Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for August, 2008

Remember a few weeks ago when I suggested the new PDC between the Padres and the soon-to-be the team formerly known as the Wizards might result in better players coming through? Yeah . . . not off to a good start.

Seems that top pick Allan Dykstra has bypassed us and gone straight from rookie league ball to Class High-A Lake Elsinore. Thanks Padres. Can’t wait to watch another team almost compete for a playoff spot in 2009!!!

And to think I have defend you!

Three more games. That’s all that’s left in the history of baseball at Memorial Stadium.

Three more games. That’s all that’s left in the regular season home schedule of the Fort Wayne Wizards.

Three more games. That’s all that we’ll see the “Wizards” take the field in Fort Wayne, barring a miraculous run to make the playoffs.

In 1993, local old-timers like Red Braden ushered in an era of baseball in Fort Wayne. In 2008, a local up-and-comer who was a 2007 first-round draftpick will effectively bring that era to an end.

Jarrod Parker, the ninth overall pick in 2007, will take the mound for the visiting South Bend Silverhawks during Thursday’s Memorial Stadium finale against the home team Fort Wayne Wizards.

Parker is 11-5 during his first professional season. He has a 3.59 earned run average over 23 starts. In 112.2 innings, the former Norwell High School star has struck out 110. Last year, Parker helped lead the Knights to a 35-0 season, which included bringing home the Class 3A state baseball title, and Indiana’s Mr. Baseball in addition to several other accolades.

Wynn Pelzer (9-5) will start for the Wizards. In 28 games, Pelzer has a 2.84 ERA while allowing 107 hits, 28 bases on balls and 97 strikeouts in 114 innings.

The Fort Wayne Wizards have put together many great events and promotions for the week. It was kicked off with the naming of the All-Time Wizards on Sunday. Today, they announced the all-time Memorial Stadium team of players who came through Fort Wayne either as a visiting team or a home team. That list includes Alex Rodriguez, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Albert Pujols, Torii Hunter, Adam Dunn, Johnny Damon, Jake Peavy, and Billy Wagner among others.

Three more games. That’s all that’s left before the physical reminder of fifteen years worth of memories meets its fate with a wrecking ball. And the Wizards are senging it out with style.

After the last game, fans will be allowed to run the bases as they usually do. Limmer said they also will be given an opportunity to throw a “final pitch” from the pitcher’s mound. Front-office personnel considered having a ceremony to turn off the lights, but wanted the fans more actively involved.

And the chances are, Corey Kluber’s selection as last week’s Midewst League Pitcher of the Week will be the last in the grand history of the Fort Wayne Wizards.

Midwest League poses little challenge for him. On Aug. 19, Kluber had the week’s best start, striking out 11 batters over eight one-hit innings against Lansing. Unfortunately, the game was a pitcher’s duel that Fort Wayne lost in the 10th. Pitching against the same Lugnuts five days later, Kluber exacted a bit of revenge, and the win, this time with 10 strikeouts and four hits allowed over five innings.

Three more games. And tomorrow, one of the most recent breakthrough former Wizards, Chase Headley will field questions from fans in a live chat on padres.com at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Three more games. That’s all that’s left. And bloggers are memorializing Memorial Stadium in which he ask’s the Journal Gazette’s Ben Smith to tell us how he feels about it.

Three more games. And then several months during the offseason. That’s all that stands between this moment and opening day of a new era of baseball  in Fort Wayne. That’s when the first pitch will be thrown by a player from a yet-to-be-named Fort Wayne team from the mound at the ballpark at Harrison Square.

Three more games. That’s all that’s left before a hometown hero takes the mound in Fort Wayne. It’s ironic that it took fifteen years, but how fitting that it will be such a person to send the stadium out and effectively be the usher to the end of one era and the gatekeeper to the beginning of another.

From the Fort Wayne Wizards:

The final four regular season games at Memorial Stadium for the Wizards start tonight and run through this Thursday, August 28th!

Monday starts a four-game series with in-state rival, the South Bend Silver Hawks at 7:00 p.m. It’s the final Dollar Monday of the year, with $1.00 hot dogs, soft drinks and beer. In addition, the first 1,000 fans will receive a reusable grocery shopping bag from Digorno Pizza and Kroger.

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games, which both start at 7:00 p.m. will allow fans the opportunity to shop Memorial Stadium for Fort Wayne Wizards items in a ballpark garage sale. Multiple items, like baseballs and hats, will be available at amazing low prices.

Thursday the Wizards wrap up their regular season at Memorial Stadium with a 7:00 p.m. contest against South Bend. It’s the final Thirsty Thursday of the season, with $2.00 16-ounce beers and 20-ounce fountain drinks. The first 1,000 fans will receive mini replica Memorial Stadiums courtesy of Arby’s. Norwell High School grad, Jarrod Parker, is scheduled to pitch for the Silver Hawks. Also, fans will have a chance to throw a ceremonial “last pitch” at Memorial Stadium after the game.

For tickets, contact the Wizards Administrative Offices at 260-482-6400.

Former Fort Wayne Wizards first baseman and designated hitter, Kyle Blanks has taken the top spot in Baseball America’s Prospect Hot Sheet:

Why He’s Here: .480/.536/.960 (12-for-25), 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 5 R, 3 BB, 4 SO
The Scoop: It may be a lost season in San Diego, where the Padres have long been out of contention and unloaded Greg Maddux up the street to the Dodgers. But in the Padres system there are some encouraging storylines and they begin with Blanks, the 6-foot-6, 281-pound hoss who was a 2004 draft-and-follow from Yavapai (Ariz.) JC.

Blanks’ big week was highlighted by his 6-RBI, 5-for-7 showing Wednesday against Frisco. In that game, he ripped a double and two home runs, including the walk-off winner in the 12th inning.

Just 21, Blanks owns the eighth-best average (.313) in the Texas League as he has shown he is not a think-homer-first kind of basher. And look at his 91 RBIs. They are second, behind 25-year-old Tommy Everidge’s 108 and ahead of three others who are in their mid-20s. His 140 hits also are third-best in the league and, cementing his status has to be his home average. It’s .328, in a ballpark hardly known to be kind to hitters. Blanks’ defense also has not been lost on Texas League managers, who like his nifty foot work at first base (he’s committed five errors).

Former Wizards center fielder, Cedric Hunter also made the list at number 13 while possible future Wizard (or Fort Wayne player anyway), Jeff Decker landed number 11 for his performance in the Rookie-Level Arizona League.

This list is not a re-ranking of BA’s Top 100 Prospects. It’s a snapshot of who are the hottest prospects in baseball at a given time.

Following his MLB debut, Dirk Hayhurst spoke with the media and shared his experiences. It looks like he will get another start or two rather than being sent back to Portland.

San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said he wants to get a look at what Hayhurst can do. Hayhurst himself is a little curious himself, especially after getting his feet wet Saturday.

“I’m hungry for more,” he said. “I’m pleased I survived it, but I’m anxious to get another opportunity” [source: MiLB.com]

Congratulations on a great start Dirk. We’re looking forward to seeing what you can do the rest of the season too!

The Journal Gazette has beaten me to the punch on something I was planning for later. They have released a list of the all-time great Wizards (using their achievements while playing as Wizards versus their career retrospectives).

There are no real surprises for anyone who has followed the Wizards since they arrived in 1993. Torii Hunter, Jake Peavy and LaTroy Hawkins top the lists.  Sean Burroughs and JJ Trujillo, who had monster seasons with the Wizards are also easy choices. One surprise may be that Javier Velentin beats out A.J. Pierzynski. Will Venable (2006) also makes the list.

They also list all the former Wizards, which I also have available here. One interesting note on that; the timing shows an inadequacy of old print media. As they were going to press, former Wizards pitcher, Dirk Hayhurst was making his Major League debut. As a result, the list 68 total Wizards to reach the big show, when in actuality, it’s 69.

As previously reported, former Wizards pitcher Dirk Hayhurst is set to make his Major League debut today against Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants.

This debut marks the  seventh former Fort Wayne Wizards player to appear at the Major League level during 2008. Luke Carlin (catcher, Padres) , Jared Wells (Pitcher, Padres then traded to Mariners), Eddie Bonine (Pitcher, Tigers), Leo Rosales (Pitcher, Diamondbacks), Nick Hundley (Catcher, Padres) , Sean Kazmar (Shortstop, Padres) are the others.

But this debut is a bit unique. To suggest that many people know him for his writing prowess than his pitching stats is not an out of this world claim. The 27-year-old Hayhurst is the author of Baseball America’s Non-Prospect Diary. Reading it, you receive insight into the world of Minor League Baseball as well as his personality.

Some people are taken aback by his often less-than-friendly yet honest encounters. I tend to enjoy the real perspectives on things and gotta think it is exactly what BA had hoped for when they assigned him to the task.

But now it’s time for Dirk to stop tapping at the keyboard and pitch. This is his chance, and it may be the only one that the non-prospect receives. As noted at FriarForum, 

The Padres are officially using the rest of this season as a glorified tryout for 2009 and beyond. Hayhurst will be pitching to convince the Padres that he is worthy of being on the 40 man roster this offseason, otherwise the Friars would have to make him available in the Rule V draft.

Padres GM seems to confirm the speculations when he explains why Hayhurst was chosen over several other likely candidates:

“We’re trying to reward a guy who came through our system and has turned himself into a suspect at least,” Towers said Friday. “For a while, Dirk was a guy who we thought only had organizational value. But he’s continued to impress. He has three Major League pitches, throws strikes.”

Hopefully Hayhurst does well and impresses with this chance. However, even if her were to pitch a no-hitter or perfect game, his stint in the rotation will likely be a short one given that Chris Young or Shawn Estes will return from the DL soon.

Whatever the outcome, I hope he chronicals it for us on his Non-Prospect Diary.

Update: Despite well-wishes from Paul DePodesta, Hayhurst will have to settle for a no-decision. He had a rough start to his MLB debut by walking Dave Roberts, who then stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a fielder’s choice by the time the Padres got their first out. That was followed by an Aaron Rowand double that plated another run. He pitched scoreless frames in the second and third before allowing a run in the fourth inning. Then, he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth. The line on Hayhurst’s debut: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 6.75 ERA.

• Kyle Blanks, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound former Wizards first baseman went 5-for-7 for the Double-A San Antonia Missions on Wednesday. He tied a career high with six RBIs and had run-scoring singles in the first and fourth before hitting a two-run shot in the sixth. In the eighth, he doubled (his 20th of the season). Then, he slugged his second home run of the game in the bottom of the 12th to give lead the Missions to a 14-12 win.
• Josh Bard returned to the Padres from the DL on Friday. To make room on the 25-man roster, former Wizards catcher, Luke Carlin, was optioned to Triple-A Portland. Carlin made his MLB debut earlier in the season and was hitting .154 in 91 at-bats on the season.
• Torii Hunter still feels strange when facing the Twins, the team with whom he spent the first 15 years of his career.”Hunter’s connection to the Twins can still be felt by the way he speaks about the organization. But with his team chasing the top record in the American League, Hunter wants to pull off as many victories over the Twins as he can right now. Still, he said he’s hoping that the two clubs might perhaps meet up again in the playoffs.”
• Lots of Wizards related news over at MadFrairs.
  • John Conniff interviews one of my personal favorites, Felix Carrasco and Brad Chulk (subscription required).
  • Padres minor league field coordinator, Tom Gamboa, and Padres vice president of scouting and player development, Grady Fuson, talk about the Padres’ prospects – which include many current and former Wizards players. (subscription required)
• Speaking of prospects, Padres’ front-office executive, Paul Depodesta talks about this year’s draft picks – both that were signed and those who were not. Hopefully we’ll be seeing many of them come through Fort Wayne real soon (seventh rounder, Adam Zornes is already here).

In 2004, Travis Chick appeared in seven games with the Fort Wayne Wizards. He went 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA while striking out 55 in 42.1 innings pitched. Yes, a bright future looked to be in store for the youngster who had originally been drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 14th Round (413rd overall) of 2002 Draft. He came to the Padres’ system via a trade that sent RHP Ismael Valdez to Florida.

But in 2005, he began the year at Double-A Mobile, where he went 2-9 with a gaudy 5.27 ERA before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds with Jason Germano in exchange for Joe Randa. Iin 2006, the Reds flipped Chick to Seattle for Eddie Guardado and cash.

That year, he made his MLB debut with Seattle despite never playing about Double-A ball. In three relief appearances with the Mariners, he pitched 5 innings that produced a 12.60 ERA . . . 7 earned runs on 7 hits with 2 strikeouts.

2007 saw Chick perform better back at Double-A West Tennessee, where he went 6-6 with a 4.62 ERA before a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma. He began 2008 much the same way he did the prior year, at Double-A West Tennessee. He’d gone 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA before again being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma.

And maybe that’s where the story will take a turn for the better. His first appearance at Triple-A resulted in three runs on five hits and four walks with six strikeouts for a no-decision. But the next time out saw the 24-year-old right-hander hurl a two-hitter and struck out nine en route to a 3-1 victory over the Las Vegas 51s.

“When you go out and have a game like this, it builds confidence,” he said. “But I’m not going to read too much into it. My next start, I’m going to go out hungry and try to compete” [source: MiLB.com]

It was his first career complete game at any level, and he also retired the first ten batters he faced.

According to SignonSanDiego.com, Triple-A reliever Dirk Hayhurst will start Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. The 27-year-old has appeared in 216 minor league games since the Padres drafted him in the 8th round (221st overall) of the 2003 draft.

For the past two years, Hayhurst has written articles for Baseball Americain their Non-Prospect Diary feature. Ironically, his entry for April 4, 2007 – Maddux gives minor leaguers pearls of wisdom – holds extra meaning, because Hayhurst will take the recently traded Maddux’s rotation spot.

“This was a special treat for me. I have been watching this guy pitch since I was a young thrower. I am really not ashamed to say I idolize the guy.”

On the season, Hayhurst is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA for the Portland Beavers. The right-hander, who made two starts, has 98 strikeouts and 28 walks in 84 innings.

With the Wizards in 2004, Hayhurst went 9-4 with a 2.66 ERA. He appeared in 26 games, which included 17 starts. Over 118.1 innings pitched, he struck out 106 and walked just 19 batters. Hayhurst will become the 69th former Wizards player to debut in Major League Baseball and the seventh this year.