High Heels On The Field

Jays Prospect Kevin Pillar Leads With Marked Passion

Trenton, New Jersey - Take your pick.

The fire from Kevin Pillar's hot bat? The fire from his Fisher Cats hitting coach and manager when speaking of the highly regarded player? Or the fire that comes from Pillar himself. All spark, and toughness, and emotion, mixed with the laser-focus of a purist. He leads by example, both at the plate and in the outfield.

"He is the best player in the league," said New Hampshire hitting coach Richie Hebner. "He does everything well."

By everything, he means hitting, power, defense, and base running. Getting timely hits. Working a hitter's count. Getting a hit with two strikes on him. Making the most of every situation.

Speaking of which. Pillar's also a romantic, mixed with a realist. In an interview posted on the Fisher Cats website, he said he'd promised his fiancee Amanda they'll get married after he's made it to the big leagues.

He's on the right track. After 40 games, the right fielder is hitting .326 with 56 hits (Eastern League best), 11 of them doubles, and 4 home runs. He's also drawn ten walks, something Fisher Cats manager Gary Allenson said he needs to do more often. That was the only negative manager or hitting coach could come up with. To add to the other positives, his mentality, generosity, and kindness were also mentioned.

It's all part of the West Hills California native's approach, which Pillar says is something he's conscious of, and was even more aware of when preparing for 2013.

"A lot of what I worked on in the off-season, I carried into spring training. And that was my overall mindset," he said. "It's about looking beyond here, looking beyond the numbers. I strive here and I'll strive beyond here. I'll never be satisfied."

That attitude is perhaps a response to being overlooked and underestimated.

Pillar was drafted low (32nd round) out of Division II Call State-Dominguez Hills, and was on the smaller side (listed 6-0, 195 LBS when selected), but he was an excellent player in high school, hitting .463 his senior year for Chaminade College Prep. Scouts however, had to decide whether to take a chance on him. Did he have the ability to be an impact player in the major leagues? Can that talent translate to skill at the highest level of the game?

2012 was a successful campaign with some issues mixed in. He's done a better job this year of not striking out as often. In ten games, he's done so just four times, and seventeen times overall this season. He finished 2012 with an arm-load of honors, including MiLB.com Organizational All-Star, and hit .374 in a career-high 128 games.

The numbers are not the thing that Pillar sets goals for. Stats are for statisticians. His game, as a purist, is being important to the team.

"I want to be the guy the coach runs out there everyday and feels confident that I'm going to compete," said Pillar.

That's what lights the fire that's motivated him, and nothing's changed.

Except that, now, he's got a promise of matrimony to motivate him as well.

You can follow Kevin on Twitter @KPILLAR4

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Matt Kardos: Red Sox Prospect Matt Barnes Scouting Report, Plus VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qinZSr-RqY4 Courtesy of Matt Kardos

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PawSox, Sea Dogs Begin Season With Excitement of New Prospects (Video)

The Portland Sea Dogs visited the Trenton Thunder on Friday night at Arm & Hammer Park sporting the best record overall in the Eastern League at 11-8. Looking to extend their 0.5 game lead over the Thunder, Portland summoned the Red Sox top pitching prospect, Matt Barnes to the mound which allowed to me to see the stud prospect up close for the first time.

The tall 22-year old righty has great projectable size for a pitcher, standing at 6’4” and is equipped with a heavy mid-90’s fastball, a sharp high 70’s curveball and a mid-80’s change-up in his repertoire. His fastball is regarded as his best pitch as Baseball America ranks his heater as the best in the Red Sox system.
Barnes got his feet wet with his first pro action in 2012 with Single-A Greenville after being selected as the 19th overall pick by Boston in the 2011 amateur draft out of the University of Connecticut. Through five starts there, Barnes absolutely dominated the South Atlantic League, going 2-0 with a minuscule 0.34 ERA while striking out 42 batters in just 26 innings pitched.

After overmatching the opposition, Boston promoted Barnes to Advanced-A Salem of the Carolina League where he continued to show flashes of brilliance. Overall, Barnes made 25 starts in his inaugural professional season, going a combined 7-5 with a 2.86 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 119.2 innings of action. He led the organization in ERA, strikeouts and batting average against (.225).

With lofty expectations staring him down as the 38th overall prospect in baseball as ranked by MiLB.com entering this season, Barnes has struggled in his first taste of the minor leagues upper levels. In three starts with Portland going into last night, Barnes had gone 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA while opponents were hitting .333 against him.
“His curve ball needs a lot of work,” said one AL East scout who was in attendance to watch Barnes on Friday night. “In the lower levels you can get by with throwing smoke past these guys, but up here you have to really develop your secondary pitches and so far he has had a tough time of getting that to work.”

Barnes woes continued in Trenton on Friday as he took the loss in a 6-3 Thunder victory. The biggest issue for Barnes continues to be his batting average against. Last night, Trenton went 11-25 against him with six extra base hits, while two others reached base via walks. Through four starts now, Barnes has allowed 24 hits in 14 innings pitched while walking six more which has caused his WHIP to soar to an uncharacteristic 2.14. The Eastern League is now hitting .387 off of him.

Barnes has very long and strong legs which he uses a lot on his effortless looking delivery. He throws his fastball free and easy and it is certainly an electrifying pitch; you can hear the catcher’s glove pop almost every time he offers it. Despite giving up a lot of hits, Barnes still has overpowering stuff which is reflected in his high strikeout totals. Of the 83 pitches he threw last night, he got Trenton to swing and miss at them 16 times. The stuff seems to be there but the command comes and goes. He left the fastball up in the strike zone a lot which caused the pitch to flatten out a lot and the Thunder hitters took advantage of that.

“He really struggles to stay on top of his curveball; it isn’t a bad pitch he just doesn’t control it consistently at this stage” said the scout. “I think that his change-up has come a long way since last season, he does a great job of varying speeds from his fastball to get to the change.”

Two of the six strikeouts that Barnes recorded against Trenton came via the scorching hot Kyle Roller (pictured in the video), who is the reigning Eastern League Player of the Week.

“He has a lively fastball that kind of gets on you really quick,” Roller said. “He didn’t show me the breaking ball until late so he kind of threw me off guard, I wasn’t expecting it. From what I saw of him though, you can tell he’s a plus pitcher. He goes soft away early then he tries to bust you inside hard later in the count.”
The scout added, “I think his struggles right now are very normal for a pitcher at this level. The stuff is crisp but his command is what is hurting him right now, but that comes with experience and making adjustments as you go. I don’t know if he will ever be an “ace” but I think he definitely has the ceiling to be a good two or three starter if he irons out his command and executes consistency with his breaking ball.”

Matt is a contributing writer for Double G Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @mattkardos

Giants Top Prospect Joe Panik Adjusting To Double-A And Second Base

Trenton, New Jersey- Leadership is a key word when talking about Joe Panik.

And that aspect of him as a player garners quite a comparison.

"A lot of of us in the organization said he reminded us of Buster Posey," said Richmond Flying Squirrels hitting coach Ken Joyce. "In the sense that he has that same demeanor. He has that attitude in the way he goes about his business. He's professional, came from a decent family, and a good school at St. John's."

All of that is integral in helping the infielder, who is starting the season with a lot on his plate. Expectations (#4 ranked prospect in the Giants system by Baseball America) and a switch in position from shortstop to second base.

But none of that appears distracting to Panik.

"I've learned, especially with college and the [MLB] Draft, to ignore it and not pay attention," said Panik, 22. "Because a lot of the stuff they say is either too good, or some of the bad stuff is too bad. So I've learned to say, 'You know what?' Just ignore it. Concentrate on the game you've played ever since you were a little kid.

The Eastern League is always a big test for any player, as is any Double-A league. There's less errors to take advantage of. The challenges multiply. Panik is more humbled by that, than feeling over-matched

"Yeah, pitchers are a lot more consistent, that's for sure. They don't make too many mistakes. So you have to capitalize on it," Panik said.

In a game against the Trenton Thunder on April 11th, he showed impressive composure at the plate. Batting second (behind shortstop Ehire Adrianza), Panik worked hitter's counts consistently and made good contact with each plate appearance. It was in the 9th that he really turned on the lights. He took advantage of a struggling Thunder bullpen, hitting a two-out triple to right-center. His line-drive approach was good, but not enough to get the ball out of the infield. He never took a bad swing at pitches he couldn't handle.

That approach might be attributable to his mentality, as much as his natural ability.

"I'll tell you what, he's a very mature player. Very close to being polished when he came out of St. John's [1st round, 2011]," said Joyce. "I [worked] with him in the Arizona Fall League two years ago and he had just got done playing short-season. He was on a team with Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Brandon Crawford, and Wil Middlebrooks. And here's a kid who just started professional baseball, and was actually getting their attention. He hit .300 in that league just coming out of college. He's a guy that can swing the bat, uses the whole field, knows what his limits are, and has a good work ethic."

His ability to be selective was on display in that game, but Panik sees room for improvement.

"[I need to] become more consistent with pitch selection. When I try to do too much with a pitch, that's when I get into trouble. It's just patience."

The decision to move Panik from the middle of the infield to second was a period of adjustment, but one he embraced entering Spring Training.

"I played shortstop my whole life. And so playing second base was the main thing I worked on. Spring Training I was getting used to the turns. It was just about getting comfortable and taking a lot of ground balls. I definitely feel almost natural now."

In 2012, he hit .297, with 76 RBI and 58 walks in the California League. He was third in the league in hits with 159. Post-All Star break, he hit .324, and .337 with runners in scoring position.

So far this year he's hitting .235, with 4 RBI and 3 walks.

"I was pretty excited to come to the Eastern League, making the jump from High-A to Double-A. I was looking forward to it. So far I've gotten off to a good start and I've really gotten comfortable with the competition. Going forward, I'm very confident."

As a leader, he takes a performance-approach to the role. He knows who he is, even now.

"I like to be a leader through my actions on the field. I'm not one of those guys and get in someone's face. I pride myself on doing things the right way."

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Checking In With... Orioles Pitcher Matt Bywater

In 2012, lefty Matt Bywater split time at three levels, clocking quality playing time in the South Atlantic and Carolina Leagues. And a taste of Double-A, in the Eastern League.

In 19 games, five of them starts, with the Frederik Keys, he went 2-1 with a 5.67 ERA, striking out 37 batters. He pitched 17 innings for the Delmarva Shorebirds maintaining a 1.56 ERA, with nine strikeouts, five walks allowed. He got in just one game for the Bowie Baysox, but picked up his first Double-A win. He went five innings and gave up two hits.

Here's what he had to say from Orioles camp:

Anything different this off-season? "Not really. Since leaving school, I've had off-seasons training at the same place. This year, I worked out on my own. I focused mostly on throwing fastballs for strikes."

Minimal Free Passes: "Compared to my first year of pro ball, I did better. I kept the walks down last year." [Overall he allowed nineteen walks]

Early Going: "I feel great. We start games in a week. And I just want to actually be playing in games again. I feel stronger after this off-season."

O's Plan: "For the most part, their main goal for me is to get guys out. I'm not a power pitcher. I need to not focus so much on striking guys hitters out with my fastball, and use my changeup and breaking pitches."

You can follow Matt Bywater on Twitter @byweezie

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Austin Romine's Opportunity PLUS: A Look Back Through The Years In His Own Words

When Jesus Montero was traded to the Mariners, a question seemed to be answered.

The Yankees catching depth was a running storyline, and leading the narrative was Montero and Austin Romine's development. And the competition between the two for the future backstop position.

There were questions wrapped in the overall 'Who's the future Yankees backstop?' question. Montero's abilities to catch long-term have long been doubted. Romine's offense couldn't compare to the middle-of-the-order dream bat that Montero carried. What to do?

Ultimately, Montero was shipped out, and, it seemed, the Yankees were making a firm statement about their faith in Romine. Undoubtedly, his defensive value was higher than Montero's. And his bat was developing. He increased walks, took less free swings and made more solid contact in his second year at the Double-A level.

Romine's confidence was a strength from his first day in Double-A, arriving more than ready to play for the Trenton Thunder.

http://highheelsonthefield.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/catchers-corner-austin-romine.html

By the end of 2011, Romine, now 25, was a proven leader with Trenton, when he got an end of season promotion to Triple-A. The Thunder was his team to that point. If there was a 'Captain', he was it. He'd also made strides in the areas he needed to improve and had overcome a concussion at a healthy pace. He never seemed affected by the bumps in the road. And no challenge appeared to difficult to him.

In the time since that fateful trade, Romine's development has been challenged even further. He sat out most of 2012 due to a back injury, playing in just 31 games.

That injury disrupted what had been excellent progress in 2011, when he'd hit .279 with 48 RBI, and 32 walks, and made his MLB debut, getting in nine games. He made needed adjustments in 2011, proving he was a willing student of the game, even with that healthy dose of confidence. Thunder manager Tony Franklin also made perfectly clear the kind of player Romine was expected to be, and that the Yankees, and Romine, were on the same page.

And as for being an everyday player, he's never had any doubts about that.

http://www.going9baseball.com/2011/08/10/austin-romine-earns-his-stripes/

With Montero no longer in the picture, the question, still, is where Romine fits into the long term picture.

As Spring Training gets underway, the decision hangs in the air, though there looks to be little doubt about how they'll handle the situation. According to Yankees GM Brian Cashman in an interview with the New York Daily News, Romine will begin 2013 in Triple-A. Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart will start the season for the club.

Before he left for Triple-A at the tail end of 2011, he'd expressed a sense of how far he'd come. In retrospect, he essentially acknowledged that he did have more to learn about catching. And he'd developed relationships with pitchers based on communication. Offense was also something he admitted the Yankees wanted him to improve even more.

http://www.going9baseball.com/2011/09/03/eastern-league-report-austin-romines-final-week-with-the-trenton-thunder/

Questions remain, but Romine has already answered many of them.

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Justin Pope Happy To Be Part Of Yankees 'Tradition', Returns As Staten Island Manager

Romine Ready To Show Yanks What He Can Do

Justin Pope Happy To Be Part Of Yankees 'Tradition', Returns As Staten Island Manager

The Yankees have been a part of the majority of Justin Pope's entire professional baseball career. That won't change in 2013, and he's glad for it.

Pope will return to manage the Class-A, Short-Season Staten Island Yankees for the second year in a row.

"The decision was easy," he said Sunday. "I am very grateful for the opportunity the Yankees have given me to manage."

Though he didn't discuss his contract, he's at least locked in for 2013. Because of his rich history with the team, it's not hard to understand why they'd want to keep him on. He understands what it takes. He knows what the Yankees want and knows their beliefs. Nurturing is important, but so is discipline and making no excuses for losing.

The RHP and switch hitter was drafted by the Cardinals in 2003, and acquired by the Yankees via trade in 2005. He played four years in the Yankees system, much of that with the Double-A Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League. After spending time as a coach with the Thunder, he was offered the job with Staten Island for 2012.

The job wasn't an easy one. Many of the guys he was working with were just jumping over from college playing not a couple of months earlier. Their energy is different and that energy can be tough to tame and channel.

"I love the challenge of it and I feel like having a year under my belt will really help me for the up coming season."

Staten Island finished tied 2nd to last in the league, going 30-45.

His emotional connection made returning different than if it were with another team. It's all baseball, and it's a job, but there's something to be said for creating that family aspect of sticking with a team. Talks never stalled.

"The conversation was very little about returning. They asked me what I thought about going back and I told them I would love to. I definitely wanted to."

The Yankees name carries with it a certain expectation. Many guys talk about how it creates more pressure, but mostly they talk about how it creates inspiration. Do your best always. You're a Yankee.

"I have a passion for this organization. I admire what it stands for and the tradition that comes with putting on the pinstripes. Things are done in a different manner and I truly enjoy passing on the tradition."

There appears to be a kind of grooming process happening. And it wouldn't be a surprise if Pope, 34, takes over for Tony Franklin, when the day comes that deeply respected Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin is no longer at the helm. Pope's admiration of Franklin and the time he spend as both one of his players, and as a coach, taught him many lessons about how to approach the job.

He learned many things on his own, on the job, just figuring the right balance out in the 'Tell 'Em Twice' league, as he once called it.

"I learned so much last season. If I had to choose one thing, it would be how to relate and communicate with each player on an individual basis. Understanding them personally and their motivations, finding out what makes them tick."

He will continue finding that out, when Staten Island opens their season against the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets), June 17th.

Follow the Staten Island Yankees on Twitter @SIYanks

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Blue Jays Justin Jackson Talks About Making Transition To The Mound

Earlier this week, Blue Jays prospect Justin Jackson announced on Twitter that he was making the transition from shortstop to pitcher. A decision that he arrived at after the 2012 season, when he split time between Class-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. Combined, he hit .220 with 23 RBI, and 38 walks in 110 games.

He knew he had to talk about the idea with a few people, including the big club, but the righty was also certain he was making the right move. Jackson, 25, spoke about this important moment in his career Thursday, and here's what he said.

"What happened was, I looked at it and realized my number one tool was my arm. My agent and me had a talk. And we put it out there to the organization, and they said yes. So then it was just up to me to give it a full go."

On whether high school experienced helped: Definitely. I closed my junior and senior years. I pitched all growing up.

When asked if he had expected to be drafted as a pitcher: No, not at all. I actually used pitching as a showcase for my arm, as a shortstop. I did it so scouts that came to see me would see my arm. (He was drafted in the 45th round in 2007 by the Jays)

On when the idea started to form: I think what I did was look at my skill set, and at the end of the day, I didn't want to be an old man and say I didn't try. I wanted to give myself a chance. And I'm young enough, and am being given opportunities, that I can try it. I didn't want to wind up with regret.

Preparation: I want to be fundamentally sound. I've been working with [former MLB pitcher] Darren Holmes, and he's helping me get ready and just talking to me. I'm also going to go early to spring training. I'll be heading out in the next couple of weeks, so I can throw in warmer weather. It's pretty cold up in the [North Carolina] mountains right now.

On possibly starting again at the bottom: I'm doing something new, and whatever it is I need to do to get that experience on the mound, that's all that matters to me. So [whatever level I start at], I just need to get time on the mound. I don't care, as long as I get experience.

On his independent hip hop single, 'Dedicated': It was actually a Wiz Khalifa song called 'Medicated.' So I changed the words. I wanted to do an uplifting positive type song. I just really like to be creative.

You can follow Justin on Twitter @JaxChillinONE

Listen to 'Dedicated' here: http://m.soundcloud.com/justin-jax/dedicated

Former Mets Prospect Erik Turgeon Looks Forward To New Opportunity With Pirates

In 2011, when Wally Backman was managing the Binghamton Mets, the team's Double-A affiliate visited Trenton to play the Thunder (Yankees). One memorable smoke-filled conversation in back of then-Waterfront Park, was about the young team he was helping guide toward the big leagues.

Those uniquely fun series were always made more uniquely fun with Backman managing.

That year, reliever Erik Turgeon was pitching for Backman and getting a lesson in baseball he's never forgotten.

"He's the best manager I've ever played for. I wish I could play for him every year," said Turgeon, of the former Mets player. "He had your back no matter what. He'd have fun and say something wild, you couldn't have a conversation with him without laughing. But when it was game-time he was all business. He'd get on you if you messed up, and sometimes you need that."

The experience was one of many with the Mets, the team that drafted him in the 25th round out of the University of Connecticut in 2008. It's with that team that he clocked almost four years and two-hundred and twenty-two innings of experience.

While playing for Binghamton in 2012, the Mets released him.

For all the great moments and, especially the time learning from Backman, Turgeon felt it was time to go. The writing had been on the wall. His agent began to look around for opportunities elsewhere. The Pirates showed interest and the whole process happened fast.

"It wasn't a shock [to be released]. We talked to the Mets to see where I was headed. It was a relief. I needed a change."

The right-handed reliever was struggling some when he was let go, but when he joined the Pirates they told him they were assigning him to Class-A Bradenton. Not as an insult or doubt in his ability, but because that was the only spot for him.

Turgeon's spirit remained high and he remained focused on that key word: change. Truthfully, he welcomed the bounce backward.

"That was a tough season for me. I hadn't been [at that level] in awhile. But it was a confidence builder," he said.

Confidence was the overwhelming center-point that kept causing him trouble. As baseball goes, skill and talent matter. But confidence is baseball's magical spell. It changes everything and no one quite knows how to get it when it's gone. Players go through the process of losing and finding it again and again. Turgeon, 25, just couldn't quite find his for awhile.

"If I had last year to do over again, I'd just trust it. I was ready to have a big year. After I left spring training (where he also pitched in one big league game), I just didn't have my confidence and I didn't know why."

In 17 games with Binghamton, he gave up 43 hits and had a 7.40 ERA in 24 innings when he was released. He headed to Bradenton and suddenly, the lights turned on. In ten innings, he lowered his ERA to 0.90, allowed just 5 hits and struck out eleven.

It was the start he needed.

He took that search for something new into the off-season. His usual winter approach- training in Florida, where he's from, wasn't on the agenda. He stayed up north and began working in Nashua New Hampshire with Austin Wasserman, a UConn alum and founder of Athletic Development http://www.abathletics.com/ Turgeon informed Wasserman, a former player with the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes and Nashua Pride, that whatever he had in mind, he was open to it.

"I told him I needed something different. I'm a big guy on change. I ask myself if it's working. And, after working with him, this is honestly the best I've felt in years. My legs feel great," Turgeon said.

Reflecting on his college years, he remembers the experiences at UConn fondly. His uncle Dave had been an assistant head coach for the Huskies baseball team, and Turgeon kept in touch with head coach Jim Penders.

"It's the most fun you'll have. They really looked out for me that first year. They helped me mature there. I owe that program a lot."

His professional career with the Mets is now another page in his book. Filled with memories, but also hard-fought lessons.

And, while confidence is a bit of magic, there's ways to acquire it. Turgeon is clear about what he must do to continue to grow and be successful.

"I just have to trust what I have. I know I can get these guys out."

You can follow Erik on Twitter @ErikTurgeon

R.A. Dickey Trade For Prospects Brings Questions For Jays And Mets

Nothing about the trade that sends Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey to Toronto is easy.

The deal takes young talent from the Blue Jays, but adds this year's Cy Young Award and 20-game-winner. The talent was some of the Jays best, the Jays add a veteran arm. The talent is unproven. The Cy Young winner that led the National League in strikeouts with 230, is 38.

Add to that list, the combative back-and-forth between the Mets camp (plus some media members) and Dickey, and you had no easy goodbye. Or maybe that bitterness made the goodbye all the easier.

The bottom line is, the trade everyone waited and debated on for the past few days amid heated rumors, is final. Prospects Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, Wuilmer Becerra, and veteran catcher John Buck.

D'Arnaud, 23, was ranked as the Jays top prospect. Both at the plate and behind it, there's always been some questions. And he's usually answered them with improvements to both. There is that nagging injury issue. An everyday catcher's time can be short in the majors, and his back problems and a knee injury (not to mention one to his thumb) have raised concerns. But reports have consistently highlighted, not only his skill, but his ability to learn quickly and turn things around.

RHP Noah Syndergaard has been impressive in his own right. The twenty-year-old is far from making an impact in the big leagues in this part of the trade. He's still a few years away, but the 2010 38th rounder had a solid first full professional season. He posted a 2.60 ERA in 27 games and struck out 122 batters in 19 starts for Class-A Lansing.

The Jays get that guy that won that award. That guy whose name is linked securely to perfecting the art of knuckleballing, and what he accomplished after turning a last-ditch-effort and minor league contract into success. But he's also linked to raising awareness of sexual abuse. In revealing that truth in his autobiography, hopefully he's encouraged others to come forward. Children look up to athletes now more than ever. His presence in that fight is meaningful.

But baseball is a business, and regardless of success on the mound and being a champion for abused children, the Mets had to make what they believed was a sound decision. Dickey wanted an extension on his contract that the Mets refused.

The Jays made an offer that rid the Mets of their problem/Cy Young Winner, and bulked up their minor league system a little more. Those prospects, d'Arnaud in particular, add a shot of solid promise to the future.

Both teams fans are being asked to believe in a lot.

Jays fans must believe that R.A. Dickey will continue the success he had last year.

Mets fans are being asked to come down from the mountaintop and hang out patiently in the peaks. That's not to be mistaken for overall success. No, the Mets haven't had much of that in a long time. But with Dickey they had a vitally important piece of their starting rotation. A valuable player that they could actually say had proven plenty. Who are these prospects in exchange for THAT guy? Odds are, Mets fans are also asking why the Mets would run Dickey out of town. Reports on the Mets front office negative feelings toward Dickey can only be categorized as conjecture. That doesn't mean reports of their feelings aren't true. They are simply unclear.

Mets fans don't want to invest time believing in two maybes when they had something much better: a definite. At least, he was to that point. Whether Dickey can sustain that success or close to it, is also unknown. Jays fans have taken to social media to voice their own worry and distrust.

In that respect, the Blue Jays and Mets are in the same boat.

Reading Phillies No More

Baseball through time has connected families, generations bonded by love of the game.

The Reading Phillies had been part of that rich tradition. Many Phillies fans had seen history unfold through the years, with the likes of Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinsky, Darren Daulton, and Ryan Howard wearing the big 'R' on their caps at one time.

That 46-year history cannot be changed but the identity has been stripped.

On Saturday, the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League announced their new name, the Reading Fightin' Phils.

Confusion, frustration, and shock were the overall reaction since the team first announced their "re-branding effort" a few weeks ago. Phillies fans took pride in the name and couldn't imagine embracing a new identity.

Those who made the final decision on the new name seemed to only confuse their fans more. Fans are quite familiar with the fact that "Fightin' Phils" is literally the other name the big club Phillies are known as. Now, one says "Fightin' Phils", it's an actual team name.

While a re-branding effort is sometimes a matter of survival for a minor league team, the chosen name seemed to indicate that those involved were out of touch with the very fans that attend games. And maybe that explains a lot. Ultimately, the change, meant to create an individual identity for the Double-A Phillies, actually just borrows from the identity of their parent club. Puzzling, for sure, but perhaps that was their way of respecting the connection and tradition. And that makes sense, too.

But for those that have loved the team that plays in a place officially called, 'BaseballTown', that changes how they identify with the team. If you want to change the name, fine, but don't expect to change the way people feel.

In going forward, the Reading Fightin' Phils have to re-establish a connectedness that the Reading Phillies already had. Fans might get over their annoyance or disappointment, but will they buy the merchandise?

Maybe it sounds silly to make such a fuss over a minor league team's name, but the emotional meaning of that name is real. And those that decided to re-brand, should take that into account.