Great News! and Help Me Provide What You Want to Read

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I just received exciting news.  The Clearwater Threshers have agreed to provide me with press credentials for the 2014 Threshers season, XST, and GCL.

Understandably, at this level, they do not have an open clubhouse.  I will have to arrange any interviews with players and coaches through the front office.   So, provide me with the names of players/coaches you would like to hear from and I will do my best.  If you have specific questions you would like answered, you can forward those too.

You can provide both in the comments section or if, you would like, you can e-mail them to me at jimpeyton19@yahoo.com.

25 thoughts on “Great News! and Help Me Provide What You Want to Read”

  3. Jim – keep up the great work for us. I’d like to hear from Gueller and what he’s working on and if he thinks he’s improving enough to get to LWood at some point in the early season. Would he consider giving up pitching at some point? I’m also wondering if anyone stands out in the games down there. I would expect Tromp to do well with a bit more experience than most guys. I’m also curious as to how Sandberg is doing. I shouldn’t have been I suppose but I was surprised by how big he is. I hope he can translate his abilities into baseball skill. Thanks

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  4. Good job Jim! If you could keep an eye out for a couple of the LHV guys who are behind on the DL, I’d appreciate it:

    1. Tyson Gillies is said to be with the team, but I didn’t see him at all yesterday during Media Day. He could have been hiding, though–you never know.
    2. Brian Bixler was said to NOT be with the team, but we did see him yesterday in Allentown.
    3. Dave Sappelt is still recovering from offseason hamate surgery and only started batting recently, I understand. See if you can observe not only his playing time, but the strength in his wrists at the plate. I remember Dom losing power as he came back from similar.
    4. Chris Bootcheck is our “starter in waiting” as we’ll likely lose a starter to the Phillies when the 5 spot comes around. Could be Manship back or Bootcheck up. But, he’s been a reliever in the past as well. See if you can observe his innings and schedule.

    Thanks in advance for any info you can gather or observe about IronPigs in Florida!

    @Kram209

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    1. The 5th starter will be Manship or Pettibone, until Hamels comes back and then Manship will go back down. I assume that Hollands will go down when Adams comes back.

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      1. That sounds about right, but I’d caution you not to write off Buchanan. Pettibone looked good last night save for leaving some pitches up. He knew it, too, so I look for it to get corrected Sunday or Monday when he pitches next (reports are conflicted at this point–one source has him staying on 5-day schedule pitching Sunday, the other has him taking his turn in the home opener on Monday)

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    2. Sappelt played in the intrasquad games last night. He made it to third on a single that was misplayed in the outfield. I have no baseline with which to compare his power but will keep an eye on him. He looks pretty quick on the base paths.

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      1. That sounds great! Thanks, Jim.

        I don’t think Sappelt is a power hitter exactly–as far as baseline. And, wrists are not my area of expertise. I guess I’m asking to just watch that the ball is coming off the bat with some authority and doesn’t look slow or weak.

        Sappelt could be a nice addition for the IronPigs if Tyson’s hammy turns into a continuing problem…

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  6. Thanks for your reports, Jim. They are a good read and have a lot of info. I would like to know if the attention to fundamentals that was stressed in big league camp this spring will filter down through the ranks, or at that level are the coaches more apt to work on things specific to the particular ballplayer, in other words having player A become a better base runner as opposed to the team becoming better bunters.

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    1. I spent time in the minor league camp this spring. I observed a lot more repetition of the fundamentals I saw in the major league camp – more ground balls, more running. Their sessions seemed to last longer and more was accomplished during batting practice off the coaches. One thing that was obvious was that they had spray painted the corners of the bags where the runners were expected to touch the bag when rounding the bases. I also saw coaches approach hitters after they exited the cage and before they took their next turn. On one occasion early in camp, I was close enough to hear the coach (Cacciatore, I think) introduce himself to the player (“I know you don’t know me and I’m not comletely familiar with your style and comfort level, but …”) and advised him to lower his hands in his stance.

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  7. Great work Jim and I am sure you have a good plan and idea what you want to do for more enjoyable reading.

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  10. Saw Hamels pitch against the Threshers and there’s video of 9 of the 12 batters he faced- https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGkita
    What was most impressive in the game was that Cord Sandberg had 2 hits against Thresher Miguel Nunez, while Pujols had a hit and a walk. They may have had more but I left after Hamels was done. Grullon actually had a hit against Hamels.

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  11. Thanks for doing this Jim. Can you find out if they are keeping Canelo in Florida for his hitting and if they have plans to use him in Lakewood or Clearwater rather than having him repeat Williamsport? Can you find out how Martelo feels about having an opportunity to play in the GCL? He said when he was signed that he would probably play in Venezuela. He must have made a good impression. Is Willie Carmona expecting a great season after hitting well last year on the same team? Thanks.

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  13. You do a great job and your efforts are most appreciated. The videos are very clear. I am impressed with how smooth and effortless Hamels’ pitching delivery appears in your videos.He looks close to returning to the big league club.

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  14. Huh, I don’t follow? I remember Logan Moore being quite successful throwing out potential base stealers last season. And I think he was on the FSL-North All Star Team.

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    1. Was just a guy being a keyboard warrior. Nothing more.

      Don’t have any specific names at the moment (I’d have to look to see who), but can you look at the guys going to Williamsport? Planning to catch a game or two when they start & I’d like to know who’s a standout.

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