Monthly Archives: April 2009

Who’s The Ace?

April 25, 200912:36 a.m.

I’ll get back to the position-by-position previews later this weekend, but the discussion for this week will center around which of the Wingnuts’ five starting pitchers will be starting on opening day, May 14 against Lincoln.

As you may have seen in my season preview (sort of) a couple weeks ago, the projected rotation features two right-handers and three southpaws. Not everything is set in stone regarding the rotation, but the breakdown looks like this:

Lefties: Brad Davis, Richard Salazar
Righties: Gabe Medina, Derek Blacksher, Will Savage (newcomer)

So which one is the No. 1 starter? In my opinion, three guys can make a case to start the opening game — Davis, Salazar and Medina. Let’s check the qualifications for each pitcher:

Brad Davis — Davis reached Triple A in the Oakland Athletics organization in 2007, and in his only start with Triple-A Sacramento, he pitched seven scoreless innings. He was released that offseason, though, and when the Wingnuts picked him up he was the obvious choice to lead last year’s starting staff. And that he did, starting Wichita’s inaugural American Association game and picking up the first win in team history.

That was the first ‘up’ in a season full of ups and downs for Davis, who earned points with me by getting me into his warmup song, “Country Man” by Luke Bryan. But Davis was a primary culprit on a mostly inconsistent staff. Still, his final numbers were respectable — 8-8 with a 3.89 ERA and a team-best 70 strikeouts in 111 innings. Davis struggled with finding a rhythm last season — he’d follow his great outings with so-so or poor ones.

Richard Salazar — Probably the MVP of the Wingnuts’ pitching staff last season. So good, in fact, that then-manager Kash Beauchamp moved him from the bullpen to the rotation around mid-season even though that move left the Wingnuts without a left-handed reliever.

Salazar, a former Triple-A player in the Orioles’ organization, was strong in the bullpen and even stronger as a starter, stringing together several solid starts in a row after he made the switch. He ran out of gas a little bit at the end of the season but held hitters to a .240 averaged and walked a little more than three batters per nine innings while notching a 5-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, best on the team among those who made double-digit starts.

Gabe Medina — This is the great unknown. To hear Josh Robertson speak of this guy, he’s the second-coming of Three Finger Brown or something. In truth, Medina was organizational filler in the Yankees organization before being released at age 25 without ever getting out of Class A.

Now, Class A can be a lot different from independent ball. But it’s not THAT different. And Medina was 5-3 in 56 career minor league games – nine starts – with a 4.14 ERA. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 15th round of the 2006 draft after three seasons at Emporia State, where he was 19-7, including 13-2 his final year with an outstanding 1.04 WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched). He was the Division II pitcher of the year in 2006.

Medina has good strikeout numbers in the minors — 8.2 K’s per nine-innings. Accoring to a post-draft article on Medina, he possesses a 92-MPH fastball, which he complements with a curveball and a cut fastball. It should be interesting to see how his stuff translates to this level.

So who should be the ace? Not Medina, who I think will be slotted at No. 2 to break up the left-handers. That leaves lefties Salazar and Davis. Honestly, before I wrote this I would have said Salazar. But Davis’ numbers last season were a little better than I thought they were. Not far from Salazar’s numbers, and I think he has the slightly higher ceiling. So I’m going with Davis, who would remain the only opening day starter in Wingnuts history.

I think I once again made Kevin Hooper’s job a little easier.

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Position Preview: Catchers

April 19, 20091:19 a.m.

Hey, did anybody catch the Indians’ 22-4 win over the Yankees today? Man, that was awesome. In a span of five years, my favorite team has scored 22 runs at BOTH Yankee Stadiums. How about this — the Indians hold the record in both Yankee Stadiums for runs against the Yankees, and the center fielder for Cleveland hit the first grand slam in BOTH parks. Grady Sizemore on Thursday and Tris Speaker in 1923.

Hold on, I’m getting a message from reality. What’s that, reality? We’re still 4-8? Good point. I’ll shut up now.

Today (or tonight, or this morning, or whatever) we’ll continue to ease our way back into the 2009 Wingnuts season by looking at the catchers who will be on the 28-man spring training roster when camp begins in early May. This group looks completely different than the group of catchers employed by the Wingnuts last season. There was Felipe Del Rosario, an overwhelming favorite of the Lawrence-Dumont Stadium wait staff. There was the nondescript Bernie Dennis. And there was Jeff Stevens, who earned points for using Hotel California as his walkup music.

All three of them are gone, replaced by Joe Muich, Zach Goldberg and Scott Daniels, two of whom will likely make the Opening Day roster.

Likely starter — Joe Muich
OK, this has to get out for public consumption right now, because I’ve been holding onto it for way too long. Back in 2002 or 2003, I had a class at WSU called Sports in Literature. Muich was in the class with me. For whatever reason, the infamous pickoff play from the 1982 College World Series got brought up one day. You know, the one where WSU’s Phil Stephenson fell for a fake throw to first and started running to second, only to get tagged out easily because the pitcher still had the ball. You’ve probably seen it 100 times.

Well, both the teacher and Muich insisted that it happened against Texas. I tried to correct them, since it happened against Miami. Everybody knows that. But they weren’t having it, and the class ended that day with everyone thinking they were right and I was wrong. Even though I provided anonymous documented proof the next day that I was right, I’ve held that against Muich ever since. Is it irrational? Of course. But if you’ve read about my one-sided feud with the St. Paul Saints radio guy, you know I can be sort of petty sometimes. So this is my pronouncement that the grudge against Muich is officially over, and I’ll cover him with the utmost class and professionalism this season.

With all that said, signing Muich is a pretty brilliant move for the Wingnuts, especially considering the lack of production they got from the catching position last season. But even if Muich never gets a hit this season, he’ll still have a positive impact for the way he handles a pitching staff and for, despite his need to brush up on WSU baseball history, just being a good guy. And good guys help chemistry, which will be an important facet of this Kevin Hooper-managed team. I think the Wingnuts outdid themselves with this signing.

Likely backup — Zach Goldberg
If you’re like me, Goldberg gave you a lot of ‘Huh?’ moments last season. He’s Randy Smithson’s son? Huh? He plays professional baseball? Huh? He plays for Independent baseball’s flagship franchise? Huh? All of this was pretty surprising to anybody who’s familar with Goldberg, and I was because I played baseball against him for most of my youth.

But now the former Kapaun Mount Carmel and Heights slugger is back home and is a good bet to serve as Muich’s backup. Goldberg had a couple nice games against the Wingnuts last season during what was otherwise a disappointing season. He batted .167 and struggled to find at-bats with the St. Paul Saints. He’ll have to beat out the next guy, though, to earn a spot on the 22-man regular-season roster.

The unknown — Scott Daniels
I have to admit — I know absolutely nothing about this guy. I couldn’t find any stats on him from either of the two colleges he played at — Hiwasee and Milligan, both in Tennessee. So your guess is as good as mine as far as what this guy brings to the table. I don’t know where the Wingnuts stand on roster requirements heading into spring training, but if they need to fill their allocation of (I think) five rookies, it’s possible Daniels will make the team. Then I guess we’ll all learn about him together.

Thanks for reading. Later on this week I’ll preview the infield, which unlike most other facets of the team, will have a fairly familiar look. See you next time. To heck with reality — Let’s Go Tribe!

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Brenan Herrera: Where Should He Hit?

April 14, 200912:44 p.m.

Writing this particular blog is a little bit therapeutic for me. It’s baseball, but it’s not Cleveland Indians baseball, so at least for the time being I can stop thinking about the 1-6 start that has ruined the first week of the MLB season for yours truly. But if an ERA of slightly under infinity doesn’t signal a turnaround, I don’t know what does. Look out, American League, lots of strikeouts (looking) and hits (allowed) are coming to a ballpark near you.

The topic of today’s Wingnuts blog post is Brenan Herrera, particularly a discussion of where he should bat in the Wingnuts’ lineup. What we do know is that it should — and will — be in the top third. Obviously, that’s where the top returning hitter belongs.

I was relieved, for the Wingnuts’ sake, that the team signed Nick Blasi a couple weeks ago. Before then, Herrera was penciled in as the leadoff hitter, not the ideal spot for him in my opinion. I learned last season that Independent League baseball is a lot different from affiliated ball, and on-base percentage isn’t valued as highly as it is in the minor and major leagues. Still, Herrera drew just 15 walks in 366 at-bats last season meaning his .317 batting average was attributed, at least slightly, to some good luck. It’s difficult to hit .300 if you’re swinging the bat as much as Herrera did.

That said, I don’t think we’ll see a major dropoff in Hererra’s batting average this season. And if we do, I think he’ll make up for it with a higher slugging percentage. I think he’ll turn a few of his 27 doubles into homers and that he’ll top last season’s modest total of five home runs, possibly threatening double digits.

I don’t know if the Wingnuts, who have added considerable power to their lineup this offseason through trades and signings, have a true No. 2 hitter — a guy who can handle the bat with precision, who can lay a bunt down when needed or execute the hit-and-run. But I do know that if the Wingnuts do have such a player, it isn’t Herrera. He’s the best returning hitter — you want him swinging the bat, not bunting or trying to execute a hit-and-run.

That leaves the No. 3 spot in the order for Herrera, which I think is a perfect spot for him. Maybe new second baseman Josh Horn bats second, with Kelly Hunt, Dustan Mohr and Greg Porter following Hererra in the 4-6 spots. You want to give the middle of the order as many RBI opportunities as possible. Blasi has had a good — not great — walk rate in the minor leagues and Horn’s is similar, maybe slightly better. So if those two guys are able to get on base, there are four (or more) solid run producers who follow.

Starting with Hererra at No. 3 in the order. I hope manager Kevin Hooper is reading. I think I just made his job a little bit easier.

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

2009 Preview – Sort Of

April 5, 200911:42 a.m.

The Wingnuts have made all of their player acquisitions for the 2009 season. They’ll go to spring training in early May with 28 players, and they’ll have to reduce the roster to 23 players, then 22 early in the season. Here is a look at the roster, along with the list of players who won’t return to Wichita’s American Association team this season.

Good to be back, by the way. Now that the season is closer, I’ll be blogging a little bit. Then when the season starts, of course, I’ll be posting frequently.

Not returning: C Felipe Del Rosario; C Bernie Dennis; C Jeff Stevens; IF Kevin Hooper; OF Bub Bergstrom; OF Chris Colton; OF/P Blake Gailen; UTIL Vic Davilla; P Kevin Cheppenko; P Asher Demme; P Byron Embry; P Gustavo Mata.

Notes: Kevin Hooper ended his playing days and is now the Wingnuts’ manager, replacing Kash Beauchamp. On a personal note, it’s sad to see Chris Colton move on. I liked watching him play, even if he fell short of his potential — and he was one of the nicest guys on the team.

Returning: P Richard Salazar; P Brad Davis; P Doug Hurn; P Amad Stephens; P Justin Young; P Leonard Landeros; IF Michael Thompson; IF Brenan Herrera; UTIL Steve Pearson; OF Dustan Mohr.

Notes: The Wingnuts’ pitching was hit-or-miss last season, and fell off late in the season, but six members of the pitching staff return. Wichita will be benefitted from a full season in the rotation from Richard Salazar, a left-hander who began last year in the bullpen. Herrera moves from second base to shortstop, replacing Hooper, and Pearson will likely move from first base to designated hitter. Stephens moves from a setup role to closer, replacing Byron Embry.

New faces: P Jeff Reekers; P Gabe Medina; P Tyler Rhoden; P Nathan Parker; P Derek Blacksher; P Ronnie Morales; P Lance Odom; C Zach Goldberg; C Scott Daniels; C Joe Muich; IF Derek Jennings; IF Dustin Smith; IF Josh Horn; IF Kelly Hunt; OF Bill Duffy; OF Greg Porter; OF Louis Curcio; OF Nick Blasi.

Notes: Medina, a former Yankees farmhand, could emerge as the ace of the pitching staff. One other rotation spot is open and the rest of the pitchers who make the team will fill bullpen roles. Lots of local flavor, with former WSU players Muich and Blasi and Heights product Zach Goldberg. Josh Horn is a two-time Frontier League all-star who will play second base. Kelly Hunt is a middle-of-the-order hitter at first base, and Porter will play left field. He may be familiar to Wichita fans as a former Arkansas Traveler in the Texas League.

Roster predictions:

Rotation: LHP Richard Salazar; RHP Gabe Medina; LHP Brad Davis; RHP Derek Blacksher; LHP Leonard Landeros.

Bullpen: Amad Stephens; Jeff Reekers; Tyler Rhoden; Nathan Parker; Doug Hurn.

Batting order: CF Nick Blasi; SS Brenan Herrera; RF Dustan Mohr; 1B Kelly Hunt; LF Greg Porter; 3B Michael Thompson; DH Steven Pearson; C Joe Muich; 2B Josh Horn.

Bench: C Zach Goldberg; IF Derek Jennings; OF Bill Duffy.

There you have it. My best guess about the team you’ll be seeing on the field at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium this summer. This team seems to have a lot more stability than last season’s, and I think Hooper definitely won’t have the itchy trigger finger Beauchamp had in shuttling players in and out. The lineup should be among the best in the league, and the pitching staff should have plenty of depth, even if lacking dominance.

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)