Chatting with a Cy Young
Minor league baseball is a great way to learn about great players from years and decades past. One of the many former players in the Kansas City organization is Mark Davis, who is in Burlington for the weekend. He is the replacement pitching coach for Bobby St. Pierre, who is away this weekend for a wedding.
Davis pitched in the big leagues from 1980 to 1997, winning the Cy Young in 1989 with the San Diego Padres. During that season, the southpaw went 4–3 with a 1.85 ERA and 44 saves. He pitched in Kansas City from 1990 to 1992.
When I went up to him yesterday to ask about an interview today, he joked and said, “Ok. What kind of questions should I ask you?”
Today, after the interview, I asked for his questions for me. Little did I know he would delve into baseball trivia questions. He asked about my current university (Ohio University) and its famous players. Fortunately, I have known for quite some time about the times of such major leaguers as Mike Schmidt and Steve Swisher.
As I’ve been learning all summer long, baseball men are good men. And Davis is no different. With that, here’s another installment of the Bullets.
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BURLINGTON BULLETS:
- How different are players now versus Davis’ time in the big leagues? “Talent is talent,” Davis said. “It’s all relative to the era you play in. It’s just that each era has maybe a different way of playing the game.”
- Davis also marvels at the progression of the media and how minor league players have to cope with that. “People are aware of players in the minor leagues now because of the media access,” Davis said. “People know exactly what you are, where you are from, what you like to do. The spotlight on the players is quite a bit earlier than when I played.”
- The Royals made an important switch yesterday after the game, shipping shortstop Alex McClure to the Burlington Bees, Kansas City’s low-A affiliate in the Midwest League. McClure finishes his time in the Appalachian League with a .236 batting average and 15 RBIs. “He gives everything he has in this level,” skipper Nelson Liriano said. “The organization saw that every day. He played outstanding defense, good baserunning, and he hit the ball to the whole field.”
- Liriano certainly can be deemed an expert about shortstops, and he thinks McClure has that “It” factor. “He has all the ability to be a major league shortstop,” Liriano said. “He’s quick, he’s accurate, he has a good direction and he reads the ball really well.”
- So, the starting shortstop spot is now turned over to Adrian Martinez. Martinez has been primarily Burlington’s utility man, getting time at second, short and third. But now, it is Martinez spot at short and in the two-hole in the lineup. In 27 games, Martinez is hitting .193 with six RBIs. “He just needs an opportunity to play every day,” Liriano said.
- “I was willing to do it,” Martinez said through a translator about his role as a utility man. “Last year, I was the shortstop, just the shortstop. But I’m ready. I’m always ready.”
- Burlington has added a new utility man. Michael Liberto, Kansas City’s 21st rounder in June, joined the club today. He attended Missouri and has taken McClure’s old number: 2.
- Josh Worrell is also heading with McClure to the other Burlington. Worrell had been with the club for the Bristol series and the twin bill yesterday after a short stint with Wilmington. He did not pitch in his second and much shorter stint in the Appy League after three scoreless frames with the Blue Rocks. This move, though, appears to be more permanent for the righty.
- How about Brian Fletcher making an immediate impact last night in his debut, clearing the second layer of ads in right center (which is the opposite way for the right-handed slugger). Not only was it Fletcher’s first professional tater, but it was the Royals’ first since July 22. That was a 12-game homerless streak for Burlington.
- Yesterday featured four double dips in the league, and all four resulted in splits. The only sweep chance in the league for this three-game span comes in Kingsport, as the Mets won the only Appy League game played Thursday 12–4 over Danville and topped the Braves again yesterday in a wacky 9–8, 13-inning tilt.
- Stay tuned to the blog tomorrow. Not only will we have the daily Bullets for you, but I will also delve into the Wilmington roster to see how former Royals are doing in the Carolina League.
Our pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 with a first pitch at 7, as the Royals search for their first series win since July 19–21 at Princeton. Enjoy the broadcast!
- Brian
