Category Archives: Former Smokies

by | March 14, 2013 · 2:41 pm

From Holes to Gold, Darwin Barney’s Glove Has Seen it All

During the 2013 season, the Tennessee Smokies will honor three former Smokies that were rewarded with a Gold Glove after the 2012 season. The first 1,500 fans in attendance on August 17 will receive a Darwin Barney bobblehead. View the full Smokies promotions schedule here.

Darwin Barney turned a total of 98 double plays during his 2012 Gold Glove campaign. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Darwin Barney turned a total of 98 double plays during his 2012 Gold Glove campaign. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Darwin Barney’s glove wasn’t always made of gold. In fact, there was a time when the phrase “Gold Glove second baseman Darwin Barney” seemed to be words that were not likely to be spoken.  That time was in 2009, when Barney played his home games at Smokies Park for the Cubs’ Double-A-affiliate Tennessee.

The young shortstop was fresh off a 2008 season spent at High-A Daytona where he played in 123 games and turned 72 double plays with 21 errors.  Meanwhile, Barney hit a respectable .262 with a .325 on-base percentage and 51 RBIs on 107 hits.

Those numbers earned Barney a spot with the Smokies in April of 2009.  But scouts questioned whether Barney could sustain long-term success as an everyday shortstop at the Major League level, citing his range and tendency to make errors as a factor. The Oregon native enjoyed mixed success with the Smokies as he made strides at the plate but took a step back defensively.

Darwin Barney struggled defensively while with the Smokies, committing 16 errors in 69 games. Photo Courtesy: Tennessee Smokies

Darwin Barney struggled defensively while with the Smokies, committing 16 errors in 69 games. Photo Courtesy: Tennessee Smokies

In 74 games at Tennessee, Barney hit .317 with a .368 on-base percentage, a .401 OPS, and a .769 OPS.  But the talented Cubs prospect struggled with errors in the 69 games he played at shortstop, as he committed 16 in his three-month span with the club.

However, the Cubs deemed Barney’s high average and ability to get on base as valuable and promoted him to Triple-A Iowa.  His numbers dipped at the plate in Iowa after his hot start with the Smokies and his defensive struggles continued as he committed 11 more errors on the season, bringing his total error count to 27.

Barney returned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2010 season and began to envision images of a glove covered in gold. The fourth-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2007 wouldn’t look back, and after consecutive seasons in which he committed 20-plus errors, Barney posted only 14 errors in 111 games at shortstop.

“Growing up, offense came very naturally for me. Defense is one of those things that I ended up taking a lot of pride in,” Barney told Cubs.com in August . “I had to put a lot of work into it, and it became one of those things that I realized that I had an opportunity to be pretty good at.

Darwin Barney set a Cubs fielding percentage record of .997, breaking Ryne Sandberg's mark of .995 in 1991. Photo Couresy: Getty Images

Darwin Barney set a Cubs fielding percentage record of .997, breaking Ryne Sandberg’s mark of .995 in 1991. Photo Couresy: Getty Images

Barney’s improvements defensively led to a spot on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster in 2011 where he quickly became the clubs’ starter at second base.  The Cubs’ new second baseman proved consistent at the plate by hitting .276 with a .313 on-base percentage and 23 doubles.

But Cubs manager Mike Quade continued to preach defense to Barney and the second baseman listened by committing only 12 errors in 135 games at second base.  His consistency behind the plate and improvement defensively led to a solid rookie season and a seventh place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.

However, following the 2011 season, Barney was not satisfied with his defense and set out to improve at the direction of former Smokies manager Pat Listach.

“We knew after [2011] that we needed to get better defensively,” Barney told ESPN Chicago last August. “We needed to clean it up and pick that part of our game up. Looking at our defensive numbers last year it was embarrassing.”

“One of the things Quade said to me the last day of the year was, ‘I don’t care if you pick up a bat, I want you to work around the bag as much as you can and get better. Make those routine plays more routine than they already are.’”

So Barney did just that.  The shortstop entered the 2012 season looking to commit less than 12 errors and did so thanks in part to aggressive positioning by Listach, the Cubs infield coach at the time.  Listach kept Barney on his toes and put him in a position to get the most challenging ground balls.

Video: Darwin Barney Talks Defense

“He stretched my range out by putting me in the right place where I can get to the hard ground balls and range to the softer hit ground balls,” Barney said of Listach. “I think he’s contributed a lot to what has been happening with our infield.”

The positioning and hard work paid off for Barney as the second baseman committed only two errors in 2012 and tied a Major League single-season record of 141 consecutive games without an error.  The streak tied the mark set by Placido Polanco of the Detroit Tigers in 2007.

Barney’s stellar defense earned him his first Gold Glove award this past aoffseason, winning it over two-time consecutive winner Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds.

“It goes without saying he’s Gold Glove material,” Cubs current manager Dale Sveum said of Barney. “I’ve been in the game 30 years, and I’ve never seen anyone play second base like [Barney] has.

“He puts everything into the package, going for popups down the right-field line, double plays, the range — he has so many different things in his tool box. It’s not just a guy catching the ball, routine balls — he was spectacular all season.”

Video: Barney Good as Gold

But even for a guy who committed 27 errors as a minor leaguer in 2009, a Major League tying streak and a Gold Glove isn’t satisfying for Barney.

“Winning Gold Gloves doesn’t satisfy me for the future. It makes me proud of my season,” Barney told Cubs.com.  “It makes me hungry to work and try to get another one someday. … It’s been a long path. It’s a big accomplishment for me.”

Now it seems difficult to remember the days when Barney’s glove seemed to be filled with holes rather than gold.  But with the words “Gold Glove second baseman” now preceeding Darwin Barney’s name, it’s hard to imagine his glove clad in anything other than gold.

Nick Roark is a Broadcast & Media Associate for Smokies Radio Network.  You can follow Nick on Twitter here: @NickRoark4.

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by | March 13, 2013 · 3:34 pm

Yadier Molina was Born to be a MLB Catcher; Now He May be the Best

During the 2013 season, the Tennessee Smokies will honor three former Smokies that were rewarded with a Gold Glove after the 2012 season. The first 1,500 fans in attendance on July 20 will receive a Yadier Molina bobblehead. View the full Smokies promotions schedule here.

Heading into his 10th season with the club, Yadier Molina has become the face of the St. Louis Cardinals. (AP Photo)

Heading into his 10th season with the club, Yadier Molina has become the face of the St. Louis Cardinals. (AP Photo)

When the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Yadier Molina in 2000, the organization was aware of the successful bloodline of the Molina family. Yadier’s older brothers, Bengie and Jose Molina, had already established themselves as successful catchers in the majors.

The Cardinals expected Yadier to be no different when they selected him in the 4th round of the 2000 amateur draft.

His route to the majors was diplomatic. A year in rookie ball preceded a year in  Single-A with the Peoria Chiefs and another year in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies.

Molina played just over 104 games for the Smokies while batting around .275 with superb defense during the 2003 season. The native of Puerto Rico committed just eight errors while throwing out 40 percent of runners attempting to steal.

He was promoted to Triple-A at the beginning of the 2004 season, but only played in Memphis for 37 games. The organization knew that he was ready for the next step.

In June of 2004, Yadier completed his journey and was promoted to the majors. He would stay there and earn the full-time starting job at catcher.

Molina’s game has always been dominated by his unparalleled skill behind the plate defensively with the hardware to back that claim up.

Molina has developed relationships with some of the top pitchers in baseball. Photo Courtesy: Scott Rovak- US PRESSWIRE

Molina has developed relationships with some of the top pitchers in baseball. Photo Courtesy: Scott Rovak- US PRESSWIRE

At the end of the 2012 season, Molina was awarded his 5th straight Gold Glove.Winning the award is something that he does not take for granted, ”It’s always such a great honor to win the Gold Glove Award,” Molina said. “It’s something that you work hard for, and it’s nice to be voted as a top player at your position.”

Molina trails only Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Bench, Bob Boone, and Jim Sundberg for Gold Gloves at the position.

However, Yadier has evolved into an all-around player and became more than serviceable at the plate. He has posted a batting average over .293 in four of the past five seasons, including career bests in every offensive category in 2012 with a .315 batting average, .373 on base percentage, .501 slugging, and a .874 OPS.

The newfound offensive game has elevated the 4-time All-Star into the conversation of the best overall catcher in baseball.

The departure of Albert Pujols was once thought to have pushed the Cardinals into a rebuilding period, but behind Molina’s leadership, the team was on the brink of returning to the World Series. He finished 4th in MVP voting.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a four-time Gold Glover at catcher had high praise for his guy Molina, ”I will stand behind the fact that Yadier Molina has impressed me more than any catcher I’ve ever witnessed. The things that he does that are intangible you can only see by watching every day and watching [with] a very critical eye. But he has everything that you would ask for from a catcher defensively.”

To commemorate Yadier’s defense, on July 20th the Tennessee Smokies will pay tribute to the catcher by including him in the team’s Gold Glove Bobblehead Series.

Jonathan Reed is an intern with the Smokies Radio Network.

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by | March 12, 2013 · 5:27 pm

Carlos Gonzalez Displays ‘Six Tools’ on His Way to the Majors

During the 2013 season, the Tennessee Smokies will honor three former Smokies that were rewarded with a Gold Glove after the 2012 season. The first 1,500 fans in attendance on May 25 will receive a Carlos Gonzalez bobblehead. View the full Smokies promotions schedule here.

A member of the 2006 Tennessee Smokies, Carlos Gonzalez celebrates a walk-off home run after hitting for the cycle in 2010. Photo Courtesy: FoxSports.com

A member of the 2006 Tennessee Smokies, Carlos Gonzalez celebrates a walk-off home run after hitting for the cycle in 2010. Photo Courtesy: FoxSports.com

Signed as a free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks from Venezuela at age 17, scouts saw Carlos Gonzalez as a future Major League star. For Gonzalez, the journey would be a long road to the big leagues that would require eight seasons riding buses in the minors and saw two organizations see him as an expendable piece.

Prior to the 2006 season, Baseball America ranked the 2012 All-Star as the 32nd best prospect in Major League Baseball. With the Smokies organization changing their affiliation to the Cubs at the end of the season, Tennessee fans had a short glimpse of the future Gold Glove winner.

Gonzalez played in just 18 games for the Smokies late in the 2006 season on a squad that finished 70-69. The 2010 National League Batting Title winner accumulated 13 hits, including six doubles and two home runs.

Almost one year later, Gonzalez was packaged in a deal that would help the Diamondbacks acquire Dan Haren from the Oakland A’s. A top-rated prospect in the D-backs organization, Gonzalez would assume the same title for the A’s. However, as Arizona did a year earlier, Oakland would ship him to Colorado for proven big league star Matt Holliday, after Gonzalez hit .242 in 85 games during the 2008 season.

CarGo made history during his short stay in with the A’s big league club. Gonzalez became the first player since Johnny Mize in 1936 to produce extra base-hits as his first seven career base knocks to begin his career. He told MLB.com reporter Jane Lee at the time, ”I don’t know what it is,” Gonzalez said with a slightly giddy laugh before suiting up for Sunday’s game. “It’s pretty exciting, and I never thought anything like this would happen.”

Seven years had passed since CarGo was signed as an amateur and finally a team was willing to give him a chance in its everyday lineup. The Rockies started Gonzalez with Triple-A Colorado Springs to begin the 2009 season, but it was a short lived stay. Gonzalez crushed minor-league pitching hitting .339 with ten home runs, 12 doubles, and 7 triples.

A two-time Gold Glove winner, Gonzalez was called a "six-tool" player by manager Jim Tracy. Photo Courtesy: AP

A two-time Gold Glove winner, Gonzalez was called a “six-tool” player by manager Jim Tracy. Photo Courtesy: AP

 

In 2010, Gonzalez finally had his first opportunity to be the opening day starter and he did not disappoint as he competed for the triple crown, hitting .336 with a league-leading 197 hits to go along with 34 home runs, 117 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. The numbers were good enough to earn Gonzalez a Silver Slugger and a third place finish in MVP voting behind Joey Votto and Albert Pujols.

During the season, executives could not stop praising Gonzalez for his ability on the field and how he handled himself off the field. Rockies skipper Jim Tracy told The Denver Post, ”It goes without saying he’s a special player,” Tracy said of Gonzalez. “They talk about a great player being a five-tool player. He’s a six-tool player. His character and unselfishness toward his teammates are off the charts. He’s as graceful an outfielder as I’ve ever seen — playing, coaching, managing. I really believe he’s going to get better and better.”

The Rockies organization showed their commitment by rewarding Gonzalez with a seven-year, $80 million contract in January of 2011, the largest contract signed by a player with only two years of big league service time. Many people believed that Gonzalez could have signed a much larger contract the next season if he decided to wait for free agency.

Gonzalez displayed the altruism that Tracy described in his press conference telling reporters, ”It’s over, and I’m really happy with everything that I got and the opportunity that I have,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not the kind of person who will think, ‘I could’ve done this.’ I do what my heart tells me to do and what’s best for me. This is fair enough for me, and I’m really happy. I just play baseball. You don’t know if you’re going to feel comfortable with anybody else or waiting. Right now, I feel really comfortable with the Rockies.”

The Venezuela native represented his home country in this season’s World Baseball Classic going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored in his team’s final game against Spain on Sunday. With four more seasons left on his contract, Gonzalez will continue to reap the rewards of playing in Coors Field as he maintains his spot among baseball’s best hitters.

At age 27, the best is yet to come for one of baseball’s bright young stars. Carlos Gonzalez gives Smokies fans an opportunity to cheer for one of their own, a player that is well-rounded individual on and off the field.

Michael Wottreng is a Broadcast and Multimedia Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Michael on Twitter here: @MWottreng

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by | · 5:00 pm

Update on Former Smokies in the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic continues this week. Photo courtesy: worldbaseballclassic.com

The World Baseball Classic continues this week. Photo courtesy: worldbaseballclassic.com

The ten former Tennessee Smokies that participated during the 2013 World Baseball Classic have finished their team’s group stage.

Canadians Chris Robinson and Jimmy Henderson went 1-2 while playing in Phoenix, Ariz. in Pool D and were eliminated during group play.

Canadian catcher Chris Robinson, shown here getting hit while blocking home plate, was involved in the dugout-clearing brawl between Canada and Mexico.

During their game against Mexico, the Canadian team saw fireworks fly during a ninth inning brawl that was escalated by Robinson.

With a 9-3 lead, Robinson bunted during his at-bat in order to score another run for the Canadians. After being thrown out, the next Canadian batter was intentionally thrown at three consecutive times before being hit.

A bench-clearing brawl ensued.

“I feel terrible about the fact that I’m the guy that got my teammate hit,” Robinson said. “It’s scary. In a hockey fight, two guys drop the gloves and look at each other and fight. With this, you don’t know what’s on anybody else’s mind, as Justin [Morneau] said, you have to keep your head on a swivel. No one likes them but it’s something that’s part of the game, like a hockey fight. It’s not something we were looking for.”

The reason Canada bunted with a six-run lead was based off a WBC tie-breaker that makes run-differential more important.

When asked about bunting in the ninth with a six run lead, Canadian manager Ernie Whitt talked about the difference between tournament-style and regular season baseball.

“In this tournament it’s – you play baseball like it’s 0-0,” Whitt said. That’s the unfortunate thing. What happened tonight is because of the rulings that they have. Regular baseball, during the season, you would never see that happening.”

But that wasn’t the only time Robinson, the team’s starting catcher, played during the tournament. He appeared in all three games.

Robinson hit .556 with five hits and one RBI.

Canada’s Jim Henderson, here talking with Canadian manager Ernie Whitt, did not have a great World Baseball Classic. Photo courtesy: Deccan Chronicle.

Henderson (0-1) made two appearances during the tournament. He finished with an ERA of 45.00 allowing five hits and five earned runs.

Australia:

Pitcher Ryan Searle (0-1) started one game for Australia and lost. He pitched three innings with a 12.00 ERA allowing four hits and four earned runs. He struck out two.

Australia finished the tournament 0-3.

Chinese Taipei:

Pticher Hung-Wen Chen (0-1) appeared in three games. He had a 5.40 ERA over 3.1 innings, surrendering two hits and two earned runs. He walked three batters and struck out three.

Taipei finished the group stage 2-1 and were the first team eliminated during the second round in Pool 1.

Italy:

Italian pitcher Alex Maestri started against Canada in a 14-4 Italian win. Photo courtesy: AP/Charlie Riedel.

Alex Maestri and his Italian squad went 2-1 in Pool D.

Maestri started one game for the Italians and received the win against Canada. He pitched three innings allowing one run on three hits. He struck out three.

Netherlands:

Pitcher Diegomar Markwell  (2-0) had an ERA of 0.90 in two starts. He pitched 10 innings, allowing 11 hits and one run. Markwell walked two and struck out two.

The Netherlands went 2-1 in Pool B and advanced out of Pool 2 in the second round. They face the winners of Pool 2 in the semifinals.

Puerto Rico:

Catcher Yadier Molina appeared in two games and batted .286. He had two hits, scored a run and had one stolen base.

Puerto Rico went 2-1 in Pool C and face the United States in Pool

Spain:

Yoanner Negrin (0-1) started one game for Spain and lost. He had an ERA of 19.29 in 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and five runs. He walked three and struck out three.

Spain went 0-3 in Pool C and were eliminated from the tournament.

Venezuela: 

Venezuelan catcher Migeul Montero played for the Smokies during the 2005-06 seasons. Photo courtesy: Portland Press Herald.

Venezuela’s Miguel Montero saw his team finish 1-2 in Pool C. He finished with a .286 batting average with a double and a RBI.

Montero appeared in all three of Venezuela’s games.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez also appeared in all three games for the Venezuelans. He batted .273 with three hits, one RBI and scored two runs.

Stay tuned to SmokiesonRadio.com for a recap of all the former Smokies who advanced to the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

Matthew Osborne is a Broadcast and Media Intern for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Matthew on Twitter here: @OsborneMatthew

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by | March 7, 2013 · 3:31 pm

Two Stops in East Tennessee Propelled Roy Halladay to Big League Dominance

Roy Hallday spent a part of two seasons in East Tennessee en route to becoming one of baseball's premier starting pitchers. Photo Courtesy: Ebay

Roy Hallday spent a part of two seasons in East Tennessee en route to becoming one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers. Photo Courtesy: Ebay

According to High School Baseball Web, there is a 0.5 percent chance of a high school baseball player making it to Major League Baseball. The odds of making it the hallowed ground of Cooperstown is even more minuscule.  Through 2013, there have only been 200 players enshrined into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Using those numbers, seeing a future Hall of Famer in a minor league game would truly be a spectacle.  East Tennessee baseball fans had that rare opportunity twice when Roy Halladay began to defy the odds to on his way to becoming one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant starting pitchers.

The 6’6” right-hander was drafted 17th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays out Colorado’s Arvada West High School in 1995. Halladay surged through the Blue Jays organization landing in East Tennessee with the Knoxville Smokies in less than two years. The then-twenty year-old made seven starts in a Smokies uniform going 2-3 with 5.40 ERA demonstrating command with a 3-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio for a team that went 75-63.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner was fast-tracked to the big leagues in 1998 when he made two starts at the end of the season for the Blue Jays. In the final game of the season against the Tigers, Halladay was one strike away from throwing a perfect game. Bobby Higginson took an 0-2 pitch over the fence in left field that would be the only blemish on the righty’s pitching line in his first big league victory.

Roy Halladay made six All-Star appearances in 12 seasons with the Blue Jays. Photo Courtesy: David Cooper/Tornoto Star

Roy Halladay made six All-Star appearances in 12 seasons with the Blue Jays. Photo Courtesy: David Cooper/Tornoto Star

Halladay went 8-7 with a 3.92 ERA in the 1999 season and appeared close to becoming an elite starting pitching until things unraveled in the 2000 season. Halladay’s ERA ballooned to 10.64 and the organization sent him to Class-A Dunedin to completely revamp his delivery.

Once again, “Doc” quickly made his way through the minor league system that included another stop with the Tennessee Smokies in 2001 in the second season of play at Smokies Park. A second-chance to impress the Smokies faithful was taken in stride as Halladay posted a 2-1 record with a 2.12 ERA racking up 29 punch outs versus only six walks. Two more starts in Triple-A Syracuse and his big league career was back on track.

Halladay made his first All-Star appearance in 2002 and a year later would capture his first Cy Young award winning a league-leading 22 wins pitching nine complete games.  The Colorado native would make six All-Star appearances while in a Toronto uniform, but something was missing. A trip to the playoffs.

After spending twelve seasons in Toronto, the Blue Jays shipped the right-hander to Philadelphia for three prospects. In his eleventh start, Halladay threw the twentieth perfect game in Major League Baseball history. It was a 1-0 victory over the Marlins where Doc struck out 11.

For most pitchers, that would be the highlight of their career, but for the two-time Cy Young winner, it was not even the highlight of the season. In Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay threw the second playoff no-hitter in postseason history against the Cincinnati Reds. The only blotch that evening was a fifth inning walk to Jay Bruce. In his first postseason game, Halladay was in full command striking out eight Reds batters and throwing 79 of his 104 pitches for strikes.

Complete games are rare in today’s game with the importance of a strong bullpen, but Halladay has made going the distance on of his signatures. Doc is the current active Major League leader in complete games (66) and shutouts (20), two stats that have defined a career that seems headed toward a bust in the Hall of Fame.

In January, CBSSports.com wrote an article about active players that are closing in on being Hall of Fame locks. Halladay was on the list as the player closest of the six players listed.

Halladay will turn 36 in May and will likely fall well short of 300 wins (currently with 199) and 3,000 strikeouts (2,066) that would require at least five more seasons of peak performance. However, those benchmarks are much more difficult to reach than a generation ago.

The savvy veteran is one of just five pitchers to have won a Cy Young in both leagues (Gaylord Perry, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Randy Johnson are the others). Gaylord Perry is currently in the Hall of Fame with Roger Clemens only receiving 37.6 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility due to his link to PEDs (Martinez and Johnson will be eligible in 2014 and are expected to be first ballot Hall of Famers).

If Halladay retired today, there would be an argument over his Hall of Fame credentials, but it appears the eight-time All-Star can begin thinking about a speech in Cooperstown.

For Smokies fans, the memory of Halladay’s career may have faded over the years, but the opportunity to call a future Hall-of-Famer one of their own will be a moniker that will be held forever.

Michael Wottreng is a Broadcast and Multimedia Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Michael on Twitter here: @MWottreng

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by | March 5, 2013 · 3:05 pm

Former Smoky Chris Carpenter facing end of season, possibly career

Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter has dealt with arm injuries his entire career.  His most recent may spell the end for one of the best clutch pitchers in Cardinals history.

St. Louis Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak and skipper Mike Matheny announced February 5th that Carpenter probably won’t pitch in 2013 and that his career could be over after a recurrence of a nerve injury that caused him to miss most of the 2012 season.

Carpenter had major surgery to repair the injury in July of last year.  He recovered in time to pitch three games toward the end of the 2012 season, helping St. Louis earn the last National League wild card slot. In the postseason he went on to best Washington in the division series but the success did not continue to the NL Championship Series. Carpenter went 0-2 against eventual World Champ San Francisco, and his velocity and command were noticeably off the mark.

Carpenter took some time to rest his arm in the off season.  Right before Spring Training began Carpenter started throwing.  The results were not good, with Carpenter experiencing a numbing feeling in his throwing arm along with bruising on his shoulder and hand.

Though Carpenter has not announced any plans to retire, this injury may be the conclusion of what has been a star-crossed career.

Chris Carpenter as a Knoxville Smokie.

Chris Carpenter as a Knoxville Smoky.

Chris Carpenter was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 15th overall pick in the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft.  In 1994 he made his minor league debut with the Medicine Hat Jays in the short-season Pioneer League against the Great Falls Dodgers, tossing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball, fanning nine along the way.

Carpenter spent 1995 and 1996 with the Smokies organization along with former Florida State and Carolina Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke, as well as fellow major leaguers Shannon Stewart, Jose Silva and Kelvim Escobar.  In  1996, his only full season with the Smokies, Carpenter went 7 and 9 with a 3.94 ERA and 150 Strikeouts.

The Blue-Jays gave Carpenter his first shot in the big leagues in 1997.  Though his numbers were not stellar (3-7 with a 5.09 ERA) he did manage to record his first career complete game and shutout in September against the Anaheim Angels.

Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay were considered the starters of the future for the Blue Jays. (Photo Courtesy: Ed Betz/AP Photo)

Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay were considered the starters of the future for the Blue Jays. Photo Courtesy: Ed Betz/AP Photo

Much of Carpenter’s time with the Blue Jays was plagued by injury, causing him to miss half of the 1999 season and most of the 2002 campaign.  At the end of 2002, Toronto removed Carpenter from the 40-man roster, and offered him a minor league incentive deal.  Carpenter declined and decided to try his luck as a free agent.

Toronto’s loss was St. Louis’ gain.  The Cardinals signed Carpenter prior to the 2003 season.  Though injuries kept him from producing right away for St. Louis, Carpenter came back strong in 2005. He set career bests in ERA(2.83), strikeouts(213), innings pitched (241 2⁄3), complete games (7) and shut-outs (4) while amassing a 21–5 record for the Division Champion Cardinals.  Carpenter was rewarded in the offseason with the 2005 NL Cy Young Award.

Former Smokies Chris Carpenter and Yadier Molina celebrate a victory. Carpenter has celebrated many Postseason Victories for the Cardinals in an All-Star Career. (Photo Courtesy: Troy Taormina/US Presswire)

Former Smokies Chris Carpenter and Yadier Molina celebrate a victory. Carpenter has celebrated many Postseason Victories for the Cardinals in an All-Star Career. Photo Courtesy: Troy Taormina/US Presswire

The 2005 season was also when Chris Carpenter began to distinguish himself as a dominant postseason pitcher.  Although the Cardinals lost to the Houston Astros in the NLCS, Carpenter pitched well, going 2–0 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings against the San Diego Padres and Houston.  His postseason success continued in 2006, including his first career World Series start in Game 3 against the Detroit Tigers on October 24, 2006 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis by pitching eight innings and allowing no runs on three hits. In his first eight career post-season starts, he had a 5–1 record with a 2.53 ERA in 53 1⁄3 innings.  His career postseason record is 10-4 (3.00 ERA) in 18 postseason starts in 100.0 innings, in seventh place for wins, only one behind Curt Schilling (11-2, 2.23 ERA) and Greg Maddux (11-14, 3.27 ERA) for fifth place.

Carpenter has been NL Comeback Player of the Year twice.  He has also won the Tony Conigliaro Award (January 11, 2010) unanimously, given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony Conigliaro.  Whether it was a torn Labrum, torn Oblique or Tommy John Surgery, Chris Carpenter has always managed to come back.

Carpenter is drenched as the team celebrates clinching the National League wild card in 2011. (Photo Courtesy: David J. Phillip/AP)

Carpenter is drenched as the team celebrates clinching the National League wild card in 2011. Photo Courtesy: David J. Phillip/AP

Whether Chris Carpenter comes back or not, he has left his mark on Major League Baseball.  Not with gaudy numbers and stats, but as one of the best clutch pitchers in Cardinals history.

Jay Lifford is a Broadcast Media Intern with the Tennessee Smokies.  You can follow Jay on Twitter @JayLifford.

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by | February 28, 2013 · 2:41 pm

Atlanta Braves Slugger Dan Uggla had his Breakout Season with the Smokies

Dan Uggla hit 21 home runs and drove in 87 runs in his 2005 season with the Smokies.

Dan Uggla hit 21 home runs and drove in 87 runs in his 2005 season with the Smokies.

Louisville native Dan Uggla went to high school in Columbia, Tennessee and played his college ball in Memphis before being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft.

His first three years in the minors were full of good and bad moments like any typical prospect, but in 2005, the 25 year-old put together his best overall season with the Tennessee Smokies by posting huge numbers. Uggla slugged over .500 and blasted 21 home runs while being named a Southern League All-Star.

The strikeout problem that will plague him for most of his career began to surface as he struck out over 100 times while drawing only 52 walks.

Despite posting huge numbers, the Diamondbacks, stocked with infield talent, left Uggla unprotected heading into the Rule 5 Draft.

It was with the eighth pick that the Florida Marlins selected Uggla to fill their hole at second base.

Uggla made the All-Star team as a reserve in just his first professional season. By the end of the season, the Marlins rookie second baseman had posted historic numbers. With a .282 average, 90 RBIs and a record-breaking 27 home runs, he finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting losing to his teammate Hanley Ramirez.

For four more seasons, Uggla posted solid power numbers. He hit at least thirty home runs every season from 2007-2010. However, his batting average slipped dramatically from 2007-2009 peaking at .260 and falling to .243 before bouncing back in 2010 with a career best .287 average while slugging over .500 and winning the Silver Slugger Award for his position.

Dan Uggla has struggled since joining the Braves, but their offseason acquisitions may relieve some pressure. Photo: AP/ John Bazemore

Dan Uggla has struggled since joining the Braves, but their offseason acquisitions may relieve some pressure. Photo: AP/ John Bazemore

The Braves then traded for the slugger and locked him down with a lucrative five-year, $62 million contract extension.

Coming into the 2013 season,  the soon-to-be 33 year-old Dan Uggla has a lot to prove to the baseball world. Dropped in the lineup and benched at times in 2012, Uggla posted career worsts in batting average, slugging, and OPS. It was not all doom-and-gloom for Uggla in 2012. He did draw a career high in walks with 94.

During his time in Atlanta, the Braves have relied on Uggla to provide most of their power production, but with the acquisitions of Justin and BJ Upton combined with the emergence of Freddie Freeman, some of that pressure may finally subside.

The former Tennessee Smoky could very well be the x-factor for Atlanta’s season. If he can produce like  he once did, their lineup could become the best in the National League to go along with their solid pitching rotation. If he struggles again, he could find his name synonymous with the trade deadline.

Jonathan Reed is a broadcast and media associate for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Jonathan on Twitter here: @jon__reed

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by | February 26, 2013 · 3:35 pm

Perfection With Smokies Led to Major League Success for Haren

Dan Haren's Success with Tennessee led to his first big league action in 2003 and postseason action in 2004. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Dan Haren’s success with Tennessee led to his first big league action in 2003 and postseason action in 2004. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

In the same season Dan Haren made his major league debut with St. Louis Cardinals, the 2001 second-round pick of the organization made perhaps his most important stop on his way to the big leagues.

The year was 2003 and the then-22-year-old Haren joined a Tennessee Smokies team that featured future major leaguers such as Rick Ankiel, Chris Carpenter and Yadier Molina after being placed at the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate out of spring training.   Haren steadily made his way through the Cardinals organization two seasons prior to coming to Tennessee in 2003, and the right-hander earned a spot in Tennessee after he went a combined 13-12 with a 2.92 ERA in 40 appearances at Low-A New Jersey, Single-A Peoria and High-A Potomac.

But a change in geographical location wasn’t the only elevation adjustment Haren made in 2003; the pitcher further elevated his game with the Smokies.

Haren’s march to St. Louis gained considerable momentum when he went a perfect 6-0 with a 0.82 ERA, 49 strikeouts and six walks in 55.0 innings pitched for the Smokies.  The 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher proved overpowering as he struck out eight batters per nine innings and possessed a WHIP of 0.764.

Dan Haren's 6-0 record and 0.82 ERA sent him quickly to the Triple-A-affiliate Memphis Redbirds. Photo Courtesy: Chirp Chatter

Dan Haren’s 6-0 record and 0.82 ERA sent him quickly to the Triple-A-affiliate Memphis Redbirds. Photo Courtesy: Chirp Chatter

It wasn’t long before scouts and Cardinals’ executives realized the dominance Haren displayed in Tennessee, and after only eight starts in a Smokies uniform, Haren was promoted to Triple-A Memphis where he compiled a 2-1 record in eight starts with the team.  Despite a 4.93 ERA in 45.2 innings of work with the Redbirds, Haren’s impressive numbers with the Smokies propelled him to a spot in the rotation with St. Louis in June of 2003.

Haren’s major league debut came against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants as he pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits.  However, the 22-year-old was handed his first loss in the big leagues and went on to make 13 more starts that season as he finished 3-7 with a 5.08 ERA

The Cardinals organization, feeling that Haren needed more experience, sent him back to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2004 campaign.  Haren gained the skills he needed in what would be his last minor league season and went 11-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 21 starts for the Redbirds.

Haren made two appearances in the 2004 World Series, pitching 4.2 innings total. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren made two appearances in the 2004 World Series, pitching 4.2 innings. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

The 23-year-old righty was once again promoted to St. Louis in late 2004 and appeared in 14 games, starting five of those and going 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA.  After playing a small role in the Cardinals’ postseason run to the World Series in 2004, Haren was included in a trade that would forever change his major league career.

With St. Louis feeling the need to add an established starter after being swept by the Boston Red Sox and Billy Beane looking to add another chapter to his Moneyball tactics, Haren was traded to Oakland as part of a trade package for A’s ace Mark Mulder.

“Certainly there’s a lot of the future involved in this,” Beane said at the time of the trade.  “We have to be very patient with three positions, that being the three starting pitchers.”

Haren enjoyed tremendous success in Oakland, going 43-34 with a 3.64 ERA. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren enjoyed tremendous success in Oakland, going 43-34 with a 3.64 ERA. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Oakland displayed patience with Haren, as he became a key part of the rotation alongside Barry Zito for the next two seasons.   The California native became a workhorse for Oakland as he made at least 33 starts and pitched over 215.0 innings from 2005 to 2007.  Haren won 14 games in 2005 and 2006 when he helped the club reach the playoffs both seasons and earned his first All-Star appearance in 2007 as the American League starter before he went on to compile a 15-9 record with a 3.07 ERA.  During his three seasons with Oakland, Haren went 43-34 with 3.64 ERA in 102 starts and 662.2 innings pitched.

Following the 2007 season, however, Haren was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for six players in return as Oakland looked to rebuild after a disappointing 76-86 record led to a third place finish in the AL West.

Haren earned two All-Star selections while in Arizona and went a combined 37-26 in his time there. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren earned two All-Star selections while in Arizona and went a combined 37-26 in his time there. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren teamed with 2006 NL Cy Yong winner Brandon Webb and continued to carry the load in 2008 as he earned his second All-Star appearance and went 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 33 starts and 216.0 innings pitched.  The 215-pound-right-hander followed up in 2009 with a third consecutive All-Star selection and a 14-10 record with 3.14 ERA in 229.1 innings pitched.

But Haren scuffled to begin the 2010 season and was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for pitcher Joe Saunders and three minor league players after the Diamondbacks deemed Haren’s salary to be too costly for the team moving forward.  Haren was 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 21 starts before the trade and was due to make $12.75 million in 2011 and 2012.

“At this point, being on the West Coast has a lot of value to me, being near my family and going to a ballclub that is dedicated to winning,” Haren told ESPN Los Angeles after the trade.  “I am really excited about going there and having a chance to win.”

The then-29-year-old finished off the 2010 season by going 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts.

Haren returned to form and threw a career-high 238.1 innings in 2011. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren returned to form and threw a career-high 238.1 innings in 2011. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Haren bounced back to form in 2011 as he made 34 starts in a career-high 238.1 innings pitched and went 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA.  Yet Haren’s numbers dipped early on in 2012 and caused some to wonder whether the 31-year-old was battling injuries.

Indeed Haren was hurt, and for the first time in his 10-year career, Haren went on the 15-day disabled list, thus ending a streak that saw Haren go eight-plus seasons without missing a start.

“That’s probably the biggest reason I didn’t do this earlier,” Haren told the LA Times regarding his decision to go on the DL.  “In eight or nine years, I’ve pitched through a lot of pain, and I pride myself in taking the ball every fifth day, regardless of how I feel.”

“The pain was manageable, but it was almost like my mind was telling me yes and my body was telling me no,” said Haren.

Haren was 6-8 with a 4.86 ERA prior to going on the DL, but bounced back to finish the season 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in 176.2 innings pitched.

Despite a strong comeback during the second half of the season, the Angels declined Haren’s 2013 club option and granted him free agency after a proposed trade that would have sent Haren to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for closer Carlos Marmol fell through.

Video: Nationals Sign Dan Haren

Haren was not on the free agent market for long as the Washington Nationals signed Haren to a one-year, $13 million deal for the upcoming 2013 season, helping complete a rotation with the likes of Stephen Strasburg and 2012 NL Cy Young runner-up Gio Gonzalez.

“He’s one of the most accomplished pitchers in the past couple years,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “We feel really good that he’s with the Washington Nationals. Once we expressed interest in him, he certainly focused in on us.”

But perhaps Dan Haren will one day focus in on his playing career and think back on his road to the major leagues.  Chances are he’ll reminisce about his days as a Tennessee Smoky.  And if there were a word he could use to describe his time in Sevierville, that word would most likely be “perfect.”

Nick Roark is a Broadcast & Media Associate for the Smokies Radio Network.  You can follow him on Twitter here: @NickRoark4.

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by | February 21, 2013 · 4:10 pm

Drew Continued a Family Legacy During Stop in Tennessee

Before making the big leagues, shortstop Stephen Drew donned a Tennessee Smokies uniform for a few games. Photo courtesy: Bleacher Report.

Shortstop Stephen Drew was just one of the 18 current or former major league baseball players that scattered the 2006 Tennessee Smokies roster.

A short stint in Sevierville began on August 1, 2005 for Drew – a 27-game stint to be exact. In his first game for the Smokies, Drew went 3-3 with a RBI double and two walks against the Chattanooga Lookouts at Smokies Park.

In those 27 games, Drew hit .218, 4 home runs and, 13 RBIs.

By becoming the 2004 first round draft pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Stephen joined his two other brothers,J.D. and Tim, to become the first set of brothers to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

The left handed Drew hails from Valdosta, Ga., He played college baseball at Florida State that made an appearance in three NCAA Super Regionals and was named pre-season All-American his junior season.

Before joining the Smokies, Drew spent 38 games in Single-A with the Lancaster JetHawks batting .389 with 10 home runs. In 2006, he spent 83 games with Triple-A Tucson batting .284 with 13 home runs.

On July 15, 2006, Stephen Drew joined the Arizona Diamondbacks and continued to be one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball.

In six seasons with the Diamondbacks and the Oakland A’s, Drew has hit .265 with 77 home runs, 349 RBIs and 181 doubles.

As a Diamondback, Drew played in the 2007 NLDS and NLCS. Against the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, Drew hit .500 with two home runs and four RBIs. The 2007 NLCS against division foe, the Colorado Rockies, he hit .294 without a RBI or home run.

This past off-season, Drew made a coast-to-coast move as he left the Oakland A’s for the Boston Red Sox. Photo courtesy: Boston Herald.

More recently, after being traded last season to the A’s, Drew faced off against future AL champions, the Detroit Tigers. He hit .211 with one RBI in the ALDS.

This past off-season, Drew signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox organization, a team that his brother J.D. played for.

After signing with the Red Sox, Peter Abraham wrote about Drew’s press conference. Stephen made it a point to let the Red Sox fans know that he isn’t his brother J.D. and that they are two completely different players.

“I told people coming into it, J.D. plays right field; I play shortstop,” Stephen said. “I’ve got a little more pressure playing in the middle of the infield and kind of dealt with that.  I’ve always been under my two older brothers. It’s nothing new to me. At the same time, I look at J.D. as a role model for me. I always have.”

Stephen Drew’s path to the major leagues took a brief detour in the hills of the Smoky Mountains – a detour that allowed East Tennesseans to see a future major leaguer.

Matthew Osborne is a Broadcast and Media Intern for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Matthew on Twitter here: @OsborneMatthew

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by | February 20, 2013 · 12:21 pm

Before Becoming a Superstar, Werth Found his Game in Tennessee

Coming up with the Orioles, Catching prospect Jayson Werth was far from a sure thing. Photo: Bowie Baysox

Coming up with the Orioles, Catching prospect Jayson Werth was far from a sure thing. Photo: Bowie Baysox

Before the World Series ring, the infamous beard, and the seven year $126 million dollar contract, Jayson Werth was once just a young, hit-or-miss catching prospect. Drafted by the Orioles with the twenty-second pick in the 1997 draft, Werth put his collegiate plans of playing at the University of Georgia on the back-burners and signed with Baltimore.

After a successful stint in the Rookie league, Werth began his career in Class A in 1998.

Werth’s tall and lanky frame did not translate well behind the plate, and in 1998, he struggled at the plate as a batter as well. However, he began to hit his stride in the 1999 season in which he hit .305 in 66 games in  Class A Advanced ball before getting bumped up to Double A and positing a .273 average in 35 starts.

Unfortunately, the Baltimore organization was never completely behind Werth as a professional prospect, so in December of 2000, the O’s shipped him to Toronto for lefty reliever John Bale.

Just like that the organization had shipped its number one pick of the 1997 draft for Bale, who would only make fourteen appearances in Baltimore.

And that is when Jayson Werth’s career with the Tennessee Smokies began and when his career as a catcher ended. Werth strived in Double-A Tennessee posting a .285 average while showing some flashes of power with 18 home runs while knocking in 69 RBIs in 104 games as a first baseman. His athleticism was also on display as he stole 12 bases and showed speed on the base paths.

He was once again promoted and was sent to Triple-A where he posted another 18 home run season while upping his RBI total to 82.  Werth would get his first  cup of coffee in the majors as a September call-up in 2002.

2003 was a struggle for Werth, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in March of 2004 for another relief pitcher, Jason Frasor.

An elbow injury while with the Dodgers brought Werth's career to a crossroads. Photo: James A. Finley/AP

An elbow injury while with the Dodgers brought Werth’s career to a crossroads. Photo: James A. Finley/AP

Once with the Dodgers, he tore up Triple-A in Las Vegas hitting over .400 before getting called up for good to the majors. However, following the trend of his career, it was one step forward met with two steps backward.

In 2005, Werth underwent two surgeries and was released by the Dodgers; with no team and no real interest, he contemplated retirement. It was then that the Phillies reached out to him and helped resurrect his career.

After almost a decade came the beard, the World Series Ring, and, after posting huge numbers in 2009 and 2010, the Nationals gave him the $126 million contract.

While in Philadelphia Werth became something like a cult hero with his gritty play and wild facial hair, something that has continued in Washington.

The Washington Nationals rely on Werth for veteran leadership. Photo: AP

The Washington Nationals rely on Werth for veteran leadership. Photo: AP

A career full of ups and downs has finally steadied. Werth and the Nationals posted the best record in the National League in 2012 and are the early favorites to win the National League East.

How would Jayson Werth’s career have been different if he did not get traded to the Toronto Blue Jays organization and landed with the Tennessee Smokies? It is a fair question. After all, it was in Tennessee that he first moved from behind the plate to first base paving the way for him to eventually settle in the outfield, a position he has thrived in.

Werth’s career highlight came last season in Game Four of the NLDS when he hit a walk-off home run to give Washington their first ever home playoff win.

Jonathan Reed is a broadcast and media associate for the Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Jonathan on Twitter here: @jon__reed

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