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Hart named one of nation’s top ad agencies by BtoB Magazine

By
Toledo Free Press
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BtoB Magazine has recently named Hart as one of the top advertising and marketing agencies in the country. The agency, located in Maumee, has been recognized as the best small agency in BtoB’s annual list of the top best agencies across the country for the eighth consecutive year.

Hart is Northwest Ohio’s largest integrated marketing communications agency, according to the company’s website. The ad agency, operated by fewer than 50 employees, is responsible for the ad campaigns of the Ohio Lottery, the Certified Angus Beef brand, Paramount Health Care and many other companies.

BtoB, “the Magazine for Marketing Strategists,” is a monthly publication with more than 45,000 subscribers and is maintained by Crain Communications Inc. Every year, the magazine rates the country’s top 50 marketing firms based on the total percentage of the firm’s business that is “business-to-business,” a marketing term that describes the transactional relationship between two companies.

According to Hart’s news release, approximately 63 percent of Hart’s work is business-to-business, including several new clients that were added in 2011. The agency’s business grew by 15 percent last year, said President and CEO Mike Hart.

Mike Hart

“We had a great year,” he said, “but by the end of the day, we don’t talk about the numbers, but about the satisfaction of our clients.”

Other factors, such as revenue growth, new client wins, innovative work and expanded service capabilities, are considered when BtoB Magazine determines the best agencies for the list. Agencies are judged in categories based on the size of their operation: small, midsize, large and interactive.

Hart’s submissions for the magazine’s judges included an interactive ad campaign, a program guide and tool kit for franchises, and an event designed to promote a company’s brand to its investors.

“We are so pleased to be on this list,” stated Hart in the agency’s news release. “We work hard every day to bring value, strategic thinking and creativity to our clients’ marketing efforts, and this award is an affirmation of that.”

The BtoB’s rating is not the only award Hart has received this spring. At this year’s ninth annual Service Industry Advertising Awards, Hart was given a Best of Show Award for its “Gas Guzzler” ad campaign for TARTA as well as a handful of other awards. Hart also recently received three bronze awards at the 33rd Annual TELLY Awards for the agency’s ProMedica television spots and its HCR ManorCare television ad campaign.

Hart’s success derives from the agency’s ability to build relationships with its clients in a personal and hospitable way ever since its founding in 1965, Hart said.

“Three words can illustrate the Hart experience: involvement, empathy and integrity. Those three words set us apart. We take the golden rule — treat others as you would like to be treated — and apply it to our business. You can still be a great business, but those fundamental Midwestern values and a creative approach make us, and many other local businesses, special. It’s a great community, that’s why we love to call Toledo home.”

For more information regarding Hart’s services, visit the agency’s website at: www.hartinc.com.

Szyperski: Rex and effects

By
Shannon Szyperski
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Spring seems to have sprung, which means birthday season in our house is about to commence (“Birthday season: Part deux” runs almost continuously from October through December).

However, I didn’t quite realize that this year we would be including one more special day in our vernal celebrations. After perusing the paperwork that arrived with our newly adopted canine, Rex, we discovered that we have actually added another Aries to the mix.

I suppose it shouldn’t have surprised me that we had somehow welcomed in yet another someone with a March/April birthday. My side of the family seems to have started an Aries collection with the birth of my first child, Jack.

In fact, since April 2003, five of the eight individuals added to the family roll call have been born under the sign of the Ram. Rex makes six.

I especially shouldn’t have been surprised considering the way our flat-coated retriever has fit our family like a glove since the moment he arrived. The similarities are uncanny in many a way, some good and some not so good. Within the first few weeks, it became obvious that Rex has our dry skin, loves the snow, likes to be outside (but not for long) and appreciates a good meal.

As we head into our fourth month together, Rex’s characteristics have started getting even more eerily similar to members of our clan. Upon adoption, we were informed that he had some storm anxiety and some separation anxiety. However, during the initial adjustment it was hard to tell what was just a dog in a new situation and what was Rex.

Time has proven that he is, indeed, an anxious fellow who prefers company nearby, especially during a storm. A smorgasbord of anxieties is something we are all too familiar with in our household, so our frightened friend of the furry kind certainly found the right people to love him and hold his big ol’ paw in times of trouble.

Of course, we don’t actually hold his paw, because that really freaks him out. I’ve always felt somewhat responsible for the obsessive-compulsive tendencies displayed by Sebastian, a cat we adopted as a young kitten (e.g., refusing to eat if even the slightest speck of the bottom of his food dish is visible).

However, Rex already had almost five years of worldly experience under his collar when he joined our tribe, so our family is apparently a constant magnet for the Nervous Nellies of the world.

We also seem to have a magnetic attraction to Murphy’s law and spend a good deal of time proving its validity.

After 13 years of convincing my husband, Mike, that a dog would not necessarily impose the financial burden he had built up in his mind, Rex quickly reinforced his fears.

On a day when I was dealing with my youngest’s stomach flu, Mike kept calling to ask me if I had seen Rex pee lately. Um, no, but I’ve seen Lucy puke twice. Does that help you out? In fact, the sarcasm in my head did not help him, so he came home at lunch to check on the Rex urination situation (or lack thereof) himself.

After reluctantly returning to work, I finally joined in on the “Keep Track of Rex’s every Move” game. Huh, I guess despite wanting to go out every five minutes, he really wasn’t peeing. Yet, he was continuing to drink water. Indeed, a dangerous state of canine affairs seemed to be upon us.

As I arose from my stomach flu caregiving stupor and out of my the-dog-also-has-a-problem denial, I began to realize that Rex was even refusing to sit or lie down and was now just pacing the house with a concerned look on his face (even more so than usual).

“Um, yeah, Honey, this isn’t looking too good. You better come take him to the vet.”

An X-ray, urinalysis, sedation, catheterization, ultrasound and hundreds of dollars later, the vet discovered … nothing. Aside from a very slight urinary tract infection, there were no blockages, no obvious anatomical anomalies and no definitive answer. Well, that seems about right.

My personal diagnosis is that something scared our gentle giant, he became too scared to “go” for a while and then kind of forgot how, a classic anxiety episode if I’ve ever seen one.

The only confusing part for me is that our family Scorpios are usually the anxious ones, being tested for everything and finding nothing. Our Arieses are usually the ones breaking bones by jumping in a single bound and, in the tradition of the Ram, stopping car doors with their foreheads.

Fingers crossed that this dog isn’t a little (or a lot) of both.

Shannon and her husband Michael are raising three children in Sylvania.

Hens vs. Tigers: Eleven years too many, a lifetime to some

By
Jeremy Baumhower
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The Toledo Mud Hens and Minor League Baseball would love for you to believe that the 2012 Home Opener is Friday, April 6 and officially it is… but the real kick off to the season starts 53 hours prior.  The Detroit Tigers announced in December that the 11-year hiatus was over, they were finally going to renew the most fun rivalry in Toledo sports, and play for the first time at the beautiful Fifth Third Field. This announcement also proved to my 11-year-old son (who turns 12 on April 9, 2012) that I was not a liar, it was not my imagination nor my dreams that told him tales of the Tigers playing the Mud Hens.  
 
On April 9, 2002, my son Brady celebrated his second birthday with 12,000 people at the inaugural game at Fifth Third Field.  By this date we already knew how gifted and different he was going to be. It was in his eyes, his curiosity, his attention to detail, his lack of words.  We had no idea what it was called, we were just hoping it would go away and he would just act like any other two year, it never did and it never will.  A year and a half later, we found out Brady was the one in 110.  Like Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, you’ll never see me write its name because it carries a stigma and does not capture the beauty of its gift.  Once we understood how different his brain is, a plan of action was set forth and we got down to the business of understanding “Braden-ese”, the language he spoke. 
 
The true fear of being a parent of a one-in-110 child is what will your son’s life become and how will he socially survive at school and in the world?  We were determined to do whatever we could to get him “normalized” for school and life.   
 
Every father dreams of playing catch with his son. It’s a rite of passage, an activity that opens lines of communication and  a overall great bonding experience.  Our game of “catch began” after his fourth birthday, except it was more of a game of “throw.” Brady showed zero interest in catching or throwing the ball, but he had a weakness… he loved money, or the thought he could buy something with it, mainly candy. I made a game of it, a dollar for every ball he caught, and he earned a dollar for every ball thrown to my mitt.  For all of the gasps being had after reading the last sentences over the amount of money I must spent, remember he was four and negotiating was not his strong suit.  Eventually the money was not needed. I tricked him into loving the game of baseball and in the process gave myself a way to talk to my son.  

One-in-110 children are blessed to have a brain that runs at a different speed than the rest of 109 of us.  The trick to raising one is to understand them and how their “program” works and what their needs are. Once you speak the same language then you can decide what data/information you can input. WARNING: These children are often obsessive and their obsessions rarely change.   
 
The Detroit Tigers proved to be the perfect “data” for my son: The long season, the daily stats and their relationship with the Toledo Mud Hens. Brady’s love of the sport really took foot when he was introduced to baseball cards.  Beautiful action photos on the front, loaded with stats on the back.  He would study the cards and commit them to his memory.  The baseball cards tricked him into reading, something he was not a fan of during Kindergarten or first grade. Now, money once being spent on candy was being spent on Topps.   
 
When Magglio Ordonez hit the walk off home run in the 2006 American League Championship Series, my son had found his Tiger.  He would and still does emulate Dan Dickerson’s radio call of “Waaaay Back”  as Dan delivered it a full octave higher.  Having a speech delay and various pronunciation issues, he challenged himself to say the player’s name correctly, to copy what he heard being discussed. He became more confident while speaking. The game of baseball was helping us with another life obstacle. 
 
Once Brady found his voice, his conversations never stopped.  We discuss everything from every Tigers’ World Championship, who my favorite player was, the Curse of the Bambino and the relationship  between the Tigers and Mud Hens.  I can still recall the shriek of joy he made when he saw Mike Hessman play on a Sunday for Detroit, and that was before he clobbered a 450-foot home run!  Being able to see your favorite future Tiger or current rehabbing one may be Toledo’s best known secret.   
 
My favorite baseball fables that I shared most often was my dad taking me to see the annual game between the Mud Hens and the Tigers.  My son would often look at me with a sense of “yeah right” whenever I shared these stories. He never understood the premise of why a Major League club would play its Minor League team. I never had the heart to tell him about the financial reasons.  Cecil Fielder, Chet Lemon, Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell led by Sparky Anderson all came to Toledo to play the Hens.   
 
Next Wednesday morning my son’s worlds will collide, his dreams will come true. That MLB 2K11 Wii game where he plays the Hens against the Tigers will become a reality. My favorite player Cecil Fielder’s son, Prince ,will make his Toledo debut, and the full starting lineup of the Tigers are expected to play.  The game will be broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit and MLB.TV, Mario Impemba and Rod Allen will have the play-by-play. A child could not picture it any better.

This last January my dreams came true, as my son’s second quarter grade card put him on the Honor Roll. for the first time.  For some students the Honor Roll is expected, even demanded, but for a child who is 1-in-110 it was a wish granted. The Tigers unknowingly granted a lot of Father’s wishes by agreeing to come back to Toledo.  I know it’s just one game, but it’s been 11 years and for some that’s been a lifetime.  
 
Thank You Joe Napoli and Dave Dombrowski for not making me a lifetime “liar” and for giving one more lifetime memory. 
 
To find out more information about 1-in-110 Children please visit ProjectIam.com as they help local families like mine. 

Duck-dumping curbed in Perrysburg

By
Caitlin McGlade
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Kelly Meister checks on ducks at Three Meadows Park in Perrysburg. Toledo Free Press photo by Joseph Herr

Meet Ethel.  

At 7 years old, she has no qualms about table manners or her voracious appetite. She and her boyfriend come running at the first site of their trusted human companion Kelly Meister, and Ethel is the first to stuff her entire face in the bag of feed and scarf down its guts. When her boyfriend finishes eating, he waits for her before descending back into the pond. They’ve gone steady for a few years so he’s grown accustomed to her pace.  

Ethel is, after all, getting fairly elderly for a duck.  

Reaching that ripe old age meant defying all of the odds that worked against her from the day she was dumped at Perrysburg’s Three Meadows Park. Ethel’s story began when a couple purchased her and her sister as an Easter present for their grandchildren. A few months later the pair got bigger, smellier and louder so the grandparents dumped them. Because Ethel and her sister were domesticated, as are all store-bought mallards, they could not fly and had little defense against wild animals.  

Ethel’s sister didn’t last long.  

But Ethel, on the other hand, is one of Meister’s success stories. The brown and white mallard is one of 11 domesticated ducks that have taken refuge at the park. Since 2000, Meister has made regular trips with a 25-pound bag of dried, cracked corn to keep the ducks nourished. In the winter she goes through one bag in three days but during the summer she can stretch it over about a week and a half.  

The couple of months following Easter have typically meant an influx of dumped ducks because parents might think it’s cute to place a baby duckling in their kids’ Easter baskets, Meister said. But here’s another success story: the last duck who joined Meister’s circle arrived a few years ago.  

 “The reason they’re not dumping out there at Three Meadows anymore is because of Kelly,” said Jeff Studer, animal control officer for the City of Perrysburg.  

Meister has written countless letters to the editor before the holiday every year. Meister has seen ducks disappear, likely to hungry coyotes. She’s seen people at the park release their dogs to chase the ducks. She’s seen yards of fishing wire, wadded up in the grass, get wrapped around a duck’s leg and tear it off. She’s seen hooks get caught in ducklings’ feet.  

“It’s a shame that people think they’re disposable,” she said. “People really don’t get that they’re just condemning these poor creatures to a nasty death.”  

She and her volunteers try to scoop up all the sick ducks they can. Meister receives donations for feed but she covers all of the medical costs, which can run her up to about $60 per animal.  

Kerry Ackerman, owner of J&B Feed Co., said his business sells a variety of ducks but that customers must pre-order them and must purchase at least six at a time. Each duckling costs $5. The minimum purchase rule tends to deter people from buying ducklings merely for Easter purposes because its a relatively large investment. Customers typically buy ducks to add activity to their backyard ponds or to raise for food. The white pekin, for example, is often used for meat because it grows to a large size, Ackerman said.  

But a quick Craigslist search reveals a couple of local opportunities to purchase a duckling or two for an Easter morning surprise. One Maumee-based post advertises “the perfect Easter gift” for $10 a duckling. It costs $15 if you want two. Another post from Millbury added March 26 is taking orders for Easter chicks and ducks that will only be ready when they are a couple of days old. One Michigan listing on a different site called Michigansuperads.com markets ducklings for $4 — and these guys will be dyed neon for Easter. 

Even if no one dumps ducks after Easter this year, Meister and Studer still must be on the lookout. The domesticated ducks lay an exorbitant number of eggs in a season — one duck laid 40 last year alone. If they hatch, that means more ducks inept at dealing with nature’s brutal realities. That also creates more ducks to mate with the wild ducks — over time altering the gene pool of the population altogether, Studer said.  

The ducks are also a drag on the city. Studer said Perrysburg keeps the fountain running to keep the pond from freezing over. The city would otherwise be able to shut off the valve during the winter.  

Spend just a half hour with Meister’s duck buddies and you’ll quickly understand why some people might want to own one. They’re friendly once you get to know them; Ethel practically stands on Meister’s lap while eating. And they wobble as they run in a goofy swagger, squeaking or honking or nipping at their partners as they bump into one another. This of course makes them a source of entertainment for park-walkers.  

“If nobody did anything here there would be hundreds of ducks here and they’d be dying,” Meister said. “And nobody knows about all of this. They’ll come here and think, ‘Oh, look at the cute ducks at the pond.'”  

Donate to Meister’s “Lucky Duck Fund” by calling Luckey Farmers Inc. at 419 – 874 – 3525 or stopping by the location at 11330 Avenue Rd. in Perrysburg. Check out Meister’s website at www.crazycritterlady.com. 

‘Red Green’ to give advice at Stranahan Theater

By
Toledo Free Press
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Steve Smith plays the affable and adventurous handyman Red Green, whose crazy creations and passion for duct tape are legend at Possum Lake, a fabled locale in Canada’s cottage country. 

The plaid-wearing, bearded character with red and green suspenders shares do-it-yourself tips and philosophies on life. 

“[‘The Red Green Show’] was supposed to be a six-month summer job in 1990 — endless summer,” Smith said and laughed. 

 Instead, Smith was on the air 15 seasons and made 300 episodes. The show is broadcast on more than 80 PBS stations, including WBGU 27, and is the longest-running Canadian comedy in America. Smith won three Gemini Awards (Canada’s Emmy Award), and the government named him a member of the Order of Canada, its highest civilian honor. 

In syndication, Red Green and his wacky regulars still make folks laugh. 

“We never talked about what was going on at the time because, actually, we weren’t aware of what was going on at the time,” he joked. “I think the things the shows talk about are timeless, like men’s attitudes and problems — I’m wrong but not in doubt.” 

Smith will bring Red Green’s Wit & Wisdom Tour to Stranahan Theater April 11 for a 7 p.m. show. Tickets are $48.50. 

 “I tell you how to make a reclining chair out of a stove, that’s valuable. And lots of marital advice and sometimes just one-liners: The longest journey starts with not looking at the map,” he said during a phone interview from Florida. 

 As Green, the Toronto native often offers secrets to a happy marriage. It’s a subject Smith knows well. 

 “This year it’ll be 46 years in November,” Smith said of his union with his wife, Morag. He added to remember: “If your wife is having fun and you’re not, you’re still having way more fun then when you’re having fun and she’s not.” 

 Green has a knack for finding sticky situations. His tool of choice: duct tape. 

 “We’d start with a gross [of rolls] a season, and in a season we might do 20 episodes, so that’s 144 rolls divided by 20, which is, let me get my shoes off here, a little over seven rolls a show, but some shows wouldn’t use any, and some shows would use 30. And we usually had to reorder; the gross wasn’t enough,” Smith said and laughed. 

 And the Canuck thinks big. 

 “When they make duct tape, they actually make it in a four-foot width and they cut it into the two-inch rolls that you buy in the store,” Smith said. “We got a four-foot width of it, and I used it to waterproof a boat. The whole four-foot thing, it took 12 guys to unroll it, but we got it on there.” 

 The humorist’s career as Green continues to sail. He’s working on another book. 

 “It’s the next Red Green; it won’t be out until the fall of 2013,” he said. “It’s a beginner’s guide to women, so that should be something.”   

Retirement guys: Think global

By
Mark Clair & Nolan Baker
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Many years ago, I (Mark) was a young kid of 9 years old and found myself being driven through the city of Seoul, South Korea. I couldn’t believe I was there and was excited to find out more about a city and country that I had heard a lot about, but was now in the middle of.

There were wall-to-wall people, taxicabs and city buses everywhere, and very heavy traffic on the city streets. Drivers honked their horns at each other (which in Korea is not considered rude), and mothers carried their babies on their backs amid the hustle and bustle of the big city.

My parents had made the life-changing decision to go to this foreign country to become missionaries and to help various South Korean communities start new churches. In South Korea there was such a different view of personal space and so many people packed into the area that it was not considered rude to bump into or brush against someone.

My friend Lorne and I would later play a game that involved walking in a straight line down a busy street bumping into as many people as we could for a laugh. We Americans used to laugh at how many South Korean people would cram into an automobile. When we thought the car had five more people than would be comfortable, they would cram in five more.

To this day when I get into an elevator and the people inside seem to get nervous about their personal space, I laugh to myself and think of South Korea.

I left there in 1975 and, if I remember correctly, the population of the city of Seoul was about 6-7 million. The population today is more than 10 million. I guess they are cramming even more people into cars and elevators.

As you might expect, living for five years in a foreign country from age 9-14 had a profound effect on my life.

First of all, while I was there I realized there were many things I took for granted in my home country. At that time, you could not pick up the phone and get a pizza. American food was not readily available. Ladies from our home church had canned for us what was supposed to be a four-year supply of Fritos corn chips that did not last a year.

No more Fritos? Nope. You have to eat rice today. Aw, mannnn! Come on!

American television? One channel on Armed Forces Television aired the bad, rejected, boring documentaries that no one wanted to watch here in America.

I was so desperate for American TV that when we did finally make the trip back to America five years later, my parents decided it would be a good idea to stop and visit beautiful Hawaii on the way. I stayed in the hotel room almost the entire time watching TV. I couldn’t tell you much about Hawaii.

We are now in a global economy rather than just limited to our own country. Amazing how a small country about the size of Indiana has affected us. I now own a Samsung TV (how ironic) and see Hyundai and Kia automobiles everywhere.

As The Retirement Guys, Nolan and I try our best to stay up on what is going on in the world to better advise our clients. We are now seeing an extremely high correlation between what is happening in foreign countries and our economy.

Steve Hanley, who is in our portfolio management department, shared with me how it is now important to understand that everything globally can be correlated. It is important to know what is going on in places like Greece and the rest of Europe.

We Americans think our country has a spending problem when we consider our current national debt, but Europe has the same problem that is about five years ahead of our own.
This continues to play itself out, affecting markets around the world.

Hanley said that even when considering American companies, close attention is paid to their international operations in order to get a better handle on what may be yet to come. We can all learn things from our childhood and past experiences.

It is amazing how the experience of a little kid living for a brief time in a foreign country can still have an effect on his life today. Time goes by quickly and the world seems to get smaller.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550.

2012 Mud Hens Roster

By
Dock David Treece
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COACHING STAFF

PHIL NEVIN
MANAGER
Born: Jan. 19, 1971 (41)
Resides: Poway, Calif.
Managing Career: Returns for his second season with the Mud Hens and third in the Tigers organization…managed Double-A Erie in 2010 and Orange County of the independent Golden Baseball League in 2009.
Playing Career: Drafted No. 1 overall in 1992 by the Houston Astros out of Cal State-Fullerton…Most Outstanding Player in 1992 College World Series…played 12 seasons in the majors with seven teams including Detroit (1995-97)…played with Toledo briefly in 1995 and 1997. 

LEON ‘BULL’ DURHAM
HITTING COACH
Born: July 31, 1957 (54)
Resides: Cincinnati, Ohio
Coaching Career: Returns for his 12th season with the Mud Hens and his 17th season overall in coaching, including five seasons with the Anaheim Angels.
Playing Career: Spent 10 seasons in the majors with three different teams, mainly the Chicago Cubs. 

A.J. SAGER
PITCHING COACH
Born: March 3, 1965 (47) 
Resides: Perrysburg, Ohio
Coaching Career: Entering his fifth season with the Mud Hens and 11th in the Tigers organization…pitching coach for Double-A Erie in 2007 and Single-A West Michigan 2002-06
Playing Career: Played baseball and football at the University of Toledo…Pitched for 12 professional seasons, five in the major leagues, including Detroit…pitched for Mud Hens in 1996 and 1998. 

MATT RANKIN
ATHLETIC TRAINER
Born: Aug. 1, 1971 (40)
Resides: Toledo, Ohio
Coaching Career: Beginning his 12th season with Mud Hens and 16th with the Tigers organization…spent two years with Single-A Lakeland. 

KYLE BERGMAN
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH
Born: June 16, 1986 (25)
From: Chicago Ridge, Ill.
Career: Beginning second season with the Mud Hens and fourth with the Tigers organization…spent one year with the Single-A West Michigan and one year with the Double-A Erie.  

PITCHERS 

DUANE BELOW 

PITCHER 

Born: Nov. 15, 1985 (25) in Britton, Mich. 

Height: 6’3
Weight: 218 

Bats: Left
Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 19th round of the 2006 draft 

Full name: Duane Arthur Below 

2011: Assigned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the season, starting 18 games with the Mud Hens before being recalled by the Tigers July 20 for the remainder of the season…compiled a season-best four-game winning streak with Toledo April 22-May 13…tabbed the International League Pitcher of the Week for May 2-8…fanned a season-high 11 batters on May 8 versus Charlotte…posted a 3-0 record, 2.08 ERA (26.0IP/6ER) and 18 strikeouts over his final four starts with Toledo June 26-July 15…made his major league debut on July 20 versus Oakland…after two starts with the Tigers, he spent the remainder of the season in relief for Detroit…retired the first 23 batters he faced as a reliever. 

CHRIS BOOTCHECK
PITCHER 

Born: Oct. 24, 1978 (33) in LaPorte, Ind. 

Height: 6’5 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Dec. 11, 2011 

Full name: Christopher Brandon Bootcheck 

2011: Started the season with Triple-A Durham, making 16 appearances (seven starts)…struck out a season-high seven batters on June 25 versus Scranton/WB…longest outing of the year was 7.1 innings on June 25 versus Scranton/WB (took the loss and struck out seven)…left the team at the end of June and signed with the Lotte Giants in Korea. 

CASEY CROSBY
PITCHER 

Born: Sept. 17, 1988 (23) in Kaneland, Ill. 

Height: 6’5 

Weight: 218 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 5th round of the 2007 draft 

Full name: Casey W. Crosby 

2011: Spent the season with Double-A Erie in the Eastern League, going 9-7 with a 4.10 ERA (60 ER/131.2 IP) in 25 starts…won four straight decisions from May 23-June 27…longest outing of the year was 8.0 innings on Aug. 19 at Harrisburg…struck out a season-high eight batters on two occasions…was a mid-season all-star in the Eastern League…led the league with 77 walks… named as the third best prospect in the Detroit organization following the season by Baseball America. 

DARIN DOWNS
PITCHER 

Born: Dec. 26, 1984 (27) in Southfield, Mich. 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Nov. 5, 2011 

Full name: Darin Burton Downs 

2011: Split the season between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans in the Florida Marlins system…started the year with Jacksonville and appeared in 22 games (13 starts)…was promoted to New Orleans on July 21…longest outing of the year was 8.0 innings on Aug. 31 versus Oklahoma City…struck out a season-high eight batters on Aug. 14 versus Reno. 

MATT HOFFMAN
PITCHER 

Born: Nov. 18, 1988 (23) in Tulsa, Okla. 

Height: 6’1 

Weight: 225 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 26th round of the 2007 draft 

Full name: Matthew Christopher Hoffman 

2011: Started the year with Double-A Erie, appearing in just one game before being promoted to Triple-A Toledo…appeared in 49 games with Toledo (all relief)…longest outing of the year was 3.1 innings on Aug. 14 at Lehigh Valley…struck out a season-high four batters on July 17 versus Scranton/WB…was 0-3 in save opportunities on the year…limited right-handed batters to a .224 average (34-152) and lefties hit .306 (26-85) against him. 

LUIS MARTE
PITCHER 

Born: Aug. 26, 1986 (25) in San Cristobal, DR 

Height: 5’11 

Weight: 170 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 16, 2005 

Full name: Luis Alfredo Marte 

2011: Spent the majority of the 2011 season with Double-A Erie before he saw his first major league action with the Tigers in September…sidelined April 7-June 3 (right shoulder)…posted five straight scoreless outings June 21-July 4, fanning 11 batters in 7.1 innings…had his contract transferred to Triple-A Toledo on July 29 and appeared in two games with the Mud Hens before he was transferred back to Erie on Aug. 3…struck out a season-high 10 batters on Aug. 29 versus Binghamton…had his contract purchased by Detroit on Sept. 1 and made his MLB debut that afternoon versus Kansas City, posting a scoreless outing.  

FU-TE NI
PITCHER 

Born: Nov. 14, 1982 (29) in Taiwan 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 200 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Jan. 13, 2009 

Full name: Fu-Te Ni 

2011: Spent the entire season with Triple-A Toledo…made 12 starts and worked 22 games from the bullpen…the starts were his first as a pro…established a career-high with 93 strikeouts…struck out a season-high nine batters on July 10 versus Columbus…won his first five decisions on the year (April 7-July 19)…longest outing of the year was 7.2 innings on Aug. 19 at Buffalo…ERA as a starter was 2.76 while it went up to 4.12 as a reliever. 

ANDY OLIVER
PITCHER
Born: Dec. 3, 1987 (24) in Vermilion, Ohio 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 2nd round of 2009 draft 

Full name: Andrew Allen Oliver 

2011: Tied for third in the International League with 143 strikeouts as he spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Toledo…fourth among all International League starters with 8.76 strikeouts per nine innings…second in the league with 80 walks…posted a 4-2 record, 2.89 ERA (43.2IP/14ER) and 43 strikeouts in his first seven starts of the season April 7-May 14…recalled by Detroit on May 28 and started two games before he was optioned back to Toledo for the remainder of the season June 5…fanned a season-high nine batters on June 13 versus Rochester and matched the high with nine strikeouts on Aug. 22 at Louisville…named as the fifth best prospect in the Detroit organization following the season by Baseball America. 

JOSE ORTEGA
PITCHER 

Born: Oct. 12, 1988 (23) in Caja Seca, Venezuela 

Height: 5’11 

Weight: 165 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on July 3, 2006 

Full name: Jose Antonio Ortega 

2011: Started the season on the disabled list with a right shoulder injury…activated on May 17…spent the whole year with Toledo…picked up a win in his final appearance of the year on Sept. 5 versus Columbus, which was his longest outing of the year (3.0 innings)…struck out a season-high three batters on three occasions. 

DREW SMYLY
PITCHER 

Born: June 13, 1989 (22) in Little Rock, Ark. 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 190 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft  

Full name: Todd Andrew Smyly 

2011: Split the season between Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie…started with Lakeland, going 7-3 with a 2.58 ERA (23 ER/80.1 IP) in 14 starts from April 8-July 25…pitched 7.0 innings or more three times with Lakeland…appeared in eight games (7 starts) with Erie from July 30-Sept. 5…pitched a season-high 8.0 innings on Sept. 1 versus Binghamton…struck out a season-high 10 batters three times…named as the third best prospect in the Detroit organization following the season by Baseball America.  

TYLER STOHR
PITCHER 

Born: Sept. 19, 1986 (25) in Newburgh, N.Y. 

Height: 6’2 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 6th round of the 2008 draft  

Full name: Tyler Scott Stohr 

2011: Started the year with Single-A Lakeland…made 24 relief appearances before a promotion to Double-A Erie on July 2…struck out a season-high five batters on July 26 versus Richmond…was a combined 3 for 6 in save chances on the year. 

JACOB TURNER
PITCHER 

Born: May 21, 1991 (20) in St. Charles, Mo. 

Height: 6’5 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 1st round (9th overall) in the 2009 draft 

Full name: Jacob Edward Turner 

2011: Assigned to Double-A Erie to begin the season and selected to the Eastern League’s mid-season all-star squad…earned a spot on the U.S. Team for the Futures Game in Arizona prior to the All-Star Game…fanned a season-high nine batters with Erie on April 7 versus Altoona…recalled by Detroit on July 30 and made his MLB debut that afternoon, taking the loss after allowing two runs in 5.1 innings versus Los Angeles… became the youngest Tigers pitcher to start a game at Comerica Park at 20 years, two months and nine days old…optioned to Toledo following his start…started three games with Toledo, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings…recalled by Detroit on Sept. 1 and did not receive a decision in two starts…named as the No. 1 prospect in the Detroit organization following the season by Baseball America. 

BRAYAN VILLARREAL
PITCHER 

Born: May 10, 1987 (24) in La Guaira, Venezuela 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 170 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on Oct. 25, 2005 

Full name: Brayan Rene Villarreal 

2011: Saw his first major league action after making the Tigers Opening Day roster out of Spring Training…made his MLB debut on April 2 at New York’s Yankee Stadium, where he allowed one run in one inning of work…fanned a career-high four batters on April 26 versus Seattle…optioned to Toledo on May 22…suffered the loss in each of his first five decisions with Toledo June 2-25…recalled by Detroit on June 30 and saw action in two games before he was optioned back to Toledo for the remainder of the season on July 2…sidelined July 27-Aug. 13 (right rotator cuff strain). 

THAD WEBER
PITCHER 

Born: Sept. 28, 1984 (27) in Lincoln, Neb. 

Height: 6’2 

Weight: 205 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 16th round of the 2008 draft  

Full name: Thad G. Weber 

2011: Spent the entire season with Triple-A Toledo, going 5-11 with a 5.65 ERA in 27 starts…struck out a season-high nine batters on May 1 at Pawtucket…threw a complete game (took the loss) on Aug. 8 versus Indianapolis…went 1-7 with a 7.00 ERA in 15 home starts…went 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 12 road starts…finished second in the International League with 28 home runs allowed. 

ROBBIE WEINHARDT
PITCHER 

Born: Dec. 8, 1985 (26) in Chicago, Ill. 

Height: 6’2 

Weight: 205 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 10th round of the 2008 draft  

Full name: Robert D. Weinhardt 

2011: Split the season between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie after seeing action in two games with the Tigers early in the season…recalled by Detroit on April 7…was optioned to Toledo on April 13…designated for assignment by the Tigers on May 24 and had his contract out-righted to Toledo on May 26…was assigned to Erie on June 13…compiled a 1.13 ERA (2 ER/16.0 IP) over a nine-outing stretch with Erie June 20-July 26…sidelined July 14-22 with unexplained weight loss…was promoted back to Toledo on Aug. 18…fanned a season-high seven batters Aug. 20 versus Louisville. 

ADAM WILK
PITCHER 

Born: Dec. 9, 1987 (24) in Anaheim, Calif. 

Height: 6’2 

Weight: 185 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 11th round of the 2009 draft  

Full name: Adam Robert Wilk 

2011: Spent the majority of the season with Toledo, starting 18 games…appeared in five games with Detroit during three separate stints…had his contract purchased by Detroit on May 24…fanned four batters in his MLB debut on May 26 versus Boston…optioned to Toledo on May 28 and started one game before he was recalled on June 5…appeared in three games with Detroit during June before he was optioned to Toledo on June 22…recalled for his third stint with the Tigers on July 3 and made one appearance before he was optioned back to Toledo for the remainder of the season on July 19…compiled a four-game winning streak with Toledo July 25-Aug. 15…struck out a season-high nine batters on Aug. 10 versus Louisville…sidelined Aug. 16-31 (left elbow sprain).  

CATCHERS 

BRYAN HOLADAY
CATCHER 

Born: Nov. 19, 1987 (24) in Dallas, Texas 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 205 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 6th round of the 2010 draft 

Full name: John Bryan Holaday 

2011: Spent the entire season with Double-A Erie, hitting .242 (80-330) with seven HR and 42 RBI in 95 games…had an 11-game hitting streak from April 29-May 17…drove in a season-best three runs on June 30 versus Akron…hit .267 (66-247) against right-handed pitchers and .169 (14-83) against left-handers…threw out 35 out of 104 potential base stealers (33.65 percent) on the year. 

OMIR SANTOS
CATCHER 

Born: April 29, 1981 (30) in Bayamon, Puerto Rico 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 213 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Dec. 6, 2010 

Full name: Omir Rios Santos 

2011: Saw action in 11 games during four separate stints with Detroit…sidelined April 7-14 to begin the season (left great toe fracture)…had his contract purchased from Toledo on April 19 and saw action in two games with Detroit before he was optioned to Toledo on May 3…sidelined May 27-June 3 (concussion)…recalled by Detroit on June 3 and then optioned back to Toledo on June 7…compiled a season-high seven-game hitting streak with Toledo June 9-18…forced to the disabled list for a third time July 5-Aug. 16 (right quadriceps contusion)…recalled by Detroit on Aug. 25 and started behind the plate that afternoon at Tampa Bay before he was optioned back to Toledo following the game…recalled by Detroit for the remainder of the season on Sept. 5. 

INFIELDERS 

AUDY CIRIACO
SHORTSTOP 

Born: June 16, 1987 (24) in San Pedro de Macoris, DR 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 195 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 16, 2005 

Full name: Audy Alexander Ciriaco 

2011: Split the year between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo…started the year with Erie and played in 101 games from April 7-Aug. 19…in 38 games during July and August with Erie, hit .333 (49-147)…had an 11-game hitting streak from July 24-Aug. 9…had four hits on July 20 at Trenton…went 5-54 at the plate in 14 games with Toledo…committed 17 errors on the season…played 105 games at third base and five at shortstop. 

ARGENIS DIAZ
INFIELD 

Born: Feb. 12, 1987 (25) in Guatire, Venezuela 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 201 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Dec. 12, 2010 

Full name: Argenis Jose Diaz 

2011: Spent the entire season with Toledo…hit .342 (25-73) in 19 games during May…had four hits on Aug. 11 versus Louisville…had a nine-game hitting streak from July 9-20…committed 17 errors on the year…played 42 games at shortstop, 39 games at third base and 17 at second base…hit .302 (71-235) against righties and .229 (24-105) against lefties. 

BRANDON DOUGLAS
SECOND BASE 

Born: Aug. 27, 1985 (26) in St. Charles, Iowa 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 198 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 11th round of the 2008 draft 

Full name: Brandon Casey Douglas 

2011: Spent the entire season with Double-A Erie, hitting .281 with 30 doubles and 22 stolen bases in 124 games…had four hits on May 14 at Altoona…swiped three bases on May 27 versus Reading…put together a 13-game hitting streak from Aug. 12-24…hit .315 (53-168) after the All-Star break…stole 22 bases in 26 attempts…committed 15 errors on the season. 

BRAD ELDRED
FIRST BASE 

Born: July 12, 1980 (31) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

Height: 6’6 

Weight: 270 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Jan. 20, 2012 

Full name: Bradley Ross Eldred 

2011: Spent the entire season with Triple-A Fresno, hitting .278 (103-371) with 23 doubles, 23 HR and 57 RBI in 111 games…smacked two home runs on May 26 versus Oklahoma City…collected four hits on June 26 at Tucson…drove in five runs on June 27 at Tucson…pitched 1.2 innings on Aug. 19 versus Round Rock (allowed 2 hits and struck out 2)…hit .302 (19-63) during August.  

ERIC PATTERSON
SECOND BASE 

Born: April 8, 1983 (28) in Tallahassee, Fla. 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 170 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Jan. 4, 2012 

Full name: Eric Scott Patterson 

2011: Began the season on the disabled list (strained left hamstring)…had a rehab stint with Single-A Lake Elsinore before being reinstated on April 10, making his season debut that day vs. Los Angeles (NL)…was designated for assignment on June 9 and out-righted to Triple-A Tucson on June 16…spent the remainder of the season with Tucson…made 21 starts for San Diego, including eight at second base, six in center field, five in right field and two in left field…hit home runs in back-to-back days on May 3-4…over a 14-game stretch from May 3-21 for San Diego, he hit .323 (10-31)…over a 25-game stretch for Tucson from July 18-Aug. 27, he hit .326 (31-95).  

RYAN STRIEBY
FIRST BASE 

Born: Aug. 9, 1985 (26) in Seattle, Wash. 

Height: 6’6 

Weight: 245 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 4th round of the 2006 draft  

Full name: Ryan Kristoffer Strieby 

2011: Spent the whole season with Triple-A Toledo, leading the team in games (130), at-bats (487), runs (66), HR (19) and RBI (76)…had a nine-game hitting streak from May 19-29…smacked seven HR and drove in 27 runs during the month of July…committed just six errors on the year…led the International League with 171 strikeouts…established career-highs in games, at-bats, runs and doubles. 

DANNY WORTH
THIRD BASE 

Born: Sept. 30, 1985 (26) in Northridge, Calif. 

Height: 6’1 

Weight: 195 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft  

Full name: Daniel Weston Worth 

2011: Split the season between Toledo and Detroit, seeing action in 30 games during four separate stints with the Tigers…assigned to Toledo to begin the season…sidelined April 24-May 9 (right hamstring strain)…compiled an eight-game hitting streak May 12-20…recalled by Detroit on May 27…established a career high with three RBI on June 6 at Texas…optioned to Toledo on June 27…recalled by Detroit on July 10 and saw action in one game before being optioned back to Toledo on July 15…hit safely in 10 of his final 11 games with Toledo Aug. 22-Sept. 4…recalled by Detroit on Aug. 26 and appeared in one game before he was optioned back to Toledo on Aug. 27…joined the Tigers for his fourth stint with the club after being recalled from Toledo on Sept. 6.  

OUTFIELDERS 

QUINTIN BERRY 

OUTFIELD 

Born: Nov. 21, 1984 (27) in San Diego, Calif. 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 175 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Dec. 6, 2011 

Full name: Quintin Lonell Berry 

2011: Spent most of the year with Double-A Carolina with four games with Triple-A Louisville in September (both Cincinnati Reds’ affiliates)…played in 93 games with Carolina, led the Southern League in stolen bases (40) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.399)…had four hits on May 20 versus Chattanooga…had four stolen bases on Aug. 7 at Mississippi…had a 15-game hitting streak from Aug. 7-24…hit .341 (29-85) against left-handed pitching and .281 (66-235) against right-handers…hit .377 (29-77) with runners in scoring position. 

ANDY DIRKS
OUTFIELD 

Born: Jan. 24, 1986 (26) in Hutchinson, Kan. 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 195 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Left 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 8th round of the 2008 draft 

Full name: Andrew Lee Dirks 

2011: Saw his first action at the major league level, playing in 78 games during two separate stints with the Tigers…assigned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the season…tabbed the International League Player of the Week for April 25-May 1…selected the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for April, hitting .330 with six home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games…had his contract purchased by Detroit on May 13…made his major league debut on May 16 versus Toronto and collected his first major league hit, a single off Kyle Drabek…homered in three straight games June 28-30, becoming the first Tigers rookie to hit a home run in three straight games since Jeff Larish in 2009…optioned to Toledo on Aug. 19…recalled by Detroit on Sept. 1. 

BEN GUEZ
OUTFIELD 

Born: Jan. 24, 1987 (25) in Houston, Texas 

Height: 5’11 

Weight: 180 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 19th round of the 2008 draft 

Full name: Benjamin James Guez 

2011: Spent most of the year with Triple-A Toledo with 38 games played for Double-A Erie from April 7-May 10 and again from July 22-30…collected four hits on July 21 at Norfolk…hit .349 (15-43) with Toledo during July…drove in four runs on Aug. 10 versus Louisville. 

JERAD HEAD
OUTFIELD 

Born: Nov. 15, 1982 (29) in Topeka, Kan. 

Height: 6’0 

Weight: 210 

Bats: Right 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Dec. 1, 2011 

Full name: Jerad Lee Head 

2011: Spent most of the season with Triple-A Columbus with a 10-game stint with Cleveland late in the year…hit two home runs with four RBI on April 17 versus Toledo…collected four RBI on June 5 versus Louisville…had four RBI on June 26 versus Gwinnett…had 11 RBI in four games from July 30-Aug. 2…finished second in the International League in slugging percentage (.526) and third in home runs (24)…also finished third in the league in HR/AB ratio (homered once every 17.58 at-bats)…made his Major League debut Aug. 28 versus Kansas City and collected a single in his second at-bat against Bruce Chen. 

JUSTIN HENRY
OUTFIELD 

Born: April 30, 1985 (26) in Houston, Texas 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 180 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 9th round of the 2007 draft 

Full name: Justin Taylor Henry 

2011: Spent most of the year with Double-A Erie with a short stint with Toledo…had four hits on May 12 at Altoona…had an 11-game hitting streak from July 27-Aug. 9…hit .340 (34-100) in 29 games during May…promoted to Toledo where he hit .421 (8-19) in six games from Aug. 26-Sept. 5…appeared at all positions except pitcher and catcher…committed 11 errors on the year. 

CLETE THOMAS
OUTFIELD 

Born: Nov. 14, 1983 (28) in Jacksonville, Fla. 

Height: 5’11 

Weight: 205 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Selected by Detroit in the 6th round of the 2005 draft  

Full name: Michael Clete Thomas 

2011: Spent the season with Triple-A Toledo, hitting .251 in 113 games…drove in six runs on April 18 at Columbus…had a seven-game hitting streak from July 20-27…hit .309 (38-123) after the all-star break…collected four hits on Sept. 3 at Columbus…hit .323 (32-99) on the year with runners in scoring position…committed just two errors on the year. 

MATT YOUNG
OUTFIELD 

Born: Oct. 3, 1982 (29) in Temple, Texas 

Height: 5’8 

Weight: 175 

Bats: Left 

Throws: Right 

Obtained: Signed by Detroit as a free agent on Nov. 9, 2011  

Full name: Matt E. Young 

2011: Spent most of the season with Triple-A Gwinnett with two trips (20 games total) to Atlanta in April and June…had back-to-back two hit games with Atlanta in June 10 and 11 at Houston…hit .362 (17-47) with Gwinnett in June…hit .404 (21-52) with runners on and two outs with Gwinnett…did not commit an error all season in the outfield (119 games). 

International League offers Hens strong competition

By
Toledo Free Press
-
0

Entering its 128th year, the International league (IL) is readying for another season, with opening days beginning April 5.

Thirteen teams in the 14-team league, home to the Toledo Mud Hens, will look to dethrone the Columbus Clippers, Governors’ Cup champions for the past two seasons. The league is full of talent from top to bottom and ready to entertain area fans who visit Fifth Third Field this year.
BUFFALO BISONS (NEW YORK METS)

Last season: 61-82 (5th IL North)

Best hitting prospect: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, center field

Best pitching prospect: Zack Wheeler, starting pitcher

The Buffalo Bisons struggled last season, finishing with the third worst record in the Il. Although the team has lacked depth in recent years, some of the Mets’ top prospects will be reaching the Bisons soon. At the plate, 24-year-old center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis headlines the group after hitting .298 in Buffalo last season. He played just 53 games before being sidelined with an oblique injury. Cesar Puello, a 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is also moving up the minor league ranks after competing in double-A last season. on the pitching staff, the Mets have two top hurlers in their system. 2009 sixth-overall pick Zack Wheeler leads the group after being acquired last season from the Giants for Allstar Carlos Beltran and may be able to reach Triple-A by the end of the season. He is the league’s 28th-overall prospect in 2012. Also approaching the Bisons rotation is the major league’s No. 37 prospect Matt Harvey, who pitched in double-A Binghamton last year. Harvey was the seventh-overall pick in 2010 and recorded a 3.32 erA with 64 strikeouts in 59 innings.

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX)

Last season: 69-74 (3rd Il south)

Best hitting prospect: Osvaldo Martinez, shortstop

Best pitching prospect: Nestor Molina, closer

As the White sox transition from contender to rebuilding team, the minor league roster is becoming more and more important to the team’s future success. Much of the top-end talent is still on its way to Charlotte, N.C., but the Knights will see some of that talent by the end of the season.
At the plate, most of Chicago’s top hitting prospects are still in single-A, including outfielders Trayce Thompson and Keenyn Walker and infielders Tyler Saladino and Juan Silverio. Charlotte does have shortstop Osvaldo Martinez, one of the team’s top prospects, penciled into the lineup. An 11th round pick in 2006, Martinez hit .245 for the Knights last year and saw limited action for the White sox. Chicago traded closer Sergio Santos in the off-season, making way for Addison Reed, the MlB’s No. 99 top prospect, to move up from Charlotte to the major leagues to compete for the closer’s role. The Knights, however, obtained Nestor Molina in the Santos deal and he instantly became one of their top prospects. Molina, a prospect out of Venezuela, racked up a 2.21 ERA in the Blue Jays minor league system last year.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (CLEVELAND INDIANS)

Last season: 88-56 (1st IL West)

Best hitting prospect: Francisco lindor, shortstop

Best pitching prospect: Nick Hagadone, reliever

In 2011, the Clippers ran away with the Il, picking up seven more wins than any other team and earning back-to-back Governors’ Cups. Columbus is in an interesting position, with most of the Indians’ top prospects either moved on to the majors with Cleveland or low in the minors. despite losing many top prospects, including third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis, the Indians loaded up on veterans that could provide depth. The Indians’ top overall prospect is 19-year-old Puerto Rican Francisco lindor, the No. 32 prospect in the league. The shortstop was Cleveland’s eighth-overall pick in the 2011 MlB draft and has the talent and potential to reach the Triple-A level by the end of the season. left-fielder Nick Weglarz should make a big impact in the Clippers lineup and could have a shot at the Indians roster at some point this year. Nick Hagadone leads the pitchers in Columbus as he continues to battle for a spot in the Indians bullpen. The 26-year-old lefty was traded to Cleveland along with Justin Masterson from Boston for Victor Martinez in 2009.

DURHAM BULLS (TAMPA BAY RAYS)

Last season: 80-62 (1st IL south)

Best hitting prospect: Hak-Ju Lee, shortstop

Best pitching prospect: Chris Archer, starter

Durham had a fantastic season last year, finishing with the third best record in the IL. The Bulls are loaded with near major league talent and will again be one of the contenders for the Governors’ Cup. The Rays’ top prospects are framed by their 2011 trade of pitcher Matt Garza to the Cubs, bringing back the top hitting and pitching prospects in their system. Hak-Ju Lee may not start the season in Triple-A Durham, but should be there by season’s end. Lee hit .190 in 100 at-bats in double-A Montgomery last season after racking up a .318 average in single-A and is the league’s 45th overall prospect. Durham lost Matt Moore to the Rays; their top prospect will look to contend for the American League rookie of the year award in 2012.
The Bulls still have pitching talent in the system, led by starter Chris Archer and Alexander Torres. Archer started his career in Cleveland before being traded to the Cubs for Mark DeRosa. Chicago then moved Archer as part of the Garza deal. He had a 4.09 ERA in the minors last season, including a 0.69 erA in 13 innings of Triple-A, and is the MLB’s No. 74 prospect.

Torres, meanwhile, led all Triple-A pitchers in strikeouts (156) and walks (83) in 2011.

EMPIRE STATE YANKEES (NEW YORK YANKEES)

Last season: 73-69 (3rd IL North)

Best hitting prospect: Austin Romine, catcher

Best pitching prospect: Manny Banuelos, starter

Equipped with the longest name in baseball, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Empire State Yankees lost one of the top prospects in baseball when New York traded catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle in a move for dynamic young starter Michael Pineda.

While their home field is being renovated, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees will spend the 2012 season on the road, primarily in New York state. For this reason, they have taken on the temporary moniker Empire State Yankees.

The loss of Montero was tough, but the organization has the personnel to replace him. Twenty-three-year-old catching prospect Austin Romine isn’t to the level of some of the other hitting prospects in single-A, including another catcher in 19-year-old Dominican prospect Gary Sanchez, but Romine has already reached Triple-A. The former 2007 second-round pick hit .279 in the minors last season and could be an option in New York if injuries hit.

The Empire State Yankees are flush with pitching prospects led by their two top prospects Manny Baneulos and Dellin Batances. Both players reached the majors briefly at the end of the year, combining for 11 starts, and should make a significant impact this season. Baneulos is the league’s 11th-best prospect while Betances is ranked No. 40.

GWINNETT BRAVES (ATLANTA BRAVES)

Last season: 78-65 (2nd IL south)

Best hitting prospect: Tyler Pastornicky, shortstop

Best pitching prospect: Julio Teheran, starter

The Braves have one of the most potent teams in the IL thanks to a stacked Major League rotation. After finishing 13 games over .500 and placing second in the IL south division, the Braves are looking to take the next step forward in 2012.

Tyler Pastornicky leads the Gwinnett prospects offensively after hitting .314 last season, including a scorching .365 for Gwinnett. He was acquired from Toronto in 2010 as part of their trade that sent shortstop Yunel Escobar to Toronto.

The pitching staff is where Gwinnett is dangerous, due to the depth in Atlanta’s rotation. The MlB squad has a starting five of Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy, with Mike Minor favored for the final spot.

That leaves a ton of talent in Gwinnett led by Julio Teheran, who is the No. 4 prospect in baseball. Teheran posted a 2.55 ERA in Triple-A last season, earning MilB.com Triple-A starting Pitcher of the Year honors.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (PITTSBURGH PIRATES)

Last season: 76-68 (2nd IL West)

Best hitting prospect: Starling Marte, center field

Best pitching prospect: Gerrit Cole, starter

As the Pirates have started the process of getting younger, Indianapolis has continued to get better in IL play.

Pittsburgh has a lot of talent moving up and some will be seen with the Indians this year. While the majority of the system’s depth is in pitching, Starling Marte is a solid prospect in center field. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 and made a significant impact in double-A Altoona in 2011, leading the eastern league in average (.332) and doubles (38) while setting a team record with 178 hits.

Pitching is where the Pirates are exceptionally strong, boasting two of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. The biggest question, however, will be whether the Indians will see them in their lineup by season’s end. Gerrit Cole is the team’s top prospect after being the top pick in last year’s draft. The Pirates also have Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in 2010. Both players are in single-A but have enough talent that reaching Triple-A by the end of the year isn’t unattainable.

LEHIGH IRONPIGS (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES)

Last season: 80-64 (2nd IL North)

Best hitting prospect: Sebastian Valle, catcher

Best pitching prospect: Phillippe Aumont, starter

After finishing with the fifth best record in the IL, Lehigh Valley made a run in the playoffs to face Columbus in the Governors’ Cup.

Unfortunately for the IronPigs, they were unable to dethrone the reigning champions. This season many of the Phillies’ top prospects lie in the low minors, but there is some future talent that could make its way through Lehigh Valley.

At the plate, Sebastian Valle is an intriguing prospect. The catcher from Mexico was selected to the 2011 Futures Game and could reach the IronPigs by season’s end. On the mound, Phillippe Aumont rebounded from a poor 2010 showing, recording a 5.68 ERA in 122 innings to put himself back among the top prospects in Philadelphia. The former centerpiece of a trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in 2009, Aumont lowered his ERA to 2.68 last season and struck out 78 batters in 53.2 innings.

LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI REDS)

Last season: 73-71 (3rd IL West)

Best hitting prospect: Devin Mesoraco, catcher

Best pitching prospect: Daniel Corcino, starter

While the Reds strengthened its roster, adding one of the top frontline starters in the majors in Mat Latos from San Diego, its farm system took a major hit in the process.

Among the hitters sent away in the deal included two of three top prospects in catcher Yasmani Grandal and first baseman Yonder Alonso, both of whom would have played in Louisville this season.

The organization’s top prospect, however, still remains catcher Devin Mesoraco, the 15th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Named the MlB’s 14th best prospect entering this season, Mesoraco should move up to Cincinnati by the end of the year.

The Reds’ top pitching prospects, led by 22-year-old Daniel Corcino of the Dominican Republic, however, are nearly entirely based in single-A and will probably not see Lousiville this season. Former reliever Brad Boxberger would have been the organization’s top pitching prospect to wear a Bats uniform this season, but he was also included in the Latos deal.

NORFOLK TIDES (BALTIMORE ORIOLES)

Last season: 56-87 (4th IL south)

Best hitting prospect: Manny Machado, shortstop

Best pitching prospect: Dylan Bundy, starter

The Tides struggled mightily last season, just as their parent organization Baltimore did in 2011. Norfolk finished with the second-worst record in the IL as former top prospects, such as starters Brian Matusz and Zack Britton, advanced to the Orioles.

Baltimore’s farm system is still lacking depth, but does have two of the top 10 prospects in baseball in Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado, though each will have to work to reach Norfolk.

Machado has been pegged the next great Orioles shortstop, but hit just .257 last year in single-A. You can bet, however, that Baltimore would love to see him in Norfolk by the end of the year. He is the league’s No. 6 overall prospect. Bundy was the fourth-overall pick in 2011 and has the talent to reach the Tides by the end of the season, but he still may be a year or so away. He is the No. 10 prospect in baseball.

PAWTUCKET RED SOX (BOSTON RED SOX)

Last season: 81-61 (1st IL North)

Best hitting prospect: Will Middlebrooks, third base

Best pitching prospect: Alex Wilson, starter/reliever

The Pawtucket Red Sox, or Pawsox, had a fantastic year in 2011 with the second-best record in the IL. The Red Sox farm system is talented, but is composed mostly of hitters rather than pitchers.

Will Middlebrooks headlines the Pawsox lineup this season and is the organization’s top prospect. The 23-year-old third baseman is the league’s 55th-overall prospect, but his path to the majors remains blocked by Kevin Youkilis. Still, he should make his presence known in Triple-A for the Pawsox. Alex Wilson is most likely the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect and should see time in a Pawsox uniform this season, but he is reportedly not a top-shelf prospect on the roster.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS (MINNESOTA TWINS)

Last season: 53-91 (6th II North)

Best hitting prospect: Chris Parmelee, first baseman

Best pitching prospect: Kyle Gibson, starter

Like its parent organization in Minnesota, Rochester had a rough season last year and finished with the worst record in the IL. The Twins’ major prospects at the plate lie in single-A, including infielders Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario and outfielders Joe Benson, Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia.

The Red Wings do have some talent on the way, however. Twenty-four-year-old first baseman Chris Parmelee led the entire Twins organization in hits (179), RBI (97) and walks (80) and should be in Rochester soon. Shortstop Brian dozier also should reach the red Wings soon, after being named the team’s Minor league Player of the Year in 2011.

Kyle Gibson leads Rochester’s pitching prospects, but is recovering from Tommy John surgery last season. The 22nd-overall pick of 2009 is on the mend with hopes of recovering enough to play for the red Wings again this year.

SYRACUSE CHIEFS (WASHINGTON NATIONALS)

Last season: 66-74 (4th IL North)

Best hitting prospect: Bryce Harper, center field

Best pitching prospect: Dan Rosenbaum, starter

The Chiefs might not be one of the most talented Triple-A teams in the IL, but they may have the best player.

Syracuse boasts 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper, who was named the second-overall prospect in baseball. Harper was the top pick in the 2010 draft and hit .297 with 17 home runs in his first season of professional baseball last year. He should be joining young pitcher Stephen Strasburg in the majors at some point this season.

The Washington Nationals’ top pitching prospects, including Alex Meyer, Matt Purke and Sammy Solis, are all a while away from Syracuse, but the team does have 24-year-old Daniel Rosenbaum, who should be a threat for the Chiefs rotation this season. The 22nd-overall pick in 2009 out of Xavier, Rosenbaum has never totaled higher than a 2.52 ERA in his three seasons in the minor leagues.

Toledo Mud Hens league affiliations

From Staff Reports

  • 1987-present — Detroit Tigers
  • 1978-1986 — Minnesota Twins
  • 1976-1977 — Cleveland Indians
  • 1974-1975 — Philadelphia Phillies
  • 1967-1973 — Detroit Tigers
  • 1965-1966 — New York Yankees
  • 1953-1955 — Milwaukee Braves
  • 1952 — No Affiliate
  • 1949-1951 — Cleveland Indians
  • 1940-1948 — St.. Louis Browns
  • 1936-1939 — detroit Tigers
  • 1932-1935 — Cleveland Indians
  • 1914-1931 — New York Giants
  • 1907-1913 — Cleveland Indians
  • 1905-1906 — Cincinnati Reds

— Source: Toledo Mud Hens

Detroit Tigers to host Law Enforcement Appreciation Night

By
Dock David Treece
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0

On April 19, 2012, the Detroit Tigers will host its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers and their families.

The event, which will take place during the 7:05 p.m. game against the Texas Rangers, will help raise awareness and funds for the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., projected to open in 2014.

The privately funded, 55,000-square-foot museum will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibits, collections, research and education, according to a news release.

A $39 ticket package includes a ticket to the game, a food and beverage voucher and a co-branded Detroit Tigers and National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund commemorative coin.

The Tigers will donate $10 from each ticket sold to the memorial fund to support the museum. Craig W. Floyd, chairman and CEO of the memorial fund, said the organization is proud to partner with the Tigers.

“Coming together in Michigan for food, fun and championship baseball in honor of our nation’s law enforcement officers is sure to be a great evening — and a great way to raise awareness and funds for the museum,” Floyd said in a statement.

The National law enforcement officers Memorial Fund is a private nonprofit organization that maintains a memorial in Washington, D.C., containing the names of 19,298
officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.

The organization is now working to create the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum.

For more information, visit www.lawmemorial.org.

So far, the museum has raised more than $56 million of its $80 million capital campaign. Former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton serve as co-chairs of the museum’s national honorary campaign committee, which also includes seven former attorneys general of the United States, other former government officials and celebrities, including honorary chairman Clint Eastwood.

For more information, visit the website www.lawenforcementmuseum.org. For more information or to purchase ticket packages, visit www.lawmemorial.org/sports or contact Kate Walker at 313-471-2233 or [email protected].

Princely visitors: Tigers to play Hens in exhibition for charity

By
Dock David Treece
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0
Prince Fielder, pitcher for Detroit. Associated Press photo

For the first time since 2000, the Detroit Tigers are coming to Toledo. The Mud Hens will host Detroit in an exhibition game at noon April 4 at Fifth Third Field, with all proceeds set to go to charity.

Half will go to the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the other half to the Helping Hens Charitable Fund. Gates open at 10 a.m.

The meeting will mark the first exhibition game between the Tigers and Mud Hens since they played at Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee on June 1, 2000.

The game is scheduled to be broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit.

Such exhibition games between a parent club and its affiliate team are rare, said Dan Lunetta, Tigers director of minor league operations.

“These types of games are a rarity anymore; clubs now oftentimes go to a Major League venue to conclude the spring training portion of the schedule,” Lunetta said. “It’s not a common occurrence.”

While the practice of minor league teams hosting their Major League affiliates has become uncommon, it was not always that way.

In fact, as part of the affiliation agreement between Major League Baseball and its minor leagues, the parent company used to be required to play its Triple-A club in an exhibition or pay the club $10,000. Around 2000, however, that rule was negotiated out of the agreement and the game became optional, leading to the 12-year hiatus since the Tigers have been to Toledo.

“Over the years, [Tigers general manager] Dave Dombrowski, Dan Lunetta and I have always had conversations about the possibility,” said Mud Hens President and General Manager Joe Napoli. “The Tigers are kind of in a tough spot because everyone would love to host a Tigers exhibition game, including other communities, double-A, single-A and rookie ball clubs. All those cities would love to have them too.”

In order to bring the Tigers to town, Napoli made an offer they couldn’t refuse. He suggested Toledo host the game and the teams could split the proceeds between their respective charities.

“That was the deal-maker,” Lunetta said. “Even absent of that, we most likely would have still scheduled the game, but when Joe made that proposal to us, that really allowed us to say, ‘Let’s play the game this year.’ What a wonderful thing to do for the charitable organizations that will benefit from the game.”

“They got back to us and said they loved the idea,” Napoli said. “That’s the notion that persuaded the Tigers to consider it and we can’t be more thankful. The Toledo community has responded in outstanding fashion, as they always do, so we are going to have a huge crowd and, as a result, over time there will be many charitable organizations that will benefit from the net proceeds.”

The exhibition game is set for the day before Detroit’s 1 p.m. April 5 season-opener at home against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers will travel to Toledo by bus and will take batting practice prior to the game, which will be open to the public.

That type of exposure to Detroit’s fans in Toledo is exactly what Lunetta and the Tigers are looking to bring.

“When you have your Triple-A club located so close to your Major League club, there is going to be a natural strong fan base because of the close proximity,” Lunetta said. “At least now with the exhibition game, it gives the fans the opportunity to see the club live in a one-time game.”

The game will give some fans the opportunity to see players they once watched play in a Mud Hens uniform.

Toledo veterans

Among the Tigers’ 40-man roster, 19 have played in Toledo. Those players are Al Alburquerque (pitcher), Duane Below (pitcher), Brennan Boesch (outfield), Phil Coke (pitcher), Andy Dirks (outfield), Brandon Inge (third base), Don Kelly (utility), Luis Marte (pitcher), Victor Martinez (catcher), Andy Oliver (pitcher), Rick Porcello (pitcher), Ryan Raburn (outfield), Ramon Santiago (second base), Max Scherzer (pitcher), Daniel Schlereth (pitcher), Jacob Turner (pitcher), Brayan Villarreal (pitcher), Adam Wilk (pitcher) and Sanny Worth (third base).

“There’s no question there are going to be guys that played for Toledo that most likely will never see Toledo again,” Lunetta said. “I’m sure it presents some nice memories for them.”

Another connection is Tigers manager Jim Leyland, a native of Perrysburg.

Leyland’s son, Patrick, was drafted by the Tigers in 2010. The Tigers and Mud Hens have the fifth-longest affiliation between a Major League team and its Triple-A affiliate, behind the Atlanta Braves/ Gwinnett Braves (1966), Kansas City Royals/Omaha Storm Chasers (1969), Boston Red Sox/Pawtucket Red Sox (1973) and Chicago Cubs/Iowa Cubs
(1981).

The Tigers and Mud Hens joined forces in 1987.

“We have a tremendous longstanding relationship with the Toledo Mud Hens,” said Tigers president, CEO and General Manager Dave Dombrowski in a news release. “This exhibition game gives Mud Hens fans an opportunity to see the Tigers at Fifth Third Field, which is one of the finest ballparks in all of minor league baseball.”

With it having been 12 years since the Tigers last came to Toledo and no word when the next meeting might be, Tigers fans who want to see their team play at Fifth Third Field may be waiting a while if they cannot get tickets to this year’s game.

“There are no guarantees this will happen again,” Napoli said. “The Tigers were gracious enough to do it and we as a community are lucky enough to have the timing work out where they have a fantastic team. We are talking about arguably three of the top 10 players in the game being on the Tigers with Prince Fielder, [Miguel] Cabrera and [Justin] Verlander. How often does that happen? We are incredibly excited.”

Season ticket holders were given the first opportunity to purchase tickets before about 1,000 tickets were offered to the general public Jan. 7, selling out within 15 minutes, said Erik Ibsen, Mud Hens assistant general manager of tickets and operations.

A limited number of standing-room only tickets, which went on sale March 3, are left for the game, he said.

The Mud Hens will follow up the game with its home opener April 6 against Indianapolis at 5 p.m., kicking off a three-game weekend series with the Indians.

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