As the O's look ahead to what they hope will be a better second half and a possible postseason push, the Missoulian is taking a look back. To commemorate the Osprey's 10th summer in Missoula, we're presenting our Osprey all-decade team.
With more than 300 former and current players to choose from, the selection process was long and daunting. Weeding through 9fi years of Osprey names, statistics and bios was a load for one reporter.
Some things taken into consideration for players were their stats, number of games played in Missoula and overall fan appeal. Most importantly, players were judged on their body of work here in the Garden City, not for other teams in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system or any other professional club.
A few of the picks were obvious, others are subject to debate. So, take a second Osprey fans, talk it over with your neighbor, bleacher buddy or a co-worker at the water cooler and see if you remember these guys. Chances are you'll remember at least one player: Mr. Osprey himself, Lyle Overbay.
Overbay came to Missoula in 1999, during the Osprey's first season here, and was an instant fan favorite. He hit .343 and drove in 101 runs in leading the Osprey to their first championship and was named the Pioneer League MVP. Overbay became the first short-season player to tally 100 RBIs in a season and was picked as the Short-Season Player of the Year by Baseball America.
“He was class, from the first day he stepped to the plate,” says Joe Abramavage, a longtime O's fan and national anthem crooner.
With each at-bat, each game, and each rung the fresh-faced first baseman climbed on the minor league ladder to reach the majors, Overbay got more popular in Missoula. It's easy to say he's the town's top Osprey.
“Lyle Overbay would probably be our No. 1,” says Matt Ellis, the O's vice president and general manager, “and for a lot of reasons, not just the fact that he had 101 RBIs in a season, but because of the quality of person he is. Lyle helped put us on the map locally in terms of respect for what we're about. It's easy to say we're professional baseball and we're affiliated with the Diamondbacks, but Lyle's the one who gave us credibility, because of his record season and then being the first player to make the big leagues. He's done a lot for the organization.”
“But that's a tough one,” Ellis adds, “because there's so many guys that we've really liked,”
So ... who's your top Osprey of all time?
“Easy,” says No. 1 Osprey fan Kyle Fortner, “it's Ollie.”
If only it were really that easy. Sorry, no mascots allowed on this team.
The all-decade team is comprised of players from the 1999 through 2008 seasons, and we've selected one first-team player at every position with one honorable mention (listed below) and a few considerations. The only exceptions were the pitchers, where five starters were selected along with one reliever/closer.
It was not easy.
For example: Overbay is the consensus pick at first base for the O's all-decade squad, setting team records for at-bats (306), hits (105) and doubles (25) to go with his 12 homers. But even Overbay was not without competition.
Jesus Cota, who played one bag for the O's in 2001, their most productive season, was a close second at first base. But with his power numbers - Cota's 16 home runs are a club record - he's a natural pick at a different position. Can you say DH? Others getting consideration at 1B included Jeff Stanek (2002) and Will Crouch ('05), whose 20-game hit streak stills tops the team.
Going around the horn, the rest of the all-decade team's infield looks like this:
n Second base is locked down by current major leaguer Scott Hairston, who hit 14 homers in 2001, with special consideration going to Taylor Harbin ('07) and others.
n Shortstop is another easy choice with former first-round draft pick Sergio Santos (2002) getting the nod over a laundry list of players like the steady Matthew Oxendine ('06), highly touted Corey Myers (1999-2000) and O's current gap-minder Reynaldo Navarro ('07-'08).
n Third base goes to Rusty Ryal, whose consistency across the board blew away the rest of the field at the hot corner. Ryal is one of many at his position to bat better than .300 in their season here. Runner-up Mike Lopez ('01), Jeff Brooks ('99), Agustin Murillo ('03) and current 3B Kyle Greene ('08) are others.
A look at the outfield goes like this:
n Left field was not Luis Terrero's true home, but this guy displayed the kind of versatility in his two seasons here ('99 and '00) that made him one of the more dependable outfielders for Missoula. Second place goes to Jeramy Janz ('01), whose 62 RBIs are first all-time for O's outfielders, fourth overall.
n Center field is patrolled by Victor Hall ('99-00), who set club records in walks (77), steals (47) and triples (9) during his second year with Missoula. The speedster even had an inside-the-park home run when the O's played at Lindborg-Cregg Field those two seasons. Honorable mention honors go to 2003 alum Carlos Gonzalez, who is currently making Web Gem grabs for the Oakland A's.
n Right field belongs to Gerardo Parra ('06), whose cannon arm, .328 batting average and 23 stolen bases made him an everyday starter. A step behind Parra are the likes of Dustin Vugteveen ('01) and Travis Gulick ('04).
On to the battery, which provided the most debated picks. Sort of.
Catcher is a no-brainer. Osprey original J.D. Closser ('99) was the most productive man behind the dish this town has yet seen. His rise to the majors was predictable. He played in 76 games for Missoula, which despite playing such a demanding position, still leads the O's all-time. Runner-up Miguel Montero (2002-03) was a fan favorite, though you could argue for Wilkin Castillo ('04) and John Hester ('06) because they had slightly better stats.
As for the pitchers, that's where the real fun begins.
Greg Smith, a southpaw who now starts for the Oakland A's, is a unanimous choice for the starting rotation. Smith was, after all, the only O's hurler ever to win the Pitcher of the Year award. Few have made it to the bigs faster than Smith, who is a starter with Oakland in just his third full season removed from Missoula.
Right-handers Ryan Holsten ('01), Osbek Castillo ('06), Dustin Nippert ('02) and lefty Angel Rocha ('03) round out the all-decade's five-man rotation after a difficult evaluation process. Righty William Juarez ('02) is the lone honorable mention pick with consideration to '01 alums Franklin Medina and Gabriel Mercedes.
To close things out, the all-decade team looks to saves leader Alex Cremidan ('03) and his partner in crime Walt Novosel ('03). Nos. 2 and 3 in saves, Jesus Silva ('01) and Daniel Stange ('06), were considered, as was the fiery Jose Valverde ('00), who ultimately had to be discounted since he pitched just 12 brilliant games here.
Finally, a back slap goes out to the pair of managers who brought home championships, Chip Hale (2000-01) and Hector De La Cruz (2005-06).
“I know I say this a lot and people think I'm just lip-servicing it, but the Diamondbacks have always had really good character guys,” Ellis says. “We've had very little trouble with players, so when we go through this list one of the things that reminds me of most of them is what great people they were. ... The other thing that strikes me is the managers we've had. We've just had good people, you know? Hector and Chip are two of my favorite people of all time. To have them manage for us was pretty special.”
The best of the Birds
First base
Lyle Overbay (1999): “Mr. Osprey” won Pioneer League Player of the Year honors and set a league record with 101 RBIs in Missoula's first summer of play. Overbay's .324 average is third best in O's history. Has spent six years in the majors with Arizona, Milwaukee and Toronto, just four seasons after leaving Missoula.
Second base
Scott Hairston (2001):
He set the standard at second base. His .347 average and 14 home runs are second-best all-time for the O's. Led the league and his team in runs (81), was second in hits (101) and RBIs (65) and was twice named the organization's player of the month. Had a 19-game hit streak. Is now with the Padres.
Shortstop
Sergio Santos (2002): Batted .272 with 37 RBIs and nine homers, which is almost double the next closest Osprey SS. His 29 walks and 19 doubles also top the team at the position. Is the last first-round draft pick to play in Missoula, now at AAA Syracuse in the Blue Jays' organization.
Third base
Rusty Ryal (2005): Ryal showed he was pro material by cracking the Osprey's top five in average (.333) and hits (98). He also drove in 46 runs, hit six homers and made just 10 errors in 72 games. His 11 steals leads all third basemen. Now plays 2B at AA Mobile.
Catcher
J.D. Closser (1999): An every-day guy, Closser led the league in walks (71) and on-base percentage (.458). He racked up 89 hits, 73 runs, 54 RBIs, 10 homers and nine stolen bases in an all-star season here. Like all his other numbers, Closser's .324 average can't be touched by other Osprey catchers. Is currently in the Yankees' organization.
Left field
Luis Terrero (1999-2000): Many fans remember his speed. Terrero could play any outfield position and stole 27 and 23 bases in back-to-back seasons here. Hit better than .260 both years, drove in at least 40 runs and homered eight times each year. After some major league experience, Terrero is at AAA Norfolk, an Orioles' affiliate.
Center field
Victor Hall
(1999-2000): A specimen
of speed, Hall stole a franchise-record 47 bases in '00. Also hit .307 with 70 runs scored and 26 RBIs. Made just three errors at spacious Lindborg-Cregg Field. Spent 2007 with Phillies' Class A Clearwater Threshers.
Right field
Gerardo Parra (2006): Was an all-around stud outfielder. He averaged .328 at the plate, drove in 43 runs, scored 46 times himself, stole 23 bases and once threw a guy out at third base from the warning track at the O's new downtown stadium. Is with AA Mobile.
Designated hitter
Jesus Cota (2001): Named the Pioneer League's Player of the Year - Missoula's second MVP in three years - after winning the triple crown (.368 avg., 16 HR, 71 RBIs) in his only summer here. His batting average and home runs still rank No. 1 in Osprey history and the RBIs are second to Overbay. Now with AAA Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.
Starting five pitchers
1 - Greg Smith (2005): The only Osprey to win Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year, Smith went 8-5 and led the league in innings pitched (82 1/3) and strikeouts (100). The southpaw still holds the team record for Ks. He's 5-9 in his first year with the Oakland A's.
2 - Ryan Holsten (2001): Still holds the team record for wins (9-3) in a season. Holsten walked just 12 batters over 89 innings (that's one every 7 1/3) and had a 2.53 ERA. He once went four straight starts without a walk and got the only win in Missoula's fateful playoff series with Billings in '01, which cut short what many say was the O's best season. He runs an academy for young players in Delaware.
3 - Osbek Castillo (2006): The Cuban-born right-hander is the only Osprey starter to go unbeaten (6-0) in a season. He made just seven starts in 12 games, but was untouchable with a 1.04 ERA. He gave up eight runs in 52 innings. Castillo combined with Hector Ambriz to throw a no-no during the regular season and then a four-hitter to win the '06 title game. He spent 2007 at AA Mobile.
4 - Dustin Nippert (2002): Nippert made quite the impression in just 11 starts and 54 2/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-7 righty started in the bullpen, but switched to a starting role and dominated with a 1.65 ERA, 77 Ks and just nine walks all year. He pitched a seven-inning no-hitter for the Oklahoma RedHawks (Class AAA) earlier this year.
5 - Angel Rocha (2003): This workhorse still holds the Osprey record for innings pitched (92 1/3) and is second in strikeouts (82). He went 5-8 on a mediocre team, meaning he got the decision in all but two of his 15 starts. He was suspended for 100 games in 2006 after a second positive steroids test.
Relievers/Closers
1 - Alex Cremidan (2003): Finished his season with a franchise-record 15 saves and 1.40 ERA. Of those saves, he retired the side in order seven times. Opposing batters hit just .177 against Cremidan, who had 30 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. He held opponents scoreless in 19 of his 24 appearances.
Manager
Chip Hale (2000-2001): Posted a 97-58 record in two seasons, including the best mark ever by an Osprey team, 53-26 (.671), in '01. His team lost out in a Northern Division Series, but Hale moved up and he's now the bench coach in Arizona. Was '01 PBL Manager of the Year.
Honorable mention
Starting pitcher
William Juarez (2002): Has the best ERA (2.43) by an Osprey pitcher with at least 60 innings. He lost his first two starts, was moved to the bullpen, then returned to the starting rotation where he won six of his last nine starts. Juarez walked just 12 batters in 81 1/3 innings that year.
Relievers/Closers
Walt Novosel (2003): Was 4-1 with a 0.30 ERA and 33 strikeouts. Allowed just one earned run in 25 appearances and that was in his final game of the season. Started the year on a 16 2/3 innings scoreless stretch.
Catcher
Miguel Montero (2002-03): His second season was his better of the two. Hit .301 with 32 RBIs and four home runs in 59 games. He collected 99 base hits - 10 more than Closser - but needed two years to do it.
First base
Jeff Stanek (2002): He's the only Osprey to hit a home run in four consecutive games. Batted .306 with 51 RBIs and nine homers. Third in team history in walks drawn (68). Had 19 multi-hit games.
Second base
Taylor Harbin (2007): A shining star on last year's squad, Harbin hit .276 with 42 RBIs and tied for the team lead in homers with 10. Also had 15 doubles, which is one shy of Hairston's total in that category.
Third base
Mike Lopez (2001): Batted .313 with eight homers and 37 RBIs, but his real skill was getting on base (had 89 hits and 36 walks) and scoring (had 70 runs - 10 more than anybody else at his spot).
Shortstop
Matthew Oxendine (2006): “Ox” wasn't the flashiest option at this position, but was probably the most consistent during his time in Missoula. Hit .248 with 31 RBIs, three homers and scored 46 runs, surprising for a shortstop. Also, his 16 errors set him apart from other sloppy gloves like Corey Myers (29 Es) and Reynaldo Navarro (28 Es).
Outfield
LF - Jeramy Janz (2001): Hit .293 with 62 RBIs and five homers in the big bopper days of Chip Hale's O's. Janz was as consistent as they come; he made just one error in 67 games.
CF - Carlos Gonzalez (2003): A regular starter, Gonzalez played in 72 games and racked up nice numbers - .258 avg., 25 RBIs, 6 HRs - for a teenager getting his first taste of the minors. Made his pro debut this spring.
RF - Dustin Vugteveen (2001): Opposite corner as Janz, Vugteveen batted an identical .293 that summer with 51 RBIs and six homers. Both men scored 40 times.
Designated hitter
Javier Brito (2003-04): A fan fave because his name sounded similar to burrito, Brito was a quality hitter during a two-season stay. Batted .310 with 44 RBIs, 17 doubles and eight bombs in the Osprey's first season at their new stadium.
Manager
Hector De La Cruz (2005-2006): Led the O's to the 2006 Pioneer League title and a 80-76 record in two years here.
Sports writer Nick Lockridge has covered the Missoula Osprey since 2004. He may be reached at 523-5298 or at nick.lockridge@lee.net.
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