Chemistry key in Potomac’s wonderful season
Jason Hornick/News & Messenger
Matt Rogelstad picks up Michael Martinez after Potomac won the Mills Cup.
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By Robert Daski
Published: September 15, 2008
“Tell your family I said hello,” Rogelstad told Tomlin.
The bond between the players and managerial staff contributed to Potomac winning its first Carolina League championship since 1989. Despite using 67 players, the Nationals stayed consistent and ruled the Northern Division from start to finish.
“There were no outside groups,” Rogelstad said. “Everyone was one big family.”
Potomac is the first full-season Washington Nationals affiliate to win a title since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005.
Its 79 regular season wins are the second-most in club history and the team followed with a 6-1 postseason.
“Whoever we sent in there, they continued to perform and continued to win,” Washington director of player development Bobby Williams said. “[Manager] Randy [Knorr] did a great job of keeping the team together. Everyone knew what they had to do on a daily basis. There was a good mix of guys in the clubhouse.”
Outfielder Dee Brown, infielder Michael Martinez and pitchers Ross Detwiler and Josh Wilkie were at Potomac from the beginning of the year to the end.
Rogelstad and pitcher Jack Spradlin were briefly at Double-A Harrisburg before returning.
They respected new players and made them feel at ease.
“It’s about making everyone feel at home,” Brown said. “When you go to another level, people want to prove they belong. But we don’t want people to worry about that. We tell them to just be themselves.”
Playing in a relaxed atmosphere allowed players to carry the team to a successful year.
“When you are loose, your performance on the field is going to improve,” Rogelstad said. “You’re going to have fun and let loose and it’s almost like playing in the backyard.
“When you’re young, you’re not worried about what you do or your mechanics or this or that. You go out, have fun and try and win ballgames. That’s what we were like all year.”
The fun continued after the Mills Cup title game. Players, still celebrating Friday’s clinching win, scampered on the field barefoot and/or shirtless and ran the bases, starting at first and ending at home plate.
“We’ve had a great group of guys,” said Erik Arnesen, the winning pitcher in the clincher after pitching six and two-thirds innings.
Most will continue sharpening their skills this off-season. Beginning today, relief pitchers Edulin Abreu, Martin Beno and Atahualpa Severino join starting pitchers Cole Kimball and Hassan Pena in Washington’s 2008 Instructional League at the spring training complex in Viera, Fla.
Outfielder Michael Burgess, third baseman Stephen King and first baseman Chris Marrero are also set to participate.
Williams said Marrero is ready to play after breaking his right ankle in June. Marrero hit 11 home runs and drove in 38 runs for Potomac before the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
“He’ll be able to make up for lost time and look to improve his defense at first base,” Williams said. “We’re happy Chris will participate.”
Starting pitcher Ross Detwiler, who was at his best during Potomac’s postseason, heads to the Arizona Fall League as do former Potomac pitchers Cory VanAllen, Adam Carr and Zech Zinicola.
First baseman Bill Rhinehart, shortstop Ian Desmond and third baseman Leonard Davis will also play in the AFL.
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