Category: Alumni Update
Parra avoids arbitration, Overbay finds a home and more …
Catching up on Bird movements over the past few days …
– Current Arizona Diamondbacks and former Osprey outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006) managed to avoid arbitration and signed a one-year contract. The 25-year-old Parra hit .273 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs in 133 games with the D-backs in 2012. The .280 career hitter has also been strong defensively, winning his first NL Gold Glove in 2011, and since his arrival to Arizona in 2009, his 37 outfield assists ranks second in the NL to Hunter Pence (47) in that time frame.
– Lyle Overbay (1999) has signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox and received a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. Overbay will vie for a spot on the Opening Day roster as the left-handed answer at first base, with right-handers Mike Napoli and Mauro Gomez also on the roster. Overbay hit .259 between Arizona and Atlanta in 2012, used primarily as a left-handed bat off the bench. The 12-year veteran of the Major Leagues would also serve as a good insurance policy of sorts for Napoli, with concerns about his hips — Napoli has avascular necrosis, which affects blood supply to the area.
What also helps Overbay’s cause is his successful hitting at Fenway Park in his career. While playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Overbay hit .323 in 43 games, with a .395 on-base and a .500 slugging percentage.
If the BoSox bring Overbay Northward to Yawkey Way, they would be the sixth team Overbay has played for in the Major Leagues. If not, according to the Boston Herald, Overbay’s contract has an opt-out clause at the end of Spring Training.
– Overbay is among 11 former Osprey players who have received non-roster invites to Spring Training. Four of those 10 – infielder Chris Owings (2009), catcher Rossmel Perez (2008), first baseman Jon Griffin (2011) and left-handed pitcher David Holmberg (2010) – are in D-backs’ camp. The others – catcher Wilkin Castillo (2004) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, right-handed pitcher Yonata Ortega (2007) with the Texas Rangers, right-handed pitcher Daniel Stange (2006) with the San Diego Padres, left-handed pitcher Daniel Schlereth (2008) with the Baltimore Orioles, right-handed pitcher Jerry Gil (2000) with the Cleveland Indians, and left-handed pitcher Ryan Robowski (2009) with the Detroit Tigers.
The Upton Trade from a former Osprey angle
by Ben Catley
So the Arizona Diamondbacks finally pulled the trigger on trading Justin Upton. To the D-backs, they were waiting to make the right deal, and while some of their targets changed, and some of the names from the Atlanta Braves are not what most had hoped for, they managed to be able to make a move in mass numbers to make it a deal worth doing.
Of course, if you ask what the general feel is on the trade … well, some really don’t like it. Others felt it wasn’t the best idea, but it could turn out fine. And others will wait to see what happens with anxiousness.
The tendency, however, for a Missoula Osprey fan to be wondering is – what does this mean for our guys??
This can be looked at from two levels – the most recent wave of players who have been here, and the current Osprey alumni roaming the outfield on the D-backs roster. Continue reading
So where are they now??
After what turned into an active off-season (which isn’t over yet, by the way) for moves, there were also some former Osprey involved in the changes throughout the landscape of Major League Baseball. So much so, it may be hard to keep track of where all the former Osprey have landed.
Below are the former active Osprey currently playing in the Major Leagues. This list includes anyone who has seen time in the Major Leagues through the end of the 2012 season and are still considered active, meaning headed to a Major-League camp for Spring Training (all players on the 40-man roster go to big league camp), and their current club (if they have one):
Toronto: Sergio Santos, Emilio Bonifacio
Houston: Jake Elmore
Colorado: Jorge De La Rosa, Carlos Gonzalez
Arizona: Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero, Gerardo Parra, Adam Eaton
Cleveland: Bryan Shaw
Oakland: Evan Scribner, Jordan Norberto, Jarrod Parker
Boston: Pedro Ciriaco
LA Angels of Anaheim: John Hester
Philadelphia: Ender Inciarte (Rule V Pick, must stick on 25-man roster or be offered back to Arizona)
LA Dodgers: Wilkin Castillo (Non-roster invitee to Spring Training)
San Diego: Tom Layne (Daniel Stangs has received a Non-roster invite to Spring Training)
Free Agents: Jose Valverde, Daniel Schlereth, Scott Hairston, Lyle Overbay
Hope this helps in following along …
Bryan Shaw – from extra to feature star?
by Ben Catley
OK, before I go diving into this whole three-team trade that the Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off which involved a couple of former Pioneer League players, let me say that I do think a lot of the players which I have broadcasted games for during my 20-some year endeavor in calling games on the radio.
That being said, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a great pickup and lost what will be a valuable bullpen piece in a 24-hour span on Tuesday. Continue reading
Catching up …
by Ben Catley
Well, let’s try to get you caught up on former Osprey news as the Winter Meetings are winding down …
– I originally wrote this last week, so it was a good thing I didn’t publish it. Little did I think that Ender Inciarte (2009) was going to be picked in the Rule V Draft. Especially in the Major League portion. Yet, that happened earlier today, as Inciarte is now a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Go figure … oh, by the way, he now enters the top spot in the “Next Osprey to make Major League Debut” list. If he sticks on the 25-man roster – and all indications are that he has a chance, because he would have a specific role – he would be the 40th former Osprey to make a Major League roster. Continue reading
Eaton, Elmore are Topps Triple-A All-Stars
Both Adam Eaton and Jake Elmore have been named Topps Triple-A All-Stars this week. Eaton, a 2010 member of the Missoula Osprey, and Elmore, a 2008 Osprey alumnus, both made the squad for their efforts this past season for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Read the full story on Eaton and Elmore here, and more on the Triple-A All-Star Team here.
CarGo earns second Gold Glove
Former Missoula Osprey outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (2003) has earned his second National League Gold Glove award of his career. The best defensive players at each position were announced earlier at each position by Major League Baseball and Rawlings, the long-time sponsor of the award.
Gonzalez also earned the honor during his breakout season in 2010, which he also earned in left field.
We’ll have more information on this on Wednesday on MissoulaOsprey.com.
Eaton, Goldy and voting
by Ben Catley
Just a couple of things on this Sunday …
– Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey) is out for the rest of the season after getting hit by a pitch in his right hand during the 7th inning of Saturday’s 8-2 Arizona Diamondbacks’ win over the Chicago Cubs. X-rays showed a broken bone in the hand, so Eaton’s season is done four days earlier than planned. Eaton hit .259 in 22 games after his promotion from Triple-A Reno, with a .382 on-base percentage, three doubles, two triples, two home runs and five RBIs, plus a pair of stolen bases.
On a personal note, I finally managed to see Eaton in a D-backs’ uniform for the first time on TV on Saturday night. He had hits in his first two at-bats, which I missed, then was retired in his next two at-bats, which I managed to watch. I missed the HBP in the 7th, so go figure.
We shall see what the D-backs do with Eaton in 2013. Once he was promoted, he became an everyday player at the top of the lineup – something the D-backs sorely needed. It will provide plenty of great off-season hot stove talk, I’m sure.
– Wanted to see four former Osprey in the D-backs’ lineup last night, but Paul Goldschmidt (2009) was out of the lineup with a stiff back. Nothing serious, though, which is good news. By the way, the other two who were in the lineup – catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03) and outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006). Montero has put together quite a 2012 season, a solid follow-up from his breakout 2011 campaign, and Parra is Parra, hitting enough, playing great defense and getting plenty of chances to play, despite being the fourth outfielder.
– Finally, want to remind you to vote (even if you have already, you are allowed to vote again) on your favorite game of the 2012 Osprey baseball season. Beginning on Tuesday, October 2 (I had to push it back a day due to life happening), we will announce the top three games, and post audio highlights of each game to our website at MissoulaOsprey.com. The results will come from three sources:
*Voting on the Bird Droppings blog
*Voting on MissoulaOsprey.com
*The results from our esteemed panel of Osprey baseball experts – which may surprise you. Or not …
The top three will be announced beginning on Tuesday. In the meantime, it’s back to the lab to figure out what poll to come up with next …
Lineups for Round 1 of the title bout
OK, so it probably should be a contender bout reference, but you know what we mean … it’s Showdown Night, Part 1. The Osprey take on the Billings Mustangs for the North Division title beginning tonight. Remember, the Osprey need to win BOTH games to take the North Division Second-Half crown, while the Mustangs just need to win ONE of the two games.
We’re going to have a different type of pre-game tonight – we’ll still go through last night’s game, but we will also turn over the second half of the pre-game show to Billings play-by-play man Ryan Schuiling, who will be talking with our own Ben Catley about the match-up of the Fish Hawks and Ponies.
Here’s the lineups and notes for tonight …
Missoula (21-15, 39-35)
| 1 | 14 Pedro Ruiz | 2B | |
| .311, 2 HR, 17 RBI | |||
| 2 | 19 Socrates Brito | RF | |
| .317, 4 HR, 34 RBI | |||
| 3 | 18 Jake Lamb | 3B | |
| .330, 9 HR, 56 RBI | |||
| 4 | 7 Michael Perez | C | |
| .295, 10 HR, 59 RBI | |||
| 5 | 21 Breland Almadova | CF | |
| .309, 1 HR, 28 RBI | |||
| 6 | 15 Alex Glenn | LF | |
| .288, 5 HR, 12 RBI | |||
| 7 | 33 Rudy Flores | DH | |
| .296, 3 HR, 31 RBI | |||
| 8 | 30 Tyler Bream | 1B | |
| .273, 3 HR, 26 RBI | |||
| 9 | 38 Andrew Velazquez | SS | |
| .214, 0 HR, 4 RBI |
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| P | 8 Chris Thomas | P | |
Billings (21-15, 42-32)
| 1 | 41 Beau Amaral | CF | ||
| .302, 1 HR, 24 RBI | ||||
| 2 | 4 Zach Vincej | SS | ||
| .343, 1 HR, 15 RBI | ||||
| 3 | 23 Jesse Winker | LF | ||
| .333, 4 HR, 34 RBI | ||||
| 4 | 13 Seth Mejias-Brean | 3B | ||
| .318, 7 HR, 39 RBI | ||||
| 5 | 16 Robert Maddox | DH | ||
| .257, 13 HR, 37 RBI | ||||
| 6 | 35 Carlos Sanchez | 1B | ||
| .311, 8 HR, 54 RBI | ||||
| 7 | 26 Daniel Pigott | RF | ||
| .304, 3 HR, 31 RBI | ||||
| 8 | 34 Wagner Gomez | C | ||
| .198, 3 HR, 21 RBI | ||||
| 9 | 6 Brandon Dailey | 2B | ||
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| P | 29 Drew Cisco | P | ||
| The Skinny: The Osprey play host to the Billings Mustangs with the Pioneer Baseball League Second-Half North Division title in the balance. The Osprey must win twice to take the playoff spot, while the Mustangs need to win only one of the two games to take the title. About Last Night: Yoimer Camacho and two pitchers combined to scatter seven hits, while the Missoula Osprey managed to get enough offense as they beat the Great Falls Voyagers on Tuesday, 3-1, here at Centene Stadium in front of 970 fans. Once again, the Osprey scored first, pushing a run across in the top of the first inning. Pedro Ruiz singled, moved to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on an Adam McConnell groundout for a 1-0 Osprey lead. The Voyagers would answer that run with one of their own in the bottom of the second off of Osprey starter Yoimer Camacho (3-4), which scored on a McConnell throwing error. However, the Osprey would score in the top of the sixth when Socrates Brito walked and would eventually score on an Alex Glenn RBI triple, giving the Osprey a 2-1 lead. Missoula added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Glenn reached on an error, stole second and scored on a Danny Pulfer RBI single that pushed the Osprey advantage to 3-1. Great Falls would load the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Patrick Smith would strike out both Michael Johnson and Brent Tanner to finish off the game, and earn his first professional save. The Osprey had eight hits on the night, two of which came from Ruiz. Michael Perez, Yosbel Gutierrez, Tyler Bream and Kevin Dultz also had base hits for Missoula. Lamb is Pioneer League Player of the Week: Jake Lamb decided to make the past week one where he could carry the Osprey on his broad shoulders at times, and for that earned the final Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Week honor for the 2012 season. Lamb, who is currently on a 10-game hit streak, fell a double shy of the cycle at Billings on Thursday, added three more hits on Friday, and plated eight runs during the series in Billings this past weekend. On the Mound Tonight: Missoula will send right-hander Chris Thomas to the mound as he looks to continue his solid pitching as a starter. Thomas (2-1, 3.25), signed as a free agent following the 2012 MLB Draft, allowed just three hits and an unearned run in his last start, against the Mustangs on Friday. It was the first outing for Thomas against Billings this season. Thomas, who was transferred to the Osprey from Yakima in late July, was 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in the month of August, walking just two batters and striking out 21 in 24 innings of work. Opponents hit just .216 off of Thomas in August, and just .230 for the season. The Mustangs will go with right-hander Drew Cisco, who has been solid against the Osprey overall this season. Cisco (4-1, 3.66) was limited to three innings in his first start of the season against the Osprey on July 2, allowing four hits and a walk, surrendering a run (on a solo home run) and collected two strikeouts. In his other start against the Osprey, on August 30, Cisco allowed just two hits over five innings of work, striking out five batters. However, in both cases, the Mustangs would lose the game. Cisco has been dominant at home this season, posting a 2-0 mark in six starts with a sparkling 1.17 ERA, spanning 23 innings pitched. However, the 6th round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 MLB Draft, who is back from an injury last season, is 2-1 with a 5.65 ERA in eight road starts. |
Pitching Probables Thursday, September 6 MIS RHP Ross Gerdeman (4-5, 5.10) vs. BIL RHP Sal Romano (5-5, 4.90)
Playoff Schedule PBL North Division Playoff Great Falls vs. TBA Game 1 – Friday at TBA Game 2 – Saturday at Great Falls Game 3 – Sunday at Great Falls (if necessary)
PBL South Division Playoff Ogden vs. Grand Junction Game 1 – Friday at Grand Junction, 2 p.m. Game 2 – Saturday at Ogden Game 3 – Sunday at Ogden (if necessary)
PBL Championship Series North vs. South Game 1 – Sept. 11 at North winner Game 2 – Sept. 13 at South winner Game 3 – Sept. 14 at South winner (if necessary) |
By The Numbers:
| Current Streak: |
W2 |
Extra Innings: |
6-4 |
Team Hitting: |
.288 |
| First Half: |
18-20 |
Lead After 5: |
23-7 |
PL Rank: |
3rd |
| Second Half: |
21-15 |
Tied After 5: |
11-2 |
Team Pitching: |
4.71 |
| June: |
7-6 |
Trail After 5: |
5-26 |
PL Rank: |
3rd |
| July: |
13-15 |
One-run games: |
11-10 |
Longest Winning Streak: |
5 games |
| August: |
17-12 |
Two-run games: |
6-6 |
Longest Losing Streak |
6 games |
| September: |
2-2 |
Three-run games: |
8-1 |
HR total at home: |
22 |
| Score First: |
25-11 |
+3-run games: |
14-18 |
Pitching K total: |
664 |
| Score Last: |
19-11 |
Shutout Record: |
5-4 |
Pitching K/9IP Ratio: |
8.96 |
| Reaching 11-hit Mark: |
24-6 |
|
Peanut Inning Success: |
17/36 |
D-backs Minor League Report/Osprey Alumni Update:
| AZL D-backs | Alumni Briefing:
Justin Bianco (2011-12) .274, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 8-11 SB, .746 OPS in 24 games John Leonard (2012) .182, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 1 SB, .427 OPS in 14 games |
| Record: 27-29 | |
| Season over
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| DSL D-backs | Update: The DSL D-backs were eliminated in the first round of the DSL playoffs, falling in three games to the DSL Angels. |
| Record: 43-29 | |
| Season over
|
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| SS-A Yakima | Alumni Briefing: The Bears will play the decider in their Northwest League East Division Playoff Series tonight, after the Boise Hawks scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to win, 11-5, and even the series at one game apiece. Josh Parr (2011) had two singles and a double, plus scored a run to pace the Bears at the plate. Victor Acosta (2010) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. In the opener, Enrique Burgos (2009,11) pitched the ninth inning and locked down the save in the 5-4 win in Boise. |
| Record: 36-40 | |
| Next: vs. Boise, Game 3 of NW League East Division Playoffs (Series tied, 1-1) | |
| Class A South Bend | Alumni Briefing: Matt Helm (2009-10) put together a solid season in 2012, batting .271 while finishing among the league leaders in hits (tied for 3rd, 141), RBIs (5th, 76), games played (3rd, 135), at-bats (4th, 520) and doubles (tied for 2nd, 36). Tom Belza (2011) hit .260 in 2011, was third in the Midwest League in RBIs (80) and second in the league in triples (11). Archie Bradley (2011) led the league in opponent’s batting average (.181) while posting a 12-6 record and 3.84 ERA. |
| Record: 67-73 | |
| Season over | |
| Class A Advanced Visalia | Alumni Briefing: Jon Griffin (2011) put together a solid season for the Rawhide before his promotion to Double-A Mobile, hitting .300 and finished in the top five in the California League in home runs (26), RBIs (tied for 5th, 98) and total bases (249) … Anthony Meo (2011) finished 8th in the Cal League in ERA, going 9-8 with a 4.11 ERA, and tied for the league lead in strikeouts (153), three ahead of teammate Andrew Chafin (2011). Chafin was the league leader in opponent’s batting average (.241) while going 6-6 with a 4.93 ERA. |
| Record: 64-76 | |
| Season over | |
| Double-A Mobile | Alumni Briefing: Griffin, mentioned above, is hitting .438 in five games with the BayBears, with a double, two home runs and four RBIs … David Nick (2009) hit .249 in his first full season at Double-A, with 23 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 43 RBIs, plus stole 13 of 18 bases … Chris Owings (2009) batted .263 in 69 games after his promotion from Class A Advanced Visalia, with 10 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 28 RBIs, with four stolen bases and only nine errors in 67 field appearances … Eury De La Rosa (2009) led the Southern League in holds (13), while going 4-4 with eight saves and a 2.84 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 63 1/3 innings pitched … Among starters, Chase Anderson (2009) has been solid when healthy, going 5-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 21 starts, while posting a 1.12 WHIP and striking out 97 batters in 104 innings pitched. |
| Record: 69-71 | |
| Next: vs. Montgomery, Southern Lg. South Division Playoff Game 1 (Thursday) | |
| Triple-A Reno | Alumni Briefing: Adam Eaton (2010) was named the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year and MVP, but won’t be with the Aces when they open the playoffs on Thursday. However, Taylor Harbin (2007) will be there, and the infielder put together a solid first season at the Triple-A level. Harbin hit .308 in the regular season, with 43 doubles (second to Eaton in the PCL), three triples, five home runs and 70 RBIs in 127 games, plus stole 18 of 19 bases. Also helping the Aces in the postseason will be pitchers Charles Brewer (2009) (who will start Game 2 of the series) and Bryan Henry (2007), and outfielder Keon Broxton (2009), who was called up to Reno on Tuesday from Class A Advanced Visalia. |
| Record: 81-63 | |
| Next: at Sacramento, PCL Playoff Series Game 1 (Thursday) |
Former Osprey with the Arizona Diamondbacks:
| Paul Goldschmidt (2009) | .287 BA, 18 HR, 68 RBI, .864 OPS | Gerardo Parra (2006) | .274 BA, 6 HR, 32 RBI, .729 OPS |
| Miguel Montero (2002-03) | .282 BA, 15 HR, 77 RBI, .831 OPS | Jake Elmore (2008) | .174 BA, 2 2B, RBI, .442 OPS |
| Adam Eaton (2010) | 2-6 in debut on 9/4 at SF | Bryan Shaw (2008) | 1-5, 2 saves, 4.22 ERA |
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TEAM: 67-70, 3rd in NL West, 10.5 GB … 7.5 GB in wildcard |
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Wednesday Lineups and More …
It’s a beautiful night for baseball on tap at Ogren Park Allegiance Field, as the Missoula Osprey play host to the Great Falls Voyagers. We’re down to the final nine games in the Pioneer League season, and the distance between first-place Billings and second-place Missoula in the North Division Second Half standings is still at one game. The Osprey will look to still be within a game or less by the end of the night.
Infielder Tyler Bream will be our pre-game show guest, and we’ll get started around 6:50 tonight, with the first pitch slated for around 7:05 on AM 930 KMPT and online at MissoulaOsprey.com. Continue reading
Bird Droppings 