Gateway Grizzlies Hot Stove 2/12/08

The Gateway Grizzlies have been working hard to bring back most of their squad that was an offensive powerhouse in 2007.   Here is how they have done up until this point:

Key Additions

OF Mike Campbell - Campbell is an LS-2 outfielder that played at South Carolina and for two seasons in the Padres Organization.  Last season he hit .235 with 7 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 19 RBI in 183 at-bats in class low-A Fort Wayne.  Campbell swings left-handed and could be another double digit home run threat with the short fences at GCS Ballpark in Gateway.

SS Robert Minor - Minor played at the University of Evansville and was signed by the Yankees last summer, but got released this off-season.  He had good defensive numbers in the Yankees organization, but only got 49 pro at-bats between rookie ball and class high-A Tampa.  Minor's offensive numbers aren't impressive, but it looks like he is a good athlete that can play 2B/SS/3B and at the very least will be a good utility guy for the Grizzlies.

Key Losses

RHP Toro Trevino - The Grizzlies released Trevino earlier this week, presumably because of classification issues.  Trevino would have been an LS-2 in 2008.  Last summer, the crafty right hander threw 116 innings for Gateway en route to a 11-5 record and a spot on the league All-Star team.  Trevino is proof for kids that you don't need to throw 100 mph to be successful in professional baseball if you know how to pitch.

OF Dustin Roberts - Roberts had one of the most memorable offensive seasons in Frontier League history in 2007, hitting .301 with 19 doubles, 29 home runs, and 73 RBI.  Roberts retired this off-season.

3B Ryan Sullivan - Played four years for the Grizzlies.  In 2007 he hit .281 with 15 doubles and and 11 home runs in 71 games.  

OF Jon Armitage - Armitage was an All-Star outfielder for Gateway last summer, hitting .336 with 22 doubles and 18 home runs.  His .452 on-base percentage was tops in the Frontier League.  Armitage aged out at the end of the season.

C Eric Beck - Beck was a very nick back-up catcher for the Grizzlies, hitting .293 with 5 doubles and 4 home runs in just 93 at-bats with a .421 on-base percentage - he probably could have been the #1 catcher for most of the team in the Frontier League.  Beck retired following the season.

Key Returners

OF Stephen Holdren - Holdren had a break out year in 2007 with the Grizzlies, hitting .311 with 16 doubles, 8 triples, and 23 home runs.  Holdren hit in the low .200s with only 6 home runs in the Frontier League in 2006.

OF Jeff Vincent - One-time Beach Bum Jeff Vincent also returns for Gateway.  Vincent hit .262 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 home runs after going over to Gateway in the middle of last season.  Vincent is a 5-tool player that has never really "put it all together," but I expect big things out of him in 2008 while playing with the short fences of GCS ballpark.

1B Mike Breyman - Breyman enters his 5th season in the Frontier League in 2008 (yes, 5th).  Last year he was an All-Star, hitting .331 with 22 doubles and 22 home runs.  He had career highs in most offensive categories last summer, and you can expect him to pick up where he left off.

INF Manny Paula - Paula made a late surge to be Rookie of the Year, hitting .299 with 23 doubles and 15 home runs.  I'm going to guess Paula will be used more at 2B this year as he made 19 errors in just 53 games at 3B in 2007.

SS Ryan Saltzgarber - Saltzgarber had a nice rookie year for Gateway, hitting .320 in 50 games while fielding .942.

C Charlie Lisk - The Veteran Lisk struggled with a .201 average, but when he made contact he made it count - smacking 7 doubles and 15 home runs in 65 games behind the plate for Gateway.  He is an experienced backstop with a good arm, which is hard to find in the Frontier League.

Gateway also returns several pitchers in Eric Dessau (14-2, 3.01 ERA), Billy McKinney, James Hertel (7-1, 1.83 ERA), Justin Staatz, Scott Chambers, and Jason Herman (5-1, 4.79 ERA).  Pitcher Nathan Roush (8-4, 104 IP) and closer Eric Ridener (2.11 ERA, 20 saves) are yet to be named on the Gateway roster, and would be big losses if they decided to retire.

With a very solid nucleus of returning players that helped the Grizzlies reach the playoffs last season, I expect them to be in a heated battle with Windy City and Rockford in the West Division.  That isn't to count out River City, Evansville, and Southern Illinois.  River City has a very strong offensive team coming back and Southern Illinois has made some great off-season pick-ups.  Evansville has a new coaching staff and some key parts to a tough pitching staff coming back, too, and if they can find some offense, they could make some noise.