Results tagged ‘ Michael Earley ’
Dotting the diamond
Chris Bassitt will look to continue his success against Myrtle tonight at the Beach (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The Dash are getting ready to wrap up a three-game series at Myrtle Beach tonight, but before that let’s check out some notes in a Wednesday edition of Dash Dots:
DASH DOTS:
- Tonight’s starter Chris Bassitt did not give up a run in any of his four appearances (one start and three relief outings) against Myrtle Beach last season. In total, Bassitt gave up just four hits and four walks while striking out seven in nine and a third innings against the Pelicans in 2012. These numbers do not include his seven scoreless frames against Myrtle in the deciding third game of the SDCS last September.
- Mark Haddow is currently on a nine-game hitting streak, the longest in the Carolina League this season. He has picked up at least one hit in every game he has played so far this season, except for Opening Day. Haddow received his first day off yesterday.
- Chris Curley has a six-game hitting streak of his own going, including four straight multi-hit efforts. This streak has bumped his season average to .361, putting him sixth in the Carolina League. The infielder is also tied for fourth on the circuit with three homers and tied for third with 10 RBIs.
- Despite not having a home run in either of the first two games of their series against the Pelicans, the Dash still lead the circuit with 12 long balls on the season. Winston-Salem did not homer in the first two games of the season either and is now 0-4 when they don’t go deep at least once.
Addison Reed had a 1.59 ERA with the Dash in 2011 (Kevin Hartley/W-S Dash).
- Dash alum Addison Reed has been crucial to the White Sox this season. Coming into today, the South Siders are 6-8, with Reed picking up either the save or the win in all six of their victories.
- Double-A Birmingham was down by one last night to Chattanooga and down to their final strike when Dash alum Michael Blanke doubled in two runs to give the Barons the lead. Fellow Dash alum Taylor Thompson finished things off with a scoreless ninth to pickup the win in relief. Today, Michael Earley hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to knot the score, but the Lookouts did prevail with a 5-4 win.
The Dash wrap up their series with the Pelicans tonight at 7:05 from TicketReturn.com Field. A win puts Winston-Salem and Myrtle Beach in a tie atop the Southern Division. Catch Brian here with the Pregame Dash at 6:50.
- Rob
One day away
If you follow the Dash on Twitter and Instagram (and if you don’t…what are you waiting for?), you already know that we have been counting down the days until Opening Day at BB&T Ballpark. Finally, that countdown has reached one, with Opening Day tomorrow night at 7 against Carolina. Here are some of the notable numbers from the countdown.
100: The countdown began with this picture on a fairly nice day in early January, 100 days from Opening Day.
88: At the 88 day mark, we highlighted last year’s Carolina League MVP Dan Black, who posted 88 RBIs for the Dash in 2012.
Dash fans set a single-game attendance record for BB&T Ballpark on July 4, 2012.
72: On July 4th, 2012, the Dash welcomed a single-game record 7,285 fans into BB&T Ballpark for their game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
55: Coming into this season, the Dash have posted a winning percentage of .554 (317-255) in the regular season and playoffs since they became the Dash prior to the 2009 season.
38: Dash outfielder Courtney Hawkins played 38 games for the Bristol White Sox before earning a promotion to Kannapolis and later to Winston-Salem for the end of the regular season and Carolina League playoffs.
25: Twice in the last two seasons, the Dash have been 25 games above .500 at BB&T Ballpark. In 2010, they were 47-22, and last season the club went 48-23.
Kevan Smith hit two huge home runs in the 2012 CL playoffs (Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
21: Last year, the Dash’s #21, Kevan Smith, hit two home runs in the Carolina League playoffs, including a grand slam in the deciding game of the SDCS against Myrtle Beach.
9: BB&T Ballpark has hosted nine playoff games since it opened in 2010. The Dash have a record of 6-3 in those games.
5: The Dash had five postseason Carolina League All-Stars last season; Dan Black, Michael Earley, Carlos Sanchez, Brady Shoemaker and Trayce Thompson.
1: We have the number one fans in Minor League Baseball. Since opening BB&T Ballpark, almost one million fans have seen a Dash game in the Triad. Our total attendance since 2010 is the tops in High-A baseball. Our final countdown went out to all of you.
Tomorrow night, BB&T Ballpark opens it gates for the first time in 2013 as the Dash take on the Carolina Mudcats at 7! But before we get to that, the Dash have one more in Frederick tonight. Join Brian for the Pregame Dash at 6:45 here.
- Rob
More Countdown Fun
I’ve had a blast coming up with the daily countdown to the 2013 season. Every number from 100 to 53 has been represented, and we went through some of them a few weeks back.
If you have missed any, 100-86 can be found here, and 85-53 is available below:
85 – In ’85, Winston-Salem won the CL title despite a regular season record of just 58-81. (Still counts!)
Keenyn Walker is a speedster with some gaudy stolen base numbers.
84 – This past season, right-handed pitching prospect Jake Petricka struck out 84 men while with the Dash.
83 – 1983 was the final year of the Winston-Salem Red Sox, the team with the most wins (1635) & Carolina League titles (5) in Winston-Salem history.
82 – Five years after playing in Winston-Salem, Hall of Famer Wade Boggs made his MLB debut in 1982.
81 – Mike Blanke, who earned a non-roster invite to spring training, had 81 hits a year ago in Winston.
80 – In the Dash’s 80th PA of the game, Chase Blackwood’s RBI single gave the Dash a 4-3, 20-inning win on May 19, 2010, against Myrtle Beach.
79 – Bill Slack, the winningest manager in W-S and CL history, was the 1979 Manager of the Year.
78 – Winston-Salem hit a league-best .278 in 2012.
77 – 2011 first rounder Keenyn Walker has 77 stolen bases in just 165 minor league games.
The Dash played 76 games on this beautiful field last year.
76 – The Dash played 76 total games at beautiful BB&T Ballpark last season.
75 – Chris Bassitt struck out 75 in his 91 innings last season in Winston-Salem.
74 – Fan-favorite Dan Black led the Dash with 74 hits at BB&T Ballpark in his MVP season.
73 – All-Star Michael Earley drove in 73 runs with the Dash in 2012 (T-4th in the CL).
72 – On July 4th, 2012, a single-game record 7,285 fans enjoyed a Dash game at BB&T Ballpark.
71 – MLB Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson started 71 games in 1956, the final season of his amazing 10-year career (this was the fact on January 31, Robinson’s birthday).
BB&T Ballpark hosted a record crowd on July 4 of last season.
70 – In 70 innings pitched with the White Sox last year, rookie Hector Santiago posted a 3.33 ERA.
69 – In game 69 of 2012, the Dash clinched the 1st-half title with a 9-5 win at Wilmington June 16.
68 – On July 17, 1968, Ed Phillips tossed the first perfect game in CL history. It is still Winston-Salem’s only perfecto in franchise history.
67 – In 67 innings in Winston-Salem last season, Terance Marin recorded an impressive 2.42 earned run average.
66 – Reliever Kevin Vance boasted a 1.66 ERA in 11 outings with Winston-Salem in 2012.
65 – Winston-Salem was 65-23 when hitting at least one home run in 2012. This record was the best on the circuit.
64 – If you attended every regular season game at BB&T Ballpark in 2012, you watched an even 640 innings of baseball!
63 – Winston-Salem’s single-season batting average record is .363, set by 8-year MLB vet Ray Jablonski in 1951.
62 – All-Star Matt Heidenreich whiffed 62 batters with the Dash before a July trade to the Houston organization.
The Dash’s offense did plenty of this in 2012.
61 – Winston led the Carolina League with a 61-22 mark when scoring first in 2012.
60 – In 1960, Ed Olivares hit 35 home runs for Winston-Salem, which still remains a single-season franchise record
59 – Both Marcus Semien and Brady Shoemaker drove in 59 runs for Winston-Salem last season.
58 – Carlos Sanchez, who is currently in big league camp with the White Sox, scored 58 times for the Dash in ’12.
57 – 57 different players suited up for the Dash in 2012, and they posted full-season Minor League Baseball’s best mark (87-51)!
56 – Outfielder Keenyn Walker led all White Sox farmhands with a combined 56 stolen bases between Low-A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem last year.
55 – Since becoming the Dash prior to the ’09 season, Winston boasts a .554 winning percentage (317-255). This includes regular season and postseason games.
54 – Trayce Thompson hit .254 with CL-bests in homers (22) and RBI (90) with the Dash a year ago.
53 – The Dash boasted 5 year-end All-Stars (Dan Black, Michael Earley, Carlos Sanchez, Brady Shoemaker and Trayce Thompson) and 3 midseason All-Stars (Earley, Shoemaker and Matt Heidenreich).
That’s another installment of “Countdown Catch-Up.” Stay tuned to our social media sites (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for the rest of our daily countdowns. The home opener is only 52 days away!
- Brian
Spring Training Preparation
Pitchers and catchers may not report for a couple of weeks, and the spring training opener follows toward the end of February. However, tomorrow is the true beginning of spring training.
Tomorrow afternoon, the White Sox equipment truck departs for Glendale, Ariz.
Sure, this event is not quite the same as team workouts or exhibition games, but this 1,800-mile journey signals that baseball is not just a distant memory. It is on the horizon.
However, baseball is a 12-month responsibility for the players, and many Dash alums have been preparing since the fall. Here are some spring training-related tweets from the last few weeks.
Hitting by the water everyday hell yea why not #saddlebrookresort #CAA #workouts @strykert25 @carskelly @caa_baseball twitter.com/CHawkins10/sta…
— Courtney Hawkins (@CHawkins10) January 12, 2013
1 month away! Spring training cannot come any sooner! I’m dyin to get back on the field! #Ambition
— Keenyn Walker (@Keenyn_Walker) January 19, 2013
Anxious to see everyone at spring training…if I go by the tweets a lot of guys supposedly look like bodybuilders
— Michael Earley (@MoneyMikeEarley) January 23, 2013
Thank you @nikebaseball and @bhscouncil! Ready for #springtraining twitter.com/hankerd/status…
— Cyle Hankerd (@hankerd) January 24, 2013
Last years struggles are paying off in big ways. Crazy how you gotta take 1 step back to go 2 steps forward. Pumped for 2013.
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) January 27, 2013
The players have been gearing up to use the equipment that will begin the trip to spring training tomorrow. It’s a bit of a stretch, but baseball fans are happy about any signs that our national pastime is almost here. We’ll take it!
- Brian
Dash Players Break Down Title Game
Alabama won the BCS National Championship Game last night in Miami, and many Dash alums had strong opinions about the game. A pair of 2012 All-Stars–Michael Earley and Brady Shoemaker–are diehard Notre Dame fans, while other Dash players wanted the Tide to roll. Here is some game analysis (and some jokes) from Winston-Salem’s boys of summer.
@this_is_bs21 Good luck tomorrow, lets hope its a good game! #TideDrownsIrish #GumpVsRudy
— Greg Paiml (@GP_3) January 7, 2013
Bar is ready…heavy jamo #irish #greenbeer #bcs twitter.com/MoneyMikeEarle…
— Michael Earley (@MoneyMikeEarley) January 7, 2013
Here come the Irish. Lets go! Time to prove people wrong.
— brady shoemaker (@this_is_BS21) January 7, 2013
If Notre Dame wins I will write a written apologize to @this_is_bs21 and @moneymikeearley.
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) January 7, 2013
Sorry bout it! Flew down for the game! #LockedIn #Miami twitter.com/SorryBoutIt10/…
— Kevin Vance (@SorryBoutIt10) January 8, 2013
whos ready for the national championship? Go Irish!
— Dan Black (@THE_DANBLACK) January 7, 2013
Prediction:Bama 27ND 13
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) January 7, 2013
Here we go, snow outside, but every light is on in houses all over indiana..#Irish
— Michael Earley (@MoneyMikeEarley) January 8, 2013
Game over… #BAMA won
— Terance Marin™ (@tero89) January 8, 2013
Ballgame.. Sorry ND but y’all just aren’t built to comeback from 14, esp not vs bama
— Kyle Bellamy (@KyleBellamy_U) January 8, 2013
Is anyone else tempted to turn the game off but wanna leave it on to see how many more highlights Bama puts up? Lol #Decisions #Decisions
— Keenyn Walker (@Keenyn_Walker) January 8, 2013
All I’m gonna say is TOLD YOU SO ND FANS. I won’t say anything from here on out but told you so.
— Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419) January 8, 2013
ND through and through. I believe in what they stand for and always will! Keep hatin but I will always follow a true team. #family
— brady shoemaker (@this_is_BS21) January 8, 2013
Thanks to these players and the rest of Twitter for making last night’s game more entertaining. Congrats to Alabama on the big win.
- Brian
Very Thankful Weekend
Happy Monday! Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving weekend was filled with family, food and fun.
Two Dash All-Stars are very thankful for this weekend, thanks to Notre Dame. Outfielders Michael Earley and Brady Shoemaker are big Fighting Irish fans, and Notre Dame clinched a spot in the BCS National Championship Game Saturday night with a 22-13 win over USC.
The Irish have not played for a national title since the 1989 Fiesta Bowl, when Shoemaker was one year old and Earley was nine months old. They were understandably excited Saturday night:
Have waited every Saturday during college football my whole life for ND to be in this situation! #biggestfan
— brady shoemaker (@this_is_BS21) November 25, 2012
Have some! ND, booking hotel now! #miami
— Michael Earley (@MoneyMikeEarley) November 25, 2012
The Irish will likely be underdogs when they play either Alabama or Georgia in the title game January 7, but both Earley and Shoemaker will be believers. Notre Dame is one of the marquee programs in college football, so it is great to see the Irish return to the national title game.
In another Dash-football connection, 2012 Dash trainer Cory Barton attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Crimson Hawks will square off with Winston-Salem State in the quarterfinals of the Division II football playoffs. IUP held on for a dramatic 17-14 win over New Haven this weekend, while WSSU rolled Shippensburg 37-14 to advance to this week’s “Barton Bowl.”
Did your football team win this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
Go Browns.
- Brian
Most Exciting Team In The Land?
Michael Earley adds another honor to his great 2012 season (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The Dash had an exciting season in 2012, and a handful of players earned recognition for that in a player poll regarding the minors’ most exciting player.
Minor League Baseball polled 382 players, and five men who donned the Dash purple in 2012 earned at least one vote. Michael Earley, Marcus Semien, Scott Snodgress, Kevin Vance and Blair Walters found their way onto this list.
Only 15 players earned more than two votes, with Billy Hamilton receiving more votes than anyone else with 40. Mike Trout finished second with 26, while fellow big leaguer Bryce Harper placed third with 13.
Former Winston-Salem star Ian Gac, who won the Carolina League’s Most Valuable Player award last year, made the list, too. He played with Double-A Mississippi in the Braves’ system this season.
Who was the Dash’s most exciting player in your opinion? There are plenty to choose from, whether he is in this quintet or outside of it.
- Brian
Tommy Thompson For President?
Photo courtesy of the Washington Post.
The Winston-Salem Dash will have a presence in this year’s election. During last night’s Presidential Debate, challenger Mitt Romney said this (h/t to the New York Times):
“And I remember as a governor, when this idea was floated by Tommy Thompson, the governors, Republican and Democrats, said, please let us do that. We can care for our own poor in so much better and more effective a way than having the federal government tell us how to care for our poor.”
Romney was referring to Tommy Thompson, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate here in Wisconsin. However, those with a Dash background made the connection with the reigning Carolina League Manager of the Year.
I promise you will not have to read political views on this blog (except “Vote for Dash 2012“), but this was too good not to pass along. Tommy for President!
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #6 – Dash Dominate Postseason Awards
Dan Black and the Dash were well-represented on the year-end All-Star roster (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
This is the fifth installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next few days.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
#7: 5-run 9th sinks Salem
Moment #6 (August 30): Dan Black and Tommy Thompson take home top league honors, while five Dash swingers earn year-end All-Star spots.
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This is the only Top 10 moment that did not take place on the field, but it probably embodies the Dash’s 2012 success better than any other moment this season.
On an otherwise typical Thursday morning, the Carolina League made an announcement that simply confirmed what everyone already knew: Winston-Salem was the circuit’s signature team this season.
First baseman Dan Black earned the CL’s Most Valuable Player award, and skipper Tommy Thompson took home the Manager of the Year honor. Black also joined four other Winston whackers on the year-end All-Star squad.
Carlos Sanchez was the All-Star second baseman, while Michael Earley, Brady Shoemaker and Trayce Thompson all made the squad as outfielders.
These five men, along with the other 52 who donned the Dash purple this season, helped Winston-Salem reach new heights in 2012. Winston posted the franchise’s second-best record since joining the CL 67 years ago. The Dash churned out a league-leading 21 double-digit run outputs. They led the Carolina League in almost every relevant offensive statistic, too.
Sure, a plethora of dangerous hitters helped the Dash to the Mills Cup Finals, but Tommy Thompson’s managing was critical, too. Tommy seemingly pushed the right button all the time, and his attitude rubbed off on every player in the dugout.
The Dash dominated the Carolina League, so it is no surprise they had the strongest presence when the league office announced these postseason awards. It was an incredible season for these six men and the Dash as a whole.
We will present the Dash’s fifth-best moment from the 2012 campaign tomorrow, and it involved some celebration. Have a good Friday night.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #7 – 5-Run 9th Stuns Salem
Michael Earley recorded the walk-off hit August 14 against Salem (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
This is the fourth installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next two weeks.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
Moment #7 (August 14): Winston-Salem scores five in the ninth to walk off with a 10-9 win over Salem.
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In the first half of the season, the Dash and Salem Red Sox waged quite a battle for the Southern Division championship. Winston-Salem outlasted the Sox despite struggling against Salem in head-to-head matchups.
The second half was a much different story even though both teams endured many promotions to Double-A. Winston remained atop the circuit, while Salem sunk to the Southern Division’s basement.
With the playoffs three weeks away, these two teams played in a game that meant very little in the grand scheme of the playoff chase. Salem was mere days away from official elimination, while the Dash could only add one home game to their postseason schedule with a division crown.
Still, baseball has a way of making the ordinary extraordinary, and game 121 for the Dash proved to be special.
For eight and a half innings, Salem controlled the contest. The Red Sox led 6-0 through six innings and 9-5 entering the home half of the ninth, which is when the magic happened.
After a Juan Silverio leadoff home run, Daniel Wagner followed with a bunt single, and Keenyn Walker drew a free pass. Two batters later, Brandon Short pulled the Dash within a run thanks to a two-run double.
Following Dan Black’s well-struck fly out, Cyle Hankerd delivered a two-out double off the wall in center to push across the tying run.
On the next pitch, Michael Earley laced a single to right-center, and Hankerd rumbled around third to beat Shannon Wilkerson’s throw and complete the Dash’s most improbable comeback of 2012.
The Dash’s season featured 90 total victories, but this one was among the best. It continued Winston’s push for the minors’ top record, while Salem suffered one of its most deflating losses during a terrible second half.
We will present the Dash’s sixth-best moment from the 2012 campaign tomorrow. This is the only moment that did not technically take place on the field. Talk to you then.
- Brian
