Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for July, 2008

Competing in 10 games over 7 days, the Summit City Sluggers captured the CABA World Series July 25th, held in and around Westfield, IN. The tournament included 37 teams, some from as far away as Panama and Brazil.

The Sluggers came from behind to defeat the Louisville Panthers 10-8 in 8 innings in the final championship game. Tailur Szarenski drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 8th with a double to right-center, chasing home Andy Roser. Justin Bair then drove in the insurance run with a double down the left field line. Ryan Keaffaber earned the pitching victory, throwing the final 3 innings while allowing just 2 baserunners.

In order to reach the championship, the Sluggers advanced through the winner’s bracket by defeating the #9 seed Hilliard (OH) Colts 11-4, the #1 seed Columbus (OH) Cobras 4-1, the #4 seed Indiana Bulls 12-4, and the #7 seed Panthers 12-0. The Panthers beat the Sluggers 12-11 in the first championship game, setting up the dramatic finale. The Sluggers went 3-1 during pool play defeating the Middletown (KY) Bats 5-2, the Springfield (OH) Pythons 13-4 and The First Nine (OH) 14-3, and were beaten by the White Sox Elite (IL) 8-7, resulting in an 8 seed for the Sluggers after pool play.

For the week, Evan Brown (3), Matt Chronister, Keaffaber (2) , Garrett Snyder, and Roser all earned pitching victories. Braydin Stell, Josh VanMeter (2), Snyder (2), Chronister (2) and Austin Dettmer all earned holds, and Keaffaber earned 2 saves . Dettmer and Brown each suffered a loss.

Offensively, the Sluggers were paced by VanMeter, who batted .667 scored 19 runs and had 11 RBI. Brown hit .654 with 15 runs and 20 RBI. Roser hit .455 with 10 runs and 15 RBI. Keaffaber hit 419 with 9 runs and 9 RBI. Szarenski hit .382 with 8 runs and 5 RBI. Zach McKinstry hit .367 with 11 runs and 7 RBI. Dettmer hit .348 with 10 runs and 9 RBI. Bair hit .333 with 5 runs and 7 RBI. Snyder hit .219 with 5 runs and 8 RBI. Chronister hit .200 with a run. Drew Schnitz scored 3 runs and had an RBI.

Pictured, left to right: Front row; Justin Bair, Zach McKinstry, Drew Schnitz, Josh VanMeter, Austin Dettmer, Braydin Stell. Back row; Coach Darol VanMeter, Ryan Keaffaber, Andy Roser, Coach Alex McKinstry, Garrett Snyder, Matt Chronister, Coach Neil Brown, Evan Brown, Tailur Szarenski, Coach Greg VanMete

Note: The above photo and information was sent to be today by Jim Shovlin. 

Add another former Wizards player to the Astros organization. Despite speculation that Hawkins would be traded back to the Twins, LaTroy Hawkins has been traded to the Houston Astros for minor league infielder Matt Cusick who was playing at Class A Lexington. The Yankees also sent cash to the Astros as part of the deal.

“We’ve had ongoing discussions with the Yankees on a couple different occasions about LaTroy over the course of the season,” Astros general manager Ed Wade said. “And he was on our list over the off-season. We made an offer to him and had had discussions. He ended up signing with the Yankees, but he was somebody that we had on our radar screen back during the off-season. So the flurry of conversations that led to this deal basically took place within the last 24 hours” [Source: Houston Chronicle].

The Astros also have former Wizards, pitcher Jack Cassel and outfielder Yordany Ramirez in their organizations. Cassel has been up and down between Triple-A Roundrock and the parent club most of the season, while Ramirez has struggled at Triple-A Roundrock.

In 2002, the San Diego Padres selected George Kottaras in the 20th round of the draft with the 595th overall pick.

In 2004, he put together a solid 78 games with the Fort Wayne Wizards, collecting 84 hits, 40 runs, 18 doubles, 7 home runs and driving in 46 runs while drawing 51 walks over 271 at-bats. He boasted a .310 average, a .415 on base percentage and a .461 slugging percentage.

Also in 2004, Kottaras played in the Olympics, where he served as first baseman and backup catcher for the Greece team. He collected three hits to help the team come from behind and defeat Italy 11-7. It was the team’s first and only win.

The following year, he did well at the High-A level, batting .303 before his promotion to Double-A Mobile. Since that time, his average has been pretty much on the decline. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in September of 2006 to complete an Aug 31 trade for David Wells.

Also in 2006, Kottaras was a Futures Game selection. During the game, he slugged a two run homer off Phillip Hughes and also collected an RBI off of Homer Bailey.

Today, he remains in the Rod Sox farm system where he is in the second consecutive season with Triple-A Pawtucket. As a Minor Leaguer who hasn’t yet gotten even a cup of coffee with a big league club, Kottaras has been an All-Star twice in addition to his other achievements.

Given the lackluster performances of Boston’s catchers this season and Jason Veritek’s impending free agency, I thought we’d get a chance to see Kottaras this season. Yet, with Kevin Cash emerging as the heir to Doug Mirabelli in catching Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball, and Veritek’s status as a BoSox living legend, it’s doubtful. And now, it appears that the Red Sox are targeting catchers in the trade market (perhaps they may be after the Texas Rangers’ Taylor Teagarden, who was recently sent back to Triple-A after a short stint with the big club.

On a bright note, Kottaras seems to have found his power stroke this year, however. On the season, he’s hitting .235 with a career high 19 home runs and 55 RBI’s. He’s drawn 52 walks and struck out 84 times in 307 at-bats. Three of his dingers have come in the last ten games.

Photo by Chad Gramling

Fort Wayne Wizards right-hander Jeremy McBryde was named Midwest League pitcher of the week for the week of July 21-27. McBride won two starts last week, beating Quad City and Peoria. over 12 innings pitched, he allowed just two runs, 11 hits and gave up only two walks. He had 14 strikeouts en route to pushing his record to 5-7 with a 4.79 ERA.

The honor is the first MWL POW honor earned by a Wizards player this season. Hat tip to Friar John and LaMond Pope.

Photo by Chad Gramling.

LaTroy Hawkins was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees following the trade that brought in Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh. Hawkins signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract last winter and had hoped to resurrect his career in New York following a handfull of rather disappointing seasons. Now, his DFA status means the Yanks must trade, release or send him to the minors within ten days of the move. On the season, Hawkins was 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 33 games.

“I’m fine,” Hawkins said as he left Fenway before Saturday’s game. “I’m disappointed in the way I pitched. That’s about the only thing I’m disappointed in.”

But if there is a silver lining to the story, it’s that Hawkins may receive yet another chance to turn things around. Several teams throughout Major League Baseball are seeking middle relief help.

One of his former teams, the Minnesota Twins, are interested in bringing him back. He pitched with the Twins from 1995 to 2003 and had been one of the team’s many “homegrown” talents over the years; having risen through the ranks of the team’s farm system.

With the Twins, he was a reliable and sometimes dominant set-up man. Now, with Pat Neshek down, the Twins are looking for help bridging the starters to closer gap. Hawkins just might be the answer.

While multiple teams are said to have interest, one of his other former  teams, the Rockies, aren’t among them. Colorado’s GM, Dan O’Dowd said bringing Hawkins back is not in his current plans.

With the Wizards in their inaugural season of 1993, Hawkins put together what may be the best individual season performance in the team’s history. Hawkins still holds Wizards records in ERA (2.06), wins (15), complete games (4), shutouts (2), strikeouts in a season (179) and strikeouts in a game (15). Even more impressive is the fact that Hawkins accomplished these totals during the first Wizards season and they still stand more than a decade later.

Photo courtesy of the Fort Wayne Wizards

• Eddie Bonine tossed seven innings of one-hit ball to lead the Toledo Mudhens to victory in what was the 500th game played at Fifth Third Field. Bonine (11-2), made his third start following a one-month stint with the parent club, the Detroit Tigers. He walked one and struck out seven. Maybe the yeah-yoos with OMGReds were there for this game and got some pics. Pretty sure thy went to Sunday’s game tho.
• A day after his grandmother passed away, Torii Hunter homered twice, drove in five and scored four runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels over the Baltimore Orioles 11-6. He went 3-for-3 with two walks. It was Hunter’s third two-homer game of the season and the 11th of his career.
• Jake Peavy, the reigning Cy Young Award winner struck out 10 over seven innings en route to a rare Padres’ victory on Sunday. The right hander allowed one run and four hits with three walks in his second double-digit strikeout game of the season and 26th of his career.
• Lamond Pope’s Wizardsblog will be moving next month. The new address will be: http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS07

The Matt Bush saga continues.

Reportedly, the three-time and oft-injured Wizard was recently involved in an off-field fight where he suffered bodily harm. This news comes on the heels of Grady Fuson telling the News Sentinel that Bush is progressing well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

The injury must not be too substantial, though. The 22-year-old shortstop turned pitcher is still participating in workouts at the club’s training site.

About a month after Bush became a millionaire prospect as the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft, Bush and his brother Jeremy were arrested at a sports bar. Bush later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, trespassing and underage possession or consumption of alcohol and was suspended by the Padres.

“Obviously people are going to know he was in a fight,” Fuson said. “To the extent of that fight, people are going to have to guess. How it was caused, there was support there for him.

The San Diego Padres Vice President of Scouting and Player Development, Grady Fuson is in town with the Wizards this weekend. The News-Sentinel’s Nick West caught up with Fuson and talked about this seasons standouts, recent draft picks, the rehabs of former number one picks Matt Bush and Nick Schmidt and a host of other topics.

A great read. Definitely check it out.

I have hesitated to comment on the minor league brawl that everyone seems to be talking about because it really does not involve the Wizards or Fort Wayne players. Plus, the actions of the individuals are horrendous and downright shameful. Baseball doesn’t need any more negative attention.

I personally hope that Julio Castillo, the pitcher who foolishly chucked the ball toward the dugout and instead hit a fan, never plays professional baseball again. Yes, I think it is that bad. If we can ban Pete Rose for his foolish actions, we can ban a Low-A never-will-be for assaulting fans.

In any regard, local Wizards beat writer, Nick West has his thoughts on the incident. He isn’t too surprised that it happened between Dayton and Peoria.

• With the return of catcher, Josh Bard, from the disabled list, former Wizard, Luke Carlin was optioned back to Triple-A Portland. Since his May 10th debut, he had been behind the plate in 30 games including 23 starts. At the plate, he has gone 11-for-80 (.138) with three doubles, one triple, two RBI and 10 runs scored. But, with the July 31 trade deadline looming, it might be a short-lived stint. There’s been a lot of speculation that the Friars are trying to move Barrett or Bard. Padres GM Kevin Towers indicated otherwise, so we’ll have to wait out the week or so and see what happens.
• Torii Hunter returned to the Angels’ lineup yesterday. He had been placed on bereavement to spend time with his ailing grandmother, Edna Cobbs, who passed away Friday after a five-year illness.
• Still no set date for Michael Cuddyer’s return to the Twins’ lineup. He’s been on the DL since June 28th due to a strained tendon in the knuckle of his left index finger. The outfielder has also had soreness in the palm of his hand. An exam found no additional problems in Cuddyer’s hand.
• MadFriars has a good interview with current Wizards’ right hander, Aaron Breit. (Subscription required). He discusses the nerve problems he had in his elbow before returning to Fort Wayne, mechanical changes and overcoming early career struggles.