Pucetas settling in with his new team

Kevin Pucetas in action for Fresno last season
(Photo courtesy of: Dave Nelson)

Kevin Pucetas picked up his first win of the season last night in Albuquerque. The 26-year-old came over to the Kansas City organization last season as the player to be named in the Jose Guillen trade to the Giants. Pucetas spent the entire 2010 season in Fresno where he was 5-7 with a 5.69 ERA in 26 starts.

Pucetas came in from the bullpen last night because the Storm Chasers have too many starters right now and they are piggybacking a few of them.

Storm Chaser broadcaster Mark Nasser interviewed Pucetas before the game this afternoon in Albuquerque. Given that Pucetas had 116 starts in his career, Nasser asked him what it was like to come in from the bullpen rather than start.

“I just treated it like a start,” Pucetas said to Nasser. “I just wanted to try to control my effort level a little bit – just go out there, keep the game close and give us a chance.”

Storm Chasers win in extra innings

Greg Holland in action last season. Holland, Blake Wood,
Jesse Chavez and Louis Coleman have not allowed a
baserunner this series.

The Storm Chasers saved the best for last in their 10-4 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes last night in New Mexico. They scored 7 runs in the top of the tenth to run away with the game.

The Chasers took advantage of a baserunning blunder by Albuquerque in the bottom of the ninth, five walks in the top of the tenth (two of which forced in a run) and a throwing error by pitcher Jon Huber in the tenth.

• Lance Zawadzki hit his first home run of the season, and drove in four runs.

• Danny Duffy, who was making his Triple-A debut, got the no-decision. He gave up 2 ER in 5.0 IP. He walked one and struck out four.

2,500 attend first games at Werner Park

An estimated crowd of 2,500 people got to see Werner Park in trial run mode last night when Papillion-La Vista and Papillion-La Vista South played the first game of a high school doubleheader followed by Papio South and Omaha Creighton Prep.

In addition to the Omaha Storm Chasers' staff testing video and sound operations, news crews and print journalists tested connections in the press box and fans got their first taste of baseball action in the new stadium.

The temperature was in the mid-50s, but with the wind, it felt colder than that.

Storm Chaser fans who love to shoot photos are going to like what they see once they settle into their seats for the first time. The field is close enough to catch facial expressions. Here are a few photos from the first game:

Suppan roughed up in Storm Chaser loss

Jeff Suppan working out on Wednesday at Werner Park

Another night, another 10 runs for the Isotopes. They downed the Storm Chasers last night in Albuquerque 10-6.

Jeff Suppan got the start for Omaha and gave up 7 earned runs in 4.0 innings – including two home runs to Albuquerque second baseman Justin Sellers, who isn’t exactly known for his power. He had 31 home runs as he entered his seventh season of minor league baseball this year.

Irving Falu played right field again, taking over for David Lough who is day-to-day after he and Paulo Orlando collided in right center field on Thursday night.

Albuquerque hammers Omaha 10-5 in season opener

Well, that didn't go as planned.

The Albuquerque Isotopes drubbed the Omaha Storm Chasers in New Mexico tonight 10-5. They blew the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs against Omaha reliever Steven Shell.

Notes about the game: 

• Clint Robinson was so anxious to play, he showed up at noon -- seven hours before the game was scheduled to begin. In his first at bat, he knocked a solo home run to right field. Then, in the eighth inning, he hit another bomb to right field. Robinson won the triple crown in Double-A NW Arkansas last season and he's off to a fast start this year.

• Coming into the game, starting pitcher Mike Montgomery had an ERA of 2.27 as a pro. But Albquerque didn't seem to be impressed. Montgomery had a 1-2-3 first inning, but he struggled with his control -- especially with his breaking stuff -- and the Isotopes got to him in the second inning for four runs. On a positive note, he finally settled down and retired the final 7 hitters he faced. His final line: 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K.

Jirschele, Hosmer and Montgomery talk about the upcoming season

Mike Montgomery signing autographs at Family Fest

The Omaha Storm Chasers finally got the weather they were looking for yesterday when they opened the gate for Family Fest. The two previous open houses drew thousands of fans in cold and windy weather.

Families sat in the seats watching players work out and take batting practice. They enjoyed the free pop and popcorn offered by the Storm Chasers. And they lined up for autographs with players such as Everett Teaford, Mike Mongtomery, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer.

After the team finished their workout, they hopped on a plane bound for Albuquerque, where they will open the season tonight. Before they left, manager Mike Jirschele, pitcher Mike Montgomery, third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Eric Hosmer met with the media.

Royals sign Suppan to a minor league contract

Jeff Suppan in action for Milwaukee
(Photo: Spaluch1 / Wikimedia Commons)

The Royals signed Jeff Suppan, 36, to a minor league contract yesterday. Suppan re-joins the organization he pitched for from 1998-2002. He arrived in Omaha late last night and was scheduled to join the team today.

Suppan split time between St. Louis and Milwaukee last season, pitching mostly out of the bullpen for the Brewers and he’s open to doing that in Omaha if that’s what Kansas City wants.

“Absolutely,” he told Dick Kaegel. “Last year I was actually fortunate to be in the bullpen and have Trevor Hoffman there, and he really did teach me a lot. I’ve always had great respect for everyone who pitched in the bullpen, but once I was in the bullpen, I had a lot more respect. It’s a very challenging job.”

Storm Chasers win Futures Game against the Naturals

Eric Hosmer signs autographs after the
game (Photo: Kansas City Royals)

While the Kansas City Royals were staging their second straight come from behind victory against the Angels this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, players from the Omaha Storm Chasers and NW Arkansas Naturals watched in anticipation – knowing they would get their shot soon enough in the Futures Game that started at 3:40 pm.

Behind extraordinary efforts on the hill from Mike Montgomery and Danny Duffy, the Storm Chasers won the game 4-1. The two teams continued to play for three additional innings, after the game was final, to give the pitchers some extra work. The Naturals scored an additional run in the eleventh inning.

• Mike Montgomery got the start for the Storm Chasers. He was sharp in the first inning, prompting this response on Twitter from Terez Paylor, who covers the Royals for the KC Star, “Mike Montgomery is filthy. Just blew away Wil Myers with some 96 MPH heat that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd.”

Kansas City announces preliminary Omaha roster

David Lough in action last season
(Photo: Lee Warren)

Kansas City announced the preliminary Omaha Storm Chasers' roster yesterday. The following information comes from a press release:

The 24 players on the roster are relatively young by Triple-A standards, with no players in their thirties and 15 players aged 25 or younger, including a quartet of young stars aged 22 and younger.

Leading the youth movement are 21-year-old first baseman Eric Hosmer and 22-year-old third baseman Mike Moustakas, the most highly-regarded duo of prospects in the entire minor leagues at No. 8 and 9 in “Baseball America’s” Top 100. Joining them in the infield are Irving Falu, Johnny Giavotella, Clint Robinson and Lance Zawadzki. Behind the plate will be Manny Piña and Cody Clark.