Happy Holidays

I will be taking a few days off to spend time with family. I will not be posting until the New Year unless there is any 'big' news to report.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

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Brooks Robinson Event

I was hoping to post photos and have a full report of the Brooks Robinson event held at Ollie's in Harrisburg on 12/16. Unfortunately I was unable to attend due to bad weather and long power outage in my area. For those who were also unable to attend but want to read up on the event please read Randy Whitaker's blog entry here: Whitaker’s Blog

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Senators Coaching Staff Announced

Last week I posted that the Nationals Journal reported that John Stearns would return to Harrisburg to coach the Senators in 2008. Yesterday it became official when the Harrisburg Senators announced the complete coaching staff for the 2008 season.

Manager: John Stearns
Pitching coach: Rick Tomlin
Hitting Coach: Troy Gingrich
Trainer: Beth Jarrett

The full press release can be read here:
http://senatorsbaseball.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1197917518

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Former Senator players Implicated in Mitchell Report

Like most baseball fans I was waiting for the Mitchell report to be released to see who was on the list. I was hoping that no former Harrisburg Senators or any of my favorite players were on the list. As I was eating lunch with my wife I was going over a list of former Senators players and with each player I would say, "no not him." I reminisced about the good old days, the all-star players, playoff games, championships and the players I had a chance to meet along the way. That was a good lunch hour….and then the Mitchell Report was released.

When the Mitchell report was released and former Senators were accused I had a difficult time deciding whether or not to write this post. I was faced the with a tough decision of should I post this news related to the Harrisburg Senators or hold on to my memories of the good old days and post nothing. Ultimately I thought I should post this information. There was nothing in the report indicating any of these players took performance enhancing drugs while with the Senators. The memories I have of these players are when they played the game ‘the right way’. I could still cherish the memories of them from that time. I have to keep those memories separate from the I feelings I had while reading the Mitchell report.

One of the players I thought of during lunch was Rondell White. He was definitely on the list of players that I thought would not be in the Mitchell report. I had the privilege to talk with Rondell on several occasions, eat next to him at Fan Club picnics, and even go on the field and throw baseball with him, Cliff Floyd, Chris Martin and my best friend (at that time) Tom. I have autographed photos of me with Rondell, cards and baseballs signed by him and some other memorabilia he gave me. I remember Rondell as always smiling, pleasant, great talent and a hard worker. Not in a million years would I have guessed he would be implicated in the Mitchell report as having used performance-enhancing drugs.

Former Harrisburg Senators identified in the Mitchell Report:

Rondell White (1992)– played for seven different MLB teams from 1993 to present is reported to have paid more than $15,000 over six seasons on performance drugs. Found on pages 165-167 of the Mitchell Report.

Download report on White: http://rapidshare.com/files/76404318/Rondell_White.pdf.html

F.P. Santangelo (1991) – played for four different MLB teams from 1995 to 2001, reportedly spent $1,400 in 2000 on performance enhancing drugs. Found on pages 182-183 of the Mitchell Report.

Download report on Santangelo: http://rapidshare.com/files/76404094/FP_Santangelo.pdf.html

Mike Lansing (1992) – played for three different MLB teams from 1993 to 2001, reportedly paid over $2,000 for performance enhancing drugs during the 2002 season. Found on pages 196-197 of the Mitchell Report.

Download report on Lansing: http://rapidshare.com/files/76404182/Mike_Lansing.pdf.html

Tim Laker (1992) - played for five different MLB teams from 1992 to 2006, reportedly paid over $2,500 from 1995-1999 on performance enhancing drugs. Found on pages 159-161 of the Mitchell Report.

Download Report on Laker: http://rapidshare.com/files/76404371/Tim_Laker.pdf.html

I've included the links above so you can download the report on each former Senator (this only the report on that specific player and not the entire Mitchell report). If you would like to view the entire Mitchell Report please visit the link below:
http://thegeorgemitchellreport.com/

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Senators Hire 2nd Announcer

The Harrisburg Senators have hired Dan Watson as Media Relations Assistant and #2 announcer.

Watson, 23, spent last season as a co-Assistant Director of Broadcasting and #2 announcer for the Daytona Cubs (Class A – Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Florida State League).

He is a 2006 graduate of Otterbein College where he served as sports director of his campus radio station where he called baseball, basketball and football games. He also called play-by-play for the Delaware Cows of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League. Most recently, Watson covered the Ohio State Buckeye football and basketball teams for a radio station in Columbus.

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Brooks Robinson, Randy Whitaker and Rascal Event

Hall of Famer and Orioles great Brooks Robinson is scheduled to appear at the Harrisburg Ollies on Sunday, December 16 from 11am until 2pm. Ollies is located at 6295 Allentown Blvd in Harrisburg.

Also appearing will be NEW GM Randy Whitaker and Rascal.

Be sure to come out and enjoy the event. I will plan to have full report and post photos on Sunday or Monday.

Harrisburg Senators Official Press Release:

"The Harrisburg Senators and Ollies Bargain Outlet announce that Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson will appear at the Harrisburg Ollies on Sunday, December 16 from 11am until 2pm. Robinson will sign special Norman Rockwell prints, which will be available for purchase at Ollies on Sunday. The Harrisburg Ollies is located at 6295 Allentown Blvd in Harrisburg.

In addition to Robinson, Rascal and Senators General Manager Randy Whitaker will also be hand. They will have the Senators famous Prize Wheel and information on
ticket packages for the coming 2008 season. Rascal will be signing autographs as well.

Robinson spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles playing from 1955 to 1977. The 1964 American League Most Valuable Player appeared in 18 All-Star games during his career, starting 11 of them. At the conclusion of his career, the Orioles retired his number 5 in 1977.

Over the years, he earned the nickname of “The Human Vacuum Cleaner” and there is no wonder why. He won 16 Gold Gloves for being the best defensive third baseman in the American League. He played in four different World Series’ for the Orioles, helping them win the series in 1966 and 1970 and though he wasn’t known for his hitting, he batted .263 in 21 World Series games with 3 homers and 14 RBI. In 1970 he was named the Most Valuable Player in the World Series for helping the Orioles defeat the Cincinnati Reds in five games.

Whitaker, the Senators new General Manager, will be on hand to answer questions about the coming Senators season, and to hand out prizes. Whitaker was recently at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, and you can read all about his experience in his blog at http://www.senatorsbaseball.com/.

The Senators open their 22nd season at home on April 3 by hosting the Cleveland Indians Eastern League Affiliate, Akron Aeros. Seasons tickets and mini-plans are currently on sale for the 2008 season. The Senators merchandise souvenir store is also open daily from 9:00am to 4:30pm at Commerce Bank Park."

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Diaz Winter League Update

Frank Diaz - News & notes for the week ending Dec. 9

Diaz is currently playing for Bravos de Margarita (23-26) in the Venezuelan Winter League. For the week ending 12/9, Diaz continued his hot streak going 9-for-23 (.391) with a pair of two-run homers and five runs scored during a six-game hitting streak. Diaz is batting .325 for the season.

I will continue to post Diaz’s stats as more information becomes available.

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Stearns to Manage Harrisburg in '08

Barry Svrluga of the Nationals Journal reports that John Stearns will “almost certainly” be coaching the Harrisburg Senators for the 2008 season. Stearns coached the Senators to a 67-75 record in 2006. 2007 saw Stearns coaching Triple-A Columbus Clippers where they finished with a 64-80 record.

Early this ‘off season’ Stearns was offered the job to coach the Senators in 2008 but was unsure if he wanted to return. I’m happy with his decision to return to Harrisburg. He is a nice guy who always stops to talk with the fans.

**********PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL AND HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE NATIONALS **************************

Profile on John Stearns from the Columbus Clippers website:

“Enters 33rd season in professional baseball...served as NYM catching coordinator during 2005 sea­son...great asset to organization...has served as scout, manager, coach, roving catching and hitting instructor, player and ESPN broadcaster during career...was NYM’s major league 3B and catching coach in 2000 and ’01...also held major league coaching roles for BAL and CIN...managed over 600 games in the minor leagues...played 11 major league seasons hitting .260, with 152 doubles, 10 triples, 46 home runs and 312 RBI in 810 games with PHI and NYM...4-time NL All-Star (1977, 1979, 1980 and 1982)...originally selected by PHI as the 2nd overall pick in the 1973 First-Year Player Draft...traded to NYM after 1974 season and spent remainder of playing career with NYM...2-sport athlete at University of Colorado...played defensive back on the gridiron...had opportunity to play in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, but opted for baseball...has a sons, Justin.”

Svrluga’s report in the Nationals Journal:

“One more thing I keep forgetting to slip in: The Nationals will also announce a realigned minor league coaching staff at some point. John Stearns, who managed at Class AAA Columbus last year, will almost certainly move to Class AA Harrisburg, where he'll manage the most important Nats team -- one that might have Chris Marrero, Justin Maxwell, etc. Harrisburg was one of the worst teams in the minors last year. That won't be repeated.”

Read Svrluga’s full story here:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2007/12/lo_duca_the_day_ahead.html

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Senators, Morales to be Honored

Alex Morales, who spent parts of two seasons as a Senator, will be honored by The Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago. He will receive an award as Chicago Area’s Minor League Player of the Year at a dinner to be held on January 20, 2008 in Rose Mont, Ill.

Headlining the list of guest speakers at this year's awards dinner is former Cleveland Indians pitcher, Hall of Famer Bob Feller.

The Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago, formed in 1942 by a group of major league players and scouts, is a professional baseball organization that promotes professionals in the game of baseball in the Chicago area.

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Harrisburg Senators GM to Blog

Harrisburg Senators new GM, Randy Whitaker recently launched a blog entitled A Fan is the GM. Whitaker’s first post covered his family, schooling, work history and love of baseball. He also mentions the importance of “superior customer service” in whatever you do. His intentions are to make customer service a high priority in the daily operations with the Senators.

Personally, I like Whitaker’s decision to start a blog. It allows the fans the opportunity to get to know him. He also offers fans a chance to e-mail him regarding his blog. His interaction with the fans is going to be a key starting point in building relations with the community.

Here is a link to Whitaker’s first blog entry:
http://senatorsbaseball.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1196715856

Be sure to visit http://www.senatorsbaseball.com/blog/ for continued blog entries by the Senators new GM and self proclaimed baseball fanatic, Randy Whitaker.

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Brett Campbell to Milwaukee

In the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft the Nationals lost, former Senator pitcher, Brett Campbell (RHP) to Milwaukee. Campbell, who turned 26 in October, played the entire 2007 season in Harrisburg. In ‘07 he had a 3-5 record, 4.91 ERA and 9 saves. He was voted on the 2007 Mid-Season Eastern League All-Star team.

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Justin Jones Released

Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reports:

"Minor roster move: The Nats took two players pitchers Justin Jones and Billy Traber and unconditionally released them, creating more space on the 40-man roster. They have four open spots."

To me releasing Jones seems like an odd option. He was probably heading back to Harrisburg’s starting rotation in 2008. Hopefully they resign him. He would be a good addition to the rotation.

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Former Senator, Albaladejo, Traded

Nationals reliever, and former Senator, Jon Albaladejo was traded to the Yankees for starting pitcher Tyler Clippard.

I’ve seen both pitchers and believe this is a good trade for the Nationals. Clippard is a control pitcher, decent stuff and durable. He has the ability to pitch deep into the game. My opinion, which is also the opinion of several others, is that Clippard projects to be a #4 or #5 starter in the majors. Senators fans might remember he threw a no hitter against us in 2006.

Here is MiLB.com report on the trade:

The Nationals continued to stay busy at the Winter Meetings, acquiring right-hander Tyler Clippard from the Yankees for right-handed reliever Jonathan Albaladejo on Monday night, according to a baseball source. The news was first reported by The Washington Post.

Clippard, 22, made his Major League debut in 2007 and went 3-1 with a 6.33 ERA in six starts. Albaladejo also made his Major League debut this past season, giving up three runs in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

Nationals general manager Jim Bowden was not available for comment on the deal, which is pending physicals.

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2007 Harrisburg Senators Slideshow

I just added a photo slideshow of the 2007 Harrisburg Senators. Almost all the players who finished the season in Harrisburg are in the slideshow. Each image is tagged with the players name and position. If you would like to view the images larger please click on the slideshow and it will take you to my Flickr page. Once on my Flickr page you can choose to view the entire slideshow by clicking on the icon that looks like a 'projection screen' at the right side of the page in the box titled "senatorsfansunite's photostream". If you have any problems viewing the slideshow please contact me.

During the season I will continue to update the images on the slideshow with players on the roster.

You can also choose to view the slideshow by using this direct link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21403102@N02/show/with/2079775552/

Hopefully you enjoy the slideshow.

Will

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