Category: General News

It’s good to be an Osprey …

by Ben Catley

So I am watching MLB.tv on Sunday, catching the tail end of the D-backs game, and on the mound in the ninth inning, during a mound visit, were three Osprey – pitcher Bryan Shaw (2008), catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03) and first baseman Lyle Overbay (1999). A fourth, outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006), was in left field. And a fifth, Paul Goldschmidt (2009), had just pinch-hit a half-inning prior.

Yes, I was smiling.

I smiled even more when Shaw blew a 94 mile-per-hour fastball past Buster Posey to finish off his first Major League save, capping off a D-backs comeback of epic proportions, rallying down from 6-0 down to win, 7-6, and finish off a sweep of the San Francisco Giants in their 2012 Opening Series at Chase Field.

Overbay doubled twice and homered – a tape-measure shot, by the way – and drove in three runs to lead the charge.

It caps off what was a great week to be a former Osprey. Well, for a good number of them, anyway. Continue reading →

Opening Day ’12 – Part 4

So the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the teams that doesn’t open the season until today … which, by our best count, is Day 4 of Opening Day. Which is why Major League Baseball is marketing things now as “Opening Week”.

And a good number of baseball fans are all for it.

Let’s face it, you have to at least be an Osprey fan to read this blog, if not a baseball fan. And baseball fans, at least once in their lives, have thought that Opening Day should have been a federal holiday, especially since the game is our National Pastime. Continue reading →

More to the story … former Osprey abound

Just about all of these are now confirmed … the list of former Osprey out of the D-backs organization, but still playing baseball. This is the minor-league list … those players on 25-man Major League rosters will be announced in a press release on Friday, and on here.

Triple-A
John Hester (2006) – Norfolk (Baltimore)
Wilkin Castillo (2004)  – Colorado Springs (Colorado)
Hector Ambriz (2006) – Columbus (Cleveland)
Danny Perales (2005) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Jerry Gil (2000) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Esmerling Vasquez (2004) – Rochester (Minnesota)
Pedro Ciriaco (2005) – Pawtaucket (Boston)
Jarrod Parker (2007) – Sacramento (Oakland)
Bryan Augenstein (2007) – Durham (Tampa Bay)

Double-A
Ryan Robowski (2009) – Erie (Detroit)
Adam Worthington (2009) – Reading (Philadelphia) – on DL

Class A Advanced
Kevin Eichhorn (2008-10) – Lakeland (Detroit)

Class A
Scottie Allen (2009) – Charleston (NY Yankees)

Two names we’re still working on are Clay Zavada (2006), who was in camp with the Cincinnati Reds, and Evan Scribner (2007), who was in camp with the Oakland A’s. With the addition to the list of Augenstein, we’re at 13 that we have found so far. Still waiting on a couple of rosters to update … and, of course, we’ll keep track as much as possible.

Update on Mobile, D-backs and Reno announce!

Here’s the latest additions (officially) to the list of former Osprey playing full-season minor league baseball in 2012.

The Reno Aces will have four former Osprey on the active roster, and one on the 7-day Disabled List. Rusty Ryal (2005) is overcoming a pulled groin muscle, so he will be starting the season on the DL. Pitchers Tom Layne (2007) and Daniel Stange (2006), along with infielders Jake Elmore (2008) and Taylor Harbin (2007) are all part of the Aces’ 25-man active roster.

Mobile has seven former Osprey on its roster – the best we can tell, anyway … they open tomorrow night, so hopefully, they will have something online by then. Also have an e-mail in to their radio play-by-play man, but have not heard anything back yet. So, until the official list comes out … it consists of pitchers Yonata Ortega and Bryan Henry (both 2007 Osprey), catcher Rossmel Perez (2008), infielder David Nick (2009), infielder-outfielder Kyle Greene (2008), and outfielders Adam Eaton (2010) and Ollie Linton (2008). Linton, at last report, is likely to open the season on the DL.

Including the DL players, that brings the total list of assigned former Osprey to 47. That does not include former Osprey outside of the D-backs’ system, however. More on that later, hopefully still before the clock strikes midnight MT on Wednesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also announced their 25-man Opening Day roster on Wednesday. It includes a pair of former Osprey – first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (2009) and relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (2008) – who make their first MLB Opening Day roster.  Also on the squad is first baseman Lyle Overbay (1999), outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006) and catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03).

Waiting game …

The rosters for both Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno have been delayed a bit, thanks to the fact that the parent club, the Arizona Diamondbacks, have not finalized their roster, which should happen by Thursday. Since the D-backs don’t open until Friday, they have until Thursday at 5 p.m. to make their roster official.

We’ll have more on other players placed in the minors later this evening …

Nineteen former Osprey on South Bend Roster

You can just call the South Bend franchise of 2012 the Missoula Osprey Eastern Edition.

A total of 19 former Missoula Osprey players will make up the 25-man Opening Day Roster for the South Bend SilverHawks. Of the 19, 10 are pitchers, two are catchers, four infielders and all three outfielders on the roster have played in Missoula.

The pitching contingent is led by 2011 Osprey Archie Bradley, Jesse Darrah, Matt Sample, DJ Johnson, Taylor Siemens, Seth Simmons and Keith Hessler, Jeff Shields and JR Bradley from the 2010 Osprey, and 2009 Osprey reliever Kable Hogben.

Catchers Roidany Aguila (2009-11) and Fidel Pena (2010-11) will join infielders Matt Helm (2009-10), Ryan Court (2011) and Josh Parr (2011). Also listed as an infielder – “The Mayor”, Bobby Stone (2008-10), who has recovered from an arm injury that cut short his season in 2011. Stone could see time at both first base and in the outfield.

The three outfielders have also patrolled the grass at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Ender Inciarte played in center field during the Northern Division playoff series season in 2009, while both Tom Belza and Chris Ellison played in the outfield for the Osprey in 2011.

Roster Announcement Day, Part 1

by Ben Catley

I tweeted this earlier today – Roster-announce day … one of my favorite days of pre-season activities. We’ll find out where all former Osprey will start their ’12 run.

It is indeed that day. Which means more than one blog entry … in fact, there’s already one set of announcements we have to share, but I figured the news of the day would be good to handle first.

So, with that said, let’s get to what else is making news on the Monday before Opening Day … Continue reading →

Affiliate roster announcements

It’s looking like official roster announcements for all of the long-season affiliates for the Arizona Diamondbacks will take place on Monday. There are some names we already know about – like Jake Elmore (2008) at Triple-A Reno, Charles Brewer (2009), Adam Eaton (2010), David Nick (2009) and Derek Eitel (2010) – via his father’s Facebook – at Double-A Mobile, Andrew Chafin (2011), Anthony Meo (2011), Chris Owings (2009), Bobby Borchering (2009), Keon Broxton (2009) and Eric Smith (2009) at Class A Advanced Visalia, and in Class A South Bend, among others will be 2011 Osprey pitcher Archie Bradley.

In addition, we have learned that former Osprey reliever Ryan Robowski (2009) will apparently start the season at Double-A Erie in the Detroit Tigers’ system. This will be made certain, hopefully, by tomorrow. Robo is still listed on the Seawolves roster, however he was not mentioned in the story on the Erie team website on their Opening Day roster.

It’s also the day where Major League rosters may begin to get formalized as well, and as we find out, we will be posting any former Osprey who make it to an Opening Day MLB roster. The deadline for the rosters is 3 p.m. MT on Wednesday.

Most full-season minor-league teams open on Thursday. Most of those players have broken camp already and are on their way to their 2012 starting points. As rosters are announced, we’ll post what we can.

BREAKING: Elmo rhymes with Reno, Rowland now a Pirate

Ah, you gotta love social media. It has given us two pieces of news on former Osprey today.

First, we wish the best of luck to Robby Rowland (2010-11), who was traded today to the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing them to keep Rule V pick Brett Lorin, who was assigned to Double-A Mobile. Rowland announced the trade on his Facebook page, but his brother, former Osprey catcher Richie, also hinted at it on a status update several hours earlier.

Secondly, also announced on his Facebook profile, former Osprey infielder Jake Elmore (2008) is headed to Triple-A Reno. He’ll join at least one former Osprey there as well in utility player Rusty Ryal (2005).

Inside pitches and ’11 Osprey, lost feeds and more moves

by Ben Catley

Right to it … I have some catching up to do …

– The Mobile BayBears may be poised to make another run for the Southern League title, especially with the roster they will begin with this season. Added to that mix was outfielder Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey), who was sent back to minor-league camp on Thursday by the D-backs. Not a surprise that it was to Double-A Mobile, either. The D-backs have stacked the BayBears with a great rotation of Charles Brewer (2009) Patrick Corbin, Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer, plus one more arm in the mix (maybe Chase Anderson, one of Brewer’s 2009 teammates in Missoula). But, wow … look at that pitching. Add Eaton to the top of the lineup, and a bevy of bats behind him, and it could be fun in ‘Bama …

– Also from the top prospects piece done by MLB.com writer Steve Gilbert … Visalia is likely to have a whale of a staff. David Holmberg (2010) should be joined by 2011 draftees (and former Osprey) Andrew Chafin and Anthony Meo, along with 2009 Osprey teammates Chris Owings at short and Bobby Borchering in left field.

– Three more Osprey to mention from the top prospects piece … catcher Michael Perez is likely headed here (No. 9 on the latest list), while 2011 Osprey pitcher Archie Bradley is targeted for South Bend … and, according to Gilbert, outfielder Justin Bianco (2011) is likely going to … the Arizona Rookie League. Don’t think that will happen … but we shall wait and see.

Of course, none of the roster stuff will  be official until next week … and we will be updating you on the list of former Osprey, and where they get assigned.

– Remember the rash of inside pitches that ended up in the faces of two players from the 2011 Osprey? Well, the rotten luck in that regard has struck again, unfortunately. Catcher Bryan Henry (yeah, 2011 Osprey, not the 2007 Osprey pitcher) is the latest victim, taking one off the face during a Class A game this week. From his Facebook status: “Thank you to our great training staff and team doctors for fixing me up and getting me the proper care.” Henry also says he had to have his nose reset, and judging by the picture he posted, he’s likely out for a bit. Get well soon Bryan!

– Note from today’s Cactus League game for the D-backs against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim … Keon Broxton managed to work his way for a double late in the game. I was trying to watch it, but the feed dropped just as I heard “Broxton to the plate” … I’m glad he updated me. He’s another one who is likely headed to Visalia or Mobile. Today’s game also had a Raymond Hernandez sighting … as he pitched in relief.

– The latest fodder as to Miguel Montero (2002-03) and his future uniforms … if he becomes a free agent, the likely spots he could land. And what does he reportedly want (or at least his agent wants him to sign for)? V-Mart money.

– I had to share this … Trevor Bauer’s late-night Twitter feed.

– Here’s a good numbers post on projecting batting averages and on-base percentages for the D-backs in 2012.

– Here’s your dose of Gerardo Parra (2006) … this time, it’s with the role he’ll have to at least start the season. Which is backing up all three outfield positions.

– Jose Valverde (2000) underwent a physical change this offseason. He also has an interesting take on Prince Fielder.

Tomorrow … I know, a day late … the Predictions of the Next Osprey Position Players/Pitchers to make their MLB Debuts. As long as I don’t get caught up in another wild sports day, that is.