Experiencing a No Hitter

Posted by John on May 4, 2010 under John | 3 Comments to Read

Today we have a special column from guest writer, Jon Nelson. Nelson was in attendance at the Beloit Snapper game on May 1 when Twins prospect, Daniel Osterbrock threw a no-hitter. Nelson accounts his experience below.

There were a few thoughtful glances at the hits column in the fourth inning.  It became evident in the fifth that something special could be in the works.  By the sixth, it was clear that the impossible was just maybe possible.  In the seventh, there was nothing but tension.  Then there was an absolute release of emotion.

Daniel Osterbrock threw a no-hitter for the Beloit Snappers on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

The lefthander pitched seven innings of near-perfect baseball, with seven strikeouts, in the second seven-inning game of a rainout makeup doubleheader as the Beloit Snappers beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – an Appleton, Wis. based Class A Affiliate of the Brewers – 4-0.

Those who went to the Friday game but had to leave because of rain were thrilled that they had gotten wet walking to their cars in a downpour and instead came for the two contests on Saturday.

They were a part of one of the most incredible feats in all of sports.

Forgive me for slipping into second, and first, person, but if the baseball deities ever let you witness a no-hitter, you are incredibly lucky.  The feeling I had as the innings mounted – and the hits column for the Rattlers refused to budge – could best be described as giddy tension. You felt as if you were part of something special, because you were, and trust me, it didn’t matter that it was Class A.

What’s more, Osterbrock took a perfect game into the final inning.

The first batter he faced in the seventh, D’ Vontrey Richardson, fouled off a number of two-strike pitches before he drew a full-count walk.  But then Osterbrock induced a double-play groundout off Ryan Gennett, jammed Khristopher Davis for a pop out to second baseman Brian Dozier, and was rushed on the mound by his teammates.

Osterbrock was supported by a defense that made a number of key plays and allowed no errors.  He earned seven strikeouts, improving his record to 2-1 in four starts and ERA to 2.30.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native was not only a great competitor in the first Snappers no-hitter since 1996, but also a great sportsman.  He remained to sign the autographs of many fans young and old without complaining.  He is a valuable, classy part of the Twins organization, and if he continues to improve, he should be pitching for a starting spot at Target Field soon.  He has the tools and mindset to make it in the bigger levels.

Liam Hendriks was effective in the first contest, pitching six innings of one-run baseball while allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out six for a 5-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Hendriks deserves notice.  The one run caused his 0.41 ERA to balloon to 0.64 after pitching 28 innings with just 12 hits, three walks, and two runs, plus 32 strikeouts after five games.

But Mayday was Michael Osterbrock’s day.

The Snappers are taking notes on their organization’s Major League success.  After losing one game to the Rattlers on Sunday, but getting another win from them on Monday, the 15-9 Snappers are tied for the Midwest League Western Division lead with the Peoria Chiefs (Chicago Cubs).

They have been backed by the pitching of Osterbrock and Hendricks, and a number of other strong arms, including Dutch product Tom Stuifbergen, who has a 1.38 ERA with a 3-0 record in four starts.

The Snappers’ offense is starting to show its potential.  Outfielder Aaron Hicks, the Twins’ top prospect, is now hitting .313 with three home runs and eight runs batted in from the leadoff spot.

Four Snappers have at least three home runs at this early point in the season.  First Baseman Michael Gonzales leads that category with four.

The Snappers will finish well this year if they can continue this early success, and will furnish the Twins system with important young talent.

Beloit Farm Report – April 12

Posted by andrew on April 18, 2010 under John | Read the First Comment

Snappy D. Turtle may not be chumming it up with the next Joe Mauer right now, but there certainly is a good deal of quality talent on the way to Target Field from Pohlman Field in Beloit, Wis.

The Beloit Snappers – a Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins – played their home opener this Sunday, April 11. They lost 2-0 to the Cubs’ Peoria Chiefs, but it wasn’t due to pitching.

Starter Brad Stillings threw five solid innings, giving up only three hits, one run and one walk alongside a strikeout and an infielder’s error in his first start of the season.  Most impressive was how the 6’ 4” right-hander battled back from a situation with runners on second and third in the first inning.  With one out, an attempted putout throw got past first baseman Michael Gonzales and Peoria outfielder Jose Valdez made it to third.  Following the error, a walk, and a single to score Valdez, Stillings faced the minimum in his final four and two-thirds innings.  He benefitted from a runner caught stealing at second base and a double play to end the fifth inning.

Although the Snappers showed some rust in the first inning, their defense was impressive in the final eight, including a handful of tough outfield rundowns.  In the seventh through ninth innings, the pitching and defense was so solid that no Chiefs batters even reached first base.

One shouldn’t be worried about Stillings’s low number of innings pitched (five) since it’s still so early in the Midwest League season.  That’s normal.  Two other Snappers starters who pitched about as well as Stillings likewise went only five innings this year.

The other strong starts have come from Miguel Munoz and Liam Hendricks, who were picked up by the Twins organization as free agents in 2005 and 2007, respectively.  Although they’ve been in the lower ranks for some time, they could be poised to make a difference after moving up to Beloit in 2010 following stints in Rookie ball with the Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins in 2009.

Stillings was signed as a seventh-round draft pick last year.  As he gains more experience in Beloit during the 2010 season, following just six starts in Elizabethton and one for Beloit in 2009, look for Stillings to reach the higher levels soon.

Stillings, Munoz, and Hendricks aren’t the only pitchers with potential to have seen time in Beloit.  Kevin Slowey was with the Snappers in 2005.  In fact, they’re having a Kevin Slowey bobblehead day August 1.  Jeff Manship and Matt Garza also pitched in Beloit.

The Snappers were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers through 2004 and were actually known as the Beloit Brewers until 1994.  Some of Milwaukee’s biggest names, or at least fan favorites, have played in Beloit.  These include Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Geoff Jenkins (rehab assignment in 2001), Paul Molitor (rehab assignment in 1990), and Greg Vaughn.

Some of your future favorite Twins at the plate may come through Beloit.

Aaron Hicks was in center field for the Snappers on Sunday.  Hicks is the highest-ranked prospect in the Twins organization, according to a Baseball America insert section of the Snappers program.

Hicks is off to a slow start this season, hitting 1-14 after four games and 1-4 with two strikeouts on Sunday.  However, he is poised to break out.  His final at-bat on Sunday produced the hit, and he knows how to work the count.  The 2008 first-round draft pick hit .251 and earned 40 walks with the Snappers in 2009.  As his plate appearances increase, look for his statistics to likewise improve.

- by Jon Nelson of Beloit, Wisconsin