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09/11/11 -
Vance
Wilson
(Cougars Manager)
-His thoughts on the Cougars' playoff run
and Game 1 of the Western Division
Championship series
-How the Cougars' offense can create some
runs in the post-season
-His thoughts, four games in, about how
important playoffs are for a player's
development
-His memories of being a New York Mets
catcher during September 11, 2001, and the
aftermath
-The return of baseball after 9/11 and the
most unforgettable moment of his major
league career
08/30/11 -
Dayton
Moore
(General Manager for the Cougars'
parent-club Kansas City Royals)
-His thoughts about the Cougars' playoff
push and the importance of winning in the
minors
-What he learned working several years in
Atlanta and has tried to bring to Kansas
City
-The Royals' approach regarding
international players and facilities
-The Royals' philosophy about having several
different instructors work with their minor
leaguers
-His thoughts about the many positives in
the Royals' season so far
-The initial struggles and recent surge from
former Midwest League star Mike Moustakas
08/11/11 -
Nancy
Faust
(Former longtime organist for the Chicago
White Sox)
-How her long career with the Sox got
started
-Her memories of the '05 World Series
-How she started playing certain songs at
certain times in the game
-What kind of organ she uses and how she can
use other instruments
08/09/11 -
Scott
Sharp
(Director of Minor League Operations for the
Cougars' parent-club Kansas City Royals)
-His thoughts about the Cougars' successful
2nd Half
-How the season has gone overall in the
Royals' farm system
-His thoughts about the Cougars' pitching
staff if the team makes the post-season
-The influx of rookies this season in Kansas
City
07/15/11 -
Mike
Redmond
(Former Cougar ('93-'94) and major league
catcher, now manager of the Lansing Lugnuts)
-His thoughts on the playoff-bound Lugnuts'
season so far
-His memories of playing for the Cougars and
with Charles Johnson and Edgar Renteria
-The similarities between his path and that
of Cougars manager Vance Wilson
-How his playing career and role as a
catcher shaped him as a manager
-The importance of constant communication
between a manager and player
07/14/11 -
John
Wathan
(Special Assistant to the General Manager,
Player Development/Scouting, Kansas City
Royals)
-His current role with the Royals and his 35
years in the organization
-Wathan's days as a Royals player from
'76-'85, including being on two World Series
teams
-His modern record of most stolen bases by a
catcher (36 in '82), which still stands
-The Royals' drive to build sustaining major
league success similar to their run in the
'80s
-His three children -- Dusty (a minor league
manager), Derek (a former Cougar) and Dina
(currently in the Royals' media relations
dept.)
07/01/11 -
Rusty
Kuntz
(Roving outfield, base running and bunting
instructor for the Cougars' parent-club
Kansas City Royals)
-His return to Elfstrom Stadium, where he'd
come as a Marlins coach in the '90s
-His role with the Royals at both the major
and minor league levels
-The importance of being able to bunt,
regardless of where hitters are in the
lineup
-The depth of talent in the Royals' farm
system
06/30/11 -
J.J.
Picollo
(Assistant GM - Scouting/Player Development
for the Cougars' parent-club Kansas City
Royals)
-The Cougars' hot start to the 2nd Half of
the season
-The influx of talent on the Cougars'
roster, including Cheslor Cuthbert and
Orlando Calixte
-A recap of the Royals' recent draft picks,
including No. 5 overall pick Bubba Starling
-How the Royals' farm system is progressing
this season
-His thoughts on the major league club and
the possibility of more prospects being
called up
06/16/11 -
Art
Stewart
(Senior Advisor to the General Manager for
the Cougars' parent-club Kansas City Royals)
-His current role with the Royals, for whom
he's worked for over 40 years
-His thoughts about the Royals recent No. 1
pick, outfielder Bubba Starling
-The differences between scouting now
compared to several years ago when Stewart
began
-What it means to be a Kansas City Royal
-Stewarts amazing baseball career that has
spanned 59 years
06/10/11 -
Tom
Nichols
(Radio play-by-play man for the Dayton
Dragons)
-His thoughts about the Midwest League
schedule and cross-divisional play
-A scouting report on the Dragons, who
entered the set still with a shot at a
1st-half playoff spot
-His review of Dayton shortstop Billy
Hamilton, who leads all of pro baseball in
stolen bases
-His thoughts about Dayton manager and
former major leaguer Delino DeShields
05/18/11 -
Final Out of the Cougars' No-Hitter
-Listen to the final out of the Cougars'
nine-inning no-hitter at Cedar Rapids on May
18, as Sugar Ray Marimon (7.2 innings) and
Chas Byrne (1.1IP) combined for the 7th
no-hitter in team history
05/03/11 -
Glen
Hubbard
(Kansas City Royals minor league infield
coordinator)
-Hubbard's move from the Atlanta Braves to
the Kansas City Royals
-The challenges facing the Cougars early in
the season
-The work that major leaguers put in behind
the scenes to improve their game
-How Hubbard's 30-plus years in baseball can
benefit the Cougars and other Royals minor
leaguers
04/21/11 -
Mark Davis
(Kansas City Royals minor league pitching
coordinator)
-How he dealt with cold weather during his
playing days and how the Cougars are dealing
with it now
-The importance of having former major
leaguers on the Cougars' coaching staff
-His role as pitching coordinator in the
Royals farm system
-What he and the Royals are trying to teach
pitchers at the Single-A level
04/12/11 -
J.J.
Picollo
(Assistant GM - Scouting/Player Development
for the Cougars' parent-club Kansas City
Royals)
-The excitement at the start of a baseball
season
-How he divides his time between the major
leagues, minor leagues and amateur level
-The Royals' scouting philosophy, and the
depth in the upcoming June draft
-Draft picks and their chances of coming to
the Cougars in that same season
04/11/11 -
Scott Sharp
(Director of Minor League Operations for the
Cougars' parent-club Kansas City Royals)
-The excitement of a new baseball season
-The hot start at the big league level for
the Royals
-The 2011 Cougars and the importance of
development at the Class A level
-The 3 Cougars alums elsewhere with the
Royals -- Matt Treanor, Vin Mazzaro and
Justin Marks
-The Cougars' field staff of Vance Wilson,
Jim Brower and Damon Hollins, all former
major leaguers
08/02/10 -
Keith
Lieppman
(Oakland A's Director of Player Development)
-His thoughts about the potentially
playoff-bound Cougars
-The surging hitting from players such as
Anthony Aliotti and Max Stassi
-His thoughts regarding some of the 2010 A's
draftees, including top selection Michael
Choice
-The status of the Cougars' pitching staff
heading down the stretch of the season
07/19/10 -
Jimmy
Escalante
(Cougars pitching coach on a recent Pregame
Show on Cougars Radio)
-His thoughts about the Cougars' pitching
staff during the team's recent hot streak
-The recent pitching of left-hander Justin
Marks, who is among the league leaders in
strikeouts
-The status and future of 19-year-old
Naperville native Ian Krol
-The returns of Chris Mederos (from DL) and
Kenny Smalley (from High-A Stockton)
07/15/10 -
Grady
Fuson
(Longtime baseball executive and current
special adviser for then Cougars' parent-club
Oakland A's)
-His return to the A's front office where he
spent '82-'01
-His favorite part of working in baseball
-Why he believes the A's have been so
successful in scouting and player
development
-His thoughts about some of the players
selected by Oakland in June's amateur draft
06/06/2010 -
Ian Krol
(Cougars pitcher and Naperville native on a
recent Pregame Show on Cougars Radio)
-His recent outing and win in Bowling Green,
Kentucky
-How he approaches an outing against a team
the Cougars have never seen
-How he feels about his season so far
-With the amateur draft next week, his
memories of going through the process in '09
04/17/2010 -
Keith
Lieppman
(Oakland A's Director of Player Development)
-The surprising hot start by Oakland, which
is led by '05 Cougar Cliff Pennington
-The progress of several Cougars alums,
including Trevor Cahill, Brad Kilby and
Vince Mazzaro
-The state of the Oakland A's from the major
leagues to the minor leagues
-His impressions so far this season of a
talented Cougars team
04/14/2010 -
Max
Stassi
(Cougars catcher and prospect on a recent
Pregame Show on Cougars Radio)
-The Cougars' recent four-game winning
streak
-What the last year has been like, from high
school to the draft to the pros
-Hitting a home run for his only hit during
big league spring training with the A's
-His community work and the "Homers for the
Homeless and Hungry" competition he started
08/30/2009 -
Steve
Scarsone
(Cougars manager on a recent Pregame Show on
Cougars Radio)
-The Cougars' recent hot streak as the
regular season winds down
-How he views his team heading toward the
playoffs
-The addition of new leadoff man Conner
Crumbliss
08/08/2009 -
Myron
Noodleman
("Da Hippest Nerd in Da Biz" & longtime
Minor League Baseball entertainer)
-How he got started traveling around to
minor league ballparks
-His Chicago-area roots and why he enjoys
visiting Elfstrom Stadium
-How a current major league star gave him
one of his most unforgettable Myron moments
-The favorite part of his act
06/27/2009 -
Greg
Sparks
(Oakland A's minor league hitting instructor
during a recent visit to see the Cougars)
-His evaluation of the first-half Western
Division champion Cougars
-The recent promotions of infielder Steve
Kleen and outfielder Grant Desme
-What he sees in current Cougars and '09
draft picks Steve Parker and Mike Spina
-His thoughts on the hot hitters in the A's
system, including former Cougars Matt
Sulentic, Josh Horton and Tommy Everidge
05/01/2009 -
Steve
Scarsone
(Cougars manager)
-His memories of a seven-year career in the
big leagues
-A story that shows why he loved playing for
Dusty Baker in San Francisco
-What he experienced during a 6-year break
from coaching professional baseball
-His memories as South Bend's manager in the
'01 MWL Championship Series vs. the Cougars
04/29/2009 -
Gil
Patterson
(Oakland A's minor league pitching
instructor during a recent visit to Kane
County)
-What he's seen from the Cougars' pitching
staff so far this season
-His evaluation of all the members of the
Cougars' stellar starting rotation
-His thoughts on first-year Cougars pitching
coach Jimmy Escalante
-The emergence of '07 Cougars Trevor Cahill
and Andrew Bailey in the big leagues with
Oakland
04/17/2009 -
Greg
Sparks
(Oakland A's minor league hitting instructor
during a recent visit to Kane County)
-What he's seen from the Cougars' offense so
far this season
-How he helps hitters deal with unfavorable
weather conditions early in the season
-His impressions of the newly-renovated
Elfstrom Stadium and the re-constructed
infield
-His thoughts on current Cougars such as
Dusty Coleman, Jason Christian and Grant
Desme
-The hot starts by former Cougars Corey
Brown (at Double-A) and Sean Doolittle (at
Triple-A)
02/11/2009 -
Jeff Baisley 1,
Jeff Baisley 2
(Former Cougar & Midwest League MVP and
current Oakland A's third baseman)
-What his off-season has been like after
winter ball in Venezuela
-His 2008 season, including getting called
up to the major leagues for the very first
time
-How life in the big leagues is different
from the minors
-His expectations heading into '09 Spring
Training
-His memories of a fantastic '06 season as a
Cougar
07/14/2008 -
Jemile
Weeks
(Cougars infielder, Oakland's '08 1st-Round
Pick)
-Making his pro debut just an hour after
arriving at Elfstrom Stadium from Oakland
-Meeting a completely new set of teammates
-Getting to take batting practice at McAfee
Coliseum before a recent A's game
-His great college career at the University
of Miami, including two trips to Omaha for
the CWS
-How he's been influenced by his older
brother, Rickie, who stars for the Milwaukee
Brewers
06/17/2008 -
Aaron
Nieckula
(Cougars manager)
-His first Father's Day as a dad
-A mid-season evaluation of the
playoff-bound Cougars
-His expectations for the second half of the
season
06/03/2008 -
Keith Lieppman
(Oakland A's Director of Player Development)
-His impressions of the '08 Cougars as the
team nears a playoff berth
-The infusion of talent into the A's system
after four major off-season trades
-His thoughts about Cougars pitcher Craig
Italiano, who leads all of MiLB in ERA
-What direction the A's might go in the
upcoming amateur draft
-The status of former Cougars like Trevor
Cahill, Sean Doolittle and Jeff Baisley
04/28/2008 -
Juan Bustabad
(Great Lakes Loons manager, Cougars skipper
in '98)
-How his Loons team has looked so far this
year
-Memories of Kane County and his days
coaching in the Marlins system
-His '98 Cougars, a club with 8 players who
went to the big leagues
-How managing/coaching in the Dodgers system
is different than with Florida
-What he's looking forward to the most when
the Loons come to Kane County in July
04/13/2008 -
Craig Italiano
(Cougars pitcher Craig Italiano -- includes
audio of the final out of his combined
no-hitter)
-Reliving his masterpiece performance that
led to a combined no-no
-What manager Aaron Nieckula told him on the
mound before he left to a standing ovation
-What was going through his mind as he
watched reliever Branden Dewing finish the
job
-What his off-season was like following a
severe injury in '07
02/04/2008 -
Bill Madlock
(Cougars' '08 Winter Banquet speaker, 4-time
N.L. batting champion)
-Why he enjoys coming to Kane County and how
he views the organization
-Memories of his own minor league days
-How difficult it was to replace Ron Santo
as the Cubs' third baseman in '74
-Playing for the '79 World Series champion
"We Are Family" Pirates
-What advice he would offer to current minor
league players
01/10/2008 -
Andrew Bailey
('07 Cougars pitcher, A's prospect)
-How he remembers his time in and promotion
from Kane County
-How he compares the Midwest League to the
California League
-What it felt like to throw a near no-hitter
in his Triple-A debut at Sacramento
-How a minor league prospect views Oakland's
major trades in recent weeks
-What he expects from himself in '08
09/12/2007 -
Aaron Nieckula
(Cougars Manager)
-A look back at the '07 season and a
second-half playoff surge
-Which Cougars made the biggest strides
during the season
-Impressions of the Midwest League playoffs
so far
-His development as a manager after a second
campaign
-An inside peek at the Instructional League
in Phoenix
08/07/2007 -
Lance Parrish
(Eight-time major league all-star and
'07 manager of the Great Lakes Loons)
-The development of Loons pitcher and
Dodgers top prospect Clayton Kershaw
-Coaching on a big-league staff in Detroit
and now managing in the minors for the
Dodgers
-Managing the newest Midwest League
franchise
-Coaching against Ryne Sandberg, Doug
Dascenzo and co-'84 Tiger Tom Brookens
07/20/2007 -
Tom Brookens
('07 West Michigan manager and a member of the
'84 World Series champion Detroit Tigers)
-A strong start to the second half for the
Whitecaps
-Being a former Tiger in a city so close to
Detroit
-Memories of '84
-The revival of winning baseball in the
Motor City last year
07/10/2007 -
Ryne Sandberg
(Hall-of-Fame second baseman, '07-'08 Peoria
manager)
-Thoughts on the Chiefs' season so far
-How managers like Jim Frey and Don Zimmer
influenced the way he manages
-The link between winning and player
development in the minor leagues
-The art of learning how to give signs while
coaching third base
06/12/2007 -
Chris Mehring
(veteran broadcaster for the Wisconsin
Timber Rattlers)
-Growing up in Wisconsin listening to Bob
Uecker, Vince Lloyd and Jack Brickhouse
-His thoughts about broadcast legends like
Uecker, Jack Buck and Harry Caray
-Broadcasts for today's first-place Brewers
compared to last-place teams of years past
04/12/2007 -
Aaron
Nieckula
(Cougars manager)
-His favorite Midwest League road
destination
-Biggest influence on him as a manager
-Pet peeve that every one his players needs
to know
-What he considers when making decisions
late in the game
03/25/2007 -
Keith
Lieppman
(Oakland A's Director of Player
Development)
-The emergence in big-league camp by '05
Cougars Travis Buck and Kevin Melillo
-A preview of the 2007 Cougars
-The health of the A's farm system
02/13/2007 -
Jeff Baisley
('06 Cougars third baseman and Midwest
League MVP)
-His experience at the Cougars Winter
Banquet
-His off-season training
-A look back to a memorable MVP season in
'06
-Playing for Aaron Nieckula
02/05/2007 -
John Kruk
(Cougars '07 Winter Banquet speaker, former
major leaguer)
-Minor League memories
-Having a future Hall of Famer as a roommate
in the minors
-Facing Randy Johnson in the All-Star Game
-His role on ESPN's Baseball Tonight
01/23/2007 -
Matt Winters
(Former Cougars hitting coach)
-Memories of 6 years ('96-'01) as a Cougars
hitting coach
-His 5 years as a player in Japan
-Current job as an international scout
-Differences between baseball in the U.S.
and Japan
11/10/2006 -
Joe Piekarz
('06 Cougars pitcher and Streamwood, IL
native)
-His off-sesaon job as a high school
basketball coach
-His experience as a "hometown" Cougar
-His outlook for 2007
10/12/2006 -
Aaron Nieckula
(Cougars manager)
-Looking back at the Cougars '06 season
-Coaching in the instructional league with
top prospects
-Where he thinks he'll be coaching in '07 |
