Travelerocity

First-half summary

Travelers lead the Texas League in stolen bases.

Travelers are last in the Texas League in wins.

It's the Angels way, and you can see where the priority is.

-- Travelerocity reporter

Corvette show coming to Dickey-Stephens Saturday night

When you enter Dickey-Stephens for the ballgame Saturday night you will see something never before promoted by the Travelers.

Lots and lots of America's Sports Car will be parked in the entrance plaza for you to see and drool over. The event is being co-sponsored by the Central Arkansas Corvette Club and the Travelers and more than fifty Corvettes are expected to be on hand. 

 The Corvette Club is one of the biggest in the southwest and member cars from vintage to '09 will be parked in the plaza, like this '03 Torch Red 50th Anniversary model.

Enjoy, and pray for no foul balls.

-- Lonesome Traveler

O'Sullivan back down, Francisco Rodriguez and Stu Cole go up

It was a night at the "Show" to remember. But after a one-night-stand in the big leagues, RHP and former '09 Traveler Sean O'Sullivan was optioned back to Salt Lake today and another former Traveler, Rafael Rodriguez was recalled to the Angels.

 

But what a night for the 21-year-old O'Sullivan, who started the season in the Travelers' rotation. O'Sullivan kept the Angels' victory streak alive with a win over the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night in his Major League debut. (Complete coverage prior Travelerocity post.)

There was another promotion late last week involving the Texas League, but this time it was a manager.

 

Former Tulsa Driller Manager Stu Cole (above) Is now calling the shots for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The recent firing of Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle got Cole the promotion and caused a string of managerial changes for the Colorado system.

Stepping in for Cole at Tulsa as the new Drillers manager for the remainder of the '09 season will be 44-year-old Ron Gideon.(above) Gideon had been the Roving Field Coordinator for Colorado since 2006 and has been involved in the Rockies' system for 14 years. He has ten years experience managing in the minors and was also a player in the Texas League.

Cole replaces former Sky Sox manager Tom Runnels, who was promoted to the big leagues as bench coach for the Rockies replacing Jim Tracy, who was named manager of Colorado after Hurdle was fired.

At the time of his promotion Cole, seen above at Dickey-Stephens, had the Drillers in second place in the Texas League North Division. He spent more than three season seasons as manager of the Drillers, but his new job will be a homecoming of sorts. He played for the Sky Sox from 1993-95 and helped the club win a PCL Championship.

--Lonesome Traveler

Two former '09 Trav pitchers have great nights in debuts

Talk about coming through. Wow! 22-year-old Trevor Bell did just that Tuesday night in his Triple-A debut for the Salt Lake Bees.

  

Bell was called-up from Arkansas to Salt Lake Sunday night and in a masterful  performance against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies), the right-hander pitched a 2-hit complete game shutout. Trevor struck out four and had no walks while facing the minimum 27 batters. Only three Sky Sox hitters reached base. Two were wiped out in double plays and the other was caught stealing. Bell was quoted as saying he was nervous before the start, but battery-mate and former Traveler Bobby Wilson helped settle him in.

 

The likeable Bell had a Texas League leading ERA of 2.23 when he was promoted with a 4-3 record at Arkansas and a team high 51 K's. He was also named along with five other Travelers to the Texas League All-Star squad, which was released Tuesday. 

 

Another former Traveler pitcher who was promoted from this year's team also has a smile on his face this Wednesday morning. Burly Sean O'Sullivan (above) got the call to the Angels to fill in for Ervin Santana and won his debut Tuesday night in an interleague game at San Francisco against the Giants.

 

O'Sullivan, who was 5-2 in ten starts with the Bees, earned the victory over the Giants with seven strong innings while giving up one run on five hits, with one walk. He had five strikeouts along the way. The Angel hitters gave him plenty of run support in the 8-1 victory for the club's fifth win in a row. Sean had to know there was some magic in the air because of all things, it was Irish Heritage Night at AT&T Park.

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Back from the DL---

I'm not sure if it was my scanner or my back/shoulder that broke down first. Then as if taking a cue, my computer slowly sank in to oblivion right before my eyes one night as I was trying to post for this blog. It really didn't matter because the pain just sitting at the keyboard was so severe I couldn't do it anyway. And so with that I, along with my computer, went on the DL.

Although not completely recovered and still not able to sit very long, (and yes I've missed attending games because of it) I am better and thanks to the guru Tommy Apple at Northwest Arkansas Techs in Fayetteville, my computer obviously is much better. (Yes, Tommy Apple is his real name.)

So it's good to be back posting, and I have a stack of stuff to share, like congrats to G.M. Pete Laven for putting together the best looking set of Traveler Team Cards I can remember, and a month earlier than normal. I'd feature one, but still don't have a scanner as the old one is in a trash can in Fayetteville. But no matter....it's good to be off the DL.

--Lonesome Traveler