Countdown

In case you've lost count...

7 days until the exhibition game versus Notre Dame

9 days until the regular season opens on the road at West Michigan

13 days until the home opener on April 13th vs. Lansing

Need tickets? Go here

Need more motivation? Look below

Oh I can't wait for the Dippin' Dots.

Parra Reassigned to Minor League Camp

Click here for Steve Gilbert's story on Diamondbacks.MLB.com

Or here are the highlights:

The D-backs reassigned outfielders Chris Roberson and Gerardo Parra to Minor League camp.

Both of those moves were expected, but the club also announced that it had informed pitcher Travis Blackley that he would not make the team and allowed him to leave camp.

and...

Parra, who hit .301 at Class A Visalia and .275 at Double-A Mobile last season, certainly made an impression this spring. The 21-year-old hit .478 with two home runs and six RBIs in 23 Cactus League at-bats.

"I don't think we have a better position-player prospect in our organization," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.

Parra will likely start the year in Mobile, but could move up quickly.

"He's one of those guys that plays up to the competition, which is a good thing," Byrnes said.

I bolded the quote from Bob Melvin, because I think that's the most important part of the story. If the big league manager is saying you are the best position-player prospect, that means you are going somewhere. Expect Parra to see some time in the majors at some point in 2009.

Daily Spring Training Report for 3/30

Less than a week remains of big league spring training, so the games are seeing more and more playing time for the players expected to be on the big league roster. Here's an update from Monday's games:

Rockies 10, Diamondbacks 3
AZ - Gerardo Parra ('07): 0-4
AZ - Justin Upton ('06): 1-4, RBI, K
AZ - Collin Cowgill ('08): 1-1 (pinch hitter)
AZ - Mark Reynolds ('04-'05): 1-4

Braves 4, Red Sox 3 (10 innings)
BOS - Enrique Gonzalez ('02-'03): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Pirates 3, Reds 2
CIN - Wilkin Castillo ('05): 2-2
PIT - Ross Ohlendorf ('05): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Cardinals 2, Marlins 1
FLA - Emilio Bonifacio ('04-'05): 1-4, K
FLA - Dan Uggla ('02): 0-3, 2 K

Tigers 3, Nationals 2
WSN - Alberto Gonzalez ('04-'05): 0-1

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1
TOR - Lyle Overbay ('00): 0-3, 3K

Athletics 9, Dodgers 5
OAK - Jack Cust ('98): 0-4, K

Indians 5, Padres 2
SD - Scott Hairston ('02): 0-3, K

Carlos Gonzalez to Triple-A

You can tell the season is right around the corner -- this is the 4th update today.

Just saw this on ESPN.com's spring training blog:

The Rockies have optioned outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Murton and left-handed pitcher Greg Smith to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Carlos Gonzalez was a Silver Hawk in '04 and '05. He was hitting just .171 in spring training. His player page also seems to indicate he's been battling some pain in his ribs.

Yikes! Two More Former Hawks Released

It has not been a good week for former Silver Hawks. Joining the list of former South Bend players to have been released by the Diamondbacks organization are Steve Mena ('06-'07) and Jimmy Principe ('08).

Mena his just .203 in 102 games with Visalia last year, and had only five home runs to go along with 103 strikeouts. At 24 years old, he was starting to get too old for the level where he would be playing (likely back in high-A). Unfortunately, as your age increases and your batting average doesn't, that usually spells the end of the road.

Principe spent 24 games in South Bend last year, hitting just .153. However, after going back down to Yakima, he hit .273 with the Bears. Again though, it was getting to be a case of age versus level, as Principe is 23 and probably looking at a full-season of low-A ball again.

Evan Frey back to Minor League Camp

This news is not surprising at all, but Evan Frey ('08) was sent down to Minor League camp yesterday. He wasn't expected to make the big league club out of spring training, so it was really more of a test to see how he would perform.

Here are his stats from spring training:
13-for-51 (.255 avg), 9 runs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 7 RBI, 1 SB

All-in-all, I'd say it was a very productive spring for Frey, who was invited to big-league camp for the first time.

Frey spent the first half of 2008 in South Bend, compiling a .327 batting average and 20 stolen bases in 75 games. He finished the year in Visalia with a .297 average and 17 stolen bases in 56 games.

Daily Spring Training Report for 3/29

I apologize for the lack of posts over the weekend, but to be fair, it was the last weekend until the season is over in September that I had entirely to myself. Ah yes, the life of a minor league baseball employee. Plus, it was rainy (Saturday) and snowy (Sunday) in South Bend over the weekend, so it was hard to think about baseball with the nasty weather.

Enough chit chat...here's your update from Sunday's spring training games:

White Sox 9, Diamondbacks 6
AZ - Gerardo Parra ('07): 1-1, HR, 2 RBI, R,
AZ - Justin Upton ('06): 1-2, R, BB
AZ - Miguel Montero ('04): 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, R

Rays 11, Reds 2
CIN - Wilkin Castillo ('05): 0-1

Astros 3, Blue Jays 2
TOR - Lyle Overbay ('00): 1-3, 2B

Marlins 5, Nationals 2
WSN - Alberto Gonzalez ('04-'05): 1-1, 2B

Athletics 7, Rockies 6
COL - Carlos Gonzalez ('04-'05): 0-4, K

Padres 7, Dodgers 3
SD - Scott Hairston ('02): 1-4, K

More Pink Slips

I hate reporting on this, but it's part of the job. Three more former Silver Hawks were released by the Diamondbacks organization yesterday. The list:

Jo Jo Batten ('06, '08)
Gerardo Bustamante ('08)
Chance Wheeless ('08)

Batten's best season game in 2007, when he hit .290 at short-season Yakima. He's never hit above .250 at either South Bend or Visalia.

Bustamante played only 15 games with Silver Hawks last year, hitting .200. He's a career .202 hitter in four minor league seasons. While hitting isn't all that important for a catcher, defense is, and Bustamante threw out just 2 of 14 basestealers for South Bend last year.

Wheeless was your typical all-or-nothing type guy. He had 9 home runs and 41 RBI, yet hit only .181 for the season. He has a terrific baseball name, but that doesn't get you real far when you aren't producing. I still remember a bomb of a home run he hit against the Dragons last year at Fifth Third Field. Chance pulled it down the right field line, taking it completely out of the stadium and bouncing it on First Street that runs up the right field side. Impressive shot, to say the least.

Daily Spring Training Report for 3/26

Here are some stats for former Silver Hawks from yesterday's spring training games:

Diamondbacks 3, White Sox 1
AZ - Brandon Webb ('00): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4K
AZ - Gerardo Parra ('07): 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
AZ - Mark Reynolds ('04-'05): 0-3, K
AZ - Miguel Montero ('04): 1-4
AZ - Evan Frey ('08): 0-4

Marlins 11, Orioles 6
FL - Emilio Bonifacio ('04-'05): 2-4, 3B, 5 RBI, K
FL - Dan Uggla ('02): 0-2, R, 2 BB, K

Reds 6, Twins 4
CIN - Wilkin Castillo ('05): 1-1

Daily Spring Training Report for 3/25

From this point forward, I'm going to give you a report from Spring Training, focusing on former Silver Hawks that are playing with the big league club. I'll keep my eyes open for former Hawks on other major league rosters as well.

Rangers 8, D-backs 5
AZ: Evan Frey ('08): 0-1, K
AZ: Justin Upton ('06): 0-3, K
AZ: Gerardo Parra ('07): 0-2
AZ: Miguel Montero ('04): 1-3, R

Red Sox 2, Reds 1
CIN: Wilkin Castillo ('05): 0-1

Other tracked players that did not play yesterday (am I missing anyone? Let me know in the comments below): Emilio Bonifacio, Jack Cust, Casey Daigle, Alberto Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Scott Hairston, Matt Kata, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf, Lyle Overbay, Brad Penny, Mark Reynolds, Dan Uggla, Jose Valverde, Brandon Webb

A Worthy Cause

Ever wanted to see a grown man in high heels? Not exactly the type of question you expect to see on a baseball blog.

The Silver Hawks have teamed up with the YWCA to present Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an event that literally asks men to walk a mile in women's high heeled shoes to raise funds and awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.

This is certainly a worthy cause, and I invite you to come out and join the fun. You can register here, or if you can't make it out to the stadium but still want to make a donation, you can also do so at the link above. Team President Joe Kernan (pictured below in his red high heels) will be leading the march, so if you want to make a general donation use his name in the "Name of Walker" box when making your donation.

A Legend Lost

Hall of Fame third baseman and legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster George Kell has passed away at the age of 86.

A 10-time All-Star, Kell is best known in his playing days as edging out Ted Williams for the 1949 batting title by .00015 points.

Kell was in the broadcast booth from 1959-1996, announcing games with another legendary broadcaster in Ernie Harwell.

Read the full story here: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9374802/Hall-of-Fame-3B-George-Kell-dead-at-86?MSNHPHMA

Or watch the tribute video from YouTube below:

Minor League Transactions

Here are some of the latest transactions in the Diamondbacks minor-league system according to Baseball America (http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?cat=7):

(Note: I bolded and added in the years that each player was in South Bend.)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Released: RHP Jason Durst, RHP Matt Green, RHP Jailen Peguero, RHP Kyle Wright ('06), LHP Forrest Cory ('06)

Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Cesar Valdez ('07), RHP Esmerling Vasquez, LHP Jon Coutlangus

Optioned to Double-A: RHP Jose Marte, RHP Kyler Newby ('06), LHP Clay Zavada ('08), SS Pedro Ciriaco ('06)

Optioned to high Class A: LHP Leyson Septimo ('06)

My comments: Obviously you feel bad for the guys at the top of the list that got released. Kyle Wright was 8-12 with a 4.03 ERA in four minor league seasons, all in A-ball or below. Forrest Cory surprises me a bit. He was coming off a tough season, but he's had success in the past including an 8-1 season at Visalia in '07.

I'm not surprised to see Clay Zavada go to double-A, as he was flat out dominant in South Bend last season. There was really no need to waste a year of his development in high-A, so the D-backs decided to challenge him in Mobile.

Finally, Silver Hawks fans will remember Leyson Septimo as a rightfielder with a cannon for an arm. The problem was, he never hit like they thought he would. So the D-Backs decided to make him a pitcher. He went 0-2 last season as a pitcher in high-A, and will start there to begin this season it appears.

Curt Schilling is Retiring

Story at CBS Sportsline. (http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11540024)

Let the debate begin: Hall-of-Famer or not?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

MWL Alumni on USA Roster

I guess last night's loss to Japan makes this post pretty much irrelevant, but I promised a list of former MWL players that were on the USA roster, so here you go:

Dunn, Adam - Dayton Dragons (2000)
Granderson, Curtis - West Michigan Whitecaps (rehab appearance in 2008)
Hawkins, LaTroy - Fort Wayne Wizards (1993)
Oswalt, Roy - Michigan Battle Cats (1999)
Peavy, Jake - Fort Wayne Wizards (2000)
Putz, J.J. - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (2000)
Shields, Scot - Cedar Rapids Kernels (1998)
Thornton, Matt - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (1999-2000)

So that leaves Korea vs. Japan for the title.

Thanks to Chris Mehring's blog at http://rattler-radio.blogspot.com/, we know that Shin Soo Choo was a 2001-2002 Timber Rattler who is currently playing for Korea.

As far as I can tell from my extensive research (ha!), that's the only remaining MWL alum left in the classic.

More from the WBC

Impressive 10-2 win last night by Korea over Venezuela. The Korean team advances to the Finals where they will play the winner of the USA/Japan matchup.

As expected, Gerardo Parra did not play last night. However, after a tough start by Venezuelan pitcher Carlos Silva, former Silver Hawk Enrique Gonzalez ('01-'03) was summoned from the bullpen. Gonzalez continued his impressive classic by allowing only one unearned run in 3.2 innings, giving up just one hit and striking out two.

Interestingly enough, even though the Red Sox pulled some players off the USA team because of the injury risk, they decided to let Gonzalez stay and pitch the entire classic. I would have to imagine Boston is both happy and impressed with his 0.00 ERA in 9.2 innings.

Be sure to watch the USA/Japan game tonight at 8 PM on ESPN. I'll give an update tomorrow morning on the game, including some of the former players for the USA that played in the Midwest League.

Also, since we're in the final weeks of spring training, I'll start giving some more updates from Diamondbacks camp, including which former Silver Hawks might make the 25-man Opening Day roster.

Check back often.

WBC Update

We're down to four teams in the World Baseball Classic, with the semifinal matchups set to begin tonight. At 8 PM tonight, it's South Korea vs. Venezuela, followed by the USA vs. Japan at 8 PM on Sunday.

I mentioned Gerardo Parra playing for Venezuela in an earlier post, but I missed out on another former Silver Hawk on the Venezuelan roster. With South Bend from 2001-2003, Enrique Gonzalez (now with the Boston Red Sox organization) has thrown 6.0 scoreless innings in the classic. Gonzalez is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just one walk and striking out four in one start and one relief apperance.

Meanwhile, Parra picked up his first hit in the classic, and is now 1-for-9. He's the fifth outfielder on the Venezuelan team, behind Bobby Abreu, Gregor Blanco, Endy Chavez, and Magglio Ordonez. Since the other four are all currently in the majors, don't expect Parra to get a lot of playing time in the semis, unless it's a complete blowout or a pinch-running situation.

Top 10 Prospects

I mentioned earlier this week that Gerardo Parra was listed as the #2 prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization according to Baseball America. I've listed the top 10 prospects below, but you can find the list and much more at: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267467.html

1. Jarrod Parker, RHP
2. Gerardo Parra, OF
3. Daniel Schlereth, LHP
4. Mark Hallberg, SS/2B
5. Wade Miley, LHP
6. Kevin Eichhorn, RHP
7. Cesar Valdez, RHP
8. Billy Buckner, RHP
9. Collin Cowgill, OF
10. Reynaldo Navarro, SS

In case you are wondering, Miley, Eichhorn, and Navarro are the prospects that are most likely to spend time in South Bend in 2009. Certainly nothing guaranteed, but they were all in either short-season A or rookie ball to end last season.

March Madness

Since it's that time of year, and because I want to brag when I get them all correct, here are my final four predictions:

Final Four
UConn over Kansas
Pitt over UNC

Finals
Pitt over UConn

Now granted, that's one of about five brackets I've filled out this year, but we'll go with that one as the official one, simply because it's the first one I filled out. How about your bracket? Let me know your thoughts on who will win it all in the comments below.

2008 Champions

So I just walked out to the stadium and noticed that they were painting "Eastern Division Champions, 2008" on the left field wall.

I don't really have anything to add, just thought that South Bend fans would like to reminisce about the remarkable season the Silver Hawks put together.

What a game!

I realize we are in the middle of college basketball's postseason (and trust me, I love March Madness as much as anyone), but did you catch that World Baseball Classic game last night between the USA and Puerto Rico? Down by two in the bottom of the ninth, the USA scores three times to walk-off with the win and advance to the semifinals. David Wright was the hero for the USA, going 3-for-4 including the game winning two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

FYI...Former Silver Hawk outfielder Gerardo Parra is on the Venezuelan team, but isn't playing very much. He's 0-for-5 in the Classic, with one stolen base. Parra is a guy that I'd love to see do well. When he was in the Midwest League in 2007, he absolutely owned the Dayton Dragons (the team I was broadcasting for at the time). Come to think of it, I'm sure he owned a lot of teams in the league that year. Parra hit .320 for the year, then hit .301 in high-A to start the '08 season, and finished up in double-A hitting .275.

It'll be interesting to see where the D-Backs start Parra in '09. I'd like to see him make the jump to triple-A, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him start in double-A for a month or two. Baseball America still has Parra rated as the #2 prospect in the Diamondbacks system, behind '08 Silver Hawks pitcher Jarrod Parker.

It's Baseball Weather!

Wow! What an absolutely beautiful day here in South Bend. As I'm typing this post, it's currently 71 degrees and sunny here in northern Indiana. Of course, it's supposed to be 55 degrees and rainy tomorrow, but let's not worry about that right now.

Things are really starting to take shape around the stadium. New signs and paint are going up around the concourse. The field looks to be in great shape. Tickets have been selling both online and in-person (shameless plug: get your tickets now at http://www.silverhawks.com/).

As for me, my main job right now is to finish up the media guide, and get everything on the radio side of things in order so we're ready to go on April 7th against Notre Dame.

I'll be updating this a lot more frequently now that we are just weeks away from the start of the season. Be sure to add this blog to your favorites and check back daily for more information about your favorite team -- the South Bend Silver Hawks.

--21 days until the Silver vs. Gold Exhibition Game against Notre Dame (April 7th)

--23 days until the start of the 2009 season @ West Michigan (April 9th)

--27 days until the home opener vs. Lansing (April 13th)

Greetings from South Bend

Hello Silver Hawks Fans and welcome to my blog.

I'm honored to be the new radio broadcaster for the South Bend Silver Hawks and anxiously await the beginning of the 2009 season. Over the course of the season, I will use this blog to give you updates on the Silver Hawks, the rest of the Midwest League, and stories from around the baseball world. I also hope to include some photos of various ballparks across the league, so that you can see all the places South Bend will travel during the '09 season.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for the blog, please email me at oserey@silverhawks.com.

To get you ready for the baseball season, I've included a photo of Coveleski Stadium, taken on Saturday, March 14th from the home radio booth in the Cove's press box. This is basically my view when I'm calling the games from home. If you look out at second base, that is groundskeeper Joel Reinebold dragging the infield. It's never too early to get the playing surface ready.

--24 days until the Silver vs. Gold Exhibition Game against Notre Dame (April 7th)

--26 days until the start of the 2009 season @ West Michigan (April 9th)

--30 days until the home opener vs. Lansing (April 13th)