Are you ready?? Spring Training not far away now …

by Ben Catley

Spring Training is nearly here. Next week at this time, most teams will be either having their first full-squad workouts, preparing to do so or ready four day two.

The D-backs report next week – but a number of players are already in Scottsdale. A handful of minor-league players have also reported early, they were due in camp the following week.

You think the D-backs want to start the 2013 season already??

The D-backs continue to tweak their roster – now with the contract extension tool – while they prepare to see whether or not youth is fully ready to be served. Starting pitching, bullpen help, the outfield … a handful of those spots will be occupied by players who either are in year two or still are rookie-eligible. Continue reading →

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 →

Bird Droppings a Top 100 MLB.com Blog … again!

For the second year in a row, Bird Droppings has been recognized as a Top 100 MLB.com blog. The blog received over 14,000 hits during the 2012 calendar year, and held its ground by staying on the list for the second consecutive season.

Bird Droppings is the official blog for the Missoula Osprey, with an emphasis on covering news from all sorts of Osprey angles. Everything from starting lineups and game notes during the season, videos, news about former Osprey players and new about upcoming events and promotions as well are included in the blog.

A big thanks goes out to all who read Bird Droppings on a regular basis for making this happen once again. We’ll have more on this achievement soon on MissoulaOsprey.com.

Happy New Year!!

First of all, Happy New Year from all of us with the Missoula Osprey!! We hope that you celebrate the new year in style, but please celebrate safely, and don’t drink and drive. Every bar in the area will help you get a cab if you need it, and U Call Us will also transport you home safely.

Now, to the final post of 2012 – which is a big thank you to all of our readers here on Bird Droppings!! We’re hoping to stay in the MLB.com Top 100 blog list, and if the early numbers are any indication, we have a chance of doing just that! Bird Droppings 2012 by the numbers: 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 →

Inciarte now a Phillie

The Rule V draft is complete, and a former Osprey will have a chance to become the 40th former Osprey to make a Major League roster. Ender Inciarte was selected in the Major League portion of the Rule V Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier today, the 10th of the 15 players chosen in that portion of the draft. Fourty-two players were taken in the Rule V draft.

Inciarte had a solid 2012 campaign (.307/2 HR/47 RBI/46-58 SB), but has not played above Class A Advanced Visalia in his five professional seasons, including his debut season stateside in Missoula in 2009. In his career, Inciarte has a .283 batting average with 81 doubles, 23 triples, five home runs, 163 RBIs and 111 stolen bases.

His best season average-wise still stands as his summer is Missoula, with a .325 batting average, 16 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 66 games while helping the Osprey win the Pioneer League North Division Series and advance to the Championship Series. His catch in deep center field in Game 1 of the Championship Series saved a run and helped preserve a 7-6 win for the Osprey at Orem.

Breaking down the 2013 Schedule … somewhat

by Ben Catley

Now that the 2013 Pioneer Baseball League schedule is out, I can sit back, take a look at it, and see things that Osprey fans have not seen for a while – and I can’t ever remember seeing. (I also love it when I see some of this stuff and immediately think of ideas for the Osprey record book …)

Here are some things that jumped out to me – some of which I like, some which I am not sold on, but will probably find just fine as 2013 rolls on. Continue reading →