Rockford outfielder Jason James hit safely in both games of the RiverHawks' doubleheader sweep of Traverse City on Thursday night to increase his consecutive game hit streak to 35. That tied the Frontier League record held by Kevin Holt, who did it over two seasons (1996-97). I found it interesrting that Holt's streak happened while he played for two teams, Johnstown in 1996 and Richmond 1997.
James will try to break the record tonight when Rockford plays at Kalamazoo.
James hit safely in the first five games this season, then went five in a row without a hit. Since then, it's been 35 straight with a hit. Since the all-star break last year, James has hit safely in 76 of 87 games. When the RiverHawks visisted Consol Energy Park last August, James was injured and played in only one game, going 0-for-1.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Who's watching in K-zoo?
Here's the link to the story in the Kalamazoo Gazette about the Kings' attendance woes despite having the best record in the Frontier League. The Kings have a 29-14 record but are next-to-last in attendance, averaging only 1,489 fans per game at Homer Stryker Field. I've never been to Kalamazoo, so I can't give you any first-hand knowledge about why the Kings don't draw better, but everyone I've talked to about this says the ballpark is in a terrible location.
Read the story here.
Read the story here.
Dempsey added to all-star team
Washington designated hitter Jacob Dempsey has been added to the East Division roster for the Frontier League All-Star game next week at Rockford. Dempsey was one of three players added to the team by East manager Fran Riordan of Kalamazoo.Dempsey is batting .290 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the Wild Things' 8-2 victory last night over Southern Illinois.
Dempsey will join teammates Grant Psomas and Nick Peterson in the all-star game.
With Southern Illinois in town for the series finale tonight, I thought it was a good idea to throw in this tidbit: Clay Zavada, who pitched last year for Southern Illinois when the Miners played at Consol Energy Park, earned his second win of the season Wednesday when he pitched a perfect inning of relief in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 6-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. Zavada, I believe, is the only player to go from the FL to the majors in less than one year.
On the Mark
During the Wild Things' game Tuesday against Southern Illinois, Wild Things manager Mark Mason made some interesting decisions that paid off with a 4-1 victory.
One of those decisions was to replace starting pitcher Andy Schindling with one out in the 8th inning, though Schindling had allowed only one run (unearned), four hits and one walk. The pitching change wasn't popular with the crowd at Consol Energy Park, but Mason explained that Schindling was bascially in his private no-man's land. he was a reliever for 4-plus years in the Baltimore Orioles' system and didn't pitch more than nine innings as a high school player. Pitching in the eighth inning was new to Schindling, and Mason wanted a pitcher with more experience in the game at that point with a tie score.
"I was debating whether to send him out or not there for the eighth inning," Mason said. "He had done a good job against their 9-1-2 hitters all night, so I let him go back out there and face the No. 9 guy (Travon Jackson). Once they turned the order over, I said that was it."
Mason didn't replace Schindling with one of his regular relief pitchers. He went with Keith Meyer, a Pittsburgh native who had signed with the Wild Things earlier in the day. It's risky, when the game is tied 1- in the 8th, to bring in a guy who you haven't seen pitch in a game.
"The guys we had in the bullpen were overworked last week," Mason explained. "Even with the day off Monday, it still wasn't enough rest. We had some guys throw more than two innings at Kalamazoo and some pitch two days in a row. I wanted to see someone new at that point. of the guys we brought in, Meyer's the most experienced."
Meyer retired five of the six batters he faced to get the win.
Mason also mentioned that he has pushed for outfielder Phil Laurent to be one of the manager's additions to the East Division all-star roster and that infielder Chris Raniere will be activated from the DL sometime this week. Raniere is eligible to be activated today but Mason said he hasn't ruled out giving Raniere another day or two to recover from a hip flexor injury.
UPDATE: There was a note on here earlier in the day about a telephone call I received. I was told that Consol Energy Park is being sold to a group in Pittsburgh. That is NOT true. That much has been confirmed to the O-R by BSI's attorney. The ballpark is not for sale. However, my guess is the tipster to the O-R was confused on what is being purchased. I wouldn't be surprised if the mentioned Pittsburgh company – which has ties to Major League Baseball - is interested in buying into the Wild Things' ownership group. Stay tuned. And no, it's not Mylan.
One of those decisions was to replace starting pitcher Andy Schindling with one out in the 8th inning, though Schindling had allowed only one run (unearned), four hits and one walk. The pitching change wasn't popular with the crowd at Consol Energy Park, but Mason explained that Schindling was bascially in his private no-man's land. he was a reliever for 4-plus years in the Baltimore Orioles' system and didn't pitch more than nine innings as a high school player. Pitching in the eighth inning was new to Schindling, and Mason wanted a pitcher with more experience in the game at that point with a tie score.
"I was debating whether to send him out or not there for the eighth inning," Mason said. "He had done a good job against their 9-1-2 hitters all night, so I let him go back out there and face the No. 9 guy (Travon Jackson). Once they turned the order over, I said that was it."
Mason didn't replace Schindling with one of his regular relief pitchers. He went with Keith Meyer, a Pittsburgh native who had signed with the Wild Things earlier in the day. It's risky, when the game is tied 1- in the 8th, to bring in a guy who you haven't seen pitch in a game.
"The guys we had in the bullpen were overworked last week," Mason explained. "Even with the day off Monday, it still wasn't enough rest. We had some guys throw more than two innings at Kalamazoo and some pitch two days in a row. I wanted to see someone new at that point. of the guys we brought in, Meyer's the most experienced."
Meyer retired five of the six batters he faced to get the win.
Mason also mentioned that he has pushed for outfielder Phil Laurent to be one of the manager's additions to the East Division all-star roster and that infielder Chris Raniere will be activated from the DL sometime this week. Raniere is eligible to be activated today but Mason said he hasn't ruled out giving Raniere another day or two to recover from a hip flexor injury.
UPDATE: There was a note on here earlier in the day about a telephone call I received. I was told that Consol Energy Park is being sold to a group in Pittsburgh. That is NOT true. That much has been confirmed to the O-R by BSI's attorney. The ballpark is not for sale. However, my guess is the tipster to the O-R was confused on what is being purchased. I wouldn't be surprised if the mentioned Pittsburgh company – which has ties to Major League Baseball - is interested in buying into the Wild Things' ownership group. Stay tuned. And no, it's not Mylan.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Two headed to all-star game
Two Wild Things have been voted to the Frontier League's 17th annual all-star game, which will be played July 15 at Road Ranger Stadium in Loves Park, Ill., with the Rockford RiverHawks as hosts.
Corner infielder Grant Psomas was chosen as a backup infielder and closer Nick Peterson also was selected to the East Division team. Psomas entered the Wild Things' game Sunday at Kalamazoo with a .275 batting average and teams highs of 11 home runs and 37 RBI. Peterson has an 0-2 record with six saves and a 5.94 ERA. He has 29 strikeouts in 16.2 innings.
The two managers for the all-star game will add three players of their choosing to their respective teams. This will likely happen Thursday.
Corner infielder Grant Psomas was chosen as a backup infielder and closer Nick Peterson also was selected to the East Division team. Psomas entered the Wild Things' game Sunday at Kalamazoo with a .275 batting average and teams highs of 11 home runs and 37 RBI. Peterson has an 0-2 record with six saves and a 5.94 ERA. He has 29 strikeouts in 16.2 innings.
The two managers for the all-star game will add three players of their choosing to their respective teams. This will likely happen Thursday.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Record night
The Evansville Otters set a team attendance record Thursday on Fireworks Night as the River City Rascals beat the Otters, 3-1. A crowd of 7,782 showed up at historic Bosse Field (pictured, but the photo is not from last night). This was the largest crowd for an Otters game, and with Bosse being the largest ballpark in the league, I'm assuming this was the biggest crowd to watch a Frontier League game.Rockford also had a big gate Thursday as attendance at Road Ranger Stadium was 5,677 for the RiverHawks' 6-2 win over Gateway.
The largest crowd for a game in Wild Things history is 6,820, also at Bosse Field, July 24, 2004. The largest crowd at Consol Energy Park - and this is a record that is unlikely to be broken because was simply too many people in the ballpark that night - was 4,247 for a game against Florence Aug. 23, 2003.
Rockford also had a big gate Thursday, as the attendance at Road Ranger Stadium was 5,677 for the RiverHawks' 6-2 win over Gateway.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Billyball
Had a chance to talk to Florence manager Toby Rumfield about a few topics last night, including Freedom second baseman Billy Mottram, pictured, who hit for the cycle against the Wild Things. Mottram became the first Frontier League player to hit for the cycle in a game in Washington.Mottram is leading the league in home runs (15) and is third in RBI (37).
Rumfield spent two years as a scout for the Kansas City Royals, so I asked him what major league scouts like and dislike about Mottram.
"The knock is his defense," Rumfield said. "That's the only knock you can put on him."
Mottram has committed 11 errors, which is very high number when you consider he plays home games on an artificial turf surface at Champion Window Field. You don't get bad and unpredictable bounces on turf like you do on grass.
"But he still makes good defensive plays for us," Rumfield continued. "We feel like he's irreplaceable. He can hit for average, hit for power and he has speed. He steals bases and he runs well."
Mottram was a late-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2007 out of Dowling College in New York. He had only 21 hits in 134 at-bats (.157) in his one season in the Cubs' system and was released. Last year, he hit 10 home runs in 90 games for Florence, but his hitting has reached another level this season.
"A player is supposed to get better each season, and Billy has," Rumfield said. "His approach at the plate this year is good. He has a plan in mind each time he goes to the plate and he executes that plan. The bat hasn't been the question with him."
Rumfield said he expects interest from scouts in Mottram to pick up during the Frontier League's all-star break later this month.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
