Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for July, 2008

As previously reported, IPFW baseball coach, Billy Gernon has resigned to take a jobe with Michigan State. That means the school needs a new head coach:

Head Baseball Coach Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), an NCAA Division I institution and a member of the Summit League, is accepting applications for the position of Head Baseball Coach. The head coach is responsible for all aspects of IPFW’s Baseball program, including (but not limited to) practice and game preparation, recruiting and retention of student-athletes, budget management, fundraising, scheduling, public relations, community service and strict adherence to all NCAA and university rules. Additionally, this position is responsible to instruct health, physical education and recreation (HPER) classes for the School of Education. The successful candidate must be committed to the student-athlete’s academic, personal and athletic development, and will demonstrate the ability to successfully recruit and motivate Division I student-athletes. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and should have successful collegiate coaching experience at the Division I level; extensive recruiting experience with a strong familiarity with Indiana high school baseball programs; strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills; a working knowledge of NCAA rules a willingness; a record of integrity and leadership to advance the goals of the IPFW Department of Athletics including fundraising and a commitment to the academic success and graduation of student-athletes. Apply online at www.ipfw.jobs/jobs, Job # 0801042

This week on Talkin’ Sports, Bruce Stephens, Director of the Fort Wayne Express Track Club will talk about the upcoming trip to the AAU Junior Olympics for 40 athletes, ages 7-18.

We’ll be chatting with Wizards GM Mike Nutter about the current homestand, upcoming promotions and the Monday return of Ryne Sandberg to Memorial Stadium with his Peoria ballclub.

We also hope to check in with Tim Katzman, Director of Corporate Communications with the San Diego Padres.

We’ll recap local sports news and open the  phone lines for your comments, suggestions, rants and opinions.

We’re Talkin Sports every Saturday morning at 10 on FM100 Talks! 100.1FM.

Geoff Young, who covers the Padres organization over at Ducksnorts has posted his spotlight on Fort Wayne. It includes a brief team overview, highlights some of the more highly touted and breakthrough prospects and includes a nice interview with John Conniff of MadFriars.com, where he discusses his recent trip to our area.

There are many comments (wish I could get that level of comments here!). Lots of good stuff there too.

A little over a year ago, I was a newly published author who was going to my first professional book signing at Barnes & Noble (in Jefferson Pointe). I had my ideas about what to expect, and everything pretty much went that way until the unexpected happened.

About half way through, a friendly-faced woman who was wearing an AAGPBL  sweatshirt emerged from beyond a series of bookshelves at the store much the same way Shoeless Joe Jackson (ably played by Ray Liotta) emerges from the corn husks in Field of Dreams. One of Isabel Alvarez’s former GE co-workers had informed me earlier in the day that she might be coming, so I was pretty certain who the woman was.

She was very soft spoken but we quickly struck up a conversation and she stayed for pretty much the remainder of the signing as we talked about baseball, Fort Wayne, her times with the Daisies and more. She also kindly signed next to her picture for folks who purchased the book.

It was a great experience indeed. Since that time, I have had the great fortune to talk with Isabel more and have found that first impression to be accurate. And, her passion for baseball and the AAGPBL in particular is apparent within just a few moments of meeting her and you can’t help but be reminded of this fact every time you see her.

This past spring, Isabel was honored by the Northeast Indiana Baseball Assocation (NEIBA) with the Bob Parker Memorial Award. Not only was she deserving, but she was truly humbled by an honor she never expected to receive. No offense to the other honorees, inductees, the emcee or keynote speaker Tony Richards, but her acceptance of the award was among the most memorable moments of that night in my mind.

It brought a smile to my face to see her handing out autographed baseball cards to those in attendance – because they were going faster than she cold hand them out. And, even though I had her autograph in my own book already, I had to get a card too.

Today, she sent me a link to an article in the News-Sentinel about a book that is being written about her life and baseball career. It was with much joy for her that I read the article as it detailed more.

But however much Alvarez’s past and present contributions to baseball are commemorated, she credits the game itself for the majority of opportunities she’s had in her life” exactly the point author Kathy Williams plans to touch upon in a book chronicling Alvarez’s life.

Right now, the book is tentatively titled “Life After the League: From La Tilla del Cerro to All-American. It likely will recount Alvarez’s family life in Cuba to her days as a professional baseball player in America and life after the league. The book is scheduled for publication by the end of the year.

It’s definitely one I am looking forward to reading.  Congrats again Isabel!

IPFW head baseball coach Billy Gernon has stepped down after nine seasons at the helm of the Mastodons program to accept a position at Michigan State. He will join the staff of new Michigan State head coach Jake Boss, Jr. who came from Eastern Michigan after leading the Eagles to their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003.  Gernon’ coaching duties with the Spartans will include offense, outfield, and baserunning.  He will begin those duties immediately.

In nine seasons as the Mastodons coach, Gernon compiled an overall record of 157-275-2.  He was 115-222-2 with the ‘Dons at the Division I level. Gernon’s IPFW teams consistently excelled in the classroom, averaging better than a 3.0 grade point average during his tenure and he also spearheaded numerous improvement projects to Mastodon Field, including the construction of the new outfield wall at the ballpark last season.

source: CSTV.com

It’s been and up and down year for former Wizards pitcher, right hander Jack Cassel.

The Astros have announced he’s being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to start Tuesday’s game against the Pirates, the team he collected his first career win against. Cassel has appeared in four games for Houston this season, going 1-0 with a 6.28 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.

Luke Carlin’s ninth-inning throwing error contributed to a 9-5 Padres loss against the Cardinals. With slugger, Albert Pujols on first base in a tie game and the pitcher at-bat, Carlin threw to first base in a pick off attempt. The ball sailed past Edgar Gonzalez (who was covering first during the bunt attempt) and rolled into right field. Pujols went to third and later scored on Aaron Miles’ grand slam.

Like Carlin, another former Wizards player is a rookie, Chase Headley, with the Friars this season. Both are learning in the midst of a miserable season. But neither will allow their inexperience to be the scapegoat.

“From having played in the Minor Leagues, we know how to play the game … and we expect to play the game the right way here,” Headley said. “But you know that mistakes are going to happen, and they’re probably going to happen more to the younger guys than the older guys. But I don’t look at it as an excuse. When you make mistakes, you try and learn from them and never make them again. But I don’t think it’s acceptable, [just because] we are young, that we make mistakes” [source: MLB.com]

Think that Indiana doesn’t complete with the rest of the nation on the ball diamond? Perhaps you should reconsider those thoughts.

Take for example, the St. Joe’s Little League. Five of the league’s baseball teams recently won Little League District 10 championships in leagues that range from 11 to 15 teams from Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana area. Three of those squads have already advanced through far enough state tournament berths.

“We’ve got a talented group of kids,” [league vice president, Greg] Hadden said. “My 12-year-olds alone, 10 of them have been playing together since they were 9- and 10-year-olds. That’s where you start” [source: Disney’s Wide World of Sports Baseball Complex in Orlando, Fla. from Aug. 3-10.

“When we went into this, we were not on anybody’s radar; teams from Indiana don’t get a lot of hype compared to Texas, Florida and Alabama,” said Shane Stout, the coach of the U13 team, as the organization had only one team reach this level previously. “You’ve got to pinch yourself to realize what has happened” [source: IndyStar].

And as local players go on to excel in Little League or High School, look also to the tremendous number of local standouts who are excelling at the college level. Several others are playing in Minor League Baseball and even at the Major League Level. These homegrown players have learned to play the game the right way through solid leagues; like the St. Joes Little League, like Wallen Baseball, like Wildcat Baseball.

It’s the coaches and parents who volunteer their time and experience to serve as teachers and mentors. Folks like, Gary Rogers, who has served the sport over two decades at Bishop Luers. His record there is a 352-302 (that’s over 600 games folks), he’s worked with Wildcat Baseball and within the SAC and the state’s coaches’ associations. He coached Luers to its first state championship with a 14-8 win over Elwood this past June, and then served as head coach of the North All-Stars in the three-game series against at Notre Dame’s Eck Stadium.

Along the way, there are a number of lives he’s touched and kids he’s developed. The same is true for the many other coaches at local high schools, middle schools and on the Little League diamonds. It’s that being the case, it’s no wonder so many of our stars are excelling on and off the field.

You say baseball is all about ballparks, money, commercialism and merchandising? I say your watching the wrong game. Look to the smaller fields with the smaller stars. You see big time talent and big time hearts of those who help build their character.

Yes, the spirit of the game is alive and well in Fort Wayne and all of Northeast Indiana.

The San Diego Padres recently acquired right-handed pitcher Evan Scribner from the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Tony Clark. Scribner will be assigned to Single-A Lake Elsinore, but as Paul Depodesta reports, it was a call from Wizards’ skipper, Doug Dascenzo that may have gotten the wheels turning on this deal:

In addition to the reports we receive from our scouts, both amateur and pro, we also ask our player development staffs to weigh in on players in their leagues. Generally we don’t ask for too much volume or detail. After all, our staffs are busy enough managing their own teams. However, we do ask that they leave a voicemail with some specifics if there is an opposing player they particularly like. That way we can make sure our scouts follow up with a more formal report as the season continues. In this case, Doug Dascenzo, our manager in Ft. Wayne, phoned in a report on Evan earlier this season which initiated our interest.

See Also: Padres Press Release | Clark for Scribner at Friar Forecast

When I researched and drafted up the mid-season report of Estranged Friars who are currently playing with different MLB organizations, I noticed that several had landed in the Seattle Mariners farm system. Travis Chick, Jared Wells (Wizards in 2004), Jon Huber (Wizard in 2003) are currently in that system. Chick is in West Tennessee (AA), while Wells and Huber are at Triple-A Tacoma with Shawn Garrett; another former Wizard. I missed on the original list, but after learning more, realize he makes for a great Wizards Where R They?

Garrett was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 29th round (890th overall) way back in 1997. He chose to spend one year at Olney Community College before beginning his pro ball days. His 1998 and 1999 seasons were spent in the Arizona and Pioneer Rookie Leagues before settling into the 2000 season in Fort Wayne. While with the Wizards, he appears in 123 games where he collected 119 hits (43 for extra bases), 10 home runs and 55 runs batted in over 438 at-bats. It was enough to post a respectable .272 average to go with a .341 on-base percentage.

The 2001 season saw Garrett build upon that success at Lake Elsinore, where he was batting 3.13 before being sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with RHP Shawn Camp in exchange for outfielder, Emil Brown. He hit .294 the rest of the 2001 campaign and spent all of 2002 and 2003 with Double-A Altoona and posted similar numbers; hovering right around .300 with quality at-bats that saw a rise in power and run production.

Before the start of the 2004 season, Garrett was traded to the Colorado Rockies and assigned to their Double-A squad in Tulsa. He again produced solid numbers and was promoted to their Triple-A level following an opening from the trade that sent Larry Walker to the Cardinals. In the thirty games that comprised his first Triple-A stint, Garrett posted a .371 batting average with 43 hits, 25 runs and 22 runs batted in to accompany his three home runs and .461 OBP.

Garrett became a free agent following the 2004 campaign and singed with Oakland, where he was assigned to their Triple-A Sacramento team. The 2005 season saw another good showing, falling just short of a .300 average, but producing a career high 82 runs batted in over 508 at-bats. His 111 strikeouts are also a career high.

“It was a consistent year. I was in the line-up every day. I thought (coming off this season) it was my best opportunity to make the big team” [source: Tacoma Weekly].

Garrett split the 2006 season between Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and Triple A Memphis (St. Louis), but his numbers took a serious nosedive at both locales; barely hitting .220 at either stop. The 2007 season saw a rebound of sorts while playing with Double-A Trenton (Yankees) and Double-A Birmingham (ChiSox).

2008 saw Garrett start the year with another organization at Double-A West Tennessee (Mariners). After 23 games, he was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma where he continues to make his case for big league action. In 11 seasons, he’s played in 11 different MLB organizations. He was named an All-Star in 1998, 2000 (with the Wizards), 2002, 2003, and 2004 in addition to posting consistent solid numbers, the only exception being in 2006.

On the season, Garrett is hitting .276 through July 13. He’s slugged 6 home runs and drove in 43 runs while collecting 128 total bases in 304 at-bats. His on-base percentage is hovering right around .420 and hit safely in 6 of his last 10 games.

“My little window of prospect status has come and gone . . . Now I want to do whatever I can do to help myself be a good player, plus switch hitting should help me stay in the game for awhile longer.”

Update (February 18, 2009): It appears that Garrett’s career will fall just short of reaching the pros. According to this Bloomberg article, he has retired after eleven seasons as a pro.

See Also: Shawn Garrett Bio at Ford-Mobley.com | Cougar’s in the Pros | Shawn Garrett’s MiLB Profile