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Captains announce Opening Day roster

May 12, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - Manager Ricky VanAsselberg has made the difficult but necessary decisions, and trimmed the Shreveport-Bossier Captains' roster to 22 players in preparation for Thursday's regular-season opener against the Pensacola Pelicans. Seven players from the spring training roster did not make the final list of players who will leave Wednesday for Alexandria for a final exhibition game at 7 p.m.

The Captains' Opening Day roster includes 11 pitchers and 11 position players, leaving the team deep on the mound but relying on all 11 hitters often, with one always being the backup catcher. Shreveport-Bossier's starting rotation will be righty Thad Markray, lefty Ronald Lowe, righty Luke Massetti, and lefties Jorge Lugo and Logan Williamson. In the pen, the Captains have righties Josh Bone, Matt Petty, and sidearmer B.J. Litchfield, as well as lefty Aaron Cunningham to get to set-up man Tony Pierce and closer Robert Romero.

"I have always wanted to have an 11-man pitching staff, I just haven't always had the personnel to do it," VanAsselberg said. "This season, I can really trust my hitters to get the job done without too much help, and now I don't have to wear out anybody's arm."

On the other side of the ball, the Captains have three outfielders, Jose Torres in left, Jonathan Reynoso in center, and Dwayne White in right, and an infield of Aaron Cone, Brett Amyx, Rafael Ozuna, Richard Paz, Andres Rodriguez, and Albert Gonzalez. Rodriguez rejoined the Captains today after spending the last month with Ensenada of the Liga Norte de Mexico, where he hit .491 with four homers to lead the league, along with 20 RBIs (second), and 18 walks in 19 games. Gonzalez is also the Captains' fourth outfielder, and is an important cog in the team's machinery because of his ability to play all over the field.

Catchers Luany Sanchez and Kevin Griffin round out the 22-man roster.

"I'm going to ask a lot of players to play in different positions," VanAsselberg said. "With only two reserves each game, it's important that I have so many guys who can play all around the diamond."

Spring training invitees Matt Busbee, Cody Marshall, Nathaniel Fornea and Jason Herman were released by the Captains. Meanwhile, the Captains traded pitcher Matt Clayman to Edinburg of the United League, pitcher Alexis Sosa to Amarillo of the United League, and infielder Michael Lewis to Coastal Bend of the United League.

"As the old saying goes, it's the toughest job a manager has," Van Asselberg said of making the final cuts. I like all of these guys, we just couldn't keep everyone. They all knew coming into spring training that we had 28 guys for 21 spots, and these players were the ones that had to go. I wish them all the best and hope they have successful seasons."

Scoreboard update: The old scoreboard at Fair Grounds Field has been taken down, and video of the de-construction will be available on Wednesday at the Captains' NiftyTV page, http://www.niftytv.com/landing/captains. Footage from the start of the installation of the new scoreboard on Wednesday will be available later that day.

The first Captains game to be broadcast on NiftyTV will be the home opener on Tuesday, May 19. The weekend series in Pensacola will still be broadcast on ESPN Radio, 1340 KRMD-AM as well as online at supertalk1340.com and www.sbcaptains.com

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains open the 2009 season in Pensacola on May 14 at 6:35 p.m., and will be on the road for the first series of their 2009 campaign. All games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all games and select road games. The Shreveport-Bossier Captains' first game at Fair Grounds Field will be on May 19 against Grand Prairie. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.



American Association Stories from May 12, 2009


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