Your 2005 B.C. Manatees - Latest: Front Office Looks to 2006

[brewfan]

Just seems a bit strange they get rid of a young pitcher because of a sore shoulder and sign one who hasn't pitched in four seasons

[don1481]

Quote:

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Just seems a bit strange they get rid of a young pitcher because of a sore shoulder and sign one who hasn't pitched in four seasons

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We've had this discussion in other threads. Part of it is a change in scenery. Part of it is that Anderson pitched in Independent League ball this year, and Nuke hasn't.

 

Speaking of Nuke, Peavey... is there any chance of a change in your avatar, to maybe a pic of Anderson?http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

[950opsLHcatcher]

Ryan Anderson is the bee's knees. He'll make it to Milwaukee by the end of the season. Watch it! New Power 50 out today (6/2).

[don1481]

Quote:

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Ryan Anderson is the bee's knees.

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Oh I agree, Toby!

 

Speaking of the Power 50... where is it...?http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/mad.gif

[giezer007]

I also agree when he played for the T-Rattlers I use to love watching him pitch. My dad told me that he was the next Randy Johnson. I use to wish the brew crew would trade for him and now my dream has came true kind of. No trade involved

[Mass Haas]

From Florida Today:

 

Four players will represent the Brevard County Manatees at the Florida State League All-Star game in Clearwater later this month. Starting pitchers Ty Taubenheim and Carlos Villanueva have been selected to the East squad as have Manatees outfielder Steve Moss and catcher Lou Palmisano.

 

Taubenheim and Villanueva have been as dominant as any duo in the FSL. Going into Thursday, Taubenheim sported a 7-1 record with a 2.13 ERA. Opponents were hitting under .200 (.195) against Taubenheim.

 

They were faring worse against Villanueva. Opponents managed just a .160 batting average against Villanueva, who had won five games without a loss while posting a 2.00 ERA.

 

After Wednesday, Moss led the Manatees with four triples while also hitting .277 with six homers and 22 RBI. Palmisano, meanwhile was hitting .247 with two home runs and 18 RBI. The East and West teams will meet June 18 in Clearwater.

[Katuluu]

STEVE MOSS!!!

[bork]

I can see the first 3 being all stars, but Captain Lou hasn't done a whole lot until recently. Is catching that thin in the FSL?

[cmphoto]

I think Capt'n has some kind of gardian angel, I mean It seems like they must have confused stats or something

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows (follow link for photo as well):

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...70324/1002

 

Baseball draft here with no guarantees

Manatees' Anderson patiently waits to pitch in major leagues

BY SCOTT BROWN

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Ryan Anderson's belief that he would be playing in the big leagues had he stayed healthy is as strong as he is tall. Anderson, however, won't go as far to say that he would have pitched in a couple of All-Star games by now.

 

"I would hope so," one of the newest members of the Brevard County Manatees said, "but you never know."

 

You never know.

 

Anderson is walking, talking, 6-foot-10 proof of that. A former first-round draft pick and can't-miss-player -- Baseball America rated him as the Seattle Mariners' No. 1 prospect for four years in a row -- Anderson recently got released by the organization that gave him a $2.175 million signing bonus.

 

His story is especially timely since Major League Baseball's 50-round amateur draft starts today and concludes Wednesday. Anderson's setbacks show that no matter how much a prospect brims with promise, there is no guarantee he will ever make it to the big leagues.

 

Not that the uncertainty makes MLB's draft any different than the ones conducted annually by the NBA and the NFL. It is higher when it comes to baseball for a host of reasons.

 

Those range from hitters making the transition from aluminum to wooden bats, the strong presence of high school players in the draft and the fact that triple plays are more common than someone immediately joining the big-league club that drafted him.

 

These factors are why MLB organizations make nothing more than educated guesses during the draft even though considerable time and money is put into scouting prospects.

 

If projecting how good a player is going to be several years down the road -- not to mention at the highest level of competition in the world -- was an exact science Mike Piazza would have gone before the 62nd round in the 1988 draft.

 

And the Chicago White Sox wouldn't have taken a catcher named Kurt Brown right ahead of Barry Bonds in the 1985 draft.

 

And Albert Pujols wouldn't have lasted until the 13th round of the 1999 draft.

 

The examples are endless.

 

Draft still important

 

That is not to minimize the importance of the draft, especially since it can shape the course of a franchise.

 

Take 1999.

 

With the first overall pick of the draft, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected outfielder Josh Hamilton. The Marlins followed by snapping up right-handed pitcher Josh Beckett.

 

Bedeviled by personal problems, including substance abuse, Hamilton currently is serving a MLB suspension and he may never play a day in the big leagues.

 

Beckett, meanwhile, won the World Series MVP in 2003 and is in the top 10 in just about every major National League pitching category this season, including wins, ERA and strikeouts.

 

The remarkable thing about the Joshes' divergent career paths: both were considered so close going into the draft that only the flip of a coin separated them.

 

"If Tampa Bay would have taken Beckett, we would have taken Hamilton," said John Boles, who worked for the Marlins in a variety of different capacities, including manager, from 1993-2001. ""There's no question about it."

 

There were few, if any, questions about Anderson going into the 1997 draft.

 

In 51 1/3 innings, he struck out 133 of the 154 batters he got out, allowed seven hits and walked 33 his senior season at Divine Child High in Dearborn, Mich., and tossed three no-hitters.

 

He lasted until the 19th pick of the first round only because most teams were scared off by Anderson's asking price to sign (in addition to his enormous talent, he was able to use the scholarship he had to the University of Michigan as leverage).

 

The Mariners gladly took Anderson and the two appeared to be a perfect fit.

 

Anderson's size and the fact that he was a hard-throwing lefthander led to the comparison with then-Mariners ace Randy "Big Unit" Johnson (he had been given the nickname "Lil Unit" before the Mariners drafted him).

 

It seemed possible, heck even probable, that "Big Unit" and "Lil Unit" would one day pitch in the same rotation.

 

Anderson rocketed through the Mariners' farm system, and by his third season in professional baseball he had advanced to Triple-A.

 

In July of 2000, Anderson struck out 13 batters in 6 2/3 innings of a Pacific Coast League game. Unfortunately for Anderson that proved to be a turning point in his career.

 

Setbacks don't deter

 

The day after mowing down the Calgary hitters like they were overmatched high schoolers, Anderson tried to play catch to "flush out" his arm.

 

He couldn't throw the ball more than five feet.

 

"I thought 'Oh, I must have slept on my arm wrong, I'll just take the next day off,' " Anderson said.

 

But he had torn his rotator cuff and essentially had to take five years off due to a series of shoulder injuries and surgeries

 

After the Mariners released him following extended spring training this year, Anderson took the hill for the first time since 2000 for an independent league team in Arizona.

 

He needed just one inning to convince the Milwaukee Brewers to sign him and assign him to their high Class-A team in Viera.

 

"I think it was high-reward, low-risk," said Baseball America's John Manuel, who specializes in prospects. "There was no reason to think that guy wasn't going to be a big leaguer."

 

Given the injuries he's had, it would be unfair to label Anderson a bust. He is yet another example of why there is no such thing as a can't-miss prospect, especially in baseball.

 

Anderson, who turns 26 in July, doesn't throw as hard as he once did, though the Brewers did clock him at 93 miles per hour before signing him.

 

"I haven't changed the way I pitch, the way I go at hitters, but my stuff isn't as hard as it was before," said Anderson, who is scheduled to start today's game between the Manatees and Jupiter Hammerheads at Space Coast Stadium. "That could be a good thing because it will make me learn how to pitch instead of just throwing."

 

In addition to a fastball, Anderson throws a changeup and a "spike" curve (he digs the nail on his index finger into a seam to produce more bite). Perhaps the most dangerous thing in his arsenal is the motivation Anderson takes with him to the mound these days.

 

His release by the Mariners surprised Anderson to put it mildly.

 

"I was very excited to get picked up because I just wanted to get right back out there and get to the big leagues and prove them wrong," Anderson said. "I love competing in the game of baseball. I'll keep (playing) until they take the jersey away from me."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active for Adam Heether photo, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...20334/1002

 

Heether heats up Manatees

Third baseman's big bat helps Brevard stay in first

BY SCOTT BROWN

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Adam Heether smiled as he talked about the stabilizing effect his new bride has had on him this season, how she makes sure he eats right by cooking regularly and even packs a lunch for him when the situation warrants it.

 

That, of course, begs the question of whether Heether can actually cook or if he is, well, a lot more handy at third base for the Brevard County Manatees than he is in the kitchen.

 

"I don't think he can (cook)," Heether's wife, Jennifer, said. "I wouldn't eat it if he did. He is good at barbecuing."

 

Fortunately for the Manatees, Heether has barbecued his share of pitchers this season.

 

He took a .314 batting average into Thursday's game -- ranking fifth in the Florida State League -- while also sporting a .396 on-base percentage (second in the FSL).

 

Heether's play has helped the Manatees roll to a 16-9 record and first place in the FSL's Eastern Division for the second half of the season.

 

"He plays the game hard and he's a very knowledgeable player," Manatees manager John Tamargo said, "plus he's got good talent."

 

Tamargo is impressed enough with Heether that he expects him to play in the big leagues one day.

 

Heather, the Manatees' cleanup hitter, has only five homers in 220 at-bats, but Tamargo is confident the power will eventually come simply because of the way the ball jumps off his bat.

 

Playing in what has long been considered a pitcher-friendly league, because of its spacious stadiums and heavy air, has in fact helped the 6-foot, 200-pound Heether's development at the plate.

 

Instead of trying to hit home runs, Heether concentrates on spraying line drives to all parts of the field.

 

"If I go up there and try to put the ball in the air, I'm not going to do much of anything," the 23-year-old California native said.

 

Heether's success can in part be attributed to the comfort level he has achieved.

 

An 11th-round draft choice of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003, he starred at tradition-rich Long Beach State until leaving after his junior year.

 

But he struggled with the transition from aluminum to wood bats in his first professional season, as well as the grind of playing every day.

 

Playing for the Brewers' low Single-A team last season, Heether still grappled with the reality that he would fail much more often than he would succeed.

 

That caused him to think too much about the at-bats when he didn't get a hit. Now, Heether said, he quickly pinpoints what he did wrong after making an out, erases the at-bat from his mind and starts focusing on the next one.

 

"That's knowing I'm dealing with 500 at-bats and can't really judge myself by one day," Heether said.

 

He doesn't accept failure so much as he is philosophical about it in a game predicated on it.

 

But he burns to win -- his wife said if she beats him in the card game "Texas Rummy" he won't let her stop until he wins -- and also to succeed.

 

Consider the tattoo that covers the left side of his chest. It says, "All or nothing," and it is nothing if not a daily reminder to Heether.

 

"I've got one shot at this," he said of playing pro baseball, "so every day I try to get a little better."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active (for photo), text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/sports

 

Baseball family supports fan during lymphoma battle

BY SCOTT BROWN

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Word of her visit made its way through Space Coast Stadium faster than that night's giveaway.

 

As she sat on the ground floor of the stadium where she has probably watched close to 1,000 baseball games, Millie Zeller beamed back at one familiar face after another.

 

She had gone to the Brevard County game to tell the Manatees players that the lymphoma that had stripped her of more than 20 pounds would prevent her from seeing them the rest of the season.

 

The night did much more than just confirm the 77-year-old Zeller's love of baseball and affection for the players, on whom she has lavished treats and encouragement throughout the years.

 

It also shed light on the bond between some of the fans who regularly attend games and folks who have worked for years at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Consider the following exchange between Zeller and longtime stadium employee Carol Simonides.

 

As they shared a hug, Zeller said, "Thank you so much for all of the cards and flowers."

 

"We love you, sweetie, and you just take care," Simonides said. "We're family here."

 

Zeller, who underwent surgery Monday and will soon start chemotherapy treatments, has been a longtime member of that family.

 

She has been going to spring training and Manatees games at Space Coast Stadium since it opened in 1994. Zeller attended games so faithfully that she and her husband, Harry, eventually moved from Palm Bay to Viera to cut down on her driving time.

 

A soft-spoken woman, she nonetheless has proved to be as tough as some of the players she has cheered.

 

In the late 1990s, a screaming line drive detoured into the stands and plunked Zeller square on the chest. She stayed the rest of the game, and when Andy Dunn, then head of stadium operations, implored her to permanently relocate to a safer part of the ballpark -- seats are protected behind home plate and extending to the on-deck circles -- she initially balked.

 

"Andy," she said, "I can't see from behind the net."

 

Zeller didn't get to know players through the years just because of her mere presence at Space Coast Stadium. She often baked cookies for them.

 

About two weeks ago, on the night she attended her final Manatees game this season, she left the players a bag filled with caramels, toffees and lollipops along with a letter. She was apologetic because she hadn't felt well enough to bake for them.

 

Never mind that she labored at times just to speak.

 

When told this, outfielder Robby Deevers and catcher C.J. Medlin looked as if they might swallow their sunflower seeds.

 

"She's done more with the heart she's given us," Deevers said. "We know she's in the prayers of the Manatees."

 

The relationship forged between some of the fans that Medlin calls "troopers" -- they attend almost every game, no matter how hot the weather or how cold the team -- can also prove to be lasting.

 

It's another unique aspect of minor-league baseball.

 

Right now, for instance, the Montana family Deevers stayed with when he played for the Helena Brewers in 2003 is visiting him here for two weeks.

 

When he got married last offseason, several people at the wedding were fans befriended while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers' low Class A team last season in Beloit, Wis.

 

"It's awesome," Deevers said, "for people to support us like that."

 

Zeller's support throughout the years hasn't been confined just to the players.

 

It wasn't uncommon for her to drop off cookies for people working concession stands or Space Coast Stadium's other support personnel.

 

"As friendly as she was," said Jimmy Fielding, a stadium security officer, "it was hard not to feel a closeness to her."

 

Stadium workers and season ticket-holders who know Zeller well recently sent her a group get-well card.

 

In addition to warm messages, it includes small pictures of all those who signed the card.

 

"That's very meaningful," Zeller's husband, Harry, said of such gestures, "and many of them offered to assist and take her to treatments. They're part of the close-knit group that really amount to a family."

 

Zeller expects his wife to make a full recovery and return to her baseball family next season.

 

He will, however, insist on one concession from Millie before she returns to Space Coast Stadium.

 

"She will stay behind the screen," Zeller said laughing, "so she doesn't get hit by any more baseballs."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp

 

Dillard catches on as pitcher

By Andrew Worob / Special to MLB.com

 

SARASOTA -- Tim Dillard has an idea of what hitters are thinking. He knows what they are expecting and how to counter that.

 

It's something that appears to come naturally to him. Maybe it's because he is learning how to be a better pitcher.

 

Or maybe it was because he wasn't always on the mound.

 

"I was drafted as a catcher the first time out of high school," Dillard said.

 

He was originally taken in the 15th round in 2001 and then again in the 34th round of the 2002 draft as a catcher coming off left shoulder surgery. Because of the injury, Dillard's hitting wasn't where the Brewers hoped it would be.

 

He was told he'd be given a chance as a pitcher, something he occasionally did on the high school level. But the transition was not an easy one.

 

"It was tough," Dillard said. "I liked the hitting part of being a catcher, but I think I have a good idea on the mound now because of being a catcher for so long and being a hitter."

 

The 22-year-old right-hander has been correct in his assessment, and he has dominated the Florida State League in his first season with the Brevard County Manatees.

 

Pitching coach Fred Dabney is not surprised by Dillard's success after switching positions.

 

"Catcher is a pretty good athletic position and pitching is the same way," Dabney said. "It's a credit to him that he can make the adjustment to the mound."

 

Dillard leads the league in wins (11), complete games (five), shutouts (two), innings pitched (154 1/3), and is third in ERA (2.45).

 

"Tim's a bulldog," Dabney said. "From the beginning of the year to now, after about his fourth or fifth start he just started rockin' and rollin' and getting the job done for us. He's commanding the baseball, being aggressive and doing the things he needs to do to have success not only here but ultimately at the Major League level."

 

He has shown the type of resilience you look for in a pitcher coming off a year in which he struggled.

 

Last season in the Midwest League, Dillard was 2-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 43 appearances. For someone who had just five starts entering this year, Dillard has done far more than many expected.

 

"You just try to go out there and get people out," he said. "You just take it one batter at a time and try to get ground balls. If you try to strike somebody out, you're going to give up a bomb or a double. I just have to try and keep the game close and I know we'll win. That's all I try to do."

 

Of the pitches he's learned to throw, his slider has been most impressive. Though he throws a decent 92-mph fastball and also has a changeup in his arsenal, it's his slider that accounts for much of his success.

 

It's a pitch he admired and tried to develop during his days at Mississippi's Saltillo High School. The pitcher he respected and tried to duplicate knows a thing or two about throwing sliders.

 

"When I was younger, I used to think of myself as a right-handed Randy Johnson," said Dillard, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder. "I always loved his arm angle because when I was young, it was always tough for me to hit off guys throwing from the side and the ball gets in on your hands."

 

Though he still has areas where he can improve, his future looks bright.

 

"I see a tremendous amount of potential," Dabney said. "He's got a great opportunity being a part of the Milwaukee Brewers system and helping our organization at the Major League level win some ballgames. That's probably the goal for him and that's what we see in him in the future. He's going to help our team win at the Major League level in any role that he's in."

 

Dillard is just taking things as they come. Even if it means a couple more years in the Minors.

 

"The ultimate goal is to be in the big leagues," Dillard said. "Everybody wants to be All-Stars in the Major Leagues, but I just have to take it one step at a time."

 

Just like learning a new position.

 

Tim Dillard didn't expect to pitch in the Minors, but he's getting the job done. (Photo courtesy of Brevard County Manatees)

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2005/08/13/xOXQaISJ.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp

 

Villanueva maturing on, off mound

By Andrew Worob / Special to MLB.com

 

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Hitters go down looking, some swing and miss. Many just shake their head and walk away. It's a learning experience to go up against one of the toughest pitchers in the Florida State League.

 

For Carlos Villanueva, it's just another start.

 

The 21-year-old has made a habit of striking out batters and collecting wins for the Brevard County Manatees, and pitching coach Fred Dabney has been ecstatic with what he's seen.

 

"With the ability that he has, I expected nothing less," Dabney said. "I expected to see what he's been doing out there."

 

The Manatees right-hander has been dominant all season. Villanova leads the league with a 2.12 ERA and has a 7-1 record in 20 starts. Perhaps the most glaring statistic is strikeouts -- he's third in the FSL with 118 in 106 1/3 innings. Last season, he fanned 113 in 114 2/3 innings for Beloit of the Midwest League.

 

Though he's still in Class A, Villanueva knows the next level is nearby.

 

"It's in my eyes right now and it's getting closer," he said. "It's not just because it's my fourth year (in the Minor Leagues), it's because I feel I'm ready and more mentally prepared now. I'm here, I know I can dominate at this level and get to the next level, and there's definitely a confidence factor. You have to show what you feel and I can do well on any level they put me at."

 

It is hard for Villanueva not to think about moving up. In his first season in 2002, he was unhittable. Yet he remained in the Arizona Rookie League in the San Francisco Giants organization for two years before he was traded to the Brewers in 2004.

 

Considering the type of season he's having, no one can blame him for looking ahead. But he also knows that sometimes you just have to wait your turn.

 

"It's definitely on everybody's mind," he said. "You can't deny that you aren't thinking about it, but I've gotten older and have matured. In the beginning, I had a really good year and thought that was my chance, but they sent me back to the rookie league and I didn't understand that. But as the years have gone by, I don't go over to every manager or pitching coach and ask why I'm still here, there's reasons for which I'm here.

 

"They (the coaches) see it in my face sometimes, but everything is going according to plan. I know I'm just 21, I'm the second-youngest player on this team, so I see it as an advantage. I'm doing really good at this level and if I get called up to Double-A this year or called up in September, then perfect. But if not, then hopefully I'll get the chance at some point to show that I can pitch. I know that the sacrifices I make will eventually be worth it."

 

With the numbers Villanueva has posted, it's easy to see why he's considered one of the top pitching prospects in the organization.

 

Though he throws an array of pitches, including a changeup, curvball and an 88 to 92 mph fastball, it's his nasty slider that has accounted for many of his strikeouts.

 

"He's got four above-average Major League pitches when he throws them the right way, and that's his key," Dabney said. "He's got a tremendous amount of ability and has just done an outstanding job for us."

 

Villanueva also has created a strong presence each time he strolls to the mound. It's a characteristic he has developed and worked on after watching many of the Majors' toughest pitchers.

 

"I like the intimidation factor of Pedro Martinez," he said. "I also like to compare myself to a finesse pitcher like a Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine, so I'm trying to find a level between those types of pitchers. I just approach each game with a plan and try to execute it as much as I can."

 

With the end of the season drawing near, Villanueva is focused on helping his team into the playoffs and isn't worried about where he might finish the year.

 

"I have no idea what management thinks of me, I just have to finish the season strong," he said. "I'll just do whatever they give me and if I'm still here when the season is over, then I'm just going to do my job and let the rest take care of itself."

[bjamesw22]

When Captn' Lou was interviewed last year by bf.net, didn't he say that the pitcher with the nastiest stuff he's seen is Villy? I thought I remembered something like that.

 

EDIT: I was incorrect. This is the part of the interview I was talking about. Apparently Villy had the best control.

 

BF: Last summer you caught several pitchers that put up impressive numbers at Helena, and now you continue to catch most of those same players here at Beloit. What can you tell us about some of these pitchers? Who has the filthiest stuff?

 

LP: Filthiest stuff...Luis Pena is pretty nasty. Dana Eveland, Dana has some good breaking stuff. Dan Grybash has some real good run on his fastball, he breaks a lot of bats. I would have to say those three off the top of my head.

 

BF: Who has the best control?

 

LP: (Carlos) Villanueva.

[Mass Haas]

More on Tim Dillard:

 

Link while active (also for photo of Tim and Forrest Martin), text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...50323/1002

 

Manatees' top hurler catches on in a hurry

BY SCOTT BROWN

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Tim Dillard's idea of a playground no doubt differed from most kids his age.

 

Instead of dangling from monkey bars and riding on merry-go-rounds, Dillard frolicked on a Little League baseball field that had been built in his back yard.

 

"Good thing I liked baseball," Dillard said chuckling, "or I probably would have been kicked out of the family."

 

Dillard has been doing the family name proud this season. The son of an ex-big leaguer, Dillard has emerged as the ace of the Brevard County Manatees pitching staff and has set or is threatening a handful of franchise records.

 

After a slow start, Dillard reeled off nine consecutive victories before losing Wednesday night.

 

Even in that loss -- Jupiter's Hammerheads beat Dillard and the Manatees 3-2 -- the tall right-hander yielded just three runs in eight innings.

 

When asked about the streak that preceded the defeat, the easygoing Dillard shrugged.

 

"Defense was there, hitting was there," Dillard said. "I just lucked out, I guess."

 

His manager knows better.

 

"The most improved pitcher we've had this year," Manatees skipper John Tamargo said. "He's improved in every aspect of pitching -- from poise to pitch selection to command."

 

That progress -- along with a fastball that has good movement and an improving slider -- is a big reason Dillard leads the Florida State League with 162 1/3 innings pitched and five complete games. He's also tied for second with 11 wins and fourth with a 2.49 ERA.

 

His success should not come as a surprise, given his genes. Dillard's father, Steve, spent eight seasons as a utility infielder with three big-league teams.

 

While Dillard wasn't born until his father's final major-league season, he still grew up around the game, serving as a batboy and clubhouse helper for the various teams his dad coached and managed. His experiences included shining Billy Wagner's shoes and watching Michael Jordan take batting practice for the Chicago White Sox during spring training.

 

Steve, who worked for both the White Sox and Houston Astros, told the youngest of his three sons at an early age that the easiest way to make it to the majors was as a switch-hitting catcher.

 

Dillard followed that advice until his course changed in high school. One day before his junior season, he caught all of the prospective pitchers and reported back to his head coach.

 

"I told him we didn't have much pitching," Dillard said.

 

He talked his coach into letting him pitch and won a combined 20 games his junior and senior seasons.

 

Dillard still excelled as a catcher and was drafted at that position after his senior year of high school and first year of junior college.

 

By the time Milwaukee picked Dillard for the second straight year in 2002, it was clear Dillard's future hinged on throwing pitches, not catching them.

 

The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is in his first full season as a starter (his third year as a professional) and has looked totally comfortable in that role.

 

Dillard already has set Manatees records for complete games and shutouts. It's a foregone conclusion that he will break Ryan Dempster's mark for innings pitched (165 1/3) as soon as his next start.

 

Not bad for a former catcher who lost seven of his first nine decisions this season.

 

Tamargo said he could see Dillard, who turned 22 last month, making the big leagues as a fifth starter.

 

"I think he's going to be a solid pitcher on a contending team," Tamargo said.

[Mass Haas]

Who's 24-year-old LHP Joe Thatcher?

 

Sweet numbers in 13 appearances with Helena and especially Brevard County since his signing --

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=491159

 

-- catching up on older articles when we can -- this from July 19th:

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.kokomotribune.com/story.asp?id=8643

 

Opportunity knocks

By PEDRO VELAZCO

Kokomo Tribune sportswriter

 

Most dreams evaporate when people wake up, receding quickly as reality crashes in. Joe Thatcher's dream is different, it's about to start unfolding in living color, with his eyes wide open.

 

Thatcher hops on a plane at 9 a.m. this morning to start living his dream. He'll fly out to Salt Lake City to join his new baseball team, the Helena Brewers, a high rookie-league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Joining the Brewers' organization happened in a whirlwind week which saw the club pluck Thatcher from the River City Rascals, an unaffiliated minor-league baseball team which plays in the independent Frontier League.

 

"It hasn't really sunk in all the way I don't think," said Thatcher, a Kokomo native. "I'm definitely excited to get out there."

 

Joining a major league organization is a thrill.

 

"I'm really looking forward to it," Thatcher said. "Obviously, it's been a life-long dream, and to have it come true, to get a shot, is something I've been waiting for for a long time. It'll be neat going up to Montana."

 

A former baseball and basketball star at Kokomo High School, Thatcher was a four-year player at Indiana State University but was not drafted when he finished his tenure at ISU in 2004. He played with River City, in O'Fallon, Mo., near St. Louis, last season and this season was hoping to get noticed.

 

That happened last Wednesday in the Frontier League All-Star game in Washington, Pa., Thatcher got his chance in the fifth inning, and made a strong impression.

 

"I pitched in the Frontier League All-Star game last week and there were a dozen major league scouts there," Thatcher explained. "I threw well. I struck out the side in my only inning. The next day my coach got calls from three teams. The next day the coach got a call from the Brewers saying they want to sign me."

 

The Brewers were the fastest to clear space and pull the trigger on the deal. Thatcher and the Rascals got back to Missouri Sunday night. He packed up his gear and drove home to Kokomo to get ready to fly out west today.

 

Thatcher's strong pitching with River City has given him a chance at bigger things.

 

Working as a closer, he's pitched in 18 games -- the last coming Friday -- posting 27 strikeouts in 21 innings. He had a record of 4-2 with an ERA of 1.27. Helping generate those strong numbers is a new dimension he's added to his pitching over the last season and a half.

 

Thatcher said one thing that made him an attractive prospect was "just being a left-handed pitcher. Every organization needs left-handed pitching. My strength throughout college and high school, has been locating the ball well and keeping guys off balance."

 

Throughout his time at Kokomo and Indiana State, speed was not in his corner. He's not sure how, but that changed.

 

"The last summer-and-a-half I've managed to find some velocity along the way," Thatcher said. "Now, I'm throwing high 80s [mph] and low 90s. That's a big plus, but I still have the ability to locate, keep guys off balance with a good curveball, and now [with] a hard fastball."

 

For an independent-league player, getting a shot in a major-league organization is especially sweet.

 

"[independent teams] do have some guys that have played Triple A, Double A, and they got released and are trying to hang on, but the majority of the guys are straight out of college, like myself," he said. "I didn't want to give up, even though I didn't get drafted. I still wanted to pitch at a high level.

 

"After all the hard work, I owed it to myself to give it another season or two [in the Frontier League] and I'm glad I did because it's worked out well."

 

It also meant a quick end to his relationship with a River City team which nurtured his dream.

 

"It was exciting because that's what everybody's there for is to get signed with an affiliated [club]," he said. "It's kind of bittersweet because I've played with those guys for a year-and-a-half now, and all of the sudden, I'm here one day and gone the next and I'll probably never see some of those guys the rest of my life."

 

Thatcher will have to forge new friendships with Helena, but has an instant in as he joins fellow local product Robbie Wooley. The Taylor graduate was sent back to Helena on June 21. He has a 1-2 record with a 6.75 ERA in 22.2 innings with the Helena Brewers.

 

Thatcher said he and Wooley don't know each other, but it will be good for Thatcher to see someone from home.

 

"I didn't realize [Wooley was there] until I saw an article in the paper [Monday] morning," Thatcher said. "That's going to be neat too, two guys from the same town. It'll be neat having someone to talk to, someone from back home."

 

Thatcher will need all the support he can get as he drops into an unfamiliar situation mid-season. He doesn't know what's ahead, but he's eager to get there.

 

"I don't know what to expect," Thatcher said. "I'm just going out there with the frame of mind that I'm going to work hard. If I work hard and do my best, I can walk away feeling good about myself."

[Mass Haas]

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Manatees' GM sees bright future for Brevard County

Ralph Routon, Florida Today

 

Buck Rogers has an ambitious dream, and he fully expects it will start to come true next summer for Space Coast baseball fans to see and enjoy.

 

Rogers, the Brevard County Manatees general manager, knows as well as anyone how popular minor-league baseball has become in small to mid-size markets across the country. From Lansing to Lynchburg, South Bend to Sacramento, fans flock by the thousands to enjoy their teams, the intimate ballpark atmosphere and affordable family entertainment.

 

Using all kinds of unusual promotions, Rogers has tried to build interest in the Manatees, playing in the high Class A Florida State League.

 

The bottom line actually looks reasonable: Brevard County's attendance ranks fourth in the league for the 2005 season, totaling 101,858 for an average of 1,591 per opening. Yet those numbers pale in comparison to many minor-league operations around the country.

 

Sacramento leads the minors with 755,750, or 10,496 a game, but that area is big enough for an NBA team. Such places as South Bend (208,590), Lansing (354,855) and Durham (520,371) prove that smaller markets can be hugely successful.

 

Part of the problem, at least for the Manatees franchise, has been living with absentee ownership.

 

It's a long and involved story, but the simple truth is that Brevard County's owners don't live here and have no interest in making the necessary commitment to cultivate more fans.

 

Rogers says that's about to change.

 

Before next season, the Manatees will have a new ownership group and a new outlook on life.

 

The deal hasn't been completed, but Rogers does say the owners are from Orlando and will be visible at Space Coast Stadium -- not just in the offices but in the stands with the fans.

 

"They're baseball junkies," Rogers said, in a tone that can only be described as gleeful. "They'll be a lot more user-friendly. It'll be more laid-back.

 

"Their feeling is more like, do what you've gotta do to make things better. And we will."

 

Rogers and the ownership, present or future, have no direct influence on the team itself.

 

The players come from Milwaukee, the Manatees' major-league parent club. This year the Brewers gave Brevard a solid group, which awakened after a disappointing first half and came within one victory of making the FSL playoffs.

 

Just one more win, and the Manatees still might be playing. Instead, Palm Beach took that spot and now is facing Lakeland in the final round for the league title.

 

Rogers obviously was hoping this team could make the playoffs and provide a springboard into 2006.

 

No matter what the level of baseball, the excitement of playing for a championship brings a special euphoria.

 

It means a lot to the players, even though they're hoping to make the real World Series someday. And it provides lasting memories for the fans.

 

Obviously, some FSL franchises don't care so much.

 

One example this year would be Lakeland, which had an 85-48 record this summer, the fewest losses of any full-season team in all of organized baseball, minors or majors. Yet, Lakeland drew only 35,778 for its regular season, just 627 a game.

 

Rogers and the Manatees did come away with a national honor, ESPN the Magazine's minor-league Promotion of the Year award for the team's Belly Buster VII Night.

 

Such honors are fine, but Rogers has grander visions. With good reason.

 

With all the ongoing development in Viera and west of Interstate 95, Space Coast Stadium soon will no longer be a rural setting.

 

It'll be surrounded by hot residential and commercial growth, bringing an influx of potential fans and corporate sponsors.

 

Rogers is not taking that, or anything, for granted.

 

He and his staff, with backing of that new ownership, plan to reach out to the market more than ever before.

 

"Next year will be different. Big-time different. We're actually going to revamp a few things," Rogers said. "We're gonna be able to implement some things that fans here haven't experienced before."

 

The details will have to wait until the ownership change becomes official. Rogers shared some, not yet for print, and they're impressive.

 

Rogers has another noteworthy trait: He's not just a promoter. He wants to win.

 

He realizes when owners and the front office care as much as his group does, that rubs off on the players and makes them care more about winning. The fans notice and respond, too.

 

Obviously, many Brevardians live for spring training, flocking to those games in March and seeing so many major-league teams.

 

Buck Rogers wants to build on that, and he's on the verge of having many more resources at his disposal.

 

He knows the area is full of baseball fans. He'd like to turn all of them into Manatees fans.