Minor Leagues | The Baseball Zealot

MLB Draft: Lotsa pitching and Indiana does pretty well

photo via MLBDraft on Twitter

Pitching was on the minds of MLB teams in the MLB draft tonight as the first three rounds transpired. Yes, Stephen Strasburg was picked #1 by the Washington Nationals. As the time got nearer, that was pretty evident. Even Nats’ 3B Ryan Zimmerman weighed in on the subject after he was drafted:

"You have to do it. From what everyone is saying, if you are an organization like we are that is young and moving forward, you have to take the best guy available.

I think he is head and shoulders above the rest. You are talking about a guy that could be an impact player from the moment you draft him. If you can add that arm to our good young starting staff, we are pretty much set — knock on wood — for a long time."

After Strasburg, three position players were picked. Dustin Ackley (a NC product and one of the best hitters in the draft), Donovan Tate and Tony Sanchez went 2-3-4. But after that there was a run of 8 pitchers. Fourteen of the first 20 players taken were pitchers.


Eric Arnett	Josh Phegley	Matt Bashore

Looking at the first day of the draft from a Big Ten perspective, Indiana’s baseball program has to feel pretty proud. Three of their player were chosen in the top 50 picks. Eric Arnett went 26th overall and now reports to the Brewers. Poor Josh Phegley. He was picked by the White Sox (38th overall). Just kidding, Josh. To round out the Hoosier trifecta, Matt Bashore was chosen 46th overall by the Twins.

Tomorrow morning, the Draft continues. For those on Twitter, there’s a wealth of information you won’t get from boring ol’ websites. #mlbdraft is a good place to start.

‘Oil Can’ hopes to pitch up north

According to the Ottawa Citizen, former MLB pitcher Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd is planning to pitch for the Ottawa Voyageurs in the Cam-Am Baseball League.

He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 1991 when split the season between the Expos and the Rangers. He hasn’t even played pro ball since 2005.

But the ball feels good in Oil Can’s hands, he says:

"The ball is coming out of my hand free and easy for the first time in years. I just want to prove I can throw 100 pitches for 30 starts and dominate."

Don’t know about you but Boyd is one of those baseball players that our memories supersede his contribution to the game. That’s not to take anything away from him but he won 78 games in his career a decade ago and I still remember him vividly. Granted, he was an colorful, outspoken individual.

No doubt, regardless if he pitches well in Ottawa or not, he’ll be a fun character and a good draw.

Want to be a pro baseball coach? Maybe Fort Worth can use you (at a price).

Bad economic times force some creative methods to raise money. The Fort Worth Cats have come up with one.

They’ve put up an auction on Ebay where the winner will become a “professional Baseball Coach” for them for a week. The reserve price? $1.999. The team has an article on it on their web site.

Look at the perks!

*One Pristine Uniform to keep as a memento of your experience

*Official 1st base coaching salary of $1 per day

*One assigned coaches locker

*An official Cats baseball card in your likeness

*Guaranteed one inning of 1^st base coaching per game

*Road Trip with the team, including hotel stay and bus ride

*Road meal money of $5.00 per day (to cover visiting clubby dues)

*The chance to participate in batting practice before every game

*A radio interview to be aired on Fox Sports Radio about your experience during your last home game

*A uniform retirement ceremony including first pitch and photo opportunity with friends and family

*A group outing on your jersey retirement night for 30 friends and family including field box tickets, hot dogs and sodas

I hope they do a good job vetting the winner of the auction. At a dollar a day, who knows who you’ll get?

The Fort Worth team also promise to “retire” the auction winner’s name along with the club’s former managers and players.

Ugh, Minor League Baseball has always been in the forefront of fan participation and promotions but it sounds like they have just jumped the shark.

Thanks to Shawn Lee for the tip.

Champaign-Urbana minor league team will have to wait

For those in the Champaign-Urbana area looking forward to a minor league team, you may have to wait at least couple years.

Matt Perry, a spokesman for a group of investors who said last year they want to bring a Frontier League team to Champaign-Urbana, now says the group is shooting for 2010.

National Sports Services, the sports consulting firm behind it all, are now focusing on launching a Frontier League team in Ohio.

Peoria Chiefs No-hit by Burlington hurlers

Things haven’t been going so well for the Cubs’ single-A affiliate Peoria Chiefs. First they receive national attention by getting involved in a nasty brawl with the Dayton Dragons which got 15 players ejected and multiple fines and suspensions handed down.

Since then they have been 1-7 with their one win coming at the expense of South Bend August 2.

To top it all off, last night they were no-hit by the Burlington Bees. Starter Danny Duffy threw six no-hit innings for the win and reliever Juan Abreu finished the final three innings for the save.

With the unfortunate loss, the Chiefs find themselves at .500 and in 6th place for the second half of the season.

BZR interviews Erik Manning of Future Redbirds

Baseball Zealot Radio got a chance to interview Erik Manning tonight. Erik writes for FutureRedbirds.net, a website that scouts Cardinals prospects in their farm system.

In show 46, we talk a bit about Future Redbirds and the tools he needs to scout the players. He then gives us a snapshot of the current Cardinals’ farm system. Who’s hot and who’s not.

I couldn’t let Erik off the line without asking him about the big league so we talked a little about the NL Central race, one that’s shaping up to be a humdinger.

thanks, Erik!

PS don’t miss the Amaury Marti Facts page on Future Redbirds!

Length: 31:53

Date Recorded: 7/24/08

Listen to Episode 46	Listen to the show via iTunes!
Listen to other Baseball Zealot Radio episodes	BZR Podcast Feed

Former Illini Roof moving on up

Roof during his Illini days

Shawn Roof, who only last spring played shortstop for the Illini and then was drafted by the Tigers, has gotten a promotion. After playing the bulk of this summer for the Tiger’s A team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers, he’s going to Double-A ball.

He’s now playing for the AA Erie Seawolves.

“I came up here not knowing what to expect and just wanted to play defense well and try and do some things at the plate to help the team,” Roof said. “I’m moving runners and, luckily, a few balls have fallen in.”

Good luck, Shawn!

Rich Hill update: It don’t look good from here

After successive starts at AAA Iowa where he obviously lacked control and confidence, the Cubs’ Rich Hill was sent all the way to Mesa in the Rookie League to work on the fundamentals and maybe get his head together.

Please tell me if I’m saying the obvious here but I have to wonder if Hill is just done. In his first start at Mesa yesterday, he didn’t even get past the first inning. Pitching 1/3 of an inning, he gave up five runs, three earned including 3 walks.

The Cubs organization is considering giving Hill a break altogether to see that might work. I don’t see what other option they have.

hehe… The Cubs Brickyard have heard some other “news” about his future plans.

Tim Kuda takes on the Minor Leagues

Tim Kuda, a popular baseball podcaster who has done the Tim Kuda Show, is switching gears and focusing on minor league action. His new show is called Minor League Baseball Radio and can be found at http://www.milbradio.com.

MLBR is a live show which debuts this week with interviews with minor league coaches, prospects and other personnel. The show is broadcasted live on Monday nights at 10pm.

Next week’s show includes:

Oakland Athletics Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

Conversations with Midland RockHounds Pitching Coach Scott Emerson and top organization pitching prospect Trevor Cahill.

Kansas City Royals Minor League Spring Training Coverage including:

2007 #2 over draft pick and top prospect Mike Moustakas and Wilmington Blue Rocks Manager Darryl Kennedy.

For those who can’t listen to the show live, it is available for download or you can listen at their website.