Crawdads Alumni Report October 6
Sunday, October 6
BIRTHDAYS:
Chris Mader ('93-'94, 3B) turns 43. The native of Tewksbury, MA was the White Sox 53rd round pick in 1991 out of Rollins College (FL). In 194 games over two seasons, Mader batted .265 with 36 doubles, three triples, 16 HRs and 90 RBI. He was the first player to represent the Crawdads in the SAL All-Star game in 1993. Mader is third in a season in walks (81), fourth overall (108), and has the eighth best OBP (.398) in a season. He was released by the White Sox in 1995. Mader played one more season in pro ball with high A-Kinston in the Indians chain.
Matt Meath ('02-'04, OF) turns 34. The native of Boca Raton, FL was a non-drafted signee by the Pirates in 2001 from the University of Central Florida. In parts of three seasons, Meath batted .220 with seven doubles, three triples, four HRs and 25 RBI. He went on the split time at high A-Lynchburg and AA-Altoona through 2007 before his release by the Pirates.
Marty Romero ('96, C) turns 37. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was signed by the White Sox as a free agent in 1996 out of the Yankees organization. He batted .111 in five games with one RBI. Romero played two more seasons at Bristol (rookie-CWS) before his release.
TRANSACTIONS:
Duke Welker ('08, P) was traded to the Minnesota Twins, which completed the trade from August that sent Justin Morneau to Pittsburgh.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Mike Rojas ('95, Manager/ Bullpen Coach- Detroit) Detroit 0 Oakland 1. The Tigers and Athletics are tied in their best-of-five series 1-1.
Saturday, October 5
BIRTHDAYS:
Todd Hall ('94, 3B) turns 42. The native of Placentia, CA was the White Sox 44th round pick in 1993 out of Sacramento St. In seven games with the Crawdads, Hall went 1-for-14 before he was released.
Tracy Woodson ('99, manager) turns 51.The native of Richmond, VA was the Crawdads first manager under the Pirates affiliation in 1999, a season in which he went 70-70. After leaving the Pirates after managing at high A-Lynchburg in 2000, Woodson went on to manager in the minor leagues with the Padres and Marlins. He became the head coach at Valparaiso University (IN) in 2007 and was there through the 2013 season. During his tenure, Woodson led the Crusaders to back-to-back Horizon League championships and an NCAA regional berth. He recently accepted the head coach job at the University of Richmond. He is also a member of the North Carolina State sports hall of fame and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th anniversary team.
TRANSACTIONS:
Jairo Asencio ('05-'06, P) elected free agency. He pitched this season at AAA- Norfolk (Baltimore) and briefly with the Orioles.
Brent Lillibridge ('06, SS) elected free agency. He began this season with the Chicago Cubs, but was demoted to AAA- Iowa. A trade sent Lillibridge to the Yankees, where he played briefly with New York, but spent much of his time at AAA- Scranton/Wilkes/-Barre.
Steve Lerud ('05-'06, C) elected free agency. He spent much of the season at AAA- Lehigh Valley, but had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Phillies.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Mike Rojas ('95, Manager/ Bullpen Coach- Detroit): Detroit 3 Oakland 2. The Tigers lead the best-of-five series 1-0.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Pittsburgh 7 St. Louis 1: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 1-4, BB, K; Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) 1-3, BB, K; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 0-5, K; Tony Watson ('07, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K; Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh) did not pitch; Jeff Branson ('05-'06, assistant hitting coach/ Pittsburgh)
Roger McDowell ('98, assistant coach/ pitching coach-Atlanta): LA Dodgers 3 Atlanta 4. The Braves and Dodgers are tied in the best-of-five series 1-1.
Friday, October 4
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) went 2-for-4 during the Pirates 9-1 loss to St. Louis in game one of the NLDS. The Cardinals lead the best-of-five series 1-0.
BIRTHDAYS:
Joe Bauserman ('06, P) turns 28. The native of Tallahassee, FL was the Pirates fourth round pick in 2004 out of Lincoln High School. He went 6-8 in 21 starts with a 4.01 ERA. In 110 innings, Bauserman struck out 63, walked 38 and allowed 66 runs (49 earned) on 117 hits. He left baseball after the 2006 season and spent four seasons (2008-2011) as a quarterback at Ohio State University.
Jovanny Sosa ('99-'00, OF) turns 34. The native of Santo Domingo, D.R. was signed by the Pirates as an international free agent in 1997. He spent two full seasons with the Crawdads and batted .229 with a club record of 40 homers to go with 32 doubles, two triples and 118 RBI. Sosa is second overall in strikeouts (280), third in RBI and total bases (347), seventh in at bats (833), eighth in walks (77), ninth in games played (225) and tenth in runs scored (109). He was released after 2000 and spent the 2001 season in the Orioles system at Delmarva (low A) and Frederick (high A). His final season came at low A-Clinton in the Montreal Expos chain.
MAJOR LEAGUES
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Pittsburgh 1 St. Louis 9: Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) 0-1, K; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 0-4, K; Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K; Tony Watson ('07, P/ Pittsburgh); Jeff Branson ('05-'06, assistant hitting coach/ Pittsburgh).
LA Dodgers 6 Atlanta 1: Roger McDowell ('98, assistant coach/ pitching coach-Atlanta)
Thursday, October 3
BIRTHDAYS:
Ariel Garcia ('97-'98, P) turns 38. The native of Panama City, FL was signed by the White Sox as an international free agent in 1992. Garcia went 0-7 in 10 games (8 starts) with a 5.44 ERA. In 41.1 innings, he struck out 14, walked 16, and allowed 36 runs (25 earned) on 50 hits. Released after the 1998 season, Garcia split the 1999 with independent Northern League teams at Madison, Schaumburg and Sioux Falls. He returned to Sioux Falls in 2000, but then was released and went to Atlantic City (Atlantic League) through 2001. His final season came at AA- Mobile in the Padres system.
Jason Ogden ('93, P) turns 44. The native of Houston, TX was the 24th round pick of the White Sox in 1992. He made nine appearances out of the bullpen and went 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA. In 16.2 innings, Ogden struck out 18, walked eight and allowed eight runs (six earned) on 19 hits. Ogden split the 1994 season at South Bend (low A) and Prince William (high A) before leaving the game.
Jonel Pacheco ('07, OF) turns 31. The native of Tacarigua, Venezuela was signed as a free agent by the Pirates out of the Mets organization. Pacheco was the main force at the plate for the Crawdads during their 2007 playoff run. He batted .315 with 25 doubles, five triples, 27 homers and 99 RBI. He also stole 18 bases and scored 97 runs. Pacheco is fourth in a season in runs scored, fifth in slugging (.566), fifth in total bases (262), sixth in homers and RBI. In the field, Pacheco has the best fielding pct. (.995) by an outfielder for a season and overall. He worked up the Pirates chain and made it to AAA- Indianapolis by 2009 before leaving the organization. In 2010, he played at independent league stops at Yuma (Golden) and Laredo (United), then split the 2011 season in the Atlantic League at Camden and with the league's road team. His final season came in 2012 at Yucatan in the Mexican League.
Wednesday, October 2
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) reached base the first four times he appeared as the Bucs defeated Cincinnati 6-2. McCutchen walked in the first, singled and scored in the third, was intentionally walked in the fourth, and singled again in the sixth. He was finally retired in the sixth on a deep fly to center.
BIRTHDAYS:
Matt Berger ('98, 1B-3B) turns 39. The native of Covington, KY was the 23rd round pick of the White Sox in 1997 out of the University of Louisville. In 126 games, Berger batted .299 with 30 doubles, 24 homers and 94 RBI. The SAL all-star holds several top-ten season rankings for the Crawdads, as he is sixth in sac flies (8), seventh in RBI (94), ninth in total bases (242) and tied for ninth in homers. He advanced to high A-Winston-Salem in 1999 and spent three seasons there before his release.
Tim Currens ('98, P) turns 38. The native of Bowling Green, KY was the White Sox 8th round pick in 1997 out of Lindsey Wilson College (KY). He pitched in 28 games out of the Crawdads bullpen going 1-2 with a save and a 5.71 ERA. In 58.1 innings, Currens struck out 36, walked 24 and allowed 46 runs (37 earned) on 71 hits. He split the 1999 season at low A-Burlington (IA) and high A-Winston-Salem and was then released.
Leonel De Los Santos ('09-'10, C) turns 24. The native of Yasasa, Venezuela signed with the Rangers as an international free agent in 2006. He spent parts of two seasons with Hickory batting .242 with 14 doubles, five homers and 43 RBI. De Los Santos was known for strong arm behind the plate as he often threw out opposing base runners with ease. He had 131 assists in only 110 games, which is the fourth-most in club history. But his problems as a hitter pushed him into a brief trial-run as a pitcher. He split the 2011 season with rookie league Arizona and short-season Spokane before his release.
Jason Goligoski ('94, SS) turns 42. The Montana native was the White Sox eighth round pick in 1993 out of Western Montana College. In 135 games for the playoff-bound Crawdads, Goligoski batted .271 with 18 doubles, seven triples, a homer and 67 RBI. He also walked a club record 99 times that season and scored 98 runs, still the third highest total in a season. Goligoski is tied for third in games played in a season, tied for seventh in triples and is tenth in on base pct. (.394). He spent one more season with the White Sox at high A-Prince William in 1995, then moved on to the Colorado Rockies at AA- New Haven in 1996 and high A-Sarasota in the Red Sox chain in 1996. His final season came with the Texas Rangers AA club at Tulsa in 1998.
MAJOR LEAGUES
NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD GAME:
Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 6: Zach Duke ('03, P/ Cincinnati) did not pitch / Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 2-5, RBI double and scored in the fourth, singled in the 8th; Tony Watson ('07, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, allowed a solo HR to Shin-Soo Choo in the eighth, also allowed a double; Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) did not play; Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh) did not pitch; Jeff Branson ('05-'06, Manager/ assistant hitting coach- Pittsburgh)
Tuesday, October 1
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
Tampa Bay 5 Texas 2: Martin Perez ('09, P/ Texas) 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, loss (10-6).
BIRTHDAYS:
Andres Levias ('93-'94, OF) turns 40. The native of Gardena, CA was the 10th round pick of the White Sox in 1992 out of El Camino Community College (CA). In 89 games, Levias batted .219 with five doubles, a homer and 23 RBI. He split the 1995 at the White Sox affiliates at Butte (rookie) and South Bend (Low A), and then closed out his pro career at high A-Prince William in 1996.
Connor Sadzeck ('13, P) turns 22. The native of Crystal Lake, IL was the Rangers 11th round pick in 2012 out of Howard College (TX). In 24 starts for the Crawdads this season, Sadzeck went 12-4 with a 2.25 ERA. He struck out 78, walked 51, and allowed 43 runs (33 earned) on 102 hits in 132 innings. Sadzeck won the SAL ERA title this season, which is also third in club history among qualifying pitchers (112+ innings). He is fourth in wild pitches (23), sixth in wins and 10th in WHIP (1.16).
Monday, September 30
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Long Island Somerset: Ray Navarrete ('01, IF/ Long Island) clubbed a three-run homer in the 4th inning to give the Ducks the lead and send them on the way to the Atlantic League championship with a 6-4 win over Somerset. Long Island won the best-of-five series 3-2.
BIRTHDAYS:
Trever Adams ('12, 1B) turns 25. The native of Lincoln, NE was the Rangers 16th round pick in 2011 out of Creighton University. In 111 games, Adams batted .286 with 25 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 67 RBI. He spent this season with high A-Myrtle Beach, where was named a Carolina League All-Star.
Bryan Bullington ('03, P) turns 33. The native of Madison, IN was the first overall pick in 2002, taken by the Pirates out of Ball St. University. Bullington pitched briefly with Hickory in and went 5-1 in eight games (seven starts) with a 1.39 ERA. He quickly moved up the Pirates minor league chain and debuted with Pittsburgh on 9/18/05. Injuries plagued much of his career with Pittsburgh as he had only one other stint with the team in 2007. He pitched briefly for Cleveland in 2008, Toronto in 2009 and lastly with Kansas City in 2010. Bullington is currently in his third season with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan.
Jamie Romak ('07, OF) turns 28. The native of London, Ontario, Canada was acquired by the Pirates in a trade with Atlanta prior to the 2007 season. In 20 games early in 2007, Romak batted .275 with four doubles, five homers and 15 RBI. He finished out the 2007 season at high A-Lynchburg, and then split the next two seasons with the Hillcats and AA-Altoona. He became a minor league free agent and signed with Kansas City to play at their high A-affiliate at Wilmington, where he was a 2010 Carolina League All-Star, and at AA- NW Arkansas in 2010-2011. After starting the 2012 at AAA-Omaha (KC), a trade sent him to the Cardinals chain. He split last season at AA- Springfield and AAA-Memphis before Romak returned to Memphis this season.
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
LA Angels 2 Texas 6: Robbie Ross ('10, P/ Texas) 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Boston 6 Baltimore 7: Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) 1-4, 2-run 2B to tie the game in the fifth; Steven Pearce ('06, 1B/ Baltimore) 0-2, 2 BB.
Cleveland 5 Minnesota 1: Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 0-4, 2 K; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 1-3, BB, SB, K.
Tampa Bay 7 Toronto 6: Todd Redmond ('06, P/ Toronto) 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, loss (4-3).
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Pittsburgh 4 Cincinnati 2: Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) 3-4 inside the park HR (8) in the second, triple, 2 R / Zach Duke ('03, P/ Cincinnati) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K.