A Diamondback Wedding Story

Marriages seem to be a pretty big deal nowadays. They tend to be expensive, have inspired far too many tacky reality shows, and the choice of venue says a lot about a couple.

On Saturday, April 13th, Jenn Casselman and Dustin Bosch were married in the Diamondbacks’ dugout before a party of 60 guests, precluding the D-backs/Dodgers game that evening. According to ktar.com, Casselman wore a traditional wedding gown, while Bosch and his groomsmen were decked out in the red jerseys of the Diamondbacks, while the bridal party wore uniforms of white.

To be married on the field of a baseball team admittedly sounds pretty cool, while unusual. The thought of it seems almost dreamlike. A quick survey of this blogger’s Facebook friends revealed a few other “dream” marriage venues.

Gordon Elliott, a sophomore here at St. Bonaventure University, said he’d like to be married at Mt. Iranaeus, a Franciscan retreat with ties to the campus. Cassandra Fearing, another Bonas sophomore, expressed a desire to be married in southern France. A senior at my alma mater, Allison Roach, said that she’d like to be married at, “Disney World, specifically the garden in front of Cinderella’s Castle.”

Answers from other classmates included, from senior Mary Best, onstage in New York City’s St. James Theatre and from sophomore Tanner Jubenville, an Italian or Grecian beach. Professor Carole McNall of Bonas’ journalism department, while already a married woman, said that if given a second chance she’d take her vows somewhere in Northern Ireland or perhaps Hawaii.

Each of these answers are intriguing, and all but a few of them sound quite expensive. One almost wonders how much the Chase Field wedding must have cost. A little digging on Chase Field’s website reveals a basic budget-estimating tool for hosting events such as weddings. After plugging in what information ktar.com had, the budget-tool came up with a licensing fee of $35,000. On a non-game day, which was not the case for this wedding.

Condolences to whoever gets the bill for that.

Yet the couple took the plunge and tied the knot together standing on Chase Field, despite the fee the stadium charged. THe D-backs sure have some devoted fans.

In her response to the question of where she would like to get married, Bonas sophomore Christina D’Onofrio said,

“I would get married in my home parish. It’s small, modest and simple…. But it’s home.”

It’s home.

All of the best to the happy couple. The Diamondbacks may not have won that day, but here’s hoping you did.

– Sean O’Brien

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From LA to Bonaventure: injuries can’t be dodged

With Hanley Ramirez out for eight weeks, the Los Angeles Dodgers are rearranging to prepare for the home opener against the Giants on April 1.

Injuries, for multiple reasons, affect a team’s cohesiveness, and with Bona Baseball Boogaloo based on St. Bonaventure University’s campus, it was pertinent to take a look inside the Bonnies Baseball Team and how injuries have affected them, both currently and in the past.

Robert Nalepa, redshirt junior pitcher
(gobonnies.com photo)

Much like the situation with Ramirez, Bona baseball players have had to deal with injuries that took them from the game.  Robert Nalepa, a redshirt junior, pitches for the Bonnies and last season had to sit out due to a right shoulder injury that forced him to have surgery.

“It was the first time in my career that I had any type of serious injury, so it was a struggle at first knowing that I wouldn’t be able to play ball,”  Nalepa stated.

The worst part for Nalepa was the fact that last year a lot of the pitchers were injured, so the Bona bullpen was slacking; the team needed him and there was nothing he could do because he was injured.

According to Larry Sudbrook, head coach for the Bonaventure baseball team, the first instinct of a coaching staff when a starter gets hurt is to say “these things happen, next man up.”  But this is not rally the case.

“It is obvious that the player with starter status is the better man for the position,” the coach explained.

Andrew Revello, also know as “Dice”, is a redshirt junior pitcher for the Bonnies.
(gobonnies.com photo)

When a starter is injured and forced from the field to the bench, the absence from the game causes the most issues.  It’s not always healing that takes the most time, sometimes it’s getting back in the swing of the game. Getting back on the field becomes the player’s biggest concern, according to Andrew Revello, Bona’s redshirt junior pitcher.

“I was diagnosed with an impingement in my right shoulder along with a severely strained labrum,” Revello said.  “It occurred in the first game.  I had worked and trained so hard for that moment and for the season, and within a few pitches it was all over. As soon as I got home I worked with a doctor to figure out what my plan would be to get back out on the mound.”

Sudbrook mentioned Revello’s absence from the game as something that still affects him this year.

“He (Revello) is our number two starting pitcher this year, and I see him battle when he’s out on the mound after  being away from the game for a whole year,”  Sudbrook said.  “He fights with things that are due to not playing the game, taking those extra pitches; he couldn’t he was injured.”

Michael Meredith, senior shortstop, bounced back after his injury and is ready to play ball
(gobonnies.com photo)

In close relation to Ramirez and his injury, Michael Meredith, senior shortstop, experienced an injury before the season started.

“I thought I was going to be out for half the season, and I knew how tough it would be to try to come back in the middle of the year,” Meredith stated.

Being ahead of schedule in his rehab, Meredith was able to work hard and ended up being cleared to play the first game of the season.  Although Ramirez won’t make the first game, there are hopes that the Dodgers will see a quick recovery from him just as the Bonnies saw with Meredith.

— Tate M. Slaven

2013 St. Bonaventure Baseball Team
(gobonnies.com photo)

Pablo Sandoval sets weight-loss goal

Pablo Sandoval arrived at spring training in February significantly overweight.  Now two months later, the World Baseball Classic and a sore elbow has kept him at just over 260 pounds.

“I’ve got this year and next year to change all the things,” Sandoval told Jeff Passan of Yahoo. “”It’s going to take me a while, but I can do it. I know I can do it.”

Sandoval told reporters that he felt good and that his weight was not an issue in late February.  However, he now has a two-year weight-loss goal.

The contradicting statements about his fitness come from Sandoval’s sudden realization that he is closer to 30 than 20, and his weight will eventually catch up with him.

“If they haven’t made a major commitment to correct their bad habits, they won’t succeed,” said Patrick Blackford, a strength and conditioning coach working in Buffalo, N.Y.  “A trainer can only point people in the right direction.”

The Panda has become one of the most feared hitters in the league all while being overweight.  Breaking bad habits is hard enough; they’re even harder to break while enjoying the success Sandoval has had.

When he was over 270 pounds in 2010, Sandoval lacked a base level of strength and could not do a pull-up.

Lat pull-downs and band-assisted exercises that mimic the motion of pull-ups can develop the correct muscles, said Blackford.

Despite Sandoval’s large belly in 2010, his trainers were able to make him stronger.  By the end of his training, he was doing multiple sets of 10 pull-ups.  His physical strength is not known now.

It’s obvious Pablo has the ability to become fit.

In fact, “It’s easy to build strength in overweight athletes,” said Blackford.  “Many strength movements can be done in a variety of positions, which makes it easy.”

Bruce Bochy and the Giants have expressed frustration with his weight numerous times over the past few years. With Sandoval’s athletic prowess, a two-year weight-loss goal is definitely attainable.

— Shea Raff

Former pitcher reminisces about spring training

The San Diego Padres began spring training with a whopping total of 67 players reporting to camp in Peoria, Ariz. With a number that large, numerous players were sent to play in the minor league affiliates. Although this may seem like a disappointment to the players, some saw the opportunity to train with the major leaguers as a privilege.

Tom Wegmann, now residing in Vestal, N.Y., was fortunate enough to participate in spring training with both the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles. Wegmann reminisced about his best memories, which he said was when he trained with the major league Mets.

Tom Wegmann 1991 Baseball Card

“When you workout with the players everyday, you see that they are human,” Wegmann said. “Everyone becomes equal during spring training.”

Wegmann, a pitcher, realized that he was on an even playing field with some of the big stars of the team, and by the end of spring training was no longer awestruck and gained confidence in his own playing abilities.

The Padres, looking to improve in their upcoming season, have maintained a balanced record during spring training. Wegmann expressed that ending the preseason positively carries over into the regular season.

“It does matter to the individual if you are winning during spring training,” Wegmann stated. “Winning builds confidence for the regular season.”

— Danielle Ogozaly 

Beat writer Renck’s outlook on mile-high Rockies

MLB beat reporter Troy Renck (The Denver Post)

Troy Renck, a Colorado Rockies’ beat writer for the Denver Post, is usually the one conducting the interviewing, but this time I decided to flip the table and ask Renck a few questions about the upcoming season. On any given day during the MLB season, one can find Renck at Coors Field interviewing players and coaches, and putting together articles for all to read. So, what are his thoughts on the upcoming season for the Rockies?

“They will be a better team, but it will not be reflected much in their record,” Renck said in an email-interview.

Renck believes that the Rockies should win about 74 games, which would leave the Rockies with another sub-.500 record of 74-88 at the end of the 2013 season.

One concern that Rockies’ fans worried about this off-season involved the pitching rotation. In 2012, the Rockies’ four-man rotation finished last in the majors in innings, ERA (5.81), FIP, WHIP, wins (29) and winning percentage (.299). Renck believes that they didn’t do enough this off-season to erase this concern.

“They should have traded for a pitcher like Wade Davis or signed Kevin Correia.”

Davis signed a 4-year, $10 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, after being traded from the Tampa Bay Rays last December. Correia signed a 2 year, $10 million deal with the Minnesota Twins.

Another area of concern involved veteran Todd Helton and how ready he would be for the 2013 season. Helton’s season ended after just 69 games with a hip injury that required surgery in the Fall. Renck believes that age will play a major factor in the amount of time Helton will be on the field this season.

“(Helton) will play well when he plays,” Renck said. “But his back and legs just don’t cooperate as much anymore.”

Overall, Renck said the Rockies’ record will depend on two big factors; pitching and limited injuries.

“It hinges on the starting rotation and keeping (shortstop) Troy Tulowitzki and (outfielder) Carlos Gonzalez on the field.”
I ended the interview with a question about his job in the baseball world. Renck, who played his entire life and still coaches his sons, said he just loves the sport.

“The best part is the baseball,” he said. “The job is relentless and there is a lot of pressure. But in a way, it’s like I am still playing a sport.”

— Mike Iulianello

Ramirez out for two months

Hanley Ramirez, Dodger’s starting shortstop, was injured diving for a ground ball at third base during Tuesday night’s final of the World Baseball Classic.

On Wednesday, Ramirez received a MRI on his right thumb, and today the Dodgers learned that he is suffering from a ligament tear.  Ramirez is to receive surgery Friday in Los Angeles by Dr. Steven Shin.  He will have to keep him thumb immobil for three weeks, and if all things go well Ramirez is expected to return to competition in eight weeks, according to the club.

According to Ken Gurnick, MLB’s Dodger reporter, Ramirez explained that the injury occurred as he dove to his left for a ground ball, his right thumb sticking in the infield grass and bending backward away from his hand, tearing the ligament. Doctors told Ramirez that the surgery had a “99 percent” chance of success.

Sports Illustrated reported that, Ramirez didn’t think it was this bad, “maybe because I was warm.” He even batted and hit a single before coming out of the game as the pain increased.

Don Mattingly, planning to have Ramirez start at shortstop this year, had hoped he would not play third base in the tournament. A former All-Star shortstop, Ramirez was moved to third base by the Marlins, and the Dodgers have been determined to move him back to shortstop, according to Gurnick’s report.

“They’re going from a guy coming out of a big game, to a guy who also stayed in the game and had a single,” Mattingly said.  “We were concerned enough to get an MRI. He’s coming out of a game, a pretty big game – guys don’t want to come out of those.”

Hanley Ramirez jammed his right thumb while playing for the Dominican Republic at the WBC.
(Andres Leighton/AP photo)

Ramirez made sure to comment on his injury, as he knew it would support allegations against stars playing in the Classic.

“It could have happened anywhere,” Ramirez said. “It could happen at Spring Training, in BP. Everything is not negative in life. You have to stay positive.

“This is my main thing, the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though I played in the WBC, represented my country. It was an honor. At the same time, this is my team. This is not easy. It’s going to be tough, but what can we do? There are a lot of guys that can do a lot of damage on this team.”

Dodgers plan to use either Dee Gordon or Luis Cruz at shortstop in the interim, depending on what they show between now and Opening Day.

— Tate Slaven

Surprises come from LA Dodgers through spring training

(truebluela.com photo)

Although it’s early in March and spring training statistics don’t mean a lot when evaluating players, especially youngsters, the Dodgers have found a few surprises so far in spring training.

Billingsley, Dodgers’ third-best pitcher? When healthy, yes.
(Yahoo! Sports photo)

Halfway through training, they sit in the ranks with a 5-6 record.  The first surprise coming from the Dodger team is Chad Billingsley.  He is pitching, which was something that wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly.  Billingsley should be recovering from Tommy John surgery after he partially tore his ulnar collateral ligament in August.  Taking the quick recovery route, he received platelet rich plasma injections in his right elbow and coupled it with rehabilitation so that he could pitch through the injury, according to Dustin Nosler, Yahoo! Sports writer.

Billingsley’s numbers aren’t very impressive — a 10.38 ERA and an unheard of 20.1 hits per nine innings — it’s encouraging and surprising that he is even throwing.  When completely healthy, he is the Dodgers’ third-best pitcher.  His ability, track record and talent speak for themselves.  It would be crazy to believe he’ll be able to stick through 180 innings, but at this point any positive performance from Billingsley is a bonus.

Surprise number two comes from Yasiel Puig, who, for a guy who hasn’t played much organized baseball is the last two years, is tearing up the field.  When fans aren’t drooling over his physique, they’re drooling over his raw talent, which reminds a lot of Dodgers’ fans of Matt Kemp.

Los Angeles Dodgers Yasiel Puig hits a three-run home run off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Fernando Nieve in the seventh inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game Sunday, March 3, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz.
(Mark Duncan/Associated Press photo)

Puig is tied with Barden for most hits (11) while he leads in at-bats (26), RBIs (six) and runs scored (six).  According to Dodgers.com, he may not be ready for the “big” squad just yet, and the only way he could make the team out of spring training is if all three starting outfielders get hurt.  His time is coming, possibly as soon as this summer.  With a little more seasoning in the minor leagues, Puig has a bright future sporting a Dodgers’ uniform.

A final surprise comes from Alex Castellanos, who has done nothing but hit since being acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline in 2011.  It is still a bit early, but Castellano could actually leave camp as the Dodgers’ fourth outfielder.  The only thing keeping this from happening is the fact that he is inexperienced in center field, but since the Dodgers don’t have a great backup center fielder Castellanos could end up with the position with a little more practice.

As for the chemistry the Dodgers were, and still are looking to find— it can be found in winning, according to Ken Gurnick, the MLB Dodger reporter.  In a mid-spring training video interview, Pete McCarthy, MLB.com talk show host, talked with Gurnick about this search for chemistry.

“By winning games it will motivate the Dodgers to stay unified as the winning team they are,” Gurnick explained.

The deeper the Dodgers get in spring training and the closer they get to April 1, the more they work things out and get closer to achieving their goal for a successful 2013 season.

— Tate Slaven