Clinton pitcher finds relief

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By Steve Batterson | Wednesday, May 9, 2007 12:36 AM CDT | () comments

Signed and released by the Chicago Cubs organization before he ever played in a game, Tim Gudex was prepared to move on. But somehow, a second opportunity was too much to pass up.

“I really felt like it was probably over for me, and I had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that it was time to get on with life and put my degree to work,’’ Gudex said.

Those plans changed when the Texas Rangers called last August, and now the                 former University of Iowa pitcher finds         himself filling a bullpen role for the Clinton LumberKings.

After not allowing a run in seven          appearances last August with Texas’ club in the Arizona Rookie League, Gudex has endured a few ups and downs this season for Clinton.

His 10 appearances are the most by any Clinton reliever, but Gudex has a 1-2 record with two saves. In just under 16 innings of work, he has a 4.02 ERA and has struck out 20 and walked three batters.

After a strong start to the season, Gudex struggled in three straight outings before rebounding with a solid 21/3-inning effort Saturday at Lansing.

He struck out five and did not walk a batter in the type of outing he has been seeking.

“I need to get back to giving myself a chance to work ahead in the count,’’ Gudex said. “That opens up so many things and allows me to let my offspeed pitches work to my advantage.

“When you fall behind a hitter in this league, they can make it pretty difficult on you. I’ve had a rough couple of outings, but I’m doing what I can to stay strong mentally and go out and get after it. Physically, there isn’t anything wrong. I just have to start getting ahead of hitters again.’’

That has seldom been a problem for Gudex, who earned first-team all-Big Ten honors twice during his career with the Hawkeyes.

As a junior in 2005, the Appleton, Wis., native became the first pitcher to lead the Big Ten in wins, saves and earned-run average.

He recorded 10 saves and struck out 47 in 39 innings a year ago as a senior and quickly accepted the opportunity to sign a free-agent contract with the Cubs once Iowa’s season ended.

A couple of weeks later, that contract was voided because of concerns the Cubs had about excess bone growth in his left elbow and not wanting to take on the risk, Chicago sent him home.

“That left me with a lot of doubt, but the coaches at Iowa kept saying that I had a future in the game,’’ Gudex said.

At 6-foot, 165 pounds, the left-hander isn’t going to overpower many hitters.

Instead, he relied on an ability to effectively mix his pitches and a competitive tenacity to succeed in the Big Ten, but after the quick cut by the Cubs, Gudex was left with plenty of doubts.

“I was ready to get a 9-to-5 job and put my education to work when the Rangers called,’’ Gudex said.

That call came in late July of last year, and by early August Gudex found work in the Arizona Rookie League.

In seven appearances there, he did not allow a run while posting a 2-0 record and earning one save in 14 innings.

“That told me I could compete. It gave me a chance,’’ Gudex said.

Gudex spent the offseason in Iowa City, splitting time between preparing for his first spring training and working as an accountant at the nearby Riverside Casino and Resort.

“I wasn’t guaranteed anything going into spring training, but they felt I pitched well enough to earn a spot on the Clinton roster,’’ Gudex said. “Now it’s up to me to make the most of it.’’

He likens it to the development and progress he sees his former teammates at Iowa making this season.

The Hawkeyes have won 12 straight games, the program’s most extended period of success since Cal Eldred was toeing the rubber for Iowa in 1985.

“I’m not surprised because the coaches there have remained true to their philosophies, and with time the program has started to develop,’’ Gudex said. “They preach consistency and a work ethic built around getting better every day. I’m using that now as much as ever.’’

Gudex and the LumberKings are chasing a championship of their own, finding themselves among the top of the standings in the Midwest League’s Western Division as the first half nears its midpoint.

“It’s great coming to the park everyday knowing that you’re on a team that is winning and that every contribution you make will help,’’ he said.

“The approach — that stays the same — and you try to pitch the same no matter what the circumstances, but winning definitely helps. It creates a great atmosphere, and I just want to do my part.’’

Some seasons, playing 22 of 28 games on the road during an early stretch of the schedule would be a cause of concern for Swing of the Quad-Cities manager Keith Mitchell.

This isn’t one of those seasons.

“With the schedule we’ve had, it would have been easy to get buried pretty quickly, but this group doesn’t seem to get bothered by home or road. They just like to compete,’’ Mitchell said.

Quad-Cities opened the season with 25 of its first 37 games on the road, a number that will turn around during the final weeks of the first half.

The Swing return to John O’Donnell Stadium on Monday, beginning a       10-game homestand. Quad-Cities plays 23 of its final 33 games of the first half at home.

“That’s something we can use to our advantage,’’ Mitchell said. “Even going back to last year, there seems to be something about playing at home that brings out the best in our team. We’ve rallied to win a lot of home games late.’’

Mitchell is interested in seeing how his team competes against Lansing in an ongoing series that runs through Friday. The Lugnuts have been on the heels of Dayton, which is off to a 22-4 start, throughout the opening weeks in the       Eastern Division.

“Statistically, they are up there in hitting and pitching,’’ Mitchell said. “Our guys seem to rise to the occasion, though and generally, we’ve been playing good ball.

“From the start, we’ve talked about defense and pitching, and we’ve been solid in those areas and our hitting has been pretty timely. That’s a good combination.’’

Pitcher P.J. Walters said Swing pitchers have helped themselves by working together.

“Most of us were on the same staff last year at (short-season) State College, and with the two-starter (tandem) system we’re using, we talk quite a bit about what to expect from hitters,’’ Walters said. “We’re all pretty much on the same page.’’

Notebook

A new generation

Great Lakes, which played last week at John O’Donnell Stadium, has some good bloodlines on its roster.

Shortstop Preston Mattingly, a first-round pick of the Dodgers in the 2006 draft, is the son of New York Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly, while outfielder Scott Van Slyke’s father, Andy, is the first-base coach of the Detroit Tigers.

“I grew up around the game. It’s a big part of who I am and what I do, but the one thing I learned from that is that I’ll have to earn my own way. That’s the way it works,’’ Mattingly said.

“When I come to the park, I’m just one of the guys trying to get better and work my way up through the          system. That’s the way it works, and that’s the way it should be.’’

Mattingly is off to a .200 start at the plate, while Van Slyke, a 14th-round pick in 2005, is batting .224.

Swing plan a home run

For the fifth straight year, the Swing of the Quad-Cities are scheduling a home run.

The club will host its Swing 5K Home Run and Kids Fun Run on Sunday, May 20 to benefit the Quad-Cities Child Abuse Council.

The flat, scenic USA Track and Field-certified course runs along the banks of the Mississippi River, with the starting line beginning just outside of John O’Donnell Stadium and the finish line at home plate.

Registration will be on race day beginning at 7:30 a.m., with the Kids Fun Run set for 8:30 a.m. and the 5K starting at 9 a.m.

The top three finishers in each of the 12 age divisions receive trophies, and all participants receive a Swing baseball cap and a ticket to Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against West Michigan.

For further information or to volunteer to assist, contact Brittany Del Angel at (563) 324-3000.

Switch to night games

The Swing on Tuesday announced that a pair of Saturday games — Aug. 11 and 25 — have been moved to 6:30 p.m. starts.

The thinking was to allow fans to escape the hot daytime weather that would accompany a 2 p.m. opening pitch.

The Aug. 11 game is “Credit Union for Kids” night, and a fireworks display will follow the game. Aug. 25 is “Keep Scott County Beautiful” night, and there will be related activities throughout the day leading up to the game.

Lumberking gets dual honor

Clinton Lumberkings third baseman John Whittleman this week was named the Texas Rangers Minor League Offensive Player of the Month for April and the Midwest League Player of the Week for his performance last week.

Whittleman, a second-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2005, batted .343 in April with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 21 games.

Last week, he hit .391 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs.

Lobbying for a likeness

Fans of the West Michigan           Whitecaps are voting to determine whose likeness will be crafted as part of a bobblehead doll giveaway later in the season.

Former Whitecaps manager Phil Regan and former West Michigan infielder Brandon Inge are among four people and one mascot in the              running. Voting at the team’s Web site ends next weekend, and a replica of the winner will be distributed at a home game on Aug. 27.

Regan lobbied for votes at a home game last weekend in a “debate’’ with other contestants. Inge, currently busy playing third base for the Detroit Tigers, sent a video encouraging          support.

This week

Swing of the Quad-Cities

Today-Friday

Opponent: Lansing Lugnuts

When: Today, 9:30 a.m.; Thursday-Friday, 6 p.m.

Where: Oldsmobile Park, Lansing, Mich.

Saturday-Sunday

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where: Community Field, Burlington, Iowa

Monday-Tuesday

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Monday-Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: John O’Donnell Stadium, Davenport

FYI: Monday, Kids Eat Free with purchase of general admission ticket; Tuesday, Family 4-Pack with box seats, pizza slices and sodas for four plus a game program for $44

Clinton LumberKings

Today

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Today, 6 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Field, Clinton, Iowa

FYI: Today, Subway Sandwich Wednesday

Thursday-Friday

Opponent: Burlington Bees

When: Thursday-Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Community Field, Burlington, Iowa

Saturday-Sunday

Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Field, Clinton, Iowa

FYI: Saturday, Clinton Community College Night; Sunday, American Airlines trip giveaway and Clinton Floral Mother’s Day giveaway

Monday-Tuesday

Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels

When: Monday, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, noon

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

By the numbers

.846

Winning percentage of the Dayton Dragons through the first month of the season

Around the league

Burlington: Bees pitcher Yovany D’Amico has been promoted by the Royals to high-A Wilmington. In his third season at Burlington, D’Amico was 0-0 with a 1.32 ERA in six appearances.

Cedar Rapids: The Kernels activated starting pitcher David Herndon from the disabled list. The right-hander was 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA before being involved in a minor automobile accident.

Great Lakes: Infielder Adolfo Gonzalez has joined the team. The native of Venezuela is in his sixth year in the Dodgers system. He hit .248 with six homers last season at high-A Vero Beach.

South Bend: Manager Mark Haley and pitcher Ramon Sanchez were ejected after a pair of           bench-clearing incidents Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Wisconsin. Each started when Sanchez hit a batter.

West Michigan: All 160 members of a Grand Rapids Marine reserve unit that returned last week from Iraq lined the first- and third-base line prior to a Whitecaps game last weekend.

Wisconsin: After struggling through a 54-86 season a year ago, things haven’t changed for the Timber Rattlers, who sat at 5-20 one month into the season and led the league with 55 errors.

Just ask

Have a question pertaining to the Midwest League? Mail it to Steve Batterson, Quad-City Times, P.O. Box 3828, Davenport IA 52801 or e-mail it to sbatterson@qctimes.com.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at www.qctimes.com.