USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll: February 27, 2012
1. Oswego (16)
2. Norwich (2)
3. Amherst (2)
4. Plattsburgh
5. St. Norbert
6. Adrian
7. Castleton
8. St. Thomas
9. Bowdoin
10. Milwaukee School of
11. Gustavus Adolphus
12. Neumann
13. Elmira
14. Wisc-River Falls
15. Wisc-Stevens Point
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Oswego tops Fredonia to Advance to SUNYAC Championship
The Oswego State Lakers hosted the Fredonia Blue Devils in the quarter finals of the SUNYAC Tournament at the Campus Center Ice Arena yesterday. Fredonia advanced to the quarterfinals after topping Geneseo 4-1 in the semi-final play-in round. The winner of this game would advance to the SUNYAC Tournament championship game next Saturday.
Fredonia got the scoring started at 7:09 in the first period on an unassisted penalty shot goal by Bryan Ross. Oswego struck back late in the first on a power play goal by Jon Whitelaw with assists from Chris Ayotte and Zack Josepher at 18:01 to even the score at one. Oswego scored again only seconds later on a goal by Josepher with an assist from Ayotte at 18:13 in the first.
The Lakers got the scoring started quickly early in the second period on a power play goal by Paul Rodrigues with assists from Josepher and Whitelaw at 1:02 in the second. Oswego sealed the deal only a few minutes later on a goal by Chris Brown with an assist from Jesse McConney at 3:15 in the second to move the score to 4-1.
The Lakers would tally four more times in the game, with two goals from Ian Boots and one from Hank Van Boxmeer, and an additional goal from P-Rod. Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise would add two assists for the Lakers and Luke Moodie would tally one, with McConney adding another assist.
Fredonia tallied twice more in the lost-cause losing effort. They received goals from Brett Mueller and Stepehn Castriota and assists from Mike Monfredo and Brad Nunn as well as an additional assist from Ross.
Andrew Hare went 17/20 in save opportunities to get the win for the Lakers. Mark Friesen suffered the loss for Fredonia and went 42/50 for the Blue Devils. Jeff Holloway also saw a little over three minutes in net for the Blue Devils and made one save.
Oswego will host Plattsburgh next week in the SUNYAC Championship game at the Campus Center Ice Arena. Plattsburgh received a bye into the quarterfinals and advanced to the Championship game by beating Buff State 4-3 in triple overtime. Oswego went 1-0-1 against Plattsburgh in the regular season, beating them 3-0 at the Campus Center last week.
Fredonia got the scoring started at 7:09 in the first period on an unassisted penalty shot goal by Bryan Ross. Oswego struck back late in the first on a power play goal by Jon Whitelaw with assists from Chris Ayotte and Zack Josepher at 18:01 to even the score at one. Oswego scored again only seconds later on a goal by Josepher with an assist from Ayotte at 18:13 in the first.
The Lakers got the scoring started quickly early in the second period on a power play goal by Paul Rodrigues with assists from Josepher and Whitelaw at 1:02 in the second. Oswego sealed the deal only a few minutes later on a goal by Chris Brown with an assist from Jesse McConney at 3:15 in the second to move the score to 4-1.
The Lakers would tally four more times in the game, with two goals from Ian Boots and one from Hank Van Boxmeer, and an additional goal from P-Rod. Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise would add two assists for the Lakers and Luke Moodie would tally one, with McConney adding another assist.
Fredonia tallied twice more in the lost-cause losing effort. They received goals from Brett Mueller and Stepehn Castriota and assists from Mike Monfredo and Brad Nunn as well as an additional assist from Ross.
Andrew Hare went 17/20 in save opportunities to get the win for the Lakers. Mark Friesen suffered the loss for Fredonia and went 42/50 for the Blue Devils. Jeff Holloway also saw a little over three minutes in net for the Blue Devils and made one save.
Oswego will host Plattsburgh next week in the SUNYAC Championship game at the Campus Center Ice Arena. Plattsburgh received a bye into the quarterfinals and advanced to the Championship game by beating Buff State 4-3 in triple overtime. Oswego went 1-0-1 against Plattsburgh in the regular season, beating them 3-0 at the Campus Center last week.
SUNYAC Semifinal: Fredonia at Oswego
Courtesy WNYO Sports
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Bryan Gent? Gent was a defender born on March 29, 1981 in Milton, Ontario. He stood at 6'2" and weighed 205 pounds. He shot right-handed.
Gent was a good player in high school but went undrafted after graduation as scouts thought that he was a little slow and too raw. He played a year in a semi-pro league following graduation but quickly tired of the long bus rides and small venues.
Following that season he signed a contract to play for his hometown Milton Merchants of the OPJHL. That season he scored one goal in seven games. The following season he signed a contract with the Port Hope Predators and tallied seven points in 47 games while playing very strong defense. He tired of playing in the small venues following his second season in juniors and accepted an offer to play Division II/III college hockey for head coach Ed Gosek and the Oswego State Lakers.
Gent played 28 games in his freshman season and tallied two assists. He added another two assists in 27 games played in his sophomore campaign. He played in 26 games and scored three goals in his junior season. His senior year saw him play in another 27 games and tally four more assists. He went undrafted out of college but quickly signed a contract with the independent Chicago Hounds of the UHL.
He only played six games with the Hounds without tallying a single point before beign released. He quickly signed a contract with the independent Quad City Mallards also of the UCHL, but was released after tallying one assist in only five games. He then signed a contract with the independent Florida Seals of the SPHL but was again released playing ten games and not tallying a point. He then signed with the independent Jacksonville Barracudas also of the SPHL where he finished the season, scoring two goals in 33 games. He tired of the long bus rides at the end of the season and retired, returning to Canada to join a semi-pro team.
Following a year playing semi-pro Gent officially ended his playing career. He took a job as an assistant coach with his hometown Milton Icehawks of the OJHL. He was not retained for a second season and ended his professional hockey career.
Gent now works as an accountant in Canada.
Gent was a good player in high school but went undrafted after graduation as scouts thought that he was a little slow and too raw. He played a year in a semi-pro league following graduation but quickly tired of the long bus rides and small venues.
Following that season he signed a contract to play for his hometown Milton Merchants of the OPJHL. That season he scored one goal in seven games. The following season he signed a contract with the Port Hope Predators and tallied seven points in 47 games while playing very strong defense. He tired of playing in the small venues following his second season in juniors and accepted an offer to play Division II/III college hockey for head coach Ed Gosek and the Oswego State Lakers.
Gent played 28 games in his freshman season and tallied two assists. He added another two assists in 27 games played in his sophomore campaign. He played in 26 games and scored three goals in his junior season. His senior year saw him play in another 27 games and tally four more assists. He went undrafted out of college but quickly signed a contract with the independent Chicago Hounds of the UHL.
He only played six games with the Hounds without tallying a single point before beign released. He quickly signed a contract with the independent Quad City Mallards also of the UCHL, but was released after tallying one assist in only five games. He then signed a contract with the independent Florida Seals of the SPHL but was again released playing ten games and not tallying a point. He then signed with the independent Jacksonville Barracudas also of the SPHL where he finished the season, scoring two goals in 33 games. He tired of the long bus rides at the end of the season and retired, returning to Canada to join a semi-pro team.
Following a year playing semi-pro Gent officially ended his playing career. He took a job as an assistant coach with his hometown Milton Icehawks of the OJHL. He was not retained for a second season and ended his professional hockey career.
Gent now works as an accountant in Canada.
Red Sox Center Fielders
The Red Sox are attempting to recover from a disastrous collapse in 2011. They have employed the band-aid method, retaining all of the players that worked last season and attempting to patch up the positions which fell short. One area that will not need a band-aid is center field.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury entered his prime last season and responded in a huge way, batting .321 with 212 hits, 119 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 runs batted in, and 39 stolen bases. He'll be 29 this season and there's no reason to expect for him to improve further, but he shouldn't start to decline for several more seasons either. Boston is expecting another huge season out of their center fielder in 2012.
2. Darnell McDonald: McDonald did not perform well as a fourth outfielder last season, batting .236 in 157 at-bats. Despite that, McDonald is penciled in to be the team's starting right fielder and still fill in for Ellsbury and LF Carl Crawford on occasion. The Red Sox are expecting a decent season from McDonald in right field, but they may be disappointed very quickly.
3. Che-Hsuan Lin: Lin is a well-regarded player from Chinese Taipei who has played in a Futures Game. Lin is a good fielder, but last season he only batted .245 in 466 at-bats in the Minors. He doesn't really stand much of a chance of making the team and he probably needs at least another half-season in the Minors, although he may get a recall in September with a strong showing at Pawtucket.
4. Josh Kroeger: Kroeger is a Minor League veteran and former top prospect in the Arizona, Pittsburgh, Cubs and White Sox organizations. Last season he batted .284 in 282 at-bats for New Orleans and displayed strong defense in center field and versatility at a number of other positions. Kroeger will compete for a role as the team's fourth outfielder, and it would not be a huge surprise to see him win that job.
Boston looks strong in center field. Ellsbury is a star in every sense of the word. McDonald has been a serviceable fourth outfielder in the past and is being called upon to start in right field for the time being. Lin is an interesting prospect who could make an impact in the future. Kroeger is good for depth and has the potential to make a decent fourth outfielder.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury entered his prime last season and responded in a huge way, batting .321 with 212 hits, 119 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 runs batted in, and 39 stolen bases. He'll be 29 this season and there's no reason to expect for him to improve further, but he shouldn't start to decline for several more seasons either. Boston is expecting another huge season out of their center fielder in 2012.
2. Darnell McDonald: McDonald did not perform well as a fourth outfielder last season, batting .236 in 157 at-bats. Despite that, McDonald is penciled in to be the team's starting right fielder and still fill in for Ellsbury and LF Carl Crawford on occasion. The Red Sox are expecting a decent season from McDonald in right field, but they may be disappointed very quickly.
3. Che-Hsuan Lin: Lin is a well-regarded player from Chinese Taipei who has played in a Futures Game. Lin is a good fielder, but last season he only batted .245 in 466 at-bats in the Minors. He doesn't really stand much of a chance of making the team and he probably needs at least another half-season in the Minors, although he may get a recall in September with a strong showing at Pawtucket.
4. Josh Kroeger: Kroeger is a Minor League veteran and former top prospect in the Arizona, Pittsburgh, Cubs and White Sox organizations. Last season he batted .284 in 282 at-bats for New Orleans and displayed strong defense in center field and versatility at a number of other positions. Kroeger will compete for a role as the team's fourth outfielder, and it would not be a huge surprise to see him win that job.
Boston looks strong in center field. Ellsbury is a star in every sense of the word. McDonald has been a serviceable fourth outfielder in the past and is being called upon to start in right field for the time being. Lin is an interesting prospect who could make an impact in the future. Kroeger is good for depth and has the potential to make a decent fourth outfielder.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Oswego to Face Fredonia in SUNYAC Playoff
The Fredonia State Blue Devils will travel to the Campus Center Ice Arena to take on top ranked Oswego Saturday night in the SUNYAC semifinal round. Forth seeded Fredonia advances into the semifinal round after defeating Geneseo 4-1 in Wednesday's play-in round. Traveling into hostel territory is nothing new for the Blue Devils as they upset the Lakers at home in SUNYAC play last season and in 2007.
On the opposite side of the bracket will be third seed Buffalo State at second seeded Plattsburgh. Buff State advanced by beating Potsdam 4-3.
Oswego Still #1 in USCHO Poll
USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll: February 20, 2012
1. Oswego (16)
2. Norwich (2)
3. Amherst (2)
4. Plattsburgh
5. St. Norbert
6. St. Thomas
7. Adrian
8. Castleton
9. Elmira
10. Milwaukee School of
11. St. Scholastica
12. Bowdoin
13. Wisc-River Falls
14. Gustavus Adolphus
15. Utica
1. Oswego (16)
2. Norwich (2)
3. Amherst (2)
4. Plattsburgh
5. St. Norbert
6. St. Thomas
7. Adrian
8. Castleton
9. Elmira
10. Milwaukee School of
11. St. Scholastica
12. Bowdoin
13. Wisc-River Falls
14. Gustavus Adolphus
15. Utica
Oswego Sweeps Whiteout Weekend
The Oswego State Lakers ended the regular season on a high note sweeping both Plattsburgh and Potsdam. On Friday night Oswego net minder Andrew Hare and stellar defense led the Lakers to a 3-0 victory in the annual rivalry game vs. Plattsburgh. Oswego's dominance continued Saturday night with another 3-0 shutout over Potsdam on an emotionally charged senior night. Here are the highlights courtesy of WNYO Sports.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
LeRoy Invades Whiteout Weekend
The LeRoy Crew is poised to invade Oswego for another epic Whiteout Weekend. Our official host hotel is the Quality Inn & Suites (formerly the Econo Lodge) and our official party spot is The Shed. Join us for an unforgettable weekend and stay tuned Monday for our epic weekend recap.
Oswego Ranked No. 1 in NCAA East Poll
NCAA East Rankings: February 15, 2012
1. Oswego
2. Norwich
3. Amherst
4. Plattsburgh
5. Elmira
6. Manhattanville
7. Utica
8. Castleton
9. Bowdoin
10. Neumann
11. Middlebury
12. Hobart
13. Wesleyan
14. Williams
15. Fredonia
1. Oswego
2. Norwich
3. Amherst
5. Elmira
6. Manhattanville
7. Utica
8. Castleton
9. Bowdoin
10. Neumann
11. Middlebury
12. Hobart
13. Wesleyan
14. Williams
15. Fredonia
Oswego Claims Top Spot in USCHO Poll
USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll: Feburary 13, 2012
1. Oswego (10)
2. Norwich (9)
3. Amherst (1)
4. Plattsburgh
5. St. Thomas
6. St. Norbert
7. Castleton
8. Adrian
9. Wisc-River Falls
10. Milwaukee School of
11. Elmira
12. St. Scholastica
13. Utica
14. Bowdoin
15. Gustavus Adolphus
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Whatever Happened to..? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Derrell Levy?
Levy was a forward from Markham, Ontario. He stood at 5'10" and weighed 187 pounds and shot right-handed.
Levy was a good player in high school and was scouted by professionals as an amateur, although they felt that he was small and a little light for the pros. They also did not like the fact that he shot right-handed and that he was black. After his amateur career ended he signed a contract with the North York Rangers of the OPJHL.
He scored 12 points in 45 games in his first year with North York. Following that season he signed a two-year deal with his hometown Markham Waxers. In his first year with Markham he scored 22 points in 41 games. In his second year he scored 22 points in 45 games.
Following his third season in juniors Levy tired of the long bus rides and small venues and accepted an offer to play for the Division II/III Oswego State Lakers under head coach Ed Gosek.
In his freshman year with the Lakers he tallied five points in 19 games in a bench role. In his sophomore year with the Lakers he tallied ten points in 27 games to help the Lakers win the Frozen Four. He added 11 points in 26 games in his junior season. His senior year saw Levy rack up a career-high 17 points in 25 games.
Levy went undrafted out of high school due once again to his skin color, right-handed shot, and smaller stature. However, he quickly signed a contract with the independent West Michigan Blizzard of the AAHL.
He scored 28 points in 24 games with West Michigan but tired of the long bus rides and low pay at the end of the season and retired. He now lives in Canada and works as a recruiter and coach for the Markham Waxers.
Levy was a forward from Markham, Ontario. He stood at 5'10" and weighed 187 pounds and shot right-handed.
Levy was a good player in high school and was scouted by professionals as an amateur, although they felt that he was small and a little light for the pros. They also did not like the fact that he shot right-handed and that he was black. After his amateur career ended he signed a contract with the North York Rangers of the OPJHL.
He scored 12 points in 45 games in his first year with North York. Following that season he signed a two-year deal with his hometown Markham Waxers. In his first year with Markham he scored 22 points in 41 games. In his second year he scored 22 points in 45 games.
Following his third season in juniors Levy tired of the long bus rides and small venues and accepted an offer to play for the Division II/III Oswego State Lakers under head coach Ed Gosek.
In his freshman year with the Lakers he tallied five points in 19 games in a bench role. In his sophomore year with the Lakers he tallied ten points in 27 games to help the Lakers win the Frozen Four. He added 11 points in 26 games in his junior season. His senior year saw Levy rack up a career-high 17 points in 25 games.
Levy went undrafted out of high school due once again to his skin color, right-handed shot, and smaller stature. However, he quickly signed a contract with the independent West Michigan Blizzard of the AAHL.
He scored 28 points in 24 games with West Michigan but tired of the long bus rides and low pay at the end of the season and retired. He now lives in Canada and works as a recruiter and coach for the Markham Waxers.
Yankees Left Fielders
The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. As such, they have retained many of their players from last season. One area with a returning player present is left field.
1. Brett Gardner: Gardner is still under contract with the Yankees and is returning as the team's starter in left. He had a pretty good season last year, batting .259 with 49 stolen bases and providing good defense in left and in center on occasion. The Yankees are expecting another decent season from Gardner this year, with fair production at the plate, speed on the base paths, and good defense in the outfield.
2. Andruw Jones: The Yankees have brought Jones back to serve as the team's starting DH and a backup in the corner outfield positions. Jones had a somewhat inconsistent season last year, batting only .247 in 190 at-bats but hitting 13 homers in that same amount of at-bats. The Yankees are hoping that Jones can provide good defense in the corners when called upon and can provide somewhere near 30 homers at the plate.
3. Chris Dickerson: Dickerson is still under the control of the Yankees and appears to be the front runner to win a role as the team's fourth outfielder. He had a decent season last year, batting .260 in 50 at-bats and providing sound defense at all three outfield positions. The Yankees are hoping that Dickerson can have another good season at the plate while filling in at all three outfield spots next season.
4. Justin Maxwell: Maxwell has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors and is on the 40-man roster of the Yankees. A former top prospect with Washington, Maxwell had a decent season last year at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .260 with 16 homers in 177 at-bats. The right-handed Maxwell probably doesn't have much of a chance of winning a job out of Spring Training and is likely headed back to Scranton, although he'll compete with Dickerson for the fourth outfielder's role.
5. Zoilo Almonte: Almonte is a player coming up through the Yankees system who was added to the 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He batted .276 in 434 at-bats in the Minors last season and is not known for his defense. Almonte is probably going back to Trenton to start the season, and will not likely see the Majors until late in the 2013 season.
6. Cole Garner: Garner is a career Minor Leaguer whom the Yankees have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. He batted .222 in nine at-bats for Colorado and .330 in 185 at-bats at Colorado Springs last season and is not known for his defense. The right-handed Garner probably doesn't have much of a chance to make the team, although he'll provide some depth at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees look decent in left. Gardner should provide some stability and speed at the top of the order and he's an easy choice to lead off, although he may get bumped to second to accommodate the aging SS Derek Jeter. Jones will provide good power from the DH hole and strong defense in left when he plays there. Dickerson is a sound fourth outfielder. Maxwell is still a promising young player who could see some time from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Almonte is a player that the Yankees believe in and have invested in. Garner should provide good depth from AAA.
1. Brett Gardner: Gardner is still under contract with the Yankees and is returning as the team's starter in left. He had a pretty good season last year, batting .259 with 49 stolen bases and providing good defense in left and in center on occasion. The Yankees are expecting another decent season from Gardner this year, with fair production at the plate, speed on the base paths, and good defense in the outfield.
2. Andruw Jones: The Yankees have brought Jones back to serve as the team's starting DH and a backup in the corner outfield positions. Jones had a somewhat inconsistent season last year, batting only .247 in 190 at-bats but hitting 13 homers in that same amount of at-bats. The Yankees are hoping that Jones can provide good defense in the corners when called upon and can provide somewhere near 30 homers at the plate.
3. Chris Dickerson: Dickerson is still under the control of the Yankees and appears to be the front runner to win a role as the team's fourth outfielder. He had a decent season last year, batting .260 in 50 at-bats and providing sound defense at all three outfield positions. The Yankees are hoping that Dickerson can have another good season at the plate while filling in at all three outfield spots next season.
4. Justin Maxwell: Maxwell has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors and is on the 40-man roster of the Yankees. A former top prospect with Washington, Maxwell had a decent season last year at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .260 with 16 homers in 177 at-bats. The right-handed Maxwell probably doesn't have much of a chance of winning a job out of Spring Training and is likely headed back to Scranton, although he'll compete with Dickerson for the fourth outfielder's role.
5. Zoilo Almonte: Almonte is a player coming up through the Yankees system who was added to the 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He batted .276 in 434 at-bats in the Minors last season and is not known for his defense. Almonte is probably going back to Trenton to start the season, and will not likely see the Majors until late in the 2013 season.
6. Cole Garner: Garner is a career Minor Leaguer whom the Yankees have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. He batted .222 in nine at-bats for Colorado and .330 in 185 at-bats at Colorado Springs last season and is not known for his defense. The right-handed Garner probably doesn't have much of a chance to make the team, although he'll provide some depth at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees look decent in left. Gardner should provide some stability and speed at the top of the order and he's an easy choice to lead off, although he may get bumped to second to accommodate the aging SS Derek Jeter. Jones will provide good power from the DH hole and strong defense in left when he plays there. Dickerson is a sound fourth outfielder. Maxwell is still a promising young player who could see some time from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Almonte is a player that the Yankees believe in and have invested in. Garner should provide good depth from AAA.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Mike Novak?
Novak was a defender born on July 16, 1985 in Milton, Ontario. A big man, he stood at 6'3", and weighed 202 pounds.
Novak was a good hockey player as an amateur who was known for his size and physicality on defense. Scouts liked both of those things as his amateur career was beginning to come to an end, but they did not like his speed which was inferior in most ways. He went undrafted out of high school and signed a contract with his hometown Milton Merchants, a juniors team in the OPJHL.
He only played one game with Milton in his first year with the team but was brought back for a second season. In his his second year he tallied four assists in 15 games played. Following this he signed a two year contract with the Wexford Raiders and tallied three points with them in his first season there. In his second season he played in 48 games and tallied 16 points. After four years in juniors he tired of the long bus rides and small venues and accepted an offer to play hockey at Oswego State University for Lakers head coach Ed Gosek.
He played in 16 games for the Lakers in his freshman season, tallying five points in 16 games. The next season he played in 21 games and added three assists to help the Lakers win a national championship. In his junior year he played in 24 games and added one assist. And in his senior campaign he played in 24 games and tallied five points. Following graduation he signed a contract with the independent Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL.
He played in two games with Muskegon in 2009 before being released without tallying a single point and his professional career ended. He now works as a market research analyst in Buffalo, New York and lives with girlfriend, the beautiful Quinn Makin.
Novak was a defender born on July 16, 1985 in Milton, Ontario. A big man, he stood at 6'3", and weighed 202 pounds.
Novak was a good hockey player as an amateur who was known for his size and physicality on defense. Scouts liked both of those things as his amateur career was beginning to come to an end, but they did not like his speed which was inferior in most ways. He went undrafted out of high school and signed a contract with his hometown Milton Merchants, a juniors team in the OPJHL.
He only played one game with Milton in his first year with the team but was brought back for a second season. In his his second year he tallied four assists in 15 games played. Following this he signed a two year contract with the Wexford Raiders and tallied three points with them in his first season there. In his second season he played in 48 games and tallied 16 points. After four years in juniors he tired of the long bus rides and small venues and accepted an offer to play hockey at Oswego State University for Lakers head coach Ed Gosek.
He played in 16 games for the Lakers in his freshman season, tallying five points in 16 games. The next season he played in 21 games and added three assists to help the Lakers win a national championship. In his junior year he played in 24 games and added one assist. And in his senior campaign he played in 24 games and tallied five points. Following graduation he signed a contract with the independent Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL.
He played in two games with Muskegon in 2009 before being released without tallying a single point and his professional career ended. He now works as a market research analyst in Buffalo, New York and lives with girlfriend, the beautiful Quinn Makin.
Mets Left Fielders
The Mets are in the second year of a rebuilding program, and have now endured three straight losing seasons. They are attempting to tread water this season with an eclectic mix of returning veterans, young players and prospects, and free agent signees. One area with a returning veteran is left field.
1. Jason Bay: Bay is returning to complete the third year of a four-year deal in a Mets uniform. Last season did not go well for Bay, as he spent some time on the disabled list with a back injury and only batted .245 with an alarming 109 strikeouts. The Mets are hoping for a fully healthy season from Bay and a return to his 2009 form this season.
2. Scott Hairston: Hairston was re-signed this off-season to once again serve as a right-handed bat off the bench. Last season produced mixed results for Hairston, who finished the season on the disabled list and only batted .235 in 132 at-bats, although he did manage to hit seven home runs in those at-bats. The Mets are hoping that Hairston can stay healthy over the course of a full season, provide stability off the bench against left-handed pitching, and produce a double digit total of home runs.
3. Juan Lagares: Lagares is a player coming up through the Mets system who was placed on the 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He had a good season last year, batting .349 in 470 Minor League at-bats, although he's not known as a good defensive outfielder. Lagares doesn't really stand much of a chance of making the team, as he's probably headed to Binghamton to start this season.
4. Vinny Rottino: Rottino is a career Minor Leaguer whom the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. He batted .167 in 12 at-bats in a September call-up with Florida last season, but batted .304 in 467 at-bats with New Orleans and showed versatility by playing in 39 games at catcher and 11 games at first. Rottino doesn't really have much of a chance of making the team, but he's good for depth and will probably get a recall in September.
The Mets don't look good in left field. They have moved in the fences at Citi Field due in large part to the offensive struggles of Bay, but he was essentially an automatic out last season and the location of the fences probably won't change that. Hairston is a decent right-handed bat off the bench with some power but he can't be expected to play much in left as he is a bad outfielder. Lagares is a player that the Mets are looking at but he shouldn't be expected to make his big league debut until sometime late in the 2013 season. Rottino is an interesting player to have around for depth, but that's about it.
1. Jason Bay: Bay is returning to complete the third year of a four-year deal in a Mets uniform. Last season did not go well for Bay, as he spent some time on the disabled list with a back injury and only batted .245 with an alarming 109 strikeouts. The Mets are hoping for a fully healthy season from Bay and a return to his 2009 form this season.
2. Scott Hairston: Hairston was re-signed this off-season to once again serve as a right-handed bat off the bench. Last season produced mixed results for Hairston, who finished the season on the disabled list and only batted .235 in 132 at-bats, although he did manage to hit seven home runs in those at-bats. The Mets are hoping that Hairston can stay healthy over the course of a full season, provide stability off the bench against left-handed pitching, and produce a double digit total of home runs.
3. Juan Lagares: Lagares is a player coming up through the Mets system who was placed on the 40-man roster to protect from the Rule V Draft. He had a good season last year, batting .349 in 470 Minor League at-bats, although he's not known as a good defensive outfielder. Lagares doesn't really stand much of a chance of making the team, as he's probably headed to Binghamton to start this season.
4. Vinny Rottino: Rottino is a career Minor Leaguer whom the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. He batted .167 in 12 at-bats in a September call-up with Florida last season, but batted .304 in 467 at-bats with New Orleans and showed versatility by playing in 39 games at catcher and 11 games at first. Rottino doesn't really have much of a chance of making the team, but he's good for depth and will probably get a recall in September.
The Mets don't look good in left field. They have moved in the fences at Citi Field due in large part to the offensive struggles of Bay, but he was essentially an automatic out last season and the location of the fences probably won't change that. Hairston is a decent right-handed bat off the bench with some power but he can't be expected to play much in left as he is a bad outfielder. Lagares is a player that the Mets are looking at but he shouldn't be expected to make his big league debut until sometime late in the 2013 season. Rottino is an interesting player to have around for depth, but that's about it.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Oswego Sweeps home Weekend
The Lakers swept two wins at home this weekend at the Campus Center Ice Arena in Oswego, New York. The scoring got off started quick on Friday night against the Fredonia Blue Devils. Luke Moodie got the scoring started a 4:47 in the first period on assists from Paul Rodrigues and Jon Whitelaw. The Lakers tallied another goal a minute later from Chris Brown on assists from David Titanic and Chris Carr. Whitelaw tallied another goal a couple of minutes later on an assist from Moodie, and that was about all that the Lakers needed. Still, they scored another goal mere seconds later on a shot by Chris Ayotte with assists from Matt Singleton and Kyle Badham. The Lakers added a fifth goal near the end of the period on a shot by Whitelaw with an assist by P-Rod to stretch their lead to 5-0.
The Lakers got the scoring started again in the second period on a goal by Chris Muise with an assist from Tyler Leimbrock. Fredonia got on the board after that with a power play goal from Mike Monfredo and assists from Brad Nunn and Ben Waldman. In the second half of the period Singleton scored a goal on assists from Hank Van Boxmeer and Ayotte. The Lakers added a power play goal after that from Ian Boots on assists from Van Boxmeer and Muise. And they added another power play goal a couple of minutes later on a shot by Muise with assists from Boots and Leimbrock to stretch their lead to 9-1.
The Lakers got the scoring started in the third period on an unassisted goal by Taylor Farris five minutes into the period. Fredonia added a goal at 11:48 by Mike Muhs on assists by Bryan Ross and Matt Hehr, but it was too little, too late as the Lakers won this one 10-2. Andrew Hare made 25 saves for the Lakers while Mark Friesen made three saves for Fredonia.
The Lakers hosted the Buff State Bengals on Saturday to complete the home weekend against their SUNYAC opponents. The first period was a defensive match up as neither team scored. Buff State got the scoring started at 6:46 in the second period on a shot by Justin Knee with an assist from Eric Bajc. Leimbrock tallied the first goal for the Lakers at 13:08 in the second on an assist from Muise. The Lakers scored again 30 seconds later on a power play goal by Whitelaw with assists from Moodie and P-Rod to take a 2-1 lead, and that was all the Lakers would need.
Whitelaw added a second goal on a power play at 11:25 in the third with assists from Ayotte and Hare. Fredonia attempted to execute a Bob Embry special late in the third but got burned as Whitelaw completed the hat trick on assists from Moodie and P-Rod to seal the victory at 4-1 for the Lakers. Hare made 28 saves for the Lakers while Kevin Carr made 37 for the Bengals.
Oswego will set their sights on the last series of the regular season, and it will not be an easy one. Whiteout weekend is next weekend, with the Plattsburgh Cardinals coming to town on Friday and the Potsdam Bears arriving on Saturday for seniors night.
The Lakers got the scoring started again in the second period on a goal by Chris Muise with an assist from Tyler Leimbrock. Fredonia got on the board after that with a power play goal from Mike Monfredo and assists from Brad Nunn and Ben Waldman. In the second half of the period Singleton scored a goal on assists from Hank Van Boxmeer and Ayotte. The Lakers added a power play goal after that from Ian Boots on assists from Van Boxmeer and Muise. And they added another power play goal a couple of minutes later on a shot by Muise with assists from Boots and Leimbrock to stretch their lead to 9-1.
The Lakers got the scoring started in the third period on an unassisted goal by Taylor Farris five minutes into the period. Fredonia added a goal at 11:48 by Mike Muhs on assists by Bryan Ross and Matt Hehr, but it was too little, too late as the Lakers won this one 10-2. Andrew Hare made 25 saves for the Lakers while Mark Friesen made three saves for Fredonia.
The Lakers hosted the Buff State Bengals on Saturday to complete the home weekend against their SUNYAC opponents. The first period was a defensive match up as neither team scored. Buff State got the scoring started at 6:46 in the second period on a shot by Justin Knee with an assist from Eric Bajc. Leimbrock tallied the first goal for the Lakers at 13:08 in the second on an assist from Muise. The Lakers scored again 30 seconds later on a power play goal by Whitelaw with assists from Moodie and P-Rod to take a 2-1 lead, and that was all the Lakers would need.
Whitelaw added a second goal on a power play at 11:25 in the third with assists from Ayotte and Hare. Fredonia attempted to execute a Bob Embry special late in the third but got burned as Whitelaw completed the hat trick on assists from Moodie and P-Rod to seal the victory at 4-1 for the Lakers. Hare made 28 saves for the Lakers while Kevin Carr made 37 for the Bengals.
Oswego will set their sights on the last series of the regular season, and it will not be an easy one. Whiteout weekend is next weekend, with the Plattsburgh Cardinals coming to town on Friday and the Potsdam Bears arriving on Saturday for seniors night.
Fredonia Highlights: Courtesy WNYO Sports
Buff State Highlights: Courtesy WNYO Sports
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Matt Whitehead?
Whitehead was a forward from Newmarket, Ontario who was born on November 26, 1984. He stood at a minuscule 5'7" and weighed a light 160 pounds, while shooting left-handed.
Whitehead was a promising amateur player in Canada but went undrafted out of college due to his small stature. Getting ready to play juniors, he signed with his hometown Newmarket Hurricanes, where he played three seasons. He tired of Ontario after three years in juniors and - having no professional contract offers and being spurned by Division I universities due to his small size - he accepted an offer to play hockey from Lakers head coach Ed Gosek at Oswego.
His career got off to a good start at Oswego, where he was nicknamed "Midget" by Gosek, and played in 18 games as a freshman and scored six points. He started all 26 games in his sophomore season and tallied 16 points. His junior year was an improvement as he played in every game again and tallied 22 points. He was scratched for two games in his senior year, although he still managed to tally 19 points.
Whitehead went undrafted after graduating, but signed a contract with the independent Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL, where he tallied 36 points in 36 games. He returned to Pensacola the next season and tallied 62 points in 56 games. The 2011-2012 season has been an eventful one for Whitehead, as he began with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the SPHL, tallying one assist in six games. After that he accepted a contract offer from the independent Bloomington Blaze of the CHL, tallying 17 points in 15 games. He got his first taste of the NHL after that, signing a contract with the Vancouver Canucks and being assigned to the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings, where he tallied two points in five games before being released. He returned to the SPHL after that, signing with the independent Mississippi RiverKings, where he has since scored seven points in eight games.
Whitehead was a forward from Newmarket, Ontario who was born on November 26, 1984. He stood at a minuscule 5'7" and weighed a light 160 pounds, while shooting left-handed.
Whitehead was a promising amateur player in Canada but went undrafted out of college due to his small stature. Getting ready to play juniors, he signed with his hometown Newmarket Hurricanes, where he played three seasons. He tired of Ontario after three years in juniors and - having no professional contract offers and being spurned by Division I universities due to his small size - he accepted an offer to play hockey from Lakers head coach Ed Gosek at Oswego.
His career got off to a good start at Oswego, where he was nicknamed "Midget" by Gosek, and played in 18 games as a freshman and scored six points. He started all 26 games in his sophomore season and tallied 16 points. His junior year was an improvement as he played in every game again and tallied 22 points. He was scratched for two games in his senior year, although he still managed to tally 19 points.
Whitehead went undrafted after graduating, but signed a contract with the independent Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL, where he tallied 36 points in 36 games. He returned to Pensacola the next season and tallied 62 points in 56 games. The 2011-2012 season has been an eventful one for Whitehead, as he began with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the SPHL, tallying one assist in six games. After that he accepted a contract offer from the independent Bloomington Blaze of the CHL, tallying 17 points in 15 games. He got his first taste of the NHL after that, signing a contract with the Vancouver Canucks and being assigned to the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings, where he tallied two points in five games before being released. He returned to the SPHL after that, signing with the independent Mississippi RiverKings, where he has since scored seven points in eight games.
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to T. J. Manasersky?
Manasersky was a defender from Oakville, Ontario. He shot left-handed and stood at 5'11", 195 pounds.
Manasersky played hockey as a youth in Canada and was impressive as an amateur, although he went undrafted out of high school. He decided to play juniors and signed with the Streetsville Derbys of the OPJHL, where he played for two seasons. He played for the Oakville Blades for a year after that, and then signed a two-year contract with the Georgetown Raiders. After five years in juniors he was ready to make the next step to the pro level, but once again went undrafted as he entered his 20th year. He was scouted by college scouts however, but most of them considered him too slow for the next level of the game. Lakers head coach Ed Gosek, though, saw something that caught his eye about Manasersky and convinced him to attend college at Oswego.
Manasersky had a decent year in his freshman campaign, playing in 16 games, mostly as a reserve. His sophomore year saw him become a starter, as he played in 23 games and tallied seven assists.
His two years in college were the only higher education he would receive however, as he signed a contract with the independent Richmond Renegades of the SPHL in the summer of 2006. He played in 11 games with Richmond before being released without tallying a point.
His playing career ended following his one season in the pros, and he returned to Canada to play semi-pro and work construction. After a year in which he tired of long bus rides and tough hours on buildings Manasersky took a position as an assistant coach with Canisius College. Following a season coaching at Canisius he took a job with Fredonia of the SUNYAC, and he is currently in the middle of his third season with the Blue Devils.
Manasersky was a defender from Oakville, Ontario. He shot left-handed and stood at 5'11", 195 pounds.
Manasersky played hockey as a youth in Canada and was impressive as an amateur, although he went undrafted out of high school. He decided to play juniors and signed with the Streetsville Derbys of the OPJHL, where he played for two seasons. He played for the Oakville Blades for a year after that, and then signed a two-year contract with the Georgetown Raiders. After five years in juniors he was ready to make the next step to the pro level, but once again went undrafted as he entered his 20th year. He was scouted by college scouts however, but most of them considered him too slow for the next level of the game. Lakers head coach Ed Gosek, though, saw something that caught his eye about Manasersky and convinced him to attend college at Oswego.
Manasersky had a decent year in his freshman campaign, playing in 16 games, mostly as a reserve. His sophomore year saw him become a starter, as he played in 23 games and tallied seven assists.
His two years in college were the only higher education he would receive however, as he signed a contract with the independent Richmond Renegades of the SPHL in the summer of 2006. He played in 11 games with Richmond before being released without tallying a point.
His playing career ended following his one season in the pros, and he returned to Canada to play semi-pro and work construction. After a year in which he tired of long bus rides and tough hours on buildings Manasersky took a position as an assistant coach with Canisius College. Following a season coaching at Canisius he took a job with Fredonia of the SUNYAC, and he is currently in the middle of his third season with the Blue Devils.
Red Sox Left Fielders
The Red Sox are attempting to recover from a disastrous collapse in 2011. They have chosen to employ the band-aid method, retaining all of the players that were successful while attempting to patch up some of the holes which developed on the team last season. One area with a returning player is left field.
1. Carl Crawford: Crawford had a decent season last year, batting .255, although he didn't provide much of a punch at the top of the order and he struck out an alarming 104 times, compared to only 23 walks. So far his season this year is in jeopardy, as he underwent wrist surgery in the off-season and is expected to miss the beginning of the season, at least. The Red Sox are hoping that Crawford can recover his health and return to his Tampa Bay form.
2. Cody Ross: Ross was signed as a free agent from San Francisco in the off-season. He had a bad year for San Francisco last season, batting .240 and struggling in the spacious AT&T Ballpark. The Red Sox are hoping that Ross can provide good defense in the corner outfield spots and some right-handed power off the bench, possibly in a semi-platoon role with DH David Ortiz.
3. Darnell McDonald: The Red Sox brought McDonald back from 2011 to serve as the team's fourth outfielder. McDonald did not fare well last season, as he batted .236 in 157 at-bats. But McDonald will have bigger shoes to fill this season as he is expected to be the team's starting right fielder.
The Red Sox look okay in left field. Expectations on Crawford are still high, and even if he doesn't reach them (as they are a bit unrealistic) a decent average and more steals would be welcome. Ross has a ton of power and has been a good player in the past and could be a good bench player for Boston. McDonald is a good fourth outfielder, although starting in right field may be a tall order.
1. Carl Crawford: Crawford had a decent season last year, batting .255, although he didn't provide much of a punch at the top of the order and he struck out an alarming 104 times, compared to only 23 walks. So far his season this year is in jeopardy, as he underwent wrist surgery in the off-season and is expected to miss the beginning of the season, at least. The Red Sox are hoping that Crawford can recover his health and return to his Tampa Bay form.
2. Cody Ross: Ross was signed as a free agent from San Francisco in the off-season. He had a bad year for San Francisco last season, batting .240 and struggling in the spacious AT&T Ballpark. The Red Sox are hoping that Ross can provide good defense in the corner outfield spots and some right-handed power off the bench, possibly in a semi-platoon role with DH David Ortiz.
3. Darnell McDonald: The Red Sox brought McDonald back from 2011 to serve as the team's fourth outfielder. McDonald did not fare well last season, as he batted .236 in 157 at-bats. But McDonald will have bigger shoes to fill this season as he is expected to be the team's starting right fielder.
The Red Sox look okay in left field. Expectations on Crawford are still high, and even if he doesn't reach them (as they are a bit unrealistic) a decent average and more steals would be welcome. Ross has a ton of power and has been a good player in the past and could be a good bench player for Boston. McDonald is a good fourth outfielder, although starting in right field may be a tall order.
Yankees Shortstops
The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. As such, they have retained most of their players from last season. One such area is at shortstop.
1. Derek Jeter: Jeter had a solid season last year, hitting .297 and recording his 3,000th career hit, which will probably lead to his induction into Cooperstown five years after his career ends. His career is in decline though, and his numbers may take a hit in 2012. He's no longer a big producer nor a spark plug at the top of the order and his defense - which has never been good if you believe in UZR and a number of other new stats - gets worse everyday it seems. But with a huge contract and an apparent stranglehold over co-owners Hank and Hal Steinbrenner Jeter doesn't appear to going anywhere.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was all set to be the Yankees everyday DH until DH/OF Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now he'll fall back into his more familiar role as a utility player. A natural shortstop, he's a much better fielder than Jeter and can be a weapon on the base paths and a potential spark plug at the top of the order. It looks like Nunez is going to be a star, but right now he'll be playing as one of the best utility men in the league.
3. Ramiro Pena: Pena is attempting to win a job on the Yankees bench as a utility player. He did not fare well last season, which was spent at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the most part, and a September call-up saw him bat .100 in 40 at-bats. It doesn't look good for him this season, as he'll be playing behind Jeter, Nunez, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Alex Rodriguez, and IF Brandon Laird.
4. Doug Bernier: Bernier is a career Minor Leaguer who spent last season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and who is well-liked in the organization. He didn't perform very well at Scranton last season though, as he batted .237 in 291 at-bats as the team's utility player. He really doesn't have much of a chance of winning a job at all, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him released at the end of Spring Training.
The Yankees look decent at shortstop. Jeter is a bad fielder but he is able to play most of the games and can provide decent offense as a number seven or eight hitter, although he'll probably bat leadoff or second and hurt the team's offense. Nunez is an excellent utility player and should probably be playing everyday somewhere and hitting in the two hole behind LF Brett Gardner. Pena is good for depth at Scranton if someone gets injured or if Nunez is ineffective. Bernier is a nice guy to take a look at in Spring Training, but he really doesn't have a place in the organization.
1. Derek Jeter: Jeter had a solid season last year, hitting .297 and recording his 3,000th career hit, which will probably lead to his induction into Cooperstown five years after his career ends. His career is in decline though, and his numbers may take a hit in 2012. He's no longer a big producer nor a spark plug at the top of the order and his defense - which has never been good if you believe in UZR and a number of other new stats - gets worse everyday it seems. But with a huge contract and an apparent stranglehold over co-owners Hank and Hal Steinbrenner Jeter doesn't appear to going anywhere.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was all set to be the Yankees everyday DH until DH/OF Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now he'll fall back into his more familiar role as a utility player. A natural shortstop, he's a much better fielder than Jeter and can be a weapon on the base paths and a potential spark plug at the top of the order. It looks like Nunez is going to be a star, but right now he'll be playing as one of the best utility men in the league.
3. Ramiro Pena: Pena is attempting to win a job on the Yankees bench as a utility player. He did not fare well last season, which was spent at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the most part, and a September call-up saw him bat .100 in 40 at-bats. It doesn't look good for him this season, as he'll be playing behind Jeter, Nunez, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Alex Rodriguez, and IF Brandon Laird.
4. Doug Bernier: Bernier is a career Minor Leaguer who spent last season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and who is well-liked in the organization. He didn't perform very well at Scranton last season though, as he batted .237 in 291 at-bats as the team's utility player. He really doesn't have much of a chance of winning a job at all, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him released at the end of Spring Training.
The Yankees look decent at shortstop. Jeter is a bad fielder but he is able to play most of the games and can provide decent offense as a number seven or eight hitter, although he'll probably bat leadoff or second and hurt the team's offense. Nunez is an excellent utility player and should probably be playing everyday somewhere and hitting in the two hole behind LF Brett Gardner. Pena is good for depth at Scranton if someone gets injured or if Nunez is ineffective. Bernier is a nice guy to take a look at in Spring Training, but he really doesn't have a place in the organization.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Rick Varone?
Rick Varone was a center who originally hailed from Woodbridge, Ontario. Small for his position, he stood at a reported 5'9" but weighed an impressive 195 pounds. Born February 23, 1983, Varone began playing hockey at a young age.
By 1999 Varone was ready to play juniors and was signed by the Vaughan Vipers of the OPJHL. The next couple of seasons saw him playing for the Bramalea Blues. He was signed to a two-year deal after that to play for the Georgetown Raiders but was traded late in the second season to the Newmarket Hurricanes.
But it was with Newmarket that he drew the attention of both professional and college scouts. Professional scouts felt that - although he was talented - he was too raw for the professional game and he went undrafted out of Newmarket. College scouts were leery about his height, a reported 5'9" in skates and there was some doubt about whether he was that tall. But head coach Ed Gosek liked what he saw and wooed Varone to committ to Oswego. Varone thought that he could still play professionally and turned Gosek down, opting to play a year in a semi-pro league. When that did not lead to a contract he reached out to Gosek once again, and the Lakers Coach told him that there was still a spot open for him on the team.
He came to Oswego in Fall '05 and settled in on the team, tallying 15 points in his freshman year. He followed that up with six points his sophomore year.
He was expelled following a disciplinary hearing after the end of the 2007 playoff campaign (a year in which the Lalers won the Frozen Four) and he left college for good, with only two years completed and no degree to speak of. He returned to Ontario and joined a semi-pro league the next season. But his two years in college served him well, as he once again drew the attention of professional scouts and was signed to a contract by the independent Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL.
He scored an impressive 55 points in his first year as the center for the Komets. He returned to Fort Wayne the next season, but was released after scoring 14 points in 23 games. He was picked up late in the season by the Bloomington PrairieThunder and managed to tally another 20 points with them. He returned to the PraireThunder, now of the CHL, the next season but was released after tallying two points in one game. He opted to retire and return to semi-pro hockey in Canada where he works construction.
Rick Varone was a center who originally hailed from Woodbridge, Ontario. Small for his position, he stood at a reported 5'9" but weighed an impressive 195 pounds. Born February 23, 1983, Varone began playing hockey at a young age.
By 1999 Varone was ready to play juniors and was signed by the Vaughan Vipers of the OPJHL. The next couple of seasons saw him playing for the Bramalea Blues. He was signed to a two-year deal after that to play for the Georgetown Raiders but was traded late in the second season to the Newmarket Hurricanes.
But it was with Newmarket that he drew the attention of both professional and college scouts. Professional scouts felt that - although he was talented - he was too raw for the professional game and he went undrafted out of Newmarket. College scouts were leery about his height, a reported 5'9" in skates and there was some doubt about whether he was that tall. But head coach Ed Gosek liked what he saw and wooed Varone to committ to Oswego. Varone thought that he could still play professionally and turned Gosek down, opting to play a year in a semi-pro league. When that did not lead to a contract he reached out to Gosek once again, and the Lakers Coach told him that there was still a spot open for him on the team.
He came to Oswego in Fall '05 and settled in on the team, tallying 15 points in his freshman year. He followed that up with six points his sophomore year.
He was expelled following a disciplinary hearing after the end of the 2007 playoff campaign (a year in which the Lalers won the Frozen Four) and he left college for good, with only two years completed and no degree to speak of. He returned to Ontario and joined a semi-pro league the next season. But his two years in college served him well, as he once again drew the attention of professional scouts and was signed to a contract by the independent Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL.
He scored an impressive 55 points in his first year as the center for the Komets. He returned to Fort Wayne the next season, but was released after scoring 14 points in 23 games. He was picked up late in the season by the Bloomington PrairieThunder and managed to tally another 20 points with them. He returned to the PraireThunder, now of the CHL, the next season but was released after tallying two points in one game. He opted to retire and return to semi-pro hockey in Canada where he works construction.
Mets Shortstops
The Mets are in the second year of their rebuilding phase. They are proceeding with an eclectic mix of players that includes returning Mets, young players and prospects, and free agent signees. One area where a youth movement is taking place is shortstop.
1. Ruben Tejada: The Mets are counting on Tejada to complete the considerable task of replacing the departed SS Jose Reyes. Tejada is still a young player and he has never really been a can't-miss prospect, and there are still a lot of questions about him at the Major League level. Tejada looked decent in his time in the Majors last season, batting .284 in a limited 328 at-bats.
2. Ronny Cedeno: Cedeno was signed to replace SS Chin-lung Hu as the utility player for the Mets. The role was vacant for most of last season, as Hu was demoted early and never returned and was essentially never replaced. Cedeno was also brought in as an insurance policy in case Tejada falters as the team's starting shortstop. LeRoy predicts that Cedeno will be starting at short by May. He batted .249 last season with Pittsburgh.
3. Jordany Valdespin: Valdespin is a player coming up through the Mets system who they protected from the Rule V Draft by placing on the 40-man roster. Valdespin was converted to shortstop last season and had a good season at the plate, batting .294 with 37 stolen bases in 511 Minor League at-bats. There is some opportunity at both short and second (Valdespin's original position), but he's not likely to win either job as he needs almost a full season at Buffalo, but he'll almost surely be recalled in September.
4. Wilmer Flores: Flores is a top prospect who the Mets are taking a look at in Spring Training. He batted .269 in 516 at-bats last year at St. Lucie and had a bad year in the field. Flores has never played second base and he probably doesn't have much of a chance of winning the somewhat open shortstop competition, but that's not really a concern. Flores needs at least two more years in the Minors before he'll be ready to tackle Major League duty.
5. Omar Quintanilla: Quintanilla is a veteran player who the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. A former top prospect with Oakland and Colorado, Quintanilla hasn't had much success at the professional level. Last season he batted .045 in 22 at-bats with Texas. Quintanilla will be looked at and will probably last in Spring Training longer than Valdespin and Flores, but he's really only been brought in for the purposes of depth.
The Mets don't look good at shortstop. Tejada is a decent-looking young player who might be worth a shot at shortstop in 2012, but he hasn't proven anything at the big league level yet and he was never a standout offensive player in the Minors, although his fielding is superb. Cedeno is a veteran player capable of being a sub-par starting shortstop on a bad or rebuilding team and he'll probably fill that role with the Mets, but his presence here is more of a negative than a positive. Valdespin is a player coming up through their system who the Mets like, but he needs most of a year in the Minors before he's ready and there's no reason to believe he'll ever be more than anything but a decent player in the Majors. Flores is a top prospect but he's two years away from being ready. Quintanilla is a decent player to have in place for depth and will probably get some time in the Majors this year, but that's it.
1. Ruben Tejada: The Mets are counting on Tejada to complete the considerable task of replacing the departed SS Jose Reyes. Tejada is still a young player and he has never really been a can't-miss prospect, and there are still a lot of questions about him at the Major League level. Tejada looked decent in his time in the Majors last season, batting .284 in a limited 328 at-bats.
2. Ronny Cedeno: Cedeno was signed to replace SS Chin-lung Hu as the utility player for the Mets. The role was vacant for most of last season, as Hu was demoted early and never returned and was essentially never replaced. Cedeno was also brought in as an insurance policy in case Tejada falters as the team's starting shortstop. LeRoy predicts that Cedeno will be starting at short by May. He batted .249 last season with Pittsburgh.
3. Jordany Valdespin: Valdespin is a player coming up through the Mets system who they protected from the Rule V Draft by placing on the 40-man roster. Valdespin was converted to shortstop last season and had a good season at the plate, batting .294 with 37 stolen bases in 511 Minor League at-bats. There is some opportunity at both short and second (Valdespin's original position), but he's not likely to win either job as he needs almost a full season at Buffalo, but he'll almost surely be recalled in September.
4. Wilmer Flores: Flores is a top prospect who the Mets are taking a look at in Spring Training. He batted .269 in 516 at-bats last year at St. Lucie and had a bad year in the field. Flores has never played second base and he probably doesn't have much of a chance of winning the somewhat open shortstop competition, but that's not really a concern. Flores needs at least two more years in the Minors before he'll be ready to tackle Major League duty.
5. Omar Quintanilla: Quintanilla is a veteran player who the Mets have signed to a Minor League contract and invited to Spring Training. A former top prospect with Oakland and Colorado, Quintanilla hasn't had much success at the professional level. Last season he batted .045 in 22 at-bats with Texas. Quintanilla will be looked at and will probably last in Spring Training longer than Valdespin and Flores, but he's really only been brought in for the purposes of depth.
The Mets don't look good at shortstop. Tejada is a decent-looking young player who might be worth a shot at shortstop in 2012, but he hasn't proven anything at the big league level yet and he was never a standout offensive player in the Minors, although his fielding is superb. Cedeno is a veteran player capable of being a sub-par starting shortstop on a bad or rebuilding team and he'll probably fill that role with the Mets, but his presence here is more of a negative than a positive. Valdespin is a player coming up through their system who the Mets like, but he needs most of a year in the Minors before he's ready and there's no reason to believe he'll ever be more than anything but a decent player in the Majors. Flores is a top prospect but he's two years away from being ready. Quintanilla is a decent player to have in place for depth and will probably get some time in the Majors this year, but that's it.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Red Sox Shortstops
The Red Sox are attempting to recover from a disastrous collapse last season. They are employing the band-aid method so far, keeping the players that worked from last season and attempting to patch up areas on the team which were not as successful. One problem area is shortstop.
1. Mike Aviles: Aviles was acquired in a trade last season with Kansas City and tore the ball in a utility role down the stretch, in spite of the team's collapse. Aviles finished last season with a decent .255 average in 286 at-bats and he stole an impressive 14 bases off the bench for Boston and Kansas City. Aviles could also see some time at second, third, and in left but right now manager Bobby Valentine wants him to win the shortstop job.
2. Jose Iglesias: Iglesias is a big prospect whom Boston will be taking a look at in Spring Training, and he has a legitimate shot at winning a job, as he makes a lot of sense as a utility player and there is a lot of openness at the shortstop position. However, Valentine will not likely keep Iglesias on the roster unless he wins a starting job. But that shouldn't be a deterrent, as Iglesias appears ready to make the next step to the Majors. Iglesias batted .333 in six at-bats last season with Boston.
3. Pedro Ciriaco: Ciriaco is a prospect who was signed as a Minor League free agent from Pittsburgh this off-season. An international signee out of the Dominican Republic, Ciriaco played in the Futures Game in 2010 and has a ton of speed. Originally signed by Arizona, Ciriaco batted .303 in 33 at-bats last season with Pittsburgh. There is an open spot at shortstop and a utility role could be in Ciriaco's future, although it looks like he's probably headed back to AAA to provide depth. Ciriaco, who will only turn 26 in September, still has a lot of potential and will probably be viewed as a prospect by Boston.
Shortstop looks like it's going to be a mess for Boston. Aviles could be a suitable utility man and pinch runner but he doesn't appear to be able to start. Iglesias is a good prospect out of Cuba who could be ready to ascend to the Majors but is still unproven at that level. Ciriaco is another nice young player but the Red Sox don't seem to be prepared to invest in him.
1. Mike Aviles: Aviles was acquired in a trade last season with Kansas City and tore the ball in a utility role down the stretch, in spite of the team's collapse. Aviles finished last season with a decent .255 average in 286 at-bats and he stole an impressive 14 bases off the bench for Boston and Kansas City. Aviles could also see some time at second, third, and in left but right now manager Bobby Valentine wants him to win the shortstop job.
2. Jose Iglesias: Iglesias is a big prospect whom Boston will be taking a look at in Spring Training, and he has a legitimate shot at winning a job, as he makes a lot of sense as a utility player and there is a lot of openness at the shortstop position. However, Valentine will not likely keep Iglesias on the roster unless he wins a starting job. But that shouldn't be a deterrent, as Iglesias appears ready to make the next step to the Majors. Iglesias batted .333 in six at-bats last season with Boston.
3. Pedro Ciriaco: Ciriaco is a prospect who was signed as a Minor League free agent from Pittsburgh this off-season. An international signee out of the Dominican Republic, Ciriaco played in the Futures Game in 2010 and has a ton of speed. Originally signed by Arizona, Ciriaco batted .303 in 33 at-bats last season with Pittsburgh. There is an open spot at shortstop and a utility role could be in Ciriaco's future, although it looks like he's probably headed back to AAA to provide depth. Ciriaco, who will only turn 26 in September, still has a lot of potential and will probably be viewed as a prospect by Boston.
Shortstop looks like it's going to be a mess for Boston. Aviles could be a suitable utility man and pinch runner but he doesn't appear to be able to start. Iglesias is a good prospect out of Cuba who could be ready to ascend to the Majors but is still unproven at that level. Ciriaco is another nice young player but the Red Sox don't seem to be prepared to invest in him.
Yankees Invite 27 to Spring Training
The Yankees agreed to terms with 13 players on Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training yesterday. The signings of 1B Russell Branyan, 2B Bill Hall, and RHP Manny Delcarmen were made official. In addition, the signing of LHP Hidkei Okajima was confirmed. Also, OF DeWayne Wise was signed, probably headlining the nine other players who were signed. The Yankees also invited 14 prospects to Spring Training.
Branyan and Hall were both signed in the 48 hours prior to the official announcement while Delcarmen was signed quite some time ago. Delcarmen and Okajima will compete for bullpen spots while Wise will battle for a role as a fourth outfielder. Other players the Yankees have invited to Spring Training include LHP Manny Banuelos, LHP Juan Cedeno, LHP Mike O'Connor, RHP Daniel Burawa, RHP Matt Daley, RHP Adam Miller, RHP Ryan Pope, RHP Graham Stoneburner, RHP Adam Warner, RHP Kevin Whelan, RHP Chase Whitley, C Jose Gil, C Kyle Higashioka, C Gustavo Molina, C J. R. Murphy, C Gary Sanchez, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Jayson Nix, 1B Jorge Vazquez, RF Colin Curtis, LF Cole Garner, and RHP Brett Marshall.
Branyan and Hall were both signed in the 48 hours prior to the official announcement while Delcarmen was signed quite some time ago. Delcarmen and Okajima will compete for bullpen spots while Wise will battle for a role as a fourth outfielder. Other players the Yankees have invited to Spring Training include LHP Manny Banuelos, LHP Juan Cedeno, LHP Mike O'Connor, RHP Daniel Burawa, RHP Matt Daley, RHP Adam Miller, RHP Ryan Pope, RHP Graham Stoneburner, RHP Adam Warner, RHP Kevin Whelan, RHP Chase Whitley, C Jose Gil, C Kyle Higashioka, C Gustavo Molina, C J. R. Murphy, C Gary Sanchez, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Jayson Nix, 1B Jorge Vazquez, RF Colin Curtis, LF Cole Garner, and RHP Brett Marshall.
Yankees sign Branyan
The Yankees have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan on a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. Branyan has destroyed Yankees pitching at home since 2009. Now 36, he has hit the two longest home runs in the short history of the new Yankee Stadium. Branyan batted .197 with five homers and 14 runs batted in with the Angels and Arizona last season.
Branyan holds a .234 batting average with 194 home runs in his career. In 2010, Branyan hit the longest home run in new Yankee Stadium history off of RHP Javier Vasquez while playing for Seattle. Branyan had hit the longest home run in the stadium's history in 2009 when he hit the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in dead center in 2009 and has hit eight homers in 47 at-bats at the new Yankee Stadium including one in his only at-bat there last season.
Branyan holds a .234 batting average with 194 home runs in his career. In 2010, Branyan hit the longest home run in new Yankee Stadium history off of RHP Javier Vasquez while playing for Seattle. Branyan had hit the longest home run in the stadium's history in 2009 when he hit the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in dead center in 2009 and has hit eight homers in 47 at-bats at the new Yankee Stadium including one in his only at-bat there last season.
Whatever Happened to...? A Laker Alumni Update
Whatever happened to Jocelyn Dubord?
The first question most people would ask at this point in time is who is Jocelyn Dubord? Well, Dubord was a forward who played for the SUNY Oswego Lakers from 2002 until 2006, when he graduated. He was born in LaChenaie, Province of Quebec on January 12, 1981. He stood an impressive 6'1" and weighed 200 pounds and shot left-handed.
Dubord was one of the last of a dying breed for the Lakers: He never played in juniors. After a couple of years of playing on the semi-pro circuit in Quebec Dubord got tired of pointless bus rides and high expenditures and gave up his dream of playing professional hockey in favor of an education.
And it was his education that brought him to Oswego, New York. When touring the campus a tour guide told him about the Division II/III hockey team present on the campus and told him - probably dishonestly - that he would have the opportunity to try out for the team. Dubord took the bait and opted to attend Oswego on the basis for the potential to continue playing hockey while getting an education. Like most other walk-on tryouts he was only given a token chance to play by head coach Ed Gosek, but Dubord caught Gosek's eye and in a surprising move was kept on the team. And for good reason: He had 37 points in his freshman year with the team. Not bad for a kid who couldn't get a spot on the juniors circuit in Canada. He had another 29 points his sophomore year, 38 points his junior year, and a career-high 43 points his senior year.
Dubord went undrafted out of college and attended several tryout camps but was not offered a professional contract. He returned to Quebec and took a job teaching in a junior high school and resumed playing in the semi-pro circuit. And it was there, ironically in the same semi-pro league that he had begun his adult career in, that he was finally noticed by a scout and was offered a tryout in front of several independent minor league teams. He signed a contract with the independent Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL and tallied 13 points in 37 games with the club.
He tired of the long bus rides and low pay near the end of the season and retired from professional hockey. He lives in Quebec and teaches junior high school English classes and still plays in a semi-pro league.
The first question most people would ask at this point in time is who is Jocelyn Dubord? Well, Dubord was a forward who played for the SUNY Oswego Lakers from 2002 until 2006, when he graduated. He was born in LaChenaie, Province of Quebec on January 12, 1981. He stood an impressive 6'1" and weighed 200 pounds and shot left-handed.
Dubord was one of the last of a dying breed for the Lakers: He never played in juniors. After a couple of years of playing on the semi-pro circuit in Quebec Dubord got tired of pointless bus rides and high expenditures and gave up his dream of playing professional hockey in favor of an education.
And it was his education that brought him to Oswego, New York. When touring the campus a tour guide told him about the Division II/III hockey team present on the campus and told him - probably dishonestly - that he would have the opportunity to try out for the team. Dubord took the bait and opted to attend Oswego on the basis for the potential to continue playing hockey while getting an education. Like most other walk-on tryouts he was only given a token chance to play by head coach Ed Gosek, but Dubord caught Gosek's eye and in a surprising move was kept on the team. And for good reason: He had 37 points in his freshman year with the team. Not bad for a kid who couldn't get a spot on the juniors circuit in Canada. He had another 29 points his sophomore year, 38 points his junior year, and a career-high 43 points his senior year.
Dubord went undrafted out of college and attended several tryout camps but was not offered a professional contract. He returned to Quebec and took a job teaching in a junior high school and resumed playing in the semi-pro circuit. And it was there, ironically in the same semi-pro league that he had begun his adult career in, that he was finally noticed by a scout and was offered a tryout in front of several independent minor league teams. He signed a contract with the independent Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL and tallied 13 points in 37 games with the club.
He tired of the long bus rides and low pay near the end of the season and retired from professional hockey. He lives in Quebec and teaches junior high school English classes and still plays in a semi-pro league.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Yankees Third Basemen
The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. As such, they have retained many of their players from last season. One such area of retention is third base.
1. Alex Rodriguez: Last year was a lost season for A-Rod, as he only got 373 at-bats due to injury. He still figures to get most of the playing time at third base, but he's also penciled in for major time at DH at present, with pundits saying possibly as many 50 starts at DH in order. A-Rod is somewhat resistant to the move, but realizes it would allow him more at-bats and hopefully would give him a cleaner bill of health. The Yankees are hoping that A-Rod can stay healthy next season and give them 30-plus homers and - gasp - as many as 160 runs batted in.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was all set to be the everyday DH until DH Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now Nunez will slip back into his more familiar utility player role. And that role worked well for him last season, as he got 309 at-bats and batted .265 with 22 stolen bases. He should see considerable time at third this season, with A-Rod slated to get as many as 50 starts at DH.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a top prospect with a ton of power who is ready to take the next step to the Majors. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any place for him to play. With that being said, Laird could be traded in Spring Training for a left-handed bat or packaged in a deal with disgruntled RHP A. J. Burnett. If he isn't traded by Opening Day, Laird would be an interesting player to have on the block at the deadline. And that might happen because a straight-up trade for Laird might not yield much in return right now. He batted .190 in 21 at-bats in September for the Yankees last season.
4. Ramiro Pena: Pena is a former utility player with the Yankees who is trying to get back into the Majors. The problem with that is that he's currently behind Nunez and on par with several other players. Pena probably doesn't stand much of a chance of making the Yankees team this year, as he only batted .100 in 40 at-bats in September last season, although he's a good insurance policy to have at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees don't look particularly good at third base. A-Rod's health is a question mark, and as always so is his potential use of performance-enhancing drugs and his off-field behavior and distractions. Nunez looks like he's going to be a star and he's one of the best utility players in the Majors at present. Laird is a big prospect but he has no place on the Major League roster right now. Pena is a good insurance policy behind Nunez and could serve as a utility player on many Major League teams, but that's about it.
1. Alex Rodriguez: Last year was a lost season for A-Rod, as he only got 373 at-bats due to injury. He still figures to get most of the playing time at third base, but he's also penciled in for major time at DH at present, with pundits saying possibly as many 50 starts at DH in order. A-Rod is somewhat resistant to the move, but realizes it would allow him more at-bats and hopefully would give him a cleaner bill of health. The Yankees are hoping that A-Rod can stay healthy next season and give them 30-plus homers and - gasp - as many as 160 runs batted in.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was all set to be the everyday DH until DH Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now Nunez will slip back into his more familiar utility player role. And that role worked well for him last season, as he got 309 at-bats and batted .265 with 22 stolen bases. He should see considerable time at third this season, with A-Rod slated to get as many as 50 starts at DH.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a top prospect with a ton of power who is ready to take the next step to the Majors. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any place for him to play. With that being said, Laird could be traded in Spring Training for a left-handed bat or packaged in a deal with disgruntled RHP A. J. Burnett. If he isn't traded by Opening Day, Laird would be an interesting player to have on the block at the deadline. And that might happen because a straight-up trade for Laird might not yield much in return right now. He batted .190 in 21 at-bats in September for the Yankees last season.
4. Ramiro Pena: Pena is a former utility player with the Yankees who is trying to get back into the Majors. The problem with that is that he's currently behind Nunez and on par with several other players. Pena probably doesn't stand much of a chance of making the Yankees team this year, as he only batted .100 in 40 at-bats in September last season, although he's a good insurance policy to have at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees don't look particularly good at third base. A-Rod's health is a question mark, and as always so is his potential use of performance-enhancing drugs and his off-field behavior and distractions. Nunez looks like he's going to be a star and he's one of the best utility players in the Majors at present. Laird is a big prospect but he has no place on the Major League roster right now. Pena is a good insurance policy behind Nunez and could serve as a utility player on many Major League teams, but that's about it.
Yankees sign Hall
The Yankees have agreed to terms with IF/OF Bill Hall on a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. In a move that disgusts LeRoy, Hall announced the signing on his Twitter feed. Hall batted .211 with two homers and 14 runs batted in in 199 plate appearances in Houston and San Francisco last season, though he was last on a Major League roster on July 28.
The versatile Hall, who played mostly second base last year but can also play third, short, and all three outfield spots, will compete for a bench role with the Yankees. The former sixth-round draft pick batted .247 with 18 homers, 46 RBIs, and 44 runs scored with Boston in 2010. Hall will earn $600,000 if he plays in the Majors with the Yankees and has the opportunity to double that salary in incentives, though he has an opt-out clause in his contract which would allow him to become a free agent if he is not on the Yankees Major League roster by April 4.
The signing doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Yankees this season, as they are looking for a left-handed bat to fill the role played by 3B/DH Eric Chavez last season to serve as a compliment to DH Andruw Jones. The Yankees have been discussing terms with DH/OF Johnny Damon, DH/OF Hideki Matsui, and OF Raul Ibanez on contracts, though they are hoping to spend no more than $2 million on the left-handed bat. Money is already a little too tight for co-owner Hal Steinbrenner's taste after RHP Hiroki Kuroda was signed to a one-year, $10 million contract.
In addition, the Yankees have not ruled out the possibility of re-signing Chavez to fill the same role next season.
The versatile Hall, who played mostly second base last year but can also play third, short, and all three outfield spots, will compete for a bench role with the Yankees. The former sixth-round draft pick batted .247 with 18 homers, 46 RBIs, and 44 runs scored with Boston in 2010. Hall will earn $600,000 if he plays in the Majors with the Yankees and has the opportunity to double that salary in incentives, though he has an opt-out clause in his contract which would allow him to become a free agent if he is not on the Yankees Major League roster by April 4.
The signing doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Yankees this season, as they are looking for a left-handed bat to fill the role played by 3B/DH Eric Chavez last season to serve as a compliment to DH Andruw Jones. The Yankees have been discussing terms with DH/OF Johnny Damon, DH/OF Hideki Matsui, and OF Raul Ibanez on contracts, though they are hoping to spend no more than $2 million on the left-handed bat. Money is already a little too tight for co-owner Hal Steinbrenner's taste after RHP Hiroki Kuroda was signed to a one-year, $10 million contract.
In addition, the Yankees have not ruled out the possibility of re-signing Chavez to fill the same role next season.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll
February 6, 2012
1. Norwich (19)
2. Oswego (1)
3.Plattsburgh
4. Amherst
5. St. Thomas
6. St. Norbert
7. Castleton
8. Wisc-River Falls
9. Adrian
10. Utica
11. Elmira
12. Milwaukee School of
13. St. Scholastica
14. Bowdoin
15. Wisc-Stevens Point
1. Norwich (19)
2. Oswego (1)
3.Plattsburgh
4. Amherst
5. St. Thomas
6. St. Norbert
7. Castleton
8. Wisc-River Falls
9. Adrian
10. Utica
11. Elmira
12. Milwaukee School of
13. St. Scholastica
14. Bowdoin
15. Wisc-Stevens Point
Mets Third Basemen
The Mets are attempting to tread water this season as their rebuilding phase enters its second season. As such, they are proceeding with a mix of returning players, young players and prospects, and veteran free agents. One area with a returning player in place is third base.
1. David Wright: Wright had a largely mediocre season last year. He batted .254 with only 14 homers and 61 runs batted in, and he only stole 13 bases. On the plus side, his defense was probably the best it had been since 2009. The Mets are hoping for a stronger and healthier season from Wright this year, and they're hoping that the moved-in fences will allow for some of Wright's opposite-field power to return and for his defense to remain strong.
2. Justin Turner: The notion of Turner serving in any large capacity as a backup third baseman is probably remote, unless a major injury befalls Wright. In all likelihood Turner will win the starting second base job and IF/LF Daniel Murphy will serve as Wright's backup. But right now Turner is banking on his versatility, because if he doesn't win the second base job (against all odds) he'll be battling against IF Ronny Cedeno for the utility player job and against OF/2B Scott Hairston for the right-handed pinch hitter job, competitions he's not likely to win.
3. Josh Satin: Satin is a former College All-American and MVP of the Florida State League who has come up through the Mets system. He got a call-up in September last season and didn't look too good, batting .200 in 25 at-bats. To his credit, he was probably rushed to the Majors. It looks like he'll need some more time at Buffalo before he's ready to conquer the Major Leagues. He has still has options left so a demotion will not be terrible, but Satin is still competing for a job as a utility player and/or right-handed pinch hitter in Spring Training, although he's likely to lose both of those competitions to Cedeno and Hairston, respectively.
4. Zach Lutz: Lutz is a guy who has come up through the Mets system who they have opted to protect from the Rule V Draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. Lutz spent an injury-riddled season at Buffalo in 2011, batting .295 with 11 homers in 220 at-bats. In addition, Lutz is known more for his defense at third than for his bat. He's probably ready for a job in the Majors now, though there doesn't seem to be a place for him. It's possible he could be traded in Spring Training to a team who needs a third baseman, but until then he'll be competing against Turner, Satin, Cedeno, and Hairston for a spot on the team as a utility player or pinch hitter.
The Mets look like they have a lot of potential at third base, but the potential for results is questionable. The Mets are hoping for a fully healthy season from Wright and a return to his 2008 levels with the fences being moved in, or at the very least a return to 2010 when he hit 29 homers and had over 100 runs batted in. Turner is probably going to be the team's starting second baseman or playing second base at Buffalo. Satin and Lutz are players who look somewhat promising and could help the team in the future.
1. David Wright: Wright had a largely mediocre season last year. He batted .254 with only 14 homers and 61 runs batted in, and he only stole 13 bases. On the plus side, his defense was probably the best it had been since 2009. The Mets are hoping for a stronger and healthier season from Wright this year, and they're hoping that the moved-in fences will allow for some of Wright's opposite-field power to return and for his defense to remain strong.
2. Justin Turner: The notion of Turner serving in any large capacity as a backup third baseman is probably remote, unless a major injury befalls Wright. In all likelihood Turner will win the starting second base job and IF/LF Daniel Murphy will serve as Wright's backup. But right now Turner is banking on his versatility, because if he doesn't win the second base job (against all odds) he'll be battling against IF Ronny Cedeno for the utility player job and against OF/2B Scott Hairston for the right-handed pinch hitter job, competitions he's not likely to win.
3. Josh Satin: Satin is a former College All-American and MVP of the Florida State League who has come up through the Mets system. He got a call-up in September last season and didn't look too good, batting .200 in 25 at-bats. To his credit, he was probably rushed to the Majors. It looks like he'll need some more time at Buffalo before he's ready to conquer the Major Leagues. He has still has options left so a demotion will not be terrible, but Satin is still competing for a job as a utility player and/or right-handed pinch hitter in Spring Training, although he's likely to lose both of those competitions to Cedeno and Hairston, respectively.
4. Zach Lutz: Lutz is a guy who has come up through the Mets system who they have opted to protect from the Rule V Draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. Lutz spent an injury-riddled season at Buffalo in 2011, batting .295 with 11 homers in 220 at-bats. In addition, Lutz is known more for his defense at third than for his bat. He's probably ready for a job in the Majors now, though there doesn't seem to be a place for him. It's possible he could be traded in Spring Training to a team who needs a third baseman, but until then he'll be competing against Turner, Satin, Cedeno, and Hairston for a spot on the team as a utility player or pinch hitter.
The Mets look like they have a lot of potential at third base, but the potential for results is questionable. The Mets are hoping for a fully healthy season from Wright and a return to his 2008 levels with the fences being moved in, or at the very least a return to 2010 when he hit 29 homers and had over 100 runs batted in. Turner is probably going to be the team's starting second baseman or playing second base at Buffalo. Satin and Lutz are players who look somewhat promising and could help the team in the future.
Atchison Outrighted to Pawtucket
RHP Scott Atchison has cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and has been outrighted to Pawtucket. Atchison was designated for assignment to make room for OF Cody Ross on the 40-man roster and has been invited to Spring Training. Atchison was on the Pawtucket shuttle all of last season and is now out of options, and last season he posted a 3.26 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched for Boston.
Red Sox Third Basemen
The Red Sox are attempting to recover from a disastrous collapse in 2011. They have employed the band-aid method in avoiding a repeat performance from last season, by retaining all of their positives and trying to patch up their negatives. One area that shouldn't need patchwork is third base.
1. Kevin Youkilis: Youkilis had a very mediocre season last year, batting .258 with an alarming 100 strikeouts and only 80 runs batted in, well below his season averages. The re-conversion back to third base went well in the field for Youk, though, and that's a plus from an already strong defensive player. The Red Sox are hoping that his good bat returns next season, or that he can at least bat .285, and that his defense remains strong.
2. Mike Aviles: Aviles is penciled in to be the starting shortstop at present, but he looks like he's going to be the first line of defense at third as well. In addition to that, he could see considerable time at second base and some time in left field in the beginning of the season as well. The better Youk plays the less time Aviles should see at third, so manager Bobby Valentine is probably hoping that Youk plays really well.
3. Will Middlebrooks: Middlebrooks played on the American team in last season's Futures Game and has since gained a lot of acclaim as an up-and-coming player, and for good reason. Last season he hit an impressive 23 homers at three different levels in the Minors. His fielding has been good in the Minors at third base as well. Middlebrooks probably needs a little bit of fine-tuning in the Minors, but he could be ready for the Majors by mid-season this year and if there's not room for him you'll definitely see him in September. But with his Major League-readiness it's likely you'll see a trade at the deadline this year, either involving Middlebrooks or Youk.
The Red Sox look mediocre at third base. Their expectations of Youkilis are far from sky-high, although they're hoping for a rebound from him. Aviles is the starting shortstop and any expectation of him getting serious time at third is probably unrealistic. Middlebrooks is a huge prospect who could be playing third base everyday for Boston after the All-Star break if Youkilis is not playing well.
1. Kevin Youkilis: Youkilis had a very mediocre season last year, batting .258 with an alarming 100 strikeouts and only 80 runs batted in, well below his season averages. The re-conversion back to third base went well in the field for Youk, though, and that's a plus from an already strong defensive player. The Red Sox are hoping that his good bat returns next season, or that he can at least bat .285, and that his defense remains strong.
2. Mike Aviles: Aviles is penciled in to be the starting shortstop at present, but he looks like he's going to be the first line of defense at third as well. In addition to that, he could see considerable time at second base and some time in left field in the beginning of the season as well. The better Youk plays the less time Aviles should see at third, so manager Bobby Valentine is probably hoping that Youk plays really well.
3. Will Middlebrooks: Middlebrooks played on the American team in last season's Futures Game and has since gained a lot of acclaim as an up-and-coming player, and for good reason. Last season he hit an impressive 23 homers at three different levels in the Minors. His fielding has been good in the Minors at third base as well. Middlebrooks probably needs a little bit of fine-tuning in the Minors, but he could be ready for the Majors by mid-season this year and if there's not room for him you'll definitely see him in September. But with his Major League-readiness it's likely you'll see a trade at the deadline this year, either involving Middlebrooks or Youk.
The Red Sox look mediocre at third base. Their expectations of Youkilis are far from sky-high, although they're hoping for a rebound from him. Aviles is the starting shortstop and any expectation of him getting serious time at third is probably unrealistic. Middlebrooks is a huge prospect who could be playing third base everyday for Boston after the All-Star break if Youkilis is not playing well.
Yankees Second Basemen
The Yankees are attempting to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. They want most of their team to remain intact, although some changes have been made. One area that should remain intact in second base.
1. Robinson Cano: Cano had another monster season last year, batting .302 with 104 runs scored, 28 homers, and 118 runs batted in. Cano will be 29 this season and his fielding showed minor improvement last season and the Yankees are expecting another strong season from him this year.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was slated to be the team's starting DH until DH/OF Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now Nunez will revert to his more familiar role of a utility player. He performed well last season both offensively and defensively, batting .265 with an amazing 22 stolen bases in only 309 at-bats. Nunez won't get much time at second behind Cano, but he'll be there when the team needs him.
3. Ramiro Pena: The still-young Pena is trying to get back into the mix as a utility player with the club. He looked like he had a good chance to win a job until Jones was re-signed and Nunez returned to a bench role. Pena got some time in the Majors last season, primarily in September, and he didn't perform well, batting .100 in only 40 at-bats. There sure isn't much room for him at second behind Cano and Nunez, and it looks like he'll probably return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre again this season.
4. Corban Joseph: Joseph is a guy who has come through the Yankees system who they're looking at for second base. He's nowhere near ready for the Majors yet and he's only in the conversation because the Yankees have opted to protect him from the Rule V Draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. Joseph batted .277 in 499 at-bats at Trenton last season, although he struck out an alarming 104 times. Joseph needs at least one more season in the Minors, although LeRoy wouldn't be too surprised to see him in September.
5. David Adams: Adams is another guy coming through the Yankees system who they're protecting from the Rule V Draft. He was injured most of last season, batting .308 in only 52 at-bats at Tampa. Adams will probably be back in Tampa to start the 2012 season, though he should end up at Trenton. This guy's nowhere near ready for the Majors, and Yankees fans probably shouldn't expect to see him until sometime in 2014, and at the rate he's progressing he might never make it that far.
The Yankees look strong at second base. Cano is a star in every sense of the word and is probably the best pure hitter on their team. Nunez looks like he's going to be a great player in the future and is an excellent utility man at present. Pena has been a good utility man in the past and is a good option to have at AAA. Joseph and Adams are decent-looking players who could make an impact in the coming years.
1. Robinson Cano: Cano had another monster season last year, batting .302 with 104 runs scored, 28 homers, and 118 runs batted in. Cano will be 29 this season and his fielding showed minor improvement last season and the Yankees are expecting another strong season from him this year.
2. Eduardo Nunez: Nunez was slated to be the team's starting DH until DH/OF Andruw Jones was re-signed. Now Nunez will revert to his more familiar role of a utility player. He performed well last season both offensively and defensively, batting .265 with an amazing 22 stolen bases in only 309 at-bats. Nunez won't get much time at second behind Cano, but he'll be there when the team needs him.
3. Ramiro Pena: The still-young Pena is trying to get back into the mix as a utility player with the club. He looked like he had a good chance to win a job until Jones was re-signed and Nunez returned to a bench role. Pena got some time in the Majors last season, primarily in September, and he didn't perform well, batting .100 in only 40 at-bats. There sure isn't much room for him at second behind Cano and Nunez, and it looks like he'll probably return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre again this season.
4. Corban Joseph: Joseph is a guy who has come through the Yankees system who they're looking at for second base. He's nowhere near ready for the Majors yet and he's only in the conversation because the Yankees have opted to protect him from the Rule V Draft by placing him on the 40-man roster. Joseph batted .277 in 499 at-bats at Trenton last season, although he struck out an alarming 104 times. Joseph needs at least one more season in the Minors, although LeRoy wouldn't be too surprised to see him in September.
5. David Adams: Adams is another guy coming through the Yankees system who they're protecting from the Rule V Draft. He was injured most of last season, batting .308 in only 52 at-bats at Tampa. Adams will probably be back in Tampa to start the 2012 season, though he should end up at Trenton. This guy's nowhere near ready for the Majors, and Yankees fans probably shouldn't expect to see him until sometime in 2014, and at the rate he's progressing he might never make it that far.
The Yankees look strong at second base. Cano is a star in every sense of the word and is probably the best pure hitter on their team. Nunez looks like he's going to be a great player in the future and is an excellent utility man at present. Pena has been a good utility man in the past and is a good option to have at AAA. Joseph and Adams are decent-looking players who could make an impact in the coming years.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Mets Second Basemen
The Mets are trying to tread water this season as their rebuilding phase continues. They're trying to fill holes with young players and plug others with veterans here and there, and some spots remain open for competition. One such spot is second base.
1. Daniel Murphy: Oh yeah. Murphy is being converted into a second baseman this off-season. Again. For those of us counting, this is the fourth time that Murphy has been converted into a second baseman (once after the 2008 season, twice in the 2010 season at AAA, thrice after the 2010 season, and now a fourth time heading into the 2012 season). No conversion has worked yet for a variety of reasons. The Mets were unable to trade 2B Luis Castillo the first time. The second conversion was ended due to a season-ending knee injury. The third time it just didn't work as Murphy couldn't play defense at second. And what will happen this year? LeRoy doesn't know that, but here's a prediction: Come Opening Day, Daniel Murphy will not be playing second base for the Mets. Instead he'll be a left-handed bat off the bench and a super-sub in the vein of former Mets IF/OF Kevin Mitchell, who can play almost everyday at a different position. No matter where or how he plays, the Mets need his bat in the lineup. He batted .320 last season.
2. Justin Turner: Turner lost out on the second base and utility infielder job last season to 2B Brad Emaus and IF Chin-lung Hu, respectively, but he had the last laugh as he was recalled early in the season and ended up being the team's starting second baseman. And he performed decently, batting .260 and playing good defense at second. He's on the bubble again this season. With the Mets pulling for Murphy to win the second base job, IF Ronny Cedeno signed to serve as the team's utility player, and OF/2B Scott Hairston signed to a guaranteed contract to serve as the team's right-handed pinch hitter, it looks like Turner might be out of a job. But LeRoy wouldn't worry too much: Here's predicting that Turner wins the second base job in Spring Training.
3. Reese Havens: Havens is a top prospect and former number one draft pick with the Mets who they have added to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. Despite all of the hype Havens has done nothing in the Minor Leagues and his professional career has thus far been injury-riddled, though the Mets still believe in him enough to invest in him this Spring and he' still being ranked as one of their top prospects. But none of that really matters. Havens, regardless of his performance or health, needs to start the season at AA and he probably won't reach the Major Leagues until sometime in the second half of 2013.
The Mets second base situation looks murky, but it doesn't look bad. If Murphy wins the job the Mets should expect sub par defense but a lot of offense. If Turner wins the job they should expect decent offense and above average defense. Either way their second base situation base situation looks solid. And with Havens waiting in the wings at least they can say that they have someone poised to take over by 2014.
1. Daniel Murphy: Oh yeah. Murphy is being converted into a second baseman this off-season. Again. For those of us counting, this is the fourth time that Murphy has been converted into a second baseman (once after the 2008 season, twice in the 2010 season at AAA, thrice after the 2010 season, and now a fourth time heading into the 2012 season). No conversion has worked yet for a variety of reasons. The Mets were unable to trade 2B Luis Castillo the first time. The second conversion was ended due to a season-ending knee injury. The third time it just didn't work as Murphy couldn't play defense at second. And what will happen this year? LeRoy doesn't know that, but here's a prediction: Come Opening Day, Daniel Murphy will not be playing second base for the Mets. Instead he'll be a left-handed bat off the bench and a super-sub in the vein of former Mets IF/OF Kevin Mitchell, who can play almost everyday at a different position. No matter where or how he plays, the Mets need his bat in the lineup. He batted .320 last season.
2. Justin Turner: Turner lost out on the second base and utility infielder job last season to 2B Brad Emaus and IF Chin-lung Hu, respectively, but he had the last laugh as he was recalled early in the season and ended up being the team's starting second baseman. And he performed decently, batting .260 and playing good defense at second. He's on the bubble again this season. With the Mets pulling for Murphy to win the second base job, IF Ronny Cedeno signed to serve as the team's utility player, and OF/2B Scott Hairston signed to a guaranteed contract to serve as the team's right-handed pinch hitter, it looks like Turner might be out of a job. But LeRoy wouldn't worry too much: Here's predicting that Turner wins the second base job in Spring Training.
3. Reese Havens: Havens is a top prospect and former number one draft pick with the Mets who they have added to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. Despite all of the hype Havens has done nothing in the Minor Leagues and his professional career has thus far been injury-riddled, though the Mets still believe in him enough to invest in him this Spring and he' still being ranked as one of their top prospects. But none of that really matters. Havens, regardless of his performance or health, needs to start the season at AA and he probably won't reach the Major Leagues until sometime in the second half of 2013.
The Mets second base situation looks murky, but it doesn't look bad. If Murphy wins the job the Mets should expect sub par defense but a lot of offense. If Turner wins the job they should expect decent offense and above average defense. Either way their second base situation base situation looks solid. And with Havens waiting in the wings at least they can say that they have someone poised to take over by 2014.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Red Sox Second Basemen
The Red Sox are trying to recover from a disastrous collapse in 2011. Their method right now appears to be to keep everything that works intact and put a band-aid on the things that didn't work. One area that shouldn't need a band-aid is second base.
1. Dustin Pedroia: Pedroia had a good season on all fronts last year, finishing with a .307 batting average, 102 runs scored, 21 homers, and 26 stolen bases. He turns 29 in August and should still be in his prime. The Red Sox are hoping that he can repeat with another strong season in 2012.
2. Nick Punto: Punto was signed as a free agent after winning the World Series with St. Louis last season. A veteran utility player, he can play just about anywhere but the Red Sox only have him penciled in to see considerable time at second. Last season he batted .278 in 133 at-bats for St. Louis. The Red Sox would welcome that type of production from him again in 2012, though good versatile defense with not a whole lot of offense is more likely from the 34-year-old infielder.
3. Mike Aviles: Valentine had Aviles penciled in to get a lot of playing time in left at the beginning of the season following wrist surgery for LF Carl Crawford, but with the departure of SS Marco Scutaro and the trading of IF Jed Lowrie, Aviles has suddenly emerged as the everyday shortstop. Having said that, he still figures to get some time at second base, and maybe even in left every now and again and at other positions as well. But with Pedroia figuring to be out there most of the time and Punto available for good defense his innings at second should be few and far between.
4. Oscar Tejeda: Tejeda is a top prospect in Boston's system who was converted to second from shortstop in 2010. Tejeda needs another year in the Minors, but Boston has added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He had a rough season last year at Portland, batting .249 in 457 at-bats and striking out 101 times, while only drawing 29 walks. He also made 24 errors in the field, which is really too many. The Red Sox will look for him to display more patience at the plate next season, cut down on his strikeouts, and raise his batting average back up to about .270. He also needs to improve upon his defense.
The Red Sox look good at second base. Pedroia is a star in every sense of the word. Punto is a good backup. Aviles is a good option to have in an emergency. Tejeda is still a promising young player whom the Red Sox believe in, but he took a big step back last season.
1. Dustin Pedroia: Pedroia had a good season on all fronts last year, finishing with a .307 batting average, 102 runs scored, 21 homers, and 26 stolen bases. He turns 29 in August and should still be in his prime. The Red Sox are hoping that he can repeat with another strong season in 2012.
2. Nick Punto: Punto was signed as a free agent after winning the World Series with St. Louis last season. A veteran utility player, he can play just about anywhere but the Red Sox only have him penciled in to see considerable time at second. Last season he batted .278 in 133 at-bats for St. Louis. The Red Sox would welcome that type of production from him again in 2012, though good versatile defense with not a whole lot of offense is more likely from the 34-year-old infielder.
3. Mike Aviles: Valentine had Aviles penciled in to get a lot of playing time in left at the beginning of the season following wrist surgery for LF Carl Crawford, but with the departure of SS Marco Scutaro and the trading of IF Jed Lowrie, Aviles has suddenly emerged as the everyday shortstop. Having said that, he still figures to get some time at second base, and maybe even in left every now and again and at other positions as well. But with Pedroia figuring to be out there most of the time and Punto available for good defense his innings at second should be few and far between.
4. Oscar Tejeda: Tejeda is a top prospect in Boston's system who was converted to second from shortstop in 2010. Tejeda needs another year in the Minors, but Boston has added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule V Draft. He had a rough season last year at Portland, batting .249 in 457 at-bats and striking out 101 times, while only drawing 29 walks. He also made 24 errors in the field, which is really too many. The Red Sox will look for him to display more patience at the plate next season, cut down on his strikeouts, and raise his batting average back up to about .270. He also needs to improve upon his defense.
The Red Sox look good at second base. Pedroia is a star in every sense of the word. Punto is a good backup. Aviles is a good option to have in an emergency. Tejeda is still a promising young player whom the Red Sox believe in, but he took a big step back last season.
Yankees First Basemen
The Yankees are looking to repeat as AL East Champions in 2012. Having said that, a large part of their team remains intact from last season. One such area is first base.
1. Mark Teixeira: Teixeira had a strange season last year, struggling in many areas but still able to be effective as a slugger and run producer. He only batted .248 and failed to reach 150 hits, but he hit 39 home runs and knocked in 111 runs batted in. The Yankees are hoping that he can repeat with the power and production next season, and they'd welcome more consistency at the the plate, though it isn't really necessary at this point. In addition, Teixeira provides Gold Glove calibre defense at first.
2. Nick Swisher: Swisher will be the first line of defense behind Tex when he needs a day off. Having said that, his playing time there will be quite rare. A defensive standout and only 32 in April, Teixeira doesn't figure to get much time at DH, so Swisher's only real time at first should come when Tex gets a rest. Of course, Swisher will still be the everyday right fielder.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a huge prospect who is probably ready to make the next step to the big leagues. The only problem with that is that there doesn't seem to be any place to play him. A natural third baseman, Laird is penciled in to get some time at first in Spring and it probably wouldn't be a surprise to see him in left a bit also. He may have a chance to win the last spot on the bench, but that job looks like it's going to fall to a left-hander with the recent re-signing of DH/OF Andruw Jones.
The Yankees look pretty good at first base. Teixeira is a star even if he is inconsistent at times. Swisher is a good source of power in the lineup whether he plays in right or at first. Laird is a good prospect who could provide some pop off the bench or be marketed as a trade chip for bullpen help at some point, or he could be packaged with RHP A. J. Burnett for God knows what, as the Yankees have made their desire to trade Burnett in Spring Training no secret.
1. Mark Teixeira: Teixeira had a strange season last year, struggling in many areas but still able to be effective as a slugger and run producer. He only batted .248 and failed to reach 150 hits, but he hit 39 home runs and knocked in 111 runs batted in. The Yankees are hoping that he can repeat with the power and production next season, and they'd welcome more consistency at the the plate, though it isn't really necessary at this point. In addition, Teixeira provides Gold Glove calibre defense at first.
2. Nick Swisher: Swisher will be the first line of defense behind Tex when he needs a day off. Having said that, his playing time there will be quite rare. A defensive standout and only 32 in April, Teixeira doesn't figure to get much time at DH, so Swisher's only real time at first should come when Tex gets a rest. Of course, Swisher will still be the everyday right fielder.
3. Brandon Laird: Laird is a huge prospect who is probably ready to make the next step to the big leagues. The only problem with that is that there doesn't seem to be any place to play him. A natural third baseman, Laird is penciled in to get some time at first in Spring and it probably wouldn't be a surprise to see him in left a bit also. He may have a chance to win the last spot on the bench, but that job looks like it's going to fall to a left-hander with the recent re-signing of DH/OF Andruw Jones.
The Yankees look pretty good at first base. Teixeira is a star even if he is inconsistent at times. Swisher is a good source of power in the lineup whether he plays in right or at first. Laird is a good prospect who could provide some pop off the bench or be marketed as a trade chip for bullpen help at some point, or he could be packaged with RHP A. J. Burnett for God knows what, as the Yankees have made their desire to trade Burnett in Spring Training no secret.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Mets First Basemen
The Mets are treading water this season and there aren't very many expectations on them yet. One problem area from last season was first base, which was basically unmanned all season. They're trying a youth movement at the position this season, but there are questions about ability and health there.
1. Ike Davis: Davis is a former top prospect who was a huge power hitter in high school, college, and in the Minors. He has 30-homer potential, but hasn't come anywhere near that production at the Major League level. In addition, Davis is attempting to return from a season-ending knee injury from 2011. He was productive when healthy last season, batting .302 in 129 at-bats. The Mets are hoping that he can stay healthy this season and reach the 20-homer plateau, at a minimum. If he is healthy, he'll be the unquestioned first baseman.
2. Daniel Murphy: Murphy is a former top prospect who has had an interesting career at the Major League level. He has 20-homer potential, but has topped out at 12 in the Majors. He also is a good line drive hitter who could become a consistent .300 hitter. But Murphy is attempting to come back from three knee injuries in two years and may not be ready to go. In addition, if he is healthy he's currently penciled in to be the starting second baseman. So he's not much of a legitimate option in the first base mix right now. But the Mets are depending on his health as he batted .320 in 391 at-bats last season. And they're hoping that he can stay healthy with a high batting average and at least somewhere around 15 homers next season.
3. Valentino Pascucci: Pascucci is a career Minor Leaguer who has always seemed to be a favorite in the Mets organization. He has tremendous power, having hit 231 homers in the Minors in his career. As of right now Pascucci has a legitimate chance of playing first base regularly given the concerns surrounding Davis and Murphy. Last season he hit a home run and had two runs batted in for the Mets in September.
First base is up in the air for the Mets. Davis is a good young player, but he's still unproven at the Major League level and his knee is a question mark. Likewise, Murphy is a promising young player who also has a weak knee, and he's committed at another position. Pascucci is a nice player to have for depth and could provide some pop off the bench in an imperfect world, but that's all. LeRoy doesn't want to be a Negative Nancy, but right now we expect to see Murphy playing first base on Opening Day, which isn't exactly a bad thing, but it's not a great thing either.
1. Ike Davis: Davis is a former top prospect who was a huge power hitter in high school, college, and in the Minors. He has 30-homer potential, but hasn't come anywhere near that production at the Major League level. In addition, Davis is attempting to return from a season-ending knee injury from 2011. He was productive when healthy last season, batting .302 in 129 at-bats. The Mets are hoping that he can stay healthy this season and reach the 20-homer plateau, at a minimum. If he is healthy, he'll be the unquestioned first baseman.
2. Daniel Murphy: Murphy is a former top prospect who has had an interesting career at the Major League level. He has 20-homer potential, but has topped out at 12 in the Majors. He also is a good line drive hitter who could become a consistent .300 hitter. But Murphy is attempting to come back from three knee injuries in two years and may not be ready to go. In addition, if he is healthy he's currently penciled in to be the starting second baseman. So he's not much of a legitimate option in the first base mix right now. But the Mets are depending on his health as he batted .320 in 391 at-bats last season. And they're hoping that he can stay healthy with a high batting average and at least somewhere around 15 homers next season.
3. Valentino Pascucci: Pascucci is a career Minor Leaguer who has always seemed to be a favorite in the Mets organization. He has tremendous power, having hit 231 homers in the Minors in his career. As of right now Pascucci has a legitimate chance of playing first base regularly given the concerns surrounding Davis and Murphy. Last season he hit a home run and had two runs batted in for the Mets in September.
First base is up in the air for the Mets. Davis is a good young player, but he's still unproven at the Major League level and his knee is a question mark. Likewise, Murphy is a promising young player who also has a weak knee, and he's committed at another position. Pascucci is a nice player to have for depth and could provide some pop off the bench in an imperfect world, but that's all. LeRoy doesn't want to be a Negative Nancy, but right now we expect to see Murphy playing first base on Opening Day, which isn't exactly a bad thing, but it's not a great thing either.
Whelan Outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
The Yankees have optioned RHP Kevin Whelan to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Whelan had been designated for assignment to clear room for free agent signee RHP Hiroki Kuroda and he wasn't traded and cleared waivers and the Yankees opted to retain him in the organization. The 28-year-old Whelan posted a 5.40 ERA in 1.2 innings pitched last season for the Yankees and went 2-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 45 games and 52.1 innings pitched for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.
Whelan was drafted by Detroit in the fourth round in 2005 and was acquired by the Yankees in the RF Gary Sheffield trade.
Whelan was drafted by Detroit in the fourth round in 2005 and was acquired by the Yankees in the RF Gary Sheffield trade.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Red Sox First Basemen
The Red Sox are trying to stave off another collapse this season. First base was thought to be both a strength and an upgrade for Boston last season, and it worked out that way famously. It should be a strong position again for them this season.
1. Adrian Gonzalez: Gonzalez was acquired by Boston last off-season from the Padres in a deal which had been part of the off-again-on-again rumor mill for years. Gonzalez, who had been a beast in spacious PETCO Park, was expected to put up huge numbers in tiny Fenway. That didn't come to fruition, but he still had a strong season in 2011. He batted .338 with 213 hits, 108 runs scored, 45 doubles, 27 home runs, and 117 runs batted in. In addition, Gonzalez is a Gold Glove-calibre fielder at first base.
2. Lars Anderson: Anderson is a prospect who Boston is looking at in Spring Training. One of the biggest prospects in all of baseball, Anderson may be ready to make the next step to the big leagues. However, Boston won't be able to get him regular at-bats and his best bet at winning a job in the Majors is to find a spot on Boston's bench. Manager Bobby Valentine may not want to waste Anderson on his bench and may send him to Pawtucket to guarantee him regular playing time, though. And regular at-bats may be necessary for Anderson. He went hitless in five at-bats in the Majors last season.
3. David Ortiz: Ortiz will once again serve as Boston's starting designated hitter this season. He had another good season last year, batting .309 with 29 home runs. Boston is hoping for another solid season out of Big Papi, or at least one in which he provides 25 homers or more. He shouldn't get much time at first base, and depending on how Valentine uses Anderson, he might not get any, aside from a token appearance here or there in Interleague Play or in September.
Boston looks strong at first base. They can count on another monster season from Gonzalez, even if he doesn't provide the 50 homers and 160 runs batted in some might have hoped for. Anderson is a good prospect waiting in the wings, whether he waits at Pawtucket or on the Boston bench. And Ortiz is still an option at first base and a good force of fairly consistent, left-handed power in the middle of Boston's lineup.
1. Adrian Gonzalez: Gonzalez was acquired by Boston last off-season from the Padres in a deal which had been part of the off-again-on-again rumor mill for years. Gonzalez, who had been a beast in spacious PETCO Park, was expected to put up huge numbers in tiny Fenway. That didn't come to fruition, but he still had a strong season in 2011. He batted .338 with 213 hits, 108 runs scored, 45 doubles, 27 home runs, and 117 runs batted in. In addition, Gonzalez is a Gold Glove-calibre fielder at first base.
2. Lars Anderson: Anderson is a prospect who Boston is looking at in Spring Training. One of the biggest prospects in all of baseball, Anderson may be ready to make the next step to the big leagues. However, Boston won't be able to get him regular at-bats and his best bet at winning a job in the Majors is to find a spot on Boston's bench. Manager Bobby Valentine may not want to waste Anderson on his bench and may send him to Pawtucket to guarantee him regular playing time, though. And regular at-bats may be necessary for Anderson. He went hitless in five at-bats in the Majors last season.
3. David Ortiz: Ortiz will once again serve as Boston's starting designated hitter this season. He had another good season last year, batting .309 with 29 home runs. Boston is hoping for another solid season out of Big Papi, or at least one in which he provides 25 homers or more. He shouldn't get much time at first base, and depending on how Valentine uses Anderson, he might not get any, aside from a token appearance here or there in Interleague Play or in September.
Boston looks strong at first base. They can count on another monster season from Gonzalez, even if he doesn't provide the 50 homers and 160 runs batted in some might have hoped for. Anderson is a good prospect waiting in the wings, whether he waits at Pawtucket or on the Boston bench. And Ortiz is still an option at first base and a good force of fairly consistent, left-handed power in the middle of Boston's lineup.
Yankees sign Delcarmen
The Yankees have agreed to terms with RHP Manny Delcarmen on a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training. The New York Post first reported the signing. Delcarmen went 3-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 26 games at AAA last season.
In his career, Delcarmen is 11-8 with a 3.97 ERA and 249 strikeouts in 298 games and 292.2 innings pitched. Delcarmen joins former Red Sox pitchers LHP Cesar Cabral (Rule V Draft pick) and LHP Hideki Okajima (minor league free agent) in Spring Training with the Yankees this season.
In his career, Delcarmen is 11-8 with a 3.97 ERA and 249 strikeouts in 298 games and 292.2 innings pitched. Delcarmen joins former Red Sox pitchers LHP Cesar Cabral (Rule V Draft pick) and LHP Hideki Okajima (minor league free agent) in Spring Training with the Yankees this season.
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