Baseball mixed in with vacation in Hawaiian league
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Yesterday notwithstanding, the weather here is about to turn -- and already has been -- winter-like.
So how does a trip to Hawaii sound?
Pretty good to some Pirates minor-league prospects and former Pirates hitting instructor and minor-league manager Dave Clark.
They're in Hawaii. They have been for a month and will be for another three weeks.
They're all involved in the revival of the Hawaiian Winter League, which originally operated from 1993-97.
"A big vacation is what it is," Clark said. "You get to wear flip-flops every day."
There are minor annoyances, though.
An earthquake Oct. 15, for example.
"A nice little rumble," Clark said. "About 15 seconds later, two more rumbles. No power until that evening."
And, OK, players must don their uniforms before arriving at the ballpark because there aren't clubhouses. And there aren't showers.
Other than that ...
"Once you're on the field, it's fun," Clark said.
"A vacation and baseball," said Brian Bixler, a quickly rising shortstop in the Pirates' system. "That's a positive for me."
Bixler, 24, plays for the Honolulu Sharks, as do four other Pirates prospects -- center fielder Nyjer Morgan, catcher Steve Lerud and pitchers Wardell Starling and Justin Vaclavik.
Players in the Hawaiian Winter League have the option of staying in hotels or dormitories used by college students.
Bixler shares a dorm room with Lerud and Vaclavik.
"It's not too bad," Bixler said, laughing.
The Hawaiian Winter League includes primarily players who played in high Class A or Class AA leagues in 2006. Japanese players also are on the rosters of the four teams in the league.
"I like that," Bixler said. "I've really enjoyed it. They're all very good. Not only that, they're really friendly and really good teammates."
Bixler played for Class A Hickory in 2005, batting .281 with nine home runs, 50 RBIs and 134 strikeouts in 502 at-bats.
The Pirates started him at Class A Lynchburg in 2006. They wanted Bixler to improve defensively and become more aggressive offensively.
"We wanted him to drive the ball more and cut down on his strikeouts," said Brian Graham, the Pirates' player development director. "He did that. This guy has made great strides."
Bixler split the 2006 season between Lynchburg (73 games) and Class AA Altoona (60). He batted a collective .302 with 29 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 82 runs scored, 52 RBIs and 115 strikeouts in 493 at-bats.
"You could see [in 2005] he had tools and was a guy who could run," Graham said. "But you didn't see a take-charge guy. Now he's a presence. He's more confident. He's a leader."
Bixler, batting .288 in Hawaii, believes he might have had a breakout year in 2006.
"It went well -- kind of what I hoped would happen," he said. "I just have to keep learning and getting better. It's great to just be out here and have this experience. I have to keep on preparing myself and getting used to a longer schedule."
The Pirates hope Bixler continues to develop in Hawaii and has a good enough spring training that he can begin the 2007 season with Class AAA Indianapolis.
Clark, who manages in the Houston organization, guided Class AA Corpus Christi to the Texas League championship in 2006. Why did he opt to prolong his season by managing the North Shore Honu in Hawaii?
"I want to manage in the big leagues," he said. "The good part about [being in Hawaii] is, you're able to teach."
But only five days a week.
Mondays and Thursdays are off days, giving the players plenty of chances to sightsee.
"We can do whatever we want," Bixler said. "Some guys do more than others."
Bixler has seen the Pearl Harbor museum and plans to tour the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial before leaving for home.
Oh, yeah. He might try one other Hawaiian staple.
"I haven't been surfing yet," he said.
NOTES -- Lerud, 22, was the Pirates' fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft. He missed much of the '05 season because of a hand injury. That kept him back with Class A Hickory in '06. "It's great for him to play against higher competition," Graham said. ... Through yesterday, Morgan, hitting .318, led the Hawaiian League with 13 stolen bases and 15 runs scored. ... First baseman Brad Eldred, who missed almost all the past season because of a broken thumb, missed about 10 days of games in the Arizona Fall League because of a strained left shoulder. Eldred has a .217 batting average with a home run, six RBIs and five strikeouts in 23 at-bats with Grand Canyon. ... Catcher Neil Walker, also with Grand Canyon, went 0 for 2 in Friday's "Rising Stars" game in the Arizona Fall League.
Jim McKnight, Associated PressWardell Starling -- A busman's holiday in Hawaii
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First Published November 1, 2006 12:00 am
