Travelerocity

Five questions with #4 prospect, LHP Trevor Reckling

When 18-year-old Trevor Reckling took the hill and fanned the first two batters he faced in his '07 pro debut with the Rookie League Arizona Angels, heads probably turned. And they have been turning ever since.

 

Reckling (3-1), who just turned twenty, is currently leading the Texas League with a 2.12 ERA and has 26 strikeouts. The Angels #4 prospect was called-up to the Travelers on April 23 from High-A Rancho Cucamonga after dominating the California League in three starts. In 19 innings for the Quakes the opposition was just hitting .138 against him and he had only given up three walks, with a 0.90 ERA. The Newark, New Jersey native was the youngest player in the Texas League went he was sent-up and sparkled in his debut win for the Travs a few days later.

 

Trevor was taken in the eighth round of the '07 draft by the Angels out of St. Benedict's Prep School in Newark and was the second New Jersey high schooler taken. After his rookie campaign he spent '08 at Low-A Cedar Rapids and was the Midwest League's youngest starting pitcher.

  

Reckling led the Kernels with 10 wins and during one stretch had a 29-inning scoreless streak using his smooth delivery and three-plus pitches. The 6' 2" 205 pound left-hander didn't turn twenty until May 22 and possesses possibly the best changeup in the Angels' system along with a low 90's fastball that he keeps down and locates beautifully. If that wasn't enough, he has a fall-off-the-table curveball. So when I recently met with him before the club left on the current road trip I asked the obvious question first.

Q: How did you learn to pitch so well, so young?

A: It's the work I've been doing in the off-season. It's paying-off.

Q: You were the Angels' "Minor League Pitcher of the Month" for April and now you have the lowest ERA in the Texas League with a 3-1 record. Are you surprised at your success so soon?

A: You know it was just both teams I've been playing with. Good chemistry on both teams and good defense behind me and again, hard work that's been paying-off in the off-season.

Q: You have three legitimate pitches. Is your changeup your best?

A: First would have to be my fastball. After that it would have to be my changeup.

Q: You probably had never been to Little Rock or Arkansas before you got here. What's the best thing you've seen about Little Rock so far?

A: Well actually I have. I was in Fayetteville. I tried out for a Perfect Game Showcase for high school kids coming up, and college, and draft status.  Around here I like the scenery with the games being downtown. I really like the scenery.

Q: What's your latest status update on Facebook?

A: Well, I just put put one in. It said, "We just got a win! First one in awhile." (Note: The Travelers had just broken an eight game losing streak with a win in the second game of a doubleheader on Memorial Day .)

 

Reckling is scheduled to take the mound tonight (Sat.) for his seventh Arkansas start against the Missions at San Antonio.

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Just when you think you've seen it all, then this.

 

Long time Traveler fan Tommy Green facing-up former Trav big Corey Smith for a foul ball whack he took off Smith's bat during the final home stand game between the Travelers and the Naturals.

 

I held my breath as Green tossed his bloody towel aside and showed the burly Northwest Arkansas infielder the dirty-deed that had required medical attention.

 

 

But it was all in jest, as Green was yanking the chain of the former Traveler fan-favorite, who had responded with genuine concern. Green said he was yakking instead of paying attention when he got whacked, and being as nimble as he is, normally would have darted out of the way.

 

-- Lonesome Traveler

Coby Smith stops losing streak with Memorial Day walkoff hit

 

With the blossoms from Cottonwood trees and not rain drops pouring over Dickey-Stephens Park, Arkansas finally picked up a win late Monday afternoon.

The Travelers had lost the first game 2-1 and so by taking the second game of the Memorial Day doubleheader against Northwest Arkansas, the team picked up its first win since May 15, and snapped an eight game losing streak when Nate Sutton came streaking home (below)in the first extra inning of the seven inning contest.

 

The Travs' utility player scored the only run of the game on a single by left fielder Coby Smith, who was Arkansas' "Player of the Month" for April.

 

Sutton led the inning off with a walk against Naturals' reliever Greg Holland and then given a second chance because of extra innings, center fielder Peter Bourjos extended his hit streak to 18 games on this swing (above)to advance Sutton to second.

Holland hadn't given up a run in more than eleven innings and was bringing his fast ball at 95-96 mph on the Dickey-Stephen's gun before Smith (seen above #11, from first game of doubleheader) connected for his winning hit with one out to score Sutton.

 

Arkansas' pitching was outstanding in the win over the Naturals, and basically it was an "all-reliever" corps that got it done. Left-handed Barret Browning (above) had made 128 appearances in his Minor League career from the bullpen and had never started, until Monday. He pitched five scoreless innings with just two hits and no walks before giving way to right-handed Robert Mosebach (below).

 

Mosebach allowed only one hit in two innings and David Herndon, who relieved Mosebach, got the win after striking out the side in the eighth.

There was also another stellar relief performance Memorial Day.

    

 

Once again the grounds crew and interns saved the day after a twenty-two minute rain delay in the first game of the doubleheader. Pushed to the wall with the weather conditions over the holiday weekend this crew gets my vote as the "Most Valuable Players."

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As requested by The White House, all Americans were asked to stop what they were doing Memorial Day at 3:00 p.m. CST and to pause and honor our service men and women, who lost their lives fighting for freedom. This is how that moment looked at Dickey-Stephens.

 

 

 

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There was a new record set in Chicago Monday night at Wrigley Field and it was bad. I didn't think it possible anyone could top Mike Ditka for the all-time worst rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" but it happened when Mr. T sang or barked his version during the seventh inning stretch.

A close honorable mention (is honorable the right word to use here) would be Ozzy Osbourne's version but he was so stoned and/or drunk he basically just hummed it and really never sang, so I rank Mr. T's the worst over Ditka's.

Being a Chicago native, at least Mr. T knew he was at Wrigley Field, not Stadium as NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon pathetically called it when he sang his version drowned out by boos before he could finish.

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Coming Soon, "Five Questions" with Angels' #4 prospect and Traveler left-handed starter, twenty-year-old Trevor Reckling.

   

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And finally....here's a family that sticks together and plays together.

 

-- Lonesome Traveler

You win some, you lose some, and the rest are rained out

For the third time this season Mother Nature washed out another game at Dickey-Stephens that was to have been played Sunday night against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

 

This is where the scoreboard stood when play was stopped at 6:00 p.m. You think it may be hard on the players, especially the pitchers, wondering when to warm up again after a delay and how much? That's nothing. It's these guys who have the nightmare to deal with.

 

After a day of soaking rain there was a little window of let-up prior to game-time, and the grounds crew and interns had to scurry around and somehow get the field ready in time for play.

 

The first step is to take all the tarps off that have been covering the infield and start painting lines and cursing.

 

And just observing what was going on you could almost imagine the conversations that might have been occurring between the boss and the slaves.

"But wait, isn't that another huge, big black cloud rolling in?" To which the reply probably was, "Shut up and keep working. Who asked you?  Laven's got hot dogs to sell."

 

 

An by golly they got it done and the Travelers' starter and #2 Angels' prospect, Jordan Walden actually got five batters out in order. And then.....

Remember that really big, black cloud?  Well it had its way, and umbrellas went up, and the players scattered to the dugouts.

And....and guess who has to do this all over again?

  

More cursing.

 

When it rains and blows sideways and you don't think it's going to quit, it's time to vamoose to the club house and maybe hold a session of "Kangaroo Court" or update Facebook, which are all good possibilities as to what the players may have had on their minds as they trudged off the quagmire of a playing surface. Let's just hope they didn't Twitter.

 

And what do the fans do during an almost two hour rain-delay? Well, a lot just move back to drier seats and you know.....watch it rain.

 

Some stand in the concourse and contemplate buying a funnel cake.

 

Or watch these guys again cavort in the outfield while being shown on the big screen as the video director has an animated character dance along with them.

 

 

Anything to beat the boredom of this.

 

But alas all hopes for a Sunday night ball game leading-in to watching a huge fireworks display from Riverfest while in your comfortable seat at Dickey-Stephens was halted when the game was called.

By the way, they almost did start the game again at one point, and guess what came off, and then had to be put back when it was an official rain out?

  

 Right. (Lots more cursing.)

-- Lonesome Traveler

Comeback snuffed out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth

A colleague called it, a "freak-show" kind of game. It was that Saturday. Why? Well the game featured eight pitchers; 15 combined runs on 21 hits and five errors; one side batting-around in the eighth; the other side batting-around in the ninth; a wild bottom of the ninth comeback rally from the Travs when they looked for sure to be out of it; and an equally wild play to end it when a kid, who flew all day to get there, was thrown out at the plate on what would have been the sixth and tying run in the frame. Even a guy in the dizzy-bat-race got knocked cold when he crashed in to his fellow-contestant and lay on the field for some time before being assisted off.

 

  

 

In the end the Travelers lost another one-run game 8-7 to Northwest Arkansas, its  seventhstraight loss and 14th of the past 18. It also marked the first Double-A loss for the Angels' #4 left-handed prospect, Trevor Reckling (3-1), who turned twenty Friday.

 

 

Reckling had only thrown 49 pitches with no runs through the first four innings, but in the fifth alone he threw 30 pitches and allowed three runs on a double, two singles, two walks ,and a balk. He faced the first two batters in the sixth, who reached on an error and a single, before he was removed.

 

His counter-part, #2 Royals' prospect Daniel Cortes although giving up six walks, which the Travs never cashed in, left after five without allowing a hit on 98 pitches with 2 K's.

 

   

Ironically it was Cortes (2-4) and Reckling who matched up back in April during Trevor's Double-A debut at Dickey-Stephens, which Reckling won.

 

Despite the loss center fielder Peter Bourjos stretched his consecutive hit-streak to 16 games.

 

He entered the game hitting a team-leading .322 and was 2-for-6 for the day. One of those hits with two outs in the bottom of the ninth brought home one run run and nearly another.

 

And who is this guy, #17? That's twenty two-year-old, 5' 9" 155 pound switch-hitting Ivan Contreras, who flew all day to get to the park for the game and got a hit his first time up, and then contributed to the ninth inning rally with another single before being tagged out at the plate on the play that ended the game after Bourjos lined his hit to deep right-center.

 

Contreras, a Dominican native, was called-up from extended spring training to replace second baseman Ryan Mount, who sprained his right wrist fouling off a pitch Friday night. Mount has been placed on the 7-day disabled list.

 

In case you've been wondering, and I know I have, the reason Hank Conger (#24 above and below) isn't playing is because he has a hurt right wrist also. He hasn't played since last Monday on the road, and as far as I could tell no other source has reported on his absence, so I asked him. He has not been placed on the DL and wasn't sure when he would see action. He called it minor, so maybe he'll see action tomorrow (Sunday.)

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There was a surprise in the Travelers' lockers Friday when the team arrived at the park for the start of the four-game home stand against Northwest Arkansas. New alternate, red jerseys that look great but didn't help as the team gave up a lead late and lost to the Naturals 4-3 in ten. Left fielder #5 Nate Sutton (above) had a very nice Friday night at the plate going four-for-four with a triple, a double, and two singles.

 

 

General Manager Pete Laven said the team really didn't have an alternate jersey besides the batting practice jerseys and said these were designed to be especially cool during the hot-humid days approaching.

 

Happy Memorial Day everyone and God bless our troops.

-- Lonesome Traveler

New single released by leader of Travelers' Halos dance team

 

The Halos dance team debuted at Dickey-Stephens Park on Saturday night May 9th and will be performing each Saturday night home game throughout the season.

Now the leader of the Halos, Brittany Campbell, has a debut of her own. A brand new single just released called, "If You Only Knew". It's a hot tune and was also written by her.

   

How did all this happen? Well you may recall from a previous post, Campbell won the Arkansas Idol contest last year sponsored by Central Arkansas radio station Alice 107. As the winner, Brittany's prize was a studio session to record her song. She's got a great voice, so maybe in addition to dancing at the Travelers' games, we suggest the club let her sing with the Halos as well. A music track to "If You Only Knew" while she sang it live and the Halos danced, would be very cool. Click on the link to hear it for yourself.

 

This Memorial Day weekend the Halos will be back in action on Saturday night when the Travelers take on Northwest Arkansas.

-- Lonesome Traveler

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Late word has come that the Halos will not be performing as usual on Saturday, but rather at Sunday's game instead, which is scheduled to begin at a special time of 5:30 p.m. All games this weekend are at special times because of Riverfest. Here is the schedule:

Friday night--6:00 p.m.

Saturday--2:00 p.m.

Sunday night--5:30 p.m.

Memorial Day--2:00 p.m.

In this observer's opinion Dickey-Stephens has the best viewing sites in the twin-cities after the game on Sunday night for the huge fireworks show to conclude Riverfest.

L.T.

Wallace zooms up to Memphis from the Springfield Cardinals

Springfield had barely left town last week from its first visit to Dickey-Stephens in '09 when the St Louis Cardinal's #2 prospect Brett Wallace (below) got the call-up to Triple-A Memphis.

 

Signed for $1.84 million, Wallace was the 13th overall draft pick by St. Louis last June and in a fact pointed out in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch blog post , is the first of the '08 top 15 to make it to Triple-A. And in less than a year's time as a pro, Baseball America says he "Already is one of the best pure hitters in the minors." Wallace won the Pac-10 Conference triple crown in '07 and '08 for Arizona Sate so hitting is his gift. It's his defense that will really be scrutinized now that he is with the Red Birds.

 

Wallace came in to Dickey-Stephens playing third and will do so at Memphis for the time being. He's replaced David Freese, who is on the DL with and ankle injury. In his first game for the Red Birds this past weekend, Brett went 3-for-4.

   

To me, Wallace's defense is adequate at best. Since he hasn't even played a full season in Double-A and skipped High-A, his glove will be put to the test at the hot corner in Memphis.

  

But whether the 22-year-old 6' 1" 245 pound prospect, who bats left and throws right, is at third or moved to left you can bet he won't be going back down. Derrick Goold in his above-referenced blog post says, "the club is certain of only the place they don't expect him to go again--back in Class AA."

-- Lonesome Traveler

A tale of two pitching Trevors

Their style is different. They fling their pitches with opposite arms. But the names are the same, and both are starting and excelling for the Travelers.

 

Trevor Bell above, and Trevor Reckling below.

 

Between them they have six of Arkansas' fifteen victories and the pair have struck out 47 batters. When you accomplish that, good stats follow. Reckling has an astonishing 1.05 ERA in four games, while Bell's is superior also at 2.25 (2nd/League officially) in six games.

One throws left.

 

And one throws right.

 

Both Trevors getting it done for the Travelers and the Los Angeles Angels. One from the east coast, and one from the west coast.

  

22-year-old Trevor Bell is from La Crescenta, California and was the #1 draft choice by the Angels (37th pick overall/supplemental) out of high school in '05. He is an all-around athlete and in high school batted .367 as a senior and slugged 26 round-trippers during his prep career. He was rated the top 14-year-old in the country by Baseball America.

Scouting Report:

Trevor's heat hits the gun consistently in the low 90's. He has an excellent hard late-breaking curveball and something in common with the other pitching Trevor. A nice change-up. He attacks the zone and has allowed only one home-run this season with an average of 1.6 walks per game.

 

In his three Angel system stops along the way before reaching Arkansas, his combined won/loss record was 19-14 with 236 strikeouts. Strikeouts are now becoming Bell's trademark. The 6'  2" 190 pound right-hander tied the team season high for strikeouts with nine during six innings last Monday at Dickey-Stephens against Springfield for his third Traveler win. He starts again tonight (Saturday) at Tulsa.

 

19-year-old Trevor Reckling, seen above getting his official team photo taken by photographer Ed Hamilton, is the youngest player in the Texas League. The Newark, New Jersey native's twentieth birthday is next Friday, the 22nd, if you'd like to wish him "Happy Birthday!"

  

Reckling made his winning debut with the Travelers (above) April 26 and has been phenomenal ever since. The Angels' #4 prospect's ERA (1.05) is unofficially the lowest in the League and he has not lost since being promoted from Rancho Cucamonga. (3-0, one no-decision.)

  

At 6' 2" and 205 pounds, Reckling was selected by the Angels in the eighth round of the '07 draft out of St. Benedicts Prep School in Newark. And when taking the hill for the first time in professional baseball, the young Reckling struck out the first two batters he faced in the Arizona Rookie League.

Scouting Report:

Trevor has three-plus pitches and demonstrates them all with superior control and location. He has a huge-bending curveball, a hard slider, and possibly the best change-up in the entire Angels' system. The left-hander's fastball is not over-powering, staying in the high 80's to low 90's, but like with all his pitches he uses it with tremendous command. Reckling keeps his pitches down, targets his locations, and most important has great hill presence. He stays focused and never gets rattled while displaying a beautiful, smooth delivery. He's allowed no home-runs in his four Traveler starts.

 

In his last start Tuesday night against the Springfield Cardinals Trevor struggled more than he has, giving up seven hits and one earned run, but persevered for his third Double-A win. After the team has a day-off on Sunday, Reckling should get his next start against Springfield at Hammons Field on Monday.

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"Whose Back is This?"--(reveal)

This was the back pictured in a previous post.

  

Whose was it? Those who guessed Traveler General Manger Pete Laven were correct.

  

Although some answers to the question, "Why is he wearing #17?", were juuuust a bit outside. Besides being an Angels' fan naturally, Pete is a Cubs' fan and his favorite player is infielder Mike Fontenot, who wears the same number.

-- Lonesome Traveler

Wild Mother's Day comeback wasted as Travelers lose again

In a wacky Mother's Day game that had almost everything, Arkansas was waaaaay down, then came back, then lost Sunday 10-9 to Springfield. It was the fifth loss in a row for the Travelers, who have now lost six of the past seven and are in danger of dropping both series during this current home stand.

 

 

 

To honor mom and the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure-Arkansas, pink jerseys and pink bats were the order of the day.

 

To help beat breast cancer, the Foundation held a silent auction throughout the game for bidders to claim the pink Traveler uniforms. After a quick inspection about a third of the way through the game, Traveler catcher/DH, Hank Conger's jersey (below) was getting the hottest action.

 

The game itself was a tale of total opposites.

 

The Cardinals led 8-0 after five thanks in part to four home runs, two by DH Mark Hamilton, who is seen above connecting on this pitch for his first in the third  inning.

 

The oft-injured slugger appears to be healthy now all right. His first home run on the first pitch he saw from starter Amalio Diaz was a rocket high up on the berm in right field. His second, a huge blast also off Diaz, went in the same direction but cleared everything and landed in the picnic area above the berm.

 

It looked like Springfield was going to cruise in a laugher, but the Travelers came roaring back. Well, that's not exactly true. In one of the oddest comebacks ever, the Travelers scored nine in the sixth to take the lead. It's how they did it that was the head scratcher.

 

This mother and grandmother are probably still trying to explain to this child the improbability of what happened Mother's Day afternoon. Let me see if I can summarize.

 

Arkansas didn't have a runner past second through five, then sent 15 men to the plate in the sixth. Remember when I said the team didn't exactly roar back? Well, the nine runs they scored came on seven walks (five consecutive), three base hits,(all singles), one error, and one hit-by-pitch. Most of the walks in the inning came with bases loaded, and the big blow was a two RBI single by Wilberto Ortiz.

 

But then Springfield came back in the eighth after a hit by #2 third base prospect Brett Wallace (above) to start the inning and scored twice to ice the game away, taking the first two of the four game series from the Travs.

The Cardinals rung up 17 hits off four Traveler pitchers in a game that lasted three and one-half hours, by far the longest of the season for Arkansas in more ways than one.

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Whose back is this and why is he wearing #17? The reveal in a future post.

-- Lonesome Traveler

Halos highlight series opener against Springfield Cardinals

As the Travelers' losing streak reached four games and the bats, except for Hank Conger's, were quiet again Saturday night in a 4-1 defeat against Springfield, there was one bright spot!

 

  

Meet the Halos, Arkansas' official new dance team.

 

 

As first reported last month in a Travelerocity exclusive, the Halos will perform each Saturday night home game throughout the season, dancing not only on-top the dug outs but on the field as well.

 

How did this dance team come together for its debut at Dickey-Stephens Saturday night?  According to a source it starts, interestingly enough, with former North Little Mayor and Chamber head Terry Hartwick, who pitched the idea to Traveler General Manager Pete Laven. Pete gave it the green light and then through a family association, Hartwick knew some one who would be perfect to lead and direct the squad. This beautiful young lady, 19-year-old Brittany.

  

Brittany is the Director/Captain for the Halos and put the team together. But besides being a great dancer, she is a gifted singer. Central Arkansas fans may recall she won the Arkansas Idol contest last year sponsored by radio station Alice 107. As the winner the radio station arranged for a studio recording session, and her new single will be released soon exclusively on Alice.

     

The squad will perform several times during the game and then sign autographs.

 

 

One autograph request location Saturday night was well, shall I say...unusual. The picture tells it all.

 

So Saturday nights at Dickey-Stephens will be a lot more livelier now. Sorry Shelly, you are great , but.....

 

-- Lonesome Traveler

Trash can whack crowns new champion at Friday night match

There was a big but small event at Dickey-Stephens Friday night.

 

No, it wasn't kids staring at fish in a tank.

 

It was the Midget New World Order Heavyweight Championship featuring the challenger, 4' 4" Puppet the Psycho Dwarf.........

  

.......and the champion, 4' 5" Little Kato, seen below being checked out by the referee with his "managers" Hank Conger and Hainley Statia standing-by in his corner.

 

It was a best two-out-of-three falls format for the belt and Puppet was the immediate aggressor from the bell, as seen below about to deliver a massive groin shot, while the Psycho Dwarf's manager El' Whoppo watched the beating his little man was dishing out.

 

 

After the groin shot and a body slam that was it for Little Kato as Puppet the Psycho Dwarf took the fall in the first set.

 

As if this thing was scripted...........Kato came back strong in the second bout using a vice-like leg lock to get things going.

 

Only Puppet squirmed away for the ring rope save to the displeasure of Kato's player-managers.

 

But then with a classic body-slam, Kato quickly evened the match one a-piece.

 

So the "Belt" came down to the deciding and third set.....and that's when blood was drawn. (I put the next shot below in a shadow-spot to highlight the gore.) If you are faint-hearted you might not be able to look at Little Kato's forehead (right).

 

And then....not like it was planned...out of nowhere, a trash can appeared and Puppet the Psycho Dwarf proved his name was correct when he dented it in up-side Kato's head.

 

 

And that was it. Set, match to the new Midget New World Heavyweight Champion (or something like that), Puppet the Psycho Dwarf. Puppet and El' Whoppo were last seen exiting the field trying to figure out how that long title can possibly be engraved on such a little belt.

 

Oh yeah, and there was a baseball game too. More than eight thousand fans saw the Travelers lose 4-3 to the Tulsa Drillers. Arkansas dropped the last three games of the four game series to Tulsa and fell to last place in the North Division of the Texas League with its longest losing streak of the season.

-- Lonesome Traveler

The sun does shine at Dickey-Stephens Park for doubleheader

With three games lost to monsoon rain and thunderstorms in the past five days, the sun finally came out for the Travelers Wednesday night. And I have proof. See that odd bright stuff? It was actual, real sunshine that greeted the Tulsa Drillers and the Travs for the start of play of a doubleheader.

 

You wouldn't think showing a picture of sunshine would be such a big deal, but after the dark, dreary days of soaking rain and storms it felt good to post up some sun. Heck, here's another.

 

Since Tuesday night's game was washed out this was the first game of an eight game home stand. And it was a tight, thriller that was scoreless until the Traveler's last at bat.

 

After 92 pitches, Tulsa starter and #7 prospect Esmil Rogers left the hill after the sixth inning of the seven inning contest blanking the Travs with no hits.

 

Rogers was still popping his fastball in at 93 mph as Driller left fielder Daniel Carte made a great catch off a Nate Sutton foul ball, crashing in to the wall to end the sixth and keep the no-hitter alive. But his relief in the bottom of the seventh, Tommy Baumgardner, quickly gave up a single to catcher Hank Conger ending the Travs' drought.

Arkansas right fielder Ben Johnson then sacrificed Conger to second. Big Mark Trumbo up next walked, and then it was second baseman Ryan Mount's turn. And he didn't fool around, lacing the first pitch he saw in to left field sending Conger home (below) to score the winning and only run of the game.

 

Mount was mobbed after his winning hit and greeted by the media after being named "Player of the Game."

 

 

The Travelers lost the nightcap of the doubleheader to Tulsa 5-3 with starter Trevor Bell taking the loss to even the home series 1-1.

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There was an injury of importance to announce, and I'm serious about this, that happened in-between games while the kids were running bases. I happened to be looking right at the moment a small tyke in her haste to take off, clipped Shelly's leg when he wasn't looking and the mascot went down in a heap, hard.

 He lay there for some time and required assistance to be helped up.

 

I know you are laughing, but it's not funny. Well maybe a little. No it's not. Anyway, Shelly was seen gingerly trying to run a little later.

Here's hoping he hasn't galloped his last race, and won't be retired to stud.

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Rock Dad--

     

Tulsa infielder and DH Rex Rundgren has a very famous father. Recognize that last name, Rundgren? Yes, his father is rock legend Todd Rundgren.

   

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In a scheduling quirk, the Travelers won't have another home game on Wednesday night until June 3.

-- Lonesome Traveler

 

Look who is moving on up in '09

Meet Will Smith. No not the actor. The left-handed pitcher and Angels' #12 prospect.

 

The 6' 5" 230-pound starter was drafted in the seventh round last year out of Gulf Coast Community College, the same school current Travelers closer David Herndon (below) attended in '06.

  

The 20-year-old Smith started the season at Low-A for Cedar Rapids and is currently on the DL after two appearances and a 3.00 ERA. Both Herndon and Smith were signed by super scout Tom Kotchman, who is also the manager of the Rookie League Orem Owlz. Kotchman also signed another former Traveler, Angels' infielder Howie Kendrick.

     

Travelers fans may remember the very likable Brent Del Chiaro, a catcher mostly in a reserve roll from '02-'06 at Ray Winder Field.

 

Del Chiaro is now the hitting coach for the Kernels in Cedar Rapids. And as a former catcher he apparently still has to be able to dodge. More than baseballs, that is. While doing a little research on Del Chiaro, I came across this line from an alleged former girlfriend on a site about players and dating.

"I dated him for a while, and just like any baseball player he is a cheater. He may have a girlfriend but you still have a chance if he's in your town! "

Moving on............

Another player to keep an eye on is the #16 prospect, outfielder Clay Fuller, the brother of former Traveler Cody Fuller.

 

Drafted out of high school at Spring Branch, Texas, in '06, Fuller is another burner in an organization built on speed. The switch-hitter ranked fourth in the minors last season with 13 triples and going in to this season had been successful on 78 percent of his steal attempts. Because of that, his natural outfield position is center.

 

Fuller moved up to High-A Rancho Cucamonga this season and is hitting .236 with four home runs and eight RBI. If current Travelers center-fielder Peter Bourjos were to be called up to Salt Lake, Fuller could be his replacement at Dickey-Stephens.

After missing all of last season with an ankle injury, one of the Angels' top power-hitting prospects is ready to make a move in '09.

 

6' 3" 212-pound third baseman Matt Sweeney's power rivals Brandon Wood, Mark Trumbo, and Hank Conger according to Baseball America. The 21-year-old #18 prospect, who began the season at Rancho, was drafted out of high school (Rockville, Maryland) in the eighth round of '06.

In 21 games, Sweeney is hitting .310 with three home runs and 16 RBI.

It's thought he will move to first base, and if Trumbo gets the "call," you can bet Sweeney would take over that position at Arkansas.

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Back during the World Baseball Classic, I heard color analyst (my favorite color man) and unanimous 1984 Chicago Cubs' Cy Young winner Rick Sutcliffe say the line below about one of the Netherlands' players, Randall Simon.

  

You may recall back in July '03 while with the Pirates, Simon took a whack at a young woman participating in the famous sausage races at Milwaukee's Miller Park. As the participants raced by the visiting dugout, Simon hit the woman dressed as an Italian sausage in the upper body with a bat, knocking her over in to another race contestant. Both were slightly injured with skinned knees.

Simon was arrested for disorderly conduct and fined $432. MLB also suspended him for three games and fined him $2,000.

Sutcliffe wryly said, "If Simon had hit the hot dog in the race instead, he probably wouldn't have been fined as much."

-- Lonesome Traveler