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1PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2 LEADING OFF

LEADINGOFF

Infielder Trey Michalczewski saw his season-long 11-game hit streak end thanks to an 0-for-1 showing during Sunday’s seven-inning finale. Michalczewski also posted a walk and a sacrifice fly in his three plate appearances. During this surge, which started on July 6, Michalczewski hit .405 (17-for-42). He did drive home a run, something he has accomplished in eight of his last nine games. Michalczewski is third in the Carolina League with 54 RBIs.

The Dash have held the top spot for the longest time since the final part of the 2012 season.

MASHING MICHALCZEWSKI

*as of 7/20/15

Winston-Salem was in last place in the Southern Division for the final 50 days of the season’s first half. However, the Dash have enjoyed at least a share of first place for the first 25 days of half two. In the previous five halves (2013 first half to 2015 first half), Winston-Salem was in first for a combined 33 days. This current first-place streak is the Dash’s longest since being in the top spot for the final 35 days of the second half in 2012.

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME

July 28-30 vs. WilmingtonJuly 31- Aug. 2 vs. Lynchburg

For the second time all season, Winston-Salem went deep more than twice in a single game when the Dash clubbed three long balls in the suspended game resumed at BB&T Ballpark on July 19. Only a four-homer effort on May 17 trumps this performance. All three of those home runs came after play was resumed at BB&T Ballpark. However, because the contest began in Lynchburg on June 27, they will be recorded as road homers. In addition to the aforementioned Adam Engel and Keon Barnum bombs, Cleuluis Rondon went deep in the second. The Dash still sit in last in the CL with 31 home runs.

POWER-UP

2 PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2

3PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2

2014 schedule

3

FOR TICKETS, CALL(336) 714-2287

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE // IN THIS ISSUE

in this ISSUE4 Outside the Lines5 Brennan Spotlight6 Employee of the Month - July8 Dash in the Majors11 Season Ticket Holders12-13 Dash Roster15 Wilmington Roster

16-17 Scorecard 18 Lynchburg Roster21-27 Behind the Mask29-31 Sponsor Promos32 Promo Schedule

4 PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2OUTSIDE THE LINES

Born: 8/28/90 Age: 24 Height: 6’5” Weight: 195 Bats/Throws: S/RResides: Stockton, CA

Selected in the 27th round of the MLB Amateur Draft ‘11.

JAKE COSE PITCHER

One of the great benefi ts of being a baseball player is the traveling. While tiring, it allows players to see diff erent parts of the country. However, Dash right-handed pitcher Jake Cose has set his sights a little farther outside the baseball realm; One day, he would love to travel throughout the world. “I’ve always wanted to go to diff erent countries,” says Jake. “Europe, I think, would be really cool, seeing Germany, Italy, France. Brazil, for whatever reason, I’ve always wanted to go to. I’m a soccer fan and I’d see some soccer games for sure.”

14

Born: 12/28/90 Age: 24 Height: 6’2” Weight: 175 Bats/Throws: R/RResides: El Seibo, DR

Seleced as a free agent in April ‘15.

EUCLIDES LEYER PITCHER

The 2015 baseball season has been extremely special for Dash right-handed pitcher Euclides Leyer. For the fi rst time in his professional career, he was able to play on the same team as his brother Robinson. The brothers lived together off the fi eld and roomed together on the road. However, when Robinson, also a right-handed pitcher, was promoted to Double-A Birmingham in the middle of July, it was surprising, but also bittersweet. “I am very happy, and I cried a little bit because he was doing great and he didn’t know he’d move up this year,” Euclides says. Even if they don’t fi nish the year on the same club, Euclides says just playing a few months with his brother has been his most special memory in his baseball career so far.

6

OUTSIDE THELINES

Want to know what your favorite Dash player does in the off season? What would they be doing if they weren’t playing baseball? Now you can! Each homestand we will feature diff erent Dash players and give you insight into their lives off the fi eld!

5PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2 BRENNAN SPOTLIGHT

6 PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH - JULYPRESENTED BY: BB&T

VICTOR HARDIN - RHINO SESRhino-SES & Dash would like to present Mr. Victor Hardin. This is Victor’s first season as a member of the Dash team. As a member of our Dash team, Victor is a cleaning team member but has also worked as an usher and parking attendant. Victor has quickly shown he is willing to work wherever he is needed. Victor is a great team player who has worked hard all season long and has really gone above and beyond during the month of July. Victor leads by example showing fans and team members all the unsurpassed customer service Rhino and the Dash Team teach. Victor really enjoys the fans and seeing that they have an enjoyable time at the ballpark. He stated, “I love working with such a great staff and enjoy the atmosphere and look forward to continuing my employment for future seasons.” Not only has Victor been noticed by his peers and supervisors but by fans as well. Victor has received multiple Diamond Rewards for his excellent service. Victor’s enthusiasm is shown day in and day out while he gives high fives to the kids running the bases and assisting with fans who have had a medical emergency. Victor is quickly becoming a very important part to

kevin pearman, bat boy team member Zach Mounce is the Legends Hospitality employee of the month. Zach joined our team 3 years ago as an intern. He is currently our warehouse manager and does a great job keeping everything running smoothly before and during game day. Zach has also helped manage employees in the club and works off-site events when needed. Zach graduated from Forbush High School in Yadkin County. He attended Forsyth Tech after graduation and studied psychology. He is from Yadkin county and has one brother and one sister. In his spare time he enjoys video games, outdoor activities and his favorite place to travel is Florida. We are happy to have Zach as a valued member of our team!

Rhino SES cleaning crew member Victor Hardin is in his first season with the Dash.

Zach Mounce has been a member of the Legends staff for 3 years.

ZACH MOUNCE - LEGENDS

the Dash cleaning operation and we are glad to have such a high quality and dependable Dash team member that we can share with our customers while he continues to exceeds expectations.



CHRIS BASSITT

Source: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

MICAH JOHNSON

Source: Ron Vesely/Getty Images

MARCUS SEMIEN

Source: Doug Duran/TNS

Source: Google ImagesSource: Kelly L. Cox./ USA Today SportsSource: Kelly L. Cox/USA Today Sports

Source: AP PhotoSource: Anaheim Angels Source: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images North America

2009

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2015

DASH IN THE MAJORSSince becoming the Dash in 2009, 29 players have made their major league

debut. See where some of your favorite players have ended up!

HECTOR SANTIAGO CHRIS SALE EDUARDO ESCOBAR

JOSH PHEGLEY CARLOS RODON BRENT MOREL

DASH IN THE MAJORS

9PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2Offer valid the day after a qualifying Dash game at participating Winston-Salem, NC Krispy Kreme® shops only and is subject to product availability. For purposes of this offer, “a qualifying Dash game” is a game in which four runs are scored by the Dash. Customer must show ticket stub from previous day’s game to redeem this offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Not redeemable at grocery or convenience stores. Customer pays any sales tax. Cash value 1/100c. ©2015 KKDC.

Offer valid the day after a qualifying Dash game at participating Winston-Salem, NC Krispy Kreme® shops only and is subject toproduct availability. For purposes of this offer, “a qualifying Dash game” is a game in which four runs are scored by the Dash. Customer must show ticket stub from previous day’s game to redeem this offer. Limit one offer per guest per visit. Not valid with

$4$4

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Customer must show ticket stub from previous day’s game to redeem this offer.


11PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

KAY & JR TATUM - FOUNDERS CLUBWe’ve had season tickets for 3 years. We love coming out and talking to everyone at BB&T Ballpark, the fans, the employees, especially Darren, Taylor, Johnny, Danielle and everyone else who takes such good care of the fans. One of our favorite memories here was Bolt’s entrance on a helicopter on July 4th. We’re season ticket holders because it’s a nice break from the office and because of Darren Hill. Our favorite players we’ve seen here have to be Chris Curley, Adam Engel, Dan Black and Kevin Smith. If we had a walk up song, we’d like it to be Engel’s, Take me there by Tripp Lee.

kevin pearman, bat boy team member

We’ve been season ticket holders for 6 years. We’re big baseball fans and we love the family atmosphere. Our favorite player we’ve seen here is Cleuluis Rondon. Our favorite memory here was when we had Lind’as retirement party on one of the party decks a couple years ago. We really enjoy bringing friends out to the games and seeing the players progress and move up to the majors. If we had to have a walk up song it would be Shout.

Kay and JR Tatum have been season ticket holders for 3 years.

Linda and Phil Martin have been Founders Club season ticket holders for 6 years.

LINDA & PHIL MARTIN - FOUNDERS CLUB


KEONBARNUMINF #20

2015 DASH HEADSHOTS

JAMES DYKSTRARHP #18

SEANO’CONNELL

C #9

ADAMENGELOF #7

T.J.WILLIAMS

INF #4

BRIANCLARK

LHP #26

JORDANGUERRERO

LHP #23

BRANDONBRENNANRHP #24

MATT HEIDENREICH

RHP #32

BRADGOLDBERG

RHP #30

MICHAELYNOA

RHP #19

OMARNARVAEZ

C #22

TREYMICHALCZEWSKI

INF #8

TOBYTHOMASINF #17

JEFFERSONOLACIO

LHP #39

ANDREWHEELERLHP #25

CLEULUISRONDONINF #5

JAKEPETERINF #3

NOLANEARLEYOF #15

PETERTAGO

RHP #36

JAKECOSE

RHP #14

EUCLIDESLEYER

RHP #6

JEREMYDOWDYC #21

NICKBASTO

OF #29

CARSONFULMERRHP #16


PERDEWPOEESMAY

DASH FIELD STAFFManager: Tim Esmay #10Hitting Coach: Charles Poe #44Pitching Coach: J.R. Perdew #31

Trainer:Josh FallinStrength Coach:Shawn PowellClubhouse Manager:Matt Flynt

2015 DASH ROSTER

NO. PLAYER B/T HT/WT RESIDES BORN

PITCHERS24 Brandon Brennan R 6’4”/225 San Juan Capistrano, CA 7/26/9126 Brian Clark L 6’3”/230 Munroe Falls, OH 4/27/9314 Jake Cose R 6’5”/195 Stockton, CA 8/28/9018 James Dykstra R 6’4”/200 Poway, CA 11/22/9016 Carson Fulmer R 6’0”/195 Lakeland, FL 12/13/9330 Brad Goldberg R 6’4”/230 Beachwood, OH 2/21/9023 Jordan Guerrero L 6’3”/180 Moorpark, CA 5/31/9432 Matt Heidenreich R 6’5”/205 Coronado, CA 1/17/9113 Robinson Leyer R 6’2”/175 El Seibo, DR 3/13/9339 JeffersonOlacio L 6’7”/295 SantoDomingo,DR 1/16/9436 Peter Tago R 6’3”/190 Phoenix, AZ 7/5/9225 Andre Wheeler L 6’1”/190 Austin, TX 9/27/9119 Michael Ynoa R 6’7”/210 Puerto Plata, DR 9/24/91

CATCHERS21 Jeremy Dowdy L/L 6’2”/230 Raleigh, NC 7/13/9022 Omar Narvaez L/R 5’10”/172 Maracay, VZ 2/10/929 Sean O’Connell L/R 6’4”/230 Van Nuys, CA 12/12/91

INFIELDERS20 Keon Barnum L/L 6’5”/245 Tampa, FL 1/16/938 Trey Michalczewski S/R 6’3”/205 Jenks, OK 2/27/953 Jake Peter L/R 6’1”/195 Mason City, IA 4/5/935 Cleuluis Rondon R/R 6’0”/180 Maracay, VZ 4/13/9417 Toby Thomas R/R 5’11”/180 Eight Mile, AL 12/9/934 T.J. Williams L/R 6’2”/200 Paradise Valley, AZ 1/5/91

OUTFIELDERS29 Nick Basto R/R 6’2”/210 Davie, FL 4/1/9415 Nolan Earley L/L 6’0”/205 Anderson, IN 3/27/917 Adam Engel R/R 6’2”/210 Loveland, OH 12/4/91



WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS801 Shipyard Dr.

Wilmington, DE 19801Bluerocks.com - (302) 888-2015

Affi liate of the Kansas City Royals Daniel S. Frawley Stadium

PITCHERS30 Matt Alvarez R/R 6’2”/190 Cranbury, NJ 1/11/9134 Evan Beal R/R 6’4”/205 Washington, D.C. 8/2/9326 Yender Caramo R/R 6’0”/175 San Felix, VZ 8/25/9114 Estarlin Cordero L/L 6’0”/145 San Cristobal, DR 3/1/9347 Andrew Edwards R/R 6’6”/265 Gilbertsville, KY 10/7/9131 Ashton Goudeau R/R 6’6”/205 Newport, AR 7/23/9224 Jake Junis R/R 6’2”/225 Rock Falls, IL 9/16/9238 Zach Lovvorn R/R 5’11”/206 Anniston, AL 5/26/9427 Kevin McCarthy R/R 6’3”/200 Rockville Center, NY 2/22/92 Brooks Pounders R/R 6’5”/268 Riverside, CA 9/26/9028 Luis Rico L/L 6’1”/175 Puerto La Cruz, VZ 11/29/9340 Matthew Strahm R/L 6’3”/183 Fargo, ND 11/12/9115 Robinson Yambati R/R 6’3”/185 Sabana Grade de Boya, DR 1/15/91

CATCHERS41 Santiago Nessy R/R 6’2”/230 Caracas, VZ 12/8/926 Luis Villegas R/R 5’10”/188 Maracay, VZ 12/12/92

INFIELDERS4 Humberto Arteaga R/R 6’0”/183 Carabobo, VZ 1/23/947 Carlos Garcia S/R 5’10”/172 Muncipio de Diaz, VZ 3/18/9211 Jack Lopez R/R 5’9”/165 Rio Piedras, PR 12/16/9232 Ryan O’Hearn L/L 6’3”/200 Dunedin, FL 7/26/939 Robert Pehl R/R 6’1”/205 Centralia, WA 9/23/9229 Mauricio Ramos R/R 6’1”/181 Colombia 2/2/92

OUTFIELDERS16 Alfredo Escalera R/R 6’1”/186 San Juan, PR 2/17/9513 Elier Hernandez R/R 6’3”/197 San Cristobal, DR 11/21/9412 Logan Moon R/R 6’2”/195 Blue Springs, MO 2/15/9223 Dominique Taylor R/R 6’1”/190 Frankfort, Germany 8/11/92

BLUE ROCKS FIELD STAFFManager: Brian Buchanan #44Hitting Coach: Abraham Nunez #17Pitching Coach: Steve Luebber #46

*Stat sheets available at customer service.

WILMINGTON ROSTER

*as of 7/20/15

16 PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2#PL

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LYNCHBURG ROSTER

PITCHERS41 RobbieAviles L/R 6’4”/200 Suffern,NY 12/17/9127 Justin Brantley R/R 6’1”/185 Hudson, NY 3/5/9122 D.J. Brown R/R 6’6”/205 Orange County, VA 11/28/9045 Mitch Brown R/R 6’1”/195 Rochester, MN 4/13/9433 J.P. Feyereisen R/R 6’2”/215 River Falls, WI 2/7/9346 Trevor Frank R/R 6’0”/195 El Cajon, CA 6/23/9140 Perci Garner R/R 6’3”/225 Dover, OH 12/13/8831 Ben Heller R/R 6’3”/205 Milwaukee, WI 8/5/9135 Dace Kime R/R 6’4”/200 Fort Wayne, IN 3/6/9247 Luis Lugo L/L 6’5”/200 Barquisimeto, VZ 3/5/9428 Michael Peoples R/R 6’5”/195 Weatherford, TX 9/5/9136 Antonio Romero R/R 6’0”/185 La Habana, Cuba 12/22/9049 Grant Sides R/R 6’4”/215 Northport, AL 6/22/89

CATCHERS13 Eric Haase R/R 5’10”/180 Detroit, MI 12/18/9243 Sicnarf Loopstok R/R 5’11”/195 Oranjestad, Aruba 4/26/93

INFIELDERS15 Claudio Bautista R/R 5’11”/170 Nizao, DR 11/29/9312 Ivan Castillo S/R 5’9”/173 Santiago, DR 5/30/954 Paul Hendrix R/R 6’2”/205 Richland Hills, TX 11/18/9130 Yonathan Mendoza S/R 5’11”/167 Quibor, VZ 2/10/9425 Nellie Rodriguez R/R 6’2”/225 New York, NY 6/12/94

OUTFIELDERS20 Clint Frazier R/R 6’1”/190 Decatur, GA 9/26/9438 Mike Papi L/R 6’3”/205 Scranton, PA 9/19/9217 Dorssys Paulino R/R 6’0”/175 Bani, DR 11/21/941 Luigi Rodriguez L/R 5’11”/195 Santiago, DR 11/13/928 LeVon Washington L/R 5’11”/170 Gainesville, FL 7/26/91

HILLCATS FIELD STAFFManager: Mark Budzinski #7Hitting Coach: Bobby Magallanes #37Pitching Coach: Tony Arnold #17

LYNCHBURG HILLCATS3176 Fort Ave.

Lynchburg, VA 24501Lynchburg-Hillcats.com- (434) 528-1144Affi liate of the Cleveland Indians Calvin Falwell Field

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No other position in sports is like it. A catcher must be a quarterback, a goalie and a point guard, all at once. It’s a plunge deep into the psyche of pitchers. It involves discerning opposing batters’ weaknesses better than they know them themselves.

It all leads to a timeless, nine-inning job interview with the umpire hovering like a gnat right behind them. A positive answer? A grunt from creating the illusion that a sphere about 75 millimeters in diameter, spinning nearly 2,000 times per minute in unpredictable directions, fl ied over the edge of an 18-inch pentagon. A negative answer? A failed magic trick resulting in nothing but the hum of the crowd, spewing like water out of a showerhead.

The voyage is an interminable class, only every night brings with it a fi nal exam. It’s endless studying on a subject they’ll never know everything about. And it all starts well before fi rst pitch.

Catching is a demanding position, both physically and mentally. But the most important aspect of the position probably

isn’t hard they can hit the ball, how accurate their arm is, how quickly they can transfer the ball into their throwing hand or how strong their forearms are to stick pitches on the corner.

More than anything else, a catcher must simply take a vested interest in the man standing 60-feet and six-inches away, on a 24-inch rubber atop 10-inch pile of dirt.

“Golfers have caddies, and it’s that same kind of relationship,” says Chicago White Sox catching coordinator John Orton. “Where you’ve got to make that guy feel good about himself, know what he can and can’t do, know what kind of phrase you need to go out there with when you do a meeting on the mound, if it’s someone you’ve got to fi re up or someone you’ve got to calm down.

“Those are the biggest things. If you care, you’re going to do all those little things to help that pitcher get through the inning, get through the game. That’s what makes the diff erence over the course of a long season.”

BEHINDTHE MASK

How catchers infl uence every pitchBy Scott Kornberg

Continued on Page 22Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart

BEHIND THE MASK


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Continued from Page 21

The long season stretches all the way to Spring Training, on the tiny back fi elds across Arizona and Florida. And maybe that’s important to remember; every game, off ense comes and goes. You get three, four, fi ve at-bats and make the most of them.

But defense? For catchers, it’s a constant grind. It consumes them, even when they’re not on the fi eld.

“When I’m not playing, I talk a lot with them (the pitching staff ),” says Dash catcher Omar Narvaez. “We cover all the situations so we already know what we’re going to do.”

But sometimes talking can be diffi cult. Winston-Salem has players that hail from 13 diff erent states and three diff erent countries. It’s a mishmash of languages, dialects, accents and mentalities. So how does an English-speaking catcher like Jeremy Dowdy communicate with the hurlers on the staff who only speak Spanish?

“It’s a little easier than you would think,” Dowdy says. “Baseball terminology is pretty standard across the board. (Pitching coach) J.R. Perdew speaks Spanish, so that defi nitely helps. We can come out in a critical situation, and J.R. can help translate a little bit. But for the most part, it’s a lot of hand gestures and more so encouragement than mechanical stuff .”

Communication is the root of the position. Prior to the game, Winston-Salem’s catchers will work with Perdew and that day’s starting pitcher on a gameplan for certain hitters and diff erent situations.

However, once the battery takes the field, they are mostly on their own. It is up to the catcher to work off that gameplan to call both the type of pitch and the desired location. With starting pitchers going through a lineup as many as four times per game, unpredictability must be a theme.

Those are the biggest things. If you care, you’re going to do all those little things to help that pitcher get through the inning.

Continued on Page 25Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart

BEHIND THE MASK


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“You just have to really make them throw all their pitches,” says Dowdy. “Don’t let them fall into patterns, which they want to do at times when they get in trouble. You just have to be that calming infl uence for them back there and let them know, hey, make a pitch and we’ll be alright.”

The catcher’s job swinging the bat can help guard against predictability.

“Being a hitter helps me out catching,” former Dash catcher Ryan Plourde said. “I know ins, outs, patterns. You don’t want to be too set on a certain pattern.”

Inevitably, there will be some disagreements between the battery. There’s an old story former Atlanta Braves catcher Eddie Perez has told about catching Greg Maddux. During Perez’s fi rst few years in the majors, coinciding with the end of Maddux’s fourth straight Cy Young Award in 1995, Maddux would call nearly every single pitch from the mound by the way he caught the ball, held his right hand or touched his cap.

Finally, over time, Perez was able to convince Maddux to let the catcher call the game. Maddux shook off Perez just two or three times in that fi rst game, a Braves victory. In the clubhouse afterward, Perez asked Maddux how he did, expecting a positive answer.

The future Hall of Famer paused for a moment and said, “Those two or three? That’s too much.”

Dowdy has caught former big league pitchers at Triple-A Charlotte, as well as more advanced hurlers at the upper levels of the minors. He believes experience does make a big diff erence in the fl ow of the game between the catcher and the pitcher.

“Down here (Winston-Salem), it’s a little diff erent because a lot of the guys are still trying to fi gure out who they are,” says Dowdy. “Obviously up there in Charlotte, those guys are established, they know what they want to do.”

Dowdy and the rest of Winston-Salem’s catchers want the pitching staff to use all of their pitches. Historically, batters tend to hit better when facing an opposite-handed hurler (i.e. left-handed batter versus right-handed pitcher). Part of the reasoning for that is some pitches, like a slider, have very large platoon splits, meaning that opposite-handed hitters tend to fare very well against them, while same-sided batters are neutralized.

That being said, Dowdy believes in throwing anything to any hitter to try to avoid having him correctly guess the pitch.

Continued on Page 26Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart

BEHIND THE MASK



“I’m a big believer in not eliminating pitches,” Dowdy says. “As a hitter, you’re trying to eliminate pitches. You’re trying to see what he doesn’t like to throw or what he can’t throw to a certain hitter in a certain count.

“If you eliminate a pitch right off the bat, you’re giving the hitter that much more of an advantage. We always tell our guys—you’ve got to be prepared to throw any pitch in any count to any hitter.”

Working with the pitcher on calling the game is certainly the mental side of catching. But the physical side involves not just blocking pitches in the dirt and throwing out potential base stealers, but also receiving pitches.

A fastball takes about 0.4 seconds to reach home plate, but that tiny fraction of time is perhaps the most scrutinized moment in the game.

To prepare for the incoming pitch, the catcher must first position himself as both a target to the pitcher and a window for the umpire. The final part is the actual catch, known as pitch receiving, perhaps the newest market inefficiency in baseball.

The key to receiving a pitch is to catch it with as little movement as possible. This is where the illusion part of catching comes in; the catcher’s mitt acts as a reference point for the umpire, and if the catcher doesn’t have to move it much during a pitch, it makes the pitch look like a strike.

“I’ve always been a big believer in the way you receive the ball can help the umpire back there,” says Orton. “It’s hard to umpire and when you’re catching a borderline and he’s wanting to call it a strike – and that’s why I don’t like to talk about framing too much, because when you talk about framing, guys start trying to pull and move the ball too much or create too much of a glove movement.

“I just talk to our guys about letting the ball come to you, catching it strong and giving the umpire a chance to call the strikes, strikes or the borderline strikes, strikes. We’re not trying to fool them, we’re just trying to get those borderline pitches to look as good as possible for the umpire.”

Like the catcher-pitcher relationship, the catcher-umpire association plays a crucial part in how an outing might fare.

“As soon as I get into the game, I’m talking to that guy (the umpire) back there the entire game, whether it’s good, bad,” Plourde says. “If he makes a mistake, stuff like that, I try to keep a positive mindset just to keep those guys on our side the entire game and make sure that our pitchers do get calls.”

Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart

BEHIND THE MASK



The catcher and umpire will communicate throughout the game. For the catcher, it’s a chance to learn the strike zone. Since a tiny baseball barreling towards the zone in unpredictable directions is difficult to see clearly, it’s also a way for the umpire to gauge his calls with what the catcher sees.

“Umpires have asked me my opinion, and I’m usually an honest guy because I want them to be honest with me,” says Plourde. “If they make a mistake, I want them to say, ‘Hey, have him throw that there next time and I’ll get it.’”

Like pitchers learning how they want a game called by the catcher as they gain more experience, the same can be said of the strike zone: as umpires see more and more pitches, they start to develop a distinct zone, one they expect pitchers to hit more rigidly as they rise up the chain of the minors.

“I think the strike zone definitely shrinks as you go. That’s just the nature of the game,” Dowdy says. “Coming down here, I’m not saying you can expand, but there’s times you can get away with something down here that you can’t get away with up there.”

But ultimately, even with learning the zone, a large part of stealing a strike or making sure a strike on the edge of the zone is called correctly can come from the pitchers themselves. A hurler who is constantly around the zone is more likely to get the benefit of the doubt from the umpire on a ball on the edge of the zone than one who is all over the place.

“If you’re not around the zone and you do throw a good pitch, you’re probably not going to get it if he’s had to expand,” Dowdy says.

“You can only help the ball a little bit,” says Orton. “You can make the pitch that’s four inches of the plate maybe look like it’s two inches off the corner if you catch it correctly and let the force of the ball bring your glove back into the zone just a little bit as you catch it.”

For years, all we had to measure the catching position was batting average, home runs and RBIs. However, baseball’s statistical revolution has taught us a run taken away defensively is just as valuable as a run scored offensively.

For a catcher, that means a myriad of responsibilities. It all starts with the development of a gameplan a few hours prior to first pitch. Then, a catcher will call pitches in order to navigate through a lineup multiple times, all while focusing on strong pitch receiving, developing a rapport with the umpire, setting the defense, throwing out potential base stealers and blocking balls in the dirt.

There may not be a way to fully quantify a catcher’s defense just yet, but that does not mean the duties of a catcher go unnoticed. It has just taken a little longer to realize all that they do.

Photo credits (from left): Jody Stewart, Jody Stewart

BEHIND THE MASK


29PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2 SPONSOR PROMOTIONS

FireworksHey Fans! Don’t forget to stick around after the game Friday July 31 for a spectacular postgame fi reworks show presented by Black Flag! Join us every Friday and select Saturdays this season for postgame fi reworks!

All-You-Can-Eat NightDo you want all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers? Now you can! Join the Dash on select Tuesdays this season for our all-you-can-eat deal! Visit wsdash.com for more information and to see qualifi ying dates.

Blue Rhino GiveawaysHey Dash Fans! In celebration of grilling season, Blue Rhino is giving away a collection of great gifts every Friday and Saturday this year at BB&T Ballpark. Make sure to stop by

the customer service kiosk located behind section 109 on Friday or Saturday home games to sign up for a chance to win that nights gift.

Thirsty ThursdaysCamel City Goods is proud to partner with the Winston-Salem Dash to present Thirsty Thursday(s) this season at BB&T Ballpark. Enjoy $1 pricing on select drafts and bottled beers at Thursday home games all season long. Get here early and score a

free souvenir cup from Camel City Goods. Go Dash!


Fitness Center

Saltwater Pool

Green Building Certified

Clubroom

Outdoor Grills & Recreation Area

Cyber Cafe

Controlled Access Parking

Cycle Center

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

INTERIOR AMENITIES

ENERGY STAR® Stainless Steel Appliances

Designer Cabinets

Controlled Access

Pet Friendly

High Speed Internet

Granite Countertops

Large Walk-in Closets & Abundant Storage

Smoke Free Living

Private Patios & Balconies

Skyline & Ballpark Views*

Oversized Windows for Natural Light

150 Peters Creek Parkway | Winston-Salem | North Carolina 27101 | 877.844.0001 | linkbrookstown.com

NOW LEASING! BRAND NEW LUXURY APARTMENTS!

31PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2 SPONSOR PROMOTIONS

Flow Diamond in the RoughDo you have a Little League field that needs some work? Give it a Major League makeover by entering the Flow Chevrolet and Dash

Diamond in the Rough Ballpark Renovation contest. Submit a video to the Dash via social media before July 23rd to nominate your field!

Krispy Kreme Dash FourWhat sounds better than four runs? With the Krispy Kreme Dash Four promotion, if the Dash score four or more runs, you can bring

your ticket stub into a participating Winston-Salem Krispy Kreme location tomorrow and receive a dozen original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts for four dollars.

Fantasy Fan SweepstakesHow would you like BB&T Ballpark named after you for a day? You can have that and much more by winning the Winston-Salem Dash’s BB&T Ballpark Ultimate Fantasy Fan Experience Sweepstakes. The winner will become an honorary Dash player

and receive VIP treatment...a personal locker, customized jersey, and much more. All in a stadium named after him or her throughout the day.

Flow Picture Yourself at the World Series

Flow Automotive and the Dash want to send you to the World Series! To win, test drive a vehicle at any participating Flow Automotive dealership.

Once completed, get a picture of yourself holding the “Picture me at the 2015 World Series” sign. Then upload your photo to the dealership’s Facebook page! Participating dealerships: Flow Honda, Flow BMW, Flow MINI, Flow Motors of Winston-Salem, Flow Chevrolet, Flow Buick-GMC of Winston-Salem, Flow Cadillac and Saab.

32 PLAYBALL // JULY 28-AUGUST 2PROMOTIONS

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