13 days until 2012 Season opens in Billings
17 days before Home Opener

Here’s the lowdown on the first D-backs draft pick of 2012, catcher Stryker Trahan. And, yes, it appears to be true … the name Stryker comes from a  TV show starring Burt Reynolds that, well, didn’t do so well.

Now, for some news and notes that are Osprey-related, just not draft-related …
– Nothing like making some Osprey history after you leave the Osprey … thank you Jarrod Parker (2007) for that last night. It’s believed that Parker became the first former Osprey pitcher to take a no-hitter through seven innings in a Major League game. Michael Young of the Texas Rangers ended the bid with a clean single up the middle to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Parker picked up the win in a 12-1 Oakland triumph. Continue reading →

14 days before the 2012 Season opens in Billings
18 Days before the 2012 Home Opener against those pesky Voyagers from Great Falls

Tonight, the formation of the 2012 Missoula Osprey begins, with the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. (See preview here, and more about the way the D-backs may draft here.)

And, so it goes, the Arizona Diamondbacks have just one pick in the first and compensation rounds tonight – No. 26 in the order. They were last at that position in 2008, choosing left-handed pitcher Daniel Schlereth (2008), who would eventually pitch in three games in Missoula before moving on to South Bend. Schlereth would eventually make his MLB debut faster than any former Osprey in history, going less than a calendar year from making his pro debut to appearing on a Major League mound.

So what does tonight mean for Missoula? Possibly – a player who will be with the Osprey sometime this season. Continue reading →

by Ben Catley
(bcatley@missoulaosprey.com is where Giants fans can send their love …)

21 days before the Home Opener
17 days before the Season Opener

You think that Tim Lincecum should get at least a sympathy card for what Paul Goldschmidt (2009) has done to him since getting his Major League call-up in August 2011. Thirteen at-bats. Four home runs. Ouch. And when you really think about it, Lincecum hasn’t been the same since that August 2 tater that was threatening the glove in left field. As in the giant one behind the stands …

The latest one came in a 4-1 D-backs win over those Giants. Goldy’s fourth tater of the season was a wall-scraper, but it also came off of the Kryptonite pitch for Goldy – a curveball. Goldschmidt has now hit more home runs against Lincecum than any other MLB player he has faced. Continue reading →

26 days until the Home Opener
22 days until Opening Night in Billings

by Ben Catley

Well, if you had Miguel Montero to the Red Sox by 2013 in your pool, while you’re not totally out of the running, the possibilities of that happening took a really bad hit on Saturday.

As hope for by many, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03) to a five-year contract extension, which will kick in next season and pay him, on average, the $12 million per that his agents were reportedly looking for in a deal.

While there are some people who are skeptical about the signing, there is a group who is all for it – the D-backs pitching staff.

For those of you in the anti-long-contract camp, some food for thought:
– The closest catcher to Montero, skills-wise, in the minor-league system is … no one. And that’s not a knock on all of our former Osprey catchers still in the system. There’s just not one guy who possesses ALL of the tools that Montero brings to the table. With it still being too early to judge on Michael Perez – the 5th-round pick from 2011 who is targeted for Missoula this season – the closest thing to Montero’s all-around abilities (from a former Osprey standpoint, that is…) is a mix between Rossmel Perez (2008) and Raywilly Gomez (2009), or a guy like Roidany Aguila (2009-10-11), who improved greatly in 2011 but has struggled at the plate for South Bend. Yet, he has the most starts among Silver Hawks catchers behind the plate (23) this season.

The bottom line is, Perez is probably, among former Osprey, anyway, next on the list. Unless Perez puts up eye-popping numbers at the plate, and can be solid defensively, then there is that chance of having someone with all of the tools whom the D-backs have confidence to bring into the fold. Konrad Schmidt is seen as good at the plate, needs work behind it. With the guys like Montero, it’s the reverse that helps you stick in the Major Leagues.

–  Who else would be out there?? The D-backs discovered that the catching pool is about as shallow as fountain pool – you can stand in it, you may get lucky, but the best you can expect is a handful of pennies and a citation from the cop watching you wade in from a distance. In other words – it’s fool’s gold, compared to what they have in Montero.

– And, last but not least, these numbers to consider: Among NL backstops since 2009, Montero ranks first with 92 doubles, second with 178 runs scored, 209 RBI, .452 slugging percentage, third with a .280 average, 378 hits, 611 total bases, 45 home runs and an .800 OPS, fourth with 391 games and a .348 on-base percentage and sixth with 131 walks. He has excelled in the clutch with 41 go-ahead RBI and 25 game-winning RBI, both second-best in the NL. Defensively among active NL catchers since 2010, he is second to the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina by throwing out 33.7 percent of attempted basestealers (54-of-160).

In other words – the D-backs looked around, discovered they had the best dance partner and have decided to stick with ’em. Oh, and one more thing … Kevin Towers is about as smart as they come, and he wants quality people around. So .. it turned out to be easier than we all thought it would be to keep him.

Some other stuff …
– The D-backs want Gerardo Parra (2006) to tone down a bit on the bases, yet stay aggressive.  This came to light after he was picked off in a key spot in Saturday’s game with the Milwaukee Brewers.

– Paul Goldschmidt (2009) really “squashed the bug” – planted his front foot and turned on it – when he hit a long home run to center field in the D-backs’ win on Sunday at Chase Field. Let’s hope he squashes a few more this season, eh??

Tomorrow … more stuff, including information on the PA/On-Field Emcee tryouts coming up in a few days. Won’t be long now …

by Ben Catley

28 days before the Home Opener
24 days before the Season Opener
Today’s word – Vote, as in – Vote Ollie Now!! Click here to Vote Ollie!! All votes are appreciated …

Next to any extended weekend … wait, what is a weekend, anyway?? … this is my favorite weekend of the year.

You may be wondering just why that is, but while it’s important we take time to reflect on those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that we do, that’s not the reason. Although it gives us a longer weekend, so the Memorial Day holiday does indirectly become a reason for why I love this weekend so much.

The real reason – it’s the first weekend of the Osprey season for me.

This is the weekend in which yours truly will spend most of in his broadcast booth or in other spots of the press box, working on the club’s (and now the league’s) record book, figuring out radio script for the season, and just generally prepping while baseball is happening on the field.

As long as it doesn’t rain … too much … Continue reading →

by Ben Catley

Every year, it seems to be a different guy we love to feature on Bird Droppings.

Last season (OK, keeping in mind that we only started to do this full-bore last March, but still …), it was Paul Goldschmidt (2009 Osprey), who hit his second home run of the season this past weekend, and could be one of those guys who help the D-backs to a NL West repeat. This season, we have moved from the Goldy Watch (because it was a matter of when, not if, he was getting a call-up to the D-backs), to EatonMania.

OUR Adam Eaton (2010) is drawing attention everywhere nowadays. And when you are hitting .410 and leading the Pacific Coast League in batting, attention tends to follow. Continue reading →