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.”
Saturday, May 15, 2010
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.
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