Happy New Year!

January 18th, 2009

January 18, 2009 —Wow, time flies when you’re not blogging. Has it really been nearly four months?! Ouch. Well, yours truly is back. The good news is lots of things have happened since we last got together. How about starting with what’s new around here. . .

Featured Link
At the sidebar to the right, you’ll notice a “Featured Link.” There’s no schedule, rhyme or reason for how a link ends up getting special attention; although I would consider donations in the spirit of the “Amazon.com Recommends” scandal a few years back. Just kidding! (On second thought, I guess it depends on the donation.) At any rate, the number one criteria is whatever happens to catch my fancy. For now, it’s Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight, a fascinating blog that covers a whole bunch of topics you don’t usually hear coming out of ballplayers mouths, or read off their keyboards in this case.  At any rate, highly enjoyable and thought-provoking stuff. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself. Here are a few of my faves:

Audio “Welcome Message” (top of page)—the who & why of JSH&T

Paul Byrd: Choosing Family Over Baseball

Taking On The Readers: The End Of A Career & Gabrielle Schoeneweis

End of the Story: A Conversation With Brian Boehringer’s Former Agent

System Of A Downward Spiral – Dealing With The End

Many of these posts got the wheels spinning (go hamsters, go!) and I hope to create some point/counterpoint off these topics. For now, though visit, browse, and I promise you’ll enjoy it.

Win a Few, Lose a Few. . .
Most of this is old news, covered thoroughly at places like FutureAngels.com, MiLB.com and MLB.com.  Nonetheless, just in case any of you were holding your breath to read it here (hello-o-o-o-o! ?), here’s a recap of some of the organizational roster/staff changes from the last few months. I think the biggest news is the loss of Bruce Hines, Minor League Field Coordinator. Hines’ responsibility was to take the “grow your own” philosophy developed by Stoneman and Scioscia, and make it happen on the field. Or rather, all of the fields from SoCal to Cedar Rapids. (OK, it really should include Orem. Notice though, what a nice alliteration you get this way.)

Rodriguez, Teixeira, O’Day, Mosebach, Gonzalez and Bootcheck are off to other teams. Andersen and Garland are in free-agency, considering their options. Santana, Izturis, Quinlan and Napoli are awaiting arbirtration hearings. We have a new halo in the bullpen, Brian Fuentes, who pitched for Colorado the last four seasons. Guerreo, Lackey, Oliver, Figgins and Riviera are back for one season, or in Rivera’s case three. It appears as though Arte really, really likes LA manager Mike Scioscia, putting him in the dugout through 2018. Sad news—GM special assistant, Preston Gomez, passed away just recently.

The minor league staff acquired a one new face, and one very familiar one. Former MLB outfielder, Eric Owens is the newcomer to the Angels’ organization. Owens will manage Rancho Cucamonga, replacing Ever Magallanes who went to the White Sox organization. Former Salt Lake Bees infielder, Mike Eylward will be Hitting Coach for the Orem Owlz in 2009. (Woohoo! Yours truly will definitely be making some visits to Brent Brown Park this summer.)

We’re famous! Well, sorta.
One of the truly enjoyable experiences to come along this winter was being a guest blogger at Ben’s Biz Blog, where I wax cynically (you were expecting a different adverb?) about the bestselling, homerun book, “Moneyball.” The most noteworthy point about the book review is I am probably one of only eight readers in the entire baseball-reading world who didn’t rave wildly about it. Blasphemy, you shout?! Well, what can I say? Wait a sec, I did say. Read for yourself why I felt like Michael Lewis cheated.

It also gets reposted with an even more inflammatory intro by the 330-win flamethrower and ballplayer pundit, Jimmy Scott. What guys? Are you trying to get me lynched?

Klauke’s Spring Preview
Another fun evening was spent listening to a recent (14JAN09) interview with Steve Klauke on MiLBradio.com. Bonus! Listen closely for the rare opportunity to hear the dulcit tones of my sweetness. At any rate, Steve offers his thoughts on who’s a prospect, who’s in the pen and most importantly, who’s on first.

OK, I think that about clears out the cranial attic. Check back soon. And remember, pitchers and catchers report on February 14, 2009! Bye for now!

Entry Filed under: Game of Life,Major League Baseball,Minor Leagues,Orem Owlz,Rancho Cucamoga Quakes,Salt Lake Bees