Great Falls White Sox Update

[elrockinMT]

Thursday, June 12, 2003

 

Old park fits new Sox fine

Local club likes looks of summer digs

By SCOTT MANSCH

Tribune Asst. Sports Editor

 

 

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Legion Park was built more than 60 years ago, but the new kids on the block were having fun at the old ballpark Wednesday morning.

"It's not old to us," said Chris Cron, manager of the fledgling Great Falls White Sox. "We were very, very happy with everything."

 

Cron and about a dozen local White Sox arrived in Great Falls Tuesday and saw their new summer digs for the first time Wednesday morning. Nine more players, including several recently drafted prospects, got into town Wednesday night in preparation for the Sox' Pioneer League opener June 17.

 

Cron said the White Sox will work out this morning at 9, even though construction continues on the $1.8 million facelift project that is nearing completion. The work includes a new clubhouse and offices for the home team, as well as many new amenities for fans.

 

There is nothing new about the field itself. But thanks to the work of head groundskeeper Carl Christofferson and top assistants Bob Pinski and Billy Chafin, the infield isn't showing its age at all.

 

"We hit an awful lot of ground balls, and there wasn't a bad hop in the bunch," said Cron, an ex-major leaguer who is working for the Chisox following three seasons as Triple-A manager in the Colorado organization. "The field is really in great shape. It sounds like you've got a lot of people here who take pride in that field, and that's a good thing."

 

The construction project, too, received rave reviews.

 

"The clubhouse looks great," Cron said. "We're very, very fired-up to have as much room as we have."

 

Cron said he also liked the way the ball was flying out of the park during BP.

 

"Our guys were hitting balls that were going a long way," Cron said. "The ball really seemed to be jumping. We believe we're going to have a strong offensive team, so that was good to see."

 

Pitchers Brandon McCarthy, Rylan Reed and Garron McGary each threw the equivalent of three innings during a simulated game. All three have had previous pro experience and will be relied on heavily once the Pioneer campaign starts.

 

"Brandon could probably be our opening-day starter," said Richard Dotson, who will serve as Cron's pitching coach this summer. "He's a good pitcher with real good stuff who's not afraid to go inside."

 

McCarthy, 19, went 4-4 with a 2.76 earned-run average in the Arizona League last year after being selected in the 17th round of the 2002 draft. He's a 6-foot-7, 180-pounder.

 

Dotson said Reed, a 6-7, 260-pounder who turned down a football scholarship at Arkansas to sign with the Chisox a few years ago, also lends some maturity and talent to the staff. "He could start or be the long man out of the bullpen," Dotson said. "I think he'll give us a real good effort."

 

Among those who arrived in Great Falls Wednesday night are the following recent draftees:

 

Outfielder Clinton King, a third-round pick; outfielder Chris Kelly (6th round); second baseman Cory Haggerty (18th round); infielder Antoin Gray (25th round); and catcher Matt Deuchler (43rd round).

 

More players are expected to trickle in to Great Falls in the coming days. White Sox officials have said that University of Arizona outfielder Brian Anderson and Iowa prep star Ryan Sweeney, drafted last week in the first and second round, respectively, will be sent to Great Falls when they sign professional contracts.

[YASNY]

Keep posting these. This is great!

[Grebeck Fan Club]

Here's my first post in weeks after not being able to access this site:

 

If Cron was a AAA manager last year, isn't this a major drop for him?

 

I'll pay attention to this younguns, because the big club is crap.

[Rex Hudler]

Here's my first post in weeks after not being able to access this site:

 

If Cron was a AAA manager last year, isn't this a major drop for him?

 

I'll pay attention to this younguns, because the big club is crap.

Cron took over the job Nick Leyva had the last two years. He is a Minor League Bunting Instructor/Rookie League Manager. He spends the first half of the season roving to the different affiliates.

 

I wouldn't consider it a drop because it is more of a Minor League Staff position. If he were only the Great Falls Manager and didn't begin work until now, then yes, you could say it would be a backward move.