Fogelberg – With the success of Roy Cullenbine, Frank Thomas and Edgar Martinez in the I-70 Classic, Johnny Pesky and Jeff Bagwell entered their names into the Holiday Baseball League draft late last night hoping for a chance to play on one of the six eligible teams.
Pesky, a three position player at third, short and second might just get a chance as a utility player in a relatively thin draft. “Pesky is not a cornerstone kind of player, but he definitely could be a useful cog or piece of the puzzle,” Joe Gordon said after the announcement. “He seems like on of those firey kind of guys that the Falcons or Boilers might take a change on… With those tiny strikeouts I would see him landing on Blasingame’s team as well.”
With a high total base total, Jeff Bagwell might get a shot at first base. “Six percent home runs and six percent doubles with a decent amount of walks makes me think this guy might get a shot. He is pretty comparable to a Hank Greenberg or a Willie McCovey. We will have to see how this shakes out, but I see him going anywhere between the third and sixth round.”
Falcons fill pitching hole with Hurst
It looks like Bruce Hurst will be the first man out of Don Zimmer’s bullpen for the Falcons during the HBL. Hurst, a former Red Sox pitcher threw for Zimmer and Carlton Fisk yesterday morning and was signed on the spot to a multi-year deal. “He looked real good,” Zimmer said after the workout. “We are happy to have him… I think he is going ot be real good in the pen and might get some starts here and there”
With the roster move, Steve Trout has been designated for assignment.
John Smiley draws interest
With the Fleas and Boilers both needing arms of different varieties, John Smiley is drawing quite a bit of attention these days. It is expected that there will be a deal between the two franchises involving Claude Hendrix and Smiley will sign later this afternoon.
Wherever he lands he is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
