Windy City ThunderBolts
Manager: Tommy Thompson
Manager of the Frederick Keys (Orioles - High-A) left early in 2008 but has been managing since 1990 though this will be his eighth season...He has extensive time as a coach, working as catching instructor for the White Sox from 1999-2005...During the 2008 campaign he managed the top prospect in the Orioles system, Catcher Matt Wieters...
251-311 Overall Record
Bench Coach: Mike Kashirsky
Pitching Coach: Billy Bryk
Hitting Coach: Greg Mucerino
Bullpen Coach: Pascual Santiago
After becoming just the second team in Frontier League history to win back-to-back championships, the ThunderBolts will again have a new bench boss. Tommy Thompson is the fifth manager since 2006, and he has a completely new coaching staff save for Mike Kashirsky, who managed the ThunderBolts to last season’s crown. Two managers previously have been able to change the direction of the franchise and now it’s Thompson’s turn to keep that trend in the West Division. Thompson was the 2007 Baseball America High-A Manager of the Year in the Orioles system. This time he will have not nearly as much championship experience as most of the key players moved on including virtually the entire infield. Then again, we thought the same thing in 2008, and that was before a former Major Leaguer joined the fray.
Returning
C – Danny Sawyer (Rookie-2)
56 Games, .219, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 10 2B
C – Doug Coe (Rookie-2)
(Reinstated from Retired List)
24G, .227, 2 HR, 13 RBI
2B – Gilberto Mejia (Veteran)
(Currently on the Suspended List)
81G, .282, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 34 SB
OF – Mike Sullivan (Veteran)
Perhaps the surprise of last season, hit .363 for the T-Bolts after hitting just .242 in Evansville; Stats are combined between both West Division squads
88G, .310, 4HR, 40RBI, 18 2B, 14SB
OF – Mark McBratney (Rookie-2)
15G, .190, 1 HR, 10 RBI
RHP – Jason Lowey (LS-1)
33G, 2 GS, 3-1, 4.16 ERA, 6 SV, 62.2 IP, 67 K
RHP – Stephen Flake (LS-1)
19GS, 10-3, 4.04 ERA, 118 IP, 83 K
RHP – Adam Dominick (Rookie-2)
19G, 5 GS, 4-2, 5.89 ERA, 44.1 IP, 47 K
RHP – Brandon Garner (LS-1)
8G, 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1 SV, 7 IP, 5K
RHP – Ross Stout (LS-2)
MVP of the Frontier League Championship Series
19GS, 11-3, 2.57 ERA, 133 IP, 121 K
RHP – Brian McCullough (Rookie-2)
Was dreadful with Chillicothe but shined as a reliever for the T-Bolts, posting a 2.37 ERA; Stats are combined
25G, 5 GS, 3-5, 5.56 ERA, 55 IP, 32K
RHP – Ted Ratliff (Rookie-2)
9GS, 4-1, 3.44 ERA, 49.2 IP, 22K
LHP – Matt Jernstad (Rookie-2)
3G, 1 GS, 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7 IP, 6 K
LHP – Tyler Kelsey (Rookie-2)
1G, 0-0, 7.11 ERA, 6.1 IP, 7K
Appeared in one game with Windy City before being signed by the Blue Jays where he pitched in six games with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays…
LHP – Charles O’Neal (Rookie-2)
7G, 1 GS, 0-1, 8.68 ERA, 9.1 IP, 5 K
LHP – Alain Quijano (LS-2)
35 G, 1-1, 4.78 ERA, 49 IP, 49 K
Newcomers (All Stats from 2008 unless Otherwise Noted)
C – Jamie Quinn (NYSL Capitols -- Rookie-2)
Quinn saw time in the New York State League last season with the Capitols and hit .310 according to the ThunderBolts website...Stats for the NYSL, a developmental league with two teams, are not readily available...Hit .293 last spring for Queens College, a Division III program…
C – Brandon Harrigan (Tigers System -- Rookie-2)
The Rangers signed Harrigan shortly after the T-Bolts and sent him to spring training, but he didn’t make the cut...Spent two seasons in the Tigers system in the Gulf Coast League...23rd Round pick out of Oklahoma City College
29G, .218, 0 HR, 5 RBI
IF – Bryan Cook (Rockford RiverHawks -- Rookie-2)
Lefty played nine games for Rockford, making four starts at first base...An NCAA Division II Second Team All-American out of Nova Southeastern University after hitting .418 as a senior...
9G, .143, 2 HR, 4 RBI
IF – Tyler Farrar (Alexandria Aces -- Rookie-2)
Farrar made his pro debut in the United League and participated in 15 contests playing nine at third and six at short...Out of Austin Peay University, Farrar was a First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick and homered off of current Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price in the 2007 NCAA Regionals…Farrar was signed out of the T-Bolts open tryout in Tennessee in February...
15G, .207, 0 HR, 0 RBI
IF – Drew George (Chillicothe Paints -- Rookie-2)
(Acquired from Chillicothe/Lake Erie; Currently on the Suspended List)
Made his pro debut with Chillicothe last season, playing in 15 games and starting 11 at third base...Won an NCAA Championship at Oregon State as a junior...
15G, .154, 0 HR, 0 RBI
IF – Jeff King (True Rookie)
The only Jeff King I can find is the former Major Leaguer...And its not that guy…
IF – Jeff Brewer (Stephen F. Austin University -- True Rookie)
Finished his college eligibility last spring at Stephen F. Austin University…
52G, .299, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 18 SB
IF – Guillermo Martinez (Marlins Organization -- LS-1)
Spent three seasons in the Florida system, slowly progressing from the New York-Penn League (Short Season) to Greensboro (Full Season A - South Atlantic League; Gregg Langbehn managed in that league) to Jupiter (Class A-Advanced, Florida State League)...His best season came in the South Atlantic League during the 2007 campaign when he played 44 games primarily at short and hit .263...He also played third and second...Martinez played with current Beach Bum James Guerrero…
44G, .263, 1 HR , 7 RBI
IF – Nate Hall (Ottawa Rapidz -- LS-1)
(Acquired from Worcester of the Can-Am League; Currently on the Suspended List)
Had signed with Worcester after Ottawa folded but was traded to Windy City...Played in 51 games as a rookie for Ottawa including 27 at third base...Hit .344 at UNC-Wilmington to help lead the team to the NCAA Tournament as a senior...
51G, .263, 0 HR, 22 RBI
IF – J.T. Restko (Rangers Organization -- Veteran)
Native of the Windy City area, spent five seasons in the Florida system before playing in 2008 with the Rangers, reaching Double-A last year...150 at bats is the Frontier League standard for player classification, and in each of his six seasons Restko reached that mark...During 2005, Restko played in the South Atlantic League and hit .313 with 15 homers and 70 RBI...The .313 average was fifth in the league…Stats are from Bakersfield, the High-A Rangers affiliate...He hit .193 in 27 games at Double-A...Restko was a 10th round pick of the Marlins in 2003...
38G, .293, 5 HR, 25 RBI
OF – Vinnie Scarduzio (Florida Gulf Coast University -- True Rookie)
Drafted twice by MLB...22nd Round of the 2004 draft by the Twins as a high schooler and the 29th Round of the 2005 Draft by the Angels after his first year in junior college...Led team in homers in each season at FGCU and helped team to Atlantic Sun crown in first year as a Division I program last year...
49G, .275, 9 HR, 44 RBI
OF – Damian Walcott (Brookdale Community College -- True Rookie)
Signed with Worcester of the Can-Am League last season but did not play…Selected in the 37th Round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Pirates...Junior College stats not readily available...
OF – Jeff Thomas (Northern Illinois University -- True Rookie)
An interesting story, Thomas had signed to play with Ottawa of the Can-Am League, but Ottawa ceased operations...Led NIU in hitting during the 2008 season and also wrote a weekly blog for the Huskies...
49G, .350, 2 HR, 34 RBI, 16 SB
OF – Nick Damas (White Sox System -- Rookie-2)
Another local product, Damas played with three different teams in the White Sox organization last year...He signed as a free agent following his college career at Bellevue University where he hit .420 to lead the team and helped his team to the NAIA World Series...He also led the team in homers...Transferred to Bellevue from Marshall...The stats below are combined between Great Falls (Rookie-Pioneer League), Kannapolis (A-South Atlantic League), and Bristol (Rookie-Appalachian League)
37G, .189, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 SB
RHP – Billy Petrick (Chicago Cubs -- Veteran)
The key signing of the Frontier League offseason...Petrick is a former Major Leaguer who pitched for the Cubs...Bench Coach Mike Kashirsky had coached him previously and he is another local product...The Cubs took him in the third round of the 2002 draft out of high school and he spent seven seasons with the team, reaching the majors in 2007 and throwing 9.2 innings for the Central Division Champs but posted an ERA of 7.45...Has been plagued by injuries and inconsistencies during his career, pitched in just eight games for Daytona in the Florida State League last year...
8G, 1-2, 4.09 ERA, 11 IP, 7 K
RHP – Brandon Kloess (Texarkana Gunslingers -- Rookie-2)
(Obtained in a trade with Texarkana of the Continental League)
The Continental League featured just four teams in 2008 and I could not find any stats on Kloess so my guess is he was signed for the 2009 season...Pitched at Florida Atlantic University and had below average numbers as a starter...
11G, 4 GS, 1-1, 8.89 ERA, 28.1 IP, 21 K
LHP – Dustin Pease (Winnipeg Goldeyes -- LS-1)
(Acquired from Winnipeg in exchange for Wes Long)
Spent two seasons in the Northern League with Winnipeg as a reliever...Moved to the rotation at the end of 2008 and could help in either area for Windy City...
37G, 6 GS, 3-3, 3.16 ERA, 1 SV, 79.2 IP, 80 K
RHP – Mike Thomsen (True Rookie)
Could not find any information and the Frontier League roster has him as not having played anywhere in 2008...
RHP – Jeff Michael (Chillicothe Paints -- Rookie-2)
Signed as a free agent...Windy City will be his fourth Frontier League team after also playing with Evansville in 2008 and Washington in 2007...Stats are from his time with Chillicothe in 2008...
14G, 0-1, 6.48 ERA, 25 IP, 13 K
RHP – Nick Hall (Rookie-2)
I’ll give you a guess where he’s from…Another Chicago area product...However, Hall has not pitched since 2006 with the Phillies organization...Stats are from 2006…Played college baseball at Northern Illinois University...
12G, 2-1, 6.91 ERA, 14.1 IP, 10 K
Departed
IF/RHP – Amos Ramon
(Signed with Kalamazoo as a free agent)
49G, .256, 0 HR, 11 RBI
19G, 17 GS, 5-4, 4.65 ERA, 100.2 IP, 46 K
C – Justin Tellam
(Traded to Sioux City of the American Association)
36G, .284, 5 HR, 23 RBI
3B – Josh Horn
(Sold to Wichita of the American Association)
95G, .295, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 17 2B, 9 SB
OF – Mike Coles
(Sold to Joliet of the Northern League)
89G, .302, 12 HR, 75 RBI, 26 2B, 25 SB
RHP – Matt Petty
(Sold to Shreveport-Bossier of the American Association)
36G, 3-5, 3.72 ERA, 15 SV, 38.2 IP, 45 K
LHP – Isaac Hess (LS-1)
Is listed as returning by the ThunderBolts but I saw his name on the Golden League transactions yesterday as signing with the Victoria Seals
32 G, 9 GS, 7-6, 3.91 ERA, 89.2 IP, 110 K
OF – Brett Amyx
(Sold to Shreveport-Bossier of the American Association)
61G, .304, 6 HR, 35 RBI
OF – Scott Billak
(Traded to Lake Erie for Drew George)
91G, .291, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 17 2B
RHP – Anthony Rebyanski
(Retired)
38G, 3-2, 5.89 ERA, 36.2 IP, 41K
1B – Phil Hawke
(Sold to the Marlins; Signed with Lincoln of the American Association)
Frontier League MVP
96G, .309, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 16 2B
SS – Wes Long
(Traded to Winnipeg of the Northern League for Dustin Pease)
96G, .331, 11 HR, 71 RBI, 20 2B, 16 SB
SS – Patrick Brooks
(Released)
8G, .250, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Keep Your Eye On
The bullpen; 39 saves...Enough said. Matt Petty set a Frontier League record with 25 saves in 2007 and stopped 15 contests in 2008. He was sent to the American Association this offseason. Jason Lowey saved six games in 2008 and will likely be among the leaders for the closer role, but he had an ERA over 4.00. Anthony Rebyanski, while struggling in 2008, still appeared in 39 games to lead the team. That means the top two relievers are gone from a 60-win team. Brandon Garner posted a save, but had as many walks as strikeouts.
Trending
Down
Hard for a team who has won back-to-back titles to be going down but keep this in mind, the key members of their 2007 pitching staff struggled in 2008 and didn’t make it through the season. Most of their returners for 2009 come from the pitching staff. On the offensive side gone are two Frontier League postseason All-Stars including the 2008 Frontier League MVP and three mid-season All-Stars as well. The production among those players in addition to their other top two performers who are gone? How about 59 homers (59% of their season total), and if you add in two more that are gone its 70% of their total; 317 RBI (58% of the team total)...You get the picture, they need a lot of offensive production to replace the key players from two championship runs. There is a lot of potential among some of the players they have signed, but is it enough to maintain a championship level?
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