Minor League Notes for 4/9 through 4/15:

Indianapolis Indians:  4/9–OF Andrew McCutchen (No. 2), 3B Neil Walker (No. 6) and RHP Daniel McCutchen (No. 9) were all ranked by Baseball America as the Pirates organization’s top prospects heading into the 2009 season.  Both Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker played the entire 2008 season with the Tribe last season. (Source: Indianapolis Indians)

Gwinnett  Braves:  4/9– Braves starter Tommy Hanson had a strong outing, going 4 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts while only giving up three hits. Kris Medlen (1-0, 0.00) picked up the win for Gwinnett.  The Charlotte Knights 14 strikeouts matched the teams high from last season. (Source: Charlotte Knights)

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: 4/9– Start new Milwaukee affiliation with win vs. Quad Cities in front of recorded 5400 fans (opening day record). (Source: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Salt Lake Bees: 4/9, 4/10–Salt Lake Bees postponed home opener due to tragic death of Nick Adenhart. The team announced it will honor the memory of the former Bees pitcher by wearing a No. 32 patch on the team’s jerseys for the 2009 PCL season. The patch will debut as the Bees hosted the Reno Aces in the rescheduled season opener at Spring Mobile Ballpark. (Source: Salt Lake Bees)

Albuquerque Isotopes: 4/10–Isotopes reunited with the Dodgers and welcome back Tommy Lasorda in front of just over 10,000.  They defeated the Omaha Royals for 3^rd consecutive season on opening day. (Source: Omaha Royals)

Altoona Curve: 4/10–Curve Pitcher Jared Hughes tosses 6 no hit innings before being lifted due to pitch count.  Reliever Shawn Nottingham comes in and gives up lead to take the loss 2-0 (Source: Altoona Curve)

Charlotte Knights: 4/11–Knights give up 19 runs to Gwinnett and only score 3. This is the most runs allowed by a Knights team since 2003. (Source: Charlotte Knights)

Hickory Crawdads: 4/11– The Hickory Crawdads no-hit the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 5-0, in the first of back-to-back seven-inning shutout wins before 2,537 fans in their doubleheader.  The no-hitter in game one was the third no-hitter in Crawdads history and first since 2004.  LHP Martin Perez (#5 BA Texas) started game one for Hickory, and was followed by RHP Tyler Tufts (1-0) and RHP Fabio Castillo in the no-hit performance.  Perez dealt four innings, striking out six and walking just three.  Tufts followed with a pair of shutout innings and registered the win.  Castillo came on for the final three outs in the top of the seventh, slamming the door with a three-up, three-down inning and a game-ending strikeout to complete the no-hitter. (Source: Hickory Crawdads)

Indianapolis Indians: 4/12–Third baseman Neil Walker’s  one-out walk-off double in the 14th carried Indianapolis to its first victory of the season as they defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 3-2 in a marathon four hour and 19 minute game.  The contest was the second longest at Victory Field both in time and total innings. The longest inning game took place on April 19, 2006 when the Indians were defeated by the Ottawa Lynx 4-2 in 15 innings, while the longest game time-wise took place on July 19, 2001, when the Tribe defeated Columbus 6-5 in four hours and 35 minutes. (Source: Indianapolis Indians)

Norfolk: 4/12–Norfolk Tides catcher Matt Wieters, ranked the #1 prospect in baseball by Baseball America, finished the series against Durham 1-11 with two walks and five strikeouts. (Source: Durham Bulls)

Portland Beavers: 4/14–San Diego signs Chad Gaudin to a minor league deal and send him to Portland to replace Josh Banks (DL). (Source: Portland Beavers)

Lancaster JetHawks: 4/15–The Lancaster JetHawks set a franchise record by striking out 18 Inland Empire 66ers en route to a come-from-behind 3-2 win on a frigid night at Clear Channel Stadium Tuesday.  The 18 strikeouts- nine from Shane Wolf, seven from Chia-Jen Lo and two from Bryan Hallberg- were the most by the JetHawks in a single game in their history. It was the most times a San Bernardino team has fanned in a nine-inning game since June of 1994, when they were the San Bernardino Spirit. (Source: Inland Empire)

Arkron Aeros: 4/15–Carlos Santana belted a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and that one swing proved to be the difference as Akron defeated Altoona 4-1. Santana on the season .263/2HR/10RBI. (Source: Akron Aeros)

Salt Lake Bees: 4/15–4 Bees players, infielder Brandon Wood, infielder Matt Brown, catcher Bobby Wilson and outfielder Brad Coon all placed on the inactive list to attend the funeral of Nick Adenhart. (Source: Salt Lake Bees)

Fort Wayne TinCaps: 4/15–The Fort Wayne TinCaps are 6-0 to start the 2009 Midwest League season.  They took advantage of the few opportunities presented in the Wednesday’s game to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-0. (Source: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Durham Bulls: 4/15–The Bulls overcome 3-0 deficit to tie it in the eighth and win it in bottom of the 13^th inning with a walk-off, two-run blast from Adam Kennedy to keep their perfect season alive with a 5-3 win over the Gwinnett Braves. The ballclub from Durham now moves to 6-0, their best start in Triple-A. (Source: Durham Bulls)

Quad Cities River Bandits: 4/15– Quad Cities (2-4) hurlers Hector Cardenas and Kevin Thomas brought the River Bandits their first win of the season with the combined no-hitter, holding Beloit to just three base runners that and facing just two batters more than the minimum. The no-no was the first by a Quad Cities pitcher since August 12, 2001 (Source: Quad City River Bandits)

South Bend Silver Hawks: 4/15–Trevor Harden (#13 BA Arizona) gets first victory of the season despite allowing Lansing’s first home-run of the season to Lugnut  Justin McClanahan.  T.J. Hose pick up his first save of the year. (Source: South Bend Silver Hawks)

Peoria Chiefs: 4/15–Josh Vitters (#1 BA Cubs) collected three hits including a tie-breaking RBI single in the seventh inning as the Peoria Chiefs complete the three game sweep over the Dayton Dragons with a 3-2 victory. (Source: Dayton Dragons)

Augusta GreenJackets: 4/15–Augusta shortstop Ehire Adrianza (#6 BA San Francisco) went 2-for-3 and drove home three runs to help the GreenJackets defeat the Charleston RiverDougs, 8-6, despite late rally by the RiverDogs in front of 3,087. Augusta pitcher Aaron King (#21 BA San Francisco) pitched 4 innings and allowed one earned run with 2 walks and 2 strike outs. (Source: Charleston RiverDogs)

Memphis Redbirds: 4/15–Pitcher Mitchell Boggs (#14 BA St Louis) was recalled by the Cardinals and emergency started Katsuciko Maekawa was crushed and the Redbirds gave up 7 first inning runs on their way to a loss at the hands of the New Orleans Zephyrs. (Source: New Orleans Zephyrs)

Lynchburg Hillcats: 4/15–Jordy Mercer’s three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, his first as a Hillcats, turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead and propelled Lynchburg to a 5-4 win.

First, I want to send thanks to Mr. Tim Kuda for having me out in Arizona to cover the Rangers, Royals, Mariners, Giants, A’s, and Dodgers. It was an awesome time. Phoenix is a wonderful city from what I witnessed. Clean… very friendly… warm yet dry heat… and lots of speed traps on the Interstate!! Don’t speed… they will get you with all the cameras they have. Tim’s a pretty good driver. I guess he would be since he’s been 11 times for Arizona’s Cactus League. Excellent! I couldn’t have asked for a better “tour guide” on my first excursion to the Grand Canyon State!!!

We saw three major league games (A’s vs. Dodgers, Rangers vs. Indians, and Royals vs. Mariners) plus lots of future MLB prospects… too many to keep track of when you’re only in the Phoenix area for three days or so. Plus, fellow contributor Dallas Brewton was also in town. Love to hang out with those guys. If you are a true baseball fan, going to Spring Training can put you on sensory overload!!! I mean it. Just make sure you go with someone who you can share the experience with!

Second, I was impressed with the quality of the playing facilities. I was floored when we walked up to the KC Royals complex, which they share with the Texas Rangers in Surprise, AZ. I saw a fancy Ford Expedition in George Brett’s personal parking spot. I wanted to hang out and see if he would come back to his car, but being a member of the “media” prevented me from such shenanigans. Oh, well… poor me!!!

The first day, I met Tim at Phoenix Municipal Stadium to catch the Oakland A’s and LA Dodgers. During the game, I paid a paltry $20 toward charity to get my photo taken with 1977 National League MVP George Foster, 3-time World Series champion with the A’s Bert Camperneris, and Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins. What a treat!

I didn’t have much luck in the Rangers camp. I didn’t get any interviews, but I did shoot a few photos with my digital camera. The Royals side was a different story. Tim and I saw MANY outstanding prospects listed in Baseball America. Plus, Tim got to rub elbows and speak with Texas GM Jon Daniels. We might get him later on the show… who knows? We’ll see.

The last full day was filled with seeing the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Tim went to the Padre side in Peoria and got some awesome interviews which you have probably already heard on www.milbradio.com and I got to speak with three Mariners in the organization – 3B prospect Mario Martinez, LHP Justin Thomas, and roving catching instructor Roger Hansen. Plus, a bonus was catching up with former 1993 Gold Glove catcher Kirt Manwaring, who is a roving catching and fielding instructor with the Giants. Man, what an experience!

I sincerely hope that if you ever have the means to make it out to Spring Training sometime – whether it be in Florida or Arizona – DO IT!!! It’s a great time and worth the trip. I hope to make it back soon! And, make sure you dine at least one night at Don and Charlie’s if you go to Arizona. It’s kind of pricey (Tim ordered a $40 steak), but the place is a virtual baseball Hall of Fame in the Phoenix area – autographed balls, photos, memorabilia, etc. – plus other different sport artifacts like boxing, football, and basketball.

Now, another Yankee demise to report… Johnny Blanchard. He was a catcher for New York’s “Bronx Bombers” when they won the 1961 World Series over the Cincinnati Reds. The ’61 Yanks for a long time were the best power-hitting team until the steroid era ensued during the 1990s. Blanchard had 21 homers and 54 RBI in ’61 – career highs for him.

      Plus, former Yankee hurler Tom Sturdivant died recently in Oklahoma City. I met both Blanchard and Sturdivant and got autographs from both of them. In the case of Blanchard, if you go to my personal website www.baseballtoddsdugout.com, you can see me with him in Atlanta at a card show. Both guys were great fellows. Both were gregarious yet humble at the same time. I guess that’s how all the old-timers used to be until the free-agent age — when overpaid bums felt imposed upon when anyone would ask for their “X” on a ball, card, or photo.

      Until next time, we’ll see you later… Todd Newville

I spoke with MiLBRadio.com favorite Mike Moustakas today.  Interview will air next week. 

There are also many bad things about spring training baseball.  One of these “bad” things is watching guys play who will be “bagging groceries next week” not to coin a phase made popular by Cleveland Indian Manager Lou Brown (James Gammon) in the movie Major League 2.   After young Mr. Cahill departed in the top of the 3rd, the A’s went on to put up a 9 spot in just short of an hour.   I love baseball, but sometimes I wonder if that love can last over 4 hours.

Hey Guys!

Sorry for not checking in recently on http://www.milbradio.com but just wanted to pass along Happy New Year greetings to everybody or anybody who might read this. Plus, I have got a few things to say about the baseball Hall of Fame.

First, let me give my congratulations to Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson. I knew as well as everybody else that Henderson was a first-ballot HOFer. He was the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of the game (no offense to the Ty Cobb fans out there.) Rice, on the other hand, had a much harder time getting into the shrine.

Personally, I don’t why it took 15 years to get Rice into the Hall of Fame. He (along with fellow HOFers Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Johnny Bench) was one of the top power hitters of the 1970s and early ’80s. If sportswriters hold a grudge against somebody like Rice who doesn’t always say what they want to hear… then I say… GET OVER IT !! Rice did everything on the field all natural unlike the known recent cheaters in the game who have taken steroids until their biceps look like tires and their testicles are (probably) the size of chick peas!!!

Now, for my really good rant… who should be in and out of the Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is a hallowed shrine devoted to only the best in the game. I think there are several great players who should be in… and a few who should be out. Let me show you…

WHO SHOULD BE IN: Bert Blyleven, “Indian” Bob Johnson, Tony Oliva, Allie Reynolds, Bill Freehan, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Rocky Colavito, Roger Maris, and Gil Hodges.

WHO SHOULD BE OUT: Ray Schalk, Chief Bender, Hughie Jennings, Jesse Haines, Waite Hoyt, Addie Joss, Eppa Rixey, and Rabbit Maranville.

Some names are obvious ins and outs… but most are not. Look up their records at http://www.baseball-reference.com/ and see if you agree with me. Be sure to keep abreast of the latest baseball news (particularly the minors) at MILBradio.com and remember… baseball spring training is less than a month away!!!! — Todd Newville (http://www.baseballtoddsdugout.com)