Press Release: NH Coach Adopts Dog at Ballpark

Via a press release from the Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees-

(TRENTON, NJ) -  Some dogs "roll over", some can "shake hands" and others "speak", but you can bet that newly adopted "Dee Dee's" favorite trick will be fetching baseballs.   

Pitching coach Tom Signore of the visiting New Hampshire Fisher Cats has adopted "Dee Dee", a year old Yorkshire Terrior, who was featured at ARM & HAMMER Park as the Trenton Thunder and Northstar VETS "Dog of the Day" on Thursday, May 9.  The adoption paperwork with Res-Q-Pets of Trenton was finalized today and "Dee Dee" will be making her first baseball road trip after the game as she rides the team bus back to New Hampshire.  Tom said he's considering re-naming his new puppy "Thunder".  

At all 71 Thunder home games, a different "Dog of the Day" is paraded around the field in front of the crowd and a description of the potential pet is read over the public address system.  Fans are invited to "meet" the dog in person or to pick up a flyer at the NJM Fan Services Center on the concourse.  After the game, the dog's picture is posted on the "Dog of the Day" photo gallery accessed through the team's facebook page.

The NorthStar VETS "Dog of the Day" program, now in its seventh season, has helped hundreds of dogs find homes with Thunder fans and staff members over the years but this is the first time a member of one of the teams has adopted.

 New Hampshire won two of four contests at Trenton's Arm & Hammer Park over the weekend.

1BJW Interview: NH Pitching Coach Tom Signore

In the early going this season, the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats are already known for their well-regarded pitching prospects. The man that guides those young hurlers is pitching coach Tom Signore.

The weekend before last, I had the opportunity to sit down with the coach and get his thoughts on various pitchers for his club including Drew Hutchison, Chad Jenkins, Deck McGuire as well as newly promoted Blue Jay Evan Crawford and a guy fighting to return to the Blue Jays, Brett Cecil. Tom also spoke about his love for New Hampshire and more.

Check out the media player below to listen to all the exclusive comments from NH pitching coach Tom Signore.


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Minor League Coaching Staff News

I'm still really upset that Chesley Sullaberger and Clay Zavada beat out Sal Fasano for best facial hair in the year of 2009, but Sal has a chance to redeem himself. According to Brian Calloway of the Lansing Sports Journal, Sal is "climbing up the ladder" and is being considered for the vacant managerial opening in New Hampshire.

I'm not sure my fellow Fisher Cats fans have ever seen a mustache/fu man chu/beard such as the one Sal rocks, but it'll be interesting. In his short time as a manager, Sal has quickly become known as a players manager. He's also a former catcher, which is a great asset as a strategist, due to their intimate knowledge of the pitching side of the game.

Nothing is confirmed yet but we'll keep you updated. He could be the John Farrell's successor or perhaps join his coaching staff at some point but that's kind of jumping the gun a little bit right now.

To listen to a couple of earlier interviews our boy Jesse did with Sal, click here!

In other Cats news pitching coach Tom Signore recently got promoted to AAA. Tom is quite the character and will be sorely missed in these parts. We wish him nothing but the best.

Speaking of Las Vegas, we wonder if former Jays coaches Omar Malave and Rick Langford are going to end up there in some capacity? Omar has been with the organization for quite some time and seems to prefer living in the Florida sun. Can you really blame him?

Drabek Outdueled in Eastern League Playoff Opener

TRENTON, NJ- The expected pitchers duel proved to be just as advertised. Thunder prospect Dellin Betances and Fishercats ace Kyle Drabek went to battle on the Waterfront Park mound on Wednesday night in the opening game of the Eastern League Division Series.

Drabek, the prized pitcher who came to the Toronto organization last off-season in the trade that sent Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, retired the first 9 batters he faced. Betances, a New York native, kept pace, with a huge cheering section behind him.

Betances, making his fourth start above Class A, hurled 95 mph gas at New Hampshire and mixed speeds well enough to keep the Fishercats guessing. Betances stepped his game up, as he was facing the Eastern League's anointed pitcher of the year. In 5 1/3 innings, the 22-year-old righty struck out 8 while walking just 1 and allowing 2 hits.

New Hampshire pitching coach Tom Signore talked about the outstanding efforts from the pitchers. "It was a well pitched game by both teams. Betances is a strong prospect and did great. If you look at (Kyle's) velocity, it was the best he's been all season...his high was 97. Stuff wise, he was better tonight than the night he threw the no-hitter (against New Britain on July 4th)," Signore said.

"Sometimes you don't win these games. That's what makes baseball so interesting," Signore added.

The second time through the lineup, Drabek was not as lucky. Trenton lead-off man Austin Krum worked a 4-pitch walk that changed the pace of the game. A fielders choice moved Krum to 2nd base, where he quickly stole 3rd. Daniel Brewer then plated Krum with a single that gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead.

Drabek's breaking pitches were working, but the command just wasn't there to maximize their effectiveness. The 22-year-old right-hander threw first pitch strike to only 8 of 22 batters and took the loss, going 6 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 5 batters. "I had trouble throwing strikes, and a lead-off walk is never good," Drabek stated. "They were just able to put some things together and get (the run) in."

"It was a little hard to find the strike zone tonight. I don't know why. I was pretty much battling the whole game."

When Betances' pitch count exceeded 90 in the 6th inning, manager Tony Franklin pulled his 6-feet-8-inches tall starter in favor of the bullpen. The Fishercats hoped to have an easier time against the Thunder relief corp.

Trenton surely had a bit more success once Drabek was pulled in favor of Trystan Magnuson. With 1 out in the 7th inning, Trenton designated hitter Rene Rivera launched a deep drive to left field for a solo homerun that padded the Thunder lead to 2 runs.

The Fishercats threatened late. In the 8th inning, short stop Adeiny Hechavarria reached with a lead-off single off of Thunder righty JB Cox. After Eric Thames struck out and Shawn Bowman popped to short, David Cooper walked. But Cox was pulled from the game and ambidextrous hurler Pat Venditte made his way to the mound and downed Adam Calderone on strikes.

In the 9th, with Trenton closer Justin Pope on the mound, Adam Loewen started things off with a single. Following a strike out by catcher Matt Liuzza, pinch hitter Ricardo Nanita stroked another single that moved Loewen to third base. Center fielder Darin Mastroianni stepped to the plate ready to inflict some damage. Already 1-for-2 on the night with 2 sacrifice bunts, Mastroianni drilled a liner right at Thunder third baseman Justin Snyder, who snagged the ball and stepped on the bag ahead of a retreating Loewen to end the game on a stunning double play, giving Trenton a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series, with a 2-0 victory.

After the game Drabek asserted his belief in the Fishercats' chances to recover and win the series. "Our team's still confident. We feel like we're the best team in this league. And I think we'll be alright." 

Notes:

New Hampshire had lead-off runners on base in 6 of 9 innings, but failed to score a single run. Trenton's attendance for game 1 of the Eastern League Division Series, 2,806, was their lowest attendance figure of the season. Betances earned the win in his 4th Double A start...he has now struck out 28 opponents in 19 2/3 innings with Trenton.

Zach Stewart Interview:

Photo courtesy of King Jordan 

This is an exclusive interview with your Toronto Blue Jays top 5 prospect RHP Zach Stewart.  A one on one with our boy Jay Ballz.  Enjoy!  

Can I get your thoughts on your most recent outing (1 baserunner allowed in 5 innings against Trenton on Tuesday night) and early success thus far in 2010?

I mean as far as (Tuesday), it was one of those nights where everything felt good and things were going my way and I had good defense behind me.
 

What is your pitch repertoire like?

I mean, I'm pretty much a fastball guy.  Fastball, slider, and I've been working on my change up the past few years and that's coming along.  A lot of sinkers, I guess, are pretty much what I throw mostly.

What are you working on improving this season and what are your goals this year?

Right now, just working on the change up, like I said.  That's a big deal that I've been working on.  And just getting ahead of guys and getting more outs and going longer in the game.  My ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues.

Speaking with New Hampshire pitching coach Tom Signore, he mentions your name when asked about guys on the pitching staff who could surely see some success at higher levels.  How does that sort of support make you feel?

That's awesome.  You want that kind of gratitude and everything, from your superiors.  I guess you can't move up if nobody likes you up there, so it's a good thing to know that the (powers that be) like you.

What has your experience been like playing in New Hampshire so far this season?

The few games we've played there so far, it's been really cold.  We didn't have a ton of fans show up yet, but I guess it's been better than you could expect because we had 2 or 3 games in a row when it was in the 30's and 40's and it was sleeting and stuff.  We didn't even want to be there, so I am sure the fans didn't want to be there.  But, we had a lot of people show up, so it was pretty cool.

You've been ranked as a top 10 prospect in the Toronto system by Baseball America.  How do rankings and recognition like that effect your approach to the game?

It doesn't really play into to it too much, 'cause it doesn't matter what you're ranked...if you don't play well, you're not gonna move (up), so it doesn't really matter to me.  It might matter to some guys, but not me.  It's definitely an honor, but it doesn't really matter as long as you're playing well.

Who in the Blue Jays system has helped you improve the most since you were acquired last year in the Scott Rolen trade?

I've had a lot of help from Dane Johnson, the pitching coordinator and of course Tom Signore has helped a lot here in double A, but I haven't been with him very long.  Though, what little I've been with them, those guys have helped me a lot.

Which batter would you most like to face some day?

Probably A-Rod, because he's considered one of the best hitters in the big leagues.  It would be cool to face him.

Which ballpark would you most like to pitch in some day?

The Ballpark in Arlington, because I grew up a Rangers fan.  I'm from two hours down the road, so that would be pretty exciting.

Who was your favorite player growing up?

Nolan Ryan, for sure.  Being from Texas and everything, he was pretty much a big deal back then.

What is your favorite baseball movie?

I'd say Major League...just 'cause it's funny.  It's a good baseball movie.

Kyle Drabek Interview:

1bluejaysway is pleased to announce that we have developed a friendship with the Phillies blog PhoulBallz.com.  Since the 1993 World Series is long behind us, and with their former prospects climbing through our system and our former ace running their division, there's no better time to form a brotherhood with one of the finest Phils blogs out there.

PhoulBallz.com's Jay Ballz will be crossing over into the realm of Toronto to provide you, the people, with some inside access when the situation presents itself.  He has been kind enough to give us the go ahead to give you a taste of his brilliant work with a Kyle Drabek exclusive. 

Drabek Preparing For Next Step

The transition has been easy for Kyle Drabek. In December, he was part of a package of young prospects that was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for ace pitcher Roy Halladay. Now, as though nothing has changed, he's right back where he was last season...the star prospect on the pitching staff of a team in the Double A Eastern League.

Drabek has often stated that he wanted to stay in the Philadelphia organization, who drafted him in the first round of the 2006 amateur draft. The 22-year-old thought after the midseason trade rumors, that surrounded him possibly going to Toronto last year, passed with no action that all the turmoil was over and that he could simply relax and focus on getting to the big leagues with the Phillies. That wasn't the case, as the deal eventually came to fruition over the off-season.

In the Blue Jays system this season, Drabek doesn't have to worry about being dealt. He only has to concern himself with opposing batters and working on his secondary pitches to compliment his electric mid-90's fastball.

To continue reading, click here.

If you want to leave a comment on it, ask any questions or just want to say thanks for the insight, please do so on his site.

Quickly:

A fun fact from Jay:

Did you know that in the 1940's the Phillies made an unsuccessful attempt to change their name to the Blue Jays?