Managers get their assignments too. And Tommy Thompson got his, when the White Sox informed him they wanted him to manage the Class-A Winston-Salem Dash of the Carolina League.
The territory is completely familiar. Thompson managed the Dash to a Mills League Cup Championship in 2012, then moved on to manage the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators in 2013.
Each experience is one he welcomes, and he understands the White Sox have their plan. Like the players, he's ready to do his job wherever they send him.
"[The White Sox] tell me where I'm going. It's their decision," he said from Spring Training in Arizona Thursday. "I'm excited. It's a dream job."
Buddy Bell, the team's assistant GM, and farm director Nick Capra let Thompson know where they wanted him, and it makes sense. Thompson has been at different levels with the same players; he knows their tendencies, their personalities, and what their needs are. He also has a firm grasp on what works at each level.
"I'm a little more patient with the players at Kannapolis. There's certain things they need to know, but they still have to be reminded. I know them more personally, too. Whether they need a pat on the back, or, and I hate to say this, a father. Which sometimes you do have to be. But even at the major league level, you have to keep them balanced."
The Carolina League (High-A) in comparison to the South Atlantic League (Low-A) is considerably different, more advanced. While you wouldn't think there'd be much of an adjustment, Thompson has seen firsthand what a big jump it is.
"[Carolina] really is one of the toughest leagues. There's seven teams and they player each other twenty times. So if you're working on something, you can be exposed. Which is good. At the big league level, you get exposed. But it's a tough transition for them."
Thompson is working with a mix of players this Spring Training, some he'll manage once camp breaks, some he won't, but could down the road. But getting to know all of them is important.
"We're teaching the White Sox philosophy. My role is to help manage those guys, even if I don't have them this year, they might be with me later."
He's nothing but happy with his place in the White Sox organization, and sees his relationship continuing with them.
"They've been great to me in good times and bad, on the field and off. If I spend the rest of my days in the White Sox organization, it would be a good stepping stone."
You can read my continued coverage of the Dash, and the rest of the Carolina League, here and for Minor League Ball this season.
1. Don't Be A Fan - If you began a fan, you can't continue as one. Don't mistake what that means. In your heart, you can be a fan, and if you aren't something's wrong! Loving the sport you cover, and the stories that unfold, isn't a requirement, but I can't imagine not feeling that way and doing this with my life. And you can be a rabid, foaming fan in your living room or attending a game as a spectator. What I mean by don't be a fan comes down to ethics. You're a professional now, or, if you don't get paid, you've got a responsibility if you've been granted access. Minor league teams tend to be more open to non-accredited blogs, even ones that lean toward fandom. Don't take advantage of that. Conduct yourself as every reporter does in the press box. You don't cheer and you don't seek autographs when you enter the locker room. Even if you have a day job, this is a profession. Respect it.
2. Build Connections- You are your own advocate as a reporter. We chase our contacts, establish trust, and find ways of getting exclusive information. In the minor leagues, this works the same, but if you're an independent blogger, the development of those relationships is even more important. Twitter and Facebook can open those channels even more, but also just increase visibility and familiarity. If a player sees you at the park, covering the game, then you retweet something he's said or tweet/post his numbers from that night, attach his handle. They want to know who they're dealing with. And if they happen to like dealing with you, then they're going to be more open in interviews. If they follow you, you can privately contact them via DM to ask to set up an interview. This helps especially during the off-season. You're creating exclusivity by doing that. And in the digital age, that's gotten tougher to have. A bit of advice: going back to that 'don't be a fan' thing, don't over-socialize with them on Twitter or say something overly-gushy. I avoid birthday wishes, for example. If I know them, maybe I'll send a DM. If not, it doesn't occur to me to do that. If you're tweeting directly to them, keep it fairly cool. No law against fun or friendliness, so don't over-think this one. Just be mindful.
3. Keep Lists - If you're covering the minor leagues, you become aware of how many players are on Twitter. And new players are joining the social media giant everyday. Plus, after the MLB Draft college players quickly change their bio to identify themselves with the team that drafted them. So their presence is always changing and growing. I began a MiLB list a couple of years ago and it grew to 700 accounts, so I added a second which grew to 300. I have a third, which includes around 500 accounts, each one includes players (mostly), teams official accounts, independent team blogs, PR, and beat writers. This is far easier for me to keep track of interesting information, breaking news, and familiarizing with players. This also helps with my annual 'MiLB Twitter Twenty', so if you do any sort of end-of-season awards or best-of list, consider organizing lists centered on that subject.
4. Pay Attention To High School/College Players- Preps are your preparation. Being aware of high school, and college, players on the radar can only enhance your work. When the Draft comes around, if you have a good grasp of a player's progression before he goes professional, that allows you to talk shop with authority. Bonus if you can get to showcases, something I've not managed to do in my career. With so much information available, reading as many reports as you can is a huge asset. Also, connecting with players in high school and college on Twitter can create professional trust, as they begin their careers. I've had almost entirely great experiences with that. The 2013 Draft was a lesson for me, though. Two players that drafted in the first ten rounds had been friendly and open when I covered them throughout their high school/college days. I interviewed them and they were great to me. I consistently mentioned them on 'Follow Friday.' After being drafted, the script changed. One began calling me 'Ms. Quiroli' the week before the draft...he'd never called me that before. He became distinctly cold. He unfollowed me pretty fast. The other was great in giving me a post-draft interview, but quickly unfollowed me thereafter. The guy who called me 'Ms. Quiroli' basked in the national media spotlight and clearly had his course of action set: I was no longer useful. While this wasn't a fun realization, it's only a small part of my experience. Most of the time that early connecting is meaningful; most players don't lose that appreciation and humility from their early days, and generally respect everyone in the media. Try not take too much personally. There's plenty of stories to tell and your focus on high school/college players is important to your ability to tell that story later, if and when they go pro. Also, make sure to follow some college and high school accounts and reporters. If you're focusing on a specific region, know who the college and high school sports writers are. Read their information, and seek your own.
5. Develop Your Niche- In a market increasingly saturated with blogs and opinions, you need to find what you do and know best. If you're just trying to gain experience, covering any minor league team in your area is a great way to develop your skills, professionalism, and collect clips you can present to editors. Having a blog dedicated to one team (Mike Ashmore's 'Thunder Thoughts' is an excellent example), whether you work for a newspaper or publication, or you have an independent blog, fans of the team's parent club are going to read your thoughts. If you have access, even better. Access is key. While the saturation is mostly a good thing for the minor leagues, players are increasingly easier to 'get to' via social media. Having access has always been important to reporters and is far more important today, when they're are a lot of fans creating pathways to players. Reach out to the PR person of a team and see what their thoughts are, and what they expect of you. If they say they're willing to grant you access for a few games, take it. Send a thank you note (e-mail, obviously, not by a man on a horse known as the mail). When you're first in the locker room, follow the lead of the vets. When I first began covering the Thunder, I appreciated the helping hand. Around the third season, a young writer came in hotshotting. I was asked to keep an eye on him and another writer, and offer any guidance I could. But this guy gave me evil eye every time I offered help or asked him how he was faring. He wanted to be a vet before he'd put the time in. Don't do this. Be humble and respect the process, as well as anyone offering to help you, because not everyone will. Understand that valuing the other writers and employees around you creates a positive atmosphere, and in turn, a positive relationship with the team. If the PR person asked me about that writer, I wouldn't have had anything positive to say and that doesn't help someone who, in that case, wasn't working for a newspaper the team relied on, but a website. Bad move on his part. So respect EVERYONE. And respect the team's responsibility to the parent club. Minor league affiliates want to generate more publicity for their team, especially positive attention, but you're also showcasing your worth. Be professional and respectful. Ask questions. Figure some things out on your own. Focusing on one team or league allows you to be an authority on one subject and you want a unique voice in a crowd of thousands of writers, reporters, and bloggers.
Whatever your focus, have one. And do the work to the best of your ability. That's all you have control over. Hopefully these tips help you.
Per the Phillies, the minor league schedule begins with a 'Phillies vs. Canadian Jr. National Team' "Prospects Series" at Al Lang Stadium. The game has a 2 PM start.
March 11th, the Triple-A and Double-A Blue Jays are at Phillies (Carpenter Complex). As is the procedure, A teams are at Jays (Englebert Complex).
The following day, all minor league squads are on the road: Triple-A and Double-A at EC, and A teams face Pirates squads at Pirate City Complex. Phillies minor leaguers play against the Pirates, Tigers, Yankees, and Jays multiple series until camp breaks March 30th.
When he arrived in Brooklyn, New York in 2012, Brandon Nimmo was surrounded by a whirlwind of press.
Most of the attention on the Mets 2011 first round pick focused on how he'd come from a high school without a baseball program. How had he developed into such a highly regarded, valuable player without that experience? The selection was seen as a risk, though most high school picks are. But this was different. There were questions about how he'd handle the pressure physically and mentally.
For those watching and talking to him daily in the New York Penn League that year, the answer was clear. He had a strong sense of himself, that had surely fostered a solid work ethic. He wasn't easily distracted. And in the face of anything the season brought, he remained even-keeled. In 69 games for the Class-A (short-season)Brooklyn Cyclones, followed by 110 games in 2013 with the High-A Savannah Sand Gnats, he was steadfast in his approach.
"I believe everything happens for a reason. There's been small trials. But I keep things in perspective, because at the end of my career, I don't want to have any regrets," he said Sunday. "Baseball is my job and it doesn't get any better than that. You have to be able to see the big picture."
He mentioned an experience with the Cyclones that keeps him centered, even now. A seven year old boy, who'd been diagnosed with cancer, had been invited to spend some time with the team. The moments spent with the boy, impressed upon Nimmo that his grateful attitude toward life and baseball was the only one to have.
"He got to hit a little, and we played catch. So that helps you see that you have no reason to complain. God has blessed me so much."
Having received a big league, he arrived in St. Lucie, Florida earlier this week. It was a continuation of a highly focused off-season, in which he'd worked with the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a facility that allows players to go beyond the weight room.
"I got to field and hit more. I saw a lot more fly balls. Everything is just a lot more baseball oriented. They also oversaw all our meals and I worked with a nutritionist. All meals are made for you there. There was also vision testing, so you're making sure you have optimum vision. It's the complete package. I'm definitely faster than ever. It was just a very productive experience."
Nimmo, 19, also put on about ten pounds, up from his playing weight of 195. He actually began to see an improvement in movement and timing while with Savannah.
"I got better in the outfield, especially with the first step. I got to more balls faster. Hitting-wise, I had to learn a lot playing a tough pitcher's park. I was learning to hit more line drives, and just hit balls harder. Beyond that, I was learning how to distinguish between pain and injury, and how to play a hundred plus games. At the end of that season, I was a better player than at the beginning. And that's the point."
The Sand Gnats finished 2013 South Atlantic League champions with a 77-61 record. Nimmo did his part, finishing 108 hits, 62 runs scored, 71 walks, and a .359 SLG. He admits there were challenges, and that he needed the support that surrounded him.
"My manager Willie Rojas was instrumental in a lot of my games. He is just an amazing man. Frank Viola, even though he was the pitching coach, he had so much wisdom to pass down. Joel Fuentes went through a lot of ups and downs with me. [Outfield Coordinator] Jack Boyd impacted me immensely. I got better as an outfielder, and can attribute a lot of that to working with him."
But he also reaches back to his time spent with the men on the Cyclones staff, guys known for their strong personalities.
"[Cyclones manager] Rich Donnelly had a great impact on me. Not just with the tools, but mentally. [Hitting coach] Bobby [Malek] helped me going through my first struggles."
What has kept Nimmo's focus so strong, he insists, is a mix of their guidance, as well as the guidance he's always turned to.
"I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That helps in my morals, but also in keeping things even. It's about having fun, but also living in the now and having no regrets."
He says he has no concerns about where he's assigned out of camp. He continues to achieve the art of keeping it simple.
"All I do is try to put my best effort in everyday. If I do that I can live myself, whatever the results, success or failure. I ask myself at the end of the day, 'Did I give it my best effort?' 'Did I do the preparation?' My only goal is to be a major league baseball player, so anything that would hinder that, I want no part of."
MLB.com ranked him the #4 prospect in the Mets system heading into 2013. He was selected to the 2013 SAL All-Star team. You can follow Brandon Nimmo on Twitter @You_Found_Nimmo
Derek Jeter announced he was retiring at the end of 2014, in a wholly modern way by taking to Facebook, citing his growing difficulties playing everyday. Jeter executed the moment the same way he's approached his entire career: with quiet grace, total professionalism, and immense respect for the game of baseball, and the Yankee pinstripes.
Just as interesting, was re-reading the scouting report by the Rockies done when Jeter was in high school. In the final comments of the report, the scout stated:
"This is a special player. Just exciting to watch."
It is what you can say to sum up his professional career, to quiet the naysayers, to explain what made him so memorable and valuable.
Consistency is the name of the game. And while that mostly applies to the numbers, that also applies to the person behind them. Jeter was consistently special, consistently exciting. If there was a face of baseball over the last twenty years, it's his.
Yes, he played for the biggest, most glorified team in baseball history. That certainly positioned him in the brightest spotlight. There's the endless argument that he wouldn't have gotten as much attention in any other uniform. But that's not the point, is it? Nothing changes those two facts: how special he was, how exciting to watch.
In a time when the game has been gutted by steroid accusations, suspicion, and confessions, Jeter has remained the pure player in a grossly impure story, that continues to unfold to a nauseating degree. His teammate, Alex Rodriguez, has been the star of that nauseating media frenzy.
Jeter's professionalism, leadership, skill, and consistency can be the lighthouse for any aspiring player, any player in the minors. We've watched as baseball has had it's fibers torn, our beliefs shaken. Players on their way up, or getting a glimmer of an idea to play professionally, need role models; guys that they can look to and say, 'He did it right.' While they don't have to admire the player as a person, they can look at the man on the field and mold themselves into what they're watching. But when they can admire the person, that's a bonus. With Jeter, you had it all. He stood for something when the game was falling apart.
Add to that, thirteen All-Star selections, five Gold Glove awards, and reigning as the all-time hits leader for any major league shortstop, not to mention the total respect of his teammates, and those that played against him.
Admiring sports figures gets tricky. Their humanity seems to shock fans and the unfairness of that often gets lost. We jump on Twitter or message boards or blogs, to mock and chastise players going through divorce or struggling with addiction. We don't remind ourselves of our own struggles, or those of people we know personally. We forget that they too are someone's son, someone's father.
Jeter, for all the stories of his dating life, didn't make admiring him tricky. He carried himself on and off the field in a manner that any parent would be proud of. If your kid admires him, you can be happy about it.
Minor leaguers could be confused by the lights, however. And that's where Jeter's twenty-year career teaches reality. He invested maximum effort into being the best player and person possible. He didn't allow himself the luxury of ego. He didn't take advantage of his position by being bigger than the game, even when he was. He never fell into the trap of believing his own hype or allowing that attention to affect his approach.
The retirement statement was poetic, as he spoke about a 'canvas', and never imagining how 'beautiful' it would become. Can a Facebook page go in the Baseball Hall of Fame when he enters on first ballot?
In an interview with Sixty Minutes awhile back, he said his parents taught him to respect women. Sure, the stories of his private life have given people something to talk about. He definitely had fun. But he stayed true to that lesson. Players, particularly puffed-up prospects, might find his example difficult. Most will find it impossible. They'll try to get as much as they can out of the caricature of the baseball life, disrespecting women for fun, thinking nothing of it, and generally riding high on their own desire to be a big shot. But he never gave the media anything to feel contempt for. No one was ever conflicted about how write about him in a positive light, despite not liking him. He made that part easy.
He also spoke about his parents teaching him to work hard, and that, in the end, is what this all comes down to. To be anything near what he has been, look beyond the lights. If you're playing with stars in your eyes, you've missed the message. Looking past the glamorous glow of commercials, magazine covers, money, and fame, you'll see only the purest player, with an extraordinary ethic, tireless effort, leadership, and devotion to being the person his parents wanted him to be. If you play the game professionally, and you admire him, know why you do.
When the Yankees shortstop plays his last game, the things that were true about him in high school, are true about him twenty years later: consistent, exciting, special.
San Diego Padres Cody Decker spoke recently about embracing yoga & adding the practice to his regular fitness routine. The story will run on MyYoga.com, but here's an excerpt and photos of the infielder practicing at Haute Yogi Manhattan Beach.
The stillness of yoga was not the call he heard, rather, it was the possibility of going even further physically.
“It was mostly to get more flexible,” he said earlier this week. “
“I know it's about relaxing and calming down...that's not really me."
Find out more about his approach and his thoughts on how yoga has impacted baseball players today, when the story runs later this month. Decker received a Spring
Training invitation to big league camp this year. He topped the 2013 'MiLB Twitter Twenty' You can follow him @Decker6.
I won't forget the first moment I walked into a minor league clubhouse.
The big club's top prospect was there, and he was the ring leader. He made sure to make me as uncomfortable and unwelcome as possible. As did his teammates, relentlessly whistling, commenting, and laughing. I asked every question I wrote on my little notebook, working quickly, efficiently, then practically ran out. (I remember the door knob in my hand, and that it felt like I was in a dream, where the handle wouldn't turn and I would be trapped)
Then someone said I had to go back in, because the coach I was looking for was in there. I had to turn, walk back in, and do the dance all over again. I felt a little stronger, as if an invisible hand was pushing me forward.
Looking back now, I can see I was made of the stuff you needed to walk into those situations. But that took some time. Today, I don't think twice about any of it. I don't get sidetracked or scared, I laugh it off, or, if the big line is crossed, I deal with it in whatever way I need to.
That first day was an early beginning to what would become my niche, and, at that park, home of the Trenton Thunder, I would learn my craft, gain confidence, and grow (with many growing pains) personally and professionally in every way imaginable.
When I returned two years later to actually cover the Thunder, for the newspaper The Trentonian, for a few end-of-season games, that would begin the real development of my own career, style, voice, and true experience.
You learn that Double-A baseball is often closer to the majors than Triple-A. A lot of the top prospects at the Double-A level often pitch or hit their way onto the major league roster, when rosters expand, or a major league player goes on the DL. If they're successful at that level, often times, they're capable of playing in the big leagues. Sometimes, all they need is a quick jump to Triple-A, just to see a little more advanced competition. Other than that, it's a quite advanced level. And a lot of fun to cover. You're also aware that less is tolerated: less professionalism, less errors, less hustle. At that point, if you haven't proven a lot and can't do the right things without being told, you're going to have some trouble.
In short-season Class-A Penn League, most higher expectations are off the table. You see every error you never thought of and many you expect. That's not to say that the standard isn't still high. They're expected to show up and learn everyday, but that's just not always the case. Managers and coaches exhibit enormous patience with those guys, most of whom are just coming from college, only weeks earlier. There are always those guys that are even just out of high school. How can you expect them to be top professionals? Sometimes, that takes awhile. The players that moved the fastest through the system, from short to Low/High-A, were clearly on their game early on in NYPL. They stood out early and often. But most struggle with even the most fundamental things. I can remember one manager yelling to the infielders at BP, 'Take it on one hop!" It's that early in the going for them.
That got me thinking about stories:
*One player's father followed the team bus from town to town to keep him out of trouble.
*There were two times someone wouldn't look at me when I was interviewing them. One was a top Yankees prospect. On an unusually reporter-free night, it was just me and one other guy doing post-game interviews. The reporter asked him three questions, then it was my turn. Keep in mind, this was my second year covering that player. As I finished my question, he kept his head down, then turned to the guy reporter and directed his answers, to all of my questions to him. Worse than that was the Penn League manager that refused to look at me in his office during post-game interviews, same situation. Any question the guys asked, he looked at them. Any question I asked, he looked at them. This went on for the entire two years I covered the league. Some people decide you don't deserve their respect even after you've earned it. There's nothing you can do about it and they don't matter. They proved everything about themselves, not me.
*Player-manager issues aren't often reported, and, at that level really shouldn't be. There was a prospect that insisted he was being screwed over by the big club. When I brought that to his manager, I figured he'd give a sympathetic, neutral type comment. Instead he said, 'No one's come looking at him.' Meaning any team interested in trading for him. Oh...well, yes. You have a point.
*Staying on that course, it's rare that a coach will call out one of his players to a reporter, again, at that level. But when I entered the dugout during BP, a coach asked if I was there to talk to a certain player, and I happened to be that day. "Well, can you tell him to stop being such a baby out there when he's playing?" I didn't. But since I had permission, I guess it would've been fun to give that one a try.
My Eastern League coverage began just a few months after I'd created the 'High Heels On The Field' blog, which began as an all baseball sort of project. There wasn't a main focus, though I realized pretty quickly where I was headed and what I loved. By 2010, I had shortened the name to 'Heels On The Field' (due to a cleaner design, though the name remains the same), started a Twitter account in the same name, and announced the 'official' focus of the blog would now be all MiLB. This year, I made 'A Minor League Blog' part of the actual title.
Creating the blog and making it all minor league coverage has been an interesting, sometimes tricky experience. Some people didn't exactly take the blog seriously because of the name. Others found it 'sexy' or 'provocative', which was not my intention. 'Tongue in cheek' 'fun', sure. 'Clever', 'Bold', and just plain old 'rhymey' works too. Plus, I do love heels. I'm a sprite. Now I hear 'Heels' yelled out at games or colleagues just greet me with 'Hey, Heels.' That's my name now, I guess.
But what I intended, and still intend, as I move from the Eastern & Penn Leagues, into Carolina & International Leagues, is that the blog be a unique, trusted, fun, and always interesting place for minor league coverage. The blog isn't about one league, but all of the minor leagues. However, game coverage often focuses on one specific league, and that's just a geographical issue. I do like continuing to cover players at a new level of one team I covered a lot in Penn League, the Hudson Valley Renegades. With the Durham Bulls, my Tampa Bay Rays minor league coverage continues. Similar to how I went from covering the Thunder, to the Staten Island Yankees. I like having that connectedness. And I hope readers who are Rays fans feel a sense of trust in my opinions even more because of that consistency.
As previously noted, there will be new additions this year, including the first ever staff writer/co-editor, Matt Kardos, use of video, and more post-game, real-time highlights from myself and other writers.
The Eastern League and New York Penn League were my classroom. No matter what, I remained, and will continue to be, a student of this craft and of this game.
Recent Comments