Midland Rockhounds September 16, 2009 Scorecard

With final installment of 2009 Midland Rockhounds scorecard programs. This is final home game I attended that season. Didn't get go to their South Division Championship games which they won the series 3-1 advancing to Texas League Championship against Northwest Arkansas. This is game 2 of the series. Scores of north and south division series between both teams as well regular season standings of first and second half of the season.

Same roster they had from last month.

Chris Carter no longer at the team as he got called up to Sacramento. Kyle Middleton rejoin the team. Mickey Storey joined the team. He played all four levels in the minors that season. Played two seasons in the majors before spending remaining three years of his playing in the minors and independents. Currently a manager for Round Rock Express leading the team to PCL championship but got swept in the series against Sacramento River Cats.

Rockhounds won 7-6 to tie the series 1-1. They would win two straight to the take Texas League crown in 2009.

Had a time going through scorecard programs remembering the players, coaches, and managers who played in Texas League. The researching of the who's who and where they go afterwards. Some went on to the majors while others stayed in the minors, independents, or overseas. Few went on to coaching. Former Rockhound Raul Padron is one of them. He had the vital hit in game 4 of Texas League championship giving the team a clinching championship win. Today he's part of Amarillo Sod Poodles coaching stuff. Things came full circle for Padron as last night Sod Poodles won 2019 Texas League championship thanks to Taylor Trammell grand slam. Padron became a Texas League championship winner both a player and a coach. You never know who might wind up where but the memories of watching them play and move up will stay fresh in a fan's mind.

Midland Rockhounds August 19, 2019 Scorecard

Battle of cross division leaders as Midland Rockhounds take on Northwest Arkansas Naturals. This was last regular season game I attended that year.

I noticed they listed Mitch Moreland as Mitchell. Looking top 10 batters and pitchers half of them made it to the majors. It wasn't Drew Locke, Chad Tracy or Trevor Reckling.

Rockhounds final 20 games of the regular season starts with NO days off. It's the playoff spot grind for them. Graham "G" Godfrey and Blake Johnson starts the game.

What's changed from the last visit? Kyle Farnsworth on the team for rehab assignment. Jeff Bianch, David Lough, and Jarrod Dyson on the team as they would go on play in the majors. Dyson still playing to this day as he's with Diamondbacks. He was part of Royals World Series run in 2014 and 2015. Did you know he was drafted in 50th round? He worked hard get to the Show.

Almost same team. Mike Benacka called up to AAA Sacramento. Rocky Roquet and Angel Garcia off the DL.

Rockhounds shutout Naturals 8-0. Frisco won so 'Hounds are still 3 games up on 'Riders

Midland Rockhounds June 17, 2009 Scorecard

This program from June 17 game against Frisco Roughriders. Rockhounds went on bad stretch this month. They end up losing first half of Texas League to San Antonio (39-31) by two games finishing with 37-33 record.

Texas League All-Star was played in Frisco that year. About 24 players went on the play in the majors.

A big roster change from June 8 game as Tommy Everidge called up to Triple A.

About 11 players made it to the majors, most notably, Justin Smoak and Mitch Moreland. Six (Smoak, Moreland, Craig Gentry, Manny Pina, Tanner Roark, and Pedro Strop) currently playing this season. Jose Diaz is best known as Jumbo Diaz. Chad Tracy is not Diamondbacks Chad Tracy. This one peaked in Triple A before finishing his final two seasons at independents. Ryan O'Malley is listed but never played a game for the team. Michael Schlatt hung around Rangers organization for 7 years before finishing his career in the independents. I own Thomas Diamond Rangers jersey and had him sign it despite not playing a game for the team. He was on their 40 man roster at the time. I bought it at The Ballpark at Arlington when they had player worn jerseys shop right around outfield. I don't believe its there anymore. Guilder Rodriguez finally got his call up in 2014 after 12 years in the minors. He's now coaching Rangers rookie league team. Another player that went on to become coach is Joe Torres who is currently pitching coach for Lake County Captains. Mike Micucci is currently manager of Lakewood Blueclaws after spending time with Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles-Anaheim Angels in various coaching capacities. Brant Brown is now with LA Dodgers. Jeff Andrews, who replaced Joe Slusarski few weeks into the season, stuck with Frisco til 2015.

Rockhounds shutout Roughriders 2-0

Midland Rockhounds program June 8, 2009

Another scorecard program from Midland Rockhounds. They took on Tulsa Drillers that night. Drillers were Colorado Rockies affiliate at the time. The north and south teams play two series every season, one per half. The player on the cover is still Justin Dowdy.

Esmil Rogers who was at time one of Rockies top pitching prospect against Carlos Hernandez. There were too many players name Carlos Hernandez as well. Crunch time to first half of season crown with top teams in both leagues clinching the playoffs. Archie Gilbert continue his hot streak including going 4-4 the previous game.

Rockhounds still on top of South by 5 games while Drillers in second place behind two games to Springfield Cardinals. Look at the top 10 pitchers with lowest ERA during the time. Only four made to the majors. I thought Trevor Reckling and Kasey Kiker had better potential only to peak very quickly.

The outfielders up their batting average from the previous game I attended.

Eight players went on to majors afterwards. Five of them are pitchers with Jhoulys Chacin best of the bunch. The others are Esmil Rogers, Sam Deduno, Chaz Roe, and Xavier Cedeno. Chacin and Roe still playing to this day. Michael McKenry spent most time in the majors of the three position players. The others are Chris Nelson and Cole Garner. Garner only got four games and that was it for his time in the majors. Team included Ryan Harvey who was drafted 6th overall by Cubs in 2003 as well two Daniels as in Mayora and Carte. Both were high prospects for Rockies at the time and neither made it to the show. When Texas League started the season Stu Cole was manager. Rockies fired Clint Hurdle 46 games into the season. Cole got moved up to Triple-A Colorado Springs when Rockies promoted Tom Runnells to bench coach. Ron Gideon started the season as Rockies minor league coordinator became manager of Tulsa. He is currently 1st base coach for the Rockies. Dave Hajek was in Tulsa til after 2011. Former All-Star Bryan Harvey spent two years as pitching coach. A bit homecoming for him because he played for Midland in 1987 when it was Angels affiliate at the time.

Midland got through Esmil Rogers and won 8-2. Tulsa had bad misfortune of not able win both first (38-32; finish second) and second half (36-34; finish second) despite having most combined wins in the north division with 74-67 record.

Midland Rockhounds June 3, 2009 Program

I previously posted a game program from a decade ago of that date. It's been over a month since I went to a game. Another Wednesday game for me as they take on Northwest Arkansas Naturals. By that time I given several players personal nicknames just like I have done before. One of them is Mike "the Sultan of Swing" Sulentic.

Justin Dowdy on the cover of the scorecard program. He was no longer on the team when it was printed out. He spent the season playing in American Association for Shreveport-Bossier Captains then Wichita Wingnuts. He played til 2013 season mostly in independent leagues.

Rockhounds still on top of their division with 28-22 record ahead of San Antonio Missions. Mike Baxter, who later play for NY Mets, lead the league in batting average and tied with Chris Carter on extra base hits. Looking at pitching top 10 Esmil Rogers and Ernesto Frieri would have a longer MLB career. Trevor Reckling, Kasey Kiker, Will Inman, Omar Poveda, Trey Hearne, and Tommy Mendoza never made it to the majors.

Jared Lansford joined the team. Bottom blurb mention of former Rockhound Vin Mazzaro getting combined shutout in his first career MLB game. He spent 8 up and down seasons bouncing between majors and AAA.

About six players on the roster made it to the majors afterwards. Big name out of it is Greg Holland as became 3-time MLB All-Star and one of top closers in the league. Blake Wood spent 7 seasons in the majors with five of them bouncing between AAA and the majors. Played for Angels last year.

Daniel Cortes got a total of 14 games with Mariners in two season. On side note I witness him almost getting killed by line drive foul ball at this game while sitting in the dugout. If he didn't move in a split second it would have hit in him in the head and would been dead.

Anthony Lerew returned with a 6 game stint. Cody Clark finally got a shot with 16 game stint with Astros in 2013. Ed Lucas played 163 in two seasons with Marlins spending final two years of his career in the minors.

Corey Smith, despite crushing homeruns and driving in runs, wouldn't get the call.

Vance Wilson never returned as 2009 was his final season. He would transition to manager in their minor league system and back in the majors as Royals bullpen coach. Manager Brian Poldberg is currently manager of Royals AAA club Omaha Storm Chasers. Larry Carter would remain with Royals organization til 2014. Terry Bradshaw went on to big club as current hitting coach.

Josh Donaldson went from .192 to .288 in over a month along with 5 homeruns. Chris "the Crusher" Carter lead the team in homeruns and RBIs while they forgot to print out Tommy Everidge stats.

Rockhounds ran over Naturals 16-8 that night.

Midland Rockhounds April 27, 2009 Program

When I go to Midland Rockhounds games I buy a program from them as it showed the team rosters for the night along the news and notes of the team from the previous games. Instead tossing them away I kept every single one of them I bought. I stashed them in a backpack I drag with me to the games. With that in mind I decide to scan and post it showing who was on the roster and playing that night. It's fun looking back at the rosters on which players made it or didn't and which prospects achieve success, flamed out, or have longevity.

Most of the scorecards are from Wednesday night games because it used to be player photo night to first 500 fans. They stopped doing it and became "They win, its free on the next game that falls on Wednesday" promotion. My Wednesday nights during spring and summer became baseball game night.

Let's travel back 10 years ago to 2009. It was the year Midland won their third Texas League championship in franchise history. Now off to beginning of their run.

The first game I went to that year was April 27. They were on top of their division with 11-6 record.

Adrian Cardenas was a prospect who had good numbers in the minors. I expected him to crack A's lineup but they put him on waivers in 2012 which Cubs claimed. He would play his only season bouncing back and forth between Cubs and Triple-A Iowa calling it a career after the season.

The promotions includes the very popular fireworks nights along appearance of Johnny Bench (never did go) along giveaways of caps, t-shirts, and even pillowcases. I still have the beach towel they gave away from years prior to 2009 season.

Looking at top 10 leaders only Manny Pina, Daniel Descalso, and Chaz Roe remained active.

Talk about statistic breakdowns of both teams along notes and players hot streaks and probable starters for the next five games.

Luis Pujols managed Hooks that year. Keith Bodie would manage the team later in the years. The roster included Roger Clemens kid, Koby, who didn't make it to the show. Neither did Astros top prospects at the time such as Jimmy Van Ostrand, Collin DeLome, Brad James, and Sergio Perez. To see how bad Astros minor system at the time only Wilton Lopez made it to the majors. I was expecting Locke to make years down the road but never got the call up. Andy Van Hekken and Drew Meyer never returned after previously playing in the majors.

Josh Donaldson and Chris Carter were two big players to comes from this roster. About eight players would go on the majors years later after 2009 season. "Dangerous" Danny Putnam never returned after short majors appearance in 2007. The power hitting Tommy Everidge returned back to Midland last year as hitting coach. This is his second year with them. Darren Bush, Scott Emerson, and Webster Garrison are still in A's organization to this day. Bush and Emerson are now coaching for the A's while Garrison managing A's A+ club Stockton Ports.

Now to the scorecard. I feel old seeing the Blockbuster ad. Sam's Club is nearby within .75 mile to the stadium. Those local businesses are still around to this day. Universal Valve still advertises on the program to this day.

Hope ya'll enjoy the trip to memory lane.