Last Wednesday, my dad and I flew in to Phoenix for Spring Training.  It was our second year in a row of watching baseball that doesn’t matter in the Valley of the Sun, and this year’s trip was even better than the last.  Of course, the outcomes of the games don’t mean anything. The players we know only play four or five innings a game (if at all) and the mid-day heat of the Arizona can bother even the most ardent of fans. But none of that is important to us as we spend a few days in the sun enjoying not only the game we love, but also the return of spring and the hope of another Rockies playoff run—all of that adding up to what my brother Sean (himself not even a baseball fan) appropriately calls “The Baseball Feeling”.

The trip started with a visit to the Rangers’ facility in Surprise.  Although driving in stop-and-go traffic up dreaded Grand Avenue was an ordeal, the Rockies won a wild and wacky game over the defending AL champions, 11-10.  Among the unsurprising portions of the game were a towering blast by a minor-leaguer off of former Rockies closer Franklin Morales, a wild Rockies comeback in the late innings, and not one but two instances of poor baserunning by Eric Young Jr., one of the fastest but also one of the poorest baserunners in the game.  With the winning run at the plate in the ninth, the Rangers hit into a game-ending line-drive double play to seal a bizarre win for the Rockies.

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I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Nick Wooley, a long-time friend of the Sombrero and former teammate who now pitches in the Kansas City Royals’ organization.  I got to know Nick in the summer of 2008 when we were teammates on the Alton Indians of the St. Louis Metro Collegiate League; a team that also featured the Sombrero’s own Ryan Harris and Robbie Unsell.  That summer, Wooley’s dominance on the mound lead the Indians’ to a Metro Collegiate League Championship, 3^rd place finish at the NABF World Series in Toledo, OH., and an overall record of 30-6.

Wooley, 22, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 12^th round (362^nd overall selection) of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft following a stellar junior season at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri – watch his official MLB Draft video.  The 6-foot-2 right-hander earned America Midwest Conference co-pitcher of the year and newcomer of the year honors, after going 8-1 with a 3.31 ERA and hurling four complete games in 12 starts. In 70 2/3 innings, Wooley allowed 60 hits, walked 27, and struck out 89 for the Owls.

Nick spent all of 2009, his first full minor league season, pitching for Idaho Falls, the Royals’ rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League.  Appearing in 13 games for the Chukars – nine of which he started – Wooley was 3-2 with a 4.78 ERA, and racked up 40 strikeouts while walking only 10 hitters in 49 IP.

Prior to the 2010 season he was promoted to Low-A Burlington – now the Kane County Cougars – of the Midwest League where he struggled to find rhythm, and battled through some issues with his command.

Although he didn’t have the success at Burlington that he’d hoped, Wooley is anything but discouraged headed into his third professional season. The offseason brought the news that he will become a father in June – news that has allowed him to consider his life and career in a new light.  The right-hander enters the 2011 season with distinct goals as both a pitcher and a father, and is optimistic that he’ll turn a major corner in his young career.

• Although the Seattle Mariners are still years away from any sort of contention, it appears as though they are seriously considering breaking camp with the 22-year-old right-hander, Michael Pineda.  Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7, 260-pounds, Pineda is widely considered to be one of baseball’s best right-handed pitching prospects (#17 on the Sombrero’s Top 50), and with a fastball that touches the upper-90s, one can understand why.  So far this Spring, Pineda has posted a 2.57 ERA, struck out five, and walked three over seven innings of work.  According to Matthew Carruth of Fangraphs, however, including Pineda in the Opening Day rotation is not necessarily a wise decision…

• Here at the Sombrero, there’s no such thing as too much Bryce Harper.  After an impressive Spring Training in which he hit .389 (7-for-18) with three doubles and five RBI, the Nationals assigned the 18-year-old to Class A Hagerstown on Saturday afternoon.  Wanting to make the most of every Spring Training opportunity, Harper mentioned that he was feeling “hitterish” the other day.  What exactly does “hitterish” mean? Well, it’s a good thing that our friends at Diamond Hoggers are here to break it down for everybody.

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Last night on The Baseball Show, Clint from Diamond Hoggers and I took part in a long, two-part show. In the first half of the show, we welcomed David Franco from NextLevelBallplayer.com. David (who is Clint’s former teammate) has been writing about his experiences from Spring Training on Diamond Hoggers for the past week. You can follow him on Twitter here. He offers the perspective of a former Division I collegiate player who has had some great experiences.

The first half of the show was a lot of fun, and we talked about the following:

• The idea behind his site, Next Level Ballplayer.
• Why aren’t high school kids better prepared for the mental side of the game?
• David talks about his experiences playing with or against guys like John Ely, Joe Blanton, Dirk Hayhurst, Drew Stubbs, Rice University, University of Texas and many more guys who are now in the big leagues.
• A funny story about him spending 9 innings in the GM’s box with the GM of his favorite team, Ned Coletti
• A tale from Fall Baseball in college, involving fiery John Ely
• Talking Jim Tracy’s influence and management style when he took over in Colorado
• Thoughts on the Dodgers for 2011
• Tales from Spring Training

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#6 Eric Hosmer – Kansas City Royals

1B

DOB: 10-24-89

ETA: 2012

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