First, starting lineups:
Missoula (3-4)
Chris Ellison LF
Josh Parr SS
Ryan Court 3B
Jon Griffin 1B
Stephen Cardullo DH
Tom Belza 2B
Fidel Pena C
Jeremia Gomez RF
Justin Bianco CF
Jesse Darrah RHP

Billings (3-4)
Kurtis Muller CF
Juan Silva LF
Devin Lohman SS
Robert Maddox 1B
Sean Buckley DH
Kyle Waldrop RF
Junior Arias 3B
Sammy Diaz 2B
Yovan Gonzalez C
Radhames Quezada RHP

Today’s pre-game interview is likely going to be Stephen Cardullo. If it’s not him, we’ll air Part 2 of my interview with D-backs Director of Player Development Mike Bell.

Now, to the other stuff … first, the bumps from Thursday night. All is much better. The most we can tell you is that we’ll have an update on tonight’s broadcast on the situation.

Items from Today’s Game Notes:

Stat Line of the Weekend:
Talk about a season debut. IF Stephen Cardullo made his first 2011 appearance on Friday, and the Florida State product – who hit just .172 in 20 games with the Osprey in 2010 – made quite a statement. Cardullo went 7-for-11 in the series (.636), with three doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Cardullo was the DH on Friday then showed his defensive versatility by playing at shortstop on Saturday and at third base on Sunday, where he made a diving stop of a line drive to cut short a Voyager big inning in the second.

K-riffic:
The pace may have slowed a bit, but the Osprey pitching staff still has been striking out the opposition at an impressive pace. Entering this homestand, the Missoula arms have collected 76 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings pitched – which works out to be 10.25 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. While it is still early, that would put the club ahead of the record set by the 2005 staff of 9.14 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. That staff was led by 2005 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year Greg Smith, who fanned 100 batters in 86 innings pitched.

And … finally …
Osprey Alumni Update/Minor League Report:
SS-A Yakima is now 3-7 after a 6-5 win over Tri-City on Sunday. Outfielder Henry Zabala (2009) is having a solid start to the season, hitting .283 with a homer and four RBIs … Right-handed pitcher Alex Capaul (2011) has allowed just three hits and has struck out a pair in his two outings, spanning five innings of work.

Class A South Bend (1-2, 35-37) will face former Osprey right-handed pitcher Kevin Eichhorn (2008-10) and West Michigan tonight. Eichhorn (5-3, 3.59 ERA) is 1-0 in two starts against the Silver Hawks this season, and has won his last three decisions … Hawks Left-handed pitcher David Holmberg (2010) has pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings.

Class A Advanced Visalia (1-3, 32-41) could not outscore High Desert on Sunday, falling 15-13. While outfielder Adam Eaton (2010) has been slowed a bit, he is still in the Top 10 in the California League in hitting (.339, 7^th) and is 3^rd in the Cal League in on-base percentage (.457) … Third baseman Bobby Borchering (2009) leads the club with 14 home runs, and is second with 54 RBIs while posting a .271 batting average … Second baseman David Nick (2009) also has posted solid numbers – a .279 batting average, 14 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 28 RBIs while committing just seven errors in 69 games.

Double-A Mobile (1-2, 39-34) had their game suspended due to a power outage at Mississippi. The Braves lead 4-1 in the 9^th inning. Goldy Watch: First baseman Paul Goldschmidt (2009) is hitting .316 at the moment, with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs. He leads the minors in home runs, and also leads the Southern League in RBIs, on-base percentage (.436), slugging percentage (.636), OPS (1.072), runs scored (57), total bases (169) walks (56) and intentional walks (11).

Triple-A Reno (46-32) took care of Sacramento, 9-2 on Sunday … utility man Kyle Greene (2008)is hitting .282 in 16 games with the Aces, with six RBIs … Among the current pitchers on the staff, left-hander Tom Layne (2007) is second on the squad with six wins (6-3, 6.53).

Schedule:
AAA Reno at Sacramento
AA Mobile at Mississippi – Jarrod Parker (2007) gets the call for the BayBears
A Adv. Visalia vs. Inland Empire
A South Bend at West Michigan
SS-A Yakima vs. Tri-City
AZL D-backs (3-2) at AZL Padres
DSL D-backs (9-14) at DSL Rockies

Back at you tomorrow …

by Ben Catley

Yeah, I know, it has been a few days since there has been a blog post. All of my energies have gone toward getting ready for what is truly my Opening Day – which is Media Day. Which was a day earlier than I had planned it to be. So … yeah … I have been a little distracted.

There has been a lot going on … the record book is done enough, the player bios are set, and we have a team in town … baseball is almost here. I want to say that I am expecting to use the “off on a 360-foot trot” phrase often this season, but I will wait on that.

I am also expecting that we may have more news about the 2011 Osprey. Any day now.

When it comes to the roster, this is a time of ebb-and-flow. What the roster looks like today may not be the same thing tomorrow. Especially since (1) the Osprey only have 28 players and (2) can have up to 35 on a roster. That means there are two active slots still open, so there will be some additional Osprey joining the nest shortly.

As I will tend to do during the season … I will shed some light on certain things, make some notes and share some thoughts on certain things. So ….

1. The rotation is set. For now. Robby Rowland, as we called back in March, is the Opening Day starter. Enrique Burgos will go in Game 2 of the series at Helena on Tuesday. The Opening Night starter at Ogren Park Allegiance Field will be right-hander Jesse Darrah, while fellow Golden State Athletic Conference pitcher, left-handed pitcher Taylor Siemens, gets the ball on Thursday. Friday’s starter for the opener of a three-game set at Great Falls will be tall right-hander Dexter Price, followed by Rowland and Burgos. Which, by the way, makes Burgos your starter on the first Fireworks Night of the season, July 1.

2. If you like home runs, or at least hard-hit balls to the gap, today’s BP showed a couple of things. Or should I say, a lot of things. We will see how that translates to live pitching, but it was revealing today in the rain.

3. Westley Moss may become a potent .300 hitter here. With his speed, he has a chance to do some special stuff. He doesn’t have a lot of pop, but he reminds me a bit of Ollie Linton, who was good enough to make the Southern League All-Star game. Guess I am going to have to work on my stolen base calls, eh?

4. Eric Groff, Ty Linton, Enrique Burgos, Robby Rowland, Fidel Pena … five guys who are a LOT more relaxed and confident this season. Of this bunch, Linton has made the biggest 180-degree turn from a wound-up top to one who has been spinning so much, the tip isn’t as sharp as it used to be. Which, in my experience with tops, is a good thing. But you see in their eyes they are all ready to make a big step forward. Of the Extended guys, these five may be the best placements that the D-backs make, in my opinion. Which means a great thing for Osprey Nation!

In the words of fictitious manager Lou Brown … “My kind of team Charlie … my kind of team!”

I do have one concern, though. While we should be strong defensively – Josh Parr may be the most solid shortstop we have seen defensively here, at least since I have been here – the infield needs work. We did not see the outfield, thanks to the rain that was present throughout the practice, so that will be interesting.

However, that’s where having manager Hector De La Cruz will be a huge asset. Having Hector as the manager here is like having a roving infield instructor that loves the Pioneer League so much, he doesn’t leave. Or having your own infield specialist on staff at all times. Hector just has a way of being able to see your weaknesses, the knack to be able to teach you how to fix them, and turn them into strengths instead.

For proof – watch Eric Groff play second base, which, I feel, is the infield position of major depth, both offensively and defensively. He moves so much more smoothly at second base (remember, he had played third base in high school and college, and was a convert to second base during the 2010 season), it looks natural. And, it also looks like he is catching up to the speed of the game.

And I give Hector De La Cruz a lot of the credit for helping make Groff into a second baseman. He worked Groff hard, putting in a lot of extra work, and combine the work and the will … well, it’s showing now. Because, of course, you have to have the “Want-to”, and it’s apparent that Groff – who ended the season at Triple-A Reno in 2010 – had the want-to.

OK – enough ramblings for now. Tomorrow is a new day, and the final workout before the season opens in Helena on Monday.