Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for March, 2008

Many former Fort Wayne Wizards who go on to play in independent leagues. You may remember a post a couple weeks ago about L.J. Biernbaum and Michael Ryan playing in the Atlantic League.

Another player who has found a place in indy ball is right handed pitcher, Jarrett Gardner. In 2007, he emerged as ace of the Lincoln Salt Dogs of the American Association. He posted a 10-4 record with a 2.97 earned run average; which ranked second in the league. He was also fourth in wins had a remarkable strikeout-to-walks ratio by recording 95 strikeouts and walking just 18 batters.

The 27-year-old Gardner was originally drafted out of the University of Arkansas by the Boston Red Sox in 2003 and spent three seasons in their system before making his first stint with Lincoln in 2006. He left the Saltdogs in mid-season to join the Wizards; where he produced a 5-4 record in 13 starts.

Photo from the Lincoln Salt Dogs’s website.

[tags]Jarrett Gardner, American Association, Lincoln Salt Dogs, Independent Baseball, Baseball in Fort Wayne[/tags]

• Two Fort Wayne ties show up in Matthew Whipps (The Diamond Cutter) list of “The Best NL Prospects You Don’t Know” that appears over at Big League Futures. At 2B, he lists Former Wizards, Matt Antonelli. At pitcher, he includes Norwell High School Alumnus and Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand, Jarrod Parker.
• Former Wizards pitcher, Justin Germano, threw the historic first pitch (a strike) in the China Series. Today, he officially was named to a Padres’ rotation that also includes former Wizard, Jake Peavy. Germano will be the number 5 starter after a consistent spring. And he is pitching with something to prove. If you want to know more, take a gander at Phillies’ beat writer Todd Zolecki’s wonderful post over at “The Zo Zone”. He certainly provides a lot of back story to Germano.
• Former Wizards pitcher, Eric Cyr had been trying to catch on with the Texas Rangers this spring. He was released with several others today.
• The Cleveland Indians have made a couple moves involving former Wizards: They designated Aaron Fultz for assignment and optioned Josh Barfield to Triple-A Buffalo. He’ll meet up with Jeff Harris in Buffalo.
• The Seattle Mariners have optioned pitcher Jon Huber to Triple-A Tacoma.
• The Padres have acquired first baseman, Justin Huber for a player to be named later and cash considerations. Huber has never been a Wizard and likely won’t enter their organization in Single-A, so he probably never will be a Wizard. However, the PTBNL may signal a former Wizard being sent over to Kansas City later in the Spring or during the season. Hopefully they don’t snag someone like Joakim Soria again.

[tags]Matt Antonelli, Jarrod Parker, Justin Huber, Justin Germano, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals[/tags]

The battle for the Houston Astros rotation lost a one of the candidates today when former Fort Wayne Wizards pitcher, Jack Cassel was optioned to Triple-A. He pitched well this spring and definitely garnered attention from the Astros general manager, Ed Wade and manager, Cecil Cooper.

“Basically, they reiterated that they felt I did a great job,” Cassel said. “I opened some eyes in my time here. In the innings that I got, I took full advantage of the opportunity I was given. They’re looking for me to go down, have success at Triple-A, continue to pitch and get innings, and fingers crossed, I’m the name they call when they need somebody.”

In December, Jack Cassel signed with the Houston Astros after spending his career in the San Diego Padres organization and making his Major League debut with them in 2007 on August 10th. In that game, he notched his first big league win by pitching a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cassel will join another former Wizards player, outfielder Yordany Ramirez, who signed with the Astros last November. Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A earlier this spring on March 10th.

[tags]Jack Cassel, Yordany Ramirez, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres[/tags]

Spring Training is a time for veteran stars to return to form, for rookies and prospects to fine tune their game and impress their skippers and – among many other things – it’s a time for many to battle for a spot with their respective clubs.

So is the case with Luis Rivas and Clay Condrey.

As detailed at here at BaseballinFortWayne.com, Luis Rivas has fought hard this spring for a roster spot with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Once a top prospect of the Minnesota Twins and their Opening Day starter in 2002, Rivas fell on rough times when he broke his wrist and never really regained full form. This spring, he has caught on with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will once again be an Opening Day second baseman. The Pirates purchased Rivas’ contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and plan to start him on Opening Day if Freddy Sanchez’s sore shoulder doesn’t allow him to serve in the role.

And while the security of a roster roster spot for pitcher, Clay Condrey isn’t quite as sure, signs point to him having a role in the Phillies pen once camp breaks and the team heads north.

But unfortunately, the news isn’t quite as good for some other former Wizards, as the Padres cut ties with eight players yesterday. Four of them — Nick Crosta, Kyle Stutes, Brandon Higelin, and Yesid Salazar — are former Wizards. Hope they are able to catch on elsewhere.

[tags]Luis Rivas, Clay Condrey, Nick Crosta, Kyle Stutes, Brandon Higelin, Yesid Salazar, Spring Training, Roster Cuts, Fort Wayne Wizards[/tags]

Maybe he was trying to increase his speed for another stint in professional wrestling. Okay, probably not. But the Chicago White Sox’s 31-year-old catcher, A.J. Pierzynski arrived in Arizona with 15 fewer pounds on his frame and ready to do whatever he could to put last year’s nightmare as a team in the background [source: mlb.com].

Reportedly, the former Wizards catcher decided to change eating habits while maintaining his regular workout in an effort to shed a little extra weight and reach an optimal condition.

“I’m getting older and don’t want to carry the extra weight,” said Pierzynski of his slight conditioning change. “I worked out just as hard, did the same stuff I’ve always done.

This is actually the first I have heard about Pierzynski in a while. He certainly comes with a reputation. Do a simple search on-line, and you will find many stories about him being one of the most hated players in the game to a downright miserable person. How many of them are true, I don’t know.

But despite the professional wrestling, the fight with Michael Barret and the many other incidents that have happened, I am sure Twins fans love the man. It was back on November 14, 2003 that the Twins traded A.J. and cash to the San Francisco Giants. In return, they got a couple quality talents; Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser. The Giants released Pierzynski about 13 months later.

Pierzynski was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round (71st overall) in the 1994 draft. He played with the Wizards in 1994 and 1995. Over 515 at-bats, he collected 144 hits, 35 doubles and 84 runs batted in. More about Pierzynski can be found in Baseball in Fort Wayne on page 109.

Photograph courtesy of the Fort Wayne Wizards.

[tags]A.J. Pierzynski, Minnesota Twins, Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano, San Francisco Giants, Trades, Fort Wayne Wizards[/tags]

As expected, Chase Headley was sent to Triple A. He had a good spring. In 23 games, he hit .349 in 43 at-bats with three doubles and a triple, and he led the team in home runs with four and runs batted in with 14. Had it not been for the fact that he has only been roaming the outfield for a mere few months, he may have cracked the opening day roster. Instead, the Padres would prefer he see more game action to fine tune his outfield prowess.

In other former Wizards news, you MUST check out the MiLB article by Kevin T. Czerwinski. He spotlights the organziations top 10 prospects, recaps the draft and precidts the organizational player of the year. I’ll give you a hint; he expects a gigantic year from El Gigante.

In this order he likes; Cedric hunter, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc, Matt Antonelli, Yefri Carvajal, Kyle Blanks, Will Veneble, Cesar Ramos, Mat Latos and Steve Garrison. There is a chance we’ll see both Carvajal and Latos this summer. All others, except for Garrison, are former Wizards. Not too shabby.

Be sure to check out the article. In addition to briefs analysis’s of each player and the draft recap, there are tons of audio files of 2007 highlights for each prospect and more.

[tags]Cedric hunter, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc, Matt Antonelli, Yefri Carvajal, Kyle Blanks, Will Veneble, Cesar Ramos, Mat Latos, Steve Garrison, Chase Headley, Fort Wayne Wizards[/tags]

It’s not often I get to blog about former Wizards when it doesn’t involve the Padres or Twins. When I do, it’s usually the Angels because of Torii Hunter or the Mets because of Oliver Perez. But today, I get to blog about Clay Condrey and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The right handed reliever went 5-0 with a 5.04 ERA over 50 innings in 2007. He has appeared in a team-leading nine Grapefruit League games this spring. During that span, he has posted a 3.48 earned run average in 10 1/3 innings as he fights for one of the Phillies’ bullpen jobs. He’s out of minor league options, so if the club doesn’t keep him on their roster, he’d have to clear waivers if they try to send him back down.

Condrey has earned a reputation of having a high ERA because he has been used to log innings when there was little on the line. Yet, when the situations are close and meaningful, he may often through one pitch to get out of an inning or put a quick end to a threat. His aggressiveness has made him a favorite of manager Charlie Manuel.

“He’s pitched good [this spring] and showed last year that he could pitch,” Manuel said. “He’s definitely in that mix of guys. He showed us last year what he could do.” [source:MLB.com]

Condrey made his big-league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2002 after four-plus seasons in the minors. During one of those seasons, he pitcher for the Wizards. In 1999, he was 2-3 with a .378 ERA over 42 games with Fort Wayne. He had 20 saves and struck out 47.

With some key injuries in the Phils’ pen at the moment, Condry appears to have a nice opportunity. The pitcher earned a spot on San Diego’s opening-day roster in 2003, but then struggled, got returned to the minors, and did not see a big league mound until 2006 with Philadelphia.

He made the opening-day roster last year but was shipped back to triple A (Ottowa) four times. He cleared waivers each time. That means no other team in baseball felt it could use Condrey, who ultimately had five stints with the Phillies and four with triple-A Ottawa.

“I’ll never be a front-runner,” Condrey said. “They’ll always think they can find something better. So I just have to pitch lights-out and try to make the decision tough for them.” [source: Philadelphia Enquirer].

[tags]Philadelphia Phillies, Clay Condrey, San Diego Padres, Relief Pitchers, Fort Wayne Wizards, Baseball in Fort Wayne[/tags]

Padres reporter, Corey Brock, recently posted some of his spring notes. He talks about Chase Headley having a bat that is Major League ready, but a glove that isn’t quite there yet. There are many indications that he’ll head to Triple-A Portland to begin the season. Friar Forum seems to agree with that sentiment. Matt Antonelli will join him.

Brock also discusses the three-times-a-Wizards, and 2004 number one overall draft pick, Matt Bush. He notes that “Bush has been throwing off flat ground for the last three weeks, though don’t expect him to get any time in a professional game anytime soon. He’ll likely face live hitters during instructional league.” Maybe we’ll see him in the Fort before 2008 is up. Poor guys should just take up residency here.

Speaking of shortstop’s (where Bush began his career), a supplemental-round pick last June, Drew Cumberland could open the season in Fort Wayne. That would likely make him one of the youngest players in the Midwest League in 2008. Cumberland was the 46th overall pick out of Pace High School in Pace, Fla., hit .310 last summer with the Padres’ the Arizona League entry level squad and then hit .333 at Eugene.

So, if you are keeping score, I expect to see Nick Schmidt [if he plays at all (Tommy John Surgery)], Drew Cumberland and Mitch Canham this summer. Yes . . . I’m anxiously awaiting the 2008 roster announcement.

[tags]Chase Headley, Matt Bush, Nick Schmidt, Drew Cumberland, Mitch Canham, Matt Antonelli, Corey Brock, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Wizards[/tags]

Former Wizards pitcher, and reigning National League Cy Young winner, Jake Peavy has had his name pop several times lately. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Peavy supports Clemens, Bonds (MLB.com): Bonds hit his 700th homer off Peavy near the end of the 2004 season and may have had the last at-bat of his career against him in the sixth inning this past Sept. 26 at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. In this article, Peavy says he’s saddened by the plight of Roger Clemens and equally as chagrined at the charges that Barry Bonds is facing.
• Peavy, Webb share mutual respect (MLB.com): The NL past two Cy Young Award winners: Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres. Together they have combined for 64 wins and a couple of playoff appearances during that span. Their clubs are NL West rivals and face each other 19 times a season. they are both right-handers and are the undisputed No. 1 starters and aces of their respective staffs. Both came to the big leagues at an early age and have shared similar career paths along the way.
• Padres ace Peavy still improving (MLB.com): Peavy was dominant in 2007. Yet, the idea that Peavy may be entering an even better point of his career is not a far-fetched hope. For Padres manager Bud Black, it looks more like the next logical step in the development of this brilliant career.

[tags]Jake Peavy, Fort Wayne Wizards, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Cy Young[/tags]

I thought I would turn back the clock today and pull up some photos from 2004. Looks like I was able to get a couple future Major Leaguers (Felix Pie, Mitch Maier, Ambiorix Burgos) during their minor moments. Enjoy

[Show as slideshow]

[tags]Felix Pie, Mitch Maier, Ambiorix Burgos, Drew Macias[/tags]