Featured Player - Rochester Honkers

Are you one of those folks that enviously, but religiously, watches MTV cribs to gawk at the posh lifestyle of Alex Rodriguez and the like? Or are you the type that throws random household objects across the room every time a superstar like Terrell Owens has a salary dispute? Or worse, have you grown indifferent to professional sports altogether?

Unfortunately many of those involved in professional sports these days are most often concerned about making the quick and easy buck. With the implementation of free agency, sports agents have even today's second-rate players yelling, “Show me the money!” On top of that, most sportswriters and TV anchors continue to publicize only the most lurid of personalities and gaudy of highlights, creating a culture of mere highlights and sound bites.

The times are truly a changing, as three-year players now seem like veterans, ten million dollar salaries now seem economical, and tackles ten yards down field now seem to call for a celebration dance. But for every story that parades big-headed superstars, there is one screaming of modesty and hard work—it probably just never left the cutting room floor.

Here at the Rochester Honkers, we appreciate the sort of players that prove this conventional wisdom wrong—the ones who play for the love of the game. Since 1994, our players have inspired us with their fine play both on and off Mayo Field. That is why we are featuring stories on former Honker greats and what kind of lives they are currently leading. Some are playing baseball professionally while others have gone pro in something other than sports, but all of them are stand-up men who stand for something more than money.

You might be the person who asks, "Where’s the hard work, the grit, the blood, sweat and tears?" Well, it’s still out there—we find that you just have to look a little closer.

The Brackeen File

By Luke Muellerleile
(May 2006)

To infiltrate the everyday life of a minor league ballplayer, we at the Rochester Honkers don’t merely cook up some popcorn and watch Bull Durham (although that sounds good right about now). You see, we have a couple of informants in the form of ex-Honker greats. Admittedly, they are often difficult to reach and many divulge their secrets in confidence, but fortunately an insider gave us a tip on Colin Brackeen’s whereabouts. After a long and arduous (white pages) search, we finally did track him down and solicited an interview, but it wasn’t easy.

Brackeen, Colin. Position: Southpaw Weapon of Choice: Mean Slider
Favorite Color: Unknown Weakness: Signing Autographs for Kids

Rochester Honkers (1994-1996)

• Top Ten Season Records: 4 complete games, .857 winning percentage, 9.82 strikeouts per 9 innings, 37 games, 177 innings pitched, 812 total batters faced
• NWL Awards: All-Star Game, Post Season All-Star
• Favorite Play: He made a diving play to his left to stop a bunt for a hit—great bunt, great memory. He was robbed, and out.
• Favorite Memory: He will always remember the great host families that he had the honor of spending time with. St. Olaf Oles (1994-1997)
• Started in a Regional NCAA Playoff in 1st year
• 17 strikeouts in 7 innings against Carleton
• All-American Honors in his senior year
• Led the nation in strikeouts (per 9 innings) in his senior year with 14.2 Minor Leagues (1997-1999)
• Original Employer: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15th Round in 1997
• Teams: Medicine Hat Blue Jays, Dunedin Blue Jays, Hagerstown Suns, St. Paul Saints
• Important Statistics: 7 wins, 2.94 ERA, 125 SO, 137.2 IP, 101 Games
• Daily Schedule: Gets up at 10:00am, eats breakfast, plays video games with his roommate until 2:00pm, then heads to the stadium or gym to work on batting practice, weight training, and PFP (Pitchers Fielding Practice). Later, he showers up then plays cards until team batting practice starts at 5:00pm, where he shags (pitchers always have to shag). Then a quick run and some more cards as he readies himself for the game at 7:00pm. After a surefire win, he tends to sign some autographs, and if he’s lucky, finishes dinner and is in bed by midnight.

But Colin Brackeen recently settled down…and then he explored the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. You see, he was just married this January and for their honeymoon, the newlyweds decided to visit Peru. Colin has also settled down into a more traditional life—one not dominated by long bus rides, weight training, autograph signing and hurling a hard, fist-sized ball past opposing batters—as he now works for a light fixture manufacturing company in St. Paul. Although he spoke about the difficulty in making a career change, we weren’t fooled one bit. Colin has been spotted playing baseball just south of St. Paul and we were told that he has considered coaching and instructing youth in years to come. Where, you ask? He could tell you, but then he’d have to…hit you with a mean slider!

Utility Man for Hire

By Luke Muellerleile
(May 2006)

That’s…Gardenhire. You know, Toby, that kid whose dad is kind of a big deal with the Minnesota Twins. Yeah, the one who was drafted 1,242nd overall way back in the 41st round—or like some haughty sportswriters like to call the “nepotism” round—in the draft last year. Well, apparently now their saying he’s alright. But we already knew that.

Just ask the teammates of this former all-state shortstop at Roseville High School and they’ll be quick to point out his talent. "During his days as a Raider, Toby was always a clutch player for us, who always seemed to make plays with his glove or his bat when we needed them most," says one peer at Roseville.

And our own Rochester Honker fans witnessed Toby set literally every team fielding record in the middle infield, while playing in more games than any other Honker (168). This kind of tough and gritty play earned him Inspiration of the Year award in 2004.

Or who could forget his run at the University of Illinois? Toby lead the Illini to a Big Ten Championship in 2005 during his senior season, anchoring the defense with a .956 fielding percentage.

And last season, in rookie ball at Elizabethton, surely wasn’t the least season. Toby helped the Twins win the Appalachian League Championship, earning him a spot on the Short Season Team of the Year (MiLB.com Awards).

Although Toby struggled a bit at the plate, batting only .200 in his 30 games this past season, he shined on the field while rotating at three different positions (SS, 2B, and 3B) for the Twins. The ability to play multiple positions is a true luxury at this type of level, but pro teams need versatility too.

Look no further then ex-Twin utility man, Denny Hocking. He has amassed a 13-year Major League career playing at seven different positions, even though his hitting abilities have proved less than impressive. The justification is consistently stellar defense—the kind that earned him the American League record for consecutive errorless games (113). Toby also “prides himself on defense” and hopes to one day reach the majors in a similar fashion.

In an age where Home Runs and RBI's are valued highly over good defense and hustle, it is becoming more and more difficult for athletes of Toby’s skill set and stature to succeed. Even in the middle infield, where players have traditionally displayed little power, there is a similar trend among active stars (i.e. Alex Rodriguez, Jeff Kent, Miguel Tejada).

Standing at only six feet and weighing less than two bills, Toby understands his physical limits, but that does not discourage him one bit. As he prepares for training camp, Toby continues to work hard at all facets of the game in the hopes that he can be the next Twins utility man. He says that better offensive production will be his onus for the season, but if last July—where he batted .306 and smacked two doubles in ten games—is any indication, he should be alright. But we already knew that.