The 2009 Northern League season started out so promisingly for Goldeyes shortstop Wes Long.
The 27-year-old was hitting .343 over the first 41 games with three homers, 15 doubles and 15 stolen bases in his first 166 at-bats, and had just been named to represent Winnipeg at the Northern League All-Star Game.
But on June 30, Schaumburg catcher Richard Mercado went well inside the baseline to break up a double play and took out Long in the process. It was a crushing collision that left Long with a broken ankle and on the shelf for the rest of the season.
And while the Goldeyes played well down the stretch, it was obvious come playoff time that they missed Long's glove and bat.
Back in Seattle, where he’s spent the off-season working two jobs, working out daily and running a small business on the side, Long is just itching to get back to Winnipeg.
He gets up every morning and goes to work at a neighbourhood Starbucks, then spends the afternoon and early evening selling home furnishings at a Restortation Hardware. In the evenings, he works out, does his physio and operates the Wes Long Baseball Academy.
Not surprisingly, Long is anxious to put the off-season behind him in favour of the regular season.
"It’s only January and I’ve already had a long off-season since the end of June and I just want to bet back up there and start playing,” he said. “I’m ready to roll. I just can’t wait. My ankle is about 95 per cent. I’m going through regular physical therapy just to get the strength back, but I’m ready. I’m excited to play again. It’s been a long time for me.”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
January 25: Winnipeg Fastball/Baseball Landmark About To Be Torn Down
To be fair, it hasn’t really been a “stadium” in about a decade. It sat on the east side of McPhillips Street and been maintained by members of the Winnipeg Men’s Fastball League for the past dozen years. Still, there was a time when Charlie Krupp Stadium was a haven for adult softball players and kids learning baseball.
It was home to everything from international softball competitions and children’s baseball tournaments to the great Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court) and, of course, for many years, the highly-regarded Winnipeg Colonels fastball team.
Charlie Krupp was just nine when he and his family arrived in Canada from Russia in 1915. He had a solid career as a softball player in Winnipeg, but for the most part, he was an organizer. He put together baseball and softball leagues for adults and kids and his lifetime of hard work eventually got him inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.
This week, however, word came that the stadium named in his honour will soon cease to be.
Wayne Perfumo from Manitoba Lotteries, the guy who led the construction of the Upper Deck Sports Bar, had worked diligently to have the bar (read: the MLC) take over operation of the stadium for the benefit of the Winnipeg Men's Fastball League.
The WMFL would handle the maintenance, the Upper Deck Sports Bar would use some of its profits to rebuild the stands and the backstop and together the two groups would form a mutually beneficial partnership.
But league president Nathan Wiens, a tremendous Goldeyes fan who can always be found at the ballpark, recently learned that Perfumo had met with the City of Winnipeg and the city has decided to accept a proposal from the Winnipeg Nomads Football Club to take over the entire area. It will be a football complex now and, while that's not a bad thing under any circumstances, it does mean another piece of Winnipeg's sports history will soon be gone.
"I don't think the city wanted it there anymore and they haven't wanted it there for a long time," Wiens said. "It's very disappointing for us and for fastball and for history, I guess, but it's pretty obvious the city didn't want the ball field anymore."
Times change, people change, the city changes and we lose a bit of history every day. The fact that a bunch of kids will play football on that field certainly takes the sting out of losing it, but for those of us who were around to enjoy it, there was a time when Charlie Krupp Stadium was a vibrant and wonderful place.
It will be sad to see it go.
It was home to everything from international softball competitions and children’s baseball tournaments to the great Eddie Feigner (The King and His Court) and, of course, for many years, the highly-regarded Winnipeg Colonels fastball team.
Charlie Krupp was just nine when he and his family arrived in Canada from Russia in 1915. He had a solid career as a softball player in Winnipeg, but for the most part, he was an organizer. He put together baseball and softball leagues for adults and kids and his lifetime of hard work eventually got him inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.
This week, however, word came that the stadium named in his honour will soon cease to be.
Wayne Perfumo from Manitoba Lotteries, the guy who led the construction of the Upper Deck Sports Bar, had worked diligently to have the bar (read: the MLC) take over operation of the stadium for the benefit of the Winnipeg Men's Fastball League.
The WMFL would handle the maintenance, the Upper Deck Sports Bar would use some of its profits to rebuild the stands and the backstop and together the two groups would form a mutually beneficial partnership.
But league president Nathan Wiens, a tremendous Goldeyes fan who can always be found at the ballpark, recently learned that Perfumo had met with the City of Winnipeg and the city has decided to accept a proposal from the Winnipeg Nomads Football Club to take over the entire area. It will be a football complex now and, while that's not a bad thing under any circumstances, it does mean another piece of Winnipeg's sports history will soon be gone.
"I don't think the city wanted it there anymore and they haven't wanted it there for a long time," Wiens said. "It's very disappointing for us and for fastball and for history, I guess, but it's pretty obvious the city didn't want the ball field anymore."
Times change, people change, the city changes and we lose a bit of history every day. The fact that a bunch of kids will play football on that field certainly takes the sting out of losing it, but for those of us who were around to enjoy it, there was a time when Charlie Krupp Stadium was a vibrant and wonderful place.
It will be sad to see it go.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
January 21: If Forney Is Comfortable, Thomas Would Be Thrilled To Start
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney and Ian Thomas’s dad agree about almost everything. Except maybe the timing of the baseball season.
“Yeah, my dad’s a real baseball guy,” said Thomas, via telephone from Richmond, Virginia where he attends Virginia Commonwealth University. “He’s been telling me, ‘You have to report to camp on time and make a good impression,’ and I’ve been telling him, ‘but I have exams that week.’
“Rick’s been completely understanding for me. He told me, ‘Get your degree. You education comes first.’ But I’ve had trouble convincing my dad. He’s old school. He wants me to report to work on time, but even Rick says, ‘Get that education.’ So my exams are from May 6-13. I’m trying to get the profs to let me write them early and some have already said OK. But I’ll probably be a couple of days late reporting.”
Forney has no problem with that. In fact, he encourages his young players to finish their degrees. Last year, left fielder Dee Brown took one of his final courses at the University of Central Florida by computer and could often be found doing his schoolwork in the Goldeyes clubhouse.
Interestingly, Brown just graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice, while Thomas expects to graduate early next year with the same degree.
In the meantime, Thomas is using every opportunity afforded him at VCU to get ready for the coming season. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound specimen, Thomas is only 22 (he’ll be 23 on April 20) and should attract some attention from big league organizations if he has a good year in 2010. The lanky left-hander arrived midway through last season (he first pitched on July 26) and appeared in only 11 games, but his 2.81 ERA and 1:1 strikeouts-to-innings-pitched ratio gave Forney plenty of reason to think Thomas could be a big-time contributor this season.
But first, he needs to keep working out and get in a few pre-season innings.
“We’re really lucky at VCU to have just an incredible gym facility,” Thomas said. “It’s the Cary Street Gym and it’s just an outstanding place to work out.
“There is also a club baseball team here and I asked Rick if I should pitch for them and he thought it was a good idea, just to get some innings in. It’s not an NCAA team, just an amateur club team, but it will give me a chance to pitch some innings without a lot of pressure before camp opens.
“I have no problem pitching out of the bullpen like I did last year, but if Rick ever needed me to start, I’d love to do it. I started in high school and college and I enjoyed that role. Whatever happens, happens. I’ll do whatever Rick needs. I’m just excited to get back there.
“Yeah, my dad’s a real baseball guy,” said Thomas, via telephone from Richmond, Virginia where he attends Virginia Commonwealth University. “He’s been telling me, ‘You have to report to camp on time and make a good impression,’ and I’ve been telling him, ‘but I have exams that week.’
“Rick’s been completely understanding for me. He told me, ‘Get your degree. You education comes first.’ But I’ve had trouble convincing my dad. He’s old school. He wants me to report to work on time, but even Rick says, ‘Get that education.’ So my exams are from May 6-13. I’m trying to get the profs to let me write them early and some have already said OK. But I’ll probably be a couple of days late reporting.”
Forney has no problem with that. In fact, he encourages his young players to finish their degrees. Last year, left fielder Dee Brown took one of his final courses at the University of Central Florida by computer and could often be found doing his schoolwork in the Goldeyes clubhouse.
Interestingly, Brown just graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice, while Thomas expects to graduate early next year with the same degree.
In the meantime, Thomas is using every opportunity afforded him at VCU to get ready for the coming season. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound specimen, Thomas is only 22 (he’ll be 23 on April 20) and should attract some attention from big league organizations if he has a good year in 2010. The lanky left-hander arrived midway through last season (he first pitched on July 26) and appeared in only 11 games, but his 2.81 ERA and 1:1 strikeouts-to-innings-pitched ratio gave Forney plenty of reason to think Thomas could be a big-time contributor this season.
But first, he needs to keep working out and get in a few pre-season innings.
“We’re really lucky at VCU to have just an incredible gym facility,” Thomas said. “It’s the Cary Street Gym and it’s just an outstanding place to work out.
“There is also a club baseball team here and I asked Rick if I should pitch for them and he thought it was a good idea, just to get some innings in. It’s not an NCAA team, just an amateur club team, but it will give me a chance to pitch some innings without a lot of pressure before camp opens.
“I have no problem pitching out of the bullpen like I did last year, but if Rick ever needed me to start, I’d love to do it. I started in high school and college and I enjoyed that role. Whatever happens, happens. I’ll do whatever Rick needs. I’m just excited to get back there.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January 19: Patton Living The Off-Season Dream
Goldeyes outfielder Cory Patton has two passions.
“The one thing I’ve had a passion for almost as much as playing baseball is playing golf,” said Patton from his off-season home in Texas. “So I thought this year, since I like playing golf so much, why don’t I just work at a golf course in the off-season and play for free.
“So I got a job working at the Austin Country Club. It’s a great golf course, right on the Austin River and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m working at the clubhouse, but I’m working outdoors and it gives me plenty of time to play. Although, for the last week, I’ve picked up a volunteer job coaching baseball at a Division III college so that’s kind of cut into the golf a bit..”
While he hass spent most of the off-season just working and playing, Patton admitted it was hard to turn down an opportunity to coach baseball. Seems he ran into an old friend, former Major League pitcher Tommy Boggs, who is the head baseball coach at Concordia College, a NCAA Div. III school in Austin. Boggs asked Patton to coach the outfielders and hitters and he couldn’t say no. So for the past two weeks, he leaves work at five and heads over to the college field to coach.
“I just started to get into coaching and I love it,” said Patton, the 27-year-old outfielder that will probably play in right this season. “But it’s been a great off-season. I’ve just loved the golf – my handicap is about 10 right now – and next week, I’ll start going over to the Triple A Astros facility at Round Rock and start hitting again. It’s been a great off-season for me.”
Like most of the returning Goldeyes, Patton is excited about this year’s team. He’s kept in touch with a number of the players, and says everyone is anxious to get back to Winnipeg and get the 2010 season underway.
“At first, nobody knew who was coming back and we all kind of wondered what Rick was going to do,” said Patton, who signed just before Christmas. “Now that the nucleus of the ball club is under contract and committed to coming back, it’s getting exciting. Adding Aharon (Eggleston) in centre is a great addition. I know I played centre last year, but I’m most comfortable in right, although I’ve played every outfield position and it really doesn’t matter that much to me.
“But with Aharon in centre and Dee Brown in left, there aren’t many balls that are going to fall safely in that outfield.”
Patton is also ready to do a little more hitting than he did last year.
“It was an odd year for me,” he admitted. “I hit .239 last year, but I felt I hit the ball a lot better than that. And never have I had more walks than strikeouts, but I did last year (by a wide margin, too, 57-43). It’s hard to figure out (he had an on-base percentage of .362, second highest of his career despite hitting only .239). I also learned how to be a lead-off hitter. I loved coming up right at the start of the game. Just to know I was going to hit in the first inning of every game really helped me prepare.”
“The one thing I’ve had a passion for almost as much as playing baseball is playing golf,” said Patton from his off-season home in Texas. “So I thought this year, since I like playing golf so much, why don’t I just work at a golf course in the off-season and play for free.
“So I got a job working at the Austin Country Club. It’s a great golf course, right on the Austin River and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m working at the clubhouse, but I’m working outdoors and it gives me plenty of time to play. Although, for the last week, I’ve picked up a volunteer job coaching baseball at a Division III college so that’s kind of cut into the golf a bit..”
While he hass spent most of the off-season just working and playing, Patton admitted it was hard to turn down an opportunity to coach baseball. Seems he ran into an old friend, former Major League pitcher Tommy Boggs, who is the head baseball coach at Concordia College, a NCAA Div. III school in Austin. Boggs asked Patton to coach the outfielders and hitters and he couldn’t say no. So for the past two weeks, he leaves work at five and heads over to the college field to coach.
“I just started to get into coaching and I love it,” said Patton, the 27-year-old outfielder that will probably play in right this season. “But it’s been a great off-season. I’ve just loved the golf – my handicap is about 10 right now – and next week, I’ll start going over to the Triple A Astros facility at Round Rock and start hitting again. It’s been a great off-season for me.”
Like most of the returning Goldeyes, Patton is excited about this year’s team. He’s kept in touch with a number of the players, and says everyone is anxious to get back to Winnipeg and get the 2010 season underway.
“At first, nobody knew who was coming back and we all kind of wondered what Rick was going to do,” said Patton, who signed just before Christmas. “Now that the nucleus of the ball club is under contract and committed to coming back, it’s getting exciting. Adding Aharon (Eggleston) in centre is a great addition. I know I played centre last year, but I’m most comfortable in right, although I’ve played every outfield position and it really doesn’t matter that much to me.
“But with Aharon in centre and Dee Brown in left, there aren’t many balls that are going to fall safely in that outfield.”
Patton is also ready to do a little more hitting than he did last year.
“It was an odd year for me,” he admitted. “I hit .239 last year, but I felt I hit the ball a lot better than that. And never have I had more walks than strikeouts, but I did last year (by a wide margin, too, 57-43). It’s hard to figure out (he had an on-base percentage of .362, second highest of his career despite hitting only .239). I also learned how to be a lead-off hitter. I loved coming up right at the start of the game. Just to know I was going to hit in the first inning of every game really helped me prepare.”
Thursday, January 14, 2010
January 14: Walker Says Goldeyes Defence The Secret To His Success
If there is one thing about Goldeyes starting pitcher Ace Walker, it’s that everyone who knows him, likes him.
The 26-year-old right-hander is a talented yet unassuming guy that gives no one the impression he was the best pitcher last year in the Northern League.
Walker, who will graduate from the University of Alabama in May with a degree in graphic design (minor in computer science), earned NL Pitcher of the Year honours for 2009 and was also named by Baseball America to its All-Independent Second Team.
After going 9-4 with a 4.45 earned run average in 2008, Walker was lights out in 2009. He led the NL with 12 wins (12-6) and his ERA dropped to 3.32. Although he had essentially the same number of appearances as he had in 2008, Walker’s earned run total dropped from 60 to 55 in 2009 and his innings pitched rose from 121.1 to 149.0. He also led the league in complete games with six and was second in innings pitched.
But why? Why was Walker good in 2008, but spectacular in 2009?
“I think it’s about the people Rick (manager Forney) put around us – all of us, the entire pitching staff,” Walker said. “Our defence definitely made the difference for me. I pitch to contact. I give up a lot of ground balls and if you constructed a spray chart for all balls hit off me in 2008 and all the balls hit off me in 2009, you’d see that about 20 fewer balls got through the infield last year than they did the year before. That’s 20 more outs and that’s really important over the length of a season.
“And if you looked at the balls that got through the holes in 2008 and then looked at the same positions in 2009, you’d see a big improvement. Our defence was much better in 2009 than it was 2008.”
As most Goldeyes fans know, Walker is a gifted artist that painted the large “Fightin’ Goldeye” behind the plate last year with a few cans of spray paint and a remarkable eye for detail.
This year, he’ll probably report to training camp a day or two late because graduation takes place on May 6. He’ll have a degree to go with his awesome artistic talent.
“It’s also a great place to be because we have an amazing rec centre (at Alabama) with an indoor track, a great weight room and plenty of space to throw,” he said. “I’m going to start throwing here any day and I’ll be ready for camp.”
One reason Walker will be ready is how excited he is about the look of the 2010 Goldeyes.
“It’s scary to me how good we’re going to be,” Walker said. “Adding Aharon (Eggleston) in centre field? Wow! We’ll have Aharon in centre, Cory Patton in right and Dee (Brown) in left: That’s three guys who can go and get it. Aharon will make the other two guys even better than they are now.
“We probably should have won it last year, but it wasn’t to be. I know I’m excited about our chances this year. The entire core of the team is coming back. I think we’re going to be really good.”
The 26-year-old right-hander is a talented yet unassuming guy that gives no one the impression he was the best pitcher last year in the Northern League.
Walker, who will graduate from the University of Alabama in May with a degree in graphic design (minor in computer science), earned NL Pitcher of the Year honours for 2009 and was also named by Baseball America to its All-Independent Second Team.
After going 9-4 with a 4.45 earned run average in 2008, Walker was lights out in 2009. He led the NL with 12 wins (12-6) and his ERA dropped to 3.32. Although he had essentially the same number of appearances as he had in 2008, Walker’s earned run total dropped from 60 to 55 in 2009 and his innings pitched rose from 121.1 to 149.0. He also led the league in complete games with six and was second in innings pitched.
But why? Why was Walker good in 2008, but spectacular in 2009?
“I think it’s about the people Rick (manager Forney) put around us – all of us, the entire pitching staff,” Walker said. “Our defence definitely made the difference for me. I pitch to contact. I give up a lot of ground balls and if you constructed a spray chart for all balls hit off me in 2008 and all the balls hit off me in 2009, you’d see that about 20 fewer balls got through the infield last year than they did the year before. That’s 20 more outs and that’s really important over the length of a season.
“And if you looked at the balls that got through the holes in 2008 and then looked at the same positions in 2009, you’d see a big improvement. Our defence was much better in 2009 than it was 2008.”
As most Goldeyes fans know, Walker is a gifted artist that painted the large “Fightin’ Goldeye” behind the plate last year with a few cans of spray paint and a remarkable eye for detail.
This year, he’ll probably report to training camp a day or two late because graduation takes place on May 6. He’ll have a degree to go with his awesome artistic talent.
“It’s also a great place to be because we have an amazing rec centre (at Alabama) with an indoor track, a great weight room and plenty of space to throw,” he said. “I’m going to start throwing here any day and I’ll be ready for camp.”
One reason Walker will be ready is how excited he is about the look of the 2010 Goldeyes.
“It’s scary to me how good we’re going to be,” Walker said. “Adding Aharon (Eggleston) in centre field? Wow! We’ll have Aharon in centre, Cory Patton in right and Dee (Brown) in left: That’s three guys who can go and get it. Aharon will make the other two guys even better than they are now.
“We probably should have won it last year, but it wasn’t to be. I know I’m excited about our chances this year. The entire core of the team is coming back. I think we’re going to be really good.”
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
January 13: Has Asanovich Got A (Real Estate) Deal For You
At the other end of the line, Goldeyes second baseman Josh Asanovich had a question.
“I know there are a lot of Winnipeggers who spend the winter in Phoenix and I know fans in Winnipeg have told me they’re thinking of moving to Phoenix at some point in their lives, but why is it that almost all of my Canadian clients are from Alberta?” he wondered. “If there is anyone in Manitoba looking at buying property in the Phoenix area, give me a call. There are a lot of great buys right now. Homes are cheap.”
Asanovich spends his off-season in the desert running a small real estate business with his wife and sister. The business is located in Gold Canyon, a community on the eastern end of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and they have never been busier.
“We’re moving a lot of properties right now,” he said. “Real estate in this market is really cheap and we’re getting busier every day. My sister just got her real estate licence and she’s joined the business. We run a little in-house office and it’s going well.
“Still, I’m pretty excited about getting back up to Winnipeg. I love the business, but I’d rather be playing baseball. I just started getting back on the field, doing my baseball workouts and I’m excited about the team Rick’s putting together.”
By his own admission, Asanovich had a good year last year, not a “great one.” He hit a solid .285 with nine homers, 32 runs batted in and 56 runs scored while batting primarily out of the No. 2 hole. However, a number of chronic bumps and bruises resulted in 16 missed games. He’s convinced that if he’s completely healthy when he heads north in April, he’ll remain healthy all season.
“The toughest thing about our travel schedule, and the number of games we play in just four months, are the nagging little injuries you pick up,” he said. “This year, making sure my body is healthy is my only concern. Physically, you need to feel good before the start of the season and maintain your health all season long. My goal is to be at my best when training camp starts.
“I think I had an adequate year last year, but I have a lot more in the tank. Defensively I was fine, but offensively, I have more to offer. Between the nagging injuries and the adjustments that have to be made just to play in our league – the travel schedule and the number of games we jam into a four-month period (100 this year) – I just don’t know if people really understand what we have to do to play well for an entire season. Fortunately, I’m now accustomed to the adjustments that need to be made and I expect to be a lot better offensively this year.”
“I know there are a lot of Winnipeggers who spend the winter in Phoenix and I know fans in Winnipeg have told me they’re thinking of moving to Phoenix at some point in their lives, but why is it that almost all of my Canadian clients are from Alberta?” he wondered. “If there is anyone in Manitoba looking at buying property in the Phoenix area, give me a call. There are a lot of great buys right now. Homes are cheap.”
Asanovich spends his off-season in the desert running a small real estate business with his wife and sister. The business is located in Gold Canyon, a community on the eastern end of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and they have never been busier.
“We’re moving a lot of properties right now,” he said. “Real estate in this market is really cheap and we’re getting busier every day. My sister just got her real estate licence and she’s joined the business. We run a little in-house office and it’s going well.
“Still, I’m pretty excited about getting back up to Winnipeg. I love the business, but I’d rather be playing baseball. I just started getting back on the field, doing my baseball workouts and I’m excited about the team Rick’s putting together.”
By his own admission, Asanovich had a good year last year, not a “great one.” He hit a solid .285 with nine homers, 32 runs batted in and 56 runs scored while batting primarily out of the No. 2 hole. However, a number of chronic bumps and bruises resulted in 16 missed games. He’s convinced that if he’s completely healthy when he heads north in April, he’ll remain healthy all season.
“The toughest thing about our travel schedule, and the number of games we play in just four months, are the nagging little injuries you pick up,” he said. “This year, making sure my body is healthy is my only concern. Physically, you need to feel good before the start of the season and maintain your health all season long. My goal is to be at my best when training camp starts.
“I think I had an adequate year last year, but I have a lot more in the tank. Defensively I was fine, but offensively, I have more to offer. Between the nagging injuries and the adjustments that have to be made just to play in our league – the travel schedule and the number of games we jam into a four-month period (100 this year) – I just don’t know if people really understand what we have to do to play well for an entire season. Fortunately, I’m now accustomed to the adjustments that need to be made and I expect to be a lot better offensively this year.”
Monday, January 4, 2010
January 4: Harrison Getting Set For First Full Year In Winnipeg
The holiday season is over. New Year’s Day has come and gone. For Goldeyes third baseman Vince Harrison, it’s time to get down to baseball.
Acquired in that blockbuster deal on August 17, Harrison became an instant hit with Winnipeg fans and while he coaches football, basketball and baseball at his high school alma mater, Harrison says he’s now changing his off-season workout routine in order to “get ready for baseball.”
“I’ve been working out here in Cincinnati with my younger brother Josh and a kid I call my younger brother, Josh’s best friend, Jeremy Hamilton,” Harrison, 30, said last weekend. “Jeremy is with the Phillies organization and Josh is with Pittsburgh. They went in the fifth and sixth rounds of the Major League draft a few years ago and they’ve been to one spring training, so this is a big year for them.
“Jeremy has a shot at High A with the Phillies while Josh could get to Double A with Pittsburgh if they’re both ready for what spring training has to offer them. So we’ve been working hard to get ready. We’ve been doing all the heavy lifting, working to get big and strong. Now, we’ll start doing more baseball stuff – hitting and running – to concentrate more on the game than just strength training.”
While Harrison works out, he’s also coaching. A building superintendent at his old high school, Princeton High School in suburban Cincinnati, he coaches, football, basketball and baseball. He hopes to report to Winnipeg right after the state high school baseball tournament in early May.
“I’m excited about coming back to Winnipeg,” Harrison said. “I think Rick (manager Forney) is really building a good one up there and right now, we have a very good team.
“Just this week, I was showing my girl a poster from the 2008 All-Star Game in Winnipeg, just to give her and idea of what it’s like in Winnipeg. Based on what Rick’s done in the off-season, it looks like it’s going to be a good year.”
Acquired in that blockbuster deal on August 17, Harrison became an instant hit with Winnipeg fans and while he coaches football, basketball and baseball at his high school alma mater, Harrison says he’s now changing his off-season workout routine in order to “get ready for baseball.”
“I’ve been working out here in Cincinnati with my younger brother Josh and a kid I call my younger brother, Josh’s best friend, Jeremy Hamilton,” Harrison, 30, said last weekend. “Jeremy is with the Phillies organization and Josh is with Pittsburgh. They went in the fifth and sixth rounds of the Major League draft a few years ago and they’ve been to one spring training, so this is a big year for them.
“Jeremy has a shot at High A with the Phillies while Josh could get to Double A with Pittsburgh if they’re both ready for what spring training has to offer them. So we’ve been working hard to get ready. We’ve been doing all the heavy lifting, working to get big and strong. Now, we’ll start doing more baseball stuff – hitting and running – to concentrate more on the game than just strength training.”
While Harrison works out, he’s also coaching. A building superintendent at his old high school, Princeton High School in suburban Cincinnati, he coaches, football, basketball and baseball. He hopes to report to Winnipeg right after the state high school baseball tournament in early May.
“I’m excited about coming back to Winnipeg,” Harrison said. “I think Rick (manager Forney) is really building a good one up there and right now, we have a very good team.
“Just this week, I was showing my girl a poster from the 2008 All-Star Game in Winnipeg, just to give her and idea of what it’s like in Winnipeg. Based on what Rick’s done in the off-season, it looks like it’s going to be a good year.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
