Tag Archives: Minor League Baseball

Jul 11 2012

Noontime Sports Podcast: Nick Parson (Oakland Athletics Public Relations Seasonal Assistant)

In February of 2012, Nick Parson landed a season media relations position with the Oakland Athletics! (Photo Credit: CareerActionNow.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

The story of Nick Parson is an interesting one.

The former Wheaton College (MA) graduate, who double-majored in Political Science and African American Diaspora Studies, as well as minored in Modern European History, has spent the past two-year pursuing a career in baseball media relations. And despite not having a communications degree, Parson has utilized the various skills he obtained at Wheaton to help him experience successful stints with the Bourne Braves, Hickory Crawdads and Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

In February of 2012, Parson landed a public relations seasonal assistant position with the Oakland Athletics, and discussed his role with the ball club, as well as his various duties on Wednesday’s Noontime Sports the Podcast.

Jul 3 2012

Three Outs: recapping Lowell – Tri-City (Minor League Baseball)

(Photo Credit: JimMacleod.com)

By Brian Willwerth 

LOWELL, MA – Here are three takeaways from the Lowell Spinners’ 2-0 loss to Tri-City on Monday night.

Outstanding pitching: As you can tell from the score, this game was all about the pitching. Both teams pitched well, but especially for the ValleyCats. The Spinners could only muster four hits, all of them singles.  Tri-City only had five hits, four of them singles, but they were enough.

Holmes is hot: Tri-Valley starter Brian Holmes picked up his first win of the year, in his longest outing of the year. He went six innings, allowing just two of Lowell’s four hits. He has 11 strikeouts in 12 innings this season.

Haley’s debut: Justin Haley made his professional debut Monday night, allowing one run and striking out two. The Orangevale, CA native was selected in the 6th round by the Boston Red Sox in the 2012 draft.

Jun 12 2012

A Closer Look At Alex Hassan (PawSox)

Alex Hassan recorded four hits and two RBIs on Monday for the PawSox! (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Brian Willwerth 

Alex Hassan is starting to heat up down on the farm for the Pawtucket Red Sox.

The Quincy native is riding a modest five-game hitting streak. He broke out for four hits, including two RBI doubles, in an 11-8 loss to Gwinnett on Monday night at McCoy Stadium. Over that span, he’s 9-for-22 (.409) with 6 RBI. He’s batting a torrid .393 so far in June.

Hassan is in his first full year with Pawtucket, having spent 2011 with the Portland Sea Dogs. In 53 games with the PawSox he’s batting .263 with five home runs, and 32 RBIs. The 32 RBIs are good for the third on the team, behind Mauro Gomez and Lars Anderson.

Hassan played his high school ball at BC High, then went on to Durham, North Carolina to star at Duke. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 2009 draft.

Jun 4 2012

Worcester’s Welch Off To A Fast Start

Worcester’s Johnny Welch is off to a fast start with his second CanAm League Indy baseball team! (Photo Credit: Flickr)

By Matt Noonan 

The first few weeks of the Worcester Tornadoes season is officially in the books.

The local independent baseball squad concluded its most recent six-game home stand with three wins and three losses. Yet, despite a few excruciating contests against Newark and New Jersey, fans were able to enjoy a few exciting home runs on Sunday afternoon by the former Boston Herald All-Scholastic Johnny Welch.

Welch, who is in his first season with the Tornadoes, has appeared in 14 games thus far and has recorded 12 runs, 17 hits, four doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs. He’s also tallied one stolen base and 13 strikeouts, too.

Last season, Welch joined the CanAm League with the Pittsfield Colonials, who’re no longer in existence, and appeared in 69 games. He experienced one of his better seasons at the dish, as he registered 15 home runs, 45 RBIs and seven stolen bases.

Welch’s best season in a Minor League setting was with the Florence Freedom in 2010, a member of the Frontier League, where finished the year with 93 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Jun 2 2012

Mass Indy Baseball Player Profile: Chris Torres (Worcester Tornadoes)

By Matt Noonan 

WORCESTER, MA – Worcester Tornadoes catcher Chris Torres loves the game of baseball.

The 29-year-old Florida native, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers, (2005) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2001) in the MLB Amateur Draft, is focused on doing whatever it takes to earn a spot on a big league roster.

Torres has appeared in six games this season and has recorded five hits, two home runs, and three RBIs. He’s hopeful that he’ll play in a majority of games this season, too, but again, is just focused on improving every single day.

Here is our conversation with the veteran catcher on the season thus far.

For the third consecutive year you’re playing for a Massachusetts independent baseball team. How’s it feel to be back in the Bay State, and how’s the season going thus far?

“It feels good. It’s a good organization; they’re doing things right, everything’s going in the right direction, and [it’s] a great group of guys. I couldn’t ask for a better position to be in, [but hopefully I’ll] get more playing time and I think it’ll work out itself as I keep doing better.”

This past Wednesday against Newark, you hit a walk-off home run to conclude a suspended contest. What’d you see on that particular pitch?

“I saw a 91 mph fastball and I said, ‘I’m going to hit it because I like them’ and it happened to go out [of the ballpark]. It’s just hard work pays off.”

From a veteran perspective, how have you helped some of the younger players progress over these past few weeks?

“We’ve got a young guy named J.B. Brown, a good guy and good hitter. [I’m helping him] work on his swings just a little bit, and just how he relates to the other guys. [These young guys] come out of college or right out of pro ball, and you figure out that we’re all in this together and there’s no need for [showboating]. Then you’ve got Tony Patane, who’s a great dude, great kid, working hard. I think [these young guys] just kind of latch to us [veterans], hang out and they learn stuff. They’re all good kids, good guys.”

What’s your relationship like with manager Chip Plante? How has he helped you or the team thus far?

“Chip’s awesome. Chip is a good manager. He gets into it just like he’s a player and I like that. He’s got a fire in him, he wants to win, he’s out there to win, he gets fired up, and I love when he gets fired up [because] we’re all here to win. At the end of the day, we all want to get a championship here in Worcester, and get some rings.”

Are there any parallels between this team and the Pittsfield Colonials?

“That was a special team, [and] it was a great group of guys. It’s good because the same chemistry is here with the Tornadoes, and we’ve just got to put that product that we believe in on the field. It’s going to come [because] I’ve never seen a team that started out in the beginning of the year blowing people up and ending the year blowing people up in the World Series. It’s usually that team that gets hot at the right time, so I think we’re going to figure it out, and we’re going to be a dangerous team.”

Excluding some of the rookies and younger players, which you mentioned above, who’re some other players to watch as the season progresses?

“Johnny Welch, who’s about to heat up. You’ve got Brandon Kelliher; he’s going to heat it up. Obviously, Nick Salotti, who started off a little slow, but that homer on Thursday is going to get him going. Alex Trezza, he always hits .300 and 15 homers [per season], and you can write it down because it’s going to happen, so once guys figure it out, we’re going to be rolling.”

What’s an average game day like for an independent baseball player? What’re things you do to prepare yourself for a game?

“Wake up at about 1PM, get some lunch, come to the field, bust out really hard work, we work hard, and we’re here from 2PM to 11PM, and people don’t realize that it’s not like we’re here for [a short period of time]. We take ground balls, I hit in the cage, then we hit again, we do our routine, and we shower, then we do our routine again, and we get ready for the game and then it’s an intense battle for two-to-three hours, even more sometimes, and then we wake up and do it again the next day, so it’s pretty intense.”

What’s it like playing with Jose Canseco? How has his MLB experiences helped you as a player?

“He’s got a lot of knowledge, and he gets a bad rap. Seeing him, hanging out with him every day, and listening to him, he’s like a gentle giant. He comes up; he talks to us about things and things he’s been through. He buys us [food], so he’s a really good guy, and he’s been helping. We’d like to see him hit a little bit more, but whatever he does, he’s good, he’s good [company].”

I have to ask you, what’s the deal with this new look? Are we ever going to see the Chris Torres from Pittsfield with a shaved head or Mohawk?

“I don’t know. We’re going to keep this [look] going because we’re hitting, but if the team doesn’t or if I feel like we need something to bring us together like we had the Mohawks in Pittsfield then we’re going to do it. Whatever it takes to bring us together to win, but yeah, I grew it out at home in Florida.”

Finally, what is the future for Chris Torres?

“Obviously, everyone on this field is playing to get back to organized ball in the big leagues, and if they’re telling you something else they’re lying, and that’s why I work hard and that’s why they all work hard because there’s still that in the back of my mind that is [my dream] kind of out of the loop, probably, but you never know [and] that’s why you put on a baseball uniform. [Excluding playing in the majors], I want to be around the game, and I either want to coach, work in the front office or [do] player development stuff or something. I’ll be around the game because I love it and can’t get away from it.”

May 7 2012

Matsuzka Shines Shines In Pawtucket

On Monday, Daisuke Matsuzaka recorded a solid outing with the Paw Sox! (Photo Credit: Boston Herald)

By Brian Willwerth 

PAWTUCKET, RI – If he keeps pitching like this, there’s a good chance we’ll see Daisuke Matsuzaka back in Boston in the very near future.

Making a rehab start Monday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox, he held the Rochester Red Wings scoreless into the fifth inning, as the PawSox shut out Rochester, 4-0, at McCoy Stadium.

In all, four PawSox pitchers combined on the six-hit shutout.

Matsuzaka went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and three walks. He did have four strikeouts, and when he got into trouble, he was able to work his way out of it.

With two men on base in the top of the fifth, Matsuzaka left the game to a loud ovation from the crowd of 7,789. After Alex Wilson took over on the mound, second baseman Pedro Ciriaco kept the game scoreless with a terrific diving play going to his left, as he atoned for dropping a pop-up in the first inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the PawSox got on the board when Daniel Nava blasted a home run over the right-centerfield wall. It was his third HR of the season. Nava also helped pad the lead during a three-run 6th with an RBI single. Alex Hassan’s double to right-center brought in the other two runs. The PawSox had ten hits on the night, three of them coming off the bat of Ryan Lavarnway.

Wilson picked up the win in relief, throwing 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Daryl Thompson took the loss for the Red Wings.

The first-place PawSox have won four straight.  These two teams meet again Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium.

Apr 20 2012

Canseco Signs One-Year Deal With Worcester Tornadoes

Jose Canseco will return to New England this spring and summer to play baseball with the Worcester Tornadoes! (Photo Credit: News.Softpedia.com)

By Matt Noonan 

The Worcester Tornadoes, an independent baseball team, announced on Friday that they’ve signed former Boston Red Sox and MLB slugger Jose Canseco to a one-year contract.

“From a baseball standpoint, we lost two of the best power hitters in our league. We lost Chris Colabello to the [Minnesota] Twins organization, we lost Mark Minicozzi to Quebec in our league, and that’s a serious drop off, that’s right-handed power hitting and Jose Canseco, why not give him a chance and see what he’s got,” Tornadoes GM Jorg Bassiacos said on Friday morning. “If it helps sell a few tickets, there’s no harm in that either.”

Canseco, who hasn’t been involved with a Major League team since 2001, had originally planned to play in the Mexican League this spring, but those plans were derailed after he refused to take a doping test.

“He’s very excited [about the season]. He has a true appreciation for Boston, he has true appreciation for the fans of New England, who’re in his words, ‘savvy baseball people,’” added Bassicos. “If you perform, you’re going to be embraced, and I think that’s a very accurate statement.”

The former MLB slugger played 17 seasons in the big leagues, two of them with Boston, and ended his career with 1,877 hits, 1,407 RBIs, 462 home runs, and 340 doubles.

“The buzz has been palpable, the phones have been ringing off the hook here in the front office, and I think it’s great. I think it’s great for us, I think it helps us tell a great story,” said Bassicos.

“I think giving Jose an opportunity to showcase what he can do, as well as us an opportunity to tell a story of really turning this around is a good story.”

Canseco and the Tornadoes will begin their 2012 schedule at Newark on Thursday, May 17, and will play their home opener on Monday, May 21, against Quebec.

Worcester hasn’t won a CanAm League title since 2005, and will attempt to end their seven-year drought this season, too.

For more information on this particular acquisition – please check out the Tornadoes press releases by CLICKING HERE.

Jul 5 2011

Meet The New York State Federals

By Matt Noonan 

Noontime Sports caught up with New York State Federals manager, Scott “Skip” Nathanson the past week to learn more about his traveling Minor League baseball team. Here’s our interview with the manager on the team, challenges the squad has faced thus far, as well as his take on where some of his various players are headed in the future.

On managing the New York Federals: “It’s my first year managing a travel team. The last three years, I was a manager in the New York State League, which is a developmental league and we’ve had a lot of success sending players to the CanAm League, so this year they named us the official developmental league for the CanAm League and a couple of months after that they were short an eighth franchise, so they invited us to put a team in the league.”

On dealing with challenges or obstacles: “Each place we go to, it’s usually a bit of a new routine and early in the year when each team has their new staffs, they’re not exactly organized all the time, so especially being on the road, we’re learning everything as we get there instead of having things [ready] in advanced. We got to Worcester and they didn’t know that we were supposed to be at the hotel and we had to wait about a half hour until they cleared the issue up. It’s difficult. Coming up [to Brockton], the first day of [our most recent] series, we blew a tire on our van and luckily one of our players had his car and he was following us, so [what ended up happening was] we loaded all the guys in [our two different vans] and everyone got here on time.”

On not always having a “loads” of fans: “We have some family members who are very true to the organization, so we see the same faces at each stop and it’s nice to have them along with us. We don’t have any trouble with [not having loads of fans] we’re used to playing at Westchester Community College, which is great for us because we’re able to use it, but it’s not a field like the ones [we’ve been] playing on. So, for us, we’re happy to be [playing at] a professional field and we’re thrilled to play. The competition is excellent and that’s motivating for us. We have a lot of young players, we have a few veterans and it’s a great mix of players.” 

On playing baseball everyday: “Every day is a grind. The games that we’ve won have been mostly 2-1 or 3-2. We had one game where we scored nine runs, but we haven’t been scoring, so we’re putting a lot of pressure on our pitchers and our defense. We’re trying to battle every pitch.”

On seeing players advance from the Federals: “I see several of our players who have enough ability to become affiliated players. The step that they will take now is they’ll be seen by the other managers in this league and their stats will be seen all over the country and they will be able to be signed off our roster to another team to be able to have a home and play in a home stadium, half their season and also to add to the salary that their making. Here with the New York Federals most of our players are making a very small amount compared to what the players in the CanAm are making.” 

Jun 22 2011

Colonials Continue to Succeed, but Need Fans

Are you ready to join the Pittsfield Colonials fan-base?

By Matt Noonan 

PITTSFIELD, MA – The struggle to put fans in the stands continues to be the biggest challenge facing the Pittsfield Colonials, who lost Tuesday evening to the 2010 CanAm League champion Quebec Capitales, 2-1.

“We’re going to play hard no matter if it’s 20 or 1,000 [spectators], but we’d like there to be a lot of fans out there,” Colonials catcher Chris Torres said. “[Hopefully] the community figures it out and start’s coming.”

“It doesn’t have to be 3,000 people, we’d love to have [that particular number], but the more the merrier. Bring [them] on and there going to see good baseball and these guys are exciting and fun to watch,” Colonials manager Jamie Keefe said.

The Colonials, who rank last in league attendance, could certainly use some help, as well as some old fashion support. They haven’t attracted a true quality fan base, which seems to make many casual supporter of the local team wonder if this particular squad is a good thing for the city of Pittsfield?

“The league is just as adamant about us staying here,” team owner Leslie “Buddy” Lewis stated. “I live here, I want it to stay here, but it is a business and we need [1,200 to 1,300 fans] to break even and [on] a night like [Tuesday], you have 300 to 400 people, it’s hard to put it all together and make sure it works.”

Baseball at Wahconah Park is special. It’s exciting and something everyone should take in at least once in his or her life, but besides its rich culture, it also houses some quality hitting, fielding, catching and pitching, as well as players that aren’t playing for lucrative contracts or endorsements, but instead, the love of the game.

“We’re playing to have fun, we’re playing to win, [but] of course, we want the community here behind us,” Torres said.

“If we can continue to go out there and battle and get good pitching from our side and play good defense, we’re going to win some ball games,” Keefe said.

So, what exactly will it take for the Colonials to acquire more fans? Do they need to win all of their games? Perhaps, win a championship? Again, what is it that they can do to attract more spectators for the rest of the season?

“We’ve reached out to the Little League and girl’s softball players by giving them lanyards and laminated cards with their names on it. We’ve reached out to the senior segment and we hope that now that schools out and Little League has stopped… that it will all work out at the end,” Lewis said.

The Colonials, who are currently parked in fifth place, are certainly a team that shouldn’t be overlooked. They’re [14-11] record may not be the most flattering compared to Quebec [19-6] or Brockton [15-10], but overall, they certainly seem determined to win every game on their schedule.

“The team itself, it’s a continuum of last year,” Lewis said. “If you remember the chemistry of this team last year was so great and we have half the kids back and the kids from last year really set the tone… this group is really great. I always tell them, I love [them]. I do, they’re all like sons to me and it’s really fun kind of being with them.”

“Obviously we’d like to have a lot more wins under our belt, but we’re playing pretty good baseball right now, we’re playing hard,” Keefe said. “All you can ask for is give yourself a chance in that last inning. You’ve got to get 27-outs against this team and if you don’t, we’re going to get [you].”

Pittsfield and Quebec will return to the diamond on Wednesday, first pitch is scheduled for 5:00pm eastern.

May 26 2011

Bill Buckner Wins First Game as Rox Manager

Bill Buckner was very happy to earn his first win as a Minor League manager! (Credit Brian Willwerth)

By Matt Noonan

BROCKTON, MA — No one enjoyed Thursday’s game more than Bill Buckner, who was all smiles after his team’s first win of the season against the Worcester Tornadoes.

“It was fun [tonight]. It keeps your attention going,” Buckner said. “It’s great. It’s always easier when your pitching coach is pitching. It make it a little bit more nicer day in the coaches room.”

Brockton began the game with a Chris Grossman home run in the second inning, which was followed up by two Melvin Falu RBI’s that brought Dominic Ramos to the plate twice. Mike Smith tossed five innings, struck out one batter and allowed five hits and really, that’s all the Rox needed to win their first game of the season.

“Always, the first one is the best one,” Falu said. “[We need to] just need to keep trying to win every game.”

As for the Tornadoes, well, Lady Luck wasn’t exactly on their side, as Worcester finished the game with one run and seven hits, which certainly didn’t please rookie manager Ed Riley.

Although, while all of Brockton is celebrating their first win of the season, let’s call off Friday’s parade or a speech by Mayor Linda M. Balzotti and understand, it’s just one game. This wasn’t the league championship or round one of the playoffs, it was just one game, but hey, it’s a great way to start the season, right?

“[Bill Buckner] is happy now, he’s happy,” Falu said with a big smile.

“It was a good atmosphere at the ballpark and [my] guys are ready to play and have fun. Everybody has their goals set in the same thing, [we want to] win a championship, so we’ll see how that goes,” Buckner said.

The Rox and Tornadoes will play each other 10 more times before the season concludes, but winning their first game was certainly an important step toward winning a league title. Brockton has never won the CanAm League, but after an impressive win against Worcester on Thursday, certainly every member of the Rox organization has one thing on their mind, winning.

“I’m not a player, but it’s nice to see the players succeed. That’s what it’s all about,” Buckner said.