Luis Alen’s return to Winnipeg is one of those good news/bad news situations. It’s certainly good news for the Goldeyes and their fans. The bad news, well, that’s for opposing pitchers.
In 2007, there wasn’t a better catcher in the NL. Luis Alen did it all for the Goldeyes. He handled the pitching staff with authority and hit like a monster. In 82 games (285 at-bats), he batted a team-leading .333 with 23 doubles and 44 runs batted in and had the best season of his career.
Because he played so well, he was given a contract by the New York Mets. Following two years in their system, he’s happy to be back in Winnipeg.
“They were two tough years for me, I have nothing much more to say,” admitted Alen, who played in four cities at three different levels in two seasons of organized ball. “But I learned a lot. I worked closely with the Mets catching co-ordinator and I really learned how to call a game, how to handle a pitching staff and how to work with both pitchers and catchers.
“This winter, I played winter ball in Venezuela and I did pretty well. I hit .370 and I really got a lot of confidence at the plate.”
And that’s why, a bigger, stronger Alen is happy to be back in Winnipeg. He always felt comfortable here. He liked manager Rick Forney and when he arrived on Thursday, said it felt like he was home.
“I’m so happy to be back here, I’m ready to come back and hit,” he said with a smile. “I feel really good and feel so good being back here. It’s an honour to be back with this franchise.
“And wow, what a team! I have played against Juan Diaz and against Kevin West. I know how good they are. I’ve looked at the stats of the guys coming back and this team is really impressive. I’m so happy to be back with a good team and in a place where people really appreciate what you do.”
The Goldeyes will open spring training with three catchers: Alen, Travis Howell and Brett Wallace. It should be a tremendous pre-season battle for the No. 1 job.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20: West On A Mission: Win a Championship
If Kevin West is anything, he’s a guy that tells the truth. No, he’s not happy that things didn’t work out in spring training with the Cincinnati Reds. Yes, he is happy that his second choice is a spot roaming right field for the Goldeyes.
“I wanted things to go better with the Reds but they didn’t and I just feel fortunate that I have an opportunity to return to a team I really care about,” West said Tuesday. “I had a shot and it didn’t work out, but I’m always a happy guy. I always try to think positively no matter what the situation. Wherever I go, I do the best I can and try to be the best I can be and that’s what I intend to do in Winnipeg again this year.
West is one of the final pieces to manager Rick Forney’s puzzle. Last season, his second with the Goldeyes, he hit .285 with 19 home runs and 66 runs batted in. He also had 22 doubles and scored 58 runs and, over two seasons, has hit 37 home runs – the most over two seasons for Winnipeg since Sean Hearn hit 39 in 1998-99.
Forney, though, feels West’s greatest contribution could come not on the field but in the clubhouse, where his presence has been profound.
“He’s one of the best veterans we’ve had in a long, long time,” said Forney. “With Kevin back in the mix, we feel we have a very good group of people this year – good guys with great personalities. They work hard, they like each other and they want to win. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
That part impresses West.
“For the past two weeks, I’ve been getting phone calls and texts from the guys all asking if I’m going to sign with Winnipeg,” West said. It’s important that a team have camaraderie because we spend an insane amount of time around each other. I care about the people in this organization and I think we’ll be even better than we were last year.
“Hopefully we can win a championship. That’s what I really care about this year. For everybody, for all the guys. We have a great opportunity.”
“I wanted things to go better with the Reds but they didn’t and I just feel fortunate that I have an opportunity to return to a team I really care about,” West said Tuesday. “I had a shot and it didn’t work out, but I’m always a happy guy. I always try to think positively no matter what the situation. Wherever I go, I do the best I can and try to be the best I can be and that’s what I intend to do in Winnipeg again this year.
West is one of the final pieces to manager Rick Forney’s puzzle. Last season, his second with the Goldeyes, he hit .285 with 19 home runs and 66 runs batted in. He also had 22 doubles and scored 58 runs and, over two seasons, has hit 37 home runs – the most over two seasons for Winnipeg since Sean Hearn hit 39 in 1998-99.
Forney, though, feels West’s greatest contribution could come not on the field but in the clubhouse, where his presence has been profound.
“He’s one of the best veterans we’ve had in a long, long time,” said Forney. “With Kevin back in the mix, we feel we have a very good group of people this year – good guys with great personalities. They work hard, they like each other and they want to win. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
That part impresses West.
“For the past two weeks, I’ve been getting phone calls and texts from the guys all asking if I’m going to sign with Winnipeg,” West said. It’s important that a team have camaraderie because we spend an insane amount of time around each other. I care about the people in this organization and I think we’ll be even better than we were last year.
“Hopefully we can win a championship. That’s what I really care about this year. For everybody, for all the guys. We have a great opportunity.”
April 20: Forney Excited About Influx Of New Pitchers
After a winter in which Goldeyes manager Rick Forney acquired all-star centre fielder Aharon Eggleston, signed catcher Luis Alen following two years in the Mets organization and brought back the likes of Dee Brown, Vince Harrison, Wes Long, Juan Diaz, Josh Asanovich and Cory Patton, plenty of people have wondered about the pitching.
This is understandable, for just Ace Walker and southpaws Zach Baldwin and Ian Thomas are back from the 2009 squad that led the Northern League in earned run average.
But the lack of returnees is something Forney isn’t the least bit concerned about. In fact, he figures his Goldeyes might just have one of the best pitching staffs that have come to Winnipeg in years.
“We have five guys with Double A experience,” Forney said. “We have Ace, Mark Holliman, Joey Norrito, Matt (Kniginyzky) and (Chris) Salamida. This team has plenty of pitching. We have three guys back – Ace, Zach and Thomas and four other guys from Double A. Man, that looks pretty good to me.”
There is also talk that a reliever with Major League experience could sign during training camp, so indeed, these Goldeyes would appear to have plenty of pitching.
In fact, when you add in Stephen Flake, one of the top pitchers in the Frontier League the past two seasons, and you already have the reigning NL Pitcher of the Year in Walker, pitching might be the deepest part of an already deep team.
“I’m not at all worried about pitching,” Forney said. “Our pitching will be very good.”
This is understandable, for just Ace Walker and southpaws Zach Baldwin and Ian Thomas are back from the 2009 squad that led the Northern League in earned run average.
But the lack of returnees is something Forney isn’t the least bit concerned about. In fact, he figures his Goldeyes might just have one of the best pitching staffs that have come to Winnipeg in years.
“We have five guys with Double A experience,” Forney said. “We have Ace, Mark Holliman, Joey Norrito, Matt (Kniginyzky) and (Chris) Salamida. This team has plenty of pitching. We have three guys back – Ace, Zach and Thomas and four other guys from Double A. Man, that looks pretty good to me.”
There is also talk that a reliever with Major League experience could sign during training camp, so indeed, these Goldeyes would appear to have plenty of pitching.
In fact, when you add in Stephen Flake, one of the top pitchers in the Frontier League the past two seasons, and you already have the reigning NL Pitcher of the Year in Walker, pitching might be the deepest part of an already deep team.
“I’m not at all worried about pitching,” Forney said. “Our pitching will be very good.”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14: Samson’s Back In The Clubhouse. It’s Starting To Feel Like Baseball At Canwest Park
When the clubhouse manager returns to get everything in order for the upcoming season, one gets the sense that spring has sprung and baseball is returning to the downtown ballpark.
Jamie Samson, who will begin his fourth season as clubhouse manager – and tenth with the Goldeyes (“...counting all my bat boy years”) – is back at the park, getting the lockers ready and helping groundskeeper Don Ferguson with some facility maintenance.
With Samson back, it won’t be long before the season is upon us.
“I spent the winter at the University of Winnipeg,” he said while painting a runway that leads out to the field. “I was in first-year business and took three courses. I didn’t hate it, but I just might switch to kinesiology. We’ll see what happens after this season.”
Samson also worked at Hu’s on First, which simply suggests it’s tough to leave Canwest Park, even in the off-season.
Of course, like most people involved with the Goldeyes these days, he is excited about the prospect of at least 10 returnees this year.
“Last year, Rick built our team a little differently than he had in other years,” Samson said. “He went after more experienced players and we had a lot of older guys who really appreciated the opportunity they were given to play here.
“There were a lot of guys who had been in organizations who didn’t take for granted everything they got here. These guys all understood how good they had it and I didn’t deal with a lot of complaints. This is a great organization that treats the players really well and with a clubhouse full of veteran guys, it was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what this season brings.”
Jamie Samson, who will begin his fourth season as clubhouse manager – and tenth with the Goldeyes (“...counting all my bat boy years”) – is back at the park, getting the lockers ready and helping groundskeeper Don Ferguson with some facility maintenance.
With Samson back, it won’t be long before the season is upon us.
“I spent the winter at the University of Winnipeg,” he said while painting a runway that leads out to the field. “I was in first-year business and took three courses. I didn’t hate it, but I just might switch to kinesiology. We’ll see what happens after this season.”
Samson also worked at Hu’s on First, which simply suggests it’s tough to leave Canwest Park, even in the off-season.
Of course, like most people involved with the Goldeyes these days, he is excited about the prospect of at least 10 returnees this year.
“Last year, Rick built our team a little differently than he had in other years,” Samson said. “He went after more experienced players and we had a lot of older guys who really appreciated the opportunity they were given to play here.
“There were a lot of guys who had been in organizations who didn’t take for granted everything they got here. These guys all understood how good they had it and I didn’t deal with a lot of complaints. This is a great organization that treats the players really well and with a clubhouse full of veteran guys, it was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what this season brings.”
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