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!

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.

Sports Business

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• The internet has done wonders for fan access to information and players’ ability to communicate with fans and other players [A Whole New Game].

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.

On Saturday night, Parise got his first opportunity to close the game.  And close the game is exactly what he did.  He picked up his first save of the season, pitching 1.1 innings without giving up a hit or walk.  He struck out two.  And unsurprisingly, the other two outs came on ground-balls.  Parise is being called the “Lethal Weapon”.  Let’s see if that nickname sticks.

Another note: Look for Parise to help out the Puerto Rican national team in the 2009 Baseball World Cup.  He was officially invited to be a part of the team and accepted the offer.  Competition begins in September and is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF).  Parise and the Puerto Rican team will play in Barcelona, Spain.

”I had no idea that I was going to get brought up this early,” Parise said. ”I was working pretty hard in Double-A and hoping for a late season call-up. It just kind of worked out. In baseball, you just never know.”

His storybook ride through the minors has him one stop shy of the big leagues. But it is a thought he is trying to keep in the back of his mind.

”It’s like there, but at the same time, it’s so far away,” he said. ”You try not to think about it like that.

“I just want to have a solid season, nothing crazy like trying to make it up there in a month. Just to have a solid season so that they know I can pitch at a high level.”

But while the draft takes place, the MLB and MiLB continues to roll.  Games are played and the results affect the standings.  Additionally, teams continue to move players up and down their organizations.  And I have some great news to report.  Pete Parise will be leaving AA Springfield to join the AAA Memphis Redbirds today.  Pete becomes Dynasty’s first client to make a Triple A affiliate, and is only one step away from the Major League St. Louis Cardinals.

Parise had an excellent run with the AA Springfield Cardinals in his first year with the team.  Pete leaves the team as the leader in innings pitched amongst relievers (40.2), the leader in ERA (2.88) and WHIP (1.06) amongst all pitchers, and second on the team in holds (8).  He has held the opposition to a .221 batting average, and his groundout/flyout ratio is stellar.  He developed a dirty sinker in the offseason, and it appears to be working in his favor.

All of us at Dynasty congratulate Pete for making the jump to Triple A!  If you do not get selected in the MLB Draft, it does not mean that your career is over.  Parise is a perfect example.