Southern Illinois Miners
Manager: Mike Pinto
Third Season at Southern Illinois (107-85)
Fifth Season Overall (176-207)
First Base Coach: Ralph Santana
Pitching Coach: Brendan Sagara
Hitting Coach: Bart Zeller
Scouting Coach: Ron Biga
Perhaps the best addition for Southern Illinois this offseason came in the form of Brendan Sagara, who was added to Mike Pinto’s staff as the pitching coach. Another big assist can be given to the St. Louis Cardinals, who decided that 2008 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Ryan Bird was not good enough to make any of their minor league squads. So now the man who came just short of setting the league’s single season record for strikeouts is back in the gold and black. Coming off of their first playoff appearance in franchise history (Southern Illinois was upended by eventual champion Windy City in four games of the first round), the Miners have a lot of returners on the pitching staff, but will again have several offensive holes to fill. The same could be said however last season when Brandon Jones arrived on the scene. One thing the Miners will benefit from is having one of the only coaching staffs in the league that stayed completely intact save for Sagara, who brings with him the resume of having been the pitching coach for the best staff in 2007 (Windy City), having a Northern League Championship ring as the pitching coach for Gary in 2005, and experience working with five different teams in the league, including Evansville last year. At his disposal is the second best pitching team in the league last year, trailing only the Beach Bums.
Returning
LHP – Bo Prather
4 G, 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 6 K
RHP - Nick Starnes
20 G, 11 GS, 3-4, 4.74 ERA, 74 IP, 39 K
RHP – Kevin Dooley
2 G, 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 3 IP, 4 K
RHP – Ryan Bird
2008 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year
21 G, 20 GS, 13-3, 2.48 ERA, 123.2 IP, 152 K, 1 SHO
RHP – Griffin Bailey
Led the league in appearances last season…Spent some time as the closer…
47 G, 5-5, 2.79 ERA, 6 SV, 58 IP, 44 K
RHP – Jake MacMurran
Frontier League All-Star
46 G, 1 GS, 4-3, 2.82 ERA, 1 SV, 73.1 IP, 61 K
RHP – Mike Phelps
Late season acquisition that developed quickly into one of the top closers in the league…
17 G, 1-0, 0.40 ERA, 3 SV, 22.2 IP, 39 K
LHP – Josh Neal
Retired in July last season but has opted to make a return…
3 G, 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4.1 IP, 2 K
IF – Tony Roth
Spent the final part of last season on the injured reserve list…
48 G, .290, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 6 SB
1B – Brad Miller
47 G, .310, 5 HR, 32 RBI
OF – Joey Metropoulos
93 G, .315, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 21 2B
OF – Kevin Koski
63 G, .285, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 16 SB
C – Randy Rosa (currently on the suspended list)
Picked up from River City, Rosa developed into a good backup to Brendan Akashian behind the plate…Stats are just with Southern Illinois…
27 G, .289, 0 HR, 5 RBI
Newcomers (All Stats from 2008 unless Otherwise Noted)
RHP – Chris Wiman (True Rookie from Abilene Christian University)
Led all NCAA Divisions in wins with 13 as a senior, used mainly as a reliever…
30 G, 8 GS, 13-5, 4.39 ERA, 4 SV, 80 IP, 78 K
RHP – Gary Lee (LS-2 from Florence)
Picked up in a trade from Florence for IF Mike Victor
Used as a reliever in River City but as a starter in Florence after being released, will likely be looked at to start for Southern Illinois…Pitched in the South Coast League for Aiken in 2007…Stats are just from Florence…
7 G, 7 GS, 3-3, 3.99 ERA, 47.1 IP, 26 K, 2 CG
LHP – Tim Dennehy (Rookie-2 from the Yankees System)
Teammate of Beach Bums hurler Jason Kiley at Staten Island in 2008 after playing in the Gulf Coast League in 2007…Used primarily as a reliever…26th Round Pick in the 2006 Draft…
16 G, 2-1, 3.68 ERA, 22 IP, 16 K
LHP - Cory Lapinski (Rookie-2 from the Astros System)
Has not pitched since 2006 after missing two seasons with Tommy John surgery…Managed by Beach Bums skipper Gregg Langbehn in the New York-Penn League with Tri-City for two years…Was also a teammate of Roger Clemens’ son…Once threw seven innings of relief without allowing a run in a game…Stats are from the 2006 season, his last in professional baseball…
18 G, 2-1, 2.41 ERA, 2 SV, 37.1 IP, 45 K
RHP – Zack Pitts (Rookie-2 from the Cardinals System)
Used as both a starter and reliever in the New York-Penn League last season…24th Round Draft Choice out of the University of Louisville where he was the Big East Pitcher of the Year…Pitched in the 2007 College World Series…
14 G, 7 GS, 1-5, 3.31 ERA, 51.2 IP, 38 K
LHP – Anthony Bradley (LS-1 from the Royals System)
Spent two seasons in the Royals system as a reliever and made a brief appearance at Triple-A Omaha in 2008…Spent most of 2008 in the Midwest League, the stats are from his time with Burlington, whom he was with on three different occasions last season…Released by the Royals at the end of spring training…
26 G, 1-4, 2.14 ERA, 4 SV, 42 IP, 35 K
RHP – Joe Augustine (LS-1 from the Royals System)
Another player who spent 2008 with Burlington of the Midwest League…Spent two years with the Royals, working as both a starter and reliever…Set single season school records for wins and strikeouts at Kean University, a Division III school…Won the 2007 national championship…
28 G, 5 GS, 4-2, 3.77 ERA, 105 IP, 85 K
RHP – Tyler Davis (LS-1 from the Padres System)
Briefly reach Triple-A in 2008 with Portland…Spent significant time in both the Midwest League and the Northwest League…Two year member of the Padres organization…21st Round Pick of the Padres out of the University of Hawaii…Stats are from Eugene of the Northwest League…
22 G, 3-3, 2.42 ERA, 1 SV, 26 IP, 19 K
RHP – Jameson Maj (Rookie-2 from the Cardinals System)
Released in spring training after spending two years in the Cardinals organization as both a starter and reliever…Split time in 2008 between the New York-Penn League and the Midwest League…Stats are from Batavia of the New York-Penn League…Drafted in the 45th Round of the 2007 Draft out of Abilene Christian where he was Conference Pitcher of the Year…
9 G, 5 GS, 2-2, 3.63 ERA, 1 SV, 39.2 IP, 37 K
RHP – Chandler Barnard (Worcester Tornadoes -- Rookie-2)
Acquired in a trade from Worcester of the Can-Am League to complete an earlier deal…
Signed as a free agent with Worcester following his college career…Pitched for the Division III National Champions in 2008, Trinity…
11 G, 2 GS, 1-0, 4.44 ERA, 26.1 IP, 12 K
RHP – Danny Zeffiro (Rookie-2 from the Reds System)
Let go by the Reds this spring training…Spent two seasons with the Reds after signing as a free agent out of Kean University…Won a national title in 2007 at Kean where he was an All-American…Teammate of Joe Augustine in college…Reached the Florida State League last year…Stats are from Billings of the Pioneer League in 2008…
14 G, 2-0, 4.31 ERA, 31.1 IP, 25 K
RHP – Don Jordat (True Rookie from Miami-Dade CC)
Here is what I could find on him which pretty much comes verbatim from the Southern Illinois website…Spent two seasons at Miami-Dade CC where he went 10-2 with a 1.76 ERA…Drafted out of high school by the Brewers in the 38th Round of the 2004 Draft…
C – Cris Crescenzi (Evansville Otters – Rookie-2)
Served as the backup to All-Star Tom Pennino behind the plate in Evansville last season, battling injuries…Began his pro career in 2007 with two different Can-Am League teams…
41 G, .213, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 40 K
C – Brandon Ketron (Southern Maryland – LS-2)
If this name sounds familiar it is because he was on Lake Erie’s roster for a while but was released before spring training...Here is what I wrote on him in my Lake Erie post...UPDATE: Lake Erie released Ketron on April 23
Ketron was a Frontier-League All-Star catcher at Washington in 2006 after hitting .330 with five homers in 52 games. He spent two years in the Yankees system before returning to the indy circuit by joining Southern Maryland last year in the Atlantic League.
50G, .199, 3HR, 19RBI
C – Brad Meier (Rockford RiverHawks -- Rookie-2)
Began 2008 with Rockford, serving as the backup catcher…Released after 11 games with one hit in 19 at bats…First round pick of the 2009 Frontier League Draft…
11 G, .053, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 8 K
IF – Mike Higa (True Rookie from Hawaii-Hilo)
Holds many career offensive records at Hawaii-Hilo, a Division I independent…Stats are from 2008, when he was the leading hitter for a team that finished 17-27…
40 G, .407, 2 HR, 22 RBI
IF – Gered Mochizuki (Evansville Otters – LS-1)
Acquired in a trade from Orange County of the Golden League in exchange for Armando Carrasco…
Spent 2008 as a middle infielder for Evansville with current pitching coach Brendan Sagara…Appeared mainly at short but also played at second and in the outfield…Traded late season to Orange County where he appeared in one game…Stats are from Evansville where he finished ninth in the league in hitting…Drafted out of high school by the Royals but did not sign…
75 G, .314, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 19 SB
IF – Tyler Kmetko (Corpus Christi – Rookie-2)
Played in the Continental Baseball League with the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs at second base in 2008 after concluding his career at the University of Utah…Finished third in the league in hitting…Drafted as a junior at Utah by the Diamondbacks in the 37th Round but did not sign…His father is a scout for Arizona…
65 G, .300, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 12 SB
IF – Chase Odenrider (Rookie-2 from the Yankees System)
Played three years in the Yankees system, reaching Charleston of the South Atlantic League…Played just 12 games there in 2008 but has played outfield, third, and first in his career…49th Round Pick in 2006…
12 G, .061, 1 HR, 2 RBI
IF – Andy Preston (True Rookie from Loyola Marymount University)
Hit .390 in junior college before making his way to Purdue for 2007, batting .267 for the Boilermakers…Played for Loyola Marymount as a senior, making 44 starts…
49 G, .267, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 11 2B
IF – Pedro Lopez (LS-1 from the Puerto Rican National Team)
Starting shortstop and leadoff man for the Puerto Rican national team that included three former major leaguers in 2008…Played in the United League in 2007 which is where the stats are from…Played in the Cubs system for a year out of high school…
63 G, .280, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 20 SB
OF – Travon Jackson (Orange County Flyers – LS-1)
Traded from Orange County for Cardoza Tucker in early March…
Posted astounding numbers in his first season as a pro in a well respected league, the Golden League…Stats are below…Led Division II New Mexico-Highlands in hitting as a senior…
60 G, .352, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 5 SB
OF – Blaine Rutledge (True Rookie from Central Missouri)
College teammate of two Miners at Central Missouri…Played in the NCAA Division II World Series hosted by Gateway…Second leading hitter at Central Missouri as a senior…
63 G, .395, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 20 2B, 22 SB
OF – Jereme Milons (Ottawa – Veteran)
Has been playing professionally since 2002…Originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 21st Round of the 2001 Draft…Also played in the Diamondbacks organization…Reached High-A in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, hitting .301 in 100 games in 2006…Spent 2008 in the Can-Am League…
93 G, .298, 10 HR, 56 RBI, 16 2B, 10 SB
OF – Dave Powell (True Rookie from Bellevue University)
Played for a very successful NAIA program…
62 G, .351, 4 HR, 49 RBI, 20 2B
OF – Kellen Kimiecik (True Rookie from Southern Wesleyan University)
Second Round Pick in the 2009 Frontier League Draft…Played 50 games in the outfield last season for an NAIA school that won 35 games…
50 G, .300, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 8 SB
Departed
C – Brendan Akashian
Sold to the Phillies…Recently activated from extended spring training to be placed on the roster for the Lakewood BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League…
69 G, .302, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 13 2B
2B – Andrew Bennett
Traded to Edmonton of the Golden League along with OF Kevin House for future considerations
12 G, .227, 0 HR, 3 RBI
1B – Tim Dorn
Had his contract purchased by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim but is not currently on a team…He was a finalist in last year’s homerun derby at Wuerfel Park as part of the Frontier League All-Star Game festivities…
93 G, .299, 23 HR, 83 RBI, 20 2B
OF – Kevin House
Traded to Edmonton of the Golden League along with 2B Andrew Bennett for future considerations…Hit just .177 overall but was fairly successful with the Miners after being traded from Gateway…His Southern Illinois stats are below…
5 G, .316, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 SB
3B – Brandon Jones
Aged Out…Frontier League All-Star in 2008…
95 G, .276, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 24 2B
OF – Brad Goldsmith
Traded to San Angelo of the United League for Future Considerations
38 G, .292, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 5 SB
OF – Andre Miller
Retired
17 G, .267, 0 HR, 5 RBI
UT – Manny Paula
Traded to Ottawa of the Can-Am League along with Chris Allen for Jereme Milons
Stats are combined as he also played with Gateway…
72 G, .256, 6 HR, 38 RBI
SS – Mike Scanzano
Aged Out…Frontier League All-Star starter in 2008 and the only player to record more than one hit in the game…
91 G, .256, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 21 2B
OF – Eric Suttle
Sold to the Astros Organization but not currently with a team
88 G, .285, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 8 2B, 5 3B
IF – Mike Victor
Signed with Windy City as a free agent after being traded to Florence for Gary Lee
35 G, .272, 1 HR, 12 RBI
RHP – Chris Allen
Traded to Ottawa of the Can-Am League along with Manny Paula for Jereme Milons
13 G, 11 GS, 6-2, 3.39 ERA, 61 IP, 43 K
RHP – Armando Carrasco
Traded to Orange County of the Golden League for Gered Mochizuki…Numbers are just from his time with Southern Illinois, he also played for another league team to begin 2008…
32 G, 2-2, 2.87 ERA, 6 SV, 37.2 IP, 32 K
RHP – Chris Little
Aged Out…Starter on the mound for the East Division in the Frontier League All-Star Game…
20 G, 19 GS, 9-4, 2.90 ERA, 121 IP, 94 K
Questions
Since spring training is underway and I can't find these guys, I am assuming these players either retired or were released though I couldn’t find them on the league or team transaction wire…
RHP – Brett Scarpeta
15 G, 15 GS, 9-3, 3.81 ERA, 87.1 IP, 73 K
RHP – Jeremy Dow
Former Beach Bum began the season with Midwest before getting released and signed by Southern Illinois…Stats are combined, he was used as the fifth starter/long relief man by the Miners for the second half of the season…
17 G, 13 GS, 2-10, 6.85 ERA, 1 SV, 69.2 IP, 57 K
1B – Gordon Gronkowski
Played in just one game and struck out in his lone at bat…
Keep Your Eye On
Starting Pitching/Catching
If you are noticing a trend it is because most teams have a lot of questions on the pitching staff…In the case of Southern Illinois there are 20 pitchers in camp which means at a minimum eight will be let go…Last year they had what I consider to be the best rotation in the league especially since they were together for most of the season…They were as good 1-5 as Windy City the year before…The Miners have Ryan Bird back thanks to the Cardinals…Nick Starnes was a starter for parts of last season but struggled, and he is the lone returner outside of Bird to the starting staff…Gone is Chris Little, who aged out, Chris Allen who was outstanding at times last year, and Brett Scarpeta, who won nine games…That leaves a lot of holes though some of the pitchers in camp had some pretty good numbers last year…The other key battle in my mind is behind the plate where Brendan Akashian has departed…Akashian was cited multiple times as one of the big reasons for the success of the pitching staff last year…Pinto has brought in a lot of experienced players to attempt to fill his shoes including Brandon Ketron, who was recently released by Lake Erie and in my mind has the in for the starting job…
Trending
Down
Again I say, these trends are simply based off what they have back from last year and what they have to replace…Most of the newcomers I have never seen play before but when you lose three key starting pitchers, an All-Star left side of the infield, and one of the most prolific homerun hitters in the league it is hard for me to say trending up though there are some very experienced and impressive players joining the fray this year…As I mentioned earlier, having the same coaching staff in a year when almost half of the league turned over will help…That said, I still expect Southern Illinois to be in the hunt in the West…
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