Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Baseball in Fort Wayne’

Eric Wedge will be back with Cleveland for 2009 after a disapponting 2008 that ended strongly. While he may have the whole off-season to plan, he’s wasting little time.

During a news conference today, he had plenty of reasons to point the finger, but refused to place blame.

“In essence, we lost our Nos. 2-, 3- and 4-hole hitters from ’07, our closer, our bullpen — which really went south on us — and two of our starters,” Wedge said. “It’s tough to overcome that. “But nobody cares about that in the end, you know. What they want you to do is play out with the expectations that were in front of you.”

He was also quick to respond to the bullpen woes by firing longtime Cleveland bullpen coach, Luis Isaac, who had been in that position since 1993 and a member of the club for much longer. One of the key things that will be pursued over the course of time leading up to Spring Training is to locate a closer. Jensen Lewis showed some promise near the end of hte season, but he’s no sure thing. Beyond the closer’s role, there will be a search for additional arms and some power bats.

Should be a busy offseason for Wedge and the Tribe.

I was in Indy today and took a walk down to Victory Field (home of the Indianapolis Indians). The gates were open, as was the team shop. Got to take a real quick around as they prepared for a Cancer Walk that will take place tomorrow. Guess you really can promote healthy events at the ballpark.

BTW: I would have taken more pictures had I actually brought my camera. This one was taken with my camera phone.

Next year’s Low-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres will play at Parkview Field.

Team owners, city officials and Parkview executives announced that Parkview Health has purchased the naming rights for Harrison Square’s baseball stadium in a deal that amounts to $3 million over 10 years.

The $300,000 annual contribution will be split between the baseball team’s owner, Hardball Capital, and the city. The city’s portion will be put into a fund to accumulate money for future capital projects at the stadium. City officials have said this is necessary to keep taxpayers from having to finance future improvements at the ballpark [Journal Gazette].

The health provider will have a large presence in the stadium, where it could provide blood pressure and other health screenings at the park and willstaff the first-aid station and a nursing room. Nutritionists and dieticians will also work with ballpark concessionaires to provide healthy food and drink options.

An e-mail was sent to Parkview Health workers about the decision before the public announcement was to be made. Cathy Dee has posted a segment of this message on her Common Sensibilities blog.

Other ources about today’s naming rights announcement:

• Parkview to Buy Stadium Naming Rights (KPCNews)
• Parkview Park (Fort Wayne Politics)
• Harrison Square Stadium Gets New Name (Indiana’s News Center)
• Announcing Parkview Field (WhatsGoingDown[Town]) Great photos
• Parkview Health Steps Up to The Plate (City of Fort Wayne)
• Hospital Puts Name of Fort Wayne Stadium (Indianapolis Business Journal)
• Harrison Square – Parkview Field Announcement Video (AroundFortWayne Blog)

On a related note; if you go to ParkviewField.com, it will take you to HarrisonSquareFortWayne.com. Wonder if they will do something more on the domain or if it is simply going to remain a mirror site.

Note: I lifed the image from ParkviewField.com.

Phil Meyer was kind enough to review my book on Amazon. Thanks Phil. Here’s an excerpt:

Baseball in Fort Wayne is an impressive collection of baseball photos and stories. Baseball fans, especially those local to Fort Wayne, will be amazed to see baseball evolve from its late 19th century beginnings to the current game. Unlike the typical “statistical” baseball book, this book . . .

Click here to read the rest!

The innagural season for the ballpark at Harrison Square is set for Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 7:00pm EST.

“We have been looking forward to April 2009 as the opening month of the first season downtown,” said Mike Nutter, General Manager. “We are excited to be able to officially put a date and time on when the first game will be played in that new ballpark. It’s hard to believe how far the construction has come since the groundbreaking and it will be fun to watch how quickly things come together in the coming months.”

While the specifics of Opening Day ceremonies have not been announced, the team is excited about what the future holds and what the possibilities will be.

“We plan on kicking off the first game, home stand and season downtown in style. We have had tremendous support and encouragement from our new neighbors downtown and we are excited about the possibilities that those relationships bring to the table, ” stated Michael Limmer, Assistant General Manager. “There’s a lot of work to be done between now and April 16th, but having a date to focus on is important for our staff. We have 224 days to get everything ready in order to play ball. We couldn’t be more excited.”

More information on the 2009 schedule will be released when the remainder of dates, times and promotional events have been finalized by the front office staff. For more information on season tickets, group outings or corporate partnerships for the Ballpark at Harrison Square contact the team at (260) 482-6400.

And if you you need a little help visualizing the time to opening day, the Wizards have produced a countdown on their website. I imagine it will migrate over to the new site once a new team name is selected and domain is secured.

Matt Antonelli became the 71st former Fort Wayne Wizard to make his MLB debut on September 1, 2008. In the top of the second inning, he hit a one-out line drive off the Los Angeles Dodges’ Matt Kemp. He grounded out to short in the fifth and popped out to short in the seventh for his second and third at-bats. Then, he grounded out to short in thetop of the ninth to end the game.

The lineup’s five through eight spots featured former Wizards (Headley, Venable, Hundley and Antonelli). Get Kazmar in there on a day that Peavy or Hayhurst are pitching and you’d see a lineup that features 6 of the nine spots as former Wizards.

Antonelli was a first round pick (17th overall) in the 2006 draft.  He saw a total of five games with the Wizards in 2006, hitting .125 in 16 at-bats. He hit .314 the following year at Lake Elsinore before being promoted to Double-A San Antonio, where he hit .294. On the 2008 campaign, he’s hitting just .215 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs in 128 games.

He is the tenth former Wizard to debut in MLB this year. One more ties a record set in 2002. That will probably happen when Wade LeBlanc, who was also recently called up, takes the mound later this week (I’m hearing Wednesday).

• Luis Cruz (from the 2003 Wizards’ squad) went 3-4 with a double and his second homer of the season; a two-run shot that broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth to outlast a Louisville rally to give Indianapolis a 5-4 win Thursday night at Victory Field. He launched another homer on Friday to lead the Indians to another victory over the Bats in front of 13,558 fans at Victory Field.
• Controversy again found A.J. Pierzynski. During a rundown between second and third, Pierzynski appeared to get tagged out after falling, but umpire Doug Eddings called him safe, citing interference by Rays third baseman, Willy Aybar. Replays showed that Pierzynski initiated contact by hitting Aybar with his elbow before falling. So, Pierzynski was awarded third base and scored a couple batters later. The White Sox ended up winning by one run. Both Eddings and Major League Baseball later admitted the blown call.
• Geoff at Ducksnorts rounds out his reviews of the farm by spotlighting Portland. Looks like he’s softening his stance on Will Venable: “I like Venable’s chances a little better now than I did at the same time last year, but he still looks like a fourth outfielder to me.” He also takes a look at Matt Antonelli, Peter Ciofrone, Wade LeBlanc and more.
• Yes, you saw Sean Burroughs in the headline. Friar Forecast took a look at Burroughs’ fielding and found that his dissappointing offense underscored his above average defense. Good reading here.
• It’s a Wizards reunion in San Diego: “[Chase] Headley welcomed newcomers [Josh] Geer and outfielder Will Venable, who also was promoted from Triple-A. The trio and rookie catcher Nick Hundley, along with last night’s starting pitcher, Dirk Hayhurst, helped Double-A San Antonio win the Texas League championship last year. Rookie utility man Sean Kazmar also played for the Missions.”All six of those players are former Wizards as well.
• Midwest Leaguesaves leader, Jackson Quezada was the lone Fort Wayne representative of the Midwest League postseason all-star roster.
• Paul DePodesta takes a look at the 2008 late round draftees.
• Torii Hunter is still doing his thing in the Outfield, having robbed a couple crucial home runs lately.
• Finally, MadFriars has been going crazy with Wizards-related headlines (subscription required for the links below):
  • Fort Wayne Hitting Coach Tom Tornicasa
  • Fuson on Padres prospects in low minors
  • The Transition Game: Several players from last year’s championship Double-A squad are getting their shot in the Majors. A great article/interview that talks about the transition from prospect to Major Leaguer and how they are handling it.
  • Manager Doug Dascenzo on Wizards prospects
  • Tom Gamboa on Padres Prospects
  • Burke puts name on prospect map

• Fort Wayne Wizards say goodbye to Memorial Stadium (Chicago Tribue) (WLFI/Associated Press) (The Munster Times)
• Finale gets hometown touch: Parker faces Wizards at Memorial Stadium (Journal Gazette)
• Memorial Stadium, 1993-2009? (Journal Gazette)
• Big Send-Off For Memorial Stadium (Indiana’s News Center)
• Parker’s in Finale (News Sentinel)
• Final Game at the Slab Tonight (What’s Going Down(town))
• Charly Butcher Weighs in on Memorial Stadium’s Final Night [video] (Indiana’s News Center)
• Norwell Grad Parker Winds Down First Professional Season [video] (Dean Pantazi – Indiana’s News Center)
• Goodbye to All That (Rattler Radio)
• Goodbye to Memorial Stadium (Leeper, Sarvay, Pantazi, Olsen, Clabaugh -Indiana’s News Center)
• Goodbye “Castle” (Cathy Dee)
• Last Ballgame at Fort Wayne’s Memorial Stadium (AP/The Munster Times)

I’ll add others as I find them and have the time. If you find any, please comment. Check back late tonight. I’m planning on regapping the game with photos and video.

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.