AUBURN - In 2005, the Auburn Doubledays were defined by the long ball. In 2006, they used the small-ball approach to get things done.
This year, it's more of a mixture.
“I think we'll be somewhere in between the two,” manager Dennis Holmberg said. “We're not a small-ball club. We're not a big time power team. We're right in between.”
And that balance may prove to be the key. As will their experience.
Nine Doubledays will make their return to Auburn, including the entire starting outfield and five pitchers. That translates to nine players who know what it takes to win a Pinckney Division crown.
Pitchers
Drafted 38th overall in the supplemental first round of this year's draft, Brett Cecil is a fireballer who piled up a school record 23 saves in his two seasons at the University of Maryland.
The southpaw with the devastating slider may be new to professional baseball, but he's already been tutored by a 2006 Doubleday.
“My buddy Seth Overbey came here last year and he's already up in Double-A right now,” Cecil said. “I kind of have him as a mentor and he kind of lets me know what's coming, what to expect. So that's a big plus. I got a head start on some of the guys, from having Seth here, so that's good.”
Like most of the pitchers, Cecil will be on a regimented pitch count in his first few appearances. The former closer won't be bothered by the brief outings. Instead, he's more focused on tweaking all facets of his pitching regimen.
“I want to stay consistent with my velocity and pitch locations,” he said. “I've got to work on the break on my breaking balls and the speed differential from fastball to change. Those are a couple of my big goals.”
Left-hander Brad Mills was selected in the fourth round this year out of the University of Arizona where he was 9-4 with a 4.41 ERA. Mills was drafted in the 22nd round last year but did not sign.
Lefty Cody Crowell was taken in the 14th round out of Vanderbilt where he was 4-1 with a 4.05 ERA.
Returning for the Doubledays in the pitching department are Shane Benson (3-1, 3.47 ERA), Ron Lowe (4-2, 4.21), Wilfreddy Aguirre (3-4, 2.19), John Tritz (2-4, 5.81) and Javier Nieves (1-1, 3.08) who was a catcher for Rookie League Pulaski in 2005.
“Nieves was a great catcher and waded through the waters last year,” Holmberg said. “We took it easy on him, used him in every third or fourth games. Now his expectations are probably raised a little bit. Tritz had a very good extended spring training and Ron Lowe had a remarkable spring training.
Many players are making the jump from Rookie League, including Michael Barbara (2-2, 4.80), Edgar Estanga (0-3, 3.49) Drew Taylor (1-3, 3.95) and Joe Wice (4-1, 3.75).
Lefty Luis Perez pitched for the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in 2006, mounting a 4-0 record with a 1.38 ERA.
Infielders and catchers
Kelly Sweppenhiser is the only returning infielder for the Doubledays. In 2006, the third baseman hit .213 with five RBIs with a .340 on-base percentage. Joining him at the hot corner will be Leance Soto, who spent the last two seasons in Pulaski.
Over at first base, there's Manuel Rodriguez and his six years of experience in the Atlanta Braves organization. Rodriguez was signed as a free agent and played well in spring training.
Paul Franko (.236, 17 RBIs in Pulaski in 2006) will back up Rodriguez at first and will see plenty of time at DH.
In the middle infield, Darin Mastroianni provides something rarely seen in the Blue Jays' minor league system - blazing speed.
“This organization hasn't seen a player like this,” Holmberg said of the 16th-round draft pick. “This organization has always drafted hitting, power and on-base percentage... We haven't seen anyone that is capable of doing what he does with his legs. It's just flat out speed. You've got to get someone like that in your lineup.”
Mastroianni hit .409 and stole 64 bases this past season for the University of Southern Indiana.
Second baseman Brad Emaus was selected in the 11th round out of Tulane University where he had five home runs and 35 RBIs.
At shortstop, Luis Sanchez has a good glove. He played in only 13 games for Pulaski last year and was previously drafted by the Braves.
Wesley Stone spent a week with the Doubledays in 2006 where he went 2-for-13 with two runs scored. He hit .216 with 16 RBIs in Pulaski.
Carlos Vasquez will also see time up the middle. He is a career .276 hitter with the DSL Blue Jays.
Behind the plate, Joel Collins and Chris Haupt will share duties. Collins is a 10th-round selection out of the University of South Alabama where he hit .335 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs. Haupt signed with the Blue Jays this April but was originally drafted by the Marlins in 2005. He played two seasons in the Gulf Coast League.
Outfielders
Patrolling the outfield once again will be Ben Zeskind, Shawn Scobee and Adam Calderone - the 2006 starting outfield. Zeskind had a big year for the Doubledays, hitting .278 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. He was also a New York-Penn League all-star selection.
Scobee hit .212 with four home runs and Calderone led the 2006 Doubledays in triples (six) and stolen bases (seven). He hit .248 with 25 RBIs.
Center fielder Victor Santana played with the DSL Blue Jays from 2003-05. Last year, he hit .254 with five home runs and 24 RBIs in Pulaski.
“Santana has some big time power, especially to right-center field,” Holmberg said.
Also filling out the outfield is Baron Frost, who hit .320 with 31 RBIs in Pulaski last season.
“I think we'll be somewhere in between the two,” manager Dennis Holmberg said. “We're not a small-ball club. We're not a big time power team. We're right in between.”
And that balance may prove to be the key. As will their experience.
Nine Doubledays will make their return to Auburn, including the entire starting outfield and five pitchers. That translates to nine players who know what it takes to win a Pinckney Division crown.
Pitchers
Drafted 38th overall in the supplemental first round of this year's draft, Brett Cecil is a fireballer who piled up a school record 23 saves in his two seasons at the University of Maryland.
The southpaw with the devastating slider may be new to professional baseball, but he's already been tutored by a 2006 Doubleday.
“My buddy Seth Overbey came here last year and he's already up in Double-A right now,” Cecil said. “I kind of have him as a mentor and he kind of lets me know what's coming, what to expect. So that's a big plus. I got a head start on some of the guys, from having Seth here, so that's good.”
Like most of the pitchers, Cecil will be on a regimented pitch count in his first few appearances. The former closer won't be bothered by the brief outings. Instead, he's more focused on tweaking all facets of his pitching regimen.
“I want to stay consistent with my velocity and pitch locations,” he said. “I've got to work on the break on my breaking balls and the speed differential from fastball to change. Those are a couple of my big goals.”
Left-hander Brad Mills was selected in the fourth round this year out of the University of Arizona where he was 9-4 with a 4.41 ERA. Mills was drafted in the 22nd round last year but did not sign.
Lefty Cody Crowell was taken in the 14th round out of Vanderbilt where he was 4-1 with a 4.05 ERA.
Returning for the Doubledays in the pitching department are Shane Benson (3-1, 3.47 ERA), Ron Lowe (4-2, 4.21), Wilfreddy Aguirre (3-4, 2.19), John Tritz (2-4, 5.81) and Javier Nieves (1-1, 3.08) who was a catcher for Rookie League Pulaski in 2005.
“Nieves was a great catcher and waded through the waters last year,” Holmberg said. “We took it easy on him, used him in every third or fourth games. Now his expectations are probably raised a little bit. Tritz had a very good extended spring training and Ron Lowe had a remarkable spring training.
Many players are making the jump from Rookie League, including Michael Barbara (2-2, 4.80), Edgar Estanga (0-3, 3.49) Drew Taylor (1-3, 3.95) and Joe Wice (4-1, 3.75).
Lefty Luis Perez pitched for the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays in 2006, mounting a 4-0 record with a 1.38 ERA.
Infielders and catchers
Kelly Sweppenhiser is the only returning infielder for the Doubledays. In 2006, the third baseman hit .213 with five RBIs with a .340 on-base percentage. Joining him at the hot corner will be Leance Soto, who spent the last two seasons in Pulaski.
Over at first base, there's Manuel Rodriguez and his six years of experience in the Atlanta Braves organization. Rodriguez was signed as a free agent and played well in spring training.
Paul Franko (.236, 17 RBIs in Pulaski in 2006) will back up Rodriguez at first and will see plenty of time at DH.
In the middle infield, Darin Mastroianni provides something rarely seen in the Blue Jays' minor league system - blazing speed.
“This organization hasn't seen a player like this,” Holmberg said of the 16th-round draft pick. “This organization has always drafted hitting, power and on-base percentage... We haven't seen anyone that is capable of doing what he does with his legs. It's just flat out speed. You've got to get someone like that in your lineup.”
Mastroianni hit .409 and stole 64 bases this past season for the University of Southern Indiana.
Second baseman Brad Emaus was selected in the 11th round out of Tulane University where he had five home runs and 35 RBIs.
At shortstop, Luis Sanchez has a good glove. He played in only 13 games for Pulaski last year and was previously drafted by the Braves.
Wesley Stone spent a week with the Doubledays in 2006 where he went 2-for-13 with two runs scored. He hit .216 with 16 RBIs in Pulaski.
Carlos Vasquez will also see time up the middle. He is a career .276 hitter with the DSL Blue Jays.
Behind the plate, Joel Collins and Chris Haupt will share duties. Collins is a 10th-round selection out of the University of South Alabama where he hit .335 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs. Haupt signed with the Blue Jays this April but was originally drafted by the Marlins in 2005. He played two seasons in the Gulf Coast League.
Outfielders
Patrolling the outfield once again will be Ben Zeskind, Shawn Scobee and Adam Calderone - the 2006 starting outfield. Zeskind had a big year for the Doubledays, hitting .278 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. He was also a New York-Penn League all-star selection.
Scobee hit .212 with four home runs and Calderone led the 2006 Doubledays in triples (six) and stolen bases (seven). He hit .248 with 25 RBIs.
Center fielder Victor Santana played with the DSL Blue Jays from 2003-05. Last year, he hit .254 with five home runs and 24 RBIs in Pulaski.
“Santana has some big time power, especially to right-center field,” Holmberg said.
Also filling out the outfield is Baron Frost, who hit .320 with 31 RBIs in Pulaski last season.
The Citizens' Say
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