MiLB Snap Shots

Digging deep to find Jayson Werth's negatives

2009-11-03T22:18:03Z

Jayson Werth has been a key player for the Phillies during this year's playoff run, so I thought it would be fun to look back at the photos I took of him when he was playing Class A ball.

I just didn't realize the search would be so time consuming.

I found nothing in my backup archives, and nothing on the old backup DVDs. Of course, it was shot on film back in 1999, but I had expected to find at least a couple of scans in my digital files. No such luck.

I keep backup copies of all the rosters and lineup cards for every game I shoot, so I easily found the April 1999 Frederick Keys roster, when Werth was a catcher. But the negatives were filed in another location because they had become so bulky.

The negatives were filed in plastic sleeves with the player's number written with a china marker. There was Werth, No. 37, on a couple of strips. I finally remembered how to use the film scanner, and here are the results.

Giants prospect Villalona jailed on a murder charge

2009-10-28T19:19:30Z

August 25, 2008: Angel Villalona of the Augusta GreenJackets at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

San Francisco Giants first base prospect Angel Villalona, who by all accounts became a millionaire when he signed with the Giants, is awaiting trial for the shooting death of a 25-year-old man in the Dominican Republic, according to reports from the Associated Press.

According to the reports, Villalona, 19, who last played against the Drive in Greenville last year when he was with Class A Augusta, turned himself in to police the day after a man was shot in a bar in La Romana last month.

According to the AP report, Villalona, who pleaded innocent, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. I scanned the Web to see if I could find anything new about the case, but I suspect justice moves slowly in some parts of the world.

In a statement, the Giants said, "We will monitor the situation closely and trust that the judicial process in the Dominican Republic will resolve the matter promptly and fairly."

How long until pitchers and catchers report?

2009-10-23T15:09:19Z

July 8, 2009: Infielder Oscar Tejeda (3) of the Greenville Drive, No. 12 prospect of the Boston Red Sox, plays a game of pepper wearing a pink hat on breast cancer awareness night at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. A portion of the proceeds for the game went to breast cancer research. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

I'm in denial. The Minor League baseball season has been over for a month, and I'm trying not to think about it.

Unlike many of my photographer colleagues, I don't shoot much outside the baseball season. No soccer, no volleyball, precious little football (none so far this season) and I don't care for basketball photography at all. So unless I can find a Clemson fall baseball scrimmage this month, I'm done until the Tigers start play around next Valentine's Day.

It's gonna be a long off-season, as always. However, I'll be posting photos from my archives, some of my favorites, some relating to trades or the fall or winter leagues.

Here's a shot I took to illustrate breast cancer awareness day. (Coincidentally, it's relevant again as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

A bit late, a photo gallery and links on Game 4

2009-09-20T23:21:49Z

Sept. 18, 2009: Anthony Gose, left, and Jeremy Hamilton of the Lakewood BlueClaws hug after winning Game 4 of the South Atlantic League Championship Series against the Greenville Drive 5-1 at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Lakewood won the series 3 games to 1. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

A 35-minute rain delay, an overcast evening that means everything will be shot at 3200 -- what I call f-dark-30 -- and a game that finally ends after 10 normally don't make for good night. But it turned out that way anyway.

It was a disappointing night for the local Greenville Drive, however, as they dropped Game 4 to lose the South Atlantic League Championship Series to the visiting Lakewood BlueClaws.

But I got the photos that I wanted, filed them kinda sorta almost on time, and then slept late on Saturday, feeling less than perfect.

So now, a little bit late, here are my photo gallery and some links about the game.

BlueClaws take SAL championship with 5-1 win

2009-09-19T05:19:57Z

Sept. 18, 2009: Lakewood BlueClaws players display the league championship banner after winning Game 4 of the South Atlantic League Championship Series against the Greenville Drive 5-1 at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Lakewood won the series 3 games to 2. Photo by: Tom Priddy

The Greenville Drive couldn't produce enough power Friday night as they lost the South Atlantic League Championship Series to the Lakewood BlueClaws, 5-1. The BlueClaws won the series 3 games to 1.

It's the final game of the year for me, the last of three 18-hour days in a row . . . another late night . . . and this is all I'm posting for tonight. I'll do the photo gallery tomorrow.

Photos, links from Drive-BlueClaws Game 3

2009-09-18T15:43:14Z

Pitcher Jeremy Kehrt (18) of the Greenville Drive throws in relief in Game 3 of the South Atlantic League Championship Series between the Drive and the Lakewood BlueClaws Sept. 17, 2009, at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by Tom Priddy.

The Greenville Drive picked up a win Thursday night to stay alive in the South Atlantic League Championship Series.

Drive pitcher Jeremy Kehrt (above) picked up the win following a three-run sixth inning in which the Drive scored all of its runs for a 3-2 victory.

The teams play again tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-five series, with Lakewood leading 2-1.

Giants pitching prospect makes his big league debut

2009-09-09T20:33:47Z

June 5, 2008: Pitcher Madison Bumgarner (5) of the Augusta GreenJackets,

Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, prior to a game against the

Greenville Drive at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo

by: Tom Priddy.

Madison Bumgarner, a lefty who's been on the radar screens of every Minor League photographer for a couple of years, made his Major League debut last night. Oh, yeah, the scouts were keeping track of him, too.

I had one shot at him last year in Greenville when he was the starter for Augusta, and I got quite a bit of mileage out of those photos, from Web site use and print to at least one baseball card that I know of.

He's been the No. 1 pitching prospect for the San Francisco Giants, and he didn't disappoint last night as he became a last-minute sub for Tim Lincecum.

"Making a surprise start for Tim Lincecum, who was scratched with back spasms, Madison Bumgarner displayed his heralded potential while surrendering two runs in 5 1/3 innings," wrote Chris Haft of MLB.com.

"Bumgarner left with a one-run lead and a chance for a victorious Major League debut," he wrote. But San Francisco's usually reliable bullpen softened in a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres that dented the Giants' postseason hopes."

Giants' Web site on Bumgarner's debut

Jim Rice can teach as well as he can hit

2009-09-04T21:28:10Z

Sept. 3, 2009: Outfielder Kade Keowen (47) of the Greenville Drive is

congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run in a game at Fluor Field

at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

I just love this story. Greenville Drive outfielder Kade Keowen is taking swings in the batting cage under Fluor Field last evening before the game when Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice passes by.

Rice is hanging out under the stands, waiting for his cue to go onto the field and throw out the first pitch on Jim Rice Night.

So Rice goes over to Keowen, sees something he's doing, gives him a batting tip, and it's all over in about five minutes. They go on about their business.

So what happens when Keowen comes to bat for the first time? He smacks a huge homer to center field.

Keowen was grinning when he got back in the dugout. Lesson learned. That Jim Rice can teach as well as he can hit.

Jim Rice gets his special night in Greenville

2009-09-04T14:12:44Z

Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame player Jim Rice acknowledges the applause

of the crowd after being presented a Greenville Drive jersey during Jim

Rice Night at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C., Sept. 3, 2009.

The Greenville Drive recognized recent Hall of Fame inductee Rim Rice with

"Jim Rice Night" Thursday in Greenville, S.C.

Rice, who grew up and played ball in nearby Anderson, played left field for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989, and was elected to the Hall in his 15th and final year of eligibility.

Rice was an eight-time all-star and American League MVP in 1978.

Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame player Jim Rice laughs with Ty Weeden after

throwing out the first pitch during Jim Rice Night at Fluor Field at the West

End in Greenville, S.C., Sept. 3, 2009. Photo by Tom Priddy.

Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame player Jim Rice clowns with Greenville Drive

mascot Reedy Rip'It during Jim Rice Night at Fluor Field at the West End in

Greenville, S.C., Sept. 3, 2009. Photo by Tom Priddy

Story about Jim Rice Night

What to do during a long rain delay?

2009-08-29T01:36:44Z

August 27, 2009: Pitcher Felix Ventura (36) of the Greenville Drive plays a

game of pepper with teammates during a rain delay at Fluor Field at the

West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

I don't particularly care for rain delays, and we've certainly had our share of them this year.

So I have to find something to do while I'm waiting.

August 27, 2009: What do you do to kill time during a rain delay? If you

are outfielder Ryan Lee (21) of the Kannapolis Intimidators you get out a

bat and practice your putting while the tarp is on the field. After an hour

delay the game was played at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville,

S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

August 27, 2009: A Greenville Drive staffer helps pull the tarp off the field

at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. The game was delayed

an hour by rain. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

Taking in the sights from home plate

2009-08-29T01:30:26Z

August 27, 2009: A youth baseball player takes in the view from the field

before a game at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo

by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

Just another cute kid photo.

Smoltz shows everyone he still has it

2009-08-24T19:16:44Z

May 31, 2009: John Smoltz (29) of the Boston Red Sox talks to the media

after pitching a rehab assignment for the Greenville Drive, Class A affiliate

of the Boston Red Sox, in a game against at Fluor Field at the West End

in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

John Smoltz thumbed his nose at everyone who snubbed him yesterday by making a fine debut with the Cardinals.

Of course, John is too much a gentleman to ever really thumb his nose at anyone, but you get my drift. He showed 'em. He still has it.

Here's what Matthew Leach of MLB.com had to say: "John Smoltz dazzled in his Cards debut, shutting down the Padres on three hits over five scoreless innings while setting a club record with seven straight strikeouts."

"He struck out nine, including seven in a row at one point -- a number that according to some outlets is a club record, though the Cardinals could not confirm that. Smoltz also beat out a double-play ball to keep a pivotal rally going, and scored his team's first run by hustling home from second on a single."

In another story, Leach quotes Cards coaches who believe Smoltz was unsuccessful during his stint with Boston because he was tipping his pitches to opposing batters.

"Among the various explanations for the five shutout innings Smoltz pitched -- highlighted by nine strikeouts -- was that he and the Cardinals believe he may have stopped tipping his pitches to opposing hitters, particularly when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals' staff had the right-hander make an adjustment following a bullpen session he threw on Thursday, and the results were hard to argue with."

Kelly keeps impressing -- at two positions

2009-08-21T14:05:19Z

August 13, 2009: Shortstop Casey Kelly (23) of the Greenville Drive prepares

to tag Daniel Pertusati (12) of the Greensboro Grasshoppers who is

attempting to steal during a game at Fluor Field at the West End in

Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images

Now I think I've finally seen everything.

First, I get to photograph a professional pitcher who throws both lefty and righty. Now, I get to photograph an All-Star pitcher who dominated the Sally League . . . moving to shortstop for the remainder of the year.

What next? A bat boy who doubles as the closer?

I can't remember any time I've seen a professional ballplayer spend half the season pitching and half at short. Happens all the time in high school, but not the pros.

So it was fun watching Casey Kelly -- a first-half Sally League All-Star as a pitcher -- move to shortstop for the Greenville Drive this month.

He said he misses playing every day when he's a starting pitcher only getting on the field every five days. Gotta admire that . . . but you have to wonder if you would do the same thing with the success he's had on the mound . . .

July 29, 2009: Casey Kelly (23) of the Greenville Drive, a top Boston Red

Sox pitching prospect now playing shortstop, chats with Lakewood

BlueClaws third baseman Travis Mattair (14) during a break in the action

in a game at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo

by: Tom Priddy/MiLB.com

Boston Globe story on Casey Kelly

Reaching for an out . . . or a souvenir

2009-08-16T17:36:02Z

August 13, 2009: First baseman Ben Lasater (23) of the Greensboro

Grasshoppers robs a fan of a souvenir as he grabs a foul ball during a

game at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom

Priddy/Four Seam Images/MiLB.com

Almost caught up . . . Here's my favorite photo from the past couple of weeks.

I'm a sucker for silly mascot photos, too

2009-08-16T17:30:01Z

August 13, 2009: Greenville Drive mascot Reedy Rip'It dances with a local

dance group from "Jazzercise" before a game at Fluor Field at the West

End in Greenville, S.C. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images.MiLB.com

. . . I'm a sucker for those silly mascot photos, too.