Balfour:
Posted on Wed, Aug. 27, 2003
TWINS REPORT
BY TOM POWERS
Pioneer Press
....Balfour an option: Grant Balfour's sterling four-inning performance in relief of Joe Mays on Saturday really caught Gardenhire's eye. Balfour was firing 94-mph fastballs and was as strong in his fourth inning as he was in his first.
Gardenhire said he wants to give Mays another chance. But he considers Balfour a viable option should Mays struggle.
"We'll run him out there again and see how he does against a tough-hitting Texas team," Gardenhire said of Mays. "But we're not afraid to get him out quick."
"I'll pitch whenever I get the chance," Balfour said. "Whatever happens, I'll go out there and show them as much as I can. If it's as a starter, great. If not, I'm not complaining."
Balfour, a 25-year-old right-hander from Sydney, Australia, had been starting at Class AAA Rochester before his call-up on Aug. 15.
"I don't want to wreck (Balfour) by throwing him out there and letting him get crushed by somebody," Gardenhire said. "Joe should be able to handle it. That's what he's here for."
>>>>>will be pitching for a spot in rotation:
Posted on Tue, Sep. 02, 2003
Another injury, only worse
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press
...Reed to bullpen? Twins pitcher Rick Reed, whose ailing back could be well enough for him to return from the disabled list this week, likely is to go into the bullpen when activated. Depending on rookie Grant Balfour's performance, Reed could finish the season there. Balfour starts Wednesday against the Angels.
"Whatever," said Reed of the possible relief role. He threw in the bullpen Monday, faring well, and is scheduled to throw again Wednesday before being activated.
"I feel pretty good," he said.
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Waecter, from Tampa Bay Tribune:
Waechter Eager For First Start
By SCOTT CARTER scarter@tampatrib.com
Published: Sep 2, 2003
OAKLAND, Calif. - The cool air tingled as 42,442 fans at Safeco Field sensed the inevitable. One out, the tying runners on base, and one of the game's all-time best clutch hitters - Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez - at the plate.
On the mound for the Devil Rays was 22-year-old right- hander Doug Waechter. A rookie. A former quarterback. And, yes, a wide-eyed kid making his major-league debut.
Here's the ball. Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Now get out the heart of Seattle's potent lineup.
That's not the rude introduction Rays manager Lou Piniella had planned for Waechter, but with his struggling team burdened with a six- game losing streak and clinging to a two-run lead last Wednesday at Seattle, he handed Waechter the ball and hoped for the best.
``He had that faraway look in his eyes,'' Piniella joked. ``I almost took it back from him. He was into it.''
A numb Waechter - ``I was in the zone,'' he said - did what almost no one in the stadium expected. He struck out Martinez. Waechter then added to the drama by walking John Olerud to load the bases. However, he ended the suspense by getting Seattle outfielder Mike Cameron to pop out to end the inning. The Rays went on to win, 8-4.
Guess who was the winning pitcher? That's right, the same kid with the dazed look in his eyes when Piniella handed him the ball and the rudest welcome of his young career.
Waechter, promoted Aug. 25 after going 8-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 22 starts between Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham, will have those same butterflies in his stomach again Wednesday night when he makes his first major-league start.
Those same Mariners that Waechter threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings at a few days ago will be at Tropicana Field for a three-game series with Tampa Bay.
This time, all those family and friends who stayed up late back in St. Petersburg to watch Waechter make his debut on TV will be there in person, getting a glimpse of the first player from Pinellas County to play for the hometown team.
Waechter, born and raised in St. Petersburg, was a two- sport star at Northeast High. The University of South Florida offered him a dual-sport scholarship that would allow him to play quarterback in the fall and pitch in the spring.
However, after drafting him in the third round of the 1999 draft, the Rays convinced him to become a full-time baseball player. The level-headed and polite Waechter considered his options, and as usual, made a sound decision.
``I always felt like I made the right decision,'' Waechter said. ``But now, it's like an exclamation point. The first year I didn't really have a good season, and that was really the only time when I felt maybe I didn't make the right choice.
``But I try not to second- guess anything I do after I make a decision. The next year I had a good year and, after that, I felt I made the right choice whether I made it here or not.''
Waechter was a Rays fan before becoming one. But he'll have a much better view than when he attended the first game in franchise history during his junior year of high school in 1998.
``I remember going to the Opening Day game and I got to sit behind Tony Dungy in the upper deck,'' Waechter said. ``And somebody found out it was Tony Dungy and they got to go down. I was stuck in the upper deck still.''
Not anymore. He'll be on the mound tonight as some other kid in the upper deck watches.
``It's starting to sink in more and more each day,'' he said. ``Now, it's like, I know I can pitch here, I've just got to go out and do it.''
//////////////////////////////////
from official site:
09/01/2003 3:04 PM ET
Brewers notes: Getting another shot
Left-hander Martinez to make debut Wednesday
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com Get tickets
MILWAUKEE -- Left-hander Luis Martinez had a terrible Spring Training with the Milwaukee Brewers. September is his "Fall Training," and the stakes are just as high.
Martinez, 23, was one of three players called up to Milwaukee when active rosters expanded Monday. He was tabbed to start Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park, the first of a series of starts that could help determine whether Martinez starts next season in the Brewers' rotation.
"We hope to get him four starts here and find out what he can do," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who also added two relievers: right-hander Mike Crudale and left-hander Shane Nance. "He deserves it. He had a real good year."
Martinez, a lanky, 6-foot-6 Dominican, went 12-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 27 starts this season at Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Indianapolis, allowing 130 hits and notching 162 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings. After being promoted to Triple-A, Martinez went 4-0 with a stellar 0.99 ERA.
"It's tough being as consistent as he was through the year," Melvin said.
The performance was surprising after an inconsistent Spring Training during which Martinez saw action in only 1/3 inning of one Cactus League game. He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks.
"We were a little concerned with what he showed us in Spring Training," Melvin said. "There are some areas that Luis needs to work on. Like any young player, he can't take for granted that he's in the big leagues or on a big-league roster that it's going to be easy."
Martinez will make his Major League debut, but the other two Brewers call-ups have experience. Nance posted a 5.87 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the Brewers earlier this season, and Crudale, acquired from the Cardinals last week in the Mike DeJean trade, posted a 2.38 ERA in 13 Major League games this season. As a Cardinals rookie last year, he went 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 49 games.
With Single-A Beloit and Double-A Huntsville in the playoffs, Melvin said there is a chance the Brewers could make more call-ups later this month. But the Brewers, winners of 12 of their last 13 games entering Monday's tilt against the Reds, are not prepared to shut it down with a September schedule full of contending clubs.
"We still want to try to win ballgames and improve in the standings," Melvin said. "I don't totally look at September as just a player development month, especially with the way the team is playing now.
"I'm not a big believer in just thinking that coming up here and traveling with the big-league club you learn the big-league atmosphere. If you're playing that's one thing, but if you're not going to play I don't know the reason to be here."
Martinez will wear uniform No. 31 for the Brewers. Nance will reclaim his No. 47 and Crudale will take DeJean's No. 48.
Rotation shuffled: With Martinez in the mix, Ben Sheets will instead pitch Friday against his favorite opponent, the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers will use a six-man rotation, giving Sheets, Wayne Franklin and Matt Kinney the opportunity to take it easy as they approach or add to career highs in innings pitched.....
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post any more info below!
good luck to all!
Posted on Wed, Aug. 27, 2003
TWINS REPORT
BY TOM POWERS
Pioneer Press
....Balfour an option: Grant Balfour's sterling four-inning performance in relief of Joe Mays on Saturday really caught Gardenhire's eye. Balfour was firing 94-mph fastballs and was as strong in his fourth inning as he was in his first.
Gardenhire said he wants to give Mays another chance. But he considers Balfour a viable option should Mays struggle.
"We'll run him out there again and see how he does against a tough-hitting Texas team," Gardenhire said of Mays. "But we're not afraid to get him out quick."
"I'll pitch whenever I get the chance," Balfour said. "Whatever happens, I'll go out there and show them as much as I can. If it's as a starter, great. If not, I'm not complaining."
Balfour, a 25-year-old right-hander from Sydney, Australia, had been starting at Class AAA Rochester before his call-up on Aug. 15.
"I don't want to wreck (Balfour) by throwing him out there and letting him get crushed by somebody," Gardenhire said. "Joe should be able to handle it. That's what he's here for."
>>>>>will be pitching for a spot in rotation:
Posted on Tue, Sep. 02, 2003
Another injury, only worse
BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press
...Reed to bullpen? Twins pitcher Rick Reed, whose ailing back could be well enough for him to return from the disabled list this week, likely is to go into the bullpen when activated. Depending on rookie Grant Balfour's performance, Reed could finish the season there. Balfour starts Wednesday against the Angels.
"Whatever," said Reed of the possible relief role. He threw in the bullpen Monday, faring well, and is scheduled to throw again Wednesday before being activated.
"I feel pretty good," he said.
/////////////////////////////////////////
Waecter, from Tampa Bay Tribune:
Waechter Eager For First Start
By SCOTT CARTER scarter@tampatrib.com
Published: Sep 2, 2003
OAKLAND, Calif. - The cool air tingled as 42,442 fans at Safeco Field sensed the inevitable. One out, the tying runners on base, and one of the game's all-time best clutch hitters - Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez - at the plate.
On the mound for the Devil Rays was 22-year-old right- hander Doug Waechter. A rookie. A former quarterback. And, yes, a wide-eyed kid making his major-league debut.
Here's the ball. Welcome to the big leagues, kid. Now get out the heart of Seattle's potent lineup.
That's not the rude introduction Rays manager Lou Piniella had planned for Waechter, but with his struggling team burdened with a six- game losing streak and clinging to a two-run lead last Wednesday at Seattle, he handed Waechter the ball and hoped for the best.
``He had that faraway look in his eyes,'' Piniella joked. ``I almost took it back from him. He was into it.''
A numb Waechter - ``I was in the zone,'' he said - did what almost no one in the stadium expected. He struck out Martinez. Waechter then added to the drama by walking John Olerud to load the bases. However, he ended the suspense by getting Seattle outfielder Mike Cameron to pop out to end the inning. The Rays went on to win, 8-4.
Guess who was the winning pitcher? That's right, the same kid with the dazed look in his eyes when Piniella handed him the ball and the rudest welcome of his young career.
Waechter, promoted Aug. 25 after going 8-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 22 starts between Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham, will have those same butterflies in his stomach again Wednesday night when he makes his first major-league start.
Those same Mariners that Waechter threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings at a few days ago will be at Tropicana Field for a three-game series with Tampa Bay.
This time, all those family and friends who stayed up late back in St. Petersburg to watch Waechter make his debut on TV will be there in person, getting a glimpse of the first player from Pinellas County to play for the hometown team.
Waechter, born and raised in St. Petersburg, was a two- sport star at Northeast High. The University of South Florida offered him a dual-sport scholarship that would allow him to play quarterback in the fall and pitch in the spring.
However, after drafting him in the third round of the 1999 draft, the Rays convinced him to become a full-time baseball player. The level-headed and polite Waechter considered his options, and as usual, made a sound decision.
``I always felt like I made the right decision,'' Waechter said. ``But now, it's like an exclamation point. The first year I didn't really have a good season, and that was really the only time when I felt maybe I didn't make the right choice.
``But I try not to second- guess anything I do after I make a decision. The next year I had a good year and, after that, I felt I made the right choice whether I made it here or not.''
Waechter was a Rays fan before becoming one. But he'll have a much better view than when he attended the first game in franchise history during his junior year of high school in 1998.
``I remember going to the Opening Day game and I got to sit behind Tony Dungy in the upper deck,'' Waechter said. ``And somebody found out it was Tony Dungy and they got to go down. I was stuck in the upper deck still.''
Not anymore. He'll be on the mound tonight as some other kid in the upper deck watches.
``It's starting to sink in more and more each day,'' he said. ``Now, it's like, I know I can pitch here, I've just got to go out and do it.''
//////////////////////////////////
from official site:
09/01/2003 3:04 PM ET
Brewers notes: Getting another shot
Left-hander Martinez to make debut Wednesday
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com Get tickets
MILWAUKEE -- Left-hander Luis Martinez had a terrible Spring Training with the Milwaukee Brewers. September is his "Fall Training," and the stakes are just as high.
Martinez, 23, was one of three players called up to Milwaukee when active rosters expanded Monday. He was tabbed to start Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park, the first of a series of starts that could help determine whether Martinez starts next season in the Brewers' rotation.
"We hope to get him four starts here and find out what he can do," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who also added two relievers: right-hander Mike Crudale and left-hander Shane Nance. "He deserves it. He had a real good year."
Martinez, a lanky, 6-foot-6 Dominican, went 12-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 27 starts this season at Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Indianapolis, allowing 130 hits and notching 162 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings. After being promoted to Triple-A, Martinez went 4-0 with a stellar 0.99 ERA.
"It's tough being as consistent as he was through the year," Melvin said.
The performance was surprising after an inconsistent Spring Training during which Martinez saw action in only 1/3 inning of one Cactus League game. He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks.
"We were a little concerned with what he showed us in Spring Training," Melvin said. "There are some areas that Luis needs to work on. Like any young player, he can't take for granted that he's in the big leagues or on a big-league roster that it's going to be easy."
Martinez will make his Major League debut, but the other two Brewers call-ups have experience. Nance posted a 5.87 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the Brewers earlier this season, and Crudale, acquired from the Cardinals last week in the Mike DeJean trade, posted a 2.38 ERA in 13 Major League games this season. As a Cardinals rookie last year, he went 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 49 games.
With Single-A Beloit and Double-A Huntsville in the playoffs, Melvin said there is a chance the Brewers could make more call-ups later this month. But the Brewers, winners of 12 of their last 13 games entering Monday's tilt against the Reds, are not prepared to shut it down with a September schedule full of contending clubs.
"We still want to try to win ballgames and improve in the standings," Melvin said. "I don't totally look at September as just a player development month, especially with the way the team is playing now.
"I'm not a big believer in just thinking that coming up here and traveling with the big-league club you learn the big-league atmosphere. If you're playing that's one thing, but if you're not going to play I don't know the reason to be here."
Martinez will wear uniform No. 31 for the Brewers. Nance will reclaim his No. 47 and Crudale will take DeJean's No. 48.
Rotation shuffled: With Martinez in the mix, Ben Sheets will instead pitch Friday against his favorite opponent, the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers will use a six-man rotation, giving Sheets, Wayne Franklin and Matt Kinney the opportunity to take it easy as they approach or add to career highs in innings pitched.....
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post any more info below!
good luck to all!
