Utah Silence: The Jeff Kramer Story

[RobToxin]

Just kill me and send me to Hell. Anything would be better than this.

That thought ran through my mind for the 1,000^th time as I drove into the state of Utah. Are you kidding me? Utah? Could there be a worse punishment for my sins than being sentenced to Utah? McGwire wasn’t sentenced to Utah. Neither was Sosa. Athough, perhaps, looking like Michael Jackson for the rest of his life was his punishment from the baseball gods.

Still. He wasn’t sentenced to Utah.

Do they even drink in Utah? Oh, and never mind the fact that I am divorced with two kids. I am sure that is some sort of crime in Utah as well. At least Marina is graduating high school in May. Not that I’ll be invited to that ceremony. My ex-wife ain’t having it. Although, she sure is having the monthly checks I send. At least I’m doing that right. That’s about the only thing I’ve done right.

Jeff Kramer. 46-year old ex-minor league ballplayer and now manager of the Orem Owlz. Sounds like a great life, huh? Yeah, until you realize that I am basically in the baseball version of the Witness Protection Program. Stash Kramer in Orem and hope that this new steroids investigation never touches him.

Because I have enough knowledge about what really happened in the 90s to damn near kill Major League Baseball.

[Mr. Baseball]

Looks like an interesting story line. I don't really follow any other Dynasty Reports, but thought I'd start with a couple new ones. I'll be keeping track!

[Tyke]

Given the way "The Drops of Jupiter" was going, this will be worth following, Mr Baseball. Really looking forward to this, RT

[Galeg]

I'll be following closely. It's a real shame what happened with your other dynasty, the story was great.

[RobToxin]

The Orem Owlz are affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels and started out as the Provo Angels. They are 1 of the 2 teams in Utah in the Pioneer League, the other being the Ogden Raptors.

The team changed ownership after the 2004 season and moved to a new stadium in neighboring Orem. While retaining its affiliation with the Angels, the team introduced a new name and logo at the time of their move. The Owlz also introduced a new mascot named Hootz a red owl with a head in the shape of a large baseball.. Hootz was married in 2009 in an on-field ceremony to Holly, a female Owl.

The Owlz play in the Pioneer League, which is a rookie-level league with an abbreviated schedule. They won the 2004 Pioneer League championship (while still in Provo) and won the 2005 championship as well, after moving to Orem. The Owlz have also won the 2007 and 2009 championships.

The Owlz play their home games at the Brent Brown Ballpark on the campus of Utah Valley University.

Well, when it comes to minor league jobs, I guess it could have been worse. I mean, I could have ended up managing the Jupiter Marlins.

No, I did not mind being the manager of some short-season rookie club. But, living in Orem, Utah? Family City, USA? Oh, yeah, I can see this working out real well. I’ll fit in here about as well as Yankee cap in Massachusetts. In 2010, Orem was rated the fifth best place to raise a family by Forbes magazine. Which is all fine and dandy, if I had been raising a family. Probably not the best place to be, however, if all I cared to raise was a bottle of Kentucky bourbon.

Well, I could say that Vegas is just a day’s drive away. Alas, part of my refugee status prohibits me from going anywhere near Las Vegas. Or Atlantic City. Or anyplace else where gamblers might gather.

I did not bet on baseball. I did not bet on baseball. I did not….

No. Really. I did not bet on baseball. Oh, but what I did do …

Let’s be real, here. This all happened because of how many people hated Barry Bonds. A bunch of media idiots thought they could destroy Bonds and return the homerun glory to their hero, Mark McGwire. Be careful what you wish for.

My crime? I knew a guy. Who knew a guy.

Baseball, however, is more than just steroids. It’s a whole lot of hand-eye coordination, which, if you develop early vision problems, can certainly hold you back. So, for all the extra “vitamins” I was able to take, poor plate vision kept me out of the show. But, I’m, good with that. I still got to play for a long time. And even got into coaching.

And passing along my knowledge and contacts to those players looking for a little extra assistance along the way.

With ownership’s knowledge and consent.

At least until the Mitchell Report came crashing down around us.

And, now, the Biogenesis guy is about to name-drop.

Big names. Superstar names.

Which leaves me in the clear. But, no one is taking any chances.

And that’s why the Angels, with knowledge and direction from MLB, have stashed me away deep in Utah.

Why, you might ask, doesn’t MLB just ban me? Because I know even more names than Biogenesis.

Not only names of players who used but names of upper management who knew.
So, that leaves me in Utah, hanging out with Hootz and Holly.

[RobToxin]

“Looking good, Jerry. 33-23. Nice job so far.” And Texas is breathing right down your neck, even after you stole that fool Hamilton from them. I did not add that to my phone call but was sure grinning as I thought about it.

Jerry DiPoto. GM of the Angels. Los Angeles Angels. Of Anaheim. What a strange name. I still laugh about that. I don’t know what was wrong with just calling them the California Angels like they had done for so many years. Sounded a whole lot better than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

June 1^st. The season would begin in just a few weeks. A draft would have to take place first and then we would get a ton of rookies to fill our roster with.

Rookie-league ball is a crazy business. Very rarely will a guy from rookie ball go anywhere in the majors. The best prospects will go to single A or double A right away. The throwaways will be sent to Orem and Tempe and Burlington.

The only faces the fans will recognize from the year before are Hootz and Holly.

“This is just temporary, Kramer,” DiPoto said. “Once this mess blows over, we’ll repay your for your loyalty to the club. And to baseball.”

I bet you will, Jerry.

I wonder if the fans will embrace me if I just punch Bud Selig in the mouth. Just once!

“How is Orem?”

“Jerry, this may be the most boring place in all of America. Not even a strip club here!”

“Kramer, you idiot! Tell me you haven’t asked somebody if there is a strip club there.”

“No, I haven’t asked someone. I googled and couldn’t find one. Man, why can’t you guys have a rookie team in Texas?”

“Maybe we’ll send you to Arkansas after this blows over.”

“Oh hell no! I’d rather be in Utah! Well, we’re just twiddling our thumbs waiting for the draft. Staying low. Staying out of trouble. All that good stuff. Going to get some pizza. Call you later.”

Leave me alone and get me some players, Jerry!

[RobToxin]

.500.

That was a reasonable goal. Was probably everybody’s goal in the Pioneer League.

.500.

After all, we are all on the same level. Teams filled with rookies and maybe second-year players who probably will never even reach AA ball. Guys just happy to still be playing baseball and actually getting paid some money to do so.

.500. That was my goal.

Of course, I tried to talk these guys into believing that they, too, could add to the legacy that was the Orem Owlz. And win the Pioneer League.

And, so, we took the field on Opening Day in Idaho Falls.

Our ace, Zachary LeBarron took the mound. A good teammate. That was about the sum of it.

Our batting order went like this:
1. 3B Luis Jolly
2. 1B Francis Larson
3. LF Andrew Ray
4. RF Brennan Gowens
5. SS Jose Rondon
6. DH Jonathan Walsh
7. CF Quinten Davis
8. 2B Raul Linares
9. C Pedro Pizarro

Several of our starts had been around for some time. Gave me the idea that we could have a possible experience advantage over other teams. Unless, of course, these guys were moved around to Burlington.

Jolly led of the season with a base hit and we were underway.

Jolly didn’t last long on the bases as he was thrown out trying to steal second.

LeBarron got off to a great start in the bottom of the first as he struck out the side.

Our hitters weren’t doing much better as we struck out 5 times in the first two innings.

A lead-off walk and a base hit led to a run for Idaho Falls in the bottom of the second and we found ourselves down 1-0.

Linares and Pizarro singled in the top of the third and that brought up Jolly with runners at first and second and nobody out. Jolly then walked on four pitches to load the bases with nobody out for Larson. Larson struck out for the second time in the game for the first out. Ray was next and he singled to tie the game. That brought up our cleanup hitter Gowens who had struck out his first time up. Gowens grounded into the 1-2-3 double play to retire the side.

In the bottom of the third, Idaho Falls got their first two batters on and had runners at the corners with one out. LeBarron struck out the next batter for his fourth K of the game and got the next batter to fly out to get out of the jam.

After three, Orem 1 Idaho Falls 1.

We went quietly in the top of the fourth and LeBarron recorded two more strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth. However, he also gave up two runs and we were down 3-1.

We went quietly again in the fifth and had already struck out 10 times. I was not happy at all with that!

Meanwhile, in the bottom of the fifth, the Chukars got their first two baserunners on again, another occurrence that had me cussing around my mouthful of chew. We were not going to win this game, given these tendencies. LeBarron would strike out two more but give up another run and we trailed 4-1.

We went down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth with Gowens striking out for the second time. That made 11 times Owlz batters had struck out in the game.

Idaho Falls got another leadoff hit in the bottom of the sixth but LeBarron picked him off. One more hit and I gave LeBarron the hook and brought in Kurt Spomer. Spomer struck out the first batter he faced but then gave up a couple of hits that brought in another run and we trailed 5-1.

Rondon led off the top of the seventh with a single, his second hit of the game. Then Walsh struck out for the third time and Idaho Falls pitcher Scott Alexander had set a Pioneer League record with 12 strikeouts in one game. And was still going! Rondon was then caught stealing.

It was that kind of game.

Davis then came up and smashed a solo shot into the bleachers in left field to make it 5-2 as the fans sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch.

Spomer struck out two in the bottom of the seventh to get the three-up three-down.

Idaho Falls made a pitching change in the top of the eighth and Pizarro led off with a solo shot over the left field wall to make it 5-3! Could we come back? Jolly grounded to first for out number one and then Larson grounded out to the catcher. Then Ray popped out to retire the side.

Spomer walked the leadoff man in the bottom of the eighth and then he was sac-bunted to second. I decided to pull Spomer and brought in Joseph Krehbiel. A flyout moved the runner to third and then a passed ball scored the runner to make it 6-3.

Idaho Falls brought in their closer for the ninth inning. Gowens led off by striking out for the third time in the game. Then Rondon struck out. Walsh then grounded to the pitcher to end the game and we lost 6-3.

14 times we struck out in the game.

14!

Not the way to lead off the season.

[RobToxin]

Hootz and Holly Bobblehead Night.

That was the gimmick for our home opener of 2013.

We were 1-1 after beating Idaho Falls 5-4 on the 21^st and were hosting the Grand Junction Rockets.

Simply, how the schedule would work is we would rotate between our three division opponents, Idaho Falls, Grand Junction and the Ogden Raptors, although we wouldn’t see Ogden until the 15^th game of the season.

This first home series of the season would be for four games against the Rockets as every team in the division was 1-1.

Mike Clevinger took the mound for us in this game as we had 3,717 show up to Brent Brown Ballpark to collect their bobbleheads.

Clevinger got the perfect first inning and our fans were rocking early on. We drew a couple of walks and moved the runners on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first but failed to score. Missed opportunity for sure but their pitcher was having control issues right away. A good sign for us.

They got the first hit of the game in the top of the second but stranded him at second. All we could muster was three flyball outs.

Clevinger was perfect in the top of the third, bringing his strikeout total to four for the game with a K as well. And we were retired in order in the bottom of the third as we were still searching for our first hit of the game.

They got their second hit of the game in the top of the fourth but did nothing with it as Clevinger’s strike out total reached five. And we went in order again in the bottom of the fourth. Someone needs to mention the no-hitter and jinx this guy already!

Clevinger struck out two more in a perfect top of the fifth as the fans were seeing a great duel between two pitchers. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, Raul Linares broke up the no-no with a two out single. But we stranded him and we moved on to the sixth inning of a scoreless ballgame.

Then, in the top of the sixth, the Rockets got a single and a double to put runners on second and third with nobody out. A sac-fly followed and Grand Junction led 1-0. And an RBI single made it 2-0. But, in the bottom of the sixth, Francis Larson hit a solo homer to cut the deficit to 2-1 and Grand Junction made a pitching change. Andrew Ray then doubled with two out before Jose Rondon lined out to center to end the inning.

I stayed with Clevinger in the top of the seventh and he issued a one-out walk and he called the pen and we brought in Joseph Krehbiel and then Sam Mulroy threw out the Grand Junction baserunner as he tried to steal second which turned out to be huge as the next Rocket’s batter doubled before we got out of the inning with a flyball to center.

Seventh innings stretch and we were down 2-1.

Jonathan Walsh led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and moved to second on a groundball to the pitcher. Raul Linares then fanned for the second out of the inning. Mulroy then reached on an error that moved Walsh to third and that brought us to the top of the order. Runners at the corners. Two outs. Luis Jolly the batter. And Jolly grounded out to first to end the inning.

In the top of the eighth, we turned the 5-4-3 to wipe out a leadoff single and then, after a two-out single, Mulroy threw out the second baserunner trying to steal. Grand Junction made a pitching change in the bottom of the eighth. In fact, they made three of them. And each man struck out the one hitter he faced so we went to the ninth still behind 2-1.

Kriehbel gave up a leadoff single and then threw away a shot at a double play with a throwing error and we were in a jam. Runners at first and second and no outs. Kriehbel then struck out the next three batters and we headed to the bottom of the ninth still trailing 2-1.

Jonathan Walsh got the crowd on their feet with a one out double but we were at the bottom of the order and needing at least one more hit to keep this thing alive. Quinten Davis then drew a walk and we had the winning run on base! Linares then loaded the bases with a single and that brought up Mulroy, the catcher.

Mulray flied the ball into centerfield, the catch was made for the second out, Walsh tagged up, headed for home, the throw….

Walsh slid…..

OUT!

Game over.

Grand Junction beat us 2-1.

3,717 Hootz and Holly bobbleheads quietly exited Brent Brown Ballpark.

What a kick-in-the-gut way to lose….

[RobToxin]

The schedule had us playing from June 20^th to July 8^th without a day off. After the stunning loss to the Rockies, we ran off four straight wins before our next loss. Pitching was out key as we had the best bullpen ERA in the Pioneer League after nine games as well as the fewest runs allowed.

We lost players to Tempe. We received players from Tempe. We lost players to Burlington. We received players from Burlington. Still, we ran off another three game win streak and were 9-5 on the Fourth of July, tied for first in the South Division with Idaho Falls.

It was the first day of a 4-game series against the Ogden Raptors (6-8) and our first game against them all year. They were at home and had a nice little celebration, including one of those surprise homecomings where they pretended to have the soldier on Skype and then lost connection, only to have him walk out onto the field and surprise his pregnant wife.

Then it was game time.

Our starting lineup with batting average, homeruns and RBIs.
1. LF Ryan Bolden .289 4 11
2. 2B Chase Patterson .389 1 6
3. RF Brennan Gowens .160 1 3
4. C Sam Mulroy .275 1 3
5. DH Andrew Ray .261 0 2
6. CF Rich McCoy .136 0 4
7. 3B Raul Linares .429 2 5
8. SS Brandon Trinkwon .100 0 1
9. 1B Luis Jolly .174 0 1

Our starting pitcher would be Jairo Diaz (1-0, 0.96 ERA)

Bolden led off the first with a double and then took third on a wild pitch. Patterson followed with his own double and we led 1-0. Gowens singled and Patterson scored from second but got hurt on the slide into home as Gowens moved to second on the throw. We were up 2-0 but Chance Ross was going to have to play second base. Gowens moved to third on a Mulroy groundout to first and then Andrew Ray walked so it was runners at the corners and one out for Rich McCoy and he also walked to load the bases for Raul Linares. Linares flied out to center but Gowens tagged and scored to make it 3-0. Trinkwon walked to load the bases for Jolly with two outs. Jolly struck out to retire the side but we had a 3-0 lead.

Sorry, Corporal and Mrs Kelly Edwards.

The Raptor used a bunt, a passed ball and a wild pitch to get the leadoff man to third and a sac fly brought him home to make it 3-1.

Bolden led off the top of the second with a walk but was thrown out trying to steal second and we still led 3-1 after two innings as Diaz got the 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second.

Mulroy led off the top of the third with a solo shot and we led 4-1. In the bottom of the third, the Raptors got a leadoff single but stranded their runner at third.

We went down in order in the top of the fourth and then the Raptors scored a pair in the bottom of the fourth and the lead was just 4-3 with still a whole lot of game left.

Again, in the fifth, we went out 1-2-3 and I made a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth, bringing in Johnny Holtman. He inherited a baserunner and that runner scored to tie the game.

Ogden made a pitching change in the top of the sixth as we loaded the bases with one out for Jolly. Jolly got an RBI single to give us the lead back, 5-4 before Bolden popped out and then Ross struck out to leave them all stranded. The Raptors then loaded them with one out in the bottom of the sixth and I gave Holtman the hook and went to John Wiedenbauer and Ogden tied the game again, this time on a sac fly.

We went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the seventh and we entered the seventh inning stretch tied at 5 and, as Corporal Edwards and wife led the singing of God Bless America, I could not believe that my pitching staff had messed this game up. They just didn’t blow three-run leads.

Wiedenbauer was perfect in the bottom of the seventh and the game remained tied/

Ogden went to the bullpen in the eighth and their new pitcher walked one while striking out the side.

In the bottom of the eighth, a walk and a single put the first two Raptors on base and then, a lineout later, I went to the pen and brought in Reid Scoggons. The next batter drove in the go-ahead run for the Raptors.

So, we went to the top of the ninth down 6-5 with the top of the order facing their closer. Boldin flied out to left for the first out and then I brought in Jose Rondon to pinch hit and he drew a walk. Gowen then tied the game with an RBI double! Mulroy followed with a single and we had them at the corners with one out. Ray then struck out for the third time in the game and there was two down. Then McCoy popped out to retire the side.

In the bottom of the ninth, I called on Ramon M. Rodriguez to pitch. Rodriguez struck out the first two he faced, then walked a batter. A single gave the Raptors runners at the corners with two outs and then a walk loaded the bases. Then, Rodriguez sent the game into extra innings with a strikeout!

Raul Linares led off the top of the tenth with a solo homerun that brought all of us out of the dugout to greet him at home plate. But the game wasn’t over yet. We still needed three outs. A groundball and a strikeout had us one out away from pulling this one out. I thought McCoy had ended it on a short fly ball but the ump ruled it had bounced first and the game that refused to be won or lost continued.

Then, the ground ball to Linares, the throw to first….

HE’S OUT!

And I could breathe again as we had pulled it out 7-6 in ten innings.

After the game was over, I had all our players go and shake hands with Corporal Kelly.

Then I went and smoked a cigarette!