Tuesday

SethSpeaks: How long have you been the Voice of the New Britain Rock Cats?

Jeff Dooley: I just finished my 8th season as the radio voice of the New Britain Rock Cats in Connecticut.

SethSpeaks: Do you have any other responsibilities with the team?

Jeff Dooley: Yes, I am the Director of Broadcasting and help set up the radio contracts with our affiliate stations throughout the state and Western Massachusetts. We have a large network (6 stations) for a minor league sports team and we try and build the network each year. I am involved in the Rock Cats Speakers Bureau and help the club with community awareness. I also assist the radio sales campaign with the Rock Cats and radio network affiliates.

SethSpeaks: What is your schedule on a typical game day?

Jeff Dooley: A typical day for me is to arrive at the ballpark at around 9AM and help the media department (Bob Dowling, Courtney Nogas) write the notes for our press. I then read the newspapers locally and in Minnesota to help prepare stories for the broadcast each night. In the early afternoon, I will sit with our manager and record the pre-game interview. Our Pre-Game is a bit lengthy (30 minutes) so I need to make sure we have enough material. I'll also go over the pre-game run-down with my broadcast partner Dan Lovallo. It is really a full day before the game even begins.

SethSpeaks: I know that you had a weekly segment on a Twins minor league prospect for the Twins pre-game show last year. How did that work out and did you enjoy that?

Jeff Dooley: I really did enjoy hosting the feature on the Twins' Pre-Game Show each week. I know there is some interest in the Twins Cities about the prospects in the Minnesota organization and I thought the segment would be a good fit. I did get a lot of positive feedback about the show. Unfortunately, there were some changes last year and we didn't have enough time to include the segment.

SethSpeaks: What is your background in baseball? Did you play ball? Were you any good?

Jeff Dooley: I played baseball in high school (Lincoln, RI) but was certainly not good enough to make a career as a player. I felt radio was a great way to be involved in the game and work in the industry. Thus, I studied communications at Saint Joseph's College (ME) and was able to start a career as a broadcaster.

SethSpeaks: Who were your favorite ball players or teams when you were growing up?

Jeff Dooley: I grew up rooting for the Boston Red Sox and my favorite player was Dwight Evans. I remember trying to replicate his batting stance when I was playing in Babe Ruth League. I guess that did not work!

SethSpeaks: Tell us a little bit about New Britain, Connecticut, and about the Eastern League.

Jeff Dooley: New Britain is located in Central Connecticut about 15 minutes outside of Hartford (state capital), which is one of the bigger cities in New England. The Rock Cats draw fans from all over the state and Western Massachusetts with Springfield being only 45 minutes away. The Rock Cats also attract plenty of media attention with four television stations and six radio stations covering the club. We also have two newspapers, which cover the Rock Cats on a daily basis so the press box is a popular place in the summer.

The Eastern League is a 12-team league, which ranges from Portland, Maine to Akron, Ohio down to Bowie, Maryland so it's pretty spread out. Both the American League and National League have affiliates in the EL and we get to see top talent each season. One of the great things about Double-A is that a prospect will almost never jump over this level when climbing the minor league ladder. Some players skip or have short stays at Class-A and other players bypass Triple-A, but most players usually spend an extended period at Double-A.

SethSpeaks: Stan Cliburn has been the Rock Cats manager the past five years. He was promoted to Rochester to manage. Tell us a little about him and his coaching/managerial style.

Jeff Dooley: Stan Cliburn was a pleasure to cover for the past five years. He really spoiled the media in the fact that he would have plenty to say after a win or loss. Stan is a terrific guy and a great manager on the field. In Double-A, most managers also serve as the club's third base coach and Stan is a very aggressive manager. He has no problem sending a runner on a fly ball or even a grounder in the infield. Stan likes to get the lead early in the game and I think his managerial style is fun to watch. Stan also manages the clubhouse well and gets the most from his players because they respect him so much. However, if he needs to confront a player he will do that as well. He is a great motivator and ambassador of the game. Stan was also deeply involved in the community with youth clinics, reading to kids and helping spread the word of Rock Cats Baseball. We will miss him greatly and look forward to working with our new manager Riccardo Ingram next season.

SethSpeaks: Stu Cliburn and Floyd Rayford will return to the Rock Cats as coaches. What are their styles?

Jeff Dooley: We are excited to have Stu Cliburn and Floyd Rayford back again. Both have major league experience, which I think is important at this level. Stu returns to New Britain for his 8th season and he has worked with many of the pitchers that are now in Minnesota. He had a chance to go to the big leagues as the Twins bullpen coach last September when our season ended. Floyd does a nice job with the hitters and is always available for early batting practice when needed. Both coaches take their work seriously.

SethSpeaks: My philosophies on minor league affiliates is basically that they are first and foremost about player development with the end goal being getting players ready to contribute at the major leagues. They need to develop all of their skills, and one of those skills is learning how to get better within a team concept and with the goal of winning as a team. Am I right or wrong, and how does a coaching staff mix the two concepts (developing and winning)?

Jeff Dooley: I believe winning is part of development and players should learn how to win in the minor leagues. The Twins have a great tradition of winning throughout their system. Last year, Rookie Level Elizabethton won the Appalachian League Championship and New Britain, Rochester, and Ft. Myers were in the playoff hunt as well. However, it's winning at all costs in Minnesota, meaning that you will do whatever it takes to win a single game at that level (stretch a pitcher past his limit, bring in pitcher on short rest, allow a prime time player to compete in poor field conditions). This almost never happens at the minor league level.

SethSpeaks: On my site, I try to check out box scores and stories daily on the Twins minor leagues throughout the season and post some highlights. I noticed almost two distinct seasons for the Rock Cats 2005 season. It was Before and After The Callups. The team really struggled early in the season, but then a number of really quality players and prospects were promoted from Ft. Myers, particularly three really quality starting pitchers. Was that the key to the team's turnaround, or were there other factors involved?

Jeff Dooley: True, it was a tale of two halves. The Rock Cats had a big shuffle, a seven-player transaction just before the All-Star Break. Three former first round picks joined the club, OF Denard Span, 3B Matt Moses and LHP Glen Perkins along with LHP Errol Simonitch. The biggest difference was getting a true leadoff hitter in the lineup with Span. This allowed Stan Cliburn some flexibility to move OF Alex Romero down in the order and get some protection. Romero, OF James Tomlin and INF Tommy Watkins were all used in the leadoff spot but Span is a prototypical leadoff hitter with great speed and the ability to work the count.

SethSpeaks: OK, let's talk about some of the players. I would love to hear your thoughts on them if you don't mind.

SethSpeaks: To talk about any other Twins minor leaguer this year before Francisco Liriano seems almost wrong. Liriano spent a couple of months in New Britain before being promoted to Rochester. What are your thoughts on Liriano from what you have seen?

Jeff Dooley: Francisco Liriano is the real deal. He was the opening day starter for the Rock Cats last year and beat New Hampshire in their new stadium. He's got a lively fastball 95-96 and also a great changeup. You can see how he has been compared to Johan Santana. My guess is that he will have a chance to make the Twins in spring training and it would not surprise me if he does as a bullpen guy. He actually pitched better in Triple-A than with us. I think that had to do with the cool conditions in the Northeast in April and May. He was in Rochester in the warmer months. There is no doubt he is special and has a chance to be pretty good.

SethSpeaks: Along those lines... this week, I asked David Dorsey from The News-Press in Fort Myers if there were any characteristics that he saw in players that showed that they just had it, whatever it is. My assumption is that you could see "it" in Liriano. Have there been some players who have come through New Britain that you could just see had 'it'. Maybe on the other side of the spectrum, have their been some guys who have surprised you with their big league success?

Jeff Dooley: I've had the good fortune of watching many prospects blossom into stars at the major league level. Our 1998 Rock Cats club, which won the EL Northern Division Crown, included Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Chad Allen, Doug Mientkiewicz, Cristian Guzman, A.J. Pierzynski, Chad Moeller and John Barnes, with Joe Mays, Mark Redman and Mike Lincoln in the rotation. J.C. Romero and Jeff Harris were the setup men in the bullpen. There weren't many surprises with that group because you just knew they had the talent to make it to the major leagues. The next load of talent included Michael Cuddyer and Grant Balfour and more recently Jason Kubel, Jesse Crain and Jason Bartlett. Kubel had the fastest natural promotion in Rock Cats history. I guess the biggest long shot would be Lew Ford. Ford spent parts of three seasons in New Britain, was a fan favorite, All-Star and set an EL record with four home runs in a single game. However, I always thought he was in a difficult spot with a crowded outfield in Minnesota (Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Shannon Stewart). He has played a big role for the Twins in the past few years and I always smile when I see his highlights on television. He is a great example of a determined player, with some odds against him, reaching his dream.

SethSpeaks: Glen Perkins was a top Twins pick out of college in 2004. He breezed through the lower levels of the minor leagues, but when he hit New Britain, he struggled for the first time in his pro career. Can you explain his struggles, particularly his increase in walks?

Jeff Dooley: Most coaches and players will tell you that the biggest jump in the minors is from Class-A to Class-AA or the Florida State League to the Eastern League. Perkins did go through a period of adjustment after his promotion from Ft. Myers. Suddenly the fastball left up in the zone is crushed over the OF wall or the hanging breaking ball is belted over the fence by the 9-hole hitter. Batters hit mistakes in Double-A and are also more patient at the plate. It is all part of the learning experience. Perkins is definitely on the fast track being just one year removed from college and pitching in the EL. He has shown signs of a bright future and I expect him to be a top of the line rotation guy for the Rock Cats next year.

SethSpeaks: Maybe this goes along with the previous question, I have frequently read that AA is the place where prospects show their colors either positively, or negatively. What is it about that level?

Jeff Dooley: This is true, that Double-A is the make-or-break level in a player's career. As the saying goes, if you can make it to New Britain then you have a chance to some day play in Minnesota. The Twins have been known to dip down to New Britain to get help for the major league club and it's very important to have the players ready if necessary.

SethSpeaks: Errol Simonitsch experienced some of the same growing pains after his jump to New Britain. Tell us a little about him.

Jeff Dooley: I think Errol Simonitsch has some potential especially being a left-handed pitcher. It's true that his numbers were not great but he did pitch very well in the month of August (3-1, 3.60 ERA). He led the Twins organization with 14 wins. He is not going to over-power a hitter with a Liriano like 95 MPH fastball but he can be sneaky fast. Simonitsch does need to cut down on his hits allowed- inning pitched ratio (92H 78.2 IP) He is good size at 6-4, 225 and hopefully, he can open some eyes with a solid season in New Britain in 2006.

SethSpeaks: Nick Blackburn was probably lesser known than Perkins and Simonitsch, but he came up and really did a tremendous job for New Britain. Tell us a little about his stuff and his makeup.

Jeff Dooley: I like Nick Blackburn a lot. He did a nice job while pitching in New Britain. He's a guy that spent traveled the country last summer, from Class-A to Double-A then on to Triple-A. Blackburn held a 1.84 ERA in seven starts with the Rock Cats and did not get much run support. He best game was on July 22, when he shutout Norwich, going 8 innings and allowing just two hits. He competes hard and is not afraid to pitch inside.

SethSpeaks: Minnesota native Pat Neshek came back to New Britain as the team's closer (in part because of the unfortunate loss of Bobby Korecky to arm surgeries) and did really an excellent job. He seems like a guy who might be pretty close to ready to contributing to the Twins. What are you thoughts on Neshek as well as his chance of moving up and succeeding?

Jeff Dooley: Pat Neshek had drawn plenty of attention from the baseball world. He has a ¾ delivery and runs the fastball at 92-93. This makes it very difficult for a batter to see. Scouts like Neshek and I think he has a future with the Twins as a situational guy. I would expect him to go on the 40-man major league roster this year.

SethSpeaks: I've left out some really solid pitchers who deserve mentioning who started and relieved for the Rock Cats including Levale Speigner, Jim Abbott and Kevin Cameron. Each of these guys are older than most AA players but can be so important in a number of ways to a minor league team. Are there other guys who deserve mention?

Jeff Dooley: Levale Speigner went through an adjustment this season, starting for the first time in his career. He showed flashes of dominance including a 2-hit complete game shutout against the Erie Sea Wolves. Kevin Cameron had a solid season with the Rock Cats in 2005. I think he's probably pitched his way out of Double-A and he will be evaluated at Triple-A next season. He has a very good cut-fastball.

SethSpeaks: Now lets get to the bats. We hear so much about how the Twins now are short on outfield prospects that could help them at the big league level. But having followed this team, there are three outfielders that could be future Twins.

SethSpeaks: First, Denard Span seemed to figure things out this year, and continued to play well with his promotion to New Britain. We hear a few things about him: great guy, solid work ethic, incredibly fast and good on-base skills. Any other attributes that we should know about him, or can you elaborate on any of these?

Jeff Dooley: Denard Span is as good as advertised. He's a great kid, personable, listens to his coaches and wants to learn to improve. I think he'll be in Minnesota before long but still needs some seasoning in the minors. He lacks power but hits the ball on the ground and forces the defense to make a play on him. He is a tremendous athlete, good defensively, good bunter, he'll steal a base, and should be Twins leadoff hitter in the future.

SethSpeaks: When Terry Ryan was asked in July and August about bats that could help the Twins now, the first name he would mention was Alex Romero. I know he got off to a bad start and some questioned his work ethic or will to succeed, but something happened and he ended the season with a .300 average and was excellent. What happened? And, do you believe he could be close?

Jeff Dooley: Alex Romero is the closest hitter to the major leagues in the last group to come through New Britain but still needs a season at Triple-A. He did get off to a slow start but more than made up for it in the second half. He was named Twins' Minor League Player of the Month in June and won the Eastern League Player of the Week Award in August. Romero was a EL Post Season All-Star and finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year Balloting. Remember he is just 22 years old. I'm sure he's in the Twins plans but we just have to be patient

SethSpeaks: Finally, we can look at Romero's numbers and they are very good, especially due to his slow start. Doug Deeds' numbers were very similar, only he was very consistent throughout the season including playing in the Eastern League All-Star game. I realize that he does strike out a lot, but what are your thoughts on him? Can he help the Twins at some point?

Jeff Dooley: Doug Deeds had a great season for the Rock Cats last year. He led the club in batting with a .304 average and was named to the EL All-Star Team. Yes, he did strikeout 119 times but Jacque Jones struck out 134 times with New Britain in 1998 and look how he turned out. He may be considered a long shot with Span and Romero in front of him on the so-called depth chart but he may force the Twins hand with another solid campaign.

SethSpeaks: Quickly, I also have to ask about James Tomlin. I realize that he has struggled offensively the last two years at New Britain, but I know he is fast, plays good defense and is still just 22 years old. He seemed to handle Span's promotion very well. What is his future?

Jeff Dooley: James Tomlin may be the best defensive centerfielder to patrol New Britain Stadium since Torii Hunter. He is a gifted athlete who knows the routes to track down a fly ball in the outfield. Tomlin can really go get them. He had a poor offensive year in 2004 but improved last year. In fact, he batted .417 (20-48) in 19 games in August, nice way to end the season.

SethSpeaks: I believe that Danny Matienzo was the MVP of the Eastern League All-Star game. The name I hear Matienzo compared to frequently is Matthew LeCroy. I hear that he can hit but really doesn't have a real position. However, if he can hit, I would think that he may have a chance. How would you describe him offensively and defensively, and could we see him in a Twins uniform in the near future?

Jeff Dooley: Danny Matienzo had a solid season with 23 home runs and 87 RBI in his first year in Double-A. I guess you could say he's a bit limited as a first baseman or DH. I'm not sure what this means in the Twins organization. He did only hit 7 home runs in the second half after smashing 16 in the first three months. However, if you can hit the Twins will find a place for you in the lineup.

SethSpeaks: Luis Jimenez started the season a little late because of his performance-enhancing drug suspension, but he became a solid, middle-of-the-order bat for the Rock Cats. He is still relatively young. Why isn't his name mentioned more in prospect lists?

Jeff Dooley: Luis Jimenez was not re-signed by the Twins and will not be part of their system next year.

SethSpeaks: What we hear about Matt Moses is that he can flat-out hit. Despite putting up very unimpressive numbers in his two months in New Britain, were you able to see traits that tell you he will be a good one? What about his defense?

Jeff Dooley: Yes, Matt Moses can hit and I think his defense is better than what people may think. I think his main focus this season was to stay healthy. He had a two-homer game at Harrisburg, including a grand slam and showed some signs of breaking out. As I mentioned before, it's a very difficult jump going from the Florida State League to the Eastern League and he struggled early on. He did get better with time and I look forward to seeing him in New Britain in 2006. He reminds me of Michael Cuddyer, who was probably the best player in the EL in 2001. Moses is a great kid, eager to learn and has a bright future in front of him.

SethSpeaks: The Twins talk a lot about wanting more catching depth. Can you talk about the catching position for the Rock Cats and if any of them could work there way up the system?

Jeff Dooley: Rob Bowen hit .267 at Triple-A this past season but the catcher people talk about is Jose Morales who has battled injuries throughout his professional career. We saw him for just a bit before he went down with another injury and was sent to the extended spring training program and never returned. Bryan Kennedy (Adam Kennedy's younger brother) has been in New Britain the past two years and unfortunately had a season ending back injury. He works very well with pitchers and calls a great game. He did struggle with the bat last year (.239) in 72 games. Kyle Phillips (J.P. Phillips younger brother) was rushed to New Britain when Kennedy went down and batted .209 in 22 games.

SethSpeaks: I have heard the Tommy Watkins is a solid leader on this team. What makes him a leader, and are there other guys that have shown good leadership qualities?

Jeff Dooley: Tommy Watkins is a great guy and a positive role model for the players. He keeps the clubhouse loose and has good chemistry with his teammates and our fans. He was the run-away choice for the clubs "10th Player Award" this season.

SethSpeaks: Who would you say is the team prankster, or pranksters?

Jeff Dooley: I guess you could say that Watkins is the team prankster in a positive way. He always has a smile on his face and looks guilty when someone does pull a prank.

SethSpeaks: I am one of probably few who think that the Twins could plug Luis Maza into the starting second base job out of spring training next year and the Twins would be just fine. He seems to put together quality at bats and play good defense. Am I completely off-base or does he have big league talent.

Jeff Dooley: Luis Maza had a good year for New Britain in 2004 but got off to a slow start last season. He did play well in Triple-A meaning that he has a chance. Maza does not have great speed, which could hurt him.

SethSpeaks: Another guy that I can't understand getting more of a shot is Kevin West. He had a couple of huge seasons at New Britain before really doing well for Rochester this year. Tell us a little more about Kevin West.

Jeff Dooley: Kevin West had back-to-back impressive seasons in New Britain before moving to Triple-A last year. I guess it's just a matter of finding a spot in the Twins lineup and right now there is no room in the outfield.

SethSpeaks: Are there any good (PG-13 rated, please!) stories about any of the current Twins from their New Britain days?

Jeff Dooley: When Torii Hunter returned to New Britain for his third time in 1998 he mentioned that he should run for mayor of the city. New Britain mayor Lucian Pawluk told the media that Torii is very popular and should be the honorary mayor of the Hardware City.

SethSpeaks: Over the course of your years with the Rock Cats, who are some of the guys that you have simply enjoyed covering? Some truly good guys that deserve mention?

Jeff Dooley: Each year it seems that we have good guys that I enjoy working with. Some of my all-time favorites include Doug Mientkiewicz, Michael Cuddyer and A.J. Pierzynski mostly because they loved the microphone.

SethSpeaks: Joe Mauer is emerging as one of the top catchers in baseball already at such a young age. He spent just half a season at New Britain. Was he one of the "special" ones?

Jeff Dooley: Yes, Joe Mauer was one of the special ones. He made the best defensive play I have ever seen as a catcher. There was a foul popup behind the plate and he ranged back to the backstop leaned into the front row and made the bucket catch. Next, he threw out the runner who tagged and tried to get to second base. Most catchers in the EL wouldn't have those types of instincts but he did. He is the entire package.

SethSpeaks: Finally, as you see guys like Liriano, Mauer, Jason Bartlett, Scott Baker, Terry Tiffee and so many other guys that you have covered and watched at AA get called up to the major leagues and get their shot and in many cases succeed, what does that feel like? Do they become the talk of the team? That would have to give a lot of those players a lot of inspiration.

Jeff Dooley: It is well documented that the core group of Minnesota Twins have come through New Britain and it is fun for the fans of Connecticut to follow the Twins. Even in the Eastern League cities we visit, people will comment how great it is to watch the Twins because it's the Rock Cats team from a few years before. We take great pride in that.

SethSpeaks: I want to leave space in this last spot open for you. Are there any thoughts or ideas you would like to pass on to Twins fans about the team, your job, or anything. This space is yours.

Jeff Dooley: I just want to say how lucky we are to be associated with an organization with so much class. When the Twins draft or sign a player his makeup is a big part of their decision and we benefit with that philosophy in the minors. I have never had a problem with a player and each year we have a new group to work with kids and help within the community. Fans in Minnesota should be proud of what Terry Ryan, Jim Rantz and the organization has done.

SethSpeaks: Have a great offseason!

Final Standings	Total	Week	10		Over	All
Name	Site	W	L	Win%	W	L	Win %
Trevor Born	Twins Junkie	10	4	71.4%	103	41	^{^71.5%}
Cory Hepola	KTVH-TV Sports	9	5	^{^64.3%}	100	44	^{^{^{^{^69.4%}}}}
Mike Brasel	Fantasy FB Guru	10	4	71.4^{^%}	99	45	68.8^{^%}
SethSpeaks Panel		9	5	64.3^{^%}	94	43	68.6%
Seth Stohs	SethSpeaks.net	9	5	^{^{^64.3%}}	97	47	^{^{^67.4%}}
Aaron Gleeman	Aaron's BB Blog	10	4	^{^71.4%}	97	47	^{^{^67.4%}}
Will Young	Will's Twins Blog	10	4	71.4^{^{^{^{^%}}}}	93	51	64.6^{^{^{^{^%}}}}
Stick & Ball Guy	Stick & Ball Guy	10	4	71.4%	91	53	63.2^{^{^%}}
Brent Hanson	BrentNet	10	4	^{^{^71.4%}}	90	54	62.5^{^{^%}}
Melissa Lien	SethSpeaks.net	8	6	57.1^{^%}	90	54	62.5^{^{^{^{^%}}}}
Ben Jacobs	Hardball Times	9	5	^{^{^64.3%}}	89	55	^{^{^61.8%}}
Kevin Slowey	Twins Pitching Prospect	5	9	^{^{^35.7%}}	80	64	55.6^{^{^%}}
Grant Balfour	Twins Relief Pitcher	11	3	78.6^{^%}	80	64	^{^{^55.6%}}