The new site — CERChinooks.com — is online and looks pretty sharp. It’s a pretty good looking site and has a lot of potential, I think. So be sure to add that to your bookmarks if you’re the type (like me) who has to be all over the latest news from all the clubs in the league.

Andrew Work is slated to return for the Chinooks in 2012.

There’s a lot of info on the site but perhaps the most interesting right now is the roster. It’s a little sparse right now — about 15 men deep — and any roster released in February is likely to turn over a handful of players before June. But the club is bringing back a lot of AIA Fire guys from last year: JJ Turbin, Scott Kalamar, Tyler Shryock, and Andrew Work. And then there’s this old-timer — David Mitroff — who came up with the team in 2010 as a backstop, now listed as a pitcher. Also noteworthy is Drew Turbin; I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess it’s JJ’s little bro, and a freshman at Yavapai.

I’m getting pretty stoked about the upcoming season for this team, but if you need something else to get excited about, how about the price of admission? It’s free. But please keep in mind that this team is a nonprofit organization, just putting down roots in a new home, and trying to build a presence. If you want to support the team financially as well as morally you can buy a season ticket, which includes a reserved seat and a cool portable stadium chair, for just $150. Check out the website for details.

I know all the other teams have good stuff in the works, although they’re holding their cards a little closer to their chests at this point. We’ll keep an eye on their sites and report back with any big news. Baseball is just around the corner, ABL fans, so don’t panic.

Photo courtesy of AnchorageBucs.com

As you may know by now, Anchorage Bucs founder and long-time General Manager Dennis Mattingly passed away a week ago. A celebration of his life is planned for today, from 11a.m. until 4p.m., at Tudor Road Bingo. It will be a potluck-style get together.

I’ve already said my piece on Dennis but I’d just like to take one more opportunity to give my respects. I know that he was a scrappy and tough, but at the same time very generous man. Through what would be the last season of his life he was at the park, doing whatever needed to be done. A blue-collar guy who wasn’t above doing any job, even though he was “the boss”. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that, and I think he set an example that baseball needs sorely right now. Nearly 800 players graced the field under his tutelage, including some great ones like current superstar CJ Wilson and, one of my favorites, Jeff Kent.

But that’s enough out of me. If you would like to read more about the life of Dennis Mattingly, please check out some of the links I’ve collected below.

ADN: Beth Bragg article

ADN: Obituary

Alaska Sports with John Thompson: Video

The past two years I have written a sappy New Year’s post full of thank yous and all that jazz, but this year I think I’ll give you all what you come here for and stick with baseball. Let’s look ahead at the 2012 Alaska Baseball League season! I’ll give a brief rundown of where I think each team stands headed into the new year (though, of course, much could change in the next six months) and a “state of the blog” report. So let’s get to it!

Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks

The biggest news of the offseason so far has been the return of the Goldpanners to full league status after playing a truncated, non-league schedule in 2011. That right there is reason for Panner fans to celebrate. Last year’s team seemed to pack quite a bit of talent, so it will be interesting to see if they can put together another club as solid as the last, and how it will stack up against the full gauntlet of ABL opponents. It’s definitely good to have them back full-time and it’ll be exciting to see how their season comes together.

Anchorage Bucs

Change is the theme for the Bucs in 2012. Founder and long-time General Manager Dennis Mattingly has stepped aside due to health concerns, but the team seems to be in capable hands. Former Oilers GM Shawn Maltby is moving in to take over in Anchorage. Maltby has put together some really stellar teams in Kenai, including the league champion club last season which made a solid run at the NBC World Series title. The big question is whether or not he can recreate the magic in Anchorage and help the Bucs rebound from two consecutive sub-.500 seasons.

Anchorage Glacier Pilots

There hasn’t been a lot of ground-shaking news coming out of the Glacier Pilots camp this winter. But as they say, no news is good news, and that’s especially true around these parts. Despite putting together a talented team that included the likes of White Sox first-rounder Keenyn Walker in 2011, the Pilots fell just short of a .500 campaign, though they definitely improved upon their 2010 performance. They’ll keep quietly putting together a club which they hope can continue the upward trend.

Chugiak Eagle-River Chinooks

The rebirth of the AIA Fire as the Chugiak Eagle-River Chinooks is a huge story this off-season. After playing a “road warrior” schedule in 2011, the Chinooks have a new name, a new logo, a new ballpark, and a new town to call home. There has been an outpouring of support for the team which is putting down roots in this community. The big question: will this help propel the team toward ABL success in 2012? That remains to be seen, but it seems likely to give them a bit of a boost as they take the field in the coming season.

Mat-Su Miners

This was supposed to be a quiet off-season for the Miners, with no major projects to distract team GM Pete Christopher from putting together a ball club for 2012. But if there’s one thing to be said about Alaska, it’s that Mother Nature has a way of sabotaging even the best plans, and that’s exactly what she did when she unleashed hurricane-force winds upon the Mat-Su valley in November. In addition to patching up Hermon Brothers Field, the Miners will be tasked with putting together a team that lives up to fans’ high expectations and, fans hope, recapture the crown which the Oilers snatched from them after back-to-back championships.

Peninsula Oilers

Like the Bucs, change is the theme for the Oilers, and for the same reason. They were on the losing end of Shawn Maltby’s departure for Anchorage. In addition, they’ll be losing ABL Coach of the Year Dennis Machado, who departs with a 103-60 record in the Alaska League. However, the Oilers have had staff waiting in the wings to take over. James Clark, who has years of experience running nonprofit organizations, has assumed the role of GM, while John Stevens — who Machado credited with last year’s offensive surge as Oilers hitting coach — will take over as manager. This will be a great opportunity for Stevens to showcase his talent, and Oilers fans are hoping that he’s got enough of it to defend the ABL title.

49thStateHardball: State of the Blog

I’ve taken some time off from blogging this off-season. I’ve moved back to Alaska full time, I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree at UAA, and I’ve taken a new job. I’ve committed myself to excelling in those pursuits and, unfortunately, blogging has taken a backseat at times. Furthermore, I’m always on the lookout for good summer internships which may make it difficult or impossible to attend the games necessary to keep this thing going.

It would pain me greatly to have to give this blog up, but I’m not in a position to turn down a rewarding (financially and experience-wise) internship. If it comes down to being offered a job, for example, on the slope, I will probably have to accept. Fortunately there are a lot of opportunities for me in places like Anchorage, Kenai and Fairbanks, which I will be pursuing vigorously. Hopefully things will pan out so that I can continue to give you a solid season’s worth of coverage this summer and for years to come. And hopefully this spring semester will be calm enough that I can pick up the pace and crank out some more articles leading up to the season.

However, I am entertaining the idea of taking on an assistant or two to help keep things fresh around here. This would also be part of my exit strategy should I need to temporarily or permanently excuse myself from writing due to work or whatever. If there are any other fans out there who would like to help contribute to this blog, please contact me. We could start with a guest post or whatever and see how it goes from there.

Assuming I can hang in there for the season, things are looking up. The Chinooks’ arrival in the area puts another team within my daily driving radius and I’m excited for the opportunity to cover more of their home games. The Goldpanners’ return to full-time status will allow me to give them the coverage they deserve, and I’m scheming a way to make this the year I can finally live-blog the Midnight Sun Game in person.

I lost my video camera this past season and haven’t been able to put together any good scouting videos with the footage I have of 2011, but there’s a possibility I’ll acquire a newer, better camera and can get some good stuff for 2012. I’ve picked up a netbook with decent enough battery life to haul to the park with me, and upgraded my ancient Blackberry to a higher-end Android phone, so I should be able to keep my notes better organized and do more live from the park. I’d really love to at least upgrade my terrible, terrible stopwatch. Actually I’d really love to get a Stalker gun. Hey, my birthday is tomorrow. Anyone?

But seriously, only six months until the season begins. I’m starting to get excited…are you?

P.S. OK, so here’s the thank-yous. Thanks to everyone who has made blogging possible…all the team personnel, the players who have taken a chance to speak with me, the players’ parents who have read my writing and given me feedback, everyone who’s read this blog, posted a comment, participated in any way, all the fans, players, host families and personnel who make Alaska baseball possible…everyone! Have a happy 2012.

All I know is through a pair of brief Facebook messages, via the Anchorage Bucs page, stating the above and asking for fans of the Bucs and the ABL to post their thoughts and prayers. The comments are being passed along to Mr. Mattingly and, according to the statement, seem to give him a bit of cheer during this dark time. I’d really urge everyone to like the Bucs on Facebook and leave a comment for Dennis.

I’d also like to take a moment to share some thoughts of my own. I always feel awkward writing these types of things, like I am way under qualified to write about such a serious matter. But I would feel even worse if I remained silent, so here goes.

I have never met Dennis Mattingly face to face. I have seen him around, and maybe he’s seen me, but I tend to keep my distance with people of his role as I feel that the ballpark is their workplace and playing amateur scout/sportswriter on the internet doesn’t make me someone who’s qualified to interrupt them while they’re working. That being said, if a more casual situation should ever arise where I could shake hands and have a chat with him, well, he’s definitely high on my list of people that I’d love to do so with.

Mattingly founded the Bucs over 30 years ago and has been at the helm until this offseason, when his health forced him to hand the reigns off to former Oilers GM Shawn Maltby. To think of all the players who have worn Bucs Black & Gold under his leadership is staggering. This man has helped hundreds of players chase their dream, and more than a few actually catch it. Mattingly hasn’t just made an impact on Anchorage, or Alaska, or the ABL, but the game of baseball as a whole, at every level up to and including the highest level, and he’s done it by touching the lives of young players at a pivotal time in their lives.

Obviously the prognosis for Mattingly must not be stellar or else all of this wouldn’t be happening. But this is the farthest thing from a premature eulogy anyone could write. If there’s one thing the man has a reputation for, it’s for being a fighter. If he’s set his sights on something, he’s found a way to make it happen. As the story goes, the Bucs weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms when they got into the Alaska baseball scene, but that didn’t stop DM the GM. And as many of you probably know, this isn’t his first bout with health problems, and he’s managed to keep on going throughout the years despite all of it. What’s kept him going? I don’t think anyone gets rich in this league. The only thing I can think of is love of the game. This league has plenty of big personalities, so I don’t mean to slight anyone else, but Mattingly’s battles have been nothing short of legendary. On top of all that, I know he’s got a lot of people in his corner who are pulling for him right now, and I’d be honored to be considered one of them.

Please, if you haven’t already, check out the Bucs on Facebook and leave a message for Dennis. Thank you.

The haters gonna hate. He was “only” 5th in the AL in batting average, “only” 5th in OPS, 3rd in runs scored, 3rd in hits, 5th in homers, 4th in steals. You can hear the naysayers’ naysaying — or read about it in many pundits’ dissertations about why they should bury Ellsbury in the voting behind Jose Bautista and Justin Verlander — about how he didn’t lead a single major offensive category.

Or you can look at the big picture. He was near the top of the heap in every major offensive category. If a .321 average, .928 OPS, 32 homers, 39 stolen bases, and .986 fielding percentage don’t say MVP, I don’t know what does. He’s already been honored as an All-Star player, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger; I think if you’re all of the above you’re pretty much the MVP. And the fact that he did it a year removed from losing nearly an entire season to injury — he was also named Comeback Player of the Year — only strengthens his case.

True, Verlander was awesome. That’s why we have the Cy Young, which he took home handily. But until a batter can win the Cy, I don’t think a starting pitcher should be allowed to sweep the awards.

Bautista? He’s a great player and definitely a top power hitter. But he’s not as quick on his feet as Ellsbury and, while he’s definitely capable on defense (at an easier position) his glove isn’t as good either.

Ellsbury will take some heat for being part of the Red Sox’ epic collapse, but big deal. They wouldn’t have even been close without his help, and he practically carried the team as they limped toward the finish line this year. Bautista’s Blue Jays weren’t even in the hunt. And as for Verlander, his single 7-runs-surrendered performance in the playoffs for Detroit hardly qualify him as a postseason success.

I’m not trying to talk trash about the other guys; in another year, they might be the lock. But when you have a guy in the running who excels in nearly every category, like Jacoby Ellsbury, I think the case is clear. If there is any justice in this world, Red Sox — and more importantly, Glacier Pilots — fans can rejoice when one of their own is honored as the American League Most Valuable Player for 2011.

Keenyn Walker was the first ABLer picked in the 2011 draft, taken #47 overall.

Draft day 2011 is far behind us and baseball nerds everywhere are already looking forward to the 2012 MLB Draft. But before we turn the corner and start looking at our ABL alumni who may go pro this coming spring, we need to finish up 2011 with a recap of the guys who got drafted this year, and which ones signed by the deadline. I’ve finally cleared enough room on my plate to go through the work of putting this one together, and here are the fruits of my labor.

Here’s the stats you need to know: by my count, there were 64 former ABL players drafted in 2011. 48 of them signed and 16 of them went unsigned at the deadline. Not a bad draft class, if you ask me.

FYI, I say “by my count” because there’s a chance a fella or two slipped by me. I compiled my initial list based off of my draft day(s) liveblogging. Over the course of the season I added a few who I overlooked during draft madness, and just now I cross-checked my list against the ABL teams who have their own lists on their websites. So it should be pretty close to 100% but if you follow this blog at all you know that I make my share of “oh yeah…..” moments, so I’ve learned never to claim that I am 100.00% sure about anything.

Disclaimers aside, here’s the list. Its got handy dandy sorter things so you can play with the list however you like.

Q: Hector Ambriz, who played for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in 2006, broke into the Majors in 2010 before being shut down. He went under the knife with Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2011. Any thoughts on when he’ll return, and what to expect from him in the future?

A: He will most likely not be invited back, or he’ll be used as trade fodder to another team.  I’ve read some speculation about him getting put into the Rule 5 draft.  Possibly, though I don’t really know enough about that aspect of baseball to speak with any authority whatsoever.  Here’s what I do know, though: Ambriz has an abysmal ERA for 2010: 5.59 as a reliever. Seriously!? Add to that his term in the minors and his surgery, and I think this guy is most likely done for good.

Q: 2006 Goldpanner Beau Mills was a first-round draft pick and highly regarded prospect, but has been stuck in sort of a holding pattern the past few years. Any thoughts on his ceiling as a prospect entering 2012?

A: Beau Mills, on the other hand, will come in to help out at the 1st base position with Matt LaPorta.  Of course, with LaPorta’s penchant for making errors, Mills may find himself playing first base more often than originally planned.  This is barring any other 1B player the Tribe may have waiting in the wings or through trades.  I’d like to see Mills break out of the “holding pattern” and add some life to the team, though.

Q: Chen Lee, who came over from Taiwan with the Anchorage Bucs back in ’07, has been climbing the ladder in the Indians system and did very well in AA and AAA ball last year. Is he knocking on the door? Do you predict that he’ll make it to the show, and if so, when and in what capacity?

A: Chen Lee seems to have an on-again/off-again relationship with his pitching.  In some games, he is flat-out phenomenal.  Then, in others, he gives up as many runs and hits as he does errors.  Overall, his 2.40 ERA for 2011 looks great on paper until you dig a little.  Given the Indians knack for getting rid of our good players, I would say that Lee has a chance to make the bigs later in the season (since the Tribe would have given away the talent in place), if at all.  I can see where his consistency issues might give pause to the folks signing paychecks for the Indians.  My guess, though, is that he’s got at least one more AAA season to iron out his problems before he’ll be offered a spot in the Tribe reliever rotation.

Thanks to David for fielding my questions regarding these players in the Cleveland Indians organization. Check out his blog, TribeCards.net, for more on the Indians, and stay tuned to 49thstatehardball.com for more Q&A sessions with some more of the web’s best baseball minds.

The team will be building almost from scratch in the Eagle River area and will need to generate a supportive local fanbase over the next several months leading up to the 2012 season. According to the article in the Chugiak-Eagle River Star, this effort is being headed up by a group of local volunteers who have formed a booster club for the team. The club announced the logo at their most recent meeting and stressed the need to raise approximately $50,000 as well as secure local host families for players.

According to the AIA Baseball website, the club’s parent organization is working on rolling out a new website that will help promote the new team and their new identity. GM Chris Beck has promised more details in the coming weeks, as the new site comes online.

Rumors flew last season about the potential changes, which were pretty much confirmed as the season wore on and the team booked a game at their future home, Loretta French Park. I have supported the move, enthusiastically though a bit cautiously, and now that it’s set in stone I’m really amped up about it. I did some imagining about how the team might make Loretta French Park its home, and now we’ll get to see how it pans out in reality, which is exciting.

A team in the Eagle River area consolidates the league and will cut down on travel costs. Three of the league’s six teams are now located within the Municipality of Anchorage; four of the six within the metro area. As far as this blog is concerned, it gives me the opportunity to give better coverage to more teams. With four teams having their home field within driving distance — and Loretta French Park is very accessible for me — this should enable me to give a more balanced and varied coverage for next season.

In any event, I’d like to personally urge all ABL fans, and especially those in the team’s new hometown, roll out the red carpet for this team. This move definitely strengthens the league as a whole and need the fans to help them make their first season in their new home a success. We’ll keep you posted as more ways to support the team — and the other clubs of the ABL — come to light leading up to the 2012 season!

Q. Michael Young, who played for the Goldpanners in 1996, had another awesome year for Texas. What do you expect from Young over the next two years? Can he live up to his contract as he passes his mid 30s?

Young’s resurgence this season surprised most people, including myself. After the Rangers reportedly sought to unload his contract in the offseason, Young responded with the highest batting average of his career (.338), and played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

However, he turned 35 the same day he took the field for game one of the World Series, and is still owed $32 million over the next two years.  I think he can continue to be a very productive player, but living up to his contract is another question.

Q. Former Anchorage Buc CJ Wilson had a big contract year. Will the Rangers cut him loose or reach a deal? Is he worth the big raise he is demanding?

I think supply and demand will be the Rangers enemy with respect to re-signing Wilson.  They would love to have him back, but don’t want to overextend themselves.  Practically every team in the majors could use him and he is the top name on the free agent market that doesn’t technically include CC Sabathia and Yu Darvish. I expect Texas to make a solid offer while avoiding engagement in a bidding war.  However, C.J.’s postseason struggles have made his outstanding season look like ancient history. A smart GM could capitalize if his October failures drive down his price. There is no reason not to expect him to return to form at the start of next season.

His role as a reliever early in his career could mean that his “arm age” is younger than his actual age (30). He is in great shape, has lived a clean lifestyle, and could still continue to improve.

C.J. is an outspoken player who seems to love the spotlight.  If I had to wager, I could see him jumping at an opportunity to pitch in New York or return to his native California.

Q. Chad Tracy, who played for the Oilers in Alaska in 2005, has hung around AAA for the past two seasons. Do you see him breaking the bigs?

Tracy was the Rangers third round pick in 2006, and despite being unable to crack Baseball America’s rankings of the top 30 prospects in a deep system, began putting up solid numbers in the upper levels of the system.  He’s not viewed as a prospect with a particularly high ceiling, but did get hot batting cleanup towards the end of the AAA season.

The Rangers have experimented with him in the outfield, but his primary position is first base.  This could be both a blessing and a curse for Tracy.  While first base is the most competitive position at the major league level, it also happens to be the weakest in the Texas system. Tracy’s chances of making the big league roster will depend on what the Rangers do in the offseason to address their lack of first base depth. Unless he improves his plate discipline, and continues to build on his late 2011 success, I don’t see him earning significant playing time in the majors.

Thanks to Dan for taking the time to answer my questions. Be sure to check out his blog, Chicken Fried Baseball, for all his views on the Texas Rangers.

During the 2011 draft, right-hander Cameron McVey was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 22nd round, #687 overall. The Biola junior opted not to sign immediately, though, and spent the summer in Alaska pitching for the Oilers. I had the privelege to not only see him pitch, but get some video of him from behind the plate as well as jot down some radar gun readings. I felt that he was definitely on the more talented side of the curve as far as pitchers in the league this year.

This guy is definitely one to watch. He’s got some serious potential and could advance quickly, but as a mid-draft junior pick out of an NAIA school he’s kind of flying under the radar. Whether he can come out of nowhere to make an impact depends on a few unanswered questions, though.

Vital Statistics:

Physical Attributes & Mechanics:

At 6’5″, 200 lbs, McVey has a solid athletic build. He’s 22 years old and seems to be in peak physical condition, and unlikely to mature much beyond his current state.

The arm action used by McVey is intriguing. He throws from a 3/4 slot, slinging the ball around with a big arm motion. He consistently releases from a high point, and at above average height this gives him a good downward plane on his pitches, making them harder to hit. However I have to wonder if pitching with this unorthodox action and with his high-intensity delivery might result in physical problems down the road.

His lower body mechanics look solid. He keeps his hips closed to generate power, and makes a balanced landing on his front foot without landing stiff. His foot plant is consistent.

Fastball:

McVey’s fastball is above average and is definitely his biggest asset. When I had the chance to sit behind the gun and watch him pitch, his velocity settled in the 91 to 92 mph range and touched 93 mph several times, which is above average by professional standards. His fastball has some decent movement as well, tailing back toward his arm side a few inches late in its path toward the plate. His fastball is definitely a plus pitch; I’d give it a 6.5 on the 2/8 scale.

Other pitches:

Cam McVey does not have a deep selection of secondary pitches to go to. He works with a breaking ball to mix things up; it has a straight 12-6 o’clock break and the degree of movement on this pitch is relatively modest. He deals it in at about 84-86 mph, so it does function as somewhat of an offspeed pitch for him although it’s not too much of a drop from his heater. All things considered I’d give his curve a 4; it’s serviceable but it is nothing to write home about. He seems to be aware of this as he relies on his fastball and only seems to go to the breaking stuff to mix it up when he’s shown a hitter consecutive heaters.

I did not recognize a third pitch in his arsenal, so it seems that he’s pretty much working with this as his only secondary pitch.

Control:

Control is another plus for McVey. I’ve charted some of his innings of work and he’s throwing about 75% of his pitches for strikes. He lives down in the zone and does an excellent job of keeping all his pitches down. He can work his fastball for a strike on both corners against both left and right handed batters. He also does an excellent job of keeping his breaking ball down in the zone. McVey doesn’t seem to give up much when he’s challenged. Even when he’s battling, he mixes his pitches and keeps working both sides of the plate around the bottom corners.

Summary:

I think that Cameron McVey is a solid pitching prospect with the potential to have a decent pro career. His ceiling could definitely be as high as a major league relief pitcher; however, his ability to reach the top level and stick around for more than a cup of coffee will depend on two things.

First, he’ll need to stay healthy. With his intensity and arm mechanics this may be a reason to be concerned. But trying to alter his arm motion to something more conventional at this point may make him lose his fastball, which is his big asset, and so the good must be taken with the bad.

The difference-maker for Cam, in my opinion, is working on his repertoire of pitches. As an NAIA pitcher he may have gotten away with a good fastball and a mediocre curve, but it won’t cut it in the pros. He’s going to need more. His curveball is a start, but it has room for improvement. Ideally, though, he should pick up a decent third pitch. I think that if he could get a good feel for a change-up he could be a serious prospect. A slow change to accent his above-average fastball and mid-speed breaking ball would be a solid arsenal for any reliever.

McVey went unsigned by the Giants this year, so he will enter the draft again as a senior in 2012. If he can stay healthy and put up another good season this year, I’d not be surprised to see him drafted in the first ten rounds.

Retraction: I’ve been informed that McVey has, in fact, signed with the Giants, though he has yet to log a professional appearance according to MiLB.com. My apologies for spreading false information and a big thanks to those of you who have taken the time to point out my error. Congrats to all the Giants fans out there for netting a prospect I believe will be a good one, and stay tuned for a (more thoroughly researched) piece on who of our recent draft crop has signed and who has not.