THE PITCH
Wednesday 4 July 2007
OXSPRING NAMED TO PCL ALL-STAR TEAM, SLATED TO START
Nashville Sounds Press Release – 28 June
Nashville starting pitcher Chris Oxspring, catcher Vinny Rottino, and reliever Steve Bray have been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and will represent the Sounds on the 28-man squad that takes on the International League stars in the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 11 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Oxspring and Rottino were elected as the PCL's starting battery by a combination of fan, media, and manager voting, while Bray was selected to the team as a reserve by the PCL office.
Oxspring, 30, currently ranks second among all PCL pitchers with a 3.14 ERA (28er/80.1ip) and 89 strikeouts, trailing former teammate Yovani Gallardo in each category (2.90, 110).
The Australia native carries a 6-4 record in 15 starts for Nashville and ranks 2nd among Triple-A starting pitchers with a 9.97 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ratio. He has held opponents to a .232 batting average (69-for-297), second-best among PCL starting pitchers to only Gallardo's .189.
The All-Star nod is the first of Oxspring's eight-year pro career. He becomes the first Sounds hurler to be elected to start a Triple-A All-Star Game since Scott Ruffcorn in 1996.
Rottino, 27, makes the third All-Star appearance of his five-year professional career. The Nashville backstop previously participated in the 2004 Midwest League All-Star Game and the 2005 Southern League All-Star Game, both times as a designated hitter.
Through 63 games of action, Rottino has posted a .292 average (64-for-219), seven home runs, and 29 RBIs. He has also contributed on the basepaths, co-leading all Sounds players with 11 stolen bases. The Racine, Wisconsin native is one of two Nashville players to post a double-digit hit streak in 2007.
The utilityman has started games at five positions for Nashville in 2007: catcher (30), first base (4), third base (5), left field (10), and right field (13). He has also made one appearance at DH.
While behind the dish, Rottino has been a solid receiver for Nashville. The PCL-leading Sounds pitching staff has posted a 3.97 ERA with him behind the plate (116er/263.0ic) and he has thrown out 37.5 percent of attempted basestealers (9 of 24).
Bray, 26, has been solid in middle relief for Nashville all season, carrying a 4-1 record, one save, and a 2.00 ERA (8er/36.0ip) in 28 appearances.
The Branford, Connecticut native has held PCL batters to a .222 average on the year (28-for-126) and earned his first career Triple-A save on June 9th at Omaha.
The All-Star appearance will be Bray's first in his five-year professional career.
Four former Sounds were named as additional participants in the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game. Catcher J.R. House (2004) will start for the International League, while the Pacific Coast League roster will carry three former Nashville players as reserves: pitcher Justin Lehr (2005-06), catcher Mark Johnson (2006), and infielder Tomas de la Rosa (2002-04).
The 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live on television on ESPN2 as well as on the radio on Sports Radio 560 AM at 6:35 p.m. CDT.
NAYLOR NABS THIRD WIN OF SEASON
www.CrossCutters.com – 1 July
The Williamsport Crosscutters defeated the Auburn Doubledays 2-0, giving Drew Naylor his third win of the season. The Cutters put their first run up on the board in the third inning when Tyler Mach drove in D’Arby Myers with his second double of the season. Williamsport got the game’s only other run when Mike Durant hit his third home run of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Two runs, however, would be enough for Naylor. The Australian right-hander pitched seven innings for his league leading third victory, striking out six along the way and lowering his earned run average 19 points to 0.41.
Joe Rocchio came on in relief, allowing one hit and walking three, but got out of a jam when Auburn’s Baron Frost grounded into a double play to end the eighth inning. Rocchio put two on in the ninth with just one out and was relieved by Matt German.
German induced one groundout and recorded the final out with the tying run in scoring position for his fourth save, striking out the Doubleday’s Leance Soto to end the game. Mach and Matt Rizzotti each had two hits for the Crosscutters, who took their fourth series of the season.
AUTY GETS ANOTHER CHANCE WITH OTTERS
Drew Bruno – Evansville Courier & Press – 29 June
Following his dream of playing professional baseball has been a bureaucratic endeavor as much as a baseball one for the Otters' Tim Auty.
Thursday, Auty started in right field for Evansville, which was held to two hits and fell 2-1 to division-leading Gateway.
Bosse Field is a long way from home for Auty, and he's still a long way from the pinnacle of baseball, but his path has again become more a matter of performance on the field.
When Auty, who is from Sydney, Australia, was named to his country's Under-17 national team, he began to believe a career might be possible. He had signed a contract by 17, and played rookie ball with the Seattle Mariners' Arizona affiliate in 2005.
But after a successful season in which he batted over .350, Auty was released.
The reasons, he was told, were two-fold; he hadn't hit for enough power (Auty had 14 doubles but no home runs in 29 games) and he wasn't a high enough priority to receive one of the organization's visas.
According to Baseball America, each team was allotted 26 visas for its foreign players, most of which traditionally go to latino players. Once the visas were spoken for, the rest of the international players were cut loose.
"It was a little depressing," Auty said. "I saw a lot of guys going back with worse numbers than I had, but obviously it's all about projectability and that's the way it goes."
Auty was invited to extended spring training with the Phillies in 2006, but again had to return to Australia after not being offered a spot. He now is hoping to use the Otters as a springboard back into affiliated baseball.
He would not be in Evansville, though, if not for a new piece of legislation passed last year. Previously, Major leaguers born outside of the U.S. were allowed into the country on one kind of visa while minor leaguers required a more limited visa (called a H-2B visa). Beginning in 2007, all baseball players are eligible for a P1 visa, designed for performers.
The new visa is cheap and more permanent. Due to heightened security that has been present since September 11, 2001, they're not easy to obtain, but easier than the predecessor. "The paper work's hard," Auty said. "The first time I did it I had to redo it a couple of times. Everything has to be perfect or else I'm leaving the country."
Otters manager Jeff Pohl said in his six-year stint with the Otters, the team has a history with international players. Mike Galloway was a Canadian-born outfielder and first baseman on last year's team. As far back as 2002, the Otters had thee Australian natives. But Pohl said they had to return home in August of that year, prior to the completion of the season, because of visa problems (H-2B visas were for six months only).
At 21, Auty is, like many of his teammates, still young. His goal is a common one in the Frontier League. His path, from affiliated ball back to Australia, isn't as typical. But Pohl said the Otters were willing to "take a chance" on him, sight unseen, because of his history.
The Otters paid for his visa, but Auty had to pay his way over for tryouts. "He took a risk, too, but the kid just wanted to play ball," Pohl said.
He's had an up and down season so far. Auty said the turnover in the league has made him look over his shoulder occasionally. Pohl has seen the results of that, saying "sometimes he tries to do too much instead of relaxing up there."
Auty is hitting .245 after a recent slump, but he is fourth on the team in hits and runs scored, and second in home runs. Pohl calls Auty an excellent outfielder. He threw the javelin competitively in Australia through high school, and recently showed off a strong arm by tallying three outfield assists.
He says the paper work is easier now — he's gotten used to it. And with Congress' help through the new bill, his dream is again reliant on the game of baseball alone.
"Now he's just got to hit if he wants a look from affiliated ball," Pohl said.
Auty was 0 for 3 on Thursday, but that wasn't much worse than any of the Otters.
Evansville managed just two hits yet stayed in the game before a crowd of 4,692 as Gateway, which had 10 hits, left 13 runners on base.
Matt Restivo (2-3) took the loss for Evansville. Nathan Roush (3-3) got the win, going eight innings for the Grizzlies. Eric Ridener earned his 10th save with a perfect ninth.
AT A GLANCE
· The Worcester Tornadoes in the independent Can-Am League have finally sorted out PJ Bevis’s visa issues and the Queenslander has made his debut with the Massachusetts club.
· RHP Tristan Crawford (Browns Plaines QLD) has been placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his pitching elbow. He’s been playing for the Twins AA affiliate in New Britain, Connecticut.
· C Allan de San Miguel (Bentley WA) returned from the DL for the Low A Twin’s affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin with a 3 for 14 week with 1 run, 1 double and 5 rbi.
· John Hattig (Piti Guam) has been activated from the DL by Toronto’s AAA Syracuse affiliate.
· Adam Morrissey (Ourimbah NSW) homered in the Texas League All-Star Game – his North team lost 5-4 in 10 innings.
· OF Chris Snelling (Gorokan NSW) has been moved transferred to the 60-day DL by the Oakland Athletics. He was put on the 15-day DL in mid-May with a left knee contusion.
RHP Matt Williams (Camden NSW) has been promoted from R+ Elizabethton to Low A Beloit by the Twins.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
OXSPRING NAMED TO PCL ALL-STAR TEAM, SLATED TO START
Nashville Sounds Press Release – 28 June
Nashville starting pitcher Chris Oxspring, catcher Vinny Rottino, and reliever Steve Bray have been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and will represent the Sounds on the 28-man squad that takes on the International League stars in the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 11 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Oxspring and Rottino were elected as the PCL's starting battery by a combination of fan, media, and manager voting, while Bray was selected to the team as a reserve by the PCL office.
Oxspring, 30, currently ranks second among all PCL pitchers with a 3.14 ERA (28er/80.1ip) and 89 strikeouts, trailing former teammate Yovani Gallardo in each category (2.90, 110).
The Australia native carries a 6-4 record in 15 starts for Nashville and ranks 2nd among Triple-A starting pitchers with a 9.97 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ratio. He has held opponents to a .232 batting average (69-for-297), second-best among PCL starting pitchers to only Gallardo's .189.
The All-Star nod is the first of Oxspring's eight-year pro career. He becomes the first Sounds hurler to be elected to start a Triple-A All-Star Game since Scott Ruffcorn in 1996.
Rottino, 27, makes the third All-Star appearance of his five-year professional career. The Nashville backstop previously participated in the 2004 Midwest League All-Star Game and the 2005 Southern League All-Star Game, both times as a designated hitter.
Through 63 games of action, Rottino has posted a .292 average (64-for-219), seven home runs, and 29 RBIs. He has also contributed on the basepaths, co-leading all Sounds players with 11 stolen bases. The Racine, Wisconsin native is one of two Nashville players to post a double-digit hit streak in 2007.
The utilityman has started games at five positions for Nashville in 2007: catcher (30), first base (4), third base (5), left field (10), and right field (13). He has also made one appearance at DH.
While behind the dish, Rottino has been a solid receiver for Nashville. The PCL-leading Sounds pitching staff has posted a 3.97 ERA with him behind the plate (116er/263.0ic) and he has thrown out 37.5 percent of attempted basestealers (9 of 24).
Bray, 26, has been solid in middle relief for Nashville all season, carrying a 4-1 record, one save, and a 2.00 ERA (8er/36.0ip) in 28 appearances.
The Branford, Connecticut native has held PCL batters to a .222 average on the year (28-for-126) and earned his first career Triple-A save on June 9th at Omaha.
The All-Star appearance will be Bray's first in his five-year professional career.
Four former Sounds were named as additional participants in the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game. Catcher J.R. House (2004) will start for the International League, while the Pacific Coast League roster will carry three former Nashville players as reserves: pitcher Justin Lehr (2005-06), catcher Mark Johnson (2006), and infielder Tomas de la Rosa (2002-04).
The 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live on television on ESPN2 as well as on the radio on Sports Radio 560 AM at 6:35 p.m. CDT.
NAYLOR NABS THIRD WIN OF SEASON
www.CrossCutters.com – 1 July
The Williamsport Crosscutters defeated the Auburn Doubledays 2-0, giving Drew Naylor his third win of the season. The Cutters put their first run up on the board in the third inning when Tyler Mach drove in D’Arby Myers with his second double of the season. Williamsport got the game’s only other run when Mike Durant hit his third home run of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Two runs, however, would be enough for Naylor. The Australian right-hander pitched seven innings for his league leading third victory, striking out six along the way and lowering his earned run average 19 points to 0.41.
Joe Rocchio came on in relief, allowing one hit and walking three, but got out of a jam when Auburn’s Baron Frost grounded into a double play to end the eighth inning. Rocchio put two on in the ninth with just one out and was relieved by Matt German.
German induced one groundout and recorded the final out with the tying run in scoring position for his fourth save, striking out the Doubleday’s Leance Soto to end the game. Mach and Matt Rizzotti each had two hits for the Crosscutters, who took their fourth series of the season.
AUTY GETS ANOTHER CHANCE WITH OTTERS
Drew Bruno – Evansville Courier & Press – 29 June
Following his dream of playing professional baseball has been a bureaucratic endeavor as much as a baseball one for the Otters' Tim Auty.
Thursday, Auty started in right field for Evansville, which was held to two hits and fell 2-1 to division-leading Gateway.
Bosse Field is a long way from home for Auty, and he's still a long way from the pinnacle of baseball, but his path has again become more a matter of performance on the field.
When Auty, who is from Sydney, Australia, was named to his country's Under-17 national team, he began to believe a career might be possible. He had signed a contract by 17, and played rookie ball with the Seattle Mariners' Arizona affiliate in 2005.
But after a successful season in which he batted over .350, Auty was released.
The reasons, he was told, were two-fold; he hadn't hit for enough power (Auty had 14 doubles but no home runs in 29 games) and he wasn't a high enough priority to receive one of the organization's visas.
According to Baseball America, each team was allotted 26 visas for its foreign players, most of which traditionally go to latino players. Once the visas were spoken for, the rest of the international players were cut loose.
"It was a little depressing," Auty said. "I saw a lot of guys going back with worse numbers than I had, but obviously it's all about projectability and that's the way it goes."
Auty was invited to extended spring training with the Phillies in 2006, but again had to return to Australia after not being offered a spot. He now is hoping to use the Otters as a springboard back into affiliated baseball.
He would not be in Evansville, though, if not for a new piece of legislation passed last year. Previously, Major leaguers born outside of the U.S. were allowed into the country on one kind of visa while minor leaguers required a more limited visa (called a H-2B visa). Beginning in 2007, all baseball players are eligible for a P1 visa, designed for performers.
The new visa is cheap and more permanent. Due to heightened security that has been present since September 11, 2001, they're not easy to obtain, but easier than the predecessor. "The paper work's hard," Auty said. "The first time I did it I had to redo it a couple of times. Everything has to be perfect or else I'm leaving the country."
Otters manager Jeff Pohl said in his six-year stint with the Otters, the team has a history with international players. Mike Galloway was a Canadian-born outfielder and first baseman on last year's team. As far back as 2002, the Otters had thee Australian natives. But Pohl said they had to return home in August of that year, prior to the completion of the season, because of visa problems (H-2B visas were for six months only).
At 21, Auty is, like many of his teammates, still young. His goal is a common one in the Frontier League. His path, from affiliated ball back to Australia, isn't as typical. But Pohl said the Otters were willing to "take a chance" on him, sight unseen, because of his history.
The Otters paid for his visa, but Auty had to pay his way over for tryouts. "He took a risk, too, but the kid just wanted to play ball," Pohl said.
He's had an up and down season so far. Auty said the turnover in the league has made him look over his shoulder occasionally. Pohl has seen the results of that, saying "sometimes he tries to do too much instead of relaxing up there."
Auty is hitting .245 after a recent slump, but he is fourth on the team in hits and runs scored, and second in home runs. Pohl calls Auty an excellent outfielder. He threw the javelin competitively in Australia through high school, and recently showed off a strong arm by tallying three outfield assists.
He says the paper work is easier now — he's gotten used to it. And with Congress' help through the new bill, his dream is again reliant on the game of baseball alone.
"Now he's just got to hit if he wants a look from affiliated ball," Pohl said.
Auty was 0 for 3 on Thursday, but that wasn't much worse than any of the Otters.
Evansville managed just two hits yet stayed in the game before a crowd of 4,692 as Gateway, which had 10 hits, left 13 runners on base.
Matt Restivo (2-3) took the loss for Evansville. Nathan Roush (3-3) got the win, going eight innings for the Grizzlies. Eric Ridener earned his 10th save with a perfect ninth.
AT A GLANCE
· The Worcester Tornadoes in the independent Can-Am League have finally sorted out PJ Bevis’s visa issues and the Queenslander has made his debut with the Massachusetts club.
· RHP Tristan Crawford (Browns Plaines QLD) has been placed on the disabled list with discomfort in his pitching elbow. He’s been playing for the Twins AA affiliate in New Britain, Connecticut.
· C Allan de San Miguel (Bentley WA) returned from the DL for the Low A Twin’s affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin with a 3 for 14 week with 1 run, 1 double and 5 rbi.
· John Hattig (Piti Guam) has been activated from the DL by Toronto’s AAA Syracuse affiliate.
· Adam Morrissey (Ourimbah NSW) homered in the Texas League All-Star Game – his North team lost 5-4 in 10 innings.
· OF Chris Snelling (Gorokan NSW) has been moved transferred to the 60-day DL by the Oakland Athletics. He was put on the 15-day DL in mid-May with a left knee contusion.
RHP Matt Williams (Camden NSW) has been promoted from R+ Elizabethton to Low A Beloit by the Twins.
