Tampa, FL- The Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays is inching closer to a Southern League playoffs spot. No surprise, when they’ve been consistent up and down the board. The Double-A test is a jump considered by many to be the hardest in the minor leagues. And they’re passing that test as a team in several key areas.
Here’s a review of the season’s best, as well as a flashback to seasons past with a few and what they did to get here.
OFFENSE: Bauers Power
Jake Bauers- In his first full season in Double-A, rightfielder Bauers has exhibited his mix of skills, with consistent contact and solid power numbers. While his .278 average is third on the team, he’s leading the club with 13 home runs and 72 RBI. His 130 hits are good for 2nd on the team, and 7TH overall in the league. He finished 2015 hitting .271/.368/.413 between Montgomery and High-A Charlotte.
What he said in 2015: “I’m working on approach this year. Sometimes I get a little too aggressive…I’m definitely one hundred percent now. It just takes some time.”Bauers also leads the league in walks with 71.
Willy Adames – Leading the team in just about every category, Adames is living up to the ROUND status. The shortstop’s .279 average is the highest on the team, as are his 132 hits. He leads the league in runs scored (87), and he’s second in walks (70) to Bauers in the league.
Granden Goetzman- The leftfielder leads the team with 23 stolen bases. RF Cade Gotta is 2nd on the team with 19.
PITCHING: Hu and Kirsch K the Competition
Chris Kirsch- After spinning a 7-inning 5-hit shutout gem, lefty Kirsch now leads the team with 114 strikeouts, good for 5th overall in the league. That also stretches his scoreless run to 13 innings. His 3.38 ERA through 25 GG is the league’s 4th best. He’s the only pitcher on the team with a complete game shutout, and Thursday’s outing was his 2nd 7 inning game in five starts. True to past form, he’s eating innings, leading the league in innings pitched (138). He’s proven a lot at every level he’s pitched.
What he said in 2015: “I think what’s been the biggest key to my success has been the mental part of the game. I’ve been able to clear my head and not worry about other stuff. I used to have trouble with that. But now I’m able to focus from pitch to pitch, and it’s been huge for me. “
Chih-Wei Hu – Through a league-leading 24 games, 2.59 ERA is lowest in the league. He is second on the team in K’s with 107. His 1.15 WHIP is 2nd overall in the league.
Jaye Chapman’s 19 saves are 3rd in the league.
Taylor Guerrieri – His 12 wins is tied for first in the league, and his 1.22 WHIP is 4th overall.
What he said in 2015: “The consistency is really just coming from being healthy.” He continued that thought, saying the goal was to, “Make every start. Stay healthy.” Guerrieri was tough on himself the last time I saw him pitch for High-A Charlotte, but he wasn’t overly down about one difficult start. He’s a more disciplined person and pitcher than when I covered him in 2012 in Short-A Hudson Valley. And his devotion to learning and growing has helped him every step of the way.
Jared Mortensen experienced big highs in 2015, including a promotion to Triple-A Durham, and now participating in the Double-A Southern League Playoffs with the Montgomery Biscuits.
Mortensen returned from a 2-game stint with the Durham Bulls, earning a win in both outings. With the Bulls season done, the Tampa Bay Rays sent the RHP back to Montgomery to give the team an extra arm in post-season play. He made 17 regular season starts for the Biscuits in 2015, finishing with a 3.78 ERA, and 96 strikeouts in 114 innings of work.
Here’s what Mortensen said about the playoffs, his experience with the Bulls, and the chemistry of the Montgomery squad.
On Being Back with the Montgomery Biscuits after Playing with Durham Bulls: It was an incredible experience to play there in front of 10,000 plus. And to be around those types of guys who know the game so well it really helped me learn a lot more, just from guys who are experienced and understand baseball at its highest level. I'm really excited to be back, playoffs are why you play the game. You want to win and this team is about winning and playing together. I went in 2013 with the Stone Crabs and this season is more special than my time with them. So I'm excited to see what we're really capable of.
On Facing Triple-A Hitters: They have an approach no matter what count it is, whether they sit fastball or breaking ball. They don't swing freely like in AA. So it's a little tougher to get the swing and miss or get a guy to chase a pitch. The other challenge for me was adjusting to the crowd and how intense they are. They really get into it so it was tough to keep my nerves down.
On the Biscuits as a Team: The chemistry these guys have together is unreal. We play for each other. No one is bigger than the team and it shows every day on the field. The Biscuits are hot and we're going to continue to put crooked numbers up and post zeros.
On 2015 Highlight: Clinching the second half in Mobile. Seeing how happy everyone was to be in playoffs is truly a blessing. We all play to try and win every game and get to the post season, and we did it together by being a team that doesn't quit. We made a huge run and dominated the second half together and it was surreal to have it pay off.
You can follow Jared Mortensen on Twitter @jaredmortensen1
Florida - The Montgomery Biscuits head into the best of five semi-finals with several players on their roster that are brand new to Double-A. That includes starting pitcher Austin Pruitt. Pruitt confirmed that he’ll pitch Saturday’s home game against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
Righty Pruitt, who was drafted by the Rays in the 9th round in 2013, went 10-7 and finished with a 3.09 ERA in 26 starts for the Biscuits this season. In 160 innings of work, he allowed 38 walks, while striking out 122, good for 2nd of all Biscuits starters (Jaime Schultz leads the league with 168), and is 6th overall in the league.
“The key [to my success this season] has been executing pitches and the catcher calling great games . The defense has been great.”
On Catcher Jake DePew: He’s an awesome guy. A pretty stern guy that always has a plan behind the plate and his personality kind of keeps you in line on the mound. He's such a great guy you wanna do everything you can to make it easier on him behind the plate.
His Repertoire: I think my change up has been pretty solid for me all year. But all my pitches could use some work.
Standout Moments in the Playoffs Push: Just everything. The kind of baseball this team has been playing for us to be where we are now.
A Tampa Bay Rays scout spoke about the potential of a crop of guys in the system. Here were his thoughts on a few players who've made an impact this season.
On catcher Luke Maile (Triple-A Durham): His defense has stood out. But he can't hit for shit. Pitchers love to throw to him.
Buddy Borden (High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs): He doesn't get enough credit. He has pitchability. His stuff's not overwhelming, but he kept the game going when I've seen him. Flipped in a curveball. He kept hitters off balance.
Jacob Faria (Double-A Montgomery Biscuits): We actually will be in the position to have to protect him this year. He has nothing really plus. He knows how to get guys out and that's his best asset. He knows when to use which pitches. Good 2-seam fastball. That's his best pitch and he knows that.
Another Rays scout said this about Faria:
Faria has been an under-the-radar guy who has broken out some in 2015. He has matured physically and mentally, added velo, and his pitchability and the quality of his offspeed stuff have both advanced considerably. The CH is plus and the CB is coming along as well. He came into the system as a raw, projectable kid and has thrived in our program. Still a sleeper but he is starting to wake up.
This year I expanded the focus to include how far players social-media reach is. Players that have a big presence on Instagram and/or blog (and, as you’ll see, “vlog”) played a part in the decision process. This is still about the Twitter game. But the more players connect, the bigger their following and impact. And the deeper their connection to their followers, which is what I pay the most attention to (humor is a close second).
Honorable Mentions are expanded and players that don’t tweet often, but bring it when they do, are given a nod. Don’t think of HM’s as less valuable players (wink); they’re all guys whose content I read constantly throughout the year and deserved inclusion. Sometimes their inclusion could be one or two tweets that made me laugh or was just something readers really responded to.
The difficult part was excluding players from the ‘Twenty’ that are still with a professional team or were as early as Spring Training, but weren’t on any roster this season (they were included on HM’s); also difficult was dropping players down that, as entertaining or interesting as they are, aren’t sharing a lot very often. The point of this list is to give a bigger spotlight to minor leaguers that engage and entertain and do that pretty regularly. With Twitter they’re building their own following long before they reach the big leagues.
These are the champs.
1. Cody Decker @Decker6 – He continues his reign at #1 for the second year, doing all the things that endear him to fans and followers. Yet again, he took on a critic questioning his talent, though this time instead of a journalist, it was a Padres fan. He didn’t back down, despite the possibility of rattling a Padres faithful. His daily jokes are as smart as they are creative. “ ‘For every action there is an unequal and opposite overreaction.’ Newtons Third Law of Ex Girlfriends.” Earlier this season he anchored the sports desk for KTSM in El Paso, Texas. In full three piece suit and wearing one of his signature bowties (find it on YouTube). He's also made popular videos that you can find on YouTube. It's hard to believe he's not on Instagram, because we can only imagine how fun he'd make that. Regardless, he's hard to beat if you want to be entertained, and none was able to dethrone him… (Padres)
2. Wes Wilson @wtwilson5- …But this guy came close. He’s one of the most fun, interesting minor league players on Twitter. He’s freely talked politics with candor and level-headedness. And he’s embraced a multi-media way of expression, reaching beyond Twitter to create his own vlog, which is a regular feature for the Tampa Yankees (#WesCam). ‘Wes’s Womb’ (yep) is a mixture of interviews with teammates, highlights of minor league baseball life, and his own unique humor. The task of choosing which tweets to highlight was tough. Here’s a few from his Starbucks trips: “I gotta be lookin’ a fool bumpin’ Iggy Azalea, but I’m gettin’ my bump on my second coffee.” “I think this dude just walked in with a desktop computer.” “This woman just ordered something with 11 words.” By the way, his bio even says he'll one day be a presidential candidate, though it's unclear if he's serious. Tweet him about that. Odds are, he'll have a great answer. (Yankees)
3. Michael Schlact @Michael_Schlact - There's no one like Michael. He's used the Twitter platform to share spiritual inspiration & personal beliefs. When he went on a mission, he took to Twitter and Instagram to record the experience. He’s used the Twitter machine to produce an image, that’s no image at all, but a guy connecting to fans in a heartfelt, positive way. He’s consistently expressed his dedication to baseball, even when he wasn’t sure where his career was going. A recent tweet showed just about everything you need to know: 'How can Jillian [wife] and I pray for you today?' (Wichita Wingnuts)
4. Maxx Tissenbaum @8_Maxx – Brand new to this list, he skipped the lower levels and jumped into the top five. His blog ‘Red, White, and the 3-0 Green Light’ is the main reason for his push toward the top. The thorough, entertaining, creative effort impresses more with every entry. He’s also made Instagram a part of his connection with fans, something minor leaguers have gotten into even more since last year’s list. He tweeted about his need to write, saying, “Gotta get some coffee so I’m awake enough to write on the bus.” Spoken like a true baseball writer. (Although we’re usually looking for help at about quarter to 11 on the PM side). (Rays)
5 Jeremy Barfield @BarfieldRage – A repeat top five player he’s been a huge Twitter presence for a long time, and let's mention this stat: 40+K followers. He’s built a huge following by being consistently active, and interactive, on Twitter. His casual down to earth tone makes him super likeable. I liked this feminist (look that word up) take on pageants: ‘’Guys who tweet live pageants deserve girls that live tweet ‘The Bachelor.’” He might’ve meant something different than both things tend to insult intelligent minds, but it’s a great example of his sharp-minded wit. And you gotta love this battle cry: Good luck to all the young pups with the draft but if you think you’re gonna come take my job, you got another thing coming meat!’ (Athletics)
6.Justin Toole @Tooleyj24 - When Toole published his book '9 in 9' in 2013, he utilized Twitter to promote the project, reaching many fans and media outlets. That kind of connection is what social media is so good for, especially for guys in the minors. He built a buzz pre-release, tracked reader reviews with retweets, and used giveaways to attract more readers. One of the most impressive ways a minor leaguer's ever connected on Twitter. (Indians)
7. Marcus Stroman @MStrooo7 - A Twitter devotee, he's always sharing some part of his life and career. Whether it's congratulating a teammate, his soon-to-be-wed sister, or tweeting out life wisdom ("Know yourself. Know your worth."), he's consistently connecting. (Blue Jays)
8. Justin Jackson @JaxChillinONE - One of the best things about Jackson is the way he reaches out to followers. He's always starting conversation and loves the interaction, be it asking readers to tweet their thoughts on XBox One or favorite music, he wants to engage. Loved that he paid tribute to Maya Angelou upon her passing. He also shows constant appreciation for the game he plays for a living: "One of those mornings I've been reflecting about how blessed I am to play this game", he tweeted from his Instagram, another one of his social media favorites. (Blue Jays)
9. Jiwan James @Jiwan23 - He's a daily guy. He's got a lot of interests and freely expresses himself in the warm, entertaining way he always has: "Pretty girls that smoke" he tweeted with a disappointed emoticon. And who on the East coast can't relate to this? "Wait to be seated at IHOP or make the first of many trips to WaWa?" He also could've hashtagged that #MiLBLife. (Phillies)
10. Bryan Harper @BryanHarper45 – He’s a huge sports fan and tweets his enthusiasm regularly for his favorite teams. He’s also a big family guy (check his background image) and his Mother’s Day tweets were especially great. He remembered Mom of course, but his sister too. “Happy Mother’s Day to my sister! Thank you for blessing me with a nephew and now a niece!” There’s also been a lot of talk about that mustache and he has a lot of fun with that. (Nationals)
11. Ian Kendall @Ian_RK91 - Not on Twitter all the time, but you'll get your laughs when he is: "Just spent $20 on candles." "Why did they cancel 'Pimp My Ride'? I thought it was quality television." "Up and at em...meaning laying in bed for another hour." And there was something kind of cool about this thought: "I don't want to grow up but I've grown." (Rays)
12. Corey Black @CblackCHC - The funnest part of Black's Twitter feed is the micro-tweets about any random thing. He's also as honest as he wants to be: "That's exactly why I don't tweet cause y'all have no lives." ; "I still don't get why I'm a "reliever". Hahaha I get it I'm short. Jeez one inch would go a long way for me." (Cubs)
13. Ryan Verdugo @teachmetodugi11 - Verdugo shared his feelings about his recent trade to the Red Sox by thanking Royals fans he'd played for, and with trademark humor. He posted a photo of himself still in a Royals uniform with the caption "Awkward." This observation was interesting“I don’t know what has more blowouts right now the MLB or the boardwalk of Jersey." (over/under?) His best tweet might've been about World Cup soccer. He tweeted a photo from the greatest movie of all time, 'Superbad', with one of the movie's most memorable quotes "Calm down Greg. It's soccer." (Red Sox)
14. Taijuan Walker @tai_walker - If Walker didn't have the tweet of the year, than he came close: "I was sweating so much meeting @alfonso_ribeiro today." But seriously (that actually was serious), his positive, fun flow is always present on Twitter. Those 19+K folowers aren't too shabby, either. (Mariners)
15. Lance Durham @LanceBullDurham -...Durham might've had the best Instagram photo of any minor leaguer this year, which he proudly tweeted. He and his girlfriend announced via IG that she was pregnant by staging a photo of the couple sitting at a table, with a jar of Prego spaghetti sauce in front of them, and mocked terror on their faces. Since then, he's tweeted excitedly about pending fatherhood. An aweseome example of allowing fans to make a personal connection through social media. (Tigers)
16. Anthony Giansanti @GianSanity - He paid awesome tributer to retiring Yankee captain Derek Jeter: "As a passionate ball player since I could walk, moments like that will forever make my eyes water. Thank you Captain, you're a hero #RE2PECT", "If you're a baseball fan you appreciate what Derek Jeter has done and how he's done it. #UltimatePro". When he made an incredible outfield catch, he asked followers to retweet the clip so ESPN would notice. They should've. He went face first into the wall and tweeted humorously about the wicked wound he got from the nail he hit. (Cubs)
17. Ian Kadish @TheBearJew_36 - A super friendly, fun guy, he shares a lot about his family and baseball life with good-natured candor. "Sleeping on a yoga mat tonight...on the floor of a bus... #Allpartofit #IndyBallLife". When he was traded to the Indiana NAME, he tweeted the adventure of driving on the Fouth of July to play for them. "Welp guys I'm on the road again...traded this time to Gary, Indiana! Home of Michael Jackson!" That upbeat tone is a marked characterstic and shows up often on his Twitter. (Gary Southshore RailCats)
18. Kevin Vance @SorryBoutIt10 – There's a lot of "Crushing", feeling "Emotions" and getting "Fired Up" tweets, and he's all about high energy and self-expression. Impossible not to like him. In case you haven't head how he feels about a minor league staple: "Taco Bell is better than Chipotle." Chipotle is his Lex Luthor. (White Sox)
19. Trevor May @TrevMay54 - Recent road trip tweets with his girlfriend were fun to read (though if you go to her timeline @kateishere is even funnier to read) Then there's one of the tweets that make May an interesting guy to follow: "Self-analysis is the key to self-awareness." #Existentialism (Twins)
20. Jeremy Dowdy @Dowdy413 - Made it to the twenty by keeping a consistent fun vibe going all year. "Autocorrect just corrected "bad" to "bae"... Who's been using my phone?" "It's hard to beat music from the 90's." and he rang in birthday number 25 with a 15 inning game and tweeted about the experience. (White Sox)
Here’s the players that missed making the top twenty, but couldn’t be excluded. These guys deserve your follow.
Honorable Mentions:
Courtney Hawkins @CHawkins10 (White Sox)
Beau Wright @LeftButWright35 – The toughest part of this list was not including him in the twenty. He’s not on any roster this season. But he brings it daily, throughout the day. He’s a ball of energy and fun, so follow him to see where he winds up.
Michael McCarthy @mmcarthy35 (Red Sox)
Ryan Sherriff @KingSherriff (Cardinals)
Tommy Joseph @_TommyJoseph_ (Phillies)
Craig Missigman @craigmiss54 (Mets)
Chris Rivera @ChrisRivera217 (Cardinals)
Dustin Driver @dustindriver27 (Athletics)
Ty Buttrey @TyButtrey (Red Sox)
Josh Fellhauer – ‘Fellosophies.’ Look 'em up. (Reds)
Bradley Goldberg @B_Gumbo30 (White Sox)
Jamie Callahan @JCallahan15 (Red Sox)
Derrick Chung @therealthing6 (Blue Jays)
Darryl George @DarrylRoyGeorge - He's tweeted video of his on-the-field pre-game dance-offs. #MustSee (Rays)
Donnie Hart @DonnieHart06 (Orioles)
Jacob Faria @JDFaria48 (Rays)
Conrad Gregor @conradgregor55 (Astros)
Michael Crouse @_crouse_ (Blue Jays)
Julian Ridings @JRIDINGS_4 (Rays)
Pat Light @Pat_Light (Red Sox)
Travis Shaw @travis_shaw21 (Red Sox)
Tim Giel @TimmyGiel (Yankees)
Brett Geritse (Yankees)
Ali Castillo @alicastillo19 (Yankees)
Lenny Linsky @alohalinsky (Rays)
Jordan Cote @JordanCote603
Will Anderson @Willthethrill37 (Cardinals)
Jayson Hernandez- His devotion to public service shined when he helped organize 'Grandslam For Sandy', to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims and their families. (Red Sox)
Jonathon Berti @jonny_hustle (Blue Jays)
Cody Livesay @Livec1 (Braves)
Jared Wilson @DubsDeuces (Twins)
Rookie Davis @rookdavis24 (Yankees)
David Buchanan @davidb413 (Phillies)
Chase Vallot @Chase_Vallot (Royals)
Cale Coshow @c_coshow (Yankees)
Victor Black @Vic_Black_2 - "Sunday funday...That means no run day! I look forward to you all week #neverletsmedown." (Mets)
Antonio Nuñez @nunezlife03 (Astros)
Taylor Cole @Taylor_JCole (Blue Jays)
Matt Snyder @Matt33Snyder (Yankees)
Jared Mortensen @jaredmortensen1 (Rays)
Ali Solis @aSoLis44 (Rays)
Matthew Boyd @mattboyd31 (Blue Jays)
Will Gabay @GaBaY_WG_24 (Rays)
Jack Mayfield @jackmayfield8 (Astros)
Ryan Gunther @Gunther_7 (Braves)
Jake Hager @JakeHager1 (Rays)
Ryan Dent @RDdeucess (Red Sox)
Blair Walters @bwalters34 (Braves)
Stone Speer – @StoneSpeer He’s regularly all over Twitter. And he gets wild with it. Pretty sure he tweeted thanks to every single person that wished him Happy Birthday. On MLB Draft Day he rooted for friends on the board and congratulated friends selected. He's also funny AND cocky ("Handsome and wealthy" he tweeted). (Rays)
Dash Winningham @WinninghamDash (Mets)
Brad Meyers @bradmeyers29 (Nationals)
Zac Reininger @Reininger18 (Tigers)
Chris Costantino @Chriscos21 (Braves)
Chipper Smith @Chipper_Smith3 (Marlins)
Wynston Sawyer @WynSawyer (Orioles)
Will Anderson @Willthethrill37 (Cardinals)
Taylor Guerrieri @TaylorG1201 (Rays)
Vince Belnome @VBelnome1 (Rays)
Johnny Magliozzi @Money_Mags (Mets)
jp crawford @jp_crawford (Phillies)
Brian Holmes @BHolmes130 (Astros)
Rob Whalen @RobWhalen38- "Highlight of my day? Threw a perfect game with 20Ks in #MLBTheShow14 #NoBigDeal #LoveOffDays". (Mets)
Caleb Smith @CalebASmith12 (Yankees)
Dario Pizzano @DarioPizzano25 (Mariners
Chris Kirsch @chriskirsch9 (Rays)
Jason Martin @_JM55 (Astros)
Shane Watson @Shane40Sw (Phillies)
Alec Asher @TheBigCat28 (Rangers)
Jarrett Casey @JCasey13 (White Sox)
Dayton Dawe @DaytonDawe22 (Yankees)
Guido Knudson @GKnudson15 (Tigers)
Scott DeCecco @Dececco33 - His bio says he's the backup singer for Kings of Leon. If this is true, he maybe should've been in the Twitter Twenty. (Mariners)
Justin Fitzgerald @jfitzgerald31 (Diamondbacks)
Deck McGuire @deckmcguire (Blue Jays)
Cody Buckel @Cheatcode07 (Rangers)
Tony Thomas @GoldGlover2B (Twins)
Scott Carcaise @SCarcaise (Marlins)
Taylor Motter @taylormotter7 (Rays)
Ryan Carpenter @R_Carpenter22 (Rockies)
John Mincone @JMincone (Mets) – Tweets about his love for his girlfriend & is a big Instagram guy, often posting photos of his close-knit family.
Rob Wooten @RobWooten35 (Brewers)
Reese McGuire @Reese_McGuire21 (Pirates)
Greg Nappo @Nappo41 (Marlins)
Mike Meyers @Meyers_MJ (Red Sox)
Kevin Keyes @KevinJKeyes (Nationals)
Cameron Monger @CameronMonger (Frontier Grays)
Tucker Jensen @Tucker_Jensen (Gateway Grizzlies)
Stew Brase @sbrase12 (Southern Illinois Miners)
Brandon Douglas @BrandonDouglas5 (Tigers)
Erik Turgeon @ErikTurgeon (Pirates)
K.J. Woods @KJWoods22 - "Social media can ruin your life." (Marlins)
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.
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.
The MLB Draft is long past being the only way into professional baseball, even as the Draft gets bigger and more money is involved.
For guys like catcher Jeremy Dowdy, a team taking a chance and signing him as a free agent was the way in. Dowdy proved plenty playing for Appalachian State University, where he was a highly productive contributor at the plate and behind it. He enjoyed his best season in 2010, splitting time as a DH in 57 game with 75 hits (2nd on team) and 24 multi-hit games (also 2nd). Defensively he made just three errors in 277 opportunities. He battled injury in 2011, but started 54 of 60 games and finished with a .625 BA with RISP and had a 27.7 percent success rate throwing out base runners (third best in the Southern Conference). He struggled at the plate toward the end of the season, but continued to contribute scoring two runs in the SoConn tourney win over UNC Greensboro.
When he didn't hear his name called in the draft, he focused less on frustration and more on options.
"You can choose to look at the negative, or choose to approach it with a sense of urgency," he said Tuesday. "That's the approach I took. I used it as motivation, once the White Sox signed me."
He saw time in the Appalachian League and Carolina League in 2012, playing in eighteen games and hitting .295 in forty-four at bats.
In 2013 he level jumped a little, even getting a brief end-of-season taste of Triple-A Charlotte. He spent most of his time with Kanapolis, getting in thirty-one games. His numbers weren't the best, but he took that in stride. He knows exactly what he needs to do heading into Spring Training and the 2014 season.
"I definitely need to work on being the same guy everyday. In the minors, you're playing 140 games and you can't get too high or low. I've gotten better at that, but I can definitely improve. It's about my mental approach and perfecting it."
Dowdy was raised in baseball-heavy North Carolina (he was born in Raleigh), surrounded by solid college programs, not to mention minor league teams whose stadiums he's now played in.
"It's pretty cool to have grown up going to [Carolina] Mudcats and Winston-Salem [Dash] games, and to now have been in them as a player."
Despite only being with the Charlotte Knights a few games, and playing in one, he witnessed the possibilities.
"It was awesome. The game is faster at that level, and a lot of the guys are older. But they talked to me and let me know I could do it. That helped me a lot. Being there you want to get back, so that gives you extra motivation."
The chance the White Sox gave him post-draft disappointment is also on his mind. That has already motivated his intentions and actions.
"You do have to show a little more than the average guy drafted. But I pride myself on that. Playing well is a thank you to them, doing well for them is rewarding. It comes down to executing the little things. I think it's the little things that keep you on the field and keep the organization happy with you."
The Double-A Jackson Generals of the Southern League boast four of the top ranked prospects in baseball and they are already delivering on their promise.
Here are the results through April 30th.
SS Nick Franklin - Franklin is currently hitting .296, 3rd on the team, with 8 walks. He's collected 9 RBI and made of his 24 hits, 6 are doubles. The 2009 27th round pick for the Mariners faced illness and a concussion last season, and his progress was disrupted for two months. 2012 gives him a chance to shine as the top offensive prospect that he is. The twenty-one-year old played 21 games for Jackson in 2011 and a full season at that level is important. However, if he continues to play that well a jump to Triple-A Tacoma. NOTE: Franklin began 2011 named an AFL All-Star and an MiLB Rising Star.
LHP Danny Hultzen - Hultzen has 26 innings under his belt (2nd to teammate Andrew Carraway) and a 2.05 ERA in 5 starts. His 30 strikeouts is 7th in the league. The 23-year-old hasn't allowed more than five hits in any start this season. If he can cut down on the walks (12 so far), he will put himself in position for a quick progression through the system to the majors. NOTE: Was the Mariners first round selection in 2011 and made his professional debut later that year in the AFL.
RHP Taijuan Walker - There's been a few mixed results outings, but overall his 1.64 ERA leads all Jackson starters. He's third in strikeouts to teammates Hultzen and James Paxton with 26. In his third year of pro-ball he needs to keep his composure and get out of jams. He's had more success without pesky runners on base and walked six. NOTE: Named Seattle's Organizational Pitcher of the Year for 2011.
RHP James Paxton - His 31 strikeouts leads all Jackson starters (5th in the league), but his 16 walks is also the highest on the team. He's third in hits for the Generals allowing 18 over 5 starts. On April 21'st he had his roughest outing yet, allowing 7 runs on 7 hits in 2 innings, bloating his ERA to a 23.41. But he bounced back earlier this week and lowered it to 3.09 going a season-high six innings, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits. Despite a few bumps, he was named league Pitcher of the Week on the 16th. NOTE: Chosen as an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2011. Selected to participate in the Futures Game, also in 2011.
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