Then Matt Palmer pitched himself into a starting slot for the Angels. Sean O’Sullivan arrived from Double-A Arkansas to fill out the starting rotation in Salt Lake, until he pitched his way to Los Angeles as well. The next pitcher called up to bolster our Triple-A rotation was Trevor Bell.

When the transaction-go-round starts spinning as fast as it has this season, it seems awfully quick to the trigger to select a ballplayer who’s only been at Triple-A for just one-and-a-half months. On the other hand, Bell has been as steady as they come, even when he hasn’t gotten the run support he deserves. So

Trevor Bell was selected by the Angels in the first round, 37th overall, a supplemental pick to compensate for the loss of free agent Troy Percival. His development from Rookie through Advanced-A was steady, albeit unspectacular, with ERA stats of 3.50, 4.14, 4.22, respectively. Bell made the Double-A roster out of spring training this year, and it seems as though something clicked. In 11 starts for Arkansas, he relinquished only 54 hits and just one homer in 68.2 IP for a 2.55 ERA.

Pitcher injuries among the Angels resulted in a mid-June spot start for O’Sullivan against San Francisco and subsequent promotion for Bell, who got his first Triple-A start against division-leading Colorado. And what a start it was; a two-hit, complete game shut-out. Since then, the 21-year-old has pitched like he’s been with us all season: 2.81 ERA, 52 H, 36 SO, 14 BB, 64.0 IP. Best of all has been his ability to go deep into the game, averaging 7.1 innings per start, with two 9-inning complete games. Bell doesn’t have a blazing fastball, and relies heavily on ground-ball outs. Mentally, he is one tough competitor. One of my favorite moments from this season was a five-pitch duel between Bell and major-league veteran Sal Fasano.

Much has been made of Bell’s off-season acting career, as well as his relation to the original Bozo the Clown. And while these are interesting media bytes, they aren’t nearly as intriguing as a couple of other extracurricular activities engaged in by the youngster from North Hollywood, CA.

At the start of the 2008 season, Bell joined Barry Zito’s “Strikeouts for Troops” campaign, in which he pledged to donate funds to the charity for every strikeout he made. Later that summer Bell was sent down to Single-A Cedar Rapids shortly after horrendous flooding had devastated the Kernels home city, along with several other Midwest cities along the Iowa and Cedar Rivers. During his short stay, Bell took a tour of the area and wrote a personal check for $2,500 towards rebuilding efforts.

What is noteworthy about these contributions is how uncommonly rare it is for low-level minor leaguers to be thinking of something other than their on-field performance. For yours truly, it’s yet another reason to cheer on our latest young gun…Your friend in baseball.

Thinking aloud then. . .Jeremy Hill, of late, is having some trouble holding leads. I love Francisco Rodriguez. Too bad he wasn’t around for half the month. Matt Brown and Bobby Wilson have been struggling at the plate. Reggie Willits spent two weeks nursing a sore hamstring. Freddy Sandoval and Chris Pettit are out with injuries until late July at the earliest. Oh have I mentioned, the weather’s been lousy too? Sigh!

It’s true, Brandon Wood has been his consistently awesome self. And I’ve noticed significant improvement in plate discipline, particularly his 23:47 BB:SO (a ratio of 1:2). In all honesty, though, it’s not like yours truly is going to add anything revelatory to the well-deserved praise for this kid’s ongoing development. And yes, I had noticed Brad Coon is steadily upping his offensive production after a slow start. Not to mention, just like last year, he’s an excellent guardian of our 420-foot-deep center field. Trevor Bell? Tempting. His awesome debut is slowly turning, start-by-start, into a Triple-A stay of real merit.

And then I was reminded of having overlooked the bright ray of sunshine in our uncharacteristically cold and dreary June. . .

So, this month’s pick is Adam Pavkovich. Pavkovich was selected in 2003 from the University of Alabama by the Angels in the 11th round, 330th overall pick. He came straight to Provo for his professional debut, where the Crimson Tide alumnus figured out wood bats rather quickly, well enough to earn a mid-season promotion to Single-A Cedar Rapids.* He continued to move up the farm system without a hitch; a full season with Advanced-A Rancho in 2004, and just the briefest of time with Double-A Arkansas before arriving at Triple-A for good in 2005.

*Apparently he suited up for one game as a Salt Lake Stinger that year, although I don’t remember it personally.

Yours truly readily admits having wanted an excuse to showcase Pavkovich for a couple seasons now. He stands out for me not only as a good ballplayer, but one who makes an extra effort to bond with his fans, particularly the young ones.

A BeesGal memory. . .One afternoon in 2007, after a long wait for players to come out onto the field, one young fan literally wilted in his spot. He put his head down, cradled in his arms atop of the concrete wall, and closed his eyes. And there he rested, oblivious to the now-arrived ballplayers talking with and signing for fans along the wall.

Pavkovich stopped and bent down, lowering his head to peer upward into the downturned face.

“Hey,” he said gently. Getting no response, he asked again, “Hey there. Are you OK?”

The small head popped straight up, a startled look upon the youngster’s face. Pavkovich laughed warmly, and spent a few extra minutes chatting before moving on.

Another from 2007. . .Pavkovich appeared a full 30 minutes prior to gametime. He walked along the wall, scanning the rows as if he was expecting to meet someone. Halfway between the dugout and bullpen he stopped. He called up to a boy who looked eight or nine years old, standing with his father about 10 rows up in the stands. The boy and father looked around, and then behind them. They looked back at Pavkovich, who was now holding up what looked to be a brand-new bat, its gleaming walnut finish unblemished by pine tar or ball marks.

“Hi! Do you want this?” he called out, energetically gesturing for them to come over.

The boy remained frozen until finally his father half-pushed them both down the stairs and to the wall. The precious gift signed and delivered, Pavkovich returned to the clubhouse to get ready for that evening’s work.

In 2008, Pavkovich had a break-through year on the diamond. He flashed some power—25 doubles, 4 triples, 22 HR, 80 RBI and  225 TB—while maintaining a nice .280 AVE. That sort of production earned Pavkovich his first invite to the Dominican Leagues this winter and big-league training camp this spring.

Fast forward to Opening Day 2009, and Pavkovich begins his fourth season with the Bees. There have been, of course, a few changes over the seasons. Harper and Nagy are gone. Mitchell and Bennett are in their second seasons as manager and pitching coach.

On April 15th, Pavkovich played his 425th game in a Salt Lake uniform, passing former Buzz outfielder Chris Latham to become the franchise leader in games played. As noted by longtime Salt Lake broadcaster and “voice of the Bees” Steve Klauke, this is a bittersweet achievement, one that underscores a long tenure in the bush leagues. Pavkovich also has taken over the lead in career two-base hits (98), and tied in sacrifice flies (20) with Buzz/Twins infielder Todd Walker. His 19 sacrifice bunts leaves him just three short of Buzz infielder Mike Moriarty (22) and two short of Stinger/Bees infielder Casey Smith (21). Thanks to last year’s bomber run, he also holds sixth place in career homeruns (45).

On the other hand, some things haven’t changed at all. #25 still arrives early to meet his fans at the wall, every day, win or lose, play or sit. He talks, he smiles, he jokes, he inspires.

He’s still the young man who makes the Knothole Club something special. According to local lore, the 23-year-old infielder voluntarily assumed the role of Knothole Club “camp director” soon after his arrival in 2005. This spring, Camp Director Pavkovich once-again led kids and parents on a guided tour of a day in the life of a professional ballplayer.

During the tour he was asked how many bats players receive from Anaheim.

He replied, “Two dozen, which for a good hitter will last all season.”

There was a pregnant pause, and his next sentence was accompanied by that warm smile, “If you’re a not-so-good hitter, you’ll need more.”

He is a man of many gloves, having played all nine defensive positions including catcher (2006) and pitcher (2009). He’s our bottom-of-the-ninth, clutch hitter—whether ripping a walk-off grand slam or laying down a suicide-squeeze bunt for the only, and winning, run of the game.

What more can I say? Save perhaps, it’s been a delight having this young man in a Salt Lake uniform for all these seasons. I believe Pavkovich is eligible for free agency after the end of this year, his seventh since being drafted by the Angels. In that case, I certainly wish him all the best, with just the tiniest selfish hope of getting to meet again for Knothole Club, 2010…Your friend in baseball.

So, a hitter it is then. And this month’s pick is Terry Evans. A bit of history is in order for the tall right-fielder from Dublin, GA. Evans was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 47th round (No. 1,409 overall) in 2001. Midseason of 2006, the Angels acquired Evans in exchange for Jeff Weaver, who went on to win a World Series ring with the Redbirds that year. Jewelry aside, hindsight omniscience makes the Angels front office look pretty smart. (Love this quote from the former Angels G.M.) Evans was immediately assigned to the Arkansas Travelers, where he proceeded to tear up the Texas League—in the box and on the basepaths—finishing the season by becoming only the 13th ballplayer in minor league history to join the 30-30 club. Post-season, in the Arizona Fall League, Evans slugged and ran his way onto the AFL Rising Stars Showcase team. Certainly he’d made the right impression with the new organization, and was added to the 40-man roster in November.

In 2007, Evans was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake and proceeded to produce more of the same. It didn’t take long for the front office to notice his steady progress. Michael Terry Evans was called up to the big leagues in early June as a fill-in for the injured Garrett Anderson, providing a rather memorable Father’s Day present for Michael, Sr. During his first MLB start, the younger Evans got his first MLB hit, “a towering two-run homer over the left-field wall.”

Click here to watch the video clip

Evans stayed long enough to appear in eight MLB games, and was returned to Salt Lake just in time to be selected to the 2007 PCL All-Star Team.

The future looked bright in 2008.  Evans started the season with a .316 BA as part of the Amazing April in which the Bees made minor-league history with a win-loss record of 23-2.  Then came the fateful game against Fresno, April 26. Late in the game, Evans slid hard into 2B trying to break up a double play and tweaked his shoulder. He tried to keep playing, although it turned out he’d torn his labrum. Evans went on the DL and spent most of the season rehabbing in extended spring training, not to return to Salt Lake until nearly the close of the season.

Evans was still on the 40-man roster in 2009, although his playing time at spring training camp was limited while the Angels’ development staff took a long look at 25-year-old outfield prospect Chris Pettit, who likewise had missed a good part of his 2008 season, due to a broken foot. Assigned to Salt Lake for 2009, Evans struggled at the plate to begin the season. Thankfully, his other tools remained intact. Possessor of one of the best outfield eyes and arms in the PCL, Evans showed no lingering effects from last season’s injury. And he flashed speed, 12 for 13 in stolen bases thus far in the season.

Evans was hardly alone in his inability to solve the round-ball-hit-square puzzle. As the freezing nights of April warmed up into the promise of May, and with the usual leadoff hitters struggling, Manager Bobby Mitchell tried something new for the batting order. On May 14th, he wrote Evans in the #1 spot. It clicked, and Evans produced a phenomenal 25 hits in 57 at-bats, .439 BA during the “leadoff experiment,” which ended on May 26. Moved to 3rd in the batting order, Evans’ bat stayed hot through the rest of the month.

The last 10 days of May were nothing less than sweet, slugging heaven. On May 21st, facing former Bees Giancarlo Alvarado, the third pitch of the game was the charm and Evans launched a solo homer over the left field wall. May 23rd, Evans hit his eighth homerun of the season against rehabbing MLB pitcher Jason Schmidt in Albuquerque. The following evening, May 24th, he got dinger #9 for the season, his third in four days, and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. The next night, May 25th, homerun #10, fourth in five days, streak to 11 games. May 26th, one hit, streak to 12 games. May 27th, no homers, although Evans went 3-4, scored the only Bees runs and extended his streak to 13 games.

Evans went 0-4 on May 28th, ending the hitting streak at 13 games. On May 3oth, during game #1 of a double-header, Evans went 1-3, a triple, and stole a base, bringing his season total to 12 SB, second highest on the Bees and tied for eighth in the PCL. In the second game, Evans went 2-4; both hits were run-scoring, game-tying doubles that helped the Bees stay within striking distance of Reno for the dramatic walk-off grand slam by Adam Pavkovich. Summarizing the month of May: .330 BA, 27 R, 38 H, 11 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 13 BB, 33 SO, 8 SB.

Still, it’s only June. And my fave outfielder gets tantalized a bit too often by those late-breaking, outside pitches. (I’d sure love to see his SO:BB ratio drop to something less than 2.) As the old saying goes, it’s a long season and anything can happen. Nonetheless, yours truly is hoping to for a break-through season for #24, B-R/T-R. Why? Well, per usual, this isn’t a story about mere numbers alone. How about those intangibles, an inner spark that catches my eye? Or my ear, as on a particular Easter Sunday. Need I say more? Didn’t think so …Your friend in baseball.

Terry Evans, Spring Training 2009

Still, despite our revolving-door roster in April, one name clearly stands out thus far. . .Chris Pettit. Yours truly must admit being a bit surprised. What I mean is, after following our Bees players during big league spring training, I expected to be writing about Brown, Figueroa, Rodriguez or Wood after the first month of the season.

So where has he been hiding, anyway? Well, part of his low profile was due to a rather painful 2008 season. After an impressive season with Cedar Rapids and Rancho Cucamonga in 2007, Pettit didn’t get much of a chance to play at the Double-A level. On Opening Day with the Travelers, he broke his foot and didn’t rejoin the team until the end of June. This photo, BTW, has to be the worst front-office, PR decision I’ve seen in, well, like forever. . .?

Coming back, Pettit found it harder than he expected to find his swing again. He kept at it, making the most of his playing time in the Arizona Fall League and by the end of the season was named to the 2008 All-Prospect Team. In February 2009, he was invited to the Rookie Career Development Program. Followed by an invite to big league camp this spring.

In fact, his rise in the farm system has been punctuated by awards:
05/08/2009 Angels’ Minor League Player for April
12/04/2008 AFL All-Prospect Team
11/18/2008 AFL Stenson Sportsmanship Award Finalist
11/10/2008 AFL Player of the Week
10/23/2008 AFL Rising Stars
08/08/2007 Angels’ Minor League Player for July
06/19/2007 MID Mid-Season All-Star
06/08/2007 Angels’ Minor League Player for May
08/31/2006 PIO Post-Season All-Star

As of yesterday Pettit was hitting .448 BA (1st in PCL), 96 AB (tied for 18th), 43 H (1st), 20 RBI (tied for 8th), 61 TB (6th), 1.121 OPS (4th). Last night in Portland, he pushed his hitting streak to 17 games with his last at-bat. During the streak, BTW, he’s kept up a .536 BA and multiple-hit games for all but five!

How did I not hear more about this prospect, sooner? Seems as though I’m not the only one, though, who’d been a little slow to take notice. At the beginning of the season, Salt Lake Bees broadcaster Steve Klauke was told Pettit is most highly regarded for his defense. It’s true he’s got wheels in the outfield. Yeah, but, . . .35 hits in 29 games. . .those are some crazy offensive numbers.

I already was looking forward watching our major-league infield this spring—Brown, 1B | Rodriguez, 2B | Wood, SS | Sandoval, 3B. Looks as though we’ve got a pretty hot outfield as well, with Brad Coon, Terry Evans and that new kid, . . .Chris Pettit. . .Your friend in baseball.

Actually, I’ve been thinking about this one all winter. Or at least, ever since I noticed his Winter Ball numbers. Drumroll, please. . . .this month’s pick is Kendry Morales.

If I had only one word to describe the big man when he first appeared in Salt Lake, I’d say, um, . . . “stiff.” I’ll admit that’s a bit unfair, since Morales spoke virtually no English when he arrived in the U.S. And let’s not forget, the kid was only 21 years old.

Furthermore, considering the journey he took to get here, who could blame him for feeling as though he’d been teleported to an uncharted, possibly hostile, planet? Getting out of Cuba is not as simple as grabbing your toilet kit and passport, and hopping onto the next available flight. For reasons a bit vague, perhaps rumors of his discontent, the one-time Cuban All-Star got yanked off the national team. Such a fall from the good graces of El Comandante means going from being a pampered celebrity-athlete to just another 20-something party laborer. Morales tried to escape more than once and spent some time in jail—which is how the Cuban government sets the example for other public-figure-would-be-defectors.

Finally in 2004, Morales made it to the Dominican Republic, via Miami. He spent his first year in organized baseball with a couple-dozen games at Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga and quickly moved up to Double-A Arkansas. He began his second year, 2006, on the Salt Lake opening day roster. That summer, he turned 23.

Looking over his stats for the first two years at Triple-A, I was surprised to see such a high SO:BB ratio— 70 SO: 29 BB is nearly 2.5-to-1 (ouch). I wasn’t surprised to see the low homerun totals (17 HR). At the time, I wondered what the Angels were planning to do with a slow-footed, switch-hitter who struck out a lot and didn’t hit the long ball. Nor did he have the greatest defensive glove. Let me rephrase that, it seemed as though his feet kept getting tangled up. As if his first step was always an “oopsie.”

Change was in the air last season, although his PCL numbers don’t readily show it. He looked like he was finally learning to relax, like he was actually enjoying his job. He smiled more often, the sort of shy smile you’d expect from a young man playing baseball.

After the Angels’ early exit from post-season play, Morales headed south to play in the Dominican Winter League. And there was nothing shy about the way he hammered the ball. In 29 games for the Gigantes del Cibao he hit .404 BA in 99 AB with 8 HR, 14 SO and 9 BB. ¡Caramba! ¡Quemado la ligua!

Winter Ball wrapped up at the end of January. Next stop? Spring Training in Tempe, AZ. With Texeira gone to the Yankees, the Angels front office made it quite clear who they’d like to take over at 1B. As of March 30, Morales had the most at-bats, 74 AB, and fifth-highest average, .405 BA (among Angels ballplayers with <27 AB), 3 HR, 8 SO and 3 BB. The only teammate with as many round-trippers and a higher average was Erick Aybar. BTW, you’ll also observe the only teammate with more total RBIs is Matt Brown. (Many thanks to Lyle Spencer for making note of this last stat in his blog.)

Thus, with fond hopes for his continued success this BeesGal says, “Vaya con dios,” or in Salt Lake vernacular. . .Bye for now!

Photo credit Rick R Dykhuizen AAA Photos Used with permission.

• UPDATE •

September 01, 2008 — These just-arrived photos from Rick Dykhuizen were too good not to post. You da’ man, Rick! BONUS:Captured on digital film, a glimpse of an honest-to-goodness BeesGal in her favorite habitat. Click on the photo below for a clue.

Photo credit | Rick R Dykhuizen AAA Photos Used with permission.

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September 01, 2008 — Apropos for a blog named after an imaginary pitch, this month’s pick names a ballplayer who’s been missing from the Salt Lake Bees roster since August 8th, Sean Rodriguez. What inspired this Lady’s Choice was a remark he made while autographing a group photo of Bees infielders: Freddy Sandoval, Brandon Wood and Sean

.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

As he looked for an appropriate spot to sign, he suddenly smiled and said, “Hey, there’s our franchise player.” Of course, he was referring to Wood, who’s been in the spotlight ever since The Sporting News named him Minor League Baseball Player of the Year in 2005 and Baseball America named him the #1 Angels prospect in 2006. Despite the good-natured teasing, Sean wasn’t some throwaway pick for the Los Angeles Angels in 2003. He was selected in the 3rd round (90th pick overall), in the same draft as Brandon Wood (1st round, 23rd overall), Reggie Willits (7th round, 210 overall) and Adam Pavkovich (11th round, 330th overall).

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

He stayed a bit incognito through the lower levels of the system, perhaps because it’s been a bit difficult to find a consensus on his tools. John Sickels likes him. Others claim his defensive range is below average. Another site thinks his strikeout percentage is too high. One of the oddest comments I’ve read is his body type does not conform to the prototypical middle infielder.* *“His comps aren`t really helpful as far as conjuring up a mental image–try to think of him as a Ronnie Belliard type. . .he`s sort of squat and not especially athletic, so he`s not a scout`s prospect.” [source: Baseball Prospectus, 2008, viewing requires paid subscription] Huh? Um, . . .if this theory actually holds water, then how on earth did these two oddballs make it past the “physique police” and into the Major Leagues?

Well regardless of appearances, our 6’1″, 215-lb middle infielder has shown a steady glove and surefire arm for the Bees. And goodness gracious, he swings a productive bat.* One my favorite memories from this season was a walk-off-the-plane-pinch-hit home run on July 23rd (time marker 2:43:00) to send the game into extra innings. (Darn if that Nelson Cruz didn’t answer with a solo shot the very next inning, putting the Redhawks ahead for good.)

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

*Of course, I am obligated to point out that Franklin Covey Field is one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the most BA-inflated league in the minors, the Pacific Coast League. As regular readers know and new visitors are about to discover, I don’t fancy myself an armchair GM, virtual scout or any other baseball insider. What gets shared with you readers is what I’ve observed at the ballpark and dug up from working the ‘net. My suggestions or suppositions are simply that—yours truly thinking aloud, in hopes of stimulating a few little grey cells out there. So how about I offer these thoughts to chew on. . . ? I’ll start with a tip of my pink cap to the Angels’ philosophy of developing major leaguers from within their farm system. It means we Triple-A fans get to see firsthand how young ballplayers are prepped for that first dip of their toes into the MLB pool. This long view of athlete development and promotion allows us to track their progress—noting how soon and often players go up, as well as how long they stick.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

So here’s a fun comparison I put together for the infielder prospects who’ve traveled back and forth to the big leagues this season: Sean, Brandon, Kendry Morales (amateur free agent, 2004) and Matt Brown (10th round, 299th overall). The first thing I noticed is Sean has the most big-league time by a landslide—75 days, and counting. SPACER TEXT

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

This decision to keep Sean in Anaheim over other infield choices is intriguing. The skinny from the Angels’ coaching staff is Sean helps the Angels win ballgames with his proven defensive gifts, despite not having figured out major-league pitching. (At least, not yet!) I can’t help but wonder if Angel’s Manager Mike Scioscia is applying the same strategy he uses for the catching staff, which is to assess the value of a ballplayer based how he contributes to the win column. Take a look at this at-a-glance summary (through August 31st):

*Days on the major-league roster. **Because Morales and Brown have played so few games, these numbers represent total game appearances (G) rather than games started (GS). And here’s what I’ve picked up from watching Sean play. He brings to the game a calm, steady confidence that gives everyone a boost. He’s the kind of team player you love seeing in the lineup, in the dugout and on the field. Watching him play every day without letting up and respond to crunch time without fumbling, it’s hard to imagine he’s only 23 years old (nearly two months younger than Brandon); and even harder to remember this is the first full season he’s spent above the Double-A level.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

Perhaps Sean’s level-headed attitude can be traced to his baseball roots. His father, Johnny Rodriquez, is hitting coach for the Jamestown Jammers (Florida Marlins Single-A affiliate). And I believe his deep-seated Christian faith is a factor as well. Sean is quick to voice his gratitude to God as the source of personal inspiration, good fortune and athletic success. Whatever the reason, Sean’s baseball achievements thus far are hardly a joke. The simple fact that he’s started more games in Anaheim this season than the “franchise player” certainly indicates he’s doing something right. Hey, I’m with Sickels. I like this ballplayer. Bye for now!

• UPDATE •

August 31, 2008 — I love passing along the news on all the good things that have been happening for Shane Loux this season. Most recently, Shane was named to the 2008 All-PCL Team, an end-of-the-season honor voted upon by league managers and media representatives. Shane was joined on the All-PCL Team by three of his teammates: Matt Brown/3B, Brandon Wood/SS and Jason Bulger/Relief Pitcher. One day later, the league announced Shane had been named the 2008 PCL Pitcher of the Year.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

Of course, the biggest news of 2008 was Shane being added to the Angels’ 40-man roster on August 5th. Since then, he has pitched very well out the bullpen. And he’s doing what it takes to stay up there, by relying on his proven formula for success—groundball outs. Here are his line scores through August 31th:

*NP=Number of Pitches, S=Strikes
**GO=Ground Outs, AO=Fly Outs

The aforementioned mental toughness (scroll down to “Comments”) came in handy during two long-relief appearances less than a week apart (3.2 IP on August 22nd, and 3 IP on August 27th). It also appeared in a sparkling defensive play against Oakland on August 27th. The batter hit a rocket shot that came off the bat so quickly, Shane fell backwards onto his rump while gloving the ball at face level. Realizing the baserunner had broken for second base, Shane quickly turned and from his knees threw to first, turning a very pretty 1-3 double-play to end the inning.

Not a bad for a guy who, less than a year ago, was playing beer-league softball. I hope Shane takes a little time on his birthday to reward himself for his perseverance and hard work. Wearing a major league uniform may the best present ever, but we know it certainly wasn’t a freebie for the man from South Dakota. Here’s to many more seasons to come, Big Leaguer. Bye for now!

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August 20, 2008 — Brent Asay was kind enough to share a couple of photos from the big leagues. Shane looks good in red and white, don’t you think?

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

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• UPDATE •

August 05, 2008 — Shane got his first appearance as a Los Angeles Angel in the 8th inning of tonight’s game against Baltimore. Wearing #68, he faced 7 batters in 2.0 IP. His final numbers:

2.0 IP | 1 BB | 5 GBO | 1 FBO | 0 ER | ERA=0.00

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BB• UPDATE •

August 05, 2008 — Seems as though the Salt Lake record books are going to have to wait their turn. Shane had his contract purchased by the Los Angeles Angels. Most likely he will be pitching out of the bullpen. Go get ‘em #29!

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August 01, 2008 — When I started doing this Lady’s Choice feature, I didn’t realize how tough it would be to pick one standout guy from a 24-man roster every month. On the other hand, it’s fun having an excuse to give a little love to “our guys.”

This month’s pick is Shane Loux, currently part of the starting rotation for our Salt Lake Bees. He came to us via a rather unconventional journey worth noting. Originally drafted during the 2nd round (53rd pick) by the Detroit Tigers in 1997, Shane was selected ahead of some notable hurler-peers, including Randy Wolf (54th pick), Scott Linebrink (56th), Jeff Weaver (62nd), Aaron Cook (70th), Rick Ankiel (72nd). He climbed steadily through the minors, seemingly poised to make good on his potential. He struggled in a double-handful of major league appearances, although he bounced back nicely during each return to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

Shane sat out 2005 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. In 2006, he pitched 56 innings from the bullpen for the Triple-A Omaha Royals (Kansas City organization). Then things took a turn for the weird. Shane was ready to start the 2007 season in the Seattle Mariners organization when they suddenly voided the contract, stating concerns over a surgical procedure to improve the circulation in his legs.

In less time than Derryl Cousins might declare, “You’re outta here!” the one-time prospect found himself coaching high school and playing recreational softball. Then, through a series of fortuitous events, he got a fall tryout with the Angels, was invited to spring training, signed in March and assigned to the 2008 Opening Day roster for the Salt Lake Bees.

Cool, yes?

And thus we arrive at the here and now, during which the Comeback Kid has pitched like a man on a mission. He was a critical component of Salt Lake’s Amazing April during which the team racked up 23 wins and only 2 losses. In the midst of this charge into the Minor League record books, Shane had the media buzzing with his 2.05 ERA through 30.2 IP (innings pitched). Doubters at the time could have justifiably argued that this was nothing more than the early-season flash of a well-rested arm.

Except, . . .it’s now well past the All-Star break and that soon-to-be-29-year-old arm seems to be holding up just fine as we head into the last 30 games of the season. As of July 31st, Shane led the PCL in most innings pitched (138 IP). He’s averaged nearly 6-1/3 IP per game in 22 starts—11 of those being quality starts (at least 6 IP, fewer than 3 earned runs). This kind of reliability from a starting pitcher is invaluable for keeping the bullpen fresh through the grind of a 144-game season.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permissio

In order to understand where his success comes from, it’s worth taking a non-traditional look at his results thus far. Shane’s strikeout percentage of 12.9 K% (77 SO/595 batters faced) is near the bottom of all PCL pitchers. By comparison, Tony Armas with his PCL-leading 2.54 ERA has a strikeout rate 9.1 percentage points higher. In fact, only one PCL pitcher has a lower ERA and lower strikeout percentage than Shane.

So how does he pull off a 3.98 ERA, 7th lowest in the PCL, without throwing 5-6 strikeouts per start? To begin with, it certainly helps that he doesn’t walk many batters. His 6.7 BB% (40 BB/595 batters faced) walk rate is 14th lowest in the PCL. Instead of going for the mano a mano strikeout duel that makes for sexy headlines in next morning’s game recap, Shane relies on a team approach to manufacture outs. He throws what are sometimes referred to as “heavy” fastballs—pitches that batters have trouble lofting up and deep into the outfield. As such, the pitcher’s job is to generate hits that stay close to the ground and preferably head in the direction of an eagerly awaiting infielder. And Shane does his job; his ground-ball productivity is 53 GB%, tied for 3rd in the league. According to Bees broadcaster Steve Klauke (0:36:10) by July 20th Shane was 2nd in the PCL in getting batters to hit into double-plays with 18. Of course, it should be noted that the inherent risk of this technique is one’s ERA rises or falls on the defense of your teammates.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

At this level of athletic excellence, physical tools alone are not enough to guarantee success. On the other hand, mental attitude can make or break a major-league bid. In an April 28th interview (0:04:15), Shane describes how his sudden and involuntary time off provided new insights into why he plays and more importantly, for whom. He learned the value of teamwork from coaching high schoolers. He rediscovered his passion for the game from his rec-ball teammates. As he talks about not letting bad outings get him down, it reveals the blossoming of an enlightened expectation for his second tenure in organized baseball.

For devoted bush-league fans such as yours truly, it is rewarding to note when athletes seem to be playing for something more than a contractual performance clause. Which brings me to what I really like about our born-again ballplayer with the ever-ready smile. He thinks like a winner, he performs like a winner. At the same time, he has discovered that athletic success comes from a collective effort by the entire roster and not just one guy’s golden arm.

Photo credit Rick R Dykhuizen AAA Photos Used with permission.

Manager Bobby Mitchell summed it up best, “He’s been great. In my opinion, he should have been an All-Star.”

On July 14 in Salt Lake, Shane gave up a miserly 1 ER and 2 BB in a 7-inning start (1:17:00), while racking up 4 SO along the way.* Watching Shane battle to keep his teammates within striking distance, it was easy to see why the Bees skipper rates his performance as all-star caliber.

*Unfortunately, his teammates couldn’t reward him with a win—allowing an unearned run on a fielding error, giving up a 2-run homer in the 9th and leaving 11 men on base. Arrrggg. . .

If not all-star, then how about All-Time? At 12-6, Shane is one win away from tying the Salt Lake franchise record for most wins by a starting pitcher in a single season, originally set by Dustin Moseley in 2006. Seems appropriate for #29 to be chasing a record that requires a collective team effort, don’t you think? Bye for now!

• UPDATE •

July 09, 2008 — Chris’ fan club was kind enough to inform me they call themselves TEAM WALKER. They even have uniforms! Many, many thanks for the information and for allowing me to share this photo.

♥BB♥BB♥BB♥BB♥

July 01, 2008 — This month I’d like to feature one of the newest members of the Salt Lake Bees, #14, Chris Walker, OF. Chris arrived in late May from the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League (not affiliated with any major league team). Originally drafted as a Chicago Cubs prospect, Chris worked his way up through their farm system before stalling a bit at the Triple-A level. The Cubs cut him right at the start of spring training this year, which is how Chris eventually ended up in Camden.

I think it would be appropriate right now to mention that I’m still puzzled as to why Chris was cut so abruptly—just prior to the start of spring-training games. Granted, Chris didn’t have spectacular numbers throughout his stay with the Cubs (we’ll discuss some of this below), however they didn’t seem all THAT bad. And considering how productive he’s been here (albeit for a very short period thus far) you have to wonder why the Cubs didn’t think he was worth hanging onto, even as an add-on for an early season trade. Just seemed worth mentioning at any rate.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

When you look at Chris’ numbers, there are three things that jump right out at you: 1) speed, 2) speed and 3) SPEED. Chris’ preferred territory is center field, and he’s got the wheels to prove it. His fielding percentage in 2007 was 100%, with 65 PO (put-outs) in 47 games. Currently for Salt Lake, his fielding percentage is 98.6% with 71 PO in 32 games and only one error. We’ve been treated to more than a few spectacular running catches that kept runs from scoring in key game situations. The other place he showcases his speed is on the basepaths. Chris stole an eye-popping 220 bases during his first five years of professional baseball. He stole 60 bases at Single-A in 2004, 60 at Advanced-A in 2005 and 50 at Double-A in 2006! (Did I mention the kid’s fast?)

Batting-wise, there is his worrisome history of striking out, a lot. This is a problem if you don’t balance out the equation by driving in a lot of runs with homers and sacrifice flies, in which case such sins are forgiven (somewhat). Chris does not appear to have the power to be a slugging, clean-up hitter. His ability to switch-hit, bunt and steal bases indicates that his ideal role is as a lead-off hitter. All the more reason why he needs to put a serious dent in the number of strike-outs. That said, the future looks bright here in Salt Lake, where Chris has shown a talent for getting on base any way he can. As of June 29, Chris was batting a nice .329 with a perfectly acceptable 46 H, 9 BB and 22 SO in 140 plate appearances. He’s even delivered a grand slam, on May 30th. He lays down the prettiest push/drag bunts, and can use his speed to transform a move-the-runner-up sacrifice into an everyone-is-safe base hit. All of these tools should help him succeed in a farm system built on Scioscia’s small-ball philosophy.*

*There is a prevailing attitude among American League teams to rely on game tactics that offer the best statistical chances of scoring runs. This often means batters will walk rather than swing, swing rather than bunt and only advance one base at-a-time on a clean hit to the outfield. LA Angels manager Mike Scioscia prefers an aggressive style of play, nicknamed small ball, that seeks to advance runners whenever possible. Needless to say, small-ball is a h*ll of a lot more fun to watch than the more patient, playing-it-safe approach.

Photo credit | Brent Asay©2008 Used with permission

One Chris’ most attractive assets is his attitude. Naturally, any time a player finds himself hitting leadoff for the team with the best win-loss record in the PCL after spending the last two months playing independent ball (May 28th interview) in the middle of nowhere, yes, well, that tends to put a smile on a guy’s face. Even so, it seems to be a genuine expression of his personality. Chris comes out early and often to sign autographs, and takes his time chatting with fans before the game; he’s already got a vocal and supportive fan club. Granted, with only 32 games played Chris hasn’t had many bad plate appearances, however he seems to bounce right back after a less-than-ideal outing. Keeping his head on straight and sustaining that all-important “even keel” could end up being the difference between failure in Iowa and success in Salt Lake. I will definitely have my ear glued to the radio when the Bees visit the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs Triple-A affiliate) in early August.

Chris has only been with us a month, and as seasoned diamond watchers know, a lot can happen during the grind of 144 games. Nonetheless, if he can keep this up through the dog days of summer, he’ll be golden. Do I hear the faint notes of a September call-up beckoning from far-off in the West? Bye for now!

For example, here’s my report on Salt Lake Bees catcher Bobby Wilson. Despite the dearth of stats, I think it presents a pretty good picture of an up-and-coming ballplayer. I also should point out here Bobby is more legitimate prospect than suspect, nonetheless his rating adds up to more than the mere sum of his 5-tool scores.

Bobby has a terrific eye at the plate and great patience. More than once he has flat-out worn down the opposing pitcher–hitting foul balls and letting pitches out of the strike zone go by until he would draw a walk or get a base hit. During his first at-bat in the major leagues, Bobby produced a carbon-copy performance of what he does at the AAA level. He worked the count full on 8 pitches, a mix of low-70s changeups and high-80s fastballs, then stroked a clean single to right center. There’s a video replay at the Angels website. Look for the link under Multimedia: “Wilson’s first career hit.”

Bobby’s defense is likewise awesome. He’s got a cannon for an arm and according to local broadcaster Steve Klauke BeesWax Blog, May 15, he is leading all Pacific Coast League catchers in throwing out baserunners trying to steal. Bobby has great mobility side-to-side as well as straight up, blocking errant benders and snagging flyaway fastballs. In fact, the Bees have been playing him at 1st base this season where I believe his fielding percentage is perfect; not a single fielding error.

OK, so those are the physical tools. What I really like about this quiet 25-year-old is his business-like approach to his profession. Emotionally, he doesn’t seem to get too high or too low. As mentioned, he’s got nerves of steel at the plate. Best of all, he doesn’t take for granted what Mother Nature gave him at birth. He works hard to improve his craft, both offense and defense. Last season when the team had a day off, he drove out for extra hitting practice with the single-A affiliate team. Likewise, after a spell of shaky throws to second he spent extra time with coaches working on his footwork and release. This April Bobby showed up in Salt Lake City looking trim and fit, like he’d shed some extra pounds over the winter. Again, it would seem to indicate he’d been thinking proactively about reducing the wear and tear on those precious legs over a long summer, not to mention sustaining his mobility.

Anyway, that’s my $0.02. Bye for now!