Your 2007 B.C. Manatees -- Latest: Honors for Gamel, Tamargo

[Mass Haas]

Another update comes to us from Manatee GM Buck Rogers:

 

The next vote getter on the pitching list for the All-Stars is the Manatees' Josh Wahpepah. Josh has cancelled his weekend plans and agreed to take Will Inman's place on the Eastern Division's roster, so we're back to four All-Stars again.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS

 

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Brevard County reliever Josh Wahpepah will take Will Inman's place, joining teammates Alcides Escobar, Cole Gillespie and Ben Stanczyk at the 46th annual event. Former Manatees pitcher Luis Pena also was named to the team, but was called up to Huntsville on May 18.

 

In his second season with Brevard County, Escobar has blossomed at shortstop. The Venezuela native is second in the league with 86 hits and fourth in batting (.322) and stolen bases (18).

 

"I feel really good (about making the all-star team)," Escobar said. "I've been working hard every day; trying to fix the little things."

 

Tamargo said he envisions Escobar one day getting an opportunity to be an everyday shortstop at the major-league level.

 

"He swings the bat well -- he does a lot of things well," Tamargo said. "He's got a great arm and he runs well. He has really impressed me this first half."

 

Gillespie has struggled a little at the plate in recent games, which has lowered his average to .243. But he still leads the team in home runs (7) and RBIs (38).

 

"He's solid. Once he gets his idea of how to handle the strike zone and starts putting balls in right-center field, he's going to be very, very successful," Tamargo said. "He's a good outfielder and has an accurate arm."

 

Stanczyk is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA pitching out of the bullpen. He has allowed just eight earned runs in 34 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .211 batting average.

 

"(Stanczyk) pitched great the first half," Tamargo said. "He came into some situations where we needed some innings . . . and he never turned down the ball."

 

A starter for the Manatees in 2006, Wahpepah is 5-4 with a 2.37 ERA as a reliever this season. He has allowed just 10 earned run in 38 innings.

[Mass Haas]

No particular Manatees mentioned here:

 

MiLB.com's Florida State League All-Star Game Preview

 

FSL Home Run Derby, Skills Competition

 

Excerpt:

 

THEY'VE GOT SKILLS: In addition to the obligatory home run derby, the FSL added an interesting wrinkle to its All-Star Game festivities with a skills competition. A variety of players got to show off what they could do with their legs, arms and bats.

 

First came the baserunning competition, with the fastest All-Stars seeing who could clock the best time going first to home. St. Lucie Mets outfielder Dustin Martin had the best time of 10.07 seconds -- barely edging Brevard County Manatees shortstop Alcides Escobar -- until the final participant, Lakeland outfielder Cameron Maybin took his turn.

 

"I was a little skeptical at first when I found out what it was, when I found it was first to home," Maybin said. "It wasn't game speed, so I wasn't sure how I'd do."

 

He did just fine. With a time of 9.98 seconds -- the only competitor to break the 10-second barrier -- Maybin won the event hands-down.

 

"It's kind of like going home to third," he said. "My coaches have said I'm as fast as anyone they've seen going home to third. I tried to get a good turn around second. I made sure I was loose and made my strides work for me."

 

The only thing that would've made it more interesting was if Maybin had attempted a speed-power combination by participating in the home run derby. He had a great time watching that event, but, truth be told, would've preferred to take his hacks.

 

"I wanted to, I really wanted to," said Maybin, who has six homers and 19 steals this season. "They already had it picked, but I would've loved to participate in the derby.

 

"I missed the Midwest League All-Star Game last year, so I'm having a blast this year."

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County: No video available, but listen to the Florida State League All-Star Game at 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Follow the box score and game log here:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=123

[Mass Haas]

Cole Gillespie the sole Manatee to start tonight, hit a two-run HR his first time up -- his East Stars trail, 4-2...

[Mass Haas]

UW-Milwaukee's Ben Stanczyk's 6th inning:

 

- Lou Marson grounds out, pitcher Ben Stanczyk to shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Mark Hamilton.

- Adam Rosales grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Mark Hamilton.

- Gregory Golson strikes out swinging.

 

Nice!

[dadofandrew]

I can't believe they play the AS game on a Saturday night, when the teams draw the best.

[Mass Haas]

Yeah, but we're talking Florida State League here, Al -- here's your attendance figures, and it doesn't really fluctuate based on month:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=l123

 

We're not talking about missing huge gates here...

[Mass Haas]

The Manatees' East Squad wins the All-Star Game, 8-4

 

Alcides Escobar doubled in his lone at-bat; Cole Gillespie flied out, walked, and popped out after his early HR; Josh Wahpepah got a ground out to end the 8th with a man on 1st against the only man he faced; Ben Stanczyk's night and the box score and audio archive links above...

[Mass Haas]

Daytona News-Journal:

 

A two-run homer in the bottom of the second by Brevard County Manatees outfielder Cole Gillespie got Daytona starter Mitch Atkins off the hook.

 

"It felt pretty good to hit a homer in my first at-bat like that," Gillespie said. "After that, you can't really expect any more."

 

Allen Craig's two-run blast highlighted the East's big fifth inning.

 

"It's exciting to come out here and play with a bunch of other great players," Gillespie said. "To come up on the winning side makes it a little more special. But it's really all about having a good time, and it was a blast. Daytona did a great job hosting this thing. I know next year it's coming back to Brevard, so hopefully they can do the same thing."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.westlinntidings.com/s...1298144300

 

Gillespie makes A-league All-Star game

By Matthew Sherman

The West Linn (Oregon) Tidings

 

It hasn?t been easy for former Oregon State star and West Linn High School graduate Cole Gillespie to keep tabs on his alma mater?s run towards a second consecutive College World Series championship.

 

Gillespie, who played in the event in 2005 and 2006 and helped Oregon State capture the title last season, caught the final few outs of the Beavers? close victory over Cal State Fullerton and saw the last half of their win over Arizona State.

 

But that?s not because of a lack of interest. It?s simply because, as a minor league ball player, there is virtually no time to catch one?s breath.

 

?You get about one day off a month. You have to adjust and learn how to take care of your body,? Gillespie said.

 

And, in his first full season at A-level baseball, Gillespie didn?t even get the usual All-Star break off. Gillespie was one of three Brevard County Manatees named to his league?s All-Star team and played all nine innings in that contest.

 

His team won 8-4 thanks, in part, to his two-run home run early in the game which tied the score at 2-2. Gillespie finished second in the game?s MVP voting for his efforts.

 

?It was a really fun event and I was pretty excited to be part of it. I didn?t think I had much of a chance because my numbers are just alright,? Gillespie said.

 

It has been an up and down season for the 2002 West Linn High School graduate. The Manatees recently clinched the first half title in their league, which guarantees them a playoff berth at the season?s end.

 

Gillespie has been a key component to his team?s success, leading Brevard County, located in East Florida, 45 minutes from Orlando, in home runs and walks and sharing the team lead in RBIs. He is also third on the team in runs and fourth in stolen bases.

 

It is that well-rounded ability at the plate that made him one of the Milwaukie Brewers? top picks in 2006, selecting him in the third round.

 

But Gillespie has also run into much tougher pitching than he did last year in Montana where he played Rookie Ball. His team plays in a large park used for spring training games and the league is pitching heavy.

 

That has led to a spike in Gillespie?s strikeouts this year and a much lower than normal batting average.

 

?I?m working on being consistent and cutting down the strikeouts. Obviously I?d like to be hitting about 40 points higher than I am but, in this league, if you?re batting .250, you?re doing pretty well,? Gillespie said.

 

Still, the left-fielder is considered one of his team?s leaders as evidenced by his All-Star selection and feels that, with some minor improvements, he could start climbing through the Brewers? organization and ultimately achieve his lifelong dream of playing in the major leagues.

 

There is a long way to go still and Gillespie hopes to make the next step soon. That would be a promotion to the team?s AA affiliate in Huntsville, Ala. If he continues his progress, it is possible that the call could come as early as the end of the current season.

 

But there is not much time to think about that right now. Gillespie plays virtually every day and even though all of the teams in Brevard County?s league are also in Florida, the grind can be exhausting.

 

?There have been days where I feel like I don?t really want to be here but then I tell myself that I?m playing baseball for a living,? Gillespie said.

 

Still, the experience should help prepare Gillespie for the next levels and he knows that, at any given time, a hot streak can put a player on the fast track to the major leagues.

 

?I?d love to get called up to AA later this year and would hope to start there next season. If I?m lucky to make it to Nashville in the PCL, I?d get a chance to come to Portland and play against the Beavers,? Gillespie said.

 

He has already faced a number of major league caliber pitchers, some who have been sent to A league on rehabilitation assignments.

 

Gillespie is also fortunate that he is a part of one of the more intriguing clubs in baseball right now.

 

Currently the Brewers are on pace to win the National League?s Central Division and have an exciting core of young players, the majority of which have been groomed by the club?s formidable minor league system.

 

?Those guys are all homegrown products and it?s really a team on the rise right now,? Gillespie said.

 

Gillespie tries to get back to West Linn whenever he can but those opportunities don?t come along often.

 

Last year, during the off-season, he played in an instructional league in Arizona and he expects do be doing something similar this winter.

 

All of that bodes well for Gillespie, who despite the occasional difficulties, is ready to continue progressing towards his ultimate goal.

 

?It?s all about making the most of your chances and avoiding injuries. It?s been my dream (to make the major leagues) ever since I can remember and I feel I have a strong opportunity,? Gillespie said.

 

2006 Helena Brewers Photo by Travis Brower

Cole Gillespie has been one of his team?s top sluggers as a member of the Brevard County Manatees, a single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The former Lion is leading his team in home runs at the midway point of the season and was rewarded for his efforts with a selection to the league?s All-Star game.

 

http://www.westlinntidings.com/news_graphics/118236705169278400.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active (includes photo of Manatees' GM Buck Rogers), text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS

 

Manatees receive a boost from fans

Booster club's return a treat for Brevard County players

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Lori Brown admits she always wanted a bunch of kids.

 

In a way, she is getting that wish six months out of the year.

 

The Palm Bay mother of one, along with her husband, Rob Brown, head the Brevard County Manatees Booster Club, which returned to existence this season for the first time since the late 1990s.

 

"She's like the team mom," Manatees general manager Buck Rogers said of the third-year season ticket holder.

 

The Browns and Lori's 9-year-old son, Shane, are a fixture at Space Coast Stadium for Brevard County home games. They also follow the team for several games on the road.

 

"I'm constantly asked if we have a kid on the team," Lori said. "It's kind of like an extension to our family."

 

With the encouragement and backing of the Milwaukee Brewers -- Brevard County's major-league affiliate -- Rogers had been trying to organize a booster club for the past two years.

 

This season, the Browns and about a dozen others stepped up and answered the GM's call, providing items such as a lending closet -- featuring things like linens, dishes and towels -- team meals and event coverage.

 

"I'm really proud of our booster club; they have really come together great behind the scenes," Rogers said. "It's a good start. We're going to grow this thing."

 

Today, about an hour before the Manatees take the field for the first of two games against the Palm Beach Cardinals, a large food delivery will arrive at the Space Coast Stadium clubhouse, courtesy of the booster club.

 

It's no surprise that the meals are always a huge hit with the players.

 

"They have just been floored," Lori said. "They just eat it up because they don't have anyone doing that for them on a regular basis."

 

With the exception of a few players who sign lucrative deals, minor-league players often times are just trying to get by; trying to reach their goal of making it to the big leagues.

 

The players are young. They haven't been out on their own for long. And in many cases, they're still learning the language.

 

The money they are paid usually is enough to pay for the most basic of living expenses.

 

"You're going to share your meal money and make things stretch -- you're not eating steak and lobster every day," Rogers said.

 

"Most guys are living the dream. My thing is, I don't want their dream to end on my watch. And I think the booster club is an integral part of that."

 

Lori, who was born in Melbourne and graduated from Melbourne High, started attending Manatees games regularly in recent years and is now "totally hooked" on baseball.

 

Although initially concerned about the time constraints of running the booster club, she has relished the role of leading the team's top supporters.

 

"Just to watch them and to know what we're doing for them . . . it's a really good feeling," she said.

 

"We know we're doing a great thing. Even if I don't want to keep the role as president, I don't think I'll ever stop being involved in it."

[Mass Haas]

Link for Mat Gamel photo while active, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS

 

Hit streak 'fun to watch'

Manatees' Gamel was quite a hit trying to make run at FSL record

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

What a run.

 

Mat Gamel put together an impressive 33-game hitting streak that spanned more than a month and nearly landed the Brevard County Manatees third baseman in the record books.

 

The streak came to an end on Saturday night when Gamel went 0-for-3 in a 2-0 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals.

 

But that didn't diminish an accomplishment that left the 22-year-old just three games shy of tying the all-time Florida State League mark of 36 consecutive games with a hit.

 

"It was an awesome run. It wasn't one of these streaks where he was flaring balls and getting lucky hits -- he was hitting the ball hard," Brevard County manager John Tamargo said. "His approach for that whole month was just amazing the way he took balls the other way and turned on balls inside. Just a very good hitting streak."

 

The 36-game record is owned by former Daytona Cubs Joseph Altobelli (1951) and Adam Greenberg (2002).

 

On Saturday, Gamel and his teammates ran into Cardinals lefty Tyler Norrick, who pitched a six-inning, two-hit shutout in the seven-inning contest.

 

Gamel popped out to shortstop in the bottom of the sixth inning, which proved to be his last at-bat of the streak.

 

He admitted to thinking briefly about the scenario before stepping to the plate.

 

"It popped in my head," Gamel said. "But the guy threw a good game -- what are you going to do? The world goes on."

 

On May 28, Gamel was batting .244. Even after going 0-for-3 against Palm Beach on Sunday, his average remains at .308, thanks to the 33-game run in which he batted .411.

 

During that span, the 6-foot, 205-pounder, who bats lefty and throws righty, had 51 hits, including 17 doubles, four triples and three home runs. He had 26 RBIs and recorded 16 multiple-hit games while batting third in the lineup.

 

"It was fun to watch," Manatees hitting coach Ken Berry said. "He got a lot of first at-bat hits, which took a lot of pressure off, I'm sure."

 

After a while, Gamel's teammates stopped wondering if he was going to get a hit each game and instead focused on when it was coming.

 

"That's just phenomenal for a whole month, let alone a week or a series," said teammate Ned Yost, who lives with Gamel. "Every time he came up to bat it was like, 'Where is he going to hit the ball now?' We just always felt like he was going to get a hit."

 

They may have felt that way, but they didn't talk about it -- at least not in front of Gamel.

 

"We whispered about it in the dugout," Yost said. "After he'd get a hit we'd all kind of huddle together and be like, 'How many is that now?' and kind of keep track."

 

Discussing a personal streak in baseball generally is taboo, regardless of whether the player riding it has an ounce of superstition in him.

 

That includes the coaching staff, too.

 

"I didn't say a word to him," Tamargo said. "I just let him play and try to get him to where he's going to be successful.

 

"Early on, you're just thinking about winning ballgames. But later on, you start thinking as a coach, 'How can I help him? If there's a 3-0 count late in a game, do I let him swing?' "

 

Berry said Gamel approached him a few days ago and discussed the possibility of bunting for a hit.

 

"He told me, 'I've got a little streak going.' I said, 'You do?' I knew he was pushing 30 or 31. "We really low-keyed it. I didn't know how long he knew it."

 

As is turns out, Gamel is not a big believer in curses.

 

"I'm not really superstitious about that kind of stuff so it really didn't matter to me," he said.

 

"You still gotta get out there and hit the ball. It's not like saying something about it is going to jinx it."

 

Streak aside, the Jacksonville native is putting together a solid season in Brevard County. He leads the team in runs (48), doubles (28), triples (4) and total bases (136).

 

He also carries a .300-plus average against lefthanders.

 

"He's relaxed. He's covering the whole plate and he's using the whole field," Berry said.

 

"A lot of guys try to pull the ball and hit for power, but he's just letting it happen and that's what he has to do. I told him he's got the capability of hitting .320 this year."

 

To do that, he may have to string together another streak or two.

 

"Hopefully, he starts another one now and goes another 30 games," Tamargo said. "That would be awesome."

[Mass Haas]

Photo direct from the Manatees home page -- gotta love Buck Rogers, their association with Hooters is fun and has been going on since Opening Day. Their broadcasts are fun because every other commerical is for Hooters, and I love that theme song:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?sid=t503

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/10/tKOjxsi5.jpg

 

MLB All-Star Game Party Tonight!

 

Make sure you're at Hooters Merritt Island (across the road from Merritt Square Mall) tonight at 7:30 as the Brevard County Manatees host the inaugural MLB All-Star Game Party. Manatees players. coaches and staff will be on hand as hosts for the MLB mid-summer classic. Fans in attendance will be entered in free raffles and trivia contests for prizes! The party kicks off at 7:30 pm, the game at 8:00 pm and will continue thru the final out of the game. As always, the drinks will be cold, the wings will be hot and the Hooters Girls will be slinging both all night long. There will be one grand prize winner that will score big, so make sure you don't miss tonight's party at Hooters Merritt Island!

[Mass Haas]

Topps Player of the Month in the Florida State League for June:

 

Mat Gamel (21 years old) of Neptune Beach, FL, had two hits in a May 28 game. Gamel added two more the next two games. He kept on hitting and hitting for the Brevard County Manatees the entire month of June. The third basemen wound up hitting in all 26 June games and 33 straight Florida State League games overall. Gamel hit .421 last month with a dozen multi-hit games, 12 doubles, four triples, two homers and 20 RBIs. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Gamel in the 4th round out of Chipola (FL) Junior College in 2005.

[Mass Haas]

Your Florida State League Pitcher of the Week -- nice!

 

Steve Garrison, Brevard County

2-0, 0.64 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 14.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO

Before this week, Steve Garrison had lasted seven or more innings for the Manatees just twice in 18 starts this season. That all changed as the southpaw pitched seven innings in both of his outings this week, striking out four against Dunedin Tuesday before fanning another six versus Daytona Sunday. Garrison improved to 4-0 in five July starts, during which he has 24 strikeouts for the Manatees

[TracyThom]

Brevard County will be holding an auction for their jerseys at the end of the year:

 

LINK: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070807&content_id=286137&vkey=news_t503&fext=.jsp&sid=t503

[Mass Haas]

Details on a huge Manatees jersey auction here:

By the way, Brewerfan inquired about jersey sizes and Buck Rogers responded --

 

Jersey sizes increase with the numbers. The largest jerseys are size 52. Some of the size/laundry labels are faded and the exact size cannot be ascertained without the inventory/original order list provided by Wilson, the manufacturer, something that will happen next week when our rep gets back to his office. For those that need an exact size, please email us at info@spacecoaststadium.com

 

http://www.bcmanatees.net/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1

[Mass Haas]

Mat Gamel and Manager John Tamargo postseason Florida State League All-Stars