International League News & Notes

March 10, 2005 - International League (IL1) News Release

BUFFALO BISONS
SOLID SPRING STARTS: There are several potential Buffalo Bisons in the process of having great camps for the Cleveland Indians. Outfielder John Rodriguez has hit .462 (6-13) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in six games. He also has a team-leading 1.077 slugging percentage. Infielder Jeff Liefer has played all six games as well and is hitting .333 with two doubles and five RBI. Pitchers Dennis Stark and Steve Watkins have also been strong, each throwing four scoreless innings.

TRICKLE-UP EFFECT?: There may be a temporary spot open in Cleveland's starting rotation when the Major League season starts. On Sunday, Tribe Ace C.C. Sabathia suffered a mild strain of his right abdominal muscle while warming up for his first spring start against Detroit. While the Indians are still hoping Sabathia will make his Opening Day start, C.C.'s injury could move a projected Bison into Cleveland's rotation.

BISONS' GAMES TO AIR ON WECK RADIO: The Buffalo Bisons have signed a three-year agreement with WECK AM 1230 to be the new radio home of the Herd. The partnership will also include the broadcasting of the Triple-A All-Star game and several off-season shows. In effort to create a network for their listeners, the Bisons have also reached an agreement with WSPQ AM 1330 to broadcast Herd games in the southern part of Western New York.


CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS PROVIDING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES: Students from Fort Mill High School recently participated in a special 2-day "marketing internship" with the Knights. Before calling local businesses trying to sell tickets and program ads, the students were provided with both sales training and leads by Director of Corporate Sales, Chris Semmens. Over the two day span a total of 40 students from Fort Mill made over 400 calls and earned over $1,000 in commissions for their school.

GET OUT OF TOWN: The Charlotte Knights have signed a 2-year sponsorship deal with Dash Courier for a manual "Out of Town Scoreboard" to be located in right field. The scoreboard will be 10' x 40' and include 4 Major League as well as 2 International League scores. The Knights will run on-line and in-stadium surveys to determine which Major League teams the fans will see on the scoreboard.

ATTENDANCE=ACHIEVEMENT: The Knights have teamed up with the Rock Hill School District in order to stress the importance of attendance and participation in the classroom. The Charlotte Knights mascot, Homer, and the group sales department visited ten participating elementary schools during the first week of March in order to outline the Knights "Perfect Attendance Program". As a reward for the students' efforts each student that has perfect attendance and no tardies from March 7th through April 8th will receive two free tickets to a Knights Sunday game of their choice.


COLUMBUS CLIPPERS
SPRING TRAINING: Clippers on the 40 man roster battling for a spot on the Yankees opening day roster include 1B Andy Phillips, 2B Robinson Cano, SS Felix Escalona, OF Bubba Crosby, and P Jason Anderson, Colter Bean, Alex Graman, Sam Marsonek, Bret Prinz, Scott Proctor, Ramon Ramierez and Chien-Ming Wang. A number of non-40 roster Clippers have been invited to camp as well, including IF Homer Bush and Caonabo Cosme, OF Michael Vento, C David Parrish and P Danny Borrell. The Yankees have invited a number of veteran ballplayers to camp signed to minor league contracts. These include C Joe DePastino and Ryan Haskins, IF Russ Johnson and Damian Rolls, OF Doug Glanville, Noah Hall and Colin Porter and P Buddy Groom, Aaron Small, Marc Valdes and Brad Voyles.

COMEBACK TRAIL: Two years ago, Danny Borrell was one of the bright stars in the Yankees farm system. Selected in the second round of the 2000 draft, Danny climbed quickly through the Yankees ranks. In 2002 the southpaw posted a 13-5 record with a 2.32 ERA between Tampa and Norwich, and was named the Yankees minor league pitcher of the year. The Lansdale, PA native was promoted to Columbus in 2003 and was 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA before tearing the labrum in his left shoulder. An operation sidelined him for the remainder of the season and most of 2004 (Danny pitched just six innings in two appearances with Tampa). This spring, Borrell is working hard to get back into the Yankees plans.

ROSTER BATTLE: One of the interesting battles in the Yankee camp is who will back up Bernie Williams in center field. Bubba Crosby is trying to hold off veteran Doug Glanville. Crosby, 28, hit .151 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 55 games last season in just 53 at-bats. Two dramatic home runs and a circus catch at the beginning of the season made him a darling of the New York fans. Bubba spent mid-summer with Columbus, hitting .276 in 33 games with five double, two triples and a home run. Crosby hit .350 between Las Vegas and Columbus in 2003. Glanville, 34, was brought to camp as a non-roster invitee this spring to challenge for the fourth outfielder's job. If Glanville has one advantage, it's that Crosby has minor-league options remaining. Should the Yankees go with Glanville, they can send Crosby to Columbus.





DURHAM BULLS
AND THEN THERE WERE 48: Tampa Bay made its first round of cuts yesterday. Former Bulls assigned to minor league camp with Durham include RHP Tim Corcoran, RHP Gerardo Garcia, INF/OF/C Paul Hoover, C Dan Massiatte and RHP John Webb. In addition, LHP Jon Switzer was assigned to Double-A Montgomery. Switzer pitched for the Bulls in 2003.

YOUTH IS SERVED: All of the players assigned to minor league camp yesterday are 25 years of age or older. Still in major league camp are SS BJ Upton (20), and OF Delmon Young (19). Upton is expected to start 2005 with the Bulls while Young is slated to begin the year with Montgomery.

IN DURHAM'S CAMP: Beyond those recently sent to Durham are a few players with significant success with the Bulls. RHP Lee Gardner is the organization's Triple-A saves leader. 1B Steve Cox was an IL All Star in 1999 and IF/OF Brooks Badeaux hit better than .350 over the final three months of last season.


INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
LET THE GAMES BEGIN: The Indianapolis Indians open their 13-game Spring Training schedule March 19 at 1 p.m., when the Louisville Bats visit Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. The Grapefruit League slate includes a total of five games against Louisville (Cincinnati Reds), four contests versus Ottawa (Baltimore Orioles), two affairs against Rochester (Minnesota Twins) and a pair of dates with Pawtucket (Boston Red Sox).

TRIBE FANS HOPING TO SEE THE LOCAL KID: Tribe fans are eagerly awaiting the return of Bryan Bullington, who spent three seasons on the hill at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Bullington, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, is projected to be with the Tribe in 2005 after posting a 12-7 record and 4.10 ERA with Double-A Altoona (Pa.) in 2004. Indiana's Mr. Baseball in 1998 & 1999, Bullington participated in the 2004 Eastern League All-Star Game and Major League Futures game after drawing 26 starts with the Curve. He became the first student-athlete in Mid-American Conference history to be selected first overall when he was taken with the top pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. Bullington registered an 11-3 record, 2.84 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 104.2 IP as a junior for the Cardinals in 2002. His father, Larry, guided the Pike High School boy's basketball team to an Indiana High School Athletic Association 4A State Championship in 2003.

FORMER INDIANS FROM COAST TO COAST: Fifteen former Indians will manage in the Minor Leagues during the 2005 campaign. In Triple-A, Pat Kelly (manager from 1991-92) will lead the Richmond Braves, while Ron Johnson (player in 1984) will guide the Pawtucket Red Sox, Frank Kremblas (player from 1993-96) the Nashville Sounds and Marty Pevey (player from 1988-89) the Syracuse SkyChiefs. In Double-A, Don Werner (player from 1975-80) will be in charge of the Bowie Baysox, while Razor Shines (player from 1984-89 and 1991-93) will direct the Birmingham Barons, Jayhawk Owens (player from 1998-99) the Chattanooga Lookouts and Tom Runnells (manager in 1989) the Tulsa Drillers. In Single-A, Bill Plummer (player from 1969-71) will lead the Lancaster JetHawks, while Dann Bilardello (player in 1986) will call the shots for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Alonzo Powell (player from 1987-89) for the Dayton Dragons, Luis Rivera (player from 1986-87) for the Kinston Indians and Jeff Branson (player in 1997 and 1999) for the Hickory Crawdads. In Rookie ball, Russ Nixon (player in 1956 and coach from 1998-99) is in charge of the Greeneville Astros, while Wendell Kim (manager in 2001) will lead the Gulf Coast Nationals.


LOUISVILLE BATS
NEW PLAYERS READY TO MAKE IMPACT: Louisville can thank their parent club for signing free agents who should make a difference in the Bats' 2005 record. Jeriome Robertson, Bobby Estalellla, A.J. Zapp, Ricky Stone, Jared Fernandez and Luis Lopez are all players who, if they don't make the Cincinnati roster, will be patrolling their respective positions at Louisville Slugger Field. Highly touted prospects William Bergolla (2B) and Edwin Encarnacion (3B) along possibly with 2004 Reds Minor League Player of the Year Richie Gardner (RHP), should also help the Bats improve on their 67-77 record.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE: Tickets on Sale: Individual tickets for the Cincinnati Reds exhibition game, Thunder Over Louisville, and all Louisville Bats regular season games went on sale to the general public March 1.

BASHER IS BACK: Rob Stratton, who joined Louisville on July 11 last season after being signed as a free agent, only played in 34 games for the Bats, but led the team in home runs with 12. He was named Bats Hitter of the Month for July, tied a career high with six RBI in one game (7/25 @ Rochester) and had three two-home run games in 2004. Stratton is hitting .357 with three home runs and five RBI so far this spring for the Reds while in big league camp. He is expected to be Louisville's right fielder this season.


NORFOLK TIDES
TIDES NAME NEW ASSISTANT GM: The Norfolk Tides have announced that Ben Giancola has been named Assistant General Manager. Giancola had spent the previous four seasons as the Director of Sales and Promotions with the Tides. The 2005 season will be Ben's 9th in minor league baseball, and Ben has worked for a total of five franchises. Ben joined the Tides in 2001 after working as the Assistant General Manager in Clinton, Iowa. Previously, he was the Assistant General Manager in Butte, Montana. Ben has also worked for the Las Vegas Stars & Thunder as well as the Asheville Tourists. He is originally from Somers, NY and graduated with a Broadcasting and Communications degree from the State University of New York at Oswego.

SEVERAL METS STARS SHINING IN CAMP: Spring Training began just a week ago, but already several Mets regulars are starting to heat up. Jose Reyes is leading the way, hitting .316 with four runs and four stolen bases in just 19 at-bats, while Mike Piazza has six RBI in only five at-bats. Newly-acquired Carlos Beltran is hitting .400 with a home run and three RBI's in ten at-bats, and Doug Mientkiewicz is hitting .333 with two doubles and three RBI's in nine at-bats. Among players that could begin the season in Norfolk, IF Chris Woodward is hitting .417 with one home run, Kerry Robinson is hitting .400 with seven RBI's, and P Heath Bell has allowed only one hit in five innings.
OTTAWA LYNX
YOUNG IMPRESSES AT SPRING TRAINING: 1B Walter Young has been turning some heads at Orioles camp this spring, and not just because of his mammoth frame. The 25 year-old first baseman, listed at 6'5" and somewhere between 265 and 305 pounds, had 3 hits in 11 at-bats for the Orioles through Wednesday and also had a team-leading 4 RBI. The Hattiesburg native, who is expected to the be the Lynx first baseman this season, spent last season at Double-A Bowie where he broke the club record for home runs (originally held by another big man, Calvin Pickering, with 31) by smashing 33 long balls.

LABRUM? WE BARELY KNEW ‘EM: In an unfortunate turn of events, it was learned on March 3 that OF Val Majewski would be forced to undergo surgery for a torn labrum. The injury originally occurred last September, and a rehabilitation program did not eliminate the problem. Majewski was expected to be the starting right fielder for the Ottawa Lynx in '05. Upon undergoing the surgery on March 4, it was learned that he also had a tear in the rotator cuff. The procedure was successful, but the 2004 winner of the Orioles Minor League Player of the Year Award will probably miss the entire year and return for the next winter ball season.

TIDBITS FROM O'S CAMP: RHP James Baldwin has gotten off to a strong start. Expected to start the season in Ottawa, the 33 year-old veteran is having a strong spring so far, having tossed 6.0 innings without giving up an earned run. He is 1-0 in his two appearances (one start). Baldwin has appeared with 5 different Major League teams over the past 10 years, while posting a career 79-72 record. OF Midre Cummings and C Sal Fasano, both good bets to start the season with the Lynx, hit back-to-back homers in Monday's 5-0 win over Florida. The back-to-back shots account for two of the Orioles three homers this spring, with some guy named Sosa delivering the other.


PAWTUCKET RED SOX
PAWSOX RELOAD FOR 2005: Here are some profiles on some of the Red Sox newcomers (and returnees) who could impact Pawtucket in 2005. Stats are for 2004 season. * Has received Major League Spring Training Invite with Boston.
*RHP Kris Wilson 10-13 with a 5.65 ERA in 28 GS for the Omaha Royals (AAA)
RHP Talley Haines 4-2 with a 3.87 ERA in 44 RA for Syracuse (AAA)
*LHP Jason Kershner 0-1, 6.04 in 24 games (2 GS) for Toronto and 3-2, 5.20 in 28 RA for Syracuse (AAA)
RHP Tim Bausher 4-8, 4.15 ERA in 16 games (13 GS) for Tulsa (AA-Colorado) & 1-6, 3.67 in 11 games (9 GS) for Huntsville (AA)
*RHP Josias Manzanillo 3-3, 6.12 in 26 RA for Florida & 0-1, 5.25 in 11 RA for Albuquerque (AAA)
*RHP Jack Cressend 10-1, 5.13 in 24 games (4 GS) for Buffalo (AAA) and 0-1, 6.32 in 11 RA for the Cleveland Indians
*OF Billy McMillon .185 w/ 3 HR & 11 RBI in 52 games for Oakland and .438 in 10 games for Sacramento (AAA)
*1B/OF Simon Pond .163 w/ 1 HR & 6 RBI in 16 games for Toronto and .278 w/ 7 HR & 36 RBI in 78 games for Syracuse (AAA)
*INF Tim Hummel Claimed off waivers from Cincinnati - .218 in 56 games for Reds & .289 in 42 games for Louisville (AAA)
RHP Jason Childers 1-0, 1.26 in 24 RA with 15 SV for Indianapolis (AAA) and 0-3, 4.50 in 14 RA with 5 SV for Edmonton (AAA)
*1B/3B/C Shawn Wooten .170 in 33 games for Philadelphia and .293 in 61 games with 4 HR & 34 RBI for Scranton/WB (AAA)
INF Luis Figueroa .272 with 5 HR & 47 RBI in 116 games for Indianapolis (AAA) playing 52 games at SS, 31 games at 2B, 31 games at 3B, and 2 games in LF
C/1B Lee Evans .239 with 7 HR & 20 RBI in 58 games for Richmond (AAA) and .208 with 4 HR & 14 RBI in 21 games for Greenville (AA).
*RHP Jeremi Gonzalez 0-5, 6.97 in 11 games (8 GS) for Tampa Bay and 4-2, 3.90 in 19 games (8 GS) for Durham (AAA).
*IF/OF Dave Berg .253 with 3 HR & 23 RBI in 58 games for Toronto (played 31 games in the outfield, 7 games at 1B, 4 games at 2B, and 3 games at 3B).
*1B Roberto Petagine .290 with 29 HR & 84 RBI for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League. In six seasons in Japan he has won one MVP award (2001), two HR titles (1999 & 2001), and three gold gloves at 1B (2000-02).
RHP John Stephens 9-6, 4.47 in 24 games (21 GS) for Pawtucket – Silver Medalist (Australia)
*RHP Scott Cassidy 5-3, 3.46 in 28 games (12 GS) for Pawtucket
RHP Tim Kester 12-11, 4.20 in 28 games (24 GS) for Pawtucket – IL All-Star
*OF George Lombard .276 in 55 games for PawSox and .381 in 16 games for Portland (AA)


RICHMOND BRAVES
GETTING THEIR SHOT: 34 of the 50 players who saw action in Richmond last season opened 2005 in Major League spring training camps. 14 of those are in camp with Atlanta. 11 players who appeared in Richmond last season are on Atlanta's 40 man roster: pitchers Ramon Colon, Kyle Davies, Macay McBride, and Horacio Ramirez; infielders Wilson Betemit, Nick Green, Adam LaRoche, and Pete Orr; outfielders Kelly Johnson, Ryan Langerhans, and Bill McCarthy.

TOP PROSPECTS: Atlanta has six of Baseball America's top 100 prospects. Only the Dodgers (with seven) have more. The Braves originally signed nine of the top 100, more than any other organization. The top rated Braves prospect, 3B Andy Marte (number nine in the top 100) is expected to open the season in Richmond.

FAST START THIS SPRING: Atlanta jumped out to a 5-0 Grapefruit League start, helped in part by INF Wilson Betemit (.375 1-2) and RHP Buddy Hernandez who has four scoreless innings and a win in two appearances. Atlanta opened exhibition play with five pitchers combining for a no-hit win over Georgia Tech. Three 2004 R-Braves helped combine for the no-hitter: Daniel Curtis, Macay McBride, and Kevin Barry.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS
GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE ACTION: Some of the players that are expected to be a part of the 2005 Red Wings have enjoyed early success in the Twins Major League Camp. OF/IF Todd Dunwoody is batting .467 (7-for-15) with one home run and four RBI in his first five games. OF Jason Tyner is batting .500 (7-for-14) with one home run, four RBI and three stolen bases in five games. RHP Scott Baker has allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings of work. RHP Willie Eyre has allowed just one earned run in five innings of work. RHP Matt Guerrier has allowed just one earned run while striking out six in five innings of work. The Twins will open minor league camp on Friday, March 11.

POWER SURGE: Outfielder Jason Tyner is not known for his power stroke. In 2997 professional at-bats Tyner has only one home run and that came on his 2,631st professional at-bat (May 6, 2004). Tyner has matched his career total for home runs this spring when he hit a three-run home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Josias Manzanillo on March 5.

GIVING SOMETHING BACK: The Red Wings, along with many of their corporate partners and fans, will be donating 2,400 Opening Day tickets (April 9 vs. Syracuse) to local military personnel and their families. Prior to the game all military personnel and their families will participate in a pre-game parade that will welcome our military heroes back to Rochester. In addition, the Red Wings will be donating $2,500 worth of International Calling Cards as well as 35 Web Cam sets so that Rochesterians can communicate better with their loved ones overseas. Representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Army Reserves and Coast Guard will be represented Opening Day.


SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE
TWO BUCKS FOR PARKING? NOT ANYMORE: Fans coming to Red Barons games in 2005 may be surprised when they pull up to the parking lot. At a recent meeting, the Lackawanna County Stadium Authority voted to eliminate the $2.00 parking fee for all Red Barons games. To neutralize the revenue loss, prices on individual game tickets were raised $1.00 across the board. Box seat pricing will now be $9.00, upper reserved $7.00, bleachers $6.50 and handicapped $6.50. There will be no increase in group or season ticket pricing. Stadium Authority Chairman John Grow, in announcing the move, cited several reasons for the change. "By eliminating the parking fee, we will now have faster entry into the parking lot helping to ease traffic congestion on Montage Mountain Road. The move will also allow us to cut down on personnel costs and eliminate the handling of cash by our lot attendants," said Grow.

HINCH COMPETING FOR BIG LEAGUE SPOT: Over the past three seasons it was clear heading into spring training who the Phillies catchers would be - former Red Barons Mike Lieberthal and Todd Pratt. While Lieberthal is still entrenched as the starter, A.J. Hinch is giving Pratt some competition. Both players are in camp as non-roster invitees with only one likely to make the club. So far Pratt is 1-6 with one HR while Hinch is 0-3. Hinch, however, is traveling with the club today to Fort Myers to play against the Twins.


SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS
GABE'S SWINGING LIKE "THE BABE": After going 0-2 in the first Spring Training game, Blue Jays outfielder Gabe Gross has looked more like Babe Ruth connecting for 4 HR in his last four games and is tied with the Brewers Carlos Lee atop the Spring Training HR Leaderboard. Gross appeared in 44 games for the Blue Jays last season hitting .209 with 3HR and 16 RBI. Jays Manager John Gibbons told Gross at the start of Spring Training that he would start the season in Syracuse, with Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Frank Catalanato and Reed Johnson slated for the Toronto outfield and the team planning on carrying 12 pitchers.

SWINGING WITH THE DOLPHINS: The SkyChiefs final preparation for Opening Day 2005 will be an exhibition game against Syracuse's only Division I baseball program, the Le Moyne Dolphins on Tuesday April 5th at 4:00 PM. The Dolphins have earned back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament as the two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions. The two teams last played an exhibition in 1983 when the Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 14-6 at MacArthur Stadium.

SKYCHIEFS PREVIEW SHOW: The voice of the SkyChiefs Bob McElligott will be hosting the SkyChiefs Preview Show live from the Blue Jays Englebert Complex in Dunedin, Florida next week, Monday March 15th thru Friday March 19th from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM on the home of the SkyChiefs, WFBL Talk Radio 1390 AM. McElligott will chat with former and current SkyChiefs Players as well as SkyChiefs General Manager John Simone.


TOLEDO MUD HENS
MUD HENS SPRINGING TO ACTION: Spring training for the Tigers organization is underway down in Lakeland, Florida. Through March 8, OF Dewayne Wise has gone 2-9 with 1 HR and 2 RBI, DH Chris Shelton is 3-8, 2B Ryan Raburn is 0-8, IF Kevin Hooper is 3-7 with 2 runs, OF Marcus Thames is 1-7 with 1 RBI, OF Nook Logan is 1-7 with 1 run, IF Mike Hessman is 1-6. On the mound, Craig Dingman has an ERA of 13.50 (4.0 IP), John Ennis has an ERA of 0.00 (3.0 IP) with 1 save and 4 K, Sean Douglass is 1-0 with an ERA of 13.50 in 2.0 IP, Jason Grilli has an ERA of 4.50 (2.0 IP), and Doug Creek has 4 K. The Tigers open the season April 4th versus Kansas City, while the Mud Hens get started at Durham on Thursday, April 7th.

TOLEDO IDOL: The Toledo Mud Hens are looking for budding superstars and crooners to sing the National Anthem during the 2005 season. On Saturday, April 2, team officials will be hosting the second annual "Oh Say Can You Sing" auditions from 9AM to 12PM to give soloists and singing groups the opportunity to sing prior to a 2005 Mud Hens home game. The one-time audition will consist of performing the anthem without accompaniment in front of a panel of team officials. Last season, more than 250 hopefuls showed up for the chance to perform. For more information or questions, please contact the Mud Hens at 419-725-HENS or log onto www.mudhens.com.

International League Stories from March 10, 2005

• International League News & Notes - IL1

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