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Saturday, August 18, 2007
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A lack of consistency That was the biggest problem with 2007 Blue Thunder Sports Editor Year three of the Brainerd Blue Thunder franchise in the Northwoods League may be summed up by one word - inconsistent.
The Thunder went 11-23 in the first half but regrouped with the arrival of players like center fielder Andy Dirks, shortstop Ben Orloff and pitcher Aaron Pribanic and finished 15-18 in the second.
Brainerd again ranked last in the league in attendance, averaging 467 fans. There were nights with 1,108 fans, for the final home game of the regular season, and 217 on June 7 against St. Cloud.
In addition, the Blue Thunder ranked last in the league in team batting average (.236) and second-to-last in pitching (3.97 ERA) with a league-high 305 walks. They did lead the league in complete games (7).
If the team can become more consistent, at the gate as well as on the field, it should be a viable attraction for years.
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Brainerd Blue Thunder manager Jason Huskey surveyed the action from the dugout in a game during the 2007 season. Huskey finished his second season at the helm with a 26-41 overall record. Brainerd Dispatch/File photo
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Field manager Jason Huskey sat down after the regular season to analyze year three.
Pitching
Jason Banks, William Blackmon, Mihai Burlea, Kris Jiggitts and Pribanic led the starting rotation and Bryan Westphal was a solid closer.
Banks went 4-4 with a 4.87 ERA, Blackmon 3-3 and 3.36, Burlea 3-3 and 2.73, Jiggitts 3-5 and 3.82 and Pribanic 2-2 and 3.48. Westphal was 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA and six saves. Unfortunately, Banks and Jiggitts ranked 1-2 in most walks.
Huskey said when the starting pitching was effective the bullpen often wasn't, and vice versa. Jiggitts and Pribanic are eligible to return.
"You always expect more when you watch guys' numbers throughout the year at school," Huskey said, "but this league is different. It's a different approach, having to stay focused throughout the week in between starts where you have school and a team where you have workouts and practice. Here you just play games.
"I know our ERA was there at the bottom, there are a lot of factors that go into that, and we were up there in walks. That was a disappointment ... but you're also facing better hitters. The strike zones are a little different here."
Offense
Dirks was far and away the team's leading hitter despite missing the first 15 games.
The junior from Wichita State University was named to the league's postseason all-star team for the second straight year.
He finished second in the league in hitting (.347), led the league in triples (7) and on-base percentage (.470), ranked second in slugging percentage (.525), third in runs (48) and stolen bases (29) and fourth in extra-base hits (23).
Dirks reminds Huskey of Chicago White Sox center fielder Scott Podsednik.
"Andy has all the same capabilities," Huskey said. "He can hit for power when he needs to. He can obviously run. He understands the game, he works counts.
"It wasn't a fluke he got on base 52 straight games. You have to have an idea what you're doing at the plate every at bat in order for you to have 52 straight games where you reach base."
First baseman Adam Symons was second in the league in doubles (17) and hit .299. His doubles, and Dirks' triples, came despite playing in the league's most spacious park.
Third baseman Xavier Scruggs hit .249 but led the team in home runs (7) and RBIs (36).
"It was obvious we had some holes in our lineup," Huskey said. "There's not going to be any hiding that. There are a couple kids you always miss on but they had to be in the lineup because there wasn't somebody else that could play. When you get a couple guys hitting below .200 that obviously pulls down your team batting average."
The future
Huskey, who plans to return for his third season as manager, said one of the biggest things that needs to change is his relationship with Division I schools.
"Especially from the Midwest," he said. "Those guys are important. If they don't go to a regional they're within driving distance, and it's easy for them to get here as soon as school is over. They're not in California, have to pack and all that.
"I would love to have a couple players from the University of Minnesota. I spoke to their coaches early in the summer about next year so hopefully we'll see one or two University of Minnesota players on the roster.
"It's a two-way street, especially when you're talking about starting pitching, trying to convince a coach to send his Friday-Saturday night guy that's probably already pitched 70 or 80 innings at school, then assure them they're not going to be overused up here."
The Blue Thunder had several community college players, some of whom have signed with Division I programs but hadn't proven themselves at that level yet. Other community college players didn't pan out.
"I probably made a few decisions that I shouldn't have made," Huskey said. "With JC kids he's got to be a Jiggitts type, a draftable type, to go that route. If you just assume because they've signed with a D-I school that they're a D-I player, that can get you in trouble."
Huskey would like to see improvements made at Mills Field, including moving the bullpen and constructing another party deck along the left-field line.
Attendance
The potential for growth is immense. It's a matter of capitalizing on the vast number of people that visit Brainerd each summer.
Huskey said more businesses came on board this summer, doing things like providing lodging for opposing teams and providing meals for players.
But it's time to take the next step. The Blue Thunder are Brainerd's fourth wood bat baseball franchise in 14 years.
"You can only use the repairing relationships excuse for so long," Huskey said. "I think we're beyond that, and I hope the community is. I think it's to the point now where we've proven we're going to stay. The owners have proven to be solid citizens within the community. They want this to work.
"They're trying to provide entertainment at a reasonable price. Not everyone can make it to the Metrodome. Obviously, our fans are not getting Major League Baseball. This past year in the major league draft 100-some players from the Northwoods were drafted so the quality of baseball they're seeing is single-A level.
"I don't know if wins and losses necessarily equates to fans. I don't think that's what summer baseball's about. It's nice to win and put a good team on the field but it's the environment that you're trying to provide, the entertainment factor, and you get to see a special kid come through every summer.
"With (director of operations) Tom Hice being on board that's another big piece of the puzzle that was missing. Because of his business ties with the community, and the connections he has, we got more businesses involved."
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com and at 855-5861.
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