2013 Minor League Season in Review: Part One
by Rodger M. WoodEven though committed to teaching Latin at Freedom HS, South Riding, VA, 9 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, until June 8th, and having a slow start to the 2013 Season, shooting at only 9 games by June 2nd , I ended up shooting photos at a total of 59 minor league ball games, including 6 SALLY, Carolina, and Eastern League playoff games.I can’t possibly recount all of the great moments this season because I count seeing old friends in that count and I saw a lot of them. I will limit myself to describing only the season highlights.Javiar Baez Vine Line Cover, February, 2013Before the season even started, Vine Line used one of my posed shots of Baseball America’s Top Chicago Cubs prospect, Javier Baez, on the cover of their February issue. This was my first cover for Vine Line and started the 2013 season on a very high note.
Trenton NJ, April 27th – 28th Xander Bogaert and Brandon WorkmanOn my first road trip of the season to Trenton , NJ, I shot posed and action shots of two Portland AA players, who the baseball world would see play in the World Series six months later.
Red Sox BA #1 prospect, Xander Bogaert played shortstop in 56 games for the AA Portland Red Sox before advancing to play in 60 games AAA Pawtucket and the parent Boston Red Sox in September to play in the post season classic.Before the first game April 27th, Xander posed for my camera gyrations cheerfully and also gave me a lot of good game shots the two days I was there.
After a grueling daily pre game work out, RHP Brandon Workman stopped to pose for some shots too. Little did I know, I would see him pitching against the Cardinals in the World Series only a few moths later.
Plenty of Good Baseball in the Eastern League This Past Season!
By Rodger M. WoodOne run games, close Northern and Southern Division pennant races, extra inning playoffs, a multitude of top prospects playing good baseball, lots of low run pitching and clutch hitting thrilled AA - Eastern League fans all 2008 season.Beating Akron 3 games to 1. Yankees AA- Trenton Thunder won a second consecutive Eastern League championship,Top Yankees prospect CF Austin Jackson was named EL Playoff MVP hitting 259 with two HR and a team high 7 RBI during the playoffs and making a couple unbelievable catches in game 3 that could have been HR that tilted the course of the championship playoff series in favor of Akron.
Austin JacksonIn the final game, RHP Jason Marquez pitched 1-run ball for 6 IP and Jason Jones pitched shut out ball the last 3 innings. After a fantastic season, MLB Advanced Media named the Trenton Thunder 2008 winner of the “Minor League Yearly Award for the Best Team at Double A Level.”Led by first year AA- manager, Mike Sarbaugh, Southern Division Wild Card Champions, Cleveland Indians AA - Akron Aeros were good runner-ups to Trenton after beating Bowie 3 games - 1 in the division playoffs.Major league rehab, Travis Hafner and top prospect OF Matt LaPorta, who came over to the Indians in the CC Sabathia trade, hit decisive HR in division series games.
Matt LaPortaDoing what he had all regular season, Indians 3B prospect, Wes Hodges gobbled up every ball he could get his hands on at the hot corner and got some clutch hits. Baltimore Orioles Bowie Bay Sox played all their cards during the regular season coming up short in the division playoffs to a tough Akron team.RF Nolan Reimold ensured a victory with 3 homers and a career high 8 RBI to power Bowie over Akron in Game 2 of the division series.Up from Fast A Frederick to Bowie June 27th, C Matt Wieters hit 365 BA, 12 HR, and 51 RBI in 65 games, helping the Bay Sox win the regular season Southern Division title by four games over second place Akron. For his heroics during the regular season, Baseball America named Matt Wieters, “2008 Minor League Player of the Year.”
Matt Wieters
Rodger’s Diary - Louisville Bats 2008
Triple A - International League - Cincinnati Reds
I saw Louisville play just once this season at The Diamond in Richmond VA on a Saturday night before my grandson Sebastian’s first birthday party the following day.
Through the years, probably as far back as 1993, I’ve seen Louisville play at the old Fairgrounds Stadium in Louisville, Cooper Stadium, Columbus, and a lot at The Diamond in Richmond, VA, which is only about 145 miles southeast of my house.
In fact, I shot Louisville photos when they were still a St. Louis Cardinals AAA - franchise with Todd Zeile catching behind the plate.
I can remember once deciding to shoot only action shots of outfielder and football safety Neon Deion Saunders rather than humble myself by asking the very egotistical player to pose for my camera.
Another aside about Saunders - one time taking photos by the batting cage during New York Yankees warm ups at old Baltimore Memorial Stadium, I decided to put my camera down while he hit because I thought . he swung the bat so badly I’d be wasting my film taking photos of a player who could not hit a lick in practice.
This season is a special one for Louisville as they have the BA #1 prospect in minor league baseball, Jay Bruce, playing right field for them.
Rodger’s Diary - Frederick Had Good Pitching But Not Lots of Timely Hitting Punch This Year!
After winning the Carolina League Championship in 2007, the Frederick Keys, plagued by call ups, injuries and inconsistency, came up way short both halves in 2008.
They finished with an overall 63 - 76 W-L record, a third place finish with a 34-36 record n the Northern Division the first half, and a last place fourth place finish with 29 - 40 the second half,, both halves 8 games behind the division leading Potomac Nationals.
While the overall performance was sub par, individual performances were not all bleak this season.
Brandon Snyder hit 315 BA, 13 HR, drove in 80 RBI, was the second leading hitter (BA) in the Carolina League and was named Carolina League Player of the Month of August with a 388 BA, 7 2B, 3 HR, and
18 RBI.
Ourfielders Chris Vinyard (240 BA, 16 HR, and 65 RBI) and Brandon Tripp (236 BA, 17 HR, and 69 RBI) provided some power hitting.
RHP Jake Arrieta was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year, and the team‘s lone all star with a 6-5 W-L Record and a 2.87 ERA before helping the U.S. Olympic team win the bronze at Beijing.
RHP Brandon Erbe finished the season strong, allowing no runs in 3 of 5 August starts and back to back shutouts his last two starts while compiling an overall 10-12 W-L, 4.30 ERA record.
Right hander Jacob Renshaw (9-11, 5.11 ERA), Kyle Schmidt (4-4, 3.57), and Jeff Moore (5-3, 3.63 ERA)
kept the Keys in most games.
Rodger’s Diary - Salt Lake City Bees and Pacific Coast League - Go West Young Folks, Go West!
If I were a younger person starting all over, I’d consider making that long trek west to raise my young family in Salt Lake City, Utah.
While not a Mormon as many in that city, I have to respect people, who against all odds, went west to a then desolate area to practice their religion and strong family values, which still characterize the area over 100 years later.
You can eat off the streets there, they are so clean and get lost in the solitude of surrounding mountains if you want some spiritual comfort.
Money is not the driving force behind everything. You don’t have to check your back pocket for your wallet every time someone says help “hello” to you.
People talk to you there because they are genuinely interested in you as an individual and still enjoy people gatherings just to be with each other.
You can suck the air deep into your lungs and drink the water without fear of poisoning yourself.
And you can go to Franklin Covey Stadium to enjoy the family environment at a Salt Lake Bees ball game and not have to cope with the belligerent folks and drunks who frequent Thirsty Thursdays back East and are found elsewhere in droves at many other major sporting events.
While there in July, I saw three Pacific Coast League ball games, enjoying the home team Salt Lake Bees, who are the Triple A Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim affiliate play three games, Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners AAA, two games, and Oakland A’s Sacramento River Cats, one game..
I saw my adopted cousin, Salt Lake SS, Brandon Wood, Sacramento 1B, Casey Rogowski, who graduated from Detroit Catholic Central, the same High School I did many moons ago, and many other of my favorite ball players.
Brandon promised to hit and did hit a homerun so I could get a photo of his perfect swing in action, and Casey assured me he was behaving himself so I didn‘t have to turn my head next time I saw the priests and brothers who taught us at our old alumnae and whom I had promised to keep an eye on this youngster so he wouldn’t succumb when confronted with the rigorous challenges of professional baseball.
Rodger’s Diary - Boise Hawks 2008
I finally made it to Boise!
Considering I had started off there twice by car from Ogden, Utah, only to turn around when it dawned on me it was too far to drive there in one or two days. I was overjoyed when my plane landed at Boise Airport even though it was July 13th
It had been embarrassing to tell my former Vine Line and one of my favorite editors, Jim McArdle, I had failed him twice, and I didn’t want to repeat that ordeal with my new editor, Michael Huang, so this time I had to beat the odds by taking a plane which got me there in less than an hour.
It was also the first time I would see a Rookie A - Northwest League game and while Tacoma and Fresno may be further, Boise was close to the furthest I had ever traveled to see a minor league baseball game.
After a nice Sunday steak and Idaho potato dinner at a blue blood restaurant, which was the first decent dinner I had in a week of travel having dined on ball park franks other evenings, I drove by the Hawks’ Memorial Stadium to get a feeling for where it was and how it looked. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a small park with a small park intimacy that would serve my photography quite well.
I got to the ball park early the next day but not before the Boise Hawks who were there surprisingly early considering they had just come a long road trip the day before.
The young Cubbies were eager to get their photos taken for Vine Line, the official Chicago Cubs team magazine, that I have free lanced for the past 15 seasons. I scheduled much of the team to have their photographs taken after batting and infield practice so I wouldn’t interfere with their work priorities.
Much of the future Chicago Cubs’ infield may be playing at Boise this season.. The top 2008 Cubs BA prospect, Josh Vitters, is at 3B hitting 344 BA, 2 HR, and 18 RBI and fielding like he’s Brooks Robinson in the 1970 World Series. Drafted this past June in the first round supplemental out of Vanderbilt University, SS, Ryan Flaherty is hitting 280 BA, 2 HR, and 7 RBI. Drafted out of Cincinnati U in the 6th round, Josh Harrison is at 2B, and a dark horse 16th round pick, Ryan Keedy, out of Alabama Birmingham, is at 1B.
hitting 308, 1 HR, and 21 RBI.
Kyler Burke is hitting for power with 3 HR, 20 RBI at the same time he is showing good range in right field.
I was very much impressed with LHP Jeff Beliveau DNA as well as his pitching. He is a great nephew of Montreal Canadiens hockey great, Jean Beliveau, and is 2-1 W-L, 3.86 ERA in relief. RHP Chris Carpenter, a third round draft out of Kent State, is 1-0 W-L, 1.69 ERA in 5.1 IP. and the pitching staff work horse, Herol Tolentino, is 3-0 W-L, with a 3.09 ERA in 32.0 IP.
Rodger’s Diary - Asheville Tourists - 2008 - More June 8- 9th
In an earlier article, “Look Homeward Angel,” I told you how great I thought the city of Asheville and surrounding mountains were. If I had my druthers, I would have been content to stay and shoot
photograph of the Low A - Rockies Asheville Tourists and other SALLY teams visiting Asheville all summer.
Tourists General Manager Larry Hawkins and the front office staff, team manager Joe Mikulik (although he didn’t like my Oklahoma cap very much because he‘s a diehard Texas fan), pitching coach Doug Linton, hitting coach Houston Jimenez, and all the Tourist players were great to me during my three day stay.
I want to say, “thank you,” to you all for a good time. You’re good people!
Very near to clinching the Southern Division SALLY League first half championship with a 46-24 W-L record, yet unbelievably only a game in front of the Yankees’ Charleston River Dogs, the Tourists are pitching and playing almost flawless baseball offensively and defensively.
Seven Tourists were named to the league’s Southern Division All Star team: pitchers Jhoulys Chacin, Joey Williamson and Randall Taylor, infielders Darin Holcomb and Everth Cabrera, and outfielders Brian Rike and Michael Mitchell. Joe Mikulik will serve as manager, and Doug Linton, pitching coach. In recognition of his 10-1 W-L record, 2.10 ERA in 98.2 IP, RHP Chacin was named Southern Division starting pitcher.
The Tourists are also blessed with Baseball America Colorado Rockies’ top prospects: #14 OF Brian
Rike, #18 RHP Jhoulys Chacin, #23 SS Helder Velaquez, #26 C Lars Davis, #29 RHP Connor Graham, and #30 RHP Cory Riordan.
I think overlooked for prospect status and playing good ball are position players, 3B Darin Holcomb, who is hitting 332 BA, 9 HR, and 53 RBI in 265 AB, CF Michael Mitchell, who is hitting 325 BA, 3 HR, 27 RBI in 246 AB, Kevin Clark, 309 BA in 188 AB, 8 HR, 33 RBI, and 1B Jeffrey Cunningham, who is hitting 260 BA, with 12 HR and 54 RBI in 242 AB. RHP Sheng-An Kuo (8-4, 3.82 ERA), Joey Williamson (2-0, 1.90 ERA), and Randall Taylor (1-1, 2.57 ERA) are also deserving some recognition.
On Saturday, I saw Asheville Mayor Terry M. Bellamy, and Tourists’ GM Larry Hawkins present retired Tourists’ #50 jersey to former SALLY President, John Henry Moss in recognition of his 50 years - service as league president.
Rodger’s Diary - Ogden Raptors 2008
You wouldn’t believe the fun I had with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Rookie A Pioneer League Ogden Raptors the two days I was at Lindquist Field in July.
President/Chairman Dave Baggott, GM Joey Stein, and Marketing Adam Turner greeted me cordially at the door, manager Mike Brumley, batting coach Michael Boughton, and pitching coach Craig Bjornson gave me the right away to take my photos, and the Raptors treated me like a member of the family, joking around before games, inviting me to sit in their dugout to shoot pictures during the game, showing me how they could raise their caps with hot air coming out of their ears, and generally making me feel at home. I hated to leave Lindquist Field for Salt Lake City, Orem, and Boise when it was time to go.
While 19-19 W-L and 500 the first half, I think the Raptors will come back strong the second half. Mike Brumley and his staff will develop these youngsters into strong contenders.
They have a pair of strong starters in RHP Geison Aquasviva, (3-2 W-L 3.35 ERA) and RHP Michael Watt (4-3, 3.46 ERA).
They’re strong up the middle with catcher Matt Wallach (293 BA, 3 HR, and 20 RBI), shortstop Devaris Gordon (304 BA, 1 HR, 16 RBI), outfielder Kyle Russell (306 BA, 7 HR, and 34 RBI) and at the hot corner with Dodgers’ #10 BA prospect, Pedro Baez (276 BA, 6 HR, and 33 RBI).
And they are stacked with lots of high 2008 draft picks - #3 Kyle Russell out of Texas, #5 RHP Jon Michael Redding, out of Florida CC, #8 OF Nick Buss from USC, #9 Steven Casceres from James Madison, #12 3B Austin Yount, who you can look at and tell immediately is a Yount, from Stanford, #14 Clay Calfee, OF from Angelo State (Texas), and #23 Brian Ruggiano 2B out of Texas A&M, all of whom could find themselves again before the end of the season.
Rodger’s Diary - You Gotta Like The Billings Mustangs This Year!
I love rookie ball! If I had my druthers, I would stay out west all summer to photograph young Pioneer League ball players at Ogden and Orem every day. They are new to professional baseball, enthusiastic, and anxious to do well. They put out 120 % effort but still make little league mistakes, which make the games more exciting.
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Playing with lots of heart and talent, college kids who Reds brass filled the roster of their Pioneer League Rookie A Billings Mustangs up with this season are making them look good.
Led by experienced savvy veteran manager Julio Garcia, pitching coach Tom Browning, who’s been to the show a few times, and batting coach Tony Jaramillo, these youngsters are playing heads up ball and won the first half Pioneer League Northern Division title.
Their every day lineup is packed with some hitting punch and sound defense.
#6 draft pick, Alex Buchholz out of Delaware University, is showing a good glove at 2B and hitting a ton (366 BA, 3 HR, and 20 RBI in 82 AB).
Pioneer League player of the week, OF Tony Brown is the team slugger with 10 HR, 35 RBI, and a respectable 270 BA.
Catcher Kyle Day, drafted out 12th of Michigan State, is strong behind the plate and hitting 324 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI in 74 AB in 20 games played.
Outfielders, #9 David Sappelt, from Coastal Carolina, is playing flawless defense and hitting 318, 4 HR, and 23 RBI, while OF Tyler Stovall , out of Central Michigan, is holding his own, hitting 349 BA, 1 HR, 13 RBI in 106 AB
A grandson of one of my favorite pitchers in the 50s who was also the ace of the 1950 Philadelphia Whiz Kids, 1B Mike Konstanty, #19 from Albany U, is showing power at the plate, hitting 314 BA with 5 HR, and 24 RBI.
The key to Billings’ strength is steady pitching, which Coach Browning has patiently nurtured along this season. RHP Jamie Arneson (4-1, 4.43), RHP Leonardo Astorga (3-1, 2.45 ERA in 40.1 IP), RHP Dan Zeffiro (2-0, 2.84 ERA in 25.1 IP), RHP Lance Janke (3-1, 4.31 ERA in 39.2 IP) and RHP Randall Linebraugh RHP 1-2, 3.14 ERA in 14.1 IP) are bearing the fruit of his labor.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Tri-Cities Dust Devils
Although I saw a couple high 2008 Rockies draft picks, #1 LHP Christian Friedrich and #2 draft pick OF Charles Blackmon play with the Tri Cities Dust Devils at Boise last month, I was also impressed with a couple low round Rockies draft picks, #36th Patrick Rose and #45 Brad McAtee.
36th round pick Patrick Rose, a speedy outfielder drafted out of UC, Santa Barbara, and no relation to Pete Rose, is hitting 275 BA, 1 HR, and 14 RBI in 33 GP.
#45 Round, RHP Brad McAtee, drafted out of UC Davis, is 3-3 W-L, 2.79 ERA in 29.0 IP.
The high picks are doing well too. Eastern Kentucky LHP Christian Friedrich is 1-0 W-L, 5.03 ERA, in 19.2 IP .
Overqualified I think for rookie ball, Georgia Tech OF Charles Blackmon is hitting 327 BA, 0 HR, and 19 RBI in 39 GP.
There were other young Rockies there worth noting. Bo Bowman, who since has been promoted to Low A - Asheville, was hitting 338 BA, 5 HR, and 13 RBI in 21 GP at Tri Cities, and pitchers, RHP Parker Frazier, a hard throwing right hander, is 3-2 W-L, with a 3.36 ERA, in 48 IP. Juan Nicasio, who threw the night I was at Boise, is 2-3, 4.55 ERA in 31.2 IP but typically is not provided it seems with much defensive support.
It was great to see some more old friends again, Dust Devils’ manager Fred Ocasio, batting coach Anthony Sanders, and pitching coach Dave Schuler. I have known Dave Schuler since he was a young pitching coach at Prince William, VA teaching future Yankees lefthander, Andy Pettite, how to pitch and Anthony Sanders since he was a quiet young outfielder coming up through the Blue Jays minor league system at Hagerstown in 1995.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Hudson Valley Renegades
I can vividly remember the very first time I shot photographs of the Hudson Valley Renegades in Wappinger Falls, NY in June, 1999.
I rolled into Dutchess Stadium about the same time Tampa Rays #1 draft pick that year, Josh Hamilton, now an all star outfielder with the Texas Rangers, reported with his parents and family He was a nice young man, but I had fleeting thoughts even then while shooting his posed shots, he may have been rushed into this sudden fame and fortune before he was ready.
While this year’s Renegades don’t have any #1s - 2008 #1 Tim Beckham is at Princeton in the Appalachian League - they have a solid team, are blessed with several solid ballplayers, have a 16-14 W-L Record, and are in second place in the McNamara Division of the NY Penn League only three games behind the always mighty Staten Island Yankees.
Two weeks ago at Aberdeen, I was impressed with #7 pick, OF Jason Corder, who is hitting 352 BA, 3 HR, and driven in 15 RBI in 23 games, #3 Pick, Jacob Jeffries, a big strong catcher out of UC Davis, who is hitting 279 BA, 1 HR, and driven in 17 runs in 30 games, and a lonely #20 pick 2B Jason Tweedy, from Long Beach State, who is hitting up a storm with a 301 BA, a HR, and 12 RBI in 30 games and may be the best of the bunch.
Second year players, OF Keong Kang, 252 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI,, and 1B John Mollicone, 294 BA,
1 HR, 14 RBI are performing at a high level too.
Plus, the Renegades are getting decent pitching from BA Rays #17 ranked prospect, Nick Barnese, who is 2-1 W-L 2.33 ERA, Joshua Satow, 2- 0 W-L 0.98 ERA, and Robert Della Grotta, 2-0, 1.56 ERA.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Aberdeen Ironbirds
I think Cal Ripken’s feats are also monumental away from Camden Yards at Aberdeen, MD.
His Rookie A - Aberdeen Ironclads, a NY-Penn League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are baseball
in the finest minor league stadium I have ever seen .
His “Cal Ripken Baseball Program” is a worldwide operation, whose world series is played at three state of the art ball parks located on the grounds of the Ripken Stadium complex.
His staff conducts summer baseball camps for children interested in getting first class baseball instruction, and a towering, new Marriott Hotel houses the visiting teams, and baseball campers throughout the summer.
Ripken Stadium is a family oriented place where it is always fun to see a ball game.
This season, the home team is blessed with three southpaw pitchers, Cole McCurry, Chris Salberg, and Richard Zagone, who are mowing the opposition down, and five position players, SS Jedediah Stephens,
C Caleb Joseph, 3B Tyler Kolodny, OF Jacob Julius, and 1B/OF TJ Baxter who are hitting a ton.
Also, they are very much blessed with hitting coach Cesar Deverrez, my old time friend since he and his side kick Manny Alexander played at Hagerstown in 1992. I’ve never seen a catcher with a stronger arm, in fact he posed as “The Muscle Man,” in the Frederick Keys card set I shot in 1993 for Best Cards. This is one special guy, who never forgot his friend.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Lowell Spinners
From the first time I saw them in 1996 at an old make shift ball park next to a shopping center about 30 miles outside of Boston, later at a spectacular new LeLacheur Park, until this season at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD, I’ve never failed to have fun seeing the Boston Red Sox Rookie A Lowell Spinners.
Many Spinners are first year college players, just drafted out of college, who are getting their first taste of professional baseball and are anxious to please any one connected with organized baseball, including an old demanding photographer like yours truly..
They play a fun, competitive brand of baseball, where the young players can still make mistakes and learn from their failure as well as success.
Through the years, I’ve had several special moments with the Spinners.
I used to love talking to my favorite Spinners manager Billy Gardner, who nicknamed me ”Brimsley,” because he thought I looked like the guy advertising Quaker Oats on television..
I remember telling my son Thomas that David Eckstein, the little skinny kid playing second base for Lowell, was my best bet to be a major leaguer because he was always hustling and had so much desire.
During my days at Lowell, I got to know several major leaguers in the making, Freddy Sanchez, Hanley Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz, who pitched a no-hitter last season with Boston..
In addition to taking pictures of most of the players, I’d interviewed a player or two for Boston Baseball, in past years, future major leaguers, Shea Hillenbrand, David Eckstein, Kevin Youkillis, Anibal Sanchez, and Jonathan Papelbon, who I designated my official body guard one day in case fans got too ruly. This year’s lucky interviewees were Red Sox #3 draft picks, RHP Kyle Weiland and RHP Stephen Fife, both of whom were very articulate and great interviews.
From the Spinners I saw play this season, I think the Red Sox got some keepers in left handed hitting leadoff hitter and outfielder Mitch Dening, who is hitting 346 BA , 3 HR and 11 RBI in 28 games played, and RHP Brock Huntzinger, who is 4-0 W-L with 0.49 ERA in 37 IP.
Rodger's Diary - 2008 Portland Sea Wolves
The past 15 years or so, I've been blessed with the opportunity to shoot photos and write articles/interviews for Boston Baseball, which Publisher and Editor, Michael Rutstein has made into a first class magazine.
I've looked forward to seeing Red Sox farm teams every season with the hope I could see them all and get lots of photos for that quality magazine.
I had my best luck with the Boston Double A teams, first at Trenton, and now at Portland, ME, a beautiful Atlantic Ocean seacoast town about a 100 miles northwest of Boston..
At Double A through the years, I have gotten to know Trot Nixon, Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Pavano, Jeff Suppan, Kevin Youvilis, and several other good ball players now gracing major league rosters.
While I have been at Hadlock Field several times, Portland was always a Florida AA - affiliate. One trip there I paid a lot of attention to a young Marlins' RHP Josh Beckett, who is ironically now the Bosox pitching ace.
The past couple seasons, the Red Sox have loaded Double A - Portland with some top notch young pitchers and this season is no different.
Maybe following in the footsteps of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz who pitched no-hitters recently up in the majors, BA #4 prospect RHP Justin Masterson, BA #7 RHP Michael Bowden, BA #22 LHP Dustin Richardson, BA #27 LHP Hunter Jones, RHP Beau Vaughn, RHP Matt Goodson, RHP Chad Rhoades, RHP Kyle Jackson, and RHP Mike James make up the Sea Wolves pitching staff when I saw them in early May at Bowie.. Masterson has since been called up to make a 3-hit start at Kansas City.
Portland has more than just pitching this season - they have a lineup which can score some runs, with a prospect laden lineup of one of Rodger's Picks last season, 1B/3B Andrew Pinckney, BA #25 OF Bubba Bell, BA #20 C Mark Wagner, BA #21 Aaron Bates, 3b Ryan Khoury, OF Jeff Corsaletti, C John Otness, and several other hard hitting position players, who opposing pitchers must be continually aware of.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Brooklyn Cyclones
They’re not my old favorite Brooklyn Dodgers, who won all those National League pennants in the 1950s, and beat the dreaded New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series. They don’t even play at famed Ebbetts Field, and Jackie Robinson isn’t at 2B, Gil Hodges at 1B or Duke Snider in center field.
They play near Coney Island at Key Span Park, which is only near Brooklyn. Their red and grays resemble old time uniforms and classic names like Reese Havens man the hot corner, and Brad Holt fires bee bees from the mound. When these youngsters make the majors, they’ll play for the Dodgers’ replacement major league team on Long Island, the New York Mets.
You caught me reminiscing again, but since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1957, the Brooklyn Cyclones in the Rookie League New York Penn League are the next best thing to my Dodgers of old..
The heroes of your youth become the idols of your old age and they can never be replaced.
I enjoyed seeing the young Brooklyn Cyclones at Aberdeen just after the short rookie season started in June. Several Met 2008 Amateur Draft picks were signed and on the team by the time I saw them. #1 Reese Havens SS, 1s Brad Holt RHP, #3 Kirk Nieuwenis CF, Josh Satin 2B, #8 Eric Campbell 3B, #9 Eric Beaulac RHP, #14 Brandon Moore RHP, and #26 John Servidio OF.
The Mets drafted a good class of young men - the Cyclones helped me every way possible to get good photos of them and I appreciated them very much.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Richmond Braves
A photo of a young Chipper Jones I took at Richmond in 1993 that was published in the July issue of the Atlanta Braves team magazine, Chop Talk, caused me to remininisce about the fun I had that season taking pictures of the Richmond Braves players.
One July afternoon, kneeling in front of Chipper and Javy Lopez at home plate while Pedro Borbon lobbed balls over my shoulder, I tried endlessly to capture the ball meeting their bats and duplicate my Manny Ramirez shot of an earlier year with my primitive camera.
Driving to and from that miserable 120 mile stretch of I-95 from Washington to Richmond in one day, I went to a record number of Braves games that season and enjoyed every moment.
Later at a Braves game in Philadelphia, Chipper, Javy, and Pedro reminded me of our special moments together that hot summer and made me feel special with their friendly gestures.
Last season, I witnessed another special moment when the Richmond Braves won the International League championship over Durham. Governor Kaine and other celebrities were there, the players were celebrating on the field and champagne flowing, especially over the head of Braves GM Bruce Baldwin when he was accepting the championship trophy. There are photos of the celebration in the Photo Galleries on this web page.
Although led by Dave Brundage, who I think is one of the best managers in the minor leagues, and maybe heir apparent to the parent Braves manager’s job when current incumbent Bobby Cox retires, Richmond have been plagued by call ups, injuries and trail Durham by 7 games at the half way mark.
Promising prospects, right fielder Brandon Jones and SS Brent Lillibridge as well as veteran pitchers, Phil Stockman and Charlie Morton were called up.
BA #18 prospect, CF Josh Anderson is hitting 278, 1 HR, 20 RBI, and #29 Diory Hernandez 290 BA, 4 HR, and 27 RBI and veteran 1B Barbaro Canizares, 304 BA, 9 HR, and 40 RBI.
Veteran Chuck James is 3-2 with a 1.69 ERA and Vladimir Nunez 3-0, 3.24 ERA.
I swallow hard when I realize after this season, there won’t be any more Triple A thrills in Richmond as the Atlanta Braves are moving their AAA team back to Georgia, but just the same, I have to admit it would be difficult to match the thrills I had back in 1993.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Harrisburg Senators
I have expressed how much I love going to Harrisburg Commerce Bank Park to see a ball game and enjoy life on City Island in the middle of the pretty Sussehanna River. Nice things happen there.
I shot my first posed photo there in 1987 and I bet you’ll never guess who it was. No other than further Hall of Fame Atlanta Braves pitcher, John Smoltz, who was a Detroit Tigers minor league pitcher with the Double A - Glen Falls Tigers.
I remember the 1987 season at Harrisburg for other reasons - minor league baseball had just returned to Harrisburg that year and the Pirates’ AA- affiliate won the Eastern League championship with a lot of the players I watched play for Carolina League Prince William Pirates the year before.
Sitting under the stands on a hot September afternoon to get close enough to shoot photos of the celebration festivities, I remember how impressed I was with Senators Manager Dave Tremblay championship trophy acceptance speech in front of all of those jubilant fans. Harrisburg manager 1987 - 1989, and manager of the Baltimore Orioles, I bet he’s talking to the press and fans all the time now..
As a Montreal Expos AA- team, Harrisburg set a record winning the Eastern League Championship four seasons in a row, 1996- 1999.
With the talent they have on the team, and only 4.5 games behind Akron in the Southern Division, Eastern League pennant race, I think they could come back to win another championship this season.
The Senators are playing as a team - Baseball America top Nationals prospects, #8 outfielder Justin Maxwell, #23 Mike Daniels, and #29 Roger Bernadina make up the starting outfield, #14 Ian Desmond, is at shortstop, and #7 Jordan Zimmerman, #18 Shairon Martis, and #28 Zech Zinicola three of the starting five and #13 Adam Carr the stopper.
Rodger’s Diary - Potomac Revisited - Memories of Old
I can't help getting nostalgic every time I get out to the old Potomac Nationals G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium. I started coming out there when the Pittsburgh Pirates, Class A Carolina League affiliate Prince William Pirates played there in 1984. I learned a whole new vocabulary that year from Pirates catcher Tommy Prince, which I could never use in polite company.
Braves minor leaguers, Chipper Jones and David Justice, took an interest in my photos and a Baseball Weekly reporter asked me to photograph Aaron Sele and Franky Rodriquez.for an article he was writing. I remember a 20-year Barry Bonds just drafted out of Arizona State dropping two flies balls in right field in one inning.
I remember him reaching out of the back door of the Cannons' locker room during a game to give me a bat and hearing him say, "Take this bat to your car right away and don't tell anyone where you got it." I can also remember talking to Mr. Baseball, and Hall of Famer Ernie Banks in the dugout before an Old Timers Game.
I can remember worrying about an aggressive young Lynchburg outfielder, Trot Nixon, after he crashed into the right field fence trying to catch a fly ball.
Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Chattanooga Lookouts
At least two - three games a season, usually at Zebulon, NC or at Chattanooga’s beautiful state of the art AT&T Stadium. I shoot photos of the Cincinnati Reds’ AA- affiliate, Chattanooga Lookouts for Reds Report, who I have enjoyed free lancing for the last 15 years.
No reflection on Lookouts current manager Mike Goff, who is also a good guy, but I missed seeing Jayhawk Owens, former manager of the Lookouts the past four-five seasons, who I liked and appreciated a lot for putting up with my photography antics so often. I always pictured Jay Hawk in my mind as a good Cincinnati Reds’ manager if he got the opportunity.
In any event, my other good friend since he was a player, Lookouts hitting coach Jaime Dismuke was there. and I enjoyed reminiscing with him, which made my two day stay at Kodak, Tennessee more fun.
I also enjoyed seeing many of the Lookout players, who I have photographed every year successively at Dayton, Sarasota, and Chattanooga.
I told every one who would listen, Lookouts right hander ’ Travis Wood was Cubs’ stopper Kerry Wood and my cousin , which is more my wishful thinking than sound genealogically supported fact.
I shot mostly action photos of Lookout players in the two games at Kodak, Tennessee , except for pitchers not appearing in games during my stay, who I shot posed.
The Lookouts are loaded with Reds’ Top 30 Baseball America prospects: #13 shortstop Chris Valaika, #15 Pedro Viola RHP, #16 Sean Watson, RHP, #17 catcher Craig Tatum, #20 stopper Carlos Fisher RHP, #21 cousin Travis Wood RHP, #24 Sam McCure RHP, and #28 1B Danny Dorn.
Although not listed among the Reds’ top prospects yet, southpaw pitcher Ben Jukich, is pitching good ball this season with 7-2 W-L, 2.82 ERA in 14 starts.
Rodger’s Diary - On Top of Old Smokey!
I love the Smokey Mountains of Eastern Tennessee too! More beautiful country and clean air to breathe deeply!
My camera took me there for the first time ever in my travels, June 8-9th. Before then, I had always driven by and never stopped at Kodak or nearby Knoxville in my travels west on U.S 40 to Nashville, or Memphis.
Now I think I know now why my dad used to listen to an old 78 record version of “On Top of Old Smokey,” over and over again in my youth and dream about being on the top that mountain.
Smokies Park is under five years old and one of the best minor league stadiums I have seen.
I had a good time there with the Double A - Cubs again shooting photos for Vine Line, the Chicago Cubs team publication.
I visited the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville to see their football and baseball fields and also bought myself a new Volunteers cap and football jersey.
The Tennessee Smokies are led by manager Buddy Bailey, who I am afraid to admit I go back with to 1987 when he managed Lynchburg in the Carolina League, hitting coach Barbaro Garbey, and pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn.
With some young players in key positions and the pitching rotation, and 3B Matt Craig and some injured veterans out of the line -up, the team is struggling right now, but should have a better second half
after these youngsters adjust to the tougher AA - competition and the veterans get healthy.
Baseball America ranked Smokies’ outfielder Tyler Colvin the Cubs’ #3 top prospect, LHP Donnie Veal #6, RHP Jeff Samardzija #8, catcher Wellington Castillo #15, CF Sam Fuld #18, 1B Jake Fox #19, LHP James Russell #22, and RHP Mark Holliman #27.
I think Doug Deeds and Nate Spears were overlooked - 2B Nate Spears is flawless on defense, and hitting 301, 1 HR, and 18 RBI in 163 AB in the second spot of the batting order.
1B/OF Doug Deeds is hitting 288, 5 HR, and 26 RBI in 177 AB and 57 games.
I want to thank Media Relations Director Jon Zeitz and the rest of the Smokies’ staff for showing me some good old Southern Hospitality during my stay there.