2011-05-13

Exclusive Interview with Travis d'Arnaud



Blue Jays Prospects from Ryan Kelley on Vimeo.

Our boy Jay has been very busy over the last couple of weeks pounding out exclusive content that hopefully made the sun shine just a little brighter for you, wherever you may be. Having seen merely 3 Fisher Cats games over a span of 4 days, he was able to get 7 solid interviews with various team personnel. The final installment of this series is with catcher Travis d'Arnaud. At the time of the interview, Travis was still on the DL with concussion like symptoms.

Since his return he has posted 2 multi hit games, one of which came against his former organization.

DateLevelPosABH2B3BHRSOBB
May 12AA@ ReadingC4200100
May 10AAvs. PortlandC3100010
May 9AAvs. PortlandC3000010
May 8AAvs. BinghamtonC3210000

We here at 1BJW are following this young man's progress very closely this year and envision him taking a huge leap forward under the watchful eye of his manager in New Hampshire, the one and only Mr. Sal Fasano. It's very hard to predict when a player of this caliber will get his shot in The Show but if everything goes his way, we can see a possible scenario where he enters Spring Training next season with a legit shot at heading north with the team to Toronto.




I think I can speak for everyone when I say we all totally look forward to the next time the Fisher Cats travel to Trenton to play the Thunder - which is June 3, 4 and 5 - and all the interviews, photos, videos and insight that follows in the weeks after.  

Make sure to show Jay some love by following him on Twitter HERE

2011-05-07

1BlueJaysWay.com Interview: Mike McDade

Mike McDade is a switch hitting prospect currently driving the offense for the Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Drafted by Toronto in the 6th round of the 2007 draft out of Silverado High School in Las Vegas as a catcher, McDade shifted to first base as a professional.

McDade, who turns 22-years-old on Sunday, had a break out season last year with High A Level Dunedin, where he led the Florida State League with 21 homers and was awarded the R. Howard Webster Award as the team's Most Valuable Player.

Through 25 games this season, the 6-feet-1-inch, 260-pound McDade has a .347 batting average with 2 homeruns, 9 RBI and 19 runs scored.

I caught up with Mike last week and spent some time talking about his progress, his team, some extra curricular activities, as well as plenty more.


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2011-05-05

1BJW Adeiny Hechavarria Interview

Blue Jays infield prospect Adeiny Hechavarria is off to somewhat of a slow start offensively, but that shouldn't stop scouts, media types and fan alike from getting excited about the slick fielding 22-year-old.

Signed as a free agent out of Cuba last year, Hechavarria made his affiliated professional debut with the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays before being promoted to the Double A New Hampshire FisherCats. Combined in 102 games at 2 levels last year, Hechavarria posted a .242 batting average with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 4 HR, 41 RBI and 13 steals.

In 24 games this season, still with the FisherCats, Hechavarria is batting .216 with 5 doubles, 2 triples and 1 HR. He has been successful in 3 of his 4 stolen base attempts as well.

Currently on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster, Hechavarria had a hit against Yankees hurler Andy Pettitte last September, when the lefty great was rehabbing with the Trenton Thunder during the Eastern League playoffs.

Highly regarded for his defense, Hechavarria was formerly the starting shortstop for the Cuban National Team.

During New Hampshire's visit to Trenton last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with Adeiny, with the help of New Hampshire coach Danny Solano, about his defense, his language barrier, the process of signing with Toronto and plenty more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview.



And as a bonus...here's some footage of pregame fielding warm-ups featuring the talented shortstop.



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2011-05-04

Darin Mastroianni Speaks on His Double A Return

With a heavy collection of big league quality outfield talent at Triple A Las Vegas, after Toronto did some roster shuffling recently, swift footed Darin Mastroianni found himself as the odd man out. The 25-year-old New York native was sent back to Double A New Hampshire, where he helped the Fisher Cats lock down a postseason berth last season, batting .301 and stealing 46 bases.

In 22 games with Las Vegas this season, Mastroianni, a 16th round draft pick in 2007, was batting .264 with a .642 OPS. The right-handed hitting Mastroianni stands 5-feet-11-inches tall and weighs about 190 pounds.

I had the opportunity to speak with Darin today about his movement back to the Double A level. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview.



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2011-05-03

There He Gose

Fisher Cats center fielder Anthony Gose

Anthony Gose is in a new organization, wearing a new uniform in a new town, but says he's still the same ball player. The quick-footed center fielder, who set out to lead all of minor league baseball in stolen bases at age 18 in 2009, and followed through when he swiped 76 bases as a member of the Phillies' Class A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws, is now a member of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Gose was ranked as the 4th best prospect in the Blue Jays system by Baseball America prior to this season.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 195 pound Gose has stayed on track with the tools that earned him such high praise. He continues to get on base, swipe bags and exhibit terrific instincts and range on defense in the outfield.

Traded by the Phillies to Houston in the deal for starting pitcher Roy Oswalt last July, Gose ended up with Toronto when the Astros flipped him, almost immediately, in another trade for infielder Brett Wallace.

The lefty hitting Gose was playing with the Phillies High A Level team, the Clearwater Threshers, at the time and felt sure that he would be headed to Houston once rumors of a Phils deal for Oswalt began circulating heavily. When the trading commenced, Gose never heard from Houston. Even though he had been included in a package of players for the 3-time Astros All star, the first call Gose got was from Phillies assistant general manager in charge of player development Chuck LaMar, telling Gose that he was being dealt to Toronto.


To continue reading this article, click HERE.

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2011-05-02

New 1BJW Fisher Cats Exclusives

Below, you will find video footage of Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitchers BJ LaMura and Joel Carreno warming up prior to their recent starts in Trenton against the Yankees affiliate Thunder.

LaMura is a 30-year-old minor league veteran who was originally drafted in the 5th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2002. Previously with the Dodgers, LaMura joined the Blue Jays organization last season. LaMura's fastball was clocked at 91 MPH throughout his start in Trenton.

Carreno, a 24-year-old Dominican Republic native, is on the Toronto 40-man Major League roster. In his 5th pro season, Carreno is off to a slow start this year with the Fisher Cats, having posted a 0-3 record with a 6.56 ERA in 4 games. In his outing in Trenton, Carreno regularly hit 91-92 MPH with his fastball.




As a bonus, here's my exclusive interview with New Hampshire manager and former big league catcher Sal Fasano, that was featured today on my other internet homes, PhoulBallz.com and PhilliesNation.com.



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2011-05-01

Fisher Cats Fall Again in Trenton

With a packed house on fireworks night at Trenton's Waterfront Park, the Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped their third straight game, as the division rival Thunder (Yankees affiliate) took down the club from New Hampshire by a score of 4-1.

Right-handed Fisher Cats starter Joel Carreno, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, surrendered 4 earned runs over 6 2/3 innings and took the loss.

The Thunder got the scoring started in the 2nd inning, when Bradley Suttle led off with a single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch then came around to score on a Corban Joseph single.

New Hampshire tied things up in the 4th inning when Thunder starter Manny Banuelos uncorked a wild pitch that allowed center fielder Anthony Gose to score.

Suttle, Trenton's third baseman, grabbed the lead back quickly in the bottom of the frame when he drove a ball to deep right field, out of the park and into the Delaware River to put the Thunder up by a score of 2-1.

Trenton wrapped up the scoring in the 5th inning when 9 hole hitter Addison Maruszak mashed a two-run homerun to deep left field.

Lefty Kei Igawa, who came on in relief of Thunder starter Manny Banuelos earned the win. The Fisher Cats now have a record of 11-9, while the Thunder improves to 10-12. The two teams go back at it on Sunday in the series finale when Cats right-hander Zach Stewart takes on Thunder lefty Shaeffer Hall.

Gose, the New Hampshire center fielder, had 3 of the team's 5 hits in the loss. He also stole 2 bases for the losing squad. Listen to exclusive postgame audio from Gose in the media player below.



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