Good Baseball Is Still Happening At Harrisburg
By Rodger M. WoodStephen Strasberg may have left town but lots of good baseball fun is still happening at Harrisburg the remainder of 2010 season.Almost major league standards after major renovations this past winter, Commerce Bank Park is hardly recognizable. Fans can enjoy the game sitting in the left field bleachers, picnicking along the left field line, or in luxury boxes behind home plate with buffet food for the price of the seat.
Strasberg Pitches Strong 5 Innings Against Reading
By Rodger M. Wood
Salem Red Sox Photo Folder Posted in Photo Galleries
Our first 2010 minor league photo folder, 114 photos of 19 different Salem Red Sox players, was posted today in the featured photo galleries.I used my new backup 40D Cannon camera to take the shots before and during a day ball game at the Potomac Nationals home field in the Prince William County Government Complex nearby Dale City, Virginia on April 11th.Several Baseball America Top 30 Boston Red Sox minor league prospects photosare in the folder, including #8 Anthony Rizzo 1B, #11 Stolmy Pomentel RHP.#19 Will Middlebrook 3B, #21 Alex Wilson RHP, #22 Tim Federowicz C, and#28 Ryan Dent SS.A complete list of all the players shown in the 2010 Salem Red Sox photo folder is in the “Available Player Lists” on this web page.
Wood Sports Photography Starts New Washington Capitals Blog
To celebrate today and past seasons Washington Capitals hockey, we have started a new www.CapitalPowerPlay.com blog.Regular articles about Capitals hockey, new game and practice photographs, Collector Corner memorabilia, and nostalgic Flashback Friday articles. Interviews with former Capitals and NHL players will be published weekly.You’ll be able to follow the Capitals game by game through the 2010 Playoffs.
Lots of 2009 Minor League Photo Folders Added to Photo Galleries
In the past month, the 2009 photo folders of the AA - Montgomery Biscuits,A-Lakewood Blue Claws, Rookie A - Aberdeen Iron Birds, AA- Reading Phillies,AA- Binghamton Mets, AA- Altoona Curve, New Britain Rock Cats, AA- Bowie Bay Sox, and AA-Akron Aeros have been added to our photo galleries. Check the photo galleries/ featured photo folders out to see tomorrow’s major league stars.
#1 Ranked Gonzaga Wins A Squeaker Against Paul VI, 50- 46
By Rodger M. WoodIn their game January 19th, Gonzaga and Paul VI HS battled for 47 minutes of regulation time. If they didn’t know beforehand, the average fan would not have been able to tell which team playing was the #1 ranked Washington Post Metropolitan Area high school basketball team.Tied at 42-42 with a minute to go in regulation, the game was up for grabs until Malcolm Lemmons stole the moment, sweeping in for a hard lay up to put Gonzaga ahead for keeps by two points and with a few free throws in the last few moments, win 50 - 46.Freshman and sophomore ladened Paul VI will live to play another day. 3-6 W-L in tough WCAC conference play, the seasoning they are getting this season against several Division 1 colleges prospects will only serve to put them in very close competition in coming seasons against perennial power house Gonzaga and Dematha, who were also USA Today #18 and #20 ranked in the nation February 16th.Mark my words. I wouldn’t count the Paul VI Panthers out for the duration.
An Old Caps Fan Reminisces About Days of Old After the Caps Win 12th Game in a Row against the Rangers
2010 was another first for me – I shot photos at the Tampa Bay Lightning/Washington Caps game last Sunday January 31st for the first time since the 1995 season...The Caps made my day beating the Lightning 3-1 for their 10th consecutive win. The Caps’ streak did not end with Sunday’s win, as they followed up with an 11th straight win Tuesday in Boston and 12th Thursday against New York in a wide open 6-5 shoot out at the new Madison Square Garden.
My love affair with the Capitals goes back to their inaugural 1974-75 season. With my sons Mark and Tommy, I saw their first ever win against the Chicago Black Hawks and first ever tie game against the Los Angeles Kings. I was on the roll that season. Whenever I went to a game, they’d win or tie, which was pretty remarkable considering they won only 8 games and tied 5, while losing a record 67 games that season.Growing up in Detroit and seeing Gordie Howe and great Red Wings teams of the 1950”s, it was difficult for me to be a Caps fan those early seasons. I used to get sick of seeing their lop sided losses in person or listening about them on Ron Weber’s radio broadcasts. But if the score got too bad, I would turn them off to listen to WBZ and Johnny Most talk about Bobby Orr and the Bruins winning ways..The Caps didn’t start percolating until 1980 – 81, when Denis Maruk scored 50 goals and defenseman Rick Green played the blue line well enough to make the games more competitive. .During the “1982 Save the Caps” campaign, I bought two season tickets, and shared two others to do my share in keeping the team here in Washington.
In 1984, my daughter Aimee and I drove to Philadelphia to see the Caps win their first playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers at the old Spectrum. I almost lost my life there when on reflect I jumped up in joy to boisterously and conspicuously applaudCaps Darren Veitch’s dramatic goal in the second period of the third game clincher. I saw the Easter Epic Playoff Game in 1987, which ended at 1:56 AM when Islanders Pat LaFontaine beat the Caps with a clutch goal in triple overtime.I saw the Bruins sweep the Caps in four games in the 1990 Wales Conference Finals and the Detroit Red Wings sweep them in a 4 game sweep in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals...I shared two season tickets the Caps first season but bought my own two each season afterwards until the 1990 -1991 season. Even after giving up my season tickets, I continued seeing the team at least three or four or more games a season every season to the present.In the early days of Caps hockey, I often thought I would have to climb the glass to help our poor defensemen, Ivan Labre, defend himself from various NHL hockey goons.HOF defenseman, and two time Norris Trophy winner, Rod Langway was my hero because I felt he saved hockey in Washington when he came over to the Caps in the big trade with Montreal before the 1982-1983 season and was responsible for making the Caps instant big winners for the first time in their 10-year history.
I was pained when Scott Stevens went to the St. Louis Blues after the 1990 season, but loved seeing him win the Stanley Cup with New Jersey a few seasons later. Scott was one of those always smiling, big young tough players you liked even though he often played for the wrong team later in his career.Defenseman Kevin Hatcher was awesome in the 1990-1991 playoffs, almost single handedly carrying the Caps to the Conference Finals against the Bruins.I have never seen a more intense player than another of my favorites, Dale Hunter who reminded me of the old Montreal great, Rocket Richard, who I remembered flying down the ice at old Olympia Stadium in Detroit, where I grew up.After beating Boston, Ottawa, and Buffalo in the 1998 playoffs, I thought there was a chance Peter Bondra, who scored 52 goals during the regular season, might lead our Caps past the Detroit Red Wings in the finals for the coveted Stanley Cup at last.I have seen lots of Caps games, I’d guess well over 500 games. During the 1987-88 season, I saw all 40 home games and all the playoff games. There have been lots of big wins, big losses, and a couple 10-game streaks in the early 1980s, but nothing; I remember compares with the 2009-2010 Washington Capitals.Led by their captain, the awesome Alex Ovechkin, I think this year’s team won’t be stopped until they win our first ever Stanley Cup here in Washington, DC. And when that happens, I hope some of the old fans from Landover will come back to enjoy the celebration with all the other Washington Capitals fans. Indeed, we have waited all our lives for this glorious moment.
Ryan Westmoreland Interview
Lowell Spinners
Interview By Rodger M. Wood
Baseball America named Ryan Westmoreland the 2010 Boston Red Sox #1 minor league prospect,. The 19-year old outfielder’s left handed bat exploded his first exposure to professional baseball at short season Lowell in the Rookie NY/Penn League last season.
In a league characterized by mostly college pitchers and position players, Westmoreland hit a respectable 296 BA, and showed a lot of power potential with 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 7 HR, while driving in 35 RBI in 223 AB his first 60 games. He worked opposing pitchers into 38 walks while striking out 49 times. He showed good speed stealing 19 bases,
Ryan earned all state soccer, baseball, and basketball laurels at Portsmouth High School (RI)
and was committed to Vanderbilt University baseball before drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 Amateur Draft and signed by the Red Sox for $2 million .
Injuring a shoulder after the draft, the youngster missed the 2008 season, instructional camp, and 2009 spring training. Only designated hitting until the last two weeks of this season, he was not able to show the outfield skills many scouts rated as outstanding in high school. .
I interviewed Ryan at Cal Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, MD last August.
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SP: Growing up in nearby Portsmouth RI you had to be a Boston Red Sox fan when young?
RW: As long as I can remember, I dreamed about being a Red Sox. Being drafted by my favorite team
was awesome and a dream come true. I remembering playing in the state high school championship
game at McCoy Field my senior year thinking about playing for the Red Sox there again and at
Fenway Park some day.
SP: Did growing up in cold weather slow down your development?
RW: I think the cold weather was a definite disadvantage. Ballplayers growing up in Florida and
California can play baseball 12 months a year. It is better working outdoors than inside a gym.
Our high school season started out doors in April and ended in September.. I think ball players
from the Northeast have as much talent but their development is slowed down by the climate. On the
other hand, they may be throwing and pitching less and not overusing their arms.
SP: Were you surprised the Red Sox drafted you in spite of your commitment to Vanderbilt?
RW: The Red Sox were at a lot of my high school and summer league games, but so were other teams.
I was committed to Vanderbilt University for a 4-year baseball scholarship and that could have been
a factor which turned teams off. I didn’t know what to expect in the draft. When the team I grew up
loving drafted me, I was overwhelmed.
SP: Do you ever wish you had gone to Vanderbilt instead of signing with the Red Sox?
RW: I have no regrets. My signing out of high school is not a reflection on Vanderbilt. They have a
great coach, good baseball, and an outstanding academic program, but signing with the Red Sox
out of high school, was my shortest path to the majors. I would have had to wait until after my
junior year if I had gone to Vanderbilt. Boston is going to pay my college tuition if I decide to
attend college later.
SP: An all state soccer and basketball player in high school as well as baseball player, why did you
choose baseball over the other sports.
RW: It was baseball I truly loved. It was my #1 priority in high school. Soccer and basketball helped me
to stay in shape for baseball. I could forget about baseball for awhile during the other sports‘
seasons, relax and focus on the other sports. I had different teammates in each sport, who helped me
get my mind off the college recruitment which was very busy my senior year. I chose to play soccer
in the Fall instead of football because the soccer coach was a great person.
SP: Do you think missing last summer and fall, and dh at Lowell set you back much in your
professional development?
RW: I didn’t get a chance to prove myself in my first spring training. I’m only glad I signed aw an 18
years old, or else I would have been set back even further. While my shoulder feels pretty good
now, I was limited some ways most of the 2009 season , for example, hitting the cutoff man,
swinging a stronger bat, keeping my outfield instincts sharp, but now my strength is coming back
through special exercises I’ve been doing and my defensive outfield skills through playing the last
couple weeks..
SP: Are you only dh this season?
RW: I’ve been dh most of the season. The last four or five games I’ve played in left field.
Slowly but surely, I am starting to see and get a better jump on the ball off the bat better,
and bring back my instincts on how to field.
SP: What do you think is your natural outfield position?
RW: I played centerfield in Little League, high school, and summer ball so it’s a little of adjustment
playing left this season. I think center is my natural position and when my shoulder is fully
recovered the Red Sox may move me back there. I think I have good range there, speed, I like
being the outfield leader, get my best jump off the ball and am most comfortable there.
SP: A 19 -year old going against some older college pitchers, how do you explain your strong
showing at the plate at Lowell this season.
RW: I’ve always had good plate discipline, work the count, try to make the pitcher feel
uncomfortable, and make them throw their best pitch to get me out. Red Sox hitting coach,
Luis Lopez helped me recognize college curve balls and change ups and use the power of
my lower body better.
SP: Do Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, Che-Hsuan Lin and the other young Red Sox
outfielder prospects discourage you about playing at Fenway someday?
RW: .I can’t let that affect my thinking. Those thoughts can affect your game and I only worry about
things I can control. The competition between good players for a position is good for the Red
Sox. The more good young outfielders we have the better the team will be..
SP: What are the Red Sox coaches working with you on this season?
RW: They’re trying to get me to do a lot of little things right, like backing up the bases the Red Sox way,
hit the right cutoff/relay man, recognizing the pitch off the pitcher’s hand, recognizing off speed
pitches sooner and better, and laying off the low curve ball. Pitch. They are trying to get me to
incorporate my lower part of my swing into the ball better.
SP: Only 18 when drafted last year, was it tough packing up and leaving home.
RW: I was already packed for Vanderbilt, but it was hectic after I decided to sign with the Red Sox. It
was the first time I moved away home but my family, and friends, helped me get through the
process. , .
SP: What has been your toughest adjustment so far in professional baseball?
RW: Playing every day in professional ball has been the toughest. In high school, I played a 22 game
schedule, which wasn’t that tough to handle, but to be mentally and physically ready for 86 games
and later a 126 games in a full season is a tough adjustment. In high school, I didn‘t have any
difficulty keeping things on the outside from affecting my game..
First Plunge Into High School Football Photography
October 3rd - Detroit Catholic Central
While at my 50th Year Detroit Catholic Central High School class reunion, I plunged into my first attempt at high school football photography, fittingly snapping pictures of my alma mater’s star 6-4. 245 running back, Niko Palazeti, in my debut.
Sporting News wanted photos of high school football and basketball Division 1 prospects for a new magazine it is publishing next summer.
Catholic Central is an awesome 6-0 and ranked 3rd in the State of Michigan.
Niko is a bonifide Division 1 fullback who typically runs over opposing team tacklers, also plays nose tackle on defense and captains the varsity squad.
I also snapped some photos of CC running back Anthony Capatina and tight end Anthony Erickson.
See the Catholic Central Gallery
October 10th - St. Johns College HS/Bishop McNamara
Back home in Virginia, I set up a photo shoot with St. Johns outstanding junior tackle Kevin McReynolds before their game with Bishop McNamara October 10th.
Scout magazine ranked the 6-4, 284 pound McReynolds one of the top high school defensive tackles in the U.S.A.
While shooting game shots, I also focused in on McNamara’s Hannibal Robinson, who is ranked among nation’s top junior running backs.
A tough battle on the gridiron between 14th Washington Metropolitan ranked St. Johns and 18th Bishop McNamara was decided by a mere three points with the victory laurels going to Bishop McNamara.
New Available Photo Lists and Galleries
New in the Available Lists and Galleries:Bristol White Sox 2009, Elizabethon Twins 2009, Greenville Drive, Lowell Spinners 2009, Rome Braves 2009 and many more for 2009 now in the Featured Galleries!
Brad Meyers
WoodSportsPhotography.com©2009
Rodger at Lynchburg
Rodger and Matt McSwain, Lynchburg Pirates at Potomac. Photo by John Kazlo.
2008 Photo Lists for Billings, Birmingham and Ogden
New in the Available Photo Listings for 2008. See my most recent player photos that are available.
Two New Sporting News Covers are on the Stands...
2008 Sporting News Baseball Annual Cover-Washington Nationals 3B-Ryan Zimmerman and 2008 Sporting News Pro Draft Annuals with University of Virginia's top NFL Draft Prospect, Chris Long.
Erie & Harrisburg in the Gallery...Trenton Too...
Click the image to view it larger.Visit the gallery for Erie, Harrisburg and Trenton. SEARCH WoodSportsPhotography.com
Click the image to view it larger.Visit the gallery for Updated: College Sports Consolidated by School
Updated in the Photo Gallery are the College Sports links. Click the College Sports link and then your school. Find all the sports photo galleries for each school in one place!
