Check Out Inside Page 8
Interview with
Sean Doolittle T.J. Walz, RHP
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Table Of Contents 4 7 8 12 13 14 18 24 31
Alumni Association Ports in the Community Sean Doolittle Interview Ports Roster Visiting Team Rosters Score Cards Ports Bios Veterans Interview Stadium Map
Game Promotions: 5/4 - Tin Lunchbox Giveaway EZ Network Systems
5/5 - Johnny Cash Night, Fireworks Food 4 Less
5/6 - Poster Giveaway 5/11 - Eric Byrnes Appearance Ghirardelli Chocolate Giveaway Delta Charter School powered by Advance Academics Inc.
5/12 - Alumni Night, Fireworks Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort
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Stockton Ports Alumni Night Saturday, May 12, 2012 Join the Ports as we celebrate players of years past. You have the chance to meet: • • • • • • • •
GJ Raymundo (2002-03) Tom Munoz (1955-56) Rich Scramaglia (1955-56) Ernie Broglio (1955) Sam Hitcher (1955) Leon Brown (1966-70) Vic Solari (1951) Ray Youngdahl (1959) 1992 California League Champions
Player Highlight – Leon Brown (INF) 1966-70 1. What is your favorite memory from your time with the Ports? Stealing 51 bases in 1970, tying the league record held by Paul Blair at the time. 2. What was the best thing about playing for the Ports? Having my family and friends support me from Sacramento. 3. What accomplishments from your days with the Ports are you most proud of? Making MVP, All Stars, and leading the league in stolen bases and triples. 4. What favorite memory do you have about the team, your front office staff? Winning the California League Championship. 5. What was your favorite ballpark in the Cal League? The home field – Stockton Ballpark (Billy Hebert Field). 6. Who was the toughest opponent the Ports faced? The New York Mets Visalia Club in 1970. Bottom line, we won. 7. Do you ever make it back to Stockton? Yes, on fishing trips with my brothers. 8. Do you keep in touch with any of your former teammates? Yes, with Bobby Grich, Don Baylor, and Randy Cohen. 9. What are you up to now? I am presently retired from Fed Ex and working camps and clinics for Major League Alumni. 10. Where did you go to high school? I went to Grant Union High School in Sacramento. 11. Where did you go to college? American River College in Sacramento and also Delta College in Stockton. 12. Where do you currently reside? I presently live in Phoenix, Ariz. with my family.
Alumni Archives
1992 First Half Standings (Apr. 30 – May 14) Thur. April 30 – Modesto 3, Stockton 0 (13-8) Fri. May 1 – Stockton 3, Modesto 2 (14-8) Sat. May 2 – Modesto 6, Stockton 4 (14-9) Sun. May 3 – Modesto 3, Stockton 1 (14-10) Mon. May 4 – Stockton 6, Salinas 4 (15-10) Tues. May 5 – Stockton 7, Salinas 1 (16-10) Wed. May 6 – Stockton 1, Salinas 0 (17-10) Thur. May 7 – Stockton 7, Salinas 1 (18-10) Fri. May 8 – Stockton 5, Modesto 1 (19-10) Sat. May 9 – Modesto 6, Stockton 5 (19-11) Sun. May 10 – Modesto 6, Stockton 1 (19-12) Mon. May 11 – Stockton 8, San Bernardino 1 (20-12) Tues. May 12 – San Bernardino 6, Stockton 4 (20-13) Wed. May 13 – Stockton 3, San Bernardino 0 (21-13) Thur. May 13 – OFF DAY
Black – HOME Red – AWAY Green – OFF DAY
Are you personally in contact with a Ports Alum? If so, tell us about it!
Contact Margaret Sacchet at (209) 644-1900 or msacchet@stocktonports.com.
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Stockton Ports in the Community – Education Days The Ports host two days during the season specifically focusing on local schools. 2012 marks the 8th season that the Ports will provide Education Days for students and teachers alike. Most schools use the Education Days as an “end-of-the-year” field trip or reward day for students to celebrate the end of a successful school year. Every student and teacher is offered a $6 package that includes a Field Box ticket to an 11:05 a.m. day game (May 10 or May 22), and a hot dog, chips, and drink meal. This season, the Ports are offering a new package for $8 that includes an MVP ticket, rather than a Field Box ticket. In 2011, more than 50 schools and over 4,000 students and teachers attended these special games. On each Education Day, four students are invited on to the field for a pre-game Q&A with the Ports players. Questions from the students range from “What was your favorite subject in school?” to “What is your favorite food?” Students also have the opportunity to be a part of the game in a number of different ways. Students are chosen to be a guest radio announcer, guest public address announcer, one is chosen to throw out a first pitch, and some schools are even chosen to sing the national anthem.
If your school is interested in purchasing group tickets for either May 10 or May 22 please call Ports Representative Griffin Shibley or Margaret Sacchet at 209-644-1900.
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Sean Doolittle By Matt Wilson Sean Doolittle is no stranger to the Stockton Ports, having played for the team as a first baseman during the 2008 season, averaging .305 and being ranked as the 10th best hitter in the California League. Afterwards, in 2009, he moved up to Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats, and his luck turned. After just 28 games with the River Cats, Doolittle suffered a knee injury that took him out of the game for the rest of the season. Further knee problems kept him down in 2010, and a torn wrist tendon in 2011 left him unable to play for almost the entire season. Some athletes might see such a merciless onslaught of injuries as a sign to get out of the sport, to give up and find something else. Sean Doolittle drew upon experience from his time at the University of Virginia, and started pitching. As a relief pitcher for the Stockton Ports, Doolittle is back in the ballpark. As of April 18, he has an ERA of 1.23. He’s pitched in seven innings over four games and achieved 15 strike outs thus far, the most of any current Ports pitcher. We recently sat down with Sean Doolittle to discover what it’s like to be back in the game after missing nearly three entire seasons.
Stockton Ports: You last played for the Arizona A’s, pitching one inning after missing most of the previous three seasons. What’s it like to be playing baseball again? Sean Doolittle: It’s so much fun. I mean, they always tell you not to take anything for granted and [then] the game gets taken away from you for three years. You go through a couple knee surgeries and a torn tendon in your wrist, and you start to question whether or not this was really meant to be. To be able to have found a way back onto the field through pitching, I’m having a ton of fun. PORTS: You’re no stranger to Stockton. You played for the Ports in 2008. How does it feel to be back? DOOLITTLE: It’s a little bit surreal to be back here as a pitcher. It’s weird, my brother was here last year, and now I’m back again after being here in 2008. I had a little bit of success in ’08 when I was here. I made the all-star team and I got all the way up to AAA as a hitter, and now I’m back as a pitcher. It’s just weird. PORTS: I can understand that. Can you tell me a little bit about the various injuries you sustained? DOOLITTLE: The first one happened in May of ’09. I was playing right field in Sacramento, and I came up to throw the ball to home plate – there was going to be a play at the plate – and when I did my crow hop … and I went to throw it, and I tore my left patella tendon. We tried to rehab it without surgery. It didn’t work. I ended up having my first knee surgery in October of ’09. I rehabbed that throughout the off season, and tried to get ready to play in 2010. It didn’t work, and ultimately I had a second surgery to fix the patella tendon again in July, and rehabbed that for the rest of the year. I was about to finish my rehab assignment in 2011. This was the first or second week in May, and I swung and missed at a pitch, and popped a tendon in my wrist, and subsequently missed the rest of 2011. Instead of sending me home to rest for the wrist injury because I was in a cast up past my elbow, they asked if I wanted to work on my ‘insurance plan’, which was pitching. Rather than going home, we started working on that. That was going really well, and it was starting to look like I would need surgery on the wrist – it just wasn’t getting any better. So one thing kind of led to another, and I ended up pitching.
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PORTS: How hard have the past three years been, having to deal with three injuries, almost one right after the other? DOOLITTLE: It was really hard. You can’t help but think about, like I said, is this really meant to be? Is this what I’m supposed to be doing? I had a really bad string of bad luck. The timing of the injuries was so bad, and I was so close to being back so many times. When I hurt my wrist, I did it on Tuesday. On Friday I was supposed join up with the team in Sacramento. That was probably the worst part of it. I had three years of college under my belt, and here I am, making next to nothing playing baseball – essentially just rehabbing, not even playing – it was really tough. There were some really long summers out in the heat in Arizona, and very monotonous weeks spent rehabbing every day, trying to get better, and really not seeing much progress. It was tough. PORTS: It couldn’t have been easy to have pretty good successes as a hitter, only to be brought down by a knee injury. How did you deal with that emotionally? DOOLITTLE: Well, first, I was so young when the first injury happened, I was 22. Don’t get me wrong, I was really disappointed…I had a chance to get called up sometime in 2009. It is what it is, and it just wasn’t getting better. I ended up having to get surgery on it, and things just kind of went downhill from there. You get so close. In your second full season you start in AAA…and they obviously have things planned for you, and for them to not come to fruition because of injury, and not because I didn’t have the talent for it. It was just something that was really out of my control, and that was frustrating. PORTS: When you were playing for the University of Virginia, you were acting in the roles of both pitcher and hitter. In your career as a professional baseball player, you’ve overwhelmingly been a hitter for the most part. How hard has it been – what have you had to do to adjust to pitching? DOOLITTLE: The mechanics and everything came back actually quicker than we thought they were going to. What I have to get used to now is…sitting in the bullpen for two hours before I have to get up to throw. There’s so much more downtime because you can only throw so much. As a hitter you can take extra swings in the cage, take extra ground balls, do all this extra stuff, but as a pitcher you only have so many bullets in your arm. That’s been the biggest thing – focusing on making the reps that you do get, making them count. It’s totally different, but I really like it.
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PORTS: How is the relationship with the pitching staff developing? What are they having you work on? DOOLITTLE: Very good. As far as the stuff with the coaches go, we’re really trying to fine tune my slider right now. They understand, just like I do, that this is a process. It’s not going to happen overnight. There’s not going to be some magic grip they’re going to put in my hands that going to be this devastating put-away pitch. This is something we’re going to have to work at. It’s gone really well so far, and as far as working with the other guys…The other guys have been great with showing me little things, things I wouldn’t even think to ask about. They come to me and point that stuff out. I think I can really help them get inside the mind of a hitter, looking at and recognizing a guy’s swing and finding holes over there that we can exploit. There’s been a bit of give and take, and it’s been really good. PORTS: What’s your best pitch right now? DOOLITTLE: Probably my fast ball. I feel I can locate it the best, and on a 3-2 count, if I had to throw a certain pitch, it’d probably be a fastball. The slider, I think, will be my best pitch, but it’s been inconsistent. The more we throw it, the better it’s going to get, but for right now it’s the fastball. PORTS: Finally, what do you want from this season? Do you have any specific goals or expectations? DOOLITTLE: You know what, I got that question a lot in spring training, and I don’t have any goals – well, besides continuing to throw well and getting innings under my belt. I don’t have a set place I want to be or anything like that. I recognize how unique the situation is, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have a second chance that I’m not really trying to put any extra pressure on it than there has to be. It’s my second year on the roster, so stuff has to happen relatively quickly, and I understand there is some pressure involved. I don’t need to put any extra pressure on it. I’m really just trying to enjoy it, and so far I’m having a blast. PORTS: Just happy to be playing again? DOOLITTLE: Yeah. I mean, I don’t want to be saying “I’m just happy to be here” or anything cliché like that, but really, when it boils down to it, I’m just ecstatic that I’m back here and having some success.
On 4/25 Sean Doolittle was promoted to Double-A Midland Rockhounds
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Ports
(Roster as of 4/24)
# Yrs PITCHERS (13) B/T HT WT DOB HOMETOWN 11 2 Bowman, Josh R/R 6-2 210 9/9/88 St. Petersburg, FL 39 2 Brown, Jake R/L 6-2 215 12/28/86 Baltimore, MD 18 2 Cole, A.J. R/R 6-4 181 1/1/92 Winter Springs, FL 17 5 Doolittle, Sean L/L 6-3 212 9/26/86 Tabernacle, NJ 46 7 Guzman, Jose R/R 5-11 225 11/5/87 San Cristobal, D.R. 14 2 Hassebrock, Blake R/R 6-6 217 7/15/89 High Point, NC 16 3 Hoehn, Connor R/R 6-1 212 7/5/89 Ocean View, DE 9 3 Krol, Ian L/L 6-1 200 5/9/91 Naperville, IL 12 6 Leon, Arnold R/R 6-1 206 9/6/88 Culiacan, Mexico 34 3 Long, Nate R/R 6-2 215 2/9/86 Bedford, TX 30 2 Thornton, Zach R/R 6-4 215 5/19/88 Oak Park, CA 36 1 Treinen, Blake R/R 6-4 215 6/30/88 Osage City, KS 7 1 Walz, T.J. R/R 6-1 180 11/11/88 Omaha, NE # Yrs CATCHERS (2) B/T HT WT DOB HOMETOWN 20 6 Nunez, Juan R/R 6-1 216 8/27/87 Bani, Dom. Republic 13 4 Paramore,Petey S/R 6-2 215 10/30/86 Tempe,AZ 15 3 Stassi, Max R/R 5-10 206 3/15/91 Yuba City, CA 10 1 Taylor, Beau L/R 6-0 205 2/13/90 Rockledge, FL # Yrs INFIELDERS (6) B/T HT WT DOB HOMETOWN 3 3 Gilmartin, Michael L/R 6-0 190 7/14/87 Mooropark, CA 26 3 Head, Miles R/R 6-0 215 5/2/91 Brooks, GA 44 2 Kirby-Jones, A.J. R/R 5-10 215 10/2/88 Knoxville, TN 19 4 Leyja, Nino R/R 5-11 180 10/2/90 Houston, TX 2 2 Pineda, Ryan R/R 6-0 185 4/17/89 Las Vegas, NV 28 2 Thompson, Tony R/R 6-5 240 12/19/88 Reno, NV # Yrs OUTFIELDERS (4) B/T HT WT DOB HOMETOWN 23 4 Dixon, Rashun R/R 6-2 230 8/27/90 Madison, MS 29 4 Mesa, Eliezer R/R 5-11 180 11/24/88 Azua, D.R. 5 3 Richard, Myrio R/R 6-2 195 8/27/88 Lake Charles, LA 22 2 Whitaker, Josh R/R 6-3 235 2/8/89 Augusta, GA # 50 31 24
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POS MGR P-C H-C A-T CLB
COACHING STAFF Webster Garrison Craig Lefferts Brian McArn Nate Brooks Vic Zapien
HOMETOWN Marrero, LA Anthem, AZ Elk Grove, CA Pinckneyville, IL Stockton, CA
PREVIOUS TEAM (YEAR) Stockton (High-A-2011) Stockton (High-A-2011) Stockton (High-A-2011) Stockton (High-A-2011) Stockton (High-A-2011)
Visitor’s Roster Lancaster Jethawks (Roster as of 4/24) # 20 37 16 34 18 17 41 25 11 26 43 36 35 31
PITCHERS Ruben Alaniz Kirk Clark Jorge De Leon Bobby Doran Brad Dydalewicz Gabriel Garcia Zachary Grimmett David Martinez Wes Musick Andrew Robinson Alex Sogard Brian Streilein Jose Trinidad Pat Urckfitz
Bat R R R R L L R R L R L R R L
Thw R R R R L L R R L R L R R L
# 24 7 23 5 32 6 21
INFIELDERS Erik Castro Enrique Hernandez Jonathan Meyer Jiovanni Mier Telvin Nash Ben Orloff Rafael Valenzuela
Bat L R R R R R L
Thw R R R R R R R
# 40 13 2
OUTFIELDERS Adam Bailey Grant Hogue Domingo Santana George Springer
Bat L S R R
Thw L R R R
# 10 22
CATCHERS Rene Garcia Ben Heath
Bat R R
Thw R R
# 33 44 38
FIELD STAFF Rodney Linares Darryl Robinson Don Alexander
Positon Manager Batting Coach Pitching Coach
# 19 24 28 9 12 7 4
INFIELDERS Adames, Christhian Clark, Jared Langfels, Jayson Smalling, Timothy Tanos, Brett Velazquez, Helder Wong, Joey
Bat S R R R R R L
Thw R R R R R R R
# 48 23 3 8 11 21
OUTFIELDERS Crousset, Juan Dickerson, Corey Laurent, Chandler Ortega, Rafael Parker, Kyle Robinson, Scott
Bat L L R L R R
Thw L R R R R R
# 14 17 43
FIELD STAFF Lenn Sakata Jon Stone Darryl Scott
Position Manager Coach Pitching Coach
Modesto Nuts (Roster as of 4/24) # 36 34 32 20 47 10 46 22 41 27 43 13 25 15 40 37
PITCHERS Bennigson, Craig Bergman, Christian Froneberger, Isaiah Gomez, Leuris Gonzalez, Juan Hungerman, Josh Jorgenson, Adam Kern, Bruce Matzek, Tyler Mueller, Josh Perez, Juan Rose, Chad Schnaitmann, Nick Sitton, Kraig Slaats, Joshua Yacko, Kurt
Bat R R L R R L R R L R R R R L R R
Thw L R L R R L R R L R R R R L R R
# 2 44 6
CATCHERS Garneau, Dustin Massanari, Bryce Tarleton, Dallas
Bat R R L
Thw R R R
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Scorecards
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Ports Bios
Bowman, Josh, RHP
Had one of his best outings on the season 4/16 vs LE Storm 6IP 6H 1ER 2BB 6K’s As of 4/26 has a 1.50 ERA at Banner Island Ballpark
Brown, Jake, LHP
As of 4/26 has yet to allow an earned run on the road allseason Right-handers are limited to a .200 AVG vs Brown as of 4/26/12
Cole, A.J., RHP
Dixon, Rashun, OF
Struck out a season high 7 in his 4/19 outing vs MOD As of 4/26 has allowed just 3BB all season
As of 4/26 has a sparkling 1.86 ERA over his 7 appearances Has allowed just 1 hit over his last 4 appearances as of4/26
Gilmartin, Michael, INF
Guzman, Jose, RHP
Went 2-for 4 with 2 doubles on 4/6 vs LE Hit his first HR of the season 4/7 vs LE Was a Mid-Season All-Star for the Ports in 2011
As of 4/26 has a sparkling 1.86 ERA over his 7 appearances Has allowed just 1 hit over his last 4 appearances as of4/26
Hassebrock, Blake, RHP
In his first outing as a Stockton Port,he recorded his first W pitching 6.1IP allowing just 1ER with 0BB
Hoehn, Connor, RHP
As of 4/26 has not allowed an ER on the road all season Has allowed just 1H all season as of 4/26
Krol, Ian, LHP
Had his best outing of the season 4/17 vs LE allowing just 1H 1ER over 6IP with 6K’s As of 4/26 has allowed just 2BB’s on the road allseason
Head, Miles, INF
As of 4/26 has a 19-game hitting streak As of 4/26 hitting .727 AVG in the first inning
Kirby-Jones, A.J., INF
Was named California League Player of the Week for 4/16-4/22 Hit 3HR at Banner Island Ballpark on 4/18 vs LE
Leon, Arnold, RHP
As of 4/26, has allowed just 2ER at home this season Has struck out more batters than innings pitched this season
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Ports Bios
Leyja, Nino, INF
Hit his first HR as a Stockton Porton 4/13 vs MOD As of 4/26 is hitting .426 AVG vs lefthanded pitching
Mesa, Eliezer, OF
As of 4/26 is a perfect 4-for-4 on SB chances this season Knocked 2 RBI on 4/21 vs MOD
Paramore, Petey, C
Went 3-for-4 with 2RS on 4/10 vs BAK Was promoted to AAA Sacramento River Cats on 4/15, in his first appearance with the Cats’ Paramore hit a HR
Long, Nate, RHP
As of 4/26 has not allowed an ER on the road all season Has walked just 3 batters all season as of 4/26
Nunez, Juan, C
Joined the Ports on 4/15, was a member of the 2011 Stockton Ports In his first game this season on 4/15, he we 2-for-4 with2RS
Pineda, Ryan, INF
Hit a walk-off 3-run HR on 4/15 vs MOD As of 4/26 had back-to-back multi-hit games on 4/21 & 4/22 vs MOD
Richard, Myrio, OF
As of 4/26 is hitting .500AVG vs lefthanded pitching As of 4/26 is hitting .300 at Banner Island Ballpark
Taylor, Beau, C
Hit his first career HR on 4/23 vs BAK Is hitting .308 on the road this season as of 4/26
Stassi, Max, C
Was placed on the 15-day DL after Injuring his ankle on 4/10vs BAK Hit his first HR of the season on 4/9 vs BAK
Thompson, Tony, INF
As of 4/26 leads the team with 9 doubles As of 4/26 has a 7-game hitting streak from 4/17-4/26 Has clobbered the ball on the road hitting .355 AVG with9RBI as of 4/26/12
Treinen, Blake, RHP Thornton, Zack, RHP
As of 4/26 is a perfect 3-for-3 on save opportunities this season Has allowed just 1BB all season as of 4/26/12
On 4/18 vs LE allowed just 2H over 7IP with 7K’s toearn his second W on the season Was the opening day starter for the Ports on 4/5 vs LE
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Whitaker, Josh, OF
Walz, T.J., RHP
As of 4/26 has struck out 21 batters over 19.1IP with just3BB Has allowed less than 2ER in all of his starts this seasonas of 4/26
As of 4/26 is hitting .315 vs right handed pitching Hit his first HR of the season on 4/5 vs LE
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Veterans Interview By: Nicole Loscavio
With one month of baseball down and a little over four to go, the Stockton Ports have had some time to get to know one another and figure out the team dynamics, so we figured this would be a good point to sit down with a few of the guys who really know what’s going on – the veterans from last year’s Ports squad. We sat down with Myrio Richard, Michael Gilmartin, Connor Hoehn, and Rashun Dixon to talk a bit about last season, the role they feel they have on the team as veterans, and how they think things are going so far for the 2012 Stockton Ports. SP: You guys had a great season last year – from the 17 game win streak to the run in playoffs all the way to the Cal League Championship. What did you learn from last season and how do you plan on using it to your advantage this year? Myrio Richard – I learned to stay positive and work through the hard times. You’re gonna have ups and downs through the season, it’s a long year; don’t hold the season off of one game and one game only. You have to learn to let go; if you don’t have a good game, you don’t have a good game, just let it go and move on and learn, because you’re gonna get better as the season goes on. Michael Gilmartin – Last year I really learned to not think about mechanics when I’m playing, just to really simplify things and go out there and see the ball and hit the ball. As far as it relates to defense, seeing the ball, getting a good hop, catching it, and throwing it – just the basic elements of the game. We work on it during early work, practice, and BP, and we pound so much technique that when it comes to the game, you just let it all go and it comes natural. Doing that, combined with the guys we had last year, a good group of guys, we really learned how to have fun and win games. Connor Hoehn – I learned a lot, the team grew, as far as dynamics throughout the whole season, and we learned to work with each other early on. It kinda changed my perspective on how I should approach the game – We all got on the same page towards the end and that’s how we were able to create that 17 game win streak. And the approach we all had in that streak, I’m trying to take it into this season right from the start. Basically if you lose a game, you don’t really get bummed about it. It’s an inning by inning process, not necessarily even day by day. So that’s the way I’m looking it at it this year, just trying to alter my perspective just a little bit. Rashun Dixon – Pretty much that if we take it day by day, you never know what happens. I think that we were expecting to win early on, and it didn’t happen and we got down on ourselves, but then we started taking it day by day and we started winning more games. SP: What do you think it’s going to take to repeat and top last year’s playoff run? Richard – I think a solid performance all the way around, having a complete team, strong pitching performance, with the starters & bullpen, just stringing together some hits in timely places, just all around good games. Gilmartin – (laughs) I don’t know, we had a pretty good year last year. But I think we have a good group of guys this year, I think we’re capable of doing it, we just have to take one game of a time. Just go out there and have fun. And it’s only April right now, we can’t really think about that stuff right now, but just go out there and play hard, play the right way every day.
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Hoehn – Well, talent is always the main thing and this year we definitely have the talent to win the whole thing – we have the hitting, the starting pitching, relieving, and defense is pretty good. But when it comes down to it to win, basically it’s gonna be us learning to play with each other. There’s a level of dynamics that you have to put together so we can all learn to push each other every day. Dixon – Same thing, we had a good team last year, but I think this team might be a little bit better, so we still just need to take it day by day. SP: Do you feel yourself stepping in to a bit of a leadership role since you’ve been around and had success with the Ports previously? Richard – I try to lead by my play, I don’t really verbalize leading too much, but I just try to let my play speak for itself. Gilmartin – I’m a soft-spoken person, I don’t really talk a lot, so as far as the leadership role goes, my job is to go out there and work hard every day, and hopefully people see that. I’m not a big rah-rah kind of guy, to go out and give pump up speeches, but if I can go out and do my job day in and day out, eventually people will notice, and hopefully guys on our team will take the same approach. When you’ve got 25 guys going out and doing the same thing, it’ll lead to good things. Hoehn – Not necessarily a leadership role, but there’s always the questions people ask, even some general ones, and I’ve been around so I can answer those questions and help the new guys out. We have guys on the team where it’s their first full season and they have no idea what’s going on so I can help them out and the other veterans can help them out – get their mind in the right place, so that when we get to 100 games, they’re still going strong. Dixon – Somewhat, since I was here last year I can show the other guys around, let them know what to expect on road trips, going to the gym, answering questions – that kind of thing, so yeah, sort of. SP: How’s this season started off so far with the mix of veterans and the new guys? How would you describe the vibe among the team – what’s the attitude like, and how are relationships starting to develop? Richard – I think it’s a good vibe, and it’s a real good start. We’ve started off really good, playing strong, and we had a couple good wins in Bakersfield when we came back from behind. We’ve known these guys in spring training so they aren’t brandbrand new, but they’re good people, we have a good relationship with them, they’re all cool. Gilmartin – Always during April, with the start of a new season, everyone’s real enthusiastic and ready to go, and that can be said for this team. Everyone’s getting along with each other, we’ve got a good clubhouse chemistry, and that kind of stuff. I think with this group of guys things will progress nicely down the road and hopefully we’ll be where we want to be in September. Hoehn – It’s kinda different. The first day we realized there were 14 guys who’ve played in A ball or above before. So, yeah we have some veterans here, but it’s just kinda different, I mean there’s no bad attitudes here, and we’ve been playing well. It’s kind of been neutral, because we know what we’re capable of, and we’re all very confident in ourselves and as a team. Dixon – It’s a pretty good vibe, same as last year almost, since we have guys returning. Everyone in the locker room is pretty cool, so I wouldn’t expect anything less. Relationships are wonderful right now and we definitely have good expectations for the season.
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Welcome to the California League By Nicole Loscavio The Oakland Athletics made quite a few big moves in the off season – many of them adding a number of new prospects to the minor league system, and the Stockton Ports were not unaffected by all of the trades. Ports RHP A.J. Cole was picked up from the Washington Nationals for pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Rob Gilliam, IF Miles Head was acquired by from the Boston Red Sox for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney, and OF Eliezer Mesa was the player to be named later in the Mark Ellis trade to the Colorado Rockies. Mesa, who played in the California League on the Modesto Nuts last season, traveled all of 30 minutes to join the 2012 Ports in Stockton. However, the journey for A.J. Cole and Miles Head was a bit longer, so we sat down with those two to talk about the adjustment to the Athletics organization as well as the California league.
A.J. Cole You grew up in Florida, and played on the east coast, how do you like California so far? What’s the biggest difference being out here? It’s a lot different, I mean I’ve been out here before, but it’s a whole different atmosphere playing baseball, and I’m getting used to it – it’s taking a little bit, but it’s not bad so far. The way the ball flies, that’s probably the biggest difference. And the weather, it’s a lot cooler over here – its nice weather. How have you had to adjust as a pitcher, and how different is the offensive environment in the California League compared to the South Atlantic League? Well since I’m still new out here, I still have to adjust and figure out the best way for me to pitch. I know the ball’s gonna fly out here no matter what, so I’ve got to find little adjustments to try to keep the ball down more and make them hit more ground balls and fly balls. How are your relationships with the pitching staff developing? What have they been working with you on so far this season? So far, I’ve been getting better with the pitching staff – getting in there, getting to know them a lot better, and we’ve been working pretty good so far. We’ve just been working on little things – not major changes, just little tweaks. Both of our goals are to get through the season, stay healthy and just perform well.
Have they talked about where they see you going, or where do you see yourself in the future? You were the #4 prospect for the Nationals, how do you think being a prospect for Oakland will change your career? Hopefully I see myself in the big leagues sometime soon; I’m trying to work hard for it. And they’re trying to help me, any way they can to get me there, because that’s their goal for me. But, you never know where you’re going until the time comes. And a lot of times, I don’t listen to prospect numbers or anything like that, because personally I think they’re just numbers. You still have to prove to yourself and anyone else what your abilities are, and mostly by proving to yourself what you’re capable of doing. So I’m just going out there and doing what I know I can do, getting through the season.
Miles Head You grew up in Georgia, and played on the east coast, how do you like California so far? What’s the biggest difference being out here? The weather out here’s great, it’s a little different being far away from home, and away from my friends and family. But it’s a pretty cool experience to be out here for the summer. I hadn’t been here before, and I’d say the biggest difference is there not many Chick-fil-A’s out here and no sweet tea, so it’s kinda weird for me. What would you say are the biggest differences between the South Atlantic League or Carolina League and the California League? Have you had to adjust as a hitter? In the Cal League, the ball flies a lot better out here, from what I’ve seen and where we’ve played. But other than that, there’s not really a big difference. And no, I’ve just been trying to stick with my approach that I’ve been working on for the past 3 or 4 years since I’ve been in pro ball, just trying to stick with that.
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You’ve been doing incredibly well here so far, what do you attribute that to? I would say just my approach, my mental approach at the plate, going there not trying to do too much, and staying within myself. You were drafted by Boston as a third baseman and they transitioned you to first, and now you’re in between, how’s that process working out? I like it; I mean its fun being able to play two different positions. It’s a little different, I’m a little rusty at third because I haven’t played there in a couple years, but I feel like I’m getting the hang of it. Have the coaches talked to you at all about where you’re going to end up? And which position do you actually prefer? They haven’t said anything to me; I’m just going out and playing every day where ever they put me. Just keep hitting – that’s what I’m gonna do. And I would say first right now, because I’m used to it, but I like them both the same. How are your relationships developing with the coaching staff and those in the A’s organization developing? How do you think you’ll develop as an Athletics prospect? I love the coaching staff, we get along great. They’ve taught me a lot of stuff since I’ve been here. As a team, we have really good camaraderie and everyone gets along really well. And I hope good, just gonna keep working at it and hopefully I’ll be in the big leagues in a couple years. Finally, any goals or expectations for the season? I would say goals – just stay consistent with myself, that’s the biggest thing. Not try to go on any long hitting streaks or any bad fielding streaks – just trying to stay consistent. Editorial Note 4/25: Currently, Miles has yet to allow an error in the field and is on a 19 game hitting streak – that’s the type of consistency we like to see!
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