Questions for Nathan Baliva, Peoria Chiefs Broadcaster

[ChiefsVoice]

What number did Maddux wear when we was with the Chiefs?

 

I don't know off the top of my head. All four photos I have on my laptop of Maddux in a Chiefs uniform are either front or side views where you can't see. I have put out an email to a few people who I think may know including our President Rocky Vonachen. I will also look for the 1985 Program when we get back to Peoria on Monday and let you know. I will find the answer, I promise.

[ChiefsVoice]

Do you still pay attention to former Peoria pitchers like Lee Gwaltney, Chris Shaver and Victor Ramos now that they have moved on to Daytona or West Tennessee? Could you also give a scouting report for these three pitchers - how hard they throw and what types of pitches they throw?

 

Thanks, Nathan!

 

Thanks for the question, I definitely follow former Chiefs. I still talk to both Lee and Chris both of whom are great friends with each other and two guys I got to know rather well during their time in Peoria. Ramos I don't know all that well, he was only here a couple of weeks.

 

As for scouting reports. Gwaltney is older and knows how to pitch. I think him moving to the pen in Daytona was a great call as he always seemed to tire here in about the 5th or 6th inning and wasn't throwing nearly as hard. If he avoids walks, he can shoot up the system in the pen in my opinion. As for his pitches, he throws his fastball 89-93 if I remember correctly, and the fastball has a lot of sink on it and works like a sinker, a splitfinger, a tight slider and a chageup.

 

Shaver was a top draftee last year and is left handed which of course is always an advantage. He his tall and has a unique release point and is more effective against right handers than left handers. His biggest problem that I saw was control as he walked a lot of guys early in the inning on the nights that he struggled. He struck out a lot earlier in the season and then started pitching to contact. He too is about 89-91 with the fastball, throws a curveball which again is more effective inside on righties and a changeup.

 

I only saw Ramos pitch five times and only an inning at a time for the most part. I remember he threw hard and had a tight breaking ball, but that's really about it. I was surprised he jumped to AA but he has been effective there. We could sure use his numbers in our pen!

 

 

Hope that helps! Thanks again for the questions. Keep them coming!

[Brian]

Who on the current Chiefs team has the most major league potential in your opinion.

[ChiefsVoice]

Who on the current Chiefs team has the most major league potential in your opinion.

 

Thanks Brian. Ill answer that in two ways. I think the most Major League ready players I have seen this year are: Luis Montanez and Eric Patterson. They are more polished and have less areas to concentrate on than any of the others that have played here

 

I think the most potential to succeed in the Majors lies with either Ryan Harvey or Sean Gallagher. They are the youngest and Harvey just has so much power. He is starting to go the other way more and that makes him a lot more dangerous. Once he starts being more selective at the plate, takes his walks and adjusts to the curveball, the sky is the limit. Sean is the best pitcher I have seen all season. His curveball is sick and his fastball explodes. He already knows how to pitch, now he just needs to refine it, and work on endurance and stamina.

 

Sam Fuld would be my 5th ranked potential wise and then Matt Weber would be my second pitcher. Hope I answered what you were asking Brian and thanks for the question.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks for the answers! Has Ryan Harvey improved in terms of breaking balls from the start of the season?

[jiml60]

Nathan,

 

Of all the players you've watched over the years, is there a player that you thought was a can't miss prospect but never made it to the major league level?

[Brian]

Yes, that answere my question. After I typed it I was going to clarify, but answer it both ways was great!

[coldsteel]

Hey Nathan,

 

In your humble opinion, what bar(s) in Peoria do you think would be best to attend after a game? I like cheap microbrews and women dancing with baseball mitts on their heads, if that helps. No country music. Prolly would need espn for the west coast game but not too excessive tv's.

 

Do you happen to know how Eric P is doing against lefties (splits?)? Since we hope he will be an everyday player at Wrigley soon...

 

Thanks!

[peajay]

I am living in southern California (about 60 minutes north of LA) and recently attended my first games at Wrigley Field. Outstanding! I am considering flying that way again in a couple of weeks and attending my first Peoria Chiefs game.

 

What I am hoping for are recommendations for a first-timer at O'Brien Field and a first-time visitor to Peoria. Places to stay, transportation, things to see, etc.

 

I have some folks filling me in on the team and players to watch, just looking for a little help on the visiting Peoria aspect of the trip. Thanks

 

PJ

[peajay]

Hey Nathan,

 

No country music.

 

 

Thanks!

 

No country music? Where's the fun in that? :lol:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I am living in southern California (about 60 minutes north of LA) and recently attended my first games at Wrigley Field.

 

Might I ask where north of LA?

[ChiefsVoice]

Thanks for the answers! Has Ryan Harvey improved in terms of breaking balls from the start of the season?

 

Yeah Raisin he has, but he still doesn't take many walks and needs to lay off the low and away slider. Once he does that (and im confident he will) then the sky is the limit

[ChiefsVoice]

Nathan,

 

Of all the players you've watched over the years, is there a player that you thought was a can't miss prospect but never made it to the major league level?

 

There are a few Jiml60, but to be fair, all of them are still in the Minors so I won't right them off yet. I'll list the ones for you by year that I thought would be there already or higher ranked prospects than they are now.

 

2002: Pitchers Justin Pope, Tyler Johnson, Jared Blasdell and Chris Narveson...OF Rick Asadoorian and IF Shaun Boyd. Boyd is in AA, Johnson AAA, Blasdell was with the Cubs and then Rule 5'd....Narveson traded twice now back in St. Louis AAA. Asadoorian is on his 2nd franchise after St. Louis and Pope is AA with the Yankees.

 

2003: Blake Hawksworth. He is injured and starting over in SHort Season. On a note with the 03 team, Brad Thompson shocked me being this ready this soon. I also thought Reid Gorecki would be in AAA by now.

 

That's about it from guys I have seen on our teams in peoria.

[NCCubFan]

Honestly I thought it would be weird, but it isnt.

It may start feeling more strange in the future when players you've broadcast and interviewed make it to the majors with the Cubs and play against the Cardinals. :D

[ChiefsVoice]

Hey Nathan,

 

In your humble opinion, what bar(s) in Peoria do you think would be best to attend after a game? I like cheap microbrews and women dancing with baseball mitts on their heads, if that helps. No country music. Prolly would need espn for the west coast game but not too excessive tv's.

 

Do you happen to know how Eric P is doing against lefties (splits?)? Since we hope he will be an everyday player at Wrigley soon...

 

Thanks!

 

Now this is the easiest question I've had and one right after my own heart. I consider myself an expert on the Peoria bar scene and a frequent visitor after home games!

 

My "hometown bar" or Cheers is called Gorman's Pub and is on Bradley's campus. All of my non-baseball friends hung out there in college at BU or in the summers and I am a regular there in-season and off-season.

 

As for the downtown area, I would suggest Old CHicago on the river for microbrews, beer from around the world and food. Sully's on Adams street (6 blocks from stadium) has Dance Music/80's Rock/etc, great food and a decent amount of space. A quiet bar to go with great food is Richard's on Main (from the stadium take adams to main turn left and it is right there on the left). If you are in for a wild night then head another 2 blocks down Main and check out Babe's on the corner or Adam's Apple or the dance clubs of Club Reign, Tomcats and the "other place" next to those two bars. Hoops across the street has the best non-sober 4:00 am food and pizza and SOP's is a good place to dance too. All of Peoria's downtown bars are open until 4:00 AM. Sullys closes earlier during the week.

 

My favorites to relax at are Gormans, Richards and Sullys (non-weekend). If you are looking for food go to Old Chicago. iF you are looking to meet people then head to Club Reign, Tomcats, SOP's or Babes.

 

And yes I could keep going and going on this topic! Hope I helped.

 

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

[ChiefsVoice]

Hey Nathan,

 

No country music.

 

 

Thanks!

 

No country music? Where's the fun in that? :lol:

 

ha! there is a COuntry Line Dancing Bar called Stone Country about 10 mintes from O'Brien Field in Bartonville...and yes I've been there a couple of times

[Chris]

[ha! there is a COuntry Line Dancing Bar called Stone Country about 10 mintes from O'Brien Field in Bartonville...and yes I've been there a couple of times

 

Pictures?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

 

Relating to this Nathan, how do you get the split information? Does the team track it? Can you get this info for opposing players? As you know, this sort of information is very useful when evaluating minor leaguers, and yet there is very little of it available to the public.

[ChiefsVoice]

I am living in southern California (about 60 minutes north of LA) and recently attended my first games at Wrigley Field. Outstanding! I am considering flying that way again in a couple of weeks and attending my first Peoria Chiefs game.

 

What I am hoping for are recommendations for a first-timer at O'Brien Field and a first-time visitor to Peoria. Places to stay, transportation, things to see, etc.

 

I have some folks filling me in on the team and players to watch, just looking for a little help on the visiting Peoria aspect of the trip. Thanks

 

PJ

 

Hey PJ we'd love to have you in Peoria for a game. My brother lives in Burbank and works on a prominent TV show and I love the LA area and can't wait to get there at least a couple of times this off-season!

 

You can fly into Peoria on Delta or Northwest and then either take a $15 cab ride downtown to the hotels or catch a bus downtown though I would advise the cab. There are a few hotels that are about a mile walk from the stadium and right near everything downtown. Our team hotel is the Holiday Inn City Center...There is also the Mark Twain Downtown, Staybridge Suites. in walking distance and the Radisson a few minutes away.

 

As for things to see, i dont know if CAT gives regular tours or not but they have their headquarters in Peoria and some impressive buildings/machinery close by. Wildlife Prairie Park is awesome and i would suggest that. Otherwise, check out http://www.peoria.org to see what else is going on the days you are gonna be there!

[ChiefsVoice]

[ha! there is a COuntry Line Dancing Bar called Stone Country about 10 mintes from O'Brien Field in Bartonville...and yes I've been there a couple of times

 

Pictures?

 

I confiscated them all!!!! :lol:

[ChiefsVoice]

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

 

Relating to this Nathan, how do you get the split information? Does the team track it? Can you get this info for opposing players? As you know, this sort of information is very useful when evaluating minor leaguers, and yet there is very little of it available to the public.

 

Yeah CP, unfortunately all that info is on a Private Backdoor site that we have to use passwords to get to and they won't even allow us to give the passwords to our local media outlets or beat writers. The Private Stats site is for front office use only to give stats to the coaches and scouts. I can give splits on our players if needed, I have no problem with that. Other than Home-Road, Situational (bases loaded, RISP, RISP & 2outs) Left-Right and Monthly stats, everything I use I track myself...this includes lead-off walks scoring, inherited runners scoring, outfield assists, pick-offs, hit-streaks, multi-hit games, etc. I have excel charts for EVERYTHING....and it takes a while each night/day to update....thank god for interns at home!

[Chris]

[ha! there is a COuntry Line Dancing Bar called Stone Country about 10 mintes from O'Brien Field in Bartonville...and yes I've been there a couple of times

 

Pictures?

 

I confiscated them all!!!! :lol:

 

Smart thinking.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

 

Relating to this Nathan, how do you get the split information? Does the team track it? Can you get this info for opposing players? As you know, this sort of information is very useful when evaluating minor leaguers, and yet there is very little of it available to the public.

 

Yeah CP, unfortunately all that info is on a Private Backdoor site that we have to use passwords to get to and they won't even allow us to give the passwords to our local media outlets or beat writers. The Private Stats site is for front office use only to give stats to the coaches and scouts. I can give splits on our players if needed, I have no problem with that. Other than Home-Road, Situational (bases loaded, RISP, RISP & 2outs) Left-Right and Monthly stats, everything I use I track myself...this includes lead-off walks scoring, inherited runners scoring, outfield assists, pick-offs, hit-streaks, multi-hit games, etc. I have excel charts for EVERYTHING....and it takes a while each night/day to update....thank god for interns at home!

 

Bummer, it'd be real nice to have L/R and Home/Road for minor leaguers. Thanks for the info.

[Tim]

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

 

Relating to this Nathan, how do you get the split information? Does the team track it? Can you get this info for opposing players? As you know, this sort of information is very useful when evaluating minor leaguers, and yet there is very little of it available to the public.

 

Yeah CP, unfortunately all that info is on a Private Backdoor site that we have to use passwords to get to and they won't even allow us to give the passwords to our local media outlets or beat writers. The Private Stats site is for front office use only to give stats to the coaches and scouts. I can give splits on our players if needed, I have no problem with that. Other than Home-Road, Situational (bases loaded, RISP, RISP & 2outs) Left-Right and Monthly stats, everything I use I track myself...this includes lead-off walks scoring, inherited runners scoring, outfield assists, pick-offs, hit-streaks, multi-hit games, etc. I have excel charts for EVERYTHING....and it takes a while each night/day to update....thank god for interns at home!

Is there anyone on the Chiefs that has simply ridiculous R/L splits that we should know about? Pitcher or hitter, really.

 

Thanks!

[ChiefsVoice]

As for E-Patt's numbers vs. lefties: Good Average, little power vs. LHP. He is hitting .318 against LHP with 0 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. He has 19 walks, 19 k's vs lefties, 9 steals and 7 caught stealings (5 are 1-3-6 CS)

 

Relating to this Nathan, how do you get the split information? Does the team track it? Can you get this info for opposing players? As you know, this sort of information is very useful when evaluating minor leaguers, and yet there is very little of it available to the public.

 

Yeah CP, unfortunately all that info is on a Private Backdoor site that we have to use passwords to get to and they won't even allow us to give the passwords to our local media outlets or beat writers. The Private Stats site is for front office use only to give stats to the coaches and scouts. I can give splits on our players if needed, I have no problem with that. Other than Home-Road, Situational (bases loaded, RISP, RISP & 2outs) Left-Right and Monthly stats, everything I use I track myself...this includes lead-off walks scoring, inherited runners scoring, outfield assists, pick-offs, hit-streaks, multi-hit games, etc. I have excel charts for EVERYTHING....and it takes a while each night/day to update....thank god for interns at home!

Is there anyone on the Chiefs that has simply ridiculous R/L splits that we should know about? Pitcher or hitter, really.

 

Thanks!

 

Well here ya go (current players only):

 

vs. Right

Bernard .236/2/17

Flowers .237/5/27

Fuld .285/3/27 LH hitter

Granato .270/3/19

Harvey .279/18/72

Larsen .239/3/32

Patterson .336/12/52 LH hitter

Rick .170/2/15 LH hitter

Rivera .250/0/4

Schmidt .234/2/10 Switch Hitter

Simokaitis .174/0/6

Smith .243/3/15

 

Billek .174 Opp avg, 2 HR

Blevins .254, 3 LH pitcher

Dickson .154, 0

Estrada .336, 6

Gallagher .199, 5

Johnson .279, 4

Jones .388, 1

Layden .241, 2 LH Pitcher

Mendez .204, 0

Nolen .236, 1

Phelps .135, 0

Weber .277, 9

 

Vs. Left

Bernard .278/0.6

Flowers .293/2/16

Fuld .268/0/4 LH hitter

Granato .333/1/9

Harvey .240/4/16

Larsen .257/1/13

Patterson .318/0/12 LH hitter

Rick .172/0/7 LH hitter

Rivera .000/0/0 (1 AB)

Schmidt .250/0/3 Swith hitter

Simokatis .316/0/1

Smith .238/0/3

 

Billek .216. 0hr

Blevins .273, 1 LH pitcher

Dickson .361, 0

Estrada .274, 4

Gallagher .200, 3

Johnson .176, 2

Jones .395, 0

Layden .170, 0 LH pitcher

Mendez .293, 0

Nolen .196, 0

Phelps .333, 0

Weber .314, 3

 

as a team we are hitting .298 against LHP and .260 vs. RHP...lefties also hit us better at .262 to .254...