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

[Mass Haas]

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Power earns split in long day at park

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Like most kids, West Virginia Power second baseman Hernan Iribarren and shortstop Alcides Escobar grew up dreaming of playing in the big leagues.

 

Unfortunately for the Venezuelan natives, chasing that dream means leaving family and home behind for extended periods of time.

 

That dream, as well as the time away from home and the loneliness it brings, is something that Power Manager Ramon Aviles knows all too well.

 

Aviles, a native of Puerto Rico, chased the same dream as a middle infielder in the Boston Red Sox organization in the early 1970's.

 

And while Aviles eventually reached pinnacle of the professional baseball as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies' 1980 World Championship team, his road to the Bigs was a steady uphill climb.

 

"That happens to kids from Latin America," Aviles said after watching his team split a double-header with the Lake County Captains (27-20) at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday evening.

 

A capacity crowd of 4,543 looked on as the Power (15-32) dropped a 7-4, 15-inning decision in game one before rebounding for a 7-3 win in the nightcap.

 

"When I came up, for three years I was the only Latin player on the team," Aviles said. "So it was really tough on me. When you've got somebody that speaks the same language, it helps you because you've got someone to talk to."

 

That camaraderie is exactly what Iribarren and Escobar are counting on to make their route to the majors a little less taxing than the one traveled by their manager.

 

"Both of us being here made me happy because I'm so comfortable playing with him," said the 18-year old Escobar, through the translation of Power catcher Carlos Corporan. "And I hope we're the combination of the future with the Milwaukee Brewers."

 

Iribarren is equally happy with Escobar's presence.

 

"It's a lot easier because we've known each other for awhile," said the 20-year old Iribarren. "The relationship between Escobar and me is really good. When I found we were here together I was so happy. I feel comfortable because I'm with people that I know.

 

"I miss my country and I miss my family, but I'm here for a job," Iribarren said. "I feel good because I'm doing what I like and that's playing baseball. That's why I'm here. I'm here to play baseball and to get to the big leagues."

 

That comfort level has enabled the duo, who live with Power pitcher Yovani Gallardo and catcher Charlie Lozada, to worry less about cultural stresses and more on baseball.

 

And that extra emphasis on baseball has paid dividends for both players' budding careers.

 

Iribarren, a free agent signee in 2002, was named the Arizona League's MVP last season with the Arizona Brewers after batting .439 with nine triples with 36 RBI.

 

He is currently batting .295 after going 1-for-9 in the twinbill, including a double and two RBI.

 

Escobar, who signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2003, also enjoyed a solid season last year in batting .281, with a pair of homers and 26 RBI at Class A Helena.

 

He raised his average to .297 with a 3-for-9 evening.

 

"They have a chance to play in the big leagues," said Aviles of Escobar and Iribarren. "They have a future. I think that three years from now, they'll be ready for the big leagues.

 

"They do a good job out there on the field. I don't have to move them around too much because they're very smart.

 

"They work well together and the organization is going to try to keep them together as long as they can."

[Mass Haas]

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Send Mark an email -- has anyone asked him about Brewerfan.net yet? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

mailto:mrogersmlb@yahoo.com

 

Hey everyone,

 

With the draft coming up on Tuesday, I've been thinking about everything that's happened in the past year. Obviously, a lot has changed since last June. Looking back, I can't believe it's only been a year. I've grown up and changed so much it seems like it had to have been longer ago.

 

Last year at this time, I hadn't graduated from high school yet. Now, I'm living on my own, paying my own bills, doing my own laundry and cooking my own food. It's just a totally different situation.

 

My laundry and cooking skills have gotten better, but they certainly aren't anywhere close to my mom's. Lately, my cooking specialty has been anything I can throw in the microwave. If it's not lobster or steak, I'm pretty much a lost cause. I can do surf 'n turf, and that's about the extent of it. I hope you wouldn't want any vegetables with it.

 

The last couple of weeks on the field have not been that great. I started a week ago Sunday. I went 2 1/3 innings and everything was going well. I had struck out five, but I had to come out because of a blister on the middle finger of my pitching hand and it broke open in that third inning.

 

Since then, I've been taking care of the blister and doing extra conditioning. I was using alum on the finger after keeping it dry with zinc oxide the first couple of days. Then, I'd go do my conditioning, come back in, soak it in pickling paste (the same stuff they use to make pickles, but in paste form) and go from there. After a couple of days, it started to harden and now it looks like a normal finger again.

 

I threw again about four days ago, and it's completely healed. I'm scheduled to start again this coming Tuesday. The littlest thing can keep you out. A blister can keep you out for almost two weeks. On the road, when you can't play, it's really tough. When you're hurt, it makes the game that much harder. It's so much easier staying healthy. I've never had this problem before. It's frustrating.

 

It does, however, give me some time to answer your e-mails, so keep them coming.

 

Thanks for your article and the explanation of the Toastman. As a long time fan of the Charleston Alley Cats/West Virginia Power, we all know how much fun he brings to the ballpark. Do you think ball players at the Class A level have a thick enough skin to "hear past" his chants, or do you think the Toastman creeps into their minds and gives the home team a huge advantage? -- Mark O., Blacksburg, Va.

 

Mark, I wouldn't say a huge advantage, but I'm sure it gets into the heads of some players. For a lot of us, this is our first experience of pro baseball in front of fans. And he knows everything about you, every last stat. I'm sure it gets to some people, and not for others. Either way, it's good to have him on our side.

 

I'm 14 years old and a big fan of yours. I was wondering how hard it was for you to get exposure as a prospect while pitching in Maine. I am currently pitching in a small New York suburb and I think it would be nearly impossible to get noticed here. Thanks a lot for your time! I should be in Lakewood to see you guys play on June 5. -- Adam

 

Adam, the biggest thing I did wasn't so much to get out of Maine. The Atlanta Braves had a small camp in Augusta, Maine. I went every year just to get my name on the board, get me into the system. Then, in my junior year in high school, when I was getting really serious about pursuing baseball, I talked to some scouts who were at the Atlanta Braves thing, and through them I got invited to the East Coast Showcase and the Area Code Games and I kind of got noticed from there. Local colleges were good, too, getting my name out there as a reference point for other schools. See you in Lakewood.

 

I am curious how you feel about being bombarded with autograph requests and do you accept autograph requests via the mail to the stadium? I have a Baseball America cover I would love to have you autograph and the chances of getting it are slim since we lost our SAL team this season as they moved from Columbia to Greenville, S.C. -- Pete L., Lt. Col USAF

 

Lt. Col, with autographs, it depends on the situation. I'll always accept mail at the stadium and send it back. But sometimes, I get 20 things in one envelope and that's hard to do. But if you send one or two things, it's something we're encouraged to do and something we like to do. You guys usually make it easy for us and we just hand the envelope to our clubbie and it's in the mail the next day.

[Mass Haas]

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He throws with power... but now he's learning how to pitch

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ? "Say, aren't you the pitcher who throws 100 miles per hour?" asked the waiter as Mark Rogers slid into a restaurant booth last week. The question brought a smile and an appreciative nod from Rogers. It's nice to be noticed.

 

Rogers, the hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher from Orrs Island who received a $2.2 million bonus from the Milwaukee Brewers after they drafted him fifth overall last June, feels quite comfortable spending his second pro baseball season in Charleston.

 

"These are very nice people around here," Rogers said. "We're very fortunate."

 

Not that Rogers has had much time to get to know many of them.

 

Rogers spent his first pro season in Arizona, getting acquainted with a new way of life. This year he's in West Virginia, honing his skills and learning to become a major-league pitcher.

 

Since reporting to the West Virginia Power in early April his days have been filled with baseball. There's not much time to socialize.

 

"I'm at the ballpark from 2 to 10:30 p.m. every day, and I'm beat at the end of the day," said Rogers.

 

The daily routine is broken by long bus rides the team takes every other week to play road games in the far-flung Class A South Atlantic League.

 

Also, Rogers gets up earlier than usual following pitching assignments and goes to a local YMCA for hour-long workouts to strengthen his legs and upper body.

 

While life as a minor leaguer can be a grind, it's an experience Rogers has been looking forward to for a long time.

 

"Growing up, I always wanted to do this," he said. "But not until you experience it do you realize it's a dream come true. (Minor-league life) is not something you can prepare for. It's late nights and later mornings, seven days a week."

 

ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

 

One of the nation's top high school pitchers last year, Rogers led Mt. Ararat High to the Eastern Class A championship and an appearance in the state title game against Deering. While he still possesses that powerful right arm, Rogers is very much a work in progress.

 

Rogers is 0-4 with a 4.97 earned-run average for the Power. In 29 innings he's allowed 21 hits, walked 21 and struck out 39.

 

"We're trying to make him a pitcher and not a thrower," said West Virginia Manager Ramon Aviles, who spent two seasons as a coach with the Maine Guides in the early 1980s.

 

"He's a power pitcher, but we're trying to teach him he doesn't have to strike everybody out, that he has a defense behind him he can depend on."

 

As his strikeout totals prove, Rogers hasn't lost anything from his fastball. In fact, it was clocked at 99 mph during a game this spring.

 

"He routinely sits on 94 to 96 miles per hour," said John Curtis, the Power pitching coach. "He really doesn't have to throw any harder."

 

Last spring, while playing for Mt. Ararat, Rogers could throw his fastball past most of the hitters he faced. In Class A, some hitters can catch up to it.

 

"Coming from Maine, I'm not used to a whole lot of contact," Rogers said. "I'm averaging over a strikeout and a half an inning, but my pitch count has been higher than I'd like.

 

"I've been averaging around 80 pitches for every five innings, which is all right but not great. I'd like to lower that pitch count and get more ground balls."

 

The Power coaches want Rogers to become more efficient to save wear and tear on his arm.

 

"It's not how many innings you throw," Aviles said. "It's how many pitches you throw."

 

Rogers understands what he's being taught.

 

"I want to be able, when the count is 1-0, to throw a fastball low and away and get a ground ball and not feel I have to strike everybody out," he said.

 

During the past two weeks, Rogers' progress has been hampered by a blister that burst on the tip of his middle finger of his pitching hand. While receiving treatment, he went on the disabled list and was told not to pick up a baseball.

 

"Mark is special and we have to be cautious with him," Aviles said.

 

THE PLACE TO BE

 

Although he's eager to continue climbing the minor-league ladder, Rogers is happy to be in Charleston.

 

"Although it has a big-city quality to it, it doesn't have that big-city feeling," said Rogers, who shares a spartanly furnished apartment with two teammates in a leafy residential neighborhood in the shadow of West Virginia's impressive ivory-colored capitol dome.

 

"It has that small-town atmosphere where everybody knows everybody. Most of the time when I'm out, I see another player who's driving around, or a host parent or a fan."

 

A city of about 50,000 people nestled in the deep, narrow valley formed by the confluence of the Kanawha and Elk rivers, Charleston has a minor-league baseball tradition dating to 1911.

 

The list of major-league pitchers who spent time playing in Charleston includes Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, Jim Kaat, Luis Tiant, Tommy John and John Candelaria.

 

When Rogers pitched in the Arizona Rookie League last summer, there were seldom more than a dozen people in the stands. The Power, who play in the 4,500-seat, $23 million Appalachian Power Park, average more than 3,000 fans per game.

 

The most rabid of Power fans has to be Rob Blackstone, an assistant to the mayor. Blackstone is better known as "The Toastman."

 

At every home game, Blackstone toasts pieces of stale bread near his front-row seat behind home plate near the visitors' dugout.

 

When an opposing hitter strikes out, he leads the crowd in chants of "You are toast! You are toast!" Then he tosses pieces of toast to the fans in the stands.

 

"The Toastman" doesn't stop there. Blackstone has made cards for every player on the West Virginia roster, and he holds them to lead cheers when they come up to bat.

 

Pitchers don't hit in the South Atlantic League. But when Rogers is on the mound, Blackstone sometimes holds up a card that says "Rogers over and out."

 

Blackstone is impressed with Rogers.

 

"He has very serious potential as a major-league pitcher," said Blackstone. "He has a good attitude. When his skill level catches up with his attitude, it should be a great combination. As long as he's with us, we're looking forward to toasting many more people."

 

Last Tuesday, Rogers picked up a baseball and threw off the mound for the first time in nearly 10 days.

 

"It's just a matter of waiting for the blister to heal," said Jim Rooney, Milwaukee's minor-league pitching coordinator.

 

"We just want to make sure he's at 100 percent when he pitches again so he doesn't change anything, and we want to make sure it doesn't happen again."

 

Rogers is expected to resume his march toward the major leagues Tuesday night when he's scheduled to start against the Lexington (Ky.) Legends at Appalachian Park.

 

"He's gifted," Curtis said. "It's a matter of when, not if."

 

***

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Rogers honing his skills slowly, steadily

By PAUL BETIT, Portland Press Herald Writer

 

Like real estate, pitching is all about location, and Mark Rogers is in the process of learning how to locate his fastball.

 

"The key to any pitcher's success is command of his fastball," said Jim Rooney, minor-league pitching coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers. "Basically, he's developing his fundamentals."

 

Even before Milwaukee signed Rogers after making him the fifth pick in the 2004 draft, there was concern about his control of a fastball timed as high as 99 miles per hour this spring.

 

Since he reported to the West Virginia Power in the Class A South Atlantic League in April, the Brewers have worked with Rogers to improve his delivery.

 

"His plant foot is about 17 inches off line from the (pitching) rubber," said John Curtis, the Power's pitching coach. "We're trying to get his (left) foot more in line with the plate."

 

Because of where his left foot lands when Rogers delivers a pitch, he tends to throw the ball across his body, and some of his pitches stay high outside the strike zone.

 

"Sometimes, when he reaches back to throw hard, his fastball will stay above the (hitter's) shoulder or neck," said Curtis, a veteran of 16 major-league seasons who started with the Boston Red Sox in 1970. "What I'm trying to do now is to get him to throw below the belt. In and out is fine. We want him to cut his strike zone in half."

 

Control isn't the only reason Curtis is trying to get Rogers to change his delivery. Throwing across his body could lead to shoulder problems.

 

"We want him to develop a more compact delivery," Curtis said. "We want him to maintain his good velocity and have good control."

 

Milwaukee is bringing Rogers along slowly.

 

Before he was sidelined recently by a blister, Rogers had been alternating a turn in the starting rotation with Josh Wahpepah, a right-handed pitcher from Shawnee, Okla. When Rogers started, he was limited to 80 pitches. When it was Wahpepah's turn to start, Rogers relieved him and was limited to 40 pitches.

 

"This system provides protection for our youngest coming out of high school, where they didn't pitch that many innings, and for some of our college pitchers who may have pitched a lot," Curtis said.

 

Gradually, Rogers' pitch count has been increased. Still, it took some time for him to get used to the piggy-back system.

 

"Sometimes, Mark has had to come out in the middle of the inning," Curtis said. "You've had to pry the ball out of his hands, but he is a smart kid and he understands what we're trying to do, and he's embraced the system with its limitations."

 

The goal is for Rogers to throw 100 innings this season.

 

Curtis is impressed with how Rogers has taken to coaching. Often, he said, players who sign big-bonus contracts aren't open to suggestions.

 

Like Rogers, Curtis was also a first-round draft pick.

 

"I can relate to what Mark is going through," he said. "I know what all the attention means. But he is a level-headed kid, and he handles it well."

 

At 19, Rogers is one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League. But his coaches have no doubts he belongs there.

 

"Mark has a great competitive spirit," Rooney said. "He's as strong as anyone he plays against and he has a lot of God-given talent, but like I told him, even Michelangelo had to learn his craft. There would be no Sistine Chapel if (Michelangelo) didn't learn to how to mix his paints, and that's what's happening here."

 

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at pbetit@pressherald.com.

 

Portland Press Herald Staff photos by John Ewing

 

While waiting for a blister to heal, Mark Rogers has had to sit. "Mark is special and we have to be cautious with him," says his manager, Ramon Aviles. Rogers is expected to return Tuesday.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers1.jpg

 

Mark Rogers is happy as a member of the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League, and why not? He signed a professional contract for $2.2 million a year ago, and has a future that is expected to include a career with the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers9.jpg

 

Mark Rogers could have done a lot worse than being in Charleston, W.Va. The team plays in a $23 million stadium and averages more than 3,000 fans per game. That said, he's already looking forward to moving up the baseball ladder.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers5.jpg

 

Charleston, says, Mark Rogers, "has a small-town atmosphere where everybody knows everybody." It's a city of about 50,000, and its fans long have supported minor-league baseball.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers2.jpg

 

Mark Rogers, getting loose with the help of the team trainer, has an 0-4 record and a 4.97 ERA this season. He's learning to not always go for strikeouts and let his defense perform behind him.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers3.jpg

 

He arrives at the ballpark at 2 in the afternoon and is there until 10:30 or so each night. And know what? Mark Rogers wouldn't want it any other way. Not in the slightest.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers6.jpg

 

Mark Rogers is throwing about 80 pitches every five innings this season, and that's a number he wants to cut.

 

http://www.pressherald.com/photos/050605rogers8.jpg

[Mass Haas]

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Player Journal: Feel the Power

By Mark Rogers / Special to MLB.com

 

Send Mark an Email:

 

mailto:mrogersmlb@yahoo.com

 

I'm happy to be talking to you all on a rare day off, especially because my last outing went really well.

 

I came into a 1-0 game in the sixth, after Yovani [Gallardo] pitched really well. That's the situation they're trying to get you into with the tandem, to get us used to pitching in that pressure. It teaches us how to pitch late in a tight game. It worked out really well on Sunday. I got the save and we won our third straight. (Editor's note: Rogers went the final four innings, allowing just two hits, walking none and striking out six.)

 

Over our last 35-40 games, we're close to a .500 ballclub, which says a lot considering how we started out (Editor's note: The Power began the season 4-18; since, they've gone 20-24, including 8-6 in June). It shows how much we've come around. We think we'll have a great chance at making a run at the second half.

 

We just got off a good series with Lexington. We were in every game, though we won just one of the four. We faced one of the best pitchers we've faced all year, lefty Troy Patton. The best hitter in the league, stats-wise, Hunter Pence, is there, too. They're playing at a very good level right now, and they're guys we can try to compare ourselves to. Patton threw 32 consecutive scoreless innings (he also leads the league in ERA and strikeouts), and everyone knows what Pence has done all year (Minor League-leading 23 homers before hitting the DL).

 

As far as the draft goes, we got Ryan Braun, from the University of Miami, which is where I was going to go if I hadn't signed with the Brewers. I found that to be ironic. I met him when I was down there, and I was looking forward to playing with him there, but obviously didn't get the chance. But things have a way of working out. We'd love to see him here, but it all depends on how it works out. It'd be a pleasure to get to know him better, and it's great to have him be a part of this organization.

 

Mark's Mailbag

 

I was just wondering, you don't hear much about West Virginia. What all do you do there for fun on your down time? And do you have any down time? -- Gayle

 

Gayle, we just had our first day off in quite a while, and we went golfing. Most of the time, we try to catch up on sleep. Away from the field, we don't do a whole heck of a lot. We hang out with the guys in the apartment, maybe play some cards, just try to not think about baseball a little bit. And any time I can hit the golf course, I do.

 

With you only pitching only once every five days, are there any routines that you do to keep busy on your days of rest? -- Matt St., Dyckesville, WI

 

Matt, I show up to the park every day at 3 p.m. I'll do my conditioning before we stretch as a team at 3:20. Sometimes I'll stretch on my own first. We have a throwing program. There's a lot of running, but not much throwing, the day after a start. That's also our weights day. The second day after I start, I'll throw 30-45 pitches. After that, it's up to you. I like to get back up on the mound, a touch-and-feel kind of thing. Before you know it, you're on the bump again in no time.

 

I'm wondering is there any particular pitch you are working on? How many pitches do you have in your arsenal? -- Matt

 

Matt, this year, I'm throwing four pitches. A fastball -- four-seamer and two-seamer -- and a curve ball. I developed a cutter in the offseason -- actually I started throwing it late last year -- and a changeup. I'm working on my changeup a lot lately, especially in my bullpens and touch-and-feel sessions. It's a pitch I know I have to develop for the next level. When you can throw more than two pitches for strikes all the time, you're obviously going to have an advantage over the hitter. I can throw changeups, but I want to get to the point where I can throw it any time I want for a strike.

[Mass Haas]

Latest from the Power -- do the error numbers fool us about this West Virginia defense? Is range that spectacular?

 

Q AND A SESSION WITH RAMON AVILES

RA: RAMON AVILES

AB: ANDY BARCH

 

AB: How was it for you and the guys being a big part of the race, playing spoiler against Lexington and Hagerstown down the stretch?

 

RA: Its was very interesting, a lot of fun being able to determine who won the division or not. It felt like a playoff atmosphere and that really made it exciting, and we expect it to be that way when we begin the second half.

 

AB: The offense has played much better lately. After hitting .210 in April, the team batting average is now at .245, what has contributed to their success?

 

RA: We've been able to work out in the cages at home now, doing a lot of extra hitting there. Players are taking what they learn and work on in the cages into the field. They've taken what they have learned in our batting practice drills into game situations as well.

 

AB: Is there anybody on the team that stands out in your mind, that has really exceeded pre-season expectations?

 

RA: Escobar and Iribarren have been very good so far this year both offensively and defensively. I really feel that Escobar and Iribarren make the best middle infield tandem in the league. Mark Rogers has improved his command of his fastball from the beginning of the season, and that is something that he needed to do. He is starting to realize that he doesn't need to strike everybody out to be successful. Will Lewis has done a very nice job for us and he has done more than a lot of people expected, he is in the mix now for the team lead in RBI. Carlos Corporan is a guy who has been coming around lately with his bat and defensively we've known all along that he would do a great job and he has not disappointed us in defensively this season.

 

AB: What would you say at this point in the season are the strengths and weaknesses of this team?

 

RA: The strengths would be our defense and our starting pitching. We have a solid defense all around, Escobar and Iribarren cover a lot of ground on the infield and Josh Murray has done a great job making the switch over to third base, he has been great this year defensively. As long as the starters give us six good innings, then we will have good chances at winning ball games in the second half. Our weakness at the beginning of the year was situational hitting, but that has come around lately. We are hitting much better in clutch situations.

 

AB: Now that the second half has begun, the team has a chance to start over and make some noise in the final 70 games of the season. What do you see happening with this team in the second half?

 

RA: I see our team having a chance to win the second half if we continue to pitch well, play good defense and continue to improve on our offense. We feel we are really going to do very well in the second half of the season if we can do these things.

 

AB: Lastly, talk about the thrill of playing in the new ballpark. How exciting has it been for you and the guys to be the first ones to play at this new facility?

 

RA: I had the opportunity to play and coach in the old ballpark, which was pretty depressing in its final years. Coming to this beautiful new facility is a change from here to the moon. Every day I walk into the ballpark and I get very excited about being here and I get fired up, and I know that the players have the same feeling playing at the new park as well. Our players work hard and play hard every day so the fans can be sure that they are going to give them all that they have day in and day out.

[Mass Haas]

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Pitcher has secret to his success

 

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Robert Hinton wasn't born when his dad, Rich, pitched in his final Major League game with the 1979 Seattle Mariners.

 

Nor did Hinton inherit dad's much-coveted left-handed delivery that helped lead to a six-year Big League career as a member of the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Mariners and World Champion 1976 Cincinnati Reds.

 

"I drew the short straw there," joked Hinton, a 20-year old, right-handed reliever for the West Virginia Power.

 

But Hinton is blessed with the lively right arm and savvy baseball mind that helped him make a nearly seamless transition from lifelong starting pitcher to South Atlantic League All-Star reliever.

 

In his second professional season -- and first in the bullpen -- Hinton will represent the Power in tonight's Sally League All-Star game, slated for 7:30 in Augusta, Ga. (6:30 Central).

 

Shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Hernan Iribarren will join Hinton in Augusta.

 

"It's a great honor for me," Hinton said. "I had a pretty good first half, but it wasn't something I was expecting. It kind of surprised me, but it was a pleasant surprise."

 

Hinton, who sports a 2-3 record with a 3.25 ERA and a team-high four saves, has had to quickly adjust both physically and mentally to his new role.

 

"As a starter you pitch differently," Hinton said. "You want to get quick outs, you want to pitch to contact and pace yourself because you want to pitch seven of eight innings.

 

"As a closer, you come in with the game on the line and you want to pitch with, I don't want to say max effort, but with more effort trying to get three quick strikeouts or whatever.

 

"The mental side is a lot different, too. When you start, you know that every fifth day you're starting. As a closer, you might sit in the pen four days in a row and not pitch, then all of the sudden you pitch three days in a row."

 

And it's those back-to-back-to-back pitching appearances that required Hinton to make his biggest change on the mound.

 

"It's different, because you might pitch one day, then come out the next day and feel a little stiff," Hinton said. "That's the day you have to rely on your breaking pitches and change up because you know that your fastball isn't going to be there.You have to adjust a lot."

 

But helping out with those adjustments is the fact that Rich is always just a phone call away.

 

"As far as coaching, I owe him tons," said Hinton of his dad. "After an outing, I call him and we go over the game. There's a lot of wisdom there that I can learn from."

 

There's also plenty of pitching wisdom in the Power dugout in pitching coach John Curtis who, ironically, shared the same 1972 Topps rookie baseball card with the elder Hinton.

 

Curtis, a Boston rookie, shared card No. 724 with the Yankees' Hinton and the Orioles' Mickey Scott.

 

"I pitched against his dad, Rich," Curtis said. "We came up together and we actually shared a rookie card, so I have a little history with Robert even though I never met him until this year."

 

And although Curtis is still getting to know the younger Hinton, he is already impressed with his willingness to do what's asked of him on the mound.

 

"There were some delivery issues that he conquered," Curtis said. "He's been as consistent at pitching as anyone on the staff. He's closed and he's pitched long. He's done a wonderful job no matter how we've had to use him.

 

"He's a well-deserving All-Star.

 

"It didn't surprise me. I feel proud that Robert's representing us. He deserves it, so he shouldn't be surprised."

 

West Virginia Power pitcher Bob Hinton is the son of former Major Leaguer Rich Hinton.

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Bob Wojcieszak

 

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[Mass Haas]

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Send Mark an email:

 

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Hey everyone,

 

The first half is over with. It's kind of weird, looking back, thinking I've completed the first half of my first full year of professional ball. It's gone by real quick.

 

Last year, I was one of those new guys just starting out. Now there's a whole other group of new draftees coming in. It just shows how quickly things change, that there's always someone coming in to push you for your spot.

 

You don't realize how important the All-Star break is until you get to it. I was ready for it. Last year, I had just been drafted, played a couple of months then went to instructs, so it wasn't a big deal. This year, I'll have the whole season, then go to instructs, so that's a long year.

 

I never could've fathomed it until I experienced it, in terms of the time you put in. You get three days of an All-Star break -- it doesn't seem like much -- but when it's mixed in the middle of 70 straight, it sure does feel great.

 

Being able to reset your record for the second half bodes well for a team like ours. We've been playing a lot better. We know we have a good chance in the second half. At 0-0, you have the chance to re-prove yourself and start out fresh. We dug such a big hole for ourselves at the start, we just couldn't get out of it.

 

Personally, my first half progressively got better, but I still didn't get a win. As much as you're told not to worry about wins and losses, you want your team to win when you're on the mound. Hopefully, I'll be able to take care of that soon.

 

Work ethic wise, I just want to keep going out and giving 100 percent effort every time, and not have that change as the season progresses. There are some days, if you've had a couple of extra-inning games, when you show up to the park the next day, you feel like you never went home. It's hard to re-motivate yoyurself, but you have to remind yourself that this is a job, that someone above you is paying you to play and you owe it to them and yourself to go out there and give a full effort.

 

Speaking of effort, thanks for yours in sending all the great emails.

 

I know breaks for you are few and far between, so I was just wondering what were your plans were for the All-Star break? -- Jaime, Charleston, WV

 

Jaime, as short as it was, I went to Arizona. I was looking at a new housing development there. I'm going to be purchasing a house out there, since that's where our Spring Training is every year. I spent Monday in Arizona and I flew back Tuesday. It gave me the chance to get some stuff done and not think about baseball. My intention was to separate myself from the game and refocus for the second half.

 

I am a college pitcher at Saint Joseph's University and I am playing in the Valley League this summer. I have been struggling my last few outings. What do you do when you have a bad outing or two where you just dont feel like you have good stuff? What do you do to get that feeling back again? -- Jason

 

Jason, what I've done recently -- everyone has those times when you feel uncomfortable -- if you can look at film from when you did feel good, that helps. If you have a catcher who knows how you pitch, it helps if he can point something out. But most importantly, throwing in between starts can be very helpful, especially right before your next start. It reinforces everything I'm trying to do out there. I throw the day before I start, just to get a feel for your mechanics so you feel more comfortable. I may throw 15 pitches at 50 percent, but it's more for mechanical purposes.

 

I was just wondering who your boyhood hero was growing up in Maine. Was it Roger Clemens? You have been compared to Clemens by some of the media. -- Micah, Texas

 

Micah, I grew up watching Clemens a lot, not only because of his success on the field and his career with the Red Sox, but because of the work ethic you've read about so much. He also seemed comfortable with the media, dealing with that aspect of things. And his work ethic, it's guys like that you can respect and you want to model yourself after.

[Mass Haas]

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Former Miami (Fla.) recruits were bound by destiny

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Ryan Braun and Mark Rogers were bound to be teammates some day.

 

It was fate.

 

Just consider the circumstances.

 

When Rogers, a highly regarded pitcher for the West Virginia Power, was coming out of high school, he was signed, sealed and all but delivered to the University of Miami (Fla.). But, then, when the Milwaukee Brewers selected Rogers with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2004 Major League Draft, he said goodbye to south Florida.

 

And, consequently, to Braun.

 

"One of the reasons I was going to Miami is because they get great players like Ryan," said Rogers.

 

Braun was the Hurricanes' slugging third baseman.

 

But did Rogers' decision to start his pro career stop he and Braun from becoming teammates? No. It just delayed it one season, that's all.

 

It still seemed inevitable, though.

 

Especially when the Brewers took (who else?) Braun with the (what else?) fifth overall pick of the 2005 MLB Draft in June.

 

After a brief stop in rookie league ball in Helena, Braun was promoted to the Power late last week and, now, he and Rogers finally are teammates.

 

Which means in a little over a year, the duo has gone from prospective college teammates at Miami to multi-millionaires in the Mountain State.

 

"It's crazy," said the 19-year old Rogers, who received a $2.2 million signing bonus from the Brewers last season. "But it worked out real well actually. It's a pleasure to play with a guy with his ability. It's awesome to know that someone like that is playing third base for you every time you go out on the mound."

 

Now, the pair is making up for lost time.

 

"Mark took a visit (to Miami) and I didn't meet him, but actually I'm living with him now," said the 21-year old Braun, who received a $2.45 million bonus to sign after hitting .388 with 18 homers and 76 RBI as a junior at Miami. "He's a great kid and I think we'll have a good relationship. We definitely have a lot in common and even though he's a lot younger than me, I feel like he's someone that I can look to for some advice."

 

And for some idle chat about what could have been.

 

"He's a good guy," said Rogers, after the Power's 2-1 win over Hagerstown Sunday at Appalachian Power Park. "He moved in with us (along with reliever Justin Barnes) and he's been a pleasure to be around. It's going to be good to get to know him and play with him.

 

"We also talk Miami baseball a little bit. Actually I have a Miami hitch cover on the back of my truck and he said, ?I like the looks of that,' so I think we'll be all right."

 

Power Manager Ramon Aviles agrees. In fact, he believes Braun is going to be more than all right.

 

Considering Aviles was a Major League middle infielder for four seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, he knows a good infielder when he sees one.

 

And he sees one in Braun.

 

"He's looks very good at third base," said Aviles. "He's got good actions at third, he's got a strong arm and he has good hands."

 

Braun, along with shortstop Alcides Escobar, second baseman Hernan Iribarren and first baseman Grant Richardson, form a pretty solid infield for the Power.

 

"We have a good infield," said Aviles. "They're human beings and they're going to make mistakes, but they won't make mistakes too often.

 

"(Alcides) Escobar and (Hernan) Iribarren have been doing a great job," said Aviles, of his two All-Star middle infielders. "Richardson has improved a lot defensively since spring training and has improved a lot with the bat lately.

 

"We've got a good infield, including Josh Murray at third. He's been struggling at the plate a little lately, but we're going to work with him and get him some at-bats."

[Mass Haas]

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Different look, same results

Pitchers Wahpepah, Gallardo contribute to Power?s second-half surge

By Jay Srinivasan

For the Charleston Gazette

 

Josh Wahpepah and Yovani Gallardo are as different as chalk and cheese.

 

Wahpepah is tall, lanky and an extrovert, with a baritone voice and sonorous laughter. He also has a junior college education.

 

Gallardo is shorter, stockier and more introverted, with a voice that is almost a whisper. He didn?t go to college and was picked out of high school.

 

Yet, the two have something in common: Both pitchers have been largely instrumental in engineering the West Virginia Power?s turnaround in the second half of the season.

 

After languishing in the bottom half of the South Atlantic League for most of the first half, the Power (13-12) has improved to fourth place this week, thanks to some excellent pitching by the two starters.

 

Wahpepah (5-4, 3.21 ERA) and Gallardo (4-3, 3.10 ERA) are in the top 15 pitchers in the league in earned run average. Both had their best games of the season this month.

 

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound Wahpepah had his most memorable game last week against Lakewood, allowing no runs, with three hits and three strikeouts, in seven innings. The 6-2, 190-pound Gallardo had his best start two weeks ago in a 2-1 win against Hagerstown when he worked eight innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run while fanning five.

 

John Curtis, the Power pitching coach, is not surprised by the results.

 

?The first time I saw Wahp in spring training, he was pitching almost like a major leaguer. His control was phenomenal,? said Curtis. ?Yo was showing a knowledge of pitching that you would expect from someone maybe three or four years older.

 

?So, by the time we broke, I knew I was going to have them on my staff. I knew I had two special kids. And they have done nothing to make that untrue.?

 

Like their personalities, the two pitchers took different paths to get to this level.

 

Growing up in Dale, Okla., Wahpepah had a choice between playing basketball and baseball. At high school, Wahpepah decided he was not quick enough to play basketball and chose baseball instead. When he got a chance to play baseball at Cowley County Community College, he grabbed it.

 

?I knew baseball has always been my game,? said Wahpepah. ?I was very passionate about it.?

 

Wahpepah had a 9-3 record and a 1.80 ERA in his freshman year at college. The Detroit Tigers, impressed with his talent, drafted him as an 18th-round pick. But Wahpepah preferred to complete his college education. The 21-year-old junior college All-America selection did even better as a sophomore, finishing with an 11-3 record. The result: a third-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Gallardo, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, grew up in a family of baseball players. His father and five uncles all played in amateur leagues. Joining the professional league was an obvious decision for Gallardo. After having a standout season in his senior year at Trimble Tech High, when he was chosen the MVP in his district, the Brewers picked him in the second round. Although he got a baseball scholarship to attend Texas Christian University, Gallardo jumped at the Milwaukee offer.

 

?It just shows how much I love baseball,? said the 19-year-old Gallardo.

 

Despite struggling initially this season, the two pitchers have improved steadily and will be a vital cog in the wheel if the Power reaches the playoffs.

 

?Both have pitched extremely well and have demonstrated maturity beyond their years,? said Curtis. ?Tomorrow, if we were in the playoffs, those two would start games one and two.?

 

West Virginia Power pitchers Josh Wahpepah (left) and Yovani Gallardo have come up with the best games of their seasons in recent outings.

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Kenny Kemp

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/PITCH1.jpg

[jackellberry]

great article! for some reason i always thought Yo was a leftyhttp://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif

[Mass Haas]

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It's been a while, hasn't it? I apologize for not checking in with all you Minor League fans for so long, but let me catch you up with what's been going on for me and the West Virginia Power over the past few weeks.

 

In my last journal, I wrote about how I hoped to get my first professional win soon. While development is the key, I didn't like seeing that zero in my career win-loss record. Well, I finally did get the win, not long after writing the last journal. It was really nice. We were in Lakewood, N.J., and my parents and the scout who signed me -- Tony Blengino -- were at the game, so it worked out pretty well.

 

I went five innings, gave up two earned runs, then got good relief pitching to keep it at 3-2. The 'pen snuck out of a couple of jams. I watched some of the game in the dugout, then went back in the lockerroom. There was no way I could watch the end of the game. So I just waited to find out what happened.

 

I followed that up by going 5 2/3 innings in one of my best outings of the year my next time out. I didn't give up an earned run in that one. And last weekend, I had my longest outing of the year, going seven innings. We won in nine, I didn't get the decision, but it was good for the team to get the win.

 

We've been winning a lot more recently, on a roll right now. We're 20-18 -- the second half is going a heck of a lot better than the first half. We got some guys from the draft and from extended spring training, especially on offense with guys like Ryan Braun and Charlie Fermaint. We have a whole different look. I think we can make the playoffs. We're fourth in our division, seven and a half games out.

 

Delmarva is in first place, and we've got a four-game series in our place coming up in two weeks. Hopefully, we can get to within three games by the time they come here.

 

As a player, you're going to feel the long season a little bit now. You feel the wear and tear of showing up every day. But if you stay mentally involved in the game and keep your goals, it's OK. Obviously, you have to focus harder now, this deep into this season. Now that I'm on my own, having been in the [pitching] tandem early in the year, my inning totals aren't as high as some other guys. So I'm still taking the mound feeling fresh each time. I think it worked well, not just for me, but for the team overall. We've got a lot of fresh pitchers ready for a run at the playoffs, so in retrospect, the tandem over the first half really helped us.

 

It's hot as a firecracker here right now. It was 97 on Wednesday. That's a little warm. You get to used to it. Other than that, it's been the same old, same old. There's been a lot more sleeping. All this heat knocks you out.

 

We've been home a lot lately. We're finishing up a nine-game homestand, then we go to Greensboro, then home again. Life at home is better than life on the road. Of course, it hasn't helped my off-the-field abilities much. My laundry skills are still very subject. But the cooking has gotten better, thanks to Justin Barnes, one of my roommates. We've stuck him in front of the stove more than he'd like, I'm sure, because we discovered he can cook a litle. Maybe I can learn by watching him.

 

Well, that's all the time I've got. I'll be filing one more journal before the end of the season, hopefully to talk about playoff plans. I promise to answer a bunch of your emails then.

[Mass Haas]

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Power of patience

He had to wait for it, but Sebring?s Richie Cormier has his shot at playing pro ball with the Class A West Virginia Power

Scott Dressel

Sebring (Florida) Sun News Sports Editor

 

After spending most of his life dreaming of being a professional baseball player, Sebring?s Richie Cormier spent a lot of time this summer wondering if that dream was ever going to come true.

 

A standout career as an infielder and a catcher at South Florida Community College and Embry-Riddle University wasn?t enough to get the former Blue Streak star drafted.

 

Then, after signing with the Lincoln (Neb.) Saltdogs of the independent Northern League on June 28, Cormier was released just over a week later after appearing in just one game as a designated hitter.

 

But Cormier?s dream did come true over the weekend when he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and assigned to the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League.

 

?When I didn?t get drafted, I was like, ?Where do I go from here?? Then after I got released, I thought maybe it wasn?t meant to be, but then I got that phone call,? Cormier said Thursday morning, adding that he had just been officially added to the Power roster and hadn?t yet had a chance to play. ?I didn?t worry about it. I just put it in God?s hands.?

 

The Brewers were actually in the mix back when he signed with Lincoln, but the deal just didn?t work out, Cormier said. That?s why he was somewhat surprised when Embry-Riddle coach Greg Guilliams called him on Saturday.

 

?He just asked me if I still wanted to sign (with the Brewers),? Cormier said. ?I said, ?Oh, yeah. Definitely.?

 

?I went (to Nebraska) for a week and a half and then I was back home for two weeks and my coach called me on Saturday and I came out here. I was surprised.?

 

Cormier hit .333 for Embry-Riddle last season, including a sparkling .424 average in the playoffs as he helped lead the Eagles to the NAIA World Series championship game.

 

He led the team in walks with 45, was third in stolen bases (19 of 22) and in the top five in hits (68) and doubles (11) to go along with a pair of home runs and 36 RBIs, numbers that led many ? including Cormier ? to believe some team would be willing to spend a draft choice on him.

 

?I was disappointed about it, but I realized there was nothing I could do about it and I just had to look for other avenues to get in,? Cormier said.

 

Rick Hitt, who coached Cormier at SFCC, said he wasn?t surprised Cormier wasn?t drafted simply because nothing that happens in the draft surprises him anymore.

 

?The draft is such a strange animal; so many things happen with so many different guys, so I wasn?t surprised. I was a little disappointed for him because I know how bad he wanted ... the opportunity to be a pro player. We talked a few times after the draft ... and you could tell he was still itching and hoping something was going to work out, and finally it has. That?s a great thing for him.?

 

Now that he?s in the minors, Hitt thinks Cormier?s work ethic and tenacity will serve him well.

 

?He?s a grinder, a tough guy, a hard-nosed player and he?s been that way his whole life,? Hitt said. ?He?ll work other guys to death, which is a credit to him.?

 

Another thing that could help Cormier?s career is his versatility. He played both catcher and in the infield for SFCC and Embry-Riddle.

 

?He can make the transition to middle infield and play second base and he?s got enough arm strength to play third base,? Hitt said. ?He may have an opportunity to bounce around defensively until he really finds his niche in professional baseball. You can play one position in high school, another one in college and may end up in another position in pro ball.

 

?I?m hoping he sticks for an awful long time.?

 

Richie Cormier hit .333 for Embry-Riddle this season, helping the Eagles make it to the NAIA World Series championship game.

 

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[Mass Haas]

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Reliever role suits Barnes

Scott Brown, Florida Today

 

The baseball season hardly got off to a stellar start for pitcher Justin Barnes.

 

The former Merritt Island High standout stayed behind in extended spring training to work on some mechanical issues. Barnes then grudgingly accepted a move to the bullpen when he joined the low Class A West Virginia Power.

 

The right-hander, however, has gone from a reluctant reliever to a receptive one, and it's easy to see why.

 

Going into Saturday, Barnes had posted an 8-1 record with a 2.98 ERA in 25 games. FLORIDA TODAY's 2001 All-Space Coast Baseball Player of the Year had also struck out 59 batters in 60 1/3 innings.

 

"I'm really happy with how things are going," Barnes said earlier this week. "I've been able to really bear down and get the job done and execute."

 

Not that going from starting to exclusively relieving -- he did both for two different teams last season -- hasn't been an adjustment for Barnes. When he arrives at the ballpark, Barnes checks the lineup card posted in the clubhouse. If it says he is available to pitch, Barnes may get in the game.

 

Or he may not.

 

Such is the life of a relief pitcher: perpetually on call, but not always needed.

 

The other adjustment Barnes had to make, going from starter to reliever, was pitching multiple days in a row instead of every fifth day.

 

Barnes, who turns 23 today, has kept his arm strong by throwing almost every day on his own. It's not intense and is not even off a mound -- he usually plays catch with teammates for 10 or 15 minutes -- but it apparently is working.

 

Two of Barnes' wins came after he pitched seven and six innings out of the bullpen.

 

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder doesn't blow away hitters with his fastball. He does throw a two-seam fastball that sinks, as well as a cut fastball that runs in on left-handed hitters and away from righties.

 

Barnes, who also throws a curveball and a changeup, is just a step below the Brevard County Manatees, the Brewers' high Class A affiliate in Viera. But this late in the season, he does not see himself making a homecoming of sorts.

 

He could, however, open next season with the Manatees.

 

While that is uncertain, so too is whether the Brewers see Barnes' long-term future as a starting pitcher or a reliever.

 

"You never know," Barnes said, "but right now I'm pretty comfortable what I'm doing."

[Mass Haas]

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There was good and bad for Power

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

The recently concluded minor league baseball season was a rousing success for both the West Virginia Power and Appalachian Power Park.

 

Off the field, that is.

 

A Charleston minor league record 233,143 fans cranked the turnstiles in the park's inaugural season, for an average of 3,532 fans in 66 home dates.

 

The record number of fans was 107,164 more than the franchise's attendance in 2004, the final season for Watt Powell Park.

 

However, on the field, the Power's success was much less evident.

 

The team limped out of the gate with a 2-13 record and finished the first half of the South Atlantic League season at 25-45.

 

A 35-33 finish in the second half was a major improvement, but the team fell out of postseason contention with a late-season slide.

 

But there were some bright spots for the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate.

 

"We were very excited to be affiliated with the Power and the new ballpark," said Reid Nichols, an assistant general manager with the Brewers. "The fans were great, but we were very disappointed with the start we had.

 

"We did all we could. As a matter of fact, we had roving instructors stay for about 14 days to try and help figure out what was going on because we thought we had better players in there than they were showing."

 

Despite the disappointing team record, there was some significant individual player development.

 

"Developing players is what the minor leagues are all about," said Nichols, an eight-year Big League veteran. "We saw some development this season and that was very pleasing."

 

Nichols pointed out All-Star second baseman Hernan Iribarren and shortstop Alcides Escobar as everyday players with Major League futures.

 

Iribarren finished with a .290 average and 141 hits, including 15 doubles, eight triples, four homers and 48 RBI.

 

Escobar ended with a .271 average on 141 hits, including 25 doubles, eight triples and 36 RBI.

 

"Escobar, I believe, is going to be a good major league player," Nichols said. "He's just 18 years old and he's playing against those college seniors."

 

There were however, a few disappointments.

 

Sluggers Grant Richardson and Josh Brady, among others, failed to provide the kind of run support that Nichols and the Brewers' brass expected.

 

"We expected them to perform the way they did the season before," Nichols said. "But they were way short of that. That hurt us.

 

"They were a couple of players that we expected things from offensively and it didn't happen. That hurt the pitching staff."

 

Pitchers Greg Kloosterman and 2004 first-rounder Mark Rogers also failed to meet expectations.

 

Kloosterman finished with a league record 19 losses and a 5.24 ERA, while Rogers finished with a 2-9 record and a 5.11 ERA.

 

Rogers is now 3-13 after two professional seasons.

 

"He creates problems for himself," Nichols said. "He's a high school kid from Maine, where he was Kingpin and nobody could touch him. He's pitching 10 games a year and throwing 97 miles per hour and he just overpowered those guys.

 

"When he gets up against professional hitters it's a different story. You have to pitch a little bit. He'll get better. As hard as he throws, he's just got to put things together and learn what he has to do to be successful.

 

"He's got everything he needs. He's got the curveball, the slider and velocity. He's just got to get a pitching mentality instead of relying on his stuff to get people out."

 

But other Brewers affiliates are having strong seasons.

 

The AAA affiliate in Nashville is currently in the Pacific Coast League championship series, as is rookie level Helena in the Pioneer League.

 

Many of Helena's players figure to start the season with the Power next year.

 

"I think you'll be happy next year," Nichols said. "Next season some real good-looking players are coming to Charleston."

 

Among those players mentioned were Angel Salome and Charlie Fermaint, who played in Charleston this season, along with Kenny Holmberg, Ryan Crew, Ned Yost and Will Inman.

 

Holmberg finished the Pioneer League regular season with a .372 average, with 12 homers and 51 RBI, while Crew ended at .346.

 

Yost, the son of Brewers Manager Ned Yost, finished with a .302 average with four homers and 32 RBI.

 

As a team, Helena finished with a league best .309 average, 23 points higher than the second place team.

 

Inman, a 2004 pick out of high school, went 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 13 appearances.

 

"You're going to have a lot of good players coming. I'm confident that you'll have a good team next year, not like last year."

[Mass Haas]

The latest Power newsletter includes a review of the mighty 2005 Helena squad and a chance to listen and vote on the favorite audio calls of Power play-by-play Andy Barch from last summer:

 

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