Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for March, 2009

When Corey Koskie singed with the Cubs not long ago, he became the third former Wizard trying to win the backup thrid base job. His resume might have even given him a slight edge in the competition. However, yesterday, he left Thursday’s game with was was said to be an illness.

That “illness” turned out to be light-headedness and “could be related to the post-concussion symptoms he has battled most of the last two years.”  Reports are now surfacing that Koskie is set to formally retire.

Paul Sullivan, in commenting on the Cubs’ current plans, does not mention either of the other two former wizards, Bobby Scales or Luis Rivas as possible contenters for the role:

At this point, Aaron Miles will assume the role when Mike Fontenot is playing second, and vice versa. Neither has much of a history at third base. Recent pickup Esteban German has played third but is not expected to make the final cut.

Update (3:46PM EST): Koskie Makes it Official

“This is what I love to do — I love being out there, being with the guys, the whole competition,” he said. “There’s no way you can replace it. But at some point you have to look at it realistically and say, ‘Is it really worth sacrificing the rest of your life for a game?’”

Update (9:23PM EST): Koskie’s retirement not a shock

“He’s been through a lot,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Koskie, who played third base for the Twins from 1998-2004. “He took a shot at it. He tried to come back and it just doesn’t feel right. I think it all gets down to quality of life after you finish playing the game, which he realized.”

Related BBIFW Posts:

• Who’s On Third? Koskie is Third Former Wizard Seeking Cubs Gig
• Free Agent Koskie Thinking Return for 2008
• Cubs Invite Scales and Rivas to Spring Training
• Rivas Adjusting to Short
• Rivas Seeking Spot with Pittsburgh

Former Wizard, Brett Bonvechio will return for a second stint with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League.

Last season, he played both first and third base for the team, and compiled a .227 batting average while driving in 39 runs. Mid-season, he signed with the Winston-Salem Dash, the White Sox’s A team in the Carolina League.

 Bonvechio was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in 37th round (1112nd overall) of 2000 amateur draft. He was acquired by the Padres in May of 2004 for Henri Stanley, whom they had claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros. While with the Wizards in 2004, Bonvechio hit .237 with a .309 OBP, nine home runs and 45 RBI’s in 304 at-bats over 82 games.

• Jack Cassel (Indians) was sent to minor league camp
• Paul McAnulty (Red Sox) still has a shot of making the opening day roster
• The Padres will NEVER get over not protecting Joakim Soria

Tune in Saturday morning at 9 as we’ll talk with SCAN’s Stephanie Jentgen about the upcoming Greater Ft. Wayne Putting Championship, with cash prizes and proceeds benefiting SCAN.

We’ll be joined in-studio by Fort Wayne Freedom Offensive Coordinator Troy Abbs. Troy will talk Freedom Football, Trine football (He’s an Assistant there too) and amateur baseball (He’s a Colin Lister baseball league administrator).

We’ll also name our PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week.

Nominations for the PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week can be submitted to this e-mail address or: wkjg1380@yahoo.com.

Tune in Saturday mornings at 9 for Talkin’ Sports on WKJG-ESPN Radio 1380.

Talkin’ Sports is brought to you each week by: INdigital Telecom, Perfection Bakeries/Aunt Millie’s, Wise Insurance, PSI/One Eleven Design and Kraft Foods.

Talkin’ Sports. Local Guests. Local Topics. Local Opinion.

Guess I will make this into a series of sorts. Anywho, here’s some more updates:

Wade LeBlanc has been optioned to Triple-A Portland. So has Mike Ekstrom.

Pete Ciofrone, Mitch Canham and Cedric Hunter have been assigned to te Padres’ minor league camp. Two of 2008′s Wizards, Luis Durango and Jackson Quezada, have been assigned to Lake Elsinore.

Kyle Blanks is finally going to get some time in the outfield given that there is a roadblock at first base and Blanks is making his case to get the big man’s offense into the lineup.

The White Sox’s, Jon Link (Wizard in 2006) has been optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. Methinks we’ll see him in the big leagues before 2009 is up.

Former Fort Wayne Wizard outfielder, Kennard Jones has agreed to rejoin the York Revolution of the independant Atlantic League for the 2009 baseball season.

Jones joined the Revolution in June last season, and quickly became the sparkplug in the leadoff spot that helped lead one of the league’s most explosive offenses during the second half run. “K.J.” finished the season tied for fourth in the league with a .333 batting average, best in Revolution history, including a .408 clip during his final 25 games, leading the Revs’ playoff push. He also authored the greatest offensive performance in team history on June 30, going 6-for-6 with a three-run walk-off homerun, the Revs’ first-ever, in a ten-inning win over the Newark Bears. Jones led the club with 17 stolen bases last season.

Jones also played his college ball at Indiana University. He was drafted in the thrid round (number 85 overall) of the 2002 amateur draft. He palyed a total of 101 games in Fort Wayne during parts of the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Of those, 81 came during 2003 when he hit .307 with a .401 OBP, 61 runs 30 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases.

Despite denying a rumor that they had placed Fort Wayne native, Rob Bowen, on waivers; the Oakland A’s have officially released the catcher (hat tip to Cathy D for the link).

Bowen broke into the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 2003. He worked his way through the Twins’ farm sstem after being drafted in the second round (56th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft. In 2006, the Detroit Tigers claimed him after being placed on waivers by the Twins. A month later, the Tigers placed him on waivers and Bowen was claimed by the San Diego Padres. In 2007, the Padres traded him to the Chicago Cubs for Michael Barrett and then-current Wizard, Kyler Burke. A month later, the Cubs traded Bowen with Jerry Blevins to Oakland for Jason Kendall and cash considerations.

Other Rob Bowen posts at BBIFW:

Bowen Traded to A’s; Wedge Staying Put

Rob Bowen and Kyler Burke Traded to Chicago Cubs

Bowen Enjoys Being a Padre

Here’s a look at early spring performances from some former Wizards who are in Padres camp this Spring:

• Kyle Blanks: In 15 games (40 at-bats), he’s hitting .325 with a .429 OBP, 3 home runs and 9 RBIs
• Will Venable: In 12 games (37 at-bats), he’s hitting .297 with a .333 OBP
• Drew Macias: In 15 games (36 at-bats), he’s hitting .278 with a  .350 OBP and a home run
• Chase Headley: In 10 games (30 at-bats), he’s hitting .267 with a .313 OBP, a home run and 8 RBIs
• Matt Antonelli: In 14 games (25 at-bats), he’s hitting .320 with a .433 OBP
• Cedric Hunter: In 15 games (22 at-bats), he’s hitting .227 with a .308 OBP
• Chad Huffman: In 14 games (21 at-bats), he’s hitting .333 with a .517 OBP, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs
• Nick Hundley: In 8 games (19 at-bats), he’s hitting .316 with a .350 OBP
• Brett Dowdy:  In 10 games (13 at-bats), he’s hitting .462 with a .500 OBP
• Mitch Canham: In 10 games (11 at-bats), he’s hitting .273 with a .500 OBP
• Colt Morton: In 7 games (10 at-bats), he’s hitting .300 with a .417 OBP
• Greg Burke: In 5 games (5.2 innings pitched), he has a 4.76 ERA with 6 K’s and a walk
• Mike Ekstron: In 4 games (3.2 innings pitched), he has a 14.73 ERA with 1 K and a walk
• Cesar Ramos:  In 4 games (5.2 innings pitched), he has a 9.53 ERA with 3 K’3 and 3 walks
• Nick Schmidt: In 4 games (4 innings pitched), he has an 11.25 ERA with 1 K and 3 walks
• Josh Geer:  In 3 games (7 innings pitched), he has a 6.43 ERA with 4 K’s and a walks
• Wade LeBlanc:  In 3 games (6 innings pitched), he has a 10.53 ERA with 6 K’s and 5 walks

In related Wizards and Fort Wayne ties:

• Dale Thayer (optioned to the Rays’ Triple-A Durham)
• J.J. Furmaniak (assigned to Phillies’ Minor League Camp)
• Freddy Guzman (assigned to Mariners’ Minor League Camp)
• Rob Bowen – Rumors are posted here and here as well as elsewhere that the Fort Wayne native has been placed on waivers by Oakland. The A’s assistant general manager, David Forst, disputed the report: “Don’t you think we’d put out a release on that?” Forst said. “That’s absolutely not true.”

Several former Wizards are now playing in other organizations and many are in spring camps, either seeking a job or putting in their time as incumbants. Here’s a quick look at how some are doing:

Toronto Blue Jays: Dirk Hayhurst, Matt Bush

Hayhurst has started out strong, pitching six innings over five games and giving up no runs on four hits. He has nine strikeouts and have given up no walks. Bush is scheduled to begin pitching in minor league camp.

St. Louis Cardinals: David Freese

Freese was virtually given the third base job but observers (me included) prior to camp starting until word came out that Freese had been injured in an auto accident in January. He was in camp, but held out of action and sent to minor league camp. He recently returned to the big league camp, but displayed obvious favor to his injured Achilles tendon.

Chicago Cubs: Bobby Scales, Luis Rivas, Corey Koskie

Three former Wizards, one spot. And the kicker is that neither might get the gig in light of the Cubs signing of the recently released Esteban German. Scales is hitting .318 in 22 at-bats with seven runs, two hits, two doubles, three walks, and six runs batted in. Scales is also a substitute high school teacher in Georgia during the offseason. Rivas has seen a bit more action and is hitting .250 over 24 at-bats with six hits and two runs a walk and an RBI. Corey Koskie has not yet joined the Cubs in camp, opting to play with Canada in the WBC.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Leo Rosales, Luke Carlin

Carlin signed with the Diamondbacks during the offseason and participated in this year’s WBC. So far this spring, he’s been in five games, collecting five runs on three hits in nine at-bats. Rosales has pitched four total innings over four games. He has given up four hits and three runs while walking one and striking out two. He has a 6.75 earned run average.

 Los Angeles Dodgers: Travis Chick

Travis Chick appeared in 1.2 innings over three games and got pounded before being sent to minors camp. He gave up four hits – two of them home runs – and walked 3 while striking out none.

Cleveland Indians: Jack Cassel, Josh Barfield

Barfield’s story is well documented. He continues to struggle this spring after trying his craft at other positions to add to his chances of returning to the big leagues. In 12 games, he’s had 33 at-bats. In that span, he’s got six hits and one RBI, while drawing one walk and striking out six times. He’s hitting .182 with a .206 OBP. Cassel has struggled a bit as well. In 6.2 innings pitched, he has a 10.20 ERA. Interestingly, Barfield and Cassel were teammates as Wizards in 2002.

Blatimore Orioles: Chad Moeller, David Pauley

The veteran Moeller has had eight at-bats but no hits. He has drawn one walk and scored a run. Pauley, who was traded to the Orioles from the Red Sox during the off-season, has pitched 9.1 innings over four games. He has two wins and eihgt strikeouts, but also sports a gaudey 7.71 earned run average.

Philadelphia Phillies: JJ Furmaniak, Clay Condrey

Furmaniak returns after a year in Japan. On the spring, he’s appeared in six games. He has one hit and one strikeout on six at-bats for a .167 average. Condrey has made three appearances ont he spring and has given up virtually nothing while striking out a hitter or two.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Luis Cruz

Cruz, who made his MLB debut last year, declined an invitation to participate in the WBC so he could focus on battling for a job with the Pirates. On the spring, he has four hits and three RBIs on 19 at-bats in nine games. He has a .211 average and a .250 on-base percentage.

Boston Red Sox: George Kottaras, Paul McAnulty

Both Kottaras and McAnulty have seen a lot of action with the Red Sox this spring. Kottaras is battling for the backup catcher’s gig, while McAnulty is seeking a forth outfielder spot. In eight games, Kottaras has has 11 at-bats where he has collected three hits – including a home run – and drawn a walk. McAnulty is getting a big look, having appeared in 11 games and getting 33 at-bats. He’s hitting .200 with six hits, a home run, 8 RBIs and a walk.

Detroit Tigers: Eddie Bonine

Bonine has looked good in five games with the Tigers. Over eight total innings, (including three scoreless last week) he has a 1.13 ERA and he’s given up just one earned run on four hits and 2 walks. He’s struck out three.

Seattle Mariners: Freddy Guzman

Guzman was in Mariners camp and competing for a job until he broke a bone in his hand. His recovery was first estimated at 4-6 weeks, which puts him a couple weeks away still.

Chicago White Sox: Jon Link

Jon Link has gotten three relief appearances with the White Sox this spring. He has a 3.86 ERA while giving up a run on ffive hits and a walk.

In Other News . . .

• Former Wizard, Matt Stocco is continuing his baseball career in Italy.
• BadWax has a bad pic on a bad card of the bad-ass A.J. Pierzynski. To my knowledge, he’s the only former Wizard to give pro wrestling a try.

Note: Stats in this post were pulled at various times between 3/14 and 3/15. Some may be outdated.

Our in-studio guest this week will be IHSAA State Champion Elmhurst Lady Trojans basketball coach Mark Redding. Phone lines will be open at 447-8500 for your questions and comments for Coach Redding.

We’ll also preview the IHSAA boys regional basketball matchups, review local sports from Friday night and name our PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week.

Nominations for the PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week can be submitted to this e-mail address or: wkjg1380@yahoo.com.

Tune in Saturday mornings at 9 for Talkin’ Sports on WKJG-ESPN Radio 1380.

Talkin’ Sports is brought to you each week by: INdigital Telecom, Perfection Bakeries/Aunt Millie’s, Wise Insurance, PSI/One Eleven Design and Kraft Foods.

Talkin’ Sports. Local Guests. Local Topics. Local Opinion.