Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for March, 2009

Several local standouts have taken their games to the college level. Recently, some of their names have appeared on the web:

Ball State’s baseball team boasts a handful of represenatives from Northeast Indiana. A recent game against Southern Illinois University featured two of them. In the contest, junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola) drove in three runs and reached base four times. In that same game, junior right fielder Ryan Chenoweth (Homestead) collected a double in his last at-bat to bring the game-tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, the Cardinal’s bid to come from behind fell short.

In another close contest, Kreigh Williams (Norwell) scored the game tying run for Rose-Hulman to take the game into extra innings. The team fell short and lost 4-3. Ryan Fuller (Elmhurst) also tossed two scoreless innings for Rose-Hulman in the game.

FanGraphs recently reviewed the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm system. And of course, no analysis of the D-backs’ system would be complete without mentioning of Jarrod Parker:

Jarrod Parker is the system’s best prospect but some of the enthusiasm that saw him get drafted ninth overall has been tempered. He is no longer viewed as a future No. 1 stud starter, but more of a solid and reliable No. 2 or 3 starter. He allowed 113 hits in 117 A-ball innings in 2008. Parker also posted rates of 2.52 BB/9 and 8.95 K/9. The right-hander has four solid pitches, including a mid-90s fastball, curveball, slider and change-up. At the age of 20, Parker will likely begin the year in High-A ball but could taste Double-A by the end of the year.

Speaking of Jarrod Parker, I recently got to thinking about an intersting tidbit that I don’t think many people have realized yet.

As you may recall, Jarrod Parker pitched the final game in Memorial Stadium. By all accounts, it was the first time in the sixteen year history of the park that a local product appeared in a game there (if you know of any others, please correct me). It took a decade and a half to get a local product on the field at Memorial Stadium.

It might take one day to achieve the same feat at Parkview Field.

Last year, Kyle Day (Snider) was taken in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Reds. He signed and played in 31 games with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer (Rookie) League. I’m not sure how the Reds run their minor league system, but I would think that given his experience from last season and that he has college experience, he may start the season with the Red’s Single-A Midwest League affiliate, the Dayton Dragons.

Take a look at the TinCaps’ schedule. Who do they play on Opening Day at Parkview Field? That’s right, the Dayton Dragons.

Then agian, since he has college ezperience, he may get started at High-A Sarasota. I’ve searched around for information on Day’s 2009 outlook and have come up empty thus far. Anyoen have any insight?

If You Ain’t Dutch, You Ain’t Much!

In honor of the biggest upset in the short history of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), I offer unto you a very special edition of “I Saw Them In Fort Wayne”. For your Netherlands curiosity, here are two pictures of the team’s catcher, Kenly Jensen (methinks it is pronounced “Yen-sin”).

I snapped these photos all the way back on May 26th, 2008. Yeah, that’s almost a year ago.

Jensen was catching for the Great Lakes Loons, a Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. On this day, he went 1-3 with a double, a run, a walk and an RBI en route to a 5-3 Loons victory over the Wizards.

The 21-year-old catcher from Curacao signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played rookie ball in 2004 through most of 2007, when he played 20 ames in the Midwest League. In 2008 with the Loons, he batted .227 and drove in 27 runs over 247 at-bats in 79 games.

More “I SAW THEM IN FORT WAYNE” posts from BBIFW:

• I Saw Them in Fort Wayne: Mitch Maier
• I Saw Them in Fort Wayne: Ambiorix Burgos
• I Saw Them in Fort Wayne: Felix Pie

Last season, former Wizards Catcher, George Kottaras made his Major League Debut (finally). This year, he’s in camp with a good chance of earning the backup gig and perhaps becoming the exclusive backstop of knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield.

When Kottaras gets his shot on Thursday, some will expect him to do well, especially since he has caught minor-league knuckleball pitcher Charlie Zink in the past. Working with Wakefield, however, is a totally different experience.

On the Spring, Kottaras has a .286 average in seven at-bats with one home run and two RBI. If he can maintain some level of offensive production and prove he can be the most effective catcher for Wakefield, he might edge out the frontrunner, Josh Bard.

Related BBIFW George Kottaras Posts:

• With Varitek, Ross and Cash Out, is Kottaras In?
• George Kottaras’ MLB Debut
• Kottaras Added to Red Sox 40-Man Roster
• Wizards Where R They? – George Kottaras
• Half Way There: A Mid-Season Look at Estranged Friars

David Freese is one of fifteen cardinals who got reassigned to the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league camp. His spring has been considerably limited due to an Achilles tendon injury that resulted from an auto accident last January.

“…it’s just about getting him healthy. Major League camp is not a place to be rehabbing, unless, of course, you’re on the roster. This will take a little bit of stress off of him and allow him to focus on getting himself right without the pressure of thinking he’s got to get back on the field.”

Related BBIFW David Freese Posts:

• Freese for Edmonds: Former Wizards Infielder Traded to Cardinals
• What’s David Freese’s Chances with Cardinals in 2009?

The Padres started trimming spots in Spring Training camp today by optioning two players to Double-A San Antonio and sending five to their Minor League camp. Former Wizards Ernesto Frieri and Wilton Lopez were sent to Double-A San Antonio. Right-handed pitchers Mat Latos, Gabe DeHoyos, Will Inman, Oneli Perez and left-hander Nick Schmidt to their Minor League camp. Latos, DeHoyos and Schmidt are former Wizards. Sounds like Latos is slated to start the year at Lake Elsinore.

Jaun Rincon is having a good start to the Spring camp with the Tigers as a non-roster invitee:

“I thought he threw the ball extremely well with some late movement,” Leyland said. “Threw a couple four-seamers in. Threw some high fastballs that had some late tail to them, actually ran like a cutter.

Josh Geer is vying for one of two open rotation spots:

“It feels really good to know that there are two spots open for the starting rotation,” Geer said. “It gives everyone a good chance of making the team. I feel real confident that I can be one of those guys.”

Cesar Ramos also wants one of those spots. Today was not a good day for either of them.

Hot-Prospects has the dish on laster year’s standout Wizards pitcher, Jeremy Hefner:

The Oral Roberts alum increased his stock significantly with an excellent showing at Low-A Fort Wayne last season going 10-5 with a 3.33 ERA and 43 BB/150 K in 145 IP.  Hefner controls his three pitches quite well, an 89-91 MPH fastball, a sweeping slider, and a heavy changeup that he uses effectively against . . .

Lake Elsinore recently interviewed Peter Ciofrone.

Greg Burke has a good chance to make the Padres’ roster sometime this year, if not breaking camp with the Big League squad:

despite being 26, Burke is considered one of the Padres’ top advanced arms in their system, especially after a breakout season with Double-A San Antonio in 2008 as well as a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.

So far, in my estimation, the story of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) is former Wizards infielder, Ray Chang. Earlier this spring, he emerged almost as a novelty by being one of three players on China’s WBC team who has an affiliation with a Major League Baseball organization. But, the fact that he was raised in Kansas City and speaks perfect English made him even more appealing.

Chang quitely moved up the organizational ladder with the Padres after being signed as an undrafted free agent. before being released last year. He now plays in the Pirates organization.

Last night, Chang proved to be more than a novelty act by homering and driving in two runs to help China beat Taiwan 4-1 for its first win in the World Baseball Classic. Chang also “made his team’s final out with a slick play at shortstop (Yahoo)”

“I’m just real pleased that I could help my team,” he said.

Collins said Chang “played great for us.”

“He has made good plays defensively and got some big hits. This is a great win for our team and all of China.”

For those who are interested, here are some other BBIFW posts about Chang:

• Who the Heck is Ray Chang?
• Ray Chang Surprises with Perfect English
• Former Wizards Likely to Debut in 2009 – Part III

Here are some other news and blog items that have recently appeared about Chang:

• Ray Chang homers as China beats Taiwan 4-1 in World Baseball Classic (Yahoo Sports)
• Mission Cap of the Night: Ray Chang (Fifty Mission Cap)
• WBC Pool A: China upsets and eliminates Taiwan (Mister Baseball – Germany)
• The WBC’s a hit — in Tokyo, anyway (Chicago Tribune)
• Team China keeps it interesting, but loses first game to Team Japan, 4-0, in WBC opener (Examiner.com)
• Rockhurst grad plays for China in World Baseball Classic (Kansas City.com)

Tune in Saturday morning at 9 to Talkin’ Sports on ESPN Radio 1380, as we’ll be talking with Komet legend George Drysdale about the Komet Legends/Detroit Red Wings exhibition game next Saturday at Memorial Coliseum.

We’ll also talk with Chad Gramling, author of the book Baseball in Fort Wayne. Chad will share with us how a local baseball organization will benefit financially from sales of his book.

We’ll preview the IHSAA Girls State Championship basketball games and Boys basketball sectional finals.The PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week will be named and we’ll be taking your phone calls at 447-8500 with comments, questions, rants and opinions.

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 and PSI/One Eleven Design.

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

This is the thrid and final part of a series on former Fort Wayne Wizards that I think will debut in Major league Baseball during the 20009 season. In part one, I presented the “sure things” who I think will break camp with their parent clubs or get called up relatively early. Part two presented the “warning track” players who are knocking on the door and waiting for an opportunity at the big league level. Today, I reveal the players I think will have an outside shot or are dark horse candidates to make their debuts:

Jose Lobaton (Padres)
My gosh. We’ve seen a lot of catchers come through Fort Wayne that are either in the Majors or close to it. Colt Morton, Nick Hundley and Luke Carlin are the most recent to go along with Javier Valentin, A.J. Pierzynzki, Chad Moeller, Matt LeCroy and others. Jose Lobaton will most likely be the next on that list. With the Wizards in 2006, he hit .279 with 17 hits in 61 at bats. Over 20 games, he collected three doubles, one homer and 11 runs batted in. He also drew 12 bases on balls. He’s got a great arm, handles the staff well and tends to hit in streaks (ending his Wizards run with an eight game hitting streak). We’ll see him in September if not sooner.

Neil Jamison (Padres)
Neil Jamison was the sixth round pick (number 188 overall) by the Padres in the 2005 Amateur Draft. he San Diego native was a teammate of former Wizards starting pitcher Cesar Ramos while at Long Beach State University. With the Wizards in 2005, Jamison appeared in seven games to post a 1-1 record to go along with 12 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA. The following year, he got into four games with the Wizards while posting a 0-0 record to match a 0.00 ERA and collecting 3 saves. He’s steadily progressed at each stop but had seen his ERA rise each year until his wonderful 2008 season was stopped short because of an elbow injury. In 29 games with Double-A San Antonio, Jamison posted a 2.55 ERA while pitching exclusively in relief. He’ll probably start the year at Triple-A or maybe again at Double-A before moving up. If he can stay healthy, he’d make a good fill-in candidate for a big leaguer who isn’t, but a September call-up is more likely (although they’d have to make room for him on the 40-man roster first).

Josh Alley (Padres)
Alley is another Padres farmhand with breakthrough potential who is not on the 40-man roster. Also like Jamison, Alley spent parts of 2005 and 2006 in Fort Wayne. In 2005, he hit .263 with 40 walks to just 26 K’s over 45 games to collect a.411 OBP. In 2006, he hit .205 in 234 at-bats over 67 games. Alley also hit two home runs and collected 23 runs batted in while swiping 11 bases in 17 attempts. He’s made it as high as Triple-A (albeit a short stint in the end of the 2007 season). 2008 was spent at Double-A San Antonio where he put up respectable but not stellar numbers. Hi patience and good eye are solid assets that might give him a chance when September call-ups take place. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him debut with a team other than the Padres though.

Ernesto Frieri (Padres)
Unlike the previous two, Ernesto Frieri is on the 40-man roster. At just 23-years-old, Frieri is a 4-year veteran of the minor leagues after being signed as an undrafted free agent. Perhaps his best stint in the minors was with Fort Wayne in 2007 (he also appeared in a Wizards Uniform form one game in 2006). In 2007, he appeared in 40 games with the Wizards, all in relief. He posted a 1-2 record to go with a 2.64 earned run average. Frieri struck out 64 and walked 23 over 64.1 innings pitched. He will probably start at 2009 at Double-A San Antonio. Last year, he went 8-6 with a 4.00 ERA at Lake Elsinore. A switch from the starting role to relief might produce a solid opportunity for him to crack through the big league roster though.

Ray Chang (Pirates)
He’s a dark horse this year – maybe not so much next year. He’s playing in the World Baseball Classic for China, so let’s pay attention. Who the heck is Raymond (Ray) Chang? Glad you asked. Read more here. I’m really rooting for this former Wizard.

Todd Donovan (Toronto)
This is perhaps the darkest of the dark horses. Some might even contend it’s more than a bold prediction, but I won’t go there. Todd Donovan has been around Minor League baseball for a while. Since 1999 to be exact. That’s right, he enters his eleventh Minor League Baseball season in 2009. He does so with the Toronto Blue Jays, who are his eight organization. The San Diego Padres selected him in eighth round (number 262 overall) of 1999 amateur draft.  With the Wizards in 2000, Donovan hit .284 with 58 hits, 23 runs batted in, and 25 stolen bases. That later stat is probably what has kept Donovan around so long. The dude has stolen a lot of bases in his day, including 40 in 1999 with Idaho Falls (rookie league), 31 in Double-A Mobile in 2003, a whopping 62 with Jacksonville in 2005 and 37 last year with Oakland’s Double-A team in Midland. In his career, he has over 300 minor league stolen bases. Would be a good pinch runner late in the season.

For more on Todd Donovan, see also:

• Baseball runs deep for Donovan

Tune into ESPN Radio 1380AM this weekend for Talkin’ Sports. Yours truly will be a guest beginning at 9:30 to talk local baseball.

This is easily the quote of the day:

“I don’t think they’ve developed testing policies for performance enhancing faith hankies yet.”

For more, read the Non-Prospect ramblings of former Wizards pitcher and current Blue Jays farmhand, Dirk Hayhurst.