Baseball in Fort Wayne

Several mini-news items that I have not been able to keep up on as of late. Here’s a quick recap with links:

• Back to traditional rotation (LaMond Pope: May 23) – The Wizards officially pulled the plug on the 8-man (piggy-back) rotation and went back to the traditional 5-man rotation. The setup had its critics and its champions, but I think everyone – players and fans – are pleased with the return to normalcy so-to-speak.
• Scott Woodward makes All-Big South (Bluffton News Banner: 5/23) – “Coastal Carolina freshman third baseman Scott Woodward, a 2007 Norwell graduate, was named to the first team of the 2008 Big South Conference baseball team. Woodward also was Freshman of the Year. Woodward ranked first in the Big South in the regular season with 35 stolen bases, 42 walks, a .513 on-base percentage and 25 hit-by-pitches. He also ranks seventh in batting average (.352) and second in runs scored (64). In Big South games, he was third with a .405 batting average and was first in stolen bases, walks and on-base percentage, while ranking second in runs scored. He also was among the top 10 in slugging percentage in overall and conference games. Nationally, he is 10th in the country in stolen bases and fifth in hit-by-pitches.”
• Billy Hogan Plays for the Atlantic City Surf (The New Ottowa Rapidz Blog) – Former Fort Wayne Wizard, Billy Hogan was selected by the Padres in the 5th round in 2003. He’s suiting up for the Atlantic City Surf of the CanAm League.
• IPFW: Knowling Named Summit League First Team (NCAA: 5/27) – IPFW junior Brandon Knowling was named to the Summit League’s First Team in voting conducted by conference coaches. The lefty was third in the league in ERA with the 2.91 mark and fourth in the conference in batting average by opponents at .249. He was tied for fifth in wins (7), and ninth in strikeouts per nine innings with 6.75. Senior center fielder, Jared Davis, was selected to the conference’s second team. His slugging percentage of .574 and doubles mark of 36 are also school records.
• I want this interview, in fact, I’m begging for it (ScoutAbout: 5/18) – Scout was inspired by a TV segment that featured former Fort Wayne Daisies player, Pat Scott. “I realized, I want an interview like that. I want to interview someone who played in the AAGPBL and I want to be able to reflect on the memorabilia and the memories. Yeah, I’m a sentimental softie, but I’m a sentimental softie who loves sports and how they were able to make the history books not by records but by paving ways and creating opportunities for people to succeed who otherwise wouldn’t have been given a chance.” Might I suggest Isabel Alvarez?
• Peter Ciofrone Named Pacific Coast League Batter of the Week (The Raw Feed: 5/28) – Ciofrone, 24, batted .429 (12-for-28) with four homers, three doubles, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a .964 slugging percentage in seven games played during the week. It was enough to earn him the award; the second Portland Beavers player to earn it this season. Maybe he’ll be part of the big changes coming to the Padres later this summer.
• Pinto: Soria deal makes sense for Royals (The Sporting News: 5/21) – David Pinto weighs in on why the extension of the former Wizards pitcher makes sense for the Kansas City Royals.
• Former Wizard, Michael Cuddyer isn’t worried about power, but he did lead the Twins to an extra inning win.
• Hardball Capital not posting latest stories (Fort Wayne Observed: 5/28) – Mitch Harper points out that Fort Wayne Wizards’ owners, Hardball Capital have been a bit lax in posting news stories to their website as of late. Hmmmm….
• Jake Peavy Resumes Throwing (Friar John’s Blog: 5/27) – The former Wizards pitcher and current Padres’ ace, is on the disabled list because of an elbow strain. He rested the elbow and was to resume throwing last Saturday, but soreness persisted so the second MRI was ordered. That came up clean and he’ll begin throwing again.

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