MAUER WINS RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE AWARD®

Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been named to the 2009 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Team®. This marks Mauer's second career Rawlings Gold Glove Award® (2008).

Mauer, 26, batted .365 (191-for-523) with 30 doubles, one triple, 28 home runs and 96 RBI in 138 games for the Twins in 2009. He led the Major Leagues in batting and established career-highs in home runs and RBI. He had a .996 (758 TC, 3 E) fielding percentage and threw out 17 of 71 (24%) runners attempting to steal.

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Remembering Vic Saltzgaver
Interview at Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf
Battlefield Heroes - Jocko Thompson
Battlefield Heroes - Lefty Johnson
Hall of Famers at War - Duke Snider
Remembering Three Minor League Vets Who Passed Away Recently
Show Your Support for the Baseball in Wartime Website and Blog
Remembering Jack Birtchet – WWII Marine
When Three Servicemen Returned in 1946

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************************************************
Gary Bedingfield
Baseball in Wartime (Founder and Editor)
www.baseballinwartime.com
http://baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/
gary@baseballinwartime.com

Jones, IL & PCL MVPs Highlight Topps’ Triple-A All-Star Team

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Mitch Jones, who claimed the Joe Bauman Trophy as Minor League
Baseball’s top slugger, and International and Pacific Coast Most Valuable Players Shelley Duncan and
Randy Ruiz are among the players selected to the Topps Triple-A All-Star Team. The best
performances in all Minor League Baseball classifications are again being honored by the Topps
Company of New York, N.Y., in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.
Randy Ruiz (32) of Reading, Pa., hit .320 with 25 homers in winning Most Valuable Player honors in
the Pacific Coast League. The Las Vegas 51s first baseman led Triple-A with 106 RBI and 70 extrabase
hits and finished second in the classification with his 41 doubles. The Toronto Blue Jays signed
Ruiz as a free agent in December 2008.
Kevin Russo (25) of Boulder, Colo., finished fourth in Triple-A with a .326 average. The
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees second baseman had 18 doubles, two triples, five homers and 31 RBI
in 90 games. The New York Yankees selected Russo in the 20th round in 2006 out of Baylor University.
Andy Marte (26) of Villa Tapia, Dominican Republic, hit .327 with 18 roundtrippers and 66 RBI in 82
games for the Columbus Clippers. The third baseman earned IL Topps Player of the Month honors for
July when he hit .385 with nine homers and 24 RBI. The Cleveland Indians, who acquired Marte as
part of a January 2006 trade with Boston, brought him up to the big club at the end of July for the rest of
the season.
Alcides Escobar (22) of Vargas, Venezuela, finished among the top base stealers in Triple-A with 42.
He hit .298 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 24 doubles and six triples for the Nashville Sounds. Escobar,
who was also among the top defensive PCL shortstops with his .975 fielding percentage, was named to
the Topps Double-A All-Star team last year. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him as a free agent in July
2003.
John Bowker (26) of Sacramento, Calif., led Minor League Baseball with a .451 on-base percentage.
His .342 batting average was second best among all full-season domestic Minor Leaguers. The Fresno
Grizzlies outfielder smacked 21 home runs, 22 doubles and four triples in driving in 83 runs. The San
Francisco Giants drafted Bowker in the third round in 2004 out of Long Beach (CA) State University.
Jordan Brown (25) of Tucson, Ariz., paced the International League with a .336 batting average. The
Columbus Clippers outfielder ranked third in the circuit with a .532 slugging percentage and finished
tied for fifth with 35 doubles. The Cleveland Indians selected Brown in the fourth round in 2005 out of
the University of Arizona.
Shelley Duncan (30) of Tucson, Ariz., hit .277 with 30 homers and 99 RBI in being named the
International League Most Valuable Player. Duncan’s home run and RBI totals with the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees ranked second and third, respectively, in Triple-A. The New York
Yankees drafted him in the second round in 2001 out of the University of Arizona.
John Hester (26) of Alpharetta, Ga., threw out 30% of the base runners trying to steal. The Reno
Aces catcher hit .328 with nine homers and 66 RBI. The Arizona Diamondbacks tabbed Hester in the
13th round in 2006 out of Stanford University.
Mitch Jones (32) of Orem, Utah, won the Joe Bauman Trophy as Minor League Baseball’s top home
run hitter with 35. The Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder also led the Minors with a .651 slugging
percentage and his 103 RBI ranked second in Triple-A. The Los Angeles Dodgers inked Jones as a
free agent in November 2008.
Lenny DiNardo (30) of Gainesville, Fla., went 10-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts. Omaha Royals
pitchers combined on 13 shutouts in 2009 and DiNardo was involved in five of them. The left-hander
struck out 127 batters, while only walking 38 in 151.2 innings. The Kansas City Royals signed DiNardo
as a free agent in December 2008.
2009 TOPPS/MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TRIPLE-A ALL-STAR TEAM
POSITION PLAYER CLUB/LEAGUE AFFILIATE AVG. HR RBI
First Base Randy Ruiz Las Vegas/PCL Toronto .320 25 106
Second Base Kevin Russo Scr./W-B/IL New York-AL .326 5 31
Third Base Andy Marte Columbus/IL Cleveland .327 18 66
Shortstop Alcides Escobar Nashville/PCL Milwaukee .298 4 34
Outfield John Bowker Fresno/PCL San Francisco .342 21 83
Outfield Jordan Brown Columbus/IL Cleveland .336 15 67
Outfield Shelley Duncan Scr./W-B/IL New York-AL .277 30 99
Catcher John Hester Reno/PCL Arizona .328 9 66
Des. Hitter Mitch Jones Albuquerque/PCL Los Angeles-NL .297 35 103
W L ERA
Pitcher Lenny DiNardo Omaha/PCL Kansas City 10 5 3.32
(Statistics do not reflect players’ performances in other leagues)
Topps Double-A All-Stars will be announced on November 18
Topps Class A All-Stars will be announced on November 25
Topps Short Season/Rookie All-Stars will be announced on December 2
###
Contact: Steve Densa, Minor League Baseball, 727-456-1703

RYAN BRAUN WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

For the second straight season, Ryan Braun will have some hardware to show for his efforts at the plate.

After batting .320 with 32 home runs and 114 RBIs, Braun became the first Brewer since Paul Molitor, more than a decade ago, to win a Silver Slugger Award in consecutive years.

MAUER WINS SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

Twins catcher Joe Mauer added to his growing award collection on Thursday when he was honored with a Silver Slugger Award. It's the third time that Mauer has been selected for a Silver Slugger Award. He also took home the award in 2006 and 2008.

The honor came a couple days after Mauer picked up his second-straight Gold Glove, and the catcher is considered one of the leading candidates for the AL MVP Award which will be announced on Monday, Nov. 23. Mauer, 26, led the AL in batting average (.365), on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587) in 2009. He earned his third batting title, making him the first catcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat.

CARLOS ZAMBRANO WINS SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has earned a 2009 Silver Slugger Award, given annually to the best offensive player at each position as selected by the Major League Baseball managers and coaches. It is Zambrano's third Silver Slugger nod, having won in 2006 and 2008.

Zambrano bested the rest of the National League's pitchers in 2009 with four homers, 11 RBIs and .689 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

BREWERS DECLINE 2010 MUTUAL OPTION ON RHP BRADEN LOOPER

 
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today declined the 2010 mutual option on RHP Braden Looper. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

Looper, 35, went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 34 starts for the Brewers in 2009. He signed with Milwaukee as a free agent on February 12. He made at least 30 starts for the third straight season and established a career-high with 14 wins. He also set a franchise record with 39 home runs allowed, which led the Major Leagues, while also leading the league in runs allowed (123) and earned runs allowed (113).

INF Craig Counsell and RHP David Weathers have elected free agency. The 40-man roster now stands at 35.

RHP Braden Looper and RHP Claudio Vargas have elected free agency. The 40-man roster now stands at 33.

Herrera Big On NWL

By Gregg Hoffmann

At 5-6, Danny Ray Herrera is the smallest player in the big leagues, but he’s very big on the 2005 season he spent in the Northwoods League with the Loggers.

“When I came up here, they let me pitch, throw my screwball, and I gained confidence,” said Herrera, before speaking at the Loggers annual BBQ event at the Best Western.

“The whole experience was a good one. We learned about the travel and other things we’d experience at the next level. They told me they wanted to win, but it also was about development. So, I was able to do just that.

“The ballpark and crowds here were better than some of the ones I played at in my early years in the minors.”

Herrera, a product of the University of New Mexico, appeared in 70 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season, went 4-4 with a 3.06 ERA in 61.2 innings.

“I’m very proud of how I held up,” Herrera said of his season. “I didn’t know how I would hold up to the workload. I just stayed with my routine, and my body held up.

“It’s exciting (with the Reds). We have Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, two of the best young players in baseball, and some good young pitchers to do along with Brandon Phillips and some veterans. I think we’ll grow together and just keep getting better.”

Herrera is lucky to be a lefty, a hot commodity in the big leagues. He also has gained the reputation as “the little man with a big heart.”

“I’ve had to deal with the labels about my size at every level from junior varsity to the majors,” he said. “I just played my best at every level and took advantage of opportunities when they came up.”

Herrera signed with the Texas Rangers out of college, but that club traded him in 2007, along with pitcher Edinson Valquez, to the Reds for outfielder Josh Hamilton.

“I was a little upset when I was traded, but thought if it was going to help me advance and make it to the big leagues I would just work hard,” Herrera said. “A lefthander went down, and it’s turned out to be a great situation.”

Herrera’s out-pitch is the screwball. “I needed a breaking pitch and didn’t have a good changeup,” he said.

“I started throwing it at New Mexico, but it wasn’t very good at first. When I came up here, I could really work on it, and against wooden bats too. It breaks like a curve ball against righthanders so it’s been a good pitch.”

##

Gregg Hoffmann, a veteran journalist, publishes www.midwestdiamondreport.com and runs Old School Collectibles in the Antique Center On Third Street in La Crosse, in A-Z Furniture and Collectibles in Westby and online at www.oldschoolcollectibles.com.

The Brewers today added CF Lorenzo Cain and RHP Amaury Rivas to the 40-man roster.

 

The Brewers 40-man roster now stands at 35.

The Milwaukee Brewers today claimed C George Kottaras off waivers from Boston. Kottaras, 26, batted .237 with 1 HR and 10 RBI in 45 games with the Red Sox last season.

Herrera Big On NWL

At 5-6, Danny Ray Herrera is the smallest player in the big leagues, but he’s very big on the 2005 season he spent in the Northwoods League with the Loggers.

“When I came up here, they let me pitch, throw my screwball, and I gained confidence,” said Herrera, before speaking at the Loggers annual BBQ event at the Best Western.

“The whole experience was a good one. We learned about the travel and other things we’d experience at the next level. They told me they wanted to win, but it also was about development. So, I was able to do just that.

“The ballpark and crowds here were better than some of the ones I played at in my early years in the minors.”

Herrera, a product of the University of New Mexico, appeared in 70 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season, went 4-4 with a 3.06 ERA in 61.2 innings.

For more of the story, click here or go to the Archives/Blog section of MDR.

Hot Stove Update

Brewers

** The Brewers declined the option on RHP Braden Looper, who led the team in wins with 14 last season. Looper now becomes a free agent.

** RHP David Weathers and IF Craig Counsell became free agents.

** RHP Mark DiFelice, RHP David Riske and 2B Rickie Weeks were all reinstated from the 60-day Disabled List. IF Adam Heether was added to the 40-man roster. CF Mike Cameron, OF Frank Catalanotto, C Jason Kendall, IF Felipe Lopez and OF Corey Patterson announced they have elected free agency.

** LF Ryan Braun won a Silver Slugger Award.

Cubs

** GM Jim Hendry said the Cubs have not given up on disgruntled OF Milton Bradley.

** RHP Kevin Gregg filed for free agency.

** Cubs IF Mike Fontenot was awarded the final arbitration spot for players with between two and three years of major league service.

** RHP Carlos Zambrano won a Silver Slugger Award.

Twins

** The Twins took RHPs Boof Bonser, Pat Neshek and Kevin Slowey off the 60-day disabled list and reinstated them to the 40-man roster. Bonser and Neshek both missed the entire 2009 season following surgeries. Slowey went 10-3 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts before undergoing season-ending surgery in July to remove bone chips from his right wrist. The Twins also added RHPs Juan Morillo to the 40-man roster.


** SS Orlando Cabrera and RHP Carl Pavano filed for free agency.

** RHP Armando Gabino was claimed off waivers by the Orioles.

** C Joe Mauer won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

White Sox

** IF Gordon Beckham is considered a leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, which will be announced this week.

** RHP Octavio Dotel filed for free agency.

** OF Jermaine Dye told Chicago newspapers there is a "remote" chance he could still return to the Sox.

** LHP Mark Buehrle won a Gold Glove Award.

WHITE SOX SIGN ANDRUW JONES
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Andruw Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner and five-time All-Star. Jones had 17 home runs and 43 RBI in 82 games with Texas in 2009 while making 53 starts as the designated hitter, 12 in left field, five in right field and four at first base.

Jones has hit 30 or more home runs seven times, including a career-high 51 in 2005, and has recorded 100-plus RBI five times, most recently with a career-best 129 in 2006. Among players active in 2009, Jones ranks 10th in home runs, 15th in RBI and 19th in runs scored. His 388 home runs rank 52nd all-time

Mauer Is AL MVP

Twins catcher Joe Mauer on Monday became the fifth player in Twins history to win the MVP Award, joining teammate Justin Morneau (2006), and former Twins Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Rod Carew (1977).

Mauer batted .365 to earn his third AL batting title in four years, making the 26-year-old the only catcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat, and he's just the 10th player in AL history with three-or-more batting titles.

He also becomes just the second catcher in the last 33 years to win the AL MVP Award. Ivan Rodriguez (1999) is the only other backstop besides Mauer to take home the honor since Yankees' catcher Thurman Munson won it in 1976. For more, go to the Twins' web site via MDR links.

Sox Sign Vizquel

As reported on MLB.com last week, the Chicago White Sox announced Monday the signing of infielder Omar Vizquel to a one-year contract.

Vizquel, who turns 43 on April 24, follows the likes of legendary Venezuelans up the middle for the White Sox, such as Chico Carrasquel (1950-55), Luis Aparicio (1956-62, 1968-70) and current manager Ozzie Guillen, who was the team’s starting shortstop from 1985-97. For more, go to the Sox site via MDR links.

Collectible of the Week

Thomson-Branca Ball

Perhaps no home run is more famous than Bobby Thomson's "The Giants Win The Pennant" homer off the Dodgers' Ralpha Branca.

Old School Collectibles, the sister site to MDR, is offering a ball signed by both Thomson and Branca. You can see it at the OSC La Crosse store. Inquire about it by leaving a message on the OSC Message Board via a link at the bottom of this page or sending an email to gregghof@aol.com.

Have you seen what's new at the Baseball in Wartime Blog?
 
Remembering Minor League Vets Who Passed Away Recently
Battlefield Heroes – Johnny Spillane
Battlefield Heroes - Bob Savage
Hall of Famers at War - Hank Greenberg
Remembering Tommy Reis
Battlefield Heroes - Lou Thuman
Battlefield Heroes – Si Rosenthal
There are daily updates at the Baseball in Wartime Blog

http://baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/

  
************************************************
Gary Bedingfield
Baseball in Wartime (Founder and Editor)
www.baseballinwartime.com
http://baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/
gary@baseballinwartime.com