Extra Innings

Strieby hopes to salvage season

Ron Leonardi — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:08:39 +0000

SeaWolves first baseman Ryan Strieby says he is optimistic he can salvage his Double-A rookie season, even though he has spent much of the past month and a half sidelined with a sore left wrist.
Strieby will fly to Baltimore Monday to have his wrist examined by Dr. Thomas Graham, an orthopedist who specializes in hand surgery.
“I want to get a second opinion,’’ Strieby said. “I don’t know if he will see anything different, but it probably can’t hurt to have another set of eyes on it and see what the deal is. This doctor works with the Indians and a few other teams.’’
Strieby has been bothered by inflammation and soreness in his left wrist all season, and was placed on the disabled list Wednesday for the second time this season.
His problems have stemmed from hamate surgery on his left hand last season while he was at advanced Single-A Lakeland.
In 76 games with Erie this season, the 6-foot 5-inch, 235-pound power hitter is batting .305 with 17 homers, 53 RBIs, a .561 slugging percentage and a .421 on-base percentage.
Strieby has missed the club’s last five games and 11 of the last 12 games. Since early June, Strieby has been sidelined for 24 games.
“The organization still wants to get me through the season and wants me to do whatever I can to do that because in the offseason, if I do end up having to have something done on it, it won’t be that long to come back from it,’’ Strieby said. “Right now, we’re just trying to get through the season.’’

Alvarez’s AA debut draws a crowd

Matt Martin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:31:23 +0000

The Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t the only party interested in how prized prospect Pedro Alvarez fared in his Class AA debut Tuesday.

A crowd of 4,572 showed up for the Erie SeaWolves’ first of three straight games against Alvarez and the Altoona Curve. Let the record show Alvarez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and and a fly-out in Erie’s 6-2 victory.

Let the record also show that Alvarez, a third basemen who was the No. 2 pick by the Pirates in the 2008 draft, will be watched closely at every stage of his development.

Alvarez’s performance led sports sections not only in Erie, but also in Pittsburgh and Altoona — reporters and photographers from newspaper in each of those cities attended the game.

Check out some of the coverage (and expect more as Alvarez learns his way around AA pitching):

Thad Weber took the spotlight from Alvarez in his own AA debut.
0-for-4 or not, the Pirates and fans believe Alvarez is their future cornerstone.
Altoona Mirror.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The series continues today at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday at 12:05 p.m.

SeaWolves-Curve series preview

Tony Battaglia — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:55:47 +0000

Eastern League Baseball

Altoona Curve (24-45) at Erie SeaWolves (39-29)

Today-Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, 12:05 p.m.

Pitching matchups:

Today: Erie RH Thad Weber (0-0, 0.00) vs. Altoona LH Kyle Bloom (1-4, 3.28)

Wednesday: Erie RH Luis Marte (5-6, 4.12) vs. Altoona RH Derek Hankins (0-1, 6.00)

Thursday: Erie RH Pat Stanley (1-2, 4.88) vs. Altoona RH Mike Crotta (4-3, 5.14)

Scouting the Curve: Third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first-round draft pick (second overall) in 2008, was assigned to the Curve Sunday night from advanced Single-A Lynchburg of the Carolina League. Baseball America rated Alvarez the Pirates’ No. 1 minor-league prospect entering the season. With Lynchburg this season, Alvarez, 21, hit .247 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs in 66 games, ranking first in the league in RBIs and second in homers. He started 58 games at third and was a designated hitter in eight games. … Altoona is 5-10 against the SeaWolves this season, but the Curve won three of four games from Erie at Jerry Uht Park June 1-4 in their last series. At that time, the Curve was in fifth place in the EL Southern Division, but has since dropped into last place as the club suffers through one of the worst seasons in franchise history. … Altoona trails first-place Akron by 22 ½ games. … Outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, a former Detroit Tigers farmhand obtained by the Pirates on June 3 from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth trade, is hitting .189 (10-for-53) with two RBIs and five runs scored in 15 games with Altoona since his assignment to the club. … Catcher Miguel Perez was promoted to Indianapolis on June 16. … Altoona is last in the league in team batting average (.234) and runs scored (242). … Outfielder Jose Tabata, another prized prospect, is batting .250 (21-for-84) with one homer and 11 RBIs in 24 games. He missed spent more than a month on the disabled list earlier this season with a hamstring injury. … Altoona is 13-23 on the road and 11-22 at home. … Altoona is 5-5 in its last 10 games.

Scouting the SeaWolves: Right-handed starter Thad Weber was assigned to the club on Monday from advanced Single-A Lakeland to replace right-hander Alfredo Figaro, who won his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Weber will start tonight and make his Double-A debut. With Lakeland this season, he was 4-4 with a 2.13 ERA in 12 starts. In 67 2/3 innings, he allowed just 16 earned runs and 54 hits while striking out 40 and walking 11. Weber earned the win for the North Division in Saturday’s 48^th annual Florida State League All-Star Game in Fort Myers, Fla. Weber threw one inning. Weber, 24, was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 35^th round of the 2007 draft, but did not sign. The Tigers drafted him in the 16^th round of the June 2008 draft. Weber, a 6-foot 2-inch, 205-pounder, is a native of Lincoln, Seward, Neb., and pitched for the University of Nebraska. … The SeaWolves were off on Monday after finishing a six-game road trip and 12-game stretch against Northern Division opponents Sunday. … Erie went 4-2 on the road trip, winning two of three games in series at Portland and New Hampshire. The SeaWolves went 8-4 against Northern Division clubs in that stretch and have won four straight series. … Erie rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the eighth inning Sunday to defeat New Hampshire 9-4 in 10 innings. … Erie and Reading are tied for second in the Eastern League Southern Division, seven games behind first-place Akron. … Second baseman Danny Worth hit .227 (5-for-22) with four RBIs and three runs scored on the six-game roadtrip following his assignment to Erie June 14 from Triple-A Toledo. … RH Luis Marte is tied for sixth in the league with 62 strikeouts. … RH Pat Stanley earned his first win in his last start, a 5-1 decision at Portland Thursday. Stanley worked 6 1/3 innings, limiting the Sea Dogs to one run and four hits. … RH reliever Cody Satterwhite (2-4, 2.83) is eighth in the league with eight saves. … Erie leads the league in runs scored (.347) and homers (76). … The SeaWolves are 5-3 against Altoona at home this season. … Erie is 10-10 in June. … The SeaWolves will celebrate 15 years of professional baseball at Jerry Uht Park at tonight’s game.

- Ron Leonardi

Cast your vote for the SeaWolves

Matt Martin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:27:22 +0000

Vote for your favorite Erie SeaWolves player to be included on the Eastern League All-Star Game roster July 15.

Figaro’s big day

Matt Martin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:06:31 +0000

Erie SeaWolves pitcher Alfredo Figaro made his major league debut Saturday for the Detroit Tigers, striking out eight and getting the win in a five-inning appearance. Check out the video.

The accompanying story from mlb.com’s Jason Beck notes that Figaro will stay with the parent club. He and Justin Verlander will trade places in the lineup, giving him six days’ rest before his next start Saturday against Houston.

Sizemore earns Triple-A promotion

Ron Leonardi — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:33:44 +0000

Scott Sizemore’s solid, consistent, all-around play has earned the Double-A rookie a promotion.

The SeaWolves’ second baseman, who was hitting .307 in 59 games this season, was assigned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens Sunday. Sizemore’s roster spot will be filled by Toledo second baseman Danny Worth, who will drop a level after struggling offensively with the Mud Hens this season.

“I never try and worry about that stuff,’’ Sizemore said. “My whole philosophy is to take care of business where you’re at and if something good happens and you get called up, it’s just that much better. It’s a huge honor and it’s one step closer to my lifelong goal.’’

Sizemore was informed of his promotion by SeaWolves manager Tom Brookens right after Sunday’s game.

“When you get called into the office, it’s either something good or something bad, and luckily this time it was good news,’’ Sizemore said.

“There’s not a better thing in this game than being able to call a guy in and telling him he’s going to Triple-A or the big leagues,’’ Brookens said. “That’s good for him because he’s earned it.’’

Sizemore, 24, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., has been the SeaWolves’ most consistent all-around player, and has turned some heads with the power element he’s added to his offensive production this season.

In his first three minor-league seasons in the Tigers’ organization, Sizemore hit 11 homers. He has nine homers and 33 RBIs with Erie.

“All I try to do is be consistent,’’ Sizemore said. “I don’t try to hit home runs. My big thing this year is kind of let them happen. If you put good swings on balls and if your swing is there, they’re going to go. I was lucky enough to get some out of the park. I try and stay consistent, hit line drives, hit the gaps and, hopefully, the power numbers will be there.’’

Sizemore sat out Sunday’s 7-2 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Jerry Uht Park.

“My wrist has kind of been bothering me the last couple days, so I thought he (Brookens) was just giving me an extra day to kind of rest and get back to the way I should be with my health,’’ Sizemore said.

Sizemore’s .307 average (70-for-228) ranked 10^th in the Eastern League Sunday. He was tied for third in the league in hits, and his 39 runs scored ranked fifth.

Worth, in his third season in the Tigers’ organization, has struggled at the Triple-A level this season, batting just .207 (31-for-150) with no homers and three RBIs in 40 games. Worth has split time at second base this season for the Mud Hens with former SeaWolves second baseman Will Rhymes.

Worth began the 2008 season as Erie’s everyday shortstop. In 79 games with the SeaWolves last season, Worth hit .254 with five homers and 33 RBIs. He was sidelined July 8-21 and July 31-Sept. 2 with a right shoulder strain, and appeared in one game with Toledo last season.

“We’ll hopefully get him back on track and get him going,’’ Brookens said. “I think he’ll be a little more comfortable down here having played here last year and working with (Erie hitting instructor) Glenn Adams and myself. We’re expecting him to be our everyday second baseman.’’

Fans can vote for nation’s best minor-league parks, arenas

Ron Leonardi — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:38:12 +0000

MLN Sports is currently conducting its third annual contest in which fans can vote for the nation’s best minor-league and independent ballparks and arenas. Fan can also vote on what arenas and ballparks have the best food, amenities and fan experience.

Voting can be done by logging on to www. mlntherawfeed.com and click on the Vote for the Best link halfway down on the right side of the page. Erie fans can vote for Jerry Uht Park and Tullio Arena.

Results will appear in the June 15 edition of SZ,the digital magazine of minor league and independent sports.

Former SeaWolves outfielder Ramirez gets big-league promotion

Ron Leonardi — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:03:27 +0000

Former SeaWolves outfielder Wilkin Ramirez on Tuesday was promoted to the Detroit Tigers from Triple-A Toledo.
In 30 games with the Mud Hens this season, Ramirez was batting .316 (37-for-117) with five homers, 13 RBIs, 14 steals and 23 runs scored.
Ramirez will take outfielder Maggio Ordonez’s spot on the roster while Ordonez is away from the Tigers for family medical emergency reasons.
Ramirez, 23, a native of the Dominican Republic, played in 34 games with the SeaWolves at the end of 2007 and spent most of his 2008 season with Erie.
With the SeaWolves last season, Ramirez hit .303 with 19 homers and 73 in 110 games. He was selected to both the Eastern League’s midseason and postseason all-star teams and represented the World Team at the annual Futures All-Star Game, which was held at Yankee Stadium as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities.
Ramirez is in his seventh season in the Tigers’ organization. He was signed by the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 5, 2003.

Hollimon eyes return to lineup possibily within two weeks

Ron Leonardi — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:41:07 +0000

Injured SeaWolves third baseman Michael Hollimon said Monday he is hoping to be ready to be activated to the roster in 1 ½ to two weeks.

Hollimon injured his left knee on April 14 when he ran into the grandstand railing down the left field line while attempting to catch a foul flyball. He has been on the disabled list since April 22.

“It’s coming along the way we want it to,’’ Hollimon said.

“All the reports are he is getting better,’’ SeaWolves manager Tom Brookens said. “He has not done anything on the field yet as far as ground balls or batting practice. He had some fluid drained from his knee a while back and that seemed to really help him out a lot and give him a lot better range of motion and get him on the right track.’’

Senators-SeaWolves series preview

Jeff Kirik — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Harrisburg Senators (8-26) at Erie SeaWolves (22-14)

Today-Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.

Wednesday. 11:05 a.m.

Pitching matchups:

– Today: Erie LH Duane Below (0-0, 0.00) vs. Harrisburg RH Adrian Alaniz (1-2, 5.30)

– Tuesday: Erie RH Luis Marte (2-3, 3.89) vs. Harrisburg LH Justin Jones (1-5, 4.75)

– Wednesday: Erie RH Jonah Nickerson (2-2, 7.32) vs. Harrisburg RH Erik Arnesen (1-0, 1.23)

– Scouting the Senators: The Sens are 2-5 against the SeaWolves this season, including an 0-4 record at Jerry Uht Park. Erie swept that   four-game series April 23-26, outscoring Harrisburg 35-9. … Harrisburg had a season-high 12-game losing streak from April 17-30. … Harrisburg started May 4-2 before losing seven straight. That losing streak ended Friday with a 6-1 win at Reading. … The Sens are last in the Eastern League in scoring (105 runs in 34 games) and 11th in team ERA (4.86). … Three Senators are on the Washington Nationals’ 40-man roster: RH starter Luis Atilano, shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Luke Montz. … Atilano was on the disabled list from May 8-15 with a bruised right hand. … The Sens were 2-16 in April, scoring just 54 runs, while their team ERA that month was 5.35. … The Sens are 3-16 on the road.

– Scouting the SeaWolves: Left-hander Duane Below will make his Double-A debut today after being promoted to the club Friday from advanced Single-A Lakeland, where he was 1-4 with a 3.14 ERA in six starts. A native of Britton, Mich., Below, 23, was selected by the Tigers in the 19th round of the June 2006 draft. With Lakeland this season, the 6-foot 2-inch, 205-pound southpaw allowed 11 runs (10 earned) and 22 hits in 282⁄3 innings with 38 strikeouts and 14 walks. Below replaced right-handed starter Brooks Brown on Erie’s roster. Brown was assigned to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. … Center fielder Deik Scram returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the first three games of the SeaWolves’ series at Bowie. Scram was injured when he ran into the center field wall while making a catch Wednesday against Reading. … Erie is 15-5 at home this season, tied with Akron for the league’s best home record.

— Ron Leonardi