Miracle stocked with pitching

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV
Cape Coral Daily Breeze

Miracle manaager Kevin Boles (right) sneaks a peak at the camera as he addresses the media during the team’s preseason press conference Wednesday. From left at the table are infielders Whit Robbins and Eric Lis, and catcher Javier Sanchez, who missed all of last season with an injury.

When the Minnesota Twins stopped by for their month of spring training in Fort Myers, 41 of the 60 players in camp already had called Southwest Florida home at some point in their career.

The 2007 Fort Myers Miracle, the top Single-A affiliate of the Twins, have a team full of young players with big dreams that they one day could be playing under the lights in the Metrodome.

“We want to develop winning ball players,” said Miracle manager Kevin Boles, who begins his second season in the Hammond Stadium dugout. “As many players to the big league as possible.”

The team compiled an 80-60 record last season, in which they tied for first place in the opening half of the season of the Western Division, and won the regular season crown for the second half. They lost a tough three-game series in the first round of the playoffs to the Dunedin Blue Jays.

“For my money, that playoff series was one of the best series I’ve ever seen,” general manager Steve Gliner said of the three games each decided by one run.

In addition to Boles, the team returns pitching coach Eric Rasmussen, hitting coach Jim Dwyer and trainer Larry Bennese.

With player rosters just finalized Tuesday, the Miracle take the field for their first game of the season on the road Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Sarasota Reds. The first home game is Friday at 7:05 also against the Reds at Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress.

Boles said pitching and player versatility is what will keep the Miracle at the top of the Florida League standings this season.

“I’m very excited about the group,” Boles said. “We have lots of fresh faces and lots of good chemistry in the clubhouse. We will play hard every night and give a full effort for all the fans that come out and support us.”

Several pitchers to watch include left-hander Alexander Smit, who posted a 2.99 ERA with seven wins and two losses in 34 games last year, and right-hander Yohan Pino with a 1.91 ERA at 14-2 and three saves last year both for the organization’s affiliate team in Beloit, Wisc.

Pino was named to the 2006 Mid-west League All-Star team and a post-season Low-A All-Star by Baseball America.

“Our pitching staff is going to put up some great numbers this year,” Gliner said.

In addition, the Twins’ 25th overall pick in the 2004 draft right-hander Oswaldo Sosa will start the home opener. He brings a 4-1 record and 2.08 ERA from last year as one of the Miracle’s regular starters.

The team will get a boost behind the plate with the return of Javier Sanchez after Tommy-John surgery knocked him out for most of last season.

“I’m just trying to take it day-by-day, get my elbow healthy,” said Sanchez, who was able to catch for five innings during a spring training game. “The plan is to be in there every day, helping the team however I can.”

Sanchez originally is from the Miami area and said it will be exciting to play in front of his friends and family again, something he hasn’t done since high school.

Stepping up to the plate is power-hitting first baseman Erik Lis, who belted 16 home runs and 70 RBI for Beloit last season. He also led the entire Twins’ organization in batting with a solid (.326) average.

“I’m just trying to stay consistent and stay healthy,” said Lis who hopes to be able to move up the ladder to the Double-A level sometime this season. “I need to stay short on my swings, get good looks and good backspin on the ball.”

Lis said he hung around the Twins’ big-leaguers when they were down for spring training and got some good advice from former Miracle infielder Justin Morneau about how to approach the plate and what to look for from left-handed pitchers.

The team also is looking for improvement from starting third baseman Whit Robbins, who batted a crisp .302 with 34 hits and 26 RBI in only 32 games.

“I just need to be more patient at the plate and try to get a pitch I can hit pretty hard,” said Robbins, who described himself as a guy who looks to get on base and move the runners.

Robbins, who is in his first full year with the organization, led all current roster players with a .421 on-base percentage last season.

Although Boles would rather see players promoted to the big leagues than a league championship for the Miracle, he said in the long-run the players are better off with some postseason experience.

“If we can get the team to the playoffs, it will help with their development,” Boles said. “They won’t be shocked by the speed and the level of the game.”

In addition to the positive results expected on the field, the Miracle staff is hoping to attract fans to the ball park with wacky off-the-field stunts, antics and giveaways.

From midget wrestling, to Mike Tyson appreciation night, the ball park entertainment is there to excite both young and old.

Ticket coupons are available at any local Publix store for Friday’s home opener, and single-game tickets can be purchased at the Hammond Stadium box office.

The manager encourages Cape residents to make a trip across the bridge for the spring and summer games.

“I love Cape Coral,” Boles said. “We have a few players that stay out there and they just really enjoy it. Fans should come out and see us because they have a chance to watch some future Major Leaguers.”