Bandit Post, Vol 1.2, 2001, News and Notes

[aaronweiner]

Rebuilding on Hold?

It's difficult to say, definitively, but the Birmingham Bandits might be putting the idea of rebuilding on hold after their solid start to the season. Even though they've dealt a couple relievers who didn't have to be dealt, (largely because of additional injuries), their pen is still good, their rotation is coming around and their offense is finally whole.

"The team is better than we thought they'd be," said an internal source. "There's no reason to believe that the Bandits can't contend for the wild card as currently built."

Nobody thinks that this is a title contender, of course, but with some good luck and good moves, this team could be better than anyone thought.

Birmingham Drafts Wise-ly

With the #11 pick in the 2001 amateur draft, Birmingham selected lefthanded starting pitcher David Wise. Birmingham was ecstatic to get the lefty, and will soon be providing him nearly a million dollars in bonus signing money.

Bandits GM Aaron Weiner said that if he had the #3 pick in the entire draft, he'd have taken Wise.

"Well, he's more developed than (#4 overall) Luis Luna at the same age, and he's just 20," said Weiner. "He's not a reliever like most of the top pitchers in this draft, and he has real major league quality potential."

The fact that Wise was a lefty also played heavily into the decision, as did Wise's makeup and intangibles.

"Well, for his age, he's just a great kid," said Weiner. "Leads by example, good work ethic, smart and unselfish."

Wise, a Lexington, Kentucky native, wanted to play for either the Louisville Sluggers or the nearby Bandits and is looking forward to his first professional action.

"It's a real honor to be picked by a team that I wanted to play for," said Wise, whose 48/6 K/BB ratio with the IBM Pros made him a top prospect. "I can't wait to get on a real uniform."


Little Dude to Start?

Dan Wachowski has hit .300 in each of the last three seasons at various major and minor league levels. Now, Wachowski has a title he's coveted for years: starter.

"We can't deny that Little Dude has been great this year, and he's a proven bat," said hitting coach Al Bluhm. "Can't think of a single reason why we wouldn't try him out as a starter."

Wachowski will replace the ineffective Glen Linehan. Linehan had hit just .237 for Birmingham, and he hasn't been nearly as effective as he'd been in Montreal. The lineup will be much more solid defensively for Birmingham.

[recte44]

SWEET- The "Little Dude" Abides, finally!!!!

[nverhoev]

Ahaha.. That's an amazing nick name.