(Published Thursday, April 5, 2007 11:23:01 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By John McPoland Gazette staff
BELOIT-Beloit Snappers manager Jeff Smith got a chance to brush up on his Spanish during the offseason.
Smith spent a week at the Minnesota Twins' baseball academy in the Dominican Republic city of Boca Chica. The week gave Smith the opportunity to get a first-hand view of life in the baseball-crazy country and to get a feel for what everyday life is like for five of the players on his 2007 roster.
"That was an incredible week," Smith said. "We've got three players on our roster from the Dominican Republic and two from Venezuela. I got some insight into what their lives are like."
That extra knowledge and expanded Spanish vocabulary will come in handy for Smith when his Snappers open the season. The planned opener tonight was postponed. The team hopes to get a game in Friday.
Smith guided the Snappers to a 74-64 record in his first season as manager. Beloit posted a 39-31 second-half record to earn a spot in the Midwest League playoffs. Beloit defeated Peoria, 2-0 in the best-of-three first round before losing to Kane County.
"At this level, developing players is the first responsibility," Smith said. "But we also like to have the players develop a winning attitude. The playoffs are kind of a reward for all of their hard work."
As usual, most of the Snappers this season are new faces. But Smith does have 12 players who spent all or a small portion of 2006 in Beloit.
The attention this season, Beloit's third in affiliation with the Minnesota Twins, will be on two outfielders-Chris Parmelee and Joe Benson.
Minnesota selected Parmelee in the first round of last June's draft. The Twins took Benson in the second round. Both made late-season appearances in Beloit.
"They are two classy kids, both on and off the field," Smith said. "Both are middle-of-the-order type of guys. You'll see them hit some home runs. Power will come with age."
Both recently turned 19 and will be playing a full professional season for the first time in their careers.
The only other outfielders on the roster include Mark Robinson, who hit .178 in 45 games with Beloit, and Danny Santiesteban, who hit .250 for Elizabethton (Tenn.) in the Appalachian League.
Smith brought 12 pitchers from Florida to Wisconsin to start the season. Right-hander Jeff Manship, a Notre Dame athlete who played with Fighting Irish two-sport star Jeff Samardzija, will start tonight's opener. Manship signed late last year and pitched just 141/3 innings at Gulf Coast and Fort Myers.
"He has pretty electric stuff," Smith said.
The rest of the five-man rotation includes right-hander Alex Burnett, left-hander Jose Lugo, right-hander Adam Hawes and right-hander Cole Devries.
Hawes and Lugo pitched in Beloit last year. Lugo was a combined 9-8 with a 3.81 ERA at Beloit and Elizabethton. Hawes battled injuries en route to a 4-4 record with a 4.02 ERA.
"Every time Adam was getting going, he suffered an injury," Smith said. "He's an older guy (Hawes turns 24 later this month). But when you put a guy in your starting five, that shows you that the organization still has interest in the kid."
Devries has never pitched in a professional game.
Danny Vais is the top returning relief pitcher. A 17th-round pick in 2003, Vais went 3-4 with a 2.12 ERA last year. He had 78 strikeouts in 80 innings.
"Danny had a great year last year," Smith said.
A logjam of pitching prospects in the Minnesota organization, however, will keep Vais in Beloit, at least for the start of the season.
"We need to place these kids in situations where they will be able to throw the most innings," Smith said.
Danny Hernandez also should be a big gun in the bullpen. He led the Appalachian League last year with 18 saves. He was 1-1 with 40 strikeouts in 28 innings.
Pitchers Armando Gabino and Dan Leatherman also appeared in Beloit last season. Leatherman, who played at three levels last year, was a combined 4-1 in 21 games. He had 47 strikeouts in 45 innings.
Right-hander Rob Delaney and left-handers Adam Revelette and Sean Land complete the staff.
Smith will carry three catchers. They include Danny Berg, Allan de San Miguel (who was born in Australia), and Greg Yersich. De San Miguel his .208 in 71 games for Beloit last year. Yersich hit .244 at Elizabethton.
Johnny Woodard will start at first base. He played at Beloit in 2005, then had most of 2006 wiped out by a knee injury.
"We need to get him as many at bats as possible. He basically missed a whole season," Smith said.
Brian Dinkelman is projected to be the second baseman. He hit .298 at Elizabethton last year.
Smith is excited about shortstop Yancarlos Ortiz, a 145-pounder with a rocket arm.
"You won't see too many other shortstops at any level with an arm like this kid's," Smith said.
Three other versatile infielders will bounce around the lineup. They are William Luque, Garrett Olson and Danny Valencia.
Olson could play at third, short, first and in the outfield. Luque also is a utility player.
"We want players to have more than one position," Smith said. "Versatility will get you more at bats."
The Snappers face a challenging April schedule as they play 15 of their first 19 games on the road.
"The bad thing about the road games is what people don't see," Smith said. "When we're at home, we're at the ballpark at 3 in the afternoon for a 7 p.m. game, working with the players.
"We lose that time when we're on the road. We'll have to make adjustments during the first month."
Opening night Teams: Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Beloit Snappers
When: 6:30 Friday night (might be moved up to 4 p.m.)
Tickets: Call 608-362-2272, stop by Pohlman Field at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit, or visit the team's website at www.snappers baseball.com.
