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
New Pictures in the Galleries
2009 has started with pictures of the Louisville Bats, Carolina Mud Cats, Salem Red Sox, Erie Sea Wolves, Bowie Bay Sox, and Delmarva Shorebirds. For a list of players check the Available Photo Lists.
Rodger at Lynchburg
Rodger and Matt McSwain, Lynchburg Pirates at Potomac. Photo by John Kazlo.
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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.
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.
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.