It was one of those games that reminds us all why we listen to baseball on the radio. It certainly was a game that assures the die-hard fan why he listens until the final out. It was a game that you’ll never forget, even though you didn’t see one pitch, one base hit or one throw from short.
Sunday evening in Rockford, Ill., the Winnipeg Goldeyes proved that Yogi Berra was right, “It isn’t over ’till it’s over.” And even though I didn’t see it, I had my radio friend Paul Edmonds to paint the picture of a comeback for the ages.
Early on Sunday evening, the Goldeyes were done. Through six innings, the Rockford RiverHawks had this one in the bag. Starter Mike Wood had allowed only two runs on five hits through the first six and when Rockford manager Bob Koopmann went to his bullpen, the RiverHawks had an 8-2 lead and I figured I’d turn on 60 Minutes. After all, it was 8-2, the Fish had barely put up a fight and what the heck, 6-5 isn’t a bad record early in the season, is it?
But hey, we’d come this far, one more inning couldn’t hurt.
And in the seventh, the Goldeyes appeared to have some life. Kevin West came up with two-on and belted a three-run homer off reliever Alex Thieroff and suddenly it was 8-5. If the Goldeyes bullpen could shut down the home side for three innings then maybe there was a chance.
In the bottom of the seventh, reliever Andrew Barb came in for the Fish and after walking a man, suffered an apparent injury (the second Goldeyes pitcher to hurt himself on Sunday as starter Matt Kniginyzky was felled by a shoulder problem earlier in the game) and he had to be replaced. Manager Rick Forney went to lefty Ian Thomas and Thomas went to work.
He got out of the seventh unscathed and that allowed the Fish to come back up in the eighth trailing by only three.
Now, if this were anything but a fairy tale, I’d tell you that the Rockford bullpen took care of Winnipeg in the eighth and ninth and everybody in Illinois went home to watch Sunday Night Baseball, but then it wouldn’t be a comeback would it? And my pal Edmonds would not have had a minor vocal coronary.
In the top of the eighth, with Edmonds along for every swing of the bat, the Goldeyes exploded. Wes Long drove in a run with a single to cut the Rockford lead to 8-6 and then big Juan Diaz drove in two more with a double. West, who had three hits in four trips, drove home pinch-runner Luis Alen (West’s fourth RBI of the game) with a single as the Goldeyes took a 9-8 lead.
Wow! The Comeback was complete. Or was it? This is baseball, after all and against professional hitters nothing is easy.
In the bottom of the eighth, RiverHawks outfielder Kevin House tied the game at 9-9 with a solo homer off Thomas, but heck, it’s still tied and that will just make the Goldeyes comeback all the more rewarding. Won’t it?
Indeed. In the top of the ninth, first baseman Jeremy Hamilton, who already had two hits in the game and four in the series, came up with a runner on third and one out and hit a sacrifice fly to give Winnipeg a 10-9 advantage. It was hard to imagine that the Fish were headed to the bottom of the ninth with the lead, but it did remind an old baseball fan why we listen until the final out.
In the bottom of the ninth, young Philip Roy, a reliever who simply beats up the strike zone, came in and allowed one hit before retiring the side and notched his third save of the season. It was mind-boggling, thrilling and even gut-wrenching at times, but it was exactly why Pete Rose once said, “Man invented all the other games, but God invented baseball.”
If today’s series opener in Gary is half as good, it will be another three hours well spent. I just hope Paul has recovered enough to get back on that mic by 3 o’clock.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28: Goldeyes Bullpen Can’t Hold the lead, Fish lose 7-3 to JackHammers
Despite a 7-3 loss to Joliet in the final game of an eight-game homestand, Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney had no problem finding a silver lining.
“We’re off to a good start,” Forney said bluntly. “5-3 is a good start. If we went 5-3 over every eight-game stretch until the end of the season, it would be a very successful year for the Goldeyes.
“Right now, we just need some consistency. I thought we’ve pitched pretty well, especially the starters, and the big thing right now is staying healthy. Our defence is a little inconsistent and I suppose if we have one area we need to improve, it’s our defence. But overall, I’m happy to start the season 5-3.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Goldeyes lost the final game of an eight-game homestand, 7-3, to the visiting Joliet JackHammers to split a four-game series. The Fish had already won their first series of the year against Lake County (3-1) and were now 5-3 heading out onto the road to open a series in Rockford on Friday night.
The Goldeyes fell behind 3-0 to Joliet on Thursday, then battled back to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth before the Jacks blew it open with four runs against the Goldeyes bullpen.
Goldeyes catcher Brett Wallace had a big day at the plate for the Fish going three-for-four with an RBI triple. Shortstop Wes Long and centerfielder Aharon Eggleston also had three hits each for the Fish. Eggleston improved his batting average to .433.
“I hit the ball OK, but I’m not happy with my defence,” Wallace said after the game. “I have a reputation as a catcher who doesn’t make many mistakes and I had two passed balls today. I don’t remember if I’ve ever had two passed balls in a game before.”
Ultimately, Wallace was charged with only one passed ball. The second was ruled a wild pitch, charged to reliever Austin Donmoyer.
The Fish will now head out onto the road and play three games against Rockford and three against Gary before returning home to open a weekend series against the Schaumburg Flyers on Friday, June 4.
“We’re off to a good start,” Forney said bluntly. “5-3 is a good start. If we went 5-3 over every eight-game stretch until the end of the season, it would be a very successful year for the Goldeyes.
“Right now, we just need some consistency. I thought we’ve pitched pretty well, especially the starters, and the big thing right now is staying healthy. Our defence is a little inconsistent and I suppose if we have one area we need to improve, it’s our defence. But overall, I’m happy to start the season 5-3.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Goldeyes lost the final game of an eight-game homestand, 7-3, to the visiting Joliet JackHammers to split a four-game series. The Fish had already won their first series of the year against Lake County (3-1) and were now 5-3 heading out onto the road to open a series in Rockford on Friday night.
The Goldeyes fell behind 3-0 to Joliet on Thursday, then battled back to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth before the Jacks blew it open with four runs against the Goldeyes bullpen.
Goldeyes catcher Brett Wallace had a big day at the plate for the Fish going three-for-four with an RBI triple. Shortstop Wes Long and centerfielder Aharon Eggleston also had three hits each for the Fish. Eggleston improved his batting average to .433.
“I hit the ball OK, but I’m not happy with my defence,” Wallace said after the game. “I have a reputation as a catcher who doesn’t make many mistakes and I had two passed balls today. I don’t remember if I’ve ever had two passed balls in a game before.”
Ultimately, Wallace was charged with only one passed ball. The second was ruled a wild pitch, charged to reliever Austin Donmoyer.
The Fish will now head out onto the road and play three games against Rockford and three against Gary before returning home to open a weekend series against the Schaumburg Flyers on Friday, June 4.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
May 27: Holliman Almost Unhittable while West Finds Hitting Easy as Goldeyes Hammer Jacks
Mark Holliman’s four-pitch repertoire combined with Kevin West’s sweet swing was the recipe for a sweet victory on Wednesday night.
Holliman, who once threw a no-hitter at the Double A level, improved to 2-0 on the season as the Goldeyes’ right hander threw seven complete innings of four-hit baseball as the Fish drilled the visiting Joliet JackHammers 6-1 at Canwest Park.
Holliman was so sharp on Wednesday night that after giving up his only run of the game in the third, he cruised through the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings without allowing a base runner. He retired 13 batters in a row before giving way to relievers Ian Thomas and Philip Roy who shut down the JackHammers in the eighth and ninth.
Meanwhile, the Goldeyes got more timely hitting, this time off the bat of veteran right fielder Kevin West. West went three-for-four with three doubles and three runs batted in as the Fish tagged former teammate Bear Bay with five runs on seven hits over six innings.
“It’s always interesting when you face a former teammate,” West said, on Shaw TV’s post-game show. “You really never know what you’re going to get. We know from Bear that he can be really good and you have to get to him early. We were able to score five runs in the first two innings before he settled down and pitch pretty well.
“At this stage of the season, the pitchers are ahead of the hitters, and it’s the pitchers who have held us together. Mark was great tonight and the other pitchers on the staff have been very good this year. We’ve been fortunate to have had so many great starts in our first seven games.”
West started the game hitting .238 and finished with a .333 average. Meanwhile, centerfielder Aharon Eggleston was back in the lineup after missing a game and a half with lower back pain and he picked up right where he left off. Eggleston went two-for-four with two runs scored.
“We didn’t bring these guys to Winnipeg to hit home runs all the time, although we certainly don’t mind it when they do,” manager Rick Forney told Paul Edmonds on the radio post-game show. “But we did sign them to drive in runs and that’s what they’ve been doing. We’ve had a number of two-out hits that have created runs this year and it seems that on most nights, someone in the lineup steps up and gets the job done for us.”
On Wednesday night, Kevin West was the man who stepped up.
Thursday morning at 11 a.m., the Goldeyes and JackHammers will play the final game of this four-game series. It’s getaway day and that means an early start as Winnipeg has to play in Rockford, Ill., on Friday night while the JackHammers go home to play host to Lake County.
Lefty Devin Anderson will get the start for Joliet (0-0) while another lefty, Chris Salamida (1-0), will take to the bump for the Goldeyes. Come out and enjoy brunch at the ballpark. The game will be replayed on Shaw 9 in Winnipeg at 7 p.m.
Holliman, who once threw a no-hitter at the Double A level, improved to 2-0 on the season as the Goldeyes’ right hander threw seven complete innings of four-hit baseball as the Fish drilled the visiting Joliet JackHammers 6-1 at Canwest Park.
Holliman was so sharp on Wednesday night that after giving up his only run of the game in the third, he cruised through the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings without allowing a base runner. He retired 13 batters in a row before giving way to relievers Ian Thomas and Philip Roy who shut down the JackHammers in the eighth and ninth.
Meanwhile, the Goldeyes got more timely hitting, this time off the bat of veteran right fielder Kevin West. West went three-for-four with three doubles and three runs batted in as the Fish tagged former teammate Bear Bay with five runs on seven hits over six innings.
“It’s always interesting when you face a former teammate,” West said, on Shaw TV’s post-game show. “You really never know what you’re going to get. We know from Bear that he can be really good and you have to get to him early. We were able to score five runs in the first two innings before he settled down and pitch pretty well.
“At this stage of the season, the pitchers are ahead of the hitters, and it’s the pitchers who have held us together. Mark was great tonight and the other pitchers on the staff have been very good this year. We’ve been fortunate to have had so many great starts in our first seven games.”
West started the game hitting .238 and finished with a .333 average. Meanwhile, centerfielder Aharon Eggleston was back in the lineup after missing a game and a half with lower back pain and he picked up right where he left off. Eggleston went two-for-four with two runs scored.
“We didn’t bring these guys to Winnipeg to hit home runs all the time, although we certainly don’t mind it when they do,” manager Rick Forney told Paul Edmonds on the radio post-game show. “But we did sign them to drive in runs and that’s what they’ve been doing. We’ve had a number of two-out hits that have created runs this year and it seems that on most nights, someone in the lineup steps up and gets the job done for us.”
On Wednesday night, Kevin West was the man who stepped up.
Thursday morning at 11 a.m., the Goldeyes and JackHammers will play the final game of this four-game series. It’s getaway day and that means an early start as Winnipeg has to play in Rockford, Ill., on Friday night while the JackHammers go home to play host to Lake County.
Lefty Devin Anderson will get the start for Joliet (0-0) while another lefty, Chris Salamida (1-0), will take to the bump for the Goldeyes. Come out and enjoy brunch at the ballpark. The game will be replayed on Shaw 9 in Winnipeg at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26: Bats Boom, Goldeyes Light Up JackHammers 8-4
Vince Harrison figured Joliet JackHammers lefty reliever Sean Teague was going to try to bust him inside.
“Dee (Brown) just hit the double and drove in two runs and I figure he’d try to throw something inside to make me hit it on the ground,” Harrison said. “I was looking fastball inside and he got the ball elevated. It was a good pitch to hit.”
Indeed. Harrison took Teague’s pitch into the trees over the left \field wall for a two-run homer that put an exclamation point on a six-run fifth inning that carried the Goldeyes to an 8-4 victory over the visiting JackHammers in the second game of a four-game series at Canwest Park.
One night after the Goldeyes were drilled 7-0 in a rain-shortened game the night before, the Fish came out and pounded five JackHammers pitchers for eight runs on 12 hits. All nine Goldeyes batters had at least one hit while Wes Long, Jeremy Hamilton and Harrison all had multi-hit games.
“That’s the great thing about baseball,” said Harrison. “We weren’t very good on Monday, but we get to come back every day and play again. We mess up one day, we get to come back and make up for it the next day. It’s tougher for football players. They play badly and lose, they have to wait around a week before they play again. That’s one of the great things about being a baseball player.”
Harrison is now hitting .350 with two runs, two doubles, a homer and three RBI early in this 2010 season, but interestingly, his scouting abilities might have as much to do with the Goldeyes early success as his bat.
It was Harrison who brought 23-year-old first baseman Jeremy Hamilton to town and on Tuesday night Hamilton went two-for-two with two runs scored and took over the batting lead in the Northern League. Hamilton is now hitting .500 (seven-for-14) in his first week with the Fish.
Meanwhile, Canadian starter Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 5.00 ERA) got his first Northern League win. Kniginyzky went five complete innings and allowed three runs on seven scattered hits to earn the victory.
Wednesday night, the Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game three of this four game series. Come and enjoy a TV game at the ballpark and then go home and watch yourself on Shaw’s replay at midnight. Game time is 7 p.m. and yes, the midnight TV replay is at 12 midnight.
“Dee (Brown) just hit the double and drove in two runs and I figure he’d try to throw something inside to make me hit it on the ground,” Harrison said. “I was looking fastball inside and he got the ball elevated. It was a good pitch to hit.”
Indeed. Harrison took Teague’s pitch into the trees over the left \field wall for a two-run homer that put an exclamation point on a six-run fifth inning that carried the Goldeyes to an 8-4 victory over the visiting JackHammers in the second game of a four-game series at Canwest Park.
One night after the Goldeyes were drilled 7-0 in a rain-shortened game the night before, the Fish came out and pounded five JackHammers pitchers for eight runs on 12 hits. All nine Goldeyes batters had at least one hit while Wes Long, Jeremy Hamilton and Harrison all had multi-hit games.
“That’s the great thing about baseball,” said Harrison. “We weren’t very good on Monday, but we get to come back every day and play again. We mess up one day, we get to come back and make up for it the next day. It’s tougher for football players. They play badly and lose, they have to wait around a week before they play again. That’s one of the great things about being a baseball player.”
Harrison is now hitting .350 with two runs, two doubles, a homer and three RBI early in this 2010 season, but interestingly, his scouting abilities might have as much to do with the Goldeyes early success as his bat.
It was Harrison who brought 23-year-old first baseman Jeremy Hamilton to town and on Tuesday night Hamilton went two-for-two with two runs scored and took over the batting lead in the Northern League. Hamilton is now hitting .500 (seven-for-14) in his first week with the Fish.
Meanwhile, Canadian starter Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 5.00 ERA) got his first Northern League win. Kniginyzky went five complete innings and allowed three runs on seven scattered hits to earn the victory.
Wednesday night, the Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game three of this four game series. Come and enjoy a TV game at the ballpark and then go home and watch yourself on Shaw’s replay at midnight. Game time is 7 p.m. and yes, the midnight TV replay is at 12 midnight.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25: Soggy Goldeyes Drilled 7-0 in the Rain
Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney summed up Monday night’s rain-shortened 7-0 loss to the Joliet JackHammers succinctly:
“It was a wasted day,” he said bluntly.
“(Antony) Bello was pretty good. He gave us some good innings. Other than that, it was just a wasted day.”
At a rain-soaked Canwest Park, the Jackhammers held a 1-0 lead after four innings when home plate umpire Reggie Jackson halted play for the first time.
Joliet had one run on only one hit off Bello who pitched brilliantly, but got no help.
When the rain subsided, one hour and 52 minutes later, young Austin Donmoyer came in to pitch for the Goldeyes and the lefty got ripped for six runs on seven hits in just two and a third innings. With one out in the seventh, lightning lit up the sky, rain pelted the field and the game was called.
Bello suffered the loss while reliever Michael Rocco was credited with the win for Joliet as Winnipeg fell to 3-2 on the season. Joliet finished with seven runs on eight hits while Winnipeg had no runs on four hits.
“I haven’t got much to say,” Forney added. “We didn’t play long enough to formulate anything more to talk about.”
Tuesday night, the Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game 2 of this four game series. RHP Matt Kniginyzky will get the start for Winnipeg while right hander Rory Shortell will take to the bump for Joliet. Game time is 7 p.m.
“It was a wasted day,” he said bluntly.
“(Antony) Bello was pretty good. He gave us some good innings. Other than that, it was just a wasted day.”
At a rain-soaked Canwest Park, the Jackhammers held a 1-0 lead after four innings when home plate umpire Reggie Jackson halted play for the first time.
Joliet had one run on only one hit off Bello who pitched brilliantly, but got no help.
When the rain subsided, one hour and 52 minutes later, young Austin Donmoyer came in to pitch for the Goldeyes and the lefty got ripped for six runs on seven hits in just two and a third innings. With one out in the seventh, lightning lit up the sky, rain pelted the field and the game was called.
Bello suffered the loss while reliever Michael Rocco was credited with the win for Joliet as Winnipeg fell to 3-2 on the season. Joliet finished with seven runs on eight hits while Winnipeg had no runs on four hits.
“I haven’t got much to say,” Forney added. “We didn’t play long enough to formulate anything more to talk about.”
Tuesday night, the Goldeyes and JackHammers play Game 2 of this four game series. RHP Matt Kniginyzky will get the start for Winnipeg while right hander Rory Shortell will take to the bump for Joliet. Game time is 7 p.m.
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 24: Walker Brilliant, Diaz Hits Third Home Run in an as Many Days, as Fish drill Fielders 7-1
After Lake County lead-off man Amos Ramon opened the game with a double, Winnipeg Goldeyes starting pitcher Ace Walker stepped off the mound and took a breath.
“My first thought was ‘Oh, no, not this again,’ so I stepped off the mound and said to myself, ‘Not this time’,” Walker said shortly after leading the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Lake County Fielders.
“Last year, if anyone was going to get to me, they’d get to me in the first or the fifth innings. After that guy hit the double, I just thought, ‘No way, not this time. It’s going to be different. I have to be better.’
“I have such a good defence behind me and I know I’ll get help at the plate from my guys. I wasn’t going to put us in a hole early.”
He didn’t. In fact, after Ramon’s double, Walker was almost perfect.
In the end he pitched seven complete innings, allowed no runs on only two hits, walked one and struck out five as the 2009 Northern League Pitcher of the Year mowed down the Fielders to claim his first victory of the season the Goldeyes third win in a row.
“I probably could have gone longer but I know I was on a pitch count,” Walker said. “I think the pitch count was 90. I know I got to 88 after seven innings. I didn’t mind coming out of the game with a 7-0 lead.”
At the plate yesterday, the Goldeyes were absolutely stellar. The Fish pounded out 14 hits, the big blow, a two-run shot off the bat of DH Juan Diaz in the bottom of the third that gave Winnipeg what was to be an insurmountable 4-0 lead.
Five Goldeyes had multi-hit games: Diaz was three-for-four with a walk, a run scored and three driven in; Aharon Eggleston went three-for-five with three runs scored and an RBI; Kevin West went two-for-four with a run scored and two RBI; and Vince Harrison and Jeremy Hamilton each had a pair of hits. Hamilton is now hitting .455 after his first four games in the Northern League.
“Just watching Juan hit the ball is really exciting, isn’t it?” said Walker with a wide smile. “It was just a great day of baseball out there.”
The Goldeyes will have another shot at a great day of baseball on Monday night when the Joliet JackHammers come to town. Left hander Antony Bello will get the start for the 3-1 Goldeyes.
“My first thought was ‘Oh, no, not this again,’ so I stepped off the mound and said to myself, ‘Not this time’,” Walker said shortly after leading the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 7-1 victory over the visiting Lake County Fielders.
“Last year, if anyone was going to get to me, they’d get to me in the first or the fifth innings. After that guy hit the double, I just thought, ‘No way, not this time. It’s going to be different. I have to be better.’
“I have such a good defence behind me and I know I’ll get help at the plate from my guys. I wasn’t going to put us in a hole early.”
He didn’t. In fact, after Ramon’s double, Walker was almost perfect.
In the end he pitched seven complete innings, allowed no runs on only two hits, walked one and struck out five as the 2009 Northern League Pitcher of the Year mowed down the Fielders to claim his first victory of the season the Goldeyes third win in a row.
“I probably could have gone longer but I know I was on a pitch count,” Walker said. “I think the pitch count was 90. I know I got to 88 after seven innings. I didn’t mind coming out of the game with a 7-0 lead.”
At the plate yesterday, the Goldeyes were absolutely stellar. The Fish pounded out 14 hits, the big blow, a two-run shot off the bat of DH Juan Diaz in the bottom of the third that gave Winnipeg what was to be an insurmountable 4-0 lead.
Five Goldeyes had multi-hit games: Diaz was three-for-four with a walk, a run scored and three driven in; Aharon Eggleston went three-for-five with three runs scored and an RBI; Kevin West went two-for-four with a run scored and two RBI; and Vince Harrison and Jeremy Hamilton each had a pair of hits. Hamilton is now hitting .455 after his first four games in the Northern League.
“Just watching Juan hit the ball is really exciting, isn’t it?” said Walker with a wide smile. “It was just a great day of baseball out there.”
The Goldeyes will have another shot at a great day of baseball on Monday night when the Joliet JackHammers come to town. Left hander Antony Bello will get the start for the 3-1 Goldeyes.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
May 23: Diaz Bomb, Great Start by Salamida, Fish Beat Lake County 2-1 in a Thriller
It’s a simple formula: Get a great effort from your starter, have a closer ready to shut it down and get a bomb from your slugger and you can probably eke out a win.
That’s what the Winnipeg Goldeyes did on a damp Saturday night as the Fish edged the Lake County Fielders 2-1 in front of 5,012 at Canwest Park.
Starter Chris Salamida pitched six and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball, reliever Andrew Barb put a halt to a Fielders rally in the ninth and “Big Juan” Diaz hit a two-run homer in the fourth as Winnipeg improved to 2-1 on the season.
“I had good command tonight,” said Salamida afterward. “I felt good right from the first inning. I trusted my stuff, threw strikes and got them to hit a lot of ground balls, My defence was outstanding behind me and that’s all I can ask for.
“I’m a pitch-to-contact hitter and I’m not trying to strike guys out, I’m just trying to get a ground ball. When I have the defence I had behind me tonight, I can be pretty successful.”
In a game that lasted just two hours and 22 minutes, Salamida was in control from his opening pitch. To be fair, however, Lake County starter Corey Bass was solid himself. Bass allowed only two runs on four hits over six complete innings. In fact, he probably made only one bad pitch...
“He threw me a fastball inside and I was able to turn on it,” said Diaz who hit a line shot over the leftfield wall with Aharon Eggleston standing on first. “I’ve been seeing the ball real good, but I’m not off to as fast a start as I’d like to be having. But I’ll just keep working in the cage and taking extra batting practice and I’ll get my timing back.”
Diaz’s homer was his second of the season and his second in as many games. However, he’s hitting just .273 early in the campaign and he’s not completely happy with his numbers.
“But we’re OK,” he said. “We’ve had two good games and two wins. We just have to keep going. Our pitching has been outstanding and our defence has been good. We just need to start hitting.”
The Goldeyes will have another chance to start hitting on Sunday afternoon when they face the Fielders in Game 4 of this four-game season-opening series. Right hander Jeff Long will get the start for Lake County while the 2009 Northern League pitcher of the year, Ace Walker, will get the call for Winnipeg. Game time is 1:30 p.m.
That’s what the Winnipeg Goldeyes did on a damp Saturday night as the Fish edged the Lake County Fielders 2-1 in front of 5,012 at Canwest Park.
Starter Chris Salamida pitched six and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball, reliever Andrew Barb put a halt to a Fielders rally in the ninth and “Big Juan” Diaz hit a two-run homer in the fourth as Winnipeg improved to 2-1 on the season.
“I had good command tonight,” said Salamida afterward. “I felt good right from the first inning. I trusted my stuff, threw strikes and got them to hit a lot of ground balls, My defence was outstanding behind me and that’s all I can ask for.
“I’m a pitch-to-contact hitter and I’m not trying to strike guys out, I’m just trying to get a ground ball. When I have the defence I had behind me tonight, I can be pretty successful.”
In a game that lasted just two hours and 22 minutes, Salamida was in control from his opening pitch. To be fair, however, Lake County starter Corey Bass was solid himself. Bass allowed only two runs on four hits over six complete innings. In fact, he probably made only one bad pitch...
“He threw me a fastball inside and I was able to turn on it,” said Diaz who hit a line shot over the leftfield wall with Aharon Eggleston standing on first. “I’ve been seeing the ball real good, but I’m not off to as fast a start as I’d like to be having. But I’ll just keep working in the cage and taking extra batting practice and I’ll get my timing back.”
Diaz’s homer was his second of the season and his second in as many games. However, he’s hitting just .273 early in the campaign and he’s not completely happy with his numbers.
“But we’re OK,” he said. “We’ve had two good games and two wins. We just have to keep going. Our pitching has been outstanding and our defence has been good. We just need to start hitting.”
The Goldeyes will have another chance to start hitting on Sunday afternoon when they face the Fielders in Game 4 of this four-game season-opening series. Right hander Jeff Long will get the start for Lake County while the 2009 Northern League pitcher of the year, Ace Walker, will get the call for Winnipeg. Game time is 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
May 22: West, Long and Harrison Teach Kids How the Pros Play
The look of wonder in the eyes of 40 youngsters at Maples Community Centre on Saturday told most of the story. The looks in the eyes of about a dozen parents and community club coaches told the rest.
When Winnipeg Goldeyes’ stars Wes Long, Kevin West and Vince Harrison showed up at Maples on Saturday morning to put the kids – and their coaches – through their paces, it was baseball time in Northwest Winnipeg.
And did the kids ever respond. Starting at 10:30 on Saturday morning, three of the Goldeyes’ most high-profile players put on a clinic that introduced the youngsters to everything from base running to swinging the bat to turning a double play.
“You look at these Goldeyes players and you realize all that talent didn’t just happen,” said Dan Ricard, the president of Maples Community Centre. “Someone had to nurture that talent. Somebody had to inspire them to want to play the game and become the best they could be. That doesn’t happen without people coming into their lives and encouraging them to work hard and develop their skills.
“That’s what today was all about: Introducing the kids to the professional way to play and inspiring them to pursue their dreams, whatever those dreams might be.”
For Tom Barak, the organizer of the event, it was first in a series of programs designed to expose the kids in the Maples to pro sport and pro athletes.
“We’re now planning a trip with our basketball teams to take part in a camp with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves,” Barak explained. “And we’ve had discussions with a number of local NHL players to put on a special hockey camp here at the rink.
“It was great having Kevin, Wes and Vince out today and it was just first clinic of this kind designed to expose our kids to professional athletes and professional sport. I just hope the Goldeyes had as much as fun as the kids did.”
“It was great,” said Long. “But I’m worn out. We just did a three-hour clinic. That’s like playing an entire game.”
May 22: Holliman Nearly Perfect, Bullpen Terrific as Goldeyes Win Their First of the Year
Mark Holliman smiled and said, rather matter-of-factly, “I felt pretty good out there.”
“Pretty good?” Pretty good would be a masterpiece of understatement.
After the Winnipeg Goldeyes lost their 2010 season opener 7-5 on Thursday night, Holliman took the ball from manager Rick Forney on Friday and went out and threw six and a third innings of two-hit baseball and earned the victory as the Fish shut out the visiting Lake County Fielders 3-0.
It was exactly the type of performance Forney expected from the 26-year-old Tennessean. Holliman, who has 65 starts at the Double A level and five at Triple A, beat up the strike zone on Friday night, struck out four and allowed only one runner to reach third base as Winnipeg evened its 2010 record at 1-1.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Holliman said modestly. “I felt pretty good out there. I did have good command of all my pitches. I threw the ball where I wanted to and I went in and out. Rick had me on a pitch count, I think it was about 85.
“I used every pitch I had tonight,” said Holliman whose four-pitch repertoire includes a fastball, curve ball, slider and change. “When you have four pitches, it will keep the hitters off balance and that’s all I tried to do tonight.”
Holliman threw 78 pitches, 47 for strikes, and after leaving the ball game got some assistance from his bullpen.
Zach Baldwin, on the same day he shot a five-under 67 at the challenging Quarry Oaks Golf Club, pitched an inning and two thirds of hitless baseball while the team’s new closer, Philip Roy, allowed only one hit as he shut it down in the ninth to record his first save.
Offensively, the Goldeyes pounded out 11 hits and got runners to third base on five separate occasions, but just couldn’t get enough clutch hits to blow the game wide open. As it was, the Fish got their first run in the bottom of the first on an opposite field home run by DH Juan Diaz, got another run in the fourth on a home run to left off the bat of shortstop Wes Long and then added an insurance run in the eighth when Jeremy Hamilton’s two-out single brought home Dee Brown from second.
“I got some very, very good defence behind me tonight, too,” Holliman said. “And the guys came out swinging the bats. We had, what, 11hits?
“Still, it was a close game and that’s when it’s really fun. Spring training is over and the games mean something now. It’s great when the games are close like that. It really gets your on your game. It’s great to to be competitive like that. It was fun out there.”
The Goldeyes and Fielders play Game 3 of this four game series tonight at Canwest Park. Corey Bass will start for the visitors while Chris Salamida goes for the Fish. Game time is 6 p.m.
“Pretty good?” Pretty good would be a masterpiece of understatement.
After the Winnipeg Goldeyes lost their 2010 season opener 7-5 on Thursday night, Holliman took the ball from manager Rick Forney on Friday and went out and threw six and a third innings of two-hit baseball and earned the victory as the Fish shut out the visiting Lake County Fielders 3-0.
It was exactly the type of performance Forney expected from the 26-year-old Tennessean. Holliman, who has 65 starts at the Double A level and five at Triple A, beat up the strike zone on Friday night, struck out four and allowed only one runner to reach third base as Winnipeg evened its 2010 record at 1-1.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Holliman said modestly. “I felt pretty good out there. I did have good command of all my pitches. I threw the ball where I wanted to and I went in and out. Rick had me on a pitch count, I think it was about 85.
“I used every pitch I had tonight,” said Holliman whose four-pitch repertoire includes a fastball, curve ball, slider and change. “When you have four pitches, it will keep the hitters off balance and that’s all I tried to do tonight.”
Holliman threw 78 pitches, 47 for strikes, and after leaving the ball game got some assistance from his bullpen.
Zach Baldwin, on the same day he shot a five-under 67 at the challenging Quarry Oaks Golf Club, pitched an inning and two thirds of hitless baseball while the team’s new closer, Philip Roy, allowed only one hit as he shut it down in the ninth to record his first save.
Offensively, the Goldeyes pounded out 11 hits and got runners to third base on five separate occasions, but just couldn’t get enough clutch hits to blow the game wide open. As it was, the Fish got their first run in the bottom of the first on an opposite field home run by DH Juan Diaz, got another run in the fourth on a home run to left off the bat of shortstop Wes Long and then added an insurance run in the eighth when Jeremy Hamilton’s two-out single brought home Dee Brown from second.
“I got some very, very good defence behind me tonight, too,” Holliman said. “And the guys came out swinging the bats. We had, what, 11hits?
“Still, it was a close game and that’s when it’s really fun. Spring training is over and the games mean something now. It’s great when the games are close like that. It really gets your on your game. It’s great to to be competitive like that. It was fun out there.”
The Goldeyes and Fielders play Game 3 of this four game series tonight at Canwest Park. Corey Bass will start for the visitors while Chris Salamida goes for the Fish. Game time is 6 p.m.
Friday, May 21, 2010
May 21: Dunbar Hits Two Bombs, Goldeyes Give Up Five in the Ninth, Lose Home Opener to Lake County
Lesson 1: Don’t throw fat pitches to a 6-foot-4, 220-pound power hitter.
Lake County Fielders right fielder Jeff Dunbar hit a pair of long home runs to lead manager Fran Riordan’s expansion Fielders to a 7-5 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the Northern League season opener for both teams.
As 6,311 looked on at Canwest Park, the Goldeyes took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning, but Winnipeg reliever Andrew Barb gave up five runs on four hits and while Winnipeg came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, it wasn’t enough.
The big blow in the ninth was Dunbar’s second homer of the game, a three-run bomb with Lake County leading 4-3. Dunbar also hit a two-run homer in the second as the big right fielder drove in five runs.
“The first pitch was a fastball right down the middle,” Dunbar told Shaw TV’s Jim Toth. “The second was a curveball that hung right up there. I got two pitches I could hit and handled them both.”
It was a shaky start for the Goldeyes who came back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Luis Alen. But after Philip Roy got the Fish out of a tight squeeze in the eighth, Barb couldn’t get the job done in the ninth.
“We didn’t play very well,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney on the post-game show. “We didn’t play well defensively and we didn’t get the hits we needed. We can be better than that.”
Forney hopes his team will be better tonight when Mark Holliman goes to the mound to face Lake County’s Garry Bakker in the second game of this season-opening four-game series.
Lake County Fielders right fielder Jeff Dunbar hit a pair of long home runs to lead manager Fran Riordan’s expansion Fielders to a 7-5 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the Northern League season opener for both teams.
As 6,311 looked on at Canwest Park, the Goldeyes took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning, but Winnipeg reliever Andrew Barb gave up five runs on four hits and while Winnipeg came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, it wasn’t enough.
The big blow in the ninth was Dunbar’s second homer of the game, a three-run bomb with Lake County leading 4-3. Dunbar also hit a two-run homer in the second as the big right fielder drove in five runs.
“The first pitch was a fastball right down the middle,” Dunbar told Shaw TV’s Jim Toth. “The second was a curveball that hung right up there. I got two pitches I could hit and handled them both.”
It was a shaky start for the Goldeyes who came back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Luis Alen. But after Philip Roy got the Fish out of a tight squeeze in the eighth, Barb couldn’t get the job done in the ninth.
“We didn’t play very well,” said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney on the post-game show. “We didn’t play well defensively and we didn’t get the hits we needed. We can be better than that.”
Forney hopes his team will be better tonight when Mark Holliman goes to the mound to face Lake County’s Garry Bakker in the second game of this season-opening four-game series.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19: West, Asanovich Ready to Play for Real
Spring training baseball games are fun. But in the big picture – heck, even in the small picture – they don’t mean anything at all.
So after going 2-2-2 in six pre-season, no one is more fired up to start playing games that matter than your 2010 Winnipeg Goldeyes.
“I know we have to play these games,” said veteran right fielder Kevin West. “But if you’re asking me, I’d rather practice, take a lot of batting practice and do extra work in the cage than play games that don’t matter. It’s May. It’s time to start playing games that matter.”
Thursday night, West and the rest of his teammates will get their wish. The expansion Lake County Fielders come to town to open the season at Canwest Park and this first four-game series will be quite a test for the Fish.
After all, for the veterans on this veteran Goldeyes team, the Fielders come to town with some pretty familiar names. Pitcher Garry Bakker helped Fargo win the Northern League championship last season while reliever Chris Homer pitched out of the Goldeyes bullpen last year. Catcher Anthony Esquer was one of two catchers in Gary last season. The other was Brett Wallace. And Joliet veteran Joey Gomes will DH and play the outfield for the Fielders as Lake County tries to make an impression in its inaugural series on the road.
“I’m just glad we’ll be playing real games,” said Goldeyes second baseman Josh Asanovich. “I know the importance of these spring games we play. We have to work on a lot of things and these games help us get ready. There are always a lot of little issues you have to work through.
“For instance, last season Wes (shortstop Long) and I were really coming together as a unit when he was injured. He missed almost the entire last half of the season and there is no doubt, when spring training started, he and I had to start over, in terms of timing on the double play and always knowing where each other is going to be. We used the spring games to get that timing back and now I think we’re ready to go.
“I’m excited that we’re getting the regular season underway and I’m really excited about our team.”
Game time Thursday is 7 p.m. Fireworks will follow the game. As for Asanovich and West, they just hope there will be plenty of fireworks during the game.
So after going 2-2-2 in six pre-season, no one is more fired up to start playing games that matter than your 2010 Winnipeg Goldeyes.
“I know we have to play these games,” said veteran right fielder Kevin West. “But if you’re asking me, I’d rather practice, take a lot of batting practice and do extra work in the cage than play games that don’t matter. It’s May. It’s time to start playing games that matter.”
Thursday night, West and the rest of his teammates will get their wish. The expansion Lake County Fielders come to town to open the season at Canwest Park and this first four-game series will be quite a test for the Fish.
After all, for the veterans on this veteran Goldeyes team, the Fielders come to town with some pretty familiar names. Pitcher Garry Bakker helped Fargo win the Northern League championship last season while reliever Chris Homer pitched out of the Goldeyes bullpen last year. Catcher Anthony Esquer was one of two catchers in Gary last season. The other was Brett Wallace. And Joliet veteran Joey Gomes will DH and play the outfield for the Fielders as Lake County tries to make an impression in its inaugural series on the road.
“I’m just glad we’ll be playing real games,” said Goldeyes second baseman Josh Asanovich. “I know the importance of these spring games we play. We have to work on a lot of things and these games help us get ready. There are always a lot of little issues you have to work through.
“For instance, last season Wes (shortstop Long) and I were really coming together as a unit when he was injured. He missed almost the entire last half of the season and there is no doubt, when spring training started, he and I had to start over, in terms of timing on the double play and always knowing where each other is going to be. We used the spring games to get that timing back and now I think we’re ready to go.
“I’m excited that we’re getting the regular season underway and I’m really excited about our team.”
Game time Thursday is 7 p.m. Fireworks will follow the game. As for Asanovich and West, they just hope there will be plenty of fireworks during the game.
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17: Outcome Meaningless: Forney Still Happy With What He Sees
FARGO, N.D. – Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney was prepared to ignore the first inning of Sunday night’s pre-season game at Fargo’s Newman Outdoor Field.
His starter, Mark Holliman, had just been lit up for six runs on five hits as the Goldeyes were eventually crushed 10-0 by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and yet, Forney was more interested in the big picture. Spring training games are designed for evaluation and Forney still has a bit of evaluating to do before his final cuts are made.
“Overall, I’ve been really happy with the pitching,” the manager said, matter-of-factly. “I like our catchers and I know we have some very good hitters, we just haven’t hit the ball very well in the pre-season. But I’m not worried about it. I think, once we get going, we’ll be very good offensively.
“I think Mark was unlucky in the first inning. We threw away a double play we should have converted behind him and a couple of those hits weren’t hit all that well, they just found holes. It’s pre-season so the score doesn’t matter. The important thing was, I saw some good things from the pitchers tonight.”
The Goldeyes are now 2-2-1 in five pre-season games this spring and they’ll wrap up the exhibition schedule on Monday night in Fargo. In the meantime, Forney still has to make three personnel decisions before Thursday’s 2010 opener against the Lake County Fielders at Canwest Park.
“I’ll make three cuts,” Forney said. “I’ll probably move one pitcher, one catcher and one outfielder. We’ll be down to 21 or 22 by Tuesday morning. We’ll see what happens on Monday night.”
His starter, Mark Holliman, had just been lit up for six runs on five hits as the Goldeyes were eventually crushed 10-0 by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and yet, Forney was more interested in the big picture. Spring training games are designed for evaluation and Forney still has a bit of evaluating to do before his final cuts are made.
“Overall, I’ve been really happy with the pitching,” the manager said, matter-of-factly. “I like our catchers and I know we have some very good hitters, we just haven’t hit the ball very well in the pre-season. But I’m not worried about it. I think, once we get going, we’ll be very good offensively.
“I think Mark was unlucky in the first inning. We threw away a double play we should have converted behind him and a couple of those hits weren’t hit all that well, they just found holes. It’s pre-season so the score doesn’t matter. The important thing was, I saw some good things from the pitchers tonight.”
The Goldeyes are now 2-2-1 in five pre-season games this spring and they’ll wrap up the exhibition schedule on Monday night in Fargo. In the meantime, Forney still has to make three personnel decisions before Thursday’s 2010 opener against the Lake County Fielders at Canwest Park.
“I’ll make three cuts,” Forney said. “I’ll probably move one pitcher, one catcher and one outfielder. We’ll be down to 21 or 22 by Tuesday morning. We’ll see what happens on Monday night.”
May 17: Alen Excited About New Season in Winnipeg
It didn’t hurt that Luis Alen was the hero on Saturday night. Regardless, even if he wasn’t able to deliver the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday, he’d still be excited about the coming Northern League season.
“I just can’t wait for the season to begin,” said the 25 year-old Winnipeg Goldeyes catcher. “I’m in great shape, I’m seeing the ball well, I feel good behind the plate. I’m so excited for Opening Night. There will be a big crowd and I already know this is a great town to play in.
“I just appreciate everything everybody has done to bring me back to Winnipeg.”
It might only be pre-season, but a nice crowd (announced at 3,413) on another beautiful spring night at Canwest Park was brought to its feet in the bottom of the ninth when Alen hit a blast to straight away centrefield that went over the head of Nic Jackson and all the way to the wall. That scored Price Kendall and Corey Patton with the tying and winning runs as the Goldeyes edged the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 3-2 in a thriller.
“He (Fargo pitcher Adam Tollefson) threw me a slider,” said Alen. “He threw me a slider on the first pitch and I missed it. I saw that he threw a slider to Patton and I thought that was his pitch. So I went up there looking for a slider.
While Alen’s triple was the big hit of the night, Winnipeg’s pitchers had another solid evening on the bump. In fact, five different pitchers allowed only two runs on six hits as left-handed reliever Zach Baldwin, who pitched a scoreless ninth, earned the victory. Canadian right-hander Matt Kniginyzky started the game and allowed only one run on one hit over four full innings.
With the win, the Goldeyes improved to 2-1-1 in this year’s pre-season as they head to Fargo for a pair of games on Sunday and Monday.
“I know it’s only pre-season, but the way I play, I’m always trying to win even the game doesn’t mean anything in the standings,” Alen said. “It’s always good to win, no matter what the situation is.
“I really like our team.”
“I just can’t wait for the season to begin,” said the 25 year-old Winnipeg Goldeyes catcher. “I’m in great shape, I’m seeing the ball well, I feel good behind the plate. I’m so excited for Opening Night. There will be a big crowd and I already know this is a great town to play in.
“I just appreciate everything everybody has done to bring me back to Winnipeg.”
It might only be pre-season, but a nice crowd (announced at 3,413) on another beautiful spring night at Canwest Park was brought to its feet in the bottom of the ninth when Alen hit a blast to straight away centrefield that went over the head of Nic Jackson and all the way to the wall. That scored Price Kendall and Corey Patton with the tying and winning runs as the Goldeyes edged the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 3-2 in a thriller.
“He (Fargo pitcher Adam Tollefson) threw me a slider,” said Alen. “He threw me a slider on the first pitch and I missed it. I saw that he threw a slider to Patton and I thought that was his pitch. So I went up there looking for a slider.
While Alen’s triple was the big hit of the night, Winnipeg’s pitchers had another solid evening on the bump. In fact, five different pitchers allowed only two runs on six hits as left-handed reliever Zach Baldwin, who pitched a scoreless ninth, earned the victory. Canadian right-hander Matt Kniginyzky started the game and allowed only one run on one hit over four full innings.
With the win, the Goldeyes improved to 2-1-1 in this year’s pre-season as they head to Fargo for a pair of games on Sunday and Monday.
“I know it’s only pre-season, but the way I play, I’m always trying to win even the game doesn’t mean anything in the standings,” Alen said. “It’s always good to win, no matter what the situation is.
“I really like our team.”
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15: West Ready: His Bomb, Great Pitching, Four in the Fifth, Give Goldeyes Win Over Fargo
For Kevin West, pre-season baseball is simply another thing that has to be done in order to prepare for a long baseball season.
West doesn’t necessarily like it. He’d definitely prefer to be playing meaningful games, but he understands the role exhibition baseball plays in his manager’s preparation for a 100-game campaign and as a result, West and all of the Goldeyes’ veterans, will use these “unimportant” games to make sure they’re ready for the home and season opener on May 20.
“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about whether it’s an exhibition game or a regular season game,” West said late Friday night. “I just come to the field ready to play, do my preparation and then go out and try to put some good at bats together. There is no doubt that when the regular season starts, the concentration level will go up, but right now, you just try to use these games in order to be at your best when the regular season rolls around.”
West appeared ready on Friday night. The tall, lean right fielder hit a three-run homer to cap off a four-run fifth inning as the Goldeyes beat the visiting Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 4-2.
“On the home run pitch, he (Nick Fellman) threw me a change-up, a little inside on a two-strike count,” West said. “I just reacted to it. Sometimes it can be so simple and other times it can be so difficult. That’s the kind of game this is.”
The Goldeyes got solid performances from six pitchers while Juan Diaz added an RBI single as the Fish won in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd of 3,134. It didn’t hurt that it was a wonderful evening for a ball game.
For West, who got a couple of hits in three official at bats, drew a walk, scored one and drove in three, it was a good night to start getting the kinks out. While the first five hitters in the Goldeyes lineup – Wes Long, Aharon Eggleston, Diaz, West and Vince Harrison – combined for seven of the Goldeyes nine hits, it was also a good night for the top of the order to start doing the things they’ll need to do if they want to win the championship they all say they covet so dearly.
“I find that every year it gets easier for me to prepare for a new season,” West said. “And it helps that I’m playing here in Winnipeg for Rick (manager Forney). I know I’m going to be here, this is where I play, it’s comfortable and it’s really easy for me to get ready for the season.”
West doesn’t necessarily like it. He’d definitely prefer to be playing meaningful games, but he understands the role exhibition baseball plays in his manager’s preparation for a 100-game campaign and as a result, West and all of the Goldeyes’ veterans, will use these “unimportant” games to make sure they’re ready for the home and season opener on May 20.
“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about whether it’s an exhibition game or a regular season game,” West said late Friday night. “I just come to the field ready to play, do my preparation and then go out and try to put some good at bats together. There is no doubt that when the regular season starts, the concentration level will go up, but right now, you just try to use these games in order to be at your best when the regular season rolls around.”
West appeared ready on Friday night. The tall, lean right fielder hit a three-run homer to cap off a four-run fifth inning as the Goldeyes beat the visiting Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 4-2.
“On the home run pitch, he (Nick Fellman) threw me a change-up, a little inside on a two-strike count,” West said. “I just reacted to it. Sometimes it can be so simple and other times it can be so difficult. That’s the kind of game this is.”
The Goldeyes got solid performances from six pitchers while Juan Diaz added an RBI single as the Fish won in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd of 3,134. It didn’t hurt that it was a wonderful evening for a ball game.
For West, who got a couple of hits in three official at bats, drew a walk, scored one and drove in three, it was a good night to start getting the kinks out. While the first five hitters in the Goldeyes lineup – Wes Long, Aharon Eggleston, Diaz, West and Vince Harrison – combined for seven of the Goldeyes nine hits, it was also a good night for the top of the order to start doing the things they’ll need to do if they want to win the championship they all say they covet so dearly.
“I find that every year it gets easier for me to prepare for a new season,” West said. “And it helps that I’m playing here in Winnipeg for Rick (manager Forney). I know I’m going to be here, this is where I play, it’s comfortable and it’s really easy for me to get ready for the season.”
Friday, May 14, 2010
May 14: Kniginyzky Ready To Post Great Numbers
Matt Kniginyzky wasn’t even a pitcher until he was drafted out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays.
In fact, he was a third baseman from Mississauga who played his minor baseball in downtown Toronto (High Park) and pitched only on occasion. However, on one of those occasions, the Jays scouts saw him and drafted him in the 43rd round of the Major League amateur draft.
“Never did sign with the Blue Jays,” said Kniginyzky with a smile. “I went to junior college and then to High Point University (a Division 1 liberal arts school in North Carolina) and was ultimately drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round.”
Kniginyzky signed with the Royals and thus began his long, arduous journey through organized baseball. From 2005-2009, he went from Idaho to Burlington, Vt., to Arizona Rookie League, to Idaho Falls, back to Burlington, to Wilmington, Del., and finally to Northwest Arkansas. After spending the spring training season with the Royals, Kniginyzky was released and got a call from Goldeyes manager Rick Forney.
“It was a great opportunity and I’ve wanted to play in Canada for awhile,” said the 27-year-old Kniginyzky. “Like everyone else here, I want to get back to organized ball and eventually play in the majors, but having the opportunity to play independent ball in Canada is a pretty good option.”
In order to get back into organized ball, Kniginyzky knows he has to do two things: put up good numbers and play for a winning team. Historically, players who play for Northern League champions tend to get a good look from big league organizations.
In order to accomplish his goals, Kniginyzky will bring a four-pitch arsenal – four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and change.
“I love playing the game and I know that to get back into organized ball, I have to have a good season,” said Kniginyzky. “Right now, I’m not even thinking about getting back. I’m just concentrating on putting up good numbers and helping this team to win. If I do that, the other stuff will take care of itself.”
In fact, he was a third baseman from Mississauga who played his minor baseball in downtown Toronto (High Park) and pitched only on occasion. However, on one of those occasions, the Jays scouts saw him and drafted him in the 43rd round of the Major League amateur draft.
“Never did sign with the Blue Jays,” said Kniginyzky with a smile. “I went to junior college and then to High Point University (a Division 1 liberal arts school in North Carolina) and was ultimately drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round.”
Kniginyzky signed with the Royals and thus began his long, arduous journey through organized baseball. From 2005-2009, he went from Idaho to Burlington, Vt., to Arizona Rookie League, to Idaho Falls, back to Burlington, to Wilmington, Del., and finally to Northwest Arkansas. After spending the spring training season with the Royals, Kniginyzky was released and got a call from Goldeyes manager Rick Forney.
“It was a great opportunity and I’ve wanted to play in Canada for awhile,” said the 27-year-old Kniginyzky. “Like everyone else here, I want to get back to organized ball and eventually play in the majors, but having the opportunity to play independent ball in Canada is a pretty good option.”
In order to get back into organized ball, Kniginyzky knows he has to do two things: put up good numbers and play for a winning team. Historically, players who play for Northern League champions tend to get a good look from big league organizations.
In order to accomplish his goals, Kniginyzky will bring a four-pitch arsenal – four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and change.
“I love playing the game and I know that to get back into organized ball, I have to have a good season,” said Kniginyzky. “Right now, I’m not even thinking about getting back. I’m just concentrating on putting up good numbers and helping this team to win. If I do that, the other stuff will take care of itself.”
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5: Hamilton Playing Alongside His Boyhood Hero
Veteran third baseman Vince Harrison just smiled when it was suggested he would have a little more pressure on him this season.
“Yeah,” said Harrison. “I’ll have to be good this year.”
The source of the added pressure was sitting across the clubhouse yesterday wearing a No. 11 Goldeyes batting practice jersey. Ever since he was a kid, Jeremy Hamilton looked up to Vince Harrison. Now they’re teammates.
“I have literally known Vince for my entire life,” said Hamilton proudly. “I used to spend entire summers at his house. I was best friends with Vince’s little brother Josh. I’d be at Vince’s house all the time.
“Vince was my idol. He was a three-sport star in Cincinnati and everyone knew him. He was a great athlete and I wanted to be just like him.
“He even taught me in school. He was a substitute teacher at my high school and I was often in his class. It was hard, too, because we all called him ‘V-Hay’ and I’d put my hand up in class and start by saying ‘Hey, V-H... I mean Mr. Harrison.’ It was hard.”
It shouldn’t be hard this year. At least, not as long as the 23-year-old Hamilton has a good pre-season and earns a spot on the team.
While Harrison, 30, will start at third and probably bat clean-up, Hamilton, a young man with plenty of pop in his bat, will have to impress manager Rick Forney and coaches Tom Vaeth and Rudy Arias with both his skills and his work ethic.
Winnipeg has a great veteran team this year and Hamilton’s spot is not guaranteed. Training camp and the pre-season schedule will either be his best friend or his worst enemy.
In the meantime, he’s approaching the 2010 Northern League season with the right attitude.
“I just want to come in here and play good baseball,” Hamilton said. “I know I’m on a team with a lot of experience and I expect to learn a lot. I guess my goal is play good baseball and really learn how to play the game right.”
It’s a nice goal, but if Jeremy Hamilton has been around Vince Harrison all of his life, he probably already knows how to play the game right.
“Yeah,” said Harrison. “I’ll have to be good this year.”
The source of the added pressure was sitting across the clubhouse yesterday wearing a No. 11 Goldeyes batting practice jersey. Ever since he was a kid, Jeremy Hamilton looked up to Vince Harrison. Now they’re teammates.
“I have literally known Vince for my entire life,” said Hamilton proudly. “I used to spend entire summers at his house. I was best friends with Vince’s little brother Josh. I’d be at Vince’s house all the time.
“Vince was my idol. He was a three-sport star in Cincinnati and everyone knew him. He was a great athlete and I wanted to be just like him.
“He even taught me in school. He was a substitute teacher at my high school and I was often in his class. It was hard, too, because we all called him ‘V-Hay’ and I’d put my hand up in class and start by saying ‘Hey, V-H... I mean Mr. Harrison.’ It was hard.”
It shouldn’t be hard this year. At least, not as long as the 23-year-old Hamilton has a good pre-season and earns a spot on the team.
While Harrison, 30, will start at third and probably bat clean-up, Hamilton, a young man with plenty of pop in his bat, will have to impress manager Rick Forney and coaches Tom Vaeth and Rudy Arias with both his skills and his work ethic.
Winnipeg has a great veteran team this year and Hamilton’s spot is not guaranteed. Training camp and the pre-season schedule will either be his best friend or his worst enemy.
In the meantime, he’s approaching the 2010 Northern League season with the right attitude.
“I just want to come in here and play good baseball,” Hamilton said. “I know I’m on a team with a lot of experience and I expect to learn a lot. I guess my goal is play good baseball and really learn how to play the game right.”
It’s a nice goal, but if Jeremy Hamilton has been around Vince Harrison all of his life, he probably already knows how to play the game right.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May 4: For Forney, Camp Will Be Fun, Eye-Opening & Ultimately Difficult
Goldeyes manager Rick Forney isn’t asking for much: Just good weather and a roster full of players in game shape.
If he gets it, Forney says training camp will be a real treat. After all, he needs at least three rookies on his Opening Day roster and that means "some very good players will have to be released."
It’s going to be competitive, to say the least.
"Right now, on Day 1, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that we get to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), so we can have a good day on the field," he said.
"I’m just excited to see our guys on the field doing some baseball exercises. We don’t have much time, just two days before our first exhibition game. It’s important that everybody comes to camp in game shape ready to go. If I keep 21 players, I must have three rookies on my roster. If I keep 22 or 23 players I need four. So before camp is over, some good players are going home.
"I’m looking to see who’s prepared to play right away. Baseball is a game of preparation. I want to see the guys who did all that extra work in the off-season and are prepared to play hard right now. In baseball, you just can’t snap your fingers and turn it on. You have to be prepared. I know I have good players here. I’m looking for the good players who are prepared to play hard right now."
Forney said that’s one of the major reasons he likes to get into the pre-season early and play a lot games.
"Because baseball is such a game of preparation, I want these guys to get into their routines right now and be prepared for a long season," Forney said. "With 100 games this year, we’ve done away with four off days. That’s another big reason why I’m looking for guys who are in shape."
Camp opened with 23 players at Canwest Park, but more will be added soon. One pitcher is expected meet the team in St. Paul on Thursday with another expected to meet the team in Sioux Falls on Saturday. As well, reigning NL Pitcher of the Year Ace Walker and rookie returnee Ian Thomas should arrive next week, with yet another pitcher expected the week after next.
That will bring the camp total to 28 players and it will be competitive at almost every position.
"I really have some tough decisions to make," Forney said. "I’m serous when I say there will be some good players who aren’t going to be here."
* * *
For those keeping track, the Goldeyes opened training camp with four rookies: lefty Thomas, two other pitchers named Austin Donmoyer and Casey Hodges and infielder Kendall Price.
"But there is no guarantee that all the rookies will make it either," Forney said. "I could go with 21 players (and he’ll only need three). And we know there will be some releases made all over independent baseball next week. You never know who might come available.
"I’m serious. This will be a competitive camp."
If he gets it, Forney says training camp will be a real treat. After all, he needs at least three rookies on his Opening Day roster and that means "some very good players will have to be released."
It’s going to be competitive, to say the least.
"Right now, on Day 1, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that we get to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), so we can have a good day on the field," he said.
"I’m just excited to see our guys on the field doing some baseball exercises. We don’t have much time, just two days before our first exhibition game. It’s important that everybody comes to camp in game shape ready to go. If I keep 21 players, I must have three rookies on my roster. If I keep 22 or 23 players I need four. So before camp is over, some good players are going home.
"I’m looking to see who’s prepared to play right away. Baseball is a game of preparation. I want to see the guys who did all that extra work in the off-season and are prepared to play hard right now. In baseball, you just can’t snap your fingers and turn it on. You have to be prepared. I know I have good players here. I’m looking for the good players who are prepared to play hard right now."
Forney said that’s one of the major reasons he likes to get into the pre-season early and play a lot games.
"Because baseball is such a game of preparation, I want these guys to get into their routines right now and be prepared for a long season," Forney said. "With 100 games this year, we’ve done away with four off days. That’s another big reason why I’m looking for guys who are in shape."
Camp opened with 23 players at Canwest Park, but more will be added soon. One pitcher is expected meet the team in St. Paul on Thursday with another expected to meet the team in Sioux Falls on Saturday. As well, reigning NL Pitcher of the Year Ace Walker and rookie returnee Ian Thomas should arrive next week, with yet another pitcher expected the week after next.
That will bring the camp total to 28 players and it will be competitive at almost every position.
"I really have some tough decisions to make," Forney said. "I’m serous when I say there will be some good players who aren’t going to be here."
* * *
For those keeping track, the Goldeyes opened training camp with four rookies: lefty Thomas, two other pitchers named Austin Donmoyer and Casey Hodges and infielder Kendall Price.
"But there is no guarantee that all the rookies will make it either," Forney said. "I could go with 21 players (and he’ll only need three). And we know there will be some releases made all over independent baseball next week. You never know who might come available.
"I’m serious. This will be a competitive camp."
May 4: Training Camp Opens Today
It is one of the finest rosters ever assembled by a Goldeyes manager.
From top to bottom, these Goldeyes give the impression they can hit, field their positions and, hopefully, pitch with the likes of pre-season favorites such as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Gary SouthShore RailCats.
Spring training opens today and the excitement surrounding this year’s team is palpable.
“This just might be one of the best teams I’ve ever played on,” new centre fielder Aharon Eggleston said last week. “There are some very good players on this team. If we all just do what we’re capable of doing, we’ll be competitive right to the end.”
When training camp opens, there will be three important things to watch before the regular season begins on May 20:
1. The pitching. After Ace Walker, Zach Baldwin and Ian Thomas, we don’t really know this year’s pitching staff. However, as Forney points out “There are four of them with Double A experience so they should be pretty good.” It will be fun to watch.
2. The battle for the catching position. Luis Alen, 25, is back after spending two years in the Mets organization. He hit .333 with the Goldeyes in 2007. Brett Wallace, 27, was acquired from Gary in the off season. “I’ve always liked Brett,” said first base coach Rudy Arias. “He really plays hard. He leaves it all out on the field.” And the third catcher is the exciting young Travis Howell, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound, 25-year-old with a gun for an arm. This will be the best individual competition at camp.
3. The decision on the first baseman: Kevin West will probably play right field, but he could play first. Cory Patton was a solid centre fielder who could play right and could also play first. And then there is young Jeremy Hamilton, 23, who comes highly recommended by veteran third baseman Vince Harrison, has shown real pop at the Single A level and is a natural first baseman. All three of these guys will play, but where they’ll play is a question that still needs an answer.
“It should be a pretty good camp,” said Arias with a sly grin. “I’m excited about it.
“The line-up is great and all of these guys can field their positions. The pitching could be very good, too. This could be a really competitive team. I think I like it.”
Training camp goes Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then the Fish start the pre-season with games Thursday and Friday in St. Paul and Sunday and Monday in Sioux Falls. Sandwiched in-between is the team’s annual open house, which goes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Canwest Park.
From top to bottom, these Goldeyes give the impression they can hit, field their positions and, hopefully, pitch with the likes of pre-season favorites such as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Gary SouthShore RailCats.
Spring training opens today and the excitement surrounding this year’s team is palpable.
“This just might be one of the best teams I’ve ever played on,” new centre fielder Aharon Eggleston said last week. “There are some very good players on this team. If we all just do what we’re capable of doing, we’ll be competitive right to the end.”
When training camp opens, there will be three important things to watch before the regular season begins on May 20:
1. The pitching. After Ace Walker, Zach Baldwin and Ian Thomas, we don’t really know this year’s pitching staff. However, as Forney points out “There are four of them with Double A experience so they should be pretty good.” It will be fun to watch.
2. The battle for the catching position. Luis Alen, 25, is back after spending two years in the Mets organization. He hit .333 with the Goldeyes in 2007. Brett Wallace, 27, was acquired from Gary in the off season. “I’ve always liked Brett,” said first base coach Rudy Arias. “He really plays hard. He leaves it all out on the field.” And the third catcher is the exciting young Travis Howell, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound, 25-year-old with a gun for an arm. This will be the best individual competition at camp.
3. The decision on the first baseman: Kevin West will probably play right field, but he could play first. Cory Patton was a solid centre fielder who could play right and could also play first. And then there is young Jeremy Hamilton, 23, who comes highly recommended by veteran third baseman Vince Harrison, has shown real pop at the Single A level and is a natural first baseman. All three of these guys will play, but where they’ll play is a question that still needs an answer.
“It should be a pretty good camp,” said Arias with a sly grin. “I’m excited about it.
“The line-up is great and all of these guys can field their positions. The pitching could be very good, too. This could be a really competitive team. I think I like it.”
Training camp goes Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then the Fish start the pre-season with games Thursday and Friday in St. Paul and Sunday and Monday in Sioux Falls. Sandwiched in-between is the team’s annual open house, which goes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Canwest Park.
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