Heels On The Field: A Baseball Blog

MiLB Watch: What's Next in the Fight for a Fair Wage? Garrett Broshius Answers

MiLB Watch will be a recurring feature on HOTF, running short interviews and stories, as well as servivng as a round-up of five current stoies of interest. While HOTF was once a MiLB-only platform, the re-launch has expanded the focus. MiLB will continue to be a leading issue covered here. I hope MiLB Watch is informative and entertaining to baseball fans.~ Jessica Quiroli, Editor/Founder HOTF

Garrett Broshius Continues His Longtime Fight To Get A Fair Wage For Minor Leaguers

Broshius has been minor league players biggest champion for many years. He's a former player, so he knows exactly what that life is like. But when he became a lawyer, he made minor league pay a focal point in his legal career. His fight is personal. And in light of recent positive developments, he's in it for the long haul. Here's what he had to say over the weekend.

HOTF: When you began this work so many years ago, did you view this as a "political" issue? One that needed attention as a working class issue, not just in the realm of baseball?

GB: When I was still playing many years ago, I didn’t view it as a political issue—just an issue of basic fairness. We spent all these hours working at the field, doing whatever we were told, and yet some of my teammates could barely afford to eat. It never seemed right. Why in Double-A, while just two steps from the big leagues, were players being paid $7,500 for an entire year of work?

As the years went by, though, I did start to see it through the lens of a larger trend in our society. We’re in a new Gilded Age, with disparities in wealth reaching record levels, and with the divide between haves and have nots growing every day. Baseball is a microcosm of that trend. Since MLB players achieved free agency in 1976, MLB salaries have risen by over 3000%. MLB revenue growth has grown even more quickly. And yet minor league salaries have hardly budged over that time. That’s not to say that minor league players should be compensated like major league players—of course they shouldn’t be. But is minimum wage too much to ask for? Is $15,000 for an entire year of work too much? Indeed, the average minor leaguer has far less purchasing power today than in 1976. The batboy often makes more per hour than the minor league players.

And now MLB’s proposal to shutter 42 minor league teams has delivered it fully into the political arena. I only hope that politicians realize that not only do we need to protect these teams, but we also need to protect these players and ensure that they make above-poverty-level wages. We can do better, and we must do better if we want our national pastime to thrive in future generations.

HOTF: During the long process, what conversations have stood out to you with players you've talked to or who are in the lawsuit. I'm in no way asking for names. Just things that have impacted you or reminded you why this is so important. 

The magnitude of the problem is really astounding because it’s system-wide. With MLB enjoying an antitrust exemption that allows the MLB teams to collude on minor league salaries, and with no minor league union to push back against these collusive efforts, salaries have been suppressed far below the market value. The result is across-the-board hardships. Players cramming six guys into two-bedroom apartments, sleeping on air mattresses. A player who couldn’t afford a plane ticket for his young son to come out and see him. A player who would skip meals to save money; the first thing he would eat would be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the field. Those are the guys we’re trying to help out.

HOTF: The proposal to eliminate 42 MiLB teams has stunned & frustrated many people. How will players, particularly new draftees, suffer without more opportunities to play? Do you believe MLB will execute the plan?

Fewer teams means fewer minor league teams, which means fewer minor league players. There are so many examples of players drafted beyond the 20^th round making it to the big leagues. So I hope it doesn’t come to fruition. Obviously I would love to see higher minor league salaries—that’s what we’re fighting for. I’d also love to see some playing surfaces bettered and some clubhouses upgraded. And some of the leagues are, without a doubt, too spread out and it causes travel headaches (and backaches). Those are real problems that MLB is complaining about. But I hope the folks negotiating the PBA can address those problems without cutting teams. There’s a lot of time left before the current PBA expires, so I’m cautiously optimistic.

HOTF: Finally, what's the next step in the lawsuit? How much progress are you making? 

We won our appeal in the Ninth Circuit in August, which allows the case to remain a class action. MLB has indicated that it intends to ask the Supreme Court to take the case, which is what is currently preventing us from getting back to the trial court. We’re doing some things to try to get back to the trial court as quickly as possible because we’re ready to get moving again. And there are a lot of minor leaguers going to spring training soon—where they’ll work without pay for an entire month—who are anxious to see us get moving again. So we’ve already completed a lot of the work and are making progress, but we have a lot more to do.

Phillies Prospect Matt Imhof Has Best Start of Season, Adjusts to High-A

Matt Imhof didn't need much more than his fastball to dominate Lakeland's lineup Thursday.

The lefty worked his fastball without feeling the need to mix in much secondary stuff past the 1st inning; through 6 innings, he allowed just 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out a season high 7 batters.

"The key thing was establishing fastball away," Imhof said. "I also had a better mindset than the last couple of starts."

He's recovered from a bicep strain that set him back. He was placed on the DL in April, and although there were concerns about his development, Clearwater manager Greg Legg sees vast improvement, particularly in that last start.

"He's normally a fastball/changeup/Slider pitcher. Last night it was more fastballs," Legg said. "He's working on command, and did a good job with it Thursday. He's come along. This is his first full season this year, and it's been a bit of a process. He's trusting his fastball. There were arm issues earlier this year, but he's feeling better now. He's starting to work on his two-seamer. But he didn't need the changeup the other night. He commanded the fastball to both sides of the plate."

The Phillies selected Imhof in the 2nd round of the 2014 June MLB Draft out of Cal Poly, and he finished his final collegiate season going 99 innings, striking out 124, good for 6th most in NCAA Division 1.

In his first professional season, he saw time at three levels, pitching a combined 42 innings, striking out 40, and walking just 11 batters through 11 starts. While he seemed to make the transition to pro ball rather smoothly, he was getting acclimated to all the new expectations.

"I was getting used to a new environment. It takes me a little while to get comfortable with the catchers and teammates. The biggest challenge for me was getting used to a five man rotation. I was only in the New York Penn League a few weeks but it helped get my arm ready for game day," said Imhof.

Having had a solid first year professionally, experiencing struggles this year was difficult. At times, he lost his way.

"Yeah, you try not to think about it. But after each outing, you're looking at things, and it's frustrating for sure. You do stuff you wouldn't normally do. You try to throw harder. You try this and that. And you kind of lose confidence in your stuff. That's where I was last month. But I had talks with pitching coordinator Rafael chaves, and out pitching coach Steve Shrenk. And got in a good mindset and did what I needed to do."

After just two years, Imhof has been through a great deal that's tested him mentally and physically. But as the physical has come along, the mental side of his game has improved the most, according to him.

"The biggest thing I've learned is how to have success. I had that in college, and last year. This year was harder. I had to re-learn things I thought I had down. Now I'm sticking with what I know. Whether it's catch-play, workouts, or bullpens. Once I figured out what I need to be successful, began to build off it each time. I'm stronger than I was in spring training. And if you talk to anyone with the Phillies, they'd tell you I'm one hundred percent better than I was in spring training. I didn't come in quite prepared like I needed to be, and now I'm ready for success."

You can follow him on Twitter @Matt_ImHOF48

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Five Tips For Minor League Reporters In The Digital Age

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.

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Staten Island Yankees Manager Justin Pope Not Returning

For anyone in the know about these things, Justin Pope not returning to manage the Staten Island Yankees (I was unable to confirm whether he quit or wasn't asked back) was a bit of a surprise.

The impression was that he was being groomed for Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin's job, when the longtime Trenton Thunder manager retires (no one would tell you they believe he'll ever be fired). Franklin re-signed with the Thunder for another season, continuing with the club he managed to an Eastern League title in 2013. Whether that was a misconception or not, Pope had coached under Franklin, and filled in for him when he was ill. The job in Staten Island seemed directly connected to that, possibly impressing those in the power seat with his ability to juggle jobs effectively. Not only that, Pope had been in the Yankees organization most of his playing career and all of his coaching career.

He was familiar with the players, many of them whom he'd played with in Trenton. When he was given the job in Staten Island, his connection to the organization also seemed part of what inspired the hiring. His youth (he's now 34) was a question in that regard, but that also seemed to work in his favor managing guys fresh out of college. Entering 2013, Pope said the he'd planned to be "more aggressive". He'd clearly felt motivated to make changes in his approach to the job. There was a noted difference at batting practice. He was more vocal, appearing more confident.

Pope has been replaced by Mario Garza, 31, who played for four season in the Astros organization and has coached in the Yankees system the past few years [First reported by Jim Waggoner on SILive.com]. Going older is clearly not a factor in the hiring.

But it could be that the short-season club has struggled the past two years. In 2012, they finished 30-45, and in 2013 they improved to just 34-41.

After spending four years covering Double-A level, and two covering Class-A short season, I'm convinced there's no more difficult level to coach and manage at than short. Put the majors in at a close second: guys that think they know everything, but have nothing to back it up, and guys that think they know everything, and have experience and millions to back it up. How do you communicate in those situations, with those players? How challenging is it to manage that many egos, unwilling to listen when they should and would benefit from some guidance?

This isn't to suggest that the players on either Staten Island club were a problem. There was never any indication that Pope was struggling to reach them, though at times he mentioned players who were trying to be more than they were, pushing to prove too much, too fast. Whatever the reasoning, the time might just have come for a change in the guard.

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Managing In The Minor Leagues Tricky, Important Job

When Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin strolled into the visiting clubhouse in Harrisburg to find a player a reporter was looking for (ok, me), he was immediately displeased with the behavior of several of his players.

"Put some clothes on," he said lightly, but meaning business. He'd mentioned before that he told them he didn't like them walking around undressed post-game when reporters were filing in. [Note: The Thunder announced yesterday that Franklin will return for his 8th season with the team]

The point wasn't to control the environment or act as a parent, but to set the tone.

Managing in the majors works differently. They're not expected to look out for men in their thirties, who, hopefully, have figured out how to conduct themselves. Not always true, but in the minor leagues a heavy hand is needed more often. The manager has to act as disciplinarian and guide, and yet not create too much pressure for players early in their development. He also has to walk the line. When I interviewed John Kruk a few years back, he said that when he managed a Phillies affiliate, the big club had rules of what he could and couldn't do, who he could play, and when. Comparatively, with all the money involved today, teams are going to keep their million-dollar bonus players on a short leash from afar.

There were bigger things going on that day in Harrisburg. Bryce Harper was still riding the bus, preparing for the call to the majors everyone knew was just around the corner. The Nationals were watching his every move and that included how he was made available to the media. Mostly, he wasn't. The rule was specific. "Unless he does something to impact the game," Senators Media Relations Director Terry Byrom explained, "no one can talk to him."

Harper had been under a hot spotlight for years. He was no stranger to the special treatment and the attention, but he didn't carry himself differently than any other player. His manager at the time, Tony Beasley, was baffled by the negative attitude people had toward Harper. He didn't understand why people came just to boo. Beasley was in a unique position to gently guide the top prospect in baseball, already famous for controversy, while keeping his team focused. If the attention on Harper was a distraction, Beasley didn't speak of it. Instead he acknowledged how it actually benefited the other players, because more people would see them as well. Beasley led the way beautifully through what was the biggest media storm the minor leagues had likely ever seen (though I hear that Michael Jordan thing was pretty wild). [Note: Beasley will not return to manage the Triple-A Nationals affiliate in Syracuse, but instead fill the role of minor league field coordinator]

Minor league managers are guys players can't argue with because they've been there. Some haven't been to the majors (neither Beasley or Franklin had), but that's unimportant. They've been where they are at that moment. Toiling, scrapping, scraping, learning how to play everyday and be important to the parent club, or any parent club that'll have them and offer them an opportunity someday.

Some managers are career minor-leaguers, never having gotten a real shot, or any shot, to play in the majors. Franklin and Beasley understand that lot, as does Staten Island Yankees manager Justin Pope. Pope had been a player under Franklin's watch, then a coach, and even sat in the manager's chair when Franklin was out ill. For two seasons, he's managed the Class-A (short) Yankees affiliate. Pope, and any manager at that level, is essentially managing a college or high school team, with guys coming straight from the College World Series or skipping collegiate ball altogether.

How do you manage THAT? Pope explained with a memorable quote the first year he managed the team.

"We call this the tell 'em twice league," he said with a laugh.

Players need guidance like we all do, no matter how old you get. On the other hand, some guys don't need much. They lock in early and understand what they need to do. But as the attention on prospects gets bigger, along with the bonuses, the development process becomes less cloaked in mystery with even the lowest draft picks no longer under the radar (social media has practically erased that), and it's even more of a pressure cooker.

Minor league managers understand their players beyond what they remember, but in how they're trying to finally get to the big leagues themselves.

They're waiting for the call too.

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The College Twitter Twenty

They are nowhere near the big leagues. But they have the energy, fire, ambition, and talent that they hope gets them there, and share that very unique college baseball energy on Twitter.

This wasn’t about number of followers, because many of them are very unfamiliar (although that did factor in with one player). Being entertaining, forthcoming and just showing their own qualities was what stood out.** (this will also run on Going Nine Baseball tomorrow). Similar to the MiLB Twitter Twenty, there are 30 Honorable Mentions. That has run on Baseball Digest/Going Nine for two years. This is the inaugural college try!

Seeing college players at this early stage of their journey is really just fun, at times emotional, but always interesting. That translates to the Twitterverse. And here you are....

1.Brian Pruett, Shortstop, Coastal Carolina, @Brian_Pruett - The follower count alone is impressive. A perfect example of how a player can build his own following before he’s even made it to pro ball. But the main reason he tops this list, is that he updates almost daily. His interactions with followers are warm, fun and often inspirational, and he consistently shares something interesting or humorous. A social media champ.

2.Austin Weekley, Pitcher, Charleston Southern, @AustinWeekley18 - Here's one guy that likes to interact. He's a regular around the Twitter world (with 10,979 tweets at last count) and doesn't waste many words. He informs his readers what he's up to and keeps it friendly and lighthearted.

3.Casey Mulholland, State College of Florida @CaseyMulholland - His bio includes the explanation for his nickname: 'Because of Casey Stengel'. With that kind of background info, you'd expect passion for baseball (and life. And Twitter) and that's what you get.

4. Logan Colby Suggs, Pitcher, University of Arkansas, @papasuggs34 - His unique and energetic personality shines through.

5. Justin D'Amato, Pitcher, St. John Fisher, @JustinDamato3- A high octane guy and it shows through his consistent Tweeting.

6. Trey Wimmer, First Baseman/Catcher, Liberty Baseball, @twim10 – His kindness and faith are a big part of what he has to say. He tweets about Tebow a bit (#FreeTebow). All in good fun.

7.George Schaefer, Pitcher, Charleston Southern University, @Schaef22 - Fun and spirited. Uses the increasingly infamous lingo shared by minor leaguers, a number of them associated with UConn. #FeedTheWolf? You'll have to figure it out by following.

8. Ricky Ross, Catcher, St. John Fisher, @ParkerRoss7 - “The nice thing is that right after Christmas, comes baseball season, which leads to summer.” What more do you need to read? There's also that he's a daily Tweeting kind of guy, but keeps it to the point and happily socializes with followers.

9. Mark Appel, Pitcher, Stanford University, @MAppel26 – One of the most talked about college players last year for what he didn't do (sign with Pirates), instead of what he did do (committed to finishing at Stanford). His deep faith and super positive attitude makes him one of the most likeable guys on this list.

10. Brian Ward, Pitcher, University of Connecticut, @brianward45 - Smart and super funny.

11. Carson Plyler, Infielder, Catawba Valley Community College, @cplyler7- Enjoys tweeting about his love for football and golf. Keeps it simple and fun.

12. Darin Gillies, Pitcher, Arizona State, @Gillies15 – The Sun Devils pitcher is open and warm in what he shares. Tweets enthusiastically about his passion for fishing, and hunting, so if you're sensitive to that, be aware! (PHOTOS)

13. Will Charkowsky, Catcher, Mitchell College, @Chark_27- Being “Motivated” is the name of the game, and that comes through in the things he shares. He's been through a lot, and his attitude toward life is clear.

14. Jeremy Finchum, Pitcher, Capital University, @II_22FINCH22_II – So, if you can find him.... (sweet, funny and talks freely with followers about interests)

15. Johnny C. Coy, Outfielder/Infielder, Wichita State University, @JcoyShox25 – Keeps it light and chats with followers regularly. He likes UFC, so if that's your thing, give him a look.

16. Matt Boyd, Pitcher, Oregon State, @mattboyd31 – Bio includes #IamSecond. Says so much about him and the person that tweets enthusiastically on a daily basis.

17. Mason Hershey, Catcher, ETSU- @I_AM_HERSH34 – Jokes around a lot with followers. And his tweets about this Christmas were favorites.

18. Ryan Trauger, Pitcher, St. John Fisher, @ryantrauger9 – Usually keeps it short and simple. And honest.

19. Christian Helsel, Infielder, Ole Miss, @C_Hels34 - Is vocal about his passions. Connects with followers in a down to earth way.

20. Clayton Vaughn, Infielder, North Central Texas College, @C_Vaughn- Hard not to like a guy that tweets openly romantic thoughts to his fiance. An emotive person that has something to say almost daily.

And don't forget these guys!

30 Honorable Mentions:

Michael Montville, Outfielder, University of Maryland- @MikeyMo5
Joshua Frendendall, Pitcher, University of Washington- @Jfrendendall
Ty Moore, Outfielder, UCLA- @Ty29Moore
Grayson Greiner, Catcher, South Carolina- @ggreiner21
Chad Sobotka, Pitcher, USC- @Chad_Sobotka
Billy Ferriter, Outfielder, UConn- @BillyFerriter
Colby Holmes, Pitcher, University of South Carolina- @CHolmes44
Hayden Barnett, Pitcher, University of Arkansas- @haybarcheezy
Kent Blackstone, Shortstop, NMSU- @TheBiggerStone6
Jack Mayfield, Infielder, Oklahoma University- @jackmayfield8
Dave Behler, Pitcher, Arcadia University- @DaveBehler
Chris Harvey, Catcher, Vanderbilit- @CHarv44
John McLeod, Pitcher,Wake Forrest University- @JohnMcLeod17
Aaron Judge, Outfielder, Fresno State- @TheJudge44
Jake Stinnett, Pitcher/Third Baseman, University of Maryland- @jstinnett7
Wales Toney, Pitcher, Clemson University- @Walsey10
Sean Anthony Manaea, Pitcher, Indiana State University- @MISTLETOEMANAEA
Jake Kalish, LHP/Outfielder,George Mason University - @jkalish18
DJ Peterson, Third Baseman, University of New Mexico- @godj33
Mike Sisco, Pitcher, University of Arkansas- @Mike_Sisco22
Trevor Williams, Pitcher, ASU- @T_WilliamsASU43
Bryan Verbitsky, Pitcher, Hofstra University- @yaboybits
Johnny Beck, Outfielder, SJFC- @bagsbags14
Conor J. Keniry, Infielder/Outfielder, Wake Forrest University - @CKeniry14
Nick Martin, Pitcher, Iowa State University- @saintnicholas37
Brody Greer, Infielder, USC- @BG19_
Brady Kirkpatrick, Pitcher, University of Maryland- @bkirky3
Joel Seddon, Pitcher, University of South Carolina- @JSedd6
Eric Jagielo, Infielder, University of Notre Dame - @E_Jagielo
Philip Ervin, Centerfielder, Samford University - @Mr_MagicErvin

*Commits weren’t eligible.

Road To The New York Penn League Playoffs: Tri-City Valley Cats Preston Tucker

Brooklyn, New York - The Tri-City Valley Cats, Stedler Division champs in the New York Penn League, have been the most impressive team in the league for the better part of the season. Outfielder Preston Tucker has been a solid contributor to their success, particularly in the last few weeks.

He's hitting .352 with 43 hits, 7 home runs, and 33 RBI in 31 games. He has hit safely in his last ten games, with 13 hits over that period.

Here's what he had to say about playing rival Brooklyn Cyclones and making adjustments all season:

Physically it is exhausting everyday. This is definitely an adjustment I had to make. Getting my rest and eating right comes into it. Mentally, I know I have to be ready to go. And in MCU [home park of the Cyclones], you definitely have to hit ground balls. The wind really blows out here.

I've been hitting third for a couple of weeks. In college I was second, third, or fourth [in the lineup]. I'm definitely comfortable there. The more at-bats I got the more comfortable I was hitting higher in the order.

I think it's going to help our team, playing them this much at the end of the year. We've gotten to see a lot of their pitching. So I don't think we're going to be surprised by anything.

When you're playing well they kind of leave you alone. I was struggling earlier in the year. Now I'm slowing things down. Whether it was my hands going back too far or maybe my [front] foot getting down too late. When you start piecing all the small things together you start swinging the bat better.

Mets 2012 Draft Pick Tyler Vanderheiden Learning The Daily Grind

Brooklyn, New York - So far for Mets pitching prospect Tyler Vanderheiden, the minor league experience has been a lot of zeros. 

A 0.00 ERA and zero time to worry about obstacles he might face. 

"Surprisingly what's helping me the most is struggling my freshman and sophomore years," said the twenty-two year old before a game. "Those were probably the worst two years of my life. I never thought about quitting. I grew up with the mindset that if you're going to start something, you finish it. Those struggles those two years helped me tackle pretty much anything."

The righty was selected out of Stamford University in the 19th round, and was assigned to the Class-A (short season) Brooklyn Cyclones. He's pitched 7 innings over 7 games, giving up just 6 hits and 2 walks in relief. He's also collected four saves. 

Here's the rest of what he said earlier this week:

Professional debut: On an experience level it is big, but also the league itself is a lot of college players and then the really good high school players. So in that sense I'm playing against a couple of guys that I played with in college. [less intimidating] just because I know that I'm probably one of the older guys in the league. Mentally the experience I've had against them helps more than you can imagine.

Learning most: I'm trying to not make the same mistake twice. When I got out there I learn something different everyday. If I don't go out there and learn something, then I'm not getting the best I can out of each outing.

Hardest of all: Playing everyday. In college you pick up a baseball everyday, but in high school I didn't pick up baseballs everyday. The transition from high school to college is playing everyday. And then coming here and playing everyday and the practices being two three hours before game time.

Draft Day: It is [nerve-racking] just because you know if your name isn't called, you're in the real world and you know baseball is pretty much over unless you want to take a different path. That's the path some people are given. Some people aren't drafted and they still make it to the majors. I knew that if I didn't get drafted that I was going to try and play somewhere else, or maybe try to get picked up in free agency. I'm happy I was drafted and didn't have to go that route. I got a call the second day and thought maybe I was going to get selected higher than expected. I had a number in my head where I wanted to get drafted, anything past that I was going to start really worrying. And then it was just a relief.

Draft Attitude: I knew I wasn't the best guy out there, but I didn't think I was the worst guy. But my junior and senior year went better than expected, so that definitely helped. The person I talk to more is [pitching coordinator] Ron Romanick, not taking anything away from Val [pitching coach Mark Valdes], Ron just works with more sidearmers. Val is in on the gameplan, he knows when I'm doing something wrong, he can come up to me and help me. But one on one, like for today Ron's here and Valdes is not, so we got together and really worked on some mechanical stuff and some secondary pitching stuff. He's helped a lot of sidearmers and submarine pitchers. He knows a lot about it.

Looking Ahead, Juuust a bit: I just want to have a confident secondary pitch. Fastball command is a must. You have to have it. The biggest thing is they have to know you can throw a fastball, but you have to be able to show something else or they're going to sit on the fastball. And it's not going to be pretty.

Coverage of the Cyclones will continue all season for Gotham Baseball Magazine

How Twitter Changed Minor League Baseball

In the dusty bus leagues there's games with countless empty seats, kids paying more attention to the between-inning entertainment, and players whose names no one is sure of. And they will never know a lot of them.

The social media powerhouse that is Twitter has dramatically changed that.

Mid-level and low-level prospects might have struggled in years past to get noticed, lucky enough to get attention if they were part of a major league trade. In that case, their name suddenly had meaning by relationship to a far more important player. But while top prospects have become richer and more famous before they've played a lick of big league baseball, those less valuable guys have upped their status as well. Perhaps they didn't get the same bonus as the top guy in their organization, but his name, through Twitter, is often just as recognizable. Fans are now invested in the kid playing for the Class-A team and when he might be promoted. Prospects are already famous due in large part to Twitter.

The exclusive arena of fame has had it's gates blown open. Celebrities and sports figures have embraced a more open access to their lives, thoughts, and careers. The sense that we are us and they are them is no longer the same. There's tremendous value in that, but also a downside. The access gives fans the illusion that they're talking to friends. It's given writers, particularly start-ups, a relaxed attitude toward the players they cover. Twitter blurs the lines of the profession.

But for minor league players and teams, there's a broader base to reach and that's good for baseball.

Minor League Baseball saw an increase in attendance a few years back, but while it hasn't suffered as much as feared, it's still taken a hit. For all the promotional tie-ins and fireworks nights, people aren't always that interested in seeing a team they aren't emotionally invested in. If a team is near that is affiliated with their favorite major league team, it's surely more attractive. But that's not always the case. Minor league teams are often located in areas nowhere near the big club.

Enter Twitter.

The connection that Twitter gives fans to players they can't always watch (MILB.TV has certainly helped in that department) is of huge value to minor league affiliates and their parent clubs. This isn't a business piece, no predictions on a numbers increase, but it's possible it will have a far reach. Fans talking casually with a prospect are going to tune in for his major league debut. How much could a minor league team's popularity increase if fans know all the guys on the roster and are socializing with them?

Minor league teams benefit. By getting a following on Twitter, they increase fan connection and possibly their attendance. It's a wonder major league teams aren't embracing social media more. With baseball fans pouring out their passions for baseball on Twitter, they want to know everything all the time. And they want to feel appreciated enough to attend a game that's gonna cost them. The minor leagues give the baseball fan a chance to be part of their team without shelling out too much cash. Twitter gives them a closer relationship with that team and the players whose names they know as well as the big guys.

Young players must be cautious. There's a risk in that wall coming down. But major league teams are paying attention to that. Warnings have been handed out and there has been stories of players needing to be told to hold back a bit. Teams must protect their players. Journalists must not forget they aren't fans and be careful about their level of interaction.

But the bus leagues, still dusty, are looking a lot brighter with the emergence of a social tool that gives them a chance to shine.