The Blue edged the Gold 2-1 in a kinda five-inning game. It was kinda a five-inning game because J.T. King's pitch count was so low that he actually got to throw 3.2 innings rather than three.
It was another day for the pitchers, J.T. King, pitching for the blue team, scattered three hits in his 3.2 innings while issuing a walk and striking out one. Josh Myers got the start for the gold team and tossed 2.1 innings. He has a very interesting delivery to say the least and one that could keep hitters off balance. Myers walked four and struck out two. Matt Lawrence was on the mound for a pair of innings with the Blue team while Jeff Williams and Brett Bostelman made return appearances with the Gold team. Each threw an inning as the first pitchers to get their second outing this spring. Both were effective with Bostelman working a 1-2-3- frame and Williams getting three outs with only a hit batsman.
Offensively the hitters managed just six hits against the five hurlers but did draw eight walks. Kyle Maunus was the lone individual to record more than one hit, spraying a pair of singles. John Brummett, Mike Goetz, Damon Lessler, and Jeff Brown also tallied base hits as no player was able to land an extra-base hit today. James Conrad recorded an assist from the outfield as a runner attempted to move from first-to-third.
I'm off for the weekend but will be back on Monday...I'll try and get some updates on stuff to post on Monday about the weekend...again you can watch me broadcasting the Horizon League Softball Tournament tomorrow afternoon at 2 and 4 CST through horizonleaguenetwork.tv if there is another game it will be at 9am on Sunday morning should the unbeaten team take a loss...
Next week will be a busy week with the exhibition doubleheader in a Tuesday of Champions at Gary...Bowl with the Beach Bums is on Thursday at Wilderness Crossing, make sure to take on me and my less than 115 average, though I have improved...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Spring Training Day Two
If the first day was dominated by offense then on the second day it was the pitchers stealing the show as the gold team recorded a 4-0 shutout of the blue team...
Bryan Rembisz and Shannon Wirth each threw three innings...Wirth was extremely effective hurling three shutout innings without allowing a hit and retied the side on seven pitches in his third inning of work. He struck out four as the pitching staff fanned 13 in the seven-inning game, or just under one per half inning pitched. The bullpen was equally effective as Zac Cole and Ted Gjeldum each worked a pair and combined to allow just one run with each stricking out two. Matt Dillard surrendered just one hit in his two innings while Nick Pepper needed a measley 10 pitches in his inning of work. Stephen Read was also impressive in his inning of work, failing to surrender a run.
Offensively, while Kyle Maunus may have hit a foul ball, he certainly made the most noise with a 400+ foot shot that just hooked foul down the left field line. Maunus did have a double and a walk on the afternoon. Matt Imwalle had the hardest hit fair ball, pounding a double that one-hooped the wall in left center field to drive in a pair. He also recorded an infield hit and a hard groundout to second. The offense totaled 13 hits, four of which never left the infield and one of which was on a broken bat. Mike Epping recorded two more hits to bring his total to six in his seven spring at bats. He also drove in a run, his third in two days. Mike Goetz picked up a pair of infield hits and followed them up with a pair of stolen bases (Man there's some speed on this roster). He has five hits in his first two days.
It was also media day at Wuerfel Park. Look for lots of media coverage on the team in the coming weeks...Mike Epping, Mike Goetz, and of course Steve Young and Ryan Gehring were interview favorites, but most of the team was talked to in some form or another...There were three TV stations, a pair of radio stations, and of course a newspaper. While the questions covered a large range of topics, the most popular were related to the turf and how it might change the game. When chatting with one player he told me, its going to be different but when it comes down to it, its still baseball...
I'll have an update from a shortened workout tomorrow (I don't believe they are playing a full seven-innings tomorrow) but then am off for the weekend heading back to Chicago to broadcast the Horizon League Softball Tournament...if interested I'll be on at 2 and 4 CST through horizonleaguenetwork.tv...I believe you have to sign up to check it out (It is video) but its free...The updates will resume on Monday...
On a side note, draftee Will Jackel arrived in Northern Michigan this afternoon...he was in the Marlins system last year and is from Florida...Jackel was chosen in the second round of the Frontier League draft...By the end of tomorrow all pitchers will have made their first appearance...18 pitchers currently occupy roster slots...
Bryan Rembisz and Shannon Wirth each threw three innings...Wirth was extremely effective hurling three shutout innings without allowing a hit and retied the side on seven pitches in his third inning of work. He struck out four as the pitching staff fanned 13 in the seven-inning game, or just under one per half inning pitched. The bullpen was equally effective as Zac Cole and Ted Gjeldum each worked a pair and combined to allow just one run with each stricking out two. Matt Dillard surrendered just one hit in his two innings while Nick Pepper needed a measley 10 pitches in his inning of work. Stephen Read was also impressive in his inning of work, failing to surrender a run.
Offensively, while Kyle Maunus may have hit a foul ball, he certainly made the most noise with a 400+ foot shot that just hooked foul down the left field line. Maunus did have a double and a walk on the afternoon. Matt Imwalle had the hardest hit fair ball, pounding a double that one-hooped the wall in left center field to drive in a pair. He also recorded an infield hit and a hard groundout to second. The offense totaled 13 hits, four of which never left the infield and one of which was on a broken bat. Mike Epping recorded two more hits to bring his total to six in his seven spring at bats. He also drove in a run, his third in two days. Mike Goetz picked up a pair of infield hits and followed them up with a pair of stolen bases (Man there's some speed on this roster). He has five hits in his first two days.
It was also media day at Wuerfel Park. Look for lots of media coverage on the team in the coming weeks...Mike Epping, Mike Goetz, and of course Steve Young and Ryan Gehring were interview favorites, but most of the team was talked to in some form or another...There were three TV stations, a pair of radio stations, and of course a newspaper. While the questions covered a large range of topics, the most popular were related to the turf and how it might change the game. When chatting with one player he told me, its going to be different but when it comes down to it, its still baseball...
I'll have an update from a shortened workout tomorrow (I don't believe they are playing a full seven-innings tomorrow) but then am off for the weekend heading back to Chicago to broadcast the Horizon League Softball Tournament...if interested I'll be on at 2 and 4 CST through horizonleaguenetwork.tv...I believe you have to sign up to check it out (It is video) but its free...The updates will resume on Monday...
On a side note, draftee Will Jackel arrived in Northern Michigan this afternoon...he was in the Marlins system last year and is from Florida...Jackel was chosen in the second round of the Frontier League draft...By the end of tomorrow all pitchers will have made their first appearance...18 pitchers currently occupy roster slots...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Spring Training Time!!
35 individuals showed up at camp today as the Beach Bums opener their third spring training and second under manager Jon Cahill! Spring training is my favorite time of year...you hear so much hype about each player and this is the first time to see them in action on the field. The talent across the board in the Frontier League this season may set up for one of the best summers in league history and it certainly starts right here in Traverse City where 54 games and the All-Star Game will be contested. Throughout spring training I will be posting updates on players and events during practice as well as running play-by-play (Its not my radio voice but my radio fingers) from the doubleheader at Gary next Tuesday in a date I deemed Tuesday of Champions. Below is the first of the spring training updates...
One of the beauties of the turf at Wuerfel Park (which is beautiful if you haven't seen it) is the ability to play immediately after rain. Rain fell overnight and into the morning but was not falling when practice opened at 9:30 am. A steady drizzle developed into a steady rain, but still the team continued on with its morning conditioning and defensive drills on into batting practice. While the rain did eventually force the team inside during the second round of batting practice (to prevent baseballs from getting waterlogged) in the morning around 11am, spirits were high as was the excitement of the day.
The afternoon session will feature an intrasquad game everyday where the pitchers throw live to the hitters. The rain had stopped and again with the turf there is little turnaround time needed so it was out for the fun...I was keeping score and the Blue team defeated the Gold team by an 8-5 margin in a seven-inning game (I just made up those two team names). Pitching for the Blue team was Ryan Gehring, who worked three innings...Brett Bostelman who saw two innings of work, and Jacob Cook who tossed an inning...Rory James threw an inning for each side...On the yellow team was David Nathanson also working three innings, Jeff Williams for a deuce, and Jared Locke for an inning.
Highlights from the game included a diving catch in left center field by Damon Lessler on a blooper (Lessler was playing second at the time)...Offensively Steve Young started things out with a homer over the fence in right field while batting left-handed against David Nathanson. Yes I said Steve Young hit a homer...He also stole a couple bases, walked, singled, and hit a rocket to third that was caught.
Other offensive highlights included Mike Goetz who connected on an opposite field double off the wall in left in his first at bat. Mike Epping posted four hits, two stolen bases, and a pair of RBI. Among his hits were an infield single and a triple into the right center field gap, something we hope to see many of during the year. Brad Roblin doubled, singled, and stole a base while Pat Perry, an All-Star in the Can-Am League last season, posted a pair of run scoring hits including an opposite field double to left. The only other homer of the day came off the bat of Ryan Kottke, a towering blast to left.
On tap for day two is media day plus hopefully some nicer weather...Enjoy...I'll talk to you then...
One of the beauties of the turf at Wuerfel Park (which is beautiful if you haven't seen it) is the ability to play immediately after rain. Rain fell overnight and into the morning but was not falling when practice opened at 9:30 am. A steady drizzle developed into a steady rain, but still the team continued on with its morning conditioning and defensive drills on into batting practice. While the rain did eventually force the team inside during the second round of batting practice (to prevent baseballs from getting waterlogged) in the morning around 11am, spirits were high as was the excitement of the day.
The afternoon session will feature an intrasquad game everyday where the pitchers throw live to the hitters. The rain had stopped and again with the turf there is little turnaround time needed so it was out for the fun...I was keeping score and the Blue team defeated the Gold team by an 8-5 margin in a seven-inning game (I just made up those two team names). Pitching for the Blue team was Ryan Gehring, who worked three innings...Brett Bostelman who saw two innings of work, and Jacob Cook who tossed an inning...Rory James threw an inning for each side...On the yellow team was David Nathanson also working three innings, Jeff Williams for a deuce, and Jared Locke for an inning.
Highlights from the game included a diving catch in left center field by Damon Lessler on a blooper (Lessler was playing second at the time)...Offensively Steve Young started things out with a homer over the fence in right field while batting left-handed against David Nathanson. Yes I said Steve Young hit a homer...He also stole a couple bases, walked, singled, and hit a rocket to third that was caught.
Other offensive highlights included Mike Goetz who connected on an opposite field double off the wall in left in his first at bat. Mike Epping posted four hits, two stolen bases, and a pair of RBI. Among his hits were an infield single and a triple into the right center field gap, something we hope to see many of during the year. Brad Roblin doubled, singled, and stole a base while Pat Perry, an All-Star in the Can-Am League last season, posted a pair of run scoring hits including an opposite field double to left. The only other homer of the day came off the bat of Ryan Kottke, a towering blast to left.
On tap for day two is media day plus hopefully some nicer weather...Enjoy...I'll talk to you then...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Interview With Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee
Curious about the changes in the Frontier League this season? There are new classification rules that have enabled the Beach Bums to bring back 11 players from the 2007 squad. The new rule is the addition of the Rookie-2 Status...I chatted with the Commissioner of the Frontier League, Bill Lee, late last week to talk about that change, the divisional realignment, exciting developments around the league this offseason, and the future of the Frontier League. The full interview will air during the Labatt Blue On Deck Show for the home opener on May 21...Here are the main highlights...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Welcome...
Welcome to my blog! I can't wait for the 2008 season to get rolling! Here you'll find plenty of exclusive Beach Bums content including highlight and audio recaps of each game...During every game you can blog your thoughts along with my updates...I'll be writing updates on what is happening during spring training and much much more!
Memories of 2007
What were your favorite moments from 2007? Post them here...I have attached the audio of my season highlight reel to help everyone gear up for 2008!
Six walk-off wins...14 runs in the seventh-inning of a 20-6 win over Kalamazoo...
Six walk-off wins...14 runs in the seventh-inning of a 20-6 win over Kalamazoo...
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