Category: Uncategorized

Drillville Looking For Some Help At ONEOK Field

The Drillers are looking for 2 mature employees to join the Black and Gold Merchandise crew! We are looking for employees who are willing to work every home game through September. The prospective employees must have previous register experience, pocess an outgoing personality, be time flexible, trustworthy and customer service oriented. Knowledge of t-shirt heat presses a plus.

To apply please attach your resume and send it via e-mail to Merchandise Assistant Lyndsay Larrivey at llarrivey@tulsadrillers.com.

The Drillers are looking for qualified Camera Operators to join the game day production crew! You must be 21+. Previous experience in live events, camera work on a Canon XL camcorder (or similar), and TV production is highly recommended. Knowledge of the game of baseball is a must.

To apply, attach your resume to an e-mail and send to Video Production Manager David C. Ruckman – druckman@tulsadrillers.com.

Eight Tulsa Drillers Make Texas League North Division All-Star Team

  

Tim Wheeler leads a group of eight Tulsa Drillers players that have named to the North Division All-Star Team that was announced today by the Texas League. The North Division will face the South Division in San Antonio on Wednesday, June 29 in the annual game.

Tim Wheeler and Wilin Rosario were both named starters in the 2011 Texas League All-Star Game to be played in San Antonio on June 29, 2011. (Rich Crimi)

Wheeler and catcher Wilin Rosario were named starters, while infielders Darin Holcomb and Ben Paulsen and outfielder Scott Beerer were named reserves.

Tulsa pitchers Stephen Dodson, Christian Friedrich and Juan Nicasio were also elected to the North Division squad.

Nicasio is currently with the Colorado Rockies and will only participate in the game if he is returned to the Drillers’ roster.

Players are determined for the two squads based on voting by league managers and media members.

The eight players tied Tulsa with San Antonio and Frisco for the second most representatives in the game. Arkansas has nine players that were voted to participate in the game.

Bishop Kelley product Dallas Kuechele and Henryetta product Sawyer Carroll were named to the South Division squad.

Complete rosters and staffs for the two sides are below

NORTH DIVISION ROSTER

1B Matt Adams Springfield

2B Ryan Mount Arkansas

3B Luis Jimenez Arkansas

SS Darwin Perez Arkansas

C Wilin Rosario Tulsa

DH Anthony Seratelli NW Arkansas

OF Alex Castellanos Springfield

OF Mike Trout Arkansas

OF Tim Wheeler Tulsa

 

RES Darin Holcomb Tulsa

RES Ryan Jackson Springfield

RES Ben Paulsen Tulsa

RES Salvador Perez NW Arkansas

RES Scott Beerer Tulsa

 

P Orangel Arenas Arkansas

P Michael Blazek Springfield

P Ryan Brasier Arkansas

P Maikel Cleto Springfield

P Stephen Dodson Tulsa

P Christian Friedrich Tulsa

P Juan Nicasio Tulsa

P Trevor Reckling Arkansas

P Garrett Richards Arkansas

P Matt Shoemaker Arkansas

 

MGR Brian Poldberg NW Arkansas

CH Terry Bradshaw NW Arkansas

CCH Larry Carter NW Arkansas

TR Tony Medina NW Arkansas

 

SOUTH DIVISION ROSTER

1B Michael Spina Midland

2B Vince Belnome San Antonio

3B James Darnell San Antonio

SS Wladamir Sutil Corpus Christi

C Ali Solis San Antonio

DH Mike Bianucci Frisco

OF Leonys Martin Frisco

OF Jermaine Mitchell Midland

OF J.D. Martinez Corpus Christi

 

RES Grant Green Midland

RES Tommy Mendonca Frisco

RES Renny Osuna Frisco

RES Jose Felix Frisco

RES Sawyer Carroll San Antonio

 

P Anthony Bass San Antonio

P Brad Brach San Antonio

P Xavier Cedeno Corpus Christi

P Adalberto Flores Frisco

P Ethan Hollingsworth Midland

P Casey Kelly San Antonio

P Dallas Kuechel Corpus Christi

P Justin Miller Frisco

P Martin Perez Frisco

P Jorge Reyes San Antonio

 

MGR Doug Dascenzo San Antonio

CH Jimmy Jones San Antonio

CH Tom Tornincasa San Antonio

TR Nate Stewart San Antonio

A Sitdown with Lars Davis

Courtesy of Kevin Henry from the Tulsa Examiner:

 

 

Lars Davis is in an interesting position for the Tulsa Drillers.

Davis, selected by the Colorado Rockies in the third round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Illinois, currently serves as the backup catcher to Wilin Rosario, ranked #2 among all Colorado Rockies prospects in their farm system. Yet, when Davis has his chances behind the plate, he is making the most of his opportunities, hitting .318 in 19 games with two homers and six RBIs in his 66 at-bats.

I recently had the chance to talk to Davis about his season, his outlook, and his thoughts on the injury to San Francisco catcher Buster Posey.

Kevin Henry: How do you prepare knowing you’re not going to play everyday?

Lars Davis: The biggest thing is my mindset. I have to work on my mental game as much as my physical game. It’s taken me a few seasons to realize that, but I know I have to do what I can to help the team win when I am in there. That can be on any given day. I know I always have to play good defense and always help my pitchers in every way I can.

Henry: You know you only have a certain number of at-bats in your current situation. Does that change your philosophy when you’re batting?

Davis: I’m always looking for a good pitch to hit. Every time I get in there, I want to put my best swing on the ball. I can’t get a hit every time, but I can always put my best swing out there.

Henry: Earlier you mentioned defense and you have earned the reputation as a very solid defensive catcher. What did you do in the offseason to work on that?

Davis: I worked a lot with Marv Foley (Colorado’s catching coordinator) and really learned a lot from him. I really worked hard on my throws and blocking the ball in the dirt.

Henry: How long does it take for you to development relationships with your pitchers so you know what needs to be called and when?

Davis: That’s always an ongoing process. I’ve been with some of our pitchers since we were all drafted together. Some of our pitchers are new arms in the bullpen. I try to learn what they feel comfortable throwing in certain situations and go from there.

Henry: As a catcher, what were your thoughts when you saw Buster Posey go down in that collision at home plate?

Davis: It’s a tragedy to lose a player like Buster to an injury. As a catcher, you know there is a risk there and that an injury like that is a risk you face. A lot of people are debating who was right or wrong there, but I don’t feel strongly one way or the other. Collisions at home plate are part of the game. They’ve been part of the game forever. Look at Pete Rose in the All-Star Game. We see it happen all of the time, and I think we’ll keep seeing it happen.

Henry: This is your second season with the Drillers. What do you think of the makeup of this year’s team?

Davis: I think we have a fantastic club. We have a lot of returning players from last season and a lot of guys on this team who knows what it takes to win.

Rockies Nab Oregon Lefty And Prep Shortstop In First Round

With the first pick the Rockies had in the 2011 Draft they picked up Oregon left-handed starter Tyler Anderson. Anderson could arguably be one of, if not the greatest pitcher to come out of the University of Oregon. His advanced arm and knowledge of pitching should bode well for his quick movement through the system.

Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson will be the third left-handed pitcher the Colorado Rockies have drafted in the last few years following Christian Friedrich and Tyler Matzek. (Bleacher Report)

What does this mean for Tulsa Drillers fans?

Well in the last two years the Rockies have either drafted college position players or high school pitchers in the top few rounds. These traditionally are the two types of drafted prospects that either end up as busts, or take the longest to develop the necessary skills to have a successful playing career.

According to some scouts Tyler Anderson may not have the highest ceiling in the draft, but he is a guy who won’t take long to hit a big league rotation and will not have to wait long to hear his name! Be ready for this one soon Drillville!

 

With their second pick the Rockies selected Irving High School (Irving, TX) shortstop Trevor Story. Story is currently committed to play at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana but it will be hard for the 18 year-old to turn down first round money.

The position player was the first the Rockies had selected in the first round since they drafted Chris Nelson ninth overall in the 2004 draft. In his senior year at Irving, Story hit .484 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs and 29 runs batted in.

2011 Draft Day Special: Rockies Edition

Colorado Rockies first pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft was Kyle Parker. Parker eventually chose to play baseball with Colorado and forgo his junior and senior seasons at Clemson University.

This Monday night will signal the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Colorado Rockies will have two picks out of the top 60. Their first selection will be at number 20 in the first round and their second will be at 45 in the supplemental first round to compensate for the loss of Octavio Dotel to the Toronto Blue Jays in the off-season.

The Rockies first pick in the 2010 draft Kyle Parker, from Clemson, is having a solid first year Class-A ball. Through 46 games with the Asheville Tourists, Parker is hitting .286 with 7 home runs and 43 runs batted in. Formerly a quaterback at Clemson University, Parker has finally dedicated all of his time to baseball and it seems to be paying off.

The Rockies other top pick from the 2010 draft was right-handed pitcher Peter Tago. Tago was drafted out of high school last year and has appeared in only three games in his professional career. Through three starts he is 1-1, with a 4.73 earned run average. Tago is still very young and has a long way to go but again his career is only beginning.

One-On-One Sit Down with Darin Holcomb

By Kevin Henry    (Tulsa Examiner)

 

Every day that Darin Holcomb can step on the field and take his position at third base for the Tulsa Drillers is a good day for the native of Spokane, Wash.

Holcomb missed all of last season suffering from spondylolisthesis, a condition where the L5 vertebrae in his lower back has slipped forward and is causing damage to L4 as well.

Holcomb, who was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 12th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, entered Saturday night’s action hitting .257 with four homers and 22 RBIs. I recently had the chance to sit down with Holcomb and talk about his back, the rough emotional season of 2010, and his hopes and goals for the future.

Kevin Henry: First and foremost, how is your back?

Darin Holcomb: It’s holding up. I can’t really ask for much more than that. I have my good and bad days. I have a series of stretches and core exercises that help me and I do those every day.

Henry: In previous years, you’ve said that your back has deteriorated as the season has gone along. What can you do to prepare for that, if anything?

Holcomb: It’s a long season and I usually really start feeling it around the All-Star break. I know that I have to grind through it and play through it. Surgery isn’t an option for me (it would mean the end of Holcomb’s career), so I have to keep up with my exercise routines and do the best that I can. I’ve had a ton of cortisone shots and they provide short-term relief.

Henry: How hard was missing all of last season for you?

Holcomb: It was really tough. I had never missed more than a week at one time before that. I think it was really hard on me mentally. I really didn’t know if I was going to be able to play this season or ever again. Having thoughts like that can really wear on you.

Henry: When did you know that you would actually be able to play this season?

Holcomb: I think it was when I started picking up my activities and started swinging again. I knew after that that I could at least get to spring training. My back held up there, so I knew I could keep playing. That was a huge relief for me. It was hard not seeing all of the guys, but when I got back, I felt like all of the hard work I did in 2010 was worth it.

Henry: Looking back, did you ever doubt that you’d be back on the field in 2011?

Holcomb: It crossed my mind, but I wanted to trust the rehabilitation process. My mindset was to keep working hard and good things would happen.http://b3.mookie1.com/2/ExaminerB3/ATTW/1H_11Q1/GEO33/300/11037341@x90

Henry: I’ve read that one of the side effects you face from your back problems is a loss of range in the field and power at the plate. How has that affected your play?

Holcomb: It does affect me. I have shooting pains down my leg in the field and I can’t use the lower half of my body at the plate. It hasn’t changed my swing because I’ve never been a big power hitter. I’ve always been more of a contact hitter.

Henry: One of your biggest supporters has been Tulsa hitting coach Dave Hajek. How important was it to have him in Tulsa during your “comeback” season?

Holcomb: It was very important. He knows me as a person and he knows my swing. When I heard I was coming back to Tulsa, he was the first guy I wanted to see. We work together every day and he helps me with my swing and the mental aspect of the game. I wasn’t worried about where they were going to send me after spring training, but coming back to Tulsa was my first choice because of Dave.

Henry: What goals do you have for the rest of the season?

Holcomb: I want to be productive and help my team win. I want to stay healthy and stay on the field. Like everyone else, I want to move up, but my main goal is to stay healthy and play every day.

Henry: When you see a teammate get called up like Juan Nicasio did recently, what does that do for your mindset?

Holcomb: It inspires me. To see that you can go from Tulsa to the big leagues shows that you’re really that close to reaching your dream. It makes everyone happy to see their teammate succeed and do well. It also shows that the process we’re going through and everything we’re doing, we’re doing the right way.

Henry: The Drillers are currently leading the Texas League’s North Division. What is it about this team that has helped it succeed so far?

Holcomb: Top to bottom, this is a solid team. We have good pitching and good defense, and we’re all pulling for each other. This is a team without cliques and we all get along. That helps a lot, and I think at the end of the year, it will help us a lot.

Tim Wheeler Continues To Rack Up Honors

Tulsa Drillers center fielder contiues to rack up awards left and right this season. Wheeler has once already been the Texas League Player of the Week and has yet again been give the title for Texas League Offensive Player of the Week ending on May 29th.

His Line for the Week:

.500/.600/.833, 6 G, 12-for-24, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 RS, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 0 CS

 

Wheeler kicked off a hot streak by banging out three hits, including a double, on Monday, and he had two hits, two walks, two runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI in his next game. On Thursday, he slugged two home runs and another double, also walking and plating four runs. The Rockies’ first-rounder from 2009 out of Sacaramento State, Wheeler finished his week by notching two hits Saturday and two more Sunday. 

The Tulsa outfielder was also named the Topps Texas League Player of the Month for May.  The Topps honor comes only two days after Wheeler won his second TL Player of the Week Award on Monday.

During May, the 23-year-old led all TL hitters with a .389 batting average, 79 total bases, 18 extra-base hits (9 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR) and a 1.169 OPS.  He was second among all league hitters with 25 runs scored and with 24 runs batted in.

For the season, Wheeler is leading the league in RBI (45), tied for the lead in home runs (14) and fourth in the league in average (.337). Wheeler will be personally presented with the Topps Texas League Player of the Month Award prior to a Drillers game at ONEOK Field later this month.

Drillers Land On Baseball America’s Daily Dish

• Rockies 2008 first-round lefthander Christian Friedrich rebounded from a dismal May 25 start (10 runs, seven hits in 1 2/3 innings) to turn in his finest effort of the season for Tulsa. His game score jumped 63 points, from 10 to 73, in limiting Frisco to one run on just two hits over seven innings. The 23-year-old notched five strikeouts against one walk and recorded 11 of 13 in-play outs on groundballs.

• Double-A Tulsa center fielder Tim Wheeler (Rockies) went 3-for-5 to raise his average to .337. The leadoff hitter improbably leads the Texas League with 14 homers and 45 RBIs despite not collecting any of either in a weekend series at Frisco.

Courtesy of Matt Eddy (Baseball America)

Monday Morning Manager: The Day-Game Version

So far in 2011 the Tulsa Drillers are 23-19 in Texas League Play. Though through their last ten games the team is 4-6, the Drillers still own a half-game lead in the Northern Division over Northwest Arkansas. And they own a two and a half game lead over the Arkansas Travelers.

The starting pitching has certainly been a strength so far in the season with Juan Nicasio, Christian Friedrich, and Rob Scahill all pitching great in their last outing. Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Aaron Cook will be on the mound for the Drillers Monday as he is making his third rehab start with the team and looking to build on his last two outings.

Thomas Field is leading the Drillers with eight runs batted in over the last ten games. (Rich Crimi)

Not only has the pitching been great so far, the bats are starting to heat up. Scott Beerer is hitting .345 over his last ten games, with two home runs and five runs batted in. Thomas Field is also starting to turn his season around as well. Field has put together what is easily his best ten game stretch as a Tulsa Driller. He is hitting .313 with ten hits, one home run, eight runs batted in, four runs in his last ten games.

Here are the questions for the week Drillville:

  1. Who do you predict will make the Texas League All-Star team from the Drillers in 2011?

 

  1. What has been your most memorable game so far in 2011?

 

  1. With only a few players back from the 2010 team. Who do you believe is the Drillville’s new favorite player?

 

  1. If given a choice of the two. Would you prefer original double-bubble or apple flavored dubble-bubble?