Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘wbc’

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

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)

I’ve noticed that many people have come to this site using “Ray Chang” as part of their key search phrases. Most likely, that is becuase very few have heard of him before this year. Had it not been for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and his inclusion as one of three players (Zhenwang Zhang and Kai Liu being the others) within a Major League club’s affiliation to make the China team, he’d still be a virtual unknown.

Chang primarily plays shortstop, which will likely cause the Chinese team captian, Yufeng Zhang, to move to first base for the WBC. Chang has played in the Padres’ and Pirates’ farm systems, and has a minor-league line of .258/.330/.375. Not eye-popping, but the pitching he’s seen on a regular basis is far better than what his teammates have seen.

The infielder came to the Padres in as an undrafted free agent in 2005 after trying his luck during an open try-out. He had been scouted while playing at Rockhurst University, but was labeled by scouts as having fielding skilsl that were “too latin.”

That year, he split time with the Arizona Fall League and Lake Elsinore. In 2006, he played 26 games with Fort Wayne, hitting .286 with 26 hits and 19 runs over 91 at-bats. He hit three home runs and drove in eight. That season he also played about a dozen games each in Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Portland.

In 2007, Chang split time between High-A Lake Elsinore where he hit .304 and Triple-A Portland, where he spent most of the season. After about 30 games split between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A POrtland, the Padres relased Change. He caught on with Pittsburgh late in the season before appearing in 5 games with their Double-A affiliate in Altoona.

Chang currently plays in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system, and has played as high as Triple-A ball. He was born in Kansas City and originally signed with the Padres as a non-drafted free agent out of Rockhurst University in 2005. In 2008, the Padres released him. The Pirates signed him and sent him to Double-A Altoona, where he appeared in five games.

Related BBIFW Posts:

• Ray Chang Surprises with Perfect English

Photo was pulled from MadFriars.com. I did not take it, nor do I claim ownership.

Back in 2006, the undrafted Ray Chang played in 27 games with the Fort Wayne Wizards. He hit 2.86 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. Last season, he ended up with the Pittsburgh Pirates three-plus season with the Padres. The Kansas City native is playing int he World Baseball Classic with the China team.

I came across this little humorous tidbit today and I had to share:

The fans at the fence between the Tigers clubhouse and where the players work out are autograph hounds in the true sense. The Tigers are their preference, of course, but on Monday they also wanted the Chinese National Team (getting ready in Lakeland for the World Baseball Classic) to sign names when those players walked by as well.

Many of them obliged, not able to speak English, but knowing what the fans wanted. They signed and bowed. Bowed and signed. Very polite. Very formal.

Suddenly one of them said to the crowd in perfect English — “How’s it going today?”

Taken aback, the fans reacted by applauding. Out of this supposed language barrier came a surprise greeting. Here’s the story behind the surprise, though.

“My name is Ray Chang,” the player said later. “I’m from Kansas City and I’ve played in the Padres organization the last four years. I’ll be back in camp with the Pirates this year when the Classic is over.”

So much for thinking that one of the Chinese players had stayed up late to learn his first English phrase.

“Everyone doing OK?” he asked again — and with that, infielder Ray Chang of the Chinese team walked away, leaving a puzzled, but appreciative crowd behind him.

Former Wizards catcher, Luke Carlin has a busy Spring ahead of him. Last month, he signed a Minor League deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is among the D’backs’ 17 non-roster invitees to Spring Training. In addition to trying to win a job, Carlin will be playing with the Canadian team during the World Baseball Classic; joining fellow former Wizard, Eric Cyr.

Carlin was one of 14 former Wizards to debut in the Major Leagues last season. In that game, he caught Greg Maddux’s 350th win. In 36 games that spread over 3 separate stints, he hit .149 with 14 hits in 94 at-bats with the San Diego Padres.

While with Fort Wayne in 2003 and 2004, Carlin appeared in 44 games and had 144 at-bats. He scored 12 runs on 33 hits with 15 bases on balls.

Related BBIFW posts about Luke Carlin:

• Carlin Called Up (Finally); Morton to Double-A
• Carlin Debuts; Catches Maddux’s 350th Win
• Carlin Gets First Big League Hit
• Wizards in the World Baseball Classic

Many former Fort Wayne Wizards are taking part in the 2009 edition of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

• George Kottaras – Boston (CAN)
• Eric Cyr – Free Agent (CAN)
• AJ Pierzynski – Chicago White Sox (USA)
• Joakim Soria – Kansas City (MEX)
• Luis Cruz – Pittsburgh (MEX)
• Oliver Perez – Free Agent (MEX)
• Ray Chang - Pittsburgh (CHN)
• Luke Carlin – San Diego (CAN)
• Peter Ciofrone – San Diego (ITA)
• Luis Durango – San Diego (PAN)
• Jake Peavy – San Diego (USA)
• Juan Rincon – Free Agent (VEN)
• Javier Valentin – Free Agent (PUR)

This was a quick look, so I may have missed a couple. Drop me a comment if you know of any I missed.

I know what you are wondering. The same thing I have been wondering: Did the last World Baseball Classic impact the player’s performance in 2006? Will it impact them this year? The answer: I don’t know.

I looked around a few sites to see if anyone had done any sort of analysis, but to my surprise, I found nothing. There’s probably a reosurce out there for a price, but I don’t need a ton of analysis that I don’t understand and that contradicts itself. I just want a quick sample. So I did the research (via MLB.com and Baseball-Reference) on a random sampling of hitters and pitchers.

I’m not going to offer you any analysis, but you are welcome to my research. It’s a very basic sampling of less than ten players.eight hitters and seven pitchers. For each, I detail their three-year averages before 2006, then I detail their 2006 season performance as well first and second half splits for 2006.

So, without further ado, here’s my research: Click to Download the Spreadsheet.

Also, if you are interested in joining a keeper league and can be in Fort Wayne for a live-draft, please contact me. I’d be happy to share the details of a somewhat mature league that includes very active and competitive managers who aren’t buttholes.