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Minor League Catch-All thread 2009 edition


southsider2k5

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This happened a week ago, but I'm not sure how I hadn't seen this yet...

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/832193.html

Teen jailed for sprint across diamond

Boy says his father dared him to cross field during Knights game, so dad's arrested, too.

By Matt Garfield

[email protected]

Posted: Tuesday, Jul. 14, 2009

 

 

FORT MILL, S.C.

 

Dad told me to do it.

 

That's the explanation a 14-year-old boy gave police after he ran onto the field Saturday during a Charlotte Knights baseball game — and led park employees on a chase across the diamond.

 

According to authorities, the teen jumped from above the home dugout, took off his shirt and sprinted across the infield to the center field wall, where he jumped up and touched the "400" foot marker, according to witnesses and reports filed by authorities.

 

At that point, an usher, two Knights front office employees and a York County sheriff's deputy caught up with the boy and led him away through the right-field groundskeepers' gate.

 

The drama played out Saturday night before a near-capacity crowd of 9,645 who had been watching the Knights bat against the Gwinnett Braves in the bottom of the eighth inning. A beach bag giveaway and post-game fireworks drew a bigger crowd than usual.

 

Once off the field, the boy told a deputy that his father, Jeffrey Richards of Troutman, N.C., had dared him to go through with the feat, and that the father had even said his son would be a "man" if he did, an incident report states. It was the family's first time at a Knights game.

 

The sheriff's office arrested father and son and drove them to the Moss Justice Detention Center in York. The 35-year-old father — charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor — was released on bond the next day.

 

But the boy remains jailed on a trespassing charge. He was being held until Tuesday morning, when the next session of Family Court convenes, a jail official said. Juveniles can be held for up to 48 hours, not counting weekends, until they must appear before a judge.

 

The Herald generally does not identify minors accused of crimes.

 

Jail supervisor Ralph Misle said Monday afternoon the boy is being kept in an individual holding area in the juvenile section.

 

Straight to center field

 

The sight of a shirtless teenager darting across the field stunned players and onlookers, including Knights staffers watching from the press box, said team spokesman John Agresti, who witnessed the scene.

 

"By the time the usher and our people and the deputy got out there, he was past second base into the outfield," Agresti said.

 

As the boy barreled toward him, Braves center fielder Reid Gorecki took a step or two to get out of the way, clearing a path for the teen to keep going.

 

"We're standing up there in the press box going, 'Is he going to hop over the wall?'" Agresti said.

 

The chase came to an end after the boy slapped the "400" marker that denotes the distance from home plate. Park employees escorted him out, and play resumed after a delay of less than two minutes, Agresti said. The Braves won the game, 5-4.

 

But the incident is far from being resolved.

 

Dad regrets making jokes

 

Reached by phone Monday afternoon, the boy's father acknowledged joking with his son about what it would be like to run onto the field. The family was sitting behind home plate, about 10 rows up.

 

"I said, 'Boy, if you do, you'd be the man,'" Richards said. "It wasn't like we went to the rail and helped him over or anything."

 

The family had driven in from Troutman, N.C., where Richards installs church steeples and trims trees for a living. Richards said he drank three or four beers over the course of the evening, but had arranged for a relative to drive everyone home after the game.

 

He didn't make it past the eighth inning. That's when Richards said he reached down to grab a handful of popcorn and looked up to see his son darting onto the field.

 

The 14-year-old plays for his school football team — on the offensive line, the father said.

 

"I think he thought it was going to be funny," Richards said. "He's more of a prankster than a troublemaker. It's nothing mean or spiteful."

 

But team officials said they take such incidents seriously because of the dangers to fans and players. Fortunately, the pitcher had stepped off the mound and saw what was happening, Agresti said.

 

"You hate it because there were 9,000 people there," he said. "You can't necessarily slap him on the wrist and let him go back. The sheriff's office had to do what they had to do."

 

Youngsters yearning for a chance to take the field have a chance to do so legally. The Knights invite kids to run the bases before every Sunday home game.

Edited by dasox24
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So here's a sort of random thought... a name we aren't hearing much about is Logan Johnson. He was converted from OF to C for this year, he's at W-S now. He's got an .858 OPS. If his defense is half-decent at C, that's a pretty good offensive performance for a catcher. He's also 25 at High A so he is by no means a great prospect, but, if he could put up similar offensive numbers in AA later this year or next year, and be a good defensive C, I think he might be someone to keep an eye on as a potential backup to Flowers in a year or two.

 

Anyone have any info on how is transition to C is going?

 

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 04:08 PM)
So here's a sort of random thought... a name we aren't hearing much about is Logan Johnson. He was converted from OF to C for this year, he's at W-S now. He's got an .858 OPS. If his defense is half-decent at C, that's a pretty good offensive performance for a catcher. He's also 25 at High A so he is by no means a great prospect, but, if he could put up similar offensive numbers in AA later this year or next year, and be a good defensive C, I think he might be someone to keep an eye on as a potential backup to Flowers in a year or two.

 

Anyone have any info on how is transition to C is going?

 

I'll see what I can find out.

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 04:08 PM)
So here's a sort of random thought... a name we aren't hearing much about is Logan Johnson. He was converted from OF to C for this year, he's at W-S now. He's got an .858 OPS. If his defense is half-decent at C, that's a pretty good offensive performance for a catcher. He's also 25 at High A so he is by no means a great prospect, but, if he could put up similar offensive numbers in AA later this year or next year, and be a good defensive C, I think he might be someone to keep an eye on as a potential backup to Flowers in a year or two.

 

Anyone have any info on how is transition to C is going?

I'm pretty sure he's played everywhere on the field, and perhaps he can develop into a super sub. Someone who can play 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and C who is a decent hitter with pretty good OBP skills (he gets hit a TON).

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QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 01:18 AM)
By the way, they sent Carlos Torres to Great Falls for some reason.

 

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 12:08 PM)
Sign that he's not going to be down for long and they wanted both him and Charlotte's rotation to stay on schedule?

 

JPN - your own post plus Balta's provides the answer, doesn't it?

 

From the David Cook thread:

 

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 23, 2009 -> 06:30 PM)
With Torres going back to Charlotte, that gives them 27 active players. They can only have 24.

 

Either he's coming right back up, or they are waiting to see what happens with Colon and/or Danks.

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QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 04:14 PM)
JPN - your own post plus Balta's provides the answer, doesn't it?

 

From the David Cook thread:

 

 

 

Either he's coming right back up, or they are waiting to see what happens with Colon and/or Danks.

 

He was initially on Great Falls roster, now he's back on Charlotte's. Thought it was strange.

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QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 04:08 PM)
So here's a sort of random thought... a name we aren't hearing much about is Logan Johnson. He was converted from OF to C for this year, he's at W-S now. He's got an .858 OPS. If his defense is half-decent at C, that's a pretty good offensive performance for a catcher. He's also 25 at High A so he is by no means a great prospect, but, if he could put up similar offensive numbers in AA later this year or next year, and be a good defensive C, I think he might be someone to keep an eye on as a potential backup to Flowers in a year or two.

 

Anyone have any info on how is transition to C is going?

 

 

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 22, 2009 -> 04:16 PM)
I'll see what I can find out.

 

Logan got back to me, sorry it took me so long to get it up.

 

The transition is going well. My teammates have even noticed an improvement from the beginning of the year. Plus, I feel more confident and comfortable behind the dish.

 

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QUOTE (CSF @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 11:42 AM)
Looks like Sergio Santos is on the Barons roster.

Fernando Hernandez, Justin Cassel and Matthew Zaleski are also on Charlotte's roster. Poreda and Russell are gone so that explains 2 of those. Nunez's promotion in Richard's roster spot is spot 3.

 

Santos, Johnnie Lowe and Miguel Socolovich moved up to Bham.

 

Charlis Burdie and Daniel Albritton moved up to W-S. I think they have an open roster spot. Their roster is at 24, isn't it 25 down in A ball?

 

Serafin got a well deserved promotion to Kanny. Joining him is Enrique Lechuga. Dylan Axelrod is a catcher that I have no info on, he could be another addition.

 

FS story on the promotions

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