West Division preview, part 1

Windy City ThunderBolts
Location: Crestwood, Ill.
Manager: Tommy Thompson (1st year)
Stadium: Standard Bank Stadium (3,600)
Last year: 60-36, 1st in West; beat Kalamazoo in finals
Key returners: RHP Stephen Flake (10-3, 4.04); RHP Ross Stout (11-3, 2.57, 121 strikeouts, MVP of championship series); OF Mike Sullivan (.310, 14 SBs).
Impact newcomers: RHP Billy Petrick (pitched in eight major-league games for Chicago Cubs in 2007); 1B J.T. Restko (44 home runs in 6 seasons in Marlins’ system).
Outlook: Thompson is Windy City’s fourth manager in three seasons but the ThunderBolts have won the last two league championships. Thompson was the 2007 Baseball America High-A Manager of the Year with Frederick in the Baltimore Orioles’ system and has more than 250 career wins. With the addition of former major leaguer Petrick, Windy City could have the best starting rotation in the league. But Petrick, who has had two surgeries since playing in the majors, already has been placed on the disabled list. Finding a closer is a must because Matt Petty (41 saves last two years) is gone. The offense took a hit in the offseason, losing the top five RBI guys, including league MVP Phil Hawke. The ThunderBolts are still a solid playoff contender, and if the young hitters come around, then Windy City could become the league’s first team to three-peat.
Noteable: Bench coach Mike Kashirsky was the interm manager the ThunderBolts in the second half of last season and guided them to the league championship.


Southern Illinois Miners
Location: Marion, Ill.
Manager: Mike Pinto (3rd year, 107-85)
Stadium: Rent One Park (3,611)
Last year: 58-38, 2nd in West; lost to Windy City in playoffs.
Key returners: RHP Ryan Bird (13-3, 2.48, league-leading 152 strikeouts, Pitcher of the Year); OF Kevin Koski (.285, 16 SBs); 1B/OF Joey Metropoulos (.315, 20 HR, 66 RBI).
Impact newcomers: C Brandon Ketron (.330, 5 HR for Washington in 2006); OF Jereme Milons (47 HR, 101 SBs in 7 pro seasons); SS Gered Mochizuki (.314, 19 SBs for Evansville).
Outlook: Southern Illinois was second in team ERA last year when it made the playoffs in its second season in the league. The Miners return Bird and some effective relievers but must rebuild the back of the rotation. The Miners also must replace third baseman Brandon Jones and first baseman Tim Dorn, who combined for 41 home runs last year, and reliable shortstop Mike Scanzano. If replacements for the left side of the infield are found, the Miners will be back in the playoff hunt.
Did you know? Pinto is a motivational speaker and his clients include Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of “In a League of Your Own, Positioning Yourself as the Only One to Call.”

Rockford RiverHawks
Location: Rockford, Ill.
Manager: Bob Koopman (2nd year of 2nd stint, 199-156)
Stadium: Road Ranger Stadium (3,279)
Last year: 48-48, 4th in West
Key returners: OF/P Jason James (.350, 13 HR, 74 RBI, 11 SB); 1B Robbie Knapp (.317, 8 HR, 57 RBI for Rockford and Washington); P Kyle Marcum (6-1, 4.78).
Impact newcomers: OF Mike Goetz (.314, 14 SBs for Traverse City); RHP Mike Rogers (Oakland’s 2nd-round draft pick in 2004; 8 starts in Class AA).
Outlook: If you had a bat and pair of spikes, then you were probably in camp with the RiverHawks. Word is Rockford had 62 players in spring training. Like Washington, the RiverHawks have not had a losing season in seven years in the league, but they lost six straight to end last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003. With James, Goetz and Knapp, Rockford will hit. The key will be the starting pitching, which was a disappointment last year.
Did you know? Rockford will host the Frontier League all-star game July 15.