The Winnipeg Goldeyes took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning Sunday afternoon at Canwest Park and, once again, the bullpen couldn’t seal the deal.
Chris Homer and Mark Michael combined to allow two runs on four hits in the ninth inning as the Goldeyes fell 3-2 to the Schaumburg Flyers in front of 6,895 at Canwest Park.
Still, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney is more concerned about his team’s slumping bats than its gasoline-loaded arms.
The loss, combined with Fargo’s 6-3 loss in Gary on Sunday, means that the Goldeyes and RedHawks will meet in the first round of the playoffs. Games 1 and 2 will be played Wednesday and Thursday in Fargo while Game 3 plus Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) will be contested back in Winnipeg at Canwest Park this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It wasn’t a particularly good weekend for the Goldeyes. The team lost 4-1 on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday – to the league’s fifth-place team – and picked up a grand total of only 12 hits.
On Sunday, the hosts had six hits. Dee Brown had three of them. Meanwhile, Cory Patton, Kevin West, Brent Metheny, Cody Ehlers and Mark Minicozzi combined to go 0-for-16.
Despite the bullpen’s problems on Sunday, Forney had only one big concern heading into the playoffs.
“The bullpen is fine,” he said. “Don’t worry about the bullpen. You don’t win many games with two runs on six hits. We have to start getting some hits. We have to get the bats going.”
Of course, the slumping bats might have had something to do with a pair of great pitching performances by Schaumburg starters Alain Quijano (Saturday) and Dustin Glant (Sunday).
Glant threw eight complete innings and allowed only two runs on five hits to earn the victory.
“I just wanted to finish the season on a bit of a high,” Glant told Shaw TV. “An 8-8 record looks a lot better than 7-9 and that’s all I was after today. Even when you’re out of the playoffs, you play hard and try to be the best you can be.”
Schaumburg, with no playoffs on the horizon, has played some pretty tidy baseball in the last two days while the Goldeyes, with the post-season starting Wednesday, have not been quite up to snuff.
Forney hopes that will change tonight when the Goldeyes and Flyers play the final game of the regular season at 7:00. Tom Lyons will get the start for Schaumburg while Ace Walker goes after his league-leading 12th win for Winnipeg.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30: Quijano Shuts Down Winnipeg
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney looked at Saturday night’s 4-1 loss to starter Alain Quijano and the Schaumburg Flyers philosophically.
“Hopefully, we can come out tomorrow and put up a little better offence,” Forney said with a shrug. “We just never seemed to get our timing against Quijano. We have had some trouble against left-handers with a good change and we just couldn’t seem to get comfortable against him.”
It was just one of those nights. The Goldeyes managed only six hits – including two singles each by Kevin West and Brent Metheny – and put up only a single run as the Goldeyes fell to 54-40 on the season and remained in second place in the Northern League, two games behind first-place Gary and a game-and-a-half ahead of third-place Fargo.
Quijano set the tone for the Flyers, shutting the Goldeyes out on only two hits through five-plus innings of work.
“This was the third time I’ve pitched against them and the two times, I wasn’t that successful, so I wanted to have a good outing to finish the season,” Quijano told the Shaw TV audience. “They have a really tough line-up and I just wanted to get off to a good start against them and give us a chance to win.”
Game 3 of this four-game set goes this afternoon at 1:30. Andrew Cruse gets the start for the Goldeyes while Dustin Glant replies for Schaumburg in a battle of righties.
“Hopefully, we can come out tomorrow and put up a little better offence,” Forney said with a shrug. “We just never seemed to get our timing against Quijano. We have had some trouble against left-handers with a good change and we just couldn’t seem to get comfortable against him.”
It was just one of those nights. The Goldeyes managed only six hits – including two singles each by Kevin West and Brent Metheny – and put up only a single run as the Goldeyes fell to 54-40 on the season and remained in second place in the Northern League, two games behind first-place Gary and a game-and-a-half ahead of third-place Fargo.
Quijano set the tone for the Flyers, shutting the Goldeyes out on only two hits through five-plus innings of work.
“This was the third time I’ve pitched against them and the two times, I wasn’t that successful, so I wanted to have a good outing to finish the season,” Quijano told the Shaw TV audience. “They have a really tough line-up and I just wanted to get off to a good start against them and give us a chance to win.”
Game 3 of this four-game set goes this afternoon at 1:30. Andrew Cruse gets the start for the Goldeyes while Dustin Glant replies for Schaumburg in a battle of righties.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
August 29: Frost Slam Ends Another Goldeyes Thriller
All Adam Frost could see was a baseball hit high and deep, hooking toward the foul pole. As he stood a few steps outside the batter’s box, he gave it a little body English and looked toward home plate umpire Reggie Jackson.
Jackson had left his spot behind the dish and moved into position down the third base line and when the ball cleared the foul pole, he made a quick, demonstrative signal: “Fair ball!” Jackson yelled and pointed toward the infield side of the foul line. He immediately added the sign for a home run.
For the second time this season – this time with the bases loaded – Adam Frost, the team’s remarkable rookie shortstop, had delivered a game-winning home run. With a dramatic grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, Frost led the Goldeyes to a 6-2 win over the visiting Schaumburg Flyers 6-2 and sent 6,479 of the faithful home happy.
“Right off the bat, I knew I’d hit it well and it was really fair,” Frost told Shaw TV. “But it was hooking and hooking and I didn’t know if I’d hit it high enough to get it over the foul pole. When the umpire signaled a fair ball, I just started my trot around the bases.”
Frost, who had entered the game as a pinch runner for Josh Asanovich in the eighth inning, came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in the midst of a nail-biting 2-2 tie. The bases were loaded, two were out and the 22-year-old infielder, who was supposed to be getting a well-deserved night off, was suddenly thrust into what would become the most exciting – and controversial – moment in a terrific ball game.
With Dee Brown on third, Dustin Richardson on second and Cory Patton on first, Frost came to the plate for the first time in the contest and admitted he was just sitting on a fastball.
“He (relief pitcher Tom Lyons) got behind 2-0 and I knew he’d come in with something over the plate,” Frost said. “He threw me a fastball to make the count 2-1 and I decided to just look for another fastball that I could drive. He threw a fastball on the inside half of the plate and I was able to get my hands in and around on it. It’s something Tom (hitting coach Vaeth) and I had been working on in the cage, trying to get my hands through quicker on the inside pitch. Anyway, I figured I would get a fastball, and if it was anywhere near my belt, I was going to turn on it.”
The Frost home run gave the Goldeyes their fourth consecutive victory and, with Gary beating Fargo 4-2, it left the 54-39 Fish in second place, a game behind first-place Gary and a-game-and-a-half ahead of third-place Fargo.
It also caused Flyers manager Mike Busch to come storming out of the dugout to vehemently argue Jackson’s “fair-ball” call. Busch was not only convinced it was foul but also angered by the fact a Schaumburg loss meant the end of his team’s playoff hopes.
Fortunately, third-base umpire Harry Fredenburgh got between Busch and Jackson and Jackson was able to leave the field without incident. After the game, Jackson was escorted to his car by Canwest Park security.
Frost’s home run also put an exclamation point on a great start by Goldeyes right-hander Bear Bay. Although Bay got a no-decision for his effort, he did pitch seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. The game was tied going into the ninth, thanks to a two-run sixth-inning home run by Goldeyes third baseman Vince Harrison.
Game 2 of this four-game series will be played Saturday night at 6:00 at Canwest Park. A pair of left-handers, Alain Quijano for Schaumburg and Bill Pulsipher for Winnipeg, will take the mound.
Jackson had left his spot behind the dish and moved into position down the third base line and when the ball cleared the foul pole, he made a quick, demonstrative signal: “Fair ball!” Jackson yelled and pointed toward the infield side of the foul line. He immediately added the sign for a home run.
For the second time this season – this time with the bases loaded – Adam Frost, the team’s remarkable rookie shortstop, had delivered a game-winning home run. With a dramatic grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, Frost led the Goldeyes to a 6-2 win over the visiting Schaumburg Flyers 6-2 and sent 6,479 of the faithful home happy.
“Right off the bat, I knew I’d hit it well and it was really fair,” Frost told Shaw TV. “But it was hooking and hooking and I didn’t know if I’d hit it high enough to get it over the foul pole. When the umpire signaled a fair ball, I just started my trot around the bases.”
Frost, who had entered the game as a pinch runner for Josh Asanovich in the eighth inning, came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in the midst of a nail-biting 2-2 tie. The bases were loaded, two were out and the 22-year-old infielder, who was supposed to be getting a well-deserved night off, was suddenly thrust into what would become the most exciting – and controversial – moment in a terrific ball game.
With Dee Brown on third, Dustin Richardson on second and Cory Patton on first, Frost came to the plate for the first time in the contest and admitted he was just sitting on a fastball.
“He (relief pitcher Tom Lyons) got behind 2-0 and I knew he’d come in with something over the plate,” Frost said. “He threw me a fastball to make the count 2-1 and I decided to just look for another fastball that I could drive. He threw a fastball on the inside half of the plate and I was able to get my hands in and around on it. It’s something Tom (hitting coach Vaeth) and I had been working on in the cage, trying to get my hands through quicker on the inside pitch. Anyway, I figured I would get a fastball, and if it was anywhere near my belt, I was going to turn on it.”
The Frost home run gave the Goldeyes their fourth consecutive victory and, with Gary beating Fargo 4-2, it left the 54-39 Fish in second place, a game behind first-place Gary and a-game-and-a-half ahead of third-place Fargo.
It also caused Flyers manager Mike Busch to come storming out of the dugout to vehemently argue Jackson’s “fair-ball” call. Busch was not only convinced it was foul but also angered by the fact a Schaumburg loss meant the end of his team’s playoff hopes.
Fortunately, third-base umpire Harry Fredenburgh got between Busch and Jackson and Jackson was able to leave the field without incident. After the game, Jackson was escorted to his car by Canwest Park security.
Frost’s home run also put an exclamation point on a great start by Goldeyes right-hander Bear Bay. Although Bay got a no-decision for his effort, he did pitch seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. The game was tied going into the ninth, thanks to a two-run sixth-inning home run by Goldeyes third baseman Vince Harrison.
Game 2 of this four-game series will be played Saturday night at 6:00 at Canwest Park. A pair of left-handers, Alain Quijano for Schaumburg and Bill Pulsipher for Winnipeg, will take the mound.
Friday, August 28, 2009
August 28: Metheny Likes Catching “A Couple of Times A Week”
In two games this past week, Brent Metheny crouched behind the plate at Canwest Park and did one thing that has happened only rarely for the Winnipeg Goldeyes this season.
He threw out runners trying to steal second.
In an effort to get Metheny’s bat into the line-up and also improve his ball club’s defence, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney decided to put the veteran from West Virginia behind the plate.
He was an immediate success.
On Tuesday night against the Joliet JackHammers, the 28-year-old Metheny went four-for-four at the plate, scored four runs and threw out two runners trying to steal in a 12-7 win. On Wednesday, he called Ace Walker’s four-hit masterpiece and didn’t have to throw out a runner – nobody tried to steal – in a 2-1 victory.
Metheny has been tremendous this week and while he likes the job, he really doesn’t want to do it every day.
“I do like it, I like catching,” Metheny said. “I’d like to do it a couple of times a week. I’m not sure I could do it for an entire season. It takes a toll on your body. But it is fun. I like it when people try to steal. Although, in Tuesday night’s game, it helped when Ian (Thomas) came into the game. It’s always easier for a catcher to throw to second base when it’s a lefty. Guys don’t get as big a lead against left-handers.
“I was hurting a little (after the first game behind the plate), but I’ll be good. In a perfect world, catching two or three times a week would be the way to go.”
Besides throwing out runners on Tuesday, Metheny also did a good job calling Walker’s brilliant performance on Wednesday, but he wouldn’t take any credit for it.
“I called the game, but it doesn’t hurt me one bit to have a pitcher shake me off,” Metheny said. “I’d rather have the pitcher happy with what he’s throwing than worry about throwing something I asked for. I go out and tell my pitcher that I’ll put down the signs, but if you don’t like it, just shake me off.”
Catching might not be what Metheny wants to do for the rest of his career, but with this year’s playoffs looming, it’s probably the best place for the veteran right now.
He threw out runners trying to steal second.
In an effort to get Metheny’s bat into the line-up and also improve his ball club’s defence, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney decided to put the veteran from West Virginia behind the plate.
He was an immediate success.
On Tuesday night against the Joliet JackHammers, the 28-year-old Metheny went four-for-four at the plate, scored four runs and threw out two runners trying to steal in a 12-7 win. On Wednesday, he called Ace Walker’s four-hit masterpiece and didn’t have to throw out a runner – nobody tried to steal – in a 2-1 victory.
Metheny has been tremendous this week and while he likes the job, he really doesn’t want to do it every day.
“I do like it, I like catching,” Metheny said. “I’d like to do it a couple of times a week. I’m not sure I could do it for an entire season. It takes a toll on your body. But it is fun. I like it when people try to steal. Although, in Tuesday night’s game, it helped when Ian (Thomas) came into the game. It’s always easier for a catcher to throw to second base when it’s a lefty. Guys don’t get as big a lead against left-handers.
“I was hurting a little (after the first game behind the plate), but I’ll be good. In a perfect world, catching two or three times a week would be the way to go.”
Besides throwing out runners on Tuesday, Metheny also did a good job calling Walker’s brilliant performance on Wednesday, but he wouldn’t take any credit for it.
“I called the game, but it doesn’t hurt me one bit to have a pitcher shake me off,” Metheny said. “I’d rather have the pitcher happy with what he’s throwing than worry about throwing something I asked for. I go out and tell my pitcher that I’ll put down the signs, but if you don’t like it, just shake me off.”
Catching might not be what Metheny wants to do for the rest of his career, but with this year’s playoffs looming, it’s probably the best place for the veteran right now.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 26: Patton Leads Fish to Second-Straight Win
It has, at times this season, been a struggle for Goldeyes centre fielder Cory Patton. He’s hit the ball hard. Trouble is, he’s spent four months hitting it hard right at people.
Heading into Tuesday night’s game at Canwest Park, Patton was hitting an un-Pattonlike .233. However, there was something strangely sensational about this quiet Texan’s contribution to the Goldeyes.
After all, his fielding has been solid and sometimes outright spectacular. And heading into Tuesday action, his on-base percentage was .355, more than 120 points higher than his batting average (he leads the team with 61 walks).
According to manager Rick Forney, he was patient at the plate, a good baserunner and, as a result, an almost perfect lead-off man.
So on Tuesday, with the bottom of the order – Brent Metheny, Cody Ehlers and Mark Minicozzi – hitting rockets, Patton had one of his best games of the season. He went three-for-four and drove in six runs as the Goldeyes whipped Joliet 12-7.
“Leading off is something I’d never done, but Rick came to me with the idea and I was ready to give it a try,” said Patton, Shaw TV’s player of the game. “I’m really enjoying the lead-off spot. It lets me get right into the action, get dialed in early and really contribute to the team in a number of ways.”
Patton was able to drive in those six runs because the bottom of the order was sensational. Metheny went four-for-four and scored four times, Ehlers went three-for-four with a walk and also scored four runs and Minicozzi went three-for-four with two runs scored. In the end, the bottom three hitters in the order had 10 of the Goldeyes 18 hits and scored 10 of the team’s 12 runs.
“It’s great to come up with men on base,” said Patton. “I’ve been feeling that I’ve been hitting the ball hard, they just haven’t been falling.”
With the win, the Goldeyes recorded their 52nd victory of the season, one more than last year, and pulled to within a game-and-a-half of first-place Gary.
“This is the week we’ve been waiting for all year,” Patton said. “This is the week to get everything together and be on a roll heading in to the playoffs.”
With a few more wins – and a few more great games from the lead-off man – this Goldeyes team could get back into first place before all is said and done.
They’ll take the next step toward the top with the final game of this three-game series with Joliet tonight at 7:00 at Canwest Park.
Heading into Tuesday night’s game at Canwest Park, Patton was hitting an un-Pattonlike .233. However, there was something strangely sensational about this quiet Texan’s contribution to the Goldeyes.
After all, his fielding has been solid and sometimes outright spectacular. And heading into Tuesday action, his on-base percentage was .355, more than 120 points higher than his batting average (he leads the team with 61 walks).
According to manager Rick Forney, he was patient at the plate, a good baserunner and, as a result, an almost perfect lead-off man.
So on Tuesday, with the bottom of the order – Brent Metheny, Cody Ehlers and Mark Minicozzi – hitting rockets, Patton had one of his best games of the season. He went three-for-four and drove in six runs as the Goldeyes whipped Joliet 12-7.
“Leading off is something I’d never done, but Rick came to me with the idea and I was ready to give it a try,” said Patton, Shaw TV’s player of the game. “I’m really enjoying the lead-off spot. It lets me get right into the action, get dialed in early and really contribute to the team in a number of ways.”
Patton was able to drive in those six runs because the bottom of the order was sensational. Metheny went four-for-four and scored four times, Ehlers went three-for-four with a walk and also scored four runs and Minicozzi went three-for-four with two runs scored. In the end, the bottom three hitters in the order had 10 of the Goldeyes 18 hits and scored 10 of the team’s 12 runs.
“It’s great to come up with men on base,” said Patton. “I’ve been feeling that I’ve been hitting the ball hard, they just haven’t been falling.”
With the win, the Goldeyes recorded their 52nd victory of the season, one more than last year, and pulled to within a game-and-a-half of first-place Gary.
“This is the week we’ve been waiting for all year,” Patton said. “This is the week to get everything together and be on a roll heading in to the playoffs.”
With a few more wins – and a few more great games from the lead-off man – this Goldeyes team could get back into first place before all is said and done.
They’ll take the next step toward the top with the final game of this three-game series with Joliet tonight at 7:00 at Canwest Park.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
August 25: Harrison Gets His Pitch As Goldeyes Beat JackHammers
Vince Harrison was sitting dead red. And he now owes Joliet starter Luke O’Loughlin a note of thanks.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth on Monday night, O’Loughlin threw Harrison a belt-high fastball with his first pitch and the Winnipeg third baseman hit a monster grand slam home run over the left field fence. With that, the Goldeyes had enough runs to beat the Jackhammers 5-3 at Canwest Park and pick up their 51st win of the season, matching their total for all of 2008.
“I was sitting on a fastball,” Harrison said. “He (O’Loughlin) fell behind Diaz and he walked West. I just figured he’d try to throw a strike on his first pitch.”
Well, in fairness, he did.
With Harrison’s grand slam, the Goldeyes had enough runs for Bill Pulsipher, who threw eight solid innings, allowing only three runs on seven hits to improve to 4-1 since joining the Goldeyes in early August. He also had eight strikeouts and one walk and earned a standing ovation from the 5,422 in attendance at the downtown ballpark.
For Harrison, it was his fourth home run since joining the Goldeyes just eight games ago. He now has 10 runs batted in since coming to Winnipeg from Joliet and, with a three-for-four night on Monday, he’s batting .296 since arriving.
Of course, following his first seven games, he was hitting just .217. This is Harrison’s third team this season and he’s hitting .322 overall, but in every other situation this season, he’s started slowly with his new club.
“I wish there was an answer to that one,” Harrison said with a grin. “The main thing for me right now is to finish strong and help this team win a championship. I’m very fortunate now, coming to a team that has some pretty great hitters right through the line-up. For the first time in a while, I have some protection. From now until the end of the season, I need to take advantage of that and just try to help this team win.”
He’ll get another chance tonight at 7:00 when the Fish and Hammers play Game 2 of this three-game series at Canwest Park.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth on Monday night, O’Loughlin threw Harrison a belt-high fastball with his first pitch and the Winnipeg third baseman hit a monster grand slam home run over the left field fence. With that, the Goldeyes had enough runs to beat the Jackhammers 5-3 at Canwest Park and pick up their 51st win of the season, matching their total for all of 2008.
“I was sitting on a fastball,” Harrison said. “He (O’Loughlin) fell behind Diaz and he walked West. I just figured he’d try to throw a strike on his first pitch.”
Well, in fairness, he did.
With Harrison’s grand slam, the Goldeyes had enough runs for Bill Pulsipher, who threw eight solid innings, allowing only three runs on seven hits to improve to 4-1 since joining the Goldeyes in early August. He also had eight strikeouts and one walk and earned a standing ovation from the 5,422 in attendance at the downtown ballpark.
For Harrison, it was his fourth home run since joining the Goldeyes just eight games ago. He now has 10 runs batted in since coming to Winnipeg from Joliet and, with a three-for-four night on Monday, he’s batting .296 since arriving.
Of course, following his first seven games, he was hitting just .217. This is Harrison’s third team this season and he’s hitting .322 overall, but in every other situation this season, he’s started slowly with his new club.
“I wish there was an answer to that one,” Harrison said with a grin. “The main thing for me right now is to finish strong and help this team win a championship. I’m very fortunate now, coming to a team that has some pretty great hitters right through the line-up. For the first time in a while, I have some protection. From now until the end of the season, I need to take advantage of that and just try to help this team win.”
He’ll get another chance tonight at 7:00 when the Fish and Hammers play Game 2 of this three-game series at Canwest Park.
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24: All Things Being Equal, West Expects To Play Four Or Five More Years
Before the 2009 Northern League season began, Kevin West lost 30 pounds and got into, what he called, the best shape of his career.
For West, it was going to be Year 2 in Winnipeg and he not only wanted to give himself a chance to get back into organized ball, but he wanted to give the Goldeyes the best baseball player he could give them.
“I owed it to this franchise,” West said at the time. “They’ve treated me as well or better than any place I’ve ever played and I owed it to them to have the best season I could this year.”
Heading into this week’s final homestand of 2009, West has played pretty well. He’s hitting .290 with 101 hits, 22 doubles, 19 home runs (third in the Northern League), 66 runs driven in (fourth), 54 runs scored, 41 extra base hits (fourth) and a .517 slugging percentage.
In all, it’s been a solid season for West and one that he thought just might get him a call from a big league organization. But so far, that call hasn’t come and now that he’s nearly 30, he has to wonder if that call will ever come.
“Should my age hurt me?” West responded when the question was put to him Monday afternoon. “Sure. I’m nearly 30, I guess it could hurt me. But there are so many plus-30 guys in Triple A ball. I mean, have you seen how many 30-plus-year-old guys in organized baseball are free agents every year and they get signed at the Triple A level?
“It’s like a big fraternity in Triple A. I’m just not part of that fraternity. It’s not that I played my way out of the fraternity. My numbers were OK. For reasons I don’t know, I’m not in the brotherhood anymore. That’s why I’m playing in Winnipeg, trying to get back.”
West hit .272 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs in 334 at-bats at Triple A Oklahoma City in 2007 when released by the Texas Rangers (he had been released by the Minnesota Twins in 2006). He wound up in Winnipeg in 2008, where he hit .317 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs. His Triple A numbers were always decent (.278 in Rochester in 2004, .271 in 2005 and .246 in 2006), but not decent enough to stay employed at that level.
So now, he’s almost 30, and two years removed from organized baseball and it becomes more and more unlikely – not impossible, but unlikely – that he’ll ever get the big call again.
So does he plan on continuing to play independent ball?
“Sure,” he said. “All things being equal – no injuries, no illness, anything like that – I think I can play four or five more years.
“There is no doubt that I said the first month I was here last year, that if I was going to play independent baseball, it would be in Winnipeg. This is the place I want to play. I get treated so well here. My son loves it. He gets to be in the clubhouse every day and not many kids get to do that.
“My wife understands that I love to play baseball and it’s not out of my system yet. This is what I want to do and she’d rather have me happy doing what I want to do than miserable doing something that I have to do.”
When the season ends, West will head back to Florida, where his family spends the off-season and either find a job in winter ball or else work in the service industry, just as he did last year. The Wests aren’t wealthy, but they own a nice home in Florida and have paid off both their vehicles.
“You know what a player is paid in the Northern League and you know we’re not wealthy, but we do OK,” he said. “There is good money to be made in the restaurant and bar industry in Florida. If my wife (Melissa) needs to work, she can always get a job as a server or a bartender. When I met her, she was a bartender at a place on the beach in Fort Myers and I just happened to be having a drink at her bar.
“We have a great quality of life when we’re in Winnipeg and a great quality of life when we’re in Florida. I’m not too concerned about how much money we make, because I’m also free to play baseball.
“One of the great things about the service industry in Florida is that it’s pretty seasonal. You can take a job and walk away after a few months and nobody gets hurt. I haven’t had any calls from organized baseball yet, but I intend to play next year. If not in a big league organization, then I hope it’s here. Right now I’m just thinking about winning a championship and then going home and getting into even better shape than I was this past year.”
For West, it was going to be Year 2 in Winnipeg and he not only wanted to give himself a chance to get back into organized ball, but he wanted to give the Goldeyes the best baseball player he could give them.
“I owed it to this franchise,” West said at the time. “They’ve treated me as well or better than any place I’ve ever played and I owed it to them to have the best season I could this year.”
Heading into this week’s final homestand of 2009, West has played pretty well. He’s hitting .290 with 101 hits, 22 doubles, 19 home runs (third in the Northern League), 66 runs driven in (fourth), 54 runs scored, 41 extra base hits (fourth) and a .517 slugging percentage.
In all, it’s been a solid season for West and one that he thought just might get him a call from a big league organization. But so far, that call hasn’t come and now that he’s nearly 30, he has to wonder if that call will ever come.
“Should my age hurt me?” West responded when the question was put to him Monday afternoon. “Sure. I’m nearly 30, I guess it could hurt me. But there are so many plus-30 guys in Triple A ball. I mean, have you seen how many 30-plus-year-old guys in organized baseball are free agents every year and they get signed at the Triple A level?
“It’s like a big fraternity in Triple A. I’m just not part of that fraternity. It’s not that I played my way out of the fraternity. My numbers were OK. For reasons I don’t know, I’m not in the brotherhood anymore. That’s why I’m playing in Winnipeg, trying to get back.”
West hit .272 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs in 334 at-bats at Triple A Oklahoma City in 2007 when released by the Texas Rangers (he had been released by the Minnesota Twins in 2006). He wound up in Winnipeg in 2008, where he hit .317 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs. His Triple A numbers were always decent (.278 in Rochester in 2004, .271 in 2005 and .246 in 2006), but not decent enough to stay employed at that level.
So now, he’s almost 30, and two years removed from organized baseball and it becomes more and more unlikely – not impossible, but unlikely – that he’ll ever get the big call again.
So does he plan on continuing to play independent ball?
“Sure,” he said. “All things being equal – no injuries, no illness, anything like that – I think I can play four or five more years.
“There is no doubt that I said the first month I was here last year, that if I was going to play independent baseball, it would be in Winnipeg. This is the place I want to play. I get treated so well here. My son loves it. He gets to be in the clubhouse every day and not many kids get to do that.
“My wife understands that I love to play baseball and it’s not out of my system yet. This is what I want to do and she’d rather have me happy doing what I want to do than miserable doing something that I have to do.”
When the season ends, West will head back to Florida, where his family spends the off-season and either find a job in winter ball or else work in the service industry, just as he did last year. The Wests aren’t wealthy, but they own a nice home in Florida and have paid off both their vehicles.
“You know what a player is paid in the Northern League and you know we’re not wealthy, but we do OK,” he said. “There is good money to be made in the restaurant and bar industry in Florida. If my wife (Melissa) needs to work, she can always get a job as a server or a bartender. When I met her, she was a bartender at a place on the beach in Fort Myers and I just happened to be having a drink at her bar.
“We have a great quality of life when we’re in Winnipeg and a great quality of life when we’re in Florida. I’m not too concerned about how much money we make, because I’m also free to play baseball.
“One of the great things about the service industry in Florida is that it’s pretty seasonal. You can take a job and walk away after a few months and nobody gets hurt. I haven’t had any calls from organized baseball yet, but I intend to play next year. If not in a big league organization, then I hope it’s here. Right now I’m just thinking about winning a championship and then going home and getting into even better shape than I was this past year.”
Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 20: Goldeyes Happy To Hit The Road
When their bus pulled up outside Canwest Park yesterday afternoon to load up and drive to Schaumburg, the Fish were quite happy to get out of town.
With an 8-4 loss to Fargo-Moorhead, the Goldeyes were swept right out of their own Fish Bowl by a RedHawks team that won its ninth straight to move into a tie with Gary atop the league standings.
It was a disappointing loss for the hosts, who held a 4-0 lead through four innings with ace Bill Pulsipher on the mound. But the monster bats of the RedHawks came to life in the fifth and Fargo put up eight runs in the final five innings.
The big blow came with the Goldeyes leading 4-3 in the sixth. With two on and one out, Alan Rick hit the first pitch he saw from Pulsipher high and deep to right.
“I came up looking for something elevated,” Rick told Shaw TV after the game. “I wasn’t sure what he threw me, a splitter or a change, but it was up and I was able to drive it. He’s a really tough pitcher with nasty stuff, but I guessed right this time.
“These are all very important games down the stretch and that Winnipeg club is a good club. But we’re really hitting the ball right now, every guy in the line-up, and nobody in our clubhouse worries much if we fall behind.”
For the Goldeyes, it was nice to see Fargo’s bus pull out of the parking lot.
“We have to handle this like we would any slump,” said right fielder Kevin West. “We have a good team and sometimes baseball is like a roller coaster. It’s a long season, it has its ups and downs.”
Right now, after losing four straight to Fargo, the Goldeyes are on the down side. Perhaps this four-game trip to Schaumburg will help to turn that around. Game one be heard tonight at 7:00 on 1290 CFRW.
With an 8-4 loss to Fargo-Moorhead, the Goldeyes were swept right out of their own Fish Bowl by a RedHawks team that won its ninth straight to move into a tie with Gary atop the league standings.
It was a disappointing loss for the hosts, who held a 4-0 lead through four innings with ace Bill Pulsipher on the mound. But the monster bats of the RedHawks came to life in the fifth and Fargo put up eight runs in the final five innings.
The big blow came with the Goldeyes leading 4-3 in the sixth. With two on and one out, Alan Rick hit the first pitch he saw from Pulsipher high and deep to right.
“I came up looking for something elevated,” Rick told Shaw TV after the game. “I wasn’t sure what he threw me, a splitter or a change, but it was up and I was able to drive it. He’s a really tough pitcher with nasty stuff, but I guessed right this time.
“These are all very important games down the stretch and that Winnipeg club is a good club. But we’re really hitting the ball right now, every guy in the line-up, and nobody in our clubhouse worries much if we fall behind.”
For the Goldeyes, it was nice to see Fargo’s bus pull out of the parking lot.
“We have to handle this like we would any slump,” said right fielder Kevin West. “We have a good team and sometimes baseball is like a roller coaster. It’s a long season, it has its ups and downs.”
Right now, after losing four straight to Fargo, the Goldeyes are on the down side. Perhaps this four-game trip to Schaumburg will help to turn that around. Game one be heard tonight at 7:00 on 1290 CFRW.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August 19: Goldeyes Fall From First to Third
The Winnipeg Goldeyes looked to have Game 1 of a Tuesday night double-header in the bag. Leading 5-0 through the first six innings of a seven-inning ball game and with Andrew Cruse pitching wonderfully, it appeared as if Winnipeg would record its 50th win of the season.
But you just knew something would have to go wrong.
In the seventh, Cruse walked the first two men he faced, was removed from the game by manager Rick Forney and the two of them could only watch as the bullpen imploded and gave up seven runs in the top of the seventh in a 7-5 loss.
“It’s not even something you think about,” said RedHawks third baseman Jeremiah Piepkorn, the Shaw TV player of the game and the guy who hit the deciding blow, a three-run bomb off closer Chris Homer.
“We didn’t say anything in the dugout, we really didn’t talk about anything at all. When you’re down five runs, you just go out there and try to string some hits together and see what happens.”
What happened was a Game 1 victory and all the momentum heading into Game 2.
“We’ve fought back into the race and now, heading down the stretch, every game is important,” Piepkorn said. “Nobody on the team gives up. The score at the time really doesn’t matter.”
In Game 2, Fargo simply did a number on the Goldeyes, scoring five unearned runs against starter Zach Baldwin, as the RedHawks cruised to an 11-0 shellacking of the home side.
It just wasn’t the type of night the Fish wanted to have in front of 8,144 at Canwest Park. With the two losses, the Goldeyes fell from first to third, a game-and-a-half back of first-place Gary and a half-game back of second-place Fargo.
“We’re just trying to do the best we can and win as many as we can down the stretch,” said Fargo reliever and game winner T.J. Stanton, Shaw TV’s player of the game in Game 2.
“From the time I arrived here, we’ve gone on a pretty good streak. This team is playing good baseball and as a pitcher, it’s always good to know that the guys behind you are going to go out and get you some runs. At this stage, you just want to build some momentum heading into the playoffs.”
The final game of this four-game series goes Wednesday at noon at Canwest Park.
But you just knew something would have to go wrong.
In the seventh, Cruse walked the first two men he faced, was removed from the game by manager Rick Forney and the two of them could only watch as the bullpen imploded and gave up seven runs in the top of the seventh in a 7-5 loss.
“It’s not even something you think about,” said RedHawks third baseman Jeremiah Piepkorn, the Shaw TV player of the game and the guy who hit the deciding blow, a three-run bomb off closer Chris Homer.
“We didn’t say anything in the dugout, we really didn’t talk about anything at all. When you’re down five runs, you just go out there and try to string some hits together and see what happens.”
What happened was a Game 1 victory and all the momentum heading into Game 2.
“We’ve fought back into the race and now, heading down the stretch, every game is important,” Piepkorn said. “Nobody on the team gives up. The score at the time really doesn’t matter.”
In Game 2, Fargo simply did a number on the Goldeyes, scoring five unearned runs against starter Zach Baldwin, as the RedHawks cruised to an 11-0 shellacking of the home side.
It just wasn’t the type of night the Fish wanted to have in front of 8,144 at Canwest Park. With the two losses, the Goldeyes fell from first to third, a game-and-a-half back of first-place Gary and a half-game back of second-place Fargo.
“We’re just trying to do the best we can and win as many as we can down the stretch,” said Fargo reliever and game winner T.J. Stanton, Shaw TV’s player of the game in Game 2.
“From the time I arrived here, we’ve gone on a pretty good streak. This team is playing good baseball and as a pitcher, it’s always good to know that the guys behind you are going to go out and get you some runs. At this stage, you just want to build some momentum heading into the playoffs.”
The final game of this four-game series goes Wednesday at noon at Canwest Park.
August 19: Harrison Happy To Be In Winnipeg
Excuse Vince Harrison if he feels as though he’s been through the ringer of a washing machine.
It’s been a long season in a short time.
“Yeah, it’s only a four-month season and I’ve already had three teams and four managers,” Harrison said as he arrived at the airport in Winnipeg today. “I hope Rick (Forney) doesn’t get fired.”
Late Monday night, both Harrison, a third baseman, along with infielder Mark Minicozzi, were acquired from Joliet and Kansas City respectively, as the Goldeyes tried to shore up their line-up amid a number of injuries late in this topsy-turvy season.
Wes Long is still out, nursing his broken ankle. Josh Asanovich injured his knee on Monday night and is out for at least a week. And Kevin West was hit in the head by a Garry Bakker slider on Monday and still has the seam-marks on his face to prove it.
Meanwhile, for Harrison, a two-time Northern League all-star who has overcome his own injuries and adversity throughout an oft-interrupted six-year playing career, this season has been particularly trying.
He started out with Schaumburg, playing for Mike Busch, and was hitting .338 with five homers and 27 runs batted in on July 27 when he was dealt to Joliet. He started out playing for Wally Backman, but Backman was fired a week later by the last-place JackHammers and replaced by Ira Smith. Harrison hit .282 in 18 games with Joliet before Monday night’s trade to Winnipeg.
“I played in that 12-inning 1-0 game with Gary on Monday (he had two hits in five trips), and then was told after the game to pack up my stuff, I was being traded again,” Harrison said. “I had a few hours to get packed and get to the airport and here I am.
“I’m happy to be in Winnipeg, it’s just that everything this year has been unsettling.”
Of course, it’s not like that hasn’t been a feature of Harrison’s career.
“I’ve been in the Triple A phase of the Rule 5 draft twice,” Harrison said, looking back on a career that was interrupted by two seasons of inactivity. “I injured my wrist in 2005 and went to camp with the Rangers. They told me I needed another operation and shut me down. Then, just as I was getting ready to go back, I was caught in the Rule 5 again and went to camp with Boston. I was going to play with Pawtucket (Boston’s Triple A farm club) in 2006, but tore my quad in the first pre-season game.
“So then I was acquired by St. Louis. I went two years without playing a game. It’s nice just to play.”
Originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1998, Harrison chose to pass on baseball and instead accepted a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky. He spent two years with the Wildcats football team before turning his attention back to baseball.
Now, 29, he’s in Winnipeg to help the Goldeyes win a championship and, for perhaps more importantly, just see where baseball takes him. For now.
“I’ve been through a lot, but I’ve never been released by a team because I wasn’t getting the job done,” he said. “It’s always nice to go to a place that wants you. Right now, that’s Winnipeg. I’m happy to be here.”
With his .322 batting average (seventh in the Northern League) and a solid glove at first or third, you can bet Winnipeg is glad to have him.
It’s been a long season in a short time.
“Yeah, it’s only a four-month season and I’ve already had three teams and four managers,” Harrison said as he arrived at the airport in Winnipeg today. “I hope Rick (Forney) doesn’t get fired.”
Late Monday night, both Harrison, a third baseman, along with infielder Mark Minicozzi, were acquired from Joliet and Kansas City respectively, as the Goldeyes tried to shore up their line-up amid a number of injuries late in this topsy-turvy season.
Wes Long is still out, nursing his broken ankle. Josh Asanovich injured his knee on Monday night and is out for at least a week. And Kevin West was hit in the head by a Garry Bakker slider on Monday and still has the seam-marks on his face to prove it.
Meanwhile, for Harrison, a two-time Northern League all-star who has overcome his own injuries and adversity throughout an oft-interrupted six-year playing career, this season has been particularly trying.
He started out with Schaumburg, playing for Mike Busch, and was hitting .338 with five homers and 27 runs batted in on July 27 when he was dealt to Joliet. He started out playing for Wally Backman, but Backman was fired a week later by the last-place JackHammers and replaced by Ira Smith. Harrison hit .282 in 18 games with Joliet before Monday night’s trade to Winnipeg.
“I played in that 12-inning 1-0 game with Gary on Monday (he had two hits in five trips), and then was told after the game to pack up my stuff, I was being traded again,” Harrison said. “I had a few hours to get packed and get to the airport and here I am.
“I’m happy to be in Winnipeg, it’s just that everything this year has been unsettling.”
Of course, it’s not like that hasn’t been a feature of Harrison’s career.
“I’ve been in the Triple A phase of the Rule 5 draft twice,” Harrison said, looking back on a career that was interrupted by two seasons of inactivity. “I injured my wrist in 2005 and went to camp with the Rangers. They told me I needed another operation and shut me down. Then, just as I was getting ready to go back, I was caught in the Rule 5 again and went to camp with Boston. I was going to play with Pawtucket (Boston’s Triple A farm club) in 2006, but tore my quad in the first pre-season game.
“So then I was acquired by St. Louis. I went two years without playing a game. It’s nice just to play.”
Originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1998, Harrison chose to pass on baseball and instead accepted a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky. He spent two years with the Wildcats football team before turning his attention back to baseball.
Now, 29, he’s in Winnipeg to help the Goldeyes win a championship and, for perhaps more importantly, just see where baseball takes him. For now.
“I’ve been through a lot, but I’ve never been released by a team because I wasn’t getting the job done,” he said. “It’s always nice to go to a place that wants you. Right now, that’s Winnipeg. I’m happy to be here.”
With his .322 batting average (seventh in the Northern League) and a solid glove at first or third, you can bet Winnipeg is glad to have him.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August 18: No Peace Or Love As RedHawks Whip Goldeyes 13-4 On Woodstock Night
It was billed as an evening of peace and love, but became a frustrating night for a lot of people as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks came in to Winnipeg and beat the Goldeyes 13-4 at Canwest Park.
The promotion was the “40th Anniversary of Woodstock Night” presented by local radio station 92-CITI FM and what started out as an evening of peace, love and baseball, turned into a scuffle between Fargo manager Doug Simunic and Goldeyes third base coach Tom Vaeth.
After Fargo starter Garry Bakker threw one pitch over the head of Goldeyes third baseman Kevin West and then, later, hit West with a pitch, an argument began between Simunic and Vaeth. Simunic then whacked Vaeth with an open hand, a couple of punches were exchanged and the dugouts cleared. Eventually, the umpires gained control of the situation, Vaeth and Simunic were tossed and play resumed without incident.
Through it all, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney was nowhere to be found. With the playoff roster deadline approaching, he was in his office working the phones.
On the field, Goldeyes starter Ace Walker gave up eight runs on 10 hits over four-plus innings and left the game with his team down 8-3.
“We played poorly tonight,” said Forney. “We just didn’t get a good performance from our starter. Ace just didn’t have good command of his pitches. Most of what he threw was out over the plate and against a team that’s as hot as these guys (the RedHawks), you’re going to get hit pretty hard.
“You have to pitch very well to beat this team and we didn’t pitch very well.”
The RedHawks scored two in the first, three in the second, two in the third and five in the fifth and that was plenty. The Goldeyes could manage only four runs on eight hits.
The Goldeyes also got some bad news during the game. Second baseman Josh Asanovich twisted his knee on the wet grass in the outfield and will be out at least week and maybe 10 days.
“He really tweaked something,” said Forney. “I’m not certain what the problem is but it looks like he’ll be out for awhile.”
The two rivals are back at tonight for a double-header beginning at 6 p.m.
The promotion was the “40th Anniversary of Woodstock Night” presented by local radio station 92-CITI FM and what started out as an evening of peace, love and baseball, turned into a scuffle between Fargo manager Doug Simunic and Goldeyes third base coach Tom Vaeth.
After Fargo starter Garry Bakker threw one pitch over the head of Goldeyes third baseman Kevin West and then, later, hit West with a pitch, an argument began between Simunic and Vaeth. Simunic then whacked Vaeth with an open hand, a couple of punches were exchanged and the dugouts cleared. Eventually, the umpires gained control of the situation, Vaeth and Simunic were tossed and play resumed without incident.
Through it all, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney was nowhere to be found. With the playoff roster deadline approaching, he was in his office working the phones.
On the field, Goldeyes starter Ace Walker gave up eight runs on 10 hits over four-plus innings and left the game with his team down 8-3.
“We played poorly tonight,” said Forney. “We just didn’t get a good performance from our starter. Ace just didn’t have good command of his pitches. Most of what he threw was out over the plate and against a team that’s as hot as these guys (the RedHawks), you’re going to get hit pretty hard.
“You have to pitch very well to beat this team and we didn’t pitch very well.”
The RedHawks scored two in the first, three in the second, two in the third and five in the fifth and that was plenty. The Goldeyes could manage only four runs on eight hits.
The Goldeyes also got some bad news during the game. Second baseman Josh Asanovich twisted his knee on the wet grass in the outfield and will be out at least week and maybe 10 days.
“He really tweaked something,” said Forney. “I’m not certain what the problem is but it looks like he’ll be out for awhile.”
The two rivals are back at tonight for a double-header beginning at 6 p.m.
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17: Happy With Expansion, Griffith Anticipates Further Growth
Northern League commissioner Clark Griffith is pleased with the addition of two expansion clubs, but says there are more to come.
“I’m hoping for two more next year and then two more the year after,” Griffith said, as he watched the Minnesota Twins play host to the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. “I believe that very soon, this will be a 10-or-12-team league.”
Earlier this month, the NL added the Rockford RiverHawks, who had been playing in the Frontier League but elected to move to the Northern League. Rockford was added as the eighth team after league governors announced that an expansion team in Lake County, Illinois (owned by actor Kevin Costner) would begin play in 2010.
Earlier this summer, Goldeyes owner Sam Katz said he hoped Burnsville, Minnesota was still being considered for expansion. On Friday, Griffith acknowledged that he was still talking to the business community in Burnsville, a city located just south of Minneapolis.
“The politicians in Burnsville are still enthusiastic. But I have to find some owners,” said the commissioner. “The original owners just couldn’t get their financing together, but we’re still working hard to get Burnsville into the league.
Griffith was asked if he was also trying to find a site near Kansas City in which to add a team. In 2010, the Northern League will have two teams in the north (Winnipeg and Fargo), one team in the west (Kansas City) and five teams in the Chicagoland area (Gary, Joliet, Lake County, Rockford and Schaumburg).
“I’m looking at St. Louis,” Griffth said. “It’s near Kansas City and not far from Joliet. I’m looking at communities on the interstate highway system. I-29 from K.C. to Fargo and Winnipeg, I-55 from St. Louis to Joliet, I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City.
“I’m confident we’ll get to 10 or 12 teams. Real soon.”
“I’m hoping for two more next year and then two more the year after,” Griffith said, as he watched the Minnesota Twins play host to the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. “I believe that very soon, this will be a 10-or-12-team league.”
Earlier this month, the NL added the Rockford RiverHawks, who had been playing in the Frontier League but elected to move to the Northern League. Rockford was added as the eighth team after league governors announced that an expansion team in Lake County, Illinois (owned by actor Kevin Costner) would begin play in 2010.
Earlier this summer, Goldeyes owner Sam Katz said he hoped Burnsville, Minnesota was still being considered for expansion. On Friday, Griffith acknowledged that he was still talking to the business community in Burnsville, a city located just south of Minneapolis.
“The politicians in Burnsville are still enthusiastic. But I have to find some owners,” said the commissioner. “The original owners just couldn’t get their financing together, but we’re still working hard to get Burnsville into the league.
Griffith was asked if he was also trying to find a site near Kansas City in which to add a team. In 2010, the Northern League will have two teams in the north (Winnipeg and Fargo), one team in the west (Kansas City) and five teams in the Chicagoland area (Gary, Joliet, Lake County, Rockford and Schaumburg).
“I’m looking at St. Louis,” Griffth said. “It’s near Kansas City and not far from Joliet. I’m looking at communities on the interstate highway system. I-29 from K.C. to Fargo and Winnipeg, I-55 from St. Louis to Joliet, I-70 from St. Louis to Kansas City.
“I’m confident we’ll get to 10 or 12 teams. Real soon.”
Friday, August 14, 2009
August 14: DeSmidt Another Example Of Baseball’s Winnipeg Brainiacs
Jeff DeSmidt has a problem. However, for most of us, it’s problem we’d all like to have.
DeSmidt is trying to figure out a way to get his Masters degree and play professional baseball at the same time.
The 23-year-old from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, just northeast of St. Paul, has a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. A catcher with the Goldeyes, DeSmidt was a Big 10 Conference second-team all-star in 2007, leading the Golden Gophers in both home runs and runs batted in.
But while he’s finished his undergraduate degree and still loves to play baseball, he’d also like to get to work on that Masters so that he can one day make the move into medicine.
“I’m looking for a way to do both until I’m finished with baseball,” DeSmidt said earlier this month, just before reading to the kids at the Henderson Library.
“I looked into it at the University of Minnesota, but they frowned on it. It doesn’t look like that’s going to work out there. But perhaps there is another university that would allow me to do both.”
Naturally, we suggested he look into the Masters programs being offered at the University of Manitoba, but in the meantime, DeSmidt is a member of a pretty smart ball club.
Reliever Chris Homer was the first member of his family to graduate from university when he completed a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice at Marist College in New York.
This month, Goldeyes left fielder Dee Brown will complete a criminal justice degree from Rollins College in Florida.
Rookie reliever Ian Thomas, who was on the Dean’s List at Louisburg Junior College, is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Reliever Matt Davis, a teacher in the off-season, is a graduate of Ohio State University, Josh Asanovich was a star at Arizona State, Cory Patton is a graduate of Texas A&M while Wes Long is a grad of the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Of course, being around smart guys doesn’t necessarily fix DeSmidt’s problem.
“There has to be some way to do this,” DeSmidt lamented. “The problem with so many Masters programs is that they want you to work right through and get it done with no distractions. But I don’t want to stop playing ball while I can still play. Maybe that will be my goal in the off-season, figuring out a way to complete a Masters degree while playing professional baseball.”
DeSmidt is trying to figure out a way to get his Masters degree and play professional baseball at the same time.
The 23-year-old from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, just northeast of St. Paul, has a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. A catcher with the Goldeyes, DeSmidt was a Big 10 Conference second-team all-star in 2007, leading the Golden Gophers in both home runs and runs batted in.
But while he’s finished his undergraduate degree and still loves to play baseball, he’d also like to get to work on that Masters so that he can one day make the move into medicine.
“I’m looking for a way to do both until I’m finished with baseball,” DeSmidt said earlier this month, just before reading to the kids at the Henderson Library.
“I looked into it at the University of Minnesota, but they frowned on it. It doesn’t look like that’s going to work out there. But perhaps there is another university that would allow me to do both.”
Naturally, we suggested he look into the Masters programs being offered at the University of Manitoba, but in the meantime, DeSmidt is a member of a pretty smart ball club.
Reliever Chris Homer was the first member of his family to graduate from university when he completed a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice at Marist College in New York.
This month, Goldeyes left fielder Dee Brown will complete a criminal justice degree from Rollins College in Florida.
Rookie reliever Ian Thomas, who was on the Dean’s List at Louisburg Junior College, is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Reliever Matt Davis, a teacher in the off-season, is a graduate of Ohio State University, Josh Asanovich was a star at Arizona State, Cory Patton is a graduate of Texas A&M while Wes Long is a grad of the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Of course, being around smart guys doesn’t necessarily fix DeSmidt’s problem.
“There has to be some way to do this,” DeSmidt lamented. “The problem with so many Masters programs is that they want you to work right through and get it done with no distractions. But I don’t want to stop playing ball while I can still play. Maybe that will be my goal in the off-season, figuring out a way to complete a Masters degree while playing professional baseball.”
Monday, August 10, 2009
August 10: Pulsipher The Stopper As Goldeyes Whip Schaumburg
Bill Pulsipher is proving he just might be Goldeyes manager Rick Forney’s finest mid-season signing.
On Sunday afternoon, Pulsipher gave the Goldeyes a second-straight near-flawless start as he allowed only one run on five hits over seven innings and led the Fish to a 7-2 victory over the Schaumburg Flyers at Canwest Park.
In just two starts with Winnipeg, both of which he has won, the former New York Mets bonus baby has pitched 13 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits.
“I’ve had to learn how to pitch again,” he said. “Ever since Tommy John surgery (back in 1996), I haven’t been able to throw with the same velocity. But in order to overcome that, I had to learn to change speeds, throw strikes, move the ball around the strike zone, work quickly and become a smarter pitcher.”
Pulsipher was certainly smart on Sunday. By adding a new/old pitch to his arsenal, he kept the Flyers off-balance all afternoon. With Kevin West going three-for-five with a solo homer, two runs scored and two runs batted in and Cory Patton going one-for-two with a solo homer, four runs scored and one RBI, Pulsipher was able to give the Fish their 46th victory of the season (as an aside, Kansas City finished the season 46-50 last year and won the Northern League championship).
“When I came back from Mexico, I hadn’t pitched very well and I wasn’t very happy with how things had gone,” Pulsipher said. “So when I came back, I started working on the curve ball again. I hadn’t thrown it in quite awhile, and after I struggled in Mexico, I thought I needed it. Here, I’ve used the curve ball a lot and I’ve just been leaning back and letting it do what it needs to do. By having that pitch, it’s really helped me.”
Pulsipher’s performance was exactly what Forney was looking for. After four-straight shaky starts, the Goldeyes needed the veteran to shut down an opponent and give the hitters a chance to do their thing. For the second time since arriving last week, Pulsipher did just that.
With the win, the Fish improved to 46-28, took a two-and-a-half game lead over Gary in the race for first in the Northern League and lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to eight.
The Goldeyes play Monday night in Joliet, the first game of a seven-game road trip that will also take them to Gary.
On Sunday afternoon, Pulsipher gave the Goldeyes a second-straight near-flawless start as he allowed only one run on five hits over seven innings and led the Fish to a 7-2 victory over the Schaumburg Flyers at Canwest Park.
In just two starts with Winnipeg, both of which he has won, the former New York Mets bonus baby has pitched 13 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits.
“I’ve had to learn how to pitch again,” he said. “Ever since Tommy John surgery (back in 1996), I haven’t been able to throw with the same velocity. But in order to overcome that, I had to learn to change speeds, throw strikes, move the ball around the strike zone, work quickly and become a smarter pitcher.”
Pulsipher was certainly smart on Sunday. By adding a new/old pitch to his arsenal, he kept the Flyers off-balance all afternoon. With Kevin West going three-for-five with a solo homer, two runs scored and two runs batted in and Cory Patton going one-for-two with a solo homer, four runs scored and one RBI, Pulsipher was able to give the Fish their 46th victory of the season (as an aside, Kansas City finished the season 46-50 last year and won the Northern League championship).
“When I came back from Mexico, I hadn’t pitched very well and I wasn’t very happy with how things had gone,” Pulsipher said. “So when I came back, I started working on the curve ball again. I hadn’t thrown it in quite awhile, and after I struggled in Mexico, I thought I needed it. Here, I’ve used the curve ball a lot and I’ve just been leaning back and letting it do what it needs to do. By having that pitch, it’s really helped me.”
Pulsipher’s performance was exactly what Forney was looking for. After four-straight shaky starts, the Goldeyes needed the veteran to shut down an opponent and give the hitters a chance to do their thing. For the second time since arriving last week, Pulsipher did just that.
With the win, the Fish improved to 46-28, took a two-and-a-half game lead over Gary in the race for first in the Northern League and lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to eight.
The Goldeyes play Monday night in Joliet, the first game of a seven-game road trip that will also take them to Gary.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
August 9: Lack Of Timely Hits Costs Goldeyes In 7-3 Loss
It was just one of those nights. Try as they might, the Winnipeg Goldeyes could barely muster any offence at all.
Combine that with a shaky start for the fourth consecutive game and the Goldeyes lost their second straight to the Schaumburg Flyers, falling 7-3 at Canwest Park on Saturday night.
Big Juan Diaz went 0-for-3, clean-up hitter Kevin West went 0-for-3 and not one Winnipeg hitter had a multi-hit game. Meanwhile, starter Andrew Cruse allowed six runs on six hits and four walks in less than six innings.
“For the fourth straight game, we got a lousy start from our starter,” said a disappointed Rick Forney. “We played sloppy defensively and we didn’t get any timely hits and that cost us.”
With the loss, Winnipeg fell to 45-28 on the season. But because Gary lost 10-7 to Kansas City, the Goldeyes remained a-game-and-a-half ahead of the RailCats in the race for first in the Northern League. The Goldeyes magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains at 10.
“I guess what’s worrying me is that we haven’t made any pitches for four straight days from our starters,” said Forney. “The more consistent you can be in the strike zone, the better you’ll be.
“We’re hoping Bill (Pulsipher) will pound the strike zone (on Sunday) for six innings or so – six is probably all he can give us at this stage (it’s his second start since being off for almost two months) – and we can score some runs for him,” Forney added. “We also made some mistakes today and we didn’t get any timely hits, even though we had plenty of chances, and all that has to improve. We have to find a way to get him a big hit.”
It will be Pulsipher, the former big leaguer, getting the start for the Goldeyes on Sunday afternoon while Alain Quijano takes the ball for Schaumburg. It’s a 1:30 start at Canwest Park.
Combine that with a shaky start for the fourth consecutive game and the Goldeyes lost their second straight to the Schaumburg Flyers, falling 7-3 at Canwest Park on Saturday night.
Big Juan Diaz went 0-for-3, clean-up hitter Kevin West went 0-for-3 and not one Winnipeg hitter had a multi-hit game. Meanwhile, starter Andrew Cruse allowed six runs on six hits and four walks in less than six innings.
“For the fourth straight game, we got a lousy start from our starter,” said a disappointed Rick Forney. “We played sloppy defensively and we didn’t get any timely hits and that cost us.”
With the loss, Winnipeg fell to 45-28 on the season. But because Gary lost 10-7 to Kansas City, the Goldeyes remained a-game-and-a-half ahead of the RailCats in the race for first in the Northern League. The Goldeyes magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains at 10.
“I guess what’s worrying me is that we haven’t made any pitches for four straight days from our starters,” said Forney. “The more consistent you can be in the strike zone, the better you’ll be.
“We’re hoping Bill (Pulsipher) will pound the strike zone (on Sunday) for six innings or so – six is probably all he can give us at this stage (it’s his second start since being off for almost two months) – and we can score some runs for him,” Forney added. “We also made some mistakes today and we didn’t get any timely hits, even though we had plenty of chances, and all that has to improve. We have to find a way to get him a big hit.”
It will be Pulsipher, the former big leaguer, getting the start for the Goldeyes on Sunday afternoon while Alain Quijano takes the ball for Schaumburg. It’s a 1:30 start at Canwest Park.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
August 8: Bad Start, No Finish, As Fish Fall To Schaumburg
Following a 16-hour trip from Gary, the Schaumburg Flyers got off the bus just two hours before game time in Winnipeg on Friday night.
You never would have known it.
Schaumburg put up five runs in the first inning and then held on late in the ball game to beat the Goldeyes 8-5 at Canwest Park.
It was not a virtuoso performance for Winnipeg. Starter Ace Walker, who has been the top pitcher in the Northern League for most of the 2009 season, gave up five runs on four hits (a three-run homer by Victor Ferrante was the big blow) in the first inning.
Defensively, the Goldeyes have been almost flawless in recent weeks, but two big errors led directly to Flyers runs. And on offence, the Fish pounded out 10 hits, but couldn’t get timely hits with runners in scoring position. Winnipeg left six runners on base, five in scoring position.
“The first inning was way too much for us to overcome,” said manager Rick Forney. “Then we made two big errors to give them two more runs and we just couldn’t get enough timely hits to overcome that.
“It was a tough start for Ace. He was wild in the strike zone. Then he had that problem with the mound. But I don’t think that was the reason we lost today. They put up five in the first inning and we just weren’t able to overcome it.”
With the loss, the Fish fell to 45-27 and are now just one-and-a-half games ahead of Gary in the race for first in the Northern League.
However, if there was a bright spot in Friday night’s loss, it was the hitting of Juan Diaz. The Goldeyes big DH hit his league-leading 24th home run, singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in three. Diaz is now legitimately in the hunt for the Northern League Triple Crown. He is now fourth in batting at .326, first in homers with 24 and second in runs batted in with 73.
Still, Forney is concerned about one disturbing offensive quirk.
“We’re sluggish offensively against left-handed pitching and that worries me,” Forney said. “If you spend some time looking at the clubs that are starting to get into the playoff hunt, they all have solid lefthanded pitching. In a short series, you know you’ll see a couple of left-handers, maybe even twice. We have to address that problem.
“Early in the year, we were pretty good against left-handers because Wes Long hit them so well. But since Wes’s injury, we’ve been sluggish. We’re going to see a lot of lefties so we have to get better.”
Saturday night, the Goldeyes will see a right-hander. Dustin Glant gets the start for Schaumburg while Andrew Cruse replies for Winnipeg. It’s a 6:00 start.
You never would have known it.
Schaumburg put up five runs in the first inning and then held on late in the ball game to beat the Goldeyes 8-5 at Canwest Park.
It was not a virtuoso performance for Winnipeg. Starter Ace Walker, who has been the top pitcher in the Northern League for most of the 2009 season, gave up five runs on four hits (a three-run homer by Victor Ferrante was the big blow) in the first inning.
Defensively, the Goldeyes have been almost flawless in recent weeks, but two big errors led directly to Flyers runs. And on offence, the Fish pounded out 10 hits, but couldn’t get timely hits with runners in scoring position. Winnipeg left six runners on base, five in scoring position.
“The first inning was way too much for us to overcome,” said manager Rick Forney. “Then we made two big errors to give them two more runs and we just couldn’t get enough timely hits to overcome that.
“It was a tough start for Ace. He was wild in the strike zone. Then he had that problem with the mound. But I don’t think that was the reason we lost today. They put up five in the first inning and we just weren’t able to overcome it.”
With the loss, the Fish fell to 45-27 and are now just one-and-a-half games ahead of Gary in the race for first in the Northern League.
However, if there was a bright spot in Friday night’s loss, it was the hitting of Juan Diaz. The Goldeyes big DH hit his league-leading 24th home run, singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in three. Diaz is now legitimately in the hunt for the Northern League Triple Crown. He is now fourth in batting at .326, first in homers with 24 and second in runs batted in with 73.
Still, Forney is concerned about one disturbing offensive quirk.
“We’re sluggish offensively against left-handed pitching and that worries me,” Forney said. “If you spend some time looking at the clubs that are starting to get into the playoff hunt, they all have solid lefthanded pitching. In a short series, you know you’ll see a couple of left-handers, maybe even twice. We have to address that problem.
“Early in the year, we were pretty good against left-handers because Wes Long hit them so well. But since Wes’s injury, we’ve been sluggish. We’re going to see a lot of lefties so we have to get better.”
Saturday night, the Goldeyes will see a right-hander. Dustin Glant gets the start for Schaumburg while Andrew Cruse replies for Winnipeg. It’s a 6:00 start.
Friday, August 7, 2009
August 7: Goldeyes Hit Five More Bombs To Hammer Joliet 17-5
Talk about fireworks at Canwest Park. When the Goldeyes bats boom, they’re loud. And on Thursday night, you could hear those bats booming all over town.
Big Juan Diaz hit a pair of home runs and drove in four, Brent Metheny hit two and drove in three and Josh Asanovich hit one and drove in three more as the Goldeyes demolished the Joliet JackHammers 17-5 to win their fifth-straight series and set up a weekend showdown with the Schaumburg Flyers.
“Everybody chipped in tonight and that’s nice to see,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. “We’re really hitting the ball well right now and Juan Diaz is a man among boys. He’s locked in.”
Diaz finished the three-game series with Joliet with four homers and eight runs batted in. He now leads the Northern League in home runs with 23 (five already in August) and his 70 RBIs leave him one back of Fargo’s Nic Jackson.
But while Diaz brought the crowd to its feet early with a two-run long fly in the first inning, a handful of Goldeyes had multi-hit games.
Leadoff man Cory Patton went two-for-four with three RBI and three runs scored, Asanovich went two-for-five with three RBI and two runs scored, Diaz went for-four-six with two runs scored and four RBI, Metheny went three-for-four with three RBI and two runs scored and Dee Brown went two-for-three with three runs scored. In the end, the Goldeyes pounded out 17 hits.
The Fish scored two in the first, two in the second, four in the third and six in the fifth to lock up their 45th win of the season. Their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is now 10.
“We have a team that’s capable of having nights like this,” said Forney. “We’re living on that long ball and tonight I was pleased that we also got a few more timely hits.
“But what really makes me happy is that for the third-straight night, our bullpen was rock solid. In the last three games, the bullpen has allowed only one earned run in nine innings of work. You win games with timely hits and a solid bullpen and we’ve had that in recent weeks.”
With the win, the Goldeyes improved to 45-26 and remained two-and-a-half games ahead of red-hot Gary (the RailCats have won 11-straight at home) in the race for first in the Northern League.
“Everything is going well right now,” added Forney. “I just hope we can keep hitting the way we are now to keep the pressure off the pitching. Maybe this is the start of a sweet August and a memorable September for this team.”
Big Juan Diaz hit a pair of home runs and drove in four, Brent Metheny hit two and drove in three and Josh Asanovich hit one and drove in three more as the Goldeyes demolished the Joliet JackHammers 17-5 to win their fifth-straight series and set up a weekend showdown with the Schaumburg Flyers.
“Everybody chipped in tonight and that’s nice to see,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. “We’re really hitting the ball well right now and Juan Diaz is a man among boys. He’s locked in.”
Diaz finished the three-game series with Joliet with four homers and eight runs batted in. He now leads the Northern League in home runs with 23 (five already in August) and his 70 RBIs leave him one back of Fargo’s Nic Jackson.
But while Diaz brought the crowd to its feet early with a two-run long fly in the first inning, a handful of Goldeyes had multi-hit games.
Leadoff man Cory Patton went two-for-four with three RBI and three runs scored, Asanovich went two-for-five with three RBI and two runs scored, Diaz went for-four-six with two runs scored and four RBI, Metheny went three-for-four with three RBI and two runs scored and Dee Brown went two-for-three with three runs scored. In the end, the Goldeyes pounded out 17 hits.
The Fish scored two in the first, two in the second, four in the third and six in the fifth to lock up their 45th win of the season. Their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is now 10.
“We have a team that’s capable of having nights like this,” said Forney. “We’re living on that long ball and tonight I was pleased that we also got a few more timely hits.
“But what really makes me happy is that for the third-straight night, our bullpen was rock solid. In the last three games, the bullpen has allowed only one earned run in nine innings of work. You win games with timely hits and a solid bullpen and we’ve had that in recent weeks.”
With the win, the Goldeyes improved to 45-26 and remained two-and-a-half games ahead of red-hot Gary (the RailCats have won 11-straight at home) in the race for first in the Northern League.
“Everything is going well right now,” added Forney. “I just hope we can keep hitting the way we are now to keep the pressure off the pitching. Maybe this is the start of a sweet August and a memorable September for this team.”
Thursday, August 6, 2009
August 6: Good Pitching, Solid Defence, No Bats In 2-0 Loss To Joliet
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney was philosophical following Wednesday’s disappointing 2-0 loss to the last-place Joliet JackHammers.
“Some nights you have it, some nights you don’t.”
“That game was well-pitched and well-defended,” Forney added. “(Joliet starter Devin) Anderson did a fine job from them tonight. He had the change-up working and you know that in this league a good change-up from the left-side is like Kryptonite.
“It was just one of those games. We played good defence and we pitched well enough to win, but we didn’t get the hits we needed when we needed them although I thought the strike zone was a little pitcher-friendly tonight. When you see 10, 12, 14 strikeouts in a 2-0 game, then the zone is a little pitcher-friendly.”
It was a tough loss to take for Goldeyes starter, Mark Michael (2-3). Michael went five innings and allowed two runs on only four hits while striking out seven. Zach Baldwin, Andrew Cruse and Matt Davis pitched the final four innings and allowed no runs on only three hits.
“Mark battled out there tonight,” Forney said. “He deserved a better fate.”
For the Goldeyes, it was the fourth time this season the team had been shutout and with the loss, Winnipeg’s seven-game home winning streak came to an end.
As well, with Gary’s 4-1 win over Schaumburg on Wednesday night, Winnipeg’s first-place lead in the Northern League fell to two-and-a-half games over the RailCats.
It was a pretty dull ball game, but in fairness, the Fish made it exciting in the ninth. With two out, Cody Ehlers doubled and went to third on a single by Adam Frost. Frost stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Joliet closer Drew Shetrone struck out pinch-hitter Kurt Crowell for the final out.
“We did make it exciting in the ninth,” Forney said with a smile. “We gave ourselves a chance to win. Kurt really battled, but Shetrone got him. Drew’s a really good pitcher.”
The final game of this three-game series between the Goldeyes and Joliet goes tonight at Canwest Park at 7:00.
“Some nights you have it, some nights you don’t.”
“That game was well-pitched and well-defended,” Forney added. “(Joliet starter Devin) Anderson did a fine job from them tonight. He had the change-up working and you know that in this league a good change-up from the left-side is like Kryptonite.
“It was just one of those games. We played good defence and we pitched well enough to win, but we didn’t get the hits we needed when we needed them although I thought the strike zone was a little pitcher-friendly tonight. When you see 10, 12, 14 strikeouts in a 2-0 game, then the zone is a little pitcher-friendly.”
It was a tough loss to take for Goldeyes starter, Mark Michael (2-3). Michael went five innings and allowed two runs on only four hits while striking out seven. Zach Baldwin, Andrew Cruse and Matt Davis pitched the final four innings and allowed no runs on only three hits.
“Mark battled out there tonight,” Forney said. “He deserved a better fate.”
For the Goldeyes, it was the fourth time this season the team had been shutout and with the loss, Winnipeg’s seven-game home winning streak came to an end.
As well, with Gary’s 4-1 win over Schaumburg on Wednesday night, Winnipeg’s first-place lead in the Northern League fell to two-and-a-half games over the RailCats.
It was a pretty dull ball game, but in fairness, the Fish made it exciting in the ninth. With two out, Cody Ehlers doubled and went to third on a single by Adam Frost. Frost stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Joliet closer Drew Shetrone struck out pinch-hitter Kurt Crowell for the final out.
“We did make it exciting in the ninth,” Forney said with a smile. “We gave ourselves a chance to win. Kurt really battled, but Shetrone got him. Drew’s a really good pitcher.”
The final game of this three-game series between the Goldeyes and Joliet goes tonight at Canwest Park at 7:00.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 5: Pulsipher Nearly Perfect As Goldeyes Rip JackHammers
There were two things that surprised Goldeyes starter Bill Pulsipher on Tuesday night. For one thing, he didn’t expect fireworks when Shaw TV named him player of the game. And he did not think his teammates would give him the run support they did in his Canwest Park debut.
Pulsipher was almost perfect, going five full innings, allowing no runs on just two hits. The former Mets phenom was the winner as the Goldeyes blasted Joliet 13-1 in front of 7,124 at Winnipeg’s downtown ballpark.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done an interview with fireworks going off behind me,” Pulsipher told Shaw TV’s Jim Toth. “I haven’t been in Winnipeg very long, but this seems like a pretty good place to play.
“I haven’t pitched for nearly two months, so I just wanted to go out and make sure I had my command and stretch it out, pitch as well as I could and give us a chance to win. I didn’t expect the run support as early as I got it.”
And, boy, did he get it.
While Pulsipher shut down the JackHammers, the Goldeyes bats boomed. Winnipeg hit four home runs in the first two innings – Josh Asanovich, Kevin West and Dee Brown hit solo shots while Juan Diaz hit a three-run bomb – as Winnipeg jumped off to a quick 7-0 lead.
Diaz hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot in the eighth, and Brent Metheny added another solo homer in the eighth as the Goldeyes hit six in total to improve to a league-best 44-25 on the season.
With 27 games left, the Fish are three-and-a-half games ahead of Gary in the race for first in the Northern League. Winnipeg has won eight of its last 10 and its magic number to reach the 2009 playoffs is now 12.
Meanwhile, with two homers and four runs driven in, Diaz took over the Northern League lead in dingers from Kansas City’s Ryan Fox. Diaz also has 66 runs batted in, second in the NL to Fargo’s Nic Jackson. However, West tried to keep pace. With one home run and two RBIs, West now as 18 homers and 62 RBIs, both good for third.
“I know I’ve come into a really good situation here in Winnipeg,” the 35-year-old Pulsipher said. “I just hope I can pitch well and provide some veteran leadership for the young guys here.”
The Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game 2 of this three-game series Wednesday night at 7:00 at Canwest Park. Mark Michael takes the hill for the hosts while Devin Anderson replies for the visitors.
Pulsipher was almost perfect, going five full innings, allowing no runs on just two hits. The former Mets phenom was the winner as the Goldeyes blasted Joliet 13-1 in front of 7,124 at Winnipeg’s downtown ballpark.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done an interview with fireworks going off behind me,” Pulsipher told Shaw TV’s Jim Toth. “I haven’t been in Winnipeg very long, but this seems like a pretty good place to play.
“I haven’t pitched for nearly two months, so I just wanted to go out and make sure I had my command and stretch it out, pitch as well as I could and give us a chance to win. I didn’t expect the run support as early as I got it.”
And, boy, did he get it.
While Pulsipher shut down the JackHammers, the Goldeyes bats boomed. Winnipeg hit four home runs in the first two innings – Josh Asanovich, Kevin West and Dee Brown hit solo shots while Juan Diaz hit a three-run bomb – as Winnipeg jumped off to a quick 7-0 lead.
Diaz hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot in the eighth, and Brent Metheny added another solo homer in the eighth as the Goldeyes hit six in total to improve to a league-best 44-25 on the season.
With 27 games left, the Fish are three-and-a-half games ahead of Gary in the race for first in the Northern League. Winnipeg has won eight of its last 10 and its magic number to reach the 2009 playoffs is now 12.
Meanwhile, with two homers and four runs driven in, Diaz took over the Northern League lead in dingers from Kansas City’s Ryan Fox. Diaz also has 66 runs batted in, second in the NL to Fargo’s Nic Jackson. However, West tried to keep pace. With one home run and two RBIs, West now as 18 homers and 62 RBIs, both good for third.
“I know I’ve come into a really good situation here in Winnipeg,” the 35-year-old Pulsipher said. “I just hope I can pitch well and provide some veteran leadership for the young guys here.”
The Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game 2 of this three-game series Wednesday night at 7:00 at Canwest Park. Mark Michael takes the hill for the hosts while Devin Anderson replies for the visitors.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
August 4: Once a Mets Phenom, Pulsipher Now Excited To Be In Winnipeg
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney started courting Bill Pulsipher in the middle of July. Even former slugger Pete Rose Jr. made a call, asking Forney to give Pulsipher a ring.
It’s been a few weeks, but big Bill Pulsipher, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound fireballer is now wearing a Winnipeg uniform.
On Tuesday, the big southpaw from Florida took the mound for his first Northern League start. It’s been a long, winding road for Pulsipher and yet he seemed as comfortable as could be in the Goldeyes clubhouse.
In the early 90s, he and fellow teenaged pitchers Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen were the next big things for the New York Mets. Now, nearly two decades later, the 35-year-old Pulsipher is still pitching, albeit in independent ball, but judging by the smile on his face, he remains happy just to be in the game.
“Baseball is in my blood,” he said, sitting in the Goldeyes training room before Tuesday’s start. “Baseball is who I am. It’s what I do. When I’m done playing, I want to stay in the game as a coach or a manager. It’s a gift and a curse, I guess. I just don’t see me doing anything else right now.”
Pulsipher has seen it all. He was 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA with the Mets in 1995, but at spring training in 1996, after feeling pain in his elbow, it was discovered that he had torn ligaments and almost immediately underwent Tommy John surgery.
In 1997, he had a horrendous year and wound up back in Rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League. When he signed with the Mets out of high school in 1992, he didn’t see action in the Rookie Leagues, but five years later, he was starting over.
From that point on, baseball was a struggle. But he never quit.
In the big leagues he went on to pitch with the Mets, Milwaukee, Arizona, Boston, the White Sox and St. Louis. In the minors, between 1997 and 2009, he has pitched in 13 different outposts in nine leagues at seven different levels in three countries. He has been a baseball gypsy who last pitched with Puebla of the Mexican League.
And now he’s in Winnipeg, hoping to help the Goldeyes win a Northern League championship.
“I called Bill in mid-July and he said he’d only been back from Mexico for a few days and wanted a couple of weeks to get into game shape,” Forney said. “He worked hard while we went on the road. He’s 100 per cent ready to play, he’s been following us on the internet the last two weeks and we’re glad to have him.
“I mean, he’s been around. I played against him. Back in the day, he was the man, one of the top prospects in all of baseball with the Mets back in the early-to-mid-90s. He knows what he’s stepping into and he’ll give us good, veteran leadership.”
Since Daniel Haigwood was signed by Oakland, the Goldeyes haven’t had a regular left-hander (Zach Baldwin has made a couple of spot starts) in the rotation. Pulsipher will be handed that role as the Fish head into the final 28 games of the Northern League schedule.
“I’m here because I still believe I can pitch and I really enjoy playing,” Pulsipher said. “I was also upset with the way things ended in Mexico. I hadn’t pitched that well and I wanted to do better. Rick has given me the opportunity and I’m excited to have it. Even my friend Pete Rose Jr. made a call to Rick and I appreciate that. I haven’t been here very long, but already I can see that this organization treats its players very well.
“I’m lucky, my kids tell me I shouldn’t be retired and my wife understands that I still need to be around the game. You don’t make a lot of money in independent ball, but it’s still professional baseball and I have to tell you, it’s great to be here.
“Rick put the ball in my locker this afternoon and I can’t wait to get out onto the mound and get started.”
It’s been a few weeks, but big Bill Pulsipher, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound fireballer is now wearing a Winnipeg uniform.
On Tuesday, the big southpaw from Florida took the mound for his first Northern League start. It’s been a long, winding road for Pulsipher and yet he seemed as comfortable as could be in the Goldeyes clubhouse.
In the early 90s, he and fellow teenaged pitchers Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen were the next big things for the New York Mets. Now, nearly two decades later, the 35-year-old Pulsipher is still pitching, albeit in independent ball, but judging by the smile on his face, he remains happy just to be in the game.
“Baseball is in my blood,” he said, sitting in the Goldeyes training room before Tuesday’s start. “Baseball is who I am. It’s what I do. When I’m done playing, I want to stay in the game as a coach or a manager. It’s a gift and a curse, I guess. I just don’t see me doing anything else right now.”
Pulsipher has seen it all. He was 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA with the Mets in 1995, but at spring training in 1996, after feeling pain in his elbow, it was discovered that he had torn ligaments and almost immediately underwent Tommy John surgery.
In 1997, he had a horrendous year and wound up back in Rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League. When he signed with the Mets out of high school in 1992, he didn’t see action in the Rookie Leagues, but five years later, he was starting over.
From that point on, baseball was a struggle. But he never quit.
In the big leagues he went on to pitch with the Mets, Milwaukee, Arizona, Boston, the White Sox and St. Louis. In the minors, between 1997 and 2009, he has pitched in 13 different outposts in nine leagues at seven different levels in three countries. He has been a baseball gypsy who last pitched with Puebla of the Mexican League.
And now he’s in Winnipeg, hoping to help the Goldeyes win a Northern League championship.
“I called Bill in mid-July and he said he’d only been back from Mexico for a few days and wanted a couple of weeks to get into game shape,” Forney said. “He worked hard while we went on the road. He’s 100 per cent ready to play, he’s been following us on the internet the last two weeks and we’re glad to have him.
“I mean, he’s been around. I played against him. Back in the day, he was the man, one of the top prospects in all of baseball with the Mets back in the early-to-mid-90s. He knows what he’s stepping into and he’ll give us good, veteran leadership.”
Since Daniel Haigwood was signed by Oakland, the Goldeyes haven’t had a regular left-hander (Zach Baldwin has made a couple of spot starts) in the rotation. Pulsipher will be handed that role as the Fish head into the final 28 games of the Northern League schedule.
“I’m here because I still believe I can pitch and I really enjoy playing,” Pulsipher said. “I was also upset with the way things ended in Mexico. I hadn’t pitched that well and I wanted to do better. Rick has given me the opportunity and I’m excited to have it. Even my friend Pete Rose Jr. made a call to Rick and I appreciate that. I haven’t been here very long, but already I can see that this organization treats its players very well.
“I’m lucky, my kids tell me I shouldn’t be retired and my wife understands that I still need to be around the game. You don’t make a lot of money in independent ball, but it’s still professional baseball and I have to tell you, it’s great to be here.
“Rick put the ball in my locker this afternoon and I can’t wait to get out onto the mound and get started.”
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