In Chase Utley's case, a star was formed
The Philadelphia Phillies' standout second baseman fought through struggles at Long Beach Poly and UCLA to forge an All-Star career.
Reporting from Philadelphia - Joe Perruccio knows a professional baseball player when he sees one. And he didn't see one the first time he saw Chase Utley.
"He was a skinny little kid," Perruccio remembers of Utley, then a freshman at Long Beach Poly High. "He didn't have a lot of natural ability."
Ken Munger, another coach at Long Beach Poly, didn't think Utley was a pro prospect either. Especially not in comparison with Poly teammate Milton Bradley, who everyone knew was a future big-league All-Star.
"I could see that Milton was a sure major league ballplayer," Munger says. "I didn't really see the same in Chase."
Even his father, Dave, was fooled.
"He was always a good player. But nothing that would have suggested that he was going to be the guy that would go to the show," the elder Utley says. "Chase wasn't a kid who was on the USA baseball teams, under 16 and under 18 teams and stuff like that."
Maybe not.
But he has turned into a man who, at 30, is three wins away from his second consecutive World Series championship. Which is why Utley says he pinches himself every day to make sure none of this is a dream.
"Absolutely," he said after the Philadelphia Phillies' workout Friday in preparation for Game 3 of the World Series tonight. "Growing up playing baseball, obviously your dream is to play in the big leagues. And you don't really realize how far away that is until you get here and see how many good players that you played with, played against throughout your time growing up never had the opportunity to get to this level.
"It's definitely pretty surreal."
Especially when you consider Utley wasn't content proving everyone wrong by simply getting to the big leagues. Because once he got there, he really turned it on, making four All-Star teams in his five full seasons, averaging nearly 30 homers and more than 100 RBIs.
In Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday he hit two home runs off the Yankees' CC Sabathia, becoming the first left-hander to hit two homers off a left-handed pitcher in a Series game since Babe Ruth in 1928.
And no less an authority than Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel, who has spent nearly five decades in the game, calls Utley "one of the best players that I've ever had. He might even be the best."
Not bad for a guy who was cut from the team in his first season at Long Beach Poly and played himself out of a starting infield spot in his first season at UCLA.
"I've seen a lot of players," says Perruccio, who has sent 26 players to the pros and one, Tony Gwynn, to the Hall of Fame. "And yes [Utley] is a surprise. But the work ethic isn't. So in a way you're not surprised."
When he was a youngster, coaches fretted about Utley's size but marveled at his quick hands and dedication.
The adjectives most commonly thrown about were "feisty," "tenacious" and "smart." But not "athletic" or "talented."
In fact he struggled for years to master the game's simplest task: throwing the ball.
Midway through his first year at UCLA he was so bad the Bruins took his glove away and used him exclusively as a designated hitter. All that did was make Utley work harder, and he was already working pretty hard.
"He figured out that if he was going to have a major league career he needed to step up defensively," says his father Dave, a lawyer. "He wasn't the most beautiful thing out there, but he was getting it done. And he continued to improve each year."
So while his bat -- he hit .382 with 22 home runs his junior year at UCLA -- made him a first-round pick in the 2000 draft, his glove has made him the best all-around second baseman in baseball.
The same guy who was so bad he wasn't allowed to play the infield as a college freshman led all major league second basemen in putouts this year.
"He's an exception," Perruccio says. "He didn't have a lot of natural ability. But he did the hard work. He just loved playing the game."
And he hasn't stopped, working hard or loving the game.
"He's the most prepared guy I've seen. He's one of the hardest workers," Manuel says. "Would you call him an overachiever? I would. But when I look at his ability, his eye-hand coordination as a hitter, his balance and the rhythm and the preparation, I think that all comes into play.
"As far as dedication and everything and loving to play the game, he's off the charts."
Utley, then, would seem to have earned the right to thumb his nose at his detractors, at the people who saw the skinny body and the awkward throws but not the gigantic heart or the boundless desire.
Instead, he says he's too busy getting better to worry about what anyone else thinks.
"That was never my attitude," he says. "I have worked hard over the years to improve. I'm still doing that every day. I feel like I motivate myself rather than other people trying to motivate me."
And now he's three wins away from a second consecutive World Series ring, which has his dad pinching himself as well.
"It's otherworldly. We're excited for him. It's fun," Dave Utley says.
But for the elder Utley, that's just the beginning of the dream. Because as a lawyer he's trained to look beyond the obvious to find a deeper truth: Sometimes hard work does pay off.
"When it's all said and done, we're proudest of the fact that he's turned out to be a good guy," he says of his son. "And it hasn't twisted him into somebody that you wouldn't have the same respect for.
"He's modest. He's generous. He seems to be well respected by his peers. And I think that's the biggest sense of pride for us: That he's grown up to be a good guy and accomplished a lot but has the respect of the people that he works with."
"And that he's in baseball because of his approach to the game."
(c) 2009, The Los Angeles Times.
Path of the Pros: Brian McCann
Georgia native raced through hometown team's system.
Brian McCann's hard work and attention to all facets of his game has paid off for the Georgia native, who's become one of the best catchers in the history of the Atlanta Braves.
"He was a very young guy, eager to learn, especially about handling the pitching staff," recalled Randy Ingle, who managed McCann in 2004 at Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach. "I'll never forget him coming in the dugout between innings and talking to [pitching coach] Bruce Del Canton and he would pick Bruce's brain about pitch selection."
McCann started at Duluth High School, where he was named to the 2002 USA Today ALL-USA Baseball Team during his senior year after hitting .460 with 28 RBIs and 12 home runs that season. After totaling 42 bombs over his four years, he was chosen by his favorite team in the second round of the Draft later that summer.
"The day I was drafted by the Braves," McCann told MLB.com, "was one of the happiest days of my life."
The Athens native signed in July and was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He struggled there, hitting .220 with two homers in 29 games, but the Braves thought the left-handed hitter was ready for Class A South Atlantic League to begin the 2003 season.
"When I came to Spring Training, I remember telling (Minor League coordinator) Jim Beauchamp and (director of player development) Dayton Moore, 'I'm an outsider, but this kid's got some talent,'" recalled Rocket Wheeler, who went on to manage McCann in the Rome Braves' inaugural season.
McCann blossomed in Rome alongside teammate and childhood friend Jeff Francoeur, batting .290 with 12 homers and 71 RBIs while leading the R-Braves to a 78-61 regular-season record and the league championship.
"He had a good year that year," Wheeler said. "He knew what he wanted to do at the plate. Usually, you get a young kid coming up like that, they just want to hack. ... As an 18-year-old, he drew a leadoff walk in the game we won for the championship.
"We protected him a little that year, DH'd him a lot. We brought him along because he was a young 'un."
Even with his Major League success, McCann still cherishes his fond memories of that magical campaign.
"The fans in Rome and the city just kind of took us all in. ... We reminisce about that season. Winning a championship in the first season in a new stadium that just opened, it was surreal," he said at an R-Braves banquet in January of this year. "You can't write a better script than that."
Beyond the team's success, the 2003 season was fruitful on a personal level for McCann; he was named a South Atlantic League All-Star and pegged as the Atlanta organization's No. 8 prospect by Baseball America.
"As an 18-year-old, he was accurate with his throws, blocking balls and just working with the pitchers," Wheeler said. "Pitchers loved to throw to him. John Smoltz loved throwing to him because he's so quiet back there."
McCann continued to thrive the following season at Myrtle Beach, where he slugged 16 homers and finished second in the Carolina League with 51 extra-base hits. He moved up to No. 3 on the list of Braves' prospects.
"Brian used the whole field. For a young guy to use the whole field, that's pretty special," Ingle said. "He was a pure hitter. You could tell he was a very special player."
McCann wasted little time adjusting to the Southern League, homering in his first game with Double-A Mississippi. He hit .265 with six homers in 48 games with the M-Braves before being promoted to the Majors to replace injured veteran Eddie Perez.
Expected to stay with Atlanta for only a short time, McCann earned a permanent roster spot by batting .385 in June. Still only 21, he capped his season with two homers in the National League Division Series against the Houston Astros.
Now regarded as one of the Majors' best catchers, McCann is the first Braves backstop to make four All-Star teams since Joe Torre. And he's one of only 10 catchers in big league history to win multiple Silver Slugger Awards.
Minor League career breakdown
2002: McCann played 29 games with the Gulf Coast League Braves after signing with Atlanta on July 11. He hit .220 with two homers and 11 RBIs in his first exposure to professional baseball.
2003: McCann spent the entire season with the Class A Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League. He played in 115 games and rebounded from his poor GCL showing by batting .290 with 12 homers and 71 RBIs. He also earned a spot on the South Atlantic League All-Star team.
2004: McCann continued to raise his profile in his only season with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach. He smacked 16 homers and drove in 66 in 111 games, ranking fourth in the Carolina League with a .494 slugging percentage.
2005: McCann started the year at Double-A Mississippi and played only 48 games before being promoted to the Major Leagues, where he hit .278 with five homers in 59 games. He ended his rookie season by homering twice in the National League Division Series against Houston.
(c) 2009 Minor League Baseball.
Lakewood's Crawford, USA Baseball Mercy Rule Nicaragua
Four home runs and a 10-strikeout, one-hit effort from three U.S. pitchers gave the 14U National Team, featuring Lakewood freshman J.P. Crawford, a 15-0, mercy-rule victory over Nicaragua at the Pan Am Championships at La California Stadium. Crawford was 2-3, with two runs.
Team USA got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Crawford led off with a ground-rule double to left-center, stole third and advanced home after the catcher's throw sailed into left field for a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Mondou singled through the right side and Ivey followed by hitting the first U.S. home run; an opposite field shot to right-center to put them up 3-0.
A nine-run, nine-hit barrage in the second inning put the game away put the for the U.S, as three home runs in the frame put the game out of reach. Two, three-run shots by Miller and Ziegler, and a two-run homer by Kuet did most of the damage. Starting pitcher Alex Martinez also added an RBI single in the frame to give the 14U squad a 12-0 lead.
Two runs in the third and a run in the fourth gave the Stars and Stripes the victory after 3 1/2 innings. In the third, Jordan Kron reached on an error, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Jake Jarvis doubled and advanced on a walk and an error before scoring on another Nicaragua wild pitch to make it a 14-0 lead.
The U.S. wrapped up the victory with an RBI fielder's choice in the fourth. After the first three batters of the inning reached, Mondou grounded a ball to second that scored Ryan Kirby for the winning run.
Martinez earned the win for the United States, throwing two innings and striking out all seven batters he faced. Pedro Mendoza took the loss for Nicaragua, allowing nine earned runs in one-plus innings.
(c) LBPOSTSPORTS.
Kron earns win at 14-and-under Team USA Trials
Jordan Kron calls the final round of cuts for the USA Baseball 14-and-under baseball team ''nerve-wracking.''
He also says it's a ''vacation.''
The nerve-wracking vacation resumes today in the third of three intrasquad scrimmages on the campus of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Kron, an East Union High freshman, is one of just 24 remaining following a nationwide search for the country's best ballplayers in the age division, and the final cut for the 18-man roster will be announced after a workout Wednesday morning.
The 24 players have been split up into two squads -- Team Red and Team Blue -- that began the final selection process, which consists of both practices and games, Sunday.
''It's kind of nerve-wracking around here,'' Kron said via phone from his room at the Don Shula Hotel in Miami. ''A lot of guys here have bonded real well together, so it's going to be hard to let six guys go.''
Northern California is well represented.
Kron said a close-knit relationship has been forged amongst the Northern Californians, a group that includes Zack Aukes (Woodland), Charles Byers (Salinas), Dempsey Grover (Modesto), Ryan Kirby (Livermore), Stephen Nogosek (Roseville) and Alex Martinez (Union City).
The all-expenses-paid trip has been a blast, but Kron said that every move made is being taken under consideration by the coaching staff.
Everybody is working under intense pressure, but the friendships help the players relax.
''We take six or seven vans to the field, and all the Northern California guys sit in one van just laugh it up and have fun,'' Kron said. ''We get along great. It's good to have that because things get crazy and stressful when we get there.''
Kron left his mark for the Red Team Sunday and Monday.
The Red Team won the opener, 8-4. Kron, playing at left field, was 0-for-2 but walked once, stole two bases and scored a run on a sacrifice fly.
Kron was the winning pitcher in Monday's 8-3 victory, throwing two scoreless innings (fourth and fifth) and giving up just one hit in relief while rapping one knock in three at-bats.
''I was a little disappointed in myself, I felt like I could have done a lot better,'' Kron said. ''I did OK, but it was not what I expected. I wasn't truly satisfied. I just want a second chance, which I will get (today).
Kron tried out for USA Baseball's 14-and-under squad last year as a 13-year-old and made it to the third stage of the National Team Identification Series at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton.
Kron advanced to the final state in his second shot at it Sept. 18-20 in Cary, N.C. His impressive showing there got him to this point.
After the roster is finalized Wednesday, USA Baseball will compete in the 2009 COPABE Pan Am ''A'' Championships in Portoviejo, Ecuador from Oct. 17-24.
''I'd be a little disappointed if I didn't make it,'' Kron said. ''I've gone through so much so far, and to come up short, I would hate to let people down. I know I can do it, but I also realize that to be considered in the top 24 is a great accomplishment.''
(c) 2008 The Manteca Bulletin, GA. All rights reserved.
Team USA Wins 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup, Beats Cuba 10-5
NETTUNO, Italy -- Lucas May hit a three-run home run in the second inning and Team USA (14-1) plated six runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Cuba 10-5, and win the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy. The U.S. reeled off 14 consecutive victories after dropping its opener in Regensburg, Germany and has now won the Baseball World Cup four times (1973, 1974, 2007, 2009).
May got things started in the top of the second inning for Team USA. With runners on the corners following a fielding error, May lifted the first pitch he saw off Cuban starter Norge Vera over the centerfield fence for his third home run of the World Cup, putting the U.S. on top 3-0.
With the game tied in the top of the seventh inning, Team USA broke the game wide open, taking advantage of a costly Cuba error and hitting five consecutive two-out RBI singles to take a 10-4 lead. Justin Smoak, Jon Weber, Terry Tiffee, Josh Kroeger and May all plated runs with RBI singles.
USA starter Cory Luebke pitched 4 1/3 innings for the Red, White and Blue, striking out seven Cuba batters and allowing two runs. Brad Lincoln (3-0) followed with 4 1/3 innings of his own, allowing three runs and striking out two batters for his third win of the World Cup.
Nate Field came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth and closed the game for the U.S. forcing a fly out to left field to finish the game and successfully defend its 2007 Baseball World Cup Championship.
May finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBI and Tug Hulett added a home run in the fifth inning.
Terry Tiffee (DH), Jon Weber (OF) and Justin Smoak (1B) were all named to the All-Tournament Team and Smoak was also named the MVP of the tournament, finishing with nine home runs and 22 RBI. Todd Redmond received a pitching award for best tournament winning percentage.
The 2009 USA Baseball World Cup Team set five new USA records including at-bats (525), hits (157), home runs (38), innings pitched (133.0), and most-strikeouts by a pitching staff (127). The U.S. outscored its opponents 118-42 in the tournament. The box score and play by play from today's game accompanies this press release.
Game Notes:
* Team USA has appeared in 13 Baseball World Cup gold medal games. The U.S. has won the Baseball World Cup four times in 1973, 1974 and 2007.
* Terry Tiffee (DH), Jon Weber (OF), and Justin Smoak (1B) were all named to the 2009 IBAF World Cup All-Tournament Team
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
U.S. blanks Puerto Rico 3-0 in World Cup
ROME -- Todd Redmond threw 8 1-3 shutout innings and Buck Coats went 3 for 3 with an RBI to lead the United States to a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico at the baseball World Cup on Wednesday.
Jason Childers picked up the save before only 130 fans at Stadio Cerreti in Florence.
The Americans improved to 5-0 in Round 3 due to head-to-head results with other Pool G qualifying teams still alive in the final round.
In other action, Cuba blanked Taiwan 8-0, Canada beat Venezuela 9-2 and Australia edged the Netherlands 5-2.
(c) 2009 by The Associated Press.
Redmond pitches Team USA into gold medal game
FLORENCE, Italy -- Behind three home runs and 8 1/3 shutout innings from starter Todd Redmond, Team USA (11-1; 5-0) secured a berth in the 2009 Baseball World Cup championship game by defeating Puerto Rico (8-4; 2-3) by a 3-0 score at Stadio Cerreti in Florence, Italy. It will be the 12th appearance in a Baseball World Cup final for the U.S., which will aim for its fourth such title, along with 1973, 1974 and 2007.
Ike Davis got things started for the U.S. with his solo homer to right field in the second inning. Buck Coats added his home run to right in the fifth and Jon Weber capped the U.S. offensive with a shot to deep center field in the top of the eighth inning.
USA starter Redmond (3-0) was brilliant, allowing four hits and striking out four batters for his third win of the World Cup. Jason Childers came on with one out in the ninth inning and finished the game for the U.S., striking out one for his first save of the tournament. (The play-by-play report of today's game appears in the text below following this press release.)
The U.S. will face Cuba next in Round Three of IBAF Baseball World Cup action, Thursday, September 24 at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) and will be televised live on MLB Network.
Team USA will then close out Round Three against the Netherlands on Friday, September 25. After an off day, the Americans will attempt to defend its 2007 IBAF Baseball World Cup Championship on Sunday, Sept. 27 in Nettuno, Italy at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET). The gold medal game will also be televised live on MLB Network.
Game Notes:
* The box score and play-by-play report of today's game are attached, as are Team USA's cumulative statistics throughout World Cup action.
* After losing the opener to Venezuela in Regensburg, Germany Team USA has now won eleven consecutive games at the 2009 Baseball World Cup.
* Trevor Plouffe's hitting streak ended at 10 games on Wednesday, spanning his 10 Baseball World Cup games dating back to September 11.
* USA Baseball Professional Teams hold an 8-1 all-time record over Puerto Rico in international competition.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
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