The big guy’s been making his list (and checking it twice) getting ready for next week. Now we want you to make your list, your BlueClaws Christmas list. Do you want a Bushel of BlueClaws package? How bout a new BlueClaws sweatshirt or headband to fight through the wind? A gift card for you to pick and choose your favorite BlueClaws items yourself? Or maybe even tickets to the Phillies Winter Tour, so you can get your picture taken with the World Series trophy?

If you could pick one special BlueClaws gift, what would it be and why? We’d love to hear from you!

We’ve been asking you to keep January 13th open on your calendars for the ninth annual Phillies Winter Tour. We promised you details and here they are.

• What: Ninth annual Phillies Winter Tour (get your picture taken with the World Series trophy)
• When: Tuesday, January 13th…pictures begin at 5 pm, dinner begins at 7 pm
• Where: Woodlake Country Club, 25 New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood, NJ
• Pictures: Each person is entitled to a picture with World Series trophy that will be mailed to you after the event.
• How to Order Tickets: Call Lisa Carone or Steve Farago in the BlueClaws front office at 732-901-7000 x 192 or 120.
• Details: Sit-down dinner, with tickets at $34.95 per person.
• Group Opportunities: Groups, businesses, or organizations can purchase a table of ten for $400, which gets them group and individual pictures with the trophy (individuals are only entitled to one photo per person), special program recognition, and a table in the front of the banquet hall.

Guests for this year’s event include new BlueClaws manager Dusty Wathan, Phillies pitcher JA Happ, who was with the BlueClaws in 2005, Phillies Assistant General Managers Chuck LaMar and Scott Proefrock, and Phillies broadcaster and Brick native Tom McCarty.

Much more to come on this in the current weeks, but if you’re looking for a last-minute Christmas present, this makes a tremendous option. Ask any and all questions in the blog comments section.

We spoke to ex-BlueClaws second baseman Adrian Cardenas for BlueClaws Blog, and here is part two of the interview. Part one is available by clicking here.

Question: What did you learn during your time this year in the Arizona Fall League?

Adrian Cardenas: I learned I need to make some more adjustments. The Fall League was a great experience because I was surrounded by so many great players. It’s basically a Double-A/Triple-A All-Star Game. With a lot of guys there fighting for spots on team’s 40-man rosters, I wasn’t a priority guy or everyday player. I was there to bust my butt and prove I belonged at the level.

AC (ctd): I had to do a lot of things I wasn’t accustomed to doing, like pinch-hitting, pinch-running, and coming in as a defensive replacement. If I get a chance to go to the big leagues, that’s what I’ll be doing at first.

Q: Was there a noticable difference in competition compared to Double-A?

AC: Yes. Every lefty there was a good lefty . The set-up and closer guys were all mid-to-upper 90s. They could locate better. The game was a lot faster. You have guys like Eric Young, Jr. and Darren Ford running down balls that are sure doubles during the regular season or in lower levels.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with some of the Phillies players?

AC: Oh yea. Most of them I try to talk to. Michael Taylor, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, I saw a bunch of them in the Fall League. Quintin Berry and I went do dinner a couple of times in Arizona too.

Q: What did you learn from playing with Jason Donald?

AC: The biggest thing I consider myself is mature, which is why I signed out of high school. I thought I was ready. I didn’t think I could take it to the next level mentally, until I met Jason Donald. I had never met somebody so focused on something, goals or preparation, he sticks to the routine no matter what. Eventually everyone starts following him, and that shows he’s been doing everything right.

AC (ctd): He’s a great guy. We were basically competing for the same middle-infield job and he was very nice and open to helping me out on a lot of things. That was the first experience I had going into pro ball. I heard it was cut-throat, watch-your-back, which can be true, but when I met him you could sense that he was genuine and sincere.

Q: What did you enjoy most about your time with the BlueClaws?

AC: Hands down the fans. A 140 game season is tough with the long bus rides. Going there, so many games when you’re out of it physically and mentally you get the adrenaline boost from seeing all thsoe people in the ballpark.

Our friend Kevin Williams had BlueClaws GM Geoff Brown on his show Tuesday afternoon. Today, he’ll speak to the newest BlueClaws manager, Dusty Wathan, at 3:35. You can hear the show on 1160 WOBM-AM or Fox Sports 1310. If you’re stuck at work, you can get a live stream on your computer by clicking here.

To learn more about Wathan, see the post below for our Q&A with the new manager, click here for the official BlueClaws release, or click here for the story in the Asbury Park Press.

Dusty Wathan was named BlueClaws manager on Tuesday by the Philadelphia Phillies. He becomes the seventh manager in team history and takes over for Steve Roadcap, who heads to Double-A Reading in 2009. Read the official release here.

Question: How did you go about getting into managing so quickly after your playing career ended?

Dusty Wathan: The last few years I was playing I laid the groundwork, talking to minor league directors like Nowo (Steve Noworyta) with the Phillies, just letting them know I was interested. My goal was to play as long as I could and get a coaching job. The Phillies had an opening and I’m glad they gave me the opportunity.

Q: What did you learn last year with Williamsport?

DW: The most important thing I learned is the development of the relationship with the players. If you’re organized and ready for the things that happen a few days ahead, you’ll be ok.

Q: Was managing the game a tough adjustement?

DW: The in-game stuff is the most fun. That’s when all the hard work pays off. I’ve been going through that in my head for years and years, and I felt really comfortable in game.

Q: How about the off-the-field parts of the job?

DW: That’s what you have to deal with as it comes, and you get better with experience. It’s still a learning process. We’ll cross those bridges as they come. They never get easier, but hopefully there are fewer.

Q: What surprised you the most in your first year as manager?

DW: The only thing that surprised me was what you forget about, what you assume guys know. But you had to teach them. That’s not the way we’re going to do this. This is the way we’re going to do this. Nothing serious, but just the way we do things in the pros.  

Q: Did you feel you related well to the players as someone who just finished playing?

DW: Just walking off the field and managing, I think you earn a lot of respect from the guys. Not to take anything away from guys that haven’t played in a long time, but the longer you play only helps you build credability before you even speak. I’ve had guys who didn’t play a lot and were great managers, but kids want to know what it’s like between the lines. I think I know that pretty well. The game hasn’t changed much in a year, so they realize that. With older coaches, sometimes guys say it’s a different era. With many years playing in the minors I relate to what they’re going through, as opposed to guys who spent a lot of time in the major leagues.

Q: What players impressed you last year that could be here this year?

DW: Travis D’Arnaud was with Lakewood for a few weeks. I loved having him in Williamsport. Having a guy that can swing the bat and catch as well as he does is a great asset to the offense and the pitching staff. The left side of our infield, Cody Overbeck and Troy Hanzawa, they were both good and they could both be here too. But a lot can happen between now and March.

Q: What do you know about Lakewood and the South Atlantic League?

DW: I know we play a lot of games down near Charlotte (Wathan lives in Charlotte). I know just a few things. It’s a beach town in the summer. Everyone I’ve talked to that’s spent any time there says the fans are tremendous and come out in droves, and it’s a beautiful facility. I played my A-ball in the Midwest League and the California League, so it’s an exciting time for me to see a new league.

Q: What kinds of things do you do in the off-season?

DW: One or two nights a week I do local catching lessons. Down here, with the weather, my son plays fall baseball so I always watch that. Just driving the kids around and doing some things around the house.

Last night we mentioned we had some big news regarding the 2009 BlueClaws season. Well, here it is.

The seventh manager in BlueClaws history is Dusty Wathan, who comes to the BlueClaws from Williamsport, where he led the Crosscutters to a 38-37 record last year. He won’t turn 36 until August 22nd, and after his playing career ended after the 2007 season, Wathan went right into managing.

Greg Legg is back. The first BlueClaws manager returns for his second straight year as the team’s hitting coach. The new pitching coach is Bob Milacki, who has spent the last eight years as a coach in the Pirates organization.

To read the full release on BlueClaws.com, click here. Tony Graham has the story in today’s Asbury Park Press.

We’ll have a Q&A with Dusty Wathan later this afternoon.

BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown will appear live in “The Locker Room” with Kevin Williams on 1160 WOBM-AM and Fox Sports 1310 today at 3:20. You can listen live through the official website of the Shore Sports Network.

The Phillies re-signed Jamie Moyer today, which was one of their goals for the offseason. Moyer gets a two-year deal, and he’ll be 48 when the contract expires. Both years are guaranteed, so there is no club option, something the Phillies reportedly were looking for early in the negotiations.

“For us to go two years guaranteed,” said Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., “I think that shows out committment to him. He’s one of our best-conditioned athletes. His dedication to his craft is as high as anybody’s on our club.”

The Phils also added Chan-Ho Park, who will probably be a reliever/starter swing pitcher. Park gets a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. There are incentives that could push the value to $5 million.

Park will likely be given a chance to win the fifth starter spot behind Cole Hamels (BlueClaws 2003), Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, and Moyer. He’ll compete with Carlos Carrasco (BlueClaws 2006), JA Happ (BlueClaws 2005), and Kyle Kendrick (BlueClaws 2004-2006).

We’ll have a major announcement tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon on BlueClaws.com regarding the 2009 BlueClaws season, so be sure to check back. That’s all I’ll say. See you tomorrow.

Adrian Cardenas (stats here) was taken by the Phillies 37th overall in the 2006 draft out of a Miami high school. He spent 2007 with the BlueClaws, where was an all-star and a member of the US team in the Futures game, before beginning 2008 with Clearwater. He was then dealt to Oakland as part of the Joe Blanton trade in July. Cardenas was ranked as one of the top three prospects in the Phillies organization by Baseball America in 2007 and 2008, and while working out in South Carolina, he took some time to chat with BlueClaws Blog last week.

Question: What was your initial reaction to being traded?

Adrian Cardenas: I guess it was bittersweet. The Phillies believed in me and they got me to the point where I am now, but you realize that it’s not only about having fun. It’s also a business. You want to make it with the original team, and I’m old-school in that I wanted to be only with one team my whole career. But things happen for a reason and I got a chance to go to Oakland. They took me in with open arms, and I got to go to Double-A, the Fall League, and big league camp in the spring.

Q: How did you first hear the news (of the trade)?

AC: We were in Brevard County, stretching and throwing before the game, and Ichiro Kitano (trainer) comes out and says I have to go see Razor (Shines, manager). He told me I had to be scratched from the lineup. I thought I had gotten called up Reading. And Razor tells me that “It’s not official yet, but I think you’ve been traded so we can’t play you.” I said “Really?”

AC (ctd): I understand how things work so I wasn’t too surprised, because it’s a business. Ten minutes after that, I talked to Nowo (Steve Noworyta, Phillies Director of Minor Leagues) and he told me, and then I got a call from Dave Forst, the A’s Assistant GM, who welcomed me to the A’s. The next day I was in Clearwater packing and I was on a plane to Stockton, California.

Q: Do you think you’ll have an easier run to the majors in the A’s organization since they don’t have guys of the cailber of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley?

AC: The way I look at it is I have to do my part. I’m not going to say I wasn’t aware of having two all-stars in front of me, playing short and second, where I’ve played my whole life. So yes, it comes into consideration. But it’s not any easier. You have to do what you have to do. You’ll get up there some how some way if you do your job. There are so many options and so many things that can happen. With Mark Ellis and Bobby Crosby, they’re still excellent big-leaguers so you still have to perform at a high level.

Q: You played some shortstop with Oakland after playing second base with the Phillies. What was your reaction to going back there?

AC: I loved going back to short. I felt, as a young kid, I grew so much in the infield as a shortstop. That’s a tribute to hard work, the Phillies coaches, and Jason Donald in Lakewood. I always knew that if I had the chance to go back to short I was going to be a lot better the second time around. I learned a lot more. I worked on my speed and arm strength. There was a big difference from 18-21, with my body maturing and my quickness improving.

Q: You’ve played in the Gulf Coast League, Lo-A, Hi-A, and Double-A. Which move did you find the toughest?

AC: Probably either Lo-A to Hi-A or Hi-A to Double-A. As you move up, obviously the guys are a lot more consistent, make fewer mistakes, and run more balls down. In Double-A, the strike zone gets smaller, which works to my advantage. But really everyone is just a phone call away from the big leagues, so everyone can throw and the relievers especially are a lot better. There were set-up guys and one-batter specialists that you don’t see at the lower levels.

Q: Have you set a goal on how fast you want to make it to the big leagues?

AC: Ever since I got drafted I set a goal to get there by the time I was 21 (Cardenas turns 22 on October 10th, 2009). I set some other goals, like making the Fall League, which I did this year. I wanted to hit .300 (He hit .295 in 2007 with Lakewood, and .295 in 2008 with three different teams). But really if I get the chance I just want to be ready. I’ll still have to go through stuff I’ve never experienced, but ultimately it’s the same game and I just want to trust my abilities. I need to fine-tune some things with my hitting and defense. But my goal has always been to be up there by 21. I set a tough goal so I can push myself that much more.

–

In part two we’ll talk about the Arizona Fall League, his friends from the Phillies organization, his time in Lakewood, and more.

I have no idea why (I was watching “House” at the time), but the other night I had that baseball moment, where you’re absolutely ready for the season to get going, and quickly. Of course we’re a few months away. But that brings me to this post, where I’m inventing a new blog feature (I can do that): the Baseball Video of the Week, as something of a countdown to the BlueClaws opener on April 9th at FirstEnergy Park. Feel free to nominate a video in the comments section. The criteria is simple: it has to have a connection to our national pastime.

We start with a classic:

A lot coming up this week…We’ll have Q&As with 2008 BlueClaws pitcher Julian Sampson and 2007 BlueClaws second baseman Adrian Cardenas, who of course was sent to the Athletics in the Joe Blanton trade in July.

In early January, Baseball America will release their annual Phillies Top Ten, their take on the top ten prospects in the Phillies system. We’ll check in with Baseball America editor John Manuel, who is responsible for the Phillies list. A lot more to come on the Phillies Top Ten in the coming weeks, including our projections and your projections. Stay tuned…

Yikes. He’s not wrong, but it’s not something you hear every day. 

Hamels was speaking to Joe Beningo & Evan Roberts on WFAN in New York, and was asked if he thought the Mets were choke artists.

“Last year and this year, I think we did believe that [the Mets were choke artists],” Hamels said. “Three years ago we didn’t, because they smoked everybody, and I think we all thought they were going to win it all. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But, yeah, that’s kind of what we believed, and I think we’re always going to believe that until they prove us wrong. For the past two years, they’ve been choke artists.”

You can hear the interview here.

Hamels went 6-1 with a 0.84 (!) ERA for the BlueClaws in 2003. He struck out 115 in 74.2 IP, and allowed just 32 hits in 13 starts.

As an aside, the NY Post cover on the top left, that’s from the day after the 2007 season ended. I bought 6 copies and had the cover dry-matted. I have to say, it made a few sensational Christmas presents.

As baseball personnel begin to scatter back to their respective homes across the country, I spoke with BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown, still in Las Vegas, for ClawCasts.com. We hit on a bunch of Winter Meetings topics, from the annual Phillies party, to the league meetings, the trade show, the city, and much more. Give it a listen.

With the Rule 5 Draft in the books (full coverage here), that’s basically it for this year’s Winter Meetings. Of course, the hot stove will continue to burn, and we’ll have it all for you right here. Stay tuned.