Tag Archives: Fernando Tatis Jr.
Baseball scout Machemer keeps eyes peeled for talent
March 28, 2018 stvkrh905	Leave a comment
Dave Machemer's eyes have seen a great deal of baseball.
A Benton Harbor (Mich.) High School graduate, Machemer played at Central Michigan University and was selected in the fourth round of the 1972 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the California Angels.
Used mostly as a second baseman, Machemer played in 29 MLB games — 10 with the 1978 Angels and 19 with the 1979 Detroit Tigers.
Machmer's manager in California was Jim Fregosi. His only career home run came in his first big league at-bat — a lead-off shot against Minnesota Twins left-hander Geoff Zahn on June 21, 1978 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minn. That was one week after Sparky Anderson took over as Detroit manager.
Over 11 minor league seasons and stints with the Angels, Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins organizations, Machmer batted .277 with 1,078 hits in 1,126 games played. He spent short stints with the Jim Leyland-managed Evansville Triplets in 1979 and 1980.
Leyland went on to manage in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and then the Tigers.
Cal Ermer, who won more than 1,900 games in the minors, was Machemer's manager in Toledo.
Machemer would win nearly 1,700 contests as the main man in the dugout from 1985 to 2013 and also was employed five years as a coordinator.
His managing career began in the Midwest League with the 1985 Beloit Brewers. He went on to manage clubs in Stockton, El Paso and Denver for the Brewers, Delmarva, Rochester, Frederick and Bowie for the Baltimore Orioles, Clinton and Harrisburg for the Montreal Expos and Norwich, Connecticut, Arizona, Augusta and Richmond for the San Francisco Giants.
He took the 1986 Stockton Ports to the California League title, skippered Mexicali to 1989 Mexican Pacific League title and the Caribbean World Series, earned Texas League Manager of the Year with the 1996 El Paso Diablos and guided the 2008 Arizona Giants to the rookie-level Arizona League championship.
Machamer managed a number of future big leaguers, including Gary Sheffield at High Class-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Brian Roberts at High-A and Double-A, Jayson Werth at Low-A and Double-A and B.J. Surhoff at Low-A.
"I loved managing the game and the strategy and competition that I had with other managers," says Machemer. "I thought I did it well.
"Managing is all about development and winning. Nowadays, the focus is not on winning. It's about player development."
Bruce Manno, minor league director when Machemer was with that organization, was liked to win.
"He said, 'Mac, winning and player development go hand-in-hand because when you win those players get developed,'" says Machemer. "I always believed in that.
"You always had more fun when you won and you developed a winning attitude and a good solid player at the next level to eventual help you win in the major leagues.
"If you don't win, what's the game all about?"
The baseball lifer is now in his fifth year as a scout for the Orioles — the first on the amateur side tracking the best high school and college players for the MLB Draft and the past two on the pro side for trades and acquisitions.
In 2017, he traveled from coast to coast and in Latin America and racked up 120 nights at the Marriott while seeing players from Low Class-A to the majors.
"It's not all bad," says Machemer. "I get a lot of frequent flyer miles."
Most of that flying is out of South Bend International Airport.
Machemer, who turns 67 in May, spent a month in Arizona for spring training intently watching players — using those eyes.
"(The Orioles) do a lot of sabermetrics and analysis through computers," says Machemer. "I don't. I go with my eyes and my heart and my experience.
"(Executive vice president) Dan Duquette believes in that and we're still doing it a lot that way and I like it."
Machemer notes that MLB organizations let 60 scouts go at the end of 2017 that do what he does.
"They're handing the ball off to a lot of people who sit in the office and go over the numbers and watch a lot of it on television," says Machemer, who worked with Duquette with the Expos and again with the Brewers. "Dan hasn't done that yet and I hope he doesn't."
When Machemer joined the Orioles scouting staff in 2014 and began taking marching orders from scouting director Gary Rajsich, he was made a national cross checker. He spent three years assessing mostly players who wound up being drafted in the first two rounds.
His role changed last year. He recently returned from spring training where he followed key players on five MLB teams, but was also responsible for everyone he saw on the field. Players might have been out of options or would help the O's with their Triple-A depth.
Machemer, who got his first taste of scouting in 2007 when the Giants sent him on the road for three months with renowned advance scout Ted Uhlaender, was looking for things like athleticism, arm strength and bat speed and submitting reports.
Since teams do their pre-game work on back fields during the spring, Machemer had to rely on just what he saw in games.
"You have to be very, very astute to be able to evaluate a guy on a couple different plays or couple at-bats," says Machemer. "It's not an easy job. It's hard."
Machemer would watch teams for five or six games in a row and then move on to the next team.
"I'm hoping to see something in that five or six games that excites me a little bit," says Machemer. "Maybe I don't see that this guy's skills play to the level he should?"
The player in question might be heavy or light on his feet, have a weak or strong arm, slow or quick bat.
"All I can tell them is what I see," says Machemer. "I pull the trigger and that's what we all do as scouts. You've got to pull the trigger."
Scouts have to have the ability to project what they think a player is going to be and how they fit into the organization's plans.
"Every player in this game as they come up is going to have a role," says Machemer. "As a scout, I put a present role on them and a future role.
"That's what this game is all about. Can he help us in the big leagues?"
That's what Machemer's bosses want to know.
Fernando Tatis Jr., who played for the Fort Wayne TinCaps at 18 in 2017, impressed Machemer in Cactus League play and sees him as a talent that could become an everyday big leaguer.
"When you see guys like a Tatis, you know he's going to be something in the major leagues," says Machemer. "It's for you as a scout to determine what he's going to be
Machemer was also projecting as a minor league manager.
"Those skilled players I knew were eventually going to start in the big leagues," says of players like Sheffield, Roberts, Werth and Surhoff. "That was going to be their role.
"Not everyone coming up is going to be an everyday player in the major leagues. I had to zero in on what they needed to get better at and what their role was going to be."
The player's idea of their role and the team's is not always the same.
Such was the case with Machemer as a player. He didn't always see eye to eye with his managers, including Leyland, about his playing time and his role.
"As a I graduated into managing and player development, I understood it a little more," says Machemer. "When I got into scouting, I really understood it."
Machemer learned much for many people over the years. His baseball and football coach at Benton Harbor High was Al Ratcliff.
"He taught me so much about the game and about life," says Machemer. "That man taught me to the believe in myself and to overcome adversity when the trenches got real deep."
Ratcliff died March 7 at 93.
Machemer also looks back fondly on his time with his minor league majors Ermer, Jimy Williams, Deron Johnson, Doc Edwards and Joe Morgan. Williams (Toronto Blue Jays, Red Sox, Astros), Edwards (Cleveland Indians) and Morgan (Red Sox) all managed the majors. Johnson was an MLB hitting coach.
"Those guys gave me a piece of them," says Machemer. "I learned a lot from each and every one of those guys. From them, I kind of developed my own style.
"I'll never forget those guys. I pay tribute to them for my career. They molded me into who I am."
While he was managing in the Midwest League, he was approached by South Bend coach Jim Reinebold and the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame took him back to the days that he led his South Bend Clay Colonials against Benton Harbor.
"'Dave, you played the game as hard as any player I ever saw,'" says Machemer in repeating Reinebold's comments. "That meant a lot to me. That guy's a legend and those kind of people are hard to impress. They are cut from a different cloth."
Does Machemer have his eyes on another managing job?
The only jobs that would pique his interest are managing at the Triple-A or the majors and coaching the bigs.
"I like what I'm doing right now," says Machemer. "I have a good feel for scouting."
Dave Machemer's long baseball career as a player, manager, coordinator and scout includes two brief stops with the old Evansville Triplets in the Detroit Tigers organization. The Benton Harbor, Mich., resident is now a pro scout for the Baltimore Orioles.
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Fans keep turning out to see Fort Wayne TinCaps
July 11, 2017 stvkrh905	4 Comments
Downtown Fort Wayne has become a destination and TinCaps baseball is a big reason.
The minor league team welcomed a franchise-record 413,701 fans to Parkview Field for 68 dates in 2016 and was only slightly behind that pace in 2017 — the ninth at the ballpark on Ewing Street.
Fort Wayne, a San Diego Padres affiliate, drew 252,305 for its first 45 dates, including a single-game record 9,266 on July 4.
"The city has embraced us," says TinCaps president Mike Nutter. "The people keep coming. It's been an unbelievable 8 1/2 years and we just want to keep it going."
A combination of exciting, young talent and ballpark amenities attracts fans from around the region.
"It's an incredible sports market," says Nutter, who notes that folks who who root for the Cubs, White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Reds and Cardinals agree that the TinCaps are their local team.
Before the streak was stopped in 2016, Fort Wayne had made the playoff seven straight seasons — a mark not matched in the minors or the majors.
Some people come to the park for the food and the promotions, but others want to see a winner and fondly recall the first season at Parkview when Fort Wayne, managed by Doug Dascenzo, won the 2009 Midwest League championship. Led by right-hander Mat Latos, 19 of those players landed in the big leagues.
Nutter has been with the franchise since the fall of 1999. The Fort Wayne Wizards played at the former Memorial Stadium from 1993-2008 and were affiliated with the Minnesota Twins through 1998.
"We were doing that and thought it was great," says Nutter of the Memorial Stadium days. "We had a hard-working group."
Current vice presidents David Lorenz, Brian Schackow and Michael Limmer were with the club in those days.
Before coming to the Summit City, Nutter had been in Nashville and watched that ownership have trouble getting a new ballpark (which eventually happened in 2015) so he knew new digs in Fort Wayne were not a sure thing.
"We didn't know how realistic it was," says Nutter. "Then it started to get legs and it started to move."
The TinCaps are run by Hardball Capital. Jason Freier is chairman and CEO of that group, which also runs the Chattanooga Lookouts and Columbia Fireflies.
One idea TinCaps management had when they moved across town is still in place.
"When we came downtown we said lawn seats would be 5 bucks. We liked the way that sounded," says Nutter. "At the old ballpark — again, not being criticial of it — the cheapest ticket was $6.50. Here was are in Year 9 and they're still 5 bucks."
Whether paying $5 or for more-expensive seats, patrons can see a TinCaps team that features three 18-year-olds in the starting infield, including Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop, Hudson Potts at third base and Reinaldo Ilarraza at second base.
Tatis, son of former MLB player Fernando Tatis Sr., has already been MWL Player of the Week twice in 2017 — the first Fort Wayne player to do that since Rymer Liriano in 2011. Baseball Prospectus ranks the young Tatis No. 22 among its Midseason Top 50 prospects.
"On a nightly basis, he stands out as the most-exciting player on the field," says Sam Geaney, Padres director of player development. "From his raw ability and a lot of his performances, there's a lot of positives.
"I love the way he plays. It seems like he enjoys playing the game."
The Padres organization has definitely turned to teens to turn things around and that includes Fort Wayne.
"We are one of the youngest teams in the league," says Geaney. "We understand there are going to be some growing pains.
"We had a lot of international signings. We have two 17-year-olds (Luis Almanzar and Justin Lopez) and an 18-year-old (Kelvin Melean) at (rookie-level) Tri-City playing on a nightly basis.
"When you sign guys from Latin America, for the most part those guys will be younger — 16 or 17 years old. It's very clear with our staff that we're trying to find the best players."
Slugging first baseman Brad Zunica is a returnee from 2016.
"He's just continuing to mature," says Geaney of Zunica. "He had his first full professional season last year. There's a maturing process that comes with that. He continues to tighten up his swing.
"With the combination of mechanical things and professional development, we're going to see some results this year."
With a re-worked pitching staff nurtured by veteran coach Burt Hooton, Fort Wayne manager Anthony Contreras had his team off to a 12-7 start in the second half after a league-worst 26-44 performance in the first half.
Michel Baez, a 6-foot-8 Cuban right-hander, made his first start in front of a paying crowd on American soil in the July 4 game and impressed by pitching five innings of two-hit shutout baseball with nine strikeouts
"The future is bright I think for the TinCaps in the second half and I know for the Padres in the future," says Nutter.
Anthony ContrerasBaseball ProspectusBrad ZunicaBrian SchackowBurt HootonChattanooga LookoutsChicago CubsChicago White SoxCincinnati RedsCleveland IndiansColumbia FirefliesDavid LorenzDetroit TigersDoug DascenzoFernando Tatis Jr.Fernando Tatis Sr.Fort WayneFort Wayne TinCapsHardball CapitalHudson PottsJason FreierJustin LopezKelvin MeleanLuis AlmanazarMat LatosMemorial StadiumMichael LimmerMichel BaezMidwest LeagueMike NutterMinnesota TwinsNashville SoundsParkview FieldReinaldo IlarrazaRymer LirinaoSam GeaneySan Diego PadresSt. Louis CardinalsTri-City Dust Devils
Teenagers big part of excitement for 2017 Fort Wayne TinCaps
April 4, 2017 stvkrh905	1 Comment
Indiana has a number of talented teenagers on the diamond.
Not all of those are wearing high school uniforms.
Some are professionals.
As the the Fort Wayne TinCaps (affiliate of the San Diego Padres) get ready to being the 2017 Class-A Midwest League season, they sport a roster with six teenagers and four 20-year olds.
"There's been a lot of hype and talk about this group," says Fort Wayne manager Anthony Contreras, who returns for a second season as skipper at Parkview Field. "I want to see what it looks like under the bright lights.
"It's going to be fun to watch them."
Fernando Tatis Jr. will be the TinCaps' 18-year-old shortstop when the season opens Thursday, April 6 at Bowling Green (the home opener is at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 8).
"He's a very dynamic young player," says Contreras of the 6-foot-3 power-hitting athlete from the Dominican Republic. "He's got some of the best pop I haven't seen in awhile."
Contreras expects Tatis to keep things loose while also bringing some of his unique experiences to the team.
"I'm here to have fun and do what I do," says the son of major leaguer Fernando Tatis Sr. "It's fun (being around other young players). We have the same mentality."
The young Tatis grew up around big league clubhouses.
"He knows what it's like to be a professional in this game," says Contreras. "He's going to thrive in this type of atmosphere."
Contreras (age 33) and his coaching staff will be looked upon to develop the young talent for the Padres.
"There's a a lot of pressure put not the minor league side," says Contreras. "They've invested a lot of money (in player development)."
With many players who have yet to experience the grind of a 140-game season, the manager knows he will have to manage the inevitable bad days.
"That's minor league baseball," says Contreras. "That's the experience they have to go through. When they move up and get the major leagues, they're going to fail as well so you want to address it but not dwell on it.
"A lot of these guys are going to go through some slumps for the first time. It's my job and the staff's job to keep them focused."
Besides Tatis, Contreras expects his regulars to include third baseman Hudson Potts (18), second baseman Eguy Rosario (17) with G.K. Young (22) and Brad Zuinca (21) sharing time at first base and Reinaldo Ilarraza, (18) playing various infield positions.
"We should have a very good team, from what I saw in spring training," says Young. "These young guys don't play like young guys. They can swing just like grown men."
Young played with NCAA Division I national champion Coastal Carolina in 2016.
"Going through the College World Series, I understand what it takes to win at a championship level," says Young. "I can honestly say I was not ready in high school to come and do this, but some things I went through mentally (in college) strengthened me to go through this game."
Fort Wayne's outfield includes Jack Suwinski (18) in left, Buddy Reed (21) in center and Jorge Ona (20) in right.
Marcus Greene Jr. (22) and Webster Rivas (26) will take turns at catcher.
A six-man starting pitching rotation includes (in order): right-hander Jesse Scholtens (22), left-hander Logan Allen (19), right-hander Austin Smith (20), left-hander Jerry Keel (23), right-hander Hansel Rodriguez (20) and left-hander Will Headean (23).
Burt Hooton is back for his fifth season as Fort Wayne's pitching coach.
The 67-year-old is teaching his young arms to "keep things simple and keep progressing."
"I tell them not to bite off more than they can handle," says Hooton, who was a big leaguer for 15 seasons. "You want to master your pitches and take the time to do it.
"You learn from your experiences — both good and bad."
Fort Wayne's bullpen includes returnees like right-hander David Bednar (22) and Lou Distasio (23) as well as right-hander Mark Zimmerman (23) and Ben Sheckler (21).
"There are no roles defined," says Hooton. "They're in the bullpen and, a lot of times, we're going to use them when it's their turn to pitch. We'll use two or three guys to close out games. We'll use two or three guys as long (relievers)."
Doug Banks (32) is the TinCaps hitting coach.
The former scout is telling his young players to focus on the positives.
"The biggest thing with these guys is that they trust themselves and they stick to their approach — whatever it is that night — and they believe in themselves," says Banks. "That's a big one.
"I'm exciting about this season. I hope they live up to the potential they have."
As a young coach in the Texas Rangers organization, Banks learned from veteran baseball minds Ron Washington, Clint Hurdle and Mike Maddux and watched veteran Michael Young and Josh Hamilton.
"That was a big opportunity for me," says Banks.
And opportunity is what's in store for these young Fort Wayne TinCaps.
Anthony ContrerasAustin SmithBen ShecklerBrad ZunicaBuddy ReedClint HurdleCoastal CarolinaCollege World SeriesDavid BednarDoug BanksEguy RosarioFernando Tatis Jr.Fernando Tatis Sr.Fort Wayne TinCapsG.K. YoungHansel RodriguezHudson PottsJack SuwinskiJerry KeelJesse ScholtensJorge OnaJosh HamiltonLogan AllenLou DistasioMarcus Greene Jr.Mark ZimmermanMichael YoungMidwest LeagueMike MadduxParkview FieldReinaldo IlarrazaRon WashingtonSan Diego PadresWebster RivasWill Headean