Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Corey Koskie’

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

The Cubs have insisted that they are still looking for another utility infielder – even after inviting former Wizards Luis Rivas and Bobby Scales to spring training. Now you can add Corey Koskie to the former Wizards mix.

The Chicago Cubs Koskie agreed to terms on a 2009 minor league deal that includes and invitation to their Spring Training camp. Obviously, the deal is pending a physical.

Koskie will report to Cubs’ camp following his participation with team Canada in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

He has not played since July 5, 2006 following a concussion that was suffered while with the Brewers. He had been working out with the Minnesota Twins in preparation. Koskie joined the Fort Wayne Wizards in 1995 as a 26th round draft selection of the Minnesota Twins. While in Fort Wayne, he appeared in 123 games; posting a .310 batting average, 143 hits, 78 runs batted in and 16 home runs.

The 35-year-old Koskie is a career .275 hitter (936-for-3399) with 223 doubles, 124 home runs and 506 RBI in all or part of nine major league seasons with Minnesota (1998-2004), Toronto (2005) and Milwaukee (2006), covering 989 games. The left-handed hitter recorded 20 or more doubles in each of his last eight big league campaigns, including a career-high 37 doubles in 2001 and 2002. Koskie owns a career .367 on-base percentage and .458 slugging percentage, good for a .825 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

Luis Rivas played with the Wizards in 1997, appearing in 121 games while hitting .239 with 100 hits and 30 runs batted in over 419 at-bats. He played last season wiht the Pirates. More about Rivas can be found on page 58 of Baseball in Fort Wayne (Koskie is featured on page 108).

Bobby Scales played the full 2008 season within the Cubs organization at Triple-A Iowa. The 31-year-old infielder set career highs in batting average at .320 and had 94 runs, 59 walks to go along with a .415 on-base percentage over 121 games. Why he has not already made it to the Majors is a big question mark in my mind.

Photo is couresy of the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Related BBIFW Posts:

• Cubs Invite Scales and Rivas to Spring Training
• Free Agent Koskie Thinking Return for 2008

Hundley is learning that soft hands are the best way for him to catch on (SignOnSanDiego):

When (Nick) Hundley graduated from the Triple-A Portland Beavers to the Padres last summer, his reputation was for quality tools rather than refinement. He hit 50 home runs in 316 minor-league games and showed a throwing arm that Padres manager Bud Black characterizes as “major league quality for sure, maybe a little bit above.”

After getting his feet wet in 2008, Headley is eager to improve in ’09 (SignOnSanDiego)

Padres CEO Sandy Alderson described (Chase) Headley as the “quintessential” prospect of the current administration, a poster boy for being “patiently aggressive” and improving himself through attention to detail and strength training. His average of one strikeout per 3.8 at-bats in Double-A was of some concern, but considered the price of doing good business, too, because Headley often worked deep into the pitch count. He also did so as a rookie, averaging 4.2 pitches per appearance.

Because Headley’s best position is third base, it’s less likely that he and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff will remain teammates for many years ahead.

If Headley stays in left field, he ultimately might block Kellen Kulbacki, one of the Padres’ better prospects and ticketed for Double-A this season. Several scouts say left field also is the best position for Will Venable, an older Padres prospect who, for now, is targeted for center field in Triple-A and has a subpar throwing arm for right field.

(Massarotti) Will George Kottaras be with the Red Sox Come Opening Day? (Boston.com)

…the Red Sox appear most likely to open the season with Varitek and Josh Bard as the catching tandem, though one club official recently went out of his way to suggest that George Kottaras looked sharp in the early days of camp. Kottaras is out of options and could be a threat to beat out Bard, though the more likely scenario is that the Red Sox are trying to increase Kottaras’ trade value so that they do not simply lose him on waivers.

Koskie will play for Canada in WBC (TwinsNow)

According to a source close to the situation, (Corey) Koskie, who was not on Canada’s provisional World Baseball Classic roster, will play for Team Canada in the 2009 WBC.

Playing for Canada in the WBC has been Koskie’s primary goal in trying to return to baseball. The former Twins third baseman hasn’t played since he suffered a concussion and whiplash while playing for the Brewers on July 5, 2006.

Cruz not in Classic for Mexico (MLB.com)

Despite being one of 45 players listed on Mexico’s provisional World Baseball Classic roster, Luis Cruz has declined an invitation to play with the team in next month’s tournament.

Cruz, who played with Mexico in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, is fighting for one of the Pirates’ final two bench spots this spring. For Cruz, that was reason enough to pass on the opportunity to once again represent his home country.

“I think I have a chance to get a spot here,” said Cruz, who made his Major League debut as a September callup with the Pirates last season. “I’m fighting for a spot here. I want to practice and get ready for the season and try to make the team.”

Barfield Adjusting to Utility Role (MLB.com)

A  second baseman by trade, (Josh) Barfield has been asked to add third base and all three outfield spots to his repertoire. The carrot dangled in front of him is a utility job with the big league club.

“I’ve got to be efficient,” Barfield said. “I can’t neglect one position or the other.”

The Indians, and manager Eric Wedge in particular, have been happy with what they’ve seen from Barfield during the team’s early workouts. Wedge said Barfield moved around well at third base and handled the outfield well.

And finally, Padnographs is featuring some former Wizards: Sean Burroughs, Dirk Hayhurst, Kyler Burke, Brian Burgamy