WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2019

- Abercrombie Wins it for Fish—Winnipeg Sun, 9/1/19 - Abercrombie’s Dramatic Blast Sets Franchise Record—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 8/31/19 - August 31st Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 8/31/19 - August 31st Postgame Interviews (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Nigel Batchelor), 8/31/19 - Birds Fall to Winnipeg on Walk-Off Homer—Sioux Falls Canaries(Carter Woodiel), 8/31/19 - Goldeyes on Hot Streak—Winnipeg Sun, 9/1/19 - Fish Pitching Ace Traded—Winnipeg Free Press (Jason Bell), 8/31/19 - Goldeyes Trade McGovern—Winnipeg Sun, 8/31/19 - McGovern Receives Opportunity in Atlantic League—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 8/30/19 - Plenty of Positives in Goldeyes’ Failed Bid for Playoffs—Winnipeg Sun, 8/30/19 - Garcia Simply Sensational for Goldeyes—Winnipeg Sun, 8/29/19 - Pitcher French Loving Life With Goldeyes—Winnipeg Sun, 8/28/19 - Willis Merits Consideration for Association Player of the Year—Winnipeg Sun, 8/27/19 - Fish Are Finished, No Playoffs This Year—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 8/26/19 - Shortlisting Potential Awards as Season Begins to Wind Down—Winnipeg Sun, 8/24/19

ABERCROMBIE WINS IT FOR FISH WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 3-2 at Shaw Park on Saturday evening.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Reggie Abercrombie hit a two-run home run to win the game. It was Abercrombie’s 91st home run in a Goldeyes’ uniform, establishing a new franchise career record.

Andrew Ely singled home the game’s first run in the top of the first, and the Canaries opened a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a two-out double from Josh Rehwaldt.

Willy Garcia drove in Kyle Martin in the bottom of the fourth before Canaries’ starter Tyler Herron retired the next 14 batters in a row. Wes Darvill snapped the streak with a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, leading to Abercrombie’s dramatics.

Brandon Bingel picked up the win in relief, while Herron took the complete game loss.

Goldeyes’ starter Kevin Hilton took a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on eight hits over eight innings.

WP: Bingel (3-2) LP: Herron (2-2) SV: n/a HR: WIN Abercrombie (15)

THE SKINNY: Reggie Abercrombie set the Goldeyes’ franchise home run record with a two-run, walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth inning.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Abercrombie now has 91 home runs in a Goldeyes’ uniform, passing longtime teammate Josh Mazzola for first in Goldeyes’ history.

PLAY OF THE GAME: The game-winning blast came after Abercrombie had fallen behind 0-2 against Canaries’ right-hander Tyler Herron.

UP NEXT: The season-ending series continues Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Mitchell Lambson makes his final start and takes on right-hander Keaton Steele. The game can be heard live on 93.7 FM.

ABERCROMBIE’S DRAMATIC BLAST SETS FRANCHISE RECORD STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (56-42) beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 3-2 at Shaw Park on Saturday evening.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Reggie Abercrombie hit a two-run home run to left field to win the game. It was Abercrombie’s 91st home run in a Goldeyes’ uniform, passing Josh Mazzola for the franchise career record. Wes Darvill opened the inning with a single to left-centre, which snapped a streak of 14 batters retired in a row by Canaries’ starter Tyler Herron. Abercrombie fell behind 0-2 before hitting the record-setting home run.

Andrew Ely gave Sioux Falls (37-61) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a bloop, RBI single to left. Josh Rehwaldt’s two-out, RBI double in the top of the fourth made it 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kyle Martin doubled off the glove of left fielder Michael Hart with one out and scored Winnipeg’s first run when Willy Garcia lined a single to centre.

Brandon Bingel (3-2) picked up the win in relief for the Goldeyes after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.

Herron (1-4) took the complete game loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits in eight-plus innings. Herron walked none and struck out five.

Goldeyes’ starter Kevin Hilton took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs on eight hits over eight innings. Hilton walked one, struck out six, and retired the final 11 batters to face him. Hilton threw 139 pitches, a new season-high for a Goldeyes’ pitcher.

Game three of the four-game series is Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Mitchell Lambson (13-3, 3.03) faces right-hander Keaton Steele (3-9, 5.95). Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2020 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

VIDEO: AUGUST 31st GAME HIGHLIGHTS JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkUyswqa6sw

VIDEO: AUGUST 31st POSTGAME INTERVIEWS NIGEL BATCHELOR – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am9xA3etKh0

BIRDS FALL TO WINNIPEG ON WALK-OFF HOMER CARTER WOODIEL – SIOUX FALLS CANARIES – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st WINNIPEG, MB -- Tyler Herron threw eight outstanding innings for the Sioux Falls Canaries on Saturday night, but one bad pitch in the ninth inning was the difference in the game. The Winnipeg Goldeyes (56-42) walked off the Canaries (37-61) 3-2.

Former Canary Reggie Abercrombie hit a two-run home run to win the game for Winnipeg. Abercrombie set the Goldeyes' all-time home run record with the blast.

Herron was locked in for eight innings of work, allowing six hits without walking a batter in the complete-game effort. At one point the veteran right- hander retired 14 hitters in a row. He failed to record an out in the ninth.

Sioux Falls scored the first two runs of the game, starting in the first inning. Brett Vertigan and Alay Lago singled to move a runner to scoring position, and Andrew Ely knocked an RBI single to make it 1-0 Birds.

The Birds doubled their lead in the fourth. Mitch Glasser reached on a two-out infield single, and Josh Rehwaldt doubled down the right-field line to make it 2-0 Canaries.

Winnipeg made it 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but from there both offenses fell silent. After an Ely single in the fifth, neither team reached base until the top of the ninth.

Goldeyes starter Kevin Hilton dug deep for eight innings of one-run ball. He allowed eight hits, walking one and striking out one.

Brandon Bingel threw a scoreless ninth inning for Winnipeg. Wes Darvill started the bottom of the ninth with a single, setting things up for Abercrombie.

UP NEXT Game three of the Birds' series with Winnipeg is set for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Canaries fans can tune in on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 98.1 FM and AM 1230 KWSN.

GOLDEYES ON HOT STREAK WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st The Goldeyes went into Saturday night having won six consecutive games.

Manager Rick Forney has been pleased with the effort of his players after being eliminated from the race.

“Everybody’s kind of disappointed with where we’re at, and that’s because our guys care,” Forney said. “Ever since we’ve been officially eliminated, nobody has stopped playing. They’re still trying hard every day and putting in a good effort. We’re playing good baseball.”

Winnipeg was mathematically eliminated last Saturday, but continues to play until the final out. Three of their six wins on the current streak have been decided in the seventh inning or later.

“Just playing the game the right way,” Forney said on what he wants to see from his team in the waning days of the season. “It comes to a close. It’s important that they continue to enjoy their time here. Before you know it, you’re back in the real world working a 9 to 5 job, and you’re antsy to get to the next baseball season. It’s still important to these guys and it shows. They’re still playing good baseball and trying to win every night.”

RECORD CHASER Goldeyes’ left-hander Mitchell Lambson makes his final start of the year this afternoon, and has the chance to tie an 18-year-old franchise record.

At 13-3, Lambson can match former Goldeyes’ great Rafael Gross for the club’s single-season record for wins. Gross won 14 games for the 2001 squad.

In the years since, the 14 wins have been challenged only twice. Gross himself picked up 13 victories in 2003, while Kevin McGovern racked up a baker’s dozen in 2017.

Lambson is the front-runner for American Association Pitcher of the Year. In addition to leading the league in wins, Lambson is fifth in ERA (3.03), first in strikeouts (129), and first in innings (142.2). The Montclair, Calif. native is just six and one-third innings back of the Goldeyes’ single-season mark of 149.0 held by Roger Luque (2004) and Andrew “Ace” Walker (2009).

Left-hander Nick Hernandez was the last Goldeye to win American Association Pitcher of the Year after a 12-2 performance in 2014.

SAINTS IN PLAYOFFS The St. Paul Saints not only clinched the remaining North Division playoff spot on Friday, but the club overtook the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for the division lead.

The Goldeyes’ two chief rivals begin postseason play against one another next Wednesday.

St. Paul most certainly earned their playoff ticket. Including Friday’s win, George Tsamis’ crew won 15 of 17 games, 10 of which came against contenders Chicago, Fargo-Moorhead, and Winnipeg.

The Saints have had their challenges this season. Three of their five rotation slots are being filled by relievers. The club also lost its most productive player, all-star outfielder Max Murphy, to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization in late-July.

Through all of the adversity, the Saints have set an American Association record for one-run victories in a season, and might be the most battle-ready team once the playoff field is complete.

FISH PITCHING ACE TRADED JASON BELL – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st Kevin McGovern is getting a chance to extend his baseball season — although it won’t be with the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The ace of the pitching staff was traded to the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday in exchange for future considerations.

The Goldeyes (54-42) will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive American Association season. However, the Atlantic League plays a 140-game regular-season schedule that continues through late September. The Blue Crabs are members of the Freedom Division and have climbed to within just 4.0 games of first place in the second half of the season.

McGovern was sensational Thursday night in his swan song, surrendering just four hits in eight shutout innings to pace Winnipeg to a 2-0 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats at Shaw Park.

He was 12-7 with a 3.85 ERA for the Goldeyes in 20 starts and one relief appearance this season, his fourth in a Winnipeg uniform. The triumph was McGovern’s 46th of his six-year stint in the American Association, moving him into third place on the league’s career win list.

McGovern, 30, owns the franchise record for strikeouts (467) and was a member of the Goldeyes’ back-to-back championship teams in 2016 and 2017.

GOLDEYES TRADE MCGOVERN WINNIPEG SUN – SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st The Winnipeg Goldeyes traded left-handed pitcher Kevin McGovern to the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday.

The transaction does not preclude McGovern from returning to Winnipeg in the future.

The Atlantic League plays a 140-game schedule that carries through the end of September. American Association clubs will often send players to the Atlantic League once they are out of contention.

McGovern was 12-7 with a 3.85 ERA and 95 strikeouts for the Goldeyes in 20 starts. The Philadelphia, Penn. native logged 126.1 innings, which rank third in the American Association. On July 24th, McGovern set the Goldeyes’ franchise record for strikeouts.

“Kevin’s been really good for us,” Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney said. “He had a nice bounce back year. It was a little bit of a struggle last year at times. 12 wins is a lot in our league. Kevin’s thrown well over 500 innings in the four years we’ve had him. He’s done everything we’ve asked and gave us everything that we needed from him.”

McGovern will have the opportunity to continue playing baseball, while testing his skills against more experienced competition. Unlike the American Association, the Atlantic League does not have any roster minimums or maximums. The majority of Atlantic League players have either Major League or Triple-A experience on their resumes.

“It’s an opportunity for him to extend his season, earn a couple of more weeks pay, and be back in a playoff chase,” said Forney. “Hopefully he can help them earn a playoff spot. I think it’s a great opportunity for him. Hopefully he can make some new friends and see what it’s all about. He was appreciative of the opportunity. We’re looking forward to it, and I hope he does well.”

Southern Maryland is just 4.0 games out of first place in the Atlantic League Freedom Division’s second half race, so McGovern will have a second chance at reaching the playoffs.

The 30-year-old left-hander will also get an eye-witness look at the structural changes the league has implemented over the course of the season.

The Atlantic League gained widespread attention last spring when it announced, among other changes, the circuit was eliminating extreme defensive shifts, increasing the size of each base, and moving the pitching rubber back two feet. The latter received backlash from players and fans and never came to fruition, but the remainder of the new rules came to pass.

Following its all-star break, the Atlantic League instituted electronic strike zones, while allowing batters to “steal” first base on balls that get away from the catcher.

MCGOVERN RECEIVES OPPORTUNITY IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – FRIDAY, AUGUST 30th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes traded left-handed pitcher Kevin McGovern to the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in exchange for future considerations on Friday.

McGovern pitched eight shutout innings and picked up the win on Thursday in his final American Association start of 2019. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native was 12-7 with a 3.85 ERA for the Goldeyes in 20 starts and one relief appearance. Thursday’s win was McGovern’s 46th during his six years in the league, which moved him into third place on the American Association career list. On July 24th versus Texas, McGovern set the Goldeyes’ franchise record for strikeouts.

The Atlantic League plays a 140-game regular season schedule that continues through late-September. The Blue Crabs are members of the Atlantic League Freedom Division, and just 4.0 games out of first place in the second half.

McGovern is in his eight season of professional baseball, and is 52-40 lifetime with a 4.01 ERA in 130 games, 122 of them as a starting pitcher. 2019 was McGovern’s fourth season in a Goldeyes’ uniform, and the 30-year-old was a member of the Goldeyes’ back-to-back American Association championship teams in 2016 and 2017.

Additionally, the Goldeyes activated outfielder Jonathan Moroney from the Disabled List on Friday. Moroney is seventh in the league with a .322 batting average and last played on August 14th at St. Paul.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes open a four-game series against the Sioux Falls Canaries tonight at Shaw Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

PLENTY OF POSITIVES IN GOLDEYES’ FAILED BID FOR PLAYOFFS WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, AUGUST 30th The Winnipeg Goldeyes still have a lot to be proud of this season.

The club was eliminated from playoff contention following last Saturday’s loss at Fargo-Moorhead. The Goldeyes then bounced back against the RedHawks Sunday and Monday to take the season series from the North Division leaders 7-5.

Monday’s win also clinched a winning record for a 22nd time in the franchise’s 26-year history. Since the Goldeyes began play in 1994, only the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have produced more winning seasons.

“It’s hard to do this,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “It’s hard to make the playoffs. The last week to 10 days has been pretty difficult for me, because at times I really felt like we had a chance.”

Led by a complete game, two-hit shutout by Mitchell Lambson on August 12th at St. Paul, the Goldeyes moved into a tie with the Saints for the North Division wild card and had full control of their destiny.

The following morning, Winnipeg jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Saints in the top of the first. St. Paul, however, answered back with six runs in the bottom half en route to a 10-2 final, and hung on to beat the Goldeyes 6-5 in the rubber game the following night.

After the series finale in St. Paul, the Goldeyes endured travel complications that led to the Fish not arriving at Shaw Park until 7:00 p.m. for a game against the Chicago Dogs. Understandably fatigued, Winnipeg lost 13-0.

The Goldeyes lost two of three in the Chicago series before getting swept in a two-game set at home by the Saints, which left Winnipeg 6.0 games out of a playoff spot with only 13 games remaining.

The position in the standings is a reflection of the competitiveness of the North as much as anything else. Following Wednesday’s win over the RailCats, the Goldeyes are on pace to win 56 games. Of the 41 teams in American Association history that have finished with 56-plus victories, only five have missed the postseason.

“We’ve had a good team this year,” Forney said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries. We’ve had four guys get picked up by Major League clubs that were playing a key role on our team. We had two of our best players leave for the Pan-Am Games and had to find a way to try and make things work, so it’s been difficult. I’m just disappointed that I wasn’t able to get a couple of more pieces in here that could help put us over the top and make the last week a little more relevant.”

The Goldeyes have a chance to win as many as 58 games, which would be the second-most for an American Association non-playoff team.

“For me, unless you’re winning the very last game of the American Association season—no matter if you make the playoffs, you make it to the semi- finals, win 70 games, or win 53 games—it’s still a little bit of a disappointment if you’re not winning the last game of the season,” Forney said.

GARCIA SIMPLY SENSATIONAL FOR GOLDEYES WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, AUGUST 29th Goldeyes’ right fielder Willy Garcia has been among the American Association’s most productive players this season.

The former Major Leaguer went into Wednesday’s game against Gary SouthShore eighth in the league with 68 RBI and sixth with a .924 on-base plus slugging.

“He’s had a good year,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “He missed a little time because of injury, and obviously missed some time when he was at the Pan-Am Games. If he’s here and healthy the whole year, we’re probably looking at a guy with 80 RBI on the season.”

Earlier this month, Garcia represented his native Dominican Republic in the Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru. The 26-year-old had a strong showing at the tournament, including a grand slam home run.

Over his last 34 American Association games, Garcia is hitting .360 with 29 runs scored, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 39 RBI.

Garcia homered twice against the RailCats on Tuesday, the latter of which struck the middle of the Shaw Park scoreboard in right-centre field. In the top of the third, Garcia cut down RailCats’ outfielder Colin Willis at second base after the Gary SouthShore all-star attempted to stretch a single into a double.

“He’s come in and been a presence in the middle of the lineup,” Forney said. “That’s what we signed him for. He’s also probably the best right fielder in the league with the best throwing arm in the league. He’s done a good job for us.”

TORRES FINISHING STRONG Goldeyes’ left-handed reliever Christian Torres has enjoyed a strong second half of the season.

The Canovanas, Puerto Rico native has a 2.84 ERA over his last 19 appearances spanning 31.2 innings.

Torres’ greatest strides have come in left-on-left situations. Opposing left-handed batters were hitting .393 against Torres going into July 4th. Since then, Torres has handcuffed lefties to a .059 average (2-for-34).

“He’s done a really good job for us,” said Forney. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to consistently use him in the right situations. Often times we’ve been forced to make up some things as we go along, and make sure we throw enough innings to complete some games. In the second half, he’s thrown really well for us. He’s got some versatility in his game. He came in (Tuesday) and threw strikes, attacked the zone, and kept the ball on the ground.”

Part of Torres’ versatility has come in his ability to pitch multiple innings. The 25-year-old has recorded more than three outs in 19 of his 34 appearances this season.

PITCHER FRENCH LOVING LIFE WITH GOLDEYES WINNIPEG SUN – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28th Goldeyes’ right-hander Parker French has enjoyed his first season in Winnipeg.

The right-hander takes the mound on Wednesday when the Goldeyes host the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the second of a three-game series.

“They treat us extremely well,” French said of the Goldeyes. “A lot of us are very far from home, and they treat us like family. The hospitality has been awesome. Then you go on the road to some of these places, and you’re staying in first-class hotels and playing at first-class facilities.”

French was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round in 2015, and spent the previous two seasons in double A.

The 26-year-old has walked three batters or less in 13 of his 16 starts, and struck out a season-high eight batters in a previous outing against the RailCats on June 11.

A groundball pitcher throughout his career, French has enjoyed the support of a Goldeyes’ defence that is likely to set the American Association record for fielding percentage. French entered the season with a 1.66 career ground-out-to-air-out ratio.

“It’s such a good defence,” said French. “The job that each of them has done individually and then collectively has been so impressive. It definitely puts you at ease as a pitcher. You just have to throw strikes and let them work, because they do their job at a high level.”

French has been lauded by teammates and coaches alike for his commitment to getting better. The University of Texas alumnus credits his parents for instilling that work ethic at a young age.

“(My parents) laid it out to me that baseball was my choice if that was something I wanted to do, but they wanted me to pursue it with 100 percent focus and intent,” French said. “That shaped me as a kid, and it’s stuck with me through my young adult years. As long as I play baseball, I’m going to give it my all. I know I’m not the most talented pitcher, but hard work can make up that gap.”

Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney believes French has all of the ingredients to enjoy greater success in the future.

“The velocity is good, the movement is good,” Forney said. “It all boils down to really developing a little more feel for a secondary pitch, something that he can pull a hitter forward with. The overall arm talent is there. He’s strong, he works his tail off. He’s a great kid, and he’s shown some flashes of having the ability to be really good in this league.”

French’s dedication transcends the baseball diamond. The Austin, Tex. native is a devout Christian who regularly attends Sunday chapel with Goldeyes’ teammates. Earlier this season, French served as a guest speaker during the Goldeyes’ annual Faith Night.

“Having that relationship has been huge for me,” said French. “I’ve gone through some really great times in this sport and some very low times. My faith has helped pull me out of those really tough times to get me here today. I’m just thankful for this opportunity to continue to play professional baseball and play here in Winnipeg.

“The relationship I have with Jesus is the most important thing I have in my life, and it always will be,” French concluded. “Baseball is a game, but that faith is something I’m going to be able to pass on to my kids, and my kids to their kids. That impacts generations.”

WILLIS MERITS CONSIDERATION FOR ASSOCIATION PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNIPEG SUN – TUESDAY, AUGUST 27th Gary SouthShore RailCats’ outfielder Colin Willis deserves to be considered for the American Association Player of the Year Award.

MVP awards are typically reserved for players on contending teams, and Willis’ candidacy may be hurt by the RailCats’ position in the standings.

The RailCats have had an uncharacteristically down year, and begin tonight’s series at Shaw Park in fifth place in the North Division at 37-56. It marks just the second time the club will finish with a losing record in 15 seasons under manager Greg Tagert.

Willis’ 2019 performance, however, stacks up with the league’s elite players.

The Wisconsin native is hitting .307 with 22 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, and 59 RBI in 89 games. Willis is a perfect 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts, and his 66 walks are tied for second in the American Association.

The 27-year-old Willis is also third in the league with a .958 on-base plus slugging, trailing only Chicago’s Keon Barnum (1.049) and St. Paul’s Brady Shoemaker (.983).

Having already tied the American Association’s single-season record with 30 home runs, Barnum is considered the favourite to win the award.

“We’ve had a couple of nice stories with Edgar Corcino signing with the Red Sox and Evan Marzilli signing with the Diamondbacks, but the biggest one for us is our homegrown hero,” said Tagert. “Colin Willis means so much to our franchise, and this franchise means everything to him.”

Willis’ has spent his entire four-year professional career in a RailCats’ uniform, and is part of a core group of players that helped Gary SouthShore reach the playoffs in 2017 and 2018.

Last month, Willis was named MVP of the American Association All-Star Game after collecting two hits and two RBI in the North Division’s 7-3, come- from-behind victory.

“The all-star MVP was just a great story,” Tagert said. “For a club that has had some tough moments, that was really exciting, especially for the players that have been with him for the last few years. We were getting ready to get on the bus (the night of the All-Star Game), and they saw it come across the Twitter feed. There were more high fives and yells than I had heard in the last month with the ballclub. It was a feel-good moment for the whole RailCats’ organization.”

From an analytics standpoint — and without regard to the RailCats’ record—Willis is the clear-cut choice for MVP.

As of last Monday, Willis led the American Association with 5.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), which was nearly one and a half wins more than St. Paul’s Dan Motl, who ranked second.

As a frame of reference, Jose Sermo finished with 5.5 WAR in 2018. Sermo was last year’s league MVP, and became the first player in American Association history to post 20 doubles, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in the same season. Willis, who plays outfield every day, nearly matched Sermo’s total with two weeks left on the schedule.

In addition to offensive production, WAR incorporates such factors as a player’s defence, base running, and home ballpark effects.

Barnum has played just over half of Chicago’s games at first base, while serving as a designated hitter the rest of the time.

US Steel Yard is the toughest hitting environment in the entire league, averaging 42 percent fewer home runs and 12 percent less scoring overall compared to the American Association average.

In contrast, Chicago’s Impact Field has surrendered 55% more homers than the average park since opening in 2018.

Barnum has had a special year in his own right, and is certainly deserving of the award. There is also a degree of validity to the argument that an MVP should come from a contending team.

Nevertheless, the voting panel (made up of American Association field managers, general managers, and media members) would be remiss if it did not at least consider Willis among its top candidates.

FISH ARE FINISHED, NO PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – MONDAY, AUGUST 26th THE Winnipeg Goldeyes have gone from back-to-back championships, to back-to-back seasons missing the playoffs.

Despite rallying in the ninth inning to defeat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 7-5 Sunday afternoon, the Fish were officially fried and eliminated from the playoff race when the day came to an end. The final nail in the coffin came hours later when the St. Paul Saints beat the Chicago Dogs 5-4. With the win, the Saints, who currently own the second and final playoff spot in the North Division, improved to 58-34.

The Goldeyes, 50-42, don’t own the head-to-head series with the Saints as St. Paul was 8-5 against the Fish in the regular season. With a 3-7 record in their past 10 games, the Goldeyes simply didn’t play their best ball when they needed to.

The Fish also missed the playoffs last year with a 41-59 record — their worst mark in franchise history. This is the first time the Goldeyes have failed to make the post-season in consecutive years since they fell short in 2004 and 2005.

The Goldeyes will finish their three-game series with Fargo-Moorhead today at Newman Outdoor Field before returning to Shaw Park for their final seven games. The Fish will start their homestand on Tuesday as they open a three-game series with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Then the Goldeyes will close out the year with four games against the Sioux Falls Canaries with the series and season finale going down on Labour Day.

Despite the Goldeyes having nothing to play for in the standings this week, the final games will still hold a special meaning. After years of flip-flopping on the idea of retiring, 39-year-old outfielder Reggie Abercrombie is expected to call it a career after this season. Abercrombie, who’s in his sixth season with the Fish, has played 20 years of professional baseball.

Abercrombie was a key part of the Goldeyes’ run to the American Association championships in 2016 and 2017. Abercrombie will be remembered as one of the best players in Goldeyes and league history. He’s the American Association’s all-time leader in base hits, home runs and RBI. The veteran slugger is hitting .254 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI this season.

SHORTLISTING POTENTIAL AWARDS AS SEASON BEGINS TO WIND DOWN WINNIPEG SUN – SATURDAY, AUGUST 24th The American Association season is winding down, and balloting for end-of-year awards begins next week.

Since teams are required to carry at least four classified rookies, there is usually at least one viable Rookie of the Year candidate on each roster, regardless of a club’s position in the standings.

The award also generates interest given the nature of the industry. The American Association is a jumping off point for players overlooked following college or that were deemed expendable by Major League organizations.

Four of the last seven winners had their contracts purchased by MLB teams that off-season (Robert Coe, Joe Weik, Michael Zouzalik, and Justin Vernia), while two others went on to have continued success in the American Association (Matt Chavez and Colin Willis).

Players do not necessarily have to be “pure” rookies to be classified as such, meaning those with prior professional experience can be eligible for the award.

The 2019 rookie class features a diverse group of players that have performed well on both sides of the ball.

Gary SouthShore RailCats’ infielder Thomas Walraven appeared the frontrunner before his season was cut short earlier this month due to injury. The New York native hit .300 with 10 doubles, six home runs, and a .409 on-base percentage in 62 games. Walraven managed those offensive numbers while playing all four infield positions.

Walraven may still have the best case given that he is just 24 and is a true rookie professional. Through Monday night, Walraven led all classified American Association rookies with 2.0 wins above replacement (WAR).

Texas AirHogs’ centre fielder Javion Randle ranks second among rookies with 1.9 WAR. Randle has compiled a solid all-around season for the last- place AirHogs, hitting .271 with 19 extra-base hits, 16 stolen bases, and a .361 on-base percentage. AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie suppresses offence (as does Walraven’s home at US Steel Yard), enhancing Randle’s numbers. Randle also ranks fourth in defensive WAR among all American Association outfielders.

Power hitting catcher Daniel Comstock has helped the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to the best record in the league. Comstock is tied for third in rookie WAR at 1.4, and is hitting .238 with 10 home runs in 45 games. Defensively, Comstock leads all catchers with a 39 percent caught stealing rate. Comstock does have four prior years of pro experience, and has played in a smaller percentage of his team’s games compared to Walraven and Randle.

Michael Hart, a left-handed hitting utility player for the Sioux Falls Canaries, is batting .299 with 14 doubles, nine home runs, and an .868 on-base plus slugging in 67 contests. Hart is tied with Comstock in WAR, and has seen time at both catcher and in the outfield. Hart is a second-year professional who was in the running for the award last season after hitting a combined .309 in 66 games for the Canaries and Lincoln Saltdogs.

The Canaries have another candidate in true rookie catcher Graham Low. Canaries pitching coach Ben Moore coached Low at Macalester College in Minnesota, and recommended signing the 22-year-old after Low batted .452 during his senior season. In 63 games for the Canaries, Low has a .281 average with 10 doubles, four home runs, and 1.1 WAR. Low is also fifth overall in the league with a 27 percent caught stealing rate.

The remaining top rookies include Chicago closer Kyle Halbohn (12 saves with 1.51 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 35.2 innings), St. Paul reliever Tanner Kiest (2.20 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 41.0 innings), Cleburne first baseman Grant Buck (.297 average with 16 doubles in 55 games as a true rookie), Sioux City pitcher Tyler Fallwell (3.42 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 65.2 innings), St. Paul starter Ryan Zimmerman (7-3 with a 3.91 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 94.1 innings), and Goldeyes’ right-hander Kevin Hilton (4.66 ERA and only 39 walks while ranking fourth in the league with 116.0 innings).