Exhibitions

UPDATE: Here are some photos from the game at Windy City...

Hi all...First off, its good to be noticed...Which is to say, I am glad that I received emails about the lack of updating this today...I couldn't get the internet at Windy City (They had the internet but my cpu wouldn't connect) so was unable to blog from there tonight...I do however have some updates for you from both last night's 22-3 win over the Northwest Indiana All-Stars and today's victory over Windy City...

Secondly, I hope you enjoyed today's edition of Woody's RailCats Roundup...I will hope to post the audio from the maiden voyage on Sunday, though with the broadcast and us leaving for Evansville it may wait until Sunday night or Monday...The feedback I have received is positive and I am open to suggestiong ons things you would like to hear or people you would like to hear from...

The RailCats shutout Windy City 4-0...Windy City, in my mind, will be one of the top teams in the Frontier League this season...They just opened camp on Thursday and today was their first exhibition...In fact, the T-Bolts didn't even wear numbers on the uniforms (Something I hope will change for tomorrow otherwise the broadcast might get interesting)...I will post some photos I took from the game tomorrow morning probably (I need to get some food in my belly tonight first :))

Scott Shaw looked very impressive in throwing five shutout frames and Zeb Engle and Will Krout were equally as strong in holding off Windy City for two frames each...

It took the offense a little while to get started, but as has been the theme so far this spring, they used speed and walks to eventually help push open the door...While I didn't keep official stats last night during what was more of a scrimmage than an exhibition game, I will say that in the four games I have seen, the RailCats have walked close to 40 times...Tonight was no exception...Four stolen bases, seven walks, and a hit by pitch...Wearing teams down...Adam Klein reached base three times with two walks and stole two bases...He would have scored two runs but was called for leaving early in the ninth attempting to tag on a flyball...Mike Valadez reached in each of his at bats, singling, walking, and stealing a base...Lou Ott and Kyle Haines also found their way on twice with a hit and a walk each...Ott played second in addition to third...

Something you will only hear from me...The Frontier League and the American Association use completely different baseballs...The FL uses Wilson and the AA uses Rawlings...So for each half inning the balls needed to be switched to ensure the 'Cats were throwing the baseballs they would be using all season...

Here the Full Recap

From Friday...I caught my first glimpse of Derrick Gordon, one of the top offseason acquisitions...Without the radar gun on I have no idea how hard he was throwing, but the glove was popping...He threw three innings and struck out five...Also impressive was a name I know well but may be mentioning for the first time on here as a RailCat...David Nathanson...Nathanson, who pitched for three years in Traverse City while I was there, tossed three innings and struck out six, including five in a row at one point...Jeremy Hauer and Chris Chavez also pitched last night...Another name I haven't mentioned is Brian Kolb...Kolb registered four hits against the NWI All-Stars and also notched a hit at Windy City...Suffice it to say that the 'Cats were clicking on all cylinders in the Friday win from the start, tallying five first inning runs...The RailCats scored at least once in all but three frames...Former RailCat Dan Soria was the starting pitcher for the NWI All-Stars, who were managed by front office member Aaron Pineda...

RoundUp #1

So here is what's up on the first edition of Woody's RailCats ROundup which will debut tomorrow morning at 9am on The Lakeshore...

The theme of this week's show is introductions...
Introduction to my broadcast partner
The American Association with Commissioner Miles Wolff
Reedefining Fun with Andy Viano

I promise it will be awesome! And I welcome your feedback...Once the show has aired, I will repost all the interviews here...

LISTEN IN

Friday's Exhibition

UPDATE:Yeah...No updates from tonight...Here is my compromise...I will take some notes and post some highlights here...

I'm not sure how much I will be able to post tonight from U. S. Steel Yard as the RailCats host the Northwest Indiana All-Stars in an exhibition at 6 p.m.

I will do my best, but the staff is doing a gameday run through and that means I will be serving as the PA Announcer...You are more than welcome to come out to the game if you wish...There is no admission and the gates will be open...I'm also not sure what kind of roster I will have from the NWI All-Stars, though I hear several former RailCats will be on the club...

So, I will do my best this evening...What I will say is that on Saturday I will for sure be blogging from Standard Bank Stadium, home of the Frontier League's Windy City ThunderBolts, assuming I can get internet there which can sometimes be an adventure...Also, don't forget that Sunday's game will be broadcast on The Lakeshore with myself and my broadcast partner for the summer, who you will meet on the inaugural edition of Woody's RailCats Roundup...Which in case you missed it, airs at 9:00 a.m. every Saturday beginning tomorrow...

Service Project

UPDATE: Here are a few random snapshots from the event...

I told you I would post more about this...Yesterday, the RailCats coaches and staff had an opportunity to help out the community by volunteering at the Sojourner Truth House...Some photos will be added here in a bit of the event...Basically, we helped clean up an area where they will be having a fundraiser walk later this year...

Woody's RailCats Roundup

I've mentioned it before, but every Saturday morning on The Lakeshore, beginning this Saturday at 9:00 a.m., I will host Woody's RailCats Roundup (Think Toy Story)...The show will be your chance to feel like you are inside the RailCats clubhouse...Each week I will feature several segments to help you learn more about the players, coaches, and staff...I will also talk with various people from around the American Association during our travels along with so much more...Yes, the show can be heard online (I will link the Lakeshore's website below) and I will tease what is coming up on the show the day before it happens as a reminder to listen to Woody's RailCats Roundup...And I will post various segments on here after the show airs...There will also be an interactive segment where you, the fans, can email in questions that I will then ask the Manager, Greg Tagert, in Tagert's Mailbag...You can also email questions to me if so desired...Just send the email with the title RailCats Roundup...I'm excited for the show, and I hope you are too!!! It opens this Saturday at 9:00 a.m.!!!

The Lakeshore Website (To Listen Online)

More on Woody's RailCats Roundup

Exhibition #2: What People are Saying

Here is the media from around for the second game of the exhibition series with Winnipeg...

My Recap
RailCats Split

Winnipeg Recap
Goldeyes Avenge Loss

Post Tribune
Defense Still a Concern

The Times
Miscues Hamper RailCats in Loss

RailCats Help Community (More on this Today)

Winnipeg Free Press
Goldeyes Show Marked Improvement

Fish Shed Some Rust

Attending to Unfinished Business (Feature on Barry Fowler)

Winnipeg 6, RailCats 2

The second one is in the books...There will be seven exhibition games this spring due to a few schedule tweaks and the 'Cats own a 1-1 mark thus far...Check out Greg Tagert's audio below...

BOXSCORE

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Greg Tagert talks about it, but despite the fact that Jack Frawley took the loss, he looked very strong...Frawley plowed through the first six hitters of the game before being touched in his third frame...

Brad Boyer is back with the team but did not play on Wednesday either...He is expected work his way back into the lineup this weekend...

The RailCats did a solid job of fighting back...Down 4-0 and owning just one hit, the 'Cats scored twice in the sixth inning with five straight players reaching base...

The wind definetly has an affect today turning several routine plays into adventures...Alan Rick was credited with an infield double when a pop to third dropped after tailing away from third base in the fourth inning...

While the 'Cats made a pair of errors in the contest leading to three unearned runs, Brian Kolb made the play of the day at short, diving to stab a grounder and throwing out Wilmer Pino in the fifth...

A day after stranding 15 men on base, the 'Cats trapped 12, leaving 27 in the two game series with Winnipeg...

Speaking of Winnipeg, the Goldeyes were happy to be in Indiana despite the weather, finally able to hit the field and look at some live pitching in a three-day stint (The Fish arrived on Monday for a workout in addition to the games)...

The start of the game was delayed by 32 minutes as the visitors were not ready to go at the scheduled start time...

Tagert Postgame (May 4)

Goldeyes at RailCats: Exhibition Game #2 - May 4

Keep hitting refresh often...The results will update after each half inning...Enjoy...

FIRST INNING
Top
And we are underway!!! Jack Frawley's first pitch at 11:32 was a ball...
Jonathan Wyatt flew out to deep center (ONE OUT)
Amos Ramon lined out to right...Diving catch by Toddric Johnson (TWO OUTS)
Kody Kaiser grounds out to first...
WINNIPEG 0, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
Adam Klein flew out to center (ONE OUT)...
Mike Rohde flew out to short left (TWO OUTS)...
Kyle Haines flew out to left...
WINNIPEG 0, RAILCATS 0

SECOND INNING
Top
Brian Myrow flew out to left (ONE OUT)...
Victor Ferrante grounded out to third (TWO OUTS)...
Alan Rick grounded out to first (3-1)...
WINNIPEG 0, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
Cristian Guerrero popped out to second on the first pitch (ONE OUT)...
Johnny Bowden popped out to second (TWO OUTS)...
Louis Ott flew out to left...
OK...We are going four outs in this inning...
Toddric Johnson struck out swinging...
WINNIPEG 0, RAILCATS 0

THIRD INNING
Top
Justin Bass posted the first hit of the game, ringing a double off the wall in left...
Aharon Eggleston singled past a diving Chris Carrara at second, Bass scores...
WINNIPEG 1, RAILCATS 0
Wilmer Pino singles through the right side on a hit and run...Eggleston to third...Pino stole second...
Price Kendall singled through the left side...Eggleston scored...Pino to third...
WINNIPEG 2, RAILCATS 0
Back to the top of the order...Wyatt grounded into a double play, rolling back to the pitcher (TWO OUTS)...Pino scored...
WINNIPEG 3, RAILCATS 0
Ramon flared a single down the right field line...
Kaiser grounded out to second...
WINNIPEG 3, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
LHP Chris Salamida on to pitch...
Chris Carrara grounded out to second base (ONE OUT)...
Cody McMorris worked the count full before walking to become the first base runner of the game...
McMorris was caught stealing after a few pickoff attempts from the lefty (TWO OUTS)...
Klein walked after working the count full...
Rohde grounded out to second...
WINNIPEG 3, RAILCATS 0

FOURTH INNING
Top
Myrow lined out to first (ONE OUT)...
Ferrante grounded back to Frawley (TWO OUTS)...
Rick reached second after a popup landed in fair territory thanks to the wind...
Bass reached on a throwing error...Rick moved to third...
Eggleston singled...Rick scored an unearned run...Eggleston moved to second on the throw as Bass scored...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0
End of inning after just two outs...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
Haines lined out to right-center (ONE OUT)...
Guerrero posted the first hit of the game, singling through the right side...
Bowden struck out swinging (TWO OUTS)...
Ott flew out to right...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0

FIFTH INNING
Top
Mike Valadez to catcher...Brian Kolb to short...Zeb Engle to pitch...
Pino grounded out to short on a solid play by Kolb (ONE OUT)...
Kendall walked...
Wyatt singled to right...Kendall to second...
Ramon struck out swinging (TWO OUTS)...
Kaiser struck out looking...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
RHP John Mariotti on to pitch...
Johnson walked on four pitches...
Carrara followed with another four pitch walk...Johnson to second...
McMorris struck out swinging (ONE OUT)...
Klein struck out swinging (TWO OUTS)...
Rohde walked to load the bases...
Haines grounded out to second...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0

SIXTH INNING
Top
Ott moves to first...Beachum in at third...
Myrow walked...
Ferrante fouled out to first (ONE OUT)...
Luis Alen pinch hit for Alan Rick and flew out to center (TWO OUTS)...
Bass struck out swinging...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 0

Bottom
Brian Kolb flew out to right (ONE OUT)...
Guerrero singled through the left side, his second hit of the game...
Guerrero moved up to second on a wild pitch...
Mike Valadez singled to right...An error enables Valadez to move to second and Guerrero crosses the plate...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 1
Ott walks...The fourth ball was way off, moving Valadez to third on the wild pitch...
Johnson lines a single to center...Valadez scores...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 2
Carrara depostis a single into short left...Bases loaded...
McMorris bounces into a fielder's choice...Ott forced out at the plate...
End of Inning with just two outs...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 2

SEVENTH INNING
Top
LHP Aaron Jenkins on to pitch...
Eggleston leads off with a double into the right-center gap...
Pino grounded out to second...Eggleston advanced to third (ONE OUT)...
Kendall walked after Jenkins jumped ahead 0-2...Runners at the corners...
Wyatt popped out to third...Beachum and Kolb almost collide (TWO OUTS)...
Ramon reached on an error at Toddric Johnson dropped a fly ball in right...Both runs scored...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2
Kaiser put together quite an at bat...Fouling several pitches off before eventually striking out swinging to end the half...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2

Bottom
Klein reaches with a swinging bunt single AKA a drag bunt...
Klein steals second...
Jeff Beachum with his first AB of the day...Works the count full and walks...
Kolb struck out swinging (ONE OUT)...
Beachum was running to second, Klein did not move...Beachum thrown out (TWO OUTS)...
Guerrero walks...Runners at first and second...
Valadez lined out to right...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2

EIGHTH INNING
Top
Myrow walked...
Ferrante flew out to the warning track in right (ONE OUT)...
Alen singled into left-center...Myrow moved to second...
Bass struck out swinging (TWO OUTS)...
Eggleston finally is retired... Third strikeout for Jenkins...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2

Bottom
RHP Chad Benefield taking over on the mound...
Ott greets Benefield with a sharp double down the first base line and into the corner...
Johnson flew out to right (ONE OUT)...
Carrara walked...
McMorris strikes out swinging after some confusion (TWO OUTS)...It looked like a check swing and then the third base ump said it was a foul tip...
Beachum jumps ahead of Klein in the order to get an extra AB in what appears to be an eight inning game...And grounds out to first...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2

That looks to be the end of the game...The managers are meeting to decide what to do...And that's it...Winnipeg and Gary split both games in the series...
WINNIPEG 6, RAILCATS 2

Exhibition #2: Lineups

Today concludes the brief two game series with Winnipeg...As I mentioned yesterday, Winnipeg is broadcasting live from the visiting booth if you desire to listen to the games...I will broadcast Sunday against Windy City and Tuesday at Ft. Worth on The Lakeshore...I will post a similar blog live after each half inning on here again...Both teams lineups are below, a very similar look to yesterday...

WINNIPEG (0-1)
Jonathan Wyatt - CF
Amos Ramon - 3B
Kody Kaiser - LF
Brian Myrow - DH
Victor Ferrante - RF
Alan Rick - C
Justin Bass - 1B
Aharon Eggleston - DH
Wilmer Pino - 2B
Price Kendall - SS

RHP Ace Walker - Starter
Also slated to throw
LHP Chris Salamida
RHP John Mariottti
LHP Mike Williams
RHP Chad Benefield

RAILCATS (1-0)
Adam Klein - LF
Mike Rohde - 1B
Kyle Haines - SS
Cristian Guerrero - DH
Johnny Bowden - C
Louis Ott - 3B
Toddric Johnson - RF
Chris Carrara - 2B
Cody McMorris - CF

RHP Jack Frawley - Starter
Also slated to appear
LHP Zeb Engle
LHP Aaron Jenkins

First Game Media

The first exhibition game is in the books...As I was told, the RailCats won just one exhibition game last year, so opening with a win is exciting...Check below for media about the game...

My Recap
RailCats Open Exhibition Season With Victory

Winnipeg Recap
Goldeyes Lose Exhibition Opener


The Times
Outfielder Show the Need for Speed

Post-Tribune
McMorris Making His Case

What a Long, Strange Trip it Will Be

Winnipeg Free Press
RailCats Cool Off Goldeyes

Flickr
Link to the RailCats Flickr page to see some pictures from the first exhibition
Photos

Meet the Team Night

Last night was Meet the Team Night, a gathering for the season ticket holders...Some pictures and details will be coming from the event...

No-No-Way

Color me jealous...Following yesterday's exhibition game, the Winnipeg Goldeyes staff went to U.S. Cellular Field...Well, they got to see history...Francisco Liriano tossed the first no-hitter of the season in a 1-0 win for the Twins over the White Sox last night...If you had May 3 in your first no-no of the year poll then congrats to you! And if you did, then I deserve to give you some props right here and on air...

Also here on Calderwood's 'Cats Corner you will get random baseball stories...And here is one...First of all if you have ever seen a no-hitter live, do comment...Second of all I have broadcast a no-hitter...In 2009 the Florence Freedom no-hit the Beach Bums (Team I was with at the time) in Kentucky as Preston Vancil walked eight and hit a batter but did not allow a hit...Even though it was against us it was still cool...

But I digress...To my story...I was 10 years old...It was the summer of 1991...I was at Old Comiskey Park for a July 1 game between the White Sox and Yankees...And I witnessed something that is hard to be seen over again...Not a perfect game, though that would be awesome...A no-hitter thrown by a pitcher who lost...It was a sunny day and Andy Hawkins hurled a no-hitter but lost the game 4-0 thanks to his outfielders dropping fly balls due to the sun....Since Hawkins only threw eight innings because he lost, MLB took away credit for throwing that no-hitter...But I was there...How about that? Top that Winnipeg! Hahahaha...

One of the highlights of my life was a visit to Cooperstown in the summer of 2006...While there I got to see the ball from the no-no on display...The Hall of Fame displays balls from every no-hitter thrown and updates its wall every year...I will have to find a photo and add it at some point...

RailCats 5, Winnipeg 4

The RailCats opened the exhibition season with a 5-4 victory over Winnipeg...Below you will find the audio from yesterday's postgame press conferences featuring Manager Greg Tagert and Outfielder Cody McMorris...I have also linked in the boxscore so you can get a look yourself at the stats from the game...But first...

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
One thing that really stood out to me yesterday was team speed...Eight stolen bases in the game for the 'Cats including four from Cody McMorris...If they can do that during the regular season opponents are going to make mistakes simply because they get worried about even putting guys on base...You will hear Greg Tagert mention McMorris and his stolen base total from last year...He swiped 14 bases and posted 15 hits in the Golden League...

Winnpieg made five errors...OK, those things are going to happen in the spring as well as during the season...What made yesterday unique is that if a team is going to make mistakes, YOU HAVE TO CAPITALIZE! Three of the five runs scored by the RailCats were a direct result of errors and a fourth run scored because of an error but ended up being an earned run...

You may look at Scott Shaw's line and say, wow, he wasn't that impressive...Well, his pitch count was high in the first inning which was why he only threw three innings, but he allowed two runs on six hits...Thinking of the six hits, a lot of them were seeing eye singles that weren't really hit hard but found openings...He battled throughout, and posted more strikeouts than any other pitcher from wither side during the game...

Will Krout and Jeremy Hauer were inoressive...Krout was only slated to throw two innings but lasted a third when Shaw's pitch count forced him into the game earlier...Krout has an arm angle that makes picking up the ball difficult...The righty won a title last season as a key reliever for the River City Rascals in the Frontier League, finishing 7-1 with a 2.46 ERA in 58.2 innings...Most of Krout's out came on softly hit grounders...WInnipeg had a tough time seeing him...Hauer on the otherhand, may have returned to the form which earned him MVP of the 2009 Championship Series with Fargo-Moorhead, allowing just one base runner in his two innings on a walk...

The defense was extremely awesome yesterday...No errors in the game...There were two plays that I highlighted in the sixth inning...Chris Carra made an awesome stab and throw from third to open the inning, and then McMorris made a sweet catch in center and then hurrying his throw back to the infield aiming for a double play overshot second base, but Jeff Beachum flew over to cut off the overthrow and flip for the double play...

Winnipeg used a 10-man lineup in the game...The RailCats used 10 men once around in the middle of the contest, giving Kyle Haines an extra at bat after he was lifted from the game for Brian Kolb...Speaking of Haines...He was one of the players Greg Tagert wanted big time this offseason...He hit in the third slot in the lineup and was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a run, and an RBI...

GAME BOXSCORE

AUDIO
Tagert's Postgame Press Conference
(Sorry about the audio early in this, I was fiddling with the microphone's location...


Cody McMorris talking with Hillary Smith from the Times
(His audio is a little quiet, so turn him up)

Goldeyes at RailCats: Exhibition Game #1 - May 3

Today, the RailCats open what will be a very full slate of exhibition baseball action...There are eight games scheduled, four at U.S. Steel Yard and four on the road...I just heard Paul Edmonds talk on his pregame show about how even though it is an exhibition, facing live pitching is still something that guys strive for before the season to help with preparation...Throughout the game today I will be posting updates during every half inning so keep refreshing your browser :)

FIRST INNING

Top
First pitch at 1:09 p.m.
Jonathan Wyatt walked...
Amos Ramon singled to center...Wyatt moved to third...
Ramon caught stealing 2-6 (ONE OUT)...
Kody Kaiser singled to left...Wyatt scored...
WINNIPEG 1, RAILCATS 0

Kaiser picked off by Valadez 2-3 (TWO OUTS)...
Brian Myrow singled through the right side...
Victor Ferrante strikes out looking (THIRD OUT)...

Bottom
Adam Klein reached on an error by 1B Justin Bass...
Mike Rohde grounded out to second...Klein moved to second (ONE OUT)...
Kyle Haines doubled to the right-center gap (RBI)...Klein scored
WINNIPEG 1, RAILCATS 1

Cristian Guerrero reached on an error by the SS Price Kendall...Haines moved to third...
Louis Ott singled to left...Haines scored...Guerrero advanced to second...
RAILCATS 2, WINNIPEG 1
Mike Valadez lines into a double play...Guerrero out...
RAILCATS 2, WINNIPEG 1

SECOND INNING

Top
Alan Rick doubled into the right field corner...
Justin Bass struck out looking (ONE OUT - Shaw 2K)
Aharon Eggleston rolled and infield single...Rick moved to third...
Luis Allen lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center (TWO OUTS)...Rick scored
RAILCATS 2, WINNIPEG 2
Price Kendall flew out to right...
RAILCATS 2, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
Jeff Beachum walked...
Toddric Johnson flew out to center (ONE OUT)...
Cody McMorris reached on a fielder's choice...Beachum out at second...
McMorris stole second...Moved to third on a wild pitch...
Klein walked...
Rohde singled...McMorris scored, Klein moved to third...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2
Haines walked to load the bases...
Guerrero popped out to short...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

THIRD INNING

Top
Wyatt grounded out to second...
Ramon reached on an infield single to short...
Kaiser flew out to left...
Myrow struck out swinging...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
Barry Fowler in to pitch...
Louis Ott grounded out to second...
Mike Valadez struck out looking...
Beachum singled...
Johnson flew out to center...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

FOURTH INNING

Top
Will Krout in to pitch...Brian Kolb to shortstop...
Ferrante grounded out to short...
Rick walked...
Bass reached on a fielder's choice...Rick out...
Eggleston flew out to left...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
LHP Zach Baldwin in to pitch...
McMorris popped to second...
Klein grounded to short...
Rohde singled...
Haines grounded into a fielder's choice...Rohde out...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

FIFTH INNING

Top
Chris Carrara to third base...Beachum moves to first...
Allen grounded out to Kolb at short...
Kendall bounced to third...
Wyatt grounded out to second...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
Brian Kolb struck out swinging...
Guerrero popped out to short...
Louis Ott singled...
Mike Valadez singled through the right side on a hit and run...Ott moved to third...
Beachum popped out to second...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

SIXTH INNING

Top
Johnny Bowden to catch...
Ramon grounded out to third - Nice play by Carrara...
Kaiser with an infield single...Kaiser stole second...
Myrow lined into a double play on a solid catch from McMorris in center...Beachum backing up cut off an overthrow to double off Kaiser...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
Rick to catch...Will Jackel to pitch...
Johnson broke his bat grounding out to first...
McMorris grounded out to second...
Klein struck out swinging...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

SEVENTH INNING

Top
Chris Chavez to pitch...
Ferrante grounded out to third on the first pitch...
Rick walked...
Bass flew out to center...
Wilmer Pino (Pinch Hitter) grounded out to third...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

Bottom
Ian Thomas in to pitch, 2010 Northern League Rookie of the Year...
Chris Carrara grounded out first to pitcher...
Kolb was hit by a pitch...Kolb stole second...
Guerrero walked...Double steal moves Kolb to third and Guerrero to second...
Ott walked to load the bases...
Johnny Bowden struck out swinging...
Beachum struck out swinging and the 'Cats left the bases loaded...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 2

EIGHTH INNING

Top
Allen grounded out to third...
Kendall was hit by a pitch...
Wyatt poked a double into the left field corner...Kendall to third...
Ramon lifted a sacrifice fly to right...Kendall scored...Wyatt to third...
RAILCATS 3, WINNIPEG 3
Kaiser singled up the middle...Wyatt scored...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 3
Kaiser stole second...
Myrow struck out looking...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 3

Bottom
T.J. Macy to pitch...
Johnson lined out to right...
McMorris walked and promptly stole second...
Klein walked for the second time in the game...
Pitching Coach Brendan Sagara visited to talk with Macy...
Double steal for McMorris and Klein...McMorris scores the tying run on a throwing error by Rick throwing into left...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 4
Carrara walked...
Kolb flew out to center...
Guerrero grounded out to third...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 4

NINTH INNING

Top
LHP Jeremy Hauer to pitch...
Ferrante flew out to center...
Rick flew out to right...
Bass drew a two out walk...
Pino grounded back to Hauer...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 4

Bottom
Aaron Hartsock on the hill for the Goldeyes...Seventh pitcher of the game...
Ott struck out...
Bowden posted an opposite field single to right...
Beachum chopped into an inning ending double play (5-4-3)...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 4

TENTH INNING

Top
Alen grounded out to third...
Kendall grounded softly to first...
Wyatt flew out to right...
WINNIPEG 4, RAILCATS 4

Bottom
RHP Jamie Vermilyea on to pitch...
Johnson grounded out to second...
McMorris with a bunt single reached second on a throwing error by the pitcher...
Klein flew out to short left...
The manager out to the mound as Rick Forney visits...
McMorris stole third, his fourth steal of the game...
Carrara walks...
Kolb reaches on an error...McMorris scores...
RAILCATS 5, WINNIPEG 4
Guerrero strikes out looking...
FINAL: RAILCATS 5, WINNIPEG 4

Broadcast

Paul Edmonds of the Winnipeg Goldeyes is here to broadcast the action today and tomorrow...Below is the link to hear his broadcast of today's game...I will also be blogging with live updates...

LISTEN

Exhibition #1: Lineups

Here are the lineups for the exhibition contest today against the Winnipeg Goldeyes...Winnipeg arrived yesterday and practiced after being covered with some snow over the weekend north of the border they are beginning a two-game stint with the RailCats before heading to St. Paul for a pair of contests...Today's contest is scheduled for 10 innings...

WINNIPEG

Jonathan Wyatt - CF
Amos Ramon - 3B
Kody Kaiser - 2B
Brian Myrow - DH
Victor Ferrante - RF
Alan Rick - DH/C (Later)
Justin Bass - 1B
Aharon Eggleston - LF
Luis Alen - C/DH (Later)
Price Kendall - SS

RHP Dustin Glant - SP
Also slated to throw
RHP Barry Fowler
LHP Zach Baldwin
RHP William Jackel
LHP Ian Thomas
RHP T.J. Macy
RHP Aaron Hartsock
RHP Jamie Vermilyea

RAILCATS

Adam Klein - DH
Mike Rohde - 1B
Kyle Haines - SS
Cristian Guerrero - RF
Louis Ott - 2B
Mike Valadez - C
Jeff Beachum - 3B
Toddric Johnson - LF
Cody McMorris - CF

RHP Scott Shaw - SP

Also Slated to throw
RHP Will Krout
RHP Chris Chavez
LHP Jeremy Hauer

What People are Saying

Time to catch up on what the media in The Region has been writing about...Media Day was on Saturday before the first workout, which gave the media time for some one on ones...There is also some info on the open tryout from Friday...The picture is from The Tagert Mile, a staple of the first workout of the spring which was run on Saturday...All the articles below are linked beginning with the most recent...

The Times
Economy Makes Baseball Buyer's Market

Not All Familiar Faces, Some Familiar Names Return

Tryout Welcomes First Female Applicant

Post-Tribune
Gary Woman Attends Workout

Roster Moves

With spring training now underway and the exhibition schedule opening tomorrow when the RailCats open a two-game set with Winnipeg (Who may be working outside for the first time -- I have heard there is still snow covering their stadium)...Here's an update on a few recent moves made by Manager Greg Tagert...

Catcher John Parham, who batted .239 in 60 games with the RailCats last season, was traded to the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League in exchange for a player to be named...Pitcher Joe Tarallo was also dealt as he was sent to Florence of the Frontier League for another player to be named...Infielder Zach Williams was placed on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting his unconditional release...

Those moves left room for three additions...Catcher Johnny Bowden, Infielder Brad Boyer, and Outfielder Toddric Johnson are all currently with the team in spring workouts...A little bit of info on all three is below and click on their name to see the full bios and learn more...

Bowden has some Triple-A experience in the Rockies organization but still holds rookie status in the American Association...

Boyer was in the Giants system, playing three infield and two outfield slots at some point during his tenure, which has included the past three years at Double-A or higher...He is pictured at third base for DOuble-A Connecticut...

Johnson joins an already heavy cast of former players in the Athletics system...He played for five seasons in the outfield, reaching High-A Stockton in the California League...He previously played with Mike Massaro, Adam Klein, and Derrick Gordon...

The spring roster is now at 28, the league maximum...There are some definite areas of competition...

ROSTER

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to Calderwood's 'Cats Corner...Wow that's a lot of apostrophes...I thought my first post would be an introduction to me and then kind of lay out what you will see here this week and throughout the season...

I am excited to join the RailCats family...I have spent the last four years in the Frontier League and have often heard from players about Gary...Before the 2008 season I had a first hand visit to U.S. Steel Yard when the Traverse City Beach Bums, who I was working for at the time, came here for an exhibition contest against the RailCats...I am a lifelong resident of the Chicago suburbs and will be living at home this season in Wheaton...As someone who has lived in three different states during baseball season the past five years it will be nice to have my own bed, and of course, my wife is excited to have me around as well...I don't think she knows what she is in for now :)

Broadcast wise, I consider myself to be a very knowledgeable baseball person...I enjoy having fun in the broadcast booth and being interactive with you all each and every night...

Some quick news and notes before telling you what to expect in this space all season...I will be broadcasting the exhibition game against Windy City at U.S. Steel Yard on Sunday at 1pm on The Lakeshore and again on May 10 (Tuesday) from Ft. Worth in the final tuneup for the season at 7pm...Also, beginning this Saturday (May 7) I will be hosting a weekly program devoted entirely to the RailCats, Woody's RailCat Roundup (Think Toy Story)...The program will air at 9am on The Lakeshore...More details will be coming soon about the show and I will also let you know who will be on the first edition...While I won't be broadcasting the other exhibition games, I will be in attendance at all exhibition games and will be blogging here with updates, news and notes, etc...

So what will you see or hear on Calderwood's 'Cats Corner...Here I will post news from the RailCats as well as from around the league...There will be links every day to articles written about the Cats...Lineups will be posted daily, I have done game notes in the past on here, we will see...Audio highlights, likely the RailCat Rewind which will air twice a day on The Lakeshore, interviews, and so much more...Not to mention a search by category feature and a weekly archive so you can go back and look at what you missed...Perhaps the better question is what won't be on here...And I can't think of anything...So bookmark the page, visit often, comment away, and enjoy...

Cheers!
Tim