Hawaii players felt
ups and downs
of life in Class AThird in a series on minor league players with local ties
The five Class A, full-season leagues provide professional baseball players early in their careers the chance to experience playing a 140-game schedule.
It can be a grind with bus trips that take up to 14 hours -- as does the one from Lake County (East Lake, Ohio) to Rome, Ga., in the South Atlantic League.
Ten players from Hawaii spent most or all of 2003 at the Class A level.
Jeff Coleman (Hawaii) began the season attempting to be a submarine pitcher after spending a month on the disabled list with a pulled left oblique muscle. The three-week experiment did not work. The right-hander's earned run average hit a whopping 19.96. In six appearances, Coleman yielded 17 earned runs in only 7 2/3 innings pitched.
Ron Romanick, Oakland's roving pitching instructor, who had suggested the move, told Coleman to forget it.
Over the next 31 appearances and 58 2/3 innings, Coleman allowed only 20 earned runs for a 3.09 ERA as a regular out of the bullpen for the Modesto A's in the California League.
"I think the experiment showed my willingness to try something for the organization," Coleman said. "Actually, I thought I had a great year. My numbers after the experiment ended show 75 strikeouts to about 15 walks."
Coleman will go to instructional league and hopes to land a job in winter ball after that.
Rodney Choy Foo (Kailua) moved up to the Class A advanced Carolina League this year and played all infield positions except first base for the Kinston (N.C.) Indians in the Cleveland organization.
He had a torrid start, putting together a 20-game hitting streak.
"It was a surprise. I didn't even notice I had a streak until the coaches told me about the 17th or 18th game," said Choy Foo, who is headed to instructional league.
He had no problem playing several positions.
"It gives me more opportunities. I feel comfortable with all of them. When anybody gets hurt, you can fill in. You just have to be ready to play every day," said Choy Foo. "I had my ups and downs, but I thought it was a great season. You always have to keep in mind that you can get the job done. That's what the coaches expected of me and I expect myself."
Choy Foo finished with a .257 batting average. A switch hitter, he led Kinston with 65 RBIs and was second in home runs with 11. He also was successful on 22 of 30 stolen-base attempts.
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted shortstop Brandon Chaves (Hilo, Hawaii-Hilo) to the Carolina League, where he played for the Lynchburg (Va.) Hillcats and enjoyed an injury-free season.
"I felt a lot more comfortable at the plate because I was getting more at-bats," said Chaves. "My defense wasn't that bad. I had a pretty good season."
The switch-hitting Chaves felt he made progress hitting offspeed pitches and hitting with two strikes. His .262 batting average is a career best, as were his numbers for at-bats (443), runs (62), hits (116), doubles (23) triples (six) and RBIs (49).
Kaulana Kuhaulua (Waianae, Long Beach State) was promoted by the Minnesota Twins from Quad City in the Midwest League to Ft. Myers in the Florida State League at midseason.
"The move up a level was a surprise for me," said Kuhaulua, in his third season of pro ball.
"It was definitely a year of improvement. The numbers weren't there, but I wasn't disappointed in my season. I hit the ball hard, but didn't find the holes very often."
Kuhaulua played every infield position except first base and even spent a few games experiencing what it's like to play center field. He appreciates the opportunity to learn several positions.
"It makes you more valuable. If the coach likes what he sees, then he'll find a position for you," said Kuhaulua who also was happy with the improvement in his baserunning. He was 15-for-18 in stolen bases and had the green light when he played for Ft. Myers.
"I didn't see much difference in the two leagues except I had to be more patient at the plate in Florida," said Kuhaulua.
Bronson Sardinha (Kamehameha) began his third pro season with the New York Yankees farm team in Tampa in the Florida State League. He struggled at the plate (.193) while continuing to learn to play the outfield.
"I was under a microscope in Tampa (where the Yankees' minor league headquarters are located)," said Sardinha. "I was changing my stance every week. My confidence kept going down and never came up."
He was sent to the Battle Creek (Mich.) Yankees in the Midwest League. The change in environment proved a blessing for the left-handed hitter. He felt more relaxed and the confidence increased.
"Things started to come together. I had been standing straight up at the plate and I went back to a crouch the way I had hit my whole life. I started using the whole field," said Sardinha who will attend instructional league.
He hit .275 at Battle Creek with 16 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBIs in the second half of the season.
"I know I could do a lot better. I'll learn from this season like I did last year and improve on that," said Sardinha.
Duke Sardinha (Kamehameha, Pepperdine) also will go to the Colorado Rockies' instructional league camp and concentrate on learning how to play second base more consistently under the guidance of former major league player Mike Gallego.
Duke missed spring training while continuing to rehab his right shoulder, but started playing during extended spring training and was ready to start the season for the Tri-City (Pasco, Wash.) Dust Devils in the short-season Northwest League.
"I had a quick start, then went into a little slump," said Duke, who was batting .235 when he was promoted to the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists in the South Atlantic League.
He also changed his stance, which helped him improve to .285 with 18 doubles and five homers.
"I don't have a stride any more, no leg kick. My coaches told me I have power to all fields so just lay back and wait on the pitch," said Duke. "I think seeing pitching every day gave me a better chance to succeed."
Brandon League (Saint Louis) came out of spring training with some goals established in conversations with the Toronto Blue Jays coaches. They wanted the right-hander to have better command of his fastball and change-up.
"I thought it was a pretty productive year," said League. "I've pitched a lot of innings this summer, so I'll be working on the side. I'm happy with what I accomplished this year. I know I have more work to do and you can't do it all in one season."
League began the year with the Charleston (W.Va.) Alley Cats in the South Atlantic League. After posting a 1.91 ERA with 18 walks and 61 strikeouts, he was promoted to the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League. He was 4-3 there with a 4.75 ERA and picked up a win in the first round of the playoffs.
Rex Rundgren (Mid-Pacific, Sacramento City College) took another step up in the Florida Marlins' minor league ladder with a full season at shortstop for the Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League.
He had a solid second half to finish the season with a .231 batting average.
Kila Ka'aihue (Iolani) discovered what it was like to play part of a season in a cold-weather climate after being promoted to the Burlington Bees in the Midwest League during spring training.
"I struggled the first half and the weather had a lot to do with it. I hate to blame the weather, but I never played in temperatures below 50, I had a hard time with my swing," said Ka'aihue, who is going to instructional league.
When the weather warmed up, Ka'aihue warmed up. He hit .271 from June 15 on to raise his season average to .238.
There also was work with the hitting instructors, which resulted in him going with no stride at the plate so he wasn't fooled on change-ups and being more aggressive. All other aspects of his approach to hitting remained the same.
"The season was a real big learning process," said Ka'aihue, a first baseman experiencing his first season of pro ball.
Jason Kahi Kaanoi (Kamehameha) felt he got the velocity back this season that he had before surgery in 2000, but he fought another problem coming out of spring training.
"I struggled with my control at the beginning, battled with it most of the year. I couldn't find my rhythm," said Kaanoi. "I was happy with the way I finished. In my last four of five outings, I didn't give up a run. I just want to build off that and carry it into next season."
The right-hander posted a 2-3 record with a 6.06 ERA for the Burlington Bees.
Hawkeye Wayne (Iolani, Columbia) had arm surgery during spring training and on April 3 was placed on the disabled list for the year. The right-hander had signed with the Florida Marlins in the offseason.
