June 25, 2009 07:57 am
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By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
IT’S NO coincidence the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ early-season success and the bat of Bo Greenwell were working in harmony.
The Scrappers swept a season-opening series against Jamestown, then continued their winning ways during their initial ’09 homestand at Eastwood Field against State College.
Meanwhile, Greenwell garnered at least 2 hits in each of the squad’s first 4 games, highlighted by a 3-for-5, 2-runs scored, 2-RBI plate performance in a 12-2 recent rout of the Jammers. The following afternoon he added another pair of hits (arguably could have had a 3rd, though an infield grounder was ruled an error) including a key base knock in Mahoning Valley’s 9th-inning rally resulting in a 1-0 win in the series finale with Jamestown.
A 4-pitch outburst included leadoff man Lurvin Basabe’s base hit to right, followed by 1st-pitch swinging Greenwell’s grounder in the 1st-2nd hole that sent Basabé to 3rd. On the 1st pitch he saw, Kyle Bellows belted a sac fly for the lone run in Sunday’s matinee.
“That’s my job right there as a No. 2 hitter,” Greenwell gushed. “Fastball — look for something I could handle, something I could drive. ... I don’t usually bunt unless I’m told to. Being a left-handed hitter, and I’ve established the trust with Travis (Fryman, the Scrappers’ 2nd-year skipper). He’d seen me play in spring training, and he knows I can handle those situations, and that’s what I live to play for — that pressure right there, that’s fun, it really is!”
In addition to the lone blowout, 3 of their 1st 4 wins have been 1-run affairs. Consequently, the Scrappers are leading the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division.
“As a team, that’s what you want ... you want to establish that fan-base right away to show that you’re a winner, keep the fans coming back,” Greenwell observed, adding, “On a personal note, that’s how you want to start it. (Four) multi-hit games in a row, that’s fun! That’s what you work hard for.”
Interestingly, Fryman, a 5-time all-star during his productive 13-year MLB career, realizes that in skippering a Short-Season single-A squad he has to be acutely aware of young players’ emotional make-up, particularly self-confidence.
“At this level of play, you don’t always manage to win the game. I hate to say it that way, but player development is important, Fryman said, explaining, “ ... some decisions you make are based on the player-development philosophy of the (Cleveland Indians’) organization.
Following Sunday’s win, a grinning Fryman said, “In the end, the good guys won,” though he later cautioned, “Jumping out early’s nice (such as Saturday night’s win), but to get a look at how your club responds in a close ballgame is important, too. ... It was a good look at our ballclub, what we’re capable of doing, and it’s nice to see our club in that light, because it helps me as we go forward.”
Eschewing a sacrifice bunt in the 9th on Sunday with Greenwell, according to Fryman, was “more of a decision based on the fact Bo’s been swinging the bat well, left-handed batter, with Basabé on first base, we had a bigger hole there. ... He’s swinging the bat well, and he earned the right. I’m a big believer in what’s a player doing lately? You see a body-of-work, too,” Fryman continued, “but I also know how hitting, is an ebb-and-flow. The guys’ swinging the bat well and his confidence level is high, some of those situations you give him a chance to do something exciting.”
Obviously, the cast of characters from last season’s Scrappers has changed, but perhaps recalling the 31-44 ledger of ’08, Fryman said,
“I learned last season not to make too many judgments too soon with players. So maybe we’ll just wait and see how the summer goes; but, certainly, they’ve all gotten off to a good start.”
It’s been a lot of fun thus far, and if seeing the Scrappers is something you’re considering, they’re worth a look.
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Photos
Bo Greenwell
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