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Play ball! Where Hope Springs EternalBy Rick Horowitz
The days are longer, the sun is higher, the bone-chilling winter is only a memory. And you know what that means, don't you? That's right -- it's time for another year of baseball excitement from your Montana Mollusks! It's been a busy off-season for the Shellmen, and the results of all that wheeling and dealing are on display every morning at Al's Amoco Field At Tina's Trinkets Park, where veteran manager "Skip" Toumaloo puts his squad through their pre-season paces. Toumaloo likes what he sees so far. "I feel real good about this bunch," Toumaloo says, his cleats tracing tiny circles in the dark red clay along the outfield fence. "I think we're gonna go places this year. Of course, I thought we were gonna go places last year, too." The only place the Mollusks went last year, of course, was straight to the bottom of the tank -- an 18-123 record, and a fifth consecutive losing season. Things will be different this time around, Toumaloo vows. "I want them ready for the opening bell. Last season, it's like we got off on the wrong foot and never got ourselves back on track." In fact, the 73-2 Opening Day drubbing at the hands of the Nevada Squid seemed to shatter the team's fragile confidence right from the get-go. "Fifty percent of this game is mental," Toumaloo explains. "Fifty percent is physical -- putting the bat on the ball, making the plays in the field. And fifty percent is getting the breaks." Toumaloo expects improvement in all three areas this year. It was the team's most active off-season in memory, as owner Olive Jumbo -- back from a two-year suspension for making unflattering comments about ranchers, miners, waitresses and men named Lyle -- opened her ample pocketbook in search of talent. The result is an exciting blend of fresh faces and old favorites back for another try in the famed Black & Blue. Among the notable additions to the roster are closer Mifune Valentine, signed as a free agent after an impressive season at Idaho (2-2, 13 saves, no outstanding warrants), and catcher D.L. Surely, acquired in a straight-up trade for the Mollusks' longtime backstop, Nick Blocksem. Valentine's arrival is a vote of confidence in this year's team -- the '99 squad didn't have many late-inning leads to preserve -- while Surely will add a big bat to the lineup, if he can stay healthy. "The kid's got enthusiasm," says Toumaloo of his new catcher's affinity for meeting concrete walls at high speeds. "I hated to get rid of Nick -- he had a real gun back there behind the plate." Mollusk fans don't need reminding, especially after that September game against the Squid when Blocksem stopped six potential base stealers right in their tracks. Luckily, most of the wounds were superficial, but after that, a change of scenery seemed inevitable. "Trade him, or put up bulletproof glass everywhere," Toumaloo explains. "I think we made the right call." Aside from Valentine, the pitching staff that Surely will handle this season stays much the same as last year -- with one interesting exception. Fireballing rookie Hafez Rocker, worried that there wouldn't be room in the rotation for a fifth right-handed starter, underwent off-season surgery and had his right arm transferred to his left side. "I wish he'd asked us first," says Toumaloo, acknowledging that Rocker's recovery has been slower than the pitcher, at least, expected. "But you gotta love his dedication." Around the diamond, meanwhile, newly acquired third baseman Ramiro Gonzalez is expected to mesh nicely with infield mates Gonzalo Ramirez, Ramiro Ramirez and Marvin Splatsky, while the long-running outfield combo of Vince, Dom and "Jostlin' Joe" Fromaggio remains intact. The triplets had their strongest offensive showing in a decade last year, hitting a combined .323, led by Dom's career-best .142. "Could we use a little more production from those guys?" Toumaloo asks. "Sure, and I've talked to them about not bunting every at-bat, but they have to do what's comfortable. Besides, there's just something about them that says baseball to me." And the Mollusks say family fun to all of us, so make sure you're right there to root 'em on all season long. Montana Mollusks baseball -- it's a whole 'nother game! Posted 3/31/00. Satire
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Rick Horowitz