|
Iannetta, Bailey, Rhault eye upcoming baseball season |
|
|
Friday, 08 January 2010 |
|
By BRENDAN McGAIR Sports writer Just when Chris Iannetta thought he had the catching responsibilities all to himself, the Colorado Rockies went out and acquired themselves a proven backstop.
Monday saw Colorado commit a one-year deal to Miguel Olivo worth reportedly $3 million. The money Olivo will make in 2010 is exactly the same amount the Red Sox will pay Jason Varitek to back up Victor Martinez. The symmetry ends there, for as the Denver Post writes, “Olivo and Iannetta will compete for the starting job.”
After landing a three-year contract last month, Iannetta addressed how he expected the Rockies to bring in another catcher. Instead of retaining free agent Yorvit Torrealba, the man who has wrestled playing time away from the St. Raphael Academy alumnus in each of the past three seasons, Colorado elected to throw money and short years at Olivo.
How does the Olivo signing directly impact Iannetta? It means, if he is appointed the Rockies’ primary catcher, then he can’t afford another deep slump, the kind that has allowed him to cede time to Torrealba. Colorado will have someone to turn to in Olivo.
“If I play to my potential, there won’t be any platooning. If I struggle, there will be. It just depends,” Iannetta told Blackstone Valley Sports. “Hopefully with this contract it will allow me to play 130 games and just go out and see what happens.”
Speaking of contracts, the Post mentions there’s an opt-out clause that would grant Iannetta free agency rights should he get traded prior to the 2013 season. The deal’s language stipulates Iannetta will earn $1.75 million this season (along with a $250,000 signing bonus), $2.55 million in 2011 and $3.55 in 2012. Should Colorado pick up Iannetta’s option for 2013, he would receive $5 million.
***
It was time, rationalized longtime PawSox mainstay Jeff Bailey. Time to say good-bye to the Red Sox, an organization the 31-year-old was part of for the last six seasons. Time to see if the market presented better and easier avenues to crack a big-league roster.
With the Red Sox’ blessing, Bailey looked in a foreign direction: away from McCoy Stadium. As first reported last week, Bailey hooked up with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a move that was finalized just before the franchise closed the offices for the Christmas holiday. Included in the signing is a stipulation that Bailey receives an invite to Arizona’s major-league spring training camp with the hope of landing a spot on the Opening Day roster.
“I think it was time to move on,” Bailey was saying earlier this week. “The Red Sox had some interest in bringing me back, but they said if I could find somewhere with more opportunities, they would rather see me do that.
“I’m still on good terms with everyone [associated with Boston],” continued Bailey, speaking from his Kelso, WA home, located roughly 100 miles outside of Seattle. “Maybe down the road I’ll end up in the organization doing something else. Who knows?”
Solid is perhaps the best word that comes to mind when describing Jeff Bailey the ballplayer. He arrived from the Florida Marlins in 2004 with catching still very much in his blood. Two years later a throwing disorder forced him to discard the shin guards for good. From there on Bailey has moonlighted as a first baseman/corner outfielder.
The bouncing around act wasn’t solely limited to defense. Opening Night 2008 for Pawtucket saw Bailey bat in the No. 8 spot. A month later he was leading off, where he remained entrenched the remainder of the season. Being first out of the chute clearly agreed with Bailey, who went on to capture International League MVP honors.
He was also a loyal foot soldier within the Pawtucket clubhouse. Even when the Red Sox removed him off the 40-man roster last winter – a move designed to clear space for Varitek – Bailey took the news in stride. He could have elected free agency but turned down the opportunity to start anew someplace else.
“There was no thought of going anywhere else last year,” said Bailey.
Bailey finally broke through to the majors in July 2007, his 11th professional season. Legend has it PawSox manager Ron Johnson delivered the news in the wee hours while the team bus made a pit stop in upstate New York. A half-asleep Bailey thought Johnson was ribbing him at a time of night no one appreciates kidding. The news Johnson delivered was completely genuine. After going hitless his first eight at-bats with Boston, Bailey made his ninth turn memorable, belting a home run in Detroit.
Bailey was bestowed with six call-ups spread over the last three seasons. None of them materialized into something more that a few plate appearances here and there. Call it the downfall of being housed in an organization that runs deep with talent and expects every member of the active roster to produce when called upon. In 56 games with the BoSox Bailey compiled a .228 average with six homers and 16 RBI.
“I wished I could have produced more in the little stints I received, but I knew going in my time would be short,” said Bailey. “It didn’t work out that way, but there’s no sense dwelling on it.”
Bailey, whose six seasons with Pawtucket places him one off the franchise record, feels he’s tailor made for a role with a National League club, given the Senior Circuit’s penchant for late-game strategy. “The double switches and the pinch hitting (for pitchers) … I don’t know if the rosters work any different. I just know there’s a lot more movement.”
Asked if leaving Pawtucket is the equivalent of landing in a far-off galaxy, Bailey laughed before answering. “It will be strange being in some other dugout where you have to walk down steps.”
Said Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen via email: “Jeff was a very good player and a great teammate. We hope this is a great opportunity for him in Arizona.”
***
Lincoln’s Dan Rhault is optimistic his offseason routine of wearing out the cages at several indoor hitting venues will pay off. Among the pit stops were KR Baseball in Pawtucket and RBI Baseball Academy in Attleboro.
“I’ve been working with (Yankees spring training conditioning coach) Steve Rodrigues,” said Rhault, selected by Tampa Bay last June after earning Atlantic-10 Player of the Year honors at URI. “Lots of running and lifting to go along with the hitting.”
Last season classified as an adjustment period for Rhault. The shortstop batted .196 in 50 games for the Rays’ rookie league affiliate. Part of the struggles were attributed to making the switch from aluminum to wood bats. There were, however, other variables to consider.
“Now you’re seeing the best of the best every single day,” said Rhault. “The biggest adjustment to me was pitch selection. In college if you were ahead 2-0, a lot of times you are going to see a changeup. In the pros they are throwing you fastballs because pitchers don’t want to fall behind. There’s no rhyme or reason to what anybody does.”
Rhault’s report date is slated for late February/early March. He hopes to start off the year with a “long-season affiliate” like Single-A Bowling Green or Advanced-A Charlotte.
“Hopefully I can have a good season and move up as quickly as I can,” said Rhault.
***
A sign that spring can’t be too far off is the PawSox holding their annual Hot Stove Party. Geared to chase away the winter blues and provide an up-close atmosphere with several up-and-coming prospects, the Hot Stove festivities, which are free of charge and open to the public, will take place two weeks from this Saturday (Jan. 23) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at McCoy Stadium.
New manager Torey Lovullo will be on hand in what will be his first visit to Ben Mondor Way. Amongst the players expected to make an appearance are Casey Kelly, the organization’s top-rated prospect according to Baseball America, along with a few familiar faces to PawSox fans (Jeff Natale, Randor Bierd, Junichi Tazawa) along with pitchers Kyle Weiland and Felix Doubront.
All of the players will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Tickets for the 2010 season will also be available.
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 18 January 2010 )
|
| | | |  |  |
Go Tolman Baseball Team. Joshua Amado you Rock!! - Ana Kinsley
Good Luck to NORTHEAST Elite RI @the
BRUTE IMPIRE NATIONALS TOMORROW WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED WRESTLERS GOING SO WE WILL HAVE A FEW CHAMPS AND A LOTR OF PLACERS!! GO NORTH EAST ELITE!!! - Dawn Lariviere Go tolman high school go leanna fanning my favorite player
on the team well wishes for your uocoming games. - Shauna Marrow
Saturday night I attended the semi-final girls basketball
game vs Townies Girls team as an aunt of one of the EP players. It was an exciting
all-around game for both teams, and I give credit to my niece and the Townie girls
too for a great season. <br />I just have to say though, that I was
particularly impressed with the talent, poise and unflappable playing style of this
Tolman girls team! It can only speak well of a great coaching staff, and their love
and encouragement of these talented girls. After the game, the low-key humilty that
the Tolman girls displayed, showed real sportsmanship and class. I have a feeling
that this season is the "Year of the Tiger" and hope that they go straight on to
victory in the championship. No matter what the outcome though, they've gained a new
loyal fan in me, and I look forward to following the next seasons with real
interest. This is the way that high school sports should be played! You go Tolman
girls! - Regina Orio
THANK YOU TO THE PAWTUCKET TIMES AND THE WOONSOCKET CALL
FORV THEIR GREAT COVERAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING IN YOUR PAPERS IT IS VERY MUCH APPERICATED!! A SPECIAL THANKS TO TERRY NEAU FOR HIS EXCELLENT COVERAGE OF CUMBERLAND CLIPPERS WRESTLING AND FOP ALL THE GREAT PICTURES YOU PUT IN THE CALL THEY ARE AWESOME!!!THANKS AGAIN!!! - Dawn Lariviere
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Horoscope
