River Bandits finalize roster
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By Steve Batterson | Monday, March 31, 2008 |
Spring-training records mean little, but the competitiveness of the players who will open the 2008 season on the Quad-Cities River Bandits roster impresses manager Steve Dillard.
“We have a group of guys who like to compete, who really like to get after it,” Dillard said. “I like their approach.”
The River Bandits’ 25-man opening-day roster was finalized Sunday, and Dillard has worked with most of the players on it throughout St. Louis’ three-week minor-league training camp.
“We’ve had a few guys join us in the past few days, but most of the group has been together for the majority of the spring,” Dillard said.
Shortstop Pete Kozma, the Cardinals’ first-round selection and the 18th pick overall, is one of 11 players from the 2007 draft to earn spots on a River Bandits’ roster that includes five teenagers.
The group includes pitchers Nick Additon, Brian Boderick, Thomas Eager and J.D. Stambaugh, half of the eight-pitcher piggyback rotation Quad-Cities will utilize at the start of the 2008 season.
Two of three players who return from the 2007 Quad-Cities roster — Shaun Garceau and Blake King — are part of that rotation as well as Andres Rosales and Cardoza Tucker.
The only other player on the team who played for Quad-Cities a year ago is second baseman Jose Garcia, who rose three levels through the Cardinals’ system last year.
The River Bandits’ roster includes 15 players who played on a short-season team at Batavia which finished 12 games under .500 in the New York-Penn League last season.
Quad-Cities has tasted success this spring. Because of the large number of players the Cardinals brought to their minor-league camp, the Quad-Cities team was split into two and the teams combined for a 17-4-2 record in exhibitions against other Class A farm teams.
John Vuch, the Cardinals’ director of minor-league operations, labeled the competition for River Bandits roster spots as fierce.
“Those who ended up making this team were the ones who showed that they deserved to be there,’’ Vuch said. “The best thing about that type of competition is that we know there is a lot of insurance remaining in extended spring training to help fill any gaps caused by promotion or injuries.’’
The River Bandits leave their Florida spring training this morning and are scheduled to fly into the Quad-City International Airport late this afternoon.
Dillard will put his team through a workout that is open to the public at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park, one day before the River Bandits are scheduled to open their 140-game Midwest League schedule with a 7 p.m. home game against Wisconsin.
For openers
The opening-day roster of the Quad-Cities River Bandits:
Pitchers (12): Nick Additon, Brian Broderick, Wayne Damon, Thomas Eager, Justin Fiske, Shaun Garceau, Blake King, Pete Parise, Andres Rosales, Francisco Samuel, J.D. Stambaugh, Cardoza Tucker
Catchers (2): Dave Carpenter, Luis De La Cruz
Infielders (6): Domnit Bolivar, Andrew Brown, Mike Folli, Jose Garcia, Pete Kozma, Charlie Pelt
Outfielders (5): Matthew Arburr, Adron Chambers, Charlie Kingrey, Beau Riportella, Justin Roberson
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