Another season has come to an end and with it the hopes of winning a championship for the first time since 1994. It would be easy to dwell on the negatives of losing that hard fought battle with Fargo, but I’d rather make this edition of the GM blog about the positives of the season, and there were many. The Goldeyes finished the year with 55 wins, the most since Rick Forney took over as manager and good enough for second place overall, two games back of the RailCats.
Even with one of the worst summers in recorded history for Manitoba, Goldeyes fans proved why they are the best and most supportive in independent baseball. A total of 278,099 fans came through the Canwest Park gates during the regular season for an average of 6,180 which was tops in all of independent baseball. Even more impressive were the great crowds that came out to show their support during the playoffs. Over the three home games in early September, an average of 5,373 cheered on the Goldeyes against the RedHawks.
Juan Diaz
Juan had a fantastic season in his first year in a Goldeyes uniform. He quickly became a fan favourite as was evident every time he came to the plate at Canwest Park, a hush would fall over the crowd in anticipation of what the big guy might do. He hit 15 of his 29 dingers at home and then hit another one at home during the playoffs. It would be great to see #44 back in the lineup next year. Here are some of Juan's stats and honours for the year:
29 home runs (ties franchise record)
90 runs batted in (franchise record)
.598 slugging percentage (1st in the league)
213 total bases (1st in the league)
.981 OPS (1st in the league)
NL all-star DH
Player of the Week - week of July 19 and August 9
Ace Walker
After the great second half that Ace had for us last year, Ace had high hopes for his second year in the Northern League. He started out strong, going 5-1 in his first 10 starts and ended the year with 12 wins to lead the league and was rewarded with the Northern League Pitcher of the Year Award. Here are some of Ace's stats and honours for the year:
Northern League Pitcher of the Year
12 wins (1st in the league)
6 complete games (1st in the league and franchise record)
149 innings pitched (tied franchise record)
NL all-star RHP
Pitcher of the Week - week of June 14 and August 2
Rawlings Pitcher of the Month for June
Josh Asanovich
In his first season with the Goldeyes and first in independent baseball, Josh was solid as he anchored the second base position. In 80 games he committed just 8 errors and turned some spectacular double plays with Wes Long and Adam Frost. Here are some of Josh's stats and honours for the year:
.285 average
22 doubles
3 triples
9 home runs
32 RBI
NL all-star 2B
Adam Frost
After starting the season as the Goldeyes utility player off the bench, Adam was thrust into the starting shortstop position after the season ending injury to Wes Long on June 30. He ended the season hitting .280 and was third in the league in stolen bases with 30. He impressed those around the league so much that he was awarded the Northern League Rookie of the Year award, becoming just the third Goldeyes player to receive that award since 1994. Here are some of Adam's stats and honours for the year:
.280 average
11 doubles
3 triples
5 home runs (including two game winning walk off home runs)
19 RBI
30 stolen bases (3rd in the league)
Northern League Rookie of the Year
Organization of the Year
For the fourth time in seven years, the Goldeyes were selected as the Northern League’s Organization of the Year. This award is one that all Goldeyes staff and fans should feel extremely proud of and a part of. It’s a combination of the hard work put in by the full and part time staff and the fans support of the team year in and year out that results in this award.
K's for Kids Program
Since being formed in 1995, the Field of Dreams Foundation has raised and distributed more than $1.1 million to children's charities in Manitoba. One of the ways the foundation raises funds is through the Fillmore Riley K's for Kids program. The program has been running since 2001 and the highest per strikeout total that has been pledged, prior to this year was in 2004 when $16.54 per strikeout was pledged by fans. By taking a more proactive approach to the program this year, the current total per strikeout pledge sits at $26.71. A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in their pledge forms so far, invoices and receipts will be sent out soon. However, there is still time to get your forms in and who knows, maybe we can get that number up to $30 or $40 per strikeout before all is said and done. There were 318 strikeouts tossed at home by Goldeyes pitchers this year, so a pledge of $0.10 per strikeout will cost you just $31.80 and you will receive a charitable tax receipt for every penny of that donation. Forms are available by clicking here. We will be accepting forms until the end of September, then the final invoices and receipts will be sent out.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support the Winnipeg Goldeyes. We wouldn't still be here after 16 great years if it wasn't for you, the fans. Myself, along with everyone in the front office, the game day staff, the players and the coaching staff, all salute you, you are the best.
Please keep checking back as I will keep you updated on the off-season goings on around the Goldeyes office.
Until next time…
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