Category Archives: Uncategorized

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By: Adam Kline

Following a rain-shortened five-inning game last night, the Tennessee Smokies looked to get back on the winning track, but fell to the Birmingham Barons Wednesday afternoon 12-11 in 14 innings. The loss, in front of 7,364 on Safe Kids Health and Awareness Day, drops the Smokies to 15-16 on the season. The 14-inning, 4 hour 43 minute game was the longest, in both innings and time, for the Smokies this season.

The Barons (22-10) started Wednesday’s game just how they left off from the night before, this time off Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler. The Barons sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning and score six times on three hits.

Birmingham starter Erik Johnson kept the Smokies’ bats quiet until the third inning, when Rafael Lopez walked and Tim Torres singled to start the inning. Matt Szczur reached on an infield single to load the bases and a batter later Ronald Torreyes hit into a fielder’s choice to score Lopez from third. Following back-to-back walks, Tennessee would add another run to narrow the gap to 6-2. The runs scored in the third snapped a 29-inning scoreless streak for Tennessee.

The Smokies struck again an inning later. Following a single by Lopez, Tim Torres hit his first home run to bring the score to 6-4. The Barons plated a single run in the fifth and Tennessee answered right back with a two-run home run by Rubi Silva for a 7-6 Birmingham lead.

With the score 9-6 going into the ninth, the Smokies rallied back to tie the game and send it into extras. Ronald Torreyes singled followed by a double by Arismendy Alcantara. Ty Wright cleared the bases with a double and bring the game-winning run to the plate. After a single by Christian Villanueva, Lopez singled home Johermyn Chavez, who was pinch-running for Wright to tie the game at nine.

Birmingham scored two more runs in the tenth off reliever Frank Batista and once again the Smokies rallied back. With Ryan Kussmaul on the mound, Elliot Soto led off the inning with a single and Matt Szczur was hit by a pitch. Torreyes sacrificed the runners to second and third and Alcantara singled on a sharp groundball to first base to score Soto. Jonathan Mota was hit by a pitch to load the bases then Silva reached on an infield single to score Szczur and knot the game at 11, with bases loaded and one out. The Smokies left the bases loaded, as Kussmaul was able to retire the next two batters, ending the Smokies threat.

Smokies reliever Zac Rosscup kept the Barons’ offense off the scoreboard in his three innings of work. However in the 14th, Birmingham’s Cody Puckett hit an RBI-single off Marcus Hatley (1-1) to give the Barons the 12-11 advantage.

Chicago Cubs reliever Kyuji Fujikawa tossed two scoreless innings Wednesday afternoon as part of a rehab assignment. The Japanese right-hander allowed only a hit in his outing at Smokies Park.

The Smokies will look to get back on the winning track against the Barons on Thursday morning at 11:30 a.m. at Smokies Park. The Smokies will send righty Alberto Cabrera (3-1, 3.31) and will be opposed by right-hander Nick McCully (2-1, 4.80). For tickets and more information, fans can visit http://www.smokiesbaseball.com or call (865) 286-2300.

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

Matt Garza did not make his scheduled appearance in East Tennessee Wednesday afternoon. Photo courtesy: MLBreports.com.

Cubs not overly concerned over Garza’s latest setback

Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune

Matt Garza’s scheduled rehab assignment Wednesday with the Smokies was cancelled due to muscle soreness after throwing Tuesday afternoon in the Smokies’ Park outfield. But the Cubs are not too concerned with the injury because it is not related to the elbow injury that sidelined Garza most of last season.

Samardzija pitched six innings, allowing one run but took the loss Wednesday afternoon against the Reds. Photo courtesy of ESPN.

Shark smells blood, but bats can’t back him in loss

Carrie Muskat / Cubs.com

Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija fell to 1-4 on the season after the Cubs get shutout again. Although the Cubs’ starters have recorded 12 quality starts and a 2,97 ERA, the rotation only has three wins to its record.

Despite five errors, Birmingham Barons defeat Huntsville 8-3 at Regions Park

Soloman Crenshaw Jr. / AL.com

The Tennessee Smokies are now one game out of first place with their loss yesterday to Montgomery and with the Barons win against the Stars. Birmingham committed five errors in the win and Andy Wilkins was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs.

Bad start fuels talk of summer sell-off

Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune

With the Cubs off to a less than stellar start to the 2013 season, speculation has begun to swirl about who the Cubs are willing to sell at the trade deadline. Former Smokies second baseman Darwin Barney is one of the rumored names.

Felix Hernandez gives King’s Court fans a reason to cheer Mariners 

Jim Capie / ESPN.com

Felix Hernandez is the only reason Mariners fans have reason to be proud. A team that is a perennial cellar dweller has  finished last in the AL West seven of the last nine years.

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

Mick Gillispie with Bob Brenly on June 17, 2012. Photo Courtesy: Cody Chrusciel.

Thursday, April 11,  11:15 a.m.: The broadcast will be on WPFT 106.3 ESPN Radio in Pigeon Forge,WJFC 1480 AM Jefferson City, 102.9 FM Morristown,  smokiesbaseball.com as well as the Smokies mobile app.  To listen online, click here.

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

Forbes: Cubs most profitable team in baseball

Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune

According to Forbes magazine, the Chicago Cubs are the fourth most valuable franchise in baseball, but they are the most profitable. The Cubs are valued at $1 billion but only had an operating income of $32.1 million making them the most profitable.

Cubs season preview: Bullpen 

Jesse Rogers / ESPN Chicago

While questions arise about who will fill the remaining positions in the Cubs’ bullpen to begin the season, ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers thinks that the Cubs may not have that much trouble closing out games.

Cubs add Moscoso to mix for final bullpen opening 

Carrie Muskat / Cubs.com

On Wednesday, the Cubs claimed relief pitcher Guillermo Moscoso off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Moscoso is now a candidate to begin the season with the Cubs.

Cubs catcher Welington Castillo not only instructs his team and pitchers during games, he keeps them loose with his positivity. Photo courtesy: ESPN.

Upbeat catcher Welington Castillo keeps Cubs pitchers calm, confident

Nathan Humpherys / Cubs.com

Former Tennessee Smokies catcher Welington Castillo has earned the starting catcher position for the Cubs to begin the season. Castillo has worked during to Spring Training to improve his game, but one of his most important assets to the team is his attitude and positivity.

Jeff Samardzija will be making his first career Opening Day start Monday against the Pirates. Photo courtesy: Chicago Tribune.

Samardzija confident heading into season 

Bruce Levine / ESPN Chicago

Next Monday will be Cubs’ pitcher Jeff Samardzija’s first Opening Day start, but Samardzija claims he won’t be nervous stepping onto the mound in Pittsburgh. The former Tennessee Smoky also says that his mentality has to be calm and can’t let his emotions get the best of him.

Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.

New Cubs’ pitcher Hisanori Takahashi took the loss Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. Takahashi is trying to earn a spot in Chicago’s bullpen. Photo courtesy: ESPN.

Hairston’s early homer doesn’t hold up for Cubs

T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

Cubs left-handed pitcher Hisanori Takahashi pitched three innings, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in the loss to the Texas Rangers Wednesday afternoon. Takahashi is competing for a spot in the Cubs’ bullpen.

Castro hoping to return this weekend

Bruce Levine / ESPN Chicago

Former Smokies shortstop Starlin Castro has been injured with a strained hamstring for the past few weeks. He  hopes to make his return to Spring Training this weekend.

Cubs’ closer Carlos Marmol appears to headed elsewhere after rumors begin to swirl that Marmol will be traded before the season. One potential landing spot for Marmol is the Detroit Tigers. Photo courtesy: ChicagoNow.

Tigers may have interest in Marmol

Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune

After rumors and trade talks occurred the past winter between the Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim about closer Carlos Marmol, the Detroit Tigers may be the next team interested. The Tigers are looking to replace closer Jose Valverde and the Cubs are willing to deal Marmol.

Villanueva proud to be Latin voice in MLBPA

Carrie Sullivan / Cubs.com

Cubs’ pitcher Carlos Villanueva is the only non-American member on the MLBPA Executive Board and says it is his chance to contribute being from Latin America. “IT was a just a chance for me to contribute to the Latin part of it.

Teixeira out eight to 10 weeks with wrist strain

Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeria left Team USA on Tuesday after feeling a “pop” in his wrist during batting practice. That “pop” turned out to be a strained tendon the Teixeria’s wrist and he is expected to miss 8-10 weeks.

Brewers Sausage returned after two weeks on the run.

Mick Gillispie and Gary Hughes talk spring training baseball. Mick shares incite on broadcasting Chicago Cubs games in AZ. Gary lays out his schedule which includes a trip to Florida. They also touch on Brandon McCarthy returning from a scary head injury and pitching again. Then the conversation includes talk about the return of the once missing Sausage race costume. They finish with stories about bad National Anthems.

Listen Here: Hot Stove Baseball Podcast-7th Inning

Former Marlins scout Jim Hendry (seated to the right) signed new Marlins Manager Mike Redmond out of College. Gary Hughes talks tells the back story about how the contract was signed.

Mick and Gary start the show off by talking about Jose Bautista’s comments to Foxsports reporter John Paul Morosi. In the story Bautista says players should know MLB’s rules on P.E.D.s. The two then cover another Foxsports story which mentioned Gary when he was the Scouting Director for the Marlins. They then talk about the risk Washington took last season when they sat ace Steven Strasburg before the playoffs started. Then closed the show with a preview of the World Baseball Classic.

Listen here: Hot Stove Baseball Podcast – 6th Inning

Danny broadcasting basketball at Bucknell University.

The Tennessee Smokies are excited to announce the addition of Danny Will as the Senior Broadcasting Assistant for the upcoming 2013 season.

Entering his fourth year of professional baseball broadcasting, Will spent last season in the Carolina League as the Assistant Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Potomac Nationals.

“Danny is going to be a major part of what we do on radio this season.” Said Mick Gillispie, Director of Broadcasting of the Smokies Radio Network. “This job will be very challenging but he comes highly recommended and I’m sure our audience will embrace him.”

Will spent his first two years of professional baseball broadcasting with independent league teams. Will spent the 2010 as a Broadcast Intern for the Rio Grande Valley Whitewings of United League Baseball. He then served as play-by-play broadcaster for the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League in 2011.

During the off-season, Will broadcasts a number of collegiate sports at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. In addition to being the voice for the Bison women’s Basketball team, he has worked as the sideline reporter for Bucknell football.

A native of San Carlos, Calif., Will graduated from Boston University in May 2010 with a degree in History and a minor in Journalism. He worked at the BU student radio station WTBU for three years as an undergraduate.