Five Barons Headline Southern League Postseason All-Star Team
August 31, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
HOOVER, AL - Five Barons headlined the Southern League Postseason All-Star Team when it was announced by the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs on Monday.
C.J. Retherford, the only unanimous selection, was named the top second baseman. He was joined by Tyler Flowers (catcher), David Cook and Stefan Gartrell (outfielders) and John Ely (right handed pitcher).
Retherford, awarded with the Barons co-Most Valuable Player this past weekend, entered Monday's double-header with a team-best .300 batting average. He leads the Southern League with 43 doubles and ranks fifth in the league with 72 RBI. His 43 doubles is tied for the sixth most in Barons franchise history and are the most since Stan Payls hit 43 doubles in 1960. Retherford is the only Southern League hitter to win the league's Hitter of the Week award on multiple occasions. Retherford won the award for the first time for the week of May 4-10 when he hit .381 with two home runs and 11 RBI. He won it again for the week of July 6-12 when he hit .368 with two home runs and nine RBI.
Cook, also awarded with the Barons co-Most Valuable Player this past weekend, entered Monday's double-header second in the league with 24 home runs. Cook also leads the league in RBI (82), runs scored (83) and slugging percentage (.524). In June, Cook was named Topps Player of the Month after he hit .302 with eight home runs, 29 RBI and 23 runs scored.
Ely, awarded the Barons Most Valuable Pitcher Award this past weekend, entered his start in Monday night's double-header leading the Barons in wins (12), ERA (2.97) and strikeouts (114). His 12 wins rank second in the Southern League while his 2.97 ERA places him third. His 114 strikeouts pace the circuit. Ely won a Southern League Pitcher of the Week award after retiring the first 17 batters in a July 17 game at Mobile. Ely ended the game by allowing just one walk and one hit through six innings of work while leading the Barons to a 3-1 victory.
Flowers was named the top catcher in the Southern League despite earning a promotion to Triple A Charlotte on July 15. The starting catcher for the U.S. team in the Major League Baseball Futures game, Flowers was hitting .302 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI before his promotion. He was also leading the Southern League with a .548 slugging percentage and a .445 on-base percentage.
Gartrell joined teammate David Cook as one of the four outfielders selected to the 2009 Southern League Postseason All-Star Team. Gartrell, who was promoted to Triple A Charlotte on August 6, hit .285 with19 home runs and 70 RBI in 101 games for the Barons. Gartrell was named Southern League Hitter of the Week for the week of June 15- 21 after hitting .292 with three home runs, nine RBI and six runs scored.
The complete Southern League Postseason All-Star Team is below:
Catcher: Tyler Flowers. Birmingham
First Base: Blake Lalli. Tennessee
Second Base: CJ Retherford. Birmingham
Shortstop: Pedro Ciriaco. Mobile
Outfield: Ezequiel Carrera. West Tenn
Outfield: David Cook. Birmingham
Outfield: Stefan Gartrell. Birmingham
Outfield: Desmond Jennings. Birmingham
Designated Hitter: Greg Halman. West Tenn
Utility Man: Todd Frazier. Carolina
Best Hustler: Matt Young. Mississippi
Right Handed Pitcher: John Ely. Birmingham
Left Handed Pitcher: Travis Wood. Carolina
Relief Pitcher: Matt Peterson. Jacksonville.
In addition, Montgomery's Desmond Jennings was named the Southern League Most Valuable Player. The Pinson native is still atop many Southern League categories despite being promoted to Triple A Durham last month. He is currently second in the league in average (.316), second in stolen bases (37), fourth in on-base percentage (.420), tied for fourth in triples (8) and is tied for seventh in runs scored (69).
Travis Wood (9-3, 1.21) was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Year. In 19 starts for the Carolina Mudcats, Wood has proven unhittable. His 1.21 ERA is more than 1.5 runs better than second place. His 0.97 WHIP is also a league best. Wood places in a tie for fourth place in the league with 103 strikeouts.
The Barons won the South Division First-Half Title and will open the playoffs on Thursday, September 10 at Regions Park. Game two will be played Friday, September 11 at Regions Park. Tickets to both games are available online at the Baron's website, in- person at the Regions Park Box Office or over the phone.
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Southern League Stories from August 31, 2009
- Carolina sweeps doubleheader with two shutouts over Biscuits - Carolina Mudcats
- Barons Sweep Twinbill - Birmingham Barons
- Barons walk off with sweep of double dip - Huntsville Stars
- Smokies slienced by Torra, Mobile Monday night - Tennessee Smokies
- Ever Magallanes Named Southern League Manager of the Year - Birmingham Barons
- Five Barons Headline Southern League Postseason All-Star Team - Birmingham Barons
- Braves take series with 2-1 win, but Jaxx stay in first place tie - Jackson Generals
- Braves squeak by Jaxx - Mississippi Braves
- Suns even series with Monday win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Torra tosses shutout, homers in 6-0 rout of Smokies - Mobile BayBears
- Young repeats as league's best hustler - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies' play-in game destinations determined Monday - Tennessee Smokies
- Ciriaco named to Postseason All-Star Team - Mobile BayBears
- Lalli Named to Postseason All-Star Team - Tennessee Smokies
- Vazquez Heads to Louisville, Starts Tonight - Carolina Mudcats
- Matt Peterson Named Southern League Postseason All-Star - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Wood Named S.L. Pitcher Of Year - Carolina Mudcats
- Carrera, Halman honored by Southern League - Jackson Generals
- Jennings Named Southern League MVP - Montgomery Biscuits
- Birmingham's Everardo Magallanes Named Southern League Manager Of The Year - SL1
- Carolina's Travis Wood Named Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher - SL1
- Montgomery's Desmond Jennings Named Southern League Most Valuable Player - SL1
- Southern League announces Postseason All-Stars - SL1
- Powell off to Charlotte - Montgomery Biscuits
- Colvin Named "SL Hitter of the Week" - Tennessee Smokies
- Triunfel returns from DL, Villarreal placed on DL - Jackson Generals
- Eymann Reassigned; Tordy Sent to Sarasota - Carolina Mudcats
- SL Names Players of the Week - SL1
- Lookouts' Adkins Named Pitcher of the Week - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Torres Acquired by Tampa Bay - Montgomery Biscuits
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