Dreher's body and batting average is healing
Published on July 20, 2004 under Frontier League (FL)
Chillicothe Paints News Release
The terms "he's a players' coach or a players' manager" is often heard in the world of sports.
In Chillicothe Paints' circles the often-used cliché takes on a new twist with "he's a manager's player" when describing second baseman, Doug Dreher.
Dreher came to the Paints in the spring of 2003 after spending a year with the Sioux Falls Canaries in the independent Northern League. He hit .305 for the Canaries, but was forced to play a reserve role behind a former Major Leaguer. Dreher had signed with Sioux Falls after an outstanding four-year career with the Kansas University Jayhawks. He was named the Jayhawks' MVP in his junior year after playing five different positions, including catcher. However, an injury cut short his senior season to just 23 games and his size (5-8, 170) didn't impress the Major League scouts.
"The manager at Sioux Falls told me that Doug was a tireless worker and as hard-nosed as they come," said Paints' manager Jamie Keefe. "He said that our coaching staff and fans were going to love the effort he puts into the game."
For the biggest part of the 2003 season, Dreher, age 25, patrolled left field for the Paints and performed admirably, helping Chillicothe to a post-season berth. He hit a solid .280 for the season with 21 doubles, two triples and 36 RBI. He struck out only 35 times in 304 official trips to the plate. At times, he would fill in at second or third base when injuries to his teammates occurred. He could often be found taking extra cuts in the batting cage, seemingly never totally satisfied with his performance.
When the 2004 season rolled around, Keefe tabbed Dreher as his starting second baseman. Despite hints of outstanding play, inconsistency may best define his overall performance in the field and at the plate during the first half of this year.
Not being one to make excuses, Dreher reluctantly conceded that an early-season shoulder injury and a gimpy ankle were difficult to overcome.
"I just did not feel comfortable at the start of the season," explained Dreher. "During the last three weeks of the first half my shoulder was killing me, but the All-Star Game break came at the right time. I feel refreshed now. I started feeling a little better three or four games before the break and than the three days off really helped."
Dreher's improved performance at the plate in the past eight games confirms his self-evaluation. He was hitting only .240 on July 8, but lifted his average to .267 as of July 19th.
Dreher, while playing second base for the majority of the first half, did fill in at third base and shortstop on a couple of occasions while the Paints' were battling injuries and trying to find consistency at the third base position.
"Dougie is one of the toughest kids I've ever been around," said Keefe. "He is a fierce competitor and he just wants to win and he will do whatever he has to help us win."
After a strong start this summer, the Paints suffered through a downward slide, especially with the offense. The drop in the standings prompted Keefe to make several roster changes in hopes of finding the right answers.
"Jamie did what he had to," stated Dreher. "We never put our heads down (during the losing streaks) and we never quit playing hard, but now I think we have a better attitude. He (Keefe) made some good moves and we're definitely a better team than we were a couple of weeks ago."
Dreher graduated from KU with a degree in education and hopes to teach and coach when his baseball career is over.
"Dougie will be an outstanding coach," said Keefe. "If his players learn to play half as hard as he does, they'll be winners."
Frontier League Stories from July 20, 2004
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