The Sports Report

Kremer: New Slammers Score with Breyman, Community Outreach

Watch: General manager Chris Franklin introduces Mike Breyman as the new manager of the Slammers during a news conference at ATI Physical Therapy in Bolingbrook.

Mike Breyman was fumbling with the buttons on his Joliet Slammers jersey, preparing to pose for a photograph during a news conference Tuesday at ATI Physical Theraphy’s headquarters in Bolingbrook. An awkward moment quickly turned into a bit of light-hearted humor when an onlooker alerted him that one of his buttons was misaligned. No wonder the new manager’s jersey wasn’t fitting him properly. No worries, either. “That’s what we call a ‘Breyman-ism’—I may make words up, just so you know,” he said. Breyman, 31, was introduced as the new Slammers manager during a get-acquainted shindig that served notice the news Slammers ownership team headed by CEO Josh Schaub already is on the ball on several fronts. No doubt, Schaub picked the location …

• Photos (4)
• Videos (1)

The Sports Report

Kremer: Fate of Slammers Hangs on Quality of Experience

Watch: CEO Josh Schaub, GM Chris Franklin, Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee and Joliet city manager Tom Thanas talk Slammers baseball and downtown revitalization in a Patch video.

Whether the new Joliet Slammers ownership team is more successful than the old remains to be seen. What I learned during Tuesday’s media day shindig in the Hall of Fame Room at Silver Cross Field is CEO Josh Schaub is going to step up to the plate ready to swing at almost any pitch. Schaub promised to hire a new manager that he hopes one day will become the face of the Slammers’ baseball team, if not the entire organization. An announcement on the hire could come before Christmas. He also promised to make Silver Cross Field an entertainment destination site and that means you can expect to see a variety of different shows on the field, the list ranging from concerts to weddings. Yes, very soon you will be able to tie the knot at home plate…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)
• Videos (1)

Joliet Native Chosen as Slammers GM

Chris Franklin has been involved in professional minor league baseball for seven years, including four as GM of the River City Rascals in Missouri.

Chris Franklin, Joliet native and general manager of the River City Rascals, has been tapped to helm the Joliet Slammers. Franklin, 31, has more than seven years of professional baseball experience, including four as general manager, according to a news release issued Tuesday announcing his hiring. During his GM tenure with the Rascals, based in O'Fallon, Mo., the Frontier League team went to the championship series three times in three years and won in 2010. He has worked with former Joliet General Manager Steve Malliet in Joliet and River City.  Franklin's first task here, the release said, is to hire a coaching staff and ticket sales representatives. Interestingly, Franklin held the latter job himself in 2006 for the then-Joliet …

• Photos (1)

Joliet Slammers Still Waiting for Frontier Approval

The team's new co-owner, Josh Schaub, said there have been loose ends to tie up and approval will likely come during league meetings on Nov. 7 and 8.

The final hurdle the new Joliet Slammers owners need to clear -- approval to be part of the Frontier League -- is taking longer than originally anticipated. Josh Schaub, co-owner of the Joliet Community Baseball and Entertainment group, initially told the Joliet City Council that there would be an answer from the league within about seven days of the city approving the team's lease for Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet on Oct. 15. Since then, however, there have been several loose ends to tie up, such as having background checks done on the owners, and providing additional paperwork, including a copy of the finalized lease, Schaub said. That lease is valid only if the new owners continue to be part of the Frontier League, which is what…

• Photos (1)

City OKs Silver Cross Field Lease for New Slammers Owners; Sale Near Complete

Joliet Community Baseball and Entertainment LLC needs only Frontier League approval for the deal to be finalized.

The Joliet City Council approved leasing Silver Cross Field to the prospective new owners of the Joliet Slammers Monday, leaving just the authorization of the Frontier League for the team's sale to be complete. That OK is expected in the next week, giving the Joliet Community Baseball and Entertainment LLC the ability to start preparing for the next minor league season, which begins less than eight months from now. Josh Schaub, a spokesman for the investor group of which he is a member, assured the council that the group has deep enough pockets to spend what's needed to rebuild the Joliet baseball audience, which has dropped off significantly in the last few years. "We don't want this to fail," said Schaub, a Minneapolis lawyer who works …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Two Slammers Picked Up by the LA Dodgers

The deal for Daniel Carela and Amalio Diaz was announced by the team Sunday; Carela's ERA is 3.00 and Diaz's is 2.60.

The Joliet Slammers issued this press release Sunday: The Joliet Slammers announced Sunday the sale of right-handed pitchers Daniel Carela and Amalio Diaz’s contracts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carela’s fastball has been a dominating force out of the bullpen in 2012 for the Joliet-based minor league team. In 36 appearances he compiled an ERA of 3.00 and struck out 41 batters in 36 innings. Carela, 24, did not allow a single run in his final seven outings for Joliet. Diaz, 25, notched 19 saves in 22 attempts for the Slammers, good for second in the Frontier League. He was named a 2012 Frontier League All-Star and pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game. Diaz recorded a 2.60 ERA in 34 appearances for Joliet.  “This is great for …

• Photos (2)

Two Slammers Picked for League's All-Star Game

Outfielder Abel Nieves and pitcher Amalio Diaz will be on hand for the July 11 game in Normal.

This story was provided by the Joliet Slammers: Abel Nieves and Amalio Diaz will participate in the 2012 Frontier League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 11 at 7:05 p.m. in Normal. Nieves was selected as a starter in the outfield for the West Division while Diaz was named to the pitching staff.   Nieves, 26, has played every position for the Slammers this season except for center field, catcher and pitcher. He is currently hitting a team-leading .348 with three home runs and 19 RBI. Nieves played two years of ball at Middle Georgia College before being picked by the Angels in the 50th round of the 2004 draft. Nieves shows good patience at the plate as evidenced by the fact his career On Base Percentage in affiliated baseball (.359) is …

• Photos (1)