All Things Valley League

Waynesboro Names New Head Coach

At the end of the 2009 Valley League season, Interim Head Coach Derek McDaniel made it clear that he would not put his hat in the ring for the head coaching position of the Waynesboro Generals.

Tuesday afternoon, Team Caretaker Jerry Carter got his man: Davis & Elkin's head coach Ronnie Palmer.

Palmer, a 1999 grad of Davis & Elkins, has been the head coach of the Senators for the past two seasons. Previously, he was the head baseball coach and Athletic Director of Salem Community College in Carneys Point, New Jersey. Coach Palmer's squad finished at 9-39 in his first season at Elkins, but improved by 15 games in season two, ending with a record of 24-31. The Division II squad has most of their players returning for year three, and have added a few more arms for this spring, so a larger improvement is expected.

Coach Palmer played at Hagerstown Community College for his freshman and sophomore seasons (1995-96), and transferred to Davis & Elkins for his junior and senior years (1997-98). The head coach of the Senators in 1997-98 was none other than former Waynesboro head coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. 

Palmer is ready for this new challenge. "I want to give the kids the best experience they can have, while making sure that the team gets involved in the Waynesboro community," he said. "Obviously, you want to win a championship, but coaching is not just about winning games." He described himself as a coach who will adapt his coaching style to whatever lineup is available, as his Senators team led the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in sacrifice hits and finished 3rd or 4th in stolen bases in 2009. His Salem team, conversely, was near the top of its league in home runs at his previous coaching stop.

The recruiting duties will be shared by former Coach Nesselrodt and new Coach Palmer, and the team is still in the process of filling out the coaching staff. Both Coach McDaniel and Coach John Cullen will continue to be involved with the Generals in the future if they wish, and Palmer hopes to have his Elkins assistant coach, Jimmy Mullins, join the staff for the summer as well.

Caretaker Carter is thrilled to have Coach Palmer on board, saying, "I am ecstatic to have someone who cares about what we're doing as much as I do, as well as someone who understands baseball both inside and outside the lines as much as Ronnie Palmer."

Checking in With Scott Shuman

Now that the minor league season is over, both ATVL and Baseball America are working hard to sum up players and statistics from the season. In the future, ATVL will post the best players from the 2008 draft, maybe even as BA is posting the top prospects in each minor league.

Sometimes these lists will overlap a bit, or a player will perform well enough to garner special attention. That is definitely the case with a former Winchester Royal, Scott Shuman (07).

Shuman, a 19th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays this June, has been almost unhittable for the Princeton Rays in the rookie-level Appalachian League. He went 0-0, 0.82, with a 1.23 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9, and 11.9 K/9 in 22 innings.

While Scott didn't make the BA top 20 list from the Appy League, he was covered in the chat, held by Matt Eddy, and he also showed up in the BA Blog in the beginning of September.

Here is the question from the chat:

Steve (Valdosta, GA): Did Scott Shuman get any consideration for the top 20? He had to be one of the best relievers in the league, having given up an earned run in only 1 of 22 appearances.

Matt Eddy: Yes, he did receive consideration. The Rays may have gotten a steal with Shuman, their 19th-round choice out of Auburn. He's got a chance to move quickly as a reliever with his two plus pitches.

Steal indeed. he held lefties to a .226 average, and righties to .220...

Here's the scouting report from the blog, also written by Matt Eddy:

Despite his modest draft status, Shuman has a chance to move more quickly than any member of the Tampa Bay’s ’09 draft class. A reliever with a slinging, low three-quarters slot, he has fanned 29 batters while walking nine in 22 Appy League innings, sitting at 95 mph and touching 97 with his sinking fastball. The pitch features boring, tailing action, getting in on the hands of righthanded batters, and Shuman’s quality mid-80s slider gives him a weapon to the other side of the plate. He’s converted all three of his save chances and has allowed just four runs (two earned) for an 0.82 ERA.

So, although he didn't make the top 20 list, it looks like Scott has a bright future! Oh, I almost forgot: at one point that year I asked Winchester Coach John Lowery who might be his best arm. Guess who he named? Yep- Scott.

Hardy Drops Down, Bounces Back

One of the most intriguing Valley League alums is a lefty from Austin Peay, Rowdy Hardy (Staunton 04).

He's not intriguing because of his name, even though it might be the coolest name ever. 

No, he's intriguing because he doesn't throw all that hard, and he completely dominated High-A batters for Wilmington in 2007, going 15-5, 2.58, with only 16 walks in 167 innings. 

He took a step backward in 2008 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, going 6-11, 4.97. He still didn't walk many batters, only 31 in 155 innings, but he didn't get many out, either, allowing 195 hits in those innings.

According to a Baseball America feature by Alan Eskew (subscription only) this year, the Kansas City Royals asked Rowdy to drop his arm slot down. Farm director Scott Sharp said, "We just thought (dropping down) may give him a competitive advantage and provide a little depth from the lefthanded side for us."

Rowdy responded well to the change. At High-A Wilmington and back at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Hardy went 7-5, 2.74 combined at the two levels.

Hardy agreed with the change as well, saying, "I've taken a liking to it. There are some kinks to work out, but it didn't take long to see the benefits. I'm getting more used to it. My goal was to be a starter in the big leagues. Now my goal is to be a reliever in the big leagues."

Mosebach Makes Major League Debut!

Just last year the first Covington Lumberjack made the majors in the form of Carlos Guevara.

Just a short month ago, the Woodstock River Bandits had their own success story: Bobby Mosebach (04)!
A 9th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels, Bobby made his major league debut for the West-leading  Angels on July 25 against the Minnesota Twins. He's pitched in three games, pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, and striking out 2. 

Congratulations to Bobby- and the River Bandits for their first major leaguer!

#14 Hitter: Chad Oberacker, Fauquier

Our #14 hitter, Chad Oberacker, was the best hitter in the Fauquier lineup in 2009. He tattooed pitchers to a 337/394/460 clip, with 24 runs, 21 RBI, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, and a 13/22 BB/K ratio in 40 games and 163 at-bats. He added 17 stolen bases against 3 caught stealing. His average was good enough for 8th place in the league.

Chad is currently a junior at Tennessee Tech. As a freshman in 2008, he hit 262/367/452 in 21 games and 42 at-bats, with 12 runs, 13 RBI, and a 7/3 BB/K ratio. He proved he was ready for a starting position on his squad, and went on to lead Tech in batting in his sophomore year. He finished at a huge 354/422/497, with 51 runs, 27 RBI, 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, and an even 23/23 BB/K ratio in 50 games and 195 at-bats. He added 11 stolen bases in 13 attempts.

If Chad keeps swinging the bat like he did in Warrenton County, I imagine he'll get some looks from pro scouts during his junior year. Well done!

Chad returns to first base against Haymarket

(Picture courtesy of Haymarket Joe Photography)

Villanueva Leads Jacksonville to Title

Elih Villanueva, a Luray Wrangler in 2007, helped the Double-A Jacksonville Suns to their first ever Southern League championship as a Florida Marlin affiliate with 5 solid innings on the hill and a shocking, three-run home run in the fourth inning.

The Suns were down, 3-1, when Elih hit his three-run jack off Andrew Cashner. The Suns went on to score three more runs enroute to a 7-3 victory in game four of the best of five series.

Elih threw 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 0 walks, 3 runs (earned), and striking out 6 to earn the win. It was his first win of the playoffs, and only his third overall start at the Double-A level. Not bad for a 27th round draft pick in the 2008 draft!

For the entire year, most of which Elih spent at High-A Jupiter, he finished 9-13, 3.54, with a 1.14 WHIP, 1.1 BB/9, and K6.2 /9 in 168 innings. He walked only 21 batters in those 168 innings!

Keep it up, Elih, and you'll be pitching against major league hitters before you know it!

As an addition, Scott Cousins (Harrisonburg 05) hit a double in the game, as did Tony Thomas (Harrisonburg 05)- but for opposing teams. Garrett Parcell (Covington 04) also threw a shutout inning in relief of Villanueva. It was a Valley League reunion!

Elih scoring after his home run

#15 Hitter: Sherman Johnson, Covington

I think it's about time to get started!

The next three lists, top hitters, starters, and relievers, are all ATVL's creation. It has absolutely nothing to do with future ability. It has everything to do with the season that just ended. ATVL has not consulted anyone in the construction of these lists- he put everything in a spreadsheet and tried to rank players (during a faculty meeting, no less).

ATVL has attempted to be objective, but hey, mistakes may have been made. Try not to see the list as a definitive ranking of the season's best players, but a celebration of the top players in the league.

ATVL's importance is slanted towards on-base percentage and plate discipline, but frankly, there were so many good hitters in the league this year that it was tough to limit the list to 15. A full 31 players made the initial cut, and ATVL stared at numbers until his head swam.

At any rate, we will begin with #15: Sherman Johnson, the second baseman from the Covington Lumberjacks, who fell in the finals to Haymarket.

Johnson had an excellent year for the 'Jacks. He hit 310/435/429 in 46 games and 168 at-bats, with 13 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 29 runs, 36 RBI, 15 stolen bases (against only 1 caught stealing), and a sterling 38/31 BB/K ratio. In fact, it's that high OBP that helps Sherman stand out.

Sherman, a sophomore at Florida State, played in 28 games as a freshman in '09, none as a starter. However, he hit 476/577/810 in 21 at-bats, with 6 runs, 10 hits, 2 doubles, a triple, home run, 10 RBI, and a 5/2 BB/K ratio. Impressive production, even though the sample size is tiny. I imagine Sherman will get more playing ime in the near future. 

This foul ball almost got Haymarket Joe!

(Pictures are courtesy of Haymarket Joe Photography!)

Katin Featured in BA

Baseball America, considered the premier baseball prospect authority, chooses players each issue to feature in their organization reports. ATVL always scans these reports to see if any former Valley Leaguer might show up, and he was rewarded in the beginning of September with an article on Brendan Katin (Covington 04).

A 23rd round draft pick in 2004, Katin has always shown a ton of power, but suspect plate coverage. In fact, over his minor league career, Brendan has struck out 613 times in 548 games covering 1,936 at-bats.

Despite this shortcoming, Katin is starting to get a few looks in the Milwaukee organization. Doug Melvin, the Brewer's GM, said this about Brendan: "Maybe we need to start talking about him... this guy keeps hitting. He has hit at each level he has played, and he's got a plus arm. If he continues to hit, at the end of the year, we've got to take a look at him. He's got power."

Katin finished the year just one tiny step below the major league, at Triple-A Nashville. He hit 244/305/499 in 459 at-bats, with 33 doubles, 6 triple, 24 home runs, and 92 RBI. Of course, he struck out 164 times as well.

Katin did not get the call this year, but there's always hope!

Three Named Best Defensive

Each year Baseball America names the "best of" in multiple categories of the minor leagues. They name the best batting prospects, pitching prospects, most exciting players, and best defensive players.

This year three Valley Leaguers made the list- all at the level of Single-A, and all of them because of their defense.

• Rebel Ridling (Covington 06) was named the best defensive first baseman in the Midwest League. I know, giving batting stats for a defensive reward is pretty silly, but here they are: 310/357/466 in 536 at-bats, with 34 doubles and 16 home runs.

• Tyson Auer (Luray 05-06) was named the best defensive outfielder, also in the Midwest League. His stats: 277/344/346 in 491 at-bats, with 43 stolen bases. 

• Brian Bocock (Luray 04) was named the best defensive shortstop in the California League. This is no surprise; Brian's been a standout shortstop since he was drafted by the Giants in the 9th round ofthe 2006 draft. Brian hit 230/302/316 in 122 games at two levels. 

Congrats to all three!

Stoner Also Makes Debut!

Yesterday Tommy Manzella; today Tobi Stoner (Front Royal 05)!

Stoner, the sixth Valley League alumni to make the major leagues in the 2009 season, was a 16th round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2006. He made his major league debut September 10th, with a shutout inning against the Florida Marlins. he has made one appearance since, September 13th against the Philadelphia Phillies, in which he gave up 3 runs and 4 hits in 3 innings pitched.

In the minors, Tobi has gone 27-32, 3.57, with a 1.21 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and 6.6 K/9 in 499 1/3 innings. He had been throwing very well for Triple-A Buffalo before his callup, going 4-0, 1.91 in his last 5 starts. 

Congratulations, Tobi!

(For the record, the six debuts are: Hunter Jones, Jack Egbert, Brad Mills, Craig Tatum, Tommy Manzella, and Tobi Stoner)