbitration and erased the possibility for the Braves of gaining two Draft picks with his departure.

The above story was posted on the Rays' Website at 5:50am EST. This St. Petersburg Times story from last night has a few more details.

So Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman and Braves GM Frank Wren are on this elevator together …

When they walked off Wednesday evening, they went to the Scout of the Year dinner. But they kept talking and by the end of the night, the Rays were set to acquire RHP Rafael Soriano, putting a legitimate closer at the back end of their bullpen.

Soriano, who turns 30 on Dec. 19, saved 27 games in 31 chances last season with a 2.97 ERA, and did so powerfully, striking out 102 (and walking 27) in 752/3 innings.

The deal, which required considerable negotiation, could be completed today pending a standard medical review.

The Rays would pay all of Soriano's salary — which could exceed $7-million and push their payroll toward $70-million — and send reliever Jesse Chavez, acquired last month from Pittsburgh for Akinori Iwamura, to Atlanta.

Remind me. How did Soriano wind up with Atlanta?

He came up with and pitched parts of five seasons with the Mariners, then, after being traded in Dec. 2006 for Horacio Ramirez...

Oh. Right.

Wither JJ?

A couple of stories from a couple of sources on JJ Putz ('00).

First, MLB Trade Rumors

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times said the White Sox were closing in on a deal with free agent reliever J.J. Putz, perhaps encouraging Putz's friend Matt Thornton to leverage their bromance as a recruiting tool. Today, Williams implied that leaks of the team's interest affected the possible deal. Cowley thinks they'll still get it done:

The Sox might have to up the ante a bit, but Putz wants to pitch on the South Side and there is still a deal close to happening.

Bromance? Does this guy write for TMZ, too?

An update on that post -- free of terms that I need to look up at Urban Dictionary -- has an update from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Sox general manager Ken Williams indicated Wednesday that the pace of the negotiations changed after the news of a possible deal went public.

The White Sox evidently believe that rival clubs stepped up their interest in Putz only after seeing the report. Other sources suggest that those clubs were preparing to enter the process, anyway.

Then, there is this from Bruce Levine of the Worldwide Leader (Chicago Division):

Rehabbing right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz will throw in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday for a number of teams, including the Chicago Cubs.

Putz will throw again Friday, according to a Cubs source.

Agent Craig Landis said Putz will be shut down after that until early January.

Putz also is seriously being considered by the Chicago White Sox.

Upwards of 12 teams will have looked at Putz, who ideally could be a primary set-up man or a closer if he's able to become 100 percent healthy again.

For the record, Putz and Thornton were both in the starting rotation of the Timber Rattlers in 2000.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 9, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Aragua 5 @Caracas 2

Caracas:
Renee Cortez ('03): 1.1IP, H, 2R, 2BB

LaGuaira 5 @Zulia 3

Zulia:
Gerardo Avila ('08): pinch hitter 0-for-1

@Magallanes 6, Lara 5

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-4, RUN
Juan Ovalles ('04): .1IP, H, R

Caribes 2 @Margarita 0

Margarita:
Blake Ochoa ('08): defensive replacement

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Ponce 5, Aricebo 3

Aricebo:
Jeffrey Dominguez ('06): 0-for-4
Rene Rivera ('03): 2-for-4, 2RBI

Look outside

Kent Brockman: Roads closed, pipes frozen, albinos...virtually invisible. The National Weather Service has upgraded Springfield's blizzard from "Winter Wonderland" to a "Class 3 Kill-Storm"!

Marge: I don't like the sound of that "class 3".

If you were planning on heading out to Time Warner Cable Field today...don't. It is still snowing outside and we may be looking at around 14" of snow in Northeastern Wisconsin.

The ballpark is closed today.

As for me...I need to find that episode on-line and get the graphic for the Class 3 Kill-Storm.

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.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 8, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

@Aragua 4, Lara 1

Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-4

@Caracas 4, Magallanes 2

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): 1-for-3, RBI

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Mayaguez 7, Caguas 5

Caguas:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 0-for-4

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 0-for-1, RUN, 3 BBs

Follow the Winter Meetings

Jim over at Bernie's Crew posted constantly yesterday and Duk at Big League Stew was live blogging.

I am just guessing that Day 2 will get just as much coverage...for better or worse in Duk's opinion.

Like a babbling class of ninth graders, the winter meetings have gone Twitter crazy.

From my viewpoint, this is both a very good and a very bad thing.

First, the good: At last year's meetings in Las Vegas, I'd estimate that no more than five or 10 reporters had a Twitter account (let alone understood how to harness its power for reporting). Followers weren't as plentiful either — the BLS feed probably had under 200 readers — and very few news items (if any) were born out of Tim Brown, Jon Heyman or Ken Rosenthal giving a quick forum to the lobby's loudest whispers.

Flash forward to this year. Now the thumbs of that national news trio are getting a workout and rare is the reporter who doesn't have an iPhone or Blackberry at his or her ready. For a public desperate to gain insight on their team's attempts to get better, the result is a never-ending diet of news, rumors and speculation. Fans don't even have to keep hitting refresh on their favorite team blogs to find out the latest. The complete elimination of distribution barriers is Christmas come early for the MLB Trade Rumors set.

But despite all that instant gratification, there's a hypocritical part of my info-hungry self that feels this whirring mix of puzzle pieces has drained a lot of the fun from what attracted us to the meetings in the first place.

Not to sound too crotchety here, but it used to be that reporters had an entire day before the next edition — or at least a few hours before the next blog post — to sift through all the B.S. and decide which passed muster and which didn't. The result would be a piece that would float a few possiblities that we'd be able to consume and mull over.

Now we have a conflicting wall of noise that's often hard to translate. Want to write a blog post that takes an analytical look at the pluses and minuses of a proposed deal from your local beat reporter? Want to chew it over with fellow message board posters? Better make it quick, because by the time you even write a title, there'll be 18 additional tweets that will make your item obsolete before you hit publish.

Interesting read as Day 2 dawns.

Coaching alumni

I saw this announcement on the Mariners site

Eriberto Menchaca, who coached Class A Clinton last season, will manage Rookie-level Pulaski in 2010, and Jesus Azuaje will take over as manager for Rookie-level Peoria.

Eddie, a Rattler in 2002, was in the Arizona League last year...but that's not important right now.

I found the full list elsewhere.

Here are past Rattler coaches and staff and where they will be in the Seattle organization for 2010.

Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers:
Manager: Daren Brown
Pitching Coach: Jaime Navarro
Assistant Trainer: Jamey Clipperton

Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx:
Pitching Coach: Lance Painter
Trainer: Matt Toth

Single-A High Desert Mavericks:
Manager: James Horner
Coach: Tommy Cruz

Single-A Clinton LumberKings:
Coach: Terry Pollriez

Single-A Everett AquaSox:
Pitching Coach: Rich Dorman
Coach: Scott Steinmann

Rookie Pulaski Mariners:
Manager: Eriberto Menchaca
Coach: Rafael Santo Domingo

From Japan to Boston

Scott Atchison, a Timber Rattler in 1999, has been in Japan for the last two seasons. He has pitched well enough for the Hanshin Tigers that the Boston Red Sox have signed him.

The Red Sox made a signing on Day 1 of the Winter Meetings, if not the splashy one their ravenous fan base was waiting for.

In a move that could give manager Terry Francona another option in the bullpen, Boston signed right-hander Scott Atchison to a one-year deal Monday, with two club options for 2011 and '12.
...
During his two seasons in Hanshin, Atchison sported a combined 2.77 ERA while striking out 81 and walking 20 in 194 2/3 innings.

The tour hits Des Moines next

The Ryne Sandberg Tour, that started in 2007 with the Peoria Chiefs game at Time Warner Cable Field, moves on to Des Moines, Iowa. That is where he will manage the I-Cubs, the PCL affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

“I’ve been very pleased with the progression,” Sandberg said in a telephone interview today with the Des Moines Register. “Getting closer to the major leagues is very gratifying. I’m looking at this as another stepping stone.”

Sandberg, 50, replaces Bobby Dickerson, who has accepted an assignment in the minor leagues with the Baltimore Orioles.

“He’ll bring a level of excitement to the field and to the stadium,” Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe said. “He’s going to bring a buzz to the park everyday.

“We’re excited about being his next step toward becoming a big-league manager.”

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 7, 2009

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

Arecibo 11 @Carolina 4

Arecibo:
Jeffrey Dominguez ('06): 0-for-4, RUN
Rene Rivera ('03): 2-for-5, RUN

Mayaguez 11 @Ponce 2

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 2-for-4, 3 RUNS, RBI
Wilfredo Quintana ('01): pinch hitter, 0-for-1
Martin Maldonado ('09): 0-for-5
Mumba Rivera ('05): IP, 2H, 0R, 2K

Bird on a Monday Night

That's the title of this week's Mehring Monday. The topic is:



Plus, my rambling idea for a TV show.

Progress

Here are some more construction pictures for the expansion project. As always, click for a larger image.



This is not a construction photograph. But, it might make a good Christmas card.
Opening Day, get here soon!

Something from the new guys

The Bowling Green Hot Rods have been doing an Introducing.... column to, um, introduce their fans to other teams in the Midwest League.

It was our turn last Wednesday. The open:

It is a common misconception that baseball in Appleton, Wisconsin, began when former Hot Rods production assistant Cameron Wengrzyn fled Kentucky for the land of brats, beer, and cheese following the 2009 season. Despite Cameron's considerable talents, which you saw on the video and LED boards throughout 2009, baseball began long before he or any of us were even thought of. Cameron's new club, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is just the latest team to call Appleton home, a city that's had baseball for nearly 120 years.

Cameron Who? Did we just hire somebody?

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of December 6, 2009

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Magallanes 13 @Caracas 4

Magallanes:
Wladimir Balentien ('04): pinch runner, run

Margarita 6 @Caribes 4

Margarita:
Tim Harikkala (Foxes, '94): 4.1IP, 7H, 3R, BB, 2K

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano v. Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Licey 5, Caguas 2

Caguas:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 0-for-3

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

Gigantes 5 @Estrellas 1

Estreallas:
Juan Sandoval ('03): 0.0IP, H, 0R

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Arecibo 11, Mayaguez 2

Arecibo:
Jeffrey Dominguez ('06): 0-for-2, RBI

Mayaguez:
Johan Limonta ('06): 0-for-3

Lazy way out

Posting since last week has been lacking. Sorry about that. This week should be a little better -- with more in-depth Alumni reports from the winter leagues.

Here are the scoreboards for the Caribbean leagues from yesterday. Just peruse them yourselves and see if you recognize any names.

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

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.

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.

Big Chance

Anthony Varvaro ('07) gets the hometown newspaper treatment. And why not? He's had a lot going on over the last few weeks.

It’s busy times for Anthony Varvaro.

In a matter of a couple of weeks, the 25-year-old Seattle Mariners prospect pitched in the Arizona Fall League championship game, announced his engagement to Kerry Thomson, grand-niece of Island baseball legend Bobby Thomson, and was promoted by the Mariners to the team’s major league 40-man roster.

That’s a lot of action in a short span. Even for a guy used to closing out baseball games for a living.

In fact, the Port Richmond resident is just now getting a few days to unwind at home. And even that hasn’t been as simple as he’d hoped.

“I was going to take some time off from the gym, and just kind of hang out a little,” the former Curtis HS and St. John’s University star explained. “But everyone else is busy working, and I really can’t find much to do.”

So. What's it like pitching in High Desert?

“I let it get in my head,” he admitted of the wildness problems he suffered through at Adelanto during the 2008 season.

The issues began as soon as he showed up in the rarefied air of the bone-dry Mojave Desert town 2,900 feet above sea level.

“Guys who were already there were telling me how easily the ball jumps out of the park and how careful you have to be pitching to hitters, and I started nibbling,” he said.

Nibbling led to missing the plate.

Missing the plate caused him to pitch behind in the count. Working from behind forced Varvaro to throw the ball down the middle.

You know the rest of the story.

“I was trying to work through it, but I lost my confidence,” he said. “Then my mechanics got messed up, and I couldn’t get straightened out. It was a real mental thing.”

That’s when the Mariners decided to move him to the closer’s role. The change seems to suit him.

It’s been all blue skies since.

Bear with me here

This story has little to do with baseball or the Timber Rattlers, but I found it somewhat interesting...even if it has been out there for a few days.

Garber doesn't rule out relocating Saginaw Spirit hockey team in future

That relocation could be to Midland, home of the Loooooooons.

Plus, I wanted to use this because the lede is a quote that -- at least partly -- turned into Sean Connery's last Bond movie.

"Never say never."

That's what Saginaw Spirit owner Dick Garber said about the possibility of moving his Ontario Hockey League team from downtown Saginaw to Midland or elsewhere in the region.

Garber said, however, there's no truth to rumors of plans to build an arena for the Spirit across the street from Dow Diamond in Midland.

Those rumors have been further fueled by the news that McKay Press could soon move from its building across from Dow Diamond to the current Hangtime Sports building on Wackerly Road, which McKay's parent company, CGX, is negotiating to purchase.

Rumors. Great album. Weird album cover.

Poor news source.

"Not at this time," Garber said when asked if he was planning to move the team to Midland. "From my perspective, this hockey team belongs to the region. We would have to ask if it is good for the region for the team to leave Saginaw."

But Garber, who owns car dealerships in both Saginaw and Midland, left the door open to moving the team.

"If somebody came along and made an enticing offer (to build an arena), we would look at it," he said.

Called keeping your options open.

Flashback Friday for December 4, 2009

That is a Post-Crescent picture of Craig Kuzmic playing third base in a game against the Beloit Snappers on September 6, 1999.

That was one of nine positions that Kuzmic played on that day for the Timber Rattlers.

The Flashback is here.

I'll make it up to you tomorrow

If there are a lot of things to post tomorrow.

Right now, I am still off the grid...for the most part. But, I did want to share this from WaiverSharks.com.

They rated the top Bobbleheads of 2009 -- "The Bobblies" -- in this post.

The Timber Rattlers -- in their eyes -- have two of the top 10.

#2.)

We are giving two enthusiastic Thumbs up to Bernie and Fang! Yeah, I’m a sucker for Dual Bobbleheads. Like the saying goes – Two heads are better than one, right? So, when this Mascot Dualie was awarded to fans while the snow was barely melted back in April 2009 it was love at first sight! The colors are bright, and what could be more uplifting than a MiLB Mascot (Fang) shaking the hand of his mustachioed MLB Brother, Bernie Brewer?!

#9.)

This 2009 SGA of the Milwaukee Brewers First Round Draft Pick Brett Lawrie was handed out during a late season Timber Rattler home game. And, Although nothing jumps out as being amazing about this bobblehead – as a fellow Canadian I feel a need to continue to give props to solid Canuck prospects who I feel have a good chance of one day becoming real special Major Leaguers!

For that reason – I have given the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers their 2nd Bobblie Award for offering up this Nodder from the North! If given the chance, one day Brett Lawrie should make Milwaukee Brewers fans forget the Rickie Weeks era ever existed!

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.

Addition by Subtraction

Notice anything missing from the first set of today's construction photos?*

Here is a link to a song that might give you a hint.
I didn't have to get bundled up in a corner to take this shot.
Pretty clear view?
Ooooooh. What's that in the distance?
Cement Mixer!

*-You should have noticed that the chain link fences have been taken down. That is the first step in filling in the bullpens.

No on the Irish

Hand it to the Peoria Chiefs. They saw an opportunity and grabbed it.

The Peoria Chiefs announced on Tuesday that despite recent rumors to the contrary, their beloved mascot Homer has signed a new lifetime contract to remain in Central Illinois. With his previous five-year contract ending Monday night, speculation had been running wild that Homer may leave Peoria to take over as head football coach at Notre Dame.

"This is where I want to be," Homer said Tuesday through his spokesman Lucas Smith. "Notre Dame football is a dream job for some people and it is humbling to be considered. But when it comes down to it, this is where I want to be working for as long as they'll have me."

The rumors started a couple of weeks ago when Homer's name was linked in an online report as a possible successor to fired football coach Charlie Weis. Despite having no prior football coaching experience, certain Notre Dame boosters were pushing hard for Homer to get the job and return Notre Dame football to its glory days. It is unclear when Notre Dame officials first contacted Homer or if they made an official offer. But with the Chiefs coming off an 81-win season and a playoff appearance, the timing was right for Homer to renew his contract.

Be careful Chiefs, you might wake up the echoes cheering her name. But, probably not.

No on the trade

A trade involving Shawn Kelley ('07, '08) was shot down by the Mariners.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that he has been listening to offers involving Edwin Jackson. Now, it’s being reported that he’s making offers involving his All-Star pitcher, too.

Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman said Dombrowski offered Jackson to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitchers Brandon Morrow and Shawn Kelley.

The Mariners kindly replied, "Thanks, but no thanks."

I'm sure that's exactly how Jack Z. phrased it, too.

Rattler Alumni Report: Winter League Games of November 30, 2009

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano

Toros 8 @Estrella 6

Estrella:
Lindsay Gulin ('98): 4IP, 6H, 6R, 4ER, 2BB, Loss

Liga de Beisbol Dominicano v. Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Arecibo 4, Escogido 2

Arecibo:
Rene Rivera ('03): 0-for-3
Jeffrey Dominguez ('06): 1-for-3, RUN

Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

@Ponce 5, Caguas 3

Caguas:
Matt Tuiasosopo ('05): 1-for-4, RUN