Nado Natterings

by David Axelson, Chief Executive Officer

The Islander Sports Foundation

31 July 2006 Issue #31

 

One of the better local sports stories in the making, is that of baseball pitcher Joe Woerman (CHS ’01), who is currently toiling for the Inland Empire 66ers of the High ‘A’ California League. Woerman a 6-foot, 3-inch, 200-pound right-hander, is blessed with the physical stature, the proper mental makeup and a fastball in the low to mid 90’s, that one day might land him in the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners.

 

Like most good tales, Woerman, 23, faced some adversity in the early going, which he had to overcome.

 

“Early in the season his junior year, he took a line drive off of his face and cheekbone,” said CHS Head Coach Sam Ceci. “That scared everybody and set him back a year. He came into his own his senior year and was quite effective. He had a great arm, and was a good kid, not a problem at all. He has a chance to make it to the Bigs. He has the right body type and his mechanics are very good. When things get tough, he can play relaxed baseball. In high school, he had the ability to put problems behind him.”

 

After graduation from Coronado High School, Woerman continued his career at San Diego City College until the spring of 2003, when he was drafted by the Mariners organization in the 11^th round, overall pick number 326 in the amateur entry draft. “Then I went to Peoria, Arizona,” said Woerman of his initial step into the professional ranks. “That’s were the Mariners spring training camp is, right next to the Padres facility. I was there for a couple of months and then played in the Arizona Instructional League.  The next year (2004) after spring training camp broke, I went to Everett, Washington and pitched there for a couple of months.” For Woerman, who was born in Edmonds, Washington, that wasn’t a tough assignment.

 

The 2005 season included extended spring training in Peoria, two short stints with the Mariners’ AAA Tacoma farm club and a short return stay in between with the Everett Aquasox. Basically, the season could be summarized as two steps forward and one back.

 

“This year after spring training, I broke with the Appleton, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers,” Woerman said.  “I was there from early April until June 22 and had a pretty good year. I had some pretty good numbers, working as a closer and in late inning relief.”

 

That, as they say, was the good news. “Wisconsin was pretty bad, it was frigid,” said Woerman, clearly more used to Southern California climes. “We had to be bundled up and you were barely able to stretch with all of the stuff you were wearing. But I got through that.”

 

Gaudy statistics, the Holy Grail in baseball, enabled the Mariners to make the wise decision to promote Woerman to High ‘A’ ball. In 34 innings pitched, Woerman was credited with 54 strikeouts against only 14 walks, and he sported a nifty 2.12 earned run average. To place the numbers in perspective, a 2 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio is considered to be very good.  Woerman was approaching a 4 to 1 ratio.

 

Good bye Wisconsin, hello California. Woerman was promoted and is now a proud member of the San Bernardino-based Inland Empire 66ers. With the promotion came a bit of a change in his role with the new club. “I’m working in short relief and as a setup man. We had a guy here already who was closing. I pitch in short and mid-long relief.”

 

When asked about his pitching repertoire, Woerman was quick to respond. “I throw a fastball, slider and a changeup.” And his velocity? “My fastball is usually 91 or 92 miles an hour. Tonight I hit 93. In Las Vegas last year I hit 94-95. They keep the relievers in for 45 pitches at a maximum and I pitch on an average once every three days. A couple of times I’ve pitched in back-to-back games. At this level, the starting pitchers are going a lot longer, so we have three innings most games to spread out among seven guys, so it’s pretty spread out.” A team typically features five starting pitchers, and seven hurlers who pitch for varying lengths of time, depending on the game situation.

 

The game is a constant challenge, even for a guy who can throw a ball so hard that a layman in the batters box 60 feet, six inches away wouldn’t see the ball zip by. “Tonight I pitched two solid innings, but I gave up a first-pitch homer. You can’t do much about that. We had a bunch of minor league directors there tonight doing some grading and they seemed pleased with what they saw.”

 

When asked if he ever thought he would be a professional, Woerman harkened back to his days at Coronado High School. “I never did, until my junior year when (Padre first baseman) Adrian Gonzalez was selected (the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft) from Eastlake High School.  Our high school team went to see a game at Lake Elsinore in 2000 and I thought ‘this was the big time.’ I saw the nice stadium and never really thought about it, but here I am.”

 

Recently a Coronado contingent comprised of Ceci, Islander Assistant Coach Jerry Brown and former Islander teammates Brian Garza and Chris Barbera went to see Woerman at Lake Elsinore. “He’s on track now,” said Ceci of Woerman’s chances to make the Big Show. “There’s a world of difference between the Midwest League and the California League. He has the right body type to make it. He’s a lot bigger and a lot stronger since he left (high school). When we start working out (in the spring), Joe comes and works out with us. I love to encourage the college kids to come back and in this case the professional kid, to come back.”

 

Asked if he was happy to be pitching in California, Woerman replied, “absolutely. It’s great playing here in California. I come home on the off days and it’s an hour and a half drive. “

 

Most importantly, Woerman is happy with the Mariners organization. “It’s a great organization. The spring training facility is great and they have stuff they use to make you better. Guys who come in from other organizations say the Mariners are a first class organization, especially compared to where they came from.”

 

And the instruction is a strong element as well.  “There is a pitching coach on each team and a roving instructor who comes around once a month. I’ve benefited from every single one of them. My pitching coach now, Scott Budner, is relentless about attacking the strike zone and being more aggressive, but not out of control. First pitch strikes are a big thing with me. I feel like I go right after guys and I don’t nit pick. If you get a guy down 0-1 or 0-2, you never let him get back into the count. That’s my success as a pitcher.”

 

With big jumps to AA San Antonio, and AAA Tacoma to be made and cleared before making the Major League Seattle Mariners club, here’s hoping that one of Coronado’s own can make it to the Big Show.

 

Stray Baseball Thoughts

 

Baseball is a funny game and one that relies on statistics and history more than any other spots endeavor. This past weekend the Chicago Cubs swept the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game series for the first time since 1972. What makes that ironic is that the Cubs are in the midst of a terrible season and the Cardinals are leading the Midwest Division. Further, the Cubs clinched the season series against the Cardinals, holding a 10-3 record against the Redbirds with six games left to play.

 

Conversely, the Cubs lost all nine games to the Padres this year, which is unusual even for the Northsiders. The all-time Cubs vs. Padres series record between the teams is 224-180 in the Cubs favor. The up-to-date Cubs vs. Cardinals record? The Cubs own that series also, 1125-1062.

 

CHS and CMS Athletic Physical Fundraiser Information

 

A final reminder that the annual athletic physical fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, August 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. To participate in tryouts for a Coronado High School or Coronado Middle School sport, an athlete must have a current physical examination performed by a doctor.

 

Physicals will be held at the Coronado Specialty Medical Center, located at 1050 B Avenue.  The cost is $15 for one student; $25 for two students from the same family; and $10 each for three or more students from the same family.

 

The money collected is then used to purchase supplies for the training room.  Forms should be filled out by parents beforehand and checks should be made payable to CHS ASB Athletics. Forms can be picked up at Coronado Middle School during their Summer School hours or can be downloaded from www.IslanderSportsFoundation.com or via Edline/Athletics.

 

Artificial Turf and Track Update

 

For those of you who want to follow the progress of the artificial turf/new track project at Coronado High School, CHS Track and Field Head Coach George Green has the answer for you. Green is compiling panoramic shots of the construction, from beginning to eventual end, and will have them on display at www.crowncity.com/fieldturf/.

 

Today’s posting shows the installation of the turf at the 50-yard line of the field. The construction schedule continues to be on time, with the CMS field expected to be completed Aug. 21 and the Niedermeyer Field and Track complex will be finished Aug. 31.

 

Quick Thank You

 

Thanks to friend and former Coronado Little League coaching adversary Jim Truesdale for putting me in touch with Joe Woerman for this week’s article. Jim really knows baseball and his tip on Joe’s progress in the Mariners’ farm system lead to the column.