Archive for September, 2009

The cleverly written storylines hardly ever indicate the reality in a wrestler’s life.  However, Jeff Hardy is living a storyline of excess.  The WWE storyline over the past few months saw CM Punk turn heel and emphasize his ‘straight edge’ lifestyle.  Within that storyline, Punk’s favorite target was Hardy.  Hardy bragged on a recent Smackdown telecast that he had been clean for a year. 

If sobriety was indeed the case, maybe he can use it as a defense in court as to why he was convicted on September 11 on charges of trafficking in controlled perscription pills and possession of anabolic steroids.  A search of Hardy’s house found 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters (that’s alot) of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.  Hardy spent a night in jail before posting the $125,000 bond to be released.  He will have an upcoming court date which should net him at least the minimum of three years in prison unless he can somehow justify the junk in his closet.

Drugs and pro wrestling have churned out some serious tragedies over the past ten years.  Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrerro both passed away under the influence of some foreign substance abuse.  The list is numerous and sadly is always linked to steroids, painkillers, or recreational drugs – all of which were in Hardy’s home.

The CM Punk angle seems so surreal in hindsight.  For weeks, Punk has been attacking the character of Hardy as a guy who “just can’t say no”.   Punk even mentioned Hardy on Smackdown the day after the arrest in a negative light.  I guess it gives the storyline an ending to really sell it, but geez, have mercy on the guy.

The original intent of the storyline was for Punk to win back the title to allow Hardy some time to rest his severely aching neck.  Hardy’s contract expired in June, but he agreed to an extension which ran through Summer Slam and one episode of Smackdown beyond the pay-per-view.

As expected, Vince McMahon has refused comment on the matter and has cancelled a Jeff Hardy DVD which was scheduled for Winter release.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Mays

On a chilly Fall evening, two 19-year old pitching prospects took control of their respective team’s destinies. For Mahoning Valley, Clayton Cook, the Indians 9th round draft pick of 2008 took to the hill. Staten Island sent Jose Ramirez, a 2007 free agent from the Dominican Republic.  With everything at stake, neither of the youngsters factored into the decision.  Relief pitching was the difference as Staten Island overcame a 2-run deficit to defeat Mahoning Valley 5-2 in front of 1933 fans at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers drew first blood when Ben Carlson parlayed an infield single into a run. Carlson moved to second on a passed ball and would come around to score when Rafael Vera smashed a triple into right center. Chun Chen, last night’s hero, doubled to knock home Vera and give the Scrappers a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Scrapper-killer Neil Medchill doubled off of the wall in right center. Zoilo Almonte singled to right knocking Medchill home with no one out. With Almonte at third and one out, Cook battled back to get out of the inning only giving up a single run where the score stood at 2-1 in favor of Mahoning Valley.

In the Yankees half of the seventh inning, Almonte singled off of Vidal Nuno. The next batter, Kyle Higashioka, doubled into the left field corner scoring Almonte and tying the contest at two. That would be it for Nuno who was relieved by Austin Adams with nobody out and Higashioka on second base. Adams rose to the challenge and got the required three outs to keep the game tied at two.

In the eighth, the Yankees struck big.   Jimmy Paredes led off with a single and Mack DeAngelo walked. Luke Merton flew out to center and Paredes tagged and advanced to third. Neil Medchill hit a high chopper toward second that Adams cut off and tried to make a play at home, which failed.  With runners on first and second, Almonte delivered a dagger – a 2 RBI double off of new pitcher Tyler Sturdevant putting Staten Island up 5-2.

Ben Watkins, the winning pitcher, was terrific in relief for the Yankees. He entered the game to start the fourth inning and only gave up one hit over the next five innings. Graham Stoneburner relieved Watkins to pitch the ninth inning for the Yankees and earn the save.  When the final out was recorded, the Yankee dugout emptied noisily as the team celebrated on the Scrappers pitchers mound.   

For Staten Island, it is their sixth NYPL Championship. 

Travis Fryman had nothing but good things to say about his Scrappers club after the game.  “You want these guys to go home on a positive note.  It is hard to lose big games, you can’t take away what they accomplished as a club this year.  It’s over, and we will prepare for next year, it’s all you can do.”

I asked Fryman about a return for next season to which he responded, “I plan on coming back here, absolutely.”

So the 2009 chapter of the New York – Penn League comes to a close.  Congratulations to all of the players in the league, not just Mahoning Valley, for making it a memorable year full of promise.  It was nice to meet so many young men who will serve as the reinforcements to Major League Baseball someday.

Photo -Courtesy of Nick Mays

The Scrappers Marty Popham and the Yankees Sean Black pitched like anything but short season Single-A prospects. Through four complete innings, the two starting pitchers combined for a total of 13 strikeouts.  In the end, it was a crack off the bat of Chun Chen in the bottom of the 11th inning that vaulted the Scrappers to knotting the series at one game apiece.

The irony of the Scrappers walk-off homer win is that Staten Island had hit 45 homers during the regular season and Mahoning Valley only had 11.

The Yankees got a lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Carmen Angelini singled. The next batter for the Yankees, DH Jimmy Paredes doubled driving in Angelini. DeAngelo Mack continued the two-out hitfest with a single up the middle which scored Paredes. After four-and-a-half innings the Yankees held a 2-0 lead.

Jason Smit doubled to start the bottom half of the fifth inning. He advanced to third on a wild pitch with nobody out. The next batter, Casey Frawley doubled deep off of the left-centerfield wall scoring Smit and cutting the Yankees lead to 2-1 and knocking Black out of the game.  Chun Chen laid down a sacrifice bunt off of new Yankee pitcher Griffin Bailey moving Frawley to third with one out. Argenis Martinez singled with two outs to plate Frawley and tie the game at two runs apiece.

With one out in the ninth inning, Jordan Henry singled and Martinez walked, but the Scrappers failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

In the bottom of the 11th inning of the 2000 NYPL finals, the Scrappers were playing Staten Island, and won that game on a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 11th inning.  Props to GM Dave Smith who walked into the pressbox during the tenth inning and laid claim to history repeating itself.  With one swing of Chen’s bat off of Staten Island pitcher Ronny Marte,  Smitty looked like a genius.  Chen was due to have a big hit sooner or later, he is just too good of a hitter.  “That was my biggest hit of my career”, said Chun through his interpreter (Jason Lynn), “I got a fastball, put a good swing on it, and the ball carried out”.

Jason Smit, Ben Carlson, Chen, and Martinez all had two hits each for the Scrappers.

Cory Burns was awesome in 3 1/3 innings of relief in garnering the win.  Burns had it going striking out 4 Yankees in his appearance and is credited with the win.  Antoine Hubbard and Matt Packer also pitched scoreless relief in keeping the loud Yankee bats quiet.

After the game, Travis Fryman tried to offer explanations on the mystique of this 2009 Scrappers team.  ” Our strength all year has been our pitching depth and ability to just win games.  I can’t explain that, I have been scratching my head all year trying to figure out how we ended up with the best record in the league.  I don’t think we had the most talented club in the league by any means, but I think tonight was a great example of what kind of ballclub we have, just finding ways to win”.

The Scrappers and Yankees hook it up Wednesday night, winner-takes-it-all.  Clayton Cook will start for the Scrappers.  “Cookie and some good guys in the bullpen, I like our chances”, said Fryman about the deciding contest.  First pitch is at 7:05 PM at Eastwood Field.  Marc Means will be on AM-1390 calling the game for those unable to attend.

$2 made from every ticket sold is being donated to the Luke Holko Fund.

Playoff Smit-O-Meter:  2-4, 2B (1), Run

Don’t be fooled by their record, at least that is what Youngstown State Football Coach Jon Heacock thinks about Northeastern University’s football program.  The 1-1 Pengiuins travel to Boston to face the 0-2 Huskies, who lost to Maine last week 17-7.  This marks the first time since 1992 that these teams have met in Boston.  In the 1992 contest, Northeastern won a tight one, 28-23.  Coach Heacock is 1-0 lifetime against the Huskies, a contest that YSU won 35-16 at home in 2005, the last time the teams squared off.

Last weeks Austin Peay vs YSU contest won by YSU, 38-21, showed an offensive balance.  YSU passed for 232 yards and rushed for 202.  The defense showed signs of greatness at times.  There are still many things to iron out on both sides of the ball before this team can be looked at as a National Championship contender.

Northeastern is coached by Rocky Hager.  Coach Hager is in his sixth season and has gone 17-40 over that span.  Coach Heacock was full of praise for the Notheastern program and knows that if the Penguins let their guard down they could have a long Saturday.  “It’s a difficult place to play.  They [Northeastern] are a hungry, competitive, and tough football team.  I don’t care about their record, I have been there enough times to know what we are getting into.  Maine was rated 20th in the country, and that game was to the wire.  You watch some of their games from last year, Villanova, that game was to the wire.”

Heacock talked about what to expect from Northeastern.  “On offense, they are different than anyone we have seen.  They run a spread and a no-huddle, very similar to our offense.  They line up fast.  Against Boston College and Maine, defenses were having trouble lining up right because they get set fast.  They run a pressure defense.  We will be doing some blitzing and stunting during practices this week to prepare for what they might do.  I expect the game to be tough and physical.”

Senior RG Brian Mellott commented on what he saw on film that impressed him about Northeastern.  “Their noseman, #57 [Mike Lukenda] is an excellent football player.  Playing against Williams and the guys we played against two weeks ago [Pitt] we know what to expect.  The two inside linebackers look excellent.  One of them,  #34 [Craig Kenney], is the captain of their team, he is the heart and soul of that defense.  We are in for a challenge.”

Mike LB Dionta Tate described the Huskies QB, Matt Carroll, as a ‘running back who plays quarterback’.  Anytime a team spreads the field and has a quarterback who can run, defenses better know their responsibilities or they will get picked apart.  The YSU coaching staff has made this clear to the players for this game.

The Brandon Summers – Donald Jones show got rolling last week.  Kevin Smith ran hard and made the most of his chances. Mychal Savage is a beast, period.  Aaron Pitts made a huge fourth down catch.  Players on this Penguins team are definitely playing their roles.  The twelve Seniors on this team are leading by example.  Watch this young offensive line improve as they gain valuable game experience.  Brian Mellott may be the best talker I have ever heard at a press conference.  I know he is communicating well with the younger guys as they gain time.

Kickoff at Northeastern is set for 1 o’clock and the game can be heard on AM-570, WKBN with Bob Hannon and Dick Hartzell.  The game can also be purchased to watch online for $8.95 at GoNU.tv.  The early weather is calling for a chance of showers on a 67 degree afternoon at Parsons Field.

Penguin Notes

• Against Austin Peay, YSU Strong Safety Sir Demarco Bledsoe finished with 15 tackles, most by a YSU player in a game since 2004.  The 15 tackles were also the most recorded by a member of the YSU defensive secondary since 2002.
• YSU’s Dominique Barnes has caught a pass in 14 consecutive games, longest streak on the team.
• Lenny Wicks should be ready to suit up for action this week vs Northeastern.
• Seasons that end in the number nine have been kind to the Peguins over the past few decades.  In 1999, YSU played in the NCAA Championship Game.  In 1989, YSU reached the FCS quarterfinals.  In 1979, YSU played for the Division II National Championship.  Can 2009 continue the pattern?

There are several area fundraisers to benefit Luke Holko.  Luke remains at Akron Childrens Hospital and I am working on getting an update on his condition.  If you have a fundraiser or a promotion for this cause, please leave a comment and I will update the schedule.  Continued prayers are with Luke.

Tuesday, September 15.  The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have announced that they will donate $2 from every ticket sold to the NYPL Championship games to the Luke Holko Fund.  If there is a game 3 on Wednesday, the $2 donation on every ticket will remain in place.  Game 1 is set for Tuesday at Eastwood Field.

Friday, September 18. Spaghetti Dinner to benefit Luke at The Wet Spot, 1875 Elm Road, Warren.  330-372-5263.   Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread & butter.  The donation is $5 and carryout and delivery are available. 

Sunday, September 27.  A spaghetti dinner will be held at Odonald’s Irish Pub in Niles.  The event will be held from 2-7 PM and the donation is $8 with all proceeds going toward Luke’s recovery.  For more information or directions, call 330-349-4500.

Saturday, October 10.  Golf outing at Bronzewood Golf Course.  Contact Robert to volunteer, enter a team, or donate.  Robert’s e-mail address is Bobbckwardisbob@aol.com .  Here is the official website for the golf outing:  http://www.teeingupforluke.com/

Ongoing.  You can donate at any area Cortland Banks branch where a fund for Luke Holko has been set up.  Cortland Banks are located conveniently throughout Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.  Here is a Cortland Banks address for people like Roberto who commented from Texas and want to donate:

Cortland Bank

Lucas Holko Fund

2935 Elm Road NE

Warren, OH  44483

What a horrible weekend for the nationally covered Ohio sports teams!  It’s football season, but they are still playing baseball.  Didn’t matter which level, didn’t matter which sport, all that matters is that my home state, in a 24-hour span, was 0-5 against teams from other states.

The fun started Saturday night when Ohio State hosted USC.  I excitedly watched the Buckeyes dominate the trenches, field position, and play the Tressel ‘three yards and a cloud of dust’  brand of football.  That worked, for three-and-a-half quarters.  Pete Carroll found a way to call a 90+ yard drive to doom the Buckeyes as they went on to lose 18-15.

Sunday, a whole new grouping of ways to lose at various sports came into play.

The Cleveland Indians managed to get only two hits in losing to the Kansas City Royals.  They also gave up seven runs in losing 7-0 to a team with a winning percentage of under .400 at the time. 

The Cincinnati Reds were a little better in losing to the Cubs.  They managed to score a couple of runs, but the Cubbies managed to score five. 

The Cincinnati Bengals probably gave the home loyalists the biggest stomach ache.  A deflected pass lands right into the hands of a Denver receiver who has absolutely no one around him because two Bengals defensive backs and a linebacker had fallen like dominoes.  Brandon Stokley = Hero.  Knock the ball down… DOWN… not up.  12-7 Broncos.

The Cleveland Browns played with purpose for a half.  They basically took away Adrian Peterson and dared Brett Favre to beat them.  A few coaching adjustments at halftime solved the problem and Peterson ran like a deer in a vacant field.  Vikings 34-20.

Remedy?  Musical coaches.  Let’s put Mangini in a Reds uniform.  He can develop a wildcat bunt or something.  He has that chubby baseball look anyway.  Jim Tressel can go coach the Indians.  What would be the odds of him playing the lines with a one run lead to take away extra-base hits?  Eric Wedge would look good in the Bengals stuff.  He is used to dealing with injury-prone lefties who can’t throw anyway.  Marvin Lewis can go to Ohio State.  And by default, Dusty Baker would coach the Browns.

0-5. 

Sigh… To dominate a team for three-and-a-half quarters, winning the battle of the trenches, winning the field position game, and ultimately losing to USC, Ohio State has to wonder why they are snakebitten against Top-5 teams in the past few years.  The Buckeyes played a much more respectable game than they did last season against the Trojans, at least on defense (until the last drive).  Pete Carroll was just chomping at the bit waiting for a mismatch with a linebacker on Mr. McKnight, and he got one when he really needed it.  Two great defenses played well and no one is really to blame, someone had to lose, unfortunately it was again Ohio State failing to win a big game in the end.

Here are some stories from other great sites leading into Week 1 of the NFL…

• Josh Q. Public welcomes back another season with his Hooray Football! piece.
• Detroit4Lyfe was elated to see the Michigan Wolverines get by Notre Dame in a great game.  Keep winning, the Buckeyes will need your points in November.
• PSAMP is a Pittsburgh blog, and you would never know that by reading this article which places Big Ben into mediocrity and begs for a re-signing of Kordell Stewart.  These guys also caught up with former NFL Coach Jimmy Johnson and got some comments from him.
• Fansided takes a look at Mark Sanchez vs History, in a really good piece with in-depth statistics and comparisons.
• My Sports Rumors asks if this could be the week for the Detroit Lions against the Saints. Sorry, not a chance.  Saints by at least 14.
• Steady Burn has a couple of good stories from the world of high school football and wonders which is more absurd.
• Style Points previews the year that lies ahead for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• In Game Now announces one of the latest matchups on an upcoming celebrity boxing card featuring Rodney King vs an ex-cop.

YSU got off to a sluggish start but recovered to take a halftime lead and defeat the Austin Peay Governors, 38-21.  With the victory, Coach Jon Heacock ran his home opener winning record to 9-0, and the Penguins won their 14th consecutive home debut.

It didn’t take Austin Peay very long to get on the scoreboard.  With 13:23 left in the first quarter and YSU in a punting situation, Austin Peay’s Ricky Thomas blocked the attempt and Adrian Mines fell on the ball in the end zone to put the Governors up 7-0.

With 8:10 left in the opening period, Stephen Blose connected on a 31-yard FG to cap a 10 play, 55 yard drive and making the score 7-3 in favor of Austin Peay.

An Austin Peay drive was single-handedly destroyed by Mychal Savage.  Savage sacked Governors QB Trent Caffee, caused a fumble on the sack, and promptly recovered the fumble giving YSU the ball on Austin Peay’s 49-yard line.  The first quarter would come to an end with YSU driving at Austin Peay’s 3-yard line and trailing 7-3.

On a third-and-goal at Austin Peay’s 1-yard line, Kevin Smith barely received the handoff before being hit by Daniel Becker for a four-yard loss.  Stephen Blose attempted a 15-yard FG but hit the right upright and YSU failed to convert the takeaway into points.

Trent Caffee increased the Austin Peay lead to 14-3 with 9:13 to go in the second quarter with a fourth-and-goal run on the Youngstown State one-yard line.

YSU finally found the end zone with exactly five minutes left in the half when Brandon Summers found TE Andy Colegrove for a 4-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10. 

Another Austin Peay miscue gave YSU another chance to score as Caffee was picked off by Bryan Gaiters with 4:18 left in the half.  Kevin Smith gave YSU their first lead in 2009 as he ran seven yards on a second-and-goal with 3:39 left in the half.  The Penguins only needed two plays to go ten yards for the score making it 17-14 Penguins, which is where the scoring ended in the first half.

YSU returned an earlier favor by blocking a Governor’s punt on their first possession of the second half and taking over on the Austin Peay 30-yard line.  Summers would find Donald Jones for a 20-yard scoring hookup to increase the Penguins lead to 24-14.  The Penguins drove 30 yards in four plays on the scoring drive.  Jones showed his great concentration on the scoring reception by pulling in the pass, getting his helmet knocked off, and still holding on for six.

On their next set of plays, YSU showed their explosive scoring side as Summers again found Jones, this time for an 18-yard score making it 31-14 in favor of the host Penguins.  The Penguins went 51 yards in just six plays in under two minutes for the score. 

The third quarter ended with YSU up 31-14 but Austin Peay driving.  On the first play of the fourth quarter Caffee found Darryl Miller with a fade into the right corner of the YSU end zone to cut the lead to 31-21.  Austin Peay drove 75 yards in 14 plays to paydirt.

The YSU defense looked sharp stopping a couple of Austin Peay fourth quarter drives, and the alignment woes from the Pitt game looked to be fixed.  The Penguins defense stopped Austin Peay on a fourth-and-four yards to go play to take over on downs on the Governors 28. 

Summers found Dominique Barnes on a skinny post route for a 17-yard strike after a holding penalty backed the Penguins up to the Governors 17.  Blose nailed his fifth extra point of the game to stretch the Penguins lead to 38-21.  With the touchdown, Summers tied a YSU record for touchdowns in a game being the eighth quarterback in Penguins history to throw four in a contest.  He accomplished the fete last season against Liberty, so the four touchdowns tied a personal best.

Austin Peay would mount another drive as Caffee found Scott Thomas for a 25-yard completion.  Youngstown State helped out with a late hit, a roughing the passer call, and an illegal hands to the face series of penalties.  The Governors eventually turned the ball over on downs as Luke Matelan sacked Caffee and YSU took over on downs at their own 29.

YSU’s second team offense was able to get a couple of first downs and successfully run the clock out to preserve the 38-21 victory for the Penguins to even their 2009 record at 1-1.

After the game, Coach Heacock was very quick to praise his group of twelve seniors and their significance as leaders.  “The Seniors are playing good football.  Mychal Savage, Donnie Jones, Jabari Scott, all of the seniors are playing good football.  They have worked hard.  In the Spring when it was 28 degrees, those Seniors were leaders by example.  They make sure the younger guys are going to class, they work hard, and they truly are a very special group.”

Brandon Summers downplayed his own personal numbers by praising the defense,  “I give it to our defense.  They created the momentum switch.  We had to capitalize on that because we don’t want them to get an interception and then go three-and-out.  I would like to thank our defense.”

Summers finished the game 17-24 for 232 yards and four touchdowns.  Donald Jones led the Penguins receiving statistics with 6 catches for 82 yards and a pair of scores.  Kevin Smith had 20 rushes for 116 yards and a score, he also caught a pass for 15 yards.  The Penguins were penalized 10 times for 110 yards.  Coach Heacock said the penalties may have been a result of lazy play with a big lead, and that the 110 yards were ‘too many, way too many’.

Austin Peay QB Trent Caffee finished 13-31 for 158 yards , a TD, and an INT.  Ryan White had 52 yards in 15 carries to lead the Governors ground game.  Adrian Mines had 49 yards on two catches, one a 43-yarder to lead the receivers. 

YSU  gets ready to travel to Northeastern next Saturday, a place where the Penguins have had very little success.

Brandon Summers is the quiet leader, the guy who wants to show, not say, what he can do on a football field.  Summers had a strong finish in 2008 and came in tabbed the starter for 2009.  He is settling into his role and thinks that this year’s YSU offense is going to show some people why this team’s expectations are so high for 2009.  I recently had a chance to talk with Summers about everything from Sociology to pepperoni.

Paneech: Why did things suddenly start to click toward the end of last year?

Summers: Earlier in the season [2008], we had a little quarterback controversy.  Once I was given the starting job and became more comfortable with the offense, things started to roll for us.  It was hard to have team unity when we didn’t know where we were headed.  Once we did, things were good.

Paneech: Did the two long drives against Pitt fuel a fire for what this offense is capable of?

Summers: They [the drives] proved that we can move the ball against a bigger team like Pitt.  It helps our confidence, and we are gonna go from there.  We still have alot of work to do.

Paneech: You write left-handed and throw right-handed.  I throw left-handed and write right-handed.  Are we weird?  How does that happen?

Summers:  (laughs) I guess you gotta ask the man above about that one.

Paneech: How did you end up at YSU?

Summers: First, I was enrolled at Toledo University for two years.  Then I tried to transfer to Southern Illinois, but the coach there got fired.  A high school teammate of mine, Dominique Barnes, told me about Youngstown and the fact that I might have a good opportunity to play here, so I took that advice in stride.

Paneech: If your brother Derrick were lined up against you (Derrick is a linebacker at Toledo) what could we expect to see?

Summers: You would see alot of competitiveness.  All of our lives, we have been on the same team, but never on the opposite team.  You would see good things.

Paneech: Who is your favorite team and quarterback in the NFL?

Summers: I like Donovan McNabb.  I was compared to him often when I played high school ball.  Ever since then, I keep an eye on what he does and we do many similar things.  The Philadelphia Eagles are my favorite team.  I’m happy for Michael Vick and that he received a second chance.  Everybody messes up, some things bigger than others, and if Vick can capitalize on that chance, I would be happy.  He has shown that he is sorry and he deserved this chance.

Paneech: As a casual YSU fan, why would I buy into this team making the playoffs?

Summers: Last year, I felt we were pretty good, but were hurt by all of the injuries.  This year, we have got everyone back and healthy.  You saw in the Pitt game that we can do some things as a team when everyone is healthy.  Put all of your money on us (laughs).

Paneech: You recently had a touch of the flu, are you 100% now?

Summers: I am about 75% healthy, but getting better fast.  I’m gonna play, and you won’t be able to tell in the game.

Paneech: What is the class here at YSU that you absolutely despise going to?

Summers: Spanish.  I had Spanish in 9th grade way back when and it is hard to pick anything back up. 

Paneech: Why Sociology as a major?

Summers:  I feel like I am good with people.  I like talking to people and finding out why they do what they do.  I feel it is a major that is best suited for me.

One Word Answers

Favorite TV Show?  The Bernie Mac Show

Favorite College QB?  Past?  Troy Smith,  Present, Terrelle Pryor

Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream?   Vanilla

Kim Kardashian or Beyonce?  Since Beyonce is taken, I’ll take Kim Kardashian.

Favorite Fast Food?  Wendy’s

Boxing or Pro Wrestling?  Boxing

Best Cartoon Ever?  Doug

Favorite Baseball Team?  Detroit Tigers

Favorite Video Game and System?  Madden and PS3

If You Were Ordering Pizza, What would You Get On It?   Just pepperoni, in fact, I would tell them to put less cheese on it.

I wanted to do a profile piece on Ben Carlson about a month and a half ago.  When I asked him about it after a Scrapper game in July, he simply told me “we’ll see”.  Today Carlson admitted to me that he was reluctant to do a profile piece back then because he was not playing well and thought others on the team may have deserved the attention more than he did.  It is because of that attitude that today, I am happy to be doing a feature piece on Ben.  Carlson gives the words ‘team player’ and ‘wise beyond his years’, believability.

 Carlson and I have been linked closer since last Wednesday.  A line-drive foul ball off of his bat struck Luke Holko.  Having an idea of what kind of a person Ben was, I knew that he would be devastated.  After every game, I would talk to Travis Fryman.  Our conversations have been pretty structured lately.  My first question has always been, “Any news on Luke?”, followed by, “How is Ben doing?”, followed by, “Tell me about the start that Clayton Cook provided and how long are Kyle Bellows and Greg Folgia hurt?” 

I met Chad and Nicole Holko on Wednesday, a week after the incident.  The Scrappers played Brooklyn that night and I waited until after the game to talk to Ben and Travis about my visit.  Ben told me, “I gotta get up there and see him.”  The next morning, Ben and I were on our way to Akron Children’s Hospital.  Ben brought a bat to give to Luke.  We had about two hours to talk, so this profile piece is done with more than the usual amount of information.

We met at 9:00 AM at Eastwood Field.  I learned that this early time of nine was a sacrifice in itself for Carlson who said he usually sleeps until 11.  It sounds bad, but when you weigh the normal day ahead of a Scrappers player, it seems that isn’t enough rest.  These guys got home at 6:00 AM from one of their unpopular eight-hour bus rides.  On a gameday, which is pretty much every day, the players are required to be at the field by 2:00 PM for meetings and stretching followed by batting practice.  Then they hit the field for the game.  After showering and sometimes short post-game meetings, a player can expect to get home between 11:00 – midnight.  That’s a long day.

One of the first things I talked with Carlson about was “home”, both growing up and here.  The growing up part was in Kansas.  Carlson has loyalty to the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, two franchises which have not been lighting it up as of late.  We talked about George Brett and Christian Okoye and if the Chiefs were capable of winning even three games this season.  Carlson has three brothers, all playing baseball at some level.  His oldest brother is in the Detroit Tigers system, and recently needed surgery on his wrist.  Ben attended Missouri State for a bit, but once you get drafted, college ends up on the back burner.  After this season with the Scrappers, he will go to an instructional league in Arizona on September 30.  His father runs a car auction back in Kansas.  His parents recently made a trip to Ohio to see Ben play and because it was Labor Day Weekend, the car auction was delayed until Tuesday.  “My father hasn’t missed an auction in 24 years.” 

Nick Kirk and Brett Brach live with the same host family as Carlson.  He claims that it is nice to have some teammates around but was quick to point out that pitchers are pretty much on a different schedule, so they go to the park at different times.  “We pretty much have an area of the house to ourselves.  There is a nice setup with a big screen when we have time to watch it.”  Carlson said his host father leaves for work at 5:30 in the morning and he went a stretch of about two weeks without even getting to see him.

Once we got to the hospital and parked, the reality of our trip started to settle in.  We agreed that it is tough to see Luke on the machines as we had both already been there once.  Walking to the room, a million things race through my mind, the most important being some sign of improvement or some good news.  Our unannounced visit was well-received.  Nicole and Chad and Nicole’s parents were all there.  Nicole told us about Eric Wedge’s wife coming yesterday and showed us all of the nice stuff she brought with her including a two-foot card signed by the entire team, some autographed bats, and even a Jamey Carroll glove.  Nicole then talked with us about improvements.  There is something caled an ICP count which is monitored on a screen.  Luke’s ICP count rises when he gets annoyed.  I was fixated on this single monitor for most of the visit.  We had to leave before 11:30 because Carlson had to be back in Niles by 12:30 for practice.

One of the things Carlson and I talked about was his music that he picked when he comes up to bat.  Most of the Scrappers pick R & B stuff, or newer music.  Casey Frawley has a country song.  Ben Carlson has Ted Nugent.  Yep, the Motor City Madman.  I asked Carlson if the music gets assigned or if they get to pick it. He told me that they get to pick what they want.  I then asked how he ended up with ‘Stranglehold’.  He told me he loved the song as a teammate of his in college used it when he came to bat.  Once he got to Niles, he picked the song to use for himself.

Carlson is still getting used to hitting with a wooden bat.  Having used aluminum bats his whole career, it is a big change.  He is also learning to play first base.  He had played there before, but very sparingly.  “You go where they put you and make the most of it,” remarked Carlson whose primary world was the outfield.

Moises Montero, Jesus Brito, and Argenis Martinez do not speak much English yet.  From what Carlson told me, Rafael Vera should draw an additional check from the Indians organization for being a full-time interpreter.  The language and communication problems don’t end there.  Carlson’s roommate on the road is Chun Chen.  I asked him what they could possibly do or how they communicate.  “Chen knows a little English and is learning, we get through it.”

Carlson is very complimentary of the coaches and trainers.  He has much respect for Travis Fryman and Phil Clark and said nothing but good stuff about both guys.  Nothing but praise for the Scrappers organization and not a bad word about a teammate.  Carlson said in some ways it has been a very long Summer.  He is looking forward to going to his brother’s wedding in Las Vegas in November.  “He is 6’4″, she is 6’3″ and used to play basketball at New Mexico, they are going to have some tall kids.”

Carlson and the Scrappers will be competing for the NYPL championship this weekend.  He was quick to point out that the Scrappers lead the NYPL in team batting, yet no Scrapper player is even in the Top-10.  “We are a true team, everyone has been contributing all season.  When someone gets hurt, someone else has been able to step in and get the job done.”

I enjoyed my time with Ben Carlson.  He is a refreshing person who contradicts the young pro athlete stereotypes.  If he doesn’t make it in baseball, he will succeed in some other avenue his path may drive him to.