NYPL Alumni Make The AFL Rising Stars Game

Today, the Arizona Fall League announced the rosters for its Rising Stars Game this Saturday, November 6th at 6 pm in Arizona (9 pm in the East).  The game will be televised live by the MLB Network and online at MLB.com.  Several NYPL Alumni have earned positions in this special game.

East All-Stars:
Mesa (Angles, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Pirates); Phoenix (Athletics, Braves, Dodgers, Marlins, Yankees); Scottsdale (Diamondbacks, Giants, Nationals, Orioles, Rockies)

Steve Cishek, RHP, Marlins Prospect, Jamestown Jammers 2007
     7 Games, 1 Save, 7.2 IP, 2 R/2ER, 8 Hits, 3 BB, 10 K
Justin De Fratus, RHP, Phillies Prospect, Williamsport Crosscutters 2008
     5 Games, 5.0 IP, 0R/0ER, 1 Hit, 2BB, 10K, 4.0 GO/AO, .063 Avg.
Brad Holt, RHP, Mets Prospect, Brooklyn Cyclones 2008
     4 Games, 4 Starts, 2-1, 2.38 ERA, 11.1 IP, 7 Hits, 6R/3ER, 8BB, 12 K, .175
Cole Kimball, RHP, Nationals Prospect, Vermont Lake Monsters 2006/2007
     6 Games, 1 Save, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP, 5 Hits, 1 R/1ER, 1 BB, 7 K, .200 Avg.
Josh Zeid, RHP, Phillies Prospect, Williamsport Crosscutters 2009
     4 Games, 4 Starts, 3-0, 3.86 ERA, 14.0 IP, 6R/6ER, 1 BB, 12 K, .204 Avg.
Ryan Adams, IF, Orioles Prospect, Aberdeen IronBirds 2006/2007
     10 Games, .289 Avg. (11-38), 2 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 1 BB, 9 K
Jordanny Valdespin, IF, Mets Prospect, Brooklyn Cyclones 2009
     16 Games, .364 Avg. (24-66), 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 9 K, 7 SB, 0 CS
Michael Burgess, OF, Nationals Prospect, Vermont Lake Monsters 2007
     11 Games, .244 Avg. (10-41), 2 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 14 K, 1 SB

West All-Stars
Peoria Javelinas (Astros, Blue Jays, Indians, Mariners, Red Sox); Peoria Saguaros (Padres, Rays, Reds, Twins, White Sox); Surprise (Brewers, Cardinals, Rangers, Royals, Tigers)

Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox Prospect, Lowell Spinners 2008
     12 Games, .267 Avg. (12-45), 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 12 BB, 9 K
Jose Iglesias, IF, Red Sox Prospect, Lowell Spinners 2010
     9 Games, .294 Avg. (10-34), 4 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 SB, 1 CS
Jason Kipnis, IF, Indians Prospect, Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2009
     11 Games, .159 Avg. (7-44), 3 2B, 1 3B, 2HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 SB
   

Lowell Spinners Hold Ticket Prices Steady for 2011

On October 29th, the Lowell Spinners, NYPL Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, announced their upcoming 2011 schedule.  In addition to the news that Lowell will host the 6th Annual NYPL All-Star Game on Tuesday August 16th, the Spinners front-office stated that it will keep ticket prices the same as the 2010 season.

"We aim to provide the most affordable family entertainment option for families throughout the Merrimack Valley and beyond," said Spinners Vice President and General Manager Tim Bawmann. "By maintaining our price structure from 2010, we ensure families can enjoy the best entertainment the Merrimack Valley has to offer at an affordable price."

Tri-City/Batavia Playoff Game Named MiLB Game of the Year

In fan voting at MiLB.com, Game 1 of this season's NYPL Semi-Final between Stedler Division Champion Tri-City ValleyCats and Pinckney Divison Champion Batavia Muckdogs was named the Short-Season A Game of the Year:

Class A Short-Season — Daniel Adamson hits walk-off playoff shot
 
Pinch-hitter Daniel Adamson came through in the clutch for Tri-Cities on Sept. 7, blasting a walk-off homer to complete an unlikely 10-9 victory over Batavia in Game 1 of the New York-Penn League semifinals. Adamson's homer set the postseason tone for the ValleyCats, who went on to win their first-ever league title.

Rochester Community Baseball To Run Muckdogs in 2011

With a pending contract between Rochester Community Baseball (RCB) and the Genesee County Baseball Club (GCBC) set to expire on October 31, Naomi Silver, President and CEO of the RCB, announced that the group will continue to operate the Batavia Muckdogs for the 2011 NYPL Season.

Naomi Silver, President and CEO of RCB, Inc. stated that "The Red Wings are very pleased to be able to continue to help Batavia in maintaining the operation of the Muckdogs. The Muckdogs are an extremely important asset; not only of great financial value as a Minor League Baseball franchise, but an important entertainment venue in the Batavia community. We would not want to walk away from the operation, leaving the team at risk of not being able to support itself financially while awaiting a sale. Our staying will permit the GCBC board the opportunity to seek out a sale of the Muckdogs on terms which will be most beneficial to the Batavia Community."

Earlier this summer, the RCB, owners and operators of the AAA Rochester Red Wings, announced it was not interested in running the nearby Muckdogs due to low attendance, low advertising revenue, and accumlated yearly losses.  As a result, the GCRC decided to seek bids to sell the franchise.  According to a report in the Batavia Daily News, the GCRC have had inquiries from several groups and negotiations are ongoing.

In September, the GCRC and the St. Louis Cardinals renewed their Player Development Contract for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.  This move led to speculation that the RBC would continue operating the team, as well.

The RBC has operated the Muckdogs since 2008, and their contract with the GCRC allows them to net 5% of the total sales price for each year.  With a committment for 2011, the RBC will be entitled to 20% of the final price, which could earn the group $800,000 if the team sells for the going NYPL rate of 4 million dollars.

Brian Paris, President of the GCBC, is confident that the team will remain in Batavia for the 2011 season:

With five months to go before the start of a new season, it is increasingly unlikely that a new owner or ownership group would have the resources — namely a facility — to move the franchise before the start of the 2011 season.

“There’s no facility that I know of, within the geographic area of the New York-Penn League, that would be suitable to move a team into,” said Brian Paris, president of the Genesee County Baseball Club, via phone Tuesday. “So with each day that passes, it grows more unlikely that a new buyer would relocate the team. There’s no guarantee, but logically, it would be difficult to pull off.”

He is also hoping that the final sale of the franchise goes to a local buyer.  If not, the next best option would be for local individuals or groups to come up with the added advertising dollars to make it advantageous for any owner or ownership group to keep the team in Batavia:

“Our hope is that a local sale will occur, or that an individual or company will step forward with an interest in spending substantial sponsorship dollars, allowing the financial  picture to improve,” said Paris.  “A company interested in naming rights, for example, would  make a big difference here in Batavia, the way it has in most communities around the country.” 

Regardless of who is the eventual owner or owners of the team, it is vitally important for the fans in Genesee County to go out and support the Muckdogs in order to stay in the area.  Last year, the Muckdogs were last in attendence for the NYPL, and 166th out of 176 affiliated MLB Minor League teams, with a total of 36,601. 

Former Cyclone Named AFL Player Of The Week

Last Monday, former Brooklyn Cyclone pitcher, Brad Holt, was named the pitcher-of-the-week for Week 2 of the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  Holt, a first round draft pick of the Mets in 2008, played for the Cyclones that same season.  That year, he went 5-3 with a 1.87 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.  Besides making the NYPL All-Star team in 2008, Holt was named to the Florida State League (Advanced A) All-Star team in 2009.  After a rough 2010, where he went a combined 3-14 with a 8.34 ERA with St. Lucie (Florida State League) and Binghamton (AA Eastern League), Holt seems to have regained his confidence in this Minor League All-Star league:

Brad Holt, Mesa Solar Sox
The 24-year-old Holt, a right-hander, sports a 2-0 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA in two starts. He has allowed only four hits and four walks in nine innings pitched with five strikeouts.
 
The Mets' first-round (33rd overall) choice in the 2008 Draft, Holt, a native of Albermarle, North Carolina, divided his 2010 season between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. He owns a 15-24 career record with a 5.29 ERA in 58 appearances (57 starts) in three minor-league seasons.  

MiLB Profiles Former Doubleday Erik Kratz

"If the day comes when I'm done playing, I want to say at the end that I've put everything I had into it. I want to say that I've worked hard to be in the best shape I can and to be prepared every day, whether I'm playing or not." This philosophy, he knows, "won't make you a big leaguer over night. But it is a mindset that will help you to improve." -- Erik Kratz.

Earlier today, Josh Johnson posted a profile of current Pittsburgh Pirates minor league catcher, Erik Kratz at MiLB.com.  Kratz, who made this year's International League All-Star team, just returned from a successful competition at the 2010 COPABE Pan-American/World Cup Qualifier Tournament in Puerto Rico.

Erik started his career as a 29th round draft pick of the Tornto Blue Jays in 2002.  In 2003, he spent 49 games with the Blue Jays' then-affiliate Auburn Doubledays, and hit .312.  In 2004, he returned to the NYPL team for another 10 games where he hit .308.

From 2002 through 2008, Erik went from Rookie ball in the Pioneer League (Medicine Hat) to the AAA International League (Syracuse).  After his 7th season, Erik became a free-agent and decided to find a team where he could get more playing time.  He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was assigned to their AAA affiliate in Indianapolis.

In 2009, Kratz was named to the AAA International League (IL)/Pacific Coast League (PCL) All-Star Game, and was named "Top Star" of the game.  In 2010, he again made the IL team.  During the game, he was notified that he had been promoted to the Big Leagues for the very first time.  He stayed with the Pirates for 9 games before returing to Indianapolis in August. 

Erik recently cleared waivers and is still with Pittsburgh.  However, the door remains open for him to find a team that will give him a better chance to make it back to "The Show".

SI Pitcher Named As Finalist For MiLB "Best Reliever"

This week's category for Minor League Baseball's End-Of-Year Awards is "Best Reliever".  For Short Season Leagues, the only NYPL player to be nominated is Staten Island Yankees' Chase Whitley.

Whitley, a 15th round selection out of Troy University in this year's MLB Draft, appeared in 28 games for Staten Island.  Over his NYPL season, Chase went 4-2 with a 1.31 ERA and 15 saves.  In 34.1 IP, he gave up 18 hits, 5 earned runs, and 15 walks while striking out 44.  He had an impressive GO/AO (Ground Out/ Fly Out) ratio of 1.71 while holding opposing batters to .157 average.

His season was so solid that the Yankees moved him up to the Advanced A team in Tampa in September.

The voting will continue through October 25th.

For those interested in last week's poll, Brooklyn Cyclone Cory Vaughn came in 2nd place for Best Short Season Hitter of the Year.