1st player signed
January 29, 2008 by Jason Guarente
The Barnstormers have taken their first official step toward constructing the 2008 roster. They’ve signed pitcher Derek Forbes.
Forbes, 29, auditioned for the team during the Atlantic League’s tryout in Arizona earlier this month. The 6-1, 185-pound righthander was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 37th round in 1999. The highest level he reached was Single-A advanced in 2000.
Head of baseball operations Keith Lupton and manager Von Hayes were impressed with Forbes’ workout. They say he has a 90 mph fastball to complement his off-speed stuff. The Barnstormers will look at Forbes as a starter. Lupton said the team plans to bring seven or eight potential starters to spring training.
Forbes hasn’t pitched professionally since 2005 and has undergone Tommy John surgery. His last appearance in affiliated ball came with the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Orioles’ Single-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
One positive from those numbers: Forbes averages 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings, which is very good. Some negatives: His career WHIP is 1.63 and he averages nearly five walks per nine innings, which is not so good. A lot of those numbers are ancient history and probably can’t be seen as predictive.
Forbes made seven relief appearances with the Atlantic City Surf in 2001 and 2004. He was 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA. If his velocity is as advertised, he could enjoy some success this season — assuming he breaks camp with the club. Power pitchers generally fare well in the Atlantic League if they have decent control.
In other news …
*The Barnstormers have reached verbal agreements with several players from last season’s team, but will not announce them until contracts are actually signed.
*SS Danny Gonzalez is not expected to return. He’s expected to play in the Mexican League this summer.
*OF Reggie Taylor has signed a minor-league deal with the Braves. Taylor, 31, has not played in affiliated ball since 2005 — when he was in the big leagues with the Devil Rays. Taylor hit .345 with 19 homers and 81 RBIs in Mexico last year. It’s good to see him get another opportunity.
The season is getting closer and closer. I can almost taste it.
Are teams allowed to sign player’s whenever they can,or do they have to wait,for example,Jan.30. Just wondering. I know they like to wait until player’s get released from affiliates,but can they sign player’s whenever. Thank You.
Losing Danny Gonzalez is a big loss. He was a gamer and we’ll miss him.
Not sure about the Forbes signing. Hope it works out for us, but to be honest, I can’t see him still on the team at the end of the first half. It’s hard to go 2-3 years without playing.
Teams can sign players whenever they want. A lot of players choose not to sign until February because they’re holding out for an affiliated offer.
As for Forbes, I obviously don’t know anything about him other than his numbers and what the Barnstormers say. But it looks from his history that he’s had a lot of injuries. Who knows? Maybe he’s over them now and the team catches lightning in a bottle. If he’s throwing 90, he’s certainly worth a shot.
Sounds like a Derek Griffith. Maybe the results will be better.
Sign some strong arms and hope for health, some luck and that Rick Wise can find some things that bring growth where needed. You can’t teach 90+ mph— you can fine tune mechanics.
Spring is baseball, sunshine and hope eternal. All three wait on the other side of March. Today’s wind and cold weather will soon give way to baseball at the Clip
Do the A.L. teams play any preseason games during the spring workouts?
Yes. The first two days are usually practices/workouts. The next six or seven days include nine-inning exhibition games.
Thank You Jason.
Sure hope they bring Russ Cleveland back. Russ a great guy to keep peace and good rule model for the team. I hope we get to keep alot of guys . The team just needs to work a little harder and I think with a new leader that can happen and again the Barnstormers could be number 1 again.
It looks like about seven players will be back from last season’s team.
Come On Jason… RUSS ???
Please say yes !!
lets hope number 23 is one of those
Any news on the where abouts of Jason Bowers?
As far as I know, Bowers is unsigned.
Ahhhh… the suspense of it all!
I am just hoping for the best. I want all of us to be able to go to each and every game knowing that we are in the chase. Last year was a complete bust and we all knew it quite early.
I had my favorites each year and I will continue to have favorites each and every season. But knowing that the selection process is out of the fans hands, makes it suspenseful. Daddy likes!
dadTB
We’re ready to do up the Nat. Anthem.
Is it disrespectful to play it loud and fast?
GO BARNSTORMERS
- Rock Von
OK JASON
HOW ABOUT RUSS,ERIC,ROSS,JEREMY,JUTT AND CHRIS THAT LOOKS GOOD ME. WHAT DO YOU THINK ? I CAN HARDLY WAIT UNTIL THE NAMES ARE RELEASED. I LOVE GOING TO THE GAMES AND CHEERING FOR OUR TEAM.
Hi Darlene,
Todd is expected to retire. Of course, he could always change his mind. I don’t expect Cleveland back, but I don’t know that for sure.