MiLB Top 50 Prospects List

Do you ever wonder why we, as a culture, are fascinated with lists? Top 10 lists, grocery lists, to-do lists. (I've now typed the word lists so often that it's starting to look funny. Does that ever happen to you? Like you see a word so many times, and then randomly one day it just looks weird?)

Anyhow, here's another list for you: The Top 50 Prospects according to Jonathan Mayo at MiLB.com.

Q and A with Jim Callis

ESPN.com did a live chat with Jim Callis of Baseball America yesterday. You can read the entire transcript here.

I scanned through it for former Silver Hawks names, and here's the ones I found:

Carlos Gonzalez
Brett Anderson

Some other names of interest in the piece:

Dee Gordon (Great Lakes Loons SS)
Travis Snider (former Lansing Lugnut)
Jaff Decker (Fort Wayne TinCap)
Todd Frazier (former Dayton Dragon)

It's not the best chat I've ever read, but it's something.

Lunchtime Links

I'm so hungry I'm about to gnaw my arm off, but before I go to lunch, I will post some baseball-related links for you (because your happiness is more important than my hungry stomach).

-First, I'm not a real big fan of Gene Wojciechowski (mainly b/c I had to refer back to the article page 4 times to spell his name right), nor am I a real big fan of Pete Rose anymore (should be in the Hall based on his playing career, but the guy is a first rate...well, pick whatever word you want to fill in). However, Gene makes an interesting case about Mark McGwire versus Pete Rose. It's worth the read whether you like them both, hate them both, or just like baseball.

-Andre Dawson wanted to go into the Hall of Fame as a Cub. They said "nope, you're an Expo."

-Speaking of the Cubs, they signed former Silver Hawk Chad Tracy to a Minor League deal yesterday.

Cardinals Sign Houston Summers

Houston Summers was the knuckleball pitcher that was with the Silver Hawks for just a few games in 2009. He was released by the Diamondbacks this offseason, but signed with the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. Maybe we'll see him again this year, pitching with the Quad Cities River Bandits.

You have to be a scout.com member to read the full story here.

Here's a highlight:

Houston Summers is a 22-year-old right-hander who was taken in the 47th round of the 2005 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had appeared primarily as a catcher, but also as second baseman, third baseman and in the outfield before becoming a full-time knuckleball pitcher three seasons ago.

Pitching since 2007, Summers has appeared in just two games above the A level. He was primarily a starter the first two years before pitching in relief last season. Overall, he has a 9-10 record with a 4.22 ERA in 45 games including 17 starts. Summers has 78 strikeouts and 96 walks in 162 career innings.

Catching Up With Ryan Babineau

My interview with Ryan Babineau is now up on the main page of www.silverhawks.com. Ryan only played 10 games with South Bend in 2009 because of an injury, but we could see him again to start 2010 and he would be an excellent guy to have around (not only for his baseball ability, but for his passion and leadership ability).

Also, most people that voted in the poll question think the Colts will win the Super Bowl (by a 2-to-1 margin over the Saints), and this was conducted before we even knew who the final two teams would be. I have a new Super Bowl related question up on the right, and then I promise I'll get back to baseball polls as we near the start of spring training.

Bobblehead Ideas

Do you have an idea for a bobblehead giveaway that you'd like to receive at Coveleski Stadium this year? We'd love to hear who the fans want immortalized on a bobblehead -- given out free to fans at a 2010 home game.

Email your suggestions to hawks@silverhawks.com.

Potential Ideas:
-Former players such as Brandon Webb, Justin Upton, Clay Zavada, Mike Cameron, etc.
-Managers such as Mark Haley or Terry Francona
-Local icons such as Joe Kernan
-Swoop, the mascot

Again, email your suggestions to hawks@silverhawks.com.

TigersFest

Loyal fan and blog reader Dave Krachenfels took his family to TigersFest in Detroit this past weekend. I asked him to share some photos and information with us from his trip (and I encourage all readers to share stories, photos, etc.)

Here are some of the highlights that Dave emailed me (photos can be found here)

"My first impression of Comerica Park was similar to Dayton. If they ever changed their name from the "Tigers" they'd have to tear down the park! The facade has Tigers going across it. A huge Tiger at the Entrance to the park and Tigers on the prowl in the Centerfield scoreboard."

(Editor's Note: I've also been to Comerica Park. There might be more Tigers on the stadium grounds than in Africa. They put Tigers everywhere)

"They have several autograph stations where we could get autographs, we went with the flow and started out at the "Kids Only" station, we got in quick (within 15 minutes to the player) and low and behold as we walked in to the tent, it was Magglio Ordonez. That's pretty much jackpot for me."

"In another Tent they had representatives from their minor league system such as the infamous West Michigan Whitecaps and Toledo Mudhens. They had the local media and radio stations who had booths of their own. In another area they had an ice sculpture of Tigers and the Tigers logo.
They were selling game used memorabilia."

"While my wife and son checked out the kids area, I went to the radio program they were having. At the time, they were interviewing Daniel Schlereth and Max Scherzer. I was trying to figure out where they would exit once the radio program was done and sat right there. When the radio program was done, I asked Daniel if he could sign his ROOKIE jersey, he was like "How about that" but he didn't recognize me, maybe I didn't have Joey with me or maybe he was just in the zone because it seemed like such a busy day. During his interview he mentioned that he was looking forward to the competition in Spring Training."

Thanks for the report Dave! And again, if any loyal fans have great photos or stories to share from baseball trips like this, I'd love to hear them. You can email me at oserey@silverhawks.com

Silver Hawks Job Fair

I just posted some information about the Silver Hawks Job Fair over on the main page (www.silverhawks.com).

Here are the basics:
Date: Saturday, February 6th
Time: 10 AM - 2 PM
Location: Coveleski Stadium (501 W. South Street, downtown South Bend)
Requirements: Must be 16 years of age and available for evenings and weekends
Positions Available: Part time and seasonal jobs in concessions, catering, and game day staff.

NO PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS!

Thou Shalt Not Steal (Second Base)!

I thought I was finished blogging for the week, but every once in a while, a story arrives that is too good to not blog about.

Grant Desme, a 2009 Kane County Cougar and a talented prospect in the Oakland A's system, is retiring from baseball to become a priest. I'm certainly not making fun of someone who is pursuing a religious life and I have the utmost respect for Grant and his decision. It's just not a story you hear very often, particularly from someone who had a shot at playing in the majors.

Desme against the Silver Hawks in 2009? .300 avg (3-for-10), 2 doubles, 3 strikeouts, 3 stolen bases

UPDATE: Desme was also hit by two pitches against the Silver Hawks. Jordan Meaker and Brett Moorhouse might want to say a prayer asking for forgiveness, just in case :)

Friday Fun

It's been a good week here at Coveleski Stadium as we continue to prepare for the 2010 season. Expect some information next week on the homepage of http://www.silverhawks.com/ about the promotional schedule for the season. Also next week, we'll check in with Ryan Babineau on his recovery from hip surgery in the latest installment of "Catching Up With".

Believe it or not, we are only 76 days away from Opening Day 2010 as I write this blog post.

A few things to get you in the mood:

-First, Nick Piecoro is weighing the pros and cons of the Diamondbacks trying to trade catcher Chris Snyder.

-After you check out that, head over to http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ to catch up on all the latest signings.

-Baseball America has the Mariners top 10, who are now affiliated with the Clinton LumberKings.

I leave you for the weekend with a baseball quote:

"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base." ~Dave Barry

Angels and A's Top Tens

Just a couple of links this morning from Baseball America, where they are continuing to announce the top 10 prospects of every Minor League system.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were up a couple of days ago. They have a club in this league with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

The Oakland Athletics are up today, and they are tied in with the Kane County Cougars.

A Worthy Cause

I'm excited to announce that Coveleski Stadium will be hosting the "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis Walk" on June 19th before the Silver Hawks battle the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

For those of you that don't know (and that's probably most of you), I have Crohn's Disease. I was diagnosed in junior high, and have been living with it for about 15 years now. While there are certainly people that suffer more from this disease than I do, I still have my battles with it from time to time. There is currently no cure for Crohn's Disease, and it affects over 1.4 million people in the United States alone (1 out of every 200 people).

You will hear more about this walk on this blog over the next few months. I would apologize for posts that aren't about baseball, but sometimes there are just more important things in life -- and to me, raising money for Crohn's and Colitis research is more important.

A few links if you want more information:

-To find out more information about Crohn's Disease, go to http://www.ccfa.org/.

-To register to walk with me (and many others on that day), go here and then use the drop down menu at the top center of the page to find the walk in South Bend on June 19th.

-To pledge money in support of my walk, go to my personal page. You can read my personal history with Crohn's Disease at the bottom of the page. I am not expecting anyone that reads this blog to donate money. That's not what this blog is about. But if you would like to help out, your support would obviously be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for allowing me to use this blog as a forum to raise money for The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Again, your support (financial or otherwise) is greatly appreciated.

Q and A with Nick Piecoro (Part Two)

Here's the second part of my interview with Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. This section focuses on the Diamondbacks minor league system and how much buzz it creates in the desert.

5) The Diamondbacks have traded away a lot of prospects over the last few years, greatly weakening the farm system. Is that a trend that is likely to continue, or will we see Arizona make a renewed effort to develop their own talent?

Nick Piecoro: The biggest knock on the organization in the Josh Byrnes era, for me, has been their poor drafts. In 2006, they got Max Scherzer and Brett Anderson but little else, although those two alone make it a pretty decent draft. The 2007 draft outside of Jarrod Parker was pretty bad and their 2008 returns aren’t impressive, although it’s too soon to really render a strong opinion on that one.

They put a ton of resources into the 2009 draft, in which they had a slew of extra picks, and the early returns are very strong. Key word there is early. We won’t know for a while how that draft pans out, but they have a lot riding on those players and are going to need several of them to turn into prospects if they have any hope of revitalizing the system.

6) Do prospects in South Bend (and other minor league stops) get a lot of hype in Arizona? How much excitement does a name like Jarrod Parker or A.J. Pollock generate in the desert?

NP: Not a lot. There are some diehards who follow the minor leagues pretty closely, but I don’t get the sense that it’s huge news. My theory is, if something is important to Josh Byrnes and the rest of the front office, it should be important in my coverage. As such, I cover the minor leagues fairly heavily during the season. Certainly more fans know who Parker is because he has been talked about quite a bit, but I’d guess that most fans in Arizona have no idea who A.J. Pollock is.

7) As a follow up: What, if anything, have you heard about some '09 Silver Hawks stars? (A few to consider: Pollock, Krauss, Navarro, Marte, Wheeler, Hose, Miley, Cook)

Like I said, I follow it pretty closely and I know there is a lot more hope for that crop of players – and for the guys who are going to be in South Bend in 2010 – than there probably has been for the last couple of years. Wheeler had a tremendous debut and looks like a great pick, and Cook looks like a pretty good late-round pick from 2008. Krauss had a pretty nice debut cut short by an ankle injury, but he’s supposed to be ready to go for spring training. Pollock didn’t hit much, but I haven’t heard any concerns about his future.

8) Any names that I missed that are generating a lot of buzz? Are there players from Missoula or Yakima that we should be watching out for here in South Bend next season?

Because the Diamondbacks had eight of the top 95 picks in the country last year, there are a lot of names to watch for next season and it will be interesting to see how the club deploys them. For example, both Bobby Borchering (No. 16 overall) and Matt Davidson (No. 35) were third basemen as amateurs and played the position in their pro debuts in Missoula and Yakima, respectively. Will the Diamondbacks move Davidson to first permanently or have them split time at those positions in South Bend? And what will become of Matt Helm, a seventh-round pick who signed for $500,000 and also has been called a third baseman?

Aside from those three, outfielder Keon Broxton, second baseman David Nick, shortstop Chris Owings and right-hander Scottie Allen all look like candidates for South Bend and all should be fun to follow.

Again, I'd like to thank Nick Piecoro for taking the time to answer these questions. People who follow the major league clubs daily from an outside perspective often have the most honest and unbiased opinions. I encourage you to check out Nick's blog at http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NickPiecoro/Page0.

Q and A with Nick Piecoro (Part One)

Nick Piecoro is the Diamondbacks beat writer for the Arizona Republic. I frequently link you to his blog. A little bit ago, I sent him some questions about the Diamondbacks, and also about the Minor League system. Since these are somewhat lengthy, I decided to break it into two parts.

Today's focus is on the Diamondbacks, and tomorrow, we'll focus on the minors.

And away we go....

1) Can the Diamondbacks turn it around in one season and compete for a playoff spot next season? Or are they looking at a multi-year rebuilding process?

Nick Piecoro: Can they? Sure. Will they? We’ll see. You can say what you want about the moves they made this off-season, but nothing approaches the importance of having a healthy Brandon Webb. Before 2009, he had been among the top two or three best pitchers in baseball for three years running. There’s no understating the importance of having a pitcher of that caliber make 33-34 starts for a team. If he’s close to the Webb of old, they probably contend.
Edwin Jackson is probably an upgrade over Max Scherzer in the rotation. A healthy Conor Jackson (and his .370ish on-base percentage) will be a huge lift. And if guys like Stephen Drew and Chris Young and the recently acquired Kelly Johnson can have some form of bounceback seasons, they’re going to be much improved offensively.

That’s a lot of ifs, but if some of them come in – most importantly Webb, of course – then, yeah, they can contend.

2) Did you see a lot of growth in A.J. Hinch as a manager throughout the season? Is he the right guy for the job?

NP: I think Hinch’s comfort level increased with every game. It seemed like he was able to develop a better relationship with his players as the year went on and after an off-season in which he put a lot of energy into building relationships, things should be even stronger there. Is he the right guy for the job? Again, we’ll see. He’s certainly more on the same page with General Manager Josh Byrnes than the previous manager, Bob Melvin. It’s pretty hard to judge Hinch based on the club he was running out there last season, but if everyone’s healthy we should get a better understanding of his capabilities.

3) I was greatly impressed with Gerardo Parra when he played for South Bend in 2007. What were your overall impressions of Parra this season? Are we looking at a future MVP? A future All-Star? Or just a solid player that fills out a roster?

NP: My guess is he’s closer to just a solid player who fills out a roster, but there are people in the organization who feel otherwise. I’m going to need to see Parra hit left-handed pitching better, something he was never able to do even in the minor leagues, before I’m willing to call him anything more than a nice fourth outfielder/platoon partner type. I will say this: He plays a very good left field and has an excellent arm and I like the skills he brings -- like hitting for average and putting the ball in play – particularly in how it compares to his teammates. He’s a nice fit for the roster.

4) How important was it for the young pitchers (Zavada, Gutierrez, Vasquez, Augenstein) to get big league experience this year?

NP: Pretty important. We’ll see what kind of roles those guys end up with this season, but it’s good for the organization – and for the pitchers themselves – to know they can get big league hitters out. It’s not out of the question for any of those guys above not named Gutierrez to start the season in the minor leagues. The additions of Bob Howry and Aaron Heilman give the Diamondbacks better depth than they enjoyed last season. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Gutierrez ends up being the most important pitcher in the bullpen in 2010.

Again, we'll have part two for you tomorrow with the focus more on the minor leagues. My thanks to Nick for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions and provide some great content for this blog.

Other Diamondbacks News

Former Diamondbacks pitcher (and Silver Hawks pitcher) Jose Valverde has signed with the Tigers.

Arizona avoids arbitration with Conor Jackson.

Eric Byrnes is likely on his way out of Arizona.

I am going to save my Q and A session with Nick Piecoro of the AZ Republic for Monday's blog. So you'll have that to look forward to over the weekend.

A.J. on the Cape Countdown

It's been a while since we checked in with our good buddy Will Geoghegan at Right Field Fog, but he's back and continuing his countdown of the top 50 Cape Cod League players of the past decade.

Checking in at #15 is 2009 Silver Hawks outfielder A.J. Pollock. We all know what A.J. did with South Bend. Click the link above and find out what he did on the Cape.

Big Diamondbacks Signing

In a somewhat surprising story, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Adam LaRoche to what appears to be a one-year deal, with an option for 2011.

Our buddy Nick Piecoro from the Arizona Republic has some more information on the signing on his blog. I'll also have a lengthy Q and A with Nick tomorrow on this blog (questions sent before this signing).

This will move Conor Jackson back to the outfield, likely leave Brandon Allen in the minors for another year (or part year). Who knows, a move like this could strengthen the overall minor league system by giving guys an extra year. Or, more likely, it could result in a player getting released a bit earlier than expected. We'll see how it all plays out...

On a purely selfish note, I'm happy with the signing because it makes giving scores/home runs during the game easier. Whenever I try to announce who has homered during the scoreboard update, I'd see the name LaRoche and freeze in my tracks, trying to remember which LaRoche played for which team. Now, I have an easy little trick to help. The Arizona Diamondbacks (AD) signed ADam LaRoche. The other one (Andy) plays for the Pirates.

Some Rules

I was watching the UNC vs. Clemson basketball game last night, and was completely shocked by a couple of things:

1) That Clemson completely dominated that game
2) That the Clemson students rushed the court after the victory

Here's my problem with Clemson students storming the court: They were ranked #19, and UNC was #13. The game was at Clemson. It's not that big of an upset. Now granted the Tigers hadn't defeated the Tar Heels since 2004, but even still, that's not long enough of a period that we can excuse the actions of the Clemson faithful.

So with that, I've decided to come up with some rules for storming the court/rushing the field. I think the NCAA should implement these immediately, and punish those schools that violate these rules.

You should NOT storm the court/rush the field if....

1) If you have a better ranking than the team you defeat (obviously)

2) You are in the top 25 because it is not that big of an upset (lone exception: a team ranked in the 20-25 range takes down the undefeated #1 team)

3) You win by more than 20 (you've had enough time to digest the fact that you are going to win. There is no outpouring of emotion when the buzzer sounds)

4) You are in the top 5 all-time in wins for your given sport. That means that UK, UNC, Kansas, Duke, and Syracuse never storm the court in basketball, while Michigan, Texas, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ohio State never rush the field in football. (Act like you've been there before, because you have).

5) You have 3 or more national titles in the last 25 years (again, act like you've been there before).

What about your thoughts? Do you agree with these? Any more rules you think should be added that I'm missing?

Some Reminders

It's January, it's cold, and for many of you, baseball is the last thing on your mind. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

-As much as I put on this blog, your first stop for Silver Hawks news should always be www.silverhawks.com. The 2010 schedule with game times is up, season ticket information is up, and some store items are on sale for purchase online only.

-Some additional ways to follow the Silver Hawks: Facebook and Twitter

-Have a group? Teach a class? Need a speaker? Don't forget about the Silver Hawks Speakers Bureau. We'll come speak to your group for free.

More Top 10's

Baseball America continues their online look at the Top 10 prospects for each system with the Royals and the Twins.

The Royals have their low A affiliate in the Midwest League with the Burlington Bees.

The Twins are with the Beloit Snappers.

Many of the players on the lists are guys you would have seen or heard about in the last few years. Enjoy.

Catching Up With Marc Krauss

The latest installment of "Catching Up With" is posted at www.silverhawks.com. Today's guest is 2009 outfielder Marc Krauss, who talks about his debut season and his offseason recovery from surgery on his right ankle.

We still have a few more players planned for the offseason, but if there are any former Silver Hawks you'd like to hear from, feel free to leave their names in the comments section of this post and we'll try our best to track them down (no promises!)

Minor League Transactions

Over at www.baseballamerica.com, they list all the latest Minor League transactions for all 30 major league teams in a blog. They're usually a week or so behind, but it gives you a chance to see who has been doing what at the lower levels.

Click here for the transactions of late December. Reminder: These aren't just Diamondbacks transactions, these are for all 30 farm systems.

OMG! I Can't Believe It

In the least shocking news of all time, Mark McGwire took steroids while he was playing baseball.

The only shocking thing about this story is that he finally admitted it.

Comment below if you feel the urge. To me, this is not much of a story.

Monday Morning Links (January 11th)

As I try to recover from the heartbreak of the Bengals loss this weekend, here's a batch of links for you to keep you up to date on the top stories in baseball:

-In a stunning bit of news, the Cincinnati Reds swept in and apparently won the bidding war for the services of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman. I'm a Reds fan, and I didn't see this happening in a million years, so trust me when I tell you it is a great surprise to the people of Cincinnati.

-Vlad Guerrero has signed with the Texas Rangers. The last paragraph of the article linked here presents a very interesting stat.

-Derek Jeter is getting married. Clearly he learned nothing from Tiger Woods.

-Finally, Baseball America has the top 10 prospects for the Indians (who are now in the MWL with the addition of the Lake County Captains) and the Tigers (West Michigan Whitecaps)

New Poll Question

In honor of my beloved Cincinnati Bengals playing like diddly poo yesterday, thus extending their hold on the most seasons without a postseason victory, I offer up the poll question on the right about tortured fan bases.

In honor of my Jim Mora diddly poo reference in the first paragraph, I offer up Jim Mora at his finest:

Former South Bend Pitcher Retires

Scott Eyre was on the first ever Silver Hawks squad in 1994, after the organization changed its name from the South Bend White Sox.

In 19 games, Eyre went 8-4 with a 3.47 ERA for South Bend that season, before eventually working his way to the majors in 1997.

After 13 years in the bigs, Eyre decided to retire this offseason. MLB.com has a nice article about a man who enjoyed a solid career, and is going out on his own terms to spend more time with his family.

Attention Fans: Now Pinch-Hitting, Mark McGwire

Imagine hearing that little nugget of information at new Busch Stadium sometime in September 2010. Wouldn't that just blow your mind?

Well, apparently, that's what Tony LaRussa is dreaming about these days.

I'm sure the guy could still step in and drive one out of the park every now and then, but I think he's more likely to strike out than he is to homer in a clutch situation after not having played for 7 or 8 years.

Not to mention the fact that this would wreak havoc on the Baseball Hall of Fame voting. If he has one pinch hitting experience, then you have to stop putting his name on the ballot for another five years, and then give him the rest of his 12 more years of eligibility.

The only other player that I can think of that has ever had this happen was Jose Rijo. Here's the note from the article about Rijo:

"There is past precedent for making the move La Russa says he would consider: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Rijo, for example, first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2001 and received one vote, then unretired in 2001-2002 and started the process all over, appearing on the ballot again in 2007."

I love Jose Rijo, but he's no Mark McGwire, and this would be very interesting if it happens, as to whether the additional time away from the ballot actually helps McGwire's cause for making the Hall.

A Josh Byrnes History

For those of you that don't know, Josh Byrnes is the GM for the Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB Trade Rumors has an ongoing series in which they track all the moves made by every GM on an excel spreadsheet. It's a bit complex, but if you want to relive the movement of some of your former Silver Hawks, click here first and then click on Arizona Diamondbacks - Josh Byrnes to open the spreadsheet.

Cooperstown is Calling (2010 Edition)

The call has been made. That's right. Call. Singular. Only one. And it goes to Andre "The Hawk" Dawson.

If you remember back to the last month, I filled out my ballot and voted for 10 people. I'm rather generous with my vote (and again, this is fictional because the Hall of Fame is not stupid enough to give me an actual vote).

I had voted for Dawson, and I don't think anyone is surprised that he made it in this year. You can argue some of his numbers aren't worthy, but as a child who grew up in the 80's, Andre Dawson was larger than life. He passes what I call "The Think Test". When you think about Andre Dawson, I think greatness and dominance. That's why I voted for him.

Bert Blyleven also had my fictional vote, but needed 5 more real votes to actually get inducted. He still has two more years on the ballot, and most think he'll drum up enough support next year, despite the fact that he won't pitch another inning, or strike anyone out between now and then.

Roberto Alomar got 73.7 percent of the vote, but needed 75. He'll get in next year, because there are a slew of voters who will never vote for someone on the first ballot (and if you're one of them, you should have your vote taken away).

Jack Morris had a big increase from last year, and Barry Larkin fared well for a first-time candidate, leaving both with hopes of increases in the next few years to get them in.

No one else got over 50% of the vote, meaning only time will tell if they can drum up enough support in their remaining years on the ballot. A handful of players received less than 5% and dropped off the ballot, but none of which are worthy of talking about.

Again, I think the best and worst part of the Hall of Fame vote is that you are not held to any standard. It's entirely your ballot. If you have some personal bias against Willie Mays, you don't have to vote for him. If you think David Segui deserves a vote (and someone did this year), then put him on your ballot.

I personally feel there should be a bit more accountability for the vote. If you are stupid enough not to vote for a guy like Ruth, Mays, or Gehrig, then maybe it's time to have your vote taken away. Also, if you vote for David Segui, but don't vote for Andre Dawson, then I think you need your head examined.

But then again, that's the beauty of the system as well. Was Dawson truly better than Blyleven? There's no real way to know, and only a vote of this nature can determine it.

Either way, I maintain that debating the Baseball Hall of Fame candidacy of certain players remains the greatest sports debate in the history of the world. Dawson gets in this time...but we'll be back in December to argue over this yet again!

Former Silver Hawks Pitcher Released

I recieved an email from the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday saying that Tony Barnette has been released. However, this isn't necessarily as bad as it sounds. Barnette is being released so he can continue his playing career in Japan.

We are working on contacting Barnette in a "Catching Up With" feature. Hopefully, we'll have something from him soon.

Cooperstown is Calling (2015 edition)

Randy Johnson retired from baseball yesterday, ending a long career as one of the most feared pitchers in baseball history.

Click the link, read all of his stats, and then tell me whether you agree that this guy should go ahead and book a trip to Cooperstown five years from now.

I'll be back later today with the 2010 edition of Cooperstown is Calling, once the final vote is announced.

A Few Random Thoughts

-It's hard to believe that we are only 93 days away from Opening Day 2010. We're now closer to the start of the 2010 season than the end of the 2009 season. Coming back from the holidays, you're starting to see a sense of urgency around the office already.

-The Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced tomorrow. You'll see the stories everywhere, but there's only one place to get your favorite broadcaster's reaction...right here on the OBB.

-I got a Wii for Christmas. My right shoulder/elbow hasn't been the same since my sister destroyed me in Wii Sports Boxing that night. I'll take suggestions for what games I should buy in the comments below. If anyone is still in the giving mood from the holidays, games can be sent to my attention at Coveleski Stadium :)

-My beloved Cincinnati Bengals are in the playoffs. Don't bother me on Saturday afternoon (or for the next week after that if they lose)

-We're working on a few more interviews for the "Catching Up With" series on www.silverhawks.com. I'll link you to them when they are complete.

Finally, I'll blog as often as I can to get you ready for the season. If my posting seems sporadic, it's because I'm going to be busy with sales calls and working on the media guide. I'll try to have at least one post a day, and sometimes more. Just keep checking back often, as I know you do. I appreciate all the people that come here daily, and love to hear comments from you either in the comments sections to the posts, or you can email me at oserey@silverhawks.com.

Thanks!

Ford C. Frick Finalists

The finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award have been announced today. For those of you that don't know, the Frick Award is given annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Basically, it means one legendary broadcaster will be inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.

Upon reading that, you can understand why I find this interesting.

You can read all about the finalists here. I'm partial to Joe Nuxhall, simply because he was the color commentator for the Reds throughout my entire childhood. However, there are many other qualified candidates.

Happy New Year

I'd like to say I'm happy to be back in South Bend for the beginning of 2010, but when this is what greets you, then happy isn't exactly the right word.

Again, I know the locals will all make fun of me saying "Oh, this isn't that bad. You're soft." I get it. You have had worse. Heck, I've experienced worse in Kentucky from time to time. However, with a rear-wheel drive car, there is nothing about snow that I enjoy. Plus, this is my blog and I'll whine if I want to.

I'll have some more posts later, once I thaw out.