Category: Minor Leagues
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 4-Norway, IA
Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway: Making a stop in the baseball Capitol of Iowa, Norway, was a must for me on this trip. The true events of this towns rich baseball histrory prompted the movie ‘The Final Season’. This small town’s high school team won 20 Iowa State Baseball championships before being forced to merge with another local school after the 1991 season. I became a fan of the movie after watching it, but I am a bigger fan of the true story here. If you are ever in this area, this town and museum are a must for you. The museum itself is small, but packed with memorabelia from baseball’s history as well as the history of baseball in Norway. They had displays of former Major Leaguers from Norway such as Hal Trosky, Bruce Kimm, and Mike Boddicker. Also on display are the school’s state championship trophies, little league trophies, and coaching awards. The people who run the museum are all on a volunteer basis, as well as the people who helped put it together. We were given a first hand history of the town and it’s teams while we were there. There is a great pride in Norway about what they accomplished. My pictures and words really can’t do this place justice. A highlight for me was meeting legendary coach Jim Van Scoyoc who led Norway to 12 of it’s state titles and was named National Coach of the Year. After being forced to retire before the merger, he coached the Detroit Tigers system and founded Perfect Game to help teach young ball players. This was just a great experience for me.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 3-Peoria, IL
Peoria Chiefs vs. Clinton LumberKings: We didn’t have a whole lot of time to celebrate the Kernels victory before hitting the road again to Peoria. We made it to O’Brien Field about 30 minutes before game time, which is good enough to get our merchandise, grab a brew, and get ready for more baseball. It was Monday, and unfortunately not much of a crowd. We missed the big crowds over the weekend with Star Wars night and a Little League ceremony. Still, half price tickets should be drawing the people in anyway. O’Brien Field is nicely fit into downtown Peoria, and the Chiefs share their home with the NCAA Bradlay Braves. It was a beautiful night for baseball, but a quik game tied at 1-1 in the ninth. The Chiefs sent up a pinch hitter with two outs who hit a walk-off homer with the bases loaded for the win. Pretty exciting at the end. Final: Chiefs 4, Lumber Kings 1. Worst: The scoreboard. One half never worked, the other half only part of the time. Best: Half priced seats every Monday.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 3-Cedar Rapids, IA
Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Kane County Cougars: Day three had us up early, and backtracking east through Iowa to Cedar Rapids for a noon start. Day games are usually a lot of fun, and this one didn’t disappiont. Vetrans Memorial Stadium is located basically in a residential area, but still had plenty of parking and decent site lines. Of all the ballparks on our trip, this one simply had the best atmoshpere. The workers were all very friendly and everyone just seemed to be happy it was game day. We had great seats behind home plate just off of the Kernels dugout. My oldest son is an Angels fan, so it was easy for me to get some autogaphs from some prospects like Mike Trout and Michael Wing. Trout is a first round draft pick, but seemed very down to earth and was great with the fans. He also homered in his first at-bat. After getting shut out our first few games, it felt good to get a couple of foul balls here. I got two, but gave one away to a little girl. Yeah, I know, aaawwww. The cool thing if you catch a fly ball here, you recieve an honorary lifetime contract with the Kernels. Now I can finally put Minor League Baseball player on my resume. It’s pictured at the very bottom along with the fouls balls I caught in Cedar Rapids and Peoria. If I could choose any ballpark from our trip to visit again, it would be this one. Final: Kernels 8, Cougars 1. Best: The baseball atmoshpere. You fans know what I’m talking about. Worst: No souvenier cups. It’s a small thing, but I like to take the plastic cups home, wash them out, and drink a beer. It reminds me of the games I’ve been to.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 2-Des Moines, IA
Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Royals: Our only game on day two took us to Des Moines for some AAA Pacific Coast League action. The game started at 1:00 p.m., and the day was hot and sunny. About the third inning, though, all that changed. A huge storm cloud decided to nest over the field and give us some rain. Not too much, enough to get you a little damp, but not enough to call the game. If you think that a little rain is enough to chase me from a ballgame, though, you’re wrong. We stayed as long as the game was on, and that was the 8th inning. It finally decided to pour on us. Oh, well, 8 innings is still pretty good. I didn’t get a chance to explore Principal Park as much as I would have liked, but our seats were good and there really didn’t seem that there was a bad seat in the house. There was a lot of fans packed in for a Sunday game, but a lot left after the rain started. Our lunch consisted of a beer, a Chicago Dog, and some popcorn. I did like the park, though, and would recommend a game here if you’re in the area. Final: Royals 5, Cubs 4. Best: The scoreboard reading ‘Out of Towners’ and ‘Local Boys’. Worst: Lots of people. If you don’t mind large crowds, this shouldn’t bother you.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 1-Davenport, IA
Quad Cities River Bandits vs. Burlington Bees: Our second game of the day took us to beautiful Modern Woodmen Park, home of the River Bandits. This ballpark was listed #1 on the Minor League ‘must see’ list, and it didn’t disappoint. The bridge going over the mighty Mississippi River in right field was really breathtaking. It had already been a long day, so it was nice to sit back, relax with my $6 brat and beer, and enjoy the game. There were a lot of walks, so we were able to scout many pitching prospects during the game. The weather stayed nice for us, too. It was hard to concentrate on the game at times, as we’d get mesmerized by the bridge and river. A perfect night for baseball. Final: Bees 9, River Bandits 6. Best: The view. Great site lines with the bridge. Worst: Pricey concessions.
Photos property of MIB
2010 Baseball Trip: Day 1-Geneva, IL
Our trip this year started out with a long drive as usual, and our first stop was in Geveva, Illinois to the home of the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. The Cougars were on the road, as we’ll see later, but while we were in the neiborhood we stopped by Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium to check it out. Lucky for us there was a high school game going on, so we were able to get into the stadium and get our appetite whet for some baseball. The Cougars have a really nice stadium, and I’d like to get back to see them play a game here. It seems like every seat you feel close to the action and a great view. We couldn’t stay too long, though, as we had two games to catch on this day.
Photos property of MIB
Whitecaps Update 4/10
‘Caps in Second(to last): With a record of 7-14 so far this young season, obviously West Michigan’s young roster is having some struggles. The Whitecaps finally broke out of thier offensive slump yesterday, though, beating the Lansing Lugnuts 7-2 on the back of 12 hits. They had scored just three runs in their previous five games. The losing streak even prompted manager Joe DePastino to call their hitting struggles ‘ugly’ earlier this week. Instead of having someone throw batting practice, he had the team use the pitching machine with some speed in order to get the team to shorten their strides and hit line drives up the middle. It seemed to have worked.
The bright spot so far in 2010 is the young pitching staff. This year’s rotation is sporting a solid 3.15 ERA with the bullben being 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA in the past 15 games. Starter Trevor Feeney leads the way with 24 strikeouts and a 3.25 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched. Also throwing well are Jacob Turner (0-0, 1.00) and Giovani Soto (1-1, 2.63). Turner unfortunately was place on the DL Monday for stiffness in his right arm. He had only allowed one run and seven hits in his two starts.
Inge Bobblehead: If you happen to be in the Grand Rapids area on May 7, stop into Fifth Third Ballpark for your free Brandon Inge bobblehead. The bobbling likeness of the former Whitecap and current Detroit Tiger will be given away to the first 1,000 fans through the gate.
Boesch MLB Debut: Outfielder Brennan Boesch recently made his Major League debut for the Tigers after Carlos Guillen was placed on the DL. In five game with the Tigers he is batting .278 with five hits, including three doubles and three RBI’s. He was a 3rd round pick of Detroit in the 2006 draft. Playing for the Whitecaps in 2007, he hit .267 with 19 doubles and 10 home runs. This kid definately has some power. He’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts and work on his fielding a bit to stay up at this level.
This will be my last post for at least another week or so, as I’m leaving for my baseball trip to Iowa later today. Wish me a safe journey with no rainouts.
Inge photo courtesy of the West Michigan Whitecaps
Boesch photo courtesy of the Midwest League
Even YOU can be a Minor League GM!
MiLB 
is teaming up with Fritos for the ‘Be A Minor League Baseball GM For A Weekend Sweepstakes’. Five winners will recieve
: round trip transportation for two people; double occupancy hotel accommodations for two nights; two premium tickets to the game; autopraphed Minor League Baseball host club replica jersey; a chance to sit in on team meetings; and $1,525 in spending money. Sounds like a good deal to me. I’d even just take th money…The choices for host teams include the Portland Sea Dogs, Durham Bulls, Memphis Red Birds, New Orleans Zephyrs, Las Vegas 51’s, and the San Antonio Missions. My choices would either be Portland or Durham. I contimplated not posting this, because it would lower my chances of winning, but since I never win anything it would be cool if maybe someone from the blogosphere here won it. Just remember your ol’ buddy here at M.I.B. if you win. The trip is for two.
Even if you don’t win, you can still probably afford to take in a MiLB game. During recent survey, Minor League Baseball concluded that for the cost of four people to attend a game is around $57. This includes two adult tix, two child tix, four hot dogs, two sodas, two beers, a program and parking. They found an adult ticket is $8 or less at 80% of the ballparks. The highest I’ve paid for a Minor League game is $13 for the AAA Indianapolis Indians last season. My tickets for the Single-A Peoria Chiefs this seaons were $5, and that’s for a premium seat. The average cost of a night at the ballpark ranges from around $67 for AAA to $50 for Single-A Short Season or Rookie League.
If you still don’t want to get off your lazy, well, ya know, and catch a live game luckily the MLB Network will be broadcasting some Minor League games as well, including the Triple-A All Star game. The first game will be aired this Monday at 11:00 am and feature the Gwinnett Braves at the Durham Bulls. The next game will be the Burlington Bees at the Quad Cities River Bandits on May 3. Figures they’ll be televising a game just two days after I’m there. Other games slated include Scanton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at the Indianapolis Indians on May 19 at 11:00 am and the Norfolk Tides at the Columbus Clippers on June 15 at 12 noon. Victory Field in Indy was one of the best venues I’ve watched a game at, and should look great on TV. MLB Network will be airing weekday afternoon games thoughout the summer, too.
‘Caps Gosse Off to Good Start, eh?
As a former second baseman myself, while watching games and following my teams, these are the players I usually keep an eye on. I’ve been following the West Michigan Whitecaps for some years now, and have seen the likes of Will Rhymes, Scott Sizemore, Justin Henry, and Brandon Douglas patrol the infield at Fifth Third Ballpark before moving up through the Tigers farm system. This season Mike Gosse has earned his spot at second base on the Whitecaps roster. Though he did play a significant number of games for the ‘Caps last season, Douglas was the main second baseman.
Gosse is off to a good start this season, however, being named the Whitecaps Player of the Week. In the first nine games he’s hit .323 with five doubles and one triple. He has yet to commit an error and has a .548 slugging percentage with three RBI’s.
This is what he told the Grand Rapids Press about his recent play: “I’m trying to be as unselfish as I can. Trying to move runners over, and trying to get guys in so we can get wins. This early, it’s never about yourself. It’s always about trying to win and I think we’re on a good road right now.”
Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino agrees: “He’s had a lot of big hits for us, and not only hits. When I need a runner moved over or bunted over, he gets the job done. He’s had some timely hitting and driven in some big runs for us.”
The 23-year-old Oklahoma alumni was born in California, but raised in British Columbia, Canada. I’m used to seeing city names like Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, and Red Deer on the hockey rosters I follow, but it’s a rarity on a baseball roster. Not too bad for a kid who grew up watching Hockey Night In Canada and eating Kraft Dinner, eh?
Photo courtesy of the Grand Rapids Press
Whitecaps Opening Day
These are some great pics from the West Michigan Whitecaps’ Opening Day at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan. The ‘Caps started the season on the road, going 0-3 before picking up their first win in the home opener. They are now 3-4 on the season after taking 2 of 3 from the Fort Wayne TinCaps and beating the Bowling Green Hot Rods in Kentucky in the first meeting ever of the two clubs. I’d love to take credit for these, or at least say that I was there, but I’ll have to wait another two weeks for my first live game. Looking at the pics makes me itchy to hit the road early. Enjoy.
Photos courtesy of the Grand Rapids Press
Minoring In Baseball 