When I was first contacted in July by Bob Apprill of DARI Sports, I was not sure about his product.  The email I received from Bob seemed like a whole lot of gibberish.  I am happy that I followed up on that initial communication, however.  Here is part of what he said:

I represent DARI Sports (darisports.com), who has developed a new method to perform biomechanical analysis. This process has been developed specifically for athletes for the purpose of evaluating and increasing performance. Although there are various kinematic methods in place, we provide dynamic kinetic data never before achieved. Traditional methods involve the use of a force plate, and are relatively inaccurate. DARI’s analysis produces incredibly precise, and applicable, data in a much more concise manner. Although revolutionary, there are already several professional and collegiate athletes taking advantage of this new technology.

It sounded pretty interesting, and Pete Parise agreed to being a test subject for the new technology.  Just before Parise was tested at the Athletes Advantage facility, DARI Sports was visiting the University of Tennessee and collecting data on Freshman runningback, Bryce Brown.

On the morning of October 31, Pete Parise was the man being studied.  At first glance it looked like something out of a video game, with Pete in a 32 point reflective spandex suit, surrounded by cameras and laptops.  Over a two hour period, the researchers at DARI put Parise through a series of tests from biomechanical evaluation, to a movement based athletic test and a sports specific fatigue program.  Parise would throw, then the staff at DARI would fatigue him and then repeat the process.  While throwing, DARI’s motion-capture system recorded every movement made by Parise from the beginning of his pitch to the end.  The cameras immediately sent the information in 3-D format to the laptop recording all the information.

After the testing, Ed Smith of Athletes Advantage stated, “The progressive fatigue protocol to demonstrate the effects of fatigue on throwing mechanics was unique and beneficial to our athletes.”  The staff at Athletes Advantage received a detailed report of the findings.  These findings will further assist in Parise’s off-season development.

In a world where every athlete is looking to gain the smallest advantage over their competitors, the tools that DARI Sports provides can serve as a great value.  This is especially true as athletes are getting smart about staying away from performance enhancing drugs that have a great risk of jeopardizing their careers and their lives.

I would like to thank Bob Apprill and the rest of the team at DARI Sports for making this testing event possible.  For more information about DARI Sports, head over to their website: darisports.com.  A picture of Pete throwing during his testing is below.

During this past year’s All-Star Break, Pete and I were discussing his options regarding where he would play this Winter.  As a rising star within the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Pete had offers from teams in Venezuela and Puerto Rico.  We determined that while Venezuelan teams were offering Pete more money, Puerto Rico was a better fit.  He latched on to Ponce’s manager, Eduardo Perez, and signed a contract to play for Ponce.  Everybody was happy, and Pete continued to perform amazingly down the final stretch for the AAA Memphis Redbirds.  He was named Reliever of the Year for the Redbirds, where he had a record breaking postseason as the team’s closer.

During the All-Star break, Pete signed with Ponce as a free-agent.  But apparently, there was a discrepancy with the contract’s date or something along the lines that Ponce never turned it into the league office in time (we still do not know the actual problem and probably never will).  Then, on October 8, we get word that Arecibo drafted Pete Parise.  This was news to me, Pete, and everyone in Ponce’s organization.  How could Arecibo, Ponce’s rival for the top spot in the PRBL, draft Pete when Ponce had already secured the rights to my client?

This occurred on October 8.  Not until this past Tuesday was the matter finally resolved.  And to tell you the truth, the battle may not be over.  From October 8 to now, I have talked to the manager of Ponce and Arecibo at least five times every week, and even more often through text.  I have come to have a great relationship with people like Eduardo Perez and Pachy Rodriguez, and wish that all parties involved could leave this dilemma as winners.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.

In the beginning, I had to turn in an allegation letter, stipulating the facts of the matter at hand and outlining everything that happened from Day 1 of Pete’s conversations with Ponce.  Arecibo played by the PRBL’s mandate, which was to place Pete in the draft.  But unfortunately, that mandate did not follow the PRBL’s own rules.  Since Pete had already signed with Ponce, his name should have never been in the draft pool, in the first place.  It took many weeks, but the PRBL finally had a hearing regarding the matter, and earlier this week ruled that Pete had actually officially signed with Ponce.

So Pete is off to Puerto Rico to play for Ponce…for now.  Pete is pumped to give Ponce his all, and has been training non-stop since the close of the Memphis Redbirds’ season.  At least it is nice to know that my client is a wanted man!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Darren Heitner
Tel: 954-558-6999
Email: Dheitner@dynastyreps.com

Dynasty Athlete Representation Announces New Client: James “Buster” Douglas

Hollywood, FL- [October 2, 2009], Dynasty Athlete Representation, LLC is proud to announce the signing of former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion, James “Buster” Douglas. Dynasty will manage Buster’s post-career marketing, broadcasting and product endorsement activities. He is the agency’s first client from the world of professional boxing.

Douglas was responsible for one of the most shocking upsets in sports history when, as a 42-1 underdog, he knocked out undefeated champion Mike Tyson on February 11, 1990 in Tokyo, Japan. At the time, Tyson was considered as the best boxer in the world and arguably one of the most feared heavyweight champions in history, due to his utter domination of the division. Buster eventually lost his heavyweight crown to Evander Holyfield several months later and then retired. After being diagnosed with diabetes, he made a late career comeback in 1996 and retired for good in 1999. Buster owns a career record of 38 Wins (25 knockouts), 6 Losses, 1 Draw, and 1 No Contest.

During the height of his career, Buster proudly endorsed a number of products and was the star of his own video game, James ‘Buster’ Douglas Knockout Boxing for the Sega Master and Sega Genesis systems. Most recently, Douglas released a diabetic cook book entitled Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q, Knockout Diabetes Diet and has been a guest commentator for several professional boxing bouts.

Dynasty will continue to aide Buster in developing his broadcasting career, as well has handling all product endorsement activities and personal appearance bookings in conjunction with the release of Buster’s autobiography in the near future.

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Dan Leatherman

Leatherman went into the 2009 season with more baggage than most players.  He had just lost his father, who he looked up to as his hero.  He missed a few games in Spring Training because of it, which set him back in the beginning of the year.  However, Dan would not allow his father’s passing set him back for long.  Instead, he dedicated the 2009 season to his father, and pitched his heart out to make it to the next level by season’s close.

Recently, Dan was interviewed by a site that I actually Co-Founded, AccessAthletes.

In the introduction to the interview, Dan received amazing praise, which I re-post below,

Today in sports, a Dan Leatherman is rare.  We often see professional athletes with egos the size of the stadiums in which they play in.  Leatherman has none of that.  None.  He might be what you would call a “blue collar” athlete.  He is thankful for both his career and his family, and promises that in the future he will give back to baseball, as it has afforded him so much joy and success.  We also know that Dan Leatherman has made a bond with baseball and that’s where his heart will always be.  Whether his dream of making a major league roster comes true or not, one thing is for certain—he’s no longer just pitching for himself, but for his late father, friend, and coach too.

Go ahead and read the entire interview at AccessAthletes.  Everyone at Dynasty is excited to see what Dan will do for the Nationals next year, as he will begin the 2010 not far beyond the MLB squad’s reach.

Parise has been lights out in the playoffs, which has led St. Louis Cardinals manager, Tony La Russa, to say that he is eager to see Parise in person.  La Russa is in the last year of his contract with the Cardinals, and he has stated that even if he is not back with St. Louis next year, he will still be stopping by Jupiter next Spring Training to catch a peek at Parise.

Third baseman David Freese provided the lone Memphis run off of a solo shot against starting pitcher Chris Gissell.  A group of five Memphis pitchers did not give up a single run.  The final pitcher to lock down the game for the ‘Birds was Pete Parise, who made his fourth performance in as many playoff games that Memphis has appeared in this postseason.  In all four appearances, Parise has been lights out.  He has yet to give up a run, and has three pivotal saves.

As reported by Ben Spradling,

“You really have to hand it to the pitching staff,” [David] Freese said. “I hit a couple of home runs that put us on top, but our pitching staff was unbelievable. They have been unbelievable all year, so you really have to tip your hat to them.”

The tail end of that staff has been closer Pete Parise, who once again put on a solid performance in the ninth to earn his third postseason save, a Memphis Redbirds franchise record. The right-hander has appeared in every playoff game and has retired 12 of the 13 batters he has faced.

The Puerto Rico World Baseball Cup team will have to wait a little while before they get to enjoy Parise’s arm.

Kyle McPherson

And now, McPherson is taking a short break before he heads down to my neck of the woods and plays some Fall Instructional League ball with the Pirates.  Kyle believes that the time in Florida will allow him to pick up his velocity.  If he follows suit, he will be one guy you never want to see on the mound as a batter on the opposing team.

McPherson recently talked again with a website that has become a big fan of the black belt baseball player.  Rum Bunter’s interview posits why McPherson was sent down last year (their assumption is correct), talks to Kyle about his 2009 season, asks some questions about next year, and compares McPherson’s numbers with Rudy Owens’ numbers (another great Pirates prospect).

Here is my favorite Q&A of the piece:

KYLE WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE NEXT YEAR?

“My overall goal is make it to the big leagues. Of course, the organization will place me where they see fit for me to reach that goal. My goal is to have a healthy spring training and offseason.  I’m going to go down to the Instructional League and I will be all ears. I will pick many things up for the betterment…to take with me for next year.”

“Wherever they decide that they want me to end up is up to them, I cant control that, so I will give myself every opportunity I can and let the chips fall where they may.”

McPherson also had an interview with George Von Benko of Scout.com and PiratesDugout.com.  A lot of the same topics were discussed in the article on Rum Bunter.  I particularly liked the very end of the interview:

GVB — Are you pleased with your progress through the minor leagues, do you have any sort of timetable?

KM — Age has been very beneficial for me since I was drafted at 19. This is my third professional season and I’m 21 now. I’m just as old as the new draft guys are and looking at it from that standpoint it’s progressing just fine.

In To Pitch in Puerto Rico, Walton notes that Pete will be playing for Ponce in Puerto Rico this Winter, one year after he played Winter Ball in Columbia.

The main article is Pitcher Parise Ponders Pending PCL Playoffs.  Yes, a lot of P’s.  The very first fact that Walton provides is definitely interesting:

Memphis relief pitcher Pete Parise has the opportunity to earn his first title at his seventh professional baseball stop over the last three years.

The article then links to a 10 minute interview clip between Parise and Walton.  In the clip, the gentlemen discuss the Memphis Redbirds pennant drive, Parise’s repertoire, his changing role in the organization, and much more.  Here’s a link that takes you directly to the interview.

One class below Ata [Atahualpa Severino], and a former teammate of Severino, Dan Leatherman has been the staple of the High A Potomac Nationals.  No reliever on the team has logged more innings this year than Dan, who has a total of 69.2 after last night’s performance.  Last night, he came into a tie game in the 8th inning, and pitched 2 innings of no hit, no walk, no run ball, to keep the P-Nats in contention.  Dan also had 3 strikeouts.  The P-Nats won the game in the 11th.  The P-Nats have relied on Dan all season.  He has finished 20 of the 41 games he has appeared in and boasts a very impressive 1.25 WHIP.  His K/BB ratio is also right about 3/1 and Dan’s ERA is a respectable 3.23.  Dan also has 5 saves to go along with his 6-1 record.  While we have been hoping to see Dan called up to AA Harrisburg for quite a while, we know that it is just a matter of time before he is given a chance at a higher level and impresses with that team, as well.

“A matter of time” happened to only be two days.  Earlier today, Dan was notified that he should pack his bags, because he is heading to Harrisburg to join the AA Senators.  Honestly, this promotion could not have been granted to a more deserving guy.  Go show them your stuff in AA ball, Dan!

The following has been taken from an official UIC press release:

This marks the fourth time that Dildy, a 1991 graduate of UIC, has earned the title of top assistant at a program. He was the associate head coach at DePaul from 2000-02, where he grabbed the reins as the Blue Demons’ head coach when Pat Kennedy took a leave of absence in 2001, before becoming the assistant head coach at Auburn from 2000-04. He was also an assistant head coach at UAB from 2006-07.

“I am extremely thankful and happy,” Dildy said of his promotion. “Having this title at three other schools, I know what this position entails and I look forward to living up to the expectations this title brings.

“This is an even greater accomplishment for me because of the love I have for this University,” said Dildy. “This is my alma mater and the place where I started my coaching career, and I am extremely proud to be the associate head coach at UIC.”