After a busy spring juggling veterans and rookies, lefties and righties, strengths and weaknesses and clubhouse chemistry, Alaska West has locked in its 12-man guide roster for the upcoming summer season.
“We’re feeling really good about our lineup for the year,” said General Manager Mike Sanders. “This team is fired up and ready to go. We’ve had a rock-solid core group of players the last few years, and for 2010 we were able to add some really talented veteran free agents.”
Fan favorites Ed Ward, Matt Hynes, Garrett Sullivan, Trevor Covich, Justin Jackson, Mike McLean and Jim Palmersheim will be taking the field again this summer, bringing back decades of experience in the big leagues. The team has always placed a premium on continuity, and this year is no exception.
“It’s not every year that you can go out there and pick up a pair like Whitney Gould and Brian Stiskal,” commented Manager Rick Sisler. “When your free agent haul includes those two plus an Andrew Grillos, a Kevin Price, and this new kid Tommy Randall, man…we really feel like the sky’s the limit for us this year.”
“Our guys have really worked hard in the off-season,” added Sanders. “Hynes has kept his weight down, Jackson’s looking really strong, and T [Covich] has done a ton of work this winter with our Chilean affiliate. T’s got a new situational cast he’s been working on – a river-right, downstream-wind Perry Poke – that’s just a great addition to the nasty stuff he’s been throwing the past couple of years.”
The team’s scouts and management are in the “short strokes” of locking down some utility players for the season. “Chris Price is going to have a solid bunch of talent to work with again this year,” said Sanders. “We’ve got veterans like Robert Schultess and all-around players like Ben Beatty locked in – a few more role players and we’ll be squared away.”
Opening day is June 11. For tickets, contact the box office.
Great photograph…is that a Daisy Red Rider she is holding?
my money’s on trev to stick a chrome king by june 9th!!!