A friend located this wonderful article on “our” Chris Carter’s approach to Spring Training with the Boston Red Sox this month.  Enjoy!  http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/02/24/field_event/?page=1

Additionally, the biggest move the D-Backs have made lately MAY affect the Winder’s roster for 2008.  They signed Trot Nixon to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.  We’ll see if Trot ends up in a Winders uniform.  He is - at this moment - the only man listed on our roster in the OF. 

Opening day of the Sidewinder’s final season in Tucson is nearly upon us!  Mark your calendars now and join us April 3rd at TEP!  I’ll be looking for you!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

Here’s a not-too-surprising (yet interesting) tidbit, hot off the MLB Transactions website:  Tony Clark was signed to a one year contract by the San Diego Padres yesterday (Feb 10th). 

And the Winder roster is still ultra-thin.  I’m assuming Spring Training will shake out who’ll end up in Tucson, but right now there are only five players’ names on our roster.  Hum…

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

The MLB Transactions page shows a couple of former Sidewinders have moved on to new organizations…makes you wonder who will actually be ON the Winder team this coming season, doesn’t it?

 January 8 - OF Dee Brown:  signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with an invitation to Spring Training.  (Dee may not count as a Winder loss, actually, since the team sent him to the Athletics organization during last year’s season.)  I think it’s likely Dee will be one of the Salt Lake Bees that terrorize the Winders this coming season. 

January 11 - RHP D.J. Carrasco:  Signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, with an invitation to Spring Training.  (At least we’ll get to see D.J. at TEP this Spring!)

So, who is actually listed as on the current Sidewinder roster?  Let’s take a look (http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&did=milb&cid=549):

Manager/Coaches:  unchanged (Plummer, Youngblood, Parrott)

Pitchers:

RHP Dustin Glant
LHP Evan MacLane
RHP Connor Robertson
RHP Mike Schultz

Catcher:

Matt Morgan

Infield:

Jamie D’Antona
Ronnie Merrill

Outfield:

Rich Thompson

Yes indeed, folks…  We have a long way to go before we can field a team of superb slithering Snakes!

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

Today’s Arizona Daily Star reported that Casey Daigle has departed the D-Back organization for a shot at life as a Twin.   Casey will be reporting to Spring Training at Minnesota’s camp in Fort Myers, FL.  When Casey was on his game, he had some awesome stuff and things will sure be different without him at TEP.  I’m also sure Winders fans will miss seeing Jennie Finch and Ace at home games - my best to all of them in this new adventure!

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

Today’s Arizona Daily Star reported that Josh Byrnes and the management of the D-Backs have been busy lately trading away some well-known D-Back and Winder players for talent from the Athletics and Astros.  Here’s a synopsis of the moves:

From the Athletics:  RHP Dan Haren, 15 - 9, 3.07 ERA - starting pitcher for the AL in the 2007 All-Star game.  Haren is expected to be a starter in the D-Back lineup.  Also, RHP Connor Robertson (who spent most of the 2007 season with the River Cats).

To the Athletics:  LHP Brett Anderson (from Visalia Oaks), LHP Dana Eveland (a Winder), and LHP Greg Smith (another Winder).  Also INF Chris Carter (the recently acquired Chris Carter), OF Aaron Cunningham (from Mobile/Visalia) and OF Carlos Gonzalez (late-season Winder).

From the Astros:  RHP (reliever) Chad Qualls, INF Chris Burke, and RHP Juan Gutierrez.

To the Astros:  RHP Papa Grande, Jose Valverde.  (Can’t believe they traded him after the season he had for the D-Backs!)

Additionally, the D-Backs traded Alberto Callaspo to the KC Royals for RHP Billy Buckner.

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

…and yet, quite big news!  The MLB.com transactions site today announced that the D-Backs have traded Carlos Quentin to the White Sox, for their minor league infielder, Chris Carter (as far as I know, that is NOT our old CC, who was traded to the RED Sox and is now on their 40-man roster).

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

William K. has just posted an update on how the D-Back farm hands are faring in their various off-season assignments.  For the full text of his write up, please click on the link to the left.  Here’s an extract of how William reports our Winders are doing (or how they have been doing, since some activities - namely Arizona Fall League play - are now finished for the year):

Arizona Fall League

Greg Smith was the lone Winder participating in the AFL this fall…he apparently suffered some minor injury during the short season, but came back at the end with a fairly strong performance.   His line finished like this:  2-2, 6 GS, 20 2/3 IP, 19 H, 6 ER, 17/8 K/BB, 2.61 ERA, 1.31 WHIP. 

Mexican League

Dana Eveland:  LHP (Mexicali) 1-1, 9 G, 4 GS, 26 2/3 IP, 27 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 31/6 K/BB, 2.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP.  William K. sees this as a good sign that the coming year may be when Dana breaks back into the majors.

Emiliano Fruto:  RHP (Guasave) 0-1, 7 G, 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 7/4 K/BB, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

Dominican League

Jamie D’Antona:  3B (Gigantes) 41 AB, .195/.227/.220, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 9/1 K/BB, 2 E
 

Jailen Peguero:  RHP (Estrellas) 0-0, 6 G, 2 SV, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5/4 K/BB, 1.59 ERA, 1.41 WHIP.  Jailen is another case of ramping up lately:  William reports “In his last 4 appearances, he has pitched 4 scoreless innings with a 5/1 K/BB ratio with 2 saves.  The D-backs should be hoping that Peguero could make Juan Cruz or Brandon Lyon tradeable next season.“

 Venezuelan League

Carlos Gonzalez:  OF (Zulia) 95 AB, .263/.340/.368, 1 HR, 2 3B, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 13 R, 18/11 K/BB, 1/1 SB/CS, 1 E

Alberto Callaspo:  2B (Zulia) 46 AB, .348/.412/.391, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 3/4 K/BB, 1/0 SB/CS, 2 E

Miguel Montero:  C (Margarita) 8 AB, .250/.333/.250, 1 R, 2/1 K/BB  (interesting that the D-Backs sent Miggie down to fall camp after closing a complete season as a D-Back rookie…)

Alex Romero:  OF (Aragua) 68 AB, .132/.250/.191, 4 2B, 7 RBI, 6 R, 9/9 K/BB, 0/2 SB/CS

Evan MacLane:  LHP (Margarita) 0-1, 6 G, 4 GS, 16 1/3 IP, 25 H, 10 ER, 4/4 K/BB, 5.51 ERA, 1.78 WHIP

Yusmeiro Petit:  RHP (Magallanes) 1-0, 1 GS, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

You may remember that RHP Adam Bass started this year’s baseball season with the Sidewinders.  He pitched for us for a time and then decided to take a chance on the Japanese leagues in the hopes that he might make a solid return to the MLB after a stint in Japan.  Last I had checked (it was difficult to find much current information in English), it appeared he wasn’t doing particularly well in Japan, but details were sketchy.  Well, I still don’t really know how Adam did over there, but I do know this:  on Nov 15th, the San Diego Padres signed Adam to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training (thus sayeth MLB.com transactions site).  It looks like we may be seeing Adam again next season at TEP…only he’ll probably be wearing the Portland Beavers uniform when he plays there!  

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

The MLB.com transactions web page reports that on Nov 14th the Milwaukee Brewers signed LHP Randy Choate to a one-year contract.   You might recall that this happened to Randy last year in the off-season, too (though not with the Brewers).   Last year he was cut during Spring Training and sent to the minors by his new club - a move which he refused and thus became a free agent again.  In the end, he ended up on TEP’s mound once again for the Sidewinders.  I sincerely hope Randy will make it in the Bigs with the Brewers.  Good luck, Randy! 

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders!  And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)

William K. has again come up with some interesting information I wanted to share with you. This time he’s dug up information about D-Back minor league players who became free agents at the end of the season we just completed. For the full text of his article - including his analysis about the chances each player has at being picked up by another club - click on the link at the left. Here are the affected former Sidewinders:

RHP Jeff Bajenaru (on the Winder DL all season with a shoulder impingement)
RHP D.J. Carrasco
RHP Mike Schultz
RHP Chad Harville (most likely to be picked up based on his excellent performance as a Snake reliever/closer this season)
C Mark Johnson
SS Matt Erickson
SS Ronnie Merrill
OF Jarred Ball
OF Rich Thompson

Check back everso often in the off-season for transaction updates and other news effecting our Winders! And don’t forget, the Sidewinder’s 2008 season will begin at TEP on April 3rd…be sure to mark your calendars now for next season’s kickoff!

(Disclaimer - this posting not reviewed/approved by the Sidewinders, Diamondbacks, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, SK Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)