Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 16th, 2013
Published on May 16, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
OPENING NIGHT: The Wichita Wingnuts open their sixth season tonight against division-rival Kansas City. The Wingnuts are coming off a franchise-best 59-41 season in 2012 in which they reached the American Association Championship Series for the first time in their history. The Wingnuts are led by manager Kevin Hooper who is in his fifth season. During his 10-year playing career, Hooper spent parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers (2005 and 2006) and starred for the Wingnuts during their inaugural season in 2008. Hooper won the American Association batting title (.373) by 40 points that season. Nine players return from last year's squad, including team MVP John Rodriguez who placed in the top-10 in all three triple crown categories. Rodriguez was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2006 World Series championship team. Also returning are shortstop Ryan Khoury, who was the American Association's Defensive Player of the Year, and second baseman Jake Kahaulelio, who was the league's batting champion (.372) and All-Star Second Baseman. The Wingnuts are 3-2 all-time on Opening Night overall, and 4-1 in their home openers.
WINGNUTS TO HONOR COACH: The Wingnuts plan to honor late bench coach Brian Rose prior to Thursday's game versus Kansas City. Rose served the Wingnuts from 2010-12 before passing away from stage 4 melanoma on January 31st, 2013. Rose's jersey number "3" will become the first number retired in the Wingnuts' six-year franchise history. A tribute video will be shown before the game. Members of Rose's family will be on hand, including his wife Lupe who will throw out the first pitch. The Wingnuts plan to dedicate their 2013 season to Rose who served in a similar capacity for the Grand Prairie AirHogs from 2008-09.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE T-BONES: The Wingnuts are 11-13 all-time against the Kansas City T-Bones, including a 7-8 mark at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The T-Bones are in their third season in the American Association, joining in 2011 after spending the previous eight years in the Northern League. Kansas City won the 2008 Northern League championship and reached the Northern League Championship Series in 2010 where they lost to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Kenny Hook enters his second year as T- Bones' manager. Hook guided the T-Bones to a 51-49 record last year. Two-time Northern League Relief Pitcher of the Year Andy Shipman is in his second year as Kansas City's Pitching Coach. Kansas City Royals' legend and former Wichita Wranglers manager Frank White is in his second year as Hook's First Base Coach. Prior to 2003, the T-Bones were known as the Duluth-Superior Dukes- an original independent franchise that started play in 1993.
SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts were 59-41 in 2012, winning the Central Division championship for a second straight year. Kansas City finished in second place at 51-49, 8.0 games back of the Wingnuts. Last year, the Wingnuts ranked second in the American Association in batting average (.291), seventh in ERA (4.41), and first in fielding percentage (.980). Kansas City was tied for seventh in batting (.285), second in pitching (4.03), and tied for 10th in defense (.967). Wichita was 6-4 head-to-head against the T-Bones in 2012.
TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts open the year with former Major League right-hander Jon Link. Link split time with the Miami Marlins' and Baltimore Orioles' organizations last year, going 3-2 with 11 saves and a 2.78 ERA in 32 relief appearances at the Double- and Triple-A levels. Link struck out 28 and walked 13 in 35.2 innings. Link appeared in nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010, totaling 8.2 IP. Link was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round in 2005 out of Bluefield College. Link was the first Bluefield alumnus to reach the Major Leagues. Link is 25-21 with 93 saves and a 3.82 ERA in his career and has reached double digits in saves in five different professional seasons. Tonight will be Link's 10th career start.
The T-Bones go with right-hander Shaun Garceau who was among the top starters in the American Association last year. Garceau was 9-6 in 16 starts and one relief appearance, and ranked eighth in the league with a 3.45 ERA. Garceau struck out 75 and walked only 27 in 106.1 IP. Garceau allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of 16 starts, and pitched at least 6.0 innings in 15 of them. Garceau walked three or fewer batters in 14 of 16 starts, and two or fewer in 12 of them. Garceau faced the Wingnuts once last season, allowing three earned runs in 7.0 IP in a no-decision on July 13th at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Garceau was 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA on the road last year in six starts and one relief appearance.
Garceau is 31-47 with a 4.69 ERA in seven professional seasons. Garceau was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 20th round in 2005 out of Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, FL. He has averaged 7.1 strikeouts against 3.9 walks per nine innings in 570.0 career frames. Garceau reached the Double-A level with the Springfield Cardinals (Texas League) in 2010.
FAMILIAR FACES: Nine players return from the Wingnuts' 2012 team that reached the American Association Championship Series. They include SS Ryan Khoury, 2B Jake Kahaulelio, DH John Rodriguez, 1B CJ Ziegler, CF Jared McDonald, LHP Ryan Hinson, LHP Anthony Capra, RHP Josh Dew, and LHP Nick Walters. RHP Junior Guerra, who starred for the Wingnuts in 2011, has also returned for 2013.
RETIREMENTS: Five players from last year's team have opted to retire from professional baseball. They include OF Mike Conroy, RHP Jared Simon, RHP James Baker, C Jessie Mier, and OF Steve Stanley.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 151-93 (.619) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. It is the highest home winning percentage for any American Association team since the Wingnuts began play in 2008.
ALUMNI REPORT: RHP Matt Nevarez (2011-12) has a 1.69 ERA for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay) with 12 strikeouts in 10.2 IP. RHP James Hoyt (2012) has a 3.64 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 39 strikeouts and just 16 hits allowed in 29.2 IP. RHP Andrew Aizenstadt (2012) is currently in extended spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. LHP and Wingnuts' co-owner Nate Robertson (2012) has a 3.60 ERA in 15.0 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).
American Association Stories from May 16, 2013
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