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."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
April 29: Alen Back And He’s Ready To Go
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.
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.
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