23 Days Until Gateway Grizzlies Opening Day

It's the last week of April and Gateway Grizzlies Opening Day is getting oh so close..just 23 days away.

The players are excited, fans are anxious and of course, I'm ready to get started!  This is the best time of the year.  Players are trickling in to GCS Ballpark and Spring Training is only 8 days away.  It begs the question, what are we in store for in 2012?  Who's going to have a big year?  Can the Grizzlies contend in the Frontier League West Division?  Are we in store for a history-making season?  Those questions and more will start to be answered in a couple of weeks.

Here's a couple more things to keep your eye on in 2012:

    *Mike Breyman joins the Grizzlies coaching staff as the hitting coach.  He was one of the best hitters to ever play in the league and has turned into the leagues top hitting coach IMO.  Players love his coaching style and he gets the job done.  Just look @ his track record as the River City hitting coach..
     *Starting pitching is all of a sudden a strength:  The Grizzlies starting pitching was quite frankly, awful in 2011.  Outside of Mark Brackman and the two starts from Aaron Shafer, the Grizzlies got nothing from their rotation.  In 2012 the rotation is experienced and deep.  There's a lot of talented arms who have put up solid #'s in professional baseball.  The starting pitching has a good chance to be a strength in '12.
     *Watch out for Jerod Yakubik.  First off, I had the chance to meet Jerod today and he's as nice as can be.  He's one of those guys that will be easy to root for.  A former Pioneer League batting title winner, expect Yakubik to hit for a HIGH average.  He won't hit many homers, maybe only two or three, but he gets the job done with the stick.  He could be an outstanding two hitter.  He also plays a solid first base.

    *I know I've talked about a lot about John Shelby..but I'm going to bring him up again.  The name John Shelby will be a household name this summer...he's that talented.  As people say, his play will be worth the price of admission (which is very affordable by the way).  A perfect blend of speed, athleticism and competitiveness.  He wants to win and as long as he's on the team, they will win.

Grizzlies 'Alumni' Update:

Former Grizzlies pitcher Mark Brackman tossed three scoreless innings today for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League.  Brackman has now worked six exhibition innings and has surrendered just one run.  Brackman is joined on the Barnstormers pitching staff by former major leaguers John Halama, J.D. Durbin and Jeff Bennett.  Check the Grizzlies facebook and twitter page for updates on Mark throughout the Barnstormers season. 

To say I'm excited about the season is an understatement.  More to follow in the coming weeks.  Go Grizzlies!

            -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Gateway Grizzlies Countdown Continues

With Major League Baseball in full swing, Gateway Grizzlies baseball is quickly approaching.  It will be here before you know it!

According to my countdown, 25 days until the Exhibition Opener, 29 days until the first broadcast on the Grizzlies Radio Network (May 13th EXH game) and just 34 days until Opening Day.  I wish it was here tomorrow!

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Belleville Men's Sports Group yesterday and really enjoyed it.  I had the chance to chat with fans about the upcoming Grizzlies season and fill them in on what they can expect when they come to GCS Ballpark.  An offseason full of exciting signings makes for an exciting spring training and that's what we are gearing up for in a couple of weeks.  Now that it's mid-April, players will start trickling in to GCS Ballpark this coming week.  Spring Training begins May 3rd and Phil Warren (Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon) has said this is going to be the most competitive Spring Training he has has had during his time here.  That includes his first season with the Grizzlies in '07 when his squad won 60-plus games, which is still a franchise record.

All in all, it's going to be an exciting Spring Training and hopefully an exciting season.  I feel like Phil will put together a great ballclub and we'll be in for a fun 2012 summer.  The offensive philosophy of the Grizzlies has changed, there is depth at nearly every position and the pitching staff is looking as solid as ever.  That's a recipe for success.

There are numerous questions people ask heading into Spring Training.  Here's a few:

• How will local products Aaron Conway (pictured right), Tim Brown and Cale Johnson  perform close to home?
• Phil Warren has more speed than ever on his ballclub..just how many bases will the Grizzlies steal in '12?
• Who will close games for the Grizzlies in '12..will it be Chris Enourato (11 saves in '11), Richard Barrett, Maurice Bankston or someone else in the 'pen?
• Will John Shelby put up historic #'s in his first season with the Grizzlies?
• Can the Grizzlies reach the playoffs for the first since 2008?  

Those questions and many more will be answered throughout the 2012 season.

I mentioned that our first broadcast will be on May 13th.  We are excited to be bringing you that exhibition game and all 96 regular season games on the Grizzlies Radio Network once again in 2012.  I will be joined in the booth at home games by Alex Wilson this season.  He's graduating from Greenville College in May and will be joining the broadcast team as the No. 2 broadcaster.  I'm excited to have Alex with us and confident he will do an outstanding job.

It's my pleasure to bring you Gateway Grizzlies baseball on the radio and I can't wait for the season to start up in May.  Go Grizzlies!

       -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Bring In Former White Sox/Rays Prospect

Hello all!  Only 39 days until Opening Day @ GCS Ballpark.  With the season approaching the Grizzlies have made a big-time move with the addition of former Chicago White Sox top-10 prospect, John Shelby.

Shelby was drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the White Sox.  He spent 2006-2010 with the Sox and was regarded as the 7th-best prospect for the Sox before spending 2011 in the Tampa Bay Rays Organization.  Shelby reached as high as Triple-A in 2011 with the Durham Bulls. 

I had the chance to talk to John earlier today and he's excited to get to Gateway and begin the season.  He played at the University of Kentucky with hitting coach Mike Breyman and outfielder Antone DeJesus and also knows Chris McClendon, who played for the Wildcats after he left.

He has been around baseball his whole life.  His father was an 11-year MLB veteran and currently serves as a coach with the Milwaukee Brewers, his cousin Josh Harrison plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates and his younger brother spent time in the minors as well.

John is a Lexington, KY native who played for UK and has put up gaudy #'s during his time in affiliated ball..here's a look at them:

2006 (Rookie Ball Great Falls): .272 8 HR 36 RBI 8 SB in 66 games.
2007 (Single-A Kannapolis): .301 16 HR 79 RBI 19 SB in 122 games.
2008 (High-A Winston-Salem): .295 15 HR 80 RBI 33 SB in 114 games.
2009 (Double-A Birmingham): .243 10 HR 49 RBI 30 SB in 115 games.
2010 (Double-A Birmingham): .249 11 HR 43 RBI 15 SB in 111 games.
2011 (Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham): .246 16 HR 52 RBI 7 SB in 118 games.

Shelby played second base in college, helping UK win the 2006 SEC Championship.  He left for professional baseball after his junior season.  In the pro's he split time between second base and the outfield, mainly seeing action in center and left field.  At Gateway, Phil Warren will use Shelby's versatility as a strength and place him where it fits best for the team.

Shelby can hit for average, for power and steal bases.  He has a strong arm and is versatile enough to play multiple positions.  He brings a lot to this ball club.  I think it's safe to say there haven't been many signings as big as this one during the Grizzlies existence.  Shelby excelled at every level in the minors and is eager to build something special in 2012 with the Grizzlies.  All fans should be anxious to watch him perform!

      -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young