Those Prospects from 2001

It's fun going through past programs from minor league teams and listing the top prospects. This one from 2001 Midland Rockhounds program as they preview Texas League teams along top 30 prospects from the affiliate system. It's interesting look at hits, misses, mind baffling list rankings, and what happen to the team afterwards. Let's start out with El Paso Diablos who was Diamondbacks double-A affiliate at the time. Their no. 1 prospect of the year is......

Alex Cintron. He played four seasons before getting flipped to Chicago White Sox playing for two seasons and follow it up with stints as member of Orioles and Nationals. He would take up coaching after his playing career and is currently Astros hitting coach. No. 2 Jack Cust would bounce around the league before finding a home as member of Oakland A's in DH role hitting homeruns. The best two players on the list is Jose Valverde (no. 10) and Brandon Webb (no. 27). Valverde became 3-time All-Star and lead the league in saves three times, all playing with different teams (Diamondbacks, Astros, Tigers). Webb became a Cy Young winner (2006) and 3-time All-Star in his six seasons with the team before injuries ended his career. He attempted a comeback in 2011 playing 4 games with Rangers affiliate Frisco Roughriders. Lyle Overbay (no. 11) finished the season as Diamondbacks minor league player of the year. As for the original El Paso Diablos they moved to Springfield, MO becoming the Cardinals after 2004 season. The new Diablos team played independent ball til they got a new team (El Paso Chihuahuas) as well new stadium becoming Triple-A affiliate of San Diego Padres.

When Round Rock Express was Double-A team and affiliated with Astros. They got it right with Roy Oswalt at no. 1  as he became the ace of the Astros pitching staff most of 2000s. I still wonder to this day how Brad Lidge was perfect all regular season and the playoffs (All-Star game don't count) in his first season with Philadelphia Phillies helping them to World Series championship. Adam Everett (no. 6), Morgan Ensberg (no. 15), and Jason Lane (no. 22) become regular starters on the field for the Astros. J-Lane would take up pitching and return to the league as one. Chad Qualls (no. 19) had long journeyman career playing in the majors from 2004-2017. Round Rock moved up to Triple-A and end up being Texas Rangers affiliate.

San Antonio Missions is still around which included a single season stint as Triple-A team. This is first year they became Mariners affiliate. In a strange twist how the hell did they rank Ryan Anderson no. 1 over ICHIRO, who went on to be one of greatest hitters ever? Anderson never made it to the majors as he battled injuries. Ichiro accomplishment would take forever so let's say automatic Hall of Fame selection. Outside of him Joel Pineiro (no. 4), Willie Bloomquist (no. 7), and Shin-Soo Choo (no. 14) went on to have long careers. Pineiro spent 13 years in the majors which include brief stop with Red Sox, three years with Cardinals, and two with Angels. Bloomquist played 15 years as utility player most of them with Mariners. Choo would get shipped to Indians playing 6 1/2 with them then spent a season with Reds via trade. He signed with Rangers where he shone. For Missions they are currently Padres AA-affiliate. I seen the talent Padres crank out throughout the years. They should have kept some instead going for broke and blowing it up in their face like this year.

Arkansas Travelers is another team that is still around to the day. 2001 is the first season as Angels affiliate. Another baffling no. 1 with Joe Torres on top over K-Rod. Torres played 13 seasons AND never made it. I even got his autograph at a game back in 2011 as a member of Rangers affiliate Frisco Roughriders. K-Rod and John Lackey would become big part of 2002 Angels World Series championship. K-Rod became a 6-time All-Star and holds the record with most saves in a season at 62. Lackey became very reliable starter led the AL in ERA in 2007. Fireballer Bobby Jenks (no. 25) signed with White Sox after Angels released him where he became their closer and as well being part of 2005 World Series Championship team. There was another Johan Santana except he played three seasons making it high at A-ball. Travelers is currently Mariners AA-affiliate.

Shreveport baseball sure changed. Originally called Captains they changed their name to Swamp Dragons in 2001. I still remember their hideous looking green jerseys. They were Giants affiliate at the time and talk about weak system. Jerome Williams took the no. 1 spot and would have journeyman career. Kurt Ainsworth didn't fare much better and neither than Tony Torcato and Lance Niekro. Ryan Vogelsong (no. 5) and Pedro Feliz (no. 8) are the two from the top 10 that have decent career. Vogelsong struggled in his first part of his career he plied his trade in Japan for few years before returning to play. He would become a reliable pitcher and contributor of Giants 2012 and 2014 World Series championship. For Shreveport team it was sad saga. With very small attendance (on one box score clipping they reported 400 in the crowd) their team would be sold and moved to Frisco becoming Roughriders after 2002 season. Shreveport got another baseball team playing in the independent American Association league, first as Sports then changed to Captains, from 2003-2011. Like previous team the team got sold and moved.

Rangers had a long affiliation with Tulsa Drillers. Carlos Pena was no. 1 on that year list getting time in majors later that season with future All-Star flashed all over him. His career path took a strange twist as he got traded to Oakland A's (A's would part with few prospects that will be mention later on) months before 2002 season where it took 40 games for them to unload him to Detroit Tigers where he played for 3 1/2 seasons. After a trying 2006 season playing in Yankees AAA club and 18 game stint with Red Sox he signed with Tampa Bay Rays in 2007. It was there he unleashed all of his All-Star potential with comeback player of the year (2007) and All-Star nod in 2009 when he should have made in 2007 and 2008. His career lasted to 2014 as he played his final season with Rangers coming full circle. Few of the pitchers went on to journeyman career such as Joaquin Benoit (no. 5) , Colby Lewis (no. 6), and Danny Kolb (no. 24). After struggling early in his career and cast aside Lewis spent two seasons in Japan before returning and going full circle playing with Rangers as he became a reliable starter. Kolb got All-Star nod in 2005 as member of Brewers. Kevin Mench (no. 4) and Hank Blalock (no. 10) became regular starters for Rangers as they provided the offense. Travis Hafner (no. 12) gets shipped to Indians (along with Aaron Myette) where he had four straight seasons with 100 RBIs as well hitting homeruns. This is kinda of same thing with Rangers minor league system through the decades: Produce hitters, not pitchers. If they do the pitchers are long journeyman playing multiple teams. Rangers drop Tulsa as their double-A affiliate after 2002 season and signed on with newly rechristen Frisco Roughriders (formerly Shreveport Captains/Swamp Dragons). Don't blame them since its a 45 minute to hour drive from Arlington to Frisco. Tulsa would become Rockies double-A affiliate til 2014 when Dodgers bought part of the Drillers and became their double-A club in 2015.

Wichita Wranglers was Kansas City Royals double-A affiliate. Talk about yikes when I look at the list. Royals minor league system was rough during this time. No. 1 Chris George had very bad four seasons with Royals. Dee Brown (no. 2) only had one season (out of 8 in the majors) where he played over 100 games. Mike MacDougal (no.3) had a journeyman career as did Jeremy Affeldt (no. 16). Jimmy Gobble (no. 4) switched to relief to where he one good season then back to ERA over four. Alexis Gomez (no. 9) spent his career bouncing between majors and minors, mostly in the minors. Mike Tonis (no. 14) and Byron Gettis (no. 29) had cup of coffee in the majors. Two top players on the list had very short careers. Angel Berroa won rookie of the year in 2003 and that was his peak. He forgot how to hit the next following years and was out of the league after 2009 season along multiple stints in the minors. Ken Harvey had a good first half in 2004 being Royals lone All-Star representative. Then he collided with teammate Jason Grimsley on a play. He wasn't the same afterwards and was out of the league after 2005 season. While still as Royals double-A club Wichita Wranglers relocated to Springdale, AK becoming Northwest Arkansas Naturals after 2007 season. Independent team Wingnuts replaced them playing til Wichita got a new minor league team (also double-A) known as Wind Surge.

Off to Oakland A's as their no. 1 prospect of 2001 is........

Jose Ortiz who I never heard of. After researching he was one of three players (one of them also a prospect) traded to Rockies for Jermaine Dye later that season. 2002 was his final season in the majors as he spent most of his career in Japan. Interesting look at potential 2004 A's lineup where seven of players listed no longer on the time when it came time three years later. The remaining nine prospects....

... and yeah. Call it all-trade prospect team. Only two remain in the A's system when 2005 season started and one remained after the season ended. Jason Hart, Ryan Ludwick, and Mario Ramos (along with Gerald Laird) got sent to the Rangers in the Carlos Pena (and Mike Venafro) trade. All three made it with the Rangers. Only one had a longer career. Hart career got cut short for cancer. Ramos spent two weeks with Rangers til he DFA and A's picked him up where he spent remainder of his career in the minors. Ludwick played for six teams in 14 years. His best years with Cardinals which included a 2008 All-Star selection. Mario Encarncion was part of the Jermaine Dye. Like Ortiz he was out of the league after 2002 season. Justin Miller got sent to Blue Jays in Billy Koch trade after 2001 season. He played for 4 teams in 7 years also yoyo-ing between the majors and minors. Berroa was no longer on the team and already ranked no. 6 in Royals prospect list. Fast Freddie Bynum got September call up in 2005 and got sent to Cubs in a three-way trade after the season 2005. Chad Harville get shipped to Astros early of 2004 season. Eric Byrnes got a call up for 14 game stint between May through July then return in the September call up in 2001. He spent first month of 2002 in the minors but getting called up in May where he remained as every day starter til he got traded middle of 2005 season to the Rockies only to gets shipped to Orioles two weeks later. For Midland Rockhounds they still remain as A's double-A affiliate over 22 years and going.

A good look at teams top prospects from a good two decades. I'm still baffled Ichiro wasn't no. 1 on Mariners top prospects list of 2001.

2015-2021 Astros = Modern Day 1988-1992 A's

It's known I'm an Houston Astros. I take another tough pill to swallow as drop another World Series. Dusty Baker couldn't manage to win a big one when it comes. The team bats went silent and pitching was suspect. Loss of Lance McCullers, Jr. to injury didn't help. Team is loaded with talent built up from 2014. Now looking at this team I can't help but think 1988-1992 Oakland A's. Both teams were loaded with talent. Both teams went on make the playoffs and the World Series. Both end up with one in those World Series trips when they felt they should have won more than one.

A's had Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart, and Dennis Eckersley as their top players with good backing from Carney Lansford, Dave Henderson, Walt Weiss, Terry Steinbach, and Bob Welch. A's was a stacked team during the Bash Brothers era. You expected a dynasty out of them during the five year period and it almost looked that way. In 1988, they reached to World Series only to get beat by Los Angeles Dodgers in five games known for the Kirk Gibson homerun. In 1989, they reached to World Series again and won it sweeping San Francisco Giants. The celebration was subdue as an earthquake hit before start of game 3 resulting many deaths around the area. In 1990, reached to World Series for third consecutive time only to get swept by Cincinnati Reds. In those three years they had the best record in the league. In 1991, they missed the playoffs. In 1992, won AL West only to lose the AL pennant to World Series champions Toronto Blue Jays. After that season the team collapsed. Jose Canseco traded to Texas Rangers, Dave Stewart signing with Blue Jays, Carney Lansford retired, and Mark McGwire only played 27 games due to injury. Rickey, Dave, Terry, and Walt remained with Bobby Witt (one of three players from Canseco trade) and Ruben Sierra (free agent pickup) as new members of the team. 1993 A's finished in bottom of AL West standings. Jose Canseco would admit being on steroids during that time and outed Mark McGwire along causing irreparable damage between the two. The 1988-1992 Oakland A's was one of those should been a dynasty, but never were.

I see 2015 to current Houston Astros that way. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Alex Bregman, and Lance McCullers came through the system and help build the team a contender. Along the way they picked up Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole both who came from trades. Few others came through the system such as Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. During that time they made it in the playoffs as wild card team twice, won AL West division four times, missing the playoffs once, and made three trips to World Series. They end up winning one which will always going be scrutinized for rest of history despite some felt they were being scapegoated when its an open secret in the league. So far they lost Springer and Cole through free agency. Verlander is out when it was well known back in 2020. It's most likely Correa last time as an Astro as he tests free agency in the offseason. That just leave Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker as their key offense with Yordan Alvarez hitting occasional bombs. Is the talent pool replenished with Alex Meyer and Jose Siri? Will Dusty Baker be back since his contract ends after the series? To be honest I rather have someone manage Astros than him. Too many questions going into offseason. For me I feel Astros blew another chance and that window is closing. Like 1988-1992 A's team it became a team that should have been a dynasty, but never were.

The Loss of Stew

Wrestling fans are a different breed especially in the independents scene. For few hours on a certain day of a weekend we go and meet each other at a show exchanging pleasantries asking how's life and talking about what's going to happen on tonight show to WWE or AEW to wrestling rumors and news. It's like a strange family of misfits. Even though I no longer live in Austin area I still keep in contact with some down there along with San Antonio crew. Sadly yesterday I received a message that we lost one of best fans few weeks ago. His name is Stewart Buckingham or Stew as many called him. Despite wheelchair bound he got a zest for life. You felt it when you talk to him the very first time and it continues on every time when we meet. His zest was shown at the Anarchy Championship Wrestling and Inspire A.D. shows where he would up and front. He would cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys tossing in few expletives. His enthusiasm felt all over the building that wrestlers would let him be part of the show and get in the action. They would hold their opponent up in front of him so Stew can punch him. That would get cheers from the crowd. Stew would be super into it that he will be yelling, "LET ME AT HIM!" when wrestlers get close to him. At every show he's been at in Austin he's at he having exciting time of his life. I'm going to miss Stew and he's not the only one missing him. Everyone he met from fellow fans, wrestlers, UT athletes and staff were touched by his exuberant happiness on life. I offer my condolences to his family for the loss. RIP Stew. You will forever be missed.

Friday Night Lights Rivalry

Friday nights in Texas on a fall day are meant for one thing: high school football. It's the past time down here with big crowds filled with parents, students, alumnis, and local support feel all over the stadium. The thing is you graduate from high school and leave the area decades in life but you will always have look forward to the football scores on the local news of Friday night or the sport pages on Saturday to check how your high school football team won. I graduated from high school over two decades ago. Even I left the area for a good seven years I still check the scores if my former high school won as well checking other rival schools within the district despite it kept changing every two years. It was rivalry week as cross-town schools Legacy (formerly known as Midland Lee) and Midland High battle each other on the gridiron. I know its an intense big game every year. Back in my high school days there was one year students from both schools caused near riot at mall food court during lunch break on the day before the game. The action didn't end there as few students from both schools to crash other off the road. I'm not kidding on that part! The following year the school boards changed lunch periods for both schools so there be no repeat of it. If Legacy wins they clinch the state high school playoff spot. The game took place at Grande Communication Stadium. If that name sounds familiar the stadium was used for filming of Friday Night Lights movie. Legacy are the home team going in to the game.

Before the game they introduced five former high school athletes to MISD Hall of Legends. 1960 Midland High track and cross-country runner Tevis Herd, Midland Lee/Legacy tight end and former NFL player Eric Winston who was part of the school 3-peat from 1998-2000, MHS swimmer and bronze medalist Olympian Natalie Hinds, MHS track and cross-country runner Bryce Hoppel, and Lee/Legacy running back who lead to school 3-peat from 1998-2000 and former NFL player the late Cedric Benson honor posthumously by his mother and brothers. 

Legacy explosive offense jumped to a lead and never looked back as they put up 22 points by end of first quarter. Midland High would score making it 22-7 but onside kick backfire as Legacy returns it back for a touchdown. By halftime it was 43-14 Legacy.

Both school bands played during halftime to elaborate precision.

Legacy rushing back out to the field for the second half

Midland High make an effort but Legacy takes it 57-27 clinching a state playoff spot

I usually don't go to high school football games unless its rivalry week. It's worth a brag and support against the Bulldogs. Way a go Rebels! Sign Midland Lee/Legacy alumni.

Have a nice shot of the moon I took at the stadium

Ball Games and Specialty Jerseys

Went to Rockhounds game on Saturday as they were taking on Amarillo Sod Poodles. The team wore special jerseys that night. The theme? Paw Patrol: The Movie. To go along with post-game fireworks the team held Paw Patrol night. The show's characters Chase, Marshall, and Skye made an appearance at the stadium. I took a picture of them at the parking lot.

The look of the jerseys? Look at Edwin Diaz and Bryce Conley rocking them. It looks pretty awesome with the team name and the characters from the movie on it.

As for the game Jack Cushing (Rockhounds) and Kenny Hernandez (Sod Poodles) started the game. For Cushing its not only his first ever appearance with the team since he called up but his first ever Double-A start. Sod Poodles jumped to 4-0 lead before Rockhounds cut it down to 4-3 with a 3-run homer from Jhonny Santos in the 6th. Sod Poodles tacked on another run in the 7th as they beat Rockhounds 5-3. Sod Poodles left fielder Stone Garrett went 3-5 with a homerun and two RBIs. Did get the post-game fireworks which I saw at the parking lot.

The jerseys players wore that night got auctioned off online. The auction started the day before. Let's say I manage to snag one in the final minute before it ended. This is who I got.

I got batting coach and former MLB player Kevin Kouzmanoff. It cost me a pretty penny, but these jerseys look uniquely awesome. I love it when minor league teams come up with special jerseys.

Antique Store Finds

Went to local antique store here few a week ago. One vendor have an item I been wanting to pickup.

It was this Racing Champions diecast featuring wrestler Scott Norton who wrestled in WCW and Japan. The same vendor also have grab bags of cards ranging from $1 to $2. The bags contain baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and non-sport cards. I picked up a two $2 bags.

One contains 1992 Pro Set football while the other have animals. I never had any of those cards in my collection. I did research on animal cards and turns out they were Mundus Amicus Endangered Species cards. The set was produced in 1992. In fact it was entire set while several extra cards. Great find for $2!

The cards range from reptiles, big cats, avians, and panda.

Three zoos are mentioned on the set. I only been to San Diego Zoo once back in 2002.

1992 Pro Set grab bag contains 46 cards along with few repeats. I got the following: Herschel Walker, Dan McGwire, Mark Schlereth (both base and All-Pro), Mike Singletary (both base and All Pro), Webster Slaughter, Patrick Rowe (X2), Charles Mann (All Pro), Vaughn Dunbar, Troy Vincent, Calvin Williams, Rodney Peete, John Booty, Cleveland Gary, Willie Drewrey, Keith Jackson (X2), David Wyman (X2), Jerry Gray (X2 and in Reebok Pump), Tony Sacca (X2), Marquez Pope, Christian Okoye (X2), Greg McMurtry, Nate Lewis, Will Furrer, Jessie Tuggle, Sam Mills (All Pro), Quentin Coryatt, Richmond Webb, Mark Carrier, Bruce Matthews, Browning Nagle, Shannon Sharpe, Kevin Call, AFC-Spirit of the Game, Ricky Sanders, Brad Edwards, Alonzo Spellman

Not a bad haul out of it. Reason for me picking up Scott Norton diecast? He made a guest appearance at Danny DeManto's ICW No Hold Barred event in San Antonio. The results?

Now that's too sweet!

Appreciation of a Megastar Known as Angel Blue

For one independent wrestler it was not suppose to end this way. The self-proclaimed "Megastar" Angel Blue forced to call it a career two years after her final match. 

For over a decade she been down the roads and rings of Texas indy wrestling scene especially Austin-based Anarchy Championship Wrestling. She relished on being hated by the crowd. With a smug self-absorbed over-confident look, she would get in fan's faces claiming to be the greatest and hurl insults. Before getting in the ring she swept her feet back on the apron in direction of the fans. Fans responded to her with loud boos, arguing back with her, and on occasion tossing rolls of toilet paper when she gets introduced in the ring. She continues to antagonize the crowd with insults and singing "We are the champions!" off key. She worked the fans way too well having the fans boo her for everything she did in the ring. Fans wanted her get beat only for her to win in sneaky and nefarious ways.

She shows up at ACW ready to work and get involved. She even popped up not long after being in a bad car accident to talk on the mic giving a passionate speech on showing up despite not able to work because she loved this. She's a two-time ACW Joshi champion, a TV champion, a tag team champion with Jojo Bravo (now known as Jay Serious) and 2013 Queen of Queens tournament winner. Her tag team with Jojo Bravo will always be underrated and underappreciated. The chemistry between the two as reluctant tag partners who try to screw over each other only to get a miraculous victory at the end. She wrestled in Sabotage when it started up and feuded with current AEW wrestler Leva Bates. One of her victories over her was locking Bates inside trunk of a car. It lead to Last Woman Standing match between the two. In 2018 she made her Inspire A.D. debut being surprise tag team partner of Steve O'Reno and became Inspire A.D. Twin Dragons champions with him. Things were going good for her....

Til one Inspire show in Jan 2019. She was in a match against Jenna Lynn and current NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart when she took one spot. It was a spot I seen done many times, but this one caused a herniated disc in her neck. Everything she worked for comes crashing to a halt for an unfortunate injury. She had surgery to repair and endure hell trying to make it back. Despite bouncing back and working hard she couldn't able to be cleared for a comeback. Not the way she wants to go out.

Angel Blue is a textbook case on being a heel from going face-to-face with fans to finding hundreds of devious ways to break the rules and win a match. She always been a solid hand in the ring. Part of me want her in the middle of the ring to say goodbye only to go "Sike! I lied! I'm back!" to chorus of boos. It would be the most perfect thing for her. A fan can only dream. Thank you Angel Blue for putting everything in the ring. When I hear Queen - I Want It All I immediately think of you coming out to the ring. You are truly a Megastar.

Some matches of Angel Blue to view:

(Rare moment of Angel Blue working as a face)