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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing add a pair for the stretch run

August 26, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Friday the signing of catcher Richard Cormier and the transfer of pitcher Buddy Blair, both of whom were assigned to Quad Cities. In corresponding moves, Swing catcher Jose Mendez and pitcher Bo Dickerson have been placed on the Quad Cities disabled list.

Cormier went undrafted in June, but after a brief stint in the Northern League was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers. After seeing only four at-bats for the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League, however, Cormier was released by the Brewers and picked up by St. Louis.

The 22-year-old played his collegiate ball for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach, where he was a co-captain for an Eagles team that finished as the national runner-up in the NAIA Championships. Having played all four infield positions in his two years at Embry-Riddle, in addition to his primary spot behind the plate, Cormier hit .333 his senior season and swiped 19 bags in 22 attempts. He also sported a fielding percentage of .993.

Blair was a tenth round pick by the Cardinals in 2003, by way of Oklahoma State University. The left-handed pitcher spent part of his professional debut in the Midwest League, going 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA for Peoria that same year. He split time in 2004 between High-A Palm Beach and Double-A Tennessee before opening the 2005 campaign with Double-A Springfield. But after going 1-6 with an 8.50 ERA for Springfield and posting a 2-3 record with a 6.10 ERA after a demotion to Palm Beach, Blair was placed on the DL and missed a month of action.

In a rehab assignment with New Jersey of the New York-Penn League, Blair posted a 0.96 ERA and held opponents to a .161 batting average in six relief appearances. He was subsequently returned from rehab at New Jersey, activated from the Palm Beach DL, and transferred to Quad Cities.

Mendez was transferred to Quad Cities on Tuesday, enjoying nearly three innings of Midwest League action before suffering a fractured right ankle. After doubling in his first at-bat, he was rounding third base later in the inning when he fell to the ground with the injury.

Dickerson had pitched nearly two months of relief out of the Swing bullpen, going 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA over 22 innings and holding opponents to a .213 batting average. But after coming down with shoulder stiffness in his left arm, he had not seen game action since August 17.

Cormier and Blair will become the 55th and 56th different players to play for Quad Cities this season. The Swing roster currently stands at 25 active players, the maximum allowed by the Midwest League. An updated roster follows this release.

UP NEXT: The Swing will open up a four game series with the Kane County Cougars on Friday night, with Nick Webber (0-2, 5.68) taking the hill against southpaw Ryan Ford (12-7, 4.37). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 will begin at 6:45.

PROMOTION: Friday night will be Keep Scott County Beautiful Night at John O'Donnell Stadium, featuring post-game fireworks sponsored by i wireless, WOC, WFXN, and KWQC-TV6. For more information about Swing promotions or tickets, log onto www.swingbaseball.com. Tickets are also available for all Swing games by calling (563) 328-2000

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 26, 2005


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