Rattler Radio

There were a couple of trades yesterday. They involved non-Timber Rattlers Midwest Leaguers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded with Kansas City to pick up Scott Posednik. The Dodgers sent Great Lakes Loons pitcher Elisaul Pimentel and Lucas May.

Pimentel was 9-3 for the Loons this season. Odd. I don't see a release about this trade on the loons website yet. From the link above:

Pimentel, 22, is 9-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 17 games, including 16 starts, at Class A Great Lakes. He was the Midwest League pitcher of the month in June after going 4-0 with an 0.39 ERA. The Royals assigned him to Class A Burlington.

The Midwest League has a Pitcher of the Month Award? Really? Plus, it's nice of the Royals to make a trade to help the Bees down the stretch.

Cleveland and Detroit made a trade, too. Jhonny Peralta joins the Tigers. All they had to give up was Giovanni Soto of the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Soto, 19, started 16 games with low Class A West Michigan this season, posting a 6-6 record and 2.61 ERA. He had 76 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings. He was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round.

I did not see anything about him heading to Lake County. But, that will be interesting, too.

UPDATE: That's because I wasn't looking in the right place.

Giovanni Soto won't soon forget what happened to him Wednesday at Classic Park.

At 4:30 p.m., Soto arrived at the ballpark as a member of the West Michigan Whitecaps. A little more than one month ago, the 19-year-old left-handed pitcher had represented the Whitecaps in the Midwest League All-Star game.

West Michigan was in town to play the opener of a scheduled three-game series against the Captains.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Soto was called into the office of West Michigan manager Joe DePastino.

DePastino told Soto the Whitecaps' parent team, the Detroit Tigers, had just traded him to Cleveland for third baseman Jhonny Peralta and cash.

"I've never seen anything like this," DePastino said of Soto getting traded but not having to leave the premises to join his new team.

In a matter of minutes, Soto was bidding farewell to his former teammates and making the short journey down the hallway that leads to the Lake County clubhouse.

Video at the link.

...I call it a copout...business schools call it a great marketing idea.

We're all right.

The contest held by the West Michigan Whitecaps to select a new food item to be served at Fifth Third Ballpark has come to a conclusion with more than 23,000 votes logged, resulting in what is believed to be the tightest race in food voting history. Consequently, Whitecaps management has called it a virtual tie and will be adding both fan favorites from the voting contest to the menu this summer.

The winning entry is the Cudighi Yooper Sandwich, which received 6,984 votes. In second place was the Declaration of Indigestion, with 6,982 votes. Third place, and the only other item to receive a substantial number of votes, was the Chocolate Covered Bacon, with 6,326 votes. Pigs across West Michigan will be happy to know that the bacon delicacy did not make the cut to be served at Fifth Third Ballpark in 2010.

If you don't know what the Cudighi Yooper Sandwich is, then you probably haven't been to the Upper Peninsula. Cudighi is a spicy sausage found throughout the U.P. The sandwich is a sausage patty smothered in cheese, pizza sauce, peppers and onions. The idea for this sandwich was submitted by Katie Weber of Marquette.

The second place finisher is the "Declaration of Indigestion," a half-pound foot long hot dog covered in a Philly cheese steak (steak, cheese, peppers and onions) and served on a gigantic sub roll. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to disband from the tyranny of healthy eating, they should consume the Declaration of Indigestion, a unique item created by the Whitecaps food and beverage staff.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one baseball team to dissolve the bands of good taste which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the concession stand, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God are overthrown, a decent respect to the opinions of fankind requires that they should declare the menu which impels those fans to the stadium???

or something like that. What do you expect when the headline in the Grand Rapids Press looks like this?

Michelle Obama's obesity initiative versus the Whitecaps' Declaration of Indigestion: Who wins?

Before getting to far into this story one of the questions you are probably asking is..."Declaration of Indigestion?" Which really isn't a question. It's more of three words with a question mark stuck on the end.

The Declaration of Indigestion is: A foot-long hot dog somthered [sic] in Philly cheese steak, cheese, peppers and onions and served on a gigantic sub roll. Click the link for a picture of a man eating the latest convention breaking food item of the Whitecaps.

TO THE COLUMN by Troy Reimink which is filed under the word 'Outrage'. No. Seriously.

The West Michigan Whitecaps are letting fans decide which ridiculously unhealthy new items will join the Fifth Third Burger on their concessions menu for the upcoming season.

In vaguely related news, First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday announced she would lead a nationwide effort to combat childhood obesity in partnership with public health officials and private organizations. One can only assume that list of partners will not include the Whitecaps.

Let's have some fun, shall we? Here's some text from the CNN story on Obama's announcement juxtaposed with descriptions of Fifth Third Ballpark food contenders. See if you can guess which is which.

Why do I have a feeling that Mr. Reimink's idea of fun is different from my idea of fun?

Click through if you want to kill that little smile that you thought about having today.

Apparently, the West Michigan Whitecaps didn't get enough publicity with the Fifth Third Burger last season.

Now, they're asking for food ideas from fans.

The West Michigan Whitecaps have always been known for serving some unique food items at their concessions stands (Deep Fried Twinkies, anyone?), and now, they're asking the public for help.

The Whitecaps are soliciting original ideas for new food items to be served at Fifth Third Ballpark this season. Starting Wednesday, January 20, fans can submit online their ideas and thoughts regarding what new food items they would like to see served at Fifth Third Ballpark this summer.

Here are some of the items they have served in the past:

Deep-Fried Twinkies, Caesar Salads, Deep-Fried Pepsi, Apple Cider Floats and the Fifth Third Burger, which garnered international attention with its debut last season and will remain on the menu in 2010.

The first two times I read that list I added the phrase Deep-Fried before Caesar Salads....Hmmmmm...I think I have my submission for the Whitecaps.

I just need to work out the details of the Deep-Fried Caesar Salad.

I am speaking to you, West Michigan Whitecaps. You and your new redesign on your website.

This was a little surprising.

Whitecaps hitting coach Benny Distefano leaves for job with Mets

Benny Distefano, who has been the Whitecaps' hitting coach the past three seasons, has accepted a coaching position in the New York Mets' minor league system.

...

In 2008, West Michigan was fifth in the league with a team batting average of .257, and this past season compiled the highest team batting average (.274) in the team's 16-year history.

"We were very pleased with Distefano's coaching techniques and teaching methods," said Dan Lunetta said, the Tigers' director of minor league operations. "We wish him well."

Sounds like their manager will be back in '10

There's a good chance West Michigan Whitecaps fans have seen the last of pitcher Casey Crosby, shortstop Gustavo Nunez, first baseman/designated hitter Billy Nowlin and first baseman/third baseman Ronnie Bourquin.

Those four players were the cream of the crop for the Whitecaps in 2009 and deserve to be considered for promotion in 2010.

A solid spring training also might put second baseman Brandon Douglas, third baseman Bryan Pounds and pitchers Luke Putkonen, Anthony Shawler, Tyler Stohr and Adam Wilk up for promotion.

But fans can expect manager Joe DePastino to be back for a third season.

Despite being eliminated in the first round of the Midwest League playoffs last week by the Great Lakes Loons, it was another successful season for West Michigan, which finished the regular season 81-59, second-best in the 14-team league.
...
As for who will manage the team, official word from the parent team Detroit Tigers won't come until late November at the earliest.

DePastino, who won 11 more games during the regular season this season than in 2008, said he wants to be at this level and has been a great fit.

"To me, there's no better place to play or manage than here," said DePastino, who turned 36 this month. "The atmosphere is great, the fans and facility are great and I have been blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to come here as a first-year manager.

"It's awesome here, and I love being at this level. I'm big on developing, and I take more pride in watching these guys move up."

There was also a note in there that the Whitecaps have made the playoffs in 14 of their 16 seasons. No wonder they are the five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time MWL Champions.

I wonder if it will be awesome there after this:
Ferris State-Michigan Tech “Battle at the Ballpark” football game up next at Fifth Third Ballpark

Now that baseball season is finished at Fifth Third Ballpark, the home of the Whitecaps is gearing up to host several football games. First on the ballpark’s fall schedule is the “Battle at the Ballpark,” a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup between the Ferris State Bulldogs and the Michigan Tech Huskies on Saturday, October 3 at 7 p.m.

Ferris State, located in Big Rapids, will be the home team for the contest. The Bulldogs are currently 1-2 on the season going into this Saturday’s matchup against top-ranked Grand Valley State University. Michigan Tech, located in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula, is 0-2 after a second-half rally fell short last weekend at Ashland.

Plus, two high school games in October!

Man vs. Food's Adam Richman was in West Michigan last night. What do you think he was there to do?

Considering Adam Richman, host of the Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" show, didn't sit down in Fifth Third Ballpark's competition area Wednesday night until the middle of the eighth inning to dig into the Fifth Third Burger, eating the 4-pound sandwich in a record 17 minutes or faster seemed out of the question.

And consuming the nearly 4,800 calories and 300 grams of fat before the end of the West Michigan Whitecaps game -- the only way to officially join the club of those who completed the feat and received a Fifth Third Burger shirt -- didn't seem likely, either.

But Richman, known for his ability to eat large quantities of foods across the U.S., completed the task in a made-for-television-performance of 27 minutes, waving and talking to the crowd that had crammed into every possible spot along the third-base concourse to get a glimpse.

The crowd cheered before Richman sat down, shouted such things as "Eat that meat" and "Man up" while he ate and let out a huge roar when Richman, who emphasized it wasn't man vs. time but man vs. food, took his last bit.

Is that supposed to be his last bite?...asked the guy who made so many mistakes on yesterday's Game Notes post it was heartbreakingly funny...

This may be giving away the ending, but it's worth it:

He celebrated by circling the crowd, slapping high-fives and kissing three spectators.

I hope this video shows up on this post...

'Man v. Food' takes on Fifth Third Burger

It did! I don't know why there is all of that space, but it's there.

Fun fact from the article: It's the Travel Channel's policy to not speak with the media.

One of the opposing players to have made an impression this season has been Gustavo Nunez of the West Michigan Whitecaps. That makes this story, um, interesting.

The Detroit Tigers have suspended West Michigan Whitecaps starting shortstop Gustavo Nunez indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the organization."

The Whitecaps' leadoff hitter this season, Nunez is fifth in the Midwest League in hitting at .328 and is third in steals with 37.

They will re-evaluate at the end of the week.

'Man vs. Food' host Adam Richman will attend Whitecaps game to tackle Fifth Third Burger

The West Michigan Whitecaps' Fifth Third Burger, which has drawn worldwide attention, will be featured on the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food."

The show's host, Adam Richman, will attend the Whitecaps' July 15 game at Fifth Third Ballpark against the Peoria Chiefs to shoot an episode of eating the Fifth Third Burger that will be aired at a later date.

Mickey Graham, the Whitecaps' director of marketing and media relations, said he thinks Richman might try to break the record of eating a Fifth Third Burger, which is 17 minutes.

Read on at the link and see video of Mr. Richman in action.

This reminds me. Travel Channel needs to bring Three Sheets back to the airwaves.

Giant Fifth Third Burger served up at Whitecaps opener; 17 manage to eat the whole thing

"It's intriguing," said Jim Saunders, 52, of Plainfield Township, as he snapped a cell phone picture Thursday of some guy he doesn't know devouring the 4,889-calorie colossus during the West Michigan Whitecaps home opener.

That guy, 44-year-old Bob Kinney, of Grand Rapids managed to polish off every last gooey gob of the mammoth sandwich to earn a T-shirt with nutritional information on the back.

Dozens of curious onlookers crowded around two burger challenge picnic tables at Fifth Third Ballpark to watch...

Challenge Picnic Tables? I think that idea is even better than the Burger itself.

Video at the link.

The Whitecaps have been on fire lately. Ben Hill reports on their latest:

If you just thought to yourself, "Wow, that's a 40-foot plunger located in left-center field of West Michigan's Fifth Third Park!", then I congratulate your remarkable ability to estimate an object's height, location, and purpose.

The picture at the post is much better.

Darren Rovell received the ingredients for the Fifth Third Burger from the Whitecaps. Then, he assembled it. Then, he ate it in front of Jim Cramer and I believe Erin Burnett. Then, he gave a review, in which he LIES! LIES! LIES!



He did not eat the Fifth Third Burger! He tasted it! Big difference. That makes me technically correct. And if Futurama taught me anything, technically correct is the best kind of correct.

Sorry about all the whitespace above the video. It came with the embed code....That's what see said!

Previously, there had been only photographs and descriptions. But, now...courtesy of The Grand Rapids Press...video evidence of a Fifth Third Burger and how it is built.

I'm hungry.


13 dies insquequo Oris Dies!

The Fifth Third Burger is getting the Whitecaps some publicity. And Ben Hill is there to stoke the fires!

Over the past 36 hours, the West Michigan Whitecaps' Fifth Third Burger has morphed from a local curiosity into a nationwide phenomenon. It just goes to show -- no country appreciates a giant sandwich as much as America.

Yes. I am proud to be an American! And I mean that in an non-ironic way.

Now, as a conscientious journalist, I hate to inject myself into the story. But it must be done in this case, because what happened next is this: On March 11, after being alerted to the Fifth Third burger's existence, I contacted the Whitecaps and asked for photographic evidence. Promotions coordinator Brian Oropallo sent along a picture, which I featured in Ben's Biz Blog.

That would have been it, except that CNBC sports business reporter (and fellow blogger) Darren Rovell noticed the post and decided to take things a step further. He obtained nutritional information about the burger and went on to brazenly declare it the "Minor League Concession Item of the Year."

This was the start of a truly remarkable chain reaction, as the burger has now been featured throughout the national media. Due to the efforts of media behemoths such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press (as well as innumerable blogs, message boards and radio stations) the Fifth Third Burger turned into an overnight sensation. The Whitecaps are happy to be the recipients of so much attention, but it certainly wasn't anything they ever expected.

Ahem!

ESPN? Really? I don't believe that. Show me.

Anyway...The the most important question I have has been answered!

[T]he Whitecaps will award a commemorative t-shirt to any fan that is able to do so. The front of the shirt features a huge photo of the Fifth Third Burger, while the back proudly lists its nutritional information.

That is going to look so sweet in my T-Shirt closet.

After this post made fun of the Whitecaps, here is one to pat them on the back for a good idea.

The West Michigan Whitecaps are giving fans an entire day of baseball action. The Whitecaps will host a watch party for the Detroit Tigers’ home opener on Friday, April 10 before West Michigan takes on the South Bend Silver Hawks at 6:35 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to come to the Pepsi Stadium Club and watch the Tigers take on the Texas Rangers as another season of baseball at Comerica Park begins. Admission to the party is free and doors open at 12:00 p.m. with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Happy hour is from 12:00 p.m.-1:05 p.m. with $1 domestic drafts. An all-you-can-eat buffet will be available for $10 from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Partygoers can purchase $9.50 reserved seats for the Whitecaps game. The Tigers & Whitecaps Special can also be purchased for $17, it includes access to the buffet and a reserved seat for Friday night’s game for a savings of $2.50.

Hmmm...Brewer home opener on April 10....Second Timber Rattler home game of the season on April 10. Let me get back to you.

Um Whitecaps? The Chicago Cubs would like a word with you.

Whitecaps fans will have a new reason to stay in their seats during the 7th inning stretch this season. West Michigan Whitecaps announced today that local celebrities and other prominent personalities will sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” once every home stand during the 2009 season.

“We are always looking for new ways to entertain the fans,” said Whitecaps Director of Marketing and Media Relations Mickey Graham. “The 7th inning stretch is as much a part of baseball as bats and gloves so we thought this would be a fun way to honor that.”

If you are interested in participating in the 7th inning stretch this season, please contact the Whitecaps Media Relations Department at 616-726-7052.

But, shouldn't the Whitecaps be in touch with these local "celebrities" first? My feeling is this: If you have to call in to ask to sing the seventh inning stretch at a Whitecaps game, you aren't a celebrity. You just think that you are.

Back when I first blogged about this, it was just a dream. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish... it was so fragile*.

But, thanks to Ben Hill of Ben's Biz Blog pointing out this news item from the West Michigan Whitecaps, I now have a goal.


Look out Fifth Third Burger. You and me are gonna dance.

*Not a real Marcus Aurelius Quote. That's from Gladiator. Here are a couple of quotes from the Roman Emperor/Philosopher that are a bit more appropriate to this situation:

A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions.

A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.

I guess this means my worth is 5/3 pounds of grilled hamburger topped with lettuce, tomato, nacho cheese, chili, salsa and crunched tortilla chips. AND, I might add, an 8" sesame seed bun. BUT, there is no pickle and no spam as originally intended. I guess that's okay.

Not sure if this makes me noble or mean. I'll let you know during the Timber Rattler visit to West Michigan May 29-31.

28 dies insquequo Oris Dies!

No. Seriously. It wasn't before?

The only thing that will be lighting up inside Fifth Third Ballpark this season will be the scoreboard.

That's because the ballpark is now smoke-free.

It's a move the West Michigan Whitecaps organization contemplated the past couple of seasons, but officials decided now was the time.

"We've fielded various complaints about the smoking at the park because people had to walk through the two smoking areas, (the first and third baselines near the lawn seating), but nothing serious," Whitecaps vice president Jim Jarecki said.

"We did it as an accommodation for all our fans."

Well, except for the fans who are smokers.

Smokers attending Whitecaps games must now light up near the gate areas along the first and third baselines, as well as the outfield gate area.

So, it will be just like the bus ramp in High School? At least when I went to high school.

There is this bit there Fort Wayne:

The Fort Wayne TinCaps, who changed their nickname from Wizards, will open a new city-owned ballpark this season. The TinCaps and the city of Fort Wayne, which has smoke-free facilities, are negotiating the park's smoking status and expect to have a decision before the April 9 season opener, a team representative said.

and another bit about Clinton and state law in Iowa and...Boy. Times have changed...

They really have changed...

When listing players on World Baseball Classic rosters, always figure that I missed one. Like, oh, I don't know...Matt Thornton ('98, '99, '00) for Team USA.

The former Grand Valley State standout is ready to play for his country.

"I'm real excited about this opportunity and think this will be a great experience for me," said Thornton, 32, who is his fourth season as a middle reliever with the Chicago White Sox. Last season, Thornton was 5-3 with an ERA of 2.67 and one save.

The 6-foot-5 left-hander spent his first two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.

"There's no break in the major league season for the Summer Olympics, which would allow MLB players to play for their countries, and to me this (the World Baseball Classic) will be baseball's Olympics."

Then, there is this:

Thornton is one of six players in the classic with ties to West Michigan.

Catcher Andrew Graham, who played for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2004 and '05, will is on Australia's roster. Ramon Hernandez, a Whitecaps catcher in 1996, will play for Venezuela and join Detroit Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez, who had a one-game rehab stint with West Michigan last season.

A.) You're thinking: "That's only four." B.) You're thinking the Ordonez connection is a bit of a stretch. C.) You ain't seen nothing yet.

Team USA includes shortstop Derek Jeter, who played at Kalamazoo Central High School, and Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson, who had a three-game rehab stint with the Whitecaps last season.

I think I pulled somthing reading that bit about Jeter.