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**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:37 AM

South Atlantic League

Rome, GA - The Sixth Annual Hot Stove Gathering will be held at State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves this Thursday January 31st from 5:30 until 7:30pm and Atlanta Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren will be in attendance.

Wren was named Atlanta's General Manager in October 11, 2007 when John Schuerholz was named president of the Braves. Along with Wren, Braves manager Bobby Cox, bench coach Chino Cadahia, and former Rome Braves standouts Phillip Britton, Tyler Flowers, and Jon Mark Owings will also be in attendance.

"We are very excited to have such great representation from Atlanta at our Hot Stove Event this Thursday," says Rome General Manager Michael Dunn. "It is a testament of baseball in Rome."

The 2008 Rome field staff of Randy Ingle, Bobby Moore, and pitching coach Jim Czajkowski will also be on hand along with several special guests from the Atlanta Braves.

Heavy hor d'oeuvres with food stations and drinks will be located throughout the stadium and the Three Rivers Club. An autograph session in addition to a question and answer program will take place. Door prizes will be given throughout the evening.

Once again this year the Rome Braves will hold a silent auction from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Items have been donated from Major and Minor League teams across the country.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at Official Home of the Rome Braves at $30 per person or at the Rome Braves ticket office. Get your tickets now as they are going fast.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:38 AM

Midwest League

In the newest edition of the premier baseball magazine, Baseball America, seven former Snappers are ranked in the 2008 Top Ten prospects for the Minnesota Twins. Joe Benson (#2), Wilson Ramos (#3), Tyler Robertson (#4), Anthony Swarzak (#5), Brian Duensing (#8), Jeff Manship (#9), and Trevor Plouffe (#10) all made the list.

Joe Benson spent part of the 2006 season and all of '07 as a Snapper. In 2007 Benson batted .255 with five home runs and 38 RBIs. Joe sported a .347 on-base percentage while swiping 18 bases. Benson was the Twins' 2nd round pick in the 2006 June draft out of Joliet Catholic Academy High School in Illinois. Joe was originally recruited to play both baseball and football (running back) for the University of Purdue but instead signed with the Twins in '06.

Wilson Ramos played for the Snappers during the 2007 season for a total of 73 games. Ramos batted .291 with eight homers and 42 RBIs while boasting a .438 slugging percentage. Wilson signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent on July 7th, 2004 and resides in Valencia, Venezuela in the off-season.

Tyler Robertson appeared in 18 games (16 starts) for the Snappers in 2007. Robertson went 9-5 with a minuscule 2.29 ERA in 102.1 innings pitched for Beloit. Tyler struck out 123 batters and opponents batted just .226 against the left-hander from Citrus Heights, California. This Twins' 3rd round pick was the organization's Pitcher of the Month for July, going 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA in six starts.

Anthony Swarzak (Twins' 2nd round pick in '04) spent time in Beloit during the 2005 season. Swarzak went 9-5 with a 4.04 ERA in 18 starts while fanning 101 batters. Anthony graduated from Nova High School in Florida and resides in Ft. Lauderdale in the off-season.

Brian Duensing played for Beloit during the '06 campaign, going 2-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 11 starts. Duensing struck out 55 batters in just 70.1 innings pitched. Brian was the Twins' 3rd round pick in the 2005 June draft out of the University of Nebraska. Duensing was also the starting pitcher for the victorious Team USA in this year's IBAF World Cup gold medal game against Cuba. Brian and Team USA defeated Cuba by a final score of 6-3, ending Cuba's 25-year gold medal run and ending a 33-year gold medal absence of their own.

Jeff Manship spent part of the 2007 season as a member of the Snappers. Manship went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 13 games started this season with opponents batting a measly .185 against him. Jeff also has 77 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched this past season. Manship was named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week from the dates April 30th through May 6th and Twins' organizational Pitcher of the Month for April. Jeff was the Twins' 14th round pick in the 2006 June draft out of the University of Notre Dame.

Trevor Plouffe was a member of the Snappers in 2005, batting .223 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs. Plouffe also had 18 doubles and 50 walks for Beloit in '05. Trevor was the Twins' 1st round pick in the 2004 June draft (20th overall) out of Crespi Carmelite High School in California and resides in Northridge, CA in the off-season.

The Beloit Professional Baseball Association, Inc. will be hosting their fourth annual Winter Hot Stove Banquet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at the Country Club of Beloit. The banquet will feature the new President of Minor League Baseball Pat O'Conner, former Twins General Manager Terry Ryan, and Snappers 2008 Pitching Coach Gary Lucas. Appearances are subject to change.

Tickets for the Winter Hot Stove Banquet are $20 for adults and $13 for children (12 and under). The ticket includes a sit down dinner, with dessert, catered by the Country Club of Beloit, and a general admission ticket voucher good for the 2008 Snappers regular season. To order by phone call 608-362-2272 or stop by Pohlman Field located at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:39 AM

Midwest League

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps will begin play in spring training exhibition games on March 15 at 1 p.m. against the Cleveland Indians affiliate at the Tigertown complex in Lakeland, Florida.

While the Tigers big league camp begin spring training games on February 26, the minor league camp will play a 12-game schedule from March 15th to the 29th before breaking camp on March 30. The 2007 Whitecaps team will receive their Midwest League Championship rings during a pre-game ceremony prior to one of the Tigers games in Lakeland.

Below is a full schedule of the Tigers Class-A teams' games. All games begin at 1 p.m. and are subject to change.

3/15- Single-A vs. Cleveland

3/16 - Single-A vs. Atlanta

3/17 - Single-A @ Houston (Kissimmee, Fla.)

3/18 - CAMP DAY

3/19 - Single-A @ Atlanta (Kissimmee, Fla.)

3/20 - Single-A @ Cleveland (Winter Haven, Fla.)

3/21 - Single-A vs. Atlanta

3/22 - Single-A vs. Cleveland

3/23 - CAMP DAY

3/24 - Single-A @ Cleveland (Winter Haven, Fla.)

3/25 - Single-A @ Houston (Kissimmee, Fla.)

3/26 - Single-A vs. Houston

3/27 - CAMP DAY

3/28 - Single-A vs. Cleveland

3/29 - Single-A @ Cleveland (Winter Haven, Fla.)

Your first chance to see the 2008 West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark is Wednesday, April 2 when they take on Grand Valley State University at 6:00 p.m. in a seven-inning exhibition game presented by Belle Tire. For updated results on each Single-A spring training game, check the Whitecaps website at West Michigan Whitecaps Baseball.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:40 AM

Midwest League

Fort Wayne, IN - The success of the San Diego Padres and their minor league system received recognition on Thursday as the Padres held their annual awards dinner. Many of the recipients honored have staked a claim in Fort Wayne as a part of the Wizards organization.

Jake Peavy, who was with the Wizards in 2000 and was also the Padres' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year that same season, received the Clyde McCullough Award as the team's Pitcher of the Year. Peavy was a unanimous selection in winning the 2007 National League Cy Young Award, going 19-7 with a 2.54 earned run average and 240 strikeouts in 223 1/3 innings.

Infielder Chase Headley was named the Padres' Minor League Player of the Year and right-hander Josh Geer was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Both Headley and Geer were instrumental in leading the San Antonio Missions, the Padres' newest Double-A affiliate in the Texas League, to the league's championship title.

Headley, a second round pick by the Padres in 2005 out of the University of Tennessee, appeared in four games for the Wizards that same year.

Geer, a third round selection by San Diego in the 2005 June Amateur Draft, appeared in 17 games with the Fort Wayne between 2005 and 2006.

Former Wizards manager Randy Ready, who was recently named to the managerial post of the Padres' Triple-A team Portland Beavers, received the Jack Krol Award for his contributions to the San Diego player development. Ready guided the Missions to the 2007 Texas League title after spending three years at the helm of the Wizards.

Press release also courtesy of the San Diego Padres Media Relations Department.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:41 AM

Midwest League

Former CR Xavier and Oakland Athletics outfielder Ryan Sweeney plans to attend the Cedar Rapids Kernels 12th Annual Hot Stove Banquet this Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cedar Rapids.

Sweeney was ranked as the #1 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization by Baseball America prior to the 2007 season. He was acquired by Oakland this January in a trade for Nick Swisher. Sweeney played 33 major league games for the White Sox, posting a .213 average with one HR and 10 RBI.

His best professional season was in 2006 where he hit .296 at triple-A Charlotte with 13 HR and 70 RBI.

Sweeney is a graduate of Xavier HS and was a First Team All-State selection in 2001-02. He posted a 9-0 record with a 0.35 ERA (3 ER / 60 IP) with 82 strikeouts as a junior. He was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Year and had committed to San Diego State University before signing with the White Sox.

Tickets for the banquet are available and are $37.50 in advance and $45 at the door.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:41 AM

Florida State League

Just a reminder, Manatees fans, that season tickets are available for pick-up today on the 4th floor of the stadium. Season tickets must be paid off before release of tickets.

Also, the 2008 FSL-All-Star Game tickets are now on sale and except for season ticket holders seats and luxury suites, all tickets are for sale at this time, including the front row of the stadium in the Batter's Box seats! Stop by the stadium, avoid the ticket office and come straight to the 4th floor for all of your Manatees tickets, including individual day of game tickets.

Everything is on sale and wide open. Manatees tickets will be available until 2:00 pm today.

The 2008 All-Star Game is on the Saturday night before Father's Day. Ladies, do yourself a favor...trust me on this one...your husband and the kids' dad doesn't need a new tie. He loves cooking out and watching baseball and if you want to be a heroine, you'll score some All-Star Tickets and then let him sleep in on Sunday, June 15th, and finally direct him to the grill with a cold beer.

He will not forget this Father's day if you take this advice.

Of course, Wally-World is open for ties if you want to take the usual route.

But don't blame us if you get a lump of coal on Christmas.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:42 AM

Carolina League

Wilmington, DE - Rocky Bluewinkle has been working hard to prepare for his 1:00 p.m. Polar Bear Plunge on Sunday, February 3, 2008. Rocky even brought in consultants to help gear up for the big event. The consultant group consisted of Special Olympic Athletes and veteran Plungers. Steve Dagg, Julie Desmond, Adriana Cairns, and Matt Rosenberg made the trip to Frawley to run Rocky through a vigorous training session. The group scouted out local lakes, ponds, and even large puddles to get the feel for what the brisk Atlantic Ocean will feel like this Sunday as Rocky will become the first blue moose EVER to take the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge!

You can help support by visiting Rocky's Polar Bear Plunge page (Special Olympics Delaware - Rocky Bluewinkle's Fundraising Page). Rocky has been following a vigorous training regimen that includes taking cold baths and eating tons of muffins, (we're not sure how that will help, but he loves muffins). Help support Rocky as he makes history!

For those unfamiliar with the Polar Bear Plunge, it is a unique event held each year where people come from near and far to plunge into the frosty Atlantic Ocean. Each 'Plunger' is sponsored and the money raised goes to the Special Olympics.

This year marks the 17th Lewes Polar Bear Plunge. This exciting experience has quickly become one of the Special Olympics' most significant fundraisers. The previous 16 plunges have raised over $3.5 Million. Last year, 2,695 brave plungers dipped into the Atlantic Ocean. For more information on the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge please visit the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge page (News from Special Olympics Delaware).

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:44 AM

California League

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-The Inland Empire 66ers, the single-A California League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will have a new radio home in 2008 after reaching an agreement with KCAA 1050 AM, which will broadcast all 140 games per season over the next three years.

The new radio deal ends the team's broadcast relationship with 91.9 FM KVCR, which had been the radio home of team for the past five years. It also marks the first time in a decade that every 66ers game will be carried over the airwaves.

Under terms of the deal, KCAA will air all 66ers games live except for a handful of Sunday day games and few midweek day games, which will be tape delayed. "What it really came down to was the opportunity to have every game on radio, even if a few are tape delayed," said 66ers broadcaster Mike Saeger. "We had a good relationship with KVCR. It's nothing they did or didn't do. We appreciate the opportunity that we had with them," Saeger added, noting that the team closely monitored KCAA's nighttime signal to ensure that it would cover the area from which the team draws the majority of its fanbase.

Prior to last year, KCAA operated only during daylight hours but was granted a license by the FCC to begin broadcasting at night, which opened the door to discussions with the 66ers to start airing the games.

The deal is also somewhat unique because it marks the first time that the team has been able secure a multi-year radio deal. Each game will be preceded by a 10-minute pregame show. The first 66ers broadcast on KCAA 1050 AM will be April 3 when they open their season at home against the Visalia Oaks.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:45 AM

California League

San Bernardino, CA - The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the original 66ers coaching staff that they were sending to the Inland Empire, has changed. Preparing to embark on his first season in San Bernardino, former Red Sox infielder John Valentin will lead the team as Manager. Former Dodger knuckleball pitcher Charlie Hough will again be the squad's Pitching Coach. Los Angeles will have former Dodger outfielder Henry Cruz serve as the 66ers' hitting instructor. Last year's Manager Dave Collins will be staying in Cincinnati for family reasons.

Valentin will take the role of Manager in 2008. He spent 11 seasons in the big leagues with the Red Sox and Mets. Valentin will show up to southern California with some impressive accomplishments under his belt. In 1995, he was the American League Silver Slugger winner at shortstop. Another notable fact is Valentin is the only player in major league history to hit for the cycle and turn an unassisted triple play. Finally, the New York native possessed an amazing .347 batting average during the playoffs and had a three-homer game during the ALDS in 1999.

Hough will remain with the team as the organizations pitching expert. Hough played at the Major League level for 25 seasons, 10 of which, were with the Dodgers. His pitching staff had 1165 strikeouts and 43 saves, both tops in the Cal League South Division. Also, his starting pitcher Marlon Arias throw a no-hitter on May 9th verses Bakersfield, which was one day from being the 10th anniversary of the last no-no in San Bernardino.

Los Angeles has promoted Cruz to their advanced "A" affiliate for 2008. Cruz spent last season with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League as their Hitting Coach. Cruz played in the Major Leagues for four seasons with the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox in the '70s. The Virgin Islands native helped guide the Raptors to a .281 team batting average, which was third best in the league. Last season, Cruz's lineup had four of the leagues top 15 batting averages. Not to mention, the league's top individual in slugging percentage

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