Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for April, 2009

Bobby Scales has been on the verge of making “the show” for years. He’s been a minor league player for a decade and has spent the last five years at Triple-A with no call-up. During the offseason, he chose to resign with the Cubs rather than take his chances with yet another organzation.

This spring, he battled along with two other former Wizards for a backup infielder role, presumably third base. None of the three got the job (Luis Rivas was released and Corey Koskie officially retired). He was among the late spring cuts and actually went with the Cubs to New York for the exhibition games in New Yankee Stadium.

This spring, I predicted Scales as one fo the “sure thing” former Wizards to make their MLB debuts this season. He’s started the 2009 campaign, his second as an Iowa Cub, pretty well. In 20 games, he’s seen 72 at-bats and compiled a .306 average with 22 hits, a triple, two home runs and nine runs batted in. He’s also drawn nine walks and has a .378 OBP.

You have to figure that being a third baseman at Iowa, you stand a good probability of getting a cup of coffee with the Chicago Cubs before the season is out. Given that Aramis Ramirez is oft-injured, Scales may be called upon to see some action. In fact, the injury bug is buzzing around Aramis currently as he deals with inflamation in his left calf. Entering the day, there was speculation that Ramirez might have to take a brief DL stint, so the Cubs had Scales at the park just in case.

The Cubs are also currently carrying an extra outfielder, which leaves them a player short for the infield. Today, the Cubs used Mike Fontenot and backup catcher, Koyie Hill at third in an 8-2 loss to Florida. Said Cubs’ manager Lou Pinella of the situation:

“We’ve gone as far as we can without an extra infielder,” said manager Lou Piniella. “It’s decision time. If we have to do something, we’ll bring up Scales. He’s been in the Minor Leagues a long time, and it’ll be a wonderful opportunity for him.”

It doesn’t get much closer than that! Scales’ time is coming. I’m rooting for you Bobby.

The Fort Wayne TinCaps have added infielder, Dean Anna to their roster. He joins from extended Spring Training. The move was made possible becuase infielder, Andy Parrino has been transferred to Lake Elsinore (Advanced-A).

Parrino had started the season in Lake Elsinore and has appeared in only five games with the TinCaps. During that span, he had 18 official at-bats, collecting nine hits and drawing three walks for a .500 average and a .571 on base percentage.

Anna was drafted in the 26th round (795th overall) in the 2008 amateur draft out of Ball State University. As a leadoff hitter, he hit .319 for the Cardinals in 2008 with 11 home runs and 41 runs batted in. AFter being drafted, he split time between low-A Eugene and the Arizona Fall League.

Anna hit .224 with 24 hits in 107 at-bats with the Emeralds; including two doubles, four homers, 21 runs and 15 runs batted in over 30 games. He drew 20 walks to 23 strikeouts for a .366 on-base percentage. He successfully stole 10 bases in 11 attempts. With the AZL Padres, Anna went 11-for-44 across 13 games he hit .250 with one double, a home run, nine runs and nine runs batted in.

Jarrod Parker dominated the Midwest League last season and was pretty much off to a similar start in the High-A California League, going 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 19 innings in four starts with the Visalia Rawhide.

The performance was good enough to land a promotion to Double-A Mobile.

Parker was in control in each start and demonstrated the competitiveness, approach and pure stuff that warranted a promotion,” D-backs farm director A.J. Hinch said. “He showed the ability to make adjustments and improved command of his secondary pitches. We had a plan to have him pitch at multiple levels this season, and his approach and performance this early in the season made it a comfortable decision.”

As you read this, my wife and I will most likely be welcoming our third chidl into the world. As you can imagine, we’re very busy. So, if I do not blog for a while, thank you for your understanding. I’ll do my best to catch up as soon as I can.

I got so caught up in the hooplah of opening night and the many things going on in my life that I haven’t even had time to point out that I was on TV no once, but twice. Many thanks to Dean Pantazi of Indiana’s News Center and Chris Hopper of WaneTV for taking the time out to touch base and involve me.

On WaneTV (With Chris Hopper)

On Indiana’s News Center (With Dean Pantazi)

Drew Cumberland was placed on the disabled list, making room for Kevin Hansen’s return from Extended Spring Training. Cumberland spent a lot of time on the DL last year, which is probably one of the big reason she’s back in Fort Wayne this year.

Now, in the midst of a good start to the 2009 campaign, he’s back on the DL. when he returns, a throwing glitch may move him from shortstop to second base or perhaps the outfield.

“He’s got enough arm strength, but he has a little funny action where he cuts the ball at shortstop,” said Grady Fuson, the Padres’ director of scouting and player development. “We’ve had him on a special throwing program to work on it.”

Many of Cumberland’s 20 errors in 56 games during 2008 were likely owed to his unintentional cutter, when the throw swervs from right to left.

Yeah, he got all of that one. Got his first TinCaps home run in his first TinCaps at-bat. Welcome to Fort Wayne Jaff!

Tune in Saturday morning at 9 for Talkin’ Sports on ESPN Radio 1380.

We’ll be talking with Gymrats Coordinator Casey Adams about the Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam basketball tournament taking place in Fort Wayne next weekend involving 120 teams from around the USA and Canada.

We’ll continue our weekly segment with TinCaps President Mike Nutter as the first homestand for the TinCaps is in the books and Mike will fill us in on what’s in store for fans throughout the season.

We’ll name our PSI/One Eleven Design Athlete of the Week in the 4th Quarter of the show.
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. Phone lines are always open at 260-447-8500.

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

The Fort Wayne TinCaps made some roster moves today, adding two highly touted prospects to the roster and moving two others. Outfielder, Jaff Decker and infielder Andy Parrino were added while outfielder Angel Mercado was promoted to high-A Lake Elsinore and infielder Kevin Hansen was transferred to extended Spring Training.

Decker was the the 2008 Arizona League MVP. He was the 42nd overall pick in the 2008 draft, selected by the San Diego Padres as a supplemental first round pick. With the AZL Padres, he hit .352 with 5 home runs and 34 RBIs in just 49 games. His .513 on-base percentage led all of Minor League Baseball. The 19-years-old prospect is rated the third top prospect in the Padres system according to Baseball America.

Parrino (left) returns to Fort Wayne, where he spent all of 2008 and was a Midwest League All-Star. The Brockport, NY native hit .275 before the All-Star break and finished the season with seven home runs. Parrino becomes the first switch hitter on the TinCaps roster and can play second base, shortstop or third base. He opened the 2009 season with Lake Elsinore, where he went 8-for-26 at the plate (.308) in seven games.

Donovan: The Baseball Engine That Keeps Trying

Since the day the Padres drafted him in 1999, (Todd) Donovan has been an unwitting subject of a riveting novel. Cut a swath through the organization … injury. Repair and regenerate … Triple A … injury. Repair and regenerate … get to the 40-man roster and major league camp … injury. Repair and regenerate … set minor league records … injury.

Just so you know: Donovan’s ailments haven’t been Pavano-esque. He’s crashed into more walls than most NASCAR drivers. The unofficial list: two broken thumbs, two broken fingers, a broken bone in his hand and a torn elbow ligament.

And still … still! He’s at the ballpark an hour before his younger teammates to play a Double-A game.

Speed Burner

Missions manager Terry Kennedy admits he was surprised to see left fielder Luis Durango land on his Opening Day roster. The Panamanian, who played for his home country at the World Baseball Classic, is widely regarded as the fastest player in the San Diego Padres farm system but at 22 is a raw talent.

Prospect’s speed has Pads intrigued

A switch-hitter signed out of Panama for $12,000, Durango has reached base in about 42 percent of his some 1,400 plate appearances since debuting in the Venezuelan summer league five years ago.

“He’s got a chance to be an exciting guy,” said Grady Fuson, the Padres’ director of scouting and development.

Ocala woman enjoys a niche in baseball history

Mava Lee “Tommy” Thomas (Fort Wayne Daisies) went from local softball leagues to the heady world of professional fast pitch baseball, snagging herself a spot in baseball history along the way…

Thomas was determined to play, and her father, who knew league manager Max Carey, arranged an audition.

“He watched me play for about 15 minutes and told my dad I was in. I couldn’t believe I was going to get paid for playing a game I loved,” Thomas recalled.

Finally,  if you’re looking for professional photos of Parkview Field that don’t fit the norm that the umpteen other blogs out there have posted, check out Anna Lynch McClary’s blog.