“Brandon is just the latest of so many players who have come through Fort Wayne on their way to accomplishing their dreams of playing in the major leagues,” TinCaps president Mike Nutter said. “We take pride in showcasing the major-leaguers of the future each night at Parkview Field.”

Gomes was drafted by the Padres in the 17th round of the 2007 draft and went 5-6 with a 4.10 ERA in Fort Wayne in 2007 and 2008. He shifted to the bullpen in 2008 and shot up the minor-league chain. Gomes was part of a four-player package traded to the Rays this off-season in exchange for SS Jason Bartlett.

In the top half of the 11th, Maybin left after singling in the go-ahead run. Hunter replaced him as a pinch runner and later scored. He stayed in the game and played center as the Padres pulled out a 5-3 victory.

Hunter becomes the 94th former Fort Wayne Wizards or TinCaps player to make his Major League debut.

Hunter was selected by San Diego Padres in 3rd round (93rd overall) of 2006 draft. He played in 129 games with the Wizards in Fort Wayne during the 2007 season, hitting .282 with 7 home runs and 58 RBI.

Related Cedric Hunter Posts

• Cedric Hunter Making Good on Promise
• A Tale of Two Hunters
• Autograph Day: Cedric Hunter, Matt Stocco

What should you expect? Nothing to the extent of what you once did. There will not attempts to break stories or generate traffic based upon hot topics of the day. There won’t be any general posts for the sake of keeping things fresh.

Instead, from time-to-time, there will be posts that objectively cover and report on the Northeast Indiana happenings. If you send me press releases, the may be posted if they truly are noteworthy from a historical perspective. I’ll still cover MLB debuts from players linked to Fort Wayne when I can keep up. And I’ll continue to take photos at Parkview Field and any other games I attend.

So, I hope you are looking forward to another great season of baseball ahead. It’s sure to be another unique chapter in our local book of baseball lore. Stay tuned.

It’s been an honor for me to see so many people follow along and that is what makes this post so difficult for me to write. But there comes a time when you have to know when to walk away.

I could continue on and simply post links to trending news, but there are several reasons I refuse to do that. First, over the last several years, other entities have stepped up to provide more insightful resources and information. These sources did not exist even three years ago and I am continually impressed by their thoroughness and insight. Another reason I won’t allow this blog to become a news aggregator of sorts is a personal commitment that I made when I launched. I said – at the time – that if I cannot become something of substance that contributes to the Northeast Indiana Baseball community in a fashion that I would personally want to engage and follow, I would not produce it.

Today, I find myself with a very full life that includes many driving passions and interests that extend far beyond baseball. I find myself with fragmented thoughts and ambitions. In my mind, the only way a person should pursue anything they care about is to do it with a commitment to excellence – and that demands focus.

As people, in our effort to become proficient multi-taskers so we can “do more” we often become deficient and accomplish less. While it may be the case for some, “good enough” simply isn’t good enough for me.

The domain, the blog, and it’s current content will remain. My plans call for an update of WordPress when necessary, and may even go as far as to tweak the theme and plugins if newer versions of the software demands it, but I do not plan to create new content anytime soon.

Content that would require constant updating (such as the local ties page) will probably go away. There will come a time when it will become even more stale and inaccurate than it is now – so I see no reason for it to remain.

Now, with all that said, I welcome anyone who would like to become a contributor to BBIFW and carry it on. Just hop over to the contact page or leave a comment to this post and we can discuss.

God bless you all.

-

Chad

Related BBIFW Post:

• Former Wizard, Yordany Ramirez Signs with Astros

The Cardinals got cash along with Westbrook from the Indians. St. Louis also acquired left-hander Nick Greenwood from San Diego. The 22-year-old Greenwood was 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA at Class A Fort Wayne.

Nick Greenwood as a Member of the TinCaps

Kluber played in Fort Wayne with the Wizards in 2008, the last year for the Wizards. He went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA, and 72 strikeouts while yielding 13 walks in 56 innings pitched. On the 2010 season, he’s appeared in 22 games for Double-A San Antonio Missions. He is 6-6 with a 3.45 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 122.2 innings pitched.

Greenwood was a 14th-round pick of the Padres in 2009 and appeared in 3 games with the TinCaps that year, striking out 3 and earning a save in 3 innings pitched. On the 2010 season, Greenwood is 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA, and 65 strikeouts over 21 games (17 starts). He also has a save.

photo by Chad Gramling, taken at Parkview Field in 2010.

Wynn Pelzer with the Fort Wayne Wizards in 2008

Former Fort Wayne Wizard , Wynn Pelzer has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Miguel Tejada. Reportedly, the O’s had their hearts set on other Fort Wayne alumni, such as Corey Luebke or Simon Castro, but still made out good in settling for Pelzer.

The 24 year-old Pelzer was the seventh-rated prospect in San Diego’s system according to Baseball America. The former University of South Carolina closer was taken in the ninth round of the 2007 draft.

According to Orioles Insider, the right-hander was 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for San Antonio. He’s 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds and can throw in the mid 90s, though his velocity dropped some this year.

He is mainly a starter but was switched back to relief recently. One scout that has seen him calls him raw and said he needs work on his delivery and command. But he has a strong live arm and closer’s mentality. There’s definitely an upside there.

With the Wizards in 2008, Pelzer was 9-6 with a 3.19 ERA while striking out 100 and walking 32. He appeared in 29 games, 23 of them starts.

Photo taken by Chad Gramling at Memorial Stadium. Video from WANE TV.

The Pirates have signed 26-year old righty reliever/starter Travis Chick to a minor league deal. Chick has not pitched yet this season. He has pitched in 3 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-0 with a 12.60 ERA and a 3.40 WHIP. Chick has also pitched in 189 games (142 starts) in his 8 years in the minors and he is 48-45 with 1 save, a 4.26 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Chick can work his way to Pittsburgh before the 2010 season is over.

Related BBIFW Travis Chick Posts:

• WizCaps Where R They? 2010
• Travis Chick Signs with Dodgers
• Wizards Where R They? – Travis Chick

Those planning to attend include Bushnell, Peg Barnes, Chad Gramling, Louise Hamm, Jane Kempf, Stan Kowalski, Bill Lock, Vicki Meier, Rachel Roberts, Sally Garrett, Barb Morrow, John Martin Smith, Sharon Zonker, Hubert Stackhouse and Judy Pollack. Annelise Cole will read her own poetry on July 28 from 6-7 p.m. John and Judy Waanders also will be at the store July 28 from noon to 7 p.m.

Latos has a strained muscle on his left side, and the move was retroactive to July 9. He’s expected back  for his July 24th start in Pittsburgh. Let’s hope he has a short stint on the DL. His outstanding season has him currently at 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA.

The Padres recalled right-hander Ernesto Frieri and outfielder Luis Durango from Triple-A Portland. Frieri made his MLB debut  last season. On the year, with Triple-A Portland, he is 3-1 with 17 saves and a 1.43 ERA. Durango also debuted late last season and has appeared in six big league games this year, going 5 for 13 with a .385 with two RBI and three runs scored.