Writing a Blog When You’re Missing Half the Story

It seems the story of two brothers playing against each other does in fact lose some of its luster when one of the brothers is absent.  So too does that of the father-son duo without the son.  So what better than to just go ahead and write the stories anyway.

We begin with the brothers d’Arnaud (pronounced darn-OH).  A brief story to start.  My first broadcasting job was with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League (summer collegiate).  The third baseman on that team was now Pirates prospect Chase d’Arnaud.  While meeting with manager Kelly Nicholson before the season he was running down his lineup and said ‘at third base we’ll have darn-OH.’  I looked at him confused and politely replied that my roster had no player with that name.  When we both got on the same page I said ‘Oh!  You mean dee-are-nod?’  One of my favorite mispronunciations of all time.
 

Anyway, the brothers’ teams faced each other yesterday at McKechnie field.  Travis is a catching prospect for the Blue Jays and played in the Florida State League last season while Chase played at Double-A Altoona for Pittsburgh in 2010.  This was a much cooler blog until I remembered that Chase was reassigned to minor league camp a few days ago and the brothers would not be playing against each other.  They did the last time the Jays were in town so I guess it counts.    (Photo Credit: WOWK TV)

Funny thing is that stories like this are usually unique.  You know it’s always the brothers who went to different colleges and their teams meet in a critical NCAA Tournament game requiring their parents to wear awkwardly mismatched clothing as to not favor one child over the other.  Turns out that the d’Arnaud brothers play each other all the time though.

“It’s something obviously both of us were talking about when we were 10 and 12,” Travis said, “and when you’re growing up it kind of fades away and when it happens you can’t really absorb what’s going on.”

Growing up in California, Travis and Chase went different high schools and played against each other when Travis was sophomore and Chase a senior.  The first time Chase stepped up to hit with Travis catching, he got hit in the shoulder.

“I called for a fastball away and it went high and tight,” Travis said, shaking any responsibility.

The d’Arnaud duo has gone on to play against each other in the New York-Penn League, South Atlantic League and could see each other in the Eastern League this year (depending on where both players end up).

As for a friendly rivalry between the two, there isn’t much trash talk.  The brothers just let their play do the talking.

 “It’s more, I guess you could say competitive rivalry,” Travis said.  “It’s pretty much who steals off.  If he steals of me then we keep talking back and forth and if I throw him out than I just keep getting at it.”

To the best of his memory Travis thinks he and Chase are about even in steals and caught stealing against each other.

LIKE FARRELL LIKE SON

Also not present yesterday was Jeremy Farrell, a Pirates prospect and the first third baseman in Marauders history.  Present was his father John…who might also happen to be the Blue Jays manager.  Jeremy has not played in either game between the teams at McKechnie Field this year but did twice travel to Dunedin.

“The one thing that has really been appreciated is what the Pirates have done given our situation,” John Farrell said.  “That’s always been appreciated.  In this game you get some rare opportunities to see your son but it’s really a unique opportunity to be in the same ballpark.”

Farrell did play in front of his father at McKechnie last year.  While John was the Red Sox pitching coach Jeremy stepped to the plate and promptly homered in the ninth inning of a one run game.

While baseball was never something forced upon Jeremy or his brothers, the family took to the game and it’s given John a nice way to be around his family working through the rigors of a season.

“Anytime you can have your family or your kids in your work setting it can be a good diversion but it’s also forged a bond that’s unique in its own right,” Farrell said.  “I’m thankful for the opportunity to spend that time with them.”

THERE HE GOSE

Anthony Gose earned a reputation when he stole 76 bases in 2009.  The kid can flat out fly.  The problem was that some knocked him for only being able to flat out fly.  See, base stealing is an art to many and Gose was forced back to finger painting in 2010.

“I’ve taken a lot more studying to it these last few weeks,” Gose said of his time in his first Major League Spring Training.  “One, so I don’t come out here and embarrass myself and two so that I…the first year I did it just running and last year I just thought it was going to happen again and it didn’t.  So this year I’m really going to dedicate myself and focus on things in that area.”

Gose was gunned down 32 times in 77 tries between Dunedin and Clearwater last season in the Florida State League.  So this year Gose has dedicated himself to learning and studying and really understanding his art.  To do so he’s latched on to big leaguers Cory Patterson and Rajai Davis.

“Anything from on the bases to out in the outfield,” Gose said of their discussions.  “We talk about the plate, what they’re thinking, what they think pitchers are doing to them, especially Cory being a left handed hitter and batting at the top of the lineup.  I find myself similar to them so I talk with them a lot and see what they went through and what they do now.”

Gose wouldn’t put a number on his stolen bases for 2011.  He has no goal really.  He just wants to run and be successful as often as possible.  Oh, and he’d also like to steal home at some point.

“When I’m on there I want to get the next base,” Gose said.  “The coaches let me know the situation and I’ve been learning over the last few weeks what situations are better.  [I want to steal] every base I can.  If I could steal home I would.  I want to steal al bases equally.”

Gose will be only 21 in August, so a return to the Florida State League isn’t out of the question for the outfielder.  Wherever he goes he’ll have less travel than he did in 2010.  Gose was part of two deadline deals that sent him from the Phillies to the Astros and then to the Blue Jays.  He was a member of the Astros for all of about 45 minutes.  It might have been 30 or maybe an hour.  Either way he’s with the Jays now and likes the feeling of being wanted.

“As long as I do what I need to do and take care of my business it’ll all take care of itself in the end,” Gose said.

We’ll keep up with our FSL check-ins throughout Spring Training.

Till next time…

Joel