Your 2005 W.V. Power - Latest: Helena Squad, Audio Favorites

[MassBrew]

Power Press Release:

 

Q AND A SESSION WITH TONY DIGGS

 

Born in the Sunshine state where the sun shines all year round, Tony Diggs grew up an avid fan of baseball and idolized Pete Rose and Ozzie Smith. Years later, he now lives in Beloit, Wisconsin with his wife of 12 years and seven children. Originally drafted by the Brewers in 1989, Tony played in the Milwaukee and St. Louis organizations until he retired in 1996. Today he enjoys sharing his experiences in baseball and watching players of today hold onto and apply the information that he shares with them. This week he sat down with our own Andy Barch for a Q and A session. AB=Andy Barch TD=Tony Diggs.

 

AB: What was your best memory or moment during your playing days?

 

TD: My two favorites include playing for Joe Torre in big league camp during the spring of 1995, and winning the championship at the AAA level playing for the Louisville Redbirds. Watching the way Torre controlled the team was absolutely amazing. I came a single away from hitting for the cycle in that game.

 

AB: Ozzie Smith and Pete Rose are two of your favorite players of all time, what fascinates you about those two?

 

TD: I loved Pete Rose?s style on the field, he was just incredible in every aspect of the game. When I met Pete, I was in awe of him just because I couldn?t believe that I had met a guy I grew up idolizing. I always loved Ozzie?s speed and style at shortstop and I loved watching him enjoy the game the way he did. I met Ozzie late in his career when I was with the Cardinals. He was such a class act and he was different from Rose in that he wouldn?t let you be in awe of him because he didn?t want you to think differently about him just because he was a superstar.

 

AB: Ozzie and Pete may have been your favorite players of all time, but who would you say was your favorite teammate of all time?

 

TD: My favorite teammate was Gordon Powell, a third baseman in the Brewers organization. He still to this day is one of my great friends and he had an outstanding outlook on the game. He had a tremendous amount of talent but injuries prevented him from making it to the big leagues. Gordon had every reason to be bitter about his situation but he never let that affect him. He brought a lot of energy to our team in Beloit, he was a class clown and had a great understanding of life.

 

AB: Who had the biggest influence on your life?

 

TD: Without question, it would be my parents. They were very strict and gave me a great sense of discipline and character. I had a total of five siblings and they did a great job of keeping us in line and teaching us core values that would help us all succeed in life.

 

AB: While baseball has been your claim to fame and ultimately had a huge impact on your life, were you ever heavily involved in any other sports?

 

TD: Yes, matter of fact, I originally signed my letter of intent at the University of Florida to play football. I was a Wide Receiver and a Defensive Back in High School, but later decided to play baseball instead. Had I stuck with football and played at Florida, I would have played with Emmitt Smith, John L. Williams and Ricky Nattiel.

 

AB: You are a big hunter in the off-season, what do you hunt exactly and what do you enjoy about hunting?

 

TD: I hunt deer, turkey and pheasant. I?ve always loved hunting for different reasons. I just enjoy being in the woods because of all the details you see in the wildlife. It can be very relaxing. I also enjoy the challenge of hunting, which involves matching wits with animals like deer who are incredibly smart.

 

NEXT WEEK

 

Next week we will give you an update on the new West Virginia Power Website, which is near completion. We will also discuss some of the promotional ideas that will highlight the 2005 season, and sit down with Power Pitching Coach Mark Littell. The Power would like to thank hitting coach Tony Diggs for taking some time to talk to us and we would also like to thank all of your for supporting Power Baseball. Have a great week.

 

OK, my thoughts:

 

While we appreciate the effort from the Power staff, how can you not ask the hitting coach about the philosophies he's trying to impart on his players? We definitely railed on Diggs' Snappers a bit last season for a seeming lack of patience at the plate, as they ranked near the bottom of the Midwest League in walks. Most of the Beloit kids will move on, so it'll be interesting to see how the 2004 Helena kids fare under Diggs in 2005.

[brewersClone]

anyone know how long there website will be under construction

[homer]

Seven kids in twelve years?????? The man must be the most patient person on earth. I would hope some of that would rub off on his pupils.

[lend d money]

Hopefully, they have his energy level, as well.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[MassBrew]

Well, it must be "roll out the new team website week" -- first Helena, now West Virginia. There's probably an official team release coming soon, but Brewerfan jumps the gun http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

www.wvpower.com/

 

You really can't critique these sites much at all until the season begins -- heck, half the Helena roster is still playing college or juco ball right now. For now, both sites look professional enough. The real tests begin once the seasons begin -- it'll be interesting how roster pages are handled throughout minor league baseball this year, as last year's tie-in with the Sports Network really stifled creativity, or killed, the player pages. The key will be getting decent game summaries online within an hour of two after each game, home and away.

 

You know me -- I just eat up just about everything these minor league affiliates feed us, and am among the last to cast a critical eye -- but I've tried to see what Power management has tried to do marketing-wise, and I must admit I just don't see the big picture. I'm OK with the "Power" moniker and color-scheme, but removing "Charleston" can't please the locals, somebody should have realized that the alternate batting practice logo is much better than the actual game hat logo, and I don't care how cool the black looks, no kid is going to be clamoring for a team T-shirt with the State House dome on it -- no way, no how. (They better come up with a cool mascot for the kids -- don't electrocute yourself, young'uns!) Other than that, we love you guys in Charleston -- more greetings from Brewerfan http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

By the way, you can check out the above mentions on their Merchandise Page:

 

www.wvpower.com/shared/co...teebig.gif

 

With another six inches of snow due to fall tonight here in Massachusetts, bringing my week's total here in the Bay State to nearly three feet, I am reminded I'm way overdue on ordering my Manatees cap....

[MassBrew]

Power Press Release:

 

There are now only ten weeks remaining until the home opener at the brand new ballpark. The construction process will be taken to another level now that the lights have been installed allowing the construction crew to work a third shift through the night. You can take a look at the construction via the live webcam at http://63.126.209.45/. In this week?s newsletter Andy Barch (Director of Media Relations / Broadcaster)sits down with Power Pitching Coach Mark Littell and we will also take a look at the new power website which is now up and running at www.wvpower.com.

 

WEST VIRGINIA POWER WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING

 

The West Virginia Power unveiled their new website on Wednesday morning at www.wvpower.com.

 

The Power has partnered with Terradon Communications, a national leader in web-site development that is headquartered in Nitro, on the construction of the new website. ?Terradon?s ?Content Management System? was instrumental in creating the partnership,? said Power General Manager Andy Milovich. ?It will allow us to utilize the web-site as the premier source for information on the West Virginia Power.?

 

The new website is incredibly user friendly and will provide up-to-the-minute information on all aspects of the West Virginia Power. The site features information on ticket packages, group outings, merchandise, promotions, employment opportunities, events at the park, and construction up-dates via the stadium construction cam that provides a live look at the stadium construction. Tickets will be available for purchase on the web-site once single game tickets have been placed on-sale. Fans have an opportunity to register to receive the team?s newsletter at the site to receive even more information on West Virginia Power news.

 

Q AND A SESSION WITH MARK LITTELL

 

33 years in the world of professional baseball can provide one with many stories to tell, many experiences that will never be forgotten, and an incredible amount of knowledge to pass on to those who are just getting their careers started. The 2005 season will be Power Pitching Coach Mark Littell?s 34th in professional baseball. His career began back in 1971 when the Kansas City Royals drafted him right out of high school in the 12th round and baseball has been a major part of his life ever since. In 1982 his playing days came to an end, but he ended his career on a winning note as a member of the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals squad. He?s been coaching ever since during the regular season and still does a lot of work with high school kids in the off-season. He sat down with our own Andy Barch for this week?s newsletter. AB=Andy Barch ML=Mark Littell

 

AB: Before we get into the baseball questions, tell us about your family. What kind of family life do you lead?

 

ML: I?ve lived in Arizona for the past 12 years. I live with my wife Sanna. We?ve now been married for six years. I don?t have any children, but I do have a dog named Harper and a cat named Domino.

 

AB: What do you do in the off-season to keep you busy?

 

ML: I conduct a lot of one-on-one sessions with kids, mostly high school players. I?m out on the field with them basically every day trying to help them improve. I also have a lot of interest in automobiles. I own a few cars from different eras myself. Older cars interest me particularly and I?ve always enjoyed studying the evolution of automobiles over the years. Studying the parts, models and different modifications of cars over the years is something that I have always enjoyed.

 

AB: You spent a significant amount of time in the big leagues, who were some of the big name players that you spent some time with?

 

ML: My time with the Cardinals and Royals provided me with a lot of great experience with some great players. I came through the Royals system with George Brett. He and I were drafted the same year and I roomed with him when we both played in Billings during the 1971 season. He was extremely loose, a very funny guy, great to be around and really had fun doing what he did. I also roomed with Lou Pinella for a road trip when I was 20 years old. He was very loose as well, but he was always on the go. I also played with Ozzie Smith, Keith Hernandez, Harmon Killebrew, Buck Martinez and Jim Kaat who pitched 26 years in the big leagues and earned 16 gold gloves.

 

AB: What were some of your best moments during your playing days?

 

ML: I don?t remember occasions in particular but I do recall single seasons in which I was able to excel. The 1976 season was a big one for me. I was very consistent, I became more of a strikeout pitcher and I made my mark as a relief pitcher when relievers were just on the rise.

 

AB: What would you say were some of your worst moments?

 

ML: My worst moments came when I was injured only because I really hated having to sit back and watch. Knowing that you cannot contribute really eats away at you. When I wasn?t injured, I?d say what was most frustrating was going into the 9th inning and giving up a series of runs. As a reliever that was the one thing that really irked me.

 

AB: Having spent last year in Helena you are very familiar with some of the pitchers who will be here in West Virginia. What can you tell us about these guys?

 

ML: A lot of the guys we had last year were burned out because they had played so much prior to the beginning of the season, so we tried to protect those guys as much as possible. They did a great job of buying into my system later in the season and they didn?t waste many pitches. Josh Baker, Derek DeCarlo, Josh Wahpepah and Robbie Wooley were the guys who really stood out in my mind on last year?s Helena team.

 

AB: What kind of approach do you suggest your players take when they are on the mound?

 

ML: I always teach my players to work quickly. I like for my guys to use a very simple approach by stressing the infamous KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) system. Throwing through the mitt, changing speeds on pitches and getting off the mound quickly are the characteristics I want my guys to focus on. I tell them that if they can put the ball in play after three pitches, then they are doing something right. Tempo, getting off the mound quickly and not beating around the bush are aspects of the game that I?d like all of my pitchers to display.

 

Of the guys I?ve taught so far, most have the physical tools to get them where they need to be. My job is to make them tougher mentally, because the pitcher who breaks mentally first will lose. I am still learning on the field, and I understand that I have to have the trust of my players to be effective. One thing I?ve learned is that you cannot try to buffalo the players. You?ve got to be down to earth with them, and let them know that you are there to help them.

 

Nice job by Andy -- MB.

[MassBrew]

Latest from the Power staff (for those unaware, Martha Stewart has been incarcerated in the federal facility in West Virginia, thus the added interest):

 

The Power will begin play in the 2005 season at Hagerstown in 59 days and the home opener will hit the capital city in just 66 days. The promotional schedule continues to fill up every single week and will be released within the next week. In this week's article we will preview the ?Martha Stewart Release Party? which is scheduled for Saturday April 16th. We will also hear from 2005 field manager Ramon Aviles for the first time since being named manager of the Power. For those who haven't had a chance to check out the new Power Website, check it out at www.wvpower.com.

 

MARTHA STEWART RELEASE PARTY

 

After the Opening Night I and II festivities have ceased, the Power will fire up the first weekend at the new park with a ?Martha Stewart Release Party? against Hagerstown on Saturday April 16th. The Power have several activities planned for the party which will entertain all those in attendance. To begin, all those who can prove that they are named either ?Martha? or ?Stewart? will get in for free. The Power will host segments throughout the game featuring Gardening Tips with Groundskeeper Eric Bailey and Cooking Tips with Ryan Montgomery the Director of Concessions. In addition, the employees will wear orange jumpsuits and the ushers will wear moles and Martha wigs. There will be Martha Stewart K-Mart items given away throughout the game and the Power will conduct a Martha Stewart look-alike contest. More details on the release party to come as we get closer to the season.

 

Q AND A WITH RAMON AVILES

 

In his native town of Nati, Puerto Rico, Ramon Aviles currently resides where he was born and bred, spending his off-seasons running, reading the bible and conducting baseball clinics. At 56 years old, he expects his 35th year of professional baseball in 2005 with the West Virginia Power to be very exciting. Ramon spent his playing days with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers organizations. He was a part of the 1980 World Series Championship team for Philadelphia, and he has collected a total of 25 different championships in his coaching and playing career. Ramon took some time to talk to Power play-by-play man Andy Barch this week about baseball and life.

 

AB=Andy Barch RA=Ramon Aviles

 

AB: Before the baseball questions, tell us about your family life, what kind of family do you have?

 

RA: I don't have a real big family, but it's big enough. My father was a cop in Puerto Rico and I have 3 brothers and a sister. I have currently been married for 24 years; I have a daughter, a son, a 10-year-old granddaughter and a 16-month-old grandson.

 

AB: When did it all begin for you in baseball?

 

RA: I started playing street ball in Puerto Rico when I was seven years old. I played every position in little league and in high school. I signed with an amateur team in Puerto Rico in 1966 as a 2nd baseman. I continued to play amateur ball in Puerto Rico for two years. In December of 1969 I signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent. I made my professional debut in 1970 for Greenville, SC.

 

AB: You played with the Phillies, Red Sox and spent a short amount of time with the Rangers during your 14-year playing career, who were some of the high profile athletes that you played with?

 

RA: When I was with the Red Sox, I played with Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastremski, George Scott and many others when I was called up. I was part of the World Series Champion Phillies team in 1980 and I played with Steve Carlton, Larry Bowa, Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt. This year marks the 25th anniversary of that team.

 

AB: Take us through your coaching career. How much time did you take off after your playing days were over before you went into coaching?

 

RA: I didn't take any time off at all, matter of fact, my coaching career began in 1983 which was also my last year as a player. I entered spring training in 1983 as a player but halfway through the spring the Phillies asked me to be a player/coach in Portland, Oregon for the Pacific Coast league team. That year I played shortstop and we won the PCL championship. In 1984 I was a coach in the Northwest League in Bend, Oregon. I coached the Clearwater team in the Florida State League in the 1985 season, which was Clearwater's first season in that league. In 1986 I was a coach for the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League. I was the manager of the Spartanburg team in the South Atlantic League in 1987. I went to Orchard Beach the AAA affiliate as a coach in 1988. In 1992 I went back to Reading as a Coach. From 1990-92 I managed the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League. From 1993-98 I was the infield-roving instructor for the Phillies. I filled in as the manager for the AAA Scranton team during the 1996 season when Butch Hobson ran into some legal problems. In 1999 and 2000 I managed the Gulf Coast League Phillies. I went back to Clearwater as the manager for the 2001 season, in 2002 I was the hitting coach for the Lakewood BlueClaws and in 2003 I was the infield coach for the Gulf Coast team.

 

AB: You've experienced a lot in 34 previous years of baseball, what are some of your best and worst moments in this game?

 

RA: My worst moment came in 1977 after I was called up to play the Red Sox. They happened to be in Yankee Stadium when I was called up. My manager Don Zimmer told me that if we beat the Yankees two out of three games, that I would play the first two games in the series against Detroit. We swept the Yankees and I didn't play at all against Detroit. I only had one at bat in three months. That was not the only time he lied to me. This taught me a valuable lesson in coaching. Now, regardless of how much the truth might hurt one of my players, I always tell them the truth whether it's the answer they want or not. I'm always honest with them, and I never lie to them. My two best moments came with the Phillies. I recorded my first major league hit against Charlie Hough at Dodger Stadium. It was a two-run single to left field back in 1979. My other favorite moment was winning the World Series Championship with the Phillies back in 1980.

 

AB: Aside from running and reading the bible, what are some of the other off the field activities are you involved in?

 

RA: I can't keep myself away from the game. I am always watching baseball, or looking over stat sheets, thinking about the lineup and getting to know my players better. I watch a lot of baseball on TV to study the managing styles of other managers and try to apply the things that I learn by emulating them in different situations. One of my instructors once told me that if you are learning at least one new thing a day, then you're learning at least 365 new things a year. I am always learning and trying to find ways to get better at what I do.

 

QUICK REMINDER

 

Don't forget that the Power Job Fair will take place from noon-4 pm on Saturday March 4th. All those who would like to be game day employees are highly encouraged to attend. Those interested in working in concessions, souvenir stands, retail, the kids area, and those interested in being suite attendants need to head to the Power Front Offices at the Old Bob Evans next to Charleston Town Center. Season Tickets and partial season tickets are still available. Call 344-2287 or check out the website at www.wvpower.com. We would like to thank to Ramon Aviles for joining us this week and thanks to all of you for supporting the West Virginia Power. Have a great week.

[MassBrew]

New ballpark will be more friendly to hitters

Jack Bogaczyk

Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

Perhaps the West Virginia Power will live up to its nickname. Maybe Charleston's Class A baseball club will go deep at home more than twice a homestand.

 

The new East End ballpark not only will be more hitter-friendly than spacious Watt Powell Park through distances from home plate to the wall. The outfield walls in the new park will be lower than those in the Watt as well.

 

The power alleys will be closer, too.

 

In the 2004 season, the Alley Cats hit just 89 home runs, tied for third from the bottom in the 16-team South Atlantic League. However, in 70 games, only 33 of those homers went out of Watt Powell, a pitchers' park that measured 340 feet down the left field line, 330 to right and 420 to the deepest corner in center.

 

The previous season, the Cats had a puny 12 homers at home, where Watt walls were 12 feet high, even where there wasn't a second deck of fence signs.

 

At the new Charleston park, the outfield distances will be more to a hitter's liking, especially a 363-foot power alley in left-center, and 320 down the line in right.

 

Power General Manager Andy Milovich also said there will be no double-decking of outfield signage, and the wall height is eight feet.

 

The move also should make for some high-scoring games when high school hitters with metal bats begin swinging in the first State Tournament at the new yard.

 

* * *

 

Construction continues 24 hours a day on the new ballpark, which is scheduled to open April 14 -- nine weeks from tonight -- when Hagerstown visits the Power. Milovich said BBL Carlton, the project managing construction firm, reports that about 90 construction workers man the day shift on site, which includes the 601 Morris Building renovation.

 

The Power offices and the ballpark team clubhouses will be housed in that structure.

 

One recent addition to the plans for the park is a three-piece canopy over the concourse area down the left field line, between the stands, over the concessions building and the several-tiered picnic area.

 

Earlier, following the scaling down of the project to fit under budget, Charleston city officials and Power management didn't expect to have cover for spectators in the park. Milovich said the canopied area measures about 4,900 square feet.

 

The Power GM said the long-awaited sod, from Tuckahoe Sod Farms in New Jersey, should be installed by Monday. Another "landmark" delivery of sorts is due March 7, when the scoreboard will be installed behind the wall in left-center.

 

* * *

 

The first Power season -- and Charleston's first as a Milwaukee Brewer farm club -- will bring a dramatic change in SAL scheduling. West Virginia will play only nine of the other 15 teams in the league.

 

Rod Blackstone, the well-known "Toastman" of Watt Powell and assistant to Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, is also the SAL schedule-maker. Blackstone said the league moved to a schedule based on geography, rather than competitive balance.

 

Milovich said the change is an attempt to cut down on team travel and overnight stays in a league that stretches from New Jersey to suburban Cleveland to southern Georgia.

 

So, although SAL teams will again play in two eight-team divisions, the scheduling was done over a mock three-division format (six northern teams, four central, six southern; with the four central teams in North Carolina).

 

The result is that the Power will play Houston-affiliated Lexington a rival-building 32 times in a 140-game schedule, West Virginia also has 20 games apiece with Hagerstown, Delmarva and Lakewood, and 16 with Lake County. That's 108 of a 140-game schedule.

 

Hickory, Greensboro, Kannapolis and Asheville play the Power eight times apiece. West Virginia doesn't face Augusta, Capital City, Charleston (S.C.), Rome, Columbus or Savannah.

 

Of the 70 games at the new ballpark, 30 will be against Lexington (18) and Lakewood (12).

 

* * *

 

Milovich said the new ballpark will be named soon, after a contract with a naming sponsor is signed. The Power GM would not reveal the corporate sponsor for the facility, but said the name will end with "Park" -- not stadium, field or ballpark.

 

* * *

 

Milovich said the ballpark seating capacity has been determined. There are 4,250 seats in the lower bowl, and 16 seats at the front of each of 14 suites under construction behind the first-base line.

 

That 4,474 also includes two rows of "nostalgia" seats (30 in each row) that will be transplanted from the Watt into Section 116 in front of the scoreboard. "I think that's going to be a terrific place to watch a game," Milovich said of the outfield section.

 

"With the space in the picnic area, I think we'll be able to do a crowd of 5,000, no problem," Milovich said.

 

Minor League Baseball official attendance figures put the final Alley Cats' season attendance at 125,979 (regular season) for 68 dates, an average crowd of 1,853.

 

* * *

 

POWER POINTS: The Power already has sold 400 season tickets (at $350 reserved, $490 boxes), surpassing the 325 the Alley Cats sold in 2004. Milovich said the club has just launched its season-ticket push via radio and direct-mail advertising ... One new season package available is an 11-game Tuesday night deal, founded on the popularity of the "Two (beverage) for Tuesday" nights at Watt Powell ... The team also has 10-game day game and weekend packages for sale, as well as $1-night packages for bleacher seats ... The Power has commitments for six of the 14 suites, at $25,000 annually for a five-year buy or $20,000 per year for a 10-year commitment. Milovich said the Power is building a buyout clause after three seasons into those packages, because potential purchasers cannot see the finished product with the park under construction ... The Power already is approaching 13,000 in group ticket sales, after doing 20,100 last season. "Our goal is 60,000," Milovich said ... Outfield signage (8- by 16-foot billboards) in the new park also is popular. The club has only five of 39 left for sale. The price is $5,000 or $6,000, depending on the location in the park.

[MassBrew]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...005021128/

 

Brewers' official says Power players will be very young

Jack Bogaczyk

Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

The best baseball team featuring teenagers in the Kanawha Valley this spring won't be from a high school.

 

It will be the West Virginia Power.

 

Charleston's new minor league affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers will bring prospects to the Power who won't be quite as new as the East End ballpark, but close.

 

"It all depends on how the spring goes, but the way it probably will go, on the team we send to Charleston, the top players will be very young," said Reid Nichols, Milwaukee's assistant general manager and director of player development.

 

By phone from Milwaukee, Nichols, who leaves for spring training in suburban Phoenix, Ariz., this weekend, didn't hesitate to name names that are likely to be Power players. At the top is second baseman Hernan Iribarren.

 

The 20-year-old Venezuelan was Most Valuable Player of the Arizona (rookie) League last summer, batting .439 in 46 games before a promotion to low Class A Beloit, where he hit .373 in 15 games. Nichols said Iribarren could make the high Class A Brevard County roster (Florida State League), but the organization doesn't want to rush him.

 

He had 108 hits in 256 at-bats at the two levels combined last season. If Iribarren starts the 2005 season in Charleston, he will be one of the elder stars, Nichols said.

 

Other likely Power faces are Venezuelan shortstop Alcides Escobar, 18, and 5-foot-7, strong-armed catcher Angel Salome, 18, the Brewers' fifth-round draft pick last June from the Bronx, N.Y.

 

Escobar batted .281 in his first pro season with Helena in the short-season Pioneer League. Salome hit .235 in only 81 at-bats and 20 games in Arizona, but Nichols said the Dominican native's arm and release remind talent scouts of a "little fireplug" version of Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.

 

Nichols said the West Virginia pitching staff could feature right-hander Mark Rogers, who signed for a $2.2 million bonus as Milwaukee's top pick (No. 5 overall) in the June 2004 draft. Rogers, 19, from Orr's Island, Maine, has a 95 mph fastball and had 35 strikeouts in 27 innings last summer in the rookie league (0-3, 4.81 ERA).

 

Nichols said the outfield that Power Manager Ramon Aviles puts onto the field might have a combined age of 61. The Brewer farm chief named a pair of 21-year-olds in center fielder Hasan Rasheed and right fielder Adam Mannon and left fielder Charlie Fermaint, 19, as Power prospects.

 

A 5-foot-8 lefty and former junior college star, Rasheed, a Nashville, Tenn., native, batted .299 and stole 13 bases in 49 games last summer in his first pro season, at Helena. Mannon, a 17th-round pick in 2002, hit .255 with eight homers and 52 RBI in 72 Helena games in ?04.

 

Fermaint, a fourth-round draftee in 2003, batted .229 with 21 extra-base hits in 58 Pioneer League games.

 

The Power's two-year affiliation with the Brewers begins on the field on Feb. 19 in Maryvale, Ariz., when the Brewers' youngest pitcher and catcher prospects report for what Nichols called "early spring training." Position players follow on Feb. 25.

 

The Power's regular spring training, including exhibition games against other Arizona-training Class A clubs, opens March 12.

 

Camp will break April 3 or 4, Nichols said, depending on travel schedules.

 

The Power is scheduled to open the South Atlantic League season on April 7, at Hagerstown.

[Cyanogen5]

Interesting...I didn't expect Salome or Irribarren to be there for different reasons. I half expected Rogers and Fermaint to be there, even though I would have liked them to be brought along a bit slower. Escobar, Rasheed, and Mannon were no-brainers. Still, it is nice to see a bit of a preview!

[bork]

No mention of Richardson, so that would seem to put him at Brevard County. Does that put Brady at first? I thought they drafted him as an OF, but he's been playing first.

[colbyjack]

I did state that Rogers could be there, which means that is still TBD, although I think he will be even if I too would rather see the Brewers take a more patient approach with him. With Iraberren likely ticketed for West Viriginia, I'm guessing Sollmann gets the bump up to Brevard County.

 

And a lot of players other than Richadson weren't mentioned. Yo! Gallardo, Josh Baker, Josh Wahpepah and Robbie Wooley being the ones that jump out the most to me. Keep in mind that Josh Brady was also used in the instructional league at 3B, so he may get some playing time there. He also could get used as a versatile utility player similar to Rottino at Beloit last year.

 

Plus, there is the DH, so even if guys like Richardson, Brady and Festa are all on the same team, there will be plenty of playing time for all three.

[DHonks]

my question, Heether or Festa? Based on offensive numbers, I'd want Festa promoted since he's older and could be fast-tracked (ie, I'd like to find out if he was for real)

[brewcru1]

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my question, Heether or Festa? Based on offensive numbers, I'd want Festa promoted

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What reason is there to keep Heether at Low A for the 3rd straight year?

[DHonks]

What reason is there to keep Heether at Low A for the 3rd straight year?

 

First off, is WV our A+ or A? On the brewerfan.net homepage it follows Brevard County. I was writing before as if it was our A+.

 

For Heether my thought was that about all he did well statistically was hit 35 doubles and 17 homers. Statistically speaking, wouldn't it seem Festa is more likely to handle A+ better? If Festa starts in A and does well, that could mean Heether would wind up in A anyways, so why not start them there?

[brewcru1]

West Virginia is Low A.

 

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Statistically speaking, wouldn't it seem Festa is more likely to handle A+ better? If Festa starts in A and does well, that could mean Heether would wind up in A anyways, so why not start them there?

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Heether has proven he can play in Low A, putting him back there would not be making him any better. Festa was pretty old for the Pioneer League last year, hence his good numbers. I am a bit skeptical of Festa's stats

[Cyanogen5]

I completely agree with you Mr. 8 ball http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Festa's stats seems to be inflated because of the league, and his maturity (age) within the league. I am curious to see how he does in Beloit. Regardless, I feel that Heether is ready to move on to A+. Lets face it though, neither one is really considered a prospect at this time. Heether has shown some impressive power numbers, but strikes out way too much (Branyan). I think I remember reading that his defense was solid (anyone?), so he may have a future...but only because we don't have anyone else.

[igor67]

Guys like Heether and Festa are nice depth both have some useful tools and performance to indicate they could turn into useful players. Seriously Heether isn't that much worse of a prospect than Helms was in my mind, and he gets some points for actually having a glove. A+ will be a good test, can he move up a level and adjust fast enough? And as a plus it will be so much easier to tell with our new affiliate. I think we can all guess what would have happened had he played in HD. Those doubles would start magically flying over the wall and he'd probably reverse those numbers to 35 hr and 20 doubles. Leaving us with precious little idea if it was mirage or the next level in power development.

[DHonks]

Those doubles would start magically flying over the wall and he'd probably reverse those numbers to 35 hr and 20 doubles. Leaving us with precious little idea if it was mirage or the next level in power development.

 

but igor, wouldn't history indicate he's likely to hit .220 with an obp around .290-.300? I guess with top prospects who are supposed to make adjustments, I have no problem advancing them before they put up good statistics. But with others I tend to want to promote based on performance.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Guys like Heether and Festa are nice depth both have some useful tools and performance to indicate they could turn into useful players. Seriously Heether isn't that much worse of a prospect than Helms was in my mind, and he gets some points for actually having a glove.

 

Heether was 22 this past year in the Midwest League. Festa turned 24 this December...so he was 23 in the Pioneer League. The much-maligned Wes Helms at age 22 had a pretty decent full season of AAA ball, and even a few major league at bats. He missed a good part of the following season (age 23/1999) with shoulder injuries, but came back to hit .301 in a 30-game trial in the Southern League. So whatever you think of Helms, at the same age he was way, way ahead of where Heether and Festa are now. Which is to say, let's not get too excited about either guy just yet...

[dadofandrew]

I just noticed the story about the Power's ticket sales...they look to be an extremely high attendance low A franchise in 2005.

[MassBrew]

RHP Tommy Hawk could begin the season in either West Virginia or Helena, but we'll post here. This article from last fall had been available on a subscription basis only, but is now freed up. A nice reminder of how nice it'll be when all the player profile features from across the country will start to be available to us again as spring nears:

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.lompocrecord.com/arti...orts08.txt

 

Stats change, but the stuff is still the same for Lompoc's Hawk

By John McReynolds - Lompoc Record Staff Writer

September 26, 2004

 

"There are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics," said British statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Or was it Mark Twain or Yogi Berra?

 

But without statistics sportswriters would be out of work.

 

In 2003 Lompoc's Tommy Hawk, tagged as "Homer Simpson" by his teammates, led the Arizona Rookie League with his 2.36 earned run average.

 

But in 2004 his ERA ballooned to 15.88 at Beloit, Wisconsin, rose to 5.40 in the same Arizona League he dominated 12 months before, then swelled to a fat 6.40 at Helena, Montana.

 

A disaster? No way.

 

Not in the opinion of Mark Haley.

 

Haley, the ex-Lompocan and college player, was a batting coach this summer for Great Falls, a White Sox affiliate which battled the Milwaukee Brewers' Helena club for the Pioneer League title.

 

"We had an older team," said Haley last week by phone from his home in Indiana.

 

"We had a lot of college guys. We hit Helena's whole staff pretty good."

 

Except for the 19-year-old Hawk.

 

"He pitched an inning and a third and he shut us down. He had sink on his fastball and he showed depth on his slider. We had him at 91-92 miles per hour. That's a good power arm."

 

Haley knows talent. For 13 years he has been an instructor in the Sox minor league system. Hawk's Mount Everest-Death Valley-and-all-points-in-between numbers mean little, he insists.

 

"At the lower levels we care about how the ball comes out of your hand. The stats don't mean much. It's not relevant. I was impressed with his arm action and his arm strength."

 

Travelogue

 

If Hawk's summer could not be rated by the numbers, maybe it should be seen as a travelogue. Like Chevy Chase in "Summer Vacation."

 

The 2003 Cabrillo graduate's second pro season began with three months in Arizona in extended spring training.

 

So far so good.

 

According to Scott Martens, the Brewers' Assistant Director of Player Development, it went very well.

 

"In April and May he was one of our most consistent guys. That was why he was promoted up to Beloit," Martens said last week.

 

Beloit, Wisconsin, of the Class-A Midwest League, represented a two-step jump up the Milwaukee minor league ladder, leapfrogging Helena. Hawk would be the youngest player on the squad.

 

In early June Hawk got the call.

 

"It was just 10 days before Helena broke. I didn't expect to get the call to Beloit. I was real excited."

 

The Beloit team was on the road in Dayton, Ohio, when Hawk arrived. His excitement leaped into orbit when he saw Dayton's ballpark.

 

"You go from no fans to 8-10,000, it's kind of hard to swallow."

 

The Arizona Rookie League is staged in a camp-like setting where the presence of a dozen fans causes rumors of jailbreak. Even in high school Hawk's biggest crowd was 300.

 

So in front of his biggest crowd ever, Hawk relieved in the sixth inning. He got through it unscathed but in the seventh he was socked for five runs, all earned, including two home runs and three walks.

 

"I was amped to be there. The adrenaline took hold of me and I was trying to do too much. I tried to overthrow."

 

His second appearance was a starting assignment against Cedar Rapids. He made it into the fourth but gave up five more earned runs on six hits and four walks.

 

Worse, his forearm did not feel right.

 

Taking no chances, the Brewers ordered Hawk back to Arizona for examination.

 

The diagnosis was a strained ligament and possible tendinitis. The prescription was rest.

 

After a three-week break and a couple so-so outings in the Arizona rookie loop he was shipped out again, this time to Montana.

 

There, in his second appearance, the wheels came off again.

 

In two-thirds of an inning he was slugged for eight earned runs on eight hits including two home runs.

 

"I think a lot of it was release point. I was giving up 0-2 hits and missing my spots," Hawk says evenly, not allowing even a slight display of the gut-wrenching anguish he felt at the time.

 

Country boy pitching coach Mark Littell, known mostly for tossing firecrackers around the locker room to keep the team loose, tried to help.

 

"You're thinking too much out there," Littell told him.

 

Brewer pitching coordinator Jim Rooney came to town and said something similar. "Trust your stuff," Rooney said.

 

So through July and August Hawk tinkered with his delivery and his sequence of pitches.

 

Finally, against Casper, Wyoming, Hawk entered in relief, struck out a hitter and followed with three good innings. "That was the first good outing in two months."

 

Plenty of positives

 

Martens' end-of-season evaluation was encouraging.

 

"It was a roller coaster year, but there were some positives," said the personnel man.

 

"He showed flashes of sink on his fastball. His secondary pitches got better as well.

 

"He just needs to work on delivery and command, like all young pitchers do, being more consistent and he showed that as well."

 

This season Hawk substituted a slider for the hard-on-the-arm split-finger pitch he used so successfully in 2003 and began to use a change of speed delivery he learned the previous summer.

 

These two developing pitches, added velocity on his two fastballs (two-seam and four-seam), and good control continue to impress the Brewer brass.

 

His fastball's cruising speed is now 91 mph, up from 88. His strikeout-to-walk ratio at Arizona and Helena was impressive- 25 strikeouts vs. eight bases on balls.

 

Now weighing 225 he's 10 pounds heavier than in his rookie year. At 6-foot-3, he's an inch taller.

 

The most positive sign of all may be Hawk's demeanor as his pitches were being launched downtown.

 

"I was getting upset but I wasn't showing it at the field," the teenager said.

 

"The thing to do is keep grinding and figure out what you need to change. The main key is to make adjustments. Every pitcher will go through what I went through. It's good to get hit. It makes you mentally tough and you learn."

 

Those words, relayed by a reporter, reinforced Haley's positive take on the young righthander.

 

"This was a transition year for him. For a 19-year-old pitching against college guys, and throwing 91-92 (the average major league fastball is 89-90), you're going to see some good numbers. He's a competitor."

 

Martens said Hawk's performance in spring training will dictate where he is assigned next year, but a return to A-ball is likely. "He'll have a chance to make that club," the administrator said.

 

In addition to the brass' high grades, one other element of Hawk's career remained consistent.

 

In Arizona Hawk strolled into the clubhouse one day to find a full-sized cardboard Homer Simpson, complete with "Hawk" tattoo, standing on the treadmill.

 

Muttered Hawk "I'll have that nickname until I retire."

[MassBrew]

Latest Power Press Release:

 

www.wvpower.com/news/deta...?newsID=38

 

West Virginia Power Unveils Mascots

Axe, Pyro, Hydro, Gusty, and Charley to form the ?POWER PACK?

(Charleston, W.Va.) ? The West Virginia Power unveiled their new mascots on Thursday. The Super Hero-themed Power Pack will feature five mascots in total. Four of the mascots are loosely based on energy sources that factored into the team?s name selection and the fifth mascot features a throwback named ?Charley.?

 

?The Power are excited to announce our ?Power Pack? of five mascots that will entertain fans of all ages at the new East End Ballpark,? said General Manager Andy Milovich. ?We felt we had a unique opportunity to have a family of mascots which tie into both the team name and the history of baseball in Charleston. When you look at minor league teams around the country the mascot is always a top draw for the fans in attendance. As a result you consistently see the mascot followed throughout the stadium by a group of children. With a collection of five mascots, virtually unheard of in minor league baseball and throughout professional sports, we feel more children will have the opportunity to interact with our new characters throughout the games.?

 

Four of the five mascots were developed to tie in the team name Power. The first character and ring leader of the group is ?Axe? who represents coal. Axe has a superhero body with a miner?s helmet on his head and pick axe in hand.

 

Representing natural gas is ?Pyro? a character whose hair is replaced with flames.

 

?Gusty? features a jovial look on his face and propeller on his head that represents power generated through wind.

 

The final power related character is ?Hydro? representing hydroelectric energy. The smallest character of our group, Hydro?s head is a large tear drop with a baseball cap on top. ?Each of the mascots has a unique personality and look? said Milovich. ?We feel that each fan will have someone to identify with and make the entertainment experience even more personal.?

 

The fifth and final mascot represents the history of baseball in Charleston. ?Charley? is a throwback to the original Charleston team the Charleston Charlies. Charley has a baseball head, wears a derby, along with red suspenders similar to a baseball?s stitching. ?Our organization understands the importance of baseball and its rich history in Charleston. The Charley character will create an opportunity for the parents to share baseball memories of their childhood with their children? said General Manager Andy Milovich.

 

http://www.wvpower.com/shared/content/news_objects/attachment/wv-power-mascot-designs.gif

[dadofandrew]

With the coal industry as strong as it is in WV, I'm surprised they didn't just go with the coal guy.

[deeswan]

Man, just look at Charley. I'm sure he's on roids, but I'll bet anyone that he could mop the floor with Mr. Met.