Midland Rockhounds August 5 2009 Scorecard

It was almost a month til I made to another Rockhounds game that season. Stretch run for Rockhounds as they battle for Texas League playoff spot that year. This is first of last three regular season homestand games. Chris Carter on the cover as he lead the league in homeruns and was second in RBIs to Drew Locke.

On top of the division going a game ahead of Frisco Roughriders

Important series against Frisco. They won the previous night to get top spot in south division. Kyle Middleton goes against Omar Poveda on the mound

Near identical team from last visit (see here) with few new additions of Steve Murphy, John Bannister, Zach Phillips, and Corey Young. Phillips made it to the majors playing 27 games in four season bouncing between majors and Triple A. Bannister got released days later after the series only to be claimed by Royals and stuck on Double-A Northwest Arkansas for remainder of the season. He spent 2010 playing in Golden League final season which happen to be his final year of playing.

Kyle Middleton, Travis Banwart, Tyson Ross, Jermile Weeks, and Shane Peterson are now on the team. Middleton and Banwart peaked in AAA. Banwart spent 6 years in Triple A along trips in independent ball and overseas. Still playing to this day for Fubon Guardians of Chinese Pro Baseball League. Ty Ross (as I call him) still currently playing but is shut down this season for ulnar nerve issues. J-Weeks played 6 seasons in the majors last playing in 2017. Primetime Peterson joined the team when A's traded Matt Holliday for him, Brett Wallace, and Clayton Mortensen at trade deadline. He played 125 games in three seasons and still playing to this day for Dodgers Triple-A team Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Rockhounds lost a tough one to Roughriders 8-7. Both tied on top of south division going to August 6 game.

New York New York

It's been a week since I got back from a trip to New York City. I was up there with my parents for a week. First time any of us gone. Different experience after living in Texas all my life. Didn't bother with rental car and used the subway station get through places. The few times we got in a vehicle when a family friend picked us up on Saturday. During the week we took overhead bus tour around parts of the city and cruise tour going through Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Governor Island, and three bridges connecting to NYC from Brooklyn. Saw the 9-11 Memorial and the new World Trade Center built around. Various places we gone to is the heavily crowded Times Square, Rockefeller Center (NBC Studios, Nintendo NY, and re-opened FAO Schwartz), Chinatown, Little Italy, Empire State Building, online retailer BH Photo store, NBA Store (overpriced and disappointing), Dylan's Candy Shop, and shops around Flushing. Funny thing while on overhead tour bus it stopped in front of Trump International Hotel and Tower that everyone got out their cameras and start taking photos. Ventured to Coney Island getting on one ride and saw the original Nathan's Hot Dog stand. Raided Brooklyn Cyclones team shop plunking down money on team sets (they didn't have this year's out at time), shirts, and various items. Went to Mets game on Saturday (Hawaiian Shirt Night and unadvertised pride night) to near sellout loud crowd beating Nationals 4-3 which included two homeruns from Juan Soto, back-to-back shots from J.D. Davis and Wilson Ramos and Luis Guillimore first career homerun. Found out going from Queens/Flushing/Corona to Brooklyn takes about hour and half on subway. Good thing family friend took us in their vehicle to Brooklyn that Saturday. Going from Queens to NYC takes about half hour at most while riding on the 7. It was fun trip. Would like go back again soon and go through places and museums I miss like Yankees Stadium as the team were on the road that time. Must go and experience NYC at least once in your life.

Midland Rockhounds July 13, 2009 Program

Very late with this as I been very busy. I'm here with July 13, 2009 program. It's a Monday night game as Rockhounds took on Cardinals affiliate Springfield Cardinals. Cardinals already in the playoffs clinching first half of the season.

The future AL MVP Josh Donaldson on the cover.

Currently last in the standings at the moment, but only four games back. Cardinals duo of Trey Hearne and Lance Lynn are 1-2 in Texas League wins. Hearne got his 10th win on Sunday pushing his record to 10-1 record so far in the season.

On the mound are Brandon Dickson and Justin Souza. This is Souza team debut after being sent up from Stockton. Dickson would get total of 8 in two seasons of the majors while Souza never made it. Dickson would spend the remaining five seasons of his career in Japan.

Nine players from Cardinals went on to majors with the big one Lance Lynn. Only Lynn, Fernando Salas, and Sam Freeman still playing to this day. Brian Broderick pitched in 11 games of his MLB career while Steve Hill played total of 10 games. Peter Kozma, Eduardo Sanchez, and Dickson are the others. Shane "Primetime" Peterson was part of Matt Holliday trade that sent him to the A's. I would see him later him that season. As for coaches all three have made it to main club with Pop Warner and Bryan Eversgerd still with the team. Former MLBer turning hitting coach Derrick May was with the team til after 2016.

Souza, Daniel Barone, Daniel Haigwood, Steve Sharpe, and Gabriel Ortiz are the new additions of the team. Raul Padron was sent down. Haigwood manage get 7 games with the team as his name never appeared on program the following month. Turns out it was his final season of his playing career. Same with Barone, despite being in majors in 2007, played four games with the team and that was it. Didn't play again til he surfaced in 2014 with independent Kansas City T-Bones. Sharpe stuck with the team through the playoff run. Spent 2010 with independent Camden Riversharks and that was his final season of his playing career.

Midland won 7-6.

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.